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About this Sri Lankan News Forum
Welcome to the largest news forum on Sri Lanka. This is a discussion table for millions of Sri Lankans living around the world to express their thoughts on the latest Sri Lankan news events. Lankanewspapers.com is a powerful tool for all Sri Lankan ethnic groups to share information, knowledge and wisdom. Join! today |
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Sri Lanka bans semi-nude adverts Wednesday, 14 March 2007 - 9:56 PM SL Time Sri Lanka banned on Wednesday the use of naked or semi-naked models in advertising, saying it was seeking to protect those offended by public nudity. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs announced the ban through notices in Sinhalese-language newspapers, warning advertisers against the use of unclothed males or females. The ministry statement did not say what punishment offenders might face nor if the ban extended to paintings of nudes. Sri Lanka`s fifth-century rock fortress of Sigiriya is known for its frescoes of semi-naked women -- some of which have been used in official travel promotion leaflets. The notice also did not say whether the ministry would take action against foreign publications containing ads with naked or semi-naked models. 
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Armed groups patrolling displaced people camps in Sri Lanka: Amnesty Wednesday, 14 March 2007 - 8:29 PM SL Time Amnesty International said on Tuesday that there were armed groups roaming camps for displaced people in the eastern Sri Lankan district of Batticaloa, and kidnapping residents. Citing its own sources, which it did not identify, Amnesty said that some of the groups were part of the Karuna faction -- a breakaway rebel group -- and their presence in the camps were tolerated by Sri Lankan authorities because of the group`s help in the military campaign against Tamil Tiger rebels. The London-based human rights group`s warning came as government security forces continued their offensive into a Tiger stronghold that extends from Batticaloa to the neighbouring Ampara district. There are about 120,000 refugees in the Batticaloa district, with more than 40,000 of those having fled their homes in recent days following shelling between Tiger rebels and government forces.
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Karuna`s men in IDP camps - Amnesty Wednesday, 14 March 2007 - 5:41 AM SL Time Amnesty Inetrnational expressed concern about the activities of armed groups operating in government controled areas in a satement issued on Tuesday. In an interview with the BBC, Government security spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the government is doing everything to prevent the activities of such groups in government controlled areas. In its report, the Amnesty International claims, `Armed groups, some identified as part of a breakaway group of Tamil Tigers known as the Karuna faction, are infiltrating camps for newly displaced people and abducting residents, according to sources known to Amnesty International`. Armed grouos in IDP camps According to government officials and the relief organisations in the area,thousands of people have been fleeing their homes after intense fighting in the eastern regions of Trincomalee and Batticaloa over the weekend, pushing the number of displaced people to well over 120,000.
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| Security
Security Forum
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Gotabaya has played out 600 million when purchasing MIGs- A complaint to the BC Thursday, 15 March 2007 - 4:02 AM SL Time Former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Former Ports Development Minister Sripathy Suriarachchi lodged a complaint to the Bribery commission this evening regarding a cash fraud which they say had taken place when purchasing 4 MIG 27 fighter jets which are said to be 27 years old. The complaint lodged to the commissioner Anwar Ismile states, the 4 fighter jets bought on or a day close to the 26th of July was purchased for 1.064 Billion rupees. It also says that according to the agreement the manufacturing period of the jets are between 1980 to 1983. The complaint also states that on the 25th of May 2000 4 MIG fighter jets manufactured between 1982 and 1985 were purchased for 172.8 million rupees and that in October 2000 2 MIG`s which were manufactured in 1984 were purchased for 97.2 million rupees each. It adds that accordingly if the government spent such an amount in 2006 to purchase 4 MIGs, a sum between 77 to 94 million rupees have been played out from a jet, when compared to the previous purchases.
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Govt: UNP initiated military logistical agreement with US Thursday, 15 March 2007 - 3:58 AM SL Time The Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) statute (formerly known as `NATO Mutual Support Act`) finalised on March 5, 2007 would simplify exchanges of logistic support, supplies, and services. The US has ACSA with 89 other countries. A senior government official rejected criticism by the UNP and JVP and concerns expressed by the LSSP, a constituent of the SLFP-led ruling coalition. The LSSP`s Politburo last week resolved that the ACSA signed by Defence Secretary Colonel (retd) Gotabhaya Rajapakse and US Ambassador Robert O. Blake should be published.
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Bus driver gets 20 years R.I for rape Wednesday, 14 March 2007 - 5:47 AM SL Time A driver of a luxury bus who had allegedly raped a young passenger travelling to Colombo at the Pettah bus stand was sentenced to twenty years rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court yesterday. High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne convicted the accused Samarakone Arachchige Savindra of Pitipana South, Kiriwaththuduwa for committing rape on a girl on May 24, 2005 at Bastian Mawatha in Pettha. The accused who was the owner of a bus plying between Tanamalwila and Colombo had raped the girl who was returning from work at a garment factory in Katunayake. During the trial it was revealed that the accused had driven the bus carrying the young woman and had stopped it at the Gunasinghapura private bus stand. After dropping the other passengers there he had taken the girl to Bastian Mawatha and raped her.
