Navanethem Pillay wants to send more rapporteurs

Navanethem Pillay wants to send more rapporteurs

Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC)

United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay has sought to dispatch ten special rapporteurs to Sri Lanka to assess the implementation of the recommendations by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), well informed sources said. This is in addition to last year’s visit of three officials from the High Commissioner’s office to Sri Lanka. Hanny Megally and Oscar Solera are the two officials who came to Sri Lanka in September last year.
 However, it is learnt that the government of Sri Lanka has turned down the latest request to send special rapporteurs from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Instead, the External Affairs Ministry has insisted that Ms. Pillay should visit the country first to see for herself the progress being made in the post war area.


 “It is the initial stand. First, a team of officials from her office arrived in the country and held talks with all the stakeholders. They came here to do the groundwork for her visit. We stick to that stand. It is impossible to endorse further missions by special rapporteurs,” an authoritative source said. Ms.  Navanethem Pillay has been critical of Sri Lanka in recent times. Also, she sent a strongly worded letter to the government, criticizing the procedure adopted in the impeachment of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. The UNHRC adopted the United States-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka in March, last year. According to it, the High Commissioner is required to submit a report to the next session of the UNHRC regarding the progress on the  implementation of measures outlined in the resolution. Besides, the US has announced that they will move yet another ‘procedural resolution ‘on Sri Lanka at the next session to strengthen the previous resolution. The government is waiting to know the content of the proposed resolution to plan its next course of action.

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Alistair Burt arrives Sri Lanka

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Alistair Burt arrives Sri Lanka

“Sri Lanka: 2013 and beyond”

Minister Alistair Burt, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister for South Asia, arrived in Sri Lanka this morning. This is his second visit to the country. During his two-day visit, the Minister will meet senior members of the government and opposition parties, the business community and INGOs and visit the North.

He will also deliver a guest lecture on “Sri Lanka: 2013 and beyond” at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies.

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Hashan Tilakaratne appointed as full time member of the Cricket Selection Committee

Hashan Tilakaratne appointed as full time member of
 the Cricket Selection Committee

Sri Lanka new Cricket Selection Committee 

Former Sri Lanka Cricket Captain Hashan Tilakaratne has been appointed as a full time member of the Cricket Selection Committee, informed sources said. The five-member select committee is headed by Sanath Jayasuriya. Thilekarathne will be appointed in place of Hemantha Wickremarathne who was appointed initially to the committee. Pramodya Wickremasinghe will be the other full time selector in the committee.

Hashan Tilakaratne 

As a schoolboy in 1986, he was selected to play against England B at Galle, scoring a century to save the match. He played in his first One Day International in November 1986 and subsequently made his debut in the Sri Lankan cricket team as awicketkeeper-batsman in December 1989. He continued as a specialist batsman from December 1992.
 He was dropped from the Sri Lankan Test and ODI teams after the 1999 World Cup, but returned to the Test team in 2001 following success in domestic first-class cricket, where he plays for Nondescripts Cricket Club. He also returned to the ODI team in 2002-03. He became captain of the Sri Lanka Test team in April 2003, but won only one of his ten matches in charge. After losing 3-0 to Australia, he resigned in March 2004 and was not selected for Sri Lanka again.

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Vaas,Murali lined up for Sri Lanka coaching roles

Vaas,Murali lined up for Sri Lanka coaching roles

"They are two of our best products"

Sri Lanka Cricket is considering Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas for spin and fast bowling coaching positions respectively, SLC chief executive Ajit Jayasekara said. 
"They are two of our best products, and have had huge success all over the world," said Jayasekara. 
"We are looking to tap that knowledge and make use of it for the betterment of cricket in Sri Lanka. The fact that they don't have coaching qualifications isn't a big issue when you consider how much they have to offer." 

"I have finished my discussions with the board and they will come back to me with a decision," said 

Chaminda Vaas

Vaas, who took 400 ODI and 355 Test wickets during a 15-year career before retiring in 2010.
Informed sources said former Lankan pace bowler Chaminda Vaas would replace Champika Ramanayake as the country’s bowling coach after the conclusion of the Australian tour. 

