The Sundaytimes Sri lanka || Sunday September 12, 2010

Tight security for festival prayers

When Muslims gathered at Galle Face Green on Friday for prayers to mark the Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramazan festival), there was tight security in the area with Navy boats patrolling the sea.
Pic by M. A. Pushpakumara

TOP NEWS

President raps Police Chief, CID takes over

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has overruled his Police Chief Mahinda Balasuriya and directed that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) continue with investigations into the assault on a senior official of the Department of Inland Revenue in Matara.

CMC out? New Authority under Defence Ministry

A Development Authority is to be set up for the City of Colombo. The move may see the abolition of the centuries-old Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and the proposed statutory authority being vested with all functions now being exercised by the CMC.

Beijing Lanka’s biggest aid giver

Disturbers of the peace, watch out

President needs support of all to ‘deliver the goods’ – Basil

In search of a mini bungalow, shrouded in major controversy -- theSundayTimes INSIGHT

Mangala takes responsibility for anti-18th Amendment posters

Rights of the Child: Top team from Sri Lanka to Geneva

Capri imbroglio worsens

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LATEST NEWS

MAGAZINE

Dynamic dancer who loves tradition

From a framed photograph on the wall, a benevolent Chitrasena looks on as his legacy is given new life. On either side mirrors reflect two lines of dancers clad in unrelieved black. Foremost among them is Chitrasena’s daughter Upeka, who in recent decades has been the company’s prized soloist.

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BUSINESS TIMES

2011 budget preparation underway, 6.6% deficit seen

With the budget deficit projected at 6.6 % of GDP in 2011 from projected 9.9% in 2010, preliminary work on the preparation of the 2011 annual budget estimates is now underway. Letters have already been sent by Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara to all Secretaries .....

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INTERNATIONAL

Can Russia be great?

In the 1950s, many Americans feared that the Soviet Union would surpass the United States as the world's leading power. The Soviet Union had the world's largest territory, the third largest population, and the second largest economy, and it produced more oil and gas than Saudi Arabia.

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EDUCATION

Sri Lankan school in Qatar hits a blank wall

The Stafford International School in Doha, State of Qatar is the only school that caters to the educational needs of Sri Lankan expatriate workers in Qatar.

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SPORTS

Post-World-Cup schedule busier than ever

On the completion of the next World Cup which will be played in the Indian subcontinent in February and the Indian-based IPL following that, the Lankan cricketers will have two back-to-back crunch battles with England and Australia, according to the 2011 edition of the Lankan tour itinerary.

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EDITORIAL

Where do we go from here

And so, the Government passed sweeping albeit controversial Constitutional amendments at the speed of greased lightning this week.The Supreme Court in a determination to the Speaker said the amendments did not require a referendum of the people, and that all that was needed was two-thirds of the votes in the 225-member Parliament. While the ultimate findings may not have differed, one might have wished that a fuller bench of the country's apex court went into the matter.

COLUMNS

Democracy at crossroads -- Political Column

"It's a victory for all our MPs and those who backed them," declared a jubilant President Mahinda Rajapaksa when his ministers joined him for the weekly cabinet meeting last Wednesday night. All of them drove to 'Temple Trees', straight from Parliament where more than a two-thirds majority approved the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.

Oh, democracy- my heart aches for you! -- 5th Column

The report: the travel diary of a tourist travelling around the country, accompanied by his local guide. As I board the aircraft of RajAir, I am struck by the hospitality of the smiling stewardesses and their peculiar uniform: a sari with a dark maroon coloured sash worn around it. As I travel the country later, I realize that the maroon coloured sash has become a way of life in this part of the world.

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PLUS

The things that can happen to one!

There was this grand-uncle of ours who had a reputation as an accurate reader of palms. We young ones would beg of him, “Uncle Sonny, please look at my palm and tell me what you see.” One day he did take a look at my outstretched hand and the first thing he said was, “You will have seven children.”

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FUNDAY

Central Bank celebrates 60th anniversary

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka – the 'bank of banks' – is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Established in 1950, the Central Bank is responsible for the issue of currency and for the country's monetary policy which includes setting interest rates as well as supervising commercial banks and other financial institutions like finance companies.

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FREE HOLD

Sathosa Motors leads the commercial truck market

With the reduction in Excise Duty there has been a tremendous increase in government revenue due to the increase in vehicle imports. Also the once almost lifeless vehicle industry is once again fast becoming a lucrative business where aspirations are currently at an all time high.

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