The Lanka Academic
 
FEBRUARY 18, 2003 EST, USA
 
A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED BY LACNET
 
VOL. 3, NO. 318
TLA FEATURE CORNER
Headline Summary
F R E E      C L A S S I F I E D S
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No-confidence motion against Marapona defeated by 42 votes
Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo, SLT 6.40 p.m Tuesday 18 January. The no-confidence motion against defence minister Thilak Maropana was defeated by 42 votes in parliament today. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) the EPDP and TELO voted with the government while the Peoples Alliance and the JVP voted in favour of the no confidence motion. The motion was submitted by the opposition last year following the tensions in the East. The opposition alleged that Minister Marapone failed to take adequate action to protect the people of Muttur and Valachenai where 13 Muslims were killed and 40 were grievously wounded with more than 100 shops and business places owned by the Muslims were totally destroyed. It also stated that the house has lost its confidence in the Defence Minister because the Defence Minister declared over the radio that the LTTE was not responsible for the violent attacks in the Eastern Province.
Published: Tue Feb 18 07:47:05 EST 2003
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 Sri Lankan government defeats opposition no-confidence vote against defense minister  - Associated Press
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BBC world conference in Colombo
LAcNet Special Correspondent in Colombo, 22:25 SLT, Tuesday February 18, 2003. Sri Lanka will have the privilege of being the venue for the three-day BBC World Sales Conference from Thursday.

Reports said that top level delegates from BBC’s management team representing the UK, India, USA, Germany, France, Singapore and Hong Kong among others would be present at the conference.

National carrier SriLankan Airlines, a partner organisation in a release said that the event is an endorsement of Sri Lanka as a safe destination. The release said the event was an endorsement of Sri Lanka as a safe destination and a preferred venue for MICE tourism. (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions)

The MICE tourism is a fast growing, high and niche market in Sri Lanka, industry sources said.
Published: Tue Feb 18 11:27:01 EST 2003 Back to the top

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Safrican newspaper promotes anti-Sri Lanka cricket
LAcNet Special Correspondent in Colombo, 22:25 SLT, Tuesday February 18, 2003. A popular South African newspaper has promoted anti-Sri Lanka world cup cricket in one of its front page lead story.

A privately owned newspaper report said here today that ‘Cape Times’, a popular newspaper in Cape Town, even went onto suggest its readers to support the opposing team to Sri Lanka.

“For the moment the South African public must keep their fingers crossed and support any team that plays against Sri Lanka,” the Cape Times said.

Cape Times has devoted half of its front page to describe how South Africa should come into the super sixes, after their embarrassing defeat at the hands of New Zealanders on Sunday.

South Africa’s main hope to enter super sixes is to beat Sri Lanka on March 3 at Durban provided West Indies beat Sri Lanka at Newlands on February 28.

Sri Lanka is the current table leader of group ‘B’ with eight points and a +2.103 net run rate. There are four more matches to be played by Sri Lanka.
Published: Tue Feb 18 11:27:01 EST 2003 Back to the top

