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Erik Solheim slams Sri Lanka Army for unprovoked shelling at Pooneryn Thursday, 9 November 2006 - 9:17 PM SL Time Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim, after talking to the Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Major General Lars Johan Sølvberg, who narrowly escaped from the Sri Lanka Army shelling while inspecting the Pooneryn jetty Wednesday, told the online edition of VG, the largest national paper in Norway, that the shelling was launched after the former Norwegian Army Commander, had arrived at the site and it was gradually directed towards the delegation. `The most serious [act] is that the army fired at this level towards an unprovoking target,` Mr. Erik Solheim told the paper describing the episode as a highly dangerous situation. There was clear sight, Erik Solheim told the paper adding that it was impossible to misunderstand the situation. The army was in advance informed of the meeting which was about inspecting the pathway that has been damaged. 
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Sri Lanka regrets killing of civilians Thursday, 9 November 2006 - 7:03 PM SL Time Sri Lanka`s government today expressed `regret` over the killing of civilians at a refugee centre in the island`s east, but blamed the LTTE for using them as human shields. `While we regret this whole episode, we want to say that national security is uppermost in our minds,` Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters here. `The actions of the security forces was inevitable,` he said. Tamil Tiger rebels said 65 civilians were killed in the attack by government forces in the eastern district of Batticaloa yesterday. Rambukwella said Tigers were attacking security forces and neighbouring villages with artillery and mortar bombs in the district and troops took counter action when the attacks intensified yesterday.
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LTTE rejects A9 alternative Thursday, 9 November 2006 - 4:36 AM SL Time The LTTE sasaid yesterday the government proposal to open Pooneryn via Kilinochchi to reach Jaffna as an alternate to Muhamalai was not a viable option as the infrastructure in the area was heavily damaged and would take several months to repair. LTTE peace secretariat chief S. Pulithevan told the Daily Mirror, the jetty in Sangupity, the crossing point to reach Jaffna, was heavily damaged following recent military shelling and aerial bombings which the government had said was to neutralise rebel threats to the Palaly army base. The government yesterday, via SLMM head Lars Johan Sølvberg, proposed to the LTTE to open Pooneryn from Kilinochchi as an alternate route for civilian movement to Jaffna thus bypassing the highly contentious Muhamalai entry exit point on the A9 highway.
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Security Forum
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`They killed 68 in Kebithigollewa-So there goes 65 in Kathiraveli` : Is Sri Lanka now at a tit-for-tat killing field? Friday, 10 November 2006 - 11:12 AM SL Time A disinformation campaign and a counter-campaign to counter it are being waged at their best in Sri Lanka. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) the separatist Tamil rebel outfit and the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) are also involved in a grim game of numbers ' that of counting the dead bodies. With their conflicting death toll numbers, both sides are involved in the peak of their disinformation campaign in presenting cases of killings to win justifications and international sympathy, unmindful of the plight of the `Sinnathambys` `Seyeds` and the `Silvas` 'the average citizen of Sri Lanka. The game of killing continues unabated as LTTE and GoSL shamelessly `show their daily accounts` of the dead to the international community while helpless civilians die in the hands of armed perpetrators of both parties.
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LTTE didn`t fire from camp: Survivors Friday, 10 November 2006 - 11:01 AM SL Time The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said yesterday there were no signs of the existence of an LTTE military camp in the vicinity of the two schools which came under attack from Government troops on Wednesday. SLMM acting spokeswoman Helen Olafsdottir told the Daily Mirror the monitors had interviewed some of the survivors of the incident and so far no one had provided evidence to suggest the presence of a rebel military camp in the area She said the survivors had also not given any indication to suggest the LTTE may have fired from the area towards the security forces before fleeing in anticipation of a retaliatory response on the area.
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LTTE using civilians as human shield in Vakarai -Army Thursday, 9 November 2006 - 4:50 AM SL Time The Security Forces yesterday claimed that LTTE was using civilians trapped in the uncleared areas as a human shield to cover up its artillery and mortar positions and to tarnish the image of the Security Forces when civilians get caught in the retaliatory fire. This is in the aftermath of the LTTE claim that more than 45 civilians were killed yesterday under tragic circumstances in Vakarai in Batticaloa as a welfare centre was allegedly hit by Security Forces retaliatory fire. The SLMM spokeswoman Hellen Ollafsdottir told the Daily News that monitors who visited the scene had counted 23 bodies at hospitals where also 135 injured were treated by yesterday afternoon. `The exact number of people killed in the incident is not yet known`, Ollafsdottir said.
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| Politics
Political News Forum
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Scotland Yard may probe SL MP killing Friday, 10 November 2006 - 9:33 PM SL Time President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked the Foreign Ministry to request Scotland Yard to help Sri Lanka investigate the assassination of the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, Nadarajah Raviraj, in Colombo on Friday. But `Seerum Padai` or Aggressive Army, a shadowy anti-LTTE group based in the Eastern town of Batticaloa, has already claimed responsibility for the assassination. The 21 remaining TNA MPs are in the grip of fear. The MPs, who had held a prolonged Satyagraha in parliament and had demonstrated before the UN mission in Colombo highlighting the bad conditions in the Tamil-speaking North East Sri Lanka, feel that the killing of Raviraj is a way of telling them to lay off.
