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We are not terrorists: Karuna
Thursday, 1 June 2006 - 4:43 AM SL Time
The Karuna faction objects to being labelled as a `terrorist group` and says the international community, especially the Co-chairs, have no right to demand the Government disarm the group which continuously dismisses charges it operates in military-controlled areas.
'Will the Co-chairs, the Government or the LTTE meet our legitimate demands. If they do so, then they have a right to demand our disarmament. We are fighting for the rights of our people in the east. Until their rights are met no one can say we should be disarmed,' Karuna spokesman Thooyavan told the Daily Mirror.
In a joint statement following the Tokyo conference on Monday the Co-chairs urged the Government to immediately prevent groups based in its territory from carrying out violence and acts of terrorism saying the Government had failed to prevent attacks of armed groups, including Karuna and violent elements of the EPDP.
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Malaysia, Singapore `clearing houses` for LTTE? - Mangala Samaraweera
Thursday, 1 June 2006 - 4:41 AM SL Time
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera suspects Malaysia and Singapore may be `clearing houses` for funds raised around the world by the LTTE to finance its struggle for a separate homeland in Sri Lanka.
He did not provide any details to support his claim, but in an interview with the New Straits Times he said that he had informed his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, of the matter. Sri Lanka also offered to share intelligence with security agencies in Malayasia. Colombo had information that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam may be channelling money from sympathisers to bank accounts in Malaysia and Singapore, he said. The funds were then used to buy weapons.
He said this finding dovetailed with the fact that most of the procurement for arms was taking place in Southeast Asia, especially in Cambodia and Thailand.
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US to let Delhi decide on mediation
Wednesday, 31 May 2006 - 10:41 PM SL Time
The United States was engaged in an active dialogue with India on the developments in Sri Lanka, where the stepped up attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were particularly `very troublesome`, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Richard Boucher has said in an interview to PTI at the State Department in Washington.
However, Boucher has stressed that it was up to New Delhi to decide the kind of role it wanted to play. The violence in Sri Lanka was `very, very disturbing` and the stepped up LTTE attacks showed that the rebels were proceeding towards war rather than keeping the focus on peace talks with the Colombo government, he said.
Asked what role the US would like New Delhi to play, Boucher replied: `That is for India to decide. That is where we have an active dialogue with India but ultimately how much India should do, how it wants to work with the international community, that will be for India to decide.`
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Politics
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LTTE risking further isolation - Dr. Kohona
Friday, 2 June 2006 - 4:48 AM SL Time
Government Peace Secretariat Chief Dr. Palitha Kohona yesterday said the LTTE has conveyed to the Norwegian Government its willingness to participate in Oslo talks.
The Oslo talks will essentially focus only on the role of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and it has nothing to do with the CFA or the Peace process, Dr.Kohona told a media briefing at Information Department yesterday.
However, the Peace Secretariat Chief expressed optimism that even though the EU has banned the LTTE, the latter would come to the negotiating table making use of the present opportunity.
`At present there is neither confidence nor optimism. If the LTTE pulls out of the peace process and continue with its campaign of terrorism and violence, it only risks further isolation from the international arena,` he said.
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Judges stay cool
Friday, 2 June 2006 - 4:44 AM SL Time
Justice Gamini Ameratunga is respected as a legal scholar amongst his peers. Many juniors have treaded into his room, when he was in the Attorney-General`s Department, to find solutions to complex legal problems. No one left that room dissatisfied. His knowledge of the law was outstanding, even as a young lawyer. But no one or very would have known that he would some day correct Mr. Upul Jayasuriya over the year in which `Karumkkarayo` was published. He went on to say that he won a prize for the best essay on the same book.
In the sixties, when Karumakkarayo was published, many read it for the wrong reason. They read it for sexual titillation. The incestuous relationship between the daughter-in-law and the father-in-law was the key to this excitement. For the Sinhala reader, this was so uncommon. It was a blockbuster. Now Amerasekera has disowned the book. He has also made some caustic remarks about `Aksharaya` even without seeing it.
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President needs evidence over Trinco killings - `I can`t hold kangaroo trials`
Friday, 2 June 2006 - 4:43 AM SL Time
President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday called upon anyone who had witnessed the killing of five youth in Trincomalee, a few months ago, to come forward and give evidence so that the government could institute legal action against them. He said he was under tremendous pressure from the family members and relatives of the policemen in detention as they wanted either charges brought against them or their release.
He said he had urged the TNA MPs, too, to help ascertain evidence. `I can`t act like Prabhakaran and hold kangaroo trials. I am a democratically elected head of state and I have to act according to the law. Without evidence against them, I can`t act against them. Maybe Prabhakaran thinks otherwise. But I can`t take recourse to the `jungle law.`
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Editorial News
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Unfair charges against journalists
Friday, 2 June 2006 - 4:38 AM SL Time
T he Independent Federation of Journalists has expressed its deep concern over the death threats and generation of public hate against journalists in this country. Chief of the Federation Christopher Warren has said, 'The labeling of independent journalists as being politically aligned in such a politically fragile environment like Sri Lanka is a particularly worrisome and dangerous business.'
