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More Headline News
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Talks with LTTE soon: President
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:30 AM SL Time
President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday urged the European Union to persuade the LTTE to return to direct talks with the government without procrastination.
The Presidential Secretariat said Mrs. Kumaratunga made the appeal during a meeting with EU`s External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner at President`s House and expressed the hope that such negotiations would begin soon.
The President briefed Ms. Ferrero-Waldner, Austria`s former Foreign Minister on the current moves to establish a negotiated and lasting settlement to the conflict within the framework of the Oslo declaration.
She said that certain contentious issues needed to be ironed out but she believed talks could begin sooner than later.
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Largest number left for foreign jobs last year - SLBFE
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:26 AM SL Time
The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment said that 2,13,453 persons had left the shores for greener pastures last year. According to SLBFE last year had seen the largest number of people leaving for foreign employment.
In 2003 the numbers had been 2,08,803, sources of the bureau said.
Majority of the persons have gone to Saudi Arabia (7,691), Kuwait (36,533,) and United Arab Emirate (32,698). Among them 1,10,034 have gone as house maids.
Giving reasons for this increase in numbers they said that the bureau had taken several steps towards enhancing the welfare facilities of Sri Lankan migrant workers. It has also taken steps to ensure their safety as well.
Sources said that those who had left for foreign employment last year had also insurance benefits. The SLBFE had paid over Rs. 6 billion as insurance to those in foreign employment. From this amount around Rs. 3 billion had been for those who died while serving abroad.
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JVP demands withdrawal of Harrold's statement
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:25 AM SL Time
Vehemently condemning the statement made by the Colombo World Bank chief Peter Harrold that the WB was providing Rs 6 billion to the LTTE, the JVP said the statement was a threat to Sri Lanka's sovereignty and demanded that he withdraw it.
A media statement issued Sunday evening by party's politbureau said that the party had decided to pressure the World Bank to replace Peter Harrold who, the JVP charged, had dared to challenge Sri Lanka's sovereignty, and made an appeal to people to demand of an immediate withdrawal of the statement.
Certain sections of the WB country chief's statement challenged Sri Lanka's sovereignty, the party statement said. `Peter Harrold made this statement on the basis of ceasefire agreement reached by the unholy alliance of Ranil Wickremesinghe, Velupillai Prabhakaran and the Norwegians. That document contains sections giving legitimate status to the LTTE terrorist outfit, and it was shown neither to the Executive President of the country who is the commander in chief of the armed forces, nor to the Cabinet. Legality of that document is being challenged before courts. A representative of an international institute or even a representative of a foreign country has no right to deal directly with a terrorist group, whose aim is the separation of the country. The WB has no right to give aid to areas indicated by a separatist group. This is an attempt of the World Bank to help division of the country,` it said.
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Politics
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Supreme Court overrules IGP on DIG promotions
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:32 AM SL Time
Setting aside the Police Chief`s recommendation, the Supreme Court yesterday directed the police department to effect the promotions of the acting Senior DIGs before April 25.
Earlier the Police Chief Chandra Fernando had recommended a formal interview by the National Police Commission (NPC) before the promotions were granted.
The aggrieved DIGs are to submit their declaration of assets to the NPC through the IGP.
The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justices Shiranee Tilakawardene and Saleem Marsoof.
The DIGs complained to the Supreme Court that the new procedure sought to be adopted by the IGP for promotions to the rank of Senior DIGs was arbitrary, unreasonable, irrational, and unfair, and thwarts their legitimate expectations.
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Asia's women leaders mask continued inequality in political power game
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:29 AM SL Time
In the 21st century world the number of national leaders who are women remains extremely small, but with four female presidents and prime ministers currently in office Asia appears to be doing more than most regions for gender equality.
This picture of political power, however, is misleading since it does not so much reflect increasing female empowerment and grass roots representation as it does the region's enthrallment with dynastic politics, analysts and activists say.
While strides have been made in female political involvement since the first International Women's Day 30 years ago, the lesser-represented sex remains heavily in the minority in parliaments across Asia, recent figures show.
Asia has four women leaders: Prime Minister Helen Clark in New Zealand; President Gloria Arroyo in the Philippines; President Chandrika Kumaratunga in Sri Lanka and; Prime Minister Khalida Zia in Bangladesh.
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American Corner in Kandy
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:24 AM SL Time
The US Embassy will open the first 'American Corner' at the D. S. Senanayake Memorial public library, Kandy on March 10.
