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More Headline News
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PERC ad. on Eppawela phosphate causes storm
Wednesday, 2 March 2005 - 1:42 AM SL Time
Political party leaders, environmentalists and civil organizations expressed their strong opposition towards what they allege as `The Government's move to sell out the Eppawela phosphate deposit to foreigners or the local agents of foreigners.`
`This government while preaching of strengthening national economy is planning the sell out of natural resources to multinational companies. It came to power with the promise of putting an end to the very same thing. We won't let the government go ahead with this project,` Mahamankadawala Piyrathana thero, President of the People's Movement to Protect Eppawela Phosphate Deposit, said yesterday.
The Public Enterprises Reform Commission, coming under the Ministry of Finance, Monday called for EOI (Expressions of Interest) from foreign or local agencies to participate in the development of the Eppawela phosphate deposit on a public/private partnership basis.
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CWC stays with Government
Tuesday, 1 March 2005 - 3:43 AM SL Time
The Ceylon Workers Congress yesterday pledged to continue its support to the UPFA Government putting aside all differences.
The decision followed yesterday`s meeting between a CWC delegation led by its leader Arumugam Thondaman and President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at President`s House.
Accordingly Messrs Muthu Sivalaingam and M.S. Sellasamy who resigned their portfolios as Estate Infrastructure Development Minister and Deputy respectively withdrew their resignations and will continue to hold office with immediate effect, Deputy President of the CWC R. Yogarajan told the Daily News last night.
In addition at yesterday`s meeting both sides succeeded in reaching common understanding over the CWC`s 14 point proposal which formed the bone of contention with the Party with President Kumaratunga assuring the speedy appointment of trained tamil teachers to estate schools and the recruitment of trained clerical hands.
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Undergrads say hands off universities
Tuesday, 1 March 2005 - 3:39 AM SL Time
Students of nine universities will stage a week long protest campaign from today against the alleged privatisation of universities and the government`s proposed education reforms.
Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) convener Duminda Nagamuwa accused the education authorities of jeopardizing free education and told the Daily Mirror yesterday that black flags would be flown in nine universities today. He said undergrads would wear black ribbons for lectures tomorrow and conduct demonstrations on the following three days against the proposed changes.
Undergrads of Ruhuna, Peradeniya, Kelaniya, Sabaragamuwa, Wayamba, Colombo, Moratuwa, Sri Jayewardhanapura and Buddhist and Pali campuses will participate in the protest campaign.
Mr. Nagamuwa said the Higher National Diploma of Education students would also join the campaign.
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Politics
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Thilanga Sumathipala's case: Counsel urges court to recall witness
Wednesday, 2 March 2005 - 1:50 AM SL Time
The Colombo Chief Magistrate yesterday reserved order on an application to recall a witness, a lawyer who had given evidence earlier in the case against former President, Sri Lanka Board of Cricket and former Sri Lanka Telecom chairman.
The Chief Magistrate Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena reserved the order following an application made by the Senior State Counsel, Yasantha Kodagoda.
Mr. Kodagoda asked court to recall the witness attorney-at-Law, Ms. Bandupriya Peiris who had certified certain deeds which had a connection to the case. The counsel said that it was necessary to recall the witness to establish that she had given a copy of the deed to the CID. The said lease deed bearing number 2698 was in connection with a house in Moratuwa and it was leased out by the underworld figure late Dhammika Amerasinghe under the name of Buddhika Godage.
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Govt. fast approaching its end ' Bandula
Wednesday, 2 March 2005 - 1:40 AM SL Time
The government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on defeated falsehoods which were fabricated by both the People Alliance and the JVP, said UNP Parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardena at a media briefing at the office of the Leader of the Opposition last week.
