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News Archive for Nov 2009
Is Sri Lanka Crazy Enough to Elect a Retired General as President?November 29, 2009 I was very fortunate to have been in Sri Lanka during the final days of the military war against the LTTE. Like all of us, I was relieved that the terrorist violence, replete with its deranged suicide bombers, was finally over. Also like all of us, I looked forward to the day when the Government could get its act together and establish a unified country and a prolonged period of peace. I had faith in the conciliatory words of the President, and believed that this would be accomplished... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/11/09)
MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA VISITS ANURADHAPURA BEFORE HIS CAMPAIGN
Photos by Sudath Silva President Mahinda Rajapaksa took time to go on a pilgrimage to the sacred city of Anuradhapura prior to starting his Presidential Election campaign. Atamassthanadhipathi Veneral Pallegam Siriniwasa led Buddhist monks chanted pirith and blessed the President. The monk said Anuradhapura sacred city and the rest of the country were under the constant threat of the terrorists and the nation is grateful to the President for having dismantled terrorism from the country. The President clad a sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree branch , with a yellow robe and offered obeisance and took vows... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/11/09)
Re. General Sarath Fonseka
I could not agree less with Mr. Rajarathnam. A Permanent resident of the United States should not be appointed even as an Ambassador to represent Sri Lanka. If Americans invade Sri Lanka, who’s side is General Fonseka going to take? General should first give up his PR of the United States before asking the people of Sri Lanka to make him the President of Sri Lanka. My advice to General Fonseka is to stay out of politics without getting mud all over him and let people remember him  as a war hero,   along with General Kobbakaduwa and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/11/09)
Sri Lankan parties trade charges over threats on former army chief
COLOMBO, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's main parties Monday traded charges over claimed death threats on General Sarath Fonseka, the former Army chief and the common opposition challenger to incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse in the presidential election. Fonseka, the Commander of the Army when the government won the military battle with the Tamil Tiger rebels, has filed the Supreme Court seeking enhanced personal security deprived to him by the state. "If he is under threat it must be coming from his own colleagues who were friends with the LTTE (Tamil rebels)", Dullas Alahapperuma, the Minister of Transport told reporters. Lakshman... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 30/11/09)
Lankan Tamils in TN going home soon
CHENNAI: The Sri Lankan Government would send Tamils living in camps to their respective places in the island nation by January 2010 as per schedule, a top official of the Sri Lankan High Commission said here today. "After the decimation of LTTE in March this year, normalcy returned and the remaining 1.23 lakh people currently living in camps will be sent back to their respective places in another two months", Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner in Southern India, Vadivel Krishnamoorthy told reporters at the sidelines of a function.... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 30/11/09)
All eyes on Sri Lanka presidential poll
Process for the April parliamentary election set in motion COLOMBO: Even as all eyes in the island nation are on the January 26 presidential election, in which incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa is being confronted by the retired Army General Sarath Fonseka, the Sri Lanka Election Commission has set in motion the process for the parliamentary election scheduled to be held by April. A new gazette notification by the Commission denominated a number of seats for the Northern Province. After the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, the two provinces of north and east were temporarily merged. However, the Supreme Court... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 30/11/09)
Sri Lanka war displaced 'free to leave' military camps
More than 100,000 displaced people in military-run camps in northern Sri Lanka will be allowed "free movement" from Tuesday. Up to now, Tamils in the camps who were displaced by the war were not allowed to come and go at will. The government says the camp-dwellers will now be free to leave after giving their details to the authorities. But with northern Sri Lanka devastated and mined, some of the displaced will want to stay on in the camps for now.... -Full Story- (BBC - 30/11/09)
Britain proposes Sri Lanka to host CHOGM 2013
Sri Lanka as the host for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013 was endorsed on a proposal made by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the CHOGM held in Trinidad & Tobago from 27 – 29 November 2009. Since Australia and Mauritius had also offered to be host, Prime Minister Brown had pointed out that all  three countries are equally qualified and it was decided by the Commonwealth Heads of Government that they host the 2011 and 2015 CHOGMs respectively. The endorsement of Sri Lanka by the entire membership of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/11/09)
Is Fonseka the agent of the Assembly of God cult at The Sunday Leader?
One positive consequence of the illegal US invasion of Iraq is that many intelligence agents and analysts these days do what they can to prevent any repetition of such dastardly acts ever again. They pass on information freely these days to friends and even to acquaintances so that the lies and conspiracies are exposed in time. According to a former US intelligence officer stationed in Colombo between 2005 and 2009, the codename for Sarath Fonseka in their secret communications was ‘FOF’. The business of codenames is generally interesting but in Fonseka’s case it is particularly so. You... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/11/09)
Should we give into ‘Hunters’ of our nation?
Just over six months ago we were able to show the entire world, how powerful is our unity and its strength. Firstly, determination to end the terrorism was taken firmly by the peace loving, right minded patriotic people of this land at the last presidential election by defeating the ‘puppet of the west' and electing the right leadership to achieve the target. Secondly, the President elected made the right decision by appointing the right people to the right places prior to the operation against terrorism. Thirdly, the President and his team commenced the operations at the right... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/11/09)
Some Rationally valuable Points for All Voting Sri Lankans . To Consider in Electing a President who will be the Right President
All should vote so that the decision shall be clear and convincing, to ensure the correct decision. For most of the Sri Lankan Politicians, from the time it became a so called independent country, were more concerned about staying in power or trying to come into power if they were not in. Therefore, elections became completely an exercise to outwit the opponents. The present situation in Sri Lanka is just another example for the same thing. The naked truth is not what is going to happen to Candidates and but what is going to happen to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/11/09)
A POLITICAL ANALYTIC PREDICTION MADE in Feb, 2008, IS PROVEN CORRECT NOW. THE JVP IS AN ANTI NATIONAL FORCE AND THE NATION SHOULD KNOW THE TRUTH. HE. Mahinda Rajpaksa and the Government should be vigilant Politically.
The JVP telling the UN to help restore democracy in North is biting into the stability of the Government. The JVP telling the visiting UN’s Assistant Secretary General Ms.Angela Kane to assist Sri Lanka to restore democracy in the Northern Province by dismantling the remaining part of the open prison of the LTTE while demanding the UN to ‘stick unwaveringly to its anti-colonial roots’, is a political drama that the JVP is staging to the International community to create political metaphors that they are the Sinhala... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/11/09)
Rajapaksa Vs Rajapaksa
A unique Presidential Election, where the voter will determine the suitability of one candidate - Mahinda Rajapakse. People will decide - Are they with him or against him? The answer will decide the election. Were his achievements as president, in the plus or minus column - is he good or bad for another six years? In a capsulated form – the past and the present will be reviewed to determine the future. In a sentence, it is Rajapakse Vs Rajapakse. The great General is merely breezing past on a pillion of a UNF... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/11/09)
The Fonseka magic and logic
So, Gen. (retd) Sarath Fonseka has finally shown his hand. He wants to contest the next presidential election as the UNF-JVP combine's candidate. That he would do so was only too well known and his announcement, therefore, lacked an element of surprise. However, the press conference he gave yesterday was of some interest as the country saw the retired general trying to metamorphose into a politician. Fonseka may have realised that politics was a different ball game altogether as in fielding questions on the economy, minorities and democracy, he happened to quip that even a politician with... -Full Story- (The Island - 29/11/09)
Fonseka ready to secure even support of Prabhakaran’s parents to defeat MR
He said that even LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's parents were welcome to back him. He said there were neither permanent friends nor permanent enemies and he was determined to receive the support of all parties to defeat the government.Speaking of devolution, Fonseka said a solution migh have to go even beyond the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to suit the present situation. He asserted that the controversial Amendment, introduced over 20 years ago, would not be enough now. He said the issue was being discussed among the political parties in the newly-formed... -Full Story- (The Island - 29/11/09)
THULAWA on ITN
Wimal Weerawansa was interviewd today. Was Sarath Fonseka trying to drag the war until December 2009?... -Full Story- (itn.lk - 29/11/09)
Commonwealth vetoes Sri Lanka bid to hold 2011 gathering
Sri Lanka has been blocked from hosting the next meeting of Commonwealth leaders in protest at Colombo's military repression against the Tamil population earlier this year. Australia will instead host the next biennial Commonwealth heads of government meeting in 2011 after Canberra and London joined forces to block the Sri Lankan bid. The decision, made at the summit in Trinidad and Tobago over the weekend, is a victory for Gordon Brown and his Australian counterpart, Kevin Rudd.... -Full Story- (guardian.co.uk - 29/11/09)
S Lankan general 'behind attacks'
Sri Lanka's main opposition party has accused the country's most senior army officer of being behind violent attacks on reporters. Opposition MP Joseph Michael Perera told parliament that the attacks were carried out by a "special team" controlled by Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka. Mr Perera said the government should arrest the offenders and "immediately bring them to justice". The army has denied that it is any way involved in attacks on journalists.... -Full Story- (BBC - 29/11/09)
Trends observed for the 2010 election so far
Now the people of Sri Lanka gradually beginning to appreciate the fact that  the existing democracy in the Island is adequate people do not need JVP type of democracy which was established twice on heaps of dead bodies in 1971 and 1989. People do not need Batalanda type of democracy (1989) and CFA and they do not need SF type of ruthless democracy demonstrated in 2008/2009 in Vanni. Currently existing democracy is good enough.  Motto is “Let us try and improve the existing democracyâ€ÂÂÂ. SF and Ranil W rapidly loosing minority support at the election while UPFA fast... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/11/09)
We’ll ensure the General won’t win – Azath Salley
The foray into the forthcoming Presidential Election, scheduled for January 26, 2010, has aggravated with the United National Party leadership endorsing the candidacy of Gen. Sarath Fonseka while a significant number of its elected members and membership have come forward to criticise it. The Nation interviewed former Deputy Mayor of Colombo, Azath Sally, who was sacked from the UNP’s Working Committee, by Ranil Wickremesinghe for critisising the Fonseka’s candidacy.... -Full Story- (nation.lk - 29/11/09)
Sri Lanka former Army chief says not against war crimes probe
COLOMBO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's former Army chief and opposition front runner in the upcoming Presidential election General Sarath Fonseka declared that he was not averse to war crimes probe. "If there are doubts it will be good to clear them," General Fonseka launching his presidential bid here Sunday told reporters. Fonseka said that investigations ought to be based on clear and specific evidence and not based on mere allegations. Sri Lankan troops conducted the campaign against the Tamil Tiger rebels which ended in May. Fonseka said he was part of the Rajapakse administration as its Army Commander... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 29/11/09)
No external forces can stop me from developing my country – Mahinda Rajapaksa
 An Agreement was signed between China Harbor construction company and Sri Lanka chairman of Airport and aviation  Prasanna  Wikramasooriya .(Pix : Chandana Perera-Nalin Hewapathirana) Regardless of whatever power is bringing pressure on Sri Lanka, the government is determined not to change any decision taken for the benefit of the motherland said President Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurating the construction of a new international airport at Mattala, Hambantota yester day.  The country’s second international airport is being built on a sprawling 2000 hectares at Mattala at a cost of 200 million dollars under a loan provided by the People’s Republic... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/11/09)
Ex-LTTE leader slams Prabhakaran
A. Ram, a top LTTE leader now in the custody of the Sri Lankan government, has issued a Heroes’ Day message condemning the way Velupillai Prabhakaran had led the LTTE and the Tamil people, the Tamilnet website reports. Ram had blamed Prabhakaran’s “uncompromising policy†for the defeat of the Tamil armed struggle and the annihilation of the LTTE in Sri Lanka. “The parallel address, without any explanation to circumstances or citation of evidences, came out with a controversial announcement on the array of heroes. Ram's address contradicted the usual LTTE perspectives by saying that the... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 28/11/09)
Army refutes former chief's charges
COLOMBO, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Army Chief Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya here Saturday refuted allegations made by his predecessor General Sarath Fonseka of ill treatment. Jayasuriya addressing a gathering at the Army Headquarters said that there was no midnight raid of Fonseka's residence by the military police. "We waited for a few days for General Fonseka to see if he would return the excess vehicles under his care", Jayasuriya said adding that the military police was not sent at midnight to Fonseka's residence to ask for vehicles as alleged by him. "As an officer with a 40 year... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 28/11/09)
OPEN LETTER TO HON. PETER KENT - CONSERVATIVE MP & MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, CANADA.
Hon. Peter Kent Conservative MP - Thornhill, Dear Sir, Please kindly find a news dateline posted by AFP ( Ottawa ), 4 hours ago (around 8 pm Thursday night), which states that you have made the following comment:- "OTTAWA (AFP)  The 37-year conflict raging in Sri Lanka was borne out of "repressive" governments in Colombo , Canadian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said Thursday". Sir, your statement clearly indicates your lack of indepth knowledge and awareness of the ethnic and political history of Sri Lanka and the aspirations... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/11/09)
The General (retd) and Presidential Ambitions
Until the publicity related to HiCorp led by the son-in-law of General (retd) Sarath Fonseka hit the News Headlines through AsiaTribune, I had a great deal of respect for General (retd) Sarath Fonseka. Leading the military and other Defence Forces against the Tamil Tiger Terrorist LTTE to victory placed Fonseka on a high pedestal. His skills as a frontal leader and to win a 30 year old war in less than 3 years was an admirable féte. But incorporating the HiCorp by his son-in-law in the USA, where he is now accused of certain alleged fraudulent and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/11/09)
FURIOUS GORDON BROWN WHO DISLIKED WAR AGAINST TAMIL TIGERS WANTS TO BLOCK SRI LANKA HOSTING THE NEXT COMMONWEALTH SUMMIT IN COLOMBO
The United Kingdom, still furious over , how the Sri Lankan government crushed a thirty year long armed insurrection of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will try to block Sri Lanka hosting the next Commonwealth summit, news reports in London said. Although Sri Lanka will resettle all refugees of the war at the end of January following systematic demining of the Tamil lands the news reports attributing to the UK government said, “treatment of refugees†is one of the causes of UK’s opposition to Sri Lanka. But the main cause for Britain’s opposition is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/11/09)
Taking Nothing Away From The Indians, The Sri Lankans Let Themselves Be Beaten!
Indian cricket is now basking in the euphoria of the latest crushing innings win over Sri Lanka but hopefully not for long if the Sri Lankan's re-group knowing fully well they have the potential to lick the Indians themselves where the potential needs to be supplementd by tangible performance. That is if the inner sanctum of the Sri Lankan cricketing hierarchy corrects a few muddling decisions indicative not only of muddling but apparently also of meddling towards the smooth functioning of an otherwise well geared team where blatant ommissions of a few key players perhaps tell... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/11/09)
Second arson attack at Sri Lankan Buddhist temple
TORONTO  An early morning fire that damaged a Buddhist temple used by Toronto’s Sri Lankan community for the second time in six months has been classified as an arson. Toronto police have increased patrols in the area and are consulting with the hate crimes unit after flames engulfed part of the building at around 2 a.m. on Friday. There were no injuries. While police have not yet made any arrests, investigators are almost certainly examining whether the attack was connected to the Tamil nationalist conflict in Sri Lanka.... -Full Story- (network.nationalpost.com - 28/11/09)
A NIGHTMARE OF RULING AFGHANISTAN
The Indian premier, Dr. Man Mohan Singh’s recent visit to America is being taken as an attempt to finalize issues on Civil Nuclear deal and the matter of a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. In case Mr. Man Mohan Singh succeeds in his all his efforts in this regard, the next scene would not be very much pleasing and comforting for the Obama administration. By doing pacts with India, the USA will be certainly inviting a new trouble. The civil or any type of nuclear deal with India will case a flagrant heart burning to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/11/09)
Asian MPs insist on a free & fair 2010 Burma polls
A group of pro-democracy parliamentarians from various Asian countries have emphasized for a free and fair Burma elections duly monitored by a team of impartial international observers and not ‘under the fraudulent Constitution of 2008’. The group consisting parliamentarians from India, Nepal, Singapore, England, Burma (Myanmar) and Tibet, was also unanimous that all political prisoners must be released unconditionally and stop the ongoing violent repression against ethnic groups and political opponents of the military regime, before the proposed general election in 2010. In a Consultation meeting of Parliamentarians’ Solidarity for the Struggle of Democracy in Burma on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/11/09)
Advancing religion to save the future -Part III
At the core of the current controversy on the environment is also the role of science and technology. This argument invariably invokes the metaphor of Frankenstein – the metaphor of science growing into a monster which man cannot control. But Judge Weeramantry is not an obscurantist who goes against all science. He acknowledges the benevolent contribution of science to advance knowledge and its corollary of elevating the quality of life to levels not known in history. His argument, however, is that science and technology should not be allowed exceed moral limits and run wild without... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/11/09)
"Tying the 'Thali' without a neck" - Gen. Fonseka as Opposition Presidential Candidate but clueless without a party !
There had been 'fireworks' at the UNP working committee meeting on Thursday regarding fielding of a candidate for the Presidential elections. Even though Gen. Fonseka had been endorsed as nominee there had been pandemonium at the meeting because this is the first time in 60 years that the UNP had not contested an election to come to power. The UNP decision to support the General had not been unanimous. It was reported that 3 had voted against while two had absconded.  The main issue is that Gen. Fonseka had been endorsed by the opposition but still has... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/11/09)
CHOGM is an irrelevance Sri Lanka does not need to worry about
According to a report in the Guardian newspaper, Britain wants to block Sri Lanka from hosting the next Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM) in 2011. It is reported that prime minister Gordon Brown plans to tell the current meeting in Trinidad and Tobago that it would be ‘wholly unacceptable’ for Sri Lanka to be allowed to host the meeting. Apparently this is in protest at Sri Lanka's military action against the Tigers earlier this year. The funnier side of this threat is that Gordon Brown (politically a dead man walking!) considers that allowing the CHOGM meeting... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/11/09)
Boat People
Dear Mr.Paul Murray  It is indeed satisfying to see someone thought to put things in correct perspective! Under the heading "Rort attempts do not help Sri Lankan cause" http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/opinion/post/-/blog/paulmurray/post/216/comment/1 These people who have been crying for persecution of Tamils in Sri Lanka has been articulating these sob stories as there are quite a lot of Australian gullible who believe them uncontested. Most of these people are paid heavily for their services. As for the Sinhalese community here in Australia it’s a daunting task to find an independent body that would report, assess and comment the stark... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/11/09)
Sri Lanka's presidential poll set for Jan. 26
AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) -- Sri Lankan elections officials said Friday that the nation would hold early presidential elections on Jan. 26 in what is expected to be a battle between two men revered for their efforts to crush the Tamil Tiger rebels.P.M. Siriwardena, additional commissioner of elections, said nominations for the presidential election will be accepted on Dec. 17 and the vote held Jan. 26.... -Full Story- (hosted.ap.org - 27/11/09)
Sri Lanka to hold presidential elections on January 26
Colombo - Sri Lanka is to hold a presidential election on January 26, a government spokesman said Friday. Nominations for the election need to be received by December 17, the spokesman said.... -Full Story- (monstersandcritics.com - 27/11/09)
Britain to block Sri Lankan bid to host Commonwealth summit
Amid a sharp downturn in relations, Britain has decided to block Sri Lanka's bid to host the next Commonwealth summit, saying Colombo had breached Commonwealth values in the way it conducted a war against Tamil separatists earlier this year. The decision is to be conveyed by British Premier Gordon Brown on the sidelines of the summit opening Friday in Trinidad and Tobago following months of deteriorating relations and heated exchange of words between the two nations.... -Full Story- (story.irishsun.com - 27/11/09)
Canada to oppose Sri Lanka's bid to host Commonwealth
PORT-OF-SPAIN – Canada will not support Sri Lanka's bid to host the next Commonwealth summit. An aide to Stephen Harper emailed the one-line statement to reporters traveling with the prime minister in Trinidad and Tobago, where this year's Commonwealth summit is taking place. Sri Lanka announced at the last meeting of former British colonies in 2007 that it wanted to host the 2011 Commonwealth summit. But Canada and other countries, including Britain, oppose Sri Lanka's bid because of the government's brutal military campaign against the Tamil Tigers earlier this year.... -Full Story- (thestar.com - 27/11/09)
Arson suspected in Toronto Buddhist temple fire-Gas can found at scene
A Thursday night fire at a Buddhist temple in east end Toronto frequented by people of Sri Lankan origin was deliberately set, police say. Someone used what appears to be gasoline to start the blaze at the rear of the Maha Vihara Buddhist Meditation Centre on Kingston Road, Toronto police said. Investigators found a gas can at the scene. They used dogs to try to track the suspects, but the trail went cold. Damage is estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars. The temple, which is frequented by those of Sinhalese descent, has previously been struck by arson.... -Full Story- (cbc.ca - 27/11/09)
Sri Lanka Airforce appoints probe panel over helicopter crash
www.chinaview.cn 2009-11-27 20:59:51 Print COLOMBO, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan Airforce has appointed a probe panel to investigate Friday's crashing of an MI24 helicopter. Airforce spokesman Janaka Nanayakkara said the panel would investigate the crashing of the gunship and the deaths of all on board - two pilots and two airmen. It was on a training mission when it crashed 4 km north of Buttala in the southeastern Moneragala district around 1:30 p.m. local time (0800 GMT).... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 27/11/09)
Sebastian Seeman asked to leave Canada
November 27, 2009  The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN  Sir:  It is reassuring to note that Tamil Tiger advocate, Sebastian Seeman, India's Tamil Nadu Filmmaker, who was on a speaking tour in Canada was told to leave Canada.  His fiery speech on Wednesday at an event in Toronto where the flag of the banned Tamil Tiger terrorists was flown, advocating restarting the separatist war in Sri Lanka, is enough proof that Canada is increasingly becoming the grounds for greater strengthening of a post war Tamil Tiger outfit internationally.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/11/09)
Committee to consider the Administration of Justice in the Northern Province
A High powered Committee has been established immediate effect by the Minister of Justice and Law Reform Milinda Moragoda to consider reforms in to the Administration of Justice system in the Northern Province. The Committee will be chaired by Hon. Justice Sripawan, Judge of the Supreme Court. The other members of the Committee are, Mr. Suhada Gamalath, Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Law Reform, Mrs. Malkanthi Wickramasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Constitutional Affairs, Mrs. Kamalini de Silva, Additional Secretary (Legal), Ministry of Justice and Law Reform, Mrs. S. Rahubadda, Additional Secretary (Admn.), Ministry of Justice and Law Reform,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/11/09)
Indian TamilTiger supporter deported
Canadian immigration officials arrested an Indian man in Toronto yesterday after he gave a fiery speech at an event where the flag of the outlawed Tamil Tigers rebels was flown. Sebastian Seeman, who was in Canada on a speaking tour, was taken into custody by Canada Border Services Agency officers and questioned before agreeing to leave the country immediately. A CBSA spokeswoman, Patricia Giolti, confirmed the arrest, and his lawyer, Hadayt Nazami, said immigration officials had intended to deport him on security grounds unless he left voluntarily.... -Full Story- (National Post - 27/11/09)
Gen Fonseka fallen prey to conspiracies - Ven Uduwe Dhammaloka
The Jathika Hela Urumaya will not support General Sarath Fonseka at the Presidential Election since he has fallen prey to certain international conspiracies hatched against the country, the JHU said yesterday. Four JHU parliamentarians told a media briefing held in Colombo that General Fonseka is about to betray the victory achieved by much sacrifice. They totally rejected that a statement by a UNP parliamentarian that the JHU was eagerly looking forward to welcome General Fonseka if he contested for the Presidential election. The JHU will never do so as he [General Fonseka] has... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
HON. RAUF HAKEEM CANNOT BE SILENT ANYMORE. THE MUSLIMS WANT YOU TO TELL THEM TO VOTE FOR MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA.
Excerpts of a media interview held on October 30th., 2008, where Hon. Rauf Hakeem said:- We feel belittled: * There is a fear psychosis growing among the minorities. * I am critical of Ranil for not using Parliament to address these issues. * UNP is not taking a definite stand on the futility of the war. * UNP’s confusing mindset can’t solve the burning issues facing the country. * Certainly the LTTE can’t be trusted. To a question asked: What... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
UNP OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES IT WILL SUPPORT GENERAL SARATH FONSEKA
Declaring that the forthcoming Presidential election is considered a referendum to oust President Rajapaksa and his family from power former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said his party the United National Party has decided to support the common candidate General Sarath Fonsekeka . Coming from a party working committee the leader of the UNP, which is the country’s main opposition party said, “‘We will be considering this election as a referendum to oust President (Mahinda) Rajapaksa and his family from power and thereafter call for parliamentary elections.†The second largest opposition party the JVP also said earlier... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
COMMENTING ABOUT TAMIL TIGERS ON PRINCESS EASWARY NATIONAL POST SAYS THE COUNTRY SHOULD REMEDY CANADAS BLIND SPOT OF TERRORISM
Writing about Tamil Tigers who have come to the country this time on the merchant ship Princess Easwary masquerading as Ocean Queen editorial writer John Ivison says Canada has a serious blind spot regarding terrorism. Quoting Richard Fadden of the Canadian Secuurity Intelligence Service Ivison of Canada’s National Post says Canada is a country that has a "serious blind spot" when it comes to terrorism. "Many of our opinion leaders have come to see the fight against terrorism not as defending democracy and our values, but as attacking them. Almost any attempt to fight terrorism by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
Govt. probes Hicorp arms deal
The Government yesterday launched an investigation to ascertain whether purchasing of arms, ammunition and other war related material through a foreign based institution by the name Hicorp was in order or whether any irregularities had taken place. A large quantity of war related material had been purchased by the Sri Lanka military through Hicorp The investigation was result of a journalist’s query at a press briefing, called by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on yesterday, whether there had been any irregularities in the purchase of arms through Hicorp.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
For the first time in 62 yrs an election sans ‘Elephant’ and ‘Green’, SB tells Ranil
Pandemonium mars UNPWC meeting: Fonseka endorsed
Johnston, Indika, Sally take on Ranil, refuse to campaign
Sajith a notable absentee at the stormy session Vajira remains mum, leaves meeing unnoticed 99% of my voters want Sarath, not Ranil – UNP chairmanby Saman IndrajithEven though it was widely expected that yesterday’s Working Committee meeting of the UNP, held at the Party headquarters Sirikotha in Kotte, would go smoothly as everything had been finalized to field Gen. (Retd) Sarath Fonseka as the common candidate of the opposition, pandemonium reigned as speaker after speaker registered their protests at the deterioration of the Grand Old Party. UNP National Organiser S. B. Dissanayake pointing his finger at party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe... -Full Story- (The Island - 26/11/09)
It s a Golden Opportunity for the Minority Communities to Join the National Agenda
War is over for good. It is about time that those on different sides of the conflict demonstrate the sincerity of their commitment for each other’s right to exist in a united Sri Lanka. This is a golden opportunity, for the Tamil community in particular, to show their genuine desire to coexist. This has to be demonstrated not by a deafening silence. We are aware of the current designs of the Diaspora to destroy our beautiful land once again. Silence on the part of the Tamils living in Sri Lanka will be interpreted by the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
Et Tu Brute? Tinderbox, Tick tock tick tock....:
*The nation owes a debt of gratitude to a man who did what had to be done, what nobody else would do. And everyone has paid dearly for today. *Should this mean Sri Lanka is transiting from one war to another or from war to peace? In the aftermath of the war, patriotism is dying a slow and painful death. The country is being divided again. Bad blood is being stirred by real conflict-mongers. Was this an inevitable result of the war- could it have been avoided- can the situation still be salvaged? The nation owes... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
An Open letter to the Minister of Science and Technology Professor Tissa Vitarana
 In the year 2005 the Minister of Science and Technology Professor Tissa Vitarana  had devised a plan to take Science and Technology to the people of the backward villages, by organizing Vidatha Resourse Centres  It is a commendable  plan ,  a bold step  taken by the Minister  Professor Tissa Vitarana to make the villagers aware of the possibilities of the  application of modern Science and Technology in their villages to uplift their life style by using correct science and technological applications  to improve their income by turning  out saleable commodities from what grows in their gardens, or... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
The Fonseka Letters
Questions were raised as to the letter of resignation sent by Gen Sarath Fonseka at a press conference on November 13th. Anticipating such questions, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe had obtained a copy of the letter. We had had several instances of subtly changed documents being circulated, obviously for political purposes. The two different versions of the Internal Self Governing Authority (ISGA) with the LTTE were foremost in my mind, given the explanation by a Sunday newspaper then of the fact that the wrong version had been sent to President Chandrika Kumaratunga. It was suggested -... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
Army Commander rebuffs Gen Fonseka's claims
Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya today categorically refuted the accusations levelled against him by the ex-Chief of Defence Staff, General Sarath Fonseka. At a meeting held at Kilinochchi, Army 58 Division Headquarters with the participation of high-ranking officials of the Army who directly contributed in the humanitarian mission to liberate the North, Commander Jayasuriya noted that the logic behind General Fonseka's argument that he (Lt. Gen. Jayasuriya) should not be promoted to the rank of Army Commander is baseless and said that the Commanding Officers, Brigade Commanders, Task Force Commanders, and Divisional Commanders who actively... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
Another central bank purchases gold from IMF
WASHINGTON: IMF said it had sold 10 tonnes of gold to Sri Lanka's central bank for $375 million, as part of a restructuring of IMF financial resources. It was the third IMF sale of gold in a month as the Washington-based institution seeks to reduce its dependence on lending revenue and bolster its finances amid the global economic crisis. "The sale was conducted on the basis of market prices prevailing on" Monday, the IMF said in a statement. Gold prices had hit a record high that day, topping $1,170 an ounce. Since then, the price of the precious metal has... -Full Story- (Times of India - 26/11/09)
No challenge from common candidate: Rajapaksa
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday said he saw no challenge from a common candidate in the calibre of a retired military man or the former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, in the presidential election scheduled to be held in January, 2010. Talking to the media here, Mr. Rajapaksa said retired military personnel would not be candidates in uniforms and pointing to the Defence Secretary who was present, said: “See, the Defence Secretary is retired and now dressed in civilian clothes.â€ÂÂÂ... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 26/11/09)
A MEDIA WAR
Pakistan’s foreign office has `dismissed US newspaper’s article over the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear assets’. It termed the assertions made in the article `utterly misleading and totally baseless’. The FO’s rebuttal was obviously aimed at Seymour M. Hersh’s article “Defending the Arsenal: In an unstable Pakistan, can nuclear warheads be kept safe? The author had alleged: “The principal fear is mutinyâ€â€ÂÂthat extremists inside the Pakistani military might stage a coup, take control of some nuclear assets, or even divert a warheadâ€ÂÂÂ. A cursory look on Hersh’s reports would make it conspicuous that he bases his... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
Will justice be done?
