Sri Lanka News

Mahinda Duttu Gemunu's ancestors are Malays

2009-11-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

Mahinda & family claim to be the descendants of Duttu Gemunu but Journalist Dushy Ranetunge says Mahinda's ancestors are Malays who settled in Sampanthotam

Hambantota, the main city of Hambantota District is located near the 148th mile (238-km) post along the Colombo-Galle-Matara-Tissamaharama highway.

Legend has it the archaic name of Hambantota appears to have been Sampanthurai. This word Sampan is said to have been derived from the Malay word meaning navigators, as the MALAYS, in the olden days were sea-farers who had come in their sailing vessels for barter trade. The word `Thurai` means a port - a Tamil derivation.

Another version, In the legends, `Hamban` is popularly known as an ethnic group called `Malay` or `Muslims` and `thota` means where those groups were landed. The sleepy fishing village of Hambantota (this is the Sinhalese rendition of the Malay words Sampan kota Harbour of small boats the name came from groups of Malays who settled here), a good six hours drive from Colombo. This type of sailing craft was commonly used for ocean navigation. It was quite popular among the Chinese, Malays and Moors who inhabited the Asian region.

Malays are a recognised minority ethnic group in Sri Lanka Most of them are the descendants of MALAY mercenaries who were brought to Sri Lanka in the 17th century by the Dutch.

Some Javanese convicts were banished to Sri Lanka by the Dutch. The more dangerous convicts were sent from Sri Lanka to Cape Town in South Africa . Being mercenaries, the Malays had always lived close to the centers of colonial power when they were not engaged in military campaigns. The native Lankan population was much more dispersed, and even today, Sri Lanka is not a very much urbanized country. Also the exiles were confined to the centers of colonial power because they had to be under control of the authorities. This urban base distinguishes the Malays from the Sinhalese and Tamils, and to a lesser degree from the Moors.

Except for the Javanese princes who were exiled to Sri Lanka by the Dutch, the Malay soldiers and others did

Top Sri Lankan general resigns and may challenge for presidency

2009-11-12T10:19:00.000-08:00

Sri Lanka's top general, who masterminded the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam after a 25-year civil war, has resigned from his post to enter politics as the head of a coalition against the country's president.

Senior Sri Lankan officials told the Guardian that General Sarath Fonseka met President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday to hand in his resignation, which was accepted immediately. The split appears to have been triggered by the president's efforts to take sole credit for wiping out the Tamil Tigers.

The last straw was when Fonseka was "promoted" to a new, largely ceremonial role last summer. That slight planted the seeds of rebellion. Fonseka is now considering challenging the president in an election to be held before April.

Polls for the country's parliament have to be held by May and it had been expected that the presidential election would take place at the same time. Analysts said Fonseka would become the face of a disparate opposition united by a loathing of Rajapaksa and his three brothers, who run the country as president, ministers and advisers.

"The opposition desperately needs a charismatic leader and the possibility of the general joining has electrified them," said Jehan Perera, a political columnist. "[Fonseka] has been openly saying it was the army that won the war. He is a nationalist … much more forthright perhaps than the Rajapaksa brothers."

Opposition parties talked up Fonseka's potential candidacy to unsettle the ruling alliance and help find any issue that can help them erode the incumbent's post-war popularity. If he did stand for office, Fonseka would be likely to cut deep into Rajapaksa's core vote.

The general is considered even more nationalistic than Rajapaksa. He told a reporter last year that Sri Lanka belonged to the Sinhalese majority and that minorities could not on the "pretext of being a minority demand undue things".

The desire to unseat Rajapaksa has brought about an unlikely alliance of Tamil parties, Sinhalese Marxists and the traditional ruling party. "These people have not tasted power for more than a decade. Fonseka is their last chance. So even the Tamil politicians will back him," said Perera.

The price of that support, says Perera, will be the dismantling of the powerful executive presidency. Many elected representatives fear Fonseka could entrench an autocracy.

"There's a fear that the general as president could become autocratic … that is why the politicians want a pre-poll pact with Fonseka promising good governance, fresh elections and a pledge to get rid of the executive presidency."

Such manoeuvring has not gone unnoticed in Colombo. In recent weeks the president's allies have been openly critical of the general, calling on him not to take "personal credit" for the victory. The army chief was said to have been angered by the offer of a job in the cabinet as "sports minister".

Rajapaksa, say some, overplayed his hand after the defeat of the Tigers in May. He annoyed the deeply conservative but powerful legal fraternity in Colombo by dismissing the then chief justice's criticism of the treatment of Tamil refugees after the war.

