Dec 3 (TN) At least seven grenade attacks were reported Friday in Jaffna. The attacks on Sri Lanka Army (SLA)positions escalated amid total shutdown in several SLA controlled areas of the Jaffna peninsula following the Neerveli kilings on Thursday. more..

Dec 3 (TN) One-day debate on the policy statement of the new Sri Lankan President Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse is to take place when parliament meets on December 7 on a request made by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) at the leaders of political parties. more..

Dec 3 (TN) Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples' Consortium (TDTPC) Thursday requested President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse to take immediate steps to remove all temporary camps and checkpoints of the Sri Lanka Army now located in the Trincomalee town following the erection of Buddha statue in the bus stand vicinity on May 15 midnight this year, more..

Dec 3 (CI) Just like the full England side, the under-19s are finding life on the subcontinent tough this winter. After being whitewashed in the five-match series against a BCB High Perfomance Side, their poor start to the triangular tournament got poorer with a second defeat, this time to Sri Lanka. more..

Dec 3 (LT) According to British media former president of Sri Lanka Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga has bought Sunninghill Park, the country mansion belonging to Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. British media say the residence, which has been on the market for more than two years was bought by Ms. Kumaratunga for Sterling Pounds 10 million. more..

Dec 3 (BBC) President Chandrika Kumaratunge has categorically rejected that she has bought a mansion in the UK as reported by the Evening Standard of December 1st,2005 published in the UK. The article appeared in the column 'Londoner's Diary' under the caption, "Is Prince Andrew's Southyork mansion going to Sri Lanka?" more..

Dec 3 (AT) Government is of the candid view the last Heroes Day speech made by the Leader of the LTTE Velupillai Prabakaran was one of the most encouraging one. Minister D.E.W Gunasekera said going through the various speeches made by LTTE leader Prabakaran at each Heroes Day, the Government considers Prabakaran�s latest speech to be a positive one. more..

Dec 3 (AT) Sri Lanka�s separatist LTTE supremo Prabhakaran�s �Hero�s Day� declaration last month that there is no clear, coherent, globally acceptable definition of the concept of terrorism goes with the old notion that �One person terrorist is another�s freedom fighter�. more..

Dec 3 (PIS) The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have collected some 100 million euros (120 million dollars) in a sophisticated racket targeting France's Sri Lankan immigrant community, a French newspaper reported Friday. more..

Dec 3 (TN) "The international friends of the SriLankan peace process need to proceed with bracing realism and appeal to the most urgent self-interest on both sides. Without a new commitment to a real cease-fire and a serious dialogue, all of Sri Lanka�s communities stand at the brink of tragedy. more..

Dec 3 (TN) A mob attacked and killed two Tamil civilians travelling in a three-wheeler at Thoppur, a Muslim village 20 km south of Trincomalee town Saturday evening. Another Tamil civilian with cut injuries was rushed to Trincomalee Hospital in unconsious state. more..

Dec 3 (SLA) DIVISIONAL SECRETARY for KATTANKUDY Administrative Division in BATTICALOA was severely injured in an LTTE attack this afternoon (02) around 1.00 p.m. when he was in his office. Unidentified Tamil Tiger gunmen stormed the office and went on firing at the Administrative Officer more..

Dec 3 (LBO) Another month, another budget, which seems so boring, when it is overshadowed by such sexy issues as the tiger supremo's pussycat speech and the UNP's chronic ability to lose elections. more..

Dec 3 (WS) It is two weeks into President Rajapakse's term. Not a long time and yet a lot did happen. Much happened in the government. Much happened in what can be called the Chandrika Kumaratunga Camp and much is still happening within the Ranil Wickremesinghe led UNP. It was, all in all, a critical time for these political personalities. more..

Dec 3 (WS) After years of smoke belching vehicles being a law unto themselves, and the public having suffered and died in silence, authorities appear to be finally getting their act together. more..

Dec 3 (WS) To become a leader of a nation one needs more than just votes. No one other than Ranil Wickremasinghe would have realized how much luck plays in winning. Obviously Ranil Wickremasinghe does not seem to have the luck or the "rajayogaya" to become Sri Lanka's chosen leader. more..

Dec 3 (WS) A smart move by the outgoing independent police commission to get over the constitutional deadlock that has prevented the appointment of a new commission by delegating its functions to two separate committees has come a cropper after the Attorney General questioned their validity, as its own term officially ended yesterday. more..

