[News - Local] - Fair voter turn out at polls

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence has reported a fair turn out at the polls thus far.

As of 10 am, the Uva Province has reported a turn out of 25 %, the Jaffna Municipal Council 6% and the Vavuniya Urban Council 12%.

[News - Local] - Anarkali may enter politics

Popular actress Anarkali Akarsha today hinted at the possibility of entering active politics soon though she has not arrived at a definite decision over such a move. “You would never know as you might see me in the political platform in the near future,”

[Sports - Rugby] - Thomians favoured to clinch maiden title

The curtains of the U20 inter-schools rugby season will come down with the final clash for supremacy between S.Thomas’ and Isipathana who will battle it out for the Milo All Island U20 rugby knockout title at the Royal Sports Complex ground in Reid Avenue today from 4.30 p.m. onwards.

The clash no doubt is going to be a keen tussle with the high riding Thomians who are coming into the game as favourites looking forward to win their first Milo knockout title while Isipathana who have won the title on four occasions and who are undergoing a bad patch will also go all out to regain the trophy which they last won in 2001.

For the record the Patanas first won the Milo trophy in 1996 and they retained it. They again won the title in 1999 and 2001 and since then they have played in two finals, but had to play second fiddle to St Peter’s in 2006 and 2007.

On the other hand for the Thomians it will be their third knockout final appearance having earlier entered the final in the year 2000 and 2003 but ended up as losers to Kingswood on both occasions.

Looking forward to this clash the Thomians will be coming with their heads high having ended up as number two in the league segment and also having beaten the same opponents in the league clash 28-12.

But even then the Havelock Park boys cannot be underestimated; though they were not consistent they put up some sterling performance during the league season to end up in the fifth position

They will be coming into the game with the intention of taking revenge for their defeat in the league encounter. But will they be able to counter the attack from the Thomians is left to be seen.

Looking back at the performances of the two teams in the knockout stage the Thomians received a bye and then confronted St Anthony’s in the semi final. They were made to fight hard for their win which they achieved after undergoing some anxious moments.

Isipathana too faced stiff opposition from Dharmaraja in the quarter final. They pulled off a win after having conceded a 7-14 lead to the Rajans to edge them out 25-21. The semi final encounter against Wesley too was not up to their expectations. They had to pull out all resources available before gaining a 29-5 win.

Nevertheless the Thomians who possess a strong outfit this season would not like to throw away the golden opportunity of clinching their first ever knockout title.

Isipathana on the other hand, of course will no doubt be looking forward to spoil the Thomian party. But for sure the spectators and the supporters of both sides are assured of a blockbuster finale.

Isipathana - Niroshan Fernando (Capt), Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Tharindu Siriwardena, Prasad Devinda, Dhanushka Sooriyaarachchi, Thilina Dayasiri, Saajith Suhaib, Muqsith Kuthdoos, Uthpala Seneviratne, Prashan Attanayake, Mohamed Rizwan, Ashan Gallage, Uresh Fonseka, Dinuka Dananjaya, Prasad Madusanka, DeshanArachchi, Shenal Dias, Gayashan Maldeniya, Nipuna Devinda, Mekalanka Pramodaya.

S. Thomas’ - Shaveen Kapuwatte (Capt), Janik Jayasuriya, Rajindra Gunasekera, Arjun Manoharan, Amrik Andrado, Anuruddha Wilwara, Praveen Perera, Roshanka Kodituwakku, Tishan Wickramasinghe, Asela Kohona, Rukhan Rila, Sanjiv Ahangama, Dinuka Amarasinghe, Sachin David, Jeewaka Hewawitharana, Anjula de Silva, Sandeep Jayawardena, Shailendra Samarajeewa, Danidu Silva, Jeremy Fernando, Asith Wijesinghe, Ishenka Pilapitiya. Sudharshana Muthuthanthri.

