Nov 7 (LD) The Government Information Department had previously granted permission for all media to cover today's (November 07th) budget presentation for the year 2008 by the President as Finance Minster. Though the media were informed to be present in Parliament premises by 6.00 a.m., journalists were seen since 5.00a.m. They were admitted inside after being searched by the President Security Division. more..

Nov 7 (LG) United States Senator Patrick Joseph Leahy recently delivered a statement on Sri Lanka which has been described as damning. The use made of the international community by local elements which, as an American put it, have an �unhealthy nostalgia for the Wickremesinghe regime�, is not surprising. However Senator Leahy must be taken seriously since he seems to have been behind an amendment in the Senate that �attached three conditions to our assistance to the Sri Lankan military�. more..

Nov 7 (CI) A new era dawns for Australia on Thursday and Sri Lanka want to make it as cloudy as the skies over the Gabba in the lead-up to the first Test. Ricky Ponting is determined not to break stride even though he lost four pillars in the past year, but the large-scale changes have allowed the visitors to dream of defeating their hosts in Australia for the first time. more..

Nov 7 (CI) Spectators at the Gabba will not be evicted for shouting no-ball when Muttiah Muralitharan bowls in the first Test but they will be removed immediately if they start monkey chants. Andrew Symonds was subjected to the animal taunts during the one-day tour of India last month and while Cricket Australia does not expect any reprisals it has adopted strong anti-racism measures for the series against Sri Lanka and India. more..

Nov 7 (AT) It is time to take a realistic look at the situation in Sri Lanka's war as well as peace, after all that has been written on the death of Thamilchelvan, the political head of the LTTE in a SLAF air strike in Vanni on November 2, 2007. As the chief negotiator of the LTTE in the defunct peace process, he was a familiar face to the international media. So his death was hyped up in the international media. more..

Nov 7 (GDI) The Government has taken steps to alter the current procedure of entrusting the migrant workers direct to the employer. A new system of directing the migrant workers to the Sri Lankan Embassy in the respective country in the Middle East will be effective from the 1st of January 2008. This new scheme will first operate in Kuwait and other Middle countries will follow in due course. more..

Nov 7 (GDI) During his recent visit to the United States of America, Army Chief, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, called for a stable and unambiguous policy to deal with terrorism as double standards would seriously jeopardize the effort. He stated that terrorists all over the world cooperate with one another, exploiting prevailing facilities or networks. Likewise a political consensus will have to be arrived at by all countries to fight terrorism, he said. more..

Nov 7 (LNP) The former TMVP, Batticaloa, political head Thileepan had consumed cyanide in an attempt to commit suicide and was said to be in a critical condition. The political cadre, who was a close ally of Karuna Amman, attempted to take his life when cadres loyal to Pillayan stormed a political office controlled by the Karuna group on Monday and took control of the building. more..

Nov 7 (LBO) Foreign resident Sri Lankans who will buy a special bond would be allowed to buy land in the country without a penal 100 percent transfer tax, President Mahinda Rajapakse said. The bond to be called 'Homeland Development Bond' would have maturities from 1 to 5 years and would be sold through Sri Lankan banks. "I propose that the 100 percent property tax applicable to non-residents in the purchase of land will not apply to those who invest in these bonds and more..

Nov 7 (LBO) Incomes earned abroad by Sri Lankans including dividends and interest earned abroad that is remitted through the banking sector would be made free of income tax, according to proposals in the 2008 budget. Profits and income by individuals, partnerships, fees and allowances and dividends or interest from investments outside Sri Lanka would be exempt from income tax. more..

Nov 7 (LBO) President Mahinda Rajapaksa said Wednesday that fuel prices will be maintained at current levels "temporarily" and revenue losses would be offset by higher levies on imported consumer goods. �The revenue loss due to this (petrol subsidy) will be offset by higher taxes on liquor, motor vehicles and unnecessary imports,� said Rajapaksa who was presenting his government's third budget in parliament. more..

Nov 7 (LBO) Sri Lankan media groups Wednesday condemned government restrictions on private media covering the 2008 budget speech by President Mahinda Rajapakse in parliament. The Free Media Movement, speaking on behalf of several media groups, said in a statement that it was deeply concerned and condemned the ban on photo journalists covering the speech. "Although all media institutions were invited to cover the event, it is regrettable that only photojournalists from state-controlled media were allowed to cover the event." more..

Nov 7 (LBO) Sri Lanka's domestic agriculture and processing industry was promised sweeping relief by the government including tax waivers and loan write-offs and more cash for subsidized fertilizer, in the 2008 budget. The politically important rice farmers would continue to get any type of fertilizer at 350 rupees per bag while urea fertilizer would be given for 1,200 rupees a bag for land owners owning less than five acres. more..

