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Maavilaru sluice gates opened by LTTE, civil representatives
Tuesday, 8 August 2006 - 9:25 PM SL Time
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) together with civilian representatives in Maavilaru Tuesday evening around 5:00 p.m. opened the sluice gates, said S. Elilan, Trincomalee District Political Head of the Tigers. On Sunday, Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Major General Ulf Henricsson and Trincomalee Head of SLMM came under artillery fire when they went to Maavilaru with Mr. S. Elilan, to open the sluice gates on humanitarian grounds according to the Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim`s request.
Trincomalee District Political Head of the Tigers, S. Elilan, said that `the LTTE, as agreed with the Norwegian facilitators, opened the sluice gate as a good-will gesture, amid heavy artillery firing by the Sri Lankan forces that were unable to reach the Maavilaru site.`
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How the two sides` military forces stack up.
Tuesday, 8 August 2006 - 1:29 PM SL Time
Both sides in Sri Lanka`s civil war are preparing for what is likely to be a bloody and prolonged resumption of the conflict.
In operations now under way, the Sri Lankan army is having to fight its way across well-fortified and heavily mined terrain. Many informed observers believe that the military remains incapable of totally defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), one of the world`s most ruthless and capable insurgent organizations.
This is how the two sides` military forces stack up.
Government forces
The Sri Lankan government forces have made considerable
improvements in organization, maintenance and both the quality and quantity of weapons in recent years.
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Sri Lanka calls LTTE to peace table - A day after peace broker Norway began decisive efforts to find a breakthrough
Tuesday, 8 August 2006 - 12:36 PM SL Time
Sri Lanka today asked LTTE rebels to return to the peace talks and expressed its commitment to find a negotiated settlement to all issues even as fighting between Tamil tigers and government forces escalated in the country`s north-east region.
A day after peace broker Norway began decisive efforts to find a breakthrough, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said his country was committed to honour the ceasefire despite numerous attacks against government forces by the rebels.
`We still believe that we must get back to the table. We feel LTTE is also feeling the same because of international pressure,` he told reporters after a meeting with senior CPI leaders A B Bardhan and D Raja at the party headquarters here.
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Politics
Politics Forum
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First Meeting of the SARRC Minister`s in Colombo
Wednesday, 9 August 2006 - 7:00 AM SL Time
'Has the recent economic growth really been pro-poor' It is the fundamental question in the region,' said Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayake addressing the first meeting of the SAARC Ministers on Poverty Alleviation held today in Colombo.
He said that the future development of our countries would certainly depend on how we tackle this major problem. The present government of Sri Lanka has realized the importance of addressing this major problem as the poor could constitute huge and potential resources, provided their basic needs are met, and then they can be mobilised to speed up economic growth.
Prime Minister further explained that some would argue that poverty is the lack of access to basic needs. Some would say it is in inability to satisfy minimum needs, and still others would point out that it is a failure to meet basic human entitlements. Thus in a nutshell poverty can be defined as deprivation.
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US to work for ending violence in Lanka
Wednesday, 9 August 2006 - 3:03 AM SL Time
The United States has announced to join hands with the international community to end violence in Sri Lanka following the massacre of at least 15 aid workers on Monday.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters here on Monday that the US will do everything it can to move Sri Lanka toward a lasting peace.
Mr McCormack said ``It`s a terrible situation. And we`re quite disturbed by the descent into violence and are going to do everything that we can, working with the other members of the international community that have been deeply involved in trying to help the Sri Lankan government bring peace to that troubled island``.
He added ``So it is certainly a disturbing development and we`re going to do what we can to try to bring at least a return to an end to the violence and then ultimately go down the road of any negotiations that would bring a permanent end to the violence. ``Fifteen aid workers, all ethnic Tamils were found shot execution-style in their offices in the eastern town of Muttur. They were involved in providing assistance to victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
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15 Tamil aid workers executed in Mutur
Tuesday, 8 August 2006 - 3:39 AM SL Time
As shock waves spread over the execution style assassination of 15 aid workers in Mutur the government yesterday assured it would launch an independent and transparent inquiry into the killings and bring the perpetrators to book 'who ever they may be.'
Action Against Hunger Mission Chief Erik Forte told the Daily Mirror the bodies of 15 of his employees were found shot dead in Mutur on Sunday.
The aid workers were all Tamils and included 11 males and 4 females who were in Mutur to provide humanitarian assistance to the families displaced by the intense fighting between the government forces and the LTTE in the area last week.
Disaster Management and Human rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, told a news conference in Colombo yesterday that the assassination was a serious incident and would be dealt with according to the law.
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Editorial News
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Muttur cries out for help!
Wednesday, 9 August 2006 - 6:53 AM SL Time
No sooner had the dust settled on the battlefield, that Muttur was turned into the other day, than the political vultures of all hues appeared on the scene. They are engaged in a scramble for political mileage to the neglect of the crying needs of the victims, who have lost almost everything in life.
