newslanka.org

Mangala Samaraweera claimed that, “three thousand soldiers have died in combat during 2008 and further nine thousand had been wounded”.

Local fishermen found Wednesday morning a male body washed ashore between Chakkoaddai and Thikkam in Vadamaraadchi in a highly decomposed state. Point Pedro police visited the site and conducted inquiries, sources in Point Pedro said.

“The people of Jaffna peninsula should forget the tragic past and all people of the north and south should live as one people”, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka, said in a special satellite television broadcast Monday night for the people of Jaffna peninsula. Another message delivered by Rajapaksa to the people of Jaffna, [...]

Dec 31, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s annual inflation fell to an 18-month low of 14.4 percent in December from a record high of 28.2 in June, data released by the Department of Census and Statistics today showed.

Dec 31, Colombo: Newly elected Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) is expected to arrive in the country on 2nd of January 2009 for a two day official visit, Sri Lanka Foreign Affairs Ministry announced today.

Dec 31, Colombo: Sri Lanka Central Bank today said that there is no risk at Seylan Bank, the financial institute mired in the recent crisis at the Golden Key Credit Card Company.

Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka captain, said his team were fortunate to have the cushion of a 500-plus lead against Bangladesh. Set 521 in Mirpur, the hosts did give Sri Lanka a few anxious moments, but were eventually dismissed for 413.

Dec 31, Negombo: An unidentified gunman fatally shot the chief priest of the Kali Kovil in Negombo last night.

(Lanka-e-News, December 31, 2008, 6.25 PM) The acceptance of nominations for the Central Provincial Council election closed at noon today at Kandy, Mathale, Nuwaraeliya District Secretariats whilst the nomination acceptance…

(Lanka-e-News, December 31, 2008, 6.55 PM) “The Hindu” newspaper reported that a 30 year old Sri Lankan Tamil who attempted to smuggle a stock of communication equipment to…

(Lanka-e-News, December 31, 2008, 6.55 PM) The investigation regarding the 270 billion fraud of the Golden Key Credit Limited has been given to Criminal Investigation Department (CID)…

Dec 31, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has decided to hold the upcoming North Western and Central provincial council election on February 14th 2009.

India - Lanka - Mukherjee Expressing disappointment over the slow implementation of devolution package in Sri Lanka, India has asked Colombo to expedite the process as it voiced concern over the humanitarian situation in the island due to the war between the army and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Public would be able to buy petrol at hundred and twenty rupees a litre while three wheeler owners could buy petrol at hundred rupees a litre.

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked a civilian settlement near Murugananda school in Murasumoaddai on Paranthan - Mullaiththeevu Road killing two females of a family and a male on the spot. Another man, who was seriously wounded, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. 16 civilians, including a couple, were wounded. The attack has [...]

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked a civilian settlement near Murugananda school in Murasumoaddai on Paranthan - Mullaiththeevu Road killing two females of a family and a male on the spot. Another man, who was seriously wounded, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. 14 civilians, including a couple, were wounded. The attack has [...]

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked a civilian settlement near Murugananda school in Murasumoaddai on Paranthan - Mullaiththeevu Road killing two females of a family and a male on the spot. Another man, who was seriously wounded, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. 14 civilians, including a couple, were wounded. The attack has [...]

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked a civilian settlement near Murugananda school on Paranthan - Mullaiththeevu Road killing a woman and causing injuries to at least 12 civilians, including a couple, Wednesday around 8:00 a.m., according to medical authorities at Tharmapuram hospital in Vanni. Meanwhile, Medical Superintendent of Vanni’s main hospital at Tharmapuram, [...]

The Army, yesterday evening, entered one of the most central intersections of the A-9 and the strategically important township of Paranthan after weeks of heavy fighting and stiff resistance from the LTTE, Army Headquarters said.

The Government will reduce bus fares by 4.3 per cent with effect January 6, National Transport Commission Chairman Prof.Amal Kumarage said.

The Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed is scheduled to make a state visit to Sri Lanka from January 2 to 4.

Sri Lanka win the first Test match in Mirpur by 107 runs after bowling out a resilient Bangladesh for 413.

DHAKA (Reuters) - Dammika Prasad struck two decisive blows before Muttiah Muralitharan completed a 10-wicket haul to kill off Bangladesh’s hopes of an unlikely record run chase as Sri Lanka won the first test by 107 runs on Wednesday.

A Muslim trader was abducted in Colombo Sunday by unidentified armed
persons while he was waiting near a mosque in Maradana. He has been identified as M.A.Abdul Majeed 59, a resident of Oaddamaavadi in Vaazhaichcheanai police division in Batticaloa district.

Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) — Sri Lanka’s inflation rate fell to the lowest in 18 months in December as food and transport prices eased, giving the central bank room to cut borrowing costs.

(Lanka-e-News, Dec.31, 2008, 3.20PM)Today, diplomacy is our fist line of defence in the world arena as we are faced with numerous challenges to our national…

Sri Lanka win the first Test in Mirpur by 107 runs after bowling out a resilient Bangladesh for 413.

DHAKA (Reuters) - Dammika Prasad struck two decisive blows before Muttiah Muralitharan completed a 10-wicket haul to kill off Bangladesh’s hopes of an unlikely record run chase as Sri Lanka won the first test by 107 runs on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka announced Wednesday a 16 billion rupee (141-million dollar) stimulus package that included reducing fuel prices to shield the economy from the global slowdown.

