By OaO Asithri
July 22, 2010
Mr. Robert Blake, US Assistant Secretary of State said yesterday when meeting the media in Colombo:
Furthermore, he said “the panel is only an advisory panel and does not have an investigatory or judicial role of any kind."
Blimey, how silly of us little brown men/women of Sri Lanka ! Why did we not think of these entirely-good-intentioned measures before ourselves? Silly us, did we not know that our own Commission is deficient as it was lacking “helpful greater-experience” of this UN panel?
“helpful greater experience of UN panel” – what is that? Pardon me, but is this akin to the white elephant we all long to see before we die?
Yes, I am astounded beyond words but then again not surprised by this man’s utterances! What galling cheekiness, what diplomatic gaudiness and simply stated, what crass “holier than thou” condescending cheap behavior!
Since when did Sri Lankans appoint this Bobby as their National Reconciliation Minister, or the National I-know-whatz-good-for-you-you brown-minions Minister, or for that matter, their National Raw-sewage-salvation Minister?
Maybe we Sri Lankans did, and in the same vein I am sure Americans also appointed our veritable, ever-potent Keheliya Rambukwella as their “Hide-our-utter-shame-&-proudly-tucktail-&-exit-from Iraq-Afghanistan” Special Advisor to Obama?
Truly, this man’s crass arrogance and gaudy diplomatic faux-pas vis-à-vis Sri Lanka that I have seen, now and before, never fails to shake-my-cockles and ghast-my-flabber to a fit!
I wonder…
Would he dare to do the same by giving such unsolicited, warped advice to other countries, say to the Spanish on the “Basque issue” or to the Canadian on the “First Nations issue” or for that matter to the Indians on the “ Kashmir issue?” I think not!
Rather, should not this man be concentrating his evidently-challenged acumen in the extrication of the now badly bogged-down, all but defeated, demoralized US and other “US-coalition forces” from Iraq and Afghanistan? Is that not a more important issue for this man to waste his sweat droplets on than the now-self healing Sri Lankan issue?
Sadly, what this man fails to realize is that his crass arrogant behavior is so gaudy and nauseating to us Sri Lankans that the complete opposite of what he wants to achieve is bound to realize vis-à-vis his pet-project cum-mania, the “Sri Lankan issue!”
Aha, lest I forget, yes, did I not earlier speak of the National Raw-sewage-salvation Minister? Now we all know that when we speak of Raw-sewage, we cannot not consider our heinous-terrorist LTTE darlings of only about one year ago. As such, sorry Bobby, this is one post you cannot stealthily grab as today that position is hotly contested between the masses-resoundingly-rejected Ranil Wickremasinghe and Somawansa Amarasinghe camps and the last I heard, this “menace-to-SL traitors” Rajapakse-Regime (resoundingly accepted by the masses) has very magnanimously agreed to let each camp share that mandate equally and each of them camps is in sheer bliss now, working at it night and day!
534 comments:
1 – 200 of 534 Newer› Newest»Way to Go, Asithri!
Both barrels blazing against this naked Emperor's disciple preaching "Opportunity for Reconciliation" to the choir!
Mr. Blake, Sri Lankans KNOW what you are up to ... to divert attention from your own follies and negate and reverse the VICTORY over terrorism of our small but courageous nation.
A VICTORY that was attained with the BLOOD, the SWEAT and the TEARS of its own long-suffering people.
SHAME on YOU! Please give us a BREAK, and get LOST! ... Pretty Please?
Robert Blake offers his unwanted self-serving advice to Sri Lanka!
In Summary: HARA-KIRI is the way to go!
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Sri Lanka has unique opportunity to forge lasting peace, US Assistant Secretary says
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 21, Colombo: With the Sri Lankan President's victory and the equally strong parliamentary victory following the defeat of LTTE last year, Sri Lanka has a unique opportunity to forge a lasting peace and prosperity after decades of war, the US said.
Addressing media following his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake said he had a very productive series of meetings with the President, External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, and members of civil society, business community and opposition.
Welcoming the defeat of LTTE, Blake said achieving reconciliation is a key element of peace and one part of achieving reconciliation will be to finish resettling all internally displaced personas as soon as possible.
"Another key part of reconciliation is to ensure accountability for past wrongs. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had recently told External Affairs minister G.L Peiris that Sri Lanka's Lessons learnt and reconciliation commission holds promise and we hope and expect it will fulfill that promise. A last pillar of reconciliation will be to advance democracy and human rights. Minister Peiris affirmed during his visit to Washington that Sri Lanka wants to revive and strengthen its institutions of democracy," Blake said.
"The US will continue to be Sri Lanka's partner in all of these endeavors," he asserted.
Blake said that he discussed the process of greater power sharing and encouraged the President to engage Tamil people in the process and continue to have a dialogue with them.
Blake said that progress in implementing greater power sharing with the provinces, implementing the 17th amendment to empower independent commissions such as the human rights, police and bribery commissions and efforts to safeguard media freedom will all be important steps in ensuring an important step of peace and prosperity for all Sri Lankans.
The former Ambassador to Sri Lanka said that President Rajapaksa understands the need for power sharing and is moving forward.
However, Sri Lanka needs to do more for greater reconciliation, greater democracy, and human rights, the Assistant Secretary added.
Responding to the queries on the tussle between Sri Lanka and the United Nations, Blake said he is pleased to see that the Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne is back in the country and tension reducing.
Blake said there was some misunderstanding on the role of the UN panel appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to advice him on Sri Lanka.
"The US believes the UN panel can play an important advisory role with Sri Lanka's commission. The panel is only an advisory panel and does not have an investigatory or judicial role of any kind," he said.
"UN has greater experience in many parts of the world with such conditions and that experience could benefit Sri Lanka's Commission", he added.
Addressing the issue of US trade Office's decision to review GSP trade benefits to Sri Lanka Blake said that it is important to make a distinction on the US GSP process and the EU GSP plus process.
He reiterated that the GSP benefits will remain in effect during the review process and said that the review is a collaborative process with the Sri Lankan business community to ensure their decision makers have a opportunity to visit wide range of businesses in the country to get a first hand look before making any decisions.
GOOD!
IN ADDITION, UN presence in Sri Lanka should be gradually REDUCED.
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No change in Sri Lanka's stance on UN panel
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 23, Colombo: A senior government minister said Sri Lankan government has not changed its stance on the Panel of Experts appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General and stressed that it will not be changed.
The Government Spokesman and the Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella addressing the media said the government has communicated its strong protest about the appointment of this Panel and it is waiting for the response from the UN Secretary-General.
Rambukwella said that many friendly nations of Sri Lanka have expressed their objection to the illegal Panel.
"The UN Secretary-General rather than acting on his own wish should have come through the UN General Council or the Security Council with the approval of the members States when handling the issues like this," the Minister said.
Sri Lanka has vehemently protested the appointment of the three-member Panel which according to the UN Chief Ban Ki-moon is advisory in its function and not investigatory.
However, the chairman of the panel, Marzuki Darusman, a former Attorney General of Indonesia has expressed desire to visit Sri Lanka in search of truth.
According to Ban the Panel will look into the modalities, applicable international standards and comparative experience with regard to accountability processes, taking into account the nature and scope of any alleged violations in Sri Lanka during the last stages of war with the Tamil Tigers.
Sri Lanka, calling the Panel unwarranted and unnecessary, says the panel is a precursor to bring war crime charges against the government and its armed forces.
Sri Lanka strongly opposed the idea of appointing the expert panel to advise the UN Chief saying that the allegations are an internal matter and the government has already set in motion a mechanism to address the accountability issues.
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed an eight-member 'Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission' to report on the lessons to be learnt from the events in the period between 21st February 2002 to 19th May 2009.
The United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake who visited Colombo Wednesday (21) said the US believes the Penel can play an important advisory role with Sri Lanka's commission and it is only an advisory panel and does not have an investigatory or judicial role of any kind.
Yes, Indeed .. we are PROUD of this SON OF THe SOIL of Sri Lanka, for he exemplifies the Sri Lankan Identity we wish to build!
While Murali has done his best by the country, the country has done its best by him.
Sri Lanka gave Murali EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL: a long tenure in the National Cricket Team .. accorded to very few others .. the respect and support of his team-mates during good and bad times .. as when he was assailed for "chucking" the ball .. exemplified by the support he received from Arjuna Ranatunga, de Silva, Mahela Jayawaredene and Kumar Sangakkara .. to name but a few of his committed supporters.
In this, his last Test Match, Kumar Sangakkara gave him every opportunity to reach his 800 Test Wicket goal .. assigning equal priority to it as to winning the match itself by an innings .. by replacing the fast bowler Malinga, whose fast-paced yorkers the Indian tail-enders found difficult to face, with less threatening spinners.
He garnered all of this love, respect, admiration and support from his team-mates and his countrymen, by ALWAYS acting in the BEST INTEREST of his motherland, Sri Lanka. It was evident for all to see .. even in a country tormented by an ethnic conflict.
When one acts selflessly in the way as a CITIZEN of Sri Lanka as Murali has over 19-years of Test Cricket, he wins for himself the love, respect and support of his countrymen without consideration of his origins.
Muttiah Muralitharan represents a MODEL for all Sri Lankans to emulate in the years ahead.
A model that accords fealty to his country without regard to one's own communal attributes of RACE, RELIGION, LANGUAGE, CASTE or WEALTH, to help our resplendent Motherland forge ahead as ONE NATION, of ONE PEOPLE, SHARING ONE DESTINY common to ALL of its citizens.
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President says Sri Lanka proud of Murali, the 'son of our soil'
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka's ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who retired from Test Cricket after hauling a massive 800 wickets, has been an ornament in the world of cricket and Sri Lanka is proud of this son of our soil, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a congratulatory message.
Congratulating the 38-year-old legendary bowler, President Rajapaksa said Murali has been an ornament in the world of cricket, overcoming the gravest of challenges, spinning his way to success for himself, his team, and his country.
"Sri Lanka is proud of this son of our soil, who has reached the greatest height as a bowler with his new record, winning the highest respect of his contemporaries in the game the world over, and the most discerning of critics and commentators, too," the President said.
Following is the full text of the message:
"I send my warmest congratulations to Muttiah Muralitharan, on his achieving his new record of 800 wickets in Test Cricket in 133 Tests, as he retires from this form of the game today, having contributed much to the victory of Sri Lanka in this his final Test. He also holds the highest tally of 515 wickets in 337 ODIs.
President says Sri Lanka proud of Murali, the 'son of our soil'
.....continued....
Murali, to all of us who enjoy the game of cricket, through the past 18 years, has played a great innings both for his own glory and Sri Lanka's pride. In all this time, Murali has been an ornament in the world of cricket, overcoming the gravest of challenges, spinning his way to success for himself, his team and his country. He has won the admiration of all who loved Cricket, and earned well deserved plaudits for his continued success in all forms of the game. Sri Lanka is proud of this son of our soil, who has reached the greatest height as a bowler with his new record, winning the highest respect of his contemporaries in the game the world over, and the most discerning of critics and commentators, too.
The records he has notched in Test Cricket and ODIs will be eagerly chased by many a bowler in the years to come, though it will be a difficult task.
Even in retirement from Test Cricket, we look forward to the contribution that Murali will continue make in the field of sports and leadership, especially the example he will set to the youth of Sri Lanka, in keeping alive the true spirit of competition and sportsmanship.
I wish Murali every success in the years ahead."
Dear old Hillary should be as vociferous against the LTTE terrorists and their supporters as she is against the Al Quaida!
As long as the world sees DOUBLE STANDARDS in her actions without even-handed principles, she is not going to get the help she needs against Al-Quaida.
They will just hunker down and wait until she passes from the scene!
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US presses Pakistan for intelligence on Al Qaeda
Arun Kumar
July 20, 2010
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has asked Pakistan to give US intelligence on Al Qaeda and its elusive leader Osama bin Laden as it's personal between her and the terror group.
"I want those guys," she said. "I assume somebody in this (Pakistani) government, from top to bottom, does know where bin Laden is, and I'd like to know too," Clinton told Fox News Channel from Kabul where she is convening an international donors conference on Afghanistan.
"It's not yet what I want to be," Clinton said of US-Pakistani cooperation against Al Qaeda. "Having been a senator from New York on 9/11, I want those guys - I mean, I will not be satisfied until we get them," said Clinton, who spent the weekend in Pakistan shoring up frayed relations.
Clinton also noted Pakistan's internal political problems in moving against Pakistani elements of the Taliban who are believed to be sheltering Al Qaeda. But she added that the US would stay in the region for the long-term to provide support.
"This is tough," Clinton said. "I'm not going to sit here and tell you that it's not, but boy, do I think it would be a mistake to walk away."
Clinton added: "We've done that. We have walked away from both Pakistan and Afghanistan in the past, with all the consequences we're well aware of."
A China-Pakistan nuclear deal to offset the US-India nuclear deal?
What is good for the goose, is good for the gander as well!
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'Pressure China to reverse n-deal with Pakistan'
Arun Kumar
July 20, 2010
WASHINGTON: A former US official intimately involved in negotiations for the India-US civil nuclear agreement has urged Washington to pressurise China to reverse the planned sale of two nuclear reactors to Pakistan.
The United States should oppose the transaction in its current form and pressure China to reverse course, contends a new paper by Ashley J. Tellis, who was a senior adviser to the US ambassador to India and a special assistant to the president during the previous Bush administration.
Refuting suggestions that the landmark US-India civil nuclear deal complicates Washington's ability to credibly resist the China-Pakistan agreement, he asserts the two deals are fundamentally different.
"Unlike the secret Sino-Pakistani agreement, the US-India deal was publicly debated in both countries," notes Tellis, who now serves as a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a US-based think tank.
"The United States can make a difference," he asserts noting, "In the past, Washington has successfully pressured Beijing- both multilaterally and bilaterally- to halt nuclear sales to Pakistan."
"The record of the last decade suggests that the United States has been successful in impeding problematic Chinese nuclear sales to Pakistan whenever it has remonstrated with Beijing at very high levels of government in both capitals," Tellis writes.
"There is no reason why President (Barack) Obama cannot sustain this record of American achievement if he invests time and attention on this issue, given the emphasis he has placed on managing nuclear proliferation."
By going ahead with the deal, China risks reneging on its obligations, contends Tellis noting, "When China joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in 2004, it agreed not to sell nuclear material to non-nuclear-weapon states that do not accept full-scope safeguards.
A sale to Pakistan not only violates those terms but also undermines the non proliferation regime, he asserts.
While the United States requested a special waiver from the NSG to sell nuclear material to India, China has given no indication that it has such plans for Pakistan.
Is India slowly spiraling into the Afghan maelstrom, beyond providing rehabilitation assistance?
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India backs Afghan-led peace process: Krishna
July 21, 2010
NEW DELHI: Amid concerns that its own interests might be compromised as the US prepares to exit Afghanistan, India on Tuesday warned against "selective" treatment of terror groups and insisted that the Afghan peace process should be conducted in "an inclusive and transparent manner".
Despite assurances of late from Washington, India fears that a Pakistan brokered deal with the Taliban would compromise its own influence in Afghanistan when the US led forces leave Afghanistan, beginning next year.
In his address before representatives from over 60 countries and international organisations at the Kabul Conference, External Affairs Minister S M Krishhna obliquely put these concerns across.
"It is essential to ensure that support, sustenance and sanctuaries for terrorist organisations from outside Afghanistan are ended forthwith,'' the text of his address in Kabul released here stated, hinting at Pakistani involvement.
He said peace efforts that country should be "fully Afghanled and Afghanowned". He asserted that in order to reintegrate militants, they had to give up violence, cut off all links with terrorism and accept the democratic and pluralistic values of the Afghan Constitution, including women's rights.
I project that India's military will soon be engaged in Afghanistan .. Manna from heaven for the US!
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'Afghans need international force'
July 22, 201
NEW DELHI: With the US having announced that it will begin pulling out its troops from Afghanistan from July 2011, India on Thursday said that "international presence" in the war-torn country was needed for a much longer time.
Just back from Kabul after attending an international conference on Afghanistan, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told PTI here that he shared President Hamid Karzai's enthusiasm for Afghan forces to take over security of the entire country from 2014.
"He is very enthusiastic and I am very happy about it.
He is also confident that he will be able to raise his own security force," said Krishna, who had discussions with Karzai and U S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Afghan capital.
Asked if India was willing to help in raising the security forces necessary for the task, the minister replied, "Well, if Afghanistan asks India shall help. We have been helping Afghanistan in our own way. It depends on what kind of help they seek and what kind of help we can render."
Responding to a question as to whether the US decision to commence troops pull out in a year was premature, Krishna said, "I feel that international presence is needed in Afghanistan for a much longer time than it has now now been projected. We hope that international presence will act as some kind of insulation to Afghanistan for normalisation."
Asked whether India would like the US to take a fresh look at its decision, the minister said that New Delhi had conveyed its views to the US and to Afghanistan in bilateral meetings.
To a question on Pakistan's efforts to play the power broker in Afghanistan, Krishna said that India had emphasised that initiative for future set up in the country had to be "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned".
Asked whether there was a shift in India's stand on good Taliban and bad Taliban, he said, "Well, we cannot wish away Taliban. Who are Taliban--they are all citizens of Afghanistan.
"There is a realisation among individual members of Taliban that their movement is not not going to be helpful to Afghanistan and that they should reconsider their association with Taliban. Then I think they should go back to the mainstream.
'Tamil Nadu frontrunner in industrialisation'
July 22, 2010
CHENNAI: Deputy Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday said that an MoU was signed last week for establishing a food production SEZ at Thoothukudi as a joint venture between TIDCO and CCCL. Conveying that this SEZ had the potential to attract investments to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore and provide employment to about 10,000, Stalin said that he would lay the foundation stone for the facility on August 5.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Lotte Group's production facility at Nemam, he said, "Tamil Nadu has a glorious past, dynamic present and a promising future for industries.''
