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Draft proposals to APRC
by May
SLFP to moot
radical reforms
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has recommended wider powers
to Chief Ministers including interaction with the cabinet, a
second chamber, an ethnic ombudsman and a water commission in
its draft proposal to the All Party Representative Committee (APRC),
The Nation reliably learns.
Higher Education Minister Prof. Viswa Warnapala who was
appointed chairman to the committee to draft the proposals,
handed over the final draft with its wide ranging proposals to
party general secretary and Agriculture Development Minister
Maithripala Sirisena last week.
Minister Sirisena, The Nation learns is expected to place the
draft before the SLFP Central Committee (CC) for ratification on
April 24, when the committee convenes.
Following the ratification, the party is expected to place the
proposals before the public.
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Pope
Benedict XVI meets with Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapakse during their audience at the pope’s private
library at the Vatican, 20 April 2007. AFP
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SL High Commissioner writes to London
office
LTTE pitch invader carried AI
campaign material
The cricket ball campaign controversy of international human
rights watchdog Amnesty International took a new turn with the
Sri Lankan High Commissioner in London Kshenuka Seneviratne
writing to the AI London office saying that the LTTE sympathiser
who invaded the field during the Sri Lankan-Australia match had
been carrying one of the mock cricket balls used in the AI
campaign.
London’s Sri Lankan High Commission sources said that upon close
inspection of the photographs it had been revealed that the LTTE
sympathiser that invaded the field had been carrying a mock
cricket ball used in the Amnesty International campaign.
London’s Sri Lankan High Commission sources said that upon close
inspection of the photographs it had been revealed that the LTTE
sympathiser ....
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Civilian killed in mine blast
A civilian wounded in a claymore mine explosion in
Kattankudy yesterday morning succumbed to his injuries
on admission to the Batticaloa hospital, the army said.
Mahinda, Mangala meet without
preconditions, says Alavi
Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana who is
facilitating a meeting between President Mahinda
Rajapaksa and deposed Minister Mangala Samaraweera said
that both had indicated there could be a meeting without
any “preconditions.” Governor Mowlana said that it could
be a “meet to greet” and was positive that a meeting
could happen after President Rajapaksa returns to the
country. He said that such a meeting would bring the two
back into talking terms and soften them before resolving
the issues.
Sea Tigers a threat to region,
says US navy chief
The US Chief of Naval operations Admiral Michael G.
Mullen said the United States Navy is trying to
understand the ways to address the danger posed by the
Sea Tigers in the Indian Ocean region.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi the US Chief of Naval
operations Admiral Michael G. Mullen called the naval wing of
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the Sea Tigers as a threat
in the region.
Dengue epidemic looms
The threat of yet another dengue epidemic is rearing its
head in the aftermath of the heavy rains experienced in
the island in the recent past, with the Colombo
Municipal Council (CMC) taking steps to curb an
impending outbreak.
Massacre of aid workers
ACF wants another
ballistic probe with Australian observers’ presence
In a final attempt to see an end to the ongoing case,
Action Against Hunger (ACF) whose aid workers were
massacred in August last year have requested another
“ballistic investigation” be carried out, but this time
around though with the presence of Australian observers.
‘90 percent of LTTE funding
comes from outside’
Falk Rovik, Founder President and chief spokesperson of
Norwegians Against Terrorism (NAT) claims 90 percent of
the LTTE’s funds are coming from sources outside Sri
Lanka and that Norway has been biased towards the LTTE
while funding them. This information was revealed at a
seminar on “Norwegian Support for LTTE Terrorism”
organised by World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka (WAPS),
Sansadaya together with Norwegians Against Terrorism(
NAT).
Norway rejects Rovik’s
allegations
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the
following comments on the allegations:
“Norway is funding TRO.”
“Use know how of ex- top
military brass to fight LTTE”
The Mathrubumi Arakshaka Peramuna headed by Venerable
Delduwe Gnanasumana Thera called on the government to
use the military experience and knowledge of retired
senior military officials who were actively involved in
the war including Major General Janaka Perera to
strengthen the government security establishment.
Dissident Maldivian’s body
brought to Colombo for autopsy
The body of Hussein Salah, a dissident of Maldives whose
death sparked speculation in Maldives has been brought
to Colombo on request by the Maldivian government and an
autopsy is currently being conducted by the JMO. |
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POLITICS |
 Cracking
the whip on troublesome diplomats
This week, while President Mahinda Rajapaksa took
wing to the Vatican, ostensibly to enhance relations
with the Catholic Church, a different kind of public
relations exercise was taking place in Colombo. |
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NEWS FEATURES |
Defence
Staking claims
Pottuvil, once a bustling business centre, is today a sluggish
town after the clash that broke out between the Pottuvil
Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) and the Karuna Group over a state-owned
building, recently.What would it be
this April?
