| Tuesday 30 September 2008 |
|
President wishes Eid-Mubarak |
| President
Mahinda wishes Eid-Mubarak to all Muslim
brothers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr,
which is celebrated the world over by
devotees of Islam.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Govt contribution to child welfare
unprecedented - President |
| The present government has made an
unprecedented contribution to the welfare of
the children, says President Mahinda
Rajapaksa in a message issued by him on the
occasion of the International Children’s
Day.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 29 September 2008 |
|
Adequate food supplies for Vanni |
| Dismissing certain reports about a shortage
of food and other essential items in the
Vanni, Essential Services Commissioner S. B.
Divarathna said yesterday that there were
enough stocks for six months stored in
Vavuniya, and these would be delivered
continuously to Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi.
[Full Story] |
|
|
LTTE’s persistent recruitment of child
soldiers- Foreign Minister |
| Participating in the Ministerial meeting in
New York on September 26 on the follow up to
the Paris Principles relating to children
associated with armed forces and groups,
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama stated
that the LTTE known as a ruthless terrorist
organization operating in Sri Lanka, ...
[Full Story] |
|
|
ADB grant for technical education |
| The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted
a loan for strengthening quality and
efficiency of the Technical Education &
Vocational Training System, particularly
technician education.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Saturday 27 September 2008 |
|
President concludes successful UN visit |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa left New York
yesterday (26) after attending the 63rd
Session of the United Nations General
Assembly and meeting with several world
leaders and participating in high level
discussions on global measures to combat
terrorism, and progress on achieving the
Millennium Development Goals.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 26 September 2008 |
|
Sri Lanka refutes unfair allegations by HR
Advocates during the UN Human Rights Council |
| Deputy Solicitor-General Yasantha Kodagoda,
while refuting the unfair allegations by
human rights advocates during the panel
discussion and interactive dialogue on
missing persons at the 9th Session of the
Human Rights Council on Monday, pointed out
Sri Lanka has a well functioning and vibrant
Supreme Court which engages judiciously in
the promotion and protection of human
rights.
[Full Story] |
|
|
President greets newly elected Japanese PM |
| President Mahinda Rajapakse congratulated
the new Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso.
[Full Story] |
|
Emphasis on agriculture vital for food
security
– Presidents of Iran and Sri Lanka |
| The Presidents of Sri Lanka and Iran were
agreed on the need for emphasis on
agricultural development especially in the
developing countries in the context of
assuring global food security to the people.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 25 September 2008 |
|
Catholic Bishops ask LTTE to release
civilians |
| Catholic Bishops Assembly of Sri Lanka
yesterday asked the LTTE to allow the
civilians to reach the more secured areas
from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Former President's funeral today |
| The funeral of former President D.B.
Wijetunga will be held today at 3.00 p.m. at
the Kandy Municipal Grounds in Getambe under
State patronage.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lanka highlights Food Security in Rights
Council |
| Counselor of the Permanent Mission of Sri
Lanka to the UN in Geneva O.L. Ameerajwad,
speaking during the segment of general
comments after the adoption of resolutions
at the end of the 9th Session of the Human
Rights Council today, ..
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 24 September 2008 |
LTTE cannot hold Tamils hostage to terror
–
President at UNGA |
| While the Government is ready to implement
political and constitutional solutions for
the grievances of all communities, it would
not and could not let LTTE terrorists to
hold the Tamils of the North hostage to
terror, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa
addressing the 63rd Session of the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today (24).
[Full Story] |
|
|
President addresses UNGA in Tamil |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the
63rd Session of the United Nation’s General
Assembly spoke a few words in Tamil at the
beginning of his address.
[Full Story] |
|
|
“Like slavery and piracy, terrorism has no
place in modern world” – US President at
UNGA |
| “Like
slavery and piracy, terrorism has no place
in the modern world… The vast majority of
nations in this assembly now agree that
tactics like suicide bombing, hostage-taking
and hijacking are never legitimate,” said
President George W Bush of the USA in his
address to the 63rd Session of the United
Nations General Assembly, yesterday
(September 23).
