May 15 (AT) Personal chemistry between the Bandaranaike’s and the Gandhi’s were always good and harmonious and it is expected it would remain to be good between Chandrika Bandaranaike and Sonia Gandhi. more..

May 15 (Reuters) The International Cricket Council said on Friday that the Sri Lanka Cricket authority (SLC) had provided the ICC with copies of its (SLC's) advice to Muttiah Muralitharan and his team management requesting the spinner to refrain from bowling his "doosra". more..

May 15 (LBO) The Treasury will put in Rs.150 mn over 2 years to re-haul productivity in 200 small and medium apparel factories to face a quota-less world post 2005. About 80 percent of the 800 apparel factories locally, are classed as small to medium, though ironically, about 80 percent of exports are by 20 of the biggest in the business. more..

May 15 (LBO) Tough competition from bus services plying the North and East routs and the expected slowdown in the number of Sri Lankan expatriates returning to catch a glimpse of their once time home could force local operators to absorb the increased cost of jet fuel and keep ticket prices at the current levels. more..

May 15 (TN) About two hundred families who have been staying in lands belonging to the Water Supply and Sewage Board in Kallady in the Batticaloa district for the last two years will be asked to leave, according to a decision made at a meeting of the Batticaloa district secretariat. more..

May 15 (SLA) One thousand five hundred and twelve (1512) lorry loads of food and other essential items had been dispatched to un-cleared areas in the northern province during the period between 07 May 2004 and 13 May 2004. These consignments had reached areas in KILINOCHCHI and MULLAITTIVU districts more..

May 15 (SLA) The fully-equipped new library complex at Yakkala Ranviru Apparels factory, managed by Army’s Directorate of Rehabilitation, was ceremonially opened today (14) by Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army Lt. Gen L. P Balagalle, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest more..

May 15 (SN) Dr Sarath Amunugama, Finance Minister is the president’s choice for leading the negotiating team with the LTTE. The balance of the team consists of Mr MM Suhaeer PC, Dr Jayampathie Wickremaratne PC and Mr Jayantha Dhanapala. more..

May 15 (SN) Vanni District SLMC parliamentarian, Mr M Noordeen Mazoor is the opposition MP who voted for the governmental candidate at the election of the speaker. This has been detected by the parliamentary officials matching the counterfoil of the ballot paper with the number mentioned in the ballot paper. more..

May 15 (SN) The UPFA is seriously considering to avoid the contest for Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of Committees posts. Election for these two posts will be held on 18th May when the parliament is scheduled to summon again. more..

May 15 (LT) "They do solid homework, one speaker at a time and no duplication, because they have good communication among themselves, hardworking, dedicated, committed, with a good deal of idealism thrown in," said Mr. Luxman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister addressing an audience in Washington. more..

May 15 (LT) The police have taken into custody highly sophisticated arms while they were being transported at Murukkan in Mannar District. The value of the arms is said to be around Rs.10 billion. The arms had been hidden under sand and had been transported in the guise of transporting sand. more..

May 15 (Hindu) The LTTE "will remain" in Washington's list as a "foreign terrorist organisation" until it renounces violence and terrorism in "word and deed," the visiting United States Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Christina B. Rocca, said here today. more..

May 15 (Rupavahini) Foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar claims that no government could grant everything demanded by the LTTE, through their interim self governing authority proposals. He reiterates the government and the international community will never agree for a separate state within Sri Lanka. more..

May 15 (NW) Sri Lanka is very much open for business and would be an excellent choice for American investments, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar said on Thursday. Addressing a meeting at the US Chamber of Commerce here, Minister Kadirgamar stressed that the UPFA Government was committed to facilitating foreign investment. more..

May 15 (NW) Colombo Magistrate Kusala Sarojani Weerawardane yesterday refused to grant bail to a retired American Naval officer arrested on charges of engaging in child abuse through the internet. more..

May 15 (NW) Kandy ASP Ravi Chandrasinghe said Police protection has been provided to the Peradeniya University and its environs and action has been taken to provide protection to adjoining areas where houses providing lodging to university students are situated. more..

