Dec 29 (NYT) Two men were riding the train known as the Queen of Jaffna as it rattled through the haunted battlegrounds of Sri Lanka�s civil war. One of them, Nisal Kavinda, a 20-year-old man from the Sinhalese ethnic group, was jubilant. He had wanted to ride this train since 2009, when President Rajapaksa declared victory over separatist rebels in the Tamil north, an event he called �the most happiest thing in our lifetime.� more..

Dec 29 (AD) Ven. Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, of the BBS has accused former Justice Minister and SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem of being a political prostitute who stood up against the government at all the Presidential elections. Gnanasara Thera said that Rauff Hakeem had defected to the opposition at the Presidential elections in 2005 and 2010, however, later joined the govt once again. more..

Dec 29 (CI) It had to be black magic. Tim Southee and Trent Boult were swinging a 70-over old ball on the fourth morning. Both ways. Their skill accounted for 13 of the 20 Sri Lankan wickets and confirmed Brendon McCullum's Boxing Day assault as match winning. Christchurch witnessed NZ's fifth victory in 2014, marking it their best year in Test history. A target of 105 appeared straightforward, but SL created a few nervous more..

Dec 29 (PTI) Bollywood star Salman Khan is in Sri Lanka to prop up the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa's re-election bid, the first Indian actor to be roped in for a poll campaign in the country. Khan, along with SL-born Jacqueline Fernandez and five other Bollywood performers are set to appear on stage in support of Rajapaksa. Khan was invited to participate in the election campaign by MP & Rajapaksa's son Namal, more..

Dec 29 (PTI) Former Minister and JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka, has made public 13 communications, by way of letters, which were exchanged between him and President Rajapaksa. Ranawaka says the letters were sent to the President while he was still a Cabinet Minister and reveals the position he took on several issues. He said that when he was a Minister he looked to direct govt on the correct path but more..

Dec 29 (LP) Yal Devi train will start journeying to Kankesanthurai starting January 2. SLR General Manager V. Amaratunga stressed that the Yal Devi started operating after the war on Oct 13th and that it has yet again started its journey to the furthest corner of the North, the last stop of its original route, Kankesanthurai after 26-years. Between the 21km long stretch of railway lines, Jaffna to Kankesanthurai along with the Kokavil, more..

Dec 29 (CT) The people must witness elections that are transparent to satisfy themselves that the final result if the choice of the majority people who had voted a contender to office. Vote rigging through the advanced electronic system or by duplicating ballot boxes is a threat to the democratic rights of the voters. We have in the past seen how elections have been rigged at district and electoral level. The people even have doubts about the process of postal voting as postal voters more..

Dec 29 (Guardian) The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that left almost a quarter of a million people dead and led to the world�s largest emergency aid program had a profound impact on two wars being fought in the region. In Aceh, Indonesia, it contributed to the end of three decades of bloody conflict; in Sri Lanka, the tsunami ultimately led to the deaths of tens of thousands. In Aceh, the Free Aceh movement (Gam) had been fighting the Indonesian govt for a separate state. more..

Dec 29 (EN) Sri Lankan stocks closed weaker Monday in thin trade with indices pushed down by losses in index heavyweights as investors stayed away because of the festivities and uncertainties ahead of next week's presidential poll, brokers said. The All Share Price Index fell 21.44 points (0.29%) to 7,287.59 while the S&P SL20 index, which tracks the top 20 largest and most liquid stocks on the Colombo Stock Exchange, ended down 3.36 points (0.08%) at 4,080.22. more..

Dec 29 (CT) In transiting from chosen candidates to the threshold of victory, both Modi and Maithripala have had a comparable journey though with some difference. In the second lap of Congress rule, lack of movement was disconcerting to the polity. Corruption interweaving itself into the fabric of life made the Congress still more repulsive. When many a nation was growing in strength, both economic and military, India was seen to lose her dynamism. In the comity of nations she had become lusterless. more..

Dec 29 (Island) Prof. Oliver Abeynayake of Hansayanawa Organisation, which calls itself a a body for campaigning against corruption, bribery, nepotism, injustice and violence prevailing in the country and restoration of law and order said Sri Lanka needed a change of govt as there was rampant corruption with mega deals in the name of development and violence unleashed against innocent masses, while the politicians more..

Dec 29 (PTI) Sri Lankan navy today arrested eight Tamil Nadu fishermen on charges of poaching in the island nation's waters. They were arrested near Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974, and were taken to Thalaimannar along with their boat, Rameswaram Fishermen Organisation President said. Naval personnel had on Dec9 fired in the air and damaged more than 20 fishing nets to chase away fishermen from TN while fishing near Katchatheevu and other places. more..

Dec 29 (DM) Standard Chartered is the first international bank in Sri Lankan to connect with LankaPay, the island�s largest common ATM network.The bank�s customers can now enjoy ATM services at over 2,500 ATMs island wide. LankaPay service allows customers of one bank to transact using an ATM of another member bank at a nominal fee of Rs. 30 per cash withdrawal and Rs. 7/50 per balance enquiry request. It is anticipated that this will bring greater convenience and affordability to more..

