China is keen on Sri Lanka

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's son Yoshitha Rajapaksa and four others, who were arrested on charges of money laundering, were further remanded today till March 24 by the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court. Navy Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa and the other four suspects were taken into custody for questioning on January 30 over alleged irregularities committed in dealings at the private television channel Carlton Sports Network (CSN).

Two of the suspects arrested by the police in connection with the killing of an eagle in an inhumane manner were ordered to be remanded till March 24 by the Galle Additional Magistrate Kesara Samaradiwakara today. Habaraduwa Police arrested the suspects aged 40 at Kaduruduwa in Galle on Wednesday night under the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance, police said. Initial investigations have revealed that the incident had occurred close to the Pabagala Bridge in the Habaraduwa police area.

At least 40 kilograms of gold that was seized from the LTTE at the end of the war remain unaccounted for, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today. He said the army had recovered 150 kilograms of gold in total of which 30 kilograms or 31,150.34 grams of gold valued at Rs 131 million was handed to the Central Bank. This jewelry had been valued by the Gem and Jewelry Authority of Sri Lanka and handed over to the bank on 28 occasions between September 2010 and January 2012.

With President Maithripala Sirisena at the helm in Sri Lanka, this is the best opportunity to bring about a lasting solution to the country

A Ministerial delegation from Sri Lanka has left for China to boost ties between both countries, Sri Lanka

UN Human Rights High Commissioner Zeid Al Hussein is scheduled to make an announcement on Sri Lanka at the 31st session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Thursday, one time government envoy to the UN, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said yesterday.At a media briefing at the Government Information Department, he said the High Commissioner had not yet made any statement or announcement on Sri Lanka during the 31st session which began on February 29.

Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has been appointed as the UPFA General Secretary, party sources said. The decision was taken at the UPFA Executive Committee meeting which was held today with the participation of President Maithripala Sirisena. He was appointed to the position which was left vacant after the demise of Prof. Vishwa Warnapala.

Homagama Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake yesterday ordered the Army Commander to hand over all documents belonging to Sri Lanka Army in connection with the investigations into the abduction of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.The Army Commander was also ordered not to destroy the documents maintained at Giritale Army camp where Ekneligoda is suspected to have been detained.The Magistrate issued this order after considering a request by ASP Shani Abeysekera of the Criminal Investigation Department. The CID filed a further report containing eight pages with regard to the ongoing investigations.

Apparently security agencies in the country are up in arms over the rise in crime in the country and the dearth of trained and professional security guards. Nepalese, who had been recruited earlier to work in security-related jobs have stopped showing interest in coming to Malaysia. Meanwhile the recent proposal by the Ministry of Home Affairs to recruit former Sri Lankan soldiers to work as security guards here has been welcomed by the Crime Prevention Network Association (NPNA).

The UN says it will look into allegations that one of its staff members was abducted and tortured when he served in Sri Lanka. Responding to a question posed by Innercity Press, Farhan Haq the Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the UN has a duty to all staff members to make sure that their basic rights are respected.

The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday said it would call for international investments and assistance to develop the formerly war-torn areas in the country.Niroshan Perera, state minister of national policy, said the government would convene a donor conference in 2016 to seek technical and financial assistance for the war-torn regions and has requested Japan to take the lead, Xinhua reported. "When the prime minister visited Japan, he requested the government to take the lead. They have been organising that. Hopefully, we will have it in the middle of the year," Perera said.

Gampaha district UPFA MP Prasanna Ranatunga said the anti-government campaign cannot be blunted by his removal from the party organiser post in Minuwangoda because the government would be definitely toppled within the next two years. Addressing a meeting of the Minuwangoda SLFP Balamandalaya at his Udugampola house, he said he would never shelve his people-friendly political campaign however much he was removed from party posts or positions.Ranatunga said he would join hands with Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Common Opposition and give leadership to topple the government within the next two years.

