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Sri Lankan warplanes bomb suspected Tiger positions
Mar 1 (AFP)
Sri Lankan jets bombed suspected Tamil Tiger positions in northeast Sri Lanka on Thursday, a day after Colombo stepped up an offensive against the rebels, killing at least 18 people, a statement said. Air force MIG Jet aircraft attacked a LTTE training camp in Vavuniya, 254 kilometres (159 miles) from the capital, the defence ministry said in a statement. It gave no further details.

Editorial: Declaw the Tamil Tigers
Mar 1 (WT)
In response to mounting international criticism and restrictions, the LTTE have tried to change their methods in order to project a more palatable image of a political organization. But in yet another reminder that the Tamil Tigers' only true commitment is to terrorism, the terrorist group launched an artillery attack against a diplomatic entourage that included U.S. Ambassador Robert Blake and envoys from Italy, Germany, Canada, France and Japan, all of whom were on a humanitarian mission

LTTE denies smuggling arms from India
Mar 1 (HT)
The LTTE has denied that it is smuggling in arms from India. And its proxy in the Sri Lankan parliament, TNA, has appealed to India not to provide warships or any lethal weapon to Sri Lanka. The LTTE's political wing leader SP Tamilselvan has charged that the propaganda that his outfit is smuggling arms from India is meant to quash rising support for the Sri Lankan Tamils among the people of Tamil Nadu.

US, Canada Diverge on Terror War Tactics
Mar 1 (AW)
In stark contrast to last week's U.S. court decision upholding the Military Commissions Act, Canada's court has unanimously struck down a law that would allow the Canadian government to use secret evidence to detain foreign-born terror suspects indefinitely without charges or open court hearings.

Minnesota aid leader jailed in Sri Lanka
Mar 1 (ST)
A Minnesota man who has been coordinating tsunami relief efforts in his native Sri Lanka apparently was arrested there early last month and has claimed he was suspected of being a terrorist. Police arrested him on Feb. 6 based on items they found in his hotel room, according to people who have worked with his organization, HelpSriLanka.us Foundation, operating since shortly after the tsunami devastated the island in late 2004

Karuna claims credit for military success in East
Mar 1 (DM)
Karuna Amman is claiming credit for the recent military success in the East emanating from the capture of major LTTE positions including Sampur in Trincomalee and Vakarai in Batticaloa, a Karuna spokesman said. In contrast to Karuna’s claims however a top Government Minister said the State could not fight two wars and as such would deal with the Karuna faction once the LTTE either laid down arms and re-entered peace talks or was wiped out completely.

Ambassador Blake, LTTE Terrorism, Tamil Grievances and Washington Times
Mar 1 (AT)
Recognizing that Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils have legitimate grievances and the Tamil Tigers unwillingness to return to talks, the "Washington Times" Editorial of March 1 however notes that the major players in the international community need to persuade the separatist LTTE or Tamil Tigers to enter the negotiating process.

Sri Lanka seeks to curb LTTE activity in Australia
Mar 1 (NS)
Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who in on an official tour of Australia is scheduled to meet the Australia Prime Minister John Howard within the next two days to discuss the issue of banning LTTE activities in Australia, according to a Ministry media release. Minister de Silva is expected to discuss with the Australia Government official the preliminaries necessary to prepare the ground for that purpose

Sri Lankan Navy destroys LTTE vessel
Feb 28 (HT)
The Sri Lankan Navy destroyed a 300 ft long LTTE gun running vessel, 185 nautical miles off the Devundara coast in the south of the island on Wednesday. Naval spokesman Com DKP Dassanayake said that a routine naval patrol off the southern coast had seen a large vessel without a flag moving towards Sri Lanka. When asked to identify itself, the vessel gave false information

Tigers knew that the American ambassador and other diplomats were coming to discuss resettlement issues - Col. Karuna
Feb 28 (AT)
In a scathing attack, Colonel Karuna, Leader of the TMVP blamed Velupillai Prabakaran and his outfit LTTE for firing mortar shells at the Western diplomats -- American Ambassador Robert O Blake, German Ambassador Juregun Weerth, and the Italian Ambassador Pio Mariani -- who had come to assess the progress made in re-settlement of Internally Displaced People (IDPs)

Tamils reject economic refugee claims
Feb 28 (Age)
REPRESENTATIVES of the Tamil community have rejected claims by a Sri Lankan Government minister that 83 asylum seekers are economic refugees. Health Care Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva admitted he knew little about the Sri Lankan men, but said: "If they are in fear of their life, they should have run to India, which is 16 or 20 kilometres from Sri Lanka, so how could they finance such a large venture?"

Use of Sri Lanka anti-terror law against media condemned by rights body
Feb 28 (LBO)
Sri Lanka's use of anti-terror law against the media has been condemned by the Reporters without Borders (RSF) which called for the release of a media official arrested two days ago. RSF called for the release of Dushantha Basnayake, financial director of Standard Newspapers, which publishes the Sinhalese-language weekly Mawbima, who was arrested on the two days ago

CID says Tiger suspect committed suicide
Feb 28 (LNP)
An LTTE suspect detained by the Criminal Investigation Department allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself inside CID premises yesterday morning. The victim, a Sinhalese was found hanging inside a bathroom in the CID premises in Fort around 10.00 a.m. yesterday. According to the CID the suspect had been taken into custody by the army at a checkpoint in Nawaladi area last November

Now the world knows - Keheliya
Feb 28 (LNP)
Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told The Island that the Government had repeatedly told the international community that the LTTE was a terrorist organization which had no respect for humanity. `Not many took us seriously. Now the world can see the real picture. The LTTE mounted this attack on a delegation that went to Batticaloa to see the plight of the Tamil people

Chances bright for Water at Houston fest
Feb 28 (HT)
Sarala, the bubbly and mischievous child widow Chuliya in Deepa Mehta's Water couldn't make it to the Oscars, though the film had been short listed. But all is not lost. She will be off to the United States in April for the Houston International Film Festival. "Water is likely to bag an award there," said the 11-year-old Sri Lankan child star's father, Sarath Kariyawasam

Diplomats injured in shelling, Sri Lanka retaliates with air strikes
Feb 27 (AFP)
The ambassadors of Germany, Italy and the United States were injured in Sri Lanka on Tuesday in a Tamil rebel artillery attack that also wounded a dozen others, the government said. The Sri Lankan military retaliated with air attacks against suspected positions of the LTTE in Batticaloa district, military officials said

EU condemns helicopter attack in Sri Lanka
Feb 27 (AP)
The European Union condemned Tuesday's attack on a diplomatic helicopter by Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka, calling on both sides to halt the violence and return to negotiations. The U.S. and Italian ambassadors to Sri Lanka were lightly injured when their helicopters were targeted by mortars. The Foreign Ministry in Germany, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said the bloc "emphatically calls on both sides to immediately halt the violence" in Sri Lanka.

