Aug 23 (ST) The absence of internal audit committees, waste, corruption and the lack of a proper credit policy are some of the factors contributing to the malaise affecting the country�s public enterprises, according to the COPE report which was presented in parliament on Wednesday. The report presented by Minister and COPE Chairman John Seneviratne said the the Committee scrutinised 20 public institutions covering the period July 2008 to December 31, 2008. more..

Aug 23 (LBO) Sri Lanka has offered an industrial zone exclusively for Pakistan in a bid to promote inward investment from South Asian and Middle East regions, a media report said. The Sunday Times newspaper quoted visiting chief of a regional business chamber, Tariq Sayeed as saying the offer had been made by Sri Lanka's industrial development minister Kumara Welgama. more..

Aug 23 (ST) Navy guards have been deployed in a strategically located plot of prime beach land at Uppuveli in Trincomalee after reports that local politicians were selling them in lots under fake deeds. The move, the Sunday Times learnt, surfaced after politicians linked to the Eastern Provincial Council and the Municipal Council in Trincomalee had reportedly sold 25 blocks of 15 perches each. more..

Aug 23 (Island) Believe it or not, not all MPs have grabbed the duty free vehicle permits they were granted and made a tidy profit for themselves. There was at least one exception - UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya. Well informed sources said yesterday that Jayasuriya had not used six or seven duty free vehicle permits that was his for the taking during his parliamentary career. more..

Aug 23 (AFP) Tamil civilians who lived through the vicious final battle of Sri Lanka's separatist war are now locked in another struggle for survival with heavy rains bringing misery to the camps they call home. Nearly 300,000 people displaced by the fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels are held in what the government calls "welfare villages" which are off-limits to independent media. more..

Aug 23 (TT) Even as it publicly refused to give Sri Lanka any offensive weapons for the war against LTTE, India had a "hidden hand" in the success of the island nations campaign over the terrorist outfit, says a new book. Although in the initial days he was advised to seek a negotiated settlement with the Tamil Tigers, New Delhi saw merit in Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's argument that the LTTE was only biding its time to regroup and more..

Aug 23 (AFP) Conflict-torn Sri Lanka is banking on foreign cash to rebuild shattered infrastructure as the island emerges from decades of ethnic civil war, officials say. Analysts are expecting a large investment peace dividend in the country where bomb attacks and fighting dented investor confidence and kept high-spending tourists away from the tropical South Asian island. There will be plenty of opportunities for investment once the former war zone in the north and east is open for business, more..

Aug 24 (AT) "Measures have been taken to uplift the healthcare facilities of the people in the Jaffna district in line with the development of other infrastructure facilities, as the government prioritizes the post war development process," Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri says. The Governor participating at an inspection tour of the ongoing construction work of the Chavakachchari Base Hospital said that more..

Aug 24 (NS) The Police Terrorist Investigation Division has completed inquiries into the attempt on the life of then Army Commander and present Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Sarath Fonseka by Tiger terrorists in April 2006. With the taking into custody the Tiger operations head in Colombo Piribhakaran, who ran their intelligence and terror network in Colombo, the TID was able to put all the missing pieces in the plot together. more..

Aug 24 (BBC) Police terrorist investigators have failed to find any evidence to charge a group accused of helping Tamil Tigers, their lawyer said. Manjula Pathiraja, Attorney at Law, told BBC Sandeshaya that the authorities will have to release the whole group soon. He was commenting on the latest release by the courts of two Sinhala nationals accused of supporting the LTTE. "These people were detained for over one and half years, without charges, under detention orders," more..

Aug 24 (AT) Minister Maithreepala Sirisena invites the main opposition; UNP, JVP and TNA to join with the Freedom Alliance government led development process of the country. Minister speaking at a function held in Kundasale to welcome Foreign Employment Promotion Minister and Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella as the new SLFP chief organizer in Kundasale, invited other parties to take part in the development process of the country. more..

Aug 24 (AT) The Tamil veteran leader, late Appapillai Amirthalingham is to be remembered in London, on his 82nd birthday. Late Amirthalingham who first contested unsuccessfully as an Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi(Federal Party) candidate at Vaddukoddai in 1952, and he continued to lead the Sri Lankan Tamils since his untimely demise in 1989. He was the General Secretary of the TULF and was the Leader opposition from 1977 to 1983 in the Sri Lanka parliament. more..

Aug 24 (BBC) Business in the northern Sri Lankan town of Vavuniya is booming with the arrival of over 300,000 Tamil refugees, say businessmen. Nearly 375,000 IDPs are housed within the Vavuniya district. The government pays each contractor a sum of Rs. 130 to provide three meals to an IDP. "I provided meals to IDPs worth Rs. 18.7 million over the last eight months," Piyal Jayasuriya, a food supplier in Vavuniya, told BBC Sinhala service. more..

