News Archive for Aug 2012

STANDING UP FOR ASSANGE
Hameed Abdul Karim
 Joshua E. Keating’s piece titled ‘How WikiLeaks Blew Itline’ in ‘Ceylon Today’(Wednesday 22 August 2012) was a sophisticated assault on Julian Assange and his fearless work in informing the world what really happens behind the scenes when the empire speaks of ‘making the world safe for democracy’.. Thanks to Julian Assange virtually the whole world now knows the lies and deceit the US Empire indulges in when it postulates about human rights and human dignity when in reality what it actually wants is to perpetuate its hegemony on the entire world so that it can live off... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/08/12)

‘Asoulity’ as Translation of Anattā: Absence, not Negation
Prof. Suwanda H J Sugunasiri (Canada)
 Anattā is a fundamental teaching of the Buddha (Anattalakkhana sutta, S.3.66), identified as one of the three characteristics of sentience, along with aniccā ‘impermanance’ and dukkhā ‘suffering’. In seeking to communicate the idea of anattā in English, scholars have come up with several terms, the most in use among them ‘no-self’, ‘non-self’, and ‘selfless’, as e.g., in Collins’ Selfless Persons (1982).  In a paper in the latest issue of the Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies  ( 7),  I  offer an alternative translation, contrasting the Brahmanic concepts of anātman and ātman  with the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/08/12)

Are there Second Class Citizens in Sri Lanka?
N. A. deS. Amaratunga    
Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia has arrived at a definition of the term ‘second class citizen’ following an online discussion  conducted by WikiProject Human Rights and WikiProject Sociology which promote online discussions on various important subjects and which is sponsored by Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. The online discussion had also attempted to make a list of countries where second class citizenry had existed in the past and are in existence at present. As Sri Lanka is not mentioned in the above mentioned discussion or lists, and there doesn’t seem to be any attempt... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/08/12)

New Meditation and Sri Lankan History books:
Prof. Sunil J. Wimalawansa,
You would be interested to note that a series of three meditation books, Samatha, Metta, and Vipassana, written in simple English is available now.  These come with a presentation pack, and  three books are inter-linked.  Thus, reading all three of them is recommended. Two history books; (A) The American Who Revived Buddhism in Asia: Legacy of Col. Henry Steel Olcott.  (B) The Intertwined History of Buddhism and Lanka. The book on vitamin D: “Vitamin D: All you need to know”.  It is written for physicians, healthcare workers, researchers, as well as the public.  The book... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/08/12)

ආධ්යාnත්මික වටිනාකමක් ලබාගැනීමට නම්
කිරිබත්ගොඩ ඤාණානන්ද හිමි
මානව සමාජය වරින් වර විවිධ යුගයන්ට මුහුණ දෙයි. විවිධ වෙනස්වීම් වලට බඳුන් වෙයි. එමෙන් ම මිනිසා සතුව ඇති බුද්ධිමය සම්පත වන මනස මෙහෙය වීමේ හැකියාව ද වරින් වර විපර්යාසයන්ට බඳුන් වෙයි. අතීත මිනිසා හට දැන් බඳු අහස් යානා නො තිබුණි. පරිගණක හා සෙලියුලර් තාක්ෂණය නො තිබුණි. චන්ද්‍රිකා ඔස්සේ තොරතුරු තාක්ෂණය දියුණු කොට නො තිබුණි. මෙතරම් අවි ගබඩා ද නො තිබුණි. පැයෙන් පැය ප‍්‍රවෘත්ති විකාශන නො තිබුණි. විදුලි බල නො තිබුණි. නවීන තාක්ෂණයෙන් යුතු යාන වාහන නො තිබුණි. වත්මන් මිනිසා හට ආනුභාව පෙන්වන ඇමෙරිකාව ද නො තිබුණි. සකල කලා වල්ලභ ඉංග‍්‍රීසිය ද නො තිබුණි. කෘතිම පොහොර සහ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/08/12)

Let Me Dream-A Response to ‘Military Rule in Global Context’
Hameed Abdul Karim
 Kazim Anwarul Masud’s article (Ceylon Today Saturday 14 July, 2012) titled ‘Military Rule in Global Context’, though thought provoking in some aspects, gives you the impression that the writer is championing America’s globo cop role and using Pakistan chronic state of affairs to justify his stand. This, among other pro-American and pro-India statements, is made clear when he repeats the American claim that it was Al-Qaeda who carried out the 9-11 attack in the heart of the Empire’s financial hub.   Up until today no impartial inquiry has been conducted to establish this claim beyond any doubt,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/08/12)

A tale of two extraditions
Ben Hillier
The British government’s pursuance of Julian Assange is the latest disgraceful act of a disgraceful government. That most Western governments, including Australia’s, have lined up behind or prodded the British along speaks volumes about their priorities and the values they hold dear. Assange’s WikiLeaks organisation has provided a tremendous service to the world in providing a safe outlet through which the lies, hypocrisy and crimes of capitalist states can be exposed. It is this for which he is being so hounded. Julian Assange Britain’s determination in this case stands in stark contrast to the behaviour exhibited during... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/08/12)

Re-visiting Prince of Wales - III
Dr.Tilak Fernando
Before I could read the printed version of Part II, I received the following feedback from USA which goes to say there are many versions to this popular story: "Hi, I am a Sebastianite living in USA. The story about killing two birds with one stone, the version that I heard was slightly different. It goes like this: He threw the Kettha to the centre, so it planted in the middle of two animals. Then he aimed his gun and fired his only bullet which hit the Kettha and split into two and hit the animals instantaneously... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/08/12)

Psywar -The real battlefield is your mind
informationclearinghouse
How did the land of the free and the home of the brave arrive at a place where citizens could be manipulated with such efficiency and on such a massive scale? Includes original interviews with a number of dissident scholars including Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Michael Parenti, Peter Phillips (“Project Censored”), John Stauber (“PR Watch”), Christopher Simpson (“The Science of Coercion”) and others Managing Public Perception Psywar The real battlefield is your mind How did the land of the free and the home of the brave arrive at a place where citizens could be manipulated with such efficiency and... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 31/08/12)

Call for moral leadership to save the innocent
Janaka Perera
The Buddha went from Devale to Devale to save the lives of innocent animals being sacrificed unnecessarily and preached Ahimsa ( non - violence) as a way of life. In Indian History (and World History) the pioneer saviour of the lives of animals is the Buddha together with the Jains who played an equally noble role in this endeavour.Such was the train of events following the remarkable example of the Buddha in saving lives of innocent animals that the whole of India embraced these ideas with fervour and the country adopted vegetarianism as a style of living.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/08/12)

Proposed Animal Welfare Legislation for Sri Lanka
Senaka Weeraratna Attorney –at -Law
Rationale for new Animal Welfare legislation •In Sri Lanka the laws protecting animals from cruelty and inhumane treatment are archaic and lag behind other countries which have incorporated higher ethical and scientific standards into their legislation •There is a growing public demand in Sri Lanka for better and humane treatment of animals. A part of this public campaign is directed towards the reform of laws governing the care and protection of animals •Good legislation is an important part of the animal welfare environment of any state •It is all the more important in a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/08/12)

In deference to President’s appeal: Munneswaram animal sacrifice halted - Presence of Sacred Kapilavastu Relics had bearing:
Priyanka KURUGALA
Acceding to a request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, tomorrow’s animal sacrifice at Munneswaram Kaali Kovil has been halted. The decision was taken by kovil administrators considering the Exposition of the Sacred Kapilavastu Relics in the country, Munneswaram Sri Badra Kali Amman Kovil Kaali chief custodian Muththu Shivapaada Sundaram said. Over 200 animals were to be sacrificed at the annual feast of the Sri Badra Kali Amman temple. The sacrifice was slated for tomorrow. Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva vowed to stage a sathyagraha to prevent the sacrifice. The minister last year entered the Kovil... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/08/12)

Most Ven Weweldeniye Medhalankara Mahanayaka Thero The Icon of Mirigama after D.S. no more
by Dr. Chandana Jayalath
A strict disciplinarian and an iconic personality of Theravada Buddhism in the twentieth century left all of us yesterday. Most Ven Weweldeniye Medhalankara Mahanayaka Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Ramanya Chapter, passed away at the age of 104 – that is 2 years more to Balangoda Ananda Maithree himi. Regarded as one of the most respected Sri Lankan Buddhist monks, Most Ven Weweldeniye Medhalankara Mahanayaka Thero lived a modest life and did a silent service for the education and propagation of Buddhism. It is recorded that he studied at Tholangamuawa Central College – one... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/08/12)

Olcott and his resolve to preserve Buddhist Schools in Sri Lanka ( 1894)
Olcott, Henry Steel <1832-1907>: Old diary leaves : the history of the Theosophical Society
1892   "Among Ceylon Buddhists the burning question at that time was the necessity for adopting measures for defeating a bold stroke of legislation in the missionary interest, which forbade the giving of grants-in-aid to any school that might be opened within a quarter of a mile of any existing registered school. On the face of it this seemed innocent enough, as the prohibition would work to the advantage of any Buddhist school that might first occupy a desirable village. But, in point of fact,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/08/12)

Sri Lankan Students Alliances [SLSA] of Toronto Universities/Colleges Holds T20 and 6 a Side Cricket Tournament
 Toronto SLSA
T20 battle of the Alliance big match and a 6 a side cricket tournament was held between York University, Ryerson University, University of Toronto, & Western University Sri Lankan Students Alliances [SLSA] VS Toronto Sri Lankan Students/Alumni Alliance [TSLSA] at Mavis Cricket Grounds in Mississauga, Ontario on Friday August 24 2012. Prior to the game one minute silence and a remembrance was held in memory of Wijeratne family.  Match organizers from Ryerson SLSA, Toronto SLSA and UofT SLSA introduced participating sides and sang the national anthem of Sri Lanka.  Toronto SLSA was captained by Kavisha Hegoda and Vice Captained by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/08/12)

Egypt joins China club
By Brendan O'Reilly
President Mohammed Morsi's historic trip to Beijing signifies a new direction for Egyptian foreign policy. The Muslim Brotherhood leader has sent a clear message by selecting China for his first state visit outside the Middle East. By forging closer ties with China, Morsi is warning the US government not to take Egyptian acquiescence for granted. He has furthermore offered an important opportunity for China to expand its regional influence. It is essential at this juncture to forecast what China expects from the New Egypt in particular, and the greater Middle East in general. Regional and international... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 30/08/12)

ROVING EYE-Morsi delivers his calling card
By Pepe Escobar
You'd better not mess with Muslim Brother Morsi. Straight out of "communist" China - where he secured a red carpet welcome from President Hu Jintao and vice-president Xi Jinping - the Egyptian president lands in "evil" Iran as a true Arab world leader. [1] Imagine conducting a poll in Tampa, Florida, among delegates at the Republican convention anointing the dodgy Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan duo as their presidential ticket. Chances are Morsi would be ranked worse than Hitler (oh no; that was Saddam. Or maybe Osama. Or maybe Ahmadinejad ... ) Tampa-Tehran. Talk about the ultimate... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 30/08/12)

A 100 days of terror under Martial Law
Janaka Perera
Today, August 30, marks exactly 97 years after the end of a 100-day rule by the monstrous Martial Law which the British Colonial Government enforced to quell the communal riots of 1915. It was like using a sledge hammer to kill an insect. The violent incidents were a glaring example of divide-and-rule colonial policy - the tragic consequences of which Sri Lankans were to suffer for years to come. Three years before the communal riots broke out, the Basnayake Nilame of the historic Walahagoda Devale, Gampola, applied for the usual license to conduct the Gampola Esala Perahera.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/08/12)

FORMIDABLE DETERRENTS TO REDUCE AND AVERT CRIME.
Susantha  Wijesinghe
It was a few weeks back, that some Legislator said, that  miscreants  illegally digging for Treasure and Stealing ancient Artifacts, would be severely dealt with by  Law, and any Vehicles and Implements / Machinery used by them, would be impounded, and confiscated, by the State. This is very laudable. I do hope that this has been promulgated as an enactment in Parliament. Can someone please confirm ? Then, there was an Official of the Public Transport Services, mentioning that many Private Buses are plying without  permission and Route Permits. It was also stated that any miscreant would be dealt with... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/08/12)

අනාගත ශ්‍රී ලංකාව හා වර්තමාන ශිෂ්‍ය පරපුර වනසන අධ්‍යාපන මාෆියාව
චන්ද්‍රසේන පණ්ඩිතගේ විසිනි
අපි පලමුකොට Sri Lanka's Education Mafia ලිපිය ලියා පල කිරීම සම්බන්ධව Senali Waduge ට අපේ ප්‍රණාමය පුද කරන්නෙමු. වර්තමානයේ මේ රටේ පවතින වගකීම් අතුරින් ජාතික ආරක්ෂාවට පසුව ඇති දැවැන්තම වගකීම වන්නේ මේ රටේ අධ්‍යාපන ක්ෂේත්‍රයේ ඇති කර ඇති දෑවැන්ත වියවුලයි. මේ වියවුල නිර්මාණය කරන ආයතන සම්බන්ධව කථා කරනවාට වඩා මේ වියවුල වර්ධනය කරමින් ඉදිරියට මෙහෙයවමින ගෙන යන සටන් නියමුවන් සම්බන්ධව අපට අවදානය යොමු කරන්නට සිදුවන්නේ එය ඉතා වැදගත් කාර්යභාරයක් මේ වනවිටත් අපගේ සතුරා වෙනුවෙන් ඉටුකර ඇති බැවිණි.. අපමේ ආකාරයට ඉගැන්වීම වර්ජනය කරන විශ්ව විද්‍යාල ආචාර්ය වරුන්ව පිළිකුලින් යුතුව හෙලා දකින්නේ ඇයි? මේ සම්බන්ධව අප ජනතාවට හඩගා... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/08/12)

Suresh Niranjan (Abeyasekara) Krause June 18, 1983 - August 16, 2012 Indio, California
Chief Warrant Officer 2, Suresh N. Krause, served in the U.S. Army as a UH-60, Black Hawk Pilot. He was serving his second tour in Afghanistan. Suresh was killed in action when the Black Hawk helicopter he was piloting crashed during a fire fight in Kandahar Afghanistan August 16th, 2012. Born June 18 1983 in Sri Lanka, Suresh came to the U.S. February 11th, 1998. "Ba" (Suresh's nickname which is short for baby as he was the youngest) was a graduate of Cathedral City High School and went on the earn a degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/08/12)

Bin Laden 'killed while unarmed': SEAL book debunks official death story
RT
A firsthand account of the assassination raid against the former Al-Qaeda head challenges the official US narrative, claiming bin Laden was shot as he peeked out of his bedroom, unarmed. He did not have a weapon or resist, as was announced. ­The Associated Press obtained a copy of the book, titled ‘No Easy Day.’ In it, former Navy SEAL Mark Bissonnette, using the pseudonym Mark Owen and assumed names for the SEALs who participated in the mission, described the 2011 raid in Pakistan in detail His position – right after the “point man” – gave him a chance to... -Full Story- (rt.com - 29/08/12)

දිවයින අවට පිහිටි දූපත් 4 කට විදුලිය ලබාදිමට කොරියානු සහාය
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
ප‍්‍රධාන විදුලි සම්පේ‍්‍රෂණ මාර්ගයට ළඟාවිය නොහැකි, දිවයිනට ආසන්නයේ උතුරේ පිහිටා ඇති   දූපත් 04 කට පුනර්ජනනීය බලශක්තිය ආශ‍්‍රයෙන් 2013 වසර අවසානයට පෙර ස්ථාවර විදුලි පද්ධතියක් ඉදිකිරීමට විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය කටයුතු කරයි. මේ සඳහා තාක්ෂණික සහ මූල්‍ය ආධාර කොරියානු රජයෙන් ලබාදේ. මේ අනුව ඩෙල්ෆ්, නයිනතිව් හෙවත් නාගදීපය, අනලතිව් සහ එළිවතිව් යන  දූපත් හතරේ වෙසෙන පවුල් 2967ක් වෙනුවෙන් පුනර්ජනනීය විදුලියේ හිමිකම පිරිනැමේ.  අද වනවිට මෙම  දූපත්  හතරේ අවම විදුලි අවශ්‍යතාවය සම්පූර්ණ කරගන්නේ ඞීසල් විදුලි ජනක යන්ත‍්‍ර මගිනි. එමගින් ඩෙල්ෆ්  දූපත් වෙසෙන පවුල් 1331 න්, පවුල් 293 කට (22%* පමණ මේ වනවිට විදුලිය හිමිවේ. නාගදීපයේ වෙසෙන... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/08/12)

Regional Plantation Companies CEO's Forum on Human Resource Management
This is a pioneering effort to inculcate HRM practices to the Plantations sector of Sri Lanka.
Meeting Contemporary Challenges in the Plantation Industry: Moving Towards People Management Date : 30th August 2012 Venue: The Institute of Personnel Management, Sri Lanka, HR House, No.43, Vijaya Kumaratunga Mawatha, Narahenpita, Colombo 05. Meeting Agenda I. 5.00 pm - Registration II. 5.30 pm – Welcome & Introduction by Mr. Dhammika Kobbekaduwe. III. 5.45 pm – “What HR can do for the Plantation Industry” Presentation by Mr. Jayantha Jayaratne Senior HR Consultant. IV. 6.30 pm – “Alternate Employment Models of TATA Tea” Presentation by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/08/12)

Lifting the Veil: Obama and the Failure of Capitalist Democracy
Video-Viewer discretion advised - Video contains images depicting the reality and horror of war.
“Barack Obama and the failure of capitalist democracy”, this film explores the historical role of the Democratic Party as the “graveyard of social movements”, the massive influence of corporate finance in elections, the absurd disparities of wealth in the United States, the continuity and escalation of neocon policies under Obama, the insufficiency of mere voting as a path to reform, and differing conceptions of democracy itself. Original interview footage derives from Noam Chomsky, Michael Parenti, Michael Albert, John Stauber (PR Watch), Sharon Smith (Historian), William... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 29/08/12)

