Sep 29 (LD) The Sports Minister has ordered an immediate investigation into sudden transfers given to four minor staffers and a receptionist at Sri Lanka Cricket. The investigation is to be headed by Secretary of the Sports Ministry, S. Liyanagama. The transfers had followed complaints by SLC staff about the standards of lunch being provided to them. According to reports, the transfers have been backed by B.H. Perera, more..

Sep 29 (GDI) Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama emphasized the need for a time bound approach to facilitate Fiji's return to democratic rule, while addressing the 30th meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) held in New York last Saturday (27). The Minister referred to the stipulated deadline of March 2009 for elections to be held in order that a democratically elected government could be established and more..

Sep 29 (DN) Dismissing certain reports about a shortage of food and other essential items in the Wanni, Essential Services Commissioner S.B.Divarathna said yesterday that there was enough stocks for six months stored in Vavuniya, and these would be delivered continuously to Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi. 75 to 80 lorries are already being loaded with stocks amounting to 1,000 tons expected to reach uncleared areas before next Saturday. more..

Sep 29 (DN) The mutual understanding and trust between the tenant cultivator and landlord created by the implementation of Agrarian Service Act in 1964 has been erased due to the introduction of amended Agrarian Services Act in 2000, said the Minister of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructural Development at a discussion with the farmers representatives of the Nachchaduwa combined farmers organisation. more..

Sep 29 (Island) Well informed sources said that although some local INGO workers had been allowed to leave with the expatriate staff, the vast majority were denied the opportunity. The UN and all other expatriates except the Project Manager of ZOA had quit the LTTE-held area by September 16. According to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee which represents UN agencies and INGOs active in Sri Lanka, over 500 local staff of INGOs had not been issued with what it categorised as travel passes to leave the area. more..

Sep 29 (Island) Participating in the Ministerial meeting in New York on Friday relating to children associated with armed forces and groups, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that over 60 per cent of LTTE cadres were children. He quoted UNICEF as saying 6,273 children had been recruited since 2002. On the other hand, he said the political arm of the breakaway LTTE faction, the TMVP was working with the UNICEF and more..

Sep 29 (DM) The Colombo District Court has issued an enjoining order preventing a film director from selling and releasing a collection of film songs following a civil suit filed by a budding actress Chathurika Peiris. The Colombo District judge Sisira Ratnayake issued this order following a plaint filed by the young actress Peiris against N. S. Niranjan, a film director from India. more..

Sep 29 (DM) The government has agreed to appoint the 17 UNP members - who are now holding ministerial portfolios in the government, as UPFA electoral organizers, political sources said yesterday. They said the decision had been taken at a recent meeting attended by these members and minister Basil Rajapaksa. Mr. Rajapaksa had reportedly told these UNPers that they would be at a disadvantage at an election if they did not pose themselves as SLFPers. more..

Sep 29 (IPS) Tens of thousands of civilians, trapped by fighting between Tamil rebels and the Sri Lankan armed forces in the Vanni, may soon receive their first supplies of essentials since Sep. 16 when United Nations and other humanitarian agencies quit the embattled area. Nagalingam Vedanayagam, the government agent for the northern town of Kilinochchi, said a convoy of 60 trucks would be making the trip to the Vanni later this week. more..

Sep 29 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's inflation, as measured on a 12-month moving average, is expected to have risen in September to its highest level in six years due to high oil and food prices in the first half of 2008. The median forecast of nine analysts predicted the 12-month moving average had risen to 23.0 percent in September, the highest-ever reading for the index and above August's 6-year high of 22.6 percent. more..

Sep 29 (LBO) Supreme Court has slammed police and bribery authorities and summoned the country's former finance secretary to court over a privatization deal involving a bunker firm, an official said. Supreme Court reversed a tax holiday to Lanka Marine Services (LMS), a bunker firm bought from the state by John Keells Holdings (JKH), and faulted both JKH chief Susantha Ratnayake and former Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundera over the deal. more..

Sep 29 (LBO) The United States has condemned an attack on the residence of anti-corruption activist and human rights lawyer J C Weliamuna, calling on authorities to launch an immediate investigation. Weliamuna is also the executive director of the Sri Lanka branch of Transparency International, an anti-corruption watchdog body. A grenade was thrown into the upper floor of Weliamuna's house Saturday night but no one was injured. more..

Sep 29 (AP) Suspected Tamil separatists set off a bomb in a parking lot in Sri Lanka's capital Monday, wounding three people a day after fighting in the country's intensifying civil war killed 20 rebels and one soldier, the military said. The violence came as government forces closed in on the rebels' administrative capital of Kilinochchi in a campaign aimed at routing the guerrillas and ending the 25-year-old war that has killed more than 70,000 people. more..

