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Norwegian Tamils want Oslo disarm Tigers
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 1:33 AM SL Time
A group of Tamils, now domiciled in Norway and going under the banner, Liberal Democratic Tamils in Norway (LDTN), has urged the Norwegian government to get the LTTE to disarm as it was the only way of ensuring peace in the North and East, a report in the Asian Tribune, filed from Oslo, said yesterday.
The LDTN had written to Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Petersen, the text of which was published in the Asian Tribune, that it was the responsibility of Norway to ensure that the Tamils live peacefully.
The Asian Tribune report said: `The LDTN has urged Norway to take immediate and effective steps to stop the killing spree unleashed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Recently established LDTN, in a letter to Jan Petersen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that the only way to ensure peace in the North and East is to disarm the LTTE.
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Norway slams Colombo media report
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 10:47 PM SL Time
Norway Tuesday slammed a Colombo media report that it has conveyed a warning to the Government of Sri Lanka and international donors that it is considering a suspension of its role as facilitator to the Peace Process. The Norwegian embassy in Colombo categorically denied the report. Daily Mirror published from Colombo in a lead story Tuesday quoting `informed sources` said: `the LTTE may withdraw from the ceasefire agreement and Norway may suspend its role as facilitator if the government fails to set up a joint mechanism with the LTTE before the end of April to handle tsunami rebuilding in the northeast.
`They said both the LTTE and Norway had already informally conveyed this warning to the government and several international donors including the European Union have urged the government to act fast on this matter`, the paper added quoting the informed sources.
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LTTE, Norway warn of pull-out
Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - 10:43 PM SL Time
The LTTE may withdraw from the ceasefire agreement and Norway may suspend its role as facilitator if the government fails to set up a joint mechanism with the LTTE before the end of April to handle tsunami rebuilding in the northeast, informed sources said Monday.
They said both the LTTE and Norway had already informally conveyed this warning to the government and several international donors including the European Union have urged the government to act fast on this matter. Oslo will however remain in the SLMM in its monitoring capacity.
They said Sri Lanka might lose billions of dollars in aid if the government did not set up the joint mechanism with the LTTE for rebuilding operations.
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Politics
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Who's running the show at Rupavahini'
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 1:59 AM SL Time
With conflicting reports and confusion as to whether some functions of the Media Ministy have been brought under the purview of a committee headed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, questions have arisen as to how Rupavahini Deputy Director Kulasiri Kariyawasam, brother of the editor of a JVP journal, was sent on a week-long trip to Japan.
According to reports, the Rupavahini board had given approval for Prasad Dodangoda from the foreign news unit to attend a tsunami workshop in Japan two weeks ago. But Mr. Kariyawasam had also gone with the approval of Director General Nishantha Ranatunga.
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Website for S.B - sbdissanayake.com
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 1:20 AM SL Time
S. B. Dissanayake is to launch a website (www.sbdissanayake.com) today. Mrs. Tamara Dissanayake said that the launch was scheduled to take place at Kings Court, Trans Asia tomorrow (17) at 6 pm. The launch would coincide with Dissanatake's 100th day at Welikada. The former minister is serving a two-year RI for contempt of court.
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Arrest Warrant on ex-Pramuka chief Rohan Perera
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 1:12 AM SL Time
Colombo High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne yesterday issued warrant for the arrest of Rohan Perera, the Chairman of the now defunct Pramuka Bank through the Interpol. Warrant was also issued on Ahamed Ifthika Wahid who had engaged in foreign exchange frauds in coltivision with Rohan Perera. This was following a motion filed by Senior State Counsel Yasantha Kodagoda.
The Attorney General`s Department had filed an indictment against five accused including Rohan Perera, under the Exchange Control Act, for fraudulently sending US$ 200 million out of Sri Lanka. This is considered to be the biggest foreign exchange fraud in Sri Lanka. The five accused are said to have committed this offence between November 28, 1995 and April 30, 1996. The two accused on whom warrant was issued are presently out of the country.
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Editorial News
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Elections, referendums and trial balloons
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 1:24 AM SL Time
The government is said to be contemplating a referendum on a number of key issues such as the abolition of the Executive Presidency, electoral reforms and devolution of power. There has been no official confirmation from the government.
Of late, the government has uttered nary a word about its ambitious Constituent Assembly to change the constitution and what is up its sleeve is anybody's guess. The referendum on the cards could be a trial balloon.
The knee jerk reaction of the UNP has been to oppose it on the ground that the situation in the country is not conducive for such an exercise. But the same UNP demands a presidential election before the year end, which will bring about a political tsunami of sorts given the manner in which elections are fought in this country. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the chosen one of the Greens for the race, has gone on record eulogising the executive presidency. This is an indication that UNP won't support the government efforts to abolish the presidency though it may agree to some changes being effected to it while retaining its core powers.
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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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| Security |
Two Wanni Tigers shot dead
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 1:10 AM SL Time
Two hardcore informants of the Wanni LTTE group were killed at the Karapala Village close to Welikanda, Monday (15) night. They were shot dead by suspected Karuna Amman cadres, police said.
These two men, who were in constant contact with Wanni LTTE cadres, were suspected to be providing information about the movement of LTTE breakaway Karuna Amman's loyalists in the area. The two men were abducted from their homes by unidentified persons and were shot dead at a deserted place, police said.
Police said the Karuna Amman group was once again stepping up attacks on the Wanni LTTE cadres and informants in the Eastern Province.