It indeed becomes dangerous business when persons begin to incite the public against certain individuals and organisations by branding them as traitors and treacherous enemies of the country without making specific allegations against them. The mere expression of views different from those of these accusers is sufficient for them to mount vitriolic public outbursts against them.
The present expression of concern from the IFJ has been prompted by allegations of supporting and spying for the LTTE by some journalists attached to state and other media organizations. At a media briefing on Wednesday, President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association Sanath Balasuriya disclosed the charges and threats made against some journalists attached to Lake House following their visit to Kilinochchi and meeting LTTE Political Wing leader S.P.Thamilselvan.
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Needed: Stick-and-stick approach
Thursday, 1 June 2006 - 4:36 AM SL Time
The Co-chairs who met in Tokyo the other day have said they will have a carrot-and-stick approach to restarting Sri Lanka`s stalled peace talks. We thought they would come out with something innovative at their much flaunted meeting. They are apparently on a wild goose chase: India was the first to experiment with it years ago. It used the carrot on the LTTE, the monster it created and the stick on the JRJ government, which had ruffled its geopolitical feathers. A forced marriage was arranged and the outcome was the birth of a nobody`s baby'Provincial Councils. The Tigers refused to have any more carrots and returned to flesh eating. Then the stick was used generously on them as well but to no avail. The rest is history and we have been holding the `baby` ever since! Today, India talks of neither carrots nor sticks.
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Tigers stewing in their own juice
Wednesday, 31 May 2006 - 5:03 AM SL Time
The LTTE has suffered the worst ever setback. The EU ban has come at a time when the outfit is making grand preparations for the `final war` to establish Eelam. Its separatist project has manifestly come a cropper, with another twenty five nations proscribing it as a terrorist organisation.
Now, the LTTE has two options: It must either mend its ways or continue with its terrorism. If what it has been doing since the EU issued the warning of a ban is anything to go by, then it is likely to opt for the latter. It flew in the face of that warning and threatened to step up violence as if to frighten the EU nations into submission. While the EU ministers were discussing the proscription on Monday, it massacred 13 civilians at Welikanda, in a dastardly display of hubris and barbarism.
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| Security |
Boucher booms against LTTE. They truly deserved the label - Mr. Boucher
Friday, 2 June 2006 - 4:35 AM SL Time
The United States yesterday rapped the LTTE for unprovoked violence in the country and reiterated its call to the Tigers to renounce violence `in word and deed.`
The visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher told journalists yesterday the Tiger leadership has to understand the entire world is united in its determination to combat terror.
'For nine years we have had them on our official list of foreign terrorist organizations. They truly deserved the label,' Mr. Boucher who wrapped up a one-day visit here said.
While welcoming the EU ban on the LTTE, the US however had some recommendations to the Government.
'The Government of Sri Lanka also has responsibilities it must live up to. We have high expectations of a democratic government,' he said.
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Heavy fire on proposed smoking ban
Friday, 2 June 2006 - 4:34 AM SL Time
The tourist hotel industry made up of leading hotels and hotels associations today, filed petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the proposed Bill which has the effect of prohibiting totally smoking in hotels and restaurants.
The hoteliers when contacted stated that this Bill, if enacted would be prejudicial to the entire industry, which is currently beset by many other challenges as well.
The hoteliers said, 'We need to accommodate both smokers and non-smokers in our hotels and restaurants by catering to the needs of both categories. This Bill brings about a blanket ban without exception and will drastically reduce
both local and foreign customers who will patronise our establishments. The proposed Bill states `person who is the owner, proprietor or manager or trustee or occupier of any building, or enclosed area to which the public have access shall ensure that no person smokes any tobacco product within such building or area`.
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Tigers ready for Oslo talks
Friday, 2 June 2006 - 4:33 AM SL Time
The LTTE reiterated its willingness to participate in the proposed Oslo talks with the Government, on June 8 and 9, Government Peace Secretariat chief Palitha Kohona said yesterday.
The Norwegian peace brokers last evening conveyed to the Government the latest stand of the Tigers.
Addressing the news briefing on Cabinet decisions Dr. Kohona said it was advisable for the LTTE to restart talks as otherwise it would face greater alienation from the international community following the European Union ban. He said the Oslo talks would essentially focus on the SLMM role and not the CFA or the peace process.
Dr. Kohona is expected to leave the country on June 5 as the head of the Government delegation.
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Business / Economy News
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US will stop countries supplying arms to LTTE
Friday, 2 June 2006 - 4:42 AM SL Time
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard A. Boucher yesterday addressing a news conference said the US government will talk to all governments of countries from where the Tiger rebels receive arms supplies to stop doing so and cooperate with the Sri Lanka government in finding ways to stop arms being smuggled into the country.
