Apr 24 (LT) Three persons suspected to be Al-Queda members have been taken into custody at Karunayake Air port. Among them were one man, two women and two children, sources disclosed. Reports say that American CIA had informed the government of Sri Lanka that six Al Queda members had arrived in Sri Lanka last week. more..

Apr 24 (ISL) The killing of six Sinhalese civilians and kidnapping of another half a dozen innocent Sinhalese farmers is not an isolated incident but a series of incidents initiated by LTTE to provoke another genocide of Tamils in the hands of Sinhalese extremists. more..

Apr 24 (ISL) The former Karuna loyalist Ramesh, according to sources from East, will soon replace the LTTE’s Eastern military wing leader Bhanu. Ramesh is one of the few Karuna loyalists who were spared by the LTTE Wanni leadership. Ramesh had been spared by the LTTE since he is married to the sister of the LTTE naval wing leader Soosai who has a significant control over the sea movements of the LTTE. more..

Apr 24 (ISL) Although the LTTE is engaged in constant attacks against the army and police, the general Tamil public in Jaffna is increasingly passing information to the security forces on LTTE activities and LTTE sympathizers in the Jaffna areas, according to sources from Jaffna. more..

Apr 24 (SLA) TWO SOLDIERS ATTACHED TO THE WADUMUNAI entry/exit point at WELIKANDA sustained injuries on Sunday (23) early morning after they came under an LTTE claymore explosion followed by hand grenade and fire attacks. On seeing that fellow-soldiers were being fired upon by LTTE terrorists after a few of the soldiers went to nearby river for morning ablution, more..

Apr 24 (SLA) TAMIL TIGERS ON SUNDAY (23) MORNING around 7.15 a.m. directed fire and hand grenade attacks at Air Force troops on a combined search conducted by Security Forces at KAPPALTHURAI in TRINCOMALEE. Air Force troops retaliated the LTTE fire. One LTTE terrorist involved in the offensive was killed in retaliation. more..

Apr 24 (LBO) Stocks tumbled nearly two percent Monday, in the absence of buying support, as investors fretted over a spate of bomb attacks that have killed around 70 people in the last two weeks, dealers said. The Colombo Stock Exchange's benchmark All Share Price Index fell 32.78 points or 1.41 percent to 2,289.13 after gaining 17.12 points on Friday. more..

Apr 24 (LBO) Sri Lanka plans to ask for more shipments of clothes, edible oils and fewer limits on country of rules origins on exports of key items to India, when both nations meet for trade talks tomorrow, officials said. Four days of trade talks between the two nations under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA are due to take place in Colombo from April 25, more..

Apr 24 (GN) In a deliberate act of terrorism directed against the civilian population, it is reported that LTTE cadres have brutally murdered 6 farmers on the evening of 23 April 2006 at Kallanpattu in the Gomarankaduwela area in the Trincomalee District. more..

Apr 24 (LT) Wanni tigers have now requested a helicopter which could carry 30 people. They have said to carry their Eastern leaders to Wanni for discussions before the peace talks they need a helicopter with room for 30 people. They want Government’s consent for this demand in writing. more..

Apr 24 (LT) The JVP has requested President Mahinda Rajapakse to take direct decisions on the Tiger attacks which is on the increase. The JVP has made this request at a meeting with the President on last Friday (21) evening. The JVP has pointed out in detail that it is obvious that the Tiger organisation has no intention in coming to a peaceful settlement which has avoided the peace talks. more..

Apr 24 (AT) The World Tamil Movement says, according to reports, that it will open its closed and sealed offices on Tuesday. Earlier, WTM offices at 39 Consentino Dr. in Scarborough, and downtown Toronto at Eaton Ave., located in the intersection between Wellesley and Parliament Streets were raided, by the Royal Mounted police. They were subsequently closed and sealed. more..

