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Door open for Karuna cadres too? Tuesday, 31 July 2007 - 6:32 AM SL Time As part of measures to establish civil administration in the east, the government has started recruiting Tamil youth to the police force while speculation is rife that Karuna cadres may also be included.
With Karuna refusing to disarm in the east, sources said the invitation for ordinary youth to join the police force would give Karuna cadres the opportunity to be part of the state civil administration. `A fresh recruitment drive is underway to recruit several thousands of Tamils especially from the eastern region,` a top defence official told the Daily Mirror. Speaking to the BBC a day after the government celebrated the liberation of the east, Karuna said he had no intention of disarming as the LTTE threat still existed in the region. 
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India-Sri Lanka peace accord marks 20 years with war Monday, 30 July 2007 - 8:56 PM SL Time When India and Sri Lanka signed a peace pact two decades ago it was hailed as a landmark that could end Asia`s longest running civil war. But since then, the bloodshed has only got worse.
The 1987 accord envisaged the disarming of Tamil Tiger separatists by India, which had armed and provided them safe haven, and Sri Lanka granting greater autonomy to its ethnic minority. Neither was done, said analysts, who now question the accord`s relevance. `I think the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement is now passe,` said retired Sri Lankan diplomat Nanda Godage who was involved in negotiations at the time. The pact, signed on July 29 and supported by the United States, European powers and the United Nations was resisted by hardliners on both sides of the ethnic divide in Sri Lanka. It led to riots that claimed at least 50 lives.
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40 MW power supply system for Jaffna Monday, 30 July 2007 - 10:39 AM SL Time A new electricity generation system will be installed by October this year to provide electricity to the Jaffna district.
Under this project, a 40 MW supply system will be introduced to the Jaffna by the Power and Energy Ministry. The Ministry is planning to further expand the system by setting up a 25 MW power plant in Jaffna apart from a 15 MW power plant in Chunnakam. Meanwhile, arrangements are under way to provide electricity to the Eastern Province to boost the accelerated re-development in the Eastern sector to help people re-start life. Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne said they have provided electricity to 67 villages in the Eastern Province and also expect to provide electricity to the Thoppigala area. Meanwhile, Rs. 9,000 million will be invested on the Raneliweta programme under this project to supply electricity before the end of this year to Hambantota and Ratnapura Districts.
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| Security
Security Forum
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Intelligence op. led to missile recovery - military Thursday, 2 August 2007 - 4:41 AM SL Time Contrary to reports, Monday`s recovery of a heat seeking surface to air missile, believed to be of East European origin, was facilitated by an intelligence operation, an authoritative military official said. Acting on specific information, the SLA had found the 22.7 pound SAM-14 (aka Strela 3) buried in the Thoppigala area. `It had been buried separately,` the official said, asserting that a routine search operation would not have unearthed the weapon. But the SLA did not find the gadget needed to activate the missile. The official expressed belief that the LTTE cadre tasked to fire the weapon or a senior cadre would have retained the firing mechanism. The recovery was made in the backdrop of UNP allegations that the SLA had allowed approximately 1,000 LTTE cadres to escape with their arms, ammunition and equipment on the orders of the political leadership.
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Thermobaric weapon among arms haul Thursday, 2 August 2007 - 3:14 AM SL Time A deadly thermobaric weapon left behind by the fleeing Tigers was recovered from the Verugal area in Trincomalee a day after an anti-aircraft missile was recovered from the Thoppigala area, a top military expert told the Daily Mirror yesterday. `This particular weapon is banned by some countries, as it contains chemicals,` he said. The official also said that the intense heat generated by the thermobaric weapon can destroy anything within minutes after it hits a target. `We have to get more details about this weapon, and a special weapons expert will examine it soon,` he said. According to military sources, troops also recovered three disposable Rocket Propelled Grenades, 1250 rounds of 5.6 mm ammunition, 5300 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition and 2130 rounds of ammunition for pistols.
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Mahinda lying on disappearances Thursday, 2 August 2007 - 3:07 AM SL Time Human rights activists in Sri Lanka have accused President Rajapaksa of trying to introduce peace meal solutions to rights violations. Chairman of the Civil Monitoring Committee (CMC), Siritunga Jayasuriya said the President has learnt a new tactic to solve burning problems in the country. `When an issue is raised, he call the affected and comfort them and send them back,` Jayasuriya told a press gathering in Colombo. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2007/08/070801_cmc_disappear.shtml
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| Politics
Political News Forum
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Hundreds of relatives demand justice for missing people in Sri Lanka Thursday, 2 August 2007 - 4:39 AM SL Time Hundreds of Sri Lankans, many carrying photos of their abducted relatives, tearfully demanded Wednesday that the government investigate the fates of scores of minority Tamils who have ``disappeared`` across the country in recent months. Civil rights groups say more than 100 ethnic Tamils have been kidnapped amid the new wave of fighting between Tamil Tiger rebels and the government, which is controlled by the majority Sinhalese community. The fighting has plunged parts of the country into chaos and displaced tens of thousands of people. Shaking with emotion, Thevani Yogarajan, 50, said her husband, a Pentecostal minister, and two sons, both in their 20s, have not been heard from since they went to the capital, Colombo, in March to get passports so they could travel to India and escape the fighting.
