Aug 18 (wsws) Sri Lanka stands on the brink of the re-eruption of the civil war that has already claimed the lives of more than 65,000 people since 1983, and created a disaster throughout the island. Two and a half years after a ceasefire was signed between Colombo and the LTTE, both sides are preparing to plunge back into armed conflict. more..

Aug 18 (CI) South Africa's only chance to get in some practice before the one-day series against Sri Lanka was ruined when their tour match against the Board President's XI at Moratuwa was abandoned due to rain without a ball being bowled. more..

Aug 18 (WVI) A number of districts in Sri Lanka are experiencing water shortages, as a lack of rain leaves farmers facing impending drought. Farmers in Anuradhapura District have been burning the land in the hope of planting chena crops, to help them grow enough food to get them through to the next monsoonal rains are due in October. more..

Aug 18 (TP) The government, amid price increases being effected to almost all commodities due to rising oil prices, is exploring all avenues to tackle the problem. Plans are underway to import 25,000 tonnes of sugar from Brazil in a bid to bring down sugar prices, more..

Aug 18 (TP) The Social Welfare Ministry is still awaiting funds to be released by the Treasury for drought relief in 14 districts. It said although the cabinet approved the release of Rs658m last Wednesday, the Social Welfare Ministry has so far not received the promised funds, more..

Aug 18 (DJ) A controversial amendment to Finance Act that seeks to charge a 100% tax on land transactions by companies with foreign ownership was brought before parliament Wednesday but postponed for further debate. The tax will apply to both listed and unlisted companies that have foreign shareholding of more than 25%. more..

Aug 18 (CI) After successfully hosting the Asia Cup last month, the Sri Lankan board is already thinking about stepping up to the next grade - playing host to a World Cup tournament. "We have the logistics to push for a World Cup," said Ravin Wickremaratne, Asia Cup tournament director and tour co-ordinator of Sri Lanka Cricket. more..

Aug 18 (Reuters) South Africa are set to unveil a new one-day strategy when they start their five-match series against Sri Lanka on Friday. The tourists are trying to regroup from the disappointment of their first-ever test series defeat to Sri Lanka, following their 313-run loss in the second match last Sunday. more..

Aug 18 (AT) Rarely in the field of Asian endeavour has a cause so cherished by so many, been prostituted by so few. I refer to the cause of peace, and its debasement and prostitution by the so-called peace lobby or peace activists in Sri Lanka. more..

Aug 18 (PIS) "The LTTE are keenly studying the proposal for an interim administrative structure sent by the Sri Lankan government, although it fails to meet the expectations of the Tamil people". This is in verbatim what LTTE Political Wing Chief S.P. Thamilselvan said on July 27, 2003, seated next to then Eastern commander Karuna, at Karuna's Meenaham base, more..

Aug 18 (AFP) Tamil Tiger rebels were suspected to be carrying out a gun-running operation in the island's northeast despite a truce, the government said. Sri Lankan navy gun boats had observed a trawler since Monday and it was seen unloading several boxes suspected to contain military hardware, more..

Aug 18 (ANI) Sri Lanka is famous for its black tea, but for Herman Gunaratne the goal is 'white'. His 200 acre estate at Galle in southern Sri Lanka has been in the family for generations, but Gunaratne has recently gone from plantation owner to amateur scientist, more..

Aug 18 (HT) Sri Lanka's controversial anti-conversion bill seems to have hit the rocks given the Supreme Court's critical observations and the distinct possibility of the mainstream political parties opting for a free, "conscience vote" in parliament. more..

Aug 19 (TN) Hundreds of Sri Lanka army soldiers and Policemen cordoned off and searched Valaichenai town and environs, 32 kilometres north of Batticaloa, from early morning Wendnesday. Soldiers and Policemen questioned residents about their contacts with the LTTE and paramilitaries opposed to the LTTE, sources in the town said. more..

Aug 19 (Rupavahini) The government will provide the incentives offered to foreign investors to local investors as well. Finance minister, Dr. Sarath Amunugama said that their aim was to encourage Sri Lankan investors. more..

Aug 19 (Rupavahini) Government begins a programme to market rice to consumers at reasonable prices. The minister of agriculture said that they would sell rice at five rupees below market prices. The aim is to put pressure on the prevailing prices. more..

