Sri Lankan Official in Riyadh to Seek Clemency for Rizana

Sri Lankan Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila arrived in Saudi Arabia yesterday to lobby on behalf of a Sri Lankan maid who was sentenced to beheading for the death of an infant in her care.

“I came here to make a personal appeal to seek clemency from the parents of the infant who died in the hands of the teenaged maid,” Bhaila told Arab News on arrival at the King Khaled International Airport.

Rizana Nafeek, 20, was sentenced to beheading for the death of a four-month-old infant boy on May 22, 2005, in Dawadami, about 390 km west of Riyadh. Last week the case was passed to the Cassation Court in Riyadh.

Bhaila said that he came to the Kingdom on a request made by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, who has taken a personal interest in Nafeek’s case. Bhaila added that the Sri Lankan government respects the decisions of the Kingdom’s judiciary.

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http://www.arabnews.com/

UNP would never return to power - JVP Leader

Sri Lanka would have ended up in division by now with a state of Eelam in the North if Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected President at the last Presidential election.

Therefore, the JVP has no regrets for having enabled President Mahinda Rajapaksa to win the last Presidential election said JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe.

The JVP Leader said so addressing a party rally held near the Kandy Central Market on Monday, March 10.

The rally was held to protest against alleged moves to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which the JVP says would lead to a division of the country.

Amarawansa said the JVP’s stand at the last Presidential election helped to save a division of the country. If the people thought the JVP had taken a wrong decision then they would expect the people to pardon them like a mother would do to an errant child.

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http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/03/13/pol11.asp

S.B. Dissanayake asked why shouldn’t UNP contest Batticaloa elections

S.B. Dissanayake asked why shouldn’t UNP contest Batticaloa elections when it could have registered a facile victory in Batticaloa going by the last Presidential elections results: UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe secured almost 12 lakhs votes whereas President Rajapakse could only poll 27808 votes in the East!

The UNP was not prepared to play into the hands of the Govt..’s machinations aimed at only winning elections by the foulest means collaborating with another terror group –the Pillayan who were as bad as or worse than the LTTE , because the Pillayan was backed by the Govt. to the hilt allowing them even to use weapons.

In some instances they had even gone to the prospective candidates’ houses and forced them at gun point to withdraw or contest under their symbol. Even, pro Govt. Douglas Devananda party had admitted that Pillayan group was committing atrocious crimes with impunity: abductions, intimidations and extortions.

It is alleged that a Mudalali. A friend of Minister Maithripala Sirisena was also a victim of extortion of the Pillayan group. The UNP candidates who were preparing for candidature was also threatened at gunpoint against contesting.

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http://lankaguardian.blogspot.com/2008/03/

Airtel appoints Madison Media as AOR for Sri Lanka

Ahead of its launch in Sri Lanka, Airtel has appointed Madison Media, Sri Lanka, as its Media AOR for that country.

Airtel had evaluated only two agencies in Sri Lanka - Mindshare and Madison.

Airtel director marketing & communications Gopal Vittal said, "Madison Media has been a strong partner and has played a part in Airtel's success story in India and we are confident that they will extend the same strong support in Sri Lanka too and deliver all that it takes to make us succeed there."

Added Madison World CMD Sam Balsara: "We are delighted on hearing Airtel's decision and are confident that the Madison way in Media will work in Sri Lanka too. If P&G gave us a head start in Media in India, Airtel is doing that in Sri Lanka."

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http://www.indiantelevision.com/

Four fishermen abducted by LTTE and taken into its custody - Mannar

Four fishermen out five went for fishing are reported to have been abducted by LTTE cadres and taken them into its custody yesterday- 12th March, off Vedithalthievu in Mannar.

Five fishermen, all ethnic Tamils, had gone for fishing, their livelihood, in the morning on the 12th march from Pallimunai in Mannar, but is reported that only one returned without the other four. It is said that the youngsters aged between 19 years and 28 years had been detained by the terrorists.

The names ad other details as disclosed are as follows with the names, age and the National identity card Numbers and all are residents at Pallimunai in Mannar.

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http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=731