The International Rugby
Board has confirmed that the
Sri Lanka Rugby Football
Union (SLRFU) has been
suspended from full IRB
member status with
immediate effect after failing
to conduct appropriate
Board elections in
accordance with IRB Bye
Laws.
The decision, taken by the
IRB Council after a
comprehensive review of the
membership status of the
SLRFU, follows ongoing
concerns regarding the
governance and
management of the Union
and its ability to meet IRB
requirements to hold an
Annual General Meeting and
elections in accordance with
its constitution by January 31,
2011.
The SLRFU will now revert to
IRB Associate Member status
with a further review to be
held on April 1, 2011 pending
the successful completion of
the Union ’s AGM and Board
elections.
The SLRFU remains entitled
to participate in Asian Rugby
Football Union competitions
subject to the Regional
Association ’s rules.
Monday, March 7, 2011
CANADA BEAT KENYA BY FIVE WICKETS
Canada beat Kenya by five
wickets in their World Cup
match in Delhi chasing down
a total of 198. Jimmy Hansra
top scored with 70 while
Ashish Bagai remained not
out on 64 to guide the
Canadians to their first points
in the tournament.
Tanmay Mishra and Thomas
Odoyo helped Kenya to 198
runs after scoring 51 runs
apiece while Henry Osinde
picked up four wickets for
the Canadians. The
Canadians looked
comfortable throughout
their innings to reach the
total with five wickets and 27
deliveries in hand.
wickets in their World Cup
match in Delhi chasing down
a total of 198. Jimmy Hansra
top scored with 70 while
Ashish Bagai remained not
out on 64 to guide the
Canadians to their first points
in the tournament.
Tanmay Mishra and Thomas
Odoyo helped Kenya to 198
runs after scoring 51 runs
apiece while Henry Osinde
picked up four wickets for
the Canadians. The
Canadians looked
comfortable throughout
their innings to reach the
total with five wickets and 27
deliveries in hand.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
ENGLAND BEAT SOUTH AFRICA BY SIX RUNS
Stuart Broad finished with
four wickets as England
bowled South Africa out for
165 to claim a six-run win in
their World Cup Group B
match at the MA
Chidambaram Stadium in
Chennai, India.
Scores: England171 all out (R.
Bopara 60, J. Trott 52; I. Tahir
4-38, R. Peterson 3-22);
South Africa 165 all out (S.
Broad 4-15)
four wickets as England
bowled South Africa out for
165 to claim a six-run win in
their World Cup Group B
match at the MA
Chidambaram Stadium in
Chennai, India.
Scores: England171 all out (R.
Bopara 60, J. Trott 52; I. Tahir
4-38, R. Peterson 3-22);
South Africa 165 all out (S.
Broad 4-15)
Saturday, March 5, 2011
MATCH ABANDONED DUE TO RAIN; BOTH TEAMS SHARE A POINT
The Group A World Cup
match between Sri Lanka and
Australia at the R. Premadasa
Stadium ended up with no
result due to rain. Sri Lanka
had scored 143 for the loss
of three wickets while
Captain Kumar Sangakkara
was not out on 73. Both
teams will share a point.
match between Sri Lanka and
Australia at the R. Premadasa
Stadium ended up with no
result due to rain. Sri Lanka
had scored 143 for the loss
of three wickets while
Captain Kumar Sangakkara
was not out on 73. Both
teams will share a point.
Friday, March 4, 2011
WEST INDIES TEAM BUS ATTACKED BY ANGRY FANS
The West Indies team bus
came under attack from
angry Bangladesh fans while
it was leaving the Sher-e-
Bangla stadium in Mirpur on
Friday evening.
The team was on its way
back to the hotel at about
6.30 pm local time soon after
a compelling nine-wicket
victory over the hosts.
There
was a power failure and the
area was plunged into
darkness when the incident
happened. The fans mistook
the bus carrying the
Bangladesh team, informed
the local police chief. No
player was injured in the
incident but the window
panes of the bus were
cracked.
West Indies batsman Chris
Gayle was, however, rather
disturbed by the attack and
immediately tweeted saying,
“ This is ridiculous!!! Damn!!!