Muttiah Muralitharan

The 40-year-old Muralitharan is the most successful bowler in the history of the game, with 800 and 534 scalps in Test and ODI cricket respectively. 
He continues to play at domestic level, including a recent stint with the Melbourne Renegades in Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash League.

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Mathews ODI & T20 captain,Chandimal is Vice-Captain

Mathews ODI & T20 captain,Chandimal is Vice-Captain

Sri Lanka Cricket- New Captain and Vice Captain

Informed sources claim that Angelo Mathews is to Captain ODI and T20 while Dinesh Chandimal is to be Vice Captain. The Test Captain and Vice Captain are to be appointed later.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have revamped their cricket selection panel with a new team under new chairman, Sanath Jayasuriya.

Sri Lanka Cricket-New Captain and Vice Captain 

Angelo Davis Mathews

(born 2 June 1987) is a Sri Lankan cricketer and present captain of their T20 side.Like Chaminda Vaas he had his formal education in St. Joseph's College, Colombo. Born in Colombo, to a Jaffna Tamil father and a Sinhalese mother, he captained the Sri Lankan cricket team team in the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Lokuge Dinesh Chandimal

(born November 18, 1989 in Balapitiya) is a Sri Lankan international cricketer who has played first class cricket for Ruhuna and Nondescripts Cricket Club. A right-hand batsman and wicket-keeper,he scored 64, four and 109 in his first three innings for the Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI. He is an aggressive batsman and keeper who also scored two centuries for his country's U-19s, which he vice-captained,and plays for the Sri Lanka Cricket XI and Schools Invitation XI for one day and Twenty20 cricket.

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Sanath Jayasuriya appointed as the head of Cricket Selection Committee

Sanath Jayasuriya appointed as
 the head of Cricket Selection Committee

Sri Lanka new Cricket Selection Committee

Former Sri Lankan test cricket captain and the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance parliamentarian Sanath Jayasuriya  has appointed as the head of the national new Cricket Selection Committee.

The committee comprises Sanath Jayasuriya as Chairman, former fast bowlers Pramodya Wickramasinghe and Eric Upashantha, and former batsmen Chaminda Mendis and Hemantha Wickramaratne as members. Hemantha Wickramaratne has been a selector in the previous panel Ashantha de Mel. 

Deviating from the previous norm of having a one-year term for the selection panel, the new panel has no term limit.

the new panel will first be tasked with naming Sri Lanka's Test and ODI captains for Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka in March.

Sanath Jayasuriya

Jayasuriya played 110 Tests for Sri Lanka and led the side in both formats from 1999 to 2003. He retired officially from international cricket in June 2011, but had only regained his place in the team in 2008 after the then-sports minister intervened to have him included in the squad. 



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Sri Lanka beat Australia by 3 runs

Sri Lanka beat Australia by 3 runs

Sri Lanka vs Australia

Sri Lanka beat Australia by three runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method in the second and final Twenty20 cricket international in Melbourne,and they clinched the series 2-0.

Thisara Perera was adjudged the man of the match.

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Sri Lanka Cabinet reshuffled

Sri Lanka Cabinet reshuffled

10 ministers, 6 deputy ministers take oaths 

Ten new Ministers, two project Ministers and six Deputy Ministers have sworn in before the President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Following are the Ministers together with assigned ministries

Ministers

• Anura Priyadarhsana Yapa- Petroleum
• Susil Premajayantha – environment
• Pavithra Wanniarachchi- power and energy
• Champika Ranawaka – technology and research
• Lakshman Senevirathne- Sugar Industries
• Lakshman Yapa- investment promotion
• Jayarathne Herath – Botanical gardens and public enterprises
• Duminda Dissanayake – Educational Services
• Bashir Segu Dawood- Productivity promotion
• Wijith Vijayamuni De Zoysa- Wildlife conservation

Project Ministers

• Rohitha Abeygunawardena-  Ports and Highways
• Nirmala Kothelawala- Ports and Highways

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Sri Lanka Cabinet reshuffle today

Sri Lanka Cabinet reshuffle today

Sri Lanka new cabinet

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will reshuffle his cabinet today, the swearing-in ceremony will be held at Temple Trees at 11 a.m.Presidential Spokesman Mohan Samaranayaka said.

