Tops Sri Lanka - Tops.lk - Daily Sri Lankan News - Full Version

Over 1,600 refugees return since Jan 2012 from TN - UNHRC

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:27:01 -0700

With monetary aid from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 1,600 Sri Lankan Tamils living in Tamil Nadu as refugees have returned to their country so far since January 2012.

Officials of the UNHCR, who have their field office in Chennai, said that about 1,264 Sri Lankan Tamils, who were living in special camps across the State, had returned through voluntary repatriation to their country between January and December 2012. This year, about 350 refugees have returned so far. In Chennai there are two open refugees’ camps – in Gummidipoondi and Puzhal.

About 1,670 refugees returned to their country in 2011 which was comparatively lesser than 2,040 persons in 2010 after the end of war in 2009.

Officials in the UN refugee agency said that many factors including medical and education facilities were found to be reasons behind the declining number of Sri Lankan nationals return to their native country. “Some of them postpone their applications saying that they don’t want to discontinue medical treatments and education here. But so far nobody had complained to us about ‘safety’ as reason for not returning to their country,” an official said.

The UNHCR also conducts checks for the safety of the refugee back in his country. “Once a person expresses his willingness to return and applies to us, we check if the place they want to settle is safe. We also do random monitoring of these people after they return. But if they face any trouble upon their return, they get back to us,” an official explained.

There are over 60,000 refugees from the island nation living in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu which constitutes about 36 per cent of total number of refugees in the country, the New Indian Express reports.

England reach Champions Trophy final

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:03:33 -0700

England beat South Africa by seven wickets in the first semi finals of the ICC Champions trophy and qualified for the final.

South Africa were bowled out for 175 while England reached the target with seven wickets to spare.

David Miller scored a half century for the South Africans while Jonathan Trott was unbeaten on 82 runs.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

UPDATE: Three killed and 70 injured as bus carrying children falls into precipice

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:31:02 -0700

Three persons were killed while seventy others were injured when a bus carrying school children had fallen into a precipice at the Seeta Eliya area in Nuwara-Eliya, police stated.

Two adults and a school child was among the killed in the incident.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

13A is administratively a �white elephant� - Lalith Weeratunga

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:30:25 -0700

The government stated that it was no secret that the 13th amendment was a “white elephant” from an administrative point of view.

Speaking to the public in a live Twitter interview, Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga stated that the 13A must be viewed from the angle of the citizen and it was no secret that through 22 years of experience administratively it is a white elephant.

Responding to a similar question he also stated that the President will honour the constitution while devolution must be to the village.

He also responded to questions regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) stating that “progress is satisfactory but there are certain activities that take a long time to complete. One cannot expect steady progress all the time”.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Student who stabbed female lecturer arrested

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:50:46 -0700

The student who stabbed a female lecturer of the Open University in Nawala has been arrested by Police. The student had fallen ill due to the consumption of some liquid and admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital where he was arrested, Police said.

Earlier today a tense situation erupted at the Open University in Nawala after a student had attacked a lecturer. The lecturer was admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital with cut injuries.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Navy arrests group attempting to illegally set sail from SL

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:08:43 -0700

The Navy arrested a group of suspects who were attempting to illegally sail from Sri Lanka off the Eastern coast of Batticaloa this morning (June 19) Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya stated.

The seized vessel was taken to the Trincomalee harbour while the Navy Spokesman stated that the number of suspects on board has not been counted as yet.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Duminda Silva arrives in parliament after 18 months of leave

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:27:39 -0700

MP Duminda Silva arrived in Parliament a short while ago for the first time in 18 months following the shooting incident in Kolonnawa that resulted in the death of former MP Baratha Lakshman Premachandra in 2011.

The UPFA Parliamentarian was hospitalised with gunshot wounds to the head following the incident in Kolonnawa on October 8, 2011.

MP Silva was further treated in Singapore where he made his recovery and returned to the island.

Charge sheets were filed against 13 suspects including MP Duminda Silva over the murders of four persons including former Parliamentarian and Presidential Adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Tense situation at Open Uni after student attacks lecturer

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:27:00 -0700

A tense situation erupted at the Open University in Nawala after a student had attacked a lecturer, sources told Ada Derana. The lecturer has been admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital with cut injuries.

The student who attacked the lecturer is still within the university premises carrying the sharp object used in the attack, sources claimed. Despite police being notified not a single policemen has arrived at the scene, it is reported.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Polls for NP, CP and NWP scheduled for after second week of Sep

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:26:22 -0700

The polls for the Northern Province, Central Province and North Western Province is scheduled to be held after the second week of September as the bill for voting rights of displaced people is passed, sources at the Election Department stated.

The Registration of Electors (special provisions) bill that ensures voting rights to displaces persons in the North passed in parliament with amendment yesterday.

The Supreme Court ruled that the special bill that gives voting rights to the displaced in the North is consistent with the constitution, Speaker announced in parliament on June 5.

The issue of whether it is in accordance with the constitution that those who were internally displaced in the North could cast their votes according to the areas they resided in before being displaced was brought up to the Supreme Court for interpretation.

Deputy Solicitor General Arjun Obeysekera who was present for the Attorney General pointed out that internally displaced persons can, with a certificate from the Grama Sevaka, cast his vote for the area of residence prior to being displaced.

However, he also stated that if it is proven that any person has been a registered voter in more than one electorate or has been registered on two voting lists, legal action will be taken against the person.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Court orders Arundika to give evidence on Eknaligoda

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:25:41 -0700

The Homagama Magistrate Court ordered MP Arundika Fernando to appear in court on July 16 to give evidence over the disappearance of Journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

UPFA MP for the Puttalam District, Arundika Fernando stated in parliament that missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda was currently living in France.

Fernando said that he was introduced to Eknaligoda by another Sri Lanka journalist, during a visit to France.

Fernando stated that his childhood friend journalist Manjula Wediwardena had pointed to a man with a shaved head and said he was Eknaligoda.

At that moment the individuals hurriedly left avoiding speaking with me, the UPFA MP said in parliament, raising a parliamentary privileges question.

Arundika Fernando further said that certain electronic and print media are making various accusations and criticizing him over his statement in parliament on June 5, regarding the whereabouts of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

He stated that this smear campaign is tarnishing his reputation and is a violation of his parliamentary privileges.

The Puttalam District parliamentarian also rejected the comments made by Prageeth Eknaligoda’s wife, Sandhya regarding his statement in Parliament, terming them as “baseless”.

Mrs Eknaligoda had denied she was in contact with her husband and that he is living in France.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Seven suspects arrested for robbery of gold and gem stones

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:25:05 -0700

Seven suspects were arrested by the Beruwala Police over the alleged involvement in the robbery of gold and jewellery.

Police also seized five gem stones worth Rs.550,000, ten mobile phone worth Rs. 200,000, Gold worth Rs. 865,000 and a stock of various sim cards in the suspects’ possession.

The suspects were residents of the Dinagoda area, police stated while they will be produced before the Kalutara Magistrate Court today (June 19).

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Police arrest suspect transporting pesticides and food stocks

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:24:30 -0700

Police arrested a suspect who was transporting pesticides along with a stock of food stuff in Nochchiyagama while the stocks were seized by the police.

The police searched the man’s lorry after being tipped off regarding the stocks he was transporting.

The police found stocks of potatoes, onions, dhal, garlic, big onions, koththamalli, pumpkin along with the pesticides in the lorry.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Indian PM conveys dismay over SL move on 13th Amendment

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:23:45 -0700

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday told a delegation of Sri Lanka Tamil MPs that he was “dismayed” by reports suggesting that Colombo planned to dilute certain key provisions of the 13th Amendment on devolution of powers to provinces ahead of polls to the Northern Provincial Council.

The prime minister noted that the proposed changes “raised doubts about the commitments made by the Sri Lankan government to India and the international community, including the United Nations, on a political settlement in Sri Lanka that would go beyond the 13th Amendment,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in answer to a query.

“The changes would also be incompatible with the recommendation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), set up by the Government of Sri Lanka, calling for a political settlement based on the devolution of power to the provinces,” the prime minister said, according to Akbaruddin.

“The prime minister stated that he was deeply concerned about the welfare and well-being of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.

“He stressed on the expectation that the Sri Lankan Tamil community would lead a life of dignity, as equal citizens, and reiterated that India would make every effort to ensure the achievement of a future for the community marked by equality, justice and self-respect,” the spokesperson said.

The six-member team of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka visiting India from June 16-19, also called on External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.

The TNA is regarded as the premier political formation of the Tamils of Sri Lanka.

The delegation is led by R Sampanthan, and consists of Mavai S Senathirajah, K (Suresh) Premachandran, P Selvarajah, Selvam Adaikkalanathan and MA Sumanthiran. A TNA delegation had also visited India in October 2012.

As per the 13th Amendment that followed the India-Sri Lankan Accord of July 1987, Sri Lankan government had agreed to devolve some authority to the provinces. (IANS)

Tense situation in Kinniya as residents throw stones at STF

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:03:54 -0700

A tense situation arose in the Kuttikarachchi area of Kinniya following a clash between the STF and residents this evening (June 18) while police were forced to fire shots into the air to bring the situation under control.

The situation arose after STF officers had inspected five carts allegedly illegally transporting timber from the Chunnakkadu forest following which the civilians involved in the incident had protested.

After several of them were arrested by the officers, the residents began burning tires in protest while two persons were injured when the unruly mob pelted the STF with stones.

Police claim that the suspects had illegally entered the Chunnakkadu forest to cut trees for timber.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

DIG Vaas Gunawardena interdicted

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:33:04 -0700

DIG Vaas Gunawardena who is in remand over the alleged involvement in an abduction and murder of a businessman has been interdicted, the Police Spokesman stated.

DIG Gunawardena, who is a suspect in the abduction and murder of a businessman in Dompe was taken from the Colombo National Hospital to the Prison Hospital on June 15 after falling ill while in custody.

The DIG was further remanded until June 25 by the Colombo Additional Magistrate A.M. Shabdeen.