Claiming that Chennai was already well established in IT, automobile, textile, electronic and leather industries, he said that "Tamil Nadu, Chennai in particular, is emerging a key centre for the food processing industry.''
Taking pride over the BIZCON report released by the ASSOCHAM recently, he said that the state's initiative in attracting investments had been highlighted in the report, which had found the State to be one of the top three destinations in India, preferred by investors. The ranking was done on the basis of investment promotion, government strategies and administrative efficiency.
He went on to add that the highly reputed Wall Street Journal, in its article dated July 8, had dubbed Chennai as the 'new Detroit' and had lauded the performance of the Tamil Nadu Government.
Stalin, who invited investors, particularly from Korea to the State, assured that the government would provide all possible assistance to them.
Is there a Sri Lankan Ayurvedic Equivalent?
If not, this represents another marketable product for Sri Lanka! :)
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TN's 'herbal Viagra' a huge hit in Karnataka
C Shivakumar
July 23, 2010
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu's 'herbal rejuvenator' has generated a huge demand in the neighbouring state of Karnataka, with the demand outstripping the supply, according to the Tamil Nadu Medicinal Plant Farms and Herbal Medicine Corporation Limited (TAMPCOL) marketing manager G Ramanathan.
Ramanathan told Express on Thursday that the demand for Laboob Sagheer, popularly known as 'Herbal Viagra', was such that the demand from Karnataka was 15 tonnes every month but they were able to supply only four tonnes. "We have plans to step up supplies to the full requirement of 15 tonnes every month in the days to come," he said.
Laboob Sagheer, an ancient Sastric Unani formulation, is a combination of time tested herbs, dry fruits, seeds and roots of special herbs that were known to increase the production of sperm count, besides being a good nervine tonic and also a good stimulant, he said.
The product, launched on April 7 last year and was considered as a 'desi' alternative to Viagra, which had side effects.Although the product was available with private players, Ramanathan said that when it came to quality and trust, the Tampcol rejuvenator was the preferred one."Since the product is owned by the State, it has a stamp of authenticity, safety and efficacy. It is a safe and cost effective herbal medium for the entire health related problems of nervous regions," he quipped. When the product was launched initially, there was a lukewarm response, but now in the state alone we were selling about four lakh tonnes of the product, which was worth about Rs 24 lakh, he said.
Sri Lanka recovers vital information on international Tamil Tiger operatives
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka defense authorities say that the state intelligence agencies have unearthed many important information on several hardcore Tamil Tiger terrorists who are involved in international activities of the defeated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The Ministry of Defense says these suspects have been identified as cadres involved in many illegal activities including arms smuggling, financial fraud, and humans trafficking.
These rebels have been active in eastern Asian, European as well in African countries.
The Ministry of Defense says the information regarding them have been revealed from an overpowered LTTE camp at Visuamadu area in Mullaitivu district.
The Intelligence Agencies of the Army have also recovered several diaries and secret documents that belong to the head of the international activities of the LTTE "Castro" . Vital information regarding investments and marine activities of the LTTE has also been uncovered from these documents.
The Intelligence Agencies are jointly carrying out investigations with the Interpol to apprehend these Tamil Tiger leaders.
Sri Lanka Buddhist monk party slams US
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka's ruling coalition party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), led by a Buddhist monk Omalpe Sobhitha Thero and a layman, Minister of Power and Energy Champika Ranawaka, charges that the US and the Tamil Diaspora are behind the UN Secretary-General's panel on the accountability issues of Sri Lanka, and the questioning of country's human rights.
Issuing a press release, the monk leader of the JHU Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero points out that the US attempt to take Sri Lanka into their road map and agenda via punishing and diplomatic acts.
JHU protested the US Assistant Secretary on South Asia Robert Blake's statement that Sri Lanka needs to implement 13th and 17th amendments to the Constitution.
The 13th amendment to the Constitution introduced Provincial Council system to Sri Lanka in 1987. But the government of Sri Lanka hesitates to vest in full powers to the Provincial Councils.
The 17th amendment to the Constitution has formed a Constitutional Council which is empowered to appoint independent commissions to govern vital bodies such as judiciary, police, elections, and public service.
The JHU leader highlights to the US that the implementation of these constitutional amendments is Sri Lanka's sovereign task.
Great, if it can be done!
I predict eventual failure ... because products without profit cannot be produced sustainably in large quantities, except by Governments using tax money!
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India unveils prototype for $35 touch-screen computer
Indian Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal unveils the "laptop" device in Delhi on 22 July 2010
The Indian government has unveiled the prototype of an iPad-like touch-screen laptop, with a price tag of $35 (£23), which it hopes to roll out next year.
Aimed at students, the tablet supports web browsing, video conferencing and word processing, say developers.
Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said a manufacturer was being sought for the gadget, which was developed by India's top IT colleges.
An earlier cheap laptop plan by the same ministry came to nothing.
The device unveiled on Thursday has no hard disk, using a memory card instead, like a mobile phone, and can run on solar power, according to reports.
'Manufacturer interest'
It would cost a fraction of the price of California-based technology giant Apple's hugely popular iPad, which retails from $499.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
The solutions for tomorrow will emerge from India”
End Quote Kapil Sibal Human Resource Development Minister
Mr Sibal said the Indian tablet, said to run the Linux operating system, was expected to be introduced to higher education institutions next year.
The plan was to drop the price eventually to $20 and ultimately to $10, he added.
Unveiling the gadget, the human resource development minister told the Economic Times newspaper it was India's answer to the "$100 laptops" developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.
"The solutions for tomorrow will emerge from India," Mr Sibal said, reports news agency AFP.
Last year, one of the ministry's officials announced it was about to unveil a $10 laptop, triggering worldwide media interest.
But there was disappointment after the "Sakshat" turned out to be a prototype of a handheld device, with an unspecified price tag, that never materialised.
To develop its latest gadget, the ministry said it had turned to the elite Indian Institute of Technology, and the Indian Institute of Science, after a lacklustre response from the private sector.
Mamta Varma, a ministry spokeswoman, said the device was feasible because of falling hardware costs.
Several global manufacturers, including at least one from Taiwan, had expressed interest in making the device, she said, although no deals had been agreed, and she declined to name any of the companies.
The project is part of a government initiative which also aims to extend broadband to all of India's 25,000 colleges and 500 universities.
In 2005, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) unveiled the prototype of a $100 laptop for children in the developing world, although it ended up costing about double that price.
In May, Nicholas Negroponte - of the MIT's Media Lab - announced plans to develop a basic tablet computer for $99 through his non-profit association, One Laptop per Child.
Great, if it can be done!
I predict eventual failure ... because products without profit cannot be produced sustainably in large quantities, except by Governments using tax money!
...............
India unveils prototype for $35 touch-screen computer
Indian Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal unveils the "laptop" device in Delhi on 22 July 2010
The Indian government has unveiled the prototype of an iPad-like touch-screen laptop, with a price tag of $35 (£23), which it hopes to roll out next year.
Aimed at students, the tablet supports web browsing, video conferencing and word processing, say developers.
Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said a manufacturer was being sought for the gadget, which was developed by India's top IT colleges.
An earlier cheap laptop plan by the same ministry came to nothing.
The device unveiled on Thursday has no hard disk, using a memory card instead, like a mobile phone, and can run on solar power, according to reports.
'Manufacturer interest'
It would cost a fraction of the price of California-based technology giant Apple's hugely popular iPad, which retails from $499.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
The solutions for tomorrow will emerge from India”
End Quote Kapil Sibal Human Resource Development Minister
Mr Sibal said the Indian tablet, said to run the Linux operating system, was expected to be introduced to higher education institutions next year.
The plan was to drop the price eventually to $20 and ultimately to $10, he added.
Unveiling the gadget, the human resource development minister told the Economic Times newspaper it was India's answer to the "$100 laptops" developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.
"The solutions for tomorrow will emerge from India," Mr Sibal said, reports news agency AFP.
Last year, one of the ministry's officials announced it was about to unveil a $10 laptop, triggering worldwide media interest.
But there was disappointment after the "Sakshat" turned out to be a prototype of a handheld device, with an unspecified price tag, that never materialised.
To develop its latest gadget, the ministry said it had turned to the elite Indian Institute of Technology, and the Indian Institute of Science, after a lacklustre response from the private sector.
Mamta Varma, a ministry spokeswoman, said the device was feasible because of falling hardware costs.
Several global manufacturers, including at least one from Taiwan, had expressed interest in making the device, she said, although no deals had been agreed, and she declined to name any of the companies.
The project is part of a government initiative which also aims to extend broadband to all of India's 25,000 colleges and 500 universities.
In 2005, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) unveiled the prototype of a $100 laptop for children in the developing world, although it ended up costing about double that price.
In May, Nicholas Negroponte - of the MIT's Media Lab - announced plans to develop a basic tablet computer for $99 through his non-profit association, One Laptop per Child.
another dream comes true!!
"NGOs consider withdrawing from Vanni as Sri Lanka tightens restrictions"
i'm compiling a list of pros and cons of HIGHER chinese political, military and economic involvement in SL.
CONS.
1. democracy may suffer to some extent. china will need a certain degree of consistency and will actively work to screww some political parties that are not in favour (we all know what they are!!!).
2. may interfere too much (then we are fcuked.) BUT anyway we are fcuked IF we don't have a strong GOD FATHER.
mother india is a whore and is not SL's mother.
3. other countries may not like it.
we can discount the effect of india and US as their REAL contribution is very less. but countries like russia, japan, israel, saudi arabia may also get offended.
we MUST manage this fallout very well.
4. we may lose GSP in EU and US. something tells me we will anyway lose these OR WORSE, we will try to save these pennies by destroying what is really valuable, near and dear to us.
5. SL or part os SL may be further militarised to meet chinese defence requirements. there is some possibility of SL's areas closer to india becoming LARGE military garrisons and MIGHT stage confrontations.
6. anti-china terrorists may target SL when they cannot target mainland china.
7. china may economically exploit SL and SL will not have any escape. this is a real possibility we have to be mindful of.
HOWEVER, if china wants to have a long term presence in SL, it will not indulge in outright exploitation.
8. chinese culture and language may be forced upon the SLs. although it may have more god than bad, there will certainly be bad elements as well.
July 22, 2010 6:50 PM
Moshe Dyan said...
the good of getting china more involved in SL.
1. SL will have a god father.
in moder world it is a MUST to have a powerful god father. otherwise you are an orphan and everybody wants to fcuk you.
2. challenges SL faces (now on a daily basis) cannot be handled by SL alone.
3. the US/EU threat can NEVER be kept under control. US/EU will ONE WAY OR THE OTHER screww SL.
4. india will also do the same.
5. we cannot rappe TNA, TULF, ACTC, ITAK according to our dreams. outside MFs always come and save them. we should ward off outside MFs, trap TNA MFs and hack their arsses mercilessly by having a chinese military and political presence here as TNA MFs' plan is pandering into tamil madu, indian demands.
6. SL cannot ward off powerful NGOs. but if we have china behind us, we can EASILY whack them!!!
7. SL cannot stop islamic terrorism emerging SL. it is just a matter of time. when it happens US, EU, india will NEVER help.
even china would not help UNLESS it afects chinese interests.
8. human rights crpa, accountability crap, governance crap are going to be forced on SL. we cannot stop this UNLESS we have a powerful country THAT DOESN'T GIVE A RAT'S ARSE about these!!!
9. illegal toilet madu migration cannot be stopped by SL alone. india loves to push them out and SL is an easy destination.
IF a large hinese military presnce is here, they will look after them!!!
10. IF tamil elamists, india, west or whomotherfcukerever want to create TE, china will not allow it. as long as the TE project is active we can turn the NE of SL into a permanant battleground where constant unaccounted murders, abductions rappes, assaults, violence are unleashed against the TE supporters.
eventually they will give up or leave SL. a mini tibet situation.
11. anti-business JVP elements and other looney elements will be APPROPRIATELY handled by china!!!
India, US sign Counter Terrorism Initiative
July 23, 2010
NEW DELHI: India and the US on Friday signed a Counter Terrorism Initiative that includes steps to check financing of terror activities, joint probe in cases of bomb blasts besides cooperation in cyber and border security.
"Today, with the formal signing of the initiative, we take several significant steps forward against terrorism," US ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer, who signed the agreement along with Home Secretary G K Pillai, told reporters here.
Terming the pact as symbolic of the "indispensable partnership" against terrorism, Roemer said both the countries will work closely in matters like intelligence sharing and probe into bomb blasts.
"In the coming days and months there will be even closer information sharing and collaborative efforts on issues ranging from bomb blast probe and major event security to mega-city policing, cyber and border security," he said.
The pact was initiated on the sidelines of the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the US in November, 2009.
"President (Barack) Obama and Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) have acknowledged the common threat that international terrorism poses to all people," Roemer said.
The agreement seeks to further enhance the cooperation between two countries in counter terrorism as an important element of their bilateral strategic partnership.
The initiative provides for strengthening capabilities to effectively combat terrorism; promotion of exchanges regarding modernisation of techniques; sharing of best practices on issues of mutual interest; development of investigative skills and promotion of cooperation in forensic science laboratories.
Besides, it seeks to establish procedures to provide mutual investigative assistance; enhancing capabilities to act against money laundering, counterfeit currency and financing of terrorism; exchanging best practices on mass transit and rail security; increasing exchanges between Coast Guards and Navy on maritime security.
Exchanging experience and expertise on port and border security; enhancing liaison and training between specialist Counter Terrorism Units including National Security Guard with their American counter parts are part of the agreement.
The US envoy described it as a historic day for the US and India as the pact would bring the two countries closer together on issues of intelligence sharing, border security, mega policing efforts and "to fight together on a global basis against a common enemy, against terrorism".
"Terrorism that has brutally attacked the US on 9/11, terrorism that has attacked the people of India, particularly on 26/11 in Mumbai, where six Americans were killed. So, this effort I think symbolises Prime Minister Singh's and President Obama's efforts to create this indispensable partnership for the 21 century.
"It is an exciting day, an unprecedented day and a very proud day for the people of US," he said.
Pillai recalled that during the visit of Home Minister P Chidambaram to the US during September 2009, several areas for counter terrorism cooperation between India and US, beyond the existing instrumentalities, were identified and which find full reflection in the agreed document.
He described the Memorandum of Agreement as an evidence of successful cooperation between India and US in counter terrorism and as being based upon the solid foundation of mutual benefit.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao was also present on the occasion.
The signing of the agreement is the latest step towards strengthening the close and effective cooperation between India and the US on counter-terrorism, information sharing and capacity building.
forgot to add, closer SL-chinese relations means SL will have exclusive access to the world's biggest economy and the economy that is making LARGEST STRIDES!!!
we can also cut the cost of tecnology bcos china HABITUALLY violates useless US-EU copyrights. (i don't think we should respect US-EU copyrights TOO MUCH to the extent that it raises the cost of technology beyond affordable levels.)
imagine what this will do to poor yet tech hungry SLs!!!!! unbelievable.
mark my word, within a few years MAJOR chinese BRANDS will spread around the world in consumer goods, insurance, banking, etc. these will have a HUGE asset backing and would come at a relatively lower cost FORCING many others out of the market.
there is no way any country can resist this without suffering needless higher cost for nothing.
SL MUST grab the opportunity BEFORE it pans out. then it will be too late as other foreign agents will profit from it.
the best way to PERMANANTLY keep anti-SL pro-western parties out of power is to have a stronger PED ties with china.
the best way to keep blake out or make him TOTALLY WORTHLESS is by having stronger PED ties with china.
the best way to control violenet evangalists who overstep their boundaries is to have stronger PED ties with china.
china is the fastest growing (in terms of numbers) christian country. but it doesn't allow unethical conversions and political backing for conversions unfortunately found in vesy senanayake and eran wickramatunga BOTH MPs!!
i'm 100% for religious freedom but when missionary work is coupled with anti-SL work, then things get shitty.
Chaps, the famous quote from Robin Willimas character Adrian Cronauer in 'Good Morning, Vietnam' movie comes to my mind every time I see this Blake plonker.
Mr Blake, you are in more dire need of a blowjob than any white man in history.
Cheers!
Hi Guys,
Please read this petition against Ban Ki-Moon's panel of 'experts' and sign if you agree!
Thanks..
http://www.petitiononline.com/07wapss/petition.html
Sam, Ananda, Moshey et al...
Thanks for publishing my "let-loose" on this "American Raj" who is under a mis-impression that ALL Sri Lankans are MORONS (Well, I say just because RaniW/Gonseka/SomageyAmma confirmed so to the US with their actions, it is no reason to think ALL Sri Lankans are MORONS).
What I didn't dwell herein was that this smiling-snake camouflaged his deception by actually saying that he is glad the LTTE is no more!
This is exactly what the filthy LTTE whoredogs also say today.
They now criticize the LTTE and try to distance themselves from any past association they had with LTTE as they know well that sacrificing the LTTE at the alter is no big deal now...BECAUSE LTTE DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE and they rather show a deceptive "moderate" attitude on their part now to get the buy-in of the GOSL and hoodwink us once again before they go for our Motherlanka's jugular vein with the next "eelam war" but of course it will be under a different label and not "LTTE" anymore!!!
Who the bloody hell do these parasites think they are hoodwinking ???
OaO Asithri
Here's the difference between having elected RW Ponnaya GOSL vs. the now-proven patriotic GOSL of MR:
Intel agencies to bust International LTTE terror racket
Hunt-on for most wanted LTTE operative as INTERPOL issues revived RED Notices...
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20100723_03
In the typical political rheotoric that one expects, one might say this GOSL is "utterly corrupt" and another might say this GOSL is "utterly wasteful"...but at the end of the day, cutting through the FLUFF as I term it, we must give KUDOS to this GOSL for RELENTLESSLY going after the LTTE TERRORIST MFs!!!
Viva Gota!
Viva Motherlanka!
OaO Asithri
Aha, forgot to add when I said earlier...
