Sep 3 (LG) The west supported the then existing governments to crush the JVP movement both in 1971 and 1989-92 without any protest against the loss of human rights of the JVP cadres, sympathisers and others who were mainly Sinhala Buddhists. Of course one could argue that the west did not support the JVP simply because the party was Marxist and the former did not want any change of the economic system. more..

Sep 3 (CI) After a four games on tour without a win, it was a relief for Daniel Vettori to see some smiles on his players' faces. Having won his first toss of what until this evening had been a disappointing tour, Vettori played a stellar role with the ball to help New Zealand sneak a humdinger at the R Premadasa Stadium. Vettori was typically deadpan at the post-match presentation, but there was an undeniable air of achievement when he looked back at a come-from-behind win. more..

Sep 3 (AFP) Canada is "deeply concerned" by Sri Lanka's sentencing of a journalist to 20 years of hard labor, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said. "The government of Canada is deeply concerned by the sentencing of J.S. Tissainayagam to 20 years in prison for violating Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act," he said in a statement. "Canada is a strong proponent of vibrant and free media, an essential element of democratic governance in Sri Lanka and more..

Sep 3 (Reuters) The United States voiced grave concern on Wednesday about video footage that a Sri Lankan group says shows government soldiers summarily executing Tamil rebels in violation of international law. "These reports are very disturbing, they are of grave concern," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told reporters. "We'd like more information as we formulate our own national response." more..

Sep 3 (National) It is a chilling thought. With the recent landmark judgment against the 45-year-old Sri Lankan journalist Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam, or Tissa to his friends, all journalists face the prospect of being placed in the “dock” – whether in court or elsewhere. Tissa’s crime was that his writings were subjected to interpretation and proved before a Sri Lankan court that they created ethnic disharmony. So the state prosecutor said. more..

Sep 3 (LBO) Action by labour unions on Sri Lanka's tea estates to disrupt the movement of teas could hamper exports and threatens the industry and entire economy, the CTTA warned. "The entire industry is under grave threat, which will, in turn, very adversely affect the national economy," it said in a statement. "If a quick resolution does not materialize, there is bound to be an inimical effect on the internationally renowned Colombo tea auctions. more..

Sep 3 (Dawn) Pakistan is to resume air services to Sri Lanka after a seven-year gap, following plans to improve commercial ties between the two countries, newspapers reports said on Wednesday. The plan to recommence the air link comes amid Sri Lanka’s efforts to carry out an ambitious tourism plan after the end of the 30-year-old war with the Tamil Tiger rebels. ‘Air Blue’, the Karachi-based private airline, would start flights to Colombo, the reports said. more..

Sep 3 (TB) Mohamed Bary, the father of the Ohio teenager who ran away from home saying her parents would kill her for converting to Christianity, says he wants nothing more than to reunite his family. But he and his daughter seem further apart than ever. Tuesday night, he said Rifqa, 17, is lying when she says that he spent hours every weekend at a mosque that harbors Islamic terrorists and more..

Sep 3 (LG) Mr. Lanka Nesiah, writing in the opinion column of the Island (28-august-2009) has attempted to explain some of the politically easily misunderstood remarks of Bishop Duleep de Chickera. I thank him for bringing out the background details. However, the issue is not in the details but in the political fallout ignored by Mr. Nesiah and the Pious Bishop, within the big picture of the so called "national problem". more..

Sep 3 (LG) Most of the newspapers in North America and other western countries where many Tamil-speaking human beings are living as immigrants published a news item on May 18th, 2009, that the war in Sri Lanka was ended and the rebel leader for the movement LTTE was killed. This news created happiness for most of the Sinhala-speaking human beings, who are the majority of the population in Sri Lanka, and more..

Sep 3 (LG) Of late Sri Lankan Police has been able to dominate the news headlines on various issues of complaints ranging from Negligence, Assault, Abuse of Power, Prejudice, Illegal Arrests and Detention, and Bribery and Corruption, etc. As a consequence, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had to intervene and summon the IGP Jayantha Wickremaratne with Senior DIG’s at Temple Trees on 17 August 09 to give a pep talk on police responsibilities and more..

Sep 3 (LG) A few Sundays back I stopped in my tracks and re-read Prof. Kumar David’s condemnation of the Tamils of Jaffna as “congenital idiots” (July 26, 2009, Sunday Island). He was angry that the Tamils were accusing the Marxists of betraying the Tamils when in reality it was the Tamils of Jaffna who never responded positively to the Marxists who had stuck their necks out to champion their causes. more..

