Nov 17 (GV) Groundviews, a Sri Lankan citadel of free thought and expression, marked its one thousandth post on Friday, 4th November 2009, in a year which commemorates two other significant events in the story of human liberty and the history of ideas: the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and one and a half centuries since the publication of John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty in 1859. more..

Nov 17 (AT) The three forces commanders boycotted the farewell parade accorded yesterday to the former Army Commander and the Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka. Sources told Asian Tribune that the boycott displayed the Forces commanders was the greatest insult shown to the outgoing General Sarath Fonseka, who won the hatred of the rank file of soldiers during his tenure of office as Commander of the Army. more..

Nov 17 (VoA) It's been 6 months since Sri Lanka's 26-year civil war ended, but for many of those who were displaced by the fighting, a chance to get back to normal life has been a long time coming. Having waged a secessionist war against the Government of Sri Lanka for the nearly 3 decades, the LTTE, an insurgent group designated as terrorist by the United States and 31 other countries, finally surrendered on May 17th of this year. more..

Nov 17 (TN) A fisherman from Kurunakar in Jaffna caught a Valampuri Conch (a rare conch shell with right hand opening and turn) Monday in Jaffna lagoon area where fishing had been banned for the last 13 years since Sri Lanka Army occupation of Jaffna peninsula. He sold the conch for nearly 3,3 million rupees to a trader in Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said. A shell of the same kind was caught in the same area by a group of nine fishermen last month, more..

Nov 17 (BN) Sri Lanka said it is cultivating the rice-producing area in Mannar after clearing mines from the northwestern region captured from the LTTE before the group’s defeat in May. The mine clearing allowed 7,000 additional acres (2,833 hectares) to be cultivated recently and another 7,000 acres will be converted for rice growing once water storage levels rise, the government said on its Web site, more..

Nov 17 (Hindu) Fishermen want India and Sri Lanka to enter into an agreement, to enable fishermen of both countries to carry on fishing in the Palk Strait without friction or violence. Stressing this point, members of a fishermen forum, staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate here on Monday. In a seven-point charter of demands the Kazhagam voiced concern over the safety of fishermen and their craft whenever they ventured into the Palk Straits and Gulf of Mannar. more..

Nov 17 (LBO) Post-war Sri Lanka has an opportunity to generate employment quickly by developing tourism to ensure employment for youth especially in conflict-affected areas, a new report said. The study by the USAID said it was important to initiate efforts that would have a "tangible impact' on target communities in conflict affected areas in the short run while contributing to long-term tourism development. more..

Nov 17 (DBS) Discontent: Discontent in UNP ranks about supporting Sarath Fonseka as common presidential candidate. Party faithfuls want their own candidate. Confound: Mahinda the Medamulana Machiavelli will confound everyone by conducting Presidential elections before Parliamentary polls say Govt circles. Different: TNA undecided about supporting Sarath Fonseka. Three different schools of thought within TNA. more..

Nov 17 (NPC) President Mahinda Rajapaksa was expected to utilise the ruling party's convention to announce the dates of both the general elections as well as presidential elections. The general speculation centred around whether he would declare that the presidential election would be held prior to or after the general election, or be held concurrently. It was widely held that as the President is more popular than the rest of his government that more..

Nov 17 (LP) Lankapuvath contacted reputed jewelers in the city today and the price of a Gold sovereign ranged between Rs.31,600 – Rs.32,000. As gold prices continue rising in the world market attention is drawn to the high value and demand for gold especially in the Asian countries. Meanwhile Gold hit a fresh record high on Monday as investors hedged against a weak dollar, while Asian shares gained ground after more..

Nov 17 (wsws) The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Students for Social Equality (ISSE) held a well-attended meeting in Colombo on November 10 to mark the 70th anniversary of World War II. SEP political committee member Nanda Wickremasinghe, who chaired the meeting, explained that in the midst of the greatest global economic crisis since the 1930s, it was necessary for the working class to grasp the necessary political lessons of the events of World War II. more..

Nov 17 (TN) Six hundred Tamil political prisoners are still held in Magazine prison under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Emergency Regulations without any inquiry or indictment against them in law courts. Twenty Tamil prisoners were released from the prison Monday following the direction from the Attorney General that there was no evidence to implicate them with any offence under the PTA or ER. more..

Nov 17 (MoD) The construction work on the Oluvil Port will be completed in October next year. One third of the construction is now complete, said the Project Manager Hans Jorgen at a special press conference held at the Oluvil Port premises recently, President Media Division said. The Oluvil Port comprising a stretch of 1.4 kilometers will include a commercial harbour and a fisheries harbour. more..

