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   http://www.lankanewspapers.com/Roshan2007 - Archive of Mar 2012




Government invested an exorbitant amount of funds on wasteful ventures that did not generate any income - Lal Kantha
Thursday, 1 March 2012 - 5:35 PM SL Time

Trade unions today charged that the government invested an exorbitant amount of funds on wasteful ventures that did not generate any income but failed to provide fuel at a lowers cost to boost the country`s production which could uplift the peoples lives.

National Trade Union Center (NTUC) Chief K.D Lal Kantha said that the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium, the Norochcholia power plant, the Hambantota port, the Deyata Kirula exhibition the beautification of Colombo and other projects that did not generate any income despite the heavy expenditure spent on them.

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Beijing Consensus and Sri Lanka
Saturday, 3 March 2012 - 3:17 PM SL Time

China case study

The Chinese Communist Party has realised that its citizens are the engines of sustainable economic growth. Premier Wen Jiabao has said that China `s State capitalist economy is unstable, unbalanced, uncoordinated and unsustainable .

The current Chinese five-year plan makes it clear that the State must transfer wealth from China `s largest State-owned companies to consumers to ensure that the country is no longer quite so vulnerable to economic shocks from the world economy.


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Life Getting Worse For Most People
Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 11:30 AM SL Time

The constantly increasing cost of living has resulted in a majority of households living in the red every month.

The Census and Statistics Department states that the average monthly expenditure of a household for January this year was recorded at Rs. 43,311.57 while the average income according to the last Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) stood at Rs. 36,451.
A Sri Lankan household therefore lives in the red to the tune of Rs. 6,860 every month. The expenditure continues to increase while the income levels of the households have not shown an increase, the Census and Statistics Department states.

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US$ 278.2mn Chinese loan for Matara Beliatta Section (Phase I) of Matara - Kataragama Railway Extension Project
Tuesday, 6 March 2012 - 10:39 AM SL Time

The Chinese government has approved a loan of US$ 278.2 million through its Export Import (Exim) Bank on concessional terms to finance the construction of Matara Beliatta Section (Phase I) of Matara - Kataragama Railway Extension Project, the ministry of Finance and Planning announced yesterday.

`The Matara Beliatta Section consists of construction of 26.75 km long single line broad gauge rail track including construction of structures such as culverts, bridges over rivers, viaducts those required over the Nilwala river flood plain, level crossings, underpass boxes, road diversion, 4 numbers of railway stations and functional requirements including construction of railway quarters for staff, earth embankments, cut embankments and ground treatment etc,` the Treasury said in statement.

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Sri Lanka`s per capita income will rise to $6,000 by 2016 - Ajith Nivaard Cabraal, Doha
Thursday, 8 March 2012 - 8:17 AM SL Time

Mar 07 (GT) Sri Lanka`s per capita income will rise to $6,000 by 2016, Central Bank governor Ajith Nivaard Cabraal said in Doha yesterday.

The visiting official was making a presentation on `Sri Lanka`s Emerging Business Opportunities` at a seminar organised by the Sri Lankan Business Council of Qatar.

Cabraal highlighted the growth in the country`s economy since the war on terrorism ended in 2009. The Government of Sri Lanka has embarked on a massive development programme, `Mahinda Chintana`, the brain child of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

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Sri Lanka`s abject poverty levels declining - Minister Weerawanse
Friday, 9 March 2012 - 1:10 PM SL Time

Mar 09, Colombo: Sri Lanka has recorded the lowest number of persons suffering from abject poverty in the Asian region, Housing and Engineering Services Minister Wimal Weerawansa has said.

Addressing a tree planting ceremony in Ratmalana, Minister Weerawansa has observed that the country`s economic indicators were on a positive path and that poverty levels were on the decline.

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Sri Lanka apparel exporter says US demand to be strong
Friday, 9 March 2012 - 7:54 PM SL Time

Mar 09, 2012 (LBO) - Demand from the United States for apparels would be strong this year, though Europe may be weak and domestic conditions in China, a key competitor favoured Sri Lanka, a top industry official said.

