newslanka.org

Age limit of 35 years for the Law entrance examination has been removed from this year, Principal of Law College said.
(JNW)

Number of students applying for re-scrutinizing of Advanced Level answer scripts has increased by 50 to 60% compared to last year, Deputy Post Master General K.A.S. Senadheera stated.
(JNW)

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has approached the BCCI about the possibility of hosting IPL matches, the new SLC president, Upali Dharmadasa, has said. The idea has been proposed as a way for SLC to raise additional revenue because the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) failed to get off the ground last year, after the BCCI’s [...]

Alviro Petersen made a memorable return to Test cricket, and Jacques Kallis enjoyed his new-found batting freedom as South Africa made a merry mockery of Sri Lanka’s decision to bowl at Newlands. Kallis had a sense of occasion, converting his 114-ball century into a 150-plus score in his 150th Test. His first ton against Sri [...]

Nuwan Kulasekara, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, will join the squad for the ODI series in South Africa after four months on the sidelines. Lasith Malinga, Upul Tharanga and Kosala Kulasekara will also be part of the one-day leg of the tour, while Chanaka Welegedara, Kaushal Silva, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Dimuth Karunaratne and Kanishka [...]

Upali Dharmadasa has been elected unopposed as president of Sri Lanka Cricket, along with the rest of his team, in the board’s first election in seven years. The election, overseen by the sports ministry, was marked by the late withdrawal of all opposition candidates. 
 Nishantha Ranatunga was voted in uncontested as secretary and Nuski Mohamed was [...]

Foundation stone for the ‘Lotus Tower’, tallest in the South Asia, will be laid on January 20, Director General of Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Anusha Palpita said. It will be situated between the Beire Lake and D.R.Wijewardena Mawatha, he disclosed. The construction work of the tower is scheduled to be completed within 30 months.
The construction of the Lotus [...]

Sri Lanka Cricket is set to hold its first election in seven years on Tuesday, after a series of interim committees controlled by the political class, and at a time when the board is in financial disarray off the field, and its team displaying patchy form on it. The election itself [...]

Police is to upgrade the existing CCTV cameras installed in Colombo City, Police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said. This will be carried out in order to identify the individuals and number plates of the vehicles, he added.
(JNW)

Ceylon Transport Board will launch a luxury bus service on the Southern Expressway tomorrow(03). The first bus will begin its journey from Maharagama at 7.30 a.m.  tomorrow(03), the CTB said.
(JNW)

Thissa Hewawitharana has been appointed as the new Commissioner General of Education Publications, the Ministry of Education has announced. The pot was vacant after the former Commissioner General W.M.N.J. Pushpakumara was appointed as the new Commissioner General of Examinations.
(JNW)

A crime data analysis is to be established at the Police Headquarters tomorrow(03), Police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said.
(JNW)

Wife and two children of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s rebel leader Kumara mahattaya have been detained for questioning at the Katunayake airport, the Police said. They were about to leave for Bangkok, it added.
(JNW)

European leaders have warned of a difficult year ahead, as many economists predict recession in 2012. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe was experiencing its “most severe test in decades” but that Europe was growing closer in the debt crisis.
France’s President Sarkozy said the crisis was not finished, while Italy’s president called for more sacrifices.
Growth [...]

First term of government schools and goverment approved private schools in New Year will begin today(2). However, academic activities of the schools used for G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination paper evaluations will commence on January 9.  93 schools throughout the country will be used for this purpose, the Ministry of Education announced.
(JNW)

Dinesh Chandimal, the Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman, is expected to be fit for the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Chandimal was struck on the right elbow during training on Sunday, was taken to the hospital for an x-ray and it was established that only had sustained bruising.
“It’s not too serious,” Anura Tennekoon, Sri [...]

Visitors to Sri Lanka including transit passengers will have to apply for travel authorization online prior to their travel to the country from today(1).  
Except for visitors from Singapore and Maldives, the two countries that reciprocate the facility with Sri Lanka, the new system will scrap the previously implemented ‘on arrival visa’ at the ports of [...]

