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Tamils killed in Sri Lanka blast
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 12:38 AM SL Time
At least 10 Tamils have been killed in a mine explosion in eastern Sri Lanka, Tamil Tiger rebels and medics say.
The rebels told the BBC the victims were civilians and that 13 others had been hurt in the blast in rebel-held territory near the town of Batticaloa.
A rebel statement blamed the army for the blast, which the military denied.
The deaths came a day before rebels and government are to discuss security for truce monitors. Two months of violence have claimed more than 300 lives.
`Anti-vehicle mine`
The blast occurred as locals were on their way to market near Vadamunai, a village about 70km (45 miles) north-west of the town of Batticaloa.
The rebels said seven of the villagers were killed instantly. Three others died later of their injuries, medics said.
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Lack of precautionary measures by Navy raises eyebrows
Wednesday, 7 June 2006 - 5:06 AM SL Time
Many an eyebrow has been raised in security circles by the failure of the Navy to effectively patrol the area surrounding the Welisara Navy base.
The LTTE cadres, who launched yesterday`s claymore mine attack, according to sources, had waited for a long time in a vacant block of land close to this vital camp.
Had precautionary measures been adopted they could have been detected.
A bus load of Navy personnel escaped a major calamity yesterday when the LTTE mistakenly targeted a CTB bus with a claymore mine injuring the driver and conductor. The bus, which had no passengers on board, was approaching the Mahabage junction from Ragama when it was hit by the blast. The CTB depot and the Welisara Navy camp are situated along the Ragama road and it was usual for Navy convoys to traverse the same road to reach the Negombo road.
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Violence in north and south
Tuesday, 6 June 2006 - 10:08 PM SL Time
At least two policemen and six civilians have been killed in attacks in Sri Lanka.
One Tamil civilian was said to be a former member of a political party which opposes the Tamil Tiger rebels.
An anti-personnel mine also killed two policemen and one civilian near the northern district of Vavuniya.
The attacks come two days before government representatives and Tamil Tigers leaders are due to meet in Norway to discuss the safety of international truce monitors.
Escalating violence has killed more than three-hundred people since the beginning of April, despite a ceasefire agreed in 2002.
There was also a bomb attack outside a naval base near the capital, Colombo, which injured two people.
Officials said the roadside device was aimed at a naval convoy and blamed the Tamil Tigers.
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Politics
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Private Medical Bill before House today
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 5:52 AM SL Time
The Private Medical Institution Bill to streamline all private institutions providing medical services in Sri Lanka would be taken up for the second reading in Parliament today.
Health and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva expressed confidence that the Bill would be unanimously approved today.
The Bill was originally presented in Parliament on May 9 and was postponed due to objections raised by the Opposition saying that the new amendments in the Bill needed to be discussed in the Health Ministry Consultative Committee before gaining Parliament approval.
According to Minister de Silva the Bill had been discussed and approved by the Consultative Committee before presenting today.
The Minister pointed out that the new bill contained regulations to solve the long standing problem of quacks which has become a very serious issue all around the country.
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Govt. to amend Immigration and Emigration Act
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 5:47 AM SL Time
Government is to bring in amendments to the Immigration and Emigration Act shortly, parliament was told yesterday. Minister of Justice Amarasiri Dodangoda told the House yesterday that government is working towards bringing in amendments to the Act shortly.
The minister made this point when TNA MP Mavaj Senathiraja, made a special statement, yester day. Mr.Senathiraja pointed out that there are over 400 prisoners of all communities in the Negombo prison, who had been detained under the Immigration and Emigration Act.
He complained that these prisoners have staged a protest inside the prison, following the death of a woman who had died in the prison as a result of not being given proper treatment for Asthma.
Mr. Senathiraja also pointed out, that this is a violation of human rights, and an act which is against all humanity, as they have been kept for years. He called upon President Mahinda Rajapaksa to intervene in the matter and at least make provision to release them on bail.
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JVP looking for cheap popularity says UNP
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 5:46 AM SL Time
The main Opposition UNP yesterday urged the JVP to abstain from making what it called `hilarious statements` and ridiculing President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a bid to gain cheap popularity.
The JVP issued a statement poking fun at a communiqué issued by the President`s Office following the Co-chairs statement in Japan. Saying that the Government`s statement was against President`s Mahinda Chinthana policies, the JVP said it was not clear whether the statement was in fact issued by the President`s Office or the Government Peace Secretariat.
Referring to the JVP statement the UNP Assistant General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said: 'Wimal Weerawansa`s double-tongued statements are wonderful, but laughable.'
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Editorial News
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Remembering the forgotten
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 5:39 AM SL Time
Yesterday was Ranaviru Day. Naturally, the focus of the ceremonies was on the fallen, disabled and missing military and police personnel. Over 21,000 members of the armed forces have perished in battle while thousands of others have suffered disability. And the war is not yet over! Year in and year out, we see grand celebrations and fiery orations on this day. But the dead combatants and the war disabled are, by and large, a forgotten lot. The plight of their dependents, too, has not received due attention of successive governments.
