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Food aid reaches besieged Sri Lanka town Wednesday, 29 November 2006 - 7:54 PM SL Time A food convoy has reached 40,000 people trapped by weeks of heavy fighting in Sri Lanka`s restive east. With artillery exchanges subsiding, 84 trucks entered the rebel-held town of Vakarai bringing essential supplies including medicines for the first time in a month, local relief officials said. `It was possible for the convoy to get in because representatives from international relief agencies went ahead and ensured that the army did not shell the area,` Tamil Tiger spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan told AFP on Wednesday. The defence ministry accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of using the break in fighting to improve their defences along a de facto border. 
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US condemns Sri Lankan rebels for `fueling violence` Wednesday, 29 November 2006 - 9:56 AM SL Time The United States condemned Sri Lanka`s Tamil Tigers rebels for demanding an independent state and ending a 2002 ceasefire `We condemn the Tamil Tigers for fueling violence and hostility. Violence and terrorism do nothing to advance the resolution of the conflict,` said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. `The 2002 cease-fire agreement is the foundation on which both the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers can find mutual understanding and build sustainable peace,` he added. `We`re pressing both sides, the government as well as the Tigers, to honor the cease-fire agreement and return to a dialogue that will move the nation toward peace,` the spokesman said. `The Tigers can choose to return to the peace process and should do so for the benefit of the Sri Lankan people,` he added.
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Vakarai: Heavy shelling turns back food convoy Wednesday, 29 November 2006 - 2:50 AM SL Time A large food convoy which was making its way to Vakarai with ICRC and UN assistance yesterday was forced to postpone its mission after heavy shelling was reported in Kadjuwatte, despite a pledge from the LTTE to cease all attacks in the area to facilitate the humanitarian operation. More than 115 lorries with food, fuel and medicine were making the trip to rebel controlled areas in Vakarai to assist more than 45,000 displaced persons who have been cut off from much needed supplies as a result of the road linking government and LTTE areas in Vakarai being closed. Batticaloa Government Agent S. Punyamurthi told the Daily Mirror the food convoy had abandoned its mission and returned to Batticaloa after the military advised the officials to turn back as a security threat still persisted.
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Security Forum
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2 Priests, 2 youths arrested for subversive activities in Jaffna Friday, 1 December 2006 - 1:17 AM SL Time Sri Lanka Police officials produced two catholic priests and two youths before Additional Magistrate M .Thirunavukarasu on Wednesday, accusing the four of indulging in activities defaming both the Goverment of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Sri Lanka Military, legal sources in Jaffna said. The magistrate however, instructed the police to contact the Attorney General and submit a report concerning the feasibility of filing charges against the accused. The youths, Allen Vinoja and Marianayagam Godfrey Morris Gnanageethan, were arrested on Friday in Passayoor by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and were later handed over to the police. On the same day two catholic priests Fr.Francis Xavier Jeyasegaram, and Fr.Jesuratnam Bernard were arrested by police. All four were released on bail on the same day
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LTTE Reinforce Defences: Attacks Army Patrol in KIRIMICHCHI Thursday, 30 November 2006 - 4:50 AM SL Time The LTTE strengthening defences behind the cover of aid convoys fired mortars at an Army patrol in KIRIMICHCHI, south west of PANICHCHANKERNI around 1.45 p.m. today. The Army retaliated. The exchange of fire lasted only for 5 minutes. Due to fresh attacks by the LTTE, the remaining 38 aid vehicles couldn`t proceed to Vakarai. A convoy of 85 vehicles carrying essential food items left for Tiger held Vakarai this afternoon. They were requested to return to government controlled areas by evening. The Security forces reported a build up of tiger cadres and strengthening of defences in PANICHCHANKERNI and KADJUWATTA subsequent to an aid convoy to VAKARAI this afternoon. The Army had informed the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission of the development and requested the SLMM to inform the LTTE to refrain from strengthening their defences during a humanitarian mission.
