Dec 16 (DM) The TNA has told the media that officially it was still undecided as to which candidate to support at the presidential election. However, Tissa Attanayake, the former UNP general secretary who crossed over to the Govt, has claimed that the opposition coalition has several individual secret pacts with various political parties including the TNA. He did not emphasise the fact that there was a secret pact between the Opposition and the political parties in the South such as the JHU more..

Dec 16 (CT) Elections Commissioner, Mahinda Deshapriya has boldly moved forward to prevent vote rigging at the upcoming presidential election. As a prelude to that arduous task, the Polls Chief directed the presence of an Elections Department official when state sector employees are to cast their postal votes. This follows complaints from political parties that postal voters were being intimidated by their respective Heads of Department demanding them to show the ballot papers after more..

Dec 16 (SL) With the govt deciding to reduce the price of rice, the farmers are skeptical of receiving the price for their paddy that was promised during the last budget. According to the National Organizer of the All Ceylon Farmers� Federation (JVP) Namal Karunaratne, the farmers welcome the decision taken by the govt but he said that he hoped the govt would not use that as an excuse to reduce the price of paddy that more..

Dec 16 (Island) Eight key media organisations have requested the two main presidential candidates President Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena to include several issues relating to media freedom in their election manifestos, a press release issued by the Sri Lanka Press Institute said. Full text: "On the 8th of December 2014, eight key media organizations in Sri Lanka submitted in writing to the Presidential Candidates namely more..

Dec 16 (Independent) He was at home with his family on Boxing Day 2004 when he saw TV coverage of the disaster and flew out five weeks later when bosses at the National Police Improvement Agency asked for volunteers. His role was body recovery and identification and he set up a mortuary, exhumed bodies and helped to identify westerners from their DNA or fingerprints. In sweltering heat, he worked 16 hour days and more..

Dec 16 (ST) Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has blocked public access to the asset declarations of all presidential candidates till after the January 2015 election. �The public can request for them after the elections,� the Elections Commissioner said. �We are not letting anyone see them till then.� Legal experts said his decision was an administrative move that did not have any basis in law. more..

Dec 16 (Island) The UPFA charged that opposition conspiracies to topple the govt had been hatched in Singapore as several key Opposition politicians visited that country in November. Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said they had the list of all those who visited Singapore during the month of November. He said that former President Chandrika Kumaratunga visited Singapore on Nov 1, Maithripala Sirisena on Nov 2, Digambaran more..

Dec 16 (CT) Countering fear that Tamil voters will repeat their act of 2005, TNA MP, Seenithambi Yogeswaran said that the party will not boycott the Presidential Election scheduled for 8 January. He said that the government's decision to amend the Constitution to remove the two-term limit for a President, sparked a wide protest in the island nation. "We will take part in the democratic process and exercise our democratic right," more..

Dec 16 (CG) A clash broke out at the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee (DCC) meeting today resulting in some officials and NPC members sustaining injuries. Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran and EPDP leader Douglas Devananda were among those who were at the meeting at the time. Wigneswaran accused the EPDP of instigating the clash by bringing outsiders for the session. more..

Dec 16 (AFP) Former president warned that her successor may resort to "skullduggery" to secure an unprecedented third term, calling for outside observers to monitor the forthcoming election. Chandrika Kumaratunga, who re-entered politics last month to support the main opposition presidential candidate, said she believed the govt would seek to intimidate rivals at the Jan 8 elections. more..

Dec 16 (AM) Multiple sources of the govt and the opposition said that major crossovers from both sides have been postponed until the last week of December. Highly placed political sources said most of the MPs, who initially wanted to cross over, are now skeptical as they are uncertain about the final result of the election. The MPs will make a final decision depending on the progress of political campaigns of both camps. more..

Dec 16 (Hindu) The Tamil Nadu govt has agreed to set free 30 Sri Lankan fishermen and their 19 boats, currently in custody in the State. The fishermen would be released on December 22. In a letter to PM Narendra Modi, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam stated that the decision had been taken �in a spirit of accommodation and magnanimity and as a humanitarian gesture� and also in view of the approaching Christmas. more..

Dec 16 (Island) The Joint Opposition Front (JOF) said yesterday that the race for the Presidency no longer depended on the number of government MPs defecting though it was confident of many more joining its ranks. Eran Wickremeratne MP said that the outcome of next month�s Presidential Election hinged on a large number of �undecided� electors and the JOF was confident of securing most of such votes in favour of their candidate Maithripala Sirisena. more..

Dec 16 (PTI) In line with BJP-led govt's stand not to demolish 'Ram Sethu', the govt is in the process of exploring an alternative route for the launch of Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP). "We are in the process of exploring an alternate route for SSCP through Pamban Pass without affecting Ram Sethu/Adam's Bridge," an Shipping Ministry official said. The official said Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), which was assigned the task of a study on alternate route, more..