Sep 3 (LG) Several events have had a shocking effect on democratically-minded people in Sri Lanka this week. J.S. Tissainayagam, a well-known journalist who was prosecuted by the government under draconian anti-terrorism laws on charges of aiding and abetting terrorism and trying to provoke racial hatred, was sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment. The case of the journalist has drawn international attention and many governments have intervened on his behalf. more..

Sep 3 (GDI) State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has challenged the opposition UNP to disclosed the right it had to demand a salary increase for the state sector as it was the UNP that suspended recruitment to the state sector. Addressing newsmen in Colombo yesterday, the Minister said he was surprised over a statement made by a leader who thought that public service was a nuisance and a nonsense. more..

Sep 3 (MoD) The Channel 4, a British TV channel apparently engaged in a deliberate propaganda campaign against Sri Lankan citizens, has come up with its latest canard about the island nation. A video footage of very poor quality showing two persons clad in combat uniforms shooting down two others has been given a huge publicity by the Channel 4 TV claiming it to be of Sri Lankan soldiers "summarily executing Tamils". more..

Sep 3 (GDI) The Government will offer more relief to the fisher community in the North. Under this programme, it is planned to revive the ice production plant and the canned fish production factory at Pesalai in Mannar after nearly two decades. Pesale will now have five cold storage plants. The work is being carried out on the instructions of the President and under the guidance of Chief of the Uthuru Wasanthaya Task Force more..

Sep 3 (GDI) Nearly 2160 acres in the 35 resettlement villages in Vavuniya will be under cultivation shortly. Northern Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri has issued relevant instructions to officials in this regard. In some of these villages the Sinhalese and Muslims expected to be resettled have been permanent residents. They have taken refuge in Vavuniya, Anuradhapura and Madawachchi where relief villagers were establish due to the terrorism of the LTTE. more..

Sep 3 (LP) A Sri Lankan Doctor will attempt to enter the Genus book of records by conducting over 175-200 eyes surgeries. With the contribution of the Eye Donation Association Dr Samittha Amarathunga will conduct the surgeries at the “Eye Clinic” which will be held from the 06th of September. 540 patients will undergo several eye related surgeries. Dr Samittha Amarathunga is currently employed at the Bijaya Kumarathunga Eye hospital in Seeduwa. more..

Sep 3 (LP) Sri Lanka Prison Department has established a new special Intelligence and Security Division to curb illegal drug smuggling, activities of underworld gangs from the prison. Following the commencement of this Division it will be able to check the prison inmates and officials in Prisons Department such as the jailors. The Division is empowered to launch raids on the prison cells, prevent the ingress of unneeded items such as mobile phones, into prisons. more..

Sep 3 (LP) Dolomite fertilizer production is to commence at the dolomite Factory of the Sri Lanka State Engineering Corporation located in Matale after its reconstruction from the 07th of September. In keeping with the “Api Wawamu- Rata Nagamu”, high quality dolomite fertilizer will be manufactured and distributed among the local farmers for concessionary rates. more..

Sep 3 (LP) Three journalists comprising staff journalist, a free lance photographer, a provincial reporter of “Lanka Irida ” newspaper were arrested by Deniyaya Police for entering the premises belonging to Mrs. Ranawaka unlawfully. Speaking to Lankapuvath Deniyaya Police confirmed that that the incident had taken place in the private premises of Mr. Thusitha Ranawaka and Mrs.Ranawaka, sister and brother-in-law of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, more..

Sep 3 (MoD) A demonstration against the Channel-4 Television Corporation organised by British Sri Lankan Forum (BSLF) will be held on 5th September from 11.00am to 2.00pm in London. BSLF also has launched an online petition campaign which is now circulating around the world collecting signatures for this purpose. Channel-4 News in the UK broadcasted an unauthenticated video clip, accusing Sri Lanka Army and the government of war crimes. more..

Sep 3 (DN) In the early 1940s I was playing around one day with the radio when accidentally I touched a button and out came a well modulated voice singing a song in Sinhala. What struck me at first were the words used - the Sinhala spoken in daily use in contrast with the prevailing 'classical' style used by our popular singers of the 'gramophone era' in our time. Its melody was even more remarkable, it seemed wedded to the words that were being spoken. more..

Sep 3 (LNP) In the context of war, many extraordinary laws were promulgated to make sure that there were checks against those who supported separatism. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was one such draconian piece of legislation introduced as a deterrent. However, today war is a thing of the past. The government is fast making moves in the process of reconciliation by holding elections in the North, mapping out strategies to resettle IDPs, more..

