The Lanka Academic
 
MARCH 22, 2004 EST, USA
 
A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED BY LACNET
 
VOL. 4, NO. 351
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There would be continuity in policy towards SL if Democrats Come to Power - Fmr US Asst Sec of State for S/Asia
Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo, SLT 7.40 A.M Tuesday 23 March. Karl Inderfurth , U.S Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia under President Clinton said that there would be continuity in the US policy towards Sri Lanka if the Democrats come to power in November. He said that he was fully convinced that the US would support Sri Lanka in its effort to end the war and bring peace to the country. In an interview with this correspondent in Colombo, Ambassador Inderfurth also urged the Sri Lankan leaders to take advantage of the high level of involvement that exists in Washington in the remaining month of the Bush administration and before the presidential election draws near.

He said " It is only a matter of the calendar that I say that. Because as we go into the election more and more time will be spent on the campaign and moving towards the election than focusing on all the problems around the world. That is a natural fact in any country and once the elections has taken place, if it is a Democratic administration it would take several months to get the new team in place and if President Bush is re-elected there would be likely changes in his team just as President Clinton changed his National Security team. President Bush may do that which means again several month before that new team is in place. So, it is only because right now, I believe we have a strong focus on Sri Lanka, while that focus is there and before the election becomes too much in motion, I hope as that can be used to support what is taking place here. " He added " With Secretary Powell and Deputy Secretary Armitage and Ambassador Jeff Lunstead here in Colombo, Sri Lanka has a strong and committed US team to work with. I believe this is a valuable asset that should be fully seized at this time
Published: Mon Mar 22 20:44:04 EST 2004

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Pakistan-rejected wheat sails for Sri Lanka, Dubai
geo.tv, March 23, 2004 . SINGAPORE: Two Australian wheat cargoes rejected by the Pakistani government have sailed for Sri Lanka and one has left for Dubai, a Pakistani shipping industry source told Reuters on Monday. "All the three cargoes left during the weekend," said the Karachi-based industry official who asked not to be identified. "The fourth cargo will go to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Indonesia. She will be sailing some time later tonight." More...
Published: Mon Mar 22 21:25:32 EST 2004 Back to the top
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SLFP-JVP Alliance to meet Election Chief over their suspicion on staggering polls grants
Alladin Hussein in Colombo, March 22, 204, 7.52 pm. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party-Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna coalition is expected to make a formal representation shortly to Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake over their suspicion about certain United States based election monitoring organisations allegedly favouring Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Front and donating ‘staggering amounts’ to the UNF to carry out their election propaganda.

The coalition, which goes under the banner, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and led by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, has pointed out that US$ 400,000 had been granted through the USAID to the CMEV and PAFFREL and another US$ 200,000 for technical assistance for a US based NGO, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, to carry out ‘necessary’ election monitoring work. While, another Rs.20 million was given to these two organizations by Norway, Japan, Canada Australia, Britain and Netherlands and the total sum amounts to Rs.85 million.

According to a senior member of this Alliance, such a staggering amount is not necessary to carry out the election monitoring and merely one tenth of this amount is more than enough for such election related work. ‘How do we know where the balance money is going, but we have a strong suspicion that the money is going to the UNF,’ he alleged.
Published: Mon Mar 22 08:54:18 EST 2004 Back to the top

