Nov 27 (LG) The capture of the Mannaram- Poornaryn western coast, driving out the LTTE may seemingly have nothing to do with Anthony Jackson's recent movie which had stirred controversy because of the producer's deviations from historical orthodoxy. In fact the Mannar-Poornaryn coast has been the very theater where the early history of the land may have been played out. more..

Nov 27 (LG) It is more than evident that Prabakaran cannot stop the SL military’s forward march in their current, victorious stride. Yet he is desperate to halt the military avalanche one way or the other because, if he does not, tomorrow will probably be the last day he will make his infamous hero’s day speech. Prabakaran has tried a few times this year to get the GOSL to reciprocate a ceasefire. more..

Nov 27 (PISL) Some people really seem to delight in recounting our problems. Instead of appreciating progress, they bash us over the head with still to be obtained goals. And at considerable length. The situation is never improving in their eyes. We are either already bad or getting a lot worse, and no practical suggestions are offered to help us recover. Rhetorical flourishes are the only things we are given by these characters. more..

Nov 27 (PISL) A total of 1,244 civilians have crossed over to the Government controlled areas leaving un-cleared areas during this year, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said yesterday (26). "During this month alone 309 civilians reached the Government controlled areas in the Wanni arriving from Jaffna, Karthiv, and Omanthai, while 221 used land routes to move to the liberated areas," he noted. more..

Nov 27 (GDI) The Ministry of Livestock Development has drafted amendments to the Animals Act by increasing the penalty for illegal cattle slaughter and transport stipulated in the Animals Act No 29 of 1958. He said that this measure would indirectly contribute to boost the local dairy industry which accounts for only 27 percent of the country's present milk requirements. more..

Nov 27 (GDI) My Government and I hasten to condemn most vehemently the brutal acts of terrorism that killed more than 100 persons and injured many more in the attacks carried out in the Indian city of Mumbai last night. Our thoughts to go out to the families of those killed and injured and in these acts of terror; we express our deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery to those injured, and the safe and early release of hostages. more..

Nov 27 (LP) First comics and cartoons Website in Sri Lanka (www.lankacomics.com) was launched recently by, Chairman of ANCL (Lake House) Bandula Padmakumara. The Website was created by Nayana Malinthe Sapumal Bandara Samarakoon. Malinthe was a student of Kingswood College, Kandy. This is a concept of a Professional Graphics Designer Lalith Bandara Samarakone. more..

Nov 27 (CI) Only two teams managed wins in the second-round Tier A matches of the Premier League Tournament. Ragama Cricket Club and Chilaw Marians Cricket Club were the two victorious sides in a weekend where most games were affected by rain. At the Moors Sports Club Ground, Ragama CC thrashed Badureliya Sports Club by an innings-and-37-runs. Badureliya SC, who began the new season by comprehensively beating favourites Nondescripts CC, more..

Nov 27 (SAMN) Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena denied the UNP’s charges that the Government has ordered to cease all ongoing development projects in an extraordinary Circular to Government agencies. Addressing the media in Colombo, Minister Abeywardena said the Government has not taken any decision to suspend ongoing development projects due to any financial crisis. more..

Nov 27 (SAMN) Sri Lanka will soon become the fourth country in the Korean employment market due to the excellent training programme conducted by the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB), chairman of the SLFEB Kingsley Ranawaka said. “A few years ago we were 30th on the list,” he added. He said a training programme is being conducted at Ratmalana NITE and more..

Nov 27 (SAMN) The Education Sector has three sub-sectors - General Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Higher Education. These have been developed to meet the needs of the people for knowledge, skills and the attitudinal and value base that determine their behaviour almost through their life cycle. At the present juncture, the major key issues that need to be addressed in each sector are Equity, Quality, Efficiency and Effectiveness. more..

Nov 27 (SAMN) The one-man Commission Chaired by retired Court of Appeal Judge K. Wimalachanda to probe the affairs of the CMC commenced sittings Tuesday. This is the second such commission appointed by the Chief Minister of WPC Reginald Cooray to probe the CMC. At the outset, Sihala Urumaya MMC and Attorney at Law Tudor Perera testifying from the witness stand for the respondent party said that more..

Nov 27 (DN) The UK Government is implementing several changes to the immigration system this week. These changes will affect applications being made in Sri Lanka. The UK Government will start to issue identity cards to foreign nationals making applications in the UK to stay as a student or based on marriage. This does not yet apply to people making visa applications in Sri Lanka, more..

