| Friday 30 May 2008 |
|
UN humanitarian chief condemns targeting of
civilians |
| United Nations Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief
Coordinator John Holmes yesterday condemned
the continuing targeting of civilians by the
LTTE.
[Full Story] |
|
|
US commends Sri Lanka's commitment to
devolution of power |
| The Deputy Ambassador for US Embassy in
Colombo James Moor said that the US
Government commends the decision of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the APRC to
pursue the implementation of the 13th
Amendment to the Constitution as a first
phase in the devolution of power in Sri
Lanka.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Cabinet approves MOU to find alternatives to
overcome fuel crisis |
| Cabinet approval was granted to a special
memorandum submitted by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa as the Minister of Finance and
Planning to prepare a complete report of the
alternative measures that should be adopted
for fuel management.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Spain funds to construct 13 new bridges |
| Cabinet has granted approval to a
memorandum submitted by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa as the Minister of Highways and
Road Development for the construction of
thirteen bridges under Phase II of the grant
provided by the Government of Spain.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 29 May 2008 |
|
Foreign Minister confers with SAARC
Secretary-General |
| Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha
Bogollagama met the Secretary General of
South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC), Dr. Sheel Kanta Sharma,
...
[Full Story] |
|
|
Foreign donations for the Negenahira
Navodaya Programme |
| Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama,
handed over donations of Rs. 78m received
through Sri Lankan Missions and Honorary
Consulates abroad for the Negenahira
Navodaya Programme to President Mahinda
Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
LTTE artillery attacks kill 6 civilians in
Jaffna |
| Six civilians were killed 12 others were
wounded when LTTE launched artillery attack
in Jaffna mainland this morning (May 29),
defence sources said.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 28 May 2008 |
|
BOI signs an agreement with Norwegian
software company |
| The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI)
signed an agreement with Exilesoft Limited,
a BOI press release said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Jayasuriya appointed SAARC Goodwill
Ambassador |
| Sri Lanka's star batsman Sanath
Jayasuriya was selected as a SAARC Goodwill
Ambassador for the programme ‘Uniting for
HIV AIDS’ by a panel of judges at a meeting
held at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu
recently.
[Full Story] |
|
|
WB aid to ensure dam safety in Sri Lanka |
| World Bank has granted
US $ 65.33 million for a project to improve
dam safety and operational efficiency of the
ageing dam network in Sri Lanka.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 27 May 2008 |
|
No stop till terrorism is defeated -
President Rajapaksa |
| “I will not stop till terrorism is
defeated,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa
to the Sri Lankan media commenting on the
bomb blast by the LTTE on a train at
Dehiwela yesterday (26).
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lanka gets top WHO post |
| Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal
Siripala de Silva was unanimously elected
President of the WHO Executive Board for a
one year period at the 123rd Executive Board
meeting yesterday (26) in Geneva.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Nine killed 73 injured in explosion in train |
| A terrorist bomb placed inside a train
exploded yesterday (May 26)evening around
4.55 p.m at the Dehiwela railway station
killing 9 persons and injuring 73 others.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 23 May 2008 |
|
Defeating terrorism means defeating
communalism – President |
| Language, nation and culture do not develop
when you evict thousands of people belonging
to another race from your region. You cannot
develop or nurture language or a nation with
communalism. Hence defeating terrorism in a
country means defeating communalism, said
President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Grant scheme for students under 'English as
a Life Skill Programme' |
| The Cabinet approved a memorandum submitted
by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to set up a
grant scheme for English learners under the
'English as a Life Skill' Programme.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Presidential Task Force on Api Wawamu-Rata
Nagamu programme launched |
| The inaugural meeting of the Presidential
Task Force on Api Wawamu – Rata Nagamu
programme to encourage and intensify
indigenous food production islandwide was
held under the auspices of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat
yesterday.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 22 May 2008 |
|
FM briefs diplomatic corps on EPC polls |
| Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama today
briefing the diplomatic corps on the Eastern
Provincial Council elections results said
that the successful conduct of elections in
the Eastern province is a clear reflection
of the genuine interest of the government
create an environment, in which all
communities and ethnicities could live in
harmony and achiever economic prosperity.
[Full Story] |
|
|
LTTE recruits over 6000 children |
| The total number of children recruited by
the LTTE since January 2002 to September
2007 was well over six thousand, Child
Soldiers Global Report 2008 issued by
Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
French police arrest two more LTTE leaders |
| French police detained two leaders of the
LTTE who evaded arrest last year and fled
the country when police closed in on them
during the major round up of top LTTE
operating in Paris, French media reported.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 21 May 2008 |
|
UPR members commend Sri Lanka's HR national
report |
| Sri Lanka's national report on human rights
presented by Minister of Disaster Management
and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe was
commended by all participation countries at
the United Nations Human Rights Council’s
Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Tuesday
(13 May) in Geneva.