Dec 16 (CT) One of my Tamil friends was recently at Temple Trees to participate in the exercises the poor President is now engaged in to try to win hearts and minds. But the experience was surreal, for discussion of substance was it seems left to Basil Rajapaksa, whilst the President contented himself with assuring his guests that he had taken precautions to stop further crossovers. Whether this was through carrots or sticks he did not elaborate. Basil�s idea of substance of course leaves more..

Dec 16 (Reuters) Sri Lankan stocks fell for a fourth straight session on Tuesday, led by blue-chips such as John Keells as investors remained cautious ahead of the Jan. 8 presidential poll. The main stock index ended 0.09%, or 6.70 points, lower at 7,223.56, its lowest close since Dec. 9. "There was limited activity. Political worries are hindering market activity," a stockbroker said on condition of anonymity. "Investors expect political stability after the election and until such time more..

Dec 16 (SLA) The Medal Parade of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the prestigious military ceremony that appreciates the exemplary dedication, made by any specific contingent, took place recently at the UNIFIL Headquarters, Naqoura, Lebanon where the Sri Lankan contingent, was honoured awarding medals. Major General Sumedha Perera, Director General General Staff of Sri Lanka Army, attending more..

Dec 16 (AM) Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said justice was not meted out to him during the Cabinet reshuffle in 2005 � which took place soon after President Rajapaksa�s ascension to power. Speaker Rajapaksa, who is the elder brother of President Rajapaksa, addressing a meeting in Galle yesterday said, he was given a non-cabinet ministerial post in 2005- to overlook the agricultural sector. �I was again given the Ministry of Irrigation without the Mahaweli development sector. more..

Dec 16 (Island) The CaFFE submitted photographs to Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya on Sunday, showing how the police department misused public money allocated to them to remove cut-outs. Executive Director of CaFFE, Ranjith Tennakoon said that most of the big cut-outs in Chilaw, Arachchikattuwa, Anuradhapura, Kadawatha and Ratnapura were being covered haphazardly with paper, pieces of cloths or polythene, instead of removing them completely. more..

Dec 16 (Xinhua) China and Sri Lanka will continue to strengthen investment relations through the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative and allow Chinese companies to do business in the island, officials said here on Tuesday. The two countries will continue expanding cooperation on significant infrastructure projects, including building a $1.4 billion port city, expanding terminal services at the Colombo port and constructing more..

Dec 16 (CT) It appears that the Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is openly taking inspiration from �terrorism.� He at least defends his actions on the basis of terrorists. According to the lead story of �The Island�, he has said, �If terrorists can enter politics, why not forces personnel?� This is a dangerous trend. If the same logic is extended to human rights violations or war crimes, he can argue, �If terrorists can do such and such things, why not forces personnel?� more..

Dec 16 (AM) Several Tamil news portals have reported that Minister Rishad Bathiudeen had assaulted MP J. Sri Ranga in the presence of a few other MPs during a dinner that was hosted at Temple Trees last night. The incident had occurred in a context where MP Sri Ranga, who also hosts TV shows on Sirasa and Shakthi TV, had been highly critical of Rishad Bathiudeen's party's stance on the forthcoming Presidential Election. Ranga had criticized the decisions taken by more..

Dec 16 (Island) Senior members of the JVP splinter group, the Frontline Socialist Party, announced that it would resort to an agitation campaign to urge the govt to permit the return of their leader Kumar Mahattaya alias Premakumar Gunaratnam who now uses the name, Noel Mudalige. Two senior FSP members, its General Secretary Senadheera Gunathilake alias Opatha Mahattaya and Politburo Member Chameera more..

Dec 16 (AD) Six members of the ruling UPFA, including 4 local govt members and a former UC Chairman, today pledged to support Common Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Election. UPFA Attanagalla PS member Indika Rajapaksa, Meerigama PS member Somaratna Diyanetti and Chilaw UC member Jeevani Kariyawasam announced their decision at a press conference with former President Chandrika Kumaratunga at her residence. more..

Dec 16 (AM) Omalpe Sobhitha Thera, leader of the JHU, has refused have a one-to-one meeting with its former Deputy General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila when the latter informed the JHU Leader that he wished to meet him, Asian Mirror reliably learns. Gammanpila had told Sobhitha Thera that he wanted to meet him to clear the air on a remark the JHU Leader made at the press conference which was held after Gammanpila�s crossover. more..

Dec 16 (ES) A father today paid tribute to his son who died from an injury in a freak incident when he was hit in the stomach by a football cleared by a goalkeeper during a PE lesson at his north London school. Sugenth Jeyakumar, 14, was admitted to hospital and died in front of his dad Arumugam a day later. Teenager received the blow during a game at Whitmore school in Harrow last Tuesday and complained of feeling pain after more..

