News Archive for Oct 2012

LTTE crimes against Tamils and how pro-LTTE TNA and others simply watched
 Shenali Waduge
The LTTE ground fighting force may be no more but there are plenty of LTTE supporters that exist both locally and internationally. We challenge them to deny whether LTTE did not commit the following crimes and abuses against their own people – the people who they said were the reason why they were fighting for a separate Tamil Eelaam Homeland falsely promoting Sinhala discrimination to gain international sympathy.  LTTE crimes from mid 1980s to 2009 (30 years of horror the Tamils went through) lest Tamils may have forgotten the ordeals they went through.  Forcible Recruitment of Tamils... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/12)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper attending the Francophonie Summit
Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada
30 October 2012 The Editor, EMBASSY Ottawa Sir: Your October 10 issue deals with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's heading to Congo despite boycott calls by the Canadian-Congolese community because of its alleged human rights violations and undemocratic systems. Yet, Prime Minister Harper said he would boycott Sri Lanka’s Commonwealth Summit in 2013 if Sri Lanka did not improve its human rights and deal with alleged atrocities stemming from its war with the world’s most ruthless separatist Tamil Tiger terrorists which lasted 27 years. This is a strange contradiction,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/12)

"නිව්යෝක් නගරයට සිදුවී ඇති ඛේදවාචකය අනාගතයේදී ශ්‍රී ලංකාවටත් සිදුවිය හැකියි"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
 ගෝලීය උණුසුම ඉහළ යාමත් සමඟ "The Day After Tomorrow"  ප්‍රබන්ධ චිත්‍රපටයේ සිදුවීම් ඇමෙරිකාවේ නිව්යෝක් හා නිව් ජර්සි ආශ්‍රිතව අද සත්‍යයක් වී තිඛෙනවා   සැන්ඩි චණ්ඩ මාරුතයට ගොදුරුවී සිටින නිව්යෝක් නගර වැසියන් මෙන්ම ඇමෙරිකාවේ බොහෝ ප්‍රාන්ත වල මිලියන 60 කට වැඩි ජනතාවක් ගෝලීය උණුසුම ඉහළ යාමේ ඛේදනීය තත්ත්වයට දැන් මුහුණදී සිටී. මේ තත්ත්වයත් සමඟ ඇමෙරිකාවේ බොහෝ ප්‍රාන්ත වල විදුලිය බිඳවැටීම්ද වාර්තා වේ. විදුලිය නොමැතිකමෙන් අහස උසට නැගි විශාල ගොඩනැගිලි පරිපාලනය කිරීමේ මහත් අපහසුතාවන්ට මේ වනවිට ඔවුන් මුහුණදී ඇත. මෑන්හැඩ්න් නගරය ආශ්‍රිතව නිෂ්පාදනය කළ ප්‍රබන්ධ චිත්‍රපටයක් වන"The Day After Tomorrow" චිත්‍රපටයේ සිදුවීම්, සත්‍ය සිදුවීම් බවට අද වනවිට පත්වෙමින් තිබේ. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/12)

UNP glad to join PSC probe against CJ
by Shamindra Ferdinando-Courtesy The Island
The UNP yesterday said that it would gladly join the proposed special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to inquire into allegations against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. Deputy Secretary General of the UNP, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, MP, yesterday told The Island that the main Opposition party would definitely want to join the inquiry. Asked whether he was speaking for the party, Dr. Jayawardena said that the decision making Working Committee on Tuesday evening had decided that the UNP should be represented in the PSC. The UNPer challenged the government to initiate the impeachment process by getting... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/12)

Sri Lankan parliament to impeach first woman chief justice: Report
PTI | Oct 31, 2012, 12.07PM IST
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's ruling coalition is all set to impeach the country's first woman chief justice on the charges of "improper conduct" after weeks of a simmering spat between the executive and the judiciary, a media report said. A motion to remove Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake from the post will be handed over to the parliamentary speaker on Thursday, the Sinhala language daily 'Lankadeepa' said on Wednesday. The government parliamentary group had endorsed the move at a meeting of the ruling coalition leaders, it said. The speaker will be informed on the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/12)

Young Global Leader & Global Shaper from Colombo to the World Economic Forum Regional Meeting held in India
Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute
For the first time, Anoka Abeyrathne, a Global Shaper from Sri Lanka will be representing the Colombo Hub at a World Economic Forum regional meeting held in Gurgaon, India from 6-8 November 2012. The forum in India will address issues and challenges faced by youth to the highest level of discussion.         Anoka is the 2010 SAARC Youth Award recipient for outstanding environmental protection and climate change mitigation and is on the 2012 list of the 25 World’s Most Influential and Powerful Young People. A Global Changemaker and Climate Champion, Anoka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/10/12)

Drowning on Wall Street and Ending World War II
By David Swanson
October 30, 2012 "Information Clearing House" - Imagine if George W. Bush had stood on the smoking ruins of the World Trade Center and declared, "We are going to continue our pursuit of world domination and environmental destruction until the oceans rise, the storms surge, and this spot and all the surrounding streets are drowned in routine floods, destroying the infrastructure, and collapsing the buildings of this great city, while you morons are distracted by my screams for vengeance and genocide against people who've never driven an SUV a block in their lives or ever heard... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 31/10/12)

The Buddha’s Compassion towards Animals
Focus-
Given the enormity of animals being sacrificed (killed)on two days of hajj festival ( altogether estimated at 100 million animals around the world. In Pakistan alone 10 million animals were killed) our moral conscience do not permit us to remain silent. As Buddhists our sympathies are entirely with the innocent and defenseless animals being killed to help human beings go up the 'spiritual ladder'.
In the sixth century before the Christian era, religion was forgotten in India. The lofty teachings of the Vedas were thrown into the background. There was much priest craft everywhere. The insincere... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/12)

Save energy by cooking scientifically
Dr Hector Perera   London
Sri Lanka is blessed with non stop sun shine and there is no requirement of ENERGY for the purposes of warming houses but some countries like France and England get enough sunshine only during the summer time. In Sri Lanka they use gas mainly for cooking only where as other countries use gas for cooking and heating. There was a time in Sri Lanka with no gas to cook that is because it was not in use, they mainly used firewood for cooking and in some places still they use firewood for cooking. Once we... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/12)

The National Sailing Championship of Sri Lanka, organised by the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka on November 3rd. and 4th
The National Sailing Championship of Sri Lanka, organised by the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka will get underway on November 3. and 4. at the Colombo/Panadura (Sea Venue).
Now for the first time ever kitesurfing in competition…the new trendsport. 2016 part of the olympic games is the discipline of race for both men and women.   Kitesurfing connects sailing, windsurfing and wakeboarding. A big power kite, controlled by a line-system (bar) pulls the kiter with a kite board over the water. Fast races…high jumps and different tricks are possible with the board or in the air. There... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/10/12)

Hurricane hammers NY: 10 dead, houses destroyed by fire, freak floods in subway
RT
Explosions, fires, and floods have devastated New York, killing at least ten people statewide. As Hurricane Sandy hit the city it left over 50 houses ablaze, at least seven subway tunnels flooded and nearly 2 million New Yorkers without power. Parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island are underwater as hurricane Sandy passes over New York. Much of the city is now without power, and mass transit has been shut down until further notice. Sporadic explosions could be heard throughout the city. Emergency 911 operators were receiving 10,000 calls per half hour, NYC Mayor’s Office reported. Downed power lines... -Full Story- (rt.com - 30/10/12)

Gotabhaya: OPA also wants 13-A abolished; Why flay only me?
’By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island
October 29, 2012, 10:17 pm Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that his call for the abolition of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution had extensive backing from many sections of society. Rajapaksa pointed out that Sri Lanka’s foremost outfit of professionals, the Organisation of Professional Organisations (OPA) had in May 2012 unanimously passed a resolution urging President Mahinda Rajapaksa to do away with the controversial 13th Amendment. The OPA’s call for the abolition of what was imposed on Sri Lanka way back in July 1987 coincided with the third... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/10/12)

OPTIONS FOR PROCASTINATING ON THE 13TH AMENDMENT
By Gomin Dayasri
Hark, hark, dogs do bark; sleeping dogs – the procrastinators, warm stools in high places without attending to the imperatives, after securing a 2/3 majority. Awake before it’s too late- this could be the last call on the 13th Amendment. Impact of the 13th amendment can be diminished or demolished, satisfactorily, if the legitimate grievances of Tamils, as identified in the LLRC report and accepted by the government in its Action Plan presented to Hillary Clinton, is implemented, which is a preferred alternative. It means directly addressing the problems of Tamil people in the North/East, satisfying... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/10/12)

වම්ඉවුර - ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණය ගැන ඉන්දියාවෙන් ගත හැකි පූර්වාදර්ශය
සී. ඒ. චන්ද්‍රප්‍රේම-දිවයින
13 වැනි සංශෝධනය අහෝසි කළ යුතු යෑයි ලංකාවේ නැගෙන හඬට නවදිල්ලිය කලබල වී ඇති බව ඉන්දීය පුවත්පත් වල පළවිය. ඔවුන් එසේ කලබල වී ඇති බව ලංකාවේ ඉන්දීය නියෝජ්‍ය මහ කොමසාරිස්‌වරයා පසුගිය බ්‍රහස්‌පතින්දා ගාමිණී දිසානායක අනුස්‌මරණයේදී කළ කතාවෙන්ද පැහැදිලි විය. 13 වැනි සංශෝධනය අහෝසි කළ යුතු යෑයි මේ ආකාරයට හඬ නැගෙන්නට පටන් ගත්තේ මන්ද යන්න ඇතැම් අයට අමතක වී ඇති බව පෙනේ. මේ ප්‍රශ්නය පැන නැග්ගේ 13 වැනි සංශෝධනයේ වගන්ති වලට නිර්වචන දෙමින් රටේ එදිනෙදා පාලනයට අධිකරණය පැත්තෙන් බාධා පැමිණුනු නිසාය. මෙය දේශපාලන සංවාදයේ ඉදිරියටම පැමිණෙන්නේ දිවි නැගුම පනත නිසාය. නමුත් ඊට කලින්ද ජාතික පරසර නීති සම්මත... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/10/12)

Pakistan's Imran Khan Slams U.S. War On Terror
Video Interview - CBC News - Posted October 27, 2012
,The war on terror has been a costly failure and the use of drones is ratcheting up anti-Americanism and militants, says a popular politician vying to be Pakistan's next leader. In an interview on CBC News Network's Power & Politics, Imran Khan said he's the only leader promoting a peaceful solution to the decade-long conflict — and that his push for talks with the Taliban has wrongly branded him a pro-jihadist. The founder of the Movement of Justice Party told host Evan Solomon he wants to spread the word... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 29/10/12)

HRW International Justice Director Richard Dicker is looking at Sri Lanka from the wrong side of his binoculars.
By Charles.S.Perera
(Is there a Universal Periodic Review for USA and the International Community  ?) International Justice Director at New York based Human Rights Watch  Richard Dicker had said, “While war raged in Sri Lanka, Russia and China’s strong support of the government in Colombo thwarted almost all efforts to even discuss the known horrors committed during the war by both sides,” This Richard Dicker unfortunately speaks with blinkers on.  He looks from his comfortable room in a stately building in New York through the wrong side of the binoculars only at Sri Lanka.   He does not see clearly... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/12)

13th Amendment – Implications of Eelam
Ratanapala
24 October 2012 The 13th Amendment in its various manifestations is in for consideration. It is best if the following issues too are discussed in this forum and elsewhere by patriots so that their implications for the future of Sri Lanka and for the future generations of all Sri Lankans are given due consideration.  Let the politicos and the powers that be too understand the implications. Most of all let the people know! Part 1.  Indefinite, non existing, but  moving Eelam border Eelam Stamp – Issued clandestinely in 1980 and the 2009 Ealam Map First and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/12)

Appeal to Sri Lankan Tamils not to be misled again by Pro-LTTE TNA – a reply
By Mario Perera, Kadawata
 Shenali, I am not faulting you for entertaining your wistful hope. But in the end good sense has to prevail. You surely know, with your wide knowledge of so many issues, that your plea to the Tamil people to distance themselves from the TNA would inevitably fall on deaf ears. You know only too well that the multiple strands that weave the Tamil psyche individually and collectively are unfathomable and evade the yardstick of normal reason. The Tamil mentality is so structured that it is held together, individually and collectively by psychological and moral bonds... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/12)

Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka (RASSL) Lecture-on “One Hundred Years of Education for Blind Persons in Sri Lanka”on Tuesday 30th October 2012 at 5.00 p.m.
Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka (RASSL) Lecture
  on   “One Hundred Years of Education for Blind Persons in Sri Lanka”   by
 
Professor D.P.M. Weerakkody
Dept. of Classical Languages, University of Peradeniya
on Tuesday 30th October 2012 at 5.00 p.m.
  at the   Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium,   No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 07   ALL ARE WELCOME   Beginning with the commencement in 1912, of the School for  the Deaf and Blind, Ratmalana, the lecture surveys the progress of  education for the blind in Sri Lanka, covering residential schools as well as integrated and inclusive... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/12)

A Book Review -Title: Putting Buddhism to Work: A New Approach to Management and Business-Author: Shinichi Inoue
Senaka Weeraratna
Buddhist Economics: The Emerging Middle Path between Capitalism and Socialism- Publisher: Kodansha International Ltd. (Tokyo) Year of publication: 1997 Shinichi Inoue, a former President of the Japanese Miyazaki Bank and reputed economist, has proposed a novel approach to economic management that goes beyond socialism and capitalism. He calls his proposed economics for the 21st century 'Buddhist Economics', a phrase first used in print by Dr. E.F.Schumacher in 1973 in his best-selling book " Small is Beautiful ". Based on the insight of the Buddha that spiritual liberation is attained by avoiding extremes, whether by indulgence in worldly... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/12)

Is the Implementation of the13th Amendment practicable?
S. Akurugoda
At his repeated call for the repeal of 13th Amendment to the Constitution, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has said that the 13th Amendment was nothing but a springboard for those seeking to accomplish what the LTTE had failed achieve through terrorism. It is a well known fact that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution as ill- conceived and hurriedly pieced together by picking bits and pieces of the Indian Constitution in keeping with the Indo-Lanka Accord. Expression of personal judgment on the 13th Amendment, in his capacity as Defence Secretary, is timely. Although the press briefing of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/12)

Abolish the thirteen amendment now! -Updated
By Jay Deshabandu
Every peace loving citizen who loves this country should be united to voice and express strong opposition to the implementation of the thirteenth amendment.  The thirteenth amendment was forced to us by the Indian government during the regime of JRJ who first introduced the violent political gang culture to Sri Lanka.  The thirteenth amendment stipulates that the unit of power is at the provincial level and it gives enough room for two or three provincial councils to merge making the foundation for separatism along ethnic lines.  One can see this very clear in the thirteenth amendment:... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/10/12)

Noam Chomsky : Who Owns the World?
Video and Transcript
In a recent speech, Chomsky examined topics largely ignored or glossed over during the presidential campaign: China, the Arab Spring, global warming, nuclear proliferation, and the military threat posed by Israel and the U.S. versus Iran. He reflects on the Cuban missile crisis, which took place 50 years ago this week and is still referred to as "the most dangerous moment in human history." He delivered this talk last month at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst at an event sponsored by the Center for Popular Economics. Chomsky’s talk was entitled "Who Owns the World?"... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 28/10/12)

Should Muslims Reconsider Animal Slaughter on Eid?
Anila Muhammad Muslims for Progressive Values , Toronto Chapter
Friday, October 26th, marks the upcoming annual celebration of Eid al-Adha, which commemorates the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael, is a day of celebration around the Muslim world. However, for millions of animals it is anything but a day for rejoicing as this day marks the beginning of ritual animal slaughter. Many individuals in the Muslim world are either refusing to participate in this ritual or speaking up and asking for an end to animal sacrifice. Some are notable animal advocates such as Amira Hassan from Tunisia,... -Full Story- (huffingtonpost.ca - 28/10/12)

Appeal to Sri Lankan Tamils not to be misled again by Pro-LTTE TNA
Shenali Waduge
 What do Sambanthan, Premachandran, Senathirajah and Sreetharan all have in common? Apart from being partners of an unregistered alliance called the Tamil National Alliance, they are all former mouthpieces of the separatist agenda and they continue to be the obstacle to allowing people to start life afresh as that would mean an end to their own existence politically. The Tamils can take a cue from the Tamils in Mullaitivu who are creating their own political and social statement without any assistance of the TNA – the Tamils are in a position to decide how they would like... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/10/12)

Russia accuses U.S. of coordinating and arming mercenaries in Syria
RT
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said "it is common knowledge Washington is aware of the delivery of various types of illegal weapons to illegal armed groups operating on Syrian territory." The Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Nikolai Makarov, said mercenaries in Syria possessed the US manufactured Stinger. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich, on Thursday accused the government of the United States (U.S.) of coordinating the delivery of all types of weapons to the mercenaries in Syria, since last March, trying to topple President Bashar al Assad.... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 27/10/12)

Siege of Bani Walid: Foreign fighters, phosphorus bombs and nerve gas – RT sources
RT
The besieged Libyan city of Bani Walid has been plunged into chaos. RT sources say that the former Gaddafi regime stronghold is under attack by militias bolstered by foreign mercenaries, and they used banned weapons like white phosphorous. ­The sources denied reports of the last few days that Bani Walid was retaken by the Libyan government. Residents said that militia forces have continued their assault, while preventing the refugees who fled from reentering the city. A man who claimed his relatives are trapped inside the besieged city spoke with RT, saying, “There is no food; there is nothing to... -Full Story- (rt.com - 27/10/12)

Tissa, Vasudeva and Dew have become reactionaries, while Gotabhaya Rajapakse with foresight explains danger of 13 Amendment.
By Charles.S.Perera
Today  the LSSP  and the Sri Lanka Communist Party cannot even speak for the working class which has unfortunately been taken over by Lal Kantha of JVP.  Their failure in the Trade Union Sector is seen in Bala Tampoe of the Mercantile Union, handing over Rs.500,000,00 to FUTA – a Trade Union of University Professors who are the most destructive, egoist, reactionary,  and unpatriotic elements in Sri Lanka today. The Lanka Samasaja Party is  represented today by the  two of its “remnants” Tissa Vitharana and Vasudeva Nayakkara. They represent nothing  but a shadow of what Lanka Sama ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/12)

Abolish the 13th Amendment and Communal Parties and bring in a Senate of Occupational Groups representing Professional,Business , Cultural, and Trade Union Interest Groups .
Eksath Lanka Maha Sabha Dr Nath Amarakone  General Secretary -  ELMS.
Abolition of the 13th amendment, was a demand from the time this was instituted under duress by  India,. The SLFP opposed it declaring it a monster and a white elephant. The JVP organized an island wide campaign with black flags. The Sinhala patriotic movements considered it  a concession to Tamil communalists aimed  at separating  the North and the East from the rest of the country. After   25 years of experimentation, there is no PC in the North of the country. The first PC in the North and East... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/12)

