Oct 15 (AT) There are many stories being told, coming from the IDP camps. Some good, some not so good. The “not so good ones” are broadcast by many and spoken by many. Unfortunately, the good stories are rarely heard of. As for me, when I hear a not so good story, I try to do something about it. When I hear a good story, I broadcast it. I am not a mouthpiece for anybody but GOD. And HE does send good stories my way. more..

Oct 15 (AT) A seminar organized by the National Science Foundation in collaboration with the National Science and Technology Commission was held recently in Colombo on Leveraging High-end Technology for National Development in Sri Lanka (based on a World Bank Study) by Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, Consultant, World Bank and a former Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research India. more..

Oct 15 (AT) President Mahinda Rajapaksa will today inaugurate the 8th Asia Cooperation Dialogue Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting in Colombo at the BMICH. The theme of this year’s meeting is ‘Spirit of Asia: Global Economic Recovery and Development Prospects’. A large number of Foreign Ministers, Deputy and State Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the 31 member countries are scheduled to attend this Meeting. more..

Oct 15 (WAT) "We are Sri Lankan refugees, please take us to your country, we can't live in Sri Lanka," cries nine-year-old Brindah. "Please help us and save our lives. "We are your children. Please think of us." Brindah is one of about 250 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers crammed on to the bow of a rickety wooden cargo boat moored alongside an Indonesian navy ship in Merak, western Java. They are sitting shoulder to shoulder, as if posing for a giant class photo. more..

Oct 15 (TN) UNICEF has recently announced an emergency programme to assist Colombo’s Ministry of Education implementing Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) to an estimated number of 85,000 IDP children. According to a UNICEF advertisement, seeking experts to work with Colombo’s ministry, the programme will begin from January 2010 and 2000 teachers are to be trained for this purpose. more..

Oct 15 (PTI) Completing its mission of studying first hand the conditions prevailing in the camps housing internally displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka, the 10-member MPs delegation from Tamil Nadu returned here today and submitted its report to chief minister M Karunanidhi. Karunanidhi, who came under attack for omission of opposition MPs from the team, was present at the airport to receive the DMK-Congress-VCK delegation, more..

Oct 15 (GDI) The People’s Federation for the Visually Impaired has focused attention to many programmes initiated by the Government for the blind. A ceremony to mark “White Cane Day” was held at Temple Trees with the participation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Representatives of the People’s Federation for the Disabled expressing their views appreciated the programmes implemented by the Government on their behalf. more..

Oct 15 (GDI) Welcoming the members of the Indian Parliament from the constituencies in the State of Tamil Nadu at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 14th October 2009, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama expressed his appreciation to the team for undertaking a visit to Sri Lanka in order to assess first hand, the current situation in Sri Lanka. Foreign Minister Bogollagama recalled the invitation extended by more..

Oct 15 (wsws) The following images which provide a glimpse into the harsh conditions of life and work confronting Sri Lankan tea workers were taken by photojournalist Shantan Kumarasamy during a recent visit to the Nuwara Eliya District, about 125 kilometres from Colombo. Tea pluckers and associated tea industry workers were originally transported from India’s Tamil Nadu in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to work in the tea plantations during British colonial rule. more..

Oct 15 (DM) Despite speculation about attempts to put forward certain individuals to challenge President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the next Presidential elections to be held in early 2010, the people of this country are intelligent enough not to vote for just anybody, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said yesterday. He said ‘any one’ cannot win a Presidential election only because some busybodies want it. more..

Oct 15 (LP) The remains of an ancient settlements emerged from the Vadamarachchi East area. According to the Department of Archaeology, evidence of three old human settlements in these areas was found. They have spread over an area covering nearly three Km and are vitally important to prove the historical background of Jaffna peninsula. Clay pots of varied colours, mostly belonging to the Anuradhapura era were recovered from more..

Oct 15 (LP) Sri Lanka Postal Department resumed the postal services via land rout between Colombo and Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka today after a lapse of three years since 2006. Speaking to Lankapuvath Post Master General M K B Dissanayaka said that the mail bags transported to Vavuniya by train this morning will transport to Jaffna on the A-9 highway by Sri Lanka Transport Board buses. more..

