"The year 2009 will be the year when our motherland would be finally liberated from the LTTE," President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The President was speaking on victories achieved this year and goals for the new year to a gathering of religious dignitaries, intellectuals, professionals, politicians, artistes and others at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo yesterday (Dec. 22nd).

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Wednesday sought to assure India that the relief and rehabilitation measures for the Tamils displaced in the ongoing heavy fighting in the country's embattled north were in full swing.

Tuesday, 23 December 2008  

The "Gaalu Samaya" carnival will be held in Galle under the patronage of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa from today until December 26.

Soldiers belonging to the 58 – 2 brigade of the Sri Lankan armed forces have succeeded in battering through Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the area of strategic Kunchuparanthan that is also known as Sinnaparanthan.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday completed its largest delivery of food to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Wanni region of northern Sri Lanka since humanitarian convoys began delivering food in October.

(Colombo-Lankapuvath) Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya Prof. Sarath Amunugama said that one of the main objectives of a University is to focus on development and improve the knowledge of every citizen.

COLOMBO, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's government troops who are on the forward march in the island's north have captured a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) airstrip, defense officials said Wednesday.

Colombo, Dec 21: Lauding the Sri Lankan military as a "shining example" of courage, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that it had come a long way from confronting the LTTE suicide bombers to capturing key rebel-held areas even as he cautioned against "unscrupulous" elements trying to destroy the nation in the "garb" of rights activists.

Troops of the Task Force -1 now engaged in counter terrorist offensives West of Paranthan, consolidated 300m further southwards along the LTTE built earth bund cum ditch, reportedly capturing a terror strongpoint, 'Sinna-Paranthan' this morning (Dec 23).

(Colombo Lankapuvath, December 23) Minister of Housing Geethanjana Gunawardena said that special attention of the government is focused on the conservation of the Aborigines and Rs. 50 million has been allocated with this in mind.

Exports from Sri Lanka had increased by six per cent up to last October while all imports had come down by 10 per cent, which in turn, had resulted in an increase of income for the people and a corresponding decrease in expenditure, Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G.L. Peiris citing Central Bank reports.

By Janaka Perera  

What should be the primary objective of an agreement between the radio broadcasting services of two countries on the matter of news and other programs? Undoubtedly it is to introduce the culture, language, religion, politics and other relevant subjects of one country to the listeners of the other. In fact this was the basis on which the BBC Sinhala Service, Sandeshaya, was launched in the post-World War II years.

The newly appointed Attorney General, Mohan Peiris, today (Dec. 22nd) has reportedly informed the IGP to release suspects detained under the Prevention of Terrorist Act and Emergency Regulations, if there is no adequate evidence to file charges against them.

A large number of people yesterday paraded in Jaffna against the LTTE and its Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran demanding him to stop committing atrocities against Tamil people and surrender to the Army by laying down arms, the Army Headquarters said.

The Ministry of Rural Industries and Self Employment Promotion has taken steps to set up ‘Production Villages’ island-wide, the Minister of Rural Industries and Self Employment Promotion S. B. Navinna said.

by Janaka Alahapperuma-London 

2008-12-19: "The British Government recognises the Government of Sri Lanka’s democratic right to fight terrorism," Minister of State - Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Bill Rammell, said at the adjournment debate on ‘Sri Lanka’, initiated by Andrew Pelling MP (Ind) for Croydon Central on December 18 at the House Of Commons, British Parliament, London.

60 more civilians including 24 males and 36 females from the non-liberated areas of Mullaittivu District have arrived at Tanduwan general area, 4km Northwest of Nedunkerni today (Dec 22) morning.

by John Thompson

President, The Mackenzie Institute 

No zoo veterinarian really likes to give an enema to a tiger. But if the supporters of the Tamil Tigers in Canada are looking a bit off colour right now it’s because they just got one that they really didn’t need.

Families fleeing meeting halls; sudden changes to venues; black-outs, audio-equipment that didn’t work; and large strangers sauntering around on stages at solemn moments… A big event turned into a humiliation, and the Tigers don’t look so impressive anymore.

To unleash the Northern Economy by a joint initiative of the private and public sector was launched in Jaffna. “The Future Minds Industrial Exhibition" which will have over 200 stalls by the private sector will be staged from the 27th – 29th December at The Jaffna Central College and Vembaddi Girls Schools Jaffna. Major General Chandrsiri the Security Force Commander of Jaffna said that the objective of the Exhibition was to develop partnerships between the North and South of Sri Lanka, not only from an Economic development perspective, but from a culture and unity aspect so that the People of Jaffna will begin to enjoy the same facilities that the south of the country enjoy.