It was their second tsunami. We hear heart rending stories and agonising cries of the displaced. Over 35,000 people, including 10,000-15,000 children have been displaced. Thousands of them have run for shelter to far away places and are languishing in welfare centres. The problem is becoming unwieldy by the day.
It is unfortunate that political leaders are pulling in different directions, without making a collective effort to help the victims. We are being treated to empty rhetoric from political platforms. This is not the time for political postmortems. The usual blame game, which has assumed the proportions of a national pastime, can wait until action is initiated to rebuild the lives of the Muttur people.
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An encouraging deviation
Monday, 7 August 2006 - 7:46 AM SL Time
The Saturday night conference that the government had with the media representatives could be welcomed as a positive move to keep the people informed of what goes on in the country today. This is of special importance in view of the turbulent events taking place in the Eastern region. It was indeed an encouraging deviation from the past practice of the former president having such an exercise, like a tête-à-tête, with one or two media men well known for their sycophancy and unsullied loyalty to the leader and to the government. The media men were depended upon to pose questions that the leader revelled in answering. It may be recalled that some questions appeared to have been pre-arranged to enable the leader to castigate the political opponents mercilessly.
The present conference in which the president was assisted by some of the cabinet ministers served, to a great extent, to convey to the people the government`s present policies and attitudes regarding a number of controversial issues. Many may not be impressed or convinced of the views expressed by the president or the ministers. Many, no doubt, expected the media representatives to pose further probing questions, for instance, on the practicability of continuing the present tight rope walking on war and peace. The government while commendably vowing its continued commitment to peace and negotiations justifies its resort to militarism to achieve its humanitarian objectives.
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The vicious circle
Sunday, 6 August 2006 - 5:19 AM SL Time
Whose shells did what is of little consequence to innocent civilians who had to pay the price. The brutal fact is that at least twenty ordinary folk, including children, had their lives snuffed out while they tried to find shelter from the armor exploding around them. Dozens of others suffered injury. Thousands were forced to abandon their homes and flee the fighting. Some were killed in the crossfire even as they fled. Predictably, accusing fingers have been pointed in either direction in a propaganda blitz that offers little material for discerning judgment. Who then can be blamed for regarding the protagonists in the current war, the LTTE and government forces, of being no better than the Israelis or Hezbollah'
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| Security
Security Forum
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ICRC waits security clearance
Wednesday, 9 August 2006 - 6:50 AM SL Time
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is awaiting the green light from the Government forces to visit to the war hit Muttur in the Trincomalee district.
ICRC Information Officer Sukumar Rockwood told The Island yesterday, `We didn`t get the assurance for our safety. As soon as we get the greenlight we will visit the scene.`
Rockwood also said that going by media reports there are 18,000 families in Muttur and they were in the process of collecting the required household packs.
Meanwhile, he said that they don`t segregate people.
This he made in response to a statement by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) National Organiser K.A. Baiz.
Baiz on Monday told The Island that the ICRC officials focused their attention only on the Tamil community especially with regard to women and children, and not to the majority Muslims.
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Sivadasan out of danger
Wednesday, 9 August 2006 - 6:49 AM SL Time
The Colombo National Hospital was a hive of activity yesterday providing emergency treatment to those injured in the bomb explosion in Milagiriya.
Accident Service Director Dr. Anil Jayasinghe said eight persons were treated at the hospital while three of them were sent home after treatment.
Hospital sources said the injured S. Sivadasan was out of danger.
A woman identified as Sasida a resident of Kirulapone who was said to have been travelling in the van and W.A.V. Fernando were being treated in hospital.
Shanika Kavindi Hettiarachchi a fifteen year old student of St. Paul`s Milagiriya and her mother Ranjani Kalahena were brought to hospital having sustained ear damage and were discharged after treatment.
Eyewitness I. Sumithrarachchi said he was only a couple of yards away from the blast.
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Woman caught with 440 packets of heroin
Wednesday, 9 August 2006 - 6:44 AM SL Time
A 37 year old woman from Orugodawatte, Wellampitiya was nabbed by Kandy Division Vice Branch with 440 packets of heroin, on Monday (07).
The value of the drug recovered from the woman is estimated at Rs. 200,000.
Being questioned the woman confessed that she brought the drugs to a client at Mahaiyawa, Kandy.
The suspect was taken into custody at a point close to the Kandy police headquarters at Asgiriya.
The operation was conducted by a team of police personnel including WPS, Indrani (9633), WPC Dhammika (2932), PS Gamini (24852), PS Liyanage (46830) directed by CI Nilantha Bandara, OIC, Kandy Division vice Branch. The suspect will be produced in court.
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Business / Economy News
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Rs. 50,000 fine on mosquito breeders
Wednesday, 9 August 2006 - 6:55 AM SL Time
A new law will be introduced shortly to fine people up to Rs. 50,000 for ignoring the threats posed by mosquito breeding, Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.
Addressing heads and members of the local Government bodies in the Puttalam and Kurunegala Districts on the challenge of the health sector at a workshop in Kurunegala, the Minister said the Ministry had earlier taken steps to bring an enactment to impose a fine of Rs. 25,000 against house owners and those who are in-charge of public property who do not maintain the environment in a clean and healthy manner and do not control mosquito breeding.