Jayalalitha slammes Karunanidhi
Feb 27 (BBC)
The former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has strongly criticised the State government for not taking adequate measures to prevent arms smuugling to Sri Lanka's militants. In a statement issued to the media, the former CM and the head of AIADMK, Jayalalithaa, has described current Chef Minister as "inept".

UNP dismisses Eelam claim
Feb 27 (SAMN)
The UNP dismissed LTTE claims that the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) recognised its de-facto state in the North East, saying the agreement was to create a favourable atmosphere for peace talks. UNP, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said the party would never support the division of the country. “We signed the CFA to create a favourable environment to negotiate with the LTTE which waged war against the Sri Lankan state for two decades.

Troops reach LTTE`s Nilaweli and Kumburuppiddi camps
Feb 27 (LNP)
LTTE cadres have withdrawn to the area north of Trincomalee under severe pressure as a result of the recent limited military operations in the Peraru area, a press statement issued from the Media Center for National Security said yesterday. It also said: `The Security Forces since then have continuously conducted search operations in the area.

Story of a child soldier
Feb 27 (AT)
This is a true story of a sixteen year old Tamil boy who had escaped form the clutches of the Tamil Tiger leaders in the East. He reveals his horrendous experience he had at the hands of the LTTE. The child soldier identified as Kliraza Ganeshlingam, told the security forces that he had been serving as a child soldier in the LTTE and escaped the outfit due to the unbearable sexual harassment committed by the senior LTTE leaders in the camp.

Akram tips Sri Lanka to claim CWC
Feb 27 (ZN)
Former Pakistani captain Wasim Akram has said Sri Lanka were the dark horses in the ensuing World Cup and tipped them to claim the title at the Caribbean. "They have some extremely talented players and in my book they can upset anyone to win the title," Akram said of the 1996 edition titleholders. The former tear away bowler said Pakistan`s strength was its middle order that had a lot of experience behind it and was "one of the best in the world".

Sri Lanka President begins visit to China
Colombo Page, Sri Lanka
Feb 26, Beijing: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa landed in China this morning for a six-day state visit that coincides with the 50th anniversary of

ecial discussion on Sri Lanka's second international airport
Colombo Page, Sri Lanka
Weerawila in Southern Sri Lanka is the site for the construction of Sri Lanka's second international airport. The main issue to be discussed at the meeting

Vaiko says they support Eelam but not allow to create violence ...
Colombo Page, Sri Lanka
... the cause of a separate Eelam for Tamils in Sri Lanka, it would not support those creating violence in Tamil Nadu in the name of Sri Lankan Tamils.

TN police encouraging terrorists: Jaya
Chennai Online, India
The AIADMK was firm in its demand that the Centre should initiate action to solve the problem of Sri Lanka Tamils, while opposing terrorist organisations

Revisiting LTTE’s Options
Sri Lanka National Security, Sri Lanka
From the two statements given above, it is evident that the mindsets of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have a

China to back Sri Lanka`s Fight Against LTTE
Sri Lanka National Security, Sri Lanka
Rajapakse is expected to reiterate Sri Lanka's position that there is but one China in the world, that the government of the People's Republic of China is

Lanka Seeks to Curb LTTE Activity in Australia
Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka
... address a series of lectures in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne to make expatriate Sri Lankans aware of the present political atmosphere in Sri Lanka

SLFP, JHU APRC proposals within two weeks
Feb 25 (NS)
SLFP and JHU are expected to present their much delayed proposals to the All Party Representative Committee within the next two weeks, The Nation learns. Their delay caused several committee meetings to be postponed. As a result, the United National Party members threatened to withdraw from the APRC. However, the APRC Chairman Minister Tissa Vitarana said, the delay of the SLFP representatives from submitting their proposals was mostly due to them being ministers with busy schedules

Fresh offensive gets underway
Feb 25 (SAMN)
Troops are engaged in a major jungle operation aimed at weakening LTTE units operating in parts of the Batticaloa district Military sources said, adding that. specialised units operating north of Trincomalee-Horowpothana road were seeking to neutralise enemy units which are believed to be isolated due to growing security forces presence in the Batticaloa-Trincomalee region. The military launched the operation a few days ago, a senior military official said

Chandrika-Mangala alliance in the offing
Feb 25 (SAMN)
The much talked about nexus between former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and ousted Minister Mangala Samaraweera and the JVP is emerging once again. According to informed sources it is likely that former Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Shripathi Sooriyarachchi will form an alliance with the former President to oppose President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Curbing arms smuggling: Will India go the whole hog?
Feb 25 (LNP)
The seizure of large quantities of LTTE bound explosives and other warlike material across the Palk Straits during the past few weeks appears to have galvanised India into sitting up and taking note of the high incidence of LTTE arms smuggling activities on her soil. The massive door-to-door verification of Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu is suggestive of a radical change in the Indian policy towards Sri Lanka`s conflict.

Sea Tigers blast Indian tug deployed for Sethu project
Feb 25 (LNP)
The LTTE blasted an Indian tug deployed south of Point Calimere in June last year, well informed sources said. The ill-fated vessel is believed to have been deployed alongside a dredger assigned for controversial Sethusamudram project. The LTTE had used a limpet mine, believed to be about 40 kgs in weight to blast the tug

Sri Lanka troops take Tiger bases on truce anniversary
Feb 24 (AFP)
Sri Lankan troops overran three Tamil Tiger rebel bases this week, the defense ministry said Saturday after the guerrillas declared a five-year-old ceasefire all but dead. The ministry said security forces carried out a three-day operation around Friday's truce anniversary in the eastern coastal district of Trincomalee where it accused the rebels of attacking troops and civilians

Military: Sri Lankan troops capture 3 Tamil Tiger bases in northeast
Feb 24 (AP)
Troops have captured three Tamil Tiger rebel bases in northeastern Sri Lanka, forcing the insurgents to flee into the jungles, the Defense Ministry said Saturday. "The military had to carry out the operation as the terrorists were targeting our camps in the area and risking supply lines," said military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe. "During the past 72 hours the army, supported by artillery and mortars, successfully neutralized the three LTTE bases

Sri Lanka mobile missed calls boost communication
Feb 24 (AFP)
Working mother Kumari Ranasinghe looks forward every day to a telephone call from someone who hangs up on her immediately -- her 12-year-old son who is making the call to let her know he has left school. It's a supremely cost-effective method of keeping in touch that has swept Sri Lanka where daily bloodshed, despite a truce in the civil war, has many people living in fear for their lives and those of loved ones.

