Lanka Top Net

Discover Cinnamon Life: South Asia’s Largest Integrated Resort and Entertainment Hub in Colombo, Sri Lanka

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 08:07:00 -0700

Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams is Sri Lanka’s newest and most ambitious luxury hotel, officially opened on October 15, 2024, in the heart of Colombo. Developed by the John Keells Group with an investment of over USD 1.2 billion, Cinnamon Life is not only South Asia's largest integrated resort but also a landmark project that is poised to redefine the country’s tourism landscape. Offering a unique blend of luxury, leisure, and entertainment, this destination is quickly becoming a global attraction for travelers from around the world.

A Record-Breaking Development

As the largest private investment in Sri Lanka’s history, Cinnamon Life stands as a symbol of progress and modernity. With 687 opulent rooms, the resort is designed to cater to a wide range of guests, including business travelers, leisure vacationers, and those attending major international events. The resort’s state-of-the-art facilities, including grand ballrooms and high-tech conference spaces, have the capacity to host more than 5,000 guests, making it the largest event venue in Colombo. This has positioned the city as a premier destination for global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) travel.

World-Class Culinary Experiences

One of the standout features of Cinnamon Life is its culinary excellence. The hotel is staffed by over 1,500 professionals, including 250 of the finest chefs from around the world. Guests can indulge in a wide variety of gourmet dining options, each offering a distinct culinary experience. Whether you are in the mood for a chic French bistro, an American grill, or exquisite local dishes, Cinnamon Life has something for every palate.

The resort also offers the most extensive wine selection in Sri Lanka, with an exclusive wine bar that caters to connoisseurs. For those seeking a more refined dining experience, the two-tier Champagne and cocktail bar adds a touch of elegance to the culinary journey.

In the coming months, Cinnamon Life is set to expand its culinary offerings even further, with additional dining experiences planned, making it a true foodie destination in South Asia.

A Premier Venue for Global Events

With its state-of-the-art facilities and impressive infrastructure, Cinnamon Life has quickly established itself as the go-to venue for international conferences, large-scale gatherings, and destination weddings. Its versatile spaces, luxurious ballrooms, and breathtaking settings offer the perfect environment for hosting memorable events. The hotel is expected to attract major international gatherings, further boosting Colombo’s reputation as a global hub for business, entertainment, and tourism.

Beyond Luxury: A Celebration of Art and Culture

While Cinnamon Life is renowned for its luxury accommodations and entertainment options, it also serves as a living gallery of Sri Lankan art and culture. The hotel proudly showcases over 1,000 commissioned, museum-grade artworks crafted by some of Sri Lanka’s most renowned artists. These works of art are displayed throughout the hotel, blending heritage with contemporary design, and offering guests a unique cultural experience alongside their luxurious stay. This celebration of Sri Lankan artistry reflects Cinnamon Life's commitment to preserving and promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage in a modern setting.

Expanding Entertainment and Shopping Options

While the hotel officially opened in October 2024, the full scope of the Cinnamon Life project will be realized in mid-2025, with the launch of additional features including a luxury shopping mall, state-of-the-art entertainment areas, a gaming facility, and the ultra-luxurious 113-key ‘Nuwa’ hotel. These upcoming attractions will further cement Cinnamon Life’s status as South Asia’s largest integrated resort and entertainment hub, offering a variety of experiences for both local and international visitors.

A Transformative Project for Sri Lanka

Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the John Keells Group, described Cinnamon Life as a transformative development for both the company and the country. “City of Dreams Sri Lanka is an iconic project that will elevate Colombo into a top-tier destination for leisure and entertainment, offering world-class shopping, dining, and lifestyle experiences,” he said. He also emphasized the project’s potential to create jobs and boost the economy, with the full development expected to generate over 20,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.

A Global Destination for MICE Travel and Tourism

Thanks to its world-class event spaces, luxury accommodations, and unparalleled entertainment options, Cinnamon Life is rapidly positioning Colombo as a premier global destination for MICE travel. From international conferences to grand weddings, the resort offers the infrastructure and expertise to host large-scale, high-profile events. Its prime location in the heart of Colombo provides easy access to the city’s vibrant culture, making it a convenient and attractive choice for international visitors.

Why Cinnamon Life Should Be Your Next Travel Destination

With its luxurious accommodations, cutting-edge event venues, and exceptional dining and entertainment options, Cinnamon Life is more than just a hotel—it’s a destination in itself. Whether you're looking to host a grand event, indulge in world-class cuisine, or experience Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage in a modern setting, Cinnamon Life has something for every traveler.

As the largest integrated resort in South

Asia, Cinnamon Life promises to captivate visitors from around the world, offering a perfect blend of luxury, culture, and entertainment. With its ambitious vision and global appeal, this extraordinary development is set to become the crown jewel of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.

Final Phase and Future Developments

The final phase of the Cinnamon Life project is set to open in mid-2025, with the launch of additional luxury features, including a high-end shopping mall, entertainment zones, and the ultra-exclusive ‘Nuwa’ hotel. These developments will further enhance the guest experience and attract an even broader range of visitors from around the world.

In the years to come, Cinnamon Life is expected to play a key role in driving tourism to Sri Lanka, contributing significantly to the country’s economy and cementing its status as a global tourism destination.

Plan your visit to Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams and experience the best of Sri Lankan luxury, culture, and entertainment.