Apr 24 (SLBC) President Mahinda Rajapakse has instructed the University Grants Commission to increase the number of students entering the university. Facilities in the Engineering and medical faculties were also requested to be upgraded. The decision was taken after recent discussions held between the UGC and the President. more..

Apr 24 (TN) Representatives of the People's Committee for Peace and Goodwill (PCPG) and members of Jaffna NGOs consortium met with Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Senior officials at the House of Jaffna Bishop, Rev Fr Thomas Saundaranayagam at 11.30 a.m., Monday to explore ways to arrest the increasing violence in the district, civil society sources in Jaffna said. more..

Apr 24 (PIS) The LTTE is to give their stance today on the Government’s offer of helicopters for transporting cadres for the pre-talks meetings, the LTTE announced yesterday. LTTE Spokesperson Daya Master insisting that they have not pulled out from the talks, said they have forwarded two pre-conditions if they were to take part in Geneva II, more..

Apr 24 (PIS) With the LTTE continuously putting forward fresh conditions for the transport of its cadres from the east to the north to take part in the second round of talks in Geneva, the Government yesterday called upon the Norwegian peace facilitators to stop shuttling back and forth between Colombo and Kilinochchi and instead, put pressure on the rebels to accept the current transport proposals. more..

Apr 24 (ANN) The peace process is moving in the exact direction that the LTTE wants it to. It is heading for disaster. The cowardly claymore mine attacks by the LTTE are evidently being crowned with results for the outfit. The security forces are beginning to defend themselves and some LTTE cadres have been killed in skirmishes. more..

Apr 24 (ANN) The government warned the LTTE yesterday that unless it immediately ceased attacks on the security forces and civilians, it would press the EU to proscribe the organisation without further delay. Peace secretariat chief Palitha Kohona declared the government's intention, at a media briefing, amidst further attacks in the northern and eastern provinces. more..

Apr 24 (LNP) Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer returned to Kilinochchi yesterday and is expected to remain there overnight. Meanwhile LTTE sources state that Thamilchelvan is to consult the LTTE leader, Prabakaran about the delayed CFA talks. more..

Apr 24 (LNP) Schoolchildren will be entitled to travel free of charge in SLTB buses as the increased bus fares will come into force from today. Transport Ministry said both private and SLTB bus fares will increase from today and the minimum fare of Rs 4 would increase to Rs. 5. According to the new bus fares, Rs. 6 will remain unchanged while fares from Rs. 7 to Rs. 9 will increase by Rs. 1. more..

Apr 24 (LNP) There is no doubt that in Sri Lanka, cricket is the most popular sport. Also, many people are very keen to see our National team doing well. But right now, no one can be satisfied with the performance of our National team. The Sri Lanka national team now loses matches even in their own den. more..

Apr 24 (SAMN) A film maker is seeking a Bribery Commission probe on the National Film Corporation. "It's a den of corruption," a furious Nanda Imbulgoda said, adding, "I brought this to the notice of the Bribery Commission recently. They promised swift action and I hope they conduct a thorough investigation." more..

Apr 24 (SAMN) National school principals and education officials expressed mixed reactions Sunday to the proposed readjustment of school hours subsequent to the country’s time being set back by half an hour from April 14. A three-member Cabinet sub committee has been appointed to make recommendations on changing school and office hours. more..

Apr 24 (SAMN) The Agriculture Department has taken steps to set up a full-fledged Agro Technology Park (ATP) at Bataatha, Weerawila. The construction work of this first ever ATP is now in progress at Bataatha seed farm premises. President Mahinda Rajapakse is scheduled to open this agro park by the end of July this year, more..

Apr 24 (DN) The All Ceylon Union of English Teachers (ACUET) notes with great concern the Formula on University admissions transmitted to the Chairman, University Grants Commission probably not have seen by him. There is no response to the union. more..

Apr 24 (wsws) The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka is holding a public meeting in Colombo to mark May Day. International working class unity today is a matter of immediate practical necessity. Speakers will address the need for a socialist solution to the looming dangers of war and deepening social inequality. more..

