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We wish our readers a
Happy and Peaceful New Year - 2007
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Sunday December 31st, 2006 |
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Three LTTE camps overrun, 35 cadres
dead
Karuna strikes in the East
Rebel Karuna faction struck heavily on three LTTE camps in
Batticaloa yesterday morning, allegedly killing 35 Wanni cadres
including a local Area Commander and injuring at least 20 more.
Some 200 Karuna cadres, attached to the commando and deep
penetration units of the renegade group, attacked a VIP, women’s
and training camp situated in Paddiruppu in the Kalawanchikudy
area at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
A spokesman for the Karuna Group, the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai
Pullikkal, Azath Moulana told The Nation yesterday that Special
Commander ‘Pillayan’ had led the attack which targeted a high
ranking LTTE cadre supposed to be in one of the ...
Defiant Saddam refuses hood in quick
execution
 (AFP)
- A defiant Saddam Hussein refused to wear a hood over
his head before the noose was wrapped around his neck and a trap
door dropped beneath his feet, eyewitnesses to Saturday’s
hanging said.
The ousted leader mounted the gallows inside a former torture
centre in Kadhimiyah in northern Baghdad and was hanged just
before 6:00 am (0300 GMT), said National Security Adviser
Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, who was among those present.
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Army
Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka with the two
sons of the soldier who was the outrider in his security
convoy and died in the LTTE suicide attempt on the
Commander inside the Army Headquarters in April. The
outrider obstructed the suicide bomber from reaching the
Army Commander’s vehicle. Our shutterbug Ishara S.
Kodikara captured the Commander while he was attending a
function to commemorate the fallen heroes of the Sinha
Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army yesterday at the
Regimental Headquarters in Ambepussa.
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Govt. asks Norway to break peace deadlock
The Norwegians have been told by the government to devise a
system to break the present deadlock between the government and
the LTTE using their expertise and experience in peace
negotiations.
They had been told not to limit their role to a post box but to
formulate a system to thaw the ice. The Norwegians had also
discussed the Allan Rock report with the government, where it
was alleged that the Karuna group was working hand in glove with
the government. The example cited by the Norwegian facilitators
was that there were two STF bunkers situated alongside Karuna
camps in the East.President declares
war on mosquitoes
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to appoint a special Presidential
Task Force to combat the mosquito menace in Colombo and in other
parts of the country which had created serious problems during
the past few months.
The President had noted with deep concern the amount of mosquito
coils burnt during the night and the toxic fumes emanating from
them that are inhaled
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NEWS |
Ravindra in new act
 Popular
actor and former UNP MP, Ravindra Randeniya is to be
appointed Presidential Spokesman shortly, The Nation
learns. Randeniya represented the UNP first as a
National List MP and subsequently as an elected member
from the Gampaha District.
Strengthen Parliament, COPE, PAC: Bandula
UNP Finance Spokesman and Colombo District MP Bandula
Gunawardena on Friday implored President Mahinda
Rajapaksa to fortify Parliament, the Committee on Public
Enterprises (COPE) and the Public Accounts Committee in
the best interest of the national economy.
GM food laws becomes effective
from Jan.1
Regulations on the importation and marketing of
genetically modified foods will come into effect from
January1, and such food has to be labeled thereafter to
inform the consumer that it contains genetically
modified material.
The new regulations cited as Food (Control of Import,
Labeling and Sale of Genetically Modified Foods)
Regulations 2006 are to come into operation with effect
from midnight today. (January 1, 2007).
President calls for tolerance
in New Year message
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his New Year message to
the nation has called on the people to re-dedicate
themselves to defeat terrorism and foster tolerance and
understanding.
Protect your pets from the
New Year blast!
The blast of firecrackers, especially on the night of
December 31 to herald the New Year, can be a danger to
pet dogs. Make sure your pet dog is protected from this
blast of the New Year, animal protection organization
Sathva Mithra said yesterday in a statement.
Population boom, cause for
human-elephant conflict
At least 1834 elephants perished and 742 humans killed
due to human-elephant conflict during the last 15 years.
Prof. Sarath Kotagama of Colombo University, presenting
the data said, “The highest number of human deaths
numbering 81, was reported in 1999.”
Fate of cargo in LTTE
hijacked ship unknown
The LTTE-hijacked Jordanian ship was still lying off the
coast of Mullaitivu while the Navy and the LTTE trade
charges on the fate of the 14,000 ton cargo of rice on
the holds of the ship. Navy Spokesman, Commander B.K.P
Dassanayake told The Nation that they are thoroughly
monitoring the vessel throughout.
At last govt. to check
illegal land filling
In the wake of the large scale devastation caused by
recent floods, the Government has suspended all land
filling operations till January 31, 2007 until a
complete survey is done of sensitive land areas which
have to be preserved to prevent flash floods.
