May 2 (SLA) Unidentified LTTE gunmen have shot and injured two farmers, father and son, in the general area of KUDAPOKUNA in WELIKANDA today around 10.00.a.m. The victims, M. ARUMUGAM (55) and ARUMUGAM THAVAYOGARASA (25), have initially been admitted to the WELIKANDA hospital more..

May 2 (SLA) An LTTE man from sea tiger wing with a friend of his was arrested by the Police at GRANDPASS, COLOMBO-13 on 30 April 2005 around 8.00 p.m. after they failed to furnish valid reasons for their presence in COLOMBO. more..

May 2 (AT) The LTTE will send senior representatives to attend the funeral of slain journalist Dharmaretnam Sivaram after his widow turned down the LTTE request for the coffin to be taken to militants’ headquarters in Kilinochchi in the North. more..

May 2 (LM) There would be no attempt by the Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) to whitewash the Alawwa train-bus collision tragedy in which 39 passengers in the private bus died, LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne told the Lankamuslims website today. more..

May 2 (LM) Violence unleashed by the Prabha and Karuna factions in the Polonnaruwa district spewing death and destruction in this predominantly farming area has plunged the livestock industry into crisis. more..

May 2 (SLBC) Political parties and trade unions enthusiastically participated in May Day celebrations yesterday with processions and rallies. Tens of thousands of people joined them. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse says the government is committed to fulfil its election promises at a maximum level. more..

May 2 (ANN) Another May Day has come and gone. And the beautiful and powerful song by Joe Hill of the Industrial Workers of the World comes to mind: Workers of the world, awaken! Rise in all your splendid might, Take the wealth that you are making, It belongs to you by right. more..

May 2 (SLBC) The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has referred to the need to further boost productivity in the plantations and crop diversification. It said that special attention should be paid to increasing productivity of non plantation sector smallholdings. more..

May 2 (Gulf) The stalled Indo-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Agreement will be among the several items on the agenda for official level talks between visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and his Sri Lankan counterpart H.M.G.S. Palihakkara. more..

May 2 (KT) The Sri Lanka Masters set up a showpiece match tonight against their Pakistan counterparts in the Tsunami relief triangular for the Zayed Cup after a resounding win over a depleted India Masters here at the Zayed stadium. more..

May 2 (KT) Amali Wijiyatunga, the 25-year old ‘runaway’ Sri Lankan housemaid who escaped two months ago from the clutches of prostitution and is currently recuperating in the Rashid Hospital, expressed a fear of threat to her life, if not repatriated soon. more..

May 2 (SAMN) Roads, power distribution and water supply are priority areas that would qualify for immediate aid in Tsunami affected areas, said Director Japanies Ministry of Foreign affairs, Aiboshi, immediately after discussions with line ministry officials of the Sri Lankan Government, last week. more..

May 2 (SAMN) Hot on the heels of the crisis at the Alliance-run Western Provincial Council where its Chief Minister Reginald Cooray is facing corruption charges, trouble is brewing in the Southern PC over an attempt to procure a luxury car for Leader of the House, SLFP Hambantota District councillor Ajith Rajapakse. more..

May 2 (LNP) The New Left Front (NLF) yesterday accused a leading left party of killing Darmaretnam Sivaram, who was the editor of the Tamilnet and a Columnist of the Daily Mirror. NLF Deputy Leader Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne addressing the May Day rally at Price Park, Gunasinghapura said that their prime suspect is this leftist political party. more..

May 2 (LNP) JVP Propaganda Secretary and Parliamentary Group leader Wimal Weerawansa has written to IGP Chandra Fernando complaining of a plot to assassinate him and other leaders by connecting him and the JVP to the recent assassination of Dharmaratnam Shivarm (Taraki). more..

May 2 (LNP) The pro-LTTE Sankiliyan Force had distributed pamphlets asking the JVP not to carry on their political activities in the eastern province. The police in the province have stepped up security following representations made to senior police officials at the police headquarters regarding the challenge thrown out by the Sankiliyan Force, more..

May 2 (DN) THE UPFA Government has laid a solid foundation to take the country forward by protecting workers' rights, developing the country and creating a society where all ethnic groups can live without fear, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse said yesterday, addressing the People's Alliance May Day rally. more..

