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Irate Prisons Chief challenges CID to justify report
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 1:11 AM SL Time
Prisons Commissioner Rumy Marzook yesterday dismissed a CID report that blamed him of giving special treatment to an influential prisoner at Welikada.
Marzook claimed that it had been concocted to ridicule him. `It is part of their strategy to get me out of this place,` an angry Marzook said, challenging the CID to justify its report.
The report, submitted to Colombo Additional Magistrate Mohamed Irshadeen last Wednesday, speculated on the possibility of the prisoner, Senarath Bandara Ranasinghe, escaping the high security prison on May 6 last year due to slack security. The CID also alleged that the convict hadn't been handcuffed on Marzook's directive.
The convict had been also regularly taken to Marzook's office and the day of his escape, he had been brought from Prisons Hospital to make Vesak decorations and his disappearance had been noticed hours after the escape.
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Most Lankans in California believe : Easier for Govt-LTTE to negotiate in tsunami aftermath
Tuesday, 29 March 2005 - 6:39 AM SL Time
Los Angeles - Most Sri Lankans in California believe that it will be easier for the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers to negotiate in the aftermath of the December 26 tsunamis that wreaked havoc on the country`s coastline.
A poll conducted by Bendizen & Associates on behalf of San Francisco-based New California Media shows that 47% of Sri Lankan expatriates agreed when asked if the disaster made it `easier for government and Tamil Tigers to negotiate` while 33% disagreed.
The poll results, released at a press conference in Los Angeles on March 1 showed Sri Lankans leading other Asian groups when it came to following tsunami-related news. 73% of Sri Lankan-Americans surveyed said they watched the news `very closely,` followed by Chinese-Americans (64%), Korean Americans (63%) and Asian Indian-Americans (52%), despite Indonesia being the country most hard-hit with over 200,000 dead only 34% of Indonesian-Americans said they followed the news very closely.
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The Palk Strait: Nature`s bi-lateral buffer zone
Tuesday, 29 March 2005 - 4:20 AM SL Time
By A Senior Professor, University of Moratuwa
December 26, 2004, was particularly significant to the Indian Ocean. A tsunami resulted from the 9.3 Richter scale underwater earthquake with it`s epicenter off Indonesia`s western coast near it`s Aceh province on the northern tip off Sumatra. It had a devastating effect on the coastal states which fronted the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka suffered its worst natural disaster in history. It`s summary toll as reflected in the assessment undertaken by the ADB / JBIC / World Bank, mirrors the scale of damage to the island nation.
Just a mere three months before 26 / 12, Sri Lanka`s public pulse was beating heavily over another issue of grave concern in the Indian Ocean. It`s focus was across the Palk Strait linking the Gulf of Mannar and the Bay of Bengal. At it`s epicenter was India`s proposed `Sethusamudra Ship Canal Project (SSCP)`. The groundswell resulting from it fuelled by a massive media hype was equally earth shattering on both sides of the Palk Strait.
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Politics
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Minister discovers first hand illicit logging
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 2:45 AM SL Time
Wanton destruction of forests adjacent to Wasgamuwa National Park by illicit loggers has been disclosed by Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Central Province Champika Wijeratne who had seen for himself several million rupees worth of illicitly felled logs during his recent inspection of the forest area.
He said that valuable forest trees including Satinwood, Milla, Ketathala and Damunu had been felled with power saws and transported to the road using heavy movers.+
The minister pointed out that Galgedawela lake would run dry soon if the forest in the catchment area was destroyed in this manner and that it would severely affect wildlife in the National park. He has called for a report from Government Agent, Matale K.Udage in this regard.
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CBK beats all men
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 1:12 AM SL Time
President Chandrika Kumaratunga has been nominated the leader with Sri Lankan values according to a research conducted by TNS.
Organisers Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing said that Premier Mahinda Rajapakse, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya and JVP parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa were the other nominees.
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Minister stresses need for changing constitution
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 1:09 AM SL Time
There are many things to be said from inside the government in the present context. But as a Minister nothing could be divulged, Post Telecommunication and Up country Development Minister D. M. Jayaratne, said at a Dr. N. M. Perera commemoration meeting in Kandy, recently.
The meeting was held at the D. S. Senanayake Public Library Auditorium.
As I am unable to disclose things I guard my tongue with difficulty, Minister Jayaratne said.
He stressed the need for a change of the Constitution.
`The system of electing representatives should be also done away with simultaneously with the Constitution. No single party could ever gain a clear majority to form a stable government. Even when a particular party gets a majority that party is compelled to beg the support of less important groups,` he said.
