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   http://www.lankanewspapers.com/impartial - Archive of Oct 2011




Crouching Tiger, Hidden Raj
Saturday, 1 October 2011 - 12:08 PM SL Time

Earlier this year, Raj Rajaratnam, founder of the Galleon Group hedge fund, was convicted of conspiracy and securities fraud in one of the biggest insider-trading cases in the history of Wall Street. But there was another reason the federal government was interested in Rajaratnam his alleged financial support for Tamil separatists in Sri Lanka, whose cause is spearheaded by the ferocious Tamil Tiger terrorists. Vanity Fair` s David Rose gets the untold story from a Tamil Tiger turned F.B.I. informant.

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Exclusive: Experts urge Commonwealth action on human rights
Sunday, 2 October 2011 - 7:19 AM SL Time

The Commonwealth must act decisively to uphold human rights among its 54 member nations or risk a slide into irrelevance, according to a report set to divide the group`s leaders at their summit this month.

A confidential experts` report to Commonwealth heads of government, obtained by Reuters, called for wide-ranging reforms that it said are essential if the organization is to make a real difference to improving the lives of its people.

`As it is currently perceived, the Commonwealth is in danger of losing its relevance,` the 204-page report said.

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Cairn India confirms natural gas find
Sunday, 2 October 2011 - 6:11 PM SL Time

Cairn India Ltd, a subsidiary of Cairn Energy Plc, today (Oct 2) said it has discovered natural gas in Sri Lanka`s offshore Mannar Basin, confirming an earlier announcement by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Further drilling will be required to establish the commerciality of the discovery, Cairn said in a statement, referring to the find at the CLPL-Dorado-91H/1z well drilled at a water depth of 1,354 metres (4,442 feet), Reuters reported.

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Tsunami s orphan banks on cricket, chases his dream
Monday, 3 October 2011 - 6:42 AM SL Time

Pulina Tharanga stares with emotionless eyes as his teammates in the Sri Lanka under-19 side walk and run along the sparkling beach. Rolling waves and inviting sands do not charm him they bring back memories that terrify him. Nearly seven years ago, when Pulina was all of 11, it was the sea that orphaned him.

On Thursday, 18-year-old Tharanga was the second highest scorer for Sri Lanka in a tight match against India he also sent down some loopy legspinners that the Indians struggled to get away in the low-scoring game. It is only cricket and the dream of ultimately playing for his country that keeps him going, says the talented allrounder.

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History fails to repeat in Sept., yet with YTD 2.2% return Colombo Bourse remains Asia s best
Monday, 3 October 2011 - 9:27 AM SL Time

The history of super September failed to repeat itself this year as the month ended last week, yet with a 2.2% return, Colombo bourse remains Asia`s best performer.
Analysts said the fact that a mere 2.2% return in terms of All Share Price Index`s movement reiterates the overall struggle of Asian bourses.
The month of September, which historically has been CSE`s best (between 2002 and 2010, CSE had gained in September except in 2008) , turned out to be a disappointment in 2011. The market saw around Rs. 50 billion in value wiped off during the month and the ASI closing at 6,783 points, lower by nearly 100 points from August close.

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Kilinochchi Market Complex under progress
Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 7:36 AM SL Time

The government is constructing a modern Market Complex at an estimated cost of Rs. 200 million, in a three acre plot of land located opposite the Kilinochchi bus stand.



According to the Governor of Northern Province G.A. Chandrasri, the market will have two floors and the ground floor is meant for marketing agricultural produce, and Upper floor will have 250 shops to sell various other items.



The Governor said that after the completion of the construction of the market complex, the whole building will be handed over to the Karachchi Pradeshiya Sabha for maintenance and allocations of spaces in the market down stairs and shops upstairs.

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Cairn celebrates gas find with rural school libraries
Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 11:28 AM SL Time

The inauguration ceremony of the `Nana Guna Piyasa` programme established under the noble concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for providing libraries to schools in difficult areas was held at Dambana Primary School in Monaragala District, Bibile Education Zone under the patronage of the Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Uva Provincial Council Chief Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa yesterday. New libraries were simultaneously opened at Madurukatiya, Okkampitiya and Lunugala Vidyalayas.

