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LTTE forcing civilians to join war effort Saturday, 21 July 2007 - 8:06 AM SL Time In Tamil Tiger territory, youths like Rajathurai Ponnambalam are living in hiding to avoid being forcibly recruited by the rebels and sent to fight in a Sri Lankan civil war they don`t believe in.
Many residents Reuters spoke to during a rare visit to the rebels` heartland in the north said the Tigers are demanding every family contribute at least one member to a movement widely banned as a terrorist organisation by the likes of the United States, Britain and the European Union. They tell of how brothers, sisters, sons and daughters have been taken against their will to camps to be trained as fighters. They say they are helpless to prevent it. `They said: `Your family does not have an LTTE member, so you must join,` said Ponnambalam, who is in his 20s and gave a false name for fear of retribution from the rebels. `I did not agree, so they took me away in a vehicle.` 
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`Heavy casualties` in Mannar fighting Saturday, 21 July 2007 - 8:00 AM SL Time The Tamil Tigers have launched a pre-dawn raid on an army detachment in northern Sri Lanka.
The fighting happened near Mannar, the front lines that mark the boundary of the rebel held territory in the north of Sri Lanka. A group of Tamil Tigers attacked a detachment of the Sri Lankan army with mortar and rifle fire.Both sides claim to have inflicted heavy casualties on the other. Sri Lanka`s military spokesman, Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said the rebels were driven off and at least nine of them were killed with many more wounded. He said three soldiers also lost their lives. The Tigers though claimed they had killed ten Sri Lankan army soldiers and lost four of their own fighters.
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Rising levels of malnutrition in Jaffna Friday, 20 July 2007 - 8:58 PM SL Time Nutrition surveys by the Sri Lankan government and international agencies show rising levels of acute malnutrition in the northern district of Jaffna.
Livelihoods and markets have been disrupted by conflict and displacement, the closure of a major highway, and security-related restrictions on farming and fishing. Food assistance for the internally displaced and other vulnerable groups has been in short supply for months, reports UN-backed news agency IRIN. Jaffna`s Government Agent K. Ganesh says that 96,500 families, 51 percent of the Jaffna population, are farmers or farm labourers. Their productivity has been hit hard by the lack of fertiliser and other farm inputs and because nothing is produced in land in military-controlled high security zones. Severe restrictions imposed by the Sri Lankan military also limit the livelihoods of the 17,500 fishing families (nine percent of the population) whose production is only an estimated 10 percent of pre-conflict levels of output.
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| Security
Security Forum
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Two pronged SLA operation thwarted - LTTE Monday, 23 July 2007 - 9:48 AM SL Time Liberation Tigers put up stiff resistance against the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) causing heavy losses to the SLA units that launched a two-pronged offensive near Mu`l`likku`lam along the Forward Defence Line in Mannaar, according to LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan. Five LTTE fighters were killed in action. The fighting which broke out at 3:00 p.m. was brought to an end around 6:00 p.m. LTTE forces were engaged in a search operation in the area, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.
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Democracy expensive, peace rare: President Monday, 23 July 2007 - 9:47 AM SL Time President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday called upon all patriotic forces to unite under one umbrella to find a lasting solution to the current national problem by setting aside all other agendas. Addressing the SLFP`s 17th national convention at Maharagama the President said, `The most expensive thing in this world is democracy and the rarest thing is peace. Today, we are in search of these two, and I invite all patriots to join us in order to ensure the accomplishment of this task. Patriots can have only one agenda, and that is protecting the country. All should unite for the sake of the motherland.` He also noted that political decisions should not be taken out of jealousy or hatred.
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Extortionist shot dead Monday, 23 July 2007 - 9:46 AM SL Time Welikada police Saturday night shot dead a person who was alleged to have demanded a Rs 2 million ransom from a wealthy businessman living at Rajagiriya. Police identified the slain person as K. Pradeep Prasanna, a resident of Homagama. A police squad had fired at the suspect as he tried to flee after meeting the businessman at an isolated point at Mattegoda. Police claimed that the suspect had flung a hand grenade at the police party before he was gunned down. The suspect had threatened to kill the businessman`s two children unless he paid Rs 2 million.
