Mar 25 (CT) Government minister Dallas Alahapperuma has accused western countries of playing double standards by trying to rescue LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran who is cornered to a 20 square km area in the north. Mr. Alahapperuma asked as to what the US troops would do if Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden is found to be confined similarly. more..

Mar 25 (TC) The most appropriate response to the often posed question as to how to protect the freedom achieved in the North in the near future is the return journey of Yal Devi to Jaffna after 20 years, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. Addressing a function held at the Presidential Secretariat last afternoon to mark the launching of the rebuilding project of the northern railway line titled �Yal Devi Friendship Railway Track� more..

Mar 25 (AFP) South Africa will host the Indian Premier League (IPL) during April and May, it was confirmed at a press conference here on Tuesday. The decision follows days of frenetic speculation over whether South Africa or England would earn the right to host the second edition of a dazzling show featuring the international stars of cricket. South Africa was chosen even before IPL commissioner Lalit Modi held talks with officials of the England and Wales Cricket Board in London, more..

Mar 25 (LBO) Minister of consumer affairs has admitted being fooled by crafty bakers who sell underweight bread and exploit consumers. Consumer affairs minister Bandula Gunawardena called on bakers to stick to a certain standard when making bread. According to an investigation carried out by the consumer affairs authority most of the bread sold in Sri Lanka was below the accepted weight of one pound (450 grams) and were of poor quality. more..

Mar 25 (Hindu) The arrival of 13 Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka at Kallar on the Nagapattinam coast on Sunday has caused concern as how to they escaped the eyes of the Navy and Coast Guard personnel who have intensified their patrol in the coastal areas. A senior police official here told The Hindu on Tuesday that the Centre and the State governments had once again instructed the Navy, Coast Guard and the district police to step up vigil along the 188-km long coast in Nagapattinam, more..

Mar 25 (AT) How many would have thought there would be a time that the LTTE would or could be cornered to a 12km stretch. In all probability the LTTE would also not have thought that it would be in this predicament. Most importantly those that backed the LTTE all through the years by way of contributing financially or otherwise must be facing the most daunting task of having to come to terms with an eventuality that would probably change their financial position drastically. more..

Mar 25 (AT) AFP NewsAgency carried a report yesterday that United States Democratic Senator who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a letter addressed to Sri Lanka president Rajapaksa that he emphasized "the urgent need for the Sri Lankan government to take all necessary steps to protect civilians, allow humanitarian access to the displaced, and credibly investigate human rights violations by all members of government security forces." more..

Mar 25 (AT) Malaysia has been warned to stop Tamil Tigers, before they become the threat to the national security of Malaysia and South-east Asian region. It has been pointed out that the LTTE�s principal international arms purchaser and money launderer, K. Pathmanathan, who is also known as K.P is reported to be in Malaysia with a band of senior LTTE members setting up the LTTE network for future operations and more..

Mar 25 (AT) Seventeen Sri Lankan community leaders from fields including community development, education, journalism, and business, will travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in a three-week program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State that will focus on reducing marginalization, resolving conflict, and promoting democratic engagement in Sri Lankan civil society. more..

Mar 25 (LG) While the Govt. is holding elections every three months wasting people�s funds and Govt. time while talking of a war and giving false promises in order to divert the attention of the people from the burning problems in the country , the country itself is falling into pieces economically like a weak Govt.�s skeleton , said UNP M.P. Johnston Fernando at a media briefing yesterday (23 Mar), at the UNP media unit. more..

Mar 25 (LG) The freedom we enjoy in Canada is precious to me. I state this at the outset, because I grew up in a country where freedom is a rare commodity, and the slaughter of innocents is common. I lived almost half of my life in Sri Lanka, and spent three months of that time in jail. There, I suffered various forms of unspeakable torture at the age of 17, for no other reason than that I was a member of the country�s Tamil minority. more..

Mar 25 (LG) War continues to rage in Mullaitivu between the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE, fighting for an independent country or self-determination for the Tamil minority of Sri Lanka. Reports issued by unbiased international humanitarian agencies say that LTTE is not allowing Tamil civilians to move out of their areas of control to Sri Lankan army controlled areas. As I said last month, "This is unacceptable and inexcusable. more..

