News Archive for Mar 2011

Japan’s valiant fight to ward off a triple disaster
By Philip Fernando, former Deputy Editor Sunday Observer, Seri Lanka
 As the sea violently ripped away, Japan was amidst a tragedy of unfathomable proportions. Its extraordinary toll-from -earthquake, tsunami and nuclear hazards brought immediate response worldwide. The Japanese people are heroically shrugging off the bad omens and see their nation in a more positive light—desperation has given way to hope and exuberance. They are beginning to believe in revival.  As bodies were washing ashore along the coastline, the capacity of local officials was tested to the limit, Japanese did not panic. The toll seemed to rise to over 20,000... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/11)

Saturday's Cricket World Cup Final The Clash Of Asian Titans And Could Be A Humdinger!
Top Spin By Suni
March 30th 2011  If Wednsday's World Cup Of Crickert  semi-final between India and Pakistan at Mohali was a clash of the  Asian super powers it has probably paved way for the clash of the Asian Titans with no holds barred as India and Sri Lanka prepare for the Championship game  at Mumbai on Saturday and bound to be a humdinger wih a global viewing audience probably running into billions. Sri Lanka  finally knows the team they will meet for the World Cup of Cricket at Mumbai on Saturday and as expected ~ given all the anticipation by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/11)

Gaddafi winning ground war, coalition battles on
Coalition air strikes make no difference as Gaddafi’s forces push rebels further away from Tripoli and prepare to crush the defensive position – the city of Ajdabiya – on their way to the rebels’ last stronghold Benghazi. ­This is probably why US President Barack Obama has reportedly signed secret orders allowing the CIA to carry out covert missions inside Libya. Teams of operatives are thought to have been gathering intelligence for military air strikes and setting up links with rebels.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 31/03/11)

ඊලාම් යුද්ධය හා සොල්දාදුවන්ගේ මානසික සෞඛ්‍යය
වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම්. ජයතුංග
‘‘මරණයට ඍජුවම මුහුණදෙමින් සිටින අයට එය වික‍්‍රමාන්වත කි‍්‍රයාවක් නොවේ.‘‘එරික් මරියා රිමාකේ-‘‘බටහිර පෙරමුණේ සියල්ල නිසලය’’ කෘතියෙන්             ශී‍්‍ර ලංකාවේ සන්නද්ධ ගැටම් දෙස බලන කල සිවිල් වැසියන්හට යුද්ධයෙන් ඇති වූ බලපෑම හා තදබල ආතතිය පසුගිය වසර කිහිපය තුලදි විශේෂ අවධානයකට ලක්වුවද රණවිරුවන් විසින් අත් දකින ලද යුධ කම්පන තත්ත්වයන් පිළිබඳ ප‍්‍රමාණවත් පරිදි හෙලිදරව් වී නැත. පසුගිය දශක කිහිපය තුළ ප‍්‍රචණ්ඩකාරී කි‍්‍රයාවන් සිදු කළවුන් ලෙස සමහර අන්තවාදී වාර්තා මගින් රණවිරුවන්ගේ ප‍්‍රතිරූපය අමානුෂිකරණයට පත් කොට ඇත. එහෙත් යුධ කම්පනය අතිවිශාල සමානුපාතයකින් සෙබලූන්ට බලපාන ලද බව අවබෝධ කොටගෙන ඇත්තේ සුලූ කොටසක් පමණකි. සටන්වලදී තම සගයින්  මරණයට පත්වනු දැකීම, ආදී කි‍්‍රයවලින්... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/11)

World Cup - select our team wisely
Anuradhini
In recent matches we have seen Sri Lanka chose to go with three full-time spinners and succeeded. Against Pakistan, however, only two full-time bowlers were used and we saw Pakistan winning the match marginally. How should Sri Lanka adjust the squad to challenge India ? Hardly any batsmen adjustments possible but bowlers should selected wisely. The following statistics are based on all the recent world cup matches played against India by all the teams.  Bowler Type Overs Runs Wickets Runs per Over 5 wicket hauls Fast 177 1025 34 5.8 3 ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/11)

Single intelligence must govern-Ref Dr Tilak's article.
Dr Hector Perera
Simply because one cannot see something, one cannot safely say that it does not exist. I am a chemistry teacher and many have studied and are studying under my supervision. As someone mentioned the matter is build on simple particles, atoms and molecules but I have never seen these simple particles but I can prove they exist. Similarly I have never seen GOD but I think there is some kind of unseen power but I cannot prove it. I am sure many of you have experienced some kind of things that cannot be explained. I think... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/11)

VISIT OF DELEGATION FROM THAILAND
CIRCULAR TO THE CEO/COMMERCIAL MANAGER
We have been informed by the Royal Thai Embassy that a Thai delegation comprising four Representatives from the Thailand Textile Institute, Ministry of Industry of Thailand will visit Sri Lanka from 6 – 8 April 2011.  The delegation will be led by Mr. Virat Tandaechanurat, Executive director of Thailand Textile Institute.  The purpose of the Thai delegation’s visit to Sri Lanka is to exchange views on textile industry development and to explore the possibility for enhancing co-operation in the textile sector between Thailand and Sri Lanka in the future.  In this regard, a meeting... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/11)

IFC and Union Bank of Colombo Boost Trade Opportunities for Sri Lankan Businesses
 Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 29, 2011—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, will provide a $5 million trade-finance facility to the Union Bank of Colombo Limited to help boost international trade opportunities for the bank and its small-business and corporate-sector clients. The trade-finance facility will provide the Union Bank of Colombo with risk coverage and access to a global network that will support growth of the bank’s trade-finance business. Pictured Above: Foreground: (From Left to Right): Mr. Ravi Divulwewa – Assistant  Vice President - Branch & Retail Credit, Union Bank Mr. A.N.de Silva – Chief Operating... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/11)

Libyan rebels massacre black Africans
By Wolfgang Weber
31 March 2011 The opposition forces in Libya attempting to march on Tripoli with the assistance of American, French and British bombs are far removed from the image of innocent civilians fighting for freedom and democracy promoted by the media and political circles. This is made clear in a March 22 article in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung by Gunnar Heinsohn, the author of Encyclopaedia of Genocide (Rowohlt, 1998). Heinsohn cites a report by the well-known Zimbabwean journalist and documentary filmmaker Farai Sevenzo dealing with barbaric, pogrom-like massacres perpetrated by the so-called “rebels” against black African workers... -Full Story- (axisoflogic.com - 31/03/11)

Vatican Official: Air Strikes Killed 40 Civilians in Tripoli
2011 Thomson/Reuters
ROME - At least 40 civilians have been killed in airstrikes by Western forces on Tripoli, the top Vatican official in the Libyan capital told a Catholic news agency on Thursday citing witnesses. "The so-called humanitarian raids have killed dozens of civilian victims in some neighbourhoods of Tripoli," said Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli.... -Full Story- (newsmax.com - 31/03/11)

Vatican: Airstrikes killed 40 civilians in Tripoli
By REUTERS
03/31/2011 11:59 Catholic official in Tripoli says "so-called humanitarian raids have killed dozens;" UK's Hague calls for Gaddafi cabinet members to defect. Talkbacks (10) ROME - At least 40 civilians have been killed in airstrikes by Western forces on Tripoli, the top Vatican official in the Libyan capital told a Catholic news agency on Thursday citing witnesses. "The so-called humanitarian raids have killed dozens of civilian victims in some neighborhoods of Tripoli," said Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli.... -Full Story- (jpost.com - 31/03/11)

SA Cabinet won't support calls for Gaddafi to step down
VUVU VENA JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Mar 31 2011 13:09
South Africa will not call for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down, the Cabinet decided at a meeting this week. "We've always said that we cannot dictate what should happen in a sovereign state," said Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, at a post-Cabinet press briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday. "It's the people of Libya who should decide who should govern them and how they should be governed. Hence the decision that we will always say no to regime-change... -Full Story- (mg.co.za - 31/03/11)

Women of Brazil reject aggression against Libya
by Gláucia Morelli
Confederation of the Women of Brazil rejects the aggression and assault on the sovereignty of the Libyan people.The Confederation of Women of Brazil - CMB - demands the immediate withdrawal of troops from Libya and the end of the imperialist assault, and furthermore repudiates this crime against humanity mistakenly endorsed by the UN Security Council, an attitude that denigrates much in this international body. We want the UN to be committed to the Sovereignty and Self-Determination of Peoples. This is an aggression against the sovereignty of Libya in an attempt to subjugate its people and its... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 31/03/11)

Planning for a post-Gaddafi Libya in London
RIA Novosti political commentator Andrei Fedyashin
Coalition leaders met in London on March 29 to analyze the conflict in Libya from every angle. But were they looking at the reality of the situation, or just seeing what they want to see? The coalition's aim is to rid Libya of Muammar Gaddafi. Instead, Gaddafi is still in place, and Libya itself has been split in two. The time has come to start the political restructuring of the country. Tailoring this process to meet the needs of the opposition in the east is unbecoming, premature and bizarre, but so far there... -Full Story- (en.rian.ru - 31/03/11)

Who are the Libyan rebels in London?
By Oliver Wright, Whitehall Editor
Twenty seven years ago Guma El-Gamaty was among a group of protesters standing outside St James's Square protesting at the rule of Colonel Gaddafi. He was just a few yards away when a gunman opened fire on them from the window of the Libyan embassy – hitting and killing PC Yvonne Fletcher.... -Full Story- (independent.co.uk - 31/03/11)

CIA agents operating covertly in Libya: Report
Washington, March 31 (DPA)
The CIA has deployed covert operatives into Libya to gather intelligence for military airstrikes and initiate contacts with rebels seeking to oust leader Muammar Gaddafi, The New York Times reported. Citing unnamed US officials, the newspaper Wednesday reported online that small groups of CIA agents have been in Libya for several weeks seeking to blunt the effectiveness of Gaddafi's military. The US and its allies have been trying to learn more about the rebels and their plans for Libya. The White House said shortly after the report first emerged that it would not comment... -Full Story- (Deccan Herald - 31/03/11)

Ranga Jayasuriya of Lakbima a Hurrah Boy of the West, a traitor to his motherland.
By Charles.S.Perera
 The Journalist Ranga Jayasuriya writing on 27 Mrch,2011 to Sunday Lakbima  News  begins his anti Sri Lanka Government article, “ Who is important to Sri Lanka Gaddafi or Libyan people ? ”  He ends his article stating that, the “…..Present regime’s affinity with the authoritarian regimes in Libya, Iran, Burma and Venezuela is not a secret. That camaraderie would have provided impetus to the government to display its solidarity with the Gaddafi regime. Gaddafi’s petro dollars  would have spoken too. Gaddafi is known for his generous monetary support   to a wide range of political, resistance and Islamic... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/11)

Is there any attire prescribed as the suitable attire to be worn to a place of worship?
Sasanka De Silva, Pannipitiya.
Is there any attire prescribed as the suitable attire to be worn to a place of worship? Perhaps some other religions may have such prescriptions but surely not in Buddhist doctrine. Recently I was taken aback after seen a big notice put up in front of one of the prominent Temples in the city. According to that notice even the Pants many of us wear too are unsuitable to be worn. There were many other garments both men and women usually wear to such places too have been placed in the unsuitable list. I am... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/11)

Oh Bomber…..O bomer?
Sunil Vijayapala Australia
Obama (finally we got the spelling right!) the current incumbent of White House has come under the spell of the Pentagon, the citadel of Anglo Saxon hegemony. If he fails to tow the line of Pentagon hawks, he too will face the consequences of Kennedys. In fact it’s surprising that this man has lasted this long.  Imagine if these pigmentless Bacon Brains intervened in Sri Lanka to rescue Prabahkaran and the LTTE terrorists (US declaring them a Terrorist outfit) what a mess we would be in today?. Just as Bacon Brains destroyed Baghdad and virtually destroyed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/11)

VETTORI QUITS CAPTAINCY AFTER DEFEAT BY SRI LANKA
By Walter Jayawardhana in Los Angeles
New Zealand captain Daniel Vittori will quit Cricket twenty20 and captain of the national team after the defeat of his team at Colombo’s R. Premadasa cricket gtounds, the New Zealand Herald reported. “Vettori, … confirmed after the match that he'll step down as captain and from the Twenty20 team,” Herald’s Andrew Alderson reported from Colombo after the Kiwi defeat at the hands of the hosts. “The fairytale which unfolded for New Zealand in the quarter-finals against South Africa never looked like repeating in the first 33 overs of Sri Lanka's chase last night”the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/11)

April fool day
Dr. Mareena Reffai
April first is coming soon and there will be many a tale about the fools who get trapped by some pranks. But do we realize the permanent fools? Who become fooled not only the first of each April month but the whole of the year throughout? They are the ones who keep on carrying out activities which are clearly harmful to themselves and even to others but do continue nevertheless. Who are they? Specially those who smoke and those who drink alcohol. In this 21 st century we don=92t need a rocket scientist to tell us... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/11)

The Pentagon: The Kill Team
Mark Boal
The world is by now aware of the latest scandal involving US troops in Afghanistan, in which a group of soldiers went on a shoot. Not only a photo shoot but murderous rampage killing civilians - including innocent children - then posing smiling beside their trophies. The question arises, what moral right does this country have to be global policeman? Abu Ghraib was the start of it - sickening pictures of representatives of the US authorities committing acts of torture, sodomy, warped and deviant acts of sexual perversion, urinating in food, and so on, for day after day... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 30/03/11)

Libya: The law is clear - it is illegal to arm the "rebels"
The law is the law, and it is crystal clear. Under the UN Charter and Resolutions 1970 and 1973 it would be illegal for any entity to arm the "rebels" in Libya and in so doing, this would constitute a breach of international law, leaving the perpetrators open to criminal liability. And has anyone researched the history of the "rebel" movement? The legal principle which governs international law The legal principle of the UN Charter is to avoid war and to ensure peace; that is why any act of aggression outside the specific scope of a Resolution must necessarily pass... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 30/03/11)

Hu warns Sarkozy on Libya strikes
Coalition military strikes on Libya could violate the "intention" of the UN resolution if civilians suffer, Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday told visiting French leader Nicolas Sarkozy.The tough talk from Hu came during a meeting at the start of Sarkozy's mini-tour of Asia, which will include a G20 meeting on global monetary reform and a stop in disaster-struck Japan. Britain, France and the United States on March 19 launched air strikes on Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's forces under the auspices of a UN Security Council resolution authorising "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.... -Full Story- (bangkokpost.com - 30/03/11)

Arming Libyan rebels would breach UN resolution, Italy says
Members of the international community are free to arm Libyan rebels fighting Moamer Gaddafi, but doing so would be a "manifest violation" of a United Nations-mandated weapon embargo, Italy's top diplomat at NATO said Wednesday, DPA reported. At an international conference in London on Tuesday, the United States and France were among the nations that suggested the possibility of supplying arms to the anti-Gaddafi insurgency.... -Full Story- (en.trend.az - 30/03/11)

Madness in Libya 'Nato intervention has gone in Gadhafi’s favour.'
Libya’s steady descent into civil war confirms that the Nato-led military intervention is fuelling the fighting there. Nato’s aerial bombardment of cities and military installations that is supposedly to enforce a no-fly zone in Libya did deal Libyan government forces a blow initially. It did seem that president Muammar Gadhafi’s troops had been pushed on the defensive. But that was short-lived. They have now begun to re-take towns. The rebels’ westward advance has been arrested by Libyan troops. The pendulum is now swinging in the latter’s favour. If Nato forces believed that their aerial bombardment of Libya would contribute to... -Full Story- (Deccan Herald - 30/03/11)

Coalition should not supply arms to Libyan rebels – Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Moscow is against the supplying of arms to Libyan opposition forces, which was considered by some coalition members. He stressed that a ceasefire and an immediate start to talks are a priority in settling the situation in the conflict-torn country. Lavrov said that Moscow is concerned about the use of force in Libya. Russia’s top diplomat has urged the conflicting sides to do everything possible in order to launch an internal political dialogue. “The time is ripe for reforms. But it is up to Libyans to decide what the Libyan state should... -Full Story- (rt.com - 30/03/11)

Report: CIA agents operating covertly in Libya

Washington - The CIA has deployed covert operatives into Libya to gather intelligence for military airstrikes and initiate contacts with rebels seeking to oust leader Moamer Gaddafi, The New York Times reported Wednesday. Citing unnamed US officials, the newspaper reported online that small groups of CIA agents have been in Libya for several weeks seeking to blunt the effectiveness of Gaddafi's military. The United States and its allies have been trying to learn more about the rebels and their plans for Libya.... -Full Story- (monstersandcritics.com - 30/03/11)

Why Sarkozy went to war in Libya
Lisa Karpova
The French president spent five years as Minister of the Interior, building the image of a radical crime and immigration fighter (in areas related to people of Muslim origin). Apparently Sarkozy wants to repeat the political strategy of the 2007 campaign when he sought to follow the advice of Karl Rove (Bush strategist). Instead of just trying to build a majority, it is more effective to promote controversial issues such as immigration, identity, crime and Islam, which may provoke the fragmentation of the opposition. by Reginaldo Nasser / Carta Maior Besides the oil (85% of exports) and... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 30/03/11)

Official: Traitors Obama, Cameron supporting terrorists
Pravda
The accusation is serious but unfortunately true: Barack Obama has signed a secret document... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 30/03/11)

Libyan toddler dies, family says from airstrike
By HADEEL AL-SHALCHI
KHORUM, Libya (AP) - The grieving mother sat on the ground rocking her 2-month old daughter under a blanket on her lap, crying softly and accepting the soft words of condolences from neighbors. Nizha Abdel-Salam and her family say her 18-month old son Sirajuddin al-Sweisi was killed when debris pierced the wall of their home as NATO airstrikes hit an ammunition near their village of Khorum early Tuesday morning. "The house shook and there was so much dust everywhere we couldn't see in front of us," she said.... -Full Story- (620ktar.com - 30/03/11)

