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Sri Lanka, only country with free healthcare service
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 1:48 AM SL Time
`Sri Lanka may be the only country in the world that have in place total free healthcare facilities and could be proud of the fact that we provide high standard and equal service to all our patients,` Dr. Nihal Jayatilake, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Healthcare Nutrition and Uva Wellassa Development said.
He was addressing a health Education Bureau organized seminar to mark the World Population Day 2005 under the theme `Equality` held recently.
The cost of the service provided by the central government when compared to the most of the other countries were high and for this year Rs. 35,000 million had been allocated to health sector, he said. The provincial councils have been allocated Rs. 15,000 million, he noted.
The country had recorded as much as 340,000 births per year while 195 had died at birth, a low rate compared to other Asian countries, Dr. Jayatilake said. `We have proven our efforts statistically though there are some drawbacks in our system and we take strict measures to control and minimize these kind of situation`, he assured.
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Troops to hit back at Tigers if targeted
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 1:44 AM SL Time
Army Chief Lt. General Shantha Kottegoda said that his troops would hit back at the Tigers. He emphasised that his troops would return fire if the Tigers target them.
LTTE cadres on Wednesday morning fired at a refugee camp, housing tsunami survivors at Muttur, wounding four soldiers and a child.
The rebels burst into the camp at Muttur, tossing a grenade and firing on the guards and tsunami survivors sheltered there, a senior police spokesman said.
He said a small boy and three soldiers at the camp were wounded in the attack.
In a separate attack hours later, in the same region, another soldier was wounded in a grenade explosion and shooting at an army post.
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US should have revealed P-TOMS stand before UPFA break-up - JVP
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 1:43 AM SL Time
The JVP yesterday expressed belief that the government wouldn`t have gone ahead with the controversial tsunami aid sharing deal with the LTTE if the US revealed its actual stand on the joint mechanism.
JVP heavyweight and parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa applauded the US decision to deny direct funds to the Oslo-arranged tsunami aid sharing deal a.k.a Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS).
`But they should have made known their stand before the President Chandrika Kumaratunga`s unilateral decision triggered an unprecedented crisis`, the MP said.
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Politics
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Diyawadana Nilame elect to assume duty on Sunday
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 4:06 AM SL Time
The Diyawadana Nilame elect Pradeep Dela Bandara is to take over the Sri Dalada Maligawa administration on the 17th of July 2005.
His first and foremost task is to take over the inventories of valuable and the immovable properties. The next function is to take over the key of the inner shrine room where the `Maha Karanduwa` is kept.
The keys of the bullet proof glass cubicle and the outer covering of the Maha Karanduwa will be taken charge of. The other two keys are with the Mahanayakes of Malwatte and Asgiri chapters.
The priceless items within the inner shrine room would have to checked one by one following the current inventory, according to the Buddhist Affairs Department at Kandy.
Another task to be done within this month is to attest the document that transfers the `Thewawa` from Asgiri Chapter to Malwatte Maha Vihare.
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Ranil hungry and greedy for power ? SLFP
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 1:49 AM SL Time
The statement by UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe implying that the Elections Commissioner should determine the date for the Presidential election without consulting the Attorney General or the Supreme Court is not a statement that could be made by any responsible political leader, the SLFP in a press release issued yesterday (13) said.
The release said the statement made by Ranil Wickremesinghe to the participants of the Jana Bala Meheyuma should receive the special attention of the intellectuals of the country.
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TNA vote against Suppression of Terrorist Financing Bill
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 1:45 AM SL Time
The JVP yesterday said it would like to ask the international community what its reaction was towards TNA, which voted against the Bill, to give effect to the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing, that was passed in the Parliament.
`This convention has been ratified by 108 countries and the Tiger proxy, the TNA, had voted against it. They were of the opinion that funds must continue to be pumped in for terrorists to continue their campaign of terror. Now, we ask whether the UN and other members of the international community would continue to entertain these terrorist advocates, who come in the guise of people`s representatives,` JVP Parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa told a press conference held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.
