The Lanka Academic
 
FEBRUARY 11, 2005 EST, USA
 
A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED BY LACNET
 
VOL. 5, NO. 311
TLA FEATURE CORNER
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Headline Summary
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LTTE leader’s killing an "internal job": Lankan minister
hindustantimes.com, Feb 11. The recent killing of the LTTE's Batticaloa leader, E Kousalyan, is generally attributed to the breakaway "Karuna" group. But Sri Lanka's Minister of Hindu Affairs, Douglas Devananda, says that it may have been the handiwork of elements within the LTTE. "Such an immaculately planned assassination requires accurate information from within the LTTE," Devananda told Hindustan Times.com in an exclusive interview. The minister, who himself was a gun-toting Tamil militant, trained in the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in his youth, said that killings of LTTE leaders had always been done by insiders. The ruthless elimination of the deputy leader of the LTTE, Gopalswamy Mahendrarajah alias Mahathya, was a case in point, Devananda said. For political reasons, Karuna — who broke away from LTTE supremo Prabhakaran in March 2004 — might lay claim to Kousalyan's assassination. But this would not detract from the possibility of someone from inside Prabhakaran's camp having done it, Devananda said. More...
Published: Fri Feb 11 22:47:05 EST 2005
Tsunami 'to hit Sri Lanka banks'
Yahoo, 11 February. Sri Lanka's banks face hard times following December's tsunami disaster, officials have warned. The Sri Lanka Banks Association said the waves which killed more than 30,000 people also washed away huge amounts of property which was securing loans. According to its estimate, as much as 13.6% of the loans made by private banks to clients in the disaster zone has been written off or damaged. State-owned lenders may be even worse hit, it said. More...
Published: Fri Feb 11 22:48:59 EST 2005 Back to the top
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Rights Group Seeks Probe of Sri Lanka Rebel Leader's Death Pasricha report - Download 302k
Yahoo, 11 February 2005. A human rights group is asking Sri Lanka's government to investigate the killing of a senior Tamil Tiger rebel earlier this week. The rebels say the latest violence will hurt efforts to put an end to a two-decade-long civil conflict in the country. Human Rights Watch says the killing of a Tamil Tiger rebel leader in an ambush on Monday may signify "a dangerous new round of politically motivated violence". E. Kausalyan, the senior-most rebel leader in the east of the country, was shot and killed along with five others as his vehicle traveled through a government-controlled area. A breakaway faction of the rebel group has claimed responsibility for the killing. The Tigers accuse the faction of collaborating with government troops, and have warned that the violence will hamper efforts to restore peace in the country. The government has denied the allegations and condemned the killings. Human Rights Watch has called for a transparent investigation into the deaths. The rights group also accuses the rebels of carrying out politically motivated crimes. It says there has been a spate of killings and abductions in recent months of both rebels and their opponents. More...
Published: Fri Feb 11 22:49:54 EST 2005 Back to the top
Sri Lanka Parliament extends tsunami emergency rule amid opposition protests
 Associated Press, Fri February 11, 2005 06:15 EST . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka's parliament Friday extended for another month emergency rule to help tsunami relief efforts, but opposition parties condemned the move saying authorities would abuse their extra powers... Back to the top
“Emergency regulation is a threat to democracy,” claims pre-dominant Muslim party
 Munza Mushtaq in Colombo, February 11, 1005, 8.38 p.m.. Amidst a decision taken by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress to abstain from voting at today’s emergency debate, the party leader citing reasons for their decision pointed out that certain contains in the emergency regulations were totally unwarranted and thus could pose a threat to the democratic rights of the masses... Back to the top
India, Sri Lanka for comprehensive economic pact:
 newkerala.com, Feb 11. India and Sri Lanka Friday agreed to establish a trade negotiating committee to draw up in the next four months a road map for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement... Back to the top
Japanese peace Envoy Akashi assures fair share for Muslims