"this smiling-snake camouflaged his deception by actually saying that he is glad the LTTE is no more! This is exactly what the filthy LTTE whoredogs also say today."
that this smiling-snake, while saying he is glad the LTTE is no more has absolutely no problem in meeting and entertaining the avowed LTTE hardcores such as Rudrakumaran in his office in the US !!!
Does not the man's astounding HYPOCRISY make your hair stand on its end???
Only this Smiling-Snake can do this, this good !!!
OaO Asithri
Another Tamil-racist, terror-inclined, LTTE whoredog bites the dust!!!
Businessman arrested for building apartments with LTTE funds
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=2614
Now honestly ask yourself the question...
Would this vile LTTE Terra-MF have been caught and exposed in this manner had our RW Ponnaya been sitting in our Sinhasanaya???
Rather, I would have expected the RW Ponnaya to have given state funds to this LTTE whoredog to even prosper more (after all, shamelessly going for the "Tamil votes" by this RW ponnaya had no limits if we care to remember uh?)!!!
:)) :)) :))
OaO Asithri
good news.
"Lt. General Jayasuriya told a gathering of men and officers that permanent bases were necessary to move security forces from private and public property currently occupied by them. Although the Jaffna peninsula had remained home to the largest concentration of forces before the outbreak of Eelam war IV in August 2006, today the single biggest deployment is in the Vanni.
The army chief appreciated the Chinese assistance to speed up the re-deployment process by making available what he called pre-fabricated technology. Lt. General Jayasuriya said: "These types of permanent buildings were made possible due to pre-fabricated technology from China. The government wants us to vacate all buildings, belonging to the civil sector, so that owners of those buildings could reclaim them and help bring normalcy to the area. Civil life should be restored and facilitated in the area. In the future, once married quarters of the officers and the other ranks are set up in respective areas, they would be able to live with their families as well while serving the areas.""
vesy senanayake says only 4.5% in parliament are women.
well, that's bcos 1% of parliament are homosexuals!!!!
China facilitates setting up of permanent SF bases in North
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
July 23, 2010
The government is engaged in an ambitious programme to establish permanent security forces bases in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as part of a strategy to thwart any possible attempt to revive LTTE terrorism. Authoritative government officials told The Island that the deployment of security forces in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as well as other parts of the country would be solely at the discretion of the military top brass.
In keeping with the government policy, the army has established the 68 Division headquarters at Sugandirapuram, Puthukudirippu east of the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road. Army Chief Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya on Thursday (22) visited the new headquarters to meet senior officers and men deployed in the area.
Lt. General Jayasuriya told a gathering of men and officers that permanent bases were necessary to move security forces from private and public property currently occupied by them. Although the Jaffna peninsula had remained home to the largest concentration of forces before the outbreak of Eelam war IV in August 2006, today the single biggest deployment is in the Vanni.
The army chief appreciated the Chinese assistance to speed up the re-deployment process by making available what he called pre-fabricated technology. Lt. General Jayasuriya said: "These types of permanent buildings were made possible due to pre-fabricated technology from China. The government wants us to vacate all buildings, belonging to the civil sector, so that owners of those buildings could reclaim them and help bring normalcy to the area. Civil life should be restored and facilitated in the area. In the future, once married quarters of the officers and the other ranks are set up in respective areas, they would be able to live with their families as well while serving the areas."
The Army Chief thanked his officers and men for the ongoing development projects under ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ programme in the sphere of demining, bridge building, constructions, other humanitarian projects, etc.
The newly opened headquarters is the second new command headquarters established in the area controlled by the 59 Division.
Military spokesman Brigadier Ubaya Madawela said that permanent bases were being set up both east and west of the A9 road. Responding to a query by The Island, Madawala said that some of the new constructions would come up at Tunukkai. He emphasized that all new bases would be set up on State land, though some accused the government of taking over private land.
According to him, as part of the re-deployment in a post-LTTE era, a section of the 53 Division had been moved to the South to intensify security and also to assist in development programmes. The 53 Division troops are deployed in Galle, Hambantota and Moneragala, while a section of troops remained at Mankulam. Major General Amal Karunasekera, formerly head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) recently took over the 53 Division.
Brigadier Madawala said that the army was making an effort to vacate private property occupied by troops deployed in the Jaffna town area. He said that due to severe ‘space constrains’ they were finding it difficult to move troops, though they were looking for ways and means of finding alternative accommodation for them.
The army consists of 200,000 personnel. It numbers increased exponentially due to massive recruitment drives carried out during Eelam war IV to strengthen fighting formations.
Jayawewa!
..............
Sri Lankan expatriates in Europe to protest against UN panel and GSP+ suspension tomorrow
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 24, Geneva: Expatriate Sri Lankans residing in Italy and other European countries have organized a massive demonstration in Geneva, Switzerland against the Panel of Experts appointed by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The protest rally will take place in front of the United Nations office in Geneva on Sunday July 25th at 2:00 p.m. local time.
The rally will also voice against the European Union's decision to suspend the Generalized System of Preferences Plus tariff concession to Sri Lanka from August 15th.
The organizers plan to hand over a letterto the authorities at the rally. Earlier the letter regarding the GSP+ concession has been handed over to the Rome office of the European Parliament.
About 1,000 participants are expected to attend the event.
Ramanie de Zoysa from Lankaweb is one Gonseka stooge of huge proportions, which is surprising.
How anyone can defend that foul mouthed traitor goes beyond me. We are in this mess because of him. All the war crimes BS against Sri Lanka was actually dying down until he opened his mouth giving new energy to all the nations enemies most of whom had given up (the war crimes bs that is). Gonseka is a perfect example of selfishness and treachery where the happiness, ego, desires, power lust and revenge of one man + family over ride all else even the nation to the point he is more than happy to burn the nation in collusion with its enemies to satisfy himself.
Kerosene best, cheapest way to control dengue mosquito breeding
Nadira GUNATILLEKE
Dr V Soundappan
Sri Lanka will be able to control dengue like it controlled Malaria. Destroying mosquito breading places is very important when it comes to controlling dengue. Using Kerosene is the best and cheapest way to control dengue mosquito breeding in the places where water stagnated, said Chettinad Hospital (India) Senior Consultant and Neuro Surgeon Dr V Soundappan.
Dr Soundappan is one of the members of the team of Indian doctors in Sri Lanka to hold countrywide health awareness programs on Fertility, Neurology and Cancer. He said Kerosene stays as a layer on still water preventing mosquitoes from laying eggs. Kerosene is very cheap and available everywhere.
The use of Kerosene is easy. Places and areas with a high mosquito density should be treated with other methods such as fogging, chemicals etc.
The Chief Consultant in Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Prof. Paniyan N. said that he has been visiting Sri Lanka since 1989 and the situation in the country has improved very much since the end of the war.
The team of Indian doctors include Chief Consultant in Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Chettinad Health City, Tamil Nadu, India, Prof. Paniyan N, Senior Consultant, Neuro Surgeon, Chettinad Hospital, Tamil Nadu, India, Dr V Soundappan, Medical Oncologist, Dr Arun Warrier, CEO, Chettinad Hospital, Dr Ramesh Babu and Surgeon Dr. Ravi Kumar.
Is this wise? I hope this does not blow up in our faces!
..............
Former Tigers as CTB drivers
By Kelum Bandara
July 24, 2010
Some 100 LTTE members who worked as drivers for the organization are now undergoing training to be recruited as drivers for the Northern Transport Board, an authoritative source said yesterday.
Some 100 LTTE members who worked as drivers for the organization are now undergoing training to be recruited as drivers for the Northern Transport Board, an authoritative source said yesterday.He said the authorities had identified about 1,000 LTTE cadres, who had done various non military jobs for the organization as cooks, masons, drivers and computer operators.
The source said some of these drivers were now attached to the Kondavil Bus Depot in the Jaffna district and would be soon appointed as CTB drivers.
More than 11,000 LTTE members surrendered to the military or were arrested during the last phase of war. Of them, 8,000 are still under rehabilitation, mainly at centres in Vavuniya and Batticaloa.
The source said that some ex combatants were being trained in agricultural activities at government farms in the Batticaloa district. Out of the 1,100 women cadres, 650 have already been employed at two leading garment factories in Colombo. Besides, 110 women cadres and 243 male cadres are now getting to ready to sit for the G.C. E. Advanced Level Examination scheduled for next month.
"The state is helpless" whines Indian Home Minister Chidambaram.
And why is it "helpless"? Because the FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE of India makes it so.
Chidambaram makes that PLAIN saying "there was no operation against the Maoists directed by the Centre. These operations have always been conducted at the state level" going on to apologetically explain that the Centre only "facilitiates" state level action and "there is no unified operation by whatever name" while some state actors work hand-in-glove with the "crafty capitalist" terrorists making tax-free money!
These buggers will continue to strum the harp while India burns!
And, they want Sri Lanka to take their advice on good governance?
Hah! The blind, deaf and lame trying to lead the blind
..............
Doing the job to the best of my ability: PC
July 22, 2010
NEW DELHI: Criticised by his party colleague Digvijay Singh on anti-Naxal strategy, Home Minister P Chidambaram said if someone can do the job better he would be the happiest person.
"He (Singh) is the general secretary of our party. I have a job to do and I am doing my job to the best of my ability. If someone can do the job better, I would be the happiest person," he told a business newspaper.
He was replying to a question whether he thought that a perception among some Congress leaders that he was an "inflexible" person was an unfair description.
Singh last week justified what he had written about Chidambaram's handling of the Maoist problem and claimed that it reflected Congress policies.
In the interview, the minister said there was no no operation against the Maoists directed by the Centre. These operations have always been conducted at the state level.
"What has changed after October, 2009 is that we no no longer just provide paramilitary forces--we want to know how they are deployed, whether they are deployed, what the objectives are and how the results can be obtained," he said.
So, Chidambaram said, there was now a greater degree of consultation and coordination between the Centre and State concerned and inter-state coordination between two or more states, which was facilitated by the Centre.
"That is the difference. But there is no unified operation by whatever name, Operation Greenhunt or whatever name," he said in reply to a question whether there is a unified operation against naxals directed by the Centre and the States.
He dismissed reports of police munitions finding their way to Maoists. There was one case which was being investigated and it was not not a widespread problem.
About Naxals, Chidambaram said they were among the "most crafty capitalists" in the country. "They do business in violation of the laws, they collect rents, they don't pay taxes, which makes them very crafty capitalists."
In such a situation, he said, if a company has to do business sometimes it was forced to pay rent to Naxalites in the form of levy, extortion money--and these are rents in the economic sense--that is a fact of life.
"Unless the State is able to pay these rents to protect their investments. I am not not turning a blind eye, I understand their compulsions and I don't approve of it, but the State is helpless,'' he said.
White masters at work, this is obviously the way forward as white is best, so we must follow! (the tag line of para -suddha and his hangers on in Colombo). It is fitting that this is about Britain, as, well everyone in SL, especially the Colombians and the Media establishment go bat shit crazy in worshipping the UK for some odd reason.
-------------------------------
"Britain is the European capital of broken homes as worst teenage pregnancy and single-parent household rates revealed"
A horrifying picture of the extent of Broken Britain has been painted by an international report which exposes our moral failure on family values.
The study found we have the worst record on teen pregnancy in Europe and more children living in one-parent families than any other European country.
More of our single mothers are unemployed and on benefit than anywhere else in the continent, largely because we hand out so much in benefits.
Britain’s rates for divorce and illegitimate births are among the highest in the Western world, and our mothers are among the oldest, putting their health and that of their baby at risk.
Critics said the UK is paying the price for its promotion of sex education to ever younger children and for the fact that, since the permissive society of the 1960s, so few value the institution of marriage.
The report, by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which represents industrialised nations, is the first time that Britain’s poor record has been illustrated so starkly.
It shows:
Our teenage pregnancy rate is the worst in Europe and the fifth worst in the Western world;
The proportion of children living in single-parent families is the worst in Europe and behind only the United States;
The proportion of lone parents out of work is the highest in Europe and the second in the industrialised world;
The divorce rate is the fourth highest in Europe;
The number of illegitimate births is the sixth highest in the continent.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1297268/Britain-European-capital-broken-homes.html#ixzz0udohvFBM
Manmohan Singh's GRAND PLAN against Maoist terrorism is DEVELOPMENT.
But, how do you do "development" in areas beyond your administrative control, areas in which the government itself pays "rent/protection money" to the terrorists to leave its offices alone?
This is like asking the GOSL to do "development" in LTTE controlled areas before the LTTE were demolished on May 18, 2009!
Bloddy Nonsense!
Security and Control MUST come FIRST, only then can DEVELOPMENT be done. Otherwise, it is just POURING more GOVT MONEY into the hands of the terrorists, so they can undermine the GOVT MORE!
...................
PM for holistic growth in Naxal-hit areas
July 24, 2010
NEW DELHI: Seeking the cooperation of States in dealing with Left-wing extremism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday asked the Planning Commission to design a holistic development programme for Naxal-affected areas.
He said the development programmes must be aligned with the special circumstances in these states.
"I have asked the Planning Commission to design a holistic development programme for these areas in consultation with states and other stakeholders," he said, addressing the National Development Council meeting here.
Singh said there should be no doubt that Left-wing extremism has to be met and it will be met with Centre and the States cooperating fully with one another.
However, he said, the action against Maoists has to be supplemented by action on two other fronts -- implementation of Forest Rights Act and Panchayati Raj and providing additional resources to these development of these areas. "Effective implementation of Forest Rights Act and Panchayati Raj (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act are critical. Failure to implement these laws in letter and spirit reduces the credibility of our commitment to bring development to these neglected regions," Singh said.
Admitting that development schemes have not worked well in backward and impoverished parts of the country, Singh said these areas must also be provided with additional resources for development.
"The development programmes must be aligned to the special circumstances of these areas," he said. "Our development schemes have not worked well in these backward and impoverished parts of our country, especially in the areas inhabited by the adivasi population.
We must make a concerted effort to bridge the development deficit in these backward areas and reduce whatever sense of alienation that may exist among the adivasis living in these areas," he said. He said the rights of tribals to forest must be protected.
Pointing out that the Centre''s flagship programmes like MGNREGA was doing well in many states but there are "examples of poor implementation" as well, Singh said there was a need to make sustained efforts to improve performance in states where it is below average. Singh also said that initiatives like Right to Education and NRHM need to be implemented with vigour.
"This will require more resources. However, it is equally important to pay attention to improving the delivery system in order to achieve the desired outputs," he said.
The Prime Minister also laid stress on the need to protect environment which is under the threat from various sources of pollution. "The threat of climate change looms large and requires national action plan and international action.
How well we handle these problems will determine whether our growth strategy is sustainable in medium or long term," he said.
Need a panel on this:
Toxic legacy of US assault on Fallujah 'worse than Hiroshima'
The shocking rates of infant mortality and cancer in Iraqi city raise new questions about battle.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/toxic-legacy-of-us-assault-on-fallujah-worse-than-hiroshima-2034065.html
pol,
re: ramanie de zoyza
where did she support gonzeka????
FYI i like reading her stuff. a fierce patriot and a sensible one too.
sam,
yes, it is very good. hope these idiots will JUST DO IT ASAP.
i had enough of toiletnet predictions.
toiletnet hails jagath dias as a great war hero.
"Former Tigers as CTB drivers"
such a stupid decision. only a dead tiger is a good tiger.
train them to be fishermen.
take them to the sea and KILL THEM.
mark my word, WHEN the war crimes BS investigation starts these buggers will be PRIME sources of evidence against us.
If you haven't already watched:
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/
http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/
Mostly valid stuff.
Moshe,
Here:
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/07/20/some-free-advice-to-upsara-fonseka/
I do not doubt her patriotism but her Gonseka gushing is just unbelievable.
SL should do the same, not for churches, but for NGO. Only thing the NGO does is push their own agendas, and lavish life style for their employees. The percentage of money that goes to the poor is very low.
Tax office push for charity monitoring
THE tax office wants a special national body set up to monitor "not for profit" charities, admitting that churches - such as the multi-million-dollar phenomenon Hillsong - are literally "invisible" to it.
And the sector is expanding so rapidly that $31 billion a year is now being drawn out of the federal Budget in tax exemptions to the ever-growing list of groups claiming church and charity status.
The push to put not-for-profit groups under greater fiscal scrutiny comes amid revelations that senior pastors of the Hillsong mega-church and their families are enjoying lavish lifestyles virtually tax-free.
Critics say Hillsong - which makes millions by routinely demanding its followers hand over at least 10 per cent of their salaries for the church coffers - exploits tax exemptions designed to help small, struggling churches
pol,
someone has written under the handle ramanie. he/she is not necessarily RDZ.
we cannot assume.
Sam,
I have been waiting for a response from you about whether you would be willing to serve as President of our Rana Viru Fund.
You have said neither yes, nor no but have avoided replying, which I cannot understand. I would have appreciated a simple no if you could not do it.
Therefore, I am now forced to assume that you are not willing to do so, and will now release you and ask other senior bloggers instead. I fully realize now that you wanted to, but just could not assume the responsibility because of personal reasons .. don't worry about it .. OK?
Patriots,
This is an update on our Rana Viru Fund effort. In short .. it is BOGGED DOWN and has not moved forward ONE IOTA.
The plan was for Sam Perera and Sujeewa to serve as the "co-Chairmen" with Sam registering the Fund in the US and setting up a website with a Paypal gateway (with my help because I am very familiar with both processes). They were to select the rest of the Officers of the Fund, manage it, and bring on board others in the years ahead. I would only be a contributor and sponsor.
All Officers of the Fund must disclose their true identities in the registration process, and assume legal responsibility to operate the Fund as a non-profit charitable corporation, file annual State and Federal tax returns (no taxes are paid, but returns must be filed which is rather simple), and ensure that the Fund is operated strictly according to the laws of the land. Although it sounds an awesome responsibility, it really is not .. tens of thousands of small non-profits like this, with a handful of officers, exist and thrive.
