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Latest News from Sri Lanka: LankaPage wishes its readers a Happy and Prosperous New Year! [Last Updated = Thu, Jun 20, 2013, 11:47 am SL Time] | |||||||
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June 20 (CP) Washington, DC- Although the Government of Sri Lanka is making significant efforts to eliminate human trafficking it does not fully comply with the minimum standards and failed to demonstrate evidence of increasing overall efforts to address human trafficking last year, a US report on human trafficking said.
The 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report released Wednesday by the United States Secretary of State John Kerry has placed Sri Lanka among Tier 2 Watch List countries. The report said Sri Lanka is primarily a source and to a much lesser extent, a destination for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking.
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SECURITY - SITUATION
PCs won’t have police powers
June 30 (Island) India had been informed of Sri Lanka’s decision not to devolve police powers to provinces at the height of the conflict, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said yesterday.
The Defence Secretary said that both, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and he, had emphasised during deliberations with senior Indian officials that devolution of police powers would be inimical to the national interest as well as political stability.
Five nabbed with heroin worth over Rs 8 m
Over 1,600 refugees left for Lanka since Jan 2012
Student stabs female faculty member in Sri Lanka for refusing to accept late assignment
June 19 (CP) Colombo- A law student of Sri Lanka's Open University in Colombo has stabbed the Head of the Department of Legal Studies at the University, the police said.
The faculty member, Yasodara Kathirgamathamby has been admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital with serious injuries and undergone surgery, the hospital sources said.
Sri Lankan court subpoenas ruling party MP over comment made on missing journalist
June 19 (CP) Colombo- A Sri Lankan court today issued summons on governing party parliamentarian Arundika Fernando to come before court to make a statement on a comment made by him in parliament about missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.
Sri Lanka Navy arrests 80 illegal migrants bound for Australia
June 19 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka Navy Wednesday intercepted and arrested 80 illegal migrants bound for Australia in the seas off the eastern coast.
A fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Eastern Naval Command has intercepted a multi-day fishing vessel with the 80 people onboard in the seas off of Batticaloa this morning, the Navy said.
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NEWS - HIGHLIGHTS
Sri Lanka, Pakistan to enhance ties in ports and shipping sector
June 20 (CP) Islamabad- Sri Lanka and Pakistan have discussed enhancing the bilateral relations in the between the two countries in the ports and shipping sector.
The discussions took place when Pakistan's Federal Minister for Ports & Shipping Senator Kamran Michael met Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody in his office recently.
Australia's full support for Sri Lanka to host Commonwealth summit
June 19 (CP) Canberra- Australia has pledged full support to Sri Lanka to host a successful Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this year, the External Affairs Ministry said today.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has told Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris that she is looking forward to attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka in November.
During a meeting with Minister Peiris on Wednesday in the Australian Parliament in Canberra, Prime Minister Gillard has assured her government's assistance to ensure total success of the event. (External Affairs Ministry Photo)
SriLankan signs contract to buy 10 Airbus jets for US$ 2.6 billion
June 19 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka's national carrier, SriLankan Airlines has signed a contract to purchase 10 Airbus planes in a US$ 2.6 billion deal, the airline said Wednesday at an air show in Paris.
Sri Lanka to brief diplomats on proposed constitutional amendments
June 19 (CP) Colombo- The External Affairs Ministry of Sri Lanka will brief the diplomatic community in the country about the proposed changes to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Secretary to the External Affairs Ministry Karunatilaka Amunugama said the foreign governments would be briefed once the government finalizes the changes.
Indian PM dismayed over Sri Lanka's plans to dilute 13th Amendment
June 19 (CP) Colombo- The Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is "dismayed" over the Sri Lankan government's plans to dilute certain key provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, India's External Affairs Ministry said Tuesday.
(India External Affairs Ministry Photo)
Sri Lanka's proposed media code threatens free speech - Humans Rights Watch
June 19 (CP) Colombo- The new media code proposed by the Sri Lankan government is part of a sustained campaign to control the media and curtail dissent, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday.
The New-York based human rights organization in a statement said the proposed media code contains "overbroad and vague language that could have a severe and chilling effect on free speech."
FINANCE
Govt: Existing casino license to be transfered to Packer
New SEC Act for Cabinet approval next month
Packer, Rank Holdings invests US $ 350 mn in Colombo project
More Sri Lankans looking to book domestic holidays online: survey
US$ 4 billion special zone for heavy industries at Sampur in Eastern Sri Lanka to proceed
June 19 (CP) Colombo- The Sri Lankan government will proceed with the setting up of a special zone for heavy industries at Sampur in Trincomalee district of Eastern Sri Lanka.
The cabinet of ministers in 2011 approved the setting up of a special zone for heavy industry at Sampur in a land extent of 97 sq km.
Sri Lanka's Hemas Holdings opens new hospital in Thalawathugoda
June 19 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka's diversified conglomerate Hemas Holdings Tuesday declared open its newest hospital built at Thalawathugoda in Battaramulla in the outskirts of capital Colombo.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared opened the 60-bed state-of-the art hospital, designed and built according to the highest international standards at a cost of Rs. 1.3 billion rupees.