 Munza Mushtaq in Colombo, February 11, 2005, 8. 27 p.m.. Japan’s special peace envoy Yasushi Akashi addressing the media soon after his meeting with Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem today morning said that Japan was aware that it was the Muslim community which was the hardest hit in the Eastern region due to the Tsunami... Back to the top
Canadian MP Asks PM Martin to Ban LTTE in Canada
 Domnique De Melo in Colombo, SLT 11.50 A.M Friday 11 February. Canadian Member of Parliament Stockwell Day has questioned the Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, why he is not banning the LTTE and its support groups within its borders... Back to the top
Sri Lanka Marxists warn government, boycott tsunami parliamentary debate
 keralanext.com, Fri 11th Feb 11:04GMT. COLOMBO - The Sri Lankan government’s main Marxist coalition partner on Wednesday boycotted a parliamentary debate about the tsunami disaster and said it was their first warning to the administration... Back to the top
Breakaway Tamil Tiger group claims responsibility for slaying top rebel, five others
 Associated Press, Fri February 11, 2005 02:52 EST . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - A breakaway faction of Tamil Tiger rebels has claimed responsibility for the deadly ambush of an insurgent commander who was overseeing relief to tsunami victims... Back to the top
Sri Lankans starve despite aid pledge
 theage.com.au, Fri 11th Feb 13:14GMT. Aid organisations have failed to help almost a million refugees, volunteers say... Back to the top
Warehouses, refugee camps in tsunami-hit Sri Lanka struggle with unusable aid
 Associated Press, Fri February 11, 2005 05:13 EST . SHIMALI SENANAYAKE : GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) At the main warehouse in Galle, mountains of cardboard boxes and suitcases ready to burst take up a quarter of the cavernous building... Back to the top
Stop recruiting child soldiers, immediately - Olara Otunnu
 BBC, Fri 11th Feb 08:17GMT. Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have been figured in the list of organisations against which the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended that the UN Security Council impose sanctions when it meets to discuss his annual report on children in otunnu conflict zones... Back to the top
North East Security intensified owing to the ongoing ‘tense’ situation
 Munza Mushtaq in Colombo, February 10, 2005, 11.48 p.m.. As the funeral ceremony of LTTE Ampara-Batticaloa Political Wing leader Kaushalyan got underway, the Sri Lanka Army have intensified its security in many parts of the Northern and Eastern province, sources told the Lanka Academic... Back to the top
UN seeks Tamil Tiger travel ban
 BBC, February 10. Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka should face travel curbs and other penalties if they keep using children as soldiers, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says... Back to the top
Sri Lanka finalises US$1.8 billion medium-term reconstruction plan
 channelnewsasia.com, Fri 11th Feb 08:03GMT. COLOMBO : Around sixty percent of a 1.8 billion-dollar tsunami reconstruction plan will target Tamil Tiger-controlled areas of Sri Lanka, with fisheries and small businesses the main focus, a top official said... Back to the top
S.Lanka rupee flat, importer dollar demand light
 Yahoo, Fri 11th Feb 13:14GMT. COLOMBO, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The Sri Lanka rupee closed flat on Friday as light importer demand for dollars to settle trade bills was offset by exporter sales of the U... Back to the top
Pursuing a dream to help
 Associated Press, Fri February 11, 2005 06:08 EST . Kausha Siriwardana of Garland formed Helping Hands Inc. to build orphanages to help the children of Asia... Back to the top
Rights Group Seeks Probe of Sri Lanka Rebel Leader s Death
 voanews.com, Fri 11th Feb 14:24GMT. A human rights group is asking Sri Lanka's government to investigate the killing of a senior Tamil Tiger rebel earlier this week... Back to the top
Killing of LTTE leader raises danger of war in Sri Lanka
 wsws.org, Fri 11th Feb 08:03GMT. The assassination of a top leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in eastern Sri Lanka on Monday has heightened the danger of a return to civil war on the island... Back to the top
Asbestos threatens Sri Lankans: MP
 theage.com.au, Fri 11th Feb 08:10GMT. A NSW MP holidaying in Sri Lanka during the Boxing Day tsunami warned that massive amounts of asbestos presented a long-term danger to people there... Back to the top
Concern Worldwide Responds to Tsunami in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and ...
