The Lanka Academic
 
MARCH 2, 2010 EST, USA
 
QUAERE VERUM
 
VOL. 10, NO. 330
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NGOs Brace for Tighter Gov’t Control
IPS, Mar 2. COLOMBO, Mar 2, 2010 (IPS) - Local and foreign non-governmental organisations have had a liberal existence in Sri Lanka, but this may not last for much longer under the government’s plans to amend a 1980 law that would tighten control over them.

But if activists have an ominous feeling about the proposed law, government officials like Newton Perera, additional secretary to the Ministry of Internal Administration that oversees non-government organisations (NGOs), says the amendment would just bring the country’s laws in line with modern developments.

Local and international NGOs have grown to several hundreds from a few dozens in this South Asian island nation, from the time fighting broke out between Tamil rebels and government troops in the early 1980s.

Government officials now say that the 1980 NGO Act does not allow them enough room to deal with accusations that some international NGOs, or INGOs, are involved in political work. More...Discuss this story
Published: Tue Mar 2 21:34:09 EST 2010

China key partner in northern region’s development: Lanka
Zee, march 3. Colombo: China is an important partner in the development of the war-ravaged northern region where the process of resettlement of Tamils has gained momentum, Sri Lankan Defence Ministry said today.

"China, as one of the leading international partners for northern development, has also donated 6,252 tents and 34 more heavy machinery and equipment to be used for resettlement and reconstruction work in the North," the Ministry said in a statement. More... Discuss this story
Published: Tue Mar 2 21:35:19 EST 2010 Back to the top

Sri Lanka faces sanctions
CL, march 3. A BRISBANE Church agency is calling for the Australian Government to take a stronger stance on human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

Brisbane archdiocese's Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) made the call in the wake of a warning that Sri Lanka may lose preferential trade benefits unless human rights concerns are addressed.

This follows the European Union's (EU) announcement that Sri Lanka's $3.47 billion textile and clothing industry may have its tariff benefit suspended within six months unless 27 international human rights conventions are met. More... Discuss this story
Published: Tue Mar 2 21:28:45 EST 2010 Back to the top

Sri Lanka to call dissolved parliament to extent emergency
 reuters, March 2. COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapaksa will reconvene the island nation's dissolved parliament on March 9 to extend an emergency law by another month ahead of parliamentary polls in April, officials said on Tuesday... Back to the top
S Lanka extends emergency rule
 afp, March 2. Sri Lanka's president has used his executive powers to extend a state of emergency that gives sweeping authority to police and troops ahead of next month's parliamentary polls... Back to the top
Probe into Sri Lankan team attack completed: CCPO
 DailyTimes, March 3. LAHORE: Police have completed investigation into the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team a year ago and submitted a challan to the court, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Pervez Rathore said while talking to people at the Capital City Police headquarters on Tuesday, adding the accused had either been arrested or killed... Back to the top
From camp confines to high-security prison
 ens, march 3. CHENNAI: Sri Lankan refugees of a Chengalpattu camp who had fought for a little freedom will now, by a twist of fate, be more confined than ever — they will now not even get a glimpse of the clear blue sky... Back to the top
S.Lanka probe army officers over editor's murder
 afp, March 2. COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lankan police are to question dozens of military intelligence officers in connection with the internationally condemned assassination of a senior editor, a spokesman said Tuesday... Back to the top
Key LTTE funding handler arrested
 Rediff, March 2. A key member of the LTTE's international finance wing has been arrested by Sri Lankan police after he arrived in Colombo from Geneva to look into the businesses once owned by the Tamil Tigers... Back to the top
Sri Lankan' north the latest landmine priority
 abc, March 2. The clearing of landmines in Sri Lanka looks set to be an increasing challenge, as parts of the island's north are cleared for resettlement by those displaced by the fighting... Back to the top
LTTE base converted into police station in Wanni
 PTI, March 2. Colombo, Mar 2 (PTI) A key base of now vanquished Tamil Tigers at Poonaryn in northern Sri Lanka has been converted into a police station... Back to the top
Sri Lanka will again miss IMF deficit goal-ministry
 Reuters, March 2. COLOMBO, March 2 - Sri Lanka will miss for the second year in a row budget deficit targets set by the International Monetary Fund as a condition for a $2.6 billion loan, data from the finance ministry showed on Tuesday... Back to the top
S.Lanka stx at new record; end flat amid deficit concerns
 Reuters, March 2. COLOMBO, March 2 - Sri Lankan shares hit a new record high on Tuesday before sliding on profit taking amid concerns over interest rates after the government said it had overshot its 2009 budget deficit target and would miss this year's too... Back to the top
Online petition seeks release of Sri Lankan opposition leader
 DPA, March 1. Colombo - The Sri Lankan opposition on Monday launched an online petition seeking the release of former army commander and opposition presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka... Back to the top
Arulamma Thambiraja, "I have seen things I never thought I would, so much death"
 IRIN, 1 March. COLOMBO, 1 March 2010 (IRIN) - This time last year, Arulamma Thambiraja, 99, was among tens of thousands of civilians trapped in Sri Lanka's north by fighting between government forces and the since-defeated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)... Back to the top
FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in Sri Lanka
 Reuters, March 1, 2010. COLOMBO, March 1 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka holds parliamentary elections on April 8 amid economic worries, not least the IMF's decision to delay the third tranche of a $2.6 billion loan after the government missed its 2009 deficit reduction targets... Back to the top
Rajapaksa claims easy victory in general elections
 HT, March 1. President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday claimed that his coalition will form a "stable government" after the April 8 Sri Lankan parliamentary polls, in which an opposition party has fielded ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka... Back to the top
Tamils' spokesman 'Alex' jumps ship
 Sydney Herald, March 1. JAKARTA: Sanjeev ''Alex'' Kuhendrarajah, who gained fame as spokesman for 254 Sir Lankan asylum seekers who refused to leave their boat after being intercepted on their way to Australia, has disappeared... Back to the top
Sri Lankan court takes up security plea by opposition legislators
 Xinhua, March 1. Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Monday decided to consider a fundamental rights petition concerning the personal safety of opposition parliamentarians... Back to the top
Sri Lanka shares at new high; foreigners exit
 Reuters, March 1, 2010. COLOMBO, March 1 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan share prices hit a new record high on Monday led by retail buying, despite the departure of foreign investors amidst political and economic concerns... Back to the top
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