Aug 31 (AT) The Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna (JVP) is not only opposed to the Interim Self-Governing Proposal (ISGA), and to talking about the ISGA, but it is opposed to a counter-proposal to the ISGA. The first is good, the second bad, and the third is ugly. more..

Aug 31 (AT) Minister of Mahaweli, River Valleys and Rajarata Development and the General Secretary of the SLFP Maithripala Sirisena says they would show a parliamentary majority for the government in the coming days in a bid to dispel doubts in the minds of the people. more..

Aug 31 (APP) The final round of talks on Free Trade Agreement between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is expected to be held In Pakistan by the end of September 2004. This was stated by Sri Lankan Consul General at Karachi, Manel De Silva, while addressing a press conference more..

Aug 31 (TP) Ports, Aviation and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera has said that the government will construct the second international airport at Koggala in Sri Lanka’s southern region. He made this announcement at the southern Galle harbour on the 25th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. more..

Aug 31 (TP) President Chandrika Kumaratunga has granted Rs2m from the President’s Fund to a senior audit official to meet his medical and surgical costs after he was disabled in an acid attack. more..

Aug 31 (TP) The Central Environment Authority (CEA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources will introduce legislation to prevent the dumping of industrial waste in Sri Lanka by developed countries, the Daily Mirror said. more..

Aug 31 (AT) If in case Venerable Malwatte Mahanayake Thero visits Vanni to meet with Tamilselvan and other leaders of the LTTE along with P. Chandrasekeran of the Up-Country People’s Front, then he will cease to be the Sangha Nayaka (Buddhist Sangha Leader) of the Sangha community of Sri Lanka. more..

Aug 31 (DT) Jimmy Engineer, a well-known social worker, arranged a fun and food programme for special children in Sri Lanka on Saturday. According to a press release issued on Monday, over 100 children of Mencafet (a family education project) were entertained for more than three hours at Tea Factory Hotel in Nuwara Eliya. more..

Aug 31 (TP) Three Sri Lankan housemaids were repatriated recently with the help of their country’s embassy in Doha after they complained that they were being forced to work for two families every day. more..

Aug 31 (LBO) A lack of formal training and a piece of paper to prove it is keeping a part of Sri Lanka’s unemployed from finding work abroad. “We have not been able to meet the demand for export labour,” says Chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, more..

Aug 31 (LBO) The Water Board has asked for Danish help to fund a water treatment plant on the right bank of the Kelani River to bridge a 20-mn gallon a day shortfall to Greater Colombo. The proposed 40 MGD (million gallons per day) plant was to be private sector built and run, until the recent anti-private shift in government policy. more..

Aug 31 (Gulf) Sri Lanka's police chief has called for restrictions on the movement of guerrillas to prevent their infiltration into the capital where scores of rivals, including military informants, have been gunned down over the past three months. more..

Aug 31 (SLBC) A special programme has been prepared to admit children of shanties in the Colombo city to schools. The Samurdhi Minister will introduce the programme on the national literacy day which falls on the 8th of next month. more..

Aug 31 (SLA) LTTE men for reasons known only to the LTTE have fired on a fishing trawler causing injuries to one civilian while it was in the general sea area of PALAITIV, about 10 km southwest of KAYTS on 30 August 2004 around 2.30 p.m. more..

Aug 31 (SLA) A civilian with his vehicle has been abducted by LTTE from the general un-cleared area of KOKKADICHOLAI on 28 August 2004 after he entered the area reportedly to buy granite. more..

Aug 31 (SLA) It was a show of strength, self-confidence, courage and commitment. Undeterred by negativities that befell their precious lives during the times of the gruesome warfare that claimed vital limbs of thousands of troops of the Armed Forces, the wheelchair-ridden Tennis players of the Sri Lanka Army once again showed their colours more..

Aug 31 (SLA) The Army’s newly-appointed Director General, General Staff, Major General D. S. K Wijesooriya took his office Tuesday (24) morning at the Army Headquarters, Colombo after a very brief ceremony. more..

Aug 31 (PSL) All District Secretaries have been instructed to provide drought relief to affected people who earn below Rs.3,000 a month by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Before this all previous Governments granted dry rations only in the event of harvest failure, more..

Aug 31 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's inflation rate measured on a 12-month moving average rose to 4.9 percent in August from 4.3 percent in July, the government's Census and Statistics Department said on Tuesday. more..

Aug 31 (DN) Agriculture Ministry will set up 100 Agriculture Banks throughout the country for the speedy disbursement of loans to farmers. The Ministry has already identified 100 Agriculture Banks countrywide for immediate upgrading in the areas where farmers obtain more loans for their cultivation activities, more..

Aug 31 (PIS) The successes at the commencement of the peace process created the impression of a smooth movement forward in the peace process. Compared to the situation of war that existed for twenty years, there is much to be thankful in the present imperfect moment. more..

Aug 31 (PTI) The Indian arm of the German industrial giant Siemens, will play a key role in the company's business operations in Sri Lanka, a top executive said here today. The head of Siemens' Indian operation, Juergen Schubert, said India will be a crucial player in the development of Siemens' business in the island nation. more..

Aug 31 (CI) South Africa's chances of averting the humiliation of a series whitewash, as well as their worst-ever run of defeats - ten - looked bleak midway through their run-chase. Chasing Sri Lanka's towering 308 for 8, South Africa were well behind the clock with 115 for 2 after 25 overs. more..