Mar 25 (LG) The atrocities committed against civilians in the country are shocking, yet the international community�s failure to intervene has allowed the Sri Lankan government to continue its gross violations of human rights, amounting to a genocide of the Tamil people. Sri Lanka�s 20-million person population is made up of 74 per cent ethnic Singhalese, 12.5 per cent ethnic Tamils, 5.5 per cent Indian Tamils, more..

Mar 25 (BL) With his latest move to continue as UNP Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe is systematically destroying the party, National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa alleged yesterday. After wishing the leader of the opposition a happy birthday, Weerawansa at a media conference, went onto declare that the UPFA will witness a great victory in the upcoming Western Province elections. more..

Mar 25 (BL) A computer kid asked me the number of MPs still remaining in the UNP, and I told him that it�s about 60. �I want the exact number,� he demanded. �What for,� I asked. �I am making a computer model that allows every member in the UNP to be its leader,� he said. I laughed and said the problem is over for the moment but, he said it will erupt after the Western Provincial Council (WPC) election. �How else can we solve UNP�s trouble,� he said, and ran to his computer to pursue his effort. more..

Mar 25 (BL) Fresh fire erupted between the government and international aid organisations together with human rights monitors over the latest developments at the battle front. The defence ministry in a web posting said groups �pretending to be humanitarian agencies, aid agencies, free media, civil rights movements... have made the continued bloodshed on Sri Lankan soil a lucrative business.� It accused aid agencies and rights groups -- who have been highly critical of a government offensive in northern areas more..

Mar 25 (BL) A survey conducted by the Health Ministry placed the average age of sexual debut for males at 15.3 for males and for females at 14.4. �These are shocking figures in a country that thinks that traditions and culture will not allow for such activities till a later age,� Consultant Psychosexual Specialist Dr. Kapila Ranasinghe said at a workshop organised at the Family Planning Association last week. more..

Mar 25 (TN) Mistake and oversight of government officials in re-allocating already leased out lands have caused a conflict between two Tamil speaking communities in Mannaar. Two ministers of the Colombo government, taking sides, but failing in sorting out the issue is adding to the tension, sources from Mannaar said. The major communities of Mannaar are Catholics and Muslims, both Tamil speaking. more..

Mar 25 (MN) The voters of Attanagalla, the the stronghold of the Bandaranaike dynasty yesterday (March 24) rejected former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga�s appointment as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party chairperson of Ruwanpura Bala Mandalaya. She was the SLFP chairperson of the Ruwanpura Bala Mandala for the past 18 years. The members of the Bala Mandala selected a newcomer, Dinesh Madushan Kularatna as the new chairman. more..

Mar 25 (MoD) Troops of the 20th Gajaba Regiment (GR) under the 58 Division have captured a safe house of Pottu Amman, while engaged in counter terrorist operations in general area South of Iranapalai at the Mullaittivu battlefront today (March 24). According to military, the safe house was used by both Pottu Amman and Kapil Amman two of the most wanted terrorists of the LTTE outfit for war crimes and crimes against humanity. more..

Mar 25 (Hindu) Launching a frontal attack on the PMK, Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi on Monday said that the constituents of the Tamizhar Padukappu Iyakkam no longer spoke of the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. �People like Dr.Ramadoss had taken a stand to show that they were more militant than the DMK on the Sri Lankan issue and had issued a statement in the morning and another in the evening,� more..

Mar 25 (Dawn) The rocket-launchers and explosives used in the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team are in the use of Indian forces, Dawn has learnt. According to a forensic report, four rocket-launchers and nine explosives seized from the scene are factory-made and used by Indian forces. Forty grenades, 10 sub-machine guns (SMGs), five pistols, 577 live rounds of SMGs and 160 bullets of pistols were also found there. The terrorists had fired 312 bullets, two rockets and detonated two bombs. more..

Mar 25 (TN) It was the fourth occasion in recent times the British parliament was discussing Sri Lanka. Members cutting across party lines came hard on the Colombo government for nearly one and a half hours on Tuesday, for its attacks on civilians, failure in heeding international calls for ceasefire, humanitarian abuses and blockade of international monitoring. Many members demanded UN action, suspension of Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth and pressure on India to act in stopping the war. more..

Mar 25 (TN) Selvarajah Raveendran, a lecturer of the Geography Department of the Arts Faculty of Jaffna and brother of Jaffna District TNA Parliamentarian Selvarajah Kajendran has been abducted by armed persons inside the high security area in Madiwela while he was returning to the parliamentarians residence Tuesday night, Police said. Mr. Raveendran was reading a post graduate course at the University of Moratuwa and was on study leave, more..