Bambalapitiya-based businessman Mohamed Siyam was abducted and murdered in the Dompe area on May 22.

Following investigations conducted into the incident, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on June 06 arrested Sub-Inspector Lakmini Bamunusinghe, attached to the office of the DIG Western Province (North), along with three Police Constables (PCs) serving in the DIG’s special unit.

Upon interrogating the arrested police officers, the CID uncovered information regarding the DIG’s alleged involvement in the businessman’s murder and recorded a statement from DIG Vaas Gunawardena on the same day.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Two arrested over Colombo Port terminal fire

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:26:44 -0700

Two persons have been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division in connection with the fire which broke out at the warehouse of the Colombo Port in May, police said.

A fire had broken out in the inbound cargo warehouse CFS 1 at JCT terminal inside the Port of Colombo on May 24 , causing over Rs.50 million in damages.

Project Minister of Ports and Highways, Rohitha Abeygunawardena later revealed that the fire was caused by undeclared inflammable chemical cargo.

The CCD on June 06 informed court that the fire was recorded by only 4 CCTV cameras located in the terminal and raised suspicion of a possible act of sabotage.

Submitting a report to the Colombo Additional Magistrate, the CCD stated that there are a total of 32 CCTV cameras at the terminal in question, however the fire was recorded only by 4 of them.

Footage of the incident were not clear due to technical faults in these 4 cameras, police said.

Harbour Police had recorded a statement from the electric engineer who claimed that the fire erupted at 1.02 a.m. despite previous records stated that 12.36 a.m. was the time when the fire broke out.

Police further informed court that the fire was presumably an act of sabotage carried by a group or an individual.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Chandima Liyanage had then instructed the Colombo Crimes Division to conduct further inquiries into the fire and submit a report.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

New Indian High Commissioner arrives in Colombo

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:26:42 -0700

Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, the new High Commissioner of India to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka arrived in Colombo today, the Indian High Commission said in a release.

Mr. Y.K. Sinha is a seasoned diplomat and during his career of 32 years, has handled several important assignments at the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi and in Indian diplomatic missions in the Middle East, Europe, South America and the Permanent Mission of India at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Before coming to Sri Lanka, he was Additional Secretary in the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division at the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.

He was Ambassador of India to Venezuela from January 2007 to August 2009 and Consul General of India in Dubai from August 2003 to December 2006. Earlier, he served as Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from March 2002 to July 2003.

Before 2003, Mr. Sinha worked in different capacities at Indian Missions in Saudi Arabia, Italy; and in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. In the mid-1990s, he served at Indian Mission in Pakistan and at the Permanent Delegation of India to United Nations, New York.

Mr. Y.K. Sinha was born on October 4, 1958. After post-graduation in History from Delhi University, he joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1981. He was member of the Secretariat of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, held in New Delhi in 1982 and CHOGM Summit held in 1983. He studied Arabic language at the American University, Cairo from 1983 to 1985.

He is married to Girija, and they have two sons: Ambuj and Vinayak.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

VIDEO: Gnanasara Thero on drunk driving charge; It wasn�t me

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:26:37 -0700

General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, responding to an accusation over his involvement in a drunk driving incident in 2000, stated that it was a military officer who was driving the vehicle at the time and not him.

In an interview on Derana 360 last night, the vociferous hardline monk was inquired regarding 9 charges, including driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a valid license, driving without a revenue license and failing to report an accident, filed against him under case 6315/2000 at the Colombo Traffic Court. He was reportedly fined after pleading guilty to the charges.

Responding to the question, Gnanasara Thero while not completely rejecting the accusations stated that the vehicle was driven by a military officer known to him.

“Certain things we can discuss in front of society. I can also answer this question without flinching and with a smile on my face,” he said.

He stated that the incident occurred when he was traveling with an army officer, who was driving the vehicle, and that when the incident was later reported by media and though the internet he was in America.

“At that time I asked that officer whether I should talk about the incident, about the truth.” But he said the instruction he got was that it was now done and over.

When asked why he did not come out with the truth as a Buddhist monk being accused, Gnanasara Thero said: “There are some occasions where we have to remain silent.”

On the accusation that the police report clearly states that Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thero under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, he said it would take a long time for him to explain this and that he has does not need to prove his innocence.

“At that moment I needed to be unafraid to protect the army officer who came to help me and to assist my attempt on behalf of the Buddha Sasana,” he said.

He stated that a person was injured and hospitalized after the accident and that he would have been punished according to military law. “That is why I said this is a complicated issue. So I think we should forget this and continue to the next question. We have discussed the needful, it is not a big deal.”

Gnanasara Thero was also questioned regarding a visit to Norway undertaken by him and four other monks in 2011, before the Buddhist nationalist group Bodu Bala Sena was founded in 2012, during which they had held talks with former Minister Erick Solheim and Tamil Diaspora groups.

On this, he said the visit was aimed at helping the people in the North by gaining the assistance of the Tamil Diaspora in Norway which actually cared about the Tamil people of Sri Lanka.

He, however, said unfortunately their intentions and goals were unfruitful due to pro-LTTE groups threatening the diaspora groups.

He emphasized that the discussion were in no means aimed at conspiring against the country and that they were unable to inform the Sri Lankan High Commission in Norway due to the shortage of time during the visit.

Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thero further said that there is no connection between the visit to the Norway in 2011 and the Bodu Bala Sena organization while terming accusation of the Buddhist nationalist group being funded by the Norway government as “baseless” and “devoid of any truth”.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Voting rights bill for displaced passed in parliament

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:26:36 -0700

The Registration of Electors (special provisions) bill that ensures voting rights to displaces persons in the North passed in parliament with amendment a short while ago.

The Supreme Court ruled that the special bill that gives voting rights to the displaced in the North is consistent with the constitution, Speaker announced in parliament on June 5.

The issue of whether it is in accordance with the constitution that those who were internally displaced in the North could cast their votes according to the areas they resided in before being displaced was brought up to the Supreme Court for interpretation.

Deputy Solicitor General Arjun Obeysekera who was present for the Attorney General pointed out that internally displaced persons can, with a certificate from the Grama Sevaka, cast his vote for the area of residence prior to being displaced.

However, he also stated that if it is proven that any person has been a registered voter in more than one electorate or has been registered on two voting lists, legal action will be taken against the person.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

PS Member�s son assaults principal

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:26:35 -0700

The son of UPFA Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha member R.A. Anil, Nipuna Madusanka has assaulted the principal of the school where he is currently studying, the Ada Derana correspondent reports.

The PS member who immediately arrived at the Anuradhapura Nivanthaka Chethiya Maha Vidyalaya after the incident which took place at 9.30am had asked his son to kneel and ask for forgiveness from the principal and the staff. However school activities have come to a halt as the principal and staff had expressed their strong objection over the assault.

Due to the situation the PS member is said to be in the process of removing his son from the school. The assault had taken place after the son and his class mates who are following the Business stream for A/Levels had come into school despite being asked to stay away.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Suspected fisherman body washes ashore

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:53:19 -0700

A body - suspected to be of a fisherman - has washed ashore at the Battalangunduwa island in Kalpitiya this morning, police said.

Ada Derana reporter said the body was discovered at around 6.30 a.m. today after it washed ashore in the island.

Police said that parts of body have partially dissolved in the water or have been consumed by animals and is believed to have died several days ago.

Fishermen say that the deceased is likely be one of the fishermen who went missing due to recent adverse weather conditions experienced in the sea area.

Officers of the Kalpitiya Police and Battalangunduwa police post are conducting further investigations.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

2 killed, 7 injured in multi-vehicle crash

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:52:39 -0700

Two persons died and another 7 were wounded following an accident involving multiple vehicles in the Melsiripura area on the Dambulla-Kurunegala main road this morning.

Police spokesman SP Buddhika Siriwardena stated that 3 vehicles including a van, a lorry and a three-wheeler were involved in the accident and that the deceased were passengers of the van.

Gokarella Police are conducting further investigations into the accident, which occurred when one of the vehicles had attempted to overtake the other.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

India to convey its view on 13A after consideration

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:52:07 -0700

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India would convey its views on alleged attempts by political parties in Sri Lanka to repeal the 13th Amendment to its Constitution, after considering its implications.

“While this is a matter on which a decision will be taken by various political parties within Sri Lanka, we will certainly consider its implications and make known to the Sri Lankan authorities our views in the matter,” Singh said in a letter to DMK chief M Karunanidhi.

As per the 13th Amendment that followed the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord of July 1987, Sri Lankan government had agreed to devolve some authority to the provinces.

Observing that the Centre had consistently worked for all communities in Sri Lanka to find their rightful place in the country, Singh said, “We will continue to work for attainment of this goal through a process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka.”

The 90-year-old DMK patriarch on June 9 had written to Singh, expressing apprehensions over “attempts” to abrogate the Rajiv-Jayawardene Accord and repeal the 13th Amendment to the Lankan constitution and sought India’s intervention to protect the rights of ethnic Tamils in the island nation.

Karunanidhi had said the amendment was a direct consequence of a bilateral accord between India and Sri Lanka.

Besides some groups were planning a series of protests, seeking repeal of the 13A and cancelling the September polls to the Northern Provincial council, Karunanidhi had claimed. - PTI

Embilipitiya PS Chairman released on bail

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:51:28 -0700

The Chairman of the Embilipitiya Pradeshiya Sabha M.K. Amila who was arrested and remanded over an alleged assault on two police officers has been released on bail.

The PS chairman had been absconding for nearly a week after assaulting two Constables attached to the Panamura Police Station.

However, he surrendered to the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court through an attorney on June 04 and was remanded.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Colombo Uni student who jumped off 5th floor dies

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:38:11 -0700

The female student of Colombo University who jumped off the fifth floor of a university building died while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.

The student had passed away at around 2.30am this morning (June 18), Hospital sources stated.

