Dec 8 (GT) PRESIDENT Mahinda Rajapakse on Tuesday met his main alliance partner the JVP for a special discussion on the current situation in the north. The meeting, chaired by President Rajapakse, commenced at 8am and went on for nearly three hours at Temple Trees, more..

Dec 8 (wsws) The minority government formed by Sri Lanka’s new president, Mahinda Rajapakse, late last month is a sign of deep political instability. With only 70 seats in a 225-seat parliament, he is completely dependent on the support of the two Sinhala chauvinist parties—the JVP and JHU—that backed his presidential election campaign. more..

Dec 8 (SLA) LTTE ONCE AGAIN proved their duplicity violating International Humanitarian Law when a group of Tamil Tigers used innocent civilians as a human shield to attack Security Forces today (08) in the general area of KALADY on the JAFFNA-KANKESANTHURAI road. more..

Dec 8 (SLA) Three Muslim religious leaders accompanied by the representatives of the SLMM had entered the un-cleared area of SAMPOOR across the Security Forces roadblock at THOPPUR, about 17 km southeast of TRINCOMALEE, on 06 December 2005 around 11.00 a.m. more..

Dec 8 (SLA) A 15-year-old LTTE cadre has shot and killed his own two sisters in the general area of MAVADIVEMBU, about 19 km northwest of BATTICALOA town, on 07 December 2005. According to an eyewitness, NADEESHA PILLAI NADAR, this brutal act of assassination has been committed by SURERASA SIVALINGAM (15) of LTTE, more..

Dec 8 (SLA) Three constables of the Special Task Force (STF) and five civilians in the general area of AKKARAIPATTU in AMPARA escaped death on Wednesday (07) around 7.00 p.m. when a group of LTTE cadres hurled a hand grenade at them. more..

Dec 8 (SAMN) The Bar Association wants President Mahinda Rajapakse to endorse his predecessor Chandrika Kumaratunga’s appointment of five President’s Counsel four days before the November 17 presidential elections. The Island learns that Bar Association President Desmond Fernando, PC, is seeking an urgent meeting with Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President, to brief him in this regard. more..

Dec 8 (SAMN) SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem yesterday called on the government and the LTTE to observe the ceasefire in the “right spirit”. He urged both parties to ensure that nothing would disturb the harmony that exists between the Muslims and Tamils in the East. more..

Dec 8 (SAMN) UN Special Rapporteur for Extra Judicial Killings, Phillip Alston at a media briefing at his Hotel last night said that he told the Tiger rebels that simply denying their involvement in an attack was not acceptable unless they went ahead and also denounced the crimes and urged their supporters to refrain from engaging in such acts. more..

Dec 8 (LNP) A special security blanket will come into effect in the Jaffna peninsula and the military is to take tough action against any terrorist acts in the peninsula, following a directive from President Mahinda Rajapakse, after violence claimed the lives of many soldiers in the region. more..

Dec 8 (LNP) A computer technology graduate Dishani Thusharika of Bahirawakanda Road, Kandy disappointed over the delay of her marriage by one year has committed suicide by swallowing an over-dose of diabetes control pills. This was disclosed at the inquiry into the death of the young woman by the Kandy city and Kandy hospital inquirer into sudden deaths Deshakeerthi Supun Mapalagama. more..

Dec 8 (LNP) Former Finance Minister and UNP parliamentarian Ronnie de Mel`s pre election leap to the ruling camp has yielded intended results. However, his appointment as an economic advisor to President Mahinda Rajapakse is not totally a gesture of gratitude. Ronnie was the UNP`s Finance Minister, when Sri Lanka`s economy was prised open in 1977. more..

Dec 8 (DN) Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa vowed to lay the foundation for a new and decent media culture. Minister Yapa said that he would take steps to upgrade the institutions under him with sound administration, efficiency and productivity. more..

Dec 8 (Reuters) Ethnic tension between Sri Lanka's minority Tamil and Muslim communities is rising in the island's east after a November grenade attack on a mosque killed seven and as observers fear the island's 2002 truce is falling apart. more..

Dec 8 (AFP) Sri Lanka go into the second Test against India at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here with morale high after gaining a psychological advantage in the previous match. Bowling out Rahul Dravid-led India for a meagre 167 in a truncated drawn opening Test in Chennai helped the tourists regain confidence more..

Dec 8 (Reuters) (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's on Thursday assigned a B+ long-term foreign-currency rating to Sri Lanka, with a stable outlook, saying the rating reflected the sovereign's growth prospects. S&P also assigned a BB- local-currency rating to the country. more..

