The Lanka Academic
 
MARCH 29, 2006 EST, USA
 
QUAERE VERUM
 
VOL. 6, NO. 357
JAYANTHA DHANAPALA

Candidate for UN Secretary General from Sri Lanka.
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Headline Summary
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Rajapakse faces acid test in today's local polls
GulfNews, March 30. Colombo: President Mahinda Rajapakse faces the first acid test after being elected to power three months ago when their coalition contests today's local government elections without the backing of the Marxists Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

Rajapakse's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) for the first time after the formation of the coalition in 2004 will be contesting an election without the backing of the JVP.

The UPFA won the Parliamentary elections in April 2004 and in November last year the party's candidate Rajapakse was elected president with the backing of the JVP. More... Discuss this story
Published: Wed Mar 29 23:04:08 EST 2006

RPT_S.Lanka votes in local poll, eyes on Marxist vote
alertnet.org, 30 Mar 2006 02:16:06 GMT. COLOMBO, March 30 (Reuters) - Sri Lankans began voting on Thursday in local government elections widely seen as a litmus test of the popularity of President Mahinda Rajapakse's hardline Marxist allies that could impact on a fragile peace process.

Polls in and near Tamil Tiger areas across most of the island's north and east have been postponed for six months on security worries and, with only a handful of frontline areas voting, attention is concentrated on the majority Sinhalese south.

The Marxist JVP backed Rajapakse in last November's presidential election, votes with him in parliament but is contesting local polls separately, and analysts say it wants to increase its control beyond the one council it currently holds. More... Discuss this story
Published: Wed Mar 29 23:01:46 EST 2006 Back to the top

Sri Lankan Rebels Say They Will Attend Peace Talks in Geneva
Bloomberg, march 30. March 30 (Bloomberg) -- Sri Lanka's rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said they will take part in peace talks in Geneva next month that were threatened by an escalation of violence in the South Asian island nation.

``The agenda for the second round of talks will definitely be about disarming Tamil paramilitaries if the government fails to take action against them,'' Anton Balasingham, the Tamil Tigers chief negotiator at the peace talks, said yesterday in London, according to TamilNet.

Sri Lanka's Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, leading the government delegation, said yesterday the administration is committed to a negotiated settlement ``despite recent provocative action,'' Agence France-Presse reported from the capital, Colombo. More... Discuss this story
Published: Wed Mar 29 20:17:14 EST 2006 Back to the top

