IMPORTANT NOTICE

With effect from 1^st January 2012, all Holiday or Business travelers to Sri Lanka must have Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for entering in to Sri Lanka. Please visit http://www.eta.gov.lk for more information.

The ETA system will be effective from 31st December midnight 2011

" The ETA system will be effective from 31st December midnight 2011 and all those who obtain visa thereafter will be expected to use the ETA system paying the relevant processing fee.

However ,for those who obtained visa using ETA prior to 01st January 2012 there will be no processing fee as long as they arrive within the visa validity period.

For those who arrive without obtaining visa through ETA after 31st December 2011 there will be a facility to obtain "on arrival visa" by paying the relevant ETA processing fee."

07:17 AM Tuesday January 03rd, 2012

India provides assistance to restore Thiruketheeswaram temple 

India has agreed to provide assistance to restore Thiruketheeswaram Temple in Mannar, one of the holiest Hindu shrines in the North.

The High Commission of India and the Board of Trustees of Thiruketheeswaram Temple Restoration Society (TTRS) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for restoration of the Thiruketheeswaram Temple.

High Commissioner of India Ashok K. Kantha signed the agreement on behalf of India with the Chairman of Thiruketheeswaram Temple Restoration Society Mr. V. Kailasapillai signed in the presence of Minister for Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa.

The Indian assistance for the restoration of the Thiruketheeswaram Temple is about Rs. 326 million.

Issuing a statement, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said the signing of the MoU will result in the re-initiation of the restoration work which was being carried out in the years 2005-2006 at the Thiruketheeswaram Temple, but had to be abandoned due to the then prevailing security situation.

The MoU was in pursuant to the Joint Declaration issued during the state visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India in June, 2010, which had welcomed the proposal for restoration of the Thiruketheeswaram Temple at Mannar to be undertaken with the assistance of the Archaeological Survey of India and the College of Architecture and Sculpture, Mamallapuram.

A team led by the Superintending Archeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle and consisting of representatives from the College of Architecture and Sculpture, Mamallapuram had visited Sri Lanka in August, 2010.

A detailed report on the restoration of the Thiruketheeswaram Temple was prepared, based on discussions with the Department of Archaeology, Government of Sri Lanka and TTRS, in addition to inputs from their field visit to the Thiruketheeswaram temple.
"The historic temple of Thiruketheeswaram is one of the holiest shrines in Sri Lanka and an important symbol of Sri Lanka's cultural Heritage. The restoration of the Thiruketheeswaram Temple in Mannar, Sri Lanka is symbolic of India's commitment to assist in the rejuvenation of the social, cultural and spiritual life in the Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka," the statement said.

04:03 AM Wednesday October 19th, 2011

Another 350 ex-cadres to be reintegrated

Actions have been taken to reintegrate another 350 rehabilitated former LTTE cadres ahead of Deepavali festival.

According to the Prison Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Ministry so far more than 10 thousand LTTE cadres have been rehabilitated out of 11, 699 and released and they have joined in the social stream.

03:32 AM Wednesday October 19th, 2011

Sri Lanka establishes diplomatic relations with Rwanda

The government has finalized arrangements to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Rwanda.

Upon the completion of exchange of formal notes between the Ministry of External Affairs of the Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda through their respective missions in New Delhi, the two governments have decided to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries with effect from 20th April 2011, the Ministry said in a statement Monday.

The Ministry said the High Commissioner of Rwanda based in New Delhi, India would be concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka based in Nairobi, Kenya would be concurrently accredited to Rwanda.

"The establishment of diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and Rwanda would enhance the existing friendly relations and cooperation in the political, socio-economic and cultural fields for the mutual benefit of the two peoples," the statement said.

03:25 AM Wednesday October 19th, 2011

List the LTTE as a terrorist organization in Norway – Nimal Siripala de Silva

Pursuant to the bi-lateral meeting the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, held in New York along the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and the Leader of the House together with Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Minister of Environment visited Oslo and had a high level meeting with Jonas GahrStøre, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway.

The Ministerial delegation also had meetings with Erik Solheim, Minister of International Development and Environment and Morten Høglund representing the Leader of the Opposition and the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense on last Friday (14). The two Ministers were accompanied by Rodney M. Perera, Ambassador, C.V. Rajapakse, Deputy Chief of Mission and Ms. Shani  Kalyanaratne-Karunaratne, First Secretary of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Oslo.

The highlight of the visit was the bi-lateral talks with Jonas GahrStøre, Foreign Minister of the Royal Norwegian Government who warmly welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the long and close bi-lateral relationship between Norway and Sri Lanka.

