MEDIA-SRI LANKA

by: Kalinga Seneviratne

KOTHMALE, Jun 4 (IPS) - In this tea-growing hill country, about 150 km from Colombo, a state-run community radio station is creating harmony among the country's Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim ethnic groups by broadcasting from the villages and opening up the airwaves to people's participation.

Colombo, 03 September, (Asiantribune.com): The first ever United States Embassy supported American University Exhibition will take place this Friday and Saturday, September 5th and 6th, from 10am to 6pm at the Colombo Hilton. The American University Exhibition and Road Show is the largest, free and open-to-the-public opportunity for parents and students to learn about higher education in the U.S. directly from universities, U.S. Embassy staff and qualified education advisors from the Fulbright Commission.

American representatives from twenty-two universities and institutes of higher education across the U.S. are visiting Sri Lanka to attend the fair, meet with prospective students and share information about their institutions through individual meetings, handouts and presentations. Visitors will learn about university admissions, financial aid opportunities and student visa procedures, as well as, living and studying in America.

: Secretary Defence

The Humanitarian mission to free the Northern Province is proceeding according to the strategies devised by the military stated the Defence Secretary Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the media briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Hall  (28). The Defence Secretary stated that the key issue raised during the conference held with the diplomats was the Internally Displaced Persons. According to Government statistics around 31713 families are displaced in Kilinochchi alone.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will visit India and Sri Lanka from Sept. 7 to 10, at the invitation of the respective foreign affairs ministers of the two countries.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made the announcement on Tuesday at a regular press conference here. She said it was Yang's first visit to India and Sri Lanka since taking office in April 2007. During his stay in India, he will hold talks with Foreign Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and meet other Indian leaders.

A surge of civilian unrest against LTTE is imminent, informed sources at Wanni said citing separate incidents reported from the non-liberated Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu districts recently. The news comes in the midst of a probable fall of the LTTE dictatorship in the Northern and Wanni region following the continuation of humanitarian operations by the armed forces. The situation at Wanni has already reached its 'critical mass' and the LTTE leadership is shaken by the surge of anti-LTTE sentiments among the Tamil community. The news of the military victories against the LTTE in the battle fronts has been reaching the domestic households in Wanni and North despite desperate efforts by the LTTE to restrict flow of information in the region. The LTTE leadership has blamed the NGO and INGO activists in the area and also sent dire warnings to the GA's for not doing enough to convince the outer world through propaganda of 'hardships caused to civilians due the military operations'.

Battles in Nachchikuda Escalate; Seven Soldiers Go Missing

Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Ministry of Sri Lanka is making efforts to promote gems and jewellery of the country in South India, which is considered to be a profitable market. In order to make the plans productive, a meeting was recently held among the officials that was chaired by Mano Wijerathne, Enterprise Development Minister.

The authorities present in the conference, discussed about the primary preparations that are being made for holding an exhibition in Chennai. The aim behind organizing this expo is to display the wide range of products including jewellery made using various mediums and handicraft items like colourful batik fabrics.

by: Irangika Range

The Government has decided to construct seven new flyovers this year aiming to ease the huge traffic congestion in Colombo and suburbs. Seven flyovers in Nugegoda (261m), Kohuwala (219m), Dehiwala (335m), Junction of Rajagiriya and Welikada, (555m), Panadura (288m) Kelaniya South (300m) and Kelaniya (North) will be constructed at a cost of Sterling Pounds 33 million. The project is funded by the UK Government.

According to the Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operative and Consumer Minister Bandula Gunawardhana, construction work on the flyover in Nugegoda is due to commence this month. He said under the resurgence programme of Mahinda Chinthanaya this programme will be expedited.

Sept 01, 2008 (LBO) - Colombo port could reclaim land in shallow waters near the Sri Lankan capital city for industry and move containers by rail to avoid congestion as it expands the harbour, an expert says.Don Wootton, regional director, Scott Wilson, a firm of consultants advising the government on expanding its ports, said Colombo has an opportunity to emerge as a port city like other maritime centres.

Wootton has been living in the island since 2003 as the technical director responsible for all aspects relating to the design of the Colombo port expansion project, under which a deep-water port will be built next to the existing harbour. The 1.2 billion dollar new port is needed to ensure Colombo retains its position as south Asia's transshipment hub and handle the bigger new ships appearing on trade routes.

by: C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's military on Tuesday said it had captured a town that served as a "nerve centre" for separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, on a day that saw 48 killed and 57 wounded across the nation's northern frontline.