Feb 18 (UL) All Ceylon Transport Employees Union sends a letter informing the minister Dulles Allahpperuma to interfere to suspend the illegal transfers done entirely violating the transfer system of CTB after the presidential election. According to the 7th sentence on 3rd page of transfer system of CTB, no branch secretary, president or treasurer of a recognized trade union can be transferred with any reason except disciplinary reason, more..

Feb 18 (LP) A Dutch court sentenced three people to prison for attempting to smuggle a Sri Lanka child out of the country. Prosecutors in the city of Zwolle had accused the three of using false documentation to get the child out of the country. According to Zambia News.Net, the main accused, a woman from the town of Stegeren, was sentenced to 189 days' imprisonment, while her ex-boyfriend was sentenced to 134 days. more..

Feb 18 (LT) Rajapakses grabbed power in the country, despite grabbing power they have no brain to protect that power says Leader of the JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe. He said this when he met the retired Army officers who were released by the Judiciary yesterday at Gen. Fonseka's election office yesterday. He said, "There was a rule in the country that no demonstrations or agitations could be held until seven days after the presidential election. more..

Feb 18 (LT) The government media including 'Rupavahini' and ITN channels carried out a massive propaganda campaign stating the signature of Most Ven. Davuldena Gnanisara Thero, Mahanayake of Ramaggna Chapter, in the letter issued by the Mahanayakas of the three Chapters was forged. Issuing an announcement Ven. Seethaeliye Chandananda Thero, the private secretary to the Mahanayaka of Sri Lanka Ramaggna Chapter, more..

Feb 18 (LT) The 'Maha Sangha Sammelanaya' scheduled to be held in Kandy today (18th) convened by the Mahanayakas of the three Chapters and with the participation of all Bhikkus throughout the island had to be postponed due to the mediation and pressurizing of a group of Bhikkus partial to the government states advisor to the National Bhikku Front Ven. Aththangane Rathanapala Thero. more..

Feb 18 (LT) It is reported that the President has taken measures to remove Chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Maj. Gen. Asoka Thoradeniya who, according to the government, conspired with Gen. Sarath Fonseka to overthrow the government. As such, the President obtained the letter of resignation from Maj. Gen. Thoradeniya on the 17th. Maj. Gen. Thoradeniya has already left the CPC. more..

Feb 18 (LNP) The country will be ready to face the anticipated influx of tourist arrivals with the dawn of peace by increasing the room capacity in the three zonal divisions identified. With the completion of these projects 7,000 additional rooms will be made available. Over 5,000 acres of land in 13 islands will be developed under the planned Kalpitiya tourist zone. The project is expected to generate 15,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities and more..

Feb 18 (DM) Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake yesterday assured opposition political parties that private buses would be used for transporting election workers, ballot boxes, and displaced people at the upcoming general elections. He gave this assurance when he met representatives of the United National Party (UNP), the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), and the Democratic People�s Front (DPF) at the Election Secretariat. more..

Feb 18 (DN) Joint Trade Union Alliance yesterday decided unanimously to mobilize the public and the working masses against the Opposition's plot to mislead the public by conducting various protests against the Government with a handful of persons in attendance. The meeting was held at the Western Province Governor's Office. Over 80 Trade Union officials in the alliance vowed that no force is allowed to betray the victory achieved by more..

Feb 18 (DN) Upali S. Jayasekera, who writes frequently to the newspapers, has made a decision regarding what kind of candidate he would vote for. He has approached the issue from the opposite direction, actually, outlining the kind of candidate he would not vote for. I find Upali�s method of elimination reasonable for the most part and since it feeds the project I outlined in the Daily News of February 17, 2010, I quote it in full. more..

Feb 18 (Island) Former Army Commnader and defeated Presidential Canddiate Gen. (retd) Sarath Fonseka has indicated willingness to cooperate with the CID investigating his alleged involvement in what is now dubbed as the HiCorp fraud. The CID yesterday informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate Ms Lanka Jayaratne that investigators had recorded a statement from Fonseka regarding the approval of at least four controversial tenders more..

Feb 18 (UNP) Amidst widespread abductions, arrests and crimes raging in the country underscoring the lawless culture in the country is the latest release two days ago of the Editor, of the Sinhala tabloid �Lanka� Chandana Sirimalwatte who was arrested about a month ago for reasons unknown to himself and even the authorities who arrested him, for, he was suddenly released after one month in detention without any charges. more..

