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Norway confirms breakdown in Sri Lanka talks
Friday, 9 June 2006 - 8:56 AM SL Time
Norwegian officials meeting with Sri Lanka government representatives and Tamil Tigers rebels said on Thursday talks broke down when they failed to bring about a face-to-face encounter between both sides.
Both parties arrived at a hotel outside Oslo for talks designed to help improve the security for Nordic peacekeepers in Sri Lanka, and began to communicate with each other via their Norwegian hosts, Espen Gullikstad, head of information at the ministry of international development, told AFP.
But then Norwegian officials failed to bring about a suggested a face-to-face encounter, he said.
`There were separate negotiations between the facilitator and each party to see if one could find grounds for a meeting between the two sides. But this failed,` Gullikstad said.
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New Constitution LTTE also to be involved
Friday, 9 June 2006 - 5:10 AM SL Time
The Government Peace Secretariat said it would get the LTTE also involved in the task of drafting a new constitution aimed at ending the ethnic issue.
Secretariat Head Palitha Kohona told the Times of India, that he was 'optimistic' that the LTTE would respond positively to the move.
'This will be the first time that a government will be inviting them to get involved directly in the drafting process,' he said before leaving for Oslo to discuss the role of the SLMM.
Despite the JVP raising concerns over continuing violence triggered by the LTTE , Dr. Kohona said the government signed a declaration along with other political parties at the last all party conference, endorsing a decision to seek a political solution with the LTTE within a united country.
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Oslo talks underway - Still no face to face talks
Thursday, 8 June 2006 - 9:10 PM SL Time
The latest efforts to re start a dialogue between the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers is underway in a picturesque lakeside town of Jevnaker, 67 kilometres from Oslo.
Reporters at the location say the talks began between the Tamil Tiger delegation and the Norwegians separately.
It is still not known when and if the two parties are going to have face to face talks. Government delegation is led by the head of peace secretariat Palitha Kohona while the Tamil Tiger delegation has the political leader S. P. Thamilselven as their leader.
The main agenda of the talks will be around the role of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission. Scandinavian peace monitors say it is increasingly becoming unsafe to monitor the faltering peace process in Sri Lanka.
Norwegian International development minister Erik Solheim had earlier told the media that his expectations for this round of talks are minimal.
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Politics
Politics Forum
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LTTE take Norway, International Community for a ride
Friday, 9 June 2006 - 9:05 AM SL Time
The scheduled talks between the Government and the LTTE in Oslo was a non-starter yesterday with the LTTE refusing to attend the parley.
The LTTE had refused to meet with the Government delegation after arriving at the conference venue in Norway, a Government media release stated.
Peace observers in Colombo described the LTTE`s sudden volte-face as an unacceptable behaviour. They said it was clear that the LTTE was having other agendas.
They ask as to what the LTTE who has refused to meet the Government expect to do in Norway until June 14.
The Government delegation came to Oslo at the Royal Norwegian Government`s invitation to discuss the operational modalities and functional attributes of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
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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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Editorial News
Editorial Forum
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Know thy enemy
Friday, 9 June 2006 - 8:58 AM SL Time
While we were getting ready to train our editorial guns on a ruling party politician and his son yesterday morning, we came under cannon fire from the Sri Lanka Navy over some other issue, which compelled us to change the topic of this comment. None other than the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda called us and took us to task over our lead story on the LTTE mine blast at Welisara on Wednesday, `Lack of precautionary measures by the Navy raises eyebrows.` He thought we had not been fair by the Navy, which had taken all precautions, which he said, had saved the lives of his officers and men. His said our news item had the potential to lead to the demoralisation of the Navy, the implication being that it might have been our objective. Nothing could be further from the truth! Why on earth should we try to demoralise a Navy which is doing an excellent job' It was only the other day that the Navy fought a fierce sea battle and saved over 700 soldiers!
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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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| Security
Security Forum
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Fuel crisis today
Friday, 9 June 2006 - 9:03 AM SL Time
A fuel shortage is imminent today with the foreign owned Indian Oil Company running dry while the joint trade unions of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) are opposing the sale of the state oil corporation.
The IOC filling stations are expected to dry up today due to the non payment of subsidies amounting to Rs.7.4 billion by the Government to the company.