Crocodile tears and mud slinging will not help Mangala, Sripathi
Feb 24 (DN)
It is time for Sripathi Sooriyarachchi and Mangala Samaraweera to stop their mud slinging campaign without making themselves comic heroes of Sri Lanka, a senior government politician said yesterday. He said: “They should stop shedding crocodile tears and get on with their lives. People are no fools. They can see how they have got together with certain people who have ridiculed them and insulted them in the past. If they got any shame left they would not stoop to such low levels.”

‘LTTE planning massive attack’
Feb 24 (SAMN)
The Government had information that the LTTE, which had suffered severe casualties and defeat at the hands of the Armed Forces, will try to mount a massive attack on some very vital targets in Colombo or elsewhere in the South in the near future. The attack on the Colombo Port, using fishing boats, could not be dismissed as a solitary incident, Minister of Fisheries Felix Perera told Parliament Friday

Karuna’s party set to contest elections
Feb 24 (SAMN)
The Tamileelam Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) led by LTTE renegade leader Karuna Amman, is preparing to contest any election in the Western and Eastern provinces. TMVP leader Karuna Amman is expected to address public meetings, scheduled to commence at the end of next month in Colombo, a senior TMVP spokesman said Friday

Sri Lanka rebels say truce dead, monitors leave embattled region
Feb 23 (AFP)
Sri Lanka truce monitors pulled out of an embattled northern region where thousands of civilians were on the run fearing a fresh military offensive, as Tiger rebels said the ceasefire was all but dead. The local employees of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) were no longer at their posts in Vavuniya -- gateway to the Tamil north of the island -- after withdrawing Thursday, spokesman Thorfinnur Omarsson said

World shares blame for Sri Lanka war, says Tigers
Feb 23 (Reuters)
The international community shares the blame for Sri Lanka's renewed civil war, the Tamil Tigers have charged, accusing them of bias and inaction they say has left a ceasefire pact meaningless and fostered conflict. The Tigers and Sri Lankan government have repeatedly ignored calls by the international community to halt the conflict, which has killed an estimated 4,000 people in the past 15 months alone, and analysts expect it to escalate.

LTTE reviving bases in India
Feb 23 (Times)
A week after the seizure of an LTTE boat laden with explosives by the Coast Guard in Tamil Nadu, the 5 persons arrested on-board have given vital information to the investigators, including the shocking revelation that their target was a port or harbour in north Sri Lanka. From November 2006, there has been a spurt of arrests in India.

Karunanidhi warns political leaders against nexus with LTTE
Feb 23 (PTI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today warned that stern action would be taken against leaders of political parties if they were found to have nexus with the LTTE. The CM's warning comes at the backdrop of reports that the banned outfit is smuggling arms and ammunition from the state. Writing in the DMK's official organ 'Murasoli', he said strict instructions had been issued not to show any lenience to these leaders if their nexus with the LTTE was established.

Wholesale price hike of essential goods today
Feb 23 (DM)
The Essential Food Commodities Importers and Traders Association decided to increase the prices of essential goods from today. The Association said that since they could not get a reasonable duty reduction as mentioned in the agreement with the Trade, Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Marketing Development Ministry, the wholesale prices per kilo of Big Onions, Red Onions, Dry Chillies and Potatoes are to be increased from today to Rs.70, Rs.150, Rs. 45 and Rs. 50 respectively.

Remove Karu, Milinda from Cabinet: JVP
Feb 23 (SAMN)
The JVP Thursday called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to remove Ministers Milinda Moragoda and Karu Jayasuriya from the Cabinet, as they were responsible for several malpractices disclosed in the COPE report. JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake participating in the Government debate on the COPE report in Parliament yesterday said that four serious frauds which the COPE has come across have taken place within the ministries which were under Moragoda and Jayasuriya.

SCOPP says CFA still intact
Feb 23 (SAMN)
The government peace secretariat (SCOPP) Thursday reiterated that the Ceasefire Agreement signed in 2002 under the Ranil Wickremesinghe regime would remain valid until it was terminated as stipulated in the agreement facilitated by the Norwegians. The government peace secretariat in a statement said the CFA would terminate only upon 14-days notice of termination given by either party - the government or the LTTE.

Statement soon
Feb 23 (LNP)
The Government said yesterday it would announce its current stance on the Ceasefire Agreement soon. `Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake will make an announcement in this regard very soon,` Cabinet Spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said urging the media not to listen to any rumours in this regard. He said currently the Foreign Ministry and the Defence Ministry are discussing the matter before releasing the statement of the Government

Forty Tamil gangs in London says YouTubed award-winning TV documentary
Feb 23 (AT)
A Sky One TV's award winning TV documentary video grab posted on YouTube reveals that there are no less than 40 Tamil gangs in London. They mostly assault or even torture their victims, who are other Tamils living in London. They use swords, axes and even fishtails on their victims. The documentary says that these Tamil gangs are a result of Tamil refugee flow to London due to the civil war in Sri Lanka.

Subramanian Swamy voices concern over LTTE killer squads 'hibernating' on TN coastline
Feb 23 (AT)
Dr. Subramanian Swamy, president of Janata Party has voiced concern over reports about LTTE killer squads 'hibernating' in the backwaters of Tamil Nadu coastline. In a statement circulated to the media from his Chennai office, Dr Swamy demanded action against the Tamil Nadu government of DMK's Muthavel Karunanidhi alleging that DMK is 'a camouflaged political front' of the LTTE in Tamil Nadu

Sangakkara brings all-round qualities to Sri Lanka team
Feb 23 (Reuters)
Kumar Sangakkara is Sri Lanka's leading all rounder, a student of law with a passion for literature, their best batsman and an inspirational wicketkeeper. The 29-year-old is in the prime of his career and he holds a key responsibility batting at number four, the old batting position of Aravinda de Silva.