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Editorial News
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Needed: A real truce
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 1:47 AM SL Time
Grenade attacks by the LTTE in Trincomalee left eleven policemen injured during an LTTE-instigated hartal on Tuesday, while in a separate incident another policeman sustained injuries when LTTE cadres lobbed a grenade at him. They are the latest victims of the LTTE`s post MoU spree of violence. About forty state intelligence operatives have hitherto been killed including the commanding officer of the First Intelligence Corps of the Sri Lanka Army. Several soldiers have also been gunned down and about a year ago, the LTTE abducted six soldiers and swopped them for two of its men who had been arrested with firearms in a government-controlled area, where the possession of illegal firearms is an unbailable offence. The LTTE managed to obtain bail and blatantly defied the court order that the suspects report to the police every week.
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Ferial doing a Hakeem?
Wednesday, 13 July 2005 - 2:45 AM SL Time
The problem with political blunders is that they get repeated. The history of Sri Lanka`s conflict is replete with the repetition of such blunders which have cost the country and gullible politicians dearly. Successive governments have been convinced beyond an iota of doubt that the LTTE cannot be weaned away from its separatist goal, but they have all been repeating the same experiments that proved disastrous to their predecessors, as evident from the assassination of President Premadasa, who nestled his striped friends close to his bosom and the near assassination of President Kumaratunga. President Jayewardene and President Wijetunge never trusted the Tigers and both of them were safe.
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Survival of the Biggest
Tuesday, 12 July 2005 - 1:58 AM SL Time
Our front page picture yesterday bore ample testimony to the sheer magnitude of Saturday night`s killer accident on the Colombo-Kandy road. It left ten persons dead and six others, including children critically injured. The tragedy had occurred when a lorry plying at break neck speed collided with a van carrying the victims, who were returning from a religious function.
What characterizes our roads is the survival of the biggest. The bigger the vehicle, the safer it is. Awe inspiring metal Godzillas abound on public thoroughfares and one has to be extremely lucky to reach one`s destination by avoiding these monsters, unscathed.
The police have blamed Saturday`s accident on the driver who couldn`t control his lorry. Every time a fatal accident occurs, drivers are blamed, and the matter is forgotten in a few days. Everybody gets lulled into complacency until another disaster strikes.
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| Security |
Omanthai Buddha statue removed
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 4:05 AM SL Time
removed from the location following a consensus reached between the Vavuniya district judge M. Ilanchelian and security heads.
It was said the decision on Tuesday was taken for the sake of peace despite it being located in an area of archaeological significance.There was a threat to close the Jaffna ' Kandy (A9) highway and to stage a hartal campaign if the Buddha statue was not removed since it had been erected near a Hindu Temple.
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Sister says Yvonne opposed her affair with Shamantha
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 4:04 AM SL Time
At the magisterial inquiry yesterday into the killing of Yvonne Jonsson, her sister Caroline said she was carrying on with Shamantha but her sister was unhappy about the affair as he was a drug addict, quarrelsome and had many other girlfriends.
The sister -- of the young fashion designer killed at the Royal Park condominium -- 17-year-old Caroline Jonsson was giving evidence before Colombo Additional magistrate Amalie Ranaweera.
Caroline said she knew Shamantha was carrying on with a number of girls.
'I don`t know their names but I know them by sight'.
'We started the affair last February. My sister knew Shamantha`s background and because of this she was against the affair. But she didn`t object my having a friendship with him', she said.
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LTTE offers taxi drivers Rs 10,000 to join auxiliary force
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 1:45 AM SL Time
The LTTE is offering a monthly remuneration of Rs 10,000 to three wheel taxi drivers who join its auxiliary force in Jaffna.
Political sources said that LTTE leaders have in recent days approached Northern taxi drivers with their enlistment offer.
`In addition, the LTTE leaders have been addressing a series of meetings in the North calling on the Tamil people to enlist in its auxiliary force, since there are signs of military conflict resuming.`
The sources, said that prominent LTTE leaders such as Isaichelvan, Baba and Yal Nambi, are calling on the Tamil people to join the auxiliary force in numbers regardless of their age or position in society.
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Business / Economy News
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Vehicles-to-North racket busted
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 4:05 AM SL Time
A massive vehicle racket was uncovered when Bambalapitiya police arrested a gang which steal vehicles and sell them to the LTTE in the North-East.