Nov 17 (GDI) SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena in his welcome address at the 58th SLFP National Convention described President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the fourth SLFP leader who did wonders in four years as President. Speaking to a gathering of over 100,000 people, Sirisena said the President proved that terrorism could be wiped out though his predecessors believed it was the most difficult task. more..

Nov 17 (GDI) The Ministry of Lands and Land Development has taken steps to commence a programme to provide government aid to resolve the dispute of the right of ownership of Buddhist sacred sites located on government lands. Under the programme the Ministry is to present papers extending government assistance to one thousand five hundred identified Viharasthanas. The papers are to be presented after the Ministry resolve any disputes. more..

Nov 17 (GDI) For the convenience of those resettled in Thunukkai, Mallavi and Punakari travel facilities have been increased with the addition into service of three buses which was decided upon after the field visit to Thunukkai division recently , said Governor of the Northern Province G.A Chandrasiri. Under the resettlement scheme 16394 will be resettled in Thunukkai. They are to be resettled in Thunukkai, Omanthai west and Oddusuddan areas. more..

Nov 17 (GDI) An all night Pirith chanting will be held at the historic Kataragama Parithrana hall tonight to invoke merit and blessings on President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the members of the three armed forces, police and the public marking the four years of President Rajapaksa assuming office as the Executive President and to mark his birthday. It will be followed by a Sanghika Dana for 1,000 members of Bhikkhus at the same venue tomorrow. more..

Nov 17 (GDI) Another Government and private sector partnership materialized when the Ministry Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs join hands with Sujan International (Pvt) Ltd has took steps to educate and guide people to live on mother nature’s products with plant protein based diets. This will contribute for healthier living creating healthy vegetarian food of higher nutrition and quality, more..

Nov 17 (GDI) Meeting another pledge in the Mahinda Chinthanaya manifesto, the Ministry of Trade, Marketing Development, Consumer Affairs and Co-operatives has mooted plans to increase the number of Sathosa outlets to 152 by end December to offer essential consumer items at reasonable prices,the Minister of Trade, Bandula Gunawardhana said at the news conference held in Colombo yesterday (16). more..

Nov 17 (GDI) “Accessibility to public buildings and facilities in an inherent right, it is our moral duty and social responsibility to design future public constructions to enable rather than dis-able the significant and increasing number of our people who have curtailed mobility”, the Minister of Science and Technology Tissa Witarana said while introducing the Sri Lanka Standard SLS ISO TR 9527:2006 for building construction more..

Nov 17 (GDI) The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is looking into the needs of the people even after the resettlement of the people in their villages, said the Governor, Northern Province speaking at a ceremony at the Adampan College in Mannar. A ceremony to distribute school educational Items to the resettled people in five schools in the Manthai Education Zone took place under the auspices of more..

Nov 17 (BOI) The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka granted investment approval for Flinth Industrial Park to set up an Industrial Park at Kadawatha. Mr. Dhammika Perera, Chairman, signed the agreement on behalf of the BOI and formally presented the BOI Certificate of Registration to Mr. K J Westman, Director of Flinth Industrial Park. Flinth Industrial Park is a subsidiary to the Swedish holding company Swedcord Development AB. more..

Nov 17 (USE) The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) supported the study of six industry sectors including Dairy, Horticulture, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Tourism, and Logistics to identify growth opportunities in the East for the private sector. The recommendations of the six sector assessments were released by USAID to key stakeholders in the government, private sector, and other industries. more..

Nov 17 (LP) “Vidusuwa”, E- clinic programme, will provide medical service to the villages. “Vidusuwa” project issues medical reports, checks on patients and diagnoses illnesses with the assistance of the IT said the Information and Communication Technology Agency in Sri Lanka (ICTA). The intention of the programme is to provide the residence of the rural areas with the same facilities in the General hospitals, such as specialized services. more..

Nov 17 (LP) The French Government will donate Rs 1,600 million to upgrade hospitals in Sri Lanka on a request of Healthcare and Nutrition Minister. High Technological Medical Equipment will also be supplied to selected hospitals in the country. The Agreements of this project was singed recently at the Health Ministry premises, Health Ministry Secretary signed on behalf of Sri Lanka and Euro-Formed Institute Chairman singed on behalf of the French Government. more..

Nov 17 (Island) Undergraduates of the Sri Jayewardenepura University yesterday claimed that the University administration was misled by students attached to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and closed two faculties on Wednesday. The University administration was deliberately declining to give ear to the Students’ Council, union sources said. The Arts and Management Faculties of the Sri Jayewardenepura University were closed indefinitely on Wednesday, more..

