 |
Advertising | SL Breaking News | Disclaimer | About Us | Informing the Sri Lankan community globally since 1997 |  |
 |
 |
 |
ADVERTISEMENT |
| BUSINESS & FINANCE | SPORTS | POLITICS | SECURITY | SOUTH ASIA | COLOMBO-PAGE |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Latest News from Sri Lanka: Last Updated = Fri, Jul 3, 2009, 07:26 pm SL Time
TOP - STORIES
*
Ananda College felicitates war heroes
Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Army Commander, General Sarath Fonseka, Navy Commander, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and the Director General Civil Defence, Sarath Weerasekara were among those honoured.
* UN Chief wants Sri Lankan government to give priority to rehabilitate child soldiers
July 03 (CP) Colombo- The United Nations Secretary-General wants the Government of Sri Lanka to give priority to the rehabilitation and reintegration of child soldiers into the community.
The Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon in his report to the Security Council on children and armed conflict in Sri Lanka, has urged the Government of Sri Lanka to build on the progress achieved to date with the support of the U.N. and other parties, his spokesperson Ms. Michele Montas said at the UN press briefing on Thursday.
POLITICS - GENERAL*
Britain relaxes travel advisory to Sri Lanka
July 03 (CP) Colombo- The British government today relaxed the restrictions on travel advisory to its nationals visiting to Sri Lanka. "I am pleased to announce that we have relaxed the restrictions on travel suggested in the advice we give to British visitors coming to Sri Lanka. We no longer discourage British holidaymakers from enjoying leopard-spotting at Yala National Park, surfing at Arugam Bay or admiring Trincomalee harbour, one of the world's deepest natural ports.
*
Sri Lankan private bus owners demand fare hike once again
July 03 (CP) Colombo- Following the increase in diesel prices by the Sri Lanka government, the private bus owners today demanded a bus fare hike again.
Speaking to the media president of the Lanka Private Bus Operators' Association Gemunu Wijeratna said that they have to increase bus fares as the government had increased diesel prices by Rs. 3.00.
*
More than 20,000 students selected to Sri Lanka Universities
July 03 (CP) Colombo- Some 20,270 students have been selected to the Universities in Sri Lanka this year, the Education Ministry announced.
Education authorities said that five more subjects would be introduced for Universities from this year.
*
Fuel hike to cover up losses due to corruption - UNP
July 03 (Island) UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said that the government had been forced to increase fuel prices to cover up losses incurred due to waste and corruption. He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s jumbo-sized Cabinet was a heavy burden on the taxpayer.
*
Ministry secretaries to act
July 03 (DM) The Cabinet has decided to empower the ministry secretaries to cover the duties of the Public Service Commission and Police Commission until such time as the two Commissions are reactivated.
Informed sources said that the decision had been taken as an interim step until the two Commissions were reactivated.
*
Healthcare Ministry updates dengue alert
July 03 (DN) The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry requested the public to be more vigilant on mosquito breeding grounds and the dengue epidemic these days because the most affected districts have received occasional showers during the past weeks creating an ideal environment for dengue mosquitoes.
*
Rajapaksa’s actions speak louder than words for sceptical Tamils
July 03 (Times) Colombo- When President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka declared victory over the Tamil Tigers in May, he reached out to the Tamil minority that the defeated rebels had claimed to represent over 26 years of civil war.
Speaking in Tamil, as well as his native Sinhalese, he told Parliament in Colombo that the war against the Tigers was not a war against the Tamil people, and declared that everyone in Sri Lanka should live with equal rights.
*
Sri Lanka: view from the ground
July 02 (Le Monde) Even those Sri Lankans, including Tamils, who were dubious about their government’s decision to pursue the military option against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), are relieved that the venture appears successful. They also are surprised at the reaction to the victory by nations such as the US, the UK, India and Israel, and the sharp criticism about civilian casualties and displaced people.
*
Sri Lanka President urges all political parties to unite for reconciliation
July 02 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today urged all political parties to unite and focus on the equalities and not on the differences. The President made these remarks today addressing the inaugural session of the Presidential Committee on Development and Reconciliation at the President's Office.
*
Indonesian government welcomes Sri Lanka's relief efforts
July 02 (CP) Colombo- The government of Indonesia has welcomed Sri Lankan relief effort for the Internally Displaced Persons and also the Uthuru Wasanthaya (Northern Spring) development programme, the Government Information Department today announced.
