Share Blogs

The police and army are currently conducting separate investigations regarding the suicide of a soldier in the Puttalam army camp, Military Spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi said. The army soldier in question, a resident of Nikaweratiya, had reportedly shot himself last night (Sep. 29) using his own firearm.   Puttalam Additional District Judge had inspected the crime scene yesterday night.

Major General Shavendra Silva as the Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York enjoys diplomatic immunities and privileges accorded under the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations as well as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the External Affairs Ministry said today. In a press release the ministry states that ,”It has been brought to the notice of the Ministry of External Affairs that an attempt has been made by an agent to deliver summons issued by a New York Court on the Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka’s Mission to the United Nations in New York Major General Shavendra Silva.” The Ministry is of the view that Ambassador Shavendra Silva as the Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York enjoys diplomatic immunities and privileges accorded under the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations as well as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

One soldier injured in the explosion that took place at around 3.45pm inside the armoury at the Weerawila army camp, Military spokesman Brig. Nihal Hapuarachchi told Ada Derana. He added that there were continued reports of small explosions.

The common reaction of most of the delegations that heard the speech delivered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the 66th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, was that it embodied values and attitudes that go far beyond Sri Lanka, says External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris. “Of course he was speaking for Sri Lanka as the leader of Sri Lanka.” That was the primary focus and emphasis, he pointed out. However the President’s speech had a broader significance, because it articulated ideas and perceptions that were common to the entire developing world, said the Minister who was part of the President’s delegation to New York. “So it was regarded as the voice of the developing world.” “And that comment was made to us by many delegations.” he asserted in an exclusively interview to Ada Derana from New York. President Mahinda Rajapaksaa addressed the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday (September 23) touching on several important topics perta

A Sri Lankan maid who last week faced deportation has received a one-year work permit to stay in Cyprus from immigration authorities. Priyanka Dona, who was left unemployed and homeless after a serious workplace accident in 2010 was released from Phinikoudes police station in Larnaca on Friday, where she spent 44 days awaiting a decision. Dona will now spend the next year living with and employed by the Stylianou family in Lefkara, who have supported her through the difficult months since her accident. An elated Dona told the Cyprus Mail yesterday: “I am so happy to be out. I could not believe it when I heard (I could stay)” Her close friend and new employer Chris Stylianou said: “Priyanka was released on Friday and has been given a permit to work here for one year. She will be staying with us and will be employed by the family.” However, Stylianou said Dona was only nominally an employee, since her injured leg prevented her from working. “(On Thursday) she wa

The Sri Lanka men’s volleyball team made history by advancing to the Super 8 (classification) round of the Asian Volleyball Championship, underway in Tehran, Iran, for the first time.  The classification round for 1st to 8th places in Pools E and F will be held from September 25 to 26 and will determine the ranking for the quarterfinals on September 27.

Stocks tumbled on Thursday, extending losses for a fourth straight session, as the Federal Reserve's weak outlook for the U.S. economy and disappointing data China heightened fears about a global recession. Big banks were the top decliners, a day after Moody's lowered debt ratings for large lenders. Shares of Citigroup Inc and Morgan Stanley hit a 52-week low at the market's open. Citigroup fell more than 4 percent to $24.25 and Morgan Stanley dipped more than 6 percent to $12.99. The Select Sector Financial Sector SPDR funds was off more than 3 percent, also a 52-week low. "A lot of people were hoping for the Fed to say we are close to recession but not really in it and were expecting an aggressive action out of the Fed. The market didn't get this," said James Dailey, portfolio manager of TEAM Asset Strategy Fund in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The market's mood has turned decidedly negative since the Fed statement on Wednesday, which

The Australian Government and the Opposition voted together today to defeat a motion moved in the Senate by Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon (Senator for New South Wales) to suspend Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth.

Veteran Actor Joe Abeywickrama passed away at the age of 78 a short while ago. According to his family, he died upon being admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital after sustaining an injury during his exercises. The actor had fallen while doing his exercises and had been rushed to the Kalubowila Hospital but died upon arrival.

Sri Lankan authorities on Wednesday said that there has been an increase in the number of homosexuals in the country despite its strong Buddhist culture and traditions. A survey conducted by the Sri Lankan Health Authorities have revealed that there are over 30,000 homosexuals and over 40,000 prostitutes in the island amongst its estimated 20 million population. Out of these figures, more than 8,000 prostitutes are found in the capital Colombo where illegal brothels continue to operate, Sri Lankan Medical Authorities said. Prostitution is illegal in the island nation and has become a severe problem for the local police who continue to carry out raids and arrests on secretly functioning brothels in many parts of the country. Homosexuality is also a taboo subject in Sri Lanka where socially it is unaccepted and most often seen as an offence. According to Sri Lankan Medical Authorities, while the numbers for homosexuality have increased, most homosexua

The third Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia played at SSC ended in a draw after the tourists were dismissed for 488 in the second innings on the fifth day.   Rangana Herath starred with the ball for the Lankans as he picked up 7 wickets including the milestone 100th Test wickets. Clarke scored 112 while Hussey made 93 as Australia were bowled out for 488, a lead of 331 runs on day five of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Sri Lanka only faced two overs in their second innings, making 0-7 before play was called off and the match declared a draw. That result was all Australia needed to take out the three-match series 1-0 and move above Sri Lanka into fourth on the world Test rankings.

