Mar 8 (LT) A delegation from All Ceylon Estate Workers Union (ACEWU), led by its President JVP Parliamentarian Ramalingam Chandrasekar, met the Inspector General of Police on Tuesday to complain about abductions and arrests that take place in the estate sector. About 150 plantation employees have been arrested by the police and only 50 of them have been released. more..

Mar 8 (LT) Tigers organization says that if the Tiger cadres taken into custody by the security forces are released they could release the security forces members in their custody. Tigers have said so when a group of relatives of 4 Navy soldiers and one Army soldier who are in Tiger custody met them in Kilinochchi. more..

Mar 8 (ISL) It has become a habit for LTTE to portray and maliciously blame all other Tamil parties time and again as traitors, fifth columns or collaborators whenever there is a failure or military defeats on their part or any other organization which refuses to play second fiddle to them. In the CFA(Cease-fire Agreement) document of Feb 2002, the term "Paramilitary" was tossed in by the Norwegian and LTTE, and endorsed by the then Srilankan government. more..

Mar 8 (ISL) Sri Lankan armed forces launched a major push towards the LTTE terrorist held Toppigala region this morning. The attack preceded by covert infiltration of special forces into Toppigala region within the last three weeks by the Sri Lankan government. The government is also getting heavy intelligence and military backing of the Karuna faction. Meanwhile, army had given the final warning to LTTE cadres to surrender. more..

Mar 8 (LBO) Sri Lanka is looking for at least two more cargo vessels and was talking to the World Food Program to charter a large cargo aircraft to build a buffer stock of food in the Jaffna peninsular, an official said. "We want to charter two more ships, but foreign shipping companies are asking for exorbitant insurance risk premiums," Commission General of Essential Services S B Divaratne told reporters. more..

Mar 8 (CI) Their glorious win in 1996 put them firmly among the top one-day teams but, apart from that dream run, Sri Lanka's World Cup story hasn't been a happy one. They lost 20 of their first 25 matches, and their overall win-loss ratio of 0.62 (17 wins, 27 defeats) puts them in eighth place among all teams. (Click here for Sri Lanka's numbers in each World Cup, and here for more detailed stats.) more..

Mar 8 (LeN) UNP parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara said in Parliament yesterday the JVP and JHU were also privy to the secret deal struck with the LTTE before the Presidential election. Speaking during the emergency debate in the House, Mr. Jayasekara said these two parties were a party to this secret deal. "I can boldly say that the JVP and JHU were also a part of this pact which prevented Tamils in the Northern and Eastern Provinces from exercising their franchise," he said. more..

Mar 8 (LeN) We understand that in recent months there has been a number of concerted campaigns by the government of Sri Lanka and some elements of the Sinhala media to label certain Tamil Diaspora businesses, especially media enterprises as 'owned' by the LTTE. Below are details of LTTE's official media network. No other media enterprise is owned nor operated by the LTTE. more..

Mar 8 (LeN) Minutes after media rights groups in Sri Lanka handed over a report on the state of the media in Sri Lanka a 'war of words' erupted between Government defence spokesmen Keheliya Rambukwella and a section of the media covering the weekly defence news briefing yesterday. Minister Rambukwella charged that some media, without naming them, had yesterday distorted the facts and given the wrong misinterpretation to comments made by Police Chief Victor Perera at a news conference a day earlier. more..

Mar 8 (LeN) The UNP warned in Parliament yesterday it would reconsider its stand to support the extension of the emergency, after weighing the pros and cons, given the present violent trend. Speaking during the emergency debate Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera said the UNP usually supported the emergency only to restore law and order in the country while defeating terrorism. more..

Mar 8 (GDI) The Government of Japan grants US $ 139, 036 to conduct disaster management education programmes in Moratuwa and Kalutara areas – two main cities in the Western province coastal area, under a Japanese Non Governmental Organization ‘Japan Water Forum (JWF)’. With such initiatives it is expected to widen the knowledge of the public on disaster situations and managing such instances. more..

Mar 8 (GDI) Minister of Mass Media and Information Anura Priyadarshana Yapa speaking at the media briefing on announcing the Cabinet decisions stressed that the government is totally committed to protect media freedom and the safety of media personnel. “As long as I am in this ministerial post it is my duty to protect genuine journalists and solve any problems they encounter,” he said. more..