Electoral committee to meet Ranil to
iron out differences
The Parliament Select Committee on Electoral Reforms will meet
Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in the second
week of January to reach a consensus with regard to the draft
proposals presented by both parties on election reforms, The
Nation learns. |
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 Police
elite arm- the Special Task Force (STF) personnel engaging in a
battle front simulation at the STF passing out parade held last
Friday at STF training facility Katukurunda. - Pic by
Ishara S. Kodikara |
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POLITICS |
 Is
our foreign policy in safe hands?
The question needs to be asked in the context of
concerns that have been voiced against Sri Lankan
interests in various fora with little or no reaction
from Colombo, at least officially.
There was a German minister announcing that it was
freezing financial aid for post-Tsunami
reconstruction. It was the reasoning behind the move
that was astounding. This was done to prompt the
Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to come to the negotiating table,
Overseas Development Minister Heidemarie
Wieczorek-Zeul announced and urged other European
countries to do the same.
Tug-of-war for Foreign
Ministry Secretary post
Controversy is brewing regarding one of the key
positions in the Sri Lankan administrative setup.
The coveted position of Secretary to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs is vacant since the retirement of
Siri Palihakkara recently. The matter which would
have been yet another procedural appointment to a
head of a ministry, has now developed in to a major
talking point, with the President and the Foreign
Minister differing in their opinion as to the most
suitable candidate for the job.
Finding the right head
to manage the foreign frontier
The task of a consummate diplomat is to balance the
fiery passion for his country with a quiet
professional cool. H. M. G. S. Palihakkara combined
both qualities in serving his country abroad and at
home. When at the peak of his career he was
appointed as head of the Foreign Ministry he brought
in exceptional skills of handling complex issues,
international relations and inter-personal
sensitivities – all which he had guided with the
soft and sure touch of a seasoned and unflappable
diplomat. |
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NEWS FEATURES |
Sethu dredging begins amidst sea of controversy
The Tamil Nadu Government has inaugurated the excavating and dredging of the
Sethusamudram Canal Project on December 11 across Adam’s Bridge, ignoring
warnings from defence analysts about the potential threats to naval and
commercial ships from terrorist attacks.
According to top officials, ...Govt.
poised to acquire Kelani Valley club house
The government under immense pressure is to acquire soon the
Kelani Valley Planters’ Club that has been treasured by estate
superintendents since 1884.
The pressure stems mainly from the Chief Buddhist priest of a
temple in Talduwa which is situated a few meters away from the
planters’ club who says the Club is engaged in nefarious
activities and therefore it should come under the government
control. |
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SPORTS |
Lanka under pressure to retain Moody
 Sri
Lanka coach Tom Moody is the hottest property going in the
international cricket circuit. He is being head-hunted by three
other countries after the 2007 cricket World Cup and the
pressure is building on Sri Lanka to retain him.
Moody’s contract with Sri Lanka Cricket is till end of May 2007
and after that it is anybody’s game.
The former Australian could find himself in a three-way
tug-of-war involving his native Australia, adopted England and
the big-spending India, all of whom are interested in acquiring
his services.Cricket World Cup 2007
Majority believe Sri Lanka
can do it!
The Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean in March-April is the
most important sports event in the calendar for 2007. The Nation
decided to find out from a cross-section of people what their
views are of Sri Lanka’s chances of winning the Cup for a second
time. Sri Lanka first won the World Cup in 1996 under the
captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga and seven years later reached the
semifinals under Sanath Jayasuriya’s leadership.
Despite the rising cost of living, the economic hardships and
the threat to security the country is presently undergoing, the
majority of people believe that Sri Lanka can emulate their feat
of 11 years ago.
Fitness trainer warns Sri Lanka’s
rugby ratings would plummet
 Renowned
fitness trainer Mothilal Jayathilake warns that Sri Lanka could
see its rugby ratings plummet if the authorities don’t implement
a strength and conditioning programme for the country’s national
players.
Jayathilake, who was once the fitness trainer of the national
rugby team, told The Nation that he observed a decline in the
strength of the rugby players during the past one year.
“Rugby is a speed-strength sport and Sri Lankans are not
genetically strong people. The void of a fitness trainer in the
national rugby team should be filled immediately or else Sri
Lanka risks going down in the rating list,” said Jayathilake.
Pawar nominated
NEW DELHI, (AFP) - The powerful Asian bloc in world
cricket has nominated Sharad Pawar of India for the presidency
of the sport’s governing body, an official said on Friday.
Indian cricket board official Ratnakar Shetty said the decision
to nominate Pawar was taken at a meeting of the Asian Cricket
Council in Singapore.
“Asian Test-playing nations India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh have decided on the nomination of Pawar, and it has
been sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC),” ...
Daniel demands
QUEENSTOWN,
(AFP)- New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori wants a vastly
improved performance from his inexperienced bowling attack in
Sunday’s one-dayer against Sri Lanka.
The tourists cantered to an easy seven wicket victory in the
opening match in Napier on Thursday, overhauling New Zealand’s
285-8 with 10 overs to spare.
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Designed by
Mangala Madanayake |
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