The destruction of the Babri Mosque on December 06, 1992 was a climactic event that shook the façade of the communal harmony in India to its very core. A commission headed by Justice Liberhan was set up within 10 days of the demolition of the mosque, even as communal riots blazed across the length and breadth of India and a thoroughly traumatised and dazed Muslim community sought justice for this highly provocative act of political and religious vandalism. The wheels of justice turn slowly in India, particularly over communal persecution of Muslims, but the Liberhan Commission surpassed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/11/09)
THE MUSLIMS OF THE EAST SHOULD SEE THE REALITY OF CONTEMPORARY POLITICS.-Rajapaksa rules out north-east re-merger.
The announcement made by HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa that there is no room for a re-merger of the North and East provinces as a political geographical land mass entity and human settlement in Sri Lanka is a reality of contemporary politics in Sri Lanka. The president said this to editors N Vithiyatharan of Sudar Oli and Devaraj of Virakesari at a breakfast meeting with the heads of media institutions on the 25th., of November, in Colombo this week.  Rajapaksa ruled out north-east re-merger and said the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/11/09)
CANADIAN AUTHORITIES TELL IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE BOARD THAT LTTE SHIP CONTAINED TRACES OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES LIKE RDX
Canadian authorities found high potential traces of plastic explosives like RDX in the LTTE gun running ship Princess Easwary masquerading as Ocean Lady that brought 76 illegal immigrants to Canada , the Immigration and Refugee Board was told as evidence. The suspected immigrant smuggling ship, which was formerly smuggling arms between North Korea and Sri Lanka for the Tamil Tigers was intercepted with 76 Tamils off the coast of Vancouver island, October 17. A Border Service Agency officer told the Immigration and Refugee Board traces of three kinds of explosives have been found on the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/11/09)
The Oxford Sri Lanka Society celebrates 2nd Anniversary – keeps the Lion flag flying high at the University of Oxford
The Oxford Sri Lanka Society, the official Sri Lankan student Society at the University of Oxford will celebrate its 2nd anniversary on the 26th of November. Founded by Dilan Fernando and Arosha Gunasekera, the Society has made tremendous strides in a short period much to the delight of the small Sri Lankan community in Oxford. Through the dedication and commitment of its members, the Society has blazed a trail and kept the Lion flag flying high at the University of Oxford.  The Society has achieved... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/11/09)
The Oxford Sri Lanka Society celebrates 2nd Anniversary – keeps the Lion flag flying high at the University of Oxford Part II
H.E. the President addresses the Oxford Union – May 2008. Front row (left to right): H.E. High Commissioner, Mrs. Deepthi Bogollagama, Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama (Foreign Minister), H.E. the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr. Benjamin Tansey (President – Oxford Union), Mr. Dilan Fernando (Secretary – Oxford Sri Lanka Society), Hon. (Prof.) G.l. Peiris (Minister of Export Development & International Trade),  Mr. Arosha Gunasekera (Secretary – Oxford Sri Lanka Society), Mr. Luke Tryl (former President – Oxford Union)Back Row (left to right): Mr. Simon Wang (Standing Committee-Oxford... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/11/09)
Rajapaksa rules out north-east re-merger
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday ruled out the re-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces to form a single Tamil-speaking province. Explaining this to editors N Vithiyatharan of Sudar Oli and Devaraj of Virakesari at a breakfast meeting with the heads of media institutions here, Rajapaksa said the merger of the two provinces had been a demand of the LTTE and there was no question of entertaining it now.... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 25/11/09)
No abolition of executive presidency: Rajapaksa
Colombo, Nov 25: As the opposition clamour grew to abolish executive presidency in Sri Lanka, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has virtually ruled out its abrogation saying it could lead to political instability on the island. But Rajapaksa, who is in for a tough contest to retain power, conceded that some changes could be made. "I believe the current executive presidency needs changes, but its total abolition could lead to political instability in the country," Rajapaksa was quoted as saying by the Bottom Line Newspaper.... -Full Story- (manoramaonline.com - 25/11/09)
IMF sells 10 tons of gold to Sri Lanka
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund announced on Wednesday the sale of 10 tons of gold to Sri Lanka's central bank, part of the total sales volume of 403.3 tons that was approved by the Executive Board in September. The latest sale "was conducted on the basis of market prices prevailing on November 23, 2009 with proceeds equivalent to 375 million dollars (SDR 234 million)," according to the IMF. Earlier this month, the IMF have sold 200 tons of gold to India's central bank, with proceeds equivalent to 6.7 billion dollars or SDR 4.2 billion.... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 25/11/09)
Sri Lanka shrugs off Galleon divestment
... -Full Story- (in.reuters.com - 25/11/09)
Sri Lankan government questions Fonseka’s conduct
Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday granted the request of General (retired) Sarath Fonseka for a 66-member security contingent amid indications that the General is all set to float a new party and secure support of the opposition combine for the January 23 presidential poll. The shape of things to come became evident when the Government Information website in a report accused the former Army chief of illegally using 23 vehicles and 110 solders in the name of his security.... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 25/11/09)
Malaysian Paid US$35,000 To Smuggle Sri Lankan Tamil To Australia
MELBOURNE, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- A Sri Lankan refugee has revealed to a newspaper here how a professional people-smuggler in Malaysia gave him false travel documents that enabled him to get a protection visa after arriving by air in Australia. The 23-year-old Tamil man, who asked to be identified only as "Sanjay", told "The Australian" newspaper that he fled his home on Sri Lanka's Jaffna Peninsula in 2007 at the height of the conflict between the Sri Lankan armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).... -Full Story- (bernama.com - 25/11/09)
Sri Lankan former Army chief to form new political party
COLOMBO, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka is to form a new political party soon to accelerate his campaign against incumbent President Mahinda Rajapakse in the presidential polls next year, sources close to Fonseka said Wednesday. The sources said Fonseka will lead the opposition as their common candidate under a new symbol. The newly formed Opposition Alliance -- United National Front (UNF), Sri Lanka's leftist party JVP or the People's Liberation Front and all other Tamil minority parties who had discussions with Fonseka had agreed to support him at the forthcoming presidential election. Carrying... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 25/11/09)
Lanka Jan-Sept trade gap narrows 60 pct
By Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez COLOMBO, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's trade deficit for the first nine months of 2009 narrowed 60 percent to $1.85 billion, the central bank said on Wednesday, as the island nation recovers from the global financial crisis and the end of a 25-year war. Exports in the Jan-Sept period fell 16.8 percent to $5.12 billion amid the global trade downturn, while imports dipped 35.3 percent $6.97 billion, compared to a year earlier.... -Full Story- (in.reuters.com - 25/11/09)
UNP-JVP and General Fonseka in a limbo, so far
On Monday 23rd, the President had sent a proclamation to the Commissioner of Elections to seek a fresh mandate. And this was a much awaited declaration for the Opposition Front.  Then on Tuesday, there were reports that the dispute between the UNP and JVP over the condition that Ranil take over as Prime Minister in a caretaker government had been resolved. But the same day, the JVP spokesman, MP., Anura Dissanayake speaking at a press conference had said, that his party has no dealings with the UNP and the report that the JVP had come to an... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/11/09)
ALICE IN THE WONDERLAND-RANIL, SARATH IN THE DREAMLAND
Now the gloves are off, the bitter fight is on. This time there is a new face, popularly known as “GARDIHEWA SARATH CHANDRALAL FONSEKA from Ambalangoda .†But this new face is nothing more than a replica of corrupt UNP and its henchmen. As pointed out by Prof. Hudson and the Asia Tribune the God Father-Son in Law secret combination, the average Sri Lankan are watching this tele-drama, much more than “Sakviththoâ€ÂÂÂ. So, General GARDIHEWA SARATH CHANDRALAL FONSEKA ..†has paid Rs 1m rent per month, ( one year prepaid), this must be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/11/09)
Planned Canadian Referendum By Eelamites On The Basis That The LTTE Are Proscribed Terrorists Should Be Outlawed!
Nov.24th 2009 Whatever remains of the The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who were defeated after a 23-year conflict with the Sri Lankan military in May are underground cells and pockets of surreptitious individuals who can never surface into mainstream Canadian society as the Canadian Law Enforcement and spy agencies have seen to it that this will not happen regardless of their high and mighty rhetoric!The LTTE are proscribed Terrorists in Canada as well as globally! Their supportives however have the audacity to continue to help them operate globally as well as in Canada in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/11/09)
Great Betrayal of the Sinhala Buddhist Trust!
The Sinhala Buddhist consensus that has been forged over a number of years, to eradicate Tamil Tiger Terrorism has been shattered in a short span of 6 months. The enemies of the nation who were reeling in anger and frustration since the demise of their cat’s paw the Tamil Tiger Terrorists have done the second best they could accomplish under the circumstances – the destruction of the team that led to the final victory over terrorism. They have succeed in sowing the seeds of disunity and dissention into our ranks – the easiest and the commonest trick of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/11/09)
‘Ranil the Enjeeyokaaraya’ comes out of the closet
I take election manifestos very seriously. I treat them with the respect that I would have for pulp fiction. Why? Well, they are good for recycling and they are mostly fictional. I read them though. For light entertainment. I was thrilled therefore when Ranil Wickremesinghe distributed a manifesto of sorts a couple of days ago. If you really want to know what people want to do if they come to power the last thing you should do is to listen to them or read their manifestos. The better indicators would be the company they keep, the things they’ve done... -Full Story- (Daily News - 24/11/09)
Long Arm of Sri Lanka's Toronto Envoy - November 24,2009 by Martin Cohn
The Letters Editor Toronto Star Toronto, Ontario  Dear Sir:  Re: Long Arm of Sri Lanka's Toronto Envoy - Nov. 24,2009  Reading this article I was glad to hear that finally we have an official from Sri Lanka who is not in Canada on a holiday paid for by the Sri Lankan tax payer but that he is doing what representatives are supposed to do, namely uphold the good name of the country they represent and in Sri Lanka's case, give the lie to the false propaganda of the supporters of LTTE terrorism... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/11/09)
Sri Lanka's Consular General in Toronto
November 24, 2009  The Editor Toronto Star Toronto  Sir:  I was glad to read Martin Cohn's column - Cohn: London arm of Sri Lanka's Toronto envoy, which proved positive that Sri Lanka's Consular General Mr. Bandula Jayasekera has made some impact within the political and social circles in Toronto.  Being in Ottawa, I had wondered whether he was another Sri Lankan diplomat twiddling his thumbs and marking time collecting his monthly pay cheque and waiting for the next posting and allowing the Tamil-Eelamists to tarnish the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/11/09)
Bob Rae: Your Statement at the Tamil rally in Toronto
November 23, 2009 Hon. Bob Rae, P.C., O.C., QC., L.L.D., MP Liberal Party Foreign Affairs Critic House of Commons, Ottawa Dear Bob: So finally the Toronto Star of Sunday, November 22, 2009, did you in as a rogue on your on going interest on Sri Lanka’s Tamil separatist politics. The news item ‘Tamils rally for war refugees: Hundreds of Toronto protestors call on Sri Lanka to release displaced civilians from squalid camps’ which reported your comment as a collaborative addition to its ‘Tamil Canadians and their supporters including Liberal... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/11/09)
Sri Lankan navy intercepts four vessels bound for Australia
THE Sri Lankan navy has seized four fishing boats carrying more than 100 asylum-seekers believed to be heading to Australia in the first concrete signs the Rudd government's appeal for help to reduce boat numbers is taking effect. Naval spokesman Athula Senarath told The Australian last night the four trawlers were detected in a combined naval, air and police operation launched two weeks ago, a day after Foreign Minister Stephen Smith signed a new memorandum of understanding on asylum-seekers with his Sri Lankan counterpart.... -Full Story- (theaustralian.com.au - 24/11/09)
Sri Lanka general 'to challenge for presidency'
An influential Sri Lankan opposition party says it has invited former military chief Gen Sarath Fonseka to be its presidential candidate. The People's Liberation Front (JVP) said it had come to an agreement with the general that he would be a "common opposition candidate". Gen Fonseka, who led troops to victory over Tamil Tiger rebels earlier this year, has yet to confirm his candidacy. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has revealed plans to hold elections early.... -Full Story- (BBC - 24/11/09)
Voting rights for Tamils key: Rajapaksa
Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday told heads of the local print and electronic media that his decision to advance the presidential election by two years was prompted by his desire to restore universal franchise to the Tamil civilians. Also on Tuesday, the ultra nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) extended conditional support for the candidature of General (retired) Sarath Fonseka.... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 24/11/09)
SRI LANKA ANNOUNCES IDP FREE MOVEMENT AS OF DEC. 1 - FULL RESETTLEMENT CONTINUES AT RAPID PACE
WASHINGTON – The government of Sri Lanka announced last week that the approximately 127,000 displaced people now living in welfare centers in the north will enjoy complete freedom of movement as of Dec. 1, 2009. Basil Rajapaksa, senior advisor to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, announced last week that the government is on track to resettle all displaced people back in their homes by Jan. 31, 2010. As part effort, the government lifted restrictions on the free movement of all displaced people. He said that the welfare centers will... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/11/09)
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND UNP SAYS THE OPPOSITION COMMON CANDIDATE WILL BE ANNOUNCED FRIDAY
President Rajapaksa yesterday gave instructions to his Secretary Lalith Weeratunga to gazette the Presidential Proclamation to enable the Commissioner of Elections to hold the Presidential Election. The United National Party General Secretary Tissa Attanayaka told local television channels in Colombo that their common candidate put forward against President Rajapaksa will be announced by Friday. But so far, the election date or nomination datehas not been announced. The former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka who led the army in defeating the LTTE is widely believed to be the common candidate put forward against President Rajapaksa. The decision... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/11/09)
PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD TOLD TO SACK SECURITY OFFICIALS AND PROSECUTE AGAINST THEM FOR NOT PROVIDING ADEQUATE SECURITY FOR SRI LANKA CRICKET TEAM
A Parliamentary Committee on Sports in Pakistan requested the country’s governing board of cricket to immediately sack its security officials and file a case against them for not providing the Sri Lankan cricket team adequate protection. The Sri Lanka Cricket team was attacked by terrorists in Lahore Pakistan in March this year wounding some of them seriously and killing several Pakistani Policemen. In a very strongly worded report the national Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports said those who were in charge of the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team be sacked and prosecuted against in the courts... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/11/09)
A CALL TO THE MUSLIMS OF SRI LANKA.
Now that there is a presidential election declared, who will win is the question in the minds of the electorate of Sri Lanka , be it the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and or all others who have the right of franchise in Sri Lanka , the right to vote. Respecting the political trend and analysing the build-up of all political/governance issues facing the Nation since the presidential elections of 2005, what ever may come, Mahinda Rajapaksa will win again. Mahinda Rajapaksa has proven... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/11/09)
FRENCH COURT CONVICTS 21 MEMBERS OF THE LTTE FOR EXTORTING MONEY FROM THE TAMILS AND DISMANTLES THE FRONT ORGANIZATION
A French court convicted 21 members of the terrorist organization, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam (LTTE)for extorting millions of Euros from the Tamil civilians living in France to bankroll an armed insurrection in Sri Lanka. The toughest sentence was given to the alleged leader of the LTTE also known as Tamil Tigers in France, Nadaraja Matinthiran who masterminded the activities of the group in France. In the case just concluded Matinthiran was accused of extorting five million Euros (7.4 million US Dollars) from the 75,000 strong Tamil Diaspora in France, many of whom had come... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/11/09)
Gen. Fonseka devalues Himself
The Khalistani terrorism in India and the terrorism of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka are two unique instances in the history of terrorism where the state prevailed over the terrorists, without giving into their demands.The threat faced by Sri Lanka was more complex and difficult to handle than the threat faced by India. Sri Lanka was confronted with a ruthless mix of a full-blown insurgency seeking territorial control and terrorism seeking to intimidate the civil society. The Khalistani terrorism was a purely terrorist movement with no mix of an insurgency.... -Full Story- (The Island - 23/11/09)
A Story Board created by Writers to LankaWeb - The Dirty Side in Military Greed.
Every bullet fired at innocent Tamil civilians fetched kickbacks By K.T.Rajasingham Colombo, 22 November, (Asiantribune.com): Credit to K.T.Rajasingham and of course the Asiantribune to expose the Dirty Dozen (?) or are there more? But Mr. Rajasingham forgot to mention the numbers of innocent Sri Lankan Sinhala who were decimated by both the Tamil Tiger Terrorist LTTE and by the Sri Lankan Army. Also those valiant gallant sons of the soil who got slaughtered defending the country with dumb munitions supplied by HiCorp allegedly promoted by General Sarath Fonseka and other Defence Staff, are omitted. This... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/11/09)
President seeks fresh mandate
President Mahinda Rajapaksa at an auspicious time yesterday morning sent a proclamation to the Commissioner of Elections stating his intent to seek a fresh mandate at a Presidential election. This was in accordance with Article 30 (3a) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka which states:... -Full Story- (channelnewsasia.com - 23/11/09)
Lanka now says US did not attempt to question Fonseka
In a strange twist of events Sri Lanka now says there was no attempt by the US authorities to quiz former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Sarath Fonseka despite the Foreign Ministry earlier issuing a statement to the contrary. Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN and former Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona, in an interview on the ‘Hot Seat’ segment on the online version of Daily Mirror said that it has now been conveyed to the highest levels that there was no such attempt by the US.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 23/11/09)
A Catch 22 Situation For The Administration Where Immediate Investigative Action Seems Mandatory.
Nov.22nd 2009 Re- Item : Buckets of Worms from Cracks, Begin to Crawl!By Prof Hudsom Mclean Posted on November 22nd, 2009 the pointers highlighted need to be put into perspective perhaps towards clarities which probably do not meet the common eye as the far thinking Professor seems to have hit on a few hometruths albeit speculatively, though they cannot be swept under the carpet at a time as crucial as this to the nations's posterity and well being!   The reference is to the Tillekeratne saga presented in the Asian Tribune and all the telling... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/11/09)
Impending danger from Democracy to Military dictatorship!!!
General SF makes millions of US Dollars from the Soldiers Blood ? Thanks a lot to Asian Tribune for disclosing the details the ordinary people were never thought of or would believe, if there was no evidence.  All these time most ordinary people were in a dream that SF was a clean patriot. Now that illusion is cracked for ever and any intention to betray the nation at this juncture would be dealt with by public at the next pres. election. We will all go to the field to support MR and tell the people not to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/11/09)
The strategy and security of Sri Lanka and what direction the country must move to make it productive
Sri Lanka is strategically situated geographically, as it is set off the South – east cost of India and the Palk Striait, and the Gulf of Mannar, which separates the country from India. The country is also ideally located to the Far East and Europe and its natural assets, namely its location, as it is in the high way of air and sea traffic, the Trincomalee harbour and natural resources, such as titanium, and the possibility oil, make the country one the most important form a strategic perspective within the Indian Ocean and South Asian... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/11/09)
Donation US twenty five thous to Tajiikistan
The Government of Sri Lanka donated a sum of US $ 25,000/- as an emergency relief for the recent flood victims of the Republic of Tajikistan. The cheque for the above sum was handed over by the concurrently accredited Sri Lanka Ambassador to the Republic of Tajikistan, Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, after presentation of his Credentials to H.E. Mr Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan today, 23 November 2009. The Credentials Ceremony was held in the President’s House in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The Government of Sri Lanka recognized the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/11/09)
Tamils Rally-November 22,2009
The Letters Editor Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario  Dear Sir:  Regarding this rally by Tamil Canadians, including the usual the sob stories, the fact is that these are the same people who funded the LTTE terrorists from Canada. They are responsible for these people being driven from their homes by the LTTE and used as a human shield. Now they are stating that there is no food or medication just when the UN Deputy Secretary has visited the camps and confirmed that more than half of the displaced have been released, that the conditions in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/11/09)
Beware Of Lanka’s Chi-Pak Axis
IN MAY 2006, TEHELKA carried my column arguing that a flawed understanding of newly-elected Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s politics had kept India from a crucial role there. Inactivity by India in the Sri Lankan crisis, I argued, would only hasten a process that could turn the island into a battleground of big power rivalries inimical to India’s long-standing interests – enforcing a Pax Indiana on the Indian Ocean.... -Full Story- (tehelka.com - 22/11/09)
Ranil’s election manifesto is as dud as his horoscope!
According to Sri Lankan media, K.K. Theventhra Rajh, an Astro-Consultant from Chennai (take that for an impressive job title!) has predicted that Ranil Wickremesinghe will be “a failure at any time†due to Saturn and Mercury ‘Dasas’ that will be governing his horoscope until 25 August 2036. The good Astro-Consultant has also predicted that Mangala Samaraweera’s fate would be similar to that of Anura Bandaranaike due to similar ‘Nakshatra’. Now, as a person who wouldn’t know a horoscope from a periscope, this writer would like to assert that “I could have predicted that tooâ€ÂÂÂ!  This prediction is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
For some the Sri Lankan war was a 'Big Business'
 This week an English Daily reported that the High Court Judges in Madras had declared their assets. The Chief Justice Hemant Gokhala had disclosed that he does not even own a house or land.  A couple of days ago, a Journalist writing about the plight of pensioners referred to his father, the last of the ex-CCS, who had to depend on his pension, because as a public servant he had no savings, and the effort he had to put in to get his pension.  Then on the other side, we have some who had become multi-millionaires... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
Tamil rally for war refugees
November 22, 2009 The Editor (Letters) TORONTO STAR Sir: I was absolutely baffled by the statement by NDPs Jack Layton and the Liberal’s Bob Rae as Tamil Canadian supporters when you said, “expressed skepticism at Saturday’s rally over the promises by Sri Lanka to not only allow the refugees to leave the camps but also to resettle the displaced Tamils.†These politicians have been living a lie in support of the GTA Tamils to garner their votes to mouth off publicly what the Tamils want them to say so that they can win sympathy... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
A sad story of power politics
Recent goings on in Sri Lankan politics vividly exhibit what some people are prepered to do for that nasty word-POWER. After that momentous struggle, so admirably spearheaded by the Commander-in-Chief of the country, President Rajapakse, and determinedly and ably supported by the Armed Forces, as well as many other individuals and organizations, Sri Lanka was able to proudly raise its head, like the proverbial phoenix. And as she joyfully prepares to spread her wings and soar into the sky, we see the dark and evil forces that held it in thrall these last decades cast its villainous... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA DISTRIBUTES DEEDS AND KEYS TO 1509 RANAVIRU SOLDIERS AT IPOLOGAMA IN KEKERAWA
(Pix By : Nalin Hewapathirana) President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared open and distributed the title deeds for 1509 houses built as the first phase of the Api Wenuwen Api program for soldiers who fought in the country’s liberation war to wipe out terrorism from the country. Spread in a sprawling 180 acres modern town let equipped with education, health and other urban amenities the war heroes received 1509 houses as a tribute from a grateful people who have been allowed to breathe a sigh of relief after a 30 year old war of terrorism. Rear Admiral Sarath... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
President Rajapaksa graces the prize giving ceremony at Swarnapali Balika Vidayalaya at Anuradhapura
(Pix By : Nalin Hewapathirana) President Mahinda Rajapaksa graced the Annual Prize Giving Ceremony at Swarnapali Balika Vidyalaya in Anuradhapura on Sunday the 22nd November. Swarnapali Balika Vidyalaya held its prize giving with students for their excellence and progress in many subjects and extra curricular activities. President Rajapaksa participated the ceremony organised by this rural school as the chief guest and surprised the gathering. Prizes were presented by the President and he later addressed the students and offered words of encouragement and advice. He asked students to become great citizens with proper behavior. Large number of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
President Rajapaksa worships Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya and Ruwanweli Stupa
(Pix By : Nalin Hewapathirana) President Mahinda Rajapaksa worshiped Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya in the early hours of Sunday the 22nd November. Sangha, led by Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasabhidana Nayaka Thero, Atamasthanadhipathi and Chief Sangha He was blessed at the upper layer (Udamaluwa) of this sacred place by members of the Maha Nayake for North Central Province President Rajapakse also visited Ruwanweli Maha Seya (Stupa), one of the greatest historical Buddhist Monuments in Anuradhapura. The Maha Sangha presided by the chief incumbent of Ruwanweli Maha Seya Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thero chanted Seth Pirith to invoke blessings... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
President Rajapaksa declares open Ranajayapura Ranaviru Housing Scheme
(Pix By : Nalin Hewapathirana) President Mahinda Rajapaksa ceremoniously declared open the first stage of the Ranajayapura Ranaviru housing scheme at war heroes’ town in Ipalogama this morning on Sunday 22nd November. He participated at the ceremony as the chief guest with the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and personally handed over 100 keys to the war heroes representing the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force. Simultaneously the Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the other ministers also distributed the rest of the keys to recipients. Ranajayapura housing scheme is located near the Kekirawa-Thalawa main road in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
New IT Computer Training Centre for Open University College in Puttalam
(Pix By: Nalin Hewapathirana) A new IT Computer Training Centre was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the Open University College in Puttalam on Sunday afternoon, 22nd November. President Rajapaksa personally checked the facilities provided at the new IT Training Centre and signed the guests’ book. Later The President addressed the large gathering crowds including students, college staff and parents who participated to witness the opening ceremony. Minister Wishva Warnapala, Wayamba Chief Minister Mr. Athula Wijesinghe, Minister K. A. Baiz, Minister Dayasritha Thisera, Minister Milroy Fernando were participating.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
A SPECIAL MASS IN BETHLEHEM TO BLESS H.E. MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA AND SRI LANKA
A special mass was held in Bethlehem on 21st Saturday to bless H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka. It was organized by the friends of Sri Lanka in Bethlehem in association with the Representative Office of Sri Lanka in Palestine and Sri Lankans in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. A large number of Sri Lankans working in Israel, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Tel Aviv and Representative Office in Palestine were present as the Mass. Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Samuel conducted the mass and in his sermon he wished H.E. Mahinada Rajapaksa good health and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
TERRORISM AGAINST JOURNALISM
Throughout the world, every nation has to spend a lot of its financial resources on the formation and the development of the security forces; and in return these forces are expected to provide safety and security to the nation. The situation becomes very painful when the security forces become a pain in the neck for the nation itself. People become frightened by losing confidence and the enemies take full advantage of this fear and fright. Recently some reports came to the surface regarding the atrocities of the Indian Police against its own people. Unfortunately some of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
Hostage taking by the 5th Column
“I’d read of our heroes, and wanted the same, To play the part of the patriot game†(Irish Ballad) The 30 year war is over and despite the hydra headed manoeuvres of the 5th column, the terrorists were annihilated. The country is moving towards the acclaimed goals of peace. Velu’s successor KP has been taken in a sting operation worthy of the world’s best Secret Services. The people await his disclosures. Suddenly those who had slept with the enemy after deserting the ranks awoke to the cold reality of deadly exposure. Aware of the coming danger and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
THE PHOTGRAPH THAT HAS A MYSTERIOUS STORY BEHIND IT.