The principal legal responsibilities are to ensure that the Funds are deployed for the intended charitable purpose, are not alienated for any other purpose, and that the Fund does not promote, participate in, or fund, any political activities. In the event the Fund is dissolved at some future date, all assets must be transferred legally to another specified non-profit institution .. for example, the Rana Viru Authority of Sri Lanka. These LEGAL REQUIREMENT not only inspire confidence in the Fund as an honest institution serving the SLDF veterans, but also will allow US contributors to have the same kind of tax relief that all other such charities enjoy in the United States.
Now that Sam Perera has declined my invitation to serve as President, I have asked Konappu Bandara, Thusitha, and Asithri to volunteer to serve as Officers.
Please respond early to my emails!
My selection criteria were: Officers must be among those who have volunteered to contribute, must be senior patriotic bloggers at the DW/SLDF blog, and must not have objected to disclosing their identity for any past activities, because the Officers will have to disclose their identities for registration of the Fund as a non-profit corporation.
For example, these criteria exclude Moshe because he strongly objects to disclosing his identity, and many other senior bloggers because they are not contributors to the Fund at this time.
If the number of those who volunteer for service as Officers is insufficient, but at least two others do volunteer, I will volunteer very reluctantly to serve as the Secretary/Legal Officer (CLO) because I can help best in that role.
I have tried to avoid a management role in the Fund because I am OVERCOMMITTED to pro-bono Sri Lanka activities, and as the prime mover in initiating this Fund, I wanted to avoid accusations of self-serving. If I initiate the Fund, but have no role whatsoever in managing it .. no one could question my motives, or inability to profit from it!
If ALL of our Patriotic Lions turn out to be Yellow Chickens instead, and no one else volunteers to serve as Officers, except me, I recommend that WE ABANDON THIS EFFORT.
Those who have volunteered to contribute should then send their contributions to the Rana Viru Fund(UK), or to any other organization serving the SLDF veterans of their choice, albeit without any tax deduction for US residents as we proposed to provide.
Thereafter, I will seriously consider terminating my participation in these blogging activities with people who are UNWILLING to BEAR A MINIMAL RISK and EXPEND A MINIMAL PERSONAL EFFORT for the Motherland on behalf of those who fought for us, because it would be such a waste of time.
ananda,
didn't we agree that its best to let the ranaviru fund managed as it is now?????
"For example, these criteria exclude Moshe because he strongly objects to disclosing his identity"
ONLY the surname. other names are known!!! rather well known.
Moshe,
I am pretty sure it is Ramanie.
If you look at her other LankaWeb articles including one called "leave Fonseka alone" (or something like that from November last year) the writing style is identical.
How can someone like her (or anyone for that matter) be so blind to the treachery Gonseka has done is just bizarre.
As someone in the link i gave mentioned, she must be a family (distant or close) friend of sorts (gonseka family tricks trapping her?)
In Afghanistan 45 civilians have been slaughtered by the West in an air strike on a school.
But i love the way the BBC (and other Western media no doubt) reported this, "it cannot be independently verified who was responsible", so naturally what NATO says is the absolute truth and the Taliban did it for some unknown reason in their heartland where they get their support from.
pol,
although i may MOSTLY disagree with her, there are few things we have to admit.
1. we need ANOTHER fonseka
GR is too soft and he cannot achieve MANY things that require GUTS.
do you miss the careless PRO-SL utterences of SF?????
i miss the type of comments like, "toilet madu politicians are clowns".
he had to say it boc no one else had the guts to say it. foreign minster, etc. were all BSing.
handing lass-ante was a very good thing. no one had the balls to do this simple operation that saved heaps for the country.
just imagine what would happen now if we had the sakkiliya around????
2. GR must not FURTHER make the gonseka affair a personal affair.
also i've always enjoyed reading her articles. lets let this one go for the good of our campaign.
petty differences should not divide patriots.
gonzeka affair is NOT a petty difference. but SEVERE DISAGREEMENTS it creates differences that are PETTY among us bcos we are not decision makers.
Ethnic Integration ... here it comes! Jayawewa!
..............
58,000 Mahaweli settlers to be given land ownership
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 25, Colombo: Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority says that 58,000 settler families of Mahaweli colonies will be granted the ownership of the lands.
The Director General of Mahaweli Authority and the Secretary of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Management Ivan Silva said that the 'allocation papers' of the lands would be given to the farmers soon under an emergency programme as per instructed by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the guidance of the Minister of Irrigation and Water Management Nimal Siripala de Silva.
Under the emergency programme, 35,000 such ownership documents are to be handed over within the next few weeks, said the Secretary of the Ministry.
Earlier Mahaweli settlers have been given only a license for settlement and cultivation in state land.
The farming community in the Mahaweli C area faced numerous difficulties for several years due to the lack of title to the land.
Moshe Dayan said ..
[ananda,
didn't we agree that its best to let the ranaviru fund managed as it is now?????]
No, we didn't.
This is a NEW Fund, associated with this SLDF blo., This fund does not exist, and has NO relationship to anything that exists in the UK, and we have not yet decided on the name either except that it will benefit Rana Viruwan.
Where did you get that impression from?
Moshe Dayan said ...
["For example, these criteria exclude Moshe because he strongly objects to disclosing his identity"
ONLY the surname. other names are known!!! rather well known. ]
Whatever!
For legal matters, we need the FULL NAME and ADDRESS; no semi-anonymous patriots can serve.
ananda,
we discussed this about 3 weeks ago and a list was prepared. then didn't we decide to stick with SVU, AWA, dhammika's project, etc???? whatever we are with at the moment?????
anyway i'm ok with either as a contributor but not in managing it as you said.
this is very promising. hope toiletnet got it right this time and we ARE doing this at fcuking last.
Moshe,
I do not think she is any less of a patriot than before.
That is not in question.
It is like you and me disagreeing, what we fought over was a minor thread emanating from the core issue
I just find the pro-Gonskea ness odd, despite the bleeding obvious (gonseka mouth, DNA activities, the selfishness of the Gonsekas etc). Everything Fonskea has done and said since has negated the good of before, making the situation worse for SL –and something he and family has done on purpose.
Time for MORE PANELS!
"Wikileaks publishes US war crimes in Afghanistan"
http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=9103
"A whistleblower website wikileaks has published what it says are more than 90,000 of secret American military files about the war in Afghanistan which include details of 144 incidents in which Coalition forces have killed civilians."
The files, published online by The Guardian, the New York Times and Germany’s Der Spiegel, include details of 144 incidents in which Coalition forces have killed civilians.
The Guardian says the leaks show that troops killed hundreds of civilians in previously unreported incidents.
In one example cited by the British paper, French troops fired at a bus full of children, injuring eight.
A US patrol was involved in a similar incident that wounded or killed 15 passengers, and in 2007 Polish troops fired mortars at a village, apparently in a revenge attack, killing guests at a wedding party which included a pregnant woman.
And i love this part:
"The Guardian says the files revealed a secret black-ops unit which hunts down Taliban leaders for “kill or capture” without trial"
Sin aney!
"The United Statesstrongly condemns the disclosure of classified information by individuals and organisations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk and threaten our national security,” he said in a statement."
pol,
agree.
"The United States strongly condemns the disclosure of classified information by individuals and organisations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk and threaten our national security,” he said in a statement."
hooooo!!!
why not SL strongly condemn that too???
Moshe said ..
[didn't we decide to stick with SVU, AWA, dhammika's project, etc????]
No, we didn't.
I said I would contact Dhammika Siripala of the Rana Viru Fund (UK) about the possibility of collaborating wrt to selection of aid recipients. The Rana Viru Fund (UK) cannot grant tax deductions to US contributors, it can do so only to UK residents.
There were no other suggestions regarding SVU or AWA .. whatever those acronyms stand for.
Moshe Dyan said...
this is very promising. hope toiletnet got it right this time and we ARE doing this at fcuking last.
July 25, 2010 8:00 PM
Moshe,
I cannot access it, what does it say?
Afghanistan war logs: Story behind biggest leak in intelligence history
-------------------------------
From US military computers to a cafe in Brussels, how thousands of classified papers found their way to online activists
US authorities have known for weeks that they have suffered a haemorrhage of secret information on a scale which makes even the leaking of the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam war look limited by comparison.
The Afghan war logs, from which the Guardian reports today, consist of 92,201 internal records of actions by the US military in Afghanistan between January 2004 and December 2009 threat reports from intelligence agencies, plans and accounts of coalition operations, descriptions of enemy attacks and roadside bombs, records of meetings with local politicians, most of them classified secret.
The Guardian's source for these is Wikileaks, the website which specialises in publishing untraceable material from whistleblowers, which is simultaneously publishing raw material from the logs.
Washington fears it may have lost even more highly sensitive material including an archive of tens of thousands of cable messages sent by US embassies around the world, reflecting arms deals, trade talks, secret meetings and uncensored opinion of other governments.
Wikileaks' founder, Julian Assange, says that in the last two months they have received yet another huge batch of "high-quality material" from military sources and that officers from the Pentagon's criminal investigations department have asked him to meet them on neutral territory to help them plug the sequence of leaks. He has not agreed to do so.
Behind today's revelations lie two distinct stories: first, of the Pentagon's attempts to trace the leaks with painful results for one young soldier; and second, a unique collaboration between the Guardian, the New York Times and Der Spiegel magazine in Germany to sift the huge trove of data for material of public interest and to distribute globally this secret record of the world's most powerful nation at war.
The Pentagon was slow to engage. The evidence they have now collected suggests it was last November that somebody working in a high-security facility inside a US military base in Iraq started to copy secret material. On 18 February Wikileaks posted a single document a classified cable from the US embassy in Reykjavik to Washington, recording the complaints of Icelandic politicians that they were being bullied by the British and Dutch over the collapse of the Icesave bank; and the tart remark of an Icelandic diplomat who described his own president as "unpredictable". Some Wikileaks workers in Iceland claimed they saw signs that they were being followed after this disclosure.
But the Americans evidently were nowhere nearer to discovering the source when, on 5 April, Assange held a press conference in Washington to reveal US military video of a group of civilians in Baghdad, including two Reuters staff, being shot down in the street in 2007 by Apache helicopters: their crew could be heard crowing about their "good shooting" before destroying a van which had come to rescue a wounded man and which turned out to be carrying two children on its front seat.
Continued...
It was not until late May that the Pentagon finally closed in on a suspect, and that was only after a very strange sequence of events. On 21 May, a Californian computer hacker called Adrian Lamo was contacted by somebody with the online name Bradass87 who started to swap instant messages with him. He was immediately extraordinarily open: "hi... how are you? im an army intelligence analyst, deployed to eastern bagdad if you had unprecedented access to classified networks, 14 hours a day, 7 days a week for 8+ months, what would you do?"
For five days, Bradass87 opened his heart to Lamo. He described how his job gave him access to two secret networks: the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network, SIPRNET, which carries US diplomatic and military intelligence classified "secret"; and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System which uses a different security system to carry similar material classified up to "top secret". He said this had allowed him to see "incredible things, awful things that belong in the public domain and not on some server stored in a dark room in Washington DC almost criminal political backdealings the non-PR version of world events and crises."
Bradass87 suggested that "someone I know intimately" had been downloading and compressing and encrypting all this data and uploading it to someone he identified as Julian Assange. At times, he claimed he himself had leaked the material, suggesting that he had taken in blank CDs, labelled as Lady Gaga's music, slotted them into his high-security laptop and lip-synched to nonexistent music to cover his downloading: "i want people to see the truth," he said.
He dwelled on the abundance of the disclosure: "its open diplomacy its Climategate with a global scope and breathtaking depth its beautiful and horrifying It's public data, it belongs in the public domain." At one point, Bradass87 caught himself and said: "i can't believe what im confessing to you." It was too late. Unknown to him, two days into their exchange, on 23 May, Lamo had contacted the US military. On 25 May he met officers from the Pentagon's criminal investigations department in a Starbucks and gave them a printout of Bradass87's online chat.
On 26 May, at US Forward Operating Base Hammer, 25 miles outside Baghdad, a 22-year-old intelligence analyst named Bradley Manning was arrested, shipped across the border to Kuwait and locked up in a military prison.
News of the arrest leaked out slowly, primarily through Wired News, whose senior editor, Kevin Poulsen, is a friend of Lamo's and who published edited extracts from Bradass87's chatlogs. Pressure started to build on Assange: the Pentagon said formally that it would like to find him; Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers, said he thought Assange could be in some physical danger; Ellsberg and two other former whistleblowers warned that US agencies would "do all possible to make an example" of the Wikileaks founder. Assange cancelled a planned trip to Las Vegas and went to ground.
continued..
After several days trying to make contact through intermediaries, the Guardian finally caught up with Assange in a café in Brussels where he had surfaced to speak at the European parliament.
Assange volunteered that Wikileaks was in possession of several million files, which amounted to an untold history of American government activity around the world, disclosing numerous important and controversial activities. They were putting the finishing touches to an accessible version of the data which they were preparing to post immediately on the internet in order to pre-empt any attempt to censor it.
But he also feared that the significance of the logs and some of the important stories buried in them might be missed if they were simply dumped raw on to the web. Instead he agreed that a small team of specialist reporters from the Guardian could have access to the logs for a few weeks before Wikileaks published, to decode them and establish what they revealed about the conduct of the war.
To reduce the risk of gagging by the authorities, the database would also be made available to the New York Times and the German weekly, Der Spiegel which, along with the Guardian, would publish simultaneously in three different jurisdictions. Under the arrangement, Assange would have no influence on the stories we wrote, but would have a voice in the timing of publication.
He would place the first tranche of data in encrypted form on a secret website and the Guardian would access it with a user name and password constructed from the commercial logo on the cafe's napkin.
Today's stories are based on that batch of logs. Wikileaks has simultaneously published much of the raw data. It says it has been careful to weed out material which could jeopardise human sources.
Since the release of the Apache helicopter video, there has been some evidence of low-level attempts to smear Wikileaks. Online stories accuse Assange of spending Wikileaks money on expensive hotels (at a follow-up meeting in Stockholm, he slept on an office floor); of selling data to mainstream media (the subject of money was never mentioned); or charging for media interviews (also never mentioned).
Earlier this year, Wikileaks published a US military document which disclosed a plan to "destroy the centre of gravity" of Wikileaks by attacking its trustworthiness.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Kuwait, Manning has been charged under US miitary law with improperly downloading and releasing information, including the Icelandic cable and the video of Apache helicopters shooting civilians in Baghdad. He faces trial by court martial with the promise of a heavy jail sentence.
Ellsberg has described Manning as "a new hero of mine". In his online chat, Bradass87 looked into the future: "god knows what happens now hopefully, worldwide discussion, debates and reforms. if not we're doomed."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/25/wikileaks-war-logs-back-story
This is important:
"Washington fears it may have lost even more highly sensitive material including an archive of tens of thousands of cable messages sent by US embassies around the world, reflecting arms deals, trade talks, secret meetings and uncensored opinion of other governments."
Is the Government monitoring all this?
It was not until late May that the Pentagon finally closed in on a suspect, and that was only after a very strange sequence of events. On 21 May, a Californian computer hacker called Adrian Lamo was contacted by somebody with the online name Bradass87 who started to swap instant messages with him. He was immediately extraordinarily open: "hi... how are you? im an army intelligence analyst, deployed to eastern bagdad if you had unprecedented access to classified networks, 14 hours a day, 7 days a week for 8+ months, what would you do?"
For five days, Bradass87 opened his heart to Lamo. He described how his job gave him access to two secret networks: the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network, SIPRNET, which carries US diplomatic and military intelligence classified "secret"; and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System which uses a different security system to carry similar material classified up to "top secret". He said this had allowed him to see "incredible things, awful things that belong in the public domain and not on some server stored in a dark room in Washington DC almost criminal political backdealings the non-PR version of world events and crises."
Who knows what juicy info on SL there is for the picking?
The New York Times take is to use the Wikileak information to attack Pakistan and pamper up the US/NATO. Not surprising, considering they willingly act as the unofficial State media of the US (along with other media outlets) and of course it is in their nature to protect the US and its interests. They "criticise" but through the criticism they project the status quo of the US (and the West) being this holier than thou “do no wrong” force.
It is truly unreal to read ol' OaO writing in such language for a change...
Nice, dude.
You said war crimes. Read this:
http://baltimorechronicle.com/2010/042710Lendman.shtml
- 2.8 million IDPs
- killing children 650,000 by pollution, lack of sanitation, and clean drinking water
- more than 1,700 tons of depleted uranium used during the war
- Tigris and Euphrates river waters are contaminated and unsafe.
- crippled traditional farming ... requiring annual royalties to companies like Monsanto
- 100% foreign investor ownership of Iraqi assets,
- shifting the country's Oil reserves from Iraq to US hands
- etc etc
Sam, Moshe & Others,
I have left a message at SLPAC.
Is this good news, bad news or both:
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=2935
"A dealer said the rupee appreciation was so fast and huge, that if not for Central Bank intervention, the dollar would have plummeted below Rs. 90.
He said: "The rupee is appreciating too fast and if not for the Central Bank we estimate the exchange rate to be around Rs. 85 for a dollar. We are not seeing large export earnings flow in. In fact, the trade deficit has ballooned. So the appreciation of the rupee is worrying."
"
According to dealers, the rupee is gaining on the dollar because remittances and capital inflows into government securities and the stock exchange are improving. While remittances directly affect the lives of people it could be looked at differently. Inflows into the securities and equities markets, however, are hot capital.
"We are beginning to get the Dutch disease, where foreign currency inflows undermine the industrial sector. The kind of inflows leading to the appreciation of the rupee (hot capital) is not creating jobs," one dealer said.
While inflation has come down to low levels, wage inflation is still pressuring exporters and the exchange rate environment is not one that is conducive to an export economy, dealers pointed.
"The government is planning to introduce import taxes on goods which can be produced locally while taxes on raw material imports have already been slashed with the intension of growing domestic industries, particularly the export sector."
Hope this is done. We need to develop our industrial base and move beyond crappy garments, tea etc.
pol,
it is from toiletnet.
the report says SLA is building houses along A9 in kilinochchi.
there is a photo of a prefabricated house and photos of large stock of building materials.
