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National carrier in crisis: 30 pilots leave SriLankan Airlines
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 12:22 PM SL Time
SriLankan Airlines is facing a major crisis after 30 out of about 300 pilots have joined other airlines, making the national carrier`s task to operate its daily flights difficult.
SriLankan Airlines` Corporate Management head Chandana de Silva told The Sunday Times yesterday the national carrier found it difficult to run long hold flights given the shortage of pilots, but the pilot exodus had not affected flights to close destinations.
The crisis, which is likely to continue for a few more weeks, has forced Sri Lankan Airlines to cancel two London-bound flights on Thursday and Friday.
Mr. de Silva said they took steps to re-route the passengers of the two flights in other carriers. He said that the airlines was making all efforts to maintain the normal schedule despite the pilot shortage. He said that they are in the process of recruiting new pilots but added that it would take some time for the situation to return to normal.
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Interview with Anton
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 8:36 AM SL Time
Q: Could you first of all tell us your assessment of the
talks after two days of deliberations'
A: Even though talks ended on a positive note it has been a
very tough, difficult dialogue I should say frankly because
the government came with a different agenda.
The LTTE from the very start, from the day Mr. Erik Solheim
met Mr. Pirapaharan, we were making statements that the
agenda for talks will be the effective or rather the smooth
implementation of the terms and conditions of the Cease
Fire Agreement. But we were disappointed to note from what
Norway came and told us that the government had ideas of
coming out with certain amendments and with the aim of
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A Wish for Peace
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 6:38 AM SL Time
Venerable Waligama Yanaratana, mahanayaka of the Amarapura Nikaya and Anunayakas of the Siyam and Ramanya nikayas participated in the 'Adishtana Puja'.
In a joint statement the Buddhist clergy emphasised that no religious or ethnic group should be held responsible for the present crisis.
The statement went onto say that the common inability to understand the underlying socio economic and political situation prolonged the crisis.
Presidient Mahinda Rajapaksha also joined the Adhishtana puja.
Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanwalisaya, venerable Pallegama Hemaratana Thero said that they wished both parties would soften there hard line stands on the ethnic issue in the next round of talks.
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Politics
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TNA pleased with talks outcome
Monday, 27 February 2006 - 3:50 AM SL Time
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday while welcoming the Geneva talks outcome said further progress on peace process would depend on the Government`s sincerity to implement fully what they have agreed at the table.
TNA Parliamentarian Mavai Senadiraja was of the view the operation of militant groups in the East were a serious impediment to the very survival of the CFA.
`We are happy the parties have agreed to implement the CFA in full. Especially clause 1.8 and the disarmament of paramilitaries,` he said referring to militant groups led by Karuna. `We hope the Government is sincere in carrying out their pledges,` he said.
Commenting on the proposed talks between the LTTE and the Muslim factions on further talks he said there would be a possibility of accommodating a larger Muslim representation at future talks when the parties are to discuss core issues and other political matters.
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JHU rejects Geneva agreement, wants CFA amended
Monday, 27 February 2006 - 3:46 AM SL Time
The agreements entered into between the Government and the LTTE are a violation of the consensus reached between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the JHU prior to the Presidential poll, JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said yesterday.
He said in a media release, the just concluded Geneva talks were non-binding on the Jathika Hela Urumaya.
The JHU said: 'The Government has issued a statement immediately after the Geneva talks. The JHU has not given its consent to the points in the statement. The JHU at the All Party Conference laid down some of the preconditions that should be mandatory between the Government and the LTTE, in any future negotiation. It was also the stand of the JHU that the Geneva talks would have a direct bearing on the LTTE travel ban in Europe and on the expected LTTE ban in Canada.
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JVP lauds Govt`s handling of talks but condemns joint statement
Monday, 27 February 2006 - 3:37 AM SL Time
The JVP expressed satisfaction over the way the government handled the Geneva meeting with the LTTE but pointed out that the joint communique issued at the end of the two-day meeting contradicted the government`s perceived stand that the Norwegian-arranged Cease-Fire Agreement was unconstitutional.
The following is the full text of statement issued by the JVP politbureau:
`JVP considers the talks hold in Geneva on the 22nd and 23rd February, 2006, from the angle of regaining sovereignty of Sri Lanka and re-establishing democracy, as a step towards the right direction.
Unlike so-called peace talks held in Bangkok, Oslo and several other cities during the UNP regime, the Government wasn`t humbled this time. Unlike when UNP leader Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe signed the unilaterally prepared ceasefire agreement by tiger organization and Norway, the GoSL representatives faced the talks with preparedness and conviction.
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Editorial News
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Hello, hello co-chairs, here`s a vital chance!
