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Full text of P-TOMS agreement
Saturday, 25 June 2005 - 1:59 AM SL Time
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the establishment of a Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure(P-TOMS).
Preamble
WHEREAS the tsunami that struck Sri Lanka on December 26, 2004 (the `tsunami`) destroyed human lives and property on an unprecedented scale;
WHEREAS there is an urgent need for all communities, Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and others, to cooperate on humanitarian grounds in the face of this common adversity;
WHEREAS the equitable allocation of post-tsunami funds to all parts of Sri Lanka struck by the tsunami will be based on accepted needs assessments;
WHEREAS in recognition of this urgent humanitarian need and in a spirit of partnership, the Government of Sri Lanka (the `GOSL') and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (the `LTTE`) (the `Parties`) have resolved to work together, in good faith and using their best efforts, to deliver expeditious relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development to the coastal communities in the six districts of Ampara, Battica!oa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Trincomalee (the Six Districts`) and to` facilitate and expedite the process of rebuilding the affected areas;
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UNP wrong-foots all: Rejects JM
Saturday, 25 June 2005 - 1:50 AM SL Time
The UNP appears to have wrong-footed President Chandrika Kumaratunga by rejecting the Oslo-arranged tsunami aid sharing deal with the LTTE.
The President went ahead with the hotly disputed deal despite losing her parliamentary majority as she was confident of receiving the UNP`s support, government sources said. `What they did was unthinkable,` the sources said while expressing disbelief the UNP withdrew support at the last moment.
`There are nine points for disagreements,` a senior UNP official told The Island. `We are particularly amazed over her decision to allow Tigers to chair the two regional committees,` he said. He also rapped the government for failing to protect the interests of the Muslims.
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Sri Lanka tsunami aid deal signed
Friday, 24 June 2005 - 9:52 PM SL Time
The Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels have signed a controversial tsunami aid-sharing deal.
It comes after weeks of protests by a powerful nationalist party and the influential Buddhist clergy, who say it threatens Sri Lanka`s sovereignty.
The plan is meant to ensure an equal distribution of aid to all parts of the country hit by December`s tsunami, including rebel-held areas.
Tens of thousands of Sri Lankans are yet to receive tsunami aid.
`The government signed the memorandum of understanding,` said leader of the house, Maithripala Sirisena, shortly after protests had forced a parliamentary debate to be abandoned.
Norwegian peace brokers then took the document to the northern rebel-held town of Kilinochchi where the Tamil Tigers signed it, bringing the agreement into force.
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Politics
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JVP wants political leaders to take stand on P-TOMS
Sunday, 26 June 2005 - 1:59 AM SL Time
The JVP wants political leaders, particularly those who aspire for national leadership to make their stand on the tsunami aid sharing deal with the LTTE public.
JVP parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa emphasised that they would unreservedly back anyone if he or she was ready to lead from the front.
This was in response to our query whether the JVP was serious about forging an alliance with Premier Mahinda Rajapakse and promote him as the common presidential candidate, a situation that would have a far reaching impact on the political scene.
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Wimal: CBK`s P-TOMS worse than Ranil`s CFA
Sunday, 26 June 2005 - 1:58 AM SL Time
MEP leader Minister Dinesh Gunawardene on Friday attacked what he termed as an authorless, unauthenticated piece of paper that does not even carry the state emblem and does not have a signature of the author.
Gunawardene, representing the MEP at a party leaders` meeting chaired by Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara, shortly after he adjourned sittings amidst JVP protests, had ridiculed the P-TOMS document. `Who will take responsibility for this' Who prepared this'`
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JVP drapes Kandy with black flags
Saturday, 25 June 2005 - 2:00 AM SL Time
About 200 JVP members including MPs and Provincial Council members staged a protest campaign against the signing of the proposed joint mechanism at the George E. de Silva Park Thursday morning.
The demonstration which lasted about an hour included MP Dimuthu Abeykoon, Provincial Councillors Samansiri Fernando, G. B. Dassanayake and Chandana Dassanayake and MC member Anura Kumara Gonawela.
Black flags were hoisted all over the city while the police had strengthened security.
The protestors gathered at the Education Office and marched to the Kandy town demanding that the government abolish the JM. Police had taken action to remove the black flags hoisted in the city.
