Sri Lanka’s 59th independence day celebrations in Los Angeles

By Walter Jayawardhana

SRI LANKA’S 59TH INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS IN LOS ANGELES  WILL HIGHLIGHT  2000 YEAR OLD CULTURE

A cultural show reflecting the tropical island’s more than 2000 year old culture will be the highlight of the independence celebration the Consulate General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka will be holding in Los Angeles.

A statement issued to the press said the Indian Ocean island’s 59th independence day celebrations will be held on Sunday 4th of February 2007 at the Japanese American National Museum at 369, East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 at 9.30 a.m.

Organizers said exotic dances belonging to both Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic groups and music peculiar to the island’s Moslem community will be featured in the variety entertainment that will be held before a distinguished gathering including the diplomatic corps of the metropolis.

A choreographer of the ancient school of Kandyan dancing Aruni Boteju who runs a professional Sri Lankan dancing school in Santa Barbara said her students of the school will be dancing to the rhythm of drums and songs  of modern day Sri Lanka but reflecting ancient dancing methods. It will be a mixture of the ancient wisdom with modern talents Boteju further commented.

The production of Melanie Ranasinghe , another choreographer will depict more modern dancing forms of Sri Lanka.

Both choreographers will be presenting the cultural events on behalf of the Sri Lanka America Association.

Jagath Lakpriya, a male choreographer will be presenting more traditional dancing items by his  theatre group called Saptha Bhumi, on behalf of the Sri Lanka Foundation.  The dances will be of the famous Kandyan tradition.  The group associated by Sarathchandra’s daughter Kisagothami Sarathchchandra is the current producers of Maname in North America.

The Sri Lankan Tamils who are having a rich dancing tradition influenced by “Bharatha Natyam” like kolattam will be also presenting two items at the variety entertainment, Tamil Association spokesman said.

The  celebration will start by hoisting the national flag and singing the national anthem. Refreshments will be served and souvenirs will be distributed among the guests.

Source: Lanka Page

Tags: Sri Lanka

Oslo-based Norwegians Against Terrorism accused Norways Erik Solheim

The Oslo-based Norwegians Against Terrorism (NAT) has accused Norways chief facilitator Erik Solheim of lying about Norwegian military assistance to the LTTE and has alleged that more than US$ 3 million has been granted to the LTTE and front organisations in 2005.

In its January report, the group has said, “We have found Colonel Karuna’s allegations of the funding of the LTTE front organisations to be correct. They receive funds both from the Norwegian government and local municipality governments.”

NAT claimed that Norway had funded the LTTE through payments made by Norad, an agency of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The group has enclosed records from the Norwegian Foreign Affairs Ministry in support of its allegations.

According to the report, in 2005 the LTTE front organisation TRO received US$ 2.2 million from Norad, while the LTTE peace secretariat received substantial funding as well. “It puzzles us why the payments made to Sri Lanka have been classified as a secret for the last two years. Is Norway hiding something?” NAT queried in its latest report.

“Another eye-opener was the LTTE visit to the Special Forces training camp in Rena where a video film reveals LTTE receiving information about their weapons, tactics and military strategies. The LTTE was allowed to videotape this training. We do not believe these videotapes were only used for storing holiday memories, but we assume these tapes have been used for training purposes for LTTE cadres,” the NAT report stated.

The organisation also alleged that other evidence of training of the LTTE by Norwegians comes from the Canadian Intelligence Service that reported about the Norwegian Special Forces training the Sea Tigers in underwater demolition in the Trang province in Thailand.

“NAT will continue to expose dubious dealings between the LTTE and Norway. We will go through several aid projects to find Norway’s links with the LTTE. We will request an inquiry into the allegations of Norway using “secret funds” to fund the LTTE. NAT will continue to collect evidence to file a class action lawsuit against Norway for Norway’s funding of the LTTE,” the report added.

Source

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Long time no see

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and President Mahinda Rajapaksa had a rare face to face meeting during a ceremony to mark the 108th birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike yesterday. The meeting however didn’t last even for a minute as President Rajapaksa rushed past Mrs. Kumaratunga after a short pause for a greeting. Pic by Sudath Silva -Daily Mirror

Technorati : CBK, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: More than 15 feared killed and 40 injured in Bus bomb explosion

15 civilians are feared dead due to an explosion triggered inside a Matara bound private bus from Colombo bearing no – HZ 1709, at Seenigama, near the Kahawa junction, 16 miles North West of Galle, on 06th January 2007, at around 02.35p.m.

Police sources suspect the explosion to be a suicidal attack, more likely which holds the trade mark of the most treacherous LTTE terrorist organization. The Ambalangoda Police officials said that. remains of two bodies  suspected to be LTTE female suicide bombers were recovered scattered at the scene.

The Ambalangoda Police further said that 10 bodies were immediately transferred to the General hospital at Balapitiya and another dozen were admitted. Balapitiya hospital officials said that seven males and three females were among the dead.

The Police sources further said that more than 40 civilians are feared seriously injured due to the explosion.

Meanwhile, Karapitiya hospital sources confirmed that the casualty figures admitted have risen to twenty(20). Eight of the injured are said to undergo immediate operations as their medical status were feared serious.

The traffic along the Galle – Colombo (A-2), is being diverted and the commuters are advised to use alternative routes.

The tragedy at Kahawa junction – Ambalangoda, is the consecutive explosion alleged triggered off by LTTE terrorist within 24 hours targeting civilians transportation. The LTTE suicidal attempts targeting civilians transportation   has become a custom of the terrorist outfit to repulse the military thrust against its escalation of violence in the North and East.

On 15th June, 2006 the terrorists outfit blew a public bus transporting civilians at Kebithigollewa- Anuradhapura, killing at least 64 people including 15 children. -MoD

More information will follow.

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New grass root level development project from SLC

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) at their Executive Committee Meeting held last Thursday (December 28, 2006) unanimously resolved to lay a grass root level development programme for 150 schools spread in Kurunegala, Hambantota, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts.

According to this development programme, the schools will be given substantial cricket facilities like pitches, astro turf, matting, cricket gear and coaching facilities.

The Ex-co has met with some of the district and provincial level cricket officials from the North and East last week and, according to the SLC, it was a rare occurrence as it has been for the first time that such officials have met the cricket administrators to discuss on development work of their areas.

Former well known national players will be engaged in supervising those coaching programmes that are already in place in the above areas.

Under-15, 17 and 19 squads will then be formed from the talented players picked from those coaching programmes. Such players will then be involved in an inter-district tournament conducted in those areas.

The cream of the top players coming from such a process will have an opportunity to be in fray for national level selection for above age groups.

-The Island Sports-