Mar 19 (Telegraph) The court ruled that being a member of the Tamil Tigers, which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the government, should not prevent an individual claiming asylum. Their ruling was made in the case of “R” who joined the LTTE in 1992, at the age of 10. The Tamil Tigers, or LTTE, have been involved in a bloody struggle in Sri Lanka, that stretches back 30 years. more..

Mar 1 (TC) 1. I withdraw my insinuation about Dayan Jayatilleka not being offered some fitting position. It was speculative and unkind. My sincere apologies. 2. The sour grapes title was in question form and related to Dayan’s recent criticisms of the President prior to his departure to Singapore, which he kept announcing. Whatever the critcisms about Sarath Fonseka’s arrest and choice of military tribunal, more..

Mar 1 (LG) Among the plethora of political, social and economic developments this week, some public announcements grabbed our attention. As politicians grappled for the ‘manape’, the UNP introduced a JRJ-styled ‘resignation-in-the-pockets’ plan to bar crossovers and Colombo continued its stormy relationship with the West; to the business community what would be more important was a delay in the IMF’s third tranche of a $2.6 billion loan and more..

Mar 1 (LG) Former TNA MPs who have formed a new political front called the ‘Tamil National Liberation Alliance (TNLA), after being pushed out by the nomination board of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), slammed the TNA leadership saying they werepuppets of India’s Congress government. These MPs, who formed the new party, were members of the TELO - a one time militant group. more..

Mar 1 (LG) At certain points of time, the Sri Lankan Bar surprises itself. One such instance is this week's concluded elections to the Presidencyof the country's Bar Association which former Attorney General Shibley Aziz, PC won with an unequivocally clear majority of 482 votes over his rival, Palitha Kumarasinghe, PC. The elections took place in an atmosphere that was even more rudely politicized than on most previous occasions. more..

Mar 1 (LG) In the tranquil times of the ’50s and even the ’60s most towns and their politicians were content if their main town was provided with a central bus stand, a public library and public lavatory. Not so now. They want multi million, if not billion rupee stadia, among other things. Sports loving minister V.A. Sugathadasa started it all in the ’60s by constructing the Sugathadasa Stadium. But the funds were mostly from the public such as from showman Donovan Andree. more..

Mar 1 (Mirror) As we land, I'm greeted by a whoosh of sticky humidity - and left in no doubt I'm far from the familiar coffee and burger chains that seem to follow you around the world. On the short transfer to the hotel we pass motorised tuk-tuks whizzing past on dusty roads and streetsellers with their stalls piled high with mangos. Schoolchildren dressed in crisp white uniforms giggle and more..

Mar 1 (Gulf) Wasting little time in seizing upon his 17-point electoral victory, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse quickly consolidated his power by having his opponent General Sarath Fonseka arrested. Fonseka was detained on February 8, accused of plotting to assassinate Rajapakse and seize control of the government. This then led to 14 senior army officials being forced to resign, accused of being in conspiracy with the general, and more..

Mar 1 (LT) "My husband did not limit himself to one party. He spoke on behalf of justice. This is why most of these parties have come together. If our people are asked to show a place where justice and fairness exist they would say there is no such place. All, except some one lies for his existence, would say what has been done to the courageous man who liberated the country from terrorism is indeed wrongful, unfair and ignominious," more..

Mar 1 (LT) "At the moment a new political situation has been created in the country. Like at the presidential election Idi Mahin's acts of violence are being carried out at the upcoming general election as well. However, we are taking measures to defeat such suppressive conditions and are moving along a new journey with new hopes. This alliance has alrady won the confidence of the people as the pinnacle of justice and fairness," more..

Mar 1 (Himal) Over the past year, events have moved quickly in Sri Lanka. At the end of the war, less than ten months ago, the Sinhalese people appeared united and triumphant. Army Commander Sarath Fonseka often appeared alongside President Mahinda Rajapakse and his brother, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya. Yet today, Fonseka, after losing in the recent presidential poll, is in custody after a humiliating arrest by military police; his election posters have been ripped off the walls; and more..

Mar 1 (LG) The announcement by the Elections Commissioner that a population census needs to be carried out in the Northern Province is welcome news. We agree with the commissioner’s assessment that the actual population in this province is far less than what was recorded during the 1981 census. Similarly a census needs to be done in the eastern province focusing on the areas that were illegally occupied by the LTTE. more..