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Sat, 8 Dec 2012 19:52:00 -0800

Dec 08, Washington, DC: The United States said it remains deeply concerned about actions surrounding the ongoing impeachment trial of Sri Lankan Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.
Reiterating the statement issued by the US Embassy in Colombo Friday, the State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark C. Toner urged the Sri Lankan government to guarantee due process, and to ensure that all investigations are conducted transparently and in accordance with the rule of law.
"These latest developments are part of a disturbing deterioration of democratic norms in Sri Lanka, including infringement on the independence of the judiciary. The United States, along with our partners in the international community, continues to urge Sri Lanka to uphold the rule of law and democratic governance and to continue to address outstanding accountability and reconciliation issues," Toner said in a statement.
The Chief Justice walked out of the PSC hearing Thursday saying that she has no faith in the process and the opposition members of the PSC followed her Friday saying that they too have no faith in the PSC and could not be a party to an unfair process.

Sri Lanka ruling alliance group to sign a petition to safeguard 13th Amendment

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Sat, 8 Dec 2012 19:51:00 -0800

Dec 08, Colombo: Sri Lanka's ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) sources say that a group of ruling alliance political parties and several ministers have initiated a petition signing campaign against abolishing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The petition highlighting the need of safeguarding the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is to be handed over to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Collecting of signatures to the petition commenced on December 07 at the parliament, sources said.
A discussion has been held at parliament in regard of the petition with the participation of a number of minority community and leftist political parties.
Sri Lanka Freedom Party Minister and former Chief Minister of Western Province Reginald Cooray also has participated in this meeting.
Sources further say that Sri Lanka Freedom Party Ministers Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Dilan Perera have also expressed solidarity to this move but they have refrained from participating in the meeting due to parliamentary select committee procedure on impeachment against Chief Justice.

Three out of five charges against CJ proven

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Sat, 8 Dec 2012 19:48:00 -0800

Leader of the House and member of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva says three out of five charges (1,4,5) against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake have been proven at the PSC inquiry held on the impeachment.

Speaking in parliament today, Minister De Silva had stated the CJ has been proven guilty of the following three charges against her: the issue concerning the Trillium property, failing to declare certain bank assets and liabilities and being biased against legal action initiated against her husband at the Magistrate's Court of Colombo in connection with the offences regarding acts of bribery and/or corruption under the Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption Act.

He had also stated that proof of the three charges against the CJ is sufficient to remove her from the position while adding that nine other charges that were brought against her have been disregarded.

A total of 14 charges were brought against the CJ and only five have been investigated by the PSC.

Meanwhile, Minister Dilan Perera who is also a member of the PSC, speaking in parliament today had stated the CJ said she never withdrew from the Ceylinco case on her own and claimed she was surprised to know the case was removed from her. (LP)

FULL SPEECH OF THE BUDGET 2013

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Sat, 8 Dec 2012 19:44:00 -0800

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Finance and Planning Minister presented the budget for 2013 in Parliament on Thursday, November 08 2012. This is the 66th budget of Sri Lanka since independence and 8th budget presented by the President in his capacity as the Finance & Planning Minister.

Full speech of the Budget 2013

President emphasizes that all are equal before the Law

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Sat, 8 Dec 2012 19:43:00 -0800

President Mahinda Rajapaksa declare opening several developments made to the Southern Expressway including the 'Canowin Arcade'- the newly built rest area at Welipenna emphasized that all are equal before the law, and justice should be meted out to anyone irrespective of their status.

The President said that when efforts are made in line with constitutional provisions to mete out justice to people accused of malpractices, the accused have made it a practice to blame the government in return. He said those who wanted corruption and malpractice to be rooted out are now protesting when the government is doing exactly what they wanted.

Speaking further the President said he had the utmost respect for the Judiciary and following the elimination of terrorism from the soil of this country anyone has the freedom to express their opinions and move about anywhere freely. He recalled the hardships underwent by the people during the period they live under fear and suspicion.

The rest area 'Canowin Arcade' declared open by the President at Welipenne in the Expressway comprises rest rooms, restaurants, fuel stations, children's play area, supermarkets, service stations, ATM machines, vehicle park, first aid and clothing shops. The Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation has been entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining and managing the rest area.The rest areas on either side of the road have been constructed in an eco - friendly manner.

Before coming to Welipenna, the President also opened the entrance to the new Kottawa exchange which connects the Southern Expressway to the Outer Circular Expressway being built around the city of Colombo. This terminal will comprise five entries and eight exits. The Southern Expressway will be connected to Colombo-Kandy Expressway and Colombo-Katunayake Airport Expressway under construction via the Colombo Outer Circular Expressway. (niz)

Big boost for environment-friendly tourism

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Sat, 8 Dec 2012 19:38:00 -0800

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa Thursday (06) launched a programme to provide pradeshiya sabhas with infrastructure facilities for garbage disposal in areas marked for tourism development. The objective is to create environment-friendly tourism regions in the country.

At present Sri Lanka has six tourism regions – Bentota, Kalpitiya, Pasikuda in Batticaloa, Kuchchuweli in Trincomalee, Vakaray and Yala. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has modernized tourism regions in the North and East to make them attractive to visitors, under the guidance of Minister Basil Rajapaksa after the end of a 30-year war.

The Minister Basil Rajapaksa presented tractors and trailers to the Bentota and Pasikuda Pradeshiya Sabhas. Chairman, Bentota Pradeshiya Sabha, Gayan Sirimanne and Secretary, Valachchena Pradeshiya Sabha, N. Siyabdeen are seen here accepting the tractors and trailers.

Sri Lanka’s first environmental tourism region was begun in a 700 acre-area in Bentota in 1970. It comprised seven hotels with 630 rooms. The second tourism region was started in Kalpitiya comprising 14 islets with an extent of 4000 acres.The Pasikuda tourism region, Batticaloa begun in 2009 comprises 14 hotels with 930 rooms built in a 156 acre-area. The Kuchchuweli tourism region, Trincomalee covers a 590 acre area. The extent of the Vakaray tourism region is 73 acres. It is the Tourism Development Authority that undertook the well-planned development of these areas under Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s guidance.

