News

AUSTRALIA TO SEND FAILED SRI LANKAN ASYLUM SEEKERS HOME

The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has warned Sri Lankans who might be considering attempting the journey to Australia: “Do not pay a people smuggler, do not risk your life, only to arrive in Australian waters and find that far, far more likely than not you will be quickly sent home”.

Commonwealth To Be Informed Regarding Govt’s Move To Prevent General From Attending Sessions In Nairobi

The Opposition has decided to inform the Commonwealth regarding withholding permission for Gen. Fonseka to participate at the sessions of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to be held in Nairobi in Kenya.

Fuel Price Hike Imminent

A fuel price hike is imminent by both LOIC and CPC due to the losses in the first half of this year. LIOC says a liter of petrol now retailed at Rs.115 has to be increased by at least by Rs.15 and diesel which is sold at Rs.73/- per liter has to be hiked by Rs.10 in order for them to survive.

Next quits Sri Lanka, exports to EU fall - report

The British clothing retailer, Next, has stopped sourcing its garments from Sri Lanka because of the uncertainty of the continuance of the GSP+ duty concession from the European Union.The company has moved production to Bangladesh, an industry source said.. Meanwhile, exports to the EU fell 13% in the first quarter of 2010, a decline the Sri Lankan garment industry attributes to falling demand due to the economic conditions there. Garments are Sri Lanka’s largest foreign exchange earner.

President angry with Champika over his silence on Ban Ki-moon’s panel of experts

External Affairs Ministry sources say that the President is angered by the silence maintain by JHU’s Minister Champika Ranawaka over the panel of experts appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to study the alleged human rights abuse that had taken place during the final phase of the war.

Plan to bring Chandrika back to parliament

The UNP Leader, SLFP (M) Wing Leader Mangala Samaraweera and several other senior UNPers have secretly discussed the possibility of brining former President Chandrika Kumaratunge back to parliament as a UNP National List MP in order to contest the Presidential election, if the government implements the amendment to extend the number of terms of office held by an Executive President, it is really learnt.

President unhappy with India for not objecting to Ban Ki-moon’s panel

A senior official at the External Affairs Ministry said that the President was displeased with India for not raising objections against the panel of experts appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to study and make proposals on Sri Lanka.

I Will Intervene To Restore Peace In Universities - Mervin Silva

Deputy Highways Minister Mervin Silva said that he would intervene to restore peace in the Kelaniya University. He warned students not to cause any trouble and he said he would join the people of the area to control the campus. He said this in a SLFP meeting at Kelaniya, yesterday.

I Will Intervene To Restore Peace In Universities - Mervin Silva

Deputy Highways Minister Mervin Silva said that he would intervene to restore peace in the Kelaniya University. He warned students not to cause any trouble and he said he would join the people of the area to control the campus. He said this in a SLFP meeting at Kelaniya, yesterday.

ONE MILLION LITERS OIL LEAK PER YEAR, COORRUPTION ENGULF PETROLEUM CORPORATION

It is reported that massive amount of petroleum stocks are at lost annually due to lack of maintenance of storage tanks and yards and with corruption. Statistics reveal that the wastage in Kolonnawa terminal alone was 1 million liters in 2008 and a similar amount was lost in 2009 too. According to Petroleum Corporation employees, reasons for these unbelievable losses are that there are no storage tank with floating roofs which prevent evaporation and that faults in garrets which are used to fill oil transport trucks and trains.