What is all this fuss about Halal and Haram?

By Ernest Perera Judging by the flow of articles in praise of the peaceful nature of Islam and the peaceful co-existence of Muslims the general inference is that all the issues have been created by the Buddhist “extremists”. Having read a few articles I realize the issue is becoming misunderstood because the Muslims are evading […]




Constitutionally incorrect to hang the three, says judge who confirmed death for Rajiv killers

Submitted by Walter Jayawardhana CHENNAI: It would be ‘constitutionally incorrect’ now to hang the three people sentenced to death in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, said Justice K T Thomas, who headed the Supreme Court bench that confirmed the death sentences. “It was my misfortune to have presided over that bench,” he told TOI. […]





Nasheed leaves Indian embassy after ‘deal’

Submitted by Walter Jayawardhana Thanks to India’s intervention, the crisis in the Maldives has blown over with the former President, Mohamed Nasheed, emerging out of the Indian High Commission in Male on Saturday. Fearing arrest, he had sought refuge at the High Commission office on February 13. […]



Human Rights Watch 2013 Sri Lanka: Sexual Violence

By Shenali Waduge “‘We will teach you a lesson’: Sexual violence against Tamils by Sri Lankan Security Forces” is a 140 page report published on 22 February 2013 giving 75 cases of alleged rape and sexual abuse between 2006-2012 in official and secret detention centers throughout Sri Lanka […]



Chris Nonis to the Advisory Council

Submitted by Walter Jayawardhana HRH the Prince of Wales, President of the British Asian Trust, announced the new appointments to the British Asian Trust’s Advisory Councils, at the 5th anniversary dinner of the Trust, held at Windsor Castle on Monday 11th February. Mr Mukesh Ambani – Managing Director and Chairman of Reliance Industries, was appointed […]



Arsenic in Bangladeshi rice like in Sri Lanka

Submitted by Walter Jayawardhana Scientists have identified a variety of aromatic rice in Bangladesh with a very low arsenic content compared with non-aromatic rice. The work has been published in Biomedical Spectroscopy and Imaging. Vast populations in Bangladesh are exposed to arsenic through drinking water and rice, the staple food, grown in soil and water […]



Fuel prices hiked

The price of 90 octane Petrol, 95 octane petrol and Super Diesel has been increased by 3 Rupees per litre while the price of Auto Diesel has been hiked by Rs.6 with effect from today. […]




Congress MPs meet PM, want resolution against Lanka

Seeking to exert pressure on the Centre, Congress MPs from Tamil Nadu on Friday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that India join western countries like the US in bringing a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC over the alleged human rights violations during the war. […]





Sri Lanka bans land sales to foreigners

Sri Lanka has decided to ban land sales to foreigners after finding that some offshore investors did not use land and property purchases to benefit the nation’s economy, the government spokesman said on Thursday. The decision comes as the $59 billion economy is struggling to boost foreign direct investment despite gradually stabilizing macroeconomic economic conditions […]