A protest staged by the Mannar Traders’ Union over the assault of a Muslim businessman Mohamed Fowzi (37) has been called off after the Mannar District Judge gave them assurance that action will be taken immediately to have the offenders arrested.

“We see prophet Mohamed as a great revolutionist who created a new society finding political solutions” said the literary, humane and political researcher, Professor A. Marks.  “The life of prophet Mohamed could not be just looked at as that of a religious preacher or a philosopher who created a new philosophy rather he was a great revolutionist.”

The Mosques and Muslim Institutions Federation of Kaathankudy has appealed to the Government Agent of Batticaloa district to put an end to the illegal encroachment of land belonging to Masjidul Firdhous in Muslim Colony, Batticaloa. Few individuals in the area have put up buildings and are using the land unlawfully by using personal influence.

All six islands of Kalpitiya in Puttalam are to become attractive international tourist spots. Six resorts are to be constructed with ultra modern facilities for tourists. This is the only largest DS division in Sri Lanka and part of the Puttalam electorate. Sinhalese and Muslims including forcibly evicted Muslim refugees live in amity in this DS division. However, concern is raised whether the fishing and sea based livelihood activities of the residents would be affected by the promotion of tourism in this area. When the Muslims were chased out by the LTTE in 1990 from Mannar, they came by boats and landed mostly in Kalpitiya. A total population of 59,036 live in Kalpitiya with 22,918 Muslims, 25,374 Sinhalese, 10,620 Tamils and 124 Burghers and Malays according to a survey done in 2007.

US Secretary of state Hillary Clinton has announced Ms. Jansila Majeed of Puttalam as one of the ten winners of this year’s International Women of Courage (IWOC) award. The US Embassy in Colombo has released a statement in this regard.

Fifty people have died of dengue fever in the first two months of this year, said the ministry of health.
According to Dr. Paba Palihawadana, head of the ministry's epidemiology unit, the most number of fatalities had been reported from Colombo, Gampaha, Vavuniya and Jaffna districts.

A four feet and four inch-long ballot paper which is supposed to be the longest ever will be printed for the Digamadulla electoral district at the forthcoming general election, officials said. The election authorities have been compelled to print such a long ballot paper since as many as 66 political parties and independent groups are fighting the poll in the Ampara district this year

Over 100 Muslim candidates from recognized political parties and independent groups will be contesting at the upcoming Parliamentary elections to be held on 8 April 2010 with nominations closing at 12 noon today. All candidates of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) will be contesting under the Elephant symbol of the UNP with SLMC Leader Mr. Rauff Hakeem contesting from the Kandy district. NUA Leader Mrs. Ferial Ashraff and National Congress Leader A.L.M. Athaullah will be contesting under the betel symbol of UPFA with their teams in the Ampara district.

Interested elements are trying to close Puttalam - Mannar road in the name of protecting environment. This road has paved way for uninterrupted access for expelled Muslim refugees from Mannar who are living in camps in Puttam for the last 20 years. Religious Mission influence is also behind this move, according to reliable refugee sources.

Environmental organizations convened a press meeting at the national library in Colombo on Tuesday (23) to express their concern over the Puttalam – Mannar road opened for public just before the presidential election.