Dec 9 (LT) It is reported that advertisements pertaining to Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and Fisheries Ministry have been given to a media person named Janitha Seneviratne of �Divaina� newspaper. This has been assigned outside the tender procedure which leads to various corruption within the Ministries. more..

Dec 9 (LM) One man was seriously hacked and a motorcycle belonging to another set on fire by angry mobs of two different factions belonging to two communities in Muttur yesterday afternoon. An armed gang had hacked a person with swords in the morning and the victim had been rushed to Trincomalee hospital in a critical condition. more..

Dec 9 (AT) A brother supporting the LTTE � Prabhakaran faction murdered his own sisters for supporting the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (Karuna's faction) in Batticaloa. Yogarasa Yogeswary, 26, and Thurairasa Vathany, 17, were shot dead, Wednesday night, by the suspected LTTE cadre, at Palacholai in Batticaloa. more..

Dec 9 (IE) Hours after Sri Lanka�s new President overturned an earlier statement and asked Norway to resume its role as facilitator of peace talks between the government and Tamil rebels, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg arrived in New Delhi to consolidate India�s support before facilitating the initiation of the next round of talks. more..

Dec 9 (SAMN) Norway said Thursday it would only resume its facilitator role in Sri Lanka subject to certain conditions which would be discussed with both the Government and the LTTE. more..

Dec 9 (SAMN) The UNP yesterday decided to refrain from voting on the new Budget which President Mahinda Rajapakse presented yesterday. In a statement after a meeting of its Parliamentary group the main opposition party said it would not oppose the Budget although it has several shortcomings. more..

Dec 9 (SAMN) Wells in the vicinity of Kalubowila Hospital are at risk of being contaminated because of the chemical waste from the Kalubowilla Hospital. Mayor of Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Dhanasiri Amaratunga told the Daily Mirror that the garbage disposal crisis at the hospital was far from over, although the garbage was buried yesterday. more..

Dec 9 (LNP) The JVP yesterday reiterated its call for the removal of WPC Chief Minister Reginald Cooray, accused of corruption charges. The JVP and a section of the UNP WPC group earlier made an abortive bid to remove Cooray who successfully resisted the bid with the support of an influential group of UNPers. more..

Dec 9 (LNP) The security forces are likely to take a tougher stand against ongoing LTTE efforts to destabilise government-controlled areas in the northern and eastern provinces. President Mahinda Rajapakse is determined to restore normalcy in areas under security forces` control, a senior military official said. more..

Dec 9 (LNP) The Government`s maiden Budget presented to Parliament yesterday came under severe criticism from the main Opposition UNP, which claimed that it was `a sugar coated concoction` with numerous repercussions expected in the years to come. more..

Dec 9 (DN) The Government will start construction of the new railway line to Kataragama within a year, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. Assuming duties as the New Railway Lines Development Minister, Amaraweera said that commencing work on the Colombo-Kataragama railway line will be his first task. more..

Dec 9 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's rupee closed a touch stronger on Friday as stocks rallied after traders said a new budget was less negative than many had feared, but fears over rising Tamil Tiger violence kept market volumes low. The rupee closed at 101.98/101.99 to the dollar from 102.00/102.01 on Thursday. more..

Dec 9 (IRNA) Norway, which has been facilitating the Lanka's fragile peace process over the past five years, has imposed conditions to resume its role as `facilitator' in the peace process between the island nation's government and Tamil Tiger rebels. This move comes despite a formal invitation from newly-elected President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday. more..

Dec 9 (HT) The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Daya Sandagiri, said on Friday that the recent landmine attacks by the LTTE in Jaffna which claimed the lives of 13 army personnel, were "not acts of war" but were "terrorist acts." "The armed forces are not excited about these attacks," more..

Dec 9 (AFP) Sri Lanka's combat aircraft and ground troops are ready to be deployed at short notice in the aftermath of a wave of violence that killed 31 people, the military top brass has announced. Chief of defence staff Daya Sandagiri said Friday the government forces were prepared to meet "any terrorist challenge" after the latest bloodshed, which the government blamed on the rebel LTTE. more..

Dec 10 (LeN) Here are some of the proposals incorporated in the budget presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa Yesterday. * An annual allowance of Rs. 2000 to purchase books and equipment for teachers of Sunday schools. * Rs 200 million allocated for the development of selected temples, kovils, churches and mosques. more..

