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Slain LTTE chief Prabhakaran turns up on French postal stamps
Sunday, 1 January 2012 - 4:49 PM SL Time
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He may not be in his trademark fatigues and expressionless glum face, but there`s no mistaking the man in the stamp - a smiling and clean-shaven Velupillai Prabhakaran in casuals. The ghost of the slain LTTE supremo has returned to haunt Sri Lanka, on stamps allegedly issued in France with government approval!
In all, four stamps have been brought out by LTTE operatives who keep their identity under wraps, claim pro-Tiger and Tamil websites in Chennai. These websites have gone to town claiming this as a post-war public relations victory for the Tamil diaspora. The portals also claimed that people have already started using these stamps.
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Sri Lanka, India to hold high level talks on finishing
Wednesday, 4 January 2012 - 3:25 PM SL Time
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Sri Lanka, India to hold high level talks on fishing
COLOMBO, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka and India have intensified their cooperation over fishermen illegally crossing international maritime boundary lines ahead of a crucial high level meeting next week, an official said here on Wednesday.
A team from India`s southern state of Tamil Nadu will be arriving in Sri Lanka to repair seven boats that belonged to 35 Indian fishermen who were rescued by the Sri Lankan navy and returned home with the intervention of the Indian High Commission..
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Boycott looming if Colombo`s not on track
Friday, 6 January 2012 - 4:53 PM SL Time
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Canada will boycott the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled in Sri Lanka in 2013, if Colombo does not improve its human rights record. Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued this ultimatum during the last CHOGM meeting held last year in Perth, Australia.
Harper has demanded better human rights accountability and a stringent reconciliation program with the island-nation`s Tamil population.
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Govt boycotts ANC centenary
Sunday, 8 January 2012 - 4:29 AM SL Time
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By Our Diplomatic Correspondent
Sri Lanka has refused to accept an invitation from South Africa`s ruling African National Congress (ANC) to attend today`s centenary celebrations attended by some 40 heads of state or government. The reason -- a delegation from the London-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF) also has been invited for the same event. Giving it official status and placing it on par with a government delegation, an External Affairs Ministry source said yesterday was not acceptable. Otherwise External Affairs MinisterG.L. Peiris was to represent Sri Lanka at the event.
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Scotland to hold independence poll in 2014 - Salmond
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 - 1:03 AM SL Time
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Scotland plans to hold an independence referendum in the autumn of 2014, First Minister Alex Salmond has said.
He said this date would allow the Scottish people to make a `considered` decision on Scotland`s future within the United Kingdom.
The news came as the UK government said a referendum would be unconstitutional without its authority.
It has said it wanted to work with the SNP-led administration amid a row over the timing and conditions for a poll.
Confirming the Scottish government`s preferred date for a referendum, Mr Salmond - who wants Scotland to separate from the rest of the UK - said the Scottish people faced `their most important decision for 300 years`.
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China Merchants Said to Plan Sri Lanka Terminal Stake Purchase
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 - 9:28 PM SL Time
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China Merchants Holdings (International) Co. (144) plans to increase its stake in an under- construction Sri Lankan container terminal, according to two people familiar with the situation.
The company, the largest shareholder in the facility, is considering acquiring at least some of Aitken Spence & Co.`s 30 percent stake as the Colombo-based partner is quitting the project, said the people who declined to be identified as the discussions are private. The Sri Lanka Port Authority may also buy some of the Spence holdings, one of the people said.
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Lanka blames LTTE`s of influencing foreign govts
Thursday, 12 January 2012 - 2:37 AM SL Time
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Colombo: Sri Lanka has accused the LTTE`s international fronts of influencing foreign governments, including India, to support their separatist cause. Addressing a public lecture in Colombo on Tuesday titled `Future Challenges to National Security in Sri Lanka`, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who is the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, claimed these elements have won over a number of politicians overseas.
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Four top US officials to visit Sri Lanka .
Thursday, 12 January 2012 - 10:03 PM SL Time
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Four top US officials to visit Sri Lanka .
Thursday, 12 January 2012 19:05
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Sri Lanka awaits four senior US officials who will meet government officials, civil society representatives, business leaders and political leaders here in the coming weeks.
Ambassador James A. Larocco from the Near East South Asia Centre for Strategic Studies at the Department of Defense National Defense University will visit Sri Lanka and the Maldives Jan 15-19.
