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   http://www.lankanewspapers.com/elephanthouse - Archive of Aug 2012




China Unprepared for Climate Disasters
Wednesday, 1 August 2012 - 12:59 PM SL Time

By Taro Ichikawa

TOKYO (IDN) - China has been fighting two prolonged dry spells and the ongoing floods that have caused havoc in central and eastern parts of the country this year. The second spell of drought in the Yangtze River basin was followed by devastating floods with an enormously adverse economic impact.

A total of over 36 million people are reported to have been affected, at least 355 killed and with direct economic losses of nearly US$6.5 billion, according to Xinhua.
This affirms crux of a message a recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) study sought to convey: `China has a stunningly agile disaster response system but not a corresponding system of risk reduction and management. In other words, China does not prepare for climate-related disasters it only reacts to them.`

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2012 Olympics - Family kept grandparents` deaths secret from Chinese diver until she won gold medal
Thursday, 2 August 2012 - 4:54 AM SL Time

LONDON Chinese diver Wu Minxia`s celebrations at winning a third Olympic gold medal were cut short after her family revealed the details of a devastating secret they had kept for several years.

Wu`s parents decided to withhold news of both the death of her grandparents and of her mothers_day.jsp' class=black>mother`s long battle with breast cancer until after she won the 3-meter springboard in London so as to not interfere with her diving career.

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Sri Lanka`s Fragile Gains in the Balance
Friday, 3 August 2012 - 6:36 AM SL Time

In May 2009, the civil war in Sri Lanka drew to a close. It had been a sanguinary conflict claiming anywhere between 80,000 and 100,000 lives. Not surprisingly, there was a palpable sense of relief amongst the majority Sinhala population. Even the Tamil population, many of whom were not active supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), had reasons to celebrate. They looked forward to no longer facing the routine suspicion, periodic harassment, and occasional searches of their homes.

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Olympics: Federer into final in record three-setter
Saturday, 4 August 2012 - 12:27 AM SL Time

LONDON: Roger Federer fought through the longest three-set singles match in the Open era Friday when he beat Argentina`s Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 19-17 to reach the Olympic final.

Wimbledon champion Federer was on the brink of a shock defeat on Centre Court after dropping the first set, but the world number one finally subdued del Potro after a marathon four hours and 26 minutes.

The match, 23 minutes longer than Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic`s Madrid semi-final in 2009, comes after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga took 66 games to beat Milos Raonic in the second round -- the most seen in an Olympic three-setter.

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2012 Olympics Triathlon The Swiss Spiring and Swede Norden given same time
Saturday, 4 August 2012 - 6:38 PM SL Time

London 2012: Nicola Spirig wins triathlon just ahead of Lisa Norden

The Swiss Spiring and Swede Norden given same time
Team GB`s Helen Jenkins misses out on Olympic medal
Sean Ingle in Hyde Park

guardian.co.uk, Saturday 4 August 2012 11.30 BST
Nicola Spirig of Switzerland, here in second, pipped Lisa Norden of Sweden, here third, in the Olympic women`s triathlon. Photograph: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Switzerland`s Nicola Spirig won a dramatic Olympic women`s triathlon in Hyde Park after a photo finish with Sweden`s Lisa Norden. Both women finished in the same time 1hr 59m 48sec but the judges ruled that Spirig has crossed the line first.

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Olympics 2012 - Seeking glory the wrong way
Sunday, 5 August 2012 - 4:12 AM SL Time

Thaaththa, Bindu Udagedera asked, isn`t it time for the Olympics again?
Yes, it is, Bindu`s father Percy said, but I`m afraid we may not be winning any medals at these games as well.
And why is it that we have won only two silver medals from all the Olympics that we have participated in, thaaththa? Bindu wondered.
That is because they don`t have the sports that we excel in at the Olympics, Bindu, Percy suggested.
Why do you say that, thaaththa? Bindu asked, do you think cricket should be included as an Olympic sport?

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Olympics 2012: Federer wilts as British crowd roars for Murray
Sunday, 5 August 2012 - 11:02 PM SL Time



Forget the decorum of genteel Wimbledon. This was a gladiatorial contest with no quarter given and that was just the crowd. They didn``t quite bay for blood but Roger Federer must have wondered what hit him in his Olympic final against Andy Murray.