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Erik Solheim exposed by Norwegians Against Terrorism Wednesday, 1 August 2007 - 7:19 AM SL Time With extracts drawn from Erik Solheim`s book `Nærmere` the Norwegians Against Terorism (NAT), an Oslo based NGO, has highlighted aspects of Solheim`s career which includes * his role as a recruit to the Norwegian Air Force during which time he was sentenced to jail for stealing the uniform of an officer * his relationship with Arne Fjotoft, the man who headed the Norwegian World View aid organisation which was riddled with corruption * his sexcapades with Czech girls * his accounts of Nigeria in which Norwegian aid workers frequented HIV/Aids infested brothels * Arne`s links to Sri Lankan politics the Westborg, the Norwegian Ambassador and how Norway got involved with LTTE etc.
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Politico`s brother mining sand illegally, claim residents Wednesday, 1 August 2007 - 7:17 AM SL Time Residents in Polonnaruwa have complained to the environmental authorities that the brother of a powerful Minister in the area backed by a paramilitary group is engaged in illegal sand mining along the Mahaweli Ganga close to the Manampitiya Bridge. They say that the politician`s brother is carrying out large-scale sand mining using backhoes. `This person resorts to thuggery to keep the small-scale sand miners away,` another resident said. The affected sand miners have already taken up the matter with the relevant authorities. The issue was taken up at the Polonnaruwa District Development Committee (DDC) meeting held on July 13, in the presence of the leading area politician concerned. JVP MP S.K. Subasinghe who also participated in the meeting said yesterday that he found fault with the Minister`s brother.
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| Business / Economy News
Business News Forum
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Special Deal will allow Expatriates a break EN route Thursday, 2 August 2007 - 4:47 AM SL Time SriLankan Airlines have announced a number of special promotions for travellers who use their service during the summer months. From 15th June to 15th July, any passenger purchasing a ticket to South India can enjoy a two night holiday in Sri Lanka staying in either the beach resort of Negombo or the capital of Colombo , for a discounted price of AED 250 and AED 270 respectively. Customers travelling further afield to the Far East until the end of September can avail themselves of a special two night free stay in Negombo on their return or add on an extension to South India or North India for AED 500 and AED 800 respectively. SriLankan Airlines Country Manager for the UAE and Russia, Ms. Desiree Premachandra, believes that the special deals will prove particularly attractive to expatriates in the UAE who are flying home for their holidays and wish to take a small holiday break on the way. `We introduced these special offers with expatriates in mind,` she says. `Many employees from India and the Far East travel home during the hot summer months to visit their families and these deals will allow them to either enjoy a short break en route, staying at the capital or the resort at Negombo or to add on an extra destination for a specially reduced air fare,` she says.
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Two jumbos run over by goods train Thursday, 2 August 2007 - 3:15 AM SL Time Two wild elephants were run over by a Trincomalee bound goods train between Agbopura and Aluthoya in the early hours of yesterday, Wild Life Conservation Department officials said. One elephant died at the scene while the other was in a critical condition and was under treatment by veterinary surgeons of the department. The officials said the injured elephant was lying on the ground and not able to move. The train service between Colombo and Trincomalee came to a standstill until the carcass of the dead elephant was removed from the track. The night mail train from Colombo terminated at Gal Oya, as a result of the obstruction. It also resulted in a long delay of Colombo bound morning trains from Trincomalee as well.
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Chinese carriages for Lanka`s rails Wednesday, 1 August 2007 - 7:18 AM SL Time Around 100 new railway carriages manufactured in China will arrive in Sri Lanka within the next three months to address the severe dearth of carriages in the local train service. The carriages, purchased at a cost of Rs 22 million each, will be shipped from China on August 20 and the first fleet of 25 carriages will reach Sri Lanka by September 3, a Transport Ministry spokesman said. He said the remaining 75 carriages will arrive in the country during the following three months in 25 carriage fleets. `At least 50 railway carriages should be added to the service annually if we are to provide a satisfactory train service to the public. However, not one carriage has been added to the service since 1992. That is why Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma submitted a Cabinet proposal to purchase new carriages as one of his first tasks after assuming duty,` he said.