*
Deputy Minister sworn in as a Minister in Sri Lanka Cabinet
July 02 (CP) Colombo- The current Deputy Minister of Tourism Faizer Mustapha today took oaths as the Minister of Tourism Promotion before the President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Presidential Media Unit said that Mustapha was sworn in following the oaths ceremony of Milinda Moragoda, the new Justice and Law Reforms minister this morning.
*
Sri Lanka Foreign Minister visits China
July 02 (CP) Colombo: Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama today left for China on a four-day official visit at the invitation from his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi for bilateral consultations, the Foreign Ministry announced.
*
Sri Lanka to hold presidential elections in November
July 02 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to seek reelection in November, once the four years of his term is completed, a source close to the President said.
*
New Ministers sworn in for Sri Lanka Cabinet
July 02 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa swore in two new Ministers to the Cabinet Thursday evening at the Temple Trees.
*
Japanese envoy commends Sri Lankan government for its efforts to improve IDP facilities
July 02 (CP) Colombo- The visiting Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi commended the efforts taken by the Sri Lankan government to improve the facilities for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltered in the welfare villages in the North.
*
Sri Lankan FM says China always friend
July 02 (Xinhua) BEIJING- The visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said on Thursday that China has always been a friend to Sri Lanka and he is seeking closer bilateral ties during his five-day official visit.
"China has remained a friend of Sri Lanka at times of difficulty. A friend in need is a friend indeed," said Bogollagama in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.
*
Sinhala outfits can’t dictate terms: Prez
July 02 (ENS) COLOMBO- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa told a group of ministers on Tuesday that he would not be dictated to by anybody, including radical Sinhalese nationalists, on the question of devolving power to the Tamil minority in the country.
*
Karuna changes tune on Lanka row
July 02 (HT) In a dramatic shift of position, chief minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday declared that the best way that Tamilians in India could help Sri Lanka Tamils was by cooperating with the Sri Lankan government.
“If we want to play a positive role in protecting Sri Lankan Tamil interests, we should avoid stoking the anger of the Sinhalese,” he said
*
It’s Kachchativu again
July 02 (ENS) The ceding of the island of Kachchativu to Sri Lanka, consequent to the signing of the India-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Agreement in 1974 and the travails undergone by the Tamil Nadu
fishermen in the Palk Bay region were media headlines recently.
SPORTS*
Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga to play Australian domestic Twenty20
July 02 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka pscemsn Lasith Malinga, most successful face bowler in the recently concluded Twenty20 world championship, is to play Australian domestic Twenty20 competition.
*
Mathews eyes third-seamer's slot
July 02 (CI) Angelo Mathews, whose new-ball spells played a big part in Sri Lanka's path to the final of the ICC World Twenty20, has said his intentions of shaping into a genuine allrounder motivated him to focus more on his bowling.
*
Pitch Report - Galle International Stadium
July 02 (CL) Rated as one of the most picturesque grounds in world cricket, the Galle International Stadium is cornered on two sides by the ocean, and is overseen by a 16th century Dutch fort.
*
Pakistan will face tough battle against Lanka: Afridi
July 02 (CC) Lahore- Talismanic all-rounder Shahid Afridi believes that Pakistan are in for a tough battle against Sri Lanka in the forthcoming Test series despite their recent triumph in the Twenty20 World Cup in England
*
Sri Lanka face wicketkeeper puzzle
July 02 (IOL) Galle, Sri Lanka- Sri Lanka face a selection dilemma over their wicketkeeper as they gear-up for a tough three-test series against Pakistan starting in Galle on Saturday.
Pakistan, buoyed by their recent win in the ICC World Twenty20 and strengthened by the return of rebel stars, pose a stern test to Kumar Sangakkara in his first test series as captain.
|
BREAKING NEWS
Move your mouse over this index:
 [
1 |
2 |
3 ]
*
Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga to play Australian domestic Twenty20 :: Sri Lanka pscemsn Lasith Malinga, most successful face bowler in the recently concluded Twenty20 world championship, is to play Australian domestic Twenty20 competition.
[Updated = Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 08:11 pm SL Time] *
Sangakkara reaches a personal milestone :: Sri Lanka cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara reached a personal milestone as his wife gave birth to twins yesterday.
[Updated = Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 11:53 pm SL Time] *
Asian Netball champions return to the country :: Sri Lanka's champion Asian Netball team arrived in the country today following the conclusion of a successful 7th Asian championship.