The president infuriated opposition parties by luring MPs over to his party with the promise of ministerial jobs. He is also accused of entrenching his power with a cult of personality – among the many titles bestowed on him by supporters are "Sri Lanka's Saviour, the Glorious Overlord of the Sinhalese and the Monarchical Emperor of the Glorious Land of Buddhism".

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sri Lanka Diplomatic Sparring Games with international heavyweights EU & U.S.

2009-11-08T18:25:00.000-08:00

One thing that has set apart the current administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa from those of his predecessors is its diplomatic duals with international heavyweights.

While battling the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the government took criticism of its conduct of the war and other rights violations by western nations in international fora head-on, and on more than one occasion came out a winner.

It has successfully fended off scrutiny at United Nation bodies like the Security Council and the U.N. Human Rights Council with the help of regional powers like India and China. Now once again the government is engaged in high-stakes diplomatic manoeuvres, this time with the U.S. and the European Union.

With the former, it is on the request by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to interview the former commander of Army and the current chief of defence staff Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka. With the EU it is over the extension of a preferable tariff waver known as Generalised System of Preference Plus or GSP Plus that was worth over 100 million U.S. dollars in 2008.

The EU last month released the report of an investigation it carried out on whether Sri Lanka should be given the GSP Plus extension. The report said that Sri Lanka was in breach of full implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The failure could spell the end, at least temporarily, of the tariff concessions.

The Sri Lankan government had until Nov. 6 to make an appeal or representations against the suspension. The government submitted a 48- page document to the EU in Colombo on Nov. 6, titled Observations of the GOSL [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 .

The report challenged the findings of the EU report. It said, `in this situation, of the very foundation of the (EU) Report being in question, it would be reasonable to keep action on the document in abeyance, while the authorities of the European Commission and the Government of Sri Lanka continue a constructive engagement concerning the issues at hand.`

The government has maintained that while not cooperating with the EU investigation, its preferred mode of negotiation was through bilateral dialogue.

`The government of Sri Lanka is taking positive action (on the GSP Plus extension),` Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said on Nov. 5. `We are in dialogue with the EU.`

High-level Sri Lankan diplomats accredited to the EU in Brussels were in Sri Lanka finalising the government`s response over this week before it was handed over. Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris told the Sri Lankan parliament on Nov. 5 that the government had prepared a comprehensive response to the EU report.

Immediately after the October EU report came out, Peiris said that the government would not change its stance and subject itself to any kind of EU investigation. The government had rejected EU requests for an investigation in October 2008 and maintained that such an investigation from foreign powers would undermine the country s sovereignty.

The EU too has said that it wanted to keep an open dialogue with the Sri Lankan government. EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka Bernard Savage told IPS last month the EU hoped that continued dialogue would result in a positive development.

Some members of the EU have been staunch critics of the government s war efforts, but they have had limited clout within the U.N. to force any kind of resolution against Sri Lanka.

The U.S. has also been vociferous in its criticism of the conduct of Sri Lanka s decades-long war that finally ended in May. The State Department last month released a report to Congress on the conduct of the final months of the war. It was critical of both the armed forces and the defeated Tigers.

The rising diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Sri Lanka went up by notches when on Oct. 28 the DHS requested Lt Gen Fonseka to attend a voluntary meeting at the DHS office in Oklahoma. Fonseka, who is a U.S. green card holder, was in the U.S. visiting his daughters but was travelling on a Sri Lankan diplomatic passport.

According to Bogollagama the DHS officials had informed Fonseka he was to be interviewed as a source on Defence Secretary Gottabaya Rajapaksa and alleged war crimes. Rajapaksa, who is a U.S. citizen, was instrumental in leading the final war efforts alongside Fonseka.

The Sri Lankan government immediately called the request for the interview beyond U.S. jurisdiction. Bogollagama said that Fonseka was privy to privileged information due to his office and he could not share them with a third party without the approval of the government.

`There is no separation between your public life and private life (when you hold high office),` he said, referring to the nature of Fonseka s visit.

He met with the U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka, Patricia Butenis, on Nov. 2 and conveyed the government position. He also held a telephone discussion with Butenis on the night of Nov. 3. The U.S. ambassador had informed the foreign minister that she would convey Colombo s position to Washington. The U.S. Embassy in Colombo and the DHS office were tight-lipped on the details of the interview that was scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Nov. 4, U.S. time, at the DHS Oklahoma office.

As the country waited in suspense to see whether Fonseka would in fact attend the meeting, in the afternoon of Nov. 4, Sri Lankan time, about 18 hours before he was to attend the meeting, news broke in the Sri Lankan parliament that Fonseka had left the U.S.