A delighted Rangana Herath praised the efforts of his team mates after bowling Sri Lanka to their first test win in South Africa at Kingsmead on Thursday.
The left-arm spinner took five for 79 as South Africa capitulated in their second innings to lose the second test by 208 runs after winning the first at Centurion [...]

South Africa’s Sun City resort will invest $800 million in a tourism project in Sri Lanka, the head of the island nation’s state-run Tourism Board said.
Sun City resort is run by South African gaming and hotels group Sun International Ltd.
It will be the largest ever investment in the country’s leisure sector, which is booming since [...]

Boeing Co beat out Lockheed Martin to retain its position as the prime contractor for the U.S. long-range missile shield, the Pentagon said.
The U.S. Defense Department said it was awarding Boeing a $3.48 billion, seven-year contract to develop, test, engineer and manufacture missile defense systems.
A team led by Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Co had [...]

‘Thane,’ the very severe cyclonic storm that crossed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Friday, claimed 33 lives, and left behind a trail of destruction and human suffering.
Throwing life off course, the storm, which passed the coast north of Cuddalore at 6.30 a.m. at a speed of more than 125 km an hour, uprooted trees and [...]

As predicted the Durban Test was a one-sided affair, except that it was the no-hopers from Sri Lanka who were doing the dominating. A year that has gone rapidly downhill for Sri Lanka since their World Cup final appearance in April, including an interminable run of series defeats and a bankrupt board struggling to pay [...]

In what has already been a champagne year for Test cricket, Chanaka Welegedara and Rangana Herath set Sri Lanka up for what could be the biggest Test upset of 2011. There were no signs of Durban’s famed Green Mamba – tides which are rumoured to make the Kingsmead track juicy – but that didn’t prevent [...]

Sri Lanka have been bowled out for 338 runs in their first innings of the second Test match against South Africa played at Durban. Thilan Samaraweera top scored with 102 runs for Sri Lanka while debutant Dinesh Chandimal gave him a good support by scoring 58 runs.
Marchant de Lange who is also playing his first [...]

Sri Lankan Army has a big role to play in maintaining peace and security in the region, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has said.  He pointed out they are also entrusted with the responsibility of apprehending rackets in human trafficking and battling sea pirates and illegal fishing activities.  The Maldivian President stated this while attending the year end passing out ceremony of [...]

Much awaited G.C.E. Advanced Level results were issued a short while ago. Results can now be obtained from the Examination Department’s website, www.doenets.lk. Result sheets of all schools are expected to issued from tomorrow morning(26).
294,000 students sat for this year’s exam which was held from August 8 to September 3.
Issuing of results was delayed on number of [...]

Candidates who sat for the Advanced Level examination 2011, will be able to obtain their results by browsing the Examination Department’s website this evening(25). A spokesman of the Department told JNW, results will be available on the website www.doenets.lk after 6 p.m.
(JNW)

Vernon Philander has suffered a mild strain to his left knee and will be monitored before being cleared to play in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Durban that starts on December 26. Philander picked up the injury while bowling in the nets on Saturday and was treated immediately.  
“He came off and received the [...]

Pope Benedict XVI has attacked the commercialisation of Christmas as he held the traditional Christmas Eve Mass at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. In his homily, he urged worshippers to “see through the superficial glitter of this season and to discover behind it the child in the stable in Bethlehem”.
Benedict, 84, used a moving platform [...]

Results of the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination 2011, will be issued tomorrow(24), Commissioner General of Examinations  Anura Edirisinghe said. Results will be able to view from the Department’s website www.doenets.lk from tomorrow morning (24),  he added.
Principals of the schools of Colombo and Sri Jayawardenapura educational zones will be able to obtain Advanced Level result [...]

