Thanamalwila Hospital sources say that three dead bodies and three injured from the terrorist attack on Hambegamuwa Kalawelgala Village unleashed at 1.00 am today have been brought to the Thanamalwila Hospital.
The injured are being rushed to the hospital by the Army and the villagers.
B. Muralidhar Reddy
COLOMBO: Amid claims by the military that at least 25 LTTE cadres were killed in the last 24 hours in the north, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said dialogue is the only way to stop further violence.
Strongly condemning the indiscriminate attacks in the south-east on Wednesday which left dozens dead and injured, Mr. Ban said the attacks coincided with the abrogation of the Ceasefire Agreement.
The military claimed that 17 cadres were killed in Wednesday’s clashes. It said in the Wanni theatre of battle, the Army continued its multi-pronged attack throughout the day. Separately, fighter jets claimed to have targeted an LTTE “senior leaders’ gathering” at Jayapuram in Killinochchi on Thursday. However, the pro-LTTE TamilNet alleged that 790 children and 22 teachers at the Kanakapuram Maha Viththiyaalayam school had a narrow escape when four fighter jets dropped bombs barely 100 meters away from their school in the Kilinochchi suburb.
Colombo, Jan 17 (UNI) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has banned former captain Marvan Atapattu along with two others from all international and domestic cricket matches for participating in the rebel Indian Cricket Leagues' (ICL) Twenty20 tournament.
''We had warned the players about the consequences and we'll stick to the guidelines,'' Chief Executive of Sri Lanka Cricket, Duleep Mendis said.
Russel Arnold and Upul Chandana are the other players who have been banned by the SLC.
SLC has sent letters to SSC and NCC (the clubs of the three players) stating that the players should not be considered for any national or domestic tournaments sanctioned by it.
Source: deepikaglobal.com
PERTH, Jan 17 (Reuters) India captain Anil Kumble joined one of cricket's most exclusive clubs when he captured his 600th test wicket during the third Test against Australia today.
Kumble joined fellow spinners Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka and Australia's Shane Warne as the only players to take more than 600 test scalps when he had Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds caught at slip by Rahul Dravid.
Kumble, who picked up another wicket for good measure to finish off the Australian innings, said he was humbled by the achievement.
''It means a lot, you never think when you first start off that you will reach that milestone, but having played this long you keep crossing landmarks and milestones,'' he told a news conference.
''When you first start off, people don't even think you will last two test matches, so it means a lot. You have the belief and you have the faith.'' Despite being the third greatest wicket-taker in cricket history, Kumble has rarely received the same recognition as Muralitharan and Warne.
A tall wrist-spinner who has often been criticised for not turning the ball a lot, Kumble has long silenced his doubters over a distinguished 18-year career, achieving several feats that neither Muralitharan or Warne have managed.
Along with England's Jim Laker, Kumble is one of only two bowlers to have taken 10 wickets in a test innings, which he achieved against Pakistan in 1998/99.
He achieved the distinction of scoring a century against England last year and was awarded the captaincy the same season, at the ripe old age of 37 after shoulder injuries had briefly stalled his career when he was younger.
Kumble is also one of the most respected players in the game.
Australia's vice-captain Adam Gilchrist rang Kumble when he captured his 500th wicket and was batting at the non-strikers end when Kumble grabbed his 600th.
''I've always found him a real pleasure to play against,'' Gilchrist said of Kumble.
''He's got very clever with his experience and those subtle changes in flight, his position on the crease.
''He's just trying to create a little bit of doubt in the batsmen's mind and he's doing that in an effective fashion.
''It's a real credit to him to get that achievement.''
Source: deepikaglobal.com
The National Council of the Communist Party of India (CPI) today said military offensive could not be a solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka and urged all those concerned in the island to strive for a political solution through negotiations.
Expressing its deep concern at the situation in Sri Lanka, the National Council, which met here, passed a resolution to this effect on the opening day of the three-day session.
''The National Council of the CPI is of the view that a military offensive cannot be a solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka. The Tamils in Sri Lanka are striving for peaceful co-existence with equal rights. The legitimate aspirations of Tamils in the neighbouring country with all democratic and human rights must be safeguarded through a proper mechanism for devolution of powers on the basis of federal principles within Sri Lanka,'' the resolution said.
The Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2002 and declared mutual ceasefire under international guidance.
