Dec 3 (CI) Sri Lanka Under-19 will consider themselves fortunate, for rain abandoned their contest against Pakistan Under-19 after they were tottering at 67 for 5 in pursuit of 268 in Dambulla. Sarmad Bhatti grabbed three wickets, making early inroads into the Sri Lankan line-up, to put Pakistan in a position of dominance before rain undid his efforts. Pakistan had been assertive in their batting performance and were boosted by a century from opener Babar Azam, more..

Dec 3 (LBO) Sri Lanka's plantations need foreign investment for estate and factory modernisation, including irrigation to counter changing weather patterns, said Kumar Jayasuriya, chairman, James Finlay, Colombo. Regional plantations companies running the island's tea estates could do with foreign investments in irrigating fields to cope with changes in rainfall patterns which could damage crops, he told an investor forum. more..

Dec 3 (GDI) Ven.Athuraleiya Rathana Thero of the JHU speaking at the "Maha Samuluwa" of the NFF led by Wimal Weerawansa appealed to the public to vote for the President at the January presidential poll to safeguard the country from internal and external threats. He said the people had a collective responsibility by the nation and they must vote wisely to protect the newly gained freedom after crushing a three decade terrorist war. more..

Dec 3 (CI) It may sound harsh, at the end of a day when their batsmen scored 366 runs at a brisk pace, but Sri Lanka missed a trick today. The runs column looks healthy but what will concern them is the wickets lost - eight down, which might be too many on a pitch that eased after a lively first session. And, perhaps more significantly, the manner in which they were lost. The session scores are revealing: 117 for 1 off 27 overs at lunch; more..

Dec 3 (AD) Kurunegala District UNP MP Johnston Fernando is to join the government tonight, highly placed sources told Adaderana a short while ago. The same sources said that he would be offered a Ministerial position, though which Ministry has not been confirmed yet. Johnston Fernando was removed from the post of president of the UNP District Organization at Kurunegala on November 26 when, he spoke out against the decision to more..

Dec 3 (SLN) Four Indian fishermen who were found drifting in their fishing boat near the Maradapuram fishing marshalling point in Karainagar Island today (02) around 1000hrs were taken ashore by Naval authorities. The four fishermen had set out to sea on Saturday (28) from Kodiyakarei, Nagamawattam in India to fish in the Palk Straights. Apparently they had lost track of their nets which they had laid that night. more..

Dec 3 (BBC) The JVP says that it has reached an agreement with General Sarath Fonseka to abolish the executive Presidency and create a non executive presidency that will shift power to the parliament. JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that a plan of action to abolish the executive presidency has been worked out with General Sarath Fonseka. �He will abolish the executive presidency with the approval of the parliament within more..

Dec 3 (AT) The committee appointed to report on the law education in Sri Lanka has recommended that the Law College entrance examinations should revert to the earlier system i.e. General Knowledge and IQ test and Language papers, one in English and the other in Sinhala/Tamil. The Committee appointed by the Minister Milinda Moragoda, to consider reforms to the Law Education, presented its report to the Minister recently. more..

Dec 3 (LG) Whether General Sarath Fonseka wins or loses there is no doubt that, at the end of it all, Ranil Wickremesinghe will be the loser. If Fonseka loses it is Wickremesinghe who will have to cop the flak. It will prove once again that he is a born loser. In the unlikely event of a win credit will go invariably to Fonseka and not to Wickremesinghe. So either way Wickremesinghe is a loser. more..

Dec 3 (BBC) The Sri Lankan authorities say they've opened up the huge military-run camps in the north of the country which hold tens of thousands of displaced Tamils. The general in charge of the biggest camp said people were free to leave temporarily but only after giving their details so they can be monitored. The country's minister for Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama, spoke to the BBC about their release. more..

Dec 3 (IL) President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Dambulla Economic Centre, which is situated in the Dambulla Secretariat Division of Matale District, in the center of Dambulla town on 30th November. The President personally inspected the facilities provided at the dedicated economic centre and exchanged opinions and views with traders and consumers. The center which was built to establish a wholesale market for more..

Dec 3 (LG) A combination of several factors in synergy has contributed to unleash since 1977, a process of increasing militarization of the Sri Lankan political and social landscape. Among them, three main factors are of great significance. First, the market-oriented economic policies introduced in 1977 were put into practice with the notion that democratic engagement of trade unions has to be restricted and semi-oppressive labour regime needs to be put in place. more..

