Chintana Vidanage in action this morning

CHINA: Commonwealth Games and South Asian Games gold medallist Chinthana Vidanage will be seen in action in the weight lifting competition on day four of the XX1Xth Olympic Games here today.

Vidanage, who created Sri Lanka history with back to back medals at the South Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, will have a tough task when he competes under Group C in men’s 69 kg category of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games weightlifting competition at Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium (BUAA) Gymnasium here at 10 a.m. today. The Lankan weightlifter looked determined on the eve of his pet event. “I have been training hard, putting a lot of effort to prepare for the Olympics.

But I know Olympics is a big event and the things are highly competitive here. It is not going to be easy but I am focused on my event to do my best,” Vidanage said after a light work out.

Sri Lanka shooter Edirisinghe M. Senanayake, placed 48th in the men’s 10m air pistol event on Saturday, is making preparations for his pet event - the men’s 50m pistol. Senanayake is due to have his final training session today before he fires at the men’s 50m air pistol qualification round at the Beijing Shooting Range commencing tomorrow from 6.30 a.m.

Tomorrow will be a D-day for Sri Lanka as boxer Anuruddha Ratnayake will take on Latin American silver medallist Robeniison Vieira of Brazil in the first round of the men’s 51kg flyweight event at the Workers’ Gymnasium here.

Extracted from,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/08/11/news30.asp
Photo,
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news%5C2006%5C3%5C6054_image_headline.html

Defence deal offered to Lanka

Pakistan, a key supplier of small arms to Sri Lanka, has proposed a defence pact to boost military cooperation between the two countries, Pakistani officials said Friday.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi made the offer to his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollegama on the sidelines of a South Asian meeting in Colombo, the officials said. “A (draft) defence cooperation agreement has been given to Sri Lanka,” said a senior Pakistani official who did not wish to be named.

India has been uneasy about the growing military clout of its arch-rival Pakistan in Sri Lanka, which New Delhi regards as being within its sphere of geo-political influence.

Islamabad is already an important supplier of small arms and ammunition to Sri Lankan security forces, who are battling separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, and Pakistan is also training a large number of Sri Lankan military personnel.

Indian diplomats have privately raised concerns about closer defence ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which also buys military hardware from China and Israel as well as from former Soviet Union states.

“We want Sri Lanka to quickly move on that (the draft agreement),” the Pakistan diplomatic official said, adding the pact was intended to bring the two sides closer. There was no immediate comment from Sri Lankan authorities on the Pakistani proposal. Details of the defence pact offer were not immediately available.

Read more,
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online

Sri Lanka gov't donates 1,000 tents to China's quake-hit areas

Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei, on behalf of the Chinese Government, received a shipment here on Friday of 1,000 tents from Sri Lanka, according to the Foreign Ministry.

This was the second shipment of quake relief aid from Sri Lanka.

The tents will be delivered to Tianshui in China's northwest Gansu Province in mid-June, the ministry said.

The Sri Lankan Ambassador to China, Karunatilaka Amunugama, said the Sri Lankan government and people felt deep grief over the May 12 disaster and conveyed their sympathies and condolences to the Chinese government and people.

After the earthquake, the president of Sri Lanka visited the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka and asked its Minister of Foreign Affairs to take charge of the quake relief aid to China.

Amunugama said Sri Lanka was helping China in return for the assistance and support China has offered to Sri Lanka.

Read more,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/13/content_8363879.htm

Sri Lanka starts to build China-funded arts theater

Work on the construction of a performing arts theater funded by China commenced Friday in Sri Lankan capital Colombo with the participation of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ye Dabo.

The project, which will be built on 2.18 acres of land, was finalized during Rajapaksa's official visit to China in 2007.

Sri Lankan officials said the theater will be equipped with ultra modern facilities such as an auditorium with 1,288 seats, parking facilities for 500 vehicles, library and training facilities for performing arts, and facilities to conduct educational and research activities.

The project is expected to be completed in 26 months.

Extracted from,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/24/content_8239917.htm
Photo,
http://www.silumina.lk/2008/05/25/mainpic_1.jpg

Sri Lankan president expresses condolence to China over earthquake

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has extended his deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and the victims of earthquake that struck China on May 12,the Sri Lankan government said Friday.

In his letter to the Chinese President Hu Jintao, Rajapaksa said "I was deeply saddened to hear of the death and destruction caused by the earthquake that struck western China on May 12."

"Having gone through the fury of nature ourselves in 2004 December due to the unprecedented tsunami that struck our country, the government and the people of Sri Lanka extend their sympathies to the bereaved families and the victims of this calamity.

Read more,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/16/content_8189162.htm

India reconfiguring its military policy toward Sri Lanka

India's renewed focus on relations with Sri Lanka appears to be a course of action designed to strengthen Indo-Sri Lankan ties due to an expanding Chinese presence in the South Asia region.