Apr 24 (TN) Ilayathamby Balasubramaniam, 54, was seriously injured and his lorry severely damaged Sunday around 12.30 p.m. in a claymore explosion triggered by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) deep penetration unit in Vavuniya north, 7 miles east of A9 highway , in the LTTE controlled area in the Vavuniya district, said sources from Vavuniya. more..

Apr 24 (HT) The possibility of widespread Sinhala-Tamil and Muslim-Tamil rioting, as a result of the on-going violence in the North Eastern Province, is greatly worrying the Sri Lankan government and members of all communities living in the island. The government is convinced that the LTTE is planning to foment anti-Tamil riots in Sinhala-majority areas, more..

Apr 24 (NP) RCMP officers investigating an alleged terrorist financing scheme raided a Toronto non-profit group Sunday that's been called a front organization for the Tamil Tigers. The World Tamil Movement headquarters in Scarborough, Ont., was surrounded by yellow police tape and a U-Haul rental truck was parked out front as armed Mounties searched the one-storey brick industrial building. more..

Apr 24 (Reuters) Small, easy to conceal and lethal in their effect, suspected Tamil Tiger rebel claymore mines are taxing Sri Lanka's military. In both a series of attacks in December and January that preceded a first round of peace talks and a newer spike of violence this month that has stretched a 2002 truce to its limits, suspected Tiger ambushes have killed dozens of troops and police. more..

Apr 24 (AP) The Sri Lankan military on Monday accused Tamil rebels of slaughtering six Sinhalese rice farmers working in their fields to provoke race riots between the two ethnic groups. In other violence, government troops shot and killed two ethnic Tamil rebels after coming under attack in eastern Batticaloa, the Defense Ministry said. more..

Apr 24 (AP) The Maldives said Monday it has alerted police in nearby Sri Lanka to look out for young Maldives men and women, whose families believed they plan to join Islamic fundamentalist groups abroad. "Parents had told us that they had seen e-mails and letters which made them worried that their children would flee Maldives and join Islamic fundamentalist groups," more..

Apr 24 (Reuters) Sri Lankan women cry at a hospital after their relative and other five Sinhalese farmers were killed by Tamil rebels on the paddy field at the Kalyanipura village, Trincomalee eastern Sri Lanka, more..

Apr 24 (Reuters) Four people were shot dead in fresh Sri Lankan violence on Monday, while the killing of six Sinhalese farmers by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels the previous day raised fears of more ethnic riots. Some 100 people have died in just over two weeks after a series of suspected Tamil Tiger ambushes on the military were followed by attacks on Tamil civilians. more..

Apr 24 (IANS) India Monday said it was 'deeply concerned' over escalating violence in Sri Lanka and urged both the government and Tamil Tigers to strictly adhere to the ceasefire agreement. 'The government of India is deeply concerned that the recent escalation in violence in the eastern part of Sri Lanka which has resulted in the ceasefire coming under serious strain,' an external affairs ministry statement said. more..

Apr 24 (AP) Sri Lanka's military on Monday accused ethnic Tamil minority rebels of killing six Sinhalese rice farmers working in their fields to provoke ethnic rioting. Government troops, meanwhile, shot and killed two ethnic Tamil rebels after coming under attack in eastern Batticaloa, the Defense Ministry said. Separately, the rebels killed two policemen in the latest attack in northern Vavuniya, more..

Apr 25 (LeN) Though the government has agreed to provide a civil helicopter that can accommodate 10 persons to the LTTE to transport its Eastern leaders to the Wannni, neither the Norwegian envoy nor the ambassador has been informed of the details and technical data of the helicopter until this evening. more..

Apr 25 (BBC) Minority Tamil politicians have accused the government of Sri Lanka of getting prepared for war while talking peace. The TNA said the President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government is not genuine in its efforts to enter into negotiations with the Tamil Tigers. TNA parliamentarian MK Sivajilingam questioned as to why the government could not provide helicopters for the purpose of peace. more..

