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Vat on milk out but list for other goods get longer
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 1:44 AM SL Time
The government announced it will remove VAT on milk foods and gas to reduce the cost of living but increased VAT on other items without announcing it.
`To address the cost of living, Cabinet decided to exempt milk foods and liquid petroleum gas from VAT,` said Cabinet Spokesperson Nimal Siripala de Silva on Thursday.
However, on Wednesday, local importers woke up to find that VAT on the government`s list of luxury items had gone up by two percent, pushing it from an already high 18 percent to 20 percent, without any prior warnings.
When the latest VAT exemption will trickle down to consumers is also still unclear.
`The decision to exempt VAT was approved by Cabinet but it must be confirmed at the next Cabinet meeting and then it must be gazetted,` said de Silva.
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Monk turns abusive in Court
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 1:41 AM SL Time
AVISAWELLA -A Buddhist monk, who was produced in the Avisawella Courts on Tuesday, charged with raping an 18-year-old-girl, created a scene in the Court and was also charged with contempt of Court.
The monk, from Ruvanwella, had lifted his robes, pulled off his undergarments and exposed himself challenging the state run television to film it.
He had also used abusive language on the media.
He was release on surety bail in Rs. 75,000 on the rape charge and Rs. 50,000 on the Contempt of Court charge.
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Mahela classic steers Sri Lanka to thrilling win
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 1:40 AM SL Time
Twenty-eight-year-old Mahela Jaya-wardene hammered a classic 94 to help Sri Lanka to a thrilling four wicket win over India in their penultimate group game in the fourth match of the Indian Oil Cup tournament at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, under lights on Wednesday
. Set a target of 221, Sri Lanka were struggling at 95 for six when Upul Chandana joined the vice-captain and the hosts fought back to pull off a dramatic win to remain unbeaten in the competition. From the time Chandana joined Jayawardene the spectators were presented with a treat of fine batsmanship as the duo guided Sri Lanka to a sensational win, which had looked unlikely earlier.
The pair added a record 126 runs for the seventh wicket in 134 deliveries as Sri Lanka cruised to victory with 12 deliveries to spare. The previous Sri Lankan record for the seventh wicket against any team stood as 110 between star batsman Aravinda de Silva and Kumar Dharmasena against Pakistan in Nairobi in 1997. The pair also narrowly missed the world record for the seventh wicket partnership which stands at 130 between Heath Streak and Andy Flower against England in 2001 in Harare.
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Politics
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Rajapakse using RDA as rudder: UNP
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 3:07 AM SL Time
The UNP yesterday accused the SLFP and its Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse of using state property for the presidential poll campaign.
Addressing a news conference in Colombo UNP Assistant General Secretary Tissa Attanayake accused Mr. Rajapakse of using Road Development Authority vehicles, the staff and the property to put up his posters all over the country.
Mr. Attanayake said it was unethical to use state property for a personal campaign. He also charged that Mr. Rajapakse was using the state media including the Rupavahini and the ANCL to build an artificial image.
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PM wants to go to Madhu
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 3:07 AM SL Time
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse has made a special request from the LTTE to provide necessary facilities for him to participate as a special invitee in the final day service of the Madhu feast.
The premier has made this request from the LTTE because the Madhu Church is situated in the LTTE-controlled area in the Wanni.
The final service of the Madhu feast is due to be held on August 15 when over a million Catholic devotees from all corners of the country are expected to throng the hallowed shrine.
Following special orders issued by the Premier the Road Development Authority (RDA) is renovating all the main roads leading to the Madhu Church from Mannar.
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JHU to field its own Presidential Candidate
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 1:42 AM SL Time
The Jathika Hela Urumaya`s campaign for the forthcoming Presidential Elections will be based on the promise to maintain the unitary nature of the state with a commitment to defeating LTTE terrorism through military force, former DIG and Treasurer of the JHU H. M. G. B. Kotakadeniya said yesterday.
Kotakadeniya said that the JHU had realised that there would be no point in supporting the presidency of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa whose stand was diametrically opposed to JHU views. That is why we decided to put forward our nominee for the Presidential stakes, he said. The central committee of the party would meet on Tuesday (9) and discuss the campaign.
