How Sri Lanka increases taxes on motor vehicles

Sri Lanka government has increased the production tax on motor vehicles with effect from midnight March 31, 2012 and as a result the overall taxes on most of the vehicles have gone sharply up.

Accordingly, the overall tax on hybrid motor cars go up like this.
Less than 2000 cc - 60% (up 9%)
Above 2000 cc - 125% (up 25%)
Above 2000 cc - 200% (up 25%)

Petrol cars
Less than 1000 cc - 200% (up 80%)
Between 1000 cc - 1600 cc - 200% (up 71%)
Between 1600 cc - 2000 cc - 200% (up 64%)
Above 2000 cc - 250% (up 96%)
Above 3000 cc - 275% (up 86%)

Minimum total tax on diesel cars is 250%.

Minimum tax total on vans is 125%.

Tax on diesel and petrol trishaws is 100%. Up 49% for petrol and 39% for diesel.

The tax on motorcycles is 100% which is up 39%.

Tax structure for buses, lorries, trucks and agricultural tractors remain unchanged.

The government statement in this regard indicates that the new tax structure is introduced to slash import costs. The tax structure appears to kill the motor industry.

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Sri Lanka to hold a parliamentary debate on UNHRC resolution

Sri Lanka will hod a two day parliamentary debate on the resolution passed in the UNHRC on Sri Lanka.

The party leaders of the parliament have agreed to hold this debate on April 4 and 5.  MP Anura Kumara Disanayaka of People's Liberation Front made the proposal in this regard.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Pieris said that the stand of the government regarding this resolution would be announced officially in this debate.

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Why Frontline and not Vanguard?

Sri Lanka Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) splinter group that so far appeared as People's Movement for Struggles announced the launch of a new political party under the name Frontline Socialist Party.

The name goes in Sinhala language as Peratugamee Samajawadee Pakshaya. The word Peratugamee in Sinhala political dictionary resembles to the word vanguard.

But the new party has used Frontline instead of Vanguard in its name.

The Frontline Socialist Party should explain.

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Sri Lanka President attends parliamentary sessions

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa took part in the parliamentary session today.

The President entered the parliament as opposition United National Party (UNP) MP Harsha de Silva was addressing the parliament.

Sri Lanka President should attend the parliamentary meetings at least once in three months in line with the 18th amendment to the constitution.

The President attended the parliament on March 20, 2012 as well.Share this article

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Sri Lanka Marxist rebels form a Frontline Socialist Party

The split group of Sri Lanka Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) has named the new political party they formed as Frontline Socialist Party.

The party was launched today at a press briefing held in Colombo. It was addressed by the leaders of the new party, namely, Senadheera Gunathilaka, Pubudu Jayagoda, Chameera Koswatta and Duminda Nagamuwa.

The leaders of the Frontline Socialist Party said that a party general assembly would be held on April 09 and a central committee would be elected.

Senadheera Gunathilaka addressing the press conference said that Frontline Socialist Party is not a party that is only for elections although it will not reject elections. He said a party is needed to fight for the downtrodden masses. Share this article

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Sri Lanka President says no advise needed to build peace in the country

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the government is committed to walk the extra mile to establish permanent peace through reconciliation which is their commitment to the people and no one had to tell them what to do.

Addressing Sri Lanka Expo 2012, organised by the Export Development Board (EDB) at the BMICH yesterday morning, the President stated that the presence of investors at the Sri Lanka Expo 2012 event showed the failure of efforts of those who still supported the agenda of separatist terror that prevented development in Sri Lanka for more than three decades.

The President highlighted that the event took place after a lapse of 15 years in a climate that seeks to integrate trade, and the widest range of activities in export related investment in a single arena.

He took time and effort to address the investors in a well-prepared speech in which he detailed plans for infrastructure development for the benefit of the investors.

Sri Lanka Expo 2012 is held in a time the country's foreign reserves are dwindling fast. Media reported yesterday that Sri Lanka's foreign exchange reserves fell 23.4 percent in January.

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Sea plane landing close to Sri Lanka's main airport to begin in April

Sea plane landing in Dandugam Oya in Seeduwa close to Katunayaka Bandaranaike International Airport will commence in April, Ministry of Economic Development sources say.

