Feb 1 (AFP) Sri Lanka's cabinet expanded to 54 ministers, compounding logistical problems for parliamentary staff struggling to find them a big enough meeting room, officials said. A layman from Sri Lanka's Buddhist monks' party, the National Heritage Party, was sworn in as environment minister by President Mahinda Rajapakse, a government statement said on Thursday. more..

Feb 2 (LBO) Sri Lanka's state petroleum utility expects to just break even or make a marginal profit in 2006, after a government price supplement subsidy was withdrawn, an official said. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation's retail prices were state controlled, but the treasury gave it a price supplement until last year based on a formula that contained a 5 percent profit margin on benchmark prices. more..

Feb 2 (BBC) The government of Sri Lanka has accused the Tamil Tigers of looting a Jordanian ship that sailed into Sri Lankan waters due to engine trouble. The Tamil Tigers have recently entered the ship and looted rice and other things on board, a government statement said. The crew of MV FARAH III earlier accused LTTE of sea piracy. more..

Feb 2 (Hindu) People in this picturesque town along the sea coast in the Western Province of the island nation have little to cheer about the recent successes of Sri Lanka military against the Tigers in the east. The overwhelming sentiment in the town, a popular destination for European tourists, is for peace. There has been a substantial drop in the arrival of tourists in the last few weeks, hurting thousands of people whose livelihood is dependent on tourism. more..

Feb 2 (Hindu) Close on the heels of the arrest of suspected members of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealem and seizure of ball bearings, the Navy and Coast Guard have stepped up vigil along the coast off Rameswaram. Security agencies say that the route from Rameswaram to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka is often used by illegal infiltrators from Sri Lanka to transport smuggled goods. more..

Feb 2 (AT) Australian Parliamentarians Don Randal and Senator Steve Hutchins are due to to visit Sri Lanka on a fact finding mission. They have been invited by the High Commissioner K.Balapatabandi. Don Randall a Liberal MP is the Chair of the Australia - Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the Federal Parliament. Steve Hutchins, a Labor Senator is the Deputy Chair of the same group. more..

Jan 2 (LBO) Sri Lanka's smokers have coughed up 10 percent of government revenue in the past year, despite smoking less cigarettes due to higher taxes, the country's tobacco monopoly has reported. Customers of Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) have helped pay 35.4 billion rupees as government levies, in 2006 up 3.5 billion rupees from an year earlier, the Sri Lanka only maker of legal cigarettes said. more..

Feb 2 (LBO) Sri Lanka shares closed up Friday, as punters chased after Commercial Bank, which has announced a cash call and bonus issue of shares, dealers said. "Market activity went up with Commercial Bank�s bonus and rights issue and foreign interests in buying that passed the 100 million rupee mark", Suren Liyanage, Head of Research at DFCC Stockbrokers told LBO. more..

Feb 2 (LBO) Seven media workers were killed in Sri Lanka in the past year, with Tamil journalists bearing the brunt of the oppression, an international media rights group has said. "No suspects have so far been arrested," the Paris based Reporters without Borders, (RSF) said in a report. "There is total impunity for these killers in Sri Lanka." more..

Feb 2 (LT) Mr. Somawansa Amarasinghe, Leader of the JVP challenges the Government to get written declarations of allegiance to �Mahinda Chinthana� from the 18 Parliamentarians who crossed over from the UNP to accept ministerial portfolios. If not there would be contradictions when trying to solve the national question as stipulated in �Mahinda Chinthana� points out Mr. Amarasinghe. more..

Feb 2 (GDI) Elaborate arrangements have been made to celebrate the 59th national Independence Day on a grand scale under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksha. According to Colombo city traffic police, several roads will be kept closed for motorists as the Independence Day ceremony will be held at Gall Face Green. more..

Feb 2 (GDI) The Navy yesterday (31) sailed its passenger vessel "Jetliner" facilitated 1,000 civilians to sail from Jaffna to Trincomalee in the absence of the ship �Green Ocean� which is now under repair. This was the first civilian move by sea since the 13th of January. During the last couple of weeks the rough sea conditions prevailed in the eastern seas did not allow safe sea passage for the civilians. more..

Feb 2 (GDI) Z-score cut off marks for the Advanced Level examination of the year 2006 will be issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on February 19. According to UGC Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake they would admit over 17,000 students for various degree programmes this time. The issuance of cut off points was delayed nearly by two months this time given the failure on the part of the Department of Examinations to release the results of re-corrected answer scripts. more..

