Nov 26 (GDI) The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) will construct 12,500 housing units at a cost of Rs. 500 million under the "Jana Sevana" District housing project for the rural community, the authority sources said. The Government has allocated Rs. 200 million while Rs. 300 million will be borne by the NHDA from the recovery of previous loans disbursed. The NHDA has implemented housing projects for the low income community in 21 districts. more..

Nov 26 (LG) With the fall of Pooneryn, the LTTE �military headquarters� located on the North-Western coast, Sri Lankan troops have launched a three pronged attack towards their final objective, Kilinochchi town, the Political Headquarters of the Tigers. Though the capture of Pooneryn far from the end of the war, it has deprived the LTTE of access to the entire Western coast, cutting of its supply lines via the sea, and has also neutralised all Sea Tiger (the sea wing of the LTTE) bases. more..

Nov 26 (LG) The Indian Government has described the LTTE as a lethal terrorist outfit more dangerous than Al-Qaeda and warned Tamil Nadu politician that any dealings with such a terrorist groups could be deadly counterproductive to democracy. The Indian Government in an important submission made to a Delhi Tribunal regarding LTTE terrorist activities, said Tamil Nadu politicians should be mindful of the LTTE killing machine. more..

Nov 26 (GDI) The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will receive 160,000 electricity meters manufactured locally by LECO at a special ceremony. The new move will overcome the current shortage of electricity meters in the country, Ministry sources said. The high tech electricity meter introduced by LECO in collaboration with a Chinese company is made in accordance with local compliances and cannot be easily tampered with. more..

Nov 26 (GDI) The minor staff members employed in the Health sector will be absorbed to the Government Management Service, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, Sarath Chandrasiri told www.news.lk. The workers engaged in the health sector, who had secured the qualifications necessary to be promoted to the Management Service, had not been offered places in the sector so far. more..

Nov 26 (LNP) The construction of a new road to Jaffna from Colombo via Mannar through Pooneryn at an estimated to cost of Rs 2,500 million had commenced, Transport Minister T. B. Ekanayake said yesterday. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Treasury to release funds immediately which would be subsequently reimbursed through fundings by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Eighty kilometres of the new road are being demined. A 4-km stretch had already been de-mined by the security forces, more..

Nov 26 (LNP) About one hundred Sinhala doctors who have come to Colombo from the Eastern Province fearing threats to their lives are refusing to budge on the question of their security. The Health Ministry is insisting that they return to their hospitals on its terms. With the GMOA taking up cudgels, the dispute is likely to get long-drawn. The absence of so many doctors will adversely impact on healthcare provision in the East, though the government is trying to make do with Tamil and Muslim doctors in that province. more..

Nov 26 (PISL) Amnesty International released yet another one of its highly imaginative press statements on the humanitarian situation in this country last week. Without setting foot here, it latched onto a few unsubstantiated remarks by an ex-aid worker, did a little bad arithmetic with a random collection of very misleading figures and ended up in some ridiculous conclusions. The Government is not by any means restricting the supply of food to the Vanni. more..

Nov 26 (LP) Sri Lanka Mahaweli authority takes measures to propagate inland fishery industry under the Walawa left bank development project. Action has also been taken to improve the living standards of the people through vegetable and fruit cultivation as well as liquid milk production. 22 ancient tanks at the Walawa left bank has been reconstructed and 44 small tanks were newly built in the area. more..

Nov 26 (SAMN) The Western People�s Front led by Parliamentarian Mano Ganesan has changed its name to Democratic People�s Front (DPF), the party sources said Tuesday. According to sources the Commissioner of Elections has recognised this and had given his approval. The decision to change the name had been made after their shoving at the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council election recently. The party was able to win a seat by contesting under the elephant symbol of the UNP. more..

Nov 26 (SAMN) Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva Tuesday dismissed main opposition United National Party (UNP) claims that government was moving towards a ceasefire and stated that the Opposition was insane to even say that the government was considering such a move. He completely disregarded the speculations of the UNP and strenuously emphasised that no steps for a ceasefire were being deliberated by the government. more..

Nov 26 (SAMN) Media reports that trishaw drivers� were charging a minimum of Rs 40 per kilometre has annoyed a section of trishaw drivers. While voicing their concern over these media reports the All Island Three Wheeler Drivers Welfare Association (AITWDWA) have said this is a plot by the government to bring down trishaw fares. President, AITWDWA, Lalith Dharmasekera said there is no trishaw driver in this country who charges Rs. 40 for the first kilometre. more..

