Sri Lanka Latest News

Thursday, June 7, 2007

An Emeritus Professor of Computer Science, V.K. Samaranayake passes away

A well known Emeritus Professor of Computer Science, V.K. Samaranayake has passed away on the night of 6th June 2007 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Prof. V.K. Samaranayake, was the founder Director, University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) of the University of Colombo, and Chairman of Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka,

Late Prof. V.K. Samaranayake was a Fellow of the Harvard Information Infrastructure Project and the National Center for Digital Government of the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He is also a Post Graduate holder of the University of Kalaniya.

Photo,
http://www.news.lk/images/stories/Multimedia_Gallery/Photo_Gallery/prof_sam.jpg

Govt. hopes Japan will ban LTTE

The Government hopes the latest visit by Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi will result in the listing of the LTTE or the freezing of its funds in Japan, defence spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Minister Rambukwella said Japan had deferred listing the rebels in August last year after the LTTE had given an assurance it would cease violence and resume peace negotiations.

However as the rebels had failed to live up to that expectation the Government felt Japan should put pressure by listing the LTTE, he said. “We hope that after Mr. Akashi goes back he will know the ground situation better and this will result in Japan banning the LTTE,” Minister Rambukwella told the media yesterday. On Tuesday Mr. Akashi had discussions with Government peace secretariat head Palitha Kohona on the peace process.

Read more,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/06/07/front/6.asp

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

LTTE terrorists explode an IED targeting Colombo bound train- Batticaloa

The LTTE terrorists have exploded an Improvised Explosive Device(IED) targeting the Colombo bound train at Punani in Batticaloa around 7.15 this morning.

According to the available reports the explosive device was placed on the rail track. The train has been derailed and few of the cabins have been damaged due to the incident. Four of the passengers have suffered injuries due to the derailing.

Media Center for national Security (MCNS) said that, three of the injured have been taken to the Polonnaruwa hospital and the other has been taken to Valachchenai hospital.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070606_01

India asked to desist from returning to bad neighbor policy

India told to desist from interfering in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. It should not return to bad neighbor policy urged Somawansa Amarasinghe, Leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. “The only country to have intruded on our sovereignty in the postcolonial period is India,” he has alleged...

...On behalf of the political bureau of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna its leader Somawansa Amarasinghe has conveyed to the High Commissioner for India in Sri Lanka that, “The foreign policy of the JVP is very simple.

It will side with any country, whatever their other ideological views, which support Sri Lanka to regain full sovereignty. The only country to have intruded on our sovereignty in the postcolonial period is India.”

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6035

Sri Lankan star helps Asia to victory

Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 47 not out from 36 balls to guide an Asia XI to a six-wicket win over an Africa XI in a Twenty20 game.

The Asia bowlers pegged an inexperienced Africa XI to 109 for eight despite 52 from South Africa opener Loots Bosman.

Asia XI reached 110 for four in the 16th over with Dilshan hitting six fours and a six. The first of a three-game one-day series between the two continental teams will be played in Bangalore on Wednesday with the last two fixtures to be held in Chennai at the weekend.

Extracted from,
http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/
englishnews/20070606/news_20070606_56_406014.htm

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Army took over two bodies, other bodies were returned to the ICRC

The army took over the bodies of two soldiers from the ICRC around 12.45p.m. at the OMANTHAI entry/exit point today (05). The bodies were identified as of two soldiers out of the missing in action following clashes with the LTTE along the VAVUNIYA forward defence lines last Saturday (02).

The LTTE had handed over 13 bodies to the ICRC claiming them to be of Army soldiers. The Army took over two bodies after identification and confirmation that they were of two army soldiers missing since the attack. The other bodies were returned to the ICRC as they were not of Army personnel.

http://www.rnhit.com/mcns/fullnews.php?id=6101

Monday, June 4, 2007

Japanese peace envoy to visit Sri Lanka tomorrow

Japan’s special peace envoy, Yasushi Akashi, will arrive here tomorrow on a four-day visit in an attempt to push forward the stalled peace process in the island nation.

A Japanese embassy said in a statement that Akashi was planning to discuss with the government and the parties concerned the current situation of the peace process and its future.

During the visit, Akashi is expected to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and several other senior government officials.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/June4131637JV.html

President orders full-scale inquiry

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered a full-scale and immediate inquiry into the deaths of two Red Cross volunteers whose bodies had been recovered from Kiriella with gun shot wounds.

