The Jaffna Music Festival

Galle Music festival BnS crowd raisers

1st & 2nd March 2013

The Jaffna Music Festival returns to Jaffna Municipal grounds in March 2013. This time around the festival will host aneclectic array of music – including folk, contemporary and classical to name a few. This is a sister event of the GalleMusic Festival, which attracted an audience of over 22,000 people over two days in 2012.The Jaffna festival promises tobe as exhilarating as the Galle festival bringing together an exciting line up of musicians, dancers, performers and ritualists.On the 1st and 2nd March 2013, the Jaffna Municipal Grounds will be bursting with a combination of vibrant music, colour and culture. 



The festival itself will be a celebration of the unique and fascinating history, heritage, diversity and talent
that Sri Lanka has to offer. Joining the exciting line up of local artists will be a line-up of International performers.

The local and International artists will lead simultaneous performances on Friday and Saturday from 09.00am –12.00noon followed by a main stage performance from 05.00pm – 10.30pm daily.

The morning programme will showcase simultaneous performances on four individual stages dedicated to Folk,Classical, Contemporary and Children’s items. These stages will provide a unique and informal setting by which festival goers will be encouraged to have a personally engaging experience with performances. There will be opportunities for audiences to gather information about the historical and musical significance of items and instruments and to join in on the festivities.

The morning programme will also feature music workshops primarily geared at further engaging and educating students from national universities. Festival goers who are keen on discussing and understanding the rich history and diversity behind particular performances and instruments are also welcomed and encouraged to engage in the workshops organized during the day.

The list of artists under the following categories are:

Folk:

Marai Kaatha Maaveerar - (Pasiyoor, Jaffna)
Pakkeer Baith – (Ampara)
Paparavahan Koothu – (Chulipuram, Jaffna)
Parai Mela Koothu - (Mulliyawalai & Kanakarayan Kulam, Mullaithivu)
Ritual Songs of Batticaloa- (Batticaloa)
Sanni Yakuma – (Benthara)
Vezhalam Padutha Veerankani – (Mulliyawalai, Mullaithivu)

Classical Groups

Colombo Brass Ensemble
Mangala Isai- Nathaswaram, Thavil
Natharanjanee (Carnatic vocal ensemble)
Oriental Music Orchestra
Phoolan Devi Opera (Gayathri Khemadasa opera project)
Traditions Meet (Sangeetha Sangamam) (Veteran Hindustani and Carnatic musicians combine)

Contemporary Groups

Naadro (Percussion)
Ranwala Brigade (Folk Fusion)
Ravibandu Vidyapathi Drum Ensemble
Sapthami
The Musicmatters Collective (Improvisational Jazz)

International Groups

Bangladesh
Brazil
India
Norway
Palestine

As a part of the pre-festival empowerment programme various village level-performances will take place in Muliyavali,Mullathivue and Pasiyoor, Jaffna on the 9th and 10th February 2013. These pre-festival performances will feature the recently revived Northern Folk groups and will serve as an opportunity for local groups to both showcase their unique heritage and revive community awareness and support for these near extinct folk forms.

As at the past festivals, the Jaffna Music Festival will serve as a much needed meeting place for local and internationalv artists and provide a forum where they can share, exchange, fuse and interact with other artists. Northern and Southern artists and audiences will have the opportunity to experience and interact with artists from the north, east, south and west and be introduced a diverse array of musical genres.

The aim of the Jaffna Music Festival is not only to showcase the diverse traditions and musical genres from around the island. It is also geared to specifically introduce these musical styling’s to school children and young people in order to further stimulate their awareness and interest in the performing arts. The festival also looks towards reviving Jaffna’s historical status as a hub of arts and culture. As a parallel part of this venture, the festival will also showcase an array of unique traditional local cuisines to provide a holistically authentic experience for audiences.

In collaboration with Rikskonsertene (Concerts Norway) and Aru Sri Art Theatre, Sewalanka Foundation presents the Jaffna Music Festival 2013. The Festival is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This time around the festival will be conducted in co-partnership with the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and The Municipal Council of Jaffna. The exclusive electronic media partners for this event are Shakthi TV and Sirasa TV.

