FOX NEWS: Report from Asia: Tsunami Warning System Dangerously Flawed
Posted: September 30, 2009 | Leave a CommentThe latest tsunami in South-east Asia raises again the real fear in this region of another horrific disaster. But will the warnings save lives if a killer wave again strikes? Any warning will help some people have time to escape to higher ground, but the reality is that lives are still in danger the current warning systems.For example, The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center immediately sent out an e mail statement today when the earthquake happened off Sumatra, warning that “there is a possibility of a destructive regional tsunami in the Indian Ocean.” That message goes immediately to emergency services and the media who can issue warnings. But it seems difficult to clear the beaches and coastal towns and villages in time. Full Story
FIBRE 2 FASHION: Extension of GSP Plus status to be decided next month
Posted: September 30, 2009 | Leave a CommentThe European Commission will convene on October 15, to discuss the matter of extending the GSP Plus status to Sri Lanka. As per GSP Plus, exports from Sri Lanka do not attract any import duties in its exports to the countries of the European Union.
GSP Plus gives Sri Lanka the right to export more than 7,200 products duty-free to the EU, which last year accounted for 36 percent of Sri Lanka’s US $8.1 billion in total exports. Countries receiving GSP Plus must have ratified and implemented 27 international conventions on rights, labour, development and good governance.
As per sources in the European Commission, the status may be extended, but with conditions attached. The Commission is probing the excesses of the military in its war against terrorism, last year and which has become the central topic of the Commission in its decision to extend the status. Full Story
USGS: Magnitude 7.9 Earthquake in Southern Sumatra
Posted: September 30, 2009 | Leave a CommentA magnitude 7.9 earthquke occurred 50km WNW of Padang in Indonesia’s Southern Sumatra region, Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 10:16:10 UTC, the United States Gelogical Survey reported. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has issued a Tsunami Watch for all areas of the Indian Ocean including Indonesia, India, Thailand and Malaysia which remains in effect at the time of writing. Earthquake Report Tsunami Watch
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: Murali clash puts Vics’ plans in spin
Posted: September 30, 2009 | Leave a CommentA scheduling clash could deny Victoria the services of Sri Lankan star Muttiah Muralidaran next summer, meaning Australian cricket crowds may never see him again.
The Bushrangers have signed Muralidaran to play in Australia’s domestic Twenty20 tournament in January.
But the leading wicket-taker in both Test and one-day cricket said a planned tri-series comprising Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh could mean he had to put national commitments first.
“Sri Lanka has put a tour to Bangladesh - it’s not confirmed yet, but we’re trying - and … we put in the contract if it happens then I won’t be able to come (to Melbourne),” he said.
“That’s the only problem at the moment, otherwise I’m happy to play there.” Full Story
CHINA VIEW: British, French FMs may tour Sri Lanka: foreign ministry
Posted: September 30, 2009 | Leave a CommentBritish and French foreign ministers may make a joint visit to Sri Lanka, officials from the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said here Sunday.
The officials said that British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in a tripartite meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in New York had expressed their wish for a return visit to Sri Lanka.
Miliband and Kouchner visited Sri Lanka in late April during the last stage of the government’s military campaign against Tamil Tiger rebels. Full Story
TECHTREE: Is the Mysterious Facebook Virus Indian?
Posted: September 30, 2009 | Leave a CommentSince yesterday, we have been hearing reports about a Facebook virus that seems to change some information in your Facebook account. The “Vidyartha” virus, as it is known, seems pretty harmless. But, is it really a virus? That’s still being researched.
In the meantime, we did our own little research and found out that while the name “Vidyartha” may sound Indian, the Vidyartha College is actually an institution down south in Sri Lanka and apparently, if some reports are to be believed, some users have seen their school name being changed to that of this institution - automatically. And so far, that is precisely what this virus has been doing. Full Story
DAILY MIRROR: Fresh tsunami warning for Samoa as toll reaches 63
Posted: September 30, 2009 | Leave a CommentThe death toll from a massive South Pacific earthquake and tsunami has risen to 63, officials say. Samoan police have confirmed the new toll and expect it will rise further. Meanwhile, Samoan authorities have issued a fresh tsunami warning to residents, eyewitnesses say.
“The sirens have gone off and police are warning us to go uphill, away from water, as there’s a new tsunami alert,” local resident Cherelle Jackson told AFP.
“Its starting all over again.” Full Story
DAILY MIRROR: Reduce VIP security: Mangala
Posted: September 30, 2009 | Leave a CommentSLFP (M) leader Mangala Samaraweera yesterday called for a reappraisal of the VIP security system under which a security contingent would be decided by a special Cabinet Sub Committee working together with Defence Authorities.
Mr. Samaraweera told a news conference such a committee was essential in keeping with present day trends and the need for a systematic reduction in VIP security with the war coming to an end.
He said even State Corporation heads who were not under any risk were provided with security squads with some of these personnel being used to bring undue influence on others. Full Story
THE ISLAND: ‘Irudina’ journalist Dileesha under threat
Posted: September 30, 2009 | Leave a CommentA group of unknown persons had gone in search of media rights activist and ‘Irudina’ newspaper journalist Dileesha Abeysundera to her Borella residence around 11.45 p.m. on Monday night, according to a complaint lodged by her, at the Borella Police.
Dileesha, who is also the Deputy Secretary of the Free Media Movement and Secretary of the National Forum For Journalists, told The Island that she had got home after work around 10 p.m. on Monday night. Full Story
THE ISLAND: Nearly 20,000 escape from IDP centres
Posted: September 30, 2009 | Leave a CommentAt least 20,000 of the nearly 300,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Vavuniya camps had escaped, SSP for Kandy Ranjith Kasturiratna said at the Kandy District coordinating committee meeting, chaired by Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, on Monday.
SSP Kasturiratne said special police teams from Kandy had been dispatched to the IDP camps in the North to conduct investigations. Full Story