Three Brigadiers Promoted to Rank “Major General”

Brigadier Prasanna Silva, Brigadier Shavendra Silva and Brigadier Chagi Gallage have been prompted to the rank of ‘Major General, Director General of the Media Center for National Security.

GCE A/L admission cards on the way

Admission cards for G.C.E. A-level examination have been sent to all schools, Commissioner General of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe told.

Sri Lanka plans extensive road rebuilding

Sri Lanka has drawn up plans to rebuild shattered road networks in the north and east costing over US$750 million for which it is seeking foreign funding, a senior government official said. The projects include highways linking the northern Jaffna peninsula with the south, two circular roads around the peninsula itself, and other highways across the northern mainland.

Electronic money order service kicks off

The electronic money order service facility by the Postal Department commenced today(30) said M. K. B. Dissanayake, Post Master General.

Four who stole a safe jailed for three years

Four Sri Lankan workers have been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment followed by deportation for stealing a safe containing QR3,000, nine passports of employees, a chequebook and a mobile handset.

Despite measures Dengue death toll in Sri Lanka rises to 223

Despite increased awareness and stringent measures the Sri Lankan health authorities have not been able to contain the alarming rise of the dengue epidemic in the country.

'No hotel inside Sinharaja Reserve'

There is no chance for the construction of an "eco-tourist hotel" inside the Sinharaja Forest Reserve or inside its buffer zone, former Chairman Central Environment Authority Udaya Gammanpila said. Dismissing media claims that he had given approval to build a tourist hotel in the country's primary rain forest which holds a large number of endemic flora as "false" and "baseless".

Sri Lanka imposes import tax on milk powder and big onions

Sri Lanka government has decided to impose an import tax on milk powder, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs said.

Devotees flock to Kataragama festival in Southern Sri Lanka

For the first time in thirty years the largest number of devotees has reached the historical Kataragama city in its first week of this year's Esala festival.

Return crying babies to weeping mothers

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated –– Mahatma Gandhi A shocking 'abduction' was reported from Pinnawala on Saturday. The army and the police were deployed to tear two tiny baby elephants from their protesting mothers at the behest of Minister of Sports and Recreation Gamini Lokuge, who granted Diyawadane Nilame Nilanga Dela's wish that the little jumbos be donated to the Asgiriya and Malwatte Temples. The aggrieved mothers furiously resisted the heartless bipeds' effort to remove their precious sucklings that needed their warmth, love and protection.

Teacher released on bail over causing injury to student

A woman teacher in a school in Anuradhapura has been freed on two Rs. 200,000 sureties in a case of punishment that led to injury to a student. Additional magistrate Givantha Manchanayake advised the suspect not to interfere with witnesses to the incident. The accused was ordered to appear before court on July 30. A complaint by the student’s father to Galenbindunuwewa Police was followed by the teacher’s arrest.

Airtel Lanka achieves one million customers

Telecom giant Bharti Airtel on Tuesday said it has achieved one million customer base in Sri Lanka within 171 days of the launch of its services in the Island country. Bharti Airtel Lanka, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, is now the fastest growing mobile services operator in the country. “We are pleasantly surprised that we have achieved one million customers in Sri Lanka in a record 171 days.

Southern PC in Sri Lanka to be dissolved early next month

The Southern Provincial Council (PC) is to be dissolved by the first week of August, the Sri Lankan government announced today.

Tea production in Sri Lanka drops dramatically

The tea production in Sri Lanka, the main export grist of the country has been dropped dramatically during the first quarter of the year. The Ministry of Plantation said the production has dropped by 40.9 % compared to the first quarter of the last year

Lanka to restrict bringing of mobile phones to schools

The Education Minister Susil Premajayantha has decided to ban bringing mobile phones to schools by the students with immediate effect. Minister Premajayantha said that he has taken this decision to avoid the harmful situations that had led to a number of unfortunate incidents in schools recently.

