Army denies harassing student

January 2, 2013 | Colombo Gazette

The army has denied reports that a female student had been hospitalized after being allegedly subjected to harassment at the Sri Lanka Air Force Training Centre, Diyatalawa.

Army spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya says no student undergoing leadership training at Diyatalawa or any other camp has been subjected to harassment as alleged.

He said that the student in question had been interviewed by the Commanding Officer of the Camp after her father, who is a government servant, had spoken to him regarding alleged inconveniences she is facing during training.

“During the interview the said student has informed the following difficulties that she is faced with. She has to work according to a time schedule and has to wait for everyone in the daily routine, which according to her is an inconvenience. She has a rash in her foot and hence unable to wear shoes. The commanding officer has then asked whether there has been any harrassment and the student has assured that there had been none what so ever,” the army spokesman said.

Then the Commanding Officer has explained that when one works in a team one has to do things together as a team and for that one may have to wait for others to gather. Waiting 5-10 minutes should not be considered an inconvenience, that is part of diversity that all are not able to wash, eat, or get dressed as fast as another.

“On the matter of not being able to wear shoes, she has been excused from wearing until a rash that she was diagnosed with is cured,” he said.

He also said that this morning, after news reports of the student being harassed was published an inquiry was made from all the students (approx 700) and all confirmed that they have no problems either in the facilities provided or training imparted by the relevant authorities, Brigadier Wanigasooriya said.

http://colombogazette.com/army-denies-harassing-student/

Rizana likely to be pardoned

Thursday, 03 January 2013 22:57 | Daily Mirror The Saudi Arabian Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Jammaz, said that according to information received by him, Rizana Nafeek presently housed in death row in Saudi Arabia would be pardoned and could return to the island, in consideration of a request made to the Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Azeez by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and also having regard to legal considerations. These views were expressed by the ambassador to SLMC leader and Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem, when they met today at the latter’s office, Sri Lanka’s Justice Ministry said in a statement. The ambassador was replying to a question posed by the minister, about whether the request of the Sri Lankan President and the various documents submitted could be made use of to obtain the release of Rizana Nafeek. The ambassador had also said that he was aware that the President of Sri Lanka and the government had striven hard to obtain a pardon for Rizana, and stressed that, on the instructions of the Saudi King; the governor of Riyadh Salmon had begun discussions with the relatives of the child who had died at the hands of Rizana. The ambassador had promised to intervene personally in this regard.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/24733-rizana-likely-to-be-pardoned.html

Sri Lankan bourse at 12-week high on lower rates; rupee up

COLOMBO | Wed Jan 2, 2013 6:44am EST

Jan 2 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan stocks gained in heavy volume on Wednesday to a near 12-week high as a fall in fixed income yields prompted investors to turn to more risky assets, while the rupee ended up after the central bank said it would maintain a flexible exchange rate.

The main share index closed 0.72 percent, or 40.79 points firmer, at 5,683.79, its highest close since Oct. 12, Reuters data showed.

Analysts said the positive sentiment was due to easing interest rates and a rosy central bank outlook for 2013.

Treasury bill yields eased between 9-33 basis points to nine-month lows at a weekly auction, in line with a surprise cut in interest rates last month.

The central bank in its policy announcement relaxed restrictions on foreign exchange trading with effect from Wednesday including a three-month limit on forward booking and it raised commercial banks' net opening positions.

The central bank also said it expected a 7.5 percent economic growth in 2013, while it will maintain a flexible exchange rate for the rupee.

Shares of Commercial Bank of Ceylon, which accounted for 85 percent of the day's turnover of 1.68 billion rupees ($13.16 million), rose 0.97 percent to 104 rupees.

Foreign investors were net sellers of 17.15 million rupees worth of shares after being net buyers of a record 38.63 billion rupees worth shares last year.

The rupee closed firmer at 127.40/45 to the dollar compared with Tuesday's close of 127.70/75, on bank selling, dealers said.

Sri Lanka Forex Association, a body which represents currency dealers, welcomed the central bank moves to boost foreign exchange trade. ($1 = 127.7000 Sri Lanka rupees) (Reporting by Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez; Editing by Robert Birsel)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/02/markets-srilanka-idUSL4N0A72HJ20130102

Iranian nabbed with Rs 206 mn worth dope

January 2, 2013, 10:58 pm

by Madura Ranwala | The Island

Two officers of the Customs Narcotic Division on Tuesday evening thwarted an attempt by a 28-year-old Iranian national to smuggle in two kilos of Methamphetamine into the country at the Bandaranaike International Airport.  

The contraband meticulously hidden in the bottom lining of his travelling bag is worth around Rs. 206 million. It also could be used as a chemical to manufacture various kinds of what are termed speed drugs, a spokesman for the customs told The Island yesterday. The smuggler had planned to stay in the country until January 9, he said.

He said that the contraband known as ‘ICE’ in common usage, was popular in nightclubs among drug addicts where continuous dancing performances take place. "It helps a person to keep vigil and body afresh even if she or he feels tired," he stressed. 

The smuggler was detected on suspicion as he was taking the green channel around 4.00 p.m. He had tried to escape when stopped by vigilant customs officers, Assistant Superintendent, Thanushka Wijesuriya and Deputy Superintendent M. I. Razeek.   

The handsome smuggler had tried to pose off as an electrician. According to his passport he had arrived in India on December 19 in 2012 and had flown to Georgia on December 25. The smuggler also had flown to Qatar via Doha before arriving in Sri Lanka aboard QR 302 flight.

According to investigations by the customs, the young smuggler had arrived in the country for the first time. But last year too, there was a similar smuggling attempt of the same drug by two Iranian nationals using the same airline and method. 

The initial investigations were conducted under the supervision of the customs officers, Superintendents Nihal Alahaperuma and Saroj Chandrasena by Deputy Superintendents M. I. Razeek and D. D. S. C. Michael, Assistant Superintendents, Thanushka Wijesuriya, Thilina Wijesekere, Chandana Gamage, M. K. Udaya Gamini and Prabudda Perera.

The smuggler was later handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau at BIA.

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=69564

Lankan charged with cheating Saudi Arabian

Wednesday, 02 January 2013 21:04 | Daily Mirror A Sri Lankan job agent, who was produced in Court on charges of having defrauded a Saudi Arabian of Rs.3.2 million on the promise he would find him 11 housemaids, was ordered to be remanded till January 9 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne. The Colombo Fraud Investigations Bureau (CFIB) carried out its investigations on the basis of a complaint made by the Saudi Arabian who alleged that he had paid US$33,000 to the job agent. The complainant told the CFIB that he had come to Sri Lanka to recruit 11 housemaids to work in Saudi Arabia. He alleged that though the Sri Lankan -- Lahireen Saibudan of Wellampitiya was paid the money asked for he had renegaded on the promise. The Saudi Arabian said several cheques issued by the Lankan had been dishonoured by the bank. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)

http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/24704-lankan-charged-with-cheating-saudi-arabian.html