Feb 13 (ZN) Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka began a protest campaign in the capital Colombo demanding that President Mahinda Rajapakse abrogate the Norway-brokered ceasefire between Tamil Tiger separatists and government troops. Yellow-robed monks of the National Bhikku Front (NBF) staged a Satyagraha near a statue of Buddha at the Vihara Maha Devi Park in the city centre ahead of the fifth anniversary of the truce, which falls on February 22. more..

Feb 13 (AFP) A civilian was gunned down in Sri Lanka's restive north, while security forces traded fire with Tamil Tiger rebels elsewhere, the defence ministry said. Unidentified gunmen shot dead a Tamil civilian in the northern district of Jaffna in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the ministry said in a statement. more..

Feb 13 (HT) Dr Kim Howells, British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, now on an official mission of peace to Sri Lanka, has debunked the Sri Lankan government's bid to solve the ethnic problem by scoring a military victory over the LTTE. "Our experience tells us that a War for Peace approach inevitably means more war, rather than peace," Howells said in a statement released by the British High Commission. more..

Feb 13 (HT) Dissidents in the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) seem to be heading for isolation, given the manifest lack of support for their cause, especially within the party. The three dissidents, Mangala Samaraweera, Anura Bandaranaike and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, who were sacked from the Council of Ministers by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week, have been unable to hold a press conference till date. more..

Feb 14 (AT) Local scientists propose that development of an effective amateur radio voice communication network to be used during disaster situations. T.D.N.Perera of Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa said every established landline and electromagnetic forms of communication come to a standstill during a disaster. more..

Feb 14 (AT) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has used political bait to try and secure a coup that can deprive the concept of Tamil �Eelam� of much of its geographical entity on the eastern seaboard of the island nation. The intent and purpose of the large-scale migration of Members of Parliament (MPs) from the opposition to the treasury benches has the effect of bolstering the Supreme Court�s ruling that the merger of the North and the East Provinces as a prelude to devolution of power was illegal. more..

Feb 14 (LBO) Lanka IOC, a unit of the Indian Oil Corporation, is poised to grab more market share from the country's dominant state-owned petroleum distributor and gain from a leaner cost base, an equities research house has said. With the government apparently abandoning plans to bring in a third player the field was clear for LIOC to widen its market share, Asia Securities Research said in a report. more..

Feb 14 (AFP) High taxes and rigid labour laws are weighing on business confidence in troubled Sri Lanka, which is one of the worst places to do business in South Asia, a new World Bank study says. The research ranks 175 countries around the world on trade, taxation, business start-up costs, labour laws and legal procedures. more..

Feb 14 (TW) The on going conflict between the Government and the LTTE has led to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians. Though people of all communities have suffered the consequences of war - in different degrees - it is the North - Eastern Tamil civilian who has borne the brunt of it. The dastardly murder of a Hindu priest is a sad illustration of the pathetic plight that ordinary Tamil civilians are placed in as both sides pursue their dirty war. more..

Feb 14 (ML) President Mahinda Rajapakse is expected to have a one-to-one meeting with former National Heritage Minister Anura Bandaranaike today and offer him a top cabinet portfolio to overcome the crisis in government. Two of the ministries under consideration for offer as indicated to Bandaranaike, it is learnt, are the Foreign Affairs Ministry or the Ports and Aviation Ministry. more..

Feb 14 (ML) The UNP on Monday submitted a list of crucial issues that need to be deliberated by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) in seeking a solution to the ethnic crisis. UNP MP and representative, K.N. Choksy submitted the proposals to Science and Technology Minister and Chairman, APRC, Professor Tissa Vitharana last week. The submission of the list by Choksy was at the request of the APRC at the previous session. more..

Feb 14 (ML) Ranil Wickremesinghe made, I think, what he thinks is a speech of statesman-like prophesy, not to mention dignified grace, in the face of political cuckoldry when parliament reconvened this week following the reshuffle farce. In this he warned of dark times ahead where "we will witness in the coming weeks an increase in the violation of human rights, deterioration of good governance, spread of corruption, undermining of democracy, and the rising cost of living." more..