[Full Story] |
|
Extension of GSP+ for Sri
Lanka:
Investigation Unnecessary and Inappropriate
- FM |
| The Government of Sri Lanka finds the
procedure of instituting an investigation
unnecessary and inappropriate, given the
extensive cooperation Sri Lanka has extended
to the UN/ILO convention supervisory bodies
relevant to the GSP+ process and also
through its continuous interaction with the
European institutions stated Foreign
Minister Rohitha Bogollagama,
[Full Story] |
|
|
Matter of time before all LTTE areas are
cleared: Sri Lanka tells CW Sec. Gen |
| In discussions on the current developments
in the country, the positive manner in which
Sri Lanka is combating terrorism, the
success achieved in the East and the current
engagements towards the liberation of the
North too, from the forces of terror were
explained by Sri Lanka to the Secretary
General of the Commonwealth Shri Kamalesh
Sharma, when he met President Mahinda
Rajapaksa in New York yesterday (Tuesday
23).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 23 September 2008 |
Channel relief to North through Government
–
Sri Lanka to Norway |
| Norway was requested to assist in the
government’s continuing humanitarian efforts
to bring relief, especially to the people of
the North, providing such assistance
directly through the government rather than
through other organizations.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Enhanced cooperation between Iceland and Sri
Lanka |
| There was agreement reached on future areas
of cooperation between Sri Lanka and Iceland
in the key areas of geo-thermal energy,
fisheries development and women’s
empowerment, at bi-lateral discussions
between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and
Iceland’s Prime Minister Geier Haarde in New
York yesterday (Monday 22).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 22 September 2008 |
|
USAID launches new initiative to improve
economic growth in the East |
| The United States Mission to Sri Lanka last
week announced the launch of a new
multi-year initiative, funded by the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID),
aimed at promoting economic growth in Sri
Lanka’s East.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Chief Priest of Koneswaram Kovil shot dead |
| The Trincomalee Koneswaram Chief Priest
Sivakadachchi Kurukkal Sivakugaras Kurugal
was shot dead by a suspected LTTE gunman
last evening.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lanka condemns Islamabad terrorist
attack |
| People and the
Government of Sri Lanka are extremely
saddened to learn of the terrorist attack at
the Hotel Marriot in Islamabad.
[Full Story] |
|
|
We will liberate the people and children of
the North from terror - President |
| “I have been elected as
the President of the entire country; of all
its people, irrespective of language or
religion.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Statement by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on
the demise of former President DB Wijetunga |
New York – (Sunday 21) - I am deeply
saddened to hear of the passing away of Mr.
D. B. Wijetunga, the Third Executive
President of Sri Lanka, earlier yesterday.
Entering politics in the pre-independence
period, Mr. Wijetunga rose from small
beginnings to hold the highest offices in
the country.
[Full Story] |
|
UN General
Assembly
President arrives in New York |
| New York, NY - Sunday 21, - 08 - President
Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the John F
Kennedy Airport, New York, by a scheduled
flight yesterday.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 19 September 2008 |
Make this an “Assembly of Frankness”
–
President of UNGA |
| The 63rd Session of the United Nations
General Assembly that opened earlier this
week will address the key issues of Climate
Change, Gender Equality, Democratization of
the United Nations, the spread of terrorism
and human trafficking.
[Full Story] |
|
|
President leaves for New York to attend UN
General Assembly |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa left for New
York this afternoon to attend the 63rd
session of the UN General Assembly.
[Full Story] |
|
|
No food or medicine shortage in Wanni |
| The Government has not left any room to
create a shortage of food stuffs and
medicine to the civilians in Mullaitivu and
Kilinochchi areas said Information and Media
Minister and Cabinet spokesman Anura
Priyadharshana Yapa yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lanka signs Technical Cooperation
Agreement with Brazil |
| Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama,
undertaking the first ever foreign
ministerial visit to Brazil on the
invitation of his counterpart, held
bilateral talks with the Minister of
External Relations of Brazil Celso Amorim,
and signed the Framework Agreement on
Technical Cooperation, which aims at
fostering close cooperation in areas such as
agriculture, livestock and energy.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 18 September 2008 |
|
Police to register civilians arriving from
North |
| The Police are requesting the public in the
Western Province especially in Colombo to
register themselves at the nearest Police
station on September 21.
