A businessman who attempted to smuggle Rs.80 million worth foreign currency out of Sri Lanka has been arrested at the airport, the Customs said.
(JNW)
September 14, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Assistant Secretary of United States for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake met Commander of Security Forces Jaffna Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe yesterday (13). The meeting took place in the Headquarters of the Security Forces, Jaffna at Palaly.
In the meeting held with the Assistant Secretary, Major General Hathurusinghe briefed him on the humanitarian assistance being extended by the Army to civilians in Jaffna to uplift their living status while assisting the civil administrative authorities and Police when and where necessary, the Headquarters of the Security Forces, Jaffna said.
In response Assistant Secretary Blake expressed his satisfaction over the de-mining process speedily carried out by the Army with assistance of other foreign agencies and early resettlement of all IDPs in Jaffna. He was also pleased with the effort taken by the government to develop infrastructure in Jaffna on fast track.
The high level diplomatic team met the Bishop of Jaffna Rev. Fr. Dr. Thomas Soundranayagam and senior administrative officials of the Jaffna District Secretariat as well.
Special Assistant US Department of State Ms Kristin Roberts, Deputy Chief of Mission US Embassy Ms Valerie Fowler and Political Officer US Embassy Mr. Jacob Chriqui included the delegation.
(JNW)
September 14, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Afghan forces have killed the last insurgents who attacked the US embassy, Nato headquarters and police buildings in Kabul, after a 20-hour stand-off. The Afghan authorities say a multi-storey building where the gunmen were holed up has now been cleared.
Officials say at least seven people, including four policemen, were killed as well as nine of the insurgents.
The attack, the most complex in Kabul to date, comes as US and other foreign forces begin to withdraw their troops.
Nato and the US embassy said none of their staff were among the casualties.
The Taliban said it was behind the attack, although Afghan officials blamed the Haqqani network, an insurgent group linked to the Taliban and al-Qaeda but which operates independently.
Afghan forces worked their way through the multi-storey building which overlooks the heavily fortified diplomatic quarter, exchanging fire with the militants on the floors above well into Wednesday.
Afghan officials then confirmed that all the attackers were dead and the fighting was over.
“Conditions in Kabul city are back to normal and all our countrymen can go about their daily lives without any worries,” said an interior ministry spokesman.
(BBC)
September 14, 2011 at 12:34 pm
UPFA’s Colombo Mayoral candidate Milinda Moragoda has proposed to establish a committee comprised with all relevant government officials to solve issues faced by the residents of Colombo city. Addressing a media briefing held in Colombo today(14) he said, the committee which would convene once a week, will function under the supervision of the Mayor of Colombo Municipal Council.
The main objective of this initiative is to make Colombo, the best city of Asia. However the Central government, the Provinvcial Council and the Colombo Municipal Council should work collectively to achieve this goal, he pointed out.
(JNW)
September 14, 2011 at 11:58 am
The number of Americans living in poverty rose to 46.2 million last year, nearly one in six people, according to the US Census Bureau’s annual report. The 2010 data shows the poverty rate at 15.1%, from 14.3% in 2009. The number of Americans without health insurance also rose slightly to 49.9 million.
The poverty rate was the highest since 1983, and tied with the level in 1993.
The number of Americans living below the poverty line has now risen for four years in a row.
The US definition of poverty is an annual income of $22,314 (£14,129), or less for a family of four, and $11,139 for a single person.
(BBC)
September 14, 2011 at 8:10 am
Taliban suicide fighters launched a multi-pronged attack in Kabul on Tuesday, firing rockets toward the U.S. and other embassies in central Kabul, and sending two suicide bombers to the city’s West later in the afternoon. The Taliban have launched a high-profile attacks on multiple targets in the capital in the past, but this is the first time they have organized simultaneous assaults on such separate parts of the city.
Near the heavily fortified diplomatic district, insurgents took over a multi-storey building under construction and fired rockets in the direction of several embassy and NATO compounds.
In western Kabul, just a few kilometers away, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the entrance to a police building killing a policeman.
A second suicide bomber wounded two people when he detonated his explosives near the Habibia high school, also in the west of Kabul, the Ministry of the Interior said in a statement.
The U.S. embassy said its personnel were safe following the attack in the diplomatic district of the capital, while British Ambassador Sir William Patey confirmed the nearby U.S. embassy had been a target.
“Aware of attack on US Embassy. All UK Embassy staff accounted for,” Patey said on Twitter.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group was armed with rocket-propelled grenades, suicide bomb vests and AK-47s, and was targeting government buildings, the U.S. embassy and the headquarters of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
He also confirmed that the group had sent two suicide attackers to west Kabul, and said they had attacked a military convoy near the airport. The last claim could not be verified.