The possible consequences of UN Resolution 1973
Louis Cilia
Resolution 1973 adop­ted by the UN Security Council of March 18 authorised the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya in a bid to protect civilians under attack by the Gaddafi troops. Within a short time the United States, France and Britain began air strikes on Muammar Gaddafi’s military defences. The main problem facing the coalition countries at this stage is that while they have largely succeeded in preventing the rout of Libya’s rebels by Colonel Gaddafi’s forces in the eastern part of the country, the coalition now remains divided over the ultimate goal and exit... -Full Story- (timesofmalta.com - 30/03/11)

When University Students Forget Their Objectives They Need To Be Taken To Task By The Authorities!! The Minister Of Higher Education's Stand On This Is Commendable!
 LankaWeb Weekly Editorial
March 29th. 2011 Viewed from any rational perspective the Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissanayake has every right in his official capacity to stand up to the rabble rousing factions of university students the Nation over and admonish them that the Government will not bow to their whims and fancies over issues not in their control nor jurisdiction as the pre-ponderance of the Ministry relative to what is expected of the students as opposed to their shamefully aggressive behaviour at times, by far outweighs what has come to be a menace within the higher education... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/11)

WHEN A WEDDING RECEPTION ALTERS INTO AN INFIRMARY !
By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando
 On Madin full moon morning when thoughts were tranquil and unruffled I received an email from Daya Ananda Ranasinghe, publisher and editor of Lanka Viththi,  first Sinhala  newspaper  published in London, highlighting   an appalling   incident that had taken place at Hotel Kandyan Arts Residency, Kandy, on 17th January 2011, where 98 out of 100 guests who attended the wedding reception of Thushari Rathnasekera and J.M.P.Jayasundara hosted by Virajika Mularachchi.    Since Daya could not vouch for the authenticity of the incident I took the liberty of contacting Kamal Deepthi Mularachchi (Virajika’s husband) direct by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/11)

Newspapers are for news or for ads?
By Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai,Dehiwela
It has become very irritating to see huge ads in the very first page of the newspapers taking most of the page, even sometimes overlapping the news. Th e most irritating one is a circular one appearing in the front page of many newspapers. I still have not read it though it is glaring at you as soon as you open the newspapers for it irritates me beyond measure. Now not only the first page but even the following pages are overcrowded by the advertisements that there is hardly any news in the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/11)

America is dead
Sadly, unlike most deaths, America's demise was not inevitable. All the symptoms were visible to indicate that treatment was necessary. But, just like millions of its citizens, America lacked health insurance and thus was unable to stave off the myriad of infections that ultimately killed it. Looking back, it's amazing how rapidly this decline occurred. Just a little over a decade ago, America was healthy, vibrant and optimistic as it entered the new millennium. Ironically, the beginning of that millennium was also the beginning of the end.... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 29/03/11)

Newshound’s Diaries
Paula Slier
... -Full Story- (rt.com - 29/03/11)

Cost of Libya 'hundreds of millions' so far, says Nato commander
Richard Norton-Taylor
UK will have spent at least £25m, with bombs and missiles accounting for the bulk of the operational costs Military operations in Libya have cost "hundreds of millions of dollars" so far, Nato's Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral James Stavridis, said yesterday in evidence to the US Senate. American officials said the military intervention has cost the Pentagon an extra $550m with bombs and missiles accounting for most. Of the additional spending, about 60% was "for munitions, the remaining costs are for higher operating tempo" of US forces and of getting them there, Commander Kathleen Kesler, a Pentagon... -Full Story- (guardian.co.uk - 29/03/11)

Libya: dawn of an era of super-military intervention
by Mauro Santayana
The Americans always create, encourage and finance opposition movements in all countries where it is in their interest to destabilise governments and political systems. So, not surprisingly, their agents and allies in Muslim countries have encouraged the movement that started the so seemingly accidental, Tunisia. Young people from Islamic countries are dissatisfied with life. They lack opportunities for professional and personal fulfillment. Their freedom is limited, and their dreams crumble in front of a closed society.... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 29/03/11)

We've avoided a Libyan Srebrenica, so when is the bombing going to stop?
Jonathan Freeland
When there was a clear and present danger, intervention was the right thing to do. But the threat is receding.Barely through the entrance and we're looking for the exit. The Libyan intervention is just 11 days old, but already the clamour is for an end. Polls show almost identical levels of weak support on both sides of the Atlantic, a meagre 45% in Britain and 47% in the US. (At the equivalent stage, 90% of Americans backed the war in Afghanistan, and 70% supported the invasion of Iraq.) Each day brings conflicting signals as to whether the... -Full Story- (guardian.co.uk - 29/03/11)

How AU's boycott of London Libya meeting may hurt Africa's interests
By Scott Baldauf Scott Baldauf
Johannesburg, South Africa – The United Nations-backed no-fly zone imposed on Libya is easily the most important new intervention on the African continent today. So why did the African Union refuse to send a representative to participate in today's international conference in London about the way forward for the air campaign against Mr. Qaddafi's forces? The AU has not issued an official statement explaining its position, but its choice to boycott the conference of NATO nations participating in the air campaign – as well as diplomats from dozens of other countries – leaves many... -Full Story- (Yahoo - 29/03/11)

Intelligence on rebels shows hints of Qaeda
Intelligence on the rebel forces battling Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has shown “flickers” of Al Qaeda or Hezbollah presence but there is still no detailed picture of the emerging opposition, Nato’s top operations commander said yesterday. “We are examining very closely the content, composition, the personalities, who are the leaders of these opposition forces,” Admiral James Stavridis, Nato’s supreme allied commander for Europe and also commander of US European Command, said during testimony at the US Senate. While Stavridis said the opposition’s leadership appeared to be “responsible men and women” fighting Gaddafi, he said that “we have seen flickers in... -Full Story- (Gulf Times - 29/03/11)

'Flickers' of al Qaeda in Libyan opposition, U.S. NATO leader says
By Jennifer Rizzo, CNN National Security Producer
Washington (CNN) -- There is a good chance NATO pressure will encourage Libyan tyrant Moammar Gadhafi to leave power, the U.S. NATO commander told Congress Tuesday, but the opposition that could come in the Libyan leader's wake has "flickers" of al Qaeda. While there is a wide range of possible outcomes in Libya, running from a static stalemate to Gadhafi cracking, there is a "more than reasonable" chance of Gadhafi leaving power, Adm. James Stavridis said before the Senate Armed Services Committee,... -Full Story- (edition.cnn.com - 29/03/11)

Intelligence on rebels shows hints of Qaeda
Intelligence on the rebel forces battling Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has shown “flickers” of Al Qaeda or Hezbollah presence but there is still no detailed picture of the emerging opposition, Nato’s top operations commander said yesterday. “We are examining very closely the content, composition, the personalities, who are the leaders of these opposition forces,” Admiral James Stavridis, Nato’s supreme allied commander for Europe and also commander of US European Command, said during testimony at the US Senate. While Stavridis said the opposition’s leadership appeared to be “responsible men and women” fighting Gaddafi, he said that “we have seen flickers in... -Full Story- (Gulf Times - 29/03/11)

Nation should stay out of Libya's civil unrest
I cannot believe we have started yet another war. It is irresponsible for this government to blindly follow the United Nations into a third war. We have no interest in dropping bombs on a sovereign country engaged in an internal civil war. This is none of our business. We have troops on deployment after deployment, many having been in harm's way two to three times, some as many as seven. We got into Iraq due to faulty intelligence and have been stuck for years losing American lives. Afghanistan is a mess because we changed to nation-building instead of just killing... -Full Story- (mcall.com - 29/03/11)

It is obvious that the Caucasian consortium had duped the Arab League
Herold Leelawardena
Few days back, BBC reported as the US president Obama said; "Make no mistake, because we acted quickly, a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided and the lives of countless civilians - innocent men, women and children - have been saved." That is the same thing that Bush said when the US and its allies started their war on Afghanistan twelve years ago, and Iraq eight years ago. But both those wars have killed or maimed over a million civilians to date and counting.  There is only one difference between those two wars and this one. That is; the Caucasian consortium got... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/03/11)

Single intelligence must govern
 
Dr. Tilak Fernando
Wisdom prompts one not to enter into an argument or debate on a volatile topic such as religion or politics. But a theme that has baffled me since childhood was rejuvenated my thinking faculty after reading a fascinating article by Siripathy Jayamaha in the Daily News some time back. The focus was on the ‘existence of God’ or a Supreme Power which controls everything - (including nature)! In the present catastrophe throughout the world, with earthquakes, Japanese Tsunami, the Arab world’s uprising, it prompts one to concentrate on the single intelligence that governs. One... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/03/11)

Open letter to Mssrs. Obama, Cameron, Sarkozy
Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
Dear President Obama, President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Cameron, Thank you for caring about the welfare of human beings. Thank you for your concern about the safety of innocent civilians. As you will be aware, the United Nations Organization had planned, this month, to pay homage to Muammar Al-Qathafi for his human rights record, after a carefully researched report was drawn up, praising him for his tremendous humanitarian work not only in his own country but across the African continent, where he is much respected.... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 28/03/11)

Vengeance of the West on Gaddafi
RT
Coalition forces claim they are just enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya, but they have been engaged in widespread and heavy attacks on Colonel Gaddafi’s ground forces, as well as buildings and other targets linked to his regime. So what are the real motives for France, the UK and US leading the attack on Libya? Some say it is pure vengeance. “They are certainly settling accounts and taking revenge”, says Sara Flounders from the International Action Center. Turkey says it is disturbed by France’s eagerness to invade Libya. But experts believe Ankara shouldn’t be surprised. Gaddafi is accused of... -Full Story- (rt.com - 28/03/11)

Turkey Steps Up to Mediate in Libya Crisis
Dorian Jones | Istanbul, Turkey
Turkey is positioning itself as a mediator in the ongoing conflict in Libya. With fighting continuing to escalate in Libya, Turkey is intensifying its efforts to find a political solution to the conflict. It is one of the few countries that still has both its embassy open in the Libyan capital Tripoli and a consul functioning in Benghazi - the center of the rebel opposition.... -Full Story- (voanews.com - 28/03/11)

NATO = Neocolonialists Allow Tyranny Opportunistically
By David R. Hoffman
According to some prognosticators, the world will end in 2012. This hypothesis is based upon many beliefs, including the prophecies of the Hopi Indians and the Mayan Long Count Calendar. I'll admit, the world's demise did not seem far-fetched when George W. Bush and his cabal of liars, sadists, torturers and war criminals illegally controlled the White House. But the election of Barack Obama in 2008 seemed to reinvigorate the spirit of the world, and made people believe in the power of "hope." I'll also admit that I was pleased when Obama was awarded the Nobel... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 28/03/11)

Hotspots and Incidents » Crimes- Reason for war? Gaddafi wanted to nationalise oil
Lisa Karpova
The Libyan leader proposed the nationalisation of U.S. oil companies, as well as those of UK, Germany, Spain, Norway, Canada and Italy in 2009. On January 25, 2009, Muammar Al Gaddafi announced that his country was studying the nationalisation of foreign companies due to lower oil prices. "The oil-exporting countries should opt for nationalisation because of the rapid fall in oil prices. We must put the issue on the table and discuss it seriously," said Gaddafi. "Oil should be owned by the State at this time, so we could better control prices by the increase or decrease in... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 28/03/11)

HUMAN RIGHTS, EDUCATION AND
Dr. Ifthikhar Ahmad Ayaz, OBE
(Given below is the summary of the speech delivered by Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad Ayaz, O.B.E. at: University of Malta recently) 1. (Officer of the Excellent Order of the British Empire) 2. Consul General of Tuvalu Island in the United Kingdom 3. Senator World Nations Congress 4. Ambassador of Peace appointed Universal Peace Foundation 5. Recipient of International Peace Prize 6. Member UN Human Rights Council Committee in the Rights of Minorities – Rights of Woman / Rights of Children 7. Member World Poverty Alleviation Forum 8. Honored as the 2010 Man of the Year... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/03/11)

Egypt: Mummy's curse strikes again
Remember the stories about the pieces stolen from Cairo Museum during the revolt against President Mubarak? Apparently, like so much you read in the bought media, things turned out rather different. Several museums were targeted. In one, the looters ended up stricken with the Mummy's Curse, thrashing on the floor speaking in tongues... In his article "Did 'mummy's curse' kill Egyptian looters?"... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 28/03/11)

Fighting moves to Libya’s center, NATO accused of taking sides
RT
Armed conflict between Gaddafi’s troops and Libyan rebels has moved away from the sea coast into the central part of the country. Meanwhile, Russia has said NATO’s actions contradict the UN resolution and called them interference in a civil war. There are conflicting reports on whether the opposition forces have captured the city of Sirt, which holds a special symbolic value as Gaddafi’s hometown. On Monday, state television reported coalition planes had bombed the city of Sabha in central Libya at dawn, killing several civilians. British air force warplanes have also destroyed ammunition depots used by Gaddafi’s forces. The... -Full Story- (rt.com - 28/03/11)

On the smugglers’ trail: ‘So many refugees are here’
Stewart Bell
Canada is now a target of Southeast Asia’s human smuggling syndicates. This is a side-story to the first instalment of a four-part investigative series, the Post’s Stewart Bell identifies the suspected members of the criminal network that has been sending migrant ships to Canada. BANGKOK — The Vembus Restaurant is a small room with green wallpaper and a big ceiling fan that spins above tables covered with plates of spicy South Indian food. The owner, Vidya Shankar, is from the Sri Lankan capital Colombo and he estimates there are 2,000 to 3,000 of his countrymen in Bangkok, most... -Full Story- (news.nationalpost.com - 28/03/11)

Photos: Investigating human smuggling in Thailand
.National Post Photo
National Post reporter Stewart Bell travels to Bangkok, Thailand to investigate human smuggling. Freelance photojournalist Brent Lewin captures what he uncovers.... -Full Story- (news.nationalpost.com - 28/03/11)

Libyan affair-Rebels are a Rabble
Orpheus Perera
Reported by Nancy Youseff in Benghazi. Rebel fighters who once vowed to seize Tripoli from Libyan strongman Maummar Gaddafi have retreated from the front to defend their homes, saying the rebel army is divided and they don’t trust their commanders. Rather than battle to win the war and take back cities lost to Gaddafi over the past ten days, rebel fighters said they simply want to defend their homes, figure out who’s friend or foe and regroup. Revelation of disunity in rebel forces came as NATO finally agreed yesterday to take the lead in enforcing a Libyan... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/11)

WE GO HOME WITH OUR TAIL BETWEEN OUR LEGS SAYS ENGLAND’S CAPTAIN IN COLOMBO
Walter Jayawardhana
“We were thoroughly outplayed we can’t hide away from that, we go home with our tail between our legs,”said England captain Andrew Strauss after being defeated by the Sri Lankan team at R.Premadasa stadium in Colombo. Following is the full story published by London’s Daily Telegraph containing the captain’s reaction: By Derek Pringle, Colombo 7:15PM GMT 26 Mar 2011Derek's Twitter “Setting the home side 230 in the last of the quarter-finals England broke their recent pattern of close finishes after being thrashed by ten wickets with 63 balls to spare. “We were thoroughly outplayed we can’t... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/11)

Home Electrical Power Supply
Vajiragnana Warnakulasuriya Melbourne
Minister of Power & Energy Hon.P.C.Ranawaka MP Sri Lanka  Dear Minister,  Home Electrical Power Supply  These days there have been several write ups on the possible installation of future nuclear energy plants to supplement the electrical power requirements in the country. While that is carefully investigated I thought to present few suggestions to consider with regards to the immediate demands.  I have observed villagers calling for domestic power supplies due to the hardships encountered by their children who are endeavoring to study in the evenings. Strangely enough when we were growing up our parents did not... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/11)

COMMANDING VICTORY:
GIRIDHAR .D   COIMBATORE India
It was a convincing ten wicket victory by Srilanka to beat England to reach Semifinal's of the World cup. Srilankan bowling was Disciplined with accurate line and length restricting england to a score of 229. Chasing this target Upal Tharanga and Dilshan Tillakaratne set themselves in with unbeaten centuries and toyed England bowlers to set Srilankan's commanding victory. The speciality of their innings was that they showed lot of responsibility in the batting form start to finish. Thatanga and Dilshan piled their runs with dozen of boundaries and couple of sixes and made England bowlers... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/11)

In the face of « terrorism » unleashed by the International Community in Libya, terrorism of Al Qeida, Talibans and LTTE fades into insignificance
By Charles.S.Perera
 Who is a terrorist and what is terrorism ?   The definitions vary, but all definitions have been made by some one from the repressive West.   The West or the International Community which always   had come forward to pontificate , educate and advise the rest of the world, had always been the terrorists of the world.  The International Community took up the roll of bringing "the people …..from barbarism to civilization" forcing their  Christian civilization down the “throats” of  the conquered nations.  The great task of defining  all that was out side their  “Civilization”  as  savage barbarism fell... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/11)

Last female Tamil refugee claimant freed
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario Canada
25 March 2011   The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN   Sir: Your news item 'Last female Tamil refugee claimant freed' who arrived on MV Sun Sea and held in detention since the ship's arrival in British Columbia coast last summer, was predictable as night would follow day.   There is a lesson learnt for the impending ship smuggled Tamil refugees.  Find the  $45,000  for the voyage  on a refugee smuggling ship and get over to Canada, and if you can endure eight months of  detention with housing, meals and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/11)

Cricket World Cup
Sunil Vijayapala Australia
I would like to be the last person to write something about cricket in this prestigious journal, but felt obligatory this time.  The crude cricketers, the Australians have been finally vanquished.  The famous questions Australians ask Sri Lankans living here 'which country you support?' and the prompt answer will be Sri Lanka. The same question can be directed to Australians who live in England and they too will respond 'Australia', without saying POME (prisoners of mother England). Strange isn't it? These Australians expect us to support Australia when they, Players, umpires, journalists, the general public gave the nastiest treatment... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/11)