Dec 10 (PTI) I read with interest that Rahul Dravid wants a quickish pitch at Kotla for the second Test. It is a legitimate concern for an under-prepared spinning track could well play into the hands of Muttiah Muralitharan. It is not a one-dayer but a Test match where Murali could not be too concerned about wides or that he is allowed to bowl only 10 overs. more..

Dec 10 (TN) LTTE's Political Head Mr. S.P.Thamilchelvan stressed the urgent need for effective implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) and the critical need to maintain Muslim, Tamil amity to maintain peace, when he addressed the media following a meeting with the Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar Friday morning. more..

Dec 10 (WS) The debt ridden Ceylon Electricity Board, has stopped all payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation due to lack of funds, CEB sources told the Weekend Standard. The Board owes the petroleum Corporation a whopping Rs. 9.3 billion, more..

Dec 10 (WS) Families have a strong influence on Sri Lankan adolescents, a UNICEF survey has revealed. And mothers were identified as the most trusted and liked confidantes of adolescents irrespective of age, sex and socio-economic status. more..

Dec 10 (WS) Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) President V. Anandasangaree has appealed to the army to show extreme patience whatever happens and not to attack the poor innocent civilians for no fault of theirs, but to fight their enemy in the proper way. more..

Dec 10 (WS) LTTE political wing leader S.P. Tamilselvan has blamed the recent incidents of violence and killings on the Sri Lanka Army, alleging that it was the army which encouraged the armed groups and their activities in the North and East and now they are going berserk creating unrest in these areas, more..

Dec 10 (AFP) Indian captain Rahul Dravid and his deputy Virender Sehwag have both fallen ill, dampening spirits in the home camp ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka. Dravid was down with a mild fever and Sehwag with a throat infection on Friday, leaving India sweating after poor batting form in the rain-hit drawn opening Test at Chennai. more..

Dec 10 (wsws) Five days after Sri Lanka�s new government was installed on November 23, the state-owned Daily News carried a front-page headline, �Urgent action to uplift estate workers.� more..

Dec 10 (BBC) A Hartal called by a Tamil organisation on Friday paralysed the eastern Sri Lankan town of Trincomalee. Banks, schools and shops were closed in the town and the suburban areas after a request by an organisation called Pongu Tamil Samuhan to observe a Hartal. more..

Dec 10 (TN) Preparations by the Sri Lanka Government to set-up the first naval base in Batticaloa district close to Eravur was revealed in a meeting between the Police officers of the Batticaloa district, a Muslim Minister and Muslim representatives in Eravur. more..

Dec 10 (TN) The Geneva based International Federation of Tamils (IFT), a consortium of more than 150 expatriate Tamil organizations, in a media statement released on Friday appealed to the International Community to exert its influence on the Government of Sri Lanka to help bring normalcy in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled areas in the Northeast. more..

Dec 10 (PT) Maldives, runners-up in 1997 and 2003, took another giant towards podium when they scored in each half to register their second win in SAFF Championship at Karachi�s Peoples Sports Complex. The star performer for the wining team was Ashfaq Ali who struck the opener and created the second. more..

Dec 10 (ANI) Deccan Lanka , Sri Lanka's non scheduled domestic carrier, which is a joint venture between Deccan Aviation Private Limited (India) and local partners in Sri Lanka , has been given clearance to commence operations within the next six months as a designated International Scheduled Commercial Passenger Operator by the CA, Lanka. more..

Dec 10 (LT) Though Mr. Eric Solheim has expressed his desire to continue as the Norwegian Government�s facilitator in the peace process, Norwegian Government has difference of opinion about it say reports. The reason for the dispute is said to be the suspicion government of Sri Lanka harbours against Eric Solheim�s personal contribution for the peace process. more..

Dec 10 (LT) Government has decide to convey its dissatisfaction to the Norwegian government over a news item published in its issue on 09.12.2005 under the heading " Norway sets condition to resume its role in peace process". This news quotes a statement Norway special envy Eric Solheim Made to the BBC. more..

Dec 10 (LT) President Mahinda Rajapakse points out that both monitoring the ceasefire and facilitating the peace process cannot be done by the same individuals. As such, a decision will have to be taken in the near future about the mediation of Norway said the President when he met Japanese special peace envoy Yasushi Akashi. more..

Dec 10 (AT) The LTTE today charged that the Sri Lankan Government was allowing it's military to act in collision with armed groups that have political agendas based on their 'masters interests'. more..