She was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital after jumping off the fifth floor of a university building last morning and was receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The student was a resident of Lunugamwehera and was a first year student of the Science faculty. She joined the university in May 2013, Police stated while she had jumped off the building at 9.30am yesterday. Police stated that the reason behind her action has not been ascertained yet.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Indian coast guard launches patrol to prevent fishermen

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:29:57 -0700

In a bid to prevent fishermen crossing the international maritime boundary line (IMBL) and entering Sri Lankan waters, the Indian Coast Guard station in Karaikal has intensified patrol besides launching awareness campaigns, an official said on Sunday.

The station, with an operational area comprising the stretch between Kodiakarai in Nagapattinam district and Kollidam, has stepped up vigil along the IMBL to prevent the fishermen from crossing the borders and face arrest by Sri Lankan naval personnel, coast guard Inspector Kathiresan said.

“A coast guard vessel has undertaken patrol near the IMBL and with the help of powerful maritime telescopes. Fishermen crossing the IMBL are monitored. They will be intercepted and sent back home,” he said.

Details about boats of erring fishermen will be immediately communicated to the respective district collectors for further action. Arrests of fishermen and attacks on them allegedly by Sri Lankan Naval personnel has been a major issue in Tamil Nadu.

Commander of Karaikal coast guard station Commandant Udhal Singh has instructed the maritime agency personnel to carry out awareness campaigns and interactive sessions with fishermen in the coastal areas.

Speaking at an interactive session at Vanagiri hamlet near here on Sunday, Kathiresan said the IMBL was situated at a distance of 15 knots off Kodiakarai and 55 knots off Nagapattinam and Karaikal.

The coast guard patrol would also help safeguard the fishermen from the attacks by foreign elements.

The Indian fishermen should sport the country’s national flag on their boats and registration numbers should be printed legibly. The fishermen could contact the coast guard anytime for emergency assistance, he said. (TimesOfIndia)

NWP PC member expelled from SLFP

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:28:44 -0700

North Western Provincial Council member Ananda Sarath Kumara has been expelled from the SLFP and barred from contesting future polls and is expected to resign from the council.

He was remanded for allegedly punishing a school teacher has been further remanded till June 27 by Puttalam Magistrate’s Court.

Meanwhile the Navagattegama Navodya School where the teacher was subjected to the mistreatment was closed yesterday after protests were held in the morning against the Provincial Councilor.

The Provincial Councilor was arrested by police in the Adigama area in Anamaduwa on June 15 while traveling towards Chilaw.

He was taken to the Anamaduwa Police Station to record a statement and then produced before the Puttalam Acting Magistrate Mohamed Iqbal.

The UPFA Provincial Council member is accused of punishing a female teacher of the Navagattegama Navodya School by making her kneel down, after she reportedly warned Kumara’s daughter regarding her uniform.

The teacher had later lodged a complaint with the police over the incident.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Sri Lanka beat Australia to reach semi-finals

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:35:44 -0700

Sri Lanka qualified for the Champions Trophy semi-finals with a 20-run victory over holders Australia in the last league match at the Oval in London on Monday.

Sri Lanka made 253-8 after being sent in to bat and then bowled out Australia for 233 to join hosts England in the semi-finals from group A with four points each.

In Sri Lanka’s bowling department, Nuwan Kulasekara was the pick of the lot as he finished with impressive figures of three for 42 in his nine overs.

A last-wicket stand of 41 runs between Clint McKay (30) and Xavier Doherty (15 not out) frustrated the Lankans before Tillakaratne Dilshan pulled off a brilliant catch off his own bowling to seal the issue in his side’s favour.

The move not to bring back strike bowler Lasith Malinga, with Australia on the verge of defeat, was surprising. But Dilshan’s blinder ensured it was Sri Lanka, and not New Zealand in the last-four stage.

Adam Voges top-scored for Australia with a 62-ball 49 while Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade blazed their way to 32 and 31 respectively.

Earlier veteran Mahela Jayawardene made his way to an unbeaten 84-run knock to propel Sri Lanka to 253 for eight in their 50 overs, leaving Australia with a near impossible task of chasing down the target in 29.1 overs to ensure a semifinal berth at the Kennington Oval.

Australia couldn’t achieve the target in the required overs and were eventually all out for 233 in 42.3 overs.

During the course of his innings, the elegant Jayawardene crossed 11,000 runs in this form of the game, the eighth cricketer to do so.

However England topped the group due to a superior run-rate and will take on Group B runners-up South Africa in the first semi-final at the Oval on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka will meet Group B winners India in the second semi-final in Cardiff on Thursday, a repeat of the 2011 World Cup final in Mumbai which the Indians won.

The final is at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Sunday.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

UNP expels 10 members

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:16:13 -0700

The Working Committee of the United National Party (UNP) has decided to expel 10 members including provincial councilors Maithri Gunaratne and Shiral Lakthilake from the party.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Extortions being carried out by fake CID officials � Police warns

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:20:13 -0700

Public was today cautioned against threatening and extortion of money by individuals posing as CID. Police asked public to report such incidents immediately to the phone numbers provided.

Police media spokesman claimed that many complaints were received regarding extortions being carried out by unscrupulous elements feigning to be from the CID or Special Investigations Unit of the Police.

Police asked public to call the following numbers;
0112 - 422 176, 0112-321 839, 0112 - 685 151, 0112 - 444 480

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Schools in Germany operated by LTTE front orgs � GL

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:19:35 -0700

External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris today expressed appreciation of the action taken by the German Parliament (Bundestag) to defeat a recent Resolution critical of Sri Lanka. He also urged the German authorities the activity of several LTTE front organizations operating in Germany under the guise of community organizations.

Peiris made these observations during his bilateral discussions in Berlin with Dr. Guido Westerwelle, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany. He emphasized that conditions in Sri Lanka today are conducive to significant expansion of trade and investment relations between the two countries. Germany, he pointed out, is the second largest investor from the European Union in Sri Lanka, a very significant source of tourism, and the largest source of grant and soft loan assistance from the European Union to Sri Lanka. In these circumstances, it is important for Germany to be fully informed, Minister Peiris said, about current developments in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Peiris briefed his German counterpart in detail about the LLRC implementation process and said that the country is entitled to the space and time to move forward with a homegrown programme.

In their discussion of further scope for expansion of cooperation in the economic sphere, the Ministers focused explicitly on the Business Forum, to be held on the sidelines of CHOGM, as an ideal opportunity for this purpose.

Minister Peiris expressed appreciation of the action taken by the German Parliament (Bundestag) to defeat a recent Resolution critical of Sri Lanka. He referred to the activity of several LTTE front organizations operating in Germany under the guise of community organizations. In particular, he said that, according to information available to Sri Lankan authorities, there are a substantial number of schools operated in Germany by these groups for propaganda and fund raising purposes. He urged the German authorities to keep a close watch on their activities in breach of the EU proscription.

Matters pertaining to the performance of German Foundations in Sri Lanka and recent developments in this regard were raised by the German Minister. Prof. Peiris, in response, explained the position of the Government of Sri Lanka in respect of these issues.

In his address at a largely attended meeting of the German Association for Foreign Policy (GDAP) in Berlin, Prof. Peiris raised several issues regarding recent trends in the Human Rights Council in relation to Sri Lanka. He stressed the importance of an objective approach, and questioned whether this basic requirement is fulfilled in recent interventions. He said that the Resolution in respect of Sri Lanka received hardly any support when it was brought by one country and, in fact, could not be proceeded with, but that the situation changed dramatically when the Resolution was moved by another country.

It is quite evident, he asserted, that voting patterns are determined by political, strategic and economic interests of countries in terms of their relationship with the mover of the Resolution, rather than a dispassionate consideration of issues relating to the country situation in question. This is contrary, he said, to the intention of the General Assembly of the United Nations when it resolved to replace the Human Rights commission with the Human Rights Council, on the basis that the former was unduly politicized and, therefore, deficient in assessing situations on their merits. Sri Lanka, he said, is happy to work with the international community on the footing of equality and partnership, but opposed judgmental and highly selective postures.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

UPDATE: Colombo Uni female student jumps off fifth floor

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:18:33 -0700

A female student of Colombo University has been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital after jumping off the fifth floor of a university building, Police media spokesman told Ada Derana. She is currently receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The student who is a resident of Lunugamwehera is first year student of the Science faculty and had joined the university in May 2013, Police said. She has allegedly jumped off the building at 9.30am today. Police state that the reason behind her action has not been ascertained yet.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Sri Lanka calls for international action to stem glorification of terrorism

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:42:21 -0700

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha has asked that greater attention be paid in the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, to the role of terrorist support networks that take the form of front organizations, the challenge posed by the abuse of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the propriety of the use or display of terrorist group emblems, insignia and symbols.

He emphasized that they communicate the message, purpose, history, and goals of terrorist organizations and as such contribute to the creation of an organizational culture of incitement, hatred and radicalization, that is dangerously encouraged to be emulated. Noting that while conscious that there remains a tension between the concepts of ‘freedom of expression’ and ‘counter terrorism’ with respect to these issues, it was nevertheless important that these challenges also be addressed squarely in earnest, in order that we arrive at a consensus as to where freedom of expression ends and supporting or glorification of terrorism begins. He added that our failure to do so, will seriously erode the fight against terrorism, and permit the perpetuation of the sense that double standards were being applied with respect to these issues, which turns a blind eye to the actions of some groups, while pursuing others.

Ambassador Aryasinha made these observations when he addressed the International Counter-Terrorism Focal Points Conference on ‘Addressing Conditions Conducive to the Spread of Terrorism and Promoting Regional Cooperation’, held in Geneva on 13-14 June 2013. The conference organized by the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force was part of the CTITF Global Initiative on implementing the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy.

Ambassador Aryasinha said the challenge terrorism poses and the necessity for international cooperation to eradicate it was fully understood by Sri Lanka well before the events of 9/11 and the UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1267, and that notwithstanding the Government of Sri Lanka eradicating terrorism in the country a little over 4 years ago, Sri Lanka had not forgotten the damage terrorism causes.

In his address he drew attention to Sri Lanka’s experience in successfully defeating the LTTE which was one of the world’s most ruthless terrorist groups, and the manner in which the Government of Sri Lanka had domestically, regionally and internationally contributed to the building of the evolving international legal regime relating to countering terrorism and in meeting its international obligations in this regard.

