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 [Last Updated = Thu, May 17, 2012, 10:18 am SL Time]
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Post-war Sri Lanka needs a home-grown solution - Minister Peiris

May 16 (CP) Washington DC- The post-conflict Sri Lanka will achieve reconciliation only through a home-grown solution, Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has said. Addressing a large and representative audience at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington DC on "Sri Lanka: Challenges and Opportunities", the Minister has said that Sri Lanka is conscious of the opportunity that has now presented itself following the elimination of terrorism in the country "We also realize that the process that we have in mind must be a domestic process. It can't be donor-driven or foreign-owned," the Minister has emphasized.
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SECURITY - SITUATION

Sri Lanka bribery officials arrest divisional secretary in Central Province while soliciting bribe
May 17 (CP) Akurana- The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption in Sri Lanka has arrested a divisional secretary from the Central Province over a bribery case. The police have said that Bribery Commission officials have arrested Divisional Secretary of the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha, Sanifa Mohammad for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000.

Sri Lanka's apex court upholds government ban on websites
May 16 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Wednesday has rejected a petition filed by a media watchdog and upheld a government ban on certain news websites. According to a report in Indian media, the apex court has said that the freedom of expression was not an absolute right and could be restricted

Sri Lankan government to impose stiff penalties on national treasure hunters
May 15 (CP) Colombo- The Sri Lankan government says it will take stern actions against the treasure hunters and thieves who steal national artifacts and treasure. The government has decided to impose stiff fines and prison terms to the persons who are proven guilty to destroy, steal and keep artifacts in their possession.

Sri Lanka Police to introduce facility to obtain copies of police entries
May 15 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka Police are to introduce a new facility for people to instantly obtain copies of police entries. Police Spokesperson Superintendent of Police Ajith Rohana has said that the copies of original police entries could be obtained instantly through the new system.

Sri Lanka main opposition party to support the government to resolve ethnic issue
May 15 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) says that it will extend its full support to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) proposed by the government to formulate a political solution to address the ethnic issue if the government showed its commitment to the process and creates a conducive environment.

Tamil people of Sri Lanka do not want a Tamil Eelam as a solution - major Tamil party
May 15 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka;s major Tamil political party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says the Tamil people did not want a Tamil Eelam as a solution to their political aspirations. TNA parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran speaking at a seminar in Jaffna has said that the TNA had not included the demand for a separate state in the party's manifesto at the last general election.

Sri Lanka's main opposition says security forces inactive while country's artifacts are robbed
May 15 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) says that the security forces are inactive while the country's artifacts and heritage are being robbed by treasure hunters. UNP Spokesperson parliamentarian Gayantha Karunathilaka says the treasure hunting has now become the latest form of self-employment in the country.

Sri Lanka cautions against imposing external solution
May 16 (IE) Sri Lanka has cautioned the US against imposing any foreign solution to the issues concerning its people. "We also realise that the process that we have in mind must be a domestic process.

Winning Sri Lanka's Peace
May 16 (WSJ) On the face of it, Sri Lanka has much to celebrate this week as it marks the third anniversary of its military victory over the terrorist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). After that scarring 26-year civil war, which was among the bloodiest in modern Asia, ended, the economy is the hottest in its neighborhood:

Sri Lanka to free jailed ex-army chief Fonseka: negotiator
May 16 (Reuters) A member of parliament in Sri Lanka said on Wednesday he believed President Mahinda Rajapaksa would soon order the release from prison of the country's former army chief Sarath Fonseka, revered by many of his compatriots for helping end a 25-year civil war.

Former Sri Lanka Tamil Tiger rebels 'disappear'
May 16 (BBC) Three Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger rebels who took part in a rehabilitation ceremony last year may subsequently have been taken away by the authorities, a rights campaigner has said. It has emerged that parents saw photos of their children at the ceremony attended by President Rajapaksa but now know nothing of their fate.

Lankan group donates air tickets for the repatriation of detainees
May 16 (GT) The Sri Lankan Community Benevolent Fund in Qatar has donated air tickets to repatriate 16 community members held at the detention centre. Sri Lankan Ambassador Jayantha Palipana received the tickets from an SLCBF delegation led by president George P G Bandula.

