Nov 17 (AT) When an untruth is repeated over a period of time, it usually appears to end up as an unassailable truth. This is the bizarre logic that has for close upon three decades, driven the propaganda machinery of the LTTE, the mono-ethnic, fascist terrorist group fighting for a separate state in Sri Lanka. The victims, who consistently swallow the glib untruths of the LTTE, comprise sections of the international community – that is, more..

Nov 17 (TP) High Commissioner of Sri-Lanka, Dr. W.B. Dorakumbura has invited Pakistani exporters to avail the opportunity of duty free access to EU market by exporting their unfinished textile products from Pakistan via Sri Lanka after 50 percent value addition. He was talking to the members and president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Shamim Ahmed Shamsi in a meeting. more..

Nov 17 (ISL) The USA ban on TRO will not affect LTTE funding efforts due to the fact that most LTTE financial resources are in Canada. Only a ban for TRO in Canada will effect the organization financially, claims Sethu Nadarajah in his website. Full text of LTTE's Sethu Nadarajah’s article. The US government is to freeze the assets of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) on allegations that the charity has links with the LTTE. more..

Nov 17 (LeN) Several Ministers and a group of officials of the Presidential Secretariat are endeavoring to attract four United National Party (UNP) MPs to the Government. They have contacted Abdul Kader, Range Bandara, Indika Bandaranaike and Gayantha Karunathilaka and pledged them posts various posts and other privileges, says UNP General Secretary Thissa Aththanayaka. more..

Nov 17 (ISL) Tissa Attanayake, UNP Gen. Secretary addressing a Media conference at the Opposition Leader’s Office today (16 Nov) said that this Budget is extremely crucial from the point of view of the people as well as of the Govt. It is an indisputable fact that Sri Lanka is experiencing the worst economic crisis in its history. The beleaguered Rajapakse Govt. which is the architect for this dire situation owing to its inefficiency, incriminating corruption charges and more..

Nov 17 (LT) Presidents’ Secretary Lalith Weeratunga has extended an invitation for the JVP to have talks with the President but having discussions with the President at this moment would not serve any purpose said JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe. Addressing the media at a media briefing held in Colombo today Mr. Amarasinghe said the President has not comprehended the issue properly. more..

Nov 17 (CI) Mahela Jayawardene said Muttiah Muralitharan was enjoying the challenge of bowling against Australia but the team haven't helped him get to the Shane Warne's world record. "Murali has been trying a lot, but we haven't helped him out. Credit should go to the way Australia batted," Jayawardene said. "Without taking too many risks they put a lot of pressure on him. Murali is a freakish guy and he could pick up five-six wickets in the second innings. I think he's enjoyed the challenge." more..

Nov 17 (CI) Adam Gilchrist extended his world record for striking sixes, but unless Muttiah Muralitharan conjures a second-innings miracle that might never happen he will leave Australia without the mark he is destined to hold for decades. Murali has not been able to conquer Australia in the same way Shane Warne could not dominate in India. It is a strange omission on a spectacular resume` and one that will provide fuel for the Murali's critics whenever they dissect his career. more..

Nov 17 (CI) Adam Gilchrist has featured heavily in an advertising campaign for backyard cricket during the Test series and is now pleading for some of the Bellerive Oval neighbours to give him his ball back. The slog-sweep that Gilchrist swatted off Muttiah Muralitharan sailed out of the ground, brought up his 100th six and was not returned. He will not pay for the memento, which is not worth the huge sums that had baseball fans scurrying for the home runs of Barry Bonds, but it will become a treasured item if he sees it again. more..

Nov 17 (CI) Farveez Maharoof, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, has injured his left ankle and will miss the three home Tests against England next month. "Farveez had a scan yesterday and he's got stress fracture in his ankle," Jayawardene said. "He'll be definitely out of the England Test series. "He'll be out for at least four to five weeks, it could be a bit more than that depending on how he will feel especially because he is a fast bowler and he needs to put his weight on that ankle." more..

Nov 17 (LD) Rice prices have increased in the local market to unprecedented levels. At present, a kilo of Samba Rice is priced at Rs. 58 while the White and Red Kekulu varieties are selling at Rs. 54 and Rs. 50 respectively. When contacted, a parliamentarian of the Polonnaruwa District said that the buying, milling and pricing of rice is in the hands of three traders. He added that most small-scale rice mills have been closed down due to this monopoly. more..

Nov 17 (LD) The JVP has rejected a written request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss its preconditions for supporting Budget 2008, reports say. Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga has sent the letter on November 16th, fixing November 17th evening and November 19th morning for the meeting. However, JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe told the media in Colombo this morning that the president had not understood the gravity of the party’s stance on the budget and the political challenge before the country and people. more..

