Apr 28 (LG) Muhamalai is a metaphor for the Rajapakse presidency. It is the story of an avoidable error caused by an absence of intelligence and a failure of memory. The latest carnage at the Muhamalai FDL is the second under Rajapakse rule (the first, almost identical, defeat happened in October 2006), a bloody symbol of the regime�s fatal incapacity to face reality and learn from its mistake. more..

Apr 28 (CI) Ruhuna, who finished on top after the preliminary rounds, entered the Super Four stage of Sri Lanka's inaugural inter-provincial Twenty20 tournament. Kandurata and Wayamba, the joint champions of the inter-provincial 50-over tournament, also qualified for the round-robin matches that will decide the finalists. Here's Cricinfo's coverage of the final three rounds of the league phase. more..

Apr 28 (LD) In a few months time, President�s son Yoshitha Rajapaksa is to be promoted as a sub lieutenant of the Navy, reports say. He is presently undergoing training in the British Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. An old boy of the S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia, Yoshitha joined the Sri Lanka Navy on 24th December 2006. In January 2007, he left for Dartmouth as a trainee cadet officer. more..

Apr 28 (LD) Dr. Mrs. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, the wife of slain Chief Government Whip and Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, is to be nominated to Parliament from the National List, on a decision taken by the President. To create a vacancy for this appointment, Higher Education Minister Prof. Vishwa Warnapala had agreed to resign from his National List MP appointment and would accordingly accept a diplomatic posting without delay. more..

Apr 28 (LD) The Ministry of Disaster Management has declared a disaster situation in Ratnapura district, which is facing intense flooding following torrential rains, that has already claimed six lives. The deaths were reported from Gilimale where rescuers failed to save six people trapped inside a gem mine that was inundated by swollen waters of the Kalu Ganga. After an earthslip at Madola in Opanayake, the road to Badulla is inaccessible. more..

Apr 28 (LD) Following torrential showers, a landslide has taken place in the Madola area in Opanayake, disrupting traffic on the Colombo-Badulla main road, reports say. Police have requested people to use alternative routes. Meanwhile, rescue teams are attempting to save six persons in Gilimale who have been trapped in a gem mine following floods. The areas under the divisional secretariats of Ratnapura, Elapatha and Godakawela are facing flood threats. more..

Apr 28 (LD) President of International Movement against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) and Convenor of Women�s Alliance for Peace and Democracy and Mothers and Daughters of Lanka, Nimalka Fernando has been questioned by the CID at the Bandaranaike International Airport on April 26th. Mrs. Fernando, who is also an advisor of the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) is currently working as a member of a monitoring body on election related activities in the East. more..

Apr 28 (LD) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected in the island later today on a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa. Mr. Ahmadinejad will flag off an oil refinery at the Sapugaskanda Petroleum Complex on April 29th, as part of his state visit. The new facility will boost the island's 50,000 barrels a day refinery by 100,000 barrels and allow Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to get more high value fuels. more..

Apr 28 (LD) In a 25-over cricket match between the old students of Kalutara Vidyalaya and Tissa Central, recently turned political rivals Somawansa Amerasinghe and Wimal Weerawansa encountered each other on opposite sides on April 26th. The event coincided with the upcoming 50th big match between the two schools. It was as if the heat of the political arena was drawn to the cricket field when Weerawansa, playing for the Tissa Central, encountered the Kalutara Vidyalaya team, led by Somawansa. more..

Apr 28 (GDI) Addressing a seminar titled "Sri Lanka and the UN � A Partnership for Progress" held in Colombo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama said "The indispensable value of the United Nations and its network, covering virtually every human activity, has been amply demonstrated in Sri Lanka in times of national crisis,". Minister Bogollagama while appreciating the role played by the UN country team in Sri Lanka said the moves initiated by the UN has been widely accepted in today's world. more..

Apr 28 (GDI) Opening the 7th Seventh Meeting of the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Conference held in Colombo, yesterday (27th) and welcoming the Youth Ministers of Commonwealth countries Preident Rajapakse drew the attention of the guests to several key issues faced by the international community, especially the alarming increase in the number of youth involved in armed conflicts. more..

Apr 28 (PISL) The Peace Secretariat welcomes the extremely dignified manner in which Sri Lankan forces regained control of the Madhu Church premises on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka. Whilst anti-governmental organizations persist in talking about indiscriminate attacks on civilians, the record of the forces, in which not one civilian life has been lost in the course of army offensives, speaks for itself. more..