Dec 16 (Island) Two men were buried alive yesterday morning inside a 15-foot-deep mine dug by the victims in the Ratnapura police area in search of gems. The two bodies were recovered after a few hours with the use of a backhoe machine. The victims had been identified as Mahinda Senadeera (32) and Prasad Yasawardana (37). They had been mining inside an abandoned shop at Thiruwanaketiya with the help of its owner. It said the police had been alerted to the tragedy by more..

Dec 16 (Island) Common Opposition Presidental Candidate (COPC) Maithripala Sirisena�s Coordinating Secretary Atterney-at-Law Rajika Kodituwakku had been threatened with his life and the lives of his family members were also in danger, COPC�s media secteray Danushka Ramanayake said last night. Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana confirmed that the Keselwatta police station had receieved a complaint regarding the matter and the investigations were being carrried out. more..

Dec 16 (DM) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremsinghe said today the new govt, which would be formed by the joint opposition after the current regime was defeated at the January 8 elections, would scrap the Colombo Port City Project. He told tourist industry leaders who met him today that the project would be scrapped because it would end up destroying the coastal belt from Negombo to Beruwala. more..

Dec 16 (CG) The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) today warned of terror groups operating in the eastern province and urged the government to take action to curb their activities. BBS General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara thero told the media today that the government has ignored intelligence reports with regards to these groups in the east. He said that allowing these groups to remain unchecked could result in similar incidents to that seen in Australia and Pakistan this week. more..

Dec 16 (Island) Former UPFA Minister and JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka said that the UPFA govt thrived on kickbacks and it launched mega projects so that its leaders could pocket huge commissions. The country was in debt and three or four future generations down the line would have to pay back the massive loans the incumbent govt had obtained. He said the govt had awarded a contract to construct the northern railway line to a foreign company at a cost of Rs 1,600 per km more..

Dec 16 (AD) While expressing that the international community still attempts to summon Sri Lankan Govt to the International Criminal Court (ICC), Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa pointed out that the administrative powers of the executive presidency assisted and led the war victory. He added that international pressure on the island nation proves the fact that some pro-LTTE elements, UNHRC, and even TNA still more..

Dec 16 (CT) The case against UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake, filed by Western Provincial Councillor Nimal Lanza for making defamatory statements about him, was postponed to 23 February 2015 after Ramanayake did not turn up in Court yesterday. The case is being taken up at the Negombo District Court. Attorneys-at-law, Hilary Livera and Felicia Fernandopulle, stated that the fiscal officer had not been given an opportunity by the security guards manning the defendant's house more..

Dec 16 (CG) UPFA denied claims that it was attempting to market the war victory in order to win support at the Presidential election next month. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the govt, however, had every right to remind the people of the efforts taken to defeat the LTTE as it is now part of Sri Lanka�s history. Minister noted that to say one cannot speak of the end of the war is to say one cannot recall history like other historic events which are often spoken of. more..

Dec 16 (DM) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva today claimed that several common opposition members including presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena had secretly met representatives of the Transnational Govt of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) in Singapore. He said the Govt would reveal details of their activities during their visit to Singapore. Minister said Maithripala Sirisena, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sarath Fonseka, Chandrika more..

Dec 16 (Island) The Ministry of Cooperative and Internal Trade yesterday said the vegetable prices had increased owing to heavy rains in vegetable producing areas. A ministry spokesman rejected the idea that prices were being kept artificially high. The Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, contacted for comments, said rains had caused extensive damage to vegetable cultivations. The prices of some vegetables per kilo as at yesterday were: more..

Dec 16 (CT) Northern Provincial Council (NPC) spent Rs 8.87 million for the refurbishment of school buildings, for President Rajapaksa's visit to Jaffna. Northern Minister of Education Thambirasa Kurukularasa said that the specific amount was spent for refurbishing school buildings, reconstructing inner roads and for colour washing. Councillor Kandiah Sarveswaran, said a large amount of NPC money was spent to refurbish the schools when the President visited Jaffna. more..

Dec 16 (DM) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga today staked a bigger claim for the war victory by reiterating that 75% of the LTTE-held territory was cleared during her tenure. She told a news conference that at the time she took over the presidency in 1994, the entire northern region -- barring five or six military bases at Mannar, Talaimannar, Kankesanturai, Point Pedro, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya in the central part of the North more..

Dec 17 (CT) �.of the never-ending, refrain that we �should be eternally grateful to Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family for putting an end to the Tamil Tigers and bringing Sri Lanka out of (enter your figures) years of terror.� Let�s get this straight, in no way can Mahinda Rajapaksa or his acolytes make ANY claim to single-handedly destroying the LTTE, and its vicious war machine. What I am about to say is no way hindsight because I went on record in Montage Magazine (in 2007, long before the final more..