May 2 (DN) UNITED National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday called on the masses to rally round the UNP to form a Government which could solve the burning public problems and also to provide relief to the people. "Time has come for us to topple this Government and ensure the welfare of the suffering masses," more..

May 2 (AP) A private bus that was racing a competitor plowed into roadside coconut trees Monday, killing at least one person and injuring 26 in the same northwestern Sri Lanka town where a bus-and-train collision last week killed 37 people, police said. more..

May 2 (BBC) Sri Lanka has been promised $2bn in tsunami relief, but a deal on how the money should be distributed has yet to be reached. The worst hit areas were in the north and east of the country, some of which are controlled by Tamil Tiger rebels. more..

May 2 (Jang) The single country exhibition held by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) in Colombo appeared more like a ‘Monday Bazaar’ rather than a mega prestigious trade promotional affair, according to Pakistani Participants. more..

May 2 (AP) Top foreign ministry officials from India and Sri Lanka discussed security issues and post-tsunami reconstruction in talks Monday in Colombo, officials said. "They discussed a wide range of bilateral issues including economic, political and defense matters," more..

May 2 (AFP) Sri Lanka is set to shortly increase domestic fuel prices and end subsidies in line with promises to international lenders ahead of a crucial aid meeting, official sources said. The price increase is aimed at convincing multilateral lending institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank that the government is serious about reform more..

May 2 (AP) Security personnel went on high alert Monday as hundreds of mourners traveled to an eastern Sri Lankan town for the funeral of a prominent ethnic Tamil journalist who was killed last week. Police said they had made no breakthroughs in their investigation of the killing of Dharmeratnam Sivaram, more..

May 2 (TP) V Anandasangari, veteran leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front which is frowned upon by Tamil rebels, last week met the JVP leadership at its headquarters for a discussion on federalism. The talks centered on the Indian model of federalism, the Sunday Leader newspaper said. more..

May 2 (AFP) SRI Lankan police today announced a major crackdown against speeding drivers after two buses racing each other killed a passenger and injured 16 in the same area where a train-bus crash killed 37 last week. Traffic police chief Lucky Peiris said a passenger was killed today when the driver lost control of his bus, more..

May 2 (HT) The "war of attrition" between the mainstream LTTE and the breakaway Karuna group, which has been going on since Karuna revolted in March 2004, is now a "shadow war" between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government, posing a serious threat to the February 2002 ceasefire agreement and the peace process which has been on since then. more..

May 3 (RW) Foreign Minister Lakshamn Kadirgamar laid the foundation stone for a housing project in Walahanduwa in Akmeemana, Galle, for tsunami affected families on Thursday, April 28, at the invitation of Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply Dinesh Gunawardena. more..

May 3 (TN) TNA MPs told India's Foreign Secretary Mr. Shyam Saran during a meeting in Colombo that nothing tangible had occurred to further the Peace Process, that even the post Tsunami Mechanism had not reached fruition, and that the situation of drift and stalemate was very harmful, more..

May 3 (BBC) Campaigners for peace and democracy urged the government to appoint an independent commission of inquiry to investigate recent political killings. Condemning the murder of senior Tamil journalist Dharmeratnam Sivaram, the National Peace Council (NPC) said appointing a Parliamentary Select Committee would demonstrate the commitment more..

May 3 (BBC) Most of the children in Sri Lanka’s orphanages are not orphans, child rights activists say. Save the Children in Sri Lanka says a recent research shows that only 6.5% of the children interviewed were orphans. more..

May 3 (AT) Representatives of Buddhist organizations are scheduled to meet visiting UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom Asma Jahangir today (May 3) in the wake of mounting Christian evangelist pressure against the proposed Freedom of Religion Bill that is aimed at preventing unethical conversions. more..

May 3 (AT) Sri Lankan health authorities have issued a warning regarding the resurgence of dengue fever in the wake of the monsoon rains. The authorities appealed to the people to keep their surroundings clean to prevent the breeding of the carrier mosquito. more..

May 3 (HT) Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse over breakfast on Monday and later discussed bilateral ties with his counterpart HMGS Palihakkara. more..

