While the post-war context offered an opportunity for consolidating peace and reconciliation, and there have been a number of positive developments, there are increasing concerns relating to violence targeting places of worship and religious intolerance. Since the end of the war there have been high-profile incidents such as the attack on the Mosque in Dambulla in April 2012, however other incidents, have received little or no public and media attention. This has resulted in a limited understanding of the scale and nature of these incide

Different stands of Centre on Sri Lanka Tamils worrisome says Karunanidhi
Chennai: DMK Chief M Karunanidhi-led TESO, a pro-Tamil body revived recently by the key UPA ally, today said it was "worrisome" to know the different stands being taken by the Centre and the Congress on the Lankan Tamils issue and warned it may not be able to watch such attitude in silence.

"The different stands being taken by Congress and the Central government every day on the Eelam issue is worrisome...A situation is being created

“One of the candidates is the spouse of the current chairperson of the UGC. The UGC makes its own recommendation to the President on who out of the three candidates ought to be appointed as VC. The actual and perceived independence of a Vice Chancellor is essential for the autonomous functioning of the university. The UGC is the regulator of higher education in Sri Lanka and has to act independently from the respective university. The UGC makes determinations, among other things, regarding allocation of funds and appointments to un

A Sri Lankan national has been convicted of illegally poaching in Maldivian waters and sentenced to six months in prison and fined MVR500,000 (USD32,425), the Maldives Media reported today.

The captain of “Sea Shoal” Karunakalage Lalith Douglas Fernando was charged on November 19, 2012 with illegally fishing inside Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Haveeru news online reported that Fernando has now been convicted and sentenced as he had confessed to the crime in court and was ordered to pay the fin

 While the  public express concern over high three wheeler taxi charges, two prominent three wheel associations in the country say that they have not taken undue advantage of the recent fuel hike but imposed reasonable revisions.

 The All-Island Three Wheeler Drivers’ Union (AITDU) yesterday said that they would stick with their proposal to increase the charge per first kilometer from Rs. 50.00 to Rs 60.00.

AITDU President Lalith Dharmasekera said that they would stick with Rs. 32.00 a kilometer

Eight students of a Chennai city-based college have embarked on a ‘fast-unto-death’ over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

The Press Trust of India reported that the students of the Loyola College, who began the fast yesterday, are staging the protest to press their seven-point charter of demands including an independent probe against Colombo for alleged war crimes, referendum on Tamil Eelam (separate homeland for Tamils) and slapping economic sanctions on Sri Lanka, protester Joe Britto said.

Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V. Narayanasamy, who visited the injured fishermen at a hospital here on Saturday, condemned the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly attacking them in Indian waters.
"It is very unfortunate not only I condemn the incident of attack on our Indian fishermen in our own waters under the camouflage of Sri Lankan water by the Sri Lankan navy. We will ensure protection to our fishermen," he told media here.

Narayanasamy promised to take steps to strengthen the coast guard

UNP MP Rosy Senanayake was recently appointed the spokesperson for Violence Against Women, from the South Asian Regional Network of Women Parliamentarians.



By Dianne Silva
UNP MP Rosy Senanayake speaks on the political rights of women in the fourth installment celebrating Women’s Day (8th March).
Q. There is this perception that since Sri Lanka had the first female Prime Minister in the world, there is space for political activity of women in the country, but how far do you think we have progressed si

The Government Midwifery Service Association (GMSA) yesterday urged the provincial health services to adapt a uniform policy concerning under qualified who entered the service over 25 years ago. Deputy general secretary of the GMSA, Devika Kodituwakku said that several under qualified midwives who entered the service during the early 1980’s on the sly had been sent home or been demoted by their relevant provincial councils.

 Kodithuwakku said  however that three under qualified midwives from the Polonnaruwa Dis

Veddah chief of Dambana, Uruwarigelage Wannilaetto wants to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa to apprise the latter of the problems his community is faced with.

Speaking to The Island on a mobile phone, the Veddah Chief said he was waiting to meet the President for some time, but could not do so due to lack of time. He said there were many problems confronting the community and he wanted to keep the president informed of them.