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Indian army chief to pay five-day visit to Sri Lanka Seeking to give a fillip to bilateral military ties, army chief General VK Singh is set to undertake a five-day visit to Sri Lanka from Sunday to discuss defence cooperation. During his visit, Singh is scheduled to meet defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, his Sri Lankan counterpart Jagath Jayasuriya and other senior defence officials(DNA)  Another UNP MP supports amendments UNP’s Galle District parliamentarian Manusha Nanayakkara said today (3) that he would vote in favor of the constitutional amendments in parliament next week. Nanayakkara told a press conference in Colombo that he would vote with the government on the constitutional amendments.(Sunday Leader) Krishna to talk resettlement of Tamils during Lanka trip Foreign minister S M Krishna will visit Sri Lanka soon for a first-hand view of the situation there as India tries to expedite the resettlement process in the island nation. Government officials said Krishna's visit is likely to take place by the end of this month or early October. Officials said Krishna will emphasise before the Lankan leadership the need to move from resettlement of internally diplaced persons (IDPs) to chalking out a political solution which is substantive and durable. (Times of India) Opposition MPs back government UNP MP Earl Gunasekara has reportedly taken a decision to back the proposed reforms to the constitution next week. In doing this, he will be voting with the Government, despite being a member of the Opposition.(Sunday Leader) Explosive materials bound for Sri Lanka seized Two persons were arrested today for allegedly attempting to smuggle explosive materials, including gelatin sticks, to Sri Lanka by the sea route from nearby Thondi. Police said they recovered 190 gelatin sticks, 102 detonators and some fuse wire from the two, who were questioned following suspicious movements.(DNA) Lankan army to return lands of Tamils of Indian origin: Nirupama Rao Sri Lanka has assured New Delhi that its army will return the land of the displaced Tamils of Indian origin in the country's northern Vavuniya district, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said today. Rao, who ended her three-day trip to Sri Lanka today, said she had taken up the issue with the top leadership in the country.(DNA) People smuggler tells court of bribes A self-confessed people smuggler who helped asylum seekers get on boats to Australia has told a court of bribes paid in Indonesia. Sri Lankan-born Tamil Pathmendra Pulendren, 36, from Pendle Hill in Sydney's west, pleaded guilty on Thursday to a charge of facilitating the arrival of unlawful people to Australia.(Sydney Morning Herald) Cops probe Sri Lankan for planning own kidnap Investigations into the kidnapping of three Sri Lankans last week took a twist yesterday when it was learnt that police are probing one of them for masterminding the plan. A police source said one of the two victims who had survived the three-day ordeal here had planned the kidnap of his two friends and himself with the help of locals here.(asiaone) Sri Lankan fishermen hard hit by peace Fishermen in the Sri Lankan port of Trincomalee hoped the end of the island's civil war would bring prosperity, but dynamite and corruption now threaten their livelihoods. Trincomalee, on the northeast coast, has one of the world's finest natural harbours and was fiercely fought over during the war until government troops finally defeated the rebel Tamil Tigers in May last year.(AFP/Google) Maid denies Saudi accusations The Sri Lankan housemaid tortured in Saudi Arabia described to the BBC Sinhala Service how her employers hammered heated nails in to her body. "The employer's wife used to hold me down and the daughter held a knife to my neck while the employer stuck heated nails to my body. This torture went on for months," LP Ariyawathie told BBC Sandeshaya.(BBC Sinhala) U.S. Judge lets suit proceed against alleged fundraisers for Tamil Tigers
The suit, filed under the Alien Tort Claims Act, concerns the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), a non-profit that the U.S. Treasury Department shut down in 2007 for allegedly bankrolling the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (aka Tamil Tigers), which the U.S. classified as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997 and as a specially designated global terrorist in 2001.(Law.com) Sri Lankan officials await response in maid torture case Despite reports that a Saudi couple accused of torturing a Sri Lankan housmaid was arrested, Saudi authorities have not verified the action, a Sri Lankan official told CNN. The Saudi employer and his wife were reportedly arrested this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after allegations they hammered nails into the maid's body, according to officials at the Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry.(CNN) Rao faces some hard questions in Jaffna India on Wednesday rejected reports that it was bringing its own nationals to Sri Lanka to carry out reconstruction work in the war-ravaged northern districts. Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, on a three-day visit to the Island nation, categorically denied that there was any move to bring in Indian labour for reconstruction work here. (Hindustan Times) Sri Lanka shares hit new peak amid new SEC rule Sri Lanka's benchmark share index rose to a new record on Wednesday, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ordered listed companies to immediately disclose related party transactions. Institutional and foreign investors have long clamoured for prompter disclosure of insider dealings, amid complaints of manipulation. Previously, related-party transactions were only only required disclosure in annual reports. (REUTERS) Saudi official denies Sri Lankan maid was abused A Saudi official has denied a Sri Lankan maid's allegations that the couple she worked for in the Arab kingdom hammered nails and needles into her body. Doctors in Sri Lanka have said they removed 13 nails and five needles from L.G. Ariyawathi after she returned from Saudi Arabia last month. The items had been driven into Ariyawathi's legs and forehead, they said. (AFP/Google) Proposed amendments 'undemocratic' The proposed amendments to the Sri Lanka constitution is 'undemocratic' and paving the way for a 'dictatorial regime' a group of political parties and civil rights movements have told the Supreme Court The group made their representations as the Supreme Court took up a request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to rule whether the proposed amendment is constitutional. (BBC Sinhala) Reports of arrest of Saudi sponsor of Sri Lankan torture victim There are unconfirmed reports that the Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry has arrested the sponsor of a Sri Lankan maid who has been in the news lately after doctors in her home country found 24 nails and needles inserted into her skin allegedly by the Saudi couple she worked for. The 49-year-old woman who moved to Riyadh in March said the torture was her employers' way of punishing her when she didn't do the work they demanded by inserting pieces of metal into her arms, legs, hands and forehead.(CNN) UNP calls for referendum The UNP today (31) called on the government to hold a referendum on the proposed constitutional amendments. UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a press conference that the government was in a hurry to pass the constitutional amendments in parliament with a two-thirds majority without considering the many problems faced by the people in the country.(Sunday Leader) Sri Lankan tourist killed fleeing Malays A Sri Lankan tourist died fleeing kidnappers in Malaysia while a friend escaped and another was rescued by police, the force said on Tuesday. The three had just arrived on holiday and to sell gemstones worth 40,000 ringgit $US12,736 ($A14,278) when they were abducted last week at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, district police chief Abdul Rahim Abdullah said.(AFP/SMH) India assures all help to war-displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka India today assured Sri Lanka's war-displaced Tamils of all kind of assistance, as foreign secretary Nirupama Rao visited the IDP camps in the country's north to get an overview of the process of their resettlement. "We are prepared to assist to the best of our capacity and do whatever we can," Rao, who arrived in Colombo last night, told the locals in Vavuniya.(DNA) Lankans charged German prosecutors said today that they had charged three Sri Lankan men suspected of fundraising and buying weapons for the LTTE. Sri Lankan national Vijikanendra V. S., 35, and German nationals Sasitharan M., 33, and Koneswaran T., 39, were charged with belonging to a banned "terrorist" organisation and breaking export laws, a statement said.(Daily Mirror) UNP gets draft of amendments The UNP today (30) said it has received a copy of the proposed constitutional amendments,officials at the Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry said Monday. The party has also said it would oppose the government’s decision to continue with the executive presidency by extending the terms of office held by the Executive President.(CNN) Arrests made in maid's nail torture, Sri Lankan officials say A Saudi employer and his wife, who are accused of torturing a Sri Lankan housemaid by hammering nails into her body, have been arrested in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian authorities could not be reached immediately for verification. No further details were available.(BBC Sinhala) Rajapaksa 'on way to third term' The Cabinet of ministers in Sri Lanka has approved the proposals to amend the constitution paving the way for a sitting president to contest more than two terms. Secretary General of the largest political party in the ruling coalition Minister Maithreepala Sirisena told journalists in Colombo that a sitting president could contest as many times as he or she wishes, according the proposed amendment.(BBC Sinhala) China Merchants, Spence picked for $500 million deal to build Colombo port China Merchants Holdings (International) Co. and Aitken Spence & Co. have won a contract to build a new terminal in Sri Lanka’s Colombo port, the head of the island nation’s ports authority said. A special meeting of the cabinet approved the order and construction on the terminal will start within six months, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Priyath Wickrama said today.