Dialog SATNAV uses GPS technology to efficiently bring automated and voice supported navigation to GPS Smartphones and Vehicle Devices. Dialog SATNAV is powered with detailed maps of Sri Lanka to assist navigating to and from any destination in the country varying from places of business and hotels to over 100,000 places of interest and routes across 9 provinces. The demo version of SATNAV can be downloaded FREE from the Dialog W@P site for Windows Mobile, Android (up to v2.3) and Symbian Smartphones. Mobile URL –  www.dialogwap.com/navigator Activation How to activate the Full Map http://www.dialogwap.com/navigator/activate.xhtml Please follow the below steps to activate the full map. To request a license please SMS SatNavi to 678. Start the SATNAV application (Navitel) and select ‘online activation’. Please enter the license key (sent via SMS) in to the text box of the application. Press ok to proceed. How to obtain a SATNAV License Type,  SATNAVI  and send

A magistrate’s court fined 37 individuals today (September 19) for driving while under the influence. The motorists, arrested during inspections carried out last week, were each fined a sum of Rs.5,000 after they were produced at court today. 

Department of Examination informs that grade 5 scholarship examination results will be reconsidered only if the school principal and the teacher in charge certifies that there has been an astonishing difference in the exam results of a student. An appeal can be made through the principal for re-correction of results for such students only while any other appeal will not be considered, the examinations department notified. Appeals for re-correction of scholarship examination results can be forwarded until October 1.

One person has been reported killed and over 20 injured following a collision between three trains in Alawwa. The injured have been admitted to the Alawwa Hospital. According to hospital sources, the seriously injured are being transferred to the Kurunegala Hospital. The accident took place after a train crashed into the back of another which was in turn pushing along the broken-down Kandy-Colombo train according to Sri Lanka Railways.

A Matale Municipal Council candidate for the UNP was assaulted along with one of her supporters by an unidentified group while she was attending to campaign promotions in Matale. Both victims were taken to the Matale District Hospital while a complaint was made to the Matale Police headquarters, the leader of the UNP candidate group, D. Aluvihare stated.

A Kotte Municipal Council candidate representing an independent group was assaulted and claimed that UNP supporters were behind the attack. Leader of an independent political group, Chandima Nayanajith claimed that he was severely assaulted by a gang while attending to his campaign work. He stated that he had also made a complaint to the police regarding the incident while he sought treatment at the National Hospital Accident Ward.

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has ordered to stop the road construction from Imbulkanda to Suriyakanda across the Sinharaja Reserve until he returns. The Minister is currently participating the UNHRC sessions in Geneva. According to Environmentalists, the proposed road would affect the Bio diversity of the Forest reserve causing genetic changes to the Endemic Fauna and Flora.

The Sri Lankan government has informed the United Nations Human Rights Council that investigations have found that there are no more child combatants in the country. A UN body had recently said that there were fears over some children who remain missing after being believed to have been recruited as combatants by an armed group in the east of the country soon after the war. However the Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday that the Nations Human Rights Council, which is currently meeting in Geneva, was informed that child recruitment for combat purposes has completely stopped. The UN Special Representative of the secretary General for children and armed conflict was told during the council session that anyone found to be still involved in child recruitment for combat purposes will be arrested, the External Affairs Ministry said. Tamil Tiger rebels and a breakaway faction were known to recruit children for combat purposes during the conflict which ended in M

  On the Windows computer of the future, live tiles will replace icons, touch-based gestures will replace mouse clicks and semantic zooming will replace the arduous traversal through nested menus and folders. In a demonstration Monday for journalists and analysts, Microsoft showed off a beta of its next generation Windows OS, Windows 8. The event was held the day before Microsoft's Build Professional Developers Conference opens in Anaheim, California. Although Microsoft has revealed many of Windows 8's features in blog posts and earlier demonstrations, Monday's presentation showed how these elements would work together as a whole. Windows 8 is a "bold re-imagination" of Windows, said Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows division. The Windows 8 user experience will be fundamentally different than it was for earlier iterations. Users will no longer be asked to see the screen as a desktop. Nor will they find menus running across the top of boxy appl

The Japanese government has donated a sum of Rs. 1736 million for the construction of the Munmunai Bridge in Batticaloa. The bridge will be 210m long and 9.8m wide, the Finance Ministry stated.

