Nov 27 (AT) The Leader of the EPDP and Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare, Douglas Devananda has initiated immediate action to provide appropriate relief to the victims of the recent flooding in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna. Incessant heavy rains for over 24 hours flooded these areas. more..

Nov 27 (AT) The usual blue and beautiful sky along the eastern cost of Sri Lanka is still gloomy with uncertainty all around the villages in one side and the worst climatic condition on the other side. With the dawn of the new era for the President Mahinda Rajapakse last Friday morning (18 November), more..

Nov 27 (SAMN) The United National Party has appointed a committee of legal luminaries presided by one time Defence Minister Tilak Marapana to look into possibilities of going before the Courts and the International Community over the recently concluded presidential election. more..

Nov 27 (LNP) Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader Arumugam Thondaman is to be questioned by police on allegations that his party members misappropriated state funds. The questioning is a sequel to a Friday-night raid carried out by Colombo Crime Division`s special detectives more..

Nov 27 (LNP) The government will have to spend an additional Rs.10 billion next year to provide fertilizer subsidies, increase Samurdhi benefits and provide mid-day meals for school children as promised in the 'Mahinda Chintanaya', a Sunday Times study shows. more..

Nov 27 (LNP) A Vavuniya based group believed to be an LTTE-backed organization yesterday told the people of the area to be ready for their liberation from the 'clutches of racists'. The organisation describing itself as the `Wannian Force' in leaflets distributed in government-controlled areas of Vavuniya said: 'You have been forced against your wish to live in the controlled area of the enemy. more..

Nov 27 (TW) "The Sinhala nation continues to be entrapped in the Mahavamsa mindset, in that mythical ideology. The Sinhalese people are still caught up in the legendary fiction that the island of Sri Lanka is a divine gift to Theravada Buddhism, a holy land entitled to the Sinhala race. more..

Nov 27 (AP) Tamil Tiger guerrillas armed with rocket launchers and submachine guns patrolled near military positions in eastern Sri Lanka on Sunday, hours before their leader was expected to take a harder stance against the government on peace talks to end the island's two-decade civil war. more..

Nov 27 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels issued a fresh ultimatum to the government on Sunday, warning they would intensify their struggle unless given acceptable political powers, but the speech was less hawkish than some had expected. more..

Nov 28 (UNI) U N Secretary General Kofi Annan's second five-year term ends in December 2006, yet intense lobbying has begun in earnest for the world's most prominent diplomatic job with a handful of aspirants. Among those who would like to take over Mr Annan's position are, Sri Lankan diplomat Jayanta Dhanapala and Indian novelist Shashi Tharoor, more..

Nov 28 (NT) Sri Lanka has been negotiating with India for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to broaden two-way trade and commercial ties between the two countries. more..

Nov 28 (AFP) The Sri Lankan bowlers struggled in a tour game at Bangalore on Sunday ahead of the three-Test series against India set to begin on December 2 at Chennai. The visiting side's decision to field on the second day, after the opening day was washed out, did not get them any gains as the Indian Board President's XI reached 217-2 after a delayed start curtailed play to just 49 overs. more..

Nov 28 (Reuters) Authorities in Nepal urged religious groups and scientists on Sunday to help solve the mystery of a meditating teenaged boy who some believe is an incarnation of Buddha. At least 100,000 devotees from Nepal and neighbouring India have flocked in recent weeks to a dense forest in southeastern Nepal to see 15-year-old Ram Bahadur Bamjon, more..

Nov 28 (IRNA) Sri Lanka is the leading exporter of tea in the world notwithstanding that Kenya's 2004 figure of 326,000 tons foreign sales, exceeds Lanka's shipments of 290,000 tons during that year. Kenya who for around a decade running played second fiddle to Sri Lanka as the leading exporter of tea, volume-wise, more..

Nov 28 (HT) Proving the scare-mongering Colombo-based political pundits wrong, LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran took a soft line towards the new Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his annual Heroes' Day oration on Sunday. more..

Nov 28 (TT) When it takes hard work and patience to carve out even the first step to a peace process, the threat of a return to harder positions can be very disheartening. The elevation of the former prime minister of Sri Lanka, Mr Mahinda Rajapakse, to the chair of president of the island nation has, inevitably, given rise to such fears. more..

