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Prabakaran doesn`t believe in political solutions - Karuna
Tuesday, 18 July 2006 - 9:25 AM SL Time
The Praba group is destroying our children. They are coaxed or abducted for forced recruitments and sent to the battlefield to be killed, said Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan better known under the nom de guerre Karuna Amman, T.M.V.P. leader in an interview with our Colombo correspondent Nilantha Ilangamuwa. Following is the full text of the interview.
1. We all know about you as a military commander. Could you tell us about your family, school days and other interests'
KARUNA: My schooldays are very interesting. The cruel Black July revolt took place in 1983 when I was doing my Advance Level. The Tamil people who were affected and lost their belongings in this revolt took refuge in our school too. My friends and I helped them as much as possible and collected funds for them to meet their needs. The cruelties caused to our people pushed me to join the struggle. Well about my interests; I am interested in sports.
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Govt. tries novel tactics
Tuesday, 18 July 2006 - 9:05 AM SL Time
The government will today move for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee this week to amend the 17th Amendment to the Constitution despite the main Opposition UNP threatening to boycott it.
The Government had earlier shelved the select committee proposal made at a party leaders` meeting last month after the UNP described it as a delaying tactic to keep the constitutional Council paralyzed and continue the politicization of the independent commissions. House Leader and Senior Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told the Daily Mirror yesterday the government would bring the this proposal to parliament today.
'We will move for the appointment of the Select Committee. We are asking the UNP to support it,' he said.
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London raid nets 29 suspects
Monday, 17 July 2006 - 4:03 AM SL Time
The UK Metropolitan Police arrested 29 persons from the Sri Lankan Tamil community in a lightning operation carried out in six London Boroughs early this month.
The criminal elements were detained as a result of a day long operation codenamed `Enver 2` on July 6 in Brent, Croydon, Harrow, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest Boroughs.
Metropolitan Police said the operation, which followed the EU-wide ban on the LTTE, was designed to stop and disrupt criminal activity perpetrated by some members of the Sri Lankan Tamil community.
The operation consisted of a series of raids based on intelligence gathered leading to arrests for offences such as theft, possession of offensive weapons, money laundering and drug peddling.
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Politics
Politics Forum
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When Terror is Just Fine
Wednesday, 19 July 2006 - 4:50 AM SL Time
Following the assassination of Reinhard Heidrich by Czech partisans in 1942, Hitler`s government executed all the men in the village of Lidici, sent its women and children to concentration camps, and razed the village to the ground. A few weeks later, the barbarism was repeated on the village of Lezaky.
Lidici was far from being the worst atrocity of the war, but it rightly came to symbolize heartless oppression by occupiers, what we sometimes today call state terror.
I cannot think of another historical example which better parallels Israel`s savage behavior in Lebanon.
Two of its soldiers are kidnapped, and Israel quickly destroys much of the infrastructure of Lebanon, cuts the country off from the world, and kills, at this writing, two hundred civilians.
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100 houses for Kebithigollewa terrorist victims
Wednesday, 19 July 2006 - 4:48 AM SL Time
The Sri Lanka Vehicle Importers Association has come forward to build 100 houses for re-settling people rendered homeless by the recent terrorist attack in Kebithigollewa.
The association has also planned to provide 50 trucks for the use of security camp in the area, said Agrarian Services and Farmer Community Development Minister S. M. Chandrasena.
He said each house is estimated to cost around Rs. 250,000. President of Vehicle Importers` Union Missaka Naveen will arrange to import 40 four-wheel trucks from Japan shortly.
The proposed houses are meant for residents of Yakawewa, Halmillawetiya, Kanugahawewa, Konwewa and Vihara Halmillewa now housed in temporary camps in the area.
Chandrasena said the lands necessary for the housing scheme were identified recently when he toured the area accompanied by Missaka Naveen and Cement Corporation Chairman Lalindra Liyanage.
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UNP, JVP block 4 Finance Bills
Wednesday, 19 July 2006 - 4:37 AM SL Time
The government`s attempt to pass four important finance Bills came a cropper in Parliament yesterday due to opposition from the UNP and the JVP.
The government took up the debate on six finance Bills in the House seeking an expansion in the country`s banking activities. However, it had to back down on four of them - the Recovery of Loans by Banks (Amendment) Bill, the Banking (Amendment) Bill, the Non-performing Assets (Recovery) Bill and the Gaming (Special Provisions) Bill- as the UNP and the JVP opposed these legislations.
JVP parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa said his party could not reach consensus at the Finance Ministry Consultative Committee meeting on July 14, on these important Bills.
