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UNP protests outside P’ment; says no need for fuel hike

2012-02-23 00:27 (FT)

MPs of UNP yesterday staged a protest outside the parliament against the increase in fuel prices and the resultant increase in the cost of living. The protest was led by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe and the UNP activists protested against the govt's failure to convene parliament to discuss the price hikes and its impact on the economy. Wickremasinghe told the media that the protests and the death of a fisherman in Chilaw during a protest could

Tempers flare after Indians "Mankad" Sri Lanka's Lahiru Thirimann

2012-02-23 00:26 (HS)

SRI Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene last night accused India of playing dirty, after spinner Ravi Ashwin controversially "Mankaded'' Lahiru Thirimann. Thirimann was given out when Ashwin, bowling in the 40th over, removed the bails and appealed as the Sri Lankan batsman was backing up and out of his ground. Acting Indian captain Virender Sehwag did not withdraw the appeal, but Thirimanne stood his ground

UNHRC sessions: US, LTTE target GoSL on HR front

2012-02-23 00:24 (Island)

The Sri Lankan govt is facing a multi-pronged attack at the United Nations Human Rights Commission sessions, scheduled to begin on Feb. 27, with the US spearheading a diplomatic offensive much to the delight of the LTTE rump. The 19th sessions will continue till March 23. Sri Lankan govt officials said that the LTTE was depending on the US to help it move a resolution against Sri Lanka, during the sessions in spite of many member countries,

Wijeyadasa Rajapakse elected Bar Assn. president

2012-02-23 00:23 (SM)

Wijeyadasa Rajapakse has been elected president of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka at its annual election of office-bearers. At today’s election, he received 1,297 votes, while his challenger Tirantha Waraliyadde obtained only 676 votes. Around 7,000 votes from across the island were eligible to vote at the BASL election. Born in 1959, he went to school in Hambantota and graduated from Colombo and Sri Jayewardenepura Universities

G.L. Peiris dropped from the UNHRC speakers' list

2012-02-23 00:21 (SM)

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L Peiris, who arrived in Geneva two days ago, has been dropped from the speakers' list at the high level segment of 19th session of the UNHRC. A week ago UNHRC extranet published Mr. Peiris as the speaker from Sri Lanka at the high level segment. By yesterday, however, Minister of Plantation Industries, Mahinda Samarasinghe has replaced Minister G.L. Peiris. Minister Samarasinghe will address the UNHRC on Feb. 27th at 3.10pm

Sri Lanka expressway gets online ticket system

2012-02-21 20:43 (LBO)

Dialog Axiata has provided an on-line system for Sri Lanka’s first expressway enabling real time ticket transactions at all entry and exit points and traffic and revenue monitoring. Its subsidiary, Dialog Enterprise partnered with Access Telecommunications Services which provided the required application platform and all Point of Sales machines for the southern expressway which was opened in November 2011.

Monk sentenced to death after 50 years

2012-02-21 20:43 (SL)

A Buddhist monk has been sentenced to death by the Tangalle Magistrate over the murder of a farmer. Another suspect was also given the death sentence over the murder of the farmer by the Tangalle Magistrate today. This is the first time that a monk has been sentenced to death since 1962, the Magistrate had said. In 1962 a monk was sentenced to death over the assassination of former Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranaike. Bandaranaike’s assassin

Sri Lanka too strong for listless India

2012-02-21 20:42 (CI)

India abandoned their rotation policy and played all three senior batsmen. They also brought in a spinner in place of a fast bowler. They still leaked runs at the death. Their heavyweight top order still caved in cheaply. Sri Lanka were on a different plane. Their old guard provided the base and the new order built on it to boost them to a substantial total.

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Govt. still to receive US$ 25 mil from Iran

2012-02-21 20:40 (CT)

The govt is yet to receive a staggering 25 million US Dollars from Iran for the tea stocks purchased from Sri Lanka during the past six months, highly placed govt sources told Ceylon Today. This comes as a result of the Iranian govt being unable to pay the outstanding sum of 25 million US Dollars due to economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the US and also due to the political turmoil prevalent in the country.

Sri Lanka to spend US26mn on fishery fuel subsidies

2012-02-21 20:40 (LBO)

Sri Lanka will spend 3.0 billion rupees a year on fuel subsidies to fishermen to help reduce the effect of a sudden increase in fuel prices minister Rajitha Senarathe said. Tax payers will fork out 256.7 million rupees a month or 3080.4 million rupees a year for the fuel subsidy which will defray a part of the fuel price increase. Senaratne said subsidies will be given to be effective from February 15, through fuel stamps which can be encashed

A body blow, but look who lives it up?

