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Sunday November 08th, 2009
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Massive Iranian credits begin to flow
Iran has proved once again, like a handful of other
countries mostly in the East, in being a true friend in
need of Sri Lanka by agreeing to several amended funding
schemes this week to get a number...
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All at sea! |
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With the culmination of the war against the LTTE, Lankans in their thousands are flocking to former no go areas. Here our cameraman Rukshan Abeywansha captured the massive crowds at Nilaveli Beach, Trincomalee last Sunday |
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Gen. Fonseka common candidate
There was wide speculation yesterday that the UNP may be
in a position to field Gen. Sarath Fonseka as the
opposition common candidate, but party sources said any
final decision would...
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Treasury to pay back CPC
Talks are underway between state oil utility – Ceylon
Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Treasury officials in a
bid to reimburse the ailing giant, billions of rupees
owed to it by government entities...
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NEWS |
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Ex-NFF Gunatilaka tipped to receive SLFP post
Tourism Minister Nandana Gunatilaka who resigned
from the National Freedom Front (NFF) last Thursday
is tipped to be given the SLFP ticket along with the
post of Panadura SLFP organiser while the NFF is to
appoint a new General Secretary and a National
Organiser in two weeks.
Minister Gunatilaka, along with NFF national organiser
Kamal Deshapriya Mannapperuma informed the Elections
Commissioner that they were resigning from all posts and
responsibilities...
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‘Justice’ available from this month
“Justice,” a monthly Magazine Edited by Lalith
Allahakkoon and published by the Ministry of Justice
and Law Reform will be available from this month.
The objective of “Justice” is to discuss legal and
policy related issues that plague the country from
time to time.
“Justice” was first published when former Supreme Court
Judge A.R.B. Amarasinghe functioned as the Secretary...
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Army Chief urges ranks to win the hearts of public
Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya on Friday
called on rank and file of the Army to win the
hearts and minds of civilians and uphold their
dignity while performing their duties.
Speaking at a dinner hosted to Army personnel at the
Farm Garden Village Hotel in Anuradhapura, Lt. General
Jayasuriya also commended his men for memorable
contribution towards liberating the motherland from the
grip of 30 year-long...
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India extends $67.4 m additional credit line for Southern Railway
Government of India this week conveyed its decision to
Government of Sri Lanka to offer a supplementary line of
credit of US$ 67.4 million for the rehabilitation of the
Southern Colombo-Matara Railway Line. The line of credit
had been requested by Sri Lanka to finance the second
phase of work related to rehabilitation...
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Sri Lanka’s stamp for man’s best friend
The island-nation marks a policy that heralded a
humane turn in its fight against rabies. A
Presidential Directive issued in May 2006 ended the
cruel practice of seizing and killing dogs, which
was introduced by the British colonial rulers in
1893, and remained in force for 58 years since
independence.
Full Story |
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WHO team requested to inspect rubella vaccine manufacturing site
The Health Ministry requested a special team from
the World Health Organisation to visit Serum
Institute in Pune, India to test the rubella
vaccine, which is now suspended in Sri Lanka.
“After the incident in Matara, the WHO cleared the
vaccine and the Medical Research Institute also sent the
vaccine to a laboratory in Canberra for further tests,
but the Ministry felt that asking the WHO to send a team
to the manufacturer’s site would also be a good idea,”
said the Ministry’s...
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Progress leads to approval of IMF instalment
The IMF Executive Board met on Friday and
cleared the way for the release of just over 322
million US dollars. The Board reviewed the Sri
Lankan Government’s progress on the implementation
of reforms agreed to last July, and the November 6
decision means the second instalment of the
country’s loan can proceed.
In July, the IMF approved a 20-month Stand-By
Arrangement for Sri Lanka...
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local inspection team to visit India
Four out of the six controversial Indian
pharmaceutical companies will have to foot the
expenses of the inspection team from Sri Lanka
scheduled to travel to their factories to issue Good
Manufacturing Product (GMP) certificates, the Health
Ministry spokesman said.
“The Ministry warned of
blacklisting them, if any quality related incidents
are reported of their medical products in the
future, following the reports submitted after the
meeting on October 31,” he added.
Full Story |
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POLITICS |
All for one and
one for all
 This
week saw the ‘birth’ of the United National Alliance
(UNA), a coalition of opposition political parties,
brought together by the necessity of challenging the
ruling United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at
the upcoming presidential and parliamentary
elections.
The UNA has been some time in the
making, mooted by its chief proponent Mangala
Samaraweera, leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(SLFP) ‘Mahajana’ faction who has soldiered on with
this concept of an alliance even in the face of
considerable opposition from stalwarts of the United
National Party (UNP) itself.
