Nov 14 (LG) The need of the hour is to have bold policy inventions by the UNP, paving way to install dynamic, honest, patriotic and magnanimous leader at a time no party has set an example to install a right person in the party leadership. This is the best opportunity to set the record straight and you, being the most incompetent leader in the recent history, are the best the person to take an initiative in the right direction because you have nothing to lose. more..

Nov 14 (LG) He is a truly bold man, Ranil Wickremesinghe is. He is not his party�s clear and unquestioned choice as candidate for the next presidential election. A party that is desperate for good leadership after nearly 60 years in politics, and a huge vote base in the country, is looking for a common candidate to lead it into the seats of power. The politics of desperation has led the UNP into an alliance with parties that cannot contribute much to its distant dreams of success. more..

Nov 14 (DBS) Govt: Sarath Fonseka charges Rajapakse Govt of not having a clear policy to win the hearts & minds of the Tamil people despite the army winning war. Peace: Sarath Fonseka tells president in letter that Govt is yet to win the peace though the army under his (SF) leadership won the war against LTTE. transformation!: Sarath Fonseka NOW says in letter to president that "The plight of the IDPs is also a point of great concern to me". What a transformation! more..

Nov 14 (Xinhua) Manjula Kumara Wijesekara brought home Sri Lanka's first gold in men's high jump event Friday at Asian championships. Wijesekara chose the opening height of 2.10m and then cleared the following three heights on his first attempt. But he failed on the height of 2.26m, leaving the height of 2.23m to be his winning jump. more..

Nov 14 (GV) There has been a lot written about the blunders of the Ministry of Health after the death of two young children. However, even though the rubella vaccination has been secured from a supplier from a questionable background, there is no evidence of foul play. All vaccinations carry some danger to the recipient and occasionally there is the threat of death. What happened to these two girls could be described as a severe case of anaphylactic shock due to severe allergy. more..

Nov 14 (GDI) Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama paid a courtesy call on Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman, State Peace & Development Council of the Union of Myanmar on 12th November 2009 in Kandy. During the call, Foreign Minister Bogollagama stated that Sri Lanka was honoured by the visit of the Myanmar leader, which had taken place after a gap of 43 years. The Foreign Minister recalled the long standing relations between Sri Lanka and Myanmar, more..

Nov 14 (GDI) Commander of the Pakistani Air Force Air Chief Marshal Rao Kamar Suleman met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday morning at the President�s House in Kandy. The Air Force Commander is on a 7 day official visit to Sri Lanka. The President thanked him for the timely action taken by the Pakistani Air Force when the Sri Lankan Cricket team was attacked in Lahore. more..

Nov 14 (GDI) The Head of State of Myanmar Than Shwe has stated that the world appreciated the attempts made by the Sri Lankan President to completely eliminate terrorism and to steer the country towards development. President of Myanmar Than Shwe made this statement when he met with President Rajapaksa last evening at the President�s House in Kandy. Bilateral discussions were also held between the two leaders. more..

Nov 14 (GDI) Furniture were presented to 400 Sinhalese families that were resettled in Vavuniya after 18 years. The function was held under the patronage of Minister Risath Bathiyudeen. Each family was also handed over 25 thousand rupees. The Minister said that the infrastructure of the area would be completed within the coming days. The people expressed confidence of being able to lead normal lives as peace has been dawned. more..

Nov 14 (LP) The final member of the six-member committee investigating the US State Department report on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The sixth member to the committee is senior lawyer and former State Councilor Anura Meddagoda said Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management Mahinda Samarasinghe at a media briefing more..

Nov 14 (GV) The recent Amnesty International sponsored forum �Sri Lanka: Human Rights Issues and Media Representation� held last week in Melbourne was a missed opportunity. The forum could have signposted the strategies needed to pressure the Australian Government to do more to improve human rights and freedom of expression issues, and to bring the Sri Lankan Government to account on its horrific human rights record. more..

Nov 14 (TC) The focus of the Sri Lankan government soon after annihilating the LTTE in mid-May 2009 has been on provincial and local government elections. Now it is on the forthcoming parliamentary and Presidential elections. The latter is not due until November 2011 but the Constitution permits it to be held any time after the incumbent completes 4 years in office. more..

Nov 14 (GV) Java and I were mulling over the presidential possibilities � what with all the rumours going back and forth and the opposition thrashing around like headless chickens looking for an option to their likely prolonged stint in the political wilderness. The dialogue between Kushal Perera and Mano Ganeshan on Groundviews also added to the grist and we came up with the following, which if a candidate were to make part of his/her manifesto and pledge to uphold, we would unhesitatingly vote for. more..