Explorer of oil in Mannar basin Cairn India`s Sri Lankan entity is supporting this exercise. The company on Sunday announced the discovery of natural gas in Mannar, whilst further drilling is continuing. Here Weeratunga distributes books to student whilst Cairn Lanka Director Strategy and Business Services P. EIango and Cairn India General Manager CSR Mrs. Ritu are also present

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UPDATE 1-Sri Lanka needs 2 yrs to produce gas -minister
Wednesday, 5 October 2011 - 7:35 AM SL Time

COLOMBO, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka will take 18 to 24 months to reach commercial production of natural gas in the Mannar Basin offshore, where Cairn India Ltd. has discovered a gas deposit, the country`s petroleum minister said on Tuesday.

Cairn India, a subsidiary of London-listed Cairn Energy Plc , confirmed the first discovery of the natural gas in Sri Lanka, but has yet to establish commercial production schedule.

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Another Shangri La Hotel project at Hambantota
Wednesday, 5 October 2011 - 11:46 AM SL Time

A second five-star Shangri La Hotel is coming up at Hambantota at a cost of US$120 million or Rs.13 billion in a chain of hotel projects that have been approved by the government, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakashman Yapa Abeywardana said yesterday.

The project comprising 50 villas will be constructed in addition to the 500 room five-start hotel projectat Galle Face Green in Colombo. The Shangri La hotel chain in Hong Kong will thus invest a total of US$ 470 million in Sri Lanka just on two hotel projects.

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Steve Jobs dead at 56
Thursday, 6 October 2011 - 7:58 AM SL Time

Steve Jobs, the mind behind the iPhone, iPad and other devices that turned Apple Inc. into one of the world`s most powerful companies, has died.

Jobs, 56, stepped down as Apple`s CEO on August 24 after suffering from a rare form of pancreatic cancer. He handed the reins to current chief executive Tim Cook.

Jobs had been suffering various health issues following an operation for cancer in 2004 and a liver transplant in 2009. In January this year Apple announced he would be taking indeterminate medical leave of absence.

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Steve Jobs Dies: Apple Chief Created Personal Computer, iPad, iPod, iPhone
Thursday, 6 October 2011 - 4:52 PM SL Time

Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple`s iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, has died, Apple said. Jobs was 56.

Jobs died `peacefully` surrounded by family members, his family said in a statement.

Neither Jobs` family nor Apple revealed where Jobs died or from what cause, though in recent years he had fought a form of pancreatic cancer and had a liver transplant.

`We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,` read a statement by Apple`s board of directors. `Steve`s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.`

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Sri Lanka`s Special Task Force to handle SAARC summit security
Friday, 7 October 2011 - 5:57 AM SL Time

Sri Lanka`s Special Task Force (STF) units which specialise in counter terrorist operations and VIP security will be providing part of the security for the 17th SAARC summit which is due to be held in Addu City in November.

A senior official attached to the STF said that the plan to provide security for the event comes as a result of the recent international exposure the elite troops had gained over the years.

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T.M. Krishna leaves Jaffna audience spellbound
Friday, 7 October 2011 - 3:48 PM SL Time

It was a totally different experience for people in Jaffna last Sunday as Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna, the first musician of note from India in nearly three decades, enthralled the audience for two hours and fifty minutes. The Veerasingham Hall was packed to capacity as the veteran rendered one composition after another leaving the listeners spellbound, barely 10 hours after a back-breaking, 12-hour bus ride from Colombo.

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Will Canada get affluent nations to gang up against us in Commonwealth?
Friday, 7 October 2011 - 5:23 PM SL Time

If it is a showdown Canada wants, this one could get real ugly. Sri Lanka is due to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2013 when President Mahinda Rajapaksa will take over as chair. This was agreed upon at the last summit held in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009.
But now, the government of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is opposing the choice of Sri Lanka as 2013 host. Media reports say Harper has threatened to boycott the summit if Sri Lanka doesn`t show accountability for human-rights abuses and take steps to reconcile with the Tamil minority. He has suggested that other leaders do the same.

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WikiLeaks Gota to provide mercenaries to Afghan war
Saturday, 8 October 2011 - 7:48 AM SL Time

Assistant secretary Robert Blake raised the possibility of Sri Lanka contributing to US led coalition operations in Afghanistan, noting that would be a significant step in support of improving military to military engagement. a leaked US diplomatic cable reveals.

In an attempt to avoid the stigma associated with mercenaries
The Colombo Telegraph found the leaked cable from the WikiLeak database. The cable classified as CONFIDENTIAL and recount details of a meeting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake had with Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on 8th December 2009. They discussed the subjects such as accountability and reconciliation, security and reconstruction, ICRC and ex- combatants, military missions, LTTE links to Eritrea and potential Sri Lankan contributions to peace keeping operations and US led coalition efforts.

