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Updated: ( 2:26:43 GMT)
Tuesday February 09 , 2010
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 SRI LANKA
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People stand outside the office of former army chief Sarath Fonseka, shortly after he was arrested, Monday night
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General Fonseka arrested
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COLOMBO: General (Retd) Sarath Fonseka who contested the recently concluded presidential election as the opposition common candidate was arrested by the military police Monday night for what the army cited as committing military offences and fraudulences during his period in service. He is now expected to be court martialled. Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Prasad Samarasinghe said Gen. Fonseka was arrested around 9.30 pm. At the time of his arrest Gen. Fonseka was at his office having a meeting with JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem and Democratic People’s Front leader Mano Ganeshan on the possible strategies to contest the upcoming general election and on filing a petition against the alleged election malpractices on polling day, according to sources close to him.
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| TOP STORIES |
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SL under fire over opponent's arrest
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WASHINGTON: Sri Lanka was hit by sharp international criticism after troops arrested the defeated opposition candidate, just two weeks after an election that had raised hopes of turning a new page. The United States voiced worries the arrest late Monday of former general Sarath Fonseka would worsen divisions on the island. "We are following the situation closely," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said.
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Fonseka to testify on war crimes
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COLOMBO: Former army commander, General Sarath Fonseka, hours before his arrest on Monday night said he was prepared to give evidence in an international court on war crime charges against Sri Lanka. Speaking to journalists in Colombo he said, "I am not going to save anyone who has committed war crimes.” International human rights organisations as well as the US state department have alleged that the government committed war crimes.
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Journalists warn of further oppression
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COLOMBO: Sri Lankan journalists who claim the government has stepped up its suppression of the media in recent weeks staged a protest Monday and demanded the release of a detained editor from a pro-opposition newspaper. Nearly a hundred journalists demonstrated in Colombo, urging the government to allow the media to report without hindrance and to free Chandana Sirimalwatte, editor of the Lanka newspaper.
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Dissolution tonight: Polls on April 8
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COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to dissolve parliament tonight with the general election likely on April 8, sources close to the government said Monday. The term of the present parliament ends on April 22 but the President can with a presidential proclamation end its term earlier and he is expected to do so when he returns today. The week between February 19 -26 would likely to be the week for nominations, sources said.
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Russia to explore oil here
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COLOMBO: Russia has agreed to start oil and gas exploration in the seas off Mannar after President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the Russian Gas and Oil company Gazprom, in Moscow Monday. The President held talks with the Chief Executive of the company Alexei B. Miller at their head office in Moscow. The Russian company also agreed to give Sri Lanka concessions in the purchase of refined and crude oil.
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South Asian Policy Analysis Network
South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and the South Asian Journal have initiated a project to develop an interactive network of experts for the South Asian Policy Analysis (SAPANA) Network which was launched in April, 2006. SAPANA is a non-partisan, South Asia-wide research and policy analysis network, the first independent South Asian think-thank in the region and is expected to play an influential role in guiding discussion, analysis and policy both in South Asia and outside the region.
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South Asia Media Commission was formed in April 2007 to monitor journalists’ safety and violation of media rights and to publish periodical reports. It was envisaged to respond with speed to such violations to press for remedial action.
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South Asian Media School
In 2007, SAFMA, a network of South Asian journalists and media practitioners, aware of the political nuances of the region and sensitive to the demands of the new media age, felt the need to cultivate a new generation of South Asian media persons. With this in mind, the South Asian Media School was set up at South Asian Media Centre, a hub of media activity.
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