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Truce talks grounded as rebels reject venue
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 10:47 PM SL Time
Sri Lanka`s Tamil Tiger rebels on Thursday rejected plans to hold talks aimed at preserving a strained truce at the island`s international airport, in a fresh blow to efforts to break a weeks-long deadlock.
Peace broker Norway suggested the venue on Wednesday as a compromise between the rebels and the government, who are locked in a standoff over a rash of killings amid a silent war raging in the island`s restive east that each blame on the other.
`(The) international airport cannot be a venue for meaningful political discussions,` S.P. Thamilselvan, head of the rebels` political wing, was quoted as saying by official Tiger Web site www.ltteps.org.
`Parties to the ceasefire agreement have not been meeting for quite some time ... resulting in frustration and a political vacuum which necessitates a common venue equally comfortable for both the parties,` he added.
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Norway doing a good job, we will not replace them - Annan`s Special Envoy
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 2:06 AM SL Time
The United Nations has no intention of replacing Norway as facilitators of Sri Lanka`s peace process, said a visiting special envoy of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday.
`There`s no question of that,` said Lakhdar Brahimi, Annan`s special adviser on prevention and resolution of conflict. `Nobody has asked, we have not offered, we`re not looking for a job and nobody`s offering it as a job.`
Asked specifically whether the UN proposed to broaden its role in Sri Lanka, Brahimi replied: `No, not at this stage.` He staunchly refused to commit on whether this possibility was even being considered.
`As far as I`m concerned, it stops there,` he asserted. `I presume we will certainly keep in touch with the parties here, with the Norwegians and all the parties that have an interest and an influence in Sri Lanka and an interest in seeing peace established in this country.`
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Britain to push EU into tougher stance against terrorism
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 2:05 AM SL Time
Britain was set to urge the European Union Wednesday to do more to fight terrorism after the London bombings, including a rethink of its human rights laws that prevent the deportation of security suspects.
In a speech to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Strasbourg, Home Secretary Charles Clarke will also call on the bloc`s 25 member states to increase intelligence-sharing on terrorist activity.
He will pursue the topic further at a two-day meeting of EU justice and interior ministers which starts Thursday in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, northern England.
Prime Minister Tony Blair`s government ' which currently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union ' has launched a crackdown on Islamic fundamentalism in the wake of the July 7 attacks on London transport that left 56 people dead, including four apparent suicide bombers.
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Politics
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PM assures JVP tie up will not lead to war
Friday, 9 September 2005 - 2:42 AM SL Time
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday gave an assurance that his pact with the JVP would not lead to the resumption of hostilities.
Addressing a large gathering at Temple Trees, shortly after signing the agreement, he dismissed opposition claims that this was an agreement for war. `This agreement is not my individual victory, it is a victory for all Sri Lankans. It will bring peace and prosperity to the country.
Premier Rajapakse said it was not only the people in the north that wanted peace but those in the south too. He said the Opposition were trying to mislead the people by saying the agrrement between him and the JVP would lead the country back to war. He said all progressive forces know what the truth is and they were joining him to defeat retrograde forces.
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Sri Lanka election a referendum against federalist moves: JHU
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 5:51 AM SL Time
The all Buddhist Monk party, the JHU or the Heritage Party, said that the forthcoming presidential election in this Indian ocean island is a referendum against moves to make Sri Lanka a federal republic.
The national organizer of the JHU Champaka Ranawaka told reporters here Wednesday that international forces are attempting to make Sri Lanka a federal republic in the guise of finding a solution to the armed separatist conflict.
The JHU on Tuesday announced that they would back the ruling party candidate the incumbent Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse at the presidential poll.
Ranawaka said Rajapakse had agreed to the JHU demand to preserve the unitary character of Sri Lanka when finding a solution to the conflict.
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President backs Mahinda, calls for people`s support
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 3:45 AM SL Time
President Chandrika Kumaratunga threw her weight behind the SLFP Presidential candidate, Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse and called upon the people to strengthen the party by electing him as President.
