Mar 4 (AT) Lectures and other educational activities for the final year students of the Jaffna University will begin from 8th of this month. Despite the heavy presence of Army around the University precincts, students union has decided to urge for a phased opening of the educational activities in the University. more..

Mar 4 (TI) A shard of light flickered like a firefly in the distance as we meandered along a seemingly endless road fringed with jungle. A canopy of towering trees hid the stars from view, while a droning chorus of invisible insects hung heavily in the humid air. more..

Mar 4 (ANN) Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akio Suda has put his diplomatic finger on what really ails Sri Lanka’s economy. Addressing the media in Colombo, he said a violence-free Sri Lanka would attract more investment. Japan’s yen for peace here, as one of the co-chairs of the peace process as well as the single largest aid donor to Sri Lanka, is only too well known. more..

Mar 4 (TW) The Geneva conclave between the Government of Sri Lanka and LTTE - facilitated by Norway with assistance by Switzerland - is over but the shouting is yet to subside. If one were to ignore the diversionary post - Geneva cackle and focus only on the joint statement released by Oslo seven points are of relevant importance. more..

Mar 4 (TW) President Mahinda Rajapakse addressing the ‘All Party Conference’ on February 17 said, since the ‘bi-party discussion approach’ which the past governments followed was a failure he would take a “multi-party discussion approach” in handling the peace process in the future. more..

Mar 4 (TW) Many who attended the Neelan Tiruchelvam Memorial Cultural Programme at the Bishop’s College Auditorium on 31 January 2006 would remember seeing the placards held outside the gates by members of the National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT) challenging attendees to publicly identify the organization responsible for Neelan’s assassination. more..

Mar 4 (TW) As the dust settles after the first round of talks in Geneva between this Government and the LTTE, it is timely to assess in more detail what this round of talks means to the peace process in the country. It has already been stated that the biggest success of these talks was that it averted a war. more..

Mar 4 (TW) Government peace negotiators last week successfully negated any confidence-building measures put in place at the Geneva talks the previous week, by sparking off a war of words with the LTTE delegation about an “alleged” amendment to the ceasefire agreement. more..

Mar 4 (TW) Erik Solheim, that ubiquitous Norwegian charmer who shares more than a love-hate confetti-rotten eggs outburst from the LTTE and the GoSL respectively, demonstrated he knows the jaundiced mind of both sides when he warned: "not to entertain raised hopes in these talks, just yet’. more..

Mar 4 (ML) The government yesterday reiterated the position in the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) that LTTE cadres carrying arms in government controlled areas would be disarmed. The CFA in Article 1.7 states, "The parties shall not move munitions, explosives or military equipment into the area controlled by the other party." more..

Mar 4 (ML) It is a faux pas that no amount of government propaganda could undo. It is also like the proverbial opening of one’s mouth and removing all doubts. Soon after Geneva, it is not the negotiators themselves who caused irreversible damage to the difficultly organised peace dialogue, but legal expert, President’s Counsel H.L. De Silva, the government’s legal advisor for negotiations. more..

Mar 4 (ML) The Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) is awaiting a final report from the Human Rights Commission (HRC) on the seven TRO employees who were abducted on January 30. Spokesperson, TRO, Arjunan Ethirveerasingham told The Morning Leader the police and government had todate failed to learn the whereabouts of the abductees, and the TRO now relied on the HRC for information. more..

Mar 4 (LNP) The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said yesterday that the LTTE and the military were violating the ceasefire agreement by constructing bunkers at Omanthai. SLMM`s acting spokesman Robert Nilsson told the Daily Mirror there were complaints from both parties accusing each of constructing bunkers and defence lines. more..

Mar 4 (LNP) A UPFA candidate Manoj Mendis, contesting the Hikkaduwa Pradeshiya Sabha addressing a local government election rally at Kalupe, Hikkaduwa was shot at from a vehicle yesterday. He was not injured but a number persons, who were near him were hurt. Four who received gunshot injuries were rushed to the Karapitiya hospital more..

Mar 4 (LNP) A row has erupted between former Former UNP Minister Sunethra Ranasinghe and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia`s UNP Mayor Dhanasiri Amaratunga as the party campaigns to retain this major surburban Municipal Council in this month`s election. Ms. Ranasinghe the daughter of a former Dehiwela-Mt. Lavinia Mayor S. de S. Jayasinghe more..

Mar 4 (DN) A total of two thousand and forty eight (2048) graduands will be conferred their Bachelor's Degree at the General Convocation of the University of Colombo, which will be held in four sessions, on March 6 and 7 at the BMICH. Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis, the Chancellor of the University of Colombo will confer the degrees. more..

Mar 4 (LBO) Punters in Sri Lanka's stock markets have not yet priced in the full benefits of the re-started peace talks between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels, a peace advocate has said. The benchmark All Share Price Index, dipped 29 percent from November 16 till January 18 this year, when a new hawkish government was elected. more..

