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Tiger leaders in fear of Karuna attacks Thursday, 16 November 2006 - 2:49 AM SL Time All LTTE leaders in Wanni have taken special personal security precautions following reports that Karuna cadres could infiltrate and cause harm. Bodyguards have been increased for all area leaders and their cadres have been alerted to look for any strangers. In the event of any stranger being sighted in Wanni they would be arrested and interrogated. According to Police intelligence, even elderly people, travelling to Kilinochchi from the East, have to undergo body checks and their bags thoroughly searched. Within the organisation there are investigations being conducted as to how the security forces were able detect weapons and ammunitions while being transported. The LTTE strongly believes that inside information leaks out to the forces. 
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Taming Militants: Lessons from Sri Lanka Wednesday, 15 November 2006 - 10:28 PM SL Time SOME countries learn from their mistakes, some don`t. Sri Lanka belongs to the latter category. The sufferings of the Tamils, a minority, and the privations of the Sinhalese, the majority, should have made the country realise that both have to live together and that violence will not solve any problem. Still, the Sri Lankan government has bombed some areas in the northern parts where the Tamils live. Civilian casualties are natural, although trained Pakistani pilots are reportedly connected with the operation. True, President, Mr Mahinda Rajapakse won elections one year ago on the plank of toughness. But he also promised equal participation to all communities. When he rushed to India soon after assuming power to meet the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, it was evident that Mr Rajapakse had chosen the path of making up with the Tamils. The process leading to the Geneva talks confirmed that. However, Colombo`s stand at Geneva falsified the assumption because it refused to open the blocked road connecting South with North. Even when it would have meant a step towards normalisation and facilitated movement of food convoys to the Tamils in Jaffna, the Rajapakse government did not relent. The military and the monks, the two powerful entities influencing Mr Rajapakse, had their way. But the government lost an opportunity to pin down the LTTE, a militant outfit, to peaceful methods.
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Sri Lanka plans war budget Wednesday, 15 November 2006 - 8:23 PM SL Time Sri Lanka plans to announce a war budget Thursday in which it will hike defence spending next year by 45 percent amid a spiralling conflict with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, officials say. The budget comes against the backdrop of an International Monetary Fund warning Tuesday to Sri Lanka that the escalating violence could prompt an economic crisis with surging inflation and dwindling foreign currency reserves. Despite the upsurge in fighting that has claimed over 3,300 lives since December, the economy was forecast to expand by over seven percent in 2006 and more than eight percent in the coming year, government officials said. `We`re going to see an expansion that has not been seen for nearly 30 years,` deputy finance minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.
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| Security
Security Forum
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Government awaits Rock`s evidence Thursday, 16 November 2006 - 11:37 PM SL Time The Government is waiting for a report from Allan Rock, Special Advisor to the UN special representative for Children in Armed conflicts, on his alleged accusation that the Sri Lankan Government was supporting the recruitment of children for the Karuna Fraction. `We are not trying to clean ourselves or others, but we are waiting for Mr. Allan Rock`s evidence reports on this allegation to carry on further investigations to find the truth,` Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Government Defense Spokesman told media at the weekly defense media briefing yesterday. The former Canadian Health Minister Mr. Rock accused the government of supporting the Karuna fraction to recruit children for armed conflict. He brought in to the notice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He alleged that some security personnel were supporting abduction and forced recruitment of children by the Karuna faction.
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Manel Mal blasts UN envoy Thursday, 16 November 2006 - 4:25 AM SL Time The Manel Mal Movement (MMM) in Sri Lanka has accused United Nations of publishing misleading allegations against security forces. Report by advisor to UN Special Representative of Children and Armed Conflict, Allan Rock, contained false allegations that security forces help Karuna faction to recruit chills soldiers, the movement said. Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, a leader of the Movement, accused international media of 'misinterpreting' Rock`s statement after his 10-day fact finding mission.
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Security heightened as LTTE stalks VIPs Thursday, 16 November 2006 - 4:10 AM SL Time The LTTE is said to be targeting top government politicians in Colombo before its heroes` day commemoration on November 27, according to government intelligence sources. Ministers have been advised to curtail their movements in the city owing to the threat while security has also been tightened in and around Colombo, the intelligence sources said. LTTE heroes` week from November 20-26 commemorates fallen rebel cadres and culminates in the annual heroes` day speech by LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran. An LTTE front, the High Security Zone Residents` Liberation Force, which has claimed responsibility for a rash of deadly attacks on troops including the attempt on the army commander, in a faxed statement to Reuters last week threatened to launch a retaliatory attack in response to the killing of civilians by the Army in Vakarai.