Sri Lankan monks demand end to cease-fire with Tamil rebels
Feb 22 (AP)
Some 8,000 hardline Buddhist monks and lay supporters paraded through the Sri Lankan capital Thursday, demanding the government scrap a five-year-old cease-fire with Tamil rebels — a deal that now exists only on paper after months of deadly battles. "Respect people's mandate, abrogate pact immediately," read a placard carried by a protester. "Agreement of betrayal is five-years-old," read another.

85 Sri Lankan asylum seekers intercepted by Australian navy
Feb 22 (AP)
An Australian navy ship picked up 85 Sri Lankan asylum seekers who were traveling by boat towards a remote Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, the government said Thursday. The asylum seekers, all men, were invited on to the fuel tanker 80 kilometers (50 miles) off Christmas Island on Tuesday because their boat was not seaworthy, Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said in a statement

President to China with jumbo delegation
Feb 22 (SAMN)
President Mahinda Rajapakse will undertake a state visit to China on Sunday in the company of a jumbo delegation. The Morning Leader learns at least 10 ministers will accompany the President to China in addition to a large number of officials. The ministers who are to accompany the President will include Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama

Eric Solheim praises his own tail
Feb 22 (AT)
Erik Solheim, the Norwegian go-between who brokered the Ceasefire Agreement five years ago (February 22, 2002), has hailed it as "a tremendously positive development for Sri Lanka." On the one hand, he talks of the "silencing of guns (that) stopped the bloodshed" and, on the other, he states that "One killing was followed by another, and the violence escalated.."

Resettlement of the displaced persons from Vaharai and Trincomalee in full swing
Feb 22 (AT)
Government is making speedy arrangement to resettle the displaced people in Vaharai as well as in Trincomalee. Ameer Ali Sihabdeen, Minister of Disaster Relief Services told the "Asian Tribune" that there are 7432 families consisting of 26, 212 displaced persons from Trincomalee and about 4,400 families of 16,650 displaced persons from Vaharai are now living in numerous camps all over the Batticaloa district.

Tamil Nadu and LTTE menace
Feb 22 (Hindu)
The LTTE, a designated terrorist organisation, is banned in India. Nevertheless, a deeply worrying mix of political collusion, official complacency, mercenary considerations, and corruption has enabled it to exploit Tamil Nadu both as a source of supply and a base of operations. The chain of seizures by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and the State police over the past three months points strongly to the LTTE's use of Tamil Nadu coastal locations,

Colombo Katunayake Expressway to take off
Feb 22 (AT)
France's giant conglomerate , Vinci, the integrated concession construction group, specialized in financing, designing, building and operation of major infrastructure projects all over the world, have signed a Contractual Framework Agreement CFA) the Ministry of Highways of the Government of Sri Lanka to commence construction activities of the Colombo Katunayake Expressway in May 2007

Sangakkara set to shine in double role
Feb 22 (IT)
Kumar Sangakkara, training as a lawyer, is Sri Lanka's answer to Adam Gilchrist. His current form, however, shows he is even better than the blaster from Down Under. There are very few players currently playing international cricket who boast of as fabulous a record as the left-handed dasher in both the longer and limited version of the game

Sri Lanka urges India to stop Tamil rebels' alleged gun running
Feb 21 (AP)
India should do more to prevent Sri Lanka's separatist Tamil Tiger rebels smuggling guns and explosives across the narrow strait that separates the two countries, a Sri Lankan official said Wednesday. The Sri Lankan government has repeatedly called on India to take action to stop the alleged gun running. It says it has credible evidence that Indian fishing boats are being used by the rebels to smuggle weapons to the island nation

Sri Lanka marks truce anniversary, conflict rages on
Feb 21 (AFP)
Sri Lankan government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels mark the fifth anniversary of their Norwegian-brokered truce this week but the fighting rages on, with nearly 4,000 people killed in the past year. The ceasefire, signed separately by the Tamil Tiger chieftain and Sri Lanka's then premier, came into effect on February 23, 2002

Roadside blast in eastern Sri Lanka kills 3, military says
Feb 21 (AP)
A roadside blast in eastern Sri Lanka killed a policeman and two civilians on Wednesday, the military said. The bomb, fixed to a parked bicycle, exploded near a police vehicle in Oddamavadi town in Batticaloa district, military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. Samarasinghe said 10 civilians and four police were wounded in the blast which he blamed on separatist Tamil Tiger rebels

LTTE `tax` collectors hacked to death
Feb 21 (LNP)
An anti-LTTE organization, identifying itself as the People`s Liberation Front, killed three Tamil civilians, for collecting taxes for the LTTE, in Vavuniya on Monday. The three had been hacked do death and left near the Bandarikulam Hindu kovil. A large banner was hung over their bodies saying that those who collect taxes for the LTTE, in Vavuniya, would be killed in the same manner

Sri Lankan court releases 40 ethnic Tamils on bail
Feb 21 (AP)
A northern Sri Lankan court released on bail 40 ethnic Tamils, days after they were detained for trespassing during curfew hours, a magistrate said Wednesday. Magistrate Sarojini Ilankoven said she released all the suspects arrested from different places in Tamil-majority northern Jaffna peninsula. At least 170 Tamil men have been detained by police since Sunday,

Essential goods prices slashed
Feb 21 (DN)
Prices of essential commodities have decreased substantially with the signing of the price stability agreement between the Government and essential commodity importers in the Pettah Market for the first time. The Pettah Wholesale Importers Association’s Vice President A. Devapiran said most essential items are now priced around 15 per cent lower

Lanka's ceasefire pact is in tatters
Feb 21 (HT)
The fifth anniversary of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE on February 22, will go unobserved because the CFA had ceased to exist, de facto, a long time ago. "The anniversary is no big deal," said Foreign Secretary Dr Palitha Kohona. In the past five years, what Sri Lanka has seen is an undeclared, diffuse and low intensity war, with interludes of very heavy fighting, mixed with assassinations and other terrorist actions.

Norway calls for fresh commitment to Sri Lankan truce
Feb 21 (AFP)
Norway Wednesday called for a fresh commitment from Sri Lanka's warring parties to maintain its peace brokering efforts on the eve of the fifth anniversary of a truce that now holds only on paper. Norway's ambassador here, Hans Brattskar, said neither Colombo nor the Tiger rebels had abrogated the truce that was arranged and put in place by Oslo from February 23, 2002.