13 A , India and the SLMC
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
On the 24th Oct  the SLMC secretary had stated "...the majority community would vote en-bloc in support of the move to repeal the 13 A introduced as a panacea for the long standing grievances of the minorities following the signing of the Indo-Lanka Accord in 1987..." 13 A was not 'introduced' as claimed. It was forced on Sri Lanka by India with the signing of the Indo-Lanka Accord in July 1987. This was never presented in Parliament for debate. And the people did not have an opportunity to express their views through the media. The circumstances were such that, JR  had no... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/12)

Political headaches & electoral pillows
Editorial -The Island
Transport Minister Kumara Welgama tells us that under the present electoral system, a candidate has to spend as much as Rs. 50 million on his or her election campaign. He has contested several elections and he should know, but we think we are not short of politicians who spend at least twice as much if the manner in which they shower election bribes on the electorate during hustings is anything to go by. Some of them distribute truckloads of dry rations, stationery etc and there have been instances where politicians even gave away mobile phones! On... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/12)

Buddhist Sri Lanka dedicates to animals being slaughtered for salvation
Shenali Waduge
The logic behind killing animals as a sacrifice or otherwise is something Buddhists who understand the precepts of Lord Buddha cannot comprehend. As humans it is upto us to be the mouthpiece of the animals that have no choice.  The logic behind sacrifice is again a factor that baffles Buddhists. Sacrifice is certainly left to an individual to decide but can an individual decide to end the life of another and in this particular instance – that of an animal who can say neither no nor yes. Should not anyone’s freedom or rights stop at the doorstep... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/12)

KASHMIR-WAITING FOR A SAVIOR
PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER
 This beautiful world around us is a very strange blend of contradictions and incongruities. We condemn the same thing which we had once appreciated and admired when it directly affects our own specific interests. This prejudiced trend is more popular with the western society than the other parts of the world. Since India is trying her level best to prove herself an equal and parallel to the countries like US and England, one can find the same hypocritical bent of mind there also.  Human rights violation is one of the most favourite topics for the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/12)

Angelo Mathews Needs To Prove His Critics Wrong By Performing With Defiance.
Top Spin By Suni
October 27th,2012  Angelo Mathews needs to stand up to his critics with the bat and ball and all the defiance he can muster if he is to silence his critics. Criticism has come primarily from the Chief Selector Asanka de Mel. Mathews a rated all rounder in the Sri Lanka Squad has now been offered the captaincy in the opener (T-20) of the forthcoming series against New Zealand and its about time he delivered as its been a long time coming and those who know his performance capabilities believe it will happen soon and seems... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/12)

Cruelty to animals in the name of Islam in Sri Lanka
By Naleem
It is very obligatory to act in a humane way within acceptable limits while performing the Ulhiya ritual. Irrespective of innumerable awareness programs and guidance, our society carries on this practice in a hateful way which is provocative to other communities. This has been the main root cause for the current issues of objections from various non-muslim organizations. None can ignore or disagree in many cases that the way the preparation is carried out for slaughtering in Sri Lanka is appalling: just drag the animal, tie its limbs, push force the animal to fall, grab it cruelly and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/12)

Sri Lanka - Muslims requested to avoid animal sacrifice on Full Moon Poya Day ( Oct. 29th)
Courtesy :  Daily Mirror
I have advised that if any unfavorable incident takes place in any part of the country, to contact our Ministry officials immediately as we will take necessary action We had a meeting with the IGP N.K Ilangakone and the senior officials of the Police Department to solve the problems, if any issues come up, he said Deputy Minister of Technology and Research Faiszer Musthapha and the representatives of the All Ceylon Jammiyyathul Ulama jointly requested all Muslims to avoid the Ulhiyya (sacrifice of animals) on Monday (29), due to the Full Moon Poya Day.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/12)

Haj Festival - Avoid cow slaughter, Muslim clerics tell Muslims of India
Courtesy:  Times of India
Lucknow: In keeping with the city's famous communal unity, Muslim clerics here have urged the community to avoid cow slaughter on the occasion of Eid ul Adha aka Bakarid as a gesture of tolerance and respect to the sentiments of the Hindu brethren.Bakarid celebrates is all about making sacrifices and falls this year on Saturday,October 26. In a press release,vice president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and noted prominent Shia cleric Maulana Syed Kalbe Sadiq said,"We live in a country where Hindu brethren are in majority and their religious sentiments should... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/12)

Animal agony in Meeraniya Street and Wilson Street
D.J.L.S. Karunaratne Colombo 12 Courtesy:  Daily News (Oct. 26, 2012)
There is a gross violation of the Animals Protection Ordinance taking place at Meeraniya Street and Wilson Street in Colombo 12. I hope that animal lovers, protectors or law enforcement authorities will take serious notice. I bring to everyone's notice about this violation, so that some steps may be taken immediately to reduce the agony of the cattle about to be slaughtered on 27th October 2012. If you walk along Meeraniya Street and Wilson Street in Hulftsdorp, you will see a large number of cattle including calves tied to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/10/12)

Jimmy Savile may have been a necrophiliac,(sexually abuse corpses) says Paul Gambaccini
metro.co.uk
Paedophile Jimmy Savile may also have been a necrophiliac, a former colleague has said.The claims were made by former Radio 1 DJ Paul Gambaccini, who demanded to know why allegations Savile sexually abused corpses were not investigated.... -Full Story- (metro.co.uk - 26/10/12)

Jimmy Savile police inquiry will be 'watershed' moment for child abuse
metro.co.uk
The police inquiry into Jimmy Savile will be a 'watershed' moment for child abuse in the UK, as detectives said they were preparing an 'arrest strategy' after being contacted by more than 300 alleged victims, two of whom are men.... -Full Story- (metro.co.uk - 26/10/12)

Tom Watson: Unnamed prime minister linked to 'powerful paedophile ring'
metro.co.uk
Mr Watson, who came to widespread attention by pursuing claims of phone hacking at News International titles, said there was a trail between evidence used to convict a paedophile and No 10. Downing Street, Downing St, Number 10, No 10 Tom Watson linked an aide to a former prime minister with a 'powerful paedophile ring' (Picture: File) 'The evidence file used to convict paedophile Peter Righton [in 1992], if it still exists, contains clear evidence of a widespread paedophile ring,' he said. 'One of its members boasts of his links to a senior aide of a former prime minister... -Full Story- (metro.co.uk - 26/10/12)

'300 possible victims in Jimmy Savile child sex abuse scandal'
Agencies : London,s
British police investigating alleged child sex abuse by late BBC television star Jimmy Savile have uncovered around 300 possible victims, a senior officer said today. Some of the allegations involve other abusers who may have acted with the entertainer, who died last year aged 84, Commander Peter Spindler of London's Metropolitan Police said. All but two of the alleged victims are female, he said.... -Full Story- (indianexpress.com - 26/10/12)

Majority of Sri Lankans will vote to repeal the 13th Amendment at a referendum - SLMC
Asada M Erpini 
A Sri Lankan English daily on 24 October states that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) will oppose attempts to hold a referendum to repeal the 13th Amendment to the Constitution (of Sri Lanka). The apparent justification for the move is that the majority community – meaning the Sinhalese - would vote en-bloc in support of the move.  A matter that would surprise many is that the SLMC seems to be pointing a finger at the majority community for the likelihood of voting as one group on an issue that is of national importance – a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/10/12)

13 න් රට බේරා ගැනීම නිදහසේ තෙවන අරගලයයි
සාකච්ඡා කළේ රනිල් ධර්මසේන-දිවයින
13 වන ව්‍යවස්‌ථා සංශෝධනය අහෝසි කළ යුතු බවට මේ වන විට යළිත් රටේ මතවාදයක්‌ ඇති වෙමින් පවතී. ඒ පිළිබඳව දේශය සුරැකීමේ ජාතික ව්‍යාපාරයේ සභාපති පූජ්‍ය ඇල්ලේ ගුණවංශ හිමියන් සමඟ පැවැත්වූ සම්මුඛ සාකච්ඡාවකි මේ. ප්‍රශ්නය(- 13 වන ආණ්‌ඩුක්‍රම ව්‍යවස්‌ථා සංශෝධනය හදිසියේම අහෝසි කරන කතා කරළියට ආවේ ඇයි? පිළිතුර(- කිසිම හදිසියක්‌ නැහැ. මේක පිහිටවපු දා ඉඳලාම අපි විරුද්ධයි. පළාත් සභා ක්‍රමය අපට බලෙන් පටවපු එකක්‌. පළාත් සභා පිහිටුවන්න උත්සාහ කළ වෙලාවේත් අපි පිටකොටුවේ බෝධීන් වහන්සේ ඉදිරිපිට සත්‍යග්‍රහ කළා. ශ්‍රීලනිපයේ නායිකා සිරිමාවෝ බණ්‌ඩාරනායක මැතිනිය ඇතුළු පක්‍ෂයේ නායකයන් තවත් ප්‍රගතිශීලී පක්‍ෂවල නායකයිනුත් ඊට එක්‌වුණා. එහිදී පොලිසියෙන් වෙඩි තබා... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/10/12)

Norway and LTTE isolated
http:/www.svik.org/ltte.htm
The LTTE is banned by the USA, Australia, India and the European Union. Norway's fight to avoid a LTTE terrorist listing failed miserably and the LTTE and Norway is now isolated. With the exemption of Norway, Iceland and Switzerland murder of children, civilians and politicians is viewed to be terrorism. Despite of Norway's support of the LTTE terrorism the LTTE is targeting Norwegians. In Norway Norwegians are threatened at gun point by the LTTE and the LTTE propaganda apparatus is issuing death threats against Norwegian citizens. In Sri Lanka the LTTE is targeting Norwegians in the SLMM and... -Full Story- (web.archive.org - 25/10/12)

THE ROVING EYE- Time is tight to produce a worthy US dream
By Pepe Escobar
LOS ANGELES - It's tight. It's awfully tight. But way beyond demented pollmania permeating every nook and cranny of the multibillionaire election circus - coupled with the torrential vomiting of the Spin Machine scary monsters and super freaks - these are the stark facts. To become the next president of the United States (POTUS), Mitt Romney's got to win Ohio, Florida, Colorado, Virginia and Arizona. As it stands, hours before the foreign policy debate this Monday in Boca Raton, Florida, Barack Obama maintains a slight lead, 3 to 2 (Ohio, Colorado and Arizona versus Virginia and... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 25/10/12)

Making the world a more dangerous place – the eager role of Julia Gillard-Gillard has returned Australia to its historic relationship with Washington, similar to that of an eastern European satellite with Moscow.
New Statesman
The Australian parliament building reeks of floor polish. The wooden floors shine so virtuously they reflect the cartoon-like portraits of prime ministers, bewigged judges and viceroys. Along the gleaming white, hushed corridors, the walls are hung with Aboriginal art: one painting after another, as in a monolithic gallery, divorced from their origins, the irony brutal. The poorest, sickest, most incarcerated people on earth provide a façade for those who oversee the theft of their land and its plunder. Australia has 40 per cent of the world’s uranium, all of it on indigenous land. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has... -Full Story- (newstatesman.com - 25/10/12)

ලෙකෝ ප්රොtජෙක්ට්ස් මගින් අකුණු ආරක්ෂණ උපකරණ පෙළක්"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
හඳුන්වාදුන් උපකරණ හතරෙහිම නිෂ්පාදන සහ තාක්ෂණික දැනුම දේශීය ඉංජිනේරුවන්ගෙන්.  ඕනෑම තත්ත්වයක් යටතේ විදුලි උපකරණ ආරක්ෂා වන බවට වගකීමක්.  මේ දිනවල පවතින අකුණු සහිත කාලගුණ තත්ත්වය හේතුවෙන් විද්‍යුත් පරිපථ හා ක්‍රියාකාරීව පවතින ගෘහ සහ කාර්යාල ආශ්‍රිත විදුලි උපකරණ වලට බලපෑම් එල්ලවීමේ අවදානමක් ඇතැයි ලංකා විදුලි පුද්ගලික සමාගමට අනුබද්ධ ලෙකෝ ප්‍රොජෙක්ට්ස් ආයතනය පෙන්වා දෙයි. අකුණු නොමැති කාලගුණික තත්ත්වයකදී වුවද අධික වෝල්ටීයතාවය සහිත අවස්ථාවන්හිදීද එම අවදානම තිඛෙන බව ලෙකෝ ප්‍රොජෙක්ට්ස් හි ඉංජිනේරු අංශ ප්‍රධානී ආචාර්ය නරේන්ද්‍ර ද සිල්වා මහතා පෙන්වාදෙයි. මෙම තත්ත්වයන් පිළිබඳව සිදුකළ සමීක්ෂණ වලින් අනතුරුව, විෂයබාර අමාත්‍ය පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක මහතා වෙත, ලෙකෝ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/10/12)

Hajj is annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
By A. Abdul Aziz.
 Millions of pilgrims arrived this week in Mecca, called in the past as Becca, for Islam’s annual Hajj (pilgrimage). Around four million were heading to Mina, where they will spend their night before heading to the Mount of Arafat in the early hours of Thursday.  The dates of Hajj are determined by lunar calendar and therefore move by approximately ten days against the solar calendar, every year. Many pilgrims began leaving for Mina on Tuesday night after circumambulating the Holy Kaaba, the first house of worship on Earth, built by the Prophet Adam. The Prophet Abraham... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/10/12)

SAYING IT LIKE IT IS, AS ONLY GOTABHAYA CAN ...
Nimal Fernando
A statement, which will prove as historic as some others that define the very essence of this nation, was made by a person who was described in an earlier comment by this writer as one of the gutsiest sons of the soil that Sri Lanka has seen in a great many generations. In calling for the abolition of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution without further delay, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told the Sunday Times recently that the ongoing efforts by a political grouping led by one-time LTTE mouthpiece, Tamil National Alliance (TNA), to hinder the passage... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/12)

Sri Lanka must FIRST Eliminate Eelaam Ideology for Reconciliation to Succeed
 Shenali Waduge
The subjugation mentality as a result of over 500 years of occupationist colonial rule continues to haunt natives of these former colonies. Why, because they continue to or are made to think the white man has all the answers to the world’s ills. Unfortunately, despite coining all international laws, starting international humanitarian programs, defining what’s right and what’s wrong they have also been responsible for encouraging a steady flow of ideologies that have facilitated these western countries to enter the milieu with their notions of what should and should not prevail. All these have taken countries experiencing... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/12)

Karunanidhi objects to war memorial in the North: Another emission from a windbag
Asada M Erpini
An International Finance Corporation and World Bank survey of 185 countries says, in a report dated 23 October, that Sri Lanka is among the 10 best countries as regards the improvement of the ease with which business could be done. Just the previous day, Lonely Planet – if Karunanidhi knows what it is – cites Sri Lanka as the best country to visit in 2013.  Karunanidhi, the octogenarian in his twilight years, is blind to what is going on Sri Lanka. The reports mentioned previously, and many others not stated here, have been possible because of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/12)

බහුසංස්කෘතිය, චින්තනය සහ අපි
අකිල වීරසේකර
පසුගිය දිනක තරුණ පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රීවරුන් පිරිසක් යුධ විජයග්‍රහණ සැමරුම් දිනය වෙනුවට ජාතික අනුස්මරණ දිනයක් ප්‍රකාශ කරන ලෙස රජයට බල කරන බව අපට දැන ගන්නට ලැබිනි. මෙයට හේතුව ලෙස ඔවුන් දක්වා ඇත්තේ දෙමළ ඩයස්පොරාවේ දෙවැනි පරම්පරාවේ සාමාජිකයන් ලංකාවට පැමිණ සංවරධන ව්‍යාපෘති වලට සහයෝගය දීමට බලපොරොත්තු වන බවත් යුධ විජයග්‍රහණ සැමරුම් නිසා ජාතීන් අතර හොඳ හිත පළුදු වෙන බවත්ය. මන්ත්‍රීවරුන්ගේ මෙම ඉල්ලීමෙන් නැගෙන මූලික හා ද්විතීය  ප්‍රශ්න කීපයක් ඇත.  ශ්‍රී ලංකා රජය සටන්කලේ සාමාන්‍ය දෙමළ ජනයා සමගද? කුරිරු ත්‍රස්තවාදය පරාද කර ලැබූ නිදහස අද බුක්ති ව්ඳින්නේ සිංහලයන්  පමණක්ද? සිංහල,දෙමළ, මුස්ලිම් ජනයා කුරිරු ලෙස ඝාතනය කල ත්‍රස්තවාදී කොටි සංවිධානය යුධමය... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/12)

The truth behind attack on Malala Yousafzai
Afshain Afzal
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney in recent briefing said, “President Barack Obama was very committed to ending the war in the Pak-Afghan region…He has made it clear that he would refocus attention on what was a neglected war in Afghanistan, refocus our mission on Al Qaeda, and on decimating Al Qaeda’s leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan.” Terming the attack of Malala Yousafzai as a turning point in the war against militancy in Pakistan, he said, “So obviously, the degree to which the Pakistani people turn against them help their government to go after them.” US, western... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/12)

ෆොන්සේකාගේ රැළියේ පණිවිඩය
- මනෝජ් අබයදීර -දිවයින
හයිඩ්පිටියේ පැවැත්වුණු සරත් ෆොන්සේකාගේ රැලිය, මෑත භාගයේ පැවැත්වූ අතිසාර්ථක දේශපාලන රැස්‌වීමක්‌ බව කිව හැකිය. ප්‍රාදේශීය සභාවක අපේක්‍ෂකයකුගේ රැලියකට තරමේ සෙනඟ ප්‍රමාණයක්‌වත් එයට සහභාගි නොවීම හේතුවෙන් එය අසාර්ථක රැලියක්‌ ලෙස කතා බහට ලක්‌ වුවත්, මෑතකදී කිසිදු රැලියකින් අත්කර නොදුන් දේශපාලන ප්‍රතිඵල ගණනාවක්‌ සඳහා එය පාදක විය.එතැනදී වැදගත් සිද්ධියක්‌ වූයේ කරු ජයසූරිය ය. ගම්පහ දිස්‌ත්‍රික්‌කයේ පබා හෙවත් උපේක්‍ෂා ස්‌වර්ණමාලිට හා පළමු වරට පාර්ලිමේන්තු මැතිවරණයකට තරග කරන ලද රුවන් විජයවර්ධනටත් පසුව ඡන්ද ලද කරු ජයසූරිය, ඊටත් එහා යන පරාජයකට හිමිකම් කීවේ මෙම රැලිය හේතුවෙනි. මුල සිටම, කරු ජයසූරියට අවශ්‍ය වී තිබුණේ මෙම රැලිය සඳහා සහභාගී වීමටය. දයාසිරි... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/12)

Application of science, imagination and thinking in the right direction.
Dr Hector Perera   London
Imagination is very important to make something, invent something or to improve what is already there. I was just wondering, is there any relation between meditation and imagination, sorry I may be wrong. When an apple fell on his head what did the little boy did, he thought why it fell down then only he went to discover gravity. Did Galileo fly all the way up to prove that the sun is the centre of universe? Did Archimedes break the Golden crown to find whether it was a mixture of metals or just pure Gold... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/12)

Bairaha introduces Kuruma chicken, pre-cooked & ready-to-eat
Press Release
Bairaha Foods has introduced a new flavour, Kuruma, to its range of ready-to-eat, pre-cooked marinated chicken products. Now on sale island-wide, Kuruma chicken is available in either chicken drumstick or chicken breast varieties, both in 300 grammes packs. According to Bairaha Foods, the easiest and fastest way to prepare this delicious chicken dish is to cook it in a Microwave for five minutes, on a high temperature setting. However, should one prefer cooking it in a pan, Kuruma chicken must first be completely thawed or defrosted, before it is then pan-cooked for 10 minutes on medium heat.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/10/12)