Mar 25 (LT) India is considering expanding the 115 bed set-up at �mineral sands� complex Pulmoddai. A 52- member Indian Army medical team is posted in this medical facility which started its functions two weeks ago and according to reports they don�t have many patients as a health facility established in an anchored ship and manned by Sri Lankan doctors and medical staff is preferred by many IDPs fleeing from terrorist held areas. more..

Mar 25 (GDI) The Department of Immigration and Emigration has taken steps to launch a series of public services with the use of IT technology at the Department premises today (25). These new services will include the launching of a SMS service to inform passport applicants of the readiness of their new passports and provision of modern facilities at the public reception unit on the first floor of the Department building. more..

Mar 25 (GDI) Air Fore has planned to hold the 10th annual cycle tour �Guwan Hamuda Papedi Savariya�, celebrating 58th anniversary of the Sri Lankan Air Force. The event will commence on March 27 from Air Fore headquarters and will conclude on the following day with riders finishing at the same place. The event will cover a distance of nearly 400 km and all licensed elite riders have confirmed their participation at this year�s event, more..

Mar 25 (GDI) �Industries ranging from small to large-scale need concessions further, and the government support tax concessions in the hour when global economic downturn hits very backbone of the industrial sector,� Deputy Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said tabling several finance bills today (25) at the parliament. more..

Mar 25 (GDI) Seven bills were tabled in the parliament today. Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Ranjith Siyambalapitiya presented the bills to the house for the second reading. Inland Revenue, Value Added Tax, Economic Service Charge, Finance (amendments, No: 352), Finance (amendments) (No: 358), Debit Tax (amendments) and Production Tax ( Special Provisions, amendments) bills were taken into debate. more..

Mar 25 (GDI) Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda will be arrived Sri Lanka on Saturday to hold bilateral discussions with the government. He is expected to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of Foreign Affaires Rohitha Bogollagama and some other senior officials. Minister Wirayuda will arrive in the country following an invitation extended by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama during his visit to Indonesia in November last year.

Mar 25 (GDI) An official meeting between the Director General of Government Information, Anusha Palpita and the Director, Press and Cultural Affairs of the US Embassy, Jeff Anderson took place at the Department of Government Information yesterday. The two of them exchanged ideas on the media work being done by the Department of Government Information. They also discussed the progress made in preserving the documentary film heritage of Sri Lanka project. more..

Mar 25 (GDI) �An exclusive tax concession is on the table, and it�s of major legislative interest to the government. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is really keen on the removal of taxes on intellectual property. And, the new tax concession will allow authors, publishers, theatre producers, film makers, lyricists and others to come to the market with their creations with an open mind,� more..

Mar 25 (SLA) A GROUP of farmers who are providing overnight protection to their paddy fields in MAWANAVILLU area in DEHIWATTA, TRINCOMALEE district were fired upon by suspected Tiger terrorists late night on Tuesday around 11.00 p.m. killing five farmers on the spot and injuring two more. It is believed Tiger terrorists who might have infiltrated the area would have carried out the attack with the intention of provoking civilians in the Sinhalese-dominated areas. more..

Mar 25 (MoD) The UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Neil Buhne has stated that he is unable to confirm the veracity of the figures of civilian casualties since 20th January 2009 in the conflict area of Mullaittivu District, contained in an official report issued by his Office recently. He made this disclosure at a meeting yesterday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama more..

Mar 25 (Island) Six trade unions of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation have given an ultimatum to Minister of Petroleum and Petroleum resource development, A. H. M. Fowzie to schedule an appointment with President Mahinda Rajapaksa before March 31 to discuss their grievances on delayed salary increments. The unions yesterday handed over a letter to Minister Fowzie in this regard. more..

Mar 25 (AN) The situation for trapped civilians in Sri Lanka is 'becoming graver by the day', says Christian Aid. An estimated 190,000 civilians remain trapped in the fighting, as food, medicine and fresh water supplies run dangerously low for those trying to flee to safety. And the charity says the world must now sit up and take notice. 'More than at any stage in the war it is the ordinary women, men and children who are bearing the brunt of the suffering', more..