Monday, 27 February 2006 - 3:40 AM SL Time
Good news emanated from Mullaitivu a few days ago. A walkover accrued to the Eelam People`s Democratic Party (EPDP) in the Puthukudiyiruppu Pradeshiya Sabha due to the rejection of the nomination list of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), a collective of LTTE proxies. In a recent editorial comment on the local government politicians rushing to Kataragama after nominations to invoke God Skanda`s blessings, we said the people`s pleas to the warrior god, believed to brood no nonsense, appeared to have been answered as the nominations of the two main parties, the UPFA and the UNP, which cheated them more than others, had been rejected in their strongholds, Gampaha and Colombo respectively. In Mullativu, the stronghold of the LTTE, too, the true believers may claim, there has occurred a divine intervention of sorts: democracy has been given a chance to struggle back to life.
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The bottom line
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 2:26 AM SL Time
The eight-paragraph agreed statement that Norway`s International Development Minister, Erik Solheim, read out at the 18th century Chateu de Bossey overlooking Lake Geneva at the end of last week`s talks between delegations of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the LTTE summed up what are hopefully the areas of agreement between the two sides. Obviously much remained unsaid. From all accounts Anton Balasingham, if we may borrow the language of AFP, the French news agency, threatened to ``storm out` of the discussion. His actual words to an AFP interviewer on that exchange with the government side were: ``If you are questioning the validity of the ceasefire agreement, then we will walk out.`
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Outcome satisfactory
Saturday, 25 February 2006 - 1:29 AM SL Time
It is probably with a sigh of relief that most of the people in this country received the news about the success achieved at the Geneva talks. Anxiety was expressed by those following the talks at the conclusion of the first day`s proceedings because of the contentious statements made by the leaders of both negotiating teams.
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva referred to the numerous LTTE violations of the ceasefire agreement including the assassination of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and to the government`s contention that the CFA does not conform to the provisions of the constitution and other laws of the country. Head of LTTE`s delegation Anton Balasingham contended that instances of LTTE violations were highly exaggerated and that the CFA was a well-crafted valid instrument of peace devised for the purpose of bringing an end to hostilities and to create a positive environment conducive to negotiations. He stressed that it was not formulated in haste to the advantage of one party.
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| Security |
Lankan Marine Engineer hijacked in Somali waters
Monday, 27 February 2006 - 3:47 AM SL Time
A Sri Lankan Marine Engineer along with eight other crew members hijacked in Somali waters has been demanded USD 100,000 for their release.
A foreign Ministry statement said the Sri Lankan named Sydney Rodrigo, six Somalis, one Tanzanian and one Indian are being held in a house at an unknown location in Somalia, some 250 km away from the ship.
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Kenya who had contacted Mr. Rodrigo over the phone has informed that he is safe and in good health, it said.
The Foreign Ministry is in contact with the family of Rodrigo and the owners of the vessel, AT Nerm Shipping company of Salah, Sultanate of Oman.
Rodrigo is the third Sri Lankan to be held by Somali hijackers in six months, it said.
Ministry of Ports and Shipping, on the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cautioned Sri Lankan merchant sea farers in October 2005 to be cognizant of risks involved before seeking employment with companies that ply ships off the Somali coast.
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Four alleged robbers arrested
Monday, 27 February 2006 - 3:46 AM SL Time
The Hettipola police during a special raid yesterday took into custody four members of the alleged robber gang who had frightened people of the locality. Police sources said that these suspects were involved in a murder case and robbery of vehicles and property.
Two motorcycles, three vehicles, receipts issued in respect or jewellery mortgaged, a shot gun and live bullets were also seized. This search operation was conducted following a complaint made by a female teacher of Panduwasnuwara Kanishta Vidyalaya, whose necklace had been snatched on Friday.
Inquiries revealed that the members of this gang had snatched more than ten necklaces and had mortgaged them in private banks in the Wennappuwa and Chilaw areas. They had also allegedly robbed vehicles. Inquiries were being conducted by Hettipola police .
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Lankan woman dies in Lebanon - seeks help to trace relatives
Monday, 27 February 2006 - 3:38 AM SL Time
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is attempting to trace the relatives of a 65-year-old Sri Lankan woman who had died in Lebanon.
According to the Foreign Ministry, its Consular Affairs Division in Colombo had been informed by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Lebanon that one Ms. Pattiyage Selina Peris (Passport Number not available), who was in Lebanon, had been found in a critical condition on the streets of the suburb Northern Beirut and was rushed to Serhal Hospital, by Red Cross Emergency Ambulance Service, where passed away. The body is lying at Serhal Hospital mortuary in Naccahe, Beirut, since there has been no one to accept the body.
The details provided by Sri Lanka Embassy in Lebanon, are as follows:
NIC No. 406990273V (Date of issue - 06.10.1973), Date of Birth - 17.07.1940, Place of Birth - Kalubowila, Domiciled - 140, Dehiwala, Galle Road/Nugegoda.
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Business / Economy News
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CEB comes down hard on power pirates
Monday, 27 February 2006 - 3:49 AM SL Time
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has recovered Rs. 15 million through Flying Squad raids on premises with rigged electricity meters.