[Full Story] |
|
|
SL joins Indian Ocean port security network |
| Sri Lanka on Monday (May 19) joined South
Asia Regional Port Security Cooperative (SARPSCO)
to help fight terrorism and criminal
activity in the Indian Ocean region by
improving port and maritime safety.
[Full Story] |
|
|
USAID provides Batti dairy farmers new
livelihood opportunities |
| United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) inaugurated a milk
chilling center in Vellaveli, Batticaloa
yesterday (May 20), on the site where the
original structure was completely destroyed
in 1990.
[Full Story] |
|
|
India backs Sri Lanka in UN human rights
review |
| India fully backed Sri Lanka in the
just-concluded UN human rights review in
Geneva, enabling Sri Lanka to get a
“balanced” appraisal from the world body
yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Indian Police bust LTTE smuggling ring |
| Tamil Nadu police on Sunday (May 18)
busted a suspected LTTE ring trying to
smuggle high-power communications equipment
and boat repair materials to Sri Lanka,
Times of India reported.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Sunday 18 May 2008 |
|
President's Vesak Message |
| It is with much devotion and faith that I
join all Sri Lankan Buddhists in celebrating
the Great Vesak Festival.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 16 May 2008 |
Bomb blast in
Colombo
Repeated savagery calls for concerted action
against terror
- President |
| “Repeated savagery of this order
underlines and reiterates the need for
concerted action by all those who cherish
democracy, human rights and the values of
civilized society, to eradicate the menace
of terrorism of which the LTTE remains the
bloodiest example today,” said President
Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement on the bomb
attack carried out by the LTTE in Colombo,
today.
[Full Story] |
|
|
EPC Chief Minister and UPFA reps sworn in |
| Newly elected United People's Freedom
Alliance (UPFA) representatives of the
Eastern Provincial Council were sworn in
before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the
Presidential Secretariat today (May 16).
[Full Story] |
|
|
Death toll rises to 10 in Fort blast |
| Ten
including seven Police personnel were killed
and more than 90 were wounded following the
LTTE suicide bomb attack near Sambuddhaloka
Viharaya, Fort at 12.05 p.m., today (May
16).
[Full Story] |
|
|
India extends ban on LTTE |
| India has extended by two years the
proscription on the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
[Full Story] |
|
|
President expresses condolence to people of
China |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa extended his
deepest sympathies to the bereaved families
and the victims of earthquake that struck
western China on May 12.[Full Story] |
|
|
Seven LTTE suspects arrested in Indonesia |
| Police in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, are
interrogating seven Sri Lankans suspected of
being members of LTTE, Jakarta Post reported
yesterday (May 15).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 15 May 2008 |
|
LTTE conscripts O/L failures, accuses Army |
| The LTTE has intensified its recruitment
drive by conscripting children in Mullaitivu
and Kilinochchi districts who failed the
G.C.E. ordinary level examinations in 2007,
Army spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara
said addressing media in Colombo yesterday
(May 14).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 14 May 2008 |
At Oxford Union
We fight terror single handed to let
democracy prevail
– President |
| “The LTTE is the most
brutal terror outfit the world has ever
seen, and defeating them requires global
support. What Sri Lanka is doing, is
fighting this terror outfit single handed,
to ensure that democracy and respect for
human life prevail in the world, said
President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he
addressed the Oxford Union yesterday (13)
[Full Story] |
|
|
FM hails Sri Lanka’s ties with the UN |
| Foreign Minister
Rohitha Bogollagama has underscored the
importance that Sri Lanka attaches to its
relationship with the UN system. He made
this observation following high level
interactions with UN officials at the UN
Headquarters in New York last week..
[Full Story] |
|
|
EPDP political advisor gunned down |
| Maheswary Velayutham,
Political Advisor of the Eelam People
Democratic Party (EPDP) was shot dead last
evening at her house in Karaveddy by
suspected LTTE gunmen.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lanka expresses condolences to people of
China |
| The acting Minister of
Foreign Affairs Hussein Bhaila, yesterday
(13) expressed his deep shock to learn of
the heavy loss of life and widespread
destruction of property in the massive
earthquake that struck the Sichuan Province
in China.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Maha Sangha appeal to help cyclone-hit
Myanmar |
| The Three Chapters of
the Maha Sangha have appealed for assistance
from the public to help the people of
Myanmar affected by the recent cyclone, a
Tourism Ministry release said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Govt to implement National Action Plan on HR |
| Disaster Management and
Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe
at the UN Human Rights Council yesterday
(May 13) said that the Government's ultimate
aim was to implement a National Action Plan
on the Protection and Promotion of Human
Rights in Sri Lanka.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Union Home Minister expresses concern over
LTTE’s air capability |
| Union Home Minister
Shivraj Patil has expressed concern over the
reported air capability of the LTTE that
could be a threat to the vital installations
in South India, the Hindu reported today
(May 14).