(Bloomberg) Road show in Delhi on tourism and investment esiding over a well attended Road Show held in New Delhi today (25 August 2010) Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa invited Indian entrepreneurs to invest in tourism related infrastructure development to cater to the 2.5 million tourists. A large gathering of tour operators and potential investors participated at the Road Show titled ‘Sri Lanka as a Destination for Tourism and Investment in its Infrastructure’.(ISRIA) Cabinet backs change for president Sri Lanka's cabinet on Monday backed changing the constitution to allow President Mahinda Rajapakse to run for office for a third term, opening the way for a vote in parliament. Rajapakse, who oversaw the defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels last year after decades of civil war, has a firm grip on power and has been criticised for crushing dissent and opposition media.(AFP/Google) Spotlight on Jaffna as Nirupama visits Lanka The highlight of foreign secretary Nirupama Rao’s three-day visit to Sri Lanka beginning on Monday would be her trip to Jaffna — the first ever by an Indian foreign secretary in decades. In Jaffna, the heartland of Sri Lankan Tamils, Rao is expected to meet both government officials including the governor and mayor and members of the civil society and academics.(Hindustan Times) No visafor KP’s cousin The Indian media has reported that India had denied a visa to Sinnaiah Thavaratnam, first cousin of detained LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan’s (KP). Thavaratnam, who is the chairman of the Federation of Jaffna District Fishermens’ Associations, has told the Express News Service that he was given no reason for the rejection and when asked for permission to see a higher officer, it was denied.(Sunday Leader) Back to old job Former Colombo Mayor, Uvais Mohamed Imthiaz has returned to his previous profession of driving three wheelers. Imthiaz told Daily Mirror online that he does odd jobs during the day and drives the three-wheeler at night. The former mayor said he no longer has a house or an income. Special Commissioner to the Colombo Municipal Council, Omar Kamil has requested the former mayor to vacate the official residence, but Imthiaz has refused to vacate the house saying he has no other house to go to.(Daily Mirror) Maid torture report arrives in Kingdom The Sri Lankan Embassy received on Saturday the medical report regarding the Sri Lankan housemaid who was found with 24 nails and needles embedded in her legs, arms, hands and forehead, allegedly pushed into her body by the Saudi couple she worked for as a method of punishment. A video statement from the victim translated into Arabic language was also handed over to the Saudi Embassy in Colombo for necessary action."(Arab News) Sri Lanka to complete resettlement in four months The Sri Lankan government expects to complete resettlement of all of the remaining internally displaced persons (IDPs) in four months. "The end of this year - we are 100 percent sure we will resettle the people," said Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa. "The target is to resettle the people as soon as possible. And 90 percent of the people have already been resettled."(Allvoices) “Rehabilitation of displaced Tamils a major concern” Recognising the need for a political settlement of the Tamil question in Sri Lanka, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Central Committee member T.K. Rangarajan, MP, on Friday said the immediate priority should be to address the concerns of relief, resettlement and rehabilitation of the Tamil civilian population. Addressing the 19th National Congress of the Sri Lankan Communist Party (SLCP) in Colombo, Mr. Rangarajan said the expeditious settlement of the Tamil question should involve the devolution of powers and autonomy for the Tamil-speaking areas within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.(The Hindu) Sri Lankan leader has votes to change constitution Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday secured the two-thirds parliamentary majority he needs to change the constitution after an opposition party with eight legislators pledged its support. "We will not join the government, but we will support the proposed constitutional amendments," Basheer Segu Dawood, the chairman of the ethnic minority party Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, told Reuters.(REUTERS) Sri Lanka Consul General in LA meets Congressman Brad Sherman Press Release,the Sri Lankan Consul General Office in LA
During the meeting Mr. Goonewardena had the opportunity to brief him about the comprehensive freedom that all the Sri Lankans are currently enjoying due to the total peace achieved. Sri Lanka scraps visa on arrival for most foreign nationals Sri Lanka has scrapped visa on arrival for all nationals except those from the Maldives and Singapore, an official said on Friday, in a move which could damage the country's revived tourist industry. 'The existing visa regime of granting landing endorsements on arrival for tourists will be withdrawn with effect from the 30th of September 2010,' said Controller General of Immigration W.A.C. Perera.