Nov 7 (SAMN) Contrary to official figures, Anuradhapura Police Tuesday disclosed that a total of 10 aircraft were destroyed and another 16 were severely damaged on October 22, in the pre-dawn attack launched by the LTTE on the Anuradhapura Air Force Base. It said in addition, the buildings and machinery had been extensively damaged in the attack. Police requested Magistrate Wasantha Jinadasa to order the air base Commanding Officer to submit an estimate of the damage. more..

Nov 7 (SAMN) Plunging the health care service into possibly another crisis the Medical Interns (MI) of the 2000 / 2001 repeat batch, numbering 183, have decided not to apply for MI postings despite the ministry instructions to submit their applications. The Ministry of Health Care and Nutrition has requested Medical Interns of the 2000 / 2001 repeat batch to be present with their applications at the Medical Research Institute auditorium in Borella at 10.00 pm today as they are to be posted for Medical Internships shortly. more..

Nov 7 (SAMN) UNP Parliamentarians criticised Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa�s recent claim that he knew the locations of all LTTE leaders and that if he wanted to, he could take them one by one. UNP MP Lakshman Senevirathne asked the Defence Secretary why he doesn�t attack them and put an end to the war. �Gotabhaya has stated that he knows where the LTTE leadership is. Our question is why he does not attack these identified targets,� he said. more..

Nov 7 (SAMN) Clandestine moves are underway to prevent several Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarians from participating in the Budget debate, alleged TNA Parliamentarian N. Srikantha during the debate to extend emergency laws. �Twelve of our parliamentarians, who were attending the funeral of S.P. Thamilselvan were stopped at the Omanthai Army checkpoint on Monday. They were refused re-entry into government controlled areas, to attend the emergency debate today (06). more..

Nov 7 (BN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa, delivering a budget constrained by Asia's highest borrowing costs, said rebuilding the nation's war-ravaged east with international aid will spur flagging economic growth. Investing in roads, power and ports and developing the eastern region captured from Tamil Tiger rebels will increase the South Asian island's growth to 8 percent from about 7 percent now, Rajapaksa said in his budget speech to parliament south of the capital Colombo today. more..

Nov 7 (DN) The Supreme Court directed the Environment Ministry to include regulations for banning loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am when the Ministry presented its draft Community Noise Level Standards to Court on Monday. Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC observed that it was desirable to enforce a total ban on the use of loudspeakers and to have provisos in the draft removed. more..

Nov 7 (DN) The Investigation Unit of the Immigration and Emigration Department yesterday arrested 16 South Asians, including five women for violating visa regulations. The 16 South Asian passport holders were working as street vendors in Colombo, while holding tourist visas, Immigration sources said. Foreigners entering the country through tourist visas are banned from working or engaging in business directly or indirectly, according to Sri Lanka's visa regulations. more..

Nov 7 (DM) Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said in Parliament yesterday that the government was willing to accept the LTTE as a democratic party of the Tamil people, but not as a terrorist outfit. Speaking during the emergency debate, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed the government�s commitment to negotiating with the Tigers, but stressed it would only accept the LTTE as a democratic party of the Tamil people and not as a terrorist organization. more..

Nov 7 (DM) Posts and Telecommunications Minister Rauff Hakeem in Parliament yesterday condoled with the LTTE over the demise of its political head S.P. Thamilselvan, even as Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake earlier hailed the security forces for killing him. Mr. Hakeem, who is also the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress SLMC said he was making such a statement at the risk of being branded a traitor. more..

Nov 7 (AFP) The president of Sri Lanka said there would be peace on the troubled island only after more fighting to crush separatist rebels as he unveiled the nation's biggest-ever war budget. "It is essential to completely wipe out terrorism," President Mahinda Rajapakse told parliament, estimating defence spending this year of 155 billion rupees (1.4 billion dollars) rising to 166.44 billion in 2008. more..

Nov 7 (AP) President presented the impoverished country's largest-ever defense budget to Parliament on Wednesday as a fierce battle between troops and Tamil separatists in the country's north killed 36 people, the military said. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who also serves as defense and finance minister, asked Parliament for a 20 percent increase in defense spending, bringing it to 166.4 billion rupees from 139 billion rupees last year. more..

Nov 7 (BBC) International human rights groups have called on the British government to prosecute a former Tamil Tiger militant commander who is detained in England. Colonel Karuna Amman, who once ranked second in command in the Tamil Tigers, was arrested last Friday. Human rights groups accuse Col Karuna of a range of crimes, including torture and the use of child soldiers. They are gathering evidence against him to present to the British authorities in the hope that he will be prosecuted. more..