We need to make the recol (assuming it is all happening which would be brilliant) fully legal by law and written into the constitution.
Under clauses/acts/laws such as
"Multi enthnicisation" of all provinces to prevent racial enclaves to stop violence and improve race relations etc etc
Farming & Resources coupled to alleviating grievances of the poor.
Hence also Land distribution to prevent the over crowding in the south- can link this to the environment.
This way there is formal legal cover to what is mass scale colonisation.
Of course such acts/clauses/laws etc need to be done when A) recol has already been firmly established/on its way and B) at a time the nation is distracted by something else (to prevent it being blocked).
That way it will prevent some Ranil like sakkilya who might come to power undoing all recol under orders from his white masters.
There needs to be some bullshit "Multi enthnicisation" and "racial harmony" body that ensures recol continues and no can undo it. Such a body can give out some BS justifying it all (like the way the Environment agency does its thing). This body should be tied to the defence ministry and always have at least some Military personal on it, just in case corruption, bribes, and Ranilams get on it.
karu jayasuriya got an ardent UNP supporter to do the tamil madu style self immolation in front of UNP HQ.
what a MF!!
using this bugger is trying to take party leadership!!!!
what a party!! it KILLS its own ppl for survival.
gone are the days of DSS, JRJ, gamini d, lalith a.
looks like karu is worse than ranil!!!
so UNP killed 2 algamas.
It is intriguing to see how BBC, CNN, SkyNews, Aljerkoff and other Western media have reported the Wikileaks event. Other than bashing Pakistan, they keep saying “this shows causalities figures have been under reported”?
Oh really? Why has this mighty free media not investigated by themselves the causality numbers? Why not listen to the Taleban and Afghan civilians statements on issues like this?
Of course they would not because when it comes to issues like civilian deaths (going into the millions) caused by the West the duty of Western media is to shield the West and project a “holier than thou image” of “higher moral beings”, so in the case of them slaughtering indiscriminately innocent people they just do not report it. The truth is Western media just parrot out what their Government/Military says like good propaganda out lets. It just exposes their lies about “free media” AND the racist hypocrisy towards Sri Lanka when they used to bark non stop about civilians (making up “mass death events” at that) and just regurgitating what the LTTE/Tamils had to say without a care in the world for our POV or factual basis for what is said, or at least a disclaimer saying who their source is.
Why not report what the Taleban have to say about civilian causalities and what the ordinary Afghans have to say? Why no “investigative journalism” about it? As they obsessively did with the LTTE and Tamils?
Obviously they (Taleban & Afghan civilians) were telling the truth about civilian deaths and massacres carried out by the West.
Where is HRW and AI? Hikz.
Maldives wants continental shelf extended overlapping portion claimed by Lanka
http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=9124
What the hell is this? We claimed it first, it is ours. There should be NO compromise on this at all.
(I would not be surprised if Maldives says something along the lines of “we will support war crimes against if you if you do not play ball” –hope Ranilam, Gonseka and other traitors are happy that they have aptly assisted in providing a knew tool to threaten, bully and control SL. Of course we do no need to worry to much about the Maldives).
Anyway this move looks like it is clearly being motivated by the West to create tension between SL and Maldives, seize control of natural resources for exploitation by Western companies, and increase the Wests foot hold in the region. Cannot rule out the recent political turmoil within the Maldives as being orchestrated by the West to get that foot hold/strengthen it in South Asia as President Nasheed has refused to be a US lackey, much like MR.
It is odd that in the last few months things have gone upside down for Nasheed when he was so popular. West at work destabilising another country, create a US client state and monitor SL/China essentially.
I think we missed this back in April, I am sure Ananda will like it :))
Toyota Japan secures Lanka’s first semiconductor plant bid
http://www.thebottomline.lk/2010/04/28/news43.html
I do not have much trust in Japan, as they are known for exploitation.
I hope this is a good deal (Moshe/others you have more info on this?)
If we can get a technology transfer that is the biggest victory and out come of such a venture. We can use such to benefit SL greatly and convert our nation into a high tech industrial base moving away from junk like tea and garments. High tech industries and high quality products people always want to buy regardless and that is where we should aim and be independent at, not needing any concessions and stupid things like that.
@Moshe,
The UNP and their supporters shows what a bunch of selfish tards they are.
When the country was burning and about to disintegrate (thanks to their leaders) they did nothing.
But for the "sake of party unity" they start killing themselves.
What a people.
Good riddance.
Here are the "good governance" champions at work:
U.S. authorities can't account for 95% of the £9.1bn allocated to rebuild Iraq
An audit has discovered the U.S. Defense Department can't properly account for how it spent about 95 per cent of $9.1billion in Iraqi oil money earmarked for rebuilding the war-ravaged country.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1298052/U-S-authorities-account-8-7bn-allocated-rebuild-Iraq.html
true to his threat ananda has stopped blogging!!!
:(
it is crazy not to have tax benefits.
but on the other hand, MOST ppl are reluctant to get involved in matters relating to donations due to the stigma attached to it in SL.
even thrishantha is accused of this and that while he was the head of SL inventors commission.
so i think the next best thing is to donate through your local pro-SL groups.
USA, canada, aus, UK, japan, south korea, germany, etc. have these groups.
Dayan has made an interesting post about Colombians and their thinking. It is just disgusting how these people can even exist.
"International Intervention & The Intelligentsia"
http://www.adaderana.lk/opinion.php?nid=2127
While Dayan has written good pieces with good analyses they are always lacking and result in his own motivations and logic being questioned because unfortunately they fall flat right at the end as he too fails (like the deluded Colombians/“elite”/ “intellectuals” mentioned in this piece) to fully understand and appreciate the actual ground realities and thus come to a logical conclusion. Dayan is like a traveller who carefully plans his root and the road to take then at the end suddenly spins around, twists his ankle and falls to the ground in pain. This is what we see with his work, the appearance of good analyses and understanding but then at the end he falls short by coming to fraudulent if not out right moronic conclusions that lack substance and are designed with the usual Sinhala bashing in mind -driven by Dayans own political perception and desires where he struggles, nay, is just unable to put aside his backward communist leftist theories.
His in ability to put aside his communist internationalism and continual attacks on nationalism is why he fails.
Anyway what he has picked on and written accept the last paragraph (which is the one filled with about communist anti-national bs and dumb conclusions) has exposed the Colombian white sucking scum, their thinking and provided insight once again into who else has a firm hand in destroying Sri Lanka, out of their own sense of mental enslavement and power lusts.
sam,
not only the UNP, JVP, communist parties, SLFP too have that type of sakkiliyas.
e.g. gonzeka
e.g. in 1994 SLFP voters overwhelmingly voted for CBK. there was no need. if UNP had won, gamini d would have become the leader and PM. and then he could win the PE.
between CBK and GD who is the nationalist???
the answer is obvious.
cats that look like shitler!!!
i know one. chakkili chelvanayagam!!!
Re: SLDF Blog Rana Viru Fund
Konnapu Bandara, Thusitha and Asithri have joined Sam Perera in declining to serve as Officers of this Fund.
KB is otherwise busy, Asithri is unwilling to disclose his ID, and Tusitha is not a US resident.
As such, as the sole US resident willing to assume such a responsibility, I will ABANDON this effort to create a Rana Viru Fund under SLDF blog sponsorship, and will not agree to any such effort in the future.
This was never about me, but about helping those brave village lads in Sri Lanka who fought our battles for us, and died. I will now continue as an INDIVIDUAL to help them.
Sujeewa has EARNED my respect, and future support for him personally, by his clear willingness to put his effort where his mouth is, and help lead the Sri Lanka operations of the proposed Fund, while all other brave "patriots" advanced to the rear.
This has completely disappointed me, and given me a new understanding of the poor quality and personal courage of the "patriotic" bloggers at the SLDF blog, because in my foolish view, these were the most likely to step forward while all others hid among the reeds.
I am not only DISAPPOINTED, but I am FEARFUL for Sri Lanka, for who will join hands to help our own brave sons and daughters, and challenge the Eelamists in the years ahead, if all of you ALWAYS place your PERSONAL NEEDS ahead of the Motherland?
We are quite OUTMATCHED by the Eelamists .. I fear! They put their hearts and souls into their agenda, while we are unwilling to do MINIMAL things for our own. I WEEP for Sri Lanka.
SLDF Blog Rana Viru Fund .. R.I.P!
Sam,
There is no way that individuals can be more effective than a TEAM.
Organization is the difference between success and failure, whether it is a business, an army, or a patriotic movement to defend a country.
By not hanging together, we Sri Lankan patriots will ultimately hang separately.
But, let us not argue about this, it is too late now. The deed is done.
Vaya Con Dios!
ananda,
can you please take the time to check with US based SL groups if they have rana viru projects where contributions are tax deductible.
well, some of your allegations are not true.
MOST of us do our regular financial contributions without regard to tax implications to SLDFs. so you cannot question their patriotism or commitment to SL.
but the 33% or more we don't get back from tax can go in as ANOTHER donation if we do so in a tax efficient way. agree.
OTOH when SLs send money to their loved ones (in addition to contribution to AWA, SVU, rana viru authority, etc.), they don't think of tax either!!!
we need a compromise and unfortunately the compromise is not tax efficient.
OTOH, some allegations of ananda ARE TRUE!!
when pro-SL orgs elect members to their committees, VERY VERY FEW ppl get into those. mostly its the same set of ppl.
this is a sad situ.
but that's how it is. we have to organize within that.
TEs on the other hand will do anything OUTSIDE SL.
that is yet another reason why we should focus on SL where we can do things.
we can NEVER beat TEs outside SL but we can beat them in SL. so we should COMPREHENSIVELY beat them within SL through COLONIZATION. beat them in their own turf within SL.
3 tamils kill a sinhala guy in malaysia.
"An employee of a telecommunications company and two Sri Lankan factory workers were charged in a Magistrate's Court in Malaysia today for murdering a cafe manager, two weeks ago.
E. Mahendran Pillay, 39, S. Jeyarupan, 27, and D. Sivaingkaran, 22, nodded that they understood the charge when it was read out to them in Tamil before Magistrate Aishah Hijriah Arshad.
According to the charge sheet, the trio were alleged to have murdered Anson Hemathilaka Anson Albert, 29, at Block 1, Jalan RP 7, Jalan Klang Lama in Malaysia between 3pm on July 14 and 2am the next day.
All the three were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death sentence, if convicted.
The Magistrate then set September 1 for re-mention.
Deputy public prosecutor Choong Kak Sen appeared for the prosecution while only the first accused Mahendran was represented by Counsel Puan Sri N. Saraswathy Devi.
The victim's body, with hands cuffed and mouth taped with masking tape, had been thrown into the Klang River near Taman Datuk Harun in Malaysia."
bloody racists.
hang them.
Ananda-USA said...
Re: SLDF Blog Rana Viru Fund
Konnapu Bandara, Thusitha and Asithri have joined Sam Perera in declining to serve as Officers of this Fund.
-------------------------------
Ananda,
What do you mean my unwillingness, I already said, I am quite happy to be part of the charity. Only thing is I am not a U.S. citizen. If you some one is doing it in Australia, I am quite happy to join.
Assassination attempt on Mangala: Hard labour for two in prison
http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=9150
Such a shame they were not arrested after the assassination. Would have saved the nation a lot of grief. Then again we would not get the comedy that was "lankadissent.lk" and "lankanewsweb.com"
Ananda,
What you have said is unfair.
A lot of us have work to attend to and we contribute for our soldiers welfare privately as individuals.
Tamils are more successful in their activities because there are many who’s full time job is pushing their racism and making TE backed by the “less active” (in terms of organising/managing) Tamils who form the majority if not all Tamils essentially, who follow the managements directives and just contribute as their presence in Western countries is dependent on it. Additionally they are more united.
LOL@ This comment from Independent.co.uk over British Government "trip" to India:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/david-cameron-turns-on-charm-for-jobs-mission-in-india-2037227.html
"Vamshidhar Reddy 2 hours ago
India's population has showed a decline of 10% according to a survey in the last 10 years but still its a huge problem here. 60% of India's population live in the north and 40% live in the south. 80% of people living in poverty lives in north India. you can call India a poor country but Indians are not poor. 70% of the Indian population dont pay their taxes properly which generates black money which doesnt gets accounted. South India is 50 times far developed than north india. British people are always welcomed to come to india and work. i woud'nt mind them coming to india and working with us. i come from south india and i know the diffrences. south indian people are far more cultured and anyone who comes here would feel safe here. the standard of living in south india is much much better than the north. the only thing is you wouldnt be getting a equal salary as britain but still you can live luxury if u have a average salary of 700 to 1000 pounds per month "
Makes sense, sakilliayas of south worshiped their white masters to spite North, and well things have not changed. Lets not forget WHO was willingly exported all over the place to subdue and dilute other populations/native peoples that refused to bow down to the British.
There is some cynical idiot posting comments on Adaderana trying to mock the patriotic feeling amongst people + the anti-Western sentiment.
Once again the SICK mentalities of the Colombian frauds is exposed
http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=9117
"July 28, 2010 01:06 am
Sri Lanka supported his appointment and now because he wanted to disclose facts to the world he became our enemy. The appointed panel is to gather information on how the terrorists carried out war crime and how the democratically elected Government of Sri Lanka managed to wipe out the entire terrorist group except Karuna Amman and Dr. KP. I believe the report from the panel will highlight the victory of our forces but the Government doesn’t want that. May be Sarath Fonseka’s efforts to win the war also will be highlighted in the panel’s report. Is that the reason our Government is opposing the panel and Mr. Ban Ki Moon?
Jagath Gunawardene
"
This is what another one of these scum said earlier (during Wimals rightful protest)
First our Srilankan cattles must know what this panel about, it is not a panel to charge anybody only to investigate the truth about both sides but MR-Clan is afraid the investigation will lead to LTTE money & assets where they have swindled, robbed, some shared with KP giving him perks & security. The clown acted to safeguard his masters but failed miserably
M.H.Sheriff
These people are absolute scum who call for FOREING PRESSURE to PUNISH THE PEOPLE and create new hardships for the people (when their are none or attempts are being made to solve the ones there are) on which they hope to ride to power. These people are absolute criminals you find nowhere else.
Hooligan said...
meeanwhile biggest diaspora Pola Sambola keeps whinging about his pay masters in the West
why the fuck cant he tear up his Western passport and join them lackeys in SL
i dont know
but entertainin stuff from Pola
Headless chicken runnin around in circles
July 28, 2010 9:10 AM
LOL@ Hooligan/Jay/Rana/whatever i didn't realise i lived in a Western country. Thats news to me.
Poor frustrated dole bugger, bet you were boiling with jealousy over that thought eh?
Interesting thinking there too -must have taxed that little brain of yours a great deal to come to such conclusion. Is that why you lot are a bunch of mental slaves? Wonder how much i need to pay to get you to dance for me? Will a Western passport do the trick?
China facilitates setting up of permanent SF bases in North
July 23, 2010, 12:00 pm
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The government is engaged in an ambitious programme to establish permanent security forces bases in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as part of a strategy to thwart any possible attempt to revive LTTE terrorism. Authoritative government officials told The Island that the deployment of security forces in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as well as other parts of the country would be solely at the discretion of the military top brass.
In keeping with the government policy, the army has established the 68 Division headquarters at Sugandirapuram, Puthukudirippu east of the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road. Army Chief Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya on Thursday (22) visited the new headquarters to meet senior officers and men deployed in the area.
Lt. General Jayasuriya told a gathering of men and officers that permanent bases were necessary to move security forces from private and public property currently occupied by them. Although the Jaffna peninsula had remained home to the largest concentration of forces before the outbreak of Eelam war IV in August 2006, today the single biggest deployment is in the Vanni.
The army chief appreciated the Chinese assistance to speed up the re-deployment process by making available what he called pre-fabricated technology. Lt. General Jayasuriya said: "These types of permanent buildings were made possible due to pre-fabricated technology from China. The government wants us to vacate all buildings, belonging to the civil sector, so that owners of those buildings could reclaim them and help bring normalcy to the area. Civil life should be restored and facilitated in the area. In the future, once married quarters of the officers and the other ranks are set up in respective areas, they would be able to live with their families as well while serving the areas."
The Army Chief thanked his officers and men for the ongoing development projects under ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ programme in the sphere of demining, bridge building, constructions, other humanitarian projects, etc.
The newly opened headquarters is the second new command headquarters established in the area controlled by the 59 Division.
Military spokesman Brigadier Ubaya Madawela said that permanent bases were being set up both east and west of the A9 road. Responding to a query by The Island, Madawala said that some of the new constructions would come up at Tunukkai. He emphasized that all new bases would be set up on State land, though some accused the government of taking over private land.
According to him, as part of the re-deployment in a post-LTTE era, a section of the 53 Division had been moved to the South to intensify security and also to assist in development programmes. The 53 Division troops are deployed in Galle, Hambantota and Moneragala, while a section of troops remained at Mankulam. Major General Amal Karunasekera, formerly head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) recently took over the 53 Division.
Brigadier Madawala said that the army was making an effort to vacate private property occupied by troops deployed in the Jaffna town area. He said that due to severe ‘space constrains’ they were finding it difficult to move troops, though they were looking for ways and means of finding alternative accommodation for them.
The army consists of 200,000 personnel. It numbers increased exponentially due to massive recruitment drives carried out during Eelam war IV to strengthen fighting formations.
Folks,
I was away for a while from this space and will have to do the same from time to time, as some issues are keeping me busy for next year to two. But will never say adios.
Ananda + all,
I think I can understand everyone's perspective regarding SLDF fund.
It was initiated by two eye-catching stories one by Sam and another by me regarding the forgotten duty [of authorities] in welfare of some SLDF personal and families.
Were the cases genuine? I cannot say for mine as we never ran a check. Sam's looked genuine as they did associate with the parties.
So that is where Ananda came up with the idea of fund. I was willing to do my best from local setup, despite my busy schedules starting just now. I will do the same in future too.