`I am of the view that the American market is beginning to pick up,` Mahesh Amalean, head of MAS Holdings, a top apparel exporting group said.
`There is labor shortage in China, in the areas where appeals are manufactured.`

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Oil for rice barter system soon - Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
Saturday, 10 March 2012 - 12:21 PM SL Time

Sri Lanka can use a barter system to exchange rice for oil in three to four years, said Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Participating in the Post Harvest Technology Institute Research Symposium yesterday at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Minister Abeywardena said that the country can overcome all its difficulties within the next few years.

Sri Lanka is self-sufficient in rice. We will take measures to exchange our rice with Middle Eastern countries. India exchanges gold for oil. Though we can live without gold, we cannot live without fuel. In future there will be a huge demand for food.

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Singapore Airlines to retire its last Boeing 747 plane
Sunday, 11 March 2012 - 11:28 AM SL Time

ingapore Airlines will pay tribute to the 747 with a celebratory flight from Singapore to Hong Kong on April 6.

Out with the old, in with the new. Or so they say at Singapore Airlines, which will wave goodbye to its last remaining jumbo jet next month.

The airline has been moving forward to replace its 747s which have served the airline for almost 40 years with shiny new A380 superjumbos.

Singapore Airlines will pay tribute to the 747 with a celebratory flight from Singapore to Hong Kong and back on April 6.

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Cambridge students protest against Dominique Strauss-Kahn visit
Sunday, 11 March 2012 - 7:00 PM SL Time

200 protesters, 2 arrests and a pointed question on `vaginal bruising.` DSK`s appearance at the Union last night proved as controversial as expected.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn managed to talk about economics for most of the evening to an under-capacity Union, but the ex-IMF Chief was forced from home turf when a student asked about rape allegations made earlier this year.

Will Lawn, a 3rd year student from King`s College asked Strauss-Kahn to explain why Diallo had vaginal bruising the day after you met her, referring to the hotel maid who alleges that DSK raped her in May 2011.

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Plans to set up exhibition and convention center near Sri Lanka`s international airport
Monday, 12 March 2012 - 2:37 PM SL Time

Mar 11, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government plans to establish a zone for international exhibitions and conferences close to the country`s main Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.

The government has taken steps to set up the exhibition and convention center to prevent the waste of time for the foreign visitors attending these events.

Currently, most of these events are held in Colombo city but the travel from airport to Colombo city takes time due to heavy traffic on the highway from the airport.

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Opposition and UNP Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe hands over scholarships worth Rs. 190,000
Tuesday, 13 March 2012 - 7:58 AM SL Time

Opposition and UNP Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe hands over scholarships worth Rs. 190,000 to the two children of the slain fisherman Anthony Fernando at the Opposition Leader`s office in Colombo yesterday. Fernando was shot dead during a recent protest by fishermen in Chilaw against fuel price increases.

UNP National Organiser Daya Gamage, Puttalam District MP Range Bandara and MPDr Jayalath Jayawardena look on. Gamage has offered to sponsor the two children`s education.
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The mother of all patriots
Thursday, 15 March 2012 - 4:57 PM SL Time

Most UPFA supporters who talk bad about him, doing out of pure jealousy. :)
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Get rid of a war-time mentality and loosen regulations to allow business to grow..
Friday, 16 March 2012 - 10:11 AM SL Time

Sri Lanka urged to dump war mindset

Mar 15, 2012 (LBO) - Sri Lankan shipbuilder Colombo Dockyard has urged authorities to get rid of a war-time mentality and loosen regulations to allow business to grow amid a post-war economic boom.

Colombo Dockyard managing director Mangala Yapa said the end of the 30-year ethnic war has opened up new business opportunities but growth was being hampered by archaic rules and war-time restrictions.
He said a continuous lacuna exists in Sri Lanka`s capacity to cater to afloat repair requirements with the `security situation` being a `primary reason` for the lack of development in this area.

