Iran Tests Nuke Plant [CNN Video]

SUDAR OLI EDITOR ABDUCTED

N. Vidyadaran, Editor of the Sudar Oli newspaper was abducted today by a group a little while ago, said E. Saravanabhavan, Managing Director of the newspaper. He said that a complaint had been lodged with the Mount Lavinia police.

Mount Lavinia police said that a complaint had been received that a person had been abducted while he was at a funeral parlour in Mount Lavinia.

Source : www.newsfirst.lk

Prabha's Pool??

A swimming pool which is believed to have been used by the high profile LTTE leaders has been located by the troops towards LTTE's only remaining stronghold, Puthukkudiyiruppu. The swimming pool is 50 feet long and 30 feet width. Its deep end is over 7 feet and a diving board was also available, sources said. By using nets and canopies it had been well concealed to prevent from aerial observation, defence sources further said. Cabana type cottages existing in the surrounding area indicates that high profile LTTE leaders frequented this location.

Pics By : Defence Ministry : www.defence.lk

Source : www.dailymirror.lk

Iran's Nuclear Program : [CNN Video]

CNN Video

Microsoft Drops Payback Demand on Ex-workers

Microsoft Corp has dropped an attempt to recoup some severance money from 25 recently fired workers it mistakenly overpaid.

The Redmond, Washington-based company, which announced a plan to cut up to 5,000 jobs in January, acknowledged on Sunday that it had tried to get the overpaid workers to return the extra money. But late on Monday, it reversed course.

"This was a mistake on our part," said a Microsoft spokesman in an e-mailed statement. "We should have handled this situation in a more thoughtful manner."

Source & Read

Sri Lanka Tiger Chief Unlikely to Surrender: Defence Chief

The elusive leader of Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels is not expected to surrender despite losing his de facto state and may instead try to flee by boat, the country’s top defence official said Tuesday, reports AFP. Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, 54, could use a human smuggling ring to escape by boat, Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse told AFP in an interview at his tightly guarded sea-front office. He accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of holding an estimated 70,000 civilians as a human shield for Prabhakaran and senior aides who, he said, were widely expected by the military to try to escape. “They can try to escape by boat although we have a big naval blockade,” Rajapakse said. “It is a difficult task, but there is a possibility they will be able to do it.”
Read More on : www.adaderana.lk

Conflict limiting access to health care- WHO

The ongoing conflict in northern Sri Lanka between the Government and a rebel group is limiting access to health care, putting the lives of tens of thousands of people at risk, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned today.

The agency called for a rapid assessment of health needs, improved preventive and curative care and enhanced coordination among all health partners. It said that the health sector is understaffed, resulting in reduced health care for many people, while the clashes and population displacement are impacting patient referrals. It is also feared that high immunization rates will not be maintained and that expectant mothers are not able to access the services they need.

Read More on : www.dailymirror.lk

US Senate Panel Discusses Sri Lanka

A U.S. Senate committee Tuesday focused its attention on the situation in Sri Lanka, where the military is engaged in an intense battle with Tamil Tigers as the two sides struggle for control of what is believed to be the last of the rebel strongholds. Witnesses at the Senate hearing decried the actions of both sides in one of Asia's longest running wars.

Anna Neistat, senior researcher for Human Rights Watch, told a Senate Foreign Relations committee hearing that human rights violations are being committed by both sides in Sri Lanka's 25-year-old conflict. Read More on : www.dailymirror.lk

'Slumdog Millionaire' wins best picture

"Slumdog Millionaire," the little film about a poverty-raised teaboy who goes on a game show as a way to find his lost love, won best picture moments ago, earning a total of eight Oscars at the 81st annual Academy Awards.

As the stage filled with the film's huge cast, producer Christian Colson talked about "Slumdog's" "extraordinary journey."

"Most of all we had passion and we had belief, and our film shows if you have those two things, you have everything," said Colson.

"Millionaire's" other honors included best director (Danny Boyle), best adapted screenplay (Simon Beaufoy), score (A.R. Rahman), song ("Jai Ho," co-written by Rahman), cinematography (Anthony Dod Mantle), sound mixing and film editing.

Source & More on : www.dailymirror.lk

A rich night for best picture 'Slumdog Millionaire'

"Slumdog Millionaire," the little film that overcame tremendous odds simply to earn an American release, won eight Oscars Sunday night at the 81st annual Academy Awards, including best picture.

"Most of all we had passion and we had belief, and our film shows if you have those two things, you have everything," said producer Christian Colson, surrounded by many members of the film's huge cast and crew.

More on : www.cnn.com

Govt. rejects ceasefire offer, calls LTTE to Surrender

The Government today rejected fresh LTTE calls for an immediate ceasefire, adding that the Tigers must surrender, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said today.

