Oct 1 (TN) The Railway Trade Unions' Federation (RTUF) has given notice to the Railway Authority that about 18,000 members belonging to several trade unions would launch a 48-hour strike with effect from Tuesday midnight, putting forward three demands including a seventy five percent salary increase, more..

Oct 1 (TN) The final leg of the five day protest march organized by the Patriotic National Movement (PNM), an umbrella group of Sinhala nationalist parties, against what it called the "division of the country" and the proposed establishment of an interim administration in the northeast province, more..

Oct 1 (ENI) Church leaders in Sri Lanka who organized a march in the island nation’s capital, Colombo, have urged the government and Tamil rebels to resume peace talks, which were suspended in April. More than 2,000 Catholics and Protestants took part in the three-kilometre procession on Aug. 22 more..

Oct 1 (Hindu) The Non-Conventional Energy Minister, M. Kannappan, who met the Prime Minister along with a delegation of MDMK leaders today, said he had handed over to him a letter explaining the thrust of the speech he made at a function in Chennai on September 16. more..

Oct 1 (DN) Cinnamon Gardens Police yesterday detained 15 undergraduates of the Colombo University following a violent clash between Law faculty student union members and pro-JVP students of the Arts faculty. Over 10 students were injured and several with serious injuries were rushed to the Colombo National Hospital, university sources said. more..

Oct 1 (Island) The Chief Elections Commissioner of India J. M. Lyndoh and the former Chief Elections Commissioner K. K. Gill will be invited before the Sri Lankan Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms (PCER) to seek their expertise on election laws and reforms, more..

Oct 1 (TN) In a public discussion at the United States Institute of Peace, located in 17th Street NW, in Washington D.C, Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Vidar Helgesen, Monday spoke on "Norway's Experience in Sri Lanka and Elsewhere: Lessons for Conflict Resolution." more..

Sep 1 (PRIU) Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando will take over the Chairmanship of IOR-ARC, the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation at its meeting in Colombo, October 12. more..

Oct 1 (EI) Sri Lankan businessman Sabeer Mohammed Imran (25) survived threats from Tamil militants, but succumbing to the wiles of an Indian beauty got him an all-paid-for stay in a Mumbai Crime Branch cell. more..

Oct 1 (Bloomberg) Sri Lanka's government plans to sell inflation-linked bonds to lure investors to the country's debt by protecting returns from being eroded by rising prices, a central bank official said. more..

Oct 1 (LBO) The Treasury on Tuesday threw in its 8.25 mn shares in Ruhunu Cement Company into the list of residual stakes put up for sale. The Treasury’s stake accounts for some 15 per cent of the cement company, with Holcim Group (formally Holderbank) owning the majority stake of around 75 per cent. more..

Oct 1 (TN) In the Jaffna peninsula, the rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance plans of several international NGOs and aid organizations have not made any discernible improvement in war-affected people’s lives, and some families receive only marginal assistance or no assistance at all, said the Consortium of local NGOs in Jaffna, more..

Oct 1 (SLA) The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in a Press Release issued on 30th September 2003 reiterates that hoisting of the LTTE flag on public buildings and in public places in Government controlled areas amounts to a violation of the Ceasefire Agreement. more..

Oct 1 (SLA) Two fourteen-year old boys from CHURCH of TAMIL CEYLON MIXED SCHOOL in POONTHODDAM, about 2 km northeast of VAVUNIYA town have reportedly gone missing since 27 September 2003 after their school time. more..

Oct 1 (SLA) An attempt by three LTTE cadres to abduct a twenty-one year old youngster returning home failed on 28 September 2003 since the victim managed to run away and sought help from nearby Police Post at PETROLEUM DEPOT in BATTICALOA. more..

Oct 1 (SLA) Representatives of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) were compelled to turn away a group of 49 men who attempted to move into WANNI area via BLACK BRIDGE in BATTICALOA on 30 September 2003 around 7.00 a.m. more..

