| Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions |
Sri Lankan News & Discussions |
|
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
|
Most Recent News Discussions
|
| More Headline News |
|
LTTE plotting to use chemical weapons Sunday, 26 August 2007 - 9:01 AM SL Time LTTE`s plot to utilize chemical weapons in their future battlefields has been tracked by the Intelligence sources.
There is enough evidence available to prove that the LTTE already has built up stocks of Cyanide and Potassium during the ceasefire period, the Asian Tribune reports. The security forces were able to find 3,600 liters of sulfuric acid on 12th August 2007 in Anuradhapura north - Medawachhiya. The occupants of the tipper vehicle which carried the acid were handed over to the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) and it was reported that the suspects had past records of smuggling explosives to LTTE controlled areas, as well as from LTTE-controlled areas to government controlled areas. 
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 172 )
War-damaged Sri Lankan church is becoming a peace centre Saturday, 25 August 2007 - 10:22 PM SL Time The buildings of Christ Church along Jaffna`s main road stand pock-marked by shell holes, as a grim reminder of the many pitched battles fought between Tamil rebels and Sri Lankan forces in this Tamil heartland on the northern fringe of Sri Lanka - writes Anto Akkara.
Built in 1871, the Anglican church is, however, now getting a facelift. New roof tiles have been put in place, and major holes in the walls are being patched up. `We`re converting this church into a war memorial, and it will be used as a centre for conflict analysis,` the Rev S. P. Nesakumar, the archdeacon of Jaffna, told Ecumenical News International as he pointed to the severe damage inflicted by bombing and shelling during the 1990 and 1995 conflicts. The Jaffna peninsula has nearly 30,000 war-damaged buildings, which residents say is a grim testament to the bloodshed in the Tamil heartland, where nearly 40,000 government security troops are deployed to uphold Sri Lankan sovereignty among about half a million Tamils.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 91 )
Omanthai crossing point to open 5 days a week Saturday, 25 August 2007 - 6:46 AM SL Time The government and the LTTE yesterday agreed to open the Omanthai entry/exit point five days a week from Monday following meetings the ICRC had with the LTTE and the military over the past few days.
The crossing point will be open from 9 am to 5 pm during the week. The LTTE put forward a set of proposals to the ICRC for the opening of the Omanthai crossing point and the conditions were discussed with the army in Vavuniya yesterday when the two sides compromised on opening the route five days a week. Meanwhile, Ms. N Selvy the LTTE spokesperson on humanitarian issues and human rights told the Daily Mirror via email that following repeated requests from many community leaders, humanitarian workers, UN agencies and the Government the LTTE had wanted the route to be open 7 days a week.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 107 )
|
|
More Headline News
|
| Security
Security Forum
|
|
Camera phones, fun no more warn police Monday, 27 August 2007 - 9:16 AM SL Time With the mobile camera phone now being the `in thing` in Lanka like in many other countries and as a result of its growing popularity the police cautioned that anyone misusing the technology could be taken to task. Police spokesman DIG Jayantha Wickramaratne says the public could go as far as filing civil action and claiming damages from a camera phone user if there is a violation of their privacy. `Without the consent of the party a photograph or video cannot be taken. That is a violation of that person`s privacy. So they can protest against it and complain to the police or insist that the image or video be deleted immediately,` DIG Wickramaratne told the Daily Mirror. With the advent of the camera phone there are concerns that some users violate the privacy of others, especially that of females, by taking their photographs in public places like on the streets or clubs without their knowledge and using them for mischievous purposes.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 2 )
Security tightened in Kandy and suburbs Monday, 27 August 2007 - 9:16 AM SL Time With the beginning of the Dalada Maligawa Randoli Perahera drawing massive crowds to view the pageant, police and the armed forces had intensified security in the city. Security checks have been increased following the detection of a haul of explosives weighing over two kilos in a bus at Kadugannawa two days ago and other incidents reported. At lease 7000 police personnel are deployed on Perahera duty in the metropolitan area of Kandy and in the suburbs. Security to the sacred area which is declared a High Security Zone is guarded by the armed forces in addition to the police. Security is personally supervised by the DIG Central Nimal Mediwake, Senior SP, Jagath Abeysirigunawardena and Brigadier Nanayakkara, Central Command.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 2 )
Five Youth Shot And Hacked To Death.. Monday, 27 August 2007 - 9:15 AM SL Time A dispute over the removal of a cap worn by a youth at a musical show at Pinwatte, Panadura four years ago had claimed five more lives. They had been shot and hacked to death by an armed gang which rounded them up and taken them to a lonely spot at Golukotuwatte, Panadura. Among the dead were brothers Dinidu Thabrew (21) and Rukmal Sameer Thabrew (20). Police identified rest of the victims as Sameer Chathuranga Silva, Dinesh Sameer and Roshan Indika Soysa. A senior police official said that the killers had seized the youth as they were returning from a funeral at Moravinna.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 4 )
|
|
|
| Politics
Political News Forum
|
|