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Hanging horror for Lankan in Kuwait Thursday, 30 November 2006 - 4:35 AM SL Time A Sri Lankan national who was executed in Kuwait for murdering an Asian woman during a robbery remained alive five hours after he was hanged and pronounced dead, newspapers reported today. Sanjaya Rowan Kumara was pronounced dead by doctors eight minutes after he was hanged but medics who transported his body to a morgue said they noticed he was still moving, Al-Qabas daily reported. Forensic experts were immediately called to examine the body and they confirmed that ?there was some weak pulse in his heart,? the daily said. The examination was repeated several times and each time ?the dead body showed some signs of life,? Al-Qabas quoted unnamed medical sources as saying. ?They eventually pronounced him completely dead at 1400 hours local time,? five hours after his hanging, the sources said.
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| Politics
Political News Forum
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Press Release from the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations on LTTE child soldiers Thursday, 30 November 2006 - 4:53 AM SL Time Speaking at the Security Council debate on Children and Armed Conflict, Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam stated that ?Ever since it was discovered that the armed group, the LTTE, is engaged in recruiting and using children in battle, Sri Lanka has not only voiced concern but has taken every possible action to persuade the LTTE to cease this deplorable practice. The LTTE has been designated as a terrorist group by many States including the European Union, and has been identified continuously for several years, in Reports of the Secretary-General as a recruiter of children for armed conflict. Nevertheless, despite international condemnation, the LTTE continues to disobey and disregard it`s commitments to demobilize children and cease recruitment of children. Therefore, time has come for the Security Council to seriously consider targeted punitive action against repeated offenders like the LTTE?
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Due to acts of terror, Govt. and LTTE seen trough the same prism - Kiriella Thursday, 30 November 2006 - 4:48 AM SL Time At a media briefing held today at opposition leader`s office former UNP Minister and Parliamentarian Laxman Kiriella said that President Mahinda Rajapakse agenda on peace was unclear and though he has been in office for one year he has not divulged to the people how he intends to solve the problem, whether by war or peace. He says that the government does not have even a vague idea of a solution. He further said without dividing the country or without taking any political gains that they are prepared to support any solution acceptable to the majority of the Tamils. When the government to indulge in terror activities like the LTTE the world would see both the parties through the same prism.
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LTTE using Vakarai passage to fortify itself Thursday, 30 November 2006 - 4:44 AM SL Time The Security Forces yesterday lodged a strong protest with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission that the LTTE was taking undue advantage out of the safety guarantee provided to transport food convoys to the uncleared areas in Vakarai to feed nearly 30,000 civilians stranded there. Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told the Daily News yesterday that out of the 120 Vakarai bound lorries, 85 crossed the Kajuwatta entry exit point to reach Vakarai. The ICRC yesterday confirmed that 35 food lorries organised by the Essential Services Commissioner in cooperation with the ICRC and the UN reached Vakarai town by early yesterday afternoon. The convoy carried 250 Metric tonnes of food, water, items such as tents, hygiene kits and medicines for distribution to more than 30,000 civilians.
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Norway says S.Lanka report on mediator is `lies` Friday, 1 December 2006 - 1:18 AM SL Time The Norwegian government has angrily rejected a report in a state-owned Sri Lankan newspaper that its peace mediator and International Development Minister Erik Solheim had given money to a top Tamil rebel leader. The Daily News, a government mouthpiece, published an interview on Monday with a breakaway former rebel commander called Karuna, who said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had also given Solheim money. `The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is surprised to see that a respected and responsible paper like the Daily News is spreading obvious lies about Mr. Solheim,` the Norwegian ministry said in a statement faxed to Reuters on Wednesday. `It is unfortunate that the Daily News is printing obvious lies and ill-founded allegations about Norway and Mr. Solheim,` it added. Oslo would continue to assist both the government and the rebels as an impartial facilitator for as long as they are requested.