Every purple patch of play by Murray prompted pandemonium. The fans whipped themselves into a frenzy of patriotic fervour. The `Braveheart` Scottish contingent daubed their faces in blue and white paint. Red, white and blue Union Flag bowler hats were dotted round the world`s most famous tennis court.

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The Deception of Self-Determination in Sri Lanka
Tuesday, 7 August 2012 - 3:41 AM SL Time

Tue, 2012-08-07 01:53 editor

By Shenali Waduge
In 1945 there were just 55 nations states in the world. 51 years later by 1996 there were 185 nation states. Countries have certainly split and become separated. Much of these separations have resulted from decolonization which have evolved to create greater issues that independent nations have to deal with.
Self-determination as a concept has gained much international attention though very few have shown concern or raised the need to properly define it and clearly demarcate its legality. Ambiguities have allowed countries to remain in conflict and for separatist movements to exist while also encouraging politicians to use self-determination as a key political tool to maximize ethnic votes and keep them in power. It is time for these ambiguities to be cleared.

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London 2012 sees Britain bask in its most golden glow since 1908
Wednesday, 8 August 2012 - 3:26 AM SL Time

A triumph of funding, management and performance is largely responsible for our stunning and extraordinary Olympic success
Barney Ronay

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 7 August 2012 20.09 BST

Triathlete Alistair Brownlee won the gold medal that equalled Britain`s modern Olympic record. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Do not adjust your medal table: this really is happening. Beleaguered by security blather, troubled at times by its own unfathomable ticket regime, the London 2012 Olympic Games has now delivered gloriously and unanswerably where it really matters.

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Duminda to undergo another surgery in S pore
Wednesday, 8 August 2012 - 4:33 PM SL Time

Lawyer of MP Duminda Silva informed the Colombo Magistrate today that Mr.Silva would not be able to come to Sri Lanka for at least two months as he had to undergo another surgery in Singapore today.

President`s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya said former presidential adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra`s daughter Hirunika was continuing to make media statements on the court and its proceedings.

He said she must stop this or else he would expose to the Court and the media the news items that appeared against Hirunika on websites.

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Swiss rider wins Olympic show jumping gold
Thursday, 9 August 2012 - 12:01 AM SL Time

Picture:
Steve Guerdat, of Switzerland, gives a thumbs up to the crowd after winning the gold medal in the equestrian individual show jumping competition on his horse Nino des Buissonnets at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London.

By MARGARET FREEMAN Associated Press

LONDON Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, riding Nino des Buissonnets, won the gold medal in individual show jumping at the London Olympics after jumping cleanly in Wednesday`s final two rounds of competition.

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Bolt Scorches to 200m Gold and Into History Books
Friday, 10 August 2012 - 3:11 AM SL Time

Usain Bolt scorched to Olympic gold in the men`s 200 meters on Thursday, blazing into the history books as the first sprinter to retain both sprint titles.
The 25-year-old Jamaican raced home in 19.32 to beat out teammate Yohan Blake, who ran 19.44, into silver.
Warren Weir took the bronze in 19.84 to make it a Jamaican clean sweep.
Bolt won both the 100m and 200m sprints in Beijing.
Bolt recorded the second-fastest 100 meters ever of 9.63 seconds on Sunday to beat Blake to that gold medal too.

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A patriot and an illustrious son of Sri Lanka - Lakshman Kadirgamar PC
Friday, 10 August 2012 - 10:34 AM SL Time

Satharathilaka Banda Atugoda

Sir, you left our shores seven long years ago, when we really needed your presence for a plethora of reasons, foremost among them is the fact that, you would have been the happiest, `Statesman of Sri Lanka` to see the scourge of terrorism defeated, for which you sacrificed your life. At, all world fora where you were dignified for this proud land of ours, your clarion call was to assist us in defeating terrorism your voice was heard by the Sri Lankan audience, Regional, INGOs, bi-lateral fora, multi-lateral fora, and Think Tanks the voice was most forceful, sentimental and logical that major powers listed the LTTE, as a terrorist organization.

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USA knock off Japan for Olympic football gold
Friday, 10 August 2012 - 7:05 PM SL Time

Friday, August 10, 2012


LONDON, England (AP) Japan had more than enough chances to beat the United States for the second straight time in a major women`s football final.

Yet the Japanese ended up on the losing side at the London Games yesterday, after taking the World Cup title just a year ago.

Japan played well and showed some of the same poise they had in the World Cup final against the Americans in 2011.

