Feb 10 (TN) Five political parties have expressed interest in competing local elections in Jaffna district, Jaffna election officials said. Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), Peoples Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), and Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK- Federal party), are expected to compete in all regions in Jaffna district more..

Feb 10 (LT) A letter addressed to Mr T M Abeywickrema, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development by Mr Peter Harold, the World Bank Country Director says that water management and ownership of water resources are being processed to be vested on multi-national companies. more..

Feb 10 (LT) The SLMM has lodged a complaint at the Batticaloa Police yesterday (09) afternoon that the Chief of their Batticaloa office has received death threats over the telephone twice. Consequently the Senior Superintendent of Police of Batticaloa Mr Maksi Proctor has appointed a special team headed by an ASP to make investigations on these threats. more..

Feb 10 (LT) The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs has filed a case against the Deputy Minister of Highways for allegedly allowing the ownership of his official residence to an outsider. The Secretary in his case has cited that premises No.36B Summit Flats at Keppetipola Mawatha, Colombo 05 allocated to the Deputy Minister is being occupied by an outsider. more..

Feb 10 (PIS) The military believes that the forthcoming Oslo-facilitated talks, on ways and means of improving the implementation of the Cease-Fire Agreement (CFA), in Geneva should be primarily based on the reports released by the five-nation Nordic truce monitoring mission. more..

Feb 10 (PIS) President will hold another round of talks with all parties including the UNP, before the peace delegation flies to Geneva. The all party conference scheduled for February 17, is likely to discuss in detail the government’s stand with regard to the peace bid while taking into consideration views of different parties, more..

Feb 10 (SAMN) The Government Internet Data Centre (GIDC) launched ten new Websites recently with assistance from Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTASL). These new web sites will be equipped with management support tools to provide means of updating websites by owners, and provide information in all there languages. more..

Feb 10 (SAMN) A survey has found that there are over 15,000 children in child care homes in five provinces. This was revealed in a research report titled ‘Home Truths; Children’s Rights in Institutional Care in Sri Lanka’ released on Tuesday in Colombo by the Save the Children in Sri Lanka. more..

Feb 10 (LNP) The two Supreme Court Judges, whose shocking resignations from the Judicial Service Commission 'on grounds of conscience' caused a furore in the country, have indicated they would be willing to state their reasons for resigning only before a parliament select committee. more..

Feb 10 (LNP) The Sri Lanka Social Security Board of Social Service and Social Welfare ministry will shortly introduce pension package schemes for self employed and informal sector employees in order to strengthen the social security to ensure to live with dignity, when they reach age of 60 years. more..

Feb 10 (LNP) The US government greatly appreciated President Mahinda Rajapakse`s dedication, patience and determination to hold peace talks with the LTTE, American Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jeffery Lunstead said yesterday. Lunstead said America would always fully support the Sri Lanka government to hold peace talks with the LTTE successfully. more..

Feb 10 (JS) Design-to-delivery solutions supplier MAS Holdings has announced the formation of a joint venture with Elastic Fabrics of America and Dogi International Fabrics to establish a warp knit fabric-manufacturing facility in Sri Lanka. The deal was signed on 2 February at the Interfiliere Trade Show in Paris, more..

Feb 10 (FL) ON January 25, the government and the LTTE agreed to hold direct talks in Geneva on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, raising slender hopes of a resumption of the stalled peace process. The talks are to be held in February. The announcement was made after LTTE leader V. Prabakaran and the group's chief negotiator Anton S. Balasingham met with the Norwegian facilitator Erik Solheim. more..

Feb 10 (DN) Ports and Aviation sectors have several mega projects to make the transportation sector more vibrant with regard to the integrated development plans of the Government, Foreign Affairs, Ports and Aviation Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. more..

Feb 10 (IB) Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are actively considering forming a joint chamber of commerce and a friendship society to facilitate trade and commerce between the two countries. The need to form the joint chamber of commerce and friendship society came to the fore when Commerce Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) more..

Feb 10 (CTK) The Czech branch of the ADRA international humanitarian organisation handed over 15 new houses to local people, who lost their homes in the disastrous tsunami in December 2004, near Tangalle in Sri Lanka on February 2, ADRA says in its report released today. more..

Feb 10 (AP) A suspected Tamil Tiger rebel fatally shot a farmer Friday in the latest violence in volatile eastern Sri Lanka, the area's police chief said. U.N. Zaiudeen was shot as he was preparing to harvest his rice crop in the eastern coastal district of Ampara, said Deputy Inspector General of Police Nihal Karunaratne. more..