The country is reconfiguring its military policy toward Sri Lanka and is exhibiting a more supportive stance toward the government's efforts against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

In March, India invited Sri Lankan Army Commander Lieutenant-General Sarath Fonseka to visit and tour Indian operations along the India-Pakistan border. The Sri Lankan general also met with Indian Army General Deepak Kapoor as well as Defense Minister AK Antony, and there was discussion on security measures to eradicate terrorism as well as talks on possible cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.

The visit promoted India's anti-insurgency capabilities while highlighting the common themes and culture that the two militaries share.

Fonseka also visited with India's Lieutenant-General KS Yadava, commander of the Indian Infantry School and both leaders shared information on new warfare strategies. Prior to his departure, Fonseka visited with Sri Lankan Army Officers involved in training at India's Army War College in Madhya Pradesh.

Due primarily to reported human rights violations and a large and supportive Tamil population within its own borders, the Indian government has refrained from directly supporting the Sri Lankan military with offensive weapons systems for use against the LTTE. Instead, it has chosen to provide Sri Lanka with certain defensive military capabilities such as critical intelligence information and radar systems for use in detecting LTTE aircraft.

Read more,
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=18942

China to fund five projects in Sri Lanka, says Minister

Minister of Export Development and International Trade of Sri Lanka, Prof GL Peiris today revealed that the Chinese government has confirmed its earlier agreement to fund five projects in the country.

Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo, the Minister told that the Chinese government has given its confirmation to provide 455 million US dollars for the construction of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant during the recent official visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to China.

According to the Minister, China has agreed to provide 20 million US dollars to build a drama and cultural centre, and another 307 million for the Hambanthota harbour project. Also, he said China has agreed to provide 100 railway carriages for the improvement of local railway service.

Read more,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April17173710JV.html

Sri Lanka waiting for trade deal with China

Sri Lanka is looking to increase trade with China through a regional trade deal. The Commerce Department says the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement, or the APTA, is a window into the massive Chinese market.

The department is now getting ready to hold talk with local businesses, to improve on existing concessions from China, according to Internet. China has already expressed interest in expanding trade with Sri Lanka.

“China is a huge market. This year, we will import nearly one trillion dollars worth from the rest of the world. So there are many, many opportunities for Sri Lanka to trade with China,” Zhu Hong, from the Department of International Trade, China, speaking at a seminar on the APTA organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce earlier this month.

Read more,
http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/200803313827/

China issues human rights record of United States in 2007

China issued on Thursday the Human Rights Record of the United States in 2007 in response to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2007 issued by the U.S. Department of State on Tuesday.

Released by the Information Office of China's State Council, the Chinese report listed a multitude of cases to show the human rights situation in the United States and its violation of human rights in other countries.

The report says the United States attacks more than 190 countries and regions including China on their human rights issues, but mentions nothing about its own human rights problems.

By publishing the Human Rights Record of the United States in 2007, the report says it aims to "help the people have a better understanding of the real situation in the United States and as a reminder for the United States to reflect upon its own issues".

Read more,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/13/content_7778748.htm

Sri Lanka to receive 50 more railway carriages from China

Sri Lanka Railway Department is to receive 50 more railway carriages from China this month.

The carriage-strapped Railway is receiving 75 new carriages anew with the arrival of these carriages.

The first batch of 25 carriages arrived in Sri Lanka in September and they are now coupled to existing trains. The rest 50 carriages will arrive in Sri Lanka in two batches in mid December, a Ministry of Transport spokesman said.

Sri Lanka has ordered 15 locomotive engines from China to upgrade the services and they are to arrive in Sri Lanka next year.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/December2145642SL.html

Chinese Arms in LTTE Hands

In a picture released of the latest troupe of young Tamils to sacrifice themselves to the unattainable dream of Tamil Ealam see the Tigers brandishing nothing but Chinese weapons.

In the picture, some Black Tiger cadres carry QBZ 97, export version of QBZ 95, produced for the Republic of China military by Qīng Buqiang-Zidong company, designed by NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation). The weapon is a 5.56mm caliber (NATO-term) weapon.

Members of the group is also shown holding Anti-Tank Weapons, also made in China (Type-69 or RPG7 variation) loaded with Airburst Anti-Personnel HE with HEAT rockets in their back.

The body colour of this weapon seems to indicate it is more a T69. Members of the group also hold 66mm Light Anti-Tank Weapons (LAWs) with disposable rounds and the RPGs are of reusable type.

One Tiger poses with a CIS 40 Singapore made 40mm Grenade Launcher (CIS 40 GL). Tamil Tigers use CIS 40 and Ultimax LMG as weapon of choice in many battles. The Sub Machine Gun held by one Tiger is a T86 silenced version and again 5.56mm.
The LMGs in the picture are Type 88 GPMG (QJY 88 or General Purpose Machine Gun).

Read the full article here,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2007/10/chinese-arms-in-ltte-hands.html