Ambassador Aryasinha said since the military defeat of the LTTE in Sri Lanka in May 2009, besides the radicalized activism of LTTE front organizations in several European capitals, the arrest of 32 LTTE activists in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland and the conviction of a further 28 in France, the Netherlands and Belgium, known activists continue to advocate mono-ethnic separatism in Sri Lanka while espousing the ideology of the LTTE, using its money and being manipulated by its surviving military leaders, who are primarily domiciled in Europe. The continuance of the LTTE’s activities and its network of front organizations in Europe was also manifest in an appeal filed on behalf of the LTTE to the European Court of Justice on 11 April 2011 for the de-listing of the LTTE from the EU list of terrorist entities. While the TE-SAT 2011 report of Europol noted that “Separatist terrorist groups such as the PKK/KONGRA-GEL and LTTE are involved in the trafficking of drugs and human beings to raise funds for their terrorism activities”, the US Global Terrorism Report of 2012 confirms continuing concerns regarding the LTTE, noting that the “the LTTE’s financial network of support continued to operate throughout 2011” and that “the group employed charities as fronts to collect and divert funds for their activities”. Recent incidents in Tamil Nadu too are indications of the continuing attempts by the LTTE to regroup overseas.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

VIDEO: Errant PC remanded further; school closed after protests

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:41:32 -0700

North Western Provincial Council member Ananda Sarath Kumara who was remanded for allegedly punishing a school teacher has been further remanded till June 27 by Puttalam Magistrate’s Court.

Meanwhile the Navagattegama Navodya School where the teacher was subjected to the mistreatment was closed today after protests were held in the morning against the Provincial Councilor.

The Provincial Councilor was arrested by police in the Adigama area in Anamaduwa on June 15 while traveling towards Chilaw.

He was taken to the Anamaduwa Police Station to record a statement and then produced before the Puttalam Acting Magistrate Mohamed Iqbal.

The UPFA Provincial Council member is accused of punishing a female teacher of the Navagattegama Navodya School by making her kneel down, after she reportedly warned Kumara’s daughter regarding her uniform.

The teacher had later lodged a complaint with the police over the incident.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Asylum seekers are being denied legal advice

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:40:18 -0700

One of Australia’s foremost refugee legal advice centres claims it has been obstructed by staff at Christmas Island detention facility when trying to offer legal advice to asylum seekers.

The Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) says it has been fielding “hundreds of calls on a daily basis” from Sri Lankan asylum seekers on Christmas Island who have arrived by boat and are in fear of being returned without accessing legal advice. Those seeking RACS’ advice are subject to the government’s controversial “enhanced screening” procedure, a process understood to be specifically directed at Sri Lankan asylum seekers and aimed at speeding up the claims process with shorter interviews and fast turnaround returns.

RACS executive director Tanya Jackson-Vaughan told Guardian Australia she was aware of claims that legal documents sent via fax to clients in detention were consciously not being passed on by Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) staff members. An asylum seeker’s right to reasonable access to legal advice is protected under the Australian migration act and under Australia’s international human rights obligations.

Jackson-Vaughan said RACS clients on Christmas Island were being denied access to personalised forms which allowed them to document their asylum claims, sent via fax machine.

“RACS sent the people we had been speaking to, and whose details and claims we had on our database, personalised faxes with the forms to fill in. We had been assured by Serco [the private company which manages the detention facility] that any fax address to a specific person would be delivered to them in a sealed envelope,” she said.

The allegations continued: “However, when these forms were sent to Christmas Island, DIAC called the clients who the faxes were addressed to and asked them to come to talk to a senior DIAC officer. This officer then questioned them as to whom they were seeking legal advice from.

“In the event that they were not able to specify the name of the individual lawyer or the organisation that they had requested help from, the officer did not pass on the forms which were addressed to them.”

The allegations have been reported to DIAC.

This follows news from the immigration minister on Friday last week that 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers were returned to Colombo, meaning there have now been 1035 Sri Lankans returned involuntarily since August last year.

A spokeswoman for DIAC said: “The department and its staff operate in a lawful manner, as prescribed under the Australian public service code of conduct, and consistent with the requirements of the relevant legislation and international conventions.”

They declined to comment on what investigations DIAC were undertaking in response to the allegations.

A spokesman for Serco said: “We are committed to treating people in our care with dignity and respect in a safe and secure environment and within the law. We work with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to achieve this “

Guardian Australia has also spoken to four Tamil asylum seekers who arrived in Australia in October and were subject to the enhanced screening process. Their claims are separate to any allegations from RACS.

The four asylum seekers claim they were due to be returned under the “enhanced screening process”, following a short interview that lasted no more than half an hour and in which all four of them were prevented from giving a detailed record of their asylum claims. One, a 32-year-old ex-government worker and member of the Tamil National Alliance, says he attempted to show the two DIAC officials conducting the interview four gunshot wounds and scarring from torture all over his body, but was not allowed to do so. He says the wounds were inflicted as part of a sustained campaign of intimidation and murder attempts directed at him since 2009.

All four men arrived in Australia on a boat from Colombo with 104 people in October last year. They landed on the Cocos Islands and were subsequently transferred to Christmas Island. They were then moved again to Scherger Immigration Detention Centre in North Queensland. They say that 18 of those on their boat were returned to Sri Lanka the following month, and that they themselves were due to be returned but were saved by last-minute legal intervention.

They also say that they have been in contact with a number of those returned from their boat, who were imprisoned shortly after they arrived back in Sri Lanka.

One of the men, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals on their families in Sri Lanka, said: “If the Australian government sends us back, it is directly to the killing fields. It’s blood on Australia’s hands.”

The enhanced screening process has been the subject of sustained criticism. At senate estimates on 28 May, 2013, Vicki Parker, chief lawyer at the Legal and Assurance Division at DIAC, told the committee that she understood that asylum seekers who underwent the enhanced screening process were not told by officials of their right to legal advice.

When questioned by Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young on whether asylum seekers undergoing the enhanced screening process were told they were able to request legal advice, Parker replied: “Not so far as I am aware.”

Parker then said that if an asylum seeker undergoing the process specifically requested legal advice the department provided them with “a telephone book and access to a telephone, and an interpreter if necessary, I believe”.

Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has also asked questions in relation to the advanced screening process and how it specifically relates to asylum seekers from Sri Lanka.

Speaking to Guardian Australia, Rhiannon said: “The Labor government’s ‘enhanced screening’ process for people seeking asylum in Australia is facilitating the mass removals of Sri Lankans, including Tamils, back to the brutal Rajapakse regime implicated in war crimes, torture and rape.

“In Senate Estimates the AFP has acknowledged the allegations that the Sri Lankan police have been accused of widespread use of torture and rape of Tamils in detention. While these allegations stand, no one who has fled persecution and sought asylum in Australia should be removed back to Sri Lanka.”

Responding specifically to the allegations from RACS, senator Rhiannon said: “If this is the case, then the officials making these decisions appear to be in breach of the Migration Act. This is yet another example of the Australian government discriminating against Tamil asylum seekers.”

Last week ABC news reported comments from an ex-DIAC employee, Greg Lake, who described the department’s enhanced screening process as “dangerous”. He said the interview process begins with a simple question: “Why did you come to Australia?” and expressed concerns that legitimate asylum claims were slipping through the net as a result of the process.

DIAC confirmed that Lake was an ex-employee, but described him as a “mid-level public servant”. (TheGuardian)

Chinese national dead after consuming yam

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:56:01 -0700

A Chinese national(45) working at the Moragahakanda water project died after consuming an unidentified wild yam, Police said today. Two other Chinese nationals have been also admitted to the Dambulla hospital after consuming the same yam.

Police are conducting further inquiries.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

TNA delegation reach New Delhi to discuss 13A

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:23:12 -0700

A six-member delegation of the Sri Lankan Tamil National Alliance reached New Delhi on Sunday evening, to discuss with Indian leaders the Lankan government’s move to dilute the powers given to provincial councils under the India-Sri Lanka accord.

The delegation, led by TNA Member of Parliament R Sampanthan, will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and external affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday. They will also meet the national security advisor Shivshankar Menon on Monday.

“The Sri Lankan government is acting in breach of the India-Sri Lanka accord. We naturally have to turn to India and bring it to their notice,” TNA delegation member, M A Sumanthiran told Express.

He was referring to the Lankan Cabinet last week’s approval for the proposal to modify the constitution to remove the power of the president to merge two or more provinces. A constitutional amendment bill is likely to be introduced in the Lankan parliament on Tuesday.

The other controversial proposal on the centre’s power to legislate subject under provincial councils had been referred to a parliamentary select committee.

India had already made it clear to Lanka that it would be opposed to any unilateral changes in the 13th Amendment, which was conveyed by a phone call by Khurshid to his counterpart G L Peiris. (ENS)

Hatton-Nuwara-Eliya road obstructed by landslides

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:53:54 -0700

The Hatton-Nuwara-Eliya road has been obstructed due to landslides as a result of heavy rains in the area while those traveling on the road have been advised to find alternate routes, police stated.

Those traveling to Nuwara-Eliya via Hatton have been advised to travel through the Talawakele, Pundaluoya, Tawalantenna road.

Electricity has been disrupted after strong winds had swept through the Tawalam, Hiniduma area which resulted in several trees falling on electricity lines.

A few houses and a tea factory was also damaged by falling trees, an Ada Derana correspondent reported.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Sinhalese getting India-funded houses - TNA MPs

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:53:01 -0700

Three Tamil MPs from the eastern Sri Lankan district of Batticaloa have complained that attempts are being made to include in the India-financed housing project about 350 Sinhalese families who are not war-displaced families, ignoring the claims of Tamil families which were really displaced by the war.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs P Ariyanenthiran, C Yogeswaran and P Selvarasa told media persons in Batticaloa that houses under the Indian scheme had been allotted to Sinhalese in Keviliyaamadu, although they were neither displaced nor had suffered loss of houses during the war. Indian houses ere allotted to 89 Sinhalese families in Pulukunnaawa. There were court cases against three of them, the MPs said. They accused India of indirectly encouraging colonisation of Sinhalese in Tamil areas.

