Nov 26 (GDI) UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya in his dreamland has now started muttering in his sleep to call for elections that are legal. "If Jayasuriya opens his eyes in his slee, he will realized that all elections held in the pre- and post independence era have been constitutional and legal, an amiable Minister Anura Priyadarshna Yapa said amidst laughter of media personnel at the weekly cabinet briefing more..

Nov 26 (GDI) The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage has taken steps for the conservation of important Archaeological Sites in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, a sum of Rs. 153.35 million will be allocated for the year 2009 for the conservation of 41 Archeological Sites island wide. It has been identified that a number of sites of significant archaeological importance are being almost lost to the nation as a result of those sites being not conserved even on a priority basis. more..

Nov 26 (LP) The results of the G C E Advanced Level Examination were released by the Department of Examinations today (26). Schools Principals in the Colombo and Jayawardenapura educational zones could collect the results from the Examination Department while results of the schools outside Colombo will be mailed. About 126,000 have qualified for university admission through this year's examination. more..

Nov 26 (DN) Glamour and entertainment will be the keyword when Colombo Cinnamon Round Table 4 in partnership with Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology (LIFT) supported by Sri Lanka Tourism will present the most talked about fashion show of the season titled ‘Chic!’. The show will feature works of a number of international and local fashion designers that are edgy, voguish, classy, elegant and couture. more..

Nov 26 (LP) No one can neglect the responsibility one has towards developing the country and it is the sole responsibility of the Teachers to mould a well disciplined younger generation. The younger generation takes teachers as a role model therefore they should protect the dignity of the profession and should become parents and friends of the students said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Samurdhi Development Officers in more..

Nov 26 (LG) The announcement made by Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa that there is no room for a re-merger of the North and East provinces as a political geographical land mass entity and human settlement in Sri Lanka is a reality of contemporary politics in Sri Lanka. The president said this to editors N Vithiyatharan of Sudar Oli and Devaraj of Virakesari at a breakfast meeting with the heads of media institutions on the 25th., more..

Nov 26 (BOI) The Board of Investment granted investment approval for B S H Ventures Limited to manufacture and assemble bicycles for the export market. Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, formally presented the BOI Certificate of Registration to Mr. J.G.M Smits, Chairman of the company while Mr. Dhammika Perera, Chairman signed the agreement on behalf of the BOI. more..

Nov 26 (LG) UNA presidential election candidate is none other than Ranil this time too. There is absolutely no confusion on that. News reports and rumours to the contrary only add to spice up the announcement that would be otherwise dull. It is going to be the fourth presidential poll Ranil would be keen to contest. In 1994 the party selected Gamini Dissanayake over Ranil as its presidential candidate. more..

Nov 26 (MoD) France deserves praise for having busted a major LTTE extortion racket and we fervently hope that it will go the whole hog to eliminate the menace once and for all. There must be hundreds of LTTE collectors throughout France, and all of them must be brought to book, states The Island editorial on Thursday (Nov 26), commending France's stringent actions against LTTE activists. more..

Nov 26 (LT) Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Felix Perera has used vehicles of National Aquatic Resources Research & Development Agency (NARA) for the propaganda programme carried out on the 24th by the SLFP for the presidential election and they have not been returned to NARA yet say reports. The vehicles made available on a directive by the Chairman of NARA are two double cabs bearing registered numbers 54-2074 and 54-4053. more..

Nov 26 (LG) “I can say on behalf of the Government of Indian, that the our government never supplied military hardware to the Government of Sri Lanka during the final Eelam War as some analysts accuse us” a top level Minister of the present ruling Congress Party government said. V. Narayansamy, General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) is the Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs, more..

Nov 26 (LT) Speaking to a media that is favourable to the government Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition Nimal Siripala de Silva had said the death of the girl from Wariyapola, who died of ‘rubella’ poisoning, was due to the negligence of the staffs of MHO’s office and the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital. Minister Siripala Silva has said health authorities should take the responsibility for the death of the girl. more..

Nov 26 (LT) A report that Minister of Tourism Nanda Gunatileke resigned from his portfolio today and NFF MP Achala Suranga Jagoda was sworn in as the Minister of Tourism was published in the media today. However, according to information we receive this information is not correct. On a notice received Mr. Achala Suranga Jagoda had gone to meet the President with his wife to be sworn in as the Minister of tourism. more..

