Oct 14 (SN) The website www.kadirgamar.net was launched at the event organized by the , Friends of Lakshman Kadirgamar day before yesterday marked 2nd month of his assassination by the LTTE. Letters were emailed to leaders of the countries in the European Union, the United States, Australia and others explaining them the activities of the LTTE, simultaneously with the event. more..

Oct 14 (LT) Colombo high court judge Ms Rohini Perera yesterday (13) banned visiting the social clubs in the city after 7.00 p.m. This ban was imposed on Mr Malaka de Silva. He is the son of Deputy Minister Mr Mervin Silva. Earlier Mr Malaka de Silva was discharged on a bail of rupees five lakhs on a charge against him filed by the National Narcotics Bureau. more..

Oct 14 (LT) The LTTE political wing leader Mr Thamil Selvam told the former SLMM leader Trond Furuhowde that any party hoping to do election duty in Wanni tiger controlled areas will have to get permission from them. He stated that according to the Ceasefire Agreement there are two administrative areas and therefore permission is needed to cross over from one administrative area to the other. more..

Oct 14 (LT) Special police secretariat set up for the Election requests all candidates not to involve underworld thugs or criminals in their presidential election campaign. This secretariat says that their involvement in campaigning is the major cause of the election violence and polls irregularities. more..

Oct 14 (LT) A complaint has been made by the security forces to the SLMM around 10.15 p.m. on the 12th instant a RPG attack had been launched from the Wanni tiger controlled area at a place where crafts were positioned at Siththikandi, Batticaloa. more..

Oct 14 (LM) Government Spokesman and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva officially announcing the 2006 budget dates at the Cabinet press briefing yesterday, said that the budget will be presented in Parliament on November 8 at 2.00pm. The budget debate has been fixed from November 22 to 29 after a brief interval from the Presidential Election on November 17. more..

Oct 14 (LM) Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse's biography, authored in Sinhala by Lakbima Features Editor Mahinda Illeperuma, will be launched on Saturday at the BMICH, Colombo. The book is based a series of written by the author to the Lakbima from 1994 onwards. more..

Oct 14 (LM) "Ranil-Hakeem agreements have replaced the then Ranil Wickremsinghe with a new Ranil Wickeremasinghe, the victory that we will get for Ranil Wickremasinghe will be a victory which will straighten the back bone of the Muslim community" said SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem more..

Oct 14 (ANN) Increasing condemnation of the LTTE pistol gang killings of two school principals within a week of the World Teachers’ Day now means that the UNP leadership, that boasts of a cease-fire that is non existent, must be held responsible for the assassinations, said the JHU and other organisations. more..

Oct 14 (AT) Former Dubbo businessman Charles Gnanakone has been named as the alleged linchpin in August's assassination of Sri Lankan foreign affairs minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. The Daily Liberal has learned that Mr Gnanakone came to the attention of Australian Federal Police more than two years ago while he was still active in Dubbo. more..

Oct 14 (LT) Wanni tigers have organized a ‘Pongu Thamil’ celebration adjacent to the office of North and East Governor’s office in Trincomalee. Wanni tigers have planned to assassinate Tamil parliamentarians Messrs R Sambandan and Thurairatnasingham while the event is in progress. more..

Oct 14 (PIS) The Government while vehemently condemning the killing of two school principals by suspected LTTE cadres, yesterday sent a strong message to the LTTE through the Norwegian facilitator and the international human rights expert Ian Martin pressurising the LTTE to sign the draft agreement on human rights. more..

Oct 14 (PIS) Ian Martin, International Advisor on human rights met with Jayantha Dhanapala, Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process today, Friday 14th October, on his return from Kilinochchi and his meeting with the political leadership of the LTTE. more..

Oct 14 (SAMN) UNP Presidential Candidate Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday rejected a complaint filed before the Bribery Commission implicating him in a financial deal in connection with the purchase of computers for Temple Trees when he was Prime Minister. more..

Oct 14 (SAMN) Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday assured 400,000 job opportunities to the country's youth in his first term as President. Addressing the Youth Conference at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Rajapakse said that he envisages enhancing foreign employment opportunities and would provide 100,000 overseas opportunities in 2006 itself. more..

