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Tigers want forces out
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 12:29 AM SL Time
Hartals were organized yesterday (14) in Jaffna and Trincomalee, by civilians with LTTE backing, putting the security forces and the police on a red alert, security sources in the North said.
While the civilians, who took part in the demonstrations, demanded the withdrawal of the security forces from Jaffna, the civilians in Trincomalee were demanding the distribution of tsunami assistance funds and material, but in both cases the civilians were coerced or influenced by the LTTE to join the protests, sources said.
While shops remained closed in the Trincomalee town, transport in and around the town was also affected. DIG Eastern Range Neville Wijesinghe told The Island that security by the police and the security forces was beefed up to prevent any incidents.
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Referendum: UNP questions wisdom of government
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 12:28 AM SL Time
*We also agree some changes to presidency needed
*Concentrate on relief effort
*If 80% for federalism, disregard 15% opposition
The UNP yesterday (14) questioned the wisdom of the UPFA government in going for a referendum on constitutional reforms while the country was still reeling under the devastation caused by the tsunami.
`A proposed referendum seeks to set up a Federal form of government, make certain constitutional reforms to the position of Executive Presidency and bring in reforms to the existing preferential electoral system. But all three issues have been subjects of much debate in the country for a considerable time,` a spokesman for the UNP said.
The fact that 80 percent of the people opt for a federal form of government as a political solution has been accepted by President Kumaratunga and that the view of 15 percent who were opposed to it need not be an impediment to its implementation as stated by her, said former Minister and UNPMP Bandula Gunawardena making a statement on behalf of the party.
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Tamil teachers appointed for schools in CP
Monday, 14 March 2005 - 5:31 AM SL Time
One hundred and twenty four teaching appointments for Tamil Teachers will be given by the Minister of Industries, Sports, Youth Affairs, Estate Infrastructure Development, Hindu Cultural Affairs and Tamil Education of the Central Provincial Council and the National Organiser of the Ceylon Workers` Congress Velusamy Radhakrishnan at a ceremony to be held at the Ministry Office at Getambe in Kandy today at 9.30 a.m.
Provincial Minister Velusamy Radhakrishnan said that these appointees for teachers who underwent training at the Sri Pada College of Education at Kotagala and the appointments will be in the subjects of Science, Social Studies, Karnataka Music, Primary School Education and Islam.
He said that these teachers will be immediately posted to the schools where urgent vacancies exist in the Central Province. The filling up of these vacancies will fill up a void which affected the studies in some of these schools.
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Politics
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Presidential committee takes over Media Ministry work
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 2:15 AM SL Time
The administration of the Media Ministry and institutions under it has been brought under the purview of a committee headed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, informed sources said yesterday.
They said a letter to this effect had been sent to Media Ministry Secretary W.D. Ganegoda and Minister Mangala Samaraweera who apparently unaware of this had gone abroad for two weeks.
Accordingly the Committee headed by the President will attend to administration appointments, promotions, transfers and take decision regarding policy matters.
The committee will include the Media Minister, the Ministry Secretary, Presidential Secretary, heads of all state media and two others appointed by the President.
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Saudi Prince here today
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 12:27 AM SL Time
His Royal Highness Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal Abdul Azeez, of the Saudi Royal Family will arrive in Sri Lanka today (15), to study the damage caused to Sri Lanka by the tsunami disaster and to assist in rehabilitation of the devastated communities, a press release issued by the Finance Ministry yesterday (14) said.
The Prince is also the Chairman of Kingdom Holdings Company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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OUSL students accuse administration of unwise moves
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 12:25 AM SL Time
The Students Council of Open University accused the Administration of the University of making unwise decisions regarding the 23,000 student population, by getting the CID to shadow the student leaders, who had led the protests against the administration.
In a statement issued yesterday the student council said all University Examinations had been postponed for six months due to the weak administration of the university and this had created frustration among students, who were engaged in studies while being employed. The delay in holding examinations which were postponed on three occasions in the year 2004 and the 'unwise' step of employing the CID to gather information of the student leaders would only create further problems to students, student council said.
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Editorial News
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President can establish credibility through joint tsunami mechanism
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 2:14 AM SL Time
Ten weeks after the tsunami struck the country, the government is still struggling to meet the needs of the tsunami affected population. There is much disaffection with the government`s performance in the north, east and south. This would put the government on the defensive and on the look out for a way to ensure its political survival. The massive aid that was pledged by the international community has not still materialised in tangible form to the people. In the south, the people blame the inefficiency of the governmental system. In the north east, the people are more likely to see discrimination by a government that is unmoved by the needs of the ethnic minorities, or so it seems.