Dec 8 (HT) The new Sri Lankan President, Mahanida Rajapaksa, on Wednesday asked Norway to continue to be the official facilitator of the peace process in the country. But Oslo is not in a hurry to resume that highly tricky and controversial role. more..

Dec 8 (AFP) Sri Lanka's hardline Buddhist monks and Marxists, key allies of the new president, said they oppose his invitation to Norway to resume peace efforts but pledged to maintain support for him. President Mahinda Rajapakse's invitation Wednesday to Norway followed a recent surge in violence more..

Dec 8 (AP) Norway is "deeply concerned" about escalating violence in Sri Lanka's north and east, a Norwegian Embassy statement said Thursday, after Oslo-led peace monitors warned that a recent spike in attacks could re-ignite the tropical island's civil war. more..

Dec 8 (AFP) Sri Lanka raised taxes for companies and salary earners and pledged to spend more to help farmers in its revised federal budget for 2006 unveiled by the president and finance minister. more..

Dec 9 (LBO) President says coal power and upper Kotmale hydro power project are top priority in infrastructure development. Delivering the budget speech, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said “the coal power plant and Upper Kotmale hydro power project will be given highest priority in order to provide low cost electricity to the people as early as possible.” more..

Dec 9 (IANS) India and Norway Thursday reviewed the faltering Sri Lankan peace process and explored ways to expand bilateral ties straddling diverse sectors, including business, energy and technology. more..

Dec 9 (HT) One of the issues that will be taken up in the forthcoming bilateral talks between Sri Lanka and Norway on the latter's role as the peace broker in the island, is whether or not Norway should continue to head the truce monitoring mission also. more..

Dec 9 (LBO) Paddy farmers got a bumper harvest in the Mahinda Chintana budget, with subsidized fertilizer and paddy buying prices upped by one rupee to Rs. 17.50. The Budget proposal said that all verities of fertilizer will be (sold) at Rs. 350 per 50 kg bag for cultivation of paddy and Vegetables. more..

Dec 9 (UPI) Sri Lanka's invitation to Norway to continue mediating in its conflict with Tamil rebels is aimed at persuading the LTTE against returning to conflict, analysts said. "The move could be a bid to prevail upon the LTTE not to resume ethnic conflict because Norwegian peace negotiators recognize only the LTTE as the sole representative among Tamil groups in Sri Lanka," more..

Dec 9 (Xinhua) China has become Sri Lanka's second largest source of visitors in north Asia, said Nihal Rodrigo, Sri Lanka ambassador to China. Sri Lanka hopes to attract over 250,000 Chinese visitors by 2010, he said. more..

Dec 9 (UN) The United Nations expert on arbitrary executions has called on all parties to the conflict in Sri Lanka to take more determined action to tackle the killings that have plagued the country in recent days. more..

Dec 9 (BBC) The Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers must act urgently to stop the escalation of violence and human rights abuses in the north and east of the country, says Amnesty International following a four-day high level visit to Sri Lanka. more..

Dec 9 (AT) In Sri Lanka ailments like Diabetes and Heart diseases are on the increase and it is estimated that around 5 percent of the population suffer from diabetes, which is considered to be endemic and further this figure could rise as around 50 percent if have not been tested for their conditions. more..

Dec 9 (AT) President Mahinda Rajapakse has directed the Security Chiefs to urgently strengthen the security of Muslim and Tamil border villagers in the East, following an urgent appeal made by National Unity Alliance Leader Ferial Ashraff, during a meeting with the President. more..

Dec 9 (TO) After a year at Mount Holyoke College, Weston High School graduate Julie Angiolillo decided to try something completely different. In early September she left for Sri Lanka to volunteer at the Kalutara North Tsunami Camp. After spending almost three months there, she flew back home at the end of November. more..

Dec 9 (AT) President Mahinda Rajapakse, who is also the Minister of Finance, breaking with tradition went to the Parliament yesterday and presented a new budget based on his election manifesto ‘Mahinda Chinathana.’ more..

Dec 9 (EI) There are times when it is easier for short guys like Chaminda Vaas to talk to Tom Moody when the man mountain sized-Sri Lanka coach is sitting down. Vaas, Sri Lanka’s new vice-captain, has been in this position more than once this year. more..

