Sep 11 (BBC) Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat and Senior Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka Jayantha Dhanapala on Friday called on the international community to influence the LTTE to abandon terrorism and respect democracy. more..

Sep 11 (WT) The next U.N. chief must be a "hands-on manager" who can implement needed internal reforms and patch up relations with the United States, according to a top Sri Lankan diplomat who is his country's candidate for the post next year. more..

Sep 11 (HT) Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels tossed grenades at a police checkpoint in northern Sri Lanka today, wounding two policemen, the Defence Ministry said. The rebels fled after the attack in Vavuniya, which left one policeman in a critical condition, more..

Sep 11 (TN) A two-acre plot in Iranaimadu junction along A9 in Kilinochchi functions as a test bed to explore techniques in modern irrigation techniques that conserve water. Drip irrigation, bubbler systems, jets and micro irrigation techniques are being tested for optimum use of water. more..

Sep 11 (SLA) Information received from civilians on 10 September 2005 have confirmed that about 20 - 30 Tamil Tigers are engaged in constructing new bunkers at MAVILARU in the general area of TRINCOMALEE. more..

Sep 11 (SLA) Three Police men including a Sub Inspector on assignment with officers of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) who had gone into un-cleared areas in ARIPPU North of MURUNKAN have been reportedly detained Friday evening by Tami Tigers after release two other Police personal, two Pastors and the civil coordinator of the NCPA Saturday (10) morning. more..

Sep 11 (SLBC) The University Grants Commission will receive applications for the 2006 university admissions commencing the 15th of next month. Chairman of the Commission Professor Ranjith Mendis said that students who had gained eligibility at this year's GCE Advanced Level Examination could make application to enter the universities. more..

Sep 11 (SLBC) Plans to reestablish the CTB are already underway. Chairman of the board Tudor Jayaratne said that two thousand buses would be purchased as a first step. Two hundred of this buses are due in the island within the next fortnight. They will be deployed on urban routes. more..

Sep 11 (PIS) Norway once again worked overtime to undermine Sri Lanka's diplomatic thrust to have the European Union take effective action against the LTTE. Brussels insiders said that Norway's lobbying caused the EU's Specialist Group of officials who met last Wednesday to put off for further discussion Sri Lanka's case against the Tigers more..

Sep 11 (PIS) “The premeditated and diabolically planned assassination of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, unmistakably points to the culpability of the LTTE. “The Kadirgamar assassination is the worst of a series of ceasefire violations. Investigations into the assassination of Mr. Kadirgamar so far have clearly established a direct link to the LTTE. more..

Sep 11 (SAMN) The Human Rights Commission (HRC) yesterday pledged to ensure free and fair elections by monitoring the government machinery. Human Rights Commission Chairperson Radhika Coomaraswamy told the Daily Mirror that a special Rapporteur would be appointed by the Commission for a period of three months to monitor the elections and its aftermath. more..

Sep 11 (SAMN) The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) in an attempt to force the government to introduce regulation for the compulsory labelling of Genetically Modified Foods (GMF) recently filled a petition at the Appeal Court compelling the Consumer Affairs Authority and others to label such food. more..

Sep 11 (CI) While the rest of the focuses on The Oval and the final day of a riveting Ashes contest in South London, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will begin a two-Test series that promises to be one-sided, swift and unmemorable. more..

Sep 11 (AFP) Marvan Atapattu, the Sri Lankan captain, has no plans to experiment with his team against Bangladesh in their two-Test series starting at the R. Premadasa Stadium here on Monday. Atapattu said, "I am not fond of throwing away Test caps. They are meant to be earned." more..

Sep 11 (SO) Ceasefire monitors yesterday insisted on their right to meet the renegade Karuna faction, but said such meetings did not confer recognition of the LTTE's breakaway group, nor do they justify the activities of the group. "I say in clear terms that we reserve the right to meet anyone, whose activities have an impact on the practical implementation of the CFA," more..

Sep 11 (BT) The ethnic conflict and a durable solution is the main focus of parties working out manifestos as Sri Lanka is being put on a fast track towards the presidential election. In addition is the need for a solution to revive the economy shattered due to the decades-old conflict over a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils. more..