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| Politics
Political News Forum
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Murphy to brief Blair on peace process Thursday, 16 November 2006 - 11:47 PM SL Time Paul Murphy, the former Northern Ireland Minister on Thursday met representatives of the LTTE in Kilinochchi, to share his experience of peacebuilding in Northern Ireland, according to a press release issued by the British High Commission. The High Commission quoted Murphy as saying,`Ten years ago, people didn`t think that the Northern Ireland conflict could be resolved. But it has happened through political negotiations. They are similar hopes and prayers for a political solution in Sri Lanka. We urge parties to keep the lines of communication open. This was the case even during the worst times of conflict in Northern Ireland. The Sri Lankan peace process needs to be inclusive. Listen to views of all parties and take on all subjects for discussion. This ranges from human rights and humanitarian assistance, to language issues and constitutional affairs.
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Collegues vow to carry on policies of slain MP Thursday, 16 November 2006 - 4:17 AM SL Time Speaking in the presence of large number of civilians gathered in Jaffna on Wednesday to pay their last respects to Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Late Raviraj Nadaraj, fellow parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran accused an armed group linked to Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) as directly responsible for the killing of Raviraj,sources in Jaffna said. `While one of the assailants blocked the vehicle of Raviraj, the other sprayed the MP with bullets using an T-56,` Premachandran said. Pointing out that the killing took place in the High Security Zone directly across the Head Quarters of the Military Police, and the killers were able to walk away from the crime scene without any fear of being apprehended, Premachandran demanded that the GOSL should accept direct responsibility for the death of Raviraj.
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Karu goes to courts Thursday, 16 November 2006 - 4:16 AM SL Time A pro reform member of the UNP told �Lanka E News� that deputy leader with the UNP dissident group in expected to file action to obtain an injunction preventing the party convention being held on Nov. 19th. According to him there are plans to prevent the resolutions passed unopposed at the Exco meeting, being presented at the party convention despite recent working committee agreement. Legal action in this matter is to be instituted by a very senior member of the UNP Mr. Wijepala Mendis, Vice President Dharmadasa Banda and Imitias Bakeer Marker. All three were former ministers of the UNP. A member of the dissident group said that Romesh de Silva PC will appear for them at the courts.
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| Business / Economy News
Business News Forum
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More doctors needed Thursday, 16 November 2006 - 11:35 PM SL Time The medical profession in Sri Lanka is affected by a severe dearth of doctors. The country needs at least another 3,000 doctors. Most doctors do not wish to serve in difficult areas. Even in the Badulla district, due to the shortage of gynaenacologists some operations have to be postponed, said Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva after issuing letters of appointment 350 doctors who had completed their internships. The event was held at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Minister de Silva said that even though the Health Ministry had been able to detail doctors to needy areas, these doctors had been asking for transfers to other hospitals after serving a few months. Referring to channel practice, he said that although channel practice had been prohibited for doctors during official working hours, some doctors ignore this. Some doctors attached to Elpitiya and Pelmadulla areas had been caught red-handed as they had had been doing channel practice during working hours.
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13-year-old school girl nabbed before Kuwait job Thursday, 16 November 2006 - 4:13 AM SL Time A thirteen-year-old girl who claimed she was running away from the harassment of her father was detained at the Colombo Airport yesterday before she emplaned for Kuwait in search of a job there. The girl had come to the airport through an approved employment agency and was nabbed when she was stranded at the airport after missing her flight. She was later taken to Katunayake 'Sahana Piyasa' of the foreign employment bureau. Two officers of the employment agency had attempted to take her back but consequent to the interrogation by foreign employment bureau officers they had left the place. Foreign employment bureau Airport Manager, Inspector, Srilal Perera had questioned the girl on suspicion and she had revealed her actual age. According to her she had decided to go abroad for employment to get away from her father`s harassment. She had come to Colombo with her uncle and had been detained for two weeks in the house of an employee of the employment agency.
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Sri Lankan rupee sinks to historical low, as share prices hit record highs Tuesday, 14 November 2006 - 8:31 PM SL Time Sri Lankan rupee sank to historical low on Tuesday while share prices closed at a record high, amidst buying frenzy in conglomerate John Keells Holdings, dealers said. The rupee fell to 108.20 to the U.S. dollar from Monday`s close of 107.60 as banks bought dollars to meet high import bills. The currency hit an intra day high of 108.45, but some profit taking helped to prop up the rupee a bit, traders said. Colombo`s All Share Price Index jumped 2.23 percent or 57.31 points to close at a record high of 2,619.37, with the day`s turnover also hitting a lifetime high of 2.16 billion rupees. The bourse` market capitalization also crossed a historical high of 802.8 billion rupees, the stock exchange said. Brokers were speculating that Hong Kong based GoldQuest Fund had bought 1.5 percent of JKH today, raising their stake to 5 percent in the blue chip company.
