Sep 25 (SLA) One thousand five hundred and ninety one (1591) lorry loads of food and other essential items had been dispatched to un-cleared areas in the northern province during the period between 17 September 2004 and 23 September 2004. more..

Sep 25 (TN) Foundation stone was laid for the Swiss Government financed construction of war destroyed class rooms of the Eluthumadduval North Government Tamil school located inside the high security zone in Thenmaradchchi division, Jaffna district Friday. more..

Sep 25 (TN) Mr. Selvarajah Mohan, 22-year-old youth of Rajakiramam west village was found dead with cut injuries on his neck in Malusanthi area in Vadamarachi division in Jaffna district Saturday, Nelliayady Police said. more..

Sep 25 (TN) "You embarked on a loose, infantile armed struggle and butchered thousands if youth, and you have now come here praising virtues of democracy. The Tigers are fighting for the rights of their people. If it is not for the CeaseFire Agreement Sri Lanka would have been destroyed by now," said UNP MP for Puttalam District, more..

Sep 25 (TN) TNA Foreign Affairs Committee which met with Swiss Ambassodor to Sri Lanka, Mr. Bernadino Regazzoni, at the Switzerland Embassy in Colombo Friday expressed their concern on the reluctance shown by the ruling UPFA government to take steps to restart the peace talks, more..

Sep 25 (LBO) Sri Lankans may be avid fans of Baywatch dubbed in Sinhala and Sex and the City on Sundays, but divorce and pre-marital sex are still a big no no. This, as Dr. Uditha Liyanage, senior lecturer, Post Graduate Institute of Management, Sri Jayawardenepura University, puts it, �is the paradox of the Sri Lankan consumer.� more..

Sep 25 (LBO) Sri Lanka has won three additional air frequencies to Japan, under the recently concluded ministerial meetings. Since Japan's Narita airport is nearing capacity, the Japanese Aviation authorities have allowed three additional frequencies to Kansai Airport, Osaka, more..

Sep 25 (LBO) Sri Lanka is on the global hit-list for human trafficking, but despite the best intentions to eliminate it, no one has been convicted for women trafficking under a decade old law. Much of the trafficking happens via labour migration to the Middle East, with regularly highlighted cases of abuse, despite the lack of convictions. more..

Sep 25 (LBO) Sri Lanka hikes prices for diesel and petrol, to ease the strain on the government coffers, as world crude prices keep steady at US$ 48 per barrel. Petrol at the pump will now cost Rs. 70.00 in Colombo city limits for 90 octane (up Rs. 2.00) and Rs. 68.00 elsewhere. more..

Sep 25 (BBC) Former Test batsman Brendon Kuruppu has been named as Sri Lanka's team manager for the tour to Pakistan in October and November. He will deputise for Ajit Jayasekera, who has been given time off after holding the job for four years. more..

Sep 25 (HT) The Sri Lankan government has been holding discussions with the Chennai-based Indian auto giant Ashok Leyland about setting up an assembly plant in the island with a capacity of 25,000 units per year. more..

Sep 25 (SLBC) Minister of Transport Felix Perera has condemned certain private bus operators for suspending services following a hike in diesel prices. He said that bus fairs need to be increased if diesel prices are increased. However, the increase should come after discussions with the authorities concerned. more..

Sep 25 (SLBC) The Upper Kotmale Hydropower Project and Norachcholai Coal Power Project were identified as too vital projects to meet the increasing demand for electricity in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately for the power sector in particular and the whole economy in general, they were not implemented. more..

Sep 25 (SLBC) There is no sign of sufficient rain in the north and east yet, but the west and southwest is under the threat of a minor flood. The continuous rainfall resulting from line squalls have resulted in heavy rain in the catchments of Kelani and Kalu rivers. more..

Sep 25 (AT) The issue relating to the abduction of the two home-guards has taken a new political turn when the Government on Friday appointed a committee headed by Acting Defence, Ratnasiri Wickremanayke to look into the situation in the Trincomalee district to explore ways and means to arrange their release. more..

Sep 25 (AT) The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission is to take the issue of the two Home-guards abducted by the LTTE with the LTTE Political Wing leader S.Paramu. Tamilselvan in Kilinochchi, SLMM Deputy Chief Hagrup Haukland said on Friday. more..