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Why Sri Lanka does not trust India
Saturday, 11 August 2012 - 9:44 AM SL Time


Sat, 2012-08-11 03:55 editor

Article

By Shenali Waduge

To refrain from mentioning the role India played in nurturing LTTE terrorism would be withholding an important element of the 30year conflict Sri Lanka weathered.

This arrests the notion that LTTE was a liberation movement and nullifies its claim to be the representative of the Tamil people. LTTE was nothing more than an armed movement assisted by more than just one government over the years tasked to change the geopolitics of South Asia possibly the rest of Asia to help establish a platform to destabilize countries in the region. This then would explain some of LTTE`s actions and reactions over the years and help understand why the world`s most dangerous terrorist organization could continue for 30 years and it is not India alone that can be blamed.

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2012 London Olympic Marathon
Sunday, 12 August 2012 - 12:26 AM SL Time

Tomorrow is going to be the last day of the 2012 London Olympics with the men`s marathon traditionally being the last event to take place prior the closing ceremony.

As a very modest amateur marathon runner, I can just about imagine how the pressure is slowly building up until 12.00 CET tomorrow.

There are so many tiny little details to check like wearing the best possible socks to avoid the slightest friction / rash etc., to optimize your intake of fluids and get a proper massage (I always applied an extra layer of Siddhalepa on D-day and was regularly questioned as to what this strange smell was all about).

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Losing diplomacy and gaining lunacy
Sunday, 12 August 2012 - 9:12 AM SL Time

My Dear Lakshman K,

Even though you are in the Land of Never Return, Lakshman K, I thought of writing to you because it has been seven years since you left us never to return and unfortunately we have missed you so much during that time.

You may wonder why this is so, especially since the war has been won and the Tigers have been defeated. Ironically, that is why we miss your sane counsel and your brilliant contributions as Foreign Minister even more.


Who could forget how witty you were calling Shane Warne a `sissy` when he refused to play in Sri Lanka in the World Cup or how proud you were to be a Sri Lankan, recalling at Oxford that going to Oxford was the icing on the cake but the cake was baked at home!

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Stephen Kiprotich wins Olympics marathon for Uganda
Sunday, 12 August 2012 - 7:49 PM SL Time

Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda won the Olympic men`s marathon in London, beating the Kenyan pairing of Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang.

Kiprotich took the lead at the 37km mark, despite appearing to suffer discomfort in his leg minutes earlier, and went on to win comfortably.

It was Uganda`s first medal at London 2012 and he won in a time of two hours eight minutes 11 seconds.

Great Britain`s Lee Merrien and Scott Overall finished well down the field.

Analysis
Steve Cram
BBC athletics commentator Steve Cram: `The smile broke out across Stephen Kiprotich`s face in the final few metres as the sacrifices he has made for his athletics career came to rich fruition in London. He enjoyed the last few strides as the crowd rose to him. The Kenyans thought they had it won but it was not to be. Kiprotich crossed the line with the flag of Uganda over his shoulders. He ran the race of his life. What a time to find one of the best times you have ever done in warm conditions.`

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Olympics come to rocking end with a pop party
Monday, 13 August 2012 - 4:54 AM SL Time

LONDON A fun, festive and fast-moving Olympic closing ceremony got off to a rocking start Sunday with a shout-out to Winston Churchill and a celebration of the Union Jack.

Pop bands Madness, Pet Shop Boys and One Direction opened an extravaganza that promised to keep a worldwide audience entertained well into the night and dancing all the way to Rio.

Just a few minutes in, the show, put together by artistic director Kim Gavin, already featured a sensory blast including rock `n` roll rickshaws, dustbin percussionists, an exploding yellow car and a marching band in red tunics.

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Sri Lanka earns over Rs.1.2 billion from online visa approval system this year
Monday, 13 August 2012 - 10:26 PM SL Time

Aug 13, Colombo: Sri Lanka`s online visa approval system introduced at the beginning of this year has brought in record revenue to the government to the tune of billions of rupees, the government has said.

In the first seven months of the year the government has earned over Rs. 1.2 billion through the on line visa approval system, the Controller General of the Immigration and Emigration Chulananda Perera has said.

Sri Lanka introduced the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system on January 01 to grant prior approval for visa via online for foreign nationals from 78 countries except for visitors from Singapore and Maldives, the two countries that reciprocate the on-arrival visa system with Sri Lanka.