Related News Stories
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 Foreign governments accused of trying to influence Sri Lanka ...  - abc.net.au
Sri Lanka army to facilitate voting in rebel held areas
 Associated Press, Mon March 22, 2004 13:10 EST . - - March 22 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan government and military have agreed to facilitate the people in the areas held by Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the country to cast their votes in the April 2 parliamentary election, officials said on Monday... Back to the top
Fire at Kelanitissa power plant
 Daily Mirror, March 23, 2004 . A steam-powered generator at the Kelanitissa Power Plant caught fire yesterday morning with the Fire Brigade, the Air Force and the police being called in to bring the blaze under control... Back to the top
Sri Lanka to get a coal power plant soon
 Alladin Hussein in Colombo, March 22, 2004, 7.29 pm. Plans are underway to build Sri Lanka’s first ever coal power plant in Hambantota, reports stated today... Back to the top
Kumaratunga bluffing, say LTTE factions
 indiatimes.com, MARCH 22, 2004 02:17:25 AM ]. With peace talks emerging as a key issue in the run-up to the April 2 polls in Sri Lanka , the LTTE and its breakaway faction leader today rejected claims by President Chandrika Kumaratunga that her party was in contact with them... Back to the top
US Took The Lead Internationally To Weaken the LTTE Says Former US Ambassador
 Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo, SLT 11.50 P.M Sunday 21 March. Former Deputy US Permanent Representative to the UN and former Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Peter Burleigh says the United States took the lead internationally in attempting to isolate and weaken the LTTE and his countries effort crystallized when the LTTE was added to the list of terrorist groups maintained by the US government... Back to the top
Kumaratunga sets terms to resume Lanka peace talks
 navhindtimes.com, Monday, March 22. In a move apparently to keep the Tamil Tiger rebels away from the negotiating table in the future, Sri Lankan President, Ms Chandrika Kumaratunga has set preconditions for the LTTE to recommence peace talks if her United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) came to power in the general elections on April 2... Back to the top
UNICEF says Sri Lanka rebels recruiting children
 reuters.com, March 22, 2004, 7:40 AM EST. COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers released 35 child soldiers on Sunday, but are still recruiting more under-age fighters than they allow to go free, the United Nations' children's agency said... Back to the top
Tamil Tigers free child soldiers
 Yahoo, March 22, 2004, 7:40 AM EST. Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have released 35 child soldiers, aged between 12 and 18... Back to the top
Sri Lanka president s party says funding of poll monitors biased
 abc.net.au, 21/03/2004. The party of Sri Lanka's president has accused foreign governments of trying to influence the outcome of next month's elections by funding poll monitors who back her opponents... Back to the top
Lankan president s claims ‘ untruthful
 brunei-online.com, March 22, 2004, 7:40 AM EST. COLOMBO (AFP) - The Tamil Tigers and a breakaway rebel leader Sunday denied claims by the Sri Lankan president that she had made contact with them, as peace talks emerged as a key issue in the run-up to April 2 elections... Back to the top
Sri Lanka fears the roar of the Tigers
 guardian.co.uk, March 22, 2004. A rift within the LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam], which has fought a 20-year insurgency for a sovereign Tamil homeland, has jeopardised the ceasefire... Back to the top
Tamil candidate struggles against Sri Lanka rebels
 reuters.com, 21 Mar 2004 10:07 . He's a leading candidate in Sri Lanka's election, but V. Anandasangaree can barely leave his compound in northern Jaffna peninsula let alone campaign before the masses... Back to the top
SRI LANKA: Singapore Firm Invests In Pugoda Textile Mills
 AROQ, March 22, 2004, 12:50 PM EST. Singapore’s South Asia Textile Industries Ltd is investing up to $20 million in Sri Lanka's Pugoda Textile Mills... Back to the top
Sri Lankan rebels release 35 child soldiers, but slammed for continued recruitment
 Associated Press, Sun March 21, 2004 10:47 EST . - - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Tamil Tiger rebels released 35 child soldiers Sunday, but the U... Back to the top
LTTE, renegade leader reject Chandrika s claims
 hinduonnet.com, March 21, 2004 . With peace talks emerging as a key issue in the run-up to the April 2 polls in Sri Lanka, the LTTE and its breakaway faction leader today rejected claims by President Chandrika Kumaratunga that her party was in contact with them... Back to the top
President says she is sorry about Udathalawinna massacre
 Alladin Hussein in Colombo, March 21, 2004, 5.59 pm. President Chandrika Kumaratunga expressed her sincere apologies to the Muslim community yesterday over the Udathalawinna massacre, allegedly carried out by her one- time strong man and former deputy Minister of Defence, Gen... Back to the top
Thamilselvam Says New Commanders Will Move To East Soon
 Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo, SLT 4.00 P.M Sunday 21 March. Leader of LTTE's political wing, Thamilchelvam says that the new commanders appointed to the east are cautiously making their moves to the east and the move would take place soon... Back to the top
Tamil factions deny Sri Lankan president s claims of contacts
 channelnewsasia.com, 21 March 2004 1428 hrs . The Tamil Tigers and a breakaway rebel leader have both denied claims by the Sri Lankan president that she had made contact with them, as peace talks emerged as a key issue in the run-up to April 2 elections... Back to the top
Ranil's party best suited to resolve ethnic strife
 Gulf News, March 21, 2004, 12:20 AM EST. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's party has been identified as the best party which could resolve the country's prolonged ethnic conflict, but President Chandrika Kumaratunga's alliance contesting the upcoming elections has been identified as the best to reduce corruption, reduce cost of living Back to the top
Warne vs. Muralitharan bowling duel overshadows last test
 Associated Press, Mon March 22, 2004 04:39 EST . JOHN PYE - AP Sports Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Shane Warne needs nine wickets to become the most successful test bowler ever in cricket... Back to the top
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