Sep 30 (LBO) The European Union has condemned a grenade attack on the home of a Sri Lankan lawyer and human rights and anti-corruption activist and urged the government to bring the perpetrators to justice. "The EU notes with concern the trend in attacks and threats on journalists, civil society organizations and now a lawyer," it said in a statement. It said the attack on Saturday night on the residence of J C Weliamuna, more..

Sep 30 (LBO) Sri Lankan stocks lost more than one percent in lackluster trading Monday as market heavyweights like Dialog Telekom, Commercial Bank and NDB tumbled amidst weak investor participation, brokers said. The All Share Price Index dipped 1.1 percent (23.6 points) to end at 2,185.5 points while the more liquid Milanka Index sank 1.3 percent (31.7 points) to settle at 2,452.6 points. Turnover was 106.5 million rupees. more..

Sep 30 (LBO) Fonterra Brands Lanka, a unit of New Zealand's Fonterra, said its products sold in the island were made only from New Zealand and Sri Lankan raw materials and no contaminated Chinese milk was used. Chinese farmers have been adding melamine, a poisonous substance, to raw milk in a bid to show a higher protein content in tests and get more money from dairy firms. Products made by San Lu, a Fonterra affiliate in China, have been hit by the scandal. more..

Sep 30 (LG) Grant it to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to do it – 'outsmarting' the adversary as he alone has done in contemporary Sri Lankan history. On the political front, yes, he has made Ranil Wickremesinghe and his own former President and one-time party chief Chandrika Kumaratunga bite dust time and again. More importantly on the ethnic issue, war and violence, LTTE leader Prabhakaran has finally found his match in President Rajapaksa. more..

Sep 30 (LG) SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem, who has come strongly against a statement made by the Army Commander Lt.Gen.Sarath Fonseka, to the Canadian News Paper National Post, has no lesson to give to the Army Commander. The Army Commander has issued a statement as a patriot who loves his motherland Sri Lanka, and to-day from what he has achieved there is no greater patriot in Sri Lanka than him. more..

Sep 30 (LG) International community is failing to take action against a government which perpetrates war crimes, and crimes against humanity - against a people who have been struggling for their Right to Self-determination for many decades. Thus charged S. V. Kirubahar, General Secretary of the Tamil Centre for Human, in a memorandum submitted to the 9th session of the Human Rights Council which took place in Geneva, from 8 to 26 September 2008. more..

Sep 30 (LG) At the plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) held on 22 September 2008 the Bishops shared their concerns about the plight of the thousands of internally displaced people as a result of the ongoing war in the districts of Mulaitivu and Kilinochchi. We appreciate the efforts taken by the government to ensure that food and other essentials reach the internally displaced However, we also understand that more..

Sep 30 (GDI) Participating on behalf of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the interactive Round Table discussions segment of the high level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) held on the fringes of the UN General Assembly sessions in New York last Saturday, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama said that Sri Lanka is on track to achieve the MDGs by 2015, which has been facilitated by re-structuring the country's socio-economic fundamentals, in keeping with the aspirations of the people. more..

Sep 30 (CSM) The Sri Lankan government claims it is on the verge of wiping out the Tamil Tigers' last rebel stronghold. If it's right, Sri Lanka could at last see the end of a long-running conflict that has left some 70,000 people dead. The claims come amid fierce fighting in and near the Tigers' base in Kilinochchi on the northern tip of the island, where government airplanes are pounding rebel positions as ground troops slowly tighten the noose. more..

Sep 30 (Reuters) An attack targeting a top Sri Lankan human rights lawyer drew U.S. and European condemnation on Monday, underscoring increasing threats faced by those who pursue cases against police or politicians in the Indian Ocean nation. The Saturday hand-grenade attack on the Colombo home of J.C. Weliamuna, head of the local arm of graft watchdog Transparency International, injured no one but sent a chilling message to lawyers handling civil rights, graft and police abuse cases. more..

Sep 30 (CI) Bengal have bagged the services of Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan offspinner, for the 2008-09 Ranji Trophy. The leading wicket-taker in Tests with 756 scalps, Murali will play about four matches for Bengal, who are currently in the Plate League, the tournament's second division. "The arrangement is very clear that Murali will be available to play only if there is no clash with his international commitments," more..

Sep 30 (BBC) The Colombo Magistrate Court Bar Association has urged lawyers in Sri Lanka to stage a one day industrial action against the threats to legal professionals. President of the Association, Gunaratne Wanninayake, urged Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to organise the island-wide action against the grenade attack on human rights lawyer, J Chrishantha Weliamuna. A grenade was thrown and another unexploded grenade was found at the residence of Mr. Weliamuna, more..