Feb 2 (GDI) The Police Special Tasks Force (STF) continuing their operation "Niyathai Jaya' (Definite Victory) captured another LTTE base called "Jeewananda Base" located inside the Kangikadaichi Aru jungle yesterday. According to security reports, this camp was used by the terrorists to train conscripted children and to attack the government troops using civilians as human shields. more..

Feb 2 (GDI) India�s Mumbai Police caught spy cameras and other equipment about to be smuggled out to the LTTE�s terrorist�s activities in Sri Lanka. Last week the Indian Police caught six tons of steel balls which are used as raw materials to make claymore mines by the LTTE. The Mumbai Police sources revealed that four people including three from Tamil Nadu were arrested from North Western Mumbai area suspected to be people dealing with the Tamil terrorist group LTTE. more..

Feb 2 (GDI) Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal said yesterday that the Sri Lanka Government for the first time saw a departure from the traditional practice of bowing to the dictates of lending agencies, at the just concluded Donor Conference, and instead was able to convince the aid givers that conditions should not be attached to development assistance. more..

Feb 2 (GDI) Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda has made arrangements to grant financial assistance to the extreme poor in Jaffna to set up self-employment projects. Devananda said this programme would pave the way to uplift the living conditions of the poor in Jaffna. The Minister requested those desirous of making use of this opportunity to register either in his Ministerial office or in the offices of the Divisional Secretary Divisions. more..

Feb 2 (PISL) A large number of people are moving to government controlled areas from the LTTE controlled areas. Most of them are from Seelawatura, Nachchikuda of Mannar district and Thoppigala of Batticaloa district. The armed forces have taken steps to provide all facilities to these people. The government has instructed to all provincial secretaries to provide all facilities to these people. more..

Feb 2 (AT) S. T. Gananathan, 64, President of the Jaffna Multi Pupose Co-Operative Society (MPCS) in Ariyalai, a suburb of Jaffna, was shot dead early monring on Thursday (February 1, 2007) near Mampalam junction by "two unidentified armed men", said TamilNet, the pro-Tiger website using the usual phrase to cover-up the killings of the Tamil Tigers. more..

Feb 2 (LNP) A sex on wheels racket was uncovered by Bambalapitiya Police, when they arrested a man and a woman in a Rs. 2 million vehicle last week. The modus operandi of the sex ring was to deliver call girls on client`s orders, police told The Island. Acting on information, a Police decoy placed an order resulting in the arrests. The suspects were yesterday produced at Mt. Lavinia Courts and remanded till February 14. more..

Feb 2 (LNP) Joining Minister Maithripala Sirisena in criticizing the oversized Cabinet, Minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi said he loathed the very thought of being a member of a government with such a big Cabinet. `I am reeling with disgrace because of the size of our Cabinet. It is nothing but callousness, to appoint such a big Cabinet at a time ordinary people are going through innumerable hardships due to the unbearable cost of living` Mr. Sooriyaarachchi said. more..

Feb 2 (LNP) Unidentified armed men kidnapped a Tamil businessman, Kanapathipillai Ravindran in Wellawatte on Saturday (27)Wellawatte Police OIC Deeptha Wijewickrema said yesterday. Ravindran (30) who was married for only a month was a native of Vavuniya, who arrived in Colombo about two years ago. He was operating a business venture called Friends Communication Centre opposite the Wellawatte Mosque. more..

Feb 2 (LNP) For the first time in the insurance history of Sri Lanka, Dialog Telekom together with six leading insurance companies recently launched `Phone Safe`, an insurance cover for handsets. The Union Assurance, Sri Lanka Insurance, Janashakthi Insurance, Eagle Insurance, Asian Alliance Insurance, and Amana Takaful Insurance joined hands with Dialog to present this innovative service for their customers. more..

Feb 2 (SAMN) Following the Supreme Court�s majority decision not to grant leave to proceed in the fundamental rights application, filed by the Public Sector Salary Review Trade Unions Committee, on the salary increases affected to the President and all Parliamentarians, the Union intends to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the International Labour Organisation. more..

Feb 2 (SAMN) Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has strongly defended the Cabinet reshuffle by President Mahinda Rajapaksa when Indian journalists questioned him on the timing and urgency of it at a media briefing in New Delhi. Minister Bogollagama said the reshuffle was �fundamental in terms of building the political process to get consolidated for solutions and results�. more..