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ITER - the way to new energy
Tuesday, 14 August 2012 - 1:47 PM SL Time

Facts & Figures

If you haven`t heard about ITER, chances are you will soon. The scale and scope of the ITER project rank it among the most ambitious science endeavors of our time. Building has commenced on the ITER platform in Cadarache, France where 34 nations are collaborating to realize the ITER project`s First Plasma in November 2020.

Scroll down for some interesting facts about the project.

80,000 kilometres
80,000 kilometres of niobium-tin (Nb3Sn) superconducting strands will be necessary for ITER`s Toroidal Field magnets. Manufactured by suppliers in six ITER Domestic Agencies China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Russia and the USA production began in 2009 and will continue through 2013. 80,000 kilometres (over 400 tons) represents a spectacular increase in the worldwide production of this multifilament wire which was estimated, before ITER production, at a maximum of 15 tons per year.

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SRI LANKA: Why so few vegetables in Sri Lanka?
Wednesday, 15 August 2012 - 8:27 AM SL Time

BANGKOK, 15 August 2012 (IRIN) - While the government focuses on boosting rice production in Sri Lanka, the fresh produce industry, with its contribution of essential nutrients and potential for providing livelihoods, needs more support, say farmers.

`Take what we are faced with now - the [impact of] lack of water on paddy is being highlighted, [but] there is no such attention on vegetable cultivators because there is very limited focus from the government, said W A Premadasa, a vegetable farmer in Moneragala District in the southeast.

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What a waste
Wednesday, 15 August 2012 - 8:46 PM SL Time

Date:2012-08-15 02:00:00
Substandard stuff worth Rs 10 billion idling in CEB Stores
Over priced items imported under the Iranian Govt. loan for rural electrification project
By Ifham Nizam


Nearly Rs 10 billion worth of poor quality machinery, tools, equipment and devices imported for the rural electrification project have been idling at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Central Stores in Kolonnawa, for the past couple of years. The wastage comes to light amidst plans to pump billions of rupees to speed up an ambitious village lighting programmes Ceylon Today reliably learns that of the nearly 91 items lying idle, some 80 items brought under the Iranian Government loan, had not only cost more in rupee terms when compared with local market prices, but were also inferior in quality.

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Sinhala settlers accuse Tamils of land grab in Eastern Sri Lanka
Thursday, 16 August 2012 - 1:39 PM SL Time

Thu, Aug 16, 2012, 09:46 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.


Aug 16, Trincomalee: Sinhala settlers in Sri Lanka`s eastern district of Trincomalee say that a conspiracy is underway to evict them from the land they have been living for a long time.

The settlers in the Andankulam area of Trincomalee have held a protest Wednesday (15) at the Mihindu Pura junction in Trincomalee demanding the government to grant land licenses to 154 families that had been living in the land for over 45 years.

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Night of Love in Singapore
Friday, 17 August 2012 - 4:59 AM SL Time

Singapore authorities are trying to find non-trivial ways to convince the local population to procreate. In particular, advertising encourages Singaporeans to `fulfill their civic duty` after the national holiday of `Night of the nation.` The country with one of the highest standards of living is facing a severe demographic decline. Singapore is almost at the last place in the world in terms of birthrate.

A well-known manufacturer of chewing candy launched an original commercial before the national holiday of Singapore `Night of the nation`, traditionally held on August 9. It is a video for an r-n-b song that displays a caption on the screen. In short, the message is this: `I am chewing this sweet candy to kiss you. It is the Night of the nation today, and we need to perform our civic duty. I mean - conceive a child.`

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Nepal-Sri Lanka joins hands for tourism promotion
Friday, 17 August 2012 - 11:12 PM SL Time

2012-08-17 2:11 PM

KATHMANDU: Hotel Associations of Nepal and Sri Lanka have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the promotion of tourism in both the countries.

After signing the MoU, Chairperson of Hotel Association Nepal Shyam Sundar Lal Kakshyapati said though the Nepal-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations was established 55 years ago, the economic sector has not exchanged any substantial cooperation.

He also expressed the confidence that the mutual relations between the two countries would be further enhanced through tourism in the coming days.

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Olympics for Sri Lanka is the same old story
Saturday, 18 August 2012 - 1:36 PM SL Time

Duncan White fixes his starting blocks to the track at the 1948 London Olympics

Richard Dwight

Susanthika Jayasinghe

The Olympics throughout the years barring two Olympiads, where in the year 1948 at the London Olympics, Duncan White, of Ceylon then and Sri Lanka now, won a silver medal for the 400 m hurdles and Susanthika in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, won a bronze medal for the 200 m, which was eventually adjudged a silver medal.