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Tamil Canadians in prison for arming rebels renounce violence
Saturday, 8 October 2011 - 1:30 PM SL Time

Five years after they were caught buying arms for Sri Lankan rebels, three Canadians have signed an open letter from prison acknowledging they were wrong and renouncing political violence.

We incorrectly believed that violence could achieve the goals that we sought, they wrote. We now realize that what we did was not helpful in leading to a positive resolution of the issues that existed in Sri Lanka.

The rejection of armed militancy is a complete reversal for the Toronto men, who were part of the international weapons procurement network that supplied the Tamil Tigers, or LTTE, during Sri Lanka`s long civil war.

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Bharatha killed, Duminda wounded in poll-day gun battle
Sunday, 9 October 2011 - 1:27 PM SL Time

A presidential advisor was killed and a ruling party strongman parliamentarian was among those seriously injured when violent intra party clashes broke out yesterday during elections for the Kolonnawa Urban Council.

A police curfew was imposed in Mulleriyawa area till 6 a.m. today to curb the violence. Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, a presidential advisor on trade unions and former parliamentarian, was killed in a gun battle with a rival group led by Duminda Silva, a Colombo District UPFA MP. Mr. Silva also suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital where he underwent surgery. Mr. Silva serves as the MP monitoring the Defence Ministry which comes under President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

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US endorses immunity to Shavendra
Sunday, 9 October 2011 - 2:15 PM SL Time

The United States will endorse claims for diplomatic immunity by a Sri Lankan diplomat facing charges of alleged war crimes in a New York Court.

A State Department document certifying immunity for Major General Shavendra de Silva, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, in terms of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), will be forwarded by his lawyers to the Southern District Court of New York.

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Duminda suporter shot Bharatha in the head
Monday, 10 October 2011 - 5:43 AM SL Time

The driver of the slain Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, relaying the saga of the Kolonnawa tragedy after narrowly escaping death, said that Duminda Silva got down from the vehicle at the Walpola junction and proceed to assault his boss.


`Sir fell immediately. Then one of the persons who was near Duminda shot Bharatha Mahattaya in his foot Then someone shouted: `shoot him in his head`. It was then that some one had repeatedly fired the shots at his head.


These were the events which led to the assassination of former Director General of Presidential Trade Union, Former Colombo District member of Parliament Baratha Lakshman Premachandra.

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Sinhalese moving into Tamil areas, India told
Tuesday, 11 October 2011 - 7:24 AM SL Time

Colombo: Three Tamil politicians on Monday complained to India that the government was settling Sinhalese in Sri Lanka`s dominantly Tamil north without resolving the festering `ethnic problem`.

The submission was made to Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai when he met V Anadasangaree, D Siddharthan and T Sritharan at the India House as part of his interactions with political players in Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka s Killing Fields attracts less than 50 in Oslo
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 - 4:57 AM SL Time

In spite of Sri Lanka`s efforts to counter the LTTE`s propaganda campaign, the group is having its way with the EU parliament agreeing to screen `Sri Lanka`s Killing Fields` today (Sept. 12).


Government sources told The Island that the screening had been organized by Amnesty International, International Crisis Group (ICG) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) in support of their calls for an international war crimes probe targeting Sri Lanka. Sources said that the documentary produced by UK`s Channel 4 News had been shown at the legislative bodies of Western capitals, including Washington, Ottawa, London, Wellington, and Oslo, and United Nations in Geneva and New York.

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Army to monitor activities of VIP thugs: Gota
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 - 6:13 AM SL Time

Amid allegations of increased criminal activities by thugs backed by politicians, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided to use army personnel to keep a tab on such activities.

Personal feuds have led to political rivalries, which in turn end up jeopardising law and order. The tragic events at Mulleriyawa have underlined the need to get tough with certain VIPs. They will be given new guidelines on the number of security personnel and vehicles that will comprise their security detail and the number of weapons to be carried, Mr. Rajapaksa said.

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A $5-b opportunity` for India, if Sri Lanka wins bid for CWG 2018
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 - 10:59 AM SL Time

Sri Lanka will bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, says the Sri Lanka High Commissioner to India, Mr Prasad Kariyawasam. This could lead to a $5-billion investment opportunity for Indian firms to exploit.