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Editorial News
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Old wine back into the old bottle'
Tuesday, 29 March 2005 - 2:48 AM SL Time
The government has embarked on a course of action which smacks of an attempt to put Humpty-Dumpty together. It has decided to revive the good old CTB, after rfailing to resuscitate the ailing cluster bus companies. The wheel of experiments has turned a full circle and the state bus service is back to square one!
However, this must be good news for the public who are battered and fleeced by the private bus operators, who have risen above the law.
The state run bus service has undergone several nomenclatural changes during the past few decades and withstood ravages of government change and allied policy u-turns. It stands as a monument to the colossal blunders committed by successive governments, which would have buried it alive and plundered the remaining assets but for the public outcry and the threat posed by the private buses running out of government control.
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A timely intervention needed for the survival of the peace process
Monday, 28 March 2005 - 5:50 AM SL Time
At the very commencement of the present peace process, Interim Administration (IA) was the buzzword particularly in the North and East. The LTTE gave much hopes to the war-weary civilians in the north and east that the conditions will be much better when the IA is established.
But as time passed by this hope became elusive and the LTTE itself drew their attention to various other matters of strategic importance and priority.
Then after the Washington donor conference in 2003 April, from which the LTTE was excluded, the LTTE withdrew from the Peace talks saying that until the urgent humanitarian needs of the Tamil people in the war-ravaged North and East are met through an effective administrative mechanism created for that purpose, they can no longer attend peace negotiations aimed at a final settlement to the conflict.
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Construction or confusion'
Sunday, 27 March 2005 - 3:26 AM SL Time
Yesterday marked three months to the day since the tsunami, the worst natural disaster to hit this country in recorded history. Three full moons since the calamity, and it's an opportune time to take stock of the post disaster picture.
The report card for three months is far from satisfactory, notwithstanding the President`s recent faux pas, the claim that `not even five cents` of pledged aid money has been received. ('was it an escape clause for her, or an idle rant'). Three months on, confusion - not construction - seems to be the operative word.
To date, the Government has not made known its accounting procedures -- which is cause for scores of accountability related queries, especially from overseas, regarding foreign funds being sent to Sri Lanka. There is a squint in the eye abroad when they talk of funds for the Government of Sri Lanka.
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| Security |
Udugampola charged on 19 counts
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 1:17 AM SL Time
Assistant Superintendant of Police (ASP) Kulasiri Udugampola was indicted with 19 counts in Kandy High court by the Attorney General. The charges include revealing secrets useful to enemies of the state violating the Official Secrets Act, arresting and detaining seven Army officials for three days and making false accusations against them and many others.
High Court Judge DSC Lekamwasam released the accused on bail in the sum of Rs. 10,000 and two personal bail of Rs. 100,000.
The Judge ordered the police to take finger prints of the ASP and ordered him not to travel abroad without court's permission, Asela Kuruluwansa reported from Kandy.
Raid on safe house:
Udugampola raided an Army safe house at Athurugiriya on 02 January, 2002 soon after the United National Front (UNF) government assumed office.
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Veddah before SC in conventional veddah attire
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 1:10 AM SL Time
Uruwarige Kakula, a veddah from Mahiyangana, on Monday appeared before the Supreme Court, in the conventional veddah attire, of an off white knee-high cloth, bare chest, and carrying an axe on the shoulder.
The veddah was a petitioner in a fundamental rights violation plea. He had said that he was abused by the officers of the Mahiyangana police, because he did not know Sinhala language.
The veddah through his lawyer Ms. Shamila Razoor, told the court that all the officers of the state were inconsiderate of the veddah interests, and that the veddah community had lost faith in the officers serving in that area. The petitioner had said that his community wants to uphold their traditional lifestyles.
The Supreme Court said that Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga and State Counsel Parinda Ranasinghe will visit Mahiyangana on April 2, 2005. They will work in collaboration with the Magistrate of Mahiyangana and the police and effect a settlement to the dispute between the veddah and the police.
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CID seeks Court order to scrutinise bank accounts
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 1:08 AM SL Time
The Crime Investigation Division (CID), investigating an alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs. 8.9 million, belonging to the Mahanuwara Bus Company Ltd., has sought an order from the Kandy Chief Magistrate, to the Peoples Bank of Kandy, to allow access to the transactions of five accounts maintained by the bus company.
An application seeking the order was submitted to the Chief Magistrate Harsha Sethunge by the CID.
The CID has commenced investigations into the alleged fraud following a complaint by the chairman of the bus company Jinasena Kurundugahamada.
Investigations are being conducted by IP Vishvanadan, according to the application which seeks the Court to order the bank to permit investigations into the transactions of the directors of the bus company. Investigations into the bank accounts are being made by the police officer Jayaratne who requires the court order.