Mitt Romney: International Man of Mystery
BrasscheckTV
This clip makes it pretty clear as to what Bain Capital and its CEO were up to throughout the 1990s and it explains the real source of Mitt Romney's phenomenal success as an asset manager. So much of this information is publicly available, it is shocking that it's never previously been presented so clearly. Firstly, Mitt Romney's close relationship with George Bush Sr. and Dick Cheney are newsworthy -- and it's also newsworthy that these close ties have NOT been in the news.... -Full Story- (forbiddenknowledgetv.com - 24/10/12)

Native Americans ‘slaughtered, sacrificed, fenced in reservations’ in US- prominent Native American activist Russell Means
RT
The prominent Native American activist Russell Means passed away on Monday. In 2008 he met with RT to talk about the Native Americans withdrawal from the US, their fight for recognition and his unhappiness with US citizenship. ­At the end of 2007, a large group of Native Americans from South Dakota declared the independence of the Lakotah Republic from the United States, and renounced their US citizenship. Following the incident RT’s Nadezhda Kevorkova met Russell Means, who told her about his struggle for independence. RT: Russell, you are no longer a U.S. citizen, are you? Russell Means: I am... -Full Story- (rt.com - 24/10/12)

Many UFO researchers die under mysterious circumstances
Margarita Troitsina Pravda
Many UFO researchers working on their research in the 1970s and 1980s died under mysterious circumstances, and may have been killed. This is the conclusion reached by an amateur astronomer, a former U.S. government adviser Timothy Hood. He made this statement at an international conference in Amsterdam dedicated to search for extraterrestrial intelligence. This statement is true not so much for the chasers for unidentified flying objects, but the researchers trying to find extraterrestrial life, including professional astrophysics. Hood's conclusion was prompted by a 30-year study of this topic.... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 24/10/12)

Is it not to antagonise the Forces against Sri Lanka that we should not remove 13A ?
By Charles.S.Perera
 In removing 13 A , “ We are playing into the hands of the forces that are conspiring against the country…” says Tissa Vitharana of LSSP.  If  Tissa Vitharana means  the International Community, why should we be frightened of it?  International Community has been and continues to be the most undemocratic , reactionary, and  discriminatory  foreign power working against developing countries.  The International Community has committed more war crimes, and  violation of human rights, than Sri Lanka  and no body has so far submitted a resolution at the UNHRC asking its  accountability for war crimes.  Let’s see... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/10/12)

Navi Pillai, the UNHCR and even US Congress should find the real persons responsible for War Crimes
By Garvin Karunaratne Former SLAS, Government Agent Matara District.
Colonel Gadaffi was an authoritative ruler, benevolent to his people, perhaps the only ruler  who annihilated poverty, established a first class health service, provided fabulous grants for university studies to his subjects,  but his achievements did not matter in the least. He was used by the Superpowers to do their dirty work and later dumped  the moment he stepped out of tune.  It is now reported that, “A French secret serviceman on the express orders of Nicolas Sarkozy is suspected of murdering Gadaffi…. (.he) infiltrated the violent mob that was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/10/12)

Its Easy To Adulate Che Guevara And Sing Praises To Him But His Ideologies Simply Have No Place In Sri Lanka Today!
In Retrospect By Sarath Kumara
October 23rd 2012  For someone who once sowed seeds of terrorism along with his so called comrades and indulged in clandestine activity promoting the overthrow of a democratic Nation with his collaborators of the JVP of infamy, a group that once attempted to overthrow the democratic process in Sri Lanka,  Somawansa Amerasingha seems to be talking big today! Having escaped punishment for impending  treason and revolt within a nation while being in captivity and subsequently escaping to the UK  during the JVP insurrections of the 70's and now living in the freedoms initiated by the present... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/10/12)

Lanka politics threatens ties with India- The Times of India
Sri Lanka News
According to the Times of India the ongoing one-upmanship between the Sri Lankan government and TNA, which represents a vast majority of Tamil population in the island nation, has taken a dangerous turn with many within the government, including President Mahinda Rajapaksa's brother and defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, demanding that the 13th amendment to the Constitution, a product of the Rajiv Gandhi-Jayewardene 1987 accord, be repealed altogether. The paper further says that though the 13th amendment, which guarantees devolution of power to the provinces and comprises several other major concession to the Tamils, has often been... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/10/12)

Indonesia: Sharia law force six Buddhist temples to close
Robert Spencer’s comment:
“Aceh is a special territory that enforces Sharia.” And that means that non-Muslims cannot build new houses of worship or repair old ones — it’s Islamic law. Islamic Tolerance Alert from modern, moderate Indonesia: “Nine churches and six Buddhist temples shut down under Islamist pressure in Banda Aceh,” by Mathias Hariyadi for Asia News, October 18 (thanks to Kreen Akrore):... -Full Story- (jihadonbuddhists.org - 23/10/12)

Mysteries of Muammar Gaddafi's death
Pravda
22.10.2012 Mysteries of Muammar Gaddafi's death. October 20 marked one year of the death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The politician died a horrible death: Gaddafi was first tortured and then executed. Initially, it was claimed that the Colonel had been killed in a shootout. However, after the video of the terrible tortures spread around the world, the version of death in the shootout ceased to exist. By this date, Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights organization, released new evidence showing that Gaddafi, contrary to the official version, had not been accidentally wounded in a shootout.... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 23/10/12)

Iran threatens to stop oil exports, considers anti-Europe sanctions
RT
Iran warns that it could stop exporting oil, driving global crude prices up, should the US and allied Europe tighten sanctions further. For such a case, Tehran says, it has a contingency strategy to carry on without oil revenues. ­“If you continue to add to the sanctions, we will stop our oil exports to the world,” Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi told reporters Tuesday. “The lack of Iranian oil in the market would drastically add to the price.” Iran is currently under pressure from international sanctions, mainly in oil exports, imposed by the UN Security Council, the US and... -Full Story- (rt.com - 23/10/12)

US blocks Russia's draft statement in UN on peaceful resolution of Bani Walid violence
RT
The United States has blocked a draft statement, proposed by Russia, on the resolution of violence in the Libyan town of Bani Walid, which has been under siege for weeks. The statement called for a peaceful solution to the conflict. Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin said the move “can't be serious,” reminding the American delegation of the deadly attack in Benghazi that claimed the lives of four US diplomats in September. “Blocking a draft statement that called to solve the country’s political problems without violence is very strange,” Churkin said. “This is a case when it is... -Full Story- (rt.com - 23/10/12)

Abolition of the 13th Amendment, only way to get over the current, Political, Economic, Social, before it gets more complicated.
Dr Sudath Gunasekara (SLAS) Former Ministry Secretary and President Mahanuwara Senior Citizens Movement 20.10,2012.
It is also the the best way to avoid confrontation with the Judiciary and get through the Divineguma Bill and minimize external interference and security threats. Provincial  Councils   In my opinion the Provincial Council system created under the 13th A is the biggest Political, Economic, Social, Administrative and legal tragedy staged by Sri Lankan politicians in our recent history. Because firstly, it has laid the permanent and legal foundation for the division of the country politically in to a number of independent states comprising... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/12)

Bill of rights for peace or devolution for future separation?
By Damien
Devolution of power will only benefit the politicians and the separatists. Tamilnadu (with federal system) is a living example of political elite becoming super rich while the masses remain poor and helpless. The masses are not keen on devolution. They do not get anything by it. They are only keen on been treated equally. Not discriminated based on their cast, race, gender, religion, or political affiliation. For centuries the ordinary people in North have been subject to discrimination based on their cast. With the war many rich and high cast people left the country. The new atmosphere... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/12)

Whose problem is Sri Lanka to solve - Sri Lankan Tamils or All Tamils
 Shenali Waduge
A country of 20m people, a majority of close to 15m people (the Sinhalese) is into its 3rd year having militarily eliminated 30 years of LTTE terrorism. What has confused matters is the manner in which elected Tamil leaders have claimed that the LTTE terrorist demands and those of the Tamil people are one and the same on the grounds that the LTTE was the sole representative of the Tamil people – something that the Tamil people did not deny or disassociate from and nothing that the Sinhalese can be blamed for quoting. Now that terrorism is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/12)

Need no referendum to abolish 13 A!
By citizen mahinda
"13 A is nothing other than a panacea to the sectors with vital interests of divisive politics and other ulterior motives behind, the former is an ideal catalyst and a perfect candidate to the latter." While appreciating and hailing the commendable, courageous call from Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakshe to abolish the 13A, there are others who suggests going for a referendum for the same, which we should vehemently refuse yet another colossal waste of money for a matter that is not worthy or relevant to us at all. First of all, when the monstrous 13 A... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/12)

“Sri Lanka has not honoured commitments made to India” - TNA Leader
 Asada M Erpini
The latest in the series of anti-Sri Lanka statements and pronouncements by the Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is that Sri Lanka has not honoured its commitments made to India and the international community vis-à-vis the 13th Amendment, according to media reports on 22 October.  The whole world knows, although many are not ready to admit, that the 13th Amendment to the constitution of the sovereign nation of Sri Lanka was not something that the Sri Lankan people ever conceived or wanted. It was merely an unnecessary and ill-advised ‘solution’ that was thrust upon... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/12)

Freedom of expression is not freedom of the ass;A lesson from the non-Western countries to the complacent West and its Tamil immigrants
Asada M Erpini
Sri Lanka President was invited by the Oxford Union for an address in December 2010, but because of the threats of the Tamil extremists, the organisers cancelled the event. When he went for the Commonwealth Economic Forum in June 2012, again in London, the scheduled speech at the event was cancelled amid demonstrations by hundreds of UK Tamils, who would not have any interest in coming back to Sri Lanka to settle and hordes of younger ones who may never have seen Sri Lanka except on a map. The police looked on allowing the unruly mobs... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/12)

Shell Shock to Palali Syndrome
Dr. Ruwan M Jayatunge 
In war, there are no unwounded soldiers - Jose Narosky Palali is a well-known area in the Jaffna Peninsula in the Northern Sri Lanka. Palali has an important airport that serves as the main lifeline in the North. A large number of soldiers travel to the Northern Peninsula through the Palali Airbase. During the Eelam War, Palali Air Base played a key role (like the Tan Son Nhut Air Base during the Vietnam conflict) providing essential food items, medicines and ammunition to the troops. Throughout the Eelam War, many battle casualties were transported to Colombo via Palali. Therefore, Palali is a part of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/12)

Shouldn’t TAMIL EELAAM be in TAMIL NADU? -Raj Sivanathan’s reply to Shenali
Raj Sivanathan Melbourne -Australia
One ethnic group cannot demand several mono-ethnic-homelands in different continents and countries – this is likely to create an ugly precedence globally. This type of article or any comment similar to this is not going to educate anybody but will create more racism in our society. Therefore Shenali and others should stop or do further research properly before publishing it. If this type of mentality is going to be amongst us, it will never solve the problem easily but only help to divide the country into two. Tamils have been forced to demand Eelam... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/12)

Balochistan’s Dilemma
PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER
 A sense of insecurity, a feeling of deprivation and a scenario coloured with dejection; what else the people of Balochistan have in their life. Countless targeted killings mingled with a continuous series of missing persons have added more miseries to the lives of the Baloch people. The situation is neither encouraging nor hopeful but the Supreme Court of Pakistan under the magnanimous command of the Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is doing all its best to resolve this issue which has been ever most painful since after the creation of Pakistan. It is being hoped that things... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/12)

Fitch Revises Sanasa Development Bank's Outlook to Positive; Affirms at 'BB+(lka)'
Fitch Ratings Lanka Limited Colombo 01, Sri Lanka
Fitch Ratings-Colombo/Seoul/Singapore-22 October 2012: Fitch Ratings Lanka has revised Sanasa Development Bank's (SDB) Outlook to Positive from Stable. The agency has simultaneously affirmed SDB's National Long-Term Rating at 'BB+(lka)'. The revision of the Outlook reflects SDB's improved credit metrics, which are now more in line with those of higher-rated peers. SDB's rating continues to reflect its healthy capitalisation relative to peers, high net interest margins (NIMs), improving asset quality, and effective management of its core business - micro finance (MF) lending. Improvements to SDB's financial profile, including maintaining its capitalisation and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/10/12)

Political activists behind Buddhist attack: Bangla government probe
PTI, October 19, 2012
Dhaka, Bangladesh -- A high-level government committee has accused activists of ruling Awami League alongside main opposition BNP and fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) for the attack on Buddhist temples and localities in south-eastern Bangladesh last month, reports said today. Authorities have declined to "officially" immediately reveal, the probe body findings as it submitted the report to the home ministry only yesterday but several newspapers quoting sources familiar with the investigation said the government committee identified 205 people behind the September 29-30 attacks in Ramu and adjoining areas.... -Full Story- (buddhistchannel.tv - 22/10/12)

Sharia in action in Indonesia: Islamic supremacists force closure of nine churches and six Buddhist temples
Posted by Robert
"Aceh is a special territory that enforces Sharia." And that means that non-Muslims cannot build new houses of worship or repair old ones -- it's Islamic law. Islamic Tolerance Alert from modern, moderate Indonesia: "Nine churches and six Buddhist temples shut down under Islamist pressure in Banda Aceh," by Mathias Hariyadi for Asia News, October 18 (thanks to Kreen Akrore): Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Authorities in Banda Aceh, capital of the Aceh Special Territory, ordered the closure of nine Christian home churches and six Buddhist prayer houses for alleged irregularities in their building permit. According to Deputy... -Full Story- (jihadwatch.org - 22/10/12)

Message To The Pope-His Compassion Is Over All That He Has Made.” ~Psalms 145:9
By Arthur Poletti
Holy Father, there are literally millions of people throughout the world who are appalled and disgusted by the madness and cruelty that takes place when bulls are tortured and murdered for fun and laughs and tradition during the Toro de Coria event each year in Spain. To make matters even worse, most of these events are dedicated to saints from the Catholic church (such as Saint John for the Toro de Coria) which is blasphemous!... -Full Story- (our-compass.org - 22/10/12)

Children Under Attack in Pakistan and Afghanistan
By Dave Lindorff
October 20, 2012 "Information Clearing House" - Six children were attacked in Afghanistan and Pakistan this past week. Three of them, teenaged girls on a school bus in Peshawar, in the tribal region of western Pakistan, were shot and gravely wounded by two Taliban gunmen who were after Malala Yousufzai, a 14-year-old girl who has been bravely demanding the right of girls to an education. After taking a bullet to the head, and facing further death threats, she has been moved to a specialty hospital in Britain. Her two wounded classmates are being treated in Pakistan.... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 22/10/12)

Selective Rage The Malalas You Will Not Hear About
By Wendy McElroy
October 20, 2012 "fff" ----Some news stories break your heart. On October 9, in Pakistan, 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai was shot twice in the head by Taliban gunmen. She is being treated in a hospital in Birmingham, England, where she was moved for specialized care and personal safety. Doctors say they expect a “good recovery.” Malala was targeted for assassination because of her prominent role in promoting education for girls in the Swat Valley in northwest Pakistan, which has served as a base for the Taliban. Several times, as power flowed back and forth, the Taliban outlawed... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 22/10/12)

Peace prizes for war-mongers, punitive threats for peace- makers
H. L. D, Mahindapala
In the history of wars Sri Lanka alone stands out as the nation that is charged with the crime of restoring peace and democracy. Of course, as in any other war, peace came at a price. Restoring peace in a time of war inevitably cost lives. No peace has come out of wars without sacrificing lives, particularly in the last stages where the desperate enemies facing defeat go to extremes to save their lives and political fortunes. That is the inescapable nature of war and peace. However, the Vadukoddai War launched by the Tamil leadership... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/12)

Tamils Must Emulate African Americans for a Political Solution and Power Sharing
Dilrook Kannangara
It is unfortunate the whole debate about political solutions has been dominated by Tamils, Tamil grievances and Tamil aspirations. If political solutions are only about Tamils, there is no reason why Sinhalese and Muslims should support them. If political solutions don’t make the life of Sinhalese and Muslims any better, they should not be supporting them. TNA position on political solutions collapses due to these reasons. Inability to coexist is the main problem with the TNA and it has to be fixed first. Internationalising local problems cannot do justice to the people either. It is Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/12)

Defence Secretary repeats call for abolition of 13-A
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island
October 21, 2012, 12:00 pm Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday reiterated that post-war political strategy of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) left him with no alternative but to strongly recommend the abolition of the 13th Amendment. He urged the government, the Opposition as well as the international community to examine the conduct of the one-time mouthpiece of the LTTE. It was up to Parliament to decide on the 13th Amendment, the Defence Secretary said, adding that the eradication of the LTTE conventional military capability shouldn’t be a reason for the government to be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/12)

ප්‍රභාකරන්ට ගැසූ,ආණ්‌ඩුව හසු වූ දේශපාලන ගැටය
කතු වැකිය -දිවයින
පළාත් සභා ක්‍රියාවලියේ ව්‍යවස්‌ථාදායක අත්තිවාරම වූ 13 වැනි සංශෝධනය අවලංගු කළ යුතු බවට වැඩි වැඩියෙන් මත ප්‍රචාරය වෙමින් පවතී. පූජ්‍ය ඇල්ලේ ගුණවංශ හිමි, ගුණදාස අමරසේකර, ගෝඨාභය රාජපක්‍ෂ වැනි ප්‍රගතිශීලී බලවේග මේ මතය වෙනුවෙන් පෙනී සිටිති. ඒ අතර පළාත් සභා කොට උඩ බව ඉරිදා (21 දා) "දිවයිනේ" ප්‍රධාන පුවත ලෙස පළ වී තිබිණි. පළාත් සභා කවදත් තිබුණේ කොට උඩය. උතුරු නැගෙනහිර තනි පළාත් සභාවක්‌ ලෙස පවතින කාලයේදී තිබුණේ වැට උඩය. වැටෙන් දකුණු පැත්තෙහි තිබුණේ ඒකීය ශ්‍රී ලංකාවය. වැටෙන් උතුරු පැත්තෙහි ඊළම විය. උතුරේ ඊළමක්‌ වී යෑයි කියන විට එබන්දක්‌ නොවී යෑයි ප්‍රගතිශීලී බලවේග කලබල වනවා ඇති. එහෙත්... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/12)

ගෝඨාභයගේ අනතුරු ඇඟවීම!
ආචාර්ය ගුණදාස අමරසේකර
"13 A සංශෝධනය නොපමාව අවලංගු කළ යුතුයි. ශ්‍රී ලංකා නිදහස්‌ පක්‍ෂය මෙහෙයවන එක්‌සත් ජනතා නිදහස්‌ සන්ධාන රජය 13 A අවලංගු කිරීම හෝ එය යළි සකස්‌ කිරීම හෝ නොපමාව කළ යුත්තක්‌ ලෙස මම දකිමි". ගෝඨාභය රාජපක්‍ෂයන්ගේ මේ අභීත ප්‍රකාශය ගැන මම පුදුම නොවෙමි. මා පුදුම වන්නේ එතුමා මෙවැනි ප්‍රකාශයක්‌ කිරීමට ප්‍රමාද වීම ගැනයි. කලක්‌ වේලේ සිට එතුමාගේ අදහස්‌ උදහස්‌ ගැන දැන සිටි මා මෙවැන්නක්‌ එතුමාගෙන් බලාපොරොත්තු වූයේ මීට කලිනුයි. ඒ ප්‍රමාදයට හේතුව, මේ රජයට අර්ථයෙන් ධර්මයෙන් උපදෙස්‌ දෙන උපදේශකයන්ගේ ක්‍රියාකලාපය ගැන දන්නා මට එය අවබෝධ කර ගැනීම අපහසු නොවේ. කෙසේ වුවද පමා වී හෝ මෙවැනි අභීත... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/12)