If the LTTE gives up terrorism and proves that they could enter the democratic path the US could consider lifting the ban on them he said.
`They should demonstrate a legitimate desire to do so, but if they continue their provocative acts there nothing the US government could do about it` Boucher said.
Commenting on the LTTE claim on Sri Lanka government`s attacks on Tiger bases he defended the action taken by the government saying that as a responsible government it has acted with much restraint in the face of atrocities committed by the Tigers. Every government has a right to defend the country in such a situation, he said.
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Top Sri Lankan travel agents win Galileo awards
Friday, 2 June 2006 - 4:40 AM SL Time
Galileo, one of the world`s most widely-used Global Distribution Systems (GDS) for aviation and travel products, has honoured ten travel management companies in Sri Lanka for high volumes of business booked through their system in 2005.
Handsome inscribed crystal trophies were presented to the top Galileo users at the fourth Galileo Sri Lanka awards presentation, held at the Hilton Colombo earlier this month.
Speaking at the gala ceremony, Gary Chapman, President Emirates Group Services and Dnata said: `Since its inception, Galileo has brought the highest level of training to its customers using the Emirates Training College in Dubai and today is an industry benchmark.`
Stressing that `the name of the new game is content,` he pledged that Galileo Sri Lanka is committed to helping build a better future for local travel companies through continuous improvements of its content.
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USD 3 million worth orders from USA for local spices
Thursday, 1 June 2006 - 4:47 AM SL Time
The Spice Council (TSC) was able to clinch more than USD 3 million worth of orders for the local spice industry during their recent visit to USA.
Chairman of the TSC, Sarada De Silva said that they got orders for mixed spices, organic spices and value added spices.
Before their visit to the USA they had done a marketing survey to understand the market needs. Twelve companies had applied for the USA visit but only six companies qualified under the market expansion programme in USA.
Through this market expansion programme all the companies were able to establish stable linkages with US buyers to supply local spices for a long period of time to the US market. Apart from this USD 3 million worth orders some other spice companies who didn`t participate in the mission were also able to gain orders through the visit he said.
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| Sports News
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Sanath back in team, but won`t open
Friday, 2 June 2006 - 4:49 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka recalled old hands Sanath Jayasuriya and Nuwan Zoysa for the third and final cricket Test as they attempted to square the three-Test series against England starting at Trent Bridge, Nottingham here Friday.
Having lost by six wickets at Edgbaston, Sri Lanka are trailing 0-1 in the series and although they are still persisting with their youth policy, the team management have thought it fit to bring in a little bit of experience to tip the scales over England.
`We are looking at the Test in a very positive way, where we have to win. Whether we lose 1-0 or 2-0 we still lose the series. We`ll have to go flat out to see where we stand,` said Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.
`We were probably outplayed in the first Test but managed to fight and get a very positive result. In the second Test we made mistakes. We didn`t put the runs on the board. If we had done so we would have a definite chance of winning it. We competed really well and we managed to bowl them out. We fought well in the second innings for a decent score and we showed that we can definitely compete in the fourth innings,` Jayawardene continued.
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National Sports Council functioning illegally!
Friday, 2 June 2006 - 4:41 AM SL Time
On Tuesday May 30th, the National Sports Council sat for an inappropriately summoned meeting which had no agenda and an appointed Secretary as required by Law. Some ten members, supposedly to have been appointed by the Sports Minister as far back as February 2006, received their appointment letters only on that day! The meeting scheduled for 3.00 pm did not commence till around 4.00 pm, as the members came in sporadic intervals. The Chairman Saman Amerasinghe arrived around 4.15 pm. The ex-officio Council member, the Director General Sports never ever attended any NSC meetings.
The National Sports Council [NSC] was established under the Sports Law No 25 of 1973 and the Law states in Part 1 of Section 4 [1] 'There shall be established a Council called `The National Sports Council` ' to advise the [Sports] Minister on matters connected with the promotion, development and control of sports in Sri Lanka.'
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Royal College Colours Awards Ceremony 2005 held in grand style
Thursday, 1 June 2006 - 4:35 AM SL Time
The Royal College Colours Awards Ceremony for the year 2005 was held in grand style on May 17, 2006 at the Navarnagahala, recognizing the achievements of nearly 150 sportsmen representing 22 different sports who brought glory to Royal College.
The chief guest at the presentation ceremony was Major General. C. H. Fernando and the guest of honour was Dr. J. C. Fernando, both of whom are distinguished old boys of Royal College. The event was witnessed by former sportsmen, members of the faculty, parents and present sportsmen. The Colours Awards Ceremony was also able to motivate and inspire the next generation of sportsmen to try and emulate the deeds of their predecessors.
The Senior Prefects` Council of Royal College had done a wonderful job of putting the ceremony together under the advice and guidance of the Principal, H. A. U. Gunasekara, Vice Principal, Prasanna Upashantha and the Senior Games Masters M. T. A. Rauf and S. S. Liyanagunawrdena.
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