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TNA wants to meet Sri Lanka President
alone
Colombo Page
July 03, Colombo: The Tamil National Alliance, (TNA) the main Tamil
political party in Sri Lanka has asked a opportunity to meet
President Mahinda Rajapaksa
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Sri Lanka tea exports slide
Straits Times
COLOMBO - SRI Lanka, one of the world's biggest tea growers, saw export
volumes slide by 17 per cent in the five months to May due to a
drought-damaged
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Muralitharan blow for Sri Lanka
BBC Sport
Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will miss the first Test with
Pakistan after hurting his knee while fielding during a practice session
on Thursday.
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Challenging new role for Mendis
CricInfo.com
How will he react to having to lead Sri Lanka's most inexperienced Test
attack in a long time? Two teams best suited to make a mockery out of
structures
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Xinhua
BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China would work with Sri Lanka to promote
the comprehensive and cooperative partnership to a new height, said Vice
Premier
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Colombo Page
July 03, Colombo: For the first time in Sri Lanka history one of the
main rivers in the country was auctioned yesterday for gem mining.
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President vows to implement political solution
July 2 (ANN)
President Mahinda Rajapaksa wouldn’t tolerate any
dissent within his government to proposed devolution of power to the provinces
on the basis of 13th Amendment to the Constitution, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa
Abeywardena said at a press conference at the Information Department. The
President had emphasised that he wouldn’t give in to pressure from any party, he
said. |
No special regiments for ex-rebels: Govt.
July 2 (DM)
The Government yesterday said that there will be no
room for ‘alien regiments’ within the armed forces, for former rebel cadres as
suggested by some former militant leaders who are now politicians. Responding to
a question raised by a journalist on the remarks allegedly made by Minister
Vinyagamoorthy Muralitharan to the effect that ex-LTTE cadres who fled the
militant movement with him would be absorbed into the Army as a special regiment
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TNA attends APC meeting
July 2 (DM)
The TNA is attending the 'Development &
Reconciliation All Party Committee' [APC]meeting currenty in progress under the
chairmanship of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government information
department said. |
Moragoda new Minister of Justice and Law Reforms
July 2 (DM)
Minister Milinda Moragoda took oaths as the Minister of Justice
and Law Reforms before President Mahinda Rajapaksa today. He replaces the late
Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda. |
Petrol
up by Rs. 10, Diesel by Rs. 3, Kerosene by 1
July 2 (Island)
The government has increased fuel prices with effect
from midnight Wednesday (July 01). CPC Chairman Brigadier (retd) Asoka
Thoradeniya, who yesterday morning told The Island that President Mahinda
Rajapaksa had turned down a request to increase fuel prices and wanted the
Government to bear any loss, last night said that a litre of Petrol 90 Octain
had been increased by Rs. 10 and Octain 95 by Rs. 15, diesel by Rs 3 and
kerosene by Rs. 1. |
Sri Lanka's top businessman further remanded
July 2 (CP)
The Mount Lavinia Magistrate today further remanded the Ceylinco
Group Chairman Lalith Kothalawela |
Angry MR refuses to bow down to JHU
July 1 (LNP)
An angry President yesterday warned Minister Patali Champika
Ranawaka not to hinder his efforts to implement 13th Amendment to the
Constitution and guarantee devolution of power to the provinces. Now that a
30-year war had been brought to an end, the aspirations of the people of the
North and East should be met, he told a group of government ministers at Temple
Trees yesterday, according to highly placed sources. |
CID questions Kilinochchi hospital
director on LTTE involvement
July 1 (DM)
The CID informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate that the director
of the Kilinochchi hospital who fled to the LTTE controlled area during the
final count down attack on the LTTE had been directly involved with the LTTE.
The CID filing a report on their investigations in court informed the magistrate
that the Director of the Kilinochchi hospital Dr. Thangamoorthi Satyamoorthy,
LTTE doctor Kandasamy Thurainathan and nurse Arumugam Jeyaluxmy had fled |
Sri Lanka says stand by loan a test of
IMF objectivity
July 1 (LBO)
A decision on a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
for Sri Lanka which is expected in "four to five weeks" will be a test of the
objectivity of the organization, a government minister said. Deputy finance
minister Sarath Amunugama said technical negotiations were positive for a 1.9
billion bailout when the United States and Britain started to make statements on
Sri Lanka's loan application |
Begin ‘Mathata thitha’ from the cabinet
July 1 (LT)
The President should give an example to the country by beginning
his ‘Mathata Thitha’ (halt to alcoholism and drug abuse) programme from his
cabinet says UNP Parliamentarian for Ratnapura District Ms. Thalatha Athukorala.