Seven steps to end ethnic politics, treasonable separatist movements, headache of Indian intervention, the existing political and administrative mess and the way to bring about sustainable political stability and good governance in this country.
 Dr Sudath Gunasekara. Former Ministry Secretary and President Mahanuwara Senior Citizens Movement 20.8.2012.
 1 Ban all ethnic political parties and all ethnocentric movements 2 Implement the 6th Amendment to the very letter. 3 Abolish the Provincial council system and the 13th Amendment 4 Ban ethnic segregation in all parts within the country 5 Re-establish the Tun Sinhale Political Divisions as the units of devolution of political and administrative power. 6 Restore Rule of law and independence of the Judiciary and the Public Service 7 Install a new Constitution to ensure and guarantee above goals                                           I have no doubt... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/08/12)

Sri Lanka’s Education Mafia
Shenali Waduge
Undeniably something is wrong somewhere and that somewhere is our education. The stock exchange is supposed to be ruled by the mafia, perhaps even the sports arena, so too is present day politicos and it is no exaggeration to say that there is a mafia controlling the education of Sri Lanka. Our objective is to view all areas of discussion and to determine how best we can address these areas instead of delaying action through blame tactics.  What is on paper is never practiced and what should be practiced is never relevant to all. This is what... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/08/12)

THE BHIKKHU LIGHT OF LANKA- A historical survey by Mario Perera & Laetitia Buczaczer
Professor W. S. Karunatillake
It is with great pleasure that I introduce this book to readers here and abroad. Sri Lanka is presently a topic of discussion and debate in the local and foreign media. The misconceptions regarding the country, Buddhism and the Sangha are many. The authors analyse such views by scouring and elucidating the pages of Lanka’s history. The Bhikkhu’s heritage is identical with that of this country. The Sangha is the creator, sustainer and living force of a unique civilization and culture that embraces all ethnic groups and creeds. It is the only survivor of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/08/12)

Barbaric Animal Sacrifices at Munneswaram Must Stop
Dilrook Kannangara
Evolution has its ways of dragging some creatures backwards! Animal sacrifice has a long and ugly past running to thousands of years in the world, especially in Africa. All major religions mention events of animal sacrifice thousands of years ago. However, since then, humanity has moved on supported by the main four religions in the world that oppose animal sacrifice. Apart from religion, there is morality. Animal sacrifice is totally against morality. Although vegetarianism is gaining popularity, mixing vegetarianism with the need to stop animal sacrifices is a nonstarter. There is a wide gap between the vegetarian... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/08/12)

The Munneswaram Incident 2012 - මුන්නේස්වරම් සිදුවීම 2012 Part I
... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/08/12)

The Munneswaram Incident 2012 - මුන්නේස්වරම් සිදුවීම 2012 Part II
... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/08/12)

US Army guerrilla faction planned terror, Obama's assassination
RT
A group of US soldiers planning to take over their base, blow up targets around the country, wrest control of the government and kill the president – it could be a Hollywood blockbuster, but it’s a developing story in the southern state of Georgia. ­Four US Army soldiers from the Fort Stewart base in southeast Georgia are charged with killing a former comrade and his girlfriend in a bid to prevent the couple from informing on a militia group of which they were all members. One of the soldiers has agreed to cooperate with the prosecution in exchange for... -Full Story- (rt.com - 28/08/12)

වවුනියා කිලිනොච්චි අධි සම්පේරediෂණ මාර්ගයේ වැඩ අවසන්
The Media Team Ministry of Power & Energy
කිලිනොච්චි ග‍්‍රිඞ් උපපොළට විදුලිය කැවීම ලබන මාසයේදී   කිලිනොච්චි උපපොළේ සිට යාපනයට සම්පේ‍්‍රෂණ මාර්ගයක් ඉදිකිරීමට සැලසුම් විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍ය පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක මහතාගේ උතුරු පළාත් සංචාරයට සමගාමීව කිලිනොච්චි ග‍්‍රිඞ් උපපොළේ කටයුතු අධික්ෂණයට අද (28* උදෑසන එක්විිය. දිස්ත‍්‍රික්කයේ 32% කට සීමාවී ඇති විදුලියනය 100% ක් දක්වා වර්ධනය කිරීමට මෙම ග‍්‍රිඞ් උපපොළ මඟින් විශාල ශක්තියක් ලැබෙන බව අමාත්‍යවරයා අවධාරණය කරයි. ව්‍යාපෘති කාර්ය මණ්ඩලය සමඟ විශේෂ සාකච්ඡුාවක නිරත වූ අමාත්‍යවරයා සියළුම නිලධාරින්ට අවධාරණය කර සිටියේ, ප‍්‍රදේශයේ ජනජීවිතය සහ කර්මාන්ත ක්ෂේත‍්‍රයේ සංවර්ධනය වෙනුවෙන් කිලිනොච්චි ග‍්‍රිඞ් උපපොළට කඩිනමින් විදුලිය කැවීම අත්‍යාවශ්‍ය බවයි. ඒ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/08/12)

The Lost War in Afghanistan
By Afshain Afzal
 US Army General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had to flee the country to save his life when Afghan Mujahideen carried out attack on US’s controlled highly protected Bagram Air Base on 21 August 2012. General Dempsey escaped an attempt on his life but his aircraft which was directly hit got damaged. Dempsey immediately fled to some unidentified location in Indian Ocean or Middle East in another aircraft. The official statement from Pentagon claimed that strike was not aimed specifically at Dempsey's plane. However, the statement admitted hitting of General Dempsey’s plane... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/08/12)

Our Motto: Love for All; Hatred for None.අහ්මදි මුස්ලිම් වරුන්ගේ ආදර්ශ පාඨය-—සියළු දෙනාටම ආදරය කරමු - කිසිවෙකුටත් වෛර නොකරමු—
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Sri Lanka.
 The Sinhala  Weekly ‘SUNDAY RIVIRA’ in its 10th June 2012 edition published a News Item in which it stated that 337 Foreigners were ordered to depart from the country by the Department of Immigration and Emigration for having engaged in illegal activities and intrigues. Some of them were supported by and working for extremist groups. This is in violation of the agreement between UNHCR and Sri Lanka.  The news went on to say that it is revealed that 95% of them were Pakistanis who belongs to Ahmadiyya sect.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/08/12)

Senator Lee Rhiannon misinforms the Australian Parliament & People
Ranjith Soysa SPUR (Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka Inc) Australia
On 14th August 2012 at the Australian Senate, the Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon once again took upon herself to vilify Sri Lanka based on highly biased information in keeping with the traditions of the Greens Party which has a tendency to adopt any means to justify their highly theoretical policy platform. In this instance, Senator Rhiannon cited a report issued by the Catholic Diocese of Jaffna on the current situation prevailing in Sri Lanka. Senator Lee Rhiannon, whose website is full of anti-Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/08/12)

Foreign Affairs - Buddhists Behaving Badly
Ralph Saunders-Smith.
Mr. Gideon Rose, Editor, Foreign Affairs Magazine. Dear  Mr. Rose, Buddhists Behaving Badly I was reading  the above-mentioned article in your  ‘ Foreign Affairs’ publication  regarding  the behaviour of Buddhist monks.  I was somewhat bemused and also  surprised by the inaccuracies contained in it. I have an interest in the Island and have travelled a few times there to assess the situation.  Many delegations from different countries including  Britain, Australia, Canada and also bodies such as the UNICEF,  OCHA (UN Office for the co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) have made very positive comments and submitted reports of that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/08/12)

A moment of healing for us all, through music...A Music Workshop with Dr.Tanya Ekanayaka
SJC 87 initiative is organising a workshop for music students and teachers through Chundikuli Girls’ College and Uduvil Girls’ College.
Date: 31st of August 2012 Venue: Chundikuli Girls’ College Hall, Chundikuli, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Time: 4 PM – 6 PM ** Only through registration , Please phone Chundikuli Girls’ College at 021 2222338 or Renuja at 0773063653 for registration About Dr. Tanya Ekanayaka One of Sri Lanka’s première concert pianists, a composer, musicologist and linguist has given solo recitals in prestigious concert venues in Europe and the United States. Currently based in the UK, she is a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/08/12)

The Buddha was against animal sacrifice
by Professor Mahinda Palihawadana
Colombo, Sri Lanka -- The Buddha was against animal sacrifice. He had to be, for he was staunchly opposed to killing. Killing, not just human beings, but all beings without exception. He expressed the view that it was all beings (sabbe sattaa/ sabbe bhuutaa) that deserved our compassion. During the time of the Buddha, many kinds of sacrifices were practised by Brahmins who were the priests of the Vedic religion professed by the upper castes of contemporary Indian society. The Buddha did not see any value in these sacrifices, primarily because they were entirely external... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/08/12)

Animal Sacrifices
Jay Deshabandu
Animal sacrifices are an ancient religious practice. The offering is supposed to relive the sin of the man who sacrifices his worthy animal to God. Many people practice animal sacrifices just to please God without thinking of its meaning.  Buddhism condemns such practice and many Buddhists believe that it is animal cruelty.  I personally believe it is just animal cruelty.  In Christianity such practice exists in one form or another in different denomination. In Islam this practice is prevalent.     But my view is that such practice should be abandoned as man had developed from primitive stage... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/08/12)

රු. මිලියන 84.59 ක් වැයකොට අනුරාධපුරයේ සහ කිලිනොච්චියේ පවුල් 1035 කට විදුලියේ හිමිකම ලබාදේ
ඊයේ (26 සහ අද (27 විදුලි ව්‍යාපෘති 07 ක් විවෘත කෙරේ.   2011 වසරේ 89% ක්ව පැවති අනුරාධපුරයේ විදුලියනය 95% දක්වා ඉහළට. 19% ක්ව පැවති කිිලිනොච්චියේ විිදුලියනය 35% ක් දක්වා වර්ධනය වේ.   ඊයේ (26 දිනයේ උතුරුමැද පළාතේ අනුරාධපුර දිස්ත‍්‍රික්කයේ විශේෂ නිරීක්ෂණ චාරිකාවකට එක්වුණු අමාත්‍ය චම්පික රණවක මහතාගේ ප‍්‍රධානත්වයෙන් දිස්ත‍්‍රික්කයේ පවුල් 265 කට සෙත සලසමින් විිදුලි ව්‍යාපෘති 05 ක් විවෘත කෙරිණ.   මෙම ව්‍යාපෘති සඳහා රජය වැයකර ඇති මුදල රු. මිලියන 37.76 කි. අනුරාධපුර දිස්ත‍්‍රික්කයේ කාටුපුලියන්කුලම පලූකුඹුර ප‍්‍රදේශයේ පවුල් 45 ක් වෙනුවෙන් විවෘත කළ විදුලි යෝජනා ක‍්‍රමය සඳහා රජය වැයකර ඇති මුදල රු. මිලියන 6.26 කි. ඊයේ දින විවෘත කළ පණ්ඩුකාභයපුර 13... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/08/12)

අන්තර් ජාතික න්යgෂ්ටික තාක්ෂණික සමුළුව අද ඇරඹෙයි
රටවල් 17ක සහභාගීත්වයෙන් සතියක් පුරා කොළඹ ගලධාරි හෝටලයේදී. පාංඝු ඛාදනය හා හායනය පිළිබඳ දත්ත බැංකුවක් ස්ථාපනයට පියවර. පරමාණුක ශක්ති අධිකාරිය විසින් කෘෂිකාර්මික ප‍්‍රදේශ වල පසේ සාරවත් භාවය ඉහළ නගාසිටුවීම හා භූමි ඵලදායීතාවය වර්ධනය සඳහා භූමි හායනය අඩුකිරීම පිළිබඳ සොයාබැලීම අරමුණු කරගනිමින්, ආසියා ශාන්තිකර සාමාජික රටවල් 17ක  සහභාගිත්වයෙන් අන්තර්ජාතික න්‍යෂ්ඨික තාක්ෂණික සමුළුවක්, අද ( 2012.08.27* ගලධාරි හෝටල් පරිශ‍්‍රයේදී ආරම්භ විය.  මේ සඳහා ඉන්දියාව, පකිස්ථානය, බංග්ලාදේශය, චීනය, නවසීලන්තය, වියට්නාමය, ඉන්දුනීසියා, මැලේසියාව, මියෙන්මාරය, පිලීපීනය, කොරියාව සහ තායිලන්තය ඇතුළු සාමාජික රටවල් 17 ක නියෝජිතයන් සහභාගී වේ. සාමාජික රටවල පවතින වැරදි ඉඩම් පරිහරණ ක‍්‍රම නිසා සිදුවන භූ හායනය අඩුකිරීම උදෙසා ක‍්‍රියාමාර්ග ගැනීමට න්‍යෂ්ටික තාක්ෂණය උපයෝගී කරගැනීම... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/08/12)

RESULTS COMING FROM A STAGGERED ELECTION
By Gomin Dayasri
Scheduling elections prematurely on a staggered run is a strategic device to hold an early Presidential Election–provinces are artfully selected to declare a winner enabling the early bird to pick worms on the ground, as the serial unfolds.Results are infectious, sufficient to spread its impact to neighboring provinces in a game where the winner finally takes all. Then goes on to bag the precious Presidential Prize comfortably. Buy one, buy two that’s easy; and get the problematic cheaper. Gentle way to kill an opponent softly with a sincere smile at a free and fair election. Opposition... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/08/12)

Galle: Eternal charm Book Review Galle as Quiet as Sleep By Norah Roberts
Reviewed by Bandu de Silva  -Courtesy The Island
The title Galle as Quiet as Sleep made me reflect for a long time. I asked myself how this title could fit in. Finally, I reconciled myself to it. Yes, Galle’s heritage is a quiet one. The people of Galle as Norah Roberts will tell us made their contributions quietly. Even now, the town after dusk or at early dawn is so calm and placid that one does not get the feeling of being in a big city. Certainly not like Kandy which has lost its old charm. Kaluwella with its... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/08/12)

Citizens’ Commission on the Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province by the LTTE
Findings of fact-finding visit to Mannar – 8th and 9th August 2012
On 18th July 2012 there was a protest outside of the Magistrate’s Court in Mannar that turned violent. According to media reports the incident occurred in relation to a dispute regarding a fishing harbor in the Uppukulam area of Mannar.  The Citizens’ Commission on the Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province by the LTTE has been engaging with the northern Muslim community since 2009. The Commission  felt that an impartial investigation into the causes of the disturbance was necessary.  Therefore  a delegation consisting of two Commissioners—Dr.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/08/12)

පවුල් 590 කට සෙත සලසමින් පොළොන්නරුවේ විදුලි යෝජනා කරළො ම 04 ක් විවෘත කෙරේ
 මාධ්‍ය අංශය විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
x ආයෝජනය රු. මිලියන 52.97  x 2010 වසරේ 70% ක්ව පැවති පොළොන්නරුවේ විදුලියනය 2011 වසර අවසානයේ 75% කි. මේ වනවිට පොළොන්නරුවේ විදුලියනය 82% යි.     x අද දිනයේ රු. මිලියන 37.76 ක් වැයකොට, අනුරාධපුරයේ පවුල් 265 ක් වෙනුවෙන් විදුලි යෝජනා ක‍්‍රම 05 ක් විවෘත කෙරේ.  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍ය පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක මහතාගේ උතුරුමැද හා උතුරු පළාත් සංචාරය ඊයේ පොළොන්නරුව දිස්ත‍්‍රික්කයෙන් ආරම්භ කෙරිණ. පොළොන්නරුව, අනුරාධපුර දිස්ත‍්‍රික්කයේ මෙන්ම කිලිනොච්චි සහ යාපනය දිස්ත‍්‍රික්ක වල විදුලිබල ක්ෂේත‍්‍රයේ සංවර්ධන කටයුතු නිරීක්ෂණය සහ විදුලි යෝජනා ක‍්‍රම 13 ක් විවෘතකිරීම, මෙම සංචාරයේ අරමුණයි. ඊයේ දිනයේ පොළොන්නරුවේ මැදිරිගිරිය ප‍්‍රදේශයේ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/08/12)

Meethirigala Forest Hermitage marks 40th Anniversary
by Janaka Perera
Meethrigala Nissarana Wanaya, one-of-Sri Lanka's most respected and largest Buddhist Forest Hermitages, celebrated its 40th year of existence, on December 23 (Unduvap Poya Day). The occasion was marked with the laying of foundation stones for a new building complex at the base camp of the Hermitage to provide better accommodation facilities for lay visitors and meditation practitioners. The Forest Hermitage is nearly 500 acres in extent and situated in a tropical forest reserve surrounded by scenic paddy fields. It is located close to the village of Meethirigala, off Dompe on the Colombo-Kandy Road . Meethirigala Forest... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/08/12)

Reply to Senator Lee Rhiannon's Speech in Australian Senate.
Association for Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (ARRR) P.O.Box 8180, Burwood Heights, Victoria 3151
Hon Senator Lee Rhiannon Australian Greens Party Australian Parliament Dear Senator Rhiannon, Re: Your recent speech in the Senate on Sri Lanka.
Your above speech, while centred on good intentions was based on a report prepared by an affiliate of the Catholic Church in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.  You have also claimed that you were speaking on behalf of Tamils living in Australia, which number obviously does not include thousands like me, who have visited Sri Lanka in recent years and have made the effort to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/08/12)

A point by point response to:External Face-lift Given to North does not Correspond with Reality Deep down in hearts of the People
Response prepared by: Raj Sivanathan Founder and secretary Association for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction
  Report issued as statement by the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Diocese of Jaffna, Sri Lanka The widely advertised ‘war for peace’ came to an end more than three years ago. Yet the fruits of this peace are yet to be enjoyed by the people in the North, who were most affected mentally, physically and economically. Response:  The ‘War for peace’ waged by the government of Sri Lanka was in response to the ‘war for an independent state of Tamil... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/08/12)

An open letter to M. A. Sumanthiram, TNA, MP-Is the Tamil leadership preparing for another war ?
H. L. D. Mahindapala Melbourne, Australia.
Dear Mr. Sumanthiram, Without much ado let me get to the nub of the political formulas you are prescribing right now for the Jaffna Tamil people who are still struggling to recover from the misery caused by the Tamil leadership that passed the Vadukoddai Resolution of 1976 and dragged them all the way to Nandikadal in May 2009. The tone in the speeches of your leader R. Sampanthan and that of yours is menacing. The thrust of your speeches is aggressive. Your speech in Parliament on August 10, 2012 and that of Sampanthan in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/08/12)