Eight cabinet portfolios are expected to be changed at the reshuffle, and they will be in Power and Energy, Petroleum, Education, Environment, Sports, State Administration, Labor, Technology and Research portfolios.

A new prime minister is also expected to be named as a result of the poor health of current Sri Lankan Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne.

The current cabinet of President Rajapaksa consists of 9 senior ministers, 49 cabinet ministers and 31 deputy ministers.

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Sri Lanka wins 1st T20 by 5 wickets against Australia

Sri Lanka wins 1st T20 by 5 wickets against Australia

Sri Lanka vs Australia

Sri Lanka defeated Australia by five wickets in the 1st T20 international at Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.Chasing a target of 138, Thisara Perera smashed two consecutive sixes off Ben Laughlin in the 19th as Sri Lanka romped home with seven balls to spare and take a 1-0 lead in the two- t20 match series.

Sri Lanka Skipper Angelo Matthews top-scored with 35 not out. Kushal Perera made 33 off 22 balls with two boundaries and a six while T.M. Dilshan made 16 off 21 balls which included an extraordinary dilscoop six off Starc.

Australian opener David Warner carried his bat remaining unbeaten on a career-best 90 off 62 balls which contained five boundaries and three sixes.

The 2nd T20 match is at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Jan 28, 2013.

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Sri Lanka Women's cricket team leaves for World Cup 2013

Sri Lanka Women's cricket team leaves for World Cup 2013

ICC Women's World Cup 2013

The Sri lanka women's Cricket team will be leaving for India to take part in the ICC Women's World Cup 2013 with Captain Shashikala Siriwardene and coach Lanka de Silva, Siriwardena believes her side's bowling attack gives her hope of a good show at the tournament that begins on 31 January in Mumbai.

Sri Lanka women's team for ICC 
 women's World Cup 2013

Following is the Sri Lanka women's team for ICC women's World Cup 2013:

• Shashikala Siriwardene (Captain) 
• Sandamali Dolawatta 
• Chamari Atapattu 
• Eshani Kaushalya 
• Lashanthi Madushani 
• Yasoda Mendis 
• Udeshika Prabodhani 
• Oshadi Ranasinghe 
• Inoka Ranaweera 
• Deepika Rasangika 
• Sharina Ravikumar 
• Chamani Senaviratna 
• Dilani Manodara (wicket Keeper) 
• Prasadani weerakkodi 
• Sripali weerakkodi

"It's a great thing to play in a World Cup as it means a lot to me. This might well be my last and I will definitely try my best to make something special for my country. When I started my cricket career my dream was to play a World Cup. Winning the title was my next target. So I am still trying my best to win this and if that happens it will the biggest moment in my life."said Sri Lanka Captain Shashikala Siriwardena.

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Victoria Lakshmi elected Netball President

Victoria Lakshmi elected Netball President

Sri Lanka Netball Federation

Former Sri Lanka netball captain Lakshmi Victoria was elected as president of the Netball Federation 2013 its Annual General Meeting which was held at Sports Ministry premises.She beat former president Trixie Nanayakkara to the post.Victoria received 26 votes while Nanayakkara received only eight votes.two clubs abstained from voting.
Shyama Cooray received 25 votes to be elected as the Secretary while Champa Alwis withdrew from the post of event secretary when she was uncontested.Yasmin Dharmaratne was elected deputy president and Sudharma Jayaardena deputy secretary. 

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Mattala International Airport to be opened in March 18

Mattala International Airport to be opened in March 18

Sri Lanka's second international airport

Mattala International Airport in Hambantota will be declared open on March 18,The Minister of Civil Aviation, Piyankara Jayaratne said. 
The Hambantota eco-friendly International Airport is the Sri Lanka's second international airport which is construction in Mattala.


This is placed in the deep south of the country close to the fast developing coastal town of Hambantota.