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| Politics
Political News Forum
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Minister complains of extortion racket by Karuna group Wednesday, 14 March 2007 - 5:54 AM SL Time A massive extortion racket allegedly by the Karuna group has been reported to the Defence Ministry and the police by a government minister following complaints by a large number of Tamil businessmen. Several Tamil businessmen had complained to Deputy Vocational and Technical Training Minister, P. Radhakrishnan that persons claiming to be from the Karuna group had in the months of January, February and early March demanded a ransom of Rs. 5 million each in exchange for their security. The Morning Leader learns the ransom demand had been made of 20 businessmen from Old Moor Street, Colombo and 10 businessmen in Wellawatte. Ransom demands had been made by a person named Neelavan using mobile number 0723705608, a person named Seelan using mobile number 0779791317 and a person named Master using mobile number 0775947338.
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Establish two separate units to serve the Tamils in the north and east -- TMVP Commander, Pillaiyan Wednesday, 14 March 2007 - 5:50 AM SL Time Pledging that the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) is for a united and undivided Sri Lanka the TMVP Supreme Commander Pillaiyan told the AsianTribune that the Sri Lankan government should give the lead by establishing two separate interim administrative units in the North and East provinces. This would enable the people of these two provinces to conduct their day-to-day affairs according to the wishes of the local people. Neither province should try to dictate terms to the other nor their regional autonomy must be guaranteed, said Pillaiiyan. Pillaiiyan said that the leader of the TMVP, V. Muralitharan, alias Colonel Karuna, has stated categorically that he stands for a united Sri Lanka where the territorial integrity and sovereignty should remain intact.
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UNP hits out at Govt. deals with US and Tigers Wednesday, 14 March 2007 - 5:47 AM SL Time The UNP yesterday accused the Government of signing a secret deal with the United States similar to the secret deal it allegedly clinched with the Tigers to disarm all paramilitary groups including the Karuna Group in the North and the East. UNP Kandy District Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella told a news conference yesterday `the Rajapaksa brothers` had signed the secret deal with the US and that he would reveal details of the deal during the next session of Parliament. He said the party would request a debate in the House on the issue. Referring to the alleged Mahinda - LTTE secret pact Mr. Kiriella said the Geneva talks in February last year were part of it. In terms of this pact he said the government had agreed to disarm all paramilitary groups including Karuna fraction. He said the statement that was issued by the government at the end of the Geneva talks was proof of it. The statement said the government was willing to safeguard the CFA and to disarm all military forces that were operating in the North and the East.
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| Business / Economy News
Business News Forum
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US$ 5 million up for grabs in ICC CWC Thursday, 15 March 2007 - 3:56 AM SL Time A total of US$5 million in prize money will be up for grabs; the 2007 champions claiming almost half of that, with a winners` cheque of US$2.24 million to be awarded to the team which prevails in the Final at Kensington Oval in Barbados on April 28. The runners-up will also be rewarded handsomely, receiving a purse of US$1 million for their second-place finish. In addition, the losing semi-finalists will each pocket US$450,000 while the teams ending the tournament in fifth to eighth position ? determined by the outcome of the Super 8 phase of the Event ? will win the following sums respectively: US$200,000; US$150,000; US$100,000 and US$50,000. During the 24 Group Stage games the victorious team in each match will receive US$10,000 while the losers get US$5,000.
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Bank accounts of Gateway International school, of Allas, with held Tuesday, 13 March 2007 - 3:40 AM SL Time The bank account of the Gateway International School, which has a good reputation in the local education industry, has been with held under the influence of a high ranking official of the government. As it has not being with held on a legal basis the education of around 23,000 students seems to be in doubt. It is being reported that this step has been taken as another steps of the government`s hatred politics. The Gateway International schools in Colombo and Kandy has 3,000 students while around 20,000 students follow computer courses conducted by the institute and has a staff of around 500 teachers and staff. As the bank account of the institute was with held this afternoon the school is likely to face severe hardships in continuing its educational activities as it will not be able to pay any of the payments which it should do on a regularly basis.
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More male workers than female in State sector Tuesday, 13 March 2007 - 3:37 AM SL Time There were 813,000 persons working in the state and semi governmental sector, as at 1st July 2006, according the latest survey by the Census and Statistics Department. Of that figure 60 per cent were males, Deputy Director of Census and Statistics J. A. P. Balasuriya told The Island yesterday (12). There were 325,272 persons working in the State sector while 279,924 were in the Provincial Public sector and a 207,834 in the Semi Government sector according the report. The State Sector and the Semi-Government sector had 68 percent and 74 percent male employees respectively. But, the majority of employees in the Provincial Public Sector were females as teachers and nurses. However, the percentage of male employees, in the State Sector, was more than twice that of the females according to the report.