Speaking to Express later, Ariyanenthiran said that TNA was not against houses being allotted to Sinhalese and Muslims. “We are only against inclusion of those families which were not displaced,” he explained.

He added that the Indian housing project should have been extended to cover the 1,200 Tamils from the battlefields of Wanni who had taken shelter in Batticaloa and had not gone back.

“Many of these are disabled or are without male breadwinners. Through another organisation, each family received LKR 100,000 to build a house, but with this money, no permanent dwelling can be built. If included in the Indian project they will get LKR 550,000 each,” the MP said.

On the visit of the TNA leaders to India to discuss the Lankan government’s bid to dilute of the 13th Amendment enshrined in the India-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987, Ariyanenthiran said that there was little chance of India taking a strong stand against the Rajapaksa government due to fears that it would veer further towards China.

“India did nothing when the North-Eastern Province was split into two in 2006 in violation of the India-Lanka Accord. On the contrary, India began to deal with the Eastern Provincial government in 2008 as if it was recognising the division,” the MP said, the New Indian Express reports.

Govt to dissolve North Western and Central PCs?

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 07:56:40 -0700

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for a special meeting with UPFA members of Central and North Western Provincial Councils, which will take place at Temple Trees on Monday (June 17), according to government sources.

The President has planned to hold discussion with the government members of the Central Provincial Council tomorrow morning and with North Western Provincial Councilors in the evening, sources said.

It is said that the discussions will be pertaining to the possible dissolving of Central and North Western Provincial Councils.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

SI and PCs arrested over businessman murder suspended

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 04:43:19 -0700

The Sub-Inspector (SI) and three Police Constables (PCs) arrested in connection with the murder of a businessman have been temporarily suspended, pending the ongoing investigation, Police Spokesman SP Buddhika Siriwardena said.

Bambalapitiya-based businessman Mohamed Siyam was abducted and murdered in the Dompe area on May 22.

Following investigations conducted into the incident, the CID on June 06 arrested Sub-Inspector Lakmini Bamunusinghe, attached to the office of the DIG Western Province (North), along with three Police Constables (PCs) serving in the DIG’s special unit.

Upon interrogating the arrested police officers, the CID had also uncovered information regarding the alleged involvement of DIG Vaas Gunawardena in the businessman’s murder and recorded a statement from him the same day.

DIG Vaas Gunawardena was taken in for questioning and arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department on June 10.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

VIDEO: �Private universities would have sprung up like mushrooms�

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 04:42:37 -0700

The government was not able to establish the Malabe Private Medical College and continue at the speed it wanted, due to the opposition from the students movement, the public and academics, says the National Movement for the Protection of Free Education (NMPFE).

If not, at the speed Minister S.B. Dissanayake is going “like a bull in a china shop” there was a chance for private universities to “spring up like mushrooms” in Sri Lanka, the National Organizer of the Socialist Students Union (SSU) Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Representing the SSU at a NMPFE press conference today, the JVP Central Committee member conceded that they were unable to completely put a stop to the privatization of higher education, however said they succeeded in developing a general opinion in society against it.

“That is the reason why there is a response when state universities attempt to give away even one degree for money, and the Faculty Board of the Peradeniya Medicine Faculty takes a decision against it,” he said.

Therefore there are a lot of victories for society in this, Dr. Jayatissa said.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Two held with 300kg beef unsuitable for consumption

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 04:41:26 -0700

Two persons have been arrested in the Keppetipola area in Rideegama while transporting nearly 300 kilograms of beef, not suitable for human consumption.

Officers of the Police Special Task Force (STF) camp in Ambakote, acting on information received, seized approximately 298 kilograms of beef after searching a three-wheeler.

The arrested suspects have been handed over to Rideegama Police for onward action, STF said.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

SLMC calls for urgent meeting to brief party members

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 04:40:48 -0700

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has called for an urgent meeting of its members, who are scheduled to gather at party headquarters, ‘Darussalam’ on Monday night.

The meeting will be chaired by party leader and Justice Minister Rauf Hakkem, SLMC National Organizer Mohamed Shafeek Rajabdeen said, while SLMC are expected to be briefed on the party’s stand regarding the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

The Muslim Congress states that it has already informed President Mahinda Rajapaksa of the party’s stand regarding repealing provisions of 13th Amendment.

Rajabdeen stated that a decision has currently been taken to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) before the any amendments are made and that the SLMC has decided to participate in the PSC.

Party members will tomorrow (17) be briefed on certain crucial decision taken by the party, he said.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Fire breaks out at Maduru Oya reserve

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:52:20 -0700

Police and army personnel are currently attempting to quell a fire which has broken out in the Kotagala area of the Maduru Oya reserve in Maha Oya.

The police spokesman’s office stated that the flames have been spreading since last evening and that attempt to douse the fire have been hindered by strong winds experienced in the area and the presence of wild elephants.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Youth drowns in hotel swimming pool

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:51:50 -0700

A 21-year-old youth drowned in the swimming pool of a tourist hotel located in Nainamadama, Wennappuwa last evening, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Kalusage Prasanna Lakmal, a resident of Kelaniya, who had visited the hotel during a leisure trip with work colleagues.

They had been swimming in the pool when the youth suddenly drowned. He was rescued by other members of the group and rushed to the Marawila Hospital, however was pronounced dead on admission.

The postmortem examination on the body is to be conducted today, while Wennappuwa Police are conducting further investigations.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Navy arrests 8 Indian fishermen

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:46:47 -0700

Sri Lankan Navy arrested eight Indian fishermen who had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and were fishing in waters north of the Talaimannar coastal line.

The Indian fishermen were arrested and their 2 mechanised fishing trawlers confiscated by a team of navy personnel from the Talaimannar navy camp.

Later, they were handed over to Talaimannar Police and are scheduled to be produced at the Mannar Magistrate’s Court today.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Vaas Gunawardena transferred to prison hospital

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:34:19 -0700

DIG Vaas Gunawardena, who is a suspect in the abduction and murder of a businessman in Dompe was taken from the Colombo National Hospital to the Prison Hospital last night (June 15), sources at the Prison Hospital stated.

DIG Vaas Gunawardena who was arrested over the murder of a businessman in Dompe was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital due to an illness on June 13.

He was admitted to Ward 42 while the DIG was further remanded until June 25 by the Colombo Additional Magistrate A.M. Shabdeen.

DIG Gunawardena was arrested on June 10 and was being questioned under a 72-hour detention order, Police said.

Bambalapitiya-based businessman Mohamed Siyam was abducted and murdered in the Dompe area on May 22.

Following investigations conducted into the incident, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on June 06 arrested Sub-Inspector Lakmini Bamunusinghe, attached to the office of the DIG Western Province (North), along with three Police Constables (PCs) serving in the DIG’s special unit.

Upon interrogating the arrested police officers, the CID uncovered information regarding the DIG’s alleged involvement in the businessman’s murder and recorded a statement from DIG Vaas Gunawardena on the same day.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Moderate cleric wins Iran�s presidential vote

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 10:18:47 -0700

Moderate cleric Hasan Rowhani was declared the winner of Iran’s presidential vote on Saturday after gaining support among many reform-minded Iranians looking to claw back a bit of ground after years of crackdowns.

The powerful showing by the former nuclear negotiator allowed him to avoid a two-person runoff and demonstrated the strength of opposition sentiment even in a system that is gamed against it. The ruling clerics barred from the race reform candidates seen as too prominent, allowing a list of hopefuls who were mainly staunch loyalists of the supreme leader.

But the opposition settled on Rowhani as the least objectionable of the bunch, making him the de facto reform candidate.

While Iran’s presidential elections offer a window into the political pecking orders and security grip inside the country - particularly since the chaos from a disputed outcome in 2009 - they lack the drama of truly high stakes as the country’s ruling clerics and their military guardians remain the ultimate powers.

Security forces also are in firm control after waves of arrests and relentless pressures since the last presidential election in 2009, which unleashed massive protests over claims the outcome was rigged to keep the combative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power for a second and final term. He is barred from seeking a third consecutive run. However the last-moment surge around Rowhani injected some excitement in the race.

Rowhani won with 50.7% of the more than 36 million votes cast, the Interior Ministry reported, well ahead of Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf with about 16.5%. Hard-line nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili came in third with 11.3% followed by conservative Mohsen Rezaei with 10.6%.

Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said the turnout was 72.7%, suggesting that liberals and others abandoned a planned boycott as the election was transformed into a showdown across the Islamic Republic’s political divide. Iran has more than 50 million eligible voters.

Voters waited on line for hours in wilting heat Friday at some polling stations in downtown Tehran and other cities, while others cast ballots across the vast country from desert outposts to Gulf seaports and nomad pastures. Voting was extended by five hours to meet demand, but also as possible political stagecraft to showcase the participation.

On one side were hard-liners looking to cement their control behind candidates such as Jalili, who says he is “100%” against detente with Iran’s foes, or Qalibaf, who was boosted by a reputation as a steady hand for Iran’s sanctions-wracked economy.

Opposing them were reformists and others rallying behind the “purple wave” campaign of Rowhani, the lone relative moderate left in the race.

Candidates needed more than 50% of the vote to seal victory and avoid a runoff. Journalists face limits on reporting such as requiring permission to travel around the country. Iran does not allow outside election observers.

The Interior Ministry said Rowhani had 18,613,329 votes, followed by Qalibaf with 6,077,292, Jalili with 4,168,946 votes and Rezaei with3,884,412. The other two candidates were far behind.

Despite reformists’ support, Rowhani’s win is likely to be more of a limited victory than a deep shake-up. Iran’s establishment, a tight alliance of the ruling clerics and the ultra-powerful Revolutionary Guard, still holds all the effective power and sets the agenda on all major decisions such as Iran’s nuclear program and its dealings with the West. The greater comfort level by the theocracy and Revolutionary Guard also sets a different tone from 2009. Opposition groups appear too intimidated and fragmented to revive street demonstrations.