Nov 7 (AT) Sri Lanka�s President Mahinda Rajapakse has presented people oriented budget in parliament on Wednesday A special feature of this year�s budget is provision of relief to low income earners and the strengthening of cooperative sector, and state enterprises such as the Laksathosa and the budget shop. The President presenting budget proposal has pointed out that no burdens will be posed on the general public despite the fact that the government is facing rising fuel prices and other national and international challenges. more..

Nov 8 (AAP) Ricky Ponting believes Sri Lanka are scared of Australia and aims to reopen old wounds from the outset on a juiced-up Gabba on Thursday. Ponting started the mind games early on Wednesday by renewing claims from his recently-released Captain's Diary that Sri Lanka "feared us" before the World Cup final in the Caribbean in May. In contrast, captaincy counterpart Mahela Jayawardene rejected the view and felt Sri Lanka were well placed to score a breakthrough series win in Australia. more..

Nov 8 (BN) Sri Lanka, South Asia's biggest sugar importer, may boost purchases next year after the government cut import tax to stem inflation and drought damaged the local crop. Imports may exceed the government's estimate of 550,000 metric tons for this year, said Chaminda Nawarathne, manager at CW Mackie & Co., the nation's biggest supplier of the sweetener to industrial customers. more..

Nov 8 (CI) Australia will rely on the sheer pace of Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson to cover the huge gaps left by Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. Justin Langer has also departed but filling the holes of two men who captured 1271 wickets is the main concern as the hosts attempt to retain their all-conquering ways. Sri Lanka will face a fast-bowling attack at the Gabba on Thursday that has a combined tally of 68 Tests and more..

Nov 8 (CI) For the first time in my career I'm going to miss an international game with an injury. I've played 67 Tests, so it's not a bad run. I'm very upset that I tore my hamstring in Adelaide, as I've been looking forward to this series for some time, and I don't think we'll be back in Australia for a while. On Thursday I'll be very upset and a bit jealous to see everyone on the field. more..

Nov 8 (Xinhua) The police found a parcel containing live ammunition in the Colombo, the national capital, Tuesday night, defense officials said Wednesday. Defense officials said that during a search patrol the police uncovered a ownerless parcel containing large amount of live ammunition near Kotta Road around 10:30 p.m. local time. Kotta Road links Colombo with the island country's parliament where President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to table the 2008 budget on Wednesday. more..

Nov 8 (Xinhua) A legislation is being framed in Sri Lanka aimed at banning the use of mobile phones by children under 18 years old, a government minister said here Wednesday. "The laws are being drafted right now," Mrs. Sumedha Jayasena, minister of Child Development and Women Empowerment told reporters. She said there had been complaints of children being abused through the mobile phone technology. more..

Nov 8 (LBO) Sri Lanka would cap tax holidays to a maximum of three years from 2008, and extend tax incentives only to low income housing and projects in difficult rural areas, President and finance minster Mahinda Rajapaskse said. "(We will) give only three year tax holidays other than for flagship investments, or to those engaged in development activities in lagging regions or building housing facilities for lower income groups," he said, more..

Nov 8 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's rupee fell on Wednesday for the first time since the proceeds of a $500 million bond issue flowed into the country, slipping after a treasury official said the central bank wanted to keep it near 110 per dollar. Sri Lanka unveiled its 2008 budget on Wednesday, which focused on defence and infrastructure development, but analysts and traders said it contained no surprises and shares were little moved. more..

Nov 8 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's military said 52 Tamil Tigers and 11 soldiers were killed in fresh fighting in the island's far north on Wednesday as renewed civil war escalates, but the rebels disputed the numbers. The Tigers said 20 soldiers were killed and more than 100 were wounded in the clash on the Jaffna peninsula, and that just one of their fighters was killed. There were no independent accounts of what had happened or how many people were killed. more..

Nov 8 (ICG) Sinhala nationalism, long an obstacle to the resolution of Sri Lanka�s ethnic conflict, is again driving political developments on the island. Nationalist parties, opposed to any significant devolution of power to Tamil areas of the north and east and to negotiations with the Tamil Tigers, help set President Mahinda Rajapaksa�s agenda. The government takes a hardline stance, responding in part to opposition to the flawed 2002-2006 ceasefire and peace process. more..

Nov 8 (FI) The LTTE�s recent commando attack on the Anuradhapura Air base and the retaliatory killing of Thamilselvam by the Sri Lankan Air Force no doubt add to the process of greater intensification of the war between the Sri Lankan state and the LTTE. Retaliatory violence by both sides is likely to increase, thereby further reinforcing the reproductive logic of Sri Lanka�s protracted civil war. more..

