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Sri Lankan man arrested with 16,000 steel balls for use in rebel bombs: Military
Sunday, 9 July 2006 - 12:50 PM SL Time
A man has been arrested in possession of thousands of tiny steel balls, a key component in Tamil rebel explosives, the military said.
Troops seized a bag containing 16,000 bicycle ball bearings during a security check Saturday of a bus in Murukkan, about 200 kilometers (150 miles) north of the capital Colombo, according to a report on the Ministry of Defense Web site.
The troops arrested a man traveling on the bus and handed him to the police, according to the report. The man was not named and the report did not identify him as a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam fighter.
`This type of steel bicycle balls are extensively used by LTTE terrorists in the production of Improvised Explosive Devices,` the report said.
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Cabinet reshuffle likely next week
Sunday, 9 July 2006 - 5:08 AM SL Time
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to cast aside astrological advice and reshuffle his Cabinet next week to ensure a `strong government`, highly -placed political sources said yesterday.
The move, according to these sources, has been prompted by recent political developments, including the crossover to the Government of two UNP parliamentarians.
Susantha Punchinilame, UNP parliamentarian for Ratnapura district, crossed over on Thursday and was sworn in as a deputy minister.
Anuradhapura district parliamentarian P.B. Ekanayake declared yesterday that he would cross over. A few more are expected to follow suit beginning next week, according to the sources.
The same sources said there was a likelihood of political parties now supporting the government joining it.
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Fashion TV, LTTE fears confront CBNsat as subscribers wait
Sunday, 9 July 2006 - 5:04 AM SL Time
CBNsat subscribers will have a longer wait to get the transmission as company officials grapple with government authorities over issues ranging from the wrong licence, fears of LTTE programmes and transmission of Fashion TV.
CBNsat (Communiq Broadband Network (PVT) Ltd) has been trying to restore its license to resume the transmission since its equipment was sealed off on June 6, shutting out programmes for its 20,000-odd subscribers.
The company has taken the CID to court in an attempt to lift the seal imposed on them. However, officials say, the case has been dragging on as the authorities have been raising different issues against CBNsat. The initial allegation was that the company had brought in the equipment without proper approval or licenses and that the company did not have broadcasting licenses under the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Act for which the company provided proper legal documents and the licenses obtained from the TRC (Telecommunications Regulatory Commission).
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Politics
Politics Forum
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Sack for UNP defectors
Monday, 10 July 2006 - 5:02 AM SL Time
The UNP will expel Ministers Mahinda Samarasinghe and Keheliya Rambukwella from the party membership before August 31, according to a motion adopted by the party`s highest decision making body.
The issue was taken up at a meeting held at `Sirikotha` recently, with the leadership agreeing to promptly finalize disciplinary action against them. Charge sheets have already been issued on the duo.
According to the UNP constitution, 'acceptance of a ministerial portfolio or, supporting the Government, in the present context, without party approval,' is unconstitutional.
UNP Assistant General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said that these two ministers had violated party constitution by accepting ministerial portfolios in the Government.
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Sri Lanka`s UNP leader seeks Indian support to stop party crossovers
Monday, 10 July 2006 - 4:58 AM SL Time
In an unprecedented request, UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe has asked the Indian High Commissioner to help him stop UNP crossovers to the government.
It is reported that the UNP leader made a request to Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao to convey a message to President Mahinda Rajapaksa as early as possible.
Ms. Rao, a close diplomatic friend of the Sri Lankan President, had reportedly refused the request since she has nothing to do with the internal politics of Sri Lanka.
The UNP leader had informed the Indian High Commissioner that any attempt by the President to lure party members to the government at a time when they were cooperating with the President to arrive at a solution to the ethnic problem would irredeemably damage their relationship.
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JU to fight terror the national way
Monday, 10 July 2006 - 4:53 AM SL Time
A new organisation, Jathika Urumaya (National Heritage), formed with the aim of defeating terrorism, met recently to discuss it future plans.