The city that we are proposing (for the Games) is Hambantota. In case we win the bid we will require massive investment to put up facilities as we are trying to build from scratch.

If we win the bid, then there will be a lot of opportunity in the construction sector for all, and naturally India being the closest neighbour with the capacity will be very competitive in terms of getting contracts because they might be able to deliver at cost effective prices, Mr Kariyawasam said.

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Glowing tributes at Bharatha`s funeral
Thursday, 13 October 2011 - 5:52 AM SL Time

Presidential Advisor Baratha Lakshman Premachnadra had to face this untimely death because he appeared for truth and justice even during the last moments of his life, SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sisisena said paying a glowing tribute to Mr. Premachandra at his funereal in Kolonnawa today.

Stating that this unfortunate tragedy was a result of declining indiscipline political culture, Mr. Sirisena stressed a need for a new political culture. He said law should be strictly enforced on the goons who are engaged in cruel acts such as the killing of Mr. Premachandra.

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Democracy For People
Thursday, 13 October 2011 - 9:24 AM SL Time

lolz

look at the humour
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Mulleriyawa Suspects Who Fled to India Nabbed
Friday, 14 October 2011 - 6:32 AM SL Time

Two suspects involved in the Mulleriyawa shootout and had fled to India have been arrested.

Addressing the media at the briefing on Cabinet decisions, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella said the two suspects were placed under arrest with the assistance of the Indian Government.

The quick positive response of the Indian Government enabled the capture of the two suspects who had fled Sri Lanka after the shootout. The Minister added that the two suspects are now being brought to Colombo.

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Two suspects arrested in India, deported to SL - MR
Friday, 14 October 2011 - 1:42 PM SL Time

Anti-crime operations, the government launched in the aftermath of last Saturday`s shootout in Mulleriyawa, where presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and three others were killed and UPFA MP Duminda Silva was critically injured, will go on until the underworld is neutralised and illegal weapons in the hands of criminals are recovered, President Mahinda Rajapaksa says.


Addressing newspaper editors yesterday at Temple Trees, President Rajapaksa said the suspects wanted for the Mulleriyawa killings had been identified and some of them already arrested. Others would be hunted down before long, he said.

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Sri Lanka inks deal to buy Vietnamese oil
Saturday, 15 October 2011 - 6:56 AM SL Time

Oct 14 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka on Friday signed agreements with Vietnam to buy oil and share oil and gas expertise, just after it announced the discovery of natural gas offshore in the Mannar Basin.

Those two agreements were among eight signed after a two-day visit by Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, along with a business delegation, to explore the expansion of commercial and diplomatic ties.

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Govt. to enact LG Elections Bill soon
Saturday, 15 October 2011 - 10:56 AM SL Time

The government will enact the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill, which provides for a mix of the proportional representation system and the first-past-the-post-system for future elections to local councils, a minister said yesterday.

The bill has already been debated in parliament and has to be put to a vote by legislators.

Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha told the Daily Mirror the government did not enact the bill at that time because it wanted to wait till the local council elections were over.

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Canada to press for Sri Lanka rights changes at Commonwealth meet
Saturday, 15 October 2011 - 6:30 PM SL Time




OTTAWA Two weeks before a Commonwealth summit that could be marred by divisions on the issue, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is pressing forward with demands that Sri Lanka show `progress` on accountability for alleged human-rights violations that occurred at the end of the civil war in 2009 with the Tamil Tigers.

Harper will bring his case to the upcoming Oct. 28-30 summit of leaders in Perth, Australia, and is saying that unless he is satisfied with the actions of Sri Lanka he will boycott the next biennial Commonwealth meeting, which is being held in that country.

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Killing of Bharatha, a blot on SLFP
Sunday, 16 October 2011 - 7:18 AM SL Time

The brutal killing of President`s Director General of Trade Union Affairs and former Parliamentarian Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra in broad daylight by the security guards of UPFA Parliamentarian supervising the Defence Ministry Duminda Silva opposite a polling station in Mulleriyawa on October 8 when polling at the local government elections was in progress, sent shock waves through the country.

`Lucky Aiya` to friends and close associates, Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra who hailed from Kolonnawa moved closely with the people of the area as a local politician from 1979. Duminda Silva who was involved in this shooting incident was elected to Western PC on the UNP ticket and later crossed over to the UPFA. He successfully contested the last Parliamentary general election on the UPFA`s Colombo District list.