The US Congress has approved a short-term renewal of a payroll tax cut, a day after House Republicans caved in to overwhelming pressure on the issue. The bill extends the tax cut as well as unemployment insurance for two months.
Lawmakers held voice votes on the deal, requiring only a few members to be present.
A joint [...]

There are very few places in South Africa that Sri Lanka have pleasant memories of but Durban is one of them. It was at Kingsmead where, 11 years ago, Sri Lanka managed to stave off defeat in a Test match – the only time they have done so in this country – and salvage a [...]

Cut off marks required to enter popular schools based on Grade 5 scholarship results have been issued, the Ministry of Education has announced.  The cutoff marks for admission to Royal College,Colombo are at 182 while marks required to enter Dharmaraja College,Kandy and Ananda College,Colombo are 180 and 178 respectively. Futhermore, 178 marks are needed to gain admission [...]

The ICC paid 46% of the fees due to Sri Lanka’s cricketers for the World Cup, ESPNcricinfo has learned. The payment of US$2 million was made directly into the players’ bank accounts, instead of routing it through Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on December 16.  
The Sri Lankan players, who had not been paid since the tournament [...]

Commissioner General of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe expresses belief results of the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination could be issued this week. Addressing a media briefing held at the Department of Examinations, he said the committee appointed to determine how the z-score levels should be issued for the A/Level results of the old and new syllabuses will be [...]

Seam bowler Nuwan Kulasekara won’t be joining Sri Lanka’s Test squad in South Africa and instead the uncapped Kanishka Alvitigala will fly out along with Dhammika Prasad ahead of the second Test in Durban.  
Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, had said that both Prasad and Kulasekara would be added to the touring party to bolster [...]

A tense situation has occured at UNP headquarters at ‘Sirikotha’. Our reporter said, supporters of MP Karu Jayasuriya are throwing stones towards it, expressing their displeasure over some of the results of the vote, held to elect the leader, deputy leader and the national organizer of UNP.
(JNW)

Ranil Wickramasinghe has been re-elected as the leader of the United National Party. He received 66 votes while his counterpart Karu Jayasuriya was able to obatin 26 votes.
Former co-deputy leader of the party MP Sajith Premadasa was also re-elected as the deputy leader. Opposition leader of Eastern Provincial Council Daya Gamage was appointed as the new [...]

North Koreans are in mourning after the death of their leader, Kim Jong-il. People wept openly on the streets of the capital, Pyongyang. State media said he had suffered a heart attack on Saturday, aged 69. He had been unwell.
The official news agency KCNA described one of his sons, Kim Jong-un, as the “great successor” [...]

Sri Lanka have called up fast bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara and Dhammika Prasad to their Test squad for the remaining two matches against South Africa. Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan confirmed that the the pair will fly in to South Africa in “a couple of days” after competing in the knockout stages of the domestic tournament at home.  
After [...]

MPs Sajith Premadasa and Ravi Karunanayake will contest for the remaining Deputy Leader post of United National Party, sources said. The voting is scheduled to be held tomorrow(19).
(JNW)

MP Dayasiri Jayasekara & Opposition Leader of Eastern Provincial Council Daya Gamage will contest for the National Organizer post of the United National Party, sources said. The voting will be held tomorrow(19).
(JNW)

MP Gamini Jayawickrama Perera has been appointed as the Chairman of the United National Party, party sources said. Furthermore, MP Joseph Michael Perera has been elected as one of the Deputy Leaders of the UNP, unchallenged.
(JNW)

Ranil Wickramasinghe and Karu Jayasuriya will contest for the post of leadership the United National Party, party sources said. The voting will take place at ’Sirikotha’ at 1.00 p.m. tomorrow.
(JNW)

Deputy Leader of the United National Party Karu Jayasuriya has signed the nomination papers to contest for the post of leadership of the party.
(JNW)

Ratings agency Fitch has affirmed France’s top-notch AAA credit rating but has revised its outlook on the country to “negative” from “stable”. A negative outlook usually means a downgrade is possible in 12-18 months. Fitch said the change in outlook was prompted by the heightened risk of government liabilities arising from the eurozone’s debt crisis. The agency also [...]

