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Rumour mongers put parents in panic
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:33 AM SL Time
The government yesterday requested the public not to panic in the face of bogus threats and asked parents to work hand in hand with school principals if there is any threat made to schools.
The Island learns that many schools were warned about possible bomb attacks and many parents did not permit their children to attend school through fear. Similar incidents were also reported from Kandy and Galle.
Speaking to The Island, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said officials of the security forces and police were working closely with all schools.
`In fact, principals and other staff of schools are educated on security measures through a number of workshops at school level.`
Premajayantha said during the last one and half months rumours were being circulated that schools would be targeted by the LTTE.
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Maj. Gen. Shaman Kulatunga to replace slain general
Wednesday, 28 June 2006 - 10:42 PM SL Time
Sri Lanka has named a veteran officer with experience fighting Tamil Tiger guerrillas to replace the nation`s third-highest-ranking general, who was killed this week in a suspected rebel suicide attack, officials said today.
Maj. Gen. Shaman Kulatunga, who has led an armored division and has wide experience fighting the separatists during his 33-year carrier, has taken over the post of deputy chief of staff, the Sri Lankan military said in their Web-site.
He replaces Maj. Gen. Parami Kulatunga, who was killed on Monday in a suicide bombing blamed on the Tamil Tigers.
Meanwhile, the rebels said only one of their cadres was killed in an attack by a suspected breakaway guerrilla group yesterday, contradicting the government`s claim that four were killed.
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Sailors killed in Sri Lanka clash
Wednesday, 28 June 2006 - 10:29 PM SL Time
Five Sri Lankan sailors have died in a clash with Tamil Tiger rebels off the country`s west coast, the navy says.
Navy spokesman DKP Dassanayake said about 20 rebel small craft had attacked two naval vessels near Kalpitiya, about 140km (86 miles) north-west of Colombo.
He said six rebels had also been killed. The Tamil Tigers say only one rebel died. A rebel spokesman blamed the navy for provoking the clash.
Worsening violence has claimed about 700 lives in Sri Lanka this year.
Commander Dassanayake said the rebels attacked near a small naval base by a lagoon in Kalpitiya.
`As they approached, our craft went and engaged with them,` he told Reuters news agency.
`One of our craft got damaged... Two of their boats were destroyed.`
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Dhanapala praises Canadian efforts
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:52 AM SL Time
Canada has done the right thing by banning the Tamil Tigers and must follow up by making sure there is no more fundraising, a former Sri Lankan peace negotiator said on monday.
`The financing must stop,` said Jayantha Dhanapala, the former secretary-general of the Sri Lankan peace process that negotiated with the LTTE.
On Monday morning, a suicide bomber in Colombo killed the deputy-chief of the Sri Lankan Army, Maj.-Gen. Parami Kulatunge.
In other violence overnight, four Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in an attack by a breakaway faction in Vakarai in the east and a soldier was shot dead by suspected Tigers in a separate incident in Trincomalee, further north.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa urged calm and said his government would `act with patience` ' a sign officials were moving carefully amid fears the island nation was sliding back into all-out war after a four-year lull.
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No Ranil so Milinda meets Mahinda
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:43 AM SL Time
UNP front-liner and former Minister Milinda Moragoda held talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday evening at Temple Trees, highly placed government sources said.
They said the talks focused on the All Party Conference initiative and the peace process.
It is also learnt that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was kept informed about the talks which took place following an invitation from the President to Mr. Moragoda.
The President had earlier wanted to speak to Mr. Wickremesinghe but he had left on an official visit to Germany.
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We will bring peace to Lanka soon - Sri Ravi Shankar
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:32 AM SL Time
BANGALORE: Art of Living founder Sri Ravi Shankar has quietly sent taped messages to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to establish direct contact with the separatist guerrillas in the latest bid to bring peace to Sri Lanka.
`We have established contact with the LTTE. We have sent taped messages to their leaders. We will bring peace to Sri Lanka soon. There is a bit of stagnation now in thrashing out issues,` the spiritual guru said
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From India to India
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:37 AM SL Time
If anyone needs proof that the LTTE has, after two decades of fighting, returned where it began, a shadow of its former self, here it is: Anton Balasingham is grovelling before India, pleading mercy for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and soliciting its involvement in what remains of Sri Lanka`s peace process. The Tigers have had to eat their own words. Remember when the Indian courts tried Prabhakaran and his Intelligence chief Pottuamman over the Rajiv killing, in absentia, LTTE apologists had the chutzpah to ridicule India by asking it to go the whole hog and hang the duo in absentia! At Prabhakaran`s Wanni press conference in 2002, Balasingham didn`t at least allow the question of the Rajiv assassination to be raised.