Apr 28 (LNP) The United States has expressed its serious concerns to Sri Lanka over growing close ties and diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. This comes on the eve of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad`s scheduled state visit to Sri Lanka tomorrow. Media reports, quoting US State Department spokesperson Tom Casey, said the US has clearly disclosed their concerns over the Iranian President s South Asia visit. more..

Apr 28 (LNP) Yoshitha Kanishka Rajapaksa will be eligible for appointment as an Acting Sub Lieutenant once he completes his Midshipman training with the Royal Navy. The second son of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been promoted to the rank of Midshipman after he completed a 12-month stint as a Cadet at the Royal Navy`s premier Officer Training Establishment located in Dartmouth. more..

Apr 28 (LNP) It is heartening that a programme is now underway to demilitarize the Madu Church at long last. The liberation of that holy shrine from the clutches of a bunch of criminals who had turned it into an unholy fortress has brought relief not only to the Catholic community in this country but also to all Sri Lankans who treasure it as a national asset. Those who claimed that the Madu shrine was free from the LTTE presence stand exposed for their diabolical lies. more..

Apr 28 (SAMN) A racket involving the smuggling of more than 20 Sri Lankan children to Singapore has been busted and four suspects arrested, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) disclosed. NCPA Chairman Jagath Wellawattha said that in the latest case, three children who were found deserted at the Singapore airport were flown back to Sri Lanka at NCPA expense. He said four suspect racketeers were arrested and more..

Apr 28 (SAMN) The main opposition UNP yesterday charged the leakage of military secrets to gain political mileage had led to the debacles in Muhamalai and other areas where over 700 military personnel have been killed and over 2,400 injured during the last three months. UNP MP, Lakshman Kiriella told a news conference yesterday that senior military officials with the instigation of the government had come up openly publicising the planned military strategies. more..

Apr 28 (SAMN) Sri Lanka�s contribution to the Commonwealth was lauded by the new Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, ahead of a four-day 7th Commonwealth Youth Ministers� Conference, which opens in Colombo Monday. Some 40 Commonwealth member-states and about 30 ministers are expected to attend. Sharma will also be present at the meeting. Welcoming Sri Lanka�s engagement with the Commonwealth, Sharma said: more..

Apr 28 (SAMN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed senior professor M.T.M. Jiffry, who is presently a member of the University Grants Commission, as its new Vice Chairman with effect from April 2008. Prof. Jiffry had his early education at St. Servatius and St Thomas� Colleges in Matara followed by his secondary education at Mahinda and Ananda Colleges, Galle and Colombo, respectively. more..

Apr 28 (DN) Trade Unions functioning on estates have made arrangements to celebrate May Day on a grand scale this year. The Ceylon Worker's Congress led by Muthu Sivalingam, President and Deputy Minister of Estate Infrastructure Development and Nation Building will hold its celebrations at Star Square, General Bus Stand at Hatton. Minister of Youth Empowerment and Socio-Economic Development and General Secretary of Ceylon Worker's Congress Arumugam Thondaman will be the Chief Guest. more..

Apr 28 (DN) Leader of the Liberal Party Kamal Nissanka at a meeting of Liberal Party candidates held at Uhana Ampara said the forthcoming Provincial Council election would have a bearing on future Sri Lankan politics. He said though the party in 1987 supported the PC system, the party had from the inception opposed the merger of the North East province as one political unit. more..

Apr 28 (Island) Commissioner General of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe is planning to introduce a new grade to the marking scheme of GCE Ordinary Level as regards the Maths paper for the benefit of those who fail in mathematics under the current scheme. "Passing Mathematics at the GCE Ordinary Level examination is compulsory to qualify for the Advanced Level. But for some streams, Mathematics is not essential, in reality. more..

Apr 28 (Island) Rare artifacts including Buddha images and several boxes have been discovered during archeological excavations at the Abhayagiriya Stupa last week. Archeological Director, Professor T. G. Kulatunga, who is in charge of the Abhayagiriya project, said these artifacts were discovered in a chamber within the Stupa some 95 feet above ground level. A 28 cm high Buddha statue posing the Abhya Mudra, a 13 CM high marble Samadhi statue, more..

Apr 28 (DM) The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) yesterday vowed to fight against the government�s effort to force the people in the East to vote against their will. The SLMC Leader, Rauff Hakeem who is the UNP�s main candidate in the Trincomalee district said the party could not remain as passive observers when democracy was threatened. �We have taken the mahout�s rod as a defensive measure against unscrupulous methods adopted by the government,� more..

Apr 28 (Hindu) Relatives of I. Anbarasan (22), whose body was brought from Colombo to Salangai Nagar in Old Town area here on Sunday, blocked traffic for over an hour. They wanted the authorities to clear their doubts over the youth�s death. They also sought compensation. The relatives said that Anbarasan, skilled in glass painting, had gone to Colombo five months ago on a tourist visa to work for a private concern. more..