Politicians have a peculiar attitude towards the armed forces, never mind the police, which they consider their minutemen. It changes from time to time depending on their dealings with the LTTE. Considered assets during war, they become liabilities to politicians during the absence of war. Remember the grand betrayal of the Army long rangers who had been operating from a safe house in the Millennium City, Athurugiriya. In the past, during peace negotiations, government leaders used to audaciously proclaim that the war was `unwinnable.` So, Sri Lanka has seen a neglected military fighting an `unwinnable` war.
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Karu`s lament
Wednesday, 7 June 2006 - 5:10 AM SL Time
Some Buddhist temples appear to be going the same way as the rural schools. Over 350 temples have so far been closed down for want of monks to reside therein, as Deputy Leader of the UNP and Parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya has said (The Island/06/06/06). The problem appears to be more with the distribution of the monks than an overall dearth of them. The so-called urban pull appears to have caused monks to abandon the rural temples like the children who are opting for urban schools. The number of Buddhist monks pursuing higher studies and seeking employment has increased over the years, thus compelling more and more of them to leave villages.
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Oslo talks, a thief of time
Tuesday, 6 June 2006 - 4:57 AM SL Time
Some time ago, the Tigers made a song and dance about the failure of its leaders in the Eastern Province to have pre-talks consultations with the Kilinochchi headquarters, as the government denied chopper rides, and refused to attend the second round of Geneva talks. The government for once stood its ground.
Now we find the Tigers heading for Oslo. They may not go there to discuss either a solution or CFA; they will only talk about the safety and the role of the Nordic monitors. But the fact remains that they have made a mockery of their previous claims. Their demand for VIP treatment at the airport was also turned down but they have not made an issue of it.
LTTE has told AFP that it is going to Oslo as a sign of respect for Norway. True, they must be grateful to Norway, without whose support their terror campaign would have been a thing of the past. But to say that the Tigers are going there out of their respect for the Norwegians is far from the truth: It is a face saving lie.
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| Security |
70,000 Lankan children risk exploitation
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 5:50 AM SL Time
Approximately 70,000 children (aged between five-14 years) are in a high risk category for exploitation as child labourers in Sri Lanka. This was disclosed at the commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour yesterday organised by the ILO in its 1999 report.
According to Director ILO Colombo, Tine Staermose the figure does not include children categorised as unpaid family workers who may also be exposed to hazardous forms of child labour due to ignorance and negligence of their families.
`There is a need to do another national survey taking into consideration the unconditional worst forms of child labour, meaning child soldiers, trafficking children for labour and sexual exploitation, the use, production and procurement of child pornography, child bonded labour, forced labour and slavery-like forms`, she said.
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Police grill two over Welisara blast
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 5:38 AM SL Time
Police are questioning six suspects over Tuesday`s claymore mine blast near the Welisara Navy base.
Two suspects were taken into custody by the Army, at the Ragama railway station on Tuesdat evening and handed over to the police.
The two police dogs, that were deployed to track down the Tigers following the blast, had followed a scent to a distance of 3.25 km and stopped at the Colombo-Negombo road police said.
By afternoon yesterday (7) Police had taken four more suspects in for questioning.
Police investigations have so far revealed that the LTTE cadres, who exploded the claymore mine, were spotted moving towards the Negombo road from Ragama road.
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Lankan `slaves` in U.S. case headed for Court
Wednesday, 7 June 2006 - 5:17 AM SL Time
Asoka Jayasinghe and Lalitha Perera say they came from Sri Lanka, to the United States, looking for a fresh start. Instead, they contend in a lawsuit, they were held as virtual slaves by a wealthy Pebble Beach family, one of whom is British royalty.
After nearly three years, the case is slated to go to trial next week -- as soon as Judge Kay Kingsley decides if she will compel one of the Defendants to return from her vacation in Italy, to testify.
An Attorney for Sarah Cecconi, argued Friday, that his client cannot be compelled to return to the US because she is a resident of Italy, where she lives six months out of the year, and because her mother, the Duchess of Manchester, is on her death bed there.
Monterey Attorney Larry Biegel, who represents Jayasinghe and Perera, accused Cecconi and her Attorneys of `playing games.` He told Judge Kingsley that the trial was continued from September to June to accommodate the schedules of Cecconi, her mother and her husband, Enzo Cecconi, who typically leave for their sojourn to Italy in July. He referred Judge Kingsley to a recent declaration filed by Elizabeth Fullerton Montegue, the duchess, who said she `could and would testify competently.`
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Business / Economy News
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Cheque imaging system: More views
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 5:49 AM SL Time
The cheque imaging system has created a monster and also made a. mess of the clearing system. My personal opinion is that some bright sparks of Central Bank under whose purview the cheque clearing comes has come up with some bright idea either for personal glory or personal gain and introduced the 'CHEQUE IMAGING SYSTEM' without. a proper study. The new system delays all the cheques deposited in banks. Earlier cheques were realized in 24 hours but now there is no specific date for the realization of cheques. As a result some banks pay the cheques drawn by customers overdrawing their account and some others return the cheques while clearing cheques deposited by the customers remain in the cheque float of the computers.