[Updated = Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 10:30 pm SL Time]
NEWS - HIGHLIGHTS*
Sri Lanka Health Minister seeks security forces' assistance
July 03 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka's Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva has decided to take the assistance of Sri Lanka Army nurses to maintain the daily activities of the country's only oncology institution, the Cancer Hospital in Maharagama.
*
TNA wants to meet Sri Lanka President alone
July 03 (CP) Colombo- The Tamil National Alliance, (TNA) the main Tamil political party in Sri Lanka has asked a opportunity to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
*
Sri Lanka Air Force commemorates its war heroes
July 03 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka Air Force today commemorated its war heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country since 1971. A simple, but sententious ceremony was held to commemorate those heroes in Sri Lanka Air Force this morning at the Ratmalana Air Force base.
*
Postal voting dates decided for Uva PC and Northern polls in Sri Lanka
July 03 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has allocated July 27th and 28th for postal voting in the upcoming elections in Uva and North.
*
Sri Lanka champion spinner Murali to miss the first Test match with Pakistan
July 03 (CP) Colombo- Muttiah Muralitharan, the highest wicket taker in both Test and one-day matches is to miss the first Test match against visiting Pakistani team scheduled to begins tomorrow at Galle.
*
Sri Lanka President to attend NAM in Egypt
July 03 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa will leave for Egypt next week to attend the 15th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit.
The President will leave the country on July 14 to attend the summit scheduled to be held from July 11 to 16.
*
IMF says awaiting its Executive board approval for Sri Lanka loan
July 03 (CP) Colombo- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that it is awaiting for approval of its Executive Board on the payment of a stand by loan to Sri Lanka.
SECURITY - SITUATION*
Main suspect of triple murder in Horana killed
July 03 (CP) Horana- An unidentified person has killed the main suspect of the triple murder case in Horana that happened last Tuesday night. Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said the Horana police found the body of the suspect early this morning in a rubber land on a tip from a civilian.
*
Sri Lankan river auctioned for gem mining
July 03 (CP) Colombo- For the first time in Sri Lanka history one of the main rivers in the country was auctioned yesterday for gem mining. The Gem and Jewelry Authority said that they have auctioned one-kilometer area of the Kalu Ganga in Kahangamuwa for Rs. 30.6 million.
*
India to send a delegation to visit IDP camps in Sri Lanka
July 03 (CP) Colombo- India is planning to send a delegation to visit the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps in the North soon, Sri Lanka government said. The visit would be follow-up on an invitation from the Sri Lanka government.
*
Thousand IDPs return to their homes in the Eastern Sri Lanka
July 03 (CP) Colombo- A group of one thousand Internally Displaced Persons returned to their original homes in Ampara yesterday after seven years.
This is the first government-organized return movement in the District in seven years.
*
Attempt to extort money from minister, MP, Governor: Gang busted
July 03 (Island) The police shot dead the leader of a notorious extortion gang on Wednesday night in Maligawatta. He was identified as Sandun Lasitha Kumara.
Kumara had led a gang of extortionists targeting politicians and businessmen, particularly in Colombo and its suburbs.
*
Rajiv wanted Prabha killed at IPKF meeting
July 03 (DM) Shocking revelations, such as Indian Peace Keeping Force Commander Harirat Singh defying orders given by the late Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to shoot LTTE Leader Prabhakaran when he came to an IPKF camp in 1987 and how a plot to assassinate President J. R. Jayewardene was averted, were incorporated in the book ‘From peace of war insurgency and terrorism’ written by Former Army Commander General Cyril Ranatunga, the launch of which took place last Wednesday.
*
Army commander visits Jaffna
July 03 (DN) Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, yesterday made his first visit to Jaffna Security Forces Headquarters after the successful completion of military operations to eliminate LTTE terrorism, the Army Headquarters announced yesterday.
*
Tamil refugees may end up in permanent camps, say aid workers
July 03 (Times) Colombo- Sri Lankan authorities appear to be building permanent camps to house many of the 300,000 refugees from the last phase of the war with the Tamil Tiger rebels, despite promising to resettle 80 per cent of them by the end of the year.
*
'Lanka ignored warning of Tamil separatism in 1970'
July 03 (ENS) Colombo- Sri Lanka’s terrorist problem, that claimed 100,000 lives, including 1,500 Indian soldiers, could have been nipped in the bud three decades ago, if only Colombo had heeded a warning by a Tamil police officer in 1970, writes Gen Cyril Ranatunga, a former Army Commander and Defence Secretary.