Nov 27 (DN) Education Minister Susil Premajayantha yesterday told Parliament that the CID is investigating a case where a tuition class had given a question paper very similar to a question paper given at the year end Government school test. He said that the investigating officers in the Education Ministry are also conducting a probe in this regard and legal action will be taken if any person in the Ministry or outside is found guilty. more..

Nov 27 (Island) Textile Development Minister Mahinda Ratnathilaka yesterday complained to the CID and the Presidential Investigation Unit against the Additional Secretary of the Textile Ministry W. A. Jayasinghe alleging misappropriation of Rs.635,982 from the Textile Quota Board. Jayasinghe has not reported for duty for nearly a month and there were no records to indicate that he had left the country. more..

Nov 27 (Island) Policy makers should have a vision to come up with mental health care services for children. It was apparent that they lacked it where the new hospital wing for children at the LRH was concerned, Dr. Swarna Wijetunge said yesterday at a ‘Media Awareness Programme on Mental Health Related Issues’. She said that the policy makers had forgotten to include a child mental health care ward in the new wing. more..

Nov 27 (DM) The Government has leased to the Prima Ceylon Ltd., a land in the Kotte area for a paltry Rs. 50 an acre, the JVP charged in Parliament yesterday. JVP Parliamentary Group Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that this four acre land had been released by the Urban Development Ministry to be given on lease to this company. He said that the Finance Ministry had also approved this deal subsequently. more..

Nov 27 (DM) Trincomalee Campus of the Eastern University was closed indefinitely last morning due to a tense situation that arose when the students staged a protest against the stoppage in the water supply to the toilets of female students. The students protested in front of the hostel demanding that university authorities immediately reopen the campus. More than 100 students participated in the protest. more..

Nov 27 (LD) The President's expressed preparedness to talk with 'a disarmed LTTE' and the remark by the Foreign Minister the government would not oppose Prabhakaran contesting North elections, both go to establish the political solution unswervingly mooted by Ranil Wickremesinghe, said UNP general secretary Tissa Attanayake. Mr. Attanayake said the Rajapaksa regime had finally arrived at this decision at the expense of billions of rupees and a large number of lives. more..

Nov 27 (LD) Two out of five Sri Lankan women using public transport are subjected to sexual harassment, Chairman of the Legal Aid Commission, S.S. Wijerathne says. Speaking at a media briefing on Nov. 25th to coincide with International Day against Violence against Women, he said that according to a LAC survey, 43 per cent of women who travel in public transport are being subjected to sexual harassment. more..

Nov 27 (LD) An unidentified gunman has gunned down the priest of the Siva Muttumari Amman Kovil in Batticaloa near his home in the Kovil premises around 1.20 am today (Nov. 27th), said the Media Centre for National Security. The priest, Subramanium Kamalraj, has succumbed to his injuries at Batticaloa Hospital around 2.45 am. Batticaloa police are investigating the incident.

Nov 27 (LD) Unusually heavy, gale like monsoon rains in the North and North East has thwarted most media and military operations, say reports from many sources that have access to distress areas. Heavy downpour and strong winds across the Jaffna peninsula have already displaced a total of 31,984 persons from 8,632 families who had to find refuge in safer places until the adverse weather condition eases off. more..

Nov 27 (LBO) Sri Lankan chocolate maker Edna says it will resume production and start an aggressive marketing campaign to clear their name after winning a court battle over a melamine contamination scare. On November 21, Colombo High Court gave the firm the go ahead after using fresh samples taken by the government analyst, officials said. Edna says the company will start its distribution activities as soon as possible. more..

Nov 27 (LBO) A team of ministers is probing an oil hedge that could lose hundreds of millions of dollars to a state-run oil retailer amidst claims that the oil retailer had not informed the cabinet clearly about risks of derivatives trading. A committee made up of four ministers is now probing the deal, where the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is locked into buying more..

Nov 27 (AP) A trickle of bodies and hostages emerged from a luxury hotel Thursday as Indian commandoes tried to free people trapped by suspected Muslim militants who attacked at least 10 targets in India's financial capital of Mumbai, killing 101 people. More than 300 were also wounded in the highly coordinated attacks Wednesday night by bands of gunmen who invaded two five star hotels, a popular restaurant, a crowded train station, more..

