Oct 6 (BBC) A Buddhist monk had challenged the decision of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicle Registrations to deny a driving license. Ven. Dr. Paragoda Wimalawansa of Sri Shakyamuni Vihara in Waskaduwa, had presented a petition at the appeal court asking the decision of the commissioner to be declared unlawful. more..

Oct 6 (Rupavahini) The government is to soon build the Norocholai thermal power plant. Minister of power and energy, Susil Premajayantha said that they were going ahead with the project to find a quick solution to the power crisis. more..

Oct 6 (NW) The Government yesterday proposed a parliamentary select committee to look into the serious escalation of grave crime including murder and to take suitable action to arrest this trend. more..

Oct 6 (NW) One cannot deny the fact that there had been a steep rise in the cost of living due to the escalation of oil prices in the world market. The Government was alive to this situation and is working out a package of relief by reducing the prices of certain essential commodities with the Government bearing these losses. more..

Oct 6 (NW) Consumers will be burdened further with the Consumer Affairs Authority approving milk powder price increases from yesterday. The prices of Anchor One Plus, Anchor Three Plus and Anmum products marketed under the Anchor brand have been increased. more..

Oct 6 (NW) Tiger dissident Karuna in his latest interview has blasted LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran as a mad dictator and traitor who has given up the quest for Eelam and is pleading for an interim administration. more..

Oct 6 (LBO) A 29-year-old woman Wednesday gave birth to three girls and two boys in the island's first recorded quintuplet delivery, hospital officials here said. The unemployed woman, Chamila Weerasekara, and the five babies were doing well after Caesarean-section surgery that lasted just over an hour, more..

Oct 6 (TN) "The Sinhala state is trying to weave an international safety net against Tamils. Our political action committe is explaining the legitimacy of our struggle to the international community to defeat such machinations of the Sinhala state. more..

Oct 6 (TN) Ceremonial handing over of keys of new houses built with World Bank funding and organized by the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) was held in Ananda Nagar in Kilinochchi at 12.30 Tuesday. more..

Oct 6 (TN) Sri Lankan armed forces met the Liberation Tigers Wednesday in Batticaloa to discuss the implementation of the cease fire agreement in the districts of Batticaloa and Amparai. The LTTE delegation was led by Mr. S. Marshall, head of the Tigers' headquarters branch for Batticaloa-Amparai. more..

Oct 6 (TN) While saying that "there is no logic" to the demand of LTTE to release ten LTTE cadres arrested by Government of Sri Lanka nearly a year ago in exchange for the release of two homeguards is unreasonable the SLMM in a press release said that a Trincomalee organization engaged in "irresponsible behavior" and is trying to discredit the SLMM. more..

Oct 6 (SLA) Two Muslim civilians returning after prayers were shot and killed at point-blank range by suspected motorbike-riding LTTE pistol men in the general area of AETHUGALA, WELIKANDA on Tuesday (05th October 2004) night at about 7.00 p.m. more..

Oct 6 (SLA) School girls attached to the VALVAI MAHALIYAR MAHA VIDYALAYA in VALVAI, VELVETTITURAI and the school’s band were made to participate in an LTTE commemorative function in the general area of VALVAI on 05th October 2004 where the LTTE flag was also hoisted. more..

Oct 6 (SLA) A civilian’s house in the general area of JAFFNA came under attack by a group of about twenty unidentified persons on 5 October 2004 around 9.00 pm. more..

Oct 6 (SLA) An unidentified group on Tuesday (5th October) night around 10.00 p.m. exploded a dynamite charger close to the TRINCOMALEE clock tower where the sit-on fast demanding the release of LTTE-detained Home Guards is now on. more..

Oct 6 (Reuters) Stocks fell slightly in low volume trade on Wednesday as some foreign and local private investors pessimistic about the economy's progress sold select shares, brokers said. The key Colombo all-share index fell 0.02 percent, or 0.30 points, more..