His departure was hailed as a diplomatic success by the Sri Lankan foreign office. `I consider it as a success of the diplomatic relationship (between Sri Lanka and the U.S.),` Minister Bogollagama said on Thursday morning after Fonseka had arrived on the island.

Bogollagama said that Fonseka had initially agreed to attend the interview but had later changed his mind after the government conveyed its decision. Before the request for the interview with Fonseka, Defence Secretary Rajapaksa had been interviewed on arrival in the U.S. by immigration officials when he was travelling as a delegate to the U.N. General Assembly sessions in October.

Bogollagama, who was present at the interview, said that Rajapaksa was interviewed as the Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka and not on the basis of his U.S. citizenship. He did not divulge any details of the interview but said he saw no connection between the immigration interview with Rajapaksa and the DHS request for one with Fonseka.

In between the two came the State Department s 68-page report to Congress on the conduct of the last phase of Sri Lanka s ethnic conflict. The sequence of events has led nationalist groups in Colombo to accuse the U.S. of trying use high-handed tactics.

`This attempt to interview the general is an effort to influence the sovereignty of Sri Lanka,` member of parliament for the People s Liberation Front Vijitha Herath said. The same accusation has been levelled against the EU that of using financial instruments like tax concessions to influence internal decision making in Sri Lanka.

By the end of the week, though, Bogollagama appeared to be satisfied that the latest diplomatic storms had been weathered. But many more may be around the corner.

Diabetes afflicts around two million in Sri Lanka

2009-11-08T15:22:00.000-08:00

About two million people suffer from diabetes in Sri Lanka. It has been observed that diabetes patients are on the increase in the urban areas than the rural areas. Therefore it is clear that the disease affects all, irrespective of age, gender, including pregnant women and the younger generation.

Professor of Pharmacology attached to the Medical Faculty of Colombo University, Dr. Kusum Abrew expressed her concern about mal-function of vital organs such as heart, eyes and kidneys leading to coronary disease, vision impairness and paralysis due to this disease.

Children Hospital Specialist Dr. Pujitha Wickramasinghe reiterated that this disease is incurable but controllable when proper treatment is taken. “You could prevent this disease by maintaining the weight of the body in preparation to your height, curtailing consumption of sugar and oily food and engaging in proper exercise and avoiding stress. Grain-food, vegetables, fruit and food containing fibre should be essentially included in the meals,” he said.

It has been indicated that the Diabetes parents are in rapid increase in the world, Sri Lanka Diabetes Association strives very hard to battle the disease in Sri Lanka.

The World Diabetes Day is to be commemorated on November 14 under the theme ‘Awareness and Prevention of Diabetes,’ a media release from the Information Department states.

Statistical report of Sri Lanka Diabetes Association indicates that about 275 million people suffer from this disease in the world. Sri Lanka Diabetes Association Secretary Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya told at a media conference at the National Diabetes Centre, that annually 3.8 million people die of this disease in the world and seven million new patents are being diagnosed.

Source: Daily News

SLIIT wins international competition

2009-11-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

The Sri Lankan team from the Sri Lanka Institute of Technology (SLIIT), became the first runner up in the Asia Pacific NetRiders Skills Competition 2009 held recently beating 15 countries across the Asia Pacific region over Tele Presence and Webex.

Sri Lanka competed with countries such as Australia, Hong Kong, China, India, Korea, New Zealand, and Singapore, to win this competition.

The SLIIT team was selected to represent Sri Lanka in this competition by winning all three positions at the National Cisco Competition held recently at the `Achievers 2009`, the tenth anniversary exhibition of SLIIT. Forty teams comprising 120 students participated from the three Cisco networking academies in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan team was led by Thilina Senevirathna, the other members being M. F. Faraj and Yoshan Weerasingha of SLIIT.

Prof. Sam Karunaratne, Chairman, SLIIT lauded the performance of SLIIT students in the field of Networking. SLIIT Managing Director Prof. Lalith Gamage said `This competition provided a platform at Asia Pacific level for networking students in Sri Lanka, which enables them to benchmark their skills.

We fully support Cisco`s efforts in offering an industry ready curriculum for students to enhance their understanding of IT networking and gain specialization in various streams of this segment.

The competition provided them an opportunity to showcase their technical skills in IT networking and nurture their skills across all areas of IT networking. We are indeed proud of our Cisco students` achievement at this international network competition`.

Gold price hits record after 'Sri Lanka purchase'

2009-11-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

AFP- The price of gold hit a record high above 1,100 dollars an ounce in trading here on Friday following a report that Sri Lanka had joined India in purchasing the precious metal in favour of the US currency.