Aug 19 (USE) The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) last week opened four projects in the Moneragala District that will support livelihoods and improve community infrastructure in the region. more..

Aug 19 (IL) The JVP yesterday maintained a tough line on the LTTE's ISGA proposals and warned it would mobilise the people to sacrifice their lives for the motherland if the government went ahead with the proposals which in reality would pave the way for a separate state, the Daily Mirror reported today. more..

Aug 19 (TN) The Supreme Court has allowed the four suspects in the Journalist Mylvaganam Nimalarajan murder case to report to the Vavuniya Police on the last Sunday of each month instead of reporting to Jaffna Police Station as earlier ordered by the Jaffna High Court, legal sources said. more..

Aug 19 (TN) Sri Lanka Army and Police in Jaffna district have been exerting pressure on the organizers of public and sports events in the Vadamarachchi division not to hoist the Tamil Eelam national flag, which is also the flag of the LTTE. more..

Aug 19 (LT) UNP leading parliamentarians continuously accuse that the UPFA has no proper plans for peace. The two major parties of government have no unity in solving the national question. As the time passes the hope of peace is fading but the government has no plans to take it on the right track, says UNP. more..

Aug 19 (DT) Manel d Silva, consul general of Sri Lanka has said the early implementation of free trade agreement between the two countries will promote trade. He said this during a meeting with Riaz Ahmed Tata, president FPCCI, at Federation House on Wednesday. more..

Aug 19 (IPS) It has been nearly five centuries but the memories are still hard to erase. The day was Nov.15, 1505 when Dom Lourenco de Almeida landed off the harbour of Colombo with his nine ships, quite by accident after being caught in a storm. more..

Aug 19 (AT) We are the punctuation marks of the Freedom Tigers are suppose to deliver !! What our beloved father did was that he hated silence and loved the people. He never took up arms, but his pen was mightier than the enemies AK 47. more..

Aug 19 (AT) The World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka (WAPS) Conference "Road maps to peace in Sri Lanka" will be held tomorrow Friday 20th August 2004 at Oslo Kongressenter, Folkets hus, (People’s House) Oslo, Norway. more..

Aug 19 (AT) A family member of slain Kandasamy Iyer Balanadaraja Iyer, a prominent Member and Propaganda Secretary of EPDP, who was assassinated on 16 August told "Asian Tribune" that LTTE has warned that the funeral should not be held as a big celebration but as quiet as possible without attracting any attention -nationally and internationally. more..

Aug 19 (AT) Janatha Vimuthi Perumuna strongly denounced the killings of Kandasamy Iyer Balanadarajah (Sinna Bala), a journalist and media spokesperson for the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), who was gunned down on 16 August 2004. more..

Aug 19 (AT) President Kumaratunga yesterday held discussions with the combined Trade Unions of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) regarding their concerns about the alleged privatization programme. It was explained to the Trade Union leaders that there will be no privatization of the CPC. more..

Aug 19 (SLBC) The Judicial Services Commission has concluded an inquiry against suspended magistrate Ananda Gamlath-arachchi. Its report is due to be released within the next few days. The magistrate has been charged with acquitting former Telecom chief Thilanga Sumathipala at a court hearing on a Full Moon Poya Day. more..

Aug 19 (SLBC) The government is now providing rice to the people at prices below the market price. The Ministry of Agriculture said that every variety of rice is priced five rupees below the market price. The rice comes in five kilo packs. Samba rice is priced at 175 rupees. more..

Aug 19 (LBO) Readymade apparel exports notched up a 5.6 percent growth in the first six months this year at US$ 1.14 bn, over the US$ 1.08 bn posted in 2003. Growth was led mainly by the European Union, with export quantities up slightly from 204 mn pieces to 232 mn pieces, for the same period last year, more..

Aug 19 (LBO) Pramuka Bank's operations have been shifted to the Central Bank's Staff Training Centre in Rajagiriya, freeing up precious millions to pay up depositors, the Central Bank said Thursday. more..

Aug 19 (SLA) A Muslim civilian resident in the general area of MUTTUR succumbed to his injuries early this morning, 19 August 2004 after explosion of a hand grenade hurled at his residence. The victim, JAHIRKUTTY JAMALDEEN (60) of KNOCK’s St, MUTTUR was married and a retired school teacher by profession. more..