Nov 14 (LG) General Sarath Fonseka, Chief of Defence Staff, and national war hero submitted his resignation letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 12. Later the Information department of the government announced the President had accepted the resignation with immediate effect. Although the General was to retire from service from 1 December 2009, his resignation before that was not unexpected. more..

Nov 14 (LG) Opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe has strongly condemned the commotion created by certain unruly elements when General Sarath Fonseka was leaving the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara after taking part in religious observances. �We enter the sacred grounds of the Kelaniya Vihara after casting aside our political and personnel views. This is the manner in which we have come to this sacred place for centuries. more..

Nov 14 (LNP) General Sarath Fonseka is yet to get the formal response from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to his retirement letter and is still keen to remain in his post till the end of this month before relinquishing himself of his services by holding a farewell ceremony, sources close to the General said. Although the government announced yesterday that the President had accepted General Fonseka's letter of retirement and had asked him to leave with immediate effect the more..

Nov 14 (LNP) Over 1,000 UNP grassroot level leaders and members from the Sabaragamuwa Province joined the SLFP at Balangoda yesterday. This is in appreciation of the development activities in the rural sector implemented by the Government, Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne said. The UNP cadres and area leaders led by Opposition Leader Balangoda Pradeshiya Sabha Vijaya Kumara met Minister Seneviratne in Balangoda and joined the SLFP by obtaining party membership. more..

Nov 14 (LNP) Ceylinco Life has achieved a 40 percent growth in investment income in the nine months ending September 30, 2009, following strong growth in income from government securities and bank deposits. Releasing details of performance to the end of the third quarter, the company said Investment Income had exceeded Rs 2,372 million, with the two largest components, Bank Deposits and Government Securities growing nearly 42 percent and more..

Nov 14 (LNP) There is nothing that a politician does not compromise in trying to retain or gain power. They are ready to give up anything to achieve that goal. Most of them even desert their spouses. They change parties like footwear. The SLFP campaigned against the executive presidency for 16 years from 1978 until it secured it in 1994. Now it is defending that institution to the hilt. more..

Nov 14 (LT) The most important quality of Mr. Rohana Wijeweea was his ability to change according to new situations and he was not a person who got stuck in the past said Leader of the JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe. He said this addressing the 20th Commemoration ceremony held yesterday at Viharamaha Devi Park to commemorate the 20th year of the assassination of members of the JVP including its founder Rohana Wijeweera. more..

Nov 14 (LT) Around 10,000 Internally Displaced Persons have been resettled in their native places within the last seven days providing them with health, shelter, sanitary, education, water, electricity and other facilities in their villages, said Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. He said the Government has clearly shown commitment to resettle the IDPs as quickly as possible. He said within a seven day period, 9,860 IDPs have been resettled and this might be a record for resettling IDPs. more..

Nov 14 (LT) The distribution of fuel has been completely stopped due to threats by thugs of Minister Mervin Silva and Provincial Council Member for Western PC Duminda Silva threatening employees of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation who were engaged in �work to rule� campaign. The representative of Trade Union Alliance of CPC G.J. Rajakaruna said all employees have rallied against the government which carries out thug attacks on employees instead of solving their issues.

Nov 14 (DN) Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka participated as the Chief Guest at the Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative AFACI meeting held recently in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Twelve Asian countries took part at the signing of a memorandum of understanding by high level officials. The AFACI was initiated by the Government of the Republic of Korea to cooperate in development of food and agriculture technology in maintaining food security of member nations and more..

Nov 14 (DN) It's not the budget that brought relief to the public this November but the Gazette and the reduction of prices of essential items under the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Trade Commerce, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. It would bring relief worth at least around Rs.2,500 for a family of four per month, he said. more..

Nov 14 (DN) The 111-bed National Institute of Nephrology, Dialysis and Kidney Transplant at Maligawatte, Colombo will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today. The new state-of-the-art institute is equipped with facilities for diagnosis of kidney diseases, dialysis and kidney transplant surgery. When it is fully operational it will facilitate 100 transplant operations and 4,000 dialysis sessions a year. more..

Nov 14 (DM) Why doesn�t Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka respond to so many speculations and debates on his possible entry into the active politics? They are not only speculations; rather major political parties have taken decisions on his future, but without provoking him to react. The speculation on General Sarath Fonseka�s possible or rumoured entry into politics, particularly as a candidate at the next Presidential election, more..