World Cup with so much
security and this happens. Big
joke. Trust me I ’m not keen
here. Every player lay flat!!!”
The West Indies team media
manager Philip Spooner later
informed that all the team
members were safe. “We left
the ground, on our way back
to the hotel, a couple of
stones did hit our window.
Two windows were cracked,
but not shattered. Both the
teams are now back to the
hotel and are safe.
“Everything is fine, everybody
is safe. Nobody is injured, no
one is hurt. Our manager will
notify the respective boards
and the ICC. He has spoken
to the team and we will leave
on Saturday. There is no
panic, everybody is fine,”
Spooner wrote. “They
thought that it was the
Bangladesh team bus and
hurled stones at it, ” said
Imtiaz Ahmad, Mirpur’s
deputy police commissioner
and chief of security.
Bangladesh Cricket Board
president Mustafa Kamal
apologized saying, “It is
unfortunate. There was
sufficient security, yet it
happened. We are very
sorry. ”
The BCB chief further said
that the bus came under the
attack soon after it moved
out of the security ring of the
police outside the stadium.
“ The stones were flung from
afar and six of them hit the
windows of the bus, ” said
Kamal.
Spooner, however, said that
only two stones hit the
windows. The West Indies
team will leave for India
where they play Ireland in
Chandigarh on March 11.
There were incidents of
violence, elsewhere too, as
fans were disgusted by the
home team ’s poor display. A
bus was torched at the
Dhaka University (about 10
kms from the stadium) as
students watching the match
on a giant television screen
lost their cool.
The angst of the
Bangladeshi fans continued
till late in the night here in
Dhaka with the team captain
Shakib Al Hasan ’s house too
being targeted. Irate fans
attacked Shakib ’s residence
in Keshabmur area of
Magura, around 100km
southwest of the capital.
(Time of India)
came under attack from
angry Bangladesh fans while
it was leaving the Sher-e-
Bangla stadium in Mirpur on
Friday evening.
The team was on its way
back to the hotel at about
6.30 pm local time soon after
a compelling nine-wicket
victory over the hosts.
There
was a power failure and the
area was plunged into
darkness when the incident
happened. The fans mistook
the bus carrying the
Bangladesh team, informed
the local police chief. No
player was injured in the
incident but the window
panes of the bus were
cracked.
West Indies batsman Chris
Gayle was, however, rather
disturbed by the attack and
immediately tweeted saying,
“ This is ridiculous!!! Damn!!!
World Cup with so much
security and this happens. Big
joke. Trust me I ’m not keen
here. Every player lay flat!!!”
The West Indies team media
manager Philip Spooner later
informed that all the team
members were safe. “We left
the ground, on our way back
to the hotel, a couple of
stones did hit our window.
Two windows were cracked,
but not shattered. Both the
teams are now back to the
hotel and are safe.
“Everything is fine, everybody
is safe. Nobody is injured, no
one is hurt. Our manager will
notify the respective boards
and the ICC. He has spoken
to the team and we will leave
on Saturday. There is no
panic, everybody is fine,”
Spooner wrote. “They
thought that it was the
Bangladesh team bus and
hurled stones at it, ” said
Imtiaz Ahmad, Mirpur’s
deputy police commissioner
and chief of security.
Bangladesh Cricket Board
president Mustafa Kamal
apologized saying, “It is
unfortunate. There was
sufficient security, yet it
happened. We are very
sorry. ”
The BCB chief further said
that the bus came under the
attack soon after it moved
out of the security ring of the
police outside the stadium.
“ The stones were flung from
afar and six of them hit the
windows of the bus, ” said
Kamal.
Spooner, however, said that
only two stones hit the
windows. The West Indies
team will leave for India
where they play Ireland in
Chandigarh on March 11.
There were incidents of
violence, elsewhere too, as
fans were disgusted by the
home team ’s poor display. A
bus was torched at the
Dhaka University (about 10
kms from the stadium) as
students watching the match
on a giant television screen
lost their cool.
The angst of the
Bangladeshi fans continued
till late in the night here in
Dhaka with the team captain
Shakib Al Hasan ’s house too
being targeted. Irate fans
attacked Shakib ’s residence
in Keshabmur area of
Magura, around 100km
southwest of the capital.