Mar 8 (GDI) The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by H.E. the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order on the provisions in relation to the members of Sri Lanka Armed Forces and Police Department killed or permanently disabled in action whilst performing duties on United Nations Peace Keeping Mission. more..

Mar 8 (GDI) The Government has made all the necessary arrangements to maintain the supply of food and other essential items to North and East. There is no shortage in these items. The Department of Essential Services has been able to overcome the difficulties faced with lack of vessels to transport the items to Jaffna and also the problems had in getting the required quantities of the items. more..

Mar 8 (GDI) First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa has sent the following message to mark International Women’s Day which falls today: "I am pleased to send a message of greetings on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which falls on March 8, and has been celebrated for over 95 years." "Inspired by the commemorations in honour of working women in America, the German Socialist Klara Zetkin organised International Women’s Day in 1911. more..

Mar 8 (GDI) United Kingdom has applauded the efforts being made by the Sri Lankan Government to bring peace to the Island and invigorate economic development. This was revealed at the meeting held between British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett with the visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. more..

Mar 8 (LNP) The recent statements by US Ambassador Robert O` Blake came under fire in Parliament yesterday. JHU Parliamentary Group Leader Ven Athureliye Ratana Thera during the emergency debate in the House yesterday condemned the US Ambassador`s statements that the LTTE wouldn`t have launched the attack on the helicopter in Batticaloa if it knew he (Mr. Blake) was among the diplomats and more..

Mar 8 (LNP) Former Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathy Suriyaarachchi rejected the additional security provided to them on the grounds that they had no faith in the new set of officers provided by the Ministerial Security Division, sources said yesterday. The duo, left with only two policemen each, after being stripped of their portfolios, went to the Human Rights Commission and complained that their lives were in danger due to the reduced security. more..

Mar 8 (LNP) The Institute of Post Harvest Technology (IPT) is planning to popularise a new wheat flour mixture containing 20 per cent rice flour, which has a potential of saving nearly three billion rupees in foreign exchange annually. The new formula was ideal for many popular wheat flour applications including bakery products, domestic food items such as roti, string hoppers, hoppers and sweets. more..

Mar 8 (LNP) Senior engineers of the Ceylon Electricity Board have warned that the Government`s plan, to obtain a cheaper supply of electricity from India, would backfire. They said the Government had planned to enter into an agreement with India for the latter to provide electricity. India would certainly provide electricity at a cheaper rate initially but later they would be certain to increase their charges, they told The Island yesterday. more..

Mar 8 (SAMN) The government yesterday ruled out an election until its official term ended in four years given the solid parliamentary majority it had.Leader of the House and Minster Nimal Siripala de Silva said in Parliament during the emergency debate, that the Government had 120 members on its side and therefore there was no necessity to declare a snap election. more..

Mar 8 (SAMN) Despite the court order to vacate the Wayamba University premises, obtained by the University administration on Monday (5), around 700 student continue to forcibly occupy the University which is officially closed, sources said. President of the Applied Science Faculty Students Union Thilanka Samaraweera said that the university administration’s decision to close the university was baseless. more..

Mar 8 (SAMN) Colombo District Judge Aruna Ranasinghe yesterday ordered Jamaldeen Ishak to pay Rs. 100 million compensation to SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem and Rs. 50 million to Hassan Ali, following his lawsuit on the leadership of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. The case was filed by Jamaldeen Ishak, a member of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress challenging the party leadership of Hakeem, saying his term of office had expired. more..

Mar 8 (SAMN) Defence Spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday said there were 452 suspects taken for questioning under the Public Security Ordinance and are being interrogated. Among them are 15 soldiers, three deserters, and five policemen and one who had earlier been in the police. The CID sleuths are trying to establish whether those suspects have any links to the recent abductions and killings and more..

Mar 8 (DN) In an effective bid to rid the Colombo city of mounting air pollution, the Government has made it compulsory for all vehicle owners to undergo a vehicle emission test before obtaining or renewing their revenue licenses at the Motor Traffic Department. Central Environment Authority Director General Mervyn Gunasena told the Daily News that this programme’s major objective is to make a green and clean environment which sustains human life and nature. more..