Oct 14 (LNP) NGO activists, led by the Bergoff Foundation, are trying to fight against the EU travel ban on the LTTE. They are even trying to influence the International Human Rights Advisor to the Peace Process, Ian Martin. This was revealed to The Island by participants who attended an NGO organised meeting held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on Wednesday. more..

Oct 14 (LNP) Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that on being elected president he would hold a referendum to find a solution to the ethnic conflict. Wickremesinghe, told a media briefing in Colombo that depending on the outcome of the referendum a new constitution could be drawn up. more..

Oct 14 (LNP) The National Transport Commission requests passengers, bus owners, bus crews, committees and organisations to forward their opinions and suggestions or proposals to formulate a suitable noise level standard inside the buses. more..

Oct 14 (DN) The Government has decided to make principle changes in the 25 years old Motor Traffic Act on par with the latest international motor traffic laws, to reduce alarming traffic accidents, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said yesterday. more..

Oct 14 (Gulf) A string of political killings in the north ahead of next month's presidential elections has already marred the campaign with political parties and election monitors expressing fear that more violence will be witnessed. more..

Oct 14 (AP) Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels killed a soldier in an attack on an eastern Sri Lanka military checkpoint, the Defense Ministry said Friday, a day after a Norwegian peace broker urged the rebels to try and save a 2002 cease-fire and stop the country sliding back into war. more..

Oct 14 (LBO) Ending nine months of intense debate, Sri Lanka has relaxed construction limits along the island’s tsunami ravaged coastline with immediate effect, the government said Friday. The 100-200 meter buffer zone has been reduced to between 25-55 meters along the southern coastline and 100-55 meters along the north east. more..

Oct 15 (CI) Nuwan Zoysa is the only new face in Sri Lanka's 15-man one-day squad to tour India later this month after the selectors kept faith with the side that recently routed Bangladesh 3-0. Chairman of selectors Lalith Kaluperuma said that left-arm fast-medium bowler Zoysa got his call after impressing for Sri Lanka A more..

Oct 15 (AP) The Tamil Tiger rebels have delayed a decision on whether to commit to a joint human rights declaration with the Sri Lankan government amid continuing violence that threatens to derail a fragile cease-fire, a rights expert advising both sides said. more..

Oct 15 (TN) Fourty-eight Tamil persons, all rice mill workers, were arrested by Sri Lankan police in a cordon and search operation Thursday evening. Police sources said that they got a tip-off alleging that Liberation Tigers cadres have infiltrated the area. More than 500 policemen participated in the search operation. more..

Oct 15 (LBO) Sri Lanka's "Pain Killer" businessman Victor Hettigoda Friday announced plans to travel to Tamil Tiger-held territory to conduct his election bid for the presidency. The rebel Liberation LTTE have not allowed any outsiders to conduct political activity in areas of the island's north-east held by them and ruled with an iron fist. more..

Oct 15 (RW) Nearly nine months after the tsunami, the tears have not gone away. Talk is of the transition from the immediate relief phase to longer-term recovery. Physical progress is certainly visible along the coastlines affected by the tsunami. more..

Oct 15 (AT) The micro hydro power projects which are presently operating mainly in three districts in the country serve thousands of village people to illuminate their houses in rural villages. more..

Oct 15 (LT) A regional activist of the SLFP has been murdered. The person killed is R.M. Nandrimithra of Lunuwila- Kirimatiyana in Wennappuwa electorate. According to his family members the deceased had been threatened with death with the commencement of the Presidential election. more..

Oct 15 (LT) Bus fares of 110 routes have been amended. This decision has been taken by the Transport Board as a programme to abolish anomalies in bus fares. The new fares will come into effect from today said Mr. Lasanthe Alagiyawanna, Deputy Minister of Transport. more..

Oct 15 (AT) Informed source tip that Erik Solheim, a controversial go-between in the Sri Lankan peace process, is to be the next minister of development cooperation. This former leader of Left Socialists has missed out on the key post of Foreign Minister. more..

Oct 15 (AT) The Ceylon Workers Congress expressed confidence that that they could garner 1 million minority Tamil votes from the plantation sector - - going well beyond the party’s expected 900,000 voter base. more..

Oct 15 (AT) The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) and the Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) joined hands to explore the prospects of setting up a radiation facility for industrial use in Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 15 (CP) The controversial proposal to make Buddhism the official state religion never made it to parliament, sources reported recently, as it was dismissed by the Sri Lankan government before its hearing last Tuesday for unclear reasons. more..

