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Jaffna, likely Tiger focus if war comes
Wednesday, 11 January 2006 - 11:16 PM SL Time
If Sri Lanka`s two-decade-old civil war flares again, as many fear it will, Tamil Tiger rebels are likely to launch an assault on northern Jaffna as well as hit-and-run guerrilla attacks on supply lines, analysts say.
The Jaffna peninsula is seen by the rebels as the centre of a future Tamil homeland, but they have held it only intermittently in the past and it is now under government control, albeit surrounded by Tiger territory.
`Jaffna is their main focus,` said Janes Defence Weekly analyst Iqbal Athas, referring to the Tamil Tigers.
`Certainly attacks will intensify. If you are looking at conventional warfare, they cannot take it (Jaffna) but we are also talking about guerrilla warfare.`
A truce between the rebels and the government has halted major attacks for almost four years, but the peace has been severely strained in recent weeks.
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President`s Haj message for patience, peace and solidarity
Wednesday, 11 January 2006 - 4:27 AM SL Time
President Mahinda Rajapakse, in his Haj message, appeals to the Muslims in Sri Lanka, and on pilgrimage in Mecca, to pray for patience, peace and solidarity in Sri Lanka.
Following is the complete text of the President`s message.
I am pleased to send my greetings on Haj Festival Day which is a very precious day for Muslims all over the world. Every government`s utmost duty and responsibility is to ensure that all citizens are at liberty to perform their religious rights and preserve their cultural identity.
My Government is totally dedicated to achieve that noble objective. It is undisputed that the world`s largest peace council is the gathering of Muslims devotees for Haj.
The objective of Haj is generosity, universal brotherhood, equality among all and patience. In fact, what we most need today is patience and peace.
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Complaints against corrupt cops pour into Bribery Commission
Wednesday, 11 January 2006 - 4:09 AM SL Time
Petitions from the public against corrupt policemen including high ranking officers are pouring in now, a senior official of the Bribery Commission told `The Island` yesterday (10).
Director Investigations, Bribery Commission, SP Neville Guruge said around 20 petitions against corrupt officers were being received daily at the Commission`s office.
Among the current investigations into the assets and incomes of police officers, there are cases pertaining to two DIGs, two SSPs and an SP he said.
These suspect officers are alleged to be living very much beyond their legal income levels and some of them have become virtual millionaires with their disclosed incomes being much lower than their real assets and wealth. Some of these officers have already been questioned on the information sent in by members of the public and some are still being questioned, he said.
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Politics
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PMK-LTTE secret meeting
Thursday, 12 January 2006 - 3:53 AM SL Time
On Monday a secret meeting in Bangkok was held between Sri Lankan militant bosses and Indian Tamil Nadu political party leaders, a news agency was quoted as saying.
Representing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, better known by the acronym LTTE, was Kumaran Pathmanathan or KP, the LTTE`s chief arms procurement officer and head of the LTTE`s international network.
Pathmanathan has established a sophisticated and secretive arms acquisition network, whose ships frequently visit Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, South Africa, Burma, Turkey, France, Italy and Ukraine in their search for arms.
Tamil Nadu political leaders attending the meeting included the Pattali Makkal Kadchchi, founder and president S. Ramadoss and G. K. Mani and R. Thiumavalavan of the Dalith Panthers of India.
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Bala coming for talks?
Thursday, 12 January 2006 - 3:48 AM SL Time
There is speculation that LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham may arrive in the country later this month to take part in the scheduled talks between the visiting Norwegian Minister Erik Solheim and the LTTE in Kilinochchi.
Mr. Solheim is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on January 23 for crucial talks with the government and the LTTE to formulate a framework for the resumption of peace talks and a venue for both parties to meet.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that Mr. Balasingham, who is residing in London, will seek permission from the government to travel to Kilinochchi via the Bandaranaike International airport to be part of the LTTE delegation to meet Mr. Solheim.
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Karu to get more powers in UNP?
Thursday, 12 January 2006 - 3:38 AM SL Time
In a move to salvage the UNP, confronted with a deepening leadership crisis and a split into two factions, it was proposed that full powers of controlling, leading and implementation be handed over to Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, a senior party source said.
Under the proposed reforms, it was suggested that a 1,500-member executive committee be appointed and the powers of the politburo widened, the spokesman said. The membership of the politburo too would be increased.
He said that reforms would give the deputy leadership of the party powers to implement party re-grouping at district and grass root levels.
This proposal would be presented to the party`s district level, Ex-Co level and parliamentary group members for their approval, he said.
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Editorial News
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Three cheers to a warning
Thursday, 12 January 2006 - 3:42 AM SL Time
When one deals with an erring child, one has to be soft and mild. But being soft and mild doesn`t pay in dealing with grown up men unleashing unbridled terror. In dealing with them, one has to speak the language they understand most. The US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Jeffrey Lunstead has minced no words in telling the LTTE where to get off. His message to the outfit is loud and clear: `Return to war at high cost!` It looks as if the Co-Chairs were beginning to live up to the expectations of the vast majority of peace loving people of this country.