The Ministers briefed in detail to Norwegian Foreign Minister and his delegation with regard to the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka with special focus on the Northern Province. The Ministers stated that several billions of rupees have been spent on infrastructure development and livelihood support and also for the programs to uplift the quality of the lives of people in the North and East out of local funding.  They also briefed the Norwegian Foreign Minister that restrictions on fishing had been fully withdrawn and people in the Northern peninsula are happily engaged in agriculture and fisheries and other areas of livelihood thereby contributing to the national economy.

In the area of reconciliation, the Government of Sri Lanka has rehabilitated and reintegrated in to the society, more than 10,000 ex-LTTE combatants after providing them with vocational training. Currently there are only less than 800 ex- LTTE cadres under custody suspected to have been engaged in terrorist activities awaiting the conclusion of investigations.

In the resettlement process, nearly three hundred thousand displaced persons had already been settled in their native villages with the assistance extended by the Sri Lankan Government. There remain only around 8000 persons to be resettled in due course when remaining areas with land-mines are completely cleared. The Sri Lankan Government, with the assistance of several agencies, has embarked on an accelerated process of clearing land mines.

The Sri Lankan delegation briefed the Norwegian side regarding several baseless allegations raised by some organizations and groups especially in the international arena and Sri Lanka’s stand in connection with those issues. The delegation informed the Foreign Minister that the LLRC report is due in mid November and Sri Lanka expect the international community to give space and time for Sri Lanka to complete its domestic mechanism without rushing into premature conclusions. The Foreign Minister of Norway expressed the view that they too would await the release of the LLRC report.

Sri Lankan delegation further briefed the Norwegian delegation that the Darusman report is based on hearsay information and that it is not an investigative or a reliable report that warrants any serious consideration. It was a report prepared by a panel to advise the UN Secretary General at his own request but with no inter-governmental sanction. It was pointed out that the Sri Lanka had requested the panel members, Amnesty International and other human rights organizations and any other interested organizations to furnish information and give evidence before the LLRC. This request regrettably has not been honored by these organizations including the Channel 4.

The delegation raised their concerns regarding the double standards adopted by some of the countries and international organizations regarding the issue of accountability.

The Sri Lankan delegation informed the Norwegian Foreign Minister that the purpose of this high level visit was to brief the Norwegian government on the above issues and expressed confidence that the Norwegian government would understand the ground realities and support Sri Lanka in the process of national reconciliation and the development agenda of the country.

Nimal Siripala de Silva pointed out that although the LTTE has been banned in many countries including the European Union, Norway has not done so as Norway was the facilitator of the Peace Process some time ago. Minister requested the Norwegian Government to consider listing the LTTE as a terrorist organization in Norway, as Norway is no more playing the facilitator’s role.

Minister brought to the notice of the Norwegian Foreign Minister that the Dutch authorities have already embarked upon a criminal investigation in to the LTTE terror network in the Netherlands with connections to some elements in Norway. The Minister thanked the Norwegian authorities for the co-operation extended to these investigations and emphasized that further co-operation is needed to unearth the illegal activities of the LTTE. He urged that Norwegian soil should not be a breeding ground for the re-grouping of the LTTE to carry out terrorist activities detrimental to Sri Lanka’s national interests. The Sri Lankan delegation pointed out that the reference made by Anders Berring Breivik, the Norwegian perpetrator responsible for twin attacks of terror on the July 22, to the LTTE in his manifesto is another clear example of the potential influence of terror organizations on such other groups and individuals. Therefore banning such organizations would be beneficial to security and stability of both countries.

The Sri Lankan delegation also met Erik Solheim and the parliamentary opposition and briefed them on the current developments in Sri Lanka along the same lines.  Ministers briefly interacted with the Sri Lankan community residing in Norway comprising of all ethnic and religious backgrounds during the visit.

03:18 AM Wednesday October 19th, 2011

 Ihala Kotmale Hydro Power project nearing completion

Filling of water to the main Thalawakele Reservoir of the Ihala Kothmale Hydro Power Project will commence on the 15th of December.  Testing of power generators will be carried out on December 28th. 90 percent of the construction work of the project has been completed.

This is the largest development project being implemented in the hill country.  Over 400 million units of power will be generated by this project annually.  The project is being implemented at a cost of Rs.37,000 million.