Sep 11 (Xinhua) Three policemen have been detained by the LTTE rebels in Sri Lanka' s rebel-controlled northern area, defense officials said Sunday. They are being held by the LTTE in the Northern Province since Friday night in the Arippu area of Mannar district, the officials added. more..

Sep 11 (IANS) Sleuths of the investigative arm of the International Cricket Council (ICC) are looking into allegations of the possible involvement of Sri Lankan cricketers with a Mumbai-based millionaire bar dancer. Tarannum Khan, popularly called Tannu, lost Rs.15 million in a wager after India lost to Sri Lanka in the finals of the Videocon Cup last month. more..

Sep 11 (AFP) The 7th Colombo International Book fair has begun at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition Centre in Colombo and was inaugurated by Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Nirupama Rao. more..

Sep 11 (LNP) Amidst a deepening crisis in the ruling coalition over last Wednesday`s controversial electoral pact between Premier Mahinda Rajapakse and the JVP, President Chandrika Kumaratunga has intervened to ensure a balanced coverage of the presidential election campaign. more..

Sep 11 (LNP) UNP leader and presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the Mahinda Rajapakse-JVP agreement would make the LTTE to move away from its present demand for a federal solution to its original demand for a separate state. more..

Sep 11 (LNP) Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse will not respond immediately to accusations by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga that he failed to consult her over the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). more..

Sep 12 (TN) The Trincomalee district branch of The Economy Consultant House (TECH) held its first anniversary event Saturday evening in Trincomalee Sri Koneswara Hindu College Hall. 42 students who successfully completed the City and Guilds Computer Training Course, conducted with the sponsorship of London TR TECH received certificates. more..

Sep 12 (TN) Representations have been made to the SLMM in Trincomalee to ensure safety to Tamil and Muslim civilians who travel to and from north of Trincomalee passing through Srimavopura, a suburb an about one km north of the east port town from being attacked by Sinhala mobs. more..

Sep 12 (AT) In a surprise move at a multi-faith meeting held in Toronto, Canada to commemorate the life of late Lakshman Kadirgamar, the leader of the TULF, V. Anandasangaree turned to John McKay, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and asked bluntly as to why Canada allows terrorist organizations such as the LTTE to operate broadcasting centres for propaganda and fundraising. more..

Sep 12 (AT) According to informed political sources the UNP has put into operation a subtle campaign to lull President Chandrika Kumaratunga into a false sense of security, with Ranil Wickremesinghe promising her a role in his regime if elected. more..

Sep 12 (AT) Late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar who was brutally assassinated by the LTTE just one month ago, on 12 August had the highest respect for India's gentlemanly and learned Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. more..

Sep 12 (AT) Australian Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has announced that Australia’s new anti-terror laws will crackdown on charities channelling money to terrorist groups. more..

Sep 12 (TP) The embassy of Sri Lanka will soon begin inspecting transit accommodation facilities provided by manpower agencies in Doha to maids arriving from the island country to take up jobs. more..

Sep 12 (TP) Sri Lanka’s foreign recruitment industry has signed a MoU with a Malaysian company paving the way for more secure employment for hundreds of Sri Lankan workers, much more advanced than the practices that prevail in the Middle East employment market. more..

Sep 12 (BBC) Sri Lankan authorities have sought international assistance for the release of a group of police officers, detained by Tamil Tigers. Child Protection Authority (CPA) said that six police officers have gone to rebel-held area near Mannar in search of a suspected paedophile. more..

Sep 12 (Bloomberg) Central bank will probably keep its key interest rate unchanged for a third month to help the island's continued recovery from last year's tsunami. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka will leave the repurchase rate at which it drains money from the banking system at 8.25 percent more..

Sep 12 (TN) Reflecting growing anxieties amongst Sri Lanka’s Tamils in the wake of the Sinhala nationalist forces gathering behind Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse, the Tamil Guardian newspaper warned this week that the peace process “will face an ever more uncompromising Sinhala bloc.” more..

Sep 12 (TN) More than one thousand graduate trainees who have been holding temporary teaching positions for the last nine months in Jaffna protested in front of the Jaffna Regional Education office on being not included in the list of appointments published by the Education Department last week, more..