Why fall of Gaddafi will herald liberty only for Libya’s jihadists
Kevin Myers:
All things considered, it was rather thoughtful of the Libyan rebels in Benghazi to shoot down their only fighter aircraft at the weekend, killing the poor, unfortunate pilot. Otherwise, the British and French aircraft enforcing the UN-endorsed no-fly zone might have been obliged to do it instead.... -Full Story- (belfasttelegraph.co.uk - 25/03/11)

Why Libyan uprising is not “people toppling dictator”
RT
In the wave of political change in the Arab world, Libya clearly stands apart. Unlike his counterparts in Egypt or Bahrain, Muammar Gaddafi’s power does not seem to be slipping out of his hands, and there’s a reason for it. ­Gaddafi’s resilience looks really strange, when you start considering it. His domestic opposition is armed with machine guns, not stones and Molotov cocktails. Even after a period of thaw, his international reputation is still on a par with Kim Jong-il – with all the airliner bombings, killing of police officers in St. James’ Square and a WMD program in... -Full Story- (rt.com - 25/03/11)

Is getting rid of Gaddafi not the point of war?
By Robert McNeill
The thought of going into war with America on their side must be frightening for British and French servicemen. Nothing the enemy chucks at them can compare with the threat from the Yanks' infamous 'friendly fire'. Meanwhile, just when you think the world couldn't get more nutty, top doubters are debating whether to bump off the controversial Libyan leader, Derek Gaddafi. For this might lead to - look away now, Martha! - regime change. How appalling. What do you think just wars are about? Hitler - that was regime change.... -Full Story- (belfasttelegraph.co.uk - 25/03/11)

No unity in coalition as pro-Gaddafi forces shell rebel-held towns undisrupted
RT
Fresh explosions and gunfire have been heard in Tripoli, with reports of coalition forces, targeting major military facilities across Libya. Still, the US-lead alliance has yet to agree on who should be in charge of the ongoing operation. A loud explosion was heard in the Libyan capital Tripoli early Thursday morning. Smoke was seen coming from where a military base is situated, Reuters news agency reports. This follows a series of explosions which hit the Libyan capital late on Wednesday. Libyan officials have accused the coalition forces of killing scores of civilians, claims that the US military denies. The... -Full Story- (rt.com - 25/03/11)

‘Obama and Sarkozy are dogs’
By Michael Georgy
Tripoli - A seven-year-old boy clutches a toy AK-47 assault rifle and stares down at a row of coffins holding Libyan civilians who officials say were killed by Western air strikes. “He and many other Libyan children will die fighting the Western colonialists,” said the boy's uncle Osama bin Saleh, a taxi driver. A few feet away, a man moves his palms across his body to make a point. “Muammar Gaddafi's blood is the same as the blood of all Libyans. Any blood that is shed will be shed by everyone. The old and the young.... -Full Story- (iol.co.za - 24/03/11)

ANOTHER BOMBSHELL BY HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH (HRW)
Malin Abeyatunge
This is how Alan Dershowitz-Professor of Law at Harvard Law School sees Human Rights Watch” (source-Lankaweb-HRW) Quote” Who will guard the guardians?" asked Roman satirist Juvenal. Now we must ask, who is watching Human Rights Watch, one of the world's best-financed and most influential human rights organizations? It turns out that they cook the books about facts, cheat on interviews, and put out pre-determined conclusions that are driven more by their ideology than by evidence. These are serious accusations, and they are demonstrably true. "Alan Dershowitz Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School” This is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/11)

Libya: But What About The Oil?
Written by Ferdinand E. Banks
As I pen these few humble words, Swedish combat aircraft are being tuned up for the long flight from Sweden to somewhere in the Mediterranean. There is no shortage of volunteers – pilots, mechanics and other ground crew – for this mission, because it has been a very long winter in Scandinavia, and many young Swedish men are so keen to get close to the disco and bar life in that sunny part of the world that they can almost taste it.... -Full Story- (oilprice.com - 24/03/11)

George Galloway on Wests Libya intervention
... -Full Story- (youtube.com - 24/03/11)

Heaps to Learn from Team Pakistan
Dilrook Kannangara
Pakistani cricket team is winning match after match after a few bumps along the way. Their nation is in disarray, their cricket administration in total chaos, their cricketers blamed and even charged of match fixing, assault and they are deprived of lucrative IPL contracts denying them not just money but also experience in what was tipped to be the new form of the game inspired by the fast paced Twenty20s. However, contrary to popular belief, Twenty20 inspired cricket was not seen in any match (apart from matches against minnows) of this World Cup. Bowling still ranks... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/11)

The Infamous Lavrenthi Beria
Dr. Ruwan M Jayatunge
 Let me have him for one night, I will interrogate him properly, then he would confess that he is the King of England  (Beria during Nikolai Buharin‘s show trial)  Introduction  In 1953 when the Soviet authorities denounced the former secret Police Chief Lavrenthi Beria, the Time magazine published an article titled "Russia:  Policeman on Trial".  Suddenly the term Beria became a household name in the West. The Sri Lankan politician WijayanandaDahanayaka said " we do not need to worry about Russian Beria but we have to be cautious of Sri Lankan Boria (Boria is a derogatory term... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/11)

France plays hawk, Germany demurs. Libya has exposed Europe's fault lines
With the west at sixes and sevens, Gaddafi may yet get away with murder. And this in the year of EU unity So Europeans are from Mars and Americans are from Venus. Those "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" – the French – have led the military charge into Libya. The hamburger-munching crusader eagles have dithered in the rear. Except that such crude stereotypes are as misleading today as they were at the time of the Iraq war. Now as then, Americans are divided – and Europeans even more so. France and Britain have led the campaign for a no-fly zone and for... -Full Story- (guardian.co.uk - 24/03/11)

Analysis: Libya shows US policy inconsistencies
By STEVEN R. HURST -
WASHINGTON -- The U.S.-led attacks against an autocrat in oil-rich Libya have opened the Obama administration to questions about why it's holding back from more robust support for opposition forces challenging other dictators. What is the difference, some have asked, between the situation in Libya and the uprisings in Bahrain, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria and even sub-Saharan African nations such as Ivory Coast?... -Full Story- (heraldonline.com - 24/03/11)

US pressures allies to command Libya mission
By ROBERT BURNS and ERICA WERNER Associated Press
WASHINGTON—Anxious to reduce its front-line air combat role in Libya, the Obama administration pressed Thursday for the allies who first pushed for the campaign to come up with a workable alternative. U.S. officials said the leadership handoff would come within a few days—with President Barack Obama facing growing congressional misgivings—and fellow NATO countries held crisis talks about the military operation. In Ankara, Turkey, state-run TV quoted Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying Turkey's objections concerning NATO's role had been met and NATO would indeed take command. No official action on such... -Full Story- (dailybulletin.com - 24/03/11)

Neglecting public opinion is privilege of the West
London is bracing itself for a wave of public anger this weekend as protesters are planning to take to the streets to demonstrate against the West’s military intervention in Libya. ­What many of those who will march seem to particularly object to is Western governments’ habit of lashing out at other countries for not listening to their people, while blithely ignoring public opinion on their own doorsteps. This Saturday London might experience the biggest protest in its history, even bigger than the anti-war coalition managed in 2003, reports RT contributor Ekaterina Zatuliveter from the British capital.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 24/03/11)

Opposition ratcheted-up the rhetoric but no quick fix in sight
By Philip Fernando, former Deputy Editor Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka
 UNP leadership ratcheted up the rhetoric and predicted food riots glibly anticipating popping eyeballs. They went pell-mell for the shallow and the cynical to catch-up with an endemic losing streak. They could not get into the winning column again. The long retreat from power—more a vacation from history for a decade made them look for quick fixes: over-the-counter remedies for chronic ailments that inflicted the party.  It was just hallucinatory to wish for a Twitter revolution in our shores when the president just started his second term. The UNP... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/11)

WESTERN HYPCRISY THAT MAKE ONE’S HAIR STAND ON ITS END!
Simon Gnanapiyasena
Really, even though Tripoli is full of Libyan civilians, the French, Brits and the US had no compunction in unleashing the aerial bombings or deadly cruise missiles there.   Now contrast this with the Sri Lankan situation where the LTTE terrorists (or “guerillas,” take your pick as it is immaterial) were holding onto nearly 300,000 Tamils as a human shield and the GOSL declared one ceasefire after another – to allow the Tamil civilians to get out of the LTTE clutches, i.e. and also for the LTTE to be brought under pressure from the West (the West where... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/11)

Analysis and application of Bahiya Sutra
Sunil Vijayapala  Australia
One of the greatest challenges for a Buddhist who embarks on the journey to Nibbana is the assumption of a Being as a ‘process’ rather than a living entity.   The virtuous Bahiya in his short encounter with Thathagata, had the wisdom to comprehend this unique concept and enter Nibbana prior to his demise caused by a cow’s mauling.  Bahiya had to cover a long distance walking to meet Buddha and when he finally did Buddha was on his alms round.  Buddha twice turned down Bahiya’s request to expose the Dhamma but finally agreed and uttered few lines... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/11)

Robert O’Blake, Going on latest revelations in Afghanistan do you think USA should also be hauled before a war crimes tribunal ?
By Charles.S.Perera
 It was reported recently , that «  ..In the toughest warning since the end of fighting in May 2009, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert Blake, said Sri Lanka could be hauled before a war crimes tribunal over the killing of “many thousands of civilians” in the final months of its separatist war and  risked a forced international investigation.  Things have changed  since  Robert Blake made the  above statement , and tables turned  to question why USA should not,  firstly  be hauled before  a war crimes tribunal  and  subjected to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/11)

ස්වභාවය නිර්මාණය කල නව ලෝක රටාව
චන්ද්‍රසේන පණ්ඩිතගේ විසිනි.
උත්තරීතර ස්වභාවය කිසිවෙකුගේවත් බළල් අණ්ඩක් නොවේ. ස්වභාවය විසින් නිර්මාණිත මිනිසා, ස්වභාවයට අවනතව ස්වභාවය අපේක්ෂා කරණ ආකාරයට, ස්වභාවයේ සම්පත් ගොඩනංවමින්, වැඩි දියුණු කරමින් මේ පෘතුවි තලය කේතුමතියක් කරනවා වෙනුවට, ස්වභාවයට එරෙහිව යමින් ස්වභාවය පාලනය කිරීමට මිනිසාට හැකිය යන මිත්‍යාවේ එල්ඹගෙන  ක්‍රියා කරන විට ස්වභාවයට එම මිනිස් ක්‍රියාකාරකම් දරා සිටීමේ උපරිමයක්ද පවතී. එම උපරිමය, ඉක්මවා යාමට උත්සහ කරන මිනිස් ප්‍රජාවේ උද්දච්ඡය ප්‍රබල වූ විට එය පාලනය කිරීමට ස්වභාවයට ශුද්ධ වූ අයිතියක් ඇති අතර, ඒ සඳහා ගත හැකි හා ගතයුතු ඕනෑම ක්‍රියා මාර්ගයක් සම්බන්ධව සම්පූර්ණ අයිතිය ඇත්තේ උත්තරීතර ස්වභාවයටයි. මේ වනවිට උත්තරීතර ස්වභාවය, ජපානය තුල සිඳුවන හා සිඳුවුන සිඳුවීම්... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/11)

71 කැරැල්ල 37කොටස
වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම් ජයතුංග
 කොස්ගම පේ‍්‍රමරත්න හමුදා කඳවුරකට පහර දීම සඳහා ප‍්‍රාථමික වර්ගයේ ගෙදර නිෂ්පාදනය කරන ලද ටින් බෝම්බ පහක් රැගෙන ගිය පුද්ගලයෙකු ගැන ඔබ සිතන්නේ කුමක්ද? අද දිනයේ ඔහු උත්මත්තකයකු යැයි ඔබට සිතනු ඇත. නීතියේ ඇසින් බලන කල ඔහු කර ඇත්තේ වරදක් බව සැබැවි. ඔහු එදා ඒ ගමන ගියේ යහපත් සමාජ පරිවර්තනයක් උදෙසාය. ඔහු ගත් ක‍්‍රියාමාර්ගය දෝෂ සහිත වුවද එම පුද්ගලයාගේ චිත්ත ධෛර්ය හා කැපවීම පිලිබඳ යම් ධනාත්මක අදහසක් අප තුළ නිතැතින්ම ඇති වෙයි. මෙවැනි පුද්ගලයන්ට විනාශකාරි මාර්ග නොව ඵළදායි මාර්ගයක ගමන් කිරීමට ලැබුනේ නම් ඔවුන් සමාජයට සද් කාර්යයන් ඉටු කරනු නොඅනුමානය. ඒ කෙසේ වෙතත් එදා සාලාව හමුදා... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/11)

The Libya no-fly zone mission runs down. Just 6 warplanes aloft
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report March 22, 2011, 11:31 AM (GMT+02:00)
Four days after the Western-Arab coalition decided Saturday, March 19 to enforce a no fly zone over Libya, only six Western warplanes - American, British, Canadian and French - are in the sky at any one time, debkafile's military sources disclose. This is just enough to enforce the no-fly zone over Benghazi – not the rest of Libya. It is also wholly inadequate tor collecting the basic intelligence over Tripoli and other parts of Libya for launching an offensive against Muammar Qaddafi's forces. The assault therefore ran out of... -Full Story- (debka.com - 22/03/11)

No, he isn’t so bad a tyrant No, he isn’t so bad a tyrant Qureshi Is Cameron right?
Yasmin Qureshi laughed wryly and said that she was “not sure whether I am being brave or foolhardy” when she voted in the Commons against the government’s decision to take military action against Libya in support of UN Resolution 1973. “I decided I would not put my career first and compromise with my beliefs,” declared the Labour member for Bolton South East, who was the only ethnic minority MP to oppose the government motion. With Labour Party backing, David Cameron saw his motion carried overwhelmingly by 557 votes to 13, with Yasmin emerging as one of the handful of dissenters.... -Full Story- (telegraphindia.com - 22/03/11)

Russia ready to mediate in Libya conflict - Medvedev
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev reiterated on Tuesday Moscow's offer to mediate in the conflict in Libya. Medvedev was speaking during a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates near Moscow. On Monday, Medvedev said Russia would "gladly" undertake peacemaking efforts in the North African state. "Medvedev also expressed concern over how the UN no-fly zone is being endorsed and the possible casualties among civilians because of the indiscriminate use of air force," the president's press service said.... -Full Story- (en.rian.ru - 22/03/11)

Leaked cable hailed Qadhafi as “a critical ally”
Western countries currently bombing Libya benefited from intelligence provided to them by Mr. Qadhafi's regime on “jihadi'' groups in east Libya, according to WikiLeaks documents and American intelligence sources, The Times reported on Tuesday. Names of “hundreds of suspects” were passed to the CIA and British intelligence, it said. In a cable sent on August 10, 2009, the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli described Libya as a “critical ally in U.S. counter-terrorism efforts” and emphasised that U.S.-Libya “strategic partnership in this field has been highly...beneficial to both nations”.... -Full Story- (thehindu.com - 22/03/11)

Warplanes hit Libya again, stalemate feared
TRIPOLI: Forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi attacked a town near Tripoli on Tuesday after a third night of air raids on the capital, but the Western campaign faced questions over the future of its command structure. With anti-Qaddafi rebels struggling to capitalize on the air campaign and to set up a coherent command structure, Western nations have still to decide who will run the operation once Washington pulls back. The United States will cede control of the air assault in days, President Barack Obama said, even as divisions in Europe fueled speculation that Washington would be forced to continue leadership... -Full Story- (arabnews.com - 22/03/11)

Warplanes hit Libya again, stalemate feared
TRIPOLI: Forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi attacked a town near Tripoli on Tuesday after a third night of air raids on the capital, but the Western campaign faced questions over the future of its command structure. With anti-Qaddafi rebels struggling to capitalize on the air campaign and to set up a coherent command structure, Western nations have still to decide who will run the operation once Washington pulls back. The United States will cede control of the air assault in days, President Barack Obama said, even as divisions in Europe fueled speculation that Washington would be forced to continue leadership... -Full Story- (arabnews.com - 22/03/11)

The latest from the conspiracy front: the US may use 'Gaddafi Precedent' to attack Israel
Submitted by James Besser on Tue, 03/22/2011 - 17:28
ShareI'm still trying to wrap my head around the latest conspiracy theory that's lit up the conservative Jewish blogosphere like Times Square at midnight. It goes like this: President Obama's justification for participating in the no-fly zone over Libya - the “Responsibility to Protect” rationale, or R2P as the conservatives call it – represents a potential threat to Israel because this administration might be inclined to do the same thing to the Jewish state if it takes military action in Gaza or the West Bank, or if officials here... -Full Story- (thejewishweek.com - 22/03/11)

Libya coalition sparks fierce debate
(CNN) -- Since the U.N. Security Council authorized action Thursday to protect civilians from the effects of Libya's civil war, a vigorous debate has erupted over the U.S. role in the intervention. CNN's Ed Henry desribed President Barack Obama's dilemna here and in CNN.com's Opinion section, writers raised questions about the ultimate goal of the military operation and U.S. policy.... -Full Story- (edition.cnn.com - 22/03/11)

Is the Libya War Legal?
Congressional leaders are slamming Obama for not consulting with them on Libyan airstrikes—but it’s not clear that he even had to. Daniel Stone asks constitutional scholars who’s right. As President Obama attempts to keep all the plates spinning on his Libya policy, critics in Congress are stepping up complaints that the White House acted hastily, irresponsibly and, at least some members of the president’s own party have charged, unconstitutionally.... -Full Story- (thedailybeast.com - 22/03/11)

Putin denies split with Medvedev over Libya
There is no rift in Russia's ruling tandem over the conflict in Libya, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday. "We have a president in Russia who directs foreign policy and there can not be a split," Putin told reporters in Ljubljana, Slovenia.... -Full Story- (en.rian.ru - 22/03/11)

