News

Sri Lanka President promises an expressway to northern Jaffna

28 November 2011

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Sri Lanka President speaking at a public gathering after declaring open the country’s first Expressway stressed that separatist tendencies will fade away when we have better road connectivity in the country.,

“The best solution to petty separatism and ethnic divisions is to have closer links among people through an efficient road network,” President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

Sri Lanka has turned a new leaf in its road development history, a turn towards the modernization of its road network in line with the best global practices,” the President said. He said that the government plans to link all areas of the country through an Expressway network and called it a revolution in road development.

Sri Lanka's President on Sunday unveiled the island's first expressway, linking the capital and the southern city of Galle. The expressway links the island's southern port city of Galle with Colombo. The 96-kilometre (60-mile) four-lane road cost $700 million this new route will reduce congestion on the main coastal highway – the Galle Road- to Galle

Sri Lanka borrowed $178 million from the ADB and sought $317 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to finance the project. Japanese peace envoy to Sri Lanka Yashushi Akashi and the Vice President of the ADB were also present on the occasion of this opening ceremony.

The President noted that roads reducing travel time between areas could act as a catalyst for closer links between communities, people and added that this would spur unity and prevent any division within the country.

The President also said that the time when such things were a dream was over and added that this was the moment when dreams come true for Sri Lankans.
“It is another step in our promise to build a new and prosperous Sri Lanka,” President said.

“When I was the Prime Minister and also in charge of road development, the people requested me to rebuild the ruined road to the Madhu Church.

I repaired the road and later the Bishop also invited me for the opening.” “However, later the Bishop told me that I have to get permission from the LTTE to travel to Madhu. I totally refused this and told at the time that I would travel to Madhu in the near future but without permission from anyone. This is the type of past we had,” he said.

The President said that soon there would be an Expressway linking Jaffna to Colombo via the A-9 and another from Colombo to Kandy. The Katunayake to Colombo Expressway would be vested in the public at the end of 2012, he added.

He noted that the time when the country’s youth dreamt about such facilities in developed countries was over and added that Sri Lanka would also have facilities equal to developed nations, in the near future.

“I have no doubt that this Expressway would show the path of prosperity for our future generations,” he added.

The President also said that the Expressway would help to promote the whole of South as an investment village and a tourist hub.

Source :

http://www.news.lk

Weather Condition Kills 17

27 November 2011

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26,011 people belonging to 6,496 families were affected and 17 deaths were reported due to the prevailing dire weather condition in the country. Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Centre, Pradeep Kodipilli, stated that winds that swept through the southern area caused the greatest damage to the Matara District. 5,515 people belonging to 1103 families were reportedly affected in the Matara district alone.

It was also revealed that 30 fishermen have also been reported as missing yesterday due to the adverse weather conditions. Toppled trees and other debris had also caused power failure in many areas in Galle and Matara. Measures are currently underway to clear these roads.

In response to the emergency the Minister of Disaster Management, Mahinda Samaraweera stated that President Mahinda Rajapakse has issued the necessary instructions to the Treasury to grant adequate funds to provide relief to the people affected due to the adverse weather condition.

Meanwhile military spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi stated that the security forces are also prepared to face any emergency situation that may rise in the country, due to the prevailing weather condition. The spokesman further added that the security forces had provided assistance to the people affected by the disaster in the Galle and Matara Districts yesterday.

Source:

http://www.newsnow.lk

Govt. blocks more websites, all must register

06 November 2011

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By Leon Berenger

More news websites were blocked yesterday as the Government said those carrying news relating to Sri Lanka should register with it – prompting strong protests by the main opposition United National Party.
Following the ban on lankaenews website, the government yesterday blocked SriLankaguardian.com, paparaci.com, gossip9.com, srilankamirror.com and lankawaynews.com., which is the official website of the UNP.

Information Technology specialist Gihan Mendis said yesterday Sri Lanka did not have the resources to effectively block websites. A user could access any site simply by using a proxy, he said.

“A hi-tech facility to block a website will require a huge sum of money and we do not have the resources at Sri Lanka Telecom, unlike countries such as China and other developed nations,” he said.

Yesterday’s move came in the form of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) blocking internet access from Sri Lanka. The ban on lankaenews.com prompted the US embassy in Colombo to express serious concern.

In a statement released to the media the embassy said: “While the embassy does not endorse the views of any particular media outlet, the US believes that a free and independent media is vital to ensuring the health and continuation of any democracy.

“Freedom of expression, including unfettered access to internet news websites, is a basic right which must be respected. We therefore call on the Sri Lankan authorities and the management of Sri Lankan telecommunication firms to stop activities aimed at blocking free access in Sri Lanka to all legitimate media websites, including lanka news.”

The UNP also reacted strongly to yesterday’s move. The party’s media manager Mangala Samaraweera said, “This is an undemocratic move. We will continue to campaign against such moves and even take legal action.”

He said that lankawaynews.com was the official website of the UNP. It was currently running on a trial basis and was due to be launched later this month.

“If the Government claims that there is intrusion into the private lives of certain individuals, then there are ways of taking legal action against those responsible. Also politicians must remember that since they are public figures and their actions affect the public they could come under close scrutiny. Even the decision for those carrying any content relating to matters in Sri Lanka to register with the authorities is absurd, and shows that the Government is paranoid,” Mr. Samaraweera said.