Dec 29 (CG) TNA is to announce its stand on the Presidential elections tomorrow, TNA sources said. A meeting of the TNA had been held in Colombo yesterday where the election was discussed and it was decided that the TNA position will be made public tomorrow. Incidentally, common opposition Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena will be in the North tomorrow to campaign for the election. more..

Dec 29 (GDI) Govt has taken steps to uplift the Mat weaving industry in Sri Lanka to attracted international market. Since the ancient times, Mat weaving used to be practiced by rural women at home while their husbands were away at work in paddy fields or Chena cultivation in Sri Lanka. Today, mat weaving is a popular cottage industry with established sales outlets around Sri Lanka. A fibre similar to Jute extracted from the leaves of Hana � a hemp grown wild in the marshy more..

Dec 29 (ICC) Sri Lanka arrived at the World Cup with not many thinking they could go all the way. It powered through the group stage with wins against Zimbabwe, India and Kenya � and points garnered when Australia and West Indies opted to forfeit matches because they opted not to travel to SL � and made it to the quarterfinals. A comprehensive win against England followed, and in the semifinal, India was outplayed, setting the stage for a summit clash against Australia. more..

Dec 29 (CI) If spunk is what Sri Lanka pride themselves on, the first two days of the Christchurch Test brought little to crow about. The visitors were put under pressure by an exceptional Brendon McCullum innings and outstanding new-ball spells from Trent Boult and Tim Southee, but did not emerge from either period of play with credit. They dropped three catches while McCullum was at the crease, plus another soon after he was more..

Dec 29 (CI) In a sports ecosystem often dominated by the All Blacks, the NZ cricket team has begun to generate considerable buzz among the public ahead of their long home summer. Appreciation of the team's growing will now only rise further after NZ claimed a record fifth Test win for the year, in the Boxing Day match against SL. That match was well-attended on all four days, the first of which saw an 8000-strong crowd in full voice, as Brendon McCullum hit a 134-ball 195. more..

Dec 29 (CG) In a joint operation, Ramanathapuram Customs and Q Branch police seized 2.3 kg of gold and arrested two fishermen who had received the gold bars from a Sri Lankan-based smuggler during the second week of December and kept them in their huts in Dhanushkodi. Acting on a tip-off, Ramanathapuram and Rameswaram Customs officials and Q Branch police seized nine unmarked gold bars in different sizes from the two � Denison (38) and Murugavel (26), on Sunday morning. more..

Dec 29 (CG) President Mahinda Rajapaksa today noted the threat of Facebook being used to push for regime change in Sri Lanka. He said that the youth and being drawn to believe false propaganda using Facebook. He said that one should question if change should be sought in a country for the good or bad or just for the sake of having change. President said that some people are now claiming he will face the same fate as more..

Dec 29 (GN) The UAE, represented by the Federal Customs Authority (FCA) and Sri Lanka Customs, have initialled an agreement on customs technical cooperation. The agreement was signed in Sri Lanka�s capital, Colombo, during a UAE delegation�s visit to discuss ways to bolster cooperation. Khalid Ali Al Bustani, FCA Acting Director-General, said: �The UAE is keen on enhancing and promoting cooperation with its trade partners worldwide, through signing customs technical more..

Dec 29 (AM) Turning down requests made by various parties, Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya on Monday said no decision has been made to postpone the presidential election due to inclement weather. According to the statistics of the Disaster Management Centre, 1106380 people, in 21 districts, have been affected due to inclement weather conditions. Uva, North Central and Central province have been severely affected due to floods, landslides and heavy rains. more..

Dec 29 (DM) Maverick Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama, remanded on charges of having abducted three suspects from police custody, was today produced before the Baddegama Magistrate Chandima Edirimanna and released on bail with two sureties of Rs.500,000 each. Mr. Muthuhettigama�s driver Methsiri Chaminda was also released by the Magistrate on a surety bail of Rs.100,000. more..

Dec 29 (DM) Common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena�s election office at Mahiyanganaya has been attacked last night, the Police said. The office was damaged and added that investigations were being carried out though there have been no arrests so far. Meanwhile, Mr. Sirisena�s media unit said that 15 people had arrived in three vans and shot at the office causing heavy damage. The media unit said retired Army Colonel Chandrasena, who is disabled, his son and more..

Dec 29 (EN) Heavy, unseasonal rains have drastically reduced rubber tapping in Sri Lanka, affecting revenue of listed plantation companies in the December quarter, usually a peak cropping period. The disruption caused by rain comes on top of a steep fall in prices owing to over-production and high global stocks and the strengthening of the US dollar, the currency in which most commodities are traded. Industry officials said rain has also affected other top rubber growing countries more..