Feb 14 (ML) EPDP Secretary General and Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda in an interview with The Morning Leader said that as long as Pirapaharan is alive he will never allow the ethnic issue to be resolved amicably. Devananda said that Pirapaharan�s main problem is that he is unable to survive within the democratic mainstream and wants a piece of land to rule as a dictator. more..

Feb 14 (LT) Members of 15 farmer associations came down to the streets today protesting against selling the ownership of water resources to multi national companies. A large number of farmers participated at the protest campaign held opposite Fort Railway Station. A leaflet was distributed stating that the government is deceitfully preparing to privatize water resources and calling everyone to rally to defeat the vile attempt of the government. more..

Feb 14 (AT) TMVP led by Colonel Karuna released seven more underage children who voluntarily went to join their organization. S.Padmini, Secretary of the TMVP�s Political Headquarters told that TMVP handed over seven underage children who came to join their organization to their parents through the UNICEF on 12 February, at 'Meenaham' the Political Secretariat Head office of the East located in Batticaloa. more..

Feb 14 (LBO) Sri Lanka's national Ceylon Electricity Board has raised the tariff for existing mini-hydro plants by about 19 percent during the crucial wet season, when most of the power is generated. The Ceylon Electricity Board has raised the wet season tariff by 1.12 rupees to 6.94 per kiloWatthour and the dry season tariff by 91 cents (13.5 percent) to 7.64 rupees. more..

Feb 14 (LBO) Sri Lanka stocks lost pace following early gains Wednesday, with profit taking capping a week long run on telecom shares, dealers said. The All Share Price Index slipped 5.75 (0.19 percent) points to 3,010.67 and the Milanka Index lost 13.67 (0.33 percent) points to 4,180.67, CSE provisional data said. more..

Feb 14 (LBO) Sri Lanka has stepped into the murky world of futures and options by hedging part of its future oil payments for March, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Chairman said Wednesday. The national oil company signed off an option collar for 150,000 barrels of oil at a strike price of 70 dollars with Standard Chartered Bank. more..

Feb 14 (GDI) Minister and the Defense Spokesmen- Keheliya Rambukwella said that recent incidents and findings of the investigation officials, specially in relate with the terrorists movements have revealed that by knowingly or unknowingly some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGO) in Sri Lanka had helped certain terrorists activities. more..

Feb 14 (GDI) The first committee meeting of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) was held on the 12th and 13th of this month which will assist the Commission of Inquiry to investigate and inquire into alleged violations of human rights in Sri Lanka. The committee took in to consideration and probe investigations into three cases out of the fifteen mandated more..

Feb 14 (GDI) Four youth, forcibly conscripted and undergone a military training by the LTTE, have surrendered to the Army camp at Batticaloa � in the Eastern part of the island, Media Centre for National Security states. Further as per this confirmed military information two of these deserters are of underage. more..

Feb 14 (GDI) �We hope that the new coalition government will be able to enable the parties to work together for the common good of the country,� stated the British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in a statement made on his visit to Sri Lanka. In his statement he added that a broad political consensus for peace is essential. more..

Feb 14 (LT) 82 women who were shut out from a factory in Mauritius arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday. According to them there are about 450 more women who have been shut out from the factory and wandering about without any shelter. They were made to work long hours violating all service conditions, harassed and when complained to the authorities were shut out of the factory said most of the women. more..

Feb 14 (ToI) Three Sri Lankan nationals, including a woman, have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment in a narcotics case by a district court here. Additional District and Sessions Judge Thajudeen Koya awarded the punishment on Tuesday to the Sri Lankans of Tamil origin after they were found guilty of possessing heroin in a case registered in April 2005. more..

Feb 14 (AT) Smuggling of explosive components used to fabricate bombs capable of exploding in the water as well as in the land continues unabatedly from Tamil Nadu, India. Indian Navy arrested two persons within the Indian waters with more than 100 kilograms of explosives in the midsea to be delivered to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. more..

Feb 14 (LNP) The government yesterday emphasized it was not on an offensive to capture land from the LTTE even as the military said the fall of Thoppigala, possibly the last major LTTE bastion in the east, was close at hand and the north would be next. A top military officer told the DailyMirror that moves to get the LTTE out of Thoppigala were gathering pace and would be the final thrust in liberating the east. more..