Funds for the project are jointly provided by the Japan International Corporation Bank and the Electricity Board.  The main dam has been constructed near the Thalawakele Town across the Kothmale Oya.  The dam is 180 meters long and 35.5 meters high.  Water collected in this dam is diverted to the power house in the Niyamgamdora area through a tunnel of 13 meters length.  This is the longest tunnel constructed in Sri Lanka, and it has been constructed by drilling through the rock mountain.

The power house which is 66 meters long 19 meters wide has been constructed surrounded by rocks.    Two generators of 75 mega watts each have been installed in the power house. (niz).

02:59 AM Wednesday October 19th, 2011

Cyber Security Week begins

Ridma Dissanayake

Sri Lanka will hold its annual Cyber Security Week (CSW) which commenced yesterday, the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) said.

The National Cyber Security Awareness Week is held each year. It aims to educate the industrialists. CSW 2011 will be a great event, with the fourth Annual National Conference on Cyber Security on October 19 and two technical workshops to be held on October 20 and 21 at the Cinnamon Lake Side Hotel.

According to the SLCERT Senior Information Security Engineer Rohana Palliyaguru the first workshop will be held under the theme "Virtualization, Cloud Computing and the Next Generation of Enterprises Architecture"and the second workshop will focus on the theme of "Know your enemy by tracking bottlenecks".

In addition to that they have planned to hold Hacking Challenge and (ISC)2 CISSP Boot Camp as part of this programme.

The Hacking Challenge commenced on October 3 and Boot Camp will be held on October 18. SLCERT says programmes had been organized for university students as a part of CSW 2011.

02:57 AM Wednesday October 19th, 2011

Jaffna BOI projects top US $ 10 m

Indunil Hewage

With permanent peace and in the wake of investor friendly backdrop the Northern Province is turning out to be an investment paradise. Both small and high end entrepreneurs are investing in the fields of apparel, tourism, health, power sector, fishery and others.

Analysts in the area expect that this investment would top the US $ ten million mark.

Board of Investment (BOI) Jaffna Regional Office Deputy Director J.Jeyamanon said the BOI Regional Branch is committed to promoting the Northern area as a preferred area for industrial investments.

BOI is set to introduce a new incentives package for industrialists in the Northern Province shortly.

“Though there are immense opportunities for investors to start new businesses in the Northern area, there is a vacuum for investments projects.

In addition, foreign investor participation for the new investment projects is small and the BOI is taking every effort to bridge this gap by giving them a helping hand.

“At the moment several apparel companies have sought BOI approval to expand operations in the Northern Province.

Accordingly, MAS Active has already identified a suitable location in Aradiyanagar to build a garment factory while MAS Linea has also expressed their willingness to expand operations to the Kilinochchi area.

However, the company is still in the process of identifying a suitable area for this purpose.

Timex Garments and Ferguson will establish factories in Mannar and Omega Line Limited and Orit Apparels will locate the factories in the Vavuniya area,” Jeyamanon said.

Rebco Limited, a hardware manufacturing company has obtained the BOI approval to set up a subsidiary in Irrettaperiyakulam in Vavuniya while Tokyo Cement Company has already initiated a concrete yard and concrete mixture project in Elidumattuwal in Jaffna.

In addition, BOI has approved another private sector concrete block yard project in Urelu, Jaffna and its operation has already started.

Another project by AMP Ceylon Pvt Limited was given approval to commence a handicraft and ornamental manufacturing facility in Omanthai and the project is still under construction.

The construction work of on the 50 beds hospital project is underway by a private company with BOI approval.

Plans are also underway to start a fishing goods manufacturing project in the Omanthai area and this would be a joint venture project between India and Sri Lanka.

Several Sri Lankan expatriates have also obtained BOI approval to begin new hotels in the Jaffna area. Tilko hotel project with 42 rooms in Jaffna town is now operational and another three star hotel project with a total investment of US$ 3.5 million will commence in the Jaffna area shortly.

02:55 AM Wednesday October 19th, 2011

We are today talking the language of peace – President

In Sri Lanka, we are today talking the language of peace. I am sure that your decision to hold this conference in Colombo is further proof of the peace that prevails in our country after a long period of conflict, terror and immense hardship to our people, said President Rajapaksa addressing the inaugural session of the 9th Ninth Conference on Language and Development in Colombo this morning.

"Sri Lanka is at present implementing a policy that seeks to use language to bind our people together. We are committed to safeguarding the language rights of our people and also transforming Sri Lanka into a tri-lingual country with the use of English as a link language among our communities. English would also be the vehicle for our children to access knowledge as we envisage to become a knowledge hub in the region," President Rajapaksa added.

