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More Headline News
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Colombo`s transport refusal endangers CFA- Thamilchelvan
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 - 1:24 AM SL Time
`Serious crisis has developed over Sri Lanka Government`s continuing refusal to provide travel security to our military commanders across Government controlled areas forcing us to plan our own armed escort. We have pointed out to the Norwegian facilitators to urgently seek the response from Colombo on this matter. Failure to resolve this issue will call into question the continued observation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA),` said Thamilchelvan in a press briefing to reporters in Kilinochchi, after meeting with Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar and Mr. Wagn Winkel, acting Head of the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Kilinochchi Tuesday morning.
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Swiss Government to support proposed travel ban on LTTE
Tuesday, 7 June 2005 - 12:27 PM SL Time
Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo, SLT 7.30 A.M Tuesday 7 June 2005. The LTTE is coming under increasing pressure to eschew violence and stop recruiting child soldiers. The Swiss government is to support a travel ban on the LTTE as recommended by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Children in Armed Conflict, Olara Ottunu, if the Security Council passes a resolution and the LTTE continues to recruit child soldiers, spokesman at the Swiss embassy in Sri Lanka, Martin Steurzinger said yesterday. UN Security Council is expected to discuss the proposal soon
In February this year Ottunu in his 5th report on Children in Armed Conflict recommend ed that the Security Council take targeted and concrete measures where insufficient or no progress had been made by parties named in annexed lists, including the imposition of travel restrictions on leaders and their exclusion from any governance structures and amnesty provisions, the imposition of arms embargoes, a ban on military assistance, and restrictions on the flow of financial resources to the parties concerned. Ottunu saw the proposed monitoring system as a way to compel warring parties to observe their obligations with regard to children and armed conflict, particularly in such cases as Sri Lanka, where there was currently no fighting, but no peace either, and it had been reported that the separatist `Tamil Tigers`continued to recruit children
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President, Prime Minister hold urgent talks
Tuesday, 7 June 2005 - 4:20 AM SL Time
President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday summoned Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and several key Ministers for an emergency meeting at President`s House, presidential sources said.
They said the talks known to be crucial would revolve round her future course of action on the joint mechanism with the LTTE and a possible Cabinet reshuffle.
Though the President emphasized to the Prime Minister the need to go ahead with the signing of the JM, the Prime Minister had reportedly told the President to be a little more flexible on the matter and consult the others concerned before taking a final decision.
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Politics
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Oslo optimistic
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 - 4:26 AM SL Time
Norway yesterday expressed optimism regarding the early signing of the Joint Mechanism agreement between teh government and the LTTE after Ambassador Hans Brattskar and SLMM.jsp' class=black>SLMM Acting cheif Wagn Winkel held extensive talks in Kilinochchi with LTTE Political Wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan.
Norwegian diplomatic sources said Mr. Thamilselvan expressed the LTTE`s keenness to sign the agreement for the Joint Mechanism but also expressed concern over the government delay apparently due to an internal conflict in the UPFA.
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UNP MP takes colleague to court over slanderous Rupavahini report
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 - 4:20 AM SL Time
In an unprecedented move a UNP MP is taking a colleague to court over what he claims were slanderous Rupavahini reports based on his comments on an incident involving him.
Puttalam District MP Palitha Ranga Bandara is threatening the District Chairman and MP Neomal Perera with a defamation case unless he is paid Rs. 20 million.
The retired policeman, through his lawyers recently had written to Perera demanding the payment within 30 days.
Bandara is believed to have consulted several political colleagues before taking legal action.
Bandara has disputed Perera's claim that he pounced on a journalist photographing a site at Tabbowa where he (Bandara) was constructing a building without obtaining approval, a charge vehemently denied by the complainant.
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Chandrika will have to use a net to protect her MPs - Hemakumara
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 - 4:15 AM SL Time
UNP Parliamentarian Hemakumara Nanayakkara says, President Kumaratunga will have to use a net to protect her MPs from leaving instead of trying to net MPs from the opposition United National Party. Reacting to stories that Kumaratunga was trying to get the support of UNP MPs, Nanayakkara said `There is no truth that UNP parliamentarians are trying to cross over to her alliance. She will fail miserably and she will have to find a very strong net to protect her own people from defecting.`
`Even though the JVP has threatened to quit the government, we are sure they would not do so as long as Chandrika holds onto thirty five (35) files on the conduct and activities of the JVP MPs`, Nanayakkara said.
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Editorial News
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Crucial choice
Tuesday, 7 June 2005 - 4:21 AM SL Time
The time has come for the leaders and the people of this country to decide whether they would give in to their emotions, act egoistically and push the country into further confusion and destabilisation or act rationally, magnanimously and compassionately and pull the country out of the present impasse thus making it a nation in which all communities could live in peace and harmony.