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Obama announces WTO case against China over rare earths
Saturday, 17 March 2012 - 7:00 PM SL Time

London (CNN) -- The United States, the European Union and Japan have filed a trade case over China`s export restrictions on rare earth minerals that are crucial for the production of many high-tech devices.

What are rare earth minerals?

Rare earths are 17 minerals with magnetic and conductive properties that are used in most of today`s electronic devices, including flat-screen televisions, smart phones, hybrid cars and weapons.

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Uranium rich Namibia to do trade with Sri Lanka
Monday, 19 March 2012 - 7:31 PM SL Time

Namibia, the world`s fifth-largest producer of uranium, is keen to leverage Sri Lanka`s apparel and rice cultivation successes. `We are now starting to develop our apparel sector and the rice farming sector. We are eager for tech and know-how support from Sri Lanka given the country`s successes in them,` said Samuel K. Mbambo, the new High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to Colombo as quoted in a press communiqu issued by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

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Local Americans trying to kill me: Wimal
Tuesday, 20 March 2012 - 9:29 AM SL Time

Minister Wimal Weerawansa today claimed that he had been subjected to a huge attack and local Americans were trying to kill him following a request he made to boycott American products.

Yes, I made a request from our patriotic Sri Lankans to boycott America and American products to show our protest to the American sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva and express our solidarity with the government. Surprisingly, the local Americans are attempting to kill me for making this statement, Minister Weerawansa said.

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Deliver or depart, UNP tells Govt. . Country mortgaged to fund ego-boosting projects:
Tuesday, 20 March 2012 - 9:58 PM SL Time

Unviable projects meant to boost the image of a `small clique` in government, has resulted in the country being mortgaged for generations to come, the UNP said yesterday.

UNP Media spokesman Gayantha Karunathillake MP told a news conference in Colombo that high interest loans had been obtained from international banks, purely for the purpose of launching `ego boosting and unviable projects` on behalf of the `small clique`.


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Sri Lanka Tourism participates at the 2012 New York Times Travel Show
Wednesday, 21 March 2012 - 8:15 AM SL Time

Mar 20, New York - Sri Lanka Tourism and SriLankan Airlines took part at `The New York Times Travel Show`, North America`s Premier Travel Show, which was held at the prestigious Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre in New York City from March 2 4, 2012.

The Sri Lanka Tourism booth was officially opened on Friday, March 2.

Dillan Ariyawansa, Head of SriLankan Airlines GSA in North America and Honorary Director for Sri Lanka Tourism in the USA was joined by Tour Operators and Hoteliers from Sri Lanka namely Varini De Silva of Ceylon Express International, Dular Niyangoda of Newxplorer.com, Raju Arasaratnam of Jetwing Travels, L.S.R. Dharmapala of Lanka Sportreizen, Jan Van Twest of The Fortress Resort and Spa, Afghar Mohideen and Gayangi Wirasinha of United Holidays and Rajitha Rajapakse of Walkers Tours who also participated at the booth.

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US imposes solar duties on China because of subsidies
Wednesday, 21 March 2012 - 3:09 PM SL Time

The US has imposed duties on Chinese solar panel manufacturers after it said that they received unfair subsidies.

Chinese exporters into the US - including Suntech - will now face customs tariffs of between 2.9% and 4.73%, the Commerce Department said.

In 2011, imports of solar cells from China into the US were valued at $3.1bn ( 1.96bn), it added.

The price of solar panels dropped more than 30% last year, mainly linked to cheaper panels made in China.

`Countervailable subsidies are financial assistance from foreign governments that benefit the production of goods from foreign companies,` the Commerce Department said.

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Russia, China join UN demand for Syria peace move
Thursday, 22 March 2012 - 6:40 PM SL Time

The UN Security Council demanded that Syria immediately implement a peace plan by special envoy Kofi Annan, even as government forces pounded rebel zones around Damascus and Homs.

Russia and China, which have blocked two resolutions on Syria, backed a western-drafted statement that called on President Bashar al-Assad to work toward a cessation of hostilities and a democratic transition. The council gave a veiled warning of future international action.