[Full Story] |
|
Sri Lanka will
look after its own,
says Secy, Disaster Management and HR
Ministry |
| Sri Lanka will look after its own, to the
best of our ability, and with the assistance
of our friends who care about our people,
including the dedicated workers of several
UN agencies, said Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha,
Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster
Management and Human Rights, responding on
behalf of Sri Lanka in the General Debate on
‘Human Rights situations that require the
Council’s attention’ on September 17, 2008.
[Full Story] |
|
|
SLAF destroys high profile LTTE hideout |
| Air Force launched air strikes at key LTTE
locations in Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu
including a 'high profile' LTTE hideout
located in the Vattakachchi area yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
European MP calls for apology from EU
delegation |
| Member of the European Parliament Geoffrey
Van Orden has called for an apology from the
EU delegation which undertook a fact finding
visit to Sri Lanka in July, over its
critical media statements blaming the State
for cancellation of a trip to the Eastern
Province.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 17 September 2008 |
|
India to secure sea lanes from non-state
actors in Indian Ocean |
| Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony Monday
said India need to secure the sea lanes of
the Indian Ocean region from non-state
actors like the Tamil Tigers to ensure its
energy security that was vital for its
progressing economy., the website
newkerala.com reported today (17).
[Full Story] |
|
|
World Bank gives extra US $ 151 m |
| The World Bank has granted Sri Lanka extra
151 million dollars on credit for road,
education and housing reconstruction in
conflict-hit areas.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lanka donates US $ 50,000 for Bihar
flood relief |
| The Government of Sri Lanka has made a
donation of Indian Rs. 2,225,560 (US dollars
50,000) to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund
set up on behalf of the flood victims in the
Indian State of Bihar.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 16 September 2008 |
|
Blast in Colombo: Public vigilance averts
devastation |
A bomb was exploded near Horton place,
Colombo, this afternoon.
According to available information, the bomb
has exploded inside a public transportation
bus plying from Moratuwa to Mattakkuliya.
[Full Story] |
|
No negotiation with LTTE before surrendering
arms
- President |
| There will be no negotiations or any form of
ceasefire until the LTTE lay down their
arms, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa when
he met the members of Foreign
Correspondents' Association at Temple Trees
yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
New US law against recruitment of child
soldiers |
| The US Senate’s adoption of the Child
Soldiers Responsibility Act on September 15
will permit the United States to prosecute
foreign military commanders who recruit
child soldiers abroad, Human Rights Watch
said in a statement issued on Monday
(September 15). Earlier on September 8 it
was passed unanimously by the Congress.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 15 September 2008 |
|
BOI - Cairn India inks investment commitment
for Mannar Basin exploration |
| The Board of Investment (BOI) and Cairn
Lanka (Private) Limited, has entered into an
agreement yesterday for a commitment of an
initial investment of more than USD 110
million towards the exploration of
hydrocarbons.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Success for Sri Lanka as the country
launches World Breastfeeding Week |
| Sri Lanka has achieved a 50% increase in the
number of mothers who exclusively breastfeed
their babies during the first six months of
life, UNICEF said yesterday as Sri Lanka
launched World Breastfeeding Week.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Govt condemns terrorist bombings in New
Delhi |
| The government yesterday unequivocally
condemned the series of terrorist bombs
attacks which ripped through New Delhi on
Saturday.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 12 September 2008 |
|
Lasting bonds of friendship with Pakistan -
President |
| "Sri Lanka and Pakistan share lasting bonds
of friendship and a strong commitment to
achieve peace and prosperity. We shall
continue our work together to enhance our
bilateral relations as well as forge
regional cooperation through SAARC.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Hindus in Paris defy LTTE diktat |
| Hindu devotees in their hundreds
participated in the Ganesha pooja at the Sri
Manika Vinayakar Alayam Hindu temple in
Paris and broke thousands of coconuts as a
part of ritual defying the orders issued by
the Tamil Tigers 'not to waste money to
break coconuts when the people in the north
and east are displaced', said a news report
in the website Asiantribune.
[Full Story] |
|
|
President calls for working people’s support
to end terrorism |
| We have to defend our country from terrorism
and create an environment for everybody to
live in peace in any part of the country,
said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing
the Golden Jubilee Ceremony of the
Employee’s Provident Fund (EPF) held at the
Bandaranaike Memorial International
Conference Hall (BMICH) yesterday (11).
