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`Allow Raviraj`s casket to be taken through A9,` family requests SL President Saturday, 11 November 2006 - 9:50 PM SL Time Assassinated Jaffna District TNA parliamentarian`s widowed wife Sasikala Raviraj, Saturday morning when Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mr. Mangala Samaraweera visited the parlour, made an appeal to open the A9 Muhamalai exit-entry point in order to take her husband`s remains to his hometown Chavakachcheri for cremation. The funeral is scheduled to be held on Wednesday in Chavakachcheri in Jaffna. Hundreds of mourners from all ethnic communities, political leaders, religious dignitaries and social activists gathered in Colombo to pay their last respects to the assassinated Jaffna district Parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj. 
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Survivors tell Reuters, LTTE fired from camp Saturday, 11 November 2006 - 3:46 AM SL Time Contrary to the SLMM statement quoting survivors as saying the LTTE did not fire at the military from within the refugee camp in Vakarai a Reuters report said according to some survivors who have now fled to government controlled areas the LTTE had taken the first shot from the camp premises.'First I heard big guns fired from the camp area,' said a 27-year-old Tamil woman, asking not to be named. 'I jumped into a bunker. Then the army returned fire and I heard big explosions in the camp.' The alleged rebel firing resulted in retaliatory ground firing from the government troops hitting the refugee camp area causing deaths to scores of civilians and injuring several others which eventually led to an outcry of condemnation.
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Seerum Padai claims responsibility Saturday, 11 November 2006 - 3:44 AM SL Time A group identifying itself as the `Seerum Padai` yesterday claimed responsibility for the killing of TNA MP Nadaraja Raviraj. In a statement posted from Killady in Batticaloa on the Nerrupu.com website the group said the TNA MP had continued to disregard its persistent warnings and suffered the same fate that of his colleague the late Batticaloa TNA MP Joseph Pararajasingham. The `Seerum Padai` has warned the remaining TNA MPs to cut off all links with the LTTE and live happily with their families or face the consequences even if they are in Colombo or the Wanni. Meanwhile a spokesman for the Karuna arm political faction, the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), told the Daily Mirror he had not heard of a group called `Seerum Padai` and at the same time condemned the killing of the Tamil MP.
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| Security
Security Forum
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Sri Lanka: Disabled girl raped by neighbour in Vavuniya Sunday, 12 November 2006 - 5:01 AM SL Time An eight year old disabled girl had been raped by her neighbour in Vavuniya last week. According to the Vavuniya police, the suspect had been taking the victim to school for over a year. However, last week, the suspect had taken the victim to his friend`s house and raped her. He had then kept her locked in a room for over three hours after which he dropped her home, threatening her to remain quiet. The suspect is currently in police custody.
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Tigers hold six security forces personnel Sunday, 12 November 2006 - 4:48 AM SL Time With the capture of four navy personnel by Sea Tigers last Thursday evening, the number of security forces personnel in LTTE captivity has gone up to six. Navy headquarters said that the four men believed to be from two Fast Attack Craft (FACs) damaged during Thursday`s confrontation off Point Pedro, are in LTTE custody. Sea Tigers blew up a locally built FAC during the confrontation. A military official said that the LTTE would try to swap the men with some of their members now in security forces custody. According to army headquarters two soldiers fell to the enemy`s hands during confrontations at Vakarai in the second week of July and at Muhamalai in the second week of October.
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Scotland Yard help sought Saturday, 11 November 2006 - 4:20 AM SL Time President Mahinda Rajapakse has asked the Foreign Ministry to make an urgent request to Scotland Yard to assist in investigations into the assassination of TNA parliamentarian Nadaraja Raviraj. The President said the assassination of Mr. Raviraj showed every indication of being a deliberate and well planned attempt to bring the country and the government into disrepute. It was also a serious move to create obstacles to the efforts being made to bring about better understanding among the different communities in the country, in the search for peace and harmony. The President was speaking at the 75th birth anniversary of Sarvodaya leader Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday. He said Mr. Raviraj had been very good friend whom he had known for a long time. He was a young, courageous and active politician, who could speak Sinhala, Tamil and English fluently, and was able to present his views very clearly.