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Witness protection: Path to justice
Saturday, 24 March 2012 - 12:59 PM SL Time

First thing he heard was, stones being pelted at his house. It was 2.30 am and the retired public school teacher, who was a witness in a corruption case, knew full well that his life was in danger. I switched on the lights, but didn`t step out, said Lionel Chandrasiri.

The shots that ensued did Rs 300,000 worth of property damage. The two vehicles in his front yard as well as the front of his house had been badly damaged by the shooting. All this for speaking on behalf of the children`s welfare, said Chandrasiri.

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Reassess foreign and domestic policies
Sunday, 25 March 2012 - 8:08 AM SL Time


Thursday`s vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva pitted Sri Lanka against the world`s most formidable powerhouse, the United States. It stretched that super-power to the limit. The US sponsored resolution received the slimmest of majorities - just a solitary vote (24 out of 47), but it ended with Sri Lanka now in the dock of the world community. Could this have been averted?

It was the second attempt by the US, after the botched resolution soon after the defeat of the LTTE in 2009 to punish Sri Lanka. This time the US did not hide behind the Czech Republic as it had done last time the US came forward itself, with all its muscle and just made it. One less vote and the US would have still had the resolution passed, but it would have been a pyrrhic victory. Even now, the final scorecard clearly indicated that the world community recognised a patent unfairness on the part of the US in singling out Sri Lanka. There were after all, eight abstentions while 15 voted against the anti-Sri Lanka resolution.

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Medvedev: Annan`s mission is Syria`s last chance
Sunday, 25 March 2012 - 9:46 PM SL Time

MOSCOW - (AP) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told the U.N. and Arab League envoy to Syria on Sunday that his mission `may be the last chance for Syria to avoid a protracted bloody civil war` and promised Russia`s full support.

Kofi Annan was in Moscow for meetings with Russia`s president and foreign minister. He now travels to China, which along with Russia has shielded Syrian leader Bashar Assad from United Nations` sanctions over his crackdown on an uprising. More than 8,000 people have been killed since the uprising began a year ago.

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Shift some Diplomatic Missions from the West to Africa
Monday, 26 March 2012 - 7:32 PM SL Time

The government today said that the decision to shift some Diplomatic Missions from the West has nothing to do with the resolution that was passed at the UNHRC last week.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L Peiris stated that the decision to shift the focus of establishing diplomatic missions from the West to Africa was one that predated the passing of the resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council Sessions in Geneva.

According to media reports Sri Lankan Diplomatic Missions in Europe were to be closed and one single Mission was to be established to oversee the affairs of Poland, Netherlands, Austria Norway and Sweden. However the Missions in Britain, France, Germany and the European Union would remain. In lieu of these Missions the Ministry is to establish Diplomatic Missions in Africa, Latin America and Asia

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Turn off fridges between 6.30pm and 9.30pm
Tuesday, 27 March 2012 - 3:44 PM SL Time

Four million schoolchildren pledged yesterday to uphold their responsibility in saving electricity to face the looming energy crisis which will intensify during the next three decades.

All students in schools took an oath at 8.15am yesterday at their schools towards this end in a programme launched jointly by the Power and Energy Ministry and the Education Ministry.

The students pledged their commitment to save energy resources and protect the environment in the mothers_day.jsp' class=black>motherland. They also vowed that to save energy for the future, they would turn off at least one extra bulb at homes between 6.30pm and 9.30pm and attend to ironing their clothes avoiding these hours.

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Mervin rocks again. ::))
Tuesday, 27 March 2012 - 8:50 PM SL Time


Media using me to increase sales-Mervyn

Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva today said that if the media wants to use his name to increase their sales by spreading rumours about him, then so be it.

I heard that the SLFP Central Committee is going to take a decision against me. However, I have not yet been formally informed about it. The media is giving publicity to the rumors to increase their sales. If they could sell Mevyn Silva, so be it. As a man from the south I will fight against any move to betray the country. If I threatened to break limbs I must say that breaking limbs was a lesser punishment when compared to those that existed during the time of ancient kings, he said.