The organisation comprises experts, veteran politicians, civil servants, professionals and religious leaders. They expect to defeat terrorism through a national approach, President of the JU, the UNP`s Galle District Parliamentarian Hemakumara Nanayakkara told The Island.
He said that the organisation was not political. It was a completely independent body. `A large number of retired politicians, representing the UNP, SLFP and other political parties have joined this organisation. Religious leaders such as Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, Rev. Frs. Benedict Joseph and Ranjith Jayaweera, Politicians such as Danapala Weerasekara and Donald Dissanayake have also joined. We plan to fight terrorism in an indigenous and national manner.`
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Editorial News
Editorial Forum
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Will-o`-the-wisp
Monday, 10 July 2006 - 4:56 AM SL Time
The UNP has accused the government of engineering defections at a time when it is cooperating with the latter on all vital national issues. The UPFA and the UNP are cooperating on national issues! News to us! If so, why did the UNP abstain from voting for the extension of Emergency, which is essential for curbing the escalation of terror attacks' And why did it allow its MP T. Maheswaran to vote against it' Emergency was reintroduced following the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and the UNP continued to support it until the vote before the last. How can the UNP justify its refusal to vote for Emergency within weeks of the assassination of Lt. Gen. Parami Kulatunge, one of the most illustrious officers the Sri Lanka Army has produced' And its abstention comes on the heels of its call for the government to order a probe into the Parami killing!
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Sugar, booze and fags
Sunday, 9 July 2006 - 5:00 AM SL Time
For whose benefit is the duty on brown sugar being reduced, badly hurting Pelwatte Sugar Co. Ltd., the biggest domestic sugar producer in the country' Pelwatte, floated many years ago with the participation and support of Booker Tate, a big name in the international sugar world, has after many years in the doldrums now been turned around following its privatization some time ago and a 10% dividend to shareholders just declared. The gigantic project, intended to take the country towards self-sufficiency in an essential food item, enjoyed enormous concessions from government including the provision of vast extents of land in the Moneragala area, tax concessions and a guaranteed price for the sugar produced based on a cost of production related formula.
We carry a report today quoting Mr. A. Wickramanayake, the chairman and majority shareholder of Pelwatte, bitterly complaining about the proposed duty reduction on brown sugar which he says will hurt his company which exclusively produces this commodity. The government, sensitive to the ever-rising cost of living which has reached unbearable levels for most Lankans, has time and again through various tax and duty interventions made feeble attempts to reduce prices of essentials. The duty cut on brown sugar, intended to reduce its price by Rs. 4.50 a kilo, is one of these. Although there was a time when brown sugar was cheaper than white, most Lankans prefer the latter despite a claim that the less refined brown sugar is sweeter. The major reason for this is that there is no price advantage any longer with white sugar, in fact, cheaper in recent times. Naturally that makes it the consumer`s choice given today`s prices of almost everything making every rupee counts for most people. Sugar consumption figures clearly establish that white sugar sold at between Rs. 62 to Rs. 65 a kilo, depending on whether it`s `loose` or packeted, is the majority`s choice. No wonder, because brown sugar is being marketed at Rs. 70 a kilo.
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Humanity, what crimes are committed in thy name!
Saturday, 8 July 2006 - 4:06 AM SL Time
The Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), a well known LTTE front, has been fined Rs. 28 million for importing two luxury vehicles on the false pretext that they were ten-seater petrol vans meant for humanitarian work.
The bogus claims in question point to how NGOs are abusing the concessions they have been given for carrying out humanitarian work in the tsunami hit areas. It is believed that the two vehicles have been imported for the use of the LTTE in the Wanni. The TRO is not alone in the game. Most NGOs are having a field day at the expense of the tsunami victims. The worst ever catastrophe the country has suffered has turned out to be Golconda for a large number of swindlers and conmen in the garb of Good Samaritan. Some NGO activists thriving on human misery, have the audacity to call the tsunami waves rattaran jalakande (Waves of gold)! There are, no doubt, good men and women who, driven by altruism, are rendering a selfless service to the tsunami victims and other hapless people and we raise our editorial hat to them! They need all assistance from the state to carry out their good work. But, by and large the distribution of tsunami relief has become a big racket.
