| Wednesday 30 April 2008 |
May Day
President lauds patience and support of working
people |
| The awareness that
those who suffer most when peace in the
country is destroyed are the working people
and their children has made our workers to
be patient and support the government in its
efforts to defeat terrorism and bring peace
to the country.
[Full Story] |
|
| LTTE artillery on Welioya |
| LTTE had fired artillery and mortar into Sripura in
Welioya this morning (April 30), defence sources
said. [Full Story] |
|
Eastern PC polls
Postal voting ends successfully |
| More than 40 per cent of the total eligible postal
voters had cast their votes for the Eastern
Provincial Council elections by noon yesterday
(April 29), Elections Department sources said.
[Full Story] |
|
| IIGEP chairman writes to President |
| Justice P.N. Bhagwati, who chaired the International
Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) has, in
a communication addressed to President Mahinda
Rajapaksa, clarified the position taken by the IIGEP
in its 6th Public Statement which stated that the
Sri Lankan government did not have political and
institutional will to investigate 17 incidents of
human rights violation in which people were killed.
[Full Story] |
|
| Sri Lanka – Iran joint statement |
| The President of Iran Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
made an official visit to Sri Lanka, at the
invitation of President Mahinda Rajapksa from 28 to
29 April.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 29 April 2008 |
| UK arrests three LTTE suspects |
| Three LTTE suspects have been arrested by the UK
counter-terror police on suspicion of the
commission, preparation or instigation of acts of
terrorism, BBC reported today (April 29).
[Full Story] |
|
| Iranian President leaves |
| Iranian President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left
the island after the conclusion of his two-day
official visit this evening (April 29).
[Full Story] |
|
| Iranian President meets religious leaders |
| Iran always hopes to see a well developed and
dignified Sri Lanka, a country which has set an
example for the other countries working closely with
the religious leaders, said Iranian President Dr.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
[Full Story] |
|
| Iranian assistance consolidates our independence -
President |
| Every Sri Lankan should consider Iranian
assistance as a contribution to the consolidation of
our independence, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa
at the inauguration of the Sapugaskanda Petroleum
Refinery modernization and expansion project funded
by Iran this morning (April 29).
[Full Story] |
|
| Floods, landslides hit many areas |
| Floods and landslides caused by torrential rain
have left many families in Ratnapura, Kalutara and
Galle homeless.
[Full Story] |
|
| Sri Lanka and Iran seek justice and fair play –
Iranian President |
| “We are seeking justice and fair play in the
world
and Sri Lanka and Iran have agreed to cooperate in
all spheres for the mutual benefit of each other,”
said Iranian President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said
yesterday.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 28 April 2008 |
| Iranian President arrives |
| Iranian President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmedinejad arrived
in Sri Lanka today (April 28) on a two-day official
visit. [Full Story] |
|
| A major boost to Lanka – Iran ties |
| Iranian President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmedinajad will
arrive in Sri Lanka today on a two-day official
visit that is expected to give a major boost growing
political, economic and cultural the ties between
Sri Lanka and Iran.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Sunday 27 April 2008 |
| Resolved to save youth from modern day savagery |
| “Sri Lanka has for the past three decades been facedwith
a threat by the most brutal terrorist
organization in the world, a terror outfit
that does not hesitate to use our youth as
pawns and cannon fodder in its brutal
operations….[Full Story] |
| |
| Saturday 26 April 2008 |
| Piliyandala bus bomb |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa deplored the LTTE bomb
attack on a packed bus in Piliyandala last evening,
saying the terrorists had once again resorted to
killing innocent civilians in the face of heavy
setbacks on the battlefield.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 25 April 2008 |
| India - Sri Lanka to link electric grids |
| India and Sri Lanka are working on a plan to lay a
power-transmission line under the sea.
[Full Story] |
|
| Commonwealth Youth Ministers' Conference in Colombo |
| The Secretariat of the Commonwealth countries will
hold its 7th Commonwealth Youth Ministers'
conference from April 27 to 30 at the Cinnamon Grand
Hotel, Colombo.
