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CB governor thumbs-up for economic prospects

MR denies coup attempt(Colombogazette.com)- Former PresidentMahinda Rajapaksahas denied allegationsthat he had attemptedto stage a coup toremain in power evenafter the January 8elections.In a media statementissued today, theformer President alsoexpresseddisappointment over

some comments made by President Maithripala Sirisena inPollonaruwa with regards to the alleged coup attempt.Rajapaksa says a media campaign has now been launchedto tarnish his image and that of his family by alleging thatthey were living a super luxury life at Temple Trees.“It is with deep regret that I state that I am not being allowedto spend my days in peace even after leaving office. Imagesof the interior of Temple Trees have been disseminated withthe insinuation that I and my family had ... CONT P13

Shirani Expected To Resign After Ceremonial Sitting:Sripavan To Be New CJ

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Disna Mudalige(dailynews.lk) Public HealthInspectors (PHIs) and Food andDrug Inspectors have beeninstructed to remove all stocks ofUS red apples in the market,Health Services Director GeneralDr. Palitha Maheepala said. Hesaid the order was made in thewake of contamination by aharmful bacterium in certainstocks of red apples importedfrom the US.The bacterium has been identifiedas Listeria monocytogenes, which

causes the infection Listeriosisthrough the consumption of foodcontaminated with the bacterium.Dr. Maheepala said severalconsignments of imported US redapples have been detained at theharbour. Members of the PHIUnion said about 2,000 PHIscountrywide have undertaken thetask of removing the red applesimported from the US, adding thatall suspected stocks would beremoved from the market byTuesday. About 2,000 PHIs countrywide have undertaken

the task of removing red apples imported from the US.Picture by A.S.M. Irshad, Colombo

Red apples off shelves

(dailymirror.lk) A 4-year-old girl child had fallen toher death from an apartment of the Havelock CityApartment Complex at Wellawatta last night, thePolice said. They said the child succumbed to herinjuries on being admitted to the Colombo SouthTeaching Hospital. Police said the child wasresident of Mabola and she had come to theWellawatta complex, where the sister of the child'smother was residing on the 11th floor apartmenttwo days before the incident. However, PoliceSpokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said the girl’s bodywas found from the 2nd floor of the buildingSaturday night.“Investigation would be carried out whether thechild was fallen from the apartment or it has anyother reason, however initial investigations haverevealed that the child and her nine-year old sisterwere at the apartment complex elevator before the

incident had happened and laterher sister had left from the elevatorwhile the child was inside,” SSPRohana said. According to theinitial investigations, the child hadbeen playing with her mother andher nine-year-old sister on thesecond floor of the building. Thechild had wanted a drink of water.The nine-year-old sister hadaccompanied her to the 11th floorin the lift in order to get the water.,On the 11th floor only the elder sister hadmanaged to get off and the lift had gone on to the22nd floor with the 4 year-old. Police believe thatwhen the lift door opened in the 22nd floor, the 4year-old child had come out and gone to look forher sister -- and while doing so fallen to her death.

Safeena

Girl child falls to her death

(ceylontoday.lk) Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamagetoday has ordered the Department ofImmigration and Emigration to temporarilyconfiscate Keerthi Samarasinghe from leavingthe country.

This order was issued following a request by theCriminal Investigations Department (CID). TheCID informed courts that 246 vehicles belongingto the Presidential Secretariat have not yet beenreturned and if Samarasinghe leaves the country

it would affect theinvestigations whichare being currentlyconducted.

Former presidential transport directorcan't leave the country

( ) Wife of former DIG VassGunawardene today lodged a complaint at theCommission to investigate allegations of Briberyand Corruption, local media reported. She said thecomplaint was regarding the former governmentand a gold deal which was revealed by herhusband. Speaking to the media after lodging thecomplaint she said that this racket involving goldbelonging to the treasury was being sold off wasrevealed during the time when her husband DIGVass Gunawardene was in charge of ColomboNorth. She added that it was army intelligence thatrevealed this racket. Pointing out that when herhusband was carrying out investigations she

alleged that DIG Anura Senanayake pressured herhusband to stop the investigations.She said that it was following this investigation thather husband and son were sent to prison onvarious allegations. Mrs. Gunawardene allegedthat death threats were levelled against her sonand herself by various groups who wanted them toremain silent. She also explained to the mediaafter she lodged the complaint that she decided toto come before the bribery commission since thenew administration came into power andrequested the public to reveal all information theyhave on irregularities, the former DIG VaasGunawardene instructed her to reveal everything.

sundaytimes.lk

Former DIG’s wife lodges complaint at Briberycommission over gold racket

Chaminda Perera in Pollonnaruwa

(Contd: on P4)

(dailynews.lk) A Ministerial Sub Committee is to beappointed at the next Cabinet meeting to look intoways of controlling kidney disease spreadingrapidly in the North Central Province and manyother districts, President Maithripala Sirisena said.The President added that this Sub Committee willobtain reports and recommendations of an ExpertCommittee specialised in different fields, in

controlling the disease. "We will take crucialdecisions with regard to the control of the diseasebased on views of this committee and the findingsof researches conducted earlier by variousinstitutes on kidney disease," he said.President Sirisena was speaking at the distributionof donations among kidney patients in thePolonnaruwa district on Monday.

Sub Committee on controlling kidney disease

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CID questions CJ(sundaytimes.lk) The Criminal InvestigationDepartment (CID) today recorded a statement fromChief Justice Mohan Peiris over complaint oninvolvement in conspiracy to coup on the election dayat Temple Trees, Minister. John Amaratunge said.Earlier a complain lodged by the Foreign Affairsminister Mangala Samaraweera alleged that the ChiefJustice was present at the Temple Trees on theelection day night.

When water contaminates…..

(nation.lk) The students of the Union School of Thelippalei in Jaffna stageda protest in front of the school agitating against the water contamination of

the area. (Pic by Wickrama Seneviratne, Vavuniya)

(sundaytimes.lk) Brigadier K.J Jayaweera,currently the Director, Directorate of Media at ArmyHeadquarters has been appointed temporarily asnew Military Spokesman, Director Training &Coordination and Spokesman-Media Centre,Ministry of Defence and Office of the Chief ofDefence Staff (OCDS) with immediate effect, inaddition to his present duties at the ArmyHeadquarters, the Army said in a statement.Former Military Spokesman, Brigadier RuwanWanigasooriya, who was holding above

appointments, has been attached to the ArmyHeadquarters with immediate effect.Brigadier Jayaweera as an infantryman of the SriLanka Light Infantry (SLLI) Regiment has activelycontributed to the Humanitarian Operations asInfantry Battalion Commander, BrigadeCommander and was the former CentreCommandant at the SLLI RegimentalHeadquarters before he took office as Director,Directorate of Media in August 2013.

Brig. K.J Jayaweera appointednew Military Spokesman

Bribery Commissionorders to seize passports

of Cabral and Sajin( ) The passports of FormerGovernor of Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabral andFormer Monitoring MP of the Ministry of ExternalAffairs Sajin De Vaas Gunawardena were orderedto be seized by the Bribery and CorruptionCommission, Government Information Departmentsaid.

sundaytimes.lk

(adaderana.lk) A court order has been obtained toprobe bank accounts of Colombo DistrictParliamentarian Duminda Silva, as drug kingpin‘Wela Sudha’ testified to the Criminal InvestigationDepartment (CID) he paid money to the politician,police Spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana said.“A court order has been obtained toinvestigate all bank accounts anddata registered under the name ofDuminda Silva. Further legalmeasures will be takenaccordingly,” said SSP Rohana.Wela Sudha, who was arrested inPakistan and later deported to SriLanka, has told the CIDinvestigation officers that he paid Rs. 2.5 million tothe Parliamentarian as a commission.The CID currently interrogates Wela Sudha under

a three months detention order on the details onhow he managed to carry out drug relatedoperations from Pakistan.Samantha Kumara alias Wele Suda was arrestedin Pakistan and brought to Sri Lanka, on 14January.

Wele Sudha fled the country, as theCID launched open inquiries into hisactivities in 2010. Wele Sudha’s wifewas taken into custody at theBandaranaike International Airport(BIA) and later enlarged on bail in2012. His assets including two luxuryapartments, two houses in BagatalleRoad, two houses in Pannipitiya and

Madiwela, 16 perches land in Dehiwala and 14perches in Nedimale had been confiscated by theColombo High Court.

(adaderana.lk) The Court of Appeal today noticedthe Attorney General to appear in the Court andsubmit an investigation report on one time LTTE’sarms procurement wing leader and‘international secretariat’Shanmugam KumaranTharmalingam alias KumaranPathmanathan (KP).The notice was issued when thepetition filed by the JanathaVimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was taken up forhearing before Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz andJustice Vijith Malalgoda.The respondents for the case include the ArmyCommander, Inspector General of Police, andcontroller of the Immigration and Emigration

Department.Petitioner’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperumacharged that Kumaran Pathmanathan has not

been prosecuted thus far, or conductedlegal proceedings against him.Pathmanathan was on Interpol’s mostwanted list for various charges includingarms smuggling and criminal conspiracy.He is also wanted by India’s lawenforcement agencies in connection with

the assassination of former Indian Prime MinisterRajiv Gandhi in 1991 and for violation of theTerrorist Act and the Indian Explosive Act.The case will be taken up for hearing again on 5February.

Text and pix by Ruzaik Farook(ft.lk) His Holiness Ash Sheikh Muhammad AlFassy Al Mackie Ash Shazuli son of His HolinessAsh Sheik Ajward Abdullah Al Fassy Al Mackie AshShazuli Baithul Fassy, Makkah Mukkarramah,Saudi Arabia Spiritual Leader of ShazuliyaThareeqa arrived in Sri Lanka to participate invarious religious programs.The Board of Management of the Ummu ZavayaMosque, New Moor Street, Colombo organised areception for His Holiness at the Mosque.Kallefathul Kulafa Moulavi J. Abdul Hameed,President of the Ummu Zavaya Mosque

Deshabandu Al Haj, Macki Hashim, ReligiousCommittee Chairman Al Haj Fawzan Anver andmembers of the Mosque welcomed His Holiness.His Holiness Ash Sheikh Muhammed Al Fassy AlMacki Ash Shazuli conducted Halara Majlis,Muzakkara and Duha at the Zavaya Mosque. Itwas held under the patronage of KaleefathulKulafa Moulavi J. Abdul Hameed (Bahji).Kaleefathul Kulafas, Muqqaddams, RaisulMuqqaddams, Ulamas, Iqwans of ShazuliyaThareeqa and Ajward Al Fassy Arabic CollegePrincipal and Student participated in the program.

Wela Sudha made payments to MP DumindaSilva- Police confirm

Petition against KP: Courts want AG’s report

His Holiness Ash Sheikh Muhammad Al FassyAl Mackie Ash Shazuli arrives

President's Son DahamSirisena leaves SL

President Maithripala Sirisena’sson Daham Sirisena has left for theUnited Kingdom for six months.Family sources said DahamSirisena left the country to pursuehis higher studies. Sirisena isreading a law degree in the UK. Hereturned to Sri Lanka in November,

last year, when his father announced candidatureto contest the presidential electionThe President’s son had left Colombo this morning,around 11 am.

World oldest barber shoplooks avenues to set upbusiness in Sri Lanka

Jan 23, 2015 (LBO) – Truefitt and Hill, world'soldest barber shop as certified by Guinness Bookof World Records in April 2000, wants to enter theSri Lanka market and set up shops across thecountry, the company said in a media release.The 200 year old barber shop is operating outletsin Beijing, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok andMumbai in Asia.The company said they are keen to be part of SriLanka's luxury goods market and is presentlylooking for partners in Sri Lanka to spread theirbusiness. “We are a royal warrant holder and haveattended to the men in the royal family of Britain fornine consecutive reigns,” the company was quotedin the release.“Sri Lanka has a huge luxury market and we arethe most prestigious barber shop in the world.”

Sub Committeefrom P2Over 1,000 kidney patients received donationsfrom the President at the ceremony held at thePolonnaruwa Buddhi Mandapaya.President Sirisena stressed that the governmentwill not bow down to multinational companieswhen decisions are taken for the control of thisdisease.He added that the government will take everypossible effort to prevent the spread of the kidneydisease."We will show no hesitation in taking any step tocontrol this disease," he added.The President said the government will provide allfacilities including medicine and medicalequipment to government hospitals to treat kidneypatients soon. President Sirisena said prominencewill be given for the prevention of kidney diseasespreading fast in many districts.He added that a number of organisationsincluding several universities, the World HealthOrganization and Health Ministry research unitsconducted research on the cause of kidneydisease spreading in the North Central Provinceand many other districts."These research teamsfound that substancescontained in agro chemicalswhich are harmful to thehuman body, are the maincause for kidney diseasesamong other reasons."The President added thatthe previous governmentfailed to take any action tocontrol the high prevalenceof kidney diseases in thecountry, though a number of

decisions were taken at various times to draw thegovernment's attention towards it. "The reluctanceon the part of the previous government to giveprominence towards the control of the kidneydisease led to an increase in the number patientsin the North Central Province, Kurunegala ,Hambantota and many other districts and thesepatients became helpless," he said.Social Services and Welfare Minister P. Harrison,Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake andParliamentarian Chandrasiri Sooriyaarachchi werealso present.

Sri Lanka to findbillions of dollars

hidden abroadJan 23, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka government toget assistance from the International MonetaryFund (IMF), World Bank and Reserve Bank ofIndia to track down wealth which hidden abroadbelongs to the key persons of the formergovernment, cabinet spokesman said.Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said thegovernment had information of the people whohad hidden "billions of dollars" in foreignaccounts.Senaratne said Island lacks the expertise totrack down and investigate the assets hiddenand it was needed to get the help form IMF andWorld Bank expertise.Government has also appointed a committee toinvestigate alleged financial misdeeds andcorruption of the former government.Power minister Patali Ranawaka said inaccording to repot by the Moratuwa University,Colombo about 200 billion rupees of money hasbeen siphoned away from recent roaddevelopment projects in 2013.He said according to the calculation by ministerabout 700 billion rupees of money has beendrawn off from house and other developmentprojects.

Mohan Peiris goes tothe police

(colombogazette.com) Chief Justice MohanPeiris today filed a complaint with the police,alleging that he was threatened by a group of

people last night.Police SpokespersonSSP Ajith Rohana saidthat the Chief Justicehad lodged thecomplaint alleging thatthe group includingProvincial CouncilorAzath Sally had..

(contd: on P6)




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(adaderana.lk) Senior DIG in charge of WesternProvince Anura Senanayake has been transferredto serve as the Senior DIG of Police Headquarterswhile Northern Province Senior DIG PujithaJayasundara has been appointed as WesternProvince Senior DIG.Sabaragamuwa Province Senior DIG LalithJayasinghe has been transferred to the post ofNorthern Province Senior DIG while SothernProvince Senior DIG C.D. Wickramaratna hasbeen appointed as the Sabaragamuwa ProvinceSenior DIG.

Eastern Province Senior DIG NandanaMunasinghe has been transferred to serve as theActing Senior DIG in charge of Uva Province.Meanwhile the Deputy Inspector General of Police(DIG) in charge of Jaffna District RaviWaidyalankara has been transferred to PoliceHeadquarters for special duty.The transfers were made on exigencies of theservice with approval from the Secretary to theMinistry of Public Order, Disaster Management &Christian Affairs.

(asianmirror.lk) Asian Mirror can now reveal thatsix Defender jeeps and a group of 'mercenaries'attached to Avant-Garde private security firmshave been used by top echelons of the formergovernment for 'election operations' on January 06and 07.The sources from the Ops room which operated at'Sirikotha', the UNP headquarters, said that the sixDefenders and mercenaries left Colombo in themorning of January 06. Two of the jeeps were sentto Moneragala, two to Kundasale on January 06itself. The other two jeeps were seen in theBeruwala area on January 07.Leaders of the UPFA, who led the party'scampaign in aforesaid areas, were fully aware ofthe movements of defender jeeps andmercenaries, highly placed defence sources toldAsian Mirror.The mercenaries of the private security firm wereclad in a military-like uniform, giving theimpression that they belonged to the Sri Lankanarmed forces.Although the members of the Sirikotha Ops roomhad informed the security forces of the movementsof Avant-Garde vehicles, they had failed toinvestigate into the matter.Even after the election, they said, the

investigations into the company's involvement in'election operations' have been 'blocked' by anunseen hand.The Colombo Chief Magistrate has alreadyordered the Police to seize the passport of Avant-Garde Security Services Chairman Maj. NissankaYapa Senadhipath, preventing him leaving thecountry. The order was made upon a requestmade by teh Criminal Investigations Department(CID) which is conducting inquiries into the floatingarmory near Galle Harbour, belonging to AvantGarde security firm.Avant-Garde, according to Police, was granted thefloating armory contract by Rakna Lanka, thecontroversial security firm operating under theDefence Ministry.

First visit by an Indian PM in 28 years

(ft.lk) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi willarrive in Sri Lanka on 14 March for atwo-day state visit, diplomatic sourcestold Daily FT.Prime Minister Modi will be the firstIndian leader to undertake a state visit toSri Lanka since Rajiv Gandhi in 1987.Indian Premiers have since visited SriLanka only for Multi-lateral meetings,such as SAARC.The Indian Prime Minister will be in the island forhigh level meetings on 14-15 March, Daily FT

learns.The Indian Premier’s visit will take place exactlyone month after President Maithripala Sirisenatravels to New Delhi on 16-19 February, for his first

foreign visit since assuming office.The new Sri Lankan administration haspledged to “reset” relations with NewDelhi that had soured somewhat underPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa whorepeatedly attempted to use China’sgrowing influence in the island asleverage with India. President Sirisenaand Prime Minister Wickremesinghe

have indicated they seek to restore theequilibrium.

By Dharisha Bastians

Six Avant Garde Defender Jeeps and 'Mercenaries'used in 72 hour Pre-Election operation

Modi here on 14-15 March

Six Senior DIGs shuffled

Mohanfrom P4threatened him to resign from his postimmediately. “We will investigate intothe complaint,” SSP Rohana said.Meanwhile, lawyers and civil societyorganizations staged a large protestoutside the Supreme Court in Colombotoday demanding the resignation of theChief Justice.

The protestors also warned thatprotests will continue outside thecountry’s Supreme Court pushing forthe Chief Justice to resign.The government had been innegotiations with the Chief Justice tohand him a diplomatic posting in orderto resolve the matter amicably after thelatter had demanded for such a postingin exchange for his resignation.(Colombo Gazette)

Ishara Mudugamuwa( ) The government has taken up animportant task to ensure that there is rule of law,and peace and harmony among variouscommunities, by appointing religious affairsministers who believe in their particular religion,Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence MalcolmCardinal Ranjith said.He was addressing a ceremony to mark thecommencement of work of Public Peace, DisasterManagement and Christian Religious AffairsMinister John Amaratunga at the Archbishop'sHouse, Borella Monday.The Archbishop said a situation existed beforewhere minority religious communities were feelingsomewhat ineffectual because of the activities ofsome of the extremist groups in the country.“It is good to see that different ministries are givento those who believe in their particular religion,which is important. The value of their particularreligion is understood only by a person whobelieves in that religion.Therefore, the government has allocated theBuddhasasana Ministry to a Buddhist, HinduReligious Affairs Ministry to a Hindu, MuslimReligious Affairs to a Muslim and ChristianReligious Affairs to a practicing Catholic,” he said.He said: "We cannot have rule of law, disciplineand harmony among communities unless a person

practices religion. A person is aimless withouthumanity and religion.""We know that our life is not an eternal existence.We live on earth for a short period. We must live inhappiness and unity with others, placing trust andconfidence among one another.To develop a country, there must be harmony andpeace, understanding among various people;those belonging to different religions, havingdifferent ideologies and belonging to variousclasses in society,” he said.The Archbishop also said it is essential to haveself-respect and dignity while respecting oneanother. This has been stressed by his HolinessPope Francis during his visit to Sri Lanka.People of different teachings and cultures must co-exist and respect each other. That is the beauty ofa country such as ours, he said.“It is important for Christian and other religiouscommunities to be integrated and have goodrelations maintained. As such, Sri Lanka canbecome one country with one heart,” he said.Public Peace, Disaster Management and ChristianReligious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga saidhis ministry will ensure spiritual and physicaldevelopment of 8.5 percent of the Catholic peopleand 1.4 percent of the Christian people in thecountry and solve their problems.“Special attention will be given to improve Catholic

education and solve problems faced by Catholicschools. It is also expected to ensure the rights ofCatholic people," the minister said."I will work in collaboration with the EducationMinistry and Provincial Education Ministries toensure the rights of Catholic children studying ingovernment schools, provide government teachersfor Catholic education and maintain the percentageof Catholic children in state-owned Catholic

schools,” he said.