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| Security
Security Forum
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LTTE`s NTTE
Monday, 10 July 2006 - 5:06 AM SL Time
NDIA: The LTTE has launched a satellite TV channel beaming to Europe, becoming the first terrorist outfit to operate a television station.
The National Television of Tamil Eelam (NTTE) began beaming 15 minutes of news every day from March 26, from an undisclosed Tiger-controlled area in the Wanni.
The NTTE news cannot be viewed in Asia, but Paris-based Tamil Television Network (TTN) relays to audiences across Europe at 1800 GMT. The channel is also expected expand its outreach to places like Tamil Nadu.
The LTTE operated a television station when it controlled parts of Jaffna, during the mid-1980s. But its reach was minimal.
Tigers control or operate websites, newspapers, magazines and radio stations in countries with a substantial Tamil population.
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CID behind LTTE kingpin, Army insider - Army headquarters blast
Monday, 10 July 2006 - 5:01 AM SL Time
With the revelation of the identity of the LTTE female suicide bomber responsible for the Army Headquarters blast, the CID is now on the trail of the LTTE kingpin behind the suicide mission and an army `insider` who helped the bomber to enter the premises.
According to latest CID investigations, the suicide bomber who had resided with a couple in a rented house in Weliweriya left for Colombo on April 25 morning by train from Gampaha. She arrived at Fort Railway Station in the morning and met the LTTE kingpin of the mission who had taken her to a hideout in Wellawatta where she was assisted to wear the suicide bomb kit.
Manjuladevi well prepared for the mission had left Wellawatta within couple of hours and arrived at Slave Island shortly after 11.00am. There she had waited near theHoliday Inn, in the vicinity of the Army HQ for sometime till the final arrangements were in place.
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LTTE claims capture of Karuna cadre with mine
Monday, 10 July 2006 - 4:54 AM SL Time
The LTTEclaims that it has captured a Karuna cadre with a claymore mine in an area under its control.
He is believed to have been on a mission to kill a senior LTTEleader.
The LTTE says it has identified the suspect as Jeya, sent by Riyaseelan alias Bandara.
Jeya, the LTTE claims, has been operating in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Army.
The Army denies involvement with any such person.
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Business / Economy News
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Vancouver City to improve Kataragama town by 2007
Monday, 10 July 2006 - 5:05 AM SL Time
'Our aim is to make Kataragama a beautiful town, sharing our expertise in Vancouver City, Washington.
To execute this programme we expect your suggestions dealing with solid waste management, traffic management and population management of the Kataragama town,' said Mr. Pat McDonnell, City Manager of Vancouver city, Washington, addressing representatives of government and private institutions of Kataragama area Saturday at a meeting held at Kirivehera, to bring 35 local government institutions including Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha and Anuradhapura Urban Council under the programme of `Transparent Accountable Local Governments (TALG).
Transport Manager Ahmad Ruyount and Solid Waste Management Manager Rich Mecongly of Vancouver city, Uva Provincial Councillor Mr. Ananda Kumarasiri, Chairman of the Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha Mr. Ashoka Wickramasinghe, Asia Foundation`s Programme officers of the Southern Province, Mr. A.G.G.N. Kumara and Dhammika Mahendra were launching this programme funded by Asian Foundation under the instructions of its Sri Lanka representatives, Alix Yule and Ron Bargman.
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SL to call for bids for oil exploration. 2 slots fo India and China
Monday, 10 July 2006 - 4:55 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka will call for international bids for offshore oil exploration after reserving two out of six blocks for India and China, the Petroleum Ministry said today.
The Sri Lankan government had already decided to give India one block during then Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Ram Naik`s visit to the island nation in May 2003. Brushing aside reports by the state-run `Daily News` that the country had decided to permit India and China to explore oil along the island`s sea belt, ministry officials said, the decision in fact was to call for international bids for the remaining blocks.
