Author Archive

ITN Sinhala NEWS 2008 - 11- 19

Courtesy : Independent Television Network Ltd

40,000 houses to be constructed by RADA

The “Reconstruction And Development Agency” (RADA) has undertaken a project to construct 40,000 houses, said Chief Government Whip, Minister Dinesh Gunewardena in Parliament yesterday (18).

The Government had allocated Rs. 3200 million in the 2006 Budget and Rs.1900 million in the 2007 Budget for the development activities carried out by the RADA and other affiliated bodies of the Government, the Minister disclosed.

Meanwhile funds have been issued for separate other development projects, reserving Rs. 50 million for RADA, another Rs.1000 for “Jayalanka” projects.

Apart from these allocations Rs. 850 will be spent on infrastructure development activities, the minister added.

The funds are granted through President’s fund established for’Disaster Relief Services’.

Central Bank forfeits Rs. 71 million from TRO accounts

The Central Bank has taken steps to seize the funds held by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), widely known as a fund-raising arm of the LTTE and banned for this reason in several countries.

The Bank said a sum of 71 million rupees of TRO money has been thus forfeited by the state.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has commenced special inquiries on another twenty illegal financial institutes currently running in the country.

The Sri Lankan froze the assets of TRO in August 2006 under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act and the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing Act.

The government charged that the money received by TRO from various donors for “humanitarian projects” were, according to intelligence reports, mainly used to finance terrorist activities.

The Central Bank warns the general public not to get involved in any kind of financial donations or transactions with this organization.

Investigations are in progress to trace and forfeit any further funds and assets belonging to the TRO.

Any involvement including any financial connection with a proscribed organization is a criminal offence, the Central Bank announced.

The United States Department of the Treasury designated the TRO as a terror supporting network in November 2007 and froze all assets held by the TRO and its designees in U.S. territories, and formally prohibited U.S. citizens from transacting with the TRO or its members.

In 2005 the British Charity Commission revoked the TRO’s “charitable status” saying that it wasn’t able to satisfactorily account for the application of its funds.

Meanwhile the Central Bank attending to the regular complaints lodged by the public regarding bogus financial institutions has commenced special inquiries on another twenty illegal financial outfits currently operating in the country.

A special team has been appointed by the Bank to investigate the complaints.

Meanwhile the Central Bank had suspended activities of another fraudulent financial company few days ago, the 28th such outfit banned within the last two months following the Sakwithi Ranasinghe scam, reports said.

French travel agents on a treasure hunt in Sri Lanka

A group of French travel agents visited  Sri Lanka recently to participate in the Treasure Hunt (Chasse aux Trésors), a familiarisation tour organised by Sri Lanka Tourism to position Sri Lanka as a sought after destination in South Asia.

As part of the Treasure Hunt competition, the 50 travel agents with clues found treasures in various parts in the country. The treasures were identified on the basis of their importance for promoting tourism. Lesser known sites were included in order to promote yet unexposed sites.

Each team was given a mode of transport with a set of clues. The participants had to ask directions from the local people in the area, hence creating opportunities for interaction and thus experiencing truly unique Sri Lankan hospitality. While general explanations was provided by experienced tour guides on the vehicles transporting each team, emphasis was given to alternative modes of transport and self-discovery.

They toured Polonnaruwa, Sigirya, Kandy, Pinnawela, and the botanical garden.

Sri Lanka Tourism offered its support in obtaining entrance tickets to the sites and ground facilities and hosting a gala dinner reception at Club Bentota.

Isabelle Vayron of Paris, an animator with the group said, that the tour brought moments of intense happiness and there are no words to express how when the tour came to an end. This side of the world is ‘blessed by the gods’ and was thankful to have been selected to participate to the “Chasse aux Tresors” (Treasure Hunt)”.

“From the top of Sigiriya, one could understand the concept of Sri Lanka being an EarthLung and the grandeur of the nature around Sigiriya is unexplainable,” was her

The travel agents left Sri Lanka stating that the island is “blessed by gods” with an abundance of beauty and smiling people.

Courtesy: Lankapuvath

French travel agents on a treasure hunt in Sri Lanka

On his 63rd birthday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa accompanied by the first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa visited the temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa).

An all night pirith pinkama followed by a sangika dana was held at President’s House, Kandy to mark the dual occasions of the President’s birthday and his completion of three years as Executive President

Members of the Hindu, Christian and Muslim clergy also called on the President at the President’s House, Kandy yesterday morning and invoked blessings on him.

The sanga while invoking the blessings of the Triple gem on the President commended for his efforts on wiping out terrorism from the motherland.

Courtesy: Lankapuvath