May 15 (NW) The Commission to investigate allegations of Bribery and Corruption has identified fifteen public institutions which were noted for high incidence of bribery and corruption. A senior officer of the Commission said yesterday (14) that the police occupies the first place among these institutions. more..

May 15 (NW) Buildings, paintings, images, and the premises of the Kotadeniyawa Erabadda ancient Rajamaha Viharaya, believed to be constructed during the reign of King Walagamba, are going to ruins due negligence. The flight of steps constructed to reach the viharaya atop a hill have been badly affected by erosion, residents say. more..

May 15 (AFP) Sri Lanka offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan renewed a threat to boycott an upcoming tour of Australia on Saturday after that country’s Prime Minister John Howard called him a chucker. more..

May 15 (BBC) Zimbabwe batsman Dion Ebrahim has fuelled the controversy over Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action. He made his feelings clear when asked about an orthodox leg-break he received on day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Bulawayo. more..

May 15 (DN) President Chandrika Kumaratunga congratulating the Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi on the party's victory at the Indian Parliamentary election states: "It is with great pleasure that I send this message to congratulate you warmly on the victory of the Congress Party at the Parliamentary elections concluded today. more..

May 15 (AT) Tamil Tigers attacked with grenade Sri Lankan soldiers and policemen involved in a joint patrol in the Batticaloa city. This incident said to have occurred at the wee hours of Saturday, - 12.30 am early morning, while the joint patrol party was moving along the Vinyagar road, Sethukudah which is located 3 km from the Batticaloa town center. more..

May 15 (PTI) SriLankan Airlines has proposed to soon operate flights from more destinations in India following an appreciable increase in the number of Indians flying to that country. "With the launch of services to Calicut, SriLankan Airlines will have 66 flights to 10 cities in India more..

May 15 (HT) Among the many surprising developments in the last few days is the remarkable change in the attitude of the Sri Lankan Tamils towards the Indian Congress party, especially the Gandhi family. more..

May 15 (TN) Although the UNF Government authorized establishment of a Medical Faculty for the Eastern Campus, the absence of Gazette notification has delayed even starting the construction of the buildings for the new faculty, said educational sources in Batticaloa. more..

May 15 (TN) Director of Vavuniya Ayurvedic Hospital, Dr.Varnakulendran, urged Vanni Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikalanathan to take the necessary action to improve the inadequate medical and residential facilites that are currently adversely impacting the dispensation of effective medical services to general public, more..

May 16 (CI) If anybody still had any doubts about the lack of viability of this Zimbabwe team at Test level, they must surely have been eliminated by the second day's play at Harare. Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara completely dominated the day, with Atapattu ending unbeaten on 202, while Sangakkara was 186 not out more..

May 16 (ST) A 10-man South African delegation will establish a computer college for the poor and disabled in Sri Lanka next month. The group will also be attending the 9th International World Tamil Conference in Pondicherry in south India from July 10 to 12. more..

May 16 (TN) US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Ms Christina Rocca Saturday morning met with the Trincomalee Government Agent and District Secretary Mr. Gamini Rodrigo at the latter's office located inside the Fort Frederick and discussed about the development of the district, sources said. more..

May 16 (TN) TamilNation.org, a widely popular website, which covers topics related to Tamil National struggle and Tamil culture, has been reactivated. The site which first appeared in 1998, was closed for undisclosed reasons on 30th June 2001. more..

May 16 (TN) Mr Yasushi Akashi, Special Representative of the Government of Japan, arrived in Colombo Saturday evening around 7.30 p.m. to continue his peace mission in Sri Lanka. This is his 7th visit to Sri Lanka since he was appointed as the Special Representative in October 2002 more..

May 16 (TN) Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Ms Christina Rocca handed over fishing boats and gear, under a project funded by USAID, to the Kasthurinagar Fisheries Co-operative Society in Trincomalee town Saturday afternoon more..