Feb 18 (DN) The UPFA has already completed its nomination lists in several districts. Nominations will be handed over on February 25 and 26, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said. Some political parties are still struggling to select a symbol. The Opposition is poised for a bigger defeat than the one they experienced at the Presidential Election. Therefore they have to correct their political agenda, he said. more..

Feb 18 (Island) The JVP yesterday said that they would take legal action against the removal of the Chairman of the JVP � run Tissamaharama Pradeshiya Sabha and the appointment of a special commissioner to handle chairman�s duties. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva charged that the government action was another undemocratic step taken by the Rajapaksa government. more..

Feb 18 (Island) Eighteen UNP MPs yesterday complained to the Supreme Court that their security had been withdrawn on Feb 15, whist a group of government MPs and government supporters, who are not MPs, were provided with security from the Ministerial Security Division. The petitioners are Karu Jayasuriya and 17 others. They listed the government MPs who enjoy security from the MSD even after the dissolution of Parliament more..

Feb 18 (Island) Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge has ignored a Cabinet decision to reappoint Duminda Jayaratne Director of the Dehiwela National Zoological Gardens. When contacted, Minister Lokuge told The Island yesterday that he would consider the reappointment after the forthcoming Parliamentary Elections. However, in December Lokuge told The Island that more..

Feb 18 (DM) The Government yesterday called on the UNP-JVP led opposition to accept the reality and not to resort to what it called �useless, undemocratic and anti-national exercises� regarding the arrest and detention of General Sarath Fonseka as he is facing a three-pronged judicial investigation. Minister Laksman Yapa Abeywardana said it is up to General Fonseka and the opposition to prove his innocence before the Military Tribunal more..

Feb 18 (DM) The main opposition UNP said yesterday the SLFP (M Wing) led by Mangala Samaraweera, the SLMC led by Rauff Hakeem and the DPF led by Mano Ganeshan had agreed to contest the upcoming parliamentary election under the elephant symbol. UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said some of the other small parties and the New Democratic Front would also contest the on the UNP ticket. more..

Feb 18 (DN) President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday advised political leaders and State officials to render an impeccable service to the country and its people after gaining a clear understanding of their duties and responsibilities without thinking of elections or the remuneration they received. He offered this advice when he presided over an initial discussion on the Nagamu Puravara development scheme of underprivileged housing schemes more..

Feb 18 (DM) Sri Lanka is not prepared to barter its sovereignty for the sake of regaining the European Union (EU) GSP+ tariff concession and will continue with its stated policy instead of giving into any unfair demands, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said. He said the country would not be hurt by the loss of the EU trade concession as all the remedial measures had been taken to maintain the economy sans the concessions. more..

Feb 18 (EB) The business community in the north Sri Lankan Tamil-speaking district of Jaffna is ready to welcome Indian investments and development projects amidst them, in spite of the fact that they, like the people of the district, harbour strong anti-Indian feelings. A Jaffna man blames India for the defeat of the LTTE. �India had failed to stop the last leg of the war between the Lankan forces and the LTTE and more..

Feb 18 (AFP) Sri Lankan police on Thursday seized 28 kilos (62 pounds) of heroin worth 780,000 dollars in a major blow to smugglers who are believed to be use the island as a drug trafficking route from India. The narcotics were found during a raid early Thursday in the northwestern fishing village of Kalpitiya, Inspector Lakshman Ranwalarachchi from the local police said, adding that one man had been arrested. more..

Feb 18 (CT) A warrant has been issued for the arrest of southern provincial councilor Nishantha Muthuhettigama for failing to appear before courts. Udugama magistrate Mahi Wijesuriya today ordered police to arrest the controversial councilor. He had not appeared for three court cases involving incidents during the last southern provincial council polls. more..

Feb 18 (Island) Plantations Minister D. M. Jayaratne has not given up hope of becoming the Prime Minister of the country. One of the senior most members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Jayaratne told The Island yesterday that that he would be on the SLFP National List, as he wanted to allow a youngster to contest the polls and enter Parliament through the UPFA. more..

Feb 18 (CT) Two leading politicians who have been supporting the government obtained membership of the SLFP, the main party in the ruling UPFA, today . One of them is Ferial Ashroff, leader of the National Unity Alliance. She entered politics following the demise of her husband, minister M.H.M. Ashroff, who died in a helicopter crash in 2000. Mrs. Ashroff is the first Muslim woman cabinet minister in Sri Lanka. more..