He said:" Our primary focus however would be to ensure that people of this country, irrespective of their ethnicities will learn the main languages, Sinhalese and Tamil, to communicate with each other."

Language, as we all know, is a means of communication and understanding. However, our own experience shows that language can be an instrument of division and conflict, too. I am, therefore, pleased that this conference with its theme of “Language and Social Cohesion” will have special relevance to Sri Lanka, as it would also be of much value to other countries of the developing world.

"We see the importance of language for economic development, especially in the improving of employment opportunities for our youth, the enabling of social mobility among our people, and opening the way for us to participate in the global economy",
the President said.


The three-day conference themed under "Language and Social Cohesion" is organised and hosted by the Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration, the Ministry of Education, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), and the British Council’s Project English.

Participants from seventeen countries who are interested in the role language play in development work will discuss the issues of world, national, second and minority languages in relation to economic, social and cultural development, language policy and pedagogy.

The Minister of National Integration Vasudeva Nanayakkara, the Senior Minister of Science And Technology Tissa Witharana, German Ambassador in Sri Lanka Jens Plötner, and the Australian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Kathy Klugman were among the distinguished gathering at the inaugural session.

Full text of the speech:

Hon Vasudeva Nanayakkara
Minister of National Integration

Excellencies

Distinguished Guests

Friends

Let me first express my appreciation for your decision to make Sri Lanka the venue for this Ninth Conference on Language and Development, which is the first time that our country has been extended this opportunity. I believe at this time of our history, holding of this conference is significant.

In Sri Lanka, we are today talking the language of peace. I am sure that your decision to hold this conference in Colombo is further proof of the peace that prevails in our country after a long period of conflict, terror and immense hardship to our people. During the three decades of terror and mayhem that we experienced, not many wanted to come here. With the elimination of terrorism, the situation has drastically changed. Sri Lanka is becoming a destination for business, leisure and tranquility.

Language, as we all know, is a means of communication and understanding. However, our own experience shows that language can be an instrument of division and conflict, too. I am, therefore, pleased that this conference with its theme of “Language and Social Cohesion” will have special relevance to Sri Lanka, as it would also be of much value to other countries of the developing world.

My dear Friends,

Sri Lanka is at present implementing a policy that seeks to use language to bind our people together. We are committed to safeguarding the language rights of our people and also transforming Sri Lanka into a tri-lingual country with the use of English as a link language among our communities. English would also be the vehicle for our children to access knowledge as we envisage to become a knowledge hub in the region. Our primary focus however would be to ensure that people of this country, irrespective of their ethnicities will learn the main languages, Sinhalese and Tamil, to communicate with each other.

We are ready to learn from the advances of language teaching that can help the progress of pluralism in our society. We see the importance of language for economic development, especially in the improving of employment opportunities for our youth, the enabling of social mobility among our people, and opening the way for us to participate in the global economy.

In the field of education we see the important role that language can play in social integration. It is for this purpose that we have introduced new policies for teaching of English and Information Technology, to take the latest advances in knowledge and technology to all parts of our country.

In pursuance of this objective 2009 was declared as the year of English and IT, purely to give strong emphasis to the teaching and learning of these two vital areas of education. We look at English as a Life Skill that would enable our children to forge ahead in life and become global citizens.

We also see language playing a very important role in development of the arts. The fusion of languages, and through this the interaction of different cultures, enriches the cultural patterns and standards of arts in society.

I observe that there is a very distinguished list of participants at this conference, drawn from diverse fields of knowledge and experience in aspects of language. You have a very interesting agenda set out for your discussions. I strongly believe that your deliberations will bring about solutions to some of our long standing language issues.

I warmly welcome all foreign delegates to Sri Lanka and trust that you will take back with you the best memories of the friendship and hospitality of our people. I wish this conference every success.

May the Triple Gem Bless You. 

09:58 AM Tuesday October 18th, 2011

SL briefs Norway on reconciliation efforts

Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store that several billion rupees have been spent on infrastructure development and livelihood support and also for the programmes to uplift the quality of lives of the people of the North and East out of local funding.

The minister was leading a high level delegation to Oslo which also included Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa.

The visit was pursuant to the bi-lateral meeting between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

The ministerial delegation also had meetings with Erik Solheim, Minister of International Development and Environment and Morten Høglund representing the Leader of the Opposition and the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on the October 14, 2011.

The two Ministers were accompanied by Ambassador, Rodney M. Perera, , Deputy Chief of Mission C.V. Rajapakse and First Secretary of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Oslo Ms. Shani Calyaneratne-Karunaratne.

