Aug 4 (Island) The all important aspects of patient care such as the provision of beds and drugs should be included in the Patients� Charter the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) Assistant Secretary Dr. Chandana Atapattu said. The bed strength of state run hospitals is around 60,000 and on days where more serious patients are admitted the less serious patients are asked to vacate their beds resulting in angry relatives getting involved in arguments with doctors and nurses, Dr.Atapattu said. more..

Aug 4 (Island) The Colombo Crime Division on Saturday arrested two Ministerial Security Division personnel assigned to Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam for having extorted money from civilians and tried to carry out abductions by claiming to be Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa�s security officers. Two members of the group, a sergeant and a constable, with three outsiders had stormed a private restaurant in Dehiwela on Friday and attempted to obtain money from its owner. more..

Aug 4 (DM) For the first time in Sri Lanka, a unique Sinhala mobile game is to be introduced on August 8. The game revolves around a taxi based in Colombo. What is unique about this game is that the actual gaming environment depicts an almost identical map of Colombo with focus on the main streets. Talking a bit about the game, the gamer plays the character of a taxi driver. His objective is to earn money by taking hires in and around the Colombo area. more..

Aug 4 (DM) The Anuradhapura police busted a large scale prostitution ring operating in the Anuradhapura town in the guise of a �Friendship Circle� that published advertisements in newspapers for those who seek companionship and provide prostitutes through the telephone numbers obtained from those who respond. The police also arrested four young girls who were attached to the office of the �Frindship Circle� along with the ringleader after raiding its office on Friday night. more..

Aug 4 (LD) Police are yet to investigate an attack on a UNP office in Anuradhapura town in the early hours of yesterday, said the party's chief ministerial candidate for the North Central Province retired Major General Janaka Perera. In a statement, he said that maddened by the certain victory for the UNP at the election, the government and thugs of the UPFA had stormed the office of the UNP's district manager Dr. Raja Johnpulle around 2.30 am. more..

Aug 4 (LD) In addition to the two per cent environmental levy imposed on mobile phones, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) is to impose a levy on motor vehicle revenue licenses and bulbs over 40W with effect from August 15th. Under the Environment Conservation Levy Act No, 08 of 2008, all vehicles, including motorcycles and trishaws will be charged a tax ranging between Rs. 200 and Rs. 800, based on their weight class. more..

Aug 4 (Reuters) Fresh fighting in Sri Lanka's far north killed 34 Tamil Tiger rebels and nine solders, the military said on Monday, as government forces continued their push against the rebels' northern stronghold. The fighting came days after the military said it had entered the rebels' de facto capital in the north, amid a daily barrage of land, sea and air attacks on northern rebel-held territories. more..

Aug 4 (LBO) Sri Lankan savers, faced with the prospect of the value of their savings being eroded by record inflation, are being advised to save early in life and diversify to spread the risks. Top money management professionals say the public must adapt to financial planning while saving a part of the limited income as a precautionary move. "Financial planning is important because many of us have a limited income and it allows us to decide between what we want to allocate, what we want to consume and what we want to save," more..

Aug 4 (LD) Under the Environment Conservation Act, a two per cent environment levy will be charged on mobile phone bills with effect from August 15th. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has imposed the levy in his capacity as Minister of Finance and Planning by special gazette notification 1599/10 of July 22nd 2008. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission is in charge of collecting the new levy. more..

Aug 5 (LBO) Heavy swells caused by monsoon weather are creating delays at Colombo port, officials at shipping lines calling at the Sri Lankan harbour said. The bad weather sometimes forces vessels to delay entering the port as well as leave after discharging and loading cargo, they said. "At the moment productivity has dropped and ships are facing delays because of the monsoon," said a liner representative. more..

Aug 5 (LG) On the 4 August,2008, that our dear friend Wesley, parted from us leaving a vacuum among those who loved him, and all those who had come to know him well. A memorial to Commemorate his life and work will be held in London by his family on the 9th August,2008. More often, people are taken for granted when they are living and active. But once a person has departed, we begin to see him differently, for what he was in reality, more..

Aug 5 (LG) I have frequently seen statements both in printed and electronic media by foreign countries particularly the government officials of the Western European countries and India requesting Sri Lanka to go to the negotiation table with the LTTE in order to resolve the �ethnic conflict� which is, in other words, the LTTE�s claim for a separate state for the Tamils in Sri Lanka, the Tamil Eelam. more..

Aug 5 (LG) Batticaloa police tried to assassinate me � M.P Jayalath Jayawardana witnesses this drama says in an Exclusive Interview with Chief Monk for Batticaloa and Amaparei, Rev. Ampitiye Sumanaratana of Sri Mangalaramaya. Sri Lanka Guardian: What do you think of the current political developments in the East? Rev. Ampitiye Sumanaratana : What I would say is that any arm carrying group can not be trusted. more..