Ms. Athukarala said the government that carries out a wide propaganda for the
‘Mathata Thitha’ programme has issued a large number of licenses between 2004
and 2009 to open new wine stores throughout the island |
Sri Lanka gives China first exclusive
investment zone
COLOMBO, July 1 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka has granted China an exclusive
economic zone in its first post-war effort to attract more investment
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Tiger leader, deputy arrested
Jun 30 (ANN)
An LTTE leader and his deputy were arrested by the
anti-terrorist unit of the Vavuniya Police, while they were in the company of a
young pregnant girl, according to reports from Vavuniya Police. Identified as
Keenan and Kannawan, they were arrested at Pesalai in Mannar. When Police
arrested them they were in possession of two claymore mines, two T-56 weapons,
five magazines and 142 rounds of ammunition. |
Nine
Indicted with Funding LTTE
Jun 30 (SLA)
THE Attorney General has filed indictment against nine
persons for granting Rs. 35 million to the LTTE from the funds of the Tamil
Rehabilitation Organisation in 2006. The Attorney General filed indictment
against Velupillai Sivanadiar, Murugesu Shanmugarajah, Kanthilingam Prem Raj,
Kathirakesu Ganeshalingam, Sinnaiyah Shanthilingam, Eliyathambi Nadarajah,
Krishna Kutti Sukumaran alias Udayan, Balasubramunium Sri Scandarajah, and
Kamalias Prabakaran before the Colombo High Court |
Sri Lanka to
take action against former rebels
Jun 30 (AP)
Sri Lanka plans to take legal action against a small
group of hardcore rebel fighters, and rehabilitate the majority of former Tamil
Tiger insurgents, a government minister said on Tuesday. The government is
currently holding about 10,000 former rebel fighters, after declaring victory in
the nation's quarter century civil war in May. |
Troops
Led to Unearth Two more LTTE Torpedoes
Jun 30 (SLA)
A METICULOUSLY pre-planned LTTE sea battle that was to be staged against
Security Forces by terrorists during the just-ended Eelam War - IV was exposed
Monday (29) evening when Task Force-8 troops unearthed two big LTTE torpedoes
with their launcher from PUTHUKUDIYIRUPPU area on information provided by a
former LTTE cadre. The two torpedoes, each 26 ft in length and 5 ft 7 inches in
circumference remained neatly wrapped in polythene when the troops made this
startling recovery. The torpedo’s launcher of 28 ft in length and 5 ft 10 inch
in circumference..... |
Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat to close
Jun 30 (CP)
Sri Lanka government has decided to close its Peace Secretariat
from next month following the military defeat of the LTTE. |
Old
Anandians pay tribute to Defence Secretary
Jun 30 (MoD)
Old Boys Association (OBA) of Ananda College, Colombo, has organized a
week long programme to pay tribute to the war heroes who liberated the country
from the grip of terrorism. |
Age-defying Jayasuriya eyes next World Cup
Jun 30 (AFP)
Sri Lanka's veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya turns 40
on Tuesday, with a vow to carry on until the 2011 World Cup despite being the
oldest cricketer still playing at the top level. "Age is not a problem, it is
how you stay mentally and physically fit to remain on top of the game, to try
out new variations with the bat and ball," Jayasuriya told AFP |
How, when, and with whom can I make it?
Jun 29 (DM)
The war as variously described was over. Mopping up the remnants
of terror mongers in nooks and corners, looking after thousands of innocent
Tamil bystanders crammed into camps were in the hands of a relieved government.
