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Donors blame Tigers for killings, warn political parties
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 1:38 AM SL Time
While accusing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of carrying out political assassinations to undermine the truce, the Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference, yesterday warned political parties against undermining the fragile peace process while campaigning for the forthcoming presidential poll.
The United States, the European Union, Japan and Norway, co-chairs of efforts to drum up international financial support for Sri Lanka`s peace bid, after their meeting in New York on September 19, said they were concerned about killings as well as rhetoric in campaigning for the November presidential election.
Although saying that the August 12 assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar had cast a shadow over the peace process, the Co-Chairs stopped short of blaming the Tigers for it.
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Sri Lanka peace process faces `most serious challenge` ever
Tuesday, 20 September 2005 - 8:20 PM SL Time
The main international players supporting Sri Lanka`s peace process have warned that it faces ``its most serious challenge`` since a 2002 cease-fire brought a halt to fighting between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels.
The warning was issued in a joint statement from the European Union, Japan, the United States, Britain and Norway released Tuesday by the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo.
The statement, following a meeting in New York of the co-chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference of June 2003 that financially underwrote the peace process, rapped both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lanka government by implication for the current situation.
While it stopped short of directly accusing the Tigers of killing of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar last month, it strongly hinted that the LTTE was responsible in the view of the co-chairs.
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Prabhakaran writes to Norway`s new PM
Tuesday, 20 September 2005 - 3:01 AM SL Time
LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has written to Norway`s new Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg urging his country to continue its role as facilitator in Sri Lanka`s peace process, diplomatic sources said yesterday.
They said this in the letter sent through chief negotiator Anton Balasingham.
Mr. Prabhakran warmly greeted the new premier and said the LTTE wished him and his country well.
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Politics
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JVP confident of biggest ever victory
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 1:58 AM SL Time
The JVP expressed confidence yesterday that Mahinda Rajapakse would emerge victorious in the presidential election on November 17 with a bigger majority than any president had ever got.
JVP Leader Somawansa Amerasinghe addressing Mr. Rajapakse`s inaugural rally at Town Hall said that if constitutional changes were to be made they would be made according to the wishes of the people and not to please or placate terrorists in the Wanni.He said the battle on November 17 would be a battle between the camps representing the friends and enemies of the nation. He said the leader of the enemy camp had been clearly identified as Ranil Wickremesinghe as he would help those who wanted to divide the nation. 'Those who do not want to be part of that sin and those who oppose Ranil Wickremesinghe but dislike voting for Mahinda Rajapakse should either refrain from voting or destroy their votes. That would be a great service to the nation,' Mr. Amerasinghe said.
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UNP condemns lowering age of consent
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 1:54 AM SL Time
The UNP condemned a ttempts by the government to lower the age of consent for girls to 13 from 16.
`The cabinet last week decided to lower the age of consent for girls to 13 years from the present 16 years. Is the rape of young girls the priority in this country',` asked UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake.
He asked if the country was not facing an unprecedented crisis of an astronomical cost of living and mass unemployment. `Is there not a threat of reverting to the war in the North and East. What about creation of jobs and providing homes for tsunami victims, healthcare, education and infrastructure development'`
`Sri Lanka is already burdened with a high rate of drug addition and are new trying to increase the number of women who are sexually harassed and raped. Who other than those who think in an irrational manner would even even think in the manner. We must ask the government who is behind this lobby to increase rape and sexual harassment. Who are the sex maniacs and paedophiles behind this campaign'` he asked.
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Ravi promises much if Ranil elected
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 1:52 AM SL Time
The malefic effect on Sri Lanka will end no sooner the UNP leader in elected the next President of Sri Lanka at the election to be conducted on November 17, said UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake.
He said the priorities of the Ranil Wickremesinghe presidency would be to end to unemployment in the country and provide every citizen with an affordable cost of living. `The national economy will bounce back once more, prosperity will return to the country, the peace process will fall into place, promises will be backed with firm commitment and every citizen will be proud to be a Sri Lankan. No more will communities use different labels according to their creed, casts or ethnicity. They will all be Sri Lankans, he said adding that Infrastructure will be improved and would be operative,` he said.
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Editorial News
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TRO, US and us
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 1:55 AM SL Time
Ambassador Jeffrey Lunstead has said the US lacks evidence to take action against the LTTE front TRO raising funds for war in Sri Lanka. What has happened to America' We thought it was well informed of global terrorism or at least compared notes with Britain on vital matters such as terrorism and terrorist fund raising. The UK has removed the TRO from its Charity List and it is intriguing why the US is not aware of the reason why the UK has done so.