President Kumaratunga addressing the 54th National convention of the SLFP, said that the Premier had gained a lot of experience during his one-and-a-half year term as Prime Minister.
The President further said that the SLFP, as a party, has never been in the habit of slinging mud and finding faults in other`s, as some parties indulge in. 'We work for the people and ask for votes,' she said.
Backing Prime Ministerial Candidate and Foreign Minister Anura Bandaranaike, the President said she did not want to nominate him to the Prime Ministerial candidacy due to party allegations that the SLFP has been a party of the Bandaranaikes.
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Editorial News
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Norwegian kolloppan
Friday, 9 September 2005 - 2:44 AM SL Time
We knew the Vikings as marauding pirates who plundered others` wealth and gave their victims a choice between walking the plank and having their heads chopped off. We never knew them as a set of jokers capable of beating Charlie Chaplin and Mr. Bean. Yesterday only we realised how uninformed we had been all these years. We stand corrected.
Our readers must have had themselves in fits and some may even have choked on their tea or coffee, unable to control laughter, on reading the news that the Norwegians had come up with the brilliant idea of having talks between the government and the LTTE at the Katunayake International Airport. Since foreign travel for talks will lead to hours being wasted at the airport, argue the Norwegians, the venue should be acceptable to the LTTE. (Karadara-less, pollin-less`85')
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Don`t torture the public
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 2:11 AM SL Time
If Sri Lanka has achieved self-sufficiency, it is in political circuses. Hardly a day passes without a display of political gimmicks by one party or another. May Day is the worst, when politicians lead workers by the nose, straddling their backs. At other times, party supporters fill in for workers and shoulder political derriere of their choice in public. They seem to enjoy playing beasts of burden to their political masters so unashamedly. Is it that he, who coined the not-so-complimentary sobriquet, swinish multitude, had Sri Lankan hoi polloi in mind'
What is at issue, however, is not incorrigibility or servitude of the multitude. It is the suffering that the public is subjected to because of roadshows. It was only a few weeks ago, that the UNP completed its grand march from Devinuwara to Colombo, having caused tremendous inconvenience to the people, mostly the tsunami affected, all the way for days. (The tsunami victims must have wondered where on earth those marchers had been at the hour of their need following the disaster.)
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`Jayewardenestein`s monster`!
Wednesday, 7 September 2005 - 2:38 AM SL Time
We Sri Lankans have one trait in common. We go for things that we cannot afford or handle. The most vertically challenged person drives the biggest vehicle in town. We fall for the biggest television set and pay for it for the rest of our lives in installments. Small is never beautiful to us - bigger, we believe, the better. We are a tiny nation with perhaps the biggest ego on this planet. Look at the number of Sri Lankans who want to set world records by pulling trucks with teeth, dancing non stop for days on end and the like.
It is this trait which is manifest in the creation of political institutions as well. We have the biggest cabinets and the most powerful presidency in the world. Poor Bush pales into insignificance in comparison to Sri Lanka`s head of state in terms of powers vested with the presidency. Clinton had to face a legal wrangle over such a flimsy matter as his affair with Monica. But not here! Our presidents are not only above the law but are a law unto themselves. The architect of Sri Lanka`s executive presidency once bragged that the only thing that he couldn`t do was to make a woman a man and vice versa. But his critics say he rendered all his parliamentarians a gender confused lot by obtaining undated resignation letters from them!
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| Security |
Intl. community mulls `action` after Tigers dismiss Oslo proposal
Friday, 9 September 2005 - 2:46 AM SL Time
The LTTE yesterday rejected peace broker Norway`s call for a direct meeting between government and LTTE representatives at the Bandaranaike International Airport, government sources said.
The LTTE said that the venue was not suitable to conduct `serious political discussions` the sources said.
Norway on Wednesday revealed their plan. The sources said that the LTTE rejection was likely to compel the international community to take action against the group accused of assassinating Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on August 12.