April- month of war
April is considered the month of festivities. The Sinhala and
Hindu New Year is said to be a time of joy and bonding where old
ties are renewed and animosities forgotten.
Controversial Sethusamudram canal
dredging project
Lankan experts caution against eco
disasters
An eminent 34- member advisory group of Sri Lankan professionals
have cautioned that the Sethusamudram canal dredging project
could have disastrous environment impacts, particularly,
maritime environment, for Sri Lanka.
Live and let die at De Soyza
Maternity
Is negligence a crime unforgivable? When committed by those in
the field of medicine, producing irreversible repercussions, who
should be responsible for negligence?
Virginia Tech victims include intl.
students and scholars
Washington- The slayings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University (Virginia Tech) were an international tragedy,
a senior State Department official said. |
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INTERVIEWS |
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Govt. won’t change in near future -
Chief Opp. Whip
The UNP does not anticipate a change of government in the immediate
future although many ministers and MPs of the government are discontent
and dissatisfied with the style of administration of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa.
Govt. out to destroy Tamils: TNA MP
Senadhirajah
Tamils live in fear and insecurity
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) General Secretary and Parliamentarian
Mavai Senadhirajah lashing out at the present government for failing to
provide adequate security to the Tamil parliamentarians, said
that the government was focused only on a military agenda.
DEW on Electoral Reforms
Constitutional Affairs Minister D.E.W. Gunesekara is optimistic
that the final draft of the Electoral Reforms would be ratified
by the cabinet and parliament, for it to become operative soon.
Hark! The Oracle speaks
Q: You take a keen interest in politics. How would you interpret the
latest political developments in the country?
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Sri Lanka looking to
exploit conditions in Jamaica
ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA (AP) - This World Cup for
Sri Lanka has been all about adapting to conditions.
Now it is getting ready to play a semi-final on a bouncy
wicket in Jamaica, Sri Lanka feels it is finally getting
somewhere that will really suit its play.
Although many sides have said the slow pitches in
Guyana, Antigua and Grenada are similar to those in Sri
Lanka, captain Mahela Jayawardene is adamant his batsmen
prefer the faster track expected at Sabina Park.
“We like bouncy wickets,’’ Jayawardene said. ‘’Like any
other cricketers in the world, our batsmen love to play
on bouncy tracks when the ball is coming onto the bat.
“Obviously, it’s very hard for batsmen to score runs
when it’s not coming on.’’Murali deadlier than Warne
Muthiah Muralitharan. The mere mention of his name still
sends chills down my spine. While Wasim Akram and Curtly
Ambrose would bully batsmen with pace, Muralitharan’s
weapon is as much mental torture as his brilliant spin
bowling.
My brother, Steve, once called the Sri Lankan wizard the
Don Bradman of spin bowling. The best accolade I can
offer is to say I found him even more difficult to face
than the great Shane Warne.
The Australians have the unenviable job of facing Muralitharan
in their World Cup match at Grenada tomorrow night,
Melbourne time.
Point Blank
Let the captain call
the shots
Who calls the shots? Is it the captain or the chairman
of selectors? Usually the captain should have the final
say because it is he who leads the team onto the field
and if things don’t turn out the way it should, it is he
who has to take the flak from the media and the public.
The raging question that is doing the rounds as the Sri
Lanka cricket team under Mahela Jayawardene is trying to
win back the World Cup for a second time is the
non-selection of former captain and experienced batsman
Marvan Atapattu.
Hitting out with Aravinda
Bowlers have kept us in the
tournament
It was good to see a senior player rise to the occasion
delivering the goods when required. That is what is
required if we are to win the World Cup.
It was pleasing to see Vaasy take on the responsibility
in Malinga’s absence and bowl a great spell against New
Zealand to put them under pressure.
Now a full time paid cricket
selector
Sri Lanka Cricket will have a full time paid selector
serving in the national selection panel after the 2007
World Cup.
The term of the current selection committee ends on
April 30, two days after the World Cup final and
depending on the availability of the individuals serving
in it, either the same committee or a changed committee
may be appointed for the next 12 months from May 1.
Creating Sevens culture a
herculean task
In Sri Lanka all what sevens rugby players get for
dabbling in this form of rugby is attention.
Seven-a-side rugby helps showcase the true skills of the
islanders in the sport of rugby union. But the time Sri
Lankans get to spend on playing seven-a-side rugby is
akin to the few hours that are sometimes granted for
prisoners to mingle with their loved ones.
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