Dec 29 (CG) A group of mostly young SL artists, who support Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena, have been attacked by an angry mob allegedly led by a Provincial Councillor of the ruling party in Kurunegala. The Aluth Parapura (New Generation) organization, which was formed ahead of the presidential polls under the objective of defeating the �dictatorial madness� and raising a voice for the freedom of human society, more..

Dec 29 (AM) Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha met Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the latter's office a short while ago. The meeting took place just hours after the Deputy Minister's arrival from Singapore. Sources said that Mustapha, during the meeting, agreed to work with the common opposition. Mustapha, who is likely to pledge support to the Common Candidate of the opposition, is expected to announce his decision on the presidential election today or tomorrow. more..

Dec 29 (Island) Sri Lanka was primarily an agricultural country and it could never be developed without developing the agricultural sector, common opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena said. Addressing a propaganda rally, Sirisena said that there was no use of any other development projects for the sustainable economic development without diverting funds to improve the country�s agricultural sector to make the country self-sufficient in food. more..

Dec 29 (DM) Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said a secret report found at the Health Ministry had revealed that the National Medicinal Drugs Policy (NMDP) had not been lost and would be implemented during President Rajapaksa�s third term. He said that according to former Health and Nutritious Minister the report had not been published because most of it had been done during his time. �The report reveals that NMDP has been more..

Dec 29 (DM) President Rajapaksa is blatantly violating election laws by using and abusing his executive presidential powers to such an extent that he is even using excerpts from the National Anthem for his election campaign advertisements, said Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, the Chairman of NMJS. He said some of the National Anthem lyrics such as Apa Shakthiya Oba, Apa Anupranaya Oba, Apa Alokaya Oba and Apa Jeewaya Oba had been used in President Rajapaksa�s advertisements. more..

Dec 29 (DM) Former President Chandrika Kumarathunga�s lawyers in a letter to the IGP called on the IGP to take immediate action against those alleged of attacking her vehicle and harassing her in Beruwala on Dec 26. The letter while detailing the incident which took place while the former President and Hirunika Premachandra were at a gathering at China Fort in Beruwala, states that the Special Task Force Personnel and the Riot Squad provided protection to the unruly mob. more..

Dec 29 (DM) A national unity govt under Maithripala Sirisena would look into the reports on incumbent President Rajapaksa�s alleged agreement with LTTE agent known as Emil Kanthan, prior to the 2005 presidential election, JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka said. �Govt bigwig Basil Rajapaksa is alleged to have engaged in discussions with Emil Kanthan and that Rs. 700 million, which was meant to use as tsunami more..

Dec 30 (CT) Sri Lanka at the cross roads. People may see different dimensions depending on different vantage points from which they look at the cross roads. However, at the presidential elections, it is a key choice between democracy and dynastic-authoritarianism. The emergence of authoritarianism subordinating traditional parliamentary democratic institutions was linked to the executive presidential system. It also had an ethnic as well as a class dimension. more..

Dec 30 (CT) The current bad weather, with its displacement of many unfortunate people, can have serious implications for a free and fair poll. Polls staff, polling observers and voters in affected districts will have a tough time getting to the polling stations, and many of the displaced voters, even if they receive their polling cards will probably be in no state or mood to venture out to cast their vote. Understandably they will have other priorities in these difficult days. more..

Dec 30 (SO) Prasanna Ranathunga, the Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council representing the Gampaha district says that the re-entry of Chandrika Kumaratunga to politics is no challenge for them in the Gampaha district as SPFPers at grassroots level will back President Rajapaksa at the forthcoming election. He also says that opposition is losing all their election slogans and they are in an utter chaos due to more..

Dec 30 (CT) Fortunes fall on laps at unexpected moments to certain personalities. It's similar to winning a lottery through the electronic systems. Some who never dream of attaining high positions get them through luck. When good fortunes knock on the door, it is said the door opens suddenly. It is such backdrop, we should recall to memory past political developments over the last four decades. Recalling such memories, the glance to that past record, how high positions fell as more..

Dec 30 (HP) When we first saw the destruction, we could hardly believe our eyes. The wave hit three times, like a wash, rinse and tumble cycle. Houses were completely swept away, and almost everywhere we looked, all we could see was rubble piled on top of concrete foundations. People set up tents on top of the foundations to claim the spots where their homes once stood. But it was not just the devastation that was so incredible, it was immense scale - totality of the shoreline more..

Dec 30 (CT) This week's trade union talk focuses on one of the major professional associations of the country, FUTA. FUTA President, Chandragupta Thenuwara during stressed that universities, which are supposed to be knowledge exploring hubs had become certificate awarding institutes. He emphasized the requirement of allocating more funds to the universities to enhance its facilities in order to let academics and students to more..

Dec 30 (NS) Sri Lanka�s seventh presidential election will be held in less than two weeks, but unfortunately campaigning for the contest to elect the country�s next Head of State has descended to a farce, with crossovers dominating the headlines and issues of importance being relegated to the small print. From all accounts, the election will be closely fought. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has reverted to a familiar theme: seeking the nation�s gratitude for ending terrorism. more..