Remembering a tyrant in the name of freedom
Janaka Perera
 It is now six decades since the name of the place where the Lion flag was hoisted on February 4, 1948 was changed from Torrington Square to Independence Square in Colombo.  A 100 years before, on July 29, 1848 British Governor Lord Torrington declared Martial Law to brutally crush the Matale uprising (July-August 1848) sparked off by oppressive taxes which included a road-tax, a shop-tax, a gun-tax, and a dog-tax. The fourth sentenced to death all puppies above three months old whose proprietors could not pay the tax.  All appeals many citizens made to Governor Torrington against... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/08/12)

The VK Krishna Menon Award 2012
Asoka Weerasinghe (Mr.) Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G1 . Canada
25 August 2012 Dr. Cyriac Maprayil Director, VK Krishna Menon Institute Boardman House, 64 Broadway, London E15 1NG, UK  Dear Dr. Maprayil: While I congratulate you and being envious for being the Director of this prestigious Institute which is dedicated to commemorate the life and times of a deeply patriotic statesman, perhaps the only other Indian politician I admire after Mahatma Gandhi, I was distressed to read the citation of the Tamil-Canadian rooky politician Rathika Sitsabaeisan who will be conferred with the Krishna Menon... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/08/12)

Report About India Targetting Strategic Installations In Sri Lanka Needs Verification As It Bears A chilling Impact On The National Security Of Sri Lanka As Well As The Region.
Insight By Sunil Kumar
August 24th 2012 If the contents of the following item posted on Lankaweb on 22.8.12 bear any semblance to the truth  or veracity based on tangible evidence it surely has a chilling impact on the national security of Sri Lanka as well as the entire region of South Asia and beyond and  probably needs official clarification by the Government of Sri Lanka as the implication towards high handedness and violation of treaties and related protocols in a nuclear armed world of today then rests heavily on India. Towards allaying any real concerns however... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/08/12)

INDIA TARGETTED SRI LANKA’S STRATEGIC INSTALLATIONS WITH ITS NUKE CAPABLE AGNI MISSILE SYSTEM
India, it was reported stationed long range Agni type Missile system targeting Sri Lanka’s strategic institutions. Among these strategic institutions are, Colombo and Hambanthota Ports, Katunayaka, Ratmalana and Mattala Air Ports, Military Headquarters, Putlam Coal plant and Kerawalapitiya-Kelanithissa oil fired Power Plants etc. Indian Defense Authorities launched an Integrated Guided Missile Program (IGMOP) for the Research and Development of comprehensive range of missiles, which is managed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). They have now developed Nuke capable Agni I – VI (capable of carrying 1000-2000kg war heads within a range of 1000 – 8000km) which can target... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/08/12)

Response to – INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM: Dr.DHANAPALA’S SUGGESTION War on terror revisited: by Shamindra Ferdinando
Walter Rajaratne, OZ
Dr.Jayantha Dhanapala, legendary UN diplomat of PTOM repute is making a serious comeback with the auspices of Island war analyst Shamindra Ferdinando. Under the caption of this article, the writer is moulding a new image for Dhanapala with a facelift. He says that the elaborate contribution Dr.Dhanapala made to LLRC report has gone unnoticed and that’s a serious drawback, if rightly grasped, Sri Lanka stands a classic opportunity to take the case of the war against terrorism and the intricacies faced by state actor in the face of external players who are not bound by international... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/08/12)

Anders Breivik Jailed for 21 years for Murder of 77 innocent persons. Is this the Price Norwegians paid for Crimes in Sri Lanka, headed by Erik Solheim and Norwegian
Prof.Hudson McLean
"What Goes Around Comes Around"  so the saying goes. For decades the Norwegian officials under the leadership of Minister Erik Solheim ran rings round the Sri Lankan government, blatently violating all human considerations, murdering innocent Sinhala citizens in Sri Lanka. The Norwegians supplied finances, military and communication equipment under the guise of Diplomatic privileges to the Terrorists. In turn the LTTE Tamil Tiger Terrorists continued their slaughter of the Sinhala. By default, this is as good as the Norwegians officially endorsing the murder of the innocent Sinhala men, women & children. When I... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/08/12)

Stand Against Tamil Extremism
President, The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Islam. Assalamu allaikum As you are well aware, there is a well organized strategy by vested interests in the Tamil community to prevent the Muslim IDPs returning to their  former homes, especially in Mannar. The recent incidents targeting Hon Rishad Bathiudeen is just one example. Hon. Bathiudeen is probably the only shield preventing the eviction and ethnic cleansing of the Muslims again from the North. This heinous crime against these innocent Muslims should be brought to the attention of all Sri Lankans and the Muslims need to come... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/08/12)

Bathiudeen calls for Inter Parliamentary Union mission to observe proceedings
Update 24th Aug 2012
Rishad Bathiudeen Minister of Industry and Commerce, has written to the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) requesting for a mission to observe judicial proceedings instituted against him in Colombo and Mannar. In his letter dated 23 August 2012, the Minister has stated that these proceedings take place in a hostile environment. Minister Bathiudeen has stated that the BASL had called for a nation-wide boycott of judicial proceedings even without seeking a clarification from him. Furthermore, the BASL has made strong allegations and stated that he is guilty of contempt of court even before an investigation was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/08/12)

රටවල් 17 ක සහභාගීත්වයෙන් අන්තර්ජාතික න්යලෂ්ටික තාක්ෂණික සමුළුවක් ශරීඅන් ලංකාවේදී-International Seminar on Management of Agricultural Soil
මාධ්‍ය අංශය විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය The Media Team Ministry of Power & Energy
ගොවිබිමට න්‍යෂ්ටික තාක්ෂණයේ නව ප‍්‍රවේශ පිළිබඳ අධ්‍යයනයට කටයුතු කෙරේ පරමාණුක ශක්ති අධිකාරිය විසින් කෘෂිකාර්මික ප‍්‍රදේශ වල පසේ සාරවත් භාවය ඉහළ නගාසිටුවීම හා භූමි ඵලදායීතාවය වර්ධනය සඳහා භූමි හායනය අඩුකිරීම පිළිබඳ සොයාබැලීම අරමුණු කරගනිමින්, අගෝස්තු මස 27 වන සඳුදා සිට 31 වන සිකුරාදා දින දක්වා ගලධාරි හෝටල් පරිශ‍්‍රයේදී ආසියා ශාන්තිකර සාමාජික රටවල සහභාගිත්වයෙන් අන්තර්ජාතික සමුළුවක් පැවැත්වීමට කටයුතු යොදා ඇත. මේ සඳහා ඉන්දියාව, පකිස්ථානය, බංග්ලාදේශය, චීනය, නවසීලන්තය, වියට්නාමය ඇතුළු සාමාජික රටවල් 17 ක නියෝජිතයන් සහභාගි වීමට නියමිතව ඇත. සාමාජික රටවල පවතින වැරදි ඉඩම්... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/08/12)

PTSD Sri Lankan Experience
Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge M.D.
The most devastating consequence of the spread of American culture across the globe has not been our golden arches or our bomb craters, but our bulldozing of the human psyche itself. American-style depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anorexia have begun to spread around the world like contagions, and the virus is us.  Ethan Watters -Crazy like us: The Globalization of the American Psyche The term PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) was new to Sri Lanka until the Eelam War broke out. The armed conflict that erupted between the government forces and the LTTE (The Liberation... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/08/12)

Alex is back, but still trapped in limbo!
Vajeera Warnakulasuriya, Melbourne
The Editor, Sunday Morning Herald! http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/alex-is-back-but-still-trapped-in-limbo-20120822-24mpj.html Your story on Alex in this link “bleeds my Heart out”! This chap's parents who left Sri Lanka in around 1982 for greener pastures have undoubtedly been disappointed to see their son's progress thus far. ASIO must be having a dossier full of the traits. He has lots of talent and a country like Australia where real English is not spoken popular catch phrase of the POMS “anyway they don’t speak English” can benefit at least giving him a chance to become an “English Lecturer” in one... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/08/12)

The new face of LTTE terror abroad
From our Canberra Correspondent, Australia
LTTE-trained cadres who have acquired citizenship in Australia are openly engaged in psychological terror targeting Tamil  communities  that refuse to toe their political line. The Tamil community in Australia is concerned that this threat to their lives has been on the increase of late. Tamil diaspora media and activists who continue to proclaim that the late Velupillai Prabhakaran, the mass murderer, is their leader, target Tamil civilians who refuse to join their bandwagon.  At the end of World War II the victorious allies destroyed all Nazi symbols and banned all pro-Nazi propaganda. But the fascist master of Tamil terror,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/08/12)

THE ROVING EYE- Realpolitik blurs US red line on Syria
By Pepe Escobar
Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) are back. It's like we never left Dubya's glory days. No, they didn't find the non-existent Saddam stash on eBay. This is about the existent Bashar al-Assad's. And it's not WMDs as the pretext for an invasion and occupation, but WMDs as a pretext for whatever euphemism the Obama administration comes up with to define "kinetic military activity". The whole thing is especially suspicious considering Damascus has been on the record stressing it will never use chemical weapons against the "rebels".So now even a few mustard gas containers slightly wobbling... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 23/08/12)

Chemical reactions in cooking rice
Dr Hector Perera     London
In chemical reactions bonds break then they recombine with other chemicals in different pattern to give other chemical compounds. In chemistry we say, breaking bonds need heat then making bonds give out heat, these are quite common in thermo-chemistry. Even cooking gas needs heat to start that is an endothermic reaction but once started it gives so much heat then the overall reaction is exothermic. When bonds break they are the exothermic reactions and endo thermic reactions are where heat is absorbed. When we make “Sinhala ach charu”, you put all the ingredients and close... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/08/12)

Re-visiting Prince of Wales - II
Dr.Tilak Fernando
The response to my first installment on the series was instant. Kevin, who was an old boy of St. Sebastian College, wrote to me all the way from Australia reminding me of his experience with Mr. ‘Daddi Bidi’ on a hunting episode. The story goes like this. ‘Mr. Daddi Bidi and friends returning from a hunting trip had confronted a wolf and a lion from two sides; he was left with only a single bullet. A panicked team mate had pleaded: “Machang! Do something quickly; otherwise we all are going to be dead ducks”! There was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/08/12)

Statement on Canada-Sri Lanka Ties - August 18,2012
Ira de Silva London, Canada
H.E. Bruce Levy Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka 33A, 5th Lane Colombo 3, Sri Lanka. Dear Sir: I have just read your statement to Sandasen Marasinghe published in The Island of August 18,2012. I regret the delay in responding but am doing so now as I feel compelled to ask how you could make a statement implying that Canada has had continued friendly ties with Sri Lanka and never promoted terrorism in Sri Lanka as there is ample proof to the contrary. While there is an element of truth that Canada... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/08/12)

Military Lingers in Tamil Areas Years After Sri Lanka's Civil War
Ira de Silva London, Canada
The Editor Christian Science Monitor Dear Sir: Reference Alaina Varvaloucas' article dated August 14, 2012, the very heading of the article provides an insight into the erroneous assumptions made by the writer and the article  indicates that it is but one more article written in the same vein as many others which  are based on the false propaganda of the LTTE without any attempt at verification or investigation. Broad statements are made without any substantiation. Perhaps it is the hope of those who support the thinking of the LTTE that repetition of the same inaccuracies and fabrications  would... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/08/12)

Sri Lanka: Tamils must first be reconciled with Tamils
Shenali Waduge
It is easy to be asking solutions but when asking for solutions that relate to human beings it is not something that can be hurried. The international propaganda of the LTTE has left out crucial components that reveal exactly how divided Tamils in reality are. Not many have cared to question why LTTE did not use its USD300 annual earnings to uplift the areas it aspired to control over its own people. Absolutely nothing had been done except to build sophisticated bunkers and homes for the LTTE and their families. Even the food and medicines were sent... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/08/12)

LINGERING MEMMORY OF ROYAL BEACH RESORT IN INDURUWA!
Ratnapya W. 
The memory of my interlude in southern coast of Sri Lanka will be etched in my memory, as long as I live!  It’s all thanks to a small blunder of mine. We waited till the last moment to fix us a hotel. So at the last moment we tried to find accommodation for a moderate price in or nearby Benttota and found it rather difficult at that time of the year.  Finally having no alternative we contacted ‘Royal Beach resort’, as it was not hyped and we probably find us a room. After several rings to Royal... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/08/12)

More than half of Americans depend on government subsidies
RT
Government dependency is on the rise, with more than half of all Americans relying on the government for survival. While the Obama administration is broadening eligibility, US citizens increasingly also say they prefer it this way. Americans’ self-reliability has been decreasing as eligibility for Medicaid, food stamps, earned income tax credit, work pay tax credit and unemployment benefits have broadened since 2009 to allow more US citizens to enjoy them. More than half of the US population – 165 million of 308 million Americans – is now dependent on the state in some form. Of these, 107 million Americans... -Full Story- (rt.com - 22/08/12)

5R - Reconstruction, Reintegration, Rehabilitation, Resettlement & Reconciliation
Filmed and Directed by: Daniel Ridicki
This video was produced for the “International Defence Seminar - 2012', - 'Towards Lasting Peace and Stability'. For those who haven't been to the North since the end of the war, this video shows the amazing job being done by the SL Army for the people in the region.... -Full Story- (youtube.com - 22/08/12)

Sri Lankan Olympians - an inspiration for future youth
The High Commission of Sri Lanka  London
The Sri Lanka High Commission in London held a reception recently to felicitate the country's athletes who participated at the Olympic Games held in the British capital. High Commissioner Dr Chris Nonis who welcomed the Sri Lankan contingent said that our Sri Lankan Olympians with their dedication and perseverance are a genuine inspiration to the youth of the country. Sir Peter Heap KCMG, President of the Friends of Sri Lanka, Cllr Nizam Ismail, the Mayor of Harrow Council London; Mrs Frances Stainton, Deputy Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham and James Wharton,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/08/12)

Amnesty International is US State Department Propaganda
Tony Cartalucci - Courtesy Infowars.com
August 22, 2012 – Mistakenly considered by many as the final word on human rights worldwide, it might surprise people to know that Amnesty International is in fact one of the greatest obstacles to real human rights advocacy on Earth. In its most recent 2012 annual report (page 4, .pdf), Amnesty reiterates one of the biggest lies it routinely tells: “Amnesty International is funded mainly by its membership and public donations. No funds are sought or accepted from governments for investigating and campaigning against human rights abuses. Amnesty International is independent of any government, political ideology,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/08/12)

DR. ROHAN GUNARATNA IS CHALLENGED.-CHENNAI HAD OUR BEST DIPLOMATS – GOVT. HAS NOT LOST THE MEDIA WAR.
By Professional Analyst - Canada, August 21st., 2012.
 The statement made by Dr. Rohan Gunaratna that "Our best diplomats should be posted to TN" and that "Govt. has lost the media war" is challenged. India and Chennai had got the best diplomats who had done a wonderful job in silence during the peak periods of demand.Today some of them are functioning as our ambassadors and high commissioners in European and Scandinavian capitals. Sri Lanka also had the best diplomat during that time in Beijin and Toronto. How can Prof. Rohan Gunaratna also say that the Sri Lanka government should... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/08/12)

.පුංචි ලමයින්ගේ ලෝකය
චන්ද්‍රසේන පණ්ඩිතගේ විසිනි.
"තාත්තේ, මම අද නිකමට වගේ තාත්තගේ ආදායමත් සමග, තාත්තා අපේ අධ්‍යාපනයට වියදම් කරන මුදල සංසන්දනය කරල බැළුවා" "ඉතින් ඉතින්" "තාත්තා අපේ අධ්‍යාපනය සදහා වියදම් කරන්නේ ඉතාම අඩු මුදලක්නේ!" "කවුද කියන්නේ" "කවුරුත් නෙමෙයි තාත්තේ! මමයි කියන්නේ" "පුතා ඇයි එහෙම කියන්නේ?" " ගනන් හදල බලන කොට, තාත්තා අපේ අධ්‍යාපනය සදහා වියදම් කරන්නේ තාත්තාගේ ආදායමෙන් 1.7% නේ: ඒක කොච්චර පොඩි ප්‍රමාණයක්ද?  මම අදහස් කරන විදියට මේ මුදල වැඩිවෙන්න ඕනි" "ඇයි පුතා මේ එක්කම තවත් විභාගයක් කරන්න යනවාද?" "තවත් විභාගයක්! තාත්තා මේ මොනවා කියනවාද? මට තවත් විභාගයක් කරන්න කාලයක් තියෙනවාද?" "නෑ මම... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/08/12)

ලේ, කඳුළු මත්තෙන් මරණයට යන මාර්ගය සකස් කරගන්නවද, එහෙමත් නැත්නම් ජලය, විදුලිය මත්තෙන් සෞභාග්යAයට යන මාවත සකස් කරගන්නවද කියලා ජනතාව තීරණය කළ යුතුයි.
The Media Team Ministry of Power & Energy
අද අපි උතුරේ ඉන්න ත‍්‍රස්තවාදී කටයුතු වලට උපකාර කළ ජනතාවටත් විදුලිය ලබාදෙනවා. ඉතින් රට රැුකදෙන්න සිය ජීවිත පවා කැපකරලා කටයුතු කළ ජනතාවට ප‍්‍රමුඛත්වයක් දීලා විදුලිය ලබාදෙන්න අපි තීරණය කළා. ත‍්‍රස්තවාදී ග‍්‍රහණයෙන් මිදුන ජනතාවට විදුලිය ලබාදීලා, සිය ජීවිත වඩාත් යහපත් කරගන්න අපි ඉඩ සලස්වනවා. නමුත් සමහරු කොළඹ සැප විඳිමින් ඉන්න ගමන් අම්පාරේ අහිංසක ජනතාව කඳුළට ඇද දමන්න උත්සාහ සරනවා. තවත් සමහරුන් උත්සාහ ගන්නවා ආයෙමත් රට අතීතයට ඇදගෙන යන්න. ලේ, කඳුළු මත්තෙන් මරණය කරා යන මාර්ගය තනා ගන්නවාද, එහෙමත් නැත්නම්, ජලය, විදුලිය මත්තෙන් සෞභාග්‍යයේ මාවත තනා ගන්නවාද යන්න මහජනතාව තීරණය කළයුතු යැයි විදුලිබල... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/08/12)

Will Iran be US's Melos?
By Peter Jenkins
One of the most depressing aspects of all the talk about Israel or the United States destroying Iran's nuclear facilities (and much else besides, no doubt) is the near absence of any reference to international law. Even so distinguished an expert as Anthony Cordesman seems to take it for granted that there will be no legal impediment to the US attacking Iran if a credible threat of an attack fails to intimidate Iran into making the concessions required to pacify Israel. In my country, Britain, on February 20, 2012, members of the House of Commons... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 22/08/12)