Feb 18 (LT) The JVP and the General will contest the election under 'Democratic National Alliance' with the 'trophy' as its symbol as the UNP has not given up the idea of contesting under the 'elephant' symbol say reports. The leader of the 'Democratic National Alliance' would be Gen. Sarath Fonseka and its secretary would be the Information Secretary of the JVP Vijithe Herath. more..

Feb 18 (Reuters) Sri Lanka central bank is unlikely to buy more gold from the IMF right now as the island nation has already reached its required reserve level, its governor said on Thursday. The IMF has said it would soon begin sales of 191.3 tonnes of gold remaining in its plan to raise new resources for lending, with traders saying it may seek buyers among Asian central banks. more..

Feb 18 (DM) Man�s reluctance for change is rooted on his fear to lose what gave him a sense of security and comfort. It�s quite natural therefore for one to look at the latest facelift of SriLankan, the national carrier of Sri Lanka, with some apprehension. There was a time that all Sri Lankans were extremely proud of the national airline Air Lanka before it became SriLankan. more..

Feb 18 (DM) The US Embassy in Colombo says it is disappointed that the State media recently choose to carry a �provocative and groundless� story without allowing the U.S. to comment on the spurious claims. While rejecting allegations made against the US, the Embassy reiterated that it provided no support to any candidate in Sri Lanka�s presidential election and more..

Feb 18 (DM) British Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox, speaking to reporters this evening after meeting Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, said that General Sarath Fonseka should be tried in a civil court where transparency will be paramount. �It is my strong view that the General should be tried in a civil court where the charges against him can be tested through all the vigor that the law can muster,� Fox said. more..

Feb 19 (WIP) During the year she taught Russian literature at the University of Peradeniya in Kandy, Sri Lanka, Arizona University professor Adele Barker found herself more comfortable in the role of perpetual learner than educator. Barker�s apt and thoughtful descriptions of being a fish out of water provide an excellent place of departure for the detailed exploration of the current social, cultural, and political struggles of her temporary home. more..

Feb 19 (GDI) The Government will continue to engage with European Commission to retain GSP+ within certain parameters determined by Sri Lanka, Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said. He pointed out that Sri Lanka is not prepared to betray its sovereignty for the sake of regaining the European Commission GSP+ tariff concession and will continue with its stated policy instead of giving into any unfair demands. more..

Feb 19 (CI) Ruhuna, Kandurata, Wayamba and Basnahira South qualified to play in the semi-finals of the Inter-Provincial Limited Overs to be played on Friday. Ruhuna will take on Basnahira South at Moratuwa while the other semi-final will be a repeat of the final round-robin match between Kandurata and Wayamba. At the completion of the round-robin league stage, Ruhuna ended on top of the standings after their final game against Basnahira South ended in a no-result due to rain. more..

Feb 19 (TN) At a time when Colombo and its collaborators try their best to erase out the national aspirations of Tamils, the Tamil National Alliance has the noble responsibility to maintain its unity in being the true voice and champions of Tamil aspirations, says Rev. Prof. Dr. S.J. Emmanuel, the former Vicar General of the Catholic diocese of Jaffna in an open letter addressed to TNA leaders Sampanthan, more..

Feb 19 (IL) Leader of the NUA Mrs.Farial Ashraff met President Mahinda Rajapaksa and accepted her membership to join SLFP at Temple Trees on 18th February. More than 250 NUA members were participated with her at the occasion this morning. Widow of the founder leader of SLMC late Mr M.H.M.Ashraff, Mrs Farial Ashraff was the 1st Muslim woman to become a Sri Lanka Cabinet Minister. more..

Feb 19 (TC) A report in the Daily Mirror today states that the US is not happy with the Sri Lankan state media. It made me sick because I was never happy with the embedded CNN journalists in Iraq. What did the US media, state or otherwise do. Nothing but, propaganda and they have now contributed towards destroying two great civilizations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many Sri Lankans were not happy when a Marine attached to the US embassy once was nasty, more..

Feb 19 (LG) Permit me to bring to your notice certain matters that I feel as relevant at this juncture.The minority communities in Sri Lanka today are facing the worst crisis not specifically in one field but almost in all fields that concern the humans. While all other minority communities have a fair amount of representation in Parliament only the Tamils of the North and the East have no proper representation, about which I do not want to elaborate at this juncture. more..