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Occupy protests spread around the world 70 injured in Rome
Sunday, 16 October 2011 - 5:36 PM SL Time

Thousands of people across the world railed against corporate power, grinding poverty and government cuts Saturday as the Occupy Wall Street movement spread to the streets of Europe, Asia and Australia -- and took a particularly violent turn in Rome.

Firefighters battled a blaze at an Interior Ministry building near Porta San Giovanni in Rome, the main gathering site of the Italian protesters taking part in the Occupy movement Saturday, said eyewitnesses who reported seeing a Molotov cocktail thrown near the building.

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Sri Lankan envoy criticizes Canada over inquiry calls
Monday, 17 October 2011 - 5:55 AM SL Time

OTTAWA Sri Lanka says Canada is falling for terrorist `propaganda` with its newfound criticism of the Asian country`s human-rights record and its demands for an international inquiry.

`We are not happy about the statements being made. ... We want Canada to see the correct situation,` High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara told The Canadian Press in a recent interview.

Wagiswara`s remarks are the first public rebuttal of the hard line the Conservatives have recently adopted against the Sri Lankan government.

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HAMBANTHOTA BEACH GAMES 2011
Tuesday, 18 October 2011 - 8:36 AM SL Time

not bad :)
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Secrecy and denial are also war crimes
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 - 5:19 AM SL Time

MORE than two years since the end of Sri Lanka`s civil war, new evidence alleges that both sides of this brutal conflict committed serious crimes against civilians.
There are implications for Australia`s rule of law, and three possible perpetrators with an immediate connection to our shores.

Sri Lanka`s 25-year war culminated in 2009. Hundreds of thousands of Tamil civilians were swept up in a final siege as Sri Lankan troops closed in on the Tamil Tigers. The guerillas held women, children and elderly people as human shields. Government assaults killed many thousands.

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US to extend GSP Program till end-2013
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 - 6:40 AM SL Time

The US GSP Program, which came to a temporary halt at the end of 2010 due to some domestic concerns, has now been extended till the end of 2013 and the US President is expected to sign the Reauthorization bill into law shortly, announces the Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka is happy to stress that the GSP Program will be officially reinstated 15 days after the US President signs the bill. a release by the Ministry read.

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Counsel alleges The Sunday Leader backed MR, undermined SF
Thursday, 20 October 2011 - 6:50 AM SL Time

Defence Counsel (DC) Nalin Ladduwahetty yesterday alleged that The Sunday Leader hadn`t provided the required editorial backing to Opposition presidential candidate, General Sarath Fonseka in spite of receiving weekly payments in the run-up to the Jan. 26, 2010 polls. The attorney-at-law accused The Sunday Leader editor Frederica Jansz of sabotaging Gen. Fonseka`s campaign.


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Sri Lanka Cairn starts drilling second well
Friday, 21 October 2011 - 5:37 AM SL Time

Cairn Lanka, a unit of Cairn India said it has begun drilling a second exploration fell off the northeast coast of Sri Lanka after the first well found evidence of petroleum deposits.
Its first well, CLPL-Dorado-91H/1z found a 25 meter hydrocarbon deposit at a depth of 3,000 meters.
On October 04, Cairn Lanka had begun work on CLPL-Barracuda-1G/1, a second well.

Cairn hopes to drill three wells under its exploration program, which is expected to be completed early in 2012.

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A Post-Mortem of the War by a German National
Friday, 21 October 2011 - 8:29 AM SL Time

By Mathias Keittle

Sri Lanka eliminated a dreaded terrorist group, with intricate global links, but receives little credit for it! Unlike elsewhere in the world, Sri Lanka has succeeded in resettling 300,000 IDPs. There are no starving children for the NGOs to feed but this gets ignored!

Sri Lanka has avoided mass misery, epidemics and starvation but the West takes no notice of this.

Sri Lanka has attained enviable socio-economic standards for a developing country while eliminating terrorism but gets no acknowledgement!

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Witnesses say Duminda shot by unknown man
Friday, 21 October 2011 - 4:24 PM SL Time

Two witnesses yesterday told the magisterial inquiry into the killing of four people in the election day shot out at Mulleriyawa that after Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra fell to the ground due to a blow by Duminda Silva, an unknown person came up from the crowd and shot the Parliamentarian with a pistol.


MP Duminda Silva shot the fallen Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, testified witness Liyanage Sampath Shantha at yesterday`s magisterial inquiry into the killing of Bharatha and three others in Mulleriyawa on the day of the local government elections on October 8.