The order on the bail revision applications filed on behalf of Yoshitha Rajapaksa and four others was fixed for March 14 by Colombo High Court Judge A.A.R. Heiyanthuduwa today.The date was fixed after considering the submissions made by the petitioners and the respondents.Counsel Gamini S. Marapana submitted counter arguments on behalf of the petitioners while Senior State Counsel Thusith Mudalige appeared for the respondents.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed in parliament today that the Value Added Tax (VAT) should be increased to 15 per cent considering the current global economic situation and shortcomings in the methodology of collecting tax. The Prime Minister making a special statement in parliament said that tax concessions granted on Telecommunication services, private education and health services would be removed. He said VAT would not be imposed on Essential commodities and electricity while it would be imposed only on selected non essential commodities.

Relatives of disappeared persons and prisoners who are still remanded under Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) commenced a hunger strike at Muniyappan Temple in Jaffna today demanding their early release before the Tamil Sinhala New Year in April. The strike which was organized by Mannar Citizens Committee along with Sri Lankan People Front movement was attended by local politicians, civil society organizations and members of the clergy.

President's Counsel Romesh De Silva, Chairman of the Law Commission told Ceylon Today that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which was amended so as to protect human rights was handed over by the Commission to Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana Dr. Wijedasa Rajapaksa. President's Counsel De Silva also said in addition, the amended Act was also sent to Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera and Minister of Strategic Development and International Trade Affairs Malik Samarawickrema.

The TNA held a meeting at the opposition leader

Two persons were arrested by the Navy when they attempted to smuggle out 6.94 Kg of gold worth Rs. 34.5 million to India yesterday at Madugal, Jaffna. Navy Spokesman Captain Akram Alavi said the suspects were attempting to transport the gold in a fishing boat disguised as fishermen.

President Maithipala Sirisena has directed the Police and the Army to formulate a combined action plan to eradicate the underworld. President stressed that maximum possible measures should be taken in accordance with laws of the country in the wake of a spate of attacks in Colombo and its suburbs as well as other parts of the country.

Secretary to the Agriculture Ministry B. Wijerathne today mistakenly addressed President Maithripala Sirisena as former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in his welcome address at the

The much talked about and possibly most controversial incident related to the war known as the

Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GMSB) said a minor tremor has been recorded in Balangoda, a short while ago. The GMSB said the tremor was lesser than 2 magnitudes recorded in Imbulpe, Mahawathenna and Weligepola areas according to the Pallekele Seismic Station. However, the Disaster Management Centre said no damages have been reported.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for a cautious approach to the proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ECTA) with India. Rajapaksa said that neither the Parliament, nor the general public have been officially informed about the contents of this proposed agreement.

The Government says it has the backing of all UN Hyman Rights Council (UNHRC) member countries including those who opposed Sri Lanka when the former Government was in power. State Minister of Finance Mahinda Samarasinghe said that Sri Lanka cannot go forward by having close links only with a few countries.He said Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Defence officials are dumbfounded as to how a tape recording of missing journalist Prageeth Ekanaligoda, which was only in the hands of the military, has now appeared on some websites. Last year the military had claimed that there was a tape recording of a conversation between Ekanaligoda and the LTTE and later that tape recording was handed over to the Homagama Magistrate. The tape recording of the alleged conversation between Ekanaligoda and the LTTE was handed over to the court during the last hearing on the disappearance of Eknaligoda.

Swiss non-governmental groups say it is still too early for asylum seekers to go back to Sri Lanka. Around 50,000 people from Sri Lanka live in Switzerland, mostly Tamils, who fled the island

President Maithripala Sirisena spoke over the phone with the child in Kuliyapitiya, who was denied a school due to HIV/AIDS rumors. He assured that the government will intervene and make sure the child gets a school.The President spoke to the child over through the phone of Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake who visited the village today. The Deputy Minister also met with the villagers.

Indian High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha yesterday castigated the Joint Opposition for on-going protests against the proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA). Sinha also expressed disappointment and surprise at the role played by former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa in the growing protest campaign. The Indian High Commissioner was addressing a workshop on