Feb 4 (LG) When the now Citizen Sarath Fonseka announced his insurrection against his former Commander in Chief and his immediate superior, patriotic Lankans experienced it as a deeply painful loss, in the first place for Fonseka himself and the country whose territorial integrity he so valiantly fought to restore. Fonseka’s electoral defeat called to mind David’s lament when he heard that more..

Feb 4 (TC) Elections always leave their footprints to indicate emerging political and social trends of nations. The just concluded presidential election in Sri Lanka is no exception to this. The election has proved the limitations of poll forecasts. Even where these are done by unbiased agencies, the impact of ‘swing factor’ in voting preferences affects the accuracy of forecasts. more..

Feb 4 (NN) President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the occasion of the Independence Day of that country. The President, in his message, expressed his confidence that the existing bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would be further strengthened in the days ahead. In a similar message, Sheikh Hasina said : "Bangladesh and Sri Lanka enjoy excellent relations at more..

Feb 4 (LT) The JVP paid their respects to Mr. Chandradasa Naiduwawadu, who passed away yesterday after being treated in hospital for serious injuries he received when he was savagely beaten by supporters of President Mahinda Rajapakse. The JVP issuing a communiqué states: Comrade Chandradasa Naiduwawadu, who made the supreme sacrifice in the struggle to build democracy, we salute you. more..

Feb 4 (LG) The Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s victory in the election held on Jan 26 becomes a defining moment for regional security. The speed with which western countries endorsed his victory has a deeper meaning than what meets the eye. It comes at the culmination of a barrage of condemnation of the Rajapaksa regime for the past several months. The acquiescence follows the unwarranted interference by the American embassy in Colombo during more..

Feb 4 (TWN) Sri Lanka, the gem off the southern tip of India, is an exotic vacation for those head to the Indian Ocean. From tropical beaches, to lush tea covered mountains, this tiny island nation is emerging as a must go vacation destination. Travelwizard.com is featuring a series of exquisitely designed tours to Sri Lanka. Call 1.800.330.8820 to book your Sri Lanka vacation or enquire here. more..

Feb 4 (WSJ) January 26 was an historic day for Sri Lanka. It was the first presidential election for more than 25 years that was unaffected by the terrorism and intimidation of the Tamil Tigers. The overwhelming majority of Sri Lankans who exercised their democratic right last Tuesday voted for an end to division, an end to terrorism and for a new beginning of peace and prosperity. more..

Jan 4 (AT) Govt has requested 168 chairmen of the statutory boards and government corporations to tender their resignation with immediate effect on a voluntary basis. A circular to this effect was sent yesterday to all chairmen and it was sent by Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President. It has been pointed out that the circular was sent to enable the reelected President Mahinda Rajapaksa to consider appointing young and dynamic persons as new chairmen more..

Feb 4 (CSIS) Eight months after the dramatic end of three decades of separatist war, Mahinda Rajapaksa's decisive reelection as president of Sri Lanka gives him an opportunity to move the country forward on multiple fronts: political reform, economic renewal, and reengagement with international players including the United States. His big challenge will be to recognize that peacemaking still lies ahead of him. more..

Jan 4 (Hindu) “The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government will not unilaterally announce its decision on issues that requires consultations at the national level,” Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said in reply to a question whether his government would consult the Central government on the issue of premature release of Nalini, one of the convicts in the Rajiv assassination case. more..

Feb 4 (TP) Vodafone is offering reduced rates on international calls to Sri Lanka in honour of the nation’s Independence Day, which is being celebrated today. The reduced calling rate to Sri Lanka will be available today 24 hours. This rate can be used by all Vodafone customers, to both fixed and mobile networks, and at any time. “In 2009 Vodafone introduced the innovative practice of tailoring our rates to the countries our customers call the most,” more..

Feb 4 (IL) President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Anuradhapura to worship Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and Atamasthana after the landslide victory over the Presidential Election which was held recently. President was blessed at the Maha Maluwa at Sri Maha Bodhiya by venerable Maha Sangha headed by Atamastanadipathi Venerable Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thero and Mahanayake of the Ruwanweliseya, more..

Jan 4 (IL) President Mahinda Rajapaksa made his first visit to Sri Daladha Maligawa in Kandy after winning the Presidential election and paid homage to the most sacred Tooth Relic during his visit to the hill country recently. President engaged in several religious activities at the Sri Daladha Maligawa and Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga Dela Bandara was accompanied with him. more..