Mar 4 (AP) Two men who snatched a gold chain from a woman struggling in the waves of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami will be tried for murder, Sri Lanka's solicitor general said Saturday. After yanking her necklace, the two let Dineti Deshika fall back into the torrent. Her body was found after the waters receded. more..

Mar 4 (AP) Sri Lankan Army soldier Saman Dissanayake sprints to complete the 200 meters race for physically challenged people during the National Sports Festival for Disabled in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday. more..

Mar 4 (AP) An armed group ambushed a Tamil Tiger rebel checkpoint in eastern Sri Lanka on Saturday, killing two guerrillas before retreating toward a government base, the rebels said. Military spokesman Brig. Sudhir Samarasinghe rejected any suggestion that the military was involved, calling a report by a pro-rebel Web site that the army was harboring the attackers "rubbish." more..

Mar 4 (ZN) Sri Lanka will put back its clocks by half an hour and revert to the practise of having the same standard time as India after its 10-year experiment to save daytime failed. President Mahinda Rajapakse ordered that Sri Lanka revert to its original standard time, five and a half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which the country maintained till May 1996. more..

Mar 5 (TN) Leader of Liberation Tigers, V Pirapaharan, participated in a graduation ceremony for successful Junior officers of LTTE Women's military wing Wednesday in an undisclosed location in Vanni, media sources in Kilinochchi said. more..

Mar 5 (TN) Geneva peace talks with the LTTE held on 22-23rd February have stabilized the peace process, and strengthened the trust between the government and the LTTE, said Minister of Industries, Investment and Promotion, Mr.Rohitha Bogollagama addressing members of the Trincomalee District Chamber of Commerce held Saturday more..

Mar 5 (TN) Mr. Arthur Tveiten, Head of the SLMM in Trincomalee district, Saturday met with Colonel Sornam, Special Commander of the LTTE in Trincomalee district, and Mr.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head at Sampoor political secretariat in Muttur east on the eve of relinquishing his post next Tuesday, more..

Mar 5 (AT) On 13th October 1798, Ferederic North reported to the Court of Directors for Affairs of the Honorable United Company of Merchants of England, trading to East India, at their House in London Hall Street, London thus; "Ceylon, dated 13th Oct. 1798. more..

Mar 5 (AT) TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal led by V.Muralitharam nom de guerre Colonel Karuna, denied any involvement in the so called attack and killing of the two Liberation Tiger cadres at the Vavunathievu sentry point in the East, on the small hours of Saturday. more..

Mar 5 (TOO) ‘Girl Guides’ and ‘Little Friends’ of the Sri Lankan School, Muscat celebrated ‘Thinking Day’ at the school premises recently. The programme began by hoisting the Sri Lanka Girl Guides’ Flag. Taking the lead, Sylvanna, Shirani de Silva and Guide Captain Jezura Ismail made the Guides and Little Friends renew their promises. more..

Mar 5 (LeN) The Criminal Investigations Department has arrested nefarious southern province politician H.R.Piyasiri. A CID probing the killing of Piyasiri's son arrested him when a T-56 machine gun, a 9 mm pistol, several other illegal firearms and a large number of ammunition for T-56 guns were found when his residence was searched. more..

Mar 5 (LeN) The JVP criticizes the Geneva talks today, because of the Hela Urumaya's outspoken views and outright condemnation of the talks, UNP parliamentarian Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said in an interview with a weekend newspaper. "The JVP is censuring the government as it is scared that the Hela Urumaya would win over Sinhala racist elements. more..

Mar 5 (LT) It has been reported that GoSL is unhappy about the way Swiss government treated its delegates when they were in Geneva for talks with tiger organization. Swiss government had taken steps to subject even senior ministers in the delegation for body searches as well as rummage through their bags they were having when entering Chateau de Bossey, more..

Mar 5 (LT) Foreign minister Manngala Samaraweera is due to leave for United Kingdom and France on the 9th of this month. Foreign ministry sources said that the purpose of this tour is to have bilateral talks with those countries to brief them about the stand of the government of Sri Lanka on the peace process after Geneva talks. more..

Mar 5 (LT) Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle is expected to go to Kilinochchi on the 8th. He is expected to go on a pilgrimage to Madhu Church and then visit Kilinochchi from there. It is said the minister is visiting Kilinochchi as a result of a discussion he has had with S.P. Thamilselvan, political wing leader of the tiger organization during the talks in Geneva. more..

Mar 5 (AT) Amidst indications that he was guided as much by ground realities as advisory from LTTE, Vaiko aka Gopalasamy, the MDMK chief ended all speculation about his political plans and inked an electoral pact with arch rival Jayalalithaa Jayaram. more..

Mar 5 (AT) Challenging what has traditionally been male dominated, 28 women from the Kurunegala district will vie for Kurunegala Pradeshiya Sabha at the forthcoming local government election on Mach 30, 2006. These candidates aspiring to represent their women masses in the district have assured a 'better life for their villagers more..