*
Underworld figure shot dead by police in Sri Lanka
July 02 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka police fatally shot a notorious underworld figure this evening at Keselwaththa in Central Colombo.
Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said that the deceased was wanted for his involvement in many ransom activities carried out in the past under the guise of LTTE, the rebel outfit.
*
Please help to rebuild Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka just emerged from a devastating war that was fought for three decades amid innumerable economic and social hardships. The war has drained the resources of the country that was already battered by a destructive tsunami not too long ago. Now that it is slowly trying to recover from the catastrophes we must offer our utmost support to rebuild the country.
*
Sri Lanka's top businessman further remanded
July 02 (CP) Colombo- The Mount Lavinia Magistrate today further remanded the Ceylinco Group Chairman Lalith Kothalawela and eight other suspects, who were also the directors of the group over the alleged fraud at the Golden Key Credit Card Company.
*
A member of an extremist gang killed in Eastern Sri Lanka
July 02 (CP) Colombo- An unidentified gunman has shot dead a member of an extremist gang in Eravur, Batticaloa last night.
Eravur police said the youth, a resident of Michinagar, Eravur, was killed when he was sleeping in his home.
*
Flood warning issued for the residents near the Kelani River in Sri Lanka as reservoir spills over
July 02 (CP) Colombo- Residents living around the Maussakele reservoir in Maskeliya are warned of a possible flood threat as the reservoir has begun to spill over.
*
Travel restrictions to Sri Lanka's North eased
July 02 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka government has decided to relax some restrictions maintained at the joint road block in Medawachchiya, the main entrance to the country's Northern region.
*
UN hires a lawyer for its staff detained in Sri Lanka
July 02 (CP) Colombo- The United Nations country team has hired a lawyer to represent the two UN staff members detained by Sri Lanka, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Michčle Montas said Wednesday.
*
'Captain Ali' allowed to enter Chennai Port
July 02 (PTI) Chennai- The Chennai Port Trust today permitted an European vessel, carrying relief material for displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka sent by Tamil diaspora, to enter the port here and unload the goods to be transferred to a different vessel for shipping them to the island nation.
*
Plea for Sri Lanka Tamil refugees
July 02 (BBC) A new group of eminent Tamil people in Sri Lanka has made a plea for those held in government camps to be given a timetable for their release.
The group said people were yearning to be released from their confinement.
*
No special regiments for ex-rebels: Govt.
July 02 (DM) The Government yesterday said that there will be no room for ‘alien regiments’ within the armed forces, for former rebel cadres as suggested by some former militant leaders who are now politicians. Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana said the government has no plans to establish ‘special regiments’ for former militants.
*
Sri Lankan's body to be sent home
July 02 (GDN) THE body of a man found washed up on Asry beach almost two weeks ago is due to be repatriated tomorrow. Sri Lankan Gunawardana Mudalige Lionel, 64, had been missing from work since June 3.
His body was found by a Coastguard patrol on June 17 and taken to the SMC mortuary.
*
Civil war over, govt relaxes transport curbs to north
July 02 (GT) From July 1 it will no longer be required to unload the cargo being taken to the north at the Medawachchiya security check point
The Sri Lankan government said yesterday that it has decided to relax stringent security procedures that prevailed on the transportation of goods to the north with the conclusion of the island’s long drawn-out civil war.
*
“Urge Sri Lankan Government to release the 4 Tamil doctors”
July 02 (Hindu) THANJAVUR- Medical college students and doctors here organised a human chain on Gandhiji Road on Wednesday appealing to the Central Government to urge Sri Lankan Government to release four Tamil doctors arrested by the Lankan police “just because they gave treatment to wounded Sri Lankan Tamils during the recent war.”
SOUTH ASIA - REGIONAL*
Bangladesh approves $52 mln Chevron investment plan
July 02 (Reuters) DHAKA- Bangladesh's state-run oil and gas authority said on Thursday it had approved a plan by U.S. energy firm Chevron (CVX.N) to invest $52 million to augment natural gas supply in the country.
*
Pakistan moves troops to Afghan border
July 02 (AP) ISLAMABAD- Pakistan's army has deployed troops to a stretch of the Afghan border to stop Taliban militants fleeing a major U.S. offensive in southern Afghanistan, a spokesman said Thursday.