Sep 12 (SLA) A Police Constable and another civilian sustained injuries when an unidentified Tamil Tiger lobbed a hand grenade at the Police post, near the UPPUVELI, ABHAYAPURA roundabout in TRINCOMALEE on the COLOMBO – TRINCOMALEE highway on Sunday (11) night around 9.05 p.m.. more..

Sep 12 (SLA) A rain of Tamil Tiger bullets, directed at a Police tractor Sunday (11) noon struck a passenger bus near VALAICHCHENAI town on VALAICHCHENAI – KALKUDA road causing damages to the body of the bus which was packed with passengers. more..

Sep 12 (CT) Garbage- some say it is stinks, but some say it is economically viable business. At present nearly three major garbage collectors in town and another number of small scale garbage collectors are mushrooming due to the heavy profit through the business. more..

Sep 12 (CT) While epoch making events were being made in the banking landscape of the country due to moves made by business tycoon Harry Jayawardana , former DFCC Chairman Dr.Nihal Jinasena, another business magnate said that Jayawardana had threatned to throw him out through an extraordinary general meeting [EGM] if he did not resign as Chairman , DFCC bank. more..

Sep 12 (LT) One month has passed since the former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgarmer’s assassination. It has been revealed by the investigations conducted by the Police that this was done by the Tiger. Before his assassination Mr. Kadirgamer insisted on laying down arms by the Tigers. more..

Sep 12 (LT) Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Anura Bandaranayke has sent a letter to SLFP Parliamentarian and Deputy Minister of Sports Sripathy Suriyarachchi asking for explanation for violating party regulations by organizing an unsuccessful rally at Kiribathgoda without his permission. more..

Sep 12 (LT) The concept of a unitary state is the genuine policy of the SLFP says Alliance of National Organizations. Speaking at a media meeting held in Colombo senior lawyer Mr. H.L.Gunasekera said it was the policy implemented by the founders of the SLFP such as Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranayke and Ms. Sirimawo Bandaranayke. more..

Sep 12 (LT) The fundamental of the UNP was to find a solution to the ethnic problem within a united Sri Lanka said Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe at a meeting at Hambanthota. He said this was accepted by the President as well. Fundamentals should not be changed though action plans may differ said the UNP candidate for the presidential election. more..

Sep 12 (ANN) A new 700 metre bridge over Arugam Bay and new vocational schools, funded by the United States, will benefit thousands in the tsunami-devastated East. The USAID has awarded a contract worth $33 million for a programme of large-scale infrastructure that promises to help Sri Lanka "build back better" after the tsunami. more..

Sep 12 (SO) Kavan Ratnatunga is a Sri Lanka native, and remembers when Sri Lanka was originally called Ceylon. Living in the U.S for several years and preparing to go back to his homeland, he decided to visit the towns in the U.S. that have his country's namesake, including his weekend visit to Martin County. more..

Sep 12 (SAMN) UNP Leader and Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing a weekend rally in Hambantota, asked UNP members to rally round the party to ensure victory at the Presidential Election. more..

Sep 12 (SAMN) The importance of astrology is ridiculed by making use of it for political advantage, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse told a seminar on Astrology and Ayurveda in Kandy Sunday. The Prime Minister said astrology was misused for political gain and recalled an incident reported in a newspaper recently, as totally baseless. more..

Sep 12 (SAMN) The government on a request by several Parliamentarians will issue permits to all 225 of them to import duty-free luxury vehicles worth Rs.3.5 million each. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Viswa Warnapala said the cabinet memorandum in this regard was submitted a week ago. more..

Sep 12 (LNP) Prime Minister and SLFP Presidential Candidate Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday countered his critics who are accusing him of trying to push the country back into war through his pacts with the JVP and the JHU in an exclusive interview with The Island at Temple Trees. more..

Sep 12 (LNP) The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is seeking a comprehensive report from the Secretary General of Parliament Ms Priyani Wijesekera on the imprisoned UNP heavyweight S. B. Dissanayake. UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena yesterday said that the Geneva-based IPU`s Human Rights Committee was investigating Dissanayake`s plight. more..

Sep 12 (LBO) Sri Lanka's Tea Board warns that European buyers can insist on more stringent health standards from local tea exports from next year. EU government authorities say they will not enforce new HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) standards until 2008-2009 although the standards will be introduced next year. more..