2012-02-21 20:39 (LB)

President Mahinda Rajapaksa urged people to tighten their belts during the war and they did. When three years after the Tigers were defeated Sri Lankans are still expected to scrimp, they want to know why. Since fighting ended in 2009, the Central Bank and other govt agencies have used thrilling statistics and grand rhetoric to describe the economic situation. They cited high growth rates while boasting that Sri Lanka was impervious to the world economic crisis.

'Suppression of peaceful protests could lead to Syria like situation'

2012-02-21 20:39 (Island)

By suppressing peaceful protests, the govt was paving the way for a Syria like situation in Sri Lanka, UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday. The govt has stated that it did not suppress peaceful demonstrations. However, the statement was made after using water cannons, tear gas, anti riot squads and live ammunition against unarmed persons including members of opposition political parties, who protested in Colombo last week

Row over Indian anti- terror outfit highlights dangers in devolution

2012-02-21 20:37 (Island)

A simmering controversy over India’s decision to establish a National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has highlighted the danger in the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which some members of the ruling UPFA believe might pave the way for federalism. Govt sources said that the dispute over the proposed agency couldn’t have come at a worse time for those pushing for police powers for the Northern Province in spite of Sri Lanka’

Lunch time demos from today, tougher action later: JVP

2012-02-21 20:36 (DM)

Protests are expected to intensify with opposition political parties, trade unions and civil society organisations warning they would take to the streets over the massive increase in fuel prices and resultant increase in prices of essential items. JVP affiliated NTUC convener Samantha Koralearachchi said yesterday they had organised a series of protest campaigns to demand a substantial wage increase for public, private and estate sector employees

Norochcholai power plant: Another false start today?

2012-02-21 20:36 (Island)

After nearly a month, the country’s first coal fired 300 MW power plant at Norochcholai will resume generation of electricity today. However, experts are wary of possible fresh trouble. Senior officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board have expressed their dismay to the Chinese Company that built the Norochcholai plant in Puttalam.

LTTE ban: State to adopt Centre's counter

2012-02-21 20:35 (Hindu)

The Tamil Nadu govt has submitted before the Madras High Court that it was adopting the Centre's counter to a writ petition challenging an order of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal confirming the Union govt's ban on the LTTE. The writ petition has been filed by MDMK general secretary Vaiko. In the counter, M. Saleem, Deputy Secretary, Public (SC) Department, stated that the Centre issued a notification dated May 14, 2010

Sri Lanka used as transit point in cocaine smuggling

2012-02-21 20:34 (KT)

The Sri Lankan Police Narcotics Bureau believes that the island is used as a transit point for smuggling cocaine into countries around the world. Special drug detection teams have been deployed at the country’s BIA to nab drug smugglers. Cocaine is also being smuggled into the country, said authorities. The special drug team busted two foreigners attempting to smuggle more than LKRs 75 million worth of cocaine within the past two weeks.

No intention to burden public - President

2012-02-20 20:16 (DN)

The govt was compelled to increase the price of fuel due to its difficulty in shouldering the massive economic weight imposed by the rise in world oil prices, a decision the govt was forced to take against its will, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. “The govt has never imposed hardships on the people willingly,” he said. He said the govt has taken measures to provide relief to all needy sectors affected by the fuel price hike

'Sri Lanka Reconciliation report implemented'

2012-02-20 20:15 (GDI)

Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona has outlined the key features and recommendations of the final report of the LLRC. On May 15, 2010, President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed the Commission of Inquiry on the LLRC and hardly 15 months after the end of the conflict, on August 11, 2010 this independent body commenced hearings. The hearings were open to the public

Willy-nilly goes the rupee, but did we think?

2012-02-20 20:14 (LB)

‘Have we done our homework before we came out with these price hikes?’ is one big question in the mind of EDB Chairman, Janaka Ratnayake. While economists and leading industrialists are ‘happy’ the way Sri Lanka is moving forward with its development projects and high earnings on exports, underscoring that this should be the year of exports,

Biyagama Village Hotel owner murdered

2012-02-20 20:12 (DM)

The owner of Biyagama Village Hotel, Bernard Jayaratne (65) was hacked to death this morning in one of his estates in Pahala Dompe in Dompe by an unidentified person who had come on a motorbike, the police said. According to eyewitnesses the killing had been carried out by the unidentified person who was hiding inside the estate at around 6.30am. Police said that the victim was hacked to death with a manna knife while he was in one of his coconut estates.

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