Feb 10 (AP) Thousands of Muslims trampled on a large Danish flag spread outside the entrance of one of Sri Lanka's main mosques on Friday to protest caricatures of Prophet Muhammad that first appeared in a Danish newspaper. Following Friday prayers, the demonstrators, wearing black headbands and shouting slogans, burned several Danish flags more..

Feb 10 (AP) Sri Lankan Muslims shout protest slogans outside a mosque in Colombo, Friday. The demonstration was held against the publication of drawings of the Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper. more..

Feb 10 (IPS) A law-abiding citizen, Mohideen Ajimal is nevertheless happy to have violated a 'no-build-buffer-zone' on the beach to re-establish a business selling fish wholesale, wrecked by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami which flattened three-quarters of this island country's coasts. more..

Feb 10 (CI) Australia suffered their first home finals loss in nine years as their chase froze under extreme Sri Lankan pressure and the brilliant fielding of Tillakaratne Dilshan. Sri Lanka bowled well and their defensive effort was superb, but the home side's batting was a disaster as they gave up five run-outs - four horrible ones to Dilshan - and a 22-run loss in their most tentative effort of the summer. more..

Feb 10 (AFP) Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels announced the release of 28 child soldiers ahead of face-to-face peace talks with the Colombo government. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said eight children were released directly to their parents while the others left to join a "skills development" program last month. more..

Feb 11 (TN) Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) expressed "dismay and concern" over allegations made to the media by Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, and Cabinet spokesperson Priyadharsana Yapa, that TRO was not helping with ongoing investigations. more..

Feb 11 (ISL) Curiouser and curiouser (Alice in Wonderland) and in this case of alleged abductions of ten TRO volunteers has the violence in Sri Lanka entered the worlds of Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum and all the crazy beings of wonderland? How could ten disappear and three re-appear and do not want to talk about it? more..

Feb 11 (ISL) “Several senior members of the opposition UNP have issued statements expressing concern over the resignation of two judges from the three member Judicial Service Commission and requesting that a parliamentary select committee should be constituted to inquiry more..

Feb 11 (IANS) Tamil Tiger guerrillas have taken a small step towards their goal of carving a separate state by launching a satellite channel beaming to Europe. In the process, LTTE has become the first insurgent outfit, albeit one dubbed terrorist in more than one country, to operate a television station. more..

Feb 11 (CI) Dropped catches, an aspect of their game that Sri Lanka thought was a thing of the past, came back to haunt them in their Under-19 World Cup Group clash with India, as they dropped four and lost by as many wickets at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Sri Lanka were made to pay dearly for their lapses after India had been reduced to 28 for 3 in the sixth over. more..

Feb 11 (CI) Australians, like boxers bored of one-round knockouts, always claim to like a fight and now they have one. Fears that Sri Lanka were just making up the numbers in the VB Series finals, providing fodder for a greedy top order and target practice for Brett Lee's thunderbolts, were cast aside by an electric allround display built upon intelligent batting, more..

Feb 11 (LT) President Mahinda Rajapakse has requested Muslim parties to name a delegation to represent the Muslims in the country at the forthcoming talks in Geneva. President Rajapakse made this request from representatives of Muslim political parties he met at the Temple Trees yesterday. more..

Feb 11 (AT) The Landmine Ban Advocacy Forum (LBAF) welcomes the willingness of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to hold talks on strengthening the effective implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement in Switzerland. more..

Feb 11 (AT) Political leaders in Sri Lanka have called upon the West to stop provoking the sentiments of the Muslim community further by justifying their despicable act against Islam. SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem has also warned that his community will not hesitate to continue their protests if action is not taken to more..

Feb 11 (LeN) The Peoples' Alliance led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party should contest the election under the Freedom Alliance symbol of the 'betel leaf', SLFP leader Chnadrika Kumaratunga told PA informed PA party leaders at a meeting with them yesterday. more..

Feb 11 (LeN) Jaffna district TNA parliamentarian Nadaraja Raviraj told 'Lanka e News' the party appeals to the government once again to postpone the local government elections in the Northern and Eastern provinces even though the TNA has made all arrangements to hand over nomination lists for the local bodies in the two provinces. more..

Feb 11 (CAP) President Mahinda Rajapakse declared yesterday it was his aim that all work undertaken by the Government for the welfare of children be available to all children on an equitable basis. "I want the fruits of our work for children to spread evenly throughout the country from Point Pedro to Dondra Head and Colombo to Batticaloa encompassing the entire land. more..