Feb 14 (LNP) Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) yesterday informed Chief Magistrate, Kusala Sarojini Weerawardene, that the Army Major taken into custody over the transfer of army secrets to the LTTE, has sold Army secrets in return for monetary considerations according to an understanding reached with LTTE Intelligence Deputy Chief, Kapil Amman. more..

Feb 14 (LNP) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to appoint a commission to investigate into the following irregularities, malpractices and several other misdeeds in the Ports Authority, the Government sources revealed. The sources also said the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has also decided to investigate these irregularities. more..

Feb 14 (LNP) The JVP yesterday said it would not be a party to any alliance which included the Tamil National Alliance as the TNA had recognized the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamil speaking people. The JVP dismissed reports and speculation that it would join an alliance which would include the TNA and the UNP. Speculation was rising that the JVP, UNP and the TNA were going to form an alliance to take over the opposition in the Parliament. more..

Feb 14 (SAMN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday hit out at European countries for accusing the government of human rights violations while being blind to the LTTE atrocities. He also blamed Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for tearing off the MoU the two parties entered into to support the country�s peace effort and even vowed not to have dealings with anyone who betrays the country. more..

Feb 14 (SAMN) The JVP Tuesday said it would not be a party to any alliance which included the Tamil National Alliance as the TNA had recognized the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamil speaking people. The JVP dismissed reports and speculation that it would join an alliance which would include the TNA and the UNP. Speculation was rising that the JVP, UNP and the TNA were going to form an alliance to take over the opposition in the Parliament. more..

Feb 14 (SAMN) The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has taken legal action against 270 hotels, bakeries, restaurants and supermarkets for selling unhygienic food in 2006 according to its Chief Medical Officer (CMO). CMO Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam was of the view that unless the CMC takes legal action or reprimand the owners, they will never change for the better. more..

Feb 14 (SAMN) The Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Marketing Development has decided to stabilise the prices of essential goods for the period of March to May 2007. This stabilization measures is being carried out in accordance with the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No: 09 of 2003. The Ministry has invited importers to produce the prices at which they import essential goods; and therefore 176 importers have applied for the tenders. more..

Feb 14 (DN) The Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training has introduced a practical system to overcome the shortage of skilled manpower by starting a National Vocational Qualification System (NVQ). Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake was the chief guest at the inaugural NVQ Certificate Awarding Ceremony held at the BMICH. more..

Feb 14 (DN) Two Sri Lankans who were among the people hurt on Sunday's blaze at a detention centre in the South Korean Port of Yeosu are in perfectly good health condition, Sri Lankan Ambassador in Korea Asitha Perera told the Daily News yesterday. "However, there is an inquiry going on and the two Sri Lankans will have to give statements on the incident which took place at Chonju Detention Centre. more..

Feb 14 (DM) Ousted Minister Mangala Samaraweera is today likely to send a strongly worded letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa outlining the conditions on which he would rejoin the Cabinet, sources close to Mr. Samaraweera told Daily Mirror. The letter which was initially scheduled to be sent yesterday went through several changes following consultations the former minister had with his confidants. more..

Feb 14 (DM) Amidst political turmoil after the sacking of two ministers and a non-Cabinet minister, the government has approached UNP reformists, to rope in three more crossovers, to their ranks. The reformists, who met for the first time officially, after joining the government, discussed such issues, with emphasis being placed on the need to consolidate the government�s position, without compelling President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to declare a snap poll. more..

Feb 14 (CI) Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni put their heads down, indulged in some good old-fashioned singles and twos, went on to score half-centuries, and saw India overcome the early loss of wickets to reach the target of 231. Dravid and Dhoni's 133-run partnership was fitting culmination to Zaheer Khan's splendid effort earlier in the day when he destroyed the Sri Lankan batting order with his first one-day five-for. more..

Feb 14 (SL) Chaminda Vaas is a man with a very clear idea of the future. The Sri Lanka all-rounder turned 33 this year, yet he does not plan on retiring before adding to his current impressive tally of runs and wickets. Vaas has already entered the record books as one of the only players to have achieved the 'all-rounder's double' (2000 runs/200 wickets) in Test matches, as well as over 300 wickets in one-day internationals. more..

