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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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SLA Madu operation thwarted, civilians saved - LTTE Saturday, 24 March 2007 - 9:25 AM SL Time Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers who had taken more than 120 civilians as `human shields` against Tiger artillery fire and advanced into Liberation Tigers territory in Vavuniya-Mannar border Friday morning were forced to pull back their soldiers from Thampanai and Sinna Pandivirichchan at around 10:30 p.m after 15 hours of heavy fighting Friday. Liberation Tigers officials said they had defeated the two pronged offensive, without harming the civilians who were in the hands of the SLA. Around 60 SLA soldiers were killed, according to the Tigers. The SLA soldiers were forced to flee the battlefield with tractor loads of dead bodies, the Tiger officials said. Tigers said they lost 6 fighters. Sri Lanka Army is yet to release casualty figures. Around 2000 families were displaced from the villages east of Madu towards Iluppaikkaikkadavai, Vellankulam, Jeyanthinagar and Kilinochchi, according to local NGO officials. 
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Sri Lanka sink a billion hopes Friday, 23 March 2007 - 6:40 PM SL Time Hundreds of millions will spend a sleepless Friday night before their television sets as the team that could be dubbed `commercial favourites` fights to stay alive in a World Cup that seems ages old but has in fact barely begun. `What happens to India if they lose?` Rahul Dravid was asked the day before. `We`re not even thinking about the possibility,` he replied. Much easier said than done. Sri Lanka 254/6 (50 ov) India 185/10 (43.3 ov)
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UNP bombshell on abductions Friday, 23 March 2007 - 6:08 AM SL Time The UNP charged in Parliament yesterday that certain government ministers were involved in abducting persons for obtaining ransom. Speaking during the debate on two finance-related Bills, Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Micheal Perera said the party was aware of the names of ministers who were allegedly involved in abductions. `We have information about some ministers involved in abduction of persons for ransoms amounting to five to ten million rupees. But, we cannot reveal their names due to restrictions in the Standing Orders,` he said. The UNP charged that even the Karuna group was operating with the support of sections of the government and posing a threat to the country. Mr. Perera said in addition to the LTTE, there were other armed groups operating in the country. He asked Fisheries Minister Felix Perera who was present in parliament, whether the government acknowledged there were other armed groups other than the LTTE operating in the country.
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| Security
Security Forum
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Army seize large LTTE arms, medication haul Saturday, 24 March 2007 - 9:56 AM SL Time Security forces seized a large quantity of explosives hidden in a lorry parked opposite a house at Navanthurai in Jaffna yesterday morning, sources said. Among the items recovered were a suicide jacket, two explosive charges, a bottle of cyanide powder, two satellite phones, three remote controls, nine claymore charges, four communications sets, one Nokia phone charger and 20 code sheets, sources said. The detection was made around 9.00 a.m. sources said adding that troops had located a large cache of weapons and medicine in the Annakottai area, in Jaffna on Thursday. Among the items detected on Thursday were one RPG, a micro pistol, 25 9 MM live ammunition, a 9 volt battery, 350 grams of C4 explosives, a mini UZI magazine, two communication sets fitted with Improvised Explosive Device, 118 syringes, an assortment of about 1,100 drugs, 66 bottles of medicine, 25 bottles of saline and a large stock of other medical items.
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Police raid building sites Saturday, 24 March 2007 - 9:53 AM SL Time A massive search operation was launched yesterday to check particulars of employees and vehicles at building sites in the Western province, police said. Western Province DIG N.K. Ilangakoon said police had received information that several workmen employed in building projects were involved in terrorist and underworld activities including murders. He said the search operation would cover 88 police areas in Colombo, Kalutara, and Gampaha districts with station OICs being requested to furnish a report to Police Headquarters within 24 hours. The DIG said according to reports more than 10,000 workers including carpenters, masons and helpers were employed at various building sites in the Western Province. He said the Police Headquarters had informed all police stations in the province regarding the current operations.
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Court orders arrest of SSP Friday, 23 March 2007 - 6:13 AM SL Time The Colombo Magistrate yesterday ordered the arrest the Nugegoda Police Division chief, the Senior Superintendent of Police, in connection with the killing of the brother of the missing underworld character Nawala Nihal and to produce him before court forthwith. Additional Magistrate Manjula Thilakaratne made this order when the magisterial inquiry into the killing of Nawala Nihal`s brother Maurice Wickremasinghe was taken up in court. Following an application made by the family members, the magistrate directed that a copy of the order relating to the arrest of SSP K. Udayapala be forwarded to the National Police Commission (NPC) and the Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. During the magisterial inquiry it was alleged that SSP Udayapala had compelled Mr. Wickremasinghe to transfer an undivided half share of a block of land situated in Nawala to the SSP`s wife Wasantha Kumari Pahathgama. The 28 perch block of land was sold at Rs. 2.5 million with the SSP himself signing as an attesting witness.