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 11 September 2008 |
|
Sri Lanka Centre in Shanghai to provide
product and services under one roof |
| Minister of Enterprise Development and
Investment Promotion Dr. Sarath Amunugama
will declare open the Sri Lanka Centre in
Shanghai today.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Peace Secretariat astonished at UN Secy-General’s
remarks |
| The Sri Lankan Peace
Secretariat views with some astonishment
what purport to be highlights of a press
briefing by the Secretary General of the
United Nations in which he seems to be
expressing concerns about recent military
activities in Sri Lanka.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 10 September 2008 |
|
Chinese Foreign Minister lauds President’s
role |
| China
was confident that under the leadership of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa Sri Lanka will
play an important role in promoting and
ensuring peace and stability in Sri Lanka
and South Asia, said Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi when he called on the
President at the President's House today.
[Full Story] |
|
|
LTTE retains civilians forcibly - Strategy
Page |
| The LTTE continues to interfere with the
efforts of Tamils to flee LTTE territory
Strategy Page website said yesterday.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Maoists approach LTTE for arms - Indian
Intelligence report |
| Left-wing maoists are approaching banned
groups like LTTE and ULFA for arms
procurement, said Express India website
quoting Indian intelligence reports.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 09 September 2008 |
Sri Lankan solidarity with
people of Bihar
-President’s message of sympathy to Indian
PM |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa has expressed
the deep sorrow of the Government and people
of Sri Lanka to the Government and people of
India on the loss of lives and suffering
caused by the severe floods the State of
Bihar.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Relocation of UN staff from Wanni begins
next week |
| The UN is now evaluating its operations in
the Wanni with a view to relocating
humanitarian staff. A precise timetable for
the complete withdrawal of all staff is yet
to be determined, but relocations will begin
this week, states the UN Office in Colombo.
[Full Story] |
|
|
UN, INGOs to relocate humanitarian
operations to Vavuniya |
| The government yesterday informed the
Consultative Committee on Humanitarian
Assistance (CCHA) that all UN agencies and
the INGOs working in the Wanni should
relocate their humanitarian and development
operations to Vavuniya with immediate effect
for the safety of personnel and property.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Security Forces thwart LTTE attack at SF HQ
in Vavuniya |
| Security forces prevented a pre-dawn attack
by LTTE at the security forces headquarters
and Air Force Base Vavuniya, defence sources
said.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Jaffna gets uninterrupted electricity from
November |
| The government yesterday announced
round-the-clock power supply to Jaffna
peninsula once the work on the Chunnakam
Power Plant is completed by November.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Chinese FM on official visit to Sri Lanka |
| Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will
arrive in Sri Lanka today on a two-day
official visit at the invitation of the
Foreign Minister of Rohitha Bogollagama.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Protest against LTTE in Switzerland |
| Anti LTTE protesters gathered in front of
the parliament in Bern Switzerland to
condemn political killings and recruitment
of child soldiers and protest against the
LTTE activities in Switzerland on September
6.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 08 September 2008 |
|
End LTTE fundraising and propaganda capacity
in the West – Foreign Secretary |
| Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dr. Palitha Kohona has said "at a time Sri
Lanka is engaged in the arduous task of
putting an end to terrorism in the north of
the country, it was vital to also end the
capacity of the LTTE and its front
organizations to raise funds and engage in
propaganda in Western countries".