The thrust of charges of various kinds levelled by the agents of the defeated
terrorists against the government and the armed forces were also being deftly
countered by the government
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Killer
couple picked their victim through newspaper
Jun 29 (Island)
The police said that a couple held in connection with the recent
killing of businesswoman Beatrice Veronika in the Kurunegala police area had
been employed by her a few months before she was killed on June 7. The police
said that Veronika had hand picked them after interviewing several persons who
responded to a newspaper advertisement seeking a couple. The suspects had told
police that they had found Veronika, a divorcee through a newspaper
advertisement
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Navi Pillai makes talks difficult for Sri Lanka
Jun 29 (DM)
Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said the newly
appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillai was
making it difficult for Sri Lanka to engage in dialogue with the office of the
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. “Her statements have not made it easier
for us to gather the support of the people of this country to work closely with
her office, which I want to do
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Dengue
cases rise to over 12,000
Jun 29 (DN)
Latest Health Ministry statistics show that the number of
dengue cases had risen to over 12,300 with 152 deaths. The Ministry was
specially concerned with the situation in 68 divisional secretariats and was
continuing with its ongoing measures to eradicate dengue and other mosquito
borne diseases. The first consignment of BTI predator bacteria ordered from Cuba
to destroy dengue larvae will reach the country this week
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'A conspiracy to fake terror situation in Sri Lanka'
Jun 29 (LT)
A conspiracy to give publicity for a fake terror situation in
Sri Lanka is being hatched says Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse. He says
the propaganda regarding this fake terror situation is intended to stop tourists
arriving here and drive away would be investors from the island. The Defense
Secretary said despite the war situation being completely eradicated, there is
talk about abductions from white vans
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SLBC
He request all parties to actively contribute to build the nation as
children of Mother Sri Lanka". The president points out that the
business community
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Colombo Page
June 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka Women were crowned today as the champions of
the Seventh Asian Netball Championships held in Malaysia. In the finals
Sri Lanka
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Newstrack
India
Colombo, June 28 (ANI): The Sri Lanka cricket authority has made
foolproof security arrangements for the visiting Pakistan cricket team,
as it does
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Dengue fever swallows 153 lives
Jun 27 (GDI)
The number of patients who have died due to dengue
fever increased to 153 and more than 12,388 have been infected so far, hospital
reports said. Meanwhile, in addition to the dengue prevention programmes that
are being implemented, the Ministry of Health is carrying out raids on dengue
mosquito breeding grounds. The Ministry has appointed 10 officials to supervise
the dengue control program in 10 districts where the identified 68 MOH areas are
located |
Dark tales of Tamil ex-child soldiers
Jun 27 (BBC)
At a camp situated on top of a hill overlooking scenic rubber
and coconut plantations in Sri Lanka, more than 100 former Tamil Tiger child
soldiers are undergoing a year-long rehabilitation course. Bala, who is now 17
years old, was one of the child soldiers who swelled the ranks of the feared
LTTE. "LTTE cadres took me away when I was 13. First I found it hard to carry
the rifle. Then I got used to it. I went to the frontline and fired at the
troops," he said |
Little Sri Lanka gets a big boost
Jun 27 (Silive)
Manhattan has its Little Italy and now Staten Island has its
Little Sri Lanka. The city plans to promote the Tompkinsville enclave during an
advertising campaign aimed at encouraging residents to visit the city's "exotic"
locales as a cheaper alternative this summer to out-of-town -- or even
out-of-the-country -- vacations. To drive home that point, City Council Speaker
Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) lunched yesterday at Dosa Garden |
A/Ls kicks off on August 11
Jun 27 (GDI)
The GCE Advanced Level Examination 2009 starts on
August 11 with 240,000 candidates sitting the examination that would go on till
September 5 and the Grade 5 scholarship examination will be held on August 23
with 300,000 candidates sitting. More than 2000 examination centres throughout
the island excluding Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts and 1,000 candidates
from the IDP villages of the North are also among the candidates. |
The Tamil Buddhists
Jun 27 (LG)
Today, the Palk Strait which lies between Tamil Nadu
and Sri Lankan land masses, is seen as a divider, separating two different
distinct ethnicities, religions, cultures and political entities but there was a
phase in history when Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka enjoyed very close ties, thanks
to a shared interest in Buddhism. During the early period, the Palk Strait was
not seen as a divider but it was a unifier |
4 more LTTE submarines hidden in M'tivu seas
Jun 26 (CT)
The military has received information about four more submarines of the
LTTE hidden in the seas off Mullivaikkal in Mullaitivu, reports said. |
India reiterates political solution for Sri Lanka
Jun 26 (CT)
Indian defence minister A.K. Anthony has reiterated the need for a
political solution to the Sri Lanka conflict.