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Kadiraweli: President expresses sorrow Friday, 10 November 2006 - 11:05 AM SL Time President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday expressed his deep sorrow and regret at the senseless loss of lives of innocent civilians at Vakarai and condemned the LTTE`s tactic of directing long range artillery fire using human shields that led to this tragedy. Authorities were ordered to pay compensation to the affected families and the Security Forces Commanders were directed to inquire and report, the President`s Office said. In a separate statement, the Government Information Department said it has been the practice of the LTTE to use human shields to launch attacks on Security Forces. It has been reported that approximately 30,000 civilians in Vakarai area are being used by the LTTE for this purpose. The statement expressed deep regret for civilian casualties, adding that the authorities are providing all medical assistance to the injured.
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Thondaman withdraws resignation Friday, 10 November 2006 - 4:11 AM SL Time CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman withdrew his letter of resignation, from the portfolio of Youth Empowerment, submitted to President Mahinda Rajapakse on Tuesday. A spokesman for Minister Thondaman declined to reveal the reason for his letter of resignation and subsequently its withdrawal.
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| Business / Economy News
Business News Forum
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Raja FM suspended Friday, 10 November 2006 - 11:10 AM SL Time Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadharashana Yapa has suspended the radio broadcast of RAJA FM in accordance with the powers entrusted on him under the Societal Good Conduct Act. No. 37 of 1996. This is after the Ministry received a large number of complaints from intellectuals, religious leaders, media personnel and society leaders that this channel of the Colombo Communication Pvt Ltd. broadcast anti social and extremely repulsive and vulgar material that could corrupt the society, specially the younger generation. Colombo Communication Pvt. Ltd has been notified of this order. A special mention has been made about the programme Three hours with Sumali which contains sexually explicit, vulgar and indecent descriptions, the Government Information Department said in release yesterday.
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Two Indian private conglomerate to build condominium in Colombo Thursday, 9 November 2006 - 4:54 AM SL Time Two of India`s privately owned business conglomerates, RJ Corp and Bestech India have teamed up to build a high rise luxury condominium in Colombo, officials said Wednesday. The 12.6 billion rupee project carried out through the new joint venture company, Accor Developers (Pvt) Ltd, is tipped to soar to some 472 feet over Colombo`s coastline. The RJ Corp derives its identity from its head Ravi K. Jaipuria, while Bestech India, is the builder of some of India`s most famous condominiums, hotels and commercial complexes. `We are very excited about the project in Sri Lanka,` said Ravi Jaipuria commenting on the real estate development that will stand as a symbol of the Group`s investments in Sri Lanka and is expected to be the first of similar ventures in this country. `It will represent the pinnacle of high-rise construction in a market where omnibus apartment complexes are taking shape.`
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Colombo Stock Market reaches all-time high Thursday, 9 November 2006 - 4:48 AM SL Time Sharp upward movement of the indices and high activity levels at the Colombo Stock Market have become a common trend and analysts said that encouraging corporate results and the current economic growth had boosted investor confidence. The All Share Price Index (ASPI) reached an all time high yesterday, beating the previous record level of 2,551.4 points it reached on November 16 last year. The ASPI closed the day at 2,558.1 points gaining 25 points compared to the previous day. The Milanka Price Index also continued to gain sharply reflecting investor interest in fundamentally sound counters. It gained 53 points to close at 3,330.1 points. The market capitalisation of the Colombo Stock Exchange surpassed all previous levels to reach an all time high of Rs. 785.8 billion. The previous record was Rs. 772.8 billion also recorded on November 16 last year. Yesterday`s market turnover was also healthy at Rs. 416 million although it was much less than the Rs. 1.5 billion turnover levels recorded on the first two days of the week.
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| Editorial News
Editorial News Forum
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To merge or not to merge Thursday, 9 November 2006 - 4:44 AM SL Time The government has said in Parliament that the merger of the Northern and the Eastern Provinces is a matter for the people to decide at a referendum; it shouldn`t be done arbitrarily by the government or at the dictates of a terrorist group. The government says it has three options. They are: setting up of two different Provincial Councils for the Northern and the Eastern Provinces; introduction of a Bill under Article 154A (3) of the Constitution to decide whether two or three adjoining provinces should be merged and that the Constitution stipulates the criteria for either the merger or the de-merger thereof would have to be incorporated into a Constitution to be adopted by Parliament. However, the government has stopped short of saying what it intends to do. The government is in an unenviable position. On the one hand, it has to act according to the Supreme Court ruling that the merger effected by the late President J. R. Jayewardene through a gazette notification is null and void and, on the other hand, it is under pressure from the peace lobby and LTTE proxies to either ignore the Supreme Court ruling/let the status quo remain or merge the two provinces anew. The JVP wants the government to respect the Supreme Court ruling by either appointing two governors or holding elections, while the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is demanding nothing but the merger. The government cannot do a Prince of Denmark either. For, the JVP is threatening to move the Supreme Court against the government`s noncompliance.