Mar 5 (AT) Walking in or walking out of an alliance is not new to Dravidian politics. Certainly to MDMK chief Vaiko. But why did he align with Jayalalithaa-led alliance on the eve of elections. Grapevine here is that Vaiko was guided by the LTTE factor in his moves. more..

Mar 5 (TS) A 30-year-old Markham woman whose two young daughters were found dead in the family bathtub Thursday night has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Sivananthi Elango remains in serious condition in Markham-Stouffville Hospital with self-inflicted slash wounds to her wrists and throat, York Regional police said yesterday. more..

Mar 5 (AT) Iniyabarathi, one of the dare devil commanders of Colonel Karuna, Leader of the TamilEela Makal Viduthalai Pulikal recalls the revolt of his leader Karuna on 03 March 2004, against LTTE and its reclusive leader Velupllai Prabakaran. He declares that today after sacrificing nearly 365 of their cadres, more..

Mar 5 (AT) The inadequacy of manpower is the soft underbelly of the Tiger, a dearth of adult volunteers is the Achilles Heel of Vellupillai Pirapaharan. A state cannot exist without a populace; a state’s need for manpower is immeasurably greater when the mainstay of its worldview is ‘psychology of aggression’. more..

Mar 5 (SLA) A GROUP OF FISHERMEN HAVE REPORTED TO the troops at WELIKANDA that they were harassed and threatened by six suspected LTTE cadres when they had gone to the WAKANERI tank on Saturday (04) around 3.30 p.m. According to those fishermen suspected LTTE men have snatched away their fishing equipment before suspected LTTE men chased them away. more..

Mar 5 (SLA) TWO ARMED TAMIL TIGERS HAVE REPORTEDLY kidnapped a 15-year old teenager from the general area of, 11 Colony Central Camp, AMPARA, according to the statement given by victim’s mother. The teenager while he was at his aunt’s home in the same Colony, two armed suspected Tamil Tigers stormed the house at about 9.30 p.m. and took him away. more..

Mar 5 (TN) In continuing protests in Jaffna against interference of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officers in the adminstrative functions of Jaffna Government officials, more than one hundred students from Kokuvil Techical College at 12 noon Sunday took the effigy of Northern Region Sri Lanka Military Commander, Maj.Gen.Chandrasiri, along Brown Road, and set the effigy on fire at Kaladdy junction, more..

Mar 5 (ISL) The sound is deathlike, a kind of whimpering whine at the dead of night. When the Cemetery Bird – Sudalaikuruvi – moans, evil is on the march. Thanks to Norwegian generosity, Sudalaikuruvi alias Nitharsanam, an infamous and iniquitous website and an affront to decency and journalistic ethics and professionalism, scuttles around like a nocturnal skunk and squirts it rotten stench onto the domains of others. more..

Mar 5 (LT) 50 barrels of diesel being taken illegally to un-cleared areas was seized at Muhamale road block. Security services say the stock of diesel attempted to be taken to un-cleared areas belong to wanni tiger organization. Fuel needed for un-cleared areas is taken under Army escort and the supply of fuel to those areas continues without any hindrance point out security sections. more..

Mar 5 (LT) An international scholarship scheme in memory of former Foreign Minister Laxman Kadirgamar, who was brutally murdered by the tiger organization, has been launched. This programme has been initiated by an international organization called ‘World Intellectual Property Foundation’. more..

Mar 5 (LT) All Party Conference convened by President Mahinda Rajapakse to gather views of political parties on peace talks will be held tomorrow. Presidential Secretariat states that all political parties have been informed about the conference. The President expects to apprise the political parties regarding the progress of the talks held in Geneva. more..

Mar 5 (SLBC) The marketing of water bottles which are not registered will be banned. The Food Controller S. Nagiah said that this ban will come into effect from May this year. Legal actions will be taken against those marketing water bottles without registration. more..

Mar 5 (SLBC) President Mahinda Rajapakse has stressed that at least five thousand persons should be provided with jobs in each and every project of the Board of Investment. At a meeting held at the Temple Trees to discuss and resolve problems in the project proposals approved by the BOI, more..

Mar 5 (ANN) An LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) delegation led by S.P. Thamilchelvam had received red carpet treatment at a series of high level meetings in Oslo following the Feb 22-23 talks with the Sri Lanka government delegation in Geneva, TamilNet reported last week. more..

Mar 5 (ANN) We have no chrysanthemums, the symbol of Japan’s Emperor, to offer Mr Akio Suda, the Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka, but we will offer him a big bunch of our very own araliya flowers for the very candid remarks he made last week on the subject of his country’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), more..

Mar 5 (PIS) The Government held its first preparatory meeting ahead of the next round of talks that is expected to address the contentious issue of high security zones, officials said. The Steering Committee meeting on Wednesday, presided over by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera ran for more than 2 1/2 hours and was attended by almost all the peace negotiators, with the exception of those who were overseas. more..