Sri Lanka's Keells to sign $640 mln hotel deal next week-sources
POLITICS - GENERAL
Minister wants code of ethics for politicians
Women rights ignored by government: UNP
SLFP invites all parties to attend PSC
Don’t let Sri Lanka tweak 13A, says TNA
Sri Lanka infra projects team with Chinese workers
Study favours citizenship for Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu
Sri Lanka's main opposition begins distributing its draft constitution to scholars and other parties
June 19 (CP) Colombo- The main opposition of Sri Lanka, United National Party today commenced distributing its draft constitution to scholars and other political parties for review.
The General Secretary of UNP MP Tissa Attanayake and Media Spokesperson MP Gayantha Karunathilaka today launched the measure presenting the draft constitution to the social activist and the founder and president of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne.
Sri Lanka MP Dumindha Silva attends parliament after 18 months of absence
June 19 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka ruling party parliamentarian Dumindha Silva, who was seriously injured in a shootout in October 2011, arrived in Parliament today after an 18-month long absence.
A large crowd holding placards and shouting slogans lined up the streets to show support to the MP when he arrived in parliament.
Most child workers in Sri Lanka are below the age of 14, statistics reveal
June 19 (CP) Colombo- The Labour Department of Sri Lanka says that a majority of the child laborers are below the age of 14 and also most of them are girls.
The majority of the boys engaged in child labor are from rural areas working as agricultural workers while the girls are mostly used as domestic aides in urban areas.
Students' Union accuses Sri Lankan government of suppressing student activists
June 19 (CP) Colombo- A student union affiliated to Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) says the government is engaged in suppressing student activists as part of its policy to curtail the free education system in the country.
Main opposition of Sri Lanka mulls boycotting PSC to discuss constitutional amendments
June 19 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) is considering to boycott the proposed Parliament Select Committee (PSC) to discuss amendment to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Sri Lanka committed to be a champion in the AIDS response
June 19 (CP) Colombo- Sri Lanka is committed to be "a champion in the AIDS response" towards achieving zero new HIV/AIDS infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths, the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
The President made this reaffirmation when he met the UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Programme, Luiz Loures, who was on an official visit to the country from 16-18 June.
Sri Lanka calls for Tamil refugees to return home
Amnesty has done great good for illegals: Lankan envoy
Community-led programmes critical to progress on AIDS in Sri Lanka
Communities at higher risk of HIV infections should be placed at the centre of the AIDS programme design and implementation in Sri Lanka. National HIV prevalence remains relatively low in Sri Lanka, estimated at 0.1%,
SPORTS
Teams fret more over rain than familiar opponents
June 20 (ESPNCI) Even as Clint McKay and Xavier Doherty were doing their darnedest to drive Australia to a sensational victory over Sri Lanka at The Oval, there were plenty of non-Australians cheering them on, just so that the cricket world will be spared yet another India-Sri Lanka ODI. In the last five years, the two sides have met a mind numbing 44 times in ODIs, and will face off again in a tri-series in the Caribbean starting next week.
More : SPORTS
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Kulasekara - the man who stole a nation's heart
June 19 (ESPNCI) Sri Lanka fans may not often feel they are the most fortunate cricket lovers in the world, but in some ways they have it well. The team is some way from being the best, but it is rarely unsatisfactory, at least in limited-overs cricket. The administration can be a shambles but despite the poor domestic structure, genuine talent still finds its way to the top level. Best of all their players are more accessible than most and a pleasant bunch in general.
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Dominant England cruise into final
June 19 (ESPNCI) England and South Africa had not met in a major ICC semi-final since the World Cup in Sydney in 1992, a match which AB de Villiers admitted before the start of play ended with him "crying myself to sleep." Grown man now or not, after the mess South Africa made of this tie, he could be forgiven for repeating the experience.
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Sri Lanka's Mathews vows fight against India
June 18 (ITN) CARDIFF- Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews on Wednesday vowed that his "fighting team" were prepared to put recent history behind them when they face India in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.
Thursday's match in Cardiff is a repeat of the 2011 World Cup final, which India won by six wickets in Mumbai despite a superb century from Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene.
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WORLD
Afghan President Karzai to boycott talks with Taliban
June 18 (BBC) The Afghan government will not take part in peace talks with the Taliban unless the process is "Afghan-led", President Hamid Karzai has said.
His statement came a day after the US agreed to talk to the Taliban in Qatar, where the militants have a new office.
More : WORLD
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India, Pakistan exchange fire across Kashmir LoC
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Taliban attack US base in Afghanistan after talks offer
June 19 (BBC) Four US soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, hours after the US announced direct talks with the Taliban.
A spokesman for the Taliban said the militant group was behind the attack at Bagram airbase.
Bagram, near the Afghan capital Kabul, is the largest military base for US troops in Afghanistan.
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North India floods: Army leads rescue operations
June 19 (BBC) Military helicopters are leading rescue operations in India's flood-hit northern states, where 130 people are now known to have died.
Some 18 helicopters have rescued 5,000 people in the worst-hit Uttarakhand state, an army official told the BBC.
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About Sri Lanka ::-
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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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