The venue that is close proximity to the country's main airport is expected to contribute to the boom of the tourist industry of the country.

Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa who inspected the development of the venue of sea plane landing on March 27, directed officials to complete the work on the site by first week of April to provide sea landing facilities for direct internal flight services which allows to fly to up country and other tourists destinations in the country.

The project is carried out by Tourism Authority in collaboration with Provincial Road Development Authority.

Earlier, the plan was to use the Negambo lagoon as the venue of sea plane landing but it was held due to protests of the traditional fishermen of the lagoon.

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Lawyers protest in Sri Lanka against brutal attack against lawyer appeared in a murder case

The Association of Lawyers of Magistrate Courts of Colombo launched a protest today before the main court in Colombo today demanding immediate arrest of the culprits of the attack against a lawyer who appeared for the double murder of two Buddhist monks in a temple in Kotte.

Hundreds of lawyers boycotted court proceedings today and launched a protest campaign before Hulftsdorp court complex paralyzing the court proceedings.

 However, the Deputy Inspector General of Police - Colombo, Anura Senanayaka met the lawyers and discussed with them. The lawyers agreed to suspend their action on the promise of police to arrest the culprits of the assault incident.

A lawyer named Sumith Silva was brutally attacked and a spittoon filled with saliva was poured over his body by a group led by Buddhist monks and laymen in front of the Nugegoda Magistrate Court as he was coming out of the court following appearing for the suspects of the murder of two Buddhist monks.

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Sri Lanka betrays Kothala Himbutu (Salacia reticulata) to Japan

Sri Lankan environmentalists say that the approval given to the Board of Investment by the Ministry of Wildlife and Peasants Services to grow Kothala Himbutu (Salacia reticulata) is used by a Japanese company named Eco Tech Create 21.

The company has begun growing the rare medicinal plant in 50 acres in Anamaduwa area.

The environmentalists say that this should be stopped and the permission should be revoked.

Environmentalists say that there are 116 patents for productions of processed Kothala Himbutu and the patents should be practically made failures by preventing exporting raw material for processing.

For more information read this article 

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Misleading concoction of Sri Lanka's Divaina newspaper analyst Keerthi Warnakulasuriya says UNHRC in trouble due to resignation of of Israel

Keerthi Warnakulasuriya, a popular defense and political analyst among Sinhala people of Sri Lanka concocted a news today stating that the resolution passed at UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Sri Lanka was invalid since Israel withdrew from the UNHRC. (Link to the story)

The journalist whose English language comprehension skill always appears as doubtful wrote that the UNHRC was in trouble since it could not implement the resolution on Sri Lanka due to withdrawal of Israel from the UNHRC.

Israel which is not a member state of UNHRC severed contact with the UNHRC after its launch last week of an international investigation into Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

The decision means that the fact-finding team the council planned to send to the West Bank will not be allowed to enter the territory or Israel, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor, as reported by National Post. “We are not working with them any more,” Mr. Palmor said about the Geneva-based forum.

Last Thursday, the council passed a resolution deciding to “dispatch an independent, international, fact-finding mission, to be appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council, to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.”

UNHRC member states voted by 36 to one to appoint a mission to assess the impact of settlements on the Palestinian population. Only the United States voted against the resolution.

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Still no arrests regarding inhuman attack on Sri Lankan lawyer for appearing for suspects of a murder

Photo: Lakbima

Lawyers of Sri Lanka's major court complex protesting yesterday demanding arresting the culprits of the humiliating attack on a lawyer that appeared for suspects of a double murder of Buddhist monks.

The lawyer was attacked publicly in front of a court and a spittoon full of saliva was poured over his body.

Buddhist monks and white clad laymen including elderly women who claim pious were engaged in the assault but no suspect was arrested yet. The incident took place on March 22.

Sri Lanka Bar Association has also remained silent about the incident.

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Sri Lanka's Sinhala Buddhist party wants India sidelined

Sri Lanka government coalition party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) says it is preparing to present a set of proposals to the government in order to overcome the national and international challenges arisen following the resolution passed against Sri Lanka at Geneva.