Putin-Medvedev tandem stronger than ever
Mass media are reporting about the rift in the Putin-Medvedev tandem, disregarding the context of Medvedev's statements. However, the most important thing in big politics is details. Dmitry Medvedev released a special statement yesterday, March 21, in connection with the situation in Libya. Medvedev expressed his views about the foreign political situation with Libya and clarified the position of the Russian Federation during the voting at the UN Security Council.... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 22/03/11)

UK shows discord over regime change in Libya
In Britain, there appears to be inconsistency about the goals the coalition is pursuing in Libya. Prime Minister David Cameron says that a regime change is not on the table, but other members of his government are saying the opposite. ­According to the UK Defence and Foreign Secretaries, Liam Fox and William Hague, there is a possibility that troops could target Colonel Gaddafi. Fox said on Monday that Gaddafi could be a "legitimate target", and Hague left that possibility wide open in his interview. It permits the use of the no-fly zone to protect civilians against Gaddafi’s forces, and the... -Full Story- (rt.com - 22/03/11)

Moscow stands firm over the crisis in Libya
Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has again set out Russia’s position over the situation in Libya during his meeting with US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at his Gorky residence on Tuesday. Medvedev expressed deep concern about the form of implementing the UN Security Council resolution on Libya, which was passed on March 17. "The president once again voiced his opinions about the current situation in Libya. Medvedev expressed his concerns about the way the UN Security Council resolution on imposing a no-fly zone is being implemented and about possible civilian casualties because of the indiscriminate deployment of air forces," the... -Full Story- (rt.com - 22/03/11)

I was wrong about President Obama
Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
Let us call a spade, a spade. Let us call a group of armed marauding thugs, committing acts of terrorism and arson, terrorists and arsonists and let us call those who manipulate the words of others to justify their actions, barefaced liars. President Obama is one of these and how wrong I was to believe that he represented a new America. How wrong I was. I praised the American people for not playing the race card in the last election because I am not a racist. My oldest son's four grandparents were born in four countries in three... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 21/03/11)

Libya, lies and lessons to be learned
The US is at the forefront of the strikes on Libya, deploying some of its heaviest firepower against Gaddafi's regime. That is despite Washington insisting for days that it would merely play a supporting role. The UN Security Council is set to hold closed-door consultations on the situation in Libya later on Monday, diplomats said. The discussion was called by China – this month's council president – in response to a letter from Libya and a Russian request. The air strikes in Libya are said, by the coalition forces, to be a humanitarian act to protect civilians from a dangerous... -Full Story- (rt.com - 21/03/11)

Calls grow for allies to stop air strikes on Libya
Moscow condemns the international coalition air strikes in Libya, and so does the Arab League and the African Union. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is in North Africa to discuss the ongoing conflict. At least 60 people have already been killed as a result of the coalition air strikes, and as the strikes continue, that number is expected to rise. Vladimir Putin insisted nobody has the right to intervene in political conflicts in sovereign countries, calling the Security Council resolution a flawed document. "The UN security council resolution is undoubtedly incomplete and flawed. If you look at what it says,... -Full Story- (rt.com - 21/03/11)

Libya: A Long War or a Limited Engagement?
Here in London, the parliament is retroactively voting to authorize the military invention already underway in Libya.Meanwhile, there is a gap developing between Britain and the U.S. that bears watching. The British defense secretary today said they could specifically target Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in these bombings, calling him a "legitimate target." Concern for civilian casualties could be a factor that could dissuade them from that decision, he said. But Secretary Robert Gates, the U.S. secretary of defense, says no, targeting Gadhafi is not our aim.... -Full Story- (abcnews.go.com - 21/03/11)

Kucinich: Libya action 'impeachable'
Jennifer Epstein
President Barack Obama should be impeached for approving air strikes against Libya, Rep. Dennis Kucinich said in an interview Monday. “President Obama moved forward without Congress approving,” the liberal Ohio Democrat told Raw Story. “He didn’t have congressional authorization, he has gone against the Constitution, and that’s got to be said.” Several other members of Congress have also chastised the Obama administration for not doing enough to sell the intervention to Congress, let alone to the American people.... -Full Story- (politico.com - 21/03/11)

Russia to Represent Libya at UN
Russia will represent Libya at a special UN Security Council discussion Monday night, being held at Libya's request. Since the no-fly zone was imposed on Libya over the weekend, no Libyan officials will be able to leave the country to attend the meeting, and as Libya is not a member of the Security Council, it must be represented by a member country. Russia, along with China, Brazil, and Germany, abstained in the vote to authorize intervention in the country over the weekend.... -Full Story- (israelnationalnews.com - 21/03/11)

SRI LANKANS – who are they?
by Revd. Father Tony de Alwis (M.A., LL.B. (Hons.), Grad. Dip. in Law)
 Very soon, on May 22nd, we shall mark the second anniversary of the removal of the LTTE terrorist threat, at least from our immediate vicinity.   Although that memorable event secured the territorial integrity of our island homeland, it didn’t – indeed, it couldn’t – define and secure our national identity as Sri Lankans.      We seem to have worked out a reasonably well-defined way of identifying ourselves ethnically – as Sinhalas, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers etc.   But if there is any worthwhile lesson to be learned from the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/03/11)

Accountability of a mother
Dr.Tilak Fernando
Mother’s responsibilities * Housewife * Cook * Tailor * Watchman * Laundry lady * Teacher Everyone born into this time and space arrangement carries responsibilities of some kind. Children are naturally exempt until they start schooling. ‘No painter’s brush or poet’s pen in justice to her fame has ever reached half high enough to write a mother’s name’. Mother in other words carries enormous responsibilities minus the credit attached to her tasks. Browsing through my archaic collection of literal gems, I picked up an essay my daughter had written at the age of 12.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/03/11)

Realistic Approach to Buddhism
Article 4 The key approaches to Buddhism are self-exploration and purification of the mind, leading to development of Wisdom.  Buddha concluded that persistent unrest in our minds occur as a natural consequence of the human consciousness, and our inability to distinguish between the duality of not-me and me.  Our dis- synchronous firing of brain neurones is responsible for both chaos as well as creativity.  Consequently we get attached to worldly material created by our perceptions.  We want [caption id="attachment_15133" align="alignright" width="195" caption="Awkana Buddha statue"][/caption] such to be pleasant, complete, and permanent.  Yet, all are in flux and impermanent.  What we... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/11)

The International Community Bombed Libya- What next ?
by Charles.S.Perera
The West involved in a seemingly unending war against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, sacrificing their youths sending them away from their homes in search of possible terrorists is about to start another war in Libya.  President Sarkozy finding himself low down in a popularity poll wanted to score points of popularity demanding arbitrarily, without consulting the partners of the “ game of using force to obtain peace”, a cease fire in Libya on threat of a military attack. Or is it Colonel Gaddafi’s threat that he will cut supply of “oil” to the West that hastened... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/11)

Libya: Sarkozy and Gadaffi before they fell out
By Adam Lusher
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, met world leaders in Paris at exactly the same place he had welcomed Colonel Gaddafi more than three years ago.What a difference the passing of time can make. Just over three years ago, in December 2007, President Nicolas Sarkozy was welcoming Gadaffi to Paris and insisting to a French newspaper: “Gaddafi is not perceived as a dictator in the Arab world.” “He is the longest serving head of state in the region,” Mr Sarkozy explained as he rolled out the red carpet. “And in the Arab world, that counts,”... -Full Story- (telegraph.co.uk - 20/03/11)

Mannar Bishop Playing his part of a Geopolitical Plan to Dominate the Strategic Mannar Region
- Kumar Moses
 Mannar is Trincomalee in the western coast! Such is its strategic significance. After decades of very strong LTTE influence and control of some parts of the region, security forces cleared the entire area and the coastline. However, in doing so they disturbed a geopolitical master plan of outsiders colluding with willing locals. In a disturbing development, Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph has once again displayed his naked Tamil racism. Various theories have been suggested as plaster solutions. None of these can resolve the underlying problems. Sadly most observers only see the superficial problem and miss the real... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/11)

Rudrakumaran had made clear his Eelam intentions in black and white
Herold Leelawardena
In a recent interview with Sunday Leader, Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran had indicated that his aim is to achieve nothing but Tamil Eelam in the North and East of Sri Lanka. He also said; “Tamils expressed this wish clearly in the 1977 general elections.”   I say, Tamils kicked off that wish for Eelam not in 1977 but long before that. In fact, Tamils had articulated that wish not only in Sri Lanka but in India as well. But Neither in Sri Lanka nor in India was ‘racism’ the reason for that Tamil wish Rudrakumaran alleged.  Let me explain; there couldn’t have... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/11)

The Travels of a Journalist—63 - BC cop issues royal order To pay $75 fine at border
By Shelton A. Gunaratne ©2011 Professor of mass communications emeritus
Minnesota State University Moorhead
We—Carmel, 5; Junius, 9; Yoke-Sim and I—got up Friday (1 Sept. 1989) morning watching the American dippers and a variety of little bird species dive into the icy waters of Yard Creek and "fly" along under the water looking for their “yummy” water insects. We watched them on the rocks along the creek in the Interior wet belt of cedar and hemlock forest and lush undergrowth. We unabashedly relished the breath of cool fresh air scented by the overnight heavy rains that helped the creek... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/11)

Adm. Mike Mullen: One Of The Outcomes Of The Operation Could Leave Gaddafi In Power
by Matt Schneider
Admiral Mike Mullen appeared on several news shows this morning and faced some tough questioning from David Gregory on Meet the Press. Mullen revealed just how narrow the mission is and attempted to justify that international intervention in Libya was vital to America’s interest. Mullen said “the goals of this campaign right now again are limited and it isn’t about seeing [Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi] go, it’s about supporting the United Nations resolution which talked of eliminating his ability to kill his own people.” Gregory recognized that Mullen did not echo the rhetoric of some that... -Full Story- (mediaite.com - 20/03/11)

West's strikes on Libya run into Arab League criticism
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Western forces pounded Libya's air defences and patrolled its skies on Sunday, but their day-old intervention hit a diplomatic setback as the Arab League chief condemned the "bombardment of civilians." As European and U.S. forces unleashed warplanes and cruise missiles against Muammar Gaddafi's air defences and armour, the Libyan leader said the air strikes amounted to terrorism and vowed to fight to the death. While his eastern forces fled from the outskirts of Benghazi in the face of the allied air attacks, Gaddafi sent tanks into Misrata, the last rebel-held city in western Libya. Among the densely... -Full Story- (nz.news.yahoo.com - 20/03/11)

Ms. Butenis in NGO boat without a paddle -Part 1
H. L. D. Mahindapala
 The American Ambassadress, Ms. Patricia Butenis, has come out fighting on behalf of the NGOs. This should be greeted with applause because her intervention, coming from the biggest power on earth, adds an extra dimension to the on-going local debate on NGOs -- the most obscene four-letter word in the Sri Lankan political vocabulary. The fact that she is throwing punches at the critics of NGOs is also politically significant because it means that the cornered NGOs have recruited the best heavy weight they could find to come out fighting on their behalf.  Of course,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/11)

How serious is America about human rights?-Part II
H. L. D. Mahindapala
 The political agenda of Jehan Perera and “Paki” Saravanamuttu was to stop the war to give breathing space for Prabhakaran to strengthen his hand to regroup and prolong the war – a programme that would have kept the NGOs in business forever. They were running from Western capital to capital lobbying in the corridors of power to put pressure on the government to stop the war and save Prabhakaran from extinction. Jehan talks of “the people’s understanding and support” for a negotiated peace. History proves that the only man who understood the people’s need and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/11)

Arab League criticizes allied airstrikes on Libya
CAIRO – The head of the Arab League has criticized international strikes on Libya, saying they caused civilian deaths. The Arab League's support for a no-fly zone last week helped overcome reluctance in the West for action in Libya. The U.N. authorized not only a no-fly zone but also "all necessary measures" to protect civilians. Amr Moussa says the military operations have gone beyond what the Arab League backed. Moussa has told reporters Sunday that "what happened differs from the no-fly zone objectives." He says "what we want is civilians' protection not shelling more civilians." U.S. and European strikes overnight... -Full Story- (Yahoo - 20/03/11)

Russia and China Lead Opposition to Air Assault on Libya
Opposition to the Western air assault on Libya has come from a variety of quarters with Russia and China expressing regret and the African Union calling for it to end. Both China and Russia abstained when the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution on Thursday which authorized "all necessary means" to protect Libyan civilians and enforce a ceasefire... -Full Story- (voanews.com - 20/03/11)

Russia Calls for Stop to Non-Military Libya Attacks
MOSCOW, March 20 (Reuters) - Russia called on Britain, France and the United States on Sunday to stop air strikes against what it said were non-military targets in Libya, saying the attacks had caused civilian casualties. "In that respect we call on countries involved to stop the non-selective use of force," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement. Lukashevich said 48 civilians were reported to have been killed and 150 wounded in the air strikes, figures that matched those given early on Sunday by Libyan state TV. He said strikes had destroyed a medical facility, roads and bridges.... -Full Story- (newsmax.com - 20/03/11)

Russia “regrets” military action, calls for ceasefire in Libya
The Russian Foreign Ministry is urging the international forces and the Gaddafi regime to do everything they can to stop civilian suffering, and agree an immediate ceasefire, describing the military action in Libya as regrettable. ­Russian officials have steadily been against any foreign intervention into Libya’s domestic affairs, saying the West should let such turmoil-gripped countries choose their own way of development. Russia expresses regret over the start of armed intervention by foreign forces in Libya, Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said in a statement on Saturday. "We strongly urge both Libyan sides and the parties involved in the military... -Full Story- (rt.com - 20/03/11)

Libya no longer recognizes UN resolution
The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it no longer recognizes the UN resolution urging a cease-fire and establishing a no-fly zone over the country. The reason for not recognizing the UN resolution is the military intervention by the French, American and British air forces that began on March 19. In addition, Tripoli has demanded that an emergency UN Security Council meeting be called. Libyan officials argue that air strikes by the coalition on land targets within the borders of the country are a violation of the no-fly zone imposed by the UN. They also claim some civilian targets... -Full Story- (rt.com - 20/03/11)

Gaddafi: 'The West are terrorists'
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has said his people are preparing for a long war and will defeat the Western nations which have attacked his forces with air strikes. Gaddafi, in power for four decades, sounded defiant, saying repeatedly he would not be forced out of by a "crusader alliance" led by the US, Britain and France. "This is a crusader war against the Muslim people, especially against the Libyan people. They believe they will terrify the Libyan people. These are only terrorist means, and only the forces on the ground will be victorious," he said.... -Full Story- (itn.co.uk - 20/03/11)

France recognizes Libya rebels, to surprise of EU
France blazed a diplomatic trail as it recognized a newly formed Libyan opposition group Thursday, drawing the ire of other European nations for stepping out on its own even as the situation in Libya remained unclear. In Washington, U.S. Secretary of Hillary Rodham Clinton said she will meet with members of the Libyan opposition, both in the U.S. and when she travels to Egypt and Tunisia...... -Full Story- (newsday.com - 20/03/11)

Gaddafi opens arms depots to supporters
Libyan Leader Colonel Gaddafi says all Libyan people are now carrying weapons to defend the country. Speaking on State Radio in the past few minutes, he said he is confident that Government forces on the ground will be victorious. Colonel Gaddafi has threatened attacks on targets in the Mediterranean. The Libyan leader said he will open arms depots to the people to defend Libya.... -Full Story- (breakingnews.ie - 20/03/11)

African Union Demands End to Military Strikes On Libya, Skips Paris Meeting
Washington — The African Union (AU) on Saturday criticized the launching of military operations by U.S. and European countries on Libya to enforce a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted this week. French planes fired the first shots, destroying tanks and armored vehicles in eastern Libya eight years to the day after U.S.-led forces headed across the Iraqi border in 2003. Hours later, U.S. and British ships and submarines launched more than 110 cruise missiles against air defenses in the oil-producing North African country.... -Full Story- (allafrica.com - 20/03/11)

India, China, Russia oppose air strikes on Libya
New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) India, China and Russia Sunday opposed the Western air strikes on Libya, with Moscow demanding a dialogue to end the ''bloodshed''. The Indian foreign ministry said nothing should be done that aggravates the worsening situation for the people of Libya, where a revolt erupted in February against the four-decades rule of Muammar Gaddafi. "India views with grave concern the continuing violence, strife and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Libya. It regrets the air strikes that are taking place," a ministry statement said.... -Full Story- (Deccan Herald - 20/03/11)

The Ghost of Chelvanayagam Still Haunts Sri Lanka
MahamahaRaja
The scale of Thursday's electoral triumph for Mahinda Rajapaksa's UPFA coalition was somewhat unexpected. Many believed that though a UNP defeat was inevitable, there would be significant erosion into the SLFP's margin of victory due to the opposition's slogans having some resonance with the polity: the cost of living has indeed increased, and corruption is flaunted by connected individuals with reckless disregard for how the general population will react to it.  But it turned out that the population is still willing to endure these two problems, for they prefer the destruction of Tamil terrorism which comes with the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/11)

PATRIOTIC MASSES KICK HARD ON THE BUTTOCKS OF UNP AND JVP
A.A.M.Nizam
 All doctored allegations against the government, all illusory promises, all intimidation and threats have failed to make any change to the people’s determination to support the government in its march towards the development of Sri Lanka.  The United Peoples Freedom Alliance led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has secured a historic landslide victory in the Local Government elections taking control of 205 local bodies of the 234 Local Government Institutions for which elections were held.  The UPFA have uprooted the opposition parties from the strongholds they held for years.  The Opposition United National Party has been wiped out in many... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/11)

At Qaddafi Compound, a Human Shield
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
TRIPOLI, Libya — Even as the Allied intervention began, a group of foreign journalists were bused on a rare visit inside Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s compound — a labyrinth of concrete barracks, fortified walls and barbed wire designed to deter potential military coups. There, hundreds of supporters offered themselves up as human shields, cheering to newly minted dance songs about their adoration for their leader. “House by house, ally by ally,” the catchiest song went, quoting a Qaddafi speech. “Disinfect the germs from each house and each room.”... -Full Story- (nytimes.com - 20/03/11)