Dec 3 (WS) Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources proposes a national policy on traditional knowledge and practices to conserve and nourish the traditional knowledge and applications including the due recognition for knowledge bearers. The policy is intended to be used effectively in the run up to environmental sustainability when people use it for their survival. more..

Dec 3 (LM) Four Army soldiers were injured in two separate grenade attacks at an Army camp in Chavakachcheri, yesterday. The Army soldiers have set up road blocks in the area to commence a search operation sources said. Two soldiers were injured in the first attack when unidentified persons lobbed a renade at the Army camp, more..

Dec 3 (TW) Sri Lanka had come to the crossroads with regard to possible solutions to the Sinhala-Tamil and Majority-Minority conflicts in the months preceding the presidential elections, and has chosen to take a reverse direction with the election of Mahinda Rajapakse as the new president, which anyone with foresight would consider unwise. more..

Dec 3 (TW) There are many contradictions in the results of the November 17 Presidential elections viewed from both the nationally aspired peace with unity and development goals. Even the much touted �honourable peace� of the newly elected President Mahinda Rajapakse seems very conceptual in the prevailing conditions in Sri Lanka. more..

Dec 3 (TW) If something new entered the lexicon of local politics in the course of the run-up to the last Presidential election, it is the kurahan saatakaya, the piece of cloth that came to symbolize Mahinda Rajapakse. more..

Dec 3 (TW) President Mahinda Rajapakse�s policy statement to Parliament emphasized his commitment to the pursuit of peace and the rejection of war as the means to resolve the ethnic conflict. Both in opposition and in government the President did not stand amongst the hawks who urged war as the solution to the ethnic conflict. more..

Dec 3 (TW) Sri Lanka has had elections changing governments before. But there has seldom been such political dislocation emerging through the exercise of the franchise as is happening after the recent polls. Every major political organisation of the south is grappling with internal problems and none of the groups in coalition are working in unison after 17 November. more..

Dec 3 (LeN) If ex-President Chandrika Kumaratunga enters Parliament as a national list Member of Parliament, she should be stripped of privileges entitled to a retired President, a senior Minister told 'Lanka e News'. more..

Dec 3 (SLBC) The Ministry of Agrarian services Development and Farmers welfare will implement a number of projects for the benefit of the farmer community. Minister S.M. Chandrasena says the projects will be carried out with immediate effect by getting the support of Agriculture Production Assistants at each Agrarian Centre islandwide. more..

Dec 3 (SLBC) Minister of Railways and Oil resources Development A.H.M. Fawzie says the oil supply of the country will be regularized while providing subsidies to the consumer. The Minister said that there are no plans to increase the fuel prices. More refinery facilities will be made available in the country. more..

Dec 3 (wsws) Factional conflict has erupted inside the UNP following the defeat of its candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe at the November 17 presidential election. While the dispute appears to have been papered over temporarily, the conflict is a sign of a deeper decay, not only of the right-wing UNP, but of the political establishment as a whole. more..

Dec 3 (APP) A thirteen-member Sri Lankan Medical team arrived here for a two- week medical mission to treat earthquake victims at Ayub Medical College, Abottabad. According to a press release issued here on Friday by the Sri Lankan High Commission, this mission is being sponsored by Rotary District of Sri Lanka 3220 and Pakistan Rotary District 3270. more..

Dec 3 (Hindu) Norway wants greater access to the top leadership of the LTTE and says Colombo should stop making Oslo a scapegoat for setbacks or slow progress in the peace process in Sri Lanka. Diplomatic sources on Friday said Norway might be asked to continue with its role of facilitator but it could not do so in the current circumstances. more..

Dec 3 (SAMN) The intervention of the relevant authorities is needed to arrest the rising incidence of illegal abortions performed daily, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Sardha Hemapriya said. In Sri Lanka over 363,000 births and over 114,000 deaths are recorded per year. more..

Dec 3 (SAMN) The cabinet has approved the formulation of a new agricultural policy in consultation with all political parties and relevant sectors. Government spokesman Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said that in keeping with "Mahinda Chinthana," the cabinet decided that a new agricultural policy needs to be formulated. more..

Dec 3 (SAMN) An agreement was signed yesterday between the Italian Republic and the Government for the cancellation of Sri Lanka's debt to facilitate tsunami recovery. Italy will cancel the total outstanding debt concerning soft loans granted to Sri Lanka amounting to euro 7,134,698.00 (Rs. 856 million) including principal and interests of the loans. more..