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Rehabilitated LTTE cadres in Sri Lanka disabled volleyball team
Saturday, 22 October 2011 - 6:17 AM SL Time

``Past is past. Let us march towards unity`` said a former LTTE cadre, Malarvizhi Paramalingam, who is a member of the Sri Lanka Disabled Volleyball team selected to take part in two international tournaments. Malarvizhi said that at a press conference held at the Olympic house on Thursday.

She also stated that she had never seen or touched a ball prior to joining the Disabled National Volleyball squad. She said that the training and coaching have given her hopes and she is hoping to do well in the disabled sport.

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US concerned about growing Chinese military influence on Sri Lanka
Sunday, 23 October 2011 - 7:13 AM SL Time

The United States of America was concerned about the growing Chinese influence including military ties with Sri Lanka, visiting US Republican Congressman Jack Kingston said in Colombo on Thursday.


Asked at a press conference in Colombo, as to how the USA which was earlier one of Sri Lanka`s closet allies felt about being distanced due to improved Sri Lanka-China bilateral relations including trade and military cooperation, Kingston who represents the State of Georgia admitted that America viewed the situation with a great deal of concern.

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Sanga to be reappointed captain?
Monday, 24 October 2011 - 5:29 AM SL Time

Cricket officials are discussing a possible reappointment of Kumar Sangakkara to lead the national team, Sri Lanka Cricket sources say.

It has been proposed that Sangakkara be given captaincy from January next year.

The discussions follow his double century against Pakistan in the first Test in Abu Dhabi.

Officials are thinking of making the proposal through a close friend of Sangakkara, since the ex-skipper had resigned his position and he is widely regarded as being firm in his decisions.

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Steve Jobs Said He `Finally Cracked` How To Make A Great Television
Monday, 24 October 2011 - 7:00 AM SL Time


Steve Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson that he figured out how to make a better television set, according to a leaked excerpt in the Washington Post:

He very much wanted to do for television sets what he had done for computers, music players, and phones: make them simple and elegant, Isaacson wrote.

Isaacson continued: `I`d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use,` he told me. `It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud.` No longer would users have to fiddle with complex remotes for DVD players and cable channels. `It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.`

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What`s in the Steve Jobs book
Monday, 24 October 2011 - 5:50 PM SL Time

The best-laid plans of authors and publishers often go awry when the bookstores get their copies.

Walter Isaacson`s Steve Jobs -- the most hotly anticipated biography in years, at least in some circles -- was supposed to have a dramatic worldwide laydown on Monday. But to the distress of Isaacson, Simon & Schuster and the dozens of publications that bought first or second serial rights, some reporters got their hands on the 630-page volume on Thursday. Result: The flood of revelations began four days early.

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Sri Lankan President accused in Australian court lolz
Tuesday, 25 October 2011 - 5:11 AM SL Time


SRI Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa - who was due to arrive in Australia last night - has had a charge laid against him in a Melbourne court accusing him of war crimes in his country`s civil war.

Sri Lankan-born Australian Arunachalam Jegatheeswaran filed an indictment against the President yesterday, declaring he was seeking justice for thousands who perished in a series of aerial bombardments and ground attacks on shelters, schools, hospitals, orphanages and community centres.

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Cairn Lanka drills second oil well in Sri Lanka
Tuesday, 25 October 2011 - 8:13 AM SL Time

Cairn Lanka, exploring oil in the Mannar basin off northwestern coast has started drilling a second site. The company has started work on a second well CLPL-Barracuda-1G/1 in the Block SL 2007-01-001.



Cairn Lanka, which began oil drilling operations in the Mannar basin in August, found gas deposits in its first well CLPL-Dorado-91H/1z.



According to the company, it has struck a gas deposit of a gross 25m hydrocarbon column with some additional liquid hydrocarbon potential in a sandstone between the depths of 3,043.8 to 3,068.7 meters.

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India to oppose a human rights monitor at CHOGM
Tuesday, 25 October 2011 - 10:10 AM SL Time

India will oppose a Commonwealth report that seeks to establish a monitoring group for member countries on human rights, democracy and rule of law. At the Commonwealth summit in Perth this week, India is working the diplomatic levers to make the case that such groups are beyond the mandate of the 54-nation grouping. This might put India in the direct path of advocacy by western Commonwealth nations UK, Canada and Australia.