[Full Story] |
|
| Army liberates Madhu shrine |
| Following a successful operation to isolate the LTTE
terrorists occupying it, the Sri Lanka Army has
liberated the sacred Madhu shrine by beating them
off last afternoon (April 24). The soldiers of 8 Sri
Lanka Light Infantry reached the shrine as the
terrorists beat a retreat unable to face the army
advance, defence sources said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Former Indian FM expresses support for APRC
proposals |
| Former Foreign and Finance Minister of India, Shri
Yaswant Sinha expressed his support for the
implementation of the 13th Amendment to the
Constitution, in line with the recommendation of the
All Party Representative Committee (APRC), a Foreign
Ministry statement said. He made this observation
when he paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister
Rohitha Bogollagama at the Foreign Ministry
yesterday (April 24).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 24 April 2008 |
| India to provide textiles' duty free market for
SAFTA |
| India will provide duty reduction to the Agreement
on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) member
countries ranging from zero to five percent within
ten years, said Minister of State for Textiles, E V
K S Elangovan today.
[Full Story] |
|
| Security Forces take control in Muhamale Defence
positions |
| Security Forces have re-deployed their positions in
and around Muhamale following yesterday's battle,
defence sources said this morning (April 24).
[Full Story] |
|
|
FM calls for increased economic cooperation with
Zhejiang |
| Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has sought
increased investment from, and enhanced market
access for Sri Lankan exports to the Zhejiang
Province in China, a Foreign Ministry statement
said. He made this call during a meeting with a high
level delegation led by Zhong Shan, Vice Governor of
the Zhejiang Province of China, currently visiting
the island on an invitation of the Minister.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 23 April 2008 |
| Agro Livestock Development Loan Scheme |
| With a view to enhancing local liquid milk
production, milk and milk based products and
promoting agricultural crop processing industries
the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), in association
with the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), has
launched a special credit programme effective April
2008. [Full Story] |
|
| Ambassador expresses concern over British Tamil
Forum |
| Sri Lankan High Commissioner Kshenuka Senewiratne
has written last week to the London Mayor Ken
Livingstone to express her "concerns" about his
intention to speak to at a meeting of the British
Tamil Forum, a front organization of the LTTE.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Visiting Bahrain Labour Minister calls on President |
| Bahrain
Labour Minister Dr. Majeed Bin Mohiseen Al Alavi met
President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees
yesterday (April 21) and discussed measures to
ensure the welfare of the Sri Lankans working in
Bahrain and enhancing employment opportunities
between the two countries.
[Full Story] |
|
| IIGEP departure will not affect functions of CoI -
Minister Samarasinghe |
| "The departure of the International Group of Eminent
Persons (IIGEP) does not in any way adversely affect
the ability of the Commission of Inquiry(CoI) to
carry forward its inquires and investigations in
keeping with international standards," said the
Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights,
Mahinda Samarasinghe.
[Full Story] |
|
| Meetings with Sri Lankan officials useful and frank
says visiting top US State Department official |
| Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and
Central Asian Affairs Don Camp visited Colombo April
20-22 as part of the U.S. Government’s regular,
ongoing consultations with the Sri Lankan Government
said his meetings with the Sri Lankan government
officials are “useful and frank, in the way of long
time friends”.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Presidential initiative on English Language Skills
launched |
|
English as a Life Skill – a special initiative to
improve and widen the teaching of English in the
country was launched today with the immediate goal
of entry into the IT related Business Process
Outsourcing (BPO) industry, to attract investment
from the booming BPO industry in India.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 22 April 2008 |
| Stronger relations between UN and Sri Lanka |
| Angela Kane, The UN Assistant Secretary-General
for Political Affairs, following her recent visit to
Sri Lanka, looks forward to strengthening of
cooperation between the UN and the Government of Sri
Lanka.