The brotherhood of Muslims and Tamils enacted in Zurich, Switzerland on the 20th., to the 22nd., of November was indeed a special event to consider in the present scenario of political challenges that are thrown to the turf of national politics in Sri Lanka. Was the political playing arena in Sri Lanka not enough to stage this drama in Colombo or was it that the cools of the autumn of Switzerland was needed to nurse this bondage of political consensus between... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/11/09)
Every bullet fired at innocent Tamil civilians fetched kickbacks
... -Full Story- (asiantribune.com - 21/11/09)
Why We Should Look at the Bright Side of Things
A sense of despondency and gloom overhangs the political environment these days. The turn of events after the retirement of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and his likely entry into the mainstream of politics has caused this despondency among the nationalists (we are called pseudo nationalist or chauvinists by Western Oriented Gentlemen WOGS, for short) in Sri Lanka. This situation has also infused a modicum of hope to a moribund opposition which was looking for a face saving device in the event of a hastily called election to the Presidency. Well, let us not... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/11/09)
Remaining 136, 328 IDPs to be out by Dec 1
Chairman of the President's Task Force for Rehabilitation and Resettlement Basil Rajapaksa announced that the government has decided to allow the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) to move freely now to become free civilians after the eradication of Tamil Tiger rebels. The total number of IDPs remaining in the welfare centres in Vavuniya, Jaffna, Mannar, Trincomalee and the hospitals have come down to 136, 328 as of today, stated Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe at a press briefing today (20 Nov). "We have decided to allow freedom of movement to these people from Dec. 1, " Rajapakse told reporters... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/11/09)
Why Retd. Lieut.Gen.Sarath Fonseka Should Ride Out Graciously Into The Sunset!
Nov.19th 2009  Retd.Lieut General Sarath Fonseka’ if he has any sense of decorum and perhaps even self preservation should side step this coerced push by all the decrepit opposition politicos egging him on particularly the spineless leader of the opposition Ranil Wickremasinghe who becomes very visible as the cat baiter using the paws of an unsuspecting cat to pull out his roasted Kos Etay ( the proverbial Jak Seed) from the fire while also having the nerve to lay pre conditions before his Presidential Candidature demanding his appointment as executive prime minister from someone who has... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/11/09)
Has General Fonseka done something wrong to President Mahinda Rajapaksa ?
As we all know, defeat of LTTE was a “Team Effort†of many. President Mahinda Rajapaksa gave the political leadership, while Defense Secretary, Army Commander, Navy Commander, Air Force collectively worked tirelessly in the war-front to defeat LTTE. On propaganda front, Dr Palitha Kohona, Dr Dayan Jayatillake, Prof Rajiv Wijesignhe and several diplomats (not all) confronted the international mis-information campaign. In addition, several patriotic organisations, newspapers and websites discharged their responsibility to save mother lanka from LTTE. Above all, several thousands of soldiers made their supreme sacrifice to save Mother Lanka from LTTE. Indeed, it was a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/11/09)
Canadian Tamil Congress and its Mockery Political Policies
We were witness the birth of Organization called “Canadian Concern about Sri Lanka†(CCSL) recently with the motive to secure the Tamils in IDP camps in northern Sri Lanka have free movement and their re settlement. This organization is accommodating some Trade Union members in Toronto area, some Church groups, some Tamil Rehabilitation Fronts, some members from Amnesty International, some eminent Individuals and the main organizer Canadian Tamil Congress. Canadian Tamil Congress was represented by its spoke person Mr David Poobalapillai and four of his top colleagues. This Group is organizing a “Human... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/11/09)
Sri Lanka Tamil refugee camps 'to be opened next month'
Sri Lanka's government says people held in special camps since the end of the conflict with Tamil Tiger rebels will be free to leave next month. The camps were set up in the north for Tamils fleeing the final stages of the civil war - which ended in May - and still house more than 130,000 people. An aide to the president also confirmed a pledge to close the facilities. Sri Lanka has drawn strong international criticism for holding people in the camps against their will.... -Full Story- (BBC - 21/11/09)
Sri Lanka allows freedom of movement for war displaced civilians
www.chinaview.cn 2009-11-21 16:14:18 Print COLOMBO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan war displaced civilians, who are now living in highly guarded camps in the northern Vauniya district, will be allowed to move freely from Dec. 1, a senior government officials said on Saturday. Chairman of the President's Task Force for Rehabilitation and Resettlement Basil Rajapaksa told reporters that the government has decided to allow the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) to move freely to honor their human rights to become free civilians after the eradication of Tamil Tiger rebels. "We have decided to allow freedom of movement to these people from... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 21/11/09)
UN representative Sir John Holmes pays a courtesy call to President Rajapaksa
(Pix by: Chandana Perera) UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Sir John Holmes paid a courtesy call to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees this afternoon on 19th November.  Sir Holmes visited Sri Lanka on a three day facts finding mission in connection with the resettlement of the displaced people who have been staying in the welfare camps. He visited the Settikulam welfare village and toured the areas where badly affected by decades of brutal terrorism. Sir Holmes who observed the entire welfare village inquired about the facilities provided by the Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/11/09)
BOOK REVIEW; “Selected Essays on President Mahinda Rajapaksa†- Sarvodaya Viswa Lekha Publication (ISBN 978-955-51312-2-3)
The book titled “Selected Essays on President Mahinda Rajapaksa†by Dr Levins .T C Rajaratnam has been published by Sarvodaya Viswa Lekha (ISBN 978-955-51312-2-3). The Author has in his acknowledgement stated that the book is a compilation of a collection of articles published in the newspapers and the electronic media. The book is a living testimony of President Rajapaksa’s credentials and has successfully wiped off all the negativism and created a positive and affirmative impression of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The entirety of the book justifies the actions and effective leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s  and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/11/09)
Having aligned with 'bankrupt' politicians Gen.Fonseka got capsized !
Sri Lanka's former top Army Officer in a farewell letter to the troops has said, "...I want to assure you that I will commit myself to protect democratic freedoms which we are rapidly losing... I pledge to work to restore human rights, media freedom, social justice, ethnic unity and peaceful co-existience. I will be by your side like a shadow..."  So the General discarded the uniform because of his passion for politics. All political parties are committed to preserving the doctrines he had analysed.  However, with all the signs he is making, he is keeping everyone in suspense.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/11/09)
U.S. RELAXES SRI LANKA TRAVEL ADVISORY
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of State has issued a “revised†travel advisory for Americans in Sri Lanka to, “reflect improving security conditions in the country,†according to the U.S. Embassy in Colombo. At the same time, Japan relaxed its, “Travel Advisory & Warning,†for Sri Lanka to a “Travel Caution,†also noting the improved security situation. The United Kingdom revised its own travel warning in July 2009. Additionally, the Government of Sri Lanka lifted restrictions on those living in the northern city of Jaffna to travel throughout Sri Lanka, a security measure... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/11/09)
Confusion worst confounded!
The government gave all kinds of signals for the past several months that it would go for a premature presidential election early next year before the parliamentary polls. Grand preparations were made for an announcement to be made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa of his decision at the recent SLFP convention in Colombo. But, he only consulted the convention as to which election should be held first, presidential or parliamentary. All the delegates wanted a presidential election. The President then promised to refer their decision to the party's Central Committee, saying there was ample time. We haven't heard anything from the... -Full Story- (The Island - 20/11/09)
Illusionary Justice: Threats to the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Sri Lanka
Professor C. Kananganayakam University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario  Dear Sir:  Panel Discussion at Munk Centre for International Studies on Monday Nov. 16,2009 titled Illusionary Justice: Threats to the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Sri Lanka  I am writing to you because I was informed of your association with the Munk Centre and the University of Toronto. If this panel discussion was not in your area of control, please forward it to the relevant authorities.  The announcement stated that the panel discussion would include Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, the Executive... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/11/09)
Sri Lankan snap election decision only hours away: minister
www.chinaview.cn 2009-11-20 21:44:37 Print COLOMBO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The decision to announce a snap presidential or parliamentary poll in Sri Lanka will be made within a few hours, a senior minister told reporters on Friday. Dallas Alahapperuma, the minister of transport said the decision would be announced by President Mahinda Rajapakse "in a few hours." "It is only a matter of few hours now," Alahapperuma said. Analysts say Rajapakse might call a presidential election two years ahead of the schedule in order to capitalize on his popularity after he crushed the three-decade old separatist campaign of Tamil Tiger rebels.... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 20/11/09)
Gen Fonseka faces Ranil’s PM rider
COLOMBO: The unease in the Sri Lankan Opposition in naming General Sarath Fonseka as their joint candidate for the Presidential elections against President Mahinda Rajapaksa, continued with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe laying down a fresh set of tough conditions before the retired general. The UNP boss told the media that Fonseka must agree to abolish or drastically prune the powers of the Executive President; appoint him (WickremesinÂÂÂÂghe) as the prime minister; give important Cabinet portfolios to the then pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Marxist-Sinhalese nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP); and implement the 17th Amendment of the Constitution, which... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 20/11/09)
Sri Lanka has released half of war detainees: govt
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has released more than half of the thousands of displaced civilians held in government camps after the end of the country’s ethnic conflict earlier this year, a minister said Friday. ‘We feel the security situation has eased considerably now to allow people to return to their homes,’ Human Rights minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told reporters here. He said 136,328 men, women and children still remained inside camps across the island’s north, down from some 280,000 at the end of the fighting in May with the defeat of Tamil Tiger guerrillas.... -Full Story- (dawn.com - 20/11/09)
Where 'kaffir' is no insult
In a village deep in west Sri Lanka, one of the island's few remaining communities of African descent breaks into song - a poignant elegy to a disappearing culture.The music starts with a slow, gentle rhythm played on a tambourine, spoons and coconut shells, before it builds to a climax with dancers swinging their hips, hands and feet wildly. The performance is a direct link back to the small minority's distant African past. "We are forgotten people," Peter Luis, 52, said. "We are losing our language and, having inter-married many times, our children are losing their African features."... -Full Story- (telegraph.co.uk - 20/11/09)
S.Lanka deficit target challenging,but reachable-IMF
COLOMBO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday Sri Lanka's budget deficit targets for both this and next year are challenging due to slow revenue growth, but still within reach. A visiting IMF mission, after conducting the second review of a $2.6 billion loan programme, said the nation's post-war economic conditions have improved, but need more reforms in the next two years. "We see a sign of turn around" Brain Aitken, the mission head told reporters in Colombo. "The budget reforms are the key goals in the next two years. Now that the crisis is... -Full Story- (in.reuters.com - 20/11/09)
Sri Lanka’s living link to Africa fades away
Mel Gunasekera (AFP) 21 November 2009 SIRAMBIADIYA, Sri Lanka - In a village deep in west Sri Lanka, one of the island’s few remaining communities of African descent breaks into song  a poignant elegy to a disappearing culture. The music starts with a slow, gentle rhythm played on a tambourine, spoons and coconut shells, before it builds to a climax with dancers swinging their hips, hands and feet wildly. The performance is a direct link back to the small minority’s distant African past. “We are forgotten people,†Peter Luis, 52, said. “We are losing our language and, having inter-married... -Full Story- (Khaleej Times - 20/11/09)
Resettlement can be completed soon - President tells UN Under Secretary
Source: Government of Sri Lanka Date: 20 Nov 2009 President Mahinda Rajapaksa is confident that the resettlement in the north could be completed within next few weeks. Majority of the IDPs have already been resettled at present. They have been provided with infrastructure facilities,common amenities with full security. Rest of the IDPs will also be resettled soon after solving their housing problem. The President disclosed these facts at a discussion with UN Under Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes held in Colombo last evening. Holmes said Sri Lanka has taken maximum measures to establish lasting peace in the country.... -Full Story- (Relief Web - 20/11/09)
UN to help Sri Lanka resettle war displaced civilians
by Niyata Kulatunga COLOMBO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- While praising the Sri Lankan government for accelerating resettlement of war displaced civilians in the north, a senior official from the United Nations has stressed the need of further improving the conditions of the camps in the north where more than 100,000 Tamil civilians are still being held six months after the conclusion of the island's bloody civil war. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes who concluded his four-day visit to the island told reporters here Thursday evening that he was impressed by the progress made by... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 20/11/09)
Tamils slowly leaving refugee camps
It seems there is hope for Tamils stuck in squalid refugee camps after being displaced by the conflict raging in Sri Lanka's north for more than two decades. Ever since the long-running civil war there ended six months ago, Sri Lanka's government has been under pressure over an estimated 300,000 people made homeless by the fighting. But the head of Humanitarian Affairs for the United Nations, John Holmes, has just visited the refugee camps and says more than half of those who were staying there have been able to move home.... -Full Story- (abc.net.au - 20/11/09)
Resettlement quickened for Lanka war displaced
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka won praise from a top U.N. official Thursday for expediting the resettlement of ethnic minority Tamils detained in government-run camps since the end of the country's civil war six months ago. Some 300,000 displaced were forced into camps after fleeing the final months of the government's decades-long war with the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, which ended in May. The Tamils are held against their will in overcrowded camps with poor sanitation. Although more than half have been released, critics have slammed the government for the slow pace and have urged it to hasten resettlement. The government says... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 20/11/09)
The first ever Buddhist book in LUGANDA language
The Buddhist Maha Vihara Brickfields is pleased to launch its first ever Dhamma publication in Luganda, the language of the people of Uganda, in Africa. This is the 16th language undertaken by the Vihara’s FREE PUBLICATIONS PROGRAM.  The book is a translation of “How to Practise Buddhism? authored by Ven Dr K Sri Dhammananda. The book was translated by Nicholas K. Ssewanyana and Tom Kyembe and edited by Bhante U. Buddharakkhita, currently the only native African Theravada Buddhist monk. Ven Buddharakkhita has also authored another popular book, “Planting the Seeds of Dhammaâ€ÂÂÂ- the Emergence of Buddhism... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/11/09)
Sri Lanka's plan to connect private LNG power plant is illegal
09-10-09 Attempts to connect a private liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant to Sri Lanka's state-run power utility outside a competitive bidding process is not legal under a new public utility regulatory law, officials said. Sri Lanka's power sector came under the regulation of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUC) this April. Under the regulatory law, all large plants have to face a competitive bidding process and also have to be listed in the long term generation plan of the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), which is the only transmission licensee allowed to buy new plants. LNG plants... -Full Story- (gasandoil.com - 19/11/09)
58,000 homeless after Sri Lanka flash floods
COLOMBO (AFP) – Nearly 60,000 people were left homeless in Sri Lanka Thursday following flash floods in the capital Colombo and the suburbs, an official said. "We have a list of over 58,000 individuals who were left homeless in and around Colombo," Kodipillai said, adding that they were being housed in public buildings. Thousands of homes were flooded on Wednesday, forcing people to seek temporary shelter in public buildings, he said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Water levels were receding on Thursday but flood victims required shelter until their homes could be cleaned or repaired, he said.... -Full Story- (Yahoo - 19/11/09)
Opposition sets terms for Fonseka
COLOMBO: Even as Sri Lanka awaits a formal announcement on the dates for presidential and parliamentary elections, leader of the 18-party United National Front (UNF) Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday advocated switching to a parliamentary model akin to the Indian system. A booklet outlining the shift with a Prime Minister as the executive head and President as constitutional head was presented by Mr. Wickremesinghe to monks at a temple here. Earlier, he said the alliance headed by him would consider nominating General (retired) Sarath Fonseka as a consensus presidential candidate only if the former Army chief endorsed... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 19/11/09)
Sri Lanka's retired army chief
General intentions
Nov 19th 2009 | COLOMBO From The Economist print edition The war’s winners fall out WHEN Sarath Fonseka sought permission this month to retire as chief of Sri Lanka’s defence staff from December 1st, President Mahinda Rajapaksa replied through his secretary that the general, who had led his government’s victory against the Tamil Tigers, could consider himself retired with immediate effect. So General Fonseka had to vacate his office in less than two days. He was told his large security detail would be slashed. He must quit his official residence. The impromptu farewell ceremony for him was so hastily arranged,... -Full Story- (economist.com - 19/11/09)
UN humanitarian chief welcomes progress on Sri Lanka displaced, but returnees need continued support
Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Date: 19 Nov 2009 (Colombo/New York, 19 November 2009): United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes concluded the final day of his three-day mission to Sri Lanka. He met Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, Secretary of Defense Gotabaya Rajapaksa, head of Uthuru Wasanthayaâ€â€ÂÂthe 180-day resettlement and reconstruction program in the North--Basil Rajapaksa, and President Mahinda Rajapaksa.... -Full Story- (Relief Web - 19/11/09)
Book review: Tread Lightly on the Earth – religion, the environment and the human future, by C. G. Weeramantry (A Stamford Lake Publication, 2009)
Part 1 The marked and recurring theme in Judge C. G. Weeramantry’s legal philosophy has been to resurrect and elevate religions and traditional values to the highest level in the global agenda as a guide to the future. He demonstrated his commitment to his principles when, as a member and later as Vice-President of the International Court of Justice – the highest judicial institution in the world – he wrote some of his judgments based on essential religious philosophies propounded for the preservation of posterity. In returning... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
Book review: Tread Lightly on the Earth – religion, the environment and the human future, by C. G. Weeramantry (A Stamford Lake Publication, 2009)
Part II In his book Tread Lightly on the Earth Judge Weeramantry provides a compelling argument for humanity to rediscover the wisdom of traditional societies that found their happiness in less than in craving for more and more. For how long can 6.5 billion people keep on exploiting the limited resources of the earth? For how long can the market place keep on feeding the greed of consumerism and its own greed for profit by exploiting the greed of consumers? Is globalization the spade that is digging the grave of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
HISTORY TEACHES US MANY LESSONS
When I wrote the article ‘United we stand divided we fall’ I could see trouble brewing ahead with an effort by vested interests to divide the nationalistic forces. It is now fast reaching the boiling point with the resignation of General Sarath Fonseka from the post of Chief of Defence Staff. That there has been a lot of love lost between President Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse and the former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, General Sarath Fonseka, is obvious to the man on the street and it is not my intention to add... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
Review of the book entitled "THE SEPARATIST CONFLICT IN SRI LANKA Terrorism, ethnicity, Political economy" By Professor Asoka Bandarage.