Mar 1 (LG) In talking about Sarath Fonseka’s case and Prof. G.L. Peiris’ media conference some argue that justice should not only be done but must also be seen to be done. However, a course of action which is basically unjust cannot be made to seen as just purely by procedural means. To attempt to do so is hypocrisy and not justice. Beginning with J.R. Jeyewardene’s initiative to deprive Mrs. Sirimao Bandaranaike’s civil rights with the view that more..

Mar 1 (Himal) Rarely do we have relatives who live anywhere near a hundred years. And it is a greater miracle to have a grand aunt – Louisa Arulamma Thambyrajah, born on 6 February 1911 and a relative of both writers – who survived one of the most brutal episodes of war in her late 90s. On 13 February 2009, as the battle between the military and the LTTE raged in the Vanni, in northern Sri Lanka, Arul Aunty and her close relatives were rescued from more..

Mar 1 (TC) Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa spoke to Daily Mirror Hot Seat on the trial of former Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka, the support of the international community in apprehending the remaining elements of the LTTE, Kumaran Pathmanathan and his personal feelings on the actions of the General in the past months. more..

Mar 1 (AD) On Monday, March 01, from 7.00 am FM Derana joins veteran playback singer, the late H.R. Jothipala on a world record when the radio channel broadcasts Jothi’s songs for an entire 24 hours. Perhaps for the first time in history, the songs sung by a single person will be broadcast for an entire day. Listeners’ can enjoy a cross section of the songs by Jothi, from his debut to his last. more..

Mar 1 (TN) Supporters of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a political party of Buddhist monks, Saturday morning held a protest demonstration in Kandy against Mano Ganeshan, leader of the Democratic Peoples Front (DPF), contesting in the Kandy electoral district on the United National Alliance (UNF) ticket led by the main opposition party (UNP), political sources in Kandy said. more..

Mar 1 (LNW) Supporters of the Campaign for Democracy in Sri Lanka (Australia) conducted a well-organised demonstration outside the SL High Commission in Canberra today Friday the 26th. They demanded full democratic rights for Sri Lanka such as are enjoyed by the people of most other countries including Australia. Therefore Gen. Sarath Fonseka must be released from custody where he still being incarcerated without any formal charges having been laid against him. more..

mar 1 (TN) Aquilaria trees (also known as agarwood) have been a protected species on the CITES list for some time - and is now illegal to log and harvest in the wild. Unfortunately this hasn’t stopped illegal logging, with the consequence that the species is now on the brink of extinction in several countries. The oil is used for perfumes mainly in the Middle East, along with resinous woodchips which are burned in homes throughout the Gulf and Asian regions. more..

Mar 1 (GDI) A Sri Lankan temple will be built in Myanmar for the first time, strengthening the historic ties between Sri Lanka and Myanmar, previously known as Burma. The agreement between Sri Lanka and one ofthe major Buddhist countries that practices Theravada Buddhism was signed on Sunday. The function was held at the main hall of Shwedagon Temple in Myanmar. Director of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Gamini Bandara and the more..

Mar 1 (GDI) The chanting of Pirith that was conducted continuously for 12 months to invoke blessings on the nation came to an end yesterday. The Pirith chanting began at the Ruwanveli Seya premises on the Duruthu Poya day in 2009. The chanting was conducted for 415 days continuously. It is the longest Pirith chanting ceremony to have been held in the history of Sri Lanka. The programme was organized to invoke blessings on the President, more..

Mar 1 (GDI) President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a speech over the weekend said that everyone should feel the pulse of the people and work accordingly. He stressed the need to build a strong democratic government without being subjugated by others. Addressing a ceremony in Anuradhapura organized for the Freedom Alliance candidates to give a solemn pledge to work in unity on behalf of the motherland, more..

Mar 1 (GDI) The resettlement of displaced civilians in the North will not be hampered or delayed due to the preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections and the Government will expedite the resettlement of the remaining 70,000 IDP’s in welfare villages, Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Rishard Bathiyudeen said. more..

Mar 1 (Island) A top medical expert yesterday urged the Health Ministry to set up separate wards to provide specialized treatment to stroke patients at major government hospitals. Consultant Neurologist Dr. (Ms.) Padma Gunaratne made that request after launching an awareness programme for people in Colombo to mark the World Stroke Day. She said although strokes were the second leading cause of death after heart ailments, more..

Mar 1 (TN) It was announced that a new Tamil national political alliance called ‘Tamil National Peoples Front (TNPF)' has been formed, in a press meet held Sunday at the Jaffna office of All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) party. Former TNA MPs Gejendrakumar Ponnambalam, S. Kajendren, Ms. Pathmini Sithamparanathan and TNA activists including ACTC chief candidate Sinnathurai Varatharajan for Jaffna electoral district were present at the press briefing. more..