The minister made the remark while addressing a Unified Commanders' Conference
in New Delhi yesterday (June 25), PTI reported. |
Post-war Sri Lanka vote date set
Jun 26 (BBC)
The first elections since the end of Sri Lanka's war
will take place in two cities of the war-ravaged north on 8 August, the
government has confirmed. The municipal polls in Jaffna and Vavuniya will be
their first local vote in more than a decade. They are being billed as another
step towards normal life, but there are still many security problems there. In
May Sri Lanka's army defeated Tamil Tiger rebels fighting for a separate
homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority |
Hoards of explosives, warlike materials uncovered in clearing operations
Jun 26 (MoD)
Sri Lankan Army troops now engaged in clearing operations at Vavuniya,
Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu Districts have uncovered large stocks of explosives
and warlike material on Thursday (June 25). |
Seylan
to be bailed
out by public institutions
Jun 26 (LBO)
Sri Lanka's Seylan Bank will be bailed out with the
help of money from state institutions while a bid from a private investor was
rejected because it did not meet ownership limits, the Central Bank said. The
Central Bank, which is the banking regulator, said in a stock exchange filing
that Seylan will issue shares to raise 3.0 billion rupees with support from
state institutions. |
'Prabhakaran's surrender could have saved 500 LTTE cadres'
Jun 24 (PTI)
The lives of at least 500 Tiger rebels would have been
saved had LTTE Supremo V Prabhakaran surrendered during the last phase of the
battle after the army encircled the top rebel leaders in Nandhikadal Lagoon in
Mullaitttivu, a defence ministry report said. After the special forces encircled
Prabhakaran, Intelligence Chief Pottu Aman and Sea tiger chief Soosoi, who were
boxed into a 100m x 100m area, the rebel chief could have avoided the battle
that would have saved the lives of the Tiger fighters, it said |
US to "carefully assess" Sri Lanka IMF loan: official
Jun 24 (LBO)
The United States is not blocking an International
Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to Sri Lanka but the US Treasury and State Department
"will carefully assess" the program, an official has said. "We are not
threatening to block the loan and we will carefully assess any program in light
of the conditions in Sri Lanka at the time," Gregg Sullivan, state department
director public diplomacy in South and Central Asia said
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Sri Lanka hosts meet to thwart terrorist nuclear ambitions
Jun 24 (LBO)
Sri Lanka is hosting a South Asia workshop organised
with the United States to prevent terrorist groups from acquiring nuclear
weapons or trafficking in nuclear materials, the foreign ministry said. The
workshop, on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 dealing
with non-state actors and weapons of mass destruction (WMD), is being held in
Sri Lanka from 23 - 25 June 2009 |
Defence Secretary Vs Leader Publications: Defence Counsel withdraws from case
Jun 24 (DN)
Mount Lavinia Additional District Judge Macki Mohamed
yesterday issued notice on the Leader Publications and two others, Lal
Wickrematunga and journalist Fredrica Jansz, to appear in Court on July 9 and to
show cause why they should not be dealt for contempt of Court. At the
commencement of the two cases where, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa had filed
against the Leader Publications |
'We take new Sri Lanka, the land of peace, to the world'
Jun 24 (GDI)
The Ministry of Tourism unveiled a new Sri Lanka
tourism brand. “This is an event we have been preparing for since 2008 after we
held our initial strategic planning sessions in October and November the same
year. And, it’s high time to materialize our aspirations and goals with much
enthusiasm, “Deputy Minister of Tourism Faiszer Mustapha said. |
London's Pro Tamil
Tiger demonstration and the numbers game
Jun 23 (MoD)
The London Metropolitan Police had to force the organizers to proceed and
keep up with the schedule in the latest march, organized by British Tamil Forum
(BTF) with the help of Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) on Saturday 20th
June in London. The organizers asked permission from the Met Police for 100, 000
participants, but disappointed by the poor attendance, they tried to delay the
march in the hope of more people attending.
