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Commending the government of Sri Lanka for the steps taken to ensure the welfare of the displaced in the north within a short period of time under challenging circumstances, Minister of International Co-operation of Canada, Beverley J. Oda added that having visited the welfare villages the conditions there were very much better than she had [...]

L. Jayasooriya - We in Sri-Lanka are grateful to Asian Tribune for having warned us about the American Master Plan against us under the command of Robert O Blake published on 2nd of August 2009 titled “Delhi-Colombo US Embassies: Robert Blake to decide”.

Quintus Perera - Six hundred outstanding business speakers from 30 countries attended the CIMA World conference held in Malaysia last week where two Sri Lankan speakers – Dusan Soza, Executive Vice-Prsident, WNS Global Services and Thivanka Rangala, Group Chief Commercial Officer, Dialog Telekom PLC too made presentations at the Conference.

Sri Lanka confirms that LTTE’s remnant group leader Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP has been arrested, brought to Colombo and now he is ‘vomiting’ to his Sri Lankan interrogators.

J. Yogaraj - It is not the same Jaffna I have seen 6 years ago. It has changed a lot.The life has become fast and interesting in this part of the country.

Velupillai Snr, the retired government servant, and his beloved wife, Parvathi, who together brought an enviable product into this world by the name Prabhakaran, now languish in protective custody of the Sri Lankan armed forces in the hope of getting the deed of freedom on a plate.

The arrest of Mr. Nagalingam Vethanayagan, Government Agent of Kilinochchi has been protested.

More than 36,000 children living in camps in northern Sri Lanka, who were uprooted by the recent conflict, will be vaccinated against measles in a special child health campaign launched this week by the Government, United Nations agencies and their partners.

Lenin Benedict - After a great storm, calmness has entered into the life of Sri Lankans and in particular to the Tamils in the North. In the past, every successive Government in Sri Lanka has assured to bring about a Political Solution to the minority Tamils during the elections, which has never happened due to [...]

Quintus Perera - While gem mining is confined to Ratnapura , Matale Matara, Badulla and Monaragala (large scale in Ratnapura), there are some predictions that gemstone deposits could be found beneath the earth in 90 percent of the land in Sri Lanka. Yet, it is unfortunate that no proper survey has been made to gauge [...]

Tisaranee Gunasekara - Lankan democracy survived a quarter of a century of war and the threat of the LTTE. Post-war, it may face a greater peril from patriots who dream of eternal rule and dynastic projects. At what price the victory over the LTTE has been won, whether this is another case of exchanging [...]

Janaka Perera - Do Sri Lanka’s Buddhists today have a moral leadership?This question has to be raised in the wake of humbugs calling themselves Buddhists trying to cover their naked immorality with a legal fig leaf.

L.Jayasooriya - We understand that the President has been moved by the suffering the baby elephants have gone through and has decided to order their release to their parents but those guilty of this dastardly crime are fighting back and insulting us by attempting to deflect public attention through diversionary tactics and stupid talk at [...]

Colombo, 01 August, (Asiantribune.com): Mrs. Zhu Chengrong, Vice Chairman, Shanghai Municipal Tourism Bureau will lead a 10 member delegation comprising officials from Shanghai Municipal Tourism Bureau, Chinese travel agencies and media to Sri Lanka from 2nd to 8th August 2009.
 During the visit an MOU will be signed to further enhance ties between Sri Lanka Tourism [...]

The Russian Federation contributed the US $500.000 to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees specially earmarking it for financing programmes aimed at assistance for internally displaced persons of Sri Lanka.

The Canadian Tamils for Peace and Democracy has insisted Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa to implement the 13th amendment in full and find an amicable solution to the minority issues within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.

Bahrain commends Sri Lankan President for his dauntless and exemplary leadership in running the country and defeating terrorism that plagued the country well over three generations. Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a true friend of Arabs, welcomed the visiting Prime Minister of Bahrain yesterday. The visiting Bahrain Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman [...]

L. Jayasooriya - The day I heard of the kidnapping of the two baby elephants and the cruel treatment that was inflicted on them I was sure that the Mahanayake Theros would order them to be returned to their mothers but I received a shock when I saw the Daily News reporting on Wednesday the [...]

Minister of Justice and Law Reforms, Milinda Moragoda accompanied by Additional Secretary Kamalini de Silva, Deputy Legal Draftsman P.I.S. Samarasingha paid a visit to the Sri Lankan Law College Monday morning (27th July).

Manjari Peiris - Internationally media has played a crucial role in the passage and implementation of tobacco control law serving as a bridge between the public and policymakers, allowing the public to bring forward their concerns, said Debra Efroymson a Tobacco Control Adviser to International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, addressing a press conference [...]