"The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has announced that it is buying gold to diversify its reserves," industry body the World Gold Council (WGC) said in a statement issued before gold struck a record high of 1,101.42 dollars.

It later pulled back to stand at 1,092.65 dollars an ounce in late London trading.

Gold had struck a series of highs already this week after the IMF said it had carried out a massive sale of the precious metal to India.

"Over the past year central banks, which have been net sellers of gold are now a new and increasingly important source of demand," WGC chief executive Aram Shishmanian said in the council's statement.

"This latest announcement demonstrates that many central banks are reassessing their reserve asset management policies."

Gold had reached a record high of 1,087.80 dollars on Tuesday as the IMF said it had sold 200 tonnes of gold to India's central bank over a two-week period last month for 6.7 billion dollars to bolster its finances.

Gold and other commodity prices have surged in recent months amid a move away from the dollar, which has been slumping. The move accelerated last month on a report that Gulf states may stop using the greenback for oil trading.

The metal is also winning support from fears over a possible spike in inflation, as gold is widely regarded by investors as a safe store of value.

The sale to India was nearly half the 403.3 tonnes of gold that the IMF has targeted for sale over the coming years.

The Washington-based IMF, which currently holds 3,217 tonnes of gold, is the third-largest official holder of the precious metal after the United States and Germany.

India is the world's biggest consumer of gold, importing between 700 and 800 tonnes of the metal every year or 20 percent of global demand.

A senior IMF official said that the IMF was "lucky" in selling the 200 tonnes to India for roughly 1,045 dollars an ounce, compared with 850 dollars an ounce in April 2008.

Gold's price, which has risen more than 20 percent this year, has a bright future thanks to improving demand caused by the financial crisis, industry experts said this week.

"Although it's difficult to predict in the short term, the overall picture is very healthy," Mark Lynam, an executive for AngloGold Ashanti -- the world's third largest gold producer -- told the London Bullion Market Association annual conference in Edinburgh.

Plush London department store Harrods last month surprised the retail industry by starting to sell gold bars, with prices fluctuating according to the current market price.

Sri Lanka shares up from 2-mo low on bargain hunting

2009-11-06T06:31:00.000-08:00

COLOMBO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's shares .CSE rose on Friday from a near two-month low, as investors bought shares battered in the recent fall, triggered by weak investor appetite on economic woes and trade union protests ahead of national polls.

The All-Share Price Index of the Colombo Stock Exchange jumped 1.99 percent or 56.80 points to 2911.62, from its lowest close since Sept. 15. It fell 5 percent in five straight sessions up until Thursday.

Analysts said cautious investors bought shares across the board, but in thin volume due to economic and protest worries.

The bourse has fallen 7 percent since the government said on Oct. 13 it will hold national polls by April.

Frequent protests and trade union actions have dampened investor confidence, which had been already on the decline on worries of political uncertainty ahead of national polls.

Investors are also wary of a likely loss of a European Union trade concession that helped boost Sri Lanka's top export, garments, as the EU has been considering to withdraw the concession over a rights abuse probe.

Worries of lower-than-expected corporate earnings and the arrest of one of Sri Lanka's main investors in a U.S. insider trading case in mid-October, have also hampered a market rise. For more political risks, click [ID:nSP478539]

Conglomerate Carson Cumberbatch CARS.CM surged 5.56 percent to 327.25 rupees, while top listed private lender Commercial Bank of Ceylon COMB.CM rose 4.03 percent to 174.25 rupees.

Market heavyweight John Keells Holdings JKH.CM, which posted a 43 percent dip in net profit in the September quarter [ID:nCOL450119] last week, gained 2.38 percent to 140 rupees.

Turnover was 357.7 million rupees ($3.12 million), less than last year's daily average of 464 million rupees.

With 93.7 percent return so far this year, the CSE is still one of the best performing bourses in Asia.

The rupee LKR= closed flat at 114.80/85 a dollar with the central bank buying dollars at 114.80 for a twelfth straight week, dealers said.

Sri Lanka central bank on Thursday said it will allow foreign currency outflows up to $500,000 for foreign investments without its approval with effect from December. [ID:nCOL542636]

The interbank lending rate or call money rate CLIBOR edged up to 9.079 percent from Thursday's 9.079 percent.

Two Sri Lankans beheaded in Saudi for theft and murder

2009-11-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

Riyadh - Two Sri Lankans, one of them a woman, and an Indian were beheaded by the sword in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Wednesday for theft and murder, the Saudi interior ministry said.

Mohammed Barmil from India and Sri Lankan Bandar Nikar entered the home of Mariam Hussein, a Saudi woman, suffocated her and stole money and jewellery, official SPA news agency reported, quoting a ministry statement.