Kinniya tense after lorry runs over child’s leg
May 16 (Island) A tense situation prevailed in Kinniya, Trincomalee yesterday after a cement carrying lorry ran over the leg of a girl returning home after school from Jaya College. Police said an angry mob immediately torched the truck and chased after its driver, who managed to take refuge in the nearby government hospital. The mob thereafter attacked the hospital smashing doors, windows, furniture and equipment.

Three die in crash
May 16 (DN) Three persons of the same family from Weligolla were killed in at Goda Udawaththa in Pelamadulla yesterday when their three wheeler crashed into a tipper on the Pelmadulla-Rathnapura main road. Kahawatta Police said the driver of the three wheeler was the son and while his father and mother were travelling with him. Kahawatta police are investigating.

Family denies news on release of ex-army chief by Sri Lankan president
May 15 (Xinhua) COLOMBO- Amidst reports that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to free his political rival, jailed former army commander, the family on Tuesday denied any information on the release. A family member told Xinhua that Sarath Fonseka, the country's first 4-star general who led the army during the last stages of the three decade ethnic war, was not informed about any details of the release.

India abetted terror in Sri Lanka in the mid-1980s
May 15 (Hindu) The Indian intelligence agencies had a big hand in planning and executing terrorist strikes in Colombo in the mid-eighties, the President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga said. Reading from a book, Gota's War, at its launch here, he said the role India played in Sri Lanka needed “intensive discussion.” He described the events described in the book as “home truths.”

More : SECURITY - SITUATION
* Indian worker’s death: Questions over visas (15 - DM)
* Botched abduction bid: Trio granted bail (15 - Island)
* Dept wants public support to prevent destruction of national heritage (15 - DN)
More : SECURITY - SITUATION

NEWS - HIGHLIGHTS

Sri Lanka to make national carrier profitable
May 16 (CP) Colombo- The Sri Lankan government has initiated a five-year plan that would make the country's national carrier, SriLankan Airlines a profitable venture, the Minister of Civil and Aviation Priyankara Jayaratne has said. Speaking at a press briefing Wednesday, Minister Jayaratne has said that the government is focused on running the airline smoothly by cutting costs

Sri Lanka tourist arrivals up by 9 percent in April
May 16 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals rose 9.0 percent in April this year compared to the same period last year, the data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Wednesday showed. The month recorded 69,591 tourists arriving in the country compared to the 63,835 arrived in April 2011.

DNA parliamentarian discusses Sri Lanka's jailed Army commander's release with the President
May 16 (CP) Colombo- Tiran Alles, a parliamentarian of Sri Lanka's Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, today met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees to discuss Fonseka's release.

Sri Lanka Tamil party ready to submit its stand on parliamentary select committee
May 16 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka's major Tamil party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided to inform its position regarding the Parliamentary Select Committee next week. TNA says that the written submissions will be handed over to both the government and the major opposition United National Party (UNP).

Sri Lankan media asked to promote reconciliation among people
May 15 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today urged the country's media institutions to constantly act with a sense of responsibility and not to use mass media to incite communal disharmony.


FINANCE

World Bank economist to address Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2012
May 16 (CP) Colombo- Kalpana Kochhar, the Chief Economist for the South Asia Region of the World Bank is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the inauguration of the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2012, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) announced in a statement.

Sri Lanka to establish a central Tourism Authority
May 16 (CP) Colombo- The Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Nalaka Godahewa says that steps have been taken to unite all government bodies related to tourism under one umbrella. Accordingly, a new Sri Lanka Tourism Authority would be established, said Godahewa addressing a press conference yesterday.

Sri Lankan government to re-open Kankasanthurei cement factory
May 16 (CP) Colombo- The Sri Lankan government is to re-open the cement factory in Kankasanthurei in the Northern Province. State Resources and Enterprise Development Minister Dayasritha Tissera has said the production process of the Kankasanthurei cement factory is to commence soon.

Concessionary loans to Sri Lankan industries based on coconut products
May 16 (CP) Colombo- The Sri Lankan government is to provide loans on concessionary terms to those engaged in coconut based industries and those hopeful of entering such an industry.

ITC Sri Lanka to launch hotel project in Colombo
May 15 (CP) Colombo- The wholly-owned Sri Lankan subsidiary of India's diversified business conglomerate ITC Limited has purchased a prime land in Colombo to build a luxury hotel complex. The company has said that it acquired a land at Galle Face on a 99-year lease for a mixed-use hospitality project.

