By Ron Corben, Bangkok

In Sri Lanka, the health tourism sector is growing in popularity, especially with Western tourists, who look to treatments, such as the ancient Ayurveda methods of herbal medicines and massage, as a way to recover from their fast paced life back home.

At a Media Briefing to Foreign Journalists on Friday February 13, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe clarified that contrary to various reports, the policy of the Government of Sri Lanka is to resettle the IDPs from the North in the shortest possible time.  While the resettlement process in the North will face more challenges that the East due to de-mining and strengthening of administrative and infrastructure facilities, the first set of resettlements will take place within a few months so that people will be able to commence cultivation of their lands. 

To read the Press Briefing issued by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, click here

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has highlighted that Sri Lanka's armed forces have been taking maximum precautions to avoid civilian casualties in the on-going counter terrorist manoeuvre in the country's north.

COLOMBO: In a surprise move, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, disarming his critics in India, has decided to call a meeting of TNA, TULF , EPDP, CWC and other Tamil political parties of Sri Lanka on 'democracy' road map for the 'liberated areas'. The meeting will take place in about a week and may coincide with the army virtually liquidating the Tigers in their very Wanni stronghold.