Oct 6 (SLBC) The SLBC prepares to present cassette of high quality songs and programmes. A cassette which is being prepared includes the PARISARA SIRISARA programme presented by the late versatile media-man Tissa Jayawardene, traditional folk songs, Christmas and Tamil songs. more..

Oct 6 (SLBC) The Ministry of Indigenous Medicines is planning to formulate a National Policy for the Conservation of Indigenous Medicinal Plants and to promulgate and protect traditional medical methods, which are on the verge of extinction, if not properly protected, Minister Tissa Karalliyadde said yesterday. more..

Oct 6 (PSL) In a message to mark the World Teacher’s Day today, President Chandrika Kumaratunga said that the teacher takes on an important responsibility and without teachers there would be no other profession. more..

Oct 6 (PRIU) A special Cabinet Sub Committee was appointed on Wednesday 29th October to take urgent measures to arrest the escalating cost of living. The committee is headed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. more..

Oct 6 (SN) The leaders of the North-East Sinhala Organization (NESO) warned the government that they would be compelled to resort to a militant struggle for the liberation of the Sinhala people if the government failed to obtain the release of the two home guards detained by the LTTE before October 7. more..

Oct 6 (BBC) Sri Lanka Cricket president Mohan de Silva hopes Lancashire's re-signing of Muttiah Muralitharan will see other Sri Lankans move into county cricket. Lancashire clinched a deal to bring the world's leading Test wicket-taker back to Old Trafford after two successful spells in 1999 and 2001. more..

Oct 6 (BBC) The government is handing over the task of fighting the Dengue mosquito to a Multi National Company. Health minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told journalists on Tuesday that with monsoon rains on its way the country once again is faced with the danger of Dengue fever. more..

Oct 6 (DN) The Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Mahavihara chapter yesterday expressed concern over the UNP's keeping away from the Peace Advisory Council. more..

Oct 6 (IANS) Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen will visit India next week for bilateral talks during which the stalled peace process in Sri Lanka that Oslo brokered is expected to come up prominently. more..

Oct 6 (HT) In an effort to curb poaching in Sri Lankan waters and to prevent clashes with Sri Lankan fishermen and the Sri Lankan security forces, Indian fishermen have suggested that the Central and state governments "buy off" trawlers from them, and provide them an alternative livelihood. more..

Oct 6 (CI) Sri Lanka, playing their first game of the Paktel Cup, put up a score of 232 for 9 at the National Stadium in Karachi. Playing for the first time since their loss to England in the Champions Trophy, and batting for the most part in sapping 40-degree heat, more..

Oct 6 (AI) At a meeting with a senior LTTE delegation visiting Geneva, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) called on the LTTE to end political killings and the recruitment of child soldiers more..

Oct 7 (TN) "President Ms Kumaratunge's tactic to show that the peace process is being continued, while avoiding talks with the LTTE will only exacerbate contradictions among the southern political parties and will not create consensus," said Thinakkural, a popular Tamil daily more..

Oct 7 (TN) Major General Sunil Tennekoon, Jaffna Area Commander of Sri Lanka Army (SLA), said that poor public relations skills of his soldiers serving in the peninsula are contributing to the difficulties in maintaining cordial relationship with members of public, civil sources said. more..

Oct 7 (TN) "SLMC high command's decision to hold its public meeting in Jaffna would create rift between Tamils and Muslim who now live in cordial atmosphere," said a statement released in Jaffna Wednesday by the resettled internally displaced Muslim families, civil sources in Jaffna said. more..

Oct 7 (LBO) The Tourist Board is acquiring land to tempt foreign businessmen, but a controversial land tax on foreign ownership has got investors stalling. The ‘Land Bank’ project mooted last year has identified possible tourism development spots around the island, collecting it in a bank for potential investors. more..

Oct 7 (LBO) SriLankan Airlines is offering two free day stopovers for transit passengers, to see the sights and sounds of Negombo and Colombo. Around 61,000 passengers transit through Bandaranaike International Airport each month, but SriLankan expects only 500 to make use of the two week offer. more..

