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Ranil stops 'improper' wheat deal Gulf-News, 25 January 2002. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week stopped what he called was an "improper" act by the brother of his close confidante to make a quick buck in a government-to-government transaction.The deal had been struck by Economic Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda much to the displeasure of some of his ministerial (non-cabinet) colleagues who felt he was trespassing on their turf. More... Published: Thu Jan 24 19:22:57 EST 2002

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Chandrika's coalition rocked by dissent Gulf-News, 25 January 2002. President Chandrika Kumaratunga's People's Alliance (PA) coalition was rocked by internal disputes over how to deal with the new government culminating with her one-time prime minister and current parliamentary opposition leader sending his resignation on Wednesday...

Enter Talks Before Lifting LTTE’s Ban- PA Saroj Pathirana in London, Thursday 24/01/02 1650 GMT. Sri Lankan government should ask the Tamil Tigers to enter into talks before lifting the ban, a senior leader of the main opposition said...

Government wants to sign mou with LTTE before February 24th Waruna Karunatilake in Colombo, 1224 slt 24.01.02. The Government says it wants to sign a memorandum of understanding(MOU) with the LTTE before February 24th...

Lanka to introduce press reforms Gulf-News, 25 January 2002. The government plans to abolish laws of criminal defamation, set up an independent Press Complaints Commission (PCC), and introduce a Freedom of Information Act, as part of a series of sweeping reforms to usher in media freedom...

Tamil Tiger rebels applaud Sri Lankan govt move MSNBC, Thursday, 24th Jan. Tamil Tigers at the centre of an ethnic war in Sri Lanka said on Thursday government comments that it was considering lifting a ban on the rebels were encouraging and would help lead the way towards peace talks...

Sri Lanka formal truce hope BBC South Asia, Thursday, 24 January, 2002, 17:53 GMT . A Sri Lankan minister has said a formal ceasefire between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels could be in place within a month...

Separate investigations into Police-Army clash in Kandy town. Waruna Karunatilake in Colombo, 1234 slt 24.01.02. Police and the Army have launched separate investigations into the clash between the two sides yesterday in Kandy town in which 6 people were injured...

Sri Lanka to seek lower sulphur gas oil from February Planet Ark, 24 January 2002. Sri Lanka state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corp (CPC) will tender later yesterday to buy gas oil supplies for mid-February delivery, a company source said...

People's Alliance continue its boycott of parliament Waruna Karunatilake in Colombo, 1232 slt 24.01.02. The main opposition People's Alliance continued its boycott of parliament for the second day in protest against post election violence...

Coast Guard's new hovercraft calls at Kochi The Hindu (Southern States), 25-01-2002 . To add force to its patrol power in the changed circumstances, the Coast Guard has acquired six hovercraft...

Sri Lanka private sector pushes open skies with India Yahoo/Ians - Christine Jayasinghe, 25 January 2002. A leading private sector organisation in Sri Lanka has urged an open skies policy between India and Sri Lanka to permit private Indian commercial airlines keen to operate flights here...

Ranil’s LTTE plan opens up debate Times of India, January 24 59:22 AM. Sri Lankans may be united in their desire for peace but are divided on de-proscribing the LTTE...

"Removal of domestic ban will not affect LTTE's status abroad" Press Trust of India, Thursday, January 24, 2002. Sri Lanka today said it did not believe any move to relax or remove the ban on the LTTE within the country would have an adverse effect on the group's proscription in other countries...

UNP stake claim for Central Provincial Council Waruna Karunatilake in Colombo, 1230 slt 24.01.02. The United National Party has staked a claim for power in the central provincial council after the CWC and the Up-country Liberation front MPs crossed over to the opposition...

Criminal defamation laws to be repealed Waruna Karunatilake in Colombo, 1228 slt 24.01.02. The government announced today that it would repeal criminal defemation laws by the first week of march...

Heading for a shut down Deccan Herald, 24 January 2002. The new minister for Power and Energy in Sri Lanka, the calm and collected Karu Jayasuriya, also Deputy Leader of the United National Party, has set yet another deadline — which none doubt he will keep...

Permanent peace - need of the hour Chennai Online, 24 January 2002. There are a number of positive indicators to hope that the 18-year military conflict between the LTTE and government troops will come to an end in the near future, in Sri Lanka...

PA sends confusing signal on peace plan Gulf-News, 24 January 2002. Sri Lanka's main opposition People's Alliance (PA) sent out contradictory signals about the government's new peace initiative to open talks with the Tamil guerrillas and find a political settlement to the Tamil minority ethnic conflict...

Sri Lanka falls on foreign exodus Financial Times, 24 January 2002. Sri Lankan stocks have fallen sharply this year as foreign investors used a post-election rally in the final quarter of 2001 as a chance to exit the market...

LTTE plea sent to India The Hindu, 24-01-2002 . The Norwegian peace delegation, which visited Britain on Tuesday, informed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that the two requests made by them on peace process in Sri Lanka have been forwarded to the Government of India for consideration...

