'Selectors are muppets headed by a joker' - Atapattu

Marvan Atapattu launched an astonishing attack on the Sri Lanka selectors, calling them a set of muppets headed by a joker and blaming them for the lack of bench strength in the side. His statements came at the end of the third day of the first Test against Australia at the Gabba, with Sri Lanka fighting to stave off a heavy defeat.

"Sri Lanka cricket at this moment of time is not going in the direction it should be going, especially with a set of muppets headed by a joker," Atapattu said at the end-of-day press conference. "I don't give credit to the way they have handled selections.

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http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/319220.html

The UNP and media freedom – Daily Mirror clarifies

The main opposition UNP yesterday issued a statement challenging the contents of the Daily Mirror page one comment titled “UNP and the Media Freedom” in which the Editor of the Daily Mirror said that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe reprimanded Daily Mirror journalist Kelum Bandara.

The first statement sent by the UNP yesterday did not have a signature. However when contacted by the Daily Mirror Mr. Wickremesinghe’s Media Secretary Saman Athaudahetti confirmed that the statement was sent by the UNP. Later the UNP sent a second copy signed by UNP spokesman Gayantha Karunatilleka with similar contents.

Please find below the Daily Mirror response to the contents of the UNP statement.

UNP : In its comment titled “UNP and Media Freedom”, the Daily Mirror has failed to live up to the editorial practice that ‘facts are sacred”. It is a misrepresentation of facts.

DM : It is the UNP that has misrepresented facts. We will prove this point in our answers below.

UNP : The Leadership of the UNP did not contact Daily Mirror journalist Kelum Bandara yesterday.

DM : UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe did speak to Kelum Bandara and he used the mobile number 0777 448224 to call the journalist and reprimand him.

Read the full article here,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/11/10/front/2.asp

Kenya pips Sri Lanka, China in tea exports

Kenya has emerged as the world’s largest exporter of tea in the seven months of this year, surpassing Sri Lanka and China.

Recovery in production this year is said to have helped Kenya to become a top exporter of tea. Kenya, which suffered a production loss of 18 million kg in 2006 due to prolonged frost, has reported an increase of 63.6 million kg in the first seven months of 2007 to reach an output of 221.5.

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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/International__Business/