(Reuters)
September 13, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Train from Colombo Fort to Badulla at 8 p.m. and the return train at 6 p.m. today(13) have been cancelled, the Railway Control Room said. They have been cancelled as a rock has been fallen to the railway track, it disclosed.
(JNW)
September 13, 2011 at 4:39 pm
SSP Maxi Procter has been appointed as the new Police Spokesman, the Police Headquarters announced today(13).
(JNW)
September 13, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Newly crowned Miss Universe Leila Lopes hopes her victory will allow her to assist her native Angola further escape its history of war and impoverishment and said she plans to focus on combatting HIV around the globe. Speaking in a timid voice early Tuesday shortly after taking the crown in South America’s largest city, the 25-year-old Lopes said that “as Miss Angola I’ve already done a lot to help my people.”
“I’ve worked with various social causes. I work with poor kids, I work in the fight against HIV. I work to protect the elderly and I have to do everything that my country needs,” she said. “I think now as Miss Universe I will be able to do much more.”
Responding to questions, Lopes said that she has never had cosmetic surgery of any kind and that her three tips for beauty were to get a lot of sleep, use sun block even when it’s not sunny and to drink lots of water. She said her smile was her best weapon in the competition.
Asked about racism in light of the fact that she’s one of the few blacks ever crowned Miss Universe, Lopes said that “any racist needs to seek help. It’s not normal in the 21st century to think in that way.”
Lopes is Angola’s first winner. She beat out 88 other competitors to win the title during the 60th anniversary of the world’s biggest beauty pageant. She replaces last year’s winner, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico.
She deftly handled the interview question that is asked of the remaining top five contestants. She was questioned about what physical trait she would change if she could.
“Thank God I’m very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn’t change a thing,” Lopes said. “I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life.”
The first runner-up was 23-year-old Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine and the second runner-up was Priscila Machado of Brazil. The third was Miss Philippines and the fourth Miss China.
(Associated Press)
September 13, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has been named the ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2011 during the ICC Awards ceremony in London. Sangakkara also won the ICC People’s Choice Award, capping a memorable evening for him.
“It’s a great honour first of all to have been nominated for this award [ODI Cricketer] and a great honour to have actually won it,” said Sangakkara, who was not in London because of the ongoing home series against Australia.
“I would like to thank the rest of my team-mates, they have done a great job over the years in one-day cricket and I am privileged to be part of this and [to have] led these guys for just over two years. I thank you again, I feel very very proud.”
Sangakkara played 25 ODIs in the period under consideration – August 11, 2010 to August 3, 2011 – and scored 1049 runs at an average of 55.21 including a century and seven half-centuries. He also had 26 catches and 10 stumpings as wicketkeeper and led Sri Lanka to the final of the 2011 World Cup.
Sangakkara won the ODI award ahead of Australia’s Shane Watson, India’s Gautam Gambhir and South Africa’s Hashim Amla.
For the People’s Choice Award, Sangakkara received more votes than Amla, England batsman Jonathan Trott, West Indies opener Chris Gayle and India captain MS Dhoni.
(ESPN)
September 13, 2011 at 6:32 am
A child has been killed from a fire that broke out at a children’s home at Bathalagoda, Nittambuwa, Police said. The Fire Brigade said it is engaged in the process of putting out the fire. However, cause of the fire has not yet been identified. Nittambuwa Police is conducting further investigations about the incident.
(JNW)
September 12, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Sri Lanka’s first female Attorney General Eva Wanasundara, has sworn in before President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a short while ago. She is the 26th Attorney General of the country. She joined the Attorney General’s Department in 1979 as a State Counsellor. Subsequently Mrs. Wanasundara served as the Senior State Counsellor, Deputy Solicitor General, Additional Solicitor General and Solicitor General. She was the first woman to be appointed to those posts. Eva Wanasundera has also served as the Acting Attorney General 16 times.
(JNW)
September 12, 2011 at 12:44 pm
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake arrived in Colombo today(12) commencing his five-day visit to Sri Lanka and India. During his stay in Colombo he will meet with government officials, civil society representatives, university students and political leaders while in Sri Lanka, the State Department said.
(JNW)
September 12, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Sri Lanka is to brief the International Human Rights Council at its opening session today(12) in Geneva on the record of protection of human rights in Sri Lanka. The 18th regular session of the UNHRC will be held from 12 to 30 September 2011 at the HRC headquarters in Geneva . The Sri Lankan delegation is to make a special statement on the transparent policies followed by the government to protect human rights.
The government has appointed a five-member delegation headed by Plantation Minister and Special Human Rights Envoy Mahinda Samarasinghe to address the 18th session of the Human Rights Council.
The other members of the delegation include Ministers Prof. G. L. Peiris, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and government parliamentarian supervising the External Affairs Ministry Sajin de Vaas Gunawardena. Minister Samarasinghe is scheduled to address the Human Rights Council today(12).
