"Sri Lanka achieved 7.2 Economic Growth" Mahinda Says addressing G 11

"Although confronted by many challenges, Sri Lanka sustained an economic growth in excess of 7.2 percent during 2006 – a further improvement from the growth of 6.2 percent in 2005." said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the G11 Summit in Jordan yesterday (19)

"Unemployment declined to 6 percent. Exports grew by around 8 percent. We have attracted overseas remittances of over 2 billion US Dollars. We managed to attract foreign investment in excess of 600 million US Dollars" he added

Read more with the complete text of President Rajapaksa’s address to the G11 Summit,
http://news.nidahasa.com/news.php?go=fullnews&newsid=165

'West discriminates in fight against terror'

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday slammed the developed countries for tolerating terrorism if it did not directly affect them.

"Unfortunately, some in the developed world tend to view certain terrorist organisations with a degree of tolerance," he told the G11
summit in Jordan.

"At times these terrorists are viewed as rebels or fighters against discrimination, as long as they do not create violence in those countries."

Read more,
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=
and
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/05/21/front/3.asp

Sri Lanka’s crucial check point still closed

The talks between the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) today failed to reopen the closed Omanthai entry-exit point in Vavuniya district.

Omanthai, the main entry point on the A-9 highway to the territory controlled by the Tamil Tigers was closed three days ago as the fighting erupted between the rebels and the government forces and the Tiger rebels fired mortars. ICRC officials were forced to vacate the checkpoint due to heavy Tiger shelling in the area.

Read more,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/May20142719SL.html

India And Lanka Join “Tiger” Investigation

India and Sri Lanka have joined an investigation into an incident in which the Maldivian coastguard sank an Indian fishing boat and arrested five men after a twelve-hour standoff.

The government has confirmed that the boat, which was set alight and sank on Thursday morning, was the Sri Krishna, registered in South India.

The boat was hijacked in March and eleven sailors were taken hostage, allegedly by the Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger rebel group.

The government has now given India and Sri Lanka permission to question the five men detained, as both governments seek to substantiate the links to the LTTE (Tamil Tigers).

Extracted from,
http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=3263

Sri Lanka win three championships

Sri Lanka's National Practical Shooting Team competing in the Asian Level 111 IPSC Championships won three Championships at the recently concluded meet held in Malaysia.

The Lankans won the Open and Production Division Team Championship in addition to Anusha Prasadika of Sri Lanka Air Force winning the Ladies Individual Championship.

Lt.Col. Janaka Ritigahapola could consider himself extremely unlucky to have missed the Open Division Overall Championship by a 'whisker' ,due to a blunder made by the Thai Range Officer.

Read more,
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/05/20/spo03.asp

Colombo in touch with Male

Sri Lanka Government is awaiting reports from the Maldivian Government on the sunk fishing trawler that was allegedly carrying weapons for the LTTE.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry told The Hindu that Colombo was in touch with Male. "We have also noted reports from Tamil Nadu about resurfacing of some of the fishermen abducted by the LTTE and are waiting for more details."

The Defence Ministry reported that the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) destroyed the 68-feet vessel. It said the trawler had now been identified as "Sri Krishna".

Read more,
http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/20/stories/2007052004851300.htm

Speak in one voice to combat terrorism

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday called on the Group of 11 countries to speak in one voice and lend support to each other to combat terrorism while saying that some developed countries show indifference to terrorists by allowing certain front organizations of terrorist groups to function in those countries.

Addressing the G11 summit in Jordan yesterday President Rajapaksa said: “My request to you, here today, is for the G-11 to draw the attention of our development partners to the measures that have already been undertaken by us to combat global terrorism.
All terrorist attacks whether on Amman, Islamabad, London or Colombo, are acts, that must be vehemently condemned.

Read more,
http://www.nation.lk/2007/05/20/news3.htm