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MS Dhoni and England`s angry men
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 - 6:54 AM SL Time

MS Dhoni knocked on the door of the England dressing room.

`Good evening, Alastair. Good evening, everybody,` he said. `Perhaps you would care to join us for a light supper?`

Steven Finn leapt to his feet and began shouting and swearing angrily. `I hate supper. You can shove your supper where the sun don`t shine,` he yelled at Dhoni.

`I don`t have a problem with that,` said Cook to nobody in particular. `It shows how passionate he is about mealtimes.`

`Oh, well, I just thought it might be a nice offer,` said Dhoni. `Not to worry.`

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War crimes case decision upsets Tamils
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 - 6:59 AM SL Time

The Australian Tamil community says it feels betrayed by the Federal Government`s decision to stop a war crimes case against the Sri Lankan president proceeding in Australia.

Tamil man Jegan Waran, 63, has filed charges in the Melbourne Magistrates Court against Mahinda Rajapakse, who is in Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

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Steve Jobs` book shows how Jobs ran company
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 - 5:32 PM SL Time

Before his worsening cancer prevented him from visiting the Apple (AAPL) campus, Steve Jobs followed a simple but telling daily ritual: lunch with lead designer Jony Ive. Then, later in the afternoon, circle back to Ive`s studio to talk product design, the true love of the two men`s lives.

Jobs considered Ive his `spiritual partner` at Apple, according to the new authorized biography by Walter Isaacson. And in the book `Steve Jobs,` a copy of which was obtained by this newspaper days before its formal release Monday, the writer reveals that Ive had `more operation power` at Apple than anyone besides the iconic CEO himself. There was no one else at Apple, writes Isaacson, who could tell Ive what to do. That, said Jobs, is `the way I set it up.`

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Jonathan Ive Interview
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 - 6:25 PM SL Time

it is damn scary :)
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Adagena Nama by Tamil Terrorists :)
Thursday, 27 October 2011 - 5:38 AM SL Time

a major breakthrough giving impetus into tracing and neutralizing of the LTTE`s international network, defence intelligence sources claimed to have figured out vital information of Arunachalam Jegadeeswaran alias Jeganwaran, an Australian based terror activist cum sympathizer.

According to intelligence sources, Jegadeeshwaran, a technical consultant by profession now living in Sydney, Australia is revealed to have been a close associate of Prabakaran, Chief of the internationally banned terrorist outfit - LTTE. Evidences have also surfaced exposing Jegadeeshwaran`s close involvement since 2001 with high profile members of the now military defeated terrorist outfit including its international wing head ? Castro. His involvements with the LTTE include designing and construction of key `military` infrastructure facilities to the terror outfit. Jegadeeshwaran was born in Sri Lanka and later had obtained Australian citizenship in year 1987.

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Car maker Audi to set up plant here
Thursday, 27 October 2011 - 3:45 PM SL Time


The Hambantota Port, which came under heavy criticism due to various issues, is now almost ready to commence operations and can be expected to be a production based trade hub within the next five years, Port Authority Chairman Dr. Bandu Wickrama said.


He said that the bedrock, which had brought about heavy criticism from various quarters, had been blasted and the clearing process was in progress and would be completed by mid November.


He said many investors had submitted proposals for development projects and four warehouses had been given to the private sector to be developed with more than US$ 1 billion attracted as investment.

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Commonwealth ministers stumble over human rights
Friday, 28 October 2011 - 10:53 AM SL Time

Commonwealth foreign ministers meeting on Thursday were split over how tough to get on human rights abuses in member countries, an issue which one official said their leaders were unlikely to resolve at a summit later in the week.

A confidential report ahead of Friday`s summit on the west Australian city of Perth has already warned leaders of the 54-member group of mostly former British colonies that unless they deal with the issue, the Commonwealth could become irrelevant.

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Commonwealth rights envoy opposed
Saturday, 29 October 2011 - 6:36 AM SL Time

The Sri Lanka government has confirmed that it objects to a move by a group of countries to establish a special envoy aimed at making the Commonwealth more effective on human rights.
A report by an advisory group has made over 100 recommendations aimed at reforming the organization, including bolstering the organization`s ability to tackle violations of its core principles by member states.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa`s spokesman, Bandula Jayasekara told BBC Sinhala service that a group of countries including Sri Lanka opposed to one of the key proposals to appoint a rights commissar.