This event is a part of a larger nonprofit Music Cooperation Program that is established with the objective to stimulate the musical performing arts of Sri Lanka, by providing for exchange while preserving the traditional Sri Lankan musical expressions.

There will be no entrance fee for this event.

Sri Lanka to host World Summit Award 2013

Sri Lanka to host World Summit Award 2013

eContent Award 2013

Sri Lanka will proudly host the Arab eContent Award 2013."The Winners’ events and experts’ conference will be hosted by Sri Lanka in October 2013 and I want to thank the Government of Sri Lanka and particularly ICTA the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka for hosting us in Colombo.

WSA has a network of 164 UN member States and is clearly one of the most successful multi-stakeholder activities in the UN WSIS process," Dr. Peter Bruck said

"I consider the WSA initiative to be highly important because it presents and supports the highest quality in e-Content production in the world and it fits with the priority focus of developing countries on the creative use of ICTs for the development and the future of the information society", ICTA CEO Reshan Dewapura said at the WSA Mobile Award Event in Abu Dhabi.

 "The winners’ conference cum exhibition is an excellent international showcase of the diversity and creativity of Sri Lanka’s e-Content," he added.

What is WSA

The World Summit Award (WSA) is a global activity to select and promote the world's best e-Content and most innovative ICT applications. It offers a worldwide platform for all who value the creative use of ICTs and who are committed to making today’s information society more inclusive.

A statement on commonwealth conference from commonwealth secretariat on 13 feb 2013

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma

Commonwealth Summit 2013

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma made statements regarding Sri Lanka as a host venue of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled for November 2013. The Secretariat’s Official Spokesperson Richard Uku stated on the official website that only statement issued by the Commonwealth Secretariat was the one issued by him on February 10, 2013 announcing the Secretary-General’s visit to Sri Lanka. 

however he stated that another statement will be released on February 13 following Kamalesh Sharma’s visit to Sri Lanka. Full statement: Contrary to some media reports, Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has not made any statements today with regard to Sri Lanka as host venue of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 2013.

The Spokesperson’s statement indicated that Mr Sharma will be in Colombo to discuss matters of shared interest between Sri Lanka and the Commonwealth, including November’s Heads of Government Meeting. It indicated that he will review organisational preparations for CHOGM and discuss possible outcomes that Sri Lanka and Commonwealth leaders will want to achieve at the summit. The Spokesperson’s 10 February statement also indicated that Mr Sharma is expected to discuss, among other issues, options for advancing Commonwealth values and principles, including the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs states that the aim of the visit of Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma is to discuss the organisational activities of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit. There will be a statement at the end of the Secretary-General’s visit to Sri Lanka on Wednesday, 13 February. 

Lalith de silva to lead Sri Lanka Telecom as its new group CEO

Lalith De Silva SLT new CEO

Sri Lanka Telecom New CEO‎ 

Sri Lanka Telecom(SLT), the national telecommunications provider, proudly announces the appo­intment of Mr. Lalith De Silva as the new Group Chief Executive Officer with effect from 7th February 2013. De Silva’s position as the Group CEO will see him overlooking the SLT Group Companies excluding Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd. A veteran in IT & Telecommunications, Mr. De Silva has held the position of CEO of Mobitel (Pvt) Limited since 2011 and has also functioned as Director/CEO of Mobitel subsequent to Mobitel’s acquisition by SLT in 2002.

He also served as an Advisor to the Chairman of SLT from 2002 to 2004 and thus possesses a deep knowledge of the group’s operations. Mr. De Silva is ideally positioned to chart the future course of one of Sri Lanka’s most valued brands going ahead. Commenting on his appointment to one of the most coveted and respected positions in Sri Lanka’s corporate sector, Mr. De Silva said: “I am delighted to serve my country as the first local CEO, post privatization in 1997, of our nation’s most trusted flagship telecommunication provider.