Aug 5 (LG) Reports quoting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, on stopping the "war only when (LTTE leader) Prabhakaran is made to kneel at my feet", if not just a pep-talk to an injured soldier, should leave a bad taste in the mouth. Conversely, the soldier's anxious query against an imminent ceasefire,should be a reflection on the mood of the masses, whose trust in the LTTE had never been great. more..

Aug 5 (LG) The Rajapakse regime had been able carry out a brilliant campaign of war. However, it would be interesting to note the factors that would affect the future outcome of the war. Lets analyze these factors. 1) Economy Factor :- The economy currently is at 30% inflation level. For Rajapakse regime to maintain the war campaign successfully for the next several months, it would be imperative for GOSL to reduce the heavy inflation levels. more..

Aug 5 (LG) The Indian Prime Minister and the leader of the 14th SAARC Summit, is here in Sri Lanka to participate in the 15th SAARC summit being held in Colombo on August 2, 2008 under the theme �Partnership for our People�. The EPDP Secretary General, Chairman of the Northern Special Task Committee and Social Services and Social Welfare Minister met Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh yesterday August 1, 2008 in Colombo. more..

Aug 5 (LG) It was the issue of terrorism that was discussed at length at the 15th SAARC summit held in Colombo. SAARC summit was used as a platform to harness support against terrorism, although the concept of terrorism has shades of meanings ranging from terrorism and state terrorism. In 1985, when the SARRC conference was initiated, there had been differences of opinions between India and Sri Lanka on the Sri Lankan ethnic issue. more..

Aug 5 (LG) Media Minister Priyadharsana yappa has charged that the media today is more concerned about politics rather than issues such as development. The issues related to development are not given priorities. He made these allegations, while addressing the Fourth Conference of the South Asian Independent Media Association recently. Although at a glance one may view that it is true, a careful analysis will show that there is no truth in it. more..

Aug 5 (Reuters) Shares rose 0.29 percent on Monday to their highest close in more than a month, but analysts said the market would need some good macroeconomic news to maintain a recent rally. The All-Share index .CSE closed 7.15 points up at 2,480.60, its highest since June 26. The bourse has risen 4.7 percent in the past six sessions. Last week's weekly gain was the largest since late March 2007 and came after some stronger than expected earnings and a major foreign deal. more..

Aug 5 (LBO) High tea prices helped Sri Lanka's Tea Smallholder Factories June quarter net profit increase by 32 percent to 51 million rupees from a year ago. Revenue rose 24 percent to 616 million rupees over the same period, according to a stock exchange filing. Most of the revenue increase came from the southern planting districts where low grown teas cultivated in the region have been enjoying high prices. more..

Aug 5 (IRIN) Few die in childbirth, most go to primary school and almost all are vaccinated at the right time, but the sizeable number of Sri Lankan children who are stunted, wasted and underweight for their age is a cause for concern, according to nutritional authorities. New government statistics show that despite countless initiatives to alleviate malnutrition over the years, the condition is entrenched in the traditionally poor and conflict-hit regions and affects hundreds of thousands of children. more..

Aug 5 (AT) With Lankan forces at the edge of Killinochchi, a new phase in the Fourth Eelam War is beginning. Whether this is the �final phase� of the war, its duration and its outcome are far from clear. Much will depend on the Tigers� capacity to resist the multi-pronged assault of the Lankan Forces. Though the LTTE�s will to resist cannot be undermined as long as Vellupillai Pirapaharan is alive its capacity to resist can be diminished due to an inadequacy of experienced fighters. more..

Aug 5 (AT) Sri Lanka Navy�s Special Boats Squadron (SBS) and the Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) launched an offensive landing into the Iranahivu Island on last Saturday around 2.45 pm and completely destroyed the make-shift LTTE sea tiger camp situated on the Island. The elite team destroyed a sea tiger boat and captured another two during the confrontation killing four tigers and went onto attack the fleeing tigers till areas closer to Nachchikudha (an area under tiger control). more..

Aug 5 (LD) Demands by a group of conspirators within government ranks for police and land powers to the provinces are jeopardizing the stability of the entire country, said the Jathika Hela Urumaya. The key government affiliate party noted that not even Pillayan or Karuna Amman had called for such powers. JHU spokesman Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe told 'Lanka Dissent' that a group of so-called national movement for ensuring powers for provincial councils is making this demand. more..

Aug 5 (LD) Labour Minister Mervyn Silva and his supporters have yet again confronted a Sirasa TV crew at an official function. On an invitation by the Ministry of Highways, the electronic media institution had sent a crew of two this morning to the opening of second phase of the flyover at Thorana Junction in Kelaniya. more..