He also emphasized the necessity of protectingreligious places without letting religious extremistsdestroy them.Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka Archbishop PierreNguyen Van Tot, Archbishops, Rev Fathers,Brothers, Sisters, Ministry Secretary T. M. K. B.Tennakoon, State Minister for Children's AffairsRosy Senanayake, Parliamentarian SarathKumara Gunaratne and others participated.

dailynews.lk

Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Minister John Amaratunga andothers participating in reliogious observances. Picture by Kelum Liyanage

Archbishop calls for religious amity

( ) The ruling coalition has reachedconsensus on the proposed constitutionalamendment that will primarily seek to introduce adual executive system of governance and on the re-instating of the independent commissions, politicalsources said yesterday.The proposed formula will be presented inParliament early next month to be discussed withthe main opposition.A special committee, comprising PresidentMaithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe and representatives of otherparties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA),the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the JanathaVimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has worked out theseconstitutional proposals.In the event that these constitutional reforms areenacted, President Sirisena will remain as the Headof State, but with reduced powers. He will retain thedefence portfolio and the power to appointment

provincial governors and on several other subjectsincluding that of appointing the heads of Sri Lanka’sdiplomatic missions abroad.According to political sources, the Prime Ministerwill be the Head of the Cabinet thus making it a dualexecutive system of governance.The appointment of members to the independentcommissions will be done by a committeecomprising the Speaker, the Prime Minister, theOpposition Leader, five members nominated by thePrime Minister and the Opposition Leader, and therepresentative nominated by minor parties. In thisexercise, the Prime Minister and the OppositionLeader will be authorized to appoint their fivenominees based on Sri Lanka’s professional andsocial diversity, rather than on ethnic diversity.A similar system existed under the 17th Amendmentto the Constitution. But, it was scrapped with theenactment of the 18th Amendment. (KelumBandara)

dailymirror.lk

(colombogazette.com) The passport of formerSports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage hasbeen impounded following an order issued by theCommission to Investigate Allegations of Briberyand Corruption.The Commission had instructed the immigration

and emigration department toimpound the passport of theformer Minister for three monthsin order to conduct investigationsover allegations raised againsthim. (Colombo Gazette)

Ex Minister can’t leave Sri Lanka

( ) PresidentMaithripala Sirisena hasappointed veteran mediapersonality DharmasriBandara Ekanayake asMedia Director to thePresident. He received hisletter of appointment from thePresident, yesterday.

Ekanayake, a product of the Ibbagamuwa CentralCollege, is a diploma holder in Journalism from Sri

Jayawardenepura University and had served theSirasa media network prior to being appointedPresident's Media Director.He entered the news field as a reporter in 1995and has worked as a News Editor and ProgramDirector. He has also a wealth of experienceworking as a BBC reporter in Indonesia, andproducer.He has also followed the Foundation Diploma inInvestigative Journalism sponsored by theAmerican State Department.

dailynews.lk

Dual Executive System

Dharmasri Bandara Ekanayake, President'sMedia Director




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( ) Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) and several other parties in Tamil Naduyesterday welcomed the announcement madeby newly-elected Sri Lankan Government that itwould implement India-backed 13th Amendmentto the Constitution on devolution of power toachieve reconciliation with the minority Tamilcommunity in the island nation.Expressing joy over Sri Lankan Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe’s statement on the issueyesterday in Lankan Parliament, DMK PresidentM Karunanidhi said it had given a “hugeconfidence to the world of Tamils”.“The new regime should expeditiouslyimplement these assurances, they should comeforward to do whatever is needed for Tamilsthere and resolve issues through dialogue,” hesaid in a statement here.CPM State Secretary Ramakrishnan welcomedthe announcement and said the new regimeshould implement it and resolutely overcomedifficulties if any.Also, events like appointment of a new governorfor Northern Province were good tidings forTamils besides the 13th amendment, he said.CPI State Secretary D Pandian said, “We

welcome it with expectations.” Stating that suchan announcement had been made for the firsttime, he said it opened a new door of hope forminority Tamils there.“It is a good beginning. We need to wait and seewhat kind of power will be devolved.”Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President E VK S Elangovan thanked Wickremesinghe andhoped that the Lankan leader will take steps toimplement it.“I have confidence and hope that Tamils will beable to live a peaceful life.”Wickremesinghe had said the 13th amendment,an outcome of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord ofJuly 1987 inked by then Indian Prime MinisterRajiv Gandhi and then Sri Lankan President J RJayewardene, would be implemented “withinLanka’s unitary framework.”That was his first address to Parliament afterMaithripala Sirisena assumed office asPresident after trouncing Mahinda Rajapaksa inthe January 8 elections.The pact, besides other things, envisagesdevolution of powers to the provinces andsuccessive Indian governments at have beenpersuading Sri Lanka to implement it. (PTI)

sundaytimes.lk

New headsfor state media

(sundaytimes.lk) The following newappointments were made to state mediainstitutions, the government news portalreported.Prof. D.G.Dissanayake – Chairman,Independent Television Network Ltd.(ITN)Danushka Ramanayake has been appointedas Working Director of ITNMr.N.Muruttettuwegama – Chairman, SriLanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)Prof. M.Sunil Shantha -Director General, SriLanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC)Mr.Sunil Wagaarachchi – Editorial Director ofAssociated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.(ANCL)

TN parties hail Lanka’s stand on 13th Amendment

(ft.lk) The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) says itwill contest the next general elections under theleadership of President Maithripala Sirisena, whois the party Chairman.Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala deSilva told reporters in Kandyyesterday that the SLFP will gathersupport to work with Sirisena at thepolls. He said that the SLFP hadalready decided to support PresidentMaithripala Sirisena’s 100-dayprogram in Parliament.The Opposition Leader said that, at the same time,the Opposition will also raise a voice against themistakes being made by the Government,including post election violence.He said that despite the instructions issued by thePresident, post-election violence is still takingplace with SLFP members the target of suchviolence. Nimal Siripala de Silva said that theissue of post-election violence will also be raisedin Parliament by the Opposition in order to drawmore attention from the Government.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader said that thedraft proposals of the Government forconstitutional changes have not yet been shared

with the Opposition.He said that once those proposals areshared, the Opposition will carefullystudy it and support it if it does not dividethe country.The Opposition Leader said that theSLFP backs constitutional reforms but itwill discuss the issue with otherOpposition political parties and seek a

consensus on such reforms, including on theExecutive Presidential system. “We will look atreaching decisions which are best for the countryand not an individual,” he said. On the allegationsraised against some members of the formerGovernment, Nimal Siripala de Silva said that ifthe allegations are backed with evidence thenthose SLFP members will be removed from theparty. (Colombo Gazette)

SLFP restructures withnew appointments

(ft.lk) Former Ministers S.B. Dissanayaka andMahinda Yapa Abeywardena have beenappointed as new Vice Chairmen of SLFPwhile Dilan Perera and MahindaSamarasinghe have been appointed as newDeputy Secretaries, party sources said.The appointments were made at SLFPCentral Committee which met on Friday at theSLFP Head Quarters.

(ft.lk) The US had talks with State Minister ofDefence Ruwan Wijewardene at the DefenceMinistry in Colombo yesterday,the Defence Ministry said.Discussions took place whenthe Charge d’ Affaires of theUS Embassy in Sri LankaAndrew Mann paid a courtesycall on Wijewardene.During the meeting, cordialdiscussions were held onmatters of bilateral importanceand mutual relevance.

Wijewardene presented a memento to Mann tomark the occasion.

(colombogazette.com) The government has calledfor an investigation into an alleged attempt byformer Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa tocreate instability in the country over the next threemonths.Cabinet Spokesperson and Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne said that documents related tothe alleged attempt were handed over tothe National Executive Council.“Gotabaya Rajapaksa still has hopes totopple this government. Therefore Iinformed the National Executive Councilto look into this matter as soon aspossible,” the Minister said.Senaratne further alleged that more than400 military officials were also being trained at anarmy base in the North under directions from anArmy Brigadier, who is an ally of the formerDefence Secretary, in an attempt to create a freshcrisis situation in the north, and take advantage ofit.

“We will not allow this to happen especially whenthis government is dedicated to take this nationforward and implement its 100 day policy,” theMinister said.Soon after its victory at the January 8 PresidentialElections, the government lodged a complaint atthe Criminal Investigations Department, alleging

that the previous government hadattempted to stage a coup.Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweerawho lodged the complaint stated thatformer President Mahinda Rajapakse,his brother and Defence SecretaryGotabaya Rajapakse, Chief JusticeMohan Peiris, former Foreign Minister

G.L. Peiris and former government member UdayaGammanpila had tried to attempt a coup andimpose a state of emergency and continue inoffice by unlawful and illegal means with the helpof the military. (Colombo Gazette)

US Charge d’ Affairs calls on StateDefense Minister

By Milan Lu(eylontoday.lk) Joseph Vaz College Wennapuwa isgearing up for a historic re-launch. The largestcatholic national school in Sri Lanka will be holdingtheir annual Joseph Vaz Feast and School Day on31 January. It is the first School Day and Feastsince the canonization of blessed Joseph Vaz intosainthood.Joseph Vaz College was founded bythe Marist Brothers. The schoolbuilding was declared open on 3September 1934 and official schoolactivities were conducted from 10September 1934 onwards. It is thefirst catholic institution to be named after Fr.Joseph Vaz as all other institutions were normallynamed after saints. Although Fr. Jospeh Vaz hadcontributed immensely to the Catholics in SriLanka, and had even been awarded the title ofDevadasa Keerthi Sri Abhaya Muni Lanka Puthra

by King Wimaladharmasooriya, no other institutionhad been named after him. It is believed that oneof the five Marist Brothers who arrived in SriLanka, Brother Anthony, became the principal of aschool in Wennappuwa. He was an educated manwho had studied many languages. During hisresearch into the apostolic services in Sri Lanka

he came across the biography of Fr.Joseph Vaz.Inspired by Fr. Joseph Vaz's immenseselflessness and spirituality, hesuggested that the newly build schoolshould be named after him.For the school that just turned 81

years, Fr. P.D. Priyanjeewa Gunarathne, Principal,says the canonization of Saint Joseph Vaz is thegreatest gift that the school could have received.In commemoration of the canonization, JosephVaz College will be renaming their school to SaintJoseph Vaz College on 31 January.

Honouring a saint

(ft.lk) Sharanyan Sharma has won the Sri LankaYoung Entrepreneur of the Year Award in theNorthern Province, at the annual competitionorganised by the Federation of Chambers ofCommerce and Industry.He is a young entrepreneur who has achievednational- and regional-level achievements whileoperating from Vavuniya, a once war-tornnorthern town in Sri Lanka.He started his own venture, extreme-seo.net, in2006 from scratch and is now providingemployment to more than 60 people in Vavuniyaand more than 45 people globally.He participated as a country delegate at theCommonwealth Asia Alliance of YoungEntrepreneurs (CAAYE) Summit in Mumbai, anoccasion which is regarded as one of the mostpopular networking events for youngentrepreneurs. He also won the award for‘Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Sri Lanka –2013’ at the Asia Pacific EntrepreneurshipAwards (APEA) in Sri Lanka.

Sharanyan Sharma with the Chairman of theFederation of Chambers of Commerce and

Industry of Sri Lanka Ajith Wattuhewa at theSeasons Hotel in Kurunegala

(colombogazette.com) Australia’s highest court onWednesday narrowly ruled that Australia actedlegally when it held 157 Sri Lankan asylumseekers at sea for almost a month last year, theAssociated Press reported.The High Court judges voted 4-3 to reject a claimfor damages for false imprisonment by one of theethnic Tamils held aboard an Australian customsvessel in the Indian Ocean.Lawyers for the Sri Lankans had hoped that a winwould have also challenged the legality of theAustralian policy of turning back asylum seekerboats to Indonesia.The 157 Tamil men, women and children had leftthe southeast Indian port of Pondicherry in anIndian-flagged ship in late June and wereintercepted by the customs vessel.

They spent weeks aboard the vessel before theywere transferred to the remote Curtin DetentionCenter in Western Australia state on July 27, afterIndia agreed to consider taking them back.However, the Sri Lankans refused to meet withIndian officials and were flown to an immigrationdetention camp that Australia runs on the Pacificisland nation on Nauru.According to the U.N., more than 100,000 Tamilcivilians fled to India to escape fighting betweenSri Lanka’s government forces and the nowdefeated Tamil Tiger rebels, who had been fightingfor an independent homeland since 1983.Australia enforces a tough policy of refusing toresettle refugees who attempt to reach the countryby boat.

Australia acted legally on Tamils

SLFP will contest under Sirisena says Nimal

Probe on Gota’s alleged attempt

Sharanyan wins young entrepreneur awardfor Northern Province




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(adaderana.lk) Prof. Nalin De Silva has resignedas a member of the University Grants Commission(UGC), citing that he can no longer continue toserve in the position while protecting his self-respect.In his letter of resignation addressed to thePresidential Secretariat, Professor De Silva, whowas appointed as a UGC member by formerPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa in June last year,says that he had strived for the past 6 months toprotect free education, improve it and also topromote indigenous knowledge.

However, he says that achange in the situationoccurred whenMaithripala Sirisena wassworn in as the Presidentof Sri Lanka on January09.“A situation has risen where I can no longer holdmembership in the University Grants Commissionwhile protecting my self-respect,” he said, in theletter.

By Shamindra Ferdinando(island.lk) Justice Minister WijeyadasaRajapakshe, PC, yesterday called for tangiblemeasures to guarantee the safety and security ofthose in police/judicial custody.Minister Rajapakshe said that the new governmentwas determined to prevent deaths of suspects andconvicts in custody.The PC was responding to a query by The Islandwhether he would discuss with the police waysand means to ensure those in custody didn’t die incontroversial circumstances, while being taken tovarious locations purportedly in connection withinvestigations.The minister said that he would take it upwith Public Security, Christian ReligiousAffairs and Disaster Management MinisterJohn Amaratunga.Minister Rajapakshe said that deaths incustody whatever the reasons andcircumstances might bring the countryunder international scrutiny.Civil society organisations, too, would beinvolved in a process meant to safeguardthe interests of those in custody, theminister said, adding that the countrycouldn’t turn a blind eye to what was goingon. "The bottom line is that a death in custody isnot acceptable. Therefore, the new governmentwill work rapidly towards having a mechanism toprevent any untoward incident."Responding to another query, the Minister saidthat the previous government hadn’t investigatedany of those cases though the then Opposition,the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), civilsociety organizations as well as some members ofthe international community expressed theirconcern.The minister pointed out that suspects in many

high profile cases had died in mysteriouscircumstances over the past several years.Minister Rajapakshe said that the circumstancesunder which the then government quelled a riot atWelikada prison during the second week ofNovember, 2012, too, would be investigated,though that couldn’t be compared with individualcases of deaths in police custody.The PC alleged that a three-member committeethat inquired into Welikada riot had patheticallyfailed in its duty. The Welikada riot claimed thelives of 27 prisoners while 20 received injuries.Several police commandos including its former

chief, DIG Ranawana, received injuries.Asked whether he was seeking a freshinquiry, Minister Rajapakshe said that theprobe conducted by the previousgovernment was not acceptable. As theinvestigation conducted by retiredSupreme Court judge Bandula Atapattu(Chairman of the Committee), retired DIG,who is also an attorney-at-law GunasenaThenabadu and senior lawyer Lalitha P.Andrahennadi attached to the thenministry of Rehabilitation and PrisonsReforms hadn’t been satisfactory, a newthree-member team would undertake a

comprehensive inquiry. The team comprisesretired Supreme Court judge Wimal Nambuwasam(Chairman), retired DIG Asoka Wijetilleke andretired administrative official attorney-at-law S.K.Liyanage.Outgoing President of the BASL Upul Jayasuriyatold The Island that action should be taken toensure safety and security of those in custody. Theissue had been raised on many occasions and itwould be the responsibility of the new governmentto inquire into past incidents and take adequatemeasures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Govt. to tackle deaths in police, judicialcustody - Justice Minister

Prof. Nalin De Silva resigns from UGC

(colombogazette.com) Defence Secretary B M UD Basnayakee has ordered the Navy Commanderto launch a full scale inquiry as to how a memberof the former first family joined theNavy and received scholarships tostudy at a prestigious Naval Collegeoverseas.The order was given after the JanathaVimukthi Peramuna (JVP) raised theissue with the Defence Secretary todayand questioned as to how YoshithaRajapakse, second son of formerPresident Mahinda Rajapakse joinedthe Sri Lanka Navy and received ascholarship to study at the Britannia Royal NavalCollege in the United Kingdom.

JVP Member of the Western Provincial Council Dr.Nalinda Jayatissa said that the Defence Secretaryhad accepted their complaint and assured a

speedy investigation.“We expect a good result within aweek. The Defence Secretary hasinformer the Navy Commander toinquire into the matter,” Dr. Jayatissasaid.Yoshitha Rajapakse joined the Navy in2006 as a cadet officer and receivedhis basic training at the Naval andMaritime Academy where he waspromoted to midshipmen and

appointed aide-de-camp to his father thePresident. (Colombo Gazette)

Navy ordered to probe Yoshitha

29 diplomats recalled( ) Some 29 diplomats who werepolitical appointees have been recalled withimmediate effect.A spokesperson for the Ministry of ExternalAffairs confirmed that the process for recallingpolitical appointees in the diplomatic servicehas commenced. “This is a usual occurrencefollowing a government change,” the officialstated. He said among those who have beenrecalled are officials who have been appointedthrough political influences without fulfilling thenecessary criteria as well as diplomats whohave been serving in one station for aprolonged period. (Lakna Paranamanna)

dailymirror.lk

(colombogazette.com) The Government says it isworking towards changing the mindset of the UNHuman Rights Council (UNHRC) towards SriLanka by March this year.Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith P.Perera said that the Government iswell aware of the seriousness of theMarch UNHRC session where areport on the investigationsconducted on Sri Lanka will bepresented to the Council.The Deputy Minister said thatahead the March session the new Sri LankanGovernment has obtained the advice of somesenior, current and former Sri Lankan diplomats onthe issue, and will be looking to try and convince

the Office of the High Commissioner for HumanRights to reconsider negative moves on thecountry.

“We see the March session as verycritical towards our country. It isgoing to be a challenge and we areworking towards that. We hope toreceive a positive response to ourefforts on the human rights issuefrom the UNHRC before the Marchsession,” he said.He added that the new Government

will look to submit a new program to address thehuman rights concerns raised on Sri Lanka by theUN Human Rights Council and its members.(Colombo Gazette)

(colombogazette.com) The new Government hasbegun talks with the European Union (EU) on theban on Sri Lankan fish imports and ForeignMinister Mangala Samaraweera will travel toBrussels this week in an attempt to get the banreversed.Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe hasappointed Niranjan Deva Aditya, a Memberof the European Parliament, to mediatebetween the EU and the Government onthe fish imports ban.The ban on Sri Lankan fish imports tookeffect on January 15 after the Sri LankanGovernment failed to comply withinternational rules on illegal fishing.However the new Government under PresidentMaithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe had decided to submit toParliament an urgent bill which will look to ensurefishing is conducted based on international norms.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera will lookto brief the EU on the steps to be taken by the newGovernment to meet EU expectations.Sri Lanka is the second biggest exporter of freshand chilled swordfish and tuna to the EU (74

million € of imports in 2013) and in thosecircumstances the EU had said it cannottolerate not to know whether the fish theyimport into the EU was caught sustainablyor not.The European Commission had said that inNovember 2012, the EU sent a warning toSri Lanka saying they were not complyingwith international rules on illegal fishing

and their control systems were inadequate.European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs andFisheries, Maria Damanaki said last October thattwo years later, not much had changed and thesame problems were still there and were evengetting worse.

Niranjan mediates with the EU

Lanka seeks U-turn from UNHRC

(adaderana.lk) Six new Governors took their oathsbefore President Maithripala Sirisena today (27) atthe Presidential Secretariat.They are:Mr.H.M.G.S.Palihakkara - Governor NorthernProvinceMr.Austin Fernando - Governor Eastern ProvinceMr.B.M.A.R.Perera - Governor North WesternProvinceMs.Suranganee Ellawela - Governor CentralProvinceMr.P.B.Dissanayake - North Central Province

Mr.M.P.Jayasinghe (Attorney-at-Law) - UvaProvinceThe following three Governors were sworn inbefore President Maithripala Sirisena on January23:Mr.K.C. Logeshwaran - Governor of the WesternProvinceMr.Hemakumara Nanayakkara - GovernorSouthern ProvinceMs.Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake - Governor ofNorth Western Province.

North Western PCMinister Nishantha

Perera arrested(adaderana.lk) North Western ProvincialCouncil Minister Sanath Nishantha Perera hasbeen arrested following an alleged electionviolence incident, the police said. The Ministerwas wanted in connection with an attack on anelection office of the United National Party(UNP) in Andigama area. The suspect will beproduced before a Magistrate, today.

(adaderana.lk) President Maithripala Sirisena saidthat the term of office of the President of Sri Lankawill be reduced to five years from the original sixwhen the new amendments to the Constitutionsare proposed.“I wanted the terms of the Presidency be reducedto four years but the constitutional experts who areon the job now did not agree with my idea,” thePresident said addressing a public meeting.The President added that they latercame to the consensus that the termof the Presidency should be confinedto five years due to his stronginsistence.The committee comprisingconstitutional experts is in theprocess of discussing on howunlimited powers of the ExecutivePresidency should be vested in theLegislature.The President was addressing public officials ofthe Polonnaruwa district at the Thopawewa schoolgrounds.“Anti apartheid hero and former South AfricanPresident Nelson Mandela succeeded in bringingmany reforms to that country during his four yearrule after languishing in jail for over 27 years,” thePresident said.“My policy is to consider those who opposed me atthe election as friends as Mandela did and getthem involved in the process of building thecountry,”he said.President Sirisena insisted that he will never offerposts to anyone in consideration of their politicalaffiliations.