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Editorial News
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Home and dry'
Sunday, 26 June 2005 - 1:57 AM SL Time
Now that the deal is done despite the loud protests of the JVP, who not so long ago was the president's lifesaver bestowing government power on her party and its cohorts (retaining a generous dollop for itself), is Chandrika Kumaratunga home and dry' Or more to the point, is Sri Lanka now in safe harbour with the many tasks that remain to be done to give relief and succour to tens of thousands of tsunami victims finally able to get off the ground' That is only part of the job. There are many more promises to keep, achieving that elusive peace not the least among them, and now that the JVP has shown its hand signalling that it will not play footsie with the rump of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance as was suggested by last week's deal over the Western Provincial chief ministry, is this tortured island destined for more trauma'
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JM's served a useful purpose!
Saturday, 25 June 2005 - 1:58 AM SL Time
Modern democracy is noted for its aversion to discrimination, which has helped even terror outfits to project themselves as the underdog in violent conflicts through their claim of fighting against discrimination. The international community has taken upon itself the task of eliminating this social evil, though its members have failed to rid themselves of it, as evident from the discrimination against Blacks and Red Indians in the US, Asians in the UK, the aborigine in Australia, the Burakumin in Japan and Samis in Norway and Sweden.
Be that as it may, the fact that charity does not begin at home is no reason why it should not be practised elsewhere. So, the right of the international community to champion the rights of ethnic, religious or cultural minorities in lands other than theirs cannot be questioned.
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Look who is talking!
Friday, 24 June 2005 - 2:16 AM SL Time
Political Wing Leader of the LTTE Thamil Selvan has told Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway Vidar Helgessen that the Tigers could no longer rely on President Chandrika Kumaratunga, as she was not using her executive powers to establish the Joint Mechanism. He has also said that the LTTE couldn't convey any messages to the Muslim community as it could not trust President Kumaratunga.
Look who is talking! President Kumaratunga, who has gone out of her way to have a partnership with a terror outfit and got into trouble in the process, has only herself to blame. She has risked her political future and caused an irreparable split in the UPFA coalition and ruined the prospects of her party's presidential candidate winning the next presidential election, in her efforts to put the JM in place. And now she has the LTTE accusing her of not being trustworthy.
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| Security |
Why only two signatories for P-TOMS in N-E ' LTTE
Sunday, 26 June 2005 - 1:56 AM SL Time
There are only two areas of control and two administrations in the North East. That is why the two, the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE were the two signatories to the P-TOMS, said LTTE spokesperson Dayanidhi Master yesterday.
`We strongly believe that it is the Muslim politicians who are standing between the two minority communities and creating the divisions between the two Tamil speaking communities as much has been done to build faith and goodwill between them at grassroot level,` he asserted.
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JVP looking at legal challenge to P-TOMS, says Weerawansa
Sunday, 26 June 2005 - 1:55 AM SL Time
The JVP is consulting lawyers about the possibility of filing legal action against the P-TOMS Joint Mechanism, a party spokesman said yesterday, adding that they expected to take a final decision on Monday.
On Friday, JVP's parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa told a news conference that they were `contemplating legal action` against the deal between the government and the LTTE, which he claimed violated the constitution.
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Driving against Bhikkuhood - CMT
Saturday, 25 June 2005 - 1:55 AM SL Time
The Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs and the Commissioner of Motor Traffic had notified the Venerable Dr. Paragoda Wimalawansa Thera that the issue of a driving licence to a Bhikku is contrary to the tradition and concept of Bhikkuhood, the statement of objections filed in the Court of Appeal by the Commissioner of Motor Traffic had explained.
The Venerable Dr. Wimalawansa Thera of Sakyamuni Viharaya Kuda Waskaduwa, had made the Commissioner of Motor Traffic, the first respondent, in the petition filed by the Thera challenging the rejection of the application for a driving licence, on July 27, 2004.
The statement of objections by the Commissioner of Motor Traffic explained that, he consulted the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs and both of them decided on April 4, 1988, not to issue driving licence to Bhikku, thereafter.
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Business / Economy News
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Funds raised through IPO for Dialog Telekom expansion ' Dr. Wijayasur
Sunday, 26 June 2005 - 1:56 AM SL Time
THE IPO of Dialog Telekom, due to open in the first week of July 2005, will correct of 712,336,293 ordinary shares of a par value of Rs.1. This would be Sri Lanka's largest share issue, said Dialog CEO Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya at a media briefing at the World Trade Centre last week.
The share offer price would be determined through a book building process based on a price range of Rs. 8 to Rs. 12 in steps of Rs. 1. Investors are invited to bid at an offer price of there choice, written the specified range. The ultimate issue price would be determined at the highest fully subscribed offer price level he said.
The share issue would consist of two segments, an offer for sale and an offer for subscription. The offer for sale is for 422,262,211 existing ordinary shares while the offer for subscription will be in respect of 290,073,982 new ordinary shares.
