Sep 3 (SAMN) The train strike begun by the Locomotive Operating Engineers Union (LOEU) entered its fourth day yesterday with little sign of a settlement, and the Railways Ministry maintaining its stand not to give in to the unions� demands. more..

Sep 3 (SAMN) The JVP ended rumours that it would field a candidate for the presidential polls by announcing that it would support the ruling party candidate Mahinda Rajapakse. The decision was taken following three rounds of talks between Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva, more..

Sep 3 (SAMN) Upcountry People Front members including two provincial councillors who had pledged their support to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse will be taken to task, party leader P. Chandrasekaran said yesterday. more..

Sep 3 (LNP) President Chandrika Kumaratunga ' due to return from China tomorrow -- is reportedly unhappy about certain political developments within her own party and has summoned an emergency meeting of the policy-making SLFP central committee. more..

Sep 3 (LNP) SLFP Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse`s pledge to hold direct talks with LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran without the intervention of foreign facilitators drew mixed reactions from political parties yesterday. more..

Sep 3 (Xinhua) Bangladeshi Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Fakhrul Azamwill will arrive in Sri Lanka on Sunday for a five-day visit, the Daily News reported Saturday. He is due to call on President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Deputy Defense Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. more..

Sep 3 (PTI) China, actively campaigning against the G-4 draft resolution on UN reforms, has roped in Sri Lanka to back its stance against time-bound reform of the world body even as the two sides discussed possibilities of setting up institutional links between SAARC and Beijing. more..

Sep 3 (PIS) PRESIDENT Chandrika Kumaratunga said yesterday it was her Government which initiated a negotiated settlement to the country's ethnic conflict. Interviewed by China's prestigious CCTV Network, President Kumaratunga said she was able to restore democracy and law and order which had broken down in the country when she took over the Government a decade ago. more..

Sep 4 (LBO) Top Indian banker and one of the most influential business people in the world according to Fortune magazine and the Wall Street Journal, Naina Kidwai, says the type of investment flows are a good indication about the level of confidence in coalition governments. more..

Sep 4 (LBO) The Sethusamudram canal set to be operational from 2008 will give a continuous navigable route around the Indian peninsular linking the west coast of India with its east. While the canal is expected to impact economic activity in Southern India shippers here are worried about the fallout on the Colombo Port's status as a hub. more..

Sep 4 (SLA) One police constable attached to the KALMUNAI Police station was airlifted to COLOMBO National Hospital for an immediate surgery after he was severely injured when a group of unidentified LTTE cadres fired at the Police officers who were on duty in front of KALMUNAI Assistant Superintend of Police (ASP) office more..

Sep 4 (SLA) Two unidentified persons who came on a motorbike have lobbed a hand grenade and fired at the LTTE political office in the general area of KALAWANCHIKUDY on 04 September 2005 around 6.50 a.m. causing death to one LTTE cadre. more..

Sep 4 (SLA) Two LTTE cadres have been arrested by the troops on 03 September 2005 around 9.20 a.m at the MUHAMALAI entry/exit point after troops found one live pistol ammunition from the possession of one LTTE cadre. more..

Sep 4 (SLA) On information received by the THAMBALAGAMUWA police, one Tamil person wanted by police in connection to assassination attempt on a Parliamentarian has been arrested on 03 September 2005 around 3.15 p.m. more..

Sep 4 (SLA) US donated seven more Mine Detection Dogs of best pedigrees and their Army Handlers upon receipt of their graduation in Palaly, Jaffna passed out on Tuesday (30), adding a further boost to the Army�s ongoing De-mining work in Jaffna peninsula and the east of Sri Lanka. more..

Sep 4 (SLA) The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has sought an assurance from the ruling party and the opposition that the community would be given an autonomous Muslim-majority administrative unit in the LTTE-dominated Eastern Province. more..

Sep 4 (LT) After surveying the political set back they would have to face with, the JHU has decided not to contest Presidential Election by itself. Accordingly the party is considering supporting Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse at the PE on certain conditions. more..

