May 20 (PTI) India was the second largest development aid giver to Sri Lanka last year behind China, providing over $700 million to the island nation, according to latest official figures. This was contained in the Ministry of Finance and Planning’s External Resources Department’s 2012 ‘Global Partnership towards Development’ report issued recently. The Chinese commitment stood at $1.05 billion. “The total assistance extended more..

May 20 (MED) Govt will launch the next Deyata Kirula National Development programme on February, 2014 in the Puttalam, Kurunegala and Kegalle Districts. Minister Basil Rajapaksa said this at a meeting held at the ministry office recently to plan next year’s Deyata Kirula Development programme events. Political leaders, policy planners, ministry secretaries and other senior officials participated in the discussions where the Minister said the programme should truly more..

May 20 (LT) All working masses are prepared for tomorrow’s strike action, in an attempt to sabotage the strike the govt is engaged in various conspiracies and is sending letters to various institutions to scare the people, such petty attempts indicate how frightened the govt is says the President of National Trade Union Center (NTUC) K.D. Lal Kanthe. He said, “The Secretary General of the SLFP Maithripala Sirisena in an announcement had asked employees not to participate for more..

May 20 (NE) A world famous bridge building company has won a £35m contract that will help transform lives on a tropical island and secure the firm's future for years. Cleveland Bridge in Darlington has signed a deal with the govt of Sri Lanka to make up to 210 bridges for jungle and rural areas across the country. The ambitious three year project will help isolated communities access better education, healthcare and jobs by replacing more..

May 20 (GDI) The Wildlife Resources Conservation Ministry commenced construction work on the 46 Km electric fence from Annasigala in Thanamalwila to Icepeella in Wellawaya. The electric fence will prevent elephant encroachment into villages in the Thanamalwila and Wellawaya areas. The human-elephant conflict is a serious problem that Sri Lanka has faced for many years. Increased rural habitation and resultant infringement of natural elephant territory as well as accelerated more..

May 20 (SM) Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Ajith Jayasena of Matale District Hospital who was in charge of the scientific examination of the skeletons found in Matale mass grave has been transferred to Kurunegala General Hospital with immediate effect. He is to commence his duties at Kurunegala Hospital starting from today. When contacted by the media, he stated that despite the sudden transfer he is still in charge of the skeletons recovered from the Matale mass grave. more..

May 20 (DM) EPDP leader Minister Douglas Devananda, an advocate of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, said the delegation of land and police powers to the provincial councils should be held back for the time being when constituting to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC). He said there appeared to be dissension in the south over the delegation of such powers to the Provincial Council and therefore, it should be more..

May 20 (CG) A delegation of Labor MPs in Australia have approached Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr and urged him to take a tougher line on alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. The delegation of between 6-12 Labor MPs petitioned Senator Carr after last Tuesday’s caucus meeting. The group urged a tougher line on Sri Lanka, amid concerns Canberra’s diplomacy towards Colombo is being influenced by the need for Sri Lanka’s cooperation in cracking down on the asylum trade. more..

May 20 (E24|7) A Saudi court sentenced two Asian housemaids to 10 years in jail and ordered their lashed 1,000 times each after they were found guilty of indulging in sorcery at their employers’ houses in the Gulf Kingdom, a newspaper reported on Monday. Their Saudi employers reported the two maids to the Gulf country’s feared religious police, saying they had discovered that their families had been harmed because of sorcery practiced by the maids against them. more..

May 20 (PTI) The recent political tensions between India and Sri Lanka has not impacted tourism in the island nation, officials from Sri Lankan govt said in Mumbai today. "There was no major impact on tourism. Infact it (political crisis) impacted Tamil Nadu and India more as the wholesale business in textiles, dry fruits and other commodities was affected," said Bhaswara Senaka Gunarathna, chairman of Sri Lankan more..

May 20 (LBO) Sri Lanka's Motor vehicle registrations have picked up slightly in April 2013 though still remaining far below levels seen after taxes were hiked last year, an analysis by an equities research house shows. Automobile registrations picked up to 1,974 in April 2013, from 1,589 in March, the highest since taxes were raised in April 2012 in a mistaken belief that car imports rather than central bank credit was causing a balance of payments crisis. Car registrations were driven by a spike in more..

May 20 (LBO) Stock closed up 1.35% on Monday, driven by an extended rally in index heavy John Keells Holdings (JKH), though some selling was seen in the broader market. All Share Index closed 85.97 points higher at 6,466.67 and the S&P SL 20 Index closed 60.09 points higher at 3,649.35 up 1.67%. Turnover was 1.2 billion rupees down from 1.4 billion rupees on Friday. JKH which gained 13.10 rupees closed at 298.00 rupees and Nestle Lanka closed at 2090.00 rupees up 188.10 rupees, more..