A special feature of the set of seven point set of proposals is related to foreign policy and JHU urges the government to consider India yet another foreign country in the region, expecting a clear deviation from the present stance of considering India the regional power or the big brother.

JHU media spokesman Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe stated that the seven point set of proposals will be handed in the President Mahinda Rajapakse shortly.

Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said that the JHU points include the need of safeguarding the unity of the country, safeguarding sovereignty and dignity of the country, consolidation of national security especially in north and east, changing the foreign service, finding new markets instead of depending on US and European countries and considering India only as another country in the region. Share this article

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Sri Lanka government planning a snap election, says opposition

Sri Lanka's major opposition United National Party (UNP) Badulla district MP Harin Fernando said that the government was planning to hold a snap election and his party was ready to face any election.

The MP said that the government was in want of sending home a group of politicians of the ruling coalition that they consider hindrance to the government's moves.

He further said that the government was ideologically split over the implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.

MP Harin Fernando pointed out that a section of the government led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa has highlighted a referendum before implementing recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission while others like Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva have declined it..

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Sri Lanka main opposition urges the government to launch a mechanism to implement Geneva resolution

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP)stated that a mechanism needed to be created to implement the resolution on Sri Lanka that was passed at the UN Human Rights Council.

Speaking at a media briefing held in Colombo today, UNP General Secretary MP Tissa Attanayaka said that the Sri Lankans would have to face adverse vircumstances if the government attempted to make the Geneva resolution a political project.

UNP pointed out that the resolution was pertaining to the recommendations of the President-appointed Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee and no one could say that they were set forth by outsiders. 

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Sri Lanka Minister of Education draws a new poverty line

Sri Lanka Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardana reiterated that a Sri Lankan person can live with less than Rs. 2500 per month.

The Minister made this remark last week also and many persons laughed off his statement while some expressed anger. However, the Minister addressing a meeting held in Ananda College, Colombo yesterday, reiterated his idea, as reported by Sinhala daily The Lakbima.

According to him, over 41% of the income of Sri Lankans is spent for food pertaining to the data of the Colombo Consumers' Cost of Living Index. Therefore, Sri Lankans do not die due to food shortage, the Minister argues.

Minister Gunawardana said last week that Rs. 83 per day was sufficient for a Sri Lankan person for subsistence. According to him, a thre member family could live with Rs. 7500, if they spend their money wisely.

The amount he mentions is far less than the UN defined poverty line of US $ 1.25 per day.

Read his original statement that he made at a function in Homagama. 

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Sri Lankan lawyers shun to appear for suspects in fear of reprisals

A Sri Lankan lawyer attacked by a Buddhist monk near a court

Sri Lankan lawyers including the Legal Aid Commission have rejected to appear against suspects of the assassination case of Major General Janaka Perera and a number of others.

Two persons are indicted in High Court for the assassination of the politician turned military leader who was killed in a suicide attack that took place in Anuradhapura.

The suspects were further remanded on March 26 by Anuradhapura High Court Judge and the case was postponed to May 17, 2012.

Following is a quote from the website of Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka.

"Legal assistance to the vulnerable groups of a country constitutes an important segment of the administration of justice. ........... The Legal Aid Commission (LAC) of Sri Lanka established in the year 1978 by Law No 27 of 1978 completes 32 years this year 2010. The Commission has at all times strived to make Equal Access to Justice for All in Sri Lanka a reality."

Read this story that describes an event in which a lawyer that appeared for suspects of a murder were brutally attacked.

Sri Lankan lawyer brutally assaulted by Buddhist monks for appearing for suspects of a killing of two monks

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Sri Lanka environmentalists demand revoke of permission given to grow Kothala Himbutu for exportation

Environmentalists of Sri Lanka linked to Nature Study Center demand the government to revoke the permission given recently by the Ministry of Wildlife and Peasants Services to the Board of Investment to grow Kothala Himbutu (Salacia reticulata) as a export crop.

130 plant species have been identified as potential sources of natural compounds that can be used to create emulsions and dispersions using the method that has been patented by the Fujifilm Corporation of Japan.

Japan is one of the foremost producers of drugs containing Kothala Himbutu and owns a number of patents on such drugs. Of over 100 world patents that currently exist on drugs containing Kothala Himbutu, many are detrimental to Sri Lanka, according to environmental lawyers.