Aug 5 (LG) It is reliably learnt that the mass protest oraganised by the SL-AT (SRI LANKAN'S AGAINST TERRORISM) outside the Prime Ministers residence in Downing Street on Sunday 27th July was boycotted by the JVP party and members of the D.A. Rajapakse Foundation UK. The mass protest was attended by hundreds of Sinhalese, Muslim and Tamil Sri Lankans from the Diaspora living in the United Kingdom including Sri Lankans from the �Norwegians Against Terrorism� (NAT) group. more..

Aug 5 (LG) On July 31, 2008, Government troops crossed the Mannar-Kilinochchi boundary to enter Kilinochchi District, the headquarters of the LTTE, killing 20 militants and injuring another 35. Later, the 58th Division of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) captured the Vellankulam Town, the northern-most town in the Mannar District, on August 2, 2008, and advanced up to the 29th milepost on the Mannar-Pooneryn Road, shifting the entire Division into the Kilinochchi District. more..

Aug 5 (LG) SAARC has put bureaucrats of state departments and institutions directly involved in the conference in a spin. It appears that while in the throes of preparations for the conference, the bosses of the BMICH suddenly remembered the dogs found moving in and about the gardens of the conference hall. Dogs and other species still found in urban environs tend to be taken for aliens with no right to exist among humans, particularly by state authorities, therefore, more..

Aug 5 (AT) Sri Lankan Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya had a series of meetings with religious leaders in the US capital Washington D.C. bring them up to speed on the country�s commitment to unity and co-existence, the underlying sentiment of peace among all communities. He visited the temples, churches and mosques in the area as the starting point of a move to reach out to the community. more..

Aug 5 (AT) At a special meeting President Mahinda Rajapakse met the Chairmen, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kegalle and Sabaragamuwa Chambers of Commerce and Industry and among other thing discussion was carried out on the issues on policy, regulatory matters relating to business and infrastructure in the provinces. The meeting which was chaired by President Rajapakse was the culmination of efforts by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka which more..

Aug 5 (AT) Sri Lanka President thanks the people of the Country, Police, and the Armed services personnel for the success of the recently held 15th SAARC Summit, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his message said, "My thanks are also due to all sections of the Media for the extensive coverage they gave to the preparations for the Summit and its proceedings." more..

Aug 5 (AT) SLBC Chairman Hudson Samarasinghe said yesterday (August 4) that India cannot threaten and bulldoze her way into Sri Lanka in the same way she did in 1987 because the world has changed much since then. Samarasinghe recalled how the Indians � during the "Operation Vadamarachchi" - 'appealed' to the then Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa, "Please tell your President to stop the war" That was the start of the Indian interference that more..

Aug 5 (AT) Sea Tigers withdrawing from the west coast have started crossing the Palk Strait to India, as Navy operations to cut off the movement was stepped up this week. The Tigers still operate safehouses in Tamil Nadu from where they smuggled in military supplies until recently. The Army's advance along the A-32 seems imminent. To add to the Tiger's woes, the Navy too has started harassing Tigers, giving them no chance to regroup. more..

Aug 5 (PISL) The Peace Secretariat notes with sadness yet another effusion from the so-called Asian Commission for Human Rights, which asserts that �With 52 points, Sri Lanka is South Asia's worst human rights violator.� This is yet another example of a game that has now becomed fashionable, to develop lists which show how bad particular countries are. more..

Aug 5 (LBO) The government lacks the funds to build part of an expressway in southern Sri Lanka that is scheduled to be completed by 2010, a senior government official said. The southern expressway is meant to link the capital Colombo with the town of Matara in the deep south of the island which has suffered decades of neglect. The project is already delayed by several years. Around 35 percent of the highway has now been built but more..

Aug 5 (LBO) The culture of impunity and the continued attacks against Sri Lanka's media was condemned by the watchdog Free Media Movement, after a TV cameraman was assaulted by thugs while covering a state event. Controversial minister Mervyn Silva grabbed the camera of a Sirasa and MTV network cameraman, while goons surrounded him at a state ceremony where all media was invited to attend. more..

Aug 5 (AN) Kuwait may bring in tough penalties for employers abusing foreign workers and maids as a result of Western criticism and violent protests by Asian workers demanding better pay and conditions. Parliament�s human rights committee has introduced a bill stipulating jail terms of up to 15 years for offenses including forced labor, abusing workers or sexually exploiting maids, according to a copy obtained by Reuters. more..

