Prorogation of Parliament not the only way out says UNP Impeachment crisis:

by Zacki Jabbar

The prorogation of parliament was not the only way to overcome the crisis resulting from the impeachment inquiry against the Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranyake, the UNP said yesterday.

Senior UNP MP, Kabir Hashim, when asked what his party’s position on the call by certain sections of the UPFA to prorogue parliament to overcome the Impeachment crisis was, said that the UNP had not been consulted and the party leaders had not met to discuss the issue.

"We cannot comment on the merits or demerits of prorogation without being officially consulted", Hashim said, adding that it was not the only way out of the political and legal crisis that has engulfed the country.

Bad loans to foreigners cost state banks Rs. 5 bn

By Norman Palihawadana

At least ten foreign entrepreneurs, who operated factories under the BOI, have fled the country without settling more than Rs. 5,000 million in loans obtained from the state banks.

Sources said that during President Jayewardene’s regime, which launched the free trade zones, there were restrictions on lending to foreigners by local banks, but such rules were relaxed over the years. Some banks did not even care to take adequate collateral for the huge loans they granted to some of those foreign owned companies.

Labour Relations and Productivity Minister Gamini Lokuge said that in addition to defaulting on loans those foreign entrepreneurs had left thousands of young workers jobless.

Spanish tourist hit by bus in central London die

A Spanish tourist who was struck by a bus with her children in central London has dies

The 48-year-old and her 18-year-old daughter and 11-year old-son were hit at the junction of Charing

Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue on Sunday.

They were taken to taken to St Mary's Hospital in paddington, but the woman died on monday afternoon.

Her daughter remains in a serious but stable condition. Her son is in a stable condition.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the woman's husband was with them, but was uninjured.

The collision happened at about 14:45 GMT. 

The spokesman said the driver of the route 29 bus, which travels between Wood Green in north London and Trafalgar Square, remaind at the scene and spoke with officers.

No arrest has been made, he added.

Sanath and Kalu Speak about Tony

Among the large number of people who mourn the sudden death of Tony Greig, our Master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya and "Little Kalu" Romesh Kaluwitharana are perhaps the two who condoled the most. They remembered him from their hearts calling the state television the 'Rupavahini" to express their views. Sanath jayasuriya was in a private hospital since he had fallen sick. Sanath remembered very well how Tony used to call him Master Blaster.

"I think he called us by various names, because he loved the way 

we played and approached to play positive and particularly our style of playing. Our country is only a small island. He used to travel and experience very thing in our country starting from a our country starting pineapple. He visited all the places specially the historical site in Sri Lanka and spoke about them to the international media. When there was a war in our country. International world was scared of holding international games in Sri Lanka but he told the whole world that games could be held since there is no threat. We proved them that was right... No one spoke on behalf of us during that period. That has a long history. He did a great service towards our country and we will never forget that as a Sri Lankan. His name is will be eternally spoken with tha name of Sri Lankan cricket. The name "Little Kalu' for Romesh Kaluwitharana was named by Tony Greig expressed his views as below.

"Tony Called "Little Kalu" before the World cup 1996 and that was in 1995 when i was playing for Sri Lanka against Australia in their home soil. There too he suported us by lifting our moral. That support helped us to boost our confidence helped us to win the coveted ICC World Cup in 1996"

"Tharu Dilena Reyak 2012" Photos

On the 29th of December the "Tharu Dilena Reyak 2012" concert was held at the "NELUM POKUNA", Mahinda Rajapakse performing arts theater with the participation of mostly the new artistes. All proceeds collected would be utilized for the benefit of disabled service personnel.
Some of photographs are published.
More Pictures will be add soon.....!

Show the present Pictures >

Acid attack: Maheswaran’s brother goes missing

By Norman Palihawadana and Don Asoka Wijewardena

The whereabouts of assassinated UNP Jaffna District parliamentarian Thiagarajah Maheswaran’s brother, who was the victim of an acid attack, remained a mystery as at yesterday.

Maheswaran’s brother, Thiagarajah Thuwarakeswaran (47), was attacked with acid near the historic Nallur Kovil, where he went with his two sons for a special ‘pooja’ on account of his elder son’s ninth birthday on Saturday,

Although some reports stated that Thuwarakeswaran had been admitted to the Jaffna General Hospital, Acting Director of the hospital Dr. Sri Bawanandarajah however told The Island that he was not admitted there.

Colombo National Hospital Director Dr. Anil Jasinha said he was not brought there. Kalubowila Hospital Director Asela Gunawardena too said no such patient had been admitted. The police, too, claimed they were not aware of his whereabouts, but they were trying to trace the attackers. It appears that for security reasons his whereabouts were being kept a secret.

In his statement to the police, Thuwarakeswaran has said that he and his two sons, after attending the ceremony at the Nallur Kovil were walking towards their vehicle when two men, riding a motorcycle, came near him and threw something on his back and he felt an intense burning sensation. The attackers had been wearing red helmets.

The victim has also said that he was a resident of Colombo 06 and from there he had first gone to Karainagar and then proceeded to Point Pedro for a ceremony and on Saturday morning went to Nallur Kovil with his two sons.

(Cull Form The Island)

‘Bomba Sira’ beaten to death

By Madura Ranwala

A 56-year-old underworld figure, known as ‘Bomba Sira’, who was brutally assaulted, near a restaurant at Vihara Mawatha in Mount Lavinia in the early hours of yesterday, succumbed to his injuries at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila.

Police said that the victim, Muthumunige Siripala, was found lying on the ground around 12:15 a.m. near a well known restaurant in Mount Lavinia and he died about one hour later.