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| Politics
Political News Forum
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Hema Premadasa ready to swap residence Monday, 13 November 2006 - 1:28 AM SL Time The Premadasa family is willing to swap their Stanmore Crescent residence for a suitable one provided by the government. Family sources said that the government recently requested them to leave the house as a high ranking military official needed it. A senior security official said that the officer, believed to be high on the LTTE hit list, wanted to move to a secured area. `We understand their concerns,` the sources said, adding, `They would make a move once the deal is finalised.` The sources denied claims that former first lady Hema Premadasa had asked for a duty free car permit to facilitate the deal. The former first lady is entitled to a duty free car permit, the sources said, emphasising that they would not in anyway obstruct government efforts to provide accommodation to military officers facing death threats.
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Minor Cabinet reshuffle likely Sunday, 12 November 2006 - 4:51 AM SL Time President Mahinda Rajapakse is likely to order a minor Cabinet reshuffle after the presentation of the Budget on November 16 with political sources saying that Rajapakse is believed to have told CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman of the impending move after he quit his portfolio. `Thondaman is furious over the delay in giving him a genuine ministry. He is not happy with what he got,` a well informed source said. Referring to the Youth Empowerment Ministry, the source said that the minister feels there was no purpose in retaining that portfolio. Political sources said that Thondaman had indicated what he desired and the president agreed to consider the possibility after the Budget.
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Two Funeral ceremonies to Raviraj one in Colombo and other in Jaffna Sunday, 12 November 2006 - 4:42 AM SL Time TNA parliamentarian M.K, Sivajilingam said that the slaying of Jaffna District TNA Parliamentarian Nadaraja Raviraj is the handy work of a group close to the Govt. and the Govt. should bear the responsibility for it. So said mr. Sivajilingam when `LeN` questioned whether any clues have surfaced on the killing. He totally refuted the claim that a group called `Seerum Padai` (Chera Army) has claimed responsibility for the killing, which appeared in Nerippu the web site of Karuna. The `Seerum Padai` has warned all to sever connection with the LTTE and if they do not obey that, they will have to face the consequences whether they live in Colombo or Wanni. Mr. Raviraj`s body will be kept at the A.F. Raymond Parlour for public to pay their last respects. He will be accorded two funeral ceremonies. First will be held in the Town hall, Colombo with the participation of all political parties and mass organizations on the 13th. The TNA and Mr. Raviraj`s familily members have requested the Government to allow the body to be taken to Jaffna on the A9 highway. But the government has suggested that it should be air lifted to Jaffna
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| Business / Economy News
Business News Forum
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Budget 2007: Same old story Sunday, 12 November 2006 - 4:55 AM SL Time Another budget is around the corner. A journalist asked me what I thought were the issues or challenges that face the economy. Usually people look to the budget like children looking for Santa Claus at Christmas. But according to news reports there are 750 suggestions from the public and they are asking for money for infrastructure in a pathetic state of ruin particularly in the rural areas. I referred the journalist to the Central Bank Annual Report for 2005 which sets out the key issues involved in our budget making. Structural Deficit in the Budget The revenue of the government is not enough to meet the annual increases required in expenditure even without any new programs. About 70% of the budgeted expenditure is committed to paying salaries of public employees, pensions and interest on the public debt. In fact the total revenue of the government is not enough to service the debt for the year which includes interest and debt repayments falling due in the year. There is very little scope for any new discretionary expenditure. Nor is it possible to re-allocate the expenditure since practically all departments and programs need extra money to cope with the inevitable inflation due in the year.
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Harry J vs. rest showdown in the offing Sunday, 12 November 2006 - 4:49 AM SL Time The deep division between the owners of the Stassen and Milford Exports Groups, with relations between Managing Director Harry Jayawardene and three of the other founder directors including Dr. V. P. Vittachi, who is Chairman of both companies plunging to near zero, was publicly signalled last week with the non-publication of a Chairman`s Review in the annual report of the Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka Ltd. (DCSL), one of the country`s richest conglomerates. Milford (41.49%) and Lanka Milk Foods (12.65%) are the controlling shareholders of DCSL in which the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation`s Life Fund (SLIC is a subsidiary of DCSL) and Stassen Exports are among the top 20 shareholders with 3.26% and 0.70% respectively. Stassen and Milford directly and indirectly have substantial stakes, often controlling interests, in some of the country`s biggest and richest businesses including, DCSL, LMF, Aitken Spence, SLIC, Lanka Bell, HNB, DFCC and many more conservatively estimated to be worth billions of rupees.