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MTN Dialog wins Duolog duel
Saturday, 25 June 2005 - 2:01 AM SL Time
The case filed by MTN Networks (Pvt) Ltd under the Intellectual Property Act against Minuwampitiyage Channa Priyadharshana Pieris of Pannipitiya was settled before the Commercial High Court judge K.T. Chitrasiri with the defendant undertaking not to use the word/trademark 'Duolog'or any other word/trade mark which resembles the 'Dialog' trademark.
The defendant agreed to remove and ceased to use all the banners/visiting cards using the word/trademark 'Duolog' and the signature phrase `The Future. Today`.
The defendant agreed also not to carry on any other advertising and permanent activity simulating and reproducing the get up/trade dress/colour combinations used by the plaintiff in respect of Dialog GSM as depicted directly and/or indirectly either by himself and/or his employees, agents or anyone whosoever holding under the defendant.
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SriLankaFirst commends P-TOMS
Saturday, 25 June 2005 - 1:57 AM SL Time
SriLankaFirst together with the Business for Peace Alliance (BPA) expresses its support for the government's proposed Post-Tsunami Operating Management Structure (P-TOMS). SriLankaFirst and the BPA welcome the proposed Joint Mechanism as it envisions a fair and equitable mechanism for the disbursement of much needed post-tsunami aid pledged by donors for the North and East regions.
The fair and equitable distribution of aid can only be made possible through an inclusive mechanism such as the Tsunami Relief Board, which is representative of all the parties operating in these areas. Confined to only a two Kilometer coastal strip of land across the six affected regions in the North and East for a limited period of one year, Sri Lanka First and the BPA believes the proposed structure would fast track the reconstruction and rebuilding of the devastated areas.
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| Sports News
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St. Peter's draw with DS in U-17 match
Sunday, 26 June 2005 - 1:57 AM SL Time
D. S. Senanayake College scored 219 for 8 wickets, while St. Peter's College, Bambalapitiya in reply made 168 for 7 wickets at close in their drawn inter school Under 17 Division One cricket fixture played at Wijerama Mawatha on Friday.
G. D. Seneviratne (54) and P. Samarakkody (56) made useful knocks for the home side to build up their innings while Vinod Perera took the bowling honours for the Peterites finishing with 3 for 27.
Isuru Peiris made a fine knock of 59 with good support from Shehan Gunaratne (39) and Suranga Rodrigo (36 n.o.) for the Peterites. Isuru Tillekaratne was the pick of the bowlers for D.S. taking 3 for 45.
Chief scores
D.S Senanayake College 219 for 8 wickets in 54. 2 overs (J. Sooriarachchi 36, G. D Seneviratne 54 , P. Samarakkody 56 , Vinod Perera 3/27, Shanaka Fernando 2/39)
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Karunanayake shines for Nalanda
Sunday, 26 June 2005 - 1:57 AM SL Time
Nipun Karunanayake cracked a swashbuckling 120 and bagged six wickets to lead Nalanda to a first innings victory over Kottawa Dharmapala in their Under-15 Division I Astra Cricket Cup tournament match played on the Dharmapala ground last Thursday.
After capturing four Dharmapala wickets with his right arm leg spin to bundle them out for 117, Karunanayake made a unbeaten knock of 120 in 104 balls. The right hander's knock included four towering sixes and eighteen boundaries and filled two thirds of Nalanda's declared innings.
Scores
Dharmapala 117 all out (L.K.D.P Sankalpa 28; T.S. Wickramasinghe 3/40, K.P.N.M. Karunanayake 4/30) and 96 for 5 at close (L.K.D.A. Sankapala 28, M.D.K.J Perera 22; K.P.N.M. Karunanayake 2/13, D.K. Jayasinghe 2/41)
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Arnold leads Sri Lanka into serious battle
Saturday, 25 June 2005 - 1:56 AM SL Time
When the two articulate captains verbally shadow-boxed each other at a media conference, we realised the long-delayed West Indies 'A' tour of Sri Lanka carried a lot more importance than appeared on the surface. Far more important than, for example, the tours to the tsunami-wrecked island by England 'A' and Pakistan 'A' earlier in the year.
England 'A' began with an overconfident gallop and a lot of bravado, before they ran out of puff long before the tour ended. Not only did they end up an embarrassed lot; their coach Rod Marsh gave them a royal bollocking earful. The former Australian wicketkeeper, a notoriously hard taskmaster, let them know just how important fitness is, in searing hot and humid conditions.
Pakistan 'A' were also fortunate to escape a 'Test` series defeat through rain, in Dambulla of all places. This followed their good-fortune and technical deficiency from Sri Lanka 'A' in the limited overs final, at a near-deserted Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
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