May 16 (AT) A Tiger militant named Kirupan Ramanan, aged 22 years, was arrested yesterday morning by the Police in Batticaloa, in connection with the throwing of grenade and attacking with the intent to kill a joint police army patrol unit. more..

May 16 (AT) A group of Tamil and Sinhalese expatriates living in Europe and North America are involved in lobbying, to get George Bush, President of the United States of America and the United States get involved headlong, with the peace process of Sri Lanka, once and for all, to bring about a permanent peace in the country. more..

May 16 (SL) Is President Chandrika Kumaratunga a person who would resort to blackmail, extortion, abuse of power, breach of parliamentary privilege and character assassination in the pursuit of power and its maintenance? more..

May 16 (SL) The roofing sheets imported from India to be distributed to the poorest of the poor in Sri Lanka which were instead smuggled into the market for a price by some members of parliament continues to shock the nation. more..

May 16 (SO) The Tamil National Alliance of 22 Parliamentarians will abstain from voting when Parliament meets on Tuesday to elect a deputy speaker though the party's Parliament group leader Joseph Pararajasingham said that a final decision would be made on Tuesday morning. more..

May 16 (AT) "Asian Tribune" condemns Australian Prime Minister John Howard for poking his nose into an unknown territory - Cricket and calling Muralaitharan, Sri Lanka’s bowler – World No. 1, as “Chucker,” and “Asian Tribune” demands apology for his uncalled for comments. more..

May 16 (TN) Hundreds of fishermen of Trincomalee district from all communities under one wing Saturday held a one hour demonstration in Trincomalee town demanding that the Fisheries Ordinance of the Ministry of Fisheries that prohibits dynamiting fish and using prohibited nets should be implemented to safeguard the sea resources of the district, more..

May 16 (TN) A delegation of Dutch diplomats led by First Secretary of the Embassy of Netherland in Colombo, Mr.D.R.S. Jan Hugskes, visited Batticaloa district Saturday to review development and rehabilitation work being carried out in the district and discuss matters related to granting future aid, sources said. more..

May 16 (TN) Pakiyaselvam Ariyanendran, is expected to take oath as a new Member of Parliament for Batticaloa district for the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) when the Sri Lanka parliament convenes Tuesday, political sources in Batticaloa said. more..

May 16 (SLA) Two unidentified armed LTTE cadres have robbed a motorbike belonging to member of the rival LTTE faction at the gun point from the general area of PANAMKADU, about 3 km. southwest of AKKARAIPATTU on 14 May 2004 around 8.00 p.m. more..

May 16 (HP) The SLMC leader, Rauf Hakeem, in a letter to President Kumaratunge has appealed for the incorporation of a Muslim delegation in talks with the LTTE. "It is a well known position of the Muslim community in the North East that a separate, independent Muslim delegation should participate in the peace negotiations. more..

May 16 (CI) Mohan de Silva, the president of Sri Lanka Cricket, has said that Muralitharan does not have to tour Australia this winter if he doesn't want to. This was in response to Muralitharan's comment a day ago that he may opt out of the tour in the wake of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard's comments about his action. more..

May 16 (AFP) In another twist to the controversy surrounding off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the International Cricket Council on Saturday rejected suggestions for a change in rules under which his ‘doosra’ has been questioned. more..

May 16 (PSL) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement issued today 16th May says Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar did not discuss the Access and Cross Service Agreement (ACSA) while in Washington. The ACSA was to allow US warships and aircraft to use Sri Lankan bases for refueling. more..

May 16 (IANS) Torture in custody continues unchecked in Sri Lanka, where the latest case of a police officer forcing a tuberculosis patient to spit into the mouth of another prisoner and infect him has evoked international criticism amid domestic apathy. more..

May 16 (IANS) One of the first decisions a new government, probably led by Sonia Gandhi, may have to take is whether to allow the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the acquittal of her husband Rajiv Gandhi in the Bofors scandal. more..

May 16 (Gulf) President Chandrika Kumaratunga's UPFA is continuing its efforts to muster support from a key minority party to form a stable government. Bargaining has been on with the minority Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) party which has seven members in parliament for their support, but more..