Twelve fishermen held by Lankan Navy

As many as 12 Indian fishermen were on Tuesday arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly entering the country's territorial waters near Kachathivu, state fisheries department officials said.

The fishermen were later remanded to police custody by the Judicial Magistrate at Oorkaval near Kangesanthurai in the island nation, the officials said.

Three boats used by the fishermen were also seized by the Navy.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy also took into custody 48 fishermen from Rameswaram who had attempted to cross to the Sri Lankan waters on Tuesday and handed them over to the Fisheries department officials. The licence of 12 boats and their diesel quota have been cancelled, officials said.

Indian Navy had detained 12 other fishermen belonging to Rameswaram on Monday, along with their mechanised boat.

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http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200801221717.htm

India has realised danger from LTTE, says Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that India and the US are supporting the war against 'Tamil Tiger terrorism' because they themselves feel threatened by the Tigers.

'India now realises that it could be the next target of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). And I am told that the LTTE has taken a contract to motivate Al Qaeda cadres to become suicide bombers,' Rajapaksa told IANS on the sidelines of a press conference here Tuesday.

The president described his government's relations with New Delhi as 'very good' and added that if he had to allow any foreign government delegation to go to Kilinochchi to talk to the LTTE, it would be the Indian government.

'I prefer India. It is our neighbour,' he asserted.

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http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080122/93134.htm

Jet, Kingfisher eyeing stake in Sri Lankan Airlines

Naresh Goyal-controlled Jet Airways and Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines are among a host of carriers looking at acquiring a 43.6 per cent stake in Sri Lankan Airlines, aviation industry officials said.

The two carriers will be looking at buying the stake presently held by Emirates Airlines in the Sri Lankan carrier once their 10-year shareholder pact expires April 1, the officials added.

The Sri Lankan government holds 51 percent stake in the carrier, while employees hold the rest.

When contacted, officials at both Jet Airways and Kingfisher declined comment on the matter. "We cannot confirm any development on this," Wolfgang Prock Schauer, chief executive officer of Jet Airways, told media.

"No comment," the Kingfisher spokesperson added.

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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/Jet_Kingfisher_eyeing

Srilanka to introduce ET technology in dairy sector

In order to achieve maximum output from country’s milk sector, Srilankan government has decided to introduce latest Embryo Transfer technology to the industry.

Srilankan National Livestock Development Board, the Australian Government and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Peradeniya recently launched this Embryo Transfer Project and so far 200 high breed frozen embryos of Jersey Holstein Friesian and AFS breeds from Australia have been brought to Sri Lanka.

Once the breeding process is completed, the cows will be distributed among farmers associated with the NLDB. The objective of the project is to increase the number of milk cows and enhance dairy production.

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http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/newsdetails.php?id=5035

The day the government would be sent home is not far away if the government is getting ready to introduce devolution proposals in betrayals of the vic

Propaganda Secretary of the JVP, Mr. Wimal Weerawansa says that if the government is getting ready to introduce devolution proposals for the Northern and Eastern provinces in betrayal of the victories gained by the brave security forces and sacrifice made by the people of the country and challenging the unitary status of the country, the day the government would be expelled in unison with the progressive forces of the country will not be far a way.

He said this when inquired by us about the stand of the JVP about the devolution package to be introduced by the All Party Representative Committee.

In further comments he said, "This package is a deadly blow to the forward march of the security forces to liberate the Northern Province from the Tiger terrorist after they have liberated the Eastern province and it is betrayal of the security forces gained by the security forces at the expense of their lives as well."

"On the other hand, the JVP sees this devolution package as a plot hatched against the advancing march of the security forces gaining victory after victory." he said.

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http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2008/January/22/20080122_02.htm

Two soldiers injured in LTTE attack- Thanamalwila

Two soldiers were reported injured when they came under an LTTE gunfire attack while been engaged in an extensive search operation, at Sirinandapura north east of Kithulkotte in Thanamalwila today (January 22) at 12.30.p.m.

The latest incident was reported within a day following the gun down of three Police personnel in a road picket, at Aliwanguwa junction in Kithulkotte along the Thanamalwila- Monaragala road.

According to Military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, a soldier received minor injures while another wounded was admitted to the general hospital at Hambantota.

Further search operations are underway in the area, the spokesperson said.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080122_05