Jan 4 (LG) The year 2009 saw an escalation of the conflict with a military offensive launched by the government against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) concluding in May 2009 with the security forces asserting control over the areas held and controlled by the LTTE in the Vanni District of northern Sri Lanka. The brutal end of the conflict cost thousands of lives and devastated the Vanni. more..

Jan 4 (LG) It has mentioned in our chronicles, the Mahavamsa and the Chulawamsa, that the flag with the symbol of the lion was invariably used by the monarchy from the reign of King Vijaya, who was the first and foremost Sinhala king of this small, beautiful island. This nation's flag was thus used up to the fall of the Kandyan kingdom, during the reign of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, on March 02, 1815. more..

Feb 4 (CC) with an assist from the United Nations, the Archdiocese of Toronto has sprung a 14 year old refugee from a lengthy bureaucratic purgatory of waiting for the Canadian government to act. Within days of receiving a letter from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Canadian visa post in Accra, Ghana recognized the youngster -- who had fled the civil war in Sri Lanka -- as an urgent case. more..

Feb 4 (GDI) All Sri Lankans must unite to bring a brighter future to the Motherland, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka said. The Prime Minister in an Independence Day message said: "Freedom is desired by all living beings. Sri Lanka enriched by Buddhist values, is a nation which gives importance to the freedom of the individual. Inhumane acts of a few in the society violate the freedom of the entire society. more..

Feb 4 (wsws) Obviously stung by the Socialist Equality Party’s (SEP) exposure of their opportunist manoeuvres with the right-wing UNP [“The two faces of the United Socialist Party”], the ex-lefts of the United Socialist Party (USP) have been propelled into print to attempt to defend their tawdry politics [“Reply to slanders against heroic United Socialist Party (USP)”]. more..

Feb 4 (TN) Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna has begun constructing an earthen dam in an area encompassing Kaangeasanthu’rai and Keerimalai in Valikaamam North as part of the new Maximum High Security Zone (MHSZ) Wednesday, sources in Jaffna said. 20 Village Officer divisions of the 27 VO divisions occupied as SLA High Security Zone (HSZ) in Valikaamam North are to be turned into the new MHSZ, the sources added. more..

Feb 4 (TN) Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupying Jaffna peninsula is actively engaged in demolishing the Heroes’ Resting Homes (HRH) of fallen Liberation Tigers in Uduppidi, Kodikaamam, Koappaay and Veala’nai in the islets of Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said. Foreign media persons now visiting Jaffna peninsula in large numbers who show a keen interest in visiting the HRHs are shocked to witness the systematic demolishment of war heroes’ memorial monuments more..

Feb 4 (MoD) The Government is to finalise the first draft action plan for the promotion and protection of human rights. A combined draft of the national action plan has been presented to Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, who is to appoint an Inter-Ministerial Committee to develop a finalized version that will then will be circulated for public comment. more..

Feb 4 (GDI) The Estate Sector will be given rice at concessionary rates following instructions issued by the President, Nuwara Eliya District Secretary D.P.G. Kumarasiri said. A kilo of the Nadu variety will be sold to the estate community at 60 rupees accordingly and the distribution of rice will be undertaken via cooperatives, he added. He pointed out that the decision was announced at a special discussion chaired by more..

Feb 4 (TN) A video footage taken a few days back, while travelling between Ki'linochchi and Paranthan, shows the real situation in the heartland of Vanni in Tamil Eelam. The tract bustling with contended people two years back is virtually a no-man zone with ghost buildings and stray cattle today. The landscape is physical evidence to the genocide committed on a nation. The parties responsible for more..

Feb 4 (GDI) Sri Lanka has maintained social stability, developed its economy and the living standard of its people has been continuously uplifted under the leadership of Your Excellency, said the President of China, Hu Jintao. The Chinese President stated this in a message of congratulation to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the occasion of country's 62nd Independence Day. more..

Feb 4 (GDI) The Government has taken steps to lunches a special programme to purchase paddy from cultivators during this Maha Season. Minister Maithripala Sirisena said the target is to purchase about 140 thousand metric tons. The purchasing programme will be launched next month via the Paddy Marketing Board and improvements are already being made to storage facilities in view of this, he said. more..

Feb 4 (GDI) President Mahinda Rajapaksa will open the Deyata Kirula development exhibition in Kandy today at 4.00 p.m and a special traffic plan will be in operation in Kandy in view of the exhibition, Senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka said. The DIG pointed out that a stretch of about two kilometers from Warapitiya junction to Balagolla junction in the Colombo- Kandy, Mahiyangana and Pallekele Roads is expected to be closed for traffic and more..