Apr 25 (BBC) Sri Lankan authorities say they are still waiting for the Tamil Tigers’ response to their latest proposal on transporting eastern LTTE commanders to Vanni. Head of Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat (SCOPP), Dr. Palitha Kohona told BBC Sandeshaya that the rebels are yet to respond to the proposal by the government to provide transport facility through the Norwegian mediators. more..

Apr 25 (BBC) At least eight people have been killed in new attacks in Sri Lanka since Sunday, officials say. Two suspected Tamil rebels were shot dead in Batticaloa in the east, while two Sinhalese guards were killed near Vavuniya in the north, police say. In the worst of Monday's other attacks, a young mother was hacked to death near Batticaloa, police said. more..

Apr 25 (AT) Only after the capture of the Jaffna peninsula, peace talks would be possible. Therefore Tamil youths - boys and girls, join without delay the LTTE. This was an appeal by the Tamil National Awakening Society – (hitherto an unknown organization), appeared in Uthayam, a pro- LTTE Tamil language news daily, published from Jaffna, in Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 25 (LBO) Two years and 50 billion odd rupees later, Sri Lanka’s government is older and wiser, and it is trimming fuel subsidies, but the poor are poorer but no wiser, and as usual, no one is accountable for this terrible policy debacle that has cost the country and the poor so dearly. more..

Apr 25 (CI) Sri Lanka opened their tour of England with a tame batting display against the British Universities, but were buoyed by an impressive and energetic hundred from Upul Tharanga. The tourists were dismissed for 289 from 74 overs, with Ruel Brathwaite and Mali Richards bowling impressively for the university side. more..

Apr 25 (HRW) The Sri Lankan government has failed to respond adequately to recent attacks by armed groups on ethnic Tamils and their homes and businesses in Sri Lanka’s eastern Trincomalee district, Human Rights Watch said today. Police and other security forces reportedly stood by as Tamils were attacked on April 12 after an alleged Tamil Tiger bomb at a Trincomalee market killed five persons. more..

Apr 25 (AT) The United Nations Development Project’s Country Director Abu Selim has expressed his satisfaction on the proposed National Plan of Action for The Social Development of Plantation Community [NPA] prepared by the Ministry of Estate Infrastructure and Livestock Development. more..

Apr 25 (AN) Sri Lankan ambassadors who met in Dubai last week , called on their Labor Ministry to blacklist unscrupulous recruiting agents who are responsible for most of the labor problems in the Middle East. Streamlining the recruiting agents will minimize the problems faced by the Lankan labor force, they claimed. more..

Apr 25 (ISL) In this analysis of the situation of war and peace following the recent violence in Trincomalee, the Coalition for Muslims and Tamils speaks for and pleads for once again placing people at the centre of peace and the need for the peace process to work towards justice for all peoples in this country. more..

Apr 25 (ISL) The recent British TV's Channel 4 documentary on Sri Lanka effectively established the reality of LTTE child soldiers. The presenter Sandra Jordan evidently had the freedom to move around among all the communities, Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims and even meet some of the violence-affected victim families. more..

Apr 25 (ISL) The entire Tiger outfit in Toronto and even the pseudo-ones that paraded as the mighty stripers living in the power-packed halo of the LTTE are in total disarray. The Tiger emblem meant total power over the fellow beings, the mighty oracle that should never be challenged and a force that determined the destiny of a people. more..

Apr 25 (LT) An infectious wild plant called ‘Bromus Mollis’ has been imported into the island. This was revealed by the President of the All Island Farmers’ Association, Parliamentarian Anura Dissanayake yesterday (24). He disclosed that 50% of the seeds brought into the country along with a stock of other seeds had been of ‘brous mollis’ which is very harmful to the agricultural sector. more..