Under patent regulations, Sri Lanka has to pay patent rights to process Kothala Himbutu.

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Sri Lanka not ready to implement all the recommendations of LLRC as suggested by UNHRC, says Minister

Sri Lanka Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who was a member of the state delegation to UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) says that the government was not ready to implement all the recommendations as suggested by US led anti Sri Lankan lobby at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva recently.

 "We would implement only what we accept and consider feasible," Minister Silva said adding that the government was not bound to reply to India or any other nation in this regard.

The Minister also ruled out a referendum in this regard attacking Minister Wimal Weerawansa without naming. The Minister stated,"There are some others who talk of holding a referendum on it. There is no necessity for that as we have already commenced their implementation."

The Minister arrogantly said that the participation of Opposition was also unnecessary in this regard.

Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission was appointed by the government although it appears as not ready to accept all the recommendations of the commission.

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Sri Lanka's disappeared journalists' wife says she was insulted by state officials at UNHRC session

The wife of Sri Lanka's disappeared journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, Sandhya Ekneligoda said after returning to the island from Geneva that she was insulted by the officials of Sri Lanka's delegation to US Human Rights Council.

She said that after participating in a side event at UN Human Rights Council on March19th 4 p.m. in which she spoke about disappeared persons of Sri Lanka, state official Douglas Wickramarathna asked her how she could become a victim since she came smiling. She further pointed out that certain others that gathered around her said they knew what happened to her husband and warned her not to betray the country.

Denying such allegations, she said she achieved her target of focusing the attention of the international community to the problems of the disappeared persons of Sri Lanka through her representation at the UN Human Rights Council.
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The text of the Indian Prime Minister`s letter to President of Sri Lanka

"Thank you for your letter of March 19 regarding the ongoing session of the UN Human Rights Council and the introduction of a resolution therein on the post-conflict situation in Sri Lanka.

As Your Excellency is aware, the Government and the people of India have stood firmly by Sri Lanka in its struggle against terrorism. The end in May 2009 of a long and tragic conflict that had claimed numerous innocent lives, in Sri Lanka and in India, was something that we regarded as providing, at long last, an opportunity for genuine national reconciliation end for addressing the urgent needs of development and reconstruction of all citizens of Sri Lanka. Our two governments have, over the last three years, engaged intensively in the immediate tasks of relief and rehabilitation for those displaced by the conflict, as well as the more long-term effort of reconstruction of national infrastructure. Much important progress has been registered on this front and I wish to record my appreciation of the assistance your Government has provided to various Indian agencies implementing projects of national significance on the ground in Sri Lanka. I was also happy to learn of Your Excellency`s intention to continue the process of implementing the recommendations of the LLRC.

We have also had occasion in the past to discuss the way ahead with regard to a political solution that will address all outstanding issues, in particular the grievances of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, in a spirit of understanding and mutual accommodation. It is our conviction that a meaningful devolution package, building upon the 13th Amendment, would lead towards a lasting political settlement on many of these issues and create conditions in which all citizens of Sri Lanka, irrespective of their ethnicity, can find justice, dignity, equality and self-respect. I would like to reiterate to Your Excellency my Government`s commitment to continue to be of assistance in the achievement of this important objective.

With regard to the matter of the resolution in the UN Human Rights Council, I had instructed our delegation to remain in close contact with its Sri Lanka counterparts in an attempt to find a positive way forward. Your Excellency would be aware that we spared no effort and were successful in introducing an element of balance in the language of the resolution.

I wish to assure Your Excellency that, going forward, we will continue our engagement with the shared objective of building a stable, secure and prosperous environment in Sri Lanka in which all communities can flourish and in which India-Sri Lanka relations can continue to grow from strength to strength."

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Sri Lanka government to hold snap elections to show strength to international community

Sri Lanka's Mawbima (Motherland) newspaper reported today that the government is considering to hold a series of snap elections to show its strength and popularity to the international forces in the aftermath of the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka.

The newspaper pointed out that the President would have powers to dissolve the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Councils at any time he wished after August.

