Sri Lanka to become regional financial hub

Source: The Hindu – Photo by jdslanka COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is ‘proactively engaged in’ the process of becoming the regional financial hub, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said here on Tuesday. Presenting the ‘road map monetary and fiscal sector policies for 2011 and beyond,’ he said this was a gradual process. […]



CID Busts a foreign collaborated racket of stealing from Bank Accounts

The CID has nabbed two racketeers who have robbed money by obtaining data from Bank teller machines. The arrested duo are Sri Lakans and investigations are underway to arrest a Rumanian couple who are also believed to be involved in this crime. Information about the accounts of customers has been obtained by fixing a specially […]



DO NOT CONDUCT POLLS DURING CRICKET WORLD CUP, APPEALS ARJUNA

Holding local government elections during the World Cup Cricket tournament is not the right thing to do, says parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga. He expressed these views at a media briefing this afternoon.“If the government is keen to develop the country and project a proper image, this is not the right time to hold local government elections. […]



Sri Lanka to remove all references to Ceylon

News Source: The Telegraph – Photo by Lakdiva.org Ceylon gained independence from Britain in 1948 and changes its name to Sri Lanka when it became a republic in 1972. The name Ceylon is a transliteration of Ceilao, the name of the country under Portugal, the islands first European colonial rulers. The adopted name, Sri Lanka, […]



Coconut import suspended

News Source: DM Online – by Kelum Bandara The government has shelved its decision to import coconut for the time being following objections by the Coconut Research Board (CRI) on possible quarantine problems involved in the matter, informed sources said today. After the Trade Ministry decided to augment the coconut imports after a shortage in […]



Sri Lanka mulls ban on miniskirts at public places

Colombo: Sri Lanka was mulling a ban on mini-skirts following complaints, prompting the government to set up a panel to prepare a dress code for public places in the conservative country, officials and a media report said Monday. The cultural ministry was considering public petitions calling for a ban on mini skirts which have raised […]




LEADER OF NAVA SIHALA URUMAYA, SARATH MANAMENDRA ARRESTED

Sarath Manamendra, leader of the Nava Sihala Urumaya, has been arrested over a complaint lodged by a three-wheel driver at the Welikada police. Police said that Manamendra was being questioned over an incident, where he had allegedly made threats with the use of a pistol. […]



MINISTER SENEVIRATNE BLAMES WEATHER FOR HIGH PRICE OF SALT, BIG ONIONS

The price of salt and big onions has escalated. This is normal in the agriculture sector even under any efficient administration because of the change in the weather patterns, says W. D. J. Seneviratne, Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs. He expressed these views at a ceremony held to declare open the new two-story […]



UNP war hots up: Contest is likely

The second decade of the 21st century dawned yesterday with many an uncertainty in Sri Lanka’s ever changing political landscape. It was felt most in the country’s main opposition United National Party (UNP), which is torn by internal feuding and power struggles. On Wednesday night, the UNP’s besieged leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, had just returned to […]



PRESIDENT’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE; WE LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE WITH POSITIVE ASPIRATIONS

We look towards the future at the dawn of this New Year with renewed determination, firm commitment and many positive expectations, he said adding, ‘Our aim is to recover with speed all that was lost to Sri Lankan society in more than three decades’, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his New Year message. With great […]



Madam ‘Jeena’ to be indicted

The Attorney General is expected to indict the wealthy woman known as Madam ‘Jeena’ who ran a star-class brothel in the heart of Colombo, on charges of prostitution and human trafficking. The key suspect Rosemary Felicia Perera also known as ‘Madam Jeena’ who was evading arrest in another case was arrested by a special police […]



President began the year with a lie – Ranil

President Mahinda Rajapakse began 2010 with a lie as he promised that public sector salaries will be increased within the year but nothing has been done about it so far, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said at a press conference in Colombo today. He stated that former LTTE Chief Arms Procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan’s wealth could have […]



Matara Mayor resigns

Matara Mayor Upul Nishantha stepped down from office today. He said that he was being politically victimised and therefore stepping down from office. […]



Remarkable increase of visitors to Jaffna in 2010

According to the statistics being maintained on the entry to the Jaffna peninsula across the Elephant Pass (EPS) gateway a recorded number of visitors from the south have arrived in Jaffna during 2010. By 28 December 2010 approximately 3 million of visitors entered via EPS gateway and pilgrims, Ministers and Parliamentarians, investors, vendors, diplomatic missions […]



Police release name of Lankan student gunned down in robbery

Kansas City police today identified a gas station clerk fatally shot during an ambush robbery Tuesday as 25-year-old Sri Lankan student Sujendra Amarasingham. The Ad Hoc Group Against Crime is sponsoring a prayer vigil at 5 p.m. today for Amarasingham at the scene of the crime. […]