Sri Lankan Court Sentenced Tamil Editor For 20 Years Imprisonment

High Court In Colombo today sentenced the Editor of the North Eastern Tamil Monthly Magazine Mr.J.S Tissanayagam who was under custody since last year 20 years of Hard Labor Imprisonment under the Prevention Of Terrorism Act.

He was found guilty of three Charges leveled against him under the Act and became the First Journalist in Sri Lanka to be convicted by a Court in Sri Lanka.Tissanayagam was arrested by the Police on March last year charging that he was having links with the LTTE Rebels who fought for a separate state in Sri Lanka for nearly two decades.He was writing articles to his Magazine at the time of his arrest.

Western Governments and Press Freedom Groups condemning his arrest.He was offered the Minimum Sentence under the Terrorism Prevention Act.

Southern Provincial Council Elections To Be Held In October

The Southern provincial Council Elections will be held in 10th of October this year the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dishanayaka announced yesterday.The Governing United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA) and Janatha Wimukthi Peramuna(JVP) already hand over their nomination lists for the Election.

Governing UPFA will contest for the All three Districts of the Southern Province Galle,Matara and Hambanthota while the Popular Cinama and Tele Drama Actress Anarkali Akarsha who is contesting in the Elections under Governing UPFA ticket getting much attraction among the Public.She too was present during the handingover of nominations yesterday. JVP will be contesting for the Matara and Hambanthota Districts.

Romesh Jayasinha To Take Over Foreign Secretary Post

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Mr.Romesh Jayasinha to be appointed as the new Foreign Ministry Secretary with effect from the 01st of October.He will succed the present Foreign Secretary Dr.Palith Kqaohona who is due to be appointed as the Sri Lankan Permanant Residence Representative to the United Nations.

Media Minister Denied British Channal 4 Charges

Sri Lankan Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa today dismissed the charges leveled against the Sri Lankan Army by the British T.V Channal 4 over a manslaughter by telecasting a Video Footage carrying an Army Officer killing an unarmed man in the Northern Peninsula .

Addressing the weekly Press Briefing Minister Yapa said this Video Footage is an attempt to tarnish the Sri Lankan Image and the Government will lodge a formal Protest to the British Government through Sri Lankan Diplomatic Channal on this regard.

British Channal 4 was telecasted this Video Footage stating that the incident was happened in January this year.

Electricity Board Canceled Leave Of The Employees

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) canceled All Leave of their Employees today with Immediate effect after some Trade Unions of the Board threatening to launch a Strike demanding a Pay hike.Electricity Board Management took this Decision citing fear of Some Trade Union Employees may sabotage the Power Supply during a Trade Union Action.

Government already canceled the Annual Salary Increment of the State and the Semi Government Employees this year due to the present Economic Crisis.

Five Hundred Seventy Nine Detained Clergy released from IDP Camps.

Government today freed Five Hundrad Seventy Nine Hindu and Catholic Priests who are held in the Internment Camps along with the 300,000 Internal displaced People(IDP'S).The clergy were allowed to leave the Camp and visit their Temples and Churches

A total number of 571 Hindu Priests,6 Catholic Priests and 2 Nuns freed today.They along with around 300,000 Inmates were detained under tight security to be screened to capture remaining LTTE Rebels.

Health Minister To Submit Cuban Epidemiologists Report For Cabinat Approval

The Report Submitted by the two visiting Cuban Epidemiologists on Eliminating the Dengue Menace from the Island and the Cost Report of Implementing the Recommendations of the report to be presented to Cabinet shortly for approval Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said today.

According to the above Report Air Spraying of BTI Bacteria towards the identified higher risk areas of spreading Dengue,Implementing Spot Fine System to deter the Mosquito Breeders , Building Houses without Gutters on the Roof and Managing of Disposing the Garbage are recommended to implement.

According to the Estimates US Dollars 1.44 will cost per One Household for using the BTI Bacteria for a Period of One Month.The Sum of 34.17 Million US Dollars needed for implementing spraying BTI Bacteria and other Actions recommended by the report for a three month period according to the Health Minister.