COLOMBO PAGE: CID recovers computer data on Hicorp arms deal
Posted: February 28, 2010 | Leave a CommentSri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has seized the data from a computer that has allegedly been used to prepare documents for the Hicorp (Pvt) Limited.
The CID during a search of the residence of the director of Hicorp Wellington Dehoedt, who had been remanded in connection with the alleged arms deal since January 7, recovered the computer that belonged to him. The documents in question have reportedly been submitted to the Sri Lanka Army. Full Story
SUNDAY OBSERVER: Govt. confident of two third majority - Minister Rajitha Senaratne
Posted: February 28, 2010 | Leave a CommentConstruction and Engineering Services Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne said though the Government is very confident of getting a two-third majority at the General Election, the Opposition is trying to prevent it. This clearly shows how powerful and stable this Government is.
The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the JVP is trying their level best to go under a common symbol as they do not have any future in politics other than contesting under a common symbol by appealing to the vote bank of the UNP. Full Story
SUNDAY TIMES: Raigam to export salt to Japan
Posted: February 28, 2010 | Leave a CommentTaking advantage of nature to produce salt as long as the sun, and the sea lives on, a Sri Lankan company is to embark for the first time on an ambitious project to export pure salt to markets such as Japan.
Raigam Wayamba Saltern (Ltd), a fully owned subsidiary of the Kingdom of Raigam plans to set up three salt bases in the Southern, Eastern and Wayamba provinces with a capacity of 2,444 acres aimed at capturing a 40% market share and finding new emerging overseas markets such as Japan. Full Story
SUNDAY LEADER: The UNP — An Uncle Nephew Story
Posted: February 28, 2010 | Leave a CommentAt the recently concluded presidential campaign the main slogan of the opposition was that we should vote for change, given the daily vicissitudes facing the common man in every sphere of his life, a most reasonable urging. The voter seemed to have listened. But the change they voted for was not the one anticipated by the opposition. Full Story
THE NATION: “I will not mix politics with cricket” - Sanath
Posted: February 28, 2010 | Leave a CommentThe longstanding ‘Master Blaster’ of Sri Lanka cricket and the only player to score more than 13,000 runs and capture more than 300 wickets in one-day international cricket, Sanath Jayasuriya, in his new role as a politician, vows never to allow cricket to overlap or in any way affect his determination to work for the people of the Matara District. Full Story
SUNDAY TIMES: Breakthrough in Lasantha probe
Posted: February 28, 2010 | Leave a CommentA serving Army Major General, now on an overseas posting, has been re-called to Sri Lanka as CID detectives continued their investigations into the murder of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga.
They want to question this senior officer, who had been dealing with intelligence matters, over evidence that has surfaced so far on the killing. He has been told to remain in Colombo until the process is completed. Full Story
NATIONAL POST: Why does he do it?
Posted: February 28, 2010 | Leave a CommentMarathoners will talk about hitting The Wall. Toward the end of the 42-kilometre journey, exhaustion overwhelms the body, as if a parachute has opened up behind them or their muscles have suddenly melted away. Their toughest challenge is to resolve to keep running, despite the body screaming, “Stop!”
Suresh Joachim does not run marathons. He jogs on a treadmill in his basement for one hour three days a week. But the 41-year-old father of two and Mississauga, Ont., resident, recently tried to go more than 400 kilometres in 48 hours - that’s almost 10 marathons back-to-back - to break a Guinness World Record. Full Story
SUNDAY LEADER: Miliband, Your Slip Is Showing!
Posted: February 28, 2010 | Leave a CommentBritain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband has never been the Sri Lankan government’s favourite, for a number of reasons. But his steadfast decision last week to address the inaugural meeting of the controversial Global Tamil Forum (GTF) in London on Wednesday appears to have only helped widen the diplomatic rift between the two nations.
A fuming Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on Wednesday summoned acting British High Commissioner in Colombo Mark Gooding to the Minister’s Fort office, to protest against Miliband’s decision to address the meeting of the pro-LTTE GTF. Full Story
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR: Sri Lanka: ambitious plan to rebuild ‘ground zero’ in war with Tamil Tigers
Posted: February 27, 2010 | Leave a CommentIn chartered buses and private cars, Sri Lankans pour into this war-ravaged city, finally rejoined to the rest of the country. Some are ethnic Tamils coming home to see relatives after decades living elsewhere. Others are Sinhalese tourists from the south, curious to see a long-denied corner of their island.
Jaffna served as ground zero in Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war, which ended last May with the defeat of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Full Story
DAILY MIRROR: UNP pleads again for peaceful polls
Posted: February 27, 2010 | Leave a CommentThe main opposition United National Party (UNP) yesterday called on all political parties to cooperate in conducting a peaceful election on April 8 and said the UNP would as far as possible refrain from confrontational politics. UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya made these comments after handing over nominations to the Gampaha District and added that it was essential to enforce election laws for the conduct of a free and fair election.
He said the UNP was keen on creating a situation where people could exercise their fundamental rights without fear or favour. Full Story