Immediately upon arrival in Oslo, the two ministers visited the Oslo Cathedral and paid floral tributes to the victims of the twin terror attacks of July 22, 2011.

The same evening, the ministers were hosted to dinner by the Norway - Sri Lanka Business Council.

The ministers briefed in detail to Norwegian Foreign Minister and his delegation with regard to the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts of the government of Sri Lanka with a special focus in the Northern Province. The ministers stated that several billion rupees have been spent on infrastructure development and livelihood support and also for the programs to uplift the quality of the lives of people in the North and East out of local funding.

The Sri Lankan delegation thanked the Norwegian Government for the assistance extended to Sri Lanka for some of these programmes.

They also briefed the Norwegian Foreign Minister that restrictions on fishing had been fully withdrawn and people in the Northern peninsula are happily engaged in agriculture and fisheries and other areas of livelihood fully thereby contributing to the national economy. The schools and the government buildings devastated as a result of terrorist activities have been rehabilitated in several areas and new schools and hospitals constructed to deliver a better service in the sphere of health and education.

The Sri Lankan delegation emphasized that the emergency regulations have been totally lifted and checkpoints and road blocks have been removed and people are free to travel to any part in the Northern Province without any restrictions.

In the area of reconciliation, the government of Sri Lanka has taken several commendable steps towards this process. More than 10,000 ex LTTE combatants have been rehabilitated and reintegrated in to the society after giving them vocational training. Currently there are only less than 800 former LTTE cadres under custody suspected to have been engaged in terrorist activities awaiting the conclusion of investigations.

The Indian government is assisting with a fifty thousand housing programme, already under way for the benefit of displaced persons.

Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva further informed the Norwegian delegation that, under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Rajiva Wijesinha M.P., Sajin Vas Gunawardena M.P. and himself have been engaged in a talks with a TNA delegation on various issues.

He also stressed that a motion has been submitted to Parliament for the purpose of establishing a parliamentary select committee to examine and report on these important issues.

The Sri Lankan delegation briefed the Norwegian side regarding several baseless allegations raised by some organizations and groups especially in the international arena and Sri Lanka’s stand in connection with those issues. The delegation informed the Foreign Minister that the LLRC report is due in mid November and Sri Lanka expects the international community to give space and time for Sri Lanka to complete its domestic mechanism without rushing into premature conclusions.

The Foreign Minister of Norway expressed the view that they too would await the release of the LLRC report.

The Sri Lankan delegation further briefed the Norwegian delegation that the Darusman report is based on hearsay information and that it is not an investigative or a reliable report that warrants any serious consideration. It was a report prepared by a panel to advise the UN Secretary General at his own request but with no inter-governmental sanction.

It was pointed out that Sri Lanka had requested the panel members, Amnesty International and other human rights organizations and any other interested organizations to furnish information and give evidence before the LLRC.

This request regrettably has not been honoured by these organizations including the Channel 4.

The Sri Lankan delegation raised their concerns regarding the double standards adopted by some countries and international organizations regarding the issue of accountability.

Minister Silva pointed out that although the LTTE has been banned in many countries including the European Union, Norway has not done so as Norway was the facilitator of the Peace Process some time ago. As Norway is no more playing the facilitator’s role, the minister requested the Norwegian government to consider listing the LTTE as a terrorist organization in Norway.

Dutch authorities have already embarked upon a criminal investigation into the LTTE terror network in the Netherlands with connections to some elements in Norway.

The minister thanked the Norwegian authorities for the co-operation extended to these investigations and emphasized that further co-operation is needed to unearth the illegal activities of the LTTE. He urged that Norwegian soil should not be a breeding ground for the re-grouping of the LTTE to carry out terrorist activities detrimental to Sri Lanka’s national interests.

The Sri Lankan delegation pointed out that the reference made by Anders Berring Breivik, the Norwegian perpetrator responsible for twin attacks of terror on July 22, 2011, to the LTTE in his manifesto is another clear example of the potential influence of terror organizations on such other groups and individuals.

Therefore banning such organizations would be beneficial to security and stability of both countries. The minister brought to the notice of the Norwegian Foreign Minister.

The ministers also welcomed the keen interest taken by the Norway-Sri Lanka Business Match Making Programme and were confident this would bring new investment to Sri Lanka, as well as build a broader business relationship with the Norwegian Business Community. The delegation also appreciated the cultural cooperation programme that is currently under way between Norway and Sri Lanka.

09:57 AM Tuesday October 18th, 2011