The sources said that President Chandrika Kumaratunga sought an urgent meeting between the military and senior representatives of the LTTE (military) wing to discuss the continuing violations of the Oslo-arranged ceasefire agreement. `It was definitely not to discuss the political situation,` the sources said, emphasising that Oslo would have to pressure the LTTE.
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One dead after Bomb threat at airport
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 10:52 PM SL Time
One female passenger was killed and many were reported to be injured Thursday in a stampede to evacuate a Saudi Airline aeroplane after a bomb scare at Colombo International Airport.
`One passenger had died after sustaining injuries during the evacuation` said Maxi Perera, the duty manager of the airport.
Reports say at least 12 people were admitted to the nearby hospitals
and some were taken to Colombo general hospital.
`The passengers were told to evacuate and the person got injured when the people were sliding down a shute to the ground. Later she died in hospital`, said the duty manager.
Saudi Airliner which was due to leave Colombo at 1300 was evacuated after the control tower received an anonymous call
of a bomb on board the flight.
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Court orders petitioners to pay costs to Colombo University
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 3:45 AM SL Time
The Appeal Court last Tuesday ordered two petitioners Shelton Wanasinghe and General Gerry de Silva to pay costs totalling Rs. 20,000 (Rs. 10,000 by each) to the Colombo University for making serious allegations against senior university officials on the pretext of acting in the public interest.
When the writ application came up before the Bench comprising Justices K. Sripavan and K.S.J. de Abrew, the petitioners sought to withdraw the application filed by them on behalf of the Citizen`s Movement for Good Governance (CIMOGG).
However, the court ordered that given the seriousness of the complaints, the petitioners would be permitted to withdraw their complaint after the costs were paid before October 6.
The Colombo University in its motion protesting against the entertainment of the writ complained that the CIMOGG, Prof. H.R.S. Hoole (a member of the University Grants Commission), Elmore Perera and the petitioners were abusing the process of court and violating various laws under the guise of public interest.
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Business / Economy News
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Korean Rs. 80mn gift to Mawanella
Friday, 9 September 2005 - 2:47 AM SL Time
The Korean Government has agreed to provide a three storeyed building with fully equipped 36 class rooms to Zahira Muslim College, Mawanella.
This was on a request made by Athauda Seneviratne, Minister of Labour Relations & Foreign Employment during his Korean tour last year. Accordingly an agreement was signed yesterday (8) by Dr. Tara de Mel, Secretary, Ministry of Education and Higher Education at the Ministry office with Han Young Tae, a representative from Koica Institute.
Hang Young Tae expresses his views at this function and said that this is the first gift given from Korea for the education of Sri Lanka and they hoped to give more aid in future too. Minister Athuda Seneviratne expressing his views said that Korean Government will provide necessary chairs and tables with computer systems required for school building and they hope to given training for six (6) teachers in the school. M. P. M. Nisurdeen, Principal of the College and Members of School Development Society also participated.
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Human Development Index Report - Sri Lanka ranks best performer in South Asia
Friday, 9 September 2005 - 2:45 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka ranks best performer in South Asia scoring above average in the Human Development Index Report 2005, the UNDP report said. The Sri Lankan HDI score of 0.751 is above the average for medium human development countries (0.718) and quite significantly higher than the average for South Asia (0.628).
In the 2005 report, Sri Lanka is ranked 93rd out of a total of 177 countries, with a total HDI score of 0.751 (out of a maximum of 1). In 2004, Sri Lanka`s position was 96 and it had a HDI score of 0.740. However using comparisons between years may not accurately reflect why ranking changes have occurred, as quite often they are due to revisions in the methodology for collecting the relevant data.
In 2005, relative to Sri Lanka`s economic wealth, it has performed well in improving the key areas of life expectancy and adult literacy. If countries were ranked purely on average individual income (based on GDP per capita adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity), Sri Lanka would be ranked 110 out of 177 countries.