They had entered with the help of Hussein's Sri Lankan maid, Halima Abdelkader, the ministry said.

The beheadings took to 59 the number of executions in Saudi Arabia this year. Last year, Saudi Arabia put 102 people to death.

Capital punishment can be imposed for crimes of rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking under the country's strict Islamic shari'ah laws.

Source: AFP

Protesting graduates clash with police near Hilton

2009-11-04T04:54:00.000-08:00

A large number of protesting unemployed graduates who begun a march to Temple Trees from the Fort railway station clashed with riot police after they were stopped near the Hilton Hotel in Colombo. Some roads in the area were closed as result of the protest.

According to reports the students had to disregard the barricade and had pushed them over in their attempt to reach Temple Trees, but were forced to stop when the police fired tear gas and water at them.

The protesting unemployed graduates were sitting out on the road opposite the Hilton hotel and the immediate vicinity, obstructing traffic.

The roads in the area opposite the Hilton hotel and Lake House had been temporarily closed.

Source: www.dailymirror.lk

UNP Parliamentarian Range Bandara and his family engaged in a protest opposite the Parliament

2009-11-04T04:49:00.000-08:00

UNP MP Range Bandara yesterday launched a protest at the entrance to Parliament with his three children demanding an immediate inquiry into the recent destruction of his house in the Chilaw police area. UNP and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who joined Bandara, said that the government had failed to apprehend the gang responsible for the attack though the MP provided information regarding the attack. Bandara vowed to continue protests until the police brought the perpetrators before a Court of law. However, Bandara s first wife who had arrived at the scene took her children away insisting that they should not be dragged into political protests.

The U.S. Wants to Talk to Sri Lanka`s Tiger Tamer

2009-11-03T11:55:00.000-08:00

To many Sri Lankans, Lieut. 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 Security (DHS) to interview Fonseka about the war has raised angry protests from the highest official ranks in Sri Lanka.

According to Fonseka and other Sri Lankan officials, the DHS contacted the general on Oct. 28 during his trip to the U.S. to visit his daughters, who live in Oklahoma. Fonseka, who holds a U.S. green card permanent-residency certificate, was asked to show up for an interview on Nov. 4. According to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Fonseka had been told by the DHS official that the objective of the interview was to `use him as a source against Defense Secretary Gottabaya Rajapaksa.` Apart from being a co-author of the successful campaign against the Tigers, Gottabaya Rajapaksa is also the brother of Sri Lanka`s President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Responding to previous international criticism, the Sri Lankan government declared that it would not subject any of its military commanders or civilian officials who led the war to any kind of international investigation or war-crimes tribunal. The apparent request from American officials led to a similar dismissal. In the U.S., the DHS`s office of Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), which reportedly made the Fonseka request, refused to confirm or deny the allegation. ICE spokesman Brandon Alvarez-Montgomery said: `If there was an investigation, there`s nothing we can provide. Especially in cases that are very sensitive under human-rights violations, until that person or group were fully investigated [we] would never comment.`

Foreign Minister Bogollagama said he had made his government`s concerns clear to the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis. `The U.S. authorities should not exert procedures on [Fonseka],` Bogollagama said. `The interview should not take place.` The Sri Lankan government believes that despite Fonseka`s status as a green-card holder, the U.S. does not have any jurisdiction over him at this point because he entered the country on a Sri Lankan passport. `General Fonseka is a citizen of Sri Lanka and he holds a diplomatic passport from Sri Lanka,` said Bogollagama. The minister said that Fonseka could not divulge privileged information he knew of the war and its conduct without approval from his superiors and the Sri Lankan government.

Defense Secretary Rajapaksa who also happens to be a U.S. citizen was interviewed for about an hour on arrival by immigration officials when he was in New York City as part of Sri Lanka`s delegation to the U.N. General Assembly sessions in October. `It happened and I was there,` said Bogollagama. `We took all the necessary actions that were required.`

The report of the DHS interview request comes at a curious time in Sri Lankan politics. Fonseka has been the subject of speculation that he may run against President Rajapaksa in the next election. Some political observers claim that the Rajapaksa brothers are trying to sideline the general, an allegation that the Defense Secretary has denied. `This is nothing but a despicable plot being hatched at the expense of the entire country,` Defense Secretary Rajapaksa told a weekend newspaper amid reports of a growing gulf between Fonseka and the government.

