Jan 21 (DBS) Govt continues "games"with Sarath Fonseka's son in law Danuna Tillekeratne by getting Police to postpone inquiry after summoning him for one. Danuna was ordered by Police to present himself before CID on Jan 20th for inquiry into alleged arms deals but then told no inquiry today. Police Spokesman SSP I.M Karunaratne told media that the DIG in charge of the CID had 'too much work' to do today & had put off. more..

Jan 21 (SAF) Initially, the issue of child abuse evokes deep suspicion - even distrust - within South Asian communities. But the need to fight child abuse certainly exists. And today, Canadian expertise on fighting such sexual abuse by spreading awareness about the issue is eagerly sought after in Sri Lanka, traditionally a relatively conservative society. Conservative - even suspicious - the people are. But only initially. more..

Jan 21 (LG) Even you Brutus? Most famous last words in history, due to its inclusion in William Shakespeare’s tragedy ‘Julius Caesar’. Before turning to Shakespeare, a few historical facts about Gaius Julius Caesar (100 BCE- 44 BCE). Julius’ surname became the title of emperors after him. Julius undoubtedly was Rome’s greatest General – a military genius and ambitious politician. In 44 BCE, because of his brilliant victories in war and more..

Jan 21 (LG) Dr Sampath Wickramaratna (Dr. Vicky) is a political activist in the Sri Lankan Diaspora who represent the main opposition in Sri Lanka- the United National Front. Dr. Samapath was a carrier journalist and has worked for various news papers in Sri Lanka before moving to the United Kingdon. He was appointed as the President of UK branch of the UNF/UNP. In an interview to the Sri Lanka Guardian, he openly shared his thoughts on the present political developments in Sri Lanka more..

Jan 21 (DBS) LTTE leader Prabhakaran's mother Mrs. Parvathy Veluppillai is currently warded at the Oorani hospital in her hometown of Valvettithurai. Mrs. Veluppillai whose hand is paralysed after suffering a stroke is being looked after by relative & medical doctor Mayilerumperumaal. Presidential sibling Basil Rajapakse has given the green light for her to go to India & more..

Jan 21 (TN) A group calling itself ‘Tamil Protection Alliance to Save the Country’ issued Tuesday and Wednesday handbills threatening with death to Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, Gajendran and the Jaffna University community for engaging in activities condemning some elements in the university for supporting Mahinda Rajapakse in the forth coming presidential election, sources in Jaffna said. more..

Jan 21 (TN) Sixteen Tamil youths were released Wednesday by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Mr. Mohamed Mackie on a no objection application made by Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) of the Sri Lanka Police. The court ordered another eighteen Tamil youths to be sent for rehabilitation at Welikanda camp. The Colombo court further ordered remand for 15 Tamil youths. Altogether forty nine Tamils youths were produced in court Wednesday. more..

Jan 21 (DBS) It's an open secret that Former UNP national list MP Sarath Kongahage was put up to contest presidential elections by the Rajapakse regime. Both candidates are SARATH. Their symbols Swan for SF & Duck for SK look alike. The idea is to confuse voters & cut into potential Fonseka votes. Kongahage is also used by Mahinda to raise objections against Fonseka that more..

Jan 21 (GDI) There is an improvement in the livelihood of the civilians of the Jaffna Peninsula, as the President has eliminated terrorism and also re-opened the A-9 Highway linking the North and the South. Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Saundranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna made this observation when Minister Pandu Banraranaike paid a courtesy call on him at the Bishop’s House in Jaffna. The Bishop said “Jaffna is returning to normal. more..

Jan 21 (GDI) President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that developing a country after a war was not a challenge for him, as he launched development when a war was waged. He appealed to the entire nation to rebuild the country. The President made these statements while addressing a mammoth crowd at the Getambe Grounds in Peradeniya,Kandy district. The President said that as the government developed the country while the war was waged, more..

Jan 21 (GDI) Ven Athureliye Ratana Thero of the JHU this morning threw an open challenge at opposition candidate, Gen. Sarath Fonseka to declare in public that he would protect the unitary character of the country and oppose the North East merger. Speaking to the media at the Mahaweli Centre in Colombo, the Thera claimed that Sarath Fonseka today worked with Sampanthan's TNA which was the ardent supporter of the LTTE. more..