Nov 27 (Reuters) Torrential rain bogged down Sri Lanka's siege of the Tamil Tigers' headquarters town on Thursday, the day the separatists' chief was due to deliver his yearly rallying cry for an insurgency now under heavy military pressure. The military since September has been attacking the LTTE self-declared capital of Kilinochchi, and on Wednesday said its fall was imminent. more..

Nov 27 (TN) While conveying his love and gratitude to the people and leaders of Tamil Nadu and leaders of India who have grasped the heartbeat of Eezham Tamils and have come forward with timely support, the LTTE leader V.Pirapaharan in his Hero’s Day speech on Thursday requested them to voice firmly for Tamil Eelam and to undertake conducive measures to remove the ban, a great hindrance to amicable relationship between India and the LTTE. more..

Nov 28 (TS) At least two local Sri Lankan groups are urging Canadian authorities to stop a Tamil organization from holding events to mark "Heroes Day", alleging they are a front to raise funds for the outlawed Tamil Tigers terrorist group and glorify suicide bombers. One event was held yesterday at a Danforth Rd. banquet hall and another is slated for Saturday at the downtown Ricoh Centre. more..

Nov 28 (TC) In a sudden and dramatic development the LTTE withdrew from the heavily fortified northern town of Kilinochchi while soldiers of the Sri Lankan armed forces began moving in cautiously into the town area. Speculation is rife that the capture of Kilinochchi is likely to be announced officially by President Mahinda Rajapakse in an Island – wide address to the nation in Sinhala and Tamil on the evening of Thursday November 27th. more..

Nov 28 (IL) "In a world environment when terror and despair disturb countless thousands, peace has become an increasingly rare and precious goal. More and more people across the boundaries of race, colour and political conviction see the need for peace as the only way to progress both individually and globally". With this as a back drop Dr. Lean Madesin Phillips in St. Louis, Missouri, USA formed an association for women called more..

Nov 28 (IRIN) At least 60 percent of all women in Sri Lanka have experienced domestic violence, according to the Gender-Based Violence Forum (GBV Forum), a collective of UN and other international and local organisations. Specialists believe such abuse is on the increase in a country that scores well on most social issues such as education and healthcare. "The prevalence of gender-based violence is reported to be high and widespread, cutting across class, race, ethnicity and religion," more..

Nov 28 (GDI) Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, to enter into an export credit agreement with Calyon of France and loan agreement with Hatton National Bank to finance the rehabilitation of the new Laxapana and Wimalasurendra hydro power plants. Accordingly the Government will borrow the foreign portion not exceeding the equivalent in USD of a maximum amount of EUR 32,805,750, more..

Nov 28 (AFP) The leader of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels, Velupillai Prabhakaran, vowed in a radio broadcast Thursday to fight on and evict government forces closing in on his de facto political capital. Prabhakaran delivered his annual "Heroes' Week" speech over his Voice of Tigers radio and the Internet, despite an air raid on two rebel communication towers minutes before he went on air. more..

Nov 28 (IL) This unnecessary behavior of GMOA and the problem of healthcare service personals can be resolved by simple means as I have outlined below. I have no means to write in Sinhala and we are all living abroad watching one fraction of services rendered by the Sri Lankan tax payers’ money to healthcare and how these doctors with govt paid salaries amass wealth sucking arms and legs of innocent patients in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 28 (CI) Zimbabwe finally showed some mettle in a truncated third ODI, pushing Sri Lanka to the finish as the visitors just about managed to snatch a five-run win. Hamilton Masakadza starred with a blistering 77, and Tatenda Taibu continued to look good, as the home team made amends for their abysmal batting in the first two games. However, the big test for Zimbabwe is to display consistency in the upcoming matches and prove to their critics that the thriller in Harare was not a flash in the pan. more..

Nov 28 (Economist) LITTLE is known for certain about the fighting under way in northern Sri Lanka. The belligerents—the Sri Lankan army and the rebel LTTE—issue contradictory claims, and the area is closed to independent observers. Three things, however, seem clear. The 25-year-old war, in which the Tigers have been seeking an independent homeland in the north and east for Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority, is in an especially grim and bloody phase, made worse by the monsoon rains. more..

Nov 28 (LBO) Sri Lanka's hoteliers are bracing for a tough winter season with occupancy levels being hit by cancellations amid global turmoil while the industry was already struggling with weak arrivals, officials said. "Compared to a bleak year of 2007, 2008 has been even worse," says Sri Lal Miththapala, president of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka. "So it's not looking very good now." more..