Mangala asks Jeyaraj to inform him in future
Feb 21 (LNP)
SLFP Treasurer and Matara District Parliamentarian, Mangala Samaraweera has requested the Chief Government Whip, Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle to notify him of any future Government Parliamentary Group Meetings or discussions. In a letter, the MP has complained that no action had been taken to duly inform him of the Government Parliamentary Group meeting that took place on - (19 ? 02 - 2007) and

Govt. says no secret deals with LTTE
Feb 21 (LNP)
The government told parliament yesterday there was no basis to allegations by ousted minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi of secret deals with the LTTE while Mr. Sooriayarachchi who was in the House at that stage remained silent though he last week said he would soon give details of the alleged deals. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake in response to questions said he could not submit any report to parliament on the allegations as there were no such deals

Latest News

Air force training flight crashes in northern Sri Lankan, killing 2, military says
Mar 1 (AP)
An air force training aircraft crashed due to engine failure in northern Sri Lanka Thursday, killing the instructor and trainee pilot, the military said. The two-seater Chinese-built plane crashed inside an air force base in northern Anuradhapura district, said Lt. Col. Upali Rajapakse, a senior official at the defense ministry. The aircraft was old, he said.

Remains of the suspicious arms cargo ship
Mar 1 (GDI)
Sri Lanka Navy found 152 mm and 130 mm artillery shells and 120 mm mortar shells during search operations carried out in and around Dondra Point after the 75 meters long suspicious arms cargo ship was destroyed. In the wee hours of Wednesday (28), Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) detected a 75 meters long ship without a flag, name or any identification mark, moving towards North 185 nautical miles away in the seas off Dondra Point, in Matara,

Attack on diplomats further isolates Sri Lanka
Mar 1 (Dawn)
Six months after a suspected LTTE bomb attack on then Pakistani ambassador to Sri Lanka Bashir Wali Mohammed sent shockwaves among diplomats in Colombo, the terror of the Lankan war usually felt only by its 20 million population once again trickled down to the international community on Tuesday.

UNP abolishes assistant leader post
Mar 1 (SAMN)
The UNP will scrap the posts of Assistant Leader and Deputy Leader from the Party constitution at the special convention scheduled for March 17. The unanimous decision was taken at the Political Affairs Committee meeting held on February 27 to discuss the proposed political reforms to be incorporated in the UNP constitution.

LTTE could be taking the final bow
Mar 1 (LNP)
For a few weeks now newspapers are frenetically reporting on the various seizures of arms, ammunition, aluminum bars and what not, supposedly sought to be transported to Sri Lanka by the Tamil Tigers. Even more disturbing, a deadly cargo of explosives was intercepted and blown up mid sea by the Indian Coast Guard and Tamil Nadu police. What exactly is happening? Are Tigers getting desperate?

Sri Lanka set off for the Caribbean
Mar 1 (CI)
Sri Lanka's World Cup cricketers, led by Mahela Jayawardene, were given a grand send-off to the Caribbean yesterday by Sri Lanka Cricket, their supporters and well-wishers. The team members assembled at Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters at five o'clock in the morning, prior to their departure to Barbados via London, and were served kavun and kiribath (milk rice) after a traditional religious ceremony had taken place.

18 killed in Sri Lanka battles
Feb 28 (AFP)
Sri Lanka has escalated sea and land attacks against Tamil Tigers and killed at least 18 people, a day after the rebels shelled helicopters carrying diplomats and a minister, officials said Wednesday. The navy engaged a flotilla of rebel boats off the northeastern coast in a pre-dawn clash, sinking two craft together with at least 15 people, navy spokesman Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake said.

Jakarta refuses to take Sri Lankans
Feb 28 (Age)
Australia'S plan to send 83 Sri Lankan asylum seekers to Indonesia appears certain to collapse, with Jakarta rejecting calls that it should allow them to make asylum claims. The men will be sent to detention on Nauru unless the Howard Government does an about-face and allows them to be processed on Christmas Island - where they have been held since their boat was intercepted last week.

Steps to reform parliamentary committee system
Feb 28 (DN)
Higher Education Minister Prof. Wiswa Warnapala now in Australia on a study tour with the parliamentary delegation is of the view that the study tour would help them to carve out methods to reform the parliamentary committee system in Sri Lanka to make the Parliament an effective watch-dog over legislative and administrative matters

Ice rain a freak weather pattern
Feb 28 (SAMN)
Ice rained down in Matara on Monday for around half and hour due to the mysterious weather conditions prevailing around the world the Metrological Department in Colombo said. Director, K. R. Abeysinghe said although the situation looked peculiar it was common and the incidence of ice rain in Mawarala village in Matara was a result of mysterious weather conditions.

LTTE contacts embassies, claims `criminal negligence` by Govt
Feb 28 (LNP)
The LTTE peace secretariat was yesterday in the process of contacting foreign embassies in Colombo to express regret over the injuries caused by a mortar attack to a group of foreign dignitaries who were on a visit to Batticaloa. Speaking to the Daily Mirror LTTE military wing spokesman Irasiah Illentheriyan claimed that the Batticaloa airspace was used only for military purposes and not civilian traffic and thus blamed the government for `criminal negligence.`

Sri Lankan FM slams "deliberate" attack on foreign diplomats
Feb 27 (AFP)
Sri Lanka's foreign minister condemned an artillery attack Tuesday by Tamil Tiger rebels that wounded the German, Italian and US ambassadors, labelling it a deliberate strike against the diplomats. "The government of Sri Lanka condemns this attack by the LTTE in the strongest terms," Rohitha Bogollagama, who is accompanying President Mahinda Rajapakse on a week-long visit to China, said in a statement.

Tigers rebuilding fleet
Feb 27 (SAMN)
Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka who was on an inspection tour of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau and the Pallekele-Udawattekele reservations said a National Sand Policy would be implemented to put an end to the illegal sand mining and transportation and the serious problems arising out of the issue.

Singhalese youth who obtained LTTE training commits suicide while in detention
Feb 27 (LeN)
It is being reported that a Singhalese youth who was detained on suspect of receiving arms training from the LTTE has committed suicide by hanging himself. The youth who committed suicide in the fourth floor of the Crimes Investigation Departments headquarters has been identified as G. Chandrasekara from Aranayake

UNICEF told LTTE to submit a time bound ‘Action Plan’ to halt the practice of recruiting underage children
Feb 27 (AT)
UNICEF in Sri Lanka is urging those involved in the alleged recruitment of underage child soldiers to prepare action plans based on the UN Security Council Resolution No 1612, calling on the offenders to prepare a time bound Action Plans to halt the practice.

