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Armed gang`s uninterrupted 5-hour robbery spree Friday, 20 April 2007 - 6:22 AM SL Time An unidentified armed gang went on an uninterrupted five-hour robbery spree in at Bandarikulam in Vavuniya on Wednesday night. The gang had robbed cash, jewellery and other valuables from several houses to the tune of Rs. 20 million. The spree is reported to have commenced at 11.30 pm on Wednesday and continued into the wee hours of yesterday (19). Vavuniya residents were shocked and the Police baffled when residents of Bandarikulam trekked to the Vavuniya Police station yesterday morning to lodge their complaints. Bandarikulam is in the Government controlled area, three miles off Vavuniya town, on the Mannar road. There was tension in the area when people learnt about the high profile serial robberies. The targeted houses belonged to doctors, high ranking government officials and wealthy businessmen. A thorough survey has been done before the robbery and the victims have been predetermined, Police believe. 
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Tamilselvan Warns Sri Lankan Military Friday, 20 April 2007 - 12:26 AM SL Time Tamil Tiger rebels will unleash their ``full capacity`` if government forces try to take their strongholds in northern Sri Lanka, the insurgents` political chief said Thursday. The comments by S.P. Tamilselvan, made in an interview with The Associated Press, came a week after Sri Lanka`s top defense official said the country`s collapsing cease-fire had ``no meaning`` and the military would soon go after the Tigers` heartland. ``If the worst thing comes, of course then Colombo and its chauvinistic forces will realize what the full capacity of the LTTE is and the impact would be very serious,`` Tamilselvan said, using the acronym for the rebels` full name, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
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LTTE intelligence centre destroyed Thursday, 19 April 2007 - 9:47 AM SL Time The Sri Lanka Air Force on Wednesday claimed to have destroyed `an LTTE strategic communications facility and an intelligence nerve centre` in Kilinochchi district, which houses the administrative headquarters of the Tigers. There was no word from the Tigers on the military`s assertion. In a statement, the Air Force said its fighter jets pounded two LTTE strategic locations at Puthukkudiyiruppu in the east of Kilinochchi at 10.15 a.m and 10.40 a.m. Both targets were destroyed. The statement said all intelligence chiefs, including Pottu Amman, regularly used to visit the nerve centre. The communications centre was identified as a sophisticated facility, which the LTTE was using to communicate with its international counterparts.
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| Security
Security Forum
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Respect human rights, resume negotiations, Holy See tells Rajapaksa Saturday, 21 April 2007 - 7:16 AM SL Time Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican Cardinal Secretary of State, held a meeting with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday, after Pope received Mr. Rajapaksa among the audience. Cardinal Secretary of State, conveying the concerns of the Pope, reiterated to Mr. Rajapaksa, the need to respect human rights and resume the path of dialogue and negotiation as the `only way to put an end to the violence,` that is bloodying the island of Sri Lanka. The Cardinal Secretary of State presides over the Vatican Secretariat of State, the Holy See. The Holy See Press Office released the following communique Friday, after the meeting: `Today, April 20, the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Mahinda Rajapaksa, president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The president subsequently went on to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B.
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British envoy to Lanka summoned by Defence Ministry Friday, 20 April 2007 - 6:19 AM SL Time The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka was summoned by the Defence Ministry after he expressed solidarity with a local newspaper editor who allegedly received death threats from President Mahinda Rajapaksa`s younger brother. Dominick Chilcott was called at short notice by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who is the president`s younger brother, to discuss the role of the media, a High Commission spokesman said. `They talked about the role of the media,` spokesman John Culley said. `The High Commissioner and the Defence Secretary agreed that the confidentiality of the meeting would be preserved.` The summons followed Chilcott`s visit yesterday to the Daily Mirror office where he expressed solidarity with its editor, Champika Liyanaarachchi, who said she was threatened by Rajapaksa the day before.
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SLAF jets target a group of senior LTTE cadres Thursday, 19 April 2007 - 5:01 AM SL Time Jets, launched from Katunayake SLAF base, yesterday morning attacked a heavily fortified LTTE base east of Kilinochchi, a senior official said. According to him, several senior intelligence wing cadres were in the targeted base at the time of the air assault. Quoting intelligence services, he speculated that jets targeted a meeting of the LTTE intelligence. About 30 minutes earlier, jets attacked an identified LTTE target near Puthukudirippu. On Tuesday night, jets bombed targets near the Iranamadu runaway causing sizeable damages. The SLAF recently acquired what a senior official termed a night strike capability.