This government is fast approaching its end with a situation confused beyond recognition with threats of quitting the alliance both by the JVP and the CWC. What does the JVP and the CWC. What does the JVP has to say today about the promises it made regarding abolition of the UNP-LTTE ceasefire agreement, increase, fertilizer at Rs. 350, higher price for purchase of paddy, abolition of the privatisation programme and a whole list of promises.
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UNP never planned to implicate anyone on false allegations
Wednesday, 2 March 2005 - 1:39 AM SL Time
Charitha Ratwatte on Monday testifying before Colombo High Court said that UNP had never planned to implicate anyone on false allegations. He told Court that UNP did not engage in any political conspiracy. He made these remarks when the hearing of Udathalawinna murder case was continued before High Court yesterday. The first accused Anuruddha Ratwatte had earlier alleged in his evidence that the case against him was a political conspiracy.
Examined by Wijedasa Rajapakse PC, witness Charitha Ratwatte said that he was a lawyer since 1972 and that he had served as the secretary to the Treasury and as secretary to several other government departments.
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Editorial News
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Big bouquets to the cricketers and the artistes
Tuesday, 1 March 2005 - 12:49 AM SL Time
It was extremely pleasing to see the selfless and valiant efforts put in by the cricketers and the artistes to help alleviate the sufferings of the tsunami victims. Hope the public and the politicians, especially those who are waiting to make capital of the situation, take note of this and act likewise.
It is at a time like this, when disaster has struck, that those in the forefront in society should take the lead in setting an example to those whose lives have been devastated, on how to pick themselves up from the ashes and patch up the broken strands of their lives and who better to do so, than the cricketers and the artistes who are extremely popular, who are looked up to, or even hero worshipped by their fans, on account of the special talents they possess.
Of course there are other individuals and organisations that have risen to the occasion, but I am sure I am merely echoing the sentiments of the vast majority of the Sri Lankans, when I say that the cricketers and the artistes deserve a big bouquet for the selfless work carried out by them and request them to continue using their talents in reaching for higher goals so that they could bring some much needed light into the lives of those who have been affected by the tsunami.
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A fresh beginning
Monday, 28 February 2005 - 4:17 AM SL Time
The Government`s decision to talk with the LTTE on an interim structure prior to discussing a final solution to the National Question has given hope that the peace process would be put on track in the not so distant future.
This decision taken on the Third Anniversary of the Ceasefire Agreement between the two belligerents marks a fresh beginning. We welcome it.
While the ceasefire held for three long years without major confrontations, it should not blind us to the dangers of prolonging a negative peace.
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Thugs in uniform - an attitude endemic in the armed forces
Monday, 28 February 2005 - 2:29 AM SL Time
From time to time, we have often heard of members of our armed forces going on the rampage, attacking civilians, burning shops, damaging vehicles, smashing restaurants, sans due regard to the law of the land. The latest of a series of such acts committed over the years was reported last week from Ratmalana, where about fifteen Air Force personnel from the nearby Air Force base allegedly smashed up a restaurant and attacked the employees for refusing to serve more liquor to four airmen. Such incidents are many and widespread islandwide. They seem to follow a set pattern.
In January 2002, clashes sparked off over an alleged assault of an army driver by a traffic policeman, after an argument over the parking of an army vehicle blocking the road and obstructing traffic near the perimeter of the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. When the news of the alleged attack reached the army camp about a hundred soldiers had rushed to Kandy town and attacked every traffic policeman on the road and damaged several of their motorcycles and a jeep. In the afternoon, on the same day, about another one hundred army personnel from Pallekele had come there and created a war situation at the Maligawa perimeter, which is not a warfront but a sacred land. Clashes left scores of people injured and some with bullet wounds. The Army had to rush Generals to Kandy to control the situation.
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| Security |
STF knows nothing of Akkaraipattu shooting
Wednesday, 2 March 2005 - 1:49 AM SL Time
Commandant of the Police Special Task Force, DIG Nimal Lewke yesterday categorically denied any involvement by the STF in any form in the Akkaraipattu shooting incident where a senior LTTE female leader and two other female cadres were wounded on Monday night.