Sri Lanka Marxists wants the government, Opposition and Norway ...
Colombo Page, Sri Lanka -
Feb 26, Colombo: The Marxist Peoples Liberation Front (JVP) and the Patriotic National Movement (PNM) yesterday urged the Sri Lankan government,

Over thousand families to be removed from Sri Lanka's hill country
Colombo Page, Sri Lanka
Feb 26, Colombo: Sri Lanka Buildings and Research Organization has recommended removing 1075 families in ninety villages in the Walapone and Hanguranketha

LTTE’s Tamil Nadu Connection
Sri Lanka National Security, Sri Lanka
There has been a flurry of diplomatic activity between India and Sri Lanka over the past month along with straws in the wind that the LTTE could be losing

Outer Colombo ring road to ease traffic congestion
Feb 25 (NS)
The government is planning to construct an outer Colombo ring road connecting Kottawa, Kaduwela and Kadawatha called the outer circular road, to ease traffic congestion within the Colombo city. Informed sources said that they will utilize Japanese funds to construct this road which would be later extended to Wattala from Kadawatha. The Japanese government increased its annual loan package from 33 billion to 39.2 billion Japanese yen

Govt. devolution proposals by April
Feb 25 (SAMN)
The government will put forward its devolution proposals as a political solution to the North-East crisis, before April 13. This was revealed by President’s Special Advisor Basil Rajapaksa to Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Japan’s Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi during a recent visit to Japan. The Japanese Foreign Minister had said that economic prosperity should accompany freedom and peace.

President off to China on official visit
Feb 25 (LNP)
President Mahinda Rajapakse who begins his five-day official visit to China this week is expected to discuss technical and financial assistance for the Hambantota Port Development Project from the Chinese government, official sources said. This gigantic project, estimated to cost to Rs. 30.9 billion million it calls for, is expected to be completed by 2011

80 million-rupee luxury BMWs for new ministers
Feb 25 (LNP)
Contrary to assurances that the new ministers in the super-size Cabinet of President Mahinda Rajapaksa will only be drawing their salaries as parliamentarians and not be given any perks, a scramble for luxury vehicles by the new ministers has begun. Early this week Treasury Secretary P. B. Jayasundera directed Director General Budget Sudharma Karunaratne to prepare a policy guideline circular on allocation of new vehicles

Govt. won`t quit CFA
Feb 25 (LNP)
President Mahinda Rajapakse`s administration would not quit the Oslo-arranged Ceasefire Agreement, government sources said. Amidst growing JVP-led protests aimed at forcing the President to abrogate the CFA, the sources emphasized that the agreement was irrelevant. The President is under heavy fire over his refusal to give in to JVP demands, particularly the abrogation of the agreement and summarily terminate

“Two Decades of War, Five Years of the CFA, What Next?”
Feb 25 (TW)
I want to congratulate National Peace Council for holding this timely symposium and for posing the question: after two decades of war and 5 years of the CFA, what next? I also want to commend NPC for inviting such a range of important religious, political, civil society and other leaders to share their thoughts because all of you collectively represent a powerful constituency for peace.

SL happy as India blows up LTTE boat
Feb 24 (HT)
In contrast to trenchant criticism in a section of the press in Colombo, the Sri Lankan government is happy that India blew up an explosive-laden LTTE suicide boat. "They had no option but to blow it up," said Foreign Secretary Dr Palitha Kohona reacting to a report in The Island daily on Saturday, that the blowing up was a "mysterious" affair, that Colombo had rejected the Indian claims about the boat's mission and had called for joint naval patrolli

Zimbabwe asked to stop money printing by IMF as Sri Lanka trail 1600:20
Feb 24 (LBO)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Zimbabwe not to print money and called for fundamental policy changes to stabilize its economy as inflation hit 1,600 percent in January, echoing advice given to Sri Lanka not so long ago. But Sri Lanka is trailing way behind Zimbabwe with inflation at only 20 percent, with both countries due meet at the cricket world cup next month

TN Police denies laxity
Feb 24 (CO)
Under media criticism for "laxity" in taking action against LTTE supporters' activities and "intelligence failure", Tamil Nadu police has asserted that there was no let up by police in dealing with the issue. State DGP D Mukherjee told reporters yesterday that in the last two months, the police had arrested 41 people suspected to be involved in running supply chains to the Sri Lankan militants

Australia say Sri Lankans won't be sent home if they face persecution
Feb 24 (AFP)
Australia vowed Saturday not to send home a group of 85, mostly Sri Lankan boat people if it meant they would face persecution. The Australian government said the fate of the group, intercepted by a navy ship this week, was being discussed with both Jakarta and the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru, where Australia already has a immigration detention centre.

Tamil Nadu police launch door-to-door verification of over 100,000 Lankan refugees
Feb 24 (LNP)
The Tamil Nadu police has launched a state-wide door-to-door verification of nearly one hundred thousand Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in the southern Indian state. Reports reaching here from state capital Chennai have quoted unidentified `highly placed sources` as saying that the massive, census-like, exercise is being carried out by the Q branch with the help of the police all over the state

Ranatunga turns Sri Lankans into world-beaters
Feb 24 (AFP)
Sri Lanka had always been a talented side often giving the impression of being too soft on the field until captain Arjuna Ranatunga changed it all with his aggressive approach to win the 1996 World Cup. They always had skilful individuals, but as a team they achieved worldwide fame only under Ranatunga who taught his players to have faith in their ability and never to be overawed by the opposition

Sri Lanka youth Parliament working towards peace building
Feb 24 (DN)
Sri Lanka Youth Parliament (SLYP) conducted a three-day residential workshop on skills for peace from February 16 to 18 for its Action Partners coming from all over Sri Lanka at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS). Youth from all districts including the North and East were present at the workshop

Sri Lanka government gains support of Buddhist monks
Feb 23 (AP)
With full-scale war blossoming once more in a country beset by a quarter century of ethnic conflict, an ever more assertive government has found a sturdy ally in what might seem an unexpected source: hard-line Buddhist monks. The monks have long been active in Sri Lanka's deeply polarized politics, but for the first time they have joined the governing coalition with their own political party

Sri Lankan military finds 2 large bombs on northern peninsula
Feb 23 (AP)
Sri Lankan soldiers found two large bombs planted in an underground drain on the northern Jaffna peninsula that Tamil rebels planned to use against government troops, the military said Friday. The 15-kilogram (33-pound) bombs were hidden in a drain under a road in the small town of Manthuvil, along with a detonator and a remote control, military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said.