“The posts are given to individuals afterconsidering their suitability, efficiency, honesty andqualifications only,” he stressed.President Maithripala Sirisena during the electioncampaign period through his manifest hadproposed bring several reforms and newregulations to put the house in order. Theconstitutional reforms, Freedom of Information Actand the stern action against large scale grafts are

the main activities the new governmenthas given priority“The previous regime violated all basicnorms practiced during an election.They breached the long held principlesof free and fairness of the election atthe last presidential poll,” he said.President Sirisena also said the publicservice faced deterioration in anunprecedented manner during the lastfew years. He said that the country

witnessed how a political party utilized governmentservants for its election campaign to ensure itscandidate’s victory at the last presidential election.This is an unprecedented situation. No party inpower has used public servants for political workto such an extent.“The Presidential election which I contestedwitnessed a record in terms of election lawviolations. The State media was used to target me.Various campaigns were launched using the Statemedia to insult me,” he saidThe President added that no party in power hasused State resources and power during anelection as the previous regime did.Courtesy : Department of Government Information

Sri Lanka to limit the term of Presidencyto 5 yrs - President

Six new Governors sworn in




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(colombogazette.com) The Tamil United LiberationFront (TULF) says it is very regrettable to note thatthere is a deadlock in the election of the ChiefMinister of the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC)following a rift between the Tamil National Alliance(TNA) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress(SLMC).TULF Secretary General V.Anandasangaree says the delayhad caused immense hardship tothe people of the area and to theemployees of the council.“The annual budget of the councilhas not yet been passed. Thesituation has now taken acommunal turn and hasconsolidated to a position, that it isonly a Tamil or a Muslim can or should get electedto that office. The irony is that it was this councilthat remained merged with the Northern councilearlier and got de-merged by an order of theSupreme Court. Those who are still interested inthe re-merger of these two councils should pavethe way for it without obstructing it,” he said.The TULF called on the leaders of the two

concerned parties to come to a compromisebetween themselves without inviting theintervention of the higher authorities.“One political party took a foolish decision andcaused much embarrassment to His Excellencythe President by asking him to intervene and help

his party to have its nomineeelected as Chief Minister. Notsurprisingly the President declinedto intervene because there is nosuch provision in the law. Thismove on the part of the TNA hadbeen ridiculed by many.Furthermore an adverse commentmade on this matter by one of theleaders of the TNA had beencondemned as rousing communal

tension. This has aggravated the situation and hadput the merger issue in doubt,” the TULF said.TULF Secretary General V. Anandasangaree saysthe only option the council now has is to elect theChief Minister by proposing the candidates andelect one by majority vote, if necessary by secretballot. (Colombo Gazette)

( ) Senior Presidential Adviser onForeign Relations, Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala, hasleft for Geneva yesterday to meet the UnitedNations High Commissioner for Human RightsPrince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, thegovernment news portal reported.Dhanapala as special envoy of PresidentMaithripala Sirisena is expected to discuss the UN

Human Rights Council’s investigation into allegedserious violations of human rights by both partiesin Sri Lanka with the High Commissioner.The former UN Under Secretary General isexpected to brief the High Commissioner on theprogress Sri Lanka has made in addressing thehuman rights violations after the 28th session ofUNHRC in March 2014, the report said.

sundaytimes.lk

(nation.lk) The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna hasestablished a committee to find out about victimsof political revenge during the former government’stenure.The committee is named as “Committee to CollectInformation on Victims of Political Injustice andRevenge during the Rajapaksa Government.”JVP Central Committee Member Nalin deJayathissa said at a media briefing yesterday thatthe public can also inform about financial fraudconducted by government officials from top tobottom.Jayathissa said that people were alreadycomplaining about the delay in dealing with somepeople accused of fraud or crimes. The JVP was

making its intervention in this regard within theNational Executive Council, the parliament andoutside as well. This committee is one suchendeavor, he said.The objective will be to strengthen the democraticinstitutions and give a precedent to those who areentering politics, he said. However, the main focusof the committee will be to act on behalf of thosewho were been forgotten in the larger discourse,the private individuals and small businessmen whowere victims of injustice, Jayathissa said.Complaints can be forwarded to the followingtelephone numbers.011-2896394071-8106863

TNA shows prioritiesBy Deepal Warnakulasuriya(nation.lk) The country’s main Tamil alliance,Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says that thegovernment’s main priority should be theenactment of the recommendations made bythe committees that have been appointed so farand not going for new commissions.TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandrantold the media that rather than appointing newcommissions, it is more important to implementthe previously set op ones. He was mainlyspeaking about the efforts on solving thenational issue. He also added that they do notexpect a new parliamentary select committee(PSC) to be appointed over the national issue.The Tamil party is also a stakeholder of theNational Executive Council (NEC) and isengaged in implementing the 100 day programof the new government.

By Camelia Nathaniel(thesundayleader.lk) Former army commanderSarath Fonseka says he will contest the nextgeneral election having been acquitted of allcharges filed against him under the previousgovernment and has been granted completeamnesty by President Maithripala Sirisena.Fonseka lost his civil rights in 2010, including theright to vote, after a military court found him guiltyover allegations raised against him and in 2011 theSupreme Court upheld the decision.Fonseka was instrumental in leading the armyduring the final battle against the LTTE whicheventually led to the defeat of the rebels in May

2009.Subsequently in 2010 he resigned from themilitary and decided to contest the 2010Presidential elections but he lost. Meanwhile,following his election defeat, Fonseka wasarrested on 8 February 2010, and the governmentannounced he will be court-martialed forcommitting ‘military’ offences. He was found guiltyof corrupt military supply deals and sentenced tothree years in prison. After serving more than twoyears in prison, Fonseka was released on 21 May,2012.Fonseka was freed from prison in May 2012 byformer President Mahinda Rajapaksa but his civilrights were not restored.

TULF says deadlock regrettable

JVP forms committee to collect infoon victims of political revenge

Fonseka To Contest Next Polls

Jayantha Dhanapala to meet UNHuman Rights Chief

(asianmirror.lk) Minister of External AffairsMangala Samaraweera said that the ExecutivePowers of Presidency will be abolished byFebruary. Speaking at a gathering in Matara,Minister Samaraweera said that the governmentwill take steps to completely revise the ExecutivePresidency and remove all excessive executivepowers of the Presidency.“It is unnecessary for a single person to have suchpowers beyond measure; we have seen how suchunconditional power can lead to corruption”,Samaraweera said. In his speech the Ministerasserted that along with the abolition of Executive

powers, the newgovernment intends toreinstate the state sector toits former glory. “The Police,the legal system of thecountry and the state sectortook a massive blow from the dictatorial regime. Italso hampered the country's wellbeing”, he said.Samaraweera added that after the 100 daysprogramme, the country’s election system will alsobe amended and the national government theyformed on January 9 will be further strengthenafter the General Election.

(asianmirror.lk) President Maithripala Sirisena saidthat he left the former government regardless ofthe threat to his life, adding that if he were to bedefeated, he might havebeen even murdered.Speaking at a rally inPolonnaruwa yesterday, hesaid that if he was to bedefeated, he might be lyingsix feet underground bynow.This was the first timeSirisena visitedPolonnaruwa after hiselection victory almost threeweeks ago.Sirisena added that the former government ofMahinda Rajapaksa had planned to arrest hischildren to 'torture' him by that means if he had

lost the election.He also said that there was no other option butaccepting the Sri Lanka Freedom Party

Chairmanship after theelection. If not, the onlyoption was to go for anelection. If that were tohappen, the 100 DayProgram would have beenjeopardized, Sirisenamentioned.Maithripala Sirisenacampaigned underconsiderable threat to hislife. In the last days of thecampaign, there were

several attacks on political rallies he attended,including shooting incidents.

Executive Presidency will be abolishedby end of February

If I was defeated I would have beenkilled - President

By Shamindra Ferdinando(island.lk) Housing and Samurdhi Minister SajithPremadasa has engaged two internationallyrenowned auditing firms, Ernst & Young andPricewaterhouseCoopers to probe Housing andSamurdhi portfolios previously held by NationalFreedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansaand former SLFP National Organiser BasilRajapaksa, respectively.A senior spokesperson for the Housing andSamurdhi Ministry told The Island that Ernst &Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers would probeHousing and Samurdhi portfolios, respectively.Responding to a query, the official said that they

had assured Minister Premadasa that the projectswould be carried out free of charge.Minister Premadasa said that the investigation wasmeant to identify those who had been responsiblefor waste, corruption as well as irregularities so thatlegal action could be taken against them.The housing ministry and two institutions namelythe Building Department and the governmentfactory coming under the purview of that ministrywould be investigated by Ernst & Young, thespokesperson said. The official said that altogetherall institutions which had been placed under theMinistry of Construction, Engineering Services,Housing and Common Amenities would be probed

by the same audit firm.The official said that all institutions that hadbeen under the then Minister Basil Rajapaksawould be probed by PricewaterhouseCoopers.Some of the worst irregularities had takenplace in the Divineguma project handled byBasil Rajapaksa, he said. Several institutionshad been brought under Divineguma inJanuary last year and placed under the purviewof the then Minister Basil Rajapaksa, he said.The previous government passed theDivineguma Bill by a majority of 117 votes.

(dailymirror.lk) The Defence Ministry todayannounced that former Army CommanderSarath Fonseka is entitled to his rank of FourStar General, medals, pension and otherprivileges which were stripped of in2010, by two Army tribunals beforehe was cashiered and imprisoned.“Entitlement to wearing of alldecorations of General (retd) G.S.CFonseka, former Chief of DefenceStaff and Commander of the Armywho left an indelible legacy ofgallantry by directing the Army to wipe out LTTEterrorism from Sri Lanka, has been restored,following the full Presidential amnesty, grantedby HE the President Maithripala Sirisena, in

terms of the powers, vested in HE underSection 34 of the Constitution,” the ArmyHeadquarters said in a statement.Accordingly, General Fonseka could wear Rana

Wickrama Padakkama (RWP),Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP),Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya(VSV), Uththama Seva Padakkama(USP) and all other decorationswhich had been awarded to himduring his career.Meanwhile, Elections

Commissioner Mahinda Dehspriya todayconfirmed that civic rights of former ArmyCommander Sarath Fonseka have beenreinstated after Presidential pardon.

International audit firms tasked withprobing Basil, Wimal

(ft.lk) US President Barack Obama hailed SriLanka’s new hopes for democracy in passingremarks about India’s role in helping countries inthe region forge a brighter future.“As I’ve said before, with power comesresponsibility. In this region, India can play apositive role in helping countries forge a betterfuture, from Burma to Sri Lanka, where today

there’s new hope for democracy,” PresidentObama said, as he addressed a gathering at theSiri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi as he wrappedup his visit to India yesterday.“With your experience in elections, you can helpother countries with theirs,” the US President saidin his address.(DB)

New hope for democracy in Sri Lanka:President Obama

SF’s ranks, civic rights restored

(ft.lk)

Reuters: Sri Lanka’s new Government has inheriteda “scary” economic situation and is looking forcheaper debt while aiming to maintain a stablerupee, the Finance Minister said on Monday.New Minister Ravi Karunanayake said he wouldreveal the reality of the economy when heannounces fiscal policies during the unveiling of asupplementary budget on Thursday.“We have the economy in a precarious position,”Karunanayake told Reuters in an interview. “Wehave inherited an economy which gives a scarystory,” he said adding that much debt data had notbeen recorded on Government books.“We’re looking at reducing the debt elements. Thehigher debts that have been taken at higher interestrates have an impact on the revenue. We are tryingto ensure cheaper debts,” he said withoutelaborating on sources of cheap debt.The previous Government under formerPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa, who lost a bidfor a third term in a 8 January election, saidits debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP)was steady at 75% in 2014 from a yearearlier, while the fiscal deficit fell 5.2% ofGDP last year from 5.9% in 2013.However, Karunanayake, said RajapaksaGovernment’s “real” economic numberscould be different because of much missingdata and his Ministry had launched an auditto find various real numbers including thosefor debt, the fiscal deficit and GDP.“We don’t know what the contractualobligations are. Various bills are comingwithout contracts in hand. The debt to GDPthey have shown is absolutely a mythicalexercise,” he said. “We will not be tinkeringaround with the economy. We will ensure thatwe will reshape it to the correct momentum.”

Rajapaksa’s Government borrowed at higher ratesmainly from China for big infrastructure projects.Karunanayake’s pro-business United National Partyhad long complained of data manipulation byauthorities under Rajapaksa. The Central Bank andTreasury had denied the accusations.There is no independent data gathering in SriLanka.The International Monetary Fund, which hadadvised the previous Government to strengthensome macroeconomic data compilation, had largelynot found fault with it, Karunanayake said.The new Government would maintain the previousGovernment’s stable rupee exchange rate policy,not wishing to “mess around” with it because thecountry was highly import-driven and “debt-ridden”,he said.“At this moment, what they have pursued, has to becontinuously pursued,” he said.

Says Treasury looking for cheaper debtand stable rupee

By Shamindra Ferdinando(island.lk) Former UNP General Secretary TissaAttanayake, MP has expressed his desire to returnto the party, but the UNP won’t take him back,according to political sources.Responding to a query, a senior UNP politicianyesterday pointed out that Attanayake hadswitched his allegiance to then President andUPFA presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksaat a crucial juncture and gone so far as to declarethat the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe andthe Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena hadsigned a secret agreement meant to appease thefour-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA), sourcessaid."Attanayake propagated a blatant lie. Although,both Maithripala Sirisena and RanilWickremesinghe strongly denied Attanayake’sclaim, the state-run media persisted with theallegation," the UNP official said. According to him,Attanayake should quit his National List seatwithout further delay to pave the way for theleadership to nominate a deserving person.Attanayake should tender a public apology toPremier Wickremesinghe and PresidentMaithripala Sirisena as well as the electorate foruttering a blatant lie.Asked whether the UNP would push for aninvestigation, the official said that the MP was

already subject to judicial investigation. "We’ll notinterfere with the on-going inquiry"The UNP emphasised that Attanayake’s recentstatements to the media that he never quit theUNP though he backed the former President’scampaign weren’t acceptable. Attanayake hadconveniently forgotten that he accepted the healthportfolio previously held by Maithripala Sirisenaand then joined the UPFA candidate in flying firstclass to Andra Pradesh. The previous governmentalso provided him with a contingent of elite policecommandos, the UNP official said.Sources asserted that Attanayake couldn’t expectto contest the next parliamentary election on theUNP ticket or find a place among National Listmembers.When Attanayake’s allegation against the thenOpposition candidate and the incumbent Presidentwho is also the SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisenawas examined, that party was unlikely toaccommodate him, sources said.Since the conclusion of the presidential poll earlythis month, Attanayake claimed that he actedhastily because he was under tremendouspressure in the party; therefore he wanted tocontinue as a UNPer.Attanayake also said that the authenticity of thedocument which he had displayed at a packedmedia conference at the SLFP headquartersclaiming it was a copy of the secret agreementbetween Wickremesinghe and Maithripala couldn’tbe guaranteed. A dejected Attanayake said that hefound the document among several hundreddocuments that were on his table on the day hetook oaths as the Health Minister.A UNP official said that Attanayake should justifyhis claims in a court of law.

PAGE 13ISSUE 1208 NEWSLANKA 29 JANUARY - 2015



MahindaCONT FROM P1... led an extravagant lifestyle at state expense.Attention was focused on an air conditioned restroom with TV and attached bathroom. Thisparticular section of the Temple Trees premiseswas fully refurbished for the 2013 CommonwealthHeads of Government Meeting in accordance withinternational specifications. An exhibition and abanquet for the visiting heads of state were heldthere. Over the past decade all foreign dignitariesvisiting Sri Lanka have been received at TempleTrees and the quality of the facilities available hadto suit the purpose,” the former President said.He noted that his government carried out moredevelopment work in this country than any othergovernment in post independence history and thatthese unprecedented achievements were belittledin the eyes of the public during the presidentialelection campaign with the malicious propagandathat the costs of these infrastructure projects hadbeen overpriced three to tenfold and hugekickbacks taken by politicians and officials in mygovernment.“The estimates for all infrastructure projects aremade by Technical Evaluation Committees (TECs)made up of well qualified and reputed engineers.The project is then evaluated by a cabinetappointed tender board which is made up of themost senior civil servants in the country. Everyagreement signed with a foreign lending agency isvetted by the Attorney General and it has to

receive final approval from the cabinet. Sri Lankais now a middle income country and not entitled todevelopment assistance. Therefore, mygovernment used concessionary financingarrangements with the ADB, World Bank, and theJapanese, Chinese and Indian governments forthe implementation of certain developmentprojects. If the cost of a project is to be artificiallyinflated as some have alleged, there will have tobe collusion between all the relevant bodies of thegovernment, the international project consultantswho design and supervise the project from start tofinish, the contractor and the lending agency – aprocess involving scores of individuals andtherefore virtually impossible,” he added.Rajapaksa also noted that Chinese fundedprojects that have been singled out for criticismand China is a country that has helped all SriLankan governments for over six decades.“Like all international lending organisations theChina Exim Bank also has procedures in place toensure the integrity of their transactions. I wish tosuggest to those concerned that this maligning ofa friendly country that has helped us sogenerously over many decades should stop.Outrageous and totally unsubstantiatedaccusations against me were disseminatedthrough various websites and social medianetworks such as facebook both before and afterthe election. I self-critically admit that mygovernment did not take these baselessallegations seriously and counter them in time.However, I am confident that the truth will prevailone day,” he said.

News NCPChief Minister

Peshala Jayaratne was swornin as Chief Minister of theNorth Central Province beforethe Governor this morning.

UNP won’t take back Tissa, asks himto give up national list slot

(island.lk) Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne hasalleged that the then Leader of the House andIrrigation and Water Resources Minister NimalSiripala de Silva was also involved in a project todefeat the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa at theJanuary 8, 2015 presidential poll. De Silva,however, had pulled out at the eleventh hour,Minister Senaratne told a live political programmeDerana 360 on Monday night. Responding to theinterviewer, Dr. Senaratne claimed that the originalplan envisaged De Silva getting on the Opposition

stage in November. Had that happened, MaithripalaSirisena in his capacity as General Secretary wouldhave refused to sack him, the minister said.Dr. Senaratne said De Silva withdrew after havingreceived an assurance from the then President thathe would be named the Prime Minister soon afterthe presidential poll.Although The Island sought a clarification from theOpposition Leader’s office, at the time this editionwent to press De Silva didn’t respond to Dr.Senaratne’s allegation. (SF)

Senaratne accuses Opposition Leaderof playing double game

(island.lk) Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva, PrimeMinister Ranil Wickramesinghe and former President

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga engaged in a friendlyconversation during a reception at India House in Colombo

on Monday in view of the 65th anniversary of India’sRepublic Day. Pic by Dimuthu Premaratne

(dailymirror.lk) Foreign Office Minister of the UnitedKingdom, Hugo Swire is paying a second visit to SriLanka from 28-30 January, shortly after theformation of a new government.As part of a broad visit Mr. Swire will call on seniorministers including Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe to discuss the new government’sreform programme and areas of potential co-operation.Mr Swire said:“I am delighted to be visiting Sri Lanka again sosoon after the recent elections, and welcome theearly progress made by President Sirisena towardsa more democratic and accountable government.“It is encouraging to see such a renewed desire for

peace and reconciliationfollowing past instability. TheUK will do all it can to supportSri Lanka as it moves towardsa brighter future.”During his visit Mr Swire willmeet representatives fromNGOs to discuss humanrights issues. He will alsotravel to Jaffna to meet the Chief Minister of theNorthern Provincial Council and civil society, andvisit the British Council in Jaffna, where significantwork is being undertaken to improve access toEnglish language training. (gov.uk)

UK Foreign Minister Hugo to visit SL

New Govt. has inherited “scary” economicsituation: Ravi K

(ft.lk) SriLankan Airlines’ Head of CommercialOperations Mohamed Fazeelretires today (23 January),concluding a 35 year tenure atthe national carrier, on a highnote.Fazeel joined the airline in May1979, four months beforeSriLankan’s predecessor, AirLanka, commenced officialoperations.Starting off as a networkplanning and market research

executive, he went on to serve as a RegionalManager for the Europe, NorthAmerica, South America, MiddleEast, Asia Pacific regions, beforebeing appointed the airline’s Headof Worldwide Sales.Concluding his service as theairline’s most senior employee,Fazeel has served with relentlesscommitment and dedication to helpthe airline evolve into the worldclass, award-winning nationalcarrier that one sees today.




RUWAN KODIKARA -NEW HEAD OF MEDIA

FOR DEPUTY PMAT NO.10

Ruwan Kodikara, a publicrelations consultant has beenhired to work at No.10, DowningStreet, as a special adviser / headof media, for thedeputy prime minister.According to Public Affairs Newsmagazine, "Kodikara joinedHuntsworth owned QuillerConsultants in 2013, havingpreviously been an account director at MHPCommunications" & referred to as a "highlyrated lobbyist".Ruwan's parents Sarath & Asoka Kodikara arefrom Sri Lanka, & have been long term residents inthe UK since the late 1960s.