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Sri Lanka attracts investments for 2007 Thursday, 30 November 2006 - 4:51 AM SL Time With more business discussions taking place between the Indian business tycoons and delegations from the region, Sri Lanka has managed to attract investment attention for 2007. Summing up the progress made in making Sri Lankan presence at World Economic Forum India Summit 2006, Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told The Island Financial Review that achieving new FDI targets will be easy with current levels of interest displayed in investing in Sri Lanka. `We came here with an open mind in making our presence in this international forum. Achievements are more than we expected. The `Sri Lanka Investment breakfast meeting` and the dinner organised by us managed to secure investments giving the type of lift-off while merging Colombo and New Delhi in the same wavelength. Airtel is one such company looking at investing in Sri Lanka,` the Minister said.President Mahinda Rajapakse, who was also present at the private dinner hosted for a selectnumber of business tycoons, has managed to emphasise the importance of using the island nation in launching exports to Pakistan.
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Occupational safety and health issues remain weak in Sri Lanka`s construction industry Wednesday, 29 November 2006 - 4:19 AM SL Time Occupational safety and health issues remain weak in the Sri Lankan construction industry, the International Labour Organisation said Tuesday, with most fatalities due to negligence, carelessness or stupidity. `One out of six accidents happens on construction sites. Twenty five out of forty deaths also occur in construction sites,` ILOs International Director, Tine Staemose said. According to the accidents reported last year, 52 of occupational accidents were fatalities and 1,688 were non fatalities. `Twenty percent of fatal accidents (out of 52) were from the construction industry,` Labour Minister Athauda Seneviratne said. `At least 60,000 fatalities occur in construction sites around the world every year,` Surath Wickremasinghe President Chamber of Construction Industry said adding that `Occupational safety and health should be a worker right.`
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| Editorial News
Editorial News Forum
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Will Tigers heed Eagle`s call? Thursday, 30 November 2006 - 4:48 AM SL Time No sooner had LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakran made an announcement in his heroes` day speech that there was no alternative to political independence than the United States did shoot it down. US Ambassador in Colombo Robert O. Blake has said Prabhakaran`s views are not acceptable and stressed a negotiated settlement on the basis of a solution within a united Sri Lanka to be proposed by the government. Mr. Blake has obliquely reminded the government of its obligation. Subtle diplomacy, eh? Prabhakaran has certainly issued a threat which is not so veiled as one of our expert commentators pointed out yesterday on this page. The LTTE supporters, both here and abroad, are ga-ga over his reference to political independence, which they liken to declaration of secession. Mr. Blake has spoilt their party! It was only a few days before his speech that a TNA MP had told Parliament that he would attend the next budget speech in `Eelam capital` (in Trincomalee). Some mistakenly believed that Prabhakaran would declare unilateral independence in his speech. But by not doing so, he has proved that he is somewhat wiser than his acolytes.
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Mervyn Silva`s serious joke Wednesday, 29 November 2006 - 4:13 AM SL Time Deputy Minister of Labour Mervyn Silva has offered a foreign job to Prabhakaran. He is reported to have told the Tamil National Alliance in Parliament on Monday if the LTTE leaders gave up violence, he would find them jobs abroad. The present day parliamentarians don`t seem to do their homework before making speeches. Else, Mr. Silva wouldn`t have made that offer. Isn`t he aware that Prabhakaran is already doing a foreign job? It was in the early 1980s that he was first employed by India with many other Tamil youth. He worked for India until he took on the IPKF. But his employment was officially terminated only after the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. Since then he has turned to other foreign masters. He basically facilitates their involvement in Sri Lanka and helps them remote-control its governments. It is thanks to him that a group of aid donors have deified themselves; the foursome have placed themselves on the same pedestal as the four warrant gods who are believed to protect Sri Lanka. Besides them, there are several other foreign powers that have stood to gain from Prabhakaran`s venture.