Full Story |
 UNF
partners have no leadership capabilities
A long cherished dream of UNP leader
Ranil Wickremesinghe and SLFP (M) leader Mangala
Samaraweera came true when the much publicised joint
opposition alliance baptised as the United National
Front (UNF) was formally launched last week. The
leaders of the constituent political parties signed
an agreement to mark the heralding of the new
political combine at a ceremony held in a Committee
Room in the parliamentary complex.
Full Story |
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NEWS FEATURES |
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 Doctors without certification are quacks
There is a reason why those who have wish to attend
to the sick are required to obtain certification by
proving their knowledge of the human body, illnesses
and possible treatment and after having undergone a
period of apprenticeship under the supervision of a
senior consultant. It is the same reason why
certification is a requirement for practising a
number of other professions. It is to guarantee a
minimum quality of service and justice to the
serviced.
I am thinking right now of the tragedy that took
place last week at Vihara Maha Devi Park when a group of
faith healers, blinded by both faith and
self-importance, brought about the death of two persons.
Full Story |
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Buddhagaya revisited after Premadasa
When I got an urgent request from the Chief Priest
of the Buddhagaya Vihare, Ven. P. Seevali Thero,
asking me to renovate the gold plated fence around
the sacred Bo Tree, I immediately thought of a
request I received from the man who built that gold
plated fence - President Ranasinghe.
Going to India on pilgrimage, once a year, has been a
habit of mine for a long time. In 1992 I was planning to
make this usual private visit, when President Premadasa
rang me. It was night, and he wanted to know if I could
come to Sucharita immediately.
Full Story |
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ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES
OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF GSP +
There is little doubt that the withdrawal of the GSP +
concession in the EU market could have serious
consequences on the Sri Lankan economy. The country has
benefited enormously from this concession for several
years. It has undoubtedly assisted the country’s
industrial exports. Its withdrawal would affect export
income and the trade balance adversely. The economy is
very much dependent on industrial exports.
This was very clear when the decline in industrial
exports occurred owing to the global recession.
Full Story |
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More than one frontier to conquer
 Steve Waugh’s awesome Australians of 2000-01 deemed
winning a Test series in India as a conquest of the
“final frontier” because it was 31 years and four
tours since they last triumphed in that country. For
the record Waugh’s men failed in their attempt when
they lost the three-Test series 2-1.
The Sri Lanka
team Kumar Sangakkara takes to India has similar
ambitions. Twenty-seven years and five tours have
gone by and Sri Lanka has yet to win a Test in India
let alone a Test series.
“Not only India, but also Australia and South Africa
where we haven’t won Test matches.
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Top schools qualify for Cup championship
Top runners Royal, St. Peter’s and Isipathana put
themselves in line to qualify for the schools tournament
of the inaugural Carlton International Sevens when they
made promising starts at the Western Province Qualifying
Sevens played at the Royal College Sports Complex
yesterday. The three teams topped their respective
groups to play in the Cup championship along with other
group leaders Prince of Wales’, Lumbini, Nalanda, Carey
and Ananda. The knockout stages will begin from 8.30 am
today at the same venue. Second placed teams CWW
Kannangara, St. Sebastian’s, Piliyandala Central,
Zahira, Science, Royal Panadura, Moratu Vidyalaya and
St. John’s...
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Claim of authorship in the balance?
 The
Umpires Referral Rule or officially known as the
Umpires Review Decision System (UDRS) is due to
officially make its appearance during the three-Test
series between Sri Lanka and India starting in
Ahmedabad on November 16. Coincidentally when the
rule was first trialled by the International Cricket
Council (ICC) last year it was also during a Sri
Lanka-India Test series which took place in Sri
Lanka.
Despite divided opinions on the rule during the
trial period, the ICC, after reviewing the captains’
reports, has agreed to go ahead with it, the only
difference being that instead of three referrals, a side
is allowed only two.
Full Story |
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Hopes on Boteju for World Snooker Championship
Three well experienced cueists will represent Sri
Lanka at the forthcoming World Snooker Championship
which is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, India
from November 15 to 25. Sri Lanka will lay high
hopes on top-ranked snooker champ Susantha Boteju
and country’s second seeded Ryan Somaratne who will
compete in the men’s competition while veteran
Prasanna Pushpakumara will compete in the masters’
championship which will be played simultaneously
with the main competition.
Full Story |
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INTERVIEWS |
 The era of
ethnic entrepreneurs is over
Almost
six months have passed since the death of the LTTE leader
Velupillai Prabhakaran, but has the Government of Sri Lanka
formulated a strategy to deal meaningfully with both the Sri
Lankan society and the International community? The Nation
met the renowned Counter Terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna to
get his views on what should be done locally and
internationally to tackle the issues that would decide the
future of Sri Lanka
Q: It has been almost six months since the defeat of the
LTTE. How do you view the government’s post Prabhakaran
strategy? What do you propose the government should do?
A: Until May 2009, the strategy of the Sri Lankan
Government was to neutralise the LTTE, the world’s most
ruthless...
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