Sep 25 (AT) The soaring fuel prices in the world market pushed Sri Lanka�s transport sector for another crisis, with the private bus operators who fulfill more than 60 per cent of the commuter needs in the country threatening to withdraw their service amidst announcement of another fuel price hike by the Government. more..

Sep 25 (AT) President Kumaratunga�s effort to have all party conference to obtain views from political parties representing the parliament, to push forward the stalled peace talks between the Government and the LTTE seems to become an ineffective event with the main Opposition UNP announcing their non-participation at the conference. more..

Sep 25 (BBC) Sri Lanka's first major overseas peacekeeping contingent has left to join the UN mission in Haiti. About 750 troops will join the effort to restore stability after Haiti's president was forced out of power earlier this year. more..

Sep 25 (DN) Chief Government Whip and Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle yesterday suggested amending the Constitution and Standing Orders to strengthen the Public Petitions committee to ensure that its decisions are effectively implemented. more..

Sep 25 (IANS) After a long gap, Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas have publicly criticised India. A senior leader of the LTTE accused New Delhi of following the same policy that led to the deployment of Indian troops in Sri Lanka's northeast in 1987. more..

Sep 25 (IPS) There are slim hopes that the Sri Lankan government and rebel Tamil Tigers will restart peace talks soon after four people, including a top renegade Tiger fighter, were shot dead in growing factional fighting in the country. more..

Sep 25 (HT) Given the tremendous international pressure on it to re-start talks with the Sri Lankan government, the LTTE is to discuss the issue with its constitutional experts in Geneva on October 1 and 2. more..

Sep 25 (HT) The dissident LTTE leader, Col Karuna, has sworn to avenge the killing of his brother and second-in-command "Reggie" by the mainstream LTTE in the Batticaloa jungles earlier this week. more..

Sep 27 (TN) University Grants Commission (UGC) agreed to a request made by the Batticaloa district TNA parliamentarians to declare the Batticaloa district as a backward area in education. The UGC also decided to submit a report to the Sri Lanka Government to get Cabinet approval for the decision, more..

Sep 27 (TN) Sri Lanka experienced heavy rain Sunday night inundating low-lying areas with flood in several parts of the island. North-eastern coastal areas from Jaffna, Mullaitivu Trincomalee and Batticaloa recorded several millimetres of rainfall ending 24 hours on Monday morning, more..

Sep 27 (TN) Main opposition this weekend declined to join President Chandrika Kumaratunga�s ruling alliance in a �National Advisory Council� on the Norwegian backed peace process, instead urging the government to resume talks with the LTTE on the basis of the latter�s interim administration proposals. more..

Sep 27 (TN) The officer in charge of Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission in Jaffna, Mr.Ruwan Chandrasekera, and two of his colleagues were severely assaulted by Policemen at the main Police station in the northern town Monday. more..

Sep 27 (SLA) Five armed LTTE cadres have robbed three tractors belonging to Muslim civilians in the general area of WATTAMADU, about 23 km. West of AKKARAIPATTU, on 25 September 2004, claims a complaint made at the THIRIKKOVIL Police. more..

Sep 27 (SLA) The LTTE have hoisted their flag during a ceremony held in the general area of THIRUNAVELY on 25 September 2004. At the same time, again on 26 September 2004, the LTTE hoisted their flag in the general areas of ALVAI South and VELVETTITHURAI in JAFFNA. more..

Sep 27 (SLA) The sit-on past, started in the TRINCOMALE TOWN to protest against the detention of two Home Guards who were abducted by the LTTE, reached its fourteenth (14) day on 27 September 2004. Nearly ten persons are taking part in the fasting campaign. more..

Sep 27 (SLA) Information reveal that approximately 400 LTTE sea tigers had conducted a firing exercise in the general area of ILLUPPUKADAVALAI, about 25 k,m. north east of MANNAR town since 22 September 2004. more..

Sep 27 (AFP) Main opposition, which holds the balance of power in parliament, pressed the government Sunday to salvage stalled talks with Tamil Tiger separatists. The opposition UNP said the way forward to end the deadlock in the Norwegian-backed peace process was to start direct negotiations. more..