Jan 21 (GDI) According to a survey conducted by the Kelaniya University, President Mahinda Rajapakse will emerge victorious in the presidential election with a percentage of more than 60 percent of votes. Senior lecturer at the Kelaniya University Dr. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said this survey has been conducted covering all the districts in the country. It has been conducted according to employment and unemployed basis as well as on urban, suburban and rural levels. more..

Jan 21 (LT) President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared open the ‘International Sports Complex’ in Diyagama, Homagama today. The mass scale frauds and corruption that has occurred when the sports complex was constructed has been reported by AnticorruptSL web site. According to this web site only several urgent restorations had been carried out so that the President could declare the sports complex open as an election stunt. more..

Jan 21 (GDI) Minister and JHU stalwart, Champika Ranawaka today warned that if the "Believable Change" of Gen.Sarath Fonseka was followed, unbelievable developments could happen and the January 26 presidential election could be the last democratic election in the country. He siad that Fonseka had joined hands with a group that opposed the war and wanted terrorism safeguarded in this country. more..

Jan 21 (CT) Thirty six persons have been injured after a bus fell into a precipice near the Kothmale Oya in Thalawakele yesterday. One person has died from the incident while four others are in critical condition, reports say. The injured were rushed to Lindula and Nuwara Eliya hospitals. Meanwhile, two more deaths have been reported when a concrete bridge gave in and a lorry fell down it in Dikkumbura. more..

Jan 21 (wsws) Socialist Equality Party (SEP) members and supporters won a strong response when they campaigned among workers, fishermen, war refugees, university students and youth on the northern Jaffna peninsula to build a January 17 election meeting in Jaffna town. They distributed about 10,000 copies of the manifesto issued by the SEP and its presidential candidate, the party’s general secretary Wije Dias. more..

Jan 21 (GDI) Minister of Mass Media and Information, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana, today reiterated that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would poll 61% of the votes at the upcoming Presidential election. He predicted at least one million majority for the President. He attributed the decrease in the votes of General Sarath Fonseka to be the unbecoming conduct of Fonseka who used abusive words on the election platform. more..

Jan 21 (LP) The Election Department says in its web that it is essential that the voter must prove his/her identity at the polling station by a photo-identity card at the Presidential Election. The following identity documents will be accepted for this purpose. 1. National Identity Card issued by Department of Registration of Persons. 2. Valid Passport. 3. Valid Driving Licence. 4. Government Pensioner's Identity Card. more..

Jan 21 (LP) As there are more than three candidates at the forth coming Presidential Election, a vote can be given to one candidate and, a second and a third preference to two other candidates. A ballot paper with only the vote marked on it even without the marking of a second and a third Preference, is treated as a valid ballot paper. But a ballot paper with a second and/or a third preference only, without the marking of a VOTE will be treated as invalid more..

Jan 21 (MoD) The future of all children is in the hands of adults including teachers and officers. We have to devote ourselves to make them working citizens, said Northern Provincial Governor Maj. Gen GA Chandrasiri at the opening ceremony of Hindu Maha Vidyalaya, Kilinochchi. He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had given preference to uplift education in the North and more..

Jan 21 (LP) The dengue epidemic which was spreading rapidly in the country is now under control said Deputy Director Public Health Dr. Palitha Maheepala. Addressing a Media Briefing in Colombo yesterday (20) he said that there were 34893 dengue patients reported in the Island wide and there were 342 deaths in the country last year. There were 6560 dengue patients in the year 2008 while 27 deaths were reported. more..

Jan 21 (MoD) A function organized by the Ministry of Defence Seva Vanitha Unit to donate scholarships for the children of the security forces personnel and give interest free housing loans for the families of the valiant troops who sacrificed their lives in the war was held this morning (20). President Secretary Mr. Lalith Weerathunga was the chief guest at the occasion. more..

Jan 21 (CT) Opposition leader of the western province Rosie Senanayake has sought police protection for her safety. She has written to police chief Mahinda Balasuriya, explaining that her life has been threatened due to her direct involvement in the presidential campaign of Gen. Sarath Fonseka. Two days ago, she said, an incident at a meeting in Kadawatha had clearly indicated threats to her personal safety. more..