Rowhani, the only cleric in the race, led the influential Supreme National Security Council and was given the highly sensitive nuclear envoy role in 2003, a year after Iran’s 20-year-old atomic program was revealed. (AP)

How can secretary be an �economic hit man� without minister�s blessings?

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:52:07 -0700

The United National Party today charged that financial authority over the country’s affairs which should rest completely with the parliament has been bestowed upon Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundra.

That is the reason why Minister Wimal Weerawansa is claiming that an “economic hit man” is destroying the country’s economy, UNP MP Wijedasa Rajapaksa said.

He, however, stated that a ministry secretary can never be an economic hit man and that the hit man should be the minister who is keeping him in that post.

“How can a Secretary become an economic hit man without the blessings of a minister?” he inquired.

Rajapaksa stated that the leaders of the state should take responsibility under this situation and they cannot save themselves by blaming it on the “small fry” like P.B. Jayasundara, the Permanent Secretary of the Treasury and the Ministry of Finance.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Provincial Councilor remanded after �punishing� teacher

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:51:17 -0700

North Western Provincial Council member Ananda Sarath Kumara who was arrested for allegedly punishing a school teacher has been remanded till June 18 by Puttalam Magistrate’s Court.

The Provincial Councilor was arrested by police in the Adigama area in Anamaduwa today while traveling towards Chilaw in a vehicle.

He was taken to the Anamaduwa Police Station to record a statement and then produced before the Puttalam Acting Magistrat,e Mohamed Iqbal.

The UPFA Provincial Council member is accused of punishing a female teacher of the Navagattegama Navodya School by making her kneel down, after she reportedly warned the Kumara’s daughter regarding her uniform.

The teacher had later lodged a complaint with the police over the incident.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

TNA heads to India for talks

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 02:58:46 -0700

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will embark on a visit to India for talks with state officials on an invitation extended by the Indian Government, and are scheduled to leave the island tonight.

A delegation of TNA parliamentarians led by its leader R. Sampanthan, is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid among others, during the visit.

The main focus of the talks will be the proposed amendments to the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, among other political developments in the island.

Several political parties, including government allies, had recently raised strong objections to the 13th Amendment and wanted it repealed.

The government subsequently announced certain amendments to it while India has maintained that it wants the 13th Amendment to remain in its current form and has raised concerns over any attempt to change it.

The Indian government is to now seek the views of the Tamil National Alliance on the government announcement before deciding on its next course of action.

- With excerpts from Xinhua
Courtesy: AdaDerana

Stir planned against training Sri Lankan officers

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 02:01:32 -0700

Various Tamil Nadu political parties and Tamil outfits have decided to lay siege to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington at Nilgiris on Tuesday to protest the Indian government’s decision to provide military training to two Sri Lankan defence officers.

Sri Lankan officers, a Wing Commander and a Major, are currently undergoing training at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.

Following opposition from political parties and Tamil outfits, police have enhanced the security arrangement at Wellington, Express News Service reported.

An all-party meeting to take a decision on this issue was held at Periyar Padipagam, which was attended by 19 parties and outfits, including the TPDK, MDMK, VCK, trader’s association, and Dalit outfits.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Provincial Councillor arrested for �punishing� teacher

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:05:05 -0700

North Western Provincial Council member Ananda Sarath Kumara has been arrested by Navagattegama Police for allegedly punishing a school teacher, Ada Derana reporter said.

The female teacher of the Navagattegama Navodya School is reported to have warned the politician’s daughter regarding her uniform as it was shorter than the allowed length.

The student in return had informed her father regarding the incident, after which he had arrived at the school yesterday (15) and punished the teacher by making her kneel down, Ada Derana reporter said.

The Provincial Councilor was arrested after the teacher lodged a complaint with the police over the incident.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Cook denies �illegal ball-tampering� claims

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:04:02 -0700

Alastair Cook of England talks to umpires Aleem Dar of Pakistan and Billy Bowden of New Zealand during the ICC Champions Trophy Group A match between England and Sri Lanka at The Kia Oval on June 13, 2013 in London, England.

Denying claims of illegal ball- tampering by his team’s bowlers during the Sri Lanka match, England captain Alastair Cook is adamant England’s bowlers can reverse swing the ball because of their skill and hard work.

Cook insists it has nothing to do with anything sinister such as illegal ball- tampering or scratching the leather.

But the furore — blown into the open by former England captain Bob Willis after days of muttering and rumour — is the last thing Cook needs as he approaches a must-win Champions Trophy match against New Zealand tomorrow.

Just when everyone thought all the problems were piling up exclusively in Australia’s dressing-room, here is a curve ball for the England team.

The problem started when umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden changed one of the two balls in the 26th over of Sri Lanka’s successful run chase at the Oval on Thursday evening.

Cook was patently livid — because he and his bowlers believed the ball was reaching the optimum condition to start reverse swinging.

When asked whether he was angry, Cook replied: “The ball was changed because it was out of shape. That was the umpire’s reasoning.

“The umpires make those decisions, so you have to accept them. Sometimes you don’t think they are the right decisions but there’s not much you can do about it.”

Certainly, it is unusual for the umpires — rather than the fielding team — to change the ball because it has lost its shape.

Now fast bowling legend Willis, speaking on Sky Sports, has alleged one England player has been illegally damaging the ball with his fingernails. It is an incendiary claim. SunSport yesterday contacted two of the match officials on duty at the Oval.

Both refused to clarify why the ball was changed and instead asked for media enquiries to be directed to the ICC.

An ICC spokesman said: “The umpires and match referee cannot talk about specific incidents during a tournament.

“But our understanding is that the ball was changed because it went out of shape.”

James Anderson is England’s king of swing — reverse and orthodox — and his talents have been honed by years of practice in the nets.

But reverse swing has been considered something of a dark art ever since the ball was changed during a one-day international between England and Pakistan at Lord’s in 1992.

At The Oval in 2006, Pakistan refused to play on and forfeited a Test match because umpire Darrell Hair was convinced they tampered with the ball and awarded five runs to England. Players even stood in the witness box and attempted to explain reverse swing during a libel case involving Ian Botham and Imran Khan in the 1990s.

Balls reverse swing when one side is smooth and the other rough and dry.

The seam acts as a rudder and the air turbulence around the sphere can cause it to swerve alarmingly.

So bowlers want balls to scuff and soften quickly because they become more likely to reverse swing and more difficult to hit.

Teams use many tactics to accelerate the deterioration of the ball — such as bowling cross-seam deliveries and fielders deliberately landing the ball on old pitches adjoining the main strip when throwing from the boundary.

Umpires have warned players from several teams about that trick during the Champions Trophy.

Players sometimes suck sweets before applying saliva to the ball. Captain Cook normally maintains the ball for England in Test matches because he has very dry hands, while Essex batsman Ravi Bopara has been handling it regularly for England during this 50-over tournament.

Last week, umpire Dar was seen speaking to Bopara during the final match of England’s one-day series against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

And former Aussie speedster Dirk Nannes, working as a summariser for BBC Radio, suggested sweets were brought out to Bopara by the 12th man during Saturday’s victory over Australia in Birmingham.

In 2009, former England player Dermot Reeve accused Bopara (right) of ball-tampering during a domestic match in New Zealand — a claim that was strongly denied.

Reverse swing is fundamental to England’s game plan.

They gained it against the Aussies at Edgbaston last Saturday — and won by 48 runs. They did not gain it against Sri Lanka — and lost by seven wickets.

On Thursday, Dar used a hoop to check whether the ball was out of shape.

One member of England’s management team said yesterday that the ball went through the hoop — which is why Cook was so angry as it showed the ball was still in good shape.

But England fielding coach Richard Halsall claimed the ball did not pass through the device.

An England spokesman said last night: “Alastair Cook explained after the match that the umpires told him the ball was changed because it was out of shape.

“We have nothing more to add.

“Other than that, it is a matter for the ICC.” – The Sun

President opens renovated Iranamadu airstrip

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:02:53 -0700

The Iranamadu runway in the Kilinochchi District. Image courtesy: Sri Lanka Air Force – Media Unit

President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared open the reconstructed Iranamadu airstrip in the Kilinochchi District a short while ago, President’s Media Unit said.

LTTE cadres had constructed a 600m long runway at the same site and destroyed it using bulldozers, prior to the Army retaking Iranamadu.

The reconstructed runway extends up to 1500m and a width of 25 metres. The reconstruction work was carried by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrema personally flew a Y 12 aircraft and had made a test landing.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Jayalalitha�s protest may force India to shift Sri Lankan officers

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:01:38 -0700

Succumbing to pressure from Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, the Indian defence ministry is planning to shift out the Sri Lankan officers undergoing the almost year-long course at the prestigious Defence Services Staff College at Wellington.

“The issue is being discussed ... the final decision is yet to be taken,’’ said a defence ministry official, contacted on Friday evening. But sources said India has already told Sri Lanka that its officers – a Wing Commander and a Major - could be shifted to the ``technical staff officers course’’ at the Military Institute of Technology in Pune.

“But the Sri Lankans have turned the proposal down. Now, the prospect of shifting the two officers to the `higher defence management course’ at the College of Defence Management at Secunderabad is being considered,’’ said a source.

If this happens, it will be the third time within a year that the Union government will buckle under pressure from political parties in Tamil Nadu. Last July, 27 Sri Lankan military personnel being trained at the Tambaram airbase near Chennai had to be abruptly shifted to Karnataka after the Tamilian political parties upped the ante. Then, in March, India had called off the defence secretary-level talks slated with Sri Lanka after the UPA government had come under severe pressure from its then ally DMK, which along with other Tamilian parties wanted India to take a strong stand against Lanka in the UNHRC.

This time, in a letter to Indian PM Manmohan Singh on Sunday, Jayalalithaa expressed shock over the Union government’s ``astounding insensitivity’’ in inviting the two Sri Lankan officers for the course at Wellington despite the “continuing atrocities’’ on civilian Tamils in the island nation.

