Colombo University undergraduate Randimali Gunawardene, who allegedly jumped off from the fifth floor of the Science faculty building, underwent surgery, at noon yesterday, at the National Hospital, Colombo.

University authorities had told the police that the student had jumped off the building, a senior Police officer said.

She had suffered severe head injuries, hospital authorities said.

Speaking at the ceremonial sitting held to welcome the newly-appointed Court of Appeal Judge, Malini Gunaratna last Friday, the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Upul Jayasuirya urged an end to the practice of offering privileged positions to judges after retirement. At a time when the independence of the Sri Lankan Judiciary has become a subject for discussion, the suggestion of the head of the unofficial bar seems to be timely and vital.

The Professions Supplementary to Medicine (PSM) yesterday warned that it would resort to an indefinite work-to-rule campaign from, today (18), if the government failed to meet its demands, which included much delayed grade one promotions.

PSM General Secretary Saman Jayasekara said that PSM members had not been given promotions since 2006. There were over 400 PSM personnel from all five categories, some who have completed over 19 years of service, awaiting grade one promotions.

The female student of Colombo University who jumped off the fifth floor of a university building died while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.

The student had passed away at around 2.30am this morning (June 18), Hospital sources stated.

She was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital after jumping off the fifth floor of a university building last morning and was receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Some 600 activists belonging to pro-Tamil Eelam outfits were on Tuesday arrested for allegedly attempting to march to the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, 15 km from here, where two Sri Lankan defence personnel are undergoing training.

Protesting against the training, the activists demanded resignation of Defence Minister A.K. Antony for giving “false” assurance that no Sri Lankan military personnel would be given training on Tamil Nadu soil.

Public funds hould not be wasted on the Disaster Management Ministry if it could not save the people from natural disasters, UNP Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa says.

Addressing a gathering in Beruwala after offering his condolences and making cash donations to the bereaved families of fishermen killed by a recent storm, Premadasa said that nearly 70 fishermen had perished due to inclement weather as they had not been informed of the stormy weather before setting sail.

The government successfully deflected attempts to move the Commonwealth Heads Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled for November out of Colombo, and secured promises of participation from UK’s Cameron and India’s Singh. This was a diplomatic success in the aftermath of the setback at the UN Human Rights meeting in Geneva in March.

CHOGM also earn President Rajapakse a two year stint as head of the Commonwealth which will show on his CV. But it has all turned into a curate’s egg, creating more problems than benefits

It is my duty as the elected head of the un-official Bar with a legal fraternity of over 15,000 attorneys spread around the country, to have the privilege of Welcoming your Ladyship. I am joined by not only those who are present here today but the entire membership of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.

I rise today in this august assembly with a mandate from the entire legal fraternity to warmly welcome  your Ladyship Justice Malini Gunaratna as you take your rightful place in this Honourable Court. The entire Bar wishes y

Sri Lanka has highlighted the importance of education as an essential tool in combating racism and racial discrimination. Assistant Director/Foreign Affairs Mr. Madhuka Wickramarachchi

Intervening during an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at the on-going 23rd Session of the Human Rights Council, Assistant Director/Foreign Affairs Mr. Madhuka Wickramarachchi, observed that Sri Lanka’s education system which is found

On May 16, a seminar was held at the Marga Institute to launch  a publication by the Independent Diaspora Analysis Group – Sri Lanka (IDAG-S) – The Numbers Game: Politics of Restorative Justice.

Dr Godfrey Gunatilleke, Chairman Emeritus of the Marga Institute, opened  the proceedings by answering the question: “Do numbers matter”. He acknowledged that, while even a low number of civilian casualties was cause for anguish, citing large and inaccurate figures could only inhibit the healing proces