Sri Lanka Sees Significant Rupee Gain on Government Measures
May 16 (Bloomberg) Sri Lanka’s rupee will appreciate significantly and the central bank is ready to intervene to prevent “unnecessary” movement in the currency, Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said. “We expect the rupee to significantly appreciate from the current levels due to a very clear path that will be seen in our external account,” Cabraal said in an interview in Nepal today

Sri Lanka stx jumps 2 pct on easing intl pressure hopes
May 16 (Reuters) COLOMBO- Sri Lanka's stock market climbed more than 2 percent on Wednesday to a one-week high as retail investors snapped up hotel and diversified shares on the hope that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would soon order the release from prison of the former army chief and prompt more foreign inflows to the market.

Ceypetco Seeks to Buy Gasoil, Gasoline for Mid-June Delivery
May 16 (Bloomberg) Ceylon Petroleum Corp., Sri Lanka’s state-owned oil company, is seeking to buy gasoil and gasoline for delivery in June, according to a tender document obtained by Bloomberg News. Details of the requirement are as follows:

Tea exporters defend imports for value addition
May 16 (Island) The Tea Exporters Association, which accounts for 83 percent of the national tea exports, yesterday defended its decision to have imports, as a value addition for the industry, claiming that it was an essential prerequisite for not only creating a tea hub but also reaching the magical US 5 billion target by the year 2020.

Decline in SL’s software piracy in 2011
May 16 (DN) The Business Software Alliance (BSA) reported yesterday in the 2011 BSA Global Software Piracy Study that Sri Lanka has recorded a further two percentage point drop in its PC piracy rate in 2011, bringing the rate down from 86% last year to 84% this year.

Sri Lanka graphite mine hit by forex loss
May 16 (LBO) Bogala Graphite Lanka Plc, a mine controlled by Germany's Graphitewerk Kropfmuhl lost 15 million rupees in the March 2012 quarter, from a year earlier as it was hit by forex loss, interim accounts showed.

S.Lanka expects U.S. waiver after Iran oil import cut
May 15 (Reuters) Sri Lanka expects a U.S. waiver of sanctions on imports of Iranian crude after it took steps to cut them by up to 38 percent, switching to alternatives from Oman and Saudi Arabia, the island's oil minister said on Tuesday.

More : FINANCE
* Sri Lanka's April tourist arrivals rise 9 pct yr/yr (16 - Reuters)
* Sri Lanka Commercial Bank Q1 group net up 38 pct (15 - Reuters)
* Sri Lanka bourse up on bank, telcos (15 - Reuters)
* Sri Lanka Cricket eyes local firms to bankroll premier league (15 - LBO)
* Rs.390 mn NSB-TFC deal: Unions sink differences to protect bank (15 - Island)
* Sri Lanka moves to modernize plastic sector with US $ 1.75 m (15 - DN)
More : FINANCE
POLITICS - GENERAL

Sri Lanka to strengthen the poverty alleviation program, extend benefits to more families
May 16 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka will take measures to strengthen the country's poverty alleviation program, Samurdhi scheme, and extend its benefits to more families, a Minister has said. Addressing a media conference in Colombo today, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena has said the programme will be strengthened and carried forward to the future.

Sri Lankan government called on to reveal its foreign policy to the public
May 16 (CP) Colombo- An anti-imperialist movement backed by Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today said the government's foreign policy was not clear to the country and called on the state to reveal its foreign policy. JVP politburo member and head of the National Trade Union Center (NTUC), K.D. Lalkantha told a press conference in Colombo that there were doubts over the government's foreign policy.

PHIs in Sri Lanka to boycott National Dengue Prevention Week
May 16 (CP) Colombo- Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) in Sri Lanka say they would not participate in the National Dengue Prevention week that was launched on Monday (14). The Health Ministry declared a National Dengue Prevention Week from May 14th till the 20th as the mosquito borne disease has already claimed 51 lives this year and affected 11,378 people.

Ambassadors of China and Sweden bid farewell to Sri Lanka
May 16 (CP) Colombo- The Ambassadors of China and Sweden made separate farewell calls on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Tuesday (15). The Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mrs. Yang Xiuping, who completed her tenure of service in Colombo, met President Mahinda Rajapaksa before she left for China.

Doctors' union of Sri Lanka Colombo National Hospital to launch strike
May 16 (CP) Colombo- The Colombo National Hospital branch of the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) of Sri Lanka has passed a resolution proposing to launch an island wide strike from May 21. The National Hospital branch is the main branch of the GMOA and the members there have proposed to launch the strike to win the Rs. 29,000 transport allowance.