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Opportunities, challenges and lessons of Chinese economic growth
Sunday, 19 August 2012 - 4:13 AM SL Time


By Nimal Sanderatne

IMPERATIVES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
View(s): 1

The rise of China is one of the most momentous transformations in modern world history. � According to Prof. Premachandra Autukorala, the Chinese economy is likely to overtake the US economy in terms of GDP within this decade, would be the world`s biggest economy in size and be a dominant trading and investment source in the coming decade. Since 2008 China has been the world`s largest exporter, followed by the US, Germany and Japan, in that order.

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Sail the boat problem the Aussie way
Sunday, 19 August 2012 - 4:14 PM SL Time

The Sri Lankan authorities are reportedly happy with the idea that Australian Immigration has decided to increase the intake of legal refugees into the country from these shores. This move comes in tandem with the agreement with Papua New Guinea and Nauru to process the boat people who leave Sri Lanka and other countries, with the intent of being taken in as refugees in Australia.
The new so called Houston document which earmarks the plan has however come in for criticism. Some Sri Lankan experts have been quoted in the Australian press and elsewhere saying that any loosening of immigration regulations in relation to refugees, would in fact encourage new boatloads of people. Their reasoning is based on the fact that these people go on the basis that any call for migrants albeit one for legal ones is a signal that Australia is willing to entertain more people from abroad.

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Sri Lanka to break the final frontier
Sunday, 19 August 2012 - 11:27 PM SL Time

Sunday, 19 August 2012
EMAIL | PRINT | FEEDBACK



Enters the space race:

Sri Lanka to break the final frontier
By Shirajiv SIRIMANE


Centuries ago, there was evidence to suggest that King Ravana of Sri Lanka used a wooden plane to fly across to India. However, since then, this amazing technology the Sri Lankans had was never heard of. During recent times, if someone said that Sri Lankans were to build an airplane, the world would have laughed it off. However, President Mahinda Rajapaksa thought otherwise!

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Secrets of the World`s Healthiest People
Monday, 20 August 2012 - 3:28 PM SL Time

You`ve heard of disease hot spots, but did you know that there are also cold spots where rates of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, depression, and cancer are very low? Making their exceptional good health particularly amazing, people who live in disease cold spots often have genetic or environmental factors that should put them at higher not lower risk for these illnesses.

Studies of places around the world where chronic diseases are rare reveal some surprisingly simple habits that can help you live an unusually long, healthy life. Here`s a look at some intriguing discoveries about the world`s healthiest people, made by integrative medicine physician Daphne Miller, MD, author of The Jungle Effect.

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Court to decide future of India s medicine patents
Tuesday, 21 August 2012 - 2:04 PM SL Time

A man walks past the logo of Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG in front of a plant in Basel in this October 25, 2011 file photo. India`s highest court will hear final arguments starting this week in a landmark case over drug patents that could change the rules for the country`s healthcare sector and potentially curb its global role as a supplier of cut-price generic medicines, according to news reports on August 20, 2012. The Supreme Court hearing pits Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG against India`s patent office, which has refused to grant a patent on the company`s cancer drug Glivec on the grounds that it is not a new medicine but an amended version of a known compound. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/Files (SWITZERLAND - Tags: BUSINESS HEALTH)

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French tourists get Sri Lanka jail term over Buddha kiss
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 - 9:15 AM SL Time

Three French tourists were given suspended six-month prison sentences in Sri Lanka on Tuesday after their holiday pictures appeared to show one of them -- a woman -- kissing a Buddha statue on the lips.

All three -- two women and a man -- pleaded guilty to desecrating a Buddhist shrine in the central town of Kandy and were also fined 1,500 rupees ($11) each, police told AFP.

As well as the woman`s apparent kiss, the man tried to imitate the pose of the Buddha and their actions hurt the feelings of Buddhists in the country, police told a magistrate in Galle.

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Two men in Sri Lanka survive to give their accounts of shadowy abduction squads in white vans
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 - 7:59 PM SL Time

By Associated Press, Updated: Wednesday, August 22, 10:00 AM
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka The politician knew something was amiss when a suspicious white van pulled alongside him at a Colombo park and four men got out, pretending to exercise. Ravindra Udayashanta alerted his supporters, and police. Soon, the gunbattle began.