DHARMA TO DHAMMA AS INDICATIVE OF THE VISION AND MISSION OF THE BUDDHA
Inaugural Address by Ananda W. P. Guruge (U.S.A./Sri Lanka)
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DHARMA-DHAMMA Sanchi, Bhpoal, Madhya Pradesh, India, 21-23 Septemebr 2012  I.                   Introduction: The Significance of Sanchi        in Indian and Sri Lankan History  May I begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to the State Government of Madhya Pradesh and its Department of Culture, to the Centre for Study of Religion and Society (CSRS), New Delhi and the Mahabodhi Society , Colombo, Sri Lanka for the exceptional honour and the enviable privilege accorded to me by inviting me to deliver the Inaugural Address to this Conference. My wife and I... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/12)

'Military strike on Iran would only delay nuke development'
RT
The upcoming US and Israeli elections have ignited speculation about possible military action against Iran. A newly-released report claims that such a strike would only motivate Iran to build nuclear weapons. RT met with the co-author of this report, Dr. Austin Long , associate professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, to talk about the Iranian nuclear threat and any potential military action. RT: The Bipartisan group of national security action are the authors and signatories of this extensive report. According to your findings is Iran’s nuclear program currently a threat to the US? Austin Long: At... -Full Story- (rt.com - 21/10/12)

President directs removal of constructions within National Parks
Adaderana
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the Director General of the Wildlife Department to remove all private constructions within National Parks in the country. The President had reached this decision after being informed, during a District Development Committee meeting, of permanent tourist camps constructed by private companies within the Yala National Park. He ordered the removal of any private construction, permanent or temporary, within the Yala National Park by tomorrow (20). http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=20144
... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/12)

A Historic First in Canada: Toronto Area Buddhist Monks Protest Cruelty of Anti-Buddhist Moslem Extremists Invoking Blessings for Enemies’ wellbeing!
By Aloy Perera: Reporting from the Speakers Corner, Nathan Philips Square, Downtown, Toronto
 History was created in Canada last Saturday - 12th October 2012 – as Buddhist Monks from temples across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) came out of the seclusion of their monasteries and gathered at the Downtown Speakers Corner of the Nathan Philips Square to add their voices to the ongoing demonstrations around the world protesting last week’s spate of targeted barbaric and violent attacks on Buddhists by Moslem extremists in the Chittagong Region of Bangladesh. (Chittagong: Frequented by Arab Traders from 9th century. Buddhist king Gopichandra’s... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/12)

A book that delves on alleviating poverty
By  Chandre Dharmawardana
The news media are full of reports about the draconian conditions imposed on Greece finding it unable to meet its payment installment of its massive foreign debt. This foreign debt and the dire economic circumstances are partly the fallout from the financial meltdown that began in the USA. Another contributing factor was the unsound economic policies that the big commercial banks, the World Bank and the IMF had imposed on Greece. Other European countries, as well as their global partners are equally threatened by this crisis. It is in the sombre shadow of these events that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/12)

NEW MILESTONE FOR SRI LANKA'S HUMANITARIAN DEMINING PROJECT
Embassy of Sri Lanka Washington DC Press Release
 Washington , Oct 15,2012:  In a new Milestone for Sri  Lanka's Humanitarian Demining Project, the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) of the United States has honored Sri Lanka Army sapper DKN Rohan and Mine Detection Dog Spartacus as the best Mine Detection Dog (MDD) Team for the year 2012. The Sri Lankan team was selected for this prestigious award out of 107 teams representing 11 countries.   The team received the “MDD Team of the year” award at the annual “Clearing the Path” Gala organized by the MLI on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/10/12)

Alleged Bomb Plots
 ForbiddenKnowledgeTV.com
A 21 year old Bangladeshi student was  arrested yesterday for attempting to blow up the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City. His bomb did not detonate because the FBI was in on his plan. According to FoxNews' Judge Andrew Napolitano, "This is the 18th person since 9/11 that the FBI has found and persuaded to go along with a plot that it created, that it controlled and that never endangered anybody...Is it a good thing? Or is it beyond the limits of what law enforcement should be doing?" Flashback to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/10/12)

BP board supports TNK-BP share sale to Rosneft - and Rosneft becomes the world’s biggest listed oil company.
RT
British Petroleum’s Board of Directors has unanimously voted in support of the sale of company’s TNK-BP share to Rosneft, reports Kommersant Daily. The deal could make the Russian state-owned enterprise the world’s biggest listed oil company. According to Kommersant’s insider information, for its 50 per cent share in TNK-BP, British Petroleum gets US$17 billion in cash and nearly 13 per cent of Rosneft shares. With Rosneft’s Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) being traded on the London Stock Exchange, with a current capitalization at $71.7billion, the 13 per cent share is valued at approximately $9.3 billion.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 20/10/12)

A year on from Gaddafi’s death: Govt forces pummel Bani Walid
RT
The Libyan army is continuing its assault of the anti-regime stronghold of Bani Walid for the second day. A year after the killing of Colonel Gaddafi the Libyan government seeks to crush the remnants of his loyalist followers entrenched in the town. Fighting has gripped Bani Walid for the last two weeks as security forces and militia attempt to enter the town to arrest individuals accused of a series of kidnappings. “All the families are still here, nobody decided to leave,” a town official, Abdul Salem Al Fukahi, said in a telephone interview with Bloomberg. “They will stay in... -Full Story- (rt.com - 20/10/12)

Youngest son of Colonel Gaddafi dead after Bani Walid siege – Libya deputy PM
RT
As the Libyan army is continuing its assault of the anti-regime stronghold of Bani Walid, media speculate Khamis Gaddafi was captured during the siege and died of wounds. Reports on Twitter confirm that Khamis Gaddafi, Colonel Gaddafi's son, has been found alive in Bani Walid, this comes after earler reports on Twitter that he had been captured by the government forces. RT is unable to verify either version at present. The version which says the seventh and the youngest son of the Libyan former strongman has been captured also claims he sustained serious wounds and died, reports Al-Arabiya citing... -Full Story- (rt.com - 20/10/12)

US concerned over rushed resettlement of IDPs
Asada M Erpini
A report in the media on 18 October states that “the United States remains concerned about the rushed resettlement of the final IDPs to close the Menik Farm camp” and “vulnerable families have been placed on land hastily cleared without adequate shelter, water and sanitation”. There will be many other countries in the West and organisations operating from these rich nations, whose raison d'être is their professed and projected concern for the restoration of human rights and alleviating the suffering of the peoples in the so-called developing countries, who will be eager to join the US... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/10/12)

Shouldn’t TAMIL EELAAM be in TAMIL NADU?
Shenali Waduge 
Tamils in India want a Tamil homeland, Tamils in Malaysia are also voicing similar sentiments, the LTTE Diaspora and TNA in Sri Lanka want a Tamil homeland and probably with time Tamils in Canada and Tamils in the UK may also start joining in the chorus.  If this be the case with 72m Tamils already living together in one single State,  where the language of Tamil is officially the majority language in a state whose name Tamil Nadu translated means Land of the Tamils, a state that originated the call for a Tamil Homeland should ideally be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/10/12)

Whats Good For Canada Should Be Good Also For Sri Lanka In Dealing Accordingly With Terrorist Supportives!
Insight By Sunil Kumar
October 19th 2012  There is no denying that the TNA are categorically a group which once supported the Tamil Tigers who now attempt to deny their involvement and at times even today through some of their actions indicate that they do appear to have a policy and agenda which through their demands to the Government of Sri Lanka seem to be surreptitiously following a path which could resurrect the now dead harbingers of terror namely the LTTE.  For instance their demands for autonomy, involvement in Policing and requests to be the sole representatives of the Tamil communities... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/10/12)

MP in Australia on Sri Lanka
Randall E-News 17 October 2012
Good afternoon,  While travelling around the Canning electorate over the past month I have listened to many community members who are disappointed and disheartened by the current state of the Federal Parliament. This widespread and passionate reaction to what has become a highly dysfunctional Parliament is understandable and I have heard the message from the electorate loud and clear. No-one is innocent in this respect - each Parliamentarian is culpable and must shoulder some of the blame, however I feel it is important to explain how we have arrived at this regrettable place in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/10/12)

දහතුන් වන ව්යϔවස්ථා සංශොධනය කුණු කූඩයට දැමීම
සී. විජයවික්රϔම
දැනට ලංකාවේ පවතින ලොකුම ප්ර්ශ්නය නම් සිංහල-දෙමළ-මුස්ලිම් ජනයාට ගම් මට්ටමින් තමන්ගේ එදිනෙදා මූලික ජීවන කටයුතු කරගෙනයෑම සඳහා සවයංපාලන බලය පවරා දෙන්නේ කෙසේද යන්න‌ය. එම්පවර්මඳන්ට්, ඩිලිගේෂන්, ඩෙවොලූෂන් යනාදී වචන ඉංග්රීරසි කතා කරණ කොළඹ හා පිටරට අය යොදා ගන්නේ මේ මට්ටමින් නොව ජාතිවාදී රටවල් කඩාදීමේ මහා පරිමාණ ප්රඹදේශ මට්ටමිනි . රටවල් කැබලි කරණවා වෙනුවට ගම්බද ජනතාවට සවයංපාලනය දීමට නම් පක්ෂර දේශපාලකයින්ගෙන් හා වංක නිලධාරී ග්රබහනයෙන් ගැලවුනු මහජන කමිටු ග්රා්ම නිලධාරී ඒකක මට්ටමින් චන්දයෙන් තෝරා පත්කර ගතයුතු‌ය. මේ අනුව බලනවිට දැන් ඉදිරිපත් කර ඇති දිවි නැඟුම නීති කෙටුම්පත 1931 දී සිටම ලංකාවේ කරණ ලද නොයෙක් ආණ්ඩුවේ සංවර්ධබන යැයි කියාගන්නා ව්යාවපාරවලට... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/10/12)

Longtime Tamil refugee facing deportation from Canada for allegedly raising funds for terrorist Tamil Tigers
By Steve Mertl | Daily Brew – Wed, 17 Oct, 2012
The bloody, decades-long ethnic war in Sri Lanka has been over for three years but its after-effects still ripple through the Tamil diaspora around the world, especially in Canada, a haven for thousands who fled the bitter conflict. The National Post reports the Canada Border Services Agency is asking the Immigration and Refugee Board to order the deportation of a Sri Lankan refugee who's lived in Canada for 15 years on grounds he was a bag man for the terrorist Tamil Tigers.... -Full Story- (ca.news.yahoo.com - 19/10/12)

Film Review: Senasuru Maruwa, a welcome variant
Dr Tilak S Fernando
 Leaders are born and not made! Same can be said about the cinematic professionals who will always shine as glistening stars in the Silver Screen progressively dependent upon the tasks they undertake and execute to the satisfaction of the film and television world. In this respect versatile Udayakantha Warnasuriya, Producer, Director, Script Writer and Author, filters to the top among a few Sri Lankan performers in the cinema industry in Sri Lanka. From a preliminary stage of writing cartoon stories and fitting those into picture narrative on the newsprint, Udayakantha has taken a gargantuan step... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/10/12)

New partnership to strengthen relations between Australia and Sri Lanka
Press Release Issued by Computer Society of Sri Lanka
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL), the peak bodies for Information and Communication Technology professionals in respective countries, today announced a joint commitment to work to improve trade in the region through improved professionalism in ICT. ACS President Dr Nick Tate and CSSL President Mr Mahesh Perera signed the agreement at the conclusion of the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation held in conjunction with the ACS's Young IT Professionals Conference in Sydney 8-10 October 2012. The conference brought together over 500 delegates... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/10/12)

Annual Pirith Chanting and Almsgiving-The High Commission of Sri Lanka in London
The High Commission of Sri Lanka
cordially invites Sri Lankans living in the UK to the Annual Pirith Chanting Ceremony and Almsgiving
to invoke blessings on His Excellency the President and the People of Sri Lanka   on 17th November, 2012 from 7.00pm to 11.00pm (Pirith) and on 18th November, 2012 at 7.00am (Almsgiving/ Heel Dana)   to be held at 13, Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2 2LU.   (Nearest Tube Stations – Lancaster Gate & Paddington) High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 13, Hyde Park Gardens London W2 2LU... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/10/12)

Ambassador Amza presents credentials to Belgium King
By Janaka Alahapperuma
 The Royal Castle in Brussels hosted a grand ceremony of the presentation of credentials by Sri Lankan Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Belgium P.M.Amza to His Majesty King of the Belgians Albert II. Newly appointed Sri Lankan ambassador to Belgium presented his letters of credence to Belgian King Albert II, at the Royal Laeken Castle in Brussels.  After credential ceremony, the Ambassador had an audience with the King during which he conveyed the greetings from President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the goodwill of the people of Sri Lanka to His Majesty the King, a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/10/12)

New World Order Education: Useful Engines in the “One World Schoolhouse”
By Prof. James F. Tracy
A Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded online education service seeks to introduce and control a one-size-fits-all worldwide school curriculum. The strategy aptly fits alongside historically persistent schemes to further restructure education en route to an internationally-based technocratic order. A seemingly benign and playful lyric from the overwhelmingly popular toddler’s animation Thomas the Tank Engine captures the modus operandi and consequence of American public education over the past century. Like the child subjected to years of compulsory schooling, Thomas is an entity devoid of meaningful social agency and reduced to demonstrating his overall worth by being... -Full Story- (globalresearch.ca - 19/10/12)

What’s Not So Great About Hinduism According to Dinesh D’Souza
Ranbir Singh
Dinesh D’Souza was born in Mumbai but came to America at 17. He quickly established himself as an astute and intelligent spokesman for conservative politics in his adopted homeland. In his 2003 book What’s So Great About America he elucidates what makes the USA the most successful society and country thus far in history. In an engaging manner D’Souza articulates very well how America contrasts with Third World nations such as the country of his birth. What many may criticise as nit-picking are actually very important areas which make the quality of life in developed nations such... -Full Story- (hinduhumanrights.info - 19/10/12)

SRI LANKA: THE MID-TERM REPORT
By Gomin Dayasri
 Symbolically the bloom has faded away from the national flower (“Nil Manel”), which grows in the mud in shallow waters. Beside sits Sri Lanka, stranded in such sludge in troubled waters. Rajapakse pulled a patriotic genie out of an iron helmet during the war but it’s fast becoming a fading gnome - unless an intense heart massage can revive the spirit of patriotism, which is the last trump in his pack of card tricks.  Navigating nationally, ground realities give a more kaleidoscopic visual than a statistical survey on the results of the last provincial council elections,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/10/12)

Why There Are No Obligatory Reasons For TNA Demands Need To Be Met By The Administration.
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial
October 18th 2012 The Tamil political party led by R Sampanthan which says it feels cheated by Sri Lanka's Administration over its failure to grant meaningful autonomy to Tamil areas in the island nation fails to understand that autonomy for a miniscule minority ethnic group in any country which opposes and contradicts the ruling party, National statutes and attempts what is tantamount to dividing the country, is making an unaccptable categorical error as it is not only irrational and misguided but also totally unacceptable. History has proved that beyond succesful independence from a colonial power or separate territorial boundaries established within a land mass... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/10/12)

Fonseka's rally to re-launch his political career !
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
The former Army Commander, Sarath Fonseka, along with the National Bhikku Front is to hold a rally on the 18th Oct. According to the organisers the main reason for this exercise is to re-launch Fonseka's political career. The major opposition party, the UNP, is not attending. But UNP 'reformists 'are . At the moment, the UNP is not coming under one umbrella. The same could be said with the JVP. Though the UNP reformists are attending the Fonseka rally, Sajith, the leader of the reformists is on the fence. So the National Bhikku Front and Fonseka accuses him... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/10/12)

The Buddhist view on the Theory of Creation by an Omnipotent God
by Radhika Abeysekera
If the universe was created by an omnipotent Creator God, then it is logical that the said God should take full responsibility for His creation. If a scientist creates an advanced robot with super intelligence that benefits mankind, he gets credit and accolades for his creation. But if his robot malfunctions and starts maiming and killing indiscriminately, the scientist is held responsible for its actions. Similarly, a manufacturer of any item is fully responsible for its defects and the result and suffering that may be caused by its defects, just as he enjoys the profits and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/10/12)

“Asian Continent is not the playground of other forces”- President Rajapaksa at ACD
By Janaka Alahapperuma
Asian Continent cannot be the playground of other forces, who seek our wealth, our assets of nature and human resources. Our progress must draw from the best of our own cultures and while learning from the best of others who come with genuine friendship, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. He further said; “we are seeing the dawn of the Age of Asia. We must together see it bring new light to a troubled world dominated by the grave errors of other Continents”.  President Rajapaksa made these remarks at the first Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit in Kuwait City... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/10/12)

'War crime': Gaddafi, his son and over 60 loyalists executed by rebel fighters – HRW
RT
Libyan rebels abused and mass murdered Colonel Gaddafi, his son Mutassim, and 66 loyalists, after their capture a year ago, Human Rights Watch says. It calls for an investigation and prosecution of those responsible for what they slam as a war crime. The 50-page report "Death of a Dictator: Bloody Vengeance in Sirte" details the last hours of Muammar Gaddafi’s life on October 20, 2011, when he was caught trying to leave the city with his remaining supporters. HRW admits difficulty in reconstructing the final days of Libya’s ex-leader since “he was surrounded by a small circle of trusted... -Full Story- (rt.com - 17/10/12)

Cricket for Tamils in Sri Lanka
Asada M Erpini
 How racists can twist facts to depict non-existent problems! Island Cricket on 16 October has a report of a Tamil, who poses as a cricket fan, lamenting, "Players from Tamil areas are forced to come to Colombo if they are to stand a chance to win international fame in cricket."  First and foremost, the man and his supporters should be told firmly that there are no Tamil areas in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has a number of ethnic groups and the legal structure allows Tamils as well any others to live in any part of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/10/12)

A Photographic evidence of the gem of the nations CEYLON 1956-1968
Dr. Nishan Wijesinha (General Consultant)  Mirihana, Nugegoda.
A Photographic evidence of the gem of the nations CEYLON 1956-1968 Above exchange rates was the hallmark of the then non prejudicial provincial system. Finally, as depicted below the railways as of 1956 were further evidential of this pluralist harmony.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/10/12)

Asoka Weeraratna lit up the flame of Buddhism in Germany
by Rajitha Weerakoon
 It is when one takes into consideration the scenario of West Germany in the aftermath of the two World Wars  – bruised, battered and in political isolation with a bad image to boot, that the arduous  task of Asoka Weeraratna could be best appreciated. The message of the Dhamma taken to Germany by the German Dharmaduta Society that he founded, helped the Germans, recovering from the horrors of the war, to find inner peace. Asoka Weeraratne  Sixty years later, at an alms giving to sixty monks held at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) premises on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/10/12)

Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka speaks at Asie21
Embassy of Sri Lanka Paris
On October 11th, 2012, Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka delivered a speech on “Sri Lanka in Relation to China and India” at a conference organized by Asie21 (“Asia21”).  Created in 1995 as part of the association Futuribles International (Possible International Futures), Asie21 is a grouping for reflection specializing in Asia. Composed of experts from various fields, Asie21’s role is to monitor and evaluate trends -geopolitical, economic, ecological, technological, social, cultural and political- that are to have a significant impact in Asia.  Present on the occasion were several members of Asie21: Ambassador Michel Lummaux (former Ambassador of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/10/12)

Arms for Syrian rebels go mostly to jihadists – report
RT
Most of the arms funneled to Syrian rebels reportedly end up in the hands of hardline Islamist extremists, including those affiliated with Al-Qaeda. There is no way of vetting rebel groups to bolster only those with more secular views. The Syrian armed opposition is supplied with small arms from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, while their other foreign allies like the US provide logistical help for the transactions. However according to classified US assessments of the conflict, most of the weapons go to jihadists rather than to secular-minded groups, which the West wants to take power in the country, reports... -Full Story- (rt.com - 16/10/12)

'Dishwashgate'? Ryan falls from frying pan to fire
RT
Republican VP nominee Paul Ryan’s gaffe in an Ohio soup-kitchen has handed the democrats a campaign gift and given the media a new -gate. Dishwatergate. ­The ‘sink-tank’ PR stunt is backfiring allover Ryan after it emerged that his team ram-rodded their way in to the charity kitchen without permission and then 'faked' photos of Ryan 'washing dishes' for the homeless. Ryan was in Ohio, a battleground state slipping away from the GOP lately. After a town hall meeting at Youngstown State University his motorcade diverted for a surprise visit to a charity soup kitchen.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 16/10/12)

US Citizens Goose-Step to Voting Booth & War with Iran
By Libbyliberal
October 15, 2012 "Information Clearing House" - A vote for either Obama or Romney will be an endorsement for a war with Iran. Both evil Romney and supposedly lesser evil Obama are committed to more war in general and committed to obliging Israel’s strident insistence for a war with Iran. All American citizens should think of this as they cast their ballots. Think of their own participation -- their enabling -- the greatest crime against humanity -- WAR. There are third party anti-war candidates but corporate media has been rigorously thorough in omitting any mention of them and... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 16/10/12)

Blood, Oil, and “The American Dream”
By William Manson
"Something is rotten in the state…" - Hamlet October 15, 2012 "Information Clearing House" - In our times, in a media-saturated culture in which well-packaged and comforting lies are explicitly preferred to unsettling truths, those who reveal sordid realities are often dismissed if not reviled. Whistleblowers and voices of integrity—from Dennis Kucinich and Ralph Nader to Julian Assange and Bradley Manning—engage in the often-thankless vocation of disturbing complacency; and those awakened from their lying dreams angrily threaten to “kill the messenger” (figuratively?—or perhaps literally). I am reminded of Henrik Ibsen’s bitterly satirical play An Enemy of... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 16/10/12)

India: Celebrating “Americanisation”? Poverty amidst “American Values
By Colin Todhunter Global Research, October 14, 2012
Earlier this year, there was an article in the New York Times that positively salivated over the ‘Americanisation’ of India. And the author was not referring to Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina or any other country on the American continent when he referred to ‘Americanisation’. He was referring solely to the US, which has hijacked the term. Now, there’s arrogance for you. The article in question praised America’s capitalism, exuberance and free spirit and therefore the liberalisation of India’s economy. Here we have another hijacking, this time of the term ‘liberalisation’. In reality,... -Full Story- (globalresearch.ca - 16/10/12)

Prince who danced with the devil
Pranay Gupte
His alliance with the murderous Khmer Rouge and shifting allegiances on the global stage left a troubled legacy for Cambodia Cambodia’s Prince Norodom Sihanouk, who died of heart failure on Monday in Beijing at the age of 89, acted for 71 of those years as though he were centre stage of a world drama. And he was, in a manner of speaking, because that drama’s larger themes included the developing world’s struggle against western colonialism, the great ideological clash of the Cold War between the United States and the erstwhile Soviet Union, the rise of non-alignment, and... -Full Story- (thehindu.com - 16/10/12)

Fault Lines Appear in the Battle of the Giants?
By GOMIN DAYASRI
The incident reveals, Giants have often feet of clay. They have surely sullied the image of the nation but opened a can of worms that was never ventilated in public to make a thin silver lining of preventing a recurrence to an otherwise sordid saga. The ball is firmly in the government’s court to do the needful. They should use all the king’s men and all the king’s horses to find the perpetrators of this ghastly crime of assaulting a judicial officer. Solving this crime may resolve many of the outstanding perplexing issues relating to the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/10/12)

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s political survival and the security of India depends on revoking the 13th amendment
Shenali Waduge
 India’s fragile federal status predicts a possible eventual breakup of India similar to that of the Soviet Union. This spells a national security concern for both India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s armed forces eliminated the initial possibility securing Sri Lanka’s security and that of India. Why should India want to commit hara-kiri by continuing to encourage the eelaam slogan bypassing the possible dangers thinking it can handle worst case scenario of annexing Sri Lanka? Realizing the dangers of India’s entire Southern stretch falling into external hands if not protected, India must first protect its turf... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/10/12)

Shocking revelation about the Tamil Tigress –book written by Niromi De Soyza
 by   Judy Mariampillai
The title of the book starts with the title “Tamil Tigress: my story as a child soldier in Sri Lanka’s bloody civil war by Niromi de Soyza “ which was initially published by the Australian publisher Allen and Unwin in 2011.This book sounds quite intriguing as it is difficult to find an insider’s account .After reading the Tamil Tigress book and the questions raised by the leading critics who are historians and scholars, I thought it is worth to unfold the truth about the book and the author niromi De Soyza.  I am not an activist .... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/10/12)

President arrived in Kuwait. to attend the First Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit
By Janaka Alahapperuma
President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Kuwait to attend the First Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit today on 15 September. Sri Lankan President was warmly received by the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Amiri International Airport in Kuwait. The Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, ministers,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/10/12)

"වසර 2015 වනවිට ශ්‍රී ලංකා පරමාණු ශක්ති අධිකාරිය ජාත්‍යන්තරය තුළ තරඟකාරී ආයතනයක් බවට පත්කිරීමට සැලසුම්"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
පරමාණුක බලය නියාමනය සඳහා කොමිසමක් පිහිටුවීමට පියවර   න්‍යෂ්ටික තාක්ෂණ අධ්‍යයනය, විශ්ව විද්‍යාල විෂය මාලාවට   න්‍යෂ්ටික තාක්ෂණයේ සංවර්ධනය සඳහා ඕනෑම රටක සහාය ලබාගැනීමට ශ්‍රී ලංකාව සූදානම්  පසුගිය 12 වනදා ඉන්දියාවේ නවදිල්ලි නුවර පුළුල් සිවිල් න්‍යෂ්ටික සහයෝගීතාව සඳහා වූ ඉන්දියාව සහ ශ්‍රී ලංකාව අතර ද්වීපාර්ශ්වික සාකච්ඡාවක් පැවැත්විණ. එහිදී ඇතිකරගත් එකඟතාවන් සහ ඉදිරි කටයුතු පිළිබඳ දැනුවත් කිරීමේ මාධ්‍ය සාකච්ඡාව අද (15) අමාත්‍යාංශයේදී පැවැත්විණ. එහිදී අමාත්‍ය පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක මහතා සඳහන් කර සිටියේ, පළමු වටයේ සාකච්ඡා අවබෝධයකින් යුතුව දෙපාර්ශ්වයේ සහයෝගය මත න්‍යෂ්ටික ආරක්ෂණ ක්‍රමවේද සඳහා එකඟවෙමින් නිමාව දුටු බව පවසන අමාත්‍ය රණවක මහතා, වසර... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/10/12)

Who stands in the way of Communal Integration in Sri Lanka ?
By Charles.S.Perera
Outlook India.com reports that  according to the  TNA leader Sampanthan the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that,  “…India would never backtrack from its position that Tamils in Sri Lanka should lead a life of dignity and self respect in a peaceful environment, and  that India is fully with Sri Lankan Tamils and would continue to engage with TNA”. If Manmohan Singh had said that,  India under the Premiership of Manmohan Singh is then a threat to Sri Lanka. The report  added  that, “… the Indian side also explained its position and how it was working... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/10/12)

TNA should be asked to go back to Tamil Nadu to be citizens of India!
Asada M Repine
Indian leaders, according to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that went to New Delhi to find solutions to Sri Lanka’s Tamil problem, have said that India is committed to contribute its best efforts to ensure that Tamils in Sri Lanka secured a future marked by equality, dignity, justice and self-respect (emphasis is the author’s). And now the TNA team is reported to be on the way to meeting the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and other Tamil Nadu political leaders.  The Tamil problem in Sri Lanka is the intransigence of the TNA and its supporters.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/10/12)

REPEAL 13A, THE CLARION CALL BY THE TRUE SON OF THE SOIL, GOTA.
Walter Rajaratne Sydney
 The absolutely comprehensive statement towards the protection of sovereignty and territorial identity of Sri Lanka ever heard from the day this threatening piece of legislature made intrusion into the 2500years unstinted survival as a nation state from a person who has the wherewithal to accomplish the victory at Nandikadal, with the repealing of 13A stink, the ultimate real battle cry, has made his position clear.  The leading few names that almost made Sri Lanka a vassal state of the big bully India are no more.  JR.Jayawardena and  Gamini Dissanayke, the two who were instrumental in the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/10/12)

Human rights cannot be advocated by crooks
Written by Malinda Seneviratne
[Many human rights organizations expressed concern about ‘vilifying’ human rights activists in Sri Lanka such as Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu.  None of these bleeding-heart crusaders were willing to entertain the thought that some of these activists were crooks or at least ready and willing to bend the rules when it came to money matters.  The point was made in Geneva that no one need vilify the likes of Saravanamuttu because he does a good job of it himself.  It was pointed out that Saravanamuttu has hardly rebutted his critics and has shown a remarkable penchant... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/10/12)

න්යࠋෂ්ටික ආපදාවකදී ජනතාවගේ ආරක්ෂාව වෙනුවෙන් පෙනීසිටීමට ශරී් ලංකාව සූදානම්
මාධ්‍ය අංශය විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
ඉන්දීය සහ ශ‍්‍රී ලංකා පළමු වටයේ ද්විපාර්ශ්වික සාකච්ඡුා අවසන් වේ. ඉදිරි සාකච්ඡුා වාරය 2013 වසරේදී  ද්විපාර්ශ්වික සාකච්ඡුාවේ එකඟතාවන් පිළිබඳ මාධ්‍ය දැනුවත් කිරීම හෙට (15* අමාත්‍යාංශ ශ‍්‍රවණාගාරයේදී   ඉන්දියාව සහ ශ‍්‍රී ලංකාව අතර පුළුල් සිවිල් න්‍යෂ්ටික සහයෝගිතාවක් සඳහා සිදුකරන ලද පළමු සාකච්ඡුාව පසුගිය 12 වන සිකුරාදා නවදිල්ලි නුවරදී පැවැත්විණ. අන්තර්ජාතික පරමාණු ඒජන්සිය විසින් න්‍යෂ්ටික අනතුරු කළමනාකරණය සම්බන්ධයෙන් පනවා ඇති සම්මුතීන් 03 කට අදාලව, මීට වසරකට පෙර ශ‍්‍රී ලංකා පරමාණු ශක්ති අධිකාරිය විසින් විදේශ කටයුතු අමාත්‍යාංශය හරහා ඉන්දීය රජය වෙත ඉදිරිපත් කළ වාර්තාවකට අනුව මෙම සාකච්ඡුාව පැවැත්විණ. සාකච්ඡුාවට ඉදිරිපත් කළ සම්මුතීන් 03 හි... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/10/12)

Kalaguru Sauris Silva – 30th Death Anniversary
By Prof. Suwanda H J Sugunasiri (reminiscing from Canada)
The name Sauris Silva may not be unknown to those in the Sinhala cultural field. Honoured by the State as Kalaguru, he is best known as the pioneer in resurrecting pahatarata naetum ‘Lowcountry Dance’, or Tovil, from the dustbin of a colonized mindset of a people in denial of the past and its cultural treasures. While Tovil had a vibrant existence in rural Southern Lanka in particular, the urban take on it was one of disdain, associated as it is with yakkhas, devas, beliefs, masks, costumes, fire torches (vilakku), etc.... -Full Story- (The Island - 14/10/12)

Judging Sri Lanka through Western lenses
H. L. D. Mahindapala
Emboldened by the back-door attack on the Sri Lanka led by US at the UNHRC in March - April this year the global network of the anti-Sri Lankan lobby has accelerated its offensive to increase international pressure hoping that they can get somewhere if they strike now when the iron is hot. This lobby working hand-in-glove with the West failed to nail Sri Lanka at the UN soon after the war and even at the UNHRC twice subsequently. The military success on the ground, fought in defiance of West's demand to stop the war in the last days, and Sri Lanka's initial diplomatic success at the UNHRC, which reversed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/10/12)

Why a Large Defence Budget is Highly Beneficial to the Nation
Dilrook Kannangara
Defence budget allocation is often misunderstood. Some tend to view it as needless war expenses. Pro-Tamil Elam lobby gets hysterical when defence budget is mentioned. Various NGOs blame defence expenses for relatively stagnant education and healthcare allocations. There is an attempt to classify defence allocation as corruption by another quarter. All these theories emanate from frogs in the well; those who are ignorant of the world outside. Most peaceful countries allocate 2% to 4% on GDP on defence. Sri Lanka’s current allocation of 2.8% of GDP is dwarfed by Singapore’s 3.5%. Given the similarity of national security... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/10/12)

Repeal 13A without delay says Gotabhaya "Separatist sentiment still strong’’
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday called for the abolition of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution without further delay. The ongoing efforts by a political grouping led by one-time LTTE mouthpiece, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to hinder the passage of the Divineguma Bill in parliament meant that in spite of Sri Lanka’s battlefield victory over terrorism separatist sentiments were strong, Rajapaksa told The Sunday Island yesterday. Responding to a query, the outspoken official said that the SLFP-led UPFA should either do away with the 13th Amendment or amend it taking into considering ground... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/10/12)

Preparing for the Challenges to Buddhism and Buddhists
Shenali Waduge
 The recent spate of violent attacks on the most tolerant of religions needs greater attention and must generate significant reaction from Buddhists the world over. Despite Sri Lanka being a majority Sinhalese Buddhist nation in terms of tolerance the Buddhists have faced and continue to face alarming setbacks and discriminations. Sadly tolerance shown by Sinhalese Buddhists have not been reciprocated.    When 25,000 Muslims mobs attack over 27 Buddhist sites and homes destroying historically valuable artifacts and treasures across 5 towns and over a dozen villages, it clearly shows that it was no spontaneous attack. How could... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/10/12)

“Bring to justice those behind Lanka war crimes: DMK”
Asada M Erpini
A report in the Indian Express, reproduced in the local media, says that DMK wants those behind Lanka war crimes to be brought to justice. The demand of the DMK goes beyond:  it refers to “war crimes against Tamils in Sri Lanka”.  For once, the large majority of Sri Lankans, except naturally for the remnants of the LTTE and the vociferous Tamil National Alliance, which was born out of the unholy wedlock between extremist Tamils in Sri Lanka and Pirabaharan - the aim of both parties being to carve out a mono-ethnic Eelam for their chosen... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/10/12)

LTTE War Crimes: Human Shields
Shenali Waduge
How far international laws of war and related punishment apply to terrorist organizations is something that needs far more attention than presently given. No law will have face value when those not-signatory, non-binding and those that purely exist on their ability to inflict fear and terror does not fall into the radar of international justice and legal punishment. In this context we examine how LTTE had managed to escape 3 decades of international justice for its serial crimes against humanity and war crimes on an entire nation and possibly would have extended to other nations if it... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/10/12)

India’s Game Plan in Held Kashmir
Afshain Afzal
Indian Chief of Army Staff, General Bikram Singh has spelled out Indian military strategy for the next decade. It is based on New Delhi’s earlier concern over growing Pak-Chinese strategic and tactical cooperation in the field of defence and security. Ironically, Indian Intelligence agencies are totally blind in making an honest assessment of Chinese involvement in development projects in Pakistan. Indian Chief of Army Chief has expressed his concern over Chinese presence in Pakistan, especially in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan province. It is being claimed that India will continue military in held Jammu and Kashmir,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/10/12)

Terra Incognita: A little pogrom in Bangladesh
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Courtesy: Jerusalem Post
The Western press was quite concerned about not reporting about the destruction of Hindu temples in Pakistan and burning of Buddhist temples in Bangladesh. After all, mentioning how fanaticism actually results in attacks on religious minorities might make the Barack/Clinton appeasement broadcast seem foolish. In late September, the US State Department purchased $70,000 worth of ads on Pakistani television. Pakistanis who tuned in were able to see a message by US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton addressing anger about an anti-Islam youtube clip in the US. “Since... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/10/12)

"එක්සත් ජාතීන්ගේ තිරසර බලශක්ති ඉලක්ක සපුරා ගැනීමට ශ්රීම ලංකාව සමත්වේ"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
කලාපයේ අනෙකුත් රටවලට සාපේක්ෂව බලශක්ති කාර්යක්ෂමතාව උපරිම අගයකින් පවත්වා ගැනීමට පියවර. නුදුරේදීම සැමට බලශක්තිය යන්න යථාර්තයක් වන කලාපයේ එකම රට ශ්‍රී ලංකාවයි.   පසුගිය ජුනි මාසයේ නිමාවුනු රියෝ + 20 ජාත්‍යන්තර සමුළුවේදී ලෝක නායකයින්ගේ මූලික අවධානය යොමු වූයේ තිරසර සංවර්ධනයක් වෙනුවෙන්  හරිත ආර්ථීකය සහ පුනර්ජනණීය බලශක්තිය ගොඩනැගීමේ කාලීන අවශ්‍යතාවය පිළිබඳවයි. මේ පිළිබඳව එක්සත් ජාතීන්ගේ සංවිධානය විසින් විශේෂ වැඩපිළිවෙලක් ක්‍රියාත්මක කර ඇත. සියළු දොනටම තිරසර පුනර්ජනණීය බලශක්තිය යන්න^Sustainable  Energy for all - SE4ALL ) එහි තේමාවයි. මේ සම්බන්ධයෙන් එකිනෙකට බද්ධ වූ කාරණා 03ක් වසර 2030 වනවිට  සපුරා ගැනීම අරමුණු කරගනිමින් කටයුතු කරයි. සැමට බලශක්තිය ලඟා කරගැනීමේ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/10/12)