Lanka IOC Managing Director K. Ramakrishna speaking to the Daily Mirror yesterday said an agreement was arrived at last week with the Treasury for a settlement of the subsidy amounting to around Rs.7.4 billion.
This agreement was arrived at in an amicable manner where IOC had agreed in principle to a lower subsidy rate. However, this was subject to approval from India for which the local representatives were awaiting a response.
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Beware of even of husbands
Friday, 9 June 2006 - 8:57 AM SL Time
In a bid to create awareness on the prevention of the spread of AIDS at national level, an aggressive programme will be implemented island- wide shortly.
The initial programme will be held in the Badulla district, at the Uva Provincial Council Library auditorium tomorrow, focusing on the administrative officers in the area.
The awareness programme is expected to cover all districts of the country. The need for a programme of this nature has been recognised with special focus on public servants, housewives and other risk groups.
While appreciating the efforts taken to successfully carry out awareness campaign at grassroots level in the past by the National HIV/ AIDS Control Programme, the Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition Nimal Siripala de Silva said that it is timely to initiate a new project on a large scale countrywide.
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Mahinda orders prompt relief for fire victims
Friday, 9 June 2006 - 8:55 AM SL Time
On hearing of the massive fire that destroyed nearly 150 dwellings, at Nawagampura on Wednesday evening,
President Mahinda Rajapkse immediately ordered his officials to take action to provide relief to the affected dwellers.
The President yesterday instructed Social Services Department officials to look into the needs of the families now housed at the Granspass Vijayabaha Vidyalaya. Accordingly steps were taken to provide the familes with cooked food.
Colombo Municipal Opposition leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara visited the stricken people and held discussions with the Social Services Department officials to organize cash relief for the affected.
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Business / Economy News
Business Forum
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CEB unions reject total black out
Friday, 9 June 2006 - 9:21 AM SL Time
ELECTRICITY REFORMS: The threat of a total black out made by a section of trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) does not have the support of the majority of the CEB unions.
The Organisation to Protect the CEB on Wednesday warned of a total black out if the Government did not withdraw the Electricity Reforms Bill to be presented to Parliament.
The organisation yesterday hoisted black flags in CEB offices in protest of the Government`s move saying that it is an attempt towards privatising the CEB.
However, the Power and Energy Minister said that electricity reforms are inevitable for the future of the CEB and it would not mean the privatisation of the Board as alleged by some unions.
Ananda Nimalaratne, the convener of the Joint Trade Union Alliance which is a combination of 28 CEB Unions said that the Electricity Reforms Bill to be presented before Parliament also contained proposals forwarded by the Alliance. `We would protest only if the Government ignores our proposals.
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Mahinda orders hassle free goods transport to NE
Friday, 9 June 2006 - 9:04 AM SL Time
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed government officials to ensure that daily activities of the civilians in the North and East are not to be hampered and the essential items to the North and East must move without restrictions.
The Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga made this clear at a high-powered meeting held on Wednesday at the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) convened by its Chief Operating Officer Saliya Wickramasuriya.
The meeting was held to discuss issues with key development partners and representatives of UN, World Bank, ADB and IMF on security arrangements which could lead to disruption of reconstruction and development activities of the North and East.
Speaking at this meeting, Miguel Bermeo Country Director UN expressed the need to have a clear and consistent procedure and a mechanism for solving problems pertaining to delivery of goods such as cement which are used as material for the construction of houses for tsunami affected people in the North and East.
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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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| Sports News
Sports Forum
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Sri Lanka defy the doomsayers
Friday, 9 June 2006 - 9:01 AM SL Time
Nobody gave Sri Lanka a prayer when they slumped to 91 for 6 in reply to England`s 551 at Lord`s, but not only did they cling in that match, they sprung a surprise of their own by winning the final Test to square the series 1-1. Andrew Miller marks their performances out of ten.
9 Muttiah Muralitharan
Saved his best for last with a mesmeric performance on the fourth day at Trent Bridge where, but for an over-enthusiastic piece of fielding, he could have been eyeing up all ten English scalps. The panic he instilled at Edgbaston suggested that, with a few more runs to play with, he might have swiped that match from England as well. Talking of runs, his 33 in partnership with Vaas was absolutely pivotal to the outcome of the series. If this is his final appearance in England, he has left a legacy that should never be forgotten.
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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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