[Full Story] |
|
| Government relaxes fishing restrictions |
| Government has relaxed restrictions on fishing
imposed along the Muttur and Kinniya coastal belt in
the Trincomalee district.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Death of Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam |
The Army categorically and unreservedly refuted
LTTE allegations that it is responsible for the
death
of Rev Fr M.X. Karunaratnam when he was on
Mallavi-Vavunikulam road in un-cleared areas, about
50 kms to the north of Wanni in Mullaithivu
district.
[Full Story] |
|
| Negotiated settlement only way out, says Ambassador |
| A
solution to the conflict, or issues affecting the
minorities, must first be discussed and negotiated,
with the involvement of all interested parties in
the island. That is the only way, a sustainable
solution that is fair and reasonable to all, can be
arrived at, said Bernard Goonetilleke, Sri Lankan
Ambassador in the U.S. at a Seminar in the USA.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 21 April 2008 |
| Agreement reached on Sampur power plant project |
| India has will locate the 500 MW coal-based
thermal plant of the National Thermal Power
Corporation (NTPC) in Sampur town in Trincomalee
district, the Hindu reported yesterday (April 20).
[Full Story] |
|
| Indian assistance to build hospital at Dikoya |
| India will help construct a 150-bed hospital in
Sri Lanka and provide vocational training to the
people in rural areas of the country under the two
agreements signed in India between two countries on
April 19.
[Full Story] |
|
| Resolution against Sri Lanka at IPU withdrawn |
| Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights,
Mahinda Samarasinghe said that a draft resolution
requesting the situation in Sri Lanka to be included
as an emergency item on the agenda of the 118th
session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held
from April 13-18
in Cape Town, South Africa had been withdrawn.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Saturday 19 April 2008 |
| Government launches English Language Skills
initiative |
| The Government launches a major initiative this
week on the teaching of English in the country aimed
at improving the skills of English teachers both in
the private and public sectors, training in English
for Business Outsourcing, the of use new methods of
English language teaching through the electronic
media, and opening access to a large numbers of
persons in the low income categories to obtain a
working knowledge of English.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 18 April 2008 |
| Security forces allege LTTE looting medical
supplies |
| As fighting intensified in North causing severe
casualties, the LTTE seize stocks of medical
supplies dispatched by the government for the
civilians in Wanni, defence sources said.
[Full Story] |
|
| Tourist arrivals up over 8% in March |
| Tourist arrivals in March registered an 8.6%
growth from the previous year, Tourist Board press
release said.
[Full Story] |
|
| Chennai-based agents help illegal migration to US –
Times of India |
| A group Chennai-based agents, with network in
Colombo and East Asian countries help Sri Lankan
Tamils with to the US and Canada. These agents also
provide fake passports and travel documents for
illegal migration and have been sending them through
Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, Times of India
reported yesterday (April 17).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 17 April 2008 |
| Madhu issue: an LTTE attempt to mislead the
international community - Defence spokesman |
| Removing the statue of Our Lady of Madhu to an
undisclosed location while the security forces are
engaged in a humanitarian mission can be seen as the
result of an LTTE move to mislead the international
community, said Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya
Rambukwella addressing media in Colombo today (April
17). [Full Story] |
|
| Government rejects IIGEP statement |
| The Government rejects the statement of the
International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP)
concerning its relations with the Government and the Presidential Commission of
Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Alleged
Serious Violations of Human Rights, said Government Defence Spokesman Minister dr. Keheliya
Rambukwella at après briefing today (17) in Colombo.
[Full Story] |
|
| LTTE's key logistic complex in Visuamady attacked |
| Sri Lanka Air Force attacked LTTE's key logistic
complex and engineering yard in Visuamadu, in
Mullaithivu, this morning (Apr 17).
[Full Story] |
|
| Iran to invest in oil refinery expansion project |
| Iran has decided to increase its investment in
expansion project of an oil refinery in Sri Lanka up
to one billion US dollars, Iran News Agency (IRNA)
reported yesterday (April 16).[Full Story] |
|
| Developing countries should formulate strategies to
combat poverty and
terrorism - Deputy FM |
| "Developing countries should formulate their own
national strategies to combat poverty and terrorism"
said Husain A. Bhaila, Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs, addressing the 8th Doha Forum on Democracy,
Development and Free Trade 2008, which held on 13th
– 15th April in Doha - Qatar.