(Business Times) Sri Lanka bourse up on hotels, banks earning hopes Sri Lanka's benchmark share index rose on Friday led by banking and hotel shares on hopes of strong earnings due to increasing credit growth and the start of tourism season in the island nation. Sri Lanka's main share index .CSE rose 0.71 percent or 39.85 points to 5,634.15 points. It hit an all-time high of 5,679.14 on Friday and is up 1.28 points for the week.(REUTERS) Feds moved to revoke 227 refugees for lying In the past 20 years, while more than 41,000 Sri Lankans have been granted refugee status in Canada, the federal government has only applied to send a fraction of the country's Sri Lankan diaspora packing because they think the applicants lied. The figures, released by the Immigration and Refugee Board this week, highlight the high acceptance rate of refugees from Sri Lanka — an average of 81% since 1989 — and the similarly high rate of revoking status the government thinks were given on bunk evidence or testimony.(Toronto Sun) Miliband is back mer British Foreign Secretary David Miliband will meet the Tamil Diaspora in London next week, an email invitation said. Other members of the British Parliament and the European Parliament will also be present during the meeting. An invitation released by a group calling themselves ‘Tamils for Labour’ states that the meeting with Miliband is the perfect opportunity for the Tamil Community to meet the man most likely to be the Leader of the Labour Party and the future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.(Daily Mirror) Sri Lanka blocks over 100 porn websites Sri Lanka has blocked over 100 porn websites that allegedly feature local men and women, the government said Thursday, in its biggest yet Internet censorship move. The Sri Lankan Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) has been asked to prevent users in the country accessing some 107 adult websites, the government information department said.(AFP/Google) Czech man fined for collecting rare insects in Sri Lanka A Czech national was fined 1,000 dollars by a Sri Lankan court for collecting a rare species of insects and attempting to smuggle the specimens out of the country. The man, identified as Jan Pyrih, was arrested collecting the insects from the Horton Plains forest.(M&G) Tax revenue up after slashing import duties The Finance and Planning Ministry has stated that it has recorded an increase in its tax revenue following the government’s decision to slash import duties on vehicles Director-General for Fiscal Policy of the Finance and Planning Ministry S.R. Attygalle has said the government earned Rs. 1,700 million in July on vehicle import tax revenue alone after import taxes were slashed in June.(Sunday Leader) UN mum on post The United Nations (UN) refused to comment on the appointment of Major General Shavendra Silva as the new Sri Lankan Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in New York. When asked about the appointment at a press briefing in New York, Wednesday, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky refused to comment.(Daily Mirror) Intl. laws shouldn’t apply to conflicts between States and terrorist groups Veteran diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala says International Humanitarian Law (IHL) should not be applied to Sri Lanka’s war against LTTE terrorism and the time is opportune for the country to push for new guidelines. The former head of the Peace Secretariat says a conventional army cannot be bound by international laws in fighting a terrorist organisation, which deploys suicide cadres, child soldiers and human shields.(The Island) India expands presence in Sri Lanka India will soon have the widest network of diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka including one in the far south where China is rapidly completing a port on the strategic west-east Indian Ocean sea corridor. On Friday, the two countries formalised an agreement reached in June in New Delhi between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting President Mahinda Rajapaksa to allow India to open new consulates in Jaffna in the north and at Hambantota in South.(Hindustan Times) Two clear steps for fixing our refugee system As many observers have pointed out, our courts deserve much of the blame for the way Canada has become a patsy among asylum seekers: By endlessly expanding the legal protections enjoyed by non-citizens, judges have made it difficult for authorities to remove bogus refugee claimants from our shores. But notwithstanding such judicial activism, federal authorities still retain within their power two actions that could do a great deal to discourage false refugee claimants, if only authorities were stern enough to use them.