DIG Lewke said `the area, Tambiluwil is a predominantly Tamil area and the nearest STF base is located approximately seven kilometres away at Tirukkovil`.
He also said that the Karuna Group, that has risen to challenge the LTTE, was enjoying a great deal of sympathy and support within the Tamil community of the area and had become a force to be reckoned with, a fact that the LTTE was not prepared to accept.
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Army top brass given extensions
Wednesday, 2 March 2005 - 1:38 AM SL Time
Army Chief of Staff Major General Sarath Fonseka was to retire today (February 2)
has been granted an extension of service by the President Chandrika Kumaratunga, until he reaches the age of 55 on 17 December 2005. This is the fourth extension granted to him after he was promoted as a Major General.
Two more senior Majors General, who received extensions from the President are Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Susil Chandrapala and Major General Nanda Mallwarachchi. Major General Chandrapala, who was to retire from service on February 1 has been given an extension until he reaches the age of 55 on 29 October 2005 while Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force and Director General, General Staff Major General Mallawarachchi , who was to retire on March 24 this year has been granted an extension till he reaches his 55th birthday on 2 August 2006.
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Lawyer and wife indicted in forged deed case
Tuesday, 1 March 2005 - 3:38 AM SL Time
A leading lawyer and his wife were indicted with transferring land by way of a forged deed and defrauding money in two separate cases before the Kurunegala High Court yesterday.
The indictments were served on the lawyer, a former acting Magistrate Chandra Bandara Rekawa and his wife Nelum Rekawa along with two others, in two separate cases before Kurunegala High Court Judge Nihal de Silva.
In one case the Attorney General has indicted the couple for the transfer of a valuable land in Kurunegala by way of a forged deed. According to the indictment the couple had made a forged document in respect of over two acres land in Kurunegala belonging to Korris Abeywardena. Along with the couple, two accused T.B. Dayananda, a clerk attached to Rekawa`s office and R.M. Ranbanda were indicted with aiding and abetting the said offence. They had signed as attesting witnesses to the forged documents and the accused were charged on six counts. The offence was said to have been committed on or around January 9, 1997.
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Business / Economy News
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Dialog, SLT in infrastructure cooperation milestone
Wednesday, 2 March 2005 - 1:51 AM SL Time
Two telecom giants Dialog GSM and Sri Lanka Telecom have achieved a co-operation milestone in the advancement of the industry's infrastructure.
This has resulted in the commissioning of the tallest tower in Sri Lanka, the mammoth 150 Metre (500ft) Transmission tower in the Jaffna Peninsula, in equal partnership between Dialog and Sri Lanka Telecom.
The tower in Jaffna is one of two (02) transmission towers built under a Joint Venture project mooted by Sri Lanka's largest telecommunications operators to facilitate high capacity connectivity to the Jaffna Peninsula and neighboring districts. Dialog attributed the timely completion of the project to the close and excellent cooperation between the companies and the project execution skills of the SLT and Dialog teams.
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India ups aid for Lanka and other SAARC nations
Wednesday, 2 March 2005 - 1:47 AM SL Time
NEW DELHI, FEB 28 (PTI) - Allocation for technical and economic aid for Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Nepal have been increased while it has gone down marginally for African countries in the 2005-06 budget proposals for the External Affairs Ministry.
The total outlay for the ministry is Rs.3,928 crore, showing an increase of Rs.43 crore over the revised estimates for 2004-05. The budgetary support has gone up by Rs.30 crore to Rs.765 crore.
For Sri Lanka, the amount for aid and assistance programmes have been enhanced from Rs.15 crore to Rs.25 crore while for Myanmar it has been substantially increased from Rs.six crore to Rs.15 crore.
While for Bhutan, it has been hiked from Rs.1048 crores to Rs.1101 crore, it has been more than doubled for Bangladesh to Rs.52 crores from Rs.22 crores.