[Full Story] |
|
| Govt controls rice price |
| The Government imposed price control over retail
and wholesale prices for rice with effect from
midnight yesterday (April 16).
[Full Story] |
|
| New housing project to solve shelter problem |
| The Government will implement a massive housing
project at a cost of Rs. 1,500 million to solve the
prevailing shelter problem countrywide and to cater
to housing needs of those who live below the poverty
line. [Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 16 April 2008 |
| LTTE keeps losing ground – Strategy Page |
| The LTTE keeps losing ground as the fighting is
getting more intense, and at this rate, the army's
prediction that the LTTE will be crushed this year,
appears on schedule said Strategy Page website
yesterday (April 15).
[Full Story] |
|
| USAID supports to improve regional government in
eastern and north central provinces |
| The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
awarded a five-year, $12 million contract to support
regional government in eastern and north central
provinces. The investment will helped to improve
security, local government accountability and
conflict resolution.
[Full Story] |
|
| Italy-Sri Lanka Anti-Terrorist organization launched |
| An Italy-Sri Lanka Anti-Terrorist Organization (ISATO)
was set up in Rome yesterday (April 15) under the
guidance of Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Rome Hemantha
Warnakulasuriya.
[Full Story] |
|
| MoH provides mosquito nets to Kilinochchi and
Mullaitivu |
| Malaria Control campaign of the Ministry of
Health (MoH) has provided 50,000 especially
medicated mosquito nets to families in Kilinochchi
and Mullaitivu districts. Followed by monsoon rains
Chikungunya, Malaria and Dengue are prevalent in the
area. [Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 15 April 2008 |
| Canadian police get restraining order against WTM |
| Canadian Counter terrorism police on Monday (14)
obtained a Court order restraining the Scarborough
office of the World Tamil Movement (WTM) accusing it
of fund-raising for the LTTE. The LTTE is a
proscribed organization in Canada.
[Full Story] |
|
| Saturday 12 April 2008 |
| Climate Change: Sri Lanka for Asian consensus |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Boao
Forum for Asia today (12) called for an
Asian consensus to reach a global climate
Agreement by 2009, based on traditional
wisdom of Asia, the new knowledge brought to
us by science and leadership of those who
have helped make this the Asian Century.
[Full Story] |
|
| BOAO - President to present Sri Lankan perspective on
Climate Change |
| The 2008 Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for
Asian(BFA) holds its first plenary session today
with nearly a thousand participants from heads of
state, leading economists, scientists, academics,
journalists and other key professionals from the
world over.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 11 April 2008 |
Pakistan will always strike against terrorism
– President
Musharaff |
|
President Pervez Musharaff of Pakistan reiterated
his country’s opposition to terrorism in all its
manifestations, its readiness to strike against
terrorism and assured Sri Lanka of all assistance to
defeat terrorism in the country.
[Full Story] |
|
| President’s New Year
Message |
|
It is comforting that this New Year has dawned at a time
when the nation is conscious of its dignity says
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a Sinhala and Tamil
New Year Message. It is also most fortunate
to see the people of the East enjoying the New Year
happily with their families, he further adds.
[Full Story] |
|
| Minister Peiris meets Chinese investors |
| The Minister of Export Development and
International Trade G. L. Peiris informed a
delegation of Chinese investors of the opportunities
available for investment in Sri Lanka. The
Minister’s meeting with the investors was a follow
up of the meeting that President Mahinda Rajapaksa
had with President Hu Jintao of China yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
| SL, Egypt FMs discuss regional security |
| Ahmed Aboul Gheit Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Arab Republic of Egypt met in Cairo with Rohitha
Bogollagama who was on a official visit to Egypt
recently and exchanged views on different regional
and international issues of common interest
including the situation in the Middle East, peace
and security in Asia, United Nations reform and
measures for Counter-terrorism.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 10 April 2008 |
| Chinese President condoles on Jeyaraj assassination |
| President Hu Jintao expressed his condolences to
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the assassination of
Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, when the two
Presidents met at the Yalong Bay Resort in China
today. [Full Story] |
|
| China will stand by Sri Lanka against terrorism |
| President Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of
China assured Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa
that China will stand by Sri Lanka in its efforts to
counter terrorism. This assurance was given when the
two Presidents met at Yalong Bay Resort in the
Hainan Province of China today.
