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Sri Lankan Government will not disarm Karuna
Friday, 14 July 2006 - 5:04 AM SL Time
The Sri Lankan Government has categorically declared that it will not attempt to disarm LTTE renegade leader Karuna and his cadres, because it does not want to get entangled in another war, the newly launched `Sunday Standard` said in its lead report.
`Defence Spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella made the declaration amidst continuous LTTE pressure demanding the Government to disarm Karuna cadres, if they are to resume peace negotiations, the report said.
If the LTTE expects us to hunt down the Karuna faction, that`s not possible at this stage simply because we will then have two wars to fight in the country, one with the LTTE the other with Karuna, Minister Rambukwella told the Sunday Standard.
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President orders cricket elections to be put off
Thursday, 13 July 2006 - 9:46 PM SL Time
Sri Lanka`s President Mahinda Rajapakse has ordered that elections to the country`s cricket body be cancelled and asked former players to run the game, the sports minister said.
Rajapakse intervened to end bitter infighting in Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) after a meeting with 11 former cricketers, including World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, at his residence on Wednesday.
Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga Thursday told AFP the president had asked him to cancel the SLC elections after the cricketers complained that severe malpractices leading to Saturday`s vote were ruining the nation`s most popular sport.
`The cricketers had a discussion with the president and he advised them to come up with an alternative to the elections,` Kumaratunga said.
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Sri Lanka govt seeks LTTE`s proposal on devolution
Thursday, 13 July 2006 - 8:47 PM SL Time
Spokesperson for National Security Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says the LTTE has been given the opportunity to present its proposals to the All Party Conference to find a lasting solution to Sri Lanka`s northeastern conflict.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has pointed out the importance of a proposal for the devolution of power within a framework that is unique to the country.
TULF leader V. Anandasangaree has already presented a proposal of an Indian nature for the devolution of power.
The council of experts appointed to look into the submitted proposals will meet for the first time today under the leadership of the President.
'Now it`s up to the LTTE to present their own proposal to the government, despite all unrealistic proposals they have presented in the past,' Minister Rambukwella said.
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Government wrong in helping terrorists: JHU
Friday, 14 July 2006 - 5:27 AM SL Time
The Jathika Hela Urumaya in a press statement yesterday condemned the granting of facilities to Daya Master of the LTTE to obtain medical attention in Colombo.
The statement says that it is a fact that Sinhala Buddhists are well known for showing `Maitriya` to even their enemies, but some government media spokesmen are trying to portray this act also as a noble act. It is a fact that leaders of Sri Lanka as well as foreign heads in order to win the Tigers do humanitarian acts of this nature at any cost, the statement said.
It further said, 'What the government has done is to help terrorist Daya Master continue with his terrorist crimes. If those who are responsible for the Daya Master episode are not exposed the government should take responsibility for all future crimes committed by the Tigers.
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Lanka to refine oil for export
Friday, 14 July 2006 - 5:26 AM SL Time
The government has given the green light to a UAE company to set up an Oil refinery which will cater to the export market, Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said yesterday.
Addressing a news conference after the Cabinet meeting, Minister Yapa said the foreign company would pump in 1.5 billion US dollars to set up the refinery in Hambantota.Among the other decisions, the Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva to purchase pharmaceutical requirements of the Medical Supplies Division from the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) without following a bidding process.
A Committee comprising officials from the Health Ministry, the Medical Supplies Division and the SPMC will determine the prices of each product after taking into account the production costs and comparative market prices. This plan is likely to be implemented next year.
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JHU donates metal detectors to schools
Friday, 14 July 2006 - 5:15 AM SL Time
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) donated metal detectors to schools at a ceremony held recently at the Dharma Vijaya Foundation. It was presided over by JHU Leader Ven. Ellawela Medhananda Thera. The JHU decided to donate these instruments considering the present security situation, where the LTTE has threatened to attack schools.
Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero explained the circumstances which led the JHU coming forward to donate these instruments. He said the public cannot depend entirely on the government for the country`s security.
`While accepting that these instruments cannot prevent the terrorists from achieving their sadistic goals, they could be used to prevent outsiders trying to smuggle in dangerous explosives into schools through innocent children without their knowledge,` Rathana thera said. He added that leading schools in Colombo and the suburbs are under these threats.
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Editorial News
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Having a heart for the heartless
Friday, 14 July 2006 - 5:21 AM SL Time
LTTE spokesman Daya Master was rushed to Colombo on Wednesday, for treatment following a severe cardiac arrest, with the help of the security forces. The government was right in having positively responded to a request from the LTTE to escort him and facilitate his hospitalisation. In a civilised society, the sick must be looked after, irrespective of who or what they are. While seeking the government help to remove its spokesman, the LTTE, true to form, carried on its killing spree. Two policemen were killed in a mine blast in Jaffna.