`If the LTTE chooses to abandon peace, however, we want it to be clear they will face a stronger, more capable and more determined Sri Lankan military,` Mr. Lunstead has said addressing a group of businessmen. He has added that the US remains committed to the peace process in Sri Lanka and in helping the legitimate governing bodies of the island to prepare for their roles in developing and protecting their citizens.
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Duty of the good men
Wednesday, 11 January 2006 - 4:16 AM SL Time
The Ecumenical Intervention for Peace by Church Leaders has condemned the on-going violence and called upon the President, all political parties and the LTTE leader to take immediate steps to stop it and announce their stance and the action they propose to take. While condemning the LTTE attack on a naval craft on Saturday, they have called for an independent probe into the recent deaths of five students in Trincomalee in a government controlled area.
One cannot but agree with the Church Leaders. The on-going violence must be brought to an immediate end. It is a matter for happiness that they have come forward at a time when the truce is in jeopardy and the killing has become a daily occurrence. They are a powerful voice, which reaches out to the western nations capable of making an effective intervention.
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Ghosts Ahoy!
Tuesday, 10 January 2006 - 12:54 AM SL Time
Of Sri Lankans, the LTTE seems to have the same view as the greatest ever conman Phineas T. Barnum had of fellow Americans of his time-the people are suckers and there is a sucker born every minute. Barnum once made a fortune by making the people pay for seeing `the horse with its tail where its head should be.` They flocked in their thousands and spent money only to see an ordinary horse with its tail in a feeding trough! Similarly, the LTTE is trying to show the world that we are nation with our heads where our posterior should be. Are there any takers'
The LTTE has denied any involvement in Saturday`s attack. We are reminded of a similar situation where the LTTE blew up a Chinese trawler under the UNF government. The SLMM, true to form, blamed it on a third party in a bid to take their Tigers friends, who found themselves up the gum tree, off the hook. EPDP Leader and Minister Douglas Devananda, known for his wisecrack, had this to say: `There were only three parties at sea, the Navy, the LTTE and the Monitors and if the Navy and the LTTE hadn`t launched the attack, then it must be the Monitors who did it! If it is not the LTTE that destroyed the naval craft on Saturday''the monitors, too, are unable to give a ruling''then one is compelled to adopt the Devananda theory.
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| Security |
`We were tortured`
Thursday, 12 January 2006 - 3:48 AM SL Time
Hundreds of women who returned to the country yesterday from detention camps in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, claimed that they had been subjected to torture. They charged that the Sri Lanka Embassy did not return monies they took from them. The women charged they had not been issued receipts for the money taken from them.
The women aged between 18 and 50 years had gone to Saudi Arabia seeking employment as house maids. They said that they had been incarcerated when they complained to the police of harassment by their employers.
The women who were in a detention camp were deported at Saudi government expense.
Rohini Dhanapala of Anuradhapura said that some Sri Lankan women had been in detention camps for over 5 to 6 years. She claimed that many women were thrown into prison when they demanded their wages. She added that a number of Lankan women had been murdered, but the Embassy had done nothing to prevent these incidents. She added that Embassy personnel had taken sums ranging from 1,100 to 4,000 Saudi Riyals from them but did not return the money.
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Rights group takes Defence advisor to task
Thursday, 12 January 2006 - 3:46 AM SL Time
The Hong Kong based human rights regional body has urged that Defence Ministry advisor on police matters H.M.G.B.Kotakadeniya must express loyalty to the Sri Lankan Constitution or resign.
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said any person who openly calls for the Constitution to be contravened, or connives to sabotage its provisions, does not deserve to hold public office.
Mr Kotakadeniya is reported as having said that the IGP will now be able to appoint and transfer police, since the National Police Commission (NPC) has ceased to function due to the continued delay in appointing a new Constitutional Council, which is itself responsible for the composition of the NPC.
The AHRC statement said: 'What authority does this advisor have to confer powers on the IGP' Do his powers exceed those of the Constitution of Sri Lanka' Presumably not, as neither the Minister of Defence nor the President of Sri Lanka have such powers. In fact, they are duty-bound to uphold its provisions. Yet, the constitution has, under its 17th Amendment, allocated the powers of police appointments and transfers to the NPC, not the IGP. And nowhere is there anything written about a role in policing for the Ministry of Defence.
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EU mulls ban on LTTE
Thursday, 12 January 2006 - 3:39 AM SL Time
The European Union is engaged in an intensive internal debate on whether or not to ban the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the wake of mounting attacks by the LTTE in Sri Lanka over the past month.
European diplomats have told this correspondent that the issue will remain under discussion till a decision is reached. Already, in the wake of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar`s murder, EU members decided in September 2005 that they will not receive LTTE delegations `until further notice.`
Clearly, the growing belligerence of the LTTE has been noted in Europe and any decision to ban the Tigers in 25 countries (the Tigers are already proscribed in Britain) will have major implications for the terrorist group.