Amid the strident anti-Lanka chorus, the Union government is trying to walk a tightrope. It has to keep larger strategic considerations in mind, with China making deep inroads into Sri Lanka. But the inflamed passions in Tamil Nadu over the continuing discrimination against Lankan Tamils by the majority Sinhalese in the island nation also have to be kept in mind.

India had cranked up military ties with Sri Lanka after it found that China had deftly stepped into the vacuum. While India trains soldiers from several countries, from the Maldives, Mauritius and Mongolia to Botswana, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the facilities extended to island nation are much more. India every year trains 800-900 Sri Lankan military personnel in its military establishments, as reported by TOI earlier.

India had even provided some military equipment like 24 L-70 guns, 24 battle-field surveillance radars, 11 USFM radars, four Indra-II radars and 10 mine-protected vehicles to the Sri Lankan forces when they were battling LTTE earlier. The two nations also cooperate in intelligence sharing and undertake `coordinated’ naval patrolling. - ToI

Colonel and Corporal die in accident in Tabbowa

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:00:27 -0700

A Colonel and a Corporal of the Sri Lankan army were killed while a Major was injured in a road accident in Tabbowa on the Anuradhapura-Puttalam road early today (June 15), police said.

Police spokesman SP Buddhika Siriwadena stated that the accident occurred in the early hours of today, when the Land Rover Defender the army officers were traveling in veered off the road and crashed into a power pole.

They were reportedly traveling from Kilinochchi to Ganemulla at the time of the crash.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Daya Rathnayake appointed Army Commander

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:27:53 -0700

Major General Daya Rathnayake has been appointed as Commander of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 1st August while being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, the Defense Ministry said today.

Meanwhile incumbent Army Chief General Jagath Jayasuriya has been appointed as Chief of Defence Staff with effect from August 01, the ministry said.

Present Chief of Defense Staff Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke will relinquish his position on the same day.

Lieutenant General R.M.D Rathnayake, more popularly known as ‘Daya Rathnayake’ is currently the 43rd Chief of Staff in the Sri Lanka Army (since February 2010). He will become the 20th Army Commander of Sri Lanka.

He was previously the Commissioner General, Rehabilitation of former LTTE combatants and Colonel of the Regiment, Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) since 6th August 2009 and 16th August 2009 respectively. His dedication and contribution for Rehabilitation of ex-LTTE combatants under Ministry of Justice has won him plaudits from all quarters both at local and international levels.

Lieutenant General Rathnayake, to his credit served as Military Spokesman between 2004-2006. He served as Commander, Forward Maintenance Area (North) from August 2007 to August 2009. Rathnayake was also the General Officer Commanding, 23 Division from December 2005 until up to August 2007 during the peak of Humanitarian Operations in the East.

Some of other prestigious and key appointments, held by Lieutenant General Rathnayake to-date are as follows:

Chief of Military Staff at MoD (2003-2004), Area Commander, Kandy (2002-2003), Commandant, SLLI Regimental Headquarters (2001-2002), officiating Commander for 533 & 534 Brigades (1998-2000), Commanding Officer, Officer Cadet Training Wing, Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa (1996-1998), Regimental Adjutant, SLLI (1991-1992) and a few other appointments including those in the Unit between 1981-1992.

Lieutenant General Rathnayake as an Infantry officer has followed a number of local and foreign training courses during his illustrious career. Commando Officers Course (India), Infantry Young Officers Course (India), Battalion Special Weapons Course (India), Infantry Staff Officer Course (USA), Junior Commander Course (India), Staff Course (Bangladesh), Senior Commander Course (India), Infantry Course (USA), Management Course (India) and National Defence University Course (China) are among a few of them.

Rathnayake, a prominent product of Kurunegala Maliyadeva College joined the Army on 6th February 1980 and received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant on 18th July 1981.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Fishermen warned of dangerous seas

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 05:53:14 -0700

The Met Department today said that deep and shallow sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Colombo and Jaffna to Trincomalee are not suitable for fishing until tomorrow afternoon, as the seas will be rough and dangerous with strong southwesterly winds up to 60kmp/hr.

Prevailing windy conditions are expected to continue over Sri Lanka and neighbouring sea areas during today, however it is expected to gradually reduce after tomorrow (15), the department said in its weather forecast.

“Showers will occur at times in the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and fairly heavy showers (around 100mm) are also expected at some places.

“Several spells of showers are also expected in the Western and Southern provinces and in the Puttalam and Kurunegala districts,” the Department of Meteorology said.

It further said that Southwestern monsoonal winds will strengthen at times over the island and especially along the western slopes of central hills.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

VIDEO: Lifejackets can be made mandatory to please ourselves � Rajitha

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 05:52:22 -0700

Minister Rajitha Senaratne today stated that introducing laws to make floatation devices mandatory for fishermen is not practical and that they can make wearing lifejackets mandatory to “please ourselves”.

The Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development stated that they have distributed over 10,000 lifejackets and thousands of life preservers to fishermen.

“Some people are asking us to make these mandatory. We can make this mandatory to please ourselves,” he told reporters today.

The minister stated that it will be similar to mandatory helmets for motorcycles, which people wear in junctions and remove them in village roads. Similarly, he said, fishermen will put on life jackets when leaving the harbor and take it off as soon as they reach the deep sea.

On Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera’s proposal to ask the Navy to monitor and arrest fishermen not wearing lifejackets, Senaratne stated that if he asks the Navy to do that duty they will think he has a “mental illness” and that the navy cannot be used like the traffic police.

Minister Rajitha Senaratne stated that, after repeated negotiation with a company, he introduced an insurance policy for fishermen community which charges a mere Rs 750 per year.

The insurance policy provides Rs 100,000 in case of such disasters, Rs 5000 per month for the family of missing fishermen, a scholarship for their children to be educated till they reach the age of 18, he said.

The insurance policy not only applies if the fisherman dies at sea, even if he died in a road accident the family is compensated, he said.

This insurance policy will be mandatory for fishermen with effect from January 2014, the Minister emphasized.

He further said that boat owners, fishermen will not be allowed to venture out to sea without obtaining the insurance and they will not provide with permits until they do so.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Lankan held with immigration seals in Chennai Lankan held with immigration seals in Chennai

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:35:44 -0700

A Sri Lankan national has been arrested at the Chennai airport international terminal after the CISF personnel found him carrying two rubber stamps with immigration permit seals wrapped in a paper in his pant pocket.

Airport sources said Nageem Abdul Sukkur (41) who came to Chennai to visit his uncle at Injambakkam cleared the customs and immigration checks before the CISF stopped him at the security clearance area. He was scheduled to take AI 273 flight to Colombo at 2.30 pm on Thursday.

“He was found carrying two rubber stamps normally used by the immigration officials to give permission to arriving and departing passengers. Initially, we thought that the passenger had stolen the rubber stamps when he crossed the immigration counters, but on checking, we found all the rubber stamps intact,” said an airport source.

On interrogation, Mr Sukkur informed the CISF that an airport official had given him an order to make replica of those two rubber stamps and so he was carrying them. The CISF officials handed over the suspect to the immigration department for further enquiry, Deccan Chronicle reported.

An industry expert said the passenger could be part of the team that helps people with duplicate passports. “While making duplicate passports for people, who want to return to India, these men have to affix the immigration departure permit seal from India so that they can land again. He could be carrying these stamps for that purpose,” the expert added.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

VIDEO: Police have become �private security� firm - Ravi

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:12:07 -0700

The United National Party today stated that the current security situation in the country has taken a turn for the worst, and that it has come to the point where Police DIGs can be hired to carryout murders.

Referring to the recent arrest of Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vaas Gunawardena in connection with the murder of a prominent businessman, UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake said: “If DIGs are acting like this, what kind of acts are ASPs, SPs and OICs engaging in - which haven’t been uncovered by media yet?”

He stated that today the Sri Lanka Police has become a “private security company” of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

The parliamentarian praised the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for carrying out his duties without any fear, however stated that he feared the IGP too might be removed within 24 hours, “similar to what happened to the Chief Justice.”

Karunanayake further urged the police chief to take similar actions against Minister, MPs and other police officers who have committed wrongdoings and to bring them before the law.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Jagath Jayasuriya promoted to rank of General

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:10:27 -0700

Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya has been promoted to the rank of General by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka Army media unit said.

The former Lieutenant General who assumed office as the 19th Commander of the Army on July 15, 2009 after the defeat of the LTTE terrorist organization, becomes only the second General in Sri Lanka’s history, after former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka.

Jayasuriya was the Commander, Security Forces Wanni before taking over the mantle of the Army and has been actively engaged in the overall military planning and operations in the Wanni.

As a brilliant product of Royal College, Colombo, he completed his higher studies in the science stream and excelled in different spheres. He particularly showed his prowess in the field of sports and athletics and brought fame to his alma-mater, both at national and international levels. His extraordinary talent in Boxing made him Captain of the school team. He was awarded boxing colours in 1974, 1976 and 1977 respectively and became one of the best athletes in the school. His contribution to the field of cricket, basketball and hockey also won laurels for his school. To this date, he has been an international referee/judge in Boxing. In recognition of his sterling qualities, including leadership, integrity, dependability, honesty and straightforwardness, he was appointed to the coveted post of college prefect in June 1977.

In 1978 his future career planning took roots when he joined the Sri Lanka Army as a Cadet Officer. He passed out first in order of merit of the Intake-10 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 23rd January 1980. Subsequently he rose to the ranks of Lieutenant (1981), Captain (1984), Major (1988), Lieutenant Colonel (1993), Colonel (2001), Brigadier (2001) and Major General (December 2005) respectively.

Young Officers Course at School of Armour, Pakistan (1980), Radio Instructor Course at Armoured Corps Centre and School, India (1982), Senior Tactics Course, SLMA and ATS (1987), Mid Career Course, School of Armour, Pakistan (1988), Defence Services Staff College Course in India (1989), Master of Science Degree in Defence Studies, University of Madras, India (1990), International Defence Management Course, USA (2004) and National Defence University Course in China (2006-2007) were among many military career disciplines he has hitherto followed.