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| Editorial News
Editorial News Forum
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A wake up call! Thursday, 16 November 2006 - 11:48 PM SL Time The All India Bar Association (AIBA) has expressed concern over the continuing hostilities in Sri Lanka and sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to put an end to what it describes as, `ethnic killings` according to a report in The Hindu, reproduced in this newspaper yesterday. AIBA Chairman A. C. Aggarwala and Vice Chairman C. Prabakaran have claimed that the Sri Lankan government is acting in violation of the UN guidelines and international norms. The AIBA has likened the present situation to the ethnic violence against Tamils in 1983 and called upon the Indian government to send a parliamentary delegation to Colombo. Their appeal is a testament to an intense propaganda offensive in India to generate hatred towards Sri Lanka. What is shocking is not so much the AIBA statement but the fact that none of the big guns of the Sri Lankan government, whom we contacted, were aware of the report in that influential Indian newspaper. It is doubtful whether they cared to read it even afterwards. So much for their vigilance at a time when a mammoth anti Sri Lanka propaganda drive is on internationally!
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Maname at Temple Trees: Same play different casts Tuesday, 14 November 2006 - 4:33 AM SL Time The Rathu Sahodarayas (of the JVP) are reported to have decided to boycott the special show of Maname at the Temple Trees, scheduled to be held shortly to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the great play by the legendary Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra. The play is about Punic faith. Based on the Sattubatta Jaathaka as well as a folk story, it pivots round the eponym, Prince Maname, betrayed by his newly wedded wife, who gives his sword to a Veddha King in a duel, only to lose both men in the end; the Veddha deserts her as he cannot trust a woman who betrays her husband. In creating Maname, Prof. Sarachchandra had been influenced by Kurosawa`s classic Roshomon with a similar theme, based on a Japanese folk story, during his visit to Japan on a scholarship.
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Victory for democracy Monday, 13 November 2006 - 5:32 AM SL Time The amicable and unanimous resolution by the UNP last week, of the controversy over party reforms, constituted a victory for democracy and an example for democratic conduct within political parties. The leaders of the party should be complimented for thwarting efforts by some prompted apparently by selfish motives to disrupt party unity and reaching decisions to bring about changes to democratise the party. They should particularly be commended for avoiding disruption and confusion in the party at a time when the country is facing a crucial situation requiring the party`s assistance in steering the country clear of the imbroglio. This outcome also conveys a lesson to those who attempt to promote selfish interests and agendas at the expense of party unity and national interests and also to those who resist reforms and adjustments needed to make any organization to keep pace with changing times and requirements.
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| Sports News
Sports News Forum
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Unanduwa`s Unanduwa ends... Thursday, 16 November 2006 - 4:31 AM SL Time One of the most affable characters in Sri Lanka Cricket in recent times, Kumar Dharmasena, will bring his cricketing career to an end today playing his last first class game. The 35-year old all-rounder, last week announced that today`s Premier League match between Bloomfield and BRC at Reid Avenue will be his swansong. Dharmasena joined Sri Lanka cricket folklore when the country`s national team reached its zenith by winning the World Cup ten years ago. He was part of Sri Lanka`s famous spin quartet that played such a vital role during the competition. The effective quartet of Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva and Dharmasena gave the captain several options and the spin department was one vital segment for Sri Lanka`s success.
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Sri Lanka `A` make 296 Tuesday, 14 November 2006 - 4:28 AM SL Time Led by Gagandeep Singh and Rajesh Sharma`s crucial strikes either side of lunch, North Zone reined in a blow-hot-blow-cold Sri Lanka A and took the first day`s honours in the Duleep Trophy final at Kolkata. Gagandeep picked up the crucial wickets of Malinda Warnapura and Chamara Silva, who both hit rapid half-centuries, while Sharma`s offspin ran through the lower order and restricted Sri Lanka A to 296. Openers Akash Chopra and Gautam Gambhir continued the good work, taking North to 51 for no loss when bad light forced play to be called off seven overs before the scheduled close. North had begun the day promisingly, reducing Sri Lanka A to 48 for 3. With just his seventh delivery, Gagandeep bowled Michael Vandort, the opener, before Joginder Sharma removed Mahela Udawatte and Thilan Samaraweera, the captain. It was here that the bowling was first tested, with Malinda Warnapura and Chamara Silva producing counter-attacking innings.
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Delhi to host 2011 World Cup final? Tuesday, 14 November 2006 - 4:24 AM SL Time Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf on Sunday dismissed India`s claims that it would host the showpiece final of the 2011 World Cup. Ashraf refuted statements by the Indian board that the schedule for the World Cup matches and final had been finalised. 'I don`t think the allotment of matches or the venue for the final is done as yet. We are holding a joint meeting in India on Dec. 11 to discuss these issues,' he told a news conference. The International Cricket Council (ICC) in April awarded the hosting rights of the 2011 World Cup to Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh after stiff competition from a joint bid by Australia and New Zealand. The Indian cricket board has announced several times that it would be hosting the final of the 2011 World Cup in New Delhi and 22 other group matches.
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