Mar 1 (DN) A survey carried out by the Health Ministry said more than 40 percent of schoolchildren do not have the morning meal and only less than 11 percent of students are physically active for more than one hour, daily. More than 50 percent of students who do not take their morning meal are males and they find it difficult to concentrate on studies as a balanced diet in the morning is vital for more..

Mar 1 (LNP) All UPFA candidates in the parliamentary election fray, led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, congregated near the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura on Saturday and, after religious observances, took a vow to conduct a clean election campaign. President Rajapaksa has said the UPFA candidates who flout election laws cannot aspire to ministerial posts. That we reckon is too lenient a punishment. Anyone who wins by committing such offences deserves to be unseated unceremoniously. more..

Mar 1 (LP) The Foreign Employment Bureau (FEB) has raided 42 illegal foreign employment agencies operating without licenses. FEB also remanded 26 people during the last four months in this regard. According to FEB Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka the illegal agencies which operate island-wide obtain money from prospective employees who seek employment overseas, particularly in the Middle-East, Far-East and even countries like Greece and Italy. more..

Mar 1 (LP) The issuing of numerical identifications of Candidates which commenced today will be completed by tomorrow, speaking to Lankapuvath, a spokesman from the Election Department said. Simultaneously, the Election Commissioner’s Department with the assistance of police, has taken steps to remove all cutouts, banners etc that promote candidates and parties. more..

Mar 1 (MoD) Northern Province Governor, Maj. Gen. (retd) G. A. Chandrasiri, said that the one-time LTTE strongholds east of A9 road were now open for resettlement and reconstruction. The former Army Chief of Staff said that the work was going on apace, both east and west of the road, though they had failed to grab attention of both print and electronic media. more..

Mar 1 (MoD) Construction work on the "Nochchimotte" bridge which is the second largest bridge along the Northern Railway line between Thandikulam to Kankesanthurai has been completed. The bridge which was located between Thandikulam and Omanthai railway stations was destroyed by the LTTE during the war. The Railway Department's engineers recently succeeded repairing the bridge at a cost of Rs 30 million with the aid of special technology, more..

Mar 1 (LT) The North-Western PC has taken measures to send an appointment letter to graduates serving as programme assistants in schools in the North - Western Province appointing them to planning and financial section states Unemployed Graduates Union. The Union has complained to the Commissioner of Elections that the appointment letter had been prepared on the 9th of February and measures were taken to post the letters on the 25th. more..

Mar 1 (MoD) The annual feast of St. Anthony's Church, at Kachchativu Island which is situated in the Northern seas of Sri Lanka was held on February 27. The coordination of the festival was done by the Sri Lanka Navy. The specialty of this festival is the participation of both Indian and Sri Lankan devotees after a long lapse with the dawning of peace. more..

Mar 1 (LG) There is no place in the country where justice and truth reigns supreme, said Anoma Fonseka, wife of General Sarath Fonseka yesterday, while Arjuna Ranatunga expressed hope that people would, this time, elect gentlemen to parliament. Joining them at a media briefing in Colombo, convened by the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), Vijitha Herath of the JVP said the DNA would be a challenge to corruption, fraud and tyrannical rule. more..

Mar 1 (LNW) The CID, which is trying to find the whereabouts of General Sarath Fonseka’s son-in-law Danuna Thilekaratne, is currently keeping a close watch on Hashan Thilekaratne’s movements. Danuna is the son of Hashan’s uncle. A CID team had visited Hashan’s residence in Piliyandala on February 25th night to search the premises. Hashan’s wife who had returned to the island that day to contest the forthcoming general election from the Colombo District more..

Mar 1 (LP) China has donated De-mining detectors and de-mining Protective Equipment to Sri Lanka. The Chinese government donated 50 De-mining detectors and 50 Protective Equipment amounting into Rs 50 million. The equipment will be used in the humanitarian operations now under way mainly in the Northern Province. China has earlier extended its generous co-operation to Sri Lanka by providing 6252 tents and more..

Mar 1 (LNW) Minister Mervyn Silva who ordered an attack on the office of MEP candidate from the UPFA at the general election for the Gampaha District and Western Provincial Councilor Sisira Jayakody on the 27th night, yesterday extended his support to the UNP Kelaniya electoral organizer after visiting him at his residence. The attack on Sisira Jayakody’s office had been initiated by one of Mervyn’s supporters and Pradeshiya Sabha memebr called Madawala. more..