(Time of India)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
AFRIDI PICKS UP ANOTHER 5 WICKET-HAUL TO BREAK CANADIAN HEARTS
Pakistan beat Canada by 47
runs after posting a total of
just 184 runs as captain
Shahid Afridi snapped up
another five wicket haul to
single-handedly take the
game away from the
Canadians who were looking
comfortable to get the win.
Shahid Afridi picked up five
wickets for 23 runs off his
ten overs to give Pakistan the
win while he becomes the
tournaments leading wicket
taker with 14 wickets.
runs after posting a total of
just 184 runs as captain
Shahid Afridi snapped up
another five wicket haul to
single-handedly take the
game away from the
Canadians who were looking
comfortable to get the win.
Shahid Afridi picked up five
wickets for 23 runs off his
ten overs to give Pakistan the
win while he becomes the
tournaments leading wicket
taker with 14 wickets.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
IRELAND CREATE WC UPSET, BEAT ENGLAND BY THREE WICKETS
Ireland registered a three-
wicket victory over England
in the World Cup 2011 Group
B match played in Bangalore
a short while ago. Ireland 329
for 7 (K O ’Brien 113) beat
England 327 for 8 by three
wickets.
Chasing a World Cup record
of 328 runs to beat their
rivals England, Ireland ’s Kevin
O’Brien scored an incredible
50-ball century, enabling
Ireland towards an
unbelievable three-wicket
victory in Bangalore.
The Irish seemed lost at 113
for 5 at the halfway mark,
before Kevin O ’Brien set on
the innings of his life and
guided the Irish towards the
much needed victory.
wicket victory over England
in the World Cup 2011 Group
B match played in Bangalore
a short while ago. Ireland 329
for 7 (K O ’Brien 113) beat
England 327 for 8 by three
wickets.
Chasing a World Cup record
of 328 runs to beat their
rivals England, Ireland ’s Kevin
O’Brien scored an incredible
50-ball century, enabling
Ireland towards an
unbelievable three-wicket
victory in Bangalore.
The Irish seemed lost at 113
for 5 at the halfway mark,
before Kevin O ’Brien set on
the innings of his life and
guided the Irish towards the
much needed victory.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
MALINGA PICKS UP HAT- TRICK AGAINST BAMBOOZLED KENYA
Lasith Malinga picked up a
hat-trick on his way to six
wickets against Kenya who
were bowled out for just 142
runs in their Group A match
against Sri Lanka played at
the R. Premadasa Stadium in
Colombo.
Collins Obuya and
David Obuya scored half
centuries but no one else
made it to double figures
with four batsmen getting
ducks.
Malinga got six wickets for 38
runs after he became the
first bowler to pick up two
hat-tricks in World Cups,
getting each of his victims
out without the assistance of
any fielders.
hat-trick on his way to six
wickets against Kenya who
were bowled out for just 142
runs in their Group A match
against Sri Lanka played at
the R. Premadasa Stadium in
Colombo.
Collins Obuya and
David Obuya scored half
centuries but no one else
made it to double figures
with four batsmen getting
ducks.
Malinga got six wickets for 38
runs after he became the
first bowler to pick up two
hat-tricks in World Cups,
getting each of his victims
out without the assistance of
any fielders.
Monday, February 28, 2011
MURALI IN BACKFLIP ON SPIN COACHING AUSSIES
Muttiah Muralidaran - Test
cricket ’s greatest wicket-
taker - has dealt Cricket
Australia ’s blueprint for
spin reform a savage blow
after backflipping on plans to
mentor the country ’s next
generation of tweakers.
As the Sri Lankan wizard
prepares to torment
Australia in their ICC World
Cup clash on Saturday, it can
be revealed Muralidaran has
turned his back at the 11th
hour on a coaching cameo at
the Brisbane-based Centre
of Excellence, reports The
Courier-Mail from Australia,
quoting Muralitharan ’s
manager.
The controversial 38-year-old
had intimated his desire to
tutor Australia ’s next crop of
emerging spinners in June,
but rocked Cricket Australia
by opting to play Twenty20
cricket instead in India and
England.