Jan 21 (LP) With regard to next week’s presidential elections, eight leading business chambers and federations in Sri Lanka issued the following statement. Following the eradication of the scourge of terrorism and the opportunity to propel the country into an unparalleled era of development, it is vital that the Presidential election to be held on Tuesday is conducted in a transparently free and fair manner. more..

Jan 21 (MoD) Four Sri Lankan organizations in Hong Kong, collectively donated 144 wheel chairs to the Military Hospital Narahenpita, today in appreciation of the sacrifices made by the war heroes to free the motherland from LTTE terrorists. The four organizations namely are Organization of Sri Lankan Youth, Association of Sri Lankans in Hong Kong, Association of Sri Lankan Children in Hong Kong and more..

Jan 21 (TC) I am writing this letter give my sincere endorsement to General Sarath Fonseka to be the next President of Sri Lanka. I am Sri Lanka’s first professor of finance and a financial economist with knowledge and experience about the Sri Lanka’s economy and the financial sector. I have taught thousands of graduates in Sri Lanka. more..

Jan 21 (DN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the Government will put in place a novel mechanism to avert an artificial food shortage in the market ahead of the elections. The President was addressing a mass rally in Ragala yesterday. He said some unscrupulous traders were creating an artificial shortage of essential commodities by hiding them to achieve narrow and petty political mileage. more..

Jan 21 (TC) In the interests of voters, the media gave valuable exposure to the 14 questions that the Citizens Movement for Good Governance (CIMOGG) was in the process of addressing by direct mail to the 22 Presidential candidates. The letters themselves were sent out on December 26, 2009, followed two days later by a Sinhala translation (except in the case of the sole Tamil candidate). more..

Jan 21 (TC) Mr Somapala Gunadheera raised an interesting issue in his piece titled Exclusivity of the Sri Lankan Tamil Psyche dated January 19, as to why the Tamils were "mellow, forgiving, tolerant" in their treatment of the two 'Cup' claimers. I must credit Mr Gunadheera for having asked such a fascinating question. It is a very important aspect of Tamil culture (by this I mean the prevalent Hindu culture) and more..

Jan 21 (UNP) Opposition common candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka said, there are only four days more for the President to accept his challenge for an open debate. It is very unfortunate that the President who is never accustomed to doing anything direct or proper is avoiding a direct challenge, but resorting to all kinds of hole and corner methods using more..

Jan 21 (LT) Former UNP MP Themis Hurulle filed a fundamental petition at the Supreme Court on the 19th against DIG CID Anura Senanayake accusing him of negligence of his duty by preventing the arrest of suspects who had printed a poster that would tarnish the reputation of apolitical Common Candidate Gen. Fonseka. The petitioner states the DIG, by his act, has neglected his duty of assisting to carry out a free and fair election and more..

Jan 21 (GDI) The infrastructure for the local production of several drugs is being expanded. The State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation is involved in this programme. At present, the Corporation manufactures 59 varieties of drugs used in the country. Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition Nimal Siripala de Silva declared open the new packing and warehouse building of the Corporation at Ratmalana. more..

Jan 21 (UNP) JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, while President Rajapakse goes round the country masquerading as a patriot is currying favor with the LTTE to collect their funds. The President labels the Opposition parties as traitors but ingratiates himself into the company of the LTTE to collect their funds in billions and assets, more..

Jan 21 (LT) Our reporter at Matara has been able to photograph ‘Telecom’ employees being deployed, on duty leave, to carry out election campaigning of Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse. The employees say they had been forced by Telecom authorities to engage in the election campaign of Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse and have been forced to visit houses carrying propaganda material. more..

Jan 21 (UNP) Mangala Samaraweera M.P. said, UNP MP Johnston Fernando joined with the President because Johnston’s attempts to murder Gen. Fonseka leaked out. He stated the 3 LTTE cadres who were arrested on the 29 of June 2009 had revealed this. Similarly , he has along with the LTTE Sivaraja Subakrishnan, Thavarajasingham subhash, Linton sandireshan planned to assassinate the President. more..

Jan 21 (MoD) President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday emphasized that he would never allow the subjugation of the freedom achieved and the democracy protected by sacrificing thousands of precious lives. He said that he was confident that the people would rise against such attempts and would never allow the ugly head of terrorism to rise again or attempts to divide the country. more..