The South gathers in Tehran
By Vijay Prashad
Next week, representatives from 118 of the world's 192 states will gather in Tehran for the 16th Non-Aligned Movement summit. Created in 1961, the NAM was a crucial platform for the Third World Project (whose history I detail in The Darker Nations). It was formed to purge the majority of the world from the toxic Cold War and from the maldevelopment pushed by the World Bank. After two decades of useful institution-building, the NAM was suffocated by the enforced debt crisis of the 1980s. It has since gasped along.... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 22/08/12)

'US not our daddy to punish us' - Ecuador FM Patino to RT
RT
Ecuador does not fear US revenge for granting asylum to Julian Assange. Despite America’s power in the world, it is not Ecuador’s “father or teacher to punish us,” the country’s foreign minister said exclusively to RT Spanish host Eva Golinger. “We don’t think that any punishment is possible, nor do we think that there is a reason for revenge (let’s call it this way, it is stronger than “punishment”) for Ecuador’s sovereign decision. The USA does it every day,” Ricardo Patino said. Ecuador believes that the situation around Assange, who is wanted in Sweden for questioning on sexual assault... -Full Story- (rt.com - 22/08/12)

Julian Assange – A show case of the rape of international law and morality
Mario Perera, Kadawata
 Julian Assange is not a fugitive from Justice. He is a fugitive from injustice. And from where would this injustice originate? Where else but from the American-Anglo-European axis of evil, the Frankensteins and Draculas of international law and morality? Assange is wanted in the USA to be tried for treason. The road to the USA leads through Britain and Sweden. If delivered as wanted, the verdict is a foregone conclusion. It means, torture, and life long imprisonment if not the death penalty. Now what did he do to warrant all this? He exposed the hidden crimes... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/08/12)

The War on Terror is a Lie
Shenali Waduge
Fear has been turned into a political weapon that has given Governments the right to usurp people’s freedom on the assurance that the protective measures they adapt are for the security and safety of the people and their country. This was how the Administration of George Bush contrived to militarily invade nations and take over the assets of the nations that they earmarked to target. Years on we need to now realize that we had been fed with nothing but lies for which mainstream media also stands accountable. Though late we need to know what those lies... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/08/12)

Behind the Kamra Attack
By Afshain Afzal
Each time when there is some serious controversy on important issue in Pakistan, Washington with set of its puppets are there to stamp Veto in the name of national security. We have the example of resumption of NATO containers supply, which was associated with unconditional apology by Washington over Salala cold blooded murders. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s statement that was taken as an apology is before us, “The Foreign Minister and I were reminded that our troops, Pakistani and American, are in a fight against a common enemy. We are both sorry for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/08/12)

C Bruce Levy: statement on Sri Lanka
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G1 . Canada
20 August 2012 H.E. Bruce Levy Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gregory Road, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka. Your Excellency: I was a bit baffled reading the last paragraph of Sandasen Marasinghe’s report in The Island of August 18, 2012 in which it says, “He (Bruce Levy) said Sri Lanka and Canada maintained friendly ties even before Sri Lanka achieved independence and Canada never promoted terrorism.” The latter part of the statement was rubbish and not factual.  I am sure you may have been wearing your... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/08/12)

Buddhism in Costa Rica
by Terrence Johnson, The Costa Rican News, August 5, 2012
Costa Rica -- Over the past few decades Catholic Churches in Central America has seen an exodus of their congregants leaving to explore and join other Christian denominations and other religions. Experts point to growing competition from other denominations, primarily evangelical Christianity and a general dissatisfaction with the Catholic churches intolerance and rigid stance. There is an emerging segment of the population in Central America that is converting to religions such as Islam and Buddhism. << With approximately 100,000 practitioners, Costa Rica has more Buddhists than any other country... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/08/12)

Foreign Affairs Manual
Vajeera Warnakulasuriya, Melbourne Australia
The Editor,  Foreign Affairs Manual  In response to the article "Buddists Behaving Badly" in your manual, I posit the following, I believe you would give the same coverage to put this issue in correct perspective to the valuable readers.  Sri Lanka is a country plundered by seafaring Pirates who gained a name for their dastardly acts by their respective countries as honorable deeds! They are Portuguese, Dutch & British.  At the time of their arrival in 15th century onwards Sri Lanka had a rich Buddhist culture and a written history of nearly three thousand years. These... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/08/12)

WikiLeaks founder Assange seeks political asylum
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
Two months ago, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (JA) took shelter in Ecuador UK Embassy seeking political asylum and last week he was offered asylum. Now the UK refuses safe passage to him from the country. This means that if or when he leave the Embassy he would be arrested. The British police keep watch on him from outside the Embassy as they cannot legally enter the premises. Ecuador granted him asylum on the grounds that if extradited to Spain, he is at high risk of ending in the US to face espionage charges. JA is accused of sexually molesting 2 WikiLeaks volunteers in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/08/12)

Egypt thumbs the nose at US
By M K Bhadrakumar
The gloom in Washington must be deepening. Egypt is careering away from the alliance with the United States - and the bitter truth cannot be hidden or obfuscated anymore. This is not how Washington expected the "right side of history" to play out. The Arab Spring has borne a strange fruit in Egypt - a pure breed, unlike the hybrids in Tunisia, Libya or Yemen. Consider the following. President Barack Obama was one of the first statesmen to greet Mohammed Morsi on his election victory in May. Obama broke protocol and phoned to congratulate... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 20/08/12)

A RESPONSE TO Dr. SUBRAMANIAM SWAMY ON POLICE POWERS TO THE PROVINCES
By Gamini  Gunawardane Rtd. Snr. DIG Police
(Published in the ’Sunday Island’ of 19th Aug.2012)  I send this response to a statement reported (The Island-of 11th Aug) to have been made by Dr. Subramaniam Swamy at the recently concluded international seminar organized by the Sri Lanka Army, on post war development and rehabilitation. I believe many Sri Lankans are appreciative of Dr. Swamy’s enlightened and sympathetic attitude towards Sri Lanka in the matter of the so called ‘ethnic conflict’ in this country. He has steadfastly stated his position against the LTTE without getting carried away by the conventional... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/08/12)

US war on whistleblowers must end - Assange
RT
Julian Assange made his first public appearance in two months, ever since he took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Addressing the hundreds of people gathered outside the embassy, Assange thanked them for their support, claiming it was their resolve and presence that stopped British police storming the building. "On Wednesday night, after a threat was sent to this embassy and police desceneded on this building, you came out in the middle of the night to watch over it, and you brought the worlds eyes with you. Inside this embassy after dark I could hear teams of police... -Full Story- (rt.com - 19/08/12)

Loyal Hindus of Pakistan
By Afshain Afzal
If it is the matter of loyalty, Pakistani Hindus are as loyal as other Pakistani citizen. Often many Hindus prove to be more loyal than their Muslim counterparts who have links withIndia. It would not be an over exaggeration that Hindus have reason to maintain links with India because their holy places are located in India, which are, of course, sacred to Hindus all over the world. If a Muslim feels spiritually charged after paying homage to holy places why Hindus are being treated as from a different world. In Pakistan the minorities have full freedom... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/08/12)

UK and German spies feed intelligence to Syrian rebels - reports
RT
British and German spy intelligence on Syrian government troop movement has been shared with rebels to aid attacks on pro-Assad forces, UK and German newspapers revealed on Sunday. ­An unnamed Syrian opposition official admitted that British intelligence is covertly aiding antigovernment forces in Syria, UK weekly newspaper the Sunday Times reported. British authorities "know about and approve 100%" of intelligence from their Cyprus military bases being passed through Turkey to the troops of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA), the official said. The UK owns two military bases on the island of Cyprus, one at Dhekelia and another at... -Full Story- (rt.com - 19/08/12)

India-China Factor in Asia
Shenali Waduge
The extent to which the leaders handling India-Sri Lanka affairs have mishandled the situation is evident by the fact that whilst the entire country is in agreement that India should have no piece of the peace dividend, opening too many doors to India has left India demanding more than it deserves and projecting itself as an aggrieved party for not been given what it should not deserve in the first place. That damage needs to be fixed by those responsible for creating the situation. Having brought Sri Lanka down to the present scenario we have the only... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/08/12)

Will Rajapake Show His True Colours ? - Time for Sri Lanka to Act
Anuradhini
A golden opportunity has arisen for Sir Lanka to affirm the friendship and show solidarity to a country which voted with us in the bogus UN Human Rights resolution. Ecuador voted in support of Sri Lanka despite the fact that its North American super power was thrusting this useless intimidating resolution. Would Sri Lanka support that country when it needs that friendship now? This has become an important measure of  integrity of international relationship  of Rajapaske’s elected government. One simpler hypothetical question will show the whole world whether supporting us in future ventures and dangers would worth the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/08/12)

OBSERVING THE BUDDHIST FIRST PRECEPT
by Professor Mahinda Palihawadana
Note: This is a slightly enlarged version of an article that appeared in the Daily News (Sri Lanka) of January 02, 1999 and in the Animal Rights Online Newsletter of March 24, 1999. The enlarged version was prepared for a Buddhist symposium at the YMBA, Borella and has since been published in the website Buddhism Today. I think I was asked to take part in this discussion1 because I am a vegetarian and a Buddhist as well. If that is so, the impression probably was that I am a vegetarian because I am Buddhist and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/08/12)

Is Appachchi a Tamil word?
Chandre Dharmawardana
The Island newspaper has published a very short article on the 16 and 18th Aug., and I think such articles lead to more misunderstanding than clarification. The main suggestion is that `apachchi' or `appochchi' is a Tamil word. No other words, cognates, or etymology are discussed in these articles.  Even a suggestion has been made to avoid the word, presumable to maintain a misconceived idea of a 'pure' language? The problem is compounded by the fact that many Sinhalese do not know even basic Tamil, while some Englsih newspaper Editors seem to be profoundly ignorant of Sinhalese.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/08/12)

Regarding Thamilians and Inscriptions
by Gam Vaesiya, Ontario, Canada.
Mr Sivakumaran has published an article entitled "Thamilians and Inscriptions" in Mr. D. B. S. Jeyraj's column, and also in the `midweek review' of the Island, 15th August. The article is said to summarizes material appearing in the Sunday Thinakkural of July 01, 2012, by a writer using the  pen-name  `Vaakarai Vaanan'.  Mr Sivakumaran had, on an earlier occasion too, summarized similar material where the same writer (Vaakarai Vaanan) had given an account of the history of Thamilians in Lanka, within a point of view different from the standard history of Lanka that may... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/08/12)

Sri Lankan Student's Alliance T20 and 6 a Side Cricket Tournament - Friday August 24 @ 9:00 am.
YOU ARE INVITED:
Please come out and support Sri Lankan students and alumni's of York University, Ryerson University, University of Toronto, Western University, Waterloo University,  Seneca College, Centennial College, & Toronto, Sri Lankan Students Alliance's as they compete in their annual big match "T20 Battle of the Alliances" to be followed by a fundraiser bbq.  See all the action on Friday August 24 starting at 9:00 am at 401 / Mavis 730 Courtney Park Drive Mississauga Ontario L5W 1L9. Please come out and show support for Students/Alumni's of a United Sri Lanka.  Please find attached flyer... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/08/12)

Obedience to The Prophet (PBUH)
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Sri Lanka.
 (Given below is an excerpt the Friday Sermon of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, delivered on 17th August 2012 at ‘Baithul Futhuh’, London, U.K., gave a discourse on obedience to the Prophet (saw)  Ahmadiyya Khalifa recited the following verses at the start of Friday sermon: ‘Verily you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model, for him who fears Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much.’ (33:22) ‘Say, ‘If you love Allah, follow me: then... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/08/12)

Eid-Ul-Fitr Message.
By A. Abdul Aziz, Press Secretary Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Sri Lanka.
 “Eid means a thing or matter for which we may desire its coming again and again. Naturally happiness is such a matter for which we desire it may come again and again. So Eid means an occasion of great happiness and jubilation. In various parts of the world, the Muslims are passing through extreme trials and tribulations. Though the Muslim Ummah (Community) now-a-days, all over the world, is passing through very tragic and catastrophic circumstances particularly in Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Palestine; In such catastrophic circumstances every Muslim... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/08/12)

The Honorable Lord Krishna: A Prophet Of Allah
By I. Ahmad Dalupotha, Negombo.
 While many Hindus recognize the differences between Islam and Hinduism, few may appreciate that according to Islamic principles and Prophet Muhammad, Lord Krishna was a true Prophet of God. The obvious question that emerges is that if the same God sent Lord Krishna and Prophet Muhammad, why do Islam and Hinduism have notable theological differences ?  Simply put, Islam only argues that the original core teachings of Hinduism and Islam are the same -- the unity of God and the obligation to serve mankind.   Furthermore, nothing in the Quran, Sunnah or Hadith... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/08/12)

Military intervention in Syria will lead to catastrophe – Lavrov
RT
Military action in Syria will lead to catastrophe, Russia's Foreign Minister has said. Russia opposes US demands for a no-fly zone over Syria, he said, adding that the solution to the ongoing conflict is the Geneva accord peace plan. The international community reached an agreement in Geneva in June calling for a transitional government in Syria to bring an end to ongoing and bloody conflict in the country. Different interpretations of the document began to emerge shortly after the accord was adopted, with Washington insisting that the document required that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad leave power. Moscow contested this... -Full Story- (rt.com - 18/08/12)

'US Pussy Riot reaction shows double standard'
RT
The US State Department reacted to the Pussy Riot verdict by saying the sentences were “disproportionate.” The American stance on the issue is hypocritical, as Washington regularly casts a blind eye on controversial sentences, activist Don DeBar told RT. ­Shortly after a Russian judge sentenced three Pussy Riot members to two years in prison for performing a “punk prayer” at Moscow's most prominent cathedral, the State Department issued a statement, saying it was “concerned” about the negative impact the verdict could have on freedom of expression in Russia. “We urge Russian authorities to review this case and ensure that... -Full Story- (rt.com - 18/08/12)

UK: Caesar’s Mistress Stands Exposed
Hameed Abdul Karim
 Have you heard of anything like this before? I mean a Western nation demanding the arrest of one of their own and then a ‘third world’ country stepping in and offering him political asylum? This is topsy -turvy world and the UK, the ‘mother of democracies’ where free speech is sacred …or was , willingly becoming the empires’ mistress and doing all it can to send Julian Assange packing to the US via Sweden to be executed or, if he’s lucky, spend the rest of his life in jail …maybe at Guantanamo Bay.  The free... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/08/12)

Ecuador may file appeal to ICC if UK refuses Assange safe passage
RT
Ecuador has said it may appeal to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if the UK refuses to grant Julian Assange safe passage out of the country. Eciadorian presidential staff adviser Alexis Mera said his government would pursue every legal means to bring Assange to Ecuador. "We are open to discuss with Britain the solution to this problem, and if there is no diplomatic solution, we may resort to the International Court of Justice," Ecuadorian daily EL Commercio quoted Mera as saying. "It would be terrible and an attack on all international rights" if British police were to enter the... -Full Story- (rt.com - 17/08/12)

Sri Lanka needs a Customer-Centric Public Sector
Shenali Waduge
A country’s public sector is essentially the key component that lays the foundation to the successful journey of a country. It is the effectiveness of the public sector that enables the citizens to carry on with their lives irrespective of the nuances that take place politically either internally and externally. This is why in the developed world people are far happier with the public service. All it takes for any country to put their affairs on track is simply the will to do so and with Sri Lanka having achieved a marvelous victory over terrorism the next... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/08/12)

“ACTION PLAN FOR PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS”
Sarath Wijesinghe
Human Rights Human Rights are on the top of agenda today. Nations accuse each other of violations of human rights of themselves and others. Rights are generally violated during conflicts and wars as the strength of the weapon supersedes peace over and stability and rule of law. There is no shortage of conflicts in most parts of the Globe. Conflicts are fertile grounds for Arms Dealers and invisible hands to grab natural resources and control over nations engulf in conflicts generally created by external forces. The irony is that those in glass houses claim to be a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/08/12)

Pussy Riot sentenced to two years in jail
Courtesy RT
A Moscow court has sentenced three members of Pussy Riot to two years in a medium-security prison for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred and enmity. ­The six months the girls have spent in pre-trial custody will count as time served. The Judge said Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Ekaterina Samutsevich showed flagrant disregard for church parishioners and the fundamentals of the Orthodox faith. "The Court considers that social justice and prevention of further possible crimes can only be achieved by restricting the defendants' freedom and real imprisonment," Judge Syrova said. “By their actions, Samutsevich, Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/08/12)

TGTE Senator Ramsey Clark is a Regular Representative of War Criminals
 - Kumar Moses
Transitional Government of Tamil Elam (TGTE) has appointed a group of Senators. Among them there is one American and one Sinhalese. All the rest are Tamils from India, Canada and Sri Lanka. Former United States Attorney General, Ramsey Clark is the American. He played a major role in drafting and guiding the passage of two important US Laws: The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and The Civil Rights Act of 1968. He was the US Attorney General from 1967 to 1969. A man is measured by the company he keeps However, what interests most is his selective... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/08/12)

What is cooking?
Dr Hector Perera     London
We just assume what is meant by cooking without any proper definition. When we say cooking, it means applying some form of heat to food so that it transforms into edible, safe or more palatable form due to chemical changes. When green vegetables, fish or meat are cooked it changes colour, the appearance and the texture. If for example a lump of beef is cooked, it loses the red colour, any fish the same but to my surprise in some British TV cooking demonstrations, I have witnessed, when the cooked beef is cut, sometimes it... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/08/12)