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DFCC Vardhana Bank (DVB) launches "Vardhana Garusaru" Senior Citizens Savings Account

DFCC Vardhana Bank (DVB) launches
Vardhana Garusaru Senior Citizens Savings Account

"Garusaru means respect"

DFCC Vardhana Bank (DVB), the everyday banking unit of the pioneer development bank, honours senior citizens of Sri Lanka with the launch of the Vardhana Garusaru Senior Citizens Savings Account - a first of its kind for DVB.
"Garusaru means respect," said Lakshman Silva, CEO, DFCC Vardhana Bank. The Vardhana Garusaru savings account caters exclusively towards the requirements of Sri Lanka's senior citizens. Senior Citizens who are over 55 years have only to deposit Rs. 10,000 to enjoy a premium interest rate which is 3.5% greater than the rate offered on normal savings accounts.

Upon reaching a deposit value of Rs. 50,000, account holders are entitled to a complimentary gift voucher which may be redeemed at DVB partner companies such as the Asiri Group of Hospitals Central, Vision Care and Sarasavi Bookshop. This deposit milestone also affords the opportunity for account holders to join the DVB Loyalty Programme which offers a host of benefits and concessions at partner organisations.
Benefits include discounts on medical bills, special prices on spectacles and protection eye-wear, offers on books, magazines and other publications and exclusive admissions to seminars and medical camps by invitation. A complimentary gift also awaits all new Garusaru customers. Additionally DVB has plans to further enhance this product by partnering with other revered establishments that provide to the needs of this customer base.
"It is important to us that, through Vardhana Garusaru, we respect their assets, which often reflect a life-time of achievement. Thus, we provide our seniors with a product that is reliable, transparent and easy to understand and above all one that offers the utmost safety and security for their savings fee" Mr. Silva said.

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Australia beat Sri Lanka by 32 to even ODI series

Australia beat Sri Lanka by 32 to even ODI series

Sri Lanka vs Australia

Australia beat Sri Lanka by 32 runs in the fifth and final ODI played at Hobart. Australia tied the series 2-2 with Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, set 248 to win and clinch their second series victory in Australia since 2010, could not find a top-order batsman to match the earlier efforts of the Australia centurion Phil Hughes and, despite a dashing knock from Mathews (67) in the middle order, were bowled out for 215 with nine balls remaining.


Xavier Doherty and Moises Henriques picked up three wickets each.
Phillip Hughes slammed thirteen fours and one six. He was unbeaten on 138 along with Moises Henriques. Hughes, who became the first Australian to score a century on his ODI debut in the first game in Melbourne, nonetheless admitted he found the going hard.

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Ceremonial welcome of new Chief Justice Mohan Peiris

Ceremonial welcome of new Chief Justice Mohan Peiris

44th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka

The Supreme Court will be held A welcome ceremony for welcoming new Chief Justice Mohan Peiris today,january 23rd 2013 at the Colombo Hulstdorp Court Complex.A majority of the country's lawyers would participate in this function,said Former BASL Vice Chairman Anomaa Gunatilake. However BASL Secretary Sanjaya Gamage said, that the BASL lawyers would not participate in the ceremony for welcoming the new Chief Justice.
Mohan Peiris, a former Attorney General and currently Legal Adviser to the Cabinet of Ministers was sworn in as the 44th Chief Justice before President Mahinda Rajapaksa, last week.

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Firstpost Economy India, Sri Lanka to double trade to $10 bn by 2015

Firstpost Economy India, Sri Lanka to double trade
 to $10 bn by 2015

India and Sri Lanka

India and Sri Lanka have set a target to double bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2015, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said.“We have set a target to double bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2015. Captains of industry have accepted and endorsed it,” Sharma said. Sharma along with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Economic Development Rishad Bathiudeen and Minister of Industry and Commerce Sarath Amunugama, inaugurated the event.

 The decision was taken during the eighth meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and his Sri Lankan counterpart Prof. G.L. Peiris. The Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) was preceded by the Senior Officials Meeting at the level of the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries on Monday.

 Both sides also agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the areas of New and Renewable energy, and in this context agreed to conclude a MoU on Cooperation in New and Renewable Energy; to cooperate in establishing three power plants of aggregate capacity of 15 MW using biomass fuel; and enhance cooperation in wind and solar energy sectors.