Dec 9 (LT) They were satisfied that President Mahinda Rajapakse has taken steps to present a budget conforming to the agreement reached before the presidential election between him and the JVP said Mr. Wimal Weerawansa, Parliamentarian and Information Secretary of the JVP. more..

Dec 9 (LT) The finance minister, President Mahinda Rajapaksha presented his budget for 2006 based on "Mahinda Chinthana" to parliament today. After he won the November 17th Presidential election, he said that a new budget will be presented to parliament to enable him to fulfill the promises given by him at his election platform to win mostly rural voters and government employees. more..

Dec 9 (LT) A petition has been presented to court requesting an order against the decision taken by the previous cabinet to make available a one and a half acre land to former president Chandrika Kumaratunga. The petition has been submitted to appeal Court by the editor of ‘Ravaya’ Mr. Victor Ivan. more..

Dec 9 (LT) Prof. Laxman Watawala, who signed an advertisement of certain intellectuals asking people to vote for the UNP has been appointed as the chairman of Board of Investments (BOI). Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has made the appointment. Prof. Laxman Watawala is said to be an ardent supporter of the UNP. more..

Dec 9 (UT) The sea shimmers to the west as the train rattles north toward Colombo. It passes a Christian cemetery, fields where grazing cattle listlessly watch boys in white uniforms play cricket, and crumpled shacks unrepaired nearly a year after the waves came. more..

Dec 9 (PIS) Australia is deeply concerned about the recent escalation in violence in the North and East and condemns in particular the two attacks in Jaffna on December 4 and 6 by the LTTE, which killed 14 members of the Sri Lanka Army. more..

Dec 9 (TN) Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo, Hans Brattskar, toured tsunami affected Mullaitivu area and visited transit centers housing tsunamil refugees to directly witness their living conditions. Ambassador Brattsker arrived in Mullaitivu at 2.30 p.m. Sunday after travelling overland from Jaffna via A9 highway, sources said. more..

Dec 9 (SLA) ONE MUSLIM CIVILIAN was killed and another critically injured when a group of unidentified gunmen opened fire at them Thursday (08) around 12.30 midnight in the general area of ERAVUR. more..

Dec 9 (SLA) ON INFORMATION received from a civilian, troops have recovered two Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) rounds hidden under a bush in the general area of SITTANDY, BATTICALOA on 8 December 2005 around 10.00 a.m. more..

Dec 9 (SLA) FOLLOWING AN INFORMATION received by 119 Police Emergency Centre, one Tamil Tiger involved in the assassination of former Foreign Minister LUXMAN KADIRAGAMAR has been arrested by a special Police team in the general area of GALEWELA, KURUNEGALA, on 08 December 2005 around 8.10 p.m. more..

Dec 9 (SLA) A SUSPECTED PERSON, believed to be a Tamil Tiger, has lobbed a hand grenade at Special Task Force (STF) personnel Wednesday (07) around 9.30 p.m. in the general area of DANAGIRIYA in AMPARA. The suspected LTTE cadre, on seeing the STF personnel reaching him, has thrown the hand grenade at them and fled the scene. more..

Dec 9 (LBO) Small victory for Sri Lanka, with WTO decision to amend the TRIPS, to ensure access to medicines for poorer countries. After years of lobbying, poorer members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) saw a small victory this week by getting an agreement to emend the controversial TRIPS agreements. more..

Dec 9 (LBO) Sri Lanka Thursday announced higher taxes on corporates, gambling, smoking and liquor to fund a spending spree that includes farm and electricity subsidies and jobs for unemployed. President Mahinda Rajapakse, who is also the country’s Finance Minister, unveiled the 2006 budget granting salary increases to public servants more..

Dec 9 (LBO) The government on Friday said it would investigate the damage to a crucial submarine cable connecting the island to the rest of the world, over a year after the incidence. A one man Presidential Committee has been appointed to investigate the incident and ascertain its implications to the country, more..

Dec 9 (LeN) The LTTE yesterday welcomed the government's decision to continue with Norway as peace facilitator in Sri Lanka's protracted ethnic conflict while Oslo said it will now sit with both parties and discuss way to take the process forward before beginning its facilitatory role. more..

Dec 9 (LM) SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem yesterday proposed that the Nordic Council which is the forum for the governmental co-operation of Nordic countries, should send a special team here to assess the performance of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). more..

Dec 9 (LT) With the increase of provocation activities in Jaffna area the University Grant Commission has taken steps to move Sinhala and Muslim students of the Jaffna University to other locations. more..