Nov 28 (TO) In a defiant message broadcast from his jungle hideout to supporters across the world, the leader of the Tamil Tigers said yesterday that the Sri Lankan military was “living in a dreamland of military victory” - even as its forces were closing in. Velupillai Prabhakaran’s annual Heroes’ Day address went ahead, despite attempts by the Sri Lankan Government to block its transmission - which included bombing two rebel communications towers minutes before he went on air. more..

Nov 28 (IN) Sources in the Interior Ministry and various Trusts have revealed that some 17 Pakistanis are being held in Sri Lankan jails on a range of charges including traveling with false papers and drug smuggling. Most of those being held in detention are educated citizens who left Pakistan to find jobs abroad, due to spiraling unemployment and worsening economic conditions. Their exit was handled by fraudulent agents using fake passports or visa certificates, or more..

Nov 28 (LG) Presiding member, let me begin by congratulating the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, the Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, on his being unanimously elected as the President of the Conference of Parties to Vienna Convention at its eight convention held in Doha Qatar recently. As Sri Lankans, we are proud of your election and wish you the very best in the position. more..

Nov 28 (LG) I saw in Sri Lanka Guardian an article hurriedly penned by B. Raman, which he has eneded with the above quote. As I read through it, I thought of penning down my own views briefly as an addendum. Mr. Raman's apprehensions are well understood by people of Sri Lanka who have been menaced by the LTTE terrorism for 30 years. B. Raman claims that he is so agitated and his mind seems not to work as he is witnessing the carnage and possible implications of the terror attack in Mumbai. more..

Nov 28 (LG) Almost everyone remembers the night of 21st May 1991 when the erstwhile Prime Minister Mr Rajiv Gandhi and leader of the Congress party was assassinated in a meticulously planned and well co ordinated violent act by a LTTE female suicide bomber as he went to address an election meeting in Sriperumbudur in the outskirts of the city of Madras. It did not matter whether one was a Congress party supporter or not, party affiliations were not relevant; more..

Nov 28 (LD) The hastily signed, overnight implemented Indo-Lanka pact nor the 13th Amendment had treated fairly or benefited the Muslim community, and instead, resulted in them becoming a minority in the amalgamated northeast province, said leader of All Ceylon Muslim Congress, Minister Risath Bathiudeen. Previously, the Muslims comprised 35 per cent of East Province population, but the figure came down to 17 pc thereafter, more..

Nov 28 (LT) The enjoining order enforced on four members of the Executive Committee of Patriotic National Movement (PNM) including Ven. Dhambara Amila Thero has been annulled by the Colombo District Court today. The enjoining order had been imposed on a petition filed in Colombo District Court under case number 98/08/D.S.P. by the President of PNM Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera and its General Secretary Wimal Weerawansa. more..

Nov 28 (LG) Thank you for inviting me to the Annual Report Awards of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. It gives me great pleasure to be in the presence of such an illustrious audience tonight. I wish to congratulate the winners who were selected through a rigorous process. This event seeks to recognize and reward the excellence demonstrated by organizations in adhering to the principles of more..

Nov 28 (AT) Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has said that Velupillai Prabhakaran’s overtures to India contained in his latest message yesterday will not find accommodation. The Minister made this observation in the course of a Statement in Parliament today (28 November 2008), on the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on 26 November 2008. more..

Nov 28 (AT) Many countries in transition from colonialism to independence, underdevelopment to development or from conflict to peace have envisaged or rather compelled to envisage different visions of the state during their arduous transformations. The period relevant to this scenario is the post WW II context and some of the countries that confronted the said dilemma sharply in Asia include more..

Nov 28 (PISL) Numerous projects aimed at bringing development to the Eastern Province are being implemented by the Government with the support of international organisations. Sectors targeted include agriculture, fisheries, health and education, while special attention is being given to youth training programmes. These include efforts to develop English and IT skills, more..

Nov 28 (GDI) The institutions operated under the Department of Government Information have successfully implemented the programmes set during the year 2008. The Department is responsible for facilitating the lined Ministries and affiliated institutions of the respective Ministries and other state owned institutions to promote their development projects and other issues of national interest. more..

Nov 28 (GDI) Measures have been taken to expedite the process of providing necessary relief for those who affected by torrential rains and storms in Jaffna, Minister of Disaster Relief Services Amir Ali Sahabdeen said. The Disaster Management Centre reports that over 136,298 persons belonging to 36,730 families in five districts in the island have been displaced as a result of more..