Dec 3 (NDTV) With President Mahinda Rajapakse taking office in Sri Lanka, questions are being raised over the future of Norway as the chief negotiator of peace in the island. Rajapakse has largely been silent about the future role of Norway and his allies have called for the country's disassociation from the peace process. more..

Dec 3 (LNP) The newly elected President Mahinda Rajapakse has come under pressure from the UNP to take immediate steps to make appointments to a number of important government instruments like the Constitutional Council, The Election Commission, The Police Commission, and the Public Service Commission, which have become inoperative, having come to the end of their legal term of office. more..

Dec 3 (LNP) The Colombo High Court yesterday (2) lifted the ban imposed on the son of Deputy Minister Mervin Silva, Malaka, on visiting night clubs. He has been given the Court`s permission to visit and freely move about in night clubs from December 15 to January 15. more..

Dec 3 (LNP) The government on Thurday dismissed an unclear ultimatum from the LTTE to resume peace talks, saying that it won`t be dictated to or get excited by it. Constitutional Affairs Minister D. E. W. Gunasekera told yesterday`s cabinet press briefing in Colombo that peace talks cannot be resumed in a hurry just because the LTTE starts issuing ultimatums. more..

Dec 3 (LNP) The coming few weeks could see an amazing turn around in local cricket administration, after president Mahinda Rajapakse called for an investigation to find out why former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya was left out of the country`s Test tour to India. more..

Dec 3 (DN) RAILWAYS, Transport, Petroleum and Petroleum Resource Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie stressed the need to start night services on bus routes in keeping with commuter needs when he met SLTB officials and Depot Managers of the Gampaha Cluster Bus Company at the Kadawata Depot on Thursday. more..

Dec 3 (SLBC) The Attorney General informs the government that the provisions included in the Appropriation Bill for the 2006 Budget complys with the Constitution. The cabinet has given the approval to present an Appropriation Bill for the 2006 financial year starting from the 1st of January, in Parliament. more..

Dec 3 (Xinhua) Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has extended to the new president and the government her best wishes for peace and prosperity for all in the coming years, Daily News said Saturday. more..

Dec 3 (CI) Play was called off for the second day running at Chennai after an inspection by the umpires at 1pm. Providing that the rain stayed away, they remained optimistic of an early start on Sunday, with 97 overs pencilled in for each of the next three days. more..

Dec 4 (NIP) The government�s bid to repatriate a Sri Lankan refugee to his motherland was stayed by the Madurai Bench of the High Court on Friday. It also directed issue of notice to the Central and State Governments. Fathima Regana of Thiruppalaikudi in Thiruvadanai taluk of Ramanathapuram district filed a petition before the Bench in, which more..

Dec 4 (HT) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga's hefty retirement package is causing a flutter in Sri Lanka, receiving flak from the country's Supreme Court as well as the media. Alluding to the allocation of SLRs 29 million (US$ 290,000) for her upkeep in the Rajapaksa government's Appropriation Bill (Supplementary Budget) for 2006, more..

Dec 4 (AFP) President Mahinda Rajapakse has ordered an inquiry into former captain Sanath Jayasuriya's axing from the Test squad for the ongoing three-match series in India. "There were many requests for an investigation over the selections and I have asked sports minister Jeevan Kumaratunga to look into the matter," said Rajapakse on Saturday. more..

Dec 4 (TN) �Only creating conditions of normalcy will restore the denied human rights to our people. Sincere and committed implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) is necessary in the post-war situation as CFA can bring normalcy to a people affected by two decades of war that resulted in large scale displacement and destroyed the social and economic infrastructure,� more..

Dec 4 (UNI) Newly-elected Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's suggestion that India should take the lead in the peace talks with the LTTE was a "deliberate trap" laid by the Sri Lankan government to derail the peace process, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko today alleged. more..

Dec 4 (AP) The Sri Lankan military dispatched troops in the strategic port city of Trincomalee on Saturday after clashes between Muslims and Tamils left at least two people dead and two others wounded, the defense ministry said. more..

Dec 4 (AT) I am greatly delighted to participate in a ceremony today to honor our heroes who have fought and sacrificed their lives for our land and for our people. When I came to this hall a friend of mine told me that Anandasangaree Aiya (Sir) also has come to this meeting. His presence is good. He must be once introduced to us. I wish to hug and kiss him. more..

Dec 4 (AT) In an open letter addressed to the President, Prime Minister, a public warning has been issued that the International Community and the President and Prime Minster of Sri Lanka, should not to agree to any dialogue with the LTTE, unless the scope of the discussion and the ground rules are first set. more..