I am committed to adding immense value in my new role to better serve my country and the ICT industry. SLT is perhaps one of the most dynamic and innovative companies in Sri Lanka and I am enthused by the challenge of taking it to the next level. The company’s 150­year ­old heritage reflects its deep roots amongst the people of this nation and we hope to thank the people and our partners for their trust and loyalty by rolling out some path­breaking ICT innovations in the near future to enrich their lives and businesses even further. 

I hope to build and add value to the good work that the former CEO of SLT started and I am cognizant of the extremely dynamic and experienced team SLT possesses. We will work together to consolidate the SLT Group’s premier position in Sri Lanka.” The experienced telecommunications professional brings with him three decades of extensive international private sector experience in telecommunications and other business industries. 

His wide­ranging experience has been garnered at IBM in Sri Lanka and Australia and at Saudi Telecom. In the past he has functioned as an advisor to SLT, a Consultant / Board Director at SriLankan Airlines and a Senior Advisor at Saudi Telecom. Mr. De Silva also has the distinction of being the Founder Chairman and President/Chairman of the Project Management Institute of the Sri Lankan Chapter from 2004 to 2009. A graduate in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering, he is also a Fellow Member of the Institute of Management Consultants,UK.

Sri Lanka and Iran ready to expand bilateral ties in all fields

Sri Lanka and Iran ready to expand bilateral ties in all fields

"We are prepared to expand bilateral ties in all fields"

Sri Lanka and Iran enjoy abundant potentials and capacities for developing their all-out relations,the Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has said.Salehi described the relations between Tehran and Colombo as “very good”. He voiced Iran’s readiness to boost ties with the South Asian nation, and stated, “The two countries enjoy high capacities in trade, economy, health and culture … and we are prepared to expand bilateral ties in all fields.”

During the meeting, the Sri Lankan diplomat submitted a copy of his credentials to Salehi, and voiced his country’s preparedness to further bolster cooperation with Tehran given Iran’s important role in the region.

The two sides have agreed to increase ties more than ever before during a meeting between the Foreign Minister and the Sri Lankan Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiyutheen when he led an economic delegation to Teheran in December 2012.

Vehicle registration increased in Sri Lanka

Vehicle registration increased in Sri Lanka

"Over 45,000 vehicles were registered"

Vehicle registrations has increased Sri Lanka in the first month of this year, Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic, H.S. Harischandra said.He noted that close to 30,000 vehicles were registered in January 2013.

The number of vehicles registered in the first eleven months of last year dropped by 22.7% when compared to the same period in 2011.Commissioner General of Motor Traffic S.H. Harischandra said that although over 45,000 vehicles were registered last month before the import tax was increased, the number later dropped to 24,000.

The registration of cars reduced significantly by 70%.

Sri Lankan convicted of practicing ‘black magic’

Sri Lankan convicted of practicing ‘black magic’

black magic

A Sri Lankan domestic worker was sentenced to one in year jail and 100 lashes following a conviction for practicing "black magic" among his friends in Riyadh.


The accused was Premanath Pereralage Thungasiri, who was working as a house driver in a Saudi home. An embassy official, who had met Thungasiri in jail, said that Thungasiri had been booked by police in the Ummul Hammam district on charges of black magic and for violating local regulations by meeting an unknown woman, which is against Saudi law,Sri Lankan Embassy sources said.

The arrest was made in May when Thungasiri had visited another Saudi’s house to resolve a dispute involving a housemaid there. He said the maid was his relative, and during the dispute police arrested him.

Thungasiri has a wife, daughter and son at home in Padiyatalawe, 200 kilometers from Colombo.According to a jail official, Thungasiri will complete the one-year jail term this May.


Recently a Sri Lankan woman was arrested on suspicion of practicing witchcraft after she allegedly gazed at a child in a shopping complex while wearing a black cord around her wrist, the report said.
The organization accused the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment of not educating Sri Lankan workers traveling to Saudi Arabia on the country’s religious laws.The diplomat also stressed millions of foreign workers who come to the Kingdom for employment are expected to abide by the host country’s regulations. 

