JDS

Friday, February 04, 2011

Sri Lanka: ‘Archaeology’ unearths skeletons in Jaffna fort

Posted by JDS

Photo courtesy: Tamil Net

Tamil Net
.............................................................................................................................................................................................

As a trench excavated for archaeological research near the main entrance of the Jaffna fort brought out a group of skeletons, the SL Archaeology Department has requested the police to pursue investigation in the locality. On an earlier occasion many skeletons, including the ones of women and children were found in an adjacent locality where now a stadium building stands. At that time, they were suspected to be the skeletons of the ‘missing’ people of IPKF times. Investigation on them was sabotaged and the burial pits were sealed by ‘development’ work of the Municipality of Jaffna. As finding many more skeletons are expected now in the other side of the road to the stadium and the fort entrance, the SL Archaeology Department has stopped its excavation in the locality.

26 skeletons were found between March and April 1999 in the stadium named after Alfred Thuraiappah, built in the esplanade of the fort.

Mr. Ekanathan, the magistrate of Jaffna at that time expressed his disappointment over the inaction of police in investigating that.

Two of the skeletons were that of children.

In April 1999, the Judicial Medical Officer of Jaffna Dr.Sri Rajeswaran in a report submitted to the additional magistrate said that the site of the burials could be quite extensive.

The magistrate requested the help of forensic, soil and chemical experts from Colombo, but they didn’t come for the investigations.

Even though for centuries the Jaffna fort was a symbol of oppression, it was acutely felt by the people of Jaffna only after the so-called independence, when it was first the centre of police and later the SL military.

The fort was the scene of a brutal war especially when the Dutch captured it from the Portuguese in 1658 CE. The next major war the fort witnessed was its capture by the LTTE in the 1990s.

The archaeological renovation of the Dutch fort is now being carried out with the aid of the Netherlands government. The SL Archaeology Department is undertaking the job and there is participation by the students and faculty of the Department of History of the University of Jaffna, led by Prof. P. Pushparatnam.

Pre-colonial artefacts such as stones from destroyed temples and early as well as medieval pottery were also found in the fort, according to reports of Prof. Pushparatnam appeared in the local media.

Romans coins were reported from the site by colonial researchers, indicating that the site was of importance even in early times.

Decades ago, a Chola inscription, probably came from a destroyed temple, was discovered in the fort by Prof K. Indrapala.

While digging the present trenches, pottery of late medieval and colonial period were found in the disturbed layers. But with the unfolding developments the digging couldn’t be continued deeper.

© Tamil Net

Friday, February 04, 2011

Sri Lanka: Students Federation Convener arrested

Posted by JDS

By Supun Dias and Sumaiya Rizvi | Daily Mirror
.............................................................................................................................................................................................

Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Convener Sanjeewa Bandara was arrested on Wednesday by the Thihagoda Police while he was returning after attending a function at the Agrarian Faculty of the Ruhuna University, Kelaniya University Students Union President Rasika Ekanayaka said yesterday.

“Sanjeewa was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm but now they are trying to connect him with an incident where two Ruhunu University students who were stabbed by members of a rival group,” Ekanayaka said.

Meanwhile the students of the University of Ruhuna held a protest against the arrest of the IUSF convener, Ekanayaka said.

However Southern Province DIG Kingsley Ekanayake said the Convener was arrested along with another member of the IUSF by the Thihagoda police early last morning following two complaints lodged by the public for damaging property and instigating clashes amongst students.

He said the two students have been transferred to the Matara Headquarters Police for further investigations. “We didn’t arrest them for possessing weapons”, DIG Ekanayake said.

© Daily Mirror

Friday, February 04, 2011

IMF commends Sri Lanka's performance and approves loan

Posted by JDS

By Charles Haviland | BBC Business
.............................................................................................................................................................................................

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has strongly praised Sri Lanka's macro-economic performance.

The lending institution says the economy appears to have fundamental strengths.

It has also approved another tranche of a $2.6bn (£1.6bn) loan.

The organisation backed the latest instalment of the loan - nearly $200m dollars - intending it to help the country recover from its war and from the world financial crisis.

This is despite Sri Lanka falling short on its budget deficit target for the second year in succession.

The IMF has also been impressed by tax reform plans announced in the budget two months ago.

It praised Colombo's performance on inflation and especially economic growth, which the IMF's Sri Lanka representative, Koshy Mathai, said had remained impressive despite 30 years of war.

"What was miraculous was that the economy somehow was able to manage 5 to 6% growth during these past three decades," Mr Koshy said.

"Coming at it as an outsider, I would have expected that with a conflict that was absorbing so much, that growth would have been far diminished below that. But it wasn't.

"I think it speaks to some fundamental strengths in the economy - a good labour force, natural endowments."

Military expenditure

Many Sri Lankans have been badly hit by steep recent rises in the cost of basic foods.

Dr Mathai admitted these were a problem, but said they were caused by sudden external shortages and that overall inflation was under control.

Shortly after the loan was approved in 2009, the IMF's managing director said it was contingent on Sri Lanka considerably reducing its military expenditure and creating a social safety net for war-displaced people.

Some humanitarian workers say their resettlement grants are too low and the defence budget has in fact continued to climb.

However, the government argues that much of this is now going on civilian development projects.

© BBC Business

Friday, February 04, 2011

Colombo residents protest over removal

Posted by JDS

By Indika Sri Aravinda | NewsNow.lk
.............................................................................................................................................................................................

Residents of the Maligawatte flats voiced their anger towards the authorities as they began to demolish illegal extensions of the premises this morning as part of the project to make Colombo look good for the cricket World Cup.

Cement extensions of the Maligawatte residential flat which have been constructed illegally, were demolished a short while ago with police assistance.

The removal of the illegal construction was being carried out in preparation of the upcoming cricket world cup matches which will be played at the Premadasa Stadium located near the Maligawatte flats.

However residents were protesting saying that while parts of the Maligawatte flats were being demolished, at least two other small constructions located nearby were not removed as they were once used as political propaganda offices for Minister Champika Ranawaka.

Meanwhile the beatification of the area surrounding the cricket venue was also carried out today with buildings, including the Maligawatte flats being painted in preparation for the World Cup.

© Newsnow.lk

Friday, February 04, 2011

Sri Lanka: Over 50,000 persons affected by rains

Posted by JDS

Sunday Leader Online
.............................................................................................................................................................................................

The Disaster Management Center (DMC) has stated that three persons have dies and over 50,000 persons affected by the heavy rains and floods experienced the North, North Central and Eastern Provinces.

The DMC has stated that about 10,085 displaced persons have been given temporary shelter at 51 welfare centers.

The rains have also destroyed 700 houses while another 3,300 have been partially damaged.

Meanwhile, North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake announced that all schools in the Province will be closed due to bad weather conditions.

Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake also asked the education authorities to close down schools if necessary.

© Sunday Leader Online