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Sri Lanka CID enter house of Reuters photo journalist as telephone repairmen - FMM Monday, 17 December 2007 - 3:36 AM SL Time Colombo based media watchdog, the Free Media Movement, on Sunday said it was disturbed to learn that officers of Criminal Investigation Division (CID) had entered the house of senior Reuters photojournalist Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi at Sarojinee Watta, Ratmalana at 11am on 11th December and questioned his wife at length about his activities in the manner that they would interrogate a suspect of a serious crime. The episode was aimed at instilling fear and anxiety in the mind of not just Mr. Lokuhapuarachchi but all journalists who investigate and report on the conflict in Sri Lanka, the FMM said.
Full text of the press release issued by the FMM follows: In the guise of telephone repairmen, Police enter photojournalist`s residence 16th December 2007, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Free Media Movement (FMM) is disturbed to learn that officers of Criminal Investigation Division (CID) visited the residence of senior Reuters photojournalist Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi at Sarojinee Watta, Ratmalana at 11am on 11th December and questioned his wife. Mr. Lokuhapuarachchi was away covering a cricket match in Colombo. Disguised as telephone repairmen from the State telecoms provider Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), they had questioned his wife at length about his activities in the manner that they would interrogate a suspect of a serious crime. 
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Sri Lanka talks with Russia, India on arms buys as war escalates Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 10:23 PM SL Time Sri Lanka will meet with Indian and Russian delegations this week on possible arms purchases including air defence weaponry as clashes with Tamil Tiger rebels escalate, press reports here said.
Defence officials from India and Russia will hold separate talks with Sri Lankan authorities on improving systems used against the low-flying Czech-built Zlin Z-143 operated by Tiger guerrillas, the reports said. India which has provided a radar system to Sri Lanka`s military was expected to hold talks on upgrading the equipment and improving the air defence capability of government forces, the Sunday Times here said. The military is seeking to upgrade its fleet of Mi-35 helicopter gunships and talks with the Russian delegation from Monday will focus on buying a `major consignment` of Russian-made weapons, the Lakbimanews weekly said.
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Rules out LTTE involvement - A key regional intelligence agency was behind my assassination bid Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 9:03 AM SL Time Pakistan`s former High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Basheer Wali Mohammed said in Islamabad last week that he had `convincing evidence` that a powerful regional intelligence agency was behind the August 2006 bid to assassinate him in Colombo.
Dismissing widespread claims that the LTTE executed the claymore mine attack in Kollupitiya while he was returning after attending Pakistani Independence Day celebrations, he said a two-paged newspaper article written by a person closely linked to this intelligence arm made pointed reference to his Colombo assignment shortly before he took over as the High Commissioner. Speaking to a group of visiting Sri Lankan journalists at the prestigious Pakistan Club in Islamabad, he explained that he had traveled extensively in Sri Lanka sans any personal security during the major part of his two years as an envoy.
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Security Forum
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Sri Lanka summons UNICEF local chief over his visit to Kilinochchi Tuesday, 18 December 2007 - 12:21 PM SL Time The Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry yesterday summoned UNICEF Country Representative Philippe Duamelle to express concern over his recent visit to Kilinochchi and his meeting with LTTE leaders, without approval from the Ministry. Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona emphasized that the UNICEF had not followed the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when diplomats and high ranking officials sought to visit the uncleared areas in the Northern Province, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It also stated that the Foreign Secretary conveyed to Mr. Duamelle that non-compliance with these guidelines was unacceptable given the propensity of the LTTE to exploit such visits for propaganda purposes.
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Killing MP: Minister`s son released Tuesday, 18 December 2007 - 12:20 PM SL Time The judiciary in Sri Lanka has released four suspects including a son of a minister on charges of murdering a parliamentarian and a policeman. Ratnapura magistrate and additional District Judge MMM Nihal released the suspects on the instructions of the Attorney General (AG). Released suspects Viraj Ratnathilake, Pujitha Saman Kumara, IK Kularatne, Nimal Dayawansa and seven others were accused of killing ruling party legislator Nalanda Ellawala on or around 11 February 1997. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2007/12/071217_nalanda_released.shtml
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Five Lankans arrested for robbery in Jeddah Tuesday, 18 December 2007 - 12:20 PM SL Time Five Sri Lankans, a woman and four men employed in Jeddah were arrested by the Saudi police in connection with theft of jewellery valued at 4 million rupees last week, an official spokesman of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau said yesterday (17). He said the woman was alleged to have robbed the jewellery from the residence of a Saudi national on the instigation of the Sri Lankan male workers. If the five persons were found guilty by a Saudi court it will not be possible for the SLFEB to seek a reprieve for them since robberies are uncommon in the KSA and severe punishment is enforced by the Saudi authorities for such crimes, he said.