The writer makes a new analysis of the conflict in Sri Lanka, touching on the areas of terrorism, ethnicity, and the political economy. The Introduction and Chapter 1 indicates the wide approaches to these sensitive areas of study, and comment. In the past, most of the writers have dwelt with this subject as an ethnic conflict, and have tended to set it within a historical context of the story of Sri Lanka from its past history. This approach is narrative, and seeks to set this conflict within certain known parameters. This appears to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu as a panellist on Human Rights in Sri Lanka
November 18, 2009 Professor Chelva Kananganayakam University of Toronto Toronto  Dear Professor Chelva Kananganayakam: Re: MUNK CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES Panel Discussion on Illusionary Justice: Threats to the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Sri Lanka on November 16, 2009. I am not certain why I am writing to you, perhaps may be because you are affiliated with the University of Toronto. If you feel that this topic does not concern you at all, then forgive me, but I had to let my bile spill on someone at U... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
UN humanitarian chief welcomes return of displaced in Sri Lanka
"Return must be both voluntary and informed" (Colombo/New York, 18 November 2009): United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes concluded the second day of his three-day mission to Sri Lanka today with visits to Vavuniya in the north and Mannar in the northwest. In the morning, the ERC met General Kamal Guneratne, the Competent Authority (CA), and Mrs. Charles, Government Agent for Vavuniya, in charge of Menik Farm camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) near Vavuniya. They reiterated the commitment of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
PRESIDENT HOLDS A PARTY FOR TWIN CHILDREN FOR HIS BIRTHDAY
President Mahinda Rajapaksa celebrated his 64th birthday by distributing gifts to 64 twins at a Buddhist temple in Narahenpita Colombo. pictures by Nalin Hewapathirana Clad in a cream coloured national costume the President came to the temple ceremony where the twins have been brought. Among the twins brought to meet the Presidents were also triplets. The President fed them with cakes. Not only the 64th birthday of the President but also the fourth anniversary of his becoming the President fell on November 18 2009. At the temple ceremony where health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva wished... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
Happy Birthday Mr President
President Mahinda Rajapaksa celebrates his 64th birthday today (18th November) and the fourth anniversary in assuming office as Executive President the same day.  Many religious programmes are planned to celebrate and invoke blessings on the Head of State Island wide. Venerable Maha Sanga including Uduwe Dhammaloka thero chanted Seth Pirith at President’s House in the early hours of this morning to bless the President on his birthday.  ‘Everybody should respect the President for leading the country towards historical victory over three decades long war against terrorism’ says the felicitation message issued by Anunayaka Thera of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
'Request for Pope to visit Welfare Camps in Sri Lanka' - "Catholic Leader" - Brisbane
 It was reported in the 22nd Nov. issue of the Catholic Leader - Brisbane, that Dr. Brian Seneviratne (Catholic married to a Tamil) and Fr. Pan Jordan (Tamil), presently in Brisbane, beleive that the Pope must visit welfare camps in Sri Lanka to see for himself the mistreatment of the 280,000 IDP'S. In fact, the current number is about half of this. Both had referred to the appalling conditions in the welfare camps.  They have made this observation in response to Pope Benedict's recent call to free displaced civilians from internment camps. However, it was also reported... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
REMAINDER OF TAMIL ASYLUM SEEKERS AGREE TO DISEMBARK THE SHIP
The remainder of the original group of 78 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers , after a three week stand off agreed to leave an Australian customs ship moored of near the Indonesian island of Bintane on Wednesday, Australian newspapers reported.  The 78 asylum seekers were picked up by the Australian ship Oceanic Viking in International waters while they were on their way to Australia.  When they were to be taken to Bintane, the Tamils refused to disembark demanding that they be sent only to Australia.  Last week part of the asylum seekers agreed to go to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
NO MANDATORY SECURITY CLEARENCE FOR OVERLAND TRAVELLING
The mandatory security clearance for civilians to travel overland from Northern Province to other areas will be no longer needed government sources said. The biggest beneficiary of the lifting of the former security measure will be citizens travelling on the A9 highway. The confidence of the government that such security measures are no longer necessary has led to this decision.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
Statement made by Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Sri Lanka Parliament on 17 Nov. 2009
This is further to my initial Statement made on 04 Nov. 2009 on the question raised by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake , Member of Parliament and raised again by Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe, Leader of the Opposition on 06 Nov. 2009 seeking a statement by me on our continental shelf submission under the Law of the Sea Convention of 1982. In this connection, I did undertake to make a formal Statement on 17 Nov. 2009.  Hence, Hon Speaker, I now make my Statement on the Continental Shelf Submission of Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
Address by Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Sri Lanka Expatriate Forum 2009 on 14th November 2009 at the Presidential Secretariat
Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, I warmly welcome you all this afternoon for an interactive session on the role the Sri Lanka Diaspora can play in the post conflict developmental efforts. I am confident that our interactions will be fruitful in view of the overwhelming response we have received to the invitation extended by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for this important event. I know each one of you has excelled in your chosen professions and having perused your profiles,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR PRESIDENT
We all wish you from the bottom of our hearts very happy birthday to you on this great day.  May Lord Buddha give you strength, wealth and good health to overcome all the evils facing you today.  May you live long taking our country forward with happiness Love and Peace  May God Bless you on your 64th birthday.  Your Excellency as you rejoice this day with your loving family and the rest of our victorious population make a wish to have a peaceful country under your leadership with all to live in Peace irrespective of colour, Faith,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/11/09)
Heroes emerge among those who love the motherland - President
Heroes have not emerged among the political leaders who had erected barbed wire fences around temples and, those who conspired with international elements to betray the motherland, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (16) during the presentation of Punya Bhoomi title deeds to temples which have been built on the State lands. An era has dawned where the inheritance of the nation can be used for development. All those who love the country and respect our history must join hands to build the nation, said the President. He added that those who were... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/11/09)
Myanmar top leader Sri Lanka visit brings about deeper bilateral friendship
www.chinaview.cn 2009-11-17 21:50:20 Print By Feng Yingqiu YANGON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar top leader Senior-General Than Shwe's recent state visit to Sri Lanka has brought about deeper bilateral friendship and cooperation, official media commented Tuesday. The four-day Colombo visit of Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, which took place from Nov. 12 to 15,was a reciprocal one to Nay Pyi Taw by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in June this year. Both visits happened in the same year to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Than Shwe's visit also... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 17/11/09)
Tamil rebels face doubtful future
It is six months since the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka but Tamil Tiger rebels and their supporters are yet to recover from the dramatic military defeat by security forces earlier this year. The recent attempts by remnants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) abroad to revive the movement have not succeeded so far. Now questions are being raised over the future of its international network and millions of dollars worth of assets spread across continents.... -Full Story- (BBC - 17/11/09)
KARUNANIDHI SAYS IN CHENNAI THAT THE LTTE DECISION TO BOYCOTT 2005 ELECTION FINALLY LED TO ITS DESTRUCTION
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) said in Chennai the LTTE’s decision to boycott the 2005 Presidential election was a “hasty†decision which did not pay attention to “strategy†which ultimately led to its military defeat. In a statement he said, "In the 2005 elections, former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe lost to Rajapakse by around 1.81 lakh votes while seven lakh Tamils had not voted at all following the boycott call. What is the outcome today of that hasty decision?" in an obvious reference to the death of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/11/09)
“LTTE didn’t consider consequences of war strategyâ€ÂÂÂ
CHENNAI: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) did not take into account the consequences while implementing its war strategy, Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi said here on Tuesday. Recalling the LTTE’s call to Tamils for boycotting the 2005 Presidential elections, Mr. Karunanidhi, in a statement, said that Sri Lanka Freedom Party leader Mahinda Rajapaksa had defeated United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe by a margin of about 1.81 lakh votes and seven lakh Tamils in Sri Lanka did not cast their votes. Mr. Wickremesinghe had then promised the electors that he would give priority to... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 17/11/09)
Understanding Existential Castes
Through Atrocity Metrics
By Anand Teltumbde 14 November, 2009 Countercurrents.org I make following five propositions: • The classical caste system depicted by the four varna structure is almost dead in India . • The existent caste system in India is concentrated at the lowest edge of the caste framework marking the division of caste and non-caste people. • While in urban areas the caste system operates as a system of premium and discounts, its most insidious expression in the vast countryside is caste atrocities. • Caste atrocities are the best proxy measure of the operational casteism and provide meaningful metrics to understand its... -Full Story- (countercurrents.org - 17/11/09)
China’s Policy Towards Myanmar
D.S.Rajan, C3S Paper No.406 dated November 15, 2009 In the history of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), there had always been firm links between its domestic goals and foreign policy. In the Mao Zedong era, the national goal of “self reliant development†was accompanied by an external strategy of “leaning to one side†i.e. with socialist allies, in order to resist “imperialist†interventions in China. China’s internal priorities underwent a major change in the post-1978 period, with veteran leader Deng Xiaoping initiating a path of “socialism with Chinese characteristicsâ€ÂÂÂ. Correspondingly a foreign policy based on ‘open-door, anti-hegemony and independence’... -Full Story- (c3sindia.org - 17/11/09)
Mahinda Rajapaksa likely to play for time
COLOMBO: At the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) convention here on Sunday, party chief and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa clearly indicated that he was not in a hurry to accept the workers’ clamour for a snap Presidential election to quickly eliminate the threat from war hero Gen Sarath Fonseka, who is likely to be the joint Opposition candidate. Rajapaksa wondered why he should give up two years of his first term by going in for reelection now or in the next few months. He then said that he would put the party workers’ views before the appropriate decision making... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 17/11/09)
Terrorism: Gen.Sarath Fonseka - a brilliant professional, but professionalism alone does not make a good leader
B.RAMAN See also: www.southasiaanalysis.org The Khalistani terrorism in India and the terrorism of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka are two unique instances in the history of terrorism where the State prevailed over the terrorists without conceding their demands. 2. The threat faced by Sri Lanka was more complex and difficult to handle than the threat faced by India. Sri Lanka was confronted with a ruthless mix of a full-blown insurgency seeking territorial control and terrorism seeking to intimidate the civil society. The Khalistani terrorism was a purely terrorist movement with no mix of an insurgency.... -Full Story- (ionglobaltrends.blogspot.com - 17/11/09)
An Open Letter To Lt.General Sarath Fonseka
The long speculated news is out now that Lt.General Sarath Fonseka has given his resignation from his post of Chief Defence of Staff (CDS) and that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has accepted it. Well, it’s your fundamental right to choose what ever you want as a career and purely a personal matter. I am sure the people of Sri Lanka has no qualms about it but would not like to see you falling from an esteemed position you held as the Army commander and then CDS  to just an insignificant person.  Sir, there is no other army general... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/11/09)
Sri Lanka High Commission holds Deepavali Festival
The Sri Lanka High Commission together with the members of the Sri Lanka community in Singapore organized a cultural and religious festival on 25th October 2009 to celebrate Deepavali.  A unique feature of this event was that while celebrating the significance of Deepavali, it also celebrated the multi religious and multi cultural nature of Sri Lanka. The event was observed in keeping with the traditional rituals associated with Deepavali such as lights, kolam and kumbuam.  The event commenced with musicians from the Sri Arasakesari Sivan temple and dancers from... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/11/09)
Who is Raj Rajaratnam? Don't ask in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Billionaire hedge fund titan Raj Rajaratnam's shadow in Sri Lanka is so big that his arrest in the United States initially knocked 5 percent off the local stock market. But ask about Rajaratnam on the island of birth and few will say anything about the man considered to be Sri Lanka's richest, now accused in the largest hedge-fund related insider trading case in U.S. history. The silence speaks volumes about Sri Lanka's scarred modern history, and its persistent entanglement in suspicion brewed by the 25-year war with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which Sri... -Full Story- (Reuters - 17/11/09)
No deals for asylum seekers to leave ship
TANJUNG PINANG: No extra inducement was offered to the final Sri Lankan asylum seekers to coax them from the Oceanic Viking. But learning that their compatriots who left the boat last week had been allowed to call home, and had met United Nations refugee officials, was key to their agreeing to abandon their month-long stand-off. The 56 Sri Lankan Tamils, who had refused to leave the Australian Customs vessel since October 17, have reportedly agreed to disembark the ship this morning, to enter immigration detention in Indonesia.... -Full Story- (smh.com.au - 17/11/09)
UNP iffy about fielding Fonseka
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s main Opposition outfit, United National Party (UNP), has not yet decided to support the candidature of Gen Sarath Fonseka, the controversial former Army Commander, for the presidency of the country, a top level source in the UNP told Express on Sunday. Asked for the reasons for backing out of a commitment, which the media had taken for granted, the source said that several factors had to be taken into account.... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 16/11/09)
Sri Lanka - Post Conflict Recovery
It's been 6 months since Sri Lanka's 26-year civil war ended, but for many of those who were displaced by the fighting, a chance to get back to normal life has been a long time coming. Having waged a secessionist war against the Government of Sri Lanka for the nearly 3 decades, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, an insurgent group designated as terrorist by the United States and 31 other countries, finally surrendered on May 17th of this year.... -Full Story- (voanews.com - 16/11/09)
‘We will surprise the world with our development’- President
Sri Lanka will be developed using technology and new knowledge, and the Government has a viable plan. “We will surprise the world with our swift march towards development,†said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the annual National Convention of the SLFP at the Khettarama Stadium yesterday (15). He also said the first oil well will bear results in 2010 and Sir Lanka could proudly use its own fuel for consumption. The President noted as the country united for the defeat of the LTTE, in development too we should work together irrespective of our differences. There is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/11/09)
The Curse of Ranil, and the fall of a General
Whatever Ranil touches ends up in disaster. His becoming Prime Minister of the UNF Government during the Presidency of Chandrika Kumaratunga resulted in the drawing up of a CFA by the Norwegians, the signing of which by Ranil and Prabhakaran resulted in a disaster which required a man like Mahinda Rajapakse to put it right. The CFA strengthened the terrorists and nearly paved the way for the terrorists to set up a separate Tamil Eelam State in the North East.  UNP led by Ranil did not win any elections since 2005. Nevertheless Ranil has a one track... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/11/09)
In Sri Lanka, 'Tamils can live in a state of security'
Letter-writers Roy Ratnavel and David Poopalapillai have attempted to make the case that Tamils are persecuted in Sri Lanka. If we accept this contention, it will help pave the way for the boatload of Sri Lankan Tamils who arrived recently in our waters to claim they are genuine refugees and, therefore, entitled to stay here permanently.the authorities have ensured that Tamils can live in a state of security in the capital and their proportion of the population in the Colombo District has actually increased beyond what it was before the 1983 riots. In the central area of the city they... -Full Story- (National Post - 16/11/09)
"Our goal hear is to defeat al-Qaeda", says Hillary Clinton
November 16, 2009 The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Sir: ‘U.S. not in Afghanistan long term, Clinton says:  “…our goal here is to defeat al-Qaedaâ€ÂÂÂ, you said, and I am confused. If the U.S. Secretary of State means what she says that they are after to eliminate terrorism, then why is she undermining Sri Lanka’s single-handed defeat of the Tamil Tigers on May 18, the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world? These are the terrorists who gave al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups around the world the know how to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/11/09)
Why Such Inordinate Publicity?
When I opened the Island newspaper on Monday, 16th November, I was shocked to see yet another full page feature on Arch Bishop Malcolm Ranjith, which is appearing at regular intervals or, serially if I may say.  The people were in a great state of stress and tension, only the previous day, Sunday,15th November awaiting the announcement of the decision regarding elections which was to be released at the much awaited SLFP National Convention. That is not all, there is a pervading mood of gloom all over the country, political uncertainty, a fear of what the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/11/09)
Gandhi, Thaatha,ThaLapathy, Kudumbar...
This write-up is a response to an article written by renowned scholar-historian, and a specialist in the history of Madras, S. Muthiah (Gandhi and the Tamils) in The Hindu¹ Metroplus¹, dated August 31, 2009.Muthiah, an erudite scholar, while writing about Gandhi¹s short association with Thillaiyadi VaLLiammai, a Dalit girl, has given us a wonderful account of the visits of Gandhi to the then Madras.   By way of adding to the account of Muthiah, we give below three authentic historical events in the life of Gandhi as connected with Dalit leaders.First historical narrative is related to Rettaimalai... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/11/09)
General Fonseka meets President Rajapaksa
Pix by: Chandana Perera The outgoing Chief of Defence Staff and former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka made his final call to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees this morning. Before the meeting with President, General Fonseka attended the farewell ceremony accorded to him at Army Headquarters in Colombo Later General Fonseka made his final farewell by visiting the War Memorial at Parliament grounds at Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte and paid his tribute to fallen war heroes. Before retiring from 40 years of Army service, the most colourful General in the Sri Lanka Army said that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/11/09)
Former UK ambassador: CIA sent people to be ‘raped with broken bottles’
The CIA relied on intelligence based on torture in prisons in Uzbekistan, a place where widespread torture practices include raping suspects with broken bottles and boiling them alive, says a former British ambassador to the central Asian country. Craig Murray, the rector of the University of Dundee in Scotland and until 2004 the UK's ambassador to Uzbekistan, said the CIA not only relied on confessions gleaned through extreme torture, it sent terror war suspects to Uzbekistan as part of its extraordinary rendition program.... -Full Story- (rawstory.com - 16/11/09)
Not A Defenceless Sri Lanka :the U.N.F pledge to develop the country is a big joke!
The major opposition party, the United National Party leader Ranil Wickremasinghe is reported to have called for the disbandment of the arms and armaments of the Armed Forces because the war is over and it is now time for peace.(At the Emergency Extension Debate in Parliament) This recommendation is no surprise to me. It comes from a leader who when he was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka agreed to the infamous Cease Fire Agreement(CFA) with the LTTE, which bestowed on the LTTE priviledges and a land area for them to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
Fonseka in politics will be damaging military professionalism
The likely entry of (Retd.) General Sarath Fonseka in to politics attracts attention at many levels. Superficially, his acceptance to enter politics, merely to ‘save’ the triad of desperadoes, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Somawansa Amarasinghe and Mangala Samaraweera displays an appalling lack of judgment and naivety. Secondly, his aspiration to become President shows that he may not have carefully weighed up the ‘skill set’ he has on offer to the nation against the particular ‘job description’. The people of Sri Lanka are likely to reject him overwhelmingly on these grounds. But there is also an important fundamental issue at... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
Rajapakse regime and the Fonseka phenomenon: Genesis of current crisis
Notwithstanding desperate denials to the contrary, current developments have clearly demonstrated the deep divisions existing between the ruling Rajapakse regime and former Army commander Lt.Gen Sarath Fonseka. In a controversial turn of events General Fonseka has submitted his resignation from the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post held by him. It has been promptly accepted by President Rajapakse and is expected to come into effect from December 1st 2009. For Full article go to http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/1227... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
LTTE ALSO GAVE MILITARY TRAINING TO ASSAM SEPARATISTS
United Liberation Front of Asom separatist group’s former rebel had revealed that the LTTE had trained them in guerrilla warfare, an Indian news agency reported. LTTE had repeatedly assured India that it would never interfere in the internal matters of India and the revealation comes as a direct violation of that promise. Earlier it had been revealed that the LTTE supplied arms to India’s North Eastern terrorist group by smuggling arms through Bangladesh. The separatist group is attempting to form a separatist government for the oil rich frontier province. Former seperatist spokesman Sunil Nath said that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
PRESIDENT TELLS SLFP DELEGATES THAT A DECISION TO HOLD WHICH ELECTION FIRST WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON
President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the national convention of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) said a decision to hold a Presidential election or a parliamentary election before the other will be announced very soon. He said whatever comes first that comes at a time the LTTE had been wiped out from the political map of Sri Lanka. He said there were political parties who had prepared their election manifestoes to suit the LTTE through fear when they were a power to reckon with and today they must thank the government for eradicating that fear.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
SRI LANKA NEEDS NO ENEMIES WHEN MR/GOTA/FONSEKA ARE AT DAGGERS DRAWN.
Let’s take a close look at the now forgotten transformation that Sri Lanka underwent during the last four years. Who was Mahinda R before 2005? Just another copy book politician in the same old corrupt mould albeit he had not amassed a huge wealth. This may not be only due to the fact that his father and the uncle were not corrupt but also that he had been kept on check by the bandit queen during her entire reign where he was entrusted with no plum ministries. Of course we still remember the puffy... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
WHAT EVER MAY COME, MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA WILL WIN AGAIN.
If there is a presidential election declared, who will win is the question in the minds of the electorate of Sri Lanka , be it the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and or all others who have the right of franchise in Sri Lanka , the right to vote.  Why this question today in the history of Sri Lankan when peace and prosperity has begun to blossom in the little island of serendipity where the terrorist have been eradicated and the war against terrorism won. This is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
Telling differences between the UNA version and the Fonseka version of the resignation letter
It’s over before it started! UNA was planning to subcontract its presidential candidate even before the presidential election is announced. However, its campaign hit a snag even before it managed to initiate open campaigning for the so called common candidate. UNA led by anti-national factions including the Mano Ganeshan LTTE faction, Hakeem faction, Mangala faction, $3 million Ravi faction and the Sinhala LTTE Sarath Manamendra faction could not agree with some of Fonseka’s key concerns. They have done well to shield their growing disputes.  First of all it must be emphasized that neither Fonseka nor the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
An Unnecessary Presidential Election
The last few days rolled out a sad trail of events for Sri Lanka. The General who had the utmost respect of the patriotic nation has offered to leave the highest position in the forces and contemplating to contest the Presidency. The General who once said that he would not enter politics has changed his mind. I wonder who is behind his decision. The claims he had made on corruption and IDPs were known to him when he made his earlier comments of not entering politics. The veracity of a coup/no coup is yet... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
If I hear it once more I will scream!
Recently I was watching a program where every five minutes or so the sponsor’s advertisement was repeated. If any advertiser thinks they are brain washing the viewers into buying their products by using this technique, they should think again. Actually when favorite program is interrupted very frequently the viewers starts hating the advertisement. And when they repeat the same one back to back  repeatedly in the same interval- that’s the time one finds themselves saying, “Once more I hear that, I will either scream or vomit!†I have heard this from many... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
What a dirty politics in Sri Lanka ?
After defeating the LTTE, we thought that Sri Lanka will be heading in the right direction. Unfortunately, it was only for 6 months. Last weeks incident, resignation of General Sarath Fonseka, no doubtly, shocked not only all Sri Lankan patriots, but also te whole world.  Undoubtely, Mahinda Adminitration is far better than the Ranil Adminidtration, in many aspects, mainly LTTE issue. Unfortunately, General Sarath Fonseka has resigned under frustration. He has given 16 reasons i his resignation letter. His resigned in a very professional and respectable manner. The real drama began on the same day evening... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
Is transfer a punishment?
What an amazing practice we have in our country is that often a government servant is transferred as a punishment for a crime– often to a better position with a better pay! Now, I wonder who invented this bright idea and how come the whole nation seems to be swallowing it - hook, line and all! Recently in the case of the student being assaulted, the real culprit was TRANSFERRED TO THE HEAD OFFICE, a cushy job I am sure, than being an officer at the police station , while the wife... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
Why have round pins and square pins on plugs?
Nowadays, some electric gadgets come with the plug with round pins and others with square pins. So every house needs to have either extension cords or install both types of plug bases. It is quite a problem to use an electric gadget if you are out of home – specially charging the mobile phones, because the pins on the plug in your gadget is one way and the plug points of the base in the place you are the other way- either round pins or square pins. Now why, o why, did... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
SRI LANKA BAGS HER FIRST GOLD MEDAL AT ASIAN GAMES
University of Southern California (USC) student Manjula Kumara Wijesekera (25) representing Sri Lanka bagged the first gold medal for his country at the Asian Games in China. Wijesekera brought home for Sri Lanka the gold medal for high jump winning the event by achieving a height of 2.23 m allowing China’s Huang Haiqiang to grab the silver and Kazakhstant’s Vitaliy Tsykunov to take the bronze. He was quoted having declared, “I am not satisfied with the result of 2.23m, although I am happy with the win. It is awesome.†Wijesekera’s personal best is 2.27 m. which... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
Rajapakse regime and the Fonseka phenomenon: Genesis of current crisis
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj Notwithstanding desperate denials to the contrary, current developments have clearly demonstrated the deep divisions existing between the ruling Rajapakse regime and former Army commander Lt.Gen Sarath Fonseka. In a controversial turn of events General Fonseka has submitted his resignation from the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post held by him. It has been promptly accepted by President Rajapakse and is expected to come into effect from December 1st 2009.... -Full Story- (dbsjeyaraj.com - 15/11/09)
Ambitions For Power By The Power Hungry Undeserving Need To Be Legitimately Dealt With!
Nov.14th 2009 It is becoming visibly apparent that the scenario depicting Sarath Fonseka crossing swords with his CEO the President of Sri Lanka has more to it than meets the common eye!! To specualate as did the Sri Lankan Authorities that it could be a move by some ambitious group in the SL Army to surreptitiously stage a coup with a view to snatch power through the barrel of gun, may have been very justified! The Sri Lanka Government was probably acting on high intelligence alerts although the rumour that it turned to India which kept it troops on high alert on the 15th... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
RISING STARS Vs PRESIDENTS: MUHAMMAD ZIA-UL-HAQ, PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, GARDIHEWA SARATH CHANDRALAL FONSEKA Vs ZULFIKAR ALI BHUTTO, NAWAZ SHARIF & MAHINDA RAJAPAKSE
Since independence in 1948, Sri Lanka may not have achieved economic independence, but we were never under the Pump of Military dictatorship. Occupation of political leadership roles by Military personnel in Pakistan has shattered its pride internationally. Did the so called tough military leaders of Pakistan change the country as a safe place to live and visit? Pakistan has been denied by the world body of cricket, to hold any of the 2011 World Cup Matches due to deteriorating... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
Rajapaksha Must Change His Buddies or Lose to UNA Fags
Sri Lanka is cursed with megalomaniacs. One met his fate at the Mulaitivu lagoon and the other is in the making. For position and power a group of henchmen have surrounded the President poisoning his mind. Acting on their venom, President Rajapaksha makes irrational decisions. He must come to his senses before things go out of hand. People are not going to vote for Rajapaksha just because he won the war. They demand "what next"? If what Rajapaksha has in store is insanity, very few will want to make him the next president.  It is upto... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
General Phobia and Presidential Elections mania
According to the media, every thing said now, General will contest against Mahinda, under the UNF/JVP/TNA or whatever so called duped alliance, or popular pretext of Common candidate.  Should you contest under UNF Alliance the mercenaries of the Western Imperialists and with the ulterior agenda of betraying the country, the nation, and will kneel to, LTTE, Hillary and the gang.  Public will even spit on your photographs in time to come on the aftermath of your office.  Afterwards, you will go to Yankee land and get Citizenship instead the Green one, where are we to go... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
A humble appeal to tone down the unsavoury rhetoric against the Retired Army Commander Fonseka
Personally, there are only two people in this universe, before whom I would kneel down, touch the soil trampled by them with my forehead and worship. One is no more in mortal form but the force of his compassion, wisdom and the deliverance from suffering he brought to the world reverberates in this world to date and I will worship at the feet of his image- Lord Buddha. The other is a mere mortal, a General with a lion heart who guided an Army of people pursuing a blood thirsty monster risking his life and those... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
The Journey of a Journalist (Part 12A) - A SUMMER STINT BACK IN MALAYSIA
I returned to Malaysia as an educational consultantâ€â€ÂÂan external examiner for the department of communication (Jabatan Komunikasi) at  Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University)â€â€ÂÂmore than two decades after I left my lectureship at Universiti Sains Malaysia (Science University). Mohd Safar Hasim, head of the UKM department of communication, was at the Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur to welcome me on the Sunday morning (June 15, 1997) I arrived. Safar was a student of mine at USM in the mid-‘70s. He was a reporter for Bernama, the Malaysian news agency, at the time he came to study... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
The Journey of a Journalist (Part 12B) - EXAMINING IN BANGI AND OBSERVING CHANGES
As the external examiner in communication studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in the summer of 1997, I agreed to perform two tasks: To submit a report evaluating the UKM communication studies program based on criteria relevant to Asia in general, and Malaysia in particular. To teach a three-hour graduate class in International Communication on Saturdays, and to participate in other activities benefitting Malaysia. Safar put me up in his old office because he was enjoying the office facilities of the department chair. He also gave me daily rides to campus and return rides... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
Epilogue: The Journey of a Journalist - A TRIBUTE TO ‘PUNCHI HAMINE,’ MY MOTHER EXTRAORDINAIRE
BRISBANE, Australia, 8 Nov. 2009: I arrived in Brisbane a few days ago to see my mother lying on a bed “living†her last [?] days at the Mater Hospital. The five khandhas (aggregates)â€â€ÂÂmaterial form (rupa), sensation (vedana), perception (sanna), mental formations (sankhara) and consciousness (vinnana)â€â€ÂÂconstituting my mother (in the Buddhist sense) are preparing to move onto a new namarupa discarding her worn-out old body (matter). She is on life support. She can hardly open her eyes or move her lips. But we could feel that she recognized our voices and tried her best to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/11/09)
An Elegy for Sarath Fonseka
By K.T.Rajasingham Colombo, 14 November, (Asiantribune.com) Last recourseWhen there was a move by some disgruntled group in the army to surreptitiously stage a coup with a view to snatch power through the barrel of gun, Sri Lanka Government rightly turned to India which kept it troops on high alert on the 15th October to overcome any eventually. This startling disclosure, made by General Sarath Fonseka himself in his letter of resignation addressed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, clearly shows that Sri Lanka had survived another grave disaster, so soon after an end to the 30-year-old ethnic conflict. Yet, the General finds... -Full Story- (asiantribune.com - 14/11/09)
Has the President Created His Own Musharaff?
Insecurity through Fear of the Known, created the Story of Sigiriya! In this present case, no King was murdered and/or plastered into the wall. However, said that, President Rajapaksa did not award the due courtesy, respect and gratitude to the Foot Soldier who helped the Rajapaksa Kingdom to achieve the victory over the Tamil Tiger Terrorists LTTE, the Scum of Sri Lanka. The President did plaster the Good General in a humiliating manner! In two of my previous articles, I suggested that General Fonseka deserves the Highest Award and Reward by way of a top civilian... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/11/09)
No fight though hat is in the ring?