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Rajapaksa All Set To Charm Manmohan Singh Tuesday, 28 November 2006 - 9:30 AM SL Time Having taken the co-chairs of donor countries, the USA, Norway, European Union and Japan, who had pledged $ 4.5 billion aid to Sri Lanka, for a ride, President Mahinda Rajapksa is all set to smother Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with his charm when the two leaders meet in New Delhi on 27 November. His job is made all the more easy by the clutch of ?advisers? surrounding the Prime Minister. At the end of the meeting of representatives of the Co-Chairs in Washington on 21 November, R Nicholas Burns, US Under-Secretary for Political Affairs, said on behalf of his country: ?We have faith in the government and in the President of Sri Lanka. They do want to make peace. We also believe that the LTTE is a terrorist group responsible for massive bloodshed in the country and we hold the Tamil Tigers responsible for much of what has gone wrong in the country. We are working with Sri Lanka as a partner in counter-terrorism as well as counter-proliferation. We do have an assistance programme for that government, in fact a very intensive one and we intend to continue that of course.?
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Sports News Forum
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Sri Lanka `A` manage to hold on for a draw Thursday, 30 November 2006 - 4:45 AM SL Time Sri Lanka `A` lower order batsmen showed fighting spirit after lacklustre top order batting to draw the first unofficial Test against West Indies `A` at Guaracara Park in Trinidad yesterday. The hosts declared on the final day morning at 263 for four, setting Sri Lanka a target of 279 in 79 overs and at close the tourists were 238 for eight. On a fourth day pitch, Sri Lanka `A` top order batsmen ran into problems and were dismissed cheaply. They were reduced for nine for three with Avishka Gunawardene (1), Mahela Udawatta (5) and Jeevan Mendis (0) all falling cheaply. Jehan Mubarak and captain Thilan Samaraweera resisted for a while but when West Indian paceman Richard Kelly dismissed them in quick succession, Sri Lanka `A` were badly placed at 60 for five. But then came the resistance from the lower order. All-rounder Gayan Wijekoon hit an impressive 58 and wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva provided him company with a solid 37 and Sri Lanka `A` had some hope when the pair added 94 runs for the sixth wicket.
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Aussie champ Malani seeks mom in Sri Lanka Wednesday, 29 November 2006 - 4:11 AM SL Time Australia`s Sunman Malani came first in women`s 100m dash (for those without hands), pocketed a gold at the 9th FESPIC Games for the differently able here on Monday, and turned towards the handful Sri Lankan athletes and journalists and said: `Please help me find my mom.` Malani, a resident of Queensland, said she was born in Sri Lanka and later was taken to Australia after her mother had abandoned her at Ridgeway Hospital in Colombo. `I love to see my mom. Please help me find her. She must look like me,` Malani said. Sri Lanka`s Kumudu Priyanka and Amara Indumathi clinched silver and bronze medals. Priyadarshana wins gold Meanwhile, Sri Lanka`s Chaminda Priyadarshana clinched a swimming gold. An experienced campaigner, Priyadarshana with a time of 1:09:96 came first in 100m backstroke event for the leg amputees below the knee. A swimmer who won three gold medals at the Bussan FESPIC Games, Priyadarshana, 32, hopes to win two more gold medals.
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Sri Lanka to host Rugby Asiad after April, 2007 Tuesday, 28 November 2006 - 4:17 AM SL Time : The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union is determined to host the Singer Rugby Asiad in Colombo after April 2007 said the Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union Dilroy Fernando. `The Rugby Union will have a discussion with the sponsors and council members and decide on the new dates and then inform the member countries` said Fernando. The Rugby Asiad was to be held in Sri Lanka from November 17 to 25 this year but the SLRFU had to postpone the event after Asia`s third ranked team Hong Kong and Singapore expressed reservations about visiting Sri Lanka citing security concerns. Twelve countries will compete in the Rugby Asiad Asian Heavyweights Japan and South Korea along with Hong Kong will vie for honours in the Cup Championship while host nation Sri Lanka, China, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Kazakhastan, Malaysia, Singapore and India will battle it out for the Plate Championship.
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