Nov 14 (BT) His experience is diverse and his knowledge on the economy is immense. He has been a pillar of strength through economic turmoil, unwavering while steering the country towards calmer waters. The Government is able to make policy decisions knowing that each is substantiated and made with the best interests of the country at heart. Dr P B Jayasundera is the Secretary to the the Ministry of Finance and Planning and Secretary to the Treasury. more..

Nov 14 (BT) The Nawaloka Group has been in the forefront of the business sector in Sri Lanka for over 65 years. Ranging from medical services to construction, aviation and manufacturing facilities abroad, the services rendered by the Group to the Nation is commendable. Striving to give the best quality services to the people at a low cost, the Nawaloka Hospital has earned the reputation as more..

Nov 14 (DM) The convener of the NTUA and JVP MP K.D. Lalkantha yesterday vowed that the work-to-rule campaign launched on Wednesday at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Ceylon Electricity Board, Ports Authority and the Water Board would be continued until the government granted their demands. �We are not ready to call off the trade union action till we win our demands. The government continues to refuse the salary entitled for the workers of these four state institutions. more..

Nov 14 (Reuters) Sri Lanka will have to curb an inspired Sachin Tendulkar, on the threshold of another landmark, as they attempt to win a test series in India for the first time. Sri Lanka have not won any of the 14 matches they have played in India since their first test visit in 1982, but skipper Kumar Sangakkara feels has the potential to pull off a surprise in the three-test series. more..

Nov 14 (Island) A United National Front motorcade, that was on its way from Colombo to Kandy, was attacked with stones near the Horagolla Samadhi, yesterday afternoon, by a UPFA mob allegedly led by the SLFP Organiser for Attanagalla, Sarana Gunawardena, resulting in two journalists, a security officer of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and a Principal being injured. more..

Nov 14 (DM) If there was any antipathy towards the candidacy of General Sarath Fonseka much of that was dissipated on Thursday evening when the whole country watched how goons of Mervyn Silva jeered and hooted at the Chief Defence of Staff. Certainly not every one will vote for the former Army Commander if he decides to contest polls but the fact remains even an overwhelming majority of those who are against his entry to politics would not tolerate the more..

Nov 14 (Island) The taxation rate on business enterprises in Sri Lanka was a staggering 64 percent,which is way above the 30 percent standard in South Asia, Lakshman Kirialle MP said yesterday. He said that the government�s tax regime was killing economic growth. "The acceptable rate of taxation in South Asia is 30 percent, and the 64 percent being applied presently,is crippling businesses who have already been hit by the global melt down," more..

Nov 14 (DM) A MoU was signed between Shewedagon Cheitaya in Myannmar and the Sri Dalada Maligawa for cultural and religious ties and also to establish a Myannmar Pavilion at the Sri Dalada Maligawa Museum under construction. The Memorandum was signed on behalf of the Shewedagon Cheitaya by the Ambassador in Sri Lanka for Myannmar, U. Ofu Thawin and Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela on behalf of the Sri Dalada Maligawa more..

Nov 14 (AFP) Large flag-waving crowds greeted Myanmar's junta leader General Than Shwe on Saturday as he toured an ancient city in north-central Sri Lanka on a religious pilgrimage. The crowds, clutching flags of Myanmar and Sri Lanka, lined the streets of the sacred Buddhist city of Anuradhapura to welcome the reclusive general, who has been on his first overseas visit since 2004. more..

Nov 14 (Island) In response to President Mahinda Rajapaksa"s call to Sri Lankan expatriates to participate in the development process of nation building in the motherland, over 360 expatriate Sri Lankans from 45 or more countries are expected to participate in the crucial two day "Sri Lankan Expatriates Forum" meeting at the Presidential Secretariat today and tomorrow, Presidential Secretariat sources said yesterday. more..

Nov 14 (TOI) Swarna sits quietly in a corner of her small room in Coimbatore's Thirumurthy Malai refugee camp for Sri Lankan Tamils. Her mind, she says, almost always drifts back to the country she made her own. The last few months have been especially bad. With the death of LTTE chief Prabhakaran signaling an end to the ravaging war for Eelam, there is a sudden surge of hope in her heart. But sometimes hope is a far heavier burden than hopelessness. more..

Nov 14 (Hindu) Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived here on a 24 hour visit to deliver the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture 2009 later in the evening and make use of the opportunity for exchange of views with Sri Lankan leaders on the current developments in the island nation. Though Mr. Mukherjee's visit was decided some time ago, it has acquired significance after President granted permission to the Chief of Defence Staff, Sarath Fonseka, to retire with immediate effect. more..