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Editorial News
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Well done DIG Jayasundera
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 3:08 AM SL Time
Today we wish to offer a big bouquet to the Police Department and particularly its Colombo Division, headed by Deputy Inspector General Pujith Jayasundera, for busting the biggest stolen vehicle racket in the country operated from the Nawala area.
It clearly shows how much the cops can achieve given the correct leadership. Everyone knows the breakthroughs the Police Narcotic Bureau had made under his command prior to him being put in charge of the Colombo Division.
What is ironic is that the woman behind the racket had been carrying on this massive criminal operation for some 12 years and we wonder what the senior policemen heading these areas have been doing while this woman had stolen and sold some 170 odd vehicles during this period after taking them on hire by her rent-a-car business. And there had been many complaints lodged against the woman by her victims at a number of police stations over the years.
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`List of shame` and shame on UN
Thursday, 4 August 2005 - 2:19 AM SL Time
`I beat them until the skull was smashed and the brain was scattered all over. They [victims] were tied up and forced to lie down. Then, the commander said to me, `Take this club and kill them.` I knew that if I failed to kill them, I would be killed.`
This is how a child named Vincent (11) has described, in The Daily Telegraph, the killings he committed under pressure from the Lord`s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda. He had been only eight years old when he was abducted and turned into a killing machine. He has lost count of the number of people he killed. LRA needs no introduction as it is known the world over for its crimes against humanity. This child`s account is ample proof of its barbarism. (See page 12 for the feature on LRA)
The LRA, which churns out killers of Vincent`s age, however, ranks below the LTTE on the UN Secretary General`s `List of Shame` which consists of terrorist groups responsible for recruiting child combatants. The LTTE has topped the List. Another first for Sri Lanka!
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Needed: Election Commission!
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 - 3:52 AM SL Time
At long last, the UNP has broken its silence on the Election Commission (EC). Former Minister of Constitutional Affairs and UNP MP Prof. G. L. Peiris has censured President Kumaratunga for not having appointed EC. The first attempt to set up EC came a cropper as President Kumaratunga rejected the nominee recommended by the Constitutional Council (CC). The CC refused to recommend any other person. There was a tug-of-war on this matter as we pointed out in these columns recently. With both parties not giving in, EC couldn`t be appointed. Ironically, though the 17th Amendment had been ratified unanimously to set up independent commissions and all political parties in Parliament were hailed for rising above petty party politics, it was the party politics that aborted the appointment of the chairman of EC.
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| Security |
Warrant on Mervyn Silva in another case
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 3:06 AM SL Time
The Colombo Additional Magistrate yesterday issued a warrant on Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva following his absence in court on two occasions.
Additional Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya issued a warrant on Mr. Silva and A. Don Wimalasena of Boralesgamuwa in a money cheating case where they had to give evidence.
The Colombo Fraud Bureau (CFB) had filed the case following a complaint lodged by Mr. Silva on June 10, 2003 stating that K.P Guruge Pradeep Wijewardene cheated him of Rs. 1 million by giving him a cheque without funds. The accused had told Mr. Silva that he engaged in land business and had asked for Rs. 1 million promising to return it within a month. Mr. Silva had given Rs.1 million to the accused. Subsequently the accused had allegedly cheated Mr. Silva by giving him a cheque which was returned by the Bank of Ceylon Union Place branch.
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Heater found in prison
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 1:39 AM SL Time
Prison authorities yesterday detected an improvised electric heater made by the inmates of the Welikade remand prison.
When questioned, the suspects had said that the improvised heater, made out of a piece of discarded iron, was used to make tea, said Chief Jailor Denzil Premaratne. He further said that cellular phones and Ganja were found in the possession of inmates of the prison.
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`Task force` head, intelligence deputy desert LTTE?
Thursday, 4 August 2005 - 3:21 AM SL Time
In an apparent setback to the LTTE, a senior LTTE leader and the head of its special task force has reportedly deserted the organization along with deputy LTTE head of the Jaffna intelligence unit, military sources said.
They said senior leader Mahengi who holds the rank of `colonel` in the LTTE had informed the LTTE leadership a few weeks ago that he wanted to get medical treatment from the Apollo Hospital in Colombo. Later it was revealed that he had fled the country deserting the LTTE, making the LTTE vulnerable as he was well informed of almost all important LTTE intelligence matters.