LTTE to resume war for secession
Feb 23 (HT)
In a landmark statement issued on Thursday, the LTTE said that it was being "compelled" to resume its fight for an independent "Tamil Eelam" and that the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), which it entered into with the Sri Lankan government five years ago, had already given "Tamil Eelam" de facto domestic and international recognition.

NMAT urges politicians not to hamper victory march against LTTE
Feb 23 (DN)
The National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT) yesterday appealed to all political parties and politicians not to cause any action that could harm the government's on going operations to free the country of LTTE terrorism on account of their political differences with President Rajapaksa and his government.

JVP vows to oust Govt.
Feb 23 (SAMN)
The JVP Thursday warned that if the Government was not willing to abrogate the ceasefire agreement, it would act to oust the Government and bring in a new administration that would abrogate the agreement. Addressing a crowded public rally organised by the federation of national organisations in Colombo, JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa said some people were taking the CFA lightly and claiming it was only a dead letter.

Yes, Mr. Ambassador but
Feb 23 (LNP)
US Ambassador Robert O Blake Jr says Sri Lanka has got an important opportunity to achieve peace and urges her to seize time by the forelock. `If a credible power sharing proposal emerges from the APRC, Sri Lanka has in President Mahinda Rajapakse a strong leader who can use his very considerable political skills and the trust that his supporters repose in him to help fashion the southern consensus that has eluded previous governments,`

Tamil Tigers Blamed of Humanitarian and Human Rights Situation in Sri Lanka
Feb 23 (AT)
“In their quest for a mono-ethnic one party separate state for a fraction of Sri Lanka’s Tamil population living in the north and east, the LTTE, over the years, has employed the strategy of creating humanitarian situations in these areas to further their political agenda and to win international sympathy for their cause,” says Sri Lanka ambassador in Washington Bernard Goonetilleke

LTTE disrupting the lifestyle of common people in north
Feb 23 (GDI)
The indiscriminate violence unleashed by LTTE disrupts day to day activities of the Tamil people. A LTTE grenade attack on a military target, instead hit a tuition class injuring the tutor and five students at Yalai junction in Jaffna on Wednesday (21) around 4.10 p.m. The terrorists have hurled the hand grenade targetting troops and due to the attack two school girls and three boys were injured and they were immediately evacuated to the Jaffna hospital.

Norway offers help to revive Sri Lanka peace bid
Feb 22 (AFP)
Norway's top peace broker in Sri Lanka, Erik Solheim, Thursday offered to go the extra mile to revive the stalled process on the eve of the fifth anniversary of a moribund truce. Solheim, who is also Norway's international development minister, expressed the hope that Sri Lanka's government and the LTTE, would recognise the need to implement the truce.

D.M. talks to Mangala and Sripathi
Feb 22 (LNP)
Plantation Industries Minister D.M. Jayaratne yesterday in Parliament held talks with ousted ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi to bring about a reconciliation between the two ex-ministers and President Mahinda Rajapaksa, government sources said. The sources said the two former ministers had informed Minister Jayaratne that they were not sure of the real reasons behind their sacking and had expressed views on their present stand on the matter.

Red alert sounded along Tamil Nadu coast
Feb 22 (Hindu)
Intelligence experts estimate that 15 suicide mission boats of the LTTE are `hibernating' in the waters between India and Sri Lanka. They are of the opinion that these are not aimed at India; the LTTE, perhaps, hopes a repeat of the Kattunayake airport strike, this time at a major seaport. For, the Sea Tigers are under growing pressure from the Sri Lankan Navy

V.Ramaraj back with London based Tamil Broadcasting Corporation
Feb 22 (AT)
In a statement released to the press Ramaraj pointed out, that while he was in the protest rally Chelliam Kulasekeram alias Kulam, Switzerland’s chief of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, came with the Swiss police and one of the two miscreant who tried to disturb the protest rally, “pointed out me to the police as I was the person responsible for threat and intimidation, which lead to my arrest by the Police of Switzerland.”

Sri Lanka at best ever for World Cup: de Silva
Feb 22 (AFP)
Former batting great Aravinda de Silva believes the current Sri Lankan side go into the World Cup with better chances of winning the title than their champion 1996 team. "I honestly feel this side have a better chance than we had in 1996. When you compare the eras, I feel this team have got a better combination. We didn't have experience in 1996, but this team have," de Silva told AFP.

Pressure makes you do well: Murli
Feb 22 (ZN)
Muttiah Muralitharan believes that Sri Lanka may go into the coming World Cup in the Caribbean as strong contenders but the 1996 victorious team from the island nation was a better side than the current one. "Some experts are tipping us to surprise a few at the World Cup and maybe even win it. I think we have a good chance but I still believe the Sri Lanka team of 1996 was better,"

Sri Lanka says finds rebel grenades, cyanide at church
Feb 21 (Reuters)
Sri Lankan troops have found Tamil Tiger rebel grenades, cyanide capsules and communications equipment in a Catholic church in the island's besieged far northern Jaffna peninsula, the military said on Wednesday. The find comes amid a rash of suspected rebel ambushes and bomb attacks against the military in the peninsula, which is cut off from the rest of Sri Lanka by LTTE lines

Karuna in Kirulapone?
Feb 21 (LNP)
The residents of Andarawatta in Kirulapone in fear of indirect threat from the LTTE are to take legal action against the proposed sale of a luxury house in the neighbourhood to the Karuna faction. According to the residents a two storey luxury house in the Andarawatta area is to be sold to the Karuna group. The house had been recently renovated and upgraded with tall parapet walls and

SLFP serves the people, not pastes posters: Nimal
Feb 21 (DM)
Some elements are now scheming to oust President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government. But they will never succeed in their attempts,” said Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.“Certain reactionaries are reportedly conspiring to topple the Government. But missiles they aim at us will end up as damp squibs,” the minister said

Spiritual leader Amma to visit Sri Lanka Friday
Feb 21 (IANS)
Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi, popularly known as 'Amma', has accepted an invitation from Sri Lankan President Mahendra Rajapakshe to visit the country and hand over the keys of the houses that her mutt built for the tsunami victims there. A statement issued by the Mutt Wednesday said the function would take place at the Presidential Palace in Colombo Friday

Economic building part of peace: Ranil
Feb 21 (SAMN)
Addressing the third business for peace forum on maintaining the balance of peace building and economic development the way forward the guest speaker Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe Tuesday said “economic building is part of peace” The forum which based on the key note address of the opposition leader followed by panel discussion with the panellists

A brilliant student’s million-rupee battle against cancer
Feb 14 (ST)
Like any young person who has ventured abroad for the first time, next to the warmth of his family's love, 22-year-old Piyumal Gunawardene misses his mother's cooking the most, especially the plate of steaming hot red rice which is the staple at their home in Matara. But unlike others, Piyumal doesn't know if he will ever be able to eat solid food again, or whether he will even live to see his family again.