Give state pensioners their due, says ARCD Monday, 27 August 2007 - 9:19 AM SL Time The Association of Retired Cartographic Draughtsmen (ARCD) has requested the government to pass a law in parliament similar to the Act adopted for the payment of pensions of retired members of parliament and ministers, in respect of government pensioners as well, in order to prevent any future pension anomalies. Among the other resolutions passed at the annual general meeting of the ARCD held in Kurunegala on Sunday were, to request the government to (a) to remove the anomalies existing between pensioners who retired after 2006- 01-01 and those who retired prior to that date, (b) allocate without any delay the necessary funds for the payment of salaries of pensioners based on 2006- 01-01 salary scales of government servants in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling regarding the Education Administrative Services, and to pay the cost of living allowance without any reduction as promised by the 2006 budget.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
War burden will not be passed on to next generation - Defence Secretary Monday, 27 August 2007 - 9:19 AM SL Time At this decisive juncture of defeating terrorism the Government is determined to see an end to the war and establish permanent peace in the country without leaving the burden of war for future generations, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said yesterday. `The Government is determined to liberate remainder of the uncleared areas in the Wanni from the clutches of LTTE the same way it liberated the East,` the Defence Secretary added. Addressing a passing out parade of Home Guards, who underwent special combat training at the Galakiriyagama Special Training School, Rajapaksa said that the LTTE is now making desperate attempts to destabilise the Government using foreign forces to reorganise themselves for the next step of war.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 1 )
Gotabhaya vows to regain Vanni Monday, 27 August 2007 - 9:17 AM SL Time Defence Secretary Colonel (retd) Gotabhaya Rajapaksha yesterday declared his aim to recapture the LTTE-held Vanni region. In this critical moment of history, he said, the government would not allow the LTTE to employ their old tactics to capture the east once again, as they have done in the past. `We have learnt lessons from LTTE`s past tactics,` he said. Addressing a gathering at the passing out parade of home guards at Galkiriyagama training base, he pledged to take over the last major LTTE stronghold. `We`ll not leave the war to the future generation. We`ll succeed in the Vanni as we did in the East,` he said, dismissing efforts to undermine what he called a magnificent military victory.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 3 )
|
|
|
| Business / Economy News
Business News Forum
|
|
Software as a service continues its high growth trajectory in Asia Monday, 27 August 2007 - 9:41 AM SL Time Singapore- Springboard Research, a leading innovator in the IT Market Research industry, announced the results of its latest research on the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) market in Asia (excluding Japan). Springboard`s data shows significant growth in awareness and adoption of SaaS across the region with the market increasing 92.5% in 2006 to reach a market size of US$154 million. Springboard forecasts that the SaaS market in Asia will reach US$1.16 billion by 2010, with a compound annual growth rate of 66%, to comprise 15% of the enterprise software application market. Springboard recorded a substantial increase in SaaS awareness in the last year, with awareness among those surveyed (385 organizations) increasing from 41% in 2006, to 75% in 2007. This increase in awareness also led to a rise in adoption, with 46% of those enterprises surveyed replying that they were using some form of SaaS in their organizations (compared to 29% in 2006).
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Lanka lagging behind in social protection Monday, 27 August 2007 - 9:38 AM SL Time Under investment in social protection programs and the mismanagement of available schemes by authorities have added to the burden of private sector workers in Sri Lanka who already suffer from inadequate wages. Although experts have emphasized the need to develop a basic social security package to protect workers, schemes such as Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees Trust Fund (ETF) have been ineffectively handled by authorities depriving the workers of maximum returns. The second report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) tabled in parliament last week highlighted various shortcomings on the part of Employees` Trust Fund board. The report said that the dividends and interests paid to the members of the ETF for the year 2005 had been reduced to 8.5 percent and that reduction was due to insufficiency of the profit earned during that year.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
CEB loses billions using wrong fuel Sunday, 26 August 2007 - 9:02 AM SL Time The country is losing billions of rupees by using the wrong fuel to generate power. Adding to the losses is the ongoing wastage in certain power plants. The government has also rushed to finalise the new expensive auto diesel-guzzling Kerawalapitiya project. The CEB engineers are blaming politicians and certain key officials for the alarming state of the power sector and mounting financial losses. Already CEB is suffering a daily loss of Rs. 55 million. `The Government is quick to probe certain misconducts of employees but they turn a blind eye on the loss of billions in rupees in public money on bad management of the power generation policy,` CEB employees said. The latest disaster in the making is the 300 MW plant at Kerawalapitiya which will be concluded by this week. There is a hurry to complete this project partly due to the pressure applied by donors and misguiding by certain officials. However, this move is contrary to a Cabinet decision to use the cheaper Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) as a source of energy from the inception.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 3 )
|
|
|
| Editorial News
Editorial News Forum
|
|