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| Editorial News
Editorial News Forum
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Secret pacts, Uncle Sam and Cardboard Sandows Thursday, 15 March 2007 - 3:57 AM SL Time The JVP has blown a gasket over the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) recently signed between Sri Lanka and the United States. It is making an issue of the reference therein to `peace keeping missions`. It demands that the contents of the agreement be made public forthwith. Strangely, the UNP, too, has lashed out at the government over that pact. The UNP has chosen to dub it a `secret deal.` (It looks as if there were a secret deal behind every bush in this country.) One may have thought the contents of the agreement were fairly well-known. But, since some political parties seem to have doubts about the pact, it behoves the government to allay them. As the UNP says, it is in a position to reveal the details of the `secret deal` in Parliament, it should be asked why it doesn`t do so presently without holding the public in suspense like in a cheap soap opera.
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Of that Secret Pact Wednesday, 14 March 2007 - 5:45 AM SL Time Our politicians are blessed with a remarkable ability. They can make mountains out of molehills or even dunghills. Before the last Presidential Election, the UPFA as well as the JVP let out a howl of protest against what they termed a secret pact between Ranil and Prabhakaran. They obviously blew a tacit understanding that some UNPers were believed to have with the LTTE out of proportions to discredit the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Today, Mr. Wickremesinghe, in an apparent bid to avenge injustice the UPFA caused to him at that vital election, is demanding an explanation from President Mahinda Rajapakse on the alleged secret pact between the LTTE and the government. Mr. Wickremesinghe doesn`t seem to be satisfied with the explanation that Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake provided in Parliament recently.
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We`ve failed the test of `a nation`s greatness and moral progress` Tuesday, 13 March 2007 - 3:35 AM SL Time Bad news emanates from Britain. British animal welfare organisations are reported to be discouraging tourists from visiting Sri Lanka on the grounds of cruelty to animals. It is reported that Home and Abroad Animal Welfare, a UK-based non profit organisation, is asking tourists to be wary of being photographed with captured animals such as monkeys, snakes, porcupines etc. in this country. This animal rights campaign has the potential to snowball and deal a paralysing blow to the already debilitated tourism industry of Sri Lanka, in the long run. But, can we blame those well intentioned animal rights activists who are on a noble mission to lend their voice to the dumb animals? Cruelty to animals in this blessed land is monumental. Never mind cruelty that small creatures like man`s best friend are subjected to: Look at the suffering of that majestic beast adorning our jungles?the elephant. As if the torture that the pachyderms already undergo in numerous ways were not enough, we are coming out with some innovate ways of exacerbating their suffering such as making them play balls as a tourist attraction.
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| Sports News
Sports News Forum
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Prerequisites to winning the World Cup Thursday, 15 March 2007 - 3:55 AM SL Time Several well known past and present cricketers have voiced their opinion on the ultimate winners of this World Cup. While most of them do not point to a clear favourite, nearly all of them, including the mercurial former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has pointed out that Sri Lanka is the best team with a chance of winning it. They point out that the key to winning depends on a team`s ability to score around 200 to 215 runs by the fortieth over and also at least three bowlers conceding not more than 45 runs per spell of 10 overs and the other two conceding not more than 55 runs in their respective spells. This then should be our vision for each and every game. A very tall order, no doubt. But this can be achieved if our players play to their potential. For this to be achieved, the first prerequisite is Sanath and young Upul Tharanga remaining at the crease for the first 15 to 20 overs scoring around 115 to 125 during that time. Then in the next 20 overs, with the field spread out Mahela, Sangakkara, and Marvan can score in singles and twos without much risk. Then, the likes of Chamara Silva, Maharoof and Vass should score at least 65 to 70 runs in the next ten overs and get a total around 300 runs.
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Sri Lanka vs Bermuda 15th March 2007 Wednesday, 14 March 2007 - 5:49 AM SL Time Queen`s Park Oval is generally thought of as the most picturesque of the old grounds in the West Indies. It is also the largest, accommodating 25,000 spectators in comfort. Home of the Queen`s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) since 1896, it hosted the English teams touring the West Indies early in 1897 one under Lord Hawke, the other under Arthur Priestley. The capacity of the ground has made it most profitable (holding at least 7000 more than any other ground in the West Indies). The pavilion was erected in 1896 and by and large, remained unchanged until 1952 when it was replaced by a two-tiered structure. Natural turf was used in the early years for matches. However, damage cased by the mole-cricket in the soil rendered it impossible to prepare turf pitches. For forty years thereafter, a clay strip was used, over which matting was laid. The final Test played on matting was in 1954 when West Indies scored 681 for 8 and England 537 in reply. Within three months, the pitch had been removed and efforts were underway to replace the centre square with turf.
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Sri Lankans expecting flying ball at World Cup Wednesday, 14 March 2007 - 5:48 AM SL Time Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena said on Sunday his team will not know what to expect on the newly laid out pitches at the cricket World Cup and feared the ball could swing in all directions. `Most wickets have been re-laid and none (of the teams) have had the opportunity to play on them.`It can be a surprise,` Jayawardena said. `The first game, the ball could be flying.` The 1996 champions are regarded as early favourites due to their all-round strength on pitches which many feel will play slow like those in the Indian sub-continent. But Jayawardene said such predictions proved wrong in the ICC Champions Trophy in India late last year, where champions Australia, finalists West Indies, New Zealand and South Africa entered the last four.
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