Nov 28 (CP) One month away from the first anniversary of South East Asia�s devastating tsunami, churches in Sri Lanka are helping to rebuild lives of people despite the presence of many environment constraints. more..

Nov 28 (TW) The Highest national honour conferred by Sri Lanka on non - nationals is the "Sri Lanka Rathna " award. Narasimhan Ram the Editor in chief of four Chennai based publications became the first Indian national to be awarded that honour on Nov 14th. more..

Nov 28 (AT) A Buddhist statue was placed opposite Dias & Dias Company at Duwawatte, Mabole, few years back which is predominantly Muslim area with Sinhalese Buddhist and Christian families also living in large numbers. more..

Nov 28 (AT) Despite various constraints like the political instability, frequently rising oil prices and the recent Tsunami disaster that has a lot of adverse effects on the economy, Sri Lanka has managed to develop and grow during the past two decades, said Alessandro Pio, Country Director, Asian Development Bank more..

Nov 28 (ANN) Still reeling from the recent assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lanka has again urged the world to ensure that terrorists or terrorist groups do not obstruct or destabilise the ongoing peace processes through acts of terrorism � such as targeted suicide assassinations. more..

Nov 28 (LT) Bill Clinton, former president of the USA arrives in Sri Lanka today (28th. The purpose of his visit is to monitor the reconstruction work for the tsunami displaced. Mr. Bill Clinton was nominated the representative of the UNO to monitor tsunami reconstruction work after the tsunami of 26th December, 2004 more..

Nov 28 (LT) All development projects and proposals that could be completed within a year would be included in the budget to be presented to the Parliament based on �Mahinda Chinthana� said Chief whip of the Government Mr. Jeryraj Fernandopulle. more..

Nov 28 (Hindu) The leader of the Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) V. Muralitharan (`Col.' Karuna) on Sunday said his group would welcome "only the mediation" of India and the U.K., as "only these two countries understand our problems very well." more..

Nov 28 (Hindu) The leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), V. Prabhakaran, on Sunday said "Sinhala-Buddhist racist forces" had prevented the emergence of a "congenial atmosphere of goodwill" between Colombo and the LTTE. more..

Nov 28 (Hindu) SRI LANKAN President Mahinda Rajapakse's Statement of Government Policy made before Parliament on November 25 is a reiteration of the key points in his election manifesto, Mahinda Chinthana (Mahinda's Vision). more..

Nov 28 (MB) Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin S. Abalos Sr. said yesterday that the Philippines could learn a lot from Sri Lanka on how to conduct a presidential election, particularly in the posting of election materials and streamers which can be found anywhere in that country during the campaign period but are strictly limited to the offices of the candidates. more..

Nov 28 (TN) The former President of the US and the UN special envoy on tsunami relief, Bill Clinton, arrived in Colombo at 2.30 pm today. He was received at the newly refurbished Bandaranaike International Airport by Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and UN officials in Colombo. more..

Nov 28 (LBO) Stocks in Sri Lankan rose Monday, led by John Keells Holdings Ltd., as investors took comfort after Tamil Tiger rebels set the government a one-year deadline for a 'reasonable' political settlement. The key All-Share Price Index gained 75 points or 3.4 percent to 2281.4, more..

Nov 28 (HT) In his Heroes' Day speech on Sunday, LTTE Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran confirmed a widely held belief in Sri Lanka, that he was ready to break the ceasefire agreement and go to war at the end of 2004, but the tsunami disaster thwarted his plans. more..

Nov 28 (SAMN) President Mahinda Rajapakse has directed officials to probe an attempt to pay millions of rupees from the President's Fund to various organisations. President Rajapakse has ordered a freeze on these payments and a full-scale investigation to ascertain the basis on which the payments had been authorised. more..

Nov 28 (SAMN) New Minister of Railways had fired 450 workers recruited on casual basis by the previous minister, railway union activists said Sunday. "Four hundred and fifty new recruits lost their jobs since November 27, on the orders of new Minister A. H. M. Fowzie. more..

Nov 28 (SAMN) It was reported that 24- year- old youth had been kept tied to a tree for 20 years at Kitulkote, in Thanamalwila. His parents said that from early childhood they used to tie him to a tree opposite their house as he was sick.His father H.P.Piyadasa, a daily paid labourer said that his son H.P. Pradeep Kumara was sick since he was four years old. more..