But on Oct. 26, Fonseka seemed to have veered away from a hard-line stance he shared with the Rajapaksas. At a Buddhist temple in Washington, he spoke of the `need to resettle persons who are in camps and provide security to them.` That appears to be a softening of his previous position that the peace-and-order climate in the areas reconquered by the military should not be undermined by speedy resettlement. Sri Lanka has an estimated 186,000 internally displaced people, refugees from the war with the Tigers. He warned that there might still be thousands of Tigers among them and that they needed to be weeded out. He said nothing about his alleged presidential ambitions, only that `the people who really know the victory are those who went to battle.`

Source: TIME Magazine / CNN

Fiji expels Australian and New Zealand envoys over visa issue for Lankan judges

2009-11-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama Tuesday ordered the Australian and New Zealand envoys to leave within 24 hours over alleged interference in Fiji's judiciary after a number of Sri Lankan judges appointed to serve in the Fijian judiciary had been told they would not be able to travel through Australia to take up their new jobs, an accusation denied by Canberra.

Full statement by the Fiji ruler:

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=66700

S'porean faces US trial over LTTE arms case

2009-11-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

SINGAPORE, Nov 3, 2009 - A Singaporean opposition party member will be extradited to the United States and tried for allegedly trying to supply arms to Sri Lanka's defeated Tamil Tiger rebels, officials here said Tuesday.

Businessman Balldev Naidu, 47, is facing six charges including conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation and possession of a firearm in 2006, a court official told AFP.

The Singapore Police said Naidu was arrested on September 22 following a US extradition request

He is alleged to have conspired with another Singaporean, Haniffa Osman, now serving a 37-month US jail term for trying to buy weapons for the Tamil Tigers, who were routed by Sri Lankan troops in May, the Straits Times reported.

The newspaper added that the US charges correspond to Singapore's laws against financing of terrorist groups.

Naidu is a founding member of Singapore's opposition Reform Party but its secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam said Tuesday that the US charges involved alleged activities before the party was set up in 2008.

He described Naidu as "a gentle family man and someone who would never intentionally become involved with terrorists or arms dealers."

"In a way, it is for the best that he should be extradited speedily to the US so that this matter can be resolved as soon as possible," Jeyaretnam said.

"I have confidence in the US judicial system which, unlike Singapore, provides for court-appointed legal representation and trial by jury. Balldev has maintained his innocence throughout and I am hopeful that when this goes to trial he will be fully exonerated."

Singapore has been home to a close-knit Tamil minority since British colonial days and hosts thousands of workers from Sri Lanka and southern India. Tamil is one of Singapore's official languages. (AFP)

Bulgarian investors interested in Sri Lanka's business opportunities

2009-11-01T22:01:00.000-08:00

The visiting Bulgarian team of over 70 investors gathered in Colombo today to learn about the investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.

The visiting businessmen attended a forum in Colombo organized by the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka under the patronage of Minister of Export Development and International Trade, Prof. G.L. Peiris to introduce the small scale Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to the Bulgarian investors.

The Minister apprised the Bulgarian team of the availability of investment opportunities in the country during the forum pointing out that this is the most appropriate time to invest as the country is undergoing massive reconstruction projects following the successful conclusion of the three-decade old conflict.

The Minister expressed his appreciation to the delegation for visiting the country to explore investment opportunities at this time.

Among the attendees were Bulgarian Economic and Energy Minister Trivo Trikov, President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Stephen Simionov, BOI Chairman Dhammika Perera and Export Development Board Chairman Anil Koswatte.

Stay away from Sri Lanka's internal matters, US warned

2009-11-01T21:35:00.000-08:00

Several Sri Lankan political parties today asked the United States government to stay back from the country's internal matters as they could resolve each and every problem inside the island country.

Speaking at a press briefing held in Colombo this evening the Leader of Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Somawansa Amarasinghe said that the US Government has no right to question General Sarath Fonseka over the war in Sri Lanka or related matters.

He stressed that Sri Lanka could resolve its internal matters as they have finished the thirty-year long war without any assistance from the Western countries such as the US.

The Marxist Leader asked the Sri Lankan government to take necessary actions to safeguard the rights of every person who sacrificed their lives to save the country from LTTE terrorism.

Meanwhile, issuing a statement the General Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya, a political party representing the country's Buddhist monks too said they would go for tough actions if the US government attempts to interfere in Sri Lanka's internal matters.

It was reported that the Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka, now on a private visit to the United States has been asked by US officials to give evidence against Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa over alleged human rights abuses.

Policeman involved in youth's drowning in Sri Lanka capital surrenders

2009-10-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

A policeman who was wanted in connection with the alleged assault that led to the drowning of a Tamil youth in Bambalapitiya yesterday surrendered to the Bambalapitiya police, the police said.