In Sri Lanka, anyone who has crossed someone of importance is wary of white vans, said to be the vehicles of choice for shadowy squads who disappear opponents of powerful people. So, Udayashanta`s armed supporters immediately went into action.

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Sri Lanka: Tamils must first be reconciled with Tamils
Thursday, 23 August 2012 - 1:37 PM SL Time


Thu, 2012-08-23 05:21 editor
By Shenali Waduge

It is easy to be asking solutions but when asking for solutions that relate to human beings it is something that can be hurried. The international propaganda of the LTTE has left out crucial components that reveal exactly how divided Tamils in reality are. Not many have cared to question why LTTE did not use its USD300 annual earnings to uplift the areas it aspired to control over its own people.

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Sri Lanka records lowest trade deficit in 18 months
Friday, 24 August 2012 - 5:13 PM SL Time


Date: 2012-08-24



In June Sri Lanka recorded the lowest-ever trade deficit, since February 2011, which according to the Central Bank had narrowed to approximately Rs 87.5 billion or US$ 663 million.



Policies adopted by the Central Bank and the government earlier in the year have helped contain the deficit in the trade balance of the balance of payments substantially in June and across the second quarter of 2012. The deficit in the trade balance, which was US dollars 848 million in June 2011 and US dollars 942 million in December 2011, was substantially lower in June 2012, amounting to US dollars 663 million. This is the lowest level recorded by the trade balance since February 2011, the banking watchdog said in its latest External Sector Report released yesterday.

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Taming the Tigers of Sri Lanka`s bloody past
Saturday, 25 August 2012 - 5:16 AM SL Time

DINOO KELLEGHAN
From:The Australian
August 25, 201212:00AM
A former female Tiger rebel dressed in bridal attire before a mass wedding ceremony in June 2010. Source: AP

AT the next Olympics, one of the shooters selected to represent Sri Lanka could be a former sniper of the Tamil Tiger terrorists, once trained to kill Sri Lankans. A member of the swimming squad could be an ex-member of the Sea Tiger suicide cadre.

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HOW SHOULD WE MEASURE THE WINNER?
Saturday, 25 August 2012 - 3:25 PM SL Time

by Michael R. Czinkota and Eva Y. Tang *



( August 25, 2012, Washington DC, Sri Lanka Guardian) The recent Olympics presented some interesting perspectives on competition: How do we find out who is actually winning? Is performance to be measured by wealth (medals), by leadership (Gold only) or by industry competitiveness (e.g. gymnastics)? Should the progress over time play a major role, or the number of winners as a proportion of population?



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SL Tourist Drive Lacking Direction
Sunday, 26 August 2012 - 4:23 AM SL Time

By Dinouk Colombage

As the Sri Lankan government continues its drive to attract 2.5 million tourists by 2016, tour operators and tour guides are questioning whether the direction taken is the right one. While tourism figures continue to rise, the real story appears to be whether or not these tourists are fully utilising the attractions that Sri Lanka has to offer.
S. Jayantha, a former tour operator of Samarakoon Tours, said that he had been forced to look for a new avenue of work as he was not earning enough despite growing tourism in the country. I have worked in the tourism industry for the last 15 years, while the majority of the time I was freelance in the last three years I decided to join a tour company. However, this has not been a prosperous avenue as many would think, he said.

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Won t these lecturers learn a lesson from politicos?
Sunday, 26 August 2012 - 4:57 PM SL Time

My Dear SB,

I thought I must write to you to congratulate you on your latest achievement in ordering the closure of all universities in the country. With this decision, you will take us a step closer to becoming the `knowledge hub` of Asia!

I know that many people are opposed to closing the universities, SB, but I think you took a brave decision that most of your cabinet colleagues would not have taken. In fact, it would be like Bandula cancelling the Advanced Level examination because of the `Z-score` fiasco!

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Swiss Forensic Experts To Examine Arafat s Remains
Monday, 27 August 2012 - 3:20 AM SL Time

The former Palestinian president died on November 11, 2004, in a French hospital where he was treated for an undisclosed illness. The Palestinian National Authority has called for an international probe into the death of former leader Yasser Arafat after a Swiss laboratory research showed that he might have been poisoned by polonium. French doctors had offered no explanation for Arafat`s death, and many Palestinians believe he was poisoned by Israel, which denies the allegations. (Reuters)

Experts working for the Swiss Radiophysics Institute stated Friday that they will be arriving in the West Bank to examine the remains of the late president, Yasser Arafat, after receiving the approval of his widow, Soha Arafat.

