large explosion had taken place at Colombo Fort, in front of Lake house short while ago.
Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080108_13
According to reports from government sources Mahinda Rajapakse government is planning to proscribe tiger organization.
According to these sources initial steps towards proscribing the terrorist organization are being prepared and the proposal to proscribe tiger organization will be presented to the cabinet meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow (9th).
Several weekend newspapers last weekend had reported that the government had decided to proscribe the terrorist organization and the relevant proposal would be presented to the cabinet by the Prime Minister.
Extracted from,
http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2008/January/08/20080108_05.htm
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, responding to this morning's assassination of Minister of National Heritage, D.M. Dassanayaka, said that this act of terrorism deserves the most vehement and unequivocal condemnation by all those who respect democracy,
desire peace and value human life. The President said in a media release issued this afternoon that ' his assassination in a claymore mine attack by the LTTE is yet another example of its continued commitment to terror and violence to achieve its separatist goals, and absolute contempt and disregard for human values and the policies and practices of democracy.'
Read more,
http://news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4523&Itemid=44
India's troubled cricket tour of Australia is back on track after a day of tense negotiations resulted in the tourists last night agreeing to fulfil their commitments.
But the backdown came only after India pressured International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed into axing umpire Steve Bucknor for next week's third Test.
The ICC also agreed to India's request to appeal against the three-match suspension handed to Harbhajan Singh for calling Australian Andrew Symonds a monkey during the Sydney Test.
Speed revealed yesterday a senior judge from one of 16 cricketing countries would be appointed to hear Harbhajan's appeal against a racism conviction as soon as possible.
Speed said he had summoned a peacemaker – chief referee Ranjan Madugalle of Sri Lanka – to counsel the captains of the two warring teams, Ricky Ponting and Anil Kumble.
Read more,
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/
Sri Lanka has slammed a claim by the Nordic countries that the now abrogated Ceasefire Agreement with the Tamil Tigers had saved 10,000 Sri Lankan lives.
The Sri Lankan government peace secretariat Monday described as 'dubious' the claim by foreign ministers of five Nordic countries late last week that the truce pact with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had saved as many as 10,000 Sri Lankan lives in the first three years of its existence.
The Norway-brokered pact was signed in February 2002, and five Nordic countries jointly monitored its working. But last week, the Sri Lankan government unilaterally abrogated it, saying that it was a 'non-functioning' agreement, which facilitated violence rather than peace.
The government statement said that the Nordic ministers showed signs of ignorance of the rulings of the fully Nordic Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) as well as the concerted attacks conducted by the LTTE.
Read more,
http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080107/90226.htm
Dr. Subramanian Swamy claims cancellation of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s visit to Sri Lanka to attend the Sri Lanka’s 60th independence ceremony in Colombo was due to security concerns for his safety.
Dr. Subramanian Swamy in his exclusive interview to Nilatha Ilangamuwa of the Sri Lanka Guardian, gave his insight into the current political and military developments in Sri Lanka.
“I think Indian Prime Minster is in the hit list of the LTTE. The LTTE does not agree with India’s regional role. India is totally opposed to the LTTE and wanting its elimination”, Dr. Swamy said.
Dr. Swamy expressed serious concerns about the Government of Sri Lanka on its policy towards the Tamil and Tamil speaking people.
‘Sri Lanka Government must step up its accommodative approach towards the Tamil people’ and said he ‘wants its attitude change from its present negative stance. Current political climate is very bad development and is curtailing the country. What we are seeing is the government policy is taking the racist path like in the past’ he claimed.
Read more,
http://lankaguardian.blogspot.com/2008/01/
National carrier, SriLankan Airlines, has arranged for travel journalists from international widespread magazines and newspapers to visit the country during 2007 in order to boost the appeal of the nation as a major tourist destination.
Invited media guests are taken around the island nation to familiarize them with popular areas such as the cities Dambulla and Colombo as well as beach resorts in the south.
“They are invited and brought to Sri Lanka at the airline’s expense, not only to write about the airline, but to provide valuable publicity for the country,” said SriLankan Airlines’ Head of Corporate Communications, Chandana De Silva.
Read more,
http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com/article.asp?id=50709&nav=2
