Nov 2 (BBC) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has called for an investigation into the death of a young man who died of severe injuries nine days after being arrested and held in custody by the Koswatte Police. more..

Nov 2 (BBC) Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has not found any information regarding the killing of one of its spy chiefs. Military spokesman Brigadier Nalin Witharanage told BBC Sandeshaya that the Police conducting the inquiry into the killing of Colonel Tuan Rizwi Meedin, has not informed the SLA of the progress on the investigation. more..

Nov 2 (UTHR) If the peace process has degenerated into a killing spree, averaging more than one a day in early October, it is because there were no working institutional mechanisms to safeguard civilian interests and ensure that they remain primary. The LTTE had an agenda of monopoly control over the North-East, and its monopoly over killings was countenanced until the Karuna split. more..

Nov 2 (AA) I knew I was in trouble when the foreign exchange cashier at Colombo airport started handing over brick-like wads of rupees. Where the hell was I going to put it all? My small collection of wafer-thin traveller’s cheques had ballooned into great piles of 1,000 rupee notes. more..

Nov 2 (TN) Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a former member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Wednesday morning 8:30 a.m. in Kurunchi Nagar in Valaichenai, 32 km north of Batticaloa. more..

Nov 2 (SLA) AN UNKNOWN GUNMAN, suspected to be from the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) has shot and killed a civilian in the general area of BLACK BRIDGE, BATTICALOA on Tuesday (01) around 11.30 a.m. The victim, LYYADORAI GANESHAN (31) of WIMALAVEEDI, VIATHU road, KOMMATHURAI, BATTICALOA was found lying near the lagoon area at BLACK BRIDGE more..

Nov 2 (SLA) A GROUP OF TAMIL TIGERS (LTTE) have assaulted a civilian over a dispute on the death of a dog in un-cleared areas of WADUMUNAI, WELIKANDA on 31 October 2005 around 5.30 p.m. The victim, M. WIEYARATHNAM of WADUMUNAI, WELIKANDA had sought admission to WELIKANDA hospital for treatment but he had left the hospital on his own afterwards against medical advice. more..

Nov 2 (SLA) AN LTTE (TAMIL TIGERS) PISTOL MAN has shot and killed one more civilian of 24-years of age on Tuesday (01) evening while the victim was in the general area of NELLIADY, JAFFNA. The deceased RAJENDRA REJINIKANTH (24) was suspected to be involved in several anti-social acts and has had heated arguments with Tamil Tigers in the area several times, more..

Nov 2 (UNP) UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe said Lt. Col. T. R. Meedin had gone to Kiribathgoda town to visit his friends without his security and the reason for his visit must be investigated. more..

Nov 2 (CT) The Government of Japan has agreed to provide financial assistance for the election monitoring activities in Sri Lanka. It has provided a sum of USD 107,842 to People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections – PAFFREL and Center for Policy Alternatives - CPA to facilitate the conducting of a free and fair presidential election. more..

Nov 2 (LBO) Sri Lanka brings out national action plan to get in on the US$ 2 trillion global trade in services. Services account for well over half of Sri Lanka’s GDP but local systems are yet to wake up to service exports as exportables in their own right. more..

Nov 2 (LBO) Minister of Finance, Sarath Amunugama and Secretary to the Treasury, P B Jayasundara handed out over 30 gold and silver cards to good tax payers that regularly contribute over half a million rupees to State coffers, on Wednesday. more..

Nov 2 (LM) We are conducting these campaign rallies not only to secure victory for the UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesainghe but also to protect and strengthen the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, said SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem, when he addressed a rally held in support of Ranil Wickremasinghe at Akkaraichenai, more..

Nov 2 (LM) According to Mahinda Rajapakse- JVP theory, even President Kumaratunga and parties in the UPFA who accept federalism, should be treated as traitors of the country, said UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing a campaign rally in Weligama. more..

Nov 2 (AT) Reviewing the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and Security adopted five years ago Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, informed the Security Council that the LTTE is in "gross violation" of the rights of Tamil women and children. more..

Nov 2 (LT) “A vote for Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe will endorse a separate administration for Tamil people and accept Northern and Eastern provinces as their homeland since Mr Wickramasinghe adheres to Oslo Treaty”, said Mr Wimal Weerawansa, Propaganda Secretary of the JVP more..

Nov 2 (LT) It is reported that millions of rupees collected through the sales of huge drug stocks that are being transported from Mannar to Colombo are spent on Wanni tiger informants in Colombo area. It is also learnt that a separate group of Wanni tigers have been assigned to handle the money by means of drug sales to cover expenses of the informants. more..

