12 Lankans arrested in Papua New Guinea

Twele Sri Lankans arrested in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea intelligence officials have arrested twelve Sri Lankan men, alleged to be planning to go to Australia using falsified documents. They say the men are members of the LTTE and were on the run from Sri Lanka.

ARMY TROOPS ENTERED MALLAVI AREA IN MULATIV

ARMY TROOPS ENTERED MALLAVI AREA IN MULATIV

According to military, troops have gained control over key LTTE outposts in the mALLAVI area and positioned tactically in the probable fall of the garrison township, despite heavy resistance from LTTE.

MORE:http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080831_08

China earthquake-32 death

The death toll in an earthquake in south-west China is now at least 32, with 467 injuries, state media says.

The 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck at 1630 local time (0730 GMT) on Saturday, close to Panzhihua town in Sichuan province, near the border with Yunnan. Xinhua news agency said rescue teams carrying stents, quilts and rice to the area were being hampered by heavy rain.

Xinhua reported that more than 250,000 houses had been damaged or destroyed by the latest quake and some people had been trapped in the ruins.

More than 150,000 people had fled their homes, and state broadcaster CCTV showed evacuees including children and elderly people lying on plastic sheets in a school field in Panzhihua.

"Locals in the county rushed out into the open. Cracks appeared on house walls and many windows were broken," said one local official.

Aftershocks continued in the day following the earthquake, with one later on Sunday measuring 5.6 magnitude, China's Earthquake Administration recorded.

Communications were reported to be disrupted, making it difficult for authorities to accurately assess the extent of the damage.

Major reconstruction efforts have been under way in Sichuan province since the 12 May earthquake, which left about five million people homeless.

The epicenter was at the juncture of Renhe District in Panzhihua and Huili County in Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Liangshan, Sichuan. It was at a depth of 10 km, the China Earthquake Administration said.

Both provinces were severely affected by a devastating earthquake in May which left almost 70,000 people dead.


for more http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/31/content_9745544.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7591152.stm

Another LTTE stronghold captured

Another LTTE stronghold captured
The military today captured the Palamoddai town, an LTTE stronghold in Vavuniya and a one kilometers beach stretch north of Kokkuthuduwai in Welioya after fierce battles.

Nepalis' messages to Prachanda-New Prime Minister collect civilian's ideas

Nepalis' messages to Prachanda

New prime Prime Minister Prachanda collect civilians ideas

Nepal's new government, led by former Maoist rebel leader Prachanda, has been in office for one week now. Despite the end of the civil war, the country is still faced with huge social and economic problems.

Here, people in Nepal compile their messages to Prachanda setting out their priorities for the nation.

Read civilians messages

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7483019.stm

Justice and Peace Commission writs to UN Secretary General

Justice and Peace Commission writs to UN Secretary General

The Justice and Peace Commission in the Wanni has written to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on the plight of internally displaced people in the area.

Its president Fr. James Pathinathan handed over the memorandum to the Resident Representative of the UNHCR in Wanni on August 26th.

The appeal notes that epidemics were threatening the people in the absence of sufficient medical facilities.

The JPC staged a protest march, joined by hundreds of people, including religious heads that began from Kilinochchi St. Theresa’s Church.

Hand greand explosion in Batticaloa prison-7 prisons injured.

Hand grenade explosion in Batticaloa prison-7 prisons injured.

The police sources says that the Hand grenade explosion in cell number 10 in
Batticaloa prison injuring 4 EPDP inmates on murder chargers . one serious.

But Batticaloa hospital conferms 7 prisons brought to the hospital for treatments in this morning(29th).

Mangala calls for a joint opposition alliance

Mangala calls for a joint opposition alliance

While warning that the victory in the provincial council election would lead to a government dictatorship, SLFP (M) Convenor Mangala Samaraweera called for the setting up of a joint opposition alliance a short while ago. He also added that he would initiate an alternative defence information centre to educate the masses on the real situation of the war.