Sri Lanka Power and Energy Minister says energy conservation is a future investment
May 16 (CP) Colombo- Power and Energy Minister of Sri Lanka Patali Champika Ranawaka says that conserving energy is a future investment. Speaking during the energy conservation programme launched by the Power and Energy Ministry, Ranawaka has said that Sri Lanka was one of the few countries in the region that provides an uninterrupted power supply to the people.

Sri Lanka's unemployed graduates against decision to recruit Indian teachers
May 15 (CP) Colombo- Unemployed graduates in Sri Lanka have opposed the government's move to get teachers from India to teach in the country's schools while a large number of Tamil graduates remain unemployed in the country.

Sri Lankan government provides free milk to school students in Nuwara Eliya
May 15 (CP) Nuwara Eliya- Sri Lanka government has commenced a programme to provide a glass of milk to school students and teachers of Nuwara Eliya district. The programme officially commenced Monday from the Good Shepherd Convent in Nuwara Eliya with 1,406 students, in the school.

Elephant sanctuary to set up in Sri Lanka North Central Province
May 15 (CP) Colombo- The Sri Lankan government is to set up a sanctuary in the Anuradhapura District of the North Central Province as part of its elephant conservation programme. Wild Life and Agrarian Services Minister S.M. Chandrasena says the government is to establish the sanctuary at a cost of Rs. 250 million.

Sri Lanka calls for Tamils to return
May 16 (Age) SRI LANKA has offered Immigration Minister Chris Bowen an escape for Tamil refugees branded a threat by security agencies and locked in indefinite detention in Australia - saying they are needed back home. ''Help is required in Sri Lanka now,'' the country's top envoy to Australia, Thisara Samarasinghe, told The Age.

Adding Rice Farmers to the Rio+20 Agenda
May 16 (IPS) COLOMBO- The year 2011 was one of extremes for the small Sri Lankan village of Verugal.Lying on the island's Northeastern coast, Verugal began the year with incessant rainfall.

Embassy call
May 16 (GDN) A PETITION could soon be launched calling for the opening of a fully operational Sri Lankan Embassy in Bahrain. It follows complaints from members of the 20,000-strong Sri Lankan community here, who claim they are facing unnecessary obstacles completing basic consular tasks.

UNP doubts whether Govt. is genuine
May 16 (DM) The United National Party (UNP) said today there were questions whether the Government was genuine about Monday’s bilateral talks with the UNP though there was the possibility of a broad dialogue with all opposition political parties to resolve the national issue. UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told journalists that even in past the UNP has had bitter experiences when it held talks with the government.

Mahinda wouldn’t have given in to India’s pressure unlike JRJ - Lalith
May 16 (Island) Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga on Monday asserted that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would have reacted differently if he had come under the same pressure as the late President J. R. Jayawardene. J. N. Dixit had been lucky that he had had to deal with JRJ and not President Rajapaksa, Weeratunga said.

Title deeds for resettled IDPs
May 16 (DN) Action will be taken to issue titled deeds to a majority of the resettled, said Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda at a ceremony recently to mark the opening of a new building for the Co-operative Society and another for the pre- school at Illavalai Vasanthapuram area in the Tellipallai Divisional Secretariat Division.

Iranian filmmaker on Sri Lankan festival jury
May 15 (TT) TEHRAN- The Iranian director Mohammadreza Arab is on the jury of the SAARC Film Festival, which is currently underway in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The festival is organized by the SAARC Cultural Centre which is a part of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Partnership helps restore public services in rural Sri Lanka
May 15 (UNICEF) TRINCOMALEE- It’s the morning rounds of the village mothers’ support group. Today, they’re visiting one of the poorest families in this remote village in eastern Sri Lanka. Their concern is Sujalan, the youngest of Packiyaluxmi’s three children.

More : POLITICS - GENERAL
* Reality television programme for Sri Lanka university students (15 - CP)
* Five Tamil parties drop ITAK umbrella for TNA (15 - Island)
* Philippine - Sri Lanka economic relations strengthened (15 - DN)
* Sri Lanka government to form a regulatory body for private schools (15 - CP)
More : POLITICS - GENERAL

SPORTS

Sri Lanka will be formidable at home, warns Whatmore
May 16 (AFP) LAHORE- Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore on Wednesday warned his players they faced a tall order on next month’s tour of Sri Lanka, saying the hosts were tough opponents in home conditions. The Australian backed the six uncapped players picked across Pakistan’s Test, one-day and Twenty20 squads to make an impact on the tour, which starts with a Twenty20 international in Hambantota on June 1.