The big news last week was the premature retirement of General Sarath Fonseka, the Chief of Defence Staff, in the context of persistent rumours that he may run for president against the incumbent. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to reveal his hand on which election will come first – presidential or parliamentary – at the SLFP’s annual convention today. Most analysts and observers expected him to use his constitutional power, as four years of his first term run out this month, to call a premature presidential election two years ahead of the deadline and take advantage of the war victory.... -Full Story- (The Island - 14/11/09)
Fonseka's claim without substance: Tharoor
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India on Saturday dismissed former Sri Lankan Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka's claim that its troops were put on alert at the instance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa following fears of a coup. Strongly refuting Fonseka's claim, Minister of state for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said there was "no substance to the story." "We should be a little wary of making too much of these kinds of speculations," he told reporters here. The Ministry of External Affairs made it very clear that the Indian Army was never placed on alert. "There is no substance to the story. The government... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 14/11/09)
Fonseka's claim without substance: Tharoor
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India on Saturday dismissed former Sri Lankan Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka's claim that its troops were put on alert at the instance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa following fears of a coup. Strongly refuting Fonseka's claim, Minister of state for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said there was "no substance to the story." "We should be a little wary of making too much of these kinds of speculations," he told reporters here. The Ministry of External Affairs made it very clear that the Indian Army was never placed on alert. "There is no substance to the story. The government... -Full Story- (Times of India - 14/11/09)
Rajapaksa writes to Fonseka
B. Muralidhar Reddy COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday replied to the letter of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Sarath Fonseka seeking permission for pre-mature retirement. Frenzied political activity is expected in the next few days as Mr. Rajapaksa is to preside over the convention of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) on Sunday to consider dates for the general election and a possible presidential election, amid sufficient indications that “war hero†General Fonseka is all geared up to enter politics. Mr. Rajapaksa’s response to General Fonseka’s letter was not immediately known. Among the reasons given by... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 14/11/09)
JOHN HOLMES TO VISIT SRI LANKA ONCE AGAIN
 The United Nations humanitarian chief John Holmes will undertake a mission to Sri Lanka this week, the United Nations announced .  The 17 to 19 November visit will be the fourth this year for Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes, who previously travelled there in February, April and May.  The UN has been closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka , where more than 270,000 people were staying in closed camps after hostilities between the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended in May.  In recent months according to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/11/09)
Irene Khan and Amnesty International
November 14, 2009 The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Sir: ‘Human rights, Irene Khan is dedicated but that isn’t enough’ (The hijacking of human rights), your Leonard Stern said.  Correct.  Khan, the Secretary General of Amnesty International also needs to be an intelligent strategist to over-ride her over-zealous intentions to identify country human rights violators. One such faux pas was her targeting Sri Lanka’s alleged human rights violations when she entered the arena of sports and trying to vilify and embarrass the world class Sri Lanka’s National... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/11/09)
ADVANTAGE LTTE
How fast the game has changed ? Many pundits have predicted Sarath would lose the battle this time around, if he competes with Mahinda. But the fact is there is a great danger of Sri Lanka losing to LTTE again because of the eternal enemies of the universe, greed, hatred and illusion.  Reading Sarath’s resignation, one could not fault him much; his frustration is justified , except that the ego and hatred clearly seen and in the last few lines he is caught trying to hide behind newly discovered compassion. We all know that the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/11/09)
RESPONSE TO THE LITURGY CIRCULAR ISSUED BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF COLOMBO IN OCTOBER 2009
We are a group of concerned Catholics, who feel that the Liturgy Circular issued by the Archbishop of Colombo early in October gives rise to several important issues, some of which have a potentially serious adverse effect on the Church in Sri Lanka. The attached document (which was finalized after much thought, reading, discussion and prayer) sets out, and responds to, some of these concerns. Our aim throughout is to be faithful to the Word of God and to our call as Christians. Early in November, we sought an appointment with the Archbishop, to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/11/09)
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Murder Case - A Legal Perspective
By Khan Saifur Rahman For anybody concerned in the case of what is commonly known as the Bangabandhu Murder Case, there is a pressing need for assessing what kind of occurrence had taken place in the morning of 15th August 1975. It calls for a realistic legal formulations to judge which way the balance of justice tilts --- in favour of conviction to capital sentence or in favour of acquittal? It is an admitted fact that uniformed members of the Army from the Dhaka Cantonment had made an outing during the night of 14th/15th August to cause the incident. Besides... -Full Story- (newsfrombangladesh.net - 14/11/09)
A DEATH-KNELL FOR BANGLADESH
Sylhet, the beautiful paradise of Bangladesh, is going to turn into a vast barren wasteland very soon. Located on the banks of the winding pair of rivers Surma River and Jaintia and surrounded by Khasi and Tripura hills, this city is situated in the north-eastern region of Bangladesh. The Sylhet region is well known for its tea gardens and tropical forests. The valley has good number of big natural depressions, called ‘haors’. During winter these haors are vast stretches of green land, but in the rainy season they turn into turbulent seas. These haors provide a sanctuary... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/11/09)
Pakistan Sri Lanka Freindship Magazine November 2009
... -Full Story- (lankaweb.com - 14/11/09)
Government changes gear on early presidential election
by Shamindra Ferdinando The widely expected early presidential election may not take place ahead of scheduled parliamentary polls. The bottom line is that the government may not alter the polls time table and would face the Opposition at general elections in April next year rather than face a common candidate backed by the entire Opposition including the JVP at a presidential election. Government sources told The Sunday Island that an influential section within the UPFA believed that keeping to the polls schedule and not having a premature presidential election would be advantageous to the government. They said that the people,... -Full Story- (The Island - 14/11/09)
Sri Lankan probe on war crime allegations to start soon
Source: Xinhua News Agency Date: 13 Nov 2009 COLOMBO, Nov 13, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has appointed the final member to the six-member committee to investigate the U.S. report on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, a senior government minister said on Friday. The sixth member to the committee is senior lawyer Anura Meddagoda, Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management Mahinda Samarasinghe told reporters on Friday. Samarasinghe said the report would be submitted to President Mahinda Rajapakse by Dec. 31. The presidential investigation committee on the U.S. report titled "Incidents during the Recent... -Full Story- (Relief Web - 14/11/09)
Crowds greet Myanmar leader in Sri Lankan city
Web posted at: 11/15/2009 1:49:6 Source ::: .AFP ANURADHAPURA: Large flag-waving crowds greeted Myanmar’s junta leader General Than Shwe yesterday as he toured an ancient city in north-central Sri Lanka on a religious pilgrimage. The crowds, clutching flags of Myanmar and Sri Lanka, lined the streets of the sacred Buddhist city of Anuradhapura to welcome the reclusive general, who has been on his first overseas visit since 2004. Speaking through an interpreter, Than Shwe told the crowd: “I am happy to be here and I look forward to touring the Buddhist shrines.†Heavy monsoon rains forced the general to travel... -Full Story- (thepeninsulaqatar.com - 14/11/09)
Pranab meets Rajapaksa today
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa over lunch on Sunday to deliver a message of a worried United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to address the rehabilitation issue more effectively and expedite the long-pending devolution of power for the Tamils. Also Read Related Stories News Now - No leaks please - 'Right now it would be completely wrong to give the signal that inflation is a big problem' - Two key finance Bills to miss Winter session - FM asks Raja to push Trai Bill in Winter Session - 'NSDC will be like a private equity... -Full Story- (business-standard.com - 14/11/09)
Expats abroad – a key factor in Lankan politics
President Mahinda Rajapakse is scheduled to meet the expatriates today. A meeting of this kind was long overdue. Whether they are liked or not, (some like the expats, some think that they are interfering busybodies) the diaspora, consisting mainly of the Sinhala and Tamil communities, has come to stay as a formidable force determined to play their part in Sri Lankan politics. The vast majority of the Burghers abroad are mostly keen on minding their own business, though there are some exceptions like Dr. Quintus de Zylwa, who has made 17 trips to Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/11/09)
Britain's Abu Ghraib: Did Britain collude with US in abuse of Iraqis?
By Robert Verkaik, Law Editor Claims that British soldiers recreated the torture conditions of Abu Ghraib to commit the sexual and physical abuse of Iraqi civilians are being investigated by the Ministry of Defence. The fresh allegations raise important questions about collusion between Britain and America over the ill-treatment of Iraqi prisoners during the insurgency. In one case, British soldiers are accused of piling bodies of Iraqi prisoners on top of each other and subjecting them to electric shocks, an echo of the abuse at the notorious US detention centre at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison.... -Full Story- (independent.co.uk - 14/11/09)
Brad Adams: Rajapaksha lied to Ban Ki Moon - HRW
November 13, 2009 Mr. Brad Adams Asia Director, Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 101118-3299 USA Dear Brad: I have just come across your exclusive interview with the Sri Lanka Guardian by-lined Nilantha Illangamuwa titled – Rajapaksha lied to Ban Ki Moon – HRW. I chuckled reading it. Coming out of HRW, “see who is talkingâ€ÂÂÂ, I said to myself. Reading the interview again I said to myself, “Bring on the circus clowns, Brad. You guys at HRW think that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
INTEGRITY
The rarest commodity under the free market economy, in this country today appears to be Integrity. Not only in this country but in the whole world, judging by what is happening around the world including the British Parliament. Not only in public life, but even in personal life. It appears as if almost nobody could be trusted particularly with power, authority, money or property or even with love! We are told, “trust the camel, but tie the camelâ€ÂÂÂ! It no longer seems to be a cherished... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
Sri Lanka’s President Rajapaksa ‘feared coup’ after defeat of Tamil Tigers
President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka was so afraid of a military coup after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers that he warned India to place its troops on high alert as recently as last month, according to the former head of the Sri Lankan Army. General Sarath Fonseka, who led the victorious campaign against the Tigers only to be sidelined two months later, made the allegation in a bitter resignation letter, seen by The Times yesterday. General Fonseka, who was switched to the largely ceremonial role of Chief of Defence Staff in July, said the Government alerted India on October... -Full Story- (timesonline.co.uk - 13/11/09)
Ranil: It looks inevitable to set the leadership selection process in motion
The need of the hour is to have bold policy inventions by the UNP, paving way to install dynamic, honest, patriotic and magnanimous leader at a time no party has set an example to install a right person in the party leadership. This is the best opportunity to set the record straight and you, being the most incompetent leader in the recent history, are the best the person to take an initiative in the right direction because you have nothing to lose. On this particular issue, you can learn a lot to learn from other... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
President Rajapakse vs General Fonseka
This looming contest has all the ingredients of a best seller and also a total sell out. Sectors of the general public surely ask themselves the question; why had this to happen? Like with most major political events, this situation too has much more to it than meets the eye. Was the great general slighted to the point of feeling humiliated? That question is as it may be. What I ask myself is will the General take up the gauntlet? It would seem so. The possibility is enhanced by the General resigning from his post... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
The General and the ANUS
It is sad if our hero, General Fonseka join the biggest fool RW, known as Gona, who nearly gave away the country to the terrorists. Many consider those in ANUS to be fools, opportunists, traitors and extreme Tamil racists, out to create a racist Tamil empire. It is dangerous to have fools as friends, as they will mislead you and also will take you along the wrong path. ANUS is the place where human waste go before excretion. The General should avoid getting into the company of fools like RW. Some in the ANUS group have slandered... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
Do not fix it if it works
The game plan of the opposition is now clear. The fact that UNF has put forwarded a set of conditions before SF in order to be considered for a presidential candidate indicates that UNF only accepts him subject to those conditions.  The conditions effectively make SF a puppet president who would get rid of his own executive powers immediately as a president. In addition, this proposed puppet president as set out in the UNF or Ranil’s conditions should appoint and create an executive prime minister (Ranil) who has more control over the new president and the so... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
Lankan army chief told to leave immediately
COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka's resignation has been accepted by the President with immediate effect, rejecting his request to serve for two more weeks, officials said today. Though the top general, who as army chief was the architect of the annihilation of the rebel Tamil Tigers in a military offensive in May, sought permission to retire from December 1, the government relieved him immediately. “General Sarath Fonseka has been granted permission to retire with immediate effect,†Secretary to the President Mr Lalith Weerathunga said. A war hero at home for leading the army to... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 13/11/09)
Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Sarath Fonseka's Letter of Resignation
His Excellency the President Through the Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order Presidential Secretariat COLOMBO 12 November 2009 Your Excellency REQUEST TO RETIRE FROM THE REGULAR FORCE OF THE SRI LANKA ARMY 1. I, General G S C Fonseka RWP RSP VSV USP rcds psc presently serving as the Chief of Defence Staff, was enlisted to the Ceylon Army on 05th Feb 1970 and was commissioned on the 01st June 1971. On the 6th Dec 2005 due to the trust and confident placed on me, Your Excellency was kind enough to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
Half of Sri Lanka's war displaced civilians resettled
THE Tamil boatpeople have made quite a splash. Their claims of oppression do not sound convincing. For one, it would have been much more expedient to cross the 35km of sea to India if they were really fleeing oppression in Sri Lanka, as many did in the 1980s, yet they chose to travel thousands of kilometres to Australia and even further to Canada. On the way they avoided other possible lands of refuge such as Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore. They insist on disembarking in Australia. One must wonder why. Their claims of oppression sound hollow as they front up to television... -Full Story- (theaustralian.com.au - 13/11/09)
Half of Sri Lanka's war displaced civilians resettled
www.chinaview.cn 2009-11-13 23:54:03 Print COLOMBO, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government said Friday that about one half of the 280,000 civilians displaced by the final battles between the government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels early this year have been resettled. Mahinda Samarasinghe, the minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management told reporters that 143,161 Internally Displaced Civilians still remain in camps. Samarasinghe said 132,748 IDPs are being accommodated at welfare camps in the northern Vavuniya district, 3,373 in Jaffna, 970 in Mannar, 2,970 in Trincomallee and 3,100 in hospitals. "The government made all efforts to resettle the people... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 13/11/09)
U.S. Ambassador opens two schools rehabilitated by U.S. Government in Trincomalee District
Source: United States Department of State Date: 10 Nov 2009 Release no. 20091109 Colombo - 10 November, 2009: The U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ms. Patricia A. Butenis, officially opened two schools in Mutur. The schools were rebuilt by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the development agency of the U.S. Government, as part of its program to help former conflict-affected communities return to normalcy as quickly as possible. Ambassador Butenis presided over the ceremonial openings of Amman Nagar and Arafa Nagar Schools in Trincomalee District, two of five schools rehabilitated by USAID with funding from the U.S.... -Full Story- (Relief Web - 13/11/09)
Tata Housing to develop affordable houses overseas
Tata Housing Development Company today said it has received proposals from Governments of Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Nepal to build integrated cities with affordable housing. Also Read Related Stories News Now - Tata Housing enters affordable segment with 'New Haven' - Tata Housing's Raisina Residency bags IGBC gold certification - Tatas advance low-cost housing target by 2 yrs - Tata Housing, MHFC tie up to offer home finance - Tata Housing eyes Rs 700 cr from low-cost projects - Tatas do a 'nano' in housing Also Read Related Stories News Now - Sensex ends up 153pts - Aban Offshore... -Full Story- (business-standard.com - 13/11/09)
Fishermen seek meeting with counterparts in Sri Lanka
MADURAI: Fishermen of seven coastal districts have asked the State, Centre and Sri Lankan government to facilitate a meeting of fishermen from Tamil Nadu and the island nation to discuss and decide on their fishing rights in Palk Strait, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mannar. Coming together under the banner of Joint Action Council (JAC) against Violations of Fishermen’s Rights, the fishermen have organised a public hearing on their sufferings, which included imprisonment, seizure and damage of boats and nets and killing by the Sri Lankan Navy and the “inaction†of the State and Centre. The public hearing would... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 13/11/09)
South African Minister Ms Mashabane meets President Rajapaksa
Pix By: Sudath Silva Ms.Maite Nkoana Mashabane, Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at President’s House on 12th November.  She is on an official tour to Sri Lanka and visited the IDPs in Manik Farm welfare village recently. After her visit, she addressed the Sri Lankan media and said that there is no room on South African soil for a transnational government and South Africa will not tolerate any such move by the Tamil Tiger supporters in the Diaspora. She further said that South African delegation... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
Expansion of Global Currencies
By Mike Hewitt (0 comments)The expansion of global currencies has exceeded nine percent over the last year. This essay investigates which currencies are contributing the most to this development. One hundred currencies from 95 sovereign nations and five monetary unions have been examined. The following pie chart shows the relative value of global currencies (M0) when converted to USD for means of comparison.... -Full Story- (dollardaze.org - 13/11/09)
Commonwealth Remembrance Day Service in Nairobi
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Nairobi organized the Commonwealth Remembrance Day Service Programme on Sunday the 08th of November 2009 at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, at Ngong Road, Nairobi. Religious leaders of the Roman Catholic and Protestant sectors - Islam, Jewish, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism prayed for the souls of late war heros. Number of Heads of Missions, Chief of Armed Forces - Army, Navy, Air Force and Police participated at the Remembrance Day Ceremony programme and prayed for those who may be in distress... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
Re-launch the LAWNET website,- Tuesday the 17th of November 2009
On the invitation of the Minister of Justice and Law Reform , the Chief Justice Hon. Asoka De Silva will re-launch the LAWNET website, which is the main legal resources data-base containing laws, regulations, and judgements of superior courts. The event will be held on Tuesday the 17th of November 2009, at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo. The web-site is officially maintained by the ministry of justice. It was inactive for a long period of time, and the new minister of justice was quick to identify the services it... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
The first academic Convocation of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies - 17th of November 2009
The first academic Convocation of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies will be held on Tuesday the 17th of November 2009, at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo. The Chief Justice Hon. Asoka De Silva will be the Chief Guest of the ceremony and will award 25 Masters Degrees (LL.M.) in International Trade Law of the University of Wales, UK to Attorneys-at Law. These attorneys have read for their Masters Degrees from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in Hulftsdorp, which is recognized as a validated institution of the University... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
Rights of disabled and differently abled
The Supreme Court Ruling of October 14, 2009 as to the rights of the disabled has to be applauded albeit late. It’s appaling to see these regulations have been there for 13 long years and the obsolete bureaucracy has not done anything to implement it. When you visit the developed countries you will observe that the disabled are treated very respect and dignity. In Australia, there are special arrangements for wheel chair people to get on board the trains and busses. There are special slots in car parks for the wheel chair individuals. There are access... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
British PM says ‘tough but fair approach’ to immigration
The British Prime Minister delivered a speech on immigration in Ealing, West London on 12 November 2009 and said that he would favor a “tough but fair approach†to immigration. During the speech he announced new plans to tighten the points-based system of immigration. The PM said points-based immigration creates a system that serves the national interest by “recognising what we, as a country, need for a successful economy, but also what will strengthen our society and our communities. Under this system, first and foremost - we must continue our efforts to equip our... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
Balanced reporting on Sri Lanka
The Producer ABC Lateline Just a short note to express my thanks to Tony Jones for his decision to interview Palitha Kohona, Sri Lanka's top diplomat at the UN, on last night's Lateline program. Dr Kohona, as Tony mentioned in his introduction, has an impressive track record on foreign affairs and is the type of international civil servant who is, both well credentialled and articulate. He is one who is analytical and sticks to the facts, and will not be drawn into nonsensical exaggerations. I am sure all those who watched your program last night,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/11/09)
POLITICAL SUMMERSAULTS IN THE OFFING- “IF YOU GO TO BED WITH DOGS, YOU WAKE UP WITH FLEAS!â€ÂÂÂ
Now that General Sarath Fonseka’s (GSF) resignation has been promptly accepted by the President Mahinda Rajapakse, the stage is wide open for horse-trading and summersaults. There are strong indications and whispers that GSF will try to keep an arms length relationship with Ranil and his cohorts, by forming his own political party to contest the Presidential and General Elections. Such an action will marginalize the GSF as well as Ranil’s bandwagon. 24 hours is a long day in politics. There is plenty of time for the government to make a move and appoint... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/11/09)
PAKISTAN TO INVEST IN A CEMENT FACTORY IN SRI LANKA
Pakistan’s second largest cement maker D.G.Khan Cement Ltd. is planning to invest 10 billion Pakistan Rupees in starting a cement manufacturing plant in collaboration with the Sri Lanka government, the company said. The CEO of the company Mian Raza Mansha said in Lahore that a two million ton plant has been planned. The company has projected its sales to South Asia, where Sri Lanka is enjoying the benefits of a trade pact with India. The Sri Lanka plant will supply Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh. India has a tremendous appetite for Pakistan cement but the sales... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/11/09)
Gen.Fonseka tenders resignation - "Rise and Fall of a General" !
It had been reported that Gen. Sarath Fonseka, Chief Defence of Staff, had tendered his resignation today, 12 November.  General Fonseka is a great Sinhala patriot, a disciplined army officer, a great military leader who gave leadership to the army, a man of honour and loved by all Sri Lankans for crushing the terrorists which nobody else dared to. He made the arduous journey to Nandi Kadal where none ever dreamt of going to. He engineered the defeat of the terrorists who ran a de facto regime for 25 years in the North and East.  In this... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/11/09)
Scroungers pretending to be philanthropistsby
S. L. Gunasekara The serial loser Wickremasinghe, we are told, has recently announced a set of conditions to which General Sarath Fonseka must agree if he is to be nominated for the Presidency by his party. A few days earlier the serial loser’s side-kick Mano Ganeshan M.P. is said to have sent to General Fonseka a questionnaire to enable him (Ganeshan) to decide whether or not to support the candidature of General Sarath Fonseka for the Presidency of this land. The icing on the cake appeared in this morning’s Island (12/11/2009) which reported that Lakshman Kirialla MP, who said not... -Full Story- (The Island - 12/11/09)
President promptly accepts Fonseka’s resignation
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday accepted Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka’s resignation letter. Accordingly, Gen. Fonseka will cease to be CDS with effect from Dec. 01, 2009.After the meeting while Gen. Fonseka was walking towards the door, according to highly placed sources, a smiling President Rajapaksa said, "Sarath, you can always come back to me after your defeat in politics."... -Full Story- (The Island - 12/11/09)
Yesterday’s hero, jeered at today
... -Full Story- (youtube.com - 12/11/09)
Sri Lanka’s war hero quits top army job
Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Sarath Fonseka, who led the war against the LTTE as Army Chief, on Thursday afternoon sent his resignation letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa possibly to join politics. There was no immediate response from the President’s office. The timing of the resignation, a consequence of rift between the high profile General and Mr. Rajapaksa in the post-Prabakaran Sri Lanka, is significant as President Rajapaksa is scheduled to announce dates for the general election and a possible presidential election at the convention of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) on November 15 at 1.30... -Full Story- (beta.thehindu.com - 12/11/09)
Profile: Gen Sarath Fonseka
... -Full Story- (BBC - 12/11/09)
Sri Lankan General Resigns
The powerful army general who led Sri Lanka’s bloody but successful battle against the Tamil Tigers resigned abruptly Thursday, heightening speculation that he will run against his onetime ally, Mahinda Rajapaksa, for president in next year’s election. The general, Sarath Fonseka, was moved to a largely ceremonial post soon after the army defeated the insurgency in a grim battle that devastated the rebel group’s entire command.... -Full Story- (nytimes.com - 12/11/09)
Sri Lanka army chief "resigns", may run for president
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's army chief, who engineered the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam after 25 years of war, has resigned, sources said on Thursday, amid speculation he will run for president. General Sarath Fonseka is expected to challenge his Commander in Chief, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in an election possibly to be held in early 2010.... -Full Story- (manoramaonline.com - 12/11/09)
Any Mysterious Ambitions Of Sri Lanka’s Victorious Army Commander Cannot Override The Will Of The People Of Sri Lanka! It Would Be To His Sad Detriment!
A war against terrorism has been fought and won by the powers that be in Sri Lanka and lest the world forgets it was the overall Commander of the Armed Forces H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksha the President of Sri Lanka under the advisory of his elite defence forces where his brother and distinguished officer Gotabhaya Rajapaksha alongside the rest of the military top brass including Lieut Gen. Sarath Fonseka were part thereof which accomplished the ultimate victory! This was not a singlehanded victory by Sarath Fonseka but one which was acheived by a multi... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/11/09)
The General and the President – Beware and take care, the ‘Portuguese’ are once again at the gates!
The forces that lost out defending the Tiger Terrorists are creeping back to rob the hard won victory of the patriotic forces who are now in disarray just 6 months after their historic victory. Is it just unadulterated lust for power and wealth, jealousy, hatred and revenge?  It is  6 months since the end of the Tamil Terrorist adventure in Nanthi Kadaal in Mulaitivu – Mookalan Duwa. It is time that Sri Lanka took stock of what happened and understand the real background that led to the elimination of the terrorist leadership and its local infrastructure. There is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/11/09)
GENERAL FONSEKA SHALL NEVER BECOME THE LEADER OF THE GANG OF TRAITORS AND ENEMIES OF THE NATION EVER!
Nobody can stop General Sarath Fonseka entering politics by force. It is entirely up to him and in fact he should enter politics-but not right now! By all means, he shall be a better leader tomorrow but not today, since we already have a better leader ruling the country. General Fonseka shall not become a traitor to the Nation ever to which he was a saviour once! As of today, General Sarath Fonseka has earned an honourable and perpetual place in the Golden History of War Heroes of the World by crushing the terrorism stylishly in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/11/09)
Mysterious Ambitions Of Sri Lanka’s Victorious Army Commander
Will Sarath Fonseka's ambitions be in the direction towards personal gain rather than preserving the integrity of his motherland and the confidences afforded him by the nation’s leaders in power?. Will he be responding to the instigation by the western power and the power hungry opposition backed by better described as a pack of hyenas waiting for someone else’s kill to take control of. ?... -Full Story- (lankaweb.com - 12/11/09)
Sri Lankan boy's bravery saves 4 lives
COLOMBO, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Many still find it hard to believe, even after meeting him, that a 1.1-meter tall, 9-year-old Sri Lankan boy weighing only 26 kg could save four drowning people, including three adults. But that is what Dinesh Sandakelum Rajapakse did near his hometown in central Sri Lanka in January and it has brought him national fame and set his life on a new course.... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 12/11/09)
The Imminent Danger Of Tamil Tiger Terrorism Encroaching Canada!
Nov,9th 2009 It seems a frightening awareness towards Canada's posterity that criminal elements of the Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger residue are trying to get a foothold in Canada with the help of their already domiciled supportives who entered Canada on the sympathy card many years ago on the pretext that they were being subjected to attrocities by the Sri Lankan Government a likely tale which was swallowed hook line and sinker by the then Liberal Administrations of the Clark/ Mulroney eras!  Today it appears that these same criers for sympathy who have come a long... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/11/09)
Arjuna Ranatunga creates history by becoming the 1st Asian International Sportsman ever to address the Oxford Union
Traditional Photograph of the distinguished guests. Front row (left to right): Mr. Sheehan Chandrasinghe, H.E. Justice Nihal Jayasinghe, (High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the UK), Dilan Fernando (President, Sri Lanka Society), Mr Arjuna Ranatunga, James Dray (President – Oxford Union), H.E. Mr. Niall Wilkins (Special representative of the South African High Commissioner to the UK), Cllr. John Goddard (Deputy Lord Mayor of Oxford)Back Row (left to right): Ms. Nicole Chandrasinghe, Jeremy Chan, Dinuka Arjuna Ranatunga, 1996 World Cup winning Captain, created history... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/11/09)
VETERAN DRAMATIST ACTOR AND AUTHOR HENRY JAYASENA DIES
Henry Jayasena,(78) the veteran dramatist, film actor and author died at Colombo South General Hospital at Kalubowila after a brief illness, his friends announced. He was married to Manel, a talented actress, who performed the main role of his celebrated stage play Kuweni and predeceased him. According to his autobiography written in Sinhala Henry, knew his acting talents from his childhood ever since he was told by the late Dr. Gunapala Malalasekera that he would one day have a great career as an actor , after the famous educator saw little Henry performing in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/11/09)
MUSLIM MADRASAS – Implications For Sri Lanka
This my response letter to Mr. Daya Hewapathirane's article which was publish in sinhale.wordpress.com Your article touches on a very important issue that has attracted public attention, especially many other attacks and bloody incidents which put Islam at the focus of criticism and insults, of course from non-Muslims who never stop showing bias against this true religion. Whenever any atrocity is committed against Muslims in anywhere in the world, you never hear tell of the perpetrators’ religion, unlike if something like that happens to non-Muslims, fingers of accusations will start searching for any ill-fate Muslims... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/11/09)
Sri Lanka Gems Captivate the Chinese Consumer Market
The Sri Lanka Embassy in Beijing together with the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and Gem and Jewellery Association organized a colorful Sri Lanka Pavilion at the International Gem and Jewellry Fair 2009 from November 5th to 9th  at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing.  With the participation of eighteen (18) companies, Sri Lanka is made its biggest presence  ever in this Beijing Jewellry Fair, showcasing an eye-catching array of gems and jewellery from the land dubbed as Rathnadeepa in a fittingly appealing 'Sri Lanka Pavilion'.  Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/11/09)
CANADIANS AND SRI LANKANS SHOULD WORK TOGETHER.-WE ARE THE FAMILY MEMBER NATIONS OF THE UN AND THE COMMONWEALTH.
