Saturday, May 24, 2008

Another time bomb defused

A time bomb weighing 03 kg was detected in a COLOMBO - MORATUWA bus and defused by the Army bomb disposal unit today(24) around 8.45 p.m.

A woman passenger had noticed the suspicious parcel. The Army bomb disposal unit was informed and the parcel identified as a time bomb and defused.

The vigilance of the woman passenger had foiled the terrorists attempt and prevented a carnage.

News extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=12692

Is it all that important to be seated on the UN Human Rights Council? USA & Israel doesn’t think so – why should Sri Lanka?

Desmond Tutu must be happy, so too must be Adolfo Perez Esquivel & former President Carter & perhaps many more of the human rights activists & NGOs that set in motion an international propaganda to project Sri Lanka as a nation in the grips of anarchy & urged member nations to reject Sri Lanka’s attempt to secure a re-election to the 47 member UN Human Rights Council.

But is this seat all that important? Why is the US & Israel not a member of it since they voted against the establishment of the UN Human Rights Council on 15th March 2006 & why did Venezuela abstain from voting citing that certain paragraphs paved the way for intervention in the internal affairs of States.

There are likely to be many interpretations of the denial of Sri Lanka to the UN Human Rights Council, of course in the world of diplomacy it may be considered a slap to the Sri Lankan Government & possibly a jolt to its ego internationally but then considering the countries that have secured election purely by the structure of the Council, it becomes questionable whether Sri Lanka should feel disheartened at all.

Sri Lanka presently being accused of atrocious human rights abuses must feel quite content for being omitted from a seat in view of the members having to uphold highest standards in the promotion & protection of “human rights” not to mention being subject to periodic review.

Read more,
http://www.sinhalaya.com/news/english/wmview.php?ArtID=15330

Terror bomb attack at civilians averted- Ganemulla

Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force (STF) bomb disposal team defused a time bomb weighing 1.25 kg this evening found in a public transport bus at Kossinna in Ganemulla (May 24) . According to the defence sources, the conductor of the bus who initially detected the ownerless parcel has thrown it out of the bus at a remote location. Then he has alerted the STF on the suspected parcel, the sources said.

The bomb was found in the bus that was due to leave Colombo from Parakandeniya. According to the sources, there were no passengers in the bus when the conductor detected the suspected parcel found under one of the passenger seats.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080524_03

No human rights organizations would be allowed in! – Govt. informs UNHRC

Sri Lanka has informed UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva that no human rights organizations would be allowed to investigate human rights situations in Sri Lanka here after.

The government has accused UNHRC for being a victim of incorrect information supplied by various voluntary organizations while the government was rigorously involved in safeguarding human rights in the country adding that the government would never give in to the demands of voluntary organizations that receive foreign funds to dismantle the work of the government.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to investigate the colossal sum of money received by voluntary organizations and how they are spent in this country. It has been revealed that a certain human rights organization has received a sum of $40 million.

Extracted from,
http://www.lankatruth.com/index.php?

Sri Lanka starts to build China-funded arts theater

Work on the construction of a performing arts theater funded by China commenced Friday in Sri Lankan capital Colombo with the participation of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ye Dabo.


The project, which will be built on 2.18 acres of land, was finalized during Rajapaksa's official visit to China in 2007.

Sri Lankan officials said the theater will be equipped with ultra modern facilities such as an auditorium with 1,288 seats, parking facilities for 500 vehicles, library and training facilities for performing arts, and facilities to conduct educational and research activities.

The project is expected to be completed in 26 months.

Extracted from,
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/24/content_8239917.htm
Photo,
http://www.silumina.lk/2008/05/25/mainpic_1.jpg