Coca-Cola marks 5th Year of PET Collection and Recycling Project

The PET Collection Bin being handed over to
 Duleep Wijesekara (MP) – Deputy Minister of Disaster 
Management and Priyanthi Samaraweera, Principal,
WP/KE/Sapugaskanda Vishaka Balika Vidyalaya
 by Nilanthi Jayatillake – Country HR Manager,
Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited.

“Give Back Life”

Coca-Cola announced the launch of the next phase of its PET collection and recycling project, a part of its on-going community development and environmental conservation campaign “Give Back Life”. Launched in 2008, the “Give Back Life” project has been responsible for the collection and recycling of over 9 tons of PET plastics. This year, Coca-Cola is celebrating the 5^th year of this ground breaking project by launching a community based PET collection programme across 28 schools in Biyagama.

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited in partnership with the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), the Biyagama Education Division and Kalhari Enterprises are taking the mission one step further by taking steps to conserve the environment, by inculcating the habit of recycling among school children.

The program involves children from participating schools collecting PET plastics and on the last Thursday of every month, designated as 'PET Day', Kalhari Enterprises will visit the schools to collect the accumulated PET waste. Coca-Cola will provide PET Day collection bins, date calendars and stickers to the participating schools. 

As an added incentive, Kalhari will pay Rs.30/= per kilo of PET collected. This money will be credited directly to the schools development fund on a quarterly basis and will be used to fund school development activities and student welfare projects.

The first PET Day collection bin was handed over to Duleep Wijesekara (MP) – Deputy Minister of Disaster Management and Priyanthi Samaraweera, Principal, WP/KE/Sapugaskanda Vishaka Balika Vidyalaya. Present on the occasion from Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited were Nilanthi Jayatillake - Country Human Resource Manager, along with Divisional Director of Education for the Biyagama Education Division K.K. Renuka P. Edirisinghe and the School Principals of the Biyagama Education Division.

Speaking at the event, Nilanthi Jayatillake, Country Human Resource Manager, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited said, “Coca-Cola believes in giving back to the communities in which we operate. The PET recycling project “Give Back Life” was designed to manage the growing quantity of PET bottle waste in Sri Lanka. Over the last five years we have seen the project grow from strength to strength and we thank our friends in the CEA for their dedication and support. This project in Biyagama marks a new goal for us – the inclusion and empowerment of school children, and having worked with the people of Biyagama over the last couple of years we are confident that the PET Day school development project will be a resounding success.”

Nilanthi Jayatillake also thanked project partner Kalhari Enterprises “Our partnership with Kalhari is based on professional trust and two common goals - save our environment and empower the younger generation. We salute the enthusiasm with which they have embraced this project”.

Coca-Cola is focused on sustainability and undertakes many projects in various parts of Sri Lanka to provide flood relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes to the people of the area. Last year, the company organized a an inter school PET collection competition with Sir Rob Swan, OBE- a Polar explorer, motivational speaker and environmental leader who was in Sri Lanka to support Coca Cola's sustainability initiatives.

Coca-Cola in Sri Lanka

Coca-Cola in Sri Lanka refreshes thousands of consumers throughout the country with an exciting range of beverages including Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light, Sprite, Fanta Orange, Fanta Portello, Fanta Cream Soda, Lion Soda, Lion Tonic Water, Lion Gingerale, Lion Ginger Beer, Schweppes Tonic Water, Minute Maid Orange, Minute Maid Mango and Minute Maid Apple. The Coca-Cola system in Sri Lanka employs more than 400 people. Coca-Cola undertakes a number of community development and sustainability projects like the Coca-Cola Cricket Pathways to promote healthy active living, and identify grassroots cricketing talent. It also undertakes sanitation and clean drinking water projects in partnership with organizations like UNDP, Habitat for Humanity,

Sri Lanka Celebrates 65th Independence Day

Sri Lanka Celebrates 65th Independence Day

65th Independence Day

Sri Lanka celebrated the 65 years of independence day in Trincomalee in the Eastern Province.under the theme Prosperous motherland and an affluent tomorrow. Over 4000 invitees including members of the diplomatic corps and foreign embassies attended the event.



