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Gem land in Sri Lanka`s deep south auctioned for Rs. 270 million
Saturday, 25 February 2012 - 2:11 AM SL Time
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The recently discovered four-acre gem land in Thammennawa of Kataragama in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka went on the auction block today in Kataragama with the participation of around 1,700 gem traders.
The auction is recorded as the biggest ever conducted by the Gem and Jewellery Authority. It brought Rs. 270 million (approximately US$ 2.25 million) income to the state.
Forty nine blocks were sold to gem businessmen at the auction held today for four hours. The highest bid was Rs. 22 million for a 16 perches block of land by a businessman in Kaduwela.
The gem deposit is believed to contain world`s best blue sapphire.
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DVLADV
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 24 Feb 2012 20:21:54 GMT Report for Abuse
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There was Buddhist monk bidding too: most probably he was representing Dr. Silva.
Representatives of government politicians including Minister Johnston Fernando and Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Dicksen Daala and Parliamentarian Premalal Jayasekera (Choka Malli) are bidding for plots at the auction being held at Tammannawa in Katharagama where gems have been found in abundance. However, plots marked 49,50 and 51 have been already reserved for Rajapaksas say reports.
A well-known Buddhist monk of Ratnapura and several businessmen backed by the government are taking part in the public auction of the plots of land at Thammennawa in Kataragama, where gems have been found.
Agents of ministers Johnston Fernando and Pavitra Wanniarachchi, ambassador Dixon Dela and MP Premalal Jayasekara are also participating.- Srilankamirror
Edited By - DVLADV - 24 Feb 2012 20:24:21 GMT |
Damed
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 24 Feb 2012 21:26:18 GMT Report for Abuse
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The Government is fully behind Sri Lankan Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Major General Shavendra Silva the government informed Parliament today.
Who said NO.....but how long at what motive.....?
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Damed
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24 Feb 2012 21:31:22 GMT Report for Abuse
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Two days ahead of the 19th sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) here in Geneva, Human Rights Commissioner Navaneetham Pillay raised the issue that the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) had not dealt with the accountability issues raised in the UN panel report dubbed by the government as the Darusman report.
Accountability from Sri Lankan Government....????
Have this LLRC found what happened to Thousands of Sinhala people lived in North East.....????
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tigeress19
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24 Feb 2012 21:32:16 GMT Report for Abuse
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At UN, Nambiar Tells ICP of White Flag Killings, Sri Lanka Government Blocked Him, Kohona Spoken With
By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, February 24 -- With controversy revived about Sri Lankan war crimes including the murder of surrendering prisoners, Inner City Press on February 24 asked UN official Vijay Nambiar to explain his role in these 'white flag' killings, and if involved Major General Shavendra Silva should be a UN Senior Adviser on Peacekeeping.
On camera, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's deputy spokesman insisted that Nambiar would not answer the question. Nambiar said 'if necessary' he would answer afterwards. Video here, from Minute 18:15.
Inner City Press followed Nambiar who began that he has 'problems with you saying I am involved in the genocide.' He paused and noted, 'Marie Colvin was involved in the same...now that she has passed away I would like to place on record my own' position, and 'appreciation for the intrepidity with which she pursued her own vocation.'
She talked to me, you know that,' Nambiar said of Colvin. Inner City Press asked, hadn't Colvin urged Nambiar to go witness the surrenders?
Nambiar nodded yes. 'I asked to go, twice I contacted US diplomat Bob Blake, the two of us were planning to go... the ICRC was not able to go by sea route. The Government refused to give us permission. There was no way we could just force our way in.'
With no witnesses, those who tried to surrendered ended up dead. Inner City Press asked Nambiar why he hadn't then spoke out.
Nambiar continued with this story: 'in the middle of the night, Marie called me, the two people, I've forgotten the names, one was on the Peace Commission, they wanted to surrender. We need to get assurance, free passage. I said OK, I'll do it. I took it up with foreign minster, the defense minister and the president. They would be treated like any surrendering prisoner, What happened after that, I couldn't...'
Again Inner City Press asked Nambiar, if you passed on the assurances, then were blocked from going to witness and those you assured got killed, why haven't you spoken out?
Nambiar 'subsequently said they could have been shot by own people. I am not prepare to hazard any guess. Even Basil Rajapaksa , he also said that. It was mainly Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the President Mahinda Rajapaksa .'
Nambiar told Inner City Press, 'I spoke with Palitha Kohona, the Foreign Secretary.'
(c) UN Photo
Nambiar with Ban Ki-moon and team, Shavendra 'White Flag' Silva not shown
Kohona, at least in May 2010, told Inner City Press a different story. Now with Major General Shavendra Silva, about whom Nambiar did not answer, barred from participating in the UN Senior Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operations, it has been suggested that Permanent Representative Kohona replace him. We will pursue this -- watch this site.
http://www.innercitypress.com/nambiar1colsri022412.html |
Damed
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24 Feb 2012 21:37:40 GMT Report for Abuse
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Minister Basil Rajapaksa has said that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) would have to answer for the human rights violations committed by the LTTE, if it participates in the UN Human Rights Council's session in Geneva.
Minister Rajapaksa said that the TNA in their election manifestoes in 2001 and 2004 have mentioned that they are the sole representatives of the LTTE that killed thousands of people including the leaders of the Tamil community.
He said that the government has received reports that relatives of Tamil politicians who were killed by the LTTE have already left for Geneva and the TNA which represented the LTTE will have to provide an answer to them too.
Minister Rajapaksa said that the government is more concerned on human rights during the course of humanitarian operation.
He said that the world knows that the government has been making a serious effort to promote reconciliation and ethnic harmony.
'Thousands of people in the North and the south were disabled due to the LTTE atrocities.'
Hikz hikz hikz !
Edited By - Damed - 24 Feb 2012 21:41:19 GMT |
Damed
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24 Feb 2012 21:43:20 GMT Report for Abuse
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He said that thousands of people were killed by the LTTE in attacks on nerve centres of the country including the Central Bank, Dehiwala Railway station and Pettah.
'It is not appropriate to rekindle the pangs of war. People were affected by the LTTE carnages at Kattankuddy mosque, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura and Colombo fort. Our people have forgotten all these past and are trying to live in harmony. It is not appropriate to rekindle their pain again.'
morons we have not forgotten the past...why we forget past...??
This idiot has sold the past for LTTE money.
Edited By - Damed - 24 Feb 2012 21:44:20 GMT |
DVLADV
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24 Feb 2012 21:52:02 GMT Report for Abuse
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The Government is fully behind Sri Lankan Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Major General Shavendra Silva the government informed Parliament today.
They have no choice if they want to protect the person that gave the orders.
Funny part is they want to drag SF. At least for the crimes mentioned he was not a praty to it, and no sooner he came to know about it, he brew the whistle. He could be summoned as a vitness not an accused.
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tigeress19
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24 Feb 2012 21:59:58 GMT Report for Abuse
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Minister Basil Rajapaksa has said that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) would have to answer for the human rights violations committed by the LTTE, if it participates in the UN Human Rights Council's session in Geneva.
basil must have gone nuts....
can any one hold ranil responsble for the murders fonseka committed??
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