The announcement made by the Canadian High Commission of the opening of a new Visa Application Centre at 32C, Sir Macan Markar Mawatha, Colombo 03 is great news to all the potential immigrants, visitor and others who will be needing the services to enable them to travel to Canada. The services to be provided by this centre will definitely strengthen the friendlier relations between the two countries and create an atmosphere of mutual satisfaction and understanding of a longstanding bilateral relationship both Canada and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/11/09)
PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA DECLARES OPEN A NEW IT TRAINING FACILITY FOR TEACHERS
 Photos by Chandana Perera President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the new teacher trainee recruits to the Ruwanpura Technical College who would be trained to teach IT in schools said a country won by sacrificing many lives should not be allowed to be succumbed by conspiracies. “A country so saved should not be allowed to be destroyed by conspiracies,†he said. This was an obvious reference to the opposition organized strike. At the ceremony the President also announced that the trainee allowance would be doubled to Rupees 5000. He said the increased amount will be paid to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/11/09)
Relocate the Bambalapitiya Children’s Court and existing rehabilitation centre in Ambepussa
The Committee appointed by the Minister of Justice and Law Reform Milinda Moragoda, to consider reform to the juvenile justice laws presented its report to the Minister yesterday (10.11.2009). The Committee was chaired by Hon. Justice Shiranee Tilakawardene, Judge of the Supreme Court. Photo Show Justice L. K. Wimalachandra, former appeal court Judge handed over the copy of final report of reform to the juvenile justice laws to Minister Milinda Moragoda. Shiranee Tilakawardene, Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice N. K. Udalagama, Judge of High Court, Judge Wasantha Kumara,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/11/09)
General Sarath Fonseka likely to resign
General Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka’s chief of defence staff (CDS) and an architect of the military victory against the LTTE, is likely to resign by the end of this month. The resignation could clear the way for Fonseka to contest in the upcoming Presidential election against incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa. A coalition of opposition parties led by the United National Party (UNP) along with radical Marxists JVP are ready to field Fonseka against Rajapaksa, leader of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA). Fonseka, as the army chief during the last phase of the war against the Tamil Tigers and Rajapaksa... -Full Story- (Hindustan Times - 11/11/09)
Boatpeople from Sri Lanka Set Compass for Canada
George Abraham 12 November 2009 Choosing between Australia and Canada must have seemed a no-brainer for the hundreds who set sail from squalid camps in the north of Sri Lanka a few weeks ago. Australia presented a shorter voyage, but events over the last week have shown that those who set their compass on Canada made a far better call. Recently, one of the 76 Tamils who landed in British Columbia on Canada’s western shore actually walked away with his brother, a naturalised Canadian, barely four days after setting foot on Canadian soil. The rest are still at a detention... -Full Story- (Khaleej Times - 11/11/09)
HSBC plans landmark Jaffna branch opening
By Joe Leahy in Colombo Published: November 11 2009 19:09 | Last updated: November 11 2009 19:09 HSBC will become the first foreign bank to open a branch in Jaffna, the war-torn northern peninsula of Sri Lanka that only six months ago was synonymous with the long-running conflict with the separatist Tamil Tigers. The plan by the UK-based banking group to open the branch by January is the strongest vote of confidence yet in the economy’s emergence from decades of civil war.... -Full Story- (ft.com - 11/11/09)
Sri Lanka dares to believe in prosperity
The colonial archways in Colombo’s Fort business district are pasted with bills advertising a local film, The Road From Elephant Pass. The hero, a stone-faced army officer in sunglasses, stares out in front of the heroine, a Tamil Tiger fighter with whom he falls in love.... -Full Story- (ft.com - 11/11/09)
Tamils offered deal to leave boat
Australia has offered to resettle Sri Lankan refugees aboard the Oceanic Viking within six weeks in a bid to persuade them to go ashore to Indonesia. Asylum seekers already registered with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) would be given protection within three months, if found to be refugees, and it is likely most will be resettled in Australia. While the Federal Government says some of the Sri Lankans are highly traumatised and it is not humane to keep them on the Oceanic Viking indefinitely, it says that is why they should disembark.... -Full Story- (abc.net.au - 11/11/09)
Sri Lankan solution will not deter people smugglers
The extremely generous deal being offered to the Sri Lankans on board the Oceanic Viking highlights just what a farcical political pantomime the 3½-week saga has become. Bluntly put, this is a far better outcome for the 78 asylum-seekers than if they had got their first wish, to be taken to Christmas Island for processing by Australia and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Many will be resettled in as little as four weeks, while the longest they will have to wait is 12 weeks.... -Full Story- (theage.com.au - 11/11/09)
Boat people 'are emotional blackmailers'
Sri Lanka's ambassador to the United Nations has condemned 78 asylum seekers aboard an Australian Customs ship as emotional blackmailers. The ethnic Tamils are still refusing to leave the Oceanic Viking, which has been anchored off the Indonesian island of Bintan for two-and-a-half weeks. They were rescued in international waters inside Indonesia's search and rescue zone en route to the Australian outpost Christmas Island last month.... -Full Story- (news.smh.com.au - 11/11/09)
Sri Lankan envoy says asylum seekers should be returned
Last Updated: 12 hours 26 minutes ago Sri Lanka's envoy to the United Nations says 78 asylum seekers on board an Australian customs boat now in Indonesian waters are not genuine refugees. Palitha Kohana says if the group were genuinely fleeing persecution they would have gone to India because it is closer. The group has been on board the customs ship the Oceanic Viking for over three weeks, and are still refusing to disembark in Indonesia. Dr Kohana says they are economic migrants, "seeking greener pastures elsewhere," and should be returned to Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Australia's Trade minister Simon Crean... -Full Story- (radioaustralianews.net.au - 11/11/09)
In talks with Fonseka, says opposition
B. Muralidhar Reddy COLOMBO: Mano Ganeshan, leader of Sri Lanka’s Western People’s Front (WPF) and Colombo district parliamentarian, disclosed on Wednesday that his party along with several other opposition parties were engaged in discussions with Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka on fielding him as a candidate against President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the event of an election. In a lengthy response to criticism on how a party which claims to represent aspirations and concerns of Tamils could even consider the General who spearheaded the Eelam War IV, Mr. Ganeshan said his party had sent a set of questions to General... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 11/11/09)
Myanmar general to visit Sri Lanka
The shadowy and reclusive ruler of the military junta in Myanmar general Than Shwe is beginning a three-day visit to Sri Lanka from Thursday. Than Shwe is likely to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Kandy in central Sri Lanka where he would be flown after landing at the international airport in Colombo on Thursday noon. According to a foreign ministry spokesperson, a head of state from Myanmar is visiting Sri Lanka after 46 years. Prime Minister Unu was the last to visit in 1963. The foreign ministry added that Rajapaksa had extended an invitation to Than Shwe during his recent... -Full Story- (Hindustan Times - 11/11/09)
Notorious Toronto gangster re-emerges as Sri Lankan asylum seeker
TORONTO -- When a migrant smuggling ship bound for Australia was seized in Indonesian waters last month, a 27-year-old with a thick beard stepped forward to speak for the boat people. He said he was Alex and that the more than 200 asylum seekers aboard the wooden cargo ship were ethnic Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka, but it was the way he said it that stood out: He spoke in a distinctly Canadian accent. In Toronto, police watched the news footage coming out of Indonesia on YouTube and instantly recognized "Alex." He was Sanjeev Kuhendrarajah. And he wasn't a businessman with... -Full Story- (National Post - 11/11/09)
Politics and the war in Sri Lanka-To which victor the spoils? The mysterious ambitions of Sri Lanka’s victorious army commander
NOT even six months has elapsed since the protracted war with Tamil Tiger rebels ended in a bloody climax, leading to the Sri Lankan government’s triumph. But already the leaders of the military campaign are sparring ahead of an election due next year. For weeks the press has been speculating about friction between the administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sarath Fonseka, the hawkish army general who commanded troops in the final assault against the Tigers.... -Full Story- (economist.com - 10/11/09)
REDEEM POLITICAL CREDIBILITY WITH HONEST AND CREDIBLE MANIFESTOS
No sensible and discerning Sri Lankan voter will dispute the contention that this country has been governed for quite sometime without any sense of direction, patriotism, and dedication to the needs and aspirations of the general populace. The country’s economy has had a perilous passage with the strength of its development, natural resource, and human-resources bases being persistently eroded.  Fire sales of the nation’s assets built over a period of decades with the sacrifices, sweat, and toil of the people, to politically influential local and foreign oligarchs, on the dictates of International Institutions... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/11/09)
Tamil politicians promise to help developments in North & East
Tamil politicians promised to help and contribute to nation building programmes conducted by the government, when they met President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 9th November at Temple Trees.  Addressing the gathering, President said after eliminating Tamil Tiger terrorism from entire country, it is the duty of all to shed caste, racial, regional and all other differences and contribute to nation building.  Uppuveli Pradeshiya Sabha Vice Chairman V. Suresh Kumar (TNA), Trincomalee Mayor S. Gowrie Muhundan, TELO Trincomalee district leader Kadiraveli Pillai, present Jaffna leader Arumugan Sri Ranjan and Muthur Pradeshiya Sabha UNP-SLMC group chairman K.M. Thawfik... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/11/09)
RCMP thwart terrorist incidents
November 10, 2009 The Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Sir: You said, “RCMP thwart 14 suspected terrorist incidents: Several cases involve Tamil Tigers and their supportersâ€ÂÂÂ. It is important to note that the April-May demonstrations on Parliament Hill by over 5,000 Tamils carrying the Tamil Tiger flags and the portrait of their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran were all Tamil Tiger supporters, who harassed the down-town rush hour commuters, day in and day out wanting the support of the Canadian government to save the Tamil Tigers who were on the verge... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/11/09)
No separate state, engage the government – Des Browne tells Tamil diaspora
Des Browne with the British High Commissioner (r) and some representatives of the Tamil diaspora at Westminster House, Canberra.  Des Browne, the British Envoy to Sri Lanka, told the Tamil diaspora in Australia that, after the comprehensive military victory, the only option available is to engage the government in working out a solution for the Tamils.  In the open dialogue with the Tamil representatives he dismissed outright any possibility of the international community supporting a separate state. He told the Tamil diaspora that big powers like Russia and China will be sympathetic to Sri Lanka as... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/11/09)
Rehabilitation of LTTE child soldiers accelerated
Source: Government of Sri Lanka Date: 10 Nov 2009 In the government's effort to rehabilitate LTTE child soldiers now in state protective custody, authorities have decided to expand facilities to speed up the rehabilitation process. Seven more Centres will come up for the rehabilitation of LTTE child soldiers who surrendered to the Security Forces. 11,000 such child soldiers are under the protection of the troops. They are being provided with education in addition to imparting vocational training. Fourteen Rehabilitation Centres are in operation. It will increase to 21 with the establishment of the seven new Centres.... -Full Story- (Relief Web - 10/11/09)
SRI LANKA: IMF’s 2.6-B Dollar Loan Deal in Peril if Opposition Wins
By Feizal Samath COLOMBO, Nov 10 (IPS) - With parliamentary and presidential elections just a few months away, conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in an ongoing 2.6-billion U.S. dollar loan facility could be swept aside if Sri Lanka’s opposition captured power. "We will not allow the IMF to set conditions," said Kabir Hashim, a former education minister and frontline Parliamentarian from the main opposition United National Party (UNP). Elections are due before April 2010 and an announcement of the presidential poll, likely to be held in January, is expected to be announced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa next... -Full Story- (ipsnews.net - 10/11/09)
Letter from IMF Managing Director to Human Rights Watch
Mr. Brad Adams Executive Director, Asia Division Human Rights Watch 250, Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10118-3299 Dear Mr. Adams: Thank you for your letter dated October 14, 2009 in which you outlined your concerns about the situation in Sri Lanka and the support that the IMF is providing to the economy of this country. The IMF shares your concerns about the humanitarian situation and before addressing a number of detailed issues, I would first like to provide a broader consideration about the general context. The Sri Lankan economy is facing a serious crisis and regardless of one's... -Full Story- (Relief Web - 10/11/09)
Lanka bans four Indian drug companies
P K BalachandranFirst Published : 10 Nov 2009 01:50:00 AM ISTLast Updated : COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Health Ministry has banned four Indian pharmaceutical companies for two years for supplying sub-standard and adulterated drugs, some with plastic and glass pieces in them. Wanninayake, Media Secretary to the Minister of Health told Express on Monday, that the companies blacklisted were Belco Pharma (manufactuer of Pethidine), U-Medical Laboratories (makers of Hydrocortizone Sodium Succinate), Kilitch Drugs India Ltd (makers of Cerfuroxine) and Mercury Laboratories (makers of Promethacin).... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 10/11/09)
New Zealand rules out taking Sri Lankan asylum seekers
Wellington - New Zealand ruled out Tuesday taking any of the 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers on board the Australian Customs ship Oceanic Viking off Indonesia. Confirming that Australia had raised the question with the government, Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman said, 'We're wary of rewarding actions that seek to jump the queue for entry to New Zealand.'... -Full Story- (monstersandcritics.com - 10/11/09)
Monsieur Francois Zimeray and Sri Lanka
November 9, 2009 Monsieur Francois Zimeray Human Rights Ambassador Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs France Dear Monsieur Zimeray: Mon Dieu Monsieur, Etes-vous stupid, ou non? Just read the Asia Pacific news item which said, “Ambassador for Human Rights, Francois Zimeray, said he hoped Colombo will signal the ending of its war with Tamil rebels in May by withdrawing emergency laws which allowed the detention of suspects for long periods without trial. “Ending of the emergency (in force since 1983) should have been the first... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/11/09)
Ranil puts forth conditions for endorsing Fonseka’s candidature--Appoint govt. with Ranil as PM, --revoke Emergency--Give TNA, JVP Cabinet posts, -- end Exec. presidency TNA should accept Fonseka’s stand on Tamil issues
Close on the heels of the newly formed UNP-led United National Alliance’s approval for Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Sarath Fonseka’s nomination as its candidate at the next presidential election, UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday put forth conditions for endorsing his (Gen. Fonseka’s) candidature. Wickremesinghe said Gen. Fonseka had to agree to appoint a caretaker government with him (Wickremesinghe) as the Prime Minister in the event of his election. The UNP leader expressed these views in an interview with the Editor of The Sudar Oli, Nadesapillai Vidyadaran, published yesterday. Wickremesinghe said the United National Front, the JVP and... -Full Story- (The Island - 09/11/09)
Fonseka’s Conditions to Join ANU(S)
ANU(S) stands for (S)UNA - United National Alliance - spelt backwards with a “S†to complete! Backward is the direction UNA is moving after it made a U-turn. It retracted the following statements referring to the great General, the greatest hero of our time. “Any ass can fight a war†“Army Commander Sarath Fonseka is not suitable at least to command the Salvation Army†“What's all this fuss about the Thoppigala jungle? It's nothing to crow about† Rumor has it General Sarath Fonseka is going to join the UNA as its presidential election... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/11/09)
UNP strategy to sponsor Gen. Fonseka " but wants to sell all the arms and armaments" !
The current talk in town is that the UNP and its aligned 'lame duck' political parties strategy is to sponsor General Sarath Fonseka as the Presidential candidate. But ironically wants to sell all the arms and armaments which the General treasures! During last weeks Emergency debate, the UNP had demanded that the government sell off the armaments including artillery pieces, guns, multibarrel rocket launches, fighting crafts like the MIG's and other military hardware. But the governement had quite rightly rejected the request as they are equipment used by war heroes. Some of them were captured from the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/11/09)
The Next LTTE Hub! Multiple Choice, Win-Win Solution
The Lucky Devils! LTTE Tamil Tiger Terrorists have multiple choices to set-up their Hub of Terrorism, Round Five. With several hundreds of millions of US Dollars in their kitty bags, the Rudrakumarans of the world of LTTE are now contemplating where the remnants of LTTE Amoeba or Kalanduru aka Cyprus Rotundus, should regenerate. With high knob sympathizer like the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of USA taking a kind matronly position, others such as Canada and Australia are two other options to start breeding the epidemic, well supported by the generous Diaspora. As usual Norway is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/11/09)
Visiting Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith
Milinda Moragoda Minister of Justice and Law Reform of Sri Lanka met with visiting Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith arrived in Sri Lanka (09.11.2009) to discuss bilateral and regional cooperation. During this meeting the two ministers discussed the possibility of establishing a framework for cooperation between the two countries which would include capacity-building and training for judges, prosecutors, prison officials, etc. In addition, the Minister briefed Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs on the challenges Sri Lanka faces in the post-conflict environment and discussed possible support from Australia... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/11/09)
Heart Disease in the Asian Indian as a separate medical condition to that which has been described traditionally
As you may be well aware Heart disease is on the increase rather relentlessly in Sri Lanka just as it is in the entire Southern Asian region. The preventative and therapeutic applications that have proven to be effective amongst the White Caucasians seem not to work as well in the Sri Lankans living in all corners of world. Our people seem to suffer from a more aggressive form of the disease and succumb... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/11/09)
Bonnie and Clyde of UN
On August 20th 2009, Mona Juul, The Norway's deputy ambassador to UN, fired the first salvo to dismantle Ban Ki-moon’s reputation. Juul described Ban -- the South Korean foreign minister elected secretary-general in 2007 – as a "spineless," "charmless," and helplessly, "incapable" of setting an agenda.’ Going by Mona’s diatribe, one is bound to assume that, she owns all such leadership attributes, which Ban evidently lacked. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/08/21/the_mona_juul_memo We were oriented of such handicaps, through a ‘supposedly’ leak of a confidential memo, Juul has ‘authored’ to her bosses in the foreign office. The... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/11/09)
Why The Media Hype About "Gen. Sarath Fonseka"
Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya has once again emphasized that it was the political leadership which helped the army to achieve military victories in the recent past.So, Will Lieut Gen Sarath Fonseka attempt to override the protocols which govern his status as a former commander of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces towards personal gain rather than preserving the integrity of his motherland and the confidences afforded him by the nation’s leaders in power ?rather than responding to the instigation of the power hungry opposition better described as a pack of hyenas waiting for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/11/09)
Sri Lanka’s Giant Magma Plug Fortress
If Sri Lanka wishes to improve its image – and its tourist trade – following its recent turbulent times, it could do worse than promote a national treasure such as the Sigirya. Towering above the surrounding plains of the Matale district in the heart of the country, this fortress and Buddhist monastery was carved from the hardened magma of what was once a volcano. Today, it stands as a reminder of the various ancient cultures that helped shape Sri Lanka down through the centuries.... -Full Story- (environmentalgraffiti.com - 09/11/09)
Sri Lanka to Boost Investment in Tamil Provinces Devastated by Civil War
By Steve Herman New Delhi 09 November 2009Sri Lanka plans to pour development money into Tamil-dominated provinces that suffered economically during years of civil war. A Sri Lankan cabinet minister spoke at the World Economic Forum's India summit. Sri Lankan government officials are predicting the island nation's $41 billion economy will expand between seven and eight percent next year. Larger prospects for growth are being proclaimed by government officials after this year's defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels, which brought an end to a quarter century of civil war.... -Full Story- (voanews.com - 09/11/09)
Sri Lanka: Landmines, unexploded ordnance a barrier to return
Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) Date: 09 Nov 2009 COLOMBO, 9 November 2009 (IRIN) - Landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) are a key obstacle to the return of thousands of conflict-displaced to their homes in northern Sri Lanka, say government and UN officials. The government estimates over 1.5 million landmines and UXO contaminate more than 400sqkm in the north. "Humanitarian demining and the removal of UXO are prerequisites for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, early recovery and development in conflict-affected areas," Andrej Mahecic, a spokesman for the UN Refugee... -Full Story- (Relief Web - 09/11/09)
Gold's rise may be the beginning of the end of dominant dollar
Further evidence emerged last week of how jittery investors have become over the long-term weakness of the United States dollar as India and Sri Lanka filled their reserves with gold. India announced that it had bought 200 tonnes of gold from the International Monetary Fund while Sri Lanka also joined the growing list of countries filling their treasuries with metal rather than greenbacks. Among those losing their appetite for the dollar are China, which has been quietly lifting its gold holdings from 600 tonnes to 1,054 tonnes, and Russia, which has bought 95.8 tonnes in the past year and now... -Full Story- (business24-7.ae - 09/11/09)
Sri Lanka tells Australia it will take back “boat peopleâ€ÂÂÂ
B. Muralidhar ReddyCOLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Monday expressed willingness to take back the victims of migrant smuggling from the island nation to Australia once the formalities about their citizenship and place of origin were completed. The assurance was conveyed by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the visiting Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith. Mr. Smith is on a special mission here to seek Colombo’s help in tackling human trafficking. Mr. Rajapaksa offered to cooperate with Australia in bringing to justice those involved in human trafficking. The “continuing saga of boat people tragedy†has become a major headache for the ruling... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 09/11/09)
Stir against Nirupama Rajapaksa visit
Special Correspondent RAMANATHAPURAM: Sri Lankan Member of Parliament Nirupama Rajapaksa, cousin of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was shown black flags by the cadres of Marumalarichi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and activists of Sri Lankan Tamil Protection Movement on Monday at Rameswaram. She was on a private visit to Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple along with her husband Thirukkumaran Nadesan. She was shown black flags at three different places. A few activists, who suddenly emerged at the South Gate, shouted slogans against the Sri Lankan President by showing black flags at Nirupama, where she performed puja with her husband.... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 09/11/09)
India Eco Summit: Sri Lanka woos foreign investors
The country is also looking to invest in India’s banking, financial services and tourism sectors. Also Read Related Stories News Now - India Eco Summit: Women earn far less than men - India Eco Summit: 'Industry must help in skill building' - India Eco Summit: 'India will not have to compete for FDI' - India Eco Summit: 'National panel to tackle pandemics needed' - India Eco Summit: More private investment in farming needed - India Eco Summit: 25th summit marks the emergence of brand India Also Read Related Stories News Now - Markets extend rally on reforms talk - Posiflex... -Full Story- (business-standard.com - 09/11/09)
General Fonseka and the Election
Last week, in the first three paragraphs of this column, I made the point that despite rumours of General Sarath Fonseka’s impending entry into politics, there was a legal impediment to him doing so, because serving military officers are not allowed to resign as and when they want. What I said last week was that According to article 3(3) of the Chief of Defence Staff Act No 35 of 2009, the CDS may at any time resign from his position by letter addressed to the president. However, according to article 3(4) of the CDS act, the resignation will not take... -Full Story- (The Island - 09/11/09)
Sri Lanka cenbank allows rupee appreciation
COLOMBO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's rupee hit a six-month high on Monday as the central bank allowed a small appreciation due to the depreciation of the dollar against other major currencies. The rupee firmed as much as 114.65/70 to the dollar during the early trading of Monday, as a state bank, through which the central bank directs the market, lowered its dollar buying rate, currency dealers said. Three dealers Reuters spoke to said the state bank had started to buy dollars at 114.65 rupees, less then its previous buying rate of 114.80 rupees, a level it maintained since... -Full Story- (iii.co.uk - 09/11/09)
Sri Lanka to Maintain Fiscal, Monetary Stimulus to Spur Growth Share Business
ExchangeTwitterFacebook| Email | Print | A A A By Bibhudatta Pradhan and Anusha Ondaatjie Nov. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Sri Lanka’s government will maintain fiscal and monetary stimulus through to 2010 to stoke an economic recovery after the end of a 26-year civil war, the island’s deputy finance minister said. “The economy is growing and there is no hurry to roll back stimulus,†Sarath Amunugama said in an interview on the sidelines of the India Economic Summit in New Delhi today. “After the war, the space is open for faster growth.†India will “wind†down fiscal stimulus from 2010 as growth... -Full Story- (Bloomberg - 09/11/09)
IMF warns Sri Lanka against borrowing
COLOMBO (AFP) – The IMF on Monday warned Sri Lanka against issuing government bonds to build up foreign currency reserves after it released the second instalment of a 2.6-billion-dollar bailout. The International Monetary Fund said Colombo's reserves were at a "comfortable position" having slumped to a historic low of one billion dollars earlier this year, but cautioned against more borrowing. "There is a difference between borrowed reserves and reserves collected from the current account (of the balance of payments), like booming exports," IMF resident representative in Sri Lanka, Koshi Mathai, told reporters.... -Full Story- (Yahoo - 09/11/09)
National Post confirms Ocean Lady was a LTTE ship
Reference to the article heading with “Tamil’s ship alleged to have trace of Explosive†appeared on 3rd November 2009 in National Post has confirmed that ship is belong to LTTE which was used for carrying illegal arm supply to LTTE when they were fighting against to Sri Lankan Government forces. Mr.Lee Rankin – a highly paid lawyer who representing some of these illegal immigrants was doing his job very well by denying all this fact as allegation. However the facts can’t hide as it was proofed by Border Services Agency with concrete evidence. Mr. Lee has... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/11/09)
TAMIL SPOKESMAN ADMITS HE WAS A FORMER CANADIAN GANGLAND MEMBER BUT DENIES HE IS SMUGGLING HUMANS
The man who was issuing statements for more than 250 Tamil asylum seekers for Australia calling himself Alex has admitted that he was a convicted Canadian gangland criminal as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sri Lanka has alleged , the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. But he had denied being a human smuggler as accused by the Sri Lanka government Alex, as he has called himself until now, is actually Sanjeev Kuhendrarajah. “Mr Kuhendrarajah say he ran out of options after being deported back to Sri Lanka from Canada. "It is true. I did reserve a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/11/09)
HOW SUCCESSFUL IS THE RESETTLEMENT IN THE NOTHERN PROVINCE?
Being a retired Army Officer I must confess at the inception that I have little or no information regarding the strategy of the present government in its implementation of the Uturu Vasanthaya. However the accelerated pace at which the two hundred and eighty thousand internally displaced Tamil people are being resettled though commendable leaves many questions unanswered. When I visited the Manik Farm on two occasions I was very surprised to meet several people of Indian Tamil origin from the older generation who spoke good Sinhalese. When questioned with regard to their ability... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/11/09)
Australia National's Leader Senator Joyce, "...Send 'Oceanic Viking' asylum seekers to Sri Lanka for processing"
During the last few weeks the hot topic in Australia was about bogus Tamil asylum seekers. The boat carrying 255 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers which was turned around en route to Australia has now gone ashore in Indonesia. It has now come to light that the leader of the group, Kulaendrarajah Sanjeev alias Alex had been previously involved in human smuggling and deported from Canada. It is said that the Canadian Police is after his brother who is in the same trade, 'human smuggling'.  The 78 people on board the 'Ocean Viking' is refusing to get... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/11/09)
Tamil Terrorists are working hard to make Canada as their Political hub
Reference to the article heading with “Tamil’s ship alleged to have trace of Explosive†appeared on 3rd November 2009 in National Post has confirmed that ship is belong to LTTE which was used for carrying illegal arm supply to LTTE when they were fighting against to Sri Lankan Government forces. Mr.Lee Rankin – a highly paid lawyer who representing some of these illegal immigrants was doing his job very well by denying all this fact as allegation. However the facts can’t hide as it was proofed by Border Services Agency with concrete evidence. Mr.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/11/09)
SHAMELESS TRAITORS
My city My Country that is the country I was born and I like to live my whole life though I am working abroad at the moment and that country is none other than my beloved homeland SRI LANKA. We breathe fresh air freely now after thirty years of bloody war with the most ruthless murderers in this planet. They are all now having nightmares in hell for masssacre thousands of innocent civillians in cold blood for three decades. Our thanks from the bottom of our hearts to our beloved leader and the current President of mother... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/11/09)
Launching the ABC of Buddhism in Sign Language (Reaching out to the Hearing Impaired community)
The Dharma for the Deaf Society is pleased to launch the first ever Dhamma VCD for the hearing impaired community with the support of the Buddhist Maha Vihara Brickfields.  Launched by Ven K Sri Dhammaratana Nayaka Maha Thera during the Society’s 10th Anniversary Dinner, the VCD contains a brief introduction of the ABC alphabets, common Buddhist terms, question and answers on Buddhism, the Vihara and a simple Buddhist Chanting – ALL in SIGN LANGUAGE supported with a voice over.  The Society conducts classes on Buddhism and moral education every fortnight at the Vihara in sign language,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/11/09)
A MASTER WHO LOVED QURAN……………… And loved by Buddhists
His devotion to Islam and being a great follower was not a barrier to bring enormous amount of satisfaction especially to Buddhists minds with his golden voice for decades. Master Alhaj Mohideen Baig was a rare singer who reigned over the local musical arena for decades by singing out of his mother tongue was extraordinary. His native place called Salem in Tamil Nadu a picturesque land but he selected Sri Lanka as his home in 1932 became a distinguished Sri Lankan citizen after 24 years during S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s regime. It was a known secret that he wrote... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/11/09)
LTTE gone but suicide bombers remain: official
The Tamil Tigers are finished as a military outfit but a small group of their feared suicide bombers still remain in Colombo, a top Sri Lankan official visiting India said. Rajiva Wijesinha also said that the number of Tamil refugees who were taken into camps following the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May would fall from the original nearly 300,000 to 50,000 by January-end. Wijesinha, secretary in the ministry of disaster management and human rights, spoke to IANS and at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies here about the current situation in Sri Lanka. “Suicide bombers are still... -Full Story- (Gulf Times - 08/11/09)
Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister is to hold talks during a visit to Sri Lanka on Monday as a standoff involving a group of asylum seekers on board an Australian Customs ship enters its fourth week.