[Full Story] |
|
| Rebuilt Trinco public market inaugurated |
| The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
and HELLENIC AID, the development agency of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece on April 4
inaugurated the newly rebuilt Anuradhapura Junction
Public Market in Trincomalee which was destroyed by
the tsunami.
[Full Story] |
|
|
BOI signs three new agreements |
|
The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka signed
agreements for 3 new projects worth USD 3.5 m.
[Full Story] |
|
| Jeyaraj’s funeral today |
| Former Minister of Highways and Road Development
and Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle will
be laid to rest in Katana with full state honor
today (April 10).
[Full Story] |
|
| Boao Forum to address environment challenges in Asia |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa will address the 2008
Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia later
this week, when the Sri Lankan perspective on the
theme of this year’s conference which is meeting the
challenges and opportunities influencing the
region's environmental future.
[Full Story] |
|
| Sri Lankan and Chinese leaders meet today |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is in China to
attend the Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for
Asia (BFA) will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao
later today.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 09 April 2008 |
| President visits Buddhism Cultural Park |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the Nanshan
Buddhism Cultural Park this evening where he planted
a Bo sapling, a symbolic of the historic and
cultural relations between Sri Lanka and China.
[Full Story] |
|
| President arrives in China |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at Sanya Phoenix
International Airport at 11 am(Chinese time) today
(April 9).
[Full Story] |
|
| International community condemns Minister's
assassination |
| The United Nations has strongly condemned the
suicide attack on Sunday which killed Minister
Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and 15 other civilians during
a peaceful sporting event.
[Full Story] |
|
| Government denies allegations regarding the Madhu
Shrine |
| The Government categorically denies allegations
originated by certain parties that Sri Lankan
security forces have been shelling the Shrine of Our
Lady of Madhu.
[Full Story] |
|
| Petition against LTTE submitted to Canadian House of
Commons |
| Canadian Parliamentarian Art Hanger yesterday (April
8) tabled a civic petition against LTTE terrorist
activities on the Canadian soil before the House of
Commons. The MP speaking on the petition said that
it is on the subject of eradicating terrorism with
special reference to LTTE.
[Full Story] |
|
| Police takes action against cruelty to cart bulls |
| All police stations have been instructed to prevent
the incidence of cruelty to cart bulls in the
hackery (thirikkal) races organized in connection
with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 08 April 2008 |
| Defeating terrorism, a must to enjoy economic
benefits – President |
| Defeating terrorism is a must to enjoy equal
development benefits by
all communities in the county and the present
government is embarked on two major challenges;
maintain rapid economic development in every part of
the country and equal distribution of such benefits,
said President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
[Full Story] |
|
| Sri Lanka maintains over 6% economic growth –
Central Bank |
| The economic growth rate of the country last year is
6.8% and it is first time in the history that the
country could maintain a growth rate over 6% for
three consecutive years, the 2007 Central Bank
Annual Report said.
[Full Story] |
|
| US Strongly Condemns Weliweriya terrorist attack |
| The United States strongly condemns the terrorist
attack on April 6 in Weliweriya, Gampaha District
that claimed the life of Minister of Highways and
Road Development and Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj
Fernandopulle, said a statement issued by the US
Embassy in Colombo yesterday (7).
[Full Story] |
|
| Sri Lanka, Egypt to promote tourism cooperation |
| Sri Lanka and Egypt signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to promote tourism between the
two countries at a meeting held between Foreign
Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Egyptian Tourism
Minister Zoheir Garranah in Cairo, said a press
release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on
April 7. [Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 07 April 2008 |
| Air Force destroys Black Tiger Base |
| Sri Lankan air force jets destroyed a LTTE base
in Mankulam believed used to train suicide cadres
early this morning (April 7), defense sources said.