By now tourist arrivals in the island is rapidly increasing and a number of programmes catering to their needs have been launched under infrastructure development. Accordingly, the SLTDA has decided to provide tourism regions next year too with beach cleaning equipment, diving equipment and life saving equipment as well as give training in life saving. In addition the SLDTA has taken steps to build tourism shopping centres in the Bentota, Beruwala, Hikkaduwa, Kalutara, Negombo and Pasikuda under the minister’s guidance, according to Mihira Liyanarachchi, Director SLTDA Domestic Tourism Resorts.

Child Development and Women’s Affairs Deputy Minister MLAM Hizbullah, Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamurthi Muralidaran, SLFP Organiser Bentara-Elpitiya Geetha Kumarasinghe, SLTDA Chairman Bhashwara Gunawardena and Director Mihira Liyanarachi participated in the launching of the infrastructure development programme.

Impeachment resolution on the Sri Lanka Chief Justice submitted to Parliament

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Sat, 8 Dec 2012 19:37:00 -0800

Sri Lanka Parliament is to allocate 10 day for the debate on the resolution on the Impeachment of country's top judge. Parliament was told that 10 days will be allocated for the debate on the resolution on the impeachment against the country's top Judge, submitted by the Parliamentary select committee on Saturday.

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) after having concluded its probe on the impeachment of CJ submitted its report Saturday morning in the Parliament when it met for the last day in the year.

Parliament Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, had appointed an 11-member select committee, seven of them from the ruling party, to investigate 14 charges against the Chief Justice Dr Shirani Bandaranayake ranging from not disclosing her wealth to professional misconduct.

The four opposition members on the impeachment committee withdrew from it on Friday citing injustice.

According to the Standing orders the Parliament has to wait for one month once the resolution is submitted to Parliament for any further action. Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa announced in Parliament that he was ready to allocate 10 days for a debate on the resolution after the legally required one month time.

The procedures of the PSC, in accordance with the Article 78 of the Standing orders of the Parliament precludes taking any action after the resolution is submitted until the expiry of one month.

The Standing order 78 reads as follows.

*78A. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Standing Orders, where notice of

a resolution for the presentation of an address to the President for the removal of a Judge from

office is given to the Speaker in accordance with Article 107 of the Constitution, the Speaker

shall entertain such resolution and place it on the Order Paper of Parliament but such

resolution shall not be proceeded with until after the expiration of a period of one month from

the date on which the Select Committee appointed under paragraph (2) of this Order has

reported to Parliament.

(2) Where a resolution referred to the paragraph (1) of this Order is placed on the Order Paper

of Parliament, the Speaker shall appoint a Select Committee of Parliament consisting of not

less than seven members to investigate and report to Parliament on the allegations of

misbehaviour or incapacity set out in such resolution.

Meanwhile the chairman of the PSC Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa who himself is a lawyer told this edition that a comprehensive report has been submitted to Parliament on the motion.

Parliament will meet on January 8, 2013 and the end of the debate it will have to be passed with a simple majority. The ruling government has more than two third majority in the Parliament and it could easily be passed.

CJ explains why she walked out

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Fri, 7 Dec 2012 22:55:00 -0800

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake has walked out of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) in the face of hostile and biased conduct of the government members of the PS so as to ensure the dignity of the judiciary of Sri Lanka, a statement said.

The Chief Justice reiterated that she is innocent of the false charges made against her and is always willing to face any impartial tribunal in order to vindicate herself, a statement issued by Lawyers Collective, an umbrella organization of a numbers of lawyers’ associations and independent lawyers.

Describing the events that led the CJ’s decision to walk out of the PSC, Lawyers Collective stated as follows. The PSC was requested as far back as November 20 to furnish the information required to reply the allegations. This information was never provided. When the PSC commenced sitting on November 23, 2012, her counsel had had requested that a list of witnesses and a list of documents relied upon in support of the allegations be made available.

It is common knowledge that even in a disciplinary inquiry in the public service or a trivial criminal case that a respondent or accused is furnished with a list of witnesses and documents so that they could prepare for the defence, it observed. The PSC failed to meet this basic requirement at any of its sitting. On Thursday, December 6 about 4pm, the PSC had handed over a bundle of documents consisting of approximately 1000 pages and required the chief justice to respond by 1.30 pm tomorrow, i.e. in less than 24 hours. It was obvious that a majority of the members of the PSC had no real intention to give the chief justice a fair hearing.

In addition to the above, at various stages of the proceedings of the PSC, two members hurled abuse at the Chief Justice and her lawyers and it became evident that these members had been mandated to ridicule the head of the judiciary and the legal profession. The Select Committee was requested numerous times to formulate the procedure that it intended to follow. There was no response to this request until today.

On Thursday, when this request was repeated, the Chairman of the PSC stated that no oral evidence would be led to establish the allegations and, consequently no opportunity would be given to cross examine such witnesses making the allegations. Instead it became evident today that the Chief Justice was expected to refute allegations that had not even been supported by evidence. Such an irregular and unlawful procedure would undermine every single independent judge in Sri Lanka. In almost all instances the same members of the PSC, who were in majority, overruled the submissions made on behalf of the Chief Justice without cogent reasons and often without any prior consultation with the other members.

