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Annual suicide toll over 5,000
Wednesday, 21 June 2006 - 4:38 AM SL Time
In Sri Lanka, over 5,000 people commit suicide annually due to various reasons. Over 50 per cent of such cases could be attributed to different mental disorders, Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Neil Fernando said.
Most of the people attempting suicide are in their youth and it contributes to the loss of productive and economic contribution, he noted.
However, with the implementation of an action plan to prevent and reduce the number of suicide cases, the country experienced a reduced number of such cases in the recent past, he said. The steps that have been taken include to educating the Samurdhi Niyamakas on how to face life`s challenges positively. They will in turn share their knowledge with the youth to create a better impact on people in preventing suicides, he added.
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Indian PM sending envoy South to discuss Lankan situation
Wednesday, 21 June 2006 - 4:36 AM SL Time
Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will soon send his representative to Tamil Nadu capital Chennai to address the southern state`s concerns caused by the volatile situation in neighbouring Sri Lanka.
Dr Singh conveyed this to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Dr Muthuvel Karunanidhi during a telephonic conversation on Tuesday morning. Karunanidhi had called up the prime minister and requested him to take urgent and appropriate steps to help restore peace in the troubled island-nation.
In a statement issued in Chennai today, Karunanidhi said Dr Singh has assured him that he is contemplating `appropriate steps` in this regard.
Asked by reporters what steps the prime minister should take to stop the violence in Sri Lanka, Karunanidhi said: `Let the central government take whatever measures it thinks are appropriate. I think the Norwegian-brokered peace talks (between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE) should resume soon.`
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Tigers believe in war not talks - Govt. Peace Secretariat on LTTE homeland statement
Tuesday, 20 June 2006 - 2:51 PM SL Time
The statement made by the LTTE after failing to participate in the recent Oslo talks has sent a strong message to the International Community that it believes discussion is not the medium for finding a solution to the on-going problems. It continues to rely on violence to achieve it political goals, the Government Peace Secretariat said on Sunday (18).
It said the Government, for its part, remains committed and ready for talks on all matters on humanitarian and political issues but the preamble of the so-called communiqu`E9 needed scrutiny.
`The de facto State of Tamil Eelam, exercising jurisdiction over 75 percent of the Tamil Homeland, with control over the seas appurtenant, with its own laws independent judiciary, police force and full administrative apparatus, remains a myth. Neither the Government nor the International Community recognizes a de facto State of Eelam. The North of Sri Lanka is as much multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural. Further the Tamil people living in the areas outside the North and East exceed those living in the so called Tamil-homeland,` the Peace Secretariat said.
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Mangala meets Indian PM today
Thursday, 22 June 2006 - 4:24 AM SL Time
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera will meet Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh here on Thursday to brief him about the developments in his country since their last meeting here six weeks ago.
The minister arrives from London late on Wednesday night, will call on the Indian leader on Thursday afternoon and fly home to Colombo the same evening.
His visit is in keeping with the tradition of the Sri Lankan political system keeping Indian leadership informed about the crucial happenings in the island nation, particularly on the ethnic issue. Samaraweera last met Dr Singh here on May 8. India has been concerned about the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi spoke to the prime minister on Tuesday and requested him to take appropriate steps to help restore peace in the island. Dr Singh assured him that he is looking into the matter. Dr Singh will get a first hand understanding of the latest Sri Lankan situation Minister Samaraweera.
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Dossier on fraudulent deals handed over to President`s Secy
Thursday, 22 June 2006 - 4:20 AM SL Time
A dossier on a series of fraudulent transactions and deals involving ruling party politicians, officials and their henchmen was handed over to Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga at Dharmayathanaya by Ven. Elle Gunawansa. Several members of the committee which prepared the dossier urged Weeratunga to act immediately with one of them warning of a severe threat on national security due to unbridled corruption.
After accepting the report, Weeratunga Wednesday emphasized the urgent need to curb corruption in the defence services. The outspoken public servant admitted that President Mahinda Rajapakse`s government was seriously concerned about waste, corruption and irregularities and one of their main areas of concerns was the defence services.
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Rajiv Gandhi case accused give up fast
Wednesday, 21 June 2006 - 2:12 PM SL Time
Nalini and Murugan, convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and lodged in the Vellore Central Prison, gave up their six-day-old fast last night.
The couple began their fast on June 14 demanding their 15-year-old daughter Arithra, living in Sri Lanka, be given a student visa for studying in Tamil Nadu.
After receiving a message that the Indian High Commission in Colombo promised to `positively` consider their daughter`s visa application, Nalini and Murugan called off their fast, their advocate V Elangovan said here today.
Arithra, a Sri Lankan National, was born in the high-security Poonamallee Jail in Chennai when Nalini and Murugan were facing trial in the sensational case. She had been living with her grandparents in the Island Nation.
Arithra, who passed her tenth standard examination, had applied to the Indian High Commission in Colombo for a student visa.
