Day: 6 August 2014

Champika Slams Energy Mafia Saying “Oil Is Thicker Than Blood”

Karu

“When petrol is purchased at Rs.102 and sold for Rs.162, why does the Petroleum corporation run at a loss?”. “Where did that money go?”. These were some of the uncomfortable questions asked by Minister of Science and Technology Patali Champika Ranawaka at the launch of his book “Power and Power” at the SLFI auditorium yesterday. People should be made aware as to why a liter of diesel is imported at Rs. 103 but sold at Rs. 125. Similarly, a petrol liter is imported at Rs. 97 or Rs 100 and…

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Sri Lanka groups say government wary of U.N. war crimes probe

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By Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez COLOMBO (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Authorities in Sri Lanka are clamping down on the activities of civil society groups, who accuse the government of trying to discourage survivors of the country’s civil war from giving evidence to a U.N. war crimes investigation. Accusations of atrocities have been rife since the end in May 2009 of conflict between ethnic Tamil separatist rebels and government forces that killed more than 100,000 people. Tens of thousands are unaccounted for. In March, the U.N. Human Rights Council voted…

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How not to conduct foreign relations…

Karu

We might be deluded into thinking all politics is local, but a tactless article published in the Ministry of Defence website, has proved otherwise and has served to prod home Newton’s Third Law of Motion in no uncertain terms, with the equal and opposite reaction continuing to reverberate in Tamil Nadu and New Delhi. The Sri Lankan Government might consider itself invincible in the home front courtesy a non-existent Opposition, the over-extended euphoria of defeating a terror outfit and ending a thirty-year war, and the many post war developments, not…

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Tamil mood simmers yet again thanks to Lanka

Karu

The Sri Lankan cartoon faux pas has revived the slackening pan-Tamil mood in Tamil Nadu, says N Sathiya Moorthy. In what could be seen as inexplicable and disproportionate over-reaction to a Sri Lankan faux pas, a section of the Tamil film industry over the weekend called for shutting down the nation’s deputy high commission for southern India at Chennai. Like the rest of the state, including the otherwise critical political Opposition, the film industry was protesting an inappropriate depiction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in a cartoon…

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British murder convict a lucky prisoner

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By Norman Palihawadana Tangalle Paradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Vidana Pathirane convicted of the murder of British national Khuram Sheikh and sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment by Colombo High Court Judge Rohini Walgama recently was not being given any work involving hard labour at the Welikada Prison in clear violation of the verdict, prison sources said.  “It is sheer discrimination as other prisoners who have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment are made to do hard labour,” they said.   Meanwhile, the Attorney General has filed an appeal in the Court…

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Mahinda supporters violate election laws in Badulla – CaFFE

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Over 80 vehicles carrying United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) supporters have camped near Kandeketiya Vidyalaya, after traveling from Mahiyanganaya violating election laws and elections commissioners directives banning rallies and vehicle parades during the last two days of the nominations period states Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE). CaFFE also states a group had threatened election officials, including Kurunegala Deputy Elections Commissioner Namal Thalanganama and policemen near Loggal Oya. It has urged the Commissioner of Elections and DIG Badulla to take steps to disperse these people who are blatantly violating their…

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Pakistan, Sri Lanka have significant potential for trade since Paki’s helped Sri Lanka kill Tamils ………..

Karu

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday that there was significant potential for trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka particularly after the Free Trade Agreement 2005 became operational. The Prime Minister was talking to Sri Lankan Secretary for External Affairs Mrs Kshenuka D. Senewiratune, who called on him here. He emphasized the importance of relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Pakistan had helped Sri lanka to kill more than 40,000  minority Tamil community in may 2009. The Prime Minister said it was a matter of great satisfaction that the…

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