Oct 6 (Xinhua) The SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem told reporters here Wednesday that the Muslim minority needs peace with dignity in dealing with the separatist ethnic question with the Tamil Tigers. Hakeem said peace and security of the minority Muslims would be the concern of the SLMC, the country's main Muslim party in the forthcoming presidential poll. more..

Oct 6 (AT) It has been brought to the attention of �Asian Tribune� of a denial by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka which appeared in the web edition of the �Island,� dated 05.10.05, one of the leading and a very popular English language newspapers of Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 6 (AT) A number of concessions are expected to be introduced by the Sri Lanka Government in its forthcoming budget to assist the local industrialists to improve their manufacturing activities and boost the country�s economy. more..

Oct 6 (AT) Sri Lankan Army in an exclusive report has questioned the bona fides on Non-government organizations working with LTTE, after the spate of arrests of HUMEDICA boats, given to tsunami-affected fishermen with large stocks of arms and belonging to LTTE in Kankesanthurai and Point Pedro seas along with Tamil Tiger cadres aboard. more..

Oct 6 (AT) Mahinda Rajapakse, Prime Minister and the ruling party candidate for forthcoming presidential election schedule for 17th November, is to contest under the United Peoples� Front Alliance Party banner with the betel leaf symbol. more..

Oct 6 (TP) Sri Lanka�s ambassador in Doha, S B Atugoda, yesterday urged the local authorities to release the Sri Lankan and Nepalese drivers of a private transport company who were arrested by the police during a strike recently. more..

Oct 6 (AT) Leader of the Ceylon Workers Congress, Arumugam Thondaman at a press conference held at his party office on Thursday said that The CWC would support the opposition leader and UNP candidate Ranil Wickremasinghe at the forthcoming presidential election. "We believe that Ranil will win and that is why we decided to support him." more..

Oct 6 (AT) Is Maheswaran confined and held against his will at Sri Kotha - the United National Party headquarters ? Similar questions were raised yesterday in the floor of the Sri Lanka Parliament when the UNP Member of Parliament was conspicuously absent during the question hour in the Parliament. more..

Oct 6 (TN) Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar met with LTTE Head of the Political Wing, Mr S P Thamilchelvan, at the Liberation Tigers Peace Secretariat, Kilinochchi. The discussions centered on the recent EU Statement and its effect on the peace process. Mr. Brattskar also explored the possibility of resuming peace negotiations early. more..

Oct 6 (TN) The Upcountry People's Front (UPF) Wednesday announced that it has decided to support Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe in the forthcoming general election. Mr.P.Chandrasekaran, Leader of the UPF told media persons in Colombo that he held several rounds of talks with UNP leaders, including Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe regarding UPF proposals to be included in the new government agenda. more..

Oct 6 (TN) The twenty fourth convocation at the Jaffna Campus was held Friday at 9.00 am at Kailasapath Hall presided by the Vice Chancellor of the University Professor S Mohanadas. Chancellor Professor M Sivasuriya awarded the degree certificates. more..

Oct 6 (TN) Are leaders of Sinhala community prepared to share state power with Tamils? Mr. V. Navaratnam, the only surviving founder member of the Federal Party that provided political leadership to Tamils for more than three decades since it was formed in 1949, and described as the brain behind FP, shared with TamilNet his views on Tamil National struggle. more..

Oct 6 (SLA) ONE POLICEMAN AND NINE CIVILIANS were seriously injured Thursday (06) afternoon at about 1.25 p.m. when suspected Tamil Tigers (LTTE) threw a hand grenade at an Army bowser, close to VIPULANANDA junction on VALAICHCHENAI-Jetty camp road while it was carrying water to troops. more..

Oct 6 (SLA) THE PRE-DOMINANTLY Muslim areas of KALMUNAI, AMPARA continue to remain paralysed for the second day after irate Muslim population made all Business institutes, Banks, Schools and Transport shut down their services and activities on Wednesday (05) in protest against continuing Tamil Tiger (LTTE) cycle of assassinations and other atrocities. more..

Oct 6 (SLA) Police investigators probing into the explosion inside the vehicle belonging to the Private Secretary to the Minister DOUGLAS DEVANANDA, Leader of the Eelam People�s Democratic Party (EPDP) Thursday (06) morning at about 7.45 a.m. in BAMBALAPITIYA are in the process of identifying the exact device that caused the blast. more..

Oct 6 (SLA) Tamil Tiger (LTTE) pistol men once more practised their terror tactics in PALLAIYUTTU area, about 2 km northwest of TRINCOMALEE town this morning (06) at about 10.30 a.m. by assassinating one more Eelam People�s Democratic Party (EPDP) activist while he was on his way to his mother. more..