Oct 1 (SLA) A group of armed LTTE men snatched a gun and three cartridges issued to a Home Guard when he was inside a hut on SERUNEWA tank bund in the general area of HOROWPATHANA with two others on 30 September 2003 around 12. 15 noon. more..

Oct 1 (SLA) A herd of 24 cattle, owned by a civilian in the general area of KUCHCHAWELI, about 35 km north of TRINCOMALEE were stolen and taken towards un-cleared areas by suspected LTTE men on 25 September 2003, states a complaint made to the KUCHCHAWELI Police. more..

Oct 1 (PSL) President Chandrika Kumaratunga in a message to her Chinese counterpart Hu Jinto said China has achieved great success over the last half-century, not only respect of the welfare of its people but also in the role it has played in international relations. more..

Oct 1 (PSL) President Kumaratunga summoned the members of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to discuss and deal with the deteriorating situation at the Sri Jayewardenepura University. more..

Oct 1 (PSL) President Chandrika Kumaratunga appointed Chandra Fernando, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police as the acting Head of the Police with effect from September 28. Chandra Fernando will act as Head of Police until the return of IGP T. E. Anandarajah who is currently out of the island.

Oct 1 (DJ) Several foreign investment banks and fund managers said they would be keen to buy shares in Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd. (D.SLT) if the government sold more of its holding, a company official said Wednesday. more..

Oct 1 (Reuters) Singapore and Sri Lanka signed a bilateral air services agreement allowing airlines of both countries to operate cargo and passenger services without restrictions, Singapore's Ministry of Transport said on Wednesday. more..

Oct 1 (LT) The tiger organization has ordered all Tamil youth to pursue military training as military power is essential in the process of establishing Tamil Elam state. The tigers have said that this directive is valid for all their sympathizers in the North and the East. more..

Oct 1 (LT) The parade organized by the Patriotic National Movement to protest against granting LTTE an Interim Administration, victoriously ended for the fourth day at Kadawatha. The protest marchers started their journey of the fourth day at about 9.00am. more..

Oct 1 (DJ) Officials from the Colombo Stock Exchange, or CSE, and Singapore Exchange are discussing how to take forward a proposal to cross-list some Sri Lankan blue chips on Singapore's bourse. more..

Oct 1 (Reuters) Black tea consumption may lower bad cholesterol levels and could one day be used to help reduce the chance of heart disease for those at risk, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. more..

Oct 1 (Gulf) President Chandrika Kumaratunga is to avoid meeting Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe despite expectations by the premier to brief the President on the recent visit to the United Nations and improve the co-habitation procession between the two sides. more..

Oct 1 (DM) The PA and other parties are to introduce a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Ranil Wickrememsinghe for his recent UN General Assembly speech in which he allegedly justified the US invasion of Iraq, SLFP frontliner Anura Bandaranaike said yesterday. more..

Oct 1 (AFP) Thousands of nationalists led by Sri Lanka's main opposition were marching to the capital Colombo Wednesday to protest the government's Norwegian-backed peace bid, organisers said. more..

Oct 1 (AFP) Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels were to travel to Ireland Thursday to finalise their power-share plan ahead of a final peace deal in the embattled island, officials and diplomats said. more..

Oct 1 (LBO) The Colombo District Consumer Price Index (CDCPI) for September shrunk 0.4 per cent to 138.9 over August despite the increase in gas, kerosene and cigarette prices. The CDCPI calculated by the Central Bank covers 40 percent of the Colombo District’s lowest income earning households. more..

Oct 1 (Reuters) Thousands of protesters marched on Sri Lanka's capital Colombo on Wednesday to denounce a government bid to strike a peace deal with Tamil Tiger rebels to end the island's 20-year ethnic war. more..

Oct 1 (TN) The JVP said Wednesday it has not received official invitation from the SLFP, chief constituent of the main opposition Peoples Alliance regarding the resumption of failed talks to form a political alliance to oust the present UNF government from power, political sources said. more..

Oct 2 (CI) Dulip Liyanage, a fast bowler who last played for Sri Lanka in 2001, as been appointed captain-cum-manager of an eight-man Sri Lanka squad for the forthcoming Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. more..