Gaddafi could still have final say in Libya
By Simon Tisdall
Muammar Gaddafi’s ceasefire offer will not satisfy western leaders queuing up to take a shot at him – but it’s unclear what will. When the US and its allies invaded Iraq in 2003 the aim was to overthrow Saddam Hussein. When Nato entered Kosovo in 1999 its purpose was to stop ethnic cleansing by Slobodan Milosevic’s army. The precise objectives of the Libyan war 2011, and how they will be achieved, are less well-defined — and therefore, potentially problematic. The ceasefire hastily announced by Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa in the wake of UN resolution 1973... -Full Story- (thepeninsulaqatar.com - 19/03/11)

Libya: The Wearingly Familiar Odor of Regime Change
by Robert Fisk
So we are going to take "all necessary measures" to protect the civilians of Libya, are we? Pity we didn't think of that 42 years ago. Or 41 years ago. Or... well, you know the rest. And let's not be fooled by what the UN resolution really means. Yet again, it's going to be regime-change. And just as in Iraq – to use one of Tom Friedman's only memorable phrases of the time – when the latest dictator goes, who knows what kind of bats will come flying out of the box? One thing we can... -Full Story- (commondreams.org - 19/03/11)

Protests as UK joins 'irresponsible' bombing raids on Libya
By staff writers
Britain and the USA have bombed Libya with more than one hundred Tomahawk cruise missiles, claiming enforcement of the UN-mandated no-fly zone. But peace campaigners say the action is "dangerous and irresponsible", calling an immediate demonstration outside Downing Street in London, from 3-4pm on Sunday 20 March 2011. "These are not precision guided weapons but weapons of mass destruction that will create many civilian casualties in Libya," declared the Stop the War Coalition - which has published '10 Reasons to say no to western intervention in Libya' (http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/2299/27/). The Coalition suggests that, far from liberating the Libyan... -Full Story- (ekklesia.co.uk - 19/03/11)

Sonia wins over U.K. Tamils
Hasan Suroor
Britain's normally hard-to-please Tamil activists were, on Saturday, effusive in their praise for United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi after she reportedly told them that she shared their concern over the situation in Sri Lanka and said that the displaced Tamils should be rehabilitated and have their rights restored. “I am very, very concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka. Tamils should have their rights restored. We are with the Tamils, you must know,” Ms. Gandhi was reported as saying in a statement issued by the Global Tamil Forum.... -Full Story- (thehindu.com - 19/03/11)

Libya: How a No-Fly Zone Can Become a Red Hot Mess
By VIVIENNE WALT / PARIS
Libya's monthlong revolt became an international conflict on Saturday as U.S. and British warships fired 110 Tomahawk missiles at 20 military targets in the country, in the first foreign military action ostensibly designed to stop Muammar Gaddafi's army from inflicting more damage on rebel strongholds and Libyan civilians. But the likely consequence of such an action was also emerging, that it would be the beginning of a campaign to drive Gaddafi out of rebel-held eastern Libya - and ultimately to force him from office after nearly 42 years in power. It also has the capacity... -Full Story- (Yahoo - 19/03/11)

Mahinda’s magic and Ranil’s rot dominate the electorate
H. L. D. Mahindapala
As expected, Mahinda Rajapakse won the local government elections. And, as expected, Ranil Wickremesinghe lost. The surprise, if it is a surprise at all, is not in these result but in the solid grip Mahinda still has on the electorate. The pundits were predicting losses for Mahinda, saying that his magic has gone due to (!) the rising cost of living, (2) corruption (3) Sarath Fonseka factor and (3) the erosion of the feel-good factor in the post-Nandikadal period. Despite these, the pundits were still expecting him to win but not on the scale of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/11)

“WHATEVER HAPPENED TO OUR ISLAND’S ABORIGINES?”
Terrence B De Silva Riyadh, KSA
It is interesting to read on and off and hear of claims by our majority races the Sinhalese and  Tamils depending on which nationality the writer belongs that they came first to the island of Sri Lanka (Lankadipa, Serendib,  etc.,whatever it was called in ancient times)-  just  like the proverbial question – “What came first the chicken or the egg?”but whatever happened to our island’s aborigines  the Veddahs, Nagas, and Yakkas?  Have they just been absorbed into the general populous, of the majority streams of Sinhala and Tamils or perhaps the “Rodiyas” which... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/11)

CHANDRA WICKRAMASINGHE DISMISSED FROM CARDIFF UNIVERSITY IN WALES
By Walter Jayawardhana in Los Angeles
Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, the chief exponent of the theory that planets like earth have been seeded for life by comets has been dismissed from his post at the Cardiff University in Wales, United Kingdom. The university informed the Sri Lanka born British scientist that they are withdrawing funding for his department, the astrobiology center. The UK parliament magazine reported the removal of Wickramasinghe in a story headlined “Killing the Goose that lays the golden eggs.” Wickramasinghe believes that life was seeded by comets and asteroids and pathogens like virus for influenza also arrived... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/11)

UN needed to approve Western aggression against small states
The defense ministry of Libya promised to retaliate in case Western forces attack the country. On March 18, the UN Security Council approved the use of military force against Muammar Gaddafi. Russia and China could veto the decision, but they preferred to abstain from the voting and let the aggressor off the leash. The latest resolution from the United Nation means that this organization is just an institution for approving the aggression of Western countries against small states. It is not incidental that Western media outlets evaluated the UN's approval of the no-fly zone above Libya as a permission for... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 19/03/11)

Rebels say Gaddafi forces storm Benghazi (Update 1)
Pro-Gaddafi forces are mounting a major assault on the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, despite the government’s declaring a ceasefire, Al Jazeera reported. Tanks and troops entered the rebel-held city on Saturday, and the head of the rebel Libyan National Council says there has been heavy artillery bombardment. "Now there is a bombardment by artillery and rockets on all districts of Benghazi," Mustafa Abdul Jalil told Al Jazeera.... -Full Story- (en.rian.ru - 19/03/11)

World powers hammering out Libya plan in Paris
Nicolas Sarkozy, David Cameron, Hillary Clinton, as well as representatives of the Arab League and UN chief Ban Ki-moon are meeting in Paris on Saturday to discuss UN-sanctioned military action in Libya. Nicolas Sarkozy, David Cameron and Hillary Clinton held their own talks before the emergency meeting started. The African Union representative is now not attending, but the Iraqi foreign minister was announced among the participants. US president Barack Obama issued an ultimatum to Muammar Gaddafi to immediately stop all attacks against civilians or face military action sanctioned by UN resolution.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 19/03/11)

Russia warns of "full-scale military action" following Security Council vote on Libya
Following a decision by the UN Security Council to take “all necessary measures” against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Russian politicians and experts are warning of further destabilization in the region. ­The UN Security Council voted on Thursday to impose a no-fly zone, which includes the possible use of military force, against pro-Gaddafi forces. Presently, the Libyan strongman's military is successfully beating back a large anti-government uprising, and is in the process of consolidating his forces around Benghazi, a city to the north where the "interim Libyan government" is penned in. Diplomats said the resolution, which was written in the eleventh... -Full Story- (rt.com - 19/03/11)

PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSE’S LANDSLIDE VICTORY
By M D P DISSANAYAKE
The massive victory achieved by the UPFA at the local government election  is directly linked to  the enormous popularity of the President Mahinda Rajapakse.  The President is unstoppable  and will be further encouraged by the endorsement of his policies by the vast majority of Sri Lankans.    Never before in the history of Sri Lanka a political leader had great milestones repeatedly and virtually destroyed the opposition.  The realization of the general public that the  President is with the common man  addressing day-to-day issues has brought about a closer bond between the President and the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/11)

Multiculturalism
 Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
18 March 2011  The Editor EMBASSY Ottawa  Dear Editor You were correct when you said in "Diaspora politics 'divisive' and discriminatory", "To be fair, the Conservative government has angered many ethnic communities as well. For instance, shortly after coming to office, it listed the Tamil Tiger a terrorist group. This despite the fact Canada has the largest Tamil population outside Sri Lanka, including Toronto. Previous Liberal govenments had long refused to take such a position, and it was no secret the party was actively interacting with the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/11)

In defence of Sri Lanka Prime Minister’s Statement to Parliament on terrorist training Camps in India – a follow up with photos taken in the camps.
By Charles.S.Perera,
 It is unfortunate that Sri Lanka is saddled with political parties such as the UNP and the JVP leaving aside the TNA and the TULF which are not of great importance for a developing Nation. The UNP and JVP are both interested, like Prabhakatran, to fulfill their own dream of having their own government one day rather than in the development of the country and make the people the beneficiary of such development.  The UNP as the main opposition should be interested in the welfare of the country not allowing it to be again pushed into another... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/11)

An unprecedented landslide victory for President Mahinda Rajapakse in yesterday’s LG Elections
A.A.M.Nizam
 The United Peoples Freedom Alliance led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has secured a historic landslide victory in the Local Government elections held yesterday  taking control of 205 local bodies of the 234 Local Government Institutions for which elections were held.  The UPFA have uprooted the opposition parties from the strongholds they held for years.  The Opposition United National Party has been wiped out in many areas and they have been pushed to the third place by the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi which has secured control of 12 Councils in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.  However, the UPFA has made... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/11)

MUSLIM AGGRESSION AGAINST INDIGENOUS BUDDHIST COMMUNITY IN BANGLADESH
  Dr. Daya Hewapathirane  Vancouver, Canada
  GLORIOUS BUDDHIST HISTORY Buddhists of Bangladesh are among descendents of the earliest Buddhists of the Indian sub continent. They inherit an illustrious Buddhist culture and civilization of ancient India. Buddhism thrived in this region  from the early 3rd century BCE or over two thousand three hundred years ago, from the time of Emperor Asoka (304-232 BCE) until the 12th century CE,  making the Bengal region the last stronghold of Buddhism in the Indian sub continent. In the 5th century CE, or more than 1500 years ago, Fa Hsien the famous Chinese pilgrim visited... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/11)

A LETTER FROM AMBASSADOR JALIYA WICKRAMASURIYA TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CALLING FOR DIALOGUE ON ISSUES RELATED TO SRI LANKA
EMBASSY OF SRI LANKA, WASHINGTON DC
James McDonald Sri Lanka Country Director C/O Amnesty International USA 5 Penn Plaza New York, NY 10001 March 17, 2011 Dear Mr. McDonald, I have read recently of allegations that Amnesty International has leveled against Sri Lanka. I am writing today in the hope of opening a dialogue with Amnesty International on these and other issues. The people of Sri Lanka need and are receiving international community support for reconciliation, reconstruction and healing. I feel that the campaign by Amnesty International to criticize Sri Lanka undermines these immediate needs. I am sure that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/11)

Gaddafi lays down arms after air strike threat
Tripoli has submitted to the UN Security Council’s demands and declared a ceasefire. The move comes after several nations announced preparation for air strikes on Gaddafi’s troops, to which the UN resolution gave the green light. The ceasefire was announced by Libyan Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa in a TV statement. He pledged that the government will do its best to ensure peace and order in the country and protect human rights. He said Libya is stopping all military operations because it is a fully fledged member of the United Nations and as such it is obliged to accept all UN... -Full Story- (rt.com - 18/03/11)

Murali and Sanga star for Sri Lanka
Muttiah Muralitharan produced a magical spell to back up Kumar Sangakkara's majestic century as Sri Lanka handed a crushing 112-run defeat to New Zealand in their World Cup Group A match in Mumbai today. Spin legend Muralitharan picked up four for 25 to skittle out the Black Caps for 153 in 35 overs after Sangakkara's 111 helped Sri Lanka to pile on a competitive 265 for nine. Sangakkara added 145 with Mahela Jayawardene (66 off 90 balls) for the third wicket before Angelo Mathews' cameo boosted the total.... -Full Story- (examiner.co.uk - 18/03/11)

Second Tamil migrant ordered deported
A second man who arrived in B.C. aboard a cargo ship last year has been ordered deported after admitting to once being a member of the Tamil Tigers. The man insisted he quit the banned terrorist group nearly two decades ago and never participated in combat.... -Full Story- (cbc.ca - 18/03/11)

Murali Inspires Sri Lanka
National Sport
In his last cricket World cup, Muttiah Muralitharan, ignored a hamstring strain to take four wickets in a 112-run win over New Zealand. Sri Lanka will finish second in Group - seeing them into the quarter finals. A month out from his 39th birthday, Muralitharan hurt his leg as he dived to avoid a run-out late in the innings, as Sri Lanka hit 265 for nine. He left the field twice for treatment, but still managed to bowl eight overs, taking figures of 4-25, including the wicket of Ross Taylor for 33, as New Zealand were all out... -Full Story- (thebee.co.uk - 18/03/11)

Cameron, Clinton and Sarkozy: A threat to international peace
Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
What happens when you get protagonists on the international political scene with serious problems at home? In a word, trouble. Like the western media, these politicians got the Libya story wrong from day number 1, raising serious questions as to their capacity to perform in their positions. Why, for instance, have the western media been caught lying about air strikes that never existed, about bombing of civilians when the buildings they were supposed to have bombed are still in pristine condition; why have there been stories about "Gaddafy" turning the full weight of his heavy weaponry against... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 17/03/11)

Gaddafi: Forces on way to Benghazi; we'll show no mercy
Hours before UNSC vote on a no-fly zone, Libyan leader tells rebels that armed forces plan on taking over their capital; country's Defense Ministry warns "we'll attack civilians, foreign targets if attacked." TRIPOLI - Muammar Gaddafi told Libyan rebels on Thursday his armed forces were coming to their capital Benghazi tonight and would not show any mercy on fighters who resisted them. In a radio address, he told Benghazi residents that soldiers would search every house in the city and people who had no arms had no reason to fear.... -Full Story- (jpost.com - 17/03/11)

Role of Civil Society -P. Butenis - March 12,2011
Ira de Silva London, Canada
The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka  Dear Sir:  Reading the letter from Ms. Butenis in defence of NGO's was a surprise particularly as the U.S. is so strong on the word accountability demanding it from all and sundry. Why would Ms. Butenis try to explain/defend any call for NGO's to be accountable for the monies received and provide the public with audited accounts of the millions they have supposedly spent on the upliftment, development and other meritorious actions they are claiming to use the money for, particularly as they are called "non profit... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/11)

KUMARAN PATHMANATHAN (KP) DESERVES DEATH SENTENCE AND NOT 100 ACRES
Malin Abeyatunge
Is Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) worth more than a Dead Tamil Tiger? If the latest report to say that KP will be rewarded with 100 acres is true, there is something wrong somewhere with the Government’s attitude towards KP. The public would like to know what information the Government has managed to extract from KP so far to reward KP with a NGO ( Is the central Bank monitoring the funds this NGO gets?) and 100 acres. The public would wish to know whether the Govt. has captured with the help of KP any of LTTE’s remaining ships... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/11)

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සත්වයින් වශයෙන් උපත ලබන අප උපතේදීම රැගෙන එන මහා සම්පත් රාශියක් ඇති අතරඉන් ඉතා වැදගත් වන්නේ මහා දැනුම් ජාලයක් තුල ඉපදීම හා එම ජාලයෙන් දැනුම උකහා ගැනීමට එම ජාලයට බද්ධ විය හැකි මාංශමය පරිඝණකයක්ද උරුමව උපත ලැබීමයි. එම දැනුම්සම්භාරය අඩංගු ජාලය, අප විශ්වීය අන්තර් ජාලය වශයෙන් හඳුන්වන අතර, එය හා බද්ධ විය හැකි ආකාරයට සකසා ඇති මාංශමය පරිඝණකය, මොලය වශයෙන්ද හඳුන්වමු.මෙම මොලය මගින් විශ්වීයඅන්තර් ජාලයට බද්ධව කරුණු සොයන අවස්ථාවට අපි සරලව“හිතනවා“ යන වචනය පාවිච්චි කරන අතර, මේ හිතීමේ කාර්යයේ යෙදෙන අවස්ථාවේදී,අපිට එම විශ්වීය අන්තර්ජාලයේ ඇති විවිධ වෙබ් අඩවි වලට පිවිස එහි ඇතිදත්තයන් පරිශීලනය කිරීමේ හැකියාව උරුමව... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/11)

The Travels of a Journalist—62-Adventures on Canadian Rockies: A drama between man and nature
By Shelton A. Gunaratne ©2011 Professor of mass communications emeritus
Minnesota State University Moorhead
 British Columbia covers a land area of 925,186 sq. km with a population density of 4.8 people per square kilometer. One-half the BC population lived in the Greater Vancouver metropolitan area.  For me, the vast patches of uninhabited land I saw in my foray into Caribou Country in 1967 were utterly depressing (Figure 1).   The population density of the adjoining provinces of Alberta (5.8), Saskatchewan (1.7) and Manitoba (2.2) along Trans-Canada (Highway 1) was even thinner than that of BC except for the slightly... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/11)

Kazakhstan to export 'almost all' oil via Russia - president
Almost all oil produced in Kazakhstan will be transited across Russia, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday. That will be ensured mainly by expanding the capacity of the North Caspian oil pipeline to 67 million tons of oil a year, Nazarbayev said in Moscow.... -Full Story- (en.rian.ru - 17/03/11)

UN divided over Libya as Gaddafi demands surrender
Members of the UN Security Council say they may adopt a new resolution by the weekend on Libya, where government forces are expected to advance on rebel cities. In Libya, fighting continues as forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi close in on the main rebel stronghold of Benghazi. Airstrikes targeted an airport just 10 kilometers from the city. Reports suggest it comes after rebels rejected an ultimatum by Gaddafi to leave the city by Thursday morning. Troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi may completely crush the uprising in the east of the country within 48 hours, one of his sons said on... -Full Story- (rt.com - 17/03/11)