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Community centered Health Care Services - A development option
Wednesday, 2 March 2005 - 1:45 AM SL Time
The ideal of Health for All is not likely to be an attainable goal for most of the developing countries for many more years to come. A large proportion of `All` of our people (80%) live in rural areas and they are also still poor. In such a context if we are to achieve the target of 'All' then the services must necessarily be within the reach of the rural poor in terms of both cost and accessibility. The health care services in the country on the other hand are disproportionately over concentrated in the more urban, provincial and district capitals and that too of the more developed districts.
All the larger tertiary level Teaching and Provincial Hospitals with modern facilities and all specialist services are in the provincial capitols with nearly a third confined to Colombo . The secondary level Base hospitals with the major specialist services of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Pediatrics (occasionally some special disciplines e.g. Ophthalmology) are situated in the district capitals. These big referral hospitals Teaching , Provincial and Base taken together, while consuming the lion's share of all the available resources, mainly serve the people in the principal towns which form only 10.4% of the country's population .This phenomenon is further reflected in the development trends in the health sector.
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| Sports News
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A president for Swimming Union wanted
Tuesday, 1 March 2005 - 3:40 AM SL Time
The Swimming governing body Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) will be in limbo for at least another month or two for want of a President.
Just two weeks after being elected as the SLASU President for an unprecedented fourth term, Rear Admiral Wasantha Karanagoda leaving the Swimming Union rudderless!
In accordance with the Rules, the Swimming Union summoned a Special General Meeting to be held on Thursday March 10, and had requested the membership to submit nominations for the office of President and representation at the SGM.
SLASU Media spokesman C. Vijitha Fernando said that only present vice president SSP Kithsiri Dayananda had applied for the vacant post as applications closed last Thursday. His name had been proposed by the Police Sports Club and seconded by Panadura Aquatic Club.
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Kandy SC annex first Singer Sevens title
Tuesday, 1 March 2005 - 12:48 AM SL Time
Kings of local rugby, Kandy Sports Club `A`, won the Cup Championship in the first Singer Sevens Circuit rugby competition by beating their arch rivals CR & FC by 26 points to 24 in a fast, well contested game of rugby at the Nittawella Rugby Stadium last evening. The Plate went to CH & FC `A`. They beat CR & FC `B`. The Bowl was won by Kandy Sports Club `B` and the Shield by Army SC `B`.Yesterday, Nittawella presented a unusual sight. It seemed as though the town's rugby folk had turned out in full force for a party thrown open to all. It also seemed that the 'Open' invitation had made it known that there was no specific dress code. Anything went for the occasion. And on a hot sunny afternoon at Nittawella, the large crowd present enjoyed rugger brimming over with froth.
Cup Final
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School Premier Cricket
Tuesday, 1 March 2005 - 12:48 AM SL Time
D. S. Senanayake College cruised to a rousing ten wicket victory over Maris Stella College Negombo in their inter school limited overs cricket tournament first round match played at Wijerama Mawatha yesterday.
Maris Stella: 88 in 31.3 overs (A. Perera 21, R. Laksiri 3 for 19, D. Liyanage 3 for 12)
D. S. Senanayake: 90 for no loss in 7.3 overs (C. Fernando 68 n.o, D. Harishchandra 16 n.o)
St. Peter's A take major honours
St. Peter's 'A' took major honours in their Battle of the Saints mini battle against St. Joseph's College 'A' which ended in a draw at Darley Road. The highlight of the match was a superb 131 scored by Peterite Shivanga Ranasuriya in the first innings.
St. Peter's A- 352:
St. Joseph's 'A': 252 (S. Weerasinghe 53, N. Rajapaksa 52, D. Perera 38, V. Perera 4 for 44, S. Edirisinghe 2 for 41) and 169 for 5 (H. Perera 98, L. Peiris 2 for 15)
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