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Pistorius defines the Paralympics
Monday, 27 August 2012 - 9:50 PM SL Time

The `Blade Runner` is the undisputed star of the Paralympics` biggest show to date, but his 100m title defence is far from assured, and a thrilling showdown awaits with world champ Jerome Singleton and world record holder Jonnie Peacock
THE Olympic rings have disappeared throughout London, and the Paralympic symbols have been hoisted in their place. Let the games begin again.

Thousands of athletes have already arrived for Wednesday`s opening ceremony as the Paralympics return to their roots. The familiar face of Oscar Pistorius and his even more recognisable blades have helped to take the Paralympic movement to the masses with 2.3-million tickets already sold.

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How low has Great Britain fallen?
Tuesday, 28 August 2012 - 4:06 AM SL Time

By Shastri Ramachandaran*


NEW DELHI (IDN) - If ever evidence was needed to show the West`s contempt for freedoms except when it serves to advance its political, military and economic interests it is overwhelmingly there in the hounding of Julian Assange.

It is indeed ironic that the 41-year-old founder of WikiLeaks should be persecuted unrelentingly by the very same western world which less than two years ago had mounted a campaign against China for worldwide freedom of the Internet. Never before has the Washington-led free world, now with the UK and Sweden in the forefront, sublimated all its power and authority to so terrorise an individual.

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Wanted: Sri Lanka seeks hangman
Tuesday, 28 August 2012 - 11:34 PM SL Time

Tue, Aug 28, 2012

Sri Lanka began interviews today for the post of hangman a year after two positions fell vacant, with at least 480 convicts on death row.

But it was not quite clear how the two successful candidates would fill their days - the death penalty has not been used in Sri Lanka, a predominantly Buddhist country, since 1976.

`About 176 applicants are there and interviews are going on today and tomorrow,` Gamini Kulatunga, commissioner operations at the Prisons Department, told Reuters. `Only males will be eligible for the post.`

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Sri Lanka s Education Mafia
Wednesday, 29 August 2012 - 4:45 PM SL Time


Wed, 2012-08-29 16:12 editor

Article

By Shenali Waduge

Undeniably something is wrong somewhere and that somewhere is our education. The stock exchange is supposed to be ruled by the mafia, perhaps even the sports arena, so too is present day politicos and it is no exaggeration to say that there is a mafia controlling the education of Sri Lanka. Our objective is to view all areas of discussion and to determine how best we can address these areas instead of delaying action through blame tactics.

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Sri Lankan Paralympians face resources challenge
Thursday, 30 August 2012 - 6:16 AM SL Time

The world number four ranked team captain Lal Pushpakumara

By Saroj Pathirana
BBC Sinhala service The world number four ranked team captain Lal Pushpakumara
Continue reading the main story Related StoriesMeditation and chanting for Olympic athletes [/news/world-asia-19070621] Sri Lanka Olympic captaincy row [/news/world-asia-18861402]
Sri Lanka is sending a seven-member team to compete in the Paralympic Games in London. They are determined to win the first ever Paralympic medal for the country, but say their effort is being hampered by a lack of official support.

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Will Sri Lanka conquer Asia again?
Friday, 31 August 2012 - 8:41 AM SL Time

Friday, 31 August 2012
Will Sri Lanka conquer Asia again?
Sri Lanka, Singapore in today`s Asian Netball Championship final:
Yasaratne GAMAGE

Sri Lanka qualified for the Asian Netball Championships 2012 final when they sent Malaysia out of the competition by defeating them (67-58) in a do or die game in the first semi final at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday.

Sri Lankan and Malaysian netball players vie for the ball during the first semifinal of the 2012 Asian Netball Championships at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo yesterday. Picture by Ranjith Asanka

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`Mastermind` behind Sri Lanka cricket team attack arrested
Saturday, 1 September 2012 - 3:12 AM SL Time

One of Pakistan`s most notorious suspected extremist leaders has been arrested in Lahore after returning from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, according to local police.

By Rob Crilly, Islamabad and agencies
12:02PM BST 31 Aug 2012

Malik Ishaq, leader of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is accused of inciting sectarian hatred and masterminding the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

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