No weapons on Syrian plane grounded by Turkey – Lavrov
RT
Russia’s foreign minister claimed the Syrian passenger plane Turkey diverted on Wednesday was carrying radar parts, not munitions. The confiscated cargo was being transported legally, Sergey Lavrov said Friday. "We have no secrets," Lavrov told reporters. "There were, of course, no weapons on the plane and could not have been any. There was a cargo on the plane that a legal Russian supplier was sending in a legal way to a legal customer." Lavrov said the supplier will demand the cargo be returned which is their property. “We are awaiting an official reply why our diplomats were not allowed... -Full Story- (rt.com - 12/10/12)

The Great Leap Backward! How FUTA Met Its Intellectual Nandikadal
by Janaka Yagirala
 The recently concluded FUTA strike went on for 3 months. During these three months, the students of state universities had to idle in anguish. It was a stalemate at the expense of the future of the university students of Sri Lanka.  Industrial action is an accepted method of protest against exploitation, for better benefits and safer working conditions. Rising against genuine exploitation by greedy employers (as in the acclaimed novel Yuganthaya) is always seen as a good thing in the eyes of the public. During such a strike, it is the only the greedy management who... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/10/12)

Repeal 13A Fully: District Unit of Devolution More Dangerous Than Province
Dilrook Kannangara
There is absolutely no national demand for devolution. LLRC Report with less than 200 submissions has no authority to bypass 14 million voters and make decisions of national importance. Only India and others who voted against Sri Lanka at the 2012 April UNHRC conference want devolution. Marrying LLRC into 13A is even more despicable as it justifies habitual bypassing of people’s verdict. LLRC should not be effective in rehabilitation, redress and investigation issues. It should not result in governance changes. Short-sightedness of devolution and the 13A is now visible to all. It has set the four... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/10/12)

Connecting Sri Lanka's South to North by train
Asada M Erpini
A news item on 11 October reports that a new train service will connect Sri Lanka South to the North. All Sri Lankans will be happy that the transport services and the infrastructure to keep it going in many regions of Sri Lanka are being rejuvenated after many decades.  But is there something special about the North that does not exist in any other province or region of Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka has nine provinces and until the LTTE was allowed – nay, promoted by Norway and some of the other do-gooders in the Western world... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/10/12)

Re-visiting PWC - Part IX
Dr.Tilak Fernando
Despite the number of male Tamil teachers, PWC had during our time, especially in the Senior School to teach Science subjects, there was only a single Tamil lady teacher (in the middle school) to teach English, she rode a lady’s Raleigh bicycle to and fro from home. A cane basket fixed on to the handle bar, sari drop wrapped round her shoulders, a small pony tail dangling gently from side to side and riding at snail’s pace along the Moratuwa - Galle Road was indeed a rare sight to watch. Had she consulted an astrologer on that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/10/12)

After Riots, Buddhists Call for Peace in Bangladesh
By Farid Ahmed, IPS, Oct 10, 2012 Courtesy:  Buddhist Channel
DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Anxiety has yet to die down over a week after crowds of Muslims torched more than a dozen temples and scores of houses in southeast Bangladesh, leaving thousands of Buddhists with the unshakeable premonition that more violence was forthcoming. The government has repeatedly tried to assure the religious minority that they have the support and protection of the state, while the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Mizanur Rahman, apologised for the atrocities – but it seems nothing can assuage the fear of fresh violence.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/10/12)

University is not a gastronomic heaven but if you learn to cook, it can nourish body and soul
Dr Hector Perera       London
The appeal of University, it always seemed to me, was that never again would I enjoy so much freedom with such little responsibility. "Bliss it was in that dawn to be alive, but to be young, was very heaven!" as the poet Wordsworth put it on one of his more positive days. In many ways, there has been a revolution in our food knowledge, if not eating habits, in recent years, although it has been more of an Italian revolution than a French one. Oceans of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar have washed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/10/12)

"සැප්තැම්බර් මාසය තුළ විදුලි හොරු 334 ක් හඳුනාගැනේ"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
• ලක්ෂ 203 කට අධික වැටලීම් ආදායමක් • වංචාකාරී පුද්ගලයින් පිළිබඳව 2422259 දැනුම් දෙන ලෙස ඉල්ලීමක්  ලංවිම හදිසි  වැටලීම් අංශ  නිලධාරීන්  විසින්  මේ වසරේ  සැප්තැම්බර් මස සිදු කළ වැටලීම්  තුළින් රු.20,388,058.57 (ලක්ෂ203) ක ආදායමක් ලබා ඇති අතර එම මුදලින් රු.3,864,000.00 (ලක්ෂ38) ක් උසාවි දඩ වශයෙන්ද, රු.16,524,058.57 (ලක්ෂ165) විදුලිබල මණ්ඩලයේ අලාභය ලෙසද ගණන් බලා ඇත.  ඒ අනුව මීටර් වෙනස් කිරීම්, කොකු භාවිතා කර විදුලිය ලබාගැනීම් වැනි අයථා විදුලි පරිහරණයන් පිළිබඳ සිද්ධීන් 334 ක් වාර්තා වී ඇති අතර ඒ අතරින් සිද්ධීන් 177 ක් වංචා සහගත ලෙස මීටර් සැකසීම තුළින් විදුලිය ලබාගැනීම් වේ. ඉතිරි සිද්ධීන් 157... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/10/12)

America’s Moral Degeneracy
By Paul Craig Roberts
October 10, 2012 "Information Clearing House" - On May 31, 2010, the Israeli right-wing government sent armed military troops to illegally board in international waters Gaza aid ships of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief. The Israelis murdered 8 Turkish citizens and one US citizen in cold blood. Many others were wounded by the forces of “the only democracy in the Middle East.” Despite the murder of its citizen, Washington immediately took the side of the crazed Israeli government. The... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 11/10/12)

Weapons of Mass Distraction
By Dennis Kucinich
October 10, 2012 "Information Clearing House" - Ten years ago, on October 10, 2002, the United States House of Representatives made one of the most calamitous mistakes of a generation. Congress, with willful blindness, voted to attack, invade and occupy a sovereign, oil-rich nation in the Middle East that did not attack us and did not pose a threat to the American people. The war in Iraq will ultimately cost the United States five trillion dollars. Four thousand, four hundred, eighty eight Americans were killed. Tens of thousands of Americans were injured. At least one million innocent... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 11/10/12)

THE ROVING EYE-- Romney sings Da Doo War War
By Pepe Escobar
It's time for the 3am question. A crisis erupts - or is manufactured - in some turbulent part of the world and putative US President Mitt Romney must rise to the occasion. What is a gallant server of the 47% to do to save the free world? An inkling of 47% Mitt's foreign policy vision was offered by his speech in Virginia early this week. [1] Some have called it Mission Impossible. But no, this is not Lalo Schifrin territory. Too cool. [2] With all due respect to grandmaster Phil Spector, this is more like... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 11/10/12)

Anti-Iran hawks maintain PR offensive
By Jim Lobe
WASHINGTON - When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly last month that Iran's nuclear program was unlikely to breach his "red line" for presumed military action until next spring or summer, many observers here looked forward to some relief from the nearly incessant drumbeat for war by US neo-conservatives and other hawks. But even as the Barack Obama administration and its Western European allies prepare a new round of sanctions to add to what already is perhaps the harshest sanctions regime imposed against a UN member state, the war drums keep... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 11/10/12)

Paperwork routine: Turks force Syrian crew to sign 'emergency landing, no F-16s' statement - witnesses
RT
Passengers onboard the plane intercepted by Turkish jets said that security forces were making the crew and passengers sign fraudulent papers suggesting that the plane made an emergency landing and no Turkish military were involved in the incident. ­Hours after Turkish authorities announced that the Syrian Airlines passenger plane intercepted by its F-16s was granted a departure clearance, the aircraft remained on the tarmac in darkness.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 11/10/12)

Syria accuses Turkey of 'air piracy', demands return of seized cargo
RT
Damascus said that the Syria-bound commercial jet diverted to Ankara Wednesday night was not carrying prohibited cargo, and demanded Turkey return the goods it seized. The airline accused Ankara of brutality and illegal provocations. In its comments on the interception, the Turkish Foreign Ministry alleged that the plane’s cargo contained elements “not legitimate in civilian flights.” Turkish media speculated that security forces had seized communication equipment, radio terminals and missile components.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 11/10/12)

Turkish PM claims diverted Syria-bound plane was carrying munitions for Damascus
RT
The Syrian commercial jet forced to land in Ankara mid-flight between Moscow and Damascus Wednesday evening was carrying munitions for the Syrian Defense Ministry, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Thursday. "It is absolutely clear who sent the cargo and who was going to receive it. This was munitions from the Russian equivalent of our Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation being sent to the Syrian Defense Ministry," Erdogan told journalists, referring to the state-run Turkish manufacturer that supplies the country's army. "The examination [of the seized cargo] is continuing and the necessary will follow," the PM added.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 11/10/12)

EVILS OF 13TH AMENDMENT
By Gamini Gunawardane
We have to be thankful to the Supreme Court for their determination on the proposed “Divineguma Bill”. It exposed further inherent dangers of the 13th Amendment other than police and land powers. If only the Supreme Court had in 1987 taken such a stand when this draconian Amendment forced on us by India quite unasked by the Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims, that it required the approval of the whole country through a Referendum, we may not have been in this pass today.  On another occasion the Supreme Court took a similar independent stand which facilitated the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/10/12)

13-A a threat to Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity
By Neville Ladduwahetty Courtesy The Island
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene sign the historic Indo-Sri Lanka accord in Colombo on July 29, 1987. File photo Under the topic titled "THE NEED FOR DEVOLUTION OF POWER" the recommendation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) was:  "In addressing the question of devolution two matters require the attention of the government. Firstly, empowering the local government institutions to ensure greater peoples’ participation at the grass roots level. Secondly, it is also imperative that the lessons learnt from the shortcomings in the functioning of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/10/12)

World Cup T20 and Match-fixing !
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
The last few days much had been written expressing disappointment among the people about the T20 final result. There was also a report about 2 youths who had committed suicide as they were unable to put up with the defeat. Then it is an open secret, that in Sri Lanka as well as overseas, there was heavy betting on the day of the match. In the public eye, Sri Lanka winning the match was similar to the famous Australian horse 'Black Caviar' running a race. But here the astonishing result was a heart-break for Sri Lanka. Now, the media reports about a telecast... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/10/12)

Russia bridges Middle Eastern divides
By M K Bhadrakumar
A multi-billion dollar arms deal with Iraq, a summit meeting with Turkey, a fence-mending exercise with Saudi Arabia, a debut with Egypt's Sphinx-like Muslim Brothers - all this is slated to happen within the period of a turbulent month in the Middle East. And all this is to happen when the United States' "return" to the region after the hurly-burly of the November election still seems a distant dream. Simply put, Russia is suddenly all over the Middle East. Moscow announced on Tuesday that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was in town and the... -Full Story- (atimes.com - 10/10/12)

Sinhela Translation -හෙළයේ මහ රජු වෙත කාරුණික ආයාචනයයි!
මහින්ද
අති ගරු මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ ජනපතිතුමනී ඔබ වටා සිටින උපදේශක හැතිකරය, ඔබගේ කිසිදු සැකයකට හසු නොවී ඔබට එරෙහි බලවේග (කොටි පුක, රාජ්‍ය නොවන සංවිධාන, බටහිරට ආවඩන සංකර හැත්ත ) ගෙන් බලපෑම් ලබයි, මුදල් ආධාර පවා ලබයි. ඔබගේ හිතෛශී ලෙස සිටිමින් මානව හිමිකම් චෝදනා හරහා ඔබ වනසා දැමීමේ යටි අරමුණින් දියත් කරන බලය බෙදීමේ පිල්ලිය, පිළියමක් සේ පෙන්වා දෙමින් සිටී. ඔබව මෙහිදී ගොනාට ඇන්දීමට ඔවුනට හැකිවුවහොත්, එය ඔබගේ වීර කාව්‍යයේ අවසානය වනු ඇත. ත්‍රස්තවාදය අවසන් කල හෙළ විරුවෙක් ලෙස ගෞරව කරනවා වෙනුවට ජනතාව ඔබගේ දෙමව්පියන් පවා නුසුදුසු ලෙස මතක් කරනු ඇත. එයින් නොනැවතී ඔබ විසින්ම රැක ගත් හෙළය... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/10/12)

Kind plea to President!
from Citizen mahinda
The bunch of advisors around you, without your slight suspicion, influenced and financed by the reactionary forces, LTTE Rump, the INGOS and Western Neo-Cons will advise you to devolve power as a solution and a escape goat to the HR allegations. If you would be taken for a ride on this, then that is the end of your saga and rather than remembering you with gratitude for the elimination from terrorism, the people will remind your parents and even wife the first lady with such a discontent for destroying and subjugating the very country you saved.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/12)

Wasting the money allocated to education
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha-Courtesy The Island
A couple of days back I predicted that the FUTA strike would soon be resolved by yet another increase in the salaries of university staff, with no correctives with regard to the grave problems now facing our education system. Recent reports in the papers suggest that this will indeed be the case. That would be tragic, for it would provide yet another instance of state resources being squandered. Salaries should be paid in terms of work done, and sadly there is no system at present to ensure that university lecturers actually work satisfactorily for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/12)

Erik Solheim's innocence
Editorial Courtesy The Island
Erik Solheim has drawn heavy flak from the very people who once hailed him a hero over a remark that if Prabhakaran had agreed to an organised surrender towards the final phase of the war many lives could have been saved. Solheim has sought to pull the wool over the eyes of the world community by craftily holding the dead LTTE leader responsible for what happened. Solheim cannot wash his hands of the disastrous outcome of the LTTE's military campaign. He is one of the few people who had direct access to the Tiger chief... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/12)

STING OPERATION CAUGHT THREE SRILANKAN UMPIRES INVOLVED IN MATCH FIXING
by Walter Jaywardhana
The Times of India in a lead story revealed  that several umpires,three from Sri Lanka, were allegedly involved in match fixing. The three involved in Sri Lanka were named as Gamini Dissanayaka, Maurice Winston,and Sagara Gallage. The Times of India said the revealation was made possible under a sting operation conducted in July and August by a private news channel and the others caught are Nadeem Ghauri and Anees Siddique of Pakistan and Nadir Shah of Bangladesh. Gamini Dissanayaka, Sagara Gallage. The alleged umpires agreed to give decisions on demand, the news story... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/12)

Britain's brutal rule in Kenya on the docks
Decades-old struggle for justice over crackdown on Kenyan rebellion goes to court, opening retribution's door.
Nairobi, Kenya - The British colonial officers ordered the Kenyans off the crowded bus, hunting for insurgents who had brazenly challenged the empire's rule. It was just before Christmas in 1957. Mbithuka Kimweli was travelling with his wife Naomi and their three young children. The officers demanded to know his involvement with the "Mau Mau" anti-colonial movement. They separated Naomi from the children, blindfolded and beat her, then raped her with a glass bottle. Nearby, they castrated her husband with a pair of pliers.... -Full Story- (aljazeera.com - 09/10/12)

"නඩත්තු කටයුතු වෙනුවෙන් හෙට ප්‍රදේශ කිහිපයක තාවකාලික විදුලි අත්හිටුවීම්"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
 ලංකා විදුලි පුද්ගලික සමාගම මගින් විදුලිය සැපයෙන ප්‍රදේශ කිහිපයක විදුලි සැපයුම, හෙට දිනයේ (10) තාවකාලිකව අත්හිටුවීමට එම සමාගම සැලසුම් කොට තිබේ. අදාල ප්‍රදේශයන්ගේ රැහැන් මාර්ගයන්ගේ පවතින්නාවූ අක්‍රමිකතා සහ බිඳවැටීම් ආදිය යතා තත්ත්වයට පත්කිරීම වෙනුවෙන් මෙසේ තාවකාලිකව විදුලි සැපයුම අත්හිටුවිමට අදහස් කර ඇතැයි ලංකා විදුලි පුද්ගලික සමාගම පවසයි.   ඒ අනුව ලංකා විදුලි පුද්ගලික සමාගම යටතේ පවතින පානදුර ප්‍රදේශයේ හොරණ පාර, ගාළු පාර සර් ෙජ්ම්ස් පීරීස් මාවත සහ ඊට අදාල අතුරු මාර්ගයන්හිත්, නාවින්න පතිරගොඩ ප්‍රදේශයේ පරණ කොට්ටාව පාර, ජනතා මාවත, දුම්රියපොළ පාර, හයිලෙවල් පාර සහ ඊට අදාල අතුරු මාර්ගයන්ගේත්, කදාන ප්‍රදේශයේ මීගමුව පාර, කඳාන... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/12)

"බලශක්ති සංරක්ෂණ ජාතික වැඩසටහනට බාලදක්ෂ ව්‍යපාරයත් එකතුවෙයි"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
•        බලශක්ති සංරක්ෂණය බාලදක්ෂ ප්‍රවීණතා විෂයයක් ලෙස හඳුන්වාදෙයි •        බාලදක්ෂ ප්‍රවීණතා පදක්කම එළිදක්වයි  ලෝකයේ රටවල් 150 ක, මිලියන 40 ක පමණ බාලදක්ෂ ප්‍රජාවක් ව්‍යාප්තව සිටී. ශ්‍රී ලංකාව තුළ සෑම දිස්ත්‍රික්කයක්ම නියෝජනය කරමින් බාලදක්ෂයින් 50.000 ක් පමණ කටයුතු කරයි. ක්‍රියාකාරී වශයෙන් පාසල් ව්‍යාපෘතියක් ලෙස පවතින බාලදක්ෂ ව්‍යාපාරය තුළින් බලශක්ති සංරක්ෂණය සඳහා මහජනතාව දැනුවත් කිරීමට ශ්‍රී ලංකා සුනිත්‍ය බලශක්ති අධිකාරිය පසුගියදා කටයුතු කළෙය. ශ්‍රී ලංකා බාලදක්ෂ සංගමය සමඟ එක්ව ආරම්භ කළ මෙම වැඩසටහන මඟින් ඉදිරියේදී කලාප මට්ටමින් කඳවුරු සහ බලශක්ති සංරක්ෂණ වැඩමුළු පැවැත්වීමට සැලසුම් කර ඇත.   මීට සමගාමීව බාලදක්ෂ ව්‍යාපාරය සඳහා බලශක්ති සංරක්ෂණ ප්‍රවීණතා... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/10/12)

Lessons from President Premadasa for Sri Lanka’s current leadership
Shenali Waduge
There are many lessons from the rule of President Premadasa that will help to avoid repetition of making the same mistakes if properly adhered to. The quality of governance has deteriorated over the years and it is unlikely to change unless the present culture of governance carried down by successive governments and politicians does not change. Let all politicians remember that all governments have ended up falling short of people’s expectations because they have removed themselves away from the people trusting in only their henchmen of advisors and no sooner government’s moves away from the masses it... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/10/12)

A Final Squandered By The Lankans And The Resilience Of The Gritty West Indians !
Top Spin By Suni
October 8th,2012 Adoring fans were dumbfounded, home turf advantage a myth and the spirit of the fighting Lions lost in the rhetoric which somewhat coins the cliche as today they looked a  disoriented lot crashing to an ignominious defeat and the West Indies celebrated with Gayle inspired dance presentations of a Carribean resonance  and Calypso  over  Baila and  Pappara all the way!   Against many odds as the game progressed,  (primarily the early dismissal of new master blaster Gayle ( Sana Boy  eat your heart out!) and despite being  picked by some discerning forecasters that  the West Indies would indeed  win, from many perspectives it looked like Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/10/12)