‘The West is to be forgotten. We will not give them our oil’ - Gaddafi
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi dismissed his Western partners in an exclusive interview to RT, saying he will give all the country’s oil contracts to Russia, China and India. “We do not believe the West any longer, that is why we invite Russian, Chinese and Indian companies to invest in Libya’s oil and construction spheres” Gaddafi told RT in an exclusive interview about how he sees the current situation in Libya and the international reaction to events there. "He condemned the Western powers, saying Germany was the only country with a chance of doing business with Libyan oil in the future.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 16/03/11)

Internet viewed differently by men and women
By Philip Fernando, former Deputy Editor Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka
Do men and women look at the internet with different eyes? Is the Internet inherently biased? Web’s promise of broad-based access looked far-flung judging by inequalities that had sprung up? Most social networks like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Jezebel seemed popular with women while Wikipedia the free encyclopedia showed an 85 percent male participation. That disparity—a statistical impossibility--- could not be fathomed.  Wikipedia’s over 3.5 million articles in English were fed by more men 85 to 15 percent even though there was unrestricted access to edit articles -easy instructions... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/11)

Fresh riot by asylum seekers on Australian island (Christmas Island)
Vajiragnana Warnakulasuriya
The Minister for Immigration Mr.Chris Bowen MP Parliament of Australia Canberra  Dear Hon.Minister,  I was listening to National Radio’s 7.47am news item today viz:  Fran Kelly interviewed Ian Rintoul on the above issue, in response he reiterated that these people have been on Christmas Island for quite a long time even after they have been classified as genuine refugees. His quandary was the delay in ASIO’s security clearance.  He built his dissatisfaction in the state of affairs quoting “We know that the ASIO security clearances can be done in weeks. They were done in weeks for the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/11)

Appreciation - re Late Kithsiri Seneviratna
Mahinda Gunasekera Toronto, Canada
The sudden demise of Kithsiri Seneviratne of Pirivena Gardens, Mount Lavinia has left a void that is not easy to fill. Kithsiri was the Co-Founder of the Araliya Community Trust which he formed with his wife Anoja and other relatives and close friends to assist the needy of his motherland. The charity was launched soon after the devastating tsunami that struck Sri Lanka in December 2004, in order to provide some sustenance to the children who were orphaned and those who were severely handicapped by the loss of their homes, loved ones and breadwinners to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/11)

It is not fair to bury our points of view Mr.DBS.Jayraj.
Herold Leelawardena
However much we write, discuss and argue, a section of Tamil community and particularly those that come from the North do not understand what they can get and what they cannot. We know this because we read their thoughts, feelings and judgments loud and clear through many blogs.   With or without Piripaharan the terrorist, these people continue to demand we release a third of our land and two third of our coast line exclusively for Tamils. No doubt they would do many sting operations to get it. Many Tamils justify the reason for this demand as Sinhala only act, standardization,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/11)

‘Straightforward on the field, but it's never just about the cricket’
 Vajeera Warnakulasuriya, Melbourne
The Editor, The Age Sir, I posit my response to the following article of the 12th March 2011, ‘Straightforward on the field, but it's never just about the cricket’ by Peter Roebuck http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/straightforward-on-the-field-but-its-never-just-about-the-cricket-20110311-1br6d.html Peter Roebuck is a Cricket commentator and a writer, his expertise is only in this field. . He is not a political analyst of any sort. Ever since 1983 unfortunate communal disturbance in Sri Lanka, the game of cricket has been targeted to capture the World attention to denigrate Sri Lanka by the supporters of the LTTE. When 2007 World Cup was held... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/11)

Election voting: meaningful or meaningless?
By Mario Perera, Kadawata
This is a question many are asking themselves and others on the eve of this fiercely fought out elections to local bodies, where the prize money the winners get is a miserly rupees 5000. Just a few days ago the ‘Derana’ morning news analyst summed up the reasons for this frenetic dash for victory at all costs (including life, limb and property) by surnaming the councils concerned as ‘dens of thieves’. A JVP speaker went to the extent of detailing the ‘under the table’ money deals at the disposal of the winners, even describing what... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/11)

Is the Consular General In California Mr Jeff Goonewardena A Victim Of Created Innuendo And False Portrayal? Judge For Yourself!
In Retrospect By Sarath Kumara
March 12th 2010 The latest devlopments in Los Angeles involving  former Consul General Mr.Jeff Goonewardena where he is reported to have been recalled by President Rajapaksha and replaced for reasons which appear to hinge on a vicious character assassination and personal denigration by a few of his adversaries within the expatriate Sri Lankan community  at times bordering on slander and libel which in all probabilities prompted the President to adopt a stance of remedial action towards preventing possible disrepute and eyebrow raising within the international community need to be put into perspective.   It... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/11)

WESTERN INTRIGUE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Mahinda Weerasinghe
Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s days may be numbered, but that he simply did not lie down and play dead exasperated the EU powers. Since Qaddafi seized power in 1969 he controlled Libya with an iron fist. The North African nation has been under his firm and erratic, control since he took control of the nation has made him lots of enemies. The col. simply irritated the west by his stubbornness to ‘play second fiddle’ to them. Suddenly now his enemies have got a unique chance to get even. Indeed His detractors have banded together and are trying their... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/11)

WHITE ROBED TIGER TERRORIST THREATENS NORTHERN VOTERS.
By A.A.M.NIZAM   
 When the tiger terrorists were in full sway in the North and East munificent to Ranil Wickremasinghe and his corterie’s ignominious CFA and shameful appeasements, and even during the humanitarian liberation operations being carried out following Mavil Aru capture, Sri Lanka was full of Tiger Terrorists in sheep’s cloth in the form of Peaceniks, NGO vultures, Green Tigers, Pseudo Marxist Tigers, and Tigers in the cloak of Priests openly justifying and advocating the cause of the terrorists and their acts.  Although peace has returned to all parts of Sri Lanka due to the firm and unwavering... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/11)

Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne may not have told an untruth, but a truth which even the Indian Ministers may not know.
By Charles.S.Perera
The Indian High Commission in Colombo had  quoted Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Shri Vishnu Prakash as saying, "We have seen reports from Sri Lanka referring to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s statement alluding to the presence of LTTE training camps in Tamil Nadu. We categorically deny the existence of any such camps. The Government of Sri Lanka had also not taken up this issue with us. Such a reference is indeed unfortunate and we urge the Government of Sri Lanka to desist from reacting to speculative and uncorroborated reports." The Indian external affairs Minister may perhaps... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/11)

Investment Opportnuties in Sri Lanka for SMEs
Prof. Hudson McLean
Dear Readers of LankaWeb During the past few months, I have received several dozen enquiries on the availabilty of Business & Investment Opportunities  in Sri Lanka to Small & Medium-size Enterprises. The investment available is between Euro 0.5 - 3 million/potential inward investor, who seeks the Sri Lankan counterpart to invest upto 50% in liquid capital, in a Joint Venture according to Sri Lankan Law. Enquiries may be submitted through LankaWeb for a pre-selection submission supported by a Business Plan,  through legal representatives, without  any obligation on both sides . We hope that this concept attracts... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/11)

Remembering ‘Bandes’
Dr.Tilak S.Fernando
The word ‘Remember’ is described in many dictionaries as to recollect, recall, remind, reminisce etc, all of which mean to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind. It implies a keeping in memory of some significant incident or date that may be effortlessly registered in one’s mind as though it were yesterday. Time on the other hand is the compensating factor or healing mechanism for any loss or sorrow. Every day in our impermanent living we are affected by passing away of someone whom we love or hold in our heart with... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/11)

අමාත්‍යවරයා දුටු සිහිනය
 වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම් ජයතුංග
 ගරු අමාත්‍යතුමා නින්දෙන් පිබිදුනේ බයින් තැතිගෙනය. ඔහුගේ ගත දහඩියෙන් තෙත්වී තිබිණි. වායු සමීකරණ යන්ත්‍රයෙන් නිකුත් වූ සිහිල් සුලඟට ද ඔහුගේ දාහය අඩු කරනු නොහැකි විය. අමාත්‍යවරයා දුටුවේ බියකරු සිහිනයකි. තවමත් ව්‍යාකූල තත්ත්වයෙන් පසු වූ ඔහු තමා දුටුවේ සිහිනයක් ද නැතහොත් සැබැවින්ම සිදු වූවක්ද යන්න තෝරා බේරා ගැනීමට නොහැකිව අත් දෙකෙන්ම දැස් පොඩි කළේය. මොහොතකට කලින් දුටුවේ සිහිනයක් බව ප්‍රත්‍යක‍ෂ කර ගැනීමත් සමගම ඔහුගේ සිතට දැනුනේ මද සහනයකි. එහෙත් එය අනාගතය පිළිබඳව පැවසුණු අසුභ නිමිත්තක් දෝ යැයි ඔහු දෙගිඩියාවක පසු විය. පසකට හැරී සන්සුන්ව නිදනා බිරිඳව අවදි කොට සිහිනය පිළිබඳව ඇයට කීමට සිතුනද අමාත්‍යවරයා තව... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/11)

Schooling in Sri Lanka & debate on extending school hours
Shenali Waduge
It should come as no surprise when Sri Lanka’s politicians blurt out policies without much thought or without discussion & it is a main reason for most of us to feel dejected by how our education system is being administered. Sri Lanka’s education system has unfortunately been in the hands of most who have treated education as a place to incorporate whims & fancies while in office, then as advisors they continue similar damage & then upon retirement showcase the fallacies committed. Such has been the practice over the years through successive Governments.  Before discussing school... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/11)

The Travels of a Journalist—61--British Columbians forget Dickens while naming spots honoring Britons
By Shelton A. Gunaratne ©2011 Professor of mass communications emeritus
Minnesota State University Moorhead
“Dickens” is a small (84-block) neighborhood in east Vancouver, British Columbia. The neighborhood extends from East 12th Avenue (north boundary) to King Edward/ East 25th Avenue (south boundary); and from Fraser Street (west) to Knight Street (east). Kingsway runs diagonally through the neighborhood, which lies within the city-defined community of Kensington-Cedar Cottage. The area is dubbed “Dickens” because both of its two schools bear Charles Dickens’ name. As an avid fan of Charles Dickens, the famous 19th century British novelist, I found it hard to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/11)

Sri Lanka : Heaven on Earth! - A beautiful video - hope you'll enjoy it.
... -Full Story- (vimeo.com - 13/03/11)

Appeal for Japanese disasters
... -Full Story- (ibro.co.uk - 13/03/11)

Sterilization is not the solution for stray dog explosion
By Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai  Dehiwela.
Reference to the article captioned Humane approach to reining stray dog explosion in The Island, March 12, 2011, Rachel Proby and Geraldine Bouvry, we have to realize this is a major problem. Th article says “  in as little as six years a single pair of dogs can be responsible for 67,000 new puppies” – most must be dying but many do survive.  Even if all the dogs are sterilized, which will never happen in our country, still they pose  the problem of rabies – which is a lethal disease.  Rabies  may... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/11)

Investigate the activities of NGOs who supported separatists and continue to campaign for foreign intervention
S. Akurugoda
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, during an interview with the French newspaper ‘Esterprinte’,  has said "Funds are not coming in for the NGOs and their activists if they are not being activated against Sri Lanka.  Therefore to obtain funds they claim that Sri Lanka is violating human rights”. President  has also pointed out, the duplicity of  some of the Western embassies saying " Some Western embassies have rejected issuing  VISAs for the Sri Lankan Ministers who were intending to visit foreign countries for economical affairs but procured visas for the terrorists and terrorist suspects," The Island dated March 4,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/11)

CHANDRA WICKRAMASINGHE SAYS THE WORLD IS WITNESSING BIRTHPANGS OF A PARADIGM SHIFT LIKE THE COPERNICAN REVOLUTION REGARDING GENESIS OF LIFE
 By Walter Jayawardhana in Los Angeles.
Chandra Wickramasinghe, father of panspermia-that advocates the birth of life happened in deep space and travelled on comets to planet earth said the world is witnessing a paradigm shift regarding the beginning of life similar to the Copernican revolution. He was interviewed in Cardiff Wales from Los Angeles via email regarding the furor created among scientists worldwide about the claimed discovery of a NASA scientist that he found microbial fossils in an ancient meteorite that fell on Paris. His paper suggested extraterrestrial life coming from outer space, that upset some of his... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/11)

71 කැරැල්ල 36කොටස
වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම් ජයතුංග
 කීර්ති විජේසිංහ කීර්ති විජේසිංහ මට හමුවුනේ ඔහුගේ නිවසේදීය. කැරැල්ලට සහභාගි වී සිරගතව නිදහස් වීමෙන් පසු යලි සාර්ථකව සමාජගත වූ පුද්ගලයෙකු ලෙසට ඔහුව හඳුන්වා දිය හැක. කීර්ති විජේසිංහ මෙසේ පවසයි.  ‘මම කොමියුනිස්ට් පක්ෂයට සම්බන්ධ වෙලා හිටියේ. අපි මාක්ස්වාදය ගිරවු වගේ කියෙව්වා. කල්යාමේදි තේරුණා කොමියුනිස්ට් පක්ෂයට සමාජ ගැටළු වලට විසඳුමක් නැහැ. සටන්කාමී ගතිය අඩුයි. නායකයෝ හරියට නිවීගෙන යන ගිනි පෙනෙල්ලක් වගේ. මේ නිසා වෙන්න ඇති අපි විජේවිරගේ ව්‍යාපාරය ආකර්ශනය වෙන්න ඇත්තේ.  1968 දි විජේවීර මුලින්ම කළු ලකීගේ ගෙදරදි හමු උනා. එතකොට මම සාන්ත මැතිව් විද්‍යාලයේ උසස් පෙළ හදාරනවා. විජේවීර දක්ෂ සංවිධායකයෙක්. විචාර බුද්ධිය අඩු. අත්දැකීම් වැඩිපුර ලබලා... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/11)

Jason Kenney: Poison pen letters
  Asoka Weerasinghe. Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
 March 11,  2011
Hon. Jason Kenney, MP, PC   Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism   House of Commons, Ottawa Dear Jason: Your comment quoted in The Globe and Mail, the Canada’s National newspaper of March 7, “From time to time, we get what are called poison pen letters – about people from all different backgrounds,” Mr. Kennedy said. “We always assure ourselves that the people we’re working with are patriotic Canadians respecting our laws and Canadian values,” was an amazing statement of insult on my intelligence, if... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/11)

America, fix your country before others!
Shenali Waduge
While the US administrations take great efforts to dictate how countries should be run providing equal rights, human freedom to all, they have completely forgotten the state of chaos that exists in their own country. The US holds the records for the world’s highest prison population & incarceration statistics, its unemployment & literacy records are no better and its media belongs to non-Americans and much of the oppressions taking place around the world is totally as a result of US arms sales to the very people they call  “tyrants”. US needs to start thinking about fixing its... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/11)

Robert O’Blake, the West says it will not negotiate with the terrorists, but then accuses Sri Lanka for not having negotiated with the terrorists, could you say why ?
 By Charles.S.Perera
 West is trying to cover its own continued global violation of human rights by accusing the one and only country in the world that eliminated terrorism with a firm determination to save the country and its people from a terrorism that seemed to have taken root.  It is rare that the developing countries in the world which are kept in a stage of development by the concerted effort of the developed countries of the West could spear forward into development . The difficulties are enhanced by the internal friction between political parties, individuals and groups most... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/11)

Gaddafi gaining ground in battle, losing on information front
Published: 11 March, 2011, 09:15
After a week of heavy fighting in the strategically oil-important town of Zawiyah rebels have finally been overthrown by Gaddafi’s forces. At the same time, according to the local TV station reports, the port city of Ras Lanuf has been cleaned of Al-Qaeda supporters. For several days now Gaddafi’s forces have remained in control there too. On the ground in Libya, while it certainly does seem as if Gaddafi’s men are pushing back and winning the battle there, on the international stage it is the rebels who are really coming in the front. The EU... -Full Story- (rt.com - 12/03/11)

Heavenly made body shapes or obese fleshiness, it’s your choice!
 Dr Hector Perera UK
        London Victoria is one of the huge, busiest trains and underground stations. I went early and sat down near Smith Book shop to meet Saman who is coming from Paddington after visiting his relatives in Paris. The people moved in every direction, virtually like a disturbed bee hive, just after 6.00pm, Friday, after office hours. Any unoccupied mind is just like a wild horse, it's true!           I couldn't help looking at some beautiful body shaped young ladies, smartly dressed, walking up and down, as if they are on a cat walk then... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/11)

Sri Lankan Prime Minister's Hindsight About The LTTE Re-Grouping In Tamil Nadu Not Without Reason As The Hindu Website Also points Towards It!
Insight By Sunil Kumar
 March 11th 2010 The Sri Lankan Prime Minister's hindsight about the insurgent  Tamil Tiger terrorist outfit (LTTE) put down in the not too distant past in Sri Lanka re -grouping in Tamil Nadu India,  gets the  Indian Authorities  agitated according to recent reports but The  S L Prime Minister's fears seem to have a ring of truth to it as a news item appearing today in the Hindu( posted below) seems to indicate. It is  therefore deemable as not entirely speculation or paranoia on the part of the Sri Lankan PM.    It has however made The Hon Prime Minister re-think  some of his speculations in response to protestations... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/11)

Tamil Eelam National Identity Card
 Mahinda Gunasekera Toronto, Canada
March 11, 2011  Hon. Robert Blake Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia US State Department Washington DC  Honourable Robert Blake,  Legal Status of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam(TGTE) in the USA  Your are no doubt aware of an organization calling itself the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam comprised of a segment of the expatriate Sri Lankan Tamil community residing in the USA, Canada and other western countries who are yet pursuing the break up of the sovereign independant nation state of Sri Lanka, to create a mono-ethnic racist... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/11)