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Editorial News
Editorial Forum
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There are bigger fish to fry
Wednesday, 19 July 2006 - 4:29 AM SL Time
It was only the other day that we wrote about a former Defence Secretary carrying a basket of apples to a sick Tiger leader in a Colombo hospital during the UNF government. And yesterday, we revealed that LTTE spokesman Daya Master in Kilinochchi had travelled to Colombo and back in a luxury vehicle bought from a former PA parliamentarian and present provincial council minister. The police are investigating how the transaction had taken place.
The police have established that most of the luxury vehicles robbed in the South are smuggled into the North and sold to the LTTE for a song. The LTTE leaders appear to be enjoying life just like the politicians in this part of the country. Comfort appears to be the common denominator!
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The need for enthroning democratic values
Tuesday, 18 July 2006 - 9:14 AM SL Time
Addressing last week the inaugural meeting of political party representatives and constitutional and legal experts tasked with formulating a political framework for the resolution of the North-East conflict, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said, 'Any solution must not sacrifice the cherished democratic values and acceptance of the rule of law.' He added, 'Nor can we ignore the human rights standards sweeping through every corner of the globe.'
This sound basis the president set out for the formulation of the new political framework for the country is of great significance. Whatever the inadequacies and shortcomings in the practice of the ideals of democracy and whatever the periodic challenges and threats the endeavour to preserve them suffered, the people of this country can draw solace from the fact that the country has managed so far to maintain these ideals and the institutions established for the purpose. In certain respects such as holding of elections the country has had superabundance.
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Need for quickening advisory committee process
Monday, 17 July 2006 - 4:05 AM SL Time
The advisory committee set up to formulate a political framework for the resolution of the North-East conflict is planning to call for public views on the issue. This, no doubt, is a welcome move because the final formula that this committee is expected to produce should reflect the way in which the people of this country expect this problem to be solved.
However, there is reason for one to question whether any time- consuming consultations are essential in view of the prolonged discussions conducted on this problem. It is doubtful whether there has been any other issue that was discussed and debated so much in this country.
There have been many forums before which the issue came up for deliberation particularly during the last two decades when the problem assumed terrorist proportions and consequently internationalised. The issue came before several parliamentary select committees, all-party conferences, numerous other civil society organizations and, of course, before several government -LTTE confabulations here and abroad.
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| Security
Security Forum
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SLMM concerns over delay in release of NCPA Officer
Wednesday, 19 July 2006 - 4:46 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) expressed concern over the LTTE`s refusal to release National Child Protection Officer Bandujeewa Bopitigoda. SLMM spokesman T Omarsson said that the SLMM has asked the LTTE to release him `from the day he was detained`. He pointed out that the SLMM did not have a mandate to take any effective steps to implement its decisions.
The LTTE refused to release the NCPA Officer Bopitigoda and re-remanded him up to July 31 without even producing him before the `LTTE Courts`. The brother of Mr. Bopitigoda who traveled to Kilinochchi yesterday anticipating the NCPA officer`s release, returned empty handed as the LTTE re-remanded him for the 35th time in 10 months.
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Employed minor in house of ill-fame
Wednesday, 19 July 2006 - 4:26 AM SL Time
A woman, who was taken into custody for allegedly employing a minor for prostitution, was produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Kusala Sarojini Weeraratne who remanded the suspect till August 01.
In this case, the Police Women and Child Protection Bureau said that the suspect, Swarnalatha had allegedly employed a minor, who was under the suspects care, for prostitution. The suspect was later taken into custody by police and the minor had been kept in the custody of a children`s home.
Prosecution alleged that the suspect had visited the girl`s home when an alms giving was in progress and had taken back the minor with her. Later the suspect had allegedly employed the minor for prostitution.
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Murder over Kasippu barrel leads to gallows
Wednesday, 19 July 2006 - 4:24 AM SL Time
The Gampaha High Court Judge, S.M.S. Samarakoon, sentenced the first suspect to death, in the case where two brothers of the same family, were charged with a murder committed over a barrel of kasippu at Naranwala.
The judge gave his verdict after the Jury unanimously decided to hang the accused, W. A. Ravindra Wijelath.
The judge ordered the second accused W. A. Dinesh Wijelath (the younger brother), be discharged of all charges against him.
The Jury unanimously decided to hang the accused, W. A. Ravindra Wijelath. The suspect released was the second accused,
The judge ordered the accused Ravindra Wijelath, to be remanded at the Welikada Prison, until the President determines the date of execution.
When the court, before delivering the death sentence, asked the accused if he had anything to say, he replied that he was unaware of an incident of this nature. The Attorney General, had filed action against the two suspects for the murder of Sunil Wijesinghe of Naranwala in Weliveriya on or a day before May 23, 1994.