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| Politics
Political News Forum
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Sri Lanka, fast becoming a Zimbabwe in Asia: Tissa Saturday, 21 April 2007 - 7:27 AM SL Time Sri Lanka is fast becoming a Zimbabwe in Asia with all types of anti-democratic elements firmly taking root in the country, says General Secretary of the United National Party, Tissa Attanayake, MP. Condemning the pressure exerted by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on the independent media he said, `The government hierarchy has a habit of inviting media personnel to the Temple Trees, treating them and then telling them in a subtle way not to write anything critical of the government. Now they have the audacity to warn the independent media with bodily harm`. Referring to what he described as the Government`s propaganda campaign against foreign diplomats and Amnesty International he said, it was Nimal Siripala de Silva the incumbent Leader of the House and Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition who raised a huge cry of protest in Parliament in 1991 at the then government saying it had not allowed AI to come to Sri Lanka.
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No plans to arrest Opposition Leader, says Media Minister Saturday, 21 April 2007 - 7:20 AM SL Time Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa commenting on the Island page one story which appeared yesterday said the Government has no intention of arresting Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Who is Johnston Fernando, the Minister questioned and said Fernando is playing the role of Goebbels in the UNP. Yapa while pooh-poohing the idea said Johnston was trying to create issues. `We vehemently condemn the false, unfounded allegation. He is acting in a very unbecoming manner for a member of the UNP.` The Island in yesterday`s issue carried a front page story `Govt. planning to arrest Ranil before May 8 - Johnston`.
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India`s VHP to agitate against Sethusamudram project Saturday, 21 April 2007 - 7:13 AM SL Time Influential Indian party Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Thursday threatened to launch a nation-wide agitation if the Indian Central Government did not change before May 13 the current alignment for the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project which would destroy the Ram Sethu or Adams Bridge in the Palk Straits, Times of India said yesterday. The TOI report filed from Rameswaram also said: `Participating in a demonstration organised in this holy island to protect the Ram Sethu, VHP International President Ashok Singhal said all Hindu organisations and saints would unite to oppose any move to destroy one of the `most important and holy monuments` for the Hindus - Ram Sethu. The MPs and MLAs would be asked to raise the issue in the Parliament.
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| Business / Economy News
Business News Forum
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Chevron`s Sri Lanka unit reveals interest in offshore oil exploration Saturday, 21 April 2007 - 7:22 AM SL Time US oil giant Chevron-Texaco is interested in bidding for offshore oil exploration blocks off Sri Lanka waters, a top official of its local unit, Caltex Lubricants said. `Chevron is interested in the exploration opportunity,` Kishu Gomes, Managing Director Caltex in Sri Lanka told reporters. `There is a delegation going to Houston, Texas to talk to prospective investors on first of May.` Gomes is on the delegation and will talk about the private sector perspective of operating in Sri Lanka`s lubricant market at a breakfast meeting at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) to be held in Houston, Texas USA during 30 April - 3 May. The conference, billed as one of the world`s largest events for the development of offshore resources, will be where Sri Lanka will make a formal announcement to the international community on its offshore petroleum prospects.
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CEB to be strict on street lights Saturday, 21 April 2007 - 7:14 AM SL Time The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has given strict instructions to local bodies to Switch on the Street lights at 7.00 pm and switch off at 5.00 am, a Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) spokesman said. `If we could systematically do the lighting in the evenings we could save a lot of energy and this would assist us to avoid unnecessary power cuts. It would also help the CEB to cater for the Vesak Demand`, the CEB source said. The wastage occurs mainly in Anuradhapura, Kandy and Colombo. The hydropower stations Kotmale, Samanalawawe and Kukule had received a rainfall of 45mm, 24.5mm and 27mm respectively, but this was not sufficient. The major reservoirs like Victoria and Randenigala are still waiting for more rain.
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Government vows to widen income tax net? Friday, 20 April 2007 - 6:30 AM SL Time The Government yesterday vowed to widen its income tax net to counter rising inflation in the country which currently hovers around 19 to 21 percent. Deputy Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya told the Daily Mirror yesterday that inflation was on the rise due to the Central Bank having to print money to meet the demands of the country`s economic growth which registered a healthy 7.4 percent rate last year. He denied the UNP claim that the Central Bank had printed 38 billion rupees to support the jumbo Cabinet and Government promotional campaigns, saying the Bank was an independent body that printed notes solely to cater to the country`s economic demands, and not to suit the whims and fancies of the Government.