All citizens of the country have the right to live in peace and harmony, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa said addressing the nation. He added that Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims are living together in peace in the South and East. “Trincomalee is a good example for this.” Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that separating the country according to race or religion is not practical.

He further emphasized that not only the government but the opposition too has to protect the country’s independence.

Mass Media and Information Ministry sources said over 3,000 personnel representing the three Armed Forces, Police, Civil Security Department, National Cadet Corps and National Youth Corps has participated in the National Day parade followed by a cultural pageant comprising 860 artistes belonging to 16 cultural groups.

This is the third time that the holiday is celebrated in Trincomalee, the first was 1953 and the second was in 1965.

UNP challenges Govt. to hold referendum

UNP challenges Govt. to hold referendum

UNP party achieved a 60% target...

Sri Lanka main opposition, United National Party(UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe challenged the government to hold a referendum if possible to obtain public views whether the Rajapaksa regime should continue.opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe made this observation today while addressing the maiden ceremony of the Galle District UNP propaganda members’ ceremony.
The opposition leader alleged the government’s latest attempt was to hold a referendum to extend the term of the parliament. He asked the party activists to go to the villages and tell the masses to vote for the pot if they want the country and the nation to survive, or else to vote for the lamp if they wanted to see them destroyed.
Meanwhile General Secretary of the UNP MP Thissa Aththanayeke noted that the party had achieved a 60% target at present with regard to the enrolment of party propaganda members.

UK to support the planned procedural resolution

UK to support the planned procedural resolution

Mr. Burt Opens Sri Lanka Youth Reconciliation Trust Fund 

Visiting Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for South Asia Alistair Burt said yesterday that his country would support the planned procedural resolution by the United States on Sri Lanka at next month’s session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Addressing a seminar, Mr. Burt,  referred to a wide range of issues. While acknowledging progress made by Sri Lanka in the post war period, he was critical of some matters including the impeachment of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Alistair Burt`s  first journey was to Mullaitheevu . He opened the Sri Lanka Youth Reconciliation Trust Fund at Mullaiyawalai.
From Vavuniya Manickfarm welfare center, he proceeded to Keppilavu Sooriyapuram forest locality and observed personally the state of resettled people.

He personally heard the people’s problems who are resettled without any basic facilities. During that time, the people revealed their anguish to the Minister.

Without providing any basic facilities, we were brought here and we are in a chaotic condition. We are facing critical crisis to attend to our daily lives.

Women and children are severely affected without transport, education and health facilities. None attend to our requirements was notified by the Keppilavu people to the British External Affairs Minister.

Minister closely heard the people’s pleas, and carefully observed the situation.  A large amount of intelligence forces were deployed in the vicinity at the time Minister visited  Keppilavu locality.



 

Middle East’s Leading Jobsite, Bayt.com, Now Catering to Sri Lanka

Bayt.com

The leading online recruitment website

Bayt.com, the Middle East’s leading jobsite, announced today that they have signed an Authorized Reseller Agreement with The Amazai Group, an integrated solutions provider based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Amazai Group will start providing Bayt.com’s premium solutions for both employers and jobseekers in Sri Lanka. 
Bayt.com is the leading online recruitment website in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region) today and look forward to expand their global presence. With almost 10 million registered job seekers (January 2013), the jobsite represents all career levels, industries, job roles and nationalities. Bayt.com works with over 40,000 companies, from small businesses to large multi-nationals and governments, to help them to successfully attract and recruit qualified professionals every day.
Suhail Masri, VP of Sales at Bayt.com, commented on the partnership: "Our mission at Bayt.com is to empower people with the tools and knowledge to build their lifestyle of choice. We are very pleased to be partnering with The Amazai Group, which complements our mission by reaching out to even more number of people. Partnering with The Amazai Group to market our products and services places both the parties in a win-win situation. The relationship will open a new market for us and will allow us to leverage their local expertise, while we bring our own experience of 13 years to Sri Lankan employers and professionals.”

Rabea_ataya Bayt.com

About Bayt.com
Bayt.com is the largest and most relevant community of professionals interested in the MENA region, with over 10,000,000 registered jobseekers and 40,000 employers. Bayt.com has 11 regional offices, more than 200 staff and a 13-year track record of successfully matching the region's top talent with top employment opportunities at every career level, in every industry.