Nov 26 (LeN) Western province senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka has given instructions in writing to the General Sarath Fonseka who retired recently from the post of Chief of defense staff as regards how General’s security contingent’s vehicles should travel on the highway and their conduct. The DIG has also warned that if the highway code is violated, action will be taken. more..

Nov 26 (GV) As news of the upcoming election unfolds, I find myself considering the meaning of the notion the “common candidate” in general, and its application to General Fonseka in particular. In the broadest sense, a common candidate is one who represents and promises to fulfill the people’s common aspirations and desires. Whether the General meets these criteria is still open to question, and more..

Nov 26 (LNP) NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP yesterday said that had the UN been genuinely concerned about the Vanni population, it would not have turned a blind eye to the plight of two UN employees detained by the LTTE for helping civilians flee the terrorist controlled region. He said the on-going high profile campaign to pressure Sri Lanka to open up all welfare centres in the northern Vavuniya region was nothing but a ploy to free terrorists living among the IDPs. more..

Nov 26 (CT) Retired Gen. Sarath Fonseka has reportedly prevented Military Police from forcibly removing several Army-owned vehicles from his residence last night. The Military Police team?s leader has told Gen. Fonseka that he had been ordered from the higher up to take away the vehicles on a decision by the National Security Council. The former Army chief has refused to allow the removal, saying he has not been notified of such a decision. more..

Nov 26 (AD) The UNP will back General Sarath Fonseka as the Common Candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe said a short while ago. The UNP took this decision at a working committee meeting this morning. This has ended weeks of speculation as to which way the UNP would throw its weight. more..

Nov 26 (DN) The resettlement of internally displaced persons is being expedited. All the Jaffna district IDPs will go to their original places of residence today. The number of IDPs at Menik Farm welfare centre had come down to 121,849 by yesterday, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Ministry Secretary U.L.M. Haldeen told the Daily News. He said IDPs of Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara have been completely resettled and more..

Nov 26 (DN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday emphasised the need for people of all communities and religions to live under a single banner in a spirit of understanding and co-existence. At a time when we are marching towards accelerated development goals after overcoming many challenges on our path the need to create a disciplined society which upholds mutual respect has arisen more than ever before, he said. more..

Nov 26 (DM) The Court of Appeal yesterday (25) allowed an application made by the Counsel for Senior Journalist J.S. Tissainayagam to support his petition for bail after filing a certified copy of the petition of appeal submitted to the High Court.The Bench comprising Justices Sisira de Abrew and Upali Abeyrathne allowed the appeal and listed the matter for support on December 2. more..

Nov 26 (DN) Sri Lanka will participate in Copenhagen Climate Change Summit with seven proposals to achieve a proposed target for reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by industrialized countries by establishing an Adaptation Fund. The industrialized countries need to contribute one percent of the GDP Environment and Natural Resources, Minister Champika Ranawaka said Tuesday. He was speaking at a press conference to explain what Sri Lanka would do by more..

Nov 26 (LG) “The impunity with which the Sri Lankan government is able to commit these crimes [referring to 2009 war atrocities, including brutal internment of 300,000 Tamils] actually unveils the deeply ingrained racist prejudice that is precisely what led to the marginalization and alienation of the Tamils of Sri Lanka in the first place. That racism has a long history – of social ostracism, economic blockades, pogroms and torture. more..

Nov 26 (Island) Responding to UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya’s call for a free and fair presidential election, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premjayantha, MP said that the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections would be the first countrywide polls since the liberation of the entire country from LTTE terrorism last May. more..

Nov 26 (Island) The Medical Officers of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital are up in arms against a move by the trade union of Government Services to hush up an investigation into an incident where some hospital employees are alleged to have sold medical equipment with the State emblem belonging to the hospital to a private pharmacy in town. The doctors said this arose when the guardian of a patient admitted to the Dialysis Unit had been asked to more..

Nov 26 (Island) The CID yesterday filed an application before the Colombo Chief Magistrate Nisantha Hapuarachi to remand a suspect taken into custody under a detention order for posing as a relative of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Filing a ‘B’ report the CID said that suspect Jayantha Jude Illinosi, a resident of Piliyandala, had posed as a relative of the President. Under the fake name of Amal Rajapaksa, he had held the post of more..

Nov 26 (DM) Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that the Defence Ministry was ‘surprised’ over General Sarath Fonseka’s decision to file a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking adequate security and the intervention of the court for a secure quarters. “The ministry is surprised that General Fonseka went to Courts seeking adequate security despite the fact that he is already having enough security,” more..