Sep 30 (UCAN) At a time when the Sri Lankan government is seeking a military defeat of Tamil rebels to bring "peace" to this troubled island, religious leaders came together in the capital to repeat their call for an end to hostilities."Peace is Possible" was the theme for the gathering of more than 300 laypeople and about 25 religious leaders from all major faiths. National Peace Council, an NGO, organized the meeting and prayers at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo. more..

Sep 30 (DM) The most unforgettable thing about Dingiri Banda (DB) Wijetunga was his simple, disarming smile. Even the toughest of journalists warmed to that genial grin and thought twice about tossing a hostile question. The toothy, beaming smile exuded warmth and friendliness. It was right from the heart, putting one at ease immediately. more..

Sep 30 (BBC) The Communist Party of India (CPI) says it is planning a day of action against Sri Lanka government's alleged human rights violations. D Pandian, General Secretary of CPI Tamilnadu branch, told BBC Tamil Service that the action is aimed at urging Indian government to exert pressure on Sri Lanka to come up with a political solution to the national question. "Sri Lanka government is only indulging in genocide against its own citizens," he said. more..

Sep 30 (AT) Prompted by renewed focus the recent discourse in your tribune generated on above, I was able to trace excerpts of an interview Priyath Liyanage, the Head of the BBC Sinhala (anti) service had with the ‘Divaina’ newspaper in April 2000. In a discussion with Nayanaka Ranvella published on the April 9th issue of the news paper, Liyanage maintains that BBC has no particular agenda as claimed by certain parties who are fond of ‘conspirator’ theories. more..

Sep 30 (AP) A Sri Lankan man living in upstate New York has been sentenced to time served, about seven months, for smuggling people from Canada into the United States by boat. Mohanraj Selvarajah will likely face deportation following Monday's sentencing in federal court in Buffalo. According to court papers, the 48-year-old Lockport resident told investigators he was given $5,000 to buy a boat in September 2007 and was told he would be paid more to smuggle three people into the United States. more..

Sep 30 (VoA) In Sri Lanka, fighting has intensified between government forces and the insurgent LTTE, or Tamil Tigers. Thousands of Sri Lankan civilians, many of whom are ethnic Tamils, are suffering as a result. As many as 200,000 men, women, and children are estimated to have been displaced. The number of those civilians killed or injured in the fighting is not known, but the risk is great. more..

Sep 30 (LG) Genesis 1:27: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Then he blessed them and charged them to have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. What an enormous responsibility he entrusted to man virtually to be almost God on earth and among mortals like him but eventually assured of immortal life in eternity. more..

Sep 30 (LG) After 57 successfully captured MALLAVI and UYILANKULAM on the 22nd of August 08, displaying immense flexibility and manoeuvrability the focus of 57 shifted to the A9 trunk road. The triple assault on the SFHQ-W on the 9th of September 08 at VAVUNIYA made the battleplanners shift their focus towards the A9, which was used to tow the Tamil Tiger heavy guns and possibly to make one of their Zling-143 aircraft airborne. more..

Sep 30 (LG) Expressing oneself is not a crime; in fact it is a right of every individual. In every society there are limitations placed by law and custom against certain forms of expressions. However, the ambit of freedom afforded is far greater than what is restricted. General Sarath Fonseka would never have thought that his statement to the Canadian National Post will stir up a controversy. What did he say? He said Sri Lanka belongs to the Singhalese. more..

Sep 30 (LG) Douglas Devananda, Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare, paid a surprise visit to the Vocational Training Centre at Seeduwa on the last 27th where disable youths from all parts of the Island are receiving training in various vocations. This Vocational Training Centre, commenced by the Missionaries in 1948 was handed over later to the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare, since then it has been managed by this Ministry. more..

Sep 30 (LG) We are of the belief that Elders are the pioneer citizens of the people. Getting an opportunity to issue a message on behalf of the International Day of the Elders’ that is commemorated every year, is to my great happiness. It’s indeed a matter of great importance to mark a special day on your behalf. It certainly is, as a gesture of honour and appreciation for the invaluable services you have extended to the society. more..

Sep 30 (AT) September 30 marks the fourth death anniversary of Sri Lanka's top movie actor and director Gamini Fonseka who started his film career as a technical assistant in David Lean's Cinema classic 'Bridge on the River Kwai' shot on location in Sri Lanka. Much has been written about this award winning movie personality who shot to fame through such film as Gamperaliya, Parasathumal, Nidhanaya, Uthumaneni, Sagarayak Meda, Koti Waligaya and Nomiyena Minissu in which he played the role of an Army Colonel at the time the IPKF arrived in Sri Lanka. more..

Sep 30 (GV) I traveled to the Vanni on 17th September, with the hope of getting a lorry load of foodstuff from Vavuniya to Vanni, but it was impossible, as the Killinochchhi Government Agent’s convoy had been stopped at that time. From Omanthai exit - entry point to Killinochchi, the situation was very different than when I had traveled in the previous months. There were no people on the road up to the Killinochchi hospital. more..