The greater responsibility lies in the political and religious leadership for guiding the people wisely in the present crucial situation. The sabre-rattling that goes on among them over the vital national issue of establishing the proposed Post-Tsunami Management Operations Structure has quickly to be converted into a refined national dialogue, devoid of acrimony and stridency.
In fact there is no need for acrimony or antagonism since there is near unanimity among leaders and people that the LTTE should be humanised and democratised by eliminating the remaining Tamil grievances and that the long-suffering people of the North and East whose conditions have further worsened, to an intolerable extent by the tsunami, have to be rescued from their predicament.
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India is the answer
Monday, 6 June 2005 - 3:54 AM SL Time
It is most unfortunate that Scandinavian led truce monitors and Norwegian facilitators of our peace process merely wring their hands as LTTE's ceasefire violations gets more and more serious day by day, while funding of the Tigers and open arm welcomes extended to LTTE teams visiting these countries, including highly publicized meetings with their top officials go on as if nothing matters.
The LTTE, which has nicely encircled Trincomalee with a string of military camps since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in February 2002 now has the audacity to tell the military not to deploy additional troops there, while the Tigers using front organisations whip up trouble.
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LTTE building another airstrip in Trinco'
Sunday, 5 June 2005 - 5:47 AM SL Time
In appearance the duo looked like most other fellow Sri Lankan passengers. But they seemed in a hurry. Soon after their flight landed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) some three weeks ago, they rushed to clear immigration formalities.
An officer at the immigration desk on the first floor of BIA`s arrival area stamped their passports. Each received a month long visa to enter Sri Lanka. It was then that the identities of the two former Sri Lankans became clear.
Gnanaratnam was now a United States passport holder. His friend Sujintharan held a Swiss passport. The Sunday Times is in possession of their full names and other particulars. Having cleared formalities at the airport, the duo hurriedly boarded a waiting coach. Several hours later they crossed the Army checkpoint at Omanthai and were in Kilinochchi.
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| Security |
No more war, never again: Solemn pledge by President
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 - 4:25 AM SL Time
As political tension and uncertainty gripped the country over the crisis in the UPFA government, President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday made a calm but firm commitment to peace and the path of dialogue in resolving the ethnic conflict.
Addressing the nation from Mahilapitiya in Kandy where she presided at a solemn ceremony to mark war heroes day, the President said too many people on both sides had already died in a terrible war and she believed the majority in the country were with her in a bid to ensure that Sri Lanka never went back to war.
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Mosquito breeders to pay heavily
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 - 4:19 AM SL Time
Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday said stern action would be taken against those encouraging the spread of mosquitos by providing grounds conducive for mosquitos to breed in their respective homes, work places schools etc. The fine imposed on such offences will be increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000, the Minister said adding that the draft legislation has been already submitted for the attorney general`s recommendation and once he approves it, it will be presented for Cabinet approval and thereafter presented in Parliament for endorsement .
The minister has requested all institutional heads to continue with the cleaning program initiated by the Task Force for the Eradication of Dengue.
According to statistics available at the Health Ministry, in the first six months of year 2004, 7,840 dengue patients had been reported while in the corresponding period this year only 1,295 patients were reported. The total number of dengue patients reported last year was 15,457 of which 88 succumbed to the illness. The number of deaths reported so far in 2005 is only five. The Minister observed that the steps taken by the government to control the spread of dengue in the country had been successful.
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Killings in east continue
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 - 4:18 AM SL Time
Adding to the spate of killings by unidentified gunmen in the east, in the recent past, Valachchenai police on Sunday night found the body of a nineteen year old Tamil youth named Velupillai Sashidaran. He had been shot dead.
According to Valachchenai ASP Niman Cumaranatunga the deceased was a fish monger and a resident of Pirappadimadu in Mankerni. On the day in question he has gone to Wakarai taking two others on the pillion of his motorcycle at around 12 noon.
On their way they have been stopped by two people and Sashidaran had been taken about one kilometer inside a shrub jungle and shot dead with his hands tied behind his back.
Police found the body with a severe gun shot injury on the head. The two men who rode on the pillion had run away after Sashidaran was taken away by his abductors. ASP Cumaranatunga said two men taken into custody in this connection were being questioned by Valachchenai police.
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Business / Economy News
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Adverse politics erase Rs. 18 b in stock market value in 2 days; Exchange rate back to Rs. 100
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 - 4:27 AM SL Time
The growing political instability and a shaky Government have led to the Colombo stock market losing Rs. 18 billion in value in just two days.