Oct 6 (SLA) Decomposed remains of a Home Guard who had gone missing were recovered from the general area of ARIAMANKERNI, about 50 km east of TRINCOMALEE by the Police and Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) representatives on Wednesday (05). more..

Oct 6 (SLA) A few hundreds of arms-carrying Tamil Tigers clad in uniforms and civil clothes were observed moving towards POLONNARUWA-BATTICALOA Main Supply Route (MSR) from un-cleared areas in VAKANERI, about 7 km west of VALAICHCHENAI on Wednesday (05) evening around 5.45 p.m. more..

Oct 6 (SLA) Gun carrying two Tamil Tigers after storming a house in the general area of AMPARA Central Camp on Tuesday (04) kidnapped a twenty-year old youth while parents looked on, according to a Police complaint made on Wednesday (05 October 2005 around 09.00 a.m.). more..

Oct 6 (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe has a deep understanding of the economic difficulties facing the agriculture sector in this country. The UNP Presidential Candidate�s manifesto addresses a number of the critical issues that the government will address immediately after his election. more..

Oct 6 (LM) A woman identified as Kumari Cooray has been admitted to the Naional Hospital with serious burning injuries early this morning. According to Mr Palitha Siriwardena, OIC of the Kollupitiya Police Station this lady has come to the ice-cream manufacturing plant owned by Mr Rauf Hakeem around 3.00 a.m. this morning to meet Mr Hakeem. more..

Oct 6 (LT) Gampaha district MP Sripathi Sooriarachchi in a press release issued yesterday has accused that Ranil Wickramasinghe has planned to spend 1800 million rupees for his presidential election campaign and 120 million rupees has already been spent on TV and radio advertisements. more..

Oct 6 (LM) A writ application, seeking an order directing the IGP to take steps against JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa, in arresting and producing him before court of law and to have him accused and charged for alleged offences of criminal intimidation, insult and annoyance has been filed before the Court of Appeal. more..

Oct 6 (TP) Sri Lankan authorities have stepped up security for the country�s two main presidential candidates following reports that Tamil rebel suicide squads have arrived in the capital to assassinate the two top politicians, news reports said today. more..

Oct 6 (TP) Lanka�s presidential poll next month has thrown up an unexpected candidate � businessman Victor Hettigoda, owner of the Siddhalepa group which has been famous for its ayurveda treatment and soothing balms. This is probably the first time a local entrepreneur is entering the presidential fray. more..

Oct 6 (ANN) It�s a sunny afternoon. Sudesh, 15, and two friends are strolling leisurely to tuition class. Three men approach them, asking for directions. Without warning, the men pull out wads of cloth and shove them against the noses of the unsuspecting boys. The fabric is doused with something that knocks them out. Swiftly, they are bundled into a vehicle and taken away. more..

Oct 6 (ANN) UNP parliamentarian Navin Dissanayake makes no revelation when he says Sri Lanka is the only country where the assassinations of political leaders are not properly probed. One can appreciate his pain, being the son of a murdered father. Some vital documents pertaining to his father Gamini Dissanayake's assassination have gone missing and the investigations stalled. more..

Oct 6 (SAMN) Efforts are being made to involve Foreign Minister Anura Bandaranaike in Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse�s presidential election campaign. If the ongoing talks succeed, Bandaranaike, now overseas is likely to join the campaign in a few days. Bandaranaike who accompanied President Chandrika Kumaratunga to the World Summit mid-last month is yet to return. more..

Oct 6 (SAMN) The UNP yesterday said those who had tried and failed to bribe both the CWC and SLMC against supporting Ranil Wickremesinghe's candidature, at the forthcoming presidential election, were now making baseless allegations. more..

Oct 6 (TN) The passing out parade of the first batch of academic staff of schools in the LTTE controlled Muttur east area, who underwent military training as part of the LTTE auxilliary unit, was held Tuesday evening at Sampoor. The unit consisted of ninety two members, sources said. more..

Oct 6 (LNP) A competitive exam that would give 1,000 of the best students, mainly from rural schools, entry to leading schools in the country, would be implemented by Ranil Wickremesinghe, if elected he is president, the UNP said yesterday. more..

Oct 6 (LNP) Bringing to end months of speculation The Ceylon Workers Congress confirmed it would support Opposition leader and UNP candidate Ranil Wickremasinghe at the forthcoming presidential election. `We believe that Ranil will win and that is why we decided to support him,` CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman told reporters yesterday (5). more..

Oct 6 (DN) With nominations for the Presidential Election just a day away, the Presidential race has entered a crucial phase with both main candidates raising the profile of their campaigns. SLFP candidate Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and UNP candidate Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will increase the number of public meetings more..