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Needed: A brand new peace process
Wednesday, 28 June 2006 - 6:16 AM SL Time
The peace process is as dead as a dodo. Let there be no doubts about it, however much we yearn for peace. There may still be some cooperation between the LTTE and the government but it is not due to any obligation that a truce has foisted on either party: What prevents them from plunging head first into war is their fear of mutually assured destruction (MAD').
We are loath to sound like prophets of doom but that, we believe, is the plain truth. The end of the peace process began the day the LTTE walked away from talks in 2003. Ever since, the peace process has been on a heart and lung machine. Even if the UNP had granted the ISGA demand, it wouldn`t have been able to bring the peace effort back to life. The LTTE would have throttled it with another demand. It didn`t resort to large scale violence earlier as time was not opportune. Chandrika may have thought she would be able to revive the sinking peace process with her P-TOMS but the LTTE wouldn`t have settled for it and given up violence. It may have delayed the collapse of the peace process, though.
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Disaster, here we come!
Tuesday, 27 June 2006 - 4:06 AM SL Time
With the assassination of Maj. Gen. Parami Kulatunga, the country has lost another efficient military officer. He was the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and third highest ranking military officer. Yesterday`s attack came exactly two months after the abortive attempt on Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka`s life.
The LTTE stands condemned for the dastardly crime, having blown its pretence of being interested in peace making, sky high. Similarly, the assassination has exposed the failure of the Army to protect its top brass let alone the general public against terrorism. Not even that shameful security lapse which almost cost the Commander`s life inside the Army Headquarters, galvanised the Army into adopting a better strategy to protect its high ranking officers. Maj. Gen. Kulatunga had been travelling a long distance to work through busy suburbs along congested roads during rush hours, thus, inviting the LTTE and giving it ample time to pursue him.
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Best way to say sorry is to lay down arms - FM
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:53 AM SL Time
If the LTTE was keen to apologise for their misdeeds, they should apologize not only to India and Sri Lanka but to the whole world.
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera made this observation referring to a statement made by LTTE`s Anton Balasingham in which he had apologised to India for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 by an LTTE suicide bomber.
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said: `If the statement made by Balasingham was not to be seen as a desperate attempt by the LTTE to appease the Indian Government, it must also apologise to Sri Lanka for the monumental tragedy it has inflicted on Sri Lanka since 1978.`
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Molester out on Rs. 5,000 bail
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:35 AM SL Time
A young man, who was produced before Maligakande Magistrates Court on Tuesday (27) for allegedly molesting a woman, was ordered by Magistrate Priyantha Silva to be enlarged in cash bail of Rs. 5,000 and a surety bail of Rs. 25,000, with two sureties.
The suspect in this case is Farook Mohomed Faiz. The case will be again taken up on October 18.
Maradana Police SI Adikari appearing for the prosecution submitted that the complainant with her husband had visited a milk bar at Maradana. The suspect who happened to be behind the complainant had allegedly stroked her in an indecent manner, the prosecution submitted.
CI Digawathura conducted investigations.
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Karuna group kills three Tigers
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:31 AM SL Time
Three LTTE cadres were shot dead on Tuesday night, allegedly by the Karuna faction, at Mailambaweli in the Eravur Police division. They were riding a motor bike when they were killed.
Their motor cycle and bodies were set on fire, police said.
Police said the three cadres were in charge of collecting taxes from traders in the area and this was evident from certain files and documents recovered from the place where they were killed.
The charred bodies were handed over to the Eravur base hospital by the police.
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Business / Economy News
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CBN Sat case: Magistrate orders to meet Minister
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:51 AM SL Time
The Colombo Magistrate yesterday ordered the satellite television company, CBN Sat Pvt Ltd., to meet the Media Minister in connection with the switching off of the transmission by the CID.
When the case was taken up in chambers the counsel for CBN Sat (Pvt) Ltd and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and Minister of Media and Mass communication made representations.
The Attorney General informed court the Media Minister had expressed his concern over two issues with regard to stopping the transmission. Firstly not to air the fashion shows and secondly to be concerned with regard to the transmission of security issues. The counsel for CBN Sat, M. L. M. Ameen PC undertook to abide by relevant issues. The Additional Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya ordered the counsels to meet the minister and report to court on the out come next Monday, July 3.