Mar 25 (MoD) 5 paddy farmers were killed and 2 wounded when a group of LTTE terrorist infiltrators stormed into Dehiwatte village, a remote locality at Serunuwara yesterday at around 11p.m. The injured people were admitted to the Kantale Hospital, Serunuwara Police said. "A group of terrorists armed with T-56 assault riffles had taken 7 farmers who were looking-after their cultivation forcibly and killed 5 at pointblank range", more..

Mar 25 (CT) A former magistrate has been sentenced to one year imprisonment suspended for five years and imposed with a Rs. 1,500 fine after being found guilty of financial fraud. Colombo additional magistrate�s court today (Mar. 25) took up the case against Nirupamala Tikiri Kumari Sannasgala, who had incidentally heard cases at the same courts previously. more..

Mar 25 (CT) Education Secretary Nimal Bandara says he has been instructed by Minister Susil Premajayantha to accept the letters of resignations of school principals who are to launch a campaign against their unresolved grievances. Mr. Bandara says that steps have been taken to promote principals, one of their demands, as per a notification by the Public Services Commission on March 17. more..

Mar 25 (CT) The Supreme Court yesterday (Mar. 24) granted leave to proceed with a fundamental rights petition that alleges the accumulation of garbage without proper disposal at Kotahena area of Colombo. The SC issued an interim order, suspending Colombo Municipal Council�s agreements with Burns Trading (Pvt) Ltd and Burns Environmental and Technologies (Pvt) Ltd for the disposal of solid waste in Colombo. more..

Mar 25 (CT) A women's group staged a protest in Matara yesterday (Mar. 24), accusing the Health Minister and the government of importing substandard vaccines. The demonstration came after more than 30 schoolgirls in the district developed allergic reactions after being administered with rubella vaccine. One of them died. The protest has been organized by "Vishwa Kantha Peramuna". more..

Mar 25 (DM) US Ambassador Robert Blake who is a career Foreign Service officer is to be named the next US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian affairs, the US foreign policy website reported. Mr. Blake is expected to replace the current Assistant Secretary Richard A. Boucher. The foreign policy website reported that Mr. Blake�s nomination would be formally announced and more..

Mar 25 (TN) The main office of Uthayan Tamil daily in Jaffna came under grenade attack Tuesday night around 11:10 p.m., the administration of the paper told media in Colombo. Tamil media circles added that the attack had come after verbal instructions by the top officials of Rajapaksa government not to publish stories related to civilian casualties in Vanni or reproduce the contents of interviews given by the LTTE officials to news agencies and media. more..

Mar 25 (PSM) Mannar Muslims who returned to their traditional homelands recently after their forcible eviction by the LTTE in 1990 are now compelled to face another expulsion. The lands in which they were traditionally living is now claimed by the Principal of St. Xavier school of Mannar, with the help of members of Old Boys Association and School Development Society of the said school. more..

Mar 25 (DN) Health Minister said the Health Ministry is seeking the possibility of charging the officers who are responsible for the death of Peshala Hansani of St. Thomas� College Matara following Rubella vaccination, under the Penal Code. He said all investigation reports including the WHO vaccination experts findings would be forwarded to the Attorney General for his advice to explore the possibility of punishing them under the Penal Code. more..

Mar 25 (DN) Sri Lanka Adventures Corps has taken steps to send a team of ten members to scale the Mount Everest. This historic expedition will be undertaken by a young team under the supervision of the Sports Ministry and this team will leave the island today. The team will commence their expedition from the location where Sir Edmond Hilary - the first man to scale the mountain - began his historic adventure. more..

Mar 25 (LBO) State enterprises come begging to the Treasury for money to pay staff salaries, instead of making profits and contributing to national development, a senior government minister said. "One of the strange functions as the minister of finance is to handout checks at the end of the month to workers of 100 odd corporations that can't make the money to pay the salaries of these people," more..

Mar 25 (DN) Ven. Warapitiye Rahula Thera who works as a Grade One Social Service Officer attached to the Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Divisional Secretariat Office has made a request from President Mahinda Rajapaksa seeking an immediate transfer to a Divisional Secretariat Office in the Jaffna peninsula. Ven. Rahula Thera is the only Buddhist monk serving at the Social Services Department. more..

Mar 25 (Island) A last minute deal between Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa resulted in the tussle for the UNP leadership at Monday�s Working Committee meeting, petering out, informed sources said. They told The Island that Premadasa loyalists had signed a motion rejecting an eight-member committee report, recommending the creation of a senior leader post, in addition to that of leader, after Premadasa had been assured by Wickremesinghe that two new positions, more..