(National Post) Saudi employer allegedly tortured maid by driving 23 nails into her body Doctors are treating a Sri Lankan maid who had 23 nails hammered into her body in a grisly act of torture allegedly perpetrated by her employer in Saudi Arabia, Sri Lankan Embassy sources told Arab News. The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has launched an investigation after doctors who are treating the woman at the Kamburipitya Base Hospital in the Matara district of Sri Lanka also reported the nails had been heated up before being drilled into her skin. (Fox News) SC Discharges Lanka Editor The Supreme Court today (25) warned and discharged the Editor of the Lanka Irida newspaper, Chandana Sirimalwatte from the alleged contempt of court charges and ordered him to publish a correction on a news item which appeared in the newspaper in June this year. The Supreme Court delivered the order following an apology in court by Sirimalwatte. (Sunday Leader) Sri Lanka shares rise on banks as rupee falls Sri Lanka's benchmark share index rose on Wednesday led by a surge in banking stocks boosted by expectations cuts to import taxes and the central bank's interest rate will lead to an increase in lending. Sri Lanka's main share index .CSE rose 0.34 percent from Monday to 5,582.87 points. Markets were closed on Tuesday for a public holiday. (REUTERS) Police block monks A tense situation has developed in Chilaw as a group of protesting monks were blocked by the police from reaching the Munneswaram Kali Amman Hindu Temple where the animal slaughter ritual is expected to take place today. The riot police have been deployed in the area and the police have prevented the group of monks from reaching the Temple. The monks, angered over the police blockade are currently seated on the road, refusing to move from the area till the ritual is stopped. (Daily Mirror) UNP in fresh crisis as Karu J moves against ‘a common and ruthless enemy’ A fresh crisis is developing in the UNP with its Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya taking a tough stance against President Rajapaksa’s government amid ongoing consultations between the SLFP and the UNP over proposed constitutional reforms. Political sources say the UNP seems to be sharply divided over its strategy, though the party recently managed to resolve the leadership crisis at least for the time being.(The Island) Overview of legislature in Sri Lanka to tackle Internet banking fraud Sri Lanka is a country which considers Information Technology as a means of developmental opportunity and thus has laid down several Government initiatives to accommodate, up life and safeguard the evolving IT sector from exploitation and misuse. At the same time, initiatives such as ‘e-Sri Lanka’ which focuses on empowering communities and the youth on IT skills.(Helium) Tamils appeal rejection of asylum, disputing Australia's use of offshore review Two Sri Lankans appealed to Australia's High Court on Tuesday to reconsider them for asylum and challenged as unfair the handling of their refugee claims offshore. The two members of the Tamil ethnic group were detained in October 2009 at Christmas Island, a remote processing centre for would-be immigrants trying to reach Australia by boat.(canadian Press/Google) Major General Shavendra to UN Major General Shevendra Silva has been appointed as Sri Lanka’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and will take up his new post soon, sources at the External Affairs Ministry told Daily Mirror online this evening. Major General Silva’s appointment to the UN comes amidst human rights allegations being raised against the government and the military which resulted in UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon appointing a panel to advise him on Sri Lanka.(Daily Mirror) CID arrest main suspect in Matara assault case The CID has arrested the main suspect involved in the assault of the Deputy Tax Commissioner of Inland Revenue Department’s Matara Branch, H.M. Denzil. The CID was ordered by the IGP last week to arrest the suspects involved in the assault immediately and CID officers had made the arrest last evening.(Sunday Leader) Cosmetic Changes At UNP The United National Party’s Leadership crisis and Reforms appears to have been resolved. After 4 days of intense meetings the Seniors at the UNP have come up with a consensus on how best to move forward. The latest proposals which will be confirmed early next week, will see beleaguered UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe retain his post as party leader and Leader of the Opposition, Karu Jayasuriya is promoted to Senior Deputy Leader and Sajith Premadasa has been offered the position of Deputy Party Leader(Sunday Leader) Tamil asylum-seekers must stay in jail, Canada says More than 400 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who arrived in Canada aboard a cargo ship 11 days ago have been told they must stay in jail. The Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board agreed with government requests for more time to check the migrants' identity papers.(BBC) KP must explain Referring to the remarks of former LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan on the role some politicians from Tamil Nadu in the efforts to arrive at a ceasefire in Sri Lanka's war against the LTTE, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said Pathmanathan has to explain the facts relating to the war. Karunanidhi pointed out that KP had contended that MDMK leader Vaiko had stood in the way of a ceasefire.(Daily Mirror) ‘A section of int’l community prolonged war’ Former Peace Secretariat Chief UPFA MP Professor Rajiva Wijesinha yesterday launched a scathing attack on a section of the UN hierarchy and other international players for backing LTTE terrorism, thereby prolonging Sri Lanka’s war. In his presentation before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, headed by former Attorney General C. R. de Silva, at the Kadirgamar International Institute for Foreign Relations, MP Wijesinha said that the then UNP-led UNF government had allowed funds to be granted to the LTTE even at the tail end of their administration in December 2003.