Sep 3 (NP) J. S. Tissainayagam, a Tamil reporter, received a 20-year sentence for violating Sri Lanka's laws, specifically the Prevention of Terrorism Act. If Mr. Tissainayagam paid any attention to the laws of the country, he would have known that his actions and false claims would be subject to the laws of Sri Lanka. He was indicted, had the freedom to choose lawyers to defend him and also has the right of appeal. more..

Sep 3 (LNP) The judgment in the Tissainayagam case has generated a mixed reaction. It has left some happy and others irate as is the way with justice, which is in the final analysis reducible to a logical conclusion derived from a set of premises based on available and verifiable facts. We don`t intend to discuss the judgment at issue. Disagreements as regards court decisions could always be settled through the effective appeal mechanisms built into the judicial system. more..

Sep 3 (MoD) "Among war heroes are medical personnel who treat wounded soldiers in the battlefield and evacuate them to safety. The MOU between the Kotelawala Defence University and the University of Ruhuna is a correct step forward. The ambition of candidates selected through a transparent procedure is not only to become a doctor but also a professional military person as well, so that he may play a dual role in serving the country" more..

Sep 3 (MoD) President Mahinda Rajapaksa met President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela in the Libyan capital of Tripoli and was engaged in a cordial discussion on bilateral issues yesterday (Sep 2). The two Presidents met after the grand celebrations to commemorate the 40th National Day held in the Libyan capital where both leaders were special invited guests of the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar El Gadaffi. more..

Sep 3 (LNP) The Shareholders of the Seylan Bank PLC at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held yesterday unanimously approved the proposed private placement of shares and public issue of share at Rs. 35/- per share. The shareholders also adopted the new Articles of Association in conformity to the Company s Act of 2007. During the last four months the Bank gained additional deposits of Rs. 4 Bn while more..

Sep 3 (LNP) The Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan (Karuna) yesterday insisted that the Chief Minister of Eastern Province Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan) should not make statements against the Government and the President on crucial issues. Muralitharan who is also the Vice President of the SLFP said the Chief Minister Chandrakanthan s unwanted statements would create problem in Eastern Province politics. more..

Sep 3 (LNP) The war victory euphoria will not last long and the government would have to eventually face reality and bread and butter issues, at national elections which are said will be held soon. UNP MP, Vajira Abeywardena said that the economy was facing a serious crisis, with factories closing down at a rapid rate, joblessness increasing and the cost of living skyrocketing. more..

Sep 3 (UNP) UNP and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking to the media today (3) at the National Library auditorium said, there are 250,000 IDPs held back by the Govt. in camps. Of them 130,000 have asked for permission to go to their relatives and friends. Another 40,000 can go to their villages .In other words 170, 000 can be freed from the camps by the Govt. more..

Sep 3 (TN) Only ninety-three elders were allowed to leave the ‘internment camps’ in Vavuniyaa Wednesday despite earlier announcement that five hundred elders would be allowed to leave. Of the 93, 46 elders were handed over to the All Ceylon Hindu Congress (ACHC) and the rest to the elders’ home run by the Vavuniyaa-Koayil Ku’lam Sivan Koayil. Earlier the resettlement authority said they would hand over 300 elders to the ACHC and more..

Sep 3 (GDI) All arrangements are in place to resettle 30,000 IDPs in 35 villages in Vavuniya District, Northern Province Governor G.A Chandrasiri said. The Governor on an inspection in those villages pointed out that 7795 families will be resettled in 35 villages on the directions of the Chairman of the "Uthuru Vasanthaya" Task Force, Basil Rajapakse. The total number of Internaly displaced resettled in these villages would be 30,000. more..

Sep 3 (LT) The power supply of the rented out house of Minister of Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication and Leader of Upcountry People’s Front P. Chandrasekeran at Rajagiriya has been disconnected by LECO. According to LECO the power supply had to be disconnected as the Minister has failed to pay an arrears of Rs.700,000 to the company for the electricity used. more..

Sep 3 (LT) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe has directed that stern disciplinary and legal action should be taken against MPs, Members of Provincial Councils and activists of the party who make statements disadvantageous to the party during election times. The Leader of the UNP has made such a directive taking the stand that the campaign for the forthcoming Southern PC election and the general election should be carried out on the same theme say reports. more..

Sep 3 (LT) Estate workers’ trade unions have decided take trade union action of not cooperating with estate administrative authority as a protest against failure by the authorities to increase the daily wages of estate workers. This action was launched yesterday by the united organization of estate workers trade unions. According to the trade union action the workers would refrain from carrying out any work assigned by their employers outside their daily duties. more..