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TNA
MP with LTTE terrorist links detained
Jun 23 (MoD)
The CID conducting investigations into LTTE
activities, yesterday, produced TNA Vanni District MP Sathasivam Kanagaratnam
before the Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Nisantha
Hapuarachchi and said the MP is alleged to have violated the Emergency
Regulations and assisted the LTTE. Kanagaratnam was arrested by the CID while he
was with the people who came from the uncleared areas. |
Tense
situation erupts during handing over of Sri Lanka ruling party's nominations for
Uva provincial polls
Jun 23 (CP)
A tense situation erupted at the Badulla District Secretariat
premises this morning during the handing over of nomination papers of Sri
Lanka's ruling party, United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA). |
EU
grants 5 million euros for emergency assistance in Sri Lanka
Jun 23 (ISRIA)
The European Commission has allocated €5 million to
provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people,
mostly ethnic Tamils, placed in camps in Sri Lanka. All funds are channelled
through the Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), under the
responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel. The projects are implemented by
non-governmental relief organisations and specialised UN agencies |
Sri
Lankan and Malaysia Airlines in new code share deal
Jun 23 (LBO)
Sri Lankan Airlines has expanded its code share deal
with Malaysian Airlines increasing its reach to the United States, Australia and
Asia-Pacific sectors, the airline said. The agreement enables Malaysia Airlines
to codeshare on SriLankan’s flights to Male in the Maldives while SriLankan
Airlines will access Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, Jakarta, and Seoul through
Malaysia Airlines.
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Ananda Collage pays tribute for Old
Anandian war heroes
Ministry of
Defence
Senior Old Anandian officers of Sri Lanka Maj General Jagath Rambukpotha,
Maj General Jagath Dias, Maj General Kamal Goonarathna, Brig Jagath
Wijethilake
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Sri Lanka travel advisory revised
Telegraph.co.uk
At the same time it gave warning that there has been an upsurge in
nationalism and anti-British rhetoric on the island since the end
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Sri Lankan private bus owners demand
fare hike once again
Colombo Page
July 03, Colombo: Following the increase in diesel prices by the Sri
Lanka government, the private bus owners today demanded a bus fare hike
again.
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Hatton Bank Targets Sri Lanka North,
Infrastructure as War Ends
Bloomberg
July 3 (Bloomberg) -- Hatton National Bank Ltd., Sri Lanka's
second-biggest non-state lender by assets, plans to add branches
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After Terror Attacks, a Return to Test
Cricket for Sri Lanka and ...
New York
Times
Fresh from their meeting in the World Twenty20 final last month in
London, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are facing off again, halfway around the
|
Sri Lanka to hold presidential elections in November
July 2 (CP)
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to seek reelection in
November, once the four years of his term is completed, a source close to the
President said |
MR says IDPs can seek asylum
July 2 (DM)
President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the Cabinet meeting
that he would not mind Canada and the European countries giving asylum to the
internally displaced persons. However, the President said that he could not send
IDPs to India anymore because that country was not willing to accommodate them.
“Canada has pledged to accept any number of IDPs. I do not mind these countries
putting up visa offices in the welfare camps to facilitate people willing to
leave the country,” |
Diaspora proposes President for Nobel Prize
july 2 (DN)
A strong trade union in Italy with a large number of members of the Sri
Lankan Tamil Diaspora had proposed to nominate President Mahinda Rajapaksa for
the Nobel Peace Prize. The union had made this suggestion in a memorandum handed
over to the Sri Lankan mission in Rome. They had praised the President for
defeating terrorism and bringing peace to Sri Lanka. The members of the Tamil
Diaspora were appreciative of the policies of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. |
Tasmania signs Malinga for Twenty20
July 2 (LNP)
Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga will play for
Tasmania in this summer's domestic Twenty20 competition. He's the third major
international signing for the competition after West Indian stars Chris Gayle
(Western Australia) and Dwayne Bravo (Victoria) agreed to play. Tigers coach Tim
Coyle says Malinga is one of a few bowlers who can dominate Twenty20 cricket
regularly with the ball. |
'Tamil govt will be formed in Lanka'
July 1 (NT)
Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Wednesday expressed hope that a
government led by Tamils would be formed soon in Sri Lanka. He also said that
the ailing Tamils in the island nation could at present get respite only through
the Mahinda Rajapakse government. Replying to a special call attention motion in
the Assembly over the plight of Tamils in the neighbouring country, he said the
conflict in Lanka between Sinhalese and Tamils was taking place for more than
five decades now. |
UVA PC polls: Many voters without valid
ID cards
July 1 (DM)
Political parties, civil society groups and NGOs monitoring
elections expressed their deep concern yesterday about the danger of people in
Uva being prevented from voting at the August 8 Provincial Council polls as a
result of not having a valid identity cards. They claimed that in the Moneragala
and Badulla Districts some 25 per cent of voters did not posses either a
national ID card or any other form of identification |
Private sector involvement a must for North-East growth
July 1 (Island)
Secretary General of the Government Peace Secretariat Prof.