It is for the above reasons that the Counsel for the CJ had requested to waive the secrecy provisions and sought an open and public inquiry and requested for independent observers to watch the proceedings, but this request was also refused by a majority of the PSC. In the face of the above no right thinking person could any longer continue to accept the legitimacy of a body steeped in partiality and hostility towards the head of the judiciary and in this background the chief justice and her counsel had no alternative but to withdraw from participating in the select committee.

The CJ reiterated that she is willing continue to face any impartial and lawful tribunal as is done in other commonwealth countries as was proposed in the draft constitution of August 2000 in order to vindicate herself and she will continue in her efforts to safeguard the independence of the judiciary, which is a heritage of the people of Sri Lanka, who alone are the sovereign of this country.

Source -D.Mirror

CJ asks Speaker to appoint impartial panel

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Fri, 7 Dec 2012 22:50:00 -0800

Lawyers of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake in a letter to Speaker requested to postpone the impeachment hearing until an impartial panel is set up to probe her.

“The people of the Country (the Sovereign) have an inalienable right that their Chief Justice be given, a fair trial by an independent and impartial tribunal in keeping with the universally accepted rules and norms,” the letter signed by attorney K. Neelekandan said.

The full text of the letter sent to the Speaker by Attorneys-at-law Neelakandana and Neelakandan yesterday follows:

We are instructed by our Client, Hon. Dr. Shirani A. Bandaranayake.

As you are no doubt aware, our Client has withdrawn from the proceedings of the Select Committee and the reasons have been given.

We write to request you to defer any further action until an independent and impartial panel is appointed to inquire in to the allegations.

Our Client is absolutely innocent of the allegations and is convinced that she will be exonerated of any wrongdoing by an independent and impartial tribunal.

Our Client re-iterates that the charges are baseless and groundless and can easily be refuted. The issue is of broader and of wider relevance than our Client’s rights and affects the integrity and independence of the judiciary.

Thus in the interests of the judiciary and in the interests of the country and in the interests of our Client, we request that our Client be given the opportunity of vindicating herself before an independent and impartial tribunal.

The people of the Country (the Sovereign) have an inalienable right that their Chief Justice be given, a fair trial by an independent and impartial tribunal in keeping with the universally accepted rules and norms.

We annex herewith for your ready reference, the proposal contained in the draft Constitution of the year 2000 with regard to the procedure for removal of the Judges (Chief Justice).

Thus, we request you to defer from taking any further steps until an independent Committee is appointed to inquire into the matter.
Source - Daily mirror

US urges transparency and due process

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Fri, 7 Dec 2012 22:47:00 -0800

The United States today urged the Sri Lankan Government and the Parliamentary Select Committee investigating the Chief Justice ensure any investigation be conducted transparently, guarantee due process, and is conducted in accordance with the rule of law.

Issuing a statement the embassy in Colombo said that “…it remains very concerned about the state of the Sri Lankan judiciary and the impeachment process of the Chief Justice.

Lankan man executed in Abu Dhabi

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Fri, 7 Dec 2012 22:43:00 -0800

Abu Dhabi: A Sri Lanka man was executed on Thursday morning by firing squad in Abu Dhabi after being convicted of murdering an Emirati Engineer in Al Ain in 2002.

Sources confirmed that 36-year-old Alex Rohana, a Sri Lankan, was executed at 7am in the presence of a judge, general public prosecutor, Imam, doctor and police officials.

Rohana stabbed to death Mohammad Obaid Al Muhairi, a 39-year-old father of eight children.

Al Muhairi was the deputy head of the engineering section at Al Ain Municipality and Town Planning Department.

Rohana was sentenced to death by an Abu Dhabi court after being convicted on charges of murder, breaking into a house and having an illicit affair with a woman.

Blood parents of the victim refused to waive their rights or pardon the killer.

A day before his execution, Rohana told Gulf News over the phone from a cell in solitary confinement that he regretted what he did and that he accepted his destiny. Rohana also said that police officials and the prison warden had been very kind and supportive.

Rohana, a father of one daughter who worked for a company in Fujairah, was having an affair with a Sri Lankan housemaid during the time of the attack. On the night of the murder Rohana went to meet the woman at her sponsor’s house in Al Ain to spend the night with her in her room. While the couple was together, the Al Muhairi woke up for morning prayers and when he heard strange noises coming from the housemaid’s room he went to check. The housemaid reportedly denied that someone else was in her room. Rohana tried to run away but was caught by Al Muhairi, they fought and Rohana attacked Al Muhairi, stabbing him to death in his chest with a knife.

Rohana converted to Islam in 2008. He asked his friend on Wednesday not to inform his mother or daughter that he had been executed.

“I’m asking for forgiveness from all that others have endured because of me,” Rohana said. The executed man’s belongings were given to his friend.

Police released the body of Rohana to his relative and friend for burial. (gulfnews)

I don’t take revenge-MR

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Fri, 7 Dec 2012 22:40:00 -0800

“I am not a man who takes revenge. The law is equal to everyone irrespective of their positions. If someone commits an offense, he will get punishments”, Said President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the opening Ceremony of the Weligama Resort on the Southern Expressway.

Further speaking he said “The opposition protested against corruption of a certain chairman those days. They even went to the Bribery Commission, and said action should be taken against his wife also. When we started the methodology according to the law and constitution, we are accused. But we are not discouraged by such accusations. We act independently according to the Law.”

Lanakn jailed for drag-race death

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Fri, 7 Dec 2012 21:29:00 -0800

A Sri Lankan man who killed another driver when drag racing has today been jailed for at least 18 months.

Shyam Jayasinghe, 28, was driving at up to 50 kilometres more than the speed limit when drag racing on the Princes Highway in Dandenong, before crashing into a car driven by Afghan refugee and father-of-one Hamedjan Hussaini.