Feb 2 (SAMN) The government although remaining optimistic of securing the US$4.5 billion commitment from the international donors could not guarantee a de-escalation of violence or increased development opportunities in the North and East of the country. This comes in the wake of the government obtaining an endorsement on its �Mahinda Chinthana� 10 year framework presented for discussion at the Sri Lanka Development Forum 2007 more..

Feb 2 (SAMN) An angry JVP charged Thursday that the recent coalition between the Government and several members of the Opposition was an attempt to cover up corruption allegations against leading members of both sides. JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe told a news conference most of those who crossed over to government ranks were facing serious corruption allegations by the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). more..

Feb 2 (DN) Tourists overstaying in Sri Lanka will be fined. Those overstaying for more than three months will be blacklisted. This will come into effect from February 2007, B. Abeykoon, Controller, Immigration and Emigration said. In accordance with the amendments to the Immigration/Emigration Act, the Department will impose a US$ 25 fine on all foreign tourists overstaying more than seven days up to 30 days. more..

Feb 2 (DN) The Government has embarked on a programme with World Bank help to build new court complexes in Matara, Galle, Kalutara and Kurunegala, Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, PC said. Work on the new Jaffna Courts complex has also now been completed, he said at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the six storied new building for the Negombo Court complex. more..

Feb 2 (DM) While much attention is being given to Allan Rock�s controversial report to be submitted to the UN Security Council Working Group session next week Sri Lanka will also figure prominently at the UN Human Rights Council session next month. Documentation for the 4th session of the Council indicates that Sri Lanka will be discussed on at least three separate occasions between March 12 and April 5 more..

Feb 2 (DM) A majority of complaints received by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABC) last year were against the police department and the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs, the 2006 CIABC report said. The Director General of the CIABC Piyasena Ranasinghe noted with disappointment the lack of agitation by the public against the rise in cases of bribery and corruption and also called on politicians to play their role in combating corruption. more..

Feb 2 (BBC) Warwickshire have pulled off a coup by agreeing terms with Sri Lanka Test star Kumar Sangakkara for the 2007 season. The left-handed wicket-keeper/batsman will replace Australian Martin Love, who withdrew from his contract with the club because he needs knee surgery. "We are delighted to have secured one of the top players in the world," said Director of Cricket Mark Greatbatch. more..

Feb 2 (LBO) Sri Lanka's banks have reported much smaller volumes than previously expected, though state banks are yet to complete their reports, an official said. With only the Bank of Ceylon and People's Bank yet to report dormant assets, information regarding 545 million rupees worth of assets have been collected, Acting Bank Supervisor, P Samarasiri said. more..

Feb 2 (PTI) The BJP would fight any move to demolish the 'Ramar Sethu' or Adams Bridge in the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka, for constructing the Sethu Samudhram channel and would make it a national issue, the party's State president L Ganesan has said. (According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ram constructed a stone bridge to enable his 'Vaanara Sena' cross the Straits to wage war with Ravana, King of Lanka, who abducted his wife Seetha). more..

Feb 2 (RN) It is a matter of pride for Nepalese in general and the Buddhists in particular that a Buddha Chaitya stands at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Memorial of Buddha Chaitya was handed over formally to the UN Deputy Secretary General Mr. Mark Malloch Brown at a stupa dedication ceremony held in September 2006, five days prior to the opening of the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. more..

Feb 2 (Xinhua) Apparently not aware of its important diplomatic mission, five-year-old elephant calf Migara was playing happily with other elephants in Maha River opposite the Pinnawella Elephant Orphanage, about 90 km north of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo.�@The Sri Lankan government has decided to present Migara as a gift to the Chinese people in February to mark the 50th anniversary of inaugurating diplomatic relations between the two countries. more..

Feb 2 (Reuters) Seismic data shows more than 1.0 billion barrels of oil lie under the sea off Sri Lanka's northwest coast, the island's petroleum minister said on Friday, adding exploration bids would be called in early April. If proven, such a find would be a major boost for a land which produces no crude oil of its own and must import all of its needs to the tune of between $1.0 billion to $2.0 billion a year -- which in turn hammers the island's budget deficit. more..