Norway's new peace envoy to visit Sri Lanka
 Shimali Senanayake in Colombo, March 29th, 2006, SLT 5:30 pm. The newly appointed special peace envoy to Sri Lanka will arrive here next week for talks with the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels, officials said on Wednesday... Back to the top
Both Lankan parties claim poll success
 Peninsula Online, March 30, 2006. Colombo: Both governing and opposition parties in Sri Lanka are claiming success at the March 30 local elections... Back to the top
Top Norwegian peace envoy meets Tamil rebel negotiator amid fears for peace talks
 Shimali Senanayake in Colombo, March 29th, 2006, SLT 11:30 am. Norway's top peace broker was set to meet on Wednesday the Tamil Tiger rebels' chief negotiator amid a spike of violence that has fueled fears for talks to save Sri Lanka's faltering cease-fire, officials said... Back to the top
Lack of Delhi s support for Sri Lankan Tamils deplored
 hindu.com, March 29. It is regrettable that the Indian Government, which backs the cause of Palestinians, is not supporting Sri Lankan Tamils who are also fighting for a cause, said speakers at a meeting here on Tuesday... Back to the top
Five migratory birds found dead in Sri Lanka tested for bird flu
 Associated Press, Wed March 29, 2006 10:41 EST . BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Five migratory birds found dead in northern Sri Lanka - on Wednesday will undergo tests to determine if they had bird flu, officials said... Back to the top
Lanka, rebels urged to honour ceasefire
 thepeninsulaqatar.com, 3/30/2006 1:51:21. LONDON: The main mediator in the long-standing conflict in Sri Lanka, Erik Solheim of Norway, yesterday called for the government and Tamil rebels to keep their commitment to a ceasefire even after the recent deadly attack on a naval vessel... Back to the top
Face socio-economic challenges collectively, Rajapakse tells SAARC
 Hindu, March 29, 2006. COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapakse, on Wednesday called upon the members of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) to "develop structures" to face the "social and economic challenges collectively and regionally... Back to the top
Tamils warily return to mined areas in Sri Lanka as teams clear out explosives
 Associated Press, Tue March 28, 2006 19:09 EST . KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press Writer - MANKULAM, Sri Lanka - (AP) The shiny round object half buried in her garden aroused Nixon Kousi's curiosity and could have cost her life... Back to the top
Sri Lankan woman released after years in U.S. border jail
 Associated Press, Wed March 29, 2006 07:26 EST . SAN DIEGO (AP) _ A Sri Lankan woman who was suspected of being a member of the Tamil Tigers has been released after spending more than four years in federal detention on allegations that she entered the United States illegally... Back to the top
Sri Lanka sets up court in prison to handle drug cases
 people.com.cn, March 28. A court has been set up for the first time in Sri Lanka inside a prison premises to handle drug cases, prison officials said Tuesday... Back to the top
Sri Lanka to slap stamp duties on credit cards, leasing, insurance ...
 lankabusinessonline.com, Wed, 29 March 2006 . Sri Lanka will introduce stamp duties from April on a range of services like credit cards, leasing and insurance policies, as the government looks for ways to raise revenue to pay for infrastructure and welfare spending plans... Back to the top
Sri Lanka military recruits Muslim for exclusive Muslim battalion
 Associated Press, Tue March 28, 2006 07:52 EST . BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lankan military on Tuesday began recruiting Muslim youths for the country's first exclusively Muslim infantry battalion to provide protection to those living in a troubled eastern province, officials said... Back to the top
HL:Reputed Tamil gang leader deported to Sri Lanka after immigration probe
 Associated Press, Tue March 28, 2006 03:17 EST . Tue March 28, 2006 03:17 EST HL:Reputed Tamil gang leader deported to Sri Lanka after immigration probe TORONTO (CP) _ The reputed leader of a Tamil gang whose battle with rival gang members on the streets of Toronto claimed the lives of more than a dozen youths in the late 1990s, and once led to a midday shooting on Highway 404, was deported late Monday night to Sri Lanka... Back to the top
U.N. agency urges tsunami-hit countries to make sure fishing boats meet safety standards
 Associated Press, Tue March 28, 2006 13:02 EST . In Sri Lanka - , where almost 19,000 boats were destroyed, more than 13,000 boats had been replaced by the end of November 2005... Back to the top
Sri Lanka seizes control of first test with 251-run second innings lead
 Associated Press, Tue March 28, 2006 07:52 EST . KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Ferveez Maharoof took a career-best 4-52 Tuesday and was assisted by brilliant top-order batting to help Sri Lanka - seize control of the first cricket test against Pakistan with a comfortable 251-run lead in the second innings... Back to the top
Sri Lanka trade gap widens: central bank
 people.com.cn, March 28, 2006. Sri Lanka's trade deficit has widened to 240 million U.S. dollars in January 2006, the Central Bank said Monday... Back to the top
Explosion Sinks Sri Lankan Navy Boat
 NYT-Shimali Senanayake, March 26. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, March 25 — In a blow to newly revived peace efforts in Sri Lanka, suspected Tamil Tiger rebels blew up their boat and sank an approaching navy craft on Saturday, leaving eight sailors missing and feared dead... Back to the top
Tharanga strokes stylish 64 as Sri Lanka takes command of the first test
 Associated Press, Tue March 28, 2006 04:49 EST . KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Upul Tharanga scored an unbeaten 64 Tuesday to put Sri Lanka - in command of the first cricket test against Pakistan at tea on the third day... Back to the top
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