(The Island) Sri Lanka flies doctors, flood relief to Pakistan Sri Lanka has reached out to aid Pakistan in its uphill task of providing relief to the millions affected by the country's worse flood in several decades. On Sunday afternoon, Sri Lanka handed over the second consignment of flood relief to the Pakistan authorities at the Chaklala air base in Islamabad, a government statement said on Monday.(Hindustan Times) IMF set to approve Sri Lanka loan payment The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has indicated it will release the next tranche of a multi-billion dollar loan to Sri Lanka. Following a two week mission to the country, the body gave an upbeat assessment of Sri Lanka's economy.(BBC) US donates equipment to Sri Lanka Air Force Officials of the US embassy presented the Sri Lanka Air Force Rs.674 million ($6 million) in equipment to enhance maritime security, the embassy said Monday. At a ceremony at the Ratmalana Air Base, Valerie Fowler, Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy, announced the donation to Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, Chief of Defence Staff from the Sri Lanka Air Force.(Sify) Sri Lanka shares ends flat amid hoiday mood; rupee down Sri Lanka's benchmark share index .CSE closed flat on Monday, with traders and investors on leave ahead of a public holiday on Tuesday. The main share index .CSE edged up 0.02 percent or 0.99 points to 5,563.99.(REUTERS) Sri Lanka fully prepared to assist Pakistan - Kohona Sri Lanka remains fully prepared to extend any form of assistance that the Government of Pakistan may require and will continue to support the work of the United Nations as a contributor to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), stated Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Palitha Kohona. He was speaking at the Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly (20) on the Humanitarian Situation resulting from the floods in Pakistan.(ISRIA) Sri Lanka targets American tourists American visitors make up a small portion of Sri Lanka’s tourists. During the first six months of 2010, less than three percent of those who visited the country came from the United States. The government is now taking steps to promote the island nation among American tourists. (Allvoices) Rise in Internet users The Internet usage has recorded a significant growth of 8.3 percent while increasing the number of users up to 1.7 million, Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (TRC) sources said. In 2009, there were only 1,163,500 Internet users with a growth of 5.5 percent. But web users increased dramatically this year to over 1,776,200 and recorded a 2.8 percent growth compared to the corresponding year. (Daily News) Sajith questioned about Algama’s death The Mirihana Police has today (22) recorded a statement from Hambantota District UNP parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa regarding the death of Rienzie Algama, who set himself ablaze last month, opposite the party headquarters Sirikotha. The police had asked Premadasa whether he was the high ranking UNP member, whom police investigations have revealed, that Rienzie had spoken to a short while before the incident. Premadasa had denied.(Sunday Leader) Canada turning blind eye in Sri Lanka The Toronto Star has gone to great lengths to justify the flight of the recent Tamil boat people, while ignoring a very important matter — the international human smuggling operation by the Tamil Tigers, and potential security threat to Canada and to Sri Lankan-Canadians. What Sri Lanka has is not a Tamil problem, but a genuine terrorist problem created by the Tamil Tigers.(The Star) Economist seized in Colombo Sri Lanka authorities have detained the latest edition of The Economist magazine, its distributor in Colombo said. "We were not allowed to clear our copies of the Economist on Friday by the customs officials," Vijitha Yapa told BBC Sandeshaya.(BBC Sinhala) A hardening of the Canadian heart The debate over immigration policy has already taken a hard right turn in Australia after boatloads of Sri Lankan Tamils washed up on its shores. Canada - where nearly 500 Tamils came ashore last week - appears set to follow, with 63 per cent of Canadians saying the leaky boat should never have been given safe harbour.(Aljazeerar) Presidential Commission falls short The Presidential Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation may be unable to deliver the goods as expected. The Commission was appointed to show the government’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and prevent the recurrence of another violent war.(Sunday Leader) 
