Sri Lanka ex-army chief faces new trial

COLOMBO — Sri Lanka's former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka was brought before the Colombo High Court on Thursday to answer charges of provoking violence.

Fonseka, who already faces two courts martial and two more criminal cases, was taken before a three-member "trial-at-bar" for the first time and charged, his attorney said.

"The main charge is inciting people to violence," lawyer Nalin Laduwahetti said. Some 20 witnesses will be called during the next hearing, on September 27.

The trial-at-bar dispenses with the normal practice of trial by jury, and is normally used by the state to fast-track legal proceedings in high-profile cases. If convicted, Fonseka could be jailed for five to 20 years. Read more...

Private TV station torched in Sri Lanka capital

COLOMBO — Unidentified attackers set fire to a private television station in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo Friday after smashing editing equipment, police said.

About a dozen men stormed the Siyatha television studious in Colombo and exploded a petrol bomb after systematically destroying equipment inside the news room studios, a journalist from the station said. Read more...

Sri Lanka could play a regional role in Islamic finance

Sri Lanka could issue Islamic finance sovereign bonds or 'Sukuks' and take the lead in becoming a regional centre for Islamic financial services which other countries with less experience are aiming for, an official said.

Sri Lankan Ministers Promoting Tourism In Japan

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa have expressed their desire to invite a team of Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) officials to Sri Lanka and experience first-hand the present situation.

Sri Lankan Opposition Party Activist Dies After Setting Himself on Fire

A 60-year-old activist of Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) died Tuesday morning after setting himself on fire near the party headquarters.

Rienzie Algama, a father of three and a UNP supporter for more than 20 years, died of severe burns around midnight on Tuesday.

“I was able to speak with him at the hospital,” said UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya. “He was conscious at that time. With tear-filled eyes he said ‘I made this sacrifice to set an example to create unity among our party members. If we continue in this manner, the party has no future.’” Read more...

S Lankan stocks hit record high

Sri Lanka’s stock exchange hit a record high Tuesday as the economy benefits from the end last year to nearly four decades of ethnic bloodshed.

Sri Lanka Keells Food trims Indian costs, cuts losses

Sri Lanka's Keells Foods Products said its lost 5.0 million in the June 2010 quarter down from 8.6 million rupees a year earlier and its Indian distribution unit was being wound down in favour of an agency to cut costs.
Consolidated revenues rose 16 percent to 479.6 million rupees in the June quarter, the firm, which is a unit of John Keells Holdings said in a stock exchange filing.
In the year to March 2010 the firm lost 146 million rupees mostly on write-down at its Indian unit. Keells Food set up its own distribution unit in India following increased demand for its products in South India and the growth of self service supermarkets. Read more...

PCB yet to submit incident report on Lahore attack - ICC

The PCB has yet to submit to the ICC an incident report on the terror attacks on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore last year, after which there has been no international cricket in the country.

The attacks took place in March 2009 as the tourists were on their way to Gaddafi Stadium and eight people were killed.

Kumar keeps Sri Lanka in control

Kumar Sangakkara notched up a magnificent double hundred to ensure Sri Lanka's iron grip at the end of the morning session on day two of the second Test against India at Colombo.

Resuming their first innings at 312 for two, Sangakkara's 214 - along with an unbeaten 71 from Mahela Jayawardene - helped the hosts reach 457 for two at the lunch break.

India struggled to get any movement off a lifeless SSC pitch as both batsmen made light work of the bowling attack, especially during the spin overs.

Former Sri Lankan president denounces the government

Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has launched one of her most outspoken attacks against the government.

She accused it of "completely forgetting the legacy" of her mother, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world's first woman prime minister.

She said it was also wrong to ignore her accession to power 60 years ago.

No-one from the government was available to respond to her allegations. Read more...