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Drugs, food and food for thought Wednesday, 8 November 2006 - 4:42 AM SL Time Two State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) employees have been interdicted for using the wrong formula in preparing a drug for hypertension. The timely detection of the grave mistake is said to have helped avert disaster. The SPC is a respected institution which has stood the poor in good stead and it ought to be extremely careful to avoid such lapses, which might lead to the erosion of public confidence and damage its reputation in a highly competitive environment. Sabotage cannot be ruled out, according to SPC authorities. Care should be taken not only in the preparation of drugs but in their prescription as well. Sri Lanka boasts of producing quality doctors but one sees most of them learn their pharmacology from sales representatives of pharmaceutical companies that look after their interests. How beholden the medical fraternity has become to the multinational pharmaceutical mudalalis is evident from the funds that the former gets from the latter for professional events, foreign trips or even boozing parties. There are also reports of doctors collecting commissions from pharmacies and/or drug companies on the drugs they prescribe. Needless to say that such unethical practices are at the expense of the sick, who are made to pay for expensive branded drugs, in most cases, unnecessarily.
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Strangulating justice to hang a dictator Tuesday, 7 November 2006 - 4:14 AM SL Time That Saddam Hussein would be sentenced to death by hanging was a foregone conclusion. Judging by the way the Iraqi High Tribunal handled the case from the very inception, it was clear that its mission was to give a predetermined verdict a touch of legitimacy. Many were the instances where the judges betrayed their prejudice thus lending credence to Hussein`s refusal to recognise the authority of the Tribunal. Parallel to the show trial, he was also subjected to a media trial by the western media pundits who don`t hesitate to function as the shock troops of their governments when their interests are threatened. There has been a mixed reaction to the sentence. Opinion is divided in Iraq over it. The US has lost no time in welcoming it as a milestone in the democratisation process in Iraq. Kuwait, which has suffered under Hussein`s jackboot, is demanding that his execution be expedited. The EU has taken exception to the death sentence. In endorsing or denouncing the judgment, the criterion has not been the principle of justice. Instead, it has been one`s allegiance or opposition to either Hussein or the US. Those countries that are beholden to the US would have endorsed even a decision to stone Hussein to death without a trial while others would have opposed the judgment even if it had been handed down after proper process and procedure.
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| Sports News
Sports News Forum
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Hundred and sixty-two competitors and 43 officials for Doha Asian Games Thursday, 9 November 2006 - 4:42 AM SL Time The spikers and soccerites, who won silver medals at the 10th South Asian Games (SAG) in Colombo, have been overlooked for the 15th Asian Games to be held in oil rich nation Doha, from December 1-15. Sri Lanka will send a massive contingent of 162 competitors and 43 officials while many more officials have lined up to make their passage to Doha. But the officials have opted to leave spikers and soccerites at home. The National Olympic Committee (NOC) chief Hemasiri Fernando on Tuesday said that the decision to send such a massive number was to pay tribute to SAG medallists but added that they could not afford to send members of medal winning teams. `We have decided against sending members of various teams for the games,` Fernando said. `Rugby is a special case. They have met the required qualifying standards to compete. So we couldn`t say no to it,` he added.
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Army women`s rugby team wins Wood City cup Wednesday, 8 November 2006 - 4:52 AM SL Time The Sri Lanka Army Women`s Rugby team clinched the Wood City Champions Cup with a stunning 12 points (one goal, one try) to 5 (one try) win arch each rivals Slimline `A` in the finals of the All Island Rugby Promotions Foundation (RPF) Women`s Rugby Sevens played at the Municipal Grounds, Bandarawela on November 4 (Saturday). Both Army and Slimline `A` played fast open rugby and the score stood at 5-all at the breather with Sandeepa (Slimline) and Nilmini (Army) scoring a try each. After resumption both teams gave of their best but one minute before the final whistle Army Women`s team winger Subashini Karunaratne made a powerful 40 metre run to pierce the Slimline defence and scored under the posts. Rukshani Ariyasena made no mistake with the conversion to give the Army Women`s team a 12-5 win. Both teams were studded with national players of the calibre of Ruwini Deepika, Dinushi Edirisinghe, Subashini Karunaratne, Rukshani Ariyasena, Herosha Fernando and Chathurika Mayuri who gave a sterling display.
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Australia demand Hair explanation Wednesday, 8 November 2006 - 4:41 AM SL Time Cricket Australia has demanded an explanation from the International Cricket Council over its decision to sack umpire Darrell Hair, BBC Sport reported on Monday. Hair was removed from the elite panel after ICC members voted him off because they had `lost confidence` in him following the forfeited Test furore. CA`s James Sutherland said the decision set a dangerous precedent. `Umpires could be concerned about off field consequences of calling decisions as they see them,` he said. `We don`t agree with the ICC`s decision and are concerned about the implications. `World cricket needs champion cricketers, but it also needs world-class umpires who are equivalently skilled at what they do. `To aspire to these heights, those umpires need to have confidence in the system - that they are supported by best-practice administration and processes.`
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