Nov 25 AFP) Thousands of nationalists have protested against a visit to Sri Lanka by EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, denouncing foreign involvement in the country's efforts to end years of unrest. more..

Nov 25 (LT) The JVP doesn’t oppose a National government as a concept says Mr. Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the JVP. Mr. Silva stated this making a public lecture on the theme “Where does this crisis end?” more..

Nov 25 (CI) Selectors have included Dinusha and Dilhara Fernando in a 15-man squad for the opening Test against England, which starts next week. The two pace bowlers will be competing for one place as Sri Lanka are set to play only two quicks on a surface that is expected to offer bountiful assistance to the slow bowlers. more..

Nov 25 (HT) It is clear from the reactions of Sri Lankan leaders to the death of the Indian minister and Tamil Nadu leader, Murasoli Maran, on Sunday, that Sri Lanka has lost a friend. more..

Nov 25 (JS) A top team from Gloria Vanderbilt has urged Sri Lanka to press for a Free Trade Agreement with the US if it wants to increase its exports. CEO Isaac Dabbah added that in order to enjoy free trade Sri Lanka must “open its markets, liberalise further and remove subsidies." more..

Nov 25 (Reuters) The European Union's Chris Patten said on Tuesday Sri Lanka's peace process was a ray of hope but the island's Tamil Tigers still had a long way to go to change from rebel outfit into legitimate political group. more..

Nov 25 (Reuters) Members of Sri Lanka's National Patriotic Movement burn an effigy of European Union External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten outside a Colombo hotel where he is staying during a visit to Sri Lanka on November 25, 2003. more..

Nov 25 (Reuters) Protesters could take a few lessons from the Chinese government if they really want to insult Chris Patten. Patten, the EU external relations commissioner, was greeted on his arrival in Colombo on Tuesday by a crowd of about 2,000 people who burned his effigy and called him a "White Tiger" because he plans to meet the leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels. more..

Nov 26 (TN) The political instability in the south of the country has been considered by the local and international community as the main obstacle to take the peace process forward, the United National Front government senior minister and media spokesman, Professor G.L.Peiris, said Tuesday. more..

Nov 26 (UNI) skipper Naweed Nawaz's unbeaten knock of 72 runs and opener P Jayawardene's 76 runs helped Sri Lanka 'A', put on a brave fight in the second outing, after conceding a sizeable lead of 125 runs in the first innings, to be at 196 for the loss of four wickets against India 'A' on the third day of the four-day Test match here today. more..

Nov 26 (AP) England's leading batsman Graham Thorpe said Tuesday he sees the biggest challenge in the upcoming test series against Sri Lanka in ace offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan and says surviving his initial overs would be important for the batsmen. more..

Nov 26 (Island) An early morning fire at the student hostel in Moscow’s Patrice Lulumba Friendship University killed one Sri Lankan student and critically injured two others, reports from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow said. more..

Nov 26 (DN) The Government yesterday called upon the diplomatic corps to push for an early settlement to the political crisis so that the much awaited peace talks could be commenced as planned. more..

Nov 26 (Hindu) The European Union's Commissioner in charge of External Relations, Chris Patten, today said the LTTE would "have to show" its continued commitment to last year's Oslo agreement in which it agreed to find a solution to the separatist conflict within a united Sri Lanka based on federal models. more..

Nov 26 (LBO) Ahead of World AIDS day on December 1st, the good news is Sri Lanka’s low AIDS numbers, but the bad news is the country’s high vulnerability to the disease. To stem the tide, the World Bank is considering financing AIDS treatment drugs as part of its ongoing US$ 12.6 mn HIV/AIDS package to Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 26 (SLA) The Ampan Dispensary complex and the Public Library building hitherto remained unused since it was inside the Point Pedro high security zone, were formally handed over back to Point Pedro Assistant Divisional Secretary (ADS), Mr. Vela Yuda Pillai for public use at a function on 21st November 2003, more..