The Amazai Group Chairman/CEO Omer Fareed said the group is also proud and privileged to exclusively partner with Bayt.com as the Authorized Reseller for Sri Lanka: “This new partnership with Bayt.com will allow us at Amazai to contribute back in a meaningful way to our communities and customers.  We will also round out our capabilities and abilities to serve clients the best possible. Indeed, Bayt.com is the perfect complement to our existing business lines.”

Founded in 2000, Bayt.com has become one of the most trusted and respected brands in the region. Over the years, they have won numerous awards of recognition, including the "Leading E-Commerce Website in the Pan Arab Region" by the Pan Arab Web Awards (2007), the "Company of the Year" award by the TECOM Investments Pearl Awards (2009), SME Advisor Stars of Business Awards (2011), the "Top Companies to Work for in the UAE" award by the Great Places to Work Institute (2011 and 2012),  and the “Gulf Capital Business of the Year” and “People & Culture of the Year” by SMEInfo Awards (2012).

president Amazai

About Amazai Group

Founded in 1990, the Amazai Group is a dynamic group of companies headquartered in Sri Lanka. All companies of the Amazai Group are Private Limited Liability companies, and the group today is forging ahead as one of Sri Lanka’s leading private-sector organizations, with a solid business reputation and sound financial eminence.

Navanethem Pillay wants to send more rapporteurs

Navanethem Pillay wants to send more rapporteurs

Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC)

United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay has sought to dispatch ten special rapporteurs to Sri Lanka to assess the implementation of the recommendations by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), well informed sources said. This is in addition to last year’s visit of three officials from the High Commissioner’s office to Sri Lanka. Hanny Megally and Oscar Solera are the two officials who came to Sri Lanka in September last year.
 However, it is learnt that the government of Sri Lanka has turned down the latest request to send special rapporteurs from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Instead, the External Affairs Ministry has insisted that Ms. Pillay should visit the country first to see for herself the progress being made in the post war area.


 “It is the initial stand. First, a team of officials from her office arrived in the country and held talks with all the stakeholders. They came here to do the groundwork for her visit. We stick to that stand. It is impossible to endorse further missions by special rapporteurs,” an authoritative source said. Ms.  Navanethem Pillay has been critical of Sri Lanka in recent times. Also, she sent a strongly worded letter to the government, criticizing the procedure adopted in the impeachment of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. The UNHRC adopted the United States-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka in March, last year. According to it, the High Commissioner is required to submit a report to the next session of the UNHRC regarding the progress on the  implementation of measures outlined in the resolution. Besides, the US has announced that they will move yet another ‘procedural resolution ‘on Sri Lanka at the next session to strengthen the previous resolution. The government is waiting to know the content of the proposed resolution to plan its next course of action.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Alistair Burt arrives Sri Lanka

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Alistair Burt arrives Sri Lanka

“Sri Lanka: 2013 and beyond”

Minister Alistair Burt, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister for South Asia, arrived in Sri Lanka this morning. This is his second visit to the country. During his two-day visit, the Minister will meet senior members of the government and opposition parties, the business community and INGOs and visit the North.

He will also deliver a guest lecture on “Sri Lanka: 2013 and beyond” at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies.

Sanath Jayasuriya appointed as the head of Cricket Selection Committee

Sanath Jayasuriya appointed as
 the head of Cricket Selection Committee

Sri Lanka new Cricket Selection Committee

Former Sri Lankan test cricket captain and the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance parliamentarian Sanath Jayasuriya  has appointed as the head of the national new Cricket Selection Committee.

The committee comprises Sanath Jayasuriya as Chairman, former fast bowlers Pramodya Wickramasinghe and Eric Upashantha, and former batsmen Chaminda Mendis and Hemantha Wickramaratne as members. Hemantha Wickramaratne has been a selector in the previous panel Ashantha de Mel. 

Deviating from the previous norm of having a one-year term for the selection panel, the new panel has no term limit.

the new panel will first be tasked with naming Sri Lanka's Test and ODI captains for Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka in March.

