"Miracle of Asia" all set to lose Asian Youth Games thanks to its Beggar Bowl..LOL !!!

Sri Lanka face danger of losing hosting rights of Asian Youth Games 2017

Two years after convincing the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to award the country hosting rights for the 2017 Asian Youth Games, Sri Lanka looks set to give up the job over lack of preparedness and concerns over finances.

The government is unable to foot the bill for the facilities and venues to host the expected 5000 participants representing 45 nations in Asia’s biggest sporting event for budding athletes, authoritative sources said.

After heavy lobbying in April this year, Sri Lanka secured a three month extension to meet OCA requirements and, thereby, retain hosting rights. But with a month already gone, little progress has been made.

“It’s very unlikely that we would host it,” confirmed an official close to the National Olympic Committee. “We have fallen absolutely behind in preparing for the Games. One month has elapsed and I don’t see a concerted effort by the authorities to put things together for the Games.”

Sri Lanka has estimated that it would cost a staggering US$ 300 million, approximately Rs. 40 billion, for a successful hosting of the event. But since winning the rights in 2012, it has done little to justify selection.

In January it became clear that the OCA was unhappy with progress. OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah wrote to Sri Lankan authorities requesting to expedite preparations or face the consequence of being stripped of hosting rights.

“Even after one-and-a-half years of the allotment of the Games we see no progress in the conduct of the Games,” the letter states, adding that, “no one is taking responsibility for the organisation”.

There followed a fact-finding mission by Wei Jizhong, Life Vice-President OCA, and Haider Farman, Director, and the Asian Games Department OCA in March 2014. They, too, concluded that Sri Lanka was well behind in preparations.

“You have a very promising global plan but it’s a big challenge,” Mr Jizhong said at a press conference on March 13.

“The implementation of this magnificent plan started a little bit too late. So you should take all necessary measures from now on. Any delay may bring in negative impact because in today’s changing world, uncertainty under any circumstances, you do not have time to remedy the problems.”

“On the negative side there’s no master plan, no programme at ground level and we only saw the same proposal that we saw back in last November today,” Mr Farman said, also at the press conference.

No official decision has yet been taken and it looks inevitable that Sri Lanka will lose the Games with urgent requirements not being met. Hambantota was chosen as the venue by the OCA in 2012 after seeing off competition from Qatar, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan, as well as Indonesia.

Insidethegames.biz, a UK based website, reported on April 1, 2014, that Hambantota will be stripped of the hosting rights, although this is unlikely to be officially confirmed for several months.

Sri Lanka has never played host to any multi-disciplinary event at Asian level and their 2006 hosting of the South Asian Games had cost an astounding Rs. 1 billion with the government pumping in nearly two-thirds of the total cost.

US ignores the "Terrorist" charges against Tamil Diaspora while South Africa puts Sinhala lanka on notice..

US joins Canada in rejecting Govt's list of terrorists

The United States became the second country to ignore the UPFA Government’s prohibition order on 16 Tamil diaspora groups and 424 of their members on grounds that they are allegedly involved in terrorist activities. Some of those listed were among those who were at the Department of State in Washington DC last Thursday. They were part of a delegation that met Nisha Desai Biswal, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia. It was organised by the United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC).

The USTPAC itself is not a prohibited body. However, it is a constituent of the London-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF) which has been prohibited. They were actively campaigning in the past three years with the GTF over consecutive US resolutions on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. They have travelled together with GTF and Tamil National Alliance members to canvass support from member countries of the United Nations Human Rights Council. USTPAC’s immediate past President Elias Jeyarajah, who is one of the 424 listed persons, was present at the meeting.

The hour long meeting focused on a number of issues including matters arising from the last US resolution moved at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva in March. US officials including those who were in Geneva were present.Members of the Tamil Diaspora groups wanted what they called “targeted sanctions” imposed on Sri Lankan leaders and officials. They were alluding to similar sanctions imposed by the US on selected Russian officials. This came after Moscow ‘annexed’ Crimea, a part of Ukraine, as Russian territory after a ‘referendum.

Biswal had given a briefing to some 15 members of the delegation from six different groups on matters relating to her last visit to Sri Lanka and had expressed her disappointment over lack of progress on the part of the Government to US initiatives. All of the opposites of what the US and the World had wanted were happening, she is learnt to have said.

It was on March 21 that the Government promulgated regulations through a Gazette notification designating “groups” and “persons” who are attempting to commit or facilitate “terrorist acts.”On April 24, this issue formed the subject of a briefing to Colombo based diplomats by External Affairs Minister, G.L. Peiris. His news release on the event said “….there is compelling evidence regarding the remittance of substantial sums of money from overseas for planned terrorist activity. As a result of extensive investigations in recent weeks, the government is aware of the sources of this funding in several instances and the bank accounts into which the money had been paid. 65 arrests have been made, and 19 persons have been released after questioning…..” At least two diplomats, whose countries are mentioned in the prohibition order, sought to obtain details and declared their own agencies would then be able to probe the matter further. However, Peiris replied that it could not be done immediately. Once the investigations were over, he said, the details would be made available them

The first to reject the move last week was Canada. Foreign Minister Baird and his deputy, Minister of State Lynne Yelich issued a joint statement in which they expressed “concern” over “the listing of 16 entities and 424 individuals for purported links to terrorist activities, including some with ties to Canada.” They said, “Sri Lanka’s action has no legal effect in Canada; it does not constrain the freedom of listed groups and individuals to lawfully express their views in Canada.. Thursday’s meeting by Assistant Secretary Biswal with the Tamil Diaspora groups confirmed that the US has ignored the prohibition order too.