Fund and legalities were obviously good, but considering the hardships of most it is not 100% certain whether we can achieve the goals. Like Moshe says we're weaker on this regard like out-and-out tamil racist groups but reasons are obvious. We cannot blame our guys for being so. It is understandable. In fact even I had concerns as time is limiting capacity of our contributions.
I am thinking of doing what I can for such ppl anyway. I will inform all of you if something realy needs to be attended. Also i will post such stories, even if I do not tend to help such, for you to verify and contribute for the ppl,
In fact we did some work, but kept away from you as the sums were smaller and we were lucky to collect the need within locality. If needed we'll let you know.
I am boldly stating this in public as I know that with or without organization most of you do care for them. Even locally ppl care a lot for SLDF. That is one good thing about all in our community. An organization would have been more effective, but in any form we can be helpful at whatever extents that we can.
Finally the famous hooligan [literally] has used this event to create a rift between us. Agreed or not for one idea, pls do not let him achieve the huge feat which he failed to do even during much harder days. Whatever our opinions are unity is prime and it is our only strength.
Cheers folks.
Island has interview with KP.
I am not exactly happy with this and the buddy buddy thing going on, unless we can (or currently are) use him to do recol, arrest/hunt down Tamil killers in the West + expose the Wests role in assisting the LTTE (which i am sure KP knows plenty -perhaps being quiet as the Government maybe working on this with him, though i have my doubts.)
Would also like to know his links with Channel 4 & the NGO/West/LTTE/Colombians circuit.
This is by far the most intriguing and links up with what was discussed earlier:
"Q: When did you first hear of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s death on the Vanni front? Where were you at the time of the final battle?
A: I was in Kuala Lumpur when I first heard of Prabhakaran’s death on May 19. The international press reported the final confrontation, though some continued to dispute the fact. I was Prabhakaran’s best friend and felt sad about the loss of his life. Had he listened to me and reached an agreement with the government before it was too late, the final battle could have been avoided. The LTTE suffered a massive setback on May 10 on the Vanni (east) front, where some 400 experienced cadres perished while trying to break the army lines. Following that tragedy, I discussed with the then political chief Nadesan a way out of the quagmire. But unfortunately they believed the army could be somehow forced to stop the offensive and a deal worked out through a third party. We also talked to various people and organizations, including the UN in a bid to work out some arrangement but nothing happened due to the failure on the part of Prabhakaran to make his move earlier.
"
Where is Ranilam? How long has he been away if Karu is acting leader?
Where has he gone and how much venom is he spitting against the country/what is he plotting against us.
Thusitha said ...
[Ananda,
What do you mean my unwillingness]
Sorry, Thusitha .. it was an error on my part to include you in that sentence. As I said, you are unable to do so because you are not a US resident .. that is what I meant. You are excluded from my characterization of US SLDF bloggers.
Pol Sambol said ..
[Ananda,
What you have said is unfair.
A lot of us have work to attend to and we contribute for our soldiers welfare privately as individuals.]
Pol Sambol,
What I said applies PARTICULARLY TO YOU .. more than the others .. and is not unfair at all.
You right away declined to contribute not understanding that as an organization we can do things together we cannot do as individuals.
I join in many of these things, just to give encouragement and support to those who begin those ventures. I put in my time to satisfy myself that they are bona-fide honest operations.
You may have missed the purpose of why we set up these blogs: it is to organize support for our own patriotic forces and to oppose the enemies of Sri Lanka. This is something that we cannot undertake as individuals. In unity lies strength.
Not only you, but all of us, including me, have work to attend to, families to take care of, personal health problems needing medical attention, etc, etc. But, nevertheless, we manage to carve out some time from our PERSONAL NEEDS to devote to charitable activities, such as assisting disabled Rana Viruwan.
The whole REASON for joining forces and starting something like this is to SHARE THE BURDEN of doing it, rotating from one person to the next, without leaving it to a few unique individuals to bear the burden ALWAYS. No ONE PERSON is required to carry the entire load .. only a small part of it.
If we ... educated, skilled, and able, don't do it, who will show the way to our children who must take up the burden after us? All they will have seen is a bunch of self-centered divisive individuals continually fighting each other, never accomplishing anythin never creating organizations to achieve goals bigger than themselves that will survive their own finite lives.
Our children must see us SUCCEEDING in WORKING TOGETHER or they will never value our heritage, never having tangibly benefited from that heritage or anything what we, their elders, built. Instead, they will turn to and adopt other foreign values, and other religions which seem more successful than ours. WE MUST LEARN TO CREATE AND GROW ORGANIZATIONS COOPERATIVELY, if our children are to value our heritage and pass it on to their children.
Not only that, you immediately cast an aspersion of dishonesty on those who start these kinds of charitable organizations in your post in which you declined participation. That kind of comment discourages those few individuals who do take the initiative to do something, from continuing any further.
Why don't you get off your PONTIFICAL armchair, and start a Rana Viru Fund with legal status and oversight like this and we will rally around to support it.
Until then, please don't offer excuses.
toiletnet complains of big SLN bases in batti and ampara. these are essential.
govt to stamp out ANY resistence and continue to build them.
govt control over these areas are fast receding due to FUNDAMENTALIST elements. we have to PROACTIVELY handle them. LARGE SLDF bases amidst them is the best way to obstruct their work.
pol is not in the US. so he cannot do anything to create or obstruct a US legal entity.
there are 3 levels of co-operation.
1. effective co-operation
2. ineffective co-operation
3. non-co-operation.
we are at #2. CERTAINLY NOT at #3. that is something.
sam,
no.
but i guess they would be very unhappy. a SLN base means no more drug imports, illegal immigration industry (another VERY lucrative industry), illegal occupation of land, felling of trees illegally in the jungles, destroying ancient relics and illegal gun running.
when families make a living from illegal activities it is VERY difficult to stop it. the military has to be called in.
unless we build these now when the iron is hot, we would never be able to do so.
it is a matter of time islamic terrorism emerge in SL. it WILL CERTAINLY HAPPEN. we should be ready.
instead of outright eliminating it, we should first use it to whack TEs. that will make the movement highly unpopular among tamils. then we have MORE support to destroy it and get the benefit of their destruction of TE interests too.
otherwise we will be seen as screwwing the minorities.
that is why we should NOT colonize batti completely.
it seperates trinco and ampara.
if colonized in large numbers in batti, it helps them settle there and that means GENOGRAPHICAL CONTINUITY for muslims.
besides these plans we need REAL plans to keep peace. what are they???? i will not tell you as we may not do them. BUT thank god USA is doing it!!!!
now pol will be against me.
but it is ESSENTIAL.
after a SUCCESSFUL mission in iraq, now more emphais is on pakistan/afghanistan/india/far west china/kyrgistan/iran/syria.
why the iraq mission was successful????
bcos now sunni, shite and kurd ppl belonging to the same GROUP are "engaging" each other. this was never there b4. and this IS the plan and it worked.
pol has to understand this HARD TRUTH.
unless "they" "engage" each other, they "enage" others.
this is the US logic and it is the right thing to do.
"their" numbers grow around the world at a stagerring rate which is against the interests of ALL the superpowers (USA, UK, france, russia, china). something must be done to bring it under control. and ALL superpowers agree.
pol,
if we try to save them from "sudda", the "sudda" cosk will fcuk through us and fcuk them. totally unnecessary.
if we let "sudda" fcuk them without getting involved, WHILE PROTECTING SL INTERESTS, that would reduce problems.
do you want to get between a male corc and a female croc during "mating" season???????
re: history
that is a fcuking disgrace.
i'm sure that sakkiliya unkempt history teacher with deranged eyes has something to do with this.
history should be taught AS IT IS.
it is medival and pre-medival history and teaching what medival is PART of history teaching.
re: elara
a cow pulling the rope of a bell is BULLSHIT!!
what happened was a man's livestock kept for VEAL/BEEF was killed.
to hell with hindu worship of the cow.
anuradhapura is still the biggest beef producing district in the country. it didn't happen over night.
so the owner got pissed off. and there was a general feeling of disgust against elara bcos he is from a different country. that and this together, people wanted to kill elara's son in RETALIATION.
in short, ppl valued their lifestock MUCH MORE than the "good" king elara's beloved son.
this was demanded knowing very well that it will be the end of this old fart. that was the plan. it was a political game plan.
had elara not obeyed, ppl would have made his life miserable so he had to do it. he fcking well knew what it means to kill his son but he had to do it.
had his son survived, the dutugemunu story MAY have ended differently!!!
everyone must know their history. history should be taught in a manner that makes kids proud of their forefathers and grateful that forefathers fcuked foremothers (and the nation's enemies) so that in the linage they would be born!!!!
what a great leader!!
from cnn.
"What's a Russian prime minister to do when welcoming back 10 agents who were expelled by the United States? Sing a few patriotic songs with them, of course.
Ten agents whom the United States expelled this month after accusing them of spying recently met with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. At the meeting, Putin joined the 10 in singing to live music, CNN confirmed Wednesday.
Among the songs they sang was "From Where the Motherland Begins," Putin told reporters, according to a transcript published on his website late last week.
"I am not kidding you. I am quite serious. And other songs of about the same content," Putin said.
The 10 Russian agents pleaded guilty in the United States this month for failing to register as foreign agents and were ordered out of the country.
The United States and Russia then completed a spy swap, exchanging the 10 agents convicted in the U.S. with four Russians who had been imprisoned for alleged contact with Western intelligence sources.
During his conversation with reporters, Putin pointed out that Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev, has said that the uncovering of the 10 agents was due to betrayal. Putin said he knew the names of those who betrayed the 10.
"Traitors always meet with a bad end," Putin said, according to the transcript. "As a rule, they end drunk or drugged - in a ditch. One such person ended his life recently in this way abroad, and no one knows why."
Putin was asked what the 10 would do in Russia.
"They will work," Putin responded. "I'm sure they will be offered good jobs, and they will have an interesting life.""
Amnesty Int'l have started to defecate again, against SL. Please add your polite voice against this drivel, here:
http://tinyurl.com/28rpet9
The article begins:
Urge Your Representative TODAY to Demand Accountability for Sri Lanka Crimes.
I think it is timely to say this. And be kiddish in doing so.
Everyone, let's leave the past events and their offshoots behind us and join together. The unity among us was the only strength we had and we cannot afford to loose it for differences of opinions.
And I expect a ground breaking yeah from every corner.
from toiletnet.
"The visit of the Buddhist Chief Incumbent to Vanni is seen as an act of consolidating the claim of Sri Lanka government that many places in Vanni mainland are traditional Sinhala Buddhist areas, civil society sources in Jaffna said."
such a stupid attitude. these sakkiliyas look at everything from the RACIST pov.
it is traditional sri lankan areas, that's what it means and that's how we want these areas to be.
sam, pol,
in addition nehru bugger is the one who create STRICTLY RACE BASED BOUNDARIES in india.
sam,
india is ONLY worried about it's disintegration. not SL's.
IF part of SL can be added to greater toilet madu, the problem of india's disintegration DOES NOT arise.
the problem arises if tamil elam becomes an independant nation thereby instigating the same response from monkies in toilet madu.
the bottomline is india wants to divide SL. that does not mean india will also get divided. if TE can be made parts of greater toilet madu, toilet madus will be happy and won't leave india. this is their plan.
this is why india co-operates with the USA to divide SL.
and in that set up the muslim issue i highlighted won't arise either!!!!!!
a win for USA and a win for india too!!!
when added to 99.9% hindu toilet madu, eastern muslims become INSIGNIFICANT. that way USA can EVEN better manage any threat posed by them than letting east be part of SL.
do you agree??????
pol,
thanks for posting this interesting piece of info. it opens a whole new world.
pol,
"Hmz, are my posts being deleted or is blogger broken?"
i don't know but if your posts (and my posts and anybody else's posts) don't add any value to the purpose of the SLDF blog, ONLY THOSE posts should be deleted.
that's my view.
lets put behind the "fights" and move on as kids!!!!! or adults!!
shall we????
.....mmmm
some chance it is blogger acting up.
or did our regulator use a wider brush than needed??????
excluding the most recent post, the latest post by pol was at,
July 28, 2010 1:15 PM
now it is,
July 29, 2010 4:52 PM
more than a day. surely pol posts more than 1 post a day!!!
toiletnet racist commedy continues.
"“While the West is hoodwinking Tamils with war crimes investigations, what takes place in the island in full swing with the abetment of those who abetted the war are development crimes, demographic crimes and cultural crimes to complete genocide. The balance tilted by the international community has now placed Eezham Tamils to face several armies: an occupying army, settlement army, a retrogressive cultural army and the ‘development army’."
"development crimes, demographic crimes and cultural crimes"
so development is a crime!!!
EI is DEMOGRAPHIC CRIME!!!!
multiculturalism is cultural crime!!!
these buggers have a twisted mentality.
hamburger farce jokers has won the case for compensation!!!!
it's a shame that police didn't release the CCTV footage.
Top military official: WikiLeaks founder may have 'blood' on his hands
didn't GR say the same thing about BOGUS reporters the same thing which the US alleges on GENUINE reporters??????
GR said, they have blood on their hands.
how prophetic!!!
now US top officials have copied it.
the only difference is THIS TIME IT'S TRUE!!
රජය පෙරළන්න කුමන්ත්රණය කළැයි හමුදාවේ
පිරිසකට එරෙහිව නීති උපදෙස් පතයි
සමන්ත ඉලේපෙරුම
නීත්යනුකූලව පත්වූ රජය කුමන්ත්රණයක් මගින් පෙරළීමට උත්සාහ කරන ලදැයි කියන සිද්ධියක් සම්බන්ධයෙන් සැකකාර හමුදා නිලධාරීන් පිරිසකට එරෙහිව නීති උපදෙස් ලබාගැනීමට කටයුතු යොදා ඇති බව අපරාධ පරීක්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව ඊයේ (29 වැනිදා) කොළඹ ප්රධාන මහෙස්ත්රාත් අධිකරණය වෙත වැඩිදුර වාර්තාවක් ගොනු කරමින් දැනුම් දුන්නේය.
කොළඹ ප්රධාන මහෙස්ත්රාත් රශ්මි සිංගප්පුලි මහතා හමුවේ සිද්ධියට අදාළ පැමිණිල්ල කැඳවනු ලැබූ අවස්ථාවේදී එසේ කියා සිටි අපරාධ පරික්ෂණ දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව මේ වන විට පැමිණිල්ලේ සියලු විමර්ශන උඨDත නීතිපතිවරයා වෙත යොමුකර ඇති බවත් ඒ සම්බන්ධයෙන් උපදේශයක් ලද වහාම අධිකරණයට කරුණු වාර්තා කිරීමට පියවර ගන්නා බවත් කියා සිටියේය.
මෙම සිද්ධියට අදාළ පැමිණිල්ලේ සැකකරුවන් ලෙස බ්රිගේඩියර් දුමින්ද කැප්පෙටිවලාන, මේජර් ජෙනරාල් උපාලි බණ්ඩාර එදිරිසිංහ, මේජර් ජෙනරාල් සුනිල් අමරවංශ ද සිල්වා, කපිතාන් සේනක හරිප්රියද සිල්වා සහ රුවන් වීරකෝන් නමැති අය නම් කර ඇති අතර සැකකාර කපිතාන් සේනක හරිප්රිය ද සිල්වා මේ වන තෙක් රක්ෂිත බන්ධනාගාර ගතකර ඇති අතර අනෙක් සැකකරුවන් සිවුදෙනා ඇප මත මුදා හැර ඇත.
ගොනු වූ කරුණු කෙරෙහි සැලකිලිමත්වූ මහෙස්ත්රාත්වරයා සිද්ධියට අදාළ පැමිණිල්ල සැප්තැම්බර් 30 වැනිදා යළි කැඳවන ලෙසත් එදිනට ගනු ලබන ඉදිරි පියවරයන් දැනුම් දෙන ලෙසත් නියෝග කළේය.
හිටපු යුද්ධ හමුදාපති පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්රී ජෙනරාල් සරත් ෆොන්සේකා මහතාගේ මැතිවරණ කාර්යාලය කේන්ද්රකොට ගනිමින් සිදු කළ මැතිවරණ ව්යාපාරය මගින් යම් අපරාධයක් හෝ රාජ්ය විරෝධී ක්රියාවක් සිදු කිරීමට සැලසුම් කරන ලදැයි කියනු ලබන සිද්ධියකට අදාළව මෙහි පරීක්ෂණ පැවැත්වේ.
Silent war continues... It is a war fought in public gatherings and one-on-one discussions. A war of information, fought with pen paper and laptop.
Jaya wewa.
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මේජර් ජනරාල් ප්රසන්න සිල්වා බ්රිතාන්යයට
කීර්ති වර්ණකුලසූරිය
බ්රිතාන්යයේ ශ්රී ලංකා මහකොමසාරිස් කාර්යාලයේ හමුදා කාර්ය භාර නිලධාරියා ලෙස මේජර් ජෙනරාල් ප්රසන්න සිල්වා පත් කර ඇත. ප්රසන්න සිල්වා පත් කිරීමට එරෙහිව බ්රිතාන්ය කොටි ජාලය විසින් ඇමරිකානු තානාපති කාර්යාලයට පෙත්සමක් භාරදී ඇතැයි ලන්ඩන් ආරංචි මාර්ග කියා සිටියි. මේ සම්බන්ධයෙන් ප්රකාශයක් කර ඇති බ්රිතාන්ය කොටි වෙබ් අඩවිය ප්රසන්න සිල්වා ලන්ඩනයට පැමිණියහොත් කොටි සමග සබඳකම් පැවැත්වූ ද්රවිඩයන් ගැන විමර්ශනය කරනු ඇතැයි දන්aවා තිබේ.
Is this possible? Where does the energy come from?