The raids were carried out on Power and Energy Minister John Seneviratne`s orders.
The move follows rampant power piracy, carried out with the assistance of CEB employees in some cases.
Several employees have already been identified and action is being taken against them, a Ministry media release said. The Minister has also strengthened the flying squad to expand the raids.
The CEB is already in the red for Rs. 100 billion and large scale power piracy has aggravated the losses.
As a deterrent, the Ministry has decided to increase the penalty for power piracy three fold while appealing to the public to bring to its notice any instance of power piracy.
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Suntel Chat phones for customers
Monday, 27 February 2006 - 3:40 AM SL Time
The new generation national telecom network, Suntel signed an MoU with People`s Bank recently, to provide customers with an easy payment scheme for Suntel Chat phone connections.
This scheme is not only available to all existing account holders but also to new customers of the Bank with provable income.
This would enable customers to take home a Suntel Chat phone at the initial payment of one third of the cost, allowing them to own communication facilities.
The delivery process will give customers a hassle free system in obtaining the phone.
People`s Bank serves more than 11 million customers, operating over 102 PET ATM`s for the convenience of their large customer base island wide.
Suntel Chat is a prepaid fixed line telephony, providing optimum usage control ' it is rental free and customers pay only for the calls they make using pre-paid cards.
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College of Psychiatrists` academic sessions end
Monday, 27 February 2006 - 3:38 AM SL Time
The third annual academic session of the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists under the theme, `Mental Health for the 21st Centaury` commenced on Friday in Colombo in association with the Sri Lanka Psychiatrists Association (UK) WPA Section on Psychiatry in Developing Countries and South Asian Forum on Mental Health and Psychiatry International.
The main focus of the session was on the important issues related to mental health in Sri Lanka and the best practises that should be adapted by the country.
`This is the first time that we were able to collaborate with three international associations. With the international professionals attending the session, Sri Lanka psychiatrists would be benefited by their expert knowledge`, Dr. Nalaka Mendis said.
The session would act as a platform to share knowledge, exchange views and ideas and future training plans. It also would help to raise awareness regarding mental health matters in the country, he said.
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| Sports News
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Sangakkara slams ton as Sri Lanka whip Bangladesh
Monday, 27 February 2006 - 3:43 AM SL Time
Kumar Sangakkara struck an impressive century Saturday as Sri Lanka scored a comfortable 78-run victory over Bangladesh to won their one day series 2-1.
The vice-captain`s solid 109 helped bury the home side under an avalanche of runs and they succumbed under the pressure of a huge target of 310.
Debutant seamer Dammika Prasad and spinners Kaushal Lokuarachchi and Tillekaratne Dilshan bagged two wickets each as Bangladesh managed 231-9 in reply with Mohammad Ashraful (64) waging a lone battle.
Sri Lanka`s massive total of 309-7 was largely thanks to Sangakkara, who struck 11 fours in his fifth one-day ton to help his team take command after a shock four-wicket defeat in the second match in Bogra on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old left-hander was associated in two important partnerships with captain Mahela Jayawardene (51) and Kaushal Lokuarachchi (69) that virtually pushed Bangladesh out of the game.
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Sangakkara ton boosts Sri Lanka in deciding one-dayer
Sunday, 26 February 2006 - 2:27 AM SL Time
Vice captain Kumar Sangakkara struck a superb century as Sri Lanka scored an imposing 309-7 in the final one-day international against Bangladesh here on Saturday.
Sangakkara`s 109 put Sri Lanka in a strong position to wrap up the three-match series which is level 1-1 after their shock four-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in Bogra on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old left-hander struck 11 fours in his fifth one-day ton and was associated in two important partnerships with captain Mahela Jayawardene (51) and Kaushal Lokuarachchi (69).
After Bangladesh paceman Mashrafe Mortaza had removed openers Upul Tharanga (zero) and Sanath Jayasuriya (four) early on, Sangakkara and Jayawardene added 75 runs to steady the innings from 17-2.
Jayawardene struck eight fours during a brisk knock before giving a return catch to left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique, who also dismissed a dangerous Lokuarachchi and Sangakkara to finish with 3-61.
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Sri Lanka meet Bangladesh in series decider today
Saturday, 25 February 2006 - 2:38 AM SL Time
The visiting Sri Lanka and Bangladesh teams arrived here in the port city yesterday to play the deciding one-day international of a three-match series and the first Test.
Both the matches will be hosted at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium, the new venue on the outskirts of the city. The one-day is scheduled for tomorrow while the five-day game starts on February 28 at the venue recently approved by the ICC.
Unlike the previous occasions, the two teams will be accommodated at the Peninsula Chittagong -- a newly opened four-star hotel in the heart of the city.
With one-day series level at 1-1, the fans of Chittagong were eagerly waiting for tomorrow`s series decider following the Tigers` historic win in Bogra and crowded the ticket counters in great numbers.
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