News in brief

Dialog Telekom slashes tariffs

Sri Lanka's largest mobile telephone operator, Dialog Telekom PLC announced a massive reduction of outgoing calls and SMS charges.

Celebrating the achievement of over for million subscribers, Dialog Telekom slashed tariff rates ranging from 14% to 71% from yesterday.

CPC price increases suspended

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) incurs a loss of two billion rupees a year on diesel and kerosene imports due to the subsidies. CPC, at present, is losing Rs. 2.05 per litre on petrol and Rs. 17 per litre on diesel on subsidies.

The Government has temporarily suspended price increases of diesel and kerosene, and reduced the VAT on gasoline.

Seven Tigers killed

The Security Forces fought two gun battles with the LTTE terrorists across its northern frontlines, killing seven Tigers, the military said yesterday.

Army troops pushed into Tiger-held territory across a defence line and destroyed an LTTE bunker in Vavuniya, a Defence Ministry official said.

Move to minimize air pollution

To minimise air pollution caused by carbon-dioxide and Sulfur dioxide emissions, the Central Environmental Authority plans to ban the parking of vehicles near schools with their engines on.

Agricultural machinery from Japan

The Japanese Government has provided agricultural machinery worth nearly Rs. 330 million (approximately 330 million Yen) to Sri Lanka for socio-economic development under the scheme of "Grant Assistance for Underprivileged farmers" (2KR).

Dayan responds to criticism

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka in responding to criticism by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF), said that the Voice of Tigers, being the propaganda organ of an internationally proscribed terrorist organisation, is a legitimate target.