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නිවසේදීම විදුලිය නිෂ්පාදනය කළ හැකි
"නෙට්මීටරින්" හඳුන්වා දෙයි
ශිරාන් රණසිංහ
නිවසේදීම විදුලිය නිෂ්පාදනය කරගත හැකි "නෙට්මීටරින්" විදුලි පද්ධතිය බත්තරමුල්ල, දකුණ වටරවුම පාර 147 බී. ඒ. මහීපාල මාවතේ දී (27 වැනිදා) හඳුන්වා දෙනු ලැබීය.
විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති ඇමැති පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක මහතාගේ ප්රධානත්වයෙන් මෙම උත්සවය පැවැත්විණි.
මෙම නෙට්මීටරින් විදුලි පද්ධතිය මගින් අතිරික්ත විදුලියක් නිෂ්පාදනය කරන විට එය ලංකා විදුලිබල මණ්ඩලය මගින් මිලදී ගැනීමටත් අවශ්ය විටක ආපසු මණ්ඩලයෙන් විදුලිය ගැනීමටත් මෙමගින් අවස්ථාව ලැබේ.
විකල්ප බලශක්ති ප්රභවයත් ලෙස මෙය ජනතාව අතර ව්යාප්ත කිරීමට විදුලිබල හා බලශක්ති අමාත්යාංශය පියවර ගෙන ඇත.
this is quite interesting. the suggested solution is CRAP though.
from srilankaguardian.
"USA Fears Loss of Sri Lanka
by John Stanton
“Sri Lanka has been a friend and democratic partner of the United States since gaining independence in 1948 and has supported U.S. military operations overseas such as during the first Gulf War. Commercial contacts go back to 1787, when New England sailors first anchored in Sri Lanka’s harbors to engage in trade. Sri Lanka is strategically located at the nexus of maritime trading routes connecting Europe and the Middle East to China and the rest of Asia. It is directly in the middle of the ‘‘Old World,’’ where an estimated half of the world’s container ships transit the Indian Ocean. American interests in the region include securing energy resources from the Persian Gulf and maintaining the free flow of trade in the Indian Ocean.” Senate Foreign Relations Committee Report, 2009.
USA-India-China: Sri Lanka as Geopolitical/Economic Battlespace
For US policy makers and military planners, Sri Lanka has now become a top geopolitical priority. A sense of urgency is driving the grand brains in the White House and Pentagon to figure out how “not to lose Sri Lanka.” In short, that means an answer to the question, “How can we use Sri Lanka to further US national security interests in the Indian Ocean?”
“Friendly” economic competition (and the concomitant struggle for resources, markets, jobs) between the USA and China/India will inevitably move to military conflict at some future date. Why? There simply are not enough energy stores in the world to meet the needs of the three nations which, combined, make up 41 percent of the world’s population. And this excludes Indonesia and Brazil whom together make up just over 6 percent of the world’s population. The five nations make up 47 percent of the world’s population and their hunger for energy, raw materials, food, construction materials, “the better life”, is insatiable. All are pre-positioning for economic security which, of course, is an element of national security.
In State and Corporate governing circles within the five countries (USA, India, China, Indonesia, Brazil), there is a far graver threat to be dealt with: the prospect of restive populations revolting as their job prospects darken, social programs are cut, income inequality increases, and health/pension benefits become more restricted, even eliminated. Meanwhile, up above, the losing classes watch as their nation’s stock exchanges operate as though it’s business-as-usual. In this volatile environment, internal mass dissent/boycotts are, arguably, the number one threat to each nation’s security.
So where does Sri Lanka fit in?
“Indian threat perceptions have grown as China has become more active in South Asia. Sri Lanka is no exception,” said Maria Kuusisto of Eurasia Group in an interview with Kari Lispschutz of World Politics Review. “Chinese investment has expanded rapidly, including the strategically situated commercial deep-sea port in Hambantota -- which is [Sri Lankan] President Mahinda Rajapakse's home constituency -- and the two-phase coal power plant in Norochcholai. During the civil war in Sri Lanka, Beijing provided unconditional diplomatic, economic and military support to the Sri Lankan government, winning significant goodwill in Colombo. And China is now offering to provide financing and technical expertise to the Sri Lankan government, which is pursuing an aggressive, multi-million dollar reconstruction program. New Delhi sees this Chinese maneuvering as an incursion into its historic sphere of influence, and is consequently trying to outbid the Chinese for strategically important infrastructure projects.”
contd.......
....contd
While India and China solidify their relationships with Sri Lanka, the USA/West has had a muddled foreign policy that seems to always be fixated—no matter the region--on Iran and China. Writing in Future Directions International, Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe indicated that the European Union used the war crimes card following the defeat of the LTTE simply to punish Sri Lanka for its trade relations with Iran and China, not out of any great concern for human rights.
“Following the LTTE defeat in May, the EU sought to pursue a motion against Sri Lanka for war crimes investigations at the UN Human Rights Council, which collapsed when 29 countries of the 47-member council voted in solidarity with Sri Lanka. India itself came out strongly in support of Sri Lanka at the Council and later even criticized the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Commenting on Sri Lanka’s diplomatic feat, Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United Nations, Dayan Jayatillaka, said: ‘This is not a lesson that Sri Lanka taught the West. It is a victory of the developing countries and the global south. It was not a defeat of the Tiger Diaspora alone.
It was the defeat of a powerful bloc of forces. Geneva was a miniature diplomatic Dien Bien Phu or Bay of Pigs for the EU. The unfolding events earlier this year underscored the fact that Sri Lanka’s confrontation with the West, which has seen relations plummet to their lowest point since the 1970s, has had less to do with human rights and more to do with a fierce geopolitical struggle for influence. There is little doubt that Sri Lanka’s move to broaden relations with China and Iran, its rejection of Western demands in its internal affairs, the timing of its victory over the LTTE, and its acceptance in June 2009 as a Dialogue Partner to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) were crucial in influencing the West’s attempts to take punitive action against Sri Lanka — moves which served to further strengthen Sri Lanka’s relations with China.”
Senate Foreign Relations Report 2009: The Americans Are Coming! The Americans Are Coming!
The Sri Lanka Foundation (SLF) reports that former Sri Lankan military commander Sarath Fonseka was favored by the USA to win the Sri Lankan presidential election in 2010 over rival and current president Mahendra Rajapaksa. Fonseka was apparently awarded permanent residency in the USA, according to the SLF, and spent too much time hanging around Washington, DC during the LTTE conflict.
Fonseka is now charged with Criminal Breach of Trust by the Sri Lankan government under Sri Lanka’s Property Act.
Many Sri Lankans here in the USA and in Sri Lanka itself see Fonseka as a tool of the US government and Western interests. Others, of course, don’t.
The SLF derides the Senate Foreign Relations Report of 2009 (see link above, also known as The Kerry Report) as being the product of a dumbfounded US foreign/military policy establishment that was shocked when the Sri Lankan military defeated its LTTE nemesis. Their criticisms of US foreign policy practices (subterfuge, spreading money around via NGO’s, fanning the flames of class conflict) are certainly not without ample historical precedent.
The SLF views the purpose of the Kerry Report as this: “Their mission: to make recommendations to prevent further erosion of US security interests in the island and increase US leverage in Sri Lanka for securing longer term US strategic interests and expanding the number of tools available at Washington’s disposal.”
No problem there, that’s what the large nation’s do."
.......contd.
But then it gets very interesting. SLF goes on to say, “If the LTTE had succeeded, the US would have gained control of two thirds of Sri Lanka coastline, enabling them to secure Persian Gulf energy resources to Japan, interfere if and when the need arose, with the flow of these same resources to China, selectively interfere with free trade in the Indian Ocean, and undermine stability in India by provoking Tamil and Hindu sentiments in Tamil Nadu…To make matters worse, not only did President Rajapaksa destroy the cornerstone of US policy in the region [by defeat of the LTTE], but he was, as The Kerry Report identified, responsible for the country’s drift towards China (and the non-Western world), considered one of the biggest challengers to US hegemony of the world. All this threatens US national security interests, and President Rajapaksa is considered a threat to US National Security. US policy, the report states, has to be re-charted. A regime change is considered imperative: Rajapaksa must go.
The battle lines were drawn for January 26, 2010. The battle was not between Rajapaksa and Fonseka, but between Sri Lanka and the US. On May 18, 2009, Sri Lanka won a historic proxy war on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon, defeating the scourge of terrorism [LTTE] and the threat of neocolonialism. Election day was crucial – Sri Lankans had to defeat the neocolonialist if they were to protect their victory at Nanthikadal.
The sovereignty of Sri Lanka is being challenged and is at stake…”
With that in mind, it’s no wonder that Sri Lankan Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam (Cuba and Venezuela) urged Sri Lankans to study Latin American and USA relations. Writing in Why Latin America is Important for Sri Lanka she states, “Whereas the economic performance of China and India impress most observers in Sri Lanka and much of our efforts are focused on warding off attacks from our former colonial masters and their allies who continue to have a stake in this country, we have failed to grasp the significance of the history that is being written in Latin America. Sri Lanka cannot remain indifferent to this evolution."The quality of its international relations cannot be appreciated through the narrow vision of those who judge its good health solely through the state of relations with Western powers. Sri Lankan foreign policy must take into account the reality of a world that is changing and Latin America as constituting an important factor in that change.”
Become the Switzerland of the Indian Ocean
How can Sri Lanka—with 21 million people, just .3 percent of the global populace—rebuild and reunite its tattered country after 26 years of war and a Tsunmai, while at the same time avoid Faustian economic and military bargains with the world’s giant nation-states? Can its leaders avoid the lure of bribes (in any form), the sweetheart deals that will inevitably be forthcoming, and the trappings of power?
Can the Sri Lankan people calm the ethnic turbulence between (Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim) that has plagued it and develop a common national consciousness/identity?
Can Sri Lanka avoid getting tangled in the competition between the world’s largest nations that will only escalate in the future?
DeSilva-Ranasinghe made this observation. “So far, at least, Sri Lanka appears to have successfully balanced the competing interests of India and China.” He cited the commentary of a former Sri Lankan diplomat named Jayantha Dhanapala on the delicate balancing act.
“There are elements in America and India who would like to raise the China bogey…This is not a zero sum game where our relationship with China is at the expense of our relationship with India. We cleverly balanced the relationship.”
How long that relationship can be balanced remains to be seen.
"Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka rules against TCC injunction on Shakthi TV"
under a new law, anti-SL media should be confiscated and sold to a new operator.
this should apply to ALL businesses in SL.
that way we can,
1. get rid of anti-SL MFs
2. disrupt their finances
3. benefit pro-SL businessmen
4. stop the spread of anti-SL crap
4 birds in one stone!!!
Sujeewa
Nice boxes..
They make a whole lot of sense..
We have perfect democratic representation in Parliament in SL.
There are men, women, neithers (Mangala et al), and non-human/vampire (Ranil).
sam,
looks like an insurance fraud. and the need to "make a statement".
for whatever reason the 2 radio stations were not doing well.
this is what they do in such circumstances.
hooligan,
i think hooligans (hired by SOMEONE) attacked it.
hooligan = hooligan?????
TS,
according to LKY, SL is a democracy that doesn't perform (economically).
this type of democracies should not remain democratic just for the sake of being a democracy.
US fears loss of SL
i posted this yesterday.
apparently it appreared in PRAVDA - the russian govt news site.
the above link is from that.
now this means more undue attention. i'm sure the russians are keeping an eye on the region and that is why this has even made it to the news which would be otherwise totally useless and irrelevant.
where is pol?????
"Lets fight it out man to man, you and me, right here.
Lets debate and see who's ideas are incoherent.
If you have the guts dont delete my posts and lets debate until one has no more answers."
no point. how mant debates were there??? and in all you got DEFEATED.
blogger SU routed you with almost every word!!!!
so i think there is nothing more to debate about.
the best thing is parrot to start his own blog. we might visit it.
we even visit tamilnet on a regular basis!!!!
Parrot's invitation to "fight one-on-one" is nothing but an attempt tp hang around here. By pulling Ananda into it Parrot is trying to make sure that his shit comments will remain w/o being deleted.
Other than that, Parrot will behave like a parrot itself. Whatever logical point you try to cage into, he will move out suddenly and take the debate to elsewhere. In that way debate will run for weeks, and only parrot's loneliness will be cured in it.
Get a life Parrot.
TamilNET bemoans "Sinhala" development in the NE, while TECH (Tamil Eelam Consultancy House) tries to control NE development with Norwegian NGO Assistance!
While the CATS are away, the MICE are at play!
Have we not kicked out Norwegian NGOs from Sri Lanka yet?
...............
Development crimes, Norway and Tamil diaspora
[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 July 2010, 23:52 GMT]
“While the West is hoodwinking Tamils with war crimes investigations, what takes place in the island in full swing with the abetment of those who abetted the war are development crimes, demographic crimes and cultural crimes to complete genocide. The balance tilted by the international community has now placed Eezham Tamils to face several armies: an occupying army, settlement army, a retrogressive cultural army and the ‘development army’. Meanwhile, some Tamil individuals argue that diaspora should stop prioritising politics, but should ‘reconcile’ to subordination and engage in ‘rehabilitation’, without realising that it is they who have imperceptibly fallen into a vicious political agenda of the oppressors”, commented a social activist responding to ‘development’ circles in Norway advocating the diaspora to engage in ‘development’ accepting a questionable Sinhala NGO as the ‘monitor’.
Recently a Tamil diaspora team was enticed by some ‘development’ elements in Norway to undertake a visit to the island to explore ‘development’ of the North and East in collaboration with the Green Movement of Sri Lanka (GMSL), a Sinhala NGO of questionable political background.
“This was a landmark trip as this was the first time in the history of development interventions in the North East of Sri Lanka that the Tamil Diaspora Organizations had agreed to work with a Sri Lankan-based NGO to initiate development interventions in NESL”, said a report of this team that has returned from the visit.
“The Project Team is of the opinion that the GMSL will be a good partner to work with as they have the experience, expertise, network, resources and partnerships to help TECH Norway, TECH Germany, TECH Malaysia, FOKUS and The Development Fund [a Norwegian NGO] to implement projects on the ground in NESL”, the report further said.
Praising those who have arranged the collaboration, the report said: “Ms. Alice Ennals and Ms. Aina of The Development Fund had chosen well when they recommended that the Tamil Diaspora work with The Green Movement in development interventions in North East Sri Lanka”.
“GMSL took a big risk when they allowed the project team to travel by road along the A9 highway as this was the first time that approval had been given to foreigners to travel by road to Jaffna. GMSL can be the Task Force for development interventions in NESL as they have the support of the Government of Sri Lanka, hence accessing restricted areas, getting the Presidential Task Force approval and the Government Agent’s approval can be made easier and faster,” the report argues.
The project team proposes conceding monitoring responsibilities to GMSL. The Norwegian funding agencies earlier insisted that funds could be channelled only through NGOs recognised by them, such as the GMSL, for accounting purposes.
TECH, The Economic Consultancy House (also stands for Tamil Eelam Consultancy House) was the brainchild of an exceptional academic and technological genius of Eezham Tamils, the late Professor A. Thurairajah, who was a former vice chancellor of the University of Jaffna. TECH was envisaged to become the core development agency for the cause of Tamil Eelam.
Development crimes, Norway and Tamil diaspora
...............
Meanwhile the following is what progressive Sinhala political activists think of the Green Movement of Sri Lanka, which they shared with TamilNet:
“Green Movement is well connected to the Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU).
“The leader of the Green Movement is a person named Suranjan Kodithuwakku.
“He had been closely associated with Champika Ranawaka's (JHU leader) politics, at least since 90s, long before Champika formed the JHU.
“After the '89 [JVP] massacres, Champika formed his first political organization called "Janatha Mithuro" (friends of the people) in 1992. According to their official manifesto, 'Janatha Mithuro's ideology was supposed to be "Green Socialism". Green Movement's current leader Suranjan was a keen follower of Janatha Mithuro those days.
“Though no one can prove, Green Movement is a sort of unofficial front organization of the JHU. In fact the JHU has several such front organizations, though they do not accept it openly. For example, apart from the Green Movement, there is another one known as Balashakthi Sansadaya (Energy Forum), which is led by two other long-standing political colleagues of Champika Ranawaka from the '80s. (Asoka Abeygunawardane and Bandula Chandrasekara)
“One could easily see the common nature of all these organizations: both organizations (Green Movement and Energy Forum) are supposed to be working on environmental issues and until recently Champika was the minister of environmental affairs.
“The most important thing is this: After the JHU was officially formed in February 2004 as the successor of the Sihala Urumaya party, JHU officially appointed a group of people as the members of their advisory council. Green Movement's Suranjan Kodithuwakku is one of them. Energy Forum's Asoka Abeygunawardane is another one.
“Recently there was a news item in certain websites, saying that the Green Movement has decided to distance themselves from the JHU. The Green Movement wanted to spread the news that they are breaking away from the JHU. The whole drama seems to be a well planned one. If they didn't officially announce that they are distancing themselves from the JHU, the funding NGOs will have a problem in providing them with funds.
“One thing for sure: Suranjan Kodithuwwakku will never break away from Champika. They might be plotting to enter the Tamil areas under the pretext of environmentalist activism”.
TamilNet contacted Ms. Alice Ennals on her Norwegian organisation’s connections with the Green Movement. The following was the reply:
“Green Movement of Sri Lanka (GMSL) has been a partner of Development Fund (DF) for more than ten years, and play an important role as an environmental advocacy organization, in Sri Lanka and internationally. As the environment affects Sri Lankans across political, ethnic and geographical barriers, we are aware that GMSL interacts with a wide range of stakeholders in Sri Lanka.
“DF currently has 11 local partners in different parts of Sri Lanka, addressing all ethnic communities”.
It is learnt that the diaspora Project Team, convinced of the prospects of doing 'some thing' for the people in distress, has not only accepted dominating partnership of the GMSL but has also entered into collaboration with Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Task Force. During the whole visit it was under running advice by some in Norway.
Currently, the diaspora Project Team Leader from TECH Malaysia is to hold a Dialogue with Tamil Diaspora Organizations in Europe in August or September 2010.