The continued inability of the government and LTTE to find a method by which international aid could go to the north east will confirm the suspicions of the ethnic minorities living in those regions. As far as the ground reality goes, the LTTE controls a major part of the north east and exerts a strong influence over all of it. Therefore, it is clear that the government has to reach an accommodation with the LTTE to reach the people there, even if it is to make financial resources available to them. For the past several weeks there has been intense discussion between the government and LTTE peace secretariats regarding the disbursement of tsunami aid through a collaborative mechanism.
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Peter`s denial: Tiger by the tale
Sunday, 13 March 2005 - 2:21 AM SL Time
The Sunday Times journalist Tyron Devotta was on the World Bank`s e-mail list for news releases. One day last month he received a two-page announcement about World Bank support to Sri Lanka for tsunami recovery. It said total financing needs for Sri Lanka was estimated to be approximately US $ 1.5 to 1.6 billion.
This was on the basis of damage and needs assessment conducted by the World Bank in conjunction with the Asian Development Bank and the Japan Bank for International Co-operation.
What struck Devotta most was the final paragraph in the announcement. It said that the Bank would now be participating with all other development partners and key stakeholders, `including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and in close collaboration with the Government on the development of district-based reconstruction plans for the affected areas.`
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Bridge building with bats and balls
Saturday, 12 March 2005 - 12:57 AM SL Time
Love for cricket in this part of the world knows no bounds. We, South Asians, breathe it, sleep it and live it and are notorious for playing it the way military battles are fought. There have been even instances where thrillers have left some dead while watching TV.
We, being quite adept at adaptation, have indigenised the game as could be seen from the way unofficial cricket is being played at venues ranging from streets to fallow paddy land, where the polpithi bat has lofted willow over the rope and sarong has beaten daylight out of pyjamas. He who said love is blind may also have our street cricketers in mind. Their love for the game oftentimes blinds them to the danger of crossing the path of speed fiends.
Once at a party thrown by a colonial bigwig in the run up to Independence, an Indian is reported have boasted: `Sirs, you have given us English. But today we speak it in such a way that even you cannot understand it!` We have done, as it were, the same thing to the game of cricket in some respect. Our master blasters have made the one day game stand on its head and turned it into a roller coaster ride. They at times try to turn test matches, too, into entertaining one dayers much to the astonishment of suddhas. Sometimes their gamble works and at other times they commit hara-kiri en masse.
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| Security |
Wholesale trade thrown into turmoil
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 12:24 AM SL Time
Navy takes over checking of cargo in port
With the Navy taking over checking of containers, inside the port of Colombo since last Friday, due to security reasons, the Pettah wholesalemarket has been thrown into turmoil. Due to this reason, number of wholesale outlets were closed yesterday (15)
The Old Moor Street Traders Association and Ceylon Hardware Merchants Associations said that earlier 200 to 300 containers were cleared per day, but since last Friday only 20 to 30 containers were cleared a day and this had led to essential imports like potatoes and onions beginning to rot in the port. They said the prices of food items like potatoes, dhal, onions, sugar and rice, would increase creating problems for the people.
Hardware merchants also put up shutters yesterday stating that government should have understood the gravity of their decision, as the inordinate delay in the clearing goods at the port was causing a shortage of essential hardware items in the market leading to an increase in prices at a time when their goods were urgently needed to rebuild a tsunami damaged country.
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All three killed in two road accidents
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 12:23 AM SL Time
A mother and her son, who were travelling in a three-wheeler to attend the hearing of the case on the death of her husband who had died in a motor accident, were themselves killed when their three-wheeler collided with a lorry recently.
The three-wheeler had been on the Hatton-Ginigathhena Road travelling towards Ruwanwella when a Hatton bound lorry knocked down the smaller vehicle.
The mother, K. L. Karunawathi (47) was first admitted to Teligama Hospital and was later transferred to Awissawella Base Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The son, A. P. Ranil Sampath, died at the Colombo General Hospital.
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Attorney-at-law arrested over missing file
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 12:23 AM SL Time
An Attorney-at-law and a court employee were taken into custody by the crime investigation unit of the Kandy police, in connection with the disappearance of a file of a illicit liquor case pending in the courts.
The suspects were produced before the Kandy Chief Magistrate Harsh`E5 Setunge, who ordered a personal bail of Rs. 100,000 each with a warning to appear in the court on Monday.
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Business / Economy News
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Software Sri Lanka aims to be a US $ 1 billion industry by 2012
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 2:21 AM SL Time
Launching its new brand identity -SOFTWARE SRILANKA-, the Software Exporters Association pledged that it would strive to become a one billion US dollar industry by the year 2012. The new brand identity logo was launched by the Software Exports Association (SEA) together with Sri Lanka Software Industry at a ceremony presided over by Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama.
The Sri Lanka software export industry is one of the country`s fastest growing exporters with approximately US $ 75 million in revenue in 2004 and a value addition of over 90%. The success stories range from local companies that have undertaken high profile projects overseas to international software companies that have chosen Sri Lanka to set up development centres. The industry has over 40 companies operating in overseas markets capable of taking on a diverse range of software projects and has now come together to position itself with a brand identity Software Sri Lanka.