The 78 Sri Lankans are refusing to get off the Oceanic Viking because they do not want to be taken to Indonesia. The minister, Stephen Smith, has ruled out sending the group back to Sri Lanka and will use a day-long visit to Sri Lanka to talk about how to stop people smugglers, the ABC reports. He said returning the group in advance of a proper assessment of their claims would be in breach of Australia's international obligations and of the refugee convention.... -Full Story- (radionz.co.nz - 08/11/09)
Taliban Still Working for the CIA?
by Henry Makow Ph.D. As President Obama ponders whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, there is mounting evidence the Taliban is supported by the CIA. If correct, the Afghan war is a charade with a hidden agenda. First, we have many reports that unmarked helicopters are ferrying the Taliban to targets, and relieving them when cornered. "Just when the police and army managed to surround the Taliban in a village of Qala-e-Zaal district, we saw helicopters land with support teams," an Afghan soldier said. "They managed to rescue their friends from our encirclement, and even to inflict defeat on... -Full Story- (henrymakow.com - 08/11/09)
Who Controls Obama, Congress And The UN?
Today was indeed a very sad day for democracy and a truly disgraceful day for the credibility of Congress. When will the world stand up to this most undemocratic country, the United States of America and its partner in crime Israel? Maybe these photographs are in the wrong sequence? Should it be The Knessett above Congress and the UN? The voting results clearly show a very bias support for Israel and one would not have to burn up any brain cells to guess who was responsible for this. The ratio of voting was 344 against the Goldstone Report and only... -Full Story- (pakalert.wordpress.com - 08/11/09)
The Journey of a Journalist (Part 11A) -TEACHING ENGLISH COMPOSITION IN TIANJIN
On the last Friday afternoon of April 1994, David Klos and I walked to the shopping street on Nankai University campus, just behind the wall that separates Nankai from Tianjin University. There, while a street barber gave me a haircut for ¥ 2.50 (or 29 U.S. cents), Klos settled on a stool at a nearby watering hole to inebriate himself with beer. Inebriation facilitated him to indulge in the local custom of spitting on the floor and trampling on the spit. Thereafter, we stopped by at a Western music audiotape shop, and hobnobbed with a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/11/09)
The Journey of a Journalist (Part 11B) - DOUBLE-DIPPING IN TIANJIN
My sojourn in China was part of my first sabbatical, which meant paid leave. In the 1990s, Moorhead State had an exchange program with Tianjin University in China that encouraged faculty on sabbatical to participate in this program. Tianjin agreed to pay me a supplementary salary of ¥ 1,500 per month and accommodate me in a unit at the university’s International Guest House in exchange for teaching English composition. That local salary was much higher than the salary paid to Chinese faculty although the tanhĠ(desire) of some exchange scholars, who complained about their salaries,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/11/09)
Letter to Editor. Cargo ship passenger wanted in Sri Lanka
The article appeared in National Post on 22nd October 2009; heading with “Passenger wanted in Sri Lanka†is an early warning to Canadian Authorities to close the door to “International Terrorist†use the Canada as safe haven for their terror activities. The ship involved of carrying this 76 so called “Refuges†to Canada is belong to International Terror group LTTE without any doubt. The mystery of the Origin, Registration, and mailing address of this ship show it is in a bad business. In 1983, Sri Lankan riot has allowed hundreds of Tamils to take asylum... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/11/09)
Double standard Policy of Canada Tamil Congress
Tamils living in Canada was mislead and misguided by CTC by saying that Sinhalese are not a trustworthy and ruthless behavior community who are not treating Tamils in home land Sri Lanka equally and not respecting their rights. CTC blames blindly that Sri Lankan Government as a Sinhalese Government for genocide Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka and Promote LTTE psycho theory which is justifying killing any one who oppose their policy. This racial mentality they have planted in younger Tamil generation whose parents were taken Canada as their asylum country. This young generation Tamil... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/11/09)
WOUNDED TIGERS ANGERS AUSSIES- NEXT TAMIL HOMELAND – IS IT AUSTRALIA OR CANADA?
For many years, Indian Tamils came illegally by boat or swam through Chavakachcheri to Sri Lanka( then Ceylon). During the recently concluded War against Tamil Terrorists, there are no reports of many Tamils leaving Sri Lanka to India or other countries, because they all thought Prabhakharan will be their Prime Minister of Eelam and Norway government had all emergency plans to recognize Eelam. Vast majority of Tamils, I would say 99% of them, prayed and expected Prabha to find a homeland for them. But President Mahinda Rajapakse, Gothabhaya, Sarath spoiled their plans. Now... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/11/09)
TAMILNET – WHAT IS IT?
I live in the USA and read the Lankaweb, Lankapage, Expressbuzz, Sunday Times, Sunday Leader, Daily Mirror, Island, Daily News, Sunday Observer and whole lot of other E-newspapers includng Oh Yes! the Tamilnet, almost religiously, to learn about what is happening back home.. It is very interesting to read these newspapers and to disseminate how oftentimes the same news is reported in various newspapers. We expatriates are greedy for news about our little Sri Lanka, and we in the West over a period of time have learnt to respect press freedom, fair reporting, accurate reporting and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/11/09)
REDEEM POLITICAL CREDIBILITY WITH HONEST AND CREDIBLE MANIFESTOS
No sensible and discerning Sri Lankan voter will dispute the contention that this country has been governed for quite sometime without any sense of direction, patriotism, and dedication to the needs and aspirations of the general populace. The country’s economy has had a perilous passage with the strength of its development, natural resource, and human-resources bases being persistently eroded.  Fire sales of the nation’s assets built over a period of decades with the sacrifices, sweat, and toil of the people, to politically influential local and foreign oligarchs, on the dictates of International Institutions... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/11/09)
IMF releases $329.4 million loan to Sri Lanka
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said on Friday its executive board completed a review of Sri Lanka's economic performance and released $329.4 million from a stand-by loan agreement. The IMF board also approved Sri Lanka's request for a waiver on certain performance criteria. "Sri Lanka's performance under the stand-by arrangement is encouraging," said Takatoshi Kato, IMF deputy managing director.... -Full Story- (in.reuters.com - 07/11/09)
Dilemma of the Boat People and Mighty Australian Prime Minister Mr.Rudd!
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Honorable Mr. Stephen Smith Federal Government of Australia Canberra  Dear Mr. Smith,  Dilemma of the Boat People and Mighty Australian Prime Minister Mr.Rudd! Non of these people left Sri Lankan shores to set sail to Australia, it is now abundantly clear that they have been living in Malaysia and Indonesia for some time and they seized the moment to sail to Australia with concocted stories of harassment, genocide, killing etc as plausible stories for the countries in the West to believe. The bearded Tamil, who said he picked up his American accent... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/11/09)
The Sri lankan Government must take note and initiate prompt negotiations with the Canadian Government to incarcerate the criminals on the recently apprehended ocean vessel manned by tamil tiger terrorists! A Canadian Speaks Out!
That the LTTE and their supportives around the world, particularly in Canada have not given up their ambitions to re-group becomes very apparent through this report which is a strong incentive for the Government of Sri Lanka to take prompt action in order to persuade the Canadian Government that the Tamil Tiger movement still has its cells around the world and that it must never forget that many Canadian cities could still be targetted as ideal breeding grounds for the terror group to re- organise and that there is a visible danger of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/11/09)
Sri Lanka’s observations on EC GSP Plus report handed over
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama handed over today (6 November 2009) to the Heads of Missions of the EU member states represented in Colombo, individually addressed letters to his counterparts in the EU member countries, together with a copy of the document captioned “Observations of the GOSL in respect of the Report on the findings of the investigation with respect to the effective implementation of certain human rights conventions in Sri Lankaâ€ÂÂÂ. A similar letter addressed to the President of the European Commission was also handed over to the Head of Delegation of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/11/09)
Observations of the Government of Sri Lanka in respect of the "Report on the findings of the investigation with respect to the effective implementation of certain human rights conventions in Sri Lanka", document no. C (2009) 7999, dated 19 Oct 2009
... -Full Story- (lankaweb.com - 06/11/09)
Tamil spokesman 'Alex' a smuggler, says Sri Lankan government
ALEX, the well-spoken leader of a boatload of asylum-seekers held in Indonesia on their way to Australia, is a known people-smuggler previously deported from Canada, according to the Sri Lankan government. "Alex" emerged as the spokesman for 255 Sri Lankans whose boat was detained last month and which remains moored at the port of Merak in western Java. The bearded Tamil, who said he picked up his American accent while working at a call centre, refused to reveal his full name, saying he feared that if he identified himself, his family in Sri Lanka would be targeted. But according to... -Full Story- (theaustralian.com.au - 06/11/09)
Rickshaw rookies: Sri Lanka tuk-tuk challenge
What do you get when you put 70 foreigners in charge of 25 tuk-tuks? Charles Starmer-Smith finds out as he leads Team Telegraph on a wild and wonderful 10-day ride as a rookie rickshaw driver.... -Full Story- (telegraph.co.uk - 06/11/09)
Sri Lankan news sends gold over $1,100
The price of gold hit a record high above $1,100 an ounce in London today following a report that Sri Lanka had joined India in purchasing the precious metal in favour of the US dollar. 'The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has announced that it is buying gold to diversify its reserves,' the World Gold Council said in a statement issued before gold struck a record high of $1,101.42. It later retreated to $1,092.65 an ounce in late trading.The commodity had reached a record high of $1,087.80 on Tuesday as the IMF said it had sold 200 tonnes of gold... -Full Story- (rte.ie - 06/11/09)
MAHINDA/ GOTA/ FONSEKA - THE AXIS OF CHARISMA
The triumvirate need no introduction to their competence to deliver goods. Goods they delivered in style against all odds. Peace vendors, political buccaneers, robber barons in the corporate jargon ably propped up by the international policeman US and the neo colonialist EU tried all their covert and overt schemes to stop the threesome on their arduous journey to the banks of Nandi Kadal where no general dared to go before. Stage one completed.  From the outset since the obliteration of the terrorist scourge the natural human instinct of claiming the spoils of the success... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/11/09)
Ven Kataragama Siri Ratana, the lone guardian of the historic Moodu Maha Vihara at Pottuvil
Ven Kataragama Siri Ratana stood in the sands, a lonely figure, holding in his hands the offerings we had made to him. Alone and vulnerable he has dug himself into this hostile territory in a small ‘sanghavasa’ (abode of bhikkus) to protect and preserve an ancient temple on the beaches in Pottuvil in Eastern Sri Lanka. It is a one man battle against heavy odds. Pathetically isolated, incredibly neglected, the Ven Kataragama Siri Ratana, his robes blowing in the wind, stood there within what is known as the strict archaeological reserve of Moodu Maha Vihare at... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/11/09)
SLankan group pushes for resolution of Oceanic Viking stand off
Chanaka Bandarage is a Canberra based barrister, and a leading figure in the Sri Lanka Support Group in Australia. He was the moderator at a recent forum in the Australian capital, titled 'Sri Lanka after the war - building of a new nation' attended by Australian MPs and the Sri Lankan High Commissioner.(There are typographical and grammatical errors in the transcript, these are errors made by the transcriber at the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), and not by the interviewee, Mr Bandarage.) Presenter: Joanna McCarthy Speaker: Chanaka Bandarage, Sri Lanka Support Group Listen: Windows Media MCCARTHY: Is it fair to say... -Full Story- (radioaustralia.net.au - 06/11/09)
255 Illegal Sri Lankan Migrants in Banten Province, Indonesia
The Sri Lanka Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia has informed this Ministry that they have confirmed from a reliable source the true identity of ‘Alex’, the spokesman of the suspected 255 illegal Sri Lankan migrants in Merak, Banten Province, Indonesia. Kulaendrarajah Sanjeev alias ‘Alex’ once belonged to ‘Kannan Gang’ involved in street fights and was deported from Canada in 2003, after being arrested for trouble making. His date of birth is 6th January 1982.  ‘Alex’ had been involved in human smuggling for a long time and it is believed that his office is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/11/09)
Sri Lanka becomes a member of the United Nations Initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN REDD)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced this week that Sri Lanka has been admitted to the United Nations initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD) Programme. Sri Lanka’s membership comes amid a call by Dr. Palitha Kohona, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN at the UN General Assembly’s Second Committee that “sufficient incentives must be provided to forest hosting countries to maintain them†and “to ascribe a carbon value to natural forests, enabling that carbon value to be traded in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/11/09)
Sri Lanka Donates Corneas to South Africa
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Pretoria in partnership with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society and Pretoria Eye Institute, participated in a ceremony to officially hand over five corneas donated by the Sri Lankan Eye Donation Society to the Pretoria Eye Institute on 04th November 2009 at the Pretoria Eye Institute in Pretoria. Dr. H S Casim, Medical Director of Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society, and Mr. Janath Matara Arachchi participated in the event representing Eye Donation... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/11/09)
Sri Lanka's child soldiers turn to patriotism
Sri Lanka rehabilitates youths who fought against the nation AMBEPUSSA, Sri Lanka Vinojan's boyhood ended when Sri Lanka's civil war reignited. Fifteen at the time, he says he joined the separatist Tamil Tigers to save his older brother from forcible conscription, and became a reluctant fighter as the rebels fought their last, desperate battles for survival. Now, having won the war, Sri Lanka is trying to make patriotic citizens out of child soldiers like Vinojan and others who just months ago were fighting against the nation. Vinojan, who nurses a dark scar on his wrist from a shrapnel wound, is... -Full Story- (washingtontimes.com - 06/11/09)
Indonesia extends staying permit for Australian ship carrying Sri Lankan refugees
www.chinaview.cn 2009-11-06 13:49:49 Print JAKARTA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia extended the staying permit for the Oceanic Viking, an Australian ship carrying Sri Lankan refugees, in Tanjung Pinang waters of Kepualuan Riau province, for one more week, an official said here on Friday. Teuku Faizasyah, the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, said the extension was provided since Indonesia is fully aware of the problem of the Australian government posed by 78 illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka. "One week-extension was given so that the Australian government could solve the problem quickly," he told reporters. He said there was a meeting between Indonesia and... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 06/11/09)
Lawyers for B.C. migrants challenge expert's allegations
The Singapore-based terrorism expert who asserts Tamil terrorists were aboard a ship that brought 76 Sri Lankan migrants to Canada will be called to explain his allegations under cross-examination. Rohan Gunaratna, who heads a terrorism think tank at Nanyang University in Singapore, has been the chief adviser to federal investigators trying to determine the identities of the migrant men, who arrived off Canada's West Coast in a decrepit cargo ship on October 17. The young men are all Tamils from Sri Lanka and they intend to make refugee claims, but Prof. Gunaratna has said some may be Tamil Tigers. The... -Full Story- (theglobeandmail.com - 06/11/09)
Lanka may ban 3 Indian drug cos for 2 years
P K BalachandranFirst Published : 06 Nov 2009 01:24:00 AM ISTLast Updated : COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is likely to ban three errant Indian drug companies for two years, and take ‘tough action’ against a few others. Health Minister Nimal Sripala de Silva would announce in Parliament on Friday, the `tough action’ which the government had decided to take against the Indian pharmaceutical companies which had supplied substandard drugs, some with glass or plastic pieces in them, the Media Secretary to the Minister, Wanninayake said.According to the paper, the companies to be blacklisted are Belco Pharma (manufacturer of pethidine); U-Medical Laboratories... -Full Story- (ExpressBuzz - 06/11/09)
Sri Lanka Air Force Museum re-opens for public
Sri Lanka Air Force Museum ceremoniously re-launched by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 5th November at Ratmalana Air Force Base. It was originally established in 1993 with the intention of preserving SLAF history of aviation and also as a storage unit. Later it has been restructured as the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum. However it is the only museum dedicated to aviation and the history of Sri Lanka Air Force in the Island. The new structure of the museum was re-launched under the guidance of Air Force chief Roshan Goonetileke. Now it has new exhibits, facilities... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/11/09)
WIMAL WEERAWANSA REVEALS A SECRET DURING THE EELAM WAR 4 WHICH GENERAL SARATH FONSEKA TOLD HIM OVER THE PHONE
Recalling the recent history, when the last war to eliminate the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was going on, General Sarath Fonseka called the then JVP parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa over the phone, Weerwansa said yesterday. That was the time there was a conspiracy to defeat the government in the parliament. General Sarath Fonseka reportedly told Weerawansa do not let the government fall; if that happened the war to destroy the LTTE will collapse, he alarmed. Weerawansa replied he would try to do something. Weerawansa said, at that time he was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
A JUDGE REFUSED TO REDUCE THE $ 100 MILLION BAIL OF RAJ RAJARATNAM
Jude Theodore Katz of a District Court Manhattan New York refused to reduce the bail of US$ 100 million for alleged supporter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam when his insider trading scam came up before him on Thursday. "I see no reason to modify the bail since only $2.5 million had been paid in cash," said Judge Katz. But the judge eased his travel restrictions to travel within the United States of America. The balance of the 100 million minuse 2.5 million has been paid by securities and properties. Rajaratnam lawyers argued that the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
Exposing the yarns of the Deputy Editor of The Island - NATION-BUILDING CANNOT BE DONE ON FIBS AND DISTORTIONS
Broadly speaking, the people who vent their opinions publicly can be divided into two categories: 1. those who know their subject and 2. those who think they know their subject. Let the readers decide into which category Lynn Ockersz, the Deputy Editor of The Island, belongs after reading this response to his punditry about “nation-buildingâ€ÂÂÂ.(See his latest comments on “nation-building†in The Island –November 5, 2009)  In it he moans: “Sri Lanka has failed abjectly in the all-important undertaking of nation-building or of evolving an equal polity where the communities of the country could... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
Common Candidate a Storm in a Tea Cup? It is only another political gimmick by the dormant opposition and reactionary forces to destabilize the government
Politically popular but utterly stale terms like political solution, devolution of power, minority aspirations and Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism and even independence of the press etc appears to have been eclipsed and temporally replaced by a newly invented political catch word; ‘Common Candidate’ over the past few days. Apart from querying why a common candidate against Mahinda Rajapaksa the question is also asked as to who this uncommon common candidate is. Two names have been mentioned in this regard. That is Sarath Fonseka, the CDS and Sarath Nanda De Silva the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
SRI LANKA'S IDP CENTERS POPULATION DROPS DRAMATICALLY IN OCTOBER AS RESETTLEMENTS CONTINUE
SRI LANKA'S IDP CENTERS POPULATION DROPS DRAMATICALLY IN OCTOBER AS RESETTLEMENTS CONTINUE WASHINGTON -- The number of conflict-displaced people in northern Sri Lanka dropped dramatically in recent weeks to about 157,000, compared to about 288,000 in June, the government reported. Additionally, another 60,000 people are slated to go home over the next few weeks, the government said. The majority of the IDPs will be resettled by end of this year, according Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights. The civilians, most of them residents of northern Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
CHAUVINISTS?
Shani in her/his latest feature article on 31st October ( ‘The Island’) states among other things, “….chauvinists who claim that Sri Lanka is only home to a Sinhala Buddhist majority who have been in this in this country for 2300 years.† I do not know whether this is an accurate statement because it would not be correct to say that Sinhla Buddhists have ever claimed that Sri Lanka was the home to themselves ONLY, for the reasons stated by Shani. To my knowledge Sinhala Buddhists have made no such claim to the exclusion of other communities... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
Address to the Diplomatic Corps by Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs on 5th November 2009
Excellencies, I am pleased to address you this morning as part of my regular briefings to the Diplomatic Corps. At today’s meeting I wish to focus on the progress made by the Government of Sri Lanka in resettling the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who fled from the cruel clutches of the LTTE during the various phases of the Government’s humanitarian operations and demining activities. The Internally Displaced Persons became a special community in the Sri Lankan society since the early eighties, not because of natural calamities but... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
SRI LANKAN CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF DEPARTS UNITED STATES, AMBASSADOR THANKS U.S. DEPARTMENTS OF STATE AND HOMELAND SECURITY FOR ASSISTANCE AND UNDERSTANDING
WASHINGTON – Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States, Jaliya Wickramasuriya, expressed gratitude to the US government Wednesday for consultations that allowed General Sarath Fonsaka, Chief of Defense Staff, to forego an interview with the US Department of Homeland Security. General Fonseka left the United States for Colombo Tuesday night.(November 03, 2009) He did not take part in questioning prior to his departure by the Department of Homeland Security or any other agency of the US Government. “I want to personally thank the State Department and Department of Homeland Security and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
THE BEST TRIBUTE TO A HERO’S MOTHER
Yesterday, Carmen Nordelo Tejera passed away. She was the selfless mother of Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo, a Hero of the Republic of Cuba who is unjustly serving two life-sentences plus 15 years of imprisonment. What’s incredible is that only 12 days ago the Yankee legal system released Santiago ÃÂÂÂlvarez Fernández-Magriñá, who at the moment of his arrest was in possession of 1500 war weapons, hand grenades and other means to be used in terrorist actions against our people. It was the second batch of weapons occupied to the CIA agent who, at the service of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
President to be honored by peoples friendship University of Russia
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Peoples' Friendship University of the Russian Federation, especially considering his outstanding contribution towards fostering world peace and his success against terrorism. This will be awarded during the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Peoples' Friendship University of the Russian Federation that will be held in February 2010. The official letter informing of the awarding of this degree was handed over to President Rajapaksa by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov. Following is the text of the press release President Mahinda Rajapaksa... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
Italian court convicts 23 Americans in CIA rendition case; extradition undecided
By Craig Whitlock Washington Post Foreign Service Wednesday, November 4, 2009; 5:41 PM MILAN -- An Italian court convicted 22 CIA operatives and a U.S. Air Force colonel on kidnapping charges Wednesday in a stern rebuke to the U.S. government's long-standing practice of covertly seizing terrorism suspects abroad without a warrant. The guilty verdicts are the only instance in which CIA operatives have faced a criminal trial for the controversial tactic of extraordinary rendition, under which terrorism suspects are abducted in one country and forcibly transported to another.... -Full Story- (washingtonpost.com - 05/11/09)
Sri Lankan central bank buying gold to diversify reserves
The Central bank's governor said in an interview that the bankhad been doing so for the past five or six months Author: Tony Munroe (Reuters) Posted: Thursday , 05 Nov 2009 NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's central bank has been buying gold for the past five or six months as it diversifies its reserves amid volatile markets, the bank's governor said in an interview on Thursday. "We have been fairly strong accumulators of gold reserves over the past few months," Sri Lanka Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal told Reuters in a telephone interview from the southern Indian city... -Full Story- (mineweb.com - 05/11/09)
Sri Lanka steps up mine clearance
The Sri Lankan government has stepped up clearing mines in former rebel-controlled areas aimed at resettling 159,000 war refugees before the end of January, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said Thursday. He told Colombo-based diplomats that an estimated 1.5 million unexploded landmines remained in an area of 402 sq km. Bogollagama said the government has recently imported the latest in de-mining machinery from Slovakia and Croatia and five more machines had also arrived to speed up the mine clearance. 'The new machines are expected to clear 5,000 sq metres of land per day, and it is faster than the manual system... -Full Story- (story.irishsun.com - 05/11/09)
Asylum seekers on Ocean Viking make 'final decision'
Last Updated: 15 hours 11 minutes ago After weeks of negotiations, 78 Sri Lankans aboard the Oceanic Viking have rejected all offers from Australian officials and declared that their 'final decision' is to remain on the Australian ship. In handwritten letters thrown from the Oceanic Viking, the 78 Sri Lankans still on board have announced they are rejecting all offers made by Australian officials in negotiations over the past few weeks. Addressed to the 'Head of Immigration Resettlement Unit at the Australian Embassy' the letters say 'you talked to us' about '[giving] us resettlement very quickly' if the group agreed... -Full Story- (radioaustralianews.net.au - 05/11/09)
Sri Lankan official stresses resettlement
1.5 lakh of the internally displaced still in welfare camps; biggest challenge is landmines It will be difficult for the Sri Lankan government to engage in a constructive dialogue on a political solution until the resettlement issue has been dealt with, according to Ajith Nivard Cabraal, governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. “Otherwise, this becomes the only topic of discussion. Before you start talking about anything else, the first topic is, ‘How long will the resettlement take?,’†said Mr. Cabraal, in an interview with The Hindu on Thursday.... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 05/11/09)
FBI charge 14 over alleged Galleon insider trading
Criminal charges have been filed in the US against 14 individuals linked to the alleged insider dealing scheme involving billionaire hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam, the Sri Lanka-born philanthropist who has been let out on $100m (£60m) bail. Rajaratnam is facing 13 charges of fraud and conspiracy and is accused of making more than $20m through unlawful trades on inside information. He was arrested last month along with five others and is due appear for a bail hearing later today.... -Full Story- (guardian.co.uk - 05/11/09)
Deputy Speaker’s assurance to Sri Lankan refugees
NAMAKKAL: Deputy Speaker of State Assembly V.P. Duraisamy has said that the State Government would take steps to provide all necessary amenities for the Sri Lankan refugees living in different parts in Namakkal district. Visiting the refugee camp at Paramathi near here on Thursday, he said that the government had allotted funds to improve the quality of life of Sri Lankan refugees.... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 05/11/09)
Barnala lauds India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement
CHENNAI: For the past nine years, the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement has helped the free flow of trade across the borders and India’s look-east policy will add to the expansion of trade and commerce in ASEAN countries and Sri Lanka, said Governor Surjit Singh Barnala on Thursday. Addressing a silver jubilee function of the Indo-ASEAN-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IASLCCI), he said: “The trade between India and ASEAN is flourishing. In the last financial year, bilateral trade between India and ASEAN is more than $40 billion and it is aimed to achieve $50 billion by 2010.â€ÂÂÂ... -Full Story- (The Hindu - 05/11/09)
Sri Lanka and Kuwait ink Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement
Sri Lanka and Kuwait signed the Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement (IPPA) on 05th November 2009 marking Sri Lanka’s first such agreement with Gulf countries which includes Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. At a simple ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance of Kuwait. Mr. Khalifa M. Hamada, Undersecretary to the Ministry of Finance signed the agreement on behalf of Kuwait while Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Kuwait Sarath Dissanayake signed for Sri Lanka. The negotiations on the IPPA have been concluded in June 2009.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
Energy saving cooking technique demonstrated.
I am delighted to say that I had a successful live demonstration of these scientific cooking thanks for ITN channel in Sri Lanka. It was broadcasted live on Sunday the 1st of November 2009 around 7.00 am. I mentioned that rice will be cooked in a given time then while rice is being cooked, I managed to cook fish and a vegetable dish as well, both the fish and vegetable dish were cooked in side by side with no an extra time. The reason I wanted to cook fish and another vegetable is because some people... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
KARKARE REWARDED FOR HONESTY
After the Mumbai Blasts, the whole life in India began to revolve around this horrible incident. One can find the after shocks of this quake even after so many months. Certainly it was the worst episode in the Indian history of terrorism. The democratic people of India were of the opinion that the matter would be investigated thoroughly and the culprits would be penalized. In the beginning there was noticed a great hustle and bustle with reference to the investigations but then at once it all stopped after coming to a dead end. The statement of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/11/09)
GENERAL SARATH FONSEKA – THE HUMBLE PATRIOTIC SOLDIER OF SRI LANKA.