Sri Lankan gemstone dealers say demand for blue sapphires has risen strongly since Britain’s Prince William married Kate Middleton in April. They say the stone in the bride’s ring, previously worn by Princess Diana, originated in Sri Lanka. In the first half of this year, Sri Lankan gem exports rose 35% over the past year to be worth more than $48m. An ordinary sapphire can cost $17,000 per gram, as the gems are difficult to mine. Gems from Sri Lankan pits include rubies and so-called cat’s eyes - but the best-known are Ceylon Sapphires, above all the blue ones, although there are also yellow and pink gems. ‘Prestige’ The Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association has said it is beyond doubt that the sapphire in Kate Middleton’s engagement ring, came from Sri Lanka more than three decades ago. Sinan Salahudeen Sinan Salahudeen says there has been a rush for sapphires However, earlier this year the royal jewellers, Garrard, declined to comment to the BBC on its origins. A dealer at the

The number of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka went up 29.6 % to 72,463 in the month of August 2011, compared to August 2010 which was only 55,898, according to the latest figures released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). Figures showed an increase in the number of arrivals from Western Europe, South Asia, East Asia, Middle East and North America. The number of visitors from Western Europe rose by 17.8 percent (30,053) with tourists from France up 42.4 percent (4,166), Belgium up 153.2 percent (962), the number of visitors from Austria is 394 and Germany up 23.3 percent (4,834), according to the SLTDA. South Asian arrivals continued to grow by 33.8 percent (16,136). India generated 12,857 visitors, an increase of 38.9 percent. The number of visitors from the Middle-East is 5,150. Arrivals from East Asia increased 48.0 percent (9,963), with Malaysian arrivals to 1,568, and those from Singapore up to 1,297. Arrivals from Australia went up by 25.4 percent to 3,641 w

Philippine soldiers killed three Al-Qaeda-linked extremists in a gun battle in the southern Philippines on Sunday, a military commander said. The battle with members of Abu Sayyaf, a local militant group in the strife-torn island of Basilan, was proof of the military’s continuing efforts to combat terrorism even a decade after 9/11, said Colonel Alexander Macario. Macario’s anti-terror task force tracked down a band of Abu Sayyaf militants and killed three extremists, the colonel said, forcing the rest to flee the gunfight leaving the dead bodies behind. He said the band engaged by his task force was linked to a series of kidnappings in the south in recent years, including the abduction of a Sri Lankan peace activist in 2009. The Abu Sayyaf is a small group of Islamic militants founded in 1990 with Al-Qaeda funding and has been blamed for the nation’s worst terrorist attacks, including a ferry bombing that killed more than 100 in 2004. The group is also wanted for the kidnapping of

The Indian government has decided to release 35 Sri Lankan fishermen, arrested for allegedly venturing into Indian waters, along with 7 fishing vessels. The Fisheries Ministry stated that the released fishermen will be repatriated once the approval of the Indian government is received. 41 Sri Lankan fishermen in total were taken into custody by Indian Coast Guard recently while 8 of their vessels were sized as well. The remaining fishermen had not been released reportedly due to one of them filing an appeal.

Israel flew its ambassador home from Cairo on Saturday after protesters stormed its embassy building, plunging Egypt's military rulers into their worst diplomatic crisis since they took over from Hosni Mubarak. Three people were killed and 1,049 wounded in clashes between protesters and police, the Health Ministry said. The United States, which has poured billions of dollars of military aid into Egypt since it made peace with Israel in 1979, urged Cairo to protect the embassy after protesters hurled embassy documents and the Israeli flag from windows. "Our dignity has been restored," said Mohi Alaa, 24, a protester who was speaking near the site of overnight clashes with police around the building that houses the Israeli embassy. Bits of concrete and bullet casings were strewn over the street.

The Eastern Province Chief Minister, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan met with the German Ambassador for Sri Lanka today (September 10) for a special discussion. Ada Derana learnt that the discussions heavily focused on the German government’s role in constructing Technical Training Centers in the Easter Province. The German Ambassador also heaped praise on the peaceful environment currently prevailing in the province.

A motorcyclist was killed after he veered off the road and crashed into a telephone pole in the Kahadawa area in Meerigama, police stated. The victim was a 40 year old resident of Diwuldeniya. Meanwhile, another Motorcyclist was killed in the Hettipola area in Kuliyapitiya after colliding with a lorry. The lorry driver was arrested following the accident, police stated.

A married couple drowned in Paanama area in Pottuvil today (September 9) morning while fishing in the Panagala lagoon, Police Spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakoddy stated. The bodies of the two victims have been found and are awaiting the post mortem examinations.