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Property Boom Saturday, 11 November 2006 - 4:19 AM SL Time Sri Lanka`s People`s Merchant Bank said Friday it is raising 250 million rupees through a rights issue to expand its real estate division. A quoted merchant bank, PMB is issuing one new ordinary share for each of its existing ordinary shareholders at an issue price of 20.00 rupees (which includes a 10.00 rupee premium), each. Set up in 1983, nearly 60 percent of PMBs voting stock is held by People`s Bank and DPMC Financial Services Ltd. The rest is held by institutions and the general public. Rated `BBB-(lka)` by Fitch Ratings Lanka for its long-term senior debt, PMBs fee-based activities are limited with over 80 percent of income generated by fund-based activities ' mainly vehicle financing (leasing and hire purchase). PMBs loan book as at December 2005 comprises of:
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| Editorial News
Editorial News Forum
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Who`s safe in Lanka? Sunday, 12 November 2006 - 4:50 AM SL Time `Is anybody safe in this country of ours'`` is the question that springs to mind after Friday`s cold blooded killing of Tamil National Alliance MP Nadrajah Raviraj and his police bodyguard in broad daylight in the heart of tightly guarded Colombo. Obviously not. While it is axiomatic that killers uncaring about their own lives or safety, like suicide bombers, are more difficult to thwart than assassins who want to get away, far too many of the latter sort have fired their shots and got off Scott free. Raviraj`s killer, hopefully, will not be one of these. Tightly protected targets have fallen like ninepins over the years ' Lakshman Kadirgamar, R. Premadasa and Ranjan Wijeratne to name a random few. Politicians today are a closely guarded species, but they are still vulnerable as Friday`s killing eloquently demonstrates.
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Barbarity at its worst Saturday, 11 November 2006 - 4:26 AM SL Time It is with shock and sorrow that we note the brutal assassination of TNA MP Nadaraja Raviraj and his security officer. That cowardly act of terrorism must be condemned unreservedly by one and all. The identities of his killers and their motive are not known but it is believed that he was killed for political reasons. President Mahinda Rajapakse has called the killing an attempt to bring the country and the government into disrepute and invited the Scotland Yard to help probe it. His concern is understandable because of the efforts being made in some quarters to the blame the assassination on the government, which is still reeling under the civilian deaths at Vakarai due to retaliatory shelling. We saw a similar campaign following the assassination of TNA MP Joseph Pararajasingham on the Christmas Day in Batticaloa last year.
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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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| Sports News
Sports News Forum
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Hair pays price for his authoritarian manner Sunday, 12 November 2006 - 4:53 AM SL Time It`s time for a different perspective on the Darrell Hair issue before it is finally put to bed. Although the support for Hair from the Australian cricket community is a noble gesture for a colleague under duress, it is a misguided and ill-informed loyalty. Anyone who watched the Test at the Oval on that fateful day back in August, or the previous one at Headingley in which Hair also stood, would have known that trouble was brewing. Hair may well be a good umpire in terms of his application of the letter of the law, but in the spirit of the law he has sometimes been found wanting. He can be dogmatic and insensitive, and at the Oval he was both. A below-strength Pakistan attack had been belted around all series as one line-ball decision after another went against it. When the Pakistanis finally got the upper hand at the Oval with some reverse swing, it was little wonder they felt affronted to be labelled cheats. What about England 12 months earlier, they asked.
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Ponting says sorry Saturday, 11 November 2006 - 3:59 AM SL Time Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has apologized to India`s cricket chief over the Australian team`s behavior during the Champions Trophy presentations. Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said Friday that Ponting, after trying to contact board president Sharad Pawar for more than 36 hours, reached Pawar by telephone late Thursday. The Indian cricket administrator was nudged off the presentation stage after handing the trophy to the Australian team in Mumbai on Sunday. Indian officials and media heavily criticized the behavior of the Australians, who beat the West Indies in the final. Ponting was unaware there was a problem until he arrived back in Australia on Tuesday. He said there had been no intent to offend anybody, but Pawar was quoted as describing the behavior of the Australians as `totally uncivilized.`
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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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