රාමසාන් දිනයේ විදුලිය විසන්ධි නොකෙරේ.
විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය.
මුස්ලිම් ජනතාව මාසයක කාලයක් උපවාසයේ නිරත වී හෙට රාත‍්‍රියේ නව ස`ද බැලීමෙන් අනතුරුව උපවාසය අත්හැර රාමසාන් උත්සවය සැමරීමට නියමිතය. මේ හේතුවෙන් රාමසාන් උත්සවය සමරන ඉරිදා දිනය තුළ දැනට පවතින විදුලි විසන්ධි කිරීමේ සැලසුම ක‍්‍රියාත්මක නොකරන ලෙසට අමාත්‍ය චම්පික රණවක මහතා පද්ධති පාලන අංශයට උපදෙස් ලබා දී ඇත. මේ අනුව රාමසාන් උත්සවය සමරන දිනයේ දිවයිනේ කිසිදු ප‍්‍රදේශයක විදුලි කප්පාදු සිදු නොකරන බව අමාත්‍ය චම්පික රණවක මහතා පවසයි.  මේ දිනවල කොළඹ ඇතුළු දිවයිනේ ප‍්‍රධාන නගර 78 ක  උදෑසන 08.00 සිට සවස 06.00 දක්වා කාලයේ කාණ්ඩ තුනක් යටතේ පැය 03 යි විනාඩි 20 ක කාලයක් විදුලි විසන්ධි කෙරේ.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/08/12)

Invitation to a Lecture by H. E. James Alix Michel, President of the Republic of Seychelles on 21st August, 2012 at the Kadirgamar Institute
Chairman, Hon. Prof. G. L. Peiris, M.P., Minister of External Affairs 
and  the Board of Management of the 
Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS)
cordially invite you
  to a lecture by
His Excellency James Alix Michel 
President of the Republic of Seychelles
on "The Role of the Small Island State in the Global Tapestry " at the Kadirgamar Institute, 24 Horton Place, Colombo 7   on Tuesday, 21st August, 2012  from 5:00 to 6:00pm   RSVP required: (011) 5363501-3/ 2687025/ E-mail: lkiirss
gmail.com   Please... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/08/12)

Kursk Scared the NATO Fleet
Pravda
August is a black month for the Russian Navy. On August 12, 2000 the nuclear submarine "Kursk" sank, on August 30, 2003 submarine "K-159" sank in the Barents Sea, on August 7 of 2005 bathyscaphe "AC-28" almost sank off the coast of Kamchatka. The loss of "Kursk" 12 years ago still causes heated discussions: how could this happen? At the time, "Pravda.Ru" was one of the first (if not the first) of the Russian media outlets that published the most horrible theory of death of the missile submarine a year after the tragedy. A group of Russian 'conceptual' scientists... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 17/08/12)

Military Suicides: Lessons learnt from the Eelam War in Sri Lanka
Dr. Ruwan M Jayatunge
  There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy. All the rest -- whether or not the world has three dimensions, whether the mind has nine or twelve categories -- comes afterward. These are games; one must first answer.   Albert Camus  Suicide is regarded as one of the major public health problems in Sri Lanka and has received considerable attention in recent years. Suicides are the fourth most frequent cause of death in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

For the knowledge of all people! Why we don’t need another Adharmishta rule of UNP!
Aravinda Jayasena
A true story of how UNP regime and its corrupted rule of 1977 on wards destroyed a family, and subsequently the social fabric of the entire Sri Lanka. The writer is the only child of a govt. employee who was attached to a dept. which head office is in Peradeniya and mother was housewife alone. My father was working as a clerk, who was educated in the well regarded college in Kandy and very fluent in English because his education was in English medium, but due to poverty of his parents being unable to send him to ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Service
Shenali Waduge
The Sri Lanka Foreign Service has come in for a lot of flak over the years. The performance of career diplomats have not given any reason for us to conclude that the death of the foreign service rests solely with the appointments of non-career diplomats/other officials. Wherein lies the fault and how best can we solve the present crisis becomes the all important question. The Sri Lanka Foreign Service (Overseas Service) was established on 1st October 1949 and was then known as the Ceylon Overseas Service the foreign counter part to the Ceylon Civil Service. Its name... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

An Outsider's View--19 -Plagiarism is unethical but not illegal
Shelton A. Gunaratne
 Adversarial rightwing analysts have successfully used the nebulous concept of plagiarism to halt the rapid climb of yet another rising star in American journalism: the “aristocratic” Yale-and-Harvard educated Fareed Zakaria. A naturalized American of East Indian origin, his success as a foreign-affairs analyst and a savvy author, as well as the creator of the “Global Public Square” current affairs show, enabled him to sell his punditry for $75,000 a lecture. In 2010, the government of India honored him with its third highest civilian award called Padma Bhusan. Thus, Zakaria has become the latest victim of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

A Daring Caper By A Fading Politician, A Glaring Faux Pas By The Indian Authorities Where both Actions Support Eelam Which To Sri Lanka And The World Merely Signifies Terrorism.
Insight By Sunil Kumar
August 15th 2012 A recent news item questions the validity of fading Indian politico M. Karunanidhi's legitimacy to some of his pro Eelam comments which he never relents about or gives up despite their glaring illegalities. The double standard adopted by the Indian Authorities in tolerating Karunanidhi's comments while in the same breath asking respect for Sri Lanka's Sovereignity and Territorial Integrity which Karunanidhi doesn't give a hoot about, apathy notwithstanding, seems somewhat of a joke where India would in all probabilities and for the sake of Indian integrity be better advised to muffle the joker Karunanidhi... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

The man who stood up for Sri Lanka
Lieutenant Commander Lalith Prasanna Edirisinghe decided to make the ultimate sacrifice to stop the big suicide boat going for the passenger ship 
This is a story that proves the charisma of the men in blues; the Officers and men of the Sri Lanka Navy's premier fighting force, the Fourth Fast Attack Craft(FAC) Flotilla which is based in Trincomalee. One of the Officers who was commanding one of these top of the line FACs, was Lieutenant Commander Ediripulige Lalith Prasanna Edirisinghe. A seemingly calm & quiet character, married and with two very young children, he had all the reasons to live... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

Expanding our influence
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G1 Canada
 16 August 2012  The Editor THE OTTAWA CITIZEN  Sir: Your edtorial on Foreign Minister John Baird trying to expand Canada's influence in foreign countries, now in the middle-east, has not been as successful as what Prime Minister Stephen Harper would like it to be. His pit-bull approach on Sri Lanka with his song and dance at the Security Council recently was an abysmal failure.  May be that he is listenting to too many separatist Tamils from  the GTA which has influenced the Tamil vote-gathering Canadian policy on Sri Lanka.  Perhaps,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

Julian Assange Show
This is exactly what is happening in Sri Lanka also. Listen to Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador It is refreshing to hear a president speak so passionately and concisely about the real situation in the world and the unhealthy control/influence the media has on all aspects of our lives,government etc which is linked directly to the controlling capitalists,zionists etc.What Julian is allowing us to witness is history in the making. In the old day we wouldn’t have heard about people like President Correa because the media would only mention them when they had been assassinated by the powers that control... -Full Story- (assange.rt.com - 16/08/12)

Re-visiting Prince of Wales (PWC)
Dr.Tilak Fernando
During a casual pow-wow with a friend, over a glass of wine, last week we discussed the fate of modern children, the denial of their childhood and turning them into robots by anxious parents who realise very little about the psychological damage they inflict on their offspring. How poignant it is to see schoolchildren clad in immaculate white uniforms come on to the roads as early as 7 am these days. Parents of most of these children place implicit faith on school vans and busses when it comes to transport of these kids, but many drivers seems... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

ලංවිම සේවක වැඩවර්ජනය අවසන් - වෘත්තීය සමිති 16ක් ලංවිම පාලන අධිකාරිය සමග කම්කරු කොමසාරිස්තුමිය හමුවේ.
මාධ්‍ය අංශය - විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
පසුගිය 2 වනදා ඉදිරිපත් කළ වෘත්තීය ඉල්ලීම් 12න් 5ක් පිළිබඳ නිර්දේශ ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමට සිවු පුද්ගල කමිටුවක් පත් කෙරේ. අදාළ කමිටුවේ නිර්දේශ වාර්තා එළිදක්වා සාකච්ජා කරනතෙක් කිසිඳු වර්ජනයක් සිදු නොකරන බවට වෘත්තීය සමිතිවලින් සහතිකයක්. අද සවස ලංවිම වෘත්තීය සමිති 16ක නායකයින් ලංකා විදුලිබල මණ්ඩලයේ අධ්‍යක්ෂක මණ්ඩල සමාජිකයින් සහ පාලන අධිකාරිය, කම්කරු කොමසාරිස් පර්ල් වීරසිංහ මහත්මිය සමග විශේෂ සාකච්ජාවක් පැවැත්විණ. එහිදී කාර්මික ආරවුල් පණතේ 48 වන වගන්තියෙන් අර්ථ විග‍්‍රහ කර ඇති අකාරයට කාර්මික ආරවුලක් නිරාකරණය කිරීම සඳහා වන ද්විපාර්ශවීය සාකච්ජාව සිදු කෙරිණ. මෙහිදී වෘත්තීය සමිති නායකයින් විසින් පසුගිය අගෝස්තු 2 වන දා  ඉදිරිපත්... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

HELPLANKA the best 50th Birthday gift ever!
HELP US HELP THEM HELP LANKA
50 years ago in Chilaw, Ceylon, Sampath Goonetillake was born and to mark this special event and, in his capacity as Chief Executive of  UK and Sri Lanka charity Helplanka (set up in 2005), a number of special events were held in July.  The specially themed birthday celebrations were held mainly for disadvantaged children and the needy. Accompanied by a group of 12 UK volunteers from Barry Comprehensive School in Wales,  Mr Goonetillake’s eldest son, Jacob and Helplanka staff, the charity visited a number of special needs children, deaf and blind, homeless... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

Government backs Houston panel's asylum plan
13 Aug 2012, 5:19 pm - Source: AAP
The federal government has backed an expert panel plan to break the asylum seeker policy deadlock on boat arrivals. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Monday the Labor caucus agreed to endorse in principle all 22 of the panel's recommendations. "This report charts the way forward and I will compromise in order to enact the recommendations of this report," Ms Gillard told reporters in Canberra on Monday. "I am keenly aware that what this report is calling on parliamentarians to do is compromise," she said.... -Full Story- (sbs.com.au - 16/08/12)

VISIT SRI LANKA AND SAVOUR THE CHANGE - HIGH COMMISSIONER NONIS
 Sri Lanka High Commission London, UK
High Commissioner Dr Chris Nonis with (from L to R) Michael Wynn Parker, chairman of the Guild of Tourism; The Marquess of Bristol; HRH Princess Katrina of Yugoslavia; Lord Pendry and Andrew Rosindell MP for Romford. High Commissioner to the UK Dr Chris Nonis outlined the strides that Sri Lanka had taken in economic, social rehabilitation, reconstruction and reconciliation since the defeat of terrorism in May 2009 to the Guild of Tourism at a luncheon meeting held at the Cholomondelay Room at the House of Lords.. One of the beneficiaries of this development... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

විදුලි ත්රTස්තවාදයට ඉඩ නොදී, සාමකාමීව, පාලනාධිකාරිය සමඟ ප්රවශ්න විසඳාගෙන, රාජකාරියට වාර්තා කරන්න.
The Media Team Ministry of Power & Energy
2012 වසරේ මුල සිට ලංකා විදුලිබල මණ්ඩලයේ සියළු සේවකයන් හට 25% කට වැඩි වැටුප් වැඩිවීමක් ලබාදී ඇති අතර තවත් එක් පඩියක් බෝනස් ලෙසද, වෛද්‍ය දීමනා ලෙසද පිරිනමා ඇත. එමෙන්ම 2009 වසරේ විදුලි සේවකයින්ට අහිමි වූ මාස 09 ක හිඟ වැටුප් ද ගෙවීමට කටයුතු කර ඇත. තවද සංස්කෘතික උළෙලවල්, ක්‍රිඩා උළෙලවල් පවත්වමින් සේවක කුසලතා දිරිගන්වා ඇත. විදුලි ඩිපෝ සහ ලංවිම කාර්යාල, කාර්යක්ෂම එස් 5 ක්‍රමයට අනුකූලව වැඩිදියුණු කර ඇත. විදුලිබල මණ්ඩලයේ වියදම් වලින් 10% ක් ඉතිරි කරගෙන, පාඩුව අවම කිරීමට පියවර ගෙන ඇත. පවතින නියඟය ඉදිරියේ අඛණ්ඩ විදුලි සැපයුමකට ලංවිම සේවකයන් කැපවී... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/08/12)

World Health Organization (WHO) report on Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka
Mission report , 6-8thJune 2011, Dr.Shanthi Mendis , Senior advisor and coordinator,Chronic disease prevention and management, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
  Results of the phase 01 of this research programme reveal that in the north central andUva provinces a minimum of 15% of people in the age group 15-70 years are affected byCKDu.   Man over the age of 40 years who are engaged in farming for more than 10 years are athigher risk of developing this disease. In addition exposure to agrochemicals alsoincreases the risk of developing CKDu.   The majority of men and women suffering from this disease... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/08/12)

Resolutions of TESO Conference
Ira de Silva London, Canada 
The Editor   Dear Sir:   Having read the news report of the TESO as reported by  S Venkat Narayan and the resolutions from that gathering, I am writing to express a view on some of those resolutions. It is ironic that the TESO asks  India not to remain "silent" on the "undemocratic developments" in Sri Lanka. Perhaps those at the conference are living in a Tamil world of their own that they are unaware of the constant flow of visits by various Indians to Sri Lanka and their continuous pronouncements bordering on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/08/12)

Who is funding Karunanidhi’s Tamil Eelaam “dream”?
Shenali Waduge
Tamil Nadu politicians appear to be taking turns to garner public support for something called “eelaam” and the louder they wail they are assured of remunerations which explain why only politicians are interested in forming an eelaam – be it rightfully in Tamil Nadu or its initial launchpad of Sri Lanka. Essentially, Eelaam has nothing to do with Tamils and everything to do with politicians ready to do anything and everything for money.  The elimination of the LTTE’s top tier including its erstwhile leader thus was naturally a blow forcing reinforcements from the LTTE diaspora that has... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/08/12)

"සේවක වැඩ වර්ජන මවාපාමින්,ලංවිම තුළ කඩාකප්පල්කාරී ක්රි යා සිදුකරන බවට අනාවරණය වෙයි"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය 
තම වර්ජන ක්‍රියාව නීත්‍යානුකූල යැයි කම්කරු කොමසාරිස්තුමිය ප්‍රකාශ කළ බවට වර්ජකයින් විසින් ලංවිම තුළ ගෙනයන ආරංචි සම්පූර්ණයෙන් අසත්‍ය බව කම්කරු කොමසාරිස් පර්ල් වීරසිංහ මහත්මිය අමාත්‍යාංශය දැනුවත් කරයි. ලංවිම සේවක වෘත්තිය සමිති 02 ක් මූලික කරගනිමින් ආරම්භ කළ වැඩ වර්ජනය අතරතුර කිසියම් කණ්ඩායමක් විසින් කඩාකප්පල්කාරී ක්‍රියා සිදුකරන බවට ලංකා විදුලිබල මණඩලයට වාර්තා ලැබී ඇත. ඒ අනුව ඒ සම්බන්ධව වහාම පරීක්ෂණ පැවැත්වීමට ලංකා විදුලිබල මණ්ඩල විශේෂ විමර්ශන ඒකකය සහ ඉංජිනේරුවන්ගේ සංගමය කටයුතු කරයි. ඒ සඳහා එම ප්‍රදේශ වල පොලිසියේ සහාය ලබාගන්නා බව ලංවිම පාලනාධිකාරිය පවසයි. ඊයේ රාත්‍රියේ අම්පාර ප්‍රදේශයේ අධි බලැති රැහැන් පද්ධතියකට කැලෑබද ප්‍රදේශයකදී... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/08/12)

විවිධ ශ්‍රේණි වල ලංවිම පඩි පත
පාලන අංශය - ලංවිම
 ලංවිම තුළ විධායක ශ්‍රේණියේ නිලධාරීන් 1219ක් සහ විධායක නොවන සාමාන්‍ය ශ්‍රේණි වල නිලධාරීන් 14,188ක් සේවය කරති. ඒ අනුව සමස්ත ලංවිම සේවක සංඛ්‍යාව 15,407 කි. විධායක ශ්‍රේණියේ නිලධාරීන් සඳහා සියළු දීමනා සහ වරප්‍රසාද මාසිකව 25ක් හිමි අතර විධායක නොවන ශ්‍රේණි වලට 26 ක් දීමනා සහ  වරප්‍රසාද හිමිවේ. මෙම දීමනා තමන් දරන තනතුරට, තම සුදුසුකම් වලට, තම රාජකාරියේ ස්වභාවය සහ සේවා ස්ථානය පදනම්ව හිමිවේ.   2012 ආරම්භයත් සමග සියළුම ලංවිම සේවකයන්ගේ පඩිය 25% කින් වැඩි විය. විධායක ශ්‍රේණියේ ඉංජිනේරුවන්ගේ පමණක් 45% කින් වැටුප් වැඩි විය. එක් එක් ශ්‍රේණි වලට අදාල වැටුප් වැඩිවීමට සාපේක්ෂව මාසිකව හිමි මූලික වැටුප සහ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/08/12)

"දිවයිනේ ප්ර٘ධාන නගර 78ක සහ ඒ ආශ්රි ත ගම්මාන වලත්, කොළඹ ප්රරදේශයේත් හෙට (16) සිට පැය 3 විනාඩි 20ක කාලයක් විදුලිය විසන්ධි කෙරේ"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
•        උදෑසන 8.00 සිට සවස 6.00 දක්වා කාලය තුළ කාණ්ඩ 03ක් යටතේ විසන්ධි කිරීමට සැලසුම් •        උසස් පෙළ හේතුවෙන් රාත්‍රී කාලයේ විදුලිය විසන්ධි කිරීමෙන් වැලකී සිටීමට පියවර පසුගියදා පුත්තලම ලක්විජය බලාගාරයේ සිට වේයන්ගොඩ දක්වා දිවෙන අධිබලැති සම්ප්‍රේෂණ මාර්ගයේ සිදුවූ හදිසි බිඳවැටීම හේතුවෙන් බලාගාරයේ ජනන කටයුතු අඩපණ විය. ඉංජිනේරු මැදිහත්වීම මත මෙය යථා තත්ත්වයට පත්කිරීමට අවස්ථා කිහිපයකදී උත්සාහ කළද, ඒවා ව්‍යර්ත වූ බව ලංවිම පවසයි. මේ තත්ත්වය යටතේ බලාගාරය සම්පූර්ණයෙන් අඩපණ කොට, ප්‍රතිසංස්කරණය කිරීමට ලංවිම තීරණය කර ඇත. තවද මේ දින වල පවතින වැසි රහිත කාලගුණය හේතුවෙන් ජල විදුලි උත්පාදනය 14% ක මට්ටමට පහත... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/08/12)