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Sri Lankan lawyer brutally assaulted by Buddhist monks for appearing for suspects of a killing of two monks

A Sri Lankan lawyer has complained to Mirihana police that he was manhandled by a group of persons including Buddhist monks.

The lawyer, Sumith Silva, appeared for the suspects of a double murder in which two Buddhist monks were killed by two thieves in a temple in Kotte. He faced the inhuman attack on March 23 right in front of the Gangodawila magistrate court.

The suspects were remanded by the magistrate until April 05.

The group led by Buddhist monks poured a spittoon filled with saliva over the head of the lawyer and beat him, the lawyer complained to police.

According to sources, the mob has included some white clad lay women also who claim to be the ardent devotees of Buddhism, which is originally a strictly non-violent faith.

The mob also robbed the  mobile phone of the lawyer, the victim complained.

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Wijeweera family vs. Prabakaran’s family

By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya

Talking to The Sunday Leader on June 20, 2004, Wijeweera’s wife said; “The late President Ranasinghe Premadasa did a lot for us. He took us into his care at a time when we needed to be looked after. He promised to come and see us in the Trincomalee navy camp on his way to the opening of a university in Batticaloa in June but he died in May that year.”

However we still do not know what exactly happened to Prabhakaran’s  wife and children except Charles Anthony. British forensic expert Professor Pounder believes he has identified the first of the shots to be fired at the boy: “There is a speckling from propellant tattooing, indicating that the distance of the muzzle of the weapon to this boy’s chest was two to three feet or less. He could have reached out with his hand and touched the gun that killed him.”


Read the full article

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Central Bank of Sri Lanka warns of the use of word ‘finance,’ financing’ or ‘financial’ by companies

Central Bank of Sri Lanka today issued a notice to entities using the word ‘finance,’ financing’ or ‘financial’ as part of its name or description warning them with the improper use.

In terms of section 10 of the Finance Business Act, no entity other than a licensed finance company shall use the words ‘finance’, ‘financing’ or ‘financial’ as part of its name or description, says the Central Bank in its statement.

Accordingly, any entity other than a licensed finance company which uses the words ‘finance’, financing’ or ‘financial’ or any of its derivatives or its transliterations or their equivalent in any other language as part of its name or description shall remove such words from its name and description on or before 09 May 2012.

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Sri Lanka police emergency call centers to be decentralized

 Inspector General of Sri Lanka police N.K. Illangakoon says that the police emergency call centers will be decentralized.

Accordingly, police emergency call centers will be established at provincial level, the police chief says.

Two new rooms of the police emergency call service were opened today at Mirihana police station by the Inspector General of Police.

Police emergency call center received 5491 emergency calls in 2004, the year it was opened. However, the number of calls increased to 437,253 by 2011. Police say that the emergency call center recievs around 3450 calls per day .

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Sri Lanka Marxst JVP to collect signatures for a petition seeking increase of registered price for paddy

Sri Lanka Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) has planned to collect signatures of the farmers seeking increase of registered price of a kilo of paddy.


The JVP demands the government to increase the registered price of a kilo of paddy to Rs. 40. Presently, the government registered price for paddy is Rs. 30 for a kilo of Samba and Rs. 28 for a kilo of Nadu.


JVP MP Anura Kumara Disanayaka said that the petition will taken to all farmer settlements to collect their signatures.


He said that amid the boasting of the government, the farmers are facing difficulty in selling their products.


The MP further said that the farmers have failed to find at least the production cost of a kilo of paddy which is Rs. 24.50 as the selling price in the open market.
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Sri Lanka to establish a Kithul Development Board

Sri Lanka Minister of Technology and Research Pavithra Wanniarachchi revealed the hopes of the government to establish a Kithul palm development board. 

The Minister expressed these views at a function held in Rathnapura district Secretariat to distribute aids to 140 persons engaged in Kithul tapping.

Sri Lanka has development boards for similar palms like coconut and palmyrah. The idea of establishing a Kithul Development Board is discussed tome to time however without realizing.  

Kiithul is also known as Solitary fishtail palm, Toddy palm, Wine palm or Jaggary Palm. Its botanical name is Caryota urens and it grows in tropical rain forests.