God - a “product of human weaknesses-Albert Einstein
RT
Einstein’s private letter spelling out God, the Bible and Judaism, up for grabs-A handwritten letter in which the originator of the Theory of Relativity Albert Einstein refers to God as a “product of human weaknesses” is up for sale on eBay with a starting price of $3 million. The private letter was never meant to be published. ­The historic letter has been known in the scientific community for over 50 years. It was written in German in 1954, a year before the physicist’s death, and was addressed to philosopher Eric Gutkind. It was sent by Einstein from Princeton NJ,... -Full Story- (rt.com - 08/10/12)

"මොරගොල්ලට මෙගාවොට් 30 ක ජල විදුලි බලාගාරයක්"
මාධ්‍ය අංශය  විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
 අද වනවිට ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ උපරිම විදුලි උත්පාදන ධාරිතාවය මෙගාවොට් 3291 කි. එයින් මෙගාවොට් 2208 ක උත්පාදන අයිතිය ලංකා විදුලිබල මණඩලය සතු අතර ඉතිරි මෙගාවොට් 1062 උත්පාදය කොට ලබාදෙන්නේ පෞද්ගලික බලාගාර ආශ්‍රයෙනි. සමස්ත ධාරිතාවයෙන් මෙගාවොට් 1357 ක් ලංවිම මඟින් උත්පාදනය කරන්නේ ජල විදුලි බලාගාර ආශ්‍රයෙනි. අද වනවිට වැසි නොලද තත්ත්ව යටතේ ජල විදුලි උත්පාදනය උපරිම මෙගාවොට් 250 - 300 අතරට සීමාවී ඇත. එහෙත් පද්ධතිය සමබරව පවත්වා ගැනීම සඳහා ජල විදුලිය තීරණාත්මක විභවයකි. පවතින ජල විදුලි බලාගාර කාර්යක්ෂම කිරීම සහ ජල විභවයන් උපරිම මට්ටමේ ඇති ජලාශ සහ ස්ථාන හඳුනාගෙන ජල විදුලි බලාගාර නර්මාණය කිරීම රටේ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/10/12)

Here to stay: Chavez wins Venezuelan presidency
RT
Incumbent President, Hugo Chavez, has won Venezuela’s tightly-contested presidential elections, clinching a fourth term with over 54 per cent of the vote, according to the National Electoral Council. With more than 90 per cent of the ballot counted, election officials claim Chavez has won beyond doubt, with rival Henrique Capriles managing just 44,97 per cent of the vote. “Thank you God! Thank you to everyone,” Chavez said on his Twitter account. Chavez will take office for a six-year term beginning February 2013.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 08/10/12)

TNA wants India to assure productivity in PSC
Asada M Erpini
The government of Sri Lanka, which has the constitutional powers and the authority to govern the independent, sovereign state of Sri Lanka had repeatedly asked the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to nominate its representatives to the Parliamentary Select Committee. The TNA did not want to do that all this time, and according to the latest media reports dated 07 October, a TNA Parliamentarian named Selvam Adekkalanadan wants India to assure productivity if his group (TNA) were to participate in the PSC.  It is beyond comprehension why any Sri Lankan citizen wants India to guarantee success in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/10/12)

Death of the last LSSP stalwart
By Susantha Goonatilake
 Surprisingly, last week’s funeral of once LSSP stalwart,Hector Abhayavardhana at Kanatte was poorly attended -only at the most a few dozen at cremation.His life and death was a mirror for our times. Born Christian and presumed to be against conventional beliefs, he was cremated after pansakula at his house,the relative told me. The atheist Buddhist ceremony with AniccaWathaSankara “all compounded things decay” was a more rational statement than the Christian hymns sung at the burial ofthe other LSSP stalwart physicist, OsmundJayaratne.  Hector’s wife Kusala had died previously and cremated with a much larger crowd and Buddhist... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/10/12)

In the aftermath of SLMC aligning with the government.Rethinking of Muslim community is imperative
By Latheef Farook
 It was deliberate deception and calculated betrayal by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. This is how most Muslims describe the SLMC decision to join the very United Peoples Front Alliance, UPFA, government which it severely criticised to win votes and deceive people during the recent eastern provincial council elections. Muslims were suspicious of SLMC when it criticised the government, while being part of the it, in view of its past record of letting down the community. As a result most Muslims were indifferent to recent provincial council elections. They only voted in response to appeals by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/10/12)

East’s excavations suggest Buddhism was early bird
By  Sandun Jayawardana Courtesy The Nation
Three years after the end of the war, archaeologists are hard at work in the country’s Eastern province. Teams from the Department of Archaeology have been exploring areas that were previously inaccessible for decades due to fighting. As these excavations are taking place, controversies regarding the history of these areas and who exactly arrived first are once again starting to arise. Some historians and archaeologists claim that there were a large number of Buddhist temples in the region which were subsequently destroyed by invading armies from South India, whose leaders built Hindu... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/10/12)

The ‘Banana Leaf’ bus halt - Best Design
The ‘Banana Leaf’ bus halt close to the Pitakotte junction on Parliament Road, opposite the Diyatha Garden invariably attracts the passers-by. It is a unique concept of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa. The 25-foot long structure enhances the garden’s beauty. The unique bus halt designed by Chartered Architect Kumudu Munasinghe which cost Rs. 2.5 million, can accommodate over 30 commuters.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/10/12)

Malaysian govt. donation to Tamil Forum questioned Colombo regards body as an LTTE front says Godage
Courtesy The Island
October 6, 2012, 7:10 pm Sri Lanka is seeking details of how funds given to the Tamil Forum of Malaysia (TFM) by the Malaysian Government has been spent and the names of NGOs engaged in channeling such funds and the projects funded. High Commissioner K. Godage, Sri Lanka’s envoy to Kuala Lumpur who will be ending his assignment and returning to Colombo shortly following a recall, earlier wrote to Tan Sri Mohamed Radzi Abdul Rahman, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in KL regarding news reports saying that the Malaysian Government had given... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/10/12)

Building roads in Russia much cheaper than in Europe
Source:Pravda.Ru
Officials with the Russian Ministry of Transport believe that building roads in Russia is not that expensive in comparison with Europe and the U.S.. According to the ministry, building one kilometer of roadway costs about 41 million rubles ($1.3 million). In China, the cost of one kilometer of road makes up $1.2 million, in the U.S. - $2.4 million, in Canada - $2.7 million, in France - $3.4 million, and in Germany - $3.5 million... -Full Story- (english.pravda.ru - 07/10/12)

How to kill: Dutch govt aims to regulate religious slaughter
RT
The Dutch government is drafting a decree that would give it the power to overrule anyone aiming to practice ritual slaughter in the Netherlands. The move has received mixed reactions from Jewish communities throughout the country. The decree, which was signed by Dutch Agriculture Minister Henk Bleker, is aimed at defining the practice’s future in the Netherlands. Ritual slaughter – which is known as ‘scechitah’ to Jews and ‘dhabihah’ to Muslims – involves making an incision across the animal’s throat, allowing the blood to drain out. The slaying of conscious animals is a requirement of Jewish and Muslim law.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 07/10/12)

'No food, no drugs': Libyan troops siege ex-Gaddafi stronghold
RT
Armed Libyan forces continue to surround the city of Bani Walid, Libya. As tension between government troops and opposition supporters continues to mount, residents have been left without food and other supplies – and are calling on the UN for help. Human rights group Amnesty International has asked authorities to avoid unnecessary force, and to allow medical and other vital supplies into the city. It comes after Libya’s General National Congress gave the Ministries of Interior and Defense permission to use force to arrest those suspected of killing Omran Shaaban – the man who is credited for capturing the... -Full Story- (rt.com - 07/10/12)

UK Buddhists protest against arson attacks on Buddhist temples and villagers in Bangladesh
British Sri Lankan Forum
There were many brutal arson attacks on innocent & peaceful Buddhist villages, religious buildings and ancient Buddhist monasteries on 29th October 2012 in Chittagong, Bangladesh. These shocking atrocities are one of many that have been carried out against innocent and peaceful Buddhists and other minorities in recent past. Bangladesh Buddhist Association- UK and British Sri Lankan Forum strongly condemn these inhuman attacks carried out in the name of a religion. We all, with one voice, would like to request the British Government and all other EU countries to put immediate and appropriate pressure on the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/10/12)

CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) EMISSIONS
Dr Hector Perera
Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other chemicals are responsible for global warming and climate change, and CO2 has also been the main contributor due to various technical and chemical production process operations.  But CO2 has also been responsible for the beneficial Greenhouse gases for increased food production worldwide.  The gas is consumed by all vegetation in the process of photosynthesis then Oxygen (O2) is released into the atmosphere as Oxygen.  This process takes place only in the presence of day light in presence of sunlight. In the night, the reverse reaction takes place that means it takes in oxygen and releases carbon... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/10/12)

A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE MUSLIMS
PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER
It is the most common feeling in the western Christian world that the Muslims are a grave threat to the supremacy and hegemony of the countries like US, Israel and India; so they must be crushed with an iron hand. Ridiculing the Muslims, victimizing the followers of Islam and targeting their holy places; all these actions are a part of an organized anti-Muslim campaign. Innocent Muslims all over the world are now-a-days protesting against the blasphemous film, Innocence of Muslims, but they don’t know that all their protest would go waste because everywhere they are ranked... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/10/12)

French bees make green and blue honey after M&M’s feast
RT
Beekeepers in north eastern France have been scratching their heads after the hives began to produce a weird colored substance instead of regular honey. They think candy M&Ms are to blame. The bees around the town of Ribeauville in the Alsace region have been carrying an unidentified colored substance back to their hives since August. The keepers have done a bit of sleuthing and think the Agrivolar biogas plant around 4 kilometers away is to blame. The enterprise has been processing waste from a Mars factory producing the colored M&M's. The waste products have been stored in open containers... -Full Story- (rt.com - 06/10/12)

UK-US extradition treaty flawed? US nabs more terror suspects
RT
Five terror suspects have arrived in the US after being extradited from England. Two of the defendants appeared in a Connecticut court just hours after their plane landed. Among the suspects was an extremist Egyptian-born preacher. The men were extradited after Britain’s high court ruled for immediate removal, following a decade-long legal battle. The court said the suspects had no grounds for appeal, after they raised concerns about human rights and the conditions they would face in a US prison.... -Full Story- (rt.com - 06/10/12)

Contract for providing " Cheer Leaders " had been awarded to a Foreign Company, which Sub-Contracted the work to a Sri Lankan Firm.
Susantha Wijesinghe
There you go again, the Sri Lankan MORONS.  Disgusting, Loathsome, and  a  Despicable Act. What is this highly questionable and sordid  concept of awarding a contract to a foreign company to hire " Cheer Leaders " who in turn sub-contract it to a local Firm. The whole idea is in the NUDE, exposing the much talked of subject today~~~~ CORRUPTION - CORRUPTION - CORRUPTION.  This is ludicrous indeed.  There are many aspects to be addressed on this  squea-mish  deal. 1....Trace the person or persons responsible who initiated to award a contract to a foreign firm, instead of calling... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/10/12)

Virgin coconut oil hailed as cure for Alzheimer’s
By Cesar C. Villariba  Philippine Daily Inquirer
After previous claims as an antiseptic, AIDS cure, anti-infective, cholesterol-basher, and remedy for various aches and pains, coconut oil is now being hailed as a possible miracle cure for Alzheimer’s. The American physician, who has been dubbed “Dr. Coconut” for his tireless research into and championing of coconut oil’s healing properties, is back in the country bringing the latest breakthrough in the management of Alzheimer’s and other neurological conditions. Dr. Bruce Fife presented his evidence at the ongoing 10th Coconut Festival in Mandaluyong City,  relating the remarkable recovery of Steve Newport, 58,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/10/12)

The Health Benefits of Coconut Milk
The popularity of coconut milk is on the rise as people learn about the health benefits of this island fruit. Coconut milk is a healthy substitute for milk and one of nature's finest superfoods. It has been found to be very nutritional and well known among health conscious people. This video will explain in detail the health benefits of coconut milk and why it should be included in your daily liquid intake.... -Full Story- (youtube.com - 05/10/12)

Coconut Oil Cure for Alzheimer's
http://www.insidershealth.com
Coconut oil may be just the thing that Alzheimer's patients should consider! It has been discovered that coconut oil can help them by minimizing regenerative issues and even reversing some of their existing problems!... -Full Story- (youtube.com - 05/10/12)

Coconut Oil for Alzheimer's
Friday, June 17, 2011 by: Dr. Carolyn Dean
My world is full of coconuts, including coconut oil and coconut milk. That's not unusual because I live on Maui. But I'm happily seeing coconut oil all over the internet as the treatment for dozens of conditions and possibly hundreds of symptoms. My first clue as to the wonders of coconut oil came during my AIDS research in New York in the very early 1990's. Anecdotal reports started to pop up throughout the AIDS community about miraculous cures using coconut oil. To my mind, that's when the whole coconut oil industry... -Full Story- (naturalnews.com - 05/10/12)

MILITARY OPERATION IN NORTH WAZIRISTAN
PROFESSOR ALI SUKHANVER
“We are ready to provide them security if they need. We endorse Imran Khan’s plea that drone strikes are against our sovereignty. The anti-drone rallies should have been taken out by the religious leaders long ago but Imran had taken the lead and we would not harm him or his followers,” said a Taliban spokesperson talking to media a few days back. On the other hand in the last days of the previous month a big gathering of notable of Waziristan was held at Tank, town hall of South Waziristan. Leaders from Mehsud, Burki, Behtani, Gandapur... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/10/12)

Muslim Behaviour Explained...(Statistically):
Dr. Hammond's doctorate is in Theology.  He was born in Capetown in 1960, grew up in Rhodesia and converted to Christianity in 1977.
Here is a perspective by Dr. Peter Hammond Islam is not a religion, nor is it a cult. In its fullest form, it is a complete, total, 100% system of life.  Islam has religious, legal, political, economic, social, and military components. The religious component is a beard for all of the other components.  Islamization begins when there are sufficient Muslims in a country to agitate for their religious privileges.  When politically correct,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/10/12)

Dalai Lama's cat
Dalai Lama's cat writes a story-
I HAVE A DEFECATING BULLOCK to thank for the event that was to change my very young life—and without which, dear reader, you would not be reading this story.Picture a typical monsoonal afternoon in New Delhi. The Dalai Lama was on his way home from Indira Gandhi Aiport, after a teaching trip to the United States. As his car made its way through the outskirts of the city, traffic was brought to a halt by a bullock that has ambled into the center of the highway, where it proceeds to dump copiously.Several cars... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/12)

Hydrogen Energy Technologies are ESSENTIAL for Sri Lanka!
By Ananda-USA
October 04, 2012 I have been advocating Hydrogen Energy Technology for many years as an important aspect of achieving of Energy Independence for Sri Lanka at this forum and elsewhere, and I am pleased that the Government of Sri Lanka is taking the initiative to explore Hydrogen Energy Technology for transportation.  However, Hydrogen Energy Technologies should be viewed more broadly as a GENERAL SOLUTION to meeting all of Sri Lanka's energy needs .... as I explain below. Hydrogen gas can be PRODUCED by electrolysis of water using time-varying renewable energies such as solar, wind,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/12)

Re-visiting Prince of Wales - Part VIII
Dr.Tilak Fernando
This episode consists of an incident experienced by a Cambrian who now lives in Singapore, while he was in the O/Level class, along with few other feedbacks which go to show how schoolteachers in our era taught and entertained students while being firm. The first story revolves on a particular teacher who taught us mathematics. His robust masculine appearance, the streamlined moustache, hair combed backwards and pasted to the pate with Brylcream resembled the Western heart throb, Clark Gable in the film Gone with the Wind. I could remember him entering the classroom and going straight... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/12)

Royal College Inter-Batch Cricket Carnival 2012
Royal College Inter-Batch Cricket Carnival 2012
The annual Royal College, inter-batch, six- a- side, Cricket Carnvial is due to be held on the 14th of October 2012 at the CCC grounds, Colombo commencing at 9 AM.  Organised by the Group of 2001, Royal College, the 12th edition of this Carnival has rapidly evolved to take pride of place in the Royal old boy’s calendar, when camraderie and merriment conjugate for a worthy cause.  The Royal College Group of 2001 believes that there is tremendous potential to develop sports at Royal College. Therefore the Carnival’s prime obejctive is to raise... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/12)

Autobiography Dramatizes the Life Journey and Travel Adventures of Shelton Gunaratne
Shelton Gunaratne, professor of mass communications emeritus, Minnesota State University Moorhead,
MOORHEAD, Minn.–Shelton Gunaratne, professor of mass communications emeritus, Minnesota State University Moorhead, has launched the promotion of his 1,000-page autobiographical trilogy with the assistance of Author Solutions Inc. of Bloomington, Ind.  Gunaratne is a regular contributor to Lankaweb, which has published all the essays he subsequently included in the trilogy.  He started writing full time   after he retired as a professor in 2007. The trilogy looks at three different dimension of Gunaratne’s life.  The first of the trilogy titled Village Life in the Forties: Memories of a Lankan... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/12)

FUTA Strike – Dons’ demands are reasonable and justifiable
By Mario Perera, Kadawata
Much has been said on the above subject. The government channels are trying to whip up public condemnation of the concerned Dons by harping on dubious and contentious themes, namely the link up with a disgruntled opposition and worse still connivance with separatist diaspora elements.  Internationalizing a national problem is a well known way to dilute it. It also resuscitates latent paranoiac fears. That the opposition allies itself with strikers is a well known phenomenon in this country. It is not confined to a particular opposition, but to whoever or whatever be that opposition. In... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/12)

Hundreds in Sri Lanka protest attacks in Bangladesh
Courtesy: Xinhua
COLOMBO, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) — Over 1,000 people including Buddhist priests from Myanmar, Thailand and Bangladesh staged a protest march here Thursday, urging the Bangladesh government to stop oppression of Buddhist people in that country, an activist said here. Protesters marched to the Bangladesh High Commission and handed over a petition calling for the government to protect Buddhists in the Chittagong and Chittagong Hill regions who they alleged were under attack by Muslim extremist groups. The protest was organized by a popular Buddhist organization in Sri Lanka called the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS). Protesters flung plastic water... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/12)

වර්ෂාව නොලැබීමත් සමඟ විදුලිබල ක්ෂේත්ර යේ අසාමාන්යr තත්ත්වයක් උද්ගත විය හැකියි
අමාත්‍ය පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
•        බලශක්ති සංරක්ෂණයට යොමුවීම කාලීන අවශ්‍යතාවයක්  •        ස්වාභාවික තත්ත්ව පාලනය කිරීමට හැකියාවක් නැතත්, පාලනය කළ හැකි සියළු ක්ෂේත්‍ර පාලනය   කිරීමට කටයුතු කර ඇත.  අද වනවිට ශ්‍රි ලංකාව පමණක් නොව, සමස්ත ලෝකයම මුහුණදෙමින් සිටින ප්‍රධානතම ප්‍රශ්න ගොන්න අතර බලශක්ති අර්බුදයද පවතී. මේ සඳහා පවතින එකම විකල්පය වන්නේ කාර්යක්ෂමව සහ සකසුරුවමින් බලශක්ති ප්‍රභවයන් පාවිච්චි කිරීම බව ලෝක විද්‍යාඥයින් අවධාරණය කර සිටී. මේ තත්ත්වය හමුවේ ශ්‍රී ලාංකේය විදුලි පාරිභෝගිකයන් බලශක්ති සංරක්ෂණය වෙනුවෙන් යොමුකරවීම සඳහා පසුගිය මාර්තු මාසයේදී "හෙට වෙනුවෙන් අද" විදුලිබලය සුරැකීමේ ජාතික සත්කාරය ආරම්භ කෙරිණ. ගෘහස්ත පාරිභෝගික ජනතාවගේ කැපවීම මත එය සාර්ථක... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/12)