Presidential Commission Falls ShortThe Presidential Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation may be unable to deliver the goods as expected. The Commission was appointed to show the government’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and prevent the recurrence of another violent war.(Sunday Leader) Canada missed chances to stop Tamil migrant ship Canada and its allies missed several opportunities to stop the MV Sun Sea before it left South Asia with almost 500 Sri Lankan Tamil migrants on board, a National Post investigation has found. The closest call was on May 9, when the Royal Thai Navy, acting on intelligence supplied by Australia, detected the Sun Sea in the Gulf of Thailand. But the ship was let go because it was outside Thai territorial waters.(National Post) Mervyn testifies Former Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva gave evidence today before the SLFP disciplinary committee appointed to inquire into the recent incident where he tied a Samurdhi official to a mango tree, officials said. The three member committee met for over two hours today as they began the hearing into the former Deputy Ministers actions. (Daily Mirror) UN 'should probe' Lanka violations The London based human rights watchdog, Amnesty International (AI) has called on the United Nations to independently investigate serious human rights violations in Sri Lanka. In a statement issued to mark the World Humanitarian Day, the AI recalls that many humanitarian workers and their relatives victimised during the height of the conflict are still waiting for justice.(BBC Sinhala) Fonseka 'expects jail sentence Former Sri Lankan armed forces chief Sarath Fonseka says he expects he will soon be given a jail sentence. Mr Fonseka, 59, said he expected to receive a jail sentence from a second military court trying him on charges of corruption.(BBC) Sri Lanka cuts interest rate to near six-year low to boost economic growth Though most critics talked about the war in Sri Lanka no one spoke of the hardships the armed forces had to undergo to defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa during his submissions to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee (LL&RC) in Colombo. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka lowered the reverse repurchase rate by half a percentage point to 9 percent, the lowest level since November 2004.(Bloomberg) We always considered the battle as a humanitarian operation, says Defence Secretary Though most critics talked about the war in Sri Lanka no one spoke of the hardships the armed forces had to undergo to defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa during his submissions to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee (LL&RC) in Colombo. The government had to study the strengths and weaknesses of the LTTE prior to engaging them. The President always maintained that the armed forces should consider the final battle against the Tigers as only a humanitarian operation and not as an all out war, the Defence Secretary further added during the fourth day of the LL&RC session.(Daily News)  No consultation with military before signing CFA – Former Defence Sec There had not been proper consultations with the military before the then government signed the CFA with the LTTE, Former Defence Secretary Austin Fernando said. Testifying before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission headed by former Attorney General C. R. de Silva, the former Defence Secretary said, although the military had expressed serious concerns, those in power had turned a blind eye to them thus allowing the Norwegians to finalize the CFA.(IsRIA) Rebuilding, but at a cost Wearinga crisp blue shirt, Kumaraswamy Nageswaran gestures dejectedly to a towering fence that keeps him from his village and his three acres of farmland on the Trincomalee coast. Five years ago, as Tamil Tiger rebels fought desperately with the Sri Lankan army, thousands of families fled Sampur and adjoining villages.(ISRIA) Ex-army chief calls Sri Lanka a 'dictatorship' Sri Lanka's ex-army chief called the government a "total dictatorship" and said Thursday that he will appeal his recent conviction by a military court, which he described as a political vendetta. Former Gen. Sarath Fonseka said the inquiry on charges he was involved in politics while still in the military was launched to persecute him for daring to challenge President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the presidential election earlier this year.(AP/Google) Australia's 'toxic' asylum issue Holed up in the dark stinking hull of a wooden fishing boat, Amalan, a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee, made a "nightmare" voyage to Australia. The 29-year-old had paid people-smugglers $15,000 (AU$16,600; £9,600) to help him escape his country's brutal civil conflict.(BBC) Roofing sheets given to Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha on Wednesday handed over the first lot of the third consignment of galvanised corrugated roofing sheets to Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development. The third consignment consists of 2600 MT of sheets valued at approximately $2.65 million and is meant to construct shelters for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North.(The Hindu) Super "Soul Sounds" Choir's debut performance in LA on Sept. 4th By Philip Fernando Sri Lanka Foundation will be hosting the acclaimed "Soul Sounds" choir on their inaugural tour of Los Angeles on Saturday, September 4th 2010. “Soul Sounds” is currently the number one choir in Sri Lanka and have won three gold medals at the 5th World Choir Games in Austria. Nalanda Old Boys donates US$ 6,156 to "Ranaviru Dudaru" scholarship fund By a special correspondent
The donation was handed over to Secretary of Defense, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Mr. Asoka Sellahewa, President of NCOBAA. |
 
          
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