Oct 15 (TN) Two unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike shot and wounded two Sri Lankan policemen at a restaurant 50 meters away from the Nelliyadi police station in Jaffna around 9:45 p.m. Friday. The wounded policemen were rushed to Palaly Military Hospital. One policeman later succumbed to his wounds at the military hospital, more..

Oct 15 (TN) Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, presidential candidate of the opposition UNP Friday began his election tour in the Northeast province, with first rally in Vavuniya town. Mr.Noordeen Mashor, former Minister and Vanni District SLMC organizer presided the meeting held at Vavuniya Urban Council grounds Friday afternoon. more..

Oct 15 (SLA) ARMED TAMIL TIGERS (LTTE) shot and killed one Policeman and injured another Policeman of the NELLIADY Police station on 14 October 2005 around 8.50 p.m. in the general area of NELLIADY, JAFFNA. The dead Police Constable is W.A. AJITH PRIYANKARA of UDAGAHAWATTA, WEKANDAWALA, WEERAKETIYA. more..

Oct 15 (SLA) TWO CIVILIANS from the general area of SITTANDY, about 24 km northwest of BATTICALOA town was shot and injured on 14 October 2005 around 10.30 a.m. by Tamil Tigers (LTTE). Injured civilians were evacuated to CHENKALADY hospital and later transferred to BATTICALOA hospital for further treatment. more..

Oct 15 (LT) The statement made by UNP Parliamentarian Mr. Wajira Abeywrdene stating that all appointments to the state service would be abolished is vehemently condemned said Mr. Chandana Suriyarachchi, President of Union of Graduates Employees of 2004. more..

Oct 15 (LT) Giving employment for a person’s ability is an admirable policy but if this was strictly adhered by the UNP Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe will lose his leadership in the party as he has already lost 12 elections said Mr. Wimal Weerawansa, Information Secretary of the JVP. more..

Oct 15 (LT) UNP will act to abolish all appointments made in the state sector after the 7th of October said Mr. Vajira Abeywardene, UNP Parliamentarian for Galle District. He said this addressing a media meeting held in the office of the Leader of the Opposition yesterday (14th). more..

Oct 15 (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday responded promptly and strongly to the complaint made against him by Minister Mangala Samaraweera to the Bribery Commission, saying he would not go to courts to stop this inquiry – an apparent allusion to his rival Mahinda Rajapakse and the allegations over the Helping Hambantota Fund. more..

Oct 15 (UNP) UNP Deputy Secretary General Tissa Attanayake hailed the Muslim National Alliance’s (MNA) support for UNP Presidential candidate, Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the forthcoming Presidential election as very useful. more..

Oct 15 (LM) "Without the international assistance can Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse bring peace with Somanwansa Amarasinghe" asked, opposition leader and UNP's presidential candidate Ranil Wickremasinghe when he was addressing massive gathering in Vavuniya, yesterday. more..

Oct 15 (LeN) President Chandrika Kumaratunga who has decided not to be directly involved in election rallies of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, is to request the public to support Rajapaksa at three separate rallies organized to felicitate her titled Janatha Harasara'(People's Felicitation). more..

Oct 15 (Kyodo) Mineko Ikehashi and husband Robert Whymant were snorkeling just off southern Sri Lanka on Dec. 26 when they were engulfed by the tsunami. Mineko was swept 1.5 km inland and survived, but Robert's body was found five days later buried under debris on the beach. more..

Oct 15 (AME) A high-level delegation from Sri Lanka's tourism industry, led by the island nation's Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr. Faiszer Mustapha toured three major cities - Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam - over a ten day period from October 10-17. more..

Oct 15 (Gulf) Sri Lanka's main opposition party has called to defer the annual budget presentation expressing the fear the government will misuse it for election propaganda in favour of ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) presidential candidate and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. more..

Oct 15 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Government, in collaboration with the governments of other southern states, was working on development of inter-state travel circuits in the region, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said today. The Government was also working out plans to develop common circuits with Sri Lanka, more..

Oct 15 (ANN) The recent killings of two very distinguished and respected Principals of two leading schools in Jaffna has shocked and saddened all peace-loving Sri Lankans. We offer our condolences to the two families and to the two school communities at the loss of two men who have selflessly served generations of students. more..