Nov 26 (SAMN) The government has launched an ambitious Rs. 11 billion project to divert the waters of the Menik Ganga, Deduru Oya and the Kumbukkan Oya, which go to waste by ending up in the ocean, to enable 18,000 farmer families to cultivate 54,000 acres of paddy land during both Yala and Maha seasons. The Director Engineering of the Irrigation Department P. U. Wickremaratne said Tuesday President Mahinda Rajapaksa had directed that local funding, expertise and maximum human resources be used to complete the three projects. more..

Nov 26 (DN) The Government has taken the initiative to extend the fertiliser subsidy to tea smallholders as well despite the heavy expenditure on the conflict in the North, Information and Mass Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana said. He was speaking at a ceremony at Morawaka, recently. Durable peace and sustainable economic prosperity would be the greatest need of this hour for Sri Lanka in the face of financial crisis of America, he said. more..

Nov 26 (DN) The state-of-the art, Rupees 1.5 billion, new hospital complex of Nawaloka Hospitals, was commissioned at its premises yesterday. President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the opening ceremony via satellite from Temple Trees, lauded the multi-faceted services rendered by the Nawaloka Hospitals in the provision of quality healthcare to the nation. Though it is a private hospital, he said, it has offered an array of people-oriented relief services, to more..

Nov 26 (LBO) An Aston Martin car, believed to be one of few such vehicles in Sri Lanka has been seized following action filed by HSBC Bank, lawyers said. The car had been seized Wednesday under an order issued by the Commercial High Court of Colombo on a court case filed against Christy Lanka Apparels and Christy Clothing, laywers said. Sri Lanka's banking sector has seen a spike in non-performing loans, after interest rates rose.

Nov 26 (Island) Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Karu Jayasuriya challenged anyone to prove that he was subject to political or any other influence in appointing 2,600 Grama Sevaka Niladharis. "If someone can do that, I will resign my portfolio," he said. Candidates who had qualified in a competitive examination conducted last year by the Examinations Department, had been called for interviews and the best selected, Minister Jayasuriya said. more..

Nov 26 (Island) Minister of Nation Building S. M. Chandrasena said his Ministry had been allocated Rs 24,000 million for 2009 and Rs 6,000 million had been set aside for community driven livelihood development and the infrastructural development in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. The Ministry of Nation Building was created by President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Rs 5,000 million being allocated for 2007. more..

Nov 26 (DM) An inequitable case of events was reported from the Colombo Magistrates Courts where an innocent rape victim had been punished and imprisoned on false charges, following the failure of the law enforcing authorities to grill the real offender who is still on the loose. Hulftsdorp Court Room 08 Magistrate last week ordered the Police Women�s and Children�s Bureau to take over investigations of a case involving an 18-year-old girl who had been in remand custody for more..

Nov 26 (GDI) The humanitarian mission of the security forces was launched with the specific purpose of liberating the Northern masses from the clutches of terrorism, and no way is this an exercise against the Tamil community; we have not forgotten and will not forget that the Tamil community is a part of the larger Sri Lankan community," President Mahinda Rajapaksa said more..

Nov 26 (DM) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Chairman Asantha de Mel came under fire from Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Mahinda Amaraweera and Husein Baila for the alleged hedging deal, at the COPE meeting yesterday. Hedging is the process of an investment to reduce the risk of adverse price movements in an asset. Opposition parties including the UNP have continuously charged both in and outside Parliament that more..

Nov 26 (LD) The Fisheries Ministry has reportedly lost Rs. 1,700 million in income, owing to a letter issued by a very senior official that allows unloading of fish free of charge at Galle harbour. The loss of income is mainly due to a fishing firm owned by the wife of government Minister Mahinda Wijesekara and its suppliers making use of this letter and unloading their catch at Galle without making any payment. more..

Nov 26 (LD) Three suspects in the murder of doctor Palitha Padmakumara have been killed in a shootout with the police. The incident had taken place during a combined police and STF raid at Karaveddi in Batticaloa yesterday afternoon. Dr. Padmakumara was gunned down at Navatkuda Central Dispensary about a week ago. Two firearms, magazines, ammunition and three anti-personal mines had been found from the three suspects. more..

Nov 26 (LD) National organizer of the UNP, S.B. Dissanayake says he hopes to contest for the post of deputy leader of the party. Speaking to 'Lanka Dissent', he said that he had met party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and informed him about the decision yesterday. Mr. Dissanayake says he has the maximum qualifications for the position, as set out by party seniors in recommendations to the Working Committee on November 10th. more..

