Jan 31 (GDI) The Deyata Kirula Exhibition has been organized to educate the public and particularly the younger generation on the country's history, present situation and future in order to meet global challenges the country may have to face, will also enlighten the public regarding the development initiatives undertaken, according to the Minister for Finance and State Revenue, Ranjit Siyabalapitiya. more..

Jan 31 (GDI) Seven schools in Colombo are to be closed until February 5, 2008 as part of the security arrangements in view of the 60th Independence Day celebration and the 'Deyata Kirula' exhibition which is being held in conjunction with it, while another four schools will be closed from February 1-11, 2008. Accordingly Royal College, D.S.Senanayake College, Mahanama Vidyalaya, Vishaka Vidyalaya, Ananda College, Nalanda College and Yasodara Balika Vidyalaya will be closed until the 5th of February. more..

Jan 31 (GDI) The National Drug Control Authority has conducted 55 raids on pharmacies in Colombo suspected of violating the Drug Control Act. These raids have been conducted following a decision by the Ministry of Health to conduct island-wide raids on private pharmacies starting yesterday. Among irregularities detected was the sale of unregistered drugs, drugs under brand names, prescription of drugs by brand name and the sale of prohibited drugs. more..

Jan 31 (GDI) Ceylon Fisheries Corporation (CFC) has achieved a record revenue of Rs.1150 million in 2007 representing a growth of 44 per cent over the corresponding year, according to CFC Chairman W.A.J.E.Fernando. He said the revenue has gradually increased along last three years due to the application of intensifying strategies by the CFC. He said fish sales has also been increased in 2007 with the selling of 3900 metric tonnes of fish representing a growth rate of 24 per cent comparing to the previous year. more..

Jan 31 (LNP) Sri Lanka Army in Mannaar, while under-reporting their casualties in the fighting, has been dumping tractor-loads of dead soldiers in the delta of Aruvi Aa`ru (Malwattu Oya), the area emptied of people after capturing it from the LTTE last year. Two Sri Lanka Army soldiers, escaping from the battlefield with the help of local residents have said that their fellow troopers killed in the battle were being dumped near a coconut palm grove at Ooral, more..

Jan 31 (LNP) India violated the territorial sea and air space of Sri Lanka in 1987 when the army was defeating the LTTE terrorists during the Vadamarachchi Operation. It was once again trying to stop the victories of the armed forces as it did during the time President J. R. Jayawardene was in power. At that time India made him sign the Indo Lanka Accord and accept the Provincial Council System, JVP parliamentarian and trade union leader K. D. Lalkantha said yesterday (30). more..

Jan 31 (LNP) It is shocking that nine children have been killed in a claymore mine blast in Mannar. No sooner had the explosion occurred than the LTTE blamed it on the army, which denied the allegation as an attempt by the LTTE to cover up its humiliating defeat on the battlefront. What is of concern to the civilized world is not so much who really triggered the explosion but the fact that a group of school children happened to be at the receiving end. That crime must be condemned unreservedly! more..

Jan 31 (LNP) Leading menswear specialists Hameedia celebrates Valentine`s Day this year with a `Romance Collection` for its thousands of customers all over Sri Lanka. The special Romance Collection features an exciting range of cufflinks with hearts and ties specially woven with hearts for the Valentine`s season. As a value addition bonus to the `Romance Collection`, Hameedia also offers free monogramming on shirts, trousersand handkerchiefs, with the individual`s initials in an elegant and classy font within five days. more..

Jan 31 (SAMN) The Consulate General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka announces a public celebration commemorating the 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence from the United Kingdom. This celebration of independence will take place on Sunday, the 3rd of February at the California State University in Long beach, inside the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, #6200 Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA. 90840. more..

Jan 31 (SAMN) The SLMC, a party in the fray at the mini local government elections in Batticaloa, is to write to Elections Commissioner Dayananda Disanayake, requesting him to pick election staff from outside Batticaloa District as a step to ensuring a free and fair election. The SLMC which broke ranks with the Government during the Budget period says that election staff, if selected from Batticaloa District, will not stand up against possible electoral violence and frauds such as rigging and stuffing ballot boxes, fearing for life from armed groups operating in the area. more..

Jan 31 (SAMN) A move by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to remove unauthorized constructions near the Gas Company in Pettah has been stopped with the intervention of a VIP. Reliable sources told the Daily Mirror that the UDA had given orders to remove them last Friday but the move was stopped at the last minute by a VIP following a request made by a Minister who was at the centre of a controversy recently. This Minister is allegedly interfering with the affairs of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). more..