After election CAFFE spokesman punished by his campus

After election CaFFE spokesman punished by his campus

The University of Kelaniya has given a punishment transfer to its employee Rajitha Keerthi Tennakoon, who is also spokesman for local election monitor Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE).

Secretary of CaFFE Senaka Wattegedara has informed the Free Media Movement that in addition to Mr. Tennakoon's transfer from the Faculty of Social Sciences, he is to face a disciplinary inquiry.

Five Media, including the FMM, said in a statement that this constituted an infringement of fundamental and freedom of expression rights.

Mr. Tennekoon acted as CaFFE spokesman during the recent polls for the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.

Quoting from the establishment code of universities, the statement said campus staff has the right to express their political viewpoints.

Five Media said it considered the action as politically motivated, and urged university authorities to halt exacting revenge from Mr. Tennekoon.

Vaas claims victim number 400

Vaas claims victim number 400

Chaminda Vaas moments ago became only the fourth person in ODI history to pass the 400 wicket mark during the 4th ODI against India in Colombo. Yuvraj Sign became his 400th scalp edging one to short midwicket. Murali is second highest ODI wicket taker with 314 wickets to his name.

One-Day Internationals

Most wickets in career

Player	Span	Mat	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5
Wasim Akram (Pak)	1984-2003	356	18186	11812	502	5/15	23.52	3.89	36.2	17	6
M Muralitharan (Asia/ICC/SL)	1993-2008	314*	16988	10974	478	7/30	22.95	3.87	35.5	13	9
Waqar Younis (Pak)	1989-2003	262	12698	9919	416	7/36	23.84	4.68	30.5	14	13
WPUJC Vaas (Asia/SL)	1994-2008	322*	15763	11003	400	8/19	27.50	4.18	39.4	9	4
SM Pollock (Afr/ICC/SA)	1996-2008	303	15712	9631	393	6/35	24.50	3.67	39.9	12	5
GD McGrath (Aus/ICC)	1993-2007	250	12970	8391	381	7/15	22.02	3.88	34.0	9	7
A Kumble (Asia/India)	1990-2007	271	14496	10412	337	6/12	30.89	4.30	43.0	8	2
J Srinath (India)	1991-2003	229	11935	8847	315	5/23	28.08	4.44	37.8	7	3
ST Jayasuriya (Asia/SL)	1989-2008	420*	14256	11305	310	6/29	36.46	4.75	45.9	8	4
B Lee (Aus)	2000-2008	173	8853	6955	303	5/22	22.95	4.71	29.2	11	8

I will retire soon - Susanthika

I will retire soon - Susanthika
Upon returning to the country today morning from the Beijing Olympics sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe stated that she would retire from athletics very soon.

No hurry for snap poll-President

No hurry for snap poll-President

President Mahinda Rajapaksha declared that he was not hurry to hold a snap general election as the mandate he had received was valid
up year 2010

LTTE terrorists launch abortive air raid at Trincomalee navy camp

LTTE terrorists launch abortive air raid at Trincomalee navy camp

The LTTE carried out a surprise air attack on the Trincomalee Naval base last night around 9.00pm . The Defence Ministry today stated that 10 Navy personnel were injured after the LTTE air raid on Trincomalee Naval base and harbour.

According to Navy sources , the navy base was alarmed on an approaching terror aircraft by Sri Lanka Air Force around 9 PM. After few minutes, naval troops detected the aircraft and engaged it with anti air guns . The machine gun fire caused the aircraft to make away without entering into the naval dockyard, said the sources.

However, the terrorists managed to drop two improvised bombs into the navy camp. The sources said that only one out of two bombs was exploded. 10 sailors suffered injuries due to the explosion.

A multi-religious, cross-cultural historical Museum for Sri Lanka in Kataragama

A multi-religious, cross-cultural historical Museum for Sri Lanka in Kataragama

sland's first museum depicting beliefs and cultural strains of all religious faiths represented in Sri Lanka will be ceremoniously opened tomorrow (28),by His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Kataragama.The Museum is housed in the Kataragama Devalaya premises and built at a cost of Rs 65million with financial assistance from the Netherlands.