Oct 15 (LP) The Governor for the Northern Province, Major General G.A. Chandrasiri denied allegations of the TNA that the government plans to settle Sinhalese in Kilinochchi and Mulativu districts. Although the TNA brought up the matter of moves to change the ethnic balance in the North with the Tamil Nadu MPs, the latter did not raise it at their meeting with the President. more..

Oct 15 (MoD) The Ministry of Justice and Law Reform is to launch programs to review the judicial process in the Northern Province (NP) in order to proper implementation of the Judicial Network in the North. In a media release, Ministry of Justice and Law Reform said several ministry officials have been appointed to assess the background and to identify suitable locations for the establishment of the new Judicial Complexes in the Northern Province. more..

Oct 15 (MoD) The Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapakse unveiled the gold - plated fence (Ranweta) at the Sri Lakhanga Viharaya, Diyakapanagoda, Gatambe, Kandy yesterday. He also ceremonially declared open the Atavisi Buddha Mandiraya. The Ranweta consists of 150 poles and cost Rs. 900,000. The full amount spent on this meritorious deed was Rs. 3,400,000. Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapakse donated brass valued at Rs. 350,000. more..

Oct 15 (wsws) The character of the recent collective agreement imposed by the main Sri Lankan plantation unions on workers has been quickly exposed as companies use its productivity clauses to boost profits and undermine the nominal wage rise. The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU) and the Joint Plantation Trade Union Committee (JPTUC) signed an agreement with more..

Oct 15 (MoD) In the defeat of terrorism, while Sri Lanka had the political support of many friendly nations, success came mainly through our own effort. The conclusion to be drawn is perhaps, that the problems of a country can only be resolved by those who know best its ground realities, namely, by its own people, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in the Keynote Address at the inauguration of more..

Oct 15 (SLW) Leader of the opposition Ranil Wickremasinghe who was the chief guest at the “Platform for Freedom” has called on the government to implement guidelines set by the UN on emergency situations, when the Emergency Law is been put in to action in Sri Lanka. Mr. Wickramasinghe says that will legalize the situation of the welfare villages in the North. more..

Oct 15 (LP) The new prison complex built with the aim of reducing the expenses involved in transporting prisoners based in Vavuniya to Anuradhapura was declared open yesterday (14). The complex declared open by Commissioner General of Prisons Major General V. R. de Silva. The new prison built at a cost of was Rs 9 Million, could house 300 inmates and they have been provided with all facilities said the Commissioner speaking at the ceremony. more..

Oct 15 (SLW) The Peradeniya police forwarded 12 students to the Peradeniya magistrate, who are connected to incidents and ragging and the Magistrate remanded them until the 28th of this month. One of the students that were ragged by them is still being treated in Peradeniya hospital with serious wounds, as he has been allegedly attacked for protesting against ragging. It is said that some senior students have even gone to the residences of this student and more..

Oct 15 (MoD) The Government has embarked on a massive development project of reconstructing four main bridges at a cost of nearly Rs.2,800 million to boost the economic activities among easterners under the Eastern Province Resurgence project. A Road Development Authority ADB Division's spokesman told the Daily News that four bridges in Irrakkandi, Yan Oya, Pudavaikattu and Oddamavadi will be reconstructed under Spanish assistance. more..

Oct 15 (LT) It is reported that an attempt is taking place to close the technical colleges by ceasing the allowances of the relevant lecturers. Accordingly the Principals of the Technical Colleges have been ordered not to pay the external lecturers for the year 2009. In a circular issued on 10.09.2009 by Mr A Wimalratne said as the provisions are not sufficient a priority list of the lecturers to be sent. more..

Oct 15 (LNP) The UPFA would seek a two-thirds majority mandate from the people at the forthcoming general election, said Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. The Government is optimistic and positive about obtaining a two thirds majority at the next general election. During the recent elections the vote bases of both the UNP and the JVP had declined dramatically, more..

Oct 15 (LNP) Sri Lankan companies will benefit from a US $ 10.3 million buyer sponsorship package offered by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). This is the first time that such a sponsorship package was offered to Sri Lankan buyers and exhibitors as the recession has slowed down many economies in the world. Hong Kong, the 13th largest trade economy in the world and a gateway to China conducts international trade fairs periodically where more..