Aug 24 (TS) Peace is the dividend Harvard-trained filmmaker Poongkothai Chandrahasan, 28, seeks after 25 years of the conflict between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government which recently came to a gory end in her homeland. Poongkothai, who hails from an illustrious family of lawyers and peace activists, is a woman with a vision for her war-torn nation. A refugee in Tamil Nadu, India, since the age of three, Poongkothai was in the heart of the Sinhalese area in the north when LTTE chief was declared dead. more..

Aug 24 (LG) Vincent Lowe, Dean Sharom Ahmat�s emissary from the School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, welcomed me at the Penang airport. He took me to the campus and gave me some idea of the university�s communication program. I stayed the first three nights at the colonial seaside hotel, the Eastern & Orient. Then I found lodging at the university guest house on campus until I moved to Island Park a month later to share a house with an American couple. more..

Aug 24 (CI) Mark Richardson, the former New Zealand Test opener, has reopened the question over Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action by saying that he was convinced many of his deliveries were well beyond the 15-degree allowance approved by lawmakers. Richardson said he did not blame Murali for the situation but felt the ICC was not doing enough to police throwing in cricket. New Zealand are touring Sri Lanka for two Tests, two Twenty20s and an ODI tri-series. more..

Aug 24 (LBO) A move by Sri Lanka's stock exchange allowing mutual fund to list will encourage fund managers to set up 'closed ended' funds that return capital and gains only at maturity, a senior fund manager said. First introduced in 2001, mutual funds, also called unit trusts, have been mostly limited to the 'open ended' kind; or funds where investors enter and exit at will, expanding or shrinking the fund at the same time. more..

Aug 24 (Hindu) The government on Saturday rejected reports in a section of the British media that U.K. arms were used against civilians in the recent battle against the LTTE and asserted that the last shipment of arms from England to Sri Lanka was in 1996. The Presidential Secretariat said none of the three wings of the military had acquired military equipment from the U.K. during the Eelam War IV waged from August 2006 to May 2009. more..

Aug 24 (WP) Children ask lots of questions at zoos. One recurrent query at the National Zoo is perhaps the smelliest: How much poop do elephants produce every day? Answer: About 100 pounds. And here goes one now. "Daddy, eew," a little girl says. Daddy remains silent, perhaps in awe. The father and daughter were watching the animals bathe Saturday at the zoo, which was celebrating Asian Elephant Day with caregiving tutorials, special exhibits, sari demonstrations, more..

Aug 24 (AN) The Sri Lankan government has nominated Ahmed Aflal Jawad as the new ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the island�s Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila told Arab News on Sunday. �The Foreign Ministry has nominated Director General for Economic Affairs Ahmed Aflal Jawad as the country�s ambassador in Saudi Arabia to the High Post Committee of Parliament for formal approval,� Bhaila said, more..

Aug 24 (AN) A Sri Lankan woman is here to seek a pardon for her daughter who has been sentenced to death in connection with the murder of an elderly Saudi woman. �I am here to perform Umrah and also plead with the Sri Lankan Consulate to use its good offices and save my only daughter from being beheaded,� a sobbing Rukiamma, 51, told Arab News on Sunday. With tears flowing down her cheeks, Rukiamma, who hails from Thirugunamale, more..

Aug 24 (TN) Roman Scott of Calamander Group, who believes Tigers have been effectively contained, suppression of free expression by Colombo will not affect business, and economics is not really that strong related to democratic principles, is an early bird in the island for investment, says the latest issue of Forbes India. Sri Lanka is going to be �one of the best investment opportunities on the planet for the next two to three years,� more..

Aug 24 (GDI) The Ministry of Agriculture is to re-open all state owned tea factories following a directive by Minister DM Jayaratne. A number of state owned tea factories are closed for a number of years.Some were burnt down by insurgents in 1988-99 during the insurrection. The tea industry suffered heavily as a result of the 1988-89 insurrection in the south. more..

Aug 24 (LG) Well, the battle against insurgency, sectarianism, terrorism (call it what you may) has all but ended is what has been proclaimed to the people of this land. In war, people get killed, maimed, frightened or become homeless and that is what is common to people as well. Seriously, apart from the battles, is the war in Sri Lanka finished? No! Winning a battle is not the end of war. During World War II, for almost four years many battles were fought on various fronts and more..

Aug 24 (LG) On the fifteenth of August, at the the hallowed feast of Madhu, the Right Reverend Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith called for the "the immediate release of the IDPs". Top officials of the US government, probably still following the briefings of Robert Blake, have stated that "Release from confinement is an issue that friends of Sri Lanka continue to raise." The Island Editorial on the 21st of August has reviewed some of these calls to release the IDPs, and more..