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.
Minister Samarasinghe has said the government hopes to inform the international community about the post war development activities in the country and obtain their assistance. “We hope to develop the Northern areas and bring normalcy to the area. Not only that we hope to develop the whole nation by uniting the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and Burghers. By lifting the state of emergency we have sent a message to the whole world stating that we have not stalled in one place after the end of the war,” Minister Samarasinghe said.
(Government Information Department)
September 12, 2011 at 10:30 am
One of the sons of the Libyan leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi, has arrived in neighbouring Niger. Niger’s justice minister said Saadi Gaddafi had been in a convoy which was heading towards the capital, Niamey.
Col Gaddafi’s whereabouts are unknown. He has said he will die in Libya.
Anti-Gaddafi troops now control most of Libyan territory, including the capital Tripoli. They have been trying to seize several cities controlled by loyalists, including Bani Walid and Sirte.
On Sunday, rebel forces resumed their attack on Bani Walid, supported by Nato air strikes. Officials say their forces are now within reach of the centre of the town.
Some of Col Gaddafi’s family have fled to Algeria. Several convoys of former Gaddafi loyalists are also said to have streamed over Libya’s southern border with Niger recently.
(BBC)
September 12, 2011 at 7:51 am
Sri Lanka has charged the International Human Right Group Amnesty International for its pre-judgment of the out come of the reconciliation commission appointed by the Sri Lanka Government to inquire into the incidents said to have occured in the last moments of the war with the LTTE tiger terrorists.
Sri Lankan Permanent Envoy to UN in Geneva Tamara Kunanayakam, responding to media queries on the recent Amnesty International Report on the LLRC said “Pre-judgment of the Commission’s outcome is unacceptable and unwarranted” “The claims by the AI that they have analyzed the work of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), is questionable when the final report of the LLRC is due only on 15 November 2011.
” The statement said It is recalled that AI in a demonstration of bad faith, refused an invitation from the LLRC in October 2010, to testify before the Commission. This would have provided an opportunity to AI to obtain first hand knowledge of the workings of the LLRC. While pretending to be well versed in legal proceedings, in the case of Sri Lanka, AI has acted as a self-appointed judge and has chosen to ignore the fundamental principle of “contradictoriality” established by both national laws and international law, including by international human rights instruments.
Compliance with this principle means that the parties have early knowledge of the opponent’s factual and legal arguments and evidence. The LLRC was founded upon the principle of restorative justice and focuses on identifying those responsible for past events related to the conflict and identifying the institutional, administrative and legislative measures which need to be implemented in order to prevent recurrence of such events in the future.
Those questioning the transparency of the LLRC process are invited to visit the Commission’s website at www.llrc.lk, where its interim reports/communications are available. As for the credibility of the LLRC, it was established by a democratically elected President and Government and is composed of personalities whose eminence and integrity are not in doubt. Its composition reflects the pluralistic nature of the Sri Lankan polity.
It is a well known rule of international law that domestic remedies must first be exhausted. This rule is found in the case law of the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights, the American Convention on Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, international human rights treaties, etc.
Calls for external intervention were made even before the LLRC could actually begin its work in August 2010. How credible then are the claims made by AI It is evident that the real aim of those questioning the legitimacy of LLRC is to undermine the principle of State sovereignty that constitutes the foundation of the rule that requires domestic remedies to be exhausted. Therefore, pre-judgment of the Commission’s outcome is unacceptable and unwarranted, and is to be considered as interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.
(Government Information Department)
September 12, 2011 at 7:46 am
Australia’s chances of victory faded with the light around Pallekele on the fourth afternoon, as Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene settled in on a pitch offering little for the bowlers. On a day that began with a pre-play declaration from Michael Clarke, when Australia led by 237, the Sri Lanka batsmen put up their firmest resistance of the series, and went to stumps with a deficit of just 14.
Most importantly, they also had eight wickets in hand when bad light forced another early finish in a match dogged by rain and gloom. It meant that Australia needed a string of wickets on the fifth morning to give themselves a chance of taking a 2-0 series lead, while Sri Lanka’s goal was to overtake Australia and bat themselves into an unbeatable position.
They could hardly have had two better men at the crease. Sangakkara and Jayawardene hold the record for the highest partnership in Test history, a phenomenal 624 set in Colombo against South Africa five years ago. A double-century stand would just about be enough for Sri Lanka in this game, and they had made a fine start, their 95-run partnership taking the total to 223 for 2.
Sangakkara was on 69 and Jayawardene had 38, and both had played sensibly, with their first object crease occupation and runs their secondary goal.
Sri Lanka 174 and 223 for 2 (Sangakkara 69*, M Jayawardene 38*) trail Australia 411 for 7 by 14 runs
(ESPN)
September 11, 2011 at 5:30 pm