Who is funding Karunanidhi’s Tamil Eelaam “dream”?
Shenali Waduge
Tamil Nadu politicians appear to be taking turns to garner public support for something called “eelaam” and the louder they wail they are assured of remunerations which explain why only politicians are interested in forming an eelaam – be it rightfully in Tamil Nadu or its initial launchpad of Sri Lanka. Essentially, Eelaam has nothing to do with Tamils and everything to do with politicians ready to do anything and everything for money.  The elimination of the LTTE’s top tier including its erstwhile leader thus was naturally a blow forcing reinforcements from the LTTE diaspora that has... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/08/12)

Perversion and moral degeneration resulting in sex crimes
By Charles.S.Perera
 It was around 8.30 pm, a man was caught hiding behind a house, he ran away jumping dangerously down a steep hill and ran across the wasteland.  A man bathing in a well heard the commotion and seeing  a man running towards him caught him by his shirt collar.  The others who were chasing him searched him for any hidden arms.  He had none  and  he was taken over by them to be handed over to the Police.  He was drunk. He was questioned  and it was found that the man works in a garage and after... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/08/12)

"ලංවිම සේවක වැඩවර්ජන පැවතියත් කාර්යාලීය සහ ක්ෂේත්රව සේවකයින්ගෙන් 50%කට වැඩි පිරිසක් සේවයට වාර්තා කරයි"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය - විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
අඛණ්ඩ විදුලි සැපයුමක් වෙනුවෙන් සියළුම ඉංජිනේරුවන් පැය 24 පුරා සේවයට තර්ජන වලට බිය නොවී සේවයට වාර්තා කරන ලෙස සියළුම සේවකයින් වෙත  ලංවිම පාලනාධිකාරියෙන් ඉල්ලීමක්.  තර්ජන පිළිබඳ වහා ක්‍රියාත්මක වීමට ශ්‍රී ලංකා යුධ හමුදාවෙන් පියවර. යුධ හමුදා හදිසි දුරකතන අංක 011 3075792 ඒ වෙනුවෙන් වෙන් කෙරේ. අද උදෑසන වනවිට ලංකා විදුලිබල මණ්ඩලයේ සේවය කරන කාර්යාලීය සහ ක්ෂේත්‍ර සේවයේ නියුතු 50% කට වැඩි පිරිසක් ප්‍රධාන කාර්යාලයට සහ අනෙකුත් ප්‍රාදේශීය සහ කලාප කාර්යාල වලට වාර්තා කර ඇතැයි ලංකා විදුලිබල මණ්ඩලයේ සාමාන්‍යාධිකාරීවරයා සඳහන් කරයි. මෙය ඊයේ දිනයට සාපේක්ෂව හොඳ පැමිŒමක් බව හෙතෙම සඳහන් කරයි. ඊයේ දිනයේ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/08/12)

The 65th Freedom Anniversary of Pakistan
By Afshain Afzal
 Pakistan and India are celebrating their 65th independence days. It is time to express good wishes and prayers for the peace and prosperity for both the countries. However, ironically,  both the countries got their independence from British tyrant rule, that extended over almost one third of Indian subcontinent, on 15 August 1947 but India celebrates its Independence Day on 15th August while Pakistan on 14 August. If we recall it was inauguration of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly on the 14 August 1947 that occurred on that very day and it was not the partition of subcontinent. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah also... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/08/12)

NEW US AMBASSADOR TO SRI LANKA MEETS HER COUNTERPART IN WASHINGTON
Embassy of Sri Lanka  Washington DC-Press Release
Washington, August 12, 2012:  Ms. Michele .J. Sison , incoming United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka on Friday (Aug 9) paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya here at the Embassy of Sri Lanka , Washington DC. Ambassador Wickramasuriya congratulated Ambassador designate Sison and wished her success on her new appointment. The two ambassadors reflected on the current state of U.S. - Sri Lanka relations that have remained warm and cordial for the last 63 years. Ambassador Wickramasuriya updated the new US envoy on the recent economic and political developments in Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/08/12)

Our Fate is sealed if we sign the CEPA with India.
By Garvin Karunaratne Former SLAS, Government Agent, Matara District
These days India is actively urging Sri Lanka to accept the CEPA the Comprehensive Economic Free Trade  Agreement, the second leg of the Indo Lanka Free Trade Agreement.  The SAARC Chamber Chief  Vikramajit Singh urges that Sri Lanka should accept  the CEPA.  The Union Minister of Commerce,  was  in Sri Lanka with  over a hundred business organizations to show Sri Lanka what it can gain. His aim is to increase the $ 5.4 billion present level of bilateral trade to $ 9 billion by 2017. He urges that Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/08/12)

Indo-Lanka : The Accusations - Emergence of LTTE
Shenali Waduge
India says: LTTE emerged because of discriminations to Sri Lankan Tamils by Sri Lanka  Sri Lanka says: India secretly planned to destabilize Sri Lanka and extend its sphere of influence in Sri Lanka and watching LTTE terrorize Sri Lanka for 30 years – though India would never allow LTTE to create an Eelaam. LTTE and other militant groups first obtained training inside India, given arms and financial support from India – with July 1983 giving an “ethnic” dimension to gain international sympathy and facilitate influx of refugees to developing nations. India allowed LTTE to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/08/12)

VILLAGE SKETCH (FICTION)—28, AVURUDDA BRINGS HOPE TO DAYDREAMER
Arcadius
The little boys screamed and fought as they played. This was their favorite game, a game of skill they played with cadjunuts. No little village boy knew to play quietly. They always shouted and they always fought. No game was complete without a fight. Piyananda was startled by the sudden noise. He sat in the trellised verandah, reading the paper. He looked up as if he had been rudely awakened from a deep sleep and looked towards the place where the boys were playing. Suddenly, he remembered that it was the Aluth Avurudda (New Year’s) Day. He had... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/08/12)

Public support vital to fight anti-Lanka campaigns – GL.
By Noor Nizam – Canada. August 13th., 2012.
A great statement made on a great day. A visionary politician and a patriot. Prof. Gamini Lakshman Peiris. Why did Prof. G.L. Peiris, the Minister of External Affairs choose this great day (Sunday the 13th., August) to make this great statement at a center which depicts the strength of Sri Lanka, The Mahaweli river, the nerve vein of one of the water ways in inland Sri Lanka. A waterway that connects the people, be it Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, Burghers, Muslims and the other minorities, starting from the Hatton plateau... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/08/12)

India Extends LTTE as an Unlawful Association
Notification No.S.O. 1067(E) dated 14th May 2012 by the Central Government of India.
... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/08/12)

Swamy asks Jaya to visit Lanka
Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy on Saturday asked TN Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to visit Sri Lanka to 'help foster Sinhala-Tamil' reconciliation as he took jibes at DMK chief M. Karunanidhi for going 'bankrupt' on ideas on the Sri Lankan Tamils' issue. "I urge Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to visit Sri Lanka and help foster Sinhala-Tamil reconciliation instead of engaging in competitive Tamil sectarian chauvinism with Karunanidhi who is now bankrupt of ideas," he said in a statement. Swamy, who had earlier visited Sri Lanka to attend a defence seminar besides meeting leaders including President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said a visit... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/08/12)

INVITATION to a Public Lecture by Prof. David Lublin on "U.S. Elections" in collaboration with the American Center on 15th August, 2012 (5:00 - 7:00 pm) at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS)
Dear Madam/ Sir,
Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS)
in collaboration with the American Center Colombo
cordially invite you
  to a Public Lecture by
  Professor David Lublin
  on
  "U.S. Elections" at the Kadirgamar Institute, 24 Horton Place, Colombo 7
  On Wednesday, 15th August, 2012  from 5:00 to 7:00pm
  Please find the e-poster attached.
 We would greatly appreciate it if this e-invitation can be circulated among your contacts.   Please RSVP by 13th August, 2012 with the Kadirgamar... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/08/12)

The Legacy of London 2012
The world came together in London in the Summer of 2012, sending its sons and daughters to the capital city of the United Kingdom to compete, to practise sport, to play. Fortunately there were no terrorist events, Olympic and World records fell daily, sporting excellence was achieved in a climate of professionalism and warm and endearing hospitality.We all saw how Tunisia and Egypt were softened up and used as stepping stones towards the jewel in Africa's crown - Libya, where Colonel Gaddafi had dared to aspire to an African Union which was more than meetings and tea parties, an African... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 13/08/12)

Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Worst massacre in the history of Mankind
Prensa Latina
Japan remembers the atomic bombing by the USA as the worst massacre in the history of mankind On Monday (06th), a tribute was held to the victims of the atomic bomb dropped by the United States in 1945 on the city of Hiroshima. The city's mayor, Kazumi Matsui, called again to eliminate nuclear weapons. Tens of thousands of people attended this memorial, which also reiterated the request for more aid for survivors of this tragedy, facing health problems caused by radiation from the mentioned war artifact. When reading the Declaration of Peace during this annual ceremony, Matsui assured:... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 13/08/12)

Al-Qaeda flags fly over rebel-held Syria
By John Rosenthal
There has recently been a small stir in the American media, as media organizations from the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal to the Associated Press have finally gotten around to acknowledging a "presence" of al-Qaeda and like-minded jihadist groups among the Syrian rebel forces seeking to topple the regime of Bashar al-Assad. It is difficult to see what the cause of the excitement is. After all, such a presence has been blindingly obvious for many months: whether as a result of the dozens of suicide attacks that have plagued Syria or the... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 13/08/12)

They talk and talk in Sri Lanka
By Charles.S.Perera
There is so much of character assassination going on in Sri Lanka without an iota of  evidence. If there is not the whole truth in some of the allegations made against the Government and the ruling leadership, there should at least be some basic truth.  But there is nothing of the sort, it is always what some others say or heard being said.  It seems to be a national weakness, we have already heard of the untruth of what was said about shooting at the terrorists carrying a white flag. The danger  of these exaggerated lies is,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/08/12)

Thuggery in the Name of Islam in Sri Lanka
By Salahudin
The Taif style attack is still continuing in this era too in Sri Lanka against those who want to teach Islam and learn Islam. Most Sri Lankan Muslims know what happened recently in Nuwara Eliya when a group of 'Muslim' thugs brutally assaulted daees of Islam in a Nuwara Eliya mosque. The mosques there are apparently reserved for a certain 'Islamic movement' by its violent and hateful followers. Yet with all the capability to take legal actions against those who attacked the daees, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) did nothing.  As it was anticipated... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/08/12)

Subramaniam Swamy Tries to Impose Indian Hegemony on Lanka
Dilrook Kannangara
Subramaniam Swamy may be the only sensible Indian politician but he still falls short of making complete sense. Self-contradicting politicians are nothing new to the island nation. Speaking at the Defence Seminar 2012, he has made a proposal for reconciliation. Firstly Sri Lankans don’t want any more Indian prescriptions. He can keep his proposals to himself. While accepting that Sri Lankans need no outside interference which includes outsiders’ solutions, he contradicts himself by making such proposals. He talks about the Sinhala majority and the Tamil minority. This Indian mentality of ethnic divisions does not suit Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/08/12)

Who pays in case of accident at Kudankulam, asks PM Manmohan Singh
by Walter Jayawardhana
According to a matter raised by the New Delhi Tele Vision (NDTV) the liability of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Chennai has become a big security concern for people living in close proximity to the power generating facility. The new concern has arisen with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh questioning the Department of Atomic Energy’s decision to waive its legal right to claim damages against the NPP’s Russian suppliers in case of an nuclear accident like that of the Fukushima accident in Japan. For some time the Kudunkulam nuclear plant has been a secucrity concern for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/08/12)

India, US, Norway and now South Africa
Anuradhini
India, US, Norway and now South Africa ! Extend Protests to these Embassies too! Lanakpage reported, “South Africa, drawing upon their own experience, has offered its support for Sri Lanka's reconciliation process and the country's drive for economic development.” What experience is this barbaric, murderous, country with zero law and order can teach Sri Lanka ? Today, it is a country with 2 million crimes per year. If you leave your home for two hours in this country, which has over  30,000 murder and attempted murder cases, you will find your house empty on return ! It is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/08/12)

Continuing the series on WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HISTORY OF JAFFNA- No flowers bloomed in Jaffna culture
H. L. D. Mahindapala
 Jaffna is a narrow spit of land sandwiched between two great cultures: the Dravidian culture of S. India to  its north and the Sinhala-Buddhist culture of the south. With the gathering of the Tamil migrants from S. India   in this strip since the 12 -13th centuries Jaffna became the acknowledged centre of Tamil culture and politics. Though there were Tamil-speaking communities in the east and the central hills it is Jaffna  that gained the elevated status of being the cultural heartland of Tamils, partly due to historical and geographical circumstances and partly due to the peninsula being cut off from the rest of the nation which enabled... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/08/12)

Sri Lanka International Defense Seminar 2012 – An Impressive show of Achievements
Shenali Waduge
It was a shock to most and explains why sections are reluctant still to praise or even acknowledge the defeat of LTTE terrorism achieved in 3 years of a conflict that has lasted 30 years of Sri Lanka’s 64years of independence. Terrorists are enemies of peace and it remains a puzzle why a country should be chided instead of praised for defeating terrorists. Nonetheless, a country that was able to defeat terrorism took on the next challenge posed by the world. The result in just three years following the military and humanitarian success achieved in May 2009... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/08/12)

War crimes: judge who exposed a sham trial
 Janaka Perera
This month marks 67 years since the occurrence of three events that marked a turning point in world history.  They were the atom bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9 and consequently Japan’s offer of unconditional surrender to the Western Allies and the Soviet Union on August 15. The people of the victorious nations received the news of the surrender offer with unrestrained joy.  In Washington DC and San Francisco celebrations turned into a wild orgy. In the former, a crowd attempted to break into the White House Grounds and in San Francisco two women jumped naked... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/08/12)

Indo-US Navy Buildup in Indian Ocean
By Afshain Afzal
 India is pursuing “Maritime Capability Perspective Plan” (MCPP).  The current phase of modernization is part of this plan and by the end of this decade India has will be able to raise the number of warships and submarines to 40 including conventional and nuclear powered submarines, aircraft carriers, frigates, and long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. These hi-tech and modern warships and submarines will be manned by 12 percent additional strength to the present strength of 58,000 personnel. Indian Navy has set target to go hi-tech so that it is capable of operating in network centric environment.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/08/12)

Wise lessens for the future for U.S. and Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka's Counterinsurgency Strategy
Alastair Reynard
Attached is the PDF file. http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items12/Counterinsurgency_Thesis.pdf
Wise lessens for the future for large nations such as the U.S. and Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka's Counterinsurgency Strategy This brilliant thesis written by Francis L. Tozzi for Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Georgetown University has wise lessens for the future for large nations such as the U.S. and Sri Lanka. From: HOW TO KILL A TIGER: MEASURING MANWARING'S PARADIGM AGAINST SRI LANKA'S COUNTERINSURGENCY STRATEGY A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Georgetown University By Francis L. Tozzi, B.S.,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/08/12)

Paticca Samuppada Model Offers a Superb Approach to Analyze Universal Phenomena
Eisel Mazard
I am a scholar of Pali and Theravada Buddhism generally, and my name "came up" in a recent article by Prof. Shelton Gunaratne on your website. I wanted to let Prof. Gunaratne know that I've actually written a "sequel" article on the particular issue that interested him (the mis-translation of the 12 links of pa?icca-samuppada): http://a-bas-le-ciel.blogspot.ca/2012/05/causality-and-canonicity.html There are many article on that blog concerning Theravada Buddhism, but only a few that deal with Sri Lanka specifically. I think that many people at Lankaweb would enjoy taking a close look at the illustration to this short article, on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/08/12)

Causality and Canonicity, Misinterpreting Dependent Arising
Eisel Mazard
Causality and Canonicity: A Sequel on the Misinterpretation of Buddhist "Dependent Arising" and/or/as/vs. "Interdependence" I was in Taiwan at the time that a conference on this subject transpired at Opole, Poland; despite the huge distances involved, I briefly got into correspondence with the organizers of that conference, as I was sincerely considering (somehow) getting to Poland and back in order to contribute some of my thoughts on the origin of so many of the debates surrounding "causality" in Buddhism. At that time I had written two essays dealing with this subject (i.e., prior to the one now... -Full Story- (a-bas-le-ciel.blogspot.ca - 11/08/12)

Ashoka's Edicts, Dead Languages and the Culture of Learning
Eisel Mazard
I recently had a conversation with a professor of Anthropology who contradicted me when I remarked that the variations between Northern "Tai" writing systems were quite easy to cope with reading. He contradicted this simply by complaining that, from his perspective, the differences between these scripts were extremely difficult, and he named some examples he had encountered, in moving from one contemporary dialect to another. My perspective on these writing systems starts with the edicts of Asoka (Ashoka), and continues through Pallava, Mon, Old Khmer ("Cambodian"), various Burmese variants (including Lanna) and and so on; I... -Full Story- (a-bas-le-ciel.blogspot.ca - 11/08/12)

Sri Lanka is Different, Sri Lanka is the Same
Eisel Mazard
Sri Lanka has many of the same problems as the rest of Theravda Asia, but the Sinhalese are more aware of the problems than the other cultures of the region and they are more willing to address and debate such problems openly. This is a significant difference. The following quotation will soon reach its tenth anniversary. Although the substance of what is being lamented here would also be true of Thailand, you would search in vain for a similar quotation from the upper levels of the Thai monastic hierarchy (least of all would any such lament be... -Full Story- (a-bas-le-ciel.blogspot.ca - 11/08/12)

Eisel Mazard
he "Forthcoming" Department • 2012, June, the next issue (Nanhua's peer-reviewed Journal of World Religions) will publish my article "Problems of 'Canon' and 'Reason' in Theravada Studies: Cultural Anthropology Encounters the Pali Canon, from Cambodia to Yunnan". This will be in English only; I'm hoping to eventually publish the Chinese translation elsewhere. • 2013?, "The Buddha's Philosophy of Mind and the Material Elements: Contrasting Theravada Primary Sources to their European Proxies." (Apparently the Chinese translation may be published before the English original…). • 2013?, "The Opposite of Buddhism: European Colonialism and Interpretation" (in peer-review for publication in both English and... -Full Story- (https:/plus.google.com/ - 11/08/12)