(nation.lk) The newly appointed governorof the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, ArjunaMahendran being a Singaporean nationalhas created history becoming only thesecond ‘non- Sri Lankan governor’ afterthe founding governor to hold theesteemed office.The first non-Sri Lankan governor was theAmerican national John Exter, the founderGovernor of the Central Bank of Ceylonwho held office between 1950 and 1953.Arjuna Mahendran, who received hisappointment letter from PresidentMaithripala Sirisena at PresidentialSecretariat on Friday, is expected to chairhis first Monetary Board meeting today.

New CB governor a Singaporean national

Mohamed Fazeel ends 35-year tenureat SriLankan on a high note

Sri Lanka’s stockmarket chief

regulator finally quits(sundaytimes.lk) Nalaka Godahewa, thecontroversial chairman of the Securities andExchange Commission (SEC), finally steppeddown on Friday, after defiantly staying on andrefusing to budge.In an email to staff at midday on Friday, hesaid he was resigning.The SEC chief had refused to step downsaying he came under the Ministry ofEconomic Development, which is nowdefunct, and not the Ministry of Finance. Thiscame after Finance Minister RaviKarunanayake said the SEC chairman hadbeen asked to resign. The SEC now comesunder the Prime Minister’s Office.

(ft.lk) Celebrating 50 years in Sri Lanka, the CIMABoard for the year 2015 was introduced under thetheme ‘50 years of delivering excellence, thelegend continues’ on a grand scale on 20 January2015 at the Cinnamon Grand. Aitken SpenceGroup Ltd Group Chief Corporate Officer/DirectorVipula Gunatilleka took on the position of

Chairman of the CIMA Sri Lanka Board for theyear 2015, whilst HNB Assurance PLC ManagingDirector Manjula de Silva and Hayleys IndustrialSolutions Managing Director/Hayleys Power andEnergy Sector Head Dr. Arul Sivagananathanwere appointed as Deputy Chairman and ViceChairman, respectively.

Seated from left: Radley Stephen, Melanie Kanaka, Manjula de Silva, Vipula Gunatilleka (Chairman),Rajendra Theagarajah, Dr. Arul Sivagananathan, Bradley Emerson, Standing from left: 1st row –

Manohari Abeyesekera, Mahesha Amarasuriya, Chandrin Fernando, Manohara S. Tillakawardana,Senaka Kakiriwaragodage, Suresh Perera, Asela Fonseka, Kasturi C. Wilson, Sunjeevani Kotakadeniya,

2nd row – Mahesh Amarasiri, Ranil Pathirana, Nishantha Weerakoon, Asoka Pieris

CIMA inducts new Board

(adaderana.lk) Sri Lanka is planning a sovereignbond sale in February after a revised budget for2015 is presented by a new administration,Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said.“As soon as the budget has been announced onthe 29th (of January) we will start talking tomarkets,” Mahendran said.“I am hopeful that by February we will have amandate to tap the markets for a new bond issue.”Sri Lanka was earlier planning to go the marketswith a 1.5 billion US dollar bond ahead of amaturing 500 million US dollar bond on January21.The bond was paid with foreign reserves followingelections in January which brought a newadministration to office.Among key investment banks who helped SriLanka manage bond issues earlier are Citibank,Standard Chartered and HSBC.Mahendran said Sri Lanka hoped to reducedependence on markets going forward, withhigher revenue collections. Taxes are expected tobe simplified in the January 29 budget.

He said interest rates inWestern markets werelow.“There is no shortage ofpeople out there who arewilling to lend money tous,” Mahendran said. “Ofcourse we have to bejudicious in our borrowings to see that we do notoverpay the rates of interest that we pay.”He said Sri Lanka’s government will shrink thebudget deficit over time, which will improveconfidence of foreign lenders.A recent reduction in fuel prices came from fallingraw material prices and not from tax reductions, hesaid.economynext.com

Arjuna calls fordecisions based oncommercial factors,profitabilityFaizer assures nopolitical interference(ft.lk) SriLankan Airlines’new Chairman Ajith Diasassumed duties yesterdayin the presence of Ministerof Ports and ShippingArjuna Ranatunga and

State Minister of Aviation Faizer Mustapha at theSriLankan Airlines office inColombo.Hailing from the apparel industry,Dias is a co-founder of Brandix andChairman of Barista Sri Lanka andJewelex Trading Ltd.Speaking at the event, Ranatungaassured the airline’s managementthat the new Government wouldensure smooth operations of theNational Carrier with decisions and

policies adopted strictly oncommercial basis.He requested the airline’s seniormanagement team to make everyeffort to achieve profitability.Addressing the gathering, StateMinister Mustapha alsoemphasised that there would be no politicalinterference in the administration of SriLankanAirlines and requested the members of themanagement team to use their expertise anddedication to achieve the targeted operationalsuccess.

Colombo January 23, 2014 : SriLankan Airlines,the official airline of EDEX Expo 2015educational and career fair, will be offering anexciting 30% discount for students wholeave for overseas education to anyonline destination operated by theAirline.Those who visit the SriLankan AirlinesStall at the BMICH from 23-25 andKandy City Centre from January 30, 31will be able to avail themselves of theattractive discounts and special offers.With the exclusive offer also comes animpressive 40 kg baggage allowance forstudents, offering them the opportunity to carry

more books and belongings that they would haveplanned to leave behind due to restrictions.Apart from the students, the other visitors to the

SriLankan stall too can avail themselvesof an attractive 20% discount for flightsto any SriLankan operated directdestination. These fares are speciallydesigned for the parents and loved oneswho would want accompany theirchildren in their trips or visit them.Those who wish to avail themselves ofthe discount are required to purchase

their tickets on or before February 28 from theSriLankan Ticket Office Colombo and Kandy andtravel before June 30 (for parents/others) and

September 30, 2015 (for students).The national carrier currently operates 258weekly flights to 33 destinations in 20countries, covering the main cities of theEurope, Middle East, India, South East Asiaand the Far East.Corporate CommunicationsSriLankan Airlines

SriLankan Airlines’ new Chairmanassumes duties

SriLankan Airline newChairman Ajith Dias

PRESS RELEASE

Enjoy exciting offers from SriLankanAirlines at EDEX

Sri Lanka plans sovereign bondin February: CB Governor

EconomyCONT FROM P1.

growthmomentum in the third quarter recording anexpansion of 12.6%.

.. and the expected reduction of administeredprices of other key commodities announced in theGovernment’s 100-day program are expected toreduce inflation further in the months ahead.Supported by historically low market interest ratesin nominal terms, credit obtained by the privatesector from commercial banks continued to expandat a healthy pace.Credit flows to the private sector increased by 6.5%on a year-on-year basis in November 2014, whilein absolute terms the increase was Rs. 57.8 billionduring the month, bringing the cumulative creditflows to the private sector to Rs. 147.4 billionduring January-November 2014.Credit granted against immovable property, plantand machinery, personal guarantees andpromissory notes, and other securities as well asunsecured loans increased substantially inNovember 2014.It is expected that the increasing trend in privatesector credit disbursements can be sustainedthroughout 2015 providing the necessary impetus tothe growth momentum of the economy.

Looking at the real sector, the Sri Lankan economygrew by 7.7% during the third quarter of 2014supported by strong performance in the Industryand the Services sectors.The Industry sector, which posted a growth of12.4% in the first half of 2014, maintained its

(Contd: on P20)




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(dailymirror.lk ) After 39 days of battling theelements and competition in Nicaragua, NatalieAnderson of Sri Lankan heritage walked awaywith the million dollar prize and the title of solesurvivor on the finale of "Survivor: San Juan Del

Sur" Wednesday night.Survivor: San Juan del Sur Blood vs. Water is thetwenty-ninth season of the American CBScompetitive reality television series, wherecastaways attempt to outwit, outlast and outplayeach other for a prize of $1 million.“Survivor: San Juan del Sur,” theshow's 29th installment, beganwith 18 loved onespitted against oneanother in theseries' second“Blood vs. Water”match.Natalie, a crossfitcoach, started thegame with her twinsister Nadiya, the first personvoted out of the game.The 28-year-old twins hail from Edgewater, N.J.,and appeared on “Amazing Race” twice.This was a season rife with twists (the requisitebackstabbing) but more blindsides than normal.

Trust was a big issue this season with peopleopenly (and sometimes strangely) calling eachother out moments before an elimination vote.There may also have been a record number

of castaways who lied about havinghidden immunity idols; sometimesthe lie worked, but often it didn't.Before the season began, Nataliedescribed herself as “crazy,strong and confident.” She saidher pet peeves were “girls whocan't do anything forthemselves, lazy people anddumb people.”

The newest “Survivor” winner toldCBS2's Suzanne Marques that she really

hadn't decided what she would do with herwinnings just yet.“I think I'm going to go out to dinner with myparents and say 'Mom and dad, don't worry. I gotthis. I can pay for a fancy dinner now,'” Nataliequipped.“Nadyia has a nice chunk of change coming her

way, too,” Natalie said.In the show's 30th installment, host/producer JeffProbst revealed three tribes (blue collar, whitecollar and no collar) would compete against oneanother in Nicaragua. “Survivor: Worlds Apart”begins in February. Probst told EntertainmentWeekly the show hasn't aired or been edited yetand it's already “one my favorites.”

Sri Lankan wins 'Survivor'

Now dawning 29 years of compassion, andcaring for the needs of the less privileged societyof Our Motherland, the SLCA together with Surol,feed thousands Island wide, even during theHeight of war, we supplied food to the north andeast, and when Charmaine Jayetilleke MBEPresident of the SLCA, goes to Sri Lanka onholiday she gives all her time to attend to thehumanitarian projects of the SLCAduring Christmas Charmaine is seen here,among the very poor of Moratuwa andRajagiriya distributing dry rations, so, they mayenjoy the Festive Season.

SRI LANKA CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION KEEPS TO THEIR PLEDGE

Shah resigns as MBSLChief; hails MR for non-

interference(ft.lk) Veteran banker, tradeunionist and Chairman ofMerchant Bank of Sri Lanka(MBSL) M.R. Shah had tenderedhis resignation on 12 January fromhis post as Chairman of MBSL,which has been approved by theCentral Bank of Sri Lanka on 26January.

Sri Lanka’s Bank ofCeylon gets a new

chairmanJan 28, 2015 (LBO) - Ronald C Perera, President’sCounsel, has been appointed as the Chairman of SriLanka’s Bank of Ceylon by Minister of Finance, RaviKarunanayake, a media release said. Perera assumedduties on today (28th). Perera is a LLB graduate fromthe University of Colombo and also holds a LLM inInternational Trade Law from Northumbria University.He was appointed as a President’s Counsel in 2012and was a Director of the Bank of Ceylon previously.

By Chanaka de Silva(ceylontoday.lk) Ceylon Finance Today:Yalpanam Chamber of Commerce andIndustries, Chairman, Kularatnam Vigneshyesterday lamented that the most modern

technology, which is available in Colombo wasnot available at the Jaffna Industrial Trade Fairexhibition which concluded on Sunday."What we needed was the equipment andtechnology for packing and processing of

agricultural andfisheries products;but the exhibitorsgave prominence tomotor vehicles,Vignesh told CeylonFT yesterday."The SME sector isbadly in need of newtechnology toimprove itsproduction and raisethe quality levels tothat the currentmarket requires. The30-year war madethem miss out onthe innovations thathave been availableto others and are notable to get the best

of their produce due to this reason," he saidThe Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF),which concluded on Sunday, showcased a widevariety of suppliers. However, the main itemspromoted this year were vehicles. However, themain requirement was for packing andprocessing equipment needed for the SMEsector in both fisheries and agriculture basedindustries. Those involved in these industriesare still using methods which are very old.This is because they have missed out on thelatest technological developments available inthe market today."There is a thirst for technology and machineryin both packing and process in Jaffna today.With the new equipment available, they will beable to match the production and high qualitylevels required by the market today. Improvingthese two factors will also open export marketsfor produce from the peninsula," he said."The exhibition had 200 stalls of which 30 wereof local producers. The demand for these stallshad been so great that we have decided toincrease the number of stalls to 50 next year.We have planned to make next year's exhibitionmore equipment oriented," Vignesh remarked.

Jaffna laments 'No new technology at Trade Fair'




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(dailynews.lk) Sri Lanka’s largest EducationExhibition and Job Fair 'EDEX Expo 2015’,conducted by the Royal College Union (RCU) wasopened at the BMICH, Colombo under thepatronage of President Maithripala Sirisenayesterday.Making the keynote address President Sirisenacommended the Edex Exhibition and the Job Fairprogramme which helps the Sri Lankan youngergeneration to equip themselves to be globallycompetitive in the sphere of school to worktransition.He said he was fortunate to be the chief guest atan educational programme first time after he

assumed duties two weeks ago as President. ThePresident said programmes like this will helpalmost every child in the country and thanked theRCU for conducting such an educationalexhibition.He further said in addition to educational activities,the younger generation should also focus their loveand affection towards the environment which isalso immensely needed to one's well-being.The EDEX Exhibition helps thousands of SriLankan talented and enterprising youth to receivetertiary education after their school secondaryeducation which leads to gain vocational trainingand also employment opportunities annually.EDEX Chairman Kamal Abeysinghe said two mainEDEX exhibitions are held by the RCU in Colomboand Kandy every year and these exhibitions andJob Fair will become a conduit between theseekers of 'right employment’ and the 'right

employers’ and to bringtogether the Demand andSupply of Employmentunder one roof.He said the EDEX Expowill facilitate spotadmissions to selectedacademic, vocational,technical and professionalcourses and post graduateprogrammes and they willbe offered by both localand foreign educationalinstitutions. He saidmarginalizedschoolchildren in rural andremote areas who lackequity in access toeducation will also be

benefited under the'EDEX - Nenapahana’ educationprogramme.The EDEX organizing committee hasalready offered discounted course fees, fullor partial scholarships and many otheroffers with financial support options for thebenefit students. This year’s event willfeature over 350 stalls occupied by over 200local and foreign universities and institutionsfrom over 20 countries. Some of thesponsors of the Edex Expo 2015 are NIBM -NSBM, ANC Education, Royal Institute,Colombo, CINEC, CIMA Sri Lanka, HorizonCampus, Vocational Authority of Sri Lanka

and Dialog Axiata.Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam andRoyal College Principal Upali Gunasekara alsospoke.Ministers Gayantha Karunatillake, RaviKarunanayake and Rauff Hakeem were present.ILO Country Director Dong Li and Edex ChairmanKamal Abeysinghe and Project ChairmanChandana Dissanayaka were also present.ANCL is theprint mediasponsor ofEDEXEXPO 2015.

(dailynews.lk) The Institute of IndigenousMedicine successfully hosts ICAUST 2014 andAyu-Expohe Institute of Indigenous Medicine together withthe University of Colombo and the UniversityGrants Commission of Sri Lanka recentlysuccessfully hosted ICAUST 2014 and AyuExpo. The event was held in December underthe theme "Ayurveda the Medicine of Today".The keynote addresses at the conference weredelivered by Prof. R.R Dwivedi of the GujaratAyurvedic University in India, Dr. Wasia Naveedof the Government Nizamia Tibbi College inIndia, and Dr. S Bavani from the University ofJaffna. The event was also be graced by theChairperson of the UGC Prof. KshanikaHirimburegama and the Vice Chancellor of theUniversity of Colombo Dr. W.K Hiriburegama.Around 400 participants from Sri Lanka and theSAARC region participated at the conference andsimultaneous events.The inauguration of the event was held at Water's

Edge, Battaramulla followed by 21 scientificsessions at the Institute of Indigenous Medicine inRajagiriya.

The Ayu Expo also saw stall participation fromcountries like India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea,Australia, Germany and USA.The aim of the conference was to provide a

platform for eminent researchers, academics,physicians, traditional and medical practitioners,manufacturers and exporters of Ayurveda andherbal products, members from the corporatesector, marketing consultants, agriculturalsector and stake holders from all over theworld. The Ayu-Expo trade exhibition on theother hand was organized to facilitate privatepublic partnership with and is slated to beingthe ideal platform for business negotiationsand deals for the Ayurveda products, therebygaining exposure to the international market.It will also help to increase import and exporttrading of herbal ingredients and raw materials.The Institute of Indigenous Medicine (IIM) inSri Lanka has an illustrious history of being thecenter of excellence in the field of Ayurveda,Unani, Traditional Medicine and Allied sciencesin training, education, clinical and research ofindigenous medicine practices. In 1929 it wasfounded as the College of Indigenous Medicineand was upgraded and affiliated to the

University of Colombo in 1977. At present,the IIM conducts Bachelor's Degreecourses as well as Postgraduate Degreeand more recently an MSc in Ayurveda forHealth Tourism.The IIM is housed under the Ministry ofHigher Education at the administrativecapital Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte in aconducive environment for studies andresearch.The two undergraduate programmes,Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine andSurgery and the Bachelor of Unani

Medicine and Surgery have 800 students whilethe Post Graduate Diploma programmes currentlyhave 50 full-time students.

Crowds throng EDEX Expo 2015 Ananda Kannangara

Ayurveda, the Medicine of Today




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EconomyCONT FROM P14The performance in the Industry sector wassupported by the significant growth observed inthe construction, manufacturing and mining andquarrying subsectors. In the meantime, theServices sector grew by 7.0% while theAgriculture sector, which was hampered by

weather related disruptions, contracted by 2.0%.With appropriate macroeconomic policies toboost domestic and foreign investor confidence,the Sri Lankan economy is expected to record arobust performance in the period ahead.Taking the above developments in the economyinto consideration, the Monetary Board at itsmeeting held on 26 January 2015, was of theview that the current monetary policy stance is

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Hassan Shazuli emergeschamps in All IslandQuiraath and Hifzh

CompetitionMohamed Zahran

( ) Master Hassan Shazuli, grade 10student of Zahira College, was awarded the firstplace for his melodious and impeccable recitationof the Noble Quran in the All Island Quiraath andHifzh Competition held last year conducted by AllCeylon Thowheed Jama'ath (ACTJ), Colombo 9.He received the cash award from As -Sheik NaadySeyed Zaky (Al Azhari) in the presence of thePrincipal of ACTJ Hifl Madrasa Al- Haafil Qaari As -Sheik Rifraz Razik (Al Azhari) at the Grand PrizeGiving Celebrations held last November at TowerHall, Maradana.

dailynews.lk

SHIRAJIV SIRIMANE in Jaffna(dailynews.lk) The sixth edition of the JaffnaInternational Trade Fair (JITF), the mostcomprehensive and 'looked forward to' exhibition inthe North opened at the Jaffna Municipal Groundsyesterday and will conclude tomorrow.Consul General of India in Jaffna, A. Natarajanopening the event. Pictures by Saliya RupasingheThe sixth edition of the Jaffna International TradeFair (JITF), the most comprehensive and 'lookedforward to' exhibition in the North opened at theJaffna Municipal Grounds yesterday and willconclude tomorrow.Consul General of India in Jaffna, A. Natarajan

said that he was impressed with the show and willgive a good opportunity for the Jaffnaentrepreneurs to get access to new technologyand equipment."This is also a good event for the Indian companiesto interact with the Northern businessmen and theyshould participate in this event."New President of Yalpanam Chamber ofCommerce, Kularatnam Vignesh said the eventprovides a win win formula for both exhibitors andvisitors where both get benefits. "The southernexhibitor gets an opportunity to see the talent andproducts of the Northern Entrepreneur,"he said."The exhibition is considered the best meeting

point between themand the rest of thecountry and theworld.Therefore each andevery visitor to theexhibition is focusedin order to harnessmaximum valueduring the threedays".JITF 2015 will alsocomprise over 270stalls from varioussectors includingconstruction,hospitality, foodbeverage andpacking, automobile,ICT, financialservices, apparel,agricultural,consumer goodsand many othersalong with anEducation Pavilionnamed "Kalvi" withsome of Colombo'sand Jaffna's mostsought aftereducation serviceproviders exhibiting.

The exhibition which wasthe first of the kind to beheld in the Northern regionof the country in 2002 overthe years has beenrenowned as the best andmost potent platform for themeeting of investors,businesses and the massesin the region. "Theexhibition is considered thebest meeting point betweenthem and the rest of thecountry and the world.Therefore each and everyvisitor to the exhibition isfocused in order to harnessmaximum value during thethree days". SterlingAutomobile is the mainsponsor for JITF 2015together with IndustrialAsphalts (Ceylon) as the Co-Sponsor along withMobitel, Lanka Hospitals, Multilac Paints, Bank ofCeylon and Famous Pacific Shipping partnering asofficial sponsors.Furthermore the eventis supported byConsulate General ofIndia - Jaffna,Federation ofChamber ofCommerce andIndustry of Sri Lanka(FCCISL), CeylonInstitute of Builders(CIOB), Sri LankaConvention Bureau(SLCB) and the JaffnaMunicipal Councilalong with theendorsement of theMinistry of TraditionalIndustries & SmallEnterpriseDevelopment, Sri

Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and theNational Enterprise Development Authority(NEDA).ANCL is the media sponsor for the event.

Consul General of India in Jaffna, A. Natarajan opening the event.Pictures by Saliya Rupasinghe.

