Sri Lanka, Pakistan to enhance ties in ports and shipping sector

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June 20, Islamabad: Sri Lanka and Pakistan have discussed enhancing the bilateral relations in the between the two countries in the ports and shipping sector. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka not meeting minimum standards for elimination of human trafficking - US report

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June 20, Washington, DC: Although the Government of Sri Lanka is making significant efforts to eliminate human trafficking it does not fully comply with the minimum standards and failed to demonstrate evidence of increasing overall efforts to address human trafficking last year, a US report on human trafficking said. Read the Full Article

Australia’s full support for Sri Lanka to host Commonwealth summit

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June 19, Canberra: Australia has pledged full support to Sri Lanka to host a successful Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this year, the External Affairs Ministry said today. Read the Full Article

Student stabs female faculty member in Sri Lanka for refusing to accept late assignment

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June 19, Colombo: A law student of Sri Lanka's Open University in Colombo has stabbed the Head of the Department of Legal Studies at the University, the police said. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka’s main opposition begins distributing its draft constitution to scholars and other parties

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June 19, Colombo: The main opposition of Sri Lanka, United National Party today commenced distributing its draft constitution to scholars and other political parties for review. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka MP Dumindha Silva attends parliament after 18 months of absence

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June 19, Colombo: Sri Lanka ruling party parliamentarian Dumindha Silva, who was seriously injured in a shootout in October 2011, arrived in Parliament today after an 18-month long absence. Read the Full Article

SriLankan signs contract to buy 10 Airbus jets for US$ 2.6 billion

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June 19, Colombo: Sri Lanka's national carrier, SriLankan Airlines has signed a contract to purchase 10 Airbus planes in a US$ 2.6 billion deal, the airline said Wednesday at an air show in Paris. Read the Full Article

Most child workers in Sri Lanka are below the age of 14, statistics reveal

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June 19, Colombo: The Labour Department of Sri Lanka says that a majority of the child laborers are below the age of 14 and also most of them are girls. Read the Full Article

Students’ Union accuses Sri Lankan government of suppressing student activists

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June 19, Colombo: A student union affiliated to Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) says the government is engaged in suppressing student activists as part of its policy to curtail the free education system in the country. Read the Full Article

Main opposition of Sri Lanka mulls boycotting PSC to discuss constitutional amendments

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June 19, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) is considering to boycott the proposed Parliament Select Committee (PSC) to discuss amendment to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka to brief diplomats on proposed constitutional amendments

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June 19, Colombo: The External Affairs Ministry of Sri Lanka will brief the diplomatic community in the country about the proposed changes to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Read the Full Article

US$ 4 billion special zone for heavy industries at Sampur in Eastern Sri Lanka to proceed

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June 19, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government will proceed with the setting up of a special zone for heavy industries at Sampur in Trincomalee district of Eastern Sri Lanka. Read the Full Article

Sri Lankan court subpoenas ruling party MP over comment made on missing journalist

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June 19, Colombo: A Sri Lankan court today issued summons on governing party parliamentarian Arundika Fernando to come before court to make a statement on a comment made by him in parliament about missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka committed to be a champion in the AIDS response

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June 19, Colombo: Sri Lanka is committed to be "a champion in the AIDS response" towards achieving zero new HIV/AIDS infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths, the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa said. Read the Full Article

Indian PM dismayed over Sri Lanka’s plans to dilute 13th Amendment

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June 19, Colombo: The Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is "dismayed" over the Sri Lankan government's plans to dilute certain key provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, India's External Affairs Ministry said Tuesday. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka’s proposed media code threatens free speech - Humans Rights Watch

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June 19, Colombo: The new media code proposed by the Sri Lankan government is part of a sustained campaign to control the media and curtail dissent, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka Navy arrests 80 illegal migrants bound for Australia

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June 19, Colombo: Sri Lanka Navy Wednesday intercepted and arrested 80 illegal migrants bound for Australia in the seas off the eastern coast. Read the Full Article

Petition with million signatures to strip land and police powers to PCs handed over to Sri Lankan President

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June 18, Colombo: A petition with signatures of million people against holding the Northern Provincial Council election without amending the land and police powers was handed over to the Sri Lankan President today. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka’s senior police officer arrested for contract killing terminated

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June 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka Police Media Spokesman AP Buddhika Siriwardena said that the arrested Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Vaas Gunawardena has been stripped off of his rank and employment. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka President tells legislators no foreign tours from next month, focus on elections

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June 18, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed all ministers and MPs of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to cancel their foreign tours to devote time for the upcoming Provincial Council elections, government sources said. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka invests 5.9 percent of GDP in public projects last year

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June 18, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has spent 5.9 percent of country's GDP as public investment in 2012 to provide major services despite a shortfall in the revenues, the Finance and Planning Ministry said in its 2012 report. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka nationalist party introduces bill to abolish PC system

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June 18, Colombo: An ally of Sri Lanka's governing party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today introduced a bill to abolish the provincial council system enacted by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1987. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka parliament passes bill to ensure voting rights of displaced people

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June 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka parliament today passed a bill to ensure the voting rights of the displaced people in the North. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka opposition party members of Balapitiya PS wear black bands to protest attack on UNP leader

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June 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) members of the Balapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha participated in the council session today wearing black arm bands to protest the attack on the UNP convoy that visited the area to attend the funerals of the fishermen died in the storms. Read the Full Article

Sri Lanka police arrest two suspects in Colombo Port fire

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June 18, Colombo: The Colombo Crimes Division of Sri Lanka police has arrested two suspects in the last month's fire at the Colombo Port, Police Media Spokesperson SP Buddhika Siriwardena told local media. Read the Full Article