Mr Hussaini, 32, had been on his way home from work at about 7.45pm and was turning right when Jayasinghe slammed into him.

Jayasinghe pleaded guilty in the County Court to one charge of dangerous driving causing death.

Judge Christine Thornton said witnesses claimed Jayasinghe was racing his red Honda with a red Ford up a hill at speeds of between 100km/h and 110km/h on Tuesday night, March 13 last year.

The speed limit on that section of the Princes Highway is 60km/h.

Neither driver could see what was in front of them when they reached the top of the hill.

The judge said Jayasinghe's actions had been deliberate conduct with the potential to endanger others.

It was not a case of momentary inattention where the moral culpability was low.

Judge Thornton said Mr Hussaini's death had had a life-changing impact on his wife, 24, and five-year-old son.

Mr Hussaini had met his wife at a refugee camp in Pakistan in 2004 after both had fled the war in Afghanistan and they married a year later.

The judge said Mr Hussaini came to Australia in 2008 and his wife followed two years later.

Mr Hussaini worked seven days a week as a renderer and loved his family very much, Judge Thornton said.

His wife was still grieving his death and his son continues to ask when his father is coming home.

They now live in a small apartment and struggle to get by financially.

The judge said their emotional loss was immeasurable.

"No sentencing disposition will assuage their grief," she said.

Judge Thornton said Jayasinghe was born in England but went to live with his parents in Sri Lanka when he was 3. He came to Australia in 2008.
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Jayasinghe had a masters degree in international business from Monash University and was working as a sales representative driving up to 500 kilometres a week for his job before the accident.

Judge Thornton said Jayasinghe was genuinely remorseful for what he had done and now suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

He had since set up a Facebook page to promote road safety.

Jayasinghe was jailed for a total of three years with a non-parole period of 18 months and disqualified from driving for two years. (Source: The Age)

Ranil fires rocket at satellite

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Fri, 7 Dec 2012 21:17:00 -0800

In the backdrop of contradictory statements about the China Sat 12 Communication Satellite launched into the orbit recently, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today asked whether China was using Satellite Orbit slots allocated to Sri Lanka in this case.

Making a statement under Standing Order 23(2), Mr. Wickremesinghe said the local media announced the launch of Sri Lanka’s satellite named ‘Supreme SAT -1 whereas the foreign media announced the launch of such a satellite called China Sat 12 Communication Satellite by China.

He said that Sri Lanka’s outer space was free for the use of all states in the world according to International Law.

“The Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) makes provision for the allocation of Satellite orbit slots to be registered with the ITU. Sri Lanka too is entitled to such slots. The media does not specify whether China SAT 12 Communication Satellite is utilizing a slot allocated to China or Sri Lanka,” he said.

He also said Supreme SAT (Pvt) Limited , a Board of Investment(BoI) company had entered into an agreement with China Great Wall Industry Corporation to co-brand this satellite as Supreme SAT 1. He asked the government to make a detailed statement on this matter.

Mr. Wickremesinghe requested the government to give details about the satellite orbit slots allocated to Sri Lanka, the system followed in selecting a party for the country’s satellite project, the total cost for SupremeSAT, the shareholders and directors of SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd.

Besides, he asked the government to table the agreements between BoI and SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd, China Great Wall Industry Corporation and SupremeSAT (Pvt) , Government of Sri Lanka and SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd, and the project proposals.

Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardane said the subject minister would give a reply tomorrow in Parliament.

In lighter vein, Mr. Wickremesinghe said, “I would like to know whether the Minister is in the orbit.”

Mr. Gunawardane responded, “He will definitely land on December 8 to give you a reply.” (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)

Source - Daily mirror

Anger over Sri Lankans' deportation

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Thu, 6 Dec 2012 20:17:00 -0800

Chris Bowen. Photo: Edwina Pickles

THE Refugee Council of Australia's chief executive has called on the government to urgently halt the forced deportation of Sri Lankan asylum seekers.
Paul Power said there was compelling new evidence that members of the group were forcibly returned and denied the opportunity to have their claims for protection assessed. On Thursday, Fairfax Media revealed that members of the group sent back to Colombo and jailed had said the Australian government had not properly investigated their claims for protection.
Mr Power, who on Thursday released a letter he had written to Immigration Minister Chris Bowen backing the reports, said he was disturbed by the claims, which if accurate would constitute a serious breach of Australia's international obligations.
He wrote that the men were woken at 4am last Friday and told they would be returned.
He said they did not have the opportunity to discuss the matter properly with case managers beyond a first interview in which, they believed, their fear of return was ignored.
''Some of the men began to cry, others were begging the Serco staff to act and an older man began vomiting,'' Mr Power wrote.
''The information given to me suggests that the people involved did raise fears which warranted further investigation. I and many others are concerned about what the consequences will be for the people returned.''
Mr Bowen said: ''We had people who had very clearly come to Australia for economic purposes.
''It is completely appropriate that swift action is taken to return them to Sri Lanka.''
Also on Thursday, about 400 asylum seekers were released from detention in Darwin after being granted bridging visas. They were flown to Sydney on Thursday and will be settled in all the states and territories, with most going to Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
An Immigration Department spokesman said the group included people who had been in detention for months, as well as more recent arrivals.
But those who arrived after the government's tough no-advantage policy for boat arrivals took effect on August 13 would not be allowed to work, the spokesman said. The department warned that people released on bridging visas could still face transfer to Nauru or Manus Island at any time.
Meanwhile, the government expelled another 46 asylum seekers from Sri Lanka, all recent arrivals on several boats.
On Nauru, an asylum seeker slashed his arm and was sent to a clinic for treatment.
Reports from the island claimed 13 people collapsed from the effects of heat and a hunger strike.