South Africa overwhelmed a brittle Sri Lanka by an innings and 81 runs at Centurion with victory sealed before tea on the third day when Vernon Philander claimed his tenth wicket of the match. The home side’s bowlers needed just 39.1 overs to dismantle the opposition batting line-up for a second time to reinforce the [...]

Results of the G.C.E Advanced Level results will be definitely issued on Monday(19), Deputy Minister of Education Gamini Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa told the parliament today(17).  Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissanayake yesterday said  the Advanced Level results may be released on Monday(19).
However, when contacted Commissioner General of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe said the results will not be released on [...]

It wasn’t all one-way traffic on the second day in Centurion but South Africa ended in a very commanding position, having built a lead of 209 with AB de Villiers’ 99 the cornerstone of their innings. He and Ashwell Prince added a crucial 97-run stand for the sixth wicket, which was supplemented by a useful [...]

Cut off marks required to enter popular schools based on Grade 5 scholarship Sinhala medium examination results will be issued on Monday, the Ministry of Education said. The cut off marks to enter popular schools based on Grade 5 scholarship Tamil medium examination results will be released after December 25, the Ministry added.
(JNW)

Final report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission has been presented to the parliament by the Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva.  Speaking at the occassion the Minister said, the government has already taken measures with regard to some recommendations mentioned in the report.
The commission has pointed out that all parties should act united [...]

G.C.E. Advanced Level results may be released on Monday(19), Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissanayake said. “All problems with regard to the issuing z-scores for the Advanced Level results have been solved. Therefore, results may be issued by 19th Monday”, he stated.
However, when contacted Commissioner General of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe said the results will not be [...]

Predicting Test cricket in recent weeks has been a fool’s game, but the opening day at Centurion went largely according to expectations as Sri Lanka struggled to handle the home side’s bowling attack on a helpful pitch. Vernon Philander continued his prolific emergence with his third five-wicket haul in three matches – making him just [...]

The U.S. military officially ended its war in Iraq on Thursday, rolling up its flag at a low-key ceremony with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta nearly nine bloody years after the invasion that ousted dictator Saddam Hussein.
“After a lot of blood spilled by Iraqis and Americans, the mission of an Iraq that could govern and secure [...]

The Lotus Pond – Mahinda Rajapakse National Performing Arts Theatre constructed at the Nomands Ground in Colombo 07, was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapakse a short while ago. 
Construction of the Theatre began in May 2008 and the total cost of the project was Rs. 3,080 million. Forty percent of the total cost of the project was provided by the [...]

A 350 meter high, multifunctional TV and Telecommunication Tower to be constructed in Colombo, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.  It would be able to used by 50 telecasting services. 10 telecommunication services and 50 radio broadcasting services, he disclosed.
(JNW)

The cabinet of ministers has decided to implement a policy to conduct a health assessment for the resident visa applicants to Sri Lanka, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. This would be carried out according to a proposal made by Minister of Health Maithreepala Sirisena.
With the increased development activities taking place in the country after the conflict [...]

The government has decided to implement the National Human Rights Action Plan, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. It will put into act according to the voluntary pledge given in the course of its participation at the Universal Periodic Review meeting at the UNHRC in 2008, the Minister disclosed.
The government considers it important to implement [...]

Railway line from Kalutara to Aluthgama will be closed for renovation from January 01, the Department of Railways said. The Kalutara-Galle railway line is scheduled to be open after the renovation in March next year, it disclosed.
(JNW)

One of the reasons for the setbacks Sri Lankan cricket team has suffered is the politics within the game of cricket, Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage has said. “It’s worse than our politics”, Minister Aluthgamage told the parliament at the debate held on the vote on account of the Ministry of Sports today(14).
“Sri Lankan cricket team should not [...]