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`Tamil rebel` arrested in Sydney Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 9:14 PM SL Time The Australian police have arrested a man on suspicion of raising funds for Sri Lanka`s Tamil Tiger rebel group.
Arumugam Rajeevan was charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation and produced in court. In May, Australian police arrested two other men in anti-terrorism raids in Melbourne, and charged them with similar offences. Australia classes the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as the Tigers are known, as a terrorist group. The rebels have been waging a struggle for independence for the last 35 years, which has claimed 60,000 lives. Mr Rajeevan, 41, `was charged in connection with two earlier arrests in May this year to do with raising money for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the terrorist group,` federal police commissioner Mick Keelty was quoted by news agency AFP as saying. 
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Telephone charges to come down Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 7:17 AM SL Time The Supreme Court yesterday directed the Sri Lanka Telecom, the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, and the Consumer Association of Sri Lanka to discuss further on the Telecom tariffs and call charges on the basis of the overall reduction by 8.72%
The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N.Silva, Justices Raja Fernando and N.G.Amaratunga. Pursuant to the proceedings of the court, the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission filed a motion on July 6 and suggested the possibility of an overall reduction of tariff and telephone charges by 8.72%. It also suggested that the residential rental be reduced from Rs 495 to Rs 350 and Business rental from Rs 1,000 to 950 from January 1, 2007.
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Thoppigala fall within days. Police establishing new police stations in liberated areas Monday, 9 July 2007 - 8:58 PM SL Time The Thoppigala mountain in the jungle area in Batticaloa located 220km east of Colombo will fall to hands of SL Army `within days,` the army announced today. The announcement came in the aftermath of the seizure of a massive rocky plateau called `Tora Bora`` while Sri Lankan Air Force fighter jets bombed rebel positions in Thoppigala.
`Army is now advancing across Narakamulla area, having destroyed two LTTE camps and capturing the Tora Bora` army spokesman said. The capture of Thoppigala, the LTTE`s eastern bastion, will be possible since today`s capture of `Tora Bora` rocky patch `cuts off rebel`s supply routes`, defence sources said. The Thoppigala battle has been ongoing from February 25, in the West and South of Batticaloa, the eastern capital of Sri Lanka. To-date, 211 LTTE rebels died and scores of them injured, the army said.
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| Security
Security Forum
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Abortion rate `escalating` Thursday, 12 July 2007 - 5:24 AM SL Time More than 1000 abortions are being carried out in Colombo every day according to a leading Sri Lankan gynaecologist. Dr L.A.W Sirisena, obstetrician and gynaecologist, told BBC Sandeshaya that the rate of abortions in Sri Lanka, where the practice is illegal, is escalating at an alarming rate. `In Colombo alone there are about 1000 abortions daily and there is the threat of women being killed as non-professionals are carrying them out,` Dr. Sirisena told bbcsinhala.com. `There is no question of legalising the abortion as this is not the main concern. The main thing is the social taboo. Many don`t like to be open about it,` he added. Asked whether the women having abortions were mainly unmarried, Dr. Sirisena disagreed. `Only four percent are unmarried, the rest are married women`.
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Alleged deal with Tigers: UNP produces affidavit Thursday, 12 July 2007 - 5:21 AM SL Time The main Opposition UNP yesterday came up with documentary evidence regarding the alleged deal the Government had struck with the LTTE in the run up to the Presidential Election in 2005, and reiterated its call for a Parliamentary Select Committee to probe the matter. UNP frontliner Lakshman Kiriella told journalists yesterday the UNP had obtained an affidavit from a person who witnessed Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa handing over money running into millions of rupees, to the LTTE leaders before the election. Mr. Kiriella said that under this deal, the LTTE prevented the people in the Northern and Eastern Provinces from voting at the Presidential polls and this eventually resulted in Mahinda Rajapaksa winning by a narrow margin.
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Immigration and Emigration Dept under 5S Wednesday, 11 July 2007 - 7:01 AM SL Time On the initiative of Prime Minister and Internal Administration Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and the guidance of Internal Administration Ministry Secretary Dr. U. Vidanapathirana the Immigration and Emigration Department has taken steps to transform itself to an exemplary state institution providing a streamlined and productive service to the people. Controller of Immigration and Emigration P.B. Abeykoon said these steps included the introduction of the 5S system and providing practical training to the department staff at all levels, to cope with the increasing range of activities the department is involved in the context of modern international trends. The annual number of migrants exceeded three million. The Department received 35000 to 39000 passport applications monthly and the number of passports issued ranged from 10000 to 12000 per month. The department also assisted many other activities including the issuing of visas and supporting airport activities.