May 20 (MED) The enhanced facilities constructed under the second phase of the Diyatha Uyana Walking Path and shops in Battaramulla were declared open for the public on last Saturday. Minister Basil Rajapaksa declared open the new facilities that include shops, open area with restaurants and ponds. Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa was also present at the occasion. more..

May 20 (GDI) Maha Nayaka of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya, Most Venerable Davuldena Gnanissara Thero and Maha Nayaka of the Ramanna Maha Nikaya Most Venerable Napana Premasiri Thero visited Japan from 9th to 16th May accompanied by a high-level delegation of Buddhist clergy. The Theros visited Japan on the invitation of the Embassy of Sri Lanka to attend a series of events organised by the Embassy in collaboration with Venerable Yalagamuwe Dammissara Thero more..

May 20 (Island) The Meteorology Department predicted that the prevailing stormy weather would ease in a few days. Duty forecaster Jeevan Karunaratne told The Island yesterday that showers and thundershowers would decrease gradually within the next few days. However, he said showers or thundershowers would develop at several places in the Uva province and at a few places elsewhere inland during the afternoon or evening. Karunaratne said that a few showers could be expected more..

May 20 (ST) Sri Lanka is the only country in the SAARC grouping that provides electricity round the clock. Hence the recent upward revision of tariffs is a necessity, says CEB Chairman W.B. Ganegala. “People pay more for mobile phones,” he told the Sunday Times. He also claimed half of Sri Lanka’s population has been given relief following President Rajapaksa’s May Day directive to reduce tariffs to the poorer sections. more..

May 20 (GDI) The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles participated at “International Trade Outlook” an annual event jointly organized by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and the World Trade Center Association Los Angeles-Long Beach, at Renaissance Long Beach Hotel, California on 15th May. The program focused the Los Angeles County as America’s international trade capital and gateway to the global economy. More than 500 prominent more..

May 20 (Island) Trade unions behind tomorrow’s planned token strike in protest against the recent electricity tariff hike, yesterday challenged the govt to face their trade union action without trying to sabotage it by cancelling the leave of public sector employees. Co–convener of the co–ordination committee for the Trade Union Alliance (CCTUA) Wasantha Samarasinghe said that the govt had declared May 21 as a day of religious observances to mark the Vesak celebrations. more..

May 20 (ENS) Protests by the fishermen community and political parties have yielded result with the Sri Lankan govt ordering the release of the 26 Karaikal fishermen on Monday. The fishermen who are in the custody of the Sri Lankan govt will be released after being produced before the Lankan court, said Minister V Narayanasamy. “Orders for the release have been issued after the intervention of Minister for External Affairs more..

May 20 (Island) The CEB had suffered a loss to the tune of nearly Rs. 210 million, within the last seven days, due to a technical problem in the coal fired power plant at Norochcholai. The plant equipped to supply 300 MW to the national grid has been contributing only 200 MW since last weekend. "If the plant fails completely for a day the losses will amount to Rs. 80 million since we have to depend on expensive power purchasing, especially to cover up the peak hours," more..

May 20 (LBO) Prime Grameen Micro Finance Limited plans to grow its customers from 125,000 members to 200,000 members in 2013, helped by expansions into former war zones in Sri Lanka's East. "We will open six new branches in the island and two of the branches will be in Eastern area. Prime Grameen chairman B Premalal said at the launch of a minors' savings scheme. "We have enough determined ladies in those areas. One of the challenges we face is reaching grass roots. more..

May 20 (Island) Minister Johnston Fernando has directed the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to take immediate steps to prevent traders and trading establishments from selling soaps and facial creams, which do not display any descriptions on the wrappers and containers. Those fake creams and soaps had caused severe skin allergies and some people had been duped into purchasing them at very high prices. more..

May 20 (CT) Govt moves to invite foreign universities to open up branches in Sri Lanka is to be welcomed and highly commended. It will be a boon to over 100,000 students who have been unable to gain access to university education in Sri Lanka due to the dearth of space in our universities to accommodate them. Of the 130,000 students who pass the GCE A/L exam annually, only about 22,000 are selected for admission to State run universities. Therefore, it is those students who qualify more..