Police spokesman Senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka said that the suspect is now in police custody after he surrendered this afternoon.

The youth, whose body was washed ashore today, was identified by his brother as Sivakumaran of Ratmalana.

According to the media reports the man was throwing stones at the trains and cars when a group of people chased him down to the beach and attacked him.

Reportedly the policeman attached to the Bambalapitiya Police was among the group of people who attacked the youth. He was not in uniform at the time, Police spokesman Senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka said

Colombo Crime Division is conducting investigations to apprehend the other culprits, the spokesman said.

A video footage of the assault, obtained by a private TV channel was aired on the TV last night.

Sri Lanka wants Malaysians to invest in its tourism sector

2009-10-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

The Sri Lanka government is seeking to attract Malaysian investors to its tourism sector as it targets 2.5 million tourist arrivals in 2016.

Sri Lanka tourism development authority director general S. Kalaiselvam said with the resolution of the civil conflict, tourist arrivals into the country had increased sharply and the number was expected to move beyond the average 500,000 visitors annually now.

“We are looking at investments coming into the country,” he told reporters after the “Visit Sri Lanka” presentation yesterday.

He said several tourism resorts and sites had been identified and there were 13 islands that would offer enormous potential for investors.

Kalaiselvam said at present the country had 14,000 rooms that could cater to 800,000 tourists.

However, to accommodate 2.5 million tourists, 50,000 rooms would be needed.

“We are waiting for the private sector to come in and invest,” he said.

He said that while two decades of civil war had put a lid on its tourism industry, now that the war was over, the industry was expected to thrive.

“We are confident of achieving our target in 2016. It is an achievable target. One third of the country which was previously closed to the tourism industry, is now open. We also have a low tourist base,” he said.

He also said Malaysia was one of its key target countries and Malaysian tourist arrivals had also been steadily increasing since July.

“In July there was a 28% increase (year-on-year), in August 34% and September 26%.

Looking at the trend, we are confident that we would be having an increase in numbers from Malaysia,” he said, without divulging any figures.

Source: www,biz.thestar.com.my

some are trying to take credit for war victory but troops know who deserve it

2009-10-29T08:59:00.001-07:00

Chief if Defense staff , Gen. Fonseka addressing a gathering at a SL Buddhist Temple in Washington said, there are attempts being made by some to appropriate credit for the war victory , but only troops on the ground know as to who deserves the credit.

As I led the war operations , I know how much the soldiers sacrificed. 5000 of them died , 28000 of them were maimed. I am indebted to them , he added.

Endless celebrations over the victory is not the way forward. Unless measures are taken to consolidate the victory by follow up action , more Prabhakarans can emerge, he warned. Some people in Colombo think the victory was easy . It was secured at a tremendous price after much sacrifices during the 30 years of war.

It is the responsibility of all to move the country forward on development. Generals wont wear uniforms always, he observed.

New joint opposition alliance to launch in Sri Lanka next week

2009-10-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

The new joint opposition alliance led by the United National Party (UNP) is to be launched on 03rd of November.

Making a special announcement to media this evening the General Secretary of the UNP, MP Tissa Attanayake said the agreements will be signed at the parliament complex on the 03rd of November.

The four main political parties, United National Party, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Western People's Front, and the Peoples Faction of Sri Lanka Freedom Party will sign for the agreements first, he added.

According to MP Attanayake nearly 15 political parties and civil organizations have already agreed to sign this new joint opposition alliance.

The United National Party invites all the progressive factions to join hands with this new alliance which is being formed mainly to abolish the executive presidency.

UNP yesterday extended an open invitation to Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to join them, but the JVP has straightly rejected it.

Sri Lanka state engineers on large scale international contacts

2009-10-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Facilitating the Sri Lanka State Engineering Corporation (SEC) to penetrate the international market, Majuliya YWC Builders, a Malaysian company, has signed an agreement with the SEC for a joint venture to undertake international building contracts, the government sources said.

In accordance with the terms of the agreement the Malaysian company will facilitate the SEC to engage in large scale construction projects outside the country by providing funding and helping in the development of infrastructure facilities.

Witnessing the signing of the agreement, Construction and Engineering Services Minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathna said, "this was a historic agreement which would facilitate the Mahinda Chinthana vision of introducing construction sector services to the international market."

As long as the Malaysian Company provides the financial aid for international contract bonds on behalf of the SEC, there will be no problems for providing bonds for international contracts, the release said.

The agreement was signed by Acting Chairman of the SEC, Thinsula Liyanage on behalf of the SEC and Managing Director Iyup Lung Henge on behalf of the Malaysian Company. Malaysian High Commissioner Rose Ismail and other Ministry officials were also present.