Jan 21 (LNP) There has been a substantial growth in the mobile phone industry with majority of the population using mobile phones to conduct day-to-day activities. The industry standards are on par with the developed world and the country has updated technologies and standards in today s context, Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Sri Lanka Director General Priyantha Kariyapperuma told Daily News Business. more..

Jan 21 (UNP) Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing an election rally of Gen. Fonseka yesterday at Maligapitiya, Kurunegala commented, because the first chapter of the Mahinda Chinthana comic film which inflicted tragedy on the people flopped miserably, the second chapter is being discontinued. This film cheated on the people after making all kinds of promises to them of a good film fare. more..

Jan 21 (DN) It is natural for people to have differences of opinion. Some people cannot understand why others would want to vote for Mahinda Rajapaksa. Others, similarly, are appalled that there are people who want to vote for Sarath Fonseka. I am appalled that not many want to vote for someone other than these two candidates. In the end everyone has one or more reasons for voting for this or that person. more..

Jan 21 (DN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa governs the country by following the Buddha’s principles Dasa Raja Dharmaya, said All Ceylon Pirivena Directors’ Association President Ven Koompitiye Sri Susara Thera. “The citizens of Sri Lanka are at a decisive juncture and President Rajapaksa is the best candidate to be re-elected to office. The reason being that he is one of courageous leaders in our history that more..

Jan 21 (GDI) "Any sportsman or sportswoman in the country from Dondra to Point Pedro could now engage in sports activities in any playgroun", said President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he declared open the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium today in Diyagama in Homagama. He pointed out that it was more important to safeguard the country’s resources rather than selling them. more..

Jan 21 (Island) Import dependent Sri Lanka’s trade deficit for the first eleven months of 2009 more than halved to US$ 2.4 billion from 2008 while improved remittances amounting to US$ 3 billion off set this deficit. Gross official reserves had improved to US$ 5.2 billion in November. The trade deficit contracted for the eleventh consecutive month to US$ 251.2 million in November 2009, down 24.4 percent more..

Jan 21 (Island) Election violence is escalating at an alarming rate. Four persons have been killed so far and there have been a countless number of violent confrontations in most parts of the country. It looks as if the police had chosen to look the other way in spite of the IGP's rhetoric. The situation has apparently got out of hand. The ruling party is the main culprit but the Opposition is not free from blame. more..

Jan 21 (Island) Consumers are up-in-arms over the price escalation of various varieties of rice. Chicken and vegetables too, have gone up in price despite government claims to the contrary. Many irate consumers told The Island that the rice prices in the open market continue to soar with Sudu Kekulu sold at Rs. 75 a kilo, Rathu Kekulu at Rs. 80 to Rs. 95, Samba at Rs. 90 to Rs. 100, While Nadu was not available at many retail markets. more..

Jan 21 (Island) The state media is being utilised in a very partisan manner to support the candidature of incumbant President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the forthcoming Presidential Elections on January 26. The state organisations are also guilty of a mud slinging campaign against opposition’s common candidate, General (rtd) Sarath Fonseka. These sentiments were strongly expressed by members of the newly formed State and Independent Media Organisations Alliance (SIMOA) at more..

Jan 21 (LP) Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said yesterday (20) that live telecast of official announcement of the final result of the Presidential Election would not be allowed. He informed all television stations he had decided not to allow a live telecast of the occasion when the Elections Commissioner would officially announce the final result of the Presidential Election. more..

Jan 21 (DN) National Polls Observation Center’s National Organizer Rasanga Harischandra said that some presidential election candidates used under world gangs and Army deserters to incite violence. Speaking at a press conference held at the NPOC, Harischandra said from November 23 to January 17, 457 incidents had been reported. The UPFA reported 141 incidents while the UNP and its allies 137, New Democratic Front 66, JVP 82 and others 31. more..

Jan 21 (DM) The CID has deployed several teams to Chilaw and Kurunegala to further investigate and arrest the suspects involved in election violence which resulted in the deaths of two youths. Six police teams under the direction of CID Director DIG Nandana Munasinghe have been deployed to Madurankuliya in Chilaw where a 19-year-old youth was killed when the van he was travelling in came under gunfire and also resulted in ten other supporters of the UPFA sustaining injuries, more..