Sep 30 (MG) I am please to send this message of greetings on the occasion of Eid Ul Fitr, which is celebrated the world over by devotees of Islam. This festival marks the completion of an act of duty and devotion. The practice of fasting sublimates the inner self of man and inculcates discernment of the pangs and hardships which the poor and needy face. It is the loftiest achievement of moral exercise which is celebrated with much zeal on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. more..

Sep 30 (GDI) Prof. Wiswa Warnapala, MInister of Higher Education, left the for Germany to have extensive discussions World Bank officials with regard revamping the higher education system in Sri Lanka, including the universities, as per the IRQUE Project. The IRQUE project jointly funded by the Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank has allocated US $ 40 million to support to develop a funding strategy to higher educational institutes and more..

Sep 30 (GDI) The Elephants orphanage in Pinnawala will be upgraded offering tourists a more pleasant tour in the eco-friendly environment. The Ministry of Public Recreation and Sports has allocated Rs. 80 million to launch a few projects aimed at improving the Pinnawela Open Zoo. The funds allocated by the 'ministry' will be used to lay an internal road network, erect a parapet wall round the zoo, construct an overhead bridge and build a water distribution unit, according to a report. more..

Sep 30 (GDI) The Supreme Court has issued an order to private bus operators to ensure that ticketing machines and uniforms are used by the conductors when discharging their duties from the first of January next year (2009). As an initial step the ticketing machines and the uniforms will be used in the Western Province. This issue has already been gazetted by the National Transport Authority. more..

Sep 30 (GDI) The Department of Probation and Child Care Services has organized several activities at the national and district levels to marl International Children's Day, which falls on October 1. The objective of conducting these events is to draw the attention of the general public to the importance of treating children properly and understanding them in order to make children's world a better place on earth. more..

Sep 30 (GDI) Sri Lanka’s national airline, ‘Sri Lankan’ received two recognition awards for its efforts to woo more Indian tourists to the island, at ceremonies held in Bangalore and Chennai. Judges at the Indian International Travel Mart (IITM) in Bangalore presented Sri Lanka’s National Carrier with the award for the Most Attractive Display at a recent event which was held at the Bangalore Palace grounds. more..

Sep 30 (AFP) Veteran Singapore opposition leader J.B. Jeyaretnam, who died Tuesday, waged a long and lonely campaign for greater political freedom in the tightly governed city-state. He was attempting a fresh political comeback when he succumbed to heart failure. The 82-year-old British-trained lawyer and former MP was the nemesis of Singapore's iron-fisted founding leader Lee Kuan Yew, more..

Sep 30 (TN) Anonymous wall posters announcing that persons found on streets during Sri Lanka Army imposed curfew hours in Jaffna peninsula will be shot at sight without any warning, were found pasted on walls Sunday and Monday in areas including Vadamaraadchi, Thenmaraadchi and Jaffna town. Meanwhile, SLA announced over loud speakers in Thenmaraadchi villages of Madduvil, Charasaalai and Kalvayal, that all people should stay indoors after 7:00 p.m and all shops be closed at 6:00 p.m, more..

Sep 30 (LNP) The teachings of the Buddha are eternal and his message of peace and non-violence is very relevant to the problems faced by modern society. Buddhism is the best gift that can be given by Sri Lanka to the world. These observations were made by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka addressing a large gathering of Sri Lankans in Nicosia, Cyprus assembled to felicitate Ven. Morawaka Soratha Thero, who has been recently appointed as the Mahanayaka of Cyprus by the Asgiriya Chapter. more..

Sep 30 (LNP) The Supreme Court yesterday directed the Police Chief to consider removing all barriers along the Galle Road to implement the pilot project under which buses would run along a stipulated lane up and down the Galle Road and buses would not use Duplication Road. When the rights petition in respect of air pollution and city traffic congestion came up before the Supreme Court yesterday Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva noted that many roads in the city were closed and reiterated that people must have access to any place. more..

Sep 30 (LNP) Sri Lanka has a very inspiring story to relate to the world about the transformation of a child combatant into a democratic political leader. Chief Minister of the Eastern Province S. Chandrakanthan, as Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said at a ministerial meeting in New York on Friday, cut his teeth on terrorism, when he was only a child like many other LTTE combatants who are fed on a diet of racial hatred and turned into killing machines through indoctrination. more..

Sep 30 (LBO) Sri Lanka's rupee broke its peg at 107.90 and spiked to 108.35 rupees against the green back on Tuesday after the monetary authority ended a week of heavy intervention that saw more than 100 million dollars flow out of the country. Sri Lanka's central bank has intervened heavily in currency markets in the past two weeks and injected liquidity to plug reserve outflows, in a process that could have undermined its tight monetary program and put further pressure on the currency. more..