The Mount Lavinia police, who received information from a call to the 119 emergency hotline, regarding a person lying near a restaurant close to the railway tracks after a brutal assault, rushed to the scene and removed the victim to hospital.

Police sources said that the suspect who carried out the attack had been identified and he would be arrested soon. The reason for the assault is said to be a long running dispute, according to information received thus far.

When asked what the dispute was, the police said that it would be revealed when the suspect was arrested.

(Cull From The Island)

Foreign matter in antibiotic phials

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

A consignment of antibiotic phials was removed from the Colombo South Teaching Hospital on Dec. 27 as foreign particles were found in them. The entire stock had been sent to the National Drug Control Laboratory for further investigations, Colombo South Teaching Hospital Director Dr. Asela Gunawardena said.

He said speculation in some quarters was that the contents were fragments of glasses. But without a comprehensive laboratory investigation it was wrong to arrive at such conclusions, he said, pointing out that the foreign particles were being investigated by the National Drug Control Laboratory.

(Cull From The Island)

SL should be ashamed of topping Google ‘sex’ search list – NCPA Chief

Chief of National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), Anoma Dissanayake, yesterday said that Sri Lanka should be ashamed to top the list of countries searching ‘sex’ on Google.

"I’m really embarrassed," Ms. Dissanayake said, adding that the entire country should be concerned about the situation. She said urgent remedial measures were required to address the issue.

The NCPA chief pointed out that Sri Lanka had beaten India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Following a recent survey, Google Trends revealed that Sri Lankans topped the list to have searched for the word ‘sex’.On a city based ranking, Indian cities topped the list for the word ‘sex’ as a query share.

CJ should have resigned over husband’s role in NSB-TFC deal- UNP

By Shamindra Ferdinando

UNP MP Harsha de Silva says that investigations into the conduct of Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake and her husband, Pradeep Kariyawasam, one-time Chairman of the National Savings Bank (NSB) shouldn’t be mixed up.

National List MP de Silva insists that the investigations should be handled separately and all those involved in the illegal transactions punished regardless of their social status. Asked whether he was satisfied with the investigation into the controversial purchase of close to eight million shares of The Finance Company by the NSB at 65 per cent above the market price in late April 2012, the UNPer said that the government should conduct a thorough inquiry.

He said that he was responsible for revealing the fraudulent transaction on April 29, 2012 having verified facts as regards the sordid NSB-TFC deal and also pointing out the fact that the NSB chief was Chief Justice Bandaranayake’s spouse.

My worst Test as coach – Graham Ford

Rex Clementine
reporting from Melbourne

Sri Lanka’s coach Graham Ford has an impeccable record. Even Steve Waugh’s invincibles couldn’t win a series in India, but Ford achieved the milestone when he coached South Africa to a historic series win in 2000. Of the 11 series Ford was in-charge as coach of South Africa, eight ended in victories and one of those victories came against the Sri Lankans in 2001. In that series came Sri Lanka’s heaviest defeat in Test cricket, an embarrassing innings and 229-run loss in Cape Town. The Test ended inside three days.

For someone known for ending Tests in three days, it’s quite tough when the trend is reversed, that’s to be in the receiving end. Sri Lanka’s innings and 201-run loss at the MCG is their third worst in the history and Ford tried to play down the embarrassment.

Saving yours pets from the New Year blast!

Sathva Mithra says that it is time again for a reminder about protecting pet animals, especially dogs, from the terrifying blast of fire crackers at the dawn of the New Year. These blasts in the neighbourhood, sometimes right next door terrify animals; at times even birds fall from their perches on trees, in shock.

Here are some suggestions by Sathva Mithra to protect household pets and save them from running away and getting lost:

* Refrain from lighting crackers in your own garden if you have pets, because they get terrified, just as little children or old people would.

* If you are planning to go out on New Year’s Eve, don’t leave your dog out in the garden, exposing it to these blasts. Dogs must not be left out particularly if you do not have a secure wall round your house; they will creep out through fences and even try to get out through drains. So keep your pets indoors, preventing them from rushing out. The fate that awaits pets that rush out in fright is sad indeed; some get on to the road and are knocked down by speeding vehicles; others creep into drains and are trapped inside, or they fall into the hands of unsavoury characters on prowl for lost pet dogs. Others are attacked by dogs of the area and injured, or they may be stoned, and chased away by people. 

It is your duty to protect the animals in your care. Brave and faithful as they are in normal times, they cannot cope with the terrifying New Year blast. Save them from a terrible plight. Don’t fail them!

Tony Greig dies of heart failure

Cricketing legend Tony Greig, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in October, has died after a suspected heart attack.

(Cull From The Island)

Indian gang-rape victim dies in Singapore hospital Indian police charged six men with murder

Hospital staff carry the body of the Indian gang-rape victim to the police morgue vehicle at the Mount Elizabeth hospital in Singapore.

New Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said the six face the death penalty if convicted, in a case that has triggered protests across India for greater protection for women from sexual violence, and raised questions about lax attitudes by police toward sexual crimes.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was aware of the emotions the attack has stirred, adding it was up to all Indians to ensure that the young woman’s death will not have been in vain.

The victim "passed away peacefully" yesterday at Mount Elizabeth hospital in Singapore with her family and officials of the Indian Embassy by her side, Dr. Kevin Loh, the chief executive of the hospital, said in a statement.

After 10 days at a hospital in New Delhi, the Indian capital, the woman was brought Thursday to Mount Elizabeth, which specialises in multi-organ transplants.