`Health authorities have conducted awareness programmes on the dengue menace and its impact on people. However, people and entrepreneurs in major cities seem to not have given due consideration to this menace. Action will be taken to bring a new law with an increased fine upto Rs. 50,000 to fine people,` de Silva said.
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Construction of new Arugam Bay bridge by US begins
Wednesday, 9 August 2006 - 6:43 AM SL Time
The U.S. agency for International Development (USAID) officially commenced work on a state-of-the-art bridge over Arugam Bay. The new bridge will replace the original bridge that was devastated in the tsunami and is the single largest infrastructure project in USAID`s Sri Lanka Tsunami Reconstruction Program (SLTRP).
Designed to last 100 years, the two spans totalling 185 meters will connect the communities of Pottuvil, Arugam Bay and Panama to enhance economic Expansion of the fishing, agriculture and tourist industries. Construction of 900 meters of asphalt paved access roads, and improvements to water supply systems will complement the improved access the new bridge will foster tourism for scenic Arugam Bay. The value of the project is approximately $10.6 million.
The ground breaking ceremony included Chairman of the Road Development Authority, M. B. S. Fernando, USAID Director Dr. Carol Becker, and U.S. embassy Charge d` Affairs James More in his first official function since arriving in Sri Lanka. Several hundred community members participated in the event.
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Several global firms want to run taxis in Sri Lanka
Tuesday, 8 August 2006 - 3:40 AM SL Time
Several international firms are among those who have expressed interest to operate world class taxi service in Sri Lanka, bidding for which will take place in transparent manner on August 14.
Sources said that nearly 10 parties have expressed interest including those operating similar taxi services in the Middle East, Malaysia and Singapore.
The response has been due to direct marketing of the exercise by the Board of Investment (BOI), the managers to the transaction NDB Investment Bank and stock brokers.
The Government has invited Expressions of Interest and will award licences to operate 900 modern taxis in the country.
The licences will be sold through a bidding process on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) via a licensed stockbroker(s).
As per the initiative to elevate the country`s taxi service to international standards for the benefit of passengers as well as lift Sri Lanka`s profile, the BOI intends to sell nine Licences. The decision to auction the licences via a bidding process at the CSE has been commended since it would be transparent and competitive.
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Brilliant Aravinda Premadasa clinches President`s Trophy
Wednesday, 9 August 2006 - 6:52 AM SL Time
Aravinda Premadasa led from start to finish to prove his superiority and clinch the President`s Trophy for the best driver at the brilliantly organized inaugural Southern Supercross on a brand new track at Tissamaharam on Sunday.
The power of his Mitsubishi Evo VIII was simply too much and his driving skill was too hard to handle for the rest of the star-studded field as Premadasa made the maximum use of his pole position to decimate the opposition in both the Super car event for Cars upto 3500 cc and also the blue-riband event ' the Grand Prix event for the fastest 20 cars. He also received a Rs. 50,000 cash award for his exploits.
Sri Lanka`s undisputed Motocross king Gayan Sandaruwan claimed the two big events, the Racing event up to 250 cc event and also the Grand Prix event for the President`s Trophy with consummate ease despite being challenged by the best of the rest of country`s talent.
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Jayasuriya provides blazing start to record run chase
Tuesday, 8 August 2006 - 2:07 AM SL Time
After Muttiah Muralitharan finished with seven South African wickets to restrict them for 311 in their second innings, Sanath Jaysauriya hit a sensational 73 giving Sri Lanka`s run chase a blazing start on the fourth day of the second Test Match at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo yesterday.
The hosts lost Jayasuriya before tea and at the break were 163 for thee with Mahela Jayawardene looking good on 25 and T.M. Dilshan on 17.
Muralitharan picked up the three wickets to fall in the morning and ended with seven for 97, 56th time he has taken five wickets or more in an innings. The off-spinner also took a five wicket haul in the first innings and ended the match with 12 wickets, 18th time he has taken a match bag of ten wickets or more.
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Murali and Gibbs set Test for blockbuster finish
Monday, 7 August 2006 - 7:45 AM SL Time
Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitheran threw open the second and final cricket Test with what must be his hardest earned four-wicket haul as the third day`s play ended poised for a blockbuster finish with South Africa placed at 257 for 7, a lead of 297 at the Sara Stadium in Colombo yesterday.
On a pitch that was still favouring batsmen Sri Lanka had only Muralitheran to deliver the body blows and the veteran of 108 tests took everything upon his shoulders as he bowled unchanged for an entire session at one stage. In the process he picked up his 100 scalp against the African nation.
That South Africa were slowed down from a threatening 106 for 1 to 257 for 7 centred largely around Muralitheran`s presence while two spectacular run-outs and a breathtaking catch by an exuberant Sanath Jayasuriya at short fine-leg diving forward to scoop up the day`s top scorer Hershcelle Gibbs made certain the tourists were given tight breathing space.
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