[Full Story] |
|
|
Japanese assistance to upgrade Anuradhapura
Hospital |
| The Japanese Government
has provided a grant Rs. 3,165 million for
the implementation of two projects, under
its Grant Aid Programme.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 13 May 2008 |
|
Bullet to Ballot - Hindu Editorial |
| The relatively violence-free conduct of the first
ever election to Sri Lanka’s Eastern Provincial
Council (EPC) is a feather in the cap of the Mahinda
Rajapaksa government, said the Hindu editorial today
(May 13).
[Full Story] |
|
| SL spearheads Pakistan's re-entry into the
commonwealth |
| Pakistan has been re-admitted to the Councils of the
Commonwealth with immediate effect. This decision
followed Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama's call
at the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group(CMAG)
meeting in London yesterday (May 12),when he made
the opening statement and strongly urged the 9
member body to immediately lift Pakistan's
suspension.
[Full Story] |
|
| Congress calls for ban on pro-LTTE outfits |
| Congress, a key ally of Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK, on
yesterday (May 13) demanded a ban on pro-LTTE
organisations in the Tamil Nadu state and asked the
state government to deal with "scourge of terrorism
with iron hand," PTI reported today.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 12 May 2008 |
|
Post-FTA, India-Lanka trade quadruples to $2.7b |
The free trade agreement between India and Sri Lanka
has quadrupled trade to 2.7 billion dollars between
the two countries during 2000-08, PTI reported
yesterday (May 11).
[Full Story] |
|
| LTTE, the veritable hydra-headed beast of Greek
mythology - Ambassador Goonatilleke |
| The LTTE is not merely an evil entity; it is the
veritable hydra-headed beast of Greek mythology,
with unbelievable resilience and resourcefulness.
One can cut off one head, only to be confronted by
another, said Ambassador Bernard Goonatilleke
Ambassador of Sri Lanka in the United States of
America.
[Full Story] |
|
| UPFA won Eastern PC polls |
| The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won the
first ever Provincial Council Election in the East,
securing 20 (18+02 bonus seats) out of 37 seats on
offer, while polling 52.21 per cent of the total
votes. [Full Story] |
| |
| Sunday 11 May 2008 |
|
EP Election - People’s endorsement of restoring
democracy
- President Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| “The results of the elections to the first Eastern
Provincial Council show the people’s endorsement of
the government’s policies of restoring democracy and
normalcy to areas hitherto controlled by terrorists
and the overall development programme already
initiated in the Eastern Province”, said President
Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement following the
successful conclusion of elections to the EPC.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Saturday 10 May 2008 |
|
Cargo vessel sunk in Trinco Harbour |
| A cargo vessel, A-520 (MV Invincible) was sunk this
evening due to an under water explosion while moored
at the Ashroff jetty in Trincomalee harbour, today
(May 10)., defence sources said.
[Full Story] |
|
| President condemns Ampara blast targeting civilians |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (May 9)
vehemently condemned the barbaric act of the LTTE of
exploding a bomb targeting innocent civilians at a
Cafe in the Ampara Town.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 09 May 2008 |
|
Eastern PC polls tomorrow |
| Elections Department officials say that all
arrangements were in place for a free and fair poll
in the East, which would take place at 1,022 centres
in Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa districts
tomorrow (May 10).
[Full Story] |
|
| Army captures Adampan Town |
| Army captured Adampan town area this morning (May
9), defence sources said.
[Full Story] |
|
| Canadian police unearth WTM Tiger connection |
| Canadian police have submitted an affidavit to the
Federal Court in Canada on April 1, 2008 showing
World Tamil Movement (WTM)’s inextricable links to
the LTTE.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 08 May 2008 |
|
'Ranaviru Month' declared |
| The government declared the period from May 7 to
June 7 as Ranaviru Month at a ceremony held at
Temple Tress yesterday (May 7).
[Full Story] |
|
| FM calls on UN Secretary General |
| Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama met the UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday (May 7) in
continuation of the regular dialogue to
apprise the United Nations of the recent
developments in Sri Lanka, particularly,
with regard to the unfolding of the road map
for the restoration of democracy in the
Eastern Province.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 07 May 2008 |
|
HR hotline established |
| The Ministry of Disaster Management and Human
Rights yesterday (May 6) established a 24-hour
hotline enabling the public to seek information on
questionable arrests and alleged detentions,
abductions and disappearances.