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| Politics
Political News Forum
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Lanka won`t be intimidated: Dayan Sunday, 25 March 2007 - 6:20 AM SL Time The newly appointed Sri Lankan ambassador to Geneva, speaking at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Thursday voiced strong opposition to what was said by some member states and non-governmental organizations when speaking about Sri Lanka. According to a transcript of a statement made by Ambassador Dayan Jayatillake during a right of reply during the ongoing sessions, he took exception to the tone and attitude of at least two NGOs and Sweden`s representative. In a strongly worded speech Ambassador Jayatillake said Sri Lanka was committed to remaining constructively engaged with UN mechanisms and the international community as a whole. He emphasised that as a sovereign democracy it would not be `prodded, pushed or intimidated` into accepting any measures or institutions against its wishes.
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President no-balls World Cup VIPs Sunday, 25 March 2007 - 6:19 AM SL Time With Sri Lanka moving into the Super Eight of the Cricket World Cup, a large group, including ministers and top officials had planned to go to the Caribbean Islands at a cost of some Rs. 20 million in public funds ? but President Mahinda Rajapaksa has intervened to stop it. The Sunday Times learns the plan was for Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge, non-cabinet sports minister Bandula Basnayake, several provincial sports ministers Sri Lanka Cricket chief Jayantha Dharmadasa and other officials of the Cricket Board and Sports Ministry to go to the Caribbean. Mr. Basnayake told The Sunday Times the President had given an order that only he and his ministry secretary could go at state expense. If Sri Lanka reached the semi final stage, Sports Minister Lokuge would be allowed to go.
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Newsprint for Jaffna papers soon Saturday, 24 March 2007 - 10:01 AM SL Time President Mahinda Rajapaksa has assured newspaper publishers that all their problems will be solved shortly and printing material will be supplied to Jaffna. The President made this assurance when he met Ranjith Wijewardene, the President of the Newspaper Publishers Association yesterday. The President has requested Newspaper Publishers to be impartial and not to promote terrorism. Tamil newspapers published in Jaffna should provide information to the Tamil community and they can criticise the President and the Government but should not support and promote the LTTE, the President had stated during the meeting. Due to the closure of A9 certain items including some printing material were not transported to Jaffna. Earlier newspapers such as Valampuri and Uthayan informed they were facing difficulties due to lack of printing materials and requested the Government to provide printing material.
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| Business / Economy News
Business News Forum
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Pakistan reduces duty on Sri Lankan betel exports to 20% Sunday, 25 March 2007 - 6:43 AM SL Time The Pakistani government has reduced the duty on Sri Lankan betel exports to 20% from a previous 35% and also abolished the existing quota system for this commodity following talks Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris held with Pakistani Commerce Minister Humayun Akthar Khan in Islamabad recently. This duty concession will benefit farmers in a big way and boost Sri Lanka`s betel exports to Pakistan. Unlike earlier when Sri Lanka could export only 1200 MT to Pakistan under an annual quota system, the new agreement reached between Prof. Peiris and Minister Akthar Khan paves the way for unlimited exports in keeping with the growing demand, an official news release said. Prof. Peiris led a delegation to Islamabad for talks with his Pakistani counterpart for the first ministerial review meeting after the implementation of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement in June 2005.
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More bets than bats Sunday, 25 March 2007 - 6:21 AM SL Time Cricket betting which is believed to be linked to the sensational murder of Pakistan`s coach Bob Woolmer is racing beyond horses in Colombo and elsewhere in Sri Lanka. Bookmakers and betting centres in Colombo are putting out World Cup specials and say matches are now more popular and are drawing more bets than horse races. Millions of Lankans watched the crucial Sri Lanka-India match on Friday and betting centres say they offered and received bets on various aspects of the game if not a ball-by-ball basis. They said bets were offered and received on who would win the toss and who would score the first six besides the bigger bets on winners and losers. For the rest of the matches, bets are now open and reads like the list of horses and jockeys for a race -- Man of the match, man of the series, highest scorer for a match, the tournament`s top scorer, highest opening partnership, number of sixes, number of runouts, highest wicket taker, and winners of the world cup.
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Cricket fans break record - Sri Lankans consumed a record 28.7 giga watt Friday, 23 March 2007 - 6:10 AM SL Time Sri Lankans consumed a record 28.7 giga watt hours of electricity on Wednesday. The CEB attributed this heavy single-day consumption to the Sri Lanka - Bangladesh World Cup cricket match which commenced around 7 pm and continued into the wee hours of Thursday. The CEB appealed to all cricket fans to switch off other lights and help conserve energy during World Cup cricket matches.