More : SPORTS

Muralitharan takes top spot
May 16 (ESPNCI) Almost all Australian players, who have entered IPL 2012 late following the tour of the West Indies, have made an immediate impact. While Shane Watson's unbeaten 90 off just 51 balls in Royals' seven-wicket win over Pune Warriors has taken the top spot on the list of best batting performances in IPL 2012, Hilfenhaus is in third position on the list of top bowling performances for his excellent spell of 2 for 8 in the win over Royals.

Sri Lanka tour: Snub only a temporary setback, says Wahab Riaz
May 16 (PT) KARACHI- Snubbed fast-bowler Wahab Riaz has termed his omission from the Sri Lanka bound squads a temporary setback, saying he will regain his place in the side by showing his worth though sheer hard work. The left-armer failed to find a place in any of the three squads despite selectors opting for separate teams for all formats.

India cricket board suspends five 'corrupt' IPL players
May 15 (BBC) Indian cricket officials have suspended five players pending an inquiry into corruption allegations against them. The move came after a sting by undercover TV reporters purported to show the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricketers agreeing to bowl no-balls and spot-fix matches. The cricketers are also heard alleging that team owners often paid them large sums of money illegally.

WORLD

Pakistan officials to 'finalise' end to Nato blockade
May 16 (BBC) The Pakistani cabinet has ordered officials to finalise a deal as quickly as possible to bring an end to a six-month blockade on overland Nato supplies into Afghanistan. But it has stopped short of announcing when the transit lines will reopen. The US State Department said "considerable progress" had been made on ending the blockade.

More : WORLD

Britain to open two new diplomatic posts in India
May 16 (Xinhua) LONDON- Britain will open two Deputy High Commissions in the Indian cities of Hyderabad and Chandigarh, bringing the number of British posts in the country to seven, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Wednesday. Hague made the announcement in parliament, saying Britain has secured the agreement with the Indian government to open two new posts, "given the growing importance of our relations with India."

Lady Gaga refused permit for Jakarta concert
May 16 (BBC) Indonesian police have refused to issue a permit for a Lady Gaga concert scheduled to take place in Jakarta next month. The move came amid concerns about security. Islamic groups had objected to the show, claiming it was too vulgar. The hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) threatened to intercept the US singer at the airport and a spokesman accused her of being a "messenger of Satan".

Protests in Bangladesh after opposition leaders arrested
May 16 (BBC) Demonstrators and police have clashed in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka after 33 senior opposition figures were arrested in connection with anti-government protests last month. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party has called a nationwide general strike for Thursday.

About Sri Lanka ::-
Introduction to Sri Lanka ::-

Sri Lanka is a beautiful island paradise in the Indian Ocean with white sandy beaches lush greenery, exciting adventures, amazing wildlife, cascading waterfalls and a rich heritage. The island of Sri Lanka is roughly pear-shaped. The total area of Sri Lanka is 65,610 sq km. Sri Lanka’s coastline is about 1,340 km (about 833 mi) around.

The people in Sri Lanka are warm and friendly. Sri Lankans are known for hospitality in all over the world. People in Sri Lanka ethnically fall into four main categories. The population of Sri Lanka is about 20 million. Sri Lanka has a tropical climate. Sri Lanka has a democratic government. Sri Lanka is mainly an agricultural country. Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948. Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon.

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Sri Lanka became a plantation economy, famous for its production and export of cinnamon, rubber and Ceylon tea, which remains a trademark national export. By 1996 plantation crops made up only 20% of export, and further declined to 16.8% in 2005 (compared with 93% in 1970), while textiles and garments have reached 63%. The GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.5% during the early 1990s, until a drought and a deteriorating security situation lowered growth to 3.8% in 1996. The economy rebounded in 1997-2000, with average growth of 5.3%.

Sri Lanka, with an income per head of $1,350, still lags behind some of its neighbors including Maldives and Mauritius but is ahead of its giant neighbor India. Its economy grew by an average of 5% during the 1990s during the 'War for Peace' era. According to the Sri Lankan central bank statistics, the economy was estimated to have grown by 7% last year, although inflation had reached 20%.

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