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Govt. to use open source software for rural IT push
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 3:47 AM SL Time
The Government yesterday said that the Open Source Software increases chances of maximizing the potential in rural Sri Lanka in IT in being a producer of innovative and quality software technology for the world.
'There is a need for the Sri Lankan economy to grow at a rate of 8%-10% and to achieve this 'we need prudent macro-economic policies couples with development of thrust industries such as ICT,' Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana said in delivering the speech of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse who was not present on the occasion. The subject of ICT comes under Premier Rajapakse.
The national Free and Open Source Software Week 2005 began early this week and the ceremonial activities began yesterday.
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| Sports News
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Sri Lanka `A` vs South Africa `A` four-day match
Friday, 9 September 2005 - 2:48 AM SL Time
A fluent unbeaten 100 by right-handed Zander de Bruyn marked a modest beginning for South Africa `A`s month-long tour here when they scored 245 all out, after being put in first by Sri Lanka `A` skipper Avishka Gunawardena, on day-one of the first `unofficial` cricket Test which began at the Nondescripts Cricket Ground in Colombo, on Wednesday. The home team were 16 for the loss of Gunawardena, who edged an uppish quick delivery from Monde Zondeki in their innings` first over for a duck.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Sajeewa Weerakoon captured 6 for 59, to restrict strong the South Africa `A` ' they fielded as much as six Test players in the match ' to 157 for six and then got together with leggie Kaushal Lokuarachchi to take the last four for 14 runs.
Bruyn, who made his 100 in 155 balls and 209 minutes with 14 fours and a six, erred only once in his gritty knock when he reverse swept Lokuarachchi, two runs before scoring his ton, to the hands of an `unprepared` Weerakoon at cover point. But for that flop, he phased his innings well to resurrect the innings while sharing 74 for the seventh wicket with Johan Botha (14 in 70 balls). That was after Andrew Puttick (41) and Captain Jaques Rudolph (28) put on 68 for the first wicket.
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GCE A/L : All island best results
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 3:44 AM SL Time
With 3.4102 Z-Score marks the Sivapiragasham Mayoopran of Jaffna Hindu College has been placed first in the all-island Maths stream at the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination held in May this year.
The second and third places have been secured by Merinnage Erangi De Costa of Musaeus College and Hansini Shakuntala Sitinamaluwa of Visaka Balika Maha Vidyalaya in Colombo.
Nagendran Banukobhan and Sampanthan Thaneesan of Jaffna Hindu College have secured fourth and fifth places. In the all-island commerce stream Thilanka Priyadarshana Sampath of Mahinda Vidyalaya in Galle obtained the first place while second and third places go to Gamage Pradeepika Senani of Rippon Balika Vidyalaya in Galle and Sumudu Ruwandika Gunasekara of Visaka Balika Maha Vidyalaya in Colombo. In the science stream, first place was secured by Dileepa Sandaruwan Perera of Royal College, in Colombo and the second and third places went to Ponnudurai Sivapalan of Jaffna Hindu College and Shehan Kausalya Perera of D.S. Senanayake Vidyalaya in Colombo
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Sri Lanka capable of finishing among first three
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 2:09 AM SL Time
The Sri Lanka Sevens rugby team, led by Kandy Sports Club`s dynamic wing-three-quarter Sanjeewa Jayasinghe is confident of finishing among the first three teams at the`A0Singer-SriLankan Airlines Asian Region Sevens which will be held here from September 9 to 11, (Friday-Sunday). The event is organized by Kandy Sports Club for the seventh consecutive year.
The Sri Lankan ruggerites were seen practicing hard at the NIttawella grounds on Tuesday morning and evening under the watchful eyes of George Simpkin.`A0Sri Lanka, who won the Plate under the leadership of Radika Hettiarchchi last year, are capable of doing much better than last year. `A0Team Manager Jude Dimthri said that the side is looking good and the players are capable of beating their group teams.`A0 `We have the fire power and home advantage and all the players are fit and willing to produce good rugby,` he said.
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