Nov 26 (IPS) Incessant rains and flooding in the Vanni, the Tamil rebel stronghold in northern Sri Lanka, are adding to the woes of at least 200,000 people stranded in intensified fighting between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan army since mid-September. On Tuesday, the pro-LTTE website, TamilNet.com, reported that floods were "flowing over most of the roads and civilians who had sought refuge in open lands and in temporary huts in low-lying areas were forced to seek shelter in more..

Nov 26 (Hindu) Only one Sri Lankan Tamil was asked to leave the State because he was �acting in a manner that was detrimental to internal security of the country� and no Tamil refugee would be asked to leave Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi said here on Monday. Responding to the Communist Party of India State secretary D.Pandian�s criticism, he said that he saw in the CPI organ, Janasakthi, that one person was asked to leave India. more..

Nov 26 (IANS) Everyone here is keenly awaiting the annual speech of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels, Thursday as the Sri Lankan Army says it has laid siege to Kilinochchi, the rebels' political capital in the north despite heavy resistance. The speech, delivered in the third week of November as the rebel group commemorates the memory of its fallen cadre, is considered politically significant as it sets out plans for the next one year, more..

Nov 26 (LBO) Sri Lanka has clamped down on new spending, with the Treasury asking government departments to freeze new capital projects and current spending till next year, amidst tight revenues. The government has also been finding it difficult to borrow abroad. A Treasury circular said the government had decided to "manage public expenditure very strictly during the balance period of 2008," as duty cuts were hurting revenue while defence and fertilizer subsidy costs were rising. more..

Nov 26 (Reuters) Sri Lankan soldiers would soon capture the headquarters of the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, the military said Wednesday, and had reached the outskirts of the key town as an assault in the north ground ahead. The battle for Kilinochchi, the self-declared capital of the LTTE, has intensified in the two weeks since the army seized the entire western coast from the rebels for the first time since 1993. more..

Nov 27 (UPI) The Sri Lankan government continues to successfully execute the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in what it has termed a humanitarian operation to release trapped Tamil civilians in the north. About 1,000 such civilians have made their way to government-controlled territory in the course of this year, with over 100 civilians reported to have crossed over in the past week alone. more..

Nov 27 (AT) Tami net published a report dated 25th November 2008 with the heading 'Tigers release photos of Kugnchupparanthan battle.' In this report there are several photos displaying about six bodies of dead soldiers along a local road. Walking nearby the dead bodies of young soldiers of the Sri Lankan army are two equally young LTTE fighters holding rifles. In their back are backpacks. more..

Nov 27 (AO) Sri Lanka's capital Colombo is the kind of city that grows on you, says lawyer Naserah Tyebally. She moved there eight years ago when she married a Sri Lankan, who runs a construction business in the city. "You can't discover its secrets immediately. You need to learn all about its hidden nooks and crannies. Once you have discovered those, it's hard not to succumb to the charms of Colombo," she says. more..

Nov 27 (Time) Fifteen years ago, Tamil rebels overran a marshy strip along Sri Lanka's northwest coast. Pooneryn became a headache for Colombo: a strategic redoubt, shored up with artillery, that shielded the base of operations of the LTTE, one of the world's most dogged insurgent groups. But on Nov. 15, government forces seized Pooneryn, giving Colombo full control over its western seaboard for the first time in over a decade. The government called for a week of celebrations. more..

Nov 27 (LD) UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam says the politicization of education is a very grave matter and blames it for ills that plague the all important field. "Political appointments have been given to all, excepting two, zonal education offices in the country. Every zonal education director has been given extensions in violation of all circulars and without approval from the Public Services Commission", more..

Nov 27 (LBO) Sri Lanka's tea small holders pressing for government support to save the industry from ruin after demand dropped and prices crashed at auctions in Colombo. Chandrasena Wijesinghe, convenor of the Joint Federation of Tea Small Holders, told reporter they will organise protests if the government does not step in with financial support to help small farmers. "The industry has collapsed and small holders have lost their means of income," more..

Nov 27 (GDI) The country's development is based on the success of Agricultural sector, Minister of Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services, Maithripala Sirisena said in Parliament. He affirmed that Sri Lanka has the full potential in overcoming the negative aspects of present world financial crisis and the impact of the global food crisis. While appreciating the constructive criticisms of all parties concerned who actively participated in the Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu initiative, more..

Nov 27 (LG) Many pundits claiming to be full-bright scholars preach from their pulpits that Sri Lanka should be a secular country. Some of these pundits claim that Sri Lanka is a Buddhist theocracy, without of course understanding that in Buddhism there is no theology or any God in whose name a government can be established. In fact even the word Buddhism is a misnomer and only an anglicised corrupted version of the term Budusasuna. more..