No cutbacks have been made on food for the Security Forces, Chief Government Whip, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena stated in parliament today (September 8). He said this in reply to a question put forward by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera who claimed that rumours had been circulating that there had been cutbacks on the meals given to the armed forces who would receive five meals inclusive of meat and four inclusive of fish each week. Minister Gunawardena stated that all the personnel in the armed forces were receiving their meals as usual and that not cutbacks would be made.

Minister of Irrigation and Water Supply, Nimal Siripala De Silva expressed in Parliament today (September 7) the Sri Lankan government ’ s sorrow regarding the bomb blast in new Delhi which killed nine people and injured 45.

The Central Bank has issued a provisional letter of approval to Cargills Ceylon PLC to establish a new commercial bank in Sri Lanka,  a stock exchange filing said.  It said the application for a banking license had been made jointly by Cargills and its parent C T Holdings, who are the joint promoters of the new bank ‘Cargills Agriculture and Commercial Bank(CACB).

A lorry has toppled on the railway line between Diyathalawa and Bandarawela disrupting railway services along the Badulla-Colombo line.  The control center of the Sri Lanka Railway Department informed that due to the disruption trains starting from Colombo would only travel to Diyathalawa. Trains starting from Badulla might be delayed. The center said.

At least 15 people were reported dead and several injured on Wednesday morning when two powerful bomb blasts occurred near the commissioner office in Quetta, reported...

The next Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) report would be presented to Parliament before the budget 2012, COPE Chairman and Senior Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara told Parliament today (September 6). 227 institutions need be subject to probe pertaining to the report, he said adding of that 185 institutions have been probed already.

Minister Champika Ranawaka is to take legal action seeking Rs.500 million in damages against Operations Committee member of CEB Joint Trade Union Alliance, Ranjan Jayalal for tarnishing his credibility and reputation and also media institutions for publishing false statements. Mr. Jayalal at a press conference on August 29 had claimed that a bed was purchased for Rs.80,000 and transported to Kataragama all the way from Colombo for Patali Champika Ranawaka. In a statement issued today (September 5) the Minister affirms that he, as Power and Energy Minister, has never taken official vehicles, official residences, security personnel or any other privileges belonging to the CEB.

Police says that individuals engaging in election propaganda in a manner that pollutes the environment will be arrested regardless of their political afflictions. Head of Police Election Secretariat, Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne said the police have received instructions to apprehend any person violating election laws. He stated that so far 17 individuals have been arrested for violating election laws while a majority of them are from Colombo and Nugegoda areas. In addition 17 complaints have been received thus far in connection to the upcoming Local Government election, the Senior DIG emphasized.

Sri Lanka is interested in adopting Korea’s growth model to revive its war-torn economy, External Affairs Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris said. The country is also looking for a quick and balanced recovery using Korea’s proven technologies in construction, power generation and communications, the foreign minister said, asking for aggressive investment by Korean firms. The country is struggling to rejuvenate its sagging economy and crippled infrastructure as a result of years of war with the ethnic insurgent group, widely known as the Tamil Tigers, which ended in 2009. “There are many things we can learn from Korea’s growth experience,” said Minister Peiris in an interview with  The Korea Times  in Seoul. “We would like to emulate the ‘Saemaul Undong’ movement because it was about uplifting a rural economy.” Saemaul Undong was a pan-national modernization campaign initiated by the late former Korean President Park Chung-hee in the 1970s. It dramatically improved the living conditions

Sri Lanka’s documentary ‘Lies Agreed Upon,’ which directly challenges the assertions contained in the Channel -4 video, is scheduled to be screened at the United Nations followed by a Q&A session attended by Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona and Ambassador Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva. According to the Inner City Press the special screening will take place on September 6 at 2.00pm in the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium. “Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona and Ambassador Major General Shavendra Silva of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN will be present for a Q&A session following the screening.” it said. Sri Lanka had released the documentary, prepared by the Defence Ministry, highlighting the false claims made by British Channel-4 and featured interviews from former LTTE cadres, eyewitnesses of the final stages of the war.

Those seeking police clearance reports to travel overseas can check status through mobile phones by typing PLC space CRT space (Ref No) and sending it to 1919, police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said.

U.S. employment growth ground to a halt in August as sagging confidence discouraged already skittish businesses from hiring, keeping pressure on the Federal Reserve to provide more stimulus to aid the economy. Nonfarm payrolls were unchanged, the Labor Department said on Friday, the weakest reading since September. Economists had expected a gain of 75,000 jobs. The report underscored the frail economy and kept fears of a recession on investors' radar. "The economy is slowly grinding to a halt. The problem, however, on the policy side is that I wonder whether the numbers are truly weak enough to galvanize a political response," said Steve Blitz, senior economist at ITG in New York. U.S. stock index futures extended losses on the data, while Treasury debt prices rose. The dollar extended losses against the Swiss franc, but rose against the euro. Adding to the weak tenor of the report, nonfarm employment for June and July was revised to show 58,000 fewer jobs.