SriLankan Airlines works harder to lure Indian tourists

SriLankan Airlines has announced it has redoubled its efforts aimed at bringing more tourists to Sri Lanka from India, in support of the country’s tourism industry.

“We are fully focused on our responsibility as the National Carrier to support our own tourism industry, although the airline itself has a thriving business in transit passengers traveling through our hub in Colombo,” SriLankan Airines employee said.

According to the airline, its most recent promotion in India offers discounted fares throughout the month of February for Indian travelers below the age of 27 to enjoy exciting holidays in Sri Lanka, with one condition--travelers must spend a minimum of three days in Sri Lanka.

“In the past, travel advisories in European countries have led to drops in arrivals from some of the island’s traditional tourism markets, although tourists have never been targeted in the country’s conflict,” the airline added.

“The airline has invested heavily in recent years in publicizing Sri Lanka as a destination in India, drawing attention to its value for money shopping, wide range of cuisine, superior hotel and convention facilities, cultural wonders, and diverse climates and landscapes.”

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http://www.eturbonews.com/1792/srilankan-airlines-works-harder-lure-indian-t

Information from the public Police seize stock of Explosives etc

The MEDAWACHCHIAY POLICE acting on information received from the public seized a large stock of explosives and accessories as given below from a van bearing No M.W.P.B 1824 which was proceeding towards MANNAR near the MEDAWACHCHIAYA roadblock in the evening around 5.45 on Wednesday (19).

Gelignite rods 242
Detonator cord 125 meters

Two suspects were taken into custody by the MEDAWACHCHIYA POLICE .
Police investigations reveal that the Gelignite rods and detonator wire was cunningly concealed inside an enclosure made for the purpose inside the vehicle.
MEDAWACHCHIYA POLICE are conducting further investigations.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=11264

UNP Contesting Eastern Elections - Keeping humor alive amongst Sri Lankans

The UNP of late has featured more prominently not so much for its merit as an opposition party but for a series of never ending humor presented to the masses. From the poster campaign inaugurated & ending on Valentine's Day to the miscalculated boycott of the Eastern Municipal Polls, the UNP always has added humor to a country that very much is in need of it.

Was it not too long ago that the UNP was shouting from West to East to gather opposition for the recently concluded Eastern Municipal Polls?

Why - they claim that the Government was contesting in tow with a paramilitary group called the TMVP led by the terrorist Pillyalan. If the UNP has identified the TMVP as a terrorist & chose not to contest then we should ask why the UNP chose to contest the Eastern elections when the LTTE was reigning in the East?

In the world of politics every decision is like a rabbit pulled out of a hat .... & the surprises will always continue, which continues the banter surrounding the most recent declaration by the UNP to contest the Provincial Council elections in the East.

Perhaps the Municipal elections were a mere cup of tea for the Grand Old Party to contest that they prefer to take on the Provincial elections instead?

Read more,
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items08/200308-4.html

Are you training Lanka army, CPI asks Centre

The CPI on Tuesday alleged that the Centre was giving secret training to Sri Lankan Army personnel.

Raising the issue during the zero hour in the Rajya Sabha, CPI member D Raja wanted to know whether the government has a policy to train the Sri Lankan Army. He demanded that if there is a policy, the government come out openly with it.

Raja said that the Centre should not give training to the island nation’s army in a clandestine manner and added that he knew about Sri Lankan military officers being brought to the National Defence Academy.

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http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?

Heated debate in the Sri Lanka parliament on the 17th amendment

A heated debate commenced in the parliament yesterday as Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka made a special statement with regard to the reactivation of constitutional council as required by the 17th amendment of the country’s constitution.

Premier said that the President has decided to not to activate the Constitutional Council until the report of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the subject makes its recommendations.

He also pointed out that the appointment of the 10th member to the council has been dragging for over 2 years and therefore it is essential to make suitable alteration to the existing law that is creating problems.

Joining the debate opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe pointed out that the tenure of the present general secretary to the parliament expires at the end of this month and without the council the vacancy will not be able to be filled.

He said that if somebody takes the appointment in the absence of the council it would only create a parliamentary privilege issue and therefore it would be difficult for the parliament to continue its proceeding in the near future.

Read more,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/March1935552JR.html

JVP will contest in the East

The JVP has decided to contest the Provincial council elections for the Eastern Province.

Member of JVP Political Bureau Anura Dissanayake said the JVP will field a team consisting of Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim candidates. The JVP did not contest the local government elections held for Batticaloa District recently.

Extracted from,
http://www.lankatruth.com/

Author Arthur C. Clarke dies

Author Arthur C. Clarke, whose science fiction and non-fiction works ranged from the script for "2001: A Space Odyssey" to an early proposal for communications satellites, has died at age 90, associates have said.

Clarke had been wheelchair-bound for several years with complications stemming from a youthful bout with polio and had suffered from back trouble recently, said Scott Chase, the secretary of the nonprofit Arthur C. Clarke Foundation.