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Japan to assist establish DMS
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 12:23 AM SL Time
Japan is to help Sri Lanka to establish an effective Disaster Management System.
A Japanese Government delegation led by Tatsuno Hamaguchi, Director General National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport will visit Sri Lanka from March 17 to 20, a press release issued by the Japanese Embassy yesterday (14) said.
The team comprises experts from various Japanese Government Ministries who deal with natural and industrial disasters. They will share their knowledge with local personnel and meet their Sri Lankan counterparts to discuss matters relating to establishing an effective Disaster Management System in Sri Lanka.
The Japanese delegation will visit the tsunami affected areas of the South and East of the country the release said.
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Diya Kovula sails again
Monday, 14 March 2005 - 1:04 AM SL Time
The Dredger Ship `Diya Kovula` which was washed ashore in the aftermath of the Boxing Day Tidal Tragedy, was successfully put back to sea yesterday evening.
Tagged as `Jumbo Javelin` a Netherlands ship owned by IHC Company fitted with the world`s biggest crane hoisted up the Diya Kovula and lowered it into the water.
The Diya Kovula used to dredge the Galle harbour and de-silt the deep sea was anchored at Galle harbour when the tsunami washed her to the shore and it got stuck in a jetty. The net weight of the ship is about 667 tons. The ship was also bought from IHC Company of Netherlands.
As there were no big cranes available in Sri Lanka to carry out the work, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority called for international tenders. But, the Netherlands Government volunteered help to put back Diya Kovula into the sea free of charge. SLPA Chairman Dileepa Wijesundera said that as the Netherlands government volunteered, about Rs. 97 million were saved.
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| Sports News
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Nalanda scrape through to two-wicket win
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 12:28 AM SL Time
Nalanda restricted Ananda College for a modest 177 for 9 wickets and then were cruising for an easy win at 138 for three by the 33rd over but then lost five quick wickets within 31 runs in a pressure-filled last half-hour of play before ultimately scraping through to win by two wickets in their annual One-Dayer ended at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo on Sunday.
Ananda, following their drawn 'Big Match' that ended last week, failed to keep to their quick run-getting seen at the start, after they won the toss and elected to bat first on a true SSC track, and had to huff and puff finally for a sizeable total of 177 for 9. Their middle-order bat Wishwa Wijesuriya top-scored with 55 (in 99 balls and 2 fours) but failed to 'come out of the shell' to accelerate scoring although he shared a consolidating 50 runs for the fifth wicket with C. Herath (25). Anandians succumbed mainly to the hostile fast bowling of opener Prabath Kariyapperuma who ended with fine figures of 9-2-21-4 to devour the Ananda top and middle-order batting.
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Sri Lanka bundled out for 145
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 12:27 AM SL Time
Fifteen wickets tumbled on an absorbing first day of the second unofficial Test between England 'A' and Sri Lanka 'A' at the Nondescripts' Cricket Club ground in Colombo. By the close, England still held the upper hand, but their position was considerably less secure than it ought to have been.
By bundling the Sri Lankans out for 145, with the captain, Ian Bell, taking the lead with 4 for 18 from nine overs of medium pace, England had a golden opportunity to stamp their authority on the match and push for a 2-0 clean sweep. Instead, they themselves slipped to 118 for 5 in reply. Owais Shah was 27 not out at stumps, but had Sri Lanka's captain, Jehan Mubarak, held on at leg slip in the closing overs, England's position would have been all the more precarious.
The day began well for England. Despite losing the toss for the second match running, England's bowlers took advantage of some slap-dash batting, on a juicy track that was offering assistance from the earliest overs. Rikki Clarke made the first breakthrough, having Ian Daniel caught behind for 9, and though Sri Lanka recovered to 79 for 2, Sajid Mahmood made two important breakthroughs in the middle order, including Mubarak for 11.
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Nalanda in exciting two-wicket win
Monday, 14 March 2005 - 5:32 AM SL Time
Nalanda College pulled off an exciting two-wicket victory over their traditional rivals Ananda College in their annual limited overs cricket encounter played at the SSC grounds, Maitland Place yesterday.
The Anandians were dismissed for a modest 177 from 50 overs despite a fighting half century from W. Wijesuriya. P. Kariyapperuma did most of the damage capturing four wickets for 21 runs.
However the Nalandians too struggled for runs before reaching 181 for 8 in 42.1 overs with Sachithra Serasinghe, Gihan Rupasinghe and S. Wijethunga making useful contributions.
Ananda: 177 in 50 overs (P. Boteju 26, W. Wijesuriya 55, C. Herath 25, P. Kariyapperuma 4 for 21)
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