Bamiyan Buddha statues of Afghanistan
Vajiragnana Warnakulasuriya Melbourne
Those who created the Bamiyan Buddha statues may have done so to show their gratitude towards Buddha’s profound teachings. Buddha’s request to His disciples was, “he who sees the Dhamma sees me”, in other words those who “Understand and practice” the Dhamma. I believe Buddha refers to those lay disciples and monks who understand and observe their respective precepts immaculately.  To date there’s not a single statue depicting the serenity, tranquility, calmness, radiance and deep penetration embedded in its features like in a Buddha Statue. This is the reason why if anyone, irrespective of his or... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/11)

Sri Lanka is to revoke British Governor’s infamous Gazette Notification
A.A.M.Nizam
 The government has taken a momentous decision for revoking the Gazette Notification issued by Sri Robert Brownrigg, to condemn all those who rebelled against the British Rule in Sri Lanka in 1818 for the liberation of the country from the British Imperialist Rule.  Several governments after the independence of Sri Lanka in the past, although they wanted to revoke this ignominious Gazette Notification, could not take action in this regard.   Under the said Gazette Notification all those who participated in the uprising were not only condemned as “Traitors” their properties were also confiscated by the government.  Records relating... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/11)

WORLD CONSUMER DAY – 15TH OF MARCH 2011
Sarath Wijesinghe, Ambassador for Sri Lanka in UAE, former Chairman of Consumer Affairs Authority
 THEME – CONSUMERS FOR FAIR FINANCIAL SERVICES The Theme this year is very current and opportune.  The West almost collapsed as the result of mismanagement of financial services.  Ironically the funds belong to the people whose funds managed by financial services.  This puts the consumer into a dilemma whether the money managed by others really belongs to them.  Consumers having full trust from  the financial establishment deposit and invest money expecting them to manage it for them .  It is doubtful whether the financial... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/11)

THE ENGINEERS OF TERRORISM IN PAKISTAN
ALI SUKHANVER
 The huge explosion outside the office of a sensitive agency in Faisalabad on 8th of March took lives of more than 30 people leaving more than 100 injured. This explosion was not only another desperate attempt to destabilize Pakistan but also a futile effort to keep the law-enforcing agencies away from their devoted objective of fighting against terrorism. The people behind such type of heinous activities are living in a fool’s paradise; they think that they would succeed in frightening the nation and in convincing the people to follow and support terrorist designs. But the facts are... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/11)

SRI LANKA Vs ZIMBABWE and MOVING FORWARD
By M D P DISSANAYAKE
Opening Partnership: Dilshan and Upul has entertained the cricket lovers of Kingdom of Senkadagala at the Pallekelle Stadium with fine knocks of centuries to take Sri Lanka to the quarter finals.  It was a sensational  occasion for  the enthusiastic crowd of Senkadagala  to witness courageous batting performances with determination.  As we believed always, if  Dilshan can remain at the crease for a reasonable number of overs, Sri Lankan score card will always be well over 300 runs.   The opening partnership between Dilshan and Upul  was 282 runs,  just 4 runs short of 286 runs... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/11)

MONEY TALKS AGAIN-AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL EXPOSED
Malin Abeyatunge
There were hundreds of articles published in the Sri Lankan papers and on various websites over the years alleging that Human Rights organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group have been ferociously supporting the LTTE terrorist outfit and that they were talking for big dollars. Even I myself has contributed thro Sri Lankan print media and various patriotic websites criticizing these HR organizations for distorting information and facts to undermine Sri Lanka and hailing the LTTE terrorist outfit. It was an open secret for the majority of Sri Lankans (though the present and the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/11)

The People of the West must stop the crimes been done by their Governments
Shenali Waduge
It appears to be that while “freedom” is the catchword that is gaining momentum across the Middle East, Africa & will soon be coming to Asia, the public of the West are clueless about the heinous crimes against humanity being committed by their Governments over the years. It is time the people of these Western countries realize & are told that their Governments are no paragons of virtue. Making use of the taxpayers money they have not only put their own nations into debt but they are directly responsible for the anarchy that exists in the world... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/11)

Forget Singh
MahamahaRaja
To the Editor, the Island  I must say that the recent writings about a possible Sri Lankan 'Obama' are nonsensical. Not only do your writers twist facts, they also insult the intelligence of the Sri Lankan people in general, and the Sinhalese Buddhists in particular.  In the case of both America and India, the minority-based leaders of these countries came to power through participation in secular, mainstream parties. They did not campaign on a platform of baseless grievances, false histories, or anti-majority racism. Obama and Singh have shown to the majority of their respective peoples, that they would... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/11)

How naturalists saved lives discovering species
By Philip Fernando, former Deputy Editor Sunday Obseerver Sri Lanka
Naturalists and centuries of species discoveries have helped humanity ward off pestilence and disease. Their success in finding cures provided the breather we enjoy now from plagues of yesteryear. Roughly half our medicines came directly from the natural world, or were manufactured synthetically due to naturalists performing their job. Naturalists no longer get scoffed at for collecting everything from miniscule insects to gargantuan elephant jaws.  In the 18th century Sir Hans Sloane the physician and naturalist was known for collecting objects of interest--eventually the British Museum, the British Library,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/11)

Sri Lankan Prime Minister's Hindsight On The LTTE Cannot Be Swept Under The Carpet! India Should Take Warning !
Insight By Sunil Kumar
March 10th 2011 It may seem like unmitigated paranoia or speculation to some but the Prime Minister D.M Jayaratna's claims that the LTTE have three training centers in Tamil Nadu and one is where the Tigers are being trained to assassinate VIPs could have more than a modicum of truth to it and in hindsight he may well be right. He has made this revelation in Parliament very recently based upon investigative findings by undercover operatives where the names of the ringleaders of the alleged operation are sufficient for both the Indian and Sri Lankan... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/11)

Cricket World Cup: this joke that is ‘the spirit of the game’
By Mario Perera, Kadawata
 I refer to the incident which was the violent confrontation that Shaun Tait led Dilshan into at our last result less encounter with Australia. It was totally unprovoked, unwarranted and unnecessary. Yet it did happen. We saw the umpires talking it over with Tait and later with Dilshan. Dilshan was the victim, but was made to appear himself as an aggressor. We will recall the pithy Sinhala saying about the bull pouncing on and butting the unfortunate man who fell from the tree. Now in such incidents, the opposition (in this case the Aussies) always... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/11)

The Travels of a Journalist—60-Four nights in British Columbia bring us memories of Australia
By Shelton A. Gunaratne ©2011Professor of mass communications emeritus
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Monday (28 Aug, 1989) morning, we—Carmel, 5; Junius, 9; Yoke-Sim and I—left the Olympic Peninsula of Washington from Port Angeles (pop. 18,397), the biggest city in the peninsula, by ferry and landed in Victoria (pop. 78,000) in British Columbia (pop. 4.4 million), Canada. The current population of Canada is 34 million, On arrival at Port Angeles ferry terminal, we lined up our car for rhe 12.45 p.m. ferry ride to Victoria on MV Coho. (In 1989, our ferry ride cost us $32, including $23 for the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/11)

Women should be given leadership in building Sri Lanka, says President Rajapaksa
By Janaka Alahapperuma
International Women’s Day (IWD) falls tomorrow (08 March) and Sri Lanka celebrated this special day which is dedicated for women around the globe today on 07 March, the day before the official day at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. International Women's Day was marked for the first time in March 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland and since then this day was annually celebrated worldwide as a global event. This year Sri Lanka celebrated its centenary under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. The Colourful celebration was organized to mark the centenary... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/11)

මානුෂිකත්වයට එරෙහිව සිදුකර ඇති සාපරාධි ක්‍රියා
වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම්. ජයතුංග-වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම්. ජයතුංග විසින් ලියන ලද The Atrocities Committed Against Humanity ලිපිය ඇසුරෙනි. පරිවර්තනය A S වික්‍රමසිංහ
" මිනිසුන් අසම්මතයන් කෙරෙහි විශ්වාසය තබන තාක්කල් අමානුෂික ක්‍රියාවන්හි අඛණ්ඩවම නිරත වනු ඇත." -වෝල්ටෙයර් මානව ඉතිහාසය ප්‍රචණ්ඩත්වයෙන් හා ම්ලේඡ්ත්වයෙන් පිරී පවතී. ප්‍රචණ්ඩකාරී බව මිනිසා තුල පවත්නා නෛසර්ගික ලැදියාවක් ලෙස සැලකිය යුතු බව සමහර උගතුන් විසින් පෙන්වා දී තිබේ. ප්‍රචණ්ඩත්ව මිනිසාගේ මානසිකත්වයට අදාළ ප්‍රධාන සාධකයක් ලෙසින් සිග්මන් ෆ්‍රොයිඩ් විසින් සලකන ලදී. මනෝවිද්‍යාඥ එරික් ෆ්‍රෝම් විසින් ඔහුගේ "මානව ප්‍රචණ්ඩත්වයේ ව්‍යුහය" නම් ග්‍රන්ථයෙන් ප්‍රකාශ කොට ඇත්තේ, ප්‍රචණ්ඩත්වයේ මූලාරම්භය දෙස බලන කල බලගතු සංස්කෘතියක පවත්නා ප්‍රචණ්ඩත්වය ජීව විද්‍යාත්මක නොවන බවයි. ප්‍රචණ්ඩකාරී බව... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/11)

Tories deny Tamil Tigers’ remnant group in federal and Ontario parties
ANTHONY REINHART AND STEVEN CHASE
In Ottawa, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney declined to confirm receipt of a letter claiming associates of the outlawed World Tamil Movement had infiltrated the Conservative party – which banned the movement as the Tigers’ Canadian front in 2008 – but said all such complaints are investigated.... -Full Story- (theglobeandmail.com - 08/03/11)

Tories deny Tamil Tigers’ remnant group in federal and Ontario parties
ANTHONY REINHART AND STEVEN CHASE
Senior Tory politicians have denied that a Tamil Tigers’ remnant group has worked its way into the federal and Ontario parties, but refused to address details of a Globe and Mail investigation linking the group to party political activities. In Ottawa, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney declined to confirm receipt of a letter claiming associates of the outlawed World Tamil Movement had infiltrated the Conservative party – which banned the movement as the Tigers’ Canadian front in 2008 – but said all such complaints are investigated.... -Full Story- (theglobeandmail.com - 08/03/11)

Hudak denies Ont. Tory recruit has Tamil Tiger ties
The Canadian Press
Ontario Opposition Leader Tim Hudak is disputing allegations that his party has recruited a candidate with links to the banned Tamil Tigers. "It's not true," Hudak told reporters on Monday. "The reality is we have a thorough screening process. The candidate has passed this test and I'm satisfied with that."... -Full Story- (cbc.ca - 07/03/11)

Popular uprisings in Middle East and North Africa: Indictment on West and its media
Latheef Farook-Courtesy The Daily News
The unprecedented, peaceful and historic popular uprisings raging in the Middle East and North Africa remain clear indictment on the United States led Europe and their media known for spreading lies. It was with the support and blessings of the West and its media that tyranny which caused untold to misery to millions in the region flourished for decades. Libyans protest in London. Picture courtesy: Google These Governments, especially United States, Britain and France who are shouting from rooftop about democracy, freedom, human rights and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/03/11)

IS REBIRTH OR REINCARNATION TRUE?
Shripal Nishshanka Fernando
For the last hundreds of years the world has profoundly witnessed thousands of rebirth or reincarnation stories all around. Many of those have been thoroughly investigated by recognized institutions and universities and also have authentically recorded for reference. Whatever the fact is, the truth has been successfully suppressed by several media which have been controlled by many religions for the sake of their survivals. Even though these rich and powerful media could hide and cover-up the real facts of rebirth and reincarnation, to a certain extend  they cannot destroy the Truth forever. Day by day real... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/03/11)

අපේ අනාගත පරපුර අතරමං කිරීමට කිසිවෙකුටත් ඉඩ නොදෙමු.(විවෘත ලිපියකි)
චන්ද්‍රසේන පණ්ඩිතගේ විසිනි.
Managing Director, DSI Samson Group P O Box 778, Kumaran Rathnam Road Colombo 02 Sri Lanka. ගරු මහත්මයාණෙනි,/ මහත්මියණි, අප මෙම ලිපිය ඔබ සමාගම ඉලක්ක කරගෙන ලියනුයේ, ඔබ සමාගම මෙරට ජාතික බලවේගය නියෝජනය කරන සමාගමක් හා පාසල් දරුවන් උදෙසා යමක් කිරීමට වෙහෙසෙන සමාගමක් ලෙස අප දැක ඇති බැවිණි. “ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සිටින දක්ෂම ගුරුවරයාගෙන් මුළු රටටම උගන්වමු“ යන තේමාව යටතේ ආරම්භ කලයුතු මේ ව්‍යාපෘතිය ඔබ සමාගම ඉදිරිපත්ව ආරම්භ කරන ලෙස අප  ඉතා ගෞරවයෙන් යෝජනා කරමු. මෙරට පාසල් දරුවන් අර්බුද ගනනාවකට මුහුණ දෙන පරම්පරාවක් වන අතර, ඔවුන් ජාත්‍යන්තරව හා ජාතිකව පිටස්තරයන්ගේ අත්හදා බැලීම් වලට භාජනය වෙන... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/03/11)

Facing challenges
Dr. Tilak Fernando

* Discipline needed from early stage of childhood * Parents, teachers play vital role * Films contribute towards inculcation of minds The word challenge has an intense meaning. In a broad generalization a challenge can be imbued with a sense of difficulty and victory. It can embrace threat, competition, discipline in favourable as well as in worse situations. A scene from the film Challenges. File photo In a war two groups challenge each other. In sports one team challenges the opponents to win... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/03/11)

AIESEC SriLanka presents "EQUIP 2011" - The National Conference
Rakhitha Manchanayaka Vice President Organizing Committee – Communications
 Present in over 107 countries and territories and with over 50,000 members, AIESEC is the world’s largest student-run organization and the most prominent international platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential and to have a positive impact on society. This global, non-political, non-profit organization is comprised of students and recent graduates of these institutions of higher education, who are interested in world issues, leadership, and management which has over 60 years of experience in developing students into globally-minded leaders. AIESEC’s innovative development process consists of unmatched leadership... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/03/11)

Globe & Mail: 'The Tories and the Tigers' remnants
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario .Canada
6 March 2011 Hon. Jason Kenney, MP., Minister of Citizenship and Immigration;  Paul Calandra, Conservative MP for Markham-Oakridge; Patrick Brown, Conservative MP for Barrie; Pierre Poilievre, MP for Nepean-Carleton & Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.                                                                                                                                                                                  House of Commons, Ottawa. Dear Jason, Paul, Patrick & Pierre: Hmm…well….well…well…did you read the Globe & Mail article ‘The Tories and the Tigers’ remnants’ by Anthony Reinhart in yesterday’s (March 5)  Globe & Mail?  If you haven’t, you should.  All what I can say is WOW! That article had reduced you Conservatives as... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/11)

කෙටි කථාව – මෘතශීලියා
වෛද්‍ය රුවන්  ජයතුංග
   රාත්‍රියේ නිසලතාව බිද දමමින්   මෝචරි වත්තට ඇතුළුවූ වාහනය නිසා මුරකරු තමන්ගේ මනෝ   ලෝකයේ සිට පියවි  ලොවට පැමිණියේය. වාහනය පොලිස් ගිලන් රථයක් බැවින් ඔහු කඩිමුඩියේම  නැගිට ගිලන් රථය වෙත   ගියේය. එක අතකින් සරමේ ගැටයද අනෙක් අතින් විදුලි පන්දමද ග්‍රහණය කරගෙන සිටි මුරකරු රථයේ ඉදිරි අසුනේ සිටි පොලිස් නිලධාරියා  දෙස   බලා  යටහත් පහත්ව හිස    නවා සිනාසුනේය.   " අයිසේ මේ බොඩි එක ෆ්රීසර් එකට දානවා හෙට   පෝස්මෝටම් එකට"   නිලධාරියා  පැවසුවේ දුම්වැටියක් දල්වගනිමිනි. ඔහු පපුවට ඇද මුවින් පිටකළ  දුමාරය මුරකරුව ආශාවෙන් ආග්‍රහනය  කළේය.    කඩිමුඩියේම  වාහනයෙන් බට කම්කරුවන් දෙදෙනෙක් ඇලුමීනියම් ස්ටේචර් එකක දමා  තිබු  මල මිනියක් ගිලන් රථයේ   පසුපස දොර   ඇර ඉවතට ගත්තේ ශබ්ද නගමිනි. මළකඳ වසා  තිබුනේ සුදු   පාට එහෙත් කිලිටි      ඉටි කොලයකිනි. එහි තැනින් තැන කුඩා   ලේ   පැල්ලම් තිබේ.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/11)

Medical reps in Sri Lanka-Letter to the Editor
By Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai, Dehiwala
Often the young Medical reps come in to meet us doctors and I sincerely wish they are trained better. Many of them bend down almost double trying to be very submissive which can be pretty embarrassing for the doctors. It maybe because some doctors may be treating like lesser mortals but these are upcoming youngsters. They must be taught that their job is as good as doctor’s and they must do it with dignity. They must be taught they need not be subservient to the doctors rather just tell the doctors about... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/11)

Bahrainis peacefully demanded political reforms Regime responded killing peaceful protestors.
Latheef Farook
Bahrainis, especially majority Shiites, came out in an unprecedented peaceful demonstration demanding constitutional reforms seeking political freedom and justice. However the autocratic minority Sunni regime responded with violent crackdown raining death and destruction. As a result the people who once asked for political reforms now demand the removal of the king and his regime to pave the way for a government run by an elected parliament. Bahrain, with a chain of 30 islands and a territory of 717 sq kilometers, has a population of around 800,000 of which around three quarters are Shiites. They accuse the regime... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/11)