Tamil political party accuses Tamil Tigers of assassination attempt
 Associated Press, Tue February 18, 2003 09:09 EST . - - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) A Tamil political party accused the Tamil Tigers rebels of trying to assassinate one of its leaders by throwing a hand grenade at his house on Tuesday... Back to the top
Diplomatic passports for Sri Lanka's tea traders
 ProLog, COLOMBO, Feb 18 (AFP) . The Sri Lankan government Tuesday offered diplomatic passports and millions of dollars in incentives to help boost revenue from the island's main export commodity, tea... Back to the top
Sri Lankan parliament debates no-confidence motion against defense minister
 Associated Press, Tue February 18, 2003 02:35 EST . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lanka - 's Parliament on Tuesday began debating an opposition no-confidence motion against the defense minister, who is accused of failing to protect civilians from Tamil Tiger rebels... Back to the top
Sri Lanka gets foreign support to boost intelligence, security
 ProLog, COLOMBO, Feb 18 (AFP) . Sri Lanka has won foreign support to revamp its intelligence services and strengthen security while engaging in peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels, defence minister Tilak Marapone said Tuesday... Back to the top
Sri Lankan govt denies giving in too much to Tamil rebels
 Nothern Light, Tuesday, February 18, 2003 7:39 AM EST . COLOMBO, Feb 18, 2003 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Sri Lankan government Tuesday denied that it has given in too much to the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels during the peace talks between the two sides... Back to the top
Sri Lankan govt to ban snack packets with toys
 Nothern Light, Monday, February 17, 2003 11:40 PM EST . COLOMBO, Feb 18, 2003 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Sri Lankan government has decided to take action against manufacturers and importers selling snack foods containing small toys which has posed threat to the safety of children... Back to the top
First woman appeal judge concerned about gays, lesbians
 LAcNet Special Correspondent in Colombo, 23:00 SLT, Monday February 17, 2003. Sri Lanka’s first woman president of the Court of Appeal expressed concern about gays and lesbians during a valentine day ceremony to grace her... Back to the top
Leather limbs hallmark of Sri Lanka rebel aid group
 Yahoo India, February 18, 9:07 AM. Suresh Kumar has the burly build of a fighter but not the walk... Back to the top
Indian TATA company to expand investment in Sri Lanka
 Nothern Light, Monday, February 17, 2003 11:42 PM EST . COLOMBO, Feb 18, 2003 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Chairman of the Indian business giant TATA company R... Back to the top
LTTE cadres released, hartal called off in Trincomalee
 TamilNet, February 17, 2003 11:58 GMT. The Trincomalee Magistrate Mr.S.Thiagendran Monday released the two women cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on surety bail and the hartal (general shut down) which was being observed in the east port town Monday demanding the release of them from morning was called off by noon, sources in Trincomalee said. Back to the top
Waiting to Exhale
 Time, February 17. Wickremasinghe is in charge these days, but technically the head of government and commander in chief is President Kumaratunga, who has as much love for her Prime Minister as she does the Tigers... Back to the top
Military Uniform Type of belts worn by LTTE Cadres – Manippay Incident
 SLMM, February 18. To avoid future clashes between the forces of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), over LTTE cadres using military uniform type of belts in Government controlled areas the following interim arrangements have been made by Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and accepted by both parties: LTTE cadres wearing military uniform type of belts, will voluntarily remove such belts before entering into Government controlled areas and will not wear them while staying in Government controlled areas... Back to the top
Norway nearly triples financial aid to Sri Lanka
 Associated Press, Mon February 17, 2003 08:34 EST . SHIMALI SENANAYAKE - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Norway said Monday it plans to nearly triple its financial aid to war-ravaged Sri Lanka - as part of the European nation's efforts to mediate an end to 19 years of civil war that has cost about 65,000 lives... Back to the top
LTTE calls one day hartal demanding release of kidnappers
 Frederica Jansz in Colombo. The LTTE called a one day hartal in Trincomalee today demanding the release of 2 tiger female cadre who were remanded by police for attempting to abduct 2 school girls, last week... Back to the top
Media minister says LTTE must be absorbed into mainstream politics
 Frederica Jansz in Colombo, 1.20 p.m. SLT Monday February 17. Media Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Marker today said the LTTE like the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna must also be absorbed into mainstream politics... Back to the top
HL:Toronto gang members ordered deported to Sri Lanka , none have left
 Associated Press, Sun February 16, 2003 22:29 EST . - - TORONTO (CP) More than 70 per cent of the people arrested in a massive raid 15 months ago who are alleged to be key members of two rival street gangs have been ordered deported to Sri Lanka - ... Back to the top
Sri Lanka bus sell-off hits the skids
 BBC South Asia, Monday, 17 February, 2003, 10:56 GMT. By Stefan Armbruster, BBC News Online Business reporter, A British-led consortium has missed the deadline to buy a 39% stake in the controversial 1.5bn rupee ($9.6m; $15.5m) privatisation of six state-owned bus companies... Back to the top
Animal welfare group urges government to keep elephants in the wild
 Associated Press, Mon February 17, 2003 04:38 EST . DILIP GANGULY - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) An animal welfare group on Monday appealed to the Sri Lankan government to ignore a demand from elephant handlers to be allowed to capture more of the beasts in the wild to train for religious ceremonies... Back to the top
Canada set to face Muralitharan backlash in Paarl
 Yahoo India, February 17, 7:36 PM. Canada may find themselves on the wrong end of a Muttiah Muralitharan backlash when the sides meet in the World Cup on Wednesday in Paarl... Back to the top
ADB offers assistance for computer project in Sri Lanka
 Nothern Light, Monday, February 17, 2003 3:23 AM EST . MANILA, Feb 17, 2003 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 500,000-US-dollar technical assistance (TA) grant to prepare a project for school computerization in Sri Lanka... Back to the top
Truce monitors say police, not military, should handle law and order in a peaceful Sri Lanka
 Associated Press, Mon February 17, 2003 00:56 EST . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) A Norwegian-led mission monitoring a cease-fire in Sri Lanka - says police should be used to maintain law and order in former areas of conflict in the island's northeast instead of relying on the military... Back to the top
Items on Sri Lanka , bookmakers, World Cup survey, Nasser Hussain and Vaas
 Associated Press, Mon February 17, 2003 04:50 EST . PAARL, South Africa (AP) Sri Lanka - will decide in the next couple of days whether they call for a standby as cover up for injured fast bowler Pulasthi Gunaratne... Back to the top
Ceasefire violations in Lanka
 Dawn, COLOMBO, Feb 16. Reports of ceasefire violations by the LTTE in the northeast has increased over the past two weeks with the latest incidents being the killing of a government soldier in the northeast of Kilali and two abductions of Tamil youth... Back to the top
S.Lanka Jan tourist arrivals up 43.6 pct
 Yahoo Singapore, Monday February 17, 12:59 PM. COLOMBO, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Tourist arrivals rose 43.6 percent in January on the year to 40,647 visitors, Sri Lanka's tourist board said on Monday... Back to the top
Tigers gun down Sri Lankan soldier
 Gulf News, 17-02-2003 . he nearly one-year old ceasefire between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil guerrillas suffered a blow when the guerrillas shot dead a soldier in the north, reports said yesterday... Back to the top
US offers considering taking LTTE off from FTTO list
 Press Trust of India, Washington,Monday, February 17, 2003. The US on Sunday offered to consider taking the LTTE off its list of foreign terrorist organisations in return for the outfit abandoning its terror tactics and implementing its committment to a peaceful political solution to the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka... Back to the top
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