Doctors and fasting
By Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai Dehiwela.
We often hear non Muslim doctors advising patients of various diseases and even expecting mothers not to fast. It is understandable since the non Muslim doctors are not aware how  the Muslims fast. They  naturally think that the patient must be under terrible stress because of the fast. This idea is prevalent even among some Muslims since they have not given  a thought to it there are those who . But in reality  the fast is not stressful at all. On non fasting days all of us – Muslims or non Muslims... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/08/12)

Mothers working abroad
By Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai Dehiwela.
“New laws will prohibit women with young children working abroad” –says the newspapers ( Daily mirror august 10th 2012) It goes on to elaborate that the original proposal was to prohibit mothers with children under the age of 18 but due to objections it is now amended to be those with children under the age of 5. It will be interesting to find out what objections and who objected. Doubtlessly  some politicians having an income through the agencies who send the mothers. No mother should ever leave her children under 18 and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/08/12)

Laylat Al Qadr - the Night of Decree
By I. Ahmad Dalupotha, Negombo.
 Allah says in the Holy Quran: Surely, We sent it down during the Night of Decree. And what shall make thee know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. Therein descend angels and the Spirit by the command of their Lord with Divine decree concerning every matter. It is all peace till the rising of the dawn. (97: 2-6) Laylat al-Qadar is a night of great blessing in which Allah showers His Mercy upon those of His believers whom sincerely and faithfully love and obey... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/08/12)

Why Sri Lanka does not trust India
Shenali Waduge
To refrain from mentioning the role India played in nurturing LTTE terrorism would be withholding an important element of the 30year conflict Sri Lanka weathered. This arrests the notion that LTTE was a liberation movement and nullifies its claim to be the representative of the Tamil people. LTTE was nothing more than an armed movement assisted by more than just one government over the years tasked to change the geopolitics of South Asia possibly the rest of Asia to help establish a platform to destabilize countries in the region. This then would explain some of LTTE’s actions... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/08/12)

Let us avoid man made traps
Ranjith Soysa
Sri Lanka's position with regard to the stationing of her armed forces had been forcefully articulated by the SL External Affairs Minister and the Defence Secretary at a recent confab in Colombo in reply to a query by a senior Indian army officer who was with the IPKF. It is indeed ironic that the former IPKF member required such an explanation after experiencing in Sri Lanka the ferocity of the armed LTTE and loosing  hundreds of his soldiers in Sri Lanka. Or, is it that this Major General -formerly of the IPKF - is interested in anticipating ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/08/12)

කාන්තා විමුක්තිය
වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම්. ජයතුංග
විල්සන්ට වෘත්තියක් නැත. එහෙත් ඔහුට රැුකියාවක් තිබේ. ඔහු අනියම් මුරකරුවෙකි. රුකියාව ස්ථිර රැුකියාවක් නොවුවද දැන් වසර ගණනාවක් පුරා ඔහු රැුකියාවට යයි. ඔහුට දැන් එය ස්ථිර රැුකියාවක් බඳුය. එම නිසා රැුකියාව ස්ථිර කර ගැනීමට ආයාචනා, උද්ඝෝෂණ, මාරාන්තික උපවාස යනාදිය කිසිවක් කිරීම සඳහා ඔහු යොමු නොවීය. විල්සන්ගේ බිරිඳ පමණක් ඉඳහිට ”නරකද රස්සාව ස්ථිර කර ගත්තොත්. ලොකු මහත්තයට කියලා” යනුවෙන් අසන්නීය. එහෙත් ඔහුගේ ප‍්‍රතිචාර නෑසුණා මෙන් සිටීමයි. එම නිසා විල්සන්ගේ බිරිඳ සුමනාවතීද එය ඔහුගේ හිසට දැම්මේ කලාතුරකිනි. විල්සන් රැුකියාව කළේ සෙන්ට‍්‍රල් කොලීජියේය. මුරකරුවෙකු වූ ඔහු කිසි දිනෙක නිදිවරා නැත. ඊට හේතුව ඔහු දහවල් මුර කරු වීමය. රාත‍්‍රි කාලයේ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/08/12)

To IPKF General A.K. Mehta
Ira de Silva London, Canada
The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka Dear Sir: Reference the statement by retired Maj. General A.K.Mehta disputing the GOSL's position regarding the post-war military presence in the Northern Province based on unnamed sources, the simple question that should be asked of Mehta is why it is any of his (India's) concern as to how many Sri Lankan security forces are stationed in any part of Sri Lanka. Does India refer to Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh or anyone else in the region when it sends it's soldiers to various parts... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/08/12)

THE INDIAN GIRLS IN TROUBLE
PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER
A few weeks back, The Times of India published an article “Shame: Delhi still India’s rape capital”. This article by V Narayan says, “Delhi continues to be the rape capital of the country, followed by Mumbai. Delhi registered 568 cases of rape, compared to 218 in Mumbai in 2011, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics showed. In the period of 2007-2011, Delhi topped the chart, followed by Mumbai, Bhopal, Pune and Jaipur.” This article was very much shocking and disappointing for me because it reminded me of a renaming ceremony held somewhere in late 2011, in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/08/12)

Sri Lanka's main Muslim party apologizes for religious tension in election campaign
Xinhua
Sri Lanka's main Muslim party on Friday apologized for an anti-religious statement made in the run up to elections in September, a statement released by its leader said. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem apologized for a statement made regarding Buddhist monks engaging in politics and insisted that his words were maliciously taken out of context. "With no further attempts at procrastination, I wish to tender an unreserved apology to all Buddhists of Sri Lanka. I specifically request the Buddhist prelates of Sri Lanka to accept this apology for which I, as the Leader of... -Full Story- (globaltimes.cn - 10/08/12)

Rauff Hakeem Must Apologise for His Religious Bigotry
Najmudeen Mohamed
 It is almost incredible to think that Mr. Rauff Hakeem is Sri Lanka's Minister of Justice. Here is a man who is supposed to represent the epitome of fairness and an advocate of peace and harmony, and yet the words that emanate from his mouth bear all the hallmarks of hatred and ill will. Other right thinking Sri Lankan Muslims - notably Minister Faiszer Musthapha - have already publicly taken Mr Hakeem to task over his blatant attack on religious harmony in the country. Mr Hakeem's accusation that all Buddhist monks are terrorists is no different to the bigoted portrayal in the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/08/12)

Did Retired Maj. Gen Ashok K. Mehta of the Indian Army have other motives to attend the Defence Seminar 2012
By Noor Nizam - Canada, 9th August 2012.
Retired Maj. Gen Ashok K. Mehta of the Indian Army has disputed the Sri Lanka government’s position as regards the post-war military presence in the Northern Province on the basis of unnamed sources as having contradicted the Sri Lankan government’s stand on de-militarisation. This has been reported in a national Island newspaper dated the 8th., August 2012. Naturally the Indian authorities as well as the international community have been pumped with false information and gullible statistical figures by the NOG’s, INGO’s and some of the VIP opposition parliamentarians of the Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/08/12)

The ‘Whys’ and the ‘Wherefores’ of Sri Lanka -One ‘Son of the Soil’s’ reading of the past and the present
By J.B. Müller
Posted on May 26th, 2012 The Sri Lankan Diaspora overseas (mainly in Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the USA) eagerly and indiscriminately absorbs everything appearing about their Motherland in the international print and electronic media. All what is done is done in the naïve belief that there isn’t a spin on the news and that it is completely unbiased and objective. Nothing could be further from the truth! Of course, expatriates would like to believe that the BBC, VOA, Deutsche Welle, and CNN, and others are feeding their hungry and even curious minds with the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/08/12)

Destiny of refuge-seekers
Dr.Tilak Fernando
Wennapuwa Police arresting 37 Tamils and four Muslims awaiting departure by sea at a guest house in Vaikkal on August 6 records another foiled ‘human smuggling bid’. The issue on Sri Lankans who are being smuggled in boatloads by immigration racketeers to Australia has suddenly become a hot potato. Despite Sri Lanka Police arrests and Navy’s vigilant patrolling exercises from this end, the irony seems to be that when swindlers manage to escape with human cargo from any vigilant sea patrol, the Australian Navy is reportedly ‘extending a red carpet treatment to welcome such asylum seekers and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/08/12)

Over 100 million US residents on welfare
RT
Government handouts are designed to help the needy across America, but how many US residents actually reap those benefits? According to a presentation to be delivered in Washington this week, it might be way more than you thought. Republican Party representatives sitting on the Senate Budget Committee plan to present Congress with their latest findings on welfare programs in the United States this week, and their research reveals that the number of US residents receiving federal assistance isn’t only on the up but now is at its highest ever in the history of the country. According to an excerpt... -Full Story- (rt.com - 09/08/12)

Stuxnet, Flame...Gauss: New spy virus found in Middle East
RT
A new virus dubbed Gauss has attacked computers in the Middle East spying on financial transactions, emails and picking passwords to all kind of pages. The virus resembles Stuxnet and Flame malware which was used to target Iran, Kaspersky Lab says. ­Gauss has infected hundreds of personal computers across the Middle East – most of them in Lebanon, but also in Israel and Palestinian territories. Kaspersky Lab has classified the virus, named after one of its major components, as “a cyber-espionage toolkit”. The malicious malware spies on transactions in banking systems and steals passwords and credentials to social networks,... -Full Story- (rt.com - 09/08/12)

IMPACT ON RANIL’s ASCENDANCY
By Gomin Dayasri
In a masterly maneuver, endorsement was extracted without cracking bones or spilling blood with a passing burp that lost its wind before the belch ceased. UNPs’ hierarchical structure reached near unanimity in selecting Ranil Wickemasinghe for leadership giving a carte blanche for another six years – after 17 years in office, of it fourteen spent in the wilderness, exiled by popular vote. Dissidents feared to surface at a conclave where their master’s voice ruled the airwaves on the Sirikotha wi-fi. A pincer movement trapped opponents and made to observe the silence of lambs on being... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/08/12)

Save Ravana Ella from Litter Monkeys
-By Jay Deshabandu
During my latest visit to our mother land, Sri Lanka in July this year, I had an opportunity to see, once again, the Rawana Ella located in Ella, Wallawaya. Amazing range of scenic views with a wide range of lush green trees on mountains, fruits, beautiful flowers and birds were a magnetic charmer to both my mind and eye. The road that lead to the Ravana Ella from Wellawaya was well maintained and the drive was pleasant and pleasurable up to the Rawana Ella.  Rawana Ella is the work of God. It is a real beauty.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/08/12)

COLOMBO MONORAIL PROJECT BEGINS
Sri Lanka News
A small Monorail train from Fort to Battaramulla A project had been launched to build a small train also called a Monorail from Fort to Battaramulla. An agreement was signed with a Korean company last week. Many countries in the world are using Monorails which help people to travel from one place to another without getting stuck due to traffic jams. It had been named “MONORAIL” as only one rail is used for this. It runs with electricity and there are ones that run with diesel as well. There aren’t conductors in these trains and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/08/12)

Use Your Freedom Wisely Sarath Fonseka Not As A Tool To Denigrate The Adminstration Which Has Served The Nation Well !
Insight By Sunil Kumar
August 9th 2012 A recent report in a somewhat renegade faction of the local media terms Former Gen Sarath Fonseka as " the war winning former army commander" which seems somewhat of a misnomer given the fact that it took more than just his efforts alone to overwhelm the LTTE which is a fact of life and now etched in stone regardless of who does the huffing and puffing! It was the combined effort of all the Armed Forces where his charges did indeed play a pivotal role undeniably but never should it be said... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/08/12)

The Deception of Self-Determination in Sri Lanka
Shenali Waduge
In 1945 there were just 55 nations states in the world. 51 years later by 1996 there were 185 nation states. Countries have certainly split and become separated. Much of these “separations” have resulted from decolonization which have evolved to create greater issues that “independent” nations have to deal with. Self-determination as a concept has gained much international attention though very few have shown concern or raised the need to properly define it and clearly demarcate its legality. Ambiguities have allowed countries to remain in conflict and for separatist movements to exist while also encouraging politicians to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/08/12)

විදුලිය ජනතාවගේ අයිතියක්
The Media Team Ministry of Power & Energy
ඒක ප‍්‍රාණ ඇපයට අරන් කටයුතු කරන්න කිිසිම කෙනෙකුට අයිතියක් නැහැ කෑගල්ල දිස්ත‍්‍රික්කයේ පවුල් 564 ක් වෙනුවෙන් රු. ලක්ෂ 210 ක් වැයකොට ඉදිකළ  නව විදුලි යෝජනා ක‍්‍රම 03 ක් පවරාදෙමින් අමාත්‍යවරයා අවධාරණය කර සිටී.   කෑගල්ල දිස්ත‍්‍රීක්කයේ කෑගල්ල, වරකාපොල සහ යටියන්තොට ප‍්‍රදේශ වල පවුල් 564 ක් වෙනුවෙන් රු. ලක්ෂ 210 ක ලංකා විදුලිබල මණ්ඩලයේ ග‍්‍රාමීය විදුලි ව්‍යාපෘති සංවර්ධනය කිරීමේ ප‍්‍රතිපාදන මත ස්ථාපිත කළ ග‍්‍රාමීය විදුලි යෝජනා ක‍්‍රම 03 ක්, අද (07* විෂයබාර අමාත්‍ය පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක මහතාගේ ප‍්‍රධානත්වයෙන් විවෘත කෙරිණ.   පවුල් 400 ක සෙත සලසමින්, රු. ලක්ෂ 38 ක් වැයකරමින් ඉදිකළ කෑගල්ල කලංනායක... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/08/12)

Bill Clinton Turns to Buddhism to Improve His Health
By Katherine Weber , Christian Post Reporter
Former U.S. president and environmental activist Bill Clinton, raised a Southern Baptist, has turned his spiritual focus to the religion of Buddhism for the sake of his health and "hectic life," according to reports. "Ever since his heart scare, Bill has looked for ways to help him relax," a source told RadarOnline in an exclusive report. "He has a hectic life, he travels a lot on business as an ambassador for the U.S. and needs something to keep him sane," the person presumably close to Clinton added. "Meditation offers him that, he has... -Full Story- (global.christianpost.com - 07/08/12)

Iran to unplug from Web to escape West’s ‘Internet monopoly’
RT
Tehran plans to remove its key ministries and state bodies from the Internet next month, calling the worldwide web “untrustworthy.” The action is the first phase in a planned Iranian project to replace the Internet with a domestic intranet. ­The country’s key ministries will be unplugged from the global network as early as September, in a move Tehran said is aimed at protecting sensitive intelligence. Iran’s Ministry of Communications and Technology announced earlier this year that it would launch a domestic intranet to replace the Web. The system will reportedly be operational in 18 months. "The establishment of the... -Full Story- (rt.com - 07/08/12)

Suspected cyber-attack hits Iran’s oil sector
RT
A virus has been discovered in computers running key parts of Iran's oil sector, forcing authorities to unplug its main oil export terminal from the Internet. The country’s oil ministry, national oil company and a number of other companies affiliated with the ministry were hit by a cyber-attack on Sunday, according to Iranian news agency Mehr. Iran’s deputy oil minister said the facilities were taken offline and a special cyber response team was set up. Around 80 per cent of Iran's daily 2.2 million barrels of crude export goes through Kharg Island, located off Iran’s southern coast, which was... -Full Story- (rt.com - 07/08/12)

US launched cyber attacks on other nations
RT
The assumption that the US has the technological know-how to cripple a competing nation has always been just that: as assumption. In a recent sit-down interview, however, a former spy chief confirmed that America has already waged cyber attacks. Mike McConnell, the former director of national intelligence at the National Security Agency under George W Bush, tells Reuters this week that cyber war is more than a distant possibility. According to the current vice chairman at Booz Allen Hamilton, the US has already launched attacks on the computer networks of other nations. McConnell did not add any input as... -Full Story- (rt.com - 07/08/12)

Can one get food poisoned by eating rice?
Dr Hector Perera         London
The answer is yes and no. I am sure most Sri Lankans have been eating rice ever since they can remember but I never even heard about food poisoning by eating rice. Food poisoning is the type of gastroenteritis caused by eating or drinking something contaminated with micro-organisms or germs, or by toxic substances produced by these germs. It's estimated there are more than nine million cases of reported gastroenteritis in America each year by eating and drinking various kinds of food, not just one kind of food. The word food poisoning is a vast... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/08/12)

"සුළං බලයෙන් මෙගාවොට් 30 ක් 09 වනදා සිට ජාතික විදුලි පද්ධතියට"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
•        සුළං බල ධාරිතාව මෙගාවොට් 63 ක් දක්වා වර්ධනය වෙයි •        දේශීය ඉංජිනේරු දැනුම සහ දේශීය ආයෝජනය රු. මිලියන 7200 ක් •        2020 වනවිට සුළං බල ආශ්‍රයෙන් මෙගාවොට් 400 ක් ජාතික පද්ධතියට එක්කිරීමට සැලසුම්    මහින්ද චින්තන ඉදිරි දැක්මට අනුව 2020 වනවිට ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ විදුලිබල අවශ්‍යතාවයෙන් 20% ක්, සූර්ය, සුළං හා ජෛව ස්කන්ධ වැනි පුනර්ජනනීය බලශක්ති ප්‍රභවයන් ආශ්‍රයෙන් උත්පාදනය කිරීමට නියමිතය. එය ප්‍රායෝගිකව ක්‍රියාවට නංවමින් පුනර්ජනනීය බලශක්ති ක්ෂේත්‍රය සංවර්ධනය කිරීම සිදුකෙරේ. ඒ අනුව සුළං බලය අශ්‍රයෙන් මෙගාවොට් 30 ක ධාරිතාවක්, බලාගාර 03 ක් ආශ්‍රයෙන් එකවර ජාතික පද්ධතියට එකතුකිරීම, මේ මස 09 වන බ්‍රහස්පතින්දා... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/08/12)

Innovest launches Shari’ah Compliant Stock Market Investment Plan
Innovest Investments (Pvt) Ltd
Innovest Investments (Pvt) Ltd., an innovative investment management company which offers expert services to both institutional and individual clients looking to invest in the Stock Market as well as Fixed Income Securities, has introduced an Islamic Shari’ah Compliant Investment Plan that comprises of only Shari’ah compliant stocks traded on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). With this scheme in operation, investors who prefer to avoid interest or Riba can now limit their investments to shares from a basket of Shari’ah compliant companies. Former Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and Finance Commission Ajit de... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/08/12)