Nov 8 (FI) To write even a brief essay on peace is simultaneously both a walk in the park as well as a walk through a minefield. It is a walk in the park because at face value one could assume that everybody knows what peace is all about, and it is simply inconceivable that someone who has not taken leave of his senses might not appreciate peace. On the other hand, it is a walk through a minefield because in specific local situations what different individuals and groups refer to as peace might mean very different things. more..

Nov 8 (LBO) Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said that tight monetary policy and efforts to reduce the budget deficit should trim sky-high inflation in the coming months. He said the government has to maintain a balance between controlling inflation and maintaining steady economic growth. Cabraal said Wednesday the island had coped with average double-digit inflation over the last 30 years but acknowledged that current high levels were a concern. more..

Nov 8 (LBO) Sri Lanka's government which has been unable to provide adequate public goods such as roads, power or water to its people for years, is getting back into one of the most basic of businesses: shop keeping. "It is proposed to set up a State Trading Wholesale Establishment, which will be a company owned by the Government," the budget speech tabled in parliament by President Mahinda Rajapakse said. more..

Nov 8 (AT) The complicated story of how Col. Karuna�s slipped stealthy into UK has taken another twist. Col Karuna , who was heading the Eastern wing after he split with Prabhakaran, ran into further conflict with Pillayan, who was the head of TMVP forces. According to the latest information revealed to Asian Tribune by sources who wish to remain anonymous, a section of the British intelligence agreed to grant visa to Colonel Karuna if he presented a Sri Lanka passport with fictitious name. more..

Nov 8 (AT) �Deepavali is a festival which symbolises the triumph of good against evil,� said P. M. Amza, Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Southern India. The Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai celebrated the Deepavali festival on a grand scale on 6th November 2007 at the Chancery premises. Deputy High Commissioner said good would soon triumph over the evils of terrorism in Sri Lanka and expressed hope that all Sri Lankans would enjoy living without the scourge of terrorism in the future. more..

Nov 8 (AT) Deepavali is a fitting occasion to redouble efforts for peace and harmony in the country, says President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his Deepavali Message to all Sri Lankan Hindus. He pointed out, �The Deepavali Festival, being a unifying force that spreads understanding, tolerance and harmony among all peoples irrespective of ethnic, religious, caste or class differences is a fitting occasion for us to redouble our efforts to bring about greater understanding among our people, and restore peace and harmony in the country. � more..

Nov 8 (AT) A Canadian delegation, comprised of local government and representatives from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is currently in Sri Lanka to review the results of Canadian assistance to local government and make recommendations on Canadian involvement in helping build local government capacity in tsunami effected areas. more..

Nov 8 (ISL) Addressing a massive rally at the Karawanella Bus Stand in Ruwanwella on Sunday (04 Nov), UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the Rajapakse Govt. has created a record for not fulfilling a single pledge given to the people at the elections, during its two year rule. Free milk food to School children, nutritious food to pregnant mothers, and fertilizer at Rs. 350.00 were some of the pledges. more..

Nov 8 (NP) No one plays ethnopolitics like the federal Liberals. Before anyone else, the Liberals realized that urban politics in this country was increasingly dominated by well-organized immigrant groups that could be counted upon to deliver targeted ridings, decide nomination battles and provide campaign contributions. more..

Nov 8 (LT) The president has proposed a budget that tells the people, fatigued by the economic crisis, to �carry on regardless� said Information Secretary of the JVP Wimal Weerawansa. Speaking on the budget proposed by President Mahinda Rajapakse Mr. Weerawansa said the people have not been given any relief from the budget. The budget is a continuation of the economic policies that have been carried out said Mr. Weerawansa adding more..

Nov 8 (ISL) The leader of the TMVP Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Col Karuna who broke away from the LTTE in 2004 has become the victim of his own making. When he left the LTTE many interested parties including anti-LTTE activists and organisations were elongating him as a hero and encouraged him to carryout a crusade against the LTTE. When he left the LTTE, he had no where to turn and only few came forward to help and they were considered as useful contacts that set the course for Karuna�s future. more..

Nov 8 (ISL) The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were locked in fierce firefights near the forward defense lines of Muhamalai today. Fighting started when SLA launched a limited offensive to capture part of LTTE defence line near Muhamalai. Both parties have suffered heavy casualties in the fierce firefights that raged on for more than two hours. Fighting started at around 5.30 am morning and lasted till 7.30 am. more..

Nov 8 (LeN) The shock and awe type of air strike by sophisticated bomber aircraft of the Sri Lankan air force deep into LTTE-controlled territory and the precise nature of the targeting that killed the LTTE's political wing leader S P Thamilselvan will do much to firm up the belief in the viability of a military solution. There is also an indication that the detailed information necessary to have pinpointed the location in which the LTTE leader was at in the wee hours of the morning could only have come from within the LTTE itself. more..