Muralidaran’s snub comes at
the worst time for Australian
cricket, which is conducting a
sweeping
performance review,
including addressing the
nation ’s depleted slow
bowling stocks that have led
to Test selectors deploying 10
spinners since Shane Warne ’s
retirement in 2007.
Speaking exclusively to The
Courier-Mail, Muralidaran ’s
manager confirmed the spin
legend would not
visit Australia because of
commitments with IPL side
Kochi and county side
Gloucestershire.
“Unfortunately, Murali will
not be able to make it,”
agent Kushil Gunasekera
said.
“Cricket Australia wanted
him to come down in a
particular period of time, but
it doesn ’t go down well
with the IPL and his
Gloucestershire
assignments. ”
cricket ’s greatest wicket-
taker - has dealt Cricket
Australia ’s blueprint for
spin reform a savage blow
after backflipping on plans to
mentor the country ’s next
generation of tweakers.
As the Sri Lankan wizard
prepares to torment
Australia in their ICC World
Cup clash on Saturday, it can
be revealed Muralidaran has
turned his back at the 11th
hour on a coaching cameo at
the Brisbane-based Centre
of Excellence, reports The
Courier-Mail from Australia,
quoting Muralitharan ’s
manager.
The controversial 38-year-old
had intimated his desire to
tutor Australia ’s next crop of
emerging spinners in June,
but rocked Cricket Australia
by opting to play Twenty20
cricket instead in India and
England.
Muralidaran’s snub comes at
the worst time for Australian
cricket, which is conducting a
sweeping
performance review,
including addressing the
nation ’s depleted slow
bowling stocks that have led
to Test selectors deploying 10
spinners since Shane Warne ’s
retirement in 2007.
Speaking exclusively to The
Courier-Mail, Muralidaran ’s
manager confirmed the spin
legend would not
visit Australia because of
commitments with IPL side
Kochi and county side
Gloucestershire.
“Unfortunately, Murali will
not be able to make it,”
agent Kushil Gunasekera
said.
“Cricket Australia wanted
him to come down in a
particular period of time, but
it doesn ’t go down well
with the IPL and his
Gloucestershire
assignments. ”
Saturday, February 26, 2011
SRI LANKA FAIL AGAINST PAKISTAN
Sri Lanka lost their Group A
match against Pakistan by 11
runs after Pakistan posted a
first innings total of 277 for 7
off their allotted 50 overs.
Younis Khan scored 72 runs
while Misbah-ul-Haq top
scored with 83 while Shahid
Afridi was the pick of
Pakistani bowlers, picking up
four wickets for just 34 runs.
Sri Lanka began their innings
brightly with a 75 run
opening partnership where
T.M. Dilshan scored 41.
However, with the loss of
quick wickets and an
increasingly slow rate of
scoring Sri Lankans were
forced to force the issue.
They could only manage one
fifty in the innings where
Chamara Silva scored a
patient 57 runs while Captain
Kumar Sangakkara scored
49.
match against Pakistan by 11
runs after Pakistan posted a
first innings total of 277 for 7
off their allotted 50 overs.
Younis Khan scored 72 runs
while Misbah-ul-Haq top
scored with 83 while Shahid
Afridi was the pick of
Pakistani bowlers, picking up
four wickets for just 34 runs.
Sri Lanka began their innings
brightly with a 75 run
opening partnership where
T.M. Dilshan scored 41.
However, with the loss of
quick wickets and an
increasingly slow rate of
scoring Sri Lankans were
forced to force the issue.
They could only manage one
fifty in the innings where
Chamara Silva scored a
patient 57 runs while Captain
Kumar Sangakkara scored
49.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
PAKISTAN BEAT KENYA BY 205 RUNS
Pakistan beat Kenya by 205
runs in a World Cup Group A
match. Earlier, Umar Akmal
was one of four batsmen to
score half-centuries as
Pakistan overcame a sluggish
start to post 317-7 against
Kenya in their opening World
Cup Group A match.
runs in a World Cup Group A
match. Earlier, Umar Akmal
was one of four batsmen to
score half-centuries as
Pakistan overcame a sluggish
start to post 317-7 against
Kenya in their opening World
Cup Group A match.