Feb 14 (TN) LTTE, in a report issued by the Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi, Wednesday stated that the LTTE which runs a civil administration with "extensive civil services," in which it's members take part, was entitled as a "functioning defacto-state" to recruit those above the age of 17. The Tigers were prepared to observe the minimum age of 18 when this practice has been accepted as an international standard by all the states, more..

Feb 14 (APP) The Sri Lankan Minister for Investment and Enterprise Development, Manowija has said that there is vast scope for investment and trade expansion between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Speaking at an Investment Conference organised by Sri Lankan's Board of Investment at a local hotel here Wednesday, the visiting Minister said Pak-SL ties are very old but further efforts were needed in the investment and trade sectors. more..

Feb 14 (IPS) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) shut its Colombo office this month saying it no longer had a Sri Lankan programme, but economists and civil activists say the Fund is still expected to keep a watch over this war-battered nation. "I doubt the IMF will stay away for long. Look � the government disbursed just 20 percent of foreign funds each year (from all donors) but still the IMF chose to remain (despite all the criticism)," noted Sarath Fernando, a well-known civil society activist. more..

Feb 14 (CO) Sri Lankan navy allegedly opened fire at fishermen from Tamil Nadu and destroyed a boat while they were fishing in the Indian territorial waters. According to the Fisheries Department officials, Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrived in interceptor boats and opened fire Monday night. They completely damaged one boat, beat up the fishermen and took away the fish and nets. more..

Feb 14 (Hindu) Just a few weeks after the seizure of huge quantity of ball bearings meant for the Liberation Tigers of Tami Ealem, the Navy on Monday seized components used for making improvised explosive devices (IEDs) off the Rameswaram coast. Two persons were arrested. The seized consignment was meant for the LTTE, Commodore Phillip Van Haltren, Naval Officer in Charge, Tamil Nadu, told The Hindu. more..

Feb 14 (HT) In what could well be the biggest seizure of deadly explosives from the LTTE to date, the Sri Lankan Army on Tuesday found 690 kg of C-4 in an abandoned house in Ariyalai in Jaffna district, thanks to information provided by a local Tamil civilian. Army spokesman, Brig Prasad Samarasinghe, told the media Colombo on Wednesday, that the C-4 was packed in 30 boxes wrapped in polythene. more..

Feb 14 (HT) To put further pressure on Mangala Samaraweera, the ring leader of the dissidents in the ruling SLFP, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to investigate his "misdeeds" when he was a cabinet minister. The state-owned Daily News reported on Wednesday, that the President had decided to appointed a commission to investigate "irregularities, malpractices and misdeeds" in the Ports Authority. more..

Feb 14 (AFP) Three rebels, a policeman and a security guard were killed in Sri Lanka's restive eastern province as Britain's junior foreign minister Kim Howells toured projects in the area funded by the former colonial power. Security forces killed three Tiger rebels during clashes across eastern Ampara district which also claimed the lives of a police commando and a village security guard, police said Wednesday. more..

Feb 14 (LeN) Security forces have arrested another 7 suspects who are believed to be members of underworld political group for having connections with the LTTE and obtaining military training in Kilinochchi. Speaking to the media in Colombo this morning Defense Spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that some C4 explosives and claymores which were hidden were found on information disclosed by the suspects during interrogation. more..

Feb 14 (LBO) Traders and businessmen could easily navigate through Sri Lanka's plethora of taxes and customs regulations, through a single searchable database being rolled out for public use in March, officials said. The new database will hold all of the country's customs regulations, related laws, taxes and other levies as well as preferential duties on goods under trade deals. more..

Feb 14 (LeN) Sources from Temple Trees revealed that Anura Bandaranaike who was recently stripped off his ministry will be sworn in again as a Minister before the president tomorrow, which is also his birth day. It had been proposed that he should assume duties on Monday as there was no auspicious time tomorrow. But Bandaranaike had insisted that he be sworn in tomorrow itself. However after a lengthy discussion the relevant parties had agreed to swear in the minister on Monday. more..