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| Editorial News
Editorial News Forum
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Let`s hear their voice, too Tuesday, 31 July 2007 - 6:41 AM SL Time Support for a military solution among the Sinhala community is dwindling according to a recent survey conducted by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)?from 35.1 per cent in February 2007 to 27.9 per cent in June?and the majority of the Sinhalese are supportive of peace talks. However, about 54 per cent of them are supporting the continuation of the government`s military campaign to weaken the LTTE, while the Up-Country Tamils (69 per cent) and the Muslims (57 per cent) do not endorse the government`s war effort. About 53 per cent of the Sinhalese, 95 per cent of the Up-Country Tamils and 93 per cent of the Muslims are supportive of peace talks to resolve the conflict. Interestingly, 0.7 per cent of the Sinhalese, as opposed to 1.4 per cent in February, still believe that the LTTE defeating the government will pave the way for a solution. Strangely, none of the Up-Country Tamils living in areas infiltrated by the LTTE are of that view. Is it that they are too afraid to speak out or the support for the LTTE in the hill country is no more?
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Of those abortion factories Monday, 30 July 2007 - 10:44 AM SL Time The police have descended on a large scale abortion clinic, which had been in operation for years in Colombo 03. The number of abortions performed at this joint is startling?about one hundred a day. Perhaps, it is a misnomer to call it an abortion centre. It is an abortion factory! The police have got hold of the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of such places where thousands of foetuses are eliminated day in day out. Worse, most of them are run by quacks who don`t give a damn about the standard surgical practices. We often hear of women being admitted to the state run hospitals in critical conditions after abortions performed at those wayside joints. What we are witnessing is the fallout of a serious social problem, which cannot be solved by raids and legal action alone. The police have, no doubt, done their duty by raiding the abortion clinic concerned, which had been functioning in the guise of a family planning centre. But, such ad hoc measures and piecemeal remedies amount to that proverbial squirrel`s desperate effort to empty the ocean with its tail to save its drowning baby. Our ability as a nation to be calmly perched on simmering volcanoes of social problems, as if they were water mattresses is truly remarkable.
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India drops a catch Sunday, 29 July 2007 - 7:15 AM SL Time While it is said that comparisons are odious, we do not apologize for comparing Mr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who has just relinquished the largely ceremonial office of President of India with the common or garden types with little to commend either in capacity, efficiency, attainment or integrity who hold high office in this country and many others including, sadly, those that preen themselves for the vigor and excellence of their democratic institutions. India has indeed been fortunate in having men of remarkable stature holding the office of Head of State and President Kalam, of humble origin and high attainment, will be ranked with the best of them. However, it is India`s tragedy that when she could have had him serve a second term, that opportunity was spurned with politicians preferring to replace him with one of their own tribe.
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| Sports News
Sports News Forum
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SL finish seventh in Asian Athletic Championship Thursday, 2 August 2007 - 4:44 AM SL Time The five day Asian Athletic Championship ended on Tuesday with Sri Lanka securing the seventh position in the medals table with three gold medals, two silver and two bronze. The 12 member Sri Lankan contingent did exceptionally well in Jordan where 36 countries participated. China topped the medals table with seven gold medals, four silver and four bronze while India finished second. Saudi Arabia secured the third place. Of the South Asian nations that took part in this year`s event, only Sri Lanka and India managed to win gold medals. The next Asian Athletic Championship will be held in China.
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Asantha de Mel back as Sri Lanka chief selector Thursday, 2 August 2007 - 3:16 AM SL Time Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Asantha de Mel has been re-appointed chief of the national cricket selection committee amid controversy. Don Anurasiri, Ranjith Madurasinghe and Mahes Goonathilake - all former Test players - are the other members, The Daily News Wednesday said. De Mel was re-appointed by Sri Lanka sports minister Gamini Lokuge even after not being nominated by Sri Lanka Cricket`s interim committee. The tensions stemmed from the Abu Dhabi one-day series defeat to Pakistan. De Mel questioned SLC`s decision to send the team to the United Arab Emirates immediately after the World Cup, after Sri Lanka had reached the final in the Caribbean.
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Bayliss takes shine to Murali the enigma Wednesday, 1 August 2007 - 7:22 AM SL Time LIKE most onlookers, Trevor Bayliss didn`t know what to make of Muttiah Muralitharan`s action when the prolific off spinner first exploded on to the international stage. Now, 15 years later, Bayliss is preparing to lead the Sri Lankan side at a time when Muralitharan is challenging Shane Warne for supremacy atop the Test wicket-takers list. Bayliss will leave Australia next week to assume Tom Moody`s former coaching post, certain that his main bowling weapon possesses a legitimate action. But it wasn`t always so. Bayliss, a former opening batsman and coach with NSW, conceded that he was unsure of the legality of Muralitharan`s unique bent-arm action in the early days.
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