SRI LANKA BANS ‘VIOLENT’ WORLD CUP SONG: REPORT
A World Cup song which
carries threats against
defending champions
Australia as well as
earthquake-hit New Zealand
has been banned on orders
of the Sri Lankan president,
states a media report.
The song warns that Ricky
Ponting ’s Australians will end
up as bird food while New
Zealanders, still reeling from
the Christchurch quake,
could have their jaws broken.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa
heard the Sinhalese and
Tamil mixed song and
wanted it taken off all state-
run radio and television
channels, an official close to
the president told AFP,
according to the report.
He also censured sports
authorities for allowing the
“ insulting” lyrics.
“The president was appalled
that the song was allowed in
the first place, ” the official
said.
“He felt the song was in poor
taste. What he wants is a
song to inspire the team and
fans and not insult other
nations. ” The president saw a
video clip of the song when
he turned up to watch Sri
Lanka play Canada at their
opening game at
Hambantota on Sunday
when the home side won by
210 runs.
A Sri Lankan cricket official
said the song was the
initiative of a private
company which was
sponsoring the national
team. Several private radio
and television channels have
also accepted that the song
was in poor taste and
stopped broadcasting it.
Sri Lanka, who are co-hosting
the World Cup with
Bangladesh and India, has
already run into trouble with
fans after banning music and
placards at match venues.
Following intense criticism,
police have relaxed bans on
placards, posters and
banners.
carries threats against
defending champions
Australia as well as
earthquake-hit New Zealand
has been banned on orders
of the Sri Lankan president,
states a media report.
The song warns that Ricky
Ponting ’s Australians will end
up as bird food while New
Zealanders, still reeling from
the Christchurch quake,
could have their jaws broken.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa
heard the Sinhalese and
Tamil mixed song and
wanted it taken off all state-
run radio and television
channels, an official close to
the president told AFP,
according to the report.
He also censured sports
authorities for allowing the
“ insulting” lyrics.
“The president was appalled
that the song was allowed in
the first place, ” the official
said.
“He felt the song was in poor
taste. What he wants is a
song to inspire the team and
fans and not insult other
nations. ” The president saw a
video clip of the song when
he turned up to watch Sri
Lanka play Canada at their
opening game at
Hambantota on Sunday
when the home side won by
210 runs.
A Sri Lankan cricket official
said the song was the
initiative of a private
company which was
sponsoring the national
team. Several private radio
and television channels have
also accepted that the song
was in poor taste and
stopped broadcasting it.
Sri Lanka, who are co-hosting
the World Cup with
Bangladesh and India, has
already run into trouble with
fans after banning music and
placards at match venues.
Following intense criticism,
police have relaxed bans on
placards, posters and
banners.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
PABA’S SPOUSE RELEASED ON BAIL
Police said that the husband
of popular TV actress and
Parliamentarian Upeksha
Swarnamali has been
ordered released on bail by
the Gangodawila Magistrate ’s
Court. Accordingly he has
been released on a cash bail
of Rs.2500 and a personnel
bail of Rs.100, 000.
UNP MP Upeksha
Swarnamali, popularly
referred to as ‘Paba’, had
received medical treatment
at ward No.18 of the Sri
Jayawardenapura General
Hospital following some sort
of physical assault on
February 16.
Meanwhile her husband,
Mahesh Chaminda who had
been suspected of attacking
the actress had evaded the
police but surrendered
himself to the Mirihana
Police the day before yesterday (February
21).
of popular TV actress and
Parliamentarian Upeksha
Swarnamali has been
ordered released on bail by
the Gangodawila Magistrate ’s
Court. Accordingly he has
been released on a cash bail
of Rs.2500 and a personnel
bail of Rs.100, 000.
UNP MP Upeksha
Swarnamali, popularly
referred to as ‘Paba’, had
received medical treatment
at ward No.18 of the Sri
Jayawardenapura General
Hospital following some sort
of physical assault on
February 16.
Meanwhile her husband,
Mahesh Chaminda who had
been suspected of attacking
the actress had evaded the
police but surrendered
himself to the Mirihana
Police the day before yesterday (February
21).