The American Corner will contain books, periodicals, videos, DVDs and computers equipped with CD-Roms and Internet web sites all focusing on the United States society, culture, history, population and education etc., a press release issued by the US Embassy yesterday said.
The American Corner will also host public readings of American literature and discussions on a wide variety of subjects related to the United States.
The Corner will be declared open by the American Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead, Larry Schwartz from the US State Department and actor Sanath Gunatilake, the relase said
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Editorial News
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Human sorrow and lupine wiles
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:29 AM SL Time
It is natural for family members and relatives of a victim of a road accident to lose temper and go berserk. Assaulting killer drivers and setting their vehicles ablaze following fatal accidents are common in this country. The initial protest that erupted when an army vehicle knocked down a schoolgirl in Jaffna on Friday is nothing out of the ordinary. How shocking it is when the life of a little one is snuffed out goes without saying.
We have in these columns, on a number of occasions, commented on the reprehensible manner in which military vehicles are driven on public roads. Some of them don't care a hoot about road rules and shove other road users veritably into the roadside drains.
Drivers - be it military or civilian - must be extra vigilant and considerate when children who usually lack kerb drill move on roads, as they usually do what is least expected like darting across the road. Little cyclists make the situation more complex as they make turns that are least predictable.
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`Failed nation` phobia
Monday, 7 March 2005 - 2:41 AM SL Time
The fear that is gripping the minds of many people today that this country would be declared a `failed nation` was given dramatic expression to by National Patriotic Movement (NPM), Joint Vice President, Wimal Weerawansa on Thursday when he addressed the anti-recolonialism meeting at the Vihara Mahadevi Park.
This indeed is a fear that has been growing for a long time and today it is reaching desperate levels with more and more people observing that the expected political unity and cooperation to rebuild the country, even after experiencing the tsunami devastation, is not forthcoming.
However, according to parliamentarian Weerawansa, the threat comes from the LTTE, NGOs and various other anti-nationalistic forces, who are doing their damnedest to destroy this country, defeating the efforts made by patriotic groups like the NPM
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Harrold clawing Lanka's sovereignty
Monday, 7 March 2005 - 2:33 AM SL Time
World Bank Country Director Peter Harrold's statement to the Sunday Times that the WB recognises the LTTE as a key stakeholder and his offer to release Rs. 6 bn to the North and the East to be disbursed with the concurrence with the LTTE shed light on how the closet Tigers in international organisation are clawing Sri Lanka's sovereignty.
`Given the fact that there is an officially recognised LTTE-controlled area, a kind of unofficial state and since it is a party to the ceasefire agreement with the Government, the LTTE has the status of a legitimate stakeholder,` Mr. Harrold has said (Emphasis added). He sounds just like Mr. Anton Balasingham, the ideologue of the LTTE, who quite understandably uses anything and everything to the advantage of his outfit.
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| Security |
LTTE kill two paramilitary cadres
Wednesday, 9 March 2005 - 2:08 AM SL Time
A Paramilitary cadre waiting to board a bus to Colombo opposite Batticaloa police headquarters had been shot dead by LTTE gunmen at 5.10 a.m. Tuesday. Another paramilitary cadre had been gunned at Eravur, north of Batticaloa, Monday night around 9.15. Eravur Police had identified him as a member of the Razeek Group, an auxiliary of the Sri Lanka army.
Velautham Ilankeswaran, 27, had been killed on Sinnathamby Road in Thalavaai, a suburb of Eravur.
The man killed in Batticaloa had been identified as Alakaiah Kirubeswaran, 37, an ex-member of PLOTE.
Army headquarters said that Kirubeswaran had been planning to go abroad.
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Pakistan Air Chief to visit Katunayake airbase
Wednesday, 9 March 2005 - 2:08 AM SL Time
The visiting Pakistan Air force Chief Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat is scheduled to visit Katunayake airbase where the SLAF had re-assembled several Chinese built F7s and one FT 5 and one FT 7 recently overhauled in Pakistan.
He is expected to visit the base on Thursday.
He is also scheduled to visit Kandy, Sigiriya and Anuradhapura where Pakistan Air force instructors had active recently.
Air force headquarters said that the Pakistan Air force continued to provide what the sources termed as the basic jet training, training of C 130 crews and a range of other valuable assistance.
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Finance Manager hangs himself
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:36 AM SL Time
Katugastota Police reported that the Assistance Finance Manager of the Kandy North Bus Depot of the Kandy Bus Company Limited had committed suicide by hanging himself in his house at Nugewela.