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa donates Rs.1 million rupees to Rizana`s family

President Mahinda Rajapaksa donates Rs.1
 million rupees to Rizana`s family

Rizana Nafeek executed

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has donated one million rupees to the family of Rizana Nafeek, President’s Media Unit said. Rizana Nafeek was executed by the Saudi authorities over allegations she killed an infant(four-month-old boy)under her care in Saudi.
Rizana has left the Island to work as a house maid in Saudi to provide economic support to her parents, who lives with lot of difficulty in Muttur, a village in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.

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UNP Working Committee appoints Assistant Leader and National Organizer

UNP Working Committee appoints Assistant Leader
 and National Organizer

UNP Deputy Leader appointment postponed

Sri Lanka’s main opposition, the United National Party (UNP)  Working Committee  re-appointed UNP veteran Gampaha district parliamentarian Joseph Michael Perera and Member of the Eastern Provincial Council Daya Gamage as Assistant Leader and National Organizer respectively while the appointment of the Deputy Leader has been postponed,as the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has told the working committee that he needed more time to decide on the reappointing the present Deputy leader again to the same position. 

Meanwhile the UNP general secretary Tissa Attanayake was not available when he was contacted for his comments on yesterday’s working committee meeting of the UNP.

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Sirisoma clinches 21st national billiard title

Sirisoma clinches 21st national billiard title

60th Annual Billiards Championship

Defending national billiard champion K.H. Sirisoma of  Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) made history by clinching National Billiards title for the 21st time, beating S.H.M. Aslam of Moors Sports Club six sets to three in the final of the 60th Annual Billiards Championship conducted by Billiards and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka at the Sugathadasa Sports Complex.

The game was evenly poised with both Sirisoma and Aslam competing well, but Sirisoma won the fifth, sixth and seventh sets in row to get into a commanding position. Sirisoma led five sets to two at that stage. Then Aslam won the eighth set 101-90 to reduce the gap five sets to three but Sirisoma bounced back and won the next set 101-33 to record a win in the national championship for the 21st time.

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TNT Express in Nepal receives award from Thai Airways

TNT Express in Nepal receives award from Thai Airways

Second in the Air Express category for cargo exports

TNT Express in Nepal was recognised by THAI Airways as second in the Air Express category for cargo exports, during an official ceremony held at Godavari Village Resort on the 1st of December 2012.

Thai Airways had started its first flight to Nepalon 4th December 1968, and to mark its 45th anniversary of successful operations in Nepalthe airline honoured the top five cargo agents and the top 10 ticket sales agents. The reception was followed by a team building exercise among the agents and Thai staff.

TNT Express

Sanjay Panta, Country General Manager for TNT Express in Nepal said: “This year, we are delighted to be recognised by Thai airlines as one of the major air Express provider in the country. “

James Edgeworth, Sales and Marketing Director for TNT Express ME and Sub continent Associates commented “This recognition marks an outstanding year for our business in Nepal and highlights our continuous growth in this market.”

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Sri Lanka vs Australia 4th ODI match abandoned

Sri Lanka vs Australia 4th ODI match abandoned

Sri Lanka vs Australia

The 4th ODI between Sri Lanka and Australia was abandoned because of a wet outfield much to the disappointment of the large crowd at Sydney Cricket Ground.Sri Lanka needed 209 more runs off 46.4 overs with all their wickets in tact when the umpires took the players off the Sydney Cricket Ground.Sri Lanka were 14 in 3.2 overs,Skipper Mahela Jayawardena was on four and Tillakaratne Dilshan nine.

Australia scored 222 for nine off their 50 overs after winning the toss.
Nuwan Kulasekera was once again the tormentor for Australia claiming 3 for 30 while Lasith Malinga (2 for 33) and left arm spinner Rangana Herath (2 for 37) also impressed.

Sri Lanka are considering to write formally to the ICC, seeking an explanation for abandoning their fourth ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground when the match could have completed after the rain delay.
Sri Lanka Skipper Mahela Jayawardena said, "We played New Zealand three months ago and the interpretation we got in that series was quite different to what we got today,"

The final match is at the Hobart Cricket Ground on Jan 23, 2013.