TECH Norway, TECH Germany and TECH Malaysia to embark on a “communication exercise” where they work constructively towards gaining the support of Tamil Diaspora Groups towards development interventions in NESL, the report said.
Development crimes, Norway and Tamil diaspora
...............
The report begins with the usual faulty premises of the so-called developers that the 30 years war is over. But, any war can be over only with a peace treaty and with a political settlement is a universal fact.
The Tamil developers should have the backbone to ask what is the big idea in the West in asking Tamils to accept the domination of chauvinistic Sinhala elements in development without political solution.
Why paltry assistance to victims and political advantage to the oppressors who are denounced even by fellow Sinhalese?
Whether what is envisaged as ‘development’ is preparing the conquered to become a service community to the conquerors?
Is it worth for the diaspora to go after funding sources in the West that have no sense or sensibility to the emotional needs of the victims?
What genuine reconciliation of Eezham Tamils with Sinhalese could be achieved through Tamils conceding undue political advantage to a terrorist state that is incapable of perceiving and accommodating Nations in the island to bail it out from crimes, when the Sinhalese themselves denounce it?
But elements in the West seem to think that both ‘reconciliation’ and a dictatorship state favourable to their manoeuvrings are possible by making ‘defeated’ Tamils to work under the auspicious of the NGOs of the Mahinda Rajapaksa - JHU ilk.
Can’t we think of any thing other than falling prey to the usual game of the hierarchy of development brokers? A Sinhala NGO that received ‘aid’ to give food parcels to the camps has now built a three-storied building in a prime land in Jaffna from the money it ‘saved’.
Why can’t the diaspora think creatively in convincing the world of the need of reaching out its people in the island in alternative ways?
If the diaspora can’t think creatively and yet it wants to do ‘some thing’ for the suffering kith and kin let it give aid to them directly or even individually. The people at home are definitely creative enough to build themselves up without depending on the development brokers. Eezham Tamils have been doing that for ages and they can do it now too.
These are opinions heard in the diaspora circles that have long-standing commitment to the cause of Eezham Tamils.
Sri Lanka opens $1.5 bln port to outside investors
By Shihar Aneez
August 01, 2010
HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka on Sunday
said it would invite outside investors into its $1.5 billion
Hambantota port project, the keystone of a $6 billion post-war
infrastructure revitalisation drive.
The invitation for external investment will coincide with
the November opening of the port on Sri Lanka's southern coast,
along an ancient "Silk Road" trading route and one of the
world's biggest East-West shipping lanes.
The port and its accompanying services represent the single
largest investment option for foreign investors in Sri Lanka,
which is aiming to transform its economy after finally ending a
quarter-century separatist war in May 2009.
One option that is not on the table for outside investors is
the oil bunkering facility. Many have speculated China wants the
right to use the site as part of its "string of pearls" strategy
to expand its influence and maintain energy security.
"We will handle oil bunkering. We don't want to give it
outside. But bulk cargo handling, storage facility, warehouses,
transshipment, and all others are open for investments," Sri
Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Priyath Wickrama told Reuters.
About 30 investors -- primarily from India, China,
Singapore, Russia, the Middle East, Australia and major shipping
lines -- have expressed interest, Wickrama said. He did not
elaborate further.
CHINESE PEARL?
China, Sri Lanka's largest infrastructure lender, has loaned
$425 million toward the port, which will be Sri Lanka's largest.
"We are negotiating with China for an $800 million loan for
the second phase," Wickrama said.
Wickrama declined to say if China will have a role in
operating the bunkering facility, about which neighboring India
has expressed concern to the Sri Lankan government.
Political analysts say Sri Lanka has successfully managed
Indian pressure over the Chinese port investment, which could
also help transshipment trade on the subcontinent.
Hambantota is one of four ports being built or upgraded
under President Mahinda Rajapaksa's plans to renew the Indian
Ocean island nation's $42 billion economy by returning it to its
old and lucrative role as a trading hub.
Sri Lanka initially aims to get 2,500 of the 70,000 cargo
vessels that pass Hambantota annually to use its bunkering and
cargo handling facilities, and expand that to 8,000 a year once
the second phase is done in 2014.
Sri Lanka now handles around 6,000 ships annually in its
only port in Colombo on the western coast, which requires ships
plying the East-West shipping lanes to divert.
Initially, Hambantota will have 100,0000 metric tonnes of
bunkering capacity, which could be expanded to 4 million metric
tonnes if demand picks up.
(Writing by Bryson Hull; Editing by Michael Shields)
welcome back ananda! we feared the worst!!
"About 30 investors -- primarily from India, China,
Singapore, Russia, the Middle East, Australia and major shipping
lines -- have expressed interest"
outright reject indian, singaporean, major shipping lines, australian investors.
they cannot work with the chinese and that's the end of it. singapore and india have other interests.
ME should also be kept out.
china and russia are preferred investors. USA, EU investors are also acceptable but sadly they have not expressed enough interest.
Who needs this Nuclear Cooperation pact MORE, India or the US?
Note that India is STILL not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)!
...............
U.S., India formally sign nuclear reprocessing pact
Sat, Jul 31 05:04 PM
A guest holds the flags of the United States and India and a program as... Enlarge Photo A guest holds the flags of the United States and India and a program as...
The United States and India on Friday formally signed an agreement on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel that U.S. officials hope will allow American firms a share of India's $150 billion nuclear energy market.
The agreement, signed by U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns and Indian Ambassador to the United States H.E. Meera Shankar, will enable Indian reprocessing of U.S.-originated nuclear material under the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
It is part of the countries' 2008 bilateral civilian atomic pact that ended India's nuclear isolation after its 1974 atomic test. The pact gave India access to U.S. technology and fuel, while also opening up the global nuclear market to India.
"Increased civil nuclear trade with India will create thousands of new jobs for the U.S. economy while helping India to meet its rising energy needs in an environmentally responsible way by reducing the growth of carbon emissions," the U.S. State Department said in a press release.
The pact is expected to enter into force in early August. But a hurdle remains before U.S. firms are expected to begin participating in the Indian nuclear market.
U.S. firms are reluctant to do business in India without legislation that underwrites their compensation liability in the case of industrial accidents.
Legislation to limit nuclear firms' liability in the case of industrial accidents has stalled in the Indian parliament, though it has been cleared by the cabinet.
Opposition parties seek to put a maximum liability of about $450 million on the state-run reactor operator without placing any compensation burden on private suppliers and contractors.
India has offered to tender construction of two nuclear power plants, a business opportunity worth $10 billion, to U.S.-based firms such as General Electric Co and Westinghouse Electric Co, a subsidiary of Japan's Toshiba Corp.
But the liability issue has put U.S. firms at a competitive disadvantage over Russian and French firms whose accident liability is underwritten by their governments. The Russian and French have already been awarded contracts.
(Reporting by Corbett B. Daly; Editing by Jackie Frank)
Naval Deployment Puttalam commissioned as SLNS Thambapanni
Naval Deployment Puttalam, which was initially established on 28th December 2008, was ceremonially commissioned as Sri Lanka Naval Ship Thambapanni (SLNS Thambapanni ).
The Commissioning Warrant awarded by His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, was awarded to the Commanding Officer SLNS Thambapanni Commander JAJK Perera by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe at the commissioning ceremony held on 28th July 2010 organized under the patronage of Commander North Western Naval Area Rear Admiral Ruwan Dias.
Religious dignitaries in the area, Commander Western Naval Area, Commander North Central Naval Area, senior officers of the Naval Headquarters and the North-western Naval Command and senior service and government officers in the area were also present at the occasion.
The administration of nine Naval Detachments within the axis of 30 kilometers and the providing security for the Puttalam town are carried out by this Naval Base. Further, providing security for the Wilpattu National Park and the surrounding coastal belt, sea surveillance and assisting the fishing industry in the area are some of the prominent tasks assigned to the Naval personnel attached to newly-commissioned SLNS Thambapnni.
According to "Mahawamsa", the Great Chronicle, in 543 BC the first human settlement named "Thammana Nuwara" also known as "Thambapanni" which was built by the Prince Vijaya and the group after their arrival on the west coast in the island, is situated close to the new Base. Hence, it was named "Thambapanni".
Kurunegala special ceremony salutes fallen North Western province war heroes
Over 463 War Heroes of Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) of the North Western Province who made the supreme sacrifice in the war for peace were honoured and their dedication was remembered during a provincial War Hero commemoration ceremony at Kurunegala Maliyadeva Girls' College auditorium, Sunday (25) morning. The SLLI Regiment which had always been in the forefront in times of war and peace in Sri Lanka during the last three decades organized the event with a large number of War Hero family members in attendance.
Major General R.M.D Ratnayake, Chief of Staff of the Army and also the Colonel of the SLLI regiment attended the event as the chief guest. He was received on arrival by Major General Karunasekara, General Officer Commanding 53 Division and a host of senior officers of the SLLI Regiment at the venue including Brigadier DA Amunugama Commandant Infantry Training School, Brigadier KGHSK Embowa, Director 'Senehasa' Special School, Brigadier M. Mudalige, 234 Brigade Commander, Brigadier S. Perera General Officer Commanding 55 Division, Brigadier H.M.J.K Gunaratne Commander Task Force II, Brigadier W.D.L.P Wickramasinghe, Colonel of the Regiment Sri Lanka National Guard and Colonel J. Kodithuwakku, the Regimental Center Commandant of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry.
The day's ceremony commenced at the auditorium after observing one- minute silence by all in memory of the fallen War Heroes. Thereafter, the regimental anthem was sung, followed by presentation of a short TV documentary. At the end of the short film, there was a symbolic distribution of "Ranaviru Pranama" certificates to several next of kin of War Heroes in recognition of the supreme sacrifice of their much-loved sons, fathers or brothers.
Addressing the gathering, Major General R.M.D Ratnayake paid tribute to fallen Sri Lanka Light Infantry war heroes, their families and those who had turned disable in action during decades-long war against terrorism. Citing exemplary contributions made by people in Kurunegala and suburbs in the face of invasions even in ancient Sri Lanka during Portugese, Dutch and British colonial rules the chief guest lauded their invaluable sacrifices during recent humanitarian operations which brought peace and freedom to the motherland.
He also did not forget to remember the leadership provided by His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces towards the victory and emphazised that it is the duty of all country-loving citizens to share their part in the name of the motherland towards development of the country and peaceful co-existence among ethnicities. He added that the real honour to those valiant men could only be paid in that way.
Mrs. Damayanthi Ratnayake, President SLLI Seva Vanitha Unit, Mr. Nimal Chandrasiri, Mayor for Kurunegala, and senior government officials in the area were also among the guests.
Glad to have you guys back.
I was thinking of writing this before. What is your genuine thought over KP affair.
I agree that anyone can be used as anyway that is benefited for us. Karuna is the best answer. But KP guy, is a risky bugger and we may get a sweet return if we set him [wild and] free.
Obviously GOSL has not yet stated its official stand yet. I am going by the ha-ho of possible KP parden.
Interesting. We shud gather these voices together.
-------------
එල්.ටී.ටී.ඊ.යට එරෙහිව
රජය කළ යුද්ධය අපරාධයක් නොවේ
යුරෝපා කොමිසමේ මෙරට වැඩබලන ප්රධානි ගයි පැටන්
ශමීන්ද්ර ෆර්ඩිනැන්ඩ්ස්
එල්.ටී.ටී.ඊ.යට එරෙහිව ශ්රී ලංකා රජය සිදුකළ යුද්ධය අපරාධයක් නොවන බව යුරෝපා කොමිසමේ මෙරට වැඩබලන ප්රධානි ගයි පැටන් ප්රකාශ කර ඇත.
මෙරට ප්රශ්නය නිම කිරීම සඳහා සාකච්ඡාමය විසඳුමක් සඳහා එළඹෙන්නැයි යුරෝපා කොමිසම ප්රකාශ කළේ යුද්ධය නිසා වැනසෙන ජීවිත ප්රමාණය අඩු කිරීමට බව පැටන් සඳහන් කර ඇත. 2006 අගෝස්තු මාසයේදී යාපනයට පහරදීම සඳහා එල්. ටී. ටී. ඊ. ය කටයුතු කළේ හමුදාව කුපිත කළ නිසා නොවන බව පැටන් ප්රකාශ කර ඇත.
එල්. ටී. ටී. ඊ. ය යුද්ධය සඳහා සූදානම් වන බව එවක සටන් විරාම නිරීක්ෂණ කමිටු ප්රධානියා පවා ප්රකාශ කර තිබූ බව පැටන් මහතා සඳහන් කර ඇත.
Ananada, Moshey, Sam, Sujeewa, Konnappu,
Brothers, check your email.
Cheers,
OaO Asithri
Sujeewa
[What is your genuine thought over KP affair]
Methinks the GOSL is doing the right thingy.
Milk the bastard for the last drop of milk - the least he can do for all the grief he caused Motherlanka (from whose soil he was brought to life and nurtured).
After milking the bastard for the last drop of milk, well, the options are there I agree...
Methinks, personally, the bastard should be spared to live...yes, he should be protected from Dengue mosquitoes I say ;-)) ;-)) ;-))
Maybe he should be allowed to live the remaining days of his life in SL, under close watch.
WOW!!!
Yeah, I know some of you are saying this is not like OaOA...as typically OaOA's position would be you should milk every captured senior LTTE terrorist for the last drop of milk before Dengue mosquitoes do their natural deed on the miserable momma-fcuking wretch.
:)) :)) :))
OaO Asithri
SK
[Glad to have you guys back]
We never left.
We are here. We are there. We watch and we step into to castrate 'em terrorist whoredogs when we see 'em running amok in the civilized world.
:)) :)) :))
OaO Asithri
OAOA;
Bastard is said to be set wild and free. THAT is my only concern. As long as he is watched and blocked from leaving SL clutches, I give rat's care for what we do with him.
But the saying is that he will be made wild and free. Like that terra-journo-rightist Pissanayagam. P'gam was allowed to leave SL to US, and now he's free to do what he likes. P'gam is a tiny cockroach so I care little, but a free KP is more ferocious and threatening than him.
Birds of Eunuchs, thick together!
News News News!
[Mangala’s party to join UNP
Aug 2 (DM) SLFP (M) Leader MP Mangala Samaraweera will obtain the UNP membership on August 6 along with his supporters, political sources said yesterday.]
wow!
Why this late? We expected this long time ago uh?
Maybe this is the latest bulwark RW ponnaya has come up with, to assure his personal fortunes in the all but washed out UriNePee.
Maybe this is his last ounce of gunpowder to stop Sajith Prema camp from taking over the party?
hahahahaha...what fun!!!
Ponnayas running rampant!!!
No wonder the sane, patriotic-conscious (even marginally) masses think the Rajapakses are the reincarnation of the DUTUGAMUNU MAHARAJANO (with Eunuchs like these running the Opposition in SL!)
:)) :)) :))
OaO Asithri
SK
[Bastard is said to be set wild and free]
Not quite. At least the last I gathered.
The Bastard is "free" to a certain degree, but HELL NO, he will NOT leave SL.
He is allowed to use the phone (tapped of course) and he is allowed quite a bit of freedom of mobility, but that is all because he is canvassing on behalf of the GOSL asking the rabidly racist Tamileezam mommafcuker bitches/bastards abroad to give up - give up the fight for the mythical Tamizeezam state which will only come - if ever - in the year 5010 (per the last acceptable mathematical predictions).
OaO Asithri
News News News
[Survey says 65,000 homeless in Colombo
Aug 3 (CT) The number of the homeless in Colombo district stands at 65,000, a recent survey has found out.
Surely, there is a lesser number in the IDP camps now uh?
So, is it not more the reason why these holier than thou "human rights" champions like the US, EU, Canada, etc. started giving unconditional aid to SL to help with ALL of the SL masses?
Even now I see the USA is hung up on helping the "northern/eastern residents" and only them buggers!
Is this reverse discrimination or what?
This smacks of INTERNATIONALLY INSTITUTED RACISM I say!
Solution: GOSL must find a way to "divert" this aid back to the suffering people in the south (suffering not to any small degree due to 30 years of LTTE's horrific bombings/death/destruction of the South I say).
Moral of the post:
There is more ways than one to skin the cat.
:)) :)) :))
OaO Asithri
PolS
[So long as KP/Karuna/Pilliyan and others are skilfully being used to further Sri Lanka’s interests; i see no harm in it.]
Agree.
However, today the difference is Karuna/Pilliyan is a different kettle of fish and hence we must be cognizant of it and not upset the apple cart unnecessarily.
Karuna/Pilliyan, according to my info, have paid penance immensely for "choosing the bad path" earlier.
What they did the help the SLDF capture the East (with their intricate inside info of the terrain/demographics and outright providing of moles from the East's Tamil/Muslim population) and later their undercover "refugee" moles in the Vanni (including in the IDP Camps) is of immeasurable value to SL.
Today, largely they have decided to live in SL as "Sri Lankans" and have not stepped out of line.
As such, today in my view they deserve a cut-above-the-rest treatment when we talk of ex-LTTE whoredogs!
My personal views only - based on info. that I am sure is not out in the open.
OaO Asithri
Who Wants to be an Ambassador
WOW!
Some fcuking blog handle!!!
Anyway obviously-braindead poor sod...who the fcuk are you?
Did you just step out of a cave after a long slumber of 30 years?
LMSSAO!!! Truly LMSSAO!!!
Then again....are you who we used to know here as "Rana" "Parrot" "Pansilu" etc. whose mother's virtue was quite openly debated not long ago in this very forum - especially by yours truly OaOA with juicy detail uh?
hahahahahha...
How much fun it is to have an eccentric dog-tick visit the blog now and then!!!
Yes, I am still trying to figure out...what is the point of your new-handle and only post???
:)) :)) :))
OaO Asithri
"Survey says 65,000 homeless in Colombo"
if business opportunities can be found for them and other facilities in vanni, they will willingly settle there.
or given the tamil nadu colonization of colombo, no harm them settling in colombo itself. they too are IDPs as OAOA said!!!
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