The Lanka Academic
 
FEBRUARY 1, 2010 EST, USA
 
QUAERE VERUM
 
VOL. 10, NO. 301
TLA FORUM

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2010 Election Results
TLA FEATURE CORNER
Headline Summary
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Lanka to amend the Constitution
hindu, feb 2. COLOMBO: The new Sri Lankan parliament to be elected by April this year would turn itself into a Constituent Assembly to draft a fresh Constitution for the country to replace the present one, The Nation Weekly reported on Sunday.

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene was quoted saying that the ruling United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) would go to the people in the coming parliamentary elections seeking a two-thirds majority to get a mandate to redraft the Constitution as per the principles enunciated in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s 2010 Presidential election manifesto. The paper said that the new parliament would turn itself into a Constituent Assembly the way the House of Representatives did in 1970, for drafting a new constitution that came into force in 1972. More...Discuss this story
Published: Mon Feb 1 17:51:42 EST 2010

Commonwealth journalists condemn Sri Lankan government
AIM, feb 2. The London-based Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) issued a statement yesterday stating it “appalled” at the Sri Lankan government’s continued persecution of journalists “for committing the ’sin’ of criticizing the ruling party”.

The organisation was also “deeply concerned” at the disappearance of the Sri Lankan journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.

There has been growing concern and coverage of events in Sri Lanka, where police raided the offices of opposition candidates last week, seizing equipment and arresting staff.

According to the New York Times, officials accused one candidate, former army chief Mr. Fonseka, of plotting to overthrow the government and assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa. More...Discuss this story
Published: Mon Feb 1 22:02:19 EST 2010 Back to the top

IDPs divided over election outcome
IRIN, Feb 2. VAVUNIYA, 1 February 2010 (IRIN) - As the results of Sri Lanka's first post-war presidential election poured in, the mood at Menik Farm, in the main government-run camp for the ethnic Tamil internally displaced (IDPs), in the northern town of Vavuniya, was sober.

Only 6,000 residents of the camp, home to some 118,000 IDPs, sought to register for the 27 January polls.

"We want an opportunity to rebuild our shattered lives," said a resident, Sellamma Vallimuttu. She recalled a time when the north was flourishing, with lush paddy fields, hectares of onion fields and unrestricted fishing.

Vallimuttu just wanted to gather her family around one hearth and lead a normal life. "Is that too much to ask for?" More... Discuss this story
Published: Mon Feb 1 21:57:33 EST 2010 Back to the top

Computer manipulation 'impossible'
 BBC, Feb 2. The computer expert who was involved in presenting the final results in the recently concluded presidential polls has categorically rejected the accusations that the count was rigged using the latest technology... Back to the top
0Sri Lanka purges military amid coup fears
 abc.net.au, Feb 2. Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse has sacked a dozen senior military officers as part of a crackdown after last week's presidential election... Back to the top
Sri Lanka opposition complains of gov't pressure
 AP, Feb 1. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka's opposition accused the government Monday of hounding and detaining its activists following the country's acrimonious presidential election... Back to the top
Sri Lanka: End post election clampdown on dissent
 AI, Feb 1. Amnesty International today called on the government of Sri Lanka to immediately end its crackdown on journalists, political activists and human rights defenders after last week’s presidential election... Back to the top
Northern Sri Lanka reawakening after 30 years' war
 Xinhua, Feb 1. JAFFNA, Sri Lanka, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- As the 30-year-long civil war between Sri Lanka's government troops and Tamil tiger rebels ended in May 2009, the war affected northern Jaffna peninsula, the economic and cultural capital for the island's minority Tamils is reawakening after the endless suffering. According to Jaffna District Secretary and Government Agent K... Back to the top
S.Lanka president revokes expulsion of Swiss reporter
 AFP, jan 31. COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse on Sunday revoked an expulsion order against a Swiss reporter who covered the island's fiercely fought election... Back to the top
Sri Lankan government 'settling scores' in media crackdown
 The INdependent, Jan 31. The newly re-elected government of Mahinda Rajapaksa has been accused of orchestrating a fresh crackdown on the media after a series of websites were blocked and at least one reporter detained after raising questions about the conduct of the election... Back to the top
Releasing Nalini will amount to supporting terrorism, says Elangovan
 hindu, feb 1. Congress leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan has opposed any move to release Nalini Sriharan, convicted for her role in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi... Back to the top
US wants Fonseka's security restored
 ENS, Feb 1. COLOMBO: The United States has indicated that it wants the Sri Lankan government to restore to the defeated joint opposition Presidential candidate Gen... Back to the top
Help develop Jaffna, says Bogollagama
 Hindu, Jan 31. COLOMBO: Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in his first post-election visit to Jaffna has appealed to the Tamil Diaspora to help the government develop Jaffna into a commercial hub... Back to the top
Lankan expats hold blood donation campaign to mark Independence Day
 Gulf Times, Jan 31. DOHA: Over 125 donors participated in the blood donation campaign organised by the Sri Lankan Coordinating Committee (SLCC) Qatar at the Embassy recently to coincide with Sri Lanka’s 62nd Independence Day anniversary which falls on February 4... Back to the top
Sri Lanka's Tamils left to wonder what comes next
 world AP, Jan 31. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Riding high on his battlefield victory against the Tamil Tiger rebels and his landslide re-election, Sri Lanka's president appears under little pressure to tackle the deep ethnic tensions that fueled a generation of conflict here... Back to the top
Wife pleads for missing Sri Lanka journalist
 BBC News, 31 January 2010. The wife of a Sri Lankan journalist who mysteriously disappeared one week ago has pleaded that he be freed by whoever is holding him... Back to the top
India talking with Lanka on resettlement of Tamils: Menon
 new kerala, Jan 31 . Chennai, Jan 31 : Newly appointed National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon today said the Centre was continuously holding talks with Sri Lanka on resettlement of Tamils with adequate devolvement of powers... Back to the top
CBI yet to get Prabhakaran's death certificate
 upi, jan 31. NEW DELHI: Eight months into the death of LTTE chief V Prabhakaran, the proclaimed offender in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the CBI is yet to receive his death certificate from Sri Lankan authorities... Back to the top
SRI LANKA'S MALAYS WANT MORE POLITICAL SPACE ON THE ISLAND
 Bernama, Jan 31. COLOMBO, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- In Sri Lanka's ethnic cocoon, the minority Malay population is searching for more political space to voice their socio-economic rights... Back to the top
Lanka labourers earning basic wages while producing for UK fashion retailers
 ANI, Jan.31. Colombo, Jan.31 : Factory workers in Sri Lanka are struggling to survive on basic wages as low as 25 pence an hour to produce clothes for leading British retailers, who say they abide by an ethical trading initiative intended to protect employees' rights... Back to the top
S Lanka president acts against opposition officers: Source
 TOI, Jan 31. COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has transferred several senior military officers loyal to the former army general who he defeated in elections, a military source said on Sunday... Back to the top
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