Tamil Tiger arms deal foiled
Feb 21 (ANN)
Sri Lanka's secessionist group Tamil Tigers' attempt to procure a large consignment of urgently needed arms, ammunition and equipment, from one of Sri Lanka’s key weapons suppliers went awry recently. The list is believed to have included a stock of artillery shells and mortars. Authorities had acted swiftly after receiving information on the move.

UNP spokesman says Ranil will protect CFA with Prabhakaran
Feb 21 (AT)
Confidante of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and a man who is considered to be the go between for all written and unwritten agreements between his leader and LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena said his party and leader take the full responsibility of the controversial Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) and vowed to further protect it

Tamils flee LTTE controlled areas
Feb 21 (GDI
Tamil civilians flee LTTE held areas to save their childrern from forced conscription and to escape from the LTTE tyranny. dAround 25 civilians fleeing the LTTE grip in uncleared areas have reached Security Forces controlled area of Nochchikulam, Vavuniya yesterday morning, the Media Centre for the National Security said.

Sinhalese women in tiger ranks
Feb 21 (LT)
According to information divulged by arrested Sinhalese tigers there are Sinhala women tigers who had undergone training in tiger camps. Secretary of Ministry of Defense Gotabhaya Rajapakse says investigations are being carried out to locate the Sinhalese women tigers and soon they would be apprehended

People perturbed as Tigers intensify conscription
Feb 21 (TW)
Many Tamil people living in Northern areas controlled by the LTTE are faced with the problem of increased tiger conscription. Intensified forcible recruitment since June last year has resulted in an estimated 10, 000 persons being inducted into the LTTE over the past eight months. A significant feature of this recruitment drive is that the bulk of those conscripted are over the age of seventeen.

Sri Lanka air force bombs kill two civilians - Tigers
Feb 20 (Reuters)
Tigers said on Tuesday that air force jets bombed a village under their control in the island's north, killing at least two civilians, but the military said it was targeting a training camp and mortar post. The air raids in the northern district of Vavuniya came amid a brief lull in Sri Lanka's two-decade civil war, though many analysts and civilians fear the conflict will flare again soon.

Basil in high level talks in Japan
Feb 20 (SAMN)
Concerned over the current state of the conflict in Sri Lanka the Japanese government held several rounds of high level discussions with Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa in Tokyo during the past few days. Both the Japanese Foreign Minister and senior vice Minister of Foreign Affairs met Rajapaksa Monday and exchanged views on the future of the fragile cease fire in Sri Lanka and other related issues.

Rumour sparks exodus from Lankan town
Feb 20 (Dawn)
An exodus from the northern district of Vavuniya has begun following a rumour that Tigers will launch a major offensive after Feb 22, the date when the Norway-facilitated truce between the Mahinda Rajapakse Rajapakse government with the Tamil Tiger rebels is completing five years. Sources said civilians had started leaving the region fearing a full-scale war in the area.

Mangala, Anura, Sripathy not participate Gotabhaya's briefing
Feb 20 (LeN)
Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, yesterday briefed the SLFP Parliamentary group, about the ongoing military operations in the Eastern province and assured them that all procurements of weapons for the forces were carried out through a state company, thus free of any corruption or irregularities.

Boost for Civil Security service
Feb 20 (GDI)
The Civil Security Department (CSD), formerly known as the Homeguard Service, will be strengthened and fully geared to combat terrorism. The CSD will deploy fully trained and well-equipped civil security personnel in villages and jungles shortly.

UNP and TNA to appoint representatives to Colombo based Civil Monitoring Committee
Feb 20 (AT)
The UNP leader Ranil Wickramasigha agreed to nominate his party’s representative to the Civil Monitoring Committee, which was formed by the human rights defenders and legislators. Parliamentarian and leader of the Western People’s Front Mano Ganesan told the media that R. Sambandan, leader of the TNA, a proxy political party of the LTTE, has also shown his interest to appoint his representative for this committee.

Rebel mortar fire injures civilians in Sri Lanka's northeast
Feb 18 (Xinhua)
At least 3 civilians including a child were injured when the Tamil Tiger rebels fired mortars at a northeastern village, defense officials said Sunday. The LTTE fired mortars landed at Ethavatunuwewa village in Welioya, a northeastern border village around 2 a.m local time Sunday (2030 GMT). Officials said the mortar landed on a bunker housing civilians located close to a military detachment.

More UNPers to crossover
Feb 18 (SAMN)
There is no likelihood of an early general election now but between four to six more UNP parliamentarians will be joining the government in the next two weeks and already some of them have met President Mahinda Rajapakse, Minister for Nation Building S. M. Chandrasena said Saturday. He said the majority of the government will be over 125 when the new group of dissident UNP MPs join it.

Pakistan eyes larger share of SL`s arms market
Feb 18 (LNP)
With an eye to corner a major share of Sri Lanka`s military imports primarily aimed at countering the LTTE, a high-level Pakistani team led by Defence Secretary Tariq Waseem Ghazi will visit the island nation on Monday. The visit comes in the wake of reports of alleged sleaze and bad quality arms received by Sri Lankan forces from Pakistan.

JVP demands committee to determine size of cabinet
Feb 17 (DM)
The JVP is likely to propose the setting up of a Parliamentary Select Committee to determine a fixed number of Cabinet ministers for the country in keeping with the desired development goals, population, production capacity and other relevant factors. According to the new proposal, a number of Cabinet ministers will remain in their same capacity despite a change of government.

Tamil Tigers must honor agreement with Muslims to resettle them with security
Feb 17 (AT)
Rauff Hakeem, Minister of Post and Telecommunications, and the Leader of the SLMC said in an interview with the Asian Tribune that the LTTE should not refuse to respect the agreement it has with the SLMC in resettling the displaced Muslims who were driven out of Jaffna by the LTTE cadres. Referring to the SLMC-LTTE meeting held on April 13, 2002 in Killinochchi he said it was a "milestone".

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