Nov 17 (LP) The families who were affected by the last weeks heavy winds will be compensated. Accordingly the families whose houses were destroyed in the winds will receive a compensation between Rs. 50, 000 to Rs.100, 000. The money is given to re-building their houses. The families who were affected have been identified as marginally, significantly and completely affected. Most of those affected fall under the significantly affected category, more..

Nov 17 (LP) The government is seeking the assistance of the UN agencies, international donors and the local business community in rehabilitating over 11,000 former LTTE cadres. Speaking at a press briefing in Colombo today Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Maj. Gen. Daya Ratnayake said the government had rehabilitated a large number of former LTTE cadres from the Eastern Province during the past two years. more..

Nov 17 (LP) The Central Bank of Sri Lanka was issued a commemorative note in the denomination of Rupees 1000 to mark the ushering of peace and prosperity to Sri Lanka, on 17th November 2009. In terms of section 52 A (1) (a) and ( b) of the Monetary Law Act (Amendment) No.6 of 1998, with the approval of the Hon. Minister of Finance, the Central Bank issues commemorative coins and notes. more..

Nov 17 (LG) There are several controversial reports on the conditions of the IDPs housed in the camps. In this speech Dr. Noel Nadesan analyses clinically, without political biases, the realistic conditions that prevail in the IDP camps. This is a first-hand report that is a must read to get behind the political spin that has distorted the realities of the conditions faced by the IDPs. more..

Nov 17 (LG) The Khalistani terrorism in India and the terrorism of the LTTE in Sri Lanka are two unique instances in the history of terrorism where the State prevailed over the terrorists without conceding their demands. The threat faced by Sri Lanka was more complex and difficult to handle than the threat faced by India. Sri Lanka was confronted with a ruthless mix of a full-blown insurgency seeking territorial control and terrorism seeking to intimidate the civil society. more..

Nov 17 (LG) The resignation of Sarath Fonseka from the post of Commander Defense Services shocked the nation. The subsequent announcement that he would likely be the common candidate for the opposition, UNA, more than shocking the nation left them bewildered. News reports and websites are flooded with speculations, comments and analysis of this surprise move. One political analyst went so far as to say that General Fonseka, may suffer the same fate as more..

Nov 17 (LG) The three forces chiefs did not attended the guard of honor offered to General Sarath Fonseka who retired from active military service today (Nov.16). The chiefs of the three armed forces generally attend the ceremony held to offer a guard of honor to a Chief of Defence Staff who is retiring from the post. However, the President and Gotabaya has issued an order last night (15) calling on the forces chiefs not to attend the ceremony the following day. more..

Nov 17 (GV) Intellectuals in India have unfortunately not played positive roles in building good relations with its small neighbors. For the most part they ignore all neighbors other than Pakistan. In the few cases they do not, they tend to do active harm. The recent article in Forbes.com on 9 October 2009 by Professor Brahma Chellaney exemplifies the latter. more..

Nov 17 (LT) The JVP met a delegation from the Chinese Communists Party at Hotel Hilton on 14th instant. The Chinese delegation included Leiu Shia O, General Secretary of Siuaran Province of China, and the Ambassador for China Mrs Young Kshuping while the JVP delegation was represented by its leader Mr Somawansa Amarasinghe, Parliamentarians Bimal Ratnayake, Sunil Handunnetthi and the Central Committee Members Mrs Dimuthu Atygalle and Mr Nalinda Jayatissa. more..

Nov 17 (LT) General Sarath Fonseka who retired from his post met the President to bid adieu according to the tradition in the Army and has enlightened the President about his security requesting him to provide adequate security after retirement. The President has responded asking him to make a request in writing and once he received his letter he will take necessary action in this regard. more..

Nov 17 (UNP) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing a meeting at Gampaha on the 14th, recalled the history where the Kelanitissa King, a thousand years ago sent his Minister to put the Chief Incumbent of the Temple in a boiling cauldron of oil. After that, this is the next incident of violence committed in the Kelaniya temple by a Minister of the present ‘King’, Mr. Wickremesinghe pointed out. more..

Nov 17 (LT) The former Police Superintendent who was transferred to Police Headquarters on punishment has been appointed as the District Police Superintendent at Kurunegala with effect from yesterday. The Police Superintendent’s son Ravindu Gunawardena has arrived at his new Office in a vehicle with posters carrying photographs of Mr Sashindra Rajapaksa, the Chief Minister of Uva Province. more..

Nov 17 (AT) We understand that you will within a few days make up your mind whether to enter politics or not. That hesitation on your part is itself a good sign that you have paid attention to those who mean well for you. It is clear to us that you never had the idea of going into politics until recent events took place. The fallout of this was made use of by traitors who want to make a cat’s paw out of you to achieve whatever agenda they have. more..