How can the LTTE, which is not at least capable of looking after a senior cadre with a heart condition claim to run a de facto separate state' In a terrain devoid of basic healthcare facilities, what will be the situation of the ordinary civilians if war breaks out'
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Wiser counsel has prevailed
Thursday, 13 July 2006 - 4:53 AM SL Time
It is encouraging that wiser counsel had finally prevailed and that the UNP has decided to participate in the future deliberations of the All-Party Conference. Their attendance, no doubt, would be of assistance to the party in power, as it presently holds the responsibility to carry forward the process of bringing peace to this land. But, over and above, this cooperation of the main opposition party, is an essential requirement for the resolution of the present conflict. And they are duty-bound to offer it for the sake of the country and the people that have endured setbacks and much suffering, as a result of this unresolved national issue.
Without the participation of the UNP, these exercises would be akin to attempts at staging Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. And President Mahinda Rajapaksa`s reported decision to suspend its unethical foray into the ranks of the party, thus clearing for the UNP, the path to the conference table, was indeed timely. However, this gesture of mere participation and the issue of statements about their position, vis-à-vis the peace process, is not sufficient. They have to enthusiastically and actively engage themselves in a determined effort to free this country of the burden of this problem. They should similarly proceed to revise their decision on the non participation in the All-Party Advisory Committee deliberations.
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Musings on defections
Wednesday, 12 July 2006 - 4:33 AM SL Time
Elephants, as one of our readers pointed out on the Opinion page the other day, cannot jump as they are not capable of having all four legs in the air simultaneously. But the political jumbos don`t seem to have any such problem. They are jumping like frogs across the well of the House to the government benches and landing as ministers or deputy ministers. The jumbo jumps have had the UNP leader jumping up and down, and are standing in the way of a promised cooperation between the UNP and the government.
President Mahinda Rajapakse, according to a report in this newspaper today, has declared a moratorium on accommodating defectors, perhaps in a bid to secure the UNP`s support for his peace project. The rampant defections have also caused concern to the JVP, as an increase in the ruling party`s numbers erodes its bargaining power and ability to remote control the government. On the other hand, the JVP has promised the people a slim cabinet and the burgeoning cabinet which is becoming still more unwieldy due to defectors being given portfolios is certainly an immense embarrassment to it as an ally of the government.
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| Security
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Sri Lankan Refugee Accused of Several Crimes Will Likely Be Deported
Friday, 14 July 2006 - 5:31 AM SL Time
37 year old refugee from Sri Lanka, Niranjan Claude Fabian, who has been convicted in Canada for numerous crimes and accused of maintaining ties with the Tamil Tiger rebels, will likely be deported back home.
For almost eight years, Fabian, who came to Canada in 1990, has challenged the deportation decision, claiming that he would be tortured and maybe even killed if he returns to Sri Lanka. He argued that he faces a deadly risk both from the Sri Lankan government, as well as the Tamil Tigers, even though he denied any involvement with the rebel organization which has been fighting for independence for more than two decades now. On the other hand, Fabian admitted that he indeed had a contribution to several crimes performed by a Toronto gang.
The man, who has used all his options for legal appeals, sent a 34-page letter to the 'Toronto Star' newspaper, in which he is thanking the Canadian government for the fact that it accepted him, as well as other Tamil Tiger refugees, but questions if he was submitted to a fair trial or not. In a telephone interview from a Lindsay jail, where he had been detained since 2001, he stated: 'If anything happens, my blood will be on the Canadian public`s hands.I do not deserve this. I paid for whatever things that I did and I apologized to the court ... the past is passed. I cannot change my past'.
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Family killed by speeding bus
Friday, 14 July 2006 - 5:13 AM SL Time
A family of three, including a new born infant, was killed on the spot when the motorcycle they were riding was run over by a speeding Colombo bound private bus, at Hikgahahena in Kuruwita last morning.
The deceased were identified Samankumara Herath (28), a guard attached to the Ratnapura Excise Office, his wife Shalika Nirishini and their baby.
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Principal remanded over sex abuse
Thursday, 13 July 2006 - 4:43 AM SL Time
Police arrested the principal of an English Private School, at Jayanthipura in Hingurakgoda, for committing sexual assault twice, in his office room, on a 9-year-old male student, recently.
The sister of the victim, had seen the incident from an adjoining room and promptly informed the parents who made a complaint to police.