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| Politics
Political News Forum
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Wimal Weerawansa gave oxygen to a sinking Government Tuesday, 18 December 2007 - 12:23 PM SL Time SLFP dissident and co-convener of the SLFP (M), Mangala Samaraweera yesterday lashed out at the JVP parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa, accusing the JVP of having dashed the people`s hopes of changing the Rajapaksa government. Weerawansa had defied a JVP politburo decision and abstained at the final vote on the Government budget, Samaraweera said at a media briefing in Colombo. Weerawansa had made that decision despite a pledge the JVP had given that it would vote against the budget, as reported in the newspapers.
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Rajapakse`s nationalistic foreign policy pays dividends. Tuesday, 18 December 2007 - 12:30 AM SL Time Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse`s foreign policy based on an aggressive display of nationalism appears to be paying off. In the two years Rajapakse has been in power, the government has taken on the UN and the West and has rapped multilateral bodies on the knuckles for being soft on the Tamil Tigers. It has also demonstrated closeness to China and Pakistan regardless of how India, the only neighbour, may view it. But Colombo has been none the worse for all the boldness, even if it has smacked of adventurism and abrasiveness at times. There has been consistent and strident international criticism of the way the regime is handling the ethnic crisis, especially the huge humanitarian problem unending fighting has triggered. But foreign governments and multilateral organisations have been reluctant to translate expressions of displeasure into corrective action.
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Two Air Force men killed in traffic accident in Sri Lanka Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 9:14 AM SL Time A truck carrying Sri Lankan Air Force troops rolled over on Morwewa- Anuradhapura road this morning killing two airmen, the Media Center for National Security said. The airmen were returning in a truck to their detachment in Morawewa in the eastern city of Trincomalee. Fourteen others were injured in the incident and admitted to the hospital.
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Laws to safeguard HIV infected workers Tuesday, 18 December 2007 - 12:33 PM SL Time Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the decision was made following a complaint lodged with the Labour Ministry that an HIV infected employee in a certain organisation, had been dismissed. A programme was held at the Human Resources Development Centre in Nugegoda to raise awareness on AIDS. Participating in the event the Minister said the government has taken action to secure the employment rights of the public servants. The Minister pointed out that similarly to wiping out terrorism, health conditions of the workers had to be uplifted. AIDS day was commemorated on the 1st of December. Today they are commemorating the event with the Labour Ministry. He said discussions should be held at length on what programmes should be launched on HIV at offices and worksites. He revealed that legislation will be drafted on national initiatives that should be taken for the protection of HIV infected cases and prevention of the decease. It is unfair to dismiss any HIV infected employee. The Minister said laws will be definitely enacted next year to protect their jobs and solve their social problems. Minister Athauda Seneviratne also participated.
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English proficiency vital for success in global world: LTTE Political Head Tuesday, 18 December 2007 - 12:27 PM SL Time `Eelam Tamils have excelled in military science and geo-political affairs at an International level. For our people to acquire skills and knowlege to succeed at the global level, opportunity and facilities to attain high levels of proficiency in English is critical,` said B. Nadesan, the political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in his commencement address at the English Language College (ELC) in Ki`linochchi, on Saturday. The ELC, a Tamils` Rehabilitation Organization (TRO)-funded college, was established on September 13, 2004 to produce educators to fulfill the shortage of competent of English teachers in the NorthEast.
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Inflation up to 24 per cent Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 9:13 AM SL Time The 24.1 per cent high inflation rate recorded is not due to world oil price hikes says the United National Party (UNP). This is due to waste and corruption by the government, UNP MP Kabir Hashem told Sandesaya. Commenting further MP, Hashem said that the high inflation was not due to the war either. Government is printing money limitlessly since it came into power in 2005, he said. All the countries in the South Asian region are facing the oil price hike and it is a common phenomenon. However, India has been able to contain inflation to a minimum so do the other countries in the region, Hashem said. `We had a worst war during 1980s but we never faced such a situation`, he said.