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| Politics
Political News Forum
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Karuna says disarming now dangerous Monday, 23 July 2007 - 9:49 AM SL Time The leader of the breakaway Tamil Tiger rebel faction in the east says he has no plans to disarm his fighters. `Colonel` Karuna was speaking to the BBC a day after the government celebrated what it says is the complete capture of the island`s east from the Tigers. Karuna said Tiger intelligence personnel were still operating in the east even though it had been re-taken by government forces. `If we disarm now, it will be dangerous for us. We want to carry arms for self-protection,` he told the BBC Tamil Service. He said the killing of the top bureaucrat in the Eastern Province earlier this week was proof of this. He also once again rejected the widely held view that his forces and government troops have co-operated in the fight against the Tigers.
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Mihin Air flying in turbulent conditions Sunday, 22 July 2007 - 6:41 AM SL Time The Government funded budget airline Mihin Air is reportedly planning to charter an additional aircraft despite its existing two aircraft carrying only about 50% of their capacity,. Mihin Air CEO Sajin Vass Gunawardena has been out of the country with a team for more than a week and attempts to get information from Finance Manager Ms. G. Wanigasekera proved futile. She refused to comment and directed us to contact the CEO... Head of Finance Sajiva Suaris too asked us to contact their CEO, but when told he has been out of the country for more than a week, Mr. Suaris requested us to contact him next Monday. The Sunday Times learns that the CEO and at least one other official had gone to Turkey to select a third aircraft for the airline. The airline`s Flight Controller Suresh Raju however said no final decision had been taken on acquiring a third aircraft.
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Celebrate the end of war and not the wars? Saturday, 21 July 2007 - 8:11 AM SL Time With Kafirs and Migs flying overhead amidst a 21-gun salute Mahinda told the LTTE that Guns, bombs and cyanide would not help them to liberate the Tamil people. Very true for both sides! What was the significance of Thoppigala for Mahinda to close the city roads and spend state funds to have such an elaborate ceremony when so many innocent people have died in the crossfire? In fact an emotional Hakeem in Parliament pointed out that war rhetoric at such ceremonies will not promote ethnic harmony and by blowing the trumpet to captivate the Southern Audience would not help to unite the country. In fact the UNP while saluting the brave soldiers for their sacrifice, condemned the government for politicizing Thopigala for political gain. The UNP has gone on record saying that it was captured twice before. Therefore there was no real need to celebrate this victory other than recognizing the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. This is also true. A political exercise built on military gains can only make the Tamils feel as conquered people. It was Ernest Hemingway who said many years ago that the first panacea for a mismanaged country is inflation of currency, the second is war . Both bring temporary prosperity but bring ruin. Both are the refuge of political and economic opportunist. In a country where even a toilet opening is politicized for political gain. Thoppigala capture was a top agenda item for Mahinda and his advisors for many weeks. So no one expected Thopigala victory to be spared. It was evident that the government wanted to glorify the military victory to boost the fledging images of some of the government leaders. On the other hand the government troops would have found it very difficult to take on the LTTE in the East if not for the crack in the LTTE following the break away of the Karuna Group, thanks to the CFA signed in 2002.Therefore this was not a victory for the Blue side or the Green side. While we all agree the government should get some credit for the victory. The ceremony perhaps could have been celebrated at the President`s house to honor the soldiers who lost their lives. The money allocated for the ceremony should have been given to the families of those soldiers. According to a newspaper report many soldiers are still waiting for the loans they applied for some time back. It is the sons and daughters of ordinary people who shed their blood to capture Thhopigala, they did not have the bullet proof cars like their elected people representatives or the escorts like their top brass in Colombo to protect their lives form the mines and bullets. Also it was the ordinary mans tax money and money borrowed in his name that paid for the bullets, the Migs and the Kafirs and the gun ships to fight the war. Therefore no one has the right to claim the ownership of the victory or ridicule the military victory. So we all need to rise above petty party politics and rise up to the challenge of finding a durable solution to the North and East problem. Because holding land in the East will be a big challenge for Mahinda and his team.