Aug 5 (TP) Sri Lanka Cricket board chief and former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has lashed out at teams considering boycotting the Champions Trophy due to security concerns and believes they should be penalised. �We should play in Pakistan and as far as we are concerned we have no problems playing in Pakistan. When that particular Board and when that particular government gives you a green light, I think we have no objections and we should just go there and play cricket. more..

Aug 5 (Hindu) When cricket stars, Mahela Jayawardene, Muttaiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara addressed a media conference in Mumbai recently, they spoke nothing on cricket but everything about tourism. Team Sri Lanka was batting for the nation�s tourism destinations courtesy Sri Lankan Airlines and Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau. The two agencies� innovative move to boost Indian tourists arrivals clicked and more..

Aug 5 (Hindu) The second Test which concluded here on Sunday confirmed what has been known for a while now but requires to be shown anew, scrubbed of the glaze that is applied by constant cricket. These, to name two, are: a playing strip that offers bounce � whatever else be its failings � will spark rich, varied, fulfilling Test cricket between two closely matched opponents; this Indian team over the last few years has proven itself not just as a formidable touring side, but more..

Aug 5 (CI) Sri Lanka's 170-run defeat in Galle has opened up the series and also exposed areas of concern for the home side. Their opening batsmen failed to provide starts in three innings and their new-ball bowlers could not prevent Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir from rapidly building a platform. After the match, their captain Mahela Jayawardene raised both issues so the leadership is aware of the problems, though solutions are a different ball game. more..

Aug 5 (LR) The Supreme Court order against Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara to pay Rs. 500,000, the highest ever compensation in a fundamental rights case, has paved the way for another dimension in fight against corruption in Sri lanka. The popular myth spread in Sri Lankan society is that it is politics that is corrupt. But the Supreme Court ruling has clearly exposed all three corners of �Triangle of Corruption� in Sri Lankan society, namely more..

Aug 5 (USDS) Assistant Secretary Boucher: First, I want to say that it is always a pleasure to be here in Sri Lanka and especially to be able to convey my congratulations on the sixtieth anniversary of independence here. This is a memorable occasion as we talk about Sri Lanka and its democracy, and how to go forward. We are here to attend the SAARC summit. The United States is very happy to be part of SAARC as an observer. more..

Aug 5 (UCAN) Archbishop Oswald Gomis of Colombo has issued a statement saying the Sri Lankan government's information department misrepresented comments he made to Vatican Radio about the country's ongoing civil war. In the press statement made available on July 26, Archbishop Gomis charged the use of the headline "Military defeat of LTTE pre-condition for peace" was "grossly misleading" and had been picked up by other media organizations, spreading a wrong impression about his views. more..

Aug 5 (LBO) Sri Lanka's share market is down this year but a few stocks driven by speculative trading have given retail investors high, albeit risky, returns, analysts said. Fifty firms listed on the Colombo stock exchange, chased by retail investors on rumours of takeovers, asset sales and management changes, have yielded returns of 10 - 180 percent during the first six months of this year. more..

Aug 5 (LNP) The life expectancy of Sri Lankans has gone up by 10 years, according to a latest report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to the report, the life expectancy of a male has gone up to 69 years and a woman to 79 years. In 2004, it was 60 and 69, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said. He said according to the report by 2007 end, the percentage of people who smoked had gone down by 7.1 per cent in Sri Lanka while the percentage of males who smoked in 2005 was 30.2 per cent. more..

Aug 5 (LNP) The news of re-opening the cement factory at Kaangkeasanthu`rai (KKS) in the Jaffna Peninsula has been received with serious concern by academics and environmentalists from Jaffna. According to them, the factory, when it was functioning earlier, was a health hazard to the densely populated surroundings. It affected horticulture as crops were covered by cement dust. more..

Aug 5 (GDI) The Department of Examinations announced that the General Certificate Examination Advanced Level Examination 2008 will commence tomorrow (August 6). The Department has set up 1,818 Examination centers islandwide for this purpose. This year, 293,819 candidates will sit for the examination. Out of 293,819 candidates 199,062 are school applicants while the rest (94,757) are private applicants. more..

Aug 5 (GDI) The Kandy Perahera (Esela Perahera) also called the Dalada Perahera, the most spectacular cultural pageant in the island, will be telecasted live to over 150 countries via satellite, the Ministry of Tourism announced. Accordingly, arrangements have been made for a live telecast of the final night of the Randoli Perahera of the annual event. The final Randoli Perahera, known as the Maha Perahera of the historic Esala pageant, is scheduled to be held on the night of August 17. more..

Aug 5 (SAMN) The government is inquiring into the alleged security lapse for Indian national advisor R.K. Narayan and the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the SAARC summit that was concluded Sunday �We have to wait for the inquiry to conclude,� Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona said adding however that an official complaint over the incident was not lodged with the Foreign Ministry. more..