Aug 24 (LG) The defeat of the Tiger Terrorists heralded the dawn of a new era for the long suffering People of Sri Lanka; a new era when Tamil parents could live without fear that their children, their siblings and themselves would be kidnapped or abducted to be used as slaves of, or cannon fodder by, the Tiger Terrorists; an era when Tamil civilians, particularly in the North could live free of having their hard earned money extorted from them by the Tiger Terrorists in the guise of taxation; more..

Aug 24 (GDI) A new regional flag has been designed for the Eastern Province to represent the aspects of all communal groups living in co-existence in the Eastern region, Chairman of the Eastern Provincial Council, Mohammad Faiz said. The decision to formulate a new flag was discussed and approved at a provincial council meeting held six months ago,he said. Accordingly, a team of intellectuals and professionals have been appointed designing of the new flag. more..

Aug 24 (GDI) With more development activities in prograss and major ones on card, the construction industry looks to expand rapidly. The construction sector looks for foreign investment to further expand the industry, construction sources disclosed. More state construction works are on cards with direct and indirect employment generating in the near future. Construction industry plays a vital role in the nation's economic development providing employment opportunities at all levels. more..

Aug 24 (GDI) With torrential rains having set in the North and some parts of the East, the Health Ministry has begun an awareness program to educate the masses in those areas of the spread of dengue fever. Local authorities have been alerted on the possibility of dengue mosquito breeding places and the need to collect garbage. Dengue fever worst hit the South of the country claiming 235 lives and infecting over 23,000 persons treated in state hospitals. more..

Aug 24 (LG) This is the best of times. This is the worst of times. You can fly first class into New York and book a suite in the Waldorf Astoria, at state expense, or you can travel in a Black Maria to Welikada jail and sleep on the floor, also at state expense. With a little bit of influence you can be transported from Welikada to the �luxurious� Merchants� Ward. more..

Aug 24 (PSM) Declining condominium industry is to get a boost by a new comer in the housing and construction field from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Board of Investment and Blue Star Constructions Ltd., an Iranian firm signed an agreement to construct a residential condominium complex at Rajagiriya. This residential complex is to bhe constructed with an investment of US $ 25 million contributed by interested investors from Iran. more..

Aug 24 (GV) The stakes of life and death, hope and despair, peace and conflict are now higher than they were when the war was declared �over�. The Tiger was declared dead, and the Lion roars. We watched this nation dance to the drum beat of the victor, sing triumphant songs, parade the glory of the forces, rejoice at the restoration of the nation while it ignored the lament of the victim, forgot the dead, and disregarded suffering. more..

Aug 24 (MoD) The year five scholarship examination was successfully held on Sunday (23 Aug). Over 295 thousand candidates sat for the examination in 2,602 centres Islandwide. Commissioner General of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe said over 50 thousand students from welfare villages sat for the exam. The examination commenced at 9.30 A.M. According to official reports, a total of 294,802 children have sat for the examination. more..

Aug 24 (MoD) The Ministry of Justice has taken a decision to set up courts in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts, before resettlements take place in those areas. A high court and a magistrate court will be established in Kilinochchi while a magistrate court will be established in Mullaittivu, ministry sources said. LTTE terrorists had established LTTE "courts" in this area before the government security forces liberated entire Northern Province more..

Aug 24 (USE) The ten-day Children�s Film Camp organized by the U.S. Embassy and the Galle Film Festival draws to a successful close this weekend with a screening at the Punchi theatre in Borella of the eight short films made by the participants. There will also be a public screening of their films at the Galle Film Festival this October. The films will also be posted on the U.S. Embassy�s website and its Facebook page. more..

Aug 24 (USE) The USAID is providing Sinhala and Tamil language training to elected government officials and staff from 11 local government authorities in Eastern Province. Improved language skills will help them provide better services to the multi-ethnic communities they serve. USAID, the development agency of the U.S. Government, is funding a three-year initiative to promote good governance and human security in the East more..

Aug 24 (LT) The Rajapakse government, by not taking any action regarding frauds, corruption and waste carried out to the tune of billions of rupees in 20 state enterprises as revealed by COPE report, has given rogues and fraudsters license to engage in fleecing the public says JVP MP Sunil Handunneththi. He said several state institutions have stumbled due to frauds and corruption and more..

Aug 24 (LT) A young woman who has undergone surgery carried out by Kalubowila teaching Hospital to prevent obesity has died. Shalika Weeraratne Gunasekera, a 28 year old beautician from Samagipura, Ratnapura has entered hospital on the 10th and undergone the surgery on the 14th. She had been treated in Intensive Care Unit for two days and later was warded in a normal ward. She died on the 19th. more..