OIC N. Jayatissa said that the three suspects were arrested at a road block while travelling in a Toyota van that had been stolen from Nugegoda.
The suspects who are residents of Matale had reportedly been responsible for hijacking three other vehicles and selling them to the LTTE.
Two women who are also members of the gang are said to hire vehicles from rent-a-car firms. These vehicles are then sold by the suspects.
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Exporters` Association shuns govt. interference
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 1:49 AM SL Time
The Export Association of Sri Lanka (EASL) will not look for government benevolence to solve it`s problems, instead such would be `an challenge that we would face and handle them ourselves`, said the newly elected EASL Chairman Mohan Mendis.
However, he said that the Association`s energies and time is spent to pressurize and influence those who occupy seats of power. To find solutions becomes a long and arduous process.
Addressing the eight Annual General Meeting of the EASL, he said that it would be wishful thinking to wait till the government steps into solve problems.
`Our national boarders are not impervious to the worldwide flow of information. We must readily acknowledge that the economic logic of an earlier age, no longer applies. As a country it is unfortunate that we largely think only in terms of exporting mainly our natural recourses and products. We are still to large extent, merely providers of material for others to exploit overseas and this situation should change without any further delay`, Mendis said.
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Rs. 57 million for housing in Matale this year
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 1:46 AM SL Time
The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) is to spend Rs. 58 million to cater to the housing requirements of 3500 families in Matale district in the year 2005.
Around 2400 families are to be beneficiaries of roofing sheets while 500 families are to be assisted to construct their own houses under Sustainable Villages Programme.
This information were revealed at a Progress Review Meeting held at Matale recently presided by NHDA Chairman, Parakrama Karunaratne to review the progress achieved and resolve the issues involved at the district itself
This is the first of series of such Progress Review Meetings scheduled to be held at district level to streamline and review the current district programmes being implemented by NHDA through its district offices.
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| Sports News
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Sri Lankans caught napping
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 4:07 AM SL Time
The new-look West Indies team surprised Sri Lanka and won the opening day`s stakes as the home team played like a rusty old jaded outfit in the first cricket test which began at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo yesterday.
Going in as virtual underdogs the West Indies, save a performance from fire-brand paceman Lasith Malinga, found the Sri Lankan bowlers almost friendly and inviting as they finished the day at a healthy 271 for 6 with skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul chipping in with an unbeaten 69 after debut-maker Dinesh Ramdin made a commanding 56.
Sri Lanka`s main strike bowler Muttiah Muralitheran playing after a lapse of nearly 11 months did not appear to be the champion bowler he was unable to feast on the inexperienced batting line-up and went wicket-less for 23 overs after picking up a solitary scalp in his seventh over.
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Nalanda edged out
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 1:51 AM SL Time
Last year`s runners-up in the Under-17 Astra Cricket Cup tournament, Nalanda College has been edged out from the second round of the tournament this year.
Twenty four school teams including Ananda, St. Joseph`s, Maliyadewa, St. Thomas` Matara, S. Thomas` Mount Lavinia, D. S. Senanayaka, Dharmashoka, Vidyartha and Prince of Wales will not have their rival Nalanda in their second round matches scheduled to start this week. Last year, St. Joseph`s College won the championship and Nalanda College was the runner-up in Under-17 Division I.
The twenty four teams have been regrouped into six categories and they are requested to play their first match before July 18.
Around fifty four teams took part in the first round matches and the following teams have been selected for the second round matches.
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Symonds replaces Murali at Lancs
Thursday, 14 July 2005 - 1:50 AM SL Time
Lancashire have signed Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds for the second half of the season.
The 30-year-old is not in the Australia Test squad and will be available immediately following the conclusion of the NatWest Challenge one-day series.
He will replace Muttiah Muralitharan as one of Lancashire`s overseas players with the spinner playing for Sri Lanka.
`Lancashire are a strong unit and I want to play my part in their push for promotion,` said Symonds.
`I`ve enjoyed my recent spell with the Australia one-day squad and I`m looking forward to continuing my summer with Lancashire.
`I was pleased when (coach) Mike Watkinson asked me to join and I`m keen to start as soon as I can.`
Symonds, who has played in 123 one-day internationals since 1998, previously played for Gloucestershire and Kent.
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