Sep 3 (LeN) The Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa had ordered the Chairmen of ITN and Rupavahini that all video tapes on the war scenes in the North during the final phase be immediately taken into the custody of the Chairmen. Incidentally, it was only the ITN and the Rupavahini the only two State Institutions which were permitted to cover these war scenes. more..

Sep 3 (LT) Deniyaya Police have given contradictory statements regarding the three journalists from ‘Lanka Irida’ Sinhalese weekend newspaper who were arrested by Deniyaya Police while they were in Deniyaya area in Matara to cover an event. As soon as it was known that the three journalists were arrested the editorial board of ‘Lanka Irida’ had telephone Deniyaya Police to inquire regarding the incident. more..

Sep 3 (LT) “The Southern PC was extremely corrupt. Public money was pilfered in billions. The UNP never opposed such deeds. Whenever there was fraud or corruption the UNP stood with the government,” said chief ministerial candidate of the JVP Sisira Kumara. He said, “Recently Mr. Justin Galappaththi said he joined the government. However, it was only the announcement of his cross over. For many years he and the UNP had worked with the government. more..

Sep 3 (DN) Sri Lankan illicit liquor distillers, wholesale and retail dealers, banned drugs and tobacco abusers and consumers together paid more than Rs. 100 million to the State coffers in fines, within the first seven months of this year. They were apprehended in more than 26,000 raids launched by the Sri Lanka Excise Department. This record revenue earned through Excise Department raids includes Rs.100.4 million, by way of fines more..

Sep 3 (DM) A suspect who had allegedly hacked the Western Provincial Council official website and distorted the data, entering insulted statements against the Western Provincial Council Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and Governor Alavi Moulana was released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Nishantha Hapuarachchi yesterday. The suspect had been identified as a school boy from Mirigama. more..

Sep 3 (LG) Sri Lanka is one of those rare cases where terrorism has been comprehensively defeated, largely by its own efforts, despite all the advice, reservations and fears publicly expressed to the contrary. A once-feared terrorist organization has been eliminated militarily. Only a shadow of that organization remains. Many, including senior officials in Sri Lanka, believed that the LTTE could not be defeated more..

Sep 3 (DN) The first ever railway station in Sri Lanka built by Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry at a cost of Rs. 26 million with all modern International level public facilities will be opened at Omanthai on December 31, Social Services and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Lionel Premasiri told the `Daily News' yesterday. He said this is the first ever Sri Lankan railway station to be built with public funding and voluntary labour. more..

Sep 3 (Island) The Government’s decision to give a salary hike in January 2010 to Ceylon Electricity Board employees would not be feasible due to Presidential and General Elections next year, says the United Trade Front of the CEB. UTFCEB General Secretary Ranjan Jayalal told The Island yesterday: "Giving a salary rise in January is a damn lie. It is common knowledge that such increments cannot be given after announcing elections. more..

Sep 3 (Island) The Consumer Affairs Authority fined two shop keepers in the National Zoological Gardens, Dehiwela Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 5,000 for over charging consumers. Consumer Affairs Authority Spokesperson Chandra Tillakaratne yesterday said that following numerous complaints from consumers that water, soft drinks, sachets of milk and other food items were being sold at higher prices. more..

Sep 3 (Island) The Ceylon Police Force, as it was then called, and subsequently as the Sri Lanka Police Department, was established exactly 143 years ago today. The first Inspector General of Police was George William Robert Campbell (G. W. R. Cambell) (later Sir) and Richard Aluvihare was appointed in 1947. Now it is held by Jayantha Wickremaratne. Although our Police can be traced back 143 years, the history of law enforcement could be traced back to our Sinhala kings. more..

Sep 3 (DM) With the end of the conflict, there is a big demand for State lands in the Eastern Province for investment purposes particularly in tourism and agriculture, Provincial Land Commissioner H.M. Yasaratne said. He said that a Colombo-based company had asked for 400 acres in the Padiyatalawa area of the Ampara district for maize cultivation. In addition 34 persons and companies had sent applications to him asking for lands in Kuchchaveli, more..

Sep 3 (Island) Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, yesterday attributed the shortage of specialist doctors to the failure of implementing his procedure of selecting doctors to follow post graduate medical degrees. "All trade unions, especially the GMOA, was opposed to my selection of doctors", the Minister charged. He also said that many doctors who signed a bond with the Health Ministry and went abroad for specialist training, failed to return more..