He died early Wednesday -- Tuesday afternoon ET -- at a hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he had lived since the 1950s, Chase said.

"He had been taken to hospital in what we had hoped was one of the slings and arrows of being 90, but in this case it was his final visit," he said.

Read more,
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/03/18/obit.clarke/index.html

President likens Eastern victory to universal franchise

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday likened the democratic exercise in Batticaloa at the recently concluded election to the country obtaining universal franchise for the first time.

The President reiterated that with the successful conclusion of the local polls in Batticaloa, the main focus was directed not only with regard to the Eastern polity but also to the international arena. "The country could now demonstrate to the entire world that we are a Nation which respects democracy".

President Rajapaksa made this observation addressing Members of Local Government bodies from Batticaloa, elected at the recent elections, at the Presidential Secretariat.

He congratulated all elected Local Government members from Batticaloa on their becoming representatives of the people of Batticaloa.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/03/19/news01.asp
Photo,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/03/19/main_News.asp

India installs radar system to curb LTTE infiltration and smugglings

The Indian Air Force has installed sophisticated radar with all modern systems available for aerial surveillance. It is reported that the main objective of installing this surveillance system is to prevent smuggling and infiltration operations of the LTTE exploiting the Gulf of Mannar to Sri Lanka.

Southern Air Command, Air Vice-Marshal Y.R. Rane after discussing with the Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard officials addressing the media said that that the new radar has eight antennae which could cover the entire Gulf of Mannar region. It had the capability to track objects such as ships, barges, trawlers, small boats and others in the Indian territorial waters off Mandapam coast.

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http://www.news.lk/index.php?

Tamils are slaves in India: LTTE leader

A leader of the Tamil Tigers has alleged that Tamils in India are not a free people but are slaves of the Indian state, according to a media report Tuesday.

“In ancient times the whole of India was a Tamil land. And the Chola kings (from Tamil Nadu) ruled over Sri Lanka for 70 years. Today, the Tamils are slaves in India and are fighting for their liberation in Sri Lanka,” Tamil daily ‘Sudar Oli’ quoted Thamilendhi as saying.

Thamilendhi is the ‘finance commissar’ of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

He was speaking in Kilinochchi at the launch of a Tamil book ‘Let us Move Towards the Frontiers of Tamil Eelam’ written by Anbuselvan.

Read more,
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14624990

Man arrested for aiding Tamil terrorist group

For the first time in Canadian history, a man has been charged with terrorist financing for allegedly raising money for the Tamil Tigers, police said Monday.

"The funds were allegedly raised for the LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam], which is a listed terrorist organization in Canada," said RCMP Supt. Lloyde Plante of B.C.'s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET).

"This is the first charge of this nature in Canada."

Prapaharan (Prapa) Thambithurai, 45, who lives in Toronto but was arrested on the weekend in Metro Vancouver, is charged with providing or making available property or services for terrorist purposes.

Asked to elaborate on the charge, Plante said: "He was soliciting funding that was to be utilized to support the LTTE, that was the allegation."

Read more,
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?

MTNL seeking partner for Sri Lanka Suntel buyout: Indian regulator

India's Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) is looking for a joint venture partner to take up a 50 percent stake in Sri Lanka's Suntel which it is negotiating to buy, India's telecom regulator has said.

The Department of Telecom (DOT) said in its annual report that MTNL wanted a joint venture partner to retain the independence of the profitable Sri Lankan firm.

"As the target company is being run by highly-skilled professionals, to maintain its existing structure with regards to human resources and other policies, MTNL has in principle decided to limit its stake to 50 percent and is in talks to find suitable partners," the department said of MTNL in its annual report for 2007-08.

MTNL said it has been short-listed as the preferred bidder to acquire Sri Lanka's Suntel, which has some 300,000 customers.

Read more,
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?

Pak, Sri Lanka to boost gem industry

The governments of Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop Pakistan gem industry.

Pakistan High commission in Sri Lanka with the co-ordination of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Recourse of Pakistan and Ministry of Enterprises Development and Investment Promotion of Sri Lanka organised a preliminary study visit of the Pakistan gem industry in 2007, an official announcement said.

Extracted from,
http://thepost.com.pk/BizNews.aspx?dtlid=150412&catid=7

President moves to stop strike action, pledges security to Rupavahini employees

Fruitful discussions between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and trade unions of the State Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) yesterday (17th) resulted in averting disruptive strike action.

During the meeting held yesterday between the President and the SLRC employees, President pointed out that police inquiries would determine whether Minister Mervyn Silva was involved or not in the spate of attacks on Rupavahini employees and everyone should ensure that no violence be used on any media personnel again. IGP Victor Perera confirmed that full investigations into the attacks are being conducted.

Attending the meeting, Minister of Mass Media and Information, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa commenting on the incidents that took place earlier during the day stated that the armed forces were called to prevent a plan to disrupt work at SLRC.

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http://www.news.lk/index.php?