Nov 26 (SLA) The Security Forces Headquarters (SFHQ), Wanni is five years of age. A series of activities to coincide with the founding day of this unit (23rd November) were held at its premises in Vavuniya under the aegis of Major General M. D. S Chandrapala more..

Nov 26 (SLA) Four Muslim civilians and two Tamil civilians have received injuries when an unidentified group has lobbed a hand grenade at them while they were near a mosque in the general area of SALAIADI in TRINCOMALEE town on 25 November 2003 around 8.30 p.m. more..

Nov 26 (OI) One cannot but be concerned over the implications of the proposed visit of Chris Patten, the European Union's External Relations Commissioner, to Killinochi in the LTTE-controlled area to meet Prabakaran on November 26. more..

Nov 26 (AP) Nepalese Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa arrived in Sri Lanka Wednesday as she prepares to step down as head of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. more..

Nov 26 (DG) Tamil Tiger rebels will observe their annual heroes' day on Thursday to commemorate 17,708 men and women killed in their struggle for a separate state. The LTTE said they had already decorated the rebel-held regions of the Island's northeast with red and yellow flags and lit lamps to honour their war dead. more..

Nov 26 (Reuters) England fast-medium bowler James Kirtley has taken four for 19 from 10 overs against a President's XI in the run-up to next week's first test. Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles also bowled himself into form, taking three for 23 as the home side slumped to 142 for eight before the final session was washed out on Wednesday. more..

Nov 26 (IANS) A ferry service between India and Sri Lanka will commence shortly and operate between Colombo and Kochi in Kerala. It was originally believed the service would link Colombo with Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. more..

Nov 26 (DM) The Samarawickreme-Tittawella committee appointed following two rounds of talks between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has reportedly run in to a deadlock. more..

Nov 26 (AFP) EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten ignored protests from nationalists in Sri Lanka and travelled to the rebel-held north for talks with the top Tamil Tiger leader, officials said. more..

Nov 26 (Reuters) The leader of Tamil Tiger rebels say it is up to Sinhalese politicians to avoid a return of the island's civil war. Velupillai Prabhakaran, leader of the LTTE, made the remarks in a meeting with European Union External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, according to LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilslevan. more..

Nov 26 (HT) The European Union's External Relations Commissioner, Chris Patten, who planned to be tough with the LTTE Supremo, Vellupillai Prabhakaran, at their meeting in Kilinochchi on Wednesday, was himself subjected to some tough talking by the Tiger chief, more..

Nov 26 (IL) Rationalisation of VAT to a single rate will make implementation easier both for the Government as well as the business sector. However, our Chamber still feels that further lowering of VAT to 10% and making it non deductible/non refundable will increase net revenue and make record keeping and filing of returns simpler. more..

Nov 26 (IL) The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) faction, which is campaigning for the removal of the party's President V. Anandasangaree, citing reasons for their action said that the TULF President should be ousted as he had failed to fall in with the Tamil political line. more..

Nov 26 (TC) Sri Lanka 'A' nearly turned the tables on a jittery India 'A' even as the first of the three four-day Test matches between the two teams ended in an exciting draw on the final day at Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera on Wednesday. more..

Nov 27 (TN) "The current power struggle between President and Prime Minister has adversely impacted on the Peace Process. However, we will strictly adhere to the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) and will patiently wait to see if political stability returns to the South," Col. Karuna, Senior Commander of LTTE, more..

Nov 27 (TN) The European Union(EU)'s External Relations Commissioner, Mr. Chris Patten, said Wednesday that the international community has welcomed the LTTE for eschewing violence and entering the political negotiations to find a solution to the conflict. more..

Nov 27 (IANS) Sri Lankans suffered an island-wide electricity failure lasting over an hour early Wednesday, reports Xinhua. The blackout was blamed on a technical hitch at the Kelanitissa Power Station in the capital Colombo. more..

Nov 27 (DN) The Immigration and Emigration Department Authorised Officers Union has called for the appointment of a commission of inquiry to investigate allegations that certain officers of the Department were preparing passports based on false documents. more..