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High-level US delegation visits Sri Lanka

Discussing various issues such as the implementation of the
 LLRC recommendations and National Action Plan

Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission(LLRC)

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State James Moore, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Vikram Singh, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jane Zimmerman will travel to Sri Lanka and Maldives from January 26-February 1,aimed at discussing various issues such as the implementation of the LLRC recommendations and National Action Plan. the US embassy said.

They are scheduled to meet with senior Sri Lankan officials, members of various political parties as well as civil society to discuss a wide range of issues, including progress in implementing the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission recommendations and National Action Plan, it said.

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President Rajapaksa declares open Dickowita fisheries harbour

President Rajapaksa declares open
 Dickowita fisheries harbour

South Asia largest fisheries harbour 

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared open the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbor constructed at a cost of Euro 51 million (Rs. 850 million) on 18 January 2013.The Dikkowita largest fisheries harbour in South Asia project, commenced in 2008, has been funded by a soft loan of Euro 41 million from the Government of Netherlands, HSBC Bank, and the government of Sri Lanka.

South Asia largest fisheries harbour

The harbor has facilities for bunkering shipping vessels with four ice plants, four cool rooms, and fuel sheds, a large fish processing area, a large canteen, a fish net repairing facility and remote control operated boat lifting facility. It also has a fish auction hall, parking space for large containers and vehicles, and a special waste disposal system.

The Managing Director of Ceylon Fishery Harbor Corporation, Lal Samarasinghe has said that the harbor would bring in valuable foreign exchange and would also help Sri Lanka to be self-sufficient in fish products.

The Director has pointed out that the close vicinity of the harbor to the Katunayake international airport is advantageous to the foreign trawler operators.

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Navanetham Pillay to submit report on Sri Lanka to UNHRC

Navanetham Pillay to submit report on Sri Lanka to UNHRC

United Nations Human Rights Council

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay is to submit a report on Sri Lanka at the February-March session of the Human Rights Council, focusing on the engagement of UN mechanisms in support of the accountability and reconciliation processes, “We are also concerned that the impeachment process has caused bitter divisions within Sri Lanka, and that it sends an ominous signal about the Government’s commitment to accountability and reconciliation,” the UNHRC office said.

Sri Lanka has a long history of abuse of executive power, and this latest step appears to strip away one of the last and most fundamental of the independent checks and balances, and should ring alarm bells for all Sri Lankans, Pillay’s office said.

The full statement

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay is deeply concerned that the impeachment and removal of Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice has further eroded the rule of law in the country and could also set back efforts for accountability and reconciliation.

The removal of the Chief Justice through a flawed process — which has been deemed unconstitutional by the highest courts of the land — is, in the High Commissioner’s view, gross interference in the independence of the judiciary and a calamitous setback for the rule of law in Sri Lanka.

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake was served notice of her dismissal and removed from her chambers and official residence on Tuesday (15 January), in spite of a Supreme Court ruling that the parliamentary procedure to remove her violated the Constitution.

Sri Lanka has a long history of abuse of executive power, and this latest step appears to strip away one of the last and most fundamental of the independent checks and balances, and should ring alarm bells for all Sri Lankans.

The jurist sworn in by the President as the new Chief Justice on 15 January, the former Attorney-General and Legal Advisor to the Cabinet, Mr. Mohan Peiris, has been at the forefront of a number of government delegations to Geneva in recent years to vigorously defend the Sri Lankan government’s position before the Human Rights Council and other human rights mechanisms. This raises obvious concerns about his independence and impartiality, especially when handling allegations of serious human rights violations by the authorities.

We are also concerned that the impeachment process has caused bitter divisions within Sri Lanka, and that it sends an ominous signal about the Government’s commitment to accountability and reconciliation. It flies in the face of the strong calls by the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission, and by leaders of Sri Lanka’s civil society and legal profession, to rebuild the rule of law which has been badly eroded by decades of conflict and human rights violations.

Just this morning we have received alarming reports from the Independent Bar of Sri Lanka of a series of death threats, acts of intimidation and even a couple of reported murder attempts against lawyers who have been supporting Chief Justice Bandaranayake, and the rulings of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal on her case.