Oct 6 (AFP) Sri Lanka's minority parties have aligned with the two main contenders for next month's presidential election hoping to be kingmakers, but analysts say it is the Tamil Tiger rebels who will end up calling the shots. more..

Oct 6 (AP) Doctors and nurses clapped and lit candles on a 4-kilogram (9-pound) butter cake Thursday to celebrate the first birthday of the first quintuplets born in Sri Lanka. "I am so happy that all the babies are alive and healthy," said Dr. Ranjith Almeda, more..

Oct 6 (MO) The election for a new United Nations Secretary-General is more than a year away but Sri Lanka has already started a sustained campaign for its candidate - career diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala. Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has written letters to all 191 member states more..

Oct 6 (Reuters) A booby-trapped van exploded outside the Colombo home of an aide to a minister opposed to the Tamil Tigers on Thursday, but no one was seriously hurt. Police said it was unclear who was behind the attack, but the office of ethnic Tamil minister Douglas Devananda, who was once a militant and says he has been repeatedly targeted by the Tigers, blamed the rebels. more..

Oct 6 (AP) The only ethnic minority Tamil who had announced a run for Sri Lanka's presidency withdrew from the race Thursday after failing to win support from the Tamil Tiger guerillas. "I did not get the expected support from the LTTE," said A.R Arudpragasam more..

Oct 6 (Xinhua) The government plans to set up a modern gem testing laboratory which can issue internationally accepted test certificates within the next few months. "What we need is to set up a gem testing lab and this must be done within this year," said Rohitha Bogollagamahe, more..

Oct 6 (AP) A Norwegian diplomat Thursday asked Tamil Tiger rebels to halt political assassinations and child conscription as continued violence threatens to derail Sri Lanka's fragile cease-fire, officials said. Hans Brattskar, Norway's ambassador to Sri Lanka met the Tamil Tigers' political head S.P. Thamilselvan at the northern rebel-held capital of Kilinochchi. more..

Oct 7 (LBO) Tropical Pleasure (Pvt) Ltd., a unit of the boutique hotel Elephant Corridor, will splash Rs. 350 million to expand into a hotel school and buy up aristocratic homes to house discerning travelers. more..

Oct 7 (LBO) Line agencies have been given four to six weeks to speed up clearances for tourism development projects, in a Cabinet decision passed on Wednesday. All ministries and departments have a maximum of four weeks to grant project approval and if there is no response within this time, the project will be taken as approved, more..

Oct 7 (LBO) Sri Lanka�s tea exports have not caught up with its fast growing production this year, with the difference between the two quantities notching up to 27 million kilos, up from an average 10 million kilos in other years. more..

Oct 7 (AT) For several years it has been the sad story of the country�s rice bowl boiling with the tears of the farmers who have toiled to obtain bumper harvests and selling their paddy �for a song�. The position is so pathetic and miserable that there were incidents of selling a kilo of paddy for rupees five, while a coconut is sold at more than Rs 12 per nut more..

Oct 7 (AT) Mr. Sarath Wijesinghe, a practicing lawyer from London has sent in his clarifications to the news report appeared in the Asian Tribune, on 03 October under the title 'Lanka government-backed secret group in London'. It is difficult to describe whether his statement was a request or a demand. more..

Oct 7 (AT) France's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Philippe Douste-Blazy and the Leader of the Socialist Party Mr. Fran�ois Hollande called on President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Thursday, for separate meetings at the Presidential suite of her Paris hotel. more..

Oct 7 (HS) DARRELL Hair sensed his decision to no-ball Muthiah Muralidaran could have ended both of their careers. He didn't want it to be that way but he half expected it. Yet tonight, 10 years after the event, cricket's odd couple are on stage again in Melbourne in the second Super Series match at Telstra Dome. more..

Oct 7 (TV) Sri Lankan Airlines is expanding in the U.S. and Canadian markets by opening new sales offices, adding service out of New York and joining ARC to provide ticket distribution for travel agents. Beginning in November 2005, Sri Lankan Airlines will fly twice daily from New York�s JFK International Airport to Colombo, more..

Oct 7 (WI) The LTTE said today that the Tamil people in the war-ravaged North-East "do not need any guidance" in deciding whom to cast votes in the forthcoming Presidential election to be held on November 17. LTTE's political wing head, S P Thamilselvan made the remarks at a meeting with Norway's Ambassador for Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar, more..

Oct 7 (DT) Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan�s wife Madhimalar is sixth months pregnant and expected to give birth to their first child later this year, it was reliably learnt on Thursday. Murali is playing the ICC Super Series in Australia. His performance in the first one-dayer was average as he claimed two wickets. more..