- Terrorists
in Sri Lankan Navy uniforms seized ship -
'Princess Kash' captain
Controversy surrounds
the events leading to the seizure and the
destruction of merchant vessel, Princess Kash
off the terrorist controlled Mullaitivu coast
last week. The vessel owned by Goodwill Company
was bombed after terrorists in Sri Lankan
security forces uniforms supposedly tricked the
vessel's captain to take their orders.The captain of the ill-fated cargo ship,
Princess Kash has claimed that LTTE cadres
involved in the seizure of his ship last week had
been in Sri Lankan Navy [SLN] uniforms. (full story)
- U.S. concerned
about editorial
The U.S. Embassy in
Colombo had expressed its concern about the
publication of an editorial in the state
controlled Daily News about the recent terrorist
attacks on two American embassies in Kenya and
Tanzania, official sources confirmed yesterday.Senior officials said that the U.S.
Charge d'affaire in Colombo, Mr. Richard. H.
Smythe, had called on Mr. Nihal Rodrigo,
Additional Secretary to the Foreign Ministry to
express concern over the publication of these
comments in what was regarded as a government
newspaper. (full
story)
- Not correct
says Commission Secretary
The Secretary to the
Commission of Inquiry on Local Government Reforms
has informed us that our Aug. 16 report
(Proceedings only in Sinhala insists chairman)
contains "several inaccuracies and
misrepresentation of facts." (full story)
- Island
Capers
The
cabinet cake
- UNP recommends
independent body to decide on division of land in
PC areas
The UNP has proposed the setting
up of an "Independent body" that will
decide on the division of land within a
Provincial Council area, party sources said.This proposal on land will be the fourth
and final set of proposals the UNP will be
submitting to the parliamentary select committee
on Constitutional Reform this week.
In its first three sets of
proposals the UNP called for power sharing at the
centre coupled with asymmetrical devolution on a
need basis, the setting up of independent public,
police services and elections commissions among
other proposals. (full story)
- Five Commerce
ministers meet in Bangkok
- People and Events
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- Workers
Charter to be amended
The Labour Ministry is
to amend certain provisions of the Workers
Charter following representations made by the
Employers Federation informed sources said.However a Labour Ministry spokesman said
that the merits of the proposals made by the
Employers Federation will be considered this week
in relation to the Workers Charter which has
already been published. (full story)
- Why was editor
changed asks Prajathanthra
A call has been made by
Prajathanthra, an organisation which describes
itself as a "Foundation for Freedom of
Expression'', for an explanation on why the
editor of the Daily News was suddenly removed
from this position on August 14."We believe that the public deserve
to be told the reason for this sudden change,'' a
statement issued on Friday by Lucien
Rajakarunanayake, the convenor of the
organisation, said. (full story)
- Ishini to be
made media advisor?
Ms. Ishini
Wickremesinghe Perera is to be appointed an
advisor to the Media Ministry, the Ravaya of Aug.
23 reported. Asked whether the report was
correct, the Director of Information said he was
unaware.Ms. Perera
recently quit her job as News Director of the TNL
Television Station over very public differences
with her father, TNL Chairman Shan
Wickremesinghe.(full story)
- Left seeks to
have common Presidential candidate
The Janatha Vimukthi
Peramuna (JVP) has invited political parties
other than SLFP and UNP to discuss the
possibility of fielding a common presidential
candidate at the next poll.JVP spokesman and central committee
member Wimal Weerawansa yesterday told 'The
Sunday Island' that they expected political
parties to respond within the next few days. (full story)
- Major effort
to counter terrorism
A major international effort to
counter terrorism is taking shape. SAARC
ministerial level meeting has been scheduled for
next month in New York where the subject is
expected to be discussed, officials said.SAARC foreign ministers, under the
chairmanship of Sri Lanka's Lakshman Kadirgamar
are scheduled to have a structured meeting during
the United Nations General Assembly [UNGA].
"They as a group will meet
foreign ministers of ASEAN and the European
Union," an official said. (full story)
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