Mar 8 (DN) The women’s wing of the Democratic Unity Alliance (DUA) in a resolution called upon the Government to set up special Women’s Police Task Force in every police station to give a sympathetic ear to the grievances of women who have been marginalised in society. DUA Deputy Secretary General Sheron Hameed addressing the DUA women delegates to mark the International Women’s Day said women have been at the receiving end of violence. more..

Mar 8 (DM) All Parliamentarians, including President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the late N. Raviraj MP, have obtained permits to import tax-free vehicles, according to a document tabled in Parliament yesterday. Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle disclosed to the House in response to an oral question raised by UNP Ratanapura district MP Mahinda Ratnatilake. more..

Mar 8 (DM) JVP yesterday warned the Government in Parliament, that they would resign from the House if it was shown that maximum devolution of power is included in ‘Mahinda Chinthana’. JVP Parliamentry Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday participating in the Emergency Debate said that there was no mention of maximum devolution of power in the Mahinda Chinthana program. more..

Mar 8 (GDI) Government will be taking steps to restrict the migration of Sri Lankan mothers in to foreign employment as a mean of ensuring the welfare of their children. This action is taken under the initiative of the Minister of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Sumedha G. Jayasena. Accordingly, the Cabinet has granted its approval to prohibit of migration for employment, of mothers having children under the age of five years. more..

Mar 8 (HT) The opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has warned that the international community, which is now "meddling" in Sri Lanka's international affairs, has a plan to partition the country. "The international community has drafted a roadmap for the division of Sri Lanka," Wimal Weerawansa, leader of the JVP in the Sri Lankan parliament told the house on Wednesday. more..

Mar 8 (GDI) The five dead bodies recovered at Muthurajawela have been identified as corpses of five strong supporters of the TMVP, or popularly known as ‘Karuna Group’ from Batticaloa who escaped from the area due to LTTE threats and were planning to go abroad. TMVP spokesman Azad Maulana said that the party had asked seven TMVP supporters to come to Colombo because of death threats from the LTTE and they were to leave abroad on March 10. more..

Mar 8 (AFP) Thousands of Sri Lankan government troops have begun advancing towards a strategic Tamil Tiger rebel jungle base in the island's restive east, military sources said Thursday. Troops backed by artillery and multi-barrel rocket fire were advancing towards Thoppigala, a key base of the LTTE, a military official said. more..

Mar 9 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s equity markets tumbled further Thursday as investors took profits, while global stocks continued to recover. Counters fell across the board on Wednesday and the All Share Index lost another 2.25 percent (65.28 points) to 2842.22 and the Milanka Index lost 2.86 percent (116.14 points) to 3941.28. more..

Mar 9 (LBO) Sri Lanka is trying to refine reckless bus drivers with a series of new classes that will hopefully improve driving skills and curb road rage. A new drivers' academy that has just been set up in Kottawa, with a curriculum to enhance drivers skills, efficiency and obedience of road rules, J M Somasiri, chairman of the western province road passenger transport authority, said. more..

Mar 9 (TN) Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarians urged the Australian and Indonesian governments, in press communiqué released on Wednesday, not to send back the 85 Tamils intercepted by the Australian Navy in Australian Sea on 22 February citing that if they were sent back their lives will be in danger from the Sri Lankan armed forces and collaborating paramilitary groups. more..

Mar 9 (NT) During the last tsunami in December 2004, the Ramar Bridge, also known as Adams Bridge in the Palk Bay acted as a natural barrier preventing the direct devastation of the entire South Indian coastline, south and southwest of Nagapattinam. Thus the Ramar Bridge, traditionally and popularly also known as Ramasethu, played a key role in protecting the coastline in South India against the unforeseen ravages of the tsunami in December, 2004. more..

Mar 9 (ND) The chief of Sri Lanka's communist party expressed his wish to intensify the solidarity, friendship and co-operation between his party and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) as well as between the people of the two countries. The visiting General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPS), D.E.W. Gunasekara, was received by Truong Tan Sang, a member of the Politburo and standing member of the CPV Central Committee's Secretariat, in Hanoi on March 7. more..