School admissions: Time for grasping the nettle Monday, 27 August 2007 - 9:21 AM SL Time The entire education system is in crisis. Universities are on the boil they remain more closed than open. Their products are not fit for the job market and have to be employed virtually on charity basis in the state sector which is bursting at the seams. GCE (A/L) paper marking has come to a standstill with teachers holding students to ransom in a bid to win their demands. Only 17,000 out of about 117,000 who qualify for higher education annually gain university admission as universities are not equipped to accommodate all of them. Nearly one third of students who sit the GCE (O/L) examination are said to drop out. Private tuition has come to prop up state-run schools thus making a mockery of free education. Atop all these, Grade One school admissions, too, have become problematic.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 2 )
The bond issue Sunday, 26 August 2007 - 9:06 AM SL Time Despite the many economic challenges the country faces, Sri Lanka up to now has not defaulted on the repayment of its foreign debt. That has stood the country`s creditworthiness in good stead. Given the ever-mounting debt, both domestic and foreign, whether the track record that has hitherto been maintained is sustainable or not is an open question. It is in this context that the UNP statement that a future government led by it will not honor the USD 500 million bond issue that the government is floating raises issues that are, to say the least, troubling. Fortunately this matter was discussed in parliament last week when both the government and the opposition had their say. Whether the public was enlightened at the end of the debate is another matter. The vast majority of the people, wrestling with the cost of living and the struggle to make ends meet, are understandably not interested in subjects like these. Their worries belong to the micro-economic sphere of rice and curry and bread and dhal as well as electricity and fuel prices and not macro-economics.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 1 )
See Lanka sunk in lucre`s sordid charms ? Thursday, 23 August 2007 - 1:51 PM SL Time The Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) has made a revelation which is so shocking as to make every Sri Lankan sit up and take notice. Nearly 40 per cent of Sri Lanka`s national budget goes down the gurgler because of waste and corruption! Worse, none of the political parties have responded to the OPA`s request for an opportunity to discuss ways and means of minimising the twin evils taking their toll on the ailing economy and social well-being. The OPA deserves public plaudits for the progressive initiative. That is a step in the right direction. But, by exhorting politicians to support its effort to battle bribery and corruption, the OPA is only pouring water on a duck`s back. Nay, it is tantamount to an attempt to dissuade a drift of swine from relishing muck.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 7 )
|
|
|
| Sports News
Sports News Forum
|
|
Indian league little threat to world game Monday, 27 August 2007 - 9:46 AM SL Time During the the schism brought about by Kerry Packer`s hijacking of world cricket in the late 1970s, one statement from Ray Steele, the treasurer of the Australian Cricket Board, was enough to know that the game was up. At the same time that Packer was in the process of spending A$25 million setting up and televising World Series Cricket, Steele announced that he had not been able to sell the commercial television rights for Australia`s 1977-78 international season. The subsequent revelation that he had negotiated a $1,000 increase, from $9,000 to $10,000, for the rights to the domestic limited-overs competition was greeted with great joy by the board members. These dinosaurs were about to suffer extinction. Packer`s name has cropped up again this week in relation to the ZEE TV-backed Indian Cricket League, which a short time ago announced the names of 50 cricketers who have blown a huge raspberry to their respective cricket boards by joining the league. Javed Miandad urged the Pakistan Cricket Board to take a more conciliatory line than their Indian counterparts by not banning those Pakistan cricketers who had joined up because the ICL had the `potential to be like the Packer series and snowball into something big`. The general consensus is that the ICL represents a serious threat.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 1 )
Sussie out! Monday, 27 August 2007 - 9:44 AM SL Time Susanthika Jayasinghe crashed out of the 100 metres semi finals of the World Athletics Championships in Osaka yesterday after a foul start. Earlier, Jayasinghe finished third in the 100 metre heats. Jayasinghe is the only athlete from Sri Lanka to take part at the World Athletics Championships.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 4 )
BCCI plans international Twenty20 league Sunday, 26 August 2007 - 9:05 AM SL Time The Board of Control for Cricket in India is on the verge of forming a two-tier cricket league that will involve domestic leagues in four countries and an international league. It`s believed to be along the lines of professional football, with clubs being able to hire players from wherever they like to play in a Twenty20 format. Cricket Australia is believed to be involved in the process and the International Management Group (IMG), the event manager, is putting it all together. IMG is set to meet with officials of four cricket boards - India, Australia, South Africa and England - next week in Singapore, to finalise the details. According to the deal, details of which first appeared in Hindustan Times, there will be domestic leagues in these countries, where the cricket economy can support such a structure. Players from other countries, including Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will be able to take part in any of these leagues.
Full Story
Post Reply To This
Read Replies ( 1 )
|
|
|
(C) 2000-2007 www.lankanewspapers.com - Sri Lankan News & Discussions - Contact Us - RSS Feed - News Archives - src - FAQ |
Search All News and Discussions 