Dec 3 (LG) By early 2006, the Government of Sri Lanka had decided to embark on a military course to deal with the LTTE and was pushed hard in that direction by its extreme chauvinist partners. The build-up for war was nevertheless on between 2002 and 2005 when the ceasefire was effective and even as peace talks continued into 2003. The then prime minister, Ranil Wickramasinghe, claimed credit a year ago for weakening the LTTE by engineering a split (with help from the US) in 2004, and more..

Dec 3 (CT) The JVP has decided not to invite any of the state media institutions to cover the party's media briefings and other functions hereafter. JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake told journalists today (Dec. 02) that Lake House, Rupavahini and ITN - run with the use of taxpayers' money - were in a despicable campaign to sling mud at the party. Those institutions would be welcome back only if there was a change in their biased reporting to the extreme, he said. more..

Dec 3 (TC) Statement by Nava Sama Samaja Party: We are suffering because we have failed to resolve basic problems in our country. We cannot claim to be a free and democratic country unless we resolve the national problem and also stop international global capitalist interference. Mahinda regime used military forces backed by India and global powers to crush the Tamil uprising caused by continuous discrimination and repression. more..

Dec 3 (IL) Newly appointed High Commissioner of the Republic of India, Mr. Ashok K.Kantha paid a courtesy call to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees this afternoon on 02nd December. Recently he presented his credentials with four other envoys to the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa at a ceremony at President�s Office on 23rd November. The other envoys who presented their credentials with Mr Kantha were Mr. Yaqoub Yousef Ateegi, more..

Dec 3 (GDI) National Freedom Front Leader, Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa addressing his party's "Maha Samuluwa" a short while ago at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo described the JVP as a party that had lost the virginity and lacked clear policy. He charged that the heritage of Rohana Wijeweera has been put on wholesale market by the JVP at Ranil Wickremesinghe's political auction. more..

Dec 3 (DBS) Wanni IDP's can move freely in & out of camps after filling out forms informing army of their movement but cant be away for more than 15 days. Re-settled IDP's given Rs.5,000 in cash,Rs.50,000 in a bank account, rations for 6 months & emergency kit with roofing material & bedsheets. Rajapaksa Govt in a "limited" way has finally recognized the inalienable right of freedom of movement for the Wanni IDP's in internment camps. more..

Dec 3 (CT) A woman who had gone missing at Peraliya in Hikkaduwa during the 2004 tsunami has reportedly been found in Ratnapura. Identified as W.A. Padma, she had lost her husband and two sons in the tragedy, but her relatives have been having hopes that she was still living. A nurse by profession, she and her family had been travelling by train when the tsunami struck. Five years later, a brother of the now 48-year-old has positively identified a woman who more..

Dec 3 (TN) The Tamil parties thinking of fielding a common candidate should rise above outside diktats, should do justice to the Tamil cause at this formative stage of new Tamil polity and should come out with an election agenda that doesn�t harm the cause of Tamils in the long run. Any mistake made now will be irreversible, writes TamilNet political commentator in Colombo. Full text of the article from the political commentator: more..

Dec 3 (TC) A memorial meeting for Upali Cooray was held on 19 November 2009 in Colombo. Organised by the Resource Centre for Community Groups to mark the third-month death anniversary of the veteran socialist activist, the commemoration was chaired by LSSP General Secretary and former Moratuwa MP, Wimalasiri de Mel. Those addressing the gathering were Minister for Science and Technology, Tissa Vitharana MP; the historian Santasilan Kadirgamar; more..

Dec 3 (DBS) LTTE's Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias KP abducted & transported by air from Malaysia to Sri Lanka is now being "coerced" by state, it is learnt. Sri Lankan Govt gets imprisoned Pathmanathan (KP) to sign documents transferring his assets&funds to Lankan state by force & false promises. Is it legal for Sri Lanka government to (mis)appropriate assets & funds in the name of a person (KP) kept incommunicado in state custody? more..

Dec 3 (LBO) In a bid to relieve the public of rising cost of living, the Government has reduced the import duties of ten leading food items and expected the market too to slash the prices. It was announced that the government controlled Lak Sathosa would reduce the wholesale prices of these items so that their retail prices too would be reduced in a fitting manner. However, frustrating government�s expectations, the retail prices did not fall in the market to the levels anticipated. more..