ENGLAND AVOIDS EMBARRASSMENT, BEAT NETHERLANDS
England beat Netherlands yesterday in a nail
biting finish by 6 wickets in
the ICC World Cup group ‘B’
matched played at Nagpur,
India. Batting first,
Netherlands put on 292 on
the board in full 50 overs.
Dutch all-rounder Ryan ten
Doeschate was awarded the
man of the match after
scoring 119 runs off just 110
balls and picking up a couple
of wickets as well.
biting finish by 6 wickets in
the ICC World Cup group ‘B’
matched played at Nagpur,
India. Batting first,
Netherlands put on 292 on
the board in full 50 overs.
Dutch all-rounder Ryan ten
Doeschate was awarded the
man of the match after
scoring 119 runs off just 110
balls and picking up a couple
of wickets as well.
Monday, February 21, 2011
UPEKSHA’S HUSBAND SURRENDERS TO POLICE
Mahesh Chaminda, the
husband of MP Upeksha
Swarnamali has surrendered
to the Mirihana Police station
a short while ago, Nugegoda
Division SSP Deshabandu
Tennakoon confirmed.
UNP Parliamentarian
Upeksha Swarnamali had
been admitted into the Sri
Jayawardenapura Hospital on
February 15 due to an injury
sustained to her face
following an alleged assault
over a domestic dispute.
husband of MP Upeksha
Swarnamali has surrendered
to the Mirihana Police station
a short while ago, Nugegoda
Division SSP Deshabandu
Tennakoon confirmed.
UNP Parliamentarian
Upeksha Swarnamali had
been admitted into the Sri
Jayawardenapura Hospital on
February 15 due to an injury
sustained to her face
following an alleged assault
over a domestic dispute.
WC SEMI-FINAL & FINAL TICKETS ON SALE ONLINE
The tickets for the semi-finals
and the final of the ICC
Cricket World Cup 2011 went
on sale yesterday (February 21)
along with the launch of the
online ticket sales through
Kyazoonga.com, the ICC’s
official ticketing partner.
Tickets have been up for sale
since 1 p.m. today.
and the final of the ICC
Cricket World Cup 2011 went
on sale yesterday (February 21)
along with the launch of the
online ticket sales through
Kyazoonga.com, the ICC’s
official ticketing partner.
Tickets have been up for sale
since 1 p.m. today.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
SRI LANKA MAUL CANADA, MAHELA BAGS MAN OF THE MATCH
Sri Lanka bagged its first win
at the 2011 ICC cricket World
Cup by dismissing the
Canadians for a mere 122 in
36.5 overs to win the match
by 210 runs yesterday
at the Mahinda Rajapaksa
International Cricket Stadium
in Sooriyawewa,
Hambantota.
Earlier Sri Lanka plundered
332-7 off the Canadian attack
with Mahela Jayawardene
leading the way with a
blistering 100 off just 80 balls
also taking the man of the
match award for the knock.
Nuwan Kulasekera and
Thisara Perera got three
wickets apiece. Earlier Sri
Lanka plundered 332-7 off
the Canadian attack with
Mahela Jayawardene leading
the way with a blistering 100
off just 80 balls.
at the 2011 ICC cricket World
Cup by dismissing the
Canadians for a mere 122 in
36.5 overs to win the match
by 210 runs yesterday
at the Mahinda Rajapaksa
International Cricket Stadium
in Sooriyawewa,
Hambantota.
Earlier Sri Lanka plundered
332-7 off the Canadian attack
with Mahela Jayawardene
leading the way with a
blistering 100 off just 80 balls
also taking the man of the
match award for the knock.
Nuwan Kulasekera and
Thisara Perera got three
wickets apiece. Earlier Sri
Lanka plundered 332-7 off
the Canadian attack with
Mahela Jayawardene leading
the way with a blistering 100
off just 80 balls.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
BANGLADESH WINS TOSS, OPTS TO FIELD AGAINST INDIA IN OPENING MATCH OF WORLD CUP
Bangladesh captain
Shakib Al Hasan won the toss
and elected to field against
India in the World Cup
tournament opener at the
Mirpur Stadium on Saturday.
India decided to field three
pace bowlers in Zaheer
Khan, Shantakumaran
Sreesanth and