However, the Lankan Government had terminated the ceasefire unilaterally, it added.
The Council pointed out that the armed conflict had claimed over 65,000 lives since 1983, an official statement said.
In another resolution, the National Council congratulated National Executive Committee member R Nallakannu on his receiving the prestigious Dr Ambedkar award. ''It is a fitting tribute to his six decades of struggle and dedicated service to the cause of the downtrodden,'' it said.
Party General Secretary A B Bardhan placed the main draft of political resolution and the National Council started deliberation on it. The resolution would be further discussed by the 20th Congress of the CPI, to be held in Hyderabad from March 23 to 27.
The meeting was presided over by Mr Amarjeet Kaur (Delhi), Mr Manju Kumar Majumdar (West Bengal) and Mr Christopha Foriseka (Goa).
Source: deepikaglobal.com
NEW DELHI: With an eye on its "primary source market", Sri Lanka tourism has identified some 50 sites associated with Hindu epic Ramayana to lure more pilgrim travellers from India to the island nation.
'Following the Trail of Ramayana' is based on research findings that link the sites to Lord Ram, wife Sita and demon king Ravana, SLT director-general S Kalaiselvam told reporters while unveiling the ambitious thematic programme here today.
"Currently, we are taking steps to develop and restore all 50 sites to facilitate foreign and local visitors the opportunity to witness and experience the sacredness of these sites," he said.
The tour package of areas "steeped in Ramayana history" comes on the heels of the Buddhist circuit of Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Rajgir, Varanasi and Lumbini aimed at attracting pilgrim tourists to India.
The programme includes names of places like Seethaeliya, Ram Bodha, Ussangoda and Roomassala and special temples in areas where Ravana is believed to have held Sita captive.
Kalaiselvam said the "Ramayana epic is a very special feature in the bond that we have with India and we are trying to offer opportunity to our friends here to visit Sri Lanka to explore, absorb and enjoy the various places of significance as present in the epic".
Asked about the Ram Setu controversy, he said, "this is a question of faith. Local people believe it and there are many who would like to visit the sites related to the Ramayana in Lanka. We are trying to facilitate it."
Source: Times of India
Chennai, Jan 17: An LTTE intelligence wing member and seven Sri Lankan Tamils were arrested here last night and iron-ball rings and plastics used in making explosives seized from them. The group was procuring supplies for the LTTE and gathering information on movements of anti-LTTE leader Varadaraja Perumal and Sri Lankan Social Service and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda, the police said.
The LTTE operative Thambidurai Parameswaran had arrived in Rameswaram clandestinely in February 2007 and was masquerading as a taxi driver and procuring iron ball-rings, plastic, two-wheelers and boats, a press release issued by the police said.
He had engaged the seven Sri Lankan Tamils who attempted to procure these articles from Puducherry and Rameswaram to be smuggled to Sri Lanka by boats from Rameswaram, it said.
Acting on information, police arrested Thambidurai at Madipakkam in the suburbs of the city last night and during interrogation details of the seven others in the city were revealed by him.
Varadaraja Perumal and Douglas Devananda, known for his anti-LTTE stand, are regular visitors to India.
The eight arrested were produced before a magistrate today who remanded them to judicial custody. (Agencies)
Former skipper and head of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Arjuna Ranatunga, cannot hide his happiness as Team India gives Australia a taste of their own medicine.
"I think this is the first time after I gave it back that Australia is now being paid back in their own coin," Ranatunga said.
Ranatunga said over the last decade, there have been issues with the Australian cricket team, but he advised India not to get distracted by their on-field antics and leave it to the boards of both the countries to resolve contentious matters.
He also said that the Sri Lankan team is looking forward to join India in the upcoming tri-series in Australia.
The former Sri Lankan skipper said he was hopeful the tour would continue smoothly as the island nation was confident of victory.
"So far it's going on a smooth way. I hope the tour will continue because the Sri Lankan will be joining Australia and India for the one day series and it is a good opportunity for the Lankans to win this tournament," he told reporters at the launch of a 45-minute film titled 'Ramayana Trails' in New Delhi.
Sri Lanka has picked six fast bowlers in a 15-man squad for next month's tri-series in Australia, which also involves India.
Sri Lanka leaves for Australia on January 24 and will play two warm-up games against the Prime Minister's XI on January 30 and against Tasmania on February 2. (ANI)
Source: thecheers.org
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