May 20 (CT) Four years have passed without seeing any progress in the lives of Tamils in our homeland. The International Community marks May 18, 2009, as the end of the war. But the war on Tamils has never ceased, as our people have been subjected to land grabbing, threats against freedom of expression, kidnappings, raping, and political impeachments. During the month of May in 2009, Tamils experienced some of the worst crimes perpetrated against them by the SL govt. more..

May 20 (HRW) Respect for basic rights and liberties has declined in Sri Lanka in the four years since the govt defeated the LTTE. This week marks the fourth anniversary of the brutal civil war's end. Since the end of the 26-year-long civil war, the Sri Lankan govt has resisted taking meaningful steps to investigate and prosecute alleged war crimes by govt forces and the LTTE, end the crackdown against the independent more..

May 20 (Island) Health Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka said that he had learnt from a reliable source that that the majority of doctors attached to state-owned hospitals were in the habit of ordering unnecessary medical investigations, even for a minor ailments. He had, therefore, requested doctors to refrain from such practice as the Ministry was in the process of rationalising its resources, he said. Dr. Jayathilaka pointed out more..

May 20 (DM) With the first generation of tax reforms failing to generate intended revenues, IMF has urged authorities to bring about second generation of tax reforms focused on broadening the tax base through improved administration. “Revenue growth has not responded as envisaged to a first round of tax reforms, undermining capital investment plans; despite recent appropriate price adjustments, state-owned enterprises remain prone to more..

May 20 (DM) It would be an insult to the war heroes who sacrificed their lives for their motherland if we gave into international pressure and held Provincial Council elections in the North, Minister Champika Ranawaka said. Speaking at the 4th anniversary of the Sri Lankan War Heroes’ Commemoration Day organised by the JHU at the Public Library in Colombo on Saturday, he said Indian politicians Karunanidhi and more..

May 20 (Island) Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa yesterday said that if PV Oil Singapore came up with a fresh satisfactory proposal the CPC would purchase gas oil from the same company in the future. He said that at the start, PV Oil Singapore had supplied high quality products and when they recently visited the company, it had expressed that it would like to provide quality products to Sri Lanka again. more..

May 20 (National) Four Sri Lankan refugees sheltered in the UAE for seven months have been granted asylum in the United States, Sweden and Finland. They were among 45 Tamils who fled their home last October to seek asylum in Australia. But when their boat ran into trouble they had to be rescued by the Singaporean ship Pinnacle Bliss, which was on its way to Dubai. "We received new updates of additional four persons more..

May 20 (ST) Middle-income earners using between 61 and 300 energy units will see their power bills shoot up by more than a third with the new tariffs, the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) says. CEB Chairman W.P.Ganegala defended the new price structure, saying the increase over all sectors amounted to 20 per cent and that the Board was compelled to increase rates in order to provide round-the-clock supplies. more..

May 20 (eTN) After a short and pleasant flight on SriLankan Airllines, the national airline for Sri Lanka, from the Maldives, I arrived at Colombo International Airport. Immigration forms were given to passengers on this flight. I had the form filled out and after disembarking approached the immigration counter. The officer looked at my form and passport and asked, “Where is your visa?” No one had explained onboard or at check-in more..

May 20 (CT) General Secretary of the SLFP, Maithripala Sirisena said a 'sangayana' should be held to clean up the SLFP, suggesting the party which was founded in 1956 has now been infiltrated by various nefarious elements. He said the SLFP which was founded by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and D.A. Rajapaksa has veered away from its original mandate. "It is important that the SLFP deliberates to evaluate the past, present and future," more..

May 20 (SL) The working masses last week drew battle lines with the govt in demanding a withdrawal of the increase in electricity tariffs and are now moving towards a day of protests on Tuesday. The massive protest march organized by trade unions, opposition political parties and the civil society on the 15th in Colombo saw large crowds congregating, shouting slogans against the govt for its failure in addressing the issues faced more..

May 20 (DM) Addressing the ceremonial sittings, newly appointed Supreme Court judge Justice Rohini Marasinghe said that one of the basic requirements that is necessary to maintain that independence is to evoke a sense of respect from the executive for the judiciary. That sense of respect is often lost once the judiciary becomes beholden to the executive for benefits sought and benefits granted by and from the Executive she said. Here follows full address made by Justice more..

May 20 (DM) Amidst confusion, controversy and conflicting reports on the toxic chemicals in milk powder imported from New Zealand, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has disclosed that a toxic chemical has been found in imported white sugar. The Minister said further tests were being conducted on the sugar imported from Brazil after it was found it contained substantial amount of the toxic chemical cadmium. He assured the people local sugar was safe. more..