Apr 28 (DM) Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has emphasised the urgent need for Pakistan to be re-admitted to the Commonwealth while underscoring the importance for the Commonwealth to combat terrorism. He made this observation during a meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. more..

Apr 28 (LBO) India has lifted restrictions on entry ports and sourcing of fabrics for three million pieces of duty free garment exports to India out of a quota of eight million allowed under the free trade deal between the two neighbours, the government said Monday. The concession was a result of ongoing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries, more..

Apr 28 (ZN) The Sri Lankan Army has accused LTTE of damaging the fragile ecology around their erstwhile stronghold here, stating that the rebels recklessly exploited the forest wealth when they were short of supplies. An estimated 5000 trees were felled by the liberation of Tamil Tiger Eelam to construct bunkers in the deep jungles of northern district of Mannar during the last few months, the army claimed. more..

Apr 28 (TS) Following the revelation that an entire litter of puppies were put down following the discovery of rabies in one of their beautiful, cute little brothers, a spokescanine for Sri Lankan street dogs has made a formal request to the British Embassy in Colombo for them all to be 'left alone so we can take our chances here thank you very much'. Having bitten three members of staff at the quarantine kennels in Chingford, North London, more..

Apr 28 (PTI) Soldiers guarding the historic church of Madhu, which was liberated by Sri Lankan army recently, still fear attacks from LTTE militants, who have reportedly planted mines around the vandalised complex. The Sri Lankan army, which took a media team from Colombo, did not allow the journalists to stay for long in the Church as they feared attack from the Tamil Tiger rebels. more..

Apr 28 (IANS) Two decades after it booted them out, Sri Lanka is preparing to unveil a memorial near its parliament for Indian soldiers killed battling the Tamil Tiger guerrillas. The names of around 1,500 men, almost all of them from the Indian Army, are to be etched on black marble and topped by an eternal flame as part of a long-pending project now being executed by the Sri Lanka Navy. more..

Apr 28 (TS) When the commanders of Sri Lanka's military pledged in a New Year's message to wipe out terrorism by the end of 2008, they may have been anticipating a walkover in rebel controlled territory. But weeks of fighting in the north and repeated bombings in other parts of the country have left Sri Lankans with the sinking feeling that it will only get worse before it gets any better. more..

Apr 28 (AP) Police found and defused a makeshift time bomb Monday that was set to go off at a bus station in central Sri Lanka during the crowded morning rush hour, the military said. A commuter noticed the suspicious package at about 6 a.m. at a bus station in Galgamuwa, some 100 kilometers north of Colombo, the military said in a statement. Inside the parcel, police discovered an 81mm mortar shell converted into a bomb set to detonate about 7:40 a.m., more..

Apr 28 (AFP) Sri Lanka is counting on Tehran to boost the island's energy supplies and ink several other deals during a two-day visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad starting later Monday, officials said. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse was to greet Ahmadinejad and his 15-member delegation when they land at Bandaranaike International Airport. Ahmadinejad was due to hold talks with Rajapakse, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. more..

Apr 29 (LBO) Sri Lanka was plunged in darkness shortly after nightfall Monday as the power grid operated by state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) failed for the third time this year. CEB General Manager Ranjith Pulleperuma said power had failed to most parts of Sri Lanka except Badulla, Randenigala and Rantembe areas. He said the priority was to restore power to Colombo and the Katunayake airport areas with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad due to land in the country on a state visit. more..

Apr 29 (GDI) 116 families affected by floods, 88 rendered homeless in Ratnapura Heavy rains have caused floods in Ratnapura, leaving 88 families homeless, according to the Centre for Disaster Management. Meanwhile the Meteorolgy Department sends out bad weather warning to all parts of the country following a depression in an area close to the island. Thunder and lightening will also be associated with disturbed weather conditions, according to the Department. more..

Apr 29 (IPS) Recruiters for Sri Lankan housemaids in Kuwaiti homes, under fire for a host of problems faced by the domestic workers, have agreed to accept a greater measure of responsibility. More than 200 agents based in Colombo and Kuwait met at a hotel here last week and signed a MoU that binds agents from both countries to protect domestic workers. For the first time, the agents were not passing the buck to the governments or the state-owned Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau -- as they normally do when housemaids are in trouble. more..

Apr 29 (BBC) The outspoken former Sri Lankan skipper, Marvan Atapattu, has defended the huge pay outs offered to players taking part in the latest form of cricket. It is because the talent, he told BBC Sandeshaya, that players in Twenty20 games are offered huge sum of money leading up to 100,00 USD per series. �What we should understand is this is a profession for many of the players. It is the talent which is awarded, not everybody is paid huge sums,� more..

