Maxis acquires NTT stake in Sri Lanka Telecom for $297 million

Following a prolonged legal battle, Japan’s NTT Corporation (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) finally sold its 35.2 percent stake in Sri Lanka Telecom to Malaysian Network operator, Maxis for $297 million, taking Sri Lanka Telecom shares to a record high.

NTT and Sri Lanka Telecom said that the sale of 635 million shares to a unit of Maxis Communications’ parent Usaha Tegas Sdn Bhd was completed at 50.50 rupees per share, a 22 percent premium to Monday''s closing price. The price of the deal exceeded the expectations of all analysts.


“The market expected the deal to go through around 42-45 rupees level. We never expected it at 50.50 rupees,” said Vajira Premawardhana, head of research at Lanka Orix Leasing.

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http://www.telecomtiger.com/fullstory.aspx?

Lightning Struck to MINNARIYA training camp

Today (1) evening around 5.30pm in MINNARIYA, KATUKALIYAWA training camp three Army soldiers were died and 60 were injured due to lightning struck a group of soldiers.

Injured soldiers were admitted to the POLONNARUWA hospital.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=11514

SLAF pounds LTTE covert base in Mullaittivu

Air Force fighter jets pounded on an LTTE base located in the general area Teravilkulam ,North West of Puthukudiyirippu in Mullaittivu district this evening today(April 1). The LTTE camp that has been handling covert operations of the outfit was attacked based on real-time ground information indicating 'Intensified terrorist activates " on it around 4.30 p.m.

According to the Air force spokesperson Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya the target has been positively identified through human intelligence and verified through continuous air surveillances conducted by the SLAF. He said the target was accurately hit, citing the fighter pilots.

A senior defence official speaking to defence.lk said the targeted LTTE base was one of the nerve centers of the outfit's covert operations. He said that the target was of high value that no further comments can be made on it due to security reasons.

Asked how that the information had reached to the defence intelligence agencies he said that the LTTE hierarchy has lost control over its ranks that information comes from "inside" to security forces. He added that clashes among senior LTTE cadres and continuous harassment suffered by junior LTTE cadres have facilitated the information flow.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080401_06

LTTE shells Murunkan Government hospital - Mannar

Tension prevailed in Murunkan area, Mannar as LTTE launched heavy artillery shells were reported to have damaged the Murunkan government hospital today (April 01) at around 6.10 a.m.

According to available reports, a hospital building was partially damaged during the indiscriminate LTTE shell attack.

Details of damages caused to civilian and properties are yet to be estimated.

It was reported that the sudden shell attack by LTTE from the un-cleared area fell, mounting tension and fear among the folks. According to defence sources in the area the explosions had caused panic and trauma among patient and civilians who were immediately evacuated by troops into safer shelters. Meanwhile, few shells have also fallen in proximity of the Murunkan government school, sources further reported.

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http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080401_02

Voters will reject LTTE: Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said he had no doubt voters in the east were not “shortsighted” to give the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam an opportunity to make a comeback.

Addressing members and officials of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) at its annual convention here on Sunday, Mr. Rajapaksa “challenged” the opposition United National Party (UNP) to win the coming Eastern Provincial Council election “even with the assistance of the LTTE,” the local media reported.

Election to the Eastern Provincial Council is scheduled for May. Several mainstream parties including the UNP and the JVP are taking part. Nominations for the election close on April 3.

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http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/01/stories/2008040155811300.htm

Sri Lanka has no plan to put off election in Eastern province

The Sri Lankan government on Monday denied a claim by the main minority Muslim party leader of a government plan to postpone the May 10 election for the Eastern Province.

"There is absolutely no plan to postpone the election," Keheliya Rambukwella, the government's defense spokesman and the Minister of Foreign Employment told reporters.

Rauff Hakeem, the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC)had accused the government of contemplating postponement of the poll claiming security issue as an excuse if the situation became unfavorable to it.

Rambukwella stressed that the government was determined to give the eastern people the political freedom of appointing their own leaders after its success of liberating the east from the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/31/content_7893152.htm