Sap tapped from the flowering shoot of Kithul tree is used to make toddy, honey, juggrey and the tree has medicinal ornamental timber uses as well.

Tapping Kithul tree is a traditional industry of Sri Lanka. A large number of rural villagers make living from Kithul products that find a good market now.

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Sri Lanka's indigenous people clash with wildlife officials for the rights of jungle life

Sri Lanka's indigenous Veddah community chief Uruwarige Wanniaya asks who belongs the wilds if his jungle community is dispossessed of it.

Veddahs accuse that the wildlife officials shot and killed one of their members and three more have disappeared following the shootout.

A tense situation erupted on March 15 as a 24 year old indigenous man was shot and killed near the wildlife office of Hennanigala, a village of the indigenous people.

The man named Thalawarige Sunila was killed in the shooting that took place in the midnight of March 14, the indigenous community say.

150 strong police force was deployed to normalize the tension and discussions were held between police and Veddah community chief Uruwarige Wanniyaleththo.

Veddah is an indigenous hunting community that lived in jungle before modernization. The government has resettled them in villages and expect them to give up their age old life linked to the jungle.

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Sri Lanka Marxist rebels to form a new party

The rebel group os Sri Lanka Marxist People's Liberation Front has decided to form a new political party, a spokesman of the group said.

The new party named as New People's Liberation Front (NJVP) will be launched on April 09 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

The spokesman further said that the elusive leader of the JVP rebel group Premakumar Gunarathnam will also appear in public at this meeting.

The JVP rebel group so far appeared as the People's Struggle Movement.

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Sri Lanka to call for bids for several oil blocks

Sri Lanka government has decided to call bids for several identified petroleum deposits in Mannar and Kaveri Basins of Indian Ocean, says the Director General of Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat.

The official said that the government expected an investment of US dollars two billion from this investment.

When the radio journalist asked about the share Sri Lanka will receive from the excavated product, the official said calculating and deciding it was extremely difficult and he could not answer it.

Speaking to a local radio, the official further said that the government had identified 10 petroleum deposits in Mannar Basin and five deposits in Kaveri Basin.

He added that the Cairn Company of India is in the final stage of mining in its 3000 square kilometer block. Share this article

However, it is still to be verified the commercial viability of these oil deposits.

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Sri Lanka court acquits Fonseka from fraud charge

Given up?

Sri Lanka High Court Judge Sunil Rajapaksa dismissed a case against former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and acquitted him from all charges pertaining the case.

Following the judgement is delivered Fonseka commended the judge stating that he was happy that at least there was a single judge who had backbone.

Fonseka was framed charges against frauds conducted in supplying equipment to Army through a company called Hicorp that was linked to his family.

However, the judge postponed the hearing of the case against Danuna Thilakarathna, the son-in-law of Fonseka until May 03. The judge ruled that two cases could not be filed in Sri Lanka's judiciary system under same charges.

Fonseka was found guilty for the same charges by a Court Martial and he is now spending the prison term imposed on him.

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Sri Lanka Ministers' wars against US

Sri Lanka Minister of Power and Energy Champika Ranawaka said that his party had decided to join with any country to fight against US being the hammer instead of anvil.

The Minister expressed these views addressing a seminar organized by his party Jathika Hela Urumaya in Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on 12th.

The Minister said that Sri Lanka is under siege of the global imperialists since the country defeated terrorism.

The Minister stated that the terrorism of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) was a part of US imperialism and defeating it was a challenge to US.

Monister Champika Ranawaka charged that the US manipulated LTTE politics of India and Sri Lanka. He said that US wants to control the sea route from Iran to India and it wants to be the power of Indian Ocean.

He warned not to engage politics with US blood stained money in the guise of human rights.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities, Wimal Weerawansa urged the countrymen to boycott American products to protest US sponsored resolution in Geneva.

The Minister said that the Sri Lankans should boycott American products in order to show the strength of the nation so that the US would feel the effects of Sri Lankans' actions.

The Minister further said that he also used a gmail account and he would stop using it.
The Minister expressed these views addressing a public meeting in Hyde Park corner, Colombo on 13th.

The theme of the rally was protecting the peace achieved while defeating western conspiracies and their operations.