Feb 11 (TN) Mr.S.Rangarajah, Chief Secretary of the North East Provincial Council (NEPC) Friday afternoon declared open a newly constructed three storied building at a cost of 11.6 million rupees by the Provincial Ministry of Education to house the offices of the five special educational projects now being implemented in the North East. more..

Feb 11 (ANN) Past peace talks were not based on practical matters and ended in failure, but there is hope the talks to be held in Geneva on Feb 22, between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, could achieve practical results, LTTE spokesman in Kilinochchi, Daya 'Master' told The Island more..

Feb 11 (wsws) The abduction of ten TRO members by unidentified gunmen last week put a question mark over talks agreed by the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. The TRO is an arm of the LTTE involved in rehabilitation and humanitarian work in the North and East, which has been hard hit by the island’s 20-year civil war. more..

Feb 11 (SLA) NAVAL TROOPS in the general area west of KAKAITHIVU, JAFFNA on 08 February 2006 have observed approximately 400 Indian fishing trawlers poaching in the Sri Lankan waters. Meanwhile, naval troops on duty in the general area southeast of KACHCHATIVU, JAFFNA also sighted 100 more Indian fishing trawlers poaching in Sri Lanka waters on 09 February 2006.

Feb 11 (SLA) ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN (1,437) lorry loads of food and other essential items had been dispatched to un-cleared areas in the northern province during the period between 03 February 2006 and 08 February 2006. more..

Feb 11 (LeN) Several UNP parliamentarians who are aware of a multi million rupee deal in the party are perplexed about the pin drop silence of senior party figures as to what happened to 500 million rupees donated to the party for presidential election propaganda activities by an intelligence service of a neighboring country. more..

Feb 11 (TW) The peace talks scheduled to recommence this month are not expected to record a smooth take off given LTTE dissatisfaction over alleged government sponsored civilian killings in the north and east and the abduction of 10 Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) members recently. more..

Feb 11 (TW) Articles appearing in the popular media during the past couple of months have made reference to the LTTE being preoccupied in seeking for itself international legitimacy as a group that had transcended the narrow confines of being a military outfit and become an organisation having the requisite sophistication and wherewithal to run a state (or at least a semi-state). more..

Feb 11 (TW) The introduction to this publication on a problem that has ever since 1956 when Sri Lanka adopted one official language ushered in trouble, murder and mayhem is by Batty Weerakoon. The consequences of the decision still continues to engage the government in trying to solve problems more..

Feb 11 (TW) For the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration, it was a week to eat humble pie. After the delegation for the talks in Geneva was announced the previous week, the media took potshots at the inexperienced team Colombo had put together, vis-à-vis the battle-hardened LTTE delegation led by Anton Balasingham. more..

Feb 11 (TW) Two remarkable "U" turns by the chief actors have for the time being helped prevent the Sri Lankan shadow war drama from escalating into full scale war. The Norway facilitated joint decision by the Government and the LTTE to commence talks in Geneva on February 22 nd has reduced greatly the violence and resultant tensions prevailing very recently. more..

Feb 11 (TW) I want to thank the organisers, especially Ms. Nirmala Ragunathan and Mr. Ken Balendra for inviting me to speak here today. I am truly honoured because I am aware of the many luminaries who have spoken before me on this occasion. One was Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam who delivered the oration in 1996. more..

Feb 11 (CI) Moises Henriques produced an allround display of sheer class as Australia crushed Sri Lanka at the SSC to progress to the semi-finals. Not content with knocking the stuffing out of the Sri Lankan batting, he then smashed an uncompromising 79 off 60 balls against a deflated attack. Tom Cooper was no slouch either with 84 off 93 as the pair flayed a stand of 146 in 21 overs. more..

Feb 11 (LT) A massive monetary fraud has occurred in the sale of a building belonging to Bank of Ceylon branch in London says Minister Wijedasa Rajapakse. The fraud had taken place in the year 2003. It has been revealed that the building which had been valued for Sterling Pounds .6 to .8 million at that time had been sold for Sterling Pounds .2 only. more..

Feb 11 (LT) In the resolution US Parliamentarian further propose that the Cease- fire Agreement (CFA) be re negotiation so as to implement a productive agreement focusing the peace, Security in Sri Lanka. The US house of representatives in a resolutions submitted by Mr. Pallone at the 2nd sessions of the 109th congress has more..