Oct 15 (LNP) The Norwegians have done to their Nobel Peace Prize what Sri Lanka`s wayside acupuncture joints have done to honorary doctorates. They have demeaned the once coveted prize by awarding it according to their whims and fancies. This time around, it has gone to a man responsible for the perpetuation of military aggression in two countries, Iraq and Afghanistan. Barack Obama is his name! more..

Oct 15 (LNW) It is reported that President himself has entrusted a contract to a close friend of his who is also a close associate of Mangala Samaraweera, to get the latter back to the UPFA. Mangala Semaraweera is the main architect in the on going efforts to form a common political alliance to overthrow the UPFA Govt. This close friend of the President is not an individual who is involved openly in politics. more..

Oct 15 (DN) After much deliberation, I decided to pen my thoughts provoked by the latest hullabaloo on mobile phones in the hands of schoolchildren; its prohibition in school premises, so that it may help children keep their head balanced, unconfused and incorrupt and so save their lives. Well, so much for that. Are there no other measures to keep children’s minds balanced. Have any of the authorities in Sri Lanka taken sufficient measures to allow the child, a child’s life? more..

Oct 15 (DN) The Supreme Court yesterday ordered that public buildings to be constructed in the future should be easily accessible to disabled persons. The Court further ordered that such buildings should be facilitated with adequate sanitary facilities for such persons. In terms of the Court oder local authorities are required to approve only building plans which meet these requirements. more..

Oct 15 (LBO) The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has approved the construction of new hotels on a prime beach property on the island's east coast following the end of the war, a senior official said. S Kalaiselvam, director general, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, said the country aims to add about 20,000 hotel rooms in the next seven years to cater to the anticipated boom in tourism. more..

Oct 15 (LG) United Nations celebrates its 60th year since adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In September 2004, then Secretary General Kofi Annan invited Walter Kalin from Switzerland, a professor of law at Berne University to take the directorship of UNO-Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons; responsibility was to be supported by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. more..

Oct 15 (Island) The first economist to lead the more than three-decade-old Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) says ending terrorism alone is not enough to bring down unemployment and poverty in Sri Lanka, despite the immediate positive economic benefits of peace. Highlighting several positives and challenges faced by Sri Lanka since terrorism ended last May, the President of the OPA, Prof. A. D. V. De S. Indraratna, said more..

Oct 15 (Island) The UPFA yesterday said that the UNP had been bankrupt to such an extent it was now even ready to remove its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from the next presidential election. If given the opportunity, the coming presidential poll would be his third attempt at the executive seat. Responding to a query on whether war veteran Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Sarath Fonseka, who culminated the war against the LTTE, more..

Oct 15 (Island) Under the patronage and on the instructions of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Major General Gamini Jayasundara, RWP RSP, is implementing a well designed training curriculum for cadet platoons in almost all the schools in the island. This is being done with the intention of moulding the character of the school going children as well to discipline and build junior leaders to take up responsibilities in the future. more..

Oct 15 (Island) Rt. Revd. Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo on Wednesday urged the government to give journalists access to areas that were being de-mined and rehabilitated. The following is the full text of a statement issued by the Bishop: The Government’s decision to release persons in the camps to relatives after adequate security screening, was well received when first announced. more..

Oct 15 (UNP) UNP M.P. Lashman Kiriella said, everyone has heard of a businessman robbing Peter to pay Paul. But, we are now witnessing a Govt. which has gone even beyond a bad businessman – it is robbing Peter , Paul and all the people of the country to maintain its largest cabinet Cabinet of Minsiters in the world of 113 Ministers, and to repay the interest installments and more..

Oct 15 (UNP) UNP and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking at the JR Jayawardena center yesterday (14) on ‘Api okkoma Rajavaru’ (We are all Kings) theme, organized by the Campaign for people’s freedom , said , the South had blocked the Rajapakses in its tracks. We must all rally together and ensure that this campaign is carried forward. The Rajapakses have robbed this people’s privilege. more..

Oct 15 (DM) Ayubowan, vanakkam, assalamu alaikkum and congratulations as the UPFA celebrates another big election victory in the Southern Province, though the majority fell far short of the 80 per cent to 90 per cent expected or predicted by government leaders. As expected, the UPFA obtained a two-thirds majority by winning 38 of the 55 seats in the Southern Provincial Council. A two-thirds majority in parliament or local bodies was thought to be impossible under more..