Nov 28 (LM) A recent survey has indicated that the Muslims in the country are more prone to suffer from diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, obesity and kidney disease in the country than any other community. This has been revealed by a survey which has been carried out by Professor of Medicine, University of Colombo Rezvi Sheriff. more..

Nov 28 (LM) Norwegian special peace envoy Eric Solheim has cancelled his visit to Sri Lanka scheduled for this week, the Norwegian embassy said. Solheim, who is also the Minister of International Development of the new Oslo government, was due to arrive in the country this week to meet the new Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and the LTTE leadership more..

Nov 28 (CI) Sri Lanka's batsmen faltered against spin at the start of their Test tour of India, leaving them short of confidence ahead of the first Test starting in Chennai on Friday. The tourists were reduced to 171-9 in reply to the Indian board president's X1 total of 317-4 before the rain-hit practice match was abandoned as a draw here on November 28. more..

Nov 28 (LNP) Contrary to reports, claims and speculation, a political pact between former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was unlikely, political sources said. Reports on the possibility of Kumaratunga entering Parliament, to fill in the vacancy created through the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, more..

Nov 28 (LNP) Three men who stealthily got into vehicles carrying goods to Jaffna and robbed goods were taken into custody by Karuwalagaswewa Police and were remanded till December 7 after being produced before Puttalam District Judge Amal Tilakaratne. more..

Nov 28 (LNP) LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran yesterday announced his movement would continue to maintain the current ceasefire with the government and adopt a 'wait and observe' period for a short time to see how the new President, Mahinda Rajapakse, dealt with the ethnic issue. more..

Nov 28 (BBC) A week after new president assumed office, the two sides in the country's long-running ethnic conflict have drawn their lines in the sand. Mahinda Rajapakse, the country's new president who is backed by hardliners opposed to any concession to the Tamil Tiger rebels, stated his position to the stalled peace process in his first speech to parliament on Friday. more..

Nov 28 (Reuters) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said on Monday he was willing to start immediate talks with Tamil Tiger rebels on improving a 2002 ceasefire, the day after the rebels made what many said was a veiled war threat. more..

Nov 28 (IANS) In a free and frank speech devoid of sabre-rattling, Tamil Tigers leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has used his annual address to take a significant leap towards eventual separation from Sri Lanka, while admitting in the same breath that his participation in the West-backed peace process so far was only a tactical exercise. more..

Nov 28 (LeN) It is reported that Chandrika Kumaraunga who retired from the Presidency has reserved five bullet proof vehicles, five Defender jeeps and several other vehicles. She has reserved these vehicles through a memorandum presented by her to the Cabinet. more..

Nov 28 (LeN) It is reported that former Deputy Minister Dalles Alahapperuma, who played a major 'behind the scene' role in Rajapaksa's election campaign is to be nominated to Parliament and appointed as Deputy Defense Minister. more..

Nov 28 (AP) Sri Lanka's newly elected President Mahinda Rajapakse called an emergency meeting of his aides Monday, a day after the top Tamil Tiger leader threatened to intensify the rebels' struggle for an independent homeland next year if the ethnic minority's grievances were not addressed. more..

Nov 28 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers and the new government must meet as soon as possible to revitalise a peace process that has hit rock bottom, the chief Nordic truce monitor said on Monday, warning some wanted a return to war. more..

Nov 28 (AFP) Sri Lanka's new president has invited Tamil Tiger rebels for peace talks a day after the separatist guerrillas issued a deadline for him to cut a peace deal quickly or risk a new war. more..

Nov 28 (AP) Government said Monday it is committed to a lasting peace with Tamil Tiger rebels and is taking steps to resume stalled peace talks. The comments came in response to a threat from the top leader of the LTTE that the rebels will intensify their struggle next year for an independent homeland in the northeast if Tamil grievances are not addressed. more..

Nov 28 (NQ) A WOMAN who has travelled to tsunami-devastated Sri Lanka is shocked and scandalised by the lack of progress being made to rebuild people's lives, despite millions being donated in aid. Nine months on from the huge tidal wave which flattened everything in its path, 82-year-old Senga Brealey paid a visit to one of the worst-hit areas on the island, Galle. more..

Nov 28 (BBC) The new government in Sri Lanka says it needs more time to prepare a peace proposal to be submitted to the Tamil Tigers. General Secretary of the UPFA and Education Minister Susil Premjayanth expressed hope that the new government will be able to achieve a long lasting peace. more..