 alertnet.org, Fri 11th Feb 08:03GMT. More than one month after the devastating Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the nations of the region are still taking stock of the destruction... Back to the top
SOS Malta assists in Sri Lanka school rebuilding
 timesofmalta.com, Fri 11th Feb 09:17GMT. SOS Malta has donated $8,000 to St Mary's Convent in Matara, Sri Lanka which was damaged by the Boxing Day tsunami... Back to the top
This is aid?: winter jackets for tropical Sri Lanka , stiletto heels and even Viagra
 Associated Press, Fri February 11, 2005 13:49 EST . SHIMALI SENANAYAKE - Associated Press Writer - GALLE, Sri Lanka - (AP) At the main warehouse in Galle, mountains of cardboard boxes and suitcases ready to burst take up a quarter of the cavernous building... Back to the top
Tamil rebels lambast Sri Lanka 's government as thousands mourn at funeral of slain guerrilla leader
 Associated Press, Thu February 10, 2005 09:13 EST . KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press Writer - BATTICALOA, Sri Lanka - (AP) Tamil Tiger rebels warned their patience with Sri Lanka - 's government was running out, as they buried an insurgent commander gunned down earlier this week after overseeing relief to tsunami victims... Back to the top
Why Sri Lanka is special to me
 timesonline.co.uk, February 11, 2005 . STANDING in front of the famous old fort at Galle this week, I looked down on to what I remember as one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world... Back to the top
Claims asbestos used in Sri Lankan tsunami re-building program
 abc.net.au, 11/02/2005. The New South Wales' Greens MP Ian Cohen was only a few hours into his surfing holiday at Hikkaduwa on the Sri Lankan coast, when the tsunami struck... Back to the top
Canada: Prime Minister Should Call on Tamil Tigers to End Child ...
 alertnet.org, February 9. Prime Minister Paul Martin should publicly call on the Tamil Tigers to end all recruitment of children in Sri Lanka and to release the children currently in their ranks, former Canadian foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy and Human Rights Watch urged in a letter made public today... Back to the top
Businesses welcome Pak-Lanka FTA
 dailytimes.com.pk, February 10, 2005, 18:35 EDT. LAHORE: Business community has welcomed the signing of Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA), hoping that it would help boost trade and economic cooperation between the two countries... Back to the top
Warne, Murali help Sri Lankan tsunami victims
 abc.net.au, February 10, 2005, 18:35 EDT. Test cricket leading wicket-taker Shane Warne and Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan have buried their spin rivalry for a worthy cause - raising funds for tsunami survivors... Back to the top
Warne a big hit in Lanka
 telegraphindia.com, February 10, 2005, 18:35 EDT. Colombo: Many people in cricket-crazy Sri Lanka had a grudge against Shane Warne but the Aussie leg-spinner’s reputation in the Indian Ocean island is changing fast... Back to the top
Indian PM to visit Sri Lanka after 18 years:
 newkerala.com, Feb 10 . New Delhi, Feb 10 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will end a prolonged drought in return visits to Sri Lanka when he undertakes a trip to the island nation in late March or early April... Back to the top
Sri Lanka: Wolfenson concerned about NGO funds
 reliefweb.int, 09 Feb 2005. The World Bank President James Wolfenson called on President Chandrika Kumaratunga at the Presidential Suite of her hotel in Islamabad yesterday, to discuss further World Bank assistance for the reconstruction of infrastructure in Sri Lanka... Back to the top
Tsunami was 'divine visitation upon Sabbath pleasure seekers'
 The SCotsman, February 10. A FREE Presbyterian minister has caused outrage by claiming that the Asian tsunami was a "divine visitation" on "pleasure seekers" breaking the Sabbath... Back to the top
Humanitarian Situation Report - Sri Lanka 7 - 10 Feb 2005
 reliefweb.int, 10 Feb 2005. According to the latest Government figures, published on 1 February, 248,866 Sri Lankan families have been affected by the tsunami... Back to the top
US marines end Sri Lanka tsunami mission, foreign troops set to ...
 khaleejtimes.com, 10 February 2005 . US marines have completed their tsunami relief operations in Sri Lanka while troops from seven other nations were also scaling down their work and preparing to withdraw from the island, a defence official said Thursday... Back to the top
Eight Asian, Middle Eastern countries to form biotechnology center in India
 Associated Press, Thu February 10, 2005 05:28 EST . - - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka - , Singapore, Malaysia, Israel, Iran and Saudi Arabia launched the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations with its headquarters in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, a key Indian technology hub... Back to the top
Sri Lanka Telecom to expand in rebel territory
 Bloomberg News, February 10. COLOMBO Sri Lanka Telecom, the biggest telephone company in the country, has said it will expand and upgrade its network in areas controlled by Tamil separatists, betting that the cease-fire with the government will continue into a fourth year... Back to the top
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