Nov 27 (BBC) From a secret jungle base in the north-east of Sri Lanka, Velupillai Prabhakaran heads the LTTE or Tamil Tigers. He has a reputation as a fearless and ruthless guerrilla leader and under his leadership, the Tamil Tigers have become a highly-disciplined and highly-motivated guerrilla force fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east of the country. more..

Nov 27 (LG) The late S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike fell out with the UNP and formed the SLFP. After his demise Sirima Bandaranaike came crying and got the premiership. After her term J.R. Jayewardene did a clean sweep and the UNP ruled the country for 17 years. Then Chandrika managed to come to power and she became the president. The people behind her, including the current president then managed to get her to throw out the UNP in 2004. more..

Nov 27 (LP) �Pansiya Panas Jathaka Katha� which is a significant heritage of Buddhist literature was released to the internet yesterday (17) at Temple Trees under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The web site has been named as �www.jathakakatha.org� and the venture has been finalized by Information and Communication Technology Agency under the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. more..

Nov 27 (UCAN) By the time Suraj Sanjeewa reached the age of 17, the poor fisherman's son was drinking alcohol and smoking ganja (marijuana), when he was not chewing on a heady concoction of ganja and tobacco. "I did odd jobs with fishermen and masons for a bit while on drugs," Sanjeewa recalled on Nov. 16, when he and a few other recovering addicts met on the beach of Thoduwawa village, 65 kilometers north of Colombo. more..

Nov 27 (AN) As the Sri Lankan government closes in on the last strongholds of Tamil Tiger rebels, it has declared itself confident of ending the country's bitter 25-year civil war. After capturing key strategic west coast areas from the LTTE - who are demanding an independent state for ethnic Tamils in the north and east of the island - the government now says the fall of the rebels' de facto capital Kilinochi is imminent. more..

Nov 27 (RCA) Sri Lanka's Public Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Cuban ambassador to that country, Nirsia Castro, discussed the possibility of starting a project of collaboration between the two countries in the health field. The two officials analyzed the possibility of receiving Cuban support to deal with a leptospirosis epidemic that has been hitting the Asian country since early this year. more..

Nov 27 (LG) Top executives of America�s three automobile manufacturing giants � General Motors, Chrysler and Ford � flew into Washington last week in their executive jets to plead with the US Congress for a $ 25 billion bailout to prevent their firms going into bankruptcy by the end of the year. Congress refused the plea and asked them to produce a viable plan for the recovery of the automobile industry before risking $ 25 billion of the taxpayers� money could be considered. more..

Nov 27 (LG) The meetings Mr. Mano Ganeshan came to attend in Toronto was a meeting which was well planned and courier graphed by LTTE fronts in Toronto according to the orders of Wanni to make a big noise about IDPs in Wanni. Their plan in India may have some success due to racist Tamil political parties in Tamilnadu; but rest of the world is not. Their plan in Canada was to take the news to mainstream Canadians and make a big uproar about IDPs in the Wanni and make it an international issue. more..

Nov 27 (AT) It is incredible, it is unbelievable. It happens only in Sri Lanka. Where in the world do you knowingly treat your enemy before engaging him in combat? It is happening all the time in Sri Lanka, hardly any one talks about it any more. It is time those interfering meddlesome foreigners and our �greater than god� human rights angels learn of it. Probably they do know, but pretend not to know. more..

Nov 27 (AT) Since the day Barack Obama won the U.S. Presidential Elections, we have seen how Sri Lanka's 'multiculturalists' went into raptures. Without a moment's hesitation they began lecturing and pontificating on the urgent need for this country to learn from America and give a member of an ethnic minority the opportunity to become Head of State. The attempt of these pundits to draw similarities between the two societies on this issue however is absurd to say the least. more..

Nov 27 (AT) The National Television Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and the French governmental organization Canal France International (CFI) have renewed their Partnership Agreement on the audiovisual field. Since February 2000, CFI offered to SLRC, many sorts of French and European television programs : news, entertainment, education, and sport etc. more..

Nov 27 (AT) President Mahinda Rajapakse has stated several times that there should be political solutions to the political problems and that there cannot be military solutions. Also Sri Lanka President has invited LTTE Leader V.Prabakaran for talks. The invitation by the LTTE is seen as positive change says Prayathna People�s Movement (PPM). �Though it is not a new policy of the President that discussions should be held after laying down the arms, more..

Nov 27 (DW) Fighting has become increasingly difficult in the Wanni due to the rain. Troops continue fighting even though they cannot even go down for cover from enemy fire due to flooding. Several feet of water is observed any all roads, patches of bush, paddy fields and open areas in the Wanni where the fighting is concentrated. Tank bunds have broken and paddy fields have transformed into mini tanks. more..