Sep 4 (AT) November will be the month of political carnivals in Sri Lanka where people in the South will be very busy participating in the entertainments offered by their political heroes, while in the North, as usual, the Tamil Tigers would come up with some sort of explanation to order the Tamils to boycott the presidential election. more..

Sep 4 (AT) The European Union is due to discuss very shortly Sri Lanka�s appeal to have the LTTE added to the EU�s list of terrorist organisations. If the EU does so, several sanctions will follow including a ban on travel to European capitals by LTTE leaders, a ban on fundraising and other severe restrictions. more..

Sep 4 (AT) As the island wide railway strike, launched by the engine drivers entered its fourth day on Saturday, Railways Minister Felix Perera vowed not to budge an inch and told the engine drivers that the Department is not their �monopoly� more..

Sep 4 (AT) Though garment industry is considered as the highest foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka, the foreign employment agencies claim that the net earnings remitted to the country by migrant workers would be the highest, but more..

Sep 4 (ANN) The Catholic Bishop�s Conference (CBC) in Sri Lanka has protested plans to introduce a Bill on Women�s rights which it claims would legalise abortion and recognise prostitution as a woman�s right. more..

Sep 4 (GT) POLICE yesterday seized nearly 8,000 ballot papers for the next presidential elections from a house in Nugegoda. Police are investigating how such a vast quantity of ballot papers came to a residence. more..

Sep 4 (HT) President and chief of the SLFP, Chandrika Kumaratunga, has summoned an emergency meeting of the party's Central Committee on Sunday, apparently alarmed by determined moves by a powerful section of her party to strike an alliance with the "troublesome" JVP for the forthcoming presidential polls. more..

Sep 4 (AP) A woman was arrested for acting suspiciously at an election rally led by the prime minister amid tightened security for Sri Lanka�s top politicians following the assassination of the foreign minister, police and officials said yesterday. more..

Sep 4 (UNI) Sri Lanka's outgoing President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, has reportedly sought a greater UN role in the Norwegian-facilitated peace process with the Tamil Tiger rebels, resulting in the arrival of a senior UN diplomat in Colombo on Friday night as a special envoy of Secretary-General Kofi Annan. more..

Sep 4 (CI) Sri Lanka sealed a predictable 3-0 series whitewash as they strolled to a six-wicket win against Bangladesh in the third and final one-dayer of a disappointingly one-sided series. Bangladesh started the day brightly enough, but never recovered from a spectacular collapse in which six wickets tumbled during the space of just 26 balls. more..

Sep 4 (BBC) The UNP has decided to support the peoples protest against the Norachcholai coal power plant said parliamentarian Niomal Perera. Speaking to Sandeshaya Perera outlined protest action intended to be carried out in the Kalpitiya area where the proposed coal power pant is to be set up with Chinese aid. more..

Sep 4 (PIS) Sri Lanka and China resolved to fight against the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism, said a joint communiqu� issued by the two countries at the conclusion of the official visit of President Chandrika Kumaratunga to China from August 30 to September 2. more..

Sep 4 (PIS) Two urgent telephone calls from President Chandrika Kumaratunga to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan seeking an enhanced role for the world body in Sri Lanka's peace process have triggered the arrival of a senior UN diplomat in Colombo while causing a flurry of activity in diplomatic circles here about Norway's future status as peace broker. more..

Sep 4 (SAMN) Sri Lanka has no Constitutional Council (CC), no independent Election Commission and is possibly facing another major election without a National Police or Public Service Commission, legal sources said yesterday. more..

Sep 4 (CO) An unnamed Sri Lankan spin bowler has been implicated in new match-fixing allegations stemming from the arrest of bar girl Tarannum in Mumbai earlier this week. Several Indian news outlets have reported that the girl, whose unaccounted wealth led to an investigation by India's income tax department, more..

Sep 4 (LNP) One hundred and twenty persons passed out in the first batch of special trained village level civil force in Ganeshapuram Central Grounds last week in LTTE-controlled Muttur East in the Trincomalee district. more..

Sep 4 (SO) The two Presidential candidates Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe are engaged in intense negotiations to obtain the one million bloc vote of the two dominant minority parties, the SLMC and the CWC to gain a clear edge at the 2005 Presidential Election. more..