Dec 3 (GDI) President Mahinda Rajapaksa appealed to all Asian leaders to take all precautions to prevent harm that could cause to the culture and heritage due to the advancement of information and communication technology. The President said the Government would offer benefits to the people and the people should be the final beneficiaries. He said the Government firmly believed the information communication technology was the driving force of economy in future. more..

Dec 3 (LP) The 03rd of December is declared the International Day of Disabled Persons. This year�s theme for the Day of Disabled Persons is �Making the (Millennium Development Goals) MDGs Inclusive, Empowerment of persons with disabilities and their communities around the world�. This day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues, the rights of persons with disabilities and gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in more..

Dec 3 (GDI) SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena today claimed that certain websites in the country have embarked on a campaign to ridicule certain ministers and added that certain remarks on ministers looked humorous at times. He explained that the coalition partners that support the President was one entity and warned that none could cause a rift to the strong alliance that supports the President. more..

Dec 3 (GDI) The Opposition is in a state of confusion most confounded over the executive system in the country, claimed Minister of Export Development and International Trade, G.L Peiris at the weekly cabinet briefing. According to the Minister, the executive system can only be abolished through a two thirds majority in parliament followed by a referendum. "For this you need a strong parliament", said the Minister. more..

Dec 3 (GDI) Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as the Minister of Finance and Planning to enter into a loan agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) in a sum of US$ 100 million which includes a loan of US$ 20 million from ADF and a loan of US$ 80 million from OCR. Approval was also granted to retain the ownership of the sewerage assets in the Greater Colombo area under the CMC during the project implementation period. more..

Dec 3 (LNW) Basil Rajapaksa is trying to get several opposition members to join the government on the day of nominations while Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and SLFP (M) Wing Leader Mangala Samaraweera are looking at getting a group of government members to join the opposition, Lanka News Web reliably learns. UNP MPs Johnston Fernando and Indika Bandaranayake are expected to cross over to government ranks more..

Dec 3 (AT) If Sri Lankans presently wonder why the nation is divided in thought and deed it is possibly because we have not experienced too many incidents of what it is like to be united, feel united and think united. However, everyone will all agree that 2009 will go down in history as an epic example of a single instance where a nation did actually feel for the first time since its post-independence history a sense of pride, a sense of glory, more..

Dec 3 (GDI) Chief Minister of the Eastern Province and TMVP leader, Chandrakanth Pillayan addressing a UPFA news conference this morning pledged his fullest support towards the candidature of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming election and assured the get the highest majority of votes from the East to President Rajapaksa. He said the TMVP was satisfied with the President's development plans for more..

Dec 3 (GV) It is an election festival once again. The whole country is getting ready for the big fight where two war heroes meet in the Presidential election ring. According to the government�s spokesperson, apparently President Rajapakse has finished what he planned for six years in four, so he is expecting a fresh mandate for more work. Mind you, this is not it, as the term of the present parliament expires in April 2009 and more..

Dec 3 (leN) Rauff Hakeem M.P. and leader of the SLMC addressing a conference of SLMC M.Ps and supporters on �Constitution and harmonious living�, said, a second term of Executive Presidency is most ominous and dangerous. Our past experience is itself proof. Hence, we must now exploit the present opportunity to change this situation, he added. more..

Dec 3 (MoD) In response to the opening of the camps in Northern Sri Lanka yesterday British International Development Minister Mike Foster welcomed the release of thousands of displaced persons, the British High Commission said yesterday. It said in a media release: "Opening the camps and granting real freedom of movement will allow the thousands still living in the camps to start to rebuild their lives. more..

Dec 3 (MoD) Following the clearing of mines in eight GS Divisions of the Killinochchi District, the Government this week commenced the re-settlement of around 9,000 IDPs in their former places of abode, Presidential Secretariat Committee sources, Monitoring Special Projects, said yesterday. The District Secretary (GA) for Killinochchi Mrs. R. Ketheeswaran said yesterday that 6,000 persons were resettled in Pooneryn GS division early this week with more..

Dec 3 (MoD) Tool kits worth over rupees three million will be provided to trained individuals of IDP centres by the Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training. An agreement between the Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training and the National Development Bank (NDB) was signed yesterday. According to this agreement, the NDB will provide these tool kits under the Empowerment of IDPs program. more..