Jaffna Trade Fair opens with record exhibitors

(ft.lk) Enticing yellow rice, a generous portion ofchicken leg/thigh, delicious mint sambol and aboiled egg – the cardinal components of a goodbiryani. Here’s a list of some places in andaround Colombo where you can find all this andmore in a biryani.1. Raheema HotelA good place to satisfy abiryani craving, RaheemaHotel does a decent job,especially with portion sizeand taste. The hotel hasIndian staples like biryani,parathas and dosai. Theirclassic chicken biryani andbeef biryani comes with apol sambol concoction andgravy. The notable factor intheir biryani is theseasoning; the salt is notoverpowering as in mostcases. The rice is lightly seasoned and even themeat, which is cooked well, is very tasty.Price range – Rs. 300-350Location – Cumaratunga Munidasa Mawatha,Colombo 72. Kebabish

You’ll be welcomed by friendly proprietors andassistants and even given a brief crash courseon the makings of an authentic biriyani, Pakistanistyle! Talk aside, this small establishment locatedon the Galle Road, specialises in South Asianand Mediterranean cuisine. Their biryani is

served with twomint chutneys and a raita. Even though theirchicken is adequately large and quite tasty, itwas their fluffy, authentic biryani-tasting rice thatis the star.Price range – Rs. 250-300

Location – #91 Galle Road, Dehiwala3. Big Bite, Mount LaviniaLarge hot pans full of fragrant rice andaccompaniments is what you’ll be greeted withwhen you step into Big Bite in Mount. Seeingyour steaming hot biryani being served into

containers is part of the experiencehere. Run by Pakistanis, the place isrenowned for its tandoori chicken andbiryani. The dish in concern comes witheither mutton or chicken and is servedwith basmati that is nicely spiced. Youget a nice amount of gravy if you orderthe mutton biryani.Price range – Rs. 250 to 500Location – #485, Galle Road, MountLavinia4. KandooriAn Indian restaurant that servesbiryani among other things, Kandooridoes a delicious spicy biryani. Theportion sizes are fairly big and the

chicken is well cooked. Although the pricesare a little on the higher range, the fact thatyou can have a delicious Indian biryani in afriendly and quiet atmosphere tips the scale.Price range – Rs. 400-450Location – #17, Charlemont Rd, Colombo 65. Pot BiryaniYou guessed right! The biryanis come in claypots and you get to keep em. With over sixyears of experience in food serves andcatering and specialising in Mughal,Hyderabadi biryani, the place serves chickenbiryani, vegetable biryani, mutton biryani andspicy prawn biryani. With a takeaway anddelivery option, the pots are meant for groups(six to eight depending on appetite). Thebiggest pot contains the well-spiced biryanirice of generous quantity, egg, chicken, etc.,while the other pot has the chicken andonions. You also get accompaniments ofMalay pickle, cucumber and onion raita. Avery filling and scrumptious meal indeed.They also have a ‘return the pot for a refundnext time’ promo on sometimes.Price range – Rs. 2,500-4,500Location – #21A, 1st lane, Kirulapone

6. Chana’sOnly about a year old, Chana’s is a family-ownedrestaurant. All their food comes in disposablepackaging and they do both takeaway anddelivery. Serving predominantly North Indiancuisine, the biryanis here are easily some of thebest – light and well-seasoned basmati rice anddecently sized chicken and accompaniments.Price range – Rs. 350-400Location – #50, W.A Silva Mawatha, Colombo 6(Trekurious together with DailyFT explores SriLanka for the curious traveller. Trekurious workswith talented individuals and great brands tocreate amazing experiential tours, activities, andevents in Sri Lanka. You can find out more atwww.Trekurious.com.)

Biryani spots around Colombo




Don't ignore persistent heartburn talk to yourdoctor about itA national 'Be Clear on Cancer' campaignlaunches today urging people to visit their doctor ifthey have heartburn most days for three weeks ormore, as this can be a sign of oesophageal orstomach cancer.The campaign launch coincides with results of anew survey commissioned by Public HealthEngland, which reveals only 1 in 2 people (55%)would visit their doctor if they had heartburn mostdays for three weeks or more.Early diagnosis of oesophageal or stomach cancer(also known as oesophago-gastric cancers) iscrucial and means treatment is more likely to besuccessful. Around 67 per cent of peoplediagnosed with oesophago-gastric cancers at theearliest stage survive for at least five years. Thisfigure drops to around 3 per cent for thosediagnosed at a late stage.According to the survey findings, 59% ofrespondents did not know that heartburn could bea sign of cancer with just 15% saying they were

certain that it is a symptom.1

“The campaign message is clear - you should goand see your doctor if you have heartburn mostdays for three weeks or more, it could be a sign ofcancer. You won't be wasting the doctor's time youwill either get reassurance that it isn't cancer, or if itis, you will have a better chance of successfultreatment.”“In African and Caribbean culture we'reaccustomed to eating spicy food which cansometimes cause heartburn and as a result wemay ignore symptoms thinking it isn't serious.”Another symptom highlighted by the campaign isthat of difficulty swallowing food. Here the surveyfound that 70% did not know food sticking in the

throat could be a sign of cancer, and just 13% ofthose surveyed said they were sure it is asymptom.It has been estimated that around 950 lives couldbe saved in England each year if our survival ratesfor oesophago-gastric cancers matched the best inEurope.The UK, with the Netherlands,has the joint highestincidence rate of oesophagealcancer in males in theEuropean Union and thehighest incidence rate ofoesophageal cancer infemales in the EuropeanUnion. This may be due tosmoking, low consumption of fruit and vegetablesover time, rising obesity levels and consumingalcohol on a regular basis.Of those diagnosed with oesophago-gastriccancers, more than 9 out of 10 people are over theage of 50, making this the target age group for thecampaign.

"People may be reluctant to visit their doctor aboutpersistent heartburn, thinking that it's something

they just have to live with but it couldbe a sign of cancer.”“We know that in African andCaribbean communities there arecultural and religious reasons thatcan prevent these communities fromseeing their doctor early. That's whyit's important to drive home that theearlier cancer is diagnosed, thehigher the chance of survival. We

need to encourage people across all sections insociety with symptoms to go to their doctor, whichis what this latest Be Clear on Cancer campaignaims to do.”For further information about the signs andsymptoms of oesophageal and stomach cancers,please visit nhs.uk/ogcancer.

oesophageal cancer refers to cancer of the oesophagus(more commonly known as the gullet or foodpipe), whichis the long tube that carries food from the throat to thestomach.59% was calculated from: 54% were not aware and 5%said they did not know.

Professor Chuka Nwokolo-Gastroenterologist, Coventry and

Warwickshire Hospital:

Professor Kevin Fenton, National Directorof Health and Wellbeing at Public HealthEngland, explains the importance of thisawareness activity:

PRESS RELEASE

National Be Clear on Cancer campaign highlights that ongoing heartburn can be sign of cancer

(ceylontoday.lk) There is history behind everylegend and science behind every myth. Legendhas it that Ravana reigned as the king of Lanka5,000 years ago. Patriotic historian Sir Paul E.Pieris opens his celebrated work 'Ceylon thePortuguese Era' thus: "However involved in legendand myth, there is no reason to doubt that the greatIndian Epic of the Ramayana has preserved for usthe record of events which actually did take placein the early dawn of the history of Lanka. Ravana,the fierce Island King, had captured the beautifulSita, the wife of the North indian prince and toavenge the insult to herhusband Rama Chandra,from whom the princes of Odeypore, the proudestfamily on earth, claim descent, led a mighty armyacross the water to the invasion of this fabled land.By Chandra Tilake Edirisuriya Ceylon TodayFeaturesAt Pallansena the army of Ravana appeared todispute the passage of the Maha Oya, but after afierce battle was driven back in confusion, takingwith it the dead body of its commander Ingrutila;Rama Chandra thereupon advanced to the fortressof Ravana, and after a tedious siege succeeded inkilling the latter and rescuing the princess.The magic of the defeated king, says a dimtradition, has hidden from mortal eyes themountains of silver and of gold which were to befound in Lanka; and on some mystic crag in thewildest parts of Saparagamuwa still sleepsRavana, till an offering of rice and oil tendered bythe hand ordained by fate, should heal him of hiswounds and call him back to life, once again toresume his sway over the Island, and to lay bare tothe light of the Sun the treasures which he hadsecreted. A recess in Kobodura Gala contains thebones of Ingrutila in a precious casket of goldencrusted with gems, and a great stone rolledacross the mouth of the sepulcre conceals the spotfrom the knowledge of man. 'Ravana Kotuwa',

Sitawaka and many another similar names stillpreserve the memory of these legendary days andtoday at the ancient shrine of Saparagamuwa maybe seen the models of the arrows which RamaChandra shot against his foe."Mahavamsa the great chronicleMahavamsa or the Great Chronicle mentions thatVijaya was Lanka's first king. Historians C.W.Nicholas andS. Paranavitana, in their magnum opus, 'Universityof Ceylon A Concise History of Ceylon', say: "Thestory that the Aryan settlements in Lanka were dueto the enterprise of pioneering merchantmariners in sailing vessels coasting down thewestern seaboard of India, from the mouth ofthe Indus and the eastern seaboard from themouth of the Ganges, is also supported bythe oldest account of the arrival of theSinhalas in this island found in literature.According to this story, a merchant namedSinhala in the city of Sinhakalpa, came tothis Island called 'Ratnadvipa' or Island ofGems, with five-hundred followers. Theywere enticed by ogresses or 'Rakshasis' whodwelt in an iron city and who, in the guise ofalluring women, were keeping them ashusbands, in preparation for devouring themin due time. Sinhala was miraculouslywarned of the danger that he and hiscompanions were in; he was also apprisedby the same agency of the means of escape – amiraculous horse named 'Valahaka' or Cloud. Hiscompanions were not convinced of the danger andonly Sinhala escaped.The 'Rakshasis' devoured the merchants whoremained behind and taunted their queen whoallowed Sinhala to escape from her clutches. Shewent to Sinhakalpa assuming the form of abeautiful woman with an infant, and made it knownto the citizens that Sinhala had deserted her, his

wife, and her child from him."The king of Sinhakalpa, to whom she made hercomplaint, requested Sinhala to take her back.When the king was told that she was in fact a'Rakshasi', he uttered a wisecrack that allwomen are 'Rakshasis', and said that, if Sinhaladid not want her, he would be glad to have herin the harem. Sinhala warned the king of thedanger he was running, but the charms of the'Rakshasi 'were more eloquent than the wordsof Sinhala. She was accordingly installed in thepalace, and after some days came back onenight to 'Ratnadvipa', returned with her friendsand together they devoured all the inmates inthe royal palace. The next morning, the citizensbecame aware of what happened and, as the'Rakshasis' had not spared the king's heir, theyelected Sinhala as their king. After establishinghimself in power, Sinhala equipped a powerfulforce. Came to Ratnadvipa, slew all the'Rakshasis' and made the Island a humanhabitation, with himself as its first king. Thedescendents of Sinhala and his followers wereknown in later times as Sinhalas.A beautiful maiden ofamorous character"In days gone by a king of the Vanga country inIndia, had a daughter by his queen who wasprincess Kalinga. This daughter grew up to be abeautiful maiden of amorous character. She leftthe palace and travelling with a company ofmerchants, fell into the hands of a lion. The

beast and the beauty lived together and from theirunion was born a son and a daughter. The son ofthe lion named Sinhabahu whose bodilycharacteristics were predominently human, whengrown to discerning years disliked the life with hisfather, escaped with his mother and sister andcame to the Vanga country. The lion impelled byhis love towards the princess and his childrencame after them and beagan harrying thecountryside. The king offered a reward to anyonewho would rid his land of the visitation, but nonewas able to slay the lion. Sinhabahu killed the lion,

his own father and claimed the reward. Thoughoffered half the kingdom as reward for his bravery,he did not wish to remain in a land where his crimeof patricide was known to everyone. He thereforeleft with his sister and a considerable following,arrived at Latadesa, which is present day Gujarat,founded a city named Simhapura and reignedthere with his sister Sinhaseevali as his consort.She had thirty-two children of whom the eldest sonwas named Vijaya, and the next was Sumitta."Vijaya grew up to be a wayward youth, collected aband of ruffians about him and harassed thepeople who complained to the king. Sinhabahuwarned his son thrice, but Vijaya did not give up hisevil ways. The king thereupon apprehended Vijayaand 700 of his followers, had their heads halfshaven as a punishment, and sent them away fromhis kingdom in a ship. Their wives were sent awayin a second ship and the children in a third. Theships drifted apart in the sea, the ship with thewomen on board touching land In Mahiladipa, theIsland of Females and that with the childrenarriving at Naggadipa, the Island of the NakedMen, possibly the Nicobars."The ship with Vijaya and his followers on boardtouched at the port of Supparaka, the present daySopara, north of Bombay, but their behaviour wassuch that they were driven out and put out to seaonce more. The ship eventually arrived in Lankaand Vijaya and his men came ashore. Thankful fortheir deliverence, they grasped the earth with theirhands, which became red by contact with the soil.They thereupon named the place 'Tambapanni'meaning copper coloured hand and the name waslater extended in its application to the district and tothe whole Island.Buddha's Parinirvana"Vijaya is said to have landed at 'Tambapanni' onthe very day of the Buddha's Parinirvana, that is,Passing-away. The Buddha, it is said, foresaw thatVijaya would convert this Island into an abode ofmen and his religion would flourish there in thefuture. He therefore requested Indra, the king of

gods to protect Vijaya and his followers. Indradeputed Uppalavanna or Varuna for this task, andthe deity in the guise of a hermit, was awaitingVijaya on the day of his landing. It was from himthat Vijaya and his followers learnt that the place atwhich they arrived was called 'Sirisavatthu',inhabited by demons or 'Yakshas'.Uppalavanna protected the exile by tying thesacred paritta thread on their wrists. Following abitch, who was in reality a 'Yakshini' in disguise,Vijaya's men came into the power of Kuveni, thedaughter of a Yaksha king, but no harm befell

them, as they were protected by the thread.Vijaya went in search of his men and, learningthat they were held as prisoners by Kuveni,threatened to kill her if they were not released.She not only yielded and gave up the men butalso offered her hand to Vijaya who accepted heradvances. Kuveni pointed out to him a strategemby means of which he was able to slay theYakshas, himself being invisible, on the occasionof the wedding feast of theirs. Having rid theIsland of Yakshas Vijaya built a city at the place ofhis landing. Several of his followers establishedsettlements at various places, which were namedafter them. These were Upatissagama on theGambhira river, Anuradhagama on the Kadambariver, Ujjeni, Uruwela and Vijita."However, when Vijaya's followers being satisfiedthat they had firmly established themseves in the

new land of promise wished to consectrate theirleader as king, Vijaya refused to be consecrateduntil he had a Ksatriya cosort to share his throne.Envoys were therefore sent with costly presents tothe Pandu king at Madhura soliciting the hand ofhis daughter for Vijaya. The Pandu king not onlyagreed to send his daughter called Vijayi, to beVijaya's consort, but also sent seven hundredmaidens as brides for his followers. Moreover, hesent bands of craftsmen and a thousand families ofthe eighteen guilds to set the new kingdom on itsfeet. The Pandu princess with her numerousretinue landed at Mahatittha. On the receipt of thisnews, Vijaya requested Kuveni, with her twochildren by him, to leave Tambapanni and go to herown people. She was reluctant, but was compelledto leave Vijaya and go the Yakshas at Lankapura,where she was slain by her people for betrayingthem. The two children, a son and a daughter,were spared and they, it is said, grew up andbecame the ancestors of the Pulindas, the Veddasof today.Pandu princess Vijayi"Vijaya was duly consecrated with the Panduprincess as his consort. He established friendlyrelations with his father-in-law, to whom he sentvaluable presents every year. He reigned for thirty-eight years with Tambapanni as his capital, but hisPandu consort did not provide him with an heir.When he saw that his end was nearing, he sent forhis younger brother Sumitta in Sinhapura to cometo Lanka and become its king. But Sumitta hadalready been crowned king of Sinhapura and hadno desire to leave his native land. He, however,sent to Lanka his youngest son, namedPanduvasudeva, whose mother was a princess ofthe Maddas, a Ksatriya clan in the Punjab. Vijayapassed away before Panduvasudeva arrived inLanka, and the government was administered foran year by the purohita Brahamin named Upatissafrom the settlement named after him."

(Contd: on P24)

Was Vijaya Lanka's first king?




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(ceylontoday.lk) At a magnificent height of 2,243metres (7,360ft), the Sri Pada Adaviya is asanctuary not only for all the major faiths in thecountry, but also to an extraordinary range of floraand fauna, mostly endemic to Sri Lanka. Securingits place among the top five highest mountains inthe country, the Sri Pada Mountain holds asignificant place in uniting all major religions in theregion. Due to this significance, the 11th SouthAsian Games commenced its torch rally from itsPeak with the hope that this would bring blessingsand prosperity to the entire South Asian region.Ecological importanceThe then Government of Ceylon which understoodthe importance of the Sri Pada Adaviya,declared it as a sanctuary in the year 1940under the Fauna and Flora ProtectionOrdinance (FFPO). Its total extent at thetime was 22,379 hectares. Later declareda Natural World Heritage Site, the Sri PadaAdaviya also known as the PeakWilderness Protected Area or the Adam'sPeak is located in the central hills. It is thelargest block of pristine and near-pristinemontane and sub-montane rainforest in SriLanka. It contains over 500 woody plantspecies, of which about 50% are foundonly in Sri Lanka, and 225 vertebratespecies of which 37% are endemic andexclusive to this area. Amongst the fauna,there are many point endemics in thisforest which means they are only found atone location in the Peak WildernessProtected Area (PWPA) and nowhere else in thewhole world.In 2010 the United Nations Educational Scientificand Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) declared thePeak Wilderness Protected Area together with theKnuckles Conservation Forest and the HortonPlains National Park as the Central HighlandsNatural World Heritage Site. This was based oncriterion nine that is to be an outstanding examplerepresenting significant on-going ecological andbiological processes in the evolution anddevelopment of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal andmarine ecosystems and communities of plants andanimals and criterion ten that is to contain the mostimportant and significant natural habitats for in-situconservation of biological diversity, including thosecontaining threatened species of outstandinguniversal value from the point of view of science orconservation. These values are mainlydemonstrated by the extraordinary flora,freshwater fish, amphibians and reptiles that theseareas support as well as the birds and some of thesmall mammals.The entire range which is situated approximately2,500 metres above sea-level is home to severalendangered species such as the western-purplefaced langur, the Horton Plains slender loris andthe Sri Lanka leopard. The region is considered asuper diversity hotspot.The Buddhists who identify the footprint as theBuddha's believe it was imprinted by the departingBuddha on his third visit to the island as written inthe Mahawansa. However, it was not until thePolonnaruwa Era, that the site became a regularpilgrimage site for the Buddhists. According to theMahawansa, King Vijayabahu I built resting housesfor the pilgrims and King Nissankamalla himselfclimbed the summit and paid his obeisance in theyear 1201.Buddhism and the environmentEach year as the Sri Pada season commenceswith the end of the rainy season in December onthe Unduvap full moon day and goes on till theVesak full moon in May, hundreds of thousands ofpilgrims visit this sacred area to worship thefootprint atop the rocky summit. On the path toseeking a spiritual experience or an enlightenedexperience, the pilgrims end up polluting andharming the environment. They disregard naturethat protects and upholds this sacred location,called the Sri Pada Sanctuary, which is a primelocation for their beliefs.Buddhism is a religion that places great emphasison the environment and its protection. We see thatBuddhism from its very inception is tied with theenvironment as the Buddha was born at LumbiniGarden. He thereafter engaged in spiritual practicein the forest and attained enlightenment under atree, after which, he preached his first sermon atthe Deer Park (Migadaya). The major monasterieswhere he taught his disciples were all gardens orforests, such as the Jeta Grove (Jenavanaya),Bamboo Grove (Veluvanaya) and the Mango grove(Amravana). He passed in to pari-nirvana at theSal forest in Kusinagar of the Kingdom of theMallas. When Ananda Thera requested theBuddha to name something for the people in

villages far away to worship him by when he is notthere in person, the Buddha named a tree. Thisshows the intrinsic connection Buddhism has withthe environment.Buddhism maintains that there is a close linkbetween man's morals and the natural resourcesavailable to him. However, in his search forpleasure and affluence the modern man hasexploited nature without any moral restraint to suchan extent that nature has been rendered almostincapable of sustaining a healthy life. Invaluablegifts of nature, such as air and water which areabundant in locations like the Sri Pada Adaviya,where Seetha Gangula commences its journey to

