THE AGE: Sri Lankans admit living in Indonesia
Posted: October 31, 2009 | Leave a CommentMOST of the Sri Lankan asylum seekers in a stand-off with Australian authorities off the coast of the Riau Islands have admitted living in Indonesia for years, providing the Rudd Government with leverage to convince Indonesia to take them back.
The development is seen by Australian officials as a possible circuit-breaker to the stand-off, which has caused much political and diplomatic anguish.
Indonesia’s senior official in charge of the matter, Sujatmiko, said he was unaware of the history of the asylum seekers but asked that all information be passed to him as a matter of urgency. Full Story
PTI: Rajapaksa worships at Lord Venkateswara shrine
Posted: October 31, 2009 | Leave a CommentOn a pilgrimage tour after the end of the war with LTTE, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today offered prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near here.
Rajapaksa, who flew in here by a special Sri Lankan aircraft from Nepal, offered prayers at the temple, accompanied by his wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa and an 80-member entourage.
On his arrival at the temple, Rajapaksa was accorded a traditional welcome by the priests and temple officials. Full Story
BERNAMA: Interpol To Track Down Malaysian Teenage Girls In Credit Card Fraud
Posted: October 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment‘Charlie’s Angels’ they are not, but three Malaysian teenage girls will soon have a date with Interpol over their links to an international fake credit card syndicate based in South India.
While the teenagers have returned to Malaysia after majoring in cosmetology courses at colleges in this southern city, Chennai police have uncovered their link to a Sri Lankan, believed to be the syndicate mastermind.
Working for the Sri Lankan, the police discovered that while pursuing the courses, the Malaysians were given fake credit cards to purchase expensive goods here. Full Story
AFP: US helps Sri Lanka’s former rebels
Posted: October 31, 2009 | Leave a CommentUnited States on Friday announced funding for up to 1,000 former Tamil guerrillas to reintegrate in society by starting their own businesses or learning new skills.
The US embassy here said they were giving equipment and supplies to ex-fighters while vocational training was also being made available to help them start small enterprises in the island’s east. Full Story
COLOMBO PAGE: SB eyeing for common candidate post in Sri Lanka joint alliance
Posted: October 31, 2009 | Leave a CommentThe national organizer of the main opposition United National Party, S.B Dissanayake today hinted that he will be ready to accept the common candidate post of the newly formed joint alliance led by his party.
Speaking at a press briefing held in Colombo this morning, Dissanayake said that his supporters have already asked him to contest the presidential election as the common candidate.
Dissanayake hinted openly that he will be more suitable for this post, but ready to support any person who will be selected by the new alliance. Full Story
DAILY MAIL: British boy, six, killed after falling 60ft down a well during family holiday to Sri Lanka
Posted: October 31, 2009 | Leave a CommentA British boy has died after falling down a 60ft well during a family holiday to Sri Lanka, it was revealed today.
Matin Nochad, six, was just two hours into the trip with his parents and two-year-old sister when the tragic accident happened. The youngster had been playing in the garden of the family holiday home when the cover of a well he was standing on, gave way.
Martin plunged to 60ft to the bottom, suffering severe head injuries. Full Story
TRAVELBITE: Galle Film Festival set for Sri Lanka
Posted: October 31, 2009 | Leave a CommentSri Lanka is preparing to host the second Galle Film Festival in the historic coastal town of Galle – the perfect excuse for a holiday on the island.
Presented in association with the National Film Corporation (NFC) of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Tourism the festival will open with Sri Lankan director Vimukthi Jayasundera’s ‘Ahasin Wetei’, which was in competition at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
The historic town of Galle will host the event from December 2nd-6th. Full Story
THE ISLAND: Undermining Sri Lanka, America takes the wrong side in anti-terror fight
Posted: October 31, 2009 | Leave a CommentSri Lanka is joining Israel as a country facing a war crimes investigation for effectively fighting back against terrorism. America should support the Sri Lankan government or keep its nose out of Colombo’s business.
Last week, Stephen Rapp, U.S. ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues, filed a report to Congress on incidents during the recent conflict in Sri Lanka that “may constitute violations of international humanitarian law or crimes against humanity.” The report focuses in particular on January to May 2009 when, after 12 years of conflict, the Sri Lankan military surrounded and destroyed the major armed formations of the Tamil Tigers and killed the terrorist group’s leaders. Full Story
DAILY NEWS: President tells Sri Lankans in Nepal: Return to country to foster nation building
Posted: October 31, 2009 | Leave a CommentPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday requested all Sri Lankans abroad to return to the motherland and contribute towards the nation building effort.
The President made this appeal when he addressed the Sri Lankan community in Kathmandu, Nepal. A large number of Sri Lankan businessmen, professionals and university students attended the meeting.
The President who is on a two-day official visit to Nepal said Sri Lanka has been fully liberated from LTTE terrorism which dogged the country’s development for nearly three decades. The country has been united under a single banner and people of all communities and religions could now live in peace and amity and work for the progress of the country. Full Story
LANKA BUSINESS ONLINE: Sri Lanka activated carbon maker profits treble
Posted: October 31, 2009 | Leave a CommentSri Lanka’s Haycarb, an activated carbon producer said profits rose 198 percent to 180.1 million rupees in the September quarter from a year earlier while revenues rose 14 percent to 2.55 billion rupees.
The profits included a 17.6 million rupee contribution from a group unit. The firm has interests in hotels where some assets were sold.
Haycarb claims to be the world largest producer of activated carbon from coconut shell charcoal. Activated carbon is used in refining and purification. It has plants in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia. Full Story