The suspect was produced before the Polonnaruwa Additional Magistrate, Chandani Meegoda and was ordered to be remanded till July 19.
Further investigations are being conducted on the advice of IP Hingurakgoda police C. D. Madanayake
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Business / Economy News
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Sri Lanka signs UN electronic contracting
Thursday, 13 July 2006 - 4:47 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka signed the UN Convention on the use of Electronic Communication in International Contracts known as `Electronic Contracting Convention` at the special event held at the UN Headquarters on July 6, 2006, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
It said `The Convention enhances legal certainty and commercial predictability in international contracts transacted through electronic communications. It sets the criteria to establish equivalence between electronic communication and paper documents and between electronic authentication methods and handwritten signatures. In addition, the Convention contains rules on how to locate a party to an electronic transaction, to determine time and place of dispatch and receipt of electronic communication.
The Convention which was prepared by the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) was adopted in the UN General Assembly in November 2005.
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India to supply air defense system for Sri Lanka
Thursday, 13 July 2006 - 1:11 AM SL Time
India is to supply an air defense system for Sri Lanka shortly, a Defense Ministry source says.
`The equipment is now on its way to Colombo,` a high-ranking ministry official said.
The news comes hot on the heels of a visit by Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran to Sri Lanka, bearing messages from New Delhi that India was fully backing the Rajapaksa administration`s efforts to bring peace, together with offers of support in various areas.
In the wake of mounting threats by the LTTE to launch aerial attacks on key government installations, the government of India assured Colombo of its commitment to provide air defense radars to combat the threat.
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Kotala Himbutu export banned
Wednesday, 12 July 2006 - 4:31 AM SL Time
The government has banned all Kotala Himbutu related exports. The Fauna and Flora (prohibition of export) Regulations No. 01 of 2006, published in Gazette extraordinary no. 1449/16 of 15 .06 .2006, under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, bans the export of raw materials, plants, dried leaves and value added medicines of Kotala Himbutu.
Kotala Himbutu is a traditional herbal medicine for diabetes. Kotala Himbutu plants have been illegally exported to Japan for years. The Japanese companies have obtained a number of patent licences for Kotala Himbutu related medicines.
The Custom Department detected the first illegal Kotala Himbutu consignment in 1998. Then Conservator General of Forests, N. Bandarathilake issued an order to stop the Kotala Himbutu exports. But, it was not implemented properly and some Kotala Himbutu consignments have been exported illegally. The last Kotala Himbutu consignment of ten tonnes had been exported last year.
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51st Trinity : Thomian rugby encounter
Friday, 14 July 2006 - 5:18 AM SL Time
The 51st annual Trinity College versus S. Thomas` College rugby encounter for the De Saram Challenge Shield will be played July 15 (Saturday), at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy commencing 4.30 p.m.
The junior age group matches of U-12, 14, 16 and 18 will begin at 2.00 p.m.
Tickets will be available at the gate.
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SA skipper Smith misses Sri Lanka
Thursday, 13 July 2006 - 4:49 AM SL Time
South Africa captain Graeme Smith is out of the tour of Sri Lanka after tearing ligaments in his ankle.
Smith, 25, slipped while running on Saturday and is yet to discover how long he will be sidelined for.
With Jaques Kallis also missing the series, Ashwell Prince will lead the Proteas in the two Test matches, the first of which starts on 27 July.
Jacques Rudolph, who had a successful `A` tour of Sri Lanka last year, is the replacement batsman for Smith.
National convenor of selectors, Haroon Lorgat, said: `Graeme will undergo a further stress X-ray on Tuesday to determine the full extent of his injury and the treatment required.
`This is surely not an ideal way to start our season, but if we are to experience any misfortune during this year, I would rather have it now than later.`
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Sri Lanka to host Vietnam boxers
Wednesday, 12 July 2006 - 4:37 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka and Vietnam will compete at an international boxing meet scheduled to be held on July 22 at the Sugathadasa stadium.
The meet is organised by the Amateur Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (ABASL) for the MAS Holdings Cup as a final preparation for the Sri Lanka boxing team at the South Asian Games (SAG) to be held in Sri Lanka from August 18.
The ABA president Dian Gomes told the Daily Mirror that they were hopeful of winning the MAS Holdings Cup.
Eight male and three women boxers will arrive in Sri Lanka from Vietnam on July 21 and the first meet will be held on July 22 at the Sugathadasa stadium for the MAS Holdings Cup and the second meet will be held in Pannala at the Slimeline boxing ring on July 24.
Last year the ABA also organised a boxing meet in Sri Lanka that was contested by Philippine fighters.
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