Sanath Jayasuriya

Jayasuriya played 110 Tests for Sri Lanka and led the side in both formats from 1999 to 2003. He retired officially from international cricket in June 2011, but had only regained his place in the team in 2008 after the then-sports minister intervened to have him included in the squad. 



Sri Lanka Cabinet reshuffled

Sri Lanka Cabinet reshuffled

10 ministers, 6 deputy ministers take oaths 

Ten new Ministers, two project Ministers and six Deputy Ministers have sworn in before the President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Following are the Ministers together with assigned ministries

Ministers

• Anura Priyadarhsana Yapa- Petroleum
• Susil Premajayantha – environment
• Pavithra Wanniarachchi- power and energy
• Champika Ranawaka – technology and research
• Lakshman Senevirathne- Sugar Industries
• Lakshman Yapa- investment promotion
• Jayarathne Herath – Botanical gardens and public enterprises
• Duminda Dissanayake – Educational Services
• Bashir Segu Dawood- Productivity promotion
• Wijith Vijayamuni De Zoysa- Wildlife conservation

Project Ministers

• Rohitha Abeygunawardena-  Ports and Highways
• Nirmala Kothelawala- Ports and Highways

Sri Lanka Cabinet reshuffle today

Sri Lanka Cabinet reshuffle today

Sri Lanka new cabinet

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will reshuffle his cabinet today, the swearing-in ceremony will be held at Temple Trees at 11 a.m.Presidential Spokesman Mohan Samaranayaka said.

Eight cabinet portfolios are expected to be changed at the reshuffle, and they will be in Power and Energy, Petroleum, Education, Environment, Sports, State Administration, Labor, Technology and Research portfolios.

A new prime minister is also expected to be named as a result of the poor health of current Sri Lankan Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne.

The current cabinet of President Rajapaksa consists of 9 senior ministers, 49 cabinet ministers and 31 deputy ministers.

Mattala International Airport to be opened in March 18

Mattala International Airport to be opened in March 18

Sri Lanka's second international airport

Mattala International Airport in Hambantota will be declared open on March 18,The Minister of Civil Aviation, Piyankara Jayaratne said. 
The Hambantota eco-friendly International Airport is the Sri Lanka's second international airport which is construction in Mattala.


This is placed in the deep south of the country close to the fast developing coastal town of Hambantota.

Ceremonial welcome of new Chief Justice Mohan Peiris

Ceremonial welcome of new Chief Justice Mohan Peiris

44th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka

The Supreme Court will be held A welcome ceremony for welcoming new Chief Justice Mohan Peiris today,january 23rd 2013 at the Colombo Hulstdorp Court Complex.A majority of the country's lawyers would participate in this function,said Former BASL Vice Chairman Anomaa Gunatilake. However BASL Secretary Sanjaya Gamage said, that the BASL lawyers would not participate in the ceremony for welcoming the new Chief Justice.
Mohan Peiris, a former Attorney General and currently Legal Adviser to the Cabinet of Ministers was sworn in as the 44th Chief Justice before President Mahinda Rajapaksa, last week.

Firstpost Economy India, Sri Lanka to double trade to $10 bn by 2015

Firstpost Economy India, Sri Lanka to double trade
 to $10 bn by 2015

India and Sri Lanka

India and Sri Lanka have set a target to double bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2015, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said.“We have set a target to double bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2015. Captains of industry have accepted and endorsed it,” Sharma said. Sharma along with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Economic Development Rishad Bathiudeen and Minister of Industry and Commerce Sarath Amunugama, inaugurated the event.

 The decision was taken during the eighth meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and his Sri Lankan counterpart Prof. G.L. Peiris. The Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) was preceded by the Senior Officials Meeting at the level of the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries on Monday.

 Both sides also agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the areas of New and Renewable energy, and in this context agreed to conclude a MoU on Cooperation in New and Renewable Energy; to cooperate in establishing three power plants of aggregate capacity of 15 MW using biomass fuel; and enhance cooperation in wind and solar energy sectors.