[Full Story] |
|
| Legislators pay their last respects to late Minister |
| Members
of Parliament and President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid
their last respects to Minister of Highways and Road
Development and Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj
Fernandopulle when his remains were taken to the
Parliament complex this morning (April 7).
[Full Story] |
|
| Death toll rises to 14 in yesterday's suicide attack |
| Fourteen civilians were killed and more than 80 were
wounded when a LTTE suicide cadre blew himself in
Weliweriya yesterday (April 6).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Sunday 06 April 2008 |
| We will not be weakened by terror - President |
| “This dastardly act of savagery will not weaken our
resolve to eradicate terrorism from our midst, and
bring peace, harmony and democracy to all our
people, which was also the constant and unqualified
wish of Mr. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle,” said President
Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement on the
assassination of Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle by
the LTTE terrorists earlier today.
[Full Story] |
|
| Minister Jeyaraj assassinated in terror attack |
| Minister of Highways and Road Development and Chief
Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, was
assassinated in an LTTE bomb explosion in Weliweriya
in the Western Gampaha District, this morning (April
6), more than 25 km away from Colombo.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 04 April 2008 |
| President attends Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa will leave for China
next week to participate in the Boao Forum for Asia
(BFA) Annual Conference 2008 which will be held
between April 11th and 13th in Boao, Hainan
Province, China.
[Full Story] |
|
| Central Bank responds to Fitch rate revisions |
| Fitch's downward revision of ratings is not in line
with the recent improvements in the country's
macroeconomic fundamentals and its future outlook,
said the Central Bank in a response to revision of
ratings by Fitch dated April 3.[Full Story] |
|
| TN police quiz two Iranians |
| Tamil Nadu police, Senior officials of Intelligence
Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and
Tamil Nadu Intelligence wing were are interrogating
two Iranians who were dropped by a clandestine boat
at an isle off Mandapam.
[Full Story] |
|
| LTTE attacks: Clergy shifts Madhu statue for safety |
| Church authorities in Mannar have shifted the statue
of "Our Lady of Madhu" to a safe destination in the
Wanni following repeated LTTE attacks on the sacred
Madhu Church.
[Full Story] |
|
| Foreign Minister calls on Lord Malloch Brown |
| Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama had a breakfast
meeting in London on 2nd April 2008 with Lord
Malloch Brown, Minister of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs of the UK, said a statement
issued by the Sri Lanka High Copmmission in London
on April 3.
[Full Story] |
|
| TN police watch Sri Lankan refugee camps |
| Sri Lankan refugee camps, particularly those in
southern and central Tamil Nadu, are under the
police scanner in view of United Progressive
Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's visit to
Karaikudi on Saturday.
[Full Story] |
|
| Eastern Provincial Council polls: 1,342 in the fray |
| Nominations for the Eastern Provincial Council ended
yesterday with 1,342 candidates contesting to enter
the 37 member Council.
[Full Story] |
|
| East to enjoy pluralist democracy |
| Today the clearance of the LTTE from the eastern
province has enabled civilians in the east, who had
been subjugated by this terror group, to enjoy the fruits of pluralistic democracy, said Foreign
Minister Rohitha Bogollagama delivering a lecture
titled Post Conflict Development: Efforts of a
Democracy at the International Institute for
Strategic Studies, London on April 1. [Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 03 April 2008 |
| We keep our identity intact, says President |
| We are integrating our country to the world
economy keeping our identity intact unless those who
divested the national airline by embracing the new
world economic order in toto, said President Mahinda
Rajapaksa addressing the SriLankan Airlines
employees at a ceremony on the occasion of taking
over its management from Emirates Airline held at
the Colombo International Airport today (3).
[Full Story] |
|
| Network supplying LTTE uniforms busted in TN |
| The Coastal Security Group (CSG) police in
Ramanathapuram busted a network involved in
supplying uniforms to LTTE on April 1, the Hindu
reported.