Sep 27 (ZC) A former Greymouth doctor has been censured and ordered to undergo treatment for sexual misconduct after groping South Island shop assistants. Nayan Prasanna Karunasekera was convicted in the Invercargill District Court for sexually abusing three women while on holiday in Queenstown last year. more..

Sep 27 (LBO) Most of the untapped tourism potential in the country doesn't lie along the pristine coastline anymore but off the beaten track. The leisure sector is trying to attract high spending travelers who are keen to explore the bio diversity and wildlife of the island. more..

Sep 27 (LBO) A marketing academic said women are increasingly influencing the purchasing decisions in households. The female workface has grown faster than the male workforce over the last two decades. more..

Sep 27 (PSL) The National Advisory Council (NAC) on Peace and Reconciliation will be inaugurated by President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Monday, October 4 with the participation of all political parties in Parliament, religious leaders and representatives of civil society. more..

Sep 27 (SLBC) Deputy General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions for the Asia-Pacific Region H. Mahadevan will arrive in Sri Lanka today. During his stay in Sri Lanka Mahadevan will meet local trade union leaders more..

Sep 27 (wsws) Thousands of fishermen and their supporters at Gurunagar near Jaffna town in northern Sri Lanka protested at the beginning of the month against the actions of the LTTE in firing on their boats and making several arrests. more..

Sep 27 (CI) Thilina Kandamby and Rangana Herath have been recalled into the Sri Lankan side for the upcoming Paktel Cup in Pakistan. Lasith Malinga was the only player to be dropped from the squad that was chosen for the Champions Trophy. more..

Sep 27 (Reuters) Stocks eased 0.26 percent on Monday in thin volume as many investors stayed away ahead of a public holiday, brokers said. The key Colombo all-share index , which has gained over 36 percent so far this year, fell 3.88 points to 1,449.53. more..

Sep 27 (Reuters) Wild elephants and farmers are killing each other at an alarming rate in Sri Lanka, so hundreds of wildlife officers and villagers fanned out into forests on Monday to find ways to broker peace. more..

Sep 27 (Hindu) With reports of internecine killing in parts of Batticaloa, which are under the LTTE's control, eastern Sri Lanka continues to simmer. According to unconfirmed reports, at least three LTTE cadres were killed after last week's killing of Reggie, elder brother of the former LTTE military commander, Col. Karuna. more..

Sep 27 (DJ) Sri Lanka recorded a larger-than-expected balance of payments deficit of $223 million in the first half of the year amid higher crude-oil prices, the central bank said Monday. more..

Sep 27 (SN) Bikkhus of the Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya and Large Number of people representing NMAT protested, day before yesterday (23rd), opposite the Canadian High Commission urging the Canada government to immediately prohibit the Pongu-Thamil festival to be held in Toronto. more..

Sep 27 (AT) Just two days after the arrest 61 Bangladeshis, would be illegal immigrants to Italy, Sri Lanka Police arrested another group of 17 Bangladeshis believed to be connected to the earlier group at a lodge in Colombo city suburb on Sunday. more..

Sep 27 (AT) Have we neither shame nor sense? Why do we confuse cowardice with security and self-preservation? When is a terrorist attack on a parliamentary party not an attack on the democratic polity as a whole? How could a campaign of terror - including an abortive suicide bombing - against a constituent party of a coalition govt, not be regarded as against the govt as a whole? more..

Sep 27 (Rupavahini) Countrywide commemoration ceremonies were held to mark the 45th death anniversary of former prime minister and S.L.F.P. founder S.W.R.D Bandaranaike who was hailed as the pioneer of the country's common man's era today. more..

Sep 27 (Rupavahini) A heavy shower in several areas in the island has caused floods and earth-slips several roads in the Kalutara and Colombo districts are impassable. Environmentalists point out that one of the reasons for this situation was the lack of proper drainage system. more..

Sep 27 (AFP) The Indian head of mission of the UN refugee agency said conditions were not conducive for Tamil refugees to return to their homes in strife-torn Sri Lanka. Lennart Kotsalainen, while speaking at a seminar in southern Madras city, added that much also depended on the peace process in the island. more..