Presidential Secretariat sources said that although an attempt has been made to make the Government responsible for the alleged abduction and the killing of the two Red Cross volunteers, the sources was emphatic that the Government was not involved in the incident at all.

It was also clearly evident that there was no involvement on the part of the police or security personnel into the alleged abduction and killing of the two volunteers, sources added.

90% of abducted had returned: Rajapaksa

Accusing interested parties of exploiting abductions to tarnish the image of his government, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that according to the Mahanama Tillekeratne Commission on Abductions, in 90% of cases brought before it, the person allegedly "abducted" had returned.

At a meeting in Colombo on Friday, with the relatives of those "abducted" Rajapaksa said that as per the Commission, the persons who had disappeared were either domestic servants who had wanted to escape; lovers who had eloped; or men and women who had left their spouses after a domestic dispute.

"Due to a large number of complaints of abductions being made for narrow political reasons, police investigations into the genuine complaints about abductions had been hindered," the President said.

Atapattu may be recalled for Bangladesh series

Marvan Atapattu is likely to play his first Test for Sri Lanka in nearly 18 months later this month when Bangladesh arrive for a series of three Tests and three ODIs. Atapattu has been a near-permanent presence in most squads but has played little part in Sri Lanka’s recent resurgence.

He was part of the World Cup squad but failed to get a game in the Caribbean. That may be about to change now, with Ashantha De Mel, chief selector, backing Atapattu’s return. “Marvan Atapattu will definitely be considered for the Test and the one day series against Bangladesh,” said De Mel.

“I think Marvan is too good a player to be left out considering his experience and ability. We will initially look at him for the Tests and, depending on his form, will consider him for the one-day games too. He was left out of the matches against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, but we have decided to reconsider him,” he added.

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Fighting in Vavuniya; fatal casualties to LTTE

Fresh clashes between the security forces and the LTTE broke out last night (02) at 9 p.m, in the Mullikulama, Kalmadu area in the Vavuniya District with both sides exchanging heavy artillery barrages.

The military troops launched a decisive retaliatory attack, engaging heavy artillery and mortars at identified LTTE gun positions north west of Vavuniya, initial reports said.

LTTE flanks were repulsed due to the heavy military thrust, where it is believed that a large number of terrorists are entrapped in Mullikulama area. Meanwhile, it is said that the troops are trying to cutoff the escape routes.

According to military officials the army troops have 'sledge hammered' the main terrorist offensive line, leaving large number of LTTE bodies scattered in the area. LTTE casualties are believed, to be high with soaring death figures, according to intercepted enemy communications.

CFA should be amended to bring peace - Devananda

The leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) and Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare Kathriravelu Nithyananda Douglas Devananda, MP says that the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) which gave undue advantages to the LTTE should be amended to bring back peace.

In an interview with the Sunday observer he said that the CFA, was signed to make the guns silent...

Q: Can you explain the real situation in the North and East ? Do the civilians have access to humanitarian services ?

A: The Government is trying its level best to provide the basic things such as food and other essential items to the people. But, unfortunately the LTTE has blocked all these services from reaching the people. Because of the LTTE threats, there are so many logistical problems faced by the Government. The LTTE has obstructed each and every step that the Government has taken to improve the living condition in the North and East.

Recently the LTTE has threatened the private traders not to sell goods......

Tigers slipped into Switzerland through the back door

Investigations reveal that Switzerland is being taken for a ride by Tigers cadres who are posing as victims of Tiger terror.

This is the latest people-smuggling racket operated by the Tigers. Already there are 40,000 Tamils settled down in Switzerland. They are a part of the Tamil diaspora that funds Tiger terror operations in Sri Lanka.

Tiger operations which include abduction of Tamil teenagers, murders, kidnappings and running heavily guarded concentration camps in Vanni.

At Swiss embassy in Colombo, they posed as Tamils running away from the Tigers. Once they collected the necessary visa and land in Switzerland they join the Tiger outfits in their respective cantons.

Construction work on Rs. 3.6 b Hambantota port soon

Construction work on the Rs. 3.6. billion Hambantota port with financial assistance from the Chinese government will commence within two months, the project engineer, Janaka Kurukulasuriya told the media.

The Chinese government has agreed to provide funds at the request of President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his recent visit to China, he said.

The construction work has been jointly undertaken by the China Harbour Engineering Company and Sino Hydro Corporation.These companies have agreed to complete work on this port in three stages, he said.