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| Politics
Political News Forum
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Dallas bars first class air travel Thursday, 12 July 2007 - 5:15 AM SL Time Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma has directed all officials of his Ministry to travel only economy class when going overseas on official business. Alahapperuma told The Island that it was the practice in the past that officials travelled first class when going overseas and this had cost the Government enormous sums of money. He also said that with immediate effect he had stopped the practice of hosting seminars, workshops and press conferences at five star hotels. Instead, he has instructed Ministry officials to choose state institutions for all future gatherings to order to save the unnecessary expenditure. He said the time had come to economise on public funds as statistics have shown that a majority of state institutions squander money on official seminars and functions. `The policy of austerity should be the hallmark of every state institution` the Minister said.
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Muslim boy shot dead in Western Province Wednesday, 11 July 2007 - 7:04 AM SL Time A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) deserter leading a Sinhala mob, shot dead an 18-year-old Muslim boy, and seriously injured two other Muslim youths Monday night around 8:30 in the Muslim Western Province village of Ambalanduwa. The mob attacked the Muslims when they opposed a group of extremists attempting to place a Buddha statue close to a Mosque in their village, located in the Panadura division of Kalutara district, Police said. The victim was identified as Mohammed Faizal. The SLA deserter was identified as Priyantha, according to the Police. The army deserter and some of his supporters tried to place a Buddha statue close to the mosque in the village. When Muslim residents opposed the move, the mob led by Priyantha commenced the attack.
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Prelate urges Govt. to open A9 highway soon Wednesday, 11 July 2007 - 7:03 AM SL Time Sri Naga Vihara Development Foundation Chief and Northern province Chief Sangha Nayake Ven Meegahajandure Gunaratana Thera, yesterday called for the opening of the A9 highway, to provide an opportunity for devotees in the South to worship Buddhist Temples in the North. The Ven. Thera said it had become difficult to maintain temples including the Sri Naga Vihara, which is so dear to the Buddhists of this country. He said thousands of devotees had visited these Viharayas in the North when the A9 was opened in 2002. The Ven Thera also condemned the CID probe on UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena, who had been responsible for the Daham Charika from the South to the North in 2002.
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| Business / Economy News
Business News Forum
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DHL expands infrastructure in Sri Lanka with new Express Centre in Nugegoda. Thursday, 12 July 2007 - 5:27 AM SL Time DHL Keells (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka`s leading express and logistics company, inaugurated its newest Express Centre in the bustling town of Nugegoda. It will cater to the increasing demands of DHL`s retail customers in areas south of Colombo and beyond. The Nugegoda Express Centre adds to DHL`s expanding network which includes Colombo, Kollupitiya, Ja-Ela, Mt.Lavinia, Biyagama, Kandy and Kurunegala. The Nugegoda Express Centre offers a range of products and services including Jumbo Box and Express Pallet targeted at retail customers. Speaking at the inauguration of the new Express Centre in Nugegoda, Martin Dudek, Country Manager, DHL Express Sri Lanka, said, `The Sri Lankan retail customer base has always given us exciting growth opportunities. We find that more and more individualsare opting for our express delivery services with their very diverse needs. Our aim, in turn, is to provide them with access to more service locations across Sri Lanka, and also to offer unique products and services which address those specific needs. Whether it`s a student or a business, we will offer them a host of affordable products and services backed by our industry-leading service standards.`
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Cost of construction skyrocketing Thursday, 12 July 2007 - 5:19 AM SL Time There is a dire need to educate the public on cost effective and quality construction methods as cost of construction material has increased by 30 per cent in a short period. `Costs of all the construction material have gone up immensely and it is a huge problem faced by the construction industry. In order to complete projects with the required quality, public should have a thorough knowledge of cost effective construction methods,` said Ovista Residencies (Pvt) Ltd Chief Architect D.P.K. Mataraarachchi. It was noted that mostly, resources and material go waste due to lack of technical knowledge of public on building construction and finally they find it difficult to complete the building in the scheduled time with expected quality. Mataraarachchi speaking to `The Island Financial Review` said that effective construction process did not mean only land management and setting up a building but it was also important to consider the long term aspects such as durability, electricity management, ventilation and proper water supplement.
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SriLankan plans to resume night flights from Sep. 15 Wednesday, 11 July 2007 - 7:22 AM SL Time SriLankan Airlines is currently reviewing its operations and expects to revert to its original schedule, which includes night time operations, by 15th September 2007. While stating that it was keen on reverting to its normal operating pattern, the Airline went on to explain that being the home based carrier operating 181 flights per week from its hub at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, there were several practical as well as operational issues to be addressed in the first instance which would take awhile and hence the anticipated date of 15th September 2007. The Airline emphasized that its daytime operating schedule had been extended until September in order to ensure a degree of certainty to its passengers during this peak season for holiday traffic, particularly Sri Lankans visiting family and friends. A sudden change especially during this period could cause severe disruptions to travel plans resulting in loss of onward connections on other airlines which are also experiencing heavy loads at this time.