Crisis in Sri Lankan health sector worsening

2009-10-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

Worsening the problems faced by the Sri Lankan Health officials, intrusive materials have been recovered from more medicine bottles in the country's government hospitals.

According to the doctors of Tangalle hospital in Southern Sri Lanka, three vials of vaccine containing pieces of glass have been found yesterday evening.

The vials have been handed over to the Hambanthota Medical Officer of Health for further investigation.

Earlier doctors at the Ratnapura, Embilipitiya, Elpitiya and Anuradhapura have also found several drug bottles with intrusive materials.

The Health Ministry has already begun a special investigation over the issue, but failed to see any progress yet.

Meanwhile the Health Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday called for explanations from drug importers over the issue within three days.

A devil in Sri Lanka's parliament

2009-10-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

People in Kelaniya were amazed to learn that there is a devil in the Sri Lankan parliament who could protect people rather than harming them.

Controversial Labor Minister Mervyn Silva who represents Kelaniya seat in the parliament addressing a function today (Oct 28) revealed that he was a devil.

Minister Silva further said that he was not a devil who harms people but that he was a devil who protects people.

Then he informed his constituents of his pedigree and affirmed that he was indeed a descendent of the King Dutugemunu.

Sri Lanka President to visit Nepal today

2009-10-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to leave for Nepal today (29) on a two-day official visit, the Presidential Media Unit said.

President Rajapaksa is visiting Nepal to complete his early visit to the country which was interrupted by the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan ceicket team in Lahore in March this year.

During his stay President Rajapaksa is expected to hold discussions with his Nepali counterpart Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and other top political leaders.

President Rajapaksa also will pay a visit to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, and inaugurate a monastery constructed by Sri Lanka, Nepal news media reported.

Country burning with problems : only media suppression and people oppression are Govt.’s solutions- Ranil Wickremesinghe

2009-10-28T02:57:00.000-07:00

UNP and opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing Trade unions at the Cambridge place Office yesterday (27) , said, while the country is burning with raging problems , the President and his Govt. are not seeking solutions to them , but only moving heaven and earth to suppress the media which exposes the Govt. weaknesses, corruption and backstreet politics , while also oppressing the people with untold hardships.

The Govt. is so jittery and unstable , it is even trying to hide the truths seeping through the media. He was referring to the latest action of the Govt. to forbid publication of reports on military leaders and their entry to politics. This is clear testimony of the Govt.’s worry . It is very unfortunate that this Govt. is obsessed only with matters concerning its power perpetuation . It is shaken because the military leaders , if they come to politics will be a threat to it. It has no concern about uplifting the people or with country’s development and progress. If there is even a slightest threat to its power from the remotest quarters , it gets cold feet . But even if the people are in dire problems and acutely suffering , the Govt. elected by the people for the people is not worried.

It is the President who has the power to decide on the date of the election. He can call for a Presidential election before the term is over . Those decisions are of the President , and the UNP is not concerned about his decisions. The UNP has no need to focus on the Presidential elections until it is announced.. At the moment the focus is on human rights protection , Ranil added.

The emergency regulations do not preclude journalists from reporting on military or matters pertaining to Presidential candidates. Yet , the Govt. is unduly worried. The constitution is more important than the emergency laws . Section 14 of the constitution guarantees freedom of expression of the people. This should be preserved.

There is nothing wrong in the Media Reporting of a military officer going to contest Presidential election. Such news deserve publication not suppressed., he pinpointed

Govt. is in for rude shocks – Dayasiri Jayasekera

2009-10-28T02:52:00.000-07:00

Addressing a news conference , UNP M.P. Dayasiri Jayasekera dropped a bombshell by disclosing that many of the Govt. allies are in negotiation with the UNP to join the prospective Common alliance headed by the UNP. The Govt. is in for a rude shock , he added.

Answering questions raised by the media , he said , the UNP has still not decided on the Presidential candidate , but he can assure the candidate will be surefire victor at the elections. The Govt. is on the other hand is so confused , it has got its priorities mixed up . Even it is unable to decide on which elections shall be held first , Presidential or General. It is still believing only in passing laws to erode the media rights. This is because its fears of its corruption and malpractices getting exposed is growing day by day.

The Govt. is spending Rs. 18 billion to build Chaityas in 9 provinces ,while neglecting the thousands and thousands of maimed soldiers who made sacrifices in the battle field. Citing an instance , he said , when he visited a house of a maimed soldier , he found his house did not even have proper latrine facilities. Forgetting them , the Govt. is only interested in seeking cheap political publicity, he noted.