Source - National Times

Tow back policy on asylum seeker boats to apply to Sri Lanka

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Thu, 6 Dec 2012 20:14:00 -0800

A Coalition government would tow boats back to Sri Lank to help stem the flow of asylum seekers bound for Australia, opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald
Mr Morrison, speaking from a tour of Australia’s detention facilities on Nauru, said Australia should also bolster Sri Lanka’s maritime resources to prevent people from leaving.
‘‘We believe the more effective way to deter [arrivals] here is firstly to support the Sri Lankan government with their interceptions at source, whether at sea or land ... Secondly, in the event that the vessels get towards Australia they should be intercepted outside of our waters and arrangements made for their immediate transfer back to Sri Lanka but into the safe hands of international agencies that are already on the ground in Sri Lanka, particularly the UNHCR and IOM.’’
Mr Morrison said the Coalition would boost Sri Lanka’s naval resources, ‘‘just like we would do where requested or where supported in Indonesia as well’’.

He said the Coalition’s tow-back policy, in which asylum boats would be returned to Indonesia where safe to do so, had been mocked by the government because Indonesia was unwilling to participate in the scheme.
‘‘But the difference is, the Sri Lankan government has expressed a keen interest in this and we would be very interested in supporting them in that, because it’s much safer to ensure that interception closer to Sri Lankan territory than Australia.
‘‘And that just seems to me to be a very practical measure that we can take with the support of the Sri Lankan government.’’
Mr Morrison said asylum seekers on Nauru faced two frustrations: their detention on Nauru, and the fact other asylum seekers in the post-August 13 contingent were being sent to Australia on bridging visas while they languished on Nauru.
‘‘The inconsistent application of that policy is exacerbating what would be normal tensions.’’
He said the conditions were ‘‘challenging’’.
‘‘The sooner we move to permanent arrangements, then I think the concerns about the facility that are there presently will fade,’’ he said.
Construction on permanent accommodation for almost 400 asylum seekers on Nauru is set to begin before Christmas following a breakthrough in negotiations between local land owners and the Nauru government.
The minister responsible for the processing centre, Mathew Batsiua, said the terms and conditions of a lease with the owners of six portions of land that covered the centre were set to be finalised on Wednesday.
But Mr Batsiua said no date had been set to open the camp and allow detainees free movement during daylight hours, despite expectations that this would have occurred by now. ‘‘Health and security checks have to be satisfied first before individuals can be allowed free movement,’’ he said.
All information relating to health had been received, but more security information had to be gathered before these checks could be completed, he said.
Mr Batsiua also confirmed that some of the asylum seekers had refused preliminary interviews in protest at the delays in processing their claims. ‘‘They are encouraged to participate, but at the end of the day they cannot be forced,’’ he said.
Nauru’s Topside camp – which is expected to house 900 asylum seekers in permanent accommodation when it is built – will have no direct access to power and water, Mr Morrison said on Thursday.
‘‘I’m of the strong view that there are better sites that were available and should have been pursued,’’ he said.
‘‘Now we’re going to have a permanent facility being constructed around a temporary facility, which will make a very challenging situation more challenging in the months ahead.
‘‘The permanent facility will have about 900 people who will be able to be accommodated on that site, on Topside.
‘‘That is a site that has no direct access to power or water. All water will have to be trucked up to that site, and if they are going to move away from the stand-alone power generation that they currently have, then obviously poles and wires are going to have to be erected. That’s one of the reasons that the Coalition did not favour the Topside site as the site for the permanent facility.’’
Mr Morrison said the choice of Topside showed the government’s hand was ‘‘forced’’ in reopening Nauru, and it was unprepared for the challenges involved.
A spokesman for Mr Bowen said, "this is all a bit rich from Scott Morrison – first he said the government wasn’t moving quick enough and now he says we’ve rushed it".
"The reality is we’d have a permanent facility on Nauru right now if the Coalition had supported the government’s proposal in late 2011.
“It’s odd for Mr Morrison to be complaining about the Topside site when this is the same site that the Coalition used for its ‘Pacific Solution’ and it has better amenity and infrastructure now than it did back then.”
An immigration department spokeswoman confirmed that water would be regularly trucked to Topside, but said the site was chosen based on the availability of land, after negotiations with landowners and the Nauruan government.

Source- Times online

TNA urged to discuss their issues with the Govt

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Thu, 6 Dec 2012 20:11:00 -0800

Former Editor of The Hindu newspaper and the internationally reputed journalist N Ram has said that there was no Sri Lankan government so strong and powerful as the one led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and no government with such strength as the present government.

He has said that the Tamil National Alliance should extend their full support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to find a lasting solution to ethnic issue. He has criticized the TNA leadership for being silent when the LTTE leadership was acting in similar fashion to the Pol Pot group, and did all what the LTTE commanded them to do.

Mr. Ram has made these comments when a group of Sri Lankan Media personnel went over to the Asian Training Centre for Journalists in India.

He has said that the assassination of the Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE in 1919 resulted in the people of India distancing from the LTTE, and the LTTE lost any rapport and sympathy they enjoyed up to then with India.