LTTE ban to be suspended Daily Mirror, 24 January 2002. The UNF government is to suspend the ban imposed on the LTTE shortly, one step short of total de-proscription, highly placed government sources told the Daily Mirror yesterday...

No change on LTTE ban: India The Hindu NUS, New Delhi, Jan. 22. (PTI). India today made it clear that there was no change in its position on the banning of LTTE in the country...

LTTE slams Kadirgamar's remarks Press Trust of India, Colombo,Thursday, January 24, 2002. The LTTE has welcomed the Sri Lankan government's hint that it may soon review the ban on the rebel outfit, but attacked former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar for advocating a cautious approach to the issue...

Sri Lankan President Calls for Party Unity Xinhuanet, 24 January 2002. Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has called on members of her People's Alliance (PA) parliamentary group to stand united without falling prey to conspiracies of the ruling United National Front government, the official Daily News said on Thursday...

24hr power to industries in BOI LBO, 24 January 2002. Weaning themselves from dependence on the country's national grid, Sri Lanka's Board of Investment will attempt supply of 24hr power to industries in two BOI zones...

Police picket at Lipton Circus? Daily mirror, 24 January 2002. The recent spate of transfers effected at all levels of the police service may lead to a controversial situation, with policemen picketing at Lipton's Circus, in Colombo in a protest action, it is learnt...

Lanka opposition demands timeframe for talks NDTV/MSNBC, Wednesday, January 23, 2002 . Sri Lanka's main opposition party today cautioned Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe against hasty removal of the ban on the LTTE and demanded a definite time-frame for talks to take place before the world shed its post-September 11 anti-terrorism mood...

Lankan opposition supports Govt peace push The Hindustan Times, Wednesday, January 23 . Sri Lanka's main opposition on Wednesday said it supported a Norwegian-backed peace bid to end the conflict with Tamil rebels and asked the government to arrange an internationally monitored truce...

LTTE hails Lanka PM’s proposal on ban Indiainfo, 24 january 2002. LTTE has welcomed the Sri Lankan government's hint that it may soon review the ban on the rebel outfit, but attacked former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar for advocating a cautious approach to the issue...

London talks focus on Sri Lanka truce The Hindu (International), 24-01-2002 . TORONTO, JAN. 23. The Norwegian facilitator team visiting the U...

Sri Lankan peace hope rises as Tamil rebels free 10 prisoners Yahoo, 24 January 2002. Hope of a lasting ceasefire and face-to-face talks between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil rebels rose sharply yesterday after the guerrillas freed 10 army and civilian prisoners and the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said he was thinking of lifting the ban on the movement...

Sri Lanka opposition calls for foreign-monitored truce IANS/Yahoo, january 24. Sri Lanka's main opposition Wednesday urged the government to conclude a wide-ranging cessation of hostilities agreement with Tamil Tiger rebels and have it supervised by international monitors...

Hospital in Tamil areas 'without medicine' BBC South Asia, Wednesday, 23 January, 2002, 17:40 GMT . Doctors in the main hospital in rebel-controlled northern Sri Lanka say they still have not received supplies of essential medicines, a week after the government eased the economic embargo on Tamil Tiger-held territory...

Sri Lanka plans high court to clear tied up cases MSNBC, Wednesday, 23rd Jan, 12:31 GMT. Sri Lanka plans to set up a high court to quickly clear cases of people held under its feared Prevention of Terrorism Act, the minister for justice and law reform said on Wednesday...

Sri Lanka opposition walks out of parliament MSNBC, COLOMBO, Jan. 23. Members of Sri Lanka's main opposition party, the People's Alliance, walked out of a parliament debate on Wednesday in a protest against what they said was post-election violence against their supporters...

'Norwegian, LTTE chief negotiators meet in UK' Indiainfo, January 23. Norwegian peace facilitators continued their efforts to work out a long- lasting truce arrangement between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) when they met the rebel's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham in London...

The scars of Sri Lanka's war BBC South Asia, Wednesday, 23 January, 2002, 13:11 GMT . Kilinochchi is a town that bears the scars of war. Most buildings have been damaged by repeated aerial bombardment and shelling...

A sport of many creeds BBC, January 23. It seems that 2002 is a great year to be playing international cricket if you're a member of a minority community...

Last chance for peace, ban needs to go: Lanka PM The Indian Express, Wednesday, January 23, 2002. COLOMBO, JANUARY 22: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday that the country was facing its last chance to end years of ethnic fighting and was looking at lifting a ban on the LTTE, the guerrillas’ key demand...

Lanka to repeal criminal defamation laws TOI, 23 January 2002. Sri Lanka's new government on Tuesday promised to repeal criminal defamation laws which have been used against newspaper editors critical of the administration...

Tourists in Lanka can avail visa on arrival Times of India, THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2002 2:01:44 AM . Sri Lanka will issue visas on arrival to tourists from India and other South Asian countries beginning Wednesday as part of a move to promote the flagging tourism industry...

Efforts on for permanent truce in Lanka The Hindu NUS, Wednesday, Jan. 23. (PTI). Norwegian peace facilitators continued their efforts to work out a long-lasting truce arrangement between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE when they met the rebel's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham in London...

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