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Rein in these wild buffaloes! Tuesday, 18 December 2007 - 12:24 PM SL Time No sooner had the government won the budget vote than its goons attacked two buses carrying UNP supporters after the party`s convention in Gampaha on Sunday. The UNP has complained to the police that a group of its activists engaged in putting up flags were also set upon and over 200 flag posts forcibly removed. Is this the way the government is celebrating its victory? Those dastardly attacks must be condemned unreservedly! The UNP has identified the assailants and one is said to be a goon working for a ministerial thug. The police claim an investigation is underway but it will certainly be hushed up unless adequate pressure is brought to bear on the government. How would the police have acted if the victims had been government supporters? If so, the attackers would have been captured and hauled up before the courts in record time. Yesterday, we reported the police had taken the trouble of disguising themselves as telecom workers to gain entry to Reuter Photojournalist Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi`s house to question his wife on his contacts. The Kiribathgoda Police recently summoned one of our senior journalists over a report that money had been forcibly obtained for a religious function by a gang with political patronage. The usual practice is for the police to contact the Editor concerned and not summon reporters. However, the police got cold feet later, obfuscated the issue and apparently dropped it. Why do the police lack such high octane performance when the Opposition activists are attacked and their property destroyed or looted? By the way, what has become of the investigation into the burning of the Sunday Leader press?
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After the voting Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 9:10 AM SL Time The result of the budget vote on Friday evening was greeted by the lighting of firecrackers in Colombo and probably in other parts of the country where political Godfathers arranged for their supporters to do the needful. The celebration was not merely the passage of what government strategists like to call a ``war budget,`` but the survival of the government itself which had been increasingly called to question ever since the JVP voted against the second reading last month. When the final tally was counted, soon after Minister Anura Bandaranaike changed sides yet again, President Mahinda Rajapaksa`s government was comfortably home and dry with 114 votes in favour and 67 against. The JVP, commanding 38 votes, abstained.
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Coronation of a different monster? Wednesday, 12 December 2007 - 9:29 AM SL Time Monday`s protest by the Karuna Group (TMVP) in Batticaloa against the LTTE and the TNA could be considered an attempt to deal a psychological blow to the LTTE, which fears an imminent military onslaught in the Wanni. Karuna`s deputy Pilleyan, who is leading the TMVP at present, has described the rally as a success. But, his detractors pooh-pooh his claim saying he resorted to coercion to bring people for the protest. Dozens of SLTB buses, they say, were used to transport civilians to the Weber stadium, where the TMVP flexed its muscles.
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| Sports News
Sports News Forum
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Fabulous Galle ready for Test Tuesday, 18 December 2007 - 12:29 PM SL Time The Galle International Cricket Stadium was destined to not host any more international cricket matches due to the 2004 tsunami and boardroom politics at Sri Lanka Cricket that existed in early 2005, where the authorities were contemplating moving the venue elsewhere in the district, but it has fought all bureaucracy and is ready to resume Test cricket again. The third and final Test match between England and Sri Lanka is ready to begin here today. But play will not begin until noon as the outfield needs to be trimmed and the wicket needs to dry up. A heavy downpour on Monday prevented the authorities from applying the finishing touches, but when it resumes, Galle is sure to remain as a Sri Lankan stronghold for many more years to come. The venue was declared open on Monday, by President Mahinda Rajapakase and the new look stadium is right up there with all the modern facilities.
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Taj TV deal is clear, insists SLC Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 9:12 AM SL Time Sri Lanka Cricket in an unsigned letter dated December 11th referring to our report last week headlined `Dharmadasa signs dubious television deal without interim committee`s knowledge` said, `Reference to the aforementioned article appeared in the sports section of the Sunday Island Newspaper on 9th December, 2007 under the above heading, which said article was written by Mr. Rex Clementine, we like to emphasize that the matters reported in your newspaper under the said article are blatantly incorrect and false. Draft of the said agreements (Taj Television) were tabled and confirmed by the Interim Committee and minuted on 8th October 2007.` We have checked with a senior official with SLC, who confirmed that the letter, though without a signature, was SLC`s and they take responsibility for it.
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It`s not dejavu Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 9:12 AM SL Time `The pitch is likely to favour spin from the outset,` said Jayananda Warnaweera, curator of the ground at the rebuilt Galle stadium ? the venue for the third and final test between Sri Lanka and England which begins on Tuesday. Galle was devastated by the tsunami that hit Sri Lanka in 2004 and other for a couple of provincial matches, has not hosted an international game since for obvious reasons. On Friday there was heavy rain and the outfield was flooded. Yesterday Warnaweera said: `It was clear in the morning but there is a storm looming. And the last few days it has been very cloudy. Given the pitch conditions, I firmly believe that Sri Lanka should go in to this game with two specialist spinners.` Captain of the Sri Lankan team Mahela Jayawardena speaking to The Sunday Times said: `The morale of the team is very good and we are going in to this game to win it. The fact that we are one up does not change anything. We go in to every game with a desire to win. Otherwise negativity creeps and that is something nobody wants.`
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