Mr. Ram has criticized the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi for making a statement calling for a referendum to resolve the Tamil issue and has described it only as a political statement and has said that no sensible Tamil politician in Tamil Nadu was keen on that. Mr. Ram has emphatically pointed out that the enemy of the Tamils of Sri Lanka is the Tamil Diaspora leaders. (niz)

Four dead after cargo ship sinks in North Sea

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Thu, 6 Dec 2012 20:10:00 -0800

Peter Verburg, Netherlands Coastguard: ''The chance that we will find people alive is virtually zero''
Four sailors are dead and another seven are missing after a cargo ship sank in the North Sea following a collision.
The accident took place off the coast of Belgium and the Netherlands, after the Baltic Ace sailed from Zeebrugge.
Thirteen crew members of the Baltic Ace have been rescued, but seven are still missing in freezing waters.
The search resumed at dawn but a Netherlands Coastguard spokesman said the chance of finding anyone alive was "virtually zero".
Peter Westenberg said three boats from the Royal Dutch Sea Rescue Organisation, two navy vessels, four helicopters and one coastguard aircraft were being used in the rescue.
Strong winds and high seas had made conditions difficult overnight, and the search was called off at 02:00 (01:00 GMT) before resuming at first light.

Life rafts found
The 148-metre (485-foot) Baltic Ace was sailing under a Bahamas flag and carrying cars from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Kotka in Finland.
Map
Its 24 crew abandoned ship as it sank quickly after colliding with the Cyprus-registered container ship, the Corvus J, sailing from Grangemouth in Scotland to the Belgian port of Antwerp.
The 134-metre Corvus J is said to be badly damaged but not in danger of sinking. All 12 crew members are still on board.
The Dutch coastguard said the cause of the collision, which happened at 18:15 GMT some 65 km (40 miles) off the coast of the southern Netherlands, was not yet known.
The shipping lane where the accident happened is one of the busiest in the North Sea, about 100km (60 miles) from Europe's busiest port, Rotterdam.
But a spokesman for the port said its activities would not be affected by the collision.

Source - BBC

Muslims condemn Ranjan Ramanayake

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Thu, 6 Dec 2012 20:08:00 -0800

Several Muslim Organizations in the country have profusely condemned the United National Party Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake for remarks made by him during the 3rd reading debate of the votes of the Ministry of Foreign Employment Development in the parliament last week.

They have demanded that Ramanayake should make an unconditional apology from the Muslim community in Sri Lanka for his vituperative statement about the Shariah Law.

Ramanayake said that the Shariah Law is barbarous and Sri Lanka should stop sending Sri Lankans for employment in Saudi Arabia which is practising the Shariah Law.

On the very day of this statement made by Ramanayake, the UPFA Parliamentarian Mrs. Upeksha Swarnamali also condemned the remarks made by Ramanayake. The UNP Parliamentarian Kabir Hashim also condemned yesterday Ramanayake’s statement in Parliament and said that Ramanayake should have condemned the monarchic rule of Saudi Arabia instead of condemning the Shariah Law. (niz).

Amaradeva Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Thu, 6 Dec 2012 19:41:00 -0800

Sri Lanka's Music Maestro Pandit W. D. Amaradeva on Wednesday (05) celebrated his 85th birthday at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Performing Arts Theatre. "Amaradeva, Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow", was a grand felicitation ceremony organized to felicitate Pandith W.D. Amaradeva and to mark his 85th birthday and attended by a large number of artistes. The Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa lso attended the felicitation ceremony.

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited partnered with Star Events headed by SudarmaNetchikumara in consultation with MCNS Director General Lakshman Hulugalle organized this grand felicitation ceremony..

On Wednesday morning a large group gathered at his residence to wish him on his 85th Birthday and also to wish his beloved wife Wimala Amaradeva whose birthday also coincidentally falls on the same day. Among those who arrived were Minister of Culture and Aesthetic Affairs, T.B. Ekanayake.

Born on 5th December 1927 in Moratuwa, Pandith Amaradeva is a Sri Lankan vocalist and musical composer. His creations cut across over five generations of Lankan classical music lovers in their mass appeal and uniqueness. His music came to reflect an entire philosophy, reflective of the spirit of a nation.

Pandit Amaradeva has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Philippine Ramon Magsaysay Award (2001), Indian Padma Sri Award and Sri Lankan "President's Award of Kala Keerthi" (1986) and Deshamanya Award (1998). Pandit Amaradeva is also the music composer of Maldivian National Anthem. He has composed music for ballet, film, theatre, radio and television, and has sung over one thousand songs.

The World End - December 2012.

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Wed, 5 Dec 2012 20:01:00 -0800

Question (Q): Are there any threats to the Earth in 2012? Many Internet websites say the world will end in December 2012.

Answer (A):The world will not end in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012.

Q: What is the origin of the prediction that the world will end in 2012?

A: The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012 and linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in 2012 -- hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012.

Q: Does the Mayan calendar end in December 2012?

A: Just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012. This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then -- just as your calendar begins again on January 1 -- another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar.

Q: Could planets align in a way that impacts Earth?

A: There are no planetary alignments in the next few decades and even if these alignments were to occur, their effects on the Earth would be negligible. One major alignment occurred in 1962, for example, and two others happened during 1982 and 2000. Each December the Earth and sun align with the approximate center of the Milky Way Galaxy but that is an annual event of no consequence.
› More about alignment

"There apparently is a great deal of interest in celestial bodies, and their locations and trajectories at the end of the calendar year 2012. Now, I for one love a good book or movie as much as the next guy. But the stuff flying around through cyberspace, TV and the movies is not based on science. There is even a fake NASA news release out there..."
- Don Yeomans, NASA senior research scientist
Q: Is there a planet or brown dwarf called Nibiru or Planet X or Eris that is approaching the Earth and threatening our planet with widespread destruction?

A: Nibiru and other stories about wayward planets are an Internet hoax. There is no factual basis for these claims. If Nibiru or Planet X were real and headed for an encounter with the Earth in 2012, astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be visible by now to the naked eye. Obviously, it does not exist. Eris is real, but it is a dwarf planet similar to Pluto that will remain in the outer solar system; the closest it can come to Earth is about 4 billion miles.