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Sri Lanka's ruling party local politician of Rathnapura district arrested for abhorrent murder

Sri Lanka police spokesman Superintendent of Police Ajith Rohana said that a local government member of Godakawela Pradeshiya Sabha has been arrested by Criminal Investigation Department in connection with an abhorrent killing of a school girl and her mother.

The local government member is also a coordinating secretary of Minister of State Administration and Home Affairs John Senevirathna. The Minister dropped him from his staff following the local politician's brother and sister-in-law were arrested for the murder.

Unconfirmed police sources say that the politician was arrested following thorough investigations and he is found involved in the murder.

The suspect is to be produced in court tomorrow. Share this article

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Protest in Sri Lanka's hill country to protest mysterious killing

Shops were closed in Sri Lanka's Uva Province Passara plantation town today in protest of a mysterious killing.

Police Media Spokesperson SP Ajith Rohana said traders had closed shops and several black flags were hoisted to protest the killing of a youth opposite the Pradeshiya Sabha building yesterday.

A 20-year-old youth was murdered opposite the Passara Pradeshiya Sabha premises last night.

No arrest has been made and Passara police is investigating the incident.

The body of the deceased had been placed at the Passara Hospital for a postmortem.

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Postal voting of two local councils of Sri Lanka's Northern Province postponed

Sri Lanka Elections Secretariat announced today that postal voting for the Pudukudirippu and Maritimepattu local government Pradeshiya Sabhas has been postponed indefinitely.

The postal voting for these two local councils were to be held on March 15 and 16.

The Election Secretariat sources said that the decision to postpone the postal voting was due to an anticipated outcome of petitions filed against the elections of these two local councils.

Two cases filed against holding of elections of these two local government bodies are scheduled to be taken up by judiciary tomorrow.

Pudukudirippu and Maritimepattu local councils are situated in the Northern Province Mullaithivu district. They are the areas where the final battles against the Tamil rebels were fought and still a large number of residents of the areas have not been resettled. The elections were postponed several times due to problems related to de-mining and resettlement.

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Sri Lanka major opposition to probe Deputy Leaders statement against party position

Sri Lanka major opposition party General Secretary Thissa Attanayaka said that the Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa will be asked to show cause pertaining to a statement reported by media as he made.

The Deputy Leader of the United Ntional Party (UNP) has urged the public to oppose the resolution mooted at the UN Human Rights Council session regarding Sri Lanka.

The General Secretary stated that the party leader had expressed the position regarding the resolution clearly in the parliament.

The party official further said that the UNP had firmly decided to permit only a few MPs that are studying the situation to issue statements regarding the issue and Premadasa's statement is against the party stand.

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Why MP Duminda Silva still not arrested, question raised in Sri Lanka court

Colombo Additional Magistrate Prasanna Alwis said in court today that the court could only issue warrants and it was the duty of police to arrest suspects.

The magistrate expressed these views at the hearing of the case of murder of Sri Lanka President's official Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and several others.

Ruling United People's Freedom alliance MP Duminda Silva is an accuse of the murder and Criminal Investigation Department says that advise of the Attorney General has been sought to arrest him who is being treated in a foreign hospital for gun shot injuries sustained in the clash in which the murders occurred.

Counsel appearing for the rights of late Mr. Premachandra raised the issue of police failing to arrest the suspect MP. Magistrate ordered to remand 16 suspects until 28th of this month. Share this article

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Sri Lanka Minister says ready to fight US being hammer instead of anvil

Minister with Ambassador of Iran

Sri Lanka Minister of Power and Energy Champika Ranawaka said that his party had decided to join with any country to fight against US being the hammer instead of anvil.

The Minister expressed these views addressing a seminar organized by his party Jathika Hela Urumaya in Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday (12).

The Minister said that Sri Lanka is under siege of the global imperialists since the country defeated terrorism.

The Minister stated that the terrorism of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) was a part of US imperialism and defeating it was a challenge to US. Monister Champika Ranawaka charged that the US manipulated LTTE politics of India and Sri Lanka.

He said that US wants to control the sea route from Iran to India and it wants to be the power of Indian Ocean.

He warned not to engage in politics with US blood stained money in the guise of human rights. Share this article

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