Poland’s Political and Economic Transformation In the Context of Transition in Central and Eastern Europe
Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS)
Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies Presents a Public Lecture on Poland’s Political and Economic Transformation
In the Context of Transition in Central and Eastern Europe
Friday 10 August, 2012
5.00 – 6.00 p.m.
His Excellency Jerzy Pomianiwsky, Undersecretary of State for Oriental Policy of Poland will deliver a lecture on “Poland’s Political and Economic Transformation In the Context of Transition in Central and Eastern Europe” on 10th August (Friday) at 5.00 p.m. The lecture will be followed by signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/08/12)

AN ACCUSED CANNOT BE ADDRESSED AS PRISONER IN THE DOCK UNTIL PROVED GUILTY.-Chapter III – Fundamental Rights, Section/clause: (5)The Constitution of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka needs to be defended.
By Noor Nizam - Canada - August 5th., 2012.
 In a recent publication on the web of an internet newspaper the Colombo Telegraph dated July 29th., 2012 an article under the heading the "Presidential Regret Is Not the Core Question" was published for readers who were concerned about the incidents that took place in front of the Mannar Court premises on July the 13th., 2012. The article was written by a learned lady with due consideration to the "Rule of Law" and "Governance". There were certain issues raised to the Constitutional Rights of a Citizen of Sri Lanka under... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/08/12)

In defence of the Defence Secretary - The 'four-letter-word'
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
During the last couple weeks there had been unusual publicity to some comments made by the Defence Secretary due to provocation by the Sunday Leader Editor. As people are aware, the 'four letter word' is freely used in the Army, Navy and the Air Force. As I was in the Air Force many years ago I can vouch for this and it comes down traditionally from colonial times. This word is commonly used in the developing countries not only by the adults but by the kids as well. When I was working as a part-time teacher in New... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/08/12)

ශ්රීe ලංකාවේ අපයෝජන කලාවේ වර්තමාන ස්වරූපය
චන්ද්‍රසේන පණ්ඩිතගේ විසිනි.
ශ්‍රි ලංකාවේ අපයෝජන කලාව විවිධ වකවානුවලදී රිද්මයානුකූලව ඉහල ස්තරයක සිට පහලටත්, පහල ස්තරයක සිට ඉහලටත් ගලායයි. ළමා හා තරුණ  අපයෝජනය, කලාවක් බවට පත්ව ඇති මේ යුගයේ මේ අපයෝජන කලාවේ රිද්මය, ගලා යන්නේ, රොක් සංගීතයක රිද්මයානුකූල තාවයකට අනුවය. උච්ඡ ස්වරයකින් ගයන මේ සංගීත කණ්ඩයන් මෙරට ජන මනස මහා පීඩනයකට ලක් කොට අඛණ්ඩව පෙලමින් සිටී. සීයලා, තාත්තලා, බාප්පලා ලොකු තාත්තලා තරගයට මෙන් තම ඇකයට වී සුරතල් වූ තමන්ගේම දරුවන්ව තරගයට මෙන් අපයෝජනයට ලක් කරන විට, නගරාධිපතිලා, ප්‍රාදේශීය සභාපතිලා හා ප්‍රාදේශීය මන්ත්‍රීලා,  සිය පුතුන් සමග එකතුව කුඩා දැරිවියන් අපයෝජනය කිරීමට හෝ දූෂණය කිරීමට පෙල ගැසී බලා සිටින්නේ, ආණ්ඩුවේ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/08/12)

US presidents useless - Putin
By Xavier Lerma
"I think that the missile defense problem will not be solved if Obama is reelected or not," Putin. President Vladimir Putin has been aware of the fact that the US has been and will continue pointing missiles at Russia and surrounding it with military bases. He knew that the promises from Reagan to Gorbachev were broken in the 90's. He never expected to get treated better than the US treated the Native Americans. Even if Obama promised the moon Putin would not have believed him. So, why the meeting?Two hours alone together and I'm sure Putin... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 05/08/12)

Obama authorizes covert US support for Syrian rebels – reports
RT
US President Barack Obama has signed a secret order allowing the CIA and other American agencies to support rebels seeking to overthrow the Assad regime, a US government source told Reuters. Obama reportedly gave the order, known as an intelligence “finding”, earlier this year. The presidential finding also provides for US collaboration with a secret command center operated by Turkey and its allies. The full extent of the assistance the “finding” allows the CIA to give the Syrian rebels is unclear. It is also unknown precisely when Obama signed the order.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 05/08/12)

What happened in the history of Jaffna - A THOUSAND FLOWERS BLOOMED IN THE SINHALA-BUDDHIST CULTURE
H. L. D. Mahindapala
Historians agree that there was no bitter division or explosive violence between the Tamils of the north and the Sinhalese of the south until the constitutional changes introduced by the British in the early twenties and thirties led to the rise of communalism in the north, particularly with Sir. Ponnambalam Arunachalam leaving the broad, multi-ethnic Ceylon National Congress to form the narrow communal organisation, the Tamil Mahajana Sabhai in 1921. Commenting on the rise of communalism in the 20th century, Prof. K. Indrapala, who had to run away from the Jaffna University for writing history that was not palatable to the Tamil separatists,  said: "There... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/08/12)

Although The Cost Of Living As Explained By Central Bank Is Rising, The Current Economic Policies According to the International Monetary Fund Needs To be Sustained Towards Economic Stability!
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial
August 4th 2012 A recent report compiled by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka indicates that the cost of living is rising in Sri Lanka, where the stats released  show, with or without the consideration of price sensitive food and fuel in measuring inflation, which is the rate at which prices increase.  The incapacity of the opponents of the Government to comprehend this reality has then screaming about governmental negligence making it an issue of confrontation vis a vis a political platform towards their own objectives and is a distortion of reality. In the simplest of terms, being... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/08/12)

Combustible northeast of India
Kuldip Nayar Courtesy The Island
INDIA’S northeast is the most combustible region. Some 250 ethnic groups are arrayed against one another and New Delhi to fight for their identity, some seeking even an outside-India status. Religion-wise, the proportion of Hindus, Muslims and Christians is more or less the same. Infiltration, mostly from Bangladesh or what was East Pakistan, has only aggravated the problem. Even the Assamese who were given a separate state in 1955 when India was reorganized on the basis of language have become a minority in Assam itself. The Bodos, an ethnic group which hurled part... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/08/12)

Indian industrialists to invest US$ 5 bn in SL Plan to open two industrial zones
By Mario Andree  Courtesy The Island
Visiting Indian Minister Anand Sharma yesterday announced that his country’s private sector would invest five billion US dollars in Sri Lanka. Accompanied by 108 Indian corporate heads, India’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles Anand Sharma said it was time that the two countries looked at strengthening their economic partnership which would be facilitated by the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). India would provide Sri Lanka preferential access to the large Indian market through the CEPA focusing on sharing the economic prosperity his country was enjoying with its neighbour. Yesterday morning, the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/08/12)

VILLAGE SKETCH (FICTION) –27-THE CURSE OF THE GODS
ARCADIUS
"It’s the curse of the gods, this drought,'' Kira said to his wife in listless tones. "It has never been like this." It was an unprecedented drought. Caked and cracking soil, bare trees with dried up twigs making metallic noises in the breeze; intense heat, the fierce glare and the dead grass a withered brown clinging to the earth. The earth was dead. There was only one sign of life—the creepers that hugged the big trees and fed on them. They were still green, still living. Occasional rustling noises among the withering bushes were heard with apprehension. A... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/08/12)

Human Rights for some
John MacKinnon
August 02, 2012 Today, the New York based HRW is keeping the LTTE mantra alive: HRW says Massacre of ACF Aid Workers goes unpunished. So does the massacre of thousands and thousands of innocent civilians by the Tamils. But then how can the Human Rights Watch hold the international Tamil community responsible for this when it's bad business to bite the hand that feeds? So we gotta ask the yankeez: are lives of aid workers worth more than thousands and thousands of innocent civilians murdered by the Tamils? As Dr. Michael Radu, the Co-Chair of FPRI's Center... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/08/12)

INDIAN COMMERCE MINISTERS SAYS MANUFACTURE OF AUTO COMPONENTS AND DRUGS WILL START IN SRI LANKA SOON
by Walter Jayawardhana
Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma was quoted having said that his country would help establish a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to manufacture auto components in Trincomalee soon to cater to auto manufacturing hubs in India. The Hindu which reported the decision of both governments of India and Sri Lanka which he said was reached last Friday morning also added that at the moment the exact amount of investment cannot be stipulated since the decision was reached hours ago. The SEZ will cater to auto manufacturing hubs in India, he said and added that India was keen... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/08/12)

Russian warships can dock in Syria for resupply - Ministry of Defense
RT
Russia’s three warships do not plan to stop at Syria port of Tartus, but may do so if they need to resupply, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said. The statement comes in response to media reports suggesting that troop transports will visit Tartus. ­“In case of possible extension of mission’s terms and the number of tasks on the route of a long ocean trip [of the Russia’s Navy], the command has the right to refresh logistic of Tartus, which is intended for this,” the Ministry’s statement reads. The statement came in response to media reports that three troop transports from... -Full Story- (rt.com - 03/08/12)

The UNP accuses the Government about the Cost of Living little knowing that it was the UNP that destroyed the mechanism to control the Cost of Living.
By Garvin Karunaratne, Ph.D.(Michigan State University)
Ranil Wickremasinghe the leader of the United National Party(UNP) was shown distributing leaflets on the high cost of living and the economy at the Delkanda Fair in Nugegoda. The leaders of the UNP deserve to be reminded that it was the UNP of President Jayawardena itself that demolished the infrastructure that Sri Lanka had built up for decades since achieving independence, for combating inflation. It was also no other than Ranil Wickremasinghe himself who abolished the CWE during his Prime Ministership in 2001.  He appears to be a dementia patient today. To... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/08/12)

The Olympics – show of the mighty, by the mighty, for the mighty
by Mario Perera, Kadawata
 The Olympics is in full swing. The USA is on top. Some other European nations and some assimilated nations are still visible on the screen though running somewhere behind. Those nations, courteously called ‘developing nations’, and the irremediable third world nations are also there, more as tourists and awed onlookers. They will return priding themselves at having been there. The more reasoning might still be consoled by the saying of Pierre de Coubertin that what is important is to participate. Yet one cannot hide ones head in the sand like ostriches do. The Olympics is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/08/12)

Sri Lanka says Conference on Disarmament should not be subjected to the vagaries of changing international strategic landscape
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations and other international Organisations in Geneva, Switzerland
Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, addressing the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on Tuesday (31 July 2012), has expressed Sri Lanka's "profound disappointment that the Conference has not been enabled to undertake substantive work on its agenda". He said, "it is time to avoid the temptation of subjecting the work of this Conference to the vagaries of changing international strategic landscape, and instead, to harness its potential to contribute towards enhancing cooperative security". Emphasizing the importance of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/08/12)

"කෙරවලපිටිය යුගදනවි බලාගාරයේ සම්පූර්ණ ධාරිතාව අද අළුයම සිට නැවතත් ජාතික පද්ධතියට"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
පසුගිය ජූලි 02 දා ඇතිවූ හදිසි තාක්ෂණික දෝෂයක් හේතුවෙන් කෙරවලපිටිය ද්විත්ව චක්‍රීය බලාගාරය ක්‍රියා විරහිත කිරීමට සිදුවිය. අනතුරුව ජූලි 12 වන දා නැවතත් මෙගාවොට් 170ක ධාරිතාවක් ගෑස් ටර්බයින 02 ආශ්‍රයෙන් ජාතික පද්ධතියට එක්කිරීමට බලාගාර ඉංජිනේරුවන් සමත් වූහ. මෙගාවොට් 100 බැගින් වූ ගෑස් ටර්බයින දෙකකින් සහ ස්ටීම් ටර්බයිනයකින් කෙරවලපිටිය තාප විදුලි බලාගාරය සමන්විත අතර එහි සම්පූර්ණ ජනන ධාරිතාව මෙගාවොට් 300කි.  මෙය රජය සතු ප්‍රධානතම තාප විදුලි බලාගාරයක් වේ. පසුගිය ජූලි 25 වන දා ගෑස් ටර්බයින දෙකෙහි උපරිම ජනන ධාරිතාව වන මෙගාවොට් 200 දක්වා ජනන ධාරිතාව ළඟා කරගැනීමට එහි ඉංජිනේරුවන් සමත් විය. ස්ටීම් ටර්බයිනයේ  දෝෂයට... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/08/12)

A TERRORIST WANTED FOR THE ATTACK ON SRI LANKA CRICKET TEAM SHOT DEAD
by Walter Jayawardhana
Pakistani officials in Lahore said a terrorist wanted for alleged involvement in the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team was killed in a shootout with police in Pakistan's Punjab province,  on Thursday. International cricket in Pakistan has been suspended since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in  in March 2009. Law enforcement agencies started checking vehicles near Ghazi Ghat bridge in Multan, 400 km from Lahore, after getting a tip-off on Wednesday that some terrorists were bound for the city in public transport. During the checking of a bus, a passenger... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/08/12)

Obama authorizes covert US support for Syrian rebels – reports
RT
US President Barack Obama has signed a secret order allowing the CIA and other American agencies to support rebels seeking to overthrow the Assad regime, a US government source told Reuters. Obama reportedly gave the order, known as an intelligence “finding”, earlier this year. The presidential finding also provides for US collaboration with a secret command center operated by Turkey and its allies. The full extent of the assistance the “finding” allows the CIA to give the Syrian rebels is unclear. It is also unknown precisely when Obama signed the order. The Obama administration has been open about providing... -Full Story- (rt.com - 02/08/12)

Kofi Annan resigns as Special Envoy to Syria
RT
Kofi Annan, who has been mediating the Syrian crisis as a special UN-Arab League Envoy, is stepping down from the post, UN chief Ban Ki-moon says. "Mr. Annan has informed me, and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Nabil Elaraby, of his intention not to renew his mandate when it expires on 31 August 2012," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement. Annan blames “the increasing militarization” in Syria, along with the international community's inability to come to a consensus over the conflict, for his departure.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 02/08/12)

Bombs and Ombs II
Dr.Tilak Fernando
Sri Lankan Police has a vision to work towards a ‘peaceful environment’ and it is ‘committed to uphold and enforce law and order of the land’. During the British reign, Governor Fredrick North entrusted the magistrates and Police Judges with the task of supervising the Police in 1797; Police functions became clearly defined in 1805. On September 3,1866, Governor Fredrick North appointed G. W. R. Campbell as the Superintendant of Police. Ordinance No.16 of 1865 was modified in 1867 to change the Chief Superintendant’s designation to Inspector-General of Police; Lokubanda Dunuwila, the Disawa of Uva, created history... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/08/12)

Patriotic Sri Lankans should defend Rishad Bathiudeen.-The Muslim community must stand up for the Minister.
By Noor Nizam - Canada, August 1st., 2012.
 The national press, international media and Tamil web newspapers are publishing false news items about Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and the July 18th., protest incident in front of the Mannar Magistrate court. It is only "just" to reveal the true image of who Rishad Bathiudeen is and to reveal the hidden forces that are conspiring against him. Rishad Bathiudeen is a god fearing person. Rishad Bathiudeen is a politician with feelings. Rishad Bathiudeen is a relentless community worker and has leadership qualities. Rishad Batiudeen is a wonderful organizer and a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/12)

Non publication of comments of General Public By, :ISLAND NEWS PAPERS"!!
Jayampathy Ranaweera USA.
Dear Lanka Web Editor, As a Respectable Editor and a News Publication, your Web site always PUBLISH WHAT EVER COMMENTS MADE BY US, THE PUBLIC.But the so called big news papers like ISLAND or even Mirror, “ THOUGH THERE IS SPACE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS,” I have never seen any of these comments been published by the such News Papers.” Today I made the following comments in the ISLAND news paper, but I know these will never be published. “Hollow Prabath, News Editor of the “ISLAND”!!! I have made several comments with regard to many NEWS ITEMS... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/12)

First Buddhist funeral in Swaziland
By WELCOME DLAMINI on July 30,2012
MANZINI – Her husband and close relatives kissed her motionless body as it lay in a casket; sweet perfume was sprayed on her corpse; red roses were sprinkled atop her and one of her sons-in-law together with a friend went around the casket three times while carrying burning torches that finally initiated the funeral pyre. Thereafter, her corpse was put into a red-hot crematorium funeral pyre while still inside the E11 000 worth casket. All these unusual scenes were witnessed when, for the first time in Swaziland’s history, a Buddhist funeral took place in... -Full Story- (times.co.sz - 01/08/12)

Chinese presence in Lanka threat to national security: Karuna
Place: Chennai | Agency: PTI
Terming reports of Chinese presence in Sri Lanka a threat to India's national security, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today said the August 12 conference of the pro-Eelam body TESO would discuss it among other things and bring it to the attention of the Centre. Citing reports in a section of the vernacular media, he alleged that Sri Lanka was setting up a "temporary camp," with the assistance of the Chinese Navy in international waters near Dhanushkodi.... -Full Story- (dnaindia.com - 01/08/12)

Sri Lanka believes LTTE remnants continue raising funds: US report
By PTI - WASHINGTON 01st August 2012 11:35 PM
Sri Lankan government, which militarily defeated the LTTE in May 2009, believes that the outfit's sympathisers and remnants continue to indulge in fund-raising activities in many countries, according to a US State Department report on terrorism. The LTTE had used a number of non-profit organisations for terrorist financing purposes, including the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation, says the State Department's country report on terrorism 2011. "The Sri Lankan government actively searched for other financial links to the LTTE and remained suspicious of non-governmental organisations, fearing they would be used by the LTTE,"... -Full Story- (newindianexpress.com - 01/08/12)

Roxon clears Tamil's extradition to US
by: Sean Parnell, FOI editor
From: The Australian July 30, 2012 12:00AM Increase Text Size Decrease Text Size Print ATTORNEY-GENERAL Nicola Roxon has authorised the extradition of an ethnic Tamil, wanted by the US on offshore terrorism charges, despite his fears he will be deported to Sri Lanka and punished. Thulasitharan Santhirarajah, the former head of the Melbourne International College, has spent four years in custody, most of that time awaiting a decision by the federal government on whether to support his US prosecution over alleged links to the Tamil Tigers.... -Full Story- (theaustralian.com.au - 01/08/12)

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