Nov 2 (LT) A mother had complained to the Child Protection authority stating that her child was tormented and used in an advertisement without her knowledge. The complainant is Dayani Chandralatha of Padukka. more..

Nov 2 (ANN) The Government of Japan handed over Rs. 130 million (US$1.28 million) worth of much needed medical equipment to improve the healthcare facilities in 33 hospitals in tsunami affected areas. more..

Nov 2 (PRIU) Five new Ambassadors who would be resident in Colombo viz Durga Prasad Bhattari of Nepal , Pio Mariani of Italy, Tin Oo Lwin of Myanmar, Ali Hamad Mubarak Al- Marri of Qatar and the European Union’s Julian Wilson presented their letters of credence to President Chandrika Kumaratunga more..

Nov 2 (PIS) A renewed effort by the LTTE to provide military training to the civilians in the north was reported by the pro-LTTE media recently. According to the report, training was given to a group of civilians in Myliddy in Jaffna who have been displaced after their land and property were taken over by the Sri Lanka Army for setting up the High Security Zones (HSZ). more..

Nov 2 (SAMN) A UNP frontliner in the Southern Province says not only the North, but also all regions of the country should be given wide autonomy to fully exploit the resources in those areas. Former Minister and Matara District parliamentarian Mahinda Wijesekera told a news conference that the Southern Province was rich in natural resources which could be fully tapped if power was devolved to the area. more..

Nov 2 (SAMN) Amidst conflicting reports and confusion over the fate of the controversial Budget 2006, Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama will meet Treasury officials this morning to review the situation before submitting a report to President Chandrika Kumaratunga. more..

Nov 2 (LNP) In order to minimize the instances of bus crews breaking traffic laws and causing inconvenience and problems to bus commuters and the public, the National Transport Commission has decided to introduce a points system for both the private and CTB bus crews, more..

Nov 2 (LNP) At the inquest on the deaths of two undergraduates of Moratuwa University who were drowned while bathing in Badureliya Makeliella, the inquirer-into-sudden-deaths, Badureliya M.P.A. Gunasekera warned young men and women to be extremely careful in bathing at risky places unfamiliar to them. more..

Nov 2 (LNP) Prime Minister and UPFA presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse pledged yesterday he would respect and treat all religions on an equal basis while according Buddhism its due place. Mr. Rajapakse reiterated that as a good Buddhist he would honour all other religious and would not allow any discord. more..

Nov 2 (DN) The Netherlands Government has disbursed Rupees 625,500,000 out of its Dutch Development Co-operation budget, as a grant for support to the Government of Sri Lanka, for the construction of multi-day boats and one-day boats damaged by tsunami, a release by the Finance and Planning Ministry said. more..

Nov 2 (NYT) Nearly a year since the tsunami devastated the nation, a fresh wave of political violence is sweeping across eastern Sri Lanka. Armed factions vie for supremacy, assassinations and abductions go on in broad daylight and parents squirrel away their children for fear they will be conscripted into battle. more..

Nov 2 (TP) Police on Monday arrested an underworld gangster Chamila Roshan from a house near Colombo in connection with Sunday’s the killing of military intelligence officer Lt. Colonel Rizli Meedin, as reports emerged that local gangsters may have carried out a contract killing for Tamil rebels. more..

Nov 2 (CI) "We are a happy team and we're winning," said Greg Chappell with a straight face that would have made the best poker player proud, when asked what the two main differences were between this Indian team and the one that was struggling to perform not long ago. more..

Nov 2 (IOL) Former Sri Lankan international Kaushalya Weeraratne set a new limited-overs cricket record this week when he hit the fastest half-century off 12 balls in a domestic match. Weeraratne, 24, created the record on Tuesday playing for Ragama cricket club against Kurunegala in Sri Lanka's premier limited-overs tournament. more..

Nov 2 (MN) The Police Directorate for Fighting Economic Crimes have seized a large consignment of Sri-Lankan gems in Moscow’s Domodedovo airport, Gazeta.ru reported. Moscow resident Andrey Obodnikov was stopped while passing through the “nothing to declare” corridor after police received a tip-off that he had been smuggling rubies and emeralds. more..

Nov 2 (Reuters) Election monitors have found a novel way to track any election violence or fraud during a Nov. 17 presidential election -- telling witnesses to send them a text message. Some 2.7 million out of nearly 20 million Sri Lankans have mobile phones and trials during a 2004 parliamentary poll showed people who would not normally report incidents were keen to use the cheap and easy system. more..