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| Editorial News
Editorial News Forum
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State vehicles - investigate the big picture Sunday, 25 March 2007 - 6:43 AM SL Time Many years ago, the then Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, made an off-the-cuff remark that `those riding around in about 90% of the vehicles you see on the road are not paying for their petrol.` This undoubtedly was a guesstimate, a ball park figure if you like. But there is a strong truth underlying it. The vast majority of the vehicles seen on the road, and their passengers swanking around in them in air conditioned comfort, are either riding State or company-owned vehicles or, in relatively few instances, their own cars with an employer reimbursing the cost of the fuel. We make this comment in the light of the ongoing prosecution against former Minister Sripathi Sooriarachchi for the misuse of State property. In this instance, he is accused to have held on to a Land Rover, apparently assigned to him at a time he was holding public office, and not returning it when he ceased to hold that office. Since this matter is in court and is sub judice we are neither entitled to nor wish to comment on the rights and wrongs of the case. But like the vast majority of people who are following Sooriarachchi`s travails as reported in the media, we too would like to ask the question: `Which political office holder, past or present, can place his hand on his heart and say that they are not misusing official vehicles?` Very few, we would say, very very few. The sad reality that not only politicians, but a large number of government officials too, use State-owned vehicles assigned to them for official travel for all manner of private purposes. And nobody cares a damn, not even the taxpayer who must eventually pick up the tab.
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The saffron robe and the khaki suit: Some questions Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 3:32 AM SL Time It is reported that a Buddhist monk wants to be an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). He has reportedly undertaken to face an endurance test prescribed by the IGP. In so doing, he has gone way beyond the others of his ilk given to unorthodoxy. So far, we have had monks seeking to be lawyers, applying for driving licenses, entering politics etc. but this particular monk is sure to stir up a bigger controversy, if he wants to be a police officer without giving up the robe. The law enforcement officers are those who handle weapons, descend on criminals, and fight gun battles among other things which, we believe, don`t go with the vinaya rules guiding Buddhist monks. How can a monk chase a lawbreaker, use force to overpower him and haul him up before courts? Whether or not the monk concerned will proceed beyond the endurance test remains to be seen, but the fact that more and more monks are opting for a radical departure from the spiritual path in search of mundane gains points to a serious problem, if not a crisis, in the sasana. History, it may be argued, has numerous instances of monks straying into worldly affairs, even during the time of the Enlightened One. But, today, the situation is evidently deteriorating at a much more rapid pace.
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Misuse of public property: `Limited offensives` won`t do! Tuesday, 20 March 2007 - 5:45 AM SL Time Former Minister Sripathy Sooriaarachchi, taken in for questioning over an alleged misuse of public property, has been remanded. A matter which is before Court of law, as we know, had better be left to the learned judges for adjudication. But, the government`s high octane performance in this particular case has led to a number of questions which warrant a public discussion. Is it only Sripathy who has misused public property? If Diogenes the Cynic were alive and resident in this country, he would probably go about holding a lamp in daylight looking for a politician who hasn`t misused state property. However, the fact that all politicians are culpable for the same offence doesn`t mean that one of them shouldn`t be dealt with separately for it. But, the government ought to tell the public what it proposes to do with the others who too deserve to be hauled up before Courts? Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander!
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| Sports News
Sports News Forum
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Nalanda aiming to break 53-year jinx Saturday, 24 March 2007 - 9:55 AM SL Time Two of Sri Lanka`s leading Buddhists institutions Ananda and Nalanda will come out again when they clash for the 78th time in the annual `Battle of the Maroons` big match cricket encounter for the Sujeewa Kamalsooriya memorial trophy to be played today and tomorrow at the SSC grounds. Kamalasooriya was an outstanding sportsman of Ananda who led the cricket team in the year 1983. He met with a tragic death during the tsunami disaster that devastated Sri Lanka three years ago. Between the period 1942 to 1947 the encounter was not played due to World War Two. Of the 77 encounters played the Anandians are leading with 14 wins as against six to Nalanda with the rest being drawn.
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New Zealand cruise into Super Eights Thursday, 22 March 2007 - 3:28 AM SL Time New Zealand booked their place in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super Eights with a 183-run win over Kenya here Tuesday. Victory left New Zealand with two wins from its first two matches, assuring the Black Caps of one of the two qualifying spots out of Group C. Kenya and England, the only other teams that can win two games in this group, play each other on Saturday. New Zealand`s total of 331 for seven was a record score in the 12 one-day internationals played at the Beausejour Cricket Ground. In reply Kenya, who collapsed to 29 for four, were bowled out for 183 although they took the match to the last over. Ross Taylor`s 85 led the way for the Black Caps while Craig McMillan hammered 71 off just 48 balls with five sixes and three fours to take the team past the 300 mark.
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QI Pro Sevens Rugby finals Kandy all the way Tuesday, 20 March 2007 - 5:44 AM SL Time Kandy Sports Club once again stamped their class by beating CR & FC 15 (3 tries) to 7 (1 goal) to clinch Cup Championship at the QI Pro Sevens rugby tournament organized by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union at Longden Place on Sunday. Kandy SC, who came in to the tournament on a winning note as champions of the Radella Sevens tourney early this month, romped to victory to underline their status as undisputed champs of local rugby. Earlier in the morning Kandy beat CR & FC `B` 40 points to 14 in the quarter finals and advanced to the semi final stage where they defeated Havelocks SC 29 points to 5. In the plate final Air Force beat Police 10 points to 5 at the end of close tussle while CH & FC won the Bowl championship defeating Army 36 points to 7.
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