Sep 4 (AFP) UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi was in Sri Lanka to help revive the country's faltering peace process after a request for help from President Chandrika Kumaratunga, a press report and officials said. more..

Sep 5 (PSL) The World Energy Council (WEC) Executive Assembly for 2005 kicked off at the BMICH in Colombo today. The Executive Assembly is WEC�s Annual General meeting. The event will conclude on Friday (September 9th), with a special feature on the Sri Lankan energy sector. more..

Sep 5 (SLA) Barely a couple of hours after Tamil Tigers murdered a soldier at SITTANDY, another soldier manning a sentry point at the turn to BLACK BRIDGE in the crowded CHENKALADY town was gunned down by LTTE Monday (5) evening at about 4.45 p.m. after lobbying a hand grenade before firing. more..

Sep 5 (SLA) The victimized soldier in the Sunday (04) evening Tamil Tiger firing at SITTANDY junction when he was carrying food to fellow-soldiers died of his severe gunshot injuries late in the night after he was evacuated to POLONNARUWA Hospital for urgent surgery. more..

Sep 5 (SLA) Eight sand collectors have been held against non-payment of ransom to Tamil Tigers in the general un-cleared area of KODUWAMADU, BATTICALOA and later released against payment of Rs. 40,000/= (US$ 400) as fines for non-payment of so-called LTTE �taxes� on sand collecting. more..

Sep 5 (SLA) Unidentified Tamil Tigers in their desperate bids to provoke members of the Armed Forces and the Police once again on Sunday (04) night around 8.45 p.m. lobbed two hand grenades at Police personnel on duty, close to the Telecom junction in the general area of KALAWANCHIKUDY, BATTICALOA. more..

Sep 5 (SLA) A hand grenade targeted at MANNAR Eelam People�s Democratic Party (EPDP) leader, HARISCHANDRAN missed its target and instead hit a civilian�s house in the general area of MANNAR town during pre-dawn hours on Monday (05). more..

Sep 5 (LBO) National carrier SriLankan Airlines will slap on another US$ 30 to US$ 50 surcharge on tickets from September 15, as surging jet fuel prices threatens to erode profits this year. The airline has raised prices several times in the past 18 months, more..

Sep 5 (LM) The JHU has decided not to field its own candidate for Presidency, accordingly the party is considering conditional support to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse at the Presidential elections political sources said. more..

Sep 5 (LM) The Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) is expected to announce today its decision on its position for the Presidential polls, party sources said. The CWC politburo under the leadership of Minister Arumugam Thondaman is expected to meet today at the party head quarters Saumya Bawan more..

Sep 5 (TP) The opposition UNP and the main ruling SLFP parties have agreed to avoid the use of polythene for election decorations at the request of Environment Minister A H M Fowzie. �Our party doesn�t support the use of polythene and we welcome Minister Fowzie�s proposal. more..

Sep 5 (TP) A group of Sri Lankan-American doctors based in the US under the banner of the Sri Lanka Medical Association for North America (Slamana) have organised themselves to go to Louisiana to help in the post-hurricane work in the state of New Orleans, newspapers said. more..

Sep 5 (LT) As many people rightly predicted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha was able to get through the central committee and executive council meetings of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party held yesterday (04th) leaving no room for any controversial situation. more..

Sep 5 (LT) The chief organizer of the opposition of Central Provincial Council says he would support Prime Minister Mahanda Rajapakse to win the Presidential Election. He is the brother of S.B. Dissanayake, National Organizer of the UNP now serving a two year prison term for insulting the Supreme Court. more..

Sep 5 (LT) The person who had made available lodging and other facilities for those who made an unsuccessful attempt on the life of JVP Parliamentarian for Trincomalee District Jayanthe Wijesekera has been arrested. He is Sundarapillai Madiwadan, a resident of Thambalagamuwa in Trincomalee. more..

Sep 5 (LT) Peace talks should commence only if GOSL was willing to agree to fulfill the demands of the Tamil people in the North and the East says wanni tiger organization. A proposal on this line was passed at the Tamil National Convention, a summit organized by wanni tiger organization. more..