Jaffna`s deputy intelligence head Mudy Arasan has also reportedly deserted the organization and it is believed that he had accompanied Mahengi. Mahengi had deserted at a time when the LTTE had launched a recruitment drive to recruit youth to the LTTE`s elite special task force.
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Business / Economy News
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Two new universities this month
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 3:11 AM SL Time
TWO new universities will be started this month, the Education Ministry said yesterday.
The University at Uva Wellassa modelled along a new concept focusing on Science and Technology, Export Agriculture and Animal Science and Computer Technology will be opened on August 7.
The University for Visual and Performing Arts located in Colombo will be opened on August 26. This will concentrate on disciplines connected to the Arts with heavy focus on Technology and Modern Arts.
These are among new initiatives spearheaded by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as Minister of Education. In addition, 14 new degree programmes, the highest so far in history, will be inaugurated for the 2005 Advanced Level students in the following disciplines:
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Commercial Bank reports strong growth
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 1:43 AM SL Time
The Commercial Bank Group comprising Sri Lanka`s benchmark private sector bank, its subsidiaries and associate companies, has reported strong growth in profits and other key performance indicators for the first half of 2005, despite a substantial increase in the effective tax rate and the continuing effects of the post-tsunami appreciation of the rupee against the US Dollar.
In results released to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) on Thursday August 4, the Group said its income grew by Rs. 1.381 billion to Rs. 7.046 billion, a robust growth of 24.38 per cent over the first half of 2004. This was achieved mainly due to a 32.63 per cent growth in Interest Income to Rs. 5.903 billion and a 25.88 per cent increase in Other Income to Rs. 997,2 million.
The Group reported a pre-tax profit of Rs. 1,460 billion, an increase of Rs. 355.6 million or 32.3 per cent, over the corresponding half of 2004. The Group`s post-tax profit of Rs. 873.9 million for the period under review, reflected a growth of Rs. 152.8 million or 21.19 per cent. This was after providing for an income tax liability of Rs. 586 million as against Rs. 383.3 million last year.
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VAT on diesel out
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 1:43 AM SL Time
The 15 per cent VAT on diesel has been removed with immediate effect the government said yesterday.
Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama said that the VAT subsidy will cost the government seven billion rupees.
`The VAT on petrol will remain.`, he said.
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| Sports News
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Thomians likely to prevail over `Lions`
Friday, 5 August 2005 - 1:40 AM SL Time
The annual 50th rugby encounrter between S.Thomas` and Trinity for the 28th Canon R. S. de Saram Shield will be played at Havelock Park this evening with the former starting as slight favourites to win.
S.Thomas` led by experienced number eight and Sri Lanka Youth cap Namal Rajapakse have already beaten traditional rivals Royal (20-5) and St.Peter`s (24-17) and on current form will be fancied to prevail over the Trinity `Lions`.
Rajapakse, the eldest son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse has been the cynosure of all eyes this season always providing the cutting edge to S,Thomas` attacking play, and the Trinity `Lions` will need to mark him if they are to spoil the unbeaten record of their opponents.
Trinity led by outside centre B. N. R. Fernando are the current holders of the Canon R. S. de Saram Shield having won the 2004 tie (21-15), at Pallekele.
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Army a worry for Police
Thursday, 4 August 2005 - 2:20 AM SL Time
Several high ranking army officials who arrive at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium to witness the ongoing Indian Oil Cup tournament have become a nuisance to police officers who have been entrusted with crowd controlling at the stadium. The plain clothed army officials who either accompany politicians or have passes to witness the match walk straight into the Grand Stand, irrespective of the value of their pass in search of the best seats using the power of their office, causing overcrowding.
Liquor is prohibited at the Dambulla Stadium unlike at other venues in Sri Lanka but the army officials manage to smuggle in liquor as their vehicles, which have VIP car passes, are not checked at security points.
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Isipatana dominate at Bogambara
Wednesday, 3 August 2005 - 3:52 AM SL Time
Isipatana College Colombo outplayed St. Sylvester`s College, Kandy in their inter-school `B` Division rugby encounter, at Bogambara, on Monday. The Colombo lads won 27 to nil.
Their total was made up of two goals, two tries and one penalty.
At lemons, Isipatana led 10-0. Adapting well to the wet ground conditions, Isipatana played a good running game, especially in the second half.
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