branch out as the River Kelani and River Kalu arebeing polluted which will have disastrousconsequences. Sri Pada is also known as thefountain of life for the whole of Sri Lanka, as it ishere that all streams of water stem from, flowingdown the body of the mountain to the paddy fieldsbelow.Taking fields of paddy as a case in point, Buddhaanswered a question put forward by KingBimbisara , wherein the latter asked for adistinctive attire to be prepared for the bhikkus.Ananda Thera who was entrusted with this task,was advised by the Buddha to design the saffronrobes (Kashaya Vatta) based on the orderly,staggered pattern of the rows of rice paddy fields.Buddhism is completely averse to the idea thatnature and all things created exist for the benefitof mankind. Mankind is part of the environmentand its order and not in a position of dominance.During his time in ancient Ceylon, Arahat Mahindaquoting from the Chullahattipadopama Suttaadvised King Devanampiyatissa "oh great king,the birds and the beasts all have an equal right tolive and move about in any part of this island asthou. The land belongs to the people and all otherbeings and thou art only the guardian of it".Therefore it is understood that humans are just asmuch subject to the natural order of the universeas any other form of sentient existence. Buddhistpilgrims, who undertake this journey to the summitof the Sri Pada, have to be mindful of their journeyas enlightened beings do not harm sentient life. Ifthey did, they would not be enlightened beings.Therefore it is ironic that people are harming theenvironment that is protecting the sacred site theyvisit, whilst on a spiritual journey of this nature.In ancient times, cleanliness was highlycommended by the Buddhists both in the personand in the environment. They were very concernedabout keeping water clean, be it in the river, pond,or well. These sources of water were for public useand each individual had to use them with properpublic-spirited caution so that others after themcould use it with the same degree of cleanliness.This was true to other forms of fauna, as it wasfood to most animals. However, the pilgrims todayhave forgotten this key message in buddhism andpollute the pathway to the peak with plastic andpolythene.One must remember that it is only when our mindsare pure that we experience mother nature. Thenature grounds us and soothes us. Unspoilt naturallocations, usually places in the wilderness such asthe Peak Wilderness Protected Area, where thenatural energies are peaceful, are the ideal placesfor buddhist practice. Therefore it is important to beinformed that when one's mind is polluted orimpure, one causes pollution to the environment,which, like a circle fosters problems to oneself.This is the behaviour of karma. Not only is itbeneficial to one's mind to be mindful, but it is alsoaesthetically beneficial to a pilgrim as he/she getsto enjoy the beauty of the surrounding throughwhich he/she treks and the beautiful sunrise thatgreets him/her at the summit. Therefore it helps tobe mindful and appreciate the magnificence ofnature bestowed upon us. The Thera and their

gathas impress upon us the descriptions of theenvironment by the Bhikkus and Bhikkunis. Onestanza states ramaneeyaani arannyani – yattaramathi jatho: veetha raga ramessanthi –na the kaama gawessanthi which means, theBhikkus and Bhikkunis should enjoy andappreciate the environment, but not desire it. Thisis true to the pilgrims for they should not take orleave anything at the sacred Sri Pada besides theirfootsteps.Kindness towards allThe foremost principle of Buddhist karma-basedethics is ahimsa, the principles of non-harming andrespect for life. This does not only refer to the

respect for human beings, but also for everymanifestation of life on the planet, especiallysentient life. When partaking in a religiousjourney of this nature, it is important to beconscious of all beings not just the humankind, but also of those that cannot voice theirown discomfort. It is of extreme importance tobe mindful of one's surroundings when onthis journey, as the Buddha rightly advised. Itis in this context that the Buddha advised hisdisciples to abstain from setting out on footduring the rainy season, in order to protectthe flora and fauna. He incorporated thisenvironmentally conscious disciplinarytradition which is still being practiced today.This learning has to be accompanied bymoral restraint if man is to enjoy the benefitsof natural resources for a long time he mustlearn to satisfy his needs and not feed his

greed. The resources of the world are not unlimitedwhereas man's greed knows neither limit norsatiation. We must keep in mind that the modernman in his unbridled voracious greed for pleasureand acquisition of wealth has exploited nature tothe point of near impoverishment. The excessiveexploitation of nature as is done today iscondemned by buddhism in the strongest possibleterms. Buddhism advocates a gentle non-aggressive attitude towards nature. According tothe Puppavagga of the Dhammapada, ahouseholder should accumulate wealth as a beecollects pollen from a flower. The bee harmsneither the fragrance nor the beauty of the flower,

but gathers pollen to turn it into sweet honey.Similarly, man is expected to make legitimate useof nature and as the bee leaves the flower for thefuture, man too should retain the environment forfuture use. The journey taken to worship theBuddha's footprint atop the summit of the Sri Padamountain is unlike any other journey one wouldtake. It is a journey detailed with spirituality whereone has the fortune to look within oneself. It is on ajourney such as this that pilgrims both young andold destroy nature either by throwing awaymanmade items where it cannot decompose or byunnecessarily breaking branches off trees,plucking fruit or evenurinating in the forests.Buddha has citedmany examples on theimportance ofsafeguarding both floraand fauna and theyare mutually reliant onone another. He hasexplained that one willnot exist without theother. This is a lessonwhich can bewitnessed by mantoday. Due to theenvironment'simportance, Buddhahas drawn manyexamples from it todescribe the mostprofound dhammasuch as "thaiwa

pasahathi maaro – waatho rukkanwa dubbalan"which means, just like the strong winds can uprootsteady trees, one must try to liberate oneself ofgreed and want. Pilgrims on their journey to SriPada must keep these valuable lessons in mind.In this context, it is important to remember that theBuddha taught us indispensability of respect for lifeand the natural world. By living modestly one canbe in harmony with other creatures and learn toappreciate the interconnectedness of all lives. Thesimplicity of life involves developing openness toour environment and relating to the world withawareness and responsive perception. It alsoenables us to enjoy without possessing andmutually benefit each other without manipulation.Buddhism teaches us that if we wish to save theenvironment, we must first look within and analyseour lives to determine how our self-deification isdestroying the world by depleting, over populating,and polluting the environment. It is these thoughtsand teachings a Buddhist pilgrim must have inmind when climbing the steps of the Sri Pada.The Karaniyametta Sutta explains the cultivation ofloving-kindness towards all creatures timid andsteady, long and short, big and small, minute andgreat, visible and invisible, near and far, born andawaiting birth or life. All beings are to be treatedwith this loving attitude. Just as one's own life isprecious to oneself, so is the life of the other,precious to him. Therefore a reverential attitudemust be cultivated towards all forms of life on thejourney to Sri Pada, as it is home to a variety ofextraordinary flora and fauna. Humans who viewthemselves as the smartest species of all beingshave misused and abused their power andselfishly destroyed species of animals, forests,mountains, natural resources etc, finally reapingthe results of living in a destroyed environment.The damage and destruction to the ecology to analarming level has originated from theunwholesome and greedy mind of mankind. Onlyhumans can cause the most devastatingdestruction to Planet Earth. Those who trulyunderstand the Buddha's teaching will limit theirselfishness, to live in harmony with nature, withoutharming the environment. They will see whatshould be explored and to what level, what should

be protected for the future use by the nextgenerations and other beings. The pilgrimswho undertake a journey of spirituality areaware of this and are kind to nature. TheBuddhist pilgrims must keep in mind thatthe Sri Pada Adaviya is a one-of-a-kindlocation to the world and their behaviourwill resonate for generations to come, thusintroducing the concept of trusteeship tohuman beings.The Dalai Lama said "in order to achievemore effective results and in order tosucceed in the protection, conservation andpreservation of the natural environment,first of all, I think, it is also important tobring about internal balance within humanbeings themselves. Since negligence of theenvironment - which has resulted in lots of

harm to the human community - came about byignorance of the very special importance of theenvironment, I think it is very important first of all toinstil this knowledge within human beings". Hefurther says that, "if in our generation we exploitevery available thing: trees, water, mineralresources or anything, without bothering about thenext generation, about the future, that's our guilt,isn't it? So if we have a genuine sense of universalresponsibility, as the central motivator andprinciple, then from that direction our relations withthe environment will be well balanced."

(Contd: on P24)

A pilgrimage of many lessons




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Gemini(the Twins) 21st May - 20th June

Cancer(the Crab) 21st June - 20th July

Leo(the Lion) 21st July - 19th / 22nd Aug

Virgo(the Virgin) 20th / 23rd Aug - 22nd Sept

Libra(the Scale) 23rd Sept - 22nd Oct

Scorpio(the Scorpion) 23rd Oct - 21st Nov

Sagittarius(the Archer) 22nd Nov - 20th Dec

Capricorn(the Goat) 21st Dec - 20th Jan

Aquarius(the Water Carrier) 21st Jan -19th Feb

Pisces(the Fishes) 20th Feb - 20th March

Aries(the Ram) 21st March-20th April

Taurus(the Bull) 21st April - 20th May

Keep a regular check on your bank balance. Someone close to you maybe borrowing a little more than you realised. No need for paranoia, althoughthis is a good time to reassess your love life. Make sure you're in it for theright reasons. If it's just excitement you're after, remind yourself excitementcomes in many different guises, and not always the ones you had in mind.Try to be a little more specific about your needs.

It's recognition you're after, and there's never enough. Better watchyourself. Your needs are becoming cravings, and you're starting tostand on unnecessary toes. Get some help - learn to give yourself theapproval you need. Failing that, offer something expansive in return forthe applause. Actually, that shouldn't be too difficult. Your talents areglowing and you have time. But you need to be willing to change.

Here's a dilemma. On the one hand, you're wildly attractive to theopposite sex - always good for the morale. But on the other, your needfor freedom is making everyone wonder whether they need all thisdrama in their lives. Okay, so if you can't make up your mind, at leasttry to communicate. You can design your own option. There mighteven be someone out there who sees the world precisely as you do.

There's a quiet rage building up inside, and it's looking for a place to vent.Make sure it doesn't choose the office as a suitable venue. You don't wantto be yelling at the boss. The anger is about you - where you're going andwhy you've allowed yourself to put up with as much as you have. Couldbe time to make changes. But don't rush. No good decision was evermade in anger. You need to learn to say "no".

Have all your spectacular new ideas been falling flat? Actually, everything'sgoing exactly according to plan. This is the time to work on and completeall the old stuff. Because from the planets' point of view, there's alreadytoo much old junk lying around and not enough space for anything new.Your task is to throw out or complete all unfinished stuff: emotional,physical or mental. After that, welcome in the good fortune.

For once, you won't have any ingenious solutions to the problems at work.This will drive you nuts. It's time for you to learn some humility, and tounderstand that there are other people who are just as capable as you.So relax. And that means relax. It doesn't mean use your time to makewild investments on crazy schemes just to prove a point. It means putyour trust in something other than yourself.

Ooh, those idiots are getting on your nerves. What idiots? Any idiots:lovers, bosses, marriage partners - just about anyone who is daring toget in your way. You need to take care. Not everyone is as forgiving asyou are, and they won't necessarily take kindly to being yelled at for nodiscernable reason. So shred some pillows first, then take a longlavender bath. And when you're smiling again, rewrite your speech.

Those of you who have been resisting change will be given the odd reminderthis week - especially at work. There'll be the daily accident in the office, or arash on the day you want to impress your boss. The answer here is toreassess and set in motion a process of voluntary change. Be ready to let goof things, ideas and people that no longer serve you. Besides, the heavyplanets have almost shifted out of your space. You can relax again.

You could be having relationship problems now due largely to the fact thatyou're having more trouble than usual communicating your feelings. Theplanetary mayhem also doesn't help. The result? Dodgy relationships couldend, even if only for a time. Good relationships, on the other hand, will bestrengthened by the sharing of a problem. And new ones will be solid as arock. But whatever the case, learn to speak!

Reaching beyond self-imposed limitations requires a serious attitudeadjustment. Get ready to take yourself on. A mind like yours alwayshas a thousand valid reasons why it's important to stay exactly as youare. And while you're thinking about that, see if you can arrange aromantic weekend away. You're in need of some fun, and you need tostop taking yourself so seriously.

If you're looking for a new love, expect to find it in a place thatinspires your spiritual side. If you're involved, arrange a vacation withthe lover, preferably far from home. Either way, spend some timethinking about what you want in a relationship. If you use the energieswell, you could turn this time into the most romantic of your life.Even so, watch what you say.

If you can reschedule any travel, you'd be wise to do so. Also, becareful of arguments. You're in the mood to stand up for yourself, butmake sure the issue is important enough to cause trouble over.Last month's progress is being digested now, with moreimprovements coming soon. Most importantly, stop lookingfor perfection.

Vijayafrom P22The four main themes in theMahavansa are, the visit of theBuddha to Lanka, the Indo-Aryancolonization of the Island, theintroduction of Buddhism and theepic of Dutugemunu. In commonwith the universal pattern of earlyliterature, it contains much that isfabulous and unreal, but theelimination of myth, magic andmiracle from the work will not leave aresidue of history. The author of theMahavansa firmly believed in thetruth of the legends and traditionswhich he recorded, and so did allmen of that time. From the 2ndcentury BCE his narrative becomesless traditional and more historical,

doubtless due to the documents ofor near that time being available tohim, and his main facts, particularlyin regard to dynastic succession andthe foundation of monasteries, arewell authenticated by a number ofcotemporary inscriptions.Whether Vijaya was the first king ofLanka or there was Ravana, beforethat, a statesman, warrior, physician,engineer and musician, and manymore, whose ten heads and twentyhands signify his dominance overten tribes, his notable dexterity, hisunique adeptnes in governance, andhis mastery of the various sciences,arts and crafts, the ancestry of theformer being traced to a lion,biologically or totemistically, and theversatility of the latter makes SriLanka proud!

A pilgrimagefrom P23Everyone in the modern world is aware ofprotecting the environment, reducing the amount ofgarbage etc. Nevertheless, we continue to destroyit. The wasteful consumption of natural resourcesand the destruction of ecology are caused by thehuman's craving for convenience and wealth.However, if the Buddhist teaching of 'leading acontented life with few desires' and 'being satisfiedand therefore always happy' are practiced, then wewill not have to fight with nature and can lead avery happy life. Protecting the environment mustbe all-encompassing. In addition to cherishingnatural resources, protecting the ecologicalenvironment and lifestyle choices such as reducingthe amount of garbage, recycling, living a pure,simple and frugal life and minimising the pollutionwe cause, we must also learn to respect all formsof life. We must constantly remind ourselves thatapart from ourselves and our generation, there areinnumerable other people and future generationsthat need to enjoy and benefit from thisenvironment. In this context, it is important toremember that we have not inherited the earthfrom our parents instead we have borrowed it fromour children.Sri Lanka is not the only country that can boast ofplaces of worship in the wilderness. Countries suchas Japan, Thailand and Vietnam have scores oftemples and meditation retreats in native forests,with green vegetation, clean and refreshing pondsand lakes, clean air and a variety of species livingin peace. These are locations which attract people

from all corners of the world to enjoy nature, findpeace of mind and get away from noisy andpolluted places. Sri Lankans must note that othernationalities embrace their environment andensure that it is safe. Other countries too havereligious places in the midst of beautiful environs,yet they do not harm the environment like our SriLankans, who visit the Sri Pada Adaviya. Theyprotect, not destroy their surroundings.Buddhism teaches us that people behave in awrong manner not wholly because they havewicked intentions, but due to ignorance. Thereforeit is the responsibility ofthose who know thevalue and theimportance ofprotecting theenvironment to educatethose less fortunatewith this knowledge. Inthis context, thegovernment and itsrespectiveenvironmentalauthorities along withother organisations thatwork to protect theenvironment shouldremember that it is theirresponsibility toeducate people. As theKutadanta Sutta pointsout, the governmentshould take activemeasures to provideprotection to flora and

fauna. This is under the Dasarajadhamma or the'Ten Duties of the King'.Seeing that the Sri Pada Adaviya is not only areligious site, it is the responsibility of the countryas a whole to conserve the World Heritage site,according to international guidelines, for theinability to safeguard this natural hotspot will notonly jeopardise the World Heritage status of thePeak Wilderness but that of the KnucklesConservation Forest and the Horton Plains as wellas destroying the unique religious site.(Ceylon Today Features)




Pays homage at the Sri Dalada Maligawa

Hafiz Marikar(dailynews.lk) Navin Eranjan Dissanayake the newMinister of Tourism and Sport visited Kandy andpaid homage to the Sri Dalada Maligawa in thecompany of the former Diyawadane NilameNiranjan Wijaratne who is also the UNP oppositionleader of the Kandy Municipal Council.Both are products of Royal College.Later the Minister visited the Asgiriyaand Malwatte chapters.Navin who is a Member of Parliament,is a son of late Minister GaminiDissanayake and grandson of AndrewDissanayake who served as an MP forthe Nuwara Eliya electorate and aDeputy Minister in the S. W. R. D.Bandaranaike government and son in law ofMinister Karu Jayasuriya.Speaking to the writer he said: ‘We should do ourbest to promote sports’. Like father late Gamini,Navin is all out to give of his best, specially forsports, because today most sports bodies are in amess.Having been in the field of sports, following it

closely and writing about it, the writer makes boldto say that Dissanayake has it in him to to put allsport right.I told him that it was during his father’s presidencyof the Cricket Board, that Sri Lanka obtained Teststatus and the Trinity College Grounds at Asgiriyawas turned into a International stadium in just

ninety days.I also told him that at club level exceptfor rugby, all other main out doorsports are in bad shape. Football,Hockey and Cricket at club level havedropped. Sportsmen of these threesports are furious due to lack oftournaments. The people to blame arethose elected to these controllingbodies.Football in Kandy flourished at one

time and was the most popular sport. Today it is inthe doldrums. Same with Hockey.Football and Hockey held its own in Kandy.Cricket, Rugby, Volleyball, Lawn Tennis came nextin importance. So, now it is apparent that we havegot the right man for the job.

(sundayobserver.lk)Anika Seneviratne (2nd seed ) created anupset to beat topseeded MahinQureshi from Pakistan6/1 6/2 to win the ITFunder 14 JuniorsinglesChampionships inVietnam yesterday.The Ladies Collegeschoolgirl did SriLanka proud with a

power packed performance which left the favouriteno chance to recover. The Sri Lankan girlsperformed extremely well with Natasha

Munaweera claiming 4th place and Probodi Perera5th giving the Sri Lankans the over all No 1 spot. Ifthey manage to perform in this manner next weekthey could qualify for the next stage of the ITFcompetition in Thailand in march which will then bethe qualifiers for the Asian team to play against theEuropeans.In the doubles Anika and Probodi justified their No1 ranking with a hard fought 6/1 5/7 10/5 againstWeng Si Leong ( Macau) and Natasha Munaweera(SL)In the boys Ashen Silva did well to finish in 5thplace and Thevan Perera 8th with ThevindaPerera 13th overall.The tournament had over 60 entries with 16countries participating.

By Bernard Perera(nation.lk) Solid Sports Club fromAnuradhapura put on a solid performance torecord their first ever highest level FootballChampionship title when they won the ‘Dialog’Champions League 2014. This was achievedon Wednesday when they completed theirallocated 20 games playing against SaundersSC at the Kelaniya Football Complex. Theymanaged to outplay their opponents by onegoal to nil.The victory which brought them three pointsput Solid SC in an unassailable position with 48points. At present the winner has completedtheir allotted 20 matches and stands on top ofthe points table with 15 wins, 3 draws and 2losses.Second placed Negombo Youth SC too hascompleted their games but ran short of sevenpoints to outdo the outstation team fromAnuradhapura.Solid SC, admitted to the top ranked footballtournament in Sri Lanka only two years agoshowed that they are determined to challengeany well established team and kept onimproving day by day during the season. Their

determination was highly successful and sawthem grab the title for the people ofAnuradhapura who have helped in numerousways for the team’s survival.Third and fourth placed teams Sri Lanka Armyand Colombo Football Club are tied at 39points yet they have two games each and oneof these teams are in a position to oustNegombo Youth SC for the runner-up position.On Wednesday Solid SC entered the fieldexpecting only a draw here to be the winners ofthe prestigious Championship. But thingschanged quickly with striker Gnanaruubanslamming the much wanted goal.Solid SC team comprised former nationalcaptain S. Bandara. He had the best supportcoming from the three foreigners from NigeriaShola, Hafeez and Daniel.

In another game Sri Lanka Air Force outplayedColombo FC two goals to nil. Colombo FCwere riding high hoping to make it to the top ofthe table but their defeat pushed them to fourthposition along with Sri Lanka Army. ColomboFC has two games to play and is capable oftaking the runner-up position if they win both.

Crystal Palace fromGampola playing atNawalapitiyaagainst KalutaraPark managed tosettle for a 1-1 alldraw. Both teamscollected a pointeach from thisgame. The result ofthis game made nochanges to thestandings on thepoints table.