Aug 19 (SLA) Some Muslim civilians, who cleared a land area for re-settlement purposes in the general area of ARFA in MUTTUR on 18 August 2004 have been warned by LTTE not to re-visit the area without LTTE permission. more..

Aug 19 (SLA) Troops on duty in the general area of ILAMARUTHANKULAM, about 20 km. north of VAVUNIYA town on 18 August 2004 saw five LTTE cadres in civil clothes digging a new trench close to the LTTE defence line.

Aug 19 (TN) EPDP cadres and leaders Thursday protested in front of foreign missions in Colombo against the killing of its media spokesman, Mr. Balanadaraja Iyer (Sinna Bala). The EPDP started the protest in front of the Indian High Commission Thursday morning and then moved on to the British High Commission, US, German and Dutch embassies in the city. more..

Aug 19 (PSL) President Kumaratunga in a message of condolence on the demise of EPDP Media Secretary Kandasamy Iyer Balanadarajah said that she truly dismayed that he had to be the victim of an act of terror in this ruthless campaign to eliminate political opponents. more..

Aug 19 (PRIU) The Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms presented its interim report in Parliament on January, 23 this year. The Select Committee was chaired by Minister Dinesh Gunawardena who was then an opposition Parliamentarian. more..

Aug 19 (Reuters) Sri Lanka have called up leg-spinning all rounder Kaushal Lokuarachchi and left-arm spinner Rangana as replacements for Muttiah Muralitharan during a five-match one-day series against South Africa. more..

Aug 19 (PT) Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry has started preparations for organising Pakistan's Solo Exhibition in Colombo, Sri Lanka in next three months. Sri Lanka Tea Association's trade delegation will visit Pakistan next month to meet the local businessmen for exploring trade potential available here. more..

Aug 19 (KT) CRICKET must fight for its place at the Olympics. No game with international aspirations can afford to miss this party. All sorts of strange recreations have been accepted within the movement. more..

Aug 19 (TP) Two Israelis and two Sri Lankans allegedly engaged in the circulation of forged US dollars and Euro currency notes were produced before the Colombo Magistrate and remanded on Tuesday. Police said that the racket was of international proportions with large amounts of counterfeit dollar and Euro notes worth Rs6m being seized. more..

Aug 19 (PIS) Making a special statement in Parliament JHU Parliamentary group leader Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera asked the government to explain its position with regard to a statement made by Peace Secretariat head Jayantha Dhanapala that the government and the LTTE will be considered equal partners at future peace talks. more..

Aug 19 (DN) The Department of Meteorology warned yesterday that drought-hit areas would not receive "significant rains" at least until October. The prolonged drought has affected nearly 400,000 families in five districts around the country. more..

Aug 19 (HT) Trade unions of the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) have told President Chandrika Kumaratunga that there is no case for privatising the CPC and giving a third of its retail and storage facilities to an Indian oil major or any other foreign company for that matter. more..

Aug 19 (Aftenposten) Norway's peace-making role in the difficult conflict in Sri Lanka comes under fire yet again as the World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka (WAPS) promises to produce evidence that Norway has indirectly supported terror actions carried out by the Tamil rebel group LTTE, newspaper Dagsavisen reports. more..

aug 20 (TN) Major General Sunil Tennekoon has been appointed the new Sri Lankan Security Forces Commander for Jaffna, military headquarters in Colombo said Thursday. He was the General Officer Commanding the Sri Lanka army's 22 Division in Trincomalee. more..

aug 20 (TN) The JVP, major constituent of the ruling minority UPFA government has been actively engaged in a campaign in the south of the country against the Interim Self Governing Authority proposals of the LTTE on the topic " Who is the real enemy of peace?" It launched its campaign on August 11. more..

aug 20 (UP) UNESCO Director-General Koďchiro Matsuura today condemned the murder of Iyer Balanadarajah, better known as Sinna Baia, a reporter of the Tamil weekly Thinamurasu, and called for a full investigation of the killing, the second assassination of a journalist in Sri Lanka this year. more..

Aug 20 (Rupavahini) The national project of developing ten thousand tanks which is one of the major phases of the Freedom Alliance government massive development programmes has been launched from the sit of the historic Yapahuwa Kingdom. more..