Rajiva Wijesinha said the government was anxious to develop the infrastructure
base that would enable the private sector play a greater role in the country’s
economy because it is capable of providing opportunities sans discrimination. "A
lot of the country’s problems happened because we treated a community badly,
although it was not intentional |
Sigiriya given facelift
July 1 (DN)
Two specially designed rehabilitation projects at
Sigiriya assigned to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau are nearing
completion. The Japanese Bank for International Co-operation funded, (Rs. 50
million) projects are the new stainless steel platform at the Sigiri frescoes
pocket and the reinforcement of the rock wall around the fortress. Once the new
platform is established visitors could view the full range of frescoes safely. |
Sri Lanka establishes first solar power
enabled village at Monaragala
July 1 (EBR)
Sri Lanka’s first solar power enabled village has been
established at Galgamuwa in Madulla of Monaragala district. Under the project
solar power facilities have been provided for 300 houses in Galgamuwa village.
The ministry of Power and Energy says the government of India has provided
grants in this regard. The project is implemented under the government’s
renewable Energy Development Programme |
Captain Ali to unload in Chennai
Jun 30 (Xinhua)
A cargo ship carrying humanitarian aid for Sri Lanka's
war-affected civilians has been allowed to unload its goods in southern India
after it was turned back by the Sri Lankan navy, a local English newspaper said
on Tuesday. The Daily Mirror said the ship would be allowed to unload its goods
in Chennai from where the supplies will be transferred to Sri Lanka through the
Indian Red Cross |
French
Joint Forces Commander calls on Army Chief
Jun 30 (SLA)
COMMANDER of the French Joint Forces in Indian Ocean
Region Vice Admiral Gerard Valin paid a courtesy call on Commander of the Army
General Sarath Fonseka Monday morning at his office in the Army Headquarters,
Colombo. The Senior French Naval Commander, accompanied by French Ambassador Mr.
Michel Lummaux during his meeting with General Sarath Fonseka exchanged views
with regard to security and matters of bilateral interest. |
Sri Lanka to recruit 50,000 more to security forces:
Jun 30 (CP)
Sri Lanka government is to recruit an additional 50,000 to the
Tri-Forces and the Police to strengthen the nation's security following the end
of hostilities |
India-Lanka undersea power cable pact soon
Jun 30 (LeN)
India and Sri Lanka are set to energise their relations. Literally. The
two neighbours will soon sign an MoU to study the feasibility of laying an
undersea cable - which will be one-of-its-kind in Asia when completed - to
connect their power networks. Sources said the MEA has approved the draft
agreement which is to be signed shortly. |
Around
the world, young Tamil voices not quieted by war's end
 Jun
30 (Time)
Sri Lanka's 26 years of civil war effectively ended on
May 19 with a single image. Televisions across the globe broadcast a
government-issue photo of slain Tamil Tiger head, Velupillai Prabhakaran, lying
on a muddy patch of ground with wide eyes and a fractured skull. His life's end
terminated the LTTE's decades-long fight for an independent homeland for Sri
Lanka's Tamil minority - about ten percent of the population . |
LTTE
Grenades, Launchers & Explosives Continue to Emerge
Jun 30 (SLA)
DURING search and clear operations conducted by the Army in the general
areas of PULIYANPOKKANAI, VELLAMULLIVAIKKAL and PUTHUKUDIYIRUPPU on Monday (29),
forty-six hand grenades, twenty-four Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), three RPG
launchers, eight RPG chargers, nine claymore mines, four anti tank mines, one
smoke bomb, thirty-four rounds of .50 ammunition, one I-com set, one suicide
kit, three 60 mm illumination rounds, one thousand four hundred and fifty-five
rounds of T-56 ammunition, three Improvised Explosive..... |
It’s highly unethical for politicians to bask on reflected glories
Jun 29 (GDI)
With the dawning of peace, military victories have become
braveries of SL armed forces in the recent past, and SL government has no any
time to bask on the reflected glories of the past. “And, fighting in the
frontlines of the economic battle, SL government will shun from quoting military
victories in the upcoming polls,” Director of the Media Centre for National
Security said in press statement.
