Germany is ready to help Sri Lanka overcome the consequences of 30 years of armed conflict and German development aid is very much focused towards this endeavour, Germany's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jens Plotener said. In an exclusive interview with the Daily News, the Ambassador observed that the war has been won but building peace is a long and very demanding task. "All citizens of this beautiful island need to feel that this country is their country and that state institutions serve them

Work on the new Oddamavadi bridge across the Valaichchenai lagoon is nearing completion and will be opened to the public this year. A Highways and Road Development Ministry spokesman said public transport in the Batticaloa district would be hassle free because of this bridge being constructed at a cost of Rs 700. million. The World Bank and the Spanish Government have funded the project. He said it was a pledge given in the Mahinda Chintana to build this new bridge in place of the old

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, said at a SLFP - Yatinuwara branch organisers meeting in Kandy recently, that the government would get the two thirds majority at the forthcoming Parliament election and change the present Constitution to make way for a people friendly Constitution for the country. The Minister said that the present Constitution of J. R. Jayewardene had created several crises and added the need had arisen to change it for the betterment of the people in the country.

Senior Attorney-at-Law Uapli Senaratne commenting on General Sarath Fonseka’s arrest said the retired General was taken into custody by the Military Police in Terms of Section 57 of Army Act. Any person subject to Military Law commits an offence thereafter ceases to be a person subject to Military Law he still can be taken into and kept in military custody and tried and punished for an offence by a Court Martial. This is provided that he shall not be so tried after the lapse of six months from the date of the commission of such offence unless such offence is the

Plantation Industries Minister D. M. Jayaratne will provide five coconut seedlings for 3.5 million families in the country. Under the program, 10 million coconut seedlings have already been distributed. Another 10 million coconut seedlings are also to be distributed in Divisional Secretary’s Divisions in next year. Action has also been taken to distribute coconut seedlings among public servants under the relevant project. Recently, Minister Jayaratne provided 1,000 coconut seedlings to employees of Bank of Ceylon

Sigiriya will be opened to the public today despite Saturday’s wasp attack which injured several visitors, a Cultural Affairs Ministry spokesman said. Nearly 18 foreigners were injured by wasp stings at the rock fortress on Saturday. Other tourists who were at the summit of the rock at that time were evacuated immediately as a precautionary measure, OIC of the Sigiriya police said.

Panadura Provincial High Court Judge Malanee Gunaratne postponed the sentence for February 18 on the accused in the Film Star Dhammi Fonseka murder case. The accused Wickramage Padmasiri alias Tanthuwa of Kahatuduwa was found guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The accused was acquitted on the second count as he was not found guilty of committing the robbery of jewellery and cash from the actress’s possession. The Attorney-General had indicted Wickramage Padmasiri alias Janthuwa of Kahatuduwa, Piliyandala of committing the murder of film star Dammi Fonseka

Over 2,000 IDP children living outside welfare centres were admitted to 59 schools in Vavuniya yesterday providing equal education access for all. The Government took this decision after receiving a number of complaints that the children of IDP families who are living with their relations outside the welfare centres have been denied school education. Northern Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said another 2,000 children deprived of school education would be admitted to Gamini Maha Vidyalaya in Vavuniya tomorrow. The Education Ministry has provided infrastructure to accommodate them under the Uthuru

Allegations raised by defeated Presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka regarding the happenings during the final stage of the conflict is expected to take centre stage during a meeting between Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navatheem Pillai in Geneva, Switzerland today. Minister Samarasinghe who flew to Geneva yesterday morning is expected to meet Pillai today and during discussions would brief the Commissioner regarding the above matter among others, Ministry sources said. In addition, the Minister who is to arrive in the island shortly after his visit is expected to take wing