Bangladesh gave Sri Lanka a scare but a late collapse denied them a shot at the most unlikely of Test victories in Dhaka.

Bangladesh made a fight of it but Sri Lanka ultimately won the first test on Wednesday, denying a spirited effort by the hosts.

Bangladesh made a fight of it but Sri Lanka ultimately won the first test on Wednesday, denying a spirited effort by the hosts.

Sri Lanka in Pakistan 2009

(Lanka-e-News, Dec.31, 2008, 11.55 AM) TULF Leader Mr. V. Anandasangaree had send a letter to the President Rajapaksha on last 26th December. The full text of letter as follows:…

(Lanka-e-News, December 31, 2008, 12.05 PM) An Indian weekly ‘The Organizer’ has revealed possible links between Lashkar e Taliba (LeT) terrorist group and the LTTE.“There are now FBI confirmations of visits by LTTE top brass to Kabul. The LTTE, which is fighting a losing battle with the Sri Lankan…

Bangladesh fell 107 short of pulling off the most miraculous of chases as Sri Lanka clawed back after lunch to seal a victory which they had taken for granted after declaring in the second innings.

Sri Lanka won first test against Bangladesh by 107 runs on the fifth and final day Wednesday.

Sri Lanka wins 1st Test against Bangladesh, SL 293 &405/6d, Ban 178 & 413; Murali takes 10 wickets in game, Prasad 4-JNW

Dec 31, Colombo: Sri Lanka government in an economic stimulus package has given several concessions to the industrial sector to ensure that there would not be any loss of employment.

Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful hit an impressive 101 and Shakib Al Hasan a career-best 82 not out to frustrate Sri Lanka on the fifth and final day of the opening Test here on Wednesday.

Dec 31, Colombo: Main political parties in Sri Lanka are getting ready this morning to submit the remaining nomination papers for the upcoming provincial council election as the acceptance of nominations is to be concluded at noon today

COLOMBO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka’s government has agreed to a 16 billion rupee ($141 million) stimulus package to cushion the economy from the reverberations of the global economic crisis, officials said on Wednesday.

Sri Lankan forces overran the Tamil Tigers’ northernmost defense line Tuesday, forcing the rebels to retreat from one of their strongest fortifications, the military said.

Sri Lankan forces overran another village Monday and moved closer to seizing a strategic base from the Tamil Tigers, but concerns are mounting for the hundreds of thousands of civilians living in the rebels’ shrinking territory.

Government troops captured a strategic Tamil Tiger-held town Monday and moved closer to a key rebel base, as Sri Lankans raised flags and held a moment of silence to honor the military as it battles to end the country’s 25-year-old civil war.

Battle tanks rumbled north, attack helicopters flew overheard and artillery fire roared through the jungles as Sri Lankan forces pushed ahead Sunday with an offensive aimed at capturing the Tamil Tigers’ last strongholds and crushing the rebel group.

Sri Lankan forces launched air strikes and ground assaults on ethnic Tamil rebels in the north Saturday, a day after dealing the separatists’ struggle for autonomy a devastating blow by capturing their de facto capital, the military said.

Sri Lankan air force jets and helicopters bombed a series of rebel targets in the north and northeast, the military said Saturday, as soldiers pressed deeper into Tamil Tiger territory a day after capturing the rebels’ de facto capital.

Sri Lanka’s military says that air force jets and helicopters have bombed a series of rebel targets in the north and northeast as soldiers press deeper into Tamil Tiger territory a day after capturing the rebels’ de facto capital.

Sri Lankan forces captured the Tamil Tigers’ de facto capital Friday, winning a major victory in a decades-long battle to destroy the ethnic separatists and crush their dream of establishing an independent state.

Government forces captured the Tamil Tigers’ de facto capital in northern Sri Lanka on Friday, dealing a devastating blow to the rebels’ quarter-century fight for an independent state, the president said.

Sri Lankan soldiers fought their way into the Tamil Tiger rebel capital Friday for the first time in a decade and top officials said the town was likely to fall within hours.

Sri Lankan soldiers fought their way into the Tamil Tiger rebel capital Friday for the first time in a decade, military officials said, following months of fierce battles on the outskirts that left scores dead.

Sri Lanka’s military officials say that their soldiers have entered the Tamil Tiger rebels’ de facto capital in the north for the first time in a decade.

Sri Lankan forces captured a key crossroads from Tamil Tiger rebels in the north Thursday and will seize the guerrillas’ de facto capital within two days, the military said.

Sri Lanka’s military seized a key crossroads in the north from the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels Thursday after fierce clashes that killed at least 29 fighters, an official said.

Sri Lanka’s military says that its soldiers have seized a key crossroads in the north from the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels after fierce clashes that killed at least 29 fighters.

Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger separatists are open to restarting peace talks with the government, despite the continuing military offensive aimed at crushing the group, a senior rebel official said.

Dec 31 Ratnapura: Health officials are to initiate special safety measures to prevent an epidemic of Chikungunya that was reported from Embilipitiya area in Ratnapura District.

At least 12 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed by government forces closing in on a key rebel-held town in northern Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said Wednesday.