Nov 17 (LD) The Japanese government has warned the President through diplomatic channels that its financial aid to the island would have to be stopped in the event of the abolition of the ceasefire agreement (CFA), sources at the Presidential Secretariat say. Abolition of the CFA is one of the four preconditions put forward by the JVP, if it is to support Budget 2008. more..

Nov 17 (LD) Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Mahinda Rathnatilake, who defected from the UNP and swore allegiance to the president, has been given accommodation at Room No: 2007 of Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, with security provided by the Presidential Security Division, sources say. UNP MPs Lakshman Seneviratne and Palitha Range Bandara, together with former Working Director of the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. Gamini Abeyratne visited Rathnatilake at the luxury hotel this afternoon (Nov. 17th). more..

Nov 17 (LD) National list MP Wijayadasa Rajapakse who created a furore by crossing over to the opposition and presenting seven conditions for the government to fulfill, has accepted an invitation from the president and visited Temple Trees to sort out differences, according to sources at the Presidential Secretariat. Rajapakse also had extensive discussions last night with the president’s brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who is the Defence Secretary. more..

Nov 17 (LBO) Standard & Poor's (S&P) has upgraded Sri Lanka Telecom's foreign currency rating to 'BB-', the rating agency said, though the country sovereign ceiling is still at 'B+'. "…there is a relatively material probability that the issuer would still be able to service its foreign currency obligations, even if the sovereign does not do so on its own foreign currency obligations," Standard & Poor's credit analyst Yasmin Wirjawan said in a statement. more..

Nov 17 (GDI) The wife of first Executive President late J.R. Jayewardena, Elena Jayewardena passed away this morning (17). She was one among the most respected first ladies of the country, Mrs. Jayewardena was receiving treatment at a private hospital at the time of the death. She was 94 years. Mrs. Jayawardena got married to former President J.R. Jayawardena in 1935. more..

Nov 17 (GDI) Minister of State Revenue and Finance, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya answered the allegations leveled by crossed over nationalist M.P. Wijedasa Rajapakshe in Parliament on appropriation Bill of 2008 which had the same contents of Appropriation Bill of 2007 which Mr. Wijedasa endorsed. The Government has not engaged in any financial activity without informing Parliament. more..

Nov 17 (GDI) Negombo Hospital sources disclosed that the intern doctor taken in to custody in connection with the alleged rape and murder of 22 year old FTZ worker was rushed to the Negombo Hospital following an attempt by him to committee suicide in the cell of the Negombo Prisions where he was remanded. Negombo Prison officials quoted that he had attempted suicide bid by strangling him self with his trouser belt. more..

Nov 17 (GDI) The Ministry of Transport together with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources decide to operate a Vehicle Emission Testing Programme. This requires all vehicles to obtain a gas emission standard certificate along with the annual revenue license which will come in to effect with a view to preventing environmental damage. According to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Champika Ranawaka this vehicle inspection and the certification programme will be launched today. more..

Nov 17 (GDI) “Trincomalee- Batticaloa highway will be fully developed; a new highway will be constructed between Panama and Monaragala. A regular programme will be arranged to develop other roads in the area….” Mahinda Chinthanaya. Keeping to the principles laid down above Government under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the active steermanship of Minister of Highways and Road Development will be offering to the people of the East, more..

Nov 17 (PISL) The freeze on financial and tangible assets of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation,in the United States is aimed at isolating terrorist financing and also informing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,that it is time for serious negotiations with the Sri Lankan government,U.S. Ambassador Robert Blake said yesterday. He said that the decision to freeze TRO assets was taken after investigations revealed a chain of command and cooperation between the LTTE and TRO. more..

Nov 17 (GT) THE body of the third Sri Lankan victim of the fire in the Industrial Area on November 7 will be buried in Qatar. An official of the Sri Lankan embassy said the mission had received permission from the relatives of the deceased for his burial in this country. The embassy had informed earlier that it had received permission for the burial of only two victims from their relatives in Sri Lanka. The mission got the approval of the relatives of the third victim the other day. more..

Nov 17 (GT) The 24-year-old maid, who came to Qatar two months before her death, was admitted to the hospital on October 26, 2005 with severe injuries and succumbed to her wounds in the hospital three days later. The court also ordered the convict to pay QR150,000 to the family of the deceased as blood money. According to Article 306 of the Qatar Criminal Code 11/2004, an attacker can be given a maximum of 10 years in jail for “causing death without the intention of killing” the victim. more..

Nov 17 (Hindu) Two Sri Lankan nationals living in refugee camps here were killed in separate incidents on Friday. E. Sivananda Raja (52) was hacked to death by S. Ganesh and his brother Sivaraj at the Kandiyapuram refugee camp near Rajapalayam. Previous enmity is said to be the reason, the police said. In the other incident, A. Logendran (27), residing at the refugee camp in Anaikuttam near Sivakasi, was fatally knocked down by a van while riding a motorbike near Tiruthangal.