[News- Business] - SRI LANKA POISED TO RAISE INCOME

Sri Lanka is poised to raise its growth and income levels as the South Asian island rebuilds after the end of a 26-year civil war, the World Bank said.

“Ending the armed conflict definitely is an opportunity for Sri Lanka to graduate from a low-income country to a fully fledged middle-income country,” said World Bank Sri Lanka Director Naoko Ishii.

The island nation needs to strengthen its “business environment” and develop its “educated and skilled labor force” to help sustain higher growth levels, she said in an e- mail today in response to questions from Bloomberg News.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka this month raised its 2009 growth forecast to as much as 4.5 %, from an earlier estimate of 2.5%, after the government crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Income per head rose to $2,014 last year from $1,634 in 2007 and $900 in 2000, according to the Central Bank.

“Reconstruction expenditure will give a short-term boost to the growth process,” said Dushni Weerakoon, deputy director of the Institute of Policy Studies in Colombo. “But if it is combined with a broader reform agenda, it will give the private sector a conducive environment to operate in and make a return on investments.”

Sri Lanka moved up to 29th position in 2008 from 47th place in 2007 for ease of starting a business in the country, according to the World Bank. The island allows 100% ownership to foreign investors in all businesses and places no restriction on repatriation of earnings.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seeking aid and investments to help turn the war-ravaged east and north of Sri Lanka into productive parts of the economy.

Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal has driven down interest rates this year, taking advantage of inflation at a five-year low, in a bid to spur spending and investment and make up for slowing exports.

The World Bank last year announced a $900 million three- year program for Sri Lanka to help reduce poverty and fund infrastructure development, including in areas affected by the conflict. Heightened violence in the island’s civil war contributed to a 1.1% point “falloff” in economic growth in 2007, the bank said last year.

“The country-assistance strategy emphasizes the importance of our engagement being conflict sensitive and at the same time has chosen development of conflict-affected areas as one of priority,” Ishii said. “We are in discussion with the government on how our programs can best assist the government’s effort for reconstruction and development of the conflict-affected areas and its people.”

[News - Local] - Prabhakaran did not die as a hero: PLOTE

Leader of the People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) Dharmalinagam Siddarhthan said that Prabhakaran who used violence and arms to become the sole leader of the Tamil people finally reached his end as a person who was not accepted by the people.

He was speaking at a ‘Veera Makkal’ ceremony remembering PLOTE members who had been killed by LTTE attacks. The PLOTE had been conducting the ‘Veera Makkal’ ceremonies from June 13 to 16 since the killing of its founder leader Uma Maheswaran. The event took place near the Vavuniya Kovilkulam Uma Maheswaran memorial.

He further said that unlike Prabhakaran who believed in becoming the leader of the Tamil people through violence and arms he believes that the liberation of the Tamil people could be achieved by working for their development.

He said that a large number of civilians were killed, maimed and wounded due to the action of the LTTE and the end result of the armed struggle was that a large number of people had become destitute. He added that Prabhakaran did not die as a hero at the end.

Mr. Siddaththan added that the government and he are committed to provide a free life to the Tamil civilians in the country.

Another noteworthy feature of this year’s ‘Veera Makkal’ ceremony of the PLOTE was that it was held without any weapons.

[News - Local] - MAJOR CHANGE IN UNP POLICY

In what appeared to be a significant policy shift, the main opposition UNP yesterday said in a report to its Political Affairs Committee (PAC) that the party stood for the unitary character of Sri Lanka when it came to the national question.

The report prepared by party’s national organizer S.B. Dissanayake states the party would stand for the total independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

A Committee member told Daily Mirror the UNP earlier stood for a federal solution in a united Sri Lanka as a means of resolving the national question but the shift in policy was in keeping with the present political climate in the country.

“Politically, we are for a unitary State and are prepared to devolve power as far as possible under such a system,” he said.

Senior constitutional lawyer and parliamentarian K.N. Choksy said the UNP stood for a unitary state with equal rights conferred on the minority communities including the Tamils and Muslims.