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Budding singer Shihan Mobitel Brand Ambassador
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 5:40 AM SL Time
Mobitel (Pvt.) Ltd. yesterday announced the rising superstar Shihan Mihiranga as the new Brand Ambassador for SMART 5 sub-brand.
Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel`s selection of Shihan Mihiranga as Brand Ambassador for SMART 5 is evidence of Mobitel`s representation as a genuine Sri Lankan company and also of its pledge relating to the youth of Sri Lanka. Shihan`s rise to stardom through his increasing popularity has won the hearts of many Sri Lankans, especially the youth of Sri Lanka, making him the most appropriate figure to be associated with the SMART 5 brand name. - AH.April tea intakes down but year to date up
Irrespective of overall crop intakes to end April this year recording higher harvests, traditional tea land in the central hills, have again recorded disappointing results. The Sri Lanka Tea Board released allied statistics this week which did not make pleasant reading. That is, particularly relating to the central hills, where corporate sector tea lands are located.
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Stocks fall after blast
Wednesday, 7 June 2006 - 5:18 AM SL Time
Sri Lankan stocks ended lower on Tuesday, as the first suspected rebel landmine ambush near the capital since a 2002 truce sent jitters through a market waiting to see the outcome of talks between the government and Tamil Tigers in Oslo this week, traders said.
The Colombo All Share index fell 0.53 percent to close at 2,242.16 points. Turnover was 563 million rupees ($5.4 million), above the recent daily average. The market is up over 16 percent so far this year.
A Claymore fragmentation mine attack on a Sri Lankan civilian bus wounded two people in the early hours of Tuesday, raising the spectre of a return to war-time attacks on the capital even as the rebels and the government are due to discuss the safety of Nordic truce monitors.
`Investors are looking to see what is the outcome of the talks and they were watchful of the situation after a claymore exploded in Welisara closer to Colombo,` said Reshan Kurukulasuriya vice president at DFCC Stockbrokers in Colombo.
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| Sports News
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Isipathana clinch Milo Trophy
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 5:48 AM SL Time
Isipathana College won the All-Island under 16, 12-A side division I rugby tournament held at Bogambara, Kandy beating the Royal College Colombo by 3 points to nil in a nail biting finish. Isipathana who lost to Royal College at the Province Rugby Tournament held a fortnight ago overcome a fighting Royal outfit this time.
The Isipathanians beat St.Anthony`s in the quarter-finals and Trinity College in the semis. The lads from Royal were very impressive since they too won all the matches right through out the tournament before they went down to Isipathana in the finals by 3 points. The only penalty for Isipathana came during the second half from their fly half P.Devendra.
All Colombo school teams qualified for the finals. The only team from the Tsunami effected area St.Thomas` College; (Matara) became the shield champs beating Carey College l5 points by to nil.
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Sri Lanka climb up in Test table
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 5:42 AM SL Time
Australia 131
England 112
India 111
Pakistan 109
South Africa 101
Sri Lanka 97
New Zealand 97
West Indies 72
Zimbabwe 27
Bangladesh 3
Following their 134-run win over England at Trent Bridge and drawing the series 1-1, Sri Lanka have gained two points and climbed one place in the ICC Test Championship table.
With 97 points, the islanders now remain at the sixth spot. New Zealand is placed seventh with identical points. Sri Lanka is just four points away from South Africa who are placed fifth.
England, meanwhile, have lost one point, although their position in the second slot behind Australia is secured.
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Murali the Magnificent! - Takes 8-70 and helps Sri Lanka to a famous win
Wednesday, 7 June 2006 - 5:11 AM SL Time
Spin great Muttiah Muralitharan took eight second innings wickets to guide Sri Lanka to a famous Test win against England here at Nottingham inside four days, in the third and final Test match. Set 325 to win, England crashed to a heavy 134 run defeat as Muralitharan, probably playing his last Test in England, bowled unchanged for 30 overs, foxing the English batsmen to help Sri Lanka square the series, 1-1.
Sri Lanka had come into the Test trailing 1-0 after their disappointing loss at Edgbaston and Muralitharan had spoken of bowing out from England on a high note and played the Test ever so passionately and thoroughly deserved the Man of the Match award. He had taken three wickets in the first innings and made 33 runs with the bat, coming in at number 11 and ran through the England top order as he bowled non stop from the Pavilion End.
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