June 30 (LNP) Sri Lanka has been witnessing gross violations of human rights committed by both the government and other groups from late 2005 and since the resumption of the war between the armed forces and the LTTE, it has recorded an exponential rise. This has received much international condemnation, especially from the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions- Professor Philip Alston, the Co-Chairs of the peace process and the SLMM. more..

June 30 (SAMN) The Centre for Policy Alternatives Friday filed a fundamental rights violation petition challenging the recent regulation issued by the President declaring a High Security Zone in the Mutur Divisional Secretary’s Division encompassing an area of land owned by internally displaced persons. The CPA filed this application seeking relief and effective redress in respect of more..

June 30 (SAMN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Thursday that only 75 Tamil youths out of 15.000 Tamils living in Colombo lodges were to be evicted according to the original plan but some Tamil women also wanted to take advantage of the travel arrangements to go back to the North and East. “The result was that we had to transport 302 persons,” he said. more..

June 30 (SAMN) All estate hospitals will be taken over by the Ministry of Health Care and Nutrition by next year to provide a better health care service to the estate population, said Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva on Thursday. He said that the estate sector health service is a neglected area and the government wants to rectify the imbalance. more..

June 30 (SAMN) SLFP General Secretary Minister Maitripala Sirisena Friday reassured that the Government would not re-introduce Criminal Defamation laws. Only a note submitted by the Justice Ministry was discussed at the previous Cabinet meeting, Minister Sirisena said reiterating that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government were committed to ensure media freedom and the safety and dignity of journalists. more..

June 30 (DN) The Government has worked out a mechanism to control the Cost of Living without putting a heavy burden on the people as a result of rising fuel cost in the world market while continuing the development projects, welfare measures and the peace process, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said. He was briefing the media at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday. more..

June 30 (DN) Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa denounced attempts of reactionary forces seeking to underestimate the unprecedented battle-field victories in the East achieved by the Armed Forces, by land, air and the sea. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa addressing the Maha Sangha on the current situation in the North East at the Presidential Secretariat last Thursday opined that the LTTE which has suffered severe setbacks in the battle field, will more..

June 30 (DM) Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said yesterday he could proclaim fearlessly that the Judiciary did not do shoddy jobs like the Executive. Addressing a large gathering at the opening of the Provincial Civil High Court in Colombo, the Chief Justice said, “We don’t say one thing today, another tomorrow and another lie the day after. If we say something we do it. We do our part with honesty according to our conscience.” more..

June 30 (DM) SLFP Mahajana wing leader Mangala Samaraweera and the JVP leadership are scheduled to meet next Wednesday at the JVP headquarters at Pelawatta, political sources said. They said the meeting would take place on a request made by the former minister to explore possibilities of the two parties working together. more..

June 30 (LT) President Mahinda Rajapakse has sent a letter of demand to Vijaya Publishers demanding Rs.200 billion as compensation alleging that a news item published in ‘Lankadeepa’ undermined his reputation. The counselor for the President has, in the letter of demand, indicated that legal action would be taken if the compensation was not paid. more..

June 30 (LT) A group of members from the SLFP and the opposition is waiting to join the People’s Broad Front formed with the leadership of the JVP. Among the group are a Member of Parliament and a Provincial council Member of the UNP who is disappointed with the leadership of Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe and the policies of the party. more..

June 30 (AT) In its latest report Norwegians Against Terrorism (NAT) has alleged that Erik Solheim, the chief peace facilitator, is a convicted criminal. Quoting from his biography, “Nærmere”, NAT says that he has been jailed for stealing from the Norwegian Air Force. In his book he brags about his exploits and adds that he enjoyed his time in jail, spending most of his time reading world literature. more..

June 30 (BBC) Two petition were presented to the high court on Friday to challenge the newly established High Security Zone in Sampur. Three petitioners to the high court say their fundamental rights were violated by preventing their right to return home. Accusing the President who is also the defence minister along with the secretary to the defence ministry, commanders of the armed forces and the Chief of Police, the petitioners ask for the fundamental right of access to their ancestral land. more..

June 30 (OI) For the Buddhist community, there couldn't be a worse form of sacrilege. The news of the cutting down of a branch of the holy Mahabodhi tree at Gaya where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment has evoked shock and outrage. What's worse, the act was allegedly carried out at the behest of none other than Bhante Bodhipala, the chief priest of the Mahabodhi Temple. more..

June 30 (IANS) A former Indian chief justice who presides over an international panel overseeing probes into rights abuses in Sri Lanka has taken strong exception to a harsh attack on him by a top official in Colombo. P.N. Bhagwati said that Sri Lankan Attorney General C.R. de Silva made "very indiscreet observations" while criticising reports put out by the IIGEP, which the Indian heads. more..

June 30 (AP) Four civilians were found fatally shot in eastern Sri Lanka, the military said Saturday, while the navy found 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of explosives in a truck believed being prepared for an attack by Tamil Tiger rebels. The bodies of the four farmers were found in a jungle in eastern Trincomalee district on Friday, an official at the Defense Ministry information center said on customary condition of anonymity. more..

June 30 (AFP) Suspected rebels in Sri Lanka shot dead seven civilians and security forces discovered a truck packed with powerful explosives, the country's defence ministry said on Saturday. Tamil Tiger rebels gunned down four farmers in the eastern town of Serunuwara late on Friday, the military said. Two Tamil civilians were shot dead by the guerrillas in the northern town of Jaffna late on Friday, the ministry added. more..