Sri Lanka Air Force starts domestic civilian flights

Sri Lanka Air Force started its domestic civilian flight services between Colombo and Palali in Jaffna this morning, Air Force sources said. The flights will operate from Ratmalana to Jaffna's regional airport Palali, Trincomalee, and Sigiriya

Sinusoidal nature of the JVP Policy on the National Question

The recent interview the JVP leader, comrade Somawansa Amarsinghe, conducted with Sanjana Hattotuwa and published on Groundviews clearly demonstrates the limitations, fluctuations and the non-cohesive nature of the JVP’s policy position regarding the national question. The ruling elite and the bourgeois-nationalist intelligentsia belonging to all the communities contributed to spreading and reinforcing ultra-nationalism and chauvinism among the people in Sri Lanka.

Policy framework for reconciliation must address root causes of conflict

The war has ended. What next is the query on the minds of all Sri Lankans, more specifically a major concern to the Tamil community? The issues are clear and many options are available but which ones will the leadership take? An end of a war or conflict leads to many roads.

Two Cuban epidemiologists are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka today

A Health Ministry official has told Daily Mirror. Two Cuban epidemiologists who were invited to help Sri Lanka to handle the fast spreading Dengue epidemic in the island did not arrive in Colombo on Saturday as expected. Cuba's chief epidemiologist Aramis Martinez and assistant epidemiologist S. Yalina were expected to arrive here on 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

News papers reported Health services Deputy Director General Palitha Mahipala went to the airport to receive the two Cuban epidemiologists who were to arrive on an Emirates flight via Dubai. But they were not among the planeload of passengers who checked in at the immigration desk. When the Cuban Embassy checked with the health authorities in Havana of Cuba, they were told that the two epidemiologists left their office on Thursday and they were due to travel to Sri Lanka via Dubai. However, when the embassy checked the Emirates passenger manifesto it was found that the two Cubans had not arrived in Dubai. It is not clear what happened to the two Cubans on the way to Sri Lanka.

The Dengue fever is fast spreading in Sri Lankan since the beginning of this year with 180 people killed by the disease and more than 18,000 cases reported so far. This represents a sharp increase as 4,156 dengue cases and 85 deaths were reported for the whole year of 2008. The BTI bacterium is being widely used in Cuba to control the breeding of disease-bearing mosquitoes.

10 people have died due to dengue fever during the last three days

The number of deaths caused by dengue fever this year has risen to 190.

The recorded number of dengue patients at the moment is 18452. The government has not been able to take adequate measures to suppress dengue epidemic and all programmes the government has taken so far have been mere publicity stunts.

Injured Dilshan doubtful for ODI series

Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan is doubtful for the five-match ODI series against Pakistan after fracturing his right index finger and having several stitches above his left eye on the second day at the SSC. Dilshan, who has been keeping wicket in the series in Prasanna Jayawardene's absence, suffered the finger injury when he caught Khurram Manzoor off Chaminda Vaas for 93.

Main road between Vavuniya & Trincomalee reopens

The main road (A9) that links Vavuniya and Trincomalee towns were reopened after a lapse of many years. With this reopening, the four-hour journey between the two towns can now be made in half that time. The road remained closed due to threats from the LTTE. The road reopening took place in the presence of minister Tissa Karaliyadde and north central province chief minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake.

Pakistan contentedly placed

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 233, Danish Kaneria taking 5 for 62 on his return, Pakisstan now lead Sri Lanka by 82 runs with 9 second innings wickets intact on the 2^nd day of the 3^rd test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka played at SSC in Colombo.

Pakistan were all out for 299 main scorers being Khurram Manzoor 93 and Mohammad Yousuf 90. Thushara took 5 wickets for 83 runs while Kulasekera took 3 for 47. Vaas playing his last test match had 1 wicket for 43 runs.

Sri Lanka were soon in trouble when they had 4 wickets down for 82 runs. However, a partnership between Jayawardene and Mathews repaired the innings and a cameo innings played by injured Dilshan brought respectability to Sri Lankan total. Jyawardene was the top scorer for Sri Lanka scoring 79 while Sangakkara scored 45. Dilshan scored 44 while Mathews contributed with 31.

Danish Kaneria took 5 wickets for 62 runs while Ajmal took 3 for 70. The match will be continued tomorrow.