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Colombo hosts Sri Lanka-USA TIFA talks
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 - 8:15 PM SL Time

In a progressive move, Sri Lanka and the US yesterday successfully concluded the 10th round of talks under the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).

Analysts described the talks and successful conclusion as a positive development as it was amidst continued political apprehension locally over the US-led resolution against Sri Lanka seeing successful passage at the UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva last week.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said yesterday that senior officials from the Governments of US and Sri Lanka met to continue their trade dialogue and evaluate progress under the TIFA.

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Bandula ready for public debate
Thursday, 29 March 2012 - 8:00 AM SL Time

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene said today said he was ready for a public debate to prove that a family of three could survive with a monthly income of Rs.7500.

He told a news conference he would meet anyone with a sound knowledge of economics to disprove what he said.

Mr. Gunawardene said his argument was that a small family could survive on Rs.7,500 a month and pointed out that school hostels spend only Rs.2,500 to feed a student for a month.

The minister who used to be an economics teacher said a family spends only 41 per cent of the monthly income for food and the rest is spent on clothes and to pay utility bills.

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Govt. detaches itself from Ministers` statements
Friday, 30 March 2012 - 6:11 PM SL Time

The government yesterday detached itself from the statements by Cabinet Ministers over the US backed resolution adopted by the UNHRC claiming the government is yet to issue an official response to the resolution.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet briefing yesterday Acting Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the statement made by External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris in which he said he is not accepting the resolution, is his personal opinion.

The government is yet to issue its official response Abeywardena said.

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WikiLeaks: The plane seems to be heading for Singapore, but it might land in Burma.
Saturday, 31 March 2012 - 8:19 AM SL Time

By Colombo Telegraph -

COMs including those such as Norwegian Ambassador Hattrem with long experience in Sri Lanka were unsure whether the recent political crackdown was temporary or indicated a new style of leadership by the Rajapaksa regime. But it did appear that the Rajapaksas were headed in a more authoritarian direction. The plane seems to be heading for Singapore, EU Ambassador Savage quipped, but it might land in Burma. the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

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NGOs behind paddy farmers agitation for price increase Piyasiri
Saturday, 31 March 2012 - 6:30 PM SL Time

Former Minister and Democratic National Front member Piyasiri Wijenayake on Thursday said that there was a conspiracy by some NGOs to hoodwink the farmers and get them to force the government to increase the price of a kilo of Paddy to Rs 40.

He said the motive behind this was to reduce the number of Sri Lankans eating rice and encourage people to consume bread.

The former Minister alleged that an NGO, funded by a western country, had brought farmers from remote areas in bus loads to hold a protest in Polonnaruwa asking the government to increase the price of paddy.

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They Were Very Professional
Sunday, 1 April 2012 - 9:33 AM SL Time

Sagara Senaratne who was abducted in Kotte last Monday evening near Naga Viharaya Kotte believes that he was released within a few hours because of his brother-in-law Minister Jeewan Kumaratunge`s timely intervention.

I know for certain that the abductors knew me. I did not see their faces. The driver of the van called me by my first name while the others called me `sir`. They wanted a Rs.50 million ransom. While they were discussing this on our way, one of them received a call on his mobile. I overheard him saying, `I do not know anything in this regard ask him` and the mobile was passed from one hand to another passing the blame from one to another. No sooner this particular call was received, the van stopped abruptly and they were in panic.

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They Were Very Professional - Sagara Senaratne who was abducted
Sunday, 1 April 2012 - 9:35 AM SL Time

Sagara Senaratne who was abducted in Kotte last Monday evening near Naga Viharaya Kotte believes that he was released within a few hours because of his brother-in-law Minister Jeewan Kumaratunge`s timely intervention.

I know for certain that the abductors knew me. I did not see their faces. The driver of the van called me by my first name while the others called me `sir`. They wanted a Rs.50 million ransom. While they were discussing this on our way, one of them received a call on his mobile. I overheard him saying, `I do not know anything in this regard ask him` and the mobile was passed from one hand to another passing the blame from one to another. No sooner this particular call was received, the van stopped abruptly and they were in panic.

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