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Arrest warrant on gas ship
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 1:09 AM SL Time
The Colombo High Court March 9 issued a warrant to arrest the vessel named 'Formentera', now lying at anchor in the port of Galle, following a petition by Master Divers (Pvt) Ltd. claiming a reward for saving the vessel during the tsunami disaster.
Master Divers had sued the vessel's owners, the Mundo Gas Company, for not paying any reward for saving the vessel filled with gas tanks during the tsunami disaster.
Master Divers, filing a petition before Colombo High Court, stated that this vessel was at the port of Galle when the tsunami tidal waves came in shifting the water level about thirty feet above sea level.
The ships including Formentera had been shifted towards the shore as a result of the waves and the petitioner company had employed one of its tugs to save the vessel by pulling it into the middle of the harbour.
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Speeding trains send track off
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 1:07 AM SL Time
The excessive speed of the intercity express train has caused the rebuilt rail track to go out of alignment between Ambalangoda and Kahawa yesterday causing long delays in the running schedule.
Due to this, he Colombo-Galle intercity express could only reach Galle only around 9.00 p.m. when the scheduled time was 7.15 p.m.The Samudra Devi, which followed, too arrived late after stopping at a number of places due to the damaged track.
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Business / Economy News
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Asia`s budget airlines boost travel, tourism
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 2:01 AM SL Time
SINGAPORE Tuesday, Mar 15 A plethora of new no-frills airlines have taken to the skies in Asia, spurring both domestic and regional travel last year and are boding well for Asian tourism. The regional impact is most visible in Singapore.
Low-fare carriers accounted for 7 percent of the 3,700 weekly flights at Changri Airport last year, helping the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in its drive to reinforce the city-state`s position as a gateway for intra-regional travel.
At least three no-frill airlines base their flights out of Singapore, including ValuAir owned by former Singapore Airlines executive Lim Chin Beng, SIA`s Tiger Airways and Qantas Airway`s JetStar Asia.
Others, such as Malaysian budget-airlines pioneer AirAsia, are using Singapore as a major destination and hub.
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Ceylinco Life achieves 100% settlement of tsunami claims
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 2:00 AM SL Time
Ceylinco Life has settled every claim made in respect of persons lost in the December 26 tsunami, the country`s leading insurer announced this week.
It said the company had received a total of 165 claims as at the first week of March, and had honoured all of them by Monday, March 14, achieving a 100 per cent settlement record.
Ceylinco Life Chief Executive Director R. Renganathan said: `The tsunami created an unprecedented situation for the insurance sector, and achieving a 100 per cent settlement is very commendable in that context.`
He said policyholders covered for accidental death had received double the sum assured, since the company had decided to qualify loss of life in the tsunami for the accidental death benefit as well.
Claims were received from Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Tissamaharama, Amparai, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Jaffna.
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Colombo Dockyard completes biggest-ever repair project
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 1:18 AM SL Time
The Colombo Dockyard Limited (CDL) will reach a milestone with the completion of the biggest single project it has so far undertaken, when it flags off the Indian Navy's Floating Dock ' 1 (FDN-1) today at 9.30 am.
High Commissioner for India in Sri Lanka, Ms. Nirupama Sen will be the chief guest at the historic event.
A spokesman for the CDL told 'The Island' that the Dockyard was awarded the contract to effect retrofit repairs to the Floating Dock with a total contract value of approx. US $ 13.84 million. `This is also the first job the Indian Navy has awarded to the Colombo Dockyard, strengthening the bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and India,` he said. `A0
The Floating Dock arrived at Colombo Dockyard on May 19, last year and docked at 125,000DWT dock No.4, having commenced her long journey from Port Blair on the May 6.
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| Sports News
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Bandara shines again as Sri Lanka 'A' level series
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 2:02 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka `A` underwent some anxious moments before pulling off a 39 run win over England `A` with a day to spare in the second unofficial test match concluded at the NCC grounds yesterday. The two match series ended with one win each.
The visitors chasing a target of 285 to win were back to the wall with five of their top order batsmen sent back to the pavilion with a paltry score of 22. The first to go was Vikram Solanki out without scoring off the bowling of Gayan Wijekoon. He struck again in the next ball when he dismissed Engalnd `A` skipper Ian Bell.
Star batsman Owais Shah followed two runs later becoming a victim of Nandika Ranjith and this left England `A` in dire straits. The fourth wicket fell at 21 that of Michael Powell.jsp' class=black>Powell trapped leg before wicket by Anushka Polonowita and Rikki Clarke was the next clean bowled by Thilina Thushara.
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'Slow Death Bucknor' eyes World Cup
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 - 1:32 AM SL Time
LONDON, March 14 (Reuters) - Steve Bucknor was already looking ahead to officiating in the 2007 World Cup as he prepared to become the first umpire to stand in 100 tests this week.
`I`m just trying to get to the World Cup in 2007,` the Jamaican said in a statement on Monday, two days before he takes the field in Calcutta for the second test between India and Pakistan.
`That would be the ultimate, to stand in a fifth World Cup in the Caribbean, where my career started. That would be tremendous.`
Bucknor, who will be awarded golden bails by the International Cricket Council for reaching the landmark, will officiate the test alongside Darrell Hair.
`It means a lot to be the first umpire to reach this milestone of 100 matches because when I first started in the West Indies, I never dreamed I could get anywhere near that figure,` said Bucknor.
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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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