In his illustrious career spanning over thirty years, he has held a number of various operational and staff appointments.

Upon completion of the military training at Diyathalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy, he served as Troop Leader 1st Reconnaissance Regiment (1980-1983) and as Adjutant (1984-1985) which he later commanded. He was then appointed in August 1985 as Staff Officer Grade 111 in the Directorate of Personnel Administration, Army Headquarters. In October 1987, he was appointed the Squadron Commander, 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Second in Command, 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (1992) and later on the Commanding Officer, 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (May 1994-June 1995). After his academic stint abroad at the Defence Services Staff College in India, he returned in June 1990 to receive the Brigade Major, 9 Brigade appointment in Jaffna. During January 1991-July 1992, he served as Chief Instructor at Officers Study Centre and Staff Officer II (Training), Army Training Centre. Later on, he served in the capacity of Staff Officer Grade 1, Armoured Brigade until May 1994. During July 1995-May 1996, he was the General Staff Officer 1 at the Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH), serving all three services and the Police. He served as Colonel Military Secretary Army Headquarters in the period between June 1996-August 1997. Lieutenant General Jayasuriya for two separate brief stints served as Commander, Armoured Brigade (September-December 1997) and Commander, 563 Infantry Brigade (January-April 1998) respectively. During July 1998-June 2002, he was the Military Liaison Officer at Ministry of Defence where he was entrusted the task of coordinating all military matters with all three services and the Police.

His appointment as Commandant, Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) in July 2002 enabled him to promote the image of the SLMA further and execute changes to the curricula, attracting more and more foreign students. In September 2004, he flew to Defence Resource Management Institute, Naval Post Graduate School, California, USA to follow a military course. In December 2004, he was appointed Director of Operations at Army Headquarters. In the midst of worsening terrorist scenario, he was made General Officer Commanding in 52 Division where he served until he was chosen to follow the one-year long National Defence University Course in China. He was afterwards made Commander, Security Forces Wanni in August 2007, an appointment he has held until he was appointed as Commander of the Army by His Excellency, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa on July 12, 2009.

General Jayasuriya is a recipient of several awards and military decorations, including Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV), Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP), Army 50th anniversary medal, Long Service Medal and Clasp, 50th Independence Medal, Desha Puthra Sammanaya, North and East Operations Medal, Poorna Bhoomi Padakkama, Riviresa Campaign Service Medal and a few more.

He sustained serious injuries during the Operation “Jayasikuru” in 1998. He is married to Manjulika Aruna and has two children, Sanjaya (23) and Deshani (16).

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Man attempts to smuggle satellite receivers

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:08:58 -0700

A Sri Lankan national who attempted to smuggle 111 satellite receivers valued at Rs. 555,000 were forfeited by Sri Lanka customs at the Katunayaka airport, Customs Media spokesman told Ada Derana.

The Sri Lankan(50) who arrived at 3.30am from India had hidden the equipment in his baggage. Customs have forfeited the receivers and imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Report on FIFA funds expected within 2 weeks

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:08:02 -0700

The committee appointed to probe the spending of funds received by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka from the international governing body of football, FIFA says they will release the report within 14 days.

Allegations had surfaced claiming Rs 500 million received from FIFA to develop football grounds in Sri Lanka after the tsunami catastrophe has been misused and wasted.

A group of FIFA representatives had arrived in the island last week to look into this and after inspecting 11 grounds across the country, the group met Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday.

They informed the minister that the report will be submitted to the international governing body. The FIFA officials will leave the country today.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Two dead after three-wheel driver falls asleep

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:34:46 -0700

Two persons were killed and another injured after a three-wheeler collided with a bus in the Ranwala area on the Kandy-Colombo main road last night.

Police said that three persons, the driver and passengers of the three-wheeler, were admitted to hospital following the accident, which occurred at around 10pm yesterday, and two of them succumbed to injuries shortly after.

The deceased have been identified as two 21-year-olds from Dambagolla, Ratttota.

The accident was reportedly caused due to the three-wheel driver falling asleep while Kegalle Police have arrested the driver of the bus.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

43 Sri Lankans arrested in Indonesia

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:20:07 -0700

Indonesian Police have detained 43 illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka who were stopped at Sindangbarang highway in Cianjur, West Java.

The illegal immigrants chose the road via South Cianjur to the southern coast of Java from which they planned to cross to their final destination Australia’s Christmas Island, Police detective Adj Comr. Gito of the Cianjur police said.

The illegal immigrants would be handed over to immigration authorities in Sukabumi, he was qouted as saying by Antara News.

Sri Lankans sent home after leaky boat journeys

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:14:54 -0700

Australian Immigration Minister Brendan O’Connor confirmed the 30th plane had landed in Colombo with 41 on board since the Government began flying Sri Lankans back in August last year.

It brings to 1247 the number of Sri Lankans who have been sent home after it was deemed they were not genuine asylum seekers.

Among them, 1035 were returned involuntarily.

Mr O’Connor said the send-back practice sent a powerful message.

“The return of another group to Sri Lanka sends a clear message that those who pay smugglers are throwing their money away and risking their lives in the process,” Mr O’Connor said.

“We are committed to breaking the evil people smuggling trade, deterring people from taking dangerous journeys by boat and saving lives at sea.”

It comes as search operations for two boats lost at seas failed to find survivors this week.

Meanwhile, another boat with 107 passengers and three crew has landed on Christmas Island.

The boat was detected by the Christmas Island radar north of the island on Wednesday. (TheHeraldSun)

Fishermen cautioned again from going out to sea

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:40:01 -0700

Fishermen requested to refrain from going out to sea in areas of the gulf of Mannar and off the coast from Colombo-Pottuvil via Galle and Jaffna, the Trincomalee Disaster Management Centre.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

CHOGM will focus international scrutiny on Sri Lanka - NZ

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:39:02 -0700

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said Sri Lanka’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November will focus international scrutiny on what progress it is making on human rights and reconciliation issues.

He met President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week in a visit to Sri Lanka, as well as Foreign Minister Professor GL Peiris and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa (brother of the president).

He said he had wanted to look at human rights and reconciliation issues that had provoked international concern “and make sure that New Zealand’s strong interest in those matters was fully registered in Sri Lanka.”

Prime Minister John Key has already said he will attend the conference, held every two years, and Mr McCully will go too.

Sri Lanka was to have been hosted it in 2011 but it was deemed too soon after the end of the 26-year civil war in May 2009, and Perth, Australia hosted it instead.

The United Nations and Amnesty International are among many bodies that have issued reports with strong concerns about how the war ended, with the deaths of thousands of civilians.

The concerns internationally extend to a lack of purpose to examine possible war crimes that took place as well as on on-going crackdown on dissent.

Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, will not be attending because of the human rights situation and India is thought to be considering its participation.

Mr Mc Cully said he wanted to encourage progress to take place in Sri Lanka before the Chogm meeting and to be clear that such progress would be “the framing through which many countries attending would be seeing their participation this year.”

He said one of the big concerns was been lack of progress on devolution, and particularly devolution in the north, where the Tamil Tigers seeking self-rule were defeated.

“Their response on that was encouraging. I received very strong assurances that elections will held in September in the north and the planning is being undertaken for that purpose and that that would provide a basis for some of those devolution recommendations.”

Mr McCully said there were two ways of looking at Sri Lanka’s hosting of the Commonwealth meeting.

“One is to simply point to the issues around reconciliation and say the hosting decision was one the Commonwealth shouldn’t have made. Well the fact is they have made that decision and the meeting is going to take place.

“The second way to view is to say ‘Look, this really does create an environment in which there is going to be quite strong international scrutiny of progress being made on the reconciliation front and it is important that they understand that that is the way we see the meeting and that we, therefore encourage further progress between now and November in that way.”

He would be discussing his meetings with other foreign ministers, including Australia’s, Bob Carr, the New Zealand Herald reports.

Sri Lanka thump England

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:04:42 -0700

Kumar Sangakkara scored an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka beat England by 7 wickets in their ICC Champions Trophy group A match played at the Oval on Thursday.

Chasing England’s 294/7 the Lankans took it to the home team as Nuwan Kulasekara’s unbeaten 58 helped reach the target with 17 balls to spare.

TM Dilshan (44) and Mahela Jayawardena (42) both chipped in as the seniors performed to expectation making the home team’s bowlers toil under damp conditions.

Tense situation at Fort Railway Station

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:06:04 -0700

A tense situation has been reported at the Colombo Fort Railway Station due to train delays.

A train arriving from Matara had suddenly come to a halt in Slave Island due to a technical failure, blocking the way for two more Colombo Fort-bound trains arriving on the coastal railway line.

This delay in trains had caused the tense situation at the Fort Railway Station as passengers were kept waiting for several hours, Ada Derana reporter said.

The Railway Control Room said that steps have been taken to haul the malfunctioning train away and clear the tracks for other trains.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

President�s right to merge provinces to be repealed

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 06:08:10 -0700

The Cabinet today approved to do away with the powers enabling provincial councils to merge. Minister of Mass Media and Information, Keheliya Rambukwella stated that a special bill in this regard will be introduced soon.

The Cabinet on June 06 proposed to repeal the President’s right to proclaim the merger of provinces under the 13th amendment.

Courtesy: AdaDerana

Fishermen warned against venturing out to sea

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 06:07:22 -0700

The Disaster Management Center (DMC) today advised fishermen to refrain from going out to sea as wind speeds may increase up to 60km per hour in areas from Mannar to Pottuvil via Colombo and Galle.

Meanwhile the Department of Meteorology, issuing a weather forecast for the next 36 hours, said that the Windy conditions are expected to continue over Sri Lanka and neighbouring sea areas.

“Showers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern provinces and in the Puttalam and Kurunegala districts. Heavy showers are also expected at some places (around 100mm).”

Southwestern monsoonal winds will strengthen at times over the island and especially along the western slopes of central hills, it said.

Deep and shallow sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Colombo and Galle are still not suitable for fishing as the seas will be rough and dangerous with strong southwesterly winds up to 60kmp/hr, the Met Department warned.

Courtesy: AdaDerana