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| Business / Economy News
Business News Forum
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Mihin Lanka to expand route network Monday, 23 July 2007 - 9:51 AM SL Time Mihin Lanka, the fully Government owned budget airline, has carried over 17,000 passengers in the last two and a half months, a spokesman for the airline told the Daily News. The airline, which operates two Airbus aircraft, offers flights to a number of regional destinations. Bangkok is the latest destination. More destinations are being added on an almost a weekly basis. `Current load factors are very good and bookings ahead are solid.` The spokesman said Singapore`s airport authorities were willing to grant certain concessions to the airline, having noticed its potential for increasing tourist and business traffic between the two countries.
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Aid warning over military circular Monday, 23 July 2007 - 9:50 AM SL Time Sri Lanka will be deprived of international aid if the proposed plans for the military to supervise development work implemented, rights activists warned. Military in eastern Sri Lanka have ordered regional authorities to `supervise` all development work by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOS) in the region. In a memorandum circulated to the security chiefs and civil administrators, Eastern Commander Maj. Gen. Parakrama Pannipitiya has ordered not to allow any NGO to start projects `according to their will` in the east.
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SriLankan Airlines is Foreign Carrier of the Year South Asia again Sunday, 22 July 2007 - 6:48 AM SL Time SriLankan Airlines was named Foreign Carrier of the Year for South Asia for the second successive year at the recent KLIA Awards 2006 in Kuala Lumpur. Peter Hill, CEO of SriLankan, said: `We at SriLankan are very pleased to add the KLIA Award to our list of accolades. It is always an honour to receive recognition as being among the finest in the global air transport industry.` Malaysia Airlines won the title of Carrier of the Year, while other regional awards went to Singapore Airlines (Southeast Asia), Cathay Pacific (Northeast Asia), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Europe), and SriLankan`s strategic partner Emirates Airline (Middle East). The KLIA Awards are presented by Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhard, which operates Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), recently named the World`s Best Airport in the 15-25 million passengers category. Awards are presented to passenger airlines, cargo airlines, low cost airlines, food & beverage outlets, and retail outlets which operate in Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Airlines are judged on the number of passengers carried to and from Kuala Lumpur, strong growth, good sales performance, good sales performance, international recognition, and service performance.
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| Editorial News
Editorial News Forum
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The East is calling Monday, 23 July 2007 - 9:52 AM SL Time The re-establishment of the government`s writ in the entire Eastern Province has not only demolished many a myth about the LTTE?its invincibility etc.?but also ripped the international community`s mask of humanitarian concerns. A few moons ago, some foreign envoys in Colombo let rip, so to speak, about the humanitarian situation in the East. They were so concerned about the civilian plight that they even went there in defiance of government warnings to see for themselves how humanitarian work was being done. They had a close shave when the LTTE shelled the chopper carrying them and some of them suffered minor injuries. But, today, we learn that international help for rebuilding the East is not forthcoming as some members of the international community remain noncommittal on assistance. Only a few of them have reportedly expressed their willingness to make a contribution to that worthy cause, but they, too, don`t seem to be so enthusiastic.