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Sri Lanka Insurance launches ?e - Seva?
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:45 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation launched `e-seva` to the public on the 15th June 2006 with the declaring open of the first `e-seva` kiosk for their agents and advisors at 288, Union Place, Colombo 2, by Mr. Damien Fernando, Director, Sri Lanka Insurance.
The ceremony was also marked by the establishing of a Sampath Bank ATM adjoining the kiosk which was declared open by the bank`s Managing Director Anil Amarasuriya, for the further convenience of SLIC`s customers and associates.
The `e-Seva` kiosk, a state-of-the-art facility designed to look like an ATM machine is capable of providing many online services to users.
The 24 hour terminal located outside the premises of the Sri Lanka Insurance city office will function as the information centre for Insurance Advisors and Consultants of Sri Lanka Insurance. They will have the facility of accessing their customer database, accessing Life and General Insurance quotations, obtaining policy details and reviewing relevant reports and commission statements along with several other on-line services.
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National Security media centre launches website
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:36 AM SL Time
Minister of Policy Planning and Plan Implementation and Government Spokesman for Defence and National Security, Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday launched the website of the Media Centre for National Security (www.nationalsecurity.lk) at Galle Road, Colombo 3.
Among those who attended the launching ceremony were, Secretary Ministry of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapakse, Deputy Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Admiral Daya Sandagiri, Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke, Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando, Army Chief of Staff Major General Nanda Mallawaarachchi and a distinguished gathering of invitees.
Addressing media personnel invited to attend the ceremony, Minister Rambukwella said that the main objective of launching the website was to provide accurate information on defence-related issues to the public. He emphasised that there was no censorship involved in the dissemination of news to all citizens.
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Sri Lanka triumph
Thursday, 29 June 2006 - 4:49 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka defeated England by 33 runs while defending a total of 318 in the fourth one-day cricket international in Manchester yesterday.
England were bowled out for 285 after Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene scored his second hundred as the tourists made 318 for seven.
But Jayawardena rode his luck here as England twice dropped the stylish right-hander early in his innings.
An unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 68 in 38 balls between Farveez Maharoof (58 not out) and Malinga Bandard (28 not out) led Sri Lanka past the 300-mark after injury-hit England, who had lost eight of their previous 10 one-day internationals, had threatened to pull things back.
Recalled seamer Kabir Ali bore the brunt of the assault, his 10 wicketless overs costing 77 runs with 20 off his last, including two sixes by Maharoof - the first taking him to a maiden fifty at this level.
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Visakha clinch water polo title
Wednesday, 28 June 2006 - 6:27 AM SL Time
Visakha Vidyalaya `A` clinched the women`s water polo league 2006 championships that was concluded at the Sugathadasa Swimming Complex on Sunday.
In their final match of the tournament, Visakha Vidyalaya `A` defeated Ladies College by four goals to nil to finish unbeaten champions. In the other game that was scheduled for Sunday, the Air Force received a walk over from Bishop`s College.
In the men`s Ellawala League championship matches that were also played last weekend at the Police Sports Club Swimming Complex, S. Thomas` `A` beat S. Thomas` `B` 10-3, Army beat RCUAC `B` 7-2, OTSC beat Otter Aquatic Club 5-1 and RCUAC `A` beat Air Force 3-2.
P W L D GF GA Pts.
Visakha Vidyalaya `A` 4 4 0 0 02 06 12
Ladies College 4 3 1 0 25 12 06
Air Force 4 2 2 0 16 14 04
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Atapattu plans Tri-Series return
Wednesday, 28 June 2006 - 6:17 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu hopes to be fit for the forthcoming Tri-Series in Sri Lanka in August, media reports from Australia said.
The 35-year-old veteran Sri Lanka opening batsman is still in Australia on a rehabilitation program after surgery. Reports from Australia said the doctors, treating the stylish veteran opener of 88 Tests, are happy with the recovery process and expects Atapattu to be fit in six weeks.
`I hope to be fit for the Tri-Series in August,` Atapattu was quoted as saying. However, Atapattu is unlikely to figure in the two-Test home series against South Africa starting on July 27.
`To my knowledge, he is doubtful for the Test series against South Africa,` The CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, Duleep Mendis said last night.
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