Prsident Rajapaksha Made A Surprise Visit To Kilinochchi

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksha today made a surprise visit to once the "De Facto Capital "of the LTTE, Kilinochchi Town situated in the Northern Sri Lanka.He visited the House formely belongs to LTTE Leader Valupillai Prabhakaran,The Court House of the LTTE and the Peace Secretariat situated in the town and encouaraged the troops gathered to greet him.

He also witnessed the captured Missiles ,Bombs and War Tanks used by the LTTE.

As the Chief Commander of the Security Forces this is the first occasion that a Sri Lankan President visited the North since the war between Government Forces and the LTTE broke out Twenty Five years ago.Armed Forces captured Kilinochchi on 02nd of January this year.

Sri Lankans All Over The World Celebrated Traditional New Year

Sri Lankans belongs to the Sinhalese and Tamil Communities throughout the Globe were celebrated their Traditional Annual New Year or"Awurudu" Festival yesterday by consuming Especially prepared Meals including Milk Rice at a Auspicious Time of 5.55 A.M under Banner "United Sri Lanka" for the first time in more than two decades.

Wearing Cloths of one Colour Sinhalese and Tamil Communities of North to South of Sri Lanka consuming Especially prepared Milk Rice along with traditional Sweet Meets like "Oil Cakes" or"Kawum made with Rice Flour and Treacle ,"Kokis"made with Flour and Tamarind Powder,Milk Tofffes at one time in only such Occasion in the world.

The Civilians in the Camps of the liberated areas in the North like Kilinochchi and Pallali which wer under LTTE control recently celebrated this years New Year with Armed Forces as they supplied Sweet Meets for the Civilians.Sri Lankans prepared for this Annual Festival based on Astrological Planets since the beginning of April.

Although most of the Middle Class Families in Sri Lanka are facing Economic Hardships due to the impact of Global Economic Crisis they were performed traditions linked to the Festival atleast in small way.The New Year ends To Day with Oil applying Ceremony of to day.

The Restricted Military Operations in the North against LTTE resumed today.President Mahinda Rajapaksha ordered to restrict the Military Operations on 13th and 14th to enable the Civilians and the Forces to celebrate the Traditional New Year Festival.

Army Launched The Largest Humanatarian Hostage Rescue Operation Of The World In No War Zone

Sri Lankan Army who are launched the Largest Humanatarian Hostage Rescue Operation of the World in the No War Zone of Northern Sri Lanka are now heading further to Rescue the trapped Civilians there under LTTE Control.Over One Thousand Trapped Civilians return to the side of the Forces this morning from Pudumathalan Area where the No War Zone located after Army requested them to do so through the Loud Speekers.

Five LTTE Rebels who tried to attack forces were killed during the operation this morning Army Sources said.Troops have identified the Best Safe accesible routes for Civilans to escape from No War Zone and already established the Rescue Points on these routes according to the sources.
Defense Ministry said some of these Rescue Points are located just 150 meters short of the Earth Bund Built by the LTTE on No War Zone Border to prevent Civilians by escaping from there."Troops continuousley informed the Civilians about the Safe Routes to escape to the cleared areas and open more such Routes for the Civilians by removing the Terrorist Blockades" Defense Ministry stressed.

Meanwhile Defence Officials said this is the World's First Such Humanatarian Hostage Rescue Operation launched by a Security Force against a Guerilla Organization.Rescuing the trapped Civilians and Liberating the area from the LTTE is the aim of this Operation.
According to the Security Sources 58th Division of the Army now moving ahead within the No War Zone in the Puthukkuduyirippu Area where the remaining LTTE Cadres including their leaders are occupying. It has been reported around 300,000 Civilians trapped inside the 20 Square Meter No War Zone due to the LTTE using them as Human Shields.
Army already opened Few Gates around the No War Zone,Fixed Loud Speekers on these Gates and requesting trapped Civilians to escape from there.
Sri Lankan Forces captured the entire Puthukkuduyirippu Area the final Strong Hold of the LTTE on last sunday restricting the Rebels to the No War Zone.

An ICRC Member was Killed Due TO LTTE Shell Attack

A Staff Member attached to the International committee Of The Red Cross(ICRC) was killed today by hitting a Shell in the LTTE held area of Ampalavanpokanai in Northern Sri Lanka while he was trying to fetch Water for his family.

He was the Second ICRC Member to be killed due to LTTE Attacks in recent months and another ICRC Water Technician involved in Medical Evacuation was killed recently in the Coastal Area North of Valayanmadam Area.
Meanwhile the Head of the delegation of ICRC in Colomco Mr.Paul Castella Issued a Statement and said that they are deeply saddened by the death of their Colleague.

Government To Control Dhal And White Sugar Prices

Government today issued a Special Gazette Notification by Declaring the Maximum Retail Prices of Dhal and White Sugar .According to this Notification the Maximum Price of the One Kilo of Dhal is Rs 175 and a Kilo of White Sugar will be Rs.75.

Thia action is taken to prevent errant traders from increasing the Prices of these Consumer Goods on their own Interests.

Loud Explosions Heard From No War Zone After The Army Announcement

According to the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry some loud explosions were heard this evening from the No War Zone in the Northern Sri Lanka after Army made the final announcement through Loud Speakers for the LTTE leader Valupillai Prabhakaran to surrender and let the Civilians free .

Defense Officials believed that it may be some sort of attack launched by the LTTE against the Civilians who are tried to escape from the territory.

LTTE Rebels held large number of civilians under their control within the No War Zone and it is the only remaining area in the North Ground Forces need to liberate now.Forces captured entire Puthukkuduyirippu Area the final rebel stronghold last Sunday restricting Rebels to the No War Zone.

Health Ministry To Take Legal Action Against Misleading Food Labels And Ads

Ministry Of Health decides to take legal action against the Food Importers and Manufacturers here who are misleading the consumers through the labels of their products and from Advertisements Deputy Director General Of Health Services(Public Health) Dr.Palitha Mahipala said today.

"Ministry will first request them to correct their faults and if they are not willing to doing so legal action will be taken against them "Dr.Mahipala stressed while delivering the key note Address of a Media Seminar on "Food Labeling and Advertising " held in Colombo this morning.According to him there are lot of irregularities in Milk Powder Industry especially the way they are Advertising their Products and the Ministry has already appointed a Twelve Member Sub Committee to examine these Irregularities and report them to the Food Control Unit.
Some Milk Powder Companies Advertising their product by saying their Milk Powder help to developing the Human Body including the Brain and it will help avoid from Diseases which is banned under the Food Act..But they can't prove it he said.Even some Companies are not supportive and not willing to change their Advertising Pattern which is clearly misleading the consumers Dr.Mahipala further Added.
Sri Lankan consumers are stll mostly depend on the Milk Powder rather then the Liquid Cow's Milk which is restricted to Rural Areas .Government already begun a Program me to popularize the Liquid Cow's Milk but still it's in an initial stages.