[Full Story] |
|
| Sri Lanka positioned to meet MDGs |
| Sri Lanka was well positioned to meet the Goals
before 2015 in the areas of universal primary school
enrolment, gender equality in primary and secondary
school enrolment, reducing maternal and child
mortality and several other health and social
indicators, said Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United
Nations Prasad Kariyawasam addressing the UN General
Assembly on April 2.
[Full Story] |
|
| Government to import rice from India |
| The Indian government has agreed to provide
stocks of non-basmati rice required Sri Lanka
despite the existing ban on domestic rice exports,
following a request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
[Full Story] |
|
| Nominations for Eastern PC end today |
| Nominations for the Eastern Provincial Council
election will conclude at noon today (April 3).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 02 April 2008 |
| Sri Lankan economy more resilient, says ADB |
| The Sri Lankan economy has proven more resilient
than expected by most observers (both local and
international), says the Asian Development Bank in
its annual Asian Development Outlook published in
March 2008.
[Full Story] |
|
| No media deaths in Sri Lanka in 2007- UNESCO |
| UNESCO has accepted that not a single journalist
had been killed in Sri Lanka in 2007. UNESCO
Director General Koichiro Matsuura's report for 2007
listed names of 53 journalists killed in number
countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia DPR
Congo, Palestine and Myanmar.
[Full Story] |
|
| FM meets UK Foreign Secretary |
| Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on a
official visit to UK met the Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. David Miliband
yesterday (April 1).
[Full Story] |
|
| President orders special measures to ensure welfare
of Vanniyela Aththo |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (April 1)
instructed the Environment Ministry to appoint a
separate director to resolve the problems faced by
the Vanniyela Aththo (indigenous community) and to
ensure their welfare.
[Full Story] |
|
| NTT sells out of SLT shares in the biggest single
deal on CSE |
| Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Company (NTT),
Japan yesterday (April 1) sold out its 35.19% stake
of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) comprising 635.08 million
shares at Rs. 50.50 per share totaling approximately
Rs. 32 billion to Usaha Tegas, Malysia , the biggest
ever single transaction in the history of the
Colombo Stock Exchange.
[Full Story] |
|
| Reserve money growth well within the target –
Central Bank |
| Central Bank has been successful in maintaining
reserve money well within the target set for the
first quarter of 2008. This follows the successful
achievement of quarterly reserve money targets in
2007, indicating a continuous deceleration in
monetary expansion. A Central Bank statement said.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 01 April 2008 |
| US Report critical and judgmental, not objective and
impartial - FM |
| In a letter forwarding the Government’s response to
the US State Department Country Reports on Human
Rights 2007, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama
yesterday (March 31) said the approach of the US
Report towards Sri Lanka was critical and
judgmental, and such a slant undermined the
objectivity and impartiality of the report.[Full Story] |
|
| LTTE shells Murunkan
Government hospital |
| LTTE launched a shell attack at Murunkan government
hospital in Mannar around 6.10 a.m. this morning
(April 01).[Full Story] |
|
| Eastern polls, a
democratic way forward- The Hindu Editorial |
|
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government have
taken a significant step forward in their project of
finding a political solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic
conflict by going in for Provincial Council
elections in the Eastern Province in May, the Hindu
said in an editorial yesterday(March 31).[Full Story] |
|
Myanmar: Heed neighbours’ sentiments,
Ambassador
tells HRC |
| Sri Lankan Ambassador and
Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United
Nations Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka told the Human Rights
Council that “those who wish to take action on
Myanmar to be guided far more than they have been,
by the almost unanimous sentiments of Myanmar’s
neighbours and those of us in Asia, the continent in
which Myanmar is located.”[Full Story] |
|
| Foreign Ministry launches online Information
Resource Base |
| The Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched an
Information Resource Base (IRB) Collection of
documents, newspaper and magazine articles from
across the world relating to the LTTE and
international terrorism.[Full Story] |
| |