L. Jayasooriya - The Diyawadena Nilame of Asgiriya and Malwatte did not have the physical strength to snatch two baby elephants to please his masters the Mahanayakas of Asgiriya and Malwatte because the parents though their legs have been chained have resisted with all they can to prevent the abduction of their loved ones

As a nation we believe in providing our people the opportunity to view all things of historical value. Therefore the donation of this museum from Japan to the people of Sri Lanka is a gift to our tradition of protecting and viewing the treasures of history, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the opening ceremony of [...]

Quintus Perera - The International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka (IPFM) has sent an open letter President Mahinda Rajapaksa on media freedom in Sri Lanka.

Quintus Perera - Only the knowledge based technology (ICT) could help eradicate poverty from this country and though some time ago English was considered as a language of imperialists, today they all have to accept that it has become world language and the best mode of communication among the countries and within countries [...]

The Sri Lanka Lawyers’ Cricket team left for England on Monday to participate in the 2nd Lawyers’ Cricket world Cup which will be held in Cambridge.

On the invitation of Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain will be on an official visit to Sri Lanka from 28-30 July 2009.The visiting Prime Minister of Bahrain will hold bilateral talks with Sri Lanka President. The talks [...]

Quintus Perera - First Camellian Convent - Home for the Aged was blessed and declared open by His Grace Most Rev.Dr. Oswald Gomis, Archbishop of Colombo in Nayakakanda, Wattala.

Sri Lanka Tourism together with Sri Lanka Air force introduce direct charter flights to Jaffna
 
 
Colombo, 27 July, (Asiantribune.com): Thousands of Hindu devotees are flocking to the historic Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil for the annual Nallur festival, which is held from 27th July to 19th August. The annual festival which is commencing today,  is expected to be [...]

Quintus Perera: The St John Ambulance services appear to be more inclined to kill people than save them.

Leena Perera, wife of Quintus Perera, a senior journalist for Sunday Times and a regular contributor for the Asian Tribune, is seriously ill consequent to a severe stroke and now treated in the General Hospital, Colombo, Neurology Unit.

Tisaranee Gunasekara - The Black July was a collective punishment imposed on the Tamil community for a crime committed by a handful of Tigers. The Black July would not have happened if a segment of Sinhala society did not regard all Tamils as (real or potential) Tigers and acted on that belief - and [...]

Manjari Peiris - E. Chandula Padmasiri, a student of Ananda College, Colombo has won the 3rd position at an Intel International Science & Engineering exhibition held in USA recently. Padmasiri won this award in the Electric and Mechanical Engineering Distinction Stream for his innovation – a “Mobile Phone associated Microscope among other competitors from 50 [...]

Major General Lalin Fernando - On Sunday morning at about 2 AM on 26th July 1983, I heard the shocking news of the ambush and killing of 13 soldiers of the SLLI at Thinnevelly (Jaffna). As I grieved the loss in SL’s senior most regiment in which my brother Eshin served, I like everyone [...]

Manjari Peiris - Using technologies alone will not help to control mosquitoes. Preventing the breeding opportunities of mosquitoes is rather important as 90% of mosquitoes that transmit dengue.

As a part of an effort to obtain the views and advice of different segments of society, Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Justice and Law Reforms, has recently created a special Buddhist advisory committee to serve the Ministry.

Sri Lanka will continue to support global measures to counter the scourge of terrorism, including the early conclusion of the Global Convention on Terrorism, assured Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister. Speaking at the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum, Phuket, Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama further said subscribing to the UN Convention dealing with [...]

Janaka Perera - The controversial 13th Amendment to the Constitution takes the mind back to our school days over 45 years ago. During history lessons we were taught four factors that impacted our country’s history due to its geographical location.

L. Jayasooriya - The Island of Monday the 20th July 2009 has told us something that no other printed media has said and that is the pressure that Dr. Manmohan Singh has applied on our President when he met him on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Egypt.

Quintus Perera - Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Canada reached to 393 million Canadian Dollars in 2008 and it was a growth of 67 %, said Ms Angela Bogdan, Canadian Hich Commissioner in Sri Lanka addressing the 18th AGM of Sri Lanka Canada Business Council held under the auspicious of Ceylon Chamber [...]

Quintus Perera - The vision of President Rajapakse to develop the micro and small Industries in the North is felt crucial and the special loan scheme to achieve this target for a home grown business community has been positively considered.