Jan 31 (SAMN) A batch of 11 students who showed excellent results at the 2007 GCE Advanced Level Examination obtaining first, second and third places in Mathematics, Science, Commerce and Arts streams received cash awards from President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a ceremony at Temple Trees on Tuesday. The cash awards were sponsored by the 'Yes Future Star' account launched by the People's Bank last year on a concept of the President to assist new university entrants.

Jan 31 (DN) Kandy Chief Magistrate Sumudu Premachandra yesterday ordered the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital nursing staff to resume their duties immediately as he was convinced that the patients are affected by the recent incidents at the hospital. The Magistrate made these comments when a B'report filed by the Peradeniya Police OIC was taken up at the Kandy Magistrates Court yesterday. more..

Jan 31 (DN) Australia's migrant intake is surging towards 200,000 a year, a quarter of whom head to Victoria. New Zealanders, Britons and Indians are leading the boom, according to the latest Immigration Department figures. Almost 192,000 permanent migrant visas were issued in 2006-07, up 6.7 per cent on 2005-06. These included more than 51,000 visas given to those already living here, says the report, Immigration Update 2006-07. more..

Jan 31 (Island) The Jathika Hela Urumaya will resettle the Sinhalese who were chased out of their native places in the North and the East, if the government delays resettling them. "The Government has so far failed to keep its promise of resettling the Sinhalese who had been chased out by the LTTE from the North and the East. We have raised this issue a number of times, yet thousands of Sinhalese have still not been compensated or assisted to return to their houses and lands although over two decades have lapsed," more..

Jan 31 (Island) While Minister Mervyn Silva and his bodyguard "Kudu Nuwan" who assaulted Rupavihini News Director T.M.Chandrasekera are being protected by President Mahinda Rajapakse,a group of thugs have assaulted the institution's News Producer Hemantha Mawallage who dared to criticise the attack on his colleague,Gampaha District UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena said on Tuesday. more..

Jan 31 (DM) In another twist to the alleged Rupavahini Corporation assault incident, involving Minister Mervyn Silva on December 27, 2007, the Criminal Investigation Department is to interrogate 21 employees of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. The CID, in a letter addressed to SLRC Director General Sisira Kotalawela, had named 21 employees, including 16 journalists, who are to be questioned regarding the incident involving Mr. Mervyn Silva. more..

Jan 31 (DM) Colombo High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne yesterday refused to consider bail for double murder accused ‘Kudu Nuwan’ when the case came up in court.In his refusal Judge Abeyratne observed that the court grants bail only to accused who attend court without fail and only for those who do not associate themselves to commit further crimes whilst out on bail. He said that bail should also be cancelled if any accused fails to attend court. more..

Jan 31 (LBO) Sri Lanka is evaluating bids for offshore oil exploration in the island's north-east from firms in Cypress and India, petroleum minister A H M Fowzie said. The island has put three exploration bids on offer in the Mannar basin area. The bids closed today. Fowzie said two bids from India and one from Cypress was being evaluated and the process may take around four months. more..

Jan 31 (IANS) The Indian Coast Guard is 'closely monitoring' the influx of Tamil refugees into this country to ensure that Tamil Tiger guerrillas 'don't slip through', a top commander said Thursday. 'We are closely monitoring the situation and keeping a close watch to ensure that other elements don't slip through with the refugees,' Coast Guard chief Vice Admiral Rusi Contractor said here ahead of its 31st anniversary. more..

Jan 31 (NIP) A day after promising a separate legislation to deal with supporters of banned organisations like the LTTE, the Tamil Nadu Government on Wednesday declared that the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were sufficient to deal with such activities. The government, however, warned that it would take stringent action against any person or organisation indulging in any activity in support of the banned organisations. more..

Jan 31 (G&M) A routine traffic stop has sparked a widening police probe of a debit-card fraud that may have funnelled funds to the outlawed Tamil Tigers. After a visiting motorist failed to halt at a stop sign Monday, police in Scarborough's 42 Division searched his rented vehicle and found plastic cards carrying the debit data of bank customers in the United Kingdom. Now four men face multiple charges of attempting to loot bank accounts in Britain. more..

Jan 31 (AFP) Japan, Sri Lanka's top donor, warned Thursday it could cut off aid if violence continued to escalate but said it hoped to provide long-term support to bring peace. "We could be forced to review our aid policy if military action keeps escalating, although Sri Lanka wants Japan to continue it," Yasushi Akashi, Japan's special peace envoy to the island, told reporters in Tokyo. more..