[Full Story] |
|
| LTTE leader in London arrested |
| Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, a London-based
leader of the LTTE was arrested by the British
police yesterday (May 6) for the second time in less
than a year for alleged fund-raising activities and
procurement of war material.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Eastern PC polls: Final rallies today |
| Campaigning for the Eastern Provincial Council
elections will end today (May 7) at midnight,
Elections Department announced.
[Full Story] |
|
| LTTE sought $ 3m from Canada – National Post |
| RCMP counterterrorism investigators in Toronto
have seized a letter signed by V. Prabhakaran
directing Canadian Tamils to send him $3-million,
according to police files released yesterday (May 6)
by the Federal Court, National Post reported.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lanka to help Myanmar cyclone victims |
| The Government will make a donation of US$
25,000/- to the Government of the Union of Myanmar
to assist victims of the recent cyclone, which
devastated large parts of the country, Foreign
Ministry said yesterday (May 6).
[Full Story] |
|
| Parliament prorogued |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa prorogued Parliament
for one month from midnight yesterday (May 6).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 06 May 2008 |
|
President inaugurates construction of Oluvil Port |
| The government was able to initiate several
development programmes in East after the brave and
courageous operation conducted by the Sri Lankan
Security Forces to bring liberation to the people in
the area, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the
ceremony to laid the foundation stone for the
construction of Oluvil port this morning.
[Full Story] |
|
| No early release for Nalini |
| Tamil Nadu Government has accepted the Report of
the Advisory Board of the Special Prison for Women
at Vellore which rejected the appeal of Nalini, a
convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, for
early release.
[Full Story] |
|
|
IMF responds to Central Bank clarification |
| A clarification by the IMF on its recent findings
on inflation in Sri Lanka implies that the impact of
monetary and fiscal expansion on current inflation
would be even lower than the 16 per cent captured by
the study and that the impact of food and energy
prices could be even higher now as food and energy
prices rose sharply and monetary and fiscal policies
were tightened further since July 2007.
[Full Story] |
|
| Oluvil Port construction commences today |
| The construction of the Oluvil Port Project will get
off the ground today (May 6) under the Nagenahira
Navodaya development programme.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 05 May 2008 |
|
Sri Lanka appeals to
international community |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa awarded 'Vishista Seva
Vibhushanaya' decoration to 37 senior officers in
the Regular Forces of the Army, Navy and the Air
Force as a reward for their services of exceptional
merit, nobility and loyalty.
[Full Story] |
|
| WTM : a foreign branch of the LTTE in Canada says
Canadian Police |
| LTTE controls the Montreal-based World Tamil
Movement (WTM) as one of their "foreign branches,"
according to documents seized by the RCMP, National
Post said yesterday (May 4).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 02 May 2008 |
|
President awards 'Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya' to
senior military officers |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa awarded 'Vishista Seva
Vibhushanaya' decoration to 37 senior officers in
the Regular Forces of the Army, Navy and the Air
Force as a reward for their services of exceptional
merit, nobility and loyalty.
[Full Story] |
|
| BOI recorded highest ever investment in 2007 |
| In year 2007 Board of Investment (BOI) achieved the
highest level of Foreign Direct Investment and
domestic investment. Investment reached the level of
total $ 734m. This amounts to a 22% growth when
compared to 2006 (US $ 604 million, a BOI press
release said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
LTTE continues to extort money from Tamils - US
country report |
| The LTTE continued to finance itself with
contributions from the Tamil Diaspora in North
America, Europe, and Australia, by imposing local
"taxes" on businesses operating in the areas it Sri
Lanka and reportedly by extortion operations in
Government-controlled areas, the US State Department
said in its recent Country Report on Terrorism
released yesterday (May 1).
[Full Story] |
|
| May Day, a dedication to security forces – President |
| This
year's May Day celebrations in the East should be
dedicated to the security forces who spearheaded the
humanitarian mission to liberate the people living
under LTTE clutches for more than two decades,
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said at the May Day
rally at Dehiattakandiya yesterday (May 1).
[Full Story] |
|
|
ADB and Japan to provide up more funds to broaden
southern highway |
| The government has signed up additional funds to
augment a highway to the south of the island which
is jointly financed by the Asian Development Bank
and the Japan, the finance ministry said.
[Full Story] |
|
| More time to quiz LTTE suspects arrested in UK |
| British authorities have been granted extra time
until next Tuesday to quiz three LTTE suspects
arrested last week as part of an investigation into
the LTTE, BBC reported yesterday (May 1).
[Full Story] |
|
| Netherlands to assist country’s biggest fishing
harbour |
| The Government signed an agreement worth Rs 8
billion with the Netherlands government in aid to
build a fisheries harbour in Dikowita to accommodate
deep sea trawlers and develop the island's fishing
industry.
[Full Story] |
| |