The government statement comes after LTTE said that they were ready to comply with international calls for a ceasefire but would not lay down their arms, to the UN and the Co-chairs.

Source : www.dailymirror.lk

INLAND REVENUE DATA INTACT: WORK BEGINS TOMORROW - MINISTER

Work at the Inland Revenue Department will be back to normal from tomorrow, says Minister of Revenue and Finance Ranjith Siyambalapititya. The building housing the department was damaged when an LTTE light aircraft crashed against it after being shot down by air defences in Colombo.

Source & More News on : www.newsfirst.lk

Karunanidhi offers to send aid to Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi offered to send doctors and paramedics to Sri Lanka to render assistance to over 10,000 people injured in the military conflict there.

The state was peaceful except for a clash inside the central prison in Coimbatore between rioting prisoners and authorities that injured three warders, police sources told IANS. Armed police pickets posted at all vulnerable points maintained a vigil across the state, they added..

Source & More News on : www.dailymirror.lk

25th Test Hundred for Mahela

Sri Lanka Captain Mahela Jayawardena scored his 25th Test hundred as Sri Lanka dominated day one of the first Test against Pakistan today. This is Mahela’s last series as captain. Source

Guantanamo 'complies with law'

A US military report on conditions at the US prison facility in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba says the prison complies with the requirements of the Geneva conventions, according to US media.

However, the Pentagon report says detainees should be allowed to speak to one another and be able to engage in group activities, the New York Times said on Friday.

Source : www.english.aljazeera.net

Economy Tops Clinton's China Agenda

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, has said Washington and Beijing must work together in dealing with the global financial crisis, climate change and North Korea.

She began wide-ranging talks with China's foreign minister on Saturday, emphasising the need to collaborate on global issues - ahead of long-standing concerns about China's human rights record.
Source : www.english.aljazeera.net

Viksund Asia donates speedboat for Coastguard

Viskund Asia Private Limited, a boat manufacturing company affiliated to the Board of Investment has donated a brand new speedboat to the Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka.

The donation was made to Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Managing Director of the company, Mr. Jostine Viksund, at the Ministry premises this morning (Feb 20). According to the Ministry officials, the speedboat model "Viksund 605" would be utilized for the coastguard duties. More : www.defence.lk

Cell Phones on Planes [CNN Video]

CNN Video

Sri Lankan Rebels Attack [CNN Video]

CNN Video

VOTING UNDERWAY IN RE-POLL

The re-poll at the Nayarkarchenai Tamil Vidyalaya in Puttalam for the North-western provincial council elections is underway. Kingley Fernando, Puttalam District Returning Officer said the voting which began at 7am would continue till 4pm.

“Puttalam District Secretary's Office has taken measures for the counting of votes,” Mr. Fernando said. 1,200 persons are eligible to cast their vote yet again, in today's poll. The Elections Commissioner annulled the poll at the centre as the Returning Officer of Puttalam reported an irregularity on the February 14 North-western provincial council poll. Source : www.newsfirst.lk

Both LTTE planes shot down

It has now been found that an LTTE aircraft had been shot down over the Inland Revenue Department building resulting in the explosion. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella confirmed that both LTTE aircraft have been shot down. Source :www.dailymirror.lk

TWO DEAD, 48 STILL IN COLOMBO, NEGOMBO HOSPITALS

Forty-eight persons injured in last night's attack by the LTTE are continuing to receive treatment in Colombo National Hospital and Negombo District Hospital. “Of the 50 injured brought in, two persons who were in critical conditions, succumbed to their injuries last night and 43 are receiving treatment in Colombo National Hospital, said Dr. Hector Weerasinghe, Director, National Hospital Colombo. More

Air Tigers were on '9/11' mission

Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels have claimed responsibility for the Friday night air raid over the capital Colombo that left at least two people dead and 50 injured. The two-light wing aircraft were on a suicide mission, a pro-rebel website said. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have claimed that two men from their elite Black Air Tiger suicide squad piloted the two light aircraft that carried out the attack on the headquarters of the Inland Revenue department in the heart of the capital, causing a huge explosion.

The Tigers have claimed that the targets were Sri Lankan Air Force facilities in the heart of the capital as well as the main airbase adjoining the country’s only international airport, located about 28 km north of here.
Source : www.dailymirror.lk

SRI LANKA 120/2 AT LUNCH

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat in the first of the Two-test series against Pakistan being played in Karachchi. Sri Lanka got off to a bad start losing Tharanga Paranavitana, making his debut, for no score and a little while ago lost Malinda Warnapura for 59. He was out for a ball off Umar Gul. Kumar Sangakkara is on 36.

At lunch, Sri Lanka was 120 for 2. Source : www.newsfirst.lk