Airmen down Colombo FC 2-0

Kalutara Park SC in a draw

Solid SC new Dialog league soccer champs

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq(nation.lk) It takes two to tango. In cricketingparlance they say that fast bowlers hunt in pairsand opening batsmen work in pairs.Sri Lanka’s ailing sports environment could nothave asked for a better pair than the appointmentsof Navin Dissanayake as Tourism and SportsMinister and Wasantha Senanayake as his deputyin the newly formed government to take chargeand try and put it back on the right track. Bothgentlemen come from good stock and havereputations to safeguard.Navin’s father was the late Gamini Dissanayake, apowerful cabinet minister during the UNP regime ofthe country’s first executive President JRJayawardene from 1978-89. Apart from hisMinisterial portfolio Gamini was also president ofthe Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (as itwas known then), a post which he was elected toin 1981. Gamini is renowned for successfullyfighting Sri Lanka’s case for full membership of theInternational Cricket Council (ICC) in 1981 andhelping the country achieve Test status. During histenure as president Gamini was also instrumentalin the construction of the Sri Lanka CricketFoundation as well as a headquarters for Sri LankaCricket, which was a crying need at the time andthe Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.He also pioneered the concept of the nationalcricket team being assisted by foreign coaches byinviting cricketers in the caliber of Sir Garfield

Sobers, Peter Philpott and Don Smith at varioustimes to accompany the team on tours and forhome series. In November 2012, the SLChonoured Gamini by refurbishing the CricketIndoor Nets (which was another of his concepts in1984) at Maitland Place by naming it after him. Itwas opened by his wife Srima Dissanayake in thepresence of a distinguished gathering that includedNavin.Wasantha Senanayake is the grandson of the lateRobert Senanayake who served the longest periodin office as Cricket Board president for 16 yearsfrom 1956-72. It was the period where Sri Lankacricket was in its amateur stage in world cricketand hardly recognized. It was an era when thecontrolling body for the sport was not filthy rich asit is today but had to go around with a beggingbowl to send the national team on cricket toursabroad and hold meetings at the home of theCricket Board president or one of its members.Robert, a son of Sri Lanka’s first Prime Ministerlate DS Senanayake and the brother of Dudleywho also went onto become the country’s PrimeMinister, guided the destiny of Sri Lanka cricketduring his tenure as president and was involved inthe spadework to bring the country to the highstandards it was later to achieve under GaminiDissanayake.It was during Robert’s time that Sri Lanka wasmade an associate member of the ICC in 1965along with USA and Fiji when the world body for

the sport decided to widen its membership byintroducing Associate Members. Robert actuallykept Sri Lanka cricket ‘alive’ when through hisnumerous contacts abroad he brought down manyinternational teams to Sri Lanka, an exposure thatwas to prove beneficial when Sri Lanka eventuallygained Test status. In recognition of its efforts theCricket Board named a cricket tournament afterhim, “The Robert Senanayake Inter-AssociationTournament” where the cream of Sri Lanka’scricketers participated and the matches were of 3and 4 days duration. Sadly the tournament is nolonger in existence today.Navin and Wasantha are both aware of theirresponsibilities as public figures.“My belated father Gamini Dissanayake is the onewho helped Sri Lanka get Test status in 1981. Asthe son, I have a historic mandate to look into thesport of cricket,” said Navin when he assumedofficial duties as the country’s eleventh Minister ofSport on Thursday.The Ministry portfolio for Sports Minister wascreated in 1972 when KB Ratnayake became thefirst to be appointed to the post. He remained inthat position till 1976. His successors were VincentPerera (1977-88), Nanda Mathew (1989-93), SBDissanayake (1994-2001), Lakshman Kiriella(2001-02), Johnston Fernando (2002-04), JeevanKumaranatunga (2004-07), Gamini Lokuge (2007-10), CB Ratnayake (2010 for 6 months),Mahindananda Aluthgamage (2010-15) and Navin

Dissanayake.“I make a promise to the country, in the name ofmy father, that I will not make a historic decisionagain. I will make historic decisions from within theUNP itself. If that does not work, then I will nothave any problems. I will go home and I will returnto court to practice my profession as a lawyer,”said Navin.The new Sports Minister admitted that there weremany issues about sports corruption including theMinistry of Sport and that he would set up a fact-finding committee to go into it and submit a reportbefore deciding on the next course of action.Cricket he said would take priority with the WorldCup round the corner but promised to give priorityto rugby, athletics and football if he is reappointedsports minister after the next general election.Wasantha also assuming duties as deputy sportsminister on the same day said that he comes fromthe ideal background to be appointed as Naveen’sdeputy and that he hoped to serve in thedevelopment of sports in the country.“We gave hope to the people and now in thecoming days we must fulfill them and see thecountry develop under good governance. I workedhard, I had many obstacles to overcome to servethe people, but now I have been given theopportunity,” stated Wasantha.Both of them have a difficult task to fulfill and onehopes for the sake of sports in Sri Lanka theysucceed.

Point-blank: It takes two to tango – Navin and Wasantha

Navin all out to improve sport

Anika creates major upset

by Suresh Perera(island.lk) In a dramatic development, Golden Key(GK) vowed to "fight the legal battle to the end"without caving in to pressure to withdraw theongoing Supreme Court (SC) case toclear the way for former ChairmanLalith Kotelawala to introduce arepayment plan to reimburse strugglingdepositors, a senior official said lastweek.The GK board of directors has comeunder tremendous pressure to allowKotelawala into the picture to make afresh bid to grant relief, but "we totally oppose sucha move because Kotelwala has lost credibility",says Dushanthi Hapugoda, a member of the GKboard of directors.When the former Chairman had every opportunity

to reimburse depositors, he failed to produceconcrete results. After the company crashed in2008, Kotelawala personally met depositors in theBMICH premises and pledged to "repay every

cent", but nothing happened, she recalled."We wouldn’t be fighting a court case today if hehad initially honored his word", she pointed out."Depositors were left out in the cold and legalredress was the only option".She recounted how Kotelawala, CEO KavanPerera and the then GK board of directorsplaced a repayment plan before the SC on June29, 2011, which was supported by depositors’

associations, but it didn’t see the light of day.As Kotelawala failed to support or cooperate toimplement his own repayment solution, the thenCentral Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal,submitted to the SC a fresh proposal, which was

accepted and the fourth stage of which is nowbeing implemented, Hapugoda explained."With this track record, how can we convinceourselves that Kotelawala will not retract again ifthe legal action is withdrawn and the onus ofreimbursing GK investors is placed on hisshoulders again?", she queried. "What guaranteedo we have that history will not repeat itself?"She said that a firm decision has been made topush ahead with the SC case and the door is openfor the former Chairman to team up and help jointlyimplement the Central Bank’s repayment formula."That’s the most viable option at this juncture".With the collapse of the Rajapaksa regime,Kotelawala, who maintained a stoic silence sinceGK folded up in 2008, appeared in a recenttelevision program, where he promised to settle allthe dues if the "legal impediments are removed",

Hapugoda said."As we can no longer take his word, he can comebefore the SC and give an undertaking toreimburse the Rs. 26 billion the company owes itsdepositors", she noted. "That’s a more crediblealternative".Hapugoda said that approximately Rs. 1 billion hasalready been disbursed to depositors under therepayment strategy and the fourth phase is nowunderway with one-third of the holdings based onthe 41% calculation being repaid.For example, an investor with a Rs. 1 millionholding, who has so far received Rs. 300,000(under the earlier three phases which brings downthe percentage to 38) will receive the balance33,000 under the ongoing fourth stage (i.e.balance of Rs. 110,000 x one-third = Rs. 33,000).

(Contd: on P26)

GK rules out withdrawing SC case: ‘Will fight to the end’

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GK rulesfrom P25Under the proposed fifth stage, the final Rs. 66,000will be reimbursed."Though we were earlier talking in terms of settlingthe balance 59% through a share issue, we arenow confident that cash repayments can be made

as we have discovered more ‘hidden assets’ of GKin many countries, including Australia, Maldivesand Bangladesh", Hapugoda explained."Though he referred to the present MaithripalaSirisena dispensation as "our government" in histelevision appearance, we can assure him that thecourt case will not be withdrawn until justice isdone to all suffering GK depositors", the directorstressed.

Kotelawala was invited three times earlier for talksto sort out this critical issue, but he chose not tocome. That invitation is still open. He can join us tocollectively work out a solution and close the tragicGK chapter, she underscored.She said that if not for the intervention of the thenCentral Bank Governor, Seylan Bank and TheFinance Company would have also collapsedmaking life miserable for thousands more

investors. "The Central Bank had to inject Rs. 6billion to resuscitate The Finance Company"."No public funds were pumped into GK. What weasking for is not money from the government, butour own funds, which we placed in Kotelawala’scare because the people believed he wastrustworthy at the time".

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67TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

THAMES BUDDHIST VIHARA

1st of February 2015 / Starting at 3.00

49,DULVERTON ROAD, SELSDON, SURREY, CR2 8PJ

THE PROGRAMME01.Procession by Ven.Maha Sangha and the Invited Guests.02.Hoisting the Sri Lankan National Flag and Magul Bera.03.Arrival to the meeting lead by children of Thames DhammaSchool playing the band.04.Lighting of the Oil Lamp and Magul Bera.05.Welcome speech by Ven.Eheliyagoda Dhammapala NayakaThero , Acting Head of the Thames Buddhist Vihara.06. A Dance by pupils of Thames Dhamma school.

Trained by Mrs. Neetha Rohini Wijewickrama07.Introductory speech by Dr.Herath Kularatne , President ofThames Meditation Society.08.Speech by Pupil of Thames Dhamma School in English.09.Speech by Pupil of Thames Dhamma School in Sinhala.10.A song by Children of Thames Dhamma School. Music byMr.Jagath Jayathilaka11.Sermon by Most Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thero,Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain, Head of the London BuddhistVihara.12.Speech by His Excellency the High Commissioner for Sri LankaDr.Chanaka Thalpahewa.13. A Dance by pupils of Thames Dhamma school .

Trained by Mrs. Neetha Rohini Wijewickrama14.Speech by Ven.Akurala Samitha Thero , Head of the LetchworthDhamma Nikethanaya15.A Song by Parents of Sunday Dhamma School. Music by Mr.Jagath Jayathilaka16.Thanks giving speech by Ven.Kohukumbure Siridhamma Thero,Thames Buddhist Vihara.17.National Anthem.

ALL ARE WELCOME




(dailynews.lk) The New Zealand World Cuppreparation juggernaut rolled on today with a120-run win in the sixth one-day internationalagainst Sri Lanka in Dunedin.The victory meant they have won the series,leading 4-1 with a match to play on Thursday. Itis their third series win in four, and the fifth in 10series since Brendon McCullum was appointedcaptain in December 2012; there have alsobeen two draws and three losses.If they win the final game of the series andEngland lose their next match to India inAustralia, New Zealand rise to fifth in the worldrankings.The Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor battingmagic returned with a 117-run third wicketpartnership, Corey Anderson blossomed his all-rounder skills with 40 runs and four wickets for52, there was bowling progress from Trent Boultwith one for 31 from eight overs and Kyle Mills,Daniel Vettori and McCullum generated lightningrun outs.Kumar Sangakkara offered the most resistancewith 81 from 66 balls, his 93rd ODI half-century,but Sri Lanka were beset by pressure from theoutset after New Zealand decided to bat andaccumulated 315 for eight.Williamson and Taylor made their sixth century

partnership in ODIs advancing their team from59 for two in the 14th over to 176 for three in the35th. The efficiency and crispness of the stroke-making made the stand feel like a fait accompli.The regular clonk of the sweet spot must bedemoralising for bowlers.The pair gradually accelerated before cameosfrom Anderson (40 off 28), Luke Ronchi (13 off13) and Grant Elliott (21 off 14). DhammikaPrasad was the best in a tidier overall bowlingdisplay, taking two for 59.z_p16-Black.jpgWilliamson reached 97 off 95 balls. Hesuccumbed through a miscommunication withTaylor after paddle-sweeping through backwardsquare leg. Williamson assumed two runs wereon; Taylor ball-watched in expectation of asingle. It's the third time either of the batsmenhas run the other out in an ODI.Taylor scored a chanceless 96 before beingtrapped lbw to Dilshan in the 47th over. Heappeared satisfied to work singles but, whenbad balls came, he lay in wait; his preferencewas savaging them between backward pointand cover.Vettori's selection saw him break the record forNew Zealand ODI caps, appearing in his 280thmatch two days before his 36th birthday. He'sovertaken Stephen Fleming. Vettori has also

played four ODIs forthe World XI. NewZealand Cricketpresented him with aframed photo inrecognition. Millsreturned to the line-upafter a spell out with agroin injury, takingnone for 29 from sixovers.New Zealand Herald.

by Sajeewa Jayakody(sundayobserver.lk) Table leaders Kandy SportsClub after being contained in the first half, gottheir act together in the second session to post acomfortable 37 points (three goals, two tries, twopenalties) 3 (one penalty) towin over Police Sports Club intheir Dialog A Division Leaguerugby match played atLongden Place yesterdayafter leading 15-0 at the'breather'.The lads from the Kandy SCopened scoring in the 16thminutes. Number EightShashika Jayawardenescored by the right cornerflag. Scrum half RoshanWeeraratne missed theconversion.They increased their lead,when their South Africanflanker Christopher Cloetedived over for a try by thenear the posts to give RoshanWeeraratne an easy kick atgoal and Kandy led 12-0.On the stroke of half time,Roshan Weeraratne made nomistake with the 20-metrepenalty to give the visitors a15-0 lead at 'lemons.'.In the 10th minute of the second half, Kandy SCwinger Lavanga Perera sped over 40 metres toscore under the posts and Fazil Marija added theextra points to make 22-nil.The Policemen reduced the deficit when centreSamantha Lakshan put over 30-metre penaltyand the score read 22-3.

In the 17th minute, Kandy SC's Kenyan cenreOscar Oumar crashed through for a try mid left.Roshan Weeraratne fluffed the conversion.Seven minutes later, Kandy SC went aheadfurther, when Roshan Weeraratne fired across a20-metre penalty and Kandy SC led 30-3. In the

20th minute of the second half,Kandy SC fly half Fazil Marijamade a break but was held bya Police defender but managedto slip out a pass to wingerOshan Perera who dashedthrough 40 metres to scoreunder the posts to give RoshanWeeraratne an easy kick atgoal and Kandy SC ran outworthy winners by 37-3 toremain on top of the Dialog 'A'Division points table.Navy have it easyNavy Sports Club scored arunaway 43 points (four goals,three tries) to 8 (one try, onepenalty) win over Army SportsClub in their Dialog 'A' DivisionLeague rugby match played atWelisara yesterday afterleading 31-3 at half time.Winger VishwamithraJayasinghe (two), lock forwardSajith Saranga (one), centreSetafano (one), Alafigif (one),

Lio Nisakco (one) and Number Eight BilalHassan (one) scored tries for Navy with full backRiza Mubarak converting four tries.For Army SC, winger Shashan Mohamed scoredthe solitary try with full back Gayan Salindaputting over a penalty.

Kandy SC’s Christopher Cloete onhis way to score a try with a Policedefender making a vain attempt to

foil him. Pic by SusanthaWijegunasekara

(sundayobserver.lk) Holy Cross College,Kalutara, well-known for cricket in theInter-School arena, is going to anotherfield of activity-swimming.After cricket, the school is ready to passanother milestone, enriching its assetbase with the state of the Art, "SwimmingPool Complex" which is a collective effortof the Old Boys, Academic Staff, Parents,Prefects, students and well-wishes, withthe guidance of Rev. Fr. (Dr.) CamillusFernando, Rector HCC and theManagement.Inaugural opening is planned to be heldon 30th January 2015 at 10.00 a.m., asthe most colourful event in the history ofHCC and His Eminence Most Rev. Dr.Malcolm Ranjith will be the chief guest.Ceremony start at 10.00 a.m. with a greatwelcome for His Eminence Most Rev. Dr.Malcolm Ranjith infront of the Holy CrossChurch.Then the distinguish guests and inviteeswill proceed to the Swimming Pool deckfor the blessings. Thereafter, HCCStudents will present a colourful waterdisplay and a Water ballet. Immediatelyafterwards all will gather at the Collegegrounds for the meeting, which will be

planned to be held underParabolic Marquee with6000 seating capacity.In this historic occasionRev. Fr. (Dr.) CamillusFernando, Rector HCChope to present theoutcome of the anothersilent project, "AssetVerification" and its report"Proposal for the Physicalverification of the fixedassets and thepreparation of the fixedasset Register."Rev. Fr. (Dr.) CamillusFernando, the Rector ofHCC, specially seatedthe project as an In-House creation with theimmense contributions of Mr. SupunHevapathirana, Architect, Mr. K.S.Mangala Silva, Structural Engineer andMr. Vandabona; all are old boys of HCC.Also he emphasized the friendlycorporation provided by the contractorCrist Pool Creations Pvt. Ltd.Project team is fortunate to realise thedream of the swimming pool within the

exact period of one year, which can beconsidered as a great achievement.Now it is the time to open this great assetto the Students of Holy Cross College,Kalutara. The Rector stated that themanagement of HCC initially wishes toopen the facility to selected segmentssuch as old boys, government and privetsector institutions, as phase I.

The swimming pool complex of Holy CrossCollege, Kalutara.

Holy Cross College, Kalutara builds swimming pool!

Black Caps bag ODI series Kandy SC remain on top with convincing37-3 win over Police

Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya in discussionwith Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq(nation.lk) Karunaratne will be making thenumbers if Thirimanne succeeds as openerSri Lanka chief cricket selector SanathJayasuriya is far from happy the way the nationalteam is preparing itself for the 2015 World Cup inAustralia and New Zealand.“I am not very happy the way things are going outthere in New Zealand,” Jayasuriya told TheNation yesterday.“There are areas to be improved and in the nextfew weeks I hope we can sort them out. I am not100 percent happy as there are aspects toimprove every day.“The only good thing isthat we are playing inNew Zealand and againstthe same oppositionwhom we will meet in ouropening match of theWorld Cup.“It’s a good advantage forus to play here in theseconditions which aretough. We have almosttwo months here playingTests and ODIs to settledown and to play againstthe same country is a bigadvantage,” he said.One of the key areas ofconcern is the bowlingdepartment that has beenleaking runs constantly after putting theopposition under pressure.“The bowling department is an area of concern.They need to plan themselves on things theyshould do when it comes to a crunch situation,”said Jayasuriya.“We lack experience in our bowling at themoment in the absence of Lasith Malinga whichis huge. (Nuwan) Kulasekera and (Suranga)Lakmal have come back from injuries andbowling alright.”They have allowed New Zealand to recover andwin from positions of 101-5, 63-3 and 93-5 sothat they lead the seven-match series 3-1.The assuring news for Sri Lanka is that Malingais showing signs of recovering and being fit forthe World Cup.“Lasith started to bowl about 30 balls yesterdayand today also he was bowling. He has shown nosigns of discomfort and he will be increasing hisworkload gradually. I think he will be alright forthe World Cup,” said Jayasuriya.The other area of concern is the lower middle-order batting that has failed to see Sri Lanka playout their full quota of 50 overs. They fell short atNelson (3 balls) and Dunedin (6.2 overs).“When they get opportunities they should makeuse of them and deliver. The fourth ODI weshould have got over 300 runs but we just threw

it away. That kind of thing you can’t accept. Theyare experienced enough to bat the full fifty overs,”said Jayasuriya.Sri Lanka were coasting along nicely at 245-4 butlost their last six wickets for 31 runs to be all outfor 276 in 49.3 overs.Even in the fifth ODI during their massive runchase of 361, Sri Lanka were strongly placed at211-2, but collapsed to 252 all out in 43.2 overs.“Jeevan Mendis and Thisara Perera need tocontribute more. They need to concentrate ontheir bowling a little bit more when they don’tbowl well the confidence in their batting goes.Leg-spin is vital and if Jeevan can bowl 6-7 oversit will be crucial for us. It’s not a very big issue but

if they work hard theycan come back.”Jayasuriya admittedthat the teammanagement hadmade a blunder inopting for DimuthKarunaratne asopener. After manyattempts with UpulTharanga and KusalPerera and evenMahelaJayawardene,Karunaratne waseventually picked asopening partner toTillakaratne Dilshan

for the World Cup on the strength of his maidenTest hundred against New Zealand atChristchurch.However in the on-going ODI series against NewZealand so far Karunaratne’s contribution asopener has been 5, 21 and 5. In the fifth ODI hebatted in the lower order at nine and scored 12taking the place of injured captain AngeloMathews.Thirimanne who captained the team in that matchwas promoted to open and scored 45 out of anopening stand of 93 with Dilshan and it looks as ifhe will continue to hold that position for the rest ofthe series and probably the World Cup.“Our earlier option was for Mahela to open if oneof the openers was not firing. I don’t want totouch Mahela at no. 4 where he has settled downnicely and is playing a long innings,” saidJayasuriya.“Lahiru is playing in the lower middle order andnot getting opportunities so we thought ofopening with him and if he can prove himself wecan get him to open and work the batting line upfrom there onwards with (Dinesh) Chandimaltaking Thirimanne’s slot in the middle-order,” heexplained.This could mean that Karunaratne’s role will beconfined to just another player

(Contd: on P31)

PAGE 29ISSUE 1208 NEWSLANKA 29 JANUARY - 2015



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(sundaytimes.lk) Bangladesh Under-19s bouncedback well to win the fifth Youth ODI by 14 runs andclinch the 5-match series 3-2 against Sri LankaUnder-19s at the SSC ground on Sunday (25).Bangladesh, batting first made 212 for the loss of9 wickets while Sri Lanka were bowled out for 198runs with seven deliveries remaining.Salinda Ushan top scored for Sri Lanka with 53.Nazmul Shanto, who top scored with a useful 92runs was named the player of the series.