Dec 10 (LeN) A conflict has erupted between the President and Ports and Aviation Minister Mangala Samaraweera over the appointment of the Chairman of the Ports Authority. The extent of the conflict is evident from the Minister's complete disregard for the President's request to appoint Executive Chairman of the Ports, R.M.P.B. Wickrema as the new Chairman of the Ports Authority. more..

Dec 10 (Hindu) Sri Lankan military leaders on Friday allayed fears of an imminent war with but said they were prepared for any threat. In a joint press conference, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Daya Sandagiri, described the recent attacks in north-east Sri Lanka as those aimed at provoking the armed forces. more..

Dec 10 (TN) Four EPDP cadres were injured in a bomb explosion inside their office located along the Inner Harbour Road in front of the Trincomalee Harbour around 11:30 a.m. Saturday. One cadre was seriously wounded. The injured cadres were identified as Velayudam Raghunadan (38) Joseph Abraham (58) Gnanapragasam Pulogarajan (39) and Gnanapragasam Anthony Fernando (31). more..

Dec 10 (TN) Tamil speaking people Friday observed general shut down in Trincomalee town and its suburbs responding to a call made by the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples Consortium demanding the withdrawal of troops from the east port city and condemning the killings of civilians in the northeast province. more..

Dec 10 (SLA) A DEAD BODY of a youth has been found from the general area of KIRAN, about 06 km south west of VALAICHCHENAI during a search conducted by troops subsequent to a sound of firing heard by them Friday (09) around 8.30 p.m.. more..

Dec 10 (SLA) ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED and eighty seven (1587) lorry loads of food and other essential items had been dispatched to un-cleared areas in the northern province during the period between 02 December 2005 and 08 December 2005. more..

Dec 10 (LeN) Though 16 days have lapsed since the swearing in of the Cabinet of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government, the gazette notification allocating subjects to each Ministry is struck in Temple Trees. more..

Dec 10 (LeN) Doctors and staff of the Moneragala hospital stay away from duties today denouncing a brutal assault on the surgeon attached to the hospital by a police officer inside the Moneragala police station. more..

Dec 10 (LBO) In the wake of another world trade meeting Sri Lanka decides to introduce safeguard laws to shield farmers and industries from rampaging imports. The island, that started opening up in 1977 and was a founder member of the GATT (General Agreement on tariff and Trade), is trying to rebalance its domestic and international trade obligations. more..

Dec 10 (AT) Velupillai Prabakaran, the reclusive leader of the Tamil rebel outfit is expected to meet soon in Kilinochchi, a high powered Norwegian delegation to discuss the future of the peace talks, disclosed S.P.Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Division of the LTTE. more..

Dec 10 (CT) It has long been understood that the lack of a proper drainage system is the cause of all the flooding that we experience even after a minor shower. But the latest contribution to the flooding of Thurstan Road and Flower Road in Colombo are drug addicts who are allegedly ripping off the iron grills that cover the manholes on the sides of the roads. more..

Dec 10 (TW) The Lalith Athulathmudali Memorial oration "Recognition of statehood of territorial fragments on unilateral secession in the Lankan context" delivered by H. L. de Silva, P.C. at the BMICH on November 26 was well attended. Mr. de Silva is a respected lawyer whose views on matters of national importance are followed widely and with interest. more..

Dec 10 (TW) The first weeks of the new Rajapakse administration has been more peaceful than anticipated. Prior to Presidential Election there was much concern about the LTTE�s immediate intentions. The assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, the training of civilians for war and statements highlighting impatience at the prevailing situation caused anxieties of an LTTE ultimatum. more..

Dec 10 (TW) Yarlpanam or Jaffna, the land of Palmyra trees, is getting a taste of what seems to be the beginning of a Palestine - style "Intifada" for the past few days. Jaffna students and youths have been engaging in demonstrations with the demand " Iranuvame Velieru! Illaiyel Veliettuvom" (Army Quit or we will make you Quit). more..

Dec 10 (ANN) President Mahinda Rajapakse has exuded the typical hospitality of a southerner in his maiden budget, which is nothing but the Mahinda Chinthanya retold by the author himself in economic terms. He has showered goodies on one and all in Santa Claus style ahead of Christmas. more..

Dec 10 (ANN) The Tri Services Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police Dec 9 pledged that they will uphold the Oslo arranged Peace Agreement to the letter and warned that the isolated provocative acts by the LTTE will not be tolerated at all. more..

Dec 10 (SAMN) A number of senior citizens have approached some leading criminal lawyers to find out whether there was any possibility of filing private plaints against former president Kumaratunga for cheating. more..