Dec 3 (LP) The Ports and Aviation Ministry is to renovate 13 inland airstrips to boost the air transportation system. Under this initiative Polonnaruwa, Hingurakgoda, Palali, Ratmalana, Koggala, Katukurunda, Weeravila, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Batticaloa, Ampara, Kankesanthurai and Vavuniya airstrips will be renovated. The runways will be lengthened and widened to operate medium scale aircraft. more..

Dec 3 (AT) Muslims of the Northern province who are languishing in the IDP camps in Puttalam district for the last 20 years, are to be resettled in their original places in the North from 26th December onwards. The Northern Province Muslims who lived well over three hundred years in the province were suddenly chased out in 1990 by V. Prabhakaran and his terrorist gangs. more..

Dec 3 (LP) SriLankan Airlines helped to broaden the horizons of hundreds of schoolchildren from the Southern and Eastern Provinces recently when it hosted them on tours of the National Carrier�s facilities at Bandaranaike International Airport. The National Carrier is the country�s main training ground for young men and women who dream of being part of the aviation industry, ranging from pilots to cabin crew and aircraft engineers. more..

Dec 3 (LP) President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the inauguration ceremony of the e-Asia 2009, conference and exhibition expressed that in order to take ICT led development to the next level, Sri Lankan officials are in the process of preparing the next phase of the National ICT Master Plan, which will see e-Sri Lanka 2, delivering the fruits of ICT to the citizens of our country over the next decade. more..

Dec 3 (LNP) Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, vowing that no room would be left for the LTTE terrorism to raise its ugly head, said that the country is marching forward towards development. The LTTE terrorism no longer exists in the country. We have annihilated terrorism. What remains is the development of areas that once was under the jungle law of terrorists for over 30 years. Lakhs of people who lived as prisoners of these terrorists now enjoy democratic freedom. more..

Dec 3 (LNP) The late General Denzil Kobbekaduwa still lives in our hearts as a revered warrior and gentleman who never compromised himself for expedience. But for the late President J. R. Jayewardene`s capitulation to pressure from India, which he had antagonised unnecessarily, Gen. Kobbekaduwa, ably assisted by Gen. Wimalaratne, would have accounted for Prabhakaran and decimated the LTTE way back in 1987. more..

Dec 3 (LT) He went abroad to find a country for Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse to flee after he is defeated at the presidential election but out of the six countries he visited none was prepared to accept him said Leader of the JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe. He said this answering a question by a journalist at KIA when he returned after being abroad to participate in commemoration ceremonies of �November Heroes� held in several countries. more..

Dec 3 (LT) The government has planned to curtail Parliamentary sessions by not having sessions on the due dates. As the first phase of this exercise the government limited the Parliamentary week between 17th to 20th November for one day. According to information there is a plan to limit the Parliamentary week from 8th to 11th December to one day. JVP MP Anura Dissanayake said the attempt of the government is a severe blow on democracy in the island. more..

Dec 3 (LT) All news items that discomfit the government should be rejected, all news items should be created in a manner that they would be supportive to the government and if there is anyone who could not fall in line would have to look for any other employment said Chief Editor of �Dinamina� Mahinda Abeysundara. Mr. Abeysundara has thus ordered the Board of Editors and employees of �Dinamina� more..

Dec 3 (AD) Another political party and a civil organization joined the United National Front (UNF) alliance today and signed the memorandum of understanding at the Opposition Leader�s Office in Colombo. M. Cader on behalf of the Muslim Liberation Front (MLF) and a Lasantha Gunawardena on behalf of a civil group Green Blood Organisation signed the agreement to formally join the UNF, bringing the total number in the alliance to 16. more..

Dec 3 (AD) Refuting speculation that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had bought over the privately built and run Apollo Hospital recently and that the name change was due to this reason, the Board of Directors have released a statement explaining the position of the Defence Secretary regarding the establishment. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse is now Chairman of Lanka Hospitals. more..

Dec 3 (UNP) The UNP annual Convention will be held on the 5th of December 2009 at the Nawaloka playground, Welisara under the patronage of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. It is planned to introduce the Common Presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka officially to the UNP membership at the 54th convention. The General is expected to deliver a speech which will outline his programs, policies and plans with a view to make them known to the public. more..