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Editorial News
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`Sound of silence`
Thursday, 22 June 2006 - 4:26 AM SL Time
The aforesaid title of Paul Simon`s song, which captures the emotional trauma of the Americans in the aftermath of Kennedy`s assassination, with which a dream died for them, occurred to us on reading reports about the brawl in Parliament on Tuesday over one minute`s silence observed for the victims of the Kebilithigollwe massacre. Simon and Garfunkel sing in their own inimitable way:
Hello darkness, my old friend
I`ve come to talk with you again
Those powerful lyrics, through the symbols of light and darkness, inter alia, demonstrate how ignorance and apathy deprive the people of their ability to communicate even at a simple level. This exactly is what we ourselves are witnessing in this country.
After a minute`s silence was observed with all but two TNA parliamentarians standing in Parliament, MP N. Raviraj, according to reports, made a statement that he or his party had nothing against paying respect to the Kebilitigollewa victims but wanted silence observed for the Tamil civilians who had been killed, as well. So saying, he and three other members of his party rushed to the Well of the House and started shouting anti-government slogans and triggered pandemonium.
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Elephantine peek-a-boo with Tigers?
Wednesday, 21 June 2006 - 4:45 AM SL Time
The UNP is reported to be distributing sirens among the people in the villages affected by terrorism. This project has been going on for some years to help villagers sound warnings against terror attacks. Alerting the people in case of an emergency is believed to be a prerequisite for averting disaster. But there is little that poor villagers can do, even if they are warned of a terror attack in a village surrounded by a large number of blood thirsty savages in darkness. The choice they have is to either get butchered inside their humble homes or run out to the accompaniment of the wail of sirens and face the same fate under the stars. For, the Tigers who descend on far flung villages are not in a hurry: they have hours to search for missing villagers and drag them out of their hiding places.
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Different schools of thought
Tuesday, 20 June 2006 - 2:43 PM SL Time
Last week has been the bloodiest since the gradual escalation of armed skirmishes began a few weeks ago. The bomb blasts and clashes sent hundreds of helpless and innocent people to refugee camps. Thousands of others in the border villages live in fear of terrorist attacks. With the detection of sea Tiger bombs at Pamunugama, the people in Colombo and suburbs and those visiting these areas see how dangerously they are exposed to terrorism. The authorities, of course, bend backwards to assure the people of full security measures taken to ensure their safety.The people, however, know that many a tragedy occurred despite these security measures.
The government, meanwhile, seems to be in a quandary whether to go hammer and tongs in fighting Tiger terrorism despite the disastrous consequences for the country and the people or to explore all avenues of resuming talks with the LTTE and seeking a negotiated settlement of the issues. Different schools of thought make their voices heard on this choice before the government, some exerting pressure with threats and others adopting methods of persuasion.
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| Security
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Bodies of two soldiers hande over to Vavuniya police
Thursday, 22 June 2006 - 4:51 AM SL Time
The bodies of the two soldiers who went missing in action in Janakapura, Welioya last Sunday had been handed over to the Vavuniya police via ICRC by the LTTE.
The decomposed bodies which were in a drastic condition with severe head injuries have been handed over to the Red Cross on Monday in Kilinochchi and had later been handed over to Vavuniya police.
The two victims have been identified as Senaratnage Ranjith Priyantha Herath (26) from Galenbindunuwewa and Wijeratnage Ajith Asokaratne (25) from Nochchiyagama.
According to Vavuniya police the soldiers had gone missing in action while being deployed in a route clearing operation in Janakapura area, Welioya on Sunday.
The LTTE launched a small arms attack targeting the troops and the troops have also retaliated. However the two soldiers had reportedly been shot and injured during the attack and the rebels have abducted them and taken to Kilinochchi.
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NGO imports could be a security threat, Govt. admits
Thursday, 22 June 2006 - 4:48 AM SL Time
The Government yesterday admitted in parliament that helicopter parts and some other items imported by the NGOs in the aftermath of the tsunami could be a threat to national security.
This was disclosed by Minister Jagath Pushpakumara in response to a question raised by JVP MP Piyasiri Wijenayake.
The Minister said parts of a four-seater helicopter were imported as tsunami aid from Germany via South Africa to Humedia Lanka International, an INGO the general branch of which is based in Germany.Mr. Pushpakumara said these parts were confiscated by the airport Customs and later returned to the company in Johannesburg on instructions given by the Defence Secretary.
Parts of another four-seater helicopter were imported as tsunami aid from Los Angeles, USA via Dubai in the name of an Australian identified as Collin Frank Twist and these parts too were returned to the company concerned.
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Lankan, Maldivian Cadets get appointments to US military academies
Thursday, 22 June 2006 - 4:24 AM SL Time
Three military cadets received certificates of appointment from US Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead to begin undergraduate studies at the US Air Force Academy and the US Military Academy in September of 2006.
Radhika Ranaweera of Sri Lanka will enroll in the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Ali Ihusaan and Ahmed Mooman, both of the Maldives, will enroll in the US Military Academy in West Point, New York. The three students will pursue Bachelor of Science degrees and receive military training alongside students from the United States and around the world. `I am excited about going to study aeronautical engineering, hopefully learning to fly,` said Cadet Ranaweera. Cadet Ihusaan will study computer sciences and Cadet Mooman will study civil engineering before returning to serve as lieutenants in the Maldivian National Defence Force.