The victim is Amarasiri Gamage (54) a father of two children. He had committed suicide on Sunday night.
Katugastota Police are conducting further inquiries.
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Business / Economy News
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Southern highway rolls East
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:34 AM SL Time
An agreement was finalised yesterday between the Government, the European Union and the United States to extend the southern highway up to Batticaloa.
The highway originally meant to reach only up to Matara, will be extended to Batticaloa by a EU-US joint venture, Foreign Affairs Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar said at a Sri Lanka Foundation Institute workshop held yesterday.
The workshop was on improving coordination between the Government and non-governmental organizations (NGO) in post-tsunami reconstruction.
Minister Kadirgamar met European Union representatives in the morning where they had reached the agreement. Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama who was present at the venue confirmed the deal.
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Issue of new currency notes
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:31 AM SL Time
The Central Bank will soon issue currency notes of Rupees 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10 under the Sri Lanka Heritage Series bearing the signatures of Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama and Central Bank Governor Sunil Mendis.
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Commercial Bank grows stronger,maintains leadership in banking industry
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:27 AM SL Time
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has ended 2004, which could be described as `turbulent,` on a high note, with a strong financial performance, which has enabled the bank to maintain its preeminent position as the country`s leading private sector bank..
Releasing its annual report, a sectoral benchmark, the Commercial Bank Group comprising the bank, its subsidiaries and associate companies, announced today that pre-tax profit had crossed a milestone Rs 2.5 billion (Rs 2.594 billion), recording a growth of Rs 555 million or 27.24 per cent after provision for special VAT computed on net profit before tax and staff costs.
Group turnover, up Rs 2.687 billion to Rs 12.437 billion, reflected a similar growth of 27.56 per cent following solid growth in deposits, advances and principal income generators in a performance the bank described as `gritty` in circumstances that it said were adverse.
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| Sports News
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Lee records second fastest ball in history
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:38 AM SL Time
It`s difficult to decide whose knees will be knocking more this morning - those of the New Zealand test batsmen, or of the Australian test selectors.
Both camps were thrown into major disarray at the weekend after a scintillating display of fast-bowling from Brett Lee, who recorded the second-fastest delivery in cricket history during the final one-dayer at Napier.
Lee, who ended a dramatic week off and on the field with one of the most memorable overs in modern cricket, seems to have almost certainly forced the selectors` hand in terms of a recall for the first test in Christchurch, starting on Thursday.
The New South Wales tear-away`s opening over remains the talking point of Australia`s 122-run win at McLean Park, despite the visitors` record score of 347 for five, Ricky Ponting`s imperious 141 not out, and the eventual 5-nil series margin. The ground radar showed the 28-year-old reaching consecutive (and rounded-up) speeds throughout the over of 143, 151, 158, 158, 160, 161 and 158km/h (including a wide), in what was possibly the fastest spell seen since England`s Frank Tyson played.
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Prime Minister`s schoolboy-son to contest Athletics vice presidency
Tuesday, 8 March 2005 - 1:36 AM SL Time
S. Thomas` College schoolboy Namal Rajapakse, the elder son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, has submitted a nomination to contest the vice presidency of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka as the nominations for the forthcoming annual election for the country`s athletics governing body closed yesterday.
Rajapakse is better known as a ruggerite who captained the Sri Lanka team for the Junior Rugby Asiad last year. Rajapakse also made his debut as a racing driver last year. But his nomination to the Athletics Association office comes as a surprise and is probably an unprecedented case of a schoolboy contesting such a post in a national sports body.
His father held office as the President of the Athletics Association, a few years back.
Another surprise nomination was that of Southern Provincial Council Sports Minister V.K. Indika. Both Rajapakse and Indika have been nominated by the Hambantota District Athletics Association.
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Murali set to miss Sri Lanka`s cricket tour of NZ
Monday, 7 March 2005 - 11:32 PM SL Time
Muralitharan will resume bowling on March 17 after shoulder surgery in February. That leaves him with too little time to regain full fitness ahead of the first test in Napier starting on April 4.
While there is a slim chance he could make the second test in Wellington starting on April 11, Sri Lanka will be wary about pushing him back too soon and risking further injury.
`Murali`s shoulder is still stiff although we expected that until the end of the six-week period,` Clarke said.
`He will gradually start rehabilitation and bowling again but the New Zealand tour is unrealistic.`
Muralitharan, 32, who is getting married later this month to an Indian in Chennai, is contracted to play county cricket for Lancashire during the first half of the English summer.
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