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| Sunday, 17 August 2003 |
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Indian FM's visit postponed Indian High Commissioner Nirupam Sen has informed the Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando that the visit of the Indian Foreign Minister Yaswant Sinha has been postponed. The Minister was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on Aug. 18 instant at the invitation of the Sri Lanka Foreign Minister and was expected to co-chair with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister the Indo - Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting to be held in Colombo. The visit was postponed due to the Motion of No-confidence against the Indian Defence Minister, which is expected to be taken up in the Indian Parliament on August 19, 20. Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando is communicating with the Indian High Commissioner to work out a new date for the visit. Telecom adds one more digit! Two digit became a significant digit for 350,000 Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) subscribers yesterday, with the Ministry of Mass Communication and the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) implementing the 10 Digit National Number Plan. Accordingly all SLT subscriber numbers that previously began with 3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9 now begin with the digit 2, with the rest of the numbers remaining unchanged. Suntel and Lanka Bell are expected to introduce similar digit extensions in November. TRCSL has requested SLT subscribers to note the change and make adjustments to letterheads, calling cards, telephone indices and other relevant documents, accordingly. Maheswaran calls for confab Hindu Religious Affairs Minister, Thiyagarajah Maheswaran, who represents the Jaffna constituency, has requested Defence Minister Tilak Marapana to summon a conference of security chiefs, the Jaffna Government Agent, Divisional Secretaries and Brigade Commanders to discuss and settle problems faced by the civilian population of the Jaffna district. In a letter addressed to the Defence Minister, Maheswaran has stated that at the conference he intended to discuss and seek remedial measures to problems of livelihood being encountered by the civilian population, including fisher families, of the Jaffna district due to the presence of army camps, army detachments and other security installations. (PK) Indian de-mining teams in Vavuniya Two Indian de-mining teams called 'Sarvatra' and 'Horizon' are conducting operations in Vavuniya, to facilitate the early return of displaced civilians to their homes. The project, co-ordinated by Milinda Moragoda Institute of Empowerment which commenced operations last month. Defence sources said nearly fifty members including ex-servicemen in the two teams operate as a separate NGO, and have nothing to do with the Army's de-mining process. The LTTE conducted a protest campaign against this project last week. (RK) Mars to dazzle on Aug. 27 A rare celestial phenomena, that will see Mars in close proximity to making the red planet clearly visible to the naked eye will occur on August 27. According to Dr. Chandana Jayaratne, Senior Lecturer in Physics, University of Colombo, Mars will appear six times larger and shine 85 times brighter and will be visible from around 3.52 p.m. on August 27. This is the first time in 60,000 years that Mars is orbiting close to earth. Mars orbital cycle around the sun takes 687 earth days. The red planet can now be seen in the Eastern sky after sunset and will increase in brightness daily till August 27. Schoolchildren and the public can observe the phenomena at the observational camps where large telescopes will be set up by the Mathematical and Astronomical Society of the University of Colombo from August 25 to 29. Dushanie needs your support Thirteen-year old Dushanie Lakshika Rodrigo of No. 100, Jude Piyagama, Halkandawila, Payagala, a student of Halkandawila Vidyalaya, has been advised by her doctors at Apollo Hospital to undergo corrective surgery on a deformed foot. The surgery is estimated to cost around Rs.3 lakhs. Since her parents cannot afford this, they appeal for public assistance. Donations could be made to the above address or bank account No. 146 of the Halkandawila Rural Bank. |
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