The bulk of the independent media was prevented from covering the arrival of the six Sri Lankan fishermen who arrived at the Bandaranayake International Airport (BIA) earlier today, 10 days after they were rescued by Spanish marines from the captivity of Somali pirates. The free media was informed by a fisheries ministry official at the BIA that there were orders to prevent them from the coverage...

  Report by The Sunday Leader seals decision By Indika Sri Aravinda The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) has decided not to transfer the telecast rights of the upcoming Olympic Games in London to the Carlton Sports Network (CSN), SLRC Chairman Mohan Samaranayake

  The sports minister in Sri Lanka says that exclusive broadcasting rights of 2012 Olympics obtained by state-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) will not be sold to private channel as reported by media. The Sunday Leader newspaper said the Carlton Sports Network (CSN), reportedly

By Indika Sri Aravinda The Carlton Sports Network (CSN), owned by the Mahinda Rajapaksa family, has sought the exclusive broadcasting rights of the 2012 London Olympics. Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) has already paid for and obtained the exclusive rights for the broadcast and stands

Acting Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena has underscored that all Sri Lankans, whatever views they possess within Sri Lanka, should act in unity in responding to the world.The Acting Minister said that the resolution has alleged that Sri Lanka had violated Human Rights Law, contravened international conventions in its treatment of terrorists, and breached its ...

Last week there were more stories making the rounds on contemplated decisions made outside the cabinet meeting than decisions made inside. Of course, the usual briefing on cabinet decisions were spelled out, Thursday afternoon. For a regime that still wants to boast it has popular support, comparing itself to an opposition fractured and quarrelling red and green, it is ...

By Dinali Goonewardene Prathilaba was telecast on Rupavahini on Sundays at 10 a.m. The TV documentary, a studio discussion on investing in the stock market was commissioned by the Securities and Exchange Commission and panellists from the stock market industry participated. These included stock

The Revival of Underperforming Enterprises and Underutilized Assets Bill that is to be presented to parliament soon has in it economic and political objectives that spell doom for Sri Lankan democracy as well as the economy. It would vest in the Sri Lankan government Hotel Developers (Lanka) PLC which owns the Colombo Hilton that has ...

The Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE), the vibrant forum of the new generation entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka plans to conduct a highly interactive series of programmes named ‘Zero to Billionaire – The Story behind Sri Lankan Business Heroes of the 21st Century’ to bring to the surface the untold truths of success of the ...

by Frederica Jansz Bejing has considerable leverage in post conflict Sri Lanka.  Chinese involvement in the defence sector has not reduced after the war, and the Chinese are seen diversifying from being just suppliers of defence equipment to infrastructure and capacity building. The Chinese have used North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) and subsequently the state owned ...

Sarath Kongahage, Chairman Rupavahini Corporation, lawyer, political activist, media personality and now ambassador-designate to Germany, spoke to Faraz Shauketaly on his impending  appointment and work at Rupavahini Corporation. He dispelled rumours that he was being replaced at SLRC due

Exhibition Of Contemporary Woven Art By Tilak Samarawickrema – April 1 – 17 Tilak Samarawickrema embodies in his work the contemporary spirit of his country, Sri Lanka. His prodigious output is rooted firmly in the local artisan tradition and spans the gamut from wall-hangings to carpets, passing through an entire spectrum of weavings. His motifs ...

By Dhananjani Silva The traditional folk artistes from the northern region of Sri Lanka are today an enthusiastic group making preparations for that grand comeback after almost three decades of oblivion. Jaffna Music Festival 2011 scheduled to be held from...

by Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka A quarter of a century ago, the Summer of ’85. Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. I was at the Pugwash Conference, hosted by Senator Fernando Henrique Cardoso, famous ‘dependency theorist’, later to become President of Brazil. I was...

By Sarath Fonseka An Open Appeal Issued by Former Army Chief and Presidential Candidate 2010 Dear Sri Lankans, The time has now come for us to stop being complacent and start taking an active role in shaping our future and...

By Rohini Hensman Sri Lanka’s claim to be a democracy has been tenuous for years, but the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution by parliament on 8 September 2010 dealt it a fatal blow. It changed Sri Lanka...

Mahina Bongso: An Award Winning Newscaster By Anushka Gunawardena As a supportive grandmother watched her granddaughter, Mahina Bongso, go for an interview at Channel 1 MTV, little did she know that one day she would become the ‘Best English News Reader’ at the Rupavahini State Awards

By Sumanasiri Liyanage Why do we need laws? If all of us are law-abiding citizens, laws may become redundant. Someone has remarked that laws are needed to restrict and limit the actions of the heartless people....

By Paneetha Ameresekere - Business Editor The local press recently quoted an External Affairs Ministry statement which said that Japan was willing to enter into a free trade agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka. This was in response to a request made by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris to ...

Unp Leadership Battle Moves Up A Gear:  Shows No Sign Of Abating The battle for the UNP leadership has been slowly gathering momentum with the membership across the country calling for a change. A number of players have yet to throw their hats into the ring. Senior UNP stalwarts Ravi Karunanayake and Sajith Premadasa have ...

By Dayan Jayatilleka What is the ‘main contradiction’ in Sri Lanka today? It is that between the very broad national base of support and sacrifice for the war and the resultant peace on the one hand, and the increasingly narrow character of the beneficiaries of the dividends of that popular peace, on the other. The war was national but the peace dividend and its distribution appe...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is encouraged to learn that Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has ordered an inquiry into the alleged political victimisation and interdiction of eight media workers in the state-run broadcaster, the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC).