Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

2009-11-27 16:42:33

The Colombo bourse witnessed an upward trend on Friday on news that ex-Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Sarath Fonseka was expected to run for the Presidential Election next year as the opposition candidate, analysts said.

Now it is certain that he is running for the presidency the market reacted quite positively today with retailers banking on selected blue chips, an analyst said. Lankan born US hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam`s Galleon saw its 29% in Ceylon Leather Products (CLPL) trade for Rs 198 million. DNH Financial (Pvt) Ltd bought 3.6 million shares of CLPL at Rs 55 for Environment Resources Investment (ERI), the analyst said. Lionhart Investment Ltd (Lionhart) has about 24% in CLPL and with 94% it is the largest investor in ERI. Therefore this transaction will trigger the mandatory offer as it is more than 30% that these connected parties (acting in concert) own, the analyst noted. At close the All Share increased by 0.29% and the Milanka increased by 1.1% to close at 2,878.96 points and 3,282.96 points respectively on a Rs 368.9 million turnover. (DEC)

Mi 24 helicopter crashes in Buttala
2009-11-27 14:19:35

A Russian built Mi 24 helicopter has crashed in the Buttala area owing to a technical fault, a shortwhile ago, Air Force Spokesman Janaka Nanayakkara said.

Contrary to claims that the helicopter was on a training mission, reports from the area said that the helicopter had taken part in the air display earlier in the day to mark the laying of the foundation stone for a new airport in the south, by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

It has been reported that the government has threatened Sudaroli, Valampuri and Thinakural, newspapers published in Jaffna not to publish anything against the government.

A group of people who had arrived this morning wearing black masks have made this threat to the editors of the relevant news papers. They had said not to publish anything against the government if the editors wanted to continue to maintain their media institutions.

T V Sriram

Colombo, Nov 25 (PTI) Former top General Sarath Fonseka, expected to run as the Sri Lankan Presidential candidate, today said that he was looking forward to support from India for his nation`s future.

Expressing that he was `very fond` of India, Fonseka, who is being endorsed as the joint opposition candidate to challenge the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa today said he was looking forward to support from India during his future plans.

`Anagatha Abiyogaya...` by Ranil Wickramasinghe

http://rapidshare.com/files/311853356/Anagatha_Abiyogaya_Ranil_Wickramasinghe.pdf

Lanka News Web, a popular trilingual Sri Lanka related news website accuses authorities of hacking its Sinhala language site.

The editor of the website, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC Sinhala service that Sri Lanka authorities are doing `everything possible` to prevent users accessing the site.

The site is one of two known news websites, including Tamilnet, that are barred in Sri Lanka.

`They tried their level best to block the site in Sri Lanka. Now they have adopted another tactic by hacking. But we managed to overcome it by adapting to a mirror site,` the editor said.

Concern over animal deaths at Zoo
2009-11-24 17:03:34

Workers had the Dehiwala Zoo have expressed serious concern over the increasing deaths of animals and other species adding that the management should take the full responsibility for the prevailing situation.

W. M. D. Sarath, spokesperson for the workers said that at least a dozen animals and birds have died over the past three months, something not witnessed before in the 75-year-old history of the zoo.

He added that poor medical treatment coupled ad hoc placements of the animals had led to the current scenario.

Finally JVP accepts Ranil as caretaker PM

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Contrary to speculation in some politial circles as well as a section of the media over the past few days, the UNP-led United National Front (UNF) and the JVP have resolved a simmering dispute over a UNP condition that its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should be the Prime Minister in a future caretaker government. The Sri Lanka Musli Congress (SLMC) and MP Mano Ganeshan`s Western People`s Front are UNF constituents.

Animal Deaths in Dehiwala Zoo

By R. Abeywickrema

The Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU is a bundle of contradictions. In late September 2007 the ruling military junta in Myanmar launched a brutal crackdown on peaceful protests being carried out by monks in that country.

Many including monks were killed in the process and hundreds ended up injured. The usually vocal JHU that takes upon itself the role of guardian angel of the sangha remained largely mum except for a curt statement by its Parliamentary Group Leader, Ellawala Medhananda Thero, who when pushed by mediamen for a comment on the brutal assault said the party did not condone the brutal assault on monks.

2009-11-12 19:14:31

General Sarath Fonseka, Chief of Defence Staff, who has sent his resignation told journalists that he would disclose his future plans only after his resgination comes into effect end of this month.

Gen Fonseka speaking after a visit to the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya said that he will be able to comment only when he retires.

Journalists posed several questions including whether he would contest the next Presidential elections, whether he will enter politics, whether he has been invited by political parties and whether his retirement was preamature.

General Sarath Fonseka resigned as the Chief of Defense Staff today MP Ravi Karunanayaka told Daily Mirror Online short while ago.
Updated @ 12/11/2009 02:59 PM

Posted: 10 November 2009 1753 hrs



COLOMBO: Myanmar`s junta leader General Than Shwe will visit Sri Lanka this week for bilateral talks and to tour Buddhist shrines, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

The reclusive leader will arrive on Thursday at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, a ministry official said, asking not to be named because she was not authorised to speak to the media.

by Shamindra Ferdinando

In an unprecedented move, trade unions affiliated to the JVP and UNP yesterday vowed to bring President Mahinda Rajapaksa`s government to its knees unless the government granted them a salary increase with immediate effect.

The anticipated move comes close on the heels of the JVP and the UNP agreeing to field a common candidate to face President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the event he called an early presidential election.

The policeman directly involved in the attack on a man in Bambalapitiya yesterday which led to his drowning, will be taken into police custody, Spokesman Senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka said. The body of the man that was swept out by the sea, was found a short while ago.



Speaking to Daily Mirror online the Senior DIG said that it had been brought to light that one of the men directly involved in the attack was a policeman attached to the Bambalapitiya police station, who had not been in uniform at the time.