John Keells Stock Brokers said that sustained selling pressure driven by uncertainty over political events led to steep loses in both indices with activity levels remaining modest. The ASPI and MPI dipped by 29 and 38 points on top of Monday`s plunge of 2%. Turnover yesterday at Rs. 196 million was one of the lowest for this year while the number of shares traded halved to 8 million from nearly 16 million on Monday.
Market capitalisation which was Rs. 494 million on Friday had plunged by Rs. 18 to Rs. 476.4 billion yesterday.
Brokers said from the time the market opened the indices were heading at one direction - South while news of Mangala Samaraweera resigning from the Media Minister post sent a fresh round of shock waves among investors.
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Govt. holds out carrot to draw in taxes
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 - 4:15 AM SL Time
The Government has decided on special incentives to attract tax payers.
It has planned to grant special recognition to individuals who furnished their tax returns for 2003 - 2004 in time and issue them gold and silver cards to obtain special, services, incentives and privileges, said Commissioner General of Inland Revenue R. P. L. Weerasinghe yesterday.
He said that the corporate sector would have to wait while individual tax payers, who had furnished their returns, would get special recognition. As stated in the last Budget the tax cluster criteria had been finalized and forwarded to Legal draftsmens Department.
Every individual who pays over rupees million would get a gold card if he is a citizen and a non-citizen would have to pay over 2 million to be eligible for the gold card.
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Three suspects in court for fraudulent land sale
Tuesday, 7 June 2005 - 4:18 AM SL Time
Three suspects including a woman who were accused of allegedly selling a land, using a forged deed for Rs. 2.5 million were produced before the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate by the Fraud Bureau.
Mt. Lavinia Magistrate Wikum Athula Kaluarachi allowed an application by the first suspect to pay Rs. 300,000 to the complainant and thereafter to pay the balance in installments, and ordered the suspect to be enlarged on a surety bail of Rs. one million with sureties.
The other two suspects were remanded till July 10.
The three suspects in this case are Sheela Priyadarshani, Prematileke Samaraweera Sunil Amaranayake and Harold Stanley Jayawardana.
SI Wijedasa appearing for prosecution informed the Court that suspect Harold Stanley Jayawardana was absconding.
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| Sports News
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Murali`s Lancs and Sana`s Somerset crushed
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 - 4:17 AM SL Time
LONDON, (AFP) -English cricket scores on Sunday:
Totesport League:
Division One, at Swansea
Glamorgan v Nottinghamshire
Match abandoned, rain, no result, 2pts each
At Old Trafford
Hampshire Hawks 200 (D A Kenway 65) Lancashire Lightning 10-121
Hampshire beat Lancashire by 79 runs
At Lord`s
Middlesex Crusaders 243-6 Innings complete (S B Styris 71, P N Weekes 66) Essex Eagles 245-9 (R N Doeschate 51no)
Essex beat Middlesex by 1 wkt
Division Two, at Maidstone
Derbyshire Phantoms 304-3 Innings complete (M J Di Venuto 116, S D Stubbings 66, J D Bryant 53) Kent Spitfires 214 (A J Hall 61)
Derbyshire beat Kent by 90 runs
At Oakham School
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Madurangi wins four titles
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 - 4:16 AM SL Time
Fifteen-year-old Ishara Madurangi of Devananda College, Ambalangoda exce-lled at the Munidasa Gunasinghe Memorial Open All Island Table Tennis Championship, when she won four titles, including the women's Open singles at the S. Thomas' College Gym-nasium, last Sunday.
It was a fine display by young Ishara Madurangi, who is coached by Anura Lal.
The tournament was organised by St. John's Sports Club, Nugegoda.
Madurangi, who is the current national champion, beat Saranga de Silva of Old Sokians SC, Ambalangoda, 4-1 in a hard fought five setter. Then she partnered Chandi Hansa to defeat Chanika Wijekoon and Ruhansi Wijekoon in the women's doubles final, 11-4, 11-3, 11-2.
She also won the girls' Under-17 final and the girls' Under-15 final, to make it four titles in all.
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Royal College Class of '69 vs Class of '72
Tuesday, 7 June 2005 - 3:18 AM SL Time
The fifth annual limited over softball cricket encounter for the E. C. Gunasekara Challenge Trophy will be played between two prominent old boy groups of the Royal College Union namely the Royal College Class of '69' and Royal college Class of '72.
The annual event organised this year by Class of '72' will be played on Sunday June 12, 2005 at the Malay Cricket Club, Kew Road, Colombo ' 2 commencing at 10 am. Class of '69' are the Defending Champions.
This will be a family event with a carnival atmosphere. The Royal spouses and the kids are in for lots of fun and frolic. The band Super Pink & Purple will be in attendance with Rajiv Sebestian and a couple of other artistes to entertain the guests.
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