[Full Story] |
|
|
New BOI venture to launch Mobile Commerce
services in Sri Lanka |
| A new venture to provide mobile commerce
solutions for the local market was approved
by the Board of Investment (BOI) recently.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lanka refutes exaggerated AI statement
on IDPs |
| “The Government of Sri Lanka finds itself
unable to accept Amnesty International’s
exaggerated statement on Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) due to the numerous
deficiencies in fact and reasoning that
characterizes yet another extreme
intervention.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Friday 05 September 2008 |
Attacks on TN fisherman:
Deputy HC denies SLN involvement |
| Sri Lanka's Deputy High Commissioner in
Chennai P.M. Amza, participating via
telephone in a Talk Show "Neethiyin Kural"
(Voice of Justice) telecast on WIN TV
recently categorically denied the
involvement of the Sri Lanka Navy in the
various incidents of alleged attacks on
Tamil Nadu fishermen and explained the
presence of a third "evil force" in the sea,
referring to the LTTE.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lankan rice production wins support from
UN-backed project |
| The United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) announced plans yesterday
to boost rice production in districts of Sri
Lanka hit hard by recent floods or conflict.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Thursday 04 September 2008 |
|
Eschew differences and build nation –
President |
| President called on the nation to leave
petty differences behind them and contribute
to the battle of uniting the country.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Chinese investors meet President |
| A visiting group of Chinese businessmen
led by Hongmin Zhang, Chairman of Huichen
Investment Holdings Ltd met President
Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning (4) at Temple
Trees, Colombo.[Full Story] |
|
|
SL-India to sign MoU for tea research |
| Sri Lanka, will sign an MoU with Tocklai,
India tomorrow for a joint research
programme on tea, the Telegraph reported.
[Full Story] |
|
|
UN helps government’s humanitarian
assistance effort |
| The UN Country Team stressed it is still
committed to helping the Government provide
humanitarian assistance to civilians whether
they remain in the Vanni or decide to leave,
said a statement issued yesterday (3) by the
UN Country Team in Sri Lanka.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Wednesday 03 September 2008 |
|
Hong Kong based LTTE propaganda channel
terminated |
| The Hong Kong based management office of
Asia Sat Telecommunication Company has
informed the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing
that they have terminated the transmission
of Tamil Cultural Programme TV Channel
through their Asia SAT 3S Satellite.
[Full Story] |
|
|
World Bank to provide 900m USD to develop
East |
| The World Bank is ready to provide 900
million USD to for the coming five years to
help the Government’s development activities
in the East, said World Bank Vice President
for South Asia Isabela Guerrero when she
called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at
Temple Trees yesterday.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Tuesday 02 September 2008 |
|
PNG officials arrest 12 LTTE suspects |
| Papua New Guinea intelligence officials
have arrested twelve Sri Lankan men, alleged
to be planning to go to Australia using
falsified documents, Australian media
reported today.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Troops capture Mallavi |
| Troops of the 57 Division captured the
LTTE's nerve center, Mallavi, about 3.5 km
East of Tunukkai by last evening.
[Full Story] |
|
|
"Humanitarian Corridor" set up for civilians
to escape LTTE terror |
| The Ministry of Defence has taken
measures to establish a "Safe Corridor" for
the civilians who are seeking protection of
the security forces in cleared areas in
Vavuniya.
[Full Story] |
| |
| Monday 01 September 2008 |
|
End looms for LTTE as army push is set to
take final stronghold - The Scotsman |
| Aggressive Sri Lankan government forces
continue to push deeper into the Tamil Tiger
heartland and are now within reach of their
administrative capital, raising hopes that
the end of a brutal 25-year civil war may be
near, said The Scotsman, a UK based website.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Sri Lanka calls for intensified action to
combat terrorism in the BIMSTEC region |
| Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has
emphasized the urgent need for enhanced
cooperation among Member States of the Bay
of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
to combat terrorism.
[Full Story] |
|
|
UNICEF completes fourth tsunami-affected
school in Ampara |
| The UNICEF will hand over the refurbished
Al- Badhur Vidyalaya today to its students
and teachers.
[Full Story] |
|
|
BOI Projects for more Foreign Investment
from South Korea and Saudi Arabia |
| The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI)
signed agreements for new projects with two
South Korean and Saudi Arabian companied.
[Full Story] |
|
|
USAID boosts job opportunities for Sri
Lankan youth |
| The United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) on August
28 marked the completion of the first two
out of nine new vocational education schools
in Southern and Eastern Sri Lanka, built
with funds provided by the American people
as part of USAID’s Sri Lanka Tsunami
Reconstruction Program.
[Full Story] |
|
|
Tradition prevails as Nallur Hindu festival
ends |
| The
annual festival at the sacred Nallur 'Sri
Kandaswamy' Hindu Kovil (temple in Tamil) in
Jaffna came to a close yesterday (31) with
special “Theru Pooja” (offerings) and other
Hindu traditions, in the presence of
thousands of devotees.
[Full Story] |
| |