Nov 17 (PTI) Sri Lanka's decision to import 30,000 metric tons of copra is likely to benefit India, where prices of the commodity are on the down slide, experts feel. The Sri Lankan Cabinet this week granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by Plantation Industries Minister, D M Jayaratne, to import 30,000 metric tons of copra to produce coconut oil. According to experts and industry analysts, Sri Lanka's decision to import copra, the dried kernel of coconut, could move the international market. more..

Nov 17 (AFP) Former Sri Lankan Test and one-day player Upul Chandana has defied a local ban and joined the rebel Indian Cricket League. Chandana, a 35-year-old leg spinning all rounder, departed here Friday to appear for Kolkata Tigers in the ICL, the unofficial Twenty20 competition in India. "This opportunity came my way after I announced my retirement and I am happy to accept that," Chandana told reporters at the airport. more..

Nov 17 (LNP) `You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time,` said the legendary US President Abraham Lincoln. Nothing is truer of the LTTE than these words of wisdom. Some of its fronts which keep its violent campaign going may have succeeded in hoodwinking the international community for `some of the time` by masquerading as charities but now they are getting unmasked. more..

Nov 17 (SAMN) The long-awaited final audit report on the controversial parliament modernisation project confirmed that foreign funds were grossly wasted and highlighted several deficiencies in relation to the installation of a sophisticated ICT network – in effect, calling the project a white elephant. According to the report submitted to parliament Secretary General Priyanee Wijesekera this week, the cost of setting up the communication infrastructure was a staggering 400% of what it should have actually cost and more..

Nov 17 (SAMN) The Batticaloa district remains tense even as Muslims demand the disarming of illegal armed groups operating in the area, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said in its latest weekly security assessment report. According to the cease fire monitors the Muslim Federations of Kathankudy, Eravur and Kalkudah had on Novemver 6 published a seven-point resolution addressing issues of concern for the Muslim community. more..

Nov 17 (SAMN) The Government will launch four mega development projects shortly. The BoI has signed agreements to build a fully fledged hospital, an export oriented rubber goods factory, a concrete production facility and a vessel service to transport goods using sea routes. Work on the 14 storey hospital has commenced in Borella. This will also have 10 surgery units, 260 beds along with channelling facilities and will cater to patients using the latest techno innovations in medicine. more..

Nov 17 (SAMN) UNP MP for the Ratnapura district Talatha Atukorale questioned in Parliament Friday as to why the government did not appoint a Presidential Commission to investigate the death of late Minister Gamini Atukorale who was her elder brother, as pledged in “Mahinda Chinthanaya”. Ms. Atukorale posed this question to the government when Nation Building Minister Jagath Pushpa Kumara noted that there was mystery surrounding the death of Atukorale. more..

Nov 17 (DN) The Bench and Bar paid tribute to seven distinguished members of the Inner Bar at a reference at a special ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court yesterday morning. Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC addressing the senior and junior members of the Official Bar, Unofficial Bar and the family members of the late distinguished members of the Inner Bar said, “On behalf of the Bench I wish to associate myself with the respectful reference made to the memory of seven distinguished members more..

Nov 17 (DN) Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka yesterday requested Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to join hands with the Government at least in its effort to liberate the country from the terrorist menace even if he cannot support the Mahinda Chinthana. The Prime Minister made this appeal participating in the Subharathi discussion programme broadcast on SLBC. more..

Nov 17 (DM) In a controversial development, the CID has filed a report in the Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with an alleged money laundering offence in which UNP frontliner Ravi Karunanayake’s name was also involved. Filing a report from the Deputy Controller of Foreign Exchange, the CID also said Mr. Karunanayake had been noticed to record a statement on an alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Act relating to the incident. more..

Nov 17 (DM) President Mahinda Rajapaksa told former service chiefs that he was willing to prepare a national plan with the participation of all political parties to eliminate terrorism while finding a solution to the national question. The President’s Office said President Rajapaksa during a meeting with former service chiefs had responded positively to their request to initiate a mechanism to form a united front with the participation of all political parties for a specific period of time. more..

Nov 17 (CI) Once upon a time there were some Australian batsmen who ... It's becoming a familiar fairytale of big hitting against Sri Lanka - or a recurring nightmare depending on your view - and the second day in Hobart was no different, as Australia racked up 5 for 542 before declaring. Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey pushed them past 400 before Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds weighed in with half-centuries, Symonds' second in a row. more..

Nov 17 (AP) Sri Lankan soldiers clashed with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in a series of battles across the country's embattled north, killing 18 guerrillas, the military said Saturday.Army troops infiltrated a rebel-held area in northern Jaffna peninsula and destroyed two bunkers Saturday morning, killing five Tamil tigers, an official at the defense ministry's information center said more..