Oct 7 (LBO) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) is drilling into the student populations to expand its internet and email service, with low cost accounts. The telco giant says student demand for internet service was on the rise, with IT education improving in the school curriculum. more..

Oct 7 (Rupavahini) Deputy Minister Prof. Vishwa Warnapala participting in the debate said that the move would protect sovereignty of the franchise. Prof. Vishva Warnapala said that the new proposal would contribute to minimizing irregularities that occur during elections. more..

Oct 7 (Rupavahini) President Chandrika Kumaratunge says as people belonging to a society which has a noble civilization, they should unite in resolving problems. He said that it was the duty of the government to commit itself to safeguarding a national culture and identity. more..

Oct 7 (AT) Second time in succession, military leaders of the LTTE kept away for unexplainable reasons, from the Sri Lanka Army – LTTE meeting held in the Eastern province. more..

Oct 7 (BBC) Tara De Mel, Secretary to the Education ministry assured that the government will raise the payments of teachers in November. Dr. De Mel made her pledge public at ‘Visumpaya’, ministry of Education in Battaramulla, when hundreds of teachers blocked the entrance to the ministry demanding authorities to deliver the promise of pay rise. more..

Oct 7 (BBC) Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu put the blame on his batsmen after their eight-wicket defeat by Pakistan. They only totalled 232-9 and Yousuf Youhana (107) and Man of the Match Shoaib Malik (86) comfortably knocked off the runs for the home side. more..

Oct 7 (BBC) Scottish Saltires are hoping to persuade Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya to join them next season. They are looking for a top-quality overseas star to spearhead their third season in Totesport League Two. more..

Oct 7 (NW) Jatike Hela Urumaya MP Ven Kolonnawe Sumangala Thera is to resign from parliament tomorrow. He will submit his resignation letter to Parliament Secretary General Priyanee Wijesekara saying he wanted to spend more time on religious activities. more..

Oct 7 (NW) Minister and JVP trade union leader K. D. Lalkantha yesterday warned of grave consequences including the very existence of the government, if action was not taken to end the campaign of threats against the SLCTB workers by a union affiliated to the SLFP. more..

Oct 7 (SLBC) The Board of Investment is expecting nearly 200 million dollars of investments by Indian companies in the next 18 months. These projects are in the pipeline and awaiting final clearance from the Sri Lankan government. more..

Oct 7 (SLBC) The President has allocated five million rupees for the renovation of Catholic churches in the northeast that have been damaged due to war. This follows a request by Minister of Christian Religious Affairs Milroy Fernando. more..

Oct 7 (SLBC) A special cabinet sub-committee has taken steps to immediately bring down the prices of several essential food items. The Presidential Secretariat said that the measures include the removal of customs duty on the import of rice. more..

Oct 7 (SLBC) Resettled Muslims in Jaffna have opposed Sri Lanka Muslim Congress holding public meetings in the peninsula. A statement by these resettled families said that such meetings would create divisions between Tamils and Muslims. more..

Oct 7 (TN) A hand grenade and eighteen rounds of live ammunition were found in a plastic container by the compound wall of a school in Mannar town Wednesday evening, Police said. The grenade was exploded by a bomb disposal squad from the Sri Lanka army camp in Thallady around seven p.m. more..

Oct 7 (TN) Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in Trincomalee district and Pre-School Educational Development Council (PSEDC) honoured pre-school teachers of all communities, Tamil, Sinhala and Muslims in the district, Wednesday, to mark the International Teachers' Day with the Trincomalee Government Agent Mr.Gamini Rodrigo as the chief guest. more..

Oct 7 (TN) Trincomalee Tamil Peoples' Forum (TTPF) Wednesday issued a statement appealing to Tamil speaking people of the port district to observe general shutdown (hartal) on Friday, 8 October, in support of the ISGA proposals of the LTTE more..

Oct 7 (SLA) Six suspected LTTE armed men, clad in military-type uniforms abducted and killed a civilian in the general area of SEVANAPITIYA on Wednesday (6) night, initial Police reports confirmed. The victim’s bullet-riddled body was found abandoned on the banks of a rural tank. more..