The international media and the press is frenzy about the news that General Sarath Fonseka has already left the USA at 11.30 p.m. US time last night (3.11.2009) on his return trip to mother Sri Lanka after a private trip accompanied by his wife to visit their children and in-laws in Oklahoma.  The Sri Lanka Government Information Department made an official announcement last evening that the Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka has left the United States this morning (November 04) to return to Sri Lanka.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/11/09)
Sri Lanka general avoids US questioning: ministry
COLOMBO (AFP) – The head of Sri Lanka's military has been allowed to complete a US visit without being questioned over alleged war crimes against Tamil civilians, the foreign ministry here said on Wednesday. In a statement, the ministry praised US authorities' "receptive and constructive attitude," which allowed General Sarath Fonseka to complete his visit without being quizzed by the US Department of Homeland Security. Fonseka holds US permanent residency and travelled to Oklahoma last week to visit his daughters. Sri Lanka had said it feared the Department of Homeland Security would try to force Fonseka to provide evidence against... -Full Story- (Yahoo - 04/11/09)
Tamil Tigers want to regroup in Canada
November 4, 2009  Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN  Sir:  "Immigration officials are alleging that trace amounts of explosives were found aboard a cargo ship that smuggled 76 Sri Lankans to Canada's West Coast last month", you said.  Yesterday night's National reported that the Tamil Tigers are looking to regroup in Canada. "I cannot think of any other country that is more important for the Tamil Tigers as Canada, to regroup and continue their campaign against Sri Lanka", said Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, Head of the International... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/11/09)
Sri Lanka's ex-army chief leaves US without facing questioning
Colombo - General Sarath Fonseka, who was Sri Lanka's army commander when it defeated Tamil separatist rebels in May, left the United States without being questioned by US authorities about the final phase of military operations against the guerrillas, the Foreign Ministry in Colombo said Wednesday. It was believed the questioning concerned suspected human rights abuses committed during the final campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.... -Full Story- (monstersandcritics.com - 04/11/09)
Tamil Tigers look to regroup in Canada: expert
The Tamil Tigers organization hopes to use Canada as a strategic base to continue the fight against the government of Sri Lanka, according to an authority on the alleged terrorist group. "I cannot think of any other country that is more important for the Tamil Tigers as Canada, to regroup and continue their campaign against Sri Lanka," said Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, a Singapore-based think-tank.... -Full Story- (cbc.ca - 04/11/09)
OPEN LETTER TO AUSTRALIA’S FEDERAL PARLIAMENT - PERMANENT SOLUTION TO SRI LANKAN TAMIL REFUGEES
My dear law makers of Australia, I wish to express my deep concern on the current issue of Sri Lankan Tamil boat people arriving in leaky boats seeking refuge in Australia. Human smuggling is a very lucrative business to-day. There is an over one million bogus Tamil refugees residing in European countries. There is approximately half a million bogus Tamil refugees living in Canada. In Australia their numbers could be anything over three hundred thousand. These bogus Tamil refugees are well organised to support the terrorism in Sri Lanka. They spend all their time... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/11/09)
CARAM Asia: GFMD Still Fails as a Viable Platform to Address Migrants' Concerns
As governments from around the world convene for the third annual Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) many in the civil society sector continue to question the credibility of the forum as a valid platform capable of producing beneficial change for migrants. As a regional network, Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility Asia (CARAM Asia) stands resolute in our criticism of the current structure that continues to operate outside of formal international legislation and promotes market forces above... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/11/09)
Vanguard - Sri Lanka special documentary - Tonight on Current TV
The Current TV  (Al Gores Global TV Network), Vanguard (investigative journalism unit), is spreading the word guerilla style about a powerful new documentary on the end of the war of the Sri Lanka broadcasting tonight (Wednesday) at 10p on Current TV (check your local listings or visit www.current.com.In “Notes from a War on Terrorâ€ÂÂÂ, Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka to see how the Tamil Tigers, one of the world’s most lethal and influential militant organizations, were finally defeated.Traveling around the country during the waning days of a war that lasted almost... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/11/09)
GENERAL FONSEKA CAN HELP USA TO WIPE OUT TERRORISM FROM THE WORLD
The world is indulged in chaos and turmoil today due to the global terrorism. No place can be declared as a safe place to live as there can be a disoriented person or personnel somewhere planning to destroy it for some weird belief or reason. Whilst the mankind is attempting to explore the Mars and other planets technologically and researching for answers and solutions for AIDS, cancer and other life threatening illnesses medically, the terrorists who have scattered everywhere in the globe are planning tirelessly to destroy the planet earth inhumanly. Terrorism is a grave threat... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/11/09)
Neocons are busy digging Obama’s political grave in Afghanistan
Most people of colour will not dare say or agree that Barack Obama’s presentation to the world as US President was a trick played on them by Uncle Sam. Unfortunately, every passing month of Obama presidency proves that this is the sad truth and disturbingly, Obama himself appears to have been an unsuspecting victim of this scam. Cynics always held the view that Obama was not given to the world as a ‘promise of change’ of the corrupt, unjust and exploitative economic and political system in America. Those matters are governed by the ‘real government’ controlled by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/11/09)
Strategies and failures - Will they ever learn?
According to media reports, JVP has joined the UNP now to go all out against the executive presidency, thereby supporting the candidate forwarded by the UNP-led opposition alliance which would promise to do away with the executive presidency within 180 days after coming to power. The strategy is to use the common opposition candidate as a ‘bait’ to catch the voters who were rejoiced after the defeat of terrorism and to deny the incumbent President a 50 per cent majority. Let us rush through the well known strategies of the JVP since its inceptions. The strategy (perhaps... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/11/09)
The plot thickens!
The US government remains tight-lipped on an 'interview' the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has sought with Chief of Defence Staff and former Army Commander Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who is currently in the US. The State Department (SD) has claimed it has no knowledge of the DHS move. One is intrigued! If the SD is unaware of a vital decision another US government agency across the street has taken in respect of a UN member State, how come it claims to have any knowledge of what it terms possible 'war crimes' alleged to have been committed on a battlefield tens... -Full Story- (The Island - 03/11/09)
The Seminar on Sri Lanka -“Sri Lanka After the War – Building of a New Nation where all its Citizens will live in Peace, Dignity and Prosperityâ€ÂÂÂ
The Seminar on Sri Lanka (“Sri Lanka After the War – Building of a New Nation where all its Citizens will live in Peace, Dignity and Prosperityâ€ÂÂÂ), was held successfully at the Parliament House, Canberra, Mural Hall, on Thursday 29 October 2009. A series of Sri Lankan experts spoke on different topics at the Seminar. The seminar was primarily targeted at addressing the issues of how Sri Lanka should move forward in light of its successful defeat of the Tamil Tiger Terrorists (LTTE), in order to achieve a peaceful, harmonious and inclusive ‘new’ Sri Lanka,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/11/09)
Why The Media Hype About "A Sarath Fonseka Military Dictatorship" Is More Speculative Than Links To Reality
Will Lieut Gen Sarath Fonseka attempt to override the protocols which govern his status as a former commander of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces towards personal gain rather than preserving the integrity of his motherland and the confidences afforded him by the nation's leaders in power ?rather than responding to the instigation of the power hungry opposition better described as a pack of hyenas waiting for someone else's kill to take control of Sri Lanka in the speculated Military Dictatorship as per the media hype on the topic which is now a raging tempest of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/11/09)
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER SENDING A SPECIAL ENVOY TO SRI LANKA AS 12 TAMIL ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE FEARED DROWNED NEAR COCOS ISLAND
The Australian confirmed that at least 12 people who are feared dead in the vessel that sank off Cocos Islands close to Australia are Tamil asylum seekers who were trying to avoid Indonesia and Malaysia for fear of being detained on their way to Australia. One dead body has been found and the eleven others missing are feared dead, the reports indicated. Prime Minister Rudd of Australia said that he had already spoken to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and sending a special envoy to Sri Lanka to discuss about Tamil people who are coming to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/11/09)
FBI Kills Islamic Cleric, Arrests Followers, For Being Muslims At The Wrong Time In America
On October 28, New York Times writer Nick Bunkley wrote the following: "Federal agents (today) fatally shot a man they described as the leader of a violent Sunni Muslim separatist group in Detroit." Targeted was Luqman Ameen Abdullah "whom agents were trying to arrest in Dearborn on charges that included illegal possession and sale of firearms and conspiracy to sell stolen goods." The Times echoed FBI allegations that Abdullah "began firing at them from a warehouse (and) was shot in the return fire...." Ones also that he said: -- "America must fall;"... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/11/09)
"Justice" a monthly Magazine
"Justice" a monthly Magazine Edit by Mr. Lalith Allahkkoon and published by the Ministry of Justice & law Reform will be available from end of October. The objective of "Justice" is to discuss legal and policy related issues that plague the country from time to time.  "Justice" was first published when former Supreme Court Judge A.R.B. Amarasinghe functioned as the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice. Though it continued for sometime, after Justice Amarasinghe was elevated to the Supreme Court, it died a natural death, afterwards.  The revival of this magazine is to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/11/09)
Officials allege Tamil refugee ship smuggling explosives
Stewart Bell, National Post Published: Monday, November 02, 2009 Immigration officials are alleging that trace amounts of explosives were found aboard a cargo ship that smuggled 76 Sri Lankans to Canada's West Coast last month, a lawyer representing some of the men said on Monday. Lee Rankin said the "slight bit of residue found on a couple of items," together with news clippings linking the vessel to the Tamil Tigers rebels, were being used by the Canadian Border Services Agency to justify detaining the men. "They are alleging that this was a ship for transporting explosives," Mr. Rankin said. "But... -Full Story- (National Post - 03/11/09)
67 more ex-LTTE child soldiers leaves for Colombo school
The second phase of the rehabilitation program of ex-LTTE child soldiers began last Saturday, 31st October, in Vavuniya with 67 of them leaving for Colombo to receive a fully fledged education. Accordingly, 44 boys and 23 girls from Punthottem Rehabilitation Centre will receive their education in Colombo. Under the first phase of the program, 81 boys and 63 girls were brought to Colombo and attached to Hindu College, Ratmalana for continuing their education. The fresh batch of these rehabilitated ex-LTTE child soldiers will join their former colleagues at the same school with all the facilities including lodging, clothing and expenses... -Full Story- (Relief Web - 03/11/09)
Sri Lankan asylum seekers our responsibility: Barnett
The West Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, says it is time the Federal Government ended the standoff with 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers by sending them to Christmas Island for processing. The group of Sri Lankans is refusing to leave the Australian customs ship Oceanic Viking which has been anchored in Indonesian waters for more than a week. A senior Indonesian Foreign Ministry official yesterday said perhaps the time had come to look for a so called 'Australian solution' to the stalemate. Mr Barnett agrees. "I think what we're seeing here is a fairly indecisive approach," he said.... -Full Story- (abc.net.au - 03/11/09)
Asylum seekers' success rate plunges under Tory government
The number of refugees gaining asylum in Canada has dropped dramatically under the Conservatives as new figures reveal the impact of the government's efforts to transform this country's immigration system. New statistics released by the government show the number of successful claims by refugees living in Canada fell to less than half of what it was when the Conservatives came to office. The final immigration numbers for 2008 – as well as future projections – come as Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is promising to refocus Canada's refugee system on what the government calls “real victims†rather than migrants... -Full Story- (theglobeandmail.com - 03/11/09)
Why Does the U.S. Want to Talk to Sri Lanka's Tiger Tamer?
To many Sri Lankans, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka is a bit of a hero. Now the equivalent of the U.S. military's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Fonseka was the former army commander who helped strategize and lead the campaign that put a decisive end to the quarter-century-long separatist war of the Tamil Tigers. The intensity of the onslaught raised criticism around the world, including a 68-page State Department report to the U.S. Congress that took to task the conduct of both government forces and the Tigers. Now, what appears to be an attempt by the Department of Homeland... -Full Story- (time.com - 03/11/09)
Slow down, you're granting asylum too fast
Martin Collacott, National Post Published: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 The arrival of 76 Sri Lankan Tamils aboard a vessel that some experts believe may be owned by the Tamil Tigers has raised a number of troubling questions. Unlike the 599 Chinese who appeared off the coast of British Columbia 10 years ago, there is every indication the latest arrivals intend to try to stay in Canada permanently. The Chinese boat people had quite different objectives. They were being smuggled into Canada in order to be smuggled in turn into the United States -- where they planned to work in menial... -Full Story- (National Post - 03/11/09)
Tamils' ship alleged to have traces of explosives-Suspected gunboat
Stewart Bell, National Post Published: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 Related Topics Rohan Gunaratna Lee Rankin Asia-Pacific Politics Politics Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Story Tools - + Change font size Print this story E-Mail this story Share This Story Facebook Digg LinkedIn More Story tools presented by Immigration officials are alleging that trace amounts of explosives were found aboard a cargo ship that smuggled 76 Sri Lankans to Canada's West Coast last month, a lawyer representing some of the men said yesterday. Lee Rankin said the "slight bit of residue found on a couple of items," together with news clippings... -Full Story- (National Post - 03/11/09)
Revision of Pak-Lanka FTA urged
KARACHI, Nov 3 (APP): Pakistan-Sri Lanka FTA needs revision to enhance export quota of Pakistan agro-based products. A seminar will be held on the second of next month wherein trade experts, KCCI members and High Commissioner of Sri Lanka will discuss modalities to increase the bilateral trade. This was agreed in a meeting between President KCCI Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad and Consul General of Sri Lanka , V.S. Sidath Kumar here at Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said KCCI statement here on Tuesday. President KCCI, on this occasion, said in Pak-Sri Lanka FTA, the export quota of Pakistani rice... -Full Story- (app.com.pk - 03/11/09)
Hugo Chavez says Israeli tourists not welcomed
LA VOZ DE AZTLAN Los Angeles, Alta California October 28, 2009 We all have heard of "the ugly American" and of the unfriendly reception US tourists receive in many countries especially in France. Well now there is "the ugly Israeli" especially in Venezuela. Ever since the 22 day brutal and merciless bombardment of homes, schools, hospitals and mosques in Gaza by the Israeli criminal regime, many Israeli tourists are receiving the cold shoulder in countries they visit and some do not want them at all. It is no surprise that high level Israeli government and military officials do not dare... -Full Story- (aztlan.net - 03/11/09)
Govt. firmly behind CDS – Foreign Minister-DHS move has serious implications for security and welfare of Sri Lanka
The President and the Government of Sri Lanka stand firmly behind the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka. We will not allow that high post to be denigrated or made vulnerable, said Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama addressing the media on the moves by the USD Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to question the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who is now in the USA. The matter under reference has serious implications for the security and welfare of the people of Sri Lanka and the Government of Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/11/09)
WHAT IS MEANT BY “ WORK TO RULE†BY TRADE UNIONS?
If the workers go on strike, they lose their pay packets. But staying inside the work place and not performing their duties under the banner of “work to rule†they still get their salaries and wages. Sri lankan government has been too lenient towards the Trade Unions in the recent past. They have been promised pay rises from December, but still planning to derail the essential services of the country. The timing of the “work to rule†campaign is coinciding with the upcoming Presidential and General Elections of the country. It is common... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/11/09)
NONE CAN HARM THE PATRIOT GOTABYA RAJAPAKSA, THE DEFENCE SECREATRY OF SRI LANKA.
It is indeed a sincere statement expressing the governments stand and the assurance given by HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa as the President of Sri Lanka in defending the situation in which General Sarath Fonseka has been placed. Making the statement to the media that the Government of Sri Lanka stand firmly behind the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka, and will not allow that high... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/11/09)
Hillary Clinton, Embarrassing Herself
November 2, 2009  Editor (Letters) THE OTTAWA CITIZEN  Sir: Your observation that U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is "embarrassing herself" is pat on.  She is tripping all over herself like not knowing her left foot from the right and trying to do the light-fantastic on the dance floor tripping all over her partner's feet trying to show the world that she knows it all.  You said, "Hillary Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State, is a dignified and intelligent woman who was supposed to bring credibility to U.S.diplomacy." ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/11/09)
Bahubootha Vivasthava: a reply to Mr. Karu Jayasuriya
Mr. Karu Jayasuriya’s (KJ) letter in the Island newspaper (11/01/2009) reminded me two truths uttered by two politicians in Sri Lanka in the past. JRJ once said that people elected a school girl as their president meaning one cannot expect wisdom and maturity from such person. CBK on the other hand said that JRJ created a bahubootha constitution meaning whatever she wanted to mean by it. In this context KJ’s letter is nothing but desperate politics reminiscent of an ostrich hiding its head in the sand! KJ may perhaps not know that JRJ was preaching for this... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/11/09)
Gota says Gen. Fonseka alerted him to US move
by Shamindra Ferdinando Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the government would do everything possible to thwart US moves to use Chief of Defence General Sarath Fonseka as a ‘source’ against the Sri Lankan political and military leaders. The government had acted swiftly and decisively after Gen. Fonseka had brought the planned US action to his notice, the Defence Secretary said. Rajapaksa told The Island that General Fonseka, who was in the US on a brief visit had alerted him last Friday (October 30) to the US move. A US government official had contacted Gen. Fonseka on Wednesday (October 28) and... -Full Story- (The Island - 02/11/09)
Judges defiant on Fiji job offers
Font Size: Decrease Increase Print Page: Print Chris Merritt, Legal affairs editor | November 03, 2009 Article from: The Australian FIJI'S Australian-led judiciary has persuaded seven Sri Lankan judges to ignore Australia's warnings and accept judicial office in the military-dominated republic. All seven judges had been contacted by Australian consular staff in Sri Lanka and warned they would be subject to travel bans if they joined the Fiji bench. Australian authorities had earlier made a low-key approach to Sri Lanka's judicial authorities, informing them that the integrity and independence of the Fiji judiciary was in doubt. However, Fiji's Chief Justice... -Full Story- (theaustralian.news.com.au - 02/11/09)
Why Is South Asia So Tense? India Must Rethink Its Policies Towards Its Neighbors
By Exclusive. Shahid R. Siddiqi. Axis of Logic. Axis of Logic Friday, Oct 30, 2009 For the past 63 years - the life span of most countries of this region, South Asia has remained in a state of tension. The eight SAARC countries... -Full Story- (axisoflogic.com - 02/11/09)
SWINE FLU : An interview with former Health Minister of Finland, Dr Rauni Kilde
... -Full Story- (youtube.com - 02/11/09)
Now Playing: US – Sri Lanka diplomatic row
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama speaks to the media over the controversy surrounding attempts by the US government to frame Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa... -Full Story- (video.dailymirror.lk - 02/11/09)
Rohitha in talks with US Ambassador over Gota issue
By Dianne SilvaSpeaking to reporters following the meeting Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that the US envoy will take up the concerns raised by Sri Lanka with Washington. He added "I have invited you to meet with me this afternoon, to emphasize in my capacity of Foreign Minister that the President and the Government of Sri Lanka stand firmly behind the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka. We will not allow that high post to be denigrated or made vulnerable.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 02/11/09)
Sri Lanka asks U.S. to stop war crimes probe
COLOMBO, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government has asked the United States government to stop a scheduled interview with its Chief of Defense Staff General Sarath Fonseka over an alleged war crimes probe, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told reporters here on Monday. "The Department of Homeland Security (of the United States) should forthwith desist from any endeavor to interview General Fonseka," Bogollagama said. According to Bogollagama, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had called Fonseka for an interview on Nov. 4 in Oklahoma. The objective of the interview is to use him "as a source against human rights... -Full Story- (Xinhua - 02/11/09)
US can't quiz Fonseka: Lanka
Colombo: Sri Lanka Monday strongly protested US plans to question Chief of Defence Staff Gen Sarath Fonseka over alleged human rights violations in the last phase of the civil war, saying he has no authority to share any information relating to national security with third parties. The US Department of Homeland Security authorities have asked Fonseka, who is currently on a visit to the US, to make himself available for questioning in Oklahama, on Wednesday.... -Full Story- (manoramaonline.com - 02/11/09)
AN OPEN LETTER TO MS. RADHIKA COOMARASWAMY
Radhika I read that you are planning to bring yet another UN official, Maj.General. Patrick Cammaert to inspect the IDP camps. The camps have already been inspected by Sir John Holmes, Lord Naseby, Ban Ki Moon, Congress members from USA, the delegation from South India plus innumerable others. In addition we have UN organizations and workers helping in the camps, 52 NGOS & INGOS you name it they are all there. You want to bring yet another person to inspect as if the camps have not been inspected enough. I am not sure what you... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/11/09)
LankaWeb Forum is to Publish Dialogue
After publication of my opinion-; The General in USA, The President in Sri Lanka & The Double Sided Coin - Posted on November 1st, 2009, I received a comment from a reader that reader(s) should keep out of - President vs General. Anyone with a positive interest should actively follow this saga, since it affects every single citizen of Sri Lanka and the voice of the Patriots. As an active participant in the LankaWeb Forum for over ten years, I consider the primary objective is to encourage civilised open dialogue. In my personal opinion, LankaWeb has... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/11/09)
The General in USA, The President in Sri Lanka & The Double Sided Coin
The General goes to USA on a part official and part personal visit during a tongue wagging saga whether the General is planning to take a shot at the next Presidencial elections for the Top Seat. The Secretary of Defence makes a statement to the effect that that the entire saga is created by the Opposition by driving a wedge between the President and the General. In the meantime the Secretary of State of USA and the Foreign Secretary of UK and with the tacit support of the likes of Norway are trying to rehabilitate the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/11/09)
Robert Blake’s flu and other mysteries
Americans have colourful and usually crude ways of expressing themselves. A former colleague of this writer who is still employed at the US Department of State, and was involved in compiling the infamous Sri Lankan ‘war crimes’ report recently provided a classic example. His description of the lack of clarity of objectives of the report, translated to more civil language, meant that his experience was similar to having been instructed to engage in a rather long sexual escapade without being given the opportunity to see its natural climax! A cursory read of the subject report reveals that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/11/09)
20 PEOPLE MISSING AFTER BOAT CAPSIZED BETWEEN COCOS ISLAND AND AUSTRALIA
Australian radio reports said that a boat with about 20 people has sunk off between Cocos Islands and Australia while an atttempt was made to rescue the people in the boat. Reports said the boat has capsized and 17 were rescued while the others were feared drowned. Earlier in the area boats with Tamil asylum seekers were travelling. It is not yet known exactly who these people feared missing at the moment. Australian sources said the boat capsized when it was attempted to be rescued reacting to the large vessels attempting to help. Chief of Defence... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/11/09)
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEIR LEADERS MET SRI LANKA AND BULGARIA STARTED OFF WITH A BUSINESS FORUM WHERE ENTERPREUNERS MET
Bulgaria and Sri Lanka immediately after their leaders President Georgi Parvanov and President Mahinda Rajapaksa met in Colombo for bilateral talks and a state lunch took the first steps to promote trade by starting off with a business dialogue for their entrepreneurs. Minister Dr. G.L. Peiris addressing a business forum of both Bulgarian and Sri Lankan businessmen said the visitors have come at the best possible time since after a 30 year war Sri Lanka is looking forward of establishing new investment opportunities for rapid development under favourable terms. A business forum was organised in Colombo... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/11/09)
Common candidate and common threats
Reports that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has summoned former Sri Lankan Army Commander and present Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who is currently in the US on holiday, for a meeting has raised many an eyebrow in diplomatic and political circles in Colombo. Opinion is divided on the US move: Some wonder whether the meeting has anything do with the process of granting US citizenship to the general, who is a green card holder, while others opine that the US is either taking action in accordance with a State Department report on the incidents during... -Full Story- (The Island - 01/11/09)
US seeks info on Gota from Fonseka
by Shamindra Ferdinando Criticizing a US to move ‘interview’ Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka, now on a short visit to the US, the Sri Lanka government says an attempt is being made to target Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Highly placed officials say the government is aware of a US move to use General Fonseka as a ‘source’ against the Defence Secretary, in their investigations targeting the retired infantryman as a possible war crimes suspect. They said that initially the government believed the US move had been aimed at the Sri Lankan government as it came close on the... -Full Story- (The Island - 01/11/09)
Bulgarian President meets President Rajapaksa
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov met his Sri Lankan counterpart President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday 1st of November in Colombo. He arrived on a two day state visit to Sri Lanka on Saturday evening after having been to South Korea and Australia. The two leaders discussed several issues related to the bilateral ties between the two countries. The Bulgarian President is accompanied with his wife Zorka Parvanov, several Ministers including the Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Traycho Traykov and Chairperson of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tsvetan Simeonov and Directors of executive agencies in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/11/09)
Sarath Fonseka's politically sensitive speach in Sinhala GENERAL SARATH FONSEKA’S ILL-TIMED TRIP TO USA- Has SF shot himself in his foot? Sri Lankan general on notice over war crimes Fonseka asked to give evidence against Gota Proscribe the Tigers in Aus OCEANIC VIKING TAMILS ADMIT THEY DID NOT COME FROM SRI LANKA BUT LIVING IN INDONESIA FOR YEARS AND HIRED A PEOPLE SMUGGLER RCMP COMMISSIONER SAYS TAMIL TIGERS ARRIVING IN CANADIAN WATERS IN A SHIP OWNNED BY THEM RAISES SECURITY CONCERNS
(LankaWeb - 01/11/09)
It is sad and disappointing that a high ranking intelligent legend such as SF has decided to make a private trip to USA at this juncture. Apart from the necessity to renew his US Green Card, he also made politically sensitive speeches during his stay. Now US government has cornered SF to face a lethal interview on issues relating to War. We all know that SF is not only a skilled army man but also a man with a high ego. There is nothing wrong with having a high ego, a quality any... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/11/09)
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's top military commander, General Sarath Fonseka, is to be questioned by US authorities over allegations of war crimes during the war against Tamil Tiger rebels, Colombo's Sunday Times has reported. General Fonseka, who is visiting his daughters in Oklahoma, had been asked to present himself for an interview with the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday, the newspaper said.... -Full Story- (smh.com.au - 01/11/09)
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Sarath Fonseka has written to the Sri Lankan Mission in Washington saying that he has been asked by US officials to give evidence against Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa over alleged human rights abuses, a highly placed diplomatic source said. Two US officials had reportedly contacted the CDS on his son-in-law’s telephone to make the request, General Fonseka had said in his letter. Senior government officials are said to be discussing the matter. The Foreign Minister is expected to brief the media tomorrow on the issue.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 01/11/09)
Published in 'The Australian' of 31st October 2009 THE Tamil boatpeople now in Indonesia act as if Australia has an unquestionable obligation to accept them. Perhaps they are right. The Howard government did not proscribe the Tamil Tigers in Australia, although some 30 countries including Britain, the US, the EU and Canada did. As a result, the Tigers freely channelled huge sums of money for the terrorist war in Sri Lanka from Australian soil. Sri Lanka was virtually destroyed and when the Tigers were finally defeated, they left some 300,000 people displaced from their homes.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/11/09)
Many Sri Lankan Tamils who were living in the Oceanic Viking ship have now admitted to living in Indonesia for years and not coming directly from Sri Lanka when they were picked up by the ship. “It's been revealed that most of the Sri Lankan asylum seekers in a standoff with Australian authorities off Indonesia's Bintan Island have admitted living in Indonesia for years, providing the Rudd government with leverage to convince Indonesia to take them backâ€ÂÂÂ, the Fairfax newspapers reported. The reports said, In written messages thrown off the Oceanic Viking, the Australian customs ship... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/11/09)
Canada’s Commissioner of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) William Elliot said that security experts fear the migrant smuggling ship intercepted off the West Canadian coast could be the first wave of defeated Tiger fighters fleeing for safe haven following their devastating defeat in May this year, in Sri Lanka . The RCMP Commissioner said the very arrival of the defeated terrorists in a ship owned by them and the potential for others to follow raises serious security concerns for Canada. William Elliot was addressing on Friday (October 30)an Ottawa Conference of security and intelligence... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/11/09)
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