Tories' bid to win over South Asians opens party to Tamil Tigers' remnant
ANTHONY REINHART
Tories trying to win support from South Asians in Ontario have opened the door to remnants of a Tamil Tiger front group the federal Conservatives themselves banned in 2008. The unlikely association, forged behind a curtain of tough government talk about Tamil refugee ships and a feared terrorist migration to Canada last year, has developed since the Tigers’ separatist struggle was crushed by the Sri Lankan military in 2009.... -Full Story- (theglobeandmail.com - 05/03/11)

Do Not Crush the Aspirations and Interests of the Young and Small Investors.
Sasanka De Silva, Pannipitiya
Not so long ago, my daughter reached the voting age and so was the bank balance in her minor account, the six figure mark. When Union Bank of Si Lanka announced its share offer (IPO) recently, she wanted to invest some of her savings in shares. She did apply and now waiting to hear about the outcome of her first attempt in investment. The latest I read about this IPO was that it was oversubscribed by more than 300%. This is a healthier sign. Yet, I am clueless as to what type of modality... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/11)

War and Human Cost Depicted in Movies
Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge
 All Quiet on the Western Front All Quiet on the Western Front is a powerful movie that was based on the World War one veteran Erich Maria Remarque’s personal experiences. Directed by Lewis Milestone, All Quiet on the Western Front recounts the realistic and horrific nature of the trench war. Paul Baumer a naïve German lad who was fascinated by the nationalistic speeches and positive motivation by his high school teacher Professor Kantorek   joins the Imperial German Army.  After a short military training, he was sent to the Western Front to fight the French and the English.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/11)

71 කැරැල්ල 35 කොටස
වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම් ජයතුංග
 එම්. ජී. නන්දිසිරි ගමගේ අතීත කැරලිකරුවන් සොයා ගිය ගමනේදි මට තවත් සුවිශේෂ පුද්ගලයෙකු මුණ ගැසුනි. ඔහු නමින් එම්. ජී. නන්දිසිරි ගමගේ හෙවත් පේරාදේණිය නන්දේයි. නන්දසිරි ගමගේ 1969 දී එම්.අයි.එෆ්. 5 භූමි භාගයේ විශේෂ ඒකකයට අයත් මෝටර් රථවල අංක ලියා ගනිමින් සිටියදී එම්.අයි.එෆ්. 5 විසින් ඔහු අත් අඩංගුවට ගන්න ලදි.  දැනට ශි‍්‍ර ලංකාවේ කාන්තාවන්ගේ සංවර්ධන සේවා සමූපකාර සමිතියේ සාමාන්‍යධිකාරි වන නන්දසිරි ගමගේ මහතා අතීත මතකයන් ගැන කලේ මෙලෙසයි.  ‘මම විජේවීරගේ දේශපාලන ව්‍යාපරයට ඇදී ආවේ 1967 අග භාගයේදි. එතකොට මම පේරාදෙණිය විශ්ව විද්‍යාලයේ පළමු වසරේ අධ්‍යන සිසුවෙක්. මම හැදෑරුවේ සිංහල, ඉතිහාසය ආර්ථික විද්‍යාව යන විෂයන්. මම ශ‍්‍රී... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/11)

Why does US ignore human rights violations in Saudi Arabia
Shenali Waduge
We all welcome international calls for equality, for freedom of speech, for good governance minus corruption. We all abhor arbitrary arrests, extra judicial killings, incommunicado detentions, restrictions on religious freedom, covert & overt operations out to destabilize nation but it is when the very countries that have been adapting even creating these trends point fingers at selected nations ignoring their allies who commit these atrocities as customary practice, that we need to remind these powerful nations that we aware of their hypocrisy and these biases end up foretelling results of international bodies that are supposed to be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/11)

No Excuses For The Stoning Of The Windies Bus In Bangladesh!
Top Spin By Suni
March 5th 2011 There is absolutely no excuse for what happened  in Mirpur, Bangladesh where the bus carrying the West Indies players has been stoned on its way back to the team hotel after they thrashed Bangladesh by nine wickets in Mirpur today  4th March 2011. The organizers of this tournament  should seriously consider removing Bangladesh as a venue for any further games as the world remembers what happened in Lahore where the Sri Lankans  were targetted by terrorists and regardless of the excuses the Bangladeshi authorities might come up with,  this too needs to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/11)

Buddhism, Sri Lanka,Awsadahamy and the dogs who bark!
Ratanapala
Ben Silva seems to get more adventurous by the day, trying to denigrate Buddhism for the all the ills of Asia. He sounds like a Papist out to get rid of paganism. He will blame Einstein for the Atom Bomb.Einstei just found a truth about matter  - that vast power is locked up within matter. In the same way Lord Buddha found a solution for the ills of the world.  He saw the illusion of existence and the truths that Lord Buddha  proclaimed, remains true to this day.  The assertion by Ben Silva that Lord Buddha is a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/11)

Humanitarian Issues During the War in Sri Lanka-Speech by Don Randall MP made in the Austrlian Parliament on 28/2/2011 on Sri Lanka.
SPEECH  Date Monday, 28 February 2011 Source House Page137 Proof Yes Questioner Responder Randall, Don, MP Question No.Mr RANDALL(Canning) (12.02 pm)— I am pleased to speak on this motion on humanitarian issues during thewar in Sri Lanka. At the outset, I congratulate the member for Werriwa on bringing this motion to the parliament and for the measured way that he addressed it. I have always had high regard for the member for Werriwa’s interest in human rights issues and migration issues. On this occasion he is quite passionate about his views as the issue stands now.    I come to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/03/11)

Lara Stemple regurgitates Tamil Terror Propaganda - Open Letter to the UCLA Chancellor
John MacKinnon
March 4, 2011    Regarding: Lara Stemple regurgitates Tamil Terror Propaganda - Open Letter to the Chancellor  Dear Chancellor,  We are outraged by the false accusations made by the director Lara Stemple of the Health and Human Rights Law Project at UCLA. Having bought into deceptive accusations spread by the Tamil terrorists, Lara Stemple regurgitated it in an op-ed piece published on NY Times.  The NY Times title 'The Hidden Victims of Wartime Rape', published: March 1, 2011 at-http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/02/opinion/02stemple.html. You may read comments about it at LankWeb - http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2011/03/02/lara-stemples-report/ Let me put this in perspective for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/03/11)

“MEETING WITH THE AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN OFFICE – CANBERRA 1 MARCH 2011”, SRI LANKA SUPPORT GROUP, CANBERRA
 President SRI LANKA SUPPORT GROUP   
1 March 2011 Hon Kevin Rudd MP Minister for Foreign Affairs. PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600  Dear Mr Rudd  RE: A MEETING WITH YOU IN CANBERRA IN MARCH 2011  We are a group of Sri Lankan Australians  from various parts of Australia, namely, from the territory of the ACT and the states of  NSW, Vic and Qld.  We are all immigrants from Sri Lanka, who have lived in Australia for a long time. We are mostly professionals and have positively contributed to the social, cultural and economic... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/03/11)

Is Ponting Heaving Pressure Or Trying Psychological Tactics With Personal Jitters About Playing The Lankans ?
Top Spin By Suni
March 5th 2011 Aussie Skipper Ricky Ponting has made a few remarks to the media indicative of his state of mind before the Aussies play Sri Lanka on Saturday saying "the pressure on the home side to win the Group A match is huge" but is it really what he implies? The pressure will always be there in every game of the tournament both for the prestige of winning as well as the importance to advance to the next round but the way Ponting has portrayed it it is almost a prediction of an Aussie... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/03/11)

7 IDIOTS PLUS ONE IDIOTIC WOMAN
Ranjit Wickremeratne
Our Motherland is blessed with many decent distinguished individuals who has brought fame and glory in the past and present but the characters I am refering in this story is not belongs to that catogery. These individuals are stupid,Idiotic personalities who thinks that everyone is same like them and they can fool us everyday by saying foolish things and that we are in a fools paradise. After the stunning voctory fighting against the most ruthless terrorist group in the world every individual in my country should be greatful to those who made that happen,it may be white or black... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/11)

Twelve tips for Mahinda Rajapaksa
MahamahaRaja
 Sri Lanka stands at a key moment in its history, thanks to crushing Tamil terrorism once and for all in 2009. The nation, its people, and its political leaders have reached a pivotal stage, which must be capitalized to ensure future prosperity. Against our march to progress and development stands a vast array of enemies, both local and foreign, hell bent on our destruction and disintegration. Here, current and future problems are identified, and possible solutions are offered.  Having secured his position in power through overwhelming electoral triumphs, along with giving a huge boost to his political... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/11)

Power of mass protests & Western Strategy
Shenali Waduge
Countries of the Middle East have taken center stage. Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Yemen, Morooco, Bahrain, Syria & Libya are said to be facing uprising and we are suddenly told that people of these countries are demanding “democratization” of their country & the ouster of their “despotic” leaders. All these rulers have ruled these nations for over 2 decades & did the US, the western allies & even the UN not know that these rulers were “despicable dictators”? They did but these leaders were ruling nations rich in oil, these nations were located in a strategic region... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/11)

Indian Counsel General’s confused territory
S. Akurugoda
According to a media report appeared in a local daily few weeks ago, the Indian Counsel General in Jaffna V. Mahalingam had interfered in the judicial process following the seizure of 112 Indian fishermen along with 18 trawlers in the general area north of Point Pedro by raising the issue with the Point Pedro Magistrate Mrs. Sirinidhi Nandasekeran and sought an early release of the fishermen and their boats. The arrested fishermen were ordered by the Magistrate to be remanded for two weeks but were later released following ‘consultations’ between Colombo and New Delhi, according to the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/11)

Sri Lanka Risks War Crimes Probe - R. Blake March 2,2011
Ira de Silva  London, Canada
The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka   Dear Sir:   Mr. Robert Blake has once again spoken bringing to the attention of news media the "war crimes" allegations against Sri Lanka that he has been pedalling since his plan to save the leadership of the LTTE in 2009 failed. Perhaps, prodded by his LTTE friends in the Tamil Diaspora in the U.S., notably the leader who has set up the Trans National Government of Eelam in the U.S., he feels the need to bring these unsubstantiated allegations to the attention of the press. Let us examine... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/11)

The Travels of a Journalist—59-Two nights in Olympic National Park make our journey home 10-day task
By Shelton A. Gunaratne ©2011 Professor of mass communications emeritus at  Minnesota State University Moorhead
 All good things must come to an end, the proverb asserts. So did my stint with the (Longview) Daily News. I had to be back in Minnesota in time for the beginning of fall term at my university in Moorhead. So we—daughter Carmel, 5; son Junius, 9; wife Yoke-Sim and I—left Longview Saturday (26 Aug. 1989) in our Toyota Camry station wagon via the Olympic Peninsula and the Trans-Canada Highway. Because three of us had thoroughly enjoyed our forays into Sequoia and Yosemite national... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/11)

Nurses and "culture of care"--laudable
By Philip Fernando, Former Deputy Editor Sunday Observer Sri Lanka
Nurses have become indispensable in creating a 'culture of care.' With spiralling costs, heavy reliance on technology adding to overheads and the shortage of doctors, nurses are a vital link in physician-led healthcare. Nurses are going beyond their usual two-year associate and four-year baccalaureate programs beginning to serve as anesthesiologists under supervision by doctors. Many are given incentives to do post-graduate clinical training here in the US. The term nurse practioner is now becoming commonly used. These specialized nurses are able to diagnose and do the initial work when... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/11)

CIA IN TROUBLE
ALI SUKHANVER
 Is it a logical bartering? Do General Pasha and Raymond Davis enjoy the same status? The Chief of an Intelligence agency on one hand and a killer on the other; is it a fair bargain? According to a recent report in media, the US authorities have linked the immunity of General Pasha, the ISI chief, to the demanded immunity to Raymond Davis. The report says, “The US has linked sovereign immunity for ISI chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha in a lawsuit filed by relatives of victims of the Mumbai attacks in a Brooklyn court to the diplomatic immunity... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/11)

Lara Stemple's report
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent  Gloucester, Ontario K1J 6G1, Canada
  2 March 2011   The Editor (Letters) THE NEW YORK TIMES New York, NY 10018   Dear Editor:   I just don't get Lara Stemple's insinuation about "The Majority of Tamil males in Sri Lanka who were sexually assaulted during that country's long civil war did not report it to the authorities at the time, later explaining that they were simply too ashamed."    I believe that she is up to some mischief as this is an island where it is not too common to see two young males walking... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/11)

Religion, Hela people and survival
Ben Silva
In the recent past we have seen a number of writers supporting Buddhism. I am making these comments so that there is a balanced view. Buddhism is a part of our cultural heritage and as such need to be protected as a part of our culture. Buddhism also has a number of good things such as the precepts, meditation, middle path and Kalama Sutra. Buddhism also will make its followers civilised and provide mind calming and excellent therapy, when in distress. However we need to be aware of the negative aspects of Buddhism so that we can... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/11)

A letter to The Island
MahamahaRaja
 Editor, the Island. I read with some amusement Izeth Hussein's article in the paper today. During the war period, he said that the election of Premadasa to the presidency of Sri Lanka was the equivalent of President Obama being elected to power in the US. Now, after a slew of criticisms from his co-conspirators in the anti-Sri Lanka brigade, he changes his line and says that actually, the equivalent with the 2008 US election would have been if a Tamil was elected to Sri Lanka's highest office. Let us examine this closely.  Barack Obama is half white... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/11)

3 M’s MINUS 2 = MALINGA
By M D P DISSANAYAKE
Lasith Malinga has once again provided  the most sensational performances  of fast bowling, capturing 6 wickets, including a hat-trick in his spell.  His bowling made the Kenyans in no man’s land and they were shocked just about the time  preparing to hammer Sri Lanka once again, as previous bowlers could not connect successfully to Kenyan batsmen. Winning the match and placing itself on top of the points table in Group A  is great.   Our next hurdle is on Saturday, meeting mighty Aussies.   The Aussies should never be under estimated, in fact the team is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/03/11)

Sri Lanka deserves helping hand, says Aussie MP
Vajiragnana Warnakulasuriya Melbourne, Australia
Mr.John Alexander, MP Member for Bennelong, Parliament of Australia Canberra,  Dear Sir,  Having migrated to Australia from a sporting country, Sri Lanka, I and the Tennis loving Sri Lankans have enjoyed your commetaries at Tennis with keen interest. Your absence this time in the commentary box must have been due to hard work in your new venture “Politics” getting to know facts about the problems in the political arena.  I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you Sir, having served an ACE in an entirely a different court, in your address to the Deputy Speaker on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/03/11)

Humanitarian Issues During the War in Sri Lanka
Vajiragnana Warnakulasuriya
Don Randall MP, Parliament of Australia, Canberra.    Humanitarian Issues During the War in Sri Lanka Monday, 28 February 2011, Don Randall MP   Dear Mr.Randall,  You deserve our heartfelt admiration for calling spade a spade!  I am confident that, you may have noticed the Sinhalese of the Sri Lankan community as very poor lobbyists who have been hibernating while the LTTE support Tamil Diaspora has been extremely active in propagating falsehood to the bleeding hearts of the naïve Aussie parliamentarians!  Sinhalese community who migrated to Australia undoubtedly did so to lead a comfortable life while giving... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/03/11)

Classified Material or War Crimes material?
Sunil Vijayapala  Australia
Whenever Anglo Saxon based countries are exposed on war crimes, as recently publicised by WikiLeaks, the whole gamut of their Governments, political leaders, Media, Journalists, Amnesty International come together to cover up their crimes.  Often CIA ably supported by the dreaded Pentagon come down hard on people who take them on, like Julian Assange’s case, and concoct stories to disparage the challenges and taking them to courts on Internal Security grounds.  This is what you call the Anglo Saxon version of Freedom of Expression, Democracy, Human Rights etc.  The Classified material containing material are in fact... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/03/11)

Terrorists carrying white flags if there had been any, were still treacherous terrorists- white flags a ruse- Geneva convention does not extend to terrorism.
By Charles.S.Perera
The Tamil Diaspora who aided and abetted terrorism should not be allowed to use their blood money to buy American or Australian Lawyers to make a travesty of  the Law by accusing  the Sri Lanka government armed forces, the President or Sri Lanka  diplomats  for the  “supposed” killing of white flag carrying terrorists.   The Geneva Convention of 1949 did not foresee the menace of terrorism, though it has provided for “rebels”.  And rebels are different from terrorist. The rebels attack only the armed forces of a government, government institutions and government installations. They will not kidnap children... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/11)

US Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs ~The Former Ambassador Blake's Call For War Crimes Investigations Stinks Of Pro Tamil Diaspora Sympathy!
Insight By Sunil Kumar
March 1st 2011 It is fast becoming  transparent that the ever surfacing call for Sri Lanka dto be hauled before a war crimes tribunal over" the killing of many thousands of civilians" in the final months of its separatist war with Tamil rebels is more a retaliatory move by disgruntled Tamil diaspora scattered around the globe and in particular those who have access to hairbrained sympathisers holding reasonably high office who in  turn lend an ear to their sob stories rather than laying the matter to rest as other important world leaders have done based on painstaking investigations.   The... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/11)

Scream till sun goes off course and moon loses its splendour
Dr.Tilak Fernando
It is not the wealth of a nation that builds roads, but the road that builds the wealth of a nation - President, John Kennedy   A vital transport system with effective motor traffic law enforcement becomes the main artery of a nation's healthy existence. In the history of civilization each great power has had benefitted out of an efficient transport system to buttress its economic growth. Open a newspaper in the morning and what do we get to read? Motor vehicle accidents of different kind with immense suffering and devastation. Equally one cannot avoid... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/11)

Sri Lanka risks forced war crimes probe: US
In the toughest warning since the end of fighting in May 2009, top US Robert Blake says the South Asian country risks a forced international investigation Sri Lanka could be hauled before a war crimes tribunal over the killing of “many thousands of civilians” in the final months of its separatist war with Tamil rebels, a top US official said yesterday. In the toughest warning since the end of fighting in May 2009, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert Blake, said Sri Lanka risked a forced international investigation. His remarks came as the UN... -Full Story- (Gulf Times - 01/03/11)

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