Nov 18 (USN) The Bodhi Tree's branches stretch out from its solid trunk, their distinctive heart-shaped leaves casting protective shade over those who sit beneath. It was under just such a tree, here along the banks of the Phalgu River in northern India, that a young prince named Siddhartha Gautama, troubled by the world's miseries, sat in meditation some 2,500 years ago. And this is where he is believed to have attained nirvana, or supreme enlightenment, and become the Buddha, whose teaching would influence countless billions. more..

Nov 18 (PTI) A pro-LTTE political party has described as "contradictory" the US envoy's observation here that the freeze of funds of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), a charitable group, was aimed at curbing terrorism and not against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. The US Department of Treasury announced on Thursday that it would freeze the US held assets of the TRO, a charitable organisation that allegedly acts as a front to facilitate fund-raising and procurement for the LTTE. more..

Nov 18 (KC) A day after the political wing chief of the Tamil Tiger rebels S.P.Thamilselvan was buried in the north of Sri Lanka last week, a small celebration was held in the municipality of Kalmunai in the eastern part of the island. It was to mark the handover of a newly built primary school, the biggest in town, to the local authorities. The facility which can accomodate 260 students from 6 to 12 years of age was built by the Czech humanitarian and development aid agency People in Need (PIN) more..

Nov 18 (HT) In an unprecedented move, fifteen former commanders of the three Sri Lankan armed forces jointly met President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo on Friday and discussed the grave military and political situation in the country. "This was the first time in the history of independent Sri Lanka that former service commanders, all of Four Star rank, had met the President of the country and discussed such issues," Air Chief Marshal (Retired) Harry Goonetilleke told Hindustan Times on Saturday. more..

Nov 18 (LD) The government is allegedly attempting to prevent parliamentarians who are doubtful supporters for Budget 2008 from attending the budget vote on November 19th. This extreme measure is on the cards following the revelation that the government will not be able lure enough opposition MPs to support the budget and many ruling party MPs are going to crossover, or refrain from voting, government sources say. more..

Nov 18 (PTI) With speculation rife that he will retire after the Test series against Australia, veteran Sri Lankan batsman Marvan Atapattu was on Saturday named captain of Indian Cricket League's Delhi Jets team for the Twenty20 championship starting November 30 in Panchkula. Delhi Jets coach Madan Lal said Atapattu will lead the side after Sri Lanka's two-Test series against Australia ends next week. more..

Nov 18 (FI) Recent history shows the Sinhalese are not unalterably opposed to a fair deal for the minority Tamils. However, competition between the major Sinhala parties, the UNP and the SLFP, together with the violence and intransigence of the LTTE, has led President Rajapaksa to adopt a hard-line nationalist approach. Until the sources of Sinhalese nationalism are taken more seriously, it will continue to challenge attempts to produce a political settlement. more..

Nov 18 (AT) At the present time, globally people talk about peace as a burning issue in our human society. Though most people very much prefer to live in a peaceful atmosphere and an untroubled environment, some unwise and uncivilized citizens, leaders, politicians and their henchmen create terrible fear and danger within our global society. Even though innumerable peace talks, forums, conferences, meetings and negotiations endlessly take place, there are no signs or gestures to console or comfort ourselves by achieving this so called peace. more..

Nov 18 (NIP) One morning, when Raghu wanted a fresh shirt for work, he asked his friend, with whom he had spent the night, to spare one. After rummaging through his wardrobe, the friend found only one clean shirt but was reluctant to part with it since it was a gift. Assuring him that he will return it, Raghu took it but subsequently gave it away to another friend in the armed services when he had come down to Chennai. more..

Nov 18 (NIP) Years after Geoffrey Bawa left an indelible mark upon Sri Lanka and world architecture, to raise creativity to a whole new genre of appreciation, the celebration still continues. In as much we acknowledge and appreciate his works that very often transcend normal boundaries of thought, it is often those lines of architecture or interior design that surpasses the finer details to make things whole. Like the small bowl precariously balancing atop a granite stand. more..

Nov 18 (Hindu) SriLankan Airlines has unveiled an initiative named “Exciting Sri Lanka” to promote the island nation’s appeal to visitors. It offers a package for two nights and three days. The scheme includes airfare, star-class hotel accommodation and airport transfers. Announcing the package, the SriLankan Airlines Kerala manager said Sri Lanka had become a hotspot for great shopping bargains in the run-up to the year-end holiday season. more..

Nov 18 (Hindu) The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) on Saturday adopted a resolution that expressed concern over Sri Lanka’s inability to arrive at an internal constitutional settlement acceptable to all communities. The four-line mention of Sri Lanka in the omnibus resolution adopted at the session here was part of a long reference to the political situation in India’s neighbourhood. more..