Oct 2 (TN) The leader of the Patriotic National Movement (PNM), Venerable Elle Gunawanse Thera, addressing the public meeting held at the conclusion of the five-day anti-peace march Wednesday said that the majority Sinhalese people will not allow foreign elements now involved in the peace process to divide the country, sources said. more..

Oct 2 (DN) The United Alliance of Railway Trade Unions yesterday vowed to continue with their strike even as thousands of commuters were left stranded at railway stations islandwide. Convenor of the Alliance told that their token strike will be held for 48 hours as planned, following which they will decide whether to go for a full scale strike or not. more..

Oct 2 (Island) The LTTE is trying hard to get former South African President Nelson Mandela to participate as a distinguished observer at the forthcoming meeting of its constitutional experts scheduled to be held this week, our London based sources reveal. more..

Oct 2 (LT) High Security Zones will never be removed hereafter says the Army. Commander of the Northern region Sarath Fonseka made this statement at a special meeting held yesterday. Representatives of NGOs operative in the North and Army Officers attended this meeting. more..

Oct 2 (LT) As a result of continuous rain to many parts of the island threat of floods and landslides is looming in many parts of the country. The highest rainfall during the last twenty four hours had been recorded from Matugama which was 210 mm. Two persons have been killed at Elpitiya and Weligama due to floods. more..

Oct 2 (Jang) Sri Lanka booked a place in the Emerging Teams Trophy cricket tournament final, scheduled to be played on Sunday, after their second-round league match against India was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain here at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium on Wednesday. more..

Oct 2 (LBO) The Treasury on Wednesday confirmed it would sell its 64% stake in Hilton Colombo. The holding company of Hilton Colombo, Hotel Developers (Lanka) Limited’s Chairman Ajith Dias told shareholders that the the Treasury will dispose its holding as part of its economic reforms programme. more..

Oct 2 (LBO) Mobitel unveiled its ambitious plans and its new logo that will battle the elements to capture over one million customers before 2005. Mobitel Chairman Thilanga Sumathipala told guests at the launch ceremony that internal estimates showed that the cellular market would reach three million customers within the next three years, more..

Oct 2 (SLA) The symbolic gesture of Flag Blessing, the prelude to forthcoming 54th anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Army got underway at the most sacred Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi premises this morning (1st October), graced by Army Commander Lt. Gen L. P Balagalle more..

Oct 2 (SLA) A group of unidentified LTTE cadres have abducted a youngster in the general area of AKKARAIPATTU on 30 September 2003 while the victim was on his way to a boutique close to his residence. more..

Oct 2 (SLA) A Police Constable, manhandled and assaulted by some LTTE cadres in the general area of TRINCOMALEE after he was abducted on 24 September 2003 and detained in a dark room, threatening him to quit the Police within 30 days, has lodged a formal complaint at TRINCOMALEE Police. more..

Oct 2 (SLA) Naval troops on duty in the general area of THODDAVELI, about 8 km northwest of MANNAR town were able to recover a locally made gun from two youths on 01 October 2003 around 4.30 p.m. who, at the sight of approaching troops, began to run leaving the gun behind. more..

Oct 2 (TN) “We would be having discussions with Irish experts who were associated with the peace process in Ireland. The Irish have also struggled for their rights like us. Their experience and knowledge will help us better understand the intricacies of negotiating peace”, more..

Oct 2 (TN) The first of three transit centers under the Action Plan for Children Affected by War (APCAW) established in Killinochchi in Vanni region will be declared open Friday. Regional Director of UNICEF South Asia Mr.Sadig Rasheed and UNICEF Sri Lanka representative Mr. Ted Chaiban are scheduled to attend the opening event of the Killinochchi center, more..

Oct 2 (PSL) President Kumaratunga will host more than 300 children from all parts of the country on Sunday, October 5 to celebrate the International Children’s Day. The theme of the day will be ‘Creating an Environment Free from Child Abuse’. more..