Apr 29 (BBC) The international expert panel appointed to monitor investigations on rights abuses has warned journalists to be �extremely sceptic� of government statements quoting them. The panel left Sri Lanka last month accusing the government of hindering the investigations of a probe on serious human rights violations. The Sri Lanka government on Monday said it has received a letter from the head of the expert panel retracting earlier statements accusing the government. more..

Apr 29 (CI) Sudath Pasqual, Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) tournament, provincial cricket and women's cricket manager, will quit his post shortly to migrate to Canada with his family. Pasqual, 46, has been with SLC for the past five years and held the positions of co-ordinator umpires and manager umpires and tournaments before being promoted to his present role. An outstanding schoolboy cricketer, he went on to represent his country even before he captained his school Royal College. more..

Apr 29 (CI) Sri Lanka, who are hosting the fourth Women's Asia Cup, are confident they can stop India's domination of the event. India have won the last three tournaments, something the home side are determined to turn around. Shashikala Siriwardena, Sri Lanka's 23-year-old captain, said that her team have been in intense training for seven months and that they are in a good position to win the tournament. more..

Apr 29 (CI) The three-match ODI series between Sri Lanka and West Indies was not just about the hosts winning it 2-0, but also the introduction to international cricket of the new spinning phenomenon Ajantha Mendis. With Shane Warne having quit the scene two years ago and two of his contemporaries Muttiah Muralitharan and Anil Kumble nearing the end of their illustrious careers, it seemed spin was headed for a period of isolation in world cricket. more..

Apr 29 (GV) My mother in law, age 55 is from Kalliyaddy, Mannar, (an LTTE controlled area) came to live with her daughter, who is married to me in Sinnakarishal, Pesalai on 15.01.08. Kalliyady is in LTTE controlled area with around 500 families. Life there has been extremely difficult for her and during the latter stages even more difficult. It is mandatory that a member of a family join the LTTE in their struggle. more..

Apr 29 (LR) For over two decades, it is only a single military and political leadership that has been prevailing under the fascist rule in the Wanni jungle. That is LTTE self appointed supremo Piripaharan. In the mean time, there have been five presidents ruling the country and military leadership has passed from hand to hand due to logistics and other rules of the country. more..

Apr 29 (UCAN) A Church-run program to grow vegetables at home may help prevent children from going to bed hungry. Caritas-SEDEC (Social and Economic Development Centre) conducted a "Cultivation and Life Education" workshop on April 21 for 100 students at Serapis Government School. The social arm of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka organizes such training to teach young people skills to produce organically grown vegetables at home. more..

Apr 29 (AHRC) No cause however great, be it a claim of liberation or national security justifies attacks on innocent civilians. The bottom line in any human discourse is the basic humanity of all human beings. Where this bottom line is crossed the boundary between humanity and inhumanity is breached. The Asian Human Rights Commission unequivocally condemns the placing of the bomb on a bus at Piliyandala killing 26 civilians and injuring 70 on April 25, which has been attributed to the LTTE. more..

Apr 29 (NIP) Sri Lankans are surprised by an Indian newspaper report that India is to give Sri Lanka a loan of US$100 million to purchase arms to fight the LTTE. Most officials and defense writers here were unaware of the deal, and many doubted the veracity of the report. But the Sri Lankan Tamils said that, if the report was correct, it would mean that New Delhi had well and truly decided to help the Sri Lankan government commit �genocide� against them. more..

Apr 29 (IRNA) President Ahmadinejad and his Sri Lankan counterpart president Mahinda Rajapaksa presided Iran-Sri Lanka talks here Monday and underscored expansion of ties. The two presidents after holding a one-hour private talk, attended the senior officials negotiation and expressed both countries' intention for developing and consolidating bilateral relations. Expressing pleasure over executing former agreements, Ahmadinejad said Iran-Sri Lanka has a clear outlook for developing ties and more..

Apr 29 (AT) The Rajapaksa Government has placed the highest emphasis on investment covering not only the physical infrastructure development which is going on at an unparalleled level in this country, in all parts of the country, but also the need to upgrade the intellectual infrastructure and social infrastructure. The President has called this a very vital life skill, stated Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Enterprise development at more..

Apr 29 (AT) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived at the Bandaranaike International Air Port around 7.30 pm local time on a two-day state visit. He was welcomed at the International Airport by Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Navy accorded a Guard of honor by offering 21 gun salutes to the visiting President. Iranian President headed a high ranking delegation which included Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, more..