Oct 15 (LBO) Real wage rates earned by Sri Lanka's plantations workers had been virtually stagnant for years. The Institute of Policy Studies said in a report on the state of the economy that poverty levels of plantations workers were also high, although there had been some recent improvements. "In nominal terms, wage rates have been increasing and the earning potential of workers have increased with a wage hike after 2005, for both tea and rubber," more..

Oct 15 (DM) With the Budget not being presented this year, the Cabinet yesterday approved the Vote-on-Account seeking a staggering Rs.361 billion for next year, government sources said. They said that of this amount, Rs.197 billion is for recurrent expenditure, Rs.158 billion for capital expenditure and Rs.6 billion for Advanced Account Activities. The government had decided on a Vote-on-Account instead of the customary Budget more..

Oct 15 (DM) Colombo Additional Magistrate remanded a suspect till October 23 who had allegedly posed as Basil Rajapaksa’s adviser and collected money from businessmen to grant tenders to purchase scrap metal that are discarded from Government Departments. Colombo Crime Division (CCD) produced the suspect in court and reported that he was arrested on a complaint made by a businessman named Hussain Mohamed Sameer of Dematagoda on October 2. more..

Oct 15 (Island) Tamil Nadu parliamentarians who visited the IDP camps in the Vanni refused, at a press conference in Colombo yesterday, to comment on the responses of the war displaced they had met. The Indian MPs numbering ten had come here as guests of the Sri Lankan government. They were due to leave for India last evening. The delegation was headed by Union Minister T. R. Baalu and more..

Oct 15 (DN) The SLFP has initiated disciplinary action against Southern Provincial Councillor Nishantha Muthuhettigama in regard to his conduct during the Southern Provincial Council election campaign. SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday wrote to the PC member informing him that the party had decided to hold a disciplinary inquiry against him for acting in breach of party discipline and more..

Oct 15 (DN) Social justice is considered to be the panacea for racial harmony, socio-economic problems and political instability in Sri Lanka today.But the road to social justice is not so smooth as most of us think. It is rugged and rocky, making the movement snail-paced as the past history shows. Nevertheless, the pace should be stepped up since Sri Lanka, as a Democratic Social Republic, can give a mandatory push to the renovated caravan. more..

Oct 15 (PTI) Describing as challenging the task of removing mines for speedy resettlement of Tamil refugees, President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday said these explosives would have to be cleared from the North, which was once held by the LTTE, without leaving any margin for error. “The speedy resettlement of IDPs once affected by (LTTE) terrorism is engaging our utmost attention. more..

Oct 16 (PTI) Internally displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka lack even basic amenities like water and toilets in camps housing them, an MPs delegation from Tamil Nadu has claimed after visiting the island nation. “They (Lankan Tamils) complained of lack of food, with even children not having milk. While many said they didn’t have clothes to change, others said there was not enough water for bathing and toilet purposes,” more..

Oct 16 (PTI) Actor-politician Vijayakant on Thursday said the visit of the 10 member MPs delegation from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka to study the conditions of internally displaced Tamils was a ‘pleasure trip’ and had in no way benefitted Tamils in the island nation. “The pleasure trip of the MPs delegation has done no good for the Sri Lankan Tamils. On the other hand, it has only benefitted Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who managed to win over the Indian MPs,” more..

Oct 16 (Age) KEVIN Rudd has prevented 255 Sri Lankan asylum seekers coming to Australia from Indonesia. The asylum seekers were already at sea when the Prime Minister put in an urgent call to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono requesting that the Indonesian Navy intercept the vessel and escort it back to Indonesia. The people on the vessel are ethnic Tamils, a group suffering at the hands of more..

Oct 16 (CI) Surrey's chief executive, Paul Sheldon, has written to the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse, to express his "deep frustration" that a state-of-the-art cricket facility the club helped to build in Sri Lanka as part of their tsunami-relief efforts in 2007 has remained unused for almost two years due to a failure to lay any turf on the outfield. The Surrey Cricket Village in Magonna was funded using half of the £1 million proceeds from more..