The two teams will play the first three-day YouthTest at Dambulla from Wednesday at Dambulla.Bangladesh U-19s 212 for 9 wickets (50) (NazmulShanto 92, Zakir Hasan 42, Malinga Amarasinghe3/20, Asitha Fernando 3/50)Sri Lanka U-19s 198 all out (48.5) (ShalinduUshan 53, Lasith Lakshan 42, ChamikaKarunaratne 25, Avishka Fernando 24, SalehAhmed 3/48, Mohammad Saifuddin 2/31, MehedyHasan 2/32, Sanjit Saha 2/33)

(nation.lk) Former St. Peter’s College and SriLanka Youth cricketer Andri Berenger has qualifiedto represent the United Arab Emirates (UAE) atthe forthcoming World Cup in Australia-NewZealand. He will become the only cricketer torepresent two countries in two World Cups havingplayed with the Sri Lanka team at the 2010 Under-19 Youth World Cup in New Zealand.Berenger will open the batting for UAE who arecoached by former Pakistan fast bowler AquibJavad.Berenger has represented the UAE in fourODIs and has an average of 38 with two halfcenturies.The UAE team last featured in a competitionagainst the Pakistan A team and lost the series 3-2. Berenger made a highest score of 77 in the

series and was adjudgedman of the match in agame the UAE won.Now 23, Berengershowed plenty ofpromise at St. Peter’sCollege but for somereason did not make thehigher grade after representing Sri Lanka in theUnder-19 Youth World Cup.In 2009 he was thebest all-island U-17 player scoring four hundredsand in the following year was adjudged the bestwicket-keeper batsman.Berenger has also baggeda corporate sponsorship from sports equipmentmarketer Head.

Chief selector unhappy withWorld Cup preparations

Sri Lankan Andri Berenger to batfor UAE in World Cup

U-19 Cricket: Bangladesh bounce backto clinch Youth ODI series 3-2

Selector’s son replaceshis brother

by Reemus Fernando(island.lk) National Selectors and the Junior NationalSelectors have replaced national selector and formerSri Lanka player Hashan Tillakaratne’s son DuvinduTillakaratne with his brother Ravindu in the Sri LankaUnder-19 team for the first Youth Test starting inDambulla today. While Trinity player Duvindu playedthe five-match Youth ODI series which Sri Lanka U -19s lost, his brother Ravindu has been brought in forthe Youth Test series starting in Dambulla.School cricket enthusiasts are questioning whether isit ethical for Tillakaratne to remain as a selector onthe ground of conflict of interests when his sons arechosen as players for the U-19 team. Thoughsources close to selectors say that Tillakaratne hasnot been involved in selections, the omission ofseveral leading left-arm spinners (both Ravindu andDuvindu are left-arm spinners) including threebowlers who had taken more than 50 wickets thisseason has raised many an eyebrows. According to apress release issued by SLC, new sports ministerhas granted approval for the team.Team: Charith Asalanka (Captain), AvishkaFernando, Kaveen Bandara, Salinda Ushan, VishadRandika, Sammu Ashan, Nushan Weerasinghe,Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, MalingaAmarasinghe, Ravindu Thilakaratne, Damith Silva,Nishan Peiris, Himesha Ramanayake and TiranDanapala.




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(sundaytimes.lk) Three of Sri Lanka’s greatest-ever cricketers – Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda deSilva and Muttiah Muralitharan – strongly believethe current Sri Lanka squad for the upcomingWorld Cup cricket tournament lacks confidenceand may not deliver the goods.While expressing the hope that Sri Lanka will –despite similar odds in the past, the team hasmanaged to scrape through to the semi-finals –reach the semi-finals, the trio told an exclusivepanel discussion presented by the Sunday TimesBusiness Club (STBC) in association withCinnamon Hotels & Resorts on Monday, that therewere serious issues of confidence, and in bowlingand team management.“When we were playing, the dressing room wasexclusively the preserve of the players – 15 in thesquad – plus the coach. Now thedressing room has (the teamand) 12 outsiders. This is thelevel of interference,” noted Mr.Ranatunga, Sri Lanka’s 1996World Cup winning captain andnow Minister of Ports, Shippingand Aviation.Mr. Muralitharan, also a memberof the 1996 team, was strong in

his criticism of the bowling composition in the teamessentially lacking the killer instinct, which hasbeen seen in the side losing the latest one-dayseries to New Zealand.Mr. de Silva, who in 1996 was considered one ofthe best batsmen in the world and who hit a matchwinning century in the 1996 final against Australia,said he was unhappy with the selection ofopeners, and the battling, and explained thereasons why. He also believed that somethingneeds to be done to lift the team’s lack ofconfidence.The panel discussion titled “ICC World Cup: CanSri Lanka repeat its 1996 success?” was held onboard 8 Degrees, the floating restaurant at theCinnamon Lakeside Colombo.

by Reemus Fernando(island.lk) Sri Lanka Army athlete GeethaniRajasekara produced a stunning performance atthe Asian MarathonChampionship in Hong Kongyesterday. She established anew National Record tobecome the first female fromSri Lanka to qualify for theIAAF World Championshipsmarathon and to have realistichopes of becoming the firstfemale from the country to runat Olympics."I am delighted to have run thistiming here. I was determinedand my coach was veryoptimistic that I couldaccomplish this. And I amreally happy about my feat,"said Rajasekara in a telephoneinterview with The Island afterher record breaking featyesterday.Rajasekara bettered her ownNational Record when sheclocked two hours, 40 minutes and 07 seconds tofinish fifth in the Asian Marathon which was heldalongside the Standard Chartered Hong KongMarathon.It was her first overseas marathon and her secondmarathon overall. Her previous National Record

was set at two hours, 47 minutes and 55 secondswhen she competed in a marathon for the firsttime at the Colombo Marathon late last year.With her impressive timing she can now have

realistic hopes of becoming thefirst female from Sri Lanka to runat an Olympic Marathon.The IAAF qualifying standard forthe Rio Olympics are yet to beannounced but going by theprevious qualifying standards(London Olympics) herperformance is likely to be withinthe qualifying standards.Her coach Sajith Jayalal said thathis charge has proved beyonddoubt that she could reachgreater heights. "We can havehopes. She has proved that shecan brush shoulders againstworld class athletes. If we canlook after her for two more yearswe can have hopes," Jayalal toldThe Island in a telephoneinterview from Hong Kong.Country’s leading cross countryand long distance runner

(5,000m), Rajasekara took to marathon late lastyear and shattered a long standing NationalWomen’s Marathon record in her very first attemptsparking hopes of an Olympic berth.

In this file picture GeethaniRajasekara competes at a local cross

country championship. Rajasekaraestablished a new Sri Lanka Recordin marathon at the Asian Marathon

Championships in Hong Kong.

By Callistus Davy(nation.lk) World Cup cricket umpires KumaraDharmasena, Ruchira Palliyaguruge and RanmoreMartinesz, all from Sri Lanka, turned their backson a five-star party to felicitate them and insteadtold organizers to divert the money to help a littleknown colleague of theirs who suffered a strokeand now lies paralyzed and immobile.The high-profile match triowas to be given a grandsend-off at a Friday nightceremony ahead of the 14-nation showpiece whichstarts in Australia-NewZealand next month, butfelt honoured to have theirfunction within the confinesof a small room at thesport’s headquarters inColombo.The undisclosed savingfrom what was to be hotelexpenses which were to bemet by a sponsor, will nowbe donated to the family ofGamini Wattewe, 53, anumpire who was incapacitated a month ago after astroke.One of the World Cup umpires, Palliyaguruge, saidhe and his two fellow mates Dharmasena andMartinesz had no hesitation to give his plea thethumbs up when told about Wattewe’s plight.“Thisis a great and worthy gesture and the money wesaved by not having this felicitation at a hotel willbe for Wattewe’s welfare”, said the head of the SriLanka Umpires Association ShiroshaGunatilleke.The three umpires though will havetheir own tales to relate, not of tragedy but oftriumph on their feet when they move out toofficiate at cricket’s flagship event.Dharmasena, Palliyaguruge and Martinesz will not

only be paying a tribute to a fallen colleague butalso see themselves as a beacon light to a largenumber of budding Sri Lankan umpires who werepresent at the scaled down ceremony on Fridaywhere even the sound of a video screen showingtheir exploits muffled and fluctuated.“When I setout on this long and hard journey to be aninternational umpire, I did not even know English(cricket’s universal language)”, Dharmasena

remarked in his nativeSinhalese. “But Isucceeded. Just do thebasics and have thedetermination to rise.If I can, so can you”.Theshow’s presenter, cricketcommentator RoshanAbeysinghe, recalled howDharmasena hoveredaround a net practicesession of his RagamaCricket Club team nineyears ago and begged tostand in a corner just to geta hang of what it was liketo umpire which eventually

marked the start of an epic journey to success.Dharmasena listened attentively and realized hewas not just an international umpire but a rolemodel for even his two closest buddiesPalliyaguruge and Martinesz who now dream ofpicking up a global award like he did.“When thenews (of standing in the World Cup) broke out tome, I was speechless and blown to pieces so tosay. I don’t believe in luck.I create my own luck and Dharmasena is my rolemodel”, said Martinesz.But out in the middle,Martinesz and his two partners will not be able tohide the fact that while fate took away one umpire,many will be wishing for that stroke of luck that isinseparable to a cricketer.

World Cup umpires Ruchira Palliyaguruge (left),Kumara Dharmasena and Ranmore Martinesz with

their momentos. (Picture by Ravindra Dharmatilleke)

World Cup umpires throw out champagnefor bed-ridden mate

Rajasekara qualifies for World Marathonwith National Record

Sri Lanka’s World Cup team lacks confidence,Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup winning trio says

( ) Sri Lanka cricket team sponsor,Dialog Axiata, launched ‘Cricket Loka KusalanaLankawe Ape Jathika Pathuma’, the officialwishing campaign of the Sri Lanka Cricket Teamfor the ICC World Cup 2015 to channel the wellwishes of an entire nation to support the SriLanka Cricket team.‘Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup Wish’ – poweredby Dialog Axiata PLC, was officially launchedwith the inaugural signature of Sports andTourism Minister Navin Dissanayake at the SriLanka Cricket (SLC) headquarters on Friday(23).

The national team who are at present touringNew Zealand joined the event via a video call,facilitated by Dialog.The national cricket team carries theexpectations of all Sri Lankans and the wishingcampaign evokes the blessings of all 21 millionSri Lankans to the team during their World Cupendeavor to bring back the cup.Dialog took on the mantle of powering Cricket –the national s

NewZealand.The Sri Lanka CricketDialog Wishing Truckwill travel all over thecountry, covering alldistricts.

sundaytimes.lk

porting passion of Sri Lankans inJuly 2013.Dialog’s National Team sponsorship title

encompasses bothMen’s and Women’snational cricket teamsacross all forms of thegame spanning Test,One Day and T20played in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka willcommence theirWorld Cup campaignwhen they take on theKiwis in a Pool Agame, on February14, 2015 atChristchurch,

National team sponsor launches official songfor ICC World Cup




Carrom titlesfor Royal andDharmapala

H L Sunil Shantha - Kalutara CentralSpecial Correspondent(dailynews.lk) Royal College Colomboemerged under 19 boys carrom championsand Dharmapala MV, Pannipitiya, Kottawaemerged under 15 girls carrom champions, atAll Ceylon School Games (Carrom) held underthe patronage of Northern Province SportsEducation Unit, at Jaffna Central College,recently.Eighty four (84) schools from all the provincestook part in the, series of games and all thechampionship trophies, cups and certificateswere presented to the winners, by NorthernProvince Education (Sports) Director SSathyapalan with the participation of WPEducation Director Vimal Gunarathna on thefinal day.

(ceylontoday.lk) Ceylon Today Sports : Seasonedathlete, Niluka Geethani Rajasekara, showed whatshe promised as she clocked an amazing 2 hoursand 40.07 minutes to set a new Sri Lanka recordand achieve 2016 Rio Olympic qualificationstandard at the Asian Marathon Championship(Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon)concluded at Hong Kong yesterday.Rajasekara finished fifth in the race and alsoachieved qualifying standards for the forthcomingIAAF World Championship to be held in China thisyear, which was 2 hours and 44 minutes. (A.K)

Rajasekara through to the Olympics - 2016

(adaderana.lk) Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriyaisfacing a tricky situation as SriLankalook to be out of morale andconfidence ahead of their World Cup2015 opener against New Zealand atChristchurch.Jayasuriya was unhappy with SriLanka’s humiliating loss to NewZealand in the recently concluded ODI serieswhich the BlackCaps won 4-1. The 120-run loss at

Dunedin in the sixth ODI was the lowest ebb forSri Lanka, said Jayasurya.The legendary batsman said despitethe watershed tour, the only positivefor Sri Lanka is the fact that they havehad a good measure of pitchconditions and opposition by now.Heconcluded by saying that the absence

of Lasith Malinga is a big blow for Sri Lanka.

Absence of Malinga is a big blowfor Sri Lanka - Jayasuriya

Star batsman says officials attempted totarnish his image

(island.lk) Star batsman Kumar Sangakkara in astrongly worded letter to Sri Lanka Cricket hasalleged that a cleverly planned attempt wasunderway in 2013 to bring discredit to hisreputation. The former captain singles out SLCSecretary Nishantha Ranatunga and formerSports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage oftrying to tarnish his image and cause himembarassment.Writing to SLC Director CricketOperations Carlton Bernardus,world’s number one ranked Testcricketer alleges that a letter fromthe National Selection Committeepertaining to his release to playChampions League wassuppressed and then attempts weremade to tarnish his image."All I can deduce is that you and allconcerned including Nishantha Ranatunga andMahindananda Aluthgamage tried to intentionallycause me embarrassment and tarnish myreputation in the public arena as part of ashameful and corrupt attempt. This isreprehensible but not unexpected from characterssuch as they," Sangakkara says is his e-mail dated21st January."How did Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga call andaddress a press conference on the matter to makea statement to the press and tv on the matter?""Why did the Secretary try to intentionally and

publically cause embarrassment to me and tounethically put pressure on me by saying I had tochoose between money or playing for the countrywhen it came to the Champions League when nosuch choice or question arose," Sangakkara asksin his e-mail."The conduct in this matter of the Secretary of theboard Nishantha Ranatunga and the SportsMinister was reprehensible, bias and shameful,"Sangakkara states further in another e-mail sent toBernardus on 10th January 2015.The incident Sangakkara refers to took place prior

to the Champions League in 2013when he had to choose to play forthe Sri Lankan franchise instead ofSunrisers Hyderabad franchisewhich he was captaining.Sangakkara was left with Hobson’sChoice when public opinion wascreated by SLC officials that herequired to play for the local teamputting him in a very uncomfortable

position.Sangakkara had a running battle with theestablishment during his captaincy and steppeddown immediately after the 2011 World Cup. Hisstunning speech at Lord’s delivering the CowdreyLecture, a mere few months after stepping downfrom captaincy won him many admirers, but thecountry’s Sports Minister wanted the speechprobed.Sangakkara is currently in New Zealand takingpart in the seven match ODI series against theKiwis.

by Rex Clementine

(island.lk) Sri Lanka Cricket has defied a directivefrom Minister of Sports Navin Dissanayake by notallowing CEO Ashley de Silva to carry out hisduties.On the day he assumed office, MinisterDissanayake clearly stated that he didn’t wish tointerfere with the affairs of SLC, but insisted thatSLC officials shouldn’t interfere with work that

comes under others’ purview.However, for the ICC Chief Executives’ Meetingthat got underway in Dubai yesterday, SLC hasrefrained from sending their CEO, defying thedirective from the Sports Minister.The meeting has been attended by an official, whowas powerful during the previous government.

by Roshen Steelman(island.lk) In a game where no team was willing togive up, Havelocks Sports Club made a solidrecovery in the second-half to edge out CR & FC21 points to 19 in the Dialog Rugby League matchPlayed under flood lights at Havelock Parkyesterday.Having lost the first leg game, Havelocks foughtback after trailing 6-16 in the must win game tokeep their hopes of winning the league alive.Havelocks scored through one goal, one try andthree penalties while CR & FC obtained theirpoints through two tries and three penalties.

It was a calm, low scoring first-half, but thingschanged dramatically in the second-half with bothteams sensing an opportunity.It was the visitors who drew first blood whenAshan de Costa cleared a 30 metre penalty kick,but Havelocks hit back through Dulaj Perera’s bootas he kicked in the right direction to clear back toback penalties to finish the first half six points tothree. Few minutes into the second-half, the redshirts leveled the scores through a 40 metrepenalty put over by centre KanchanaRamanayake. Ten minutes later, HashanMaduranga broke through for the red shirts nearthe left flag corner after they won the scrum insidethe Havelocks 22 metres. Ramanayake’s kick toadd the extra points went from left side of the postas CR extended the lead to 11 points to six.Ramanayake got into the party once again whenhe chased down a long kick from their overseasplayer Malneek Robbie of New Zealand andcrossed the try line left side of the post. He wasunsuccessful with the conversion this time.Havies came up with a much needed try whenthey won a scrum after CR & FC were penalizedfor a forward pass. Isipatana College’s SenalDeelaka crossed the try line on the right side ofthe post, but Dulaj Perera’s kick to add the extrapoints failed.Havies’ second try came when former RoyalistDiran Warnakulasuriya found some space andscored under the post. Perera’s kick was spot onthis time and Havelocks took the lead 18 points to16.

Havelocks beat CR & FC 21-19 in a close DialogRugby League match Played under flood lights at

Havelock Park. (Pic by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

SANGA CRIES FOUL

( ) Technical malfunction prevented SriLanka from reviewing an lbw decision againstMartin Guptill in the fourth over of the sixth ODI inDunedin, causing significant displeasure amongthe fielding team.Dhammika Prasad jagged a length ball into Guptill,who was batting on four, and hit him below theknee-roll, in front of off and middle stump. The ballhad evaded Guptill's bat and appeared to beheading for the stumps, but umpire Derek Walkerturned down the voracious appeal from Prasadand Sri Lanka. The bowler motioned vigorously tohis teammates that a review should be sought, butboth captain Lahiru Thirimanne and wicketkeeperKumar Sangakkara appeared to be aware thatDRS was unavailable from the end Prasad was

bowling from, and did not request a review.Umpire Walker confirmed that DRS was notavailable, thanks apparently to a fault in the videoequipment at that end.Sri Lanka were visibly irked by the incident,however, with Mahela Jayawardene audiblycomplaining that the episode was "rubbish".Prasad was also seen in conversation with Walker,both during that over and immediately after it.Guptill was eventually out for 28 in the 14th over,after Walker had once more turned down anappeal, this time for a catch to the wicketkeeper.That decision was overturned on evidence fromHotspot and Snicko, however. The DRS camerasand ball projection software were not needed.Espn Cricinfo

dailynews.lk

Unavailable DRS leaves SL fuming

SLC fails to adhere to Sports Ministry directive

Havies win thrilling contest over CR

(sundaytimes.lk) SLC fast bowling CoachChampaka Ramanayake is to replace the Nationalfast bowling Coach Chaminda Vaas withimmediate effect.The recent bowling slump in the Lankan nationalsquad has pushed the cricket hierarchy to seekthe executive nod on a priority basis and haverequested Ramanayake to be packed and ready.The problem cropped even late last year whenSLC Chief Executive Ashley de Silva had informedan emergency executive committee meeting thatnational team’s head coach Marvan Atapattu haddemanded the removal of Vaas from the coachingteam, saying that the former star left-arm bowlerwas not putting enough effort and contribution toimprove fast bowling.This came in the aftermath of the disastrous fiveODI Indian tour where the Lankans lost all the

matches played.Vaas took over as the Lankan fast bowling coachfrom Champaka Ramanayake in February 2013,but the bowling slump was felt the most in 2014, inspite of Sri Lanka enjoying a rather successfulyear where the end results were concerned.During that time Pakistan scored 302 runs in just57.3 overs to win a Test match.Besides in 2014 there were 30 centuries scoredagainst the Lankan bowling while on this presenttour so far six centuries have been scored.Commenting on the issue a senior SLCspokesman said “We have requestedRamanayake to get ready for departure withimmediate effect”.Once Ramanayake takes over, Vaas will return toSri Lanka.

( ) Sri Lanka team manager Michaelde Zoysa has confirmed that fast bowler LasithMalinga is still on course to play in the World Cup,which starts in Australia and New Zealand onFebruary 14. Malinga has been sidelined sinceSeptember last year after undergoing anklesurgery and it was hoped that he would play somepart in the current seven-match ODI series in NewZealand. De Zoysa said: “He’s been bowling allweek, and is on track to play the warm-up games

before the World Cup. Whether he plays in theone-dayers against New Zealand is anothermatter, but there is a chance. “We’ll be careful notto rush him. We’ve bought some ultrasoundequipment to help with his recovery as well.”Malinga will be an important component if SriLanka want to do well in the World Cup, especiallyin the death overs, which has been exposed in thefive matches that has been completed on thecurrent tour of New Zealand.

sundaytimes.lk

Malinga still on course to play in World Cup

Ramanayake to replace Vaas with immediate effect

Chief selectorfrom P29in the 15-member World Cup squad and he will bejust making the numbers.Jayasuriya’s main concern was for the players toperform their respective roles in the team ahead ofthe World Cup when they meet New Zealand inthe tournament opener at Christchurch on March14.

“I am not that too worried about the result of theODI series against New Zealand but put thingsthat need to be put right like the bowlers and thelower middle-order. The next 2-3 weeks are crucialto work on our specific areas before the WorldCup,” said Jayasuriya.“Those are the areas we need to improve and finetune. I hope when the World Cup starts it will bethere and hope that everything will be in place.”




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