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Rajapaksa outflanks Gillard on Games bid
Saturday, 29 October 2011 - 2:50 PM SL Time

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has out-manoeuvred Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard over duelling bids for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Ms Gillard today hosted senior officials from across the Commonwealth for a sports breakfast in Perth, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

In the audience were the bid teams for the Sri Lankan city of Hambantota and Queensland`s Gold Coast, as well as members of the 71 Commonwealth Games associations who have a vote.

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Why Siri Is a Google Killer
Saturday, 29 October 2011 - 3:46 PM SL Time

It`s now been a couple of weeks since Siri debuted as part of Apple`s (AAPL) 4S. The response from most people has been very positive.

However, in my opinion, Siri is tremendously under-valued. People see it as it is today, which is already the best voice recognition application in history. But people (including high-priced sell-side Wall Street analysts) fail to see where the puck is going for Siri. Siri will be vastly more improved in as little as 2 years from now. And the boundless number of applications using Siri will explode.

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Sri Lanka and China
Sunday, 30 October 2011 - 10:49 AM SL Time

SRI LANKA has cancelled the sale of one of its most valuable commercial properties, which would have gone to the state-owned China Aviation Technology Import-Export Corporation (CATIC), amid local protests over some of the deal`s shadier-seeming aspects. Sri Lanka`s government is now negotiating with the exasperated investor to see whether a deposit of $54.5m, already paid by the Chinese, can be diverted to a fresh land deal somewhere nearby.

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Australian Based LTTE Network Exposed
Sunday, 30 October 2011 - 9:08 PM SL Time

lolz lolz
only dumb asses can be cheated by them lolz

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Australian Based LTTE Network Exposed
Sunday, 30 October 2011 - 9:14 PM SL Time

lolz ha ha
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Britain urges Sri Lanka to make progress on rights by 2013
Monday, 31 October 2011 - 5:45 AM SL Time

British Prime Minister David Cameron urged Sri Lanka on Sunday to make progress on human rights before it hosts the next Commonwealth leaders meeting in 2013 to prevent the likelihood of boycotts.

Cameron said he pressed President Mahendra Rajapaske during this year`s Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Australia to show that Colombo did not `have things to hide` following the end of the country`s civil war.

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Meena documentary failed to generate any furore
Monday, 31 October 2011 - 6:25 AM SL Time

In the media this week in Australia, where the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting is being held in Perth, there were two people making headlines: Queen Elizabeth II and President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Queen, of course, was visiting Australia for the purpose of inaugurating the CHOGM. Given that she is eighty-five years old, there was widespread speculation in the Australian media that this could be her `last` visit to that country and this generated a groundswell of goodwill for the British monarch.

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CHOGM 2011: Fifteen nations help GoSL defeat Canada s anti-Lanka move
Monday, 31 October 2011 - 4:10 PM SL Time

Sri Lanka had thwarted an attempt by a minute section of the Commonwealth and the LTTE to humiliate Sri Lanka, at the CHOGM 2011, External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said yesterday.


Addressing the Sri Lankan media at the conclusion of the three-day biennial in Perth, Prof. Peiris said that Sri Lanka faced threats on three fronts, namely CHOGM 2011, litigation initiated by the LTTE and perceived bid to re-open the venue issue.

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Al Gore - Tribute to Steve Jobs
Monday, 31 October 2011 - 6:42 PM SL Time

a nice speach
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Low crowd of 2,500-3,000 at Pongu Thamizh event in Toronto big blow to Nediyavan led LTTE faction
Tuesday, 1 November 2011 - 7:52 AM SL Time

Less than 3000 people attended pongu Thamizh (Tamil Upsurge)event staged by Nediyavan led faction of pro-LTTE elements in Toronto on Oct 29

While the crowd was large by Canadian standards it was a massive drop in numbers compared to earlier LTTE events conducted at the same venue

A Pongu Thamizh event at the same venue QueensPark in 2004 had crowds of 35,000 participating.Other pro-LTTE meetings also drew big crowds

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Indian scientists map Sri Lankan genetic code
Tuesday, 1 November 2011 - 9:01 AM SL Time

NEW DELHI, October 31: Indian scientists have mapped the genetic code of a Sri Lankan individual, thus proclaiming this country`s arrival in the blooming global industry of commercial human genome sequencing.


The project involved the Centre for Genomic Application, a public-private company floated by the state-owned Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Kolkata-based Institute of Molecular Medicine, leading business daily `Mint` reported on Saturday.

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