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Selling point No 1::: US `suggests` immunity to Rajapakse from suit
Sunday, 15 January 2012 - 6:25 PM SL Time
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[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2012, 02:28 GMT]
In a clear articulation of US State Department`s continuing support of Sri Lanka`s President Rajapakse, the US Justice Department, based on a directive from legal adviser Harold Koh, has suggested to the District Court of District of Columbia that Rajapakse has immunity from the suit filed by three Tamil plaintiffs for alleged complicity in war-crimes. The US State department asserts that `the Executive Branch retains the authority to refrain from making a similar immunity determination in future cases, considering, for example, international norms and the implications of the litigation for the Nation`s foreign relations,` indicating that US would positively exercise its discretion in this case to intervene to prevent continuation of the suit.
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Toronto declares January 2012 Tamil Heritage Month,,,, India signs CEPA with Colombo.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - 2:45 AM SL Time
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Toronto declares January 2012 Tamil Heritage Month
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 January 2012, 04:11 GMT]
City Council of Toronto, Canada`s largest city issued a proclamation declaring January 2012 `Tamil Heritage Month,` providing the opportunity `to showcase and share the community`s vibrant culture and traditions and longstanding history with Toronto residents and visitors.` Toronto`s Mayor Rob Ford signed the proclamation on behalf of the City Council.
Full text of the Toronto City Council`s proclamation follows:
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Indian FM exerts pressure on TNA, wants Sampanthan in Rajapaksa`s PSC
Thursday, 19 January 2012 - 11:52 AM SL Time
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[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 January 2012, 18:11 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance has been pressurised by the visiting Indian Foreign Minister S. Krishna to take part in the SL Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), sources close to TNA told TamilNet Wednesday. At the same time, demanding the TNA to come through the PSC farse, the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa`s delegation that has been engaging with the TNA in fruitless talks, boycotted scheduled talks this time for the second day. Reacting to the behaviour of the Sri Lankan government, which has failed to meet the TNA as scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday, Mr. M.K. Sivajilingam, the political leader of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), which is a constituent party of the TNA, said Wednesday that the Tamil alliance should at least now realise that there is no point in talking about the 13 amendment, or something plus or minus to it.
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DRG strikes Syria, Sri Lanka doc deals
Thursday, 19 January 2012 - 7:12 PM SL Time
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UK-based distributor DRG has picked up international rights to a Channel 4 documentary on Syria and secured sales around the world for another on Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka`s Killing Fields was produced by ITN Productions and aired in June last year. It used mobile phone footage and eye witness accounts of war crimes allegedly committed at the end of the country`s civil war between the government and Tamil Tigers rebel forces in 2009. DRG has now sold the doc to ABC in Australia, AETN18 and TV Today Network in India, DR in Denmark and NRK in Norway.
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TNA- govt talks broke down.
Saturday, 21 January 2012 - 8:18 PM SL Time
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The political dialogue between the government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has come to an abrupt end over a row on the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) which is to be set up to evolve a solution to the national question, the TNA said today.
TNA MP Suresh Premachandran said the government had not communicated with his party with regard to the deadlock.
He said the government was insisting that his party should participate in the PSC deliberations.
If we cannot reach any political understanding with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the largest party in the ruling coalition, how can we reach any agreement with the extremist parties in the United People`s Freedom Alliance (UPFA)? The PSC consists of all these parties. It may be another delaying tactic by the government, he said.
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Krishna fail to impress CM Jeyalalitha, TNA sticks with the UN panel report, Attack on TN fisherman continues...
Monday, 23 January 2012 - 6:00 AM SL Time
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A fisherman of Rameswaram was injured when Indian fishing boats were attacked, allegedly by Sri Lankan naval personnel, near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) at Kachchatheevu late on Saturday.
The attackers, who were seen patrolling near Kachchatheevu, allegedly pelted the fishermen with stones.
Several fishermen took evasive action and escaped. However, M. Jegadeesh (30) was hit by a sharp stone. He received injuries on his right leg. The boat`s windshield was damaged in the incident.
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Sri Lanka: No Progress on Justice
Monday, 23 January 2012 - 10:45 PM SL Time
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New York) The Sri Lankan government in the past year failed to advance justice and accountability for the victims of the country`s 26-year-long civil conflict, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2012. While Sri Lanka`s war-ravaged north and east became more open, the government deepened repression of basic freedoms throughout the country.
The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa continued to stall on accountability for abuses by the security forces, threatened media and civil society groups, and largely ignored complaints of insecurity and land grabbing in the north and east, Human Rights Watch said. The long-awaited report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), published in December, largely absolved the military for its conduct in the bloody final months of the war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which ended in May 2009.
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Sri Lankan Group Sells Colombo Port Stake .....