Nearly 4,000 U.S. Marines plus 650 Afghan forces moved into Afghanistan's Helmand province early Thursday to take on the Taliban in one of their strongholds
*
Nepal landslide buries homes, villages killing 9
July 02 (AP) KATMANDU— Landslides triggered by monsoon rains swept through three villages in Nepal's mountainous west Thursday, burying homes and killing at least nine people, a ministry official said.
*
Gay sex decriminalised in India
July 02 (BBC) A court in the Indian capital, Delhi, has ruled that homosexual intercourse between consenting adults is not a criminal act.
The ruling overturns a 148-year-old colonial law which describes a same-sex relationship as an "unnatural offence".
|
FINANCE*
More countries to invest in Sri Lanka
July 03 (CP) Colombo- Several more foreign countries have expressed their willingness to invest in the country, Minister of Investment Promotions Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said. According to the Minister the main reason for this favorable progression is the peaceful environment as there are no more terror threats in the country.
*
Lanka IOC can’t survive
July 03 (Island) No limited liability company that was accountable to its shareholders could survive any longer while losing Rs. 26 on every litre of Petrol and diesel sold, the Managing Director of Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) Suresh Kumar said yesterday. He asked the Government to review its price structure without delay.
*
SIA to fly by night on Sri Lankan skies
July 03 (DM) Singapore Airlines (SIA) is making plans to fly into Colombo at night, following the alleviation of terror threats and security risks. The airline stated that with effect from August 2, the first re-timed SQ468 will depart from Singapore on August 2 at 22:40 hours and arrive in Colombo at 23:50 hours; while the first re-timed SQ469 will depart from Colombo on 3 August at 01:05 hours and arrive in Singapore at 07:40 hours.
*
Sri Lankan tea gains lost momentum
July 03 (DN) Sri Lankan tea continued to enjoy a strong demand in the high grown market with the tea bag sector forcing prices of smaller grades further up. The low grown market is expected to remain strong despite a slightly increased offering in the future owing to good demand from the Middle East prior to the Ramadan season, weekly auction reports reveal.
*
Sri Lanka government to buy 70,000 MT of paddy from farmers
July 02 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lankan government is to buy 70,000 MT of paddy from the upcoming harvesting season to support the rice farmers in the country.
The cabinet today approved a proposal put forward by the Minister of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Maithripala Sirisena to purchase the harvest by the Paddy Marketing Board.
*
Sri Lanka main opposition challenges the domestic air fares
July 02 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka main opposition United National Party (UNP) asked the government over the fairness of charging Rs, 22,000 for air tickets between Colombo and Jaffna.
*
Sri Lanka foreign reserves rise 23 pct to $1.6 bln
July 2 (Reuters) COLOMBO- Sri Lanka's foreign currency reserves have risen by over 23 percent in two months as funds flowed into the country after the end of its long war against the Tamil Tigers, the central bank governor said on Thursday.
Sri Lanka in March sought a $1.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to avert a balance of payments crisis, after spending half its reserves defending the rupee and paying foreign investors who sold off treasury securities after the global downturn.
*
Sri Lanka unit productivity low, says India's Quatrro
July 02 (LBO) Raman Roy, chairman of India's Quatrro BPO Solutions, said their Sri Lanka business process outsourcing unit, a tie-up with John Keells Holdings, is not doing as well as anticipated.
*
IMF loan delay drives Sri Lanka shares down; rupee flat
July 2 (Reuters) COLOMBO- Sri Lanka's stock market edged down for a fourth straight session on Thursday on worries over an IMF loan delay amid lack of foreign interest in the post-war bourse with retail profit-taking.
The rupee closed flat.
The bourse fell 0.41 percent or 9.82 points to 2408.91, its lowest since June 18. The bourse hit a one-year high on June 22.
*
Agri, fisheries and tourism to boost SL’s prospects
July 02 (DM) Sri Lanka's future economic prospects lies with the growth of the island's agricultural sector which accounts for 34% of the population. Chairman of CIC PLC B.R.L. Fernando made this comment at the Sri Lanka Economic Summit yesterday.
24 / 7 Update
Send your Feedback
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July 03 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the chief guest at a ceremony held today to Old Anandians who immensely contributed to liberate the country from terrorism.
|
| ||
|
About Sri Lanka ::-
| ||
| 24/7 UPDATE | ||