The US should have been more alert at least after the LTTE topped the UN`s List of Shame because of its child conscriptions and the TRO sent out appeals across the globe for assistance to the Katrina victims. Isn`t it in America`s interest to ascertain how much is being raised in the name of hurricane hit Americans and where the money is really going'
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Yes, Prime Minister, but...
Tuesday, 20 September 2005 - 3:00 AM SL Time
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse has put his finger on one of the crucial matters aggravating youth unrest. Although over 100,000 students qualify for university entrance, he has said, less than 20 per cent of them gain admission. According to the latest data available, the situation is far worse. Out of over 116,000 students who sat the GCE (A/L) examination this year and qualified for higher education, less than 16,000 will be able to enter universities.
The Prime Minister has reckoned that the human rights of those who are thus left out are violated and promised to increase the intake of university entrants.
With due respect to Bertrand Russell, one may adapt one of his terms to call the energetic young minds who are being denied university entrance `packets of resentment`. This year alone we have released over 100,000 packets of resentment into an already volatile society. Apart from being unfair by those children, that we are inviting trouble goes without saying.
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President, snap out of your amnesia
Monday, 19 September 2005 - 4:54 AM SL Time
The sister and brother combination of President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Foreign Minister Anura Bandaranaike are well known for their theatrics both on the political stage as well as off. The duo who have publicly stated that only people of certain families can lead this country obviously referring to their family for one, now does not want SLFP Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse to succeed.
But what is worse is that both of them having given this newspaper two exclusive interviews, published in the Daily Mirror on September 10 and 13, have the audacity to publish corrections in the state-owned media without so much as mentioning our name, except by innuendo by stating that 'sections of the media owned by UNP families directly supporting Wickremesinghe`s candidature as well as those owned by his family use distorted news.'
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Arrested for alleged possession of `Gajamuthu`
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 2:00 AM SL Time
Following a tip-off, the Southern Province Crime Investigation Unit took into custody two suspects possessing eleven `Gajamuthu` .
On the instructions of ASP Southern Province Crimes Investigation Unit, P. Hettiarachchi, a police team led by OIC Crimes, Chief Inspector L.A. Gunawardena, posing off as `Gajamuthu` buyers arrested the suspects. The officers had offered the suspects Rs 1.2 million for the `Gajamuthu`.
The suspects were handed over to the Galle police and the `Gajamuthu` to the Wildlife Department for a report.
Further inquiries are being conducted by SI Nipun Adhikari.
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Doctor appointed to judge himself
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 1:53 AM SL Time
A doctor attached to the Medical Supplies Division, who was responsible for the purchase of the contaminated syringes, had been named as the head of a 4-man committee tasked with investigating the purchase, health ministry sources revealed yesterday.
A number of persons, including expectant mothers died of meningititis after being injected through syringes later found to have been contaminated.
However, the sources said that Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was not aware about that appointment and the health sector trade unions had expressed their protest.
The committee is scheduled to travel to overseas for their investigations and would spend millions, trade unions alleged and asked how an officer who was responsible for the purchase could be appointed as the chairperson of the probe committee.
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NPC wants probe into LTTE abduction of policeman
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 1:52 AM SL Time
Ranjith Abeysuriya PC, Chairmen, National Police Commission has asked for an inquiry into the alleged detention of three police officers; Sub inspector Bopitigama, Police Constable Hemantha and Constable Sarath who were engaged in lawful discharge of their duties when they were taken into custody in the Murunkan area on September 9.
He requested Hegrup Haukland, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission to take the necessary action into this matter and arrange the earliest possible release of these three officers.
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Business / Economy News
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Famous Austrian Hotel school to build links with Lankan students
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 2:01 AM SL Time
The highly esteemed Klessheim Hotel School of Salzburg in Austria has encouraged through their support to establish a past pupils association in Sri Lanka and later in Asia.
This would be carried out through the efforts of a chairman of two companies and a director Mr. Prasanna Wijesinghe Jayawardene who is presently better identified as being the chief of the famous hotel Elephant Corridor.
Speaking to Daily MirrorFT last week he recalled that it was he together with another friend of his Mr. Lester Fernando were one of the first Ceylonese to obtain scholarships to this reputed school towards which he owes much to his success today.
It is in view of 'paying back' to the school that he together with some of the other past pupils of the school, many of whom are currently working overseas, agreed to establish an association to encourage the younger generation and bring about various activities.