Feb 4 (wsws) Pro-government management, union officials and thugs have extended President Mahinda Rajapakse’s post-election campaign of intimidation and violence into workplaces. Employees have been physically attacked, prevented from entering workplaces and served with suspension notices. The main targets at present are officials and activists in trade unions affiliated to the main opposition parties—the JVP and UNP. more..

Feb 4 (MoD) Army deserters will be given a general amnesty to surrender in view of National Independence Day on 04th February, said Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara making a special announcement. "Deserters should report to the nearest Army Camp on the 4th of February. The day is announced as a general amnesty period in line with the National Independence Day" more..

Feb 4 (LP) The most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya chapter called upon the people to eschew all petty differences and work in union for the betterment of the country at this decisive moment. The Thera said this in a message to mark the 62nd Independence Day has called upon the people to eschew all petty differences and work in union for the betterment of the country at this decisive moment. more..

Feb 4 (LP) Over 1000 prisoners’ will receive a special pardon today in keeping with the 62nd Independence celebrations. Prisoners in over 37 prisons Island wide including Welikada and Bogambara prisons will be released accordingly. Prisoners who have failed to pay fines imposed along with the sentence will be given relief by way of waiving the fines. However those who were imprisoned on severe charges are not entitled for the pardon.

Feb 4 (LeN) The Human rights Commission (HRC) has refused to accept a complaint or record it or to investigate in regard to the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneliyagoda who went missing on the 25th night, the day previous to the Presidential elections on the 26th of Jan. When Ekneliyagoda’s wife, Sandya Ekneligoda has gone to the HRC along with her Lawyer yesterday (02) to complain about her husband’s disappearance, more..

Feb 4 (MoD) The 62nd anniversary of independence we mark today has special significance being the first such celebration of our freedom since the defeat of terrorism in our country last year, and also as it takes place soon after our people have expressed their firm and resounding commitment to democracy, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his Independence Day message. more..

Feb 4 (GV) Note: Contrary to what you might assume from the title, this is not a general onslaught on the diaspora at large. This is based on two recent incidents that really ‘got my goat,’ in a matter of speaking. Therefore, I’d like any readers who’d fall into the bracket of the ‘diaspora’ to please take the contents of this letter in that context, and not as an attack on anyone who’s ever stepped off the shores of sunny Lanka. more..

Feb 4 (TC) Cyber politics, internet politics and e-mobilization are all key terms in the lexicon that has evolved around the growing literature of the impact of communication and information revolution on day to day politics and the political process globally. There has been little or superficial analysis of the use of cyber space and internet as a medium and space for political action and political mobilization in the Sri Lankan context. more..

Feb 4 (TC) Opposition of soup makers and strange bed fellows thought they would win the presidential elections. They dreamt on. Sarath Fonseka who was a good army commander and thereafter went to betray the country thought he would win purely going by the crowds. He did not realize he was Sarah Palin of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan people were enjoying his Sarah Palin moments. more..

Feb 4 (LNP) The company plans to cater to the needs of the Northern area, Director/ General Manager, Reb Mech Sajith Kumarasinghe told Daily News Business. The proposed factory will manufacture mesh products and we have already bought the land. The factory building construction will start within a month and it is expected to be a good opportunity for mesh products in those areas, he said. more..

Feb 4 (LNP) Sri Lanka women shooters made the country proud when they captured silver medals in the 60 shots prone and 25 metre sports pistol in the shooting discipline at the National Sports Shooting Complex. Dimuthu was accurate in scoring 584 points followed by Wasana Kumari 579 points and Panchika Ramani 576 points collected a grand total of 1,739. E. N. Pabawathi, Ruvini Abeymanne and G. A. D. Wijeratne was responsible for the second silver shooting perfectly. more..

Feb 4 (CT) Director of the Government Information Department Anusha Pelpita has been appointed head of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka. He succeeds Director General Priyantha Kariyapperuma who resigned from the position two days ago. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has made the appointment, said secretary to the president Lalith Weeratunga. more..

Feb 4 (DN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa securing a high percentage votes of nearly 58 percent at the Presidential Election and winning a second term is remarkable and unprecedented. It reflected the political maturity and confidence placed in him by masses, says a statement issued by the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL). President Rajapaksa’s victory is strikingly significant in the context of high-tech election campaign of more..

Feb 4 (DN) The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has provided 43,400 bushels of seed paddy to 14,466 families to cultivate 14,465 acres. FAO Country Representative Patrick Evans said the FAO has been working closely with the Presidential Task Force for the provision of agricultural support to the returnees in the North. Evans said with financial support from Sweden and the United Kingdom, 3,044 families will benefit from more..