Feb 2 (AFP) Sri Lanka hope to avenge an embarrassing thrashing by India 15 months ago when they play a four-match series from next week in the build-up to the World Cup. When Sri Lanka played in India in November, 2005, they were routed 6-1 in the one-dayers and 2-0 in the three-Test series, an experience captain Mahela Jayawardene has not forgotten. more..

Feb 2 (IANS) A Sri Lankan Tamil minister is here urging India to play a greater role to help his country resolve the ethnic crisis. "India has to take a more active role to support the Sri Lankan government," KN Douglas Devananda, the minister for social service and social welfare, said ahead of a conference here on Saturday on the situation in the island. more..

Feb 2 (HT) Sri Lanka's 1 million government servants are up in arms against the country's 107 ministers and 118 Members of Parliament over the issue of iniquitous salary increases. According to The Island daily, the Public Sector Salary Review Committee of the trade unions has decided to approach the International Labour Organisation (ILO) after the Supreme Court refused to entertain a Fundamental Rights petition challenging the pay hike of 110 per cent to 165 per cent for ministers and MPs, when government servants had been given only a 6 per cent to 15 per cent hike. more..

Feb 2 (AP) Norway's ambassador held a routine but useful meeting with Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger separatists, the embassy said Friday, amid efforts to end an escalation of bloodshed that has returned the tropical island to a war footing. "Nothing spectacular came out of it as it was a routine meeting," embassy spokesman Tom Knappskog said after arriving back in Colombo from the rebels' northern headquarters of Kilinochchi. more..

Feb 2 (AFP) Sri Lanka stepped up already tight security in the capital Colombo amid fears of Tamil rebel attacks ahead of independence day celebrations, officials said. Security forces armed with tough anti-terror laws increased road blocks and random checks within the city of 600,000 people and carried out searches against the LTTE, a police official said on Friday. more..

Feb 2 (LeN) Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe says that since the United National Party has the strength to face any challenge, he and his party members could forge ahead with a new power. He made this statement upon his arrival from India and Nepal this afternoon, at the Bandaranaike International Air port. "We are ready, so we will face any thing" He said. more..

Feb 2 (LeN) The parliamentary committee appointed for amending the electoral system, with the leadership of Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardana will submit its report to the parliament in the middle of this month. It has been proposed to appoint 150 parliamentarians, of the 225, according to the existing electoral system and the rest of the 75 to the first past post system, or more..

Feb 2 (LeN) Abducting of Tamil youth from the city has increase with the latest incidents being reported on Wednesday when two Tamil youth were abducted. An armed group that arrived in a white colour van had abducted Wijeykumar on the relavant day, who is a resident of Wellawatte. His relatives have lodged a complain regarding this to the Wellawatte police and the victim is a brother in law of professor Sivathambi. more..

Feb 2 (BBC) The leader of the main opposition, Ranil Wickramasinghe, has rejected suggestions that the party is facing a crisis after defection of senior leaders. The opposition and the UNP leader said supporters are still with the party despite 18 senior leaders joining the government. Former UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya and 17 other senior leaders sworn in as cabinet and non-cabinet ministers of President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday. more..

Feb 3 (LBO) Sri Lanka should have a higher target for foreign exchange reserves in 2007 the World Bank said, days before its Breton Woods twin, the International Monetary Fund closed its office in Sri Lanka. The World Bank in a report released in time for week's donor forum said Sri Lanka's reserves at around 2.5 month of imports, were not enough to protect against external shocks. more..

Feb 3 (BBC) The Legal Advisor of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission says he was assaulted by a Sri Lanka Army soldier in Jaffna. Speaking to Sandeshaya Mudiyapu Remedias, an Attorney at law said � I parked my bicycle outside the office near Stanley road in Jaffna and when I tried to leave the premises, a soldier came and gave me a slap without a reason.� more..

Feb 3 (BBC) A fire erupted at the premises of ancient Kandy library was brought under control within an hour, journalists say. Lakhanda journalist S Liyanage told BBC Sandeshaya that the main building of the library was destroyed with hundreds of books. The fire brigade, who arrived in the scene about half an hour later, has stopped the fire spreading to other buildings. more..

Feb 3 (AT) Ranil Wickremesinghe's last minute bid to stage a show of public strength after the party stalwarts had crossed over to join the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse was a flop. The enthusiastic crowd he expected to greet him on his return from India yesterday, was not there. He had earlier sent an urgent message from India to his party urging them to stage a welcoming motorcade, leading from Katunayake Airport all the way to his residence in Colombo on his return. more..