B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: For the first time since a section of the Tamil groups in Sri Lanka took to arms 30 years ago to fight for their rights, representatives of all political parties came together here on Thursday at the inaugural meeting of the newly constituted All-Parties Committee (APC) for Development and Reconciliation chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

A historic meeting of all political parties represented in Parliament, and others too, to discuss the development and reconciliation needs of Sri Lanka, following the defeat of terrorism, took place in Colombo today.

Colombo, July 3 (DPA) The British government has relaxed travel restrictions on its citizens visiting Sri Lanka nearly five weeks after Tamil separatist rebels were defeated to end a more then 30-year war in the South Asian country, the British high commission in Colombo said Friday.

The government of Sri Lanka expressed gratitude to Maldives government for the support extended by the Maldives at the UN Human Rights Council Special session on Sri Lanka held on 6 – 27 May 2009.

Ananth Krishnan

BEIJING: Mindful of New Delhi’s concerns about Beijing’s increasingly close strategic relationship with Colombo, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on Thursday stressed that Sri Lanka’s growing ties with China had no bearing on the country’s “unique” relationship with India. He described Sri Lanka’s relationship with the two countries as “two tracks on a railway-line running independently”.

Milinda Moragoda took oaths as the Minister of Justice and Law Reforms in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at President’s Office, today, July 2.  

President Rajapaksa appointed Mr. Milinda Moragoda, the former Minister of tourism to fill the post left vacant by the death of late Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda.

Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, MP, Senior Advisor to H.E. the President of Sri Lanka, is presently in Indonesia on a good will visit on the personal invitation extended by H.E. Dr. Hassan Wirajuda, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. He was accompanied by Mr. Dhammika Perera, Chairman, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka.

By Dayan Jayatilleka 

There is nothing that our enemy, the Tiger international network and the pro-Tiger, pro-Tamil Eelam Tamil Diaspora would like better, than to see a gap open up in the partnership between Sri Lanka and India; a gap that they will seek to manipulate in consonance with their Western patrons and friends. The non-implementation of the 13th amendment will open up such a gap. The implementation of the 13th amendment is not a give away or dilution of our military gains. It is the necessary political accompaniment of them and the guarantee of the consolidation of our military victory. It is in our national interests and a guarantee of our national security.

Communiqué  Of The Coordinating Bureau Of The Non-Aligned Movement On The Situation As A Result Of The Coup D’état Against The Constitutional President Of The Republic Of Honduras

The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), expresses its strongest condemnation of the Coup d’état carried out in the early hours of yesterday morning, Sunday 28 June, against the Constitutional President of the Republic of Honduras, a sister nation that is a full member of the Non-Aligned Movement.

LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran overestimated the ability of European nations and the Tamil Diaspora to enforce a ceasefire as they had done in the past. This time, Sri Lanka was not going to listen to anyone.  

War Game | Nitin Gokhale

When television channels across the globe began beaming visuals of Velupillai Prabhakaran’s body on 19 May, there was shock first and then, disbelief.

Dressed in battle fatigues, his dog tag and his favourite revolver still on him, Prabhakaran’s skull was partially blown off, his eyes wide open even in death. Was he surprised? Shocked? Or simply frozen in fear when death came?

He told the state Assembly on Wednesday that it would be unrealistic to talk of a separate country for Sri Lankan Tamils anymore and that it would be best to press for a fair deal for them within Sri Lanka.

Published by editor Sri Lanka

Colombo, 02 July, (Asiantribune.com): Ladies and gentlemen,We are at a critical juncture in our history. We have the unique opportunity to bring our people together and make this blessed island a better place for all. As the Bard said, time and tide waits for no man. We must grab this chance and ride the tide as it rushes in, said Dr. Palitha Kohona.

Charumini DE SILVA  

With the dawn of peace the Czech Republic has indicated its willingness to invest in Sri Lanka and a twelve-member delegation from the Czech Republic is now in Sri Lanka.  

The delegation is mainly looking at assisting the Sri Lankan Government in infrastructure development.

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has granted China an exclusive economic zone in its first post-war effort to attract more investment from the world's largest developing economy, the country's investment promotion agency said on Wednesday.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today pledged to protect and safeguard the nation freed by gallant troops and stressed that he would not allow anyone to disturb the freed country again."I will uphold and execute all what is contained in the 'Mahinda Chintana' with sacrifice', the President asserted.

The President made these observations addressing the newly appointed SLFP Organisers and District Organisers at Temple Trees this afternoon. 

by Kath Noble 

We are constantly told that restrictions on access to IDP camps prove that awful things are happening. If the situation were under control, this hypothesis goes, the Government would allow people to go and see for themselves. So when journalists write unverified stories about disappearances, rapes, starvation, epidemics and more, often encouraged by equally imaginative NGO reports, they are believed. Few of us trust the Government enough to take its word for the wellbeing of the long suffering people of the Vanni.

By  Nizla Naizer

Japan’s Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi last night called on all Sri Lankans to draw strength from its greatness to overcome challenges in the highly favourable post-war era.

“I am not aware of any other developing country that has faced such a dire challenge and emerged with significant results,” Akashi said commenting on the Government’s response to the humanitarian crisis in the North at a premier business forum yesterday

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau's (SLTPB) Middle East office has announced official support for the forthcoming Lanka Challenge, a ten-day charity adventure rickshaw race taking place in Sri Lanka during September.  

Lanka Challenge 09 will see adventurous travellers from around the world navigate through the beautiful terrains of Sri Lanka from 5th to 15th September 2009, in an auto rickshaw.

COLOMBO, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Some 9,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) camped in northern Sri Lanka who are 60 years old or above will be allowed to leave the camps and join their relatives, the police said Tuesday.

All members of the security forces, past and present, and all citizens of this country no doubt are happy and celebrating the defeat of the LTTE, the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world, that had been a scourge not only to our country but the world for the past three decades.