May 3 (TN) The last article published by Mr. Dharmeratnam Sivaram, the political columnist and military analyst abducted and murdered on Friday, was an appeal to his colleagues in the Tamil media. Urging them not to hype up the chances of a positive outcome with regards to the joint mechanism until it actually happens, more..

May 3 (IE) In a new twist to the Sri Lanka cricket plot, police and sports ministry harassment has claimed its first victim, the board’s CEO Duleep Mendis. The resignation of the former captain from the post comes five weeks after the sports ministry’s order to suspend the board on the grounds of financial mismanagement and appoint an Interim Committee. more..

May 3 (TN) Sri Lanka’s hardline monks party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) this week denounced Mr. Dharmeratnam Sivaram, the Tamil political columnist and military analyst who was murdered on Friday, as a “terrorist journalist” working for the LTTE. more..

May 3 (IL) Local prices of petrol and diesel are very likely to shoot up within the next three weeks. However the Government is unlikely to increase the price of kerosene despite the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation losing nearly Rs. 35 per every litre sold. more..

May 3 (AT) Sri Lanka’s troubled Constitutional Council awaits President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s nod to start functioning. Although, the provision for a Constitutional Council was crated three years ago with the passing of the 17th amendment to the constitution, it had hiccups from the beginning. more..

May 3 (SLA) A pistol bullet riddled dead body of an unidentified youth was recovered from the general area of KIRAN, BATTICALOA today this morning (03 May) around 6.35 a.m. Following information received from a civilian, Policemen rushed to the location and found the dead body lying by the wayside on BATTICALOA – VALAICHCHENAI road. more..

May 3 (SLA) Two T-56 weapons, two magazines with 46 rounds of ammunition, three cyanide capsules and four hand-held radio sets were among arms and communication equipment found by troops from the inside of the LTTE political office at PUTHUKUDIRIPPU, VALAICHCHENAI on Monday (2) night around 8.30 p.m. when the Police rushed to the area after loud explosions and gunfire were heard. more..

May 3 (TN) The Supreme Court has communicated to the Speaker of the parliament that the Tsunami (Special Provisions) Bill is consistent with the Constitution of Sri Lanka. Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara informed the determination of the Supreme Court to the parliament when it met Tuesday morning, legal sources said. more..

May 3 (AFP) India offered a three-year debt moratorium to Sri Lanka during a review of their bilateral relations at high-level official talks here, the two sides said in a joint statement Tuesday. India's foreign secretary Shyam Saran discussed Sri Lanka's tsunami reconstruction efforts with his counterpart more..

May 3 (AFP) Hundreds of containers holding supplies for tsunami victims are stranded on a wharf in Sri Lanka because customs officers are demanding extra taxes and storage fees, according to angry Australian charity workers. more..

May 3 (LBO) Government and Tamil rebels came under heavy fire from Reporters without Borders (RSF), an international organization dedicated to media freedom. The LTTE in particular came in for harsh criticism, from the RSF which said the group did not tolerate criticism, blocked the distribution of independent newspapers more..

May 3 (AFP) Former US president Bill Clinton will not attend a key Sri Lankan foreign aid review this month as scheduled, but will be represented by his deputy, government officials here said Tuesday. The Sri Lankan government announced last month that Clinton would attend the three-day Sri Lanka Development Forum starting on March 15. more..

May 3 (SN) On request by SinhalaNet, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero , MP, National Organizer , JHU, made the following statement to SinhalaNet, regarding May Day 2005-05-01 celebrations. Today is the Mayday, which is considered as “the Workers Day” of the world. more..

May 3 (LM) Crisis clouds are reportedly looming heavy over the Ceylon Worker's Congress (CWC) after a May Day rally pull-out by its Deputy President Faizal Mustapha, the new comer who commands a considerable clout with the heavy Muslim membership backing of the CWC. more..

May 3 (LM) Mass scale island wide trade union action engineered by the Inter University Students Federation is to be launched to out-law International Schools and to bring a halt to perceived government moves to privatise education in Sri Lanka. more..

May 3 (LM) TULF power devolution proposals drawing largely from the Indian federal format are being campaigned by TULF President V.Anandasangaree, among political parties with the objective of drumming up support for its adoption as the final solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic crisis. more..