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| Editorial News
Editorial News Forum
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Politics of Thoppigala Thursday, 12 July 2007 - 5:17 AM SL Time Myths are more powerful than bombs and bullets in warfare, be it guerrilla or conventional. While the Kumaratunga government was readying for a foray into the LTTE-held Jaffna in 1995, a myth was disseminated that the army would lose as many as 15,000 men, if it tried to advance. But, the army wrested control of that town with relative ease and the LTTE beat a hasty retreat to Kilinochchi. In the late 1980s, the JVP also generated many a myth to glorify itself. A ruse employed by small groups of JVP combatants who surrounded houses at night either to kill their rivals or issue threats was to run here and there several times before knocking on doors so as to create the impression that there were many of them around. They also `posted` many fictitious accounts of their military exploits on the grapevine. Besides their violence, such measures helped them frighten people into submission and effectively declare `curfews` with chits delivered through brats.
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UN, child recruitment and NATO Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 7:21 AM SL Time The Karuna Group has taken umbrage over a UN move to name it as a perpetrator of child recruitment in a new report. It complains of a sinister plan to discredit it at this particular juncture. However, there is little that Karuna can do to avoid being shamed so long as there are, as alleged, underage combatants within his ranks. Karuna disputes allegations against his movement and claims he is not engaged in systematic child recruitment. His problem is that he was the chief recruiter of children for his erstwhile leader for many years. He was instrumental in abducting thousands of children and delivering them as cannon fodder to the LTTE.
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Thoppigala and military agony aunts Saturday, 7 July 2007 - 5:43 AM SL Time Sri Lanka`s conflict is doom to many but boon to some. It keeps many a retired general turned armchair defence analyst going in twilight years. Every time a shell drops in this country, a former military big gun fires a comment from the other side of the Palk Strait and that travels several times around the globe on the Net before the next shell falls. At present we have them commenting on Thoppigala. One of the retired Indian military bigwigs, Ashok Mehta, has claimed Thoppigala is of no strategic importance. Therefore, he says, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) only destroyed the LTTE facilities there and did not want to occupy the terrain. He has told The Hindustan Times: `Thoppigala was a vast jungle area which did not lie on any major line of communication. It was basically a hide-out for the LTTE. It had hospitals, prisons and training camps. I have personally led operations to destroy these facilities. But, we always came back to base, as there was no need to occupy the areas. There was nothing to occupy.` (The LTTE has, however, said the IPKF set up camps in that area in the late 1980s.) He appears to have obliquely countered Minister Keheliya Rambukwella`s claim that even the IPKF failed to capture Thoppigala.
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| Sports News
Sports News Forum
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Rain allows only 17 overs before tea Thursday, 12 July 2007 - 5:17 AM SL Time Only 17.4 overs were possible before tea on the first day`s play of the third and final Test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh here at the Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium in Kandy as heavy showers disrupted play. Despite a slight shower after captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and put the opposition in play got underway on schedule, but the players were forced to the dressing room after just 55 minutes of play due to rain. Lasith Malinga struck early on with the new ball when he nailed Javed Omar with a delivery that straightened after pitching. Omar was ruled leg before wicket by umpire Suresh Shastri for eight. Former captain Habibul Bashar was promoted to number three and started off steadily and was unbeaten on 18 when the first rain interruption came.
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Sri Lanka eyeing 50th Test win in third Test Wednesday, 11 July 2007 - 7:16 AM SL Time Sri Lanka will be looking forward to their 50th Test win in the third Test against Bagnladesh which begins here at the Asgiriya International Stadium in Kandy today. Already 2-0 up in the series, Sri Lanka will at least make two changes for the final game. All-rounder Farveez Maharoof will replace veteran Chaminda Vaas, who was released to play county cricket at Middlesex while Upul Tharanga will be back as opener at the expense of either Michael Vandort or Malinda Warnapura. The team management left the decision as to which player will open the innings with the established Tharanga for the morning of the Test. They were also entertaining the idea of brining in left arm seam bowler Sujeeva de Silva for either Dilhara Fernando or Lasith Malinga.
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Sri Lanka U-19 skipper plays a selfish game Tuesday, 10 July 2007 - 7:26 AM SL Time An enterprising unbeaten 71 in only 45 balls by Kusal Janith was the highlight of the drawn three-day encounter between the Under-19 teams of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Colts ground yesterday. Kushal`s quick-fire innings consisted of four boundaries and five towering sixes. It took him only 32 balls to reach his half ton and he was also associated in a 55-ball 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Nisham Mazahir who also made another useful contribution of 32 following his 31 made in the first innings. The local team resuming from their overnight score of 44 for 1 underwent an early setback as they lost Ashan Priyanjan who was unbeaten on 37 after having added only one run to his score. The Bangladeshi bowlers were again battered in the latter part of the innings before the declaration was made prior to lunch. Set a target of 284 for victory with 70 overs of batting remaining the visitors lost three quick wickets and were struggling on 32 for 3 in the 12th over.
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