Archive for September 28th, 2008

Watch ITN Sinhala News 2008 - 09 - 28

SLAF raids LTTE positions - Mullaittivu, Welioya

Sri Lanka Air Force carried out two separate air strikes targeting LTTE positions in Mullaittivu and Welioya fronts this afternoon, 28 September.

The first attack was launched around 3.00 p.m targeting the observed LTTE reinforcement teams in general area 5Km northeast of Akkarayankulam to assist the ground troops of 57 Division, Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

Meanwhile, MI-24 helicopters raided LTTE bunker positions in general area Thandimurippukulam, east of Oddusudan, in Welioya front around 3.45 p.m, spokesperson added.

Courtesy: Ministry of Defence

Kilinochchi a ‘ghost town’

Kilinochchi is now a ‘ghost town’ with the LTTE withdrawing all its offices, business establishments, hotels and media centres following the rapid advancement of the security forces towards the region from various directions in the Wanni, informed sources said. The LTTE had even abandoned its ‘Peace Secretariat’ and the adjoining buildings where most of the meetings with key figures of the international community had taken place with the LTTE’s late political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan and its late theoretician Anton Balasingham, sources said.

The ‘Peace Secretariat’ of the outfit built with several millions of rupees was equipped with the latest communication facilities. The Secretariat was also furnished to international standards and Pulithevan, one of the lieutenants of Thamilselvan was the head of the Secretariat. The buildings put up by the LTTE in Kilinochchi for its political activities were built soon after the Norway mediated Ceasefire Agreement was signed in February 2002, the sources said.

According to sources the Norwegians had also helped the outfit financially to construct its new buildings in Kilinochchi for political activities. As the civilians began to move out from Kilinochchi, police stations, court houses and other administrative centres that had been set up by the LTTE collapsed with the outfit’s henchmen running helter skelter in the region, the sources said.

Meanwhile, innocent civilians in the region are between the ‘devil and the deep blue sea’ struggling to escape from the clutches of the LTTE who have made them scapegoats for their final show down with the security forces.

Civilians have now moved towards the eastern direction from Kilinochchi to areas such as Akkarayan, Viswamadu and Puthukudiyiruppu which are located east of the A-9 highway. With the LTTE forcibly preventing civilians moving into Government controlled cleared areas, they would face severe hardships in getting essential supplies when the battle enters its final phase, the sources said.

Courtesy: Sunday Observer

Central Bank bans unauthorized conduct of finance business

Following the turmoil and shock with the disappearance of Sakvithi Ranasinghe playing out millions of hard earned and also black money people raise their eye brows at the government’s lack of concern on creating awareness among the people.

However the Governor Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal insists that the Bank has stood by the people and taken all steps to educate them.
He further mentions that the Central bank is considering the impact the chaos experienced by the fraudulent finance power house is having on local Companies and the people.

Mr.Cabraal maintains that over the last three years the CB has taken steps to make the people aware as to what intuitions are registered to accept monetary deposits. Advertisements have gone out in National papers to create Public awareness. It is strange that people pick on bogus advertisements ignoring state warnings .CB would go further and inform the Media Institutions not to accept advertisements of people who are promoting these fraudulent transactions, he states.

It must be mentioned that with Sakvithe’s disappearance with the pot of gold CB has boldly advertised warning to the public naming the institutions they had to take precautions about.

The notice appear in Public interests under section 37 of the Finance Companies Act, No 78 of 1988 to inform the public that consequent to an  examination conducted under section 11of the  said Act , the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has determined that the named institutions are unauthorized.

Meanwhile D K Udayasiri of Kiribathgoda and Kurunagala residing at No 3 in Alankaraya  Moragane  conducting a marriage brokering service states that his capital is loans he has got  from friends .Our attempts to contact him on phone has so far failed.

Courtesy: Lankapuvath

Ramadan Festival 2008

lankapuvath.lk/images/stories/news%20text/culture/ramazan.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="6" width="93" height="100" align="left" />In the Islamic month of fasting (sawm), participating Muslims do not eat or drink anything from true dawn until sunset. Fasting is meant to teach the person patience, sacrifice and humility. Ramadan is a time to fast for the sake of God, and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance into the future, ask for help in refraining from everyday evils and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.

It is said that during the month of Ramadan. Muslims refrain from all food, drink or sex during daylight hours and focus on devotion and good works during Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The Muslim festival of Eid-al-Fitr is then celebrated at the end of Ramadan.

This year Ramadan is expected to be celebrated on 1st or 2nd October   according to the Lunar calendar.

Courtesy: Lankapuvath