The bidding process will be opened later this year, and the government hoped to award tenders by early next year, they said. Sri Lanka has stepped up oil exploration efforts after recent satellite and seismic surveys indicated oil deposits off the country`s western coast.
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Lalith Kotelawela slams bank rating criteria in Seylan`s annual report
Sunday, 9 July 2006 - 5:03 AM SL Time
Seylan Bank Chairman Lalith Kotelawala has bitterly complained that his bank, despite all its efforts on behalf of the poor, ``we are constantly shunned and viewed as villains.``
Kotelawala has made this comment in the chairman`s statement of the bank`s annual report for the year ended December 31, 2005.
`I feel this is wrong because it is entrepreneurs like us who help grow the economy and to have had this much success, we must be having something more that we can contribute within the overall picture of development,`` he said.
Kotelawala complained that their way of thinking `did not fall into the accepted norms for a bank as designated by the Central Bank.``
`This I find ridiculous as the labeling and boxing of banks and financial institutions does not aid growth, but instead causes untold misery and hardship to the poor and destitute who are the very segment of society we should aim to improve, because they are the ones that will develop the rural economy and thus, the overall macro economy,`` he said.
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| Sports News
Sports Forum
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Italy beat France 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out to win the World Cup after an absorbing 1-1 draw in Berlin.
Monday, 10 July 2006 - 4:50 AM SL Time
Fabio Grosso scored the winning goal after France`s David Trezeguet missed.
Playing his last game before retiring, Zinedine Zidane`s career ended in disgrace after he was sent off for crazily headbutting Marco Materazzi.
Zidane had put France ahead early on with a coolly-taken chipped penalty, before Materazzi levelled with a header from an Andrea Pirlo corner.
The result caps an incredible period for Italian football, with the domestic game embroiled in a corruption scandal similar to 1982 when they last won the World Cup.
They have now won the competition four times, one fewer than Brazil, and it was the first time they managed to win a World Cup match on penalties after three failed attempts.
But France legend Zidane may forever be haunted by the moment of madness which cost him a second World Cup title.
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Sri Lanka to host 2011 World Cup semi-final
Sunday, 9 July 2006 - 5:01 AM SL Time
India will host the finals of the 2011 World Cup while Bangladesh will host the opening ceremony. This was decided in London following a meeting between the respective boards. In April, the ICC awarded the hosting rights to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Abbas Zaidi, the Pakistan Cricket Board director, confirmed the news and added that Pakistan and Sri Lanka will host the semi-finals. He stated that the purpose was to spread out the major events in the tournament to all four regions. India is due to host 22 matches, with Pakistan holding 16, Sri Lanka nine and Bangladesh six.
`We want to spread this World Cup as much as we can throughout south Asia. Sri Lanka is an important country cricket-wise and it is only right they get a semi-final,` Zaidi told Cricinfo. `We didn`t want to push our weight and try and get both semi-finals or the final because we truly believed that as the World Cup is being held in four countries across the region, each country should benefit, including Bangladesh who get the opening match and ceremony.`
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Delmege `A` beat Sampath Bank in close tussle
Saturday, 8 July 2006 - 4:11 AM SL Time
Delmege Group `A` overcame Sampath Bank 86-83 in a closely contested Ram Ratnavale Memorial Trophy Basketball Tournament `A` Division clash at Otters court, on Wednesday evening. The tournament is being conducted by the Mercantile Services Basketball Association.
The winners led 47-31 at lemons.
Prageeth Pushpakumara (31), Roshan Gunasekera (16) and Diluk Himantha (10) bolstered Delmege`s points tally while Heshan Premachandra (21), Tissa Chathuranga (23) and Mitila Abeysekera (10) scored for the bankers.
DFCC beat Delmege `B`
In a `B` Division fixture, DFCC Bank came from behind to beat Delmege `B` 93-83.
Chaminda De Alwis (20), Rasika Prabath (22) and Duminda de Silva (15) did well to lead DFCC to victory after they conceded a six point lead (40-46) to their opponents at the breather.
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