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Our
losing battle against corruption’ – response
Jun 29 (Island)
Adverting to your commendable editorial today (25th June ’09)
in The Island, the easiest way to win the battle against corruption is in my
humble opinion, by the reduction of so called government in this country to the
barest minimum. Though the easiest, it is by no means an easy task given the
propensity of our politicians to make Constitutions and Laws to perpetuate
themselves in office obviously for their private gain
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Veddhas
shift from caves to houses with govt. assistance
Jun 29 (Island)
The Veddha community had proved that permanent houses could
be established with small financial assistance from the government, Housing and
Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff said recently. Attending a ceremonial
handing over of newly built houses to the Veddha community at Hennanigala,
Dehiattakandiya in Ampara, Minister Ferial Ashraff said that the main objective
of the Janasevana National Housing Programme
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Anti-intellectual behaviour of university students: Remedial measures
Jun 29 (DN)
One of the central problems of our University education is
giving it free to the recipient and never expecting anything in return. Even in
India and Bangladesh - our neighbours University education is not free. Here is
Sri Lanka, not only university education is free, but the students are paid for
their food and lodging during their stay at the University.
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'LTTE government in exile futile exercise'
Jun 29 (LP)
A Former confidante of Vellupilai Prabakaran and now a Minster
Vinayagamurthy Muralidaran has rejected efforts to form a ‘LTTE government in
exile’ as a futile exercise. Attending the inauguration of the first regional
branch of the Foreign Employment Bureau in Batticaloa Minister Muralidaran has
made reference to a statement to this effect while rejecting any attempt by a
now defunct LTTE to reorganize itself
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An government official close to the process said the "mood in Sri Lanka
is that of reconciliation. There is no point in trying people with
little evidence
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Colombo Page
June 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka plans to import BTI bacteria,( Bacillus
thuringiensis israelensis) commonly use as a bioinsecticide to destroy
mosquito larvae
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NIDAHASA
News
(NIDAHASA News) The US State Department in this updated travel advisory
has warned American citizens traveling to or living in Sri Lanka
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With
white van culture, draconian media control laws not needed - Hakim
Jun 27 (Island)
SLMC leader Rauff Hakim told Parliament yesterday that
there was no need to bring in draconian legislation to suppress the media as the
journalist fraternity practices self regulation. He jokingly added that there
was no immediate need for press council law since there is a white van culture,
obviously referring to the abduction of Inter News Journalist Krishni Ifham who
was abducted in a white van |
Arnold misses the Mike
Jun 27 (DM)
Retired batsman Russel Arnold will have to wait until
the end of August to secure any television contract as he is presently on a
three month “cooling down” period after Sri Lanka Cricket decided to lift a ban
on players who took part in the Indian Cricket League, the Daily Mirror learns.
Arnold, who became a television commentator after he retired in 2007, sought a
stint with Ten Sports for Sri Lanka’s home series with Pakistan |
Maj. Gen. Dias gets diplomatic appointment
Jun 27 (DM)
The 57-division’s Commanding officer Jagath Dias has been
appointed as Sri Lanka’s Deputy Ambassador to Germany. A government official
told the Daily Mirror that Major General Dias would leave the country to take
over his duties soon. Major General Dias led his Division from the beginning of
the Wanni operation three years ago and directed the capture of vital LTTE held
areas |
Special education program for Students in Vavuniya
Jun 27 (GDI)
Under the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” program, the Ministry of Education
is scheduled to conduct a special program focus on school children on June 30 in
Vavuniya,the Education Ministry said. It is expected to provide text and pass
papers to GCE A/L students and to grade 5 scholarship students in IDP welfare
camps |
Forces behind paper Jihad
Jun 27 (PSM)
Need and necessity for Muslim home guards in the East arose in
1990. It was the worst year of ethnic cleansing of Muslims both in North and in
East. After ethnic cleansing of Muslims from the North by the LTTE, Muslim
political leaders made representations to the govt. and introduced the home
guards system to protect vulnerable and isolated Muslim villages from the LTTE
and other Tamil militants |
Sri
Lanka won an important victory over LTTE - Ambassador Blake
Jun 26 (MoD)
Ambassador Robert Blake, new Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia
and Central Asia told at the hearing of the Congressional Subcommittee on South
Asia, yesterday (June 25) that Sri Lanka won an "important victory in the North"
when it defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. |
LTTE communication equipment found
Jun 26 (CT)