The High Commissioner will be issuing a report on Sri Lanka at the February-March session of the Human Rights Council, focusing on the engagement of UN mechanisms in support of the accountability and reconciliation processes.

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Sri Lanka beat Australia by four wickets in 3rd ODI

Nuwan Kulasekara (5/22) demolished
the Australia batting lineup

Sri Lanka vs Australia

Sri Lanka defeated Australia by four wickets after right-arm pacer Nuwan Kulasekara destroyed Australia with a fine display of swing bowling in the third one-day international at the Gabba stadium in Brisbane on Friday to take a 2-1 series lead.
Nuwan Kulasekera took five wickets for 22 and Lasith Malinga three for 14 while Mitchell Starc (22 not out) and and Xavier Doherty (15) to scored for the home side. 

Australia were all out for 74 inside 27 overs and recorded its third worst ever effort in one-day cricket

The next match is at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday and the final game is in Hobart on Wednesday.

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Sri Lanka to import 4,500 dairy cows

Sri Lanka to import 4500 dairy cows

Boost dairy production in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka will import 4,500 dairy cows from Australia and develop farms belonging to National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) to increase the milk production in the country.The cows will be distributed among three farms belonged to the NLDB at Bopaththalawa, Nikaweratiya and Siringapatha with 4,500 upgraded dairy animals at a total cost of US$ 28.5 million.

Sri Lanka has already imported 500 out of the 2,000 dairy cows to be brought under the first phase of the project and they are housed at the Bopaththalawa farm. The remaining 1,500 cows are scheduled to arrive in the country shortly, the Government Information Department said.

The remaining 2,500 cows are to be imported during this year to develop the NLDB's Nikaweratiya and Siringapatha farms.

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Sri Lanka Media Center for National Security (MCNS) website hacked

Sri Lanka Media Center for National Security (MCNS)
website hacked

Game Over

The official website of Sri Lanka Media Center for National Security (MCNS) has been hacked and defaced by a hacker, known as Game Over. The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) was established for the specific purpose of disseminating all national security and defence-related information and data to the Media and the public from one co-coordinated centre.

At the time of writing, the defacement page has been removed from the main page, visitors are being presented with a message that says "We are currently performing site maintenance. we'll be back 100% in a bit. " Earlier this month a hackers called Bangladesh Grey Hat Hackers (BGHH) had hacked 22 Sri Lankan Government sites after a Sri Lankan hacker challenged them.

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SLT Rainbow pages directory promotes Gem and Jewellery industry

Local Gem and Jewellery industry Gets Boost from
 SLT Rainbow Pages

SLT Rainbow pages

SLT Rainbow Pages the national directory information services provider has focused to promotes Gem and Jewellery industry in 2013 edition,"We believe in using the SLT Rainbow pages to bring important insights and information to people across the island. Every year, we look for an industry, that is deserving of the far reaching publicity our directory offers. Having examined our options carefully we determined that in 2013 our strength would be placed behind the promotion of the local Gem and Jewellery industry. We believe that this industry plays a pivotal role in the country's development and is a vital component of future growth in terms of trade, revenue, tourism, jobs and income generation, and more"CEO of SLT Rainbow Pages Malraj Balapitiya said

General Manager, SLT Rainbow Pages, Mr. Ruwan Wijetunga said, 
"Sri Lanka has the highest number of gem stones in the world but unfortunately this is a little known fact. The directory contains information on the industry, ranging from the history of gem mining in sri lanka, names and types of gems found here, to what characterizes a good gem stone and the role the industry will play in the country's future.SLT Rainbow Pages will use its high tech products and services such as the mobile app and the Tourist Directory to promote the industry to Sri Lankans as well as travellers to Sri Lanka and overseas buyers"

The SLT Rainbow Pages Directory information can be accessed from the Call Centre on 1231, or by calling 444 on Mobitel, Dialog or Etisalat number, 4636 on Hutch number, on Directory CD, Peo TV or on Mobile WEB (www.rainbowpages.mobi) By offering such wide accessibility, SLT Rainbow Pages is moving closer to its vision of becoming the customer’s number 1 choice for information.

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