Q: What is the polar shift theory? Is it true that the Earth's crust does a 180-degree rotation around the core in a matter of days if not hours?

A: A reversal in the rotation of Earth is impossible. There are slow movements of the continents (for example Antarctica was near the equator hundreds of millions of years ago), but that is irrelevant to claims of reversal of the rotational poles. However, many of the disaster websites pull a bait-and-switch to fool people. They claim a relationship between the rotation and the magnetic polarity of Earth, which does change irregularly, with a magnetic reversal taking place every 400,000 years on average. As far as we know, such a magnetic reversal doesn’t cause any harm to life on Earth. Scientists believe a magnetic reversal is very unlikely to happen in the next few millennia.
› More about polar shift

Q: Is the Earth in danger of being hit by a meteor in 2012?

A: The Earth has always been subject to impacts by comets and asteroids, although big hits are very rare. The last big impact was 65 million years ago, and that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Today NASA astronomers are carrying out a survey called the Spaceguard Survey to find any large near-Earth asteroids long before they hit. We have already determined that there are no threatening asteroids as large as the one that killed the dinosaurs. All this work is done openly with the discoveries posted every day on the NASA Near-Earth Object Program Office website, so you can see for yourself that nothing is predicted to hit in 2012.

Q: How do NASA scientists feel about claims of the world ending in 2012?

A: For any claims of disaster or dramatic changes in 2012, where is the science? Where is the evidence? There is none, and for all the fictional assertions, whether they are made in books, movies, documentaries or over the Internet, we cannot change that simple fact. There is no credible evidence for any of the assertions made in support of unusual events taking place in December 2012.
› Why you need not fear a supernova
› About super volcanoes

Q: Is there a danger from giant solar storms predicted for 2012? A: Solar activity has a regular cycle, with peaks approximately every 11 years. Near these activity peaks, solar flares can cause some interruption of satellite communications, although engineers are learning how to build electronics that are protected against most solar storms. But there is no special risk associated with 2012. The next solar maximum will occur in the 2012-2014 time frame and is predicted to be an average solar cycle, no different than previous cycles throughout history.
› Video: Solar Storms
› More about solar storms

Sri Lanka to introduce electronic voting

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Tue, 4 Dec 2012 23:02:00 -0800

Dec 05, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has taken measures to introduce an electronic voting system to the country, a government minister revealed.
Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has told parliament that the government has taken immediate measures to formulate the relevant legal amendments to introduce electronic voting.
According to the Minister, the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has instructed that existing elections laws need to be amended to introduce the new system and the laws are now being amended for the registration and nullification of voters.
Earlier this year Elections Commissioner suggested the government to introduce an electronic voting system since a large sum of money and human resources had to be invested under the current voting system
He called on all political parties to make the necessary amendments to the Elections Act in order to enable the introduction of an electronic voting system.
The government has prepared a report to bring some electronic machines from India and to demonstrate them to the legislators.
Once the laws have been prepared by the Elections Commissioner, the government will implement the amended laws to introduce electronic voting.

Pure Gold Jewellers of Dubai enters Sri Lanka

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Tue, 4 Dec 2012 22:58:00 -0800

Dec 04, Colombo: Dubai-based jewellery maker Pure Gold Jewellers expanding its presence in Asia has made its much anticipated entry into and Sri Lanka.
The jewelry manufacturer and retailer has signed on to open five outlets in Colombo and Kandy and all will be operational within the next few months, according to the company.
The leading jeweler in the Middle East views Sri Lanka as the first step towards its long term plan to establish a strong presence in tourist destinations such as Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius.
Firoz G. Merchant, Chairman of Pure Gold Group has said that the company will start in Sri Lanka with five stores which will all be fully operational over the next three months. The jeweler eventually plans to open 10 stores in the country.
"Sri Lanka is renowned for its rare and precious stones often sought by Royalty. It is a fascinating country with strong potential for the jewellery industry especially on the back of a thriving tourism sector," Merchant has said.
Pure Gold already has two manufacturing units in India and one in China. The planned retail chain comprises of 30 shops including duty free shops and shopping mall based outlets.

Foreign armies interested in sharing Sri Lanka's experience and training

lankatopnet@gmail.com (Ravi Herath) — Tue, 4 Dec 2012 22:57:00 -0800

Dec 04, Colombo: Several foreign Armies have shown interest in sharing Sri Lanka's experiences and training, Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya said.
Addressing the student officers at the Defence Services Command & Staff College (DSCSC), the prestigious academic platform for tri-service officers at Sapugaskanda Monday (03) the Commander revealed that the Sri Lankan Army is now offering four courses to foreign military trainees.
"We are getting more and more foreign military officers for training," Lieutenant General Jayasuriya said.
Five countries - Pakistan, India, Maldives, China and Bangladesh- attended the Exercise Cormorant Strike as a multinational exercise, he noted.
Additionally, the annual Defense Seminar which has become a routine annual event has attracted defense personnel from several countries.
Defense personnel from 44 countries have participated in this year's seminar held in August in Colombo, according to the Army Commander.
Over 41 countries participated in the inaugural Defense Seminar in 2011 on the theme 'Defeating Terrorism-Sri Lankan Experience' in May last year with the participation of representatives from more than 41.
Lieutenant General Jayasuriya said preparations for the next year's seminar are already in progress.
Training opportunities offered by foreign Armies to the Sri Lanka Army are on the increase as well, he noted.
"China has increased it tremendously and we are benefited," the Army Commander added.