Tuesday, 24 January 2012 - 9:42 PM SL Time
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Sells stake in $500 million port to China Merchants Holdings International
Sri Lankan conglomerate Aitken Spence agreed to sell its 30 percent stake in the Colombo International Container Terminals to China Merchants Holdings, the majority stakeholder in the $500 million project.
Aitken in a statement to the Colombo Stock Exchange said local authorities approved the deal but did not disclose financial details.
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Top peacekeeping post for Shavendra
Friday, 27 January 2012 - 4:35 AM SL Time
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Ambassador, Major General Shavendra Silva, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, has been selected to represent the Asia Pacific Group in the special Advisory group on Peace Keeping Operations. He joins a group of high ranking Ambassadors and other eminent personalities who are members of this key body addressing some of the crucial issues related to United Nations Peace Keeping.
This is the first time in the history that a Sri Lankan has been appointed to such a prestigious post relating to Peace Keeping Operations, throughout Sri Lanka`s 50 years long partnership with the Department of Peace Keeping. The Senior Advisory Group was established to act as counsel on rates of reimbursement to troop contributing and related issues. Other appointees include former Deputy Secretary General of the UN and former Deputy Minister of National
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Colombo abducts indian fishermen again.... TIT for TAT...
Friday, 27 January 2012 - 7:12 PM SL Time
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Colombo: At least four Indian fishermen and a boat distressed off Sri lanka`s northern coast have been rescued by the Navy, police said on Friday.
They were rescued at around 10:15 am lcoal time by the Navy in the northern Jaffna islet of Delft.
The Delft police said they would be produced before the Kayts magistrate to obtain an order allowing them to be handed over to Indian High Commission officials.
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Sri Lankan Alleged War Criminal Silva `Selected` as Ban Adviser on Peacekeeping?
Saturday, 28 January 2012 - 8:16 PM SL Time
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By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 27 -- In an example of UN `bluewashing` of an alleged war criminal, Sri Lanka is bragging that its Major General Shavendra Silva has been selected for the `UN Secretary General`s special Advisory group on Peace Keeping Operations,` along with former Deputy Secretary General Louise Frechette and former head of UN Peacekeeping Jean Marie Guehenno.
Acts of Shavendra Silva`s battalion in 2009 are described in the UN`s own Panel of Experts report on Sri Lanka, and lawsuits have been filed against Silva for war crimes.
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Sri Lanka`s two Tamil parties to join forces to demand police and land powers
Monday, 30 January 2012 - 7:49 AM SL Time
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Jan 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka`s major Tamil constituent Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Suresh Premachandran says that the party is ready to discuss with the ruling party of the Eastern Provincial Council about the power devolution and the political solution to the ethnic problem.
Eastern Provincial Council is ruled by Tamil People`s Liberation Tigers (TMVP), political party formed by the former breakaway rebel group of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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The minutes taken in the Jaffna citizens group s meeting with the US officials
Monday, 30 January 2012 - 7:59 PM SL Time
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Position of the US state Department on the possibilities of passing resolution against Sri Lanka during March, 2012 at UN Human Rights Council was categorically clarified by officials of the US States Department on 22.01.2012. View points and the advise given by them follow:
http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=34837
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Battered, Bruised and Betrayed...
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 - 12:35 AM SL Time
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1.There is no possibility of a resolution against Sri Lanka at
the next HRC meeting in March 2012
3.No reference will be made to UN Panel report, War Crime or
International Inquiry at any discussion at this session.
18.Officials of the State Dept. were not interested in listening
about War Crime and International inquiry.
11.State Dept. is not interested in instituting accountability
mechanism.
17.Officials of the State Department are advised to not to
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President to help kick-start PSC process
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 - 4:14 AM SL Time
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I will be asking all relevant political parties to come together in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) process in an effort to iron out differences of opinion among them with regard to the issues facing our communities and to speed- up the normalization process in the country. All these parties and other relevant sections are obliged to put the interests of Sri Lanka above their self-interest, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday at his monthly breakfast meeting with newspaper Editors at Temple Trees.
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Sri Lanka says it won`t submit war report to UN......Parliament decision on Ethnic Issues will be the final decision - President
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 - 6:47 PM SL Time
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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Sri Lanka says it will not forward to the U.N. its report clearing government forces of allegations they targeted civilians during the country`s civil war, in an apparent attempt to avoid scrutiny of the document.
Sri Lanka last year successfully prevented discussion at the U.N. Human Rights Commission of an earlier U.N. report alleging that tens of thousands of civilians may have been killed during the final months of the war against separatist Tamil Tiger rebels.
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