Central Cultural Fund sources say that very rare pieces of cultural value will be on display here. Since many devotees and local and foreign tourists visit the sacred premises at night the CCF intends to keep the Museum open at night in the interest of such visitors.

It was the wish of President Mahinda Rajapakse to encourage the commerce of cultural interest between the South and the East, and this was a major stimulus for the project.

Court upholds objection against Rizana's death sentence

Court upholds objection against Rizana's death sentence

The Supreme Judicial Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has upheld the objection filed by the attorney of Sri Lankan housemaid, Rizana Nafeek against the death sentence imposed on her and returned the case file to the Dawadmi High Court, the Foreign Ministry in Sri Lanka said in a statement.

Rizana had been arrested on 22nd May 2005 by the Police in Dawadmi, a town located 220 km west of the capital, Riyadh and charged with the murder of the infant son of her employer, left in her care. Rizana, who had recently arrived in the Kingdom and 17 years old at that time, claimed that the child had choked to death during bottle feeding. However, the Dawadmi High Court had sentenced Rizana to death in June 2007, upon conviction for the murder of the infant, based on her initial confession to the Police, which she had subsequently retracted in Court.

The Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh arranged the law firm of Kateb Fahad Al – Shammary to represent Rizana, with the financial support of the Hong Kong based Asian Human Rights Commission. The lawyer had filed objections against the verdict of the Dawadmi High Court to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) in Riyadh, the highest judicial body in Saudi Arabia. The SJC has upheld the objection of the lawyer pertaining to the initial translation of Rizana’s statement to the Court, upon which the death sentence had been issued. The SJC has returned the case file to the Dawadmi High Court, which is expected to take up the case for hearing on Saturday, 30th August 2008.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Embassy officials in Riyadh have visited Rizana at the Dawadmi Jail on 17th August and found her to be in sound physical and mental condition. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has directed the Embassy to closely monitor developments of this case and extend all possible support and cooperation to Rizana’s lawyer.

Janaka and Ranjan to UNP working committe

The United National Party has assigned its two chief ministerial candidates at the provincial polls as members of the party's Working Committee.

Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided that Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera and popular actor Ranjan Ramanayake be appointed to the UNP WC with immediate effect.
(Janaka and Ranjan)

This is in recognition of their contributions and skills shown at the polls for the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils two days ago.

UNP MP Ranga Bandara's office burnt down

Ranga Bandara's office burnt down

UNP MP Palitha Ranga Bandara's office in Anamaduwa was burnt by an unknown gang last night. Police said that the office had been totally destroyed and the damage estimated to be over Rs. 1 million.

Elections free and fair: Monitors

Elections free and fair: Monitors
The main Election Monitors, People’s Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) and Campaign for Free and Fair Election (CAFFE) yesterday said the elections held in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces were generally peaceful and the few incidents did not have an impact on the final result.

results unacceptable Janaka alleges fraud

results unacceptable Janaka alleges fraud

North Central Province UNP chief ministerial candidate, Janaka Perera said yesterday he did not accept the election results as genuine or that the election was conducted in a free and fair manner. He charged that there was violence, thuggery, intimidation and arson attacks against the UNP in the entire district even on election day. “The ballot boxes were brought to Anuradhapura counting centers at 5.30 p.m. but the counting only started only at 8.30 p.m. There was a three-hour gap and anything could have happened during these three hours. Therefore I do not accept the results in Anuradhapura,” he said. However he noted he would continue to serve the people in the North-Central Province and fight the new administration in the province on behalf of the voters, he said.

Mandate for troops, not for Cabinet or corruption

Mandate for troops, not for Cabinet or corruption
The mandate received by UPFA at PC polls is one given to the troops and not for the jumbo Cabinet or corruption, National freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa said while ago addressing a press conference in Colombo.