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| Editorial News
Editorial News Forum
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Is the LTTE Weak? Saturday, 21 April 2007 - 7:23 AM SL Time `Is the LTTE weak?` This is the question very often raised by those who are interested in the Sri Lankan conflict. The answer could be both `Yes` and `No.` Many people in Sri Lanka are of the view that the LTTE is on the run. Many are eagerly looking forward for capturing of the leader of the LTTE to be tried and hung for the heinous crimes he has committed. They expect it to happen very soon since the media reports emanating from the Sri Lankan press have suggested that the ultimate defeat of the LTTE is eminent. In this context, no one can save the LTTE from the present predicament. Are all these propositions are true? Yes, the LTTE is in crisis and it is on the verge of collapse. No, it is still strong and it has not lost its military capabilities.
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A criminal in deputy minister`s clothing Friday, 20 April 2007 - 6:29 AM SL Time The government has launched a much-advertised crackdown on the underworld. It says it wants to rid the country of crime and narcotics. But, its campaign won`t yield the intended results, unless the links between politicians and criminal gangs are severed first of all. It is not only politicians who have risen above the law. Crime czars, too, enjoy legal immunity, thanks to political patronage. Successive governments have created many criminals. Contract killer, extortionist and convicted rapist Gonawala Sunil (UNP), the baby-faced monster responsible for many murders and assaults Sotththi Upali (UNP), murderer and extortionist Beddegana Sanjeewa (PA), killer and robber Wambotta (PA) and many other underworld kingpins would have been nonentities in the world of crime but for their political connections. (The JVP, too, made use of the underworld during its second insurrection to eliminate political rivals, as that method proved to be convenient and effective.)
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Karuna is clearly acting as a quasi military group and not a political party Thursday, 19 April 2007 - 5:05 AM SL Time Military engagements in the Vakarai area forced people in their thousands to flee the violence, creating an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. There are thousands who are making the resettlement camps their homes for months on end. Executive Director of the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA), Jeevan Thiagarajah tells Hard Talk that both the government and the NGOs have failed in their duties towards the displaced. He charged that no one has really appreciated the trauma the displaced have gone through. He claims that the impact is devastating and argues powerfully against the fostering of the current conflict contributing to further personal and communal suffering in the regions. Q: Thousands are reportedly going hungry in the camps and children are without schooling for months now in the North and the East. How concerned are you of the humanitarian crisis affecting the North and the East?
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| Sports News
Sports News Forum
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Wettimuny, Kalu join Tharanga-Atapattu World Cup debate Saturday, 21 April 2007 - 7:26 AM SL Time The wretched form of Sri Lanka`s left-handed opener Upul Tharanga has opened the possibility of former captain Marvan Atapattu making a comeback in the semi-final clash with New Zealand. Tharanga managed just 17 runs in his last three outings and his longest innings lasted no more than 22 balls -- a huge cause for concern. Atapattu is a member of Sri Lanka`s 15-member squad, but has not played in this World Cup. `That`s something we`ll have to think about. He`s hitting the ball pretty well but he`s just not spending time out there in the middle,` Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene told journalists in Grenada. Sidath Wettimuny, a highly acclaimed opening batsman in the 1980s, said showing Tharanga the door to make way for Atapattu was `a very tough call to make.`
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Percy for World Cup Saturday, 21 April 2007 - 7:25 AM SL Time Well known cheerleader Percy Abeysekara, who has gained a global recognition for cheering Sri Lanka cricket since the 1940s, will leave for the Caribbean Islands this weekend for the ongoing Cricket World Cup. Sri Lanka are likely to play against New Zealand in the first of the two semi-finals in Jamaica next Tuesday (24) and Percy will be there cheering the Sri Lanka team. The other semi-final will be in St. Lucia next Wednesday (25) and according to the present standings of the four qualifiers for the semi-finals, Australia will meet South Africa in that match. Percy has become an icon for his inimitable mannerisms, patriotism and great wit since he first carried the National Flag in 1979. This will be his fifth World Cup. He earlier cheered in 1979, `83, `96 and `99.
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Sri Lanka looking to exploit conditions in Jamaica Friday, 20 April 2007 - 6:26 AM SL Time This World Cup for Sri Lanka has been all about adapting to conditions. Now it is getting ready to play a semifinal on a bouncy wicket in Jamaica, Sri Lanka feels it is finally getting somewhere that will really suit its play. Although many sides have said the slow pitches in Guyana, Antigua and Grenada are similar to those in Sri Lanka, captain Mahela Jayawardene is adamant his batsmen prefer the faster track expected at Sabina Park. `We like bouncy wickets,` Jayawardene said. `Like any other cricketers in the world, our batsmen love to play on bouncy tracks when the ball is coming onto the bat. `Obviously, it`s very hard for batsmen to score runs when it`s not coming on.` That wasn`t what stopped Sri Lanka building a big score in its final Super 8s game at Grenada National Stadium on Wednesday.
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