By K.T.Rajasingham - Noted Sarvodaya leader, Dr. Lalith Chandradasa, who is working amongst the IDPs with his Community Health Project, rejects as ‘absurd’ reports in the Western media about large scale deaths in the IDP camps. ‘I don’t say it is an ideal situation in the camps but the deaths of 25-30 every week is [...]

Kithsiri Senadeera - Throughout history it has been recognized that the success of any organization or country depends on strong leadership. Few people had the leadership qualities to change the course of world history.

Fathima Razik - Former Minister of Tourism and the present Minister of Justice, Milinda Moragoda in an interview articulates the steps he had taken to moot tourism as a means of employment in Sri Lanka – an industry in which one out of twelve people in the world are provided employment while at the [...]

Quintus Perera - The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has initiated a novel arrangement to telecast TV programmes in Sinhala and Tamil Advanced Level Examination studens on examination techniques over Sirasa and Shakthi TV that would benefit more than 250,000 students.

Tisaranee Gunasekara - By defeating the LTTE, President Mahinda Rajapakse has earned his place in Sri Lankan history; most Sinhalese (irrespective of their political persuasions) and some Tamils and Muslims are grateful to him (and will continue to be so) for this reason. But in a democracy, eternal gratitude does not amount to a [...]

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Mahinda Rajapaksa met on the sidelines of NAM summit on Thursday. Their meeting took place at Maritim Jolie Ville Golf Hotel in Shame El Sheikh shortly after the Singh-Gilani bilateral.

Janaka Perera - The Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), Sri Lanka will be winding up operations with effect from July 31. The closure of the SCOPP Operations Division will be followed by the re-deployment of its staff within the various units of the armed forces and the police.

Establishment of an ‘Emergency Financing Facility’ is floated at the 15th Non Align Summit . Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has proposed in the NAM Summit where nearly 118 Head of States participated, to combine their substantial collective resources to establish an Emergency Financing Facility which could be [...]

By Manjari Peiris - “All the good things for development of mental health will be continued while improving the present status”, said Dr. Lakshmi Somatunga, Director of Mental Healthcare of the Ministry of Health.

Acting US Ambassador James Moore and Acting Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy in Colombo Glen Davis held a briefing session for the Sri Lankan delegates leaving to Washington D. C at the end of this week for the 2009 Future World Leaders Summit. Since the year 2000, over 500 next generation Sri Lankan [...]

An agreement was signed between the Sri Lanka Telecom and the Ministry of Science & Technology on Wednesday at the Ministry office to provide communication facilities free of charge to the Ministry and other institutions working under its purview and the island-wide Vidatha Resource Centres.

Malaysian Foreign Minister r Datuk Anifah Aman conveyed his congratulations to Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the defeat of terrorism. He said that Malaysia looked forward to assist Sri Lanka in its economic and social development process in the post-conflict era. Minister Aman assured the cooperation of his Government in [...]

Nimal Fernando - Is it possible? Could it well be that Sri Lanka has avoided shooting itself in the foot one last time because the present head of state is a decisive, if pragmatic fellow who is made of sterner stuff when it comes to the ethnic issue?…..

Kumar Rupesinghe - Throughout my 25 years in this field, I have dedicated myself to the pursuit of peace, to seek means of preventing conflicts, to promote preventive diplomacy.

Terrorism has no place in the modern civilized world. Also there is absolutely no room for expression of dissent through terrorism.

Quintus Perera - The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), under the SWITCH - Asia Programme funded by the European Commission, is promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production of the Food & Beverage Industry among Small & Medium Enterprises. The areas covered will be dairy, fruits, bakery and spices.

Ms. Anupama Prattipati congratulated members of the Women’s Development Services Cooperative Society (Women’s Coop) who for 20 years of providing Sri Lankan women farmers with micro credit loans, as well as a safe place to deposit their savings.

By Janaka Perera
 When Europeans and non-Buddhists monopolized top positions in Sri Lanka’s private sector in the British colonial era and the immediate post-independence years, one of the first Sinhala Buddhists to rise to senior executive level in the country’s corporate world – D.S. Bandarage – passed away recently.
 He was the son of Bandarage Don Baron [...]

K.T.Rajasingham - “It was the Tigers who killed my husband” - said the widowed Mnagayarkarasi - wife of the slain leader Appapillai Amirthalingham - ‘Greatest Tamil leader’ ever lived in Sri Lanka.

By Special Representative - Driving the last nail in the LTTE coffin firmly, the TNA, which is generally identified as the alter ego of the Tigers on the separatist platform, TNA leadership not rubbished the ‘floating’ plans of a government in exile and firmly committed itself to stand by the President in his quest [...]