British Consul-General Kicks off Port of Felixstowe Customer Roadshow in Hong Kong
Port of Felixstowe
[Hong Kong – 4 October 2012] The Port of Felixstowe, a subsidiary of Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), launched its Asian customer roadshow in Hong Kong yesterday. The guest-of-honour, Caroline Wilson, the newly appointed British Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macao, made her first public appearance in her new role at the event.  Speaking at the event, Caroline Wilson said, “The UK remains one of the world’s most open economies and we are delighted that the Port of Felixstowe’s strong links with manufacturers around Britain supports export-oriented growth.  The modern, multi-modal facilities at Felixstowe benefit the entire... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/12)

Learning from Sri Lanka
Arie Kruglanski, Michele Gelfand
| September 19, 2012The world has a lot to learn from Sri Lanka. This island nation, south of India, was torn by a vicious civil war for twenty-six years, which ended in 2009 with a clear victory for government forces over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Since then, the ruling authorities have done a remarkable job forging reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation with the Tamil minority. This is truly an example of how military victory needs to be followed up by forgiveness and peacemaking. Without a doubt, the LTTE has been one of... -Full Story- (nationalinterest.org - 04/10/12)

Has the next season of militancy in Bangladesh begun?
Ekram Kabir, Input Editor, Ekattor Television banglanews24.com
If media reports are any indicator, there’s seems to an eruption of militant operations in Bangladesh. At the same time, the law enforcers have started conducting their drives against them. Bangladesh forces have been conducting special drives for the last two weeks to tear down a militant group, identifying themselves as Jamaatul Arakan that sprang up recently in the country`s south-eastern hilly region.... -Full Story- (banglanews24.com - 04/10/12)

Petitioning President Hamid Karzai This petition will be delivered to: President Hamid Karzai President Hamid Karzai: Prevent destruction of ancient site of Mes Aynak & the environmental damage
by Matin Wasei
Sign our petition to save the ancient Buddhist city of Mes Aynak (Province Logar, Afghanistan) from needless destruction while preventing irreversible environmental harm to Kabul watershed and the Afghan people.... -Full Story- (https:/change.org/ - 04/10/12)

Buddhists attacked, Bangladesh on high alert
Merunglua, Bangladesh
: Authorities in Bangladesh have ordered security officials to remain alert around official camps of Rohingya Muslims following weekend attacks on minority Buddhists and their temples in the area.Some 28,000 Rohingya who fled Myanmar live in two official camps in the southern Cox's Bazar district, but tens of thousands of others are scattered around the region.Home Minister ...... -Full Story- (firstpost.com - 04/10/12)

300 monks protest in Bangkok against anti-Buddhist attacks in Bangladesh
BANGKOK (AFP)
- About 300 Buddhist monks demonstrated in the Thai capital Bangkok on Wednesday against recent attacks by Muslim mobs targeting temples and houses in Bangladesh. Holding signs reading "No More Violence We Want Peace" and "Stop Muslim Terrorism on Bangladesh Buddhist", the monks from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand massed outside the United Nation offices to call for a probe into the unrest.... -Full Story- (straitstimes.com - 04/10/12)

Escalating Incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) and Suicides Among Soldiers and Civilians Who were Exposed to Civil War in Sri Lanka
Article  No 13 Abstract:  Post-traumatic stress disorders is characterized by serious behavioural and psychological abnormality that occurs following exposure to one or more acute stressful life events, including soldiers and civilians exposed to war situations, and also in several other non-combat circumstances.  The latter includes, victims of sexual abuse or rape, mugging, violent robberies and home invasions, natural or man-made disasters, school bulling, and work place harassments and retaliations.  It is essential to promptly diagnose these victims and provide them with effective therapeutic programs, enabling them to get back to normality and productive lives. This piece of writing was in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/10/12)

ABERRANT, ANOMALOUS, DUBIOUS BEHAVIOUR OF TAMIL NADU POLITICIANS
K. Balanathan
Hon Vai Kopalasamy Leader of MDMK AL-Block, New N0 20 4th Cross Street, 11 Main Road Anna Nagar, Chennai 600040 Tamil Nadu, INDIA Hon Mr.Vaiko, ABERRANT, ANOMALOUS, DUBIOUS BEHAVIOUR OF TAMIL NADU POLITICIANS You have been a respected Law authority, the Leader of MDMK, and a politician. I wish to take this opportunity to write to you, as we SriLankans are unquestionably, undeniably dissatisfied with the performance of Tamil Nadu politicians. Please take some time to read my letter to you and understand with pure reasoning, and restructure problems to address your grievances at different angles to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/10/12)

Ambassador Aryasinha says those who downplay Sri Lanka's post-conflict achievements show disrespect to those who have overcome 30 years of suffering
63rd Session of the Executive Committee United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
At the outset Mr. Chairman, Sri Lanka wishes to congratulate you for your able leadership, and welcomes the new members of the Executive Committee.  We also extend our sincere appreciation to the High Commissioner for the Opening Statement which provided a detailed overview of the work undertaken and the challenges faced by the UNHCR over the past year.  We also acknowledge the insightful remarks made by the Executive Director of the WFP in her Keynote Address. Sri Lanka recognizes the important role played by the UNHCR... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/10/12)

CHILDREN ATTACK PRINCIPAL ON CHILDRENS' DAY.
Susantha Wijesinghe.
This is a very sad day for 98% of the Parents whose children attend School. Possibly it is a handful of parents who together with their children, took unto themselves to denigrate the law of the Land, by  attacking a Principal who went, just to perform his duty. The whole episode is shocking, and nauseating, and this College will go down in history, for fostering Hooliganism, if those complicit are not punished.  It is not the incoming nor outgoing Principals' fault. It is clearly visible that Parents incited their Children to attack the Principal, and Vandalize School and Private... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/10/12)

Asylum seekers quit Naru for Sri Lanka !
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
 Beginning of September, Australia re-introduced the asylum policy of sending asylum seekers to Naru Island. The first batch was chartered on 15th Sept. Eleven years ago, Prime Minister John Howard followed the same policy. As a result, arrival of unauthorised boats declined dramatically. But when the Labour Party came to power, they abandoned this policy and adopted a soft approach.      During the previous govt, PM Howard had even threatened to turn boats back to where they came from. The govt which was at logger-heads with the opposition on this issue was pointing the finger at Sri Lanka for the exodus of refugees. But it was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/10/12)

An open Invitation to join JOBEX 2012 On 06th & 07th of October 2012 @ the Exhibition & Convention Centre.
CLS- Secretary - JOBEX 2012 of Colombo Law Society
The Mission  The JOBEX 2012, a master project of the Colombo Law Society is aimed to educate Sri Lankan general public on foreign employment opportunities and to help them to achieve their objectives by developing correct competencies, Skills and attitude.      The program  The JOBEX is been organized to develop overseas job opportunities thus addressing the issues such as training facilities and skills development and unemployment of the emerging Sri Lanka. More and more Sri Lankans seek employment overseas since mid 70's.They were different from the high-value professionals... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/10/12)

සැප්තැම්බර් මාසයේ තෙදිනක් තුළ පමණක් විදුලි හොරු 34 ක්.
මාධ්‍ය අංශය - විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය
• ලක්ෂ 19 කට අධික වැටලීම් ආදායමක්  ලංවිම හදිසි වැටලීම් අංශ නිලධාරීන් විසින් මේ වසරේ සැප්තැම්බර් මස 22,23 සහ 24 යන තෙදින තුළ දියතලාව ප්‍රදේශයේ සිදුකළ වැටලීම් තුළින් රු.1,930,240.00 ක ආදායමක් ලබා ඇති අතර එම මුදලින් රු.365,000.00 ක් උසාවි දඩ වශයෙන්ද, රු.1,565,240.00 විදුලිබල මණ්ඩලයේ අලාභය ලෙසද ගණන් බලා ඇත.  ඒ අනුව මීටර් වෙනස් කිරීම්, කොකු භාවිතාකර විදුලිය ලබාගැනීම් වැනි අයථා විදුලි පරිහරණයන් පිළිබඳ සිද්ධීන් 34 ක් වාර්තා වී ඇති අතර ඒ අතරින් සිද්ධීන් 20 ක් වංචා සහගත ලෙස මීටර් සැකසීම තුළින් විදුලිය ලබාගැනීම් වේ. ඉතිරි සිද්ධීන් 14 කොකු යොදා අයථා ලෙස විදුලිය... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/10/12)

Buddhist monks protest killing of fellow men by Muslim mobs in Bangla
Buddhist monks held a candlelight vigil and protested in the holy town of Bodh Gaya in Bihar, paying homage to people who lost their lives in the attacks carried out by Muslim mobs on Buddhist temples in Bangladesh.... -Full Story- (Hindustan Times - 03/10/12)

Petitioning President Hamid Karzai-This petition will be delivered to:President Hamid Karzai President Hamid Karzai: Prevent destruction of ancient site of Mes Aynak & the environmental damage
by Matin Wasei
Sign our petition to save the ancient Buddhist city of Mes Aynak (Province Logar, Afghanistan) from needless destruction while preventing irreversible environmental harm to Kabul watershed and the Afghan people. We, the undersigned, acknowledge the urgent need for revenue generation for Afghanistan. We also recognize cultural heritage is a treasure for the ages, and no amount of revenue can compensate for an environmental catastrophe.... -Full Story- (https:/change.org/ - 03/10/12)

Sri Lankans Muslims condemn attacks on Buddhists
Sri Lanka’s minority Muslims condemned attacks on minority Buddhists in the Muslim-majority Bangladesh and demanded that authorities there punish those responsible. N.M. Ameen, president of Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, an umbrella organisation of over 100 Muslim civil society groups, said Wednesday that any ethnic incident against minorities in Bangladesh or any other South Asian country “is surely to reflect in our country Sri Lanka too.” About 7 percent of Sri Lanka’s 20 million people are Muslims, and 74 percent are mostly Buddhist Sinhalese.... -Full Story- (thehindu.com - 03/10/12)

The mixed-signals in Indo-Lanka politics and policies
 Shenali Waduge
The habit of giving mixed-signals in politics and policies is nothing new and politicians have used the art to perfection in drawing sentiments of the masses to gain their empathy while following a totally different version to what they give the people – playing to the gallery is what the meaning denotes. If it is the sovereignty of the country that is the key question then all citizens that desire Sri Lanka to remain unitary and sovereign desire and demand the revoking of the 13th amendment and with 2/3 parliamentary majority the next question is why is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/10/12)

What secret pact the political hierarchy of the Sri Lanka government has with the Government of India to keep calling “ India is our friend ” ?
By Charles.S.Perera
India had not been   a real friend of Sri Lanka .  This fact became evident with the coming of Mrs. Indra Ghandhi as the Prime Minister .  She  employed the RAW to initiate wide spread  sporadic  anti Sinhala activities by selected Tamil youth from the  North, which resulted in back lashes from the Sinhala in the south against the unfortunate Tamils in the south.  It was under Indra Gandhi that camps were set up in Tamil Nadu to train Prabhakaran and  other Tamil youth in terrorism. These “riots” were utilised  to create the Sinhala Tamil dissension and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/10/12)

IMCMEX-2012 – Failure on whose part
By Afshain Afzal
 International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX-2012) concluded on 27/28 September 2012. The exercise left some good and some bitter memories. Many of the missions failed as it was difficult to conduct mine countermeasures (MCM) operations in the narrow strait. It was the first time that civilian contractors were in chain of command in some warships, which produced discouraging results. There were cases of disobedience and refusal to obey lawful command. The US Navy carried out a unique attempt by employing some retired personnel from Navy and civilian merchant ships operator. More or less, some ships sounded like... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/10/12)

5th consecutive NCE Export Awards win by Elephant House
Press Release
Consumer favourites Elephant House have been awarded a Silver award in the Industry - Medium sector category at the recently concluded 20th NCE Export Awards. This win means that Elephant House has now been awarded a record five consecutive times at this prestigious awards show, which is organised by the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) of Sri Lanka. Being recognised for its 9.2% year-on-year export revenue growth, which was achieved over its 2011/2012 financial year, Elephant House has repeatedly proven the international worth of its brands. For example, local bestseller Elephant House Ginger Beer (EGB) is also... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/10/12)

Mauritius under pressure from India to amend taxation treaty
Leighton G. Luke
India and Mauritius are yet to agree on changes to the double taxation arrangements that have seen New Delhi miss out on tax revenues of up to US$600 million annually. Background Concerned at the amount of tax revenue lost to Mauritius-based companies under existing arrangements, India is continuing to seek a renegotiated taxation treaty with the island state. Indian officials have estimated that the “Mauritius route” results in the loss of some US$600 million in tax revenues each year.... -Full Story- (asiapacific.anu.edu.au - 02/10/12)

Regime Change:
By Garvin Karunaratne PhD. (Michigan State University)
Half a millennium ago Captain Robert Clive of the East India Company battled the sovereign ruler of Bengal, Shia Uj Daulah,  created rifts amongst the Bengal leaders, bought them over with money, defeated Shiraj Ud Daulah in battle and dragged him through the streets tied to his chariot.  That was the work of an NGO, a Non Governmental Organization authorized by Great Britain to roam the seas, and foreign lands, plunder anything they come across and bring back the booty to Great Britain. It is not well known that at that time... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/10/12)

සරසවි ඇදුරන් නිරුවතේ මහපාරේ
Prof. Nalin De Silva
වත්මන් සරසවි ඇදුරු සටන ඇරඹුණේ පසුගිය වසරෙහිය. එවකට මම කැලණිය විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයේ සේවය කළෙමි. ජනාධිපතිතුමා සාකච්ඡා කිරීමට අවස්‌ථාවක්‌ ලබාදී තිබියදීත් ආචාර්ය සමිති සම්මේලනය එය නොතකා තම වෘත්තීය සමිති අරගලය ඇරඹීය. ඒ අනුව අධ්‍යයන අංශ ප්‍රධාන ධුරවලින් අදාළ ඇදුරෝa අස්‌වූහ. මා ඒ අරගලයට විරුද්ධ බව විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයෙහි මෙන්ම පිටත ද ප්‍රසිද්ධියේ ප්‍රකාශ කරමින් ඇතැම් අංශාධිපතිවරුන් නැතිව වුවද මා පීඨාධිපතිධුරය දැරූ විද්‍යා පීඨයෙහි දේශන පවත්වාගෙන යැමට කල්තබා සැලසුම් කළෙමි. කිසිම බාධාවකින් තොරව කැලණිය විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයෙහි විද්‍යා පීඨයෙහි ඒකාල සීමාවෙහි දේශන පැවැත්විණි. විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයීය ආචාර්ය සමිති සම්මේලනයේ ඉල්ලීම් ඉටුකිරීමට නොහැකි බවත් ඊනියා වෘත්තීය සමිති අරගලයෙහි අරමුණ ආණ්‌ඩුව අස්‌ථායී කිරීම බවත් මම... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/10/12)

‘…..Support Palestine Defeat Zionism…’
Hameed Abdul Karim
Coming hard on the heels of the of the vilest of movies ‘The Innocence of Muslims’ and the subsequent blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in the French magazine Charle Hebdo, there is this outrageous advertisement on New York busses carrying  a vicious racist message.   The ad reads “In Any War between the Civilised Man and the Savage, Support the Civilised Man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad’. This spiteful ad made its debut in San Francisco on city busses. And now it’s in New York. The timing seems perfect considering the UN is having yet another of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/10/12)

Sinhala Song - Ape Sebaluvan
ChandreDW
In 2009 we wrote a song to commemorate the valiant soldiers, as well as the commanders, and made it available in words and audio (which was the version adapted to 2010 presidential election). You can listen to it (and several other versions and songs at dh-web.org/lyrics/ http://www.lankaweb.com/... -Full Story- ( - 01/10/12)

Justice For Rizana Nafeek
By Fil Munas
30 September, 2012- I want to tell you, and from your mouth to God’s ear, the tragic tale of Rizana Nafeek, an inconsequential and faceless housemaid from Sri Lanka who is presently incarcerated and awaiting public execution by beheading in Saudi Arabia. The tale begins in 2005 when Rizana, hardly 17 years old at the time, left her poor homeland of Sri Lanka to work as a servant in the oil-drenched monarchy of Saudi Arabia. Rizana, a very brave and courageous individual, the eldest of her siblings, undertook this ill-fated journey to support her penurious family back... -Full Story- (countercurrents.org - 01/10/12)

Sri Lanka, West Indies move into semis
Elmo Rodrigopulle - Reporting
Sri Lanka entered the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup when they pushed England aside by 19 runs in their final Super Eight game cheered on deafeningly and inspired by a full house of supporters at the Pallekele Stadium yesterday. In reply to Sri Lanka’s 169 for 6 in 20, England could manage only 150 for 9 in 20 overs with bowler turned batsman Samit Patil making 67 in 48 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes. Slinger Lasith Malinga coming on to bowl the third over of the innings, ruined the England inning s... -Full Story- (Daily News - 01/10/12)

World Twenty20: Sri Lanka take callow England to the cleaners
RT
So this little adventure is over. England were comprehensively beaten by 19 runs. Despite a defiant lone hand from Samit Patel, who relished taking on the Sri Lanka spinners in an innings of 67 from 48 balls, the target of 170 was way beyond them. Even with an experienced, in-form batting line-up this would have been a steep task since the totals are getting smaller and smaller as the tournament progresses. Against such a callow collection of young Englishmen, albeit gifted ones, it was far too much.... -Full Story- (guardian.co.uk - 01/10/12)

International Warlords Coercing Mankind
By Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD
And here is the dilemma we face as a civilization. We march collectively toward self-annihilation. Corporate capitalism, if left unchecked, will kill us. Yet we refuse, because we cannot think and no longer listen to those who do think, to see what is about to happen to us. We have created entertaining mechanisms to obscure and silence the harsh truths, from climate change to the collapse of globalization to our enslavement to corporate power that will mean our self-destruction. If we can do nothing else we must, even as individuals, nurture the private dialogue... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 01/10/12)

How The Government’s Lies Become Truth
By Paul Craig Roberts
September 30, 2012 "Information Clearing House" - In my last column, “A Culture of Delusion,” I wrote that “Americans live in a matrix of lies. Lies dominate every policy discussion, every political decision.” This column will use two top news stories, Iranian nukes and Julian Assange, to illustrate how lies become “truth.” The western Presstitute media uses every lie to demonize the Iranian government. On September 28 in a fit of unmitigated ignorance, the UK rag, Mail Online, called the president of Iran a “dictator.” The Iranian presidency is an office filled by popular election,... -Full Story- (informationclearinghouse.info - 01/10/12)

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