Tamil refugee children gaze at a group of journalists visiting the embattled region, on the day the Sri lankan government eased economic sanctions on rebel-held areas in north. The relaxing of the sanctions was aimed at building confidence and clearing the way for direct face-to-face talks between the government and the LTTE rebels.   AFP

Rs. 16 b to boost SME sector

A five-fold strategy at a cost of US $ 178 million (Rs 16 billion) will be put in place to revive, strengthen and boost the Small and Medium Enterprise sector in the country, Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy, Investment Promotion and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said in a press release yesterday.
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Local polls between March 15-29

by Manjula Fernando

The Elections Department will schedule the Local Government polls between March 15 to March 29. The date will be announced after closing the nominations on February 8, official sources told the Daily News yesterday.
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• Tax on imported rice

• More lorries to Vanni

• Engine of ill-fated train deployed again

• Joint action with private sector to accelerate development

• An opportunity for Govt. and Opposition to work together - LSSP

• Karapitiya attack shows middle class hatred against workers - NLF

• FCCISL, FNCCI to form Joint Economic Council

• Batticaloa train services to resume

• 100 illegal emigrants in Navy net

• Think tank for Western Region Development

• Increase yield in coconut

• Several projects under 100-day program

• Foreign aid for Uva PC development project

• News in brief

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