|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donor meeting to take place as scheduled
Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo,
SLT 6.30 A.M Wednesday 11 February.
Sri Lankan donor meeting, chaired by the United States, would take place as
scheduled on February 17, despite the dissolution of the parliament by the
President on Saturday. The Academic sources in Washington said, " The
meeting will proceed as planned. There was no consideration given to
postponing or cancellation of the meeting. " US Deputy Secretary of State,
Richard Armitage will host the meeting which would be attended by Ambassador
Yashushi Akashi from Japan, Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar
Helgessen, Deputy Director General of the European Commission Jounjean and
the Irish Ambassador to the United States Noel Fahey representing the
European Union presidency. The meeting will be held at 11 a.m at the State
Department in Washington. Our sources revealed that the outcome would signal
that Sri Lanka was on the right track and that the co-chairs would not wait
indefinitely to provide aid to the country.
At the Washington meeting, the co-chairs are expected to make reference to
extremism and chauvinism and to call for free and fair elections in April
and ask for a rapid return to the peace process. The official said, the
co-chairs would also take a very clear stand during the donor meeting.
Published: Tue Feb 10 19:37:46 EST 2004
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O
T
H
E
R
H
E
A
D
L
I
N
E
S
|
|
|
|
Army Say No Truth In Opening up Area in High Security Zone
Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo,
SLT 10.30 P.M Tuesday 10 February.
The Sri Lanka Army has refuted reports that they have opened up a high
security area of 400 meters in Jaffna to enable a group of displaced
persons reach their homes situated within the area. The Army Spokesman said
the reports that the Army vacated seventy nine houses in two suburbs on the
outskirts of Chavakachcheri town in Jaffna were severely exaggerated. The
Army had released only seventeen dilapidated urban council houses to
displaced workers who were camped just outside the demarcating fence. The
Army spokesman added that release of the houses and land would not affect
the security of the area There were reports that the EPDP had claimed
responsibility for securing the release of the homes as a ploy to win
votes in the upcoming election. A EPDP spokesman confirmed they had
initiated the process by requesting the army to free the houses to the
people on humanitarian grounds. However, they accused the TNA and LTTE of
exaggerating the release of the houses. The EPDP said that TNA and the LTTE
were trying to embarrass the Army and tarnish the name of EPDP. However,
the Army spokesman, also said the Army had not received any reports that
the EPDP was involved with the release of the houses to the people.
Published: Tue Feb 10 11:43:42 EST 2004
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rajapakse to Contest only from Hambantota
Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo,
SLT 10.00 P.M Tuesday 10 February.
Former opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse says he would contest the
elections only from the Hambantota district despite request made by trade
unions and other SLFP organizations. He told TNL Radio that he was a man
from the South and he would never leave Hambantota to contest from Colombo.
However, Rajapakse could not confirm reports if Mangala Samaraweera was
being considered as the next likely leading candidate from the SLFP to
contest Colombo. Rajapakse said that Mangala was a good choice to lead the
SLFP in Colombo. SLFP trade unions requested the President this week to
appoint Rajapakse as the leader of the Colombo District to counter the UNP
stronghold Colombo. Meanwhile leader of the Up Country Peoples Front, P
chandrasekeran stated that his party had always supported the UNP and will
continue to support the UNP. He said that all Tamil parties were meeting
tomorrow to discuss their strategy for the elections. Chandrasekeran met
with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe yesterday and held discussions
with the Premier.
Published: Tue Feb 10 11:11:47 EST 2004
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
