Sunday Island, Colombo

Three foreign banks with offices in Colombo were written to by the Central Bank last week calling for explanations on matters identified during the ongoing preliminary investigation into the oil hedging contracts between themselves and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, authoritative official sources said yesterday.…

by Bandula Sirimanna, Sunday Times, Colombo

The controversial oil hedging crisis has taken a new turn with reports of a possible multi-faceted complicity between foreign banks and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) officials where in one case there was an attempt to transfer all CPC accounts to the two foreign banks – now at the centre of a Central Bank probe, an investigation by The Sunday Times…

Sunday Times, Colombo

At least three International NGOs will be asked to cease their operations in the country for poor performance and failing to adhere to certain regulations, a senior government official disclosed yesterday.

The three organisations have been identified as two Norwegian-based INGOs – Norwegian People’s Aid and the FORUT -- and the Nertherlands-based ZOA.…

Sunday Times, Colombo

A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed throughout the Batticaloa district yesterday as thousands of security forces personnel began a massive hunt for suspected LTTE infiltrators or other groups allegedly responsible for a spate of killings that have rocked the area over the past few days.

The district’s police chief, Edison Gunatilleke, told The Sunday Times the…

by Sunil Jayasiri, Daily Mirror, Colombo

LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s address on the annual Heroes’ Day was viewed by the government not as a hero’s speech but as a mere plea to the international community in the face of the Tigers loosing control of areas hitherto held by them, the defence spokesman said yesterday.

“The LTTE leader has proved in his speech that he is a…

Daily Mirror, Colombo

Extends hand of friendship to international community

Tiger leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran yesterday said the LTTE wanted to stop the war and seek a peaceful resolution to the national question of the Tamil people.…

The Island, Colombo

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday condemned the terrorist attack on India’s financial capital Mumbai.

In a statement released by the Presidential Secretariat he said:

"My Government and I hasten to condemn most vehemently the brutal acts of terrorism that killed more than 100 persons and injured…

by Jamila Najmuddin, Daily Mirror, Colombo

Security tightened in Colombo

Reports circulated last afternoon that the military had entered the LTTE-held Kilinochchi town and captured the area.

However an official announcement to that effect was not yet made.

Heavy…

by Norman Palihawadena, The Island, Colombo

The fall of LTTE stronghold Kilinochchi was imminent according to latest reports. Troops of Task Force 1 and 2 of the Army’s 57 Division were closing in on the town despite stiff resistance from its defenders, sources…

Daily Mirror, Colombo

The UNP charged in Parliament yesterday that the Government makes a monthly profit of Rs.50 million by selling 40 million litres of petrol with the present taxes and levies.

During the oral question session, UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake said that this was real black marketing at a time when the world fuel prices had taken a tumble.Petroleum and Petroleum Resources…

by Susitha R. Fernando, Daily Mirror, Colombo

Laugfs Holdings Limited chairman yesterday filed a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an interim order to cancel hedging contracts between Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and international banks.

Laugfs chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya in his petition cited Petroleum Minister…

by Yohan Perera, Daily Mirror, Colombo

Confident Ranil says party being re-organised at grassroots level

The main opposition UNP is planning to intensify party propaganda by re-organizing it at grassroots level within the next 60 days to face a possible snap general election soon, a function organized by the party was told last evening.

The…

by Shamindra Ferdinando, The Island, Colombo

Amid a series of bloody battles on the western flank, Task Force III (TF III) yesterday afternoon regained Olumadu, situated about five kilometers north-east of Mankulam along the 49 kilometre Mankulam-Mullaitivu (A 34) main road.

Despite inclement whether, ground troops battled LTTE units, both…

by Kelum Bandara, Daily Mirror, Colombo

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Chairman Asantha de Mel came under fire from Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Mahinda Amaraweera and Husein Baila for the alleged hedging deal, at the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) meeting yesterday.

Hedging is the process of an investment to reduce the risk of adverse…

by Sandun A Jayasekera, Daily Mirror, Colombo

Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva is expected to present to cabinet today the demands made by the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) with regard to the work stoppage by its members in the North-East.

The main demands by the GMOA include a 10 million-rupee insurance policy with the premium fully paid-up by the…

by Jamila Najmuddin, Daily Mirror, Colombo

Delegation report to EU Parliament

Also urges Tigers to immediately stop forcible recruitment of NGO workers and children…

Daily Mirror, Colombo

The army has laid siege to Kilinochchi, the LTTE’s de facto administrative centre, while heavy clashes were continuing around its outskirts, the Defence Ministry said yesterday.

The military claimed that in the weekend fighting in the Wanni region at least 120 LTTE cadres and 27 soldiers were killed.

The Defence Ministry said the troops breached the LTTE earth bund around Kilinochchi at three…

by Saman Indrajith, The Island, Colombo

The crisis triggered by former JVP heavyweight Wimal Weerawansa has taken a new turn with the JVP demanding the immediate removal of the entire dissident group from Parliament.

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that he had requested UPFA…