Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

WASHINGTON: It was supposed to be a charm offensive, but as the day wore on she put away her charm and went on the offensive.

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton`s public dressing down of Pakistan during a three-day visit there, including virtually accusing the country of complicity with al-Qaida, has shaken Washington as much as it stunned her hosts.

Her inner voice became her outer voice, Martha Raddatz, a veteran NBC correspondent said on the network. Officials in Washington were trying to keep a straight face, but there were a few gasps, she added.

Camp Bundela, Babina, India: India and the United States have concluded the largest-ever army exercise conducted by both nations which involved an impressive array of tanks, combat vehicles, anti-tank missiles and even Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Happy US commanders sent out signals that both the armed forces were ready for joint counter-insurgency and anti-terror operations in battle conditions in the future.

ISLAMABAD: Peshawar-based Mustafa Kamal has had enough: he has just got his 12-year-old son freed from a band of criminals in the lawless tribal area of Khyber agency by paying a ransom. He has left a lucrative job with Pakistan`s telecommunication department and now has the immigartion papers for Canada ready for his entire family.

``I`m lucky to have found my son alive. But I won`t take any more risk. Life has become extremely dangerous it`s not worth living here. Enough`senough,`` says Kamal.

India`s Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry plans to set up 14 innovation universities in the country from 2010 to build disciplinary focusses and push research and development.

Speaking at the CII University-Industry Council Symposium in Shibpur, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said, We will set up 14 innovation universities with each university focusing on innovation and research in different subjects, Some of the areas identified are health, environment, new technologies for power plants, etc. We will also promote contract and auction research to raise money.

NEW DELHI: Even as the six foreign contenders in the race to bag the lucrative $10.4 billion project to supply 126 multi-role combat aircraft to Indian Air Force jostle with each other, battlelines are also being drawn on the helicopter front now.

IAF wants to buy 22 attack helicopters and 15 heavy-lift helicopters from abroad, under the overall plan of the armed forces to induct as many as 800 `rotary-wing birds` over the coming decade at an estimated cost of over Rs 20,000 crore, as reported by TOI earlier.

Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Sri Lanka`s credit-rating outlook was raised to positive from stable by Standard & Poor`s Ratings Services, which cited improved government finances after a $2.6 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.

The ratings company in a statement today affirmed Sri Lanka`s long-term foreign currency debt rating at B, five levels below investment grade.

Sri Lanka is this week selling $500 million of five-year bonds in its first international offering in two years as the island raises funds to rebuild its economy after three decades of civil war. The International Monetary Fund said on Sept. 22 it`s cautiously positive on Sri Lanka`s prospects as it reviews the economy for the release of a second payment.

Pakistan military has launched Operation Rah-i-Nijat (Path to deliverance) on October 17th in South Waziristan against foreign backed terrorists ` Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan` TTP.

It is a critical ground operation against anti-taliban insurgents supported by aerial strikes. As a pak army official put it, it is a Punitive expedition, not COIN (counter insurgency operation).

The army is supposed to take over the tribal territories within next two months.

Mumbai, Oct 11 (PTI) Refusing to bracket Naxals with terrorists, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today ruled out use of armed forces against them and said that the government is willing to hold talks with them if they abjured violence.

`They (Naxals) are banned organisations and are covered under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,` he said replying to a question if the government proposed to declare the ultra-left groups as terror outfits.

`We are not in favour of using the armed forces against the Naxalites. The para-military forces and police are adequate (for counter-Naxal operations),` he told a press meet here and underscored the need for looking at the causes of alienation of the people, particularly the tribals.

Years back, over a weekend in a big mall in middle east, my friend and I came across a promotional event of Land Rover Defender. It was done in coordination with the recent launch of the movie `Tomb Raider`.

The event featured a Land Rover Defender and `Lara Croft`.

The young model who dressed and acted as Lara Croft was strikingly close to the on screen portrayal of Lara Croft by Angelina jolie. It was very obvious that she would go places and it was interesting to know that she was a Sri Lankan.

The Female-Formed Police Unit (FFPU) is a unique Indian contingent of UN peace mission composed of Indian female police officers helps keep the peace in the West African nation of Liberia, devastated by one of Africa`s most bloody civil wars.

This war has left more than 2,00,000 people dead, thousands scarred by violence and rape, a shattered economy, 85 percent unemployment, and crime on a spectacular scale.

The Indian contingent consists of 125 officers of whom 105 are women from all over India. The men cook, drive and maintain the vehicles. The women help maintain law and order and provide armed backup to the Liberian National Police.

Garuds are the Special Forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in September 2004.

The youngest special force of the three services, Garud is a force multiplier raised with the intention of providing versatile military capability specific to the Indian Air force.

Raised in the year 2003, the strength of the force is speculated upon. However,it is estimated that the strength hovers around 1000-1500 personnel.

Raised and trained on the lines of the Para commandos of the army and MARCOS of the navy, Garuds have been able to carve a niche for themselves within a short period in operational specific tasks.

RAWALPINDI: Taliban militants were holding several security officers hostage inside Pakistan`s army headquarters on Saturday after they and others attacked the complex in an audacious assault on the country`s most powerful institution.

The attack, which left at least 10 people dead, was the third major militant strike in Pakistan in a week and came as the government was planning an imminent offensive against Islamist militants in their strongholds in the rugged mountains along the border with Afghanistan.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has, The Island learns, told a group of his confidants that he intends to hold, after bagging the Southern Provincial Council at today`s polls, a general election, where he will seek a two-third majority to change the Constitution.

`I have two more years left in office and I can either complete the full term or cut it short and return to Parliament,` sources quoted President Rajapaksa as telling his close allies on Thursday.

Earlier, the government had decided to go for a presidential election after the SPC polls and to hold a general election subsequently.

Mumbai, India Aegis Limited, a leading global business process outsourcing (BPO) provider and part of $18 billion Essar Group of India, today announced the successful acquisition of 80% shares of Ismart Timex Pvt Ltd, a leading BPO services provider in Sri Lanka.

The balance 20% continues to be with the selling shareholders Timex Garments Ltd. This acquisition has been done through Essar Services Holdings Limited, the holding company of Aegis Limited.

NEW DELHI: The third day of the Delhi International Arts Festival (DIAF) 2009 belonged to the expression of Sinhala dance and Sri Lanka`s modern dance form pioneered by Chitrasena.

Besides showcasing the hardship of fisherfolk, it brought out issues of caste, religion, gender, love and identity along with a beautiful contrast of hope and despair.

The 10-day festival organised in association with The Times of India is a curtain raiser to the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi. The fest is showcasing some of the unique art forms from various Commonwealth nations. And one could not have asked for more from the island nation.