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Rupee tad firmer, exporters sell dollars
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 2:00 AM SL Time
The Sri Lanka rupee closed a shade firmer on Tuesday as exporters sold dollar earnings and investors set their sights on a looming November presidential election.
The rupee closed at 101.41/101.43 (buy/sell) against the dollar, compared to Friday`s 101.42/101.44.
`There were a lot of (dollar) sellers in the market, but two state banks are buying quite a bit which is supporting it at these levels,` said one Colombo-based dealer.
Traders said a policy rift between outgoing President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her party`s presidential nominee, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, was also helping support the rupee because it appeared to strengthen the election chances of market-favourite and Ex-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
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Virtusans Donate Over Rs.10 Million to Post-Tsunami Relief Efforts
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 1:56 AM SL Time
Virtusans and well wishers reaffirm their commitment to rebuild the lives of those affected by the tsunami by donating a total of LKR Rs.10.2 million towards a number of relief programs in Sri Lanka and India. The company set up the Virtusa Relief Fund (VRF) in December 2004 with a vision to provide relief to fellow Virtusans and the Community affected by the Tsunami. Virtusans and well wishers in the US, UK, India and Sri Lanka made contributions to this fund.
In keeping with our commitment to enhance the education sector, in Sri Lanka, Virtusa donated funds to the Rotary Club Colombo Regency to rebuild the Tsunami affected IT Center of the Onthachchimadam Sri Vinyagar Vidyalaya in Batticaloa.
Further contributions were made to a livelihood development program in the ornamental fishing industry in Matara, This project was carried out by the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) and Sarvodaya.
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Commonwealth Games baton relay in Sri Lanka today
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 2:01 AM SL Time
The baton relay of the XVIIIth Commonwealth Games in Melbourne will take place today in Colombo and Seenigama, before moving to Kandy tomorrow for another special programme.
The baton which consists of a message from the Queen of England to the athletes of the Games to be read out at the opening ceremony is a tradition of the Games since the 1958 games in Cardiff.
This baton relay which travels to 71 countries during a journey of 180,000 kilometres across land, air and sea within a period of one year from March 14, 2005 to March 15, 2006 will go down in history as the longest and most inclusive such relay ever.The baton landed in Colombo last night as the 53rd destination on its way to Melbourne from London.
Today`s ceremonies in Colombo will start with the baton relay at 9.15 a.m. from Trans Asia Hotel in Colombo. It will proceed to the Australian High Commission and to Torrington Square. The route will be Kumaran Ratnam Road, Sir James Pieris Mw, Sir Earnest de Silva Mw., Ananda Coomaraswamy Mw., Sir Marcus Fernando Mw., Albert Crescent and Independence Avenue.
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Dilshan`s hundred puts Sri Lanka in command
Wednesday, 21 September 2005 - 1:55 AM SL Time
Middle order batsman T.M. Dilshan notched up his 4th Test hundred and put Sri Lanka in a strong position on the first day of the second and final Test match here at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium yesterday.
After Sri Lanka had lost four wickets for 48 runs in the morning Dilshan joined Thilan Samaraweera and the pair put Sri Lanka in a very healthy position with an unbroken 220 run stand in 267 balls as Sri Lanka took tea at 268 for four with Dilshan on 133 and Samaraweera on 89 looking set for his fifth Test hundred.
Despite the side in trouble the pair didn`t hesitate to go for their strokes putting pressure back on the Bangladeshi bowlers. Dilshan, in particular, was aggressive as he brought up his hundred in only 104 balls.
The 28-year-old who was a doubtful starter for the second Test after he got hit on the right elbow during practices was declared fit only on the morning of the Test and he made most of the opportunity with his second highest score in Test cricket.
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Thurstan`s under-the-post try shames Isipatana for first time
Tuesday, 20 September 2005 - 3:05 AM SL Time
Thurstan winger Shane Aravinda sent the Isipathanian supporters into mourning when he turned the game in his team`s favour with a 50-meter dash to score a match winning under-the-post try to help Thurstan record their first ever win in their 38-year old annual Abdul Jabbar trophy rugby encounter at Longden Place yesterday.
Of the past 37 matches played Isipathana won the trophy on 36 occasions with the 1975 match ending in a scoreless draw when Thurstan was led by Tissa Wickramanayake.
The Thurstanites took yesterday`s game by 15 points (one goal, one try, one penalty) as against six points (two penalties) by Isipathana. The winners led 5-3 at the breather. The final score may indicate an easy win for Thurstan, but the winners though dominating the game for most part were made to fight hard for their victory.
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