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Thursday`s tamasha Sunday, 22 July 2007 - 6:48 AM SL Time All the world loves a parade and Thursday`s nationally televised tamasha ? that`s what it was ? certainly held the attention of audiences countrywide. Had President Mahinda Rajapaksa chosen the other option of merely addressing the nation over the electronic media, he would not have commanded the same interest. Whether people hung on to every word he said in a speech that was commendably shorter than others normally delivered on such occasions is a moot point. The pictures obviously were of greater interest than the words spoken and Minister Dallas Alahapperuma has won plaudits at least from some of his colleagues for stage managing the show. The euphoria, however, was short-lived. Soon after the parade, Mr. S.L. Gunasekera, the anti-appeasement activist who is much admired by a constituency that helped elect Rajapaksa, told a Manel Mal rally that the government was wasting money on a tamasha to celebrate the military victory at Thoppigala. He underscored that nobody should try to gain political advantage from the victory declaring that its true owners were none but the security forces. Gunasekera would have undoubtedly struck a chord within the enlightened electorate with his remark that while the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was trying to undermine the achievement of the military, the government was trying to over-value it. ``Both are crimes,`` he declared and striking a realistic note added: ``If anyone thinks everything ends here (at Thoppigala), he is mistaken. This is only the end of the beginning.``
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Two political events Saturday, 21 July 2007 - 8:12 AM SL Time Two important political events took the centre stage on Thursday. The first was the `Negenahira Navodaya` ceremony held at Independence Square and the other was the signing of a MoU between the UNP and the SLFP (People`s Faction) held at the parliamentary complex. Despite the appeals made and advice given by concerned parties and persons against having a state ceremony of such magnitude, the government went ahead with the ceremony which undoubtedly would have cost the state a considerable sum of money, apart from the frittering away of the precious time and energy of many people who participated in the ceremony and of those others whose routine duties were interrupted by traffic and other arrangements made for the function.
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| Sports News
Sports News Forum
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Sri Lanka remains in Zone III Monday, 23 July 2007 - 9:56 AM SL Time It was a delayed start yesterday due to rain on the fifth and final day of the Asia/Oceania Zone III of the Davis Cup tennis tournament at Green Path. The front runners for the first and second teams to be promoted from Zone III to Zone II were Lebanon, Oman, Sri Lanka and UAE. Lebanon were way ahead and made themselves eligible for promotion by having won 4 ties. In contention for the second position and thereby for promotion, were Oman with having won 3 ties, Sri Lanka 3 and UAE 2. There was an air of expectancy when Sri Lanka took on Lebanon and Oman was pitted against UAE. For Sri Lanka to gain promotion they had to beat Lebanon and to make their case even stronger UAE had to beat Oman. The matches that had no bearing and were of no consequence, were the ties between Singapore versus Malaysia and, Saudi Arabia against Vietnam.
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Sri Lanka storms into top four Sunday, 22 July 2007 - 6:49 AM SL Time It was one of the best tennis displayed in Colombo for a long time by a Sri Lanka team. After beating Vietnam in the decisive doubles with Rajeev Rajapakse, Sri Lanka`s key player Harshana Godamanna threw his racket in ecstasy towards the area where the first coaches of this year`s three Davis Cup players were cheering from. Sylvester Francis (first coach of Godamanna), Sudantha Soyza (coached Rajapakse) and Ricardo de Fonseka (coached Renouk Wijemanne) hugged the two players on the court after the win. The few hundreds of local tennis fans were shouting in jubilation. Spirit of Davis Cup was high. The third seed hosts have entered the top four this year to fight for their Group-II promotion beating both Malaysia, who came from last year`s Group-II, and No.2 seed Vietnam. This was last evening. The venue was the SLTA in Green Path, Colombo.
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Cricket official suspended for racial slur Saturday, 21 July 2007 - 8:15 AM SL Time Controversial cricket administrator K.M. Nelson was charged with racial abuse and was suspended from services pending an inquiry by Sri Lanka Cricket. Nelson a Director at R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium had allegedly racially abused a leading member of the Cricket Interim Committee when the latter requested for an inspection of the stadium. Nelson, no stranger for public outbursts, had allegedly taken on the Interim Committee official when he was informed that a team of officers from England were coming to inspect the floodlight system at the venue, a cricket board official told `The Island`. Nelson has a history of getting into altercations with cricketers and administrators and the most infamous incident was when he threatened to take his pants off if Roshan Mahanama made more than ten runs in a Test Match against India in 1997. Mahanama went onto make a double hundred, but Nelson`s pants stayed put.
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