Mar 9 (CO) Tamil Nadu Ministers S P Thangavelan and M R K Panneerselvam yesterday visited the Mandapam camp here for the Sri Lankan refugees and made enquiries about the condition of the inmates. The inmates told the Ministers that the ration supplies were provided on time and the functioning of the clinic at the camp had also improved. The refugees also informed them that they did not have any problem at the camp. more..

Mar 9 (WT) Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels might have apologized for firing a mortar on a helicopter carrying diplomats, but Washington still considers them terrorists, said U.S. Ambassador Robert Blake, who was slightly injured in the Feb. 27 attack. Mr. Blake told Sri Lanka's Sunday Times that the United States will continue to keep the LTTE on its list of terrorist organizations and prosecute any U.S.-based support group until the rebels renounce violence and more..

Mar 9 (LBO) Sri Lanka has reported its lowest monthly output in nine-years, as bad weather slows recovery in strike-hit estates, that may undermine quality and quantity of the island's "green gold", officials said Thursday. Crop figures in January fell 14 percent to 21.1 million kilos from 24.6 million kilos a year earlier, the lowest since 1996, despite healthy growth from plantations in low grown areas, more..

Mar 9 (VoA) In Sri Lanka, the government says it has arrested security personnel in connection with a series of killings and abductions in which most of the victims are from the minority Tamil community. As Anjana Pasricha reports from VOA's New Delhi bureau, the government has come under mounting pressure to halt rights abuses by both the military and Tamil Tiger rebels since their truce broke down. more..

Mar 9 (Reuters) Thousands of civilians are fleeing Tamil Tiger-held territory in east Sri Lanka as troops and rebels battle with artillery and mortar bombs, the two sides said on Thursday, amid a rebel warning of a bloodbath. Nearly 13,700 civilians have fled rebel areas in the eastern district of Batticaloa in the past fortnight, 3,800 of those alone on Wednesday. Both the Tigers and military said thousands more were fleeing on Thursday. more..

Mar 9 (SPT) The petite woman with a shaved head, saffron robes and slippers carefully selects fruit and vegetables from the produce stand bins. Here, she doesn't turn heads. She's a regular. But it's not unusual for Bhikkhuni Sudarshana Peliyagoda, 37, to stand out in a crowd. In Sri Lanka at 16, and against her mother's wishes, she became a Buddhist nun. more..

Mar 9 (ZN) A Sri Lankan Tamil MP on Thursday sought Indian military intervention to "save" the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement, saying it was impossible to arrive at a negotiated settlement to the conflict in the island nation. Speaking to reporters here, the MP, G Gunasekaran of ENDLF, said Sri Lanka was moving towards a full scale civil war. more..

Mar 9 (GDI) special programme has been launched under the Jathika Saviya- Gama Neguma development programme to uplift the local craftman’s industry by upgrading the sectors of supply and services in the industry to obtain a better productivity. A special discussion was held with regard to these issues headed by President’s Advisor Basil Rajapakse with the participation of Secretaries of Ministries today (08). more..

Mar 9 (AP) Sri Lankan women activists applaud as they watch a street drama to mark the International Women's Day in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, March 8, 2007. more..

Mar 9 (AT) While Sri Lanka has been selected to host the World Tourism Day on the 27th September and among the three cities that are selected, Negombo is one of them. The other two cities are Colombo and Yapahuwa. In these cities there would be special tourism related events to make this day a colorful one. more..

Mar 9 (AT) “Excon 2007” will be launched under the distinguished patronage of the Minister of Construction and Engineering Services Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, on 13th March 2007 at the Grand Ballroom of the Galle Face Hotel. The Chamber of Construction Industry, Sri Lanka will host “Excon 2007” during the period 11th to 13th May 2007 at BMICH more..

Mar 9 (LeN) The media and information minister, Mr. Anura Priyadarshanayapa says that Mangala-Shripathay accusation which states that the LTTE and the government have come into a secret agreement is completely meaningless. He questions as to how Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe got a higher number of votes from the presidencial elections this time from the North East. more..

Mar 9 (Hindu) Colombo on Thursday accused the LTTE and its allies of involvement in abductions and killings across the island to defame the Government. The charge came in the wake of confirmation by the police that the five persons killed in execution style and dumped in a village close to Colombo three days ago were members of the Karuna faction. more..