It is perhaps due to the Government not being able to make available to Washington proof to confirm there indeed is a resurgence of terrorism. In Britain, a Foreign Office spokesperson said that it was up to the Colombo Government to make available evidence to confirm its assertions. The spokesperson held that the prohibition order “should not be used to prevent or stifle free speech and legitimate criticism.”

These developments come as South Africa, which has launched an initiative for “peace and reconciliation” in Sri Lanka is setting the stage for a visit to Colombo by its special envoy, Cyril Ramaphosa.

It is not only the Colombo-based envoys who took part in Doidge’s briefing. A delegation from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was also present. It was headed by TNA leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan. He is now away in India for medical reasons. M.A. Sumanthiran who took part in the event told the Sunday Times, “Yes, we did take part in a briefing on South Africa’s peace initiative at a private location. Besides our leader, others who took part were Selvam Adaikalanathan, Mavai Senathirajah and myself.” He said that Sampanthan also gave a briefing on the TNA’s position vis-à-vis the South African initiative. HC Doidge, he said, answered questions raised by envoys on his country’s initiative. The Sunday Times learns when the South African initiative gets under way, Pretoria will ask both the Government and the TNA to name their principal envoys to the dialogue.

According to Sumanthiran among the envoys who were present were those from the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, India, Japan and Russia. He said that some 15 envoys took part and the event ended with a dinner hosted by Doidge. However, there were no representatives either from the UPFA Government or the main opposition United National Party.

The South African peace and reconciliation initiative, which its High Commissioner in Colombo wants to keep a “top secret,” will no doubt play out concurrently. That would give Rajapaksa some relief that a main issue in the US resolution is now being addressed. However, the woes arising from them are far from over. The conduct of the country’s foreign policy remains in shambles, and it will not be an easy task. Not even when some of the friendly countries who have cautioned Sri Lanka are willing to help.

Allowing time to pass with little or no action has cost the Government heavily. Hence, damage control will no doubt have its limitations now.

Is Sinhala lanka going to strike Fishermen deal with TN ???

Ministerial leval talks on fishing issue

Ministerial level talks will take place after the second round of talks between fishermen from India and Sri Lanka in Colombo on May 12, the Fisheries Ministry said today.

Fisheries Ministry spokesman Narendra Rajapaksa said that following the talks between fishermen associations, it has been decided to have Ministerial level talks on the same issue.

Rajapaksa said that India has named a three member committee to take part in the Ministerial level talks with Sri Lanka following the May 12 talks between fishermen associations. He however said the date of the Ministerial level talks is yet to be agreed on.

He said that a delegation from Chennai is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on May 11 to take part in the fishermen talks in Colombo.

He said that the date for the talks was agreed upon by Sri Lanka following a request put forward by the Indian central Government.

The talks were scheduled to take place earlier but had been postponed twice following conditions put forward by the Tamil Nadu provincial Government.

Rajapaksa said that the Sri Lankan Government is making arrangements to host the talks on the new date and 28 representatives from India and another 28 from Sri Lanka are set to participate in the discussions.

He said that both sides will attempt to reach a final solution to the fishing dispute between both sides which arises when fishermen cross the maritime boundary line dividing India and Sri Lanka. 

Sinhala GOAT preventing the "Reconciliation" of Communities in Sri lanka

Gota preventing president from going ahead’

Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is preventing president Mahinda Rajapaksa from implementing the recomendations of the LLRC, government minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara has said in an interview.

The government had ignored a list of proposals put forward by a group of ministers, including himself, to implement the LLRC recommendations, introduce a political solution and to cooperate with the northern provincial council, he has said.

The minister has said the president might be listening more to his brother, the defence secretary, than him.

Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is preventing president Mahinda Rajapaksa from implementing the recomendations of the LLRC, government minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara has said in an interview.

The government had ignored a list of proposals put forward by a group of ministers, including himself, to implement the LLRC recommendations, introduce a political solution and to cooperate with the northern provincial council, he has said.

The minister has said the president might be listening more to his brother, the defence secretary, than him

Is LTTE raising army again ???

US says LTTE getting diaspora funds

The United States (US) says the LTTE uses its international contacts and the large Tamil diaspora in North America, Europe, and Asia to procure weapons, communications, funding, and other needed supplies.

In its latest annual report on terrorism, the US State Department Bureau of Counterterrorism says the LTTE employed charities as fronts to collect and divert funds for their activities.

“Despite its military defeat at the hands of the Sri Lankan government in 2009, the LTTE’s international network of sympathizers and financial support persists. In early 2009, Sri Lankan forces recaptured the LTTE’s key strongholds, including their capital of Kilinochchi. In May 2009, government forces defeated the last LTTE fighting forces, killed LTTE leader Prahbakaran and other members of the LTTE leadership and military command, and declared military victory over LTTE. There have been no known attacks in Sri Lanka that could verifiably be attributed to the LTTE since the end of the war, but LTTE’s financial network of support continued to operate throughout 2013,” the report said.

The report, which notes that the LTTE is still listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation in the US, said that the rebels are known to be operating from Sri Lanka and India.

The report also notes that the Government of Sri Lanka remained concerned that the LTTE’s international network of financial support was still functioning. It also says that the Sri Lankan government continued to maintain a strong military presence in post-conflict areas and continued to voice concern about the possible re-emergence of pro-LTTE sympathizers.

How to catch a Panni-Part 2

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How to Catch a PANNI