Mr. Choksy who usually participates in constitutional affairs meetings on behalf of the party said since 1815 Sri Lanka had been continuously governed as a single entity after the British unified the country.

“This should continue with greater rights with regard to language and land ownership being conferred on the minority communities,” he said.

Mr. Choksy said this was the party’s stand, but his personal views were different.

He said he personally emphasised the need to remodel the constitution on federal lines.

[News - Local] - Ranil fired first shot leading to LTTE’s defeat: SB

Central Provincial Council Opposition Leader S. B. Dissanayake said that the first shot which set in motion the disintegration of the LTTE was fired by Ranil Wickremesinghe when he was Prime Minister. Addressing a meeting of the United Professionals Group in Colombo recently he said it was the Cease Fire Agreement entered into by former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe with the LTTE in February 2002 that marked the beginning of the end of the LTTE. “The extensive and exclusive security network excellently co- ordinated internationally baulked LTTE’s smuggling activities and clandestine operations whereby its international chain was effectively disrupted. The strategic planning and diplomacy of the UNP led to the division within the LTTE resulting in two opposing factions – the Wanni faction and the Batticaloa faction which eventually led the LTTE to the present state of despair. Mr. Dissanayake, further stated that Mr. Wickremasinghe continued the Peace Process and the Cease Fire Agreement initiated by the then President Chandrika Kumaranatunga with suitable modifications to achieve stability and peace in the Country, which was in a very pathetic state while the Economy too was recording a minus growth. In addition, the Aviation and Shipping Industries too were declining with many Airlines and shipping vessels avoiding Colombo after the devastating attack on the Katunayake International Airport. “Ranil went ahead with the peace process with genuine intentions to achieve peace and stability through a devolution package that envisaged power sharing at the periphery. This cost him victory at the Presidential election since Prabhakaran visualized that Ranil’s manoeuvers would cost disaster for him. He therefore enforced a ban on voting at the elections in the North,” S.B. Dissanayake said. Answering question posed by the audience, he stated that due to the International safety net arrangement and the pressure brought on it, the LTTE was desperately confined to the Wanni and their activities were virtually paralyzed, so much so that they could only provide services to the civilians. “Dissension amongst cadres and between Wanni and Batticaloa wings started surfacing during this period which finally culminated in the total breakaway of the Karuna faction. This was a most salutary outcome of the CFA though such divisions were not intended or planned. This crippled the LTTE , and the present war success truly stems from the past maneuvers and efforts based on the CFA. The Country’s Economy was in ruin with the incumbent government at that time trying to borrow from agencies all over the world. This environment did not permit even the basic maintenance needs of the Armed Forces. The respite gained in Armed confrontation during the initial stages of the CFA allowed the Government led by Ranil Wickremesinghe to replenish and re -train the Armed Forces. The Armed forces were strengthened with manpower and equipment. The vast improvements to the commercial sector and stability achieved in the economy paved the way for large scale influx of Foreign Funds and Investments. The regained economic strength, in effect paved the way for subsequent Regimes to resume the War effort and sustain to this day after the LTTE opted to resort to a war agenda. When Mahinda Rajapaksa took office, the Country was relatively stable economically as a result of the UNP policies implemented in 2002 – 2004 and the LTTE was in two factions and had sufficient foreign exchange reserves to manage the affairs comfortably. Country was relatively peaceful unlike in late 2001. But, military victories alone will not bring peace to the country. There should be genuine efforts to address the grievances of the minorities, which the UNP is committed to. The country is virtually in ruins, economically as many Businesses are closing down adding to unemployment. There is no Law and Order and the underworld rules the Political arena. There is virtually no democracy and the press is muzzled. When asked about the statement attributed to him that UNP was on the decline, he vehemently denied and said, that one journalist wanted to talk to him whilst he was busy at a meeting and later fabricated this story. When confronted, the journalist had said it was picked from a website which he failed to name,” he said.