Aug 24 (LT) The prices of commodities such as dhal and sugar would go up due to the increase in prices of food items in the world market states the union for importers of essential food items. The wholesale price of dhal has increased by Rs.7.00 due to the increase in prices in the world market. At present the retail price of a kilogram of dhal is between Rs.208 and Rs.210 while sugar is sold between Rs.88 and Rs.90. more..

Aug 24 (LT) An inquiry has commenced regarding making available a luxury room at the women�s section of Welikada Prison to Shyamali Priyadharshanee Perera, wife of SSP Vas Gunawardene remanded as a suspect in the incident where SLIIT student Nipuna Ramanayake was abducted and brutally assaulted. The inquiry has been initiated on orders from Commissioner General of Prisons V.R. de Silva. more..

Aug 24 (LP) Lankapuvath reported on the 27th May, that the Sri Lanka Navy never allowed LTTE Leader Velipille Prabhakaran to even to step into the sea as stated by Former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda. The Navy Commander made public his convictions through the �Thulawa� programme on ITN on May 26th. He said the LTTE leader made several attempts to escape by sea route from March but all his attempts were thwarted by the SL Navy. more..

Aug 24 (CT) Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has warned against blaming the entire police for the wrongs of a handful of its personnel. Mercilessly attacking such wrongdoers by the media will result in the revival of the underworld and extortionists, he has told �Divaina.� Despite the culprits being dealt with as per the law, media�s attempts to disgrace the entire force for such incidents, more..

Aug 24 (LeN) On May 19th, the super leaders of the LTTE and their other leaders ended up at the Nandikadal Lagoon. The LTTE came by an unexpectedly disastrous end in the fourth Eelam war, despite being considered as the world�s only guerilla movement to have had an Air power. The LTTE attacked the South on 7 occasions by bombing with the Sleen 143 model planes. K.P. the new leader, who is now under intense interrogation had revealed that there are 10 more planes in Erithrea, more..

Aug 24 (LNP) In this era of economic meltdown, Micro Cars Ltd has taken a giant and brave step by adding another manufacturing complex at the premises of the Micro Car factory in the Polgahawela BOI Zone. Micro Cars Ltd, Chairman Dr Lawrence Perera, said that the new factory is expected to contribute to the output of Micro Agri tractors used for agricultural purposes, and primemovers, for container transportation. more..

Aug 24 (LNP) While the country is inching towards a presidential election, it looks as if the sinister forces that sought to throw a lifeline to Prabhakaran were readying for a different battle. They are all out to make the IDP problem get out of hand by forcing the government to resettle the war displaced immediately. Whether demining operations are over or not is of little concern to them as they are blinded by animosity to reality. more..

Aug 24 (LP) Over 40,000 Sri Lankan�s lose their lives annually due to drugs and smoking said Psychiatrist Dr Neil Fernando. Referring to it as a �Silent Tsunami�, Dr Fernando said that even the 2004 Tsunami didn�t take the lives of so many Sri Lankans. Dr Fernando mentioned this at a press briefing held in Colombo recently by the Child Protection Authority together with World Vision. more..

Aug 24 (DN) The CID, the TID and intelligence sleuths investigating suicide blasts by the LTTE targeting politicians and other VIPs, which remained a mystery for years, are in the process of completing the investigations with revelations by Tiger cadres arrested after the defeat of the LTTE three months back. CID and TID sources confirmed that the assassination attempt on the former Army Commander and the present Chief of Defence General Sarath Fonseka has already been completed as more..

Aug 24 (DN) Sri Lanka is among the countries with a high ageing population. Presently over 10 percent is senior citizens (over 60 years) of the total population. Demography specialists have analyzed that these percentages will increase to 25 percent by 2025. It will be a huge challenge for senior citizens, children, the Government and society. When we consider the above situation, we need to have a strong social security benefit program to help our senior citizens. more..

Aug 24 (DN) The NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa is optimistic about the financial stability of the country on the basis of the country's foreign assets reserve which has been on the increase since the eradication of LTTE terrorism in last May. Weerawansa was delivering the keynote address at the maiden district seminar, out of a series of district level seminar's on the theme of Rata Dinawana Gamana more..

Aug 24 (DN) Letchuman Sumathi and Maduraveeran Jeevarani, the two teenaged girls whose bodies were found on August 15 in a canal in Bauddhaloka Mawatha were from Laxapana Estate, Maskeliya. Sumathi (14) and Jeevarani (13) had been students of Nallathanni Tamil Vidyalaya, Maskeliya found employment through a job agency in two adjacent houses in Bauddhaloka Mawatha. Sumathi daughter Letchuman and Vijayaletchumy had studied upto Grade Seven and more..