Nov 2 (HT) Mahinda Rajapaksa of the ruling SLFP has to get a big lead in the Sinhala majority areas of the country if he is to win the November 17 presidential election. With Tamil and Muslim votes slated to go almost en masse to his principal rival Ranil Wickremesinghe of the opposition UNP, Rajapaksa has to score very high in the Sinhala-majority areas more..

Nov 2 (AFP) Sri Lanka's main private election monitoring outfit expressed fears that violence will scare off minority Tamil voters in troubled regions during presidential election. The PAFFREL said it feared for the ballot in the eastern province where there are near-daily clashes between rival rebel groups and security forces. more..

Nov 3 (KT) AN ONTARIO judge early this year said that anyone who expected politicians to be accountable for their campaign promises was naive about the democratic system. He made the remark when the Canadian Taxpayers Federation tried to sue the Ontario Liberal government for breaking their no-new-taxes campaign promise. more..

Nov 3 (TN) Moulavi L.Shakil, Secretary of the Muslim Peoples' Office in Jaffna, Tuesday said the LTTE has been extending full support for the displaced Muslims to resettle in the Jaffna district. "Some sinister forces are spreading unfounded allegation in the South that LTTE is obstructing resettlement," said Moulavi Shakil more..

Nov 3 (BBC) Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga has predicted a 7-0 drubbing for the team in the current one-day series against India. They have already lost the first three games and must win the fourth in Pune on Thursday to stay in the series. "I am disappointed with a few of our tactics," said Ranatunga, more..

Nov 3 (LeN) President Chandrika Kumaratunga who will retire from politics at the end of this year is scheduled to address the nation over national television on the 15th. This would be her last address to the nation as President. The last day of the presidential election campaign coincides with the date chosen by the President and it is believed that her address will have a significant political impact. more..

Nov 3 (BBC) Election monitors in Sri Lanka have accused private media institutions of being biased towards the opposition candidate, Ranil Wickramasinghe. Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said the government media, for their part, is carrying out a biased coverage towards Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. more..

Nov 3 (AFP) An opinion poll gave opposition leader an edge in the presidential race, with a majority saying he was better able to revive the economy and the troubled peace process. The Centre for Policy Alternatives thinktank, in a survey of 1,200 voters in 22 voting districts across the island, found that cost of living and the peace process with Tamil rebels were the two main issues in the November 17 election. more..

Nov 3 (AT) The candidates of the two main bourgeois parties in the November 17 Sri Lankan presidential election—Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse of the SLFP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe of the UNP —have both produced manifestos with long lists of election promises. more..

Nov 3 (TW) In democracy, the vote plays a key role. Politicians and leaders, either as individuals or in teams, sometimes both, fiercely compete for votes. While some of these politicians present rosy social and economic promises and policies during the election period, so-called nationalists employ the hostile - or more..

Nov 3 (TW) One notable feature of the presidential election campaign is the low incidence of violence. Figures released by the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) since the close of nominations identify some 171 cases of which 57 are classified as ‘major incidents.’ more..

Nov 3 (TW) Today’s story has no byline by Berty Mendis. For veteran photographer Berty Mendis is trying to sit up despite his aching spine which took many a beating Tuesday morning. Berty Mendis and I set off with heavy hearts to the home of slain Lt. Colonel Meedin at Eerawetiya Road in Kiribathgoda on Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. more..

Nov 3 (TS) Hong Kong residents may enjoy high standards of human rights but the territory is not immune to the threat of violations, the Asian Human Rights Commission warned as it submitted its report on Sri Lanka. "We enjoy the Basic Law and human rights here [in Hong Kong], but so did Sri Lanka until the 1950s and 1960s," said commission executive director Basil Fernando. more..

Nov 3 (AT) The direct broadcast of programs transmitted by the London based Tamil Broadcasting Corporation is back again in the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation from 01 November. The TBC’s one hour program is now available to Sri Lankan listeners from 8PM to 9 PM, daily in the evenings. more..

Nov 3 (TN) Presidential candidate and leader of opposition, Mr Ranil Wickremasinghe, arrived in special Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) aircraft at Palaly military camp Thursday morning and met with Jaffna Military Commander Major General Sunil Tennekoon and other high level military officials. more..

Nov 3 (TN) Consortium of Tamil Speaking Peoples Trade Unions in Jaffna appealed to public servants in the district to boycott postal voting for the November 17 presidential poll. The statement charged that the presidential candidates have once again ignored the Tamil speaking people by their "impractical promises." more..

Nov 3 (TN) Military and political leadership of the LTTE in the Trincomalee district held discussions Wednesday with two TNA parliamentarians and several representatives of Tamil civil groups in the district. more..