Nov 26 (Island) General (retd) Sarath Fonseka is likely to contest the next Presidential Election, on the Lalith Front ticket, The Island learns. Sources said the Lalith Front, though a registered party, had not contested elections for a long time and was willing to provide Fonseka with a forum to contest the presidency. "There will be no problem in changing the party’s name or symbol," they said. more..

Nov 26 (DM) Minister D. M Jayaratne said he is ready to accept the post of Prime Minister if President Mahinda Rajapakse offers him the post when the President is re elected at the next Presidential election. “If the President offers me the Prime Minister, I will accept”, he said. He added that former UNP Presidents J. R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa and D. B. Wijetunga had offered him the Prime Minister post several times and he had rejected the offer thinking of his party. more..

Nov 26 (DM) The Kelaniya University and the Dambana Heritage Centre recently signed a MoU to conduct research on the cultural heritage of the Veddah community and to uplift the standard of living of the people in Dambana. Vice Chancellor of the Kalaniya University Prof. Sarath Amunugma and Veddah Chief Uruwarige Vanniyalaettho signed the MoU. Prof. Amunugama pointed out that the socio-economic changes in the country had an adverse effect on the environment and more..

Nov 26 (CT) All roads in Colombo city that had been closed for security reasons were reopened for the general public today (Nov. 26). However, only the seaside lane of the stretch of Galle Road in front of Temple Trees, the residence of the president, will be kept open. The Defence Ministry also said road closures for VIPs will be discontinued. Police spokesman DIG Nimal Leuke said there would be no exceptions even for Gen. Sarath Fonseka. more..

Nov 26 (MoD) The SLTB will deploy more buses on the Colombo-Jaffna route following the high public demand. There is a huge public demand to travel on the A9 road after easing of travel restrictions by the Government recently and over 2,000 civilians have requested to travel on the A9 road each day. The Government recently started a commuter bus service between Colombo and Jaffna initially deploying twenty buses in order to cater to their travelling needs, he said. more..

Nov 26 (CI) Indian cricket's prodigal son Sreesanth returned to international cricket in style with a five-for, and six wickets overall, to leave Sri Lanka staring at defeat in the second Test in Kanpur. Sri Lanka, forced to follow on after tea, were tottering in the second innings still 356 runs adrift with six wickets standing. Though India's spinners and Sri Lanka's batsmen - the senior-most duo contrived a run-out while following on - contributed to the collapse, most of the work was done by Sreesanth, more..

Nov 26 (Hindu) President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday said he saw no challenge in the so-called common candidate in the calibre of a retired military man or the former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, in the Presidential election scheduled in the second half of January 2010. Talking to the media over a breakfast meeting Mr. Rajapaksa remarked that retired military personnel will not be candidates in uniforms and pointing his finger at the Defence Secretary more..

Nov 26 (LT) The JVP states the government has taken measures using the police to cancel the rally organized to be held at Ananda Samarakone Memorial Arena at Nugegoda on the 30th of this month at 3.00 p.m. on the theme “Let’s build people’s power against frenzy of the executive, nepotism and hunger for power.” A spokesman for the JVP said permission to hold the rally had been obtained from Sri Jayawardenepura- Kotte Municipality by more..

Nov 26 (AFP) Central bank said Thursday gold was an "important anchor" for the country's foreign reserves after it bought more of the precious metal this week. Sri Lanka purchased 10 metric tonnes of gold from the IMF for about 375 million dollars on Monday, nearly three weeks after buying about five tonnes as part of a move to diversify its reserves. "We see gold as an important anchor and a hedge to have in times of volatile currency markets. We think it's a good time to buy," more..

Nov 26 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's main opposition party said on Thursday it will back former army chief Sarath Fonseka's bid in a presidential election, the most serious challenge to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's re-election campaign. Authorities issued orders easing security measures, including protection for dignitaries, for the first time since the defeat of the Tamil Tigers' 25-year separatist insurgency in May. more..

Nov 27 (GDI) Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Development and Sacred Area Development, Dinesh Gunawardena to implement the mixed development project called “Ethukala City Mall” on a long term lease upon receipt of approval for the said project from the BOI. And the project on the subject land should be commenced within a period of three months with effect from the date of handing over of the physical possession of the land to the developer. more..