Nov 27 (Island) The Commercial High Court of Colombo presided over by L. K. Wimalachandra had issued an interim order preventing the publication of the "Divamina" published and distributed on Sunday by Upali Newspapers Ltd. more..

Nov 27 (TN) Ten soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army were buried alive in the muddy land between Eluthumadduval and Nagarkovil coastal area in Thenmaradchi division in Jaffna district while undergoing training on Wednesday at about 6 p.m., police said. more..

Nov 27 (LBO) In the ‘good old days’ - a by gone era, where kids played with simple toys like paper guns and ran riot in the house chasing a sibling or friend and called it cops and robbers or some war game are over. Times and the technology has changed. more..

Nov 27 (LBO) The Seylan Merchant Bank (SMB) Group has reported a three fold growth in pre-tax profits for the third quarter ending Sept. 2003. Consolidated pre-tax profit at Rs 33 million, was up 363 per cent for the period ended September 30, 2003, from Rs 7 million in the corresponding period last year. more..

Nov 27 (LBO) PERC, the government’s privatisation arm, has picked Ernst & Young to advice them on the 90 percent stake sale in Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka Ltd. E&Y were among the four runners who showed interest to take up an advisory role in the sale of the graphite miner. more..

Nov 27 (SLA) A group of Jaffna-based soldiers, engaged in a training exercise related to the Special Advanced Infantry Platoon Training Course sank into a mire on an inundated paddy-field on 26 November 2003 around 5.30 p.m., causing death to ten soldiers and hospital admission to one more. more..

Nov 27 (SLA) Forty three Sri Lankan refugees, disembarked at a location near DELFT ISLAND in JAFFNA on 25 November 2003 after they reportedly arrived in Sri Lanka on an Indian trawler, were delivered to the Assistant Government Agent in DELFT ISLAND. more..

Nov 27 (SLA) Two teenagers, who had gone missing from their homes in KURUNDANADI, AMPARA were traced by their parents while they were detained at KALAWANCHIKUDY LTTE camp. more..

Nov 27 (SLA) School children in their uniforms were forced to attend an LTTE commemorative ceremony in the general area of MUDALIYARKULAM, about 24 km. southwest of VAVUNIYA on 26 November 2003, irrespective of the LTTE’s assurance given to the SLMM. more..

Nov 27 (SLA) An unidentified group of men assaulted two Tamil civilians on a push bicycle with a wooden pole on 26 November 2003 while they were riding in the general area of SALAIADI KURUSA junction in the TRINCOMALEE town. more..

Nov 27 (SLA) Two vehicles, including a three-wheeler proceeding towards KINNIYA have been stoned by an unidentified group of Muslims while they were in the general area of PERIYA KINNIYA, about 10 km southwest of TRINCOMALEE town on 25 November 2003. more..

Nov 27 (SLA) A lorry driver, who sustained stab injuries in the general area of MARATHADY junction, about 1 km northwest of TRINCOMALEE, was admitted to TRINCOMALEE hospital for treatment on 26 November 2003. more..

Nov 27 (LT) The present task of the Patriotic National Movement (PNM) is to rally round all patriotic forces in the country is to defeat the reactionary forces led by the UNP which made this country a play ground of international racketeers and launch a National Programme to develop the country said Mr.Wimal Weerawanshe, more..

Nov 27 (LT) A protest campaign was held today afternoon opposite Jumma mosque in Trincomalee to protest against a bomb attack on several Muslim youths by the tiger organization. more..

Nov 27 (TN) The Humanitarian Demining Unit (HDU) has announced that it will start demining in the Batticaloa district on November 29, and the HDU has already begun initial preparations and surveys to concentrate on demining the Palaiyadivaddai village for mines and booby traps in the first stage, sources said. more..

Nov 27 (Gulf) Tamil guerrillas are set to transmit their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's annual speech today via satellite to some of the foreign television stations catering to the minority Tamils scattered around the world. more..