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Business / Economy News
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Indian Textile show at BMICH
Thursday, 12 January 2006 - 3:56 AM SL Time
The Synthetic and Rayon Textile Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) and the High Commission of India in Colombo are jointly organizing the 4th `Indian Textile Show` in Colombo, at Hall 2 of the BMICH on 11 & 12 January, 2006.
The SRTEPC has already held three similar trade shows in Sri Lanka.
The specialized exhibition will highlight India`s capabilities, and showcase products in the field of synthetic textiles, fibre, yarn and make-up. The Show will bring together Indian enterprises producing man-made fibres and. will strengthen the flourishing business relationship between the two countries.
Given the current scenario in the world apparel industry, where MFA quotas come to an end, the Government of India has offered special concessions for the export of 6 million pieces at zero duty under the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement provided the fabric used is sourced from India.
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30mm Chinese cannon contract in the offing
Thursday, 12 January 2006 - 3:40 AM SL Time
The navy is to explore the possibility of acquiring 30mm naval guns from China. The weapons system currently operational on Chinese vessels is to be mounted on Fast Attack Craft (FACs) under construction at the Japanese managed Colombo Dockyard Limited (CDL).
A high level navy delegation is expected to leave for China end of this week.
This was subsequent to an international tender being called for the purchase of 30 mm guns a few years ago. The Island learns the Israeli firm Rafael and China`s Norinco`s had responded to the tender and the incumbent government was in the process of pursuing the Chinese offer. The Chinese offer was cheaper, well informed sources said while expressing fears the Chinese system may not conform to SLN and CDL specifications
The Island learns that the cannon are of Chinese make while the fire control systems are from Italy.
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Privatisation of Hotels Corp. above board - Anura
Thursday, 12 January 2006 - 3:37 AM SL Time
Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike yesterday dismissed claims that privatisation of the Ceylon Tourism Corporation was not above-board.
Referring to our yesterday`s front-page story `Probe on privatisation of Hotels Corporation`, the minister insisted that the transaction had the unanimous backing of the previous Cabinet.
Fielding questions, the minister said that the privatisation was proposed by the then Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama. `Just ask Amunugama and Treasury Chief Dr. P. B. Jayasundara, they`ll tell you,` he said.
Although the Corporation came under the purview of the Tourism Ministry, the minister emphasised that he was not in anyway involved in the transaction. He strongly dismissed the perception that it was a shady deal finalised at the tail end of the former President Chandrika Kumaratunga`s administration.
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| Sports News
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Sri Lankan batsmen fail in one-day game
Thursday, 12 January 2006 - 3:41 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka`s batsmen failed dismally in their first test on Australian soil this summer, and have just two days to produce a huge turnaround before the triangular one-day cricket series.
The tourists could not cope with the left-arm swing of Victoria`s Allan Wise, whose 5-27 helped bowl Sri Lanka out for 120 and set up a seven-wicket win at Central Reserve.
Although the drumming and horns were a constant among Sri Lankan supporters in Glen Waverley, in Melbourne`s south-east, the batting lacked the sparkle of the last Lankans team to tour Australia, in 2002-03.
Wise, who cannot crack a spot in Victoria`s best limited overs side, had played only once in the past month but took advantage of the bowler-friendly conditions after morning rain and scythed through the top order.
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Umesh Karunaratna chopped again
Wednesday, 11 January 2006 - 4:18 AM SL Time
Thurstan College all-rounder Umesh Karunaratna, who is excelling in the current school cricket season, has been excluded from the 20 member Under-19 World Cup squad which was announced last weekend.
Karunaratne faced the test in eight trial matches where he scored over 200 runs. He retired on two occasions when he was in top form and was given only one trial after his return to the island after the Bangladesh tour. While some players who had not done well even at school level have received a place in the twenty member squad, Karunaratne who was consistent right throughout has been cold shouldered by the national selectors, a source close to the School Cricket Association revealed.
Karunaratne was in fine form during the recently concluded Under-17 tournament, where the right hander accumulated almost 500 runs and bagged 33 wickets with his right arm off spinners. His aggregate included two unbeaten centuries and three half centuries. While he scored 125 not out against S. Thomas` College he notched up 120 runs against D. S. Senanayake College in the quarter final match of the Under-17 tournament.
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The Murali factor that didn`t go Lanka`s way
Tuesday, 10 January 2006 - 12:55 AM SL Time
Muttiah Muralitharan has been Sri Lanka`s premier match winner in both Test and One Day Internationals claiming heaps of wickets. But the off-spinner couldn`t pose the same threat to the opposition batsmen in the just concluded One-Dayers against New Zealand as he finished with only three wickets in four games.
Not that Murali was totally ineffective. New Zealand`s policy against the Sri Lankan was complete defence and their theory was to see off his ten overs without giving away a wicket and if they had only scored 30 runs off him that did not bother them too much.
Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu admitted that the batsmen all around the world have begun to get the measure of the bowler with his `wrong one` not causing the same trouble it did, maybe, three years ago.
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