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Business / Economy News
Business Forum
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Two hundred samples of coconut oil for investigation
Wednesday, 19 July 2006 - 4:53 AM SL Time
The Chairman of Coconut Development Authority (CDA) D.J.U. Purasinghe, and the appointed committee to analyse the adulteration of coconut oil in the local market, met at CDA conference room Narahenpita last week.
The committee at this meeting decided to analyse 200 samples of coconut oil available in the open market within two months. The criteria of collection being on district basis as per the density of population in each district.
The collection of these samples was assigned to several organizations: namely, Colombo City Analyst, Consumer Affairs Authority and Ministry of Health and representatives of Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Coconut Development Authority (CDA), Coconut Research Institute (CRI) and Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI).
The main task of analysing these samples for adulteration in the laboratories was handed over to Coconut Development authority (CDA), Coconut Research Institute (CRI), Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) and City Analyst.
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Sri Lanka Telecom promises `Infinite Possibilities`
Wednesday, 19 July 2006 - 4:33 AM SL Time
Tomorrow`s world will be one in which a single intelligent IP based network will provide a rainbow of converged services through this single platform
SLT`s constantly growing network capacities, its state-of-the-art access technologies and its corporate vision present unlimited opportunities for entrepreneur, professional, farmer and other.
In these 10 years since privatisation, SLT has focussed on strengthening its internal processes, systems and human resource culture. `While not ignoring the `external` we have given priority to getting the `internal` dimensions in place in order to lay the foundation for our next phase of growth. In these 10 years we have faced many challenges. At the same time, it has been a huge learning experience for us. The time is now ripe to build on this learning,` a spokesman said.
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ICU from Pakistan to Akurana
Tuesday, 18 July 2006 - 9:21 AM SL Time
A fully equipped Intensive Care Unit, donated to the Zia Hospital, Akurana, by the Government of Pakistan, was declared open by the High Commissioner for Pakistan Bashir Wali Mohammed on Saturday (15).
The project is part of Government of Pakistan`s continuing effort to provide assistance to the people of Sri Lanka in the health, education and social sector projects. The present project, including the construction of necessary buildings for the ICU has cost 15 million rupees, the High Commission of Pakistan said yesterday (17).
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| Sports News
Sports Forum
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Sri Lanka`s preparation for World Cup begins
Wednesday, 19 July 2006 - 4:31 AM SL Time
Despite the recent setbacks in cricket administration in the country, Sri Lanka`s selection committee has their eyes on next year`s World Cup as selection chief Asantha de Mel announced on Monday a squad of 20 players, who his committee thinks will form the core of the side for cricket`s greatest showpiece. Traditionally, the selectors name a squad of 14 players ahead of a series, but the selectors named 20 players for the up coming Test and ODI triangular series involving South Africa and India and de Mel said that selections will be done from among the squad of 20.
`The World Cup is the focus and we got to plan ahead. You can get outplayed but you can`t certainly get outthought. We don`t want to be caught napping and we want to take the right combination to the Caribbean,` the former fast bowler said.
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Sri Lanka name 20-member pool ahead of World Cup
Tuesday, 18 July 2006 - 9:16 AM SL Time
Marvan Atapattu has been recalled into a 20-member Sri Lanka squad in preparation for the Test Series against South Africa to be played in Sri Lanka but he is unlikely to play any part in the two-test series and Mahela Jayawardena will captain the team.Fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekera and batsman Jehan Mubarak who toured England with the Sri Lanka squad recently have not been named in the squad.
But recalled into the squad is left arm spinner Rangana Herath.
The squad is expected to serve as the final pool ahead of the World Cup which takes place in the West Indies in March-April 2007.
'We think this will be the nucleus of players from which the final 14 will be selected for the World Cup,' Ashantha de Mel, the chairman of selectors, told journalists on Monday.
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Unbeaten Sri Lanka retain Golden Hope Championship
Monday, 17 July 2006 - 3:58 AM SL Time
Sri Lanka Under-17 cricketers completed their Malaysia quadrangular tournament unbeaten as they romped to a 4 wicket victory over Bangladesh to retain the Golden Hope International Under-17 Challenge Trophy in a repeat final played in Malaysia on Saturday. After bundling out Bangladesh for 121 runs, Sri Lanka reached the target with 18 overs to spare.
Skipper Sachith Pathirana and Umesh Karunaratne shared 5 wickets between them to bowl out Bangladesh for 121. Deciding to bat first after winning the toss, Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals and it took a brave unbeaten 50 by N. Mintu to help them go past the three figure mark before being bowled out with nine overs to spare.
Sri Lanka lost six wickets in the run chase.
Skipper Sachithra Pathirana was adjudged Man of the Match while Kusal Janith won the Player of the Series award.
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