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Business / Economy News
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Dialog GSM launches Lanka's first modern Audilogy Lab project
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 1:13 AM SL Time
The secret behind the success of Dialog GSM is not its multi-faceted marketing campaigns or the ability to use high tech, but the courage to reach out to the masses at large reducing the inequality in the society, said Chief Executive, Dialog GSM, Dr Hans Wijesuriya.
`We wanted our products to be freely available and affordable to each and every person even in the remotest village of the country. That is the secret of our success,` Dr. Wijesuriya said addressing a ceremony to mark the laying of foundation stone for the proposed two-story audiology center at the Deaf and Blind school in Ratmalana.
The Rs 25-million audiology laboratory, fully funded by Dialog GSM under its charity arm 'Change Trust Fund' will be fortified with state-of-the-art technology enabling the early detection of hearing-impairments. The project is to mark the company's achievement of reaching over one-million customers last year.
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Unilever`s Signal toothpaste clinches most preferred brand
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 1:12 AM SL Time
Signal toothpaste was named the Most Preferred Brand -Overall at the first National Icon Awards organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), which took place at the Water`s Edge on Monday. The awards were presented by SLIM in association with TNS, one of the largest market research agencies in the world. The unique feature of the awards was that it was based on consumer research involving a sample of almost 3000 Sri Lankans representing different social classes, agegroups and professions from across Sri Lanka.
SLIM President, Nalin Attygalle, welcome address said that power of the people for the people is the bottom line of the Icon Awards. He described the award winners as creators of history because of the nationla significance of the awards ceremony.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga won the award on the category Leader with Sri Lankan Values. JVP Parliamentary Group leader, Wimal Weerawansa - second place, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse - third place, United National Party Deputy leader Karu Jayasooriya - fourth and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was named the fifth.
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Singer Sri Lanka records Rs.2.8 bn gross profit, focuses on expansion
Tuesday, 29 March 2005 - 2:47 AM SL Time
Singer Sri Lanka is growing and by end of 2005 there would be as many as 230 new branches added to the company's retail outlets inventory signalling innovative marketing strategies.
The Singer brand had matured and was now the expected norm in their market adaptations, said Chairman /Managing Director, Singer ( Sri Lanka) Ltd., Hemaka Amarasuriya, Addressing the press recently.
He said net revenue increased to Rs. 8.6 billion in 2004, indicating an upward financial movement of approximately Rs.2 billion comparing the previous annual performance. Simultaneously gross profit end financial year 2004 was a healthy sum of approximately Rs. 2.8 billion.
In Consumer durables and retail sectors, in the Brand finance/Sting consultants Brand Power Index singer achieved leader ratings scoring AA-. This achievement gained them top standing in the ratings list ahead of 10 other companies attributing credentials to the Singer brand as an outstanding performer within the context of Branding. Branding has now gained board level importance in the corporate hierarchy, and its importance underscores the prestige levels associated with Company products, Amarasuriya said.
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| Sports News
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Thilanga alerts police on attempts to break in
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 2:45 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala has alerted the inspector general of police after receiving information that an attempt is being made by the sports minister`s interim committee to unlock the gates and enter the premises of Sri Lanka Cricket.
`I have been reliably informed that the police are going to support and assist the members of the interim committee and the officials of the sports ministry to forcibly take over the (cricket) headquarters building and other immovable property of Sri Lanka Cricket at Maitland Place, Colombo 7`, Sumathipala has conveyed to Police chief Chandra Fernando in a hard-hitting letter.
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Dasher Sanath is Sportsman of the Masses
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 1:15 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka's dashing opening batsman and former cricket captain Sanath Jayasuriya was named Sportsman of the Masses, at a ceremony held at the Water's Edge, on Monday.
He was named Sportsman of the Masses based on research conducted by TNS and audited by SJMS. It was organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing.
'The Island' was the official newspaper.
The nominees for Sportsman of the Masses were ' in addition to Sanath Jayasuriya ' Sri Lanka's main strike bowler, Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka cricket captain, Marvan Atapattu, spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games bronze medallist, Susanthika Jayasinghe.
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Sri Lanka provisional cricket squad named
Tuesday, 29 March 2005 - 2:52 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka cricket selectors named a squad of 18 players from which the final 14 will be selected for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand.
The inclusion of Nuwan Zoysa is subject to fitness.
In line for a come back are Lasith Malinga, Ruchira Perera, Avishka Gunawardena while Thilina Kandambi and Gayan Wijekoon are set to make their debut if selected.
The squad: Marvan Atapattu (Captain), Mahela Jayawardena, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Ian Daniel, T.M. Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekera, Upul Chandana, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Ruchira Perera, Avishka Gunawardena, Thilina Kandambi, Gayan Wijekoon.
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