Sep 30 (LBO) Sri Lankan shares fell sharply Tuesday pulled down largely by the slide in the two heavyweight telecom stocks on earnings fears as investors remained nervous about the local and global economy, brokers said. The All Share Price Index fell almost two percent (43.27 points) to 2,142.26 while the Milanka was down 2.26 percent (55.43 points) to 2,397.19. Turnover was 122 million rupees. more..

Sep 30 (LD) A police inspector implicated in the Rs. nine billion fraud masterminded by Sakvithi Ranasinghe has failed to turn up yesterday at the Fraud Detection Bureau at Mirihana despite an order. The suspect has been attached to the communication division of Mirihana Police. He has been ordered to report to the FDB today, police said. Police are receiving more complaints against Ranasinghe, 146 of them yesterday, the total of which presently stand at 1,327.

Sep 30 (LD) Dr. P.B. Jayasundara should personally clarify to the Supreme Court whether he is still holding an executive or supervisory position in a state institution, Chief Justice, Sarath N. Silva said today (Sept. 29th). The CJ was taking up a petition filed by Presidential Advisor, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, which cited that his fundamental rights have been violated by the transfer of an eight-acre land belonging to Sri Lanka Ports Authority to John Keels Holdings more..

Sep 30 (CI) Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, has said the rise in the number of Twenty20 tournaments "isn't a healthy sign" for the future of international cricket and called on the ICC to strike a balance between the three forms of the game. Jayawardene was speaking after doubts resurfaced whether Sri Lanka's proposed tour of England would go ahead as scheduled in April-May 2009 as it clashes with the latter stages of the IPL's second season. more..

Sep 30 (DN) One person was killed and 32 people injured as the Polgahawela bound train and the Kandy bound intercity train collided at the Ganemulla station around 4 p.m yesterday, the Trains Control Room and Gampaha hospital sources said yesterday. The Kandy bound intercity express train that left Colombo Fort railway station had collided with the rear of the Polgahawela bound train which was about to move from the Ganemulla station after being stationed there for a few minutes. more..

Sep 30 (DN) Doctors, parents, several other groups and individuals have pointed out the importance of legalising abortion only for certain occasions such as when a girl is raped and made pregnant by her own father, brother or grandfather. Therefore opinions will be called from the Sri Lankan public to amend the law to save lives of female children, Child Development and Women's Empowerment Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena said. more..

Sep 30 (Island) Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda said he would contest the Northern Provincial Council elections to restore democracy in the North. "I am well aware that the entire Tamil community in the Northern Province is gagged and fettered by the LTTE. In the event I am elected the Chief Minister I would ensure that freedom of movement, freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom to work would be restored under a democratic process of administration for the benefit of the Tamil community," more..

Sep 30 (Island) Politicians after they are elected by the people desert their constituencies and go to live in Colombo. Nets have to be thrown to catch the members, Mahanayake of Asgiriya the Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thero told the Chief Minister of North Central Province Bertie Premalala Dissanayake who sought his blessings to mark his assuming of office for the third successive term. more..

Sep 30 (DM) The military yesterday charged that the LTTE was using Hindu kovils for safe keeping, as they had found a stock of military items, including weapons and grenades, in the Makiapiddy Hindu Kovil, hidden behind the �Vel Cart�. Army headquarters said that security forces threw a security blanket over Kandaroddai village yesterday in order to nab four LTTE cadres who had fled after hiding inside the Makiapiddy Hindu kovil (temple) behind its VEL Cart with their arms and ammunition. more..

Sep 30 (DM) Former Sri Lanka captain and World Cup champion Hashan Tillekaratne yesterday slammed critics opposed to the lifting of the ban on players who took part in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) saying it was a timely and decisive move in the interest of cricketers who were entitled to their rights. Tillekaratne said every cricketer in the country had a right to decide how he should make the best use of his career and more..

Sep 30 (BR) "The UN's humanitarian agency recently declared Sri Lanka one of the world's most dangerous places for aid workers and journalists. Sri Lanka's war is entering a tragic new phase as the Sri Lankan government issues an official warning that the government can no longer 'guarantee' the safety of aid workers in the north and east, and encouraging them to leave the area. more..

Sep 30 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's annual average inflation rose to 23.2 percent in September from 22.6 percent in August, the government said on Tuesday, to its highest level on a new index that dates back to 2002. However, consumer price inflation eased to a year-on-year 24.3 percent this month from a 24.9 percent in August. In June, it had hit a record on the current index of 28.2 percent due to soaring food and oil prices. more..

Sep 30 (AFP) A Sri Lanka navy patrol destroyed two Tamil Tiger boats, killing eight rebels on board, in a clash off the island's northern coast, the defence ministry said Tuesday. The navy did not give its own losses during the battle, which occurred late Monday. There was no comment from the LTTE. The attack came as ground troops continued to fight fierce battles as part of their offensive against the rebels' mini state in the north of the island. more..

Sep 30 (ZN) As the Sri Lankan army continue its offensive deep into LTTE strongholds in the island nation's north, Tamil Nadu police have effectively "strangulated" the Tigers' logistical routes by "discreetly" clamping down on members of its logistics module to prevent the state from emerging as their "procurement hub". Some of the top-rung members of the LTTE's procurement module who had come to Chennai recently have been arrested and imprisoned, police sources said here. more..