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Business / Economy News
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Court orders SatNet closure
Thursday, 22 June 2006 - 4:21 AM SL Time
Colombo Additional Magistrate Gehan Pilapitiya yesterday ordered the CID to close down the SatNet TV Broadcasting station owned by Lakshman Hullugalle and take appropriate action against the station for violating the laws of the land by not obtaining the permission to run the station from the relevant authority.
Lakshman Hullugalle, who was summoned to appear in Court, was enlarged on security bail in Rs. 100,000.
Anuja Premaratne, appearing for Hullugalle state that they had obtained the licence to import TV equipment and sell it to customers whilst broadcasting was done from India and therefore the station had not violated any regulations under the Rupavahini Act or the TRC.
But Senior State Counsel Gehan Kulatunga, appearing for the CID said Hullugalle had violated Section 45 B of the TRC Act and came under the purview of the investigation.
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SL, a place like no other: President
Wednesday, 21 June 2006 - 5:00 AM SL Time
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his message to `Refreshingly Sri Lanka`, -- a weeklong celebration in the UK, displaying the best of the country, called upon people to make Sri Lanka their next holiday destination or business venture.
First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa read out the President`s message when the show kicked off on June 17.
'I am delighted to send a message to the launch of `Refreshingly Sri Lanka`, an enchantment of cultural differences, natural beauty, variety of food, many faceted tourist attractions, an array of tradable products and attractive investment opportunities,' it said.
Urging investors to take a closer look at opportunities in Sri Lanka, the President said that the United Kingdom is Sri Lanka`s number one tourist market from Europe`s largest trading partner in the European Union and ranks among the top five major investors.
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Electricity generated inadequate for industries, homes
Wednesday, 21 June 2006 - 4:41 AM SL Time
Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne told `The Island` that electricity generated was in adequate to cater to the needs of all industrial complexes and households .The Ministry had received a large number complaints on constant blackouts, low voltage and continuous repairs.
Around 48 to 72 hours annual power were cuts were the order of the day a situation that had been a major stumbling-block to development.
Minister Senevirate emphasised that the CEB faced a financial crisis of Rs. 93 billion. The crisis could be surmounted by proper maintenance work and efficient administration.
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Lanka on brink of series win
Thursday, 22 June 2006 - 4:25 AM SL Time
Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya has been involved in quite a few heroic acts for Sri Lanka with both bat and ball over the last 16 years, but there was never a moment where he was so desperate to come up with a big effort.
The Oval was the venue where he made a memorable double hundred in a Test match eight years ago and he chose England`s oldest Test venue again to come up with yet another outstanding match winning hundred, as Sri Lanka beat England by 46 runs in the second ODI on Tuesday here in London. The tourists now lead the series 2-0, with three matches to go.
Jayasuriya`s 20th ODI hundred helped Sri Lanka to set England a mammoth 319 target, the country`s highest score against the English in an ODI, improving on the previous best of 307 for nine made at the Adelaide Oval.
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Jayasuriya guides Lanka to second ODI victory
Wednesday, 21 June 2006 - 5:06 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka beat England by 46 runs in the second one-day international at The Oval here Tuesday to go 2-0 up in the five-match series.
Sri Lanka veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya scored 122 in the tourists` imposing 319 for eight.
In reply England were bowled out for 273, man-of-the-match Jayasuriya taking three wickets with his left-arm spin.
Sri Lanka won the series opener at Lord`s by 20 runs last Saturday.
The series continues this Saturday at the Riverside.
Sanath Jayasuriya`s 122 saw Sri Lanka to a total of 319 for eight, their best against England.
The Sri Lankans total was built around a second-wicket stand of 160 between Jayasuriya and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (66).
Left-handed opener Jayasuriya`s hundred was his 20th at this level - more than the combined total of the England team - while Sri Lanka`s score was their best against England in a one-day international, surpassing the 303 for nine they made at Adelaide in 1999.
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Boy beaten to death at cricket ground - In London
Wednesday, 21 June 2006 - 4:43 AM SL Time
A teenage boy was beaten to death at a cricket club in an `unprovoked and gratuitous attack` days after celebrating his final GCSE exam.
Michael Chapman, 16, was walking home across playing fields with his brother David, 18, and their girlfriends after a night out when they were ambushed by two youths.
Michael was severely beaten in an apparently motiveless attack in which no weapon was used and no attempt was made at robbery.
His mother, Sue Chapman, a nurse, made an emotional plea on Sunday for information to help catch her son`s killers after she visited the scene at Gore Court cricket club in Sittingbourne, Kent.
Mrs Chapman, 40, said that she and her husband Lloyd, 49, were devastated by the loss of their son. Struggling to hold back tears, she said: `Michael was a wonderful 16-year-old. Loving, thoughtful, happy and cheerful.
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