Mar 1 (DN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa predicted that the UPFA would form a stable Government at the conclusion of the April 8 parliamentary elections in line with the people’s expectations. President Rajapaksa made these observations addressing UPFA candidates for the Parliamentary elections at President’s House in Anuradhapura after all candidates made a pledge before the President to commit themselves to a free and fair election. more..

Mar 1 (DN) The Government has embarked on a massive construction project to build three new bridges in Irrakkandy, Puduweikattu and Yanoya in the Eastern Province at a cost of nearly Rs 1,100 million. Irrakkandy and Yanoya bridges have already been vested with the public. The bridges were built with financial assistance from the Spanish Government under the Eastern Reawakening Program to boost social and economic activities in the East. more..

Mar 1 (DN) Some years ago a newspaper whose editor and editorial policy was so uncritically pro-UNP and operated on the my enemy’s enemy is my friend that it was full of pro-LTTE content, observed, editorially, that a Government with a fifth class media policy cannot complain about third rate journalism. I think a reverse of those figures would be more apt. The Government does not have a first rate media policy but more..

Mar 1 (DM) The government’s diplomatic ties with Eritrea broke down due to certain newspaper reports, according to Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. “It came out in the papers and now Eritrea has completely shut down everything; they don’t talk to us and they completely cut us off,” the Secretary said. Further, all plans to establish a Sri Lankan consulate in Eritrea, more..

Mar 1 (Island) Minister Mervyn Silva yesterday declared that he was ready to conduct a peaceful propaganda campaign in the Gampaha District. Silva, who has been accused of employing strong arm tactics against political opponents on numerous occasions, walked into a propaganda meeting organised by UNP Gampaha District candidate Bevan Perera, at his residence at Dalugama, Kelaniya to offer a hand of friendship. more..

Mar 1 (Island) The UPFA under Basil Rajapaksa’s able leadership is set to win the Gampaha electorate at the forthcoming parliamentary election with a comfortable majority. A divided Opposition is likely to suffer a heavy defeat, with the JVP-led DNA, being pushed into a distant third position. At the recently concluded presidential polls, President Mahinda Rajapaksa polled a staggering 61.66 % more..

Mar 1 (Island) A senior IMF official says a delay in the third tranche under the standby facility would not have an adverse affect on Sri Lanka’s economy but stressed it was important to continue to in the programme as it seeks to address underlying fiscal issues — creating sustainable budgets and private sector growth. Last Friday, an IMF mission reviewing Sri Lanka’s December quarter performance for more..

Mar 1 (DM) A four feet and four inch-long ballot paper which is supposed to be the longest ever will be printed for the Digamadulla electoral district at the forthcoming general election, officials said yesterday. The election authorities have been compelled to print such a long ballot paper since as many as 66 political parties and independent groups are fighting the poll in the district this year. A model ballot paper has already been prepared by more..

Mar 1 (GDI) Gas prices will remain unchanged despite the requests made by Shell & Laugfs companies for a price hike, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. LAUGFS says in their website that Sri Lanka is one of the fastest growing markets for domestic, commercial and industrial Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) in South Asia. The growth rate of the industry reached double figures a decade ago and more..

Mar 1 (DM) A heroic act by two children had saved the life of a six year old girl in Galewela, Dambulla. The two children aged 10 and 11 years had saved the life of a 6 year old girl who had fallen into a well. The incident had been reported from Welamitiyawa, Galewela. Year one student Mayumi Nimesha (6) had been playing in the home garden, while her parents were away and she had run after a ball which fell into an unprotected well and she too had fallen into the well. more..

Mar 1 (DM) The UNP is certainly one political party in Sri Lanka has been maintaining high standards of discipline. As such quite a few were shocked when they learnt about the manner the Moneragala district leader had allegedly deleted the name of a candidate from the district nomination list. In addition to deleting the name of UNP Uva provincial councilor Ananda Tissakuttiaarachchi, the wrong doer had gone to the extent of forging the signature of party General Secretary Tissa Attanayake. more..

Mar 1 (LT) Democratic National Alliance (DNA) has taken measures to get signatures to an online petition to demand the government of Sri Lanka to release Gen. Sarath Fonseka who was illegally arrested by the Military Police and is being arbitrarily detained without any charges. Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva launched the web site www.freesarathfonseka.com today morning at the head office of the DNA. more..