A police team has recovered several communication equipment, including
satellite phones, from the jungles of Puthumathalan in Mullaitivu. |
US to press for political reconciliation in Sri Lanka
Jun 26 (LeN)
Observing that a lot needs to be done in Sri Lanka, Obama
Administration's point man for South Asia yesterday(25) said the US would
continue to press for the "political reconciliation" with the ethnic Tamil
community. |
Police arrest Sri Lanka astrologer for prediction
Jun 26 (AP)
Sri Lankan police say they have arrested a popular
astrologer for publicly predicting President Mahinda Rajapaksa's imminent ouster
from office. Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera confirmed Friday that
Chandrasiri Bandara has been arrested so police could investigate the source of
his prediction. Bandara has a popular weekly television show and writes a column
for a pro-opposition newspaper. |
Tigers remain terrorists: US
Jun 24 (DM)
The United States says it does not recognize the provisional
transnational government of Tamil Eelam announced by the LTTE head of
international relations S. Pathmanathan and once again listed the Tigers as a
terrorist outfit following its latest review. Senior U.S. State Department
official Gregg Sullivan said that although the US welcomed reports that the LTTE
has renounced violence |
Jewellery found from LTTE occupied areas
Jun 24 (PTI)
Security forces have recovered 100 kgs of gold jewellery and a
large amount of cash from an area in Wanni in north of the country where senior
Tiger leaders were hiding. A sum of Rupees 64.91 lakh in cash and a few boxes
containing about 100 kgs of jewellery were found during search operations by the
troops. "On Information, received from a LTTE cadre in custody, troops on
Tuesday found large amount of money and jewellery from Velamullivaikkal area in
Mullaittivu |
Rajapaksa may seek re-election before the year-end, also call
for general election
Jun 24 (AT)
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his aides are considering
advancing the Presidential and parliamentary elections to cash in on the
euphoria created by victory in the Wanni War. The present thinking is to hold
Presidential election sometime in November-December, followed by general
election after a gap of couple of months, anytime after February 2010 |
Dengue eradication: PHIs seek police protection
Jun 24 (DN)
Concurrent to the Uthuru Vasanthaya Northern
Development Program launched by the Government to bring normality to the lives
of people displaced from terrorism in the North, the Government has launched
projects worth Rs. 1,058 million to provide higher education facilities to
children of the displaced funded by the ADB and the World Bank. This follows a
survey which gathered information about students who have missed their higher
education due to the conflict in the North |
Our big guns never turned up at Lords
Jun 24 (DM)
Sri Lanka may have gone into the T20 World Cup with a new
Captain and a new player's kit but they also carried with them old and familiar
problems to do with their batting' which has plagued their success in the
shorter formats of the game for too long. Ironically it was those old and
familiar problems with their batting that made them miss out on winning the T20
World Cup which should have been theirs for the taking had they just scored 15
or 20 runs more. |
Pro-Tiger diaspora
in a post-Prabhakaran scenario
Jun 23 (LeN)
A noteworthy feature of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
has been the special manner in which it glorifies death and pays homage to dead
tiger fighters.
Fallen LTTE members were eulogized as martyrs and referred to as “Maaveerar” or
Great heroes. |
Solar powered phone booths in North
Jun 23 (GDI)
A solar powered phone booth system will be set up in
the North. Since the power network is not yet properly connected in the war
ravaged north, the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) considered it
necessary to start off with solar powered coin operated telephone booths in IDP
welfare centres. “Uninterrupted and smooth communication is a must in
development, and the residents of IDP villages must be able to connect with
their siblings,”
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Malaysia invited to rebuild Sri Lanka war-shattered zones
Jun 23 (MI)
Sri Lanka, fresh from its success in eliminating
rebels in the north and east of the island, is inviting Malaysian investors to
join efforts to rebuild its war-shattered zones that need at least US$4 billion
(RM14 billion) to US$5 billion in initial development. Minister Anura
Priyadarshana said as Malaysian companies have vast experience in the
telecommunication, construction and agriculture sectors in the country, |
Shelton Payagala is no more!
Jun 23 (LT)
Mr. Shelton Payagala, renowned film director and
writer passed way at 11.00 a.m. today after being admitted to ICU of Sri
Jayawardene Hospital. He was 65 year old at the time of this death. Mr. Shelton
Payagala was born in Hatton in 1944 and was active in literature, cinema and
stage circles. In 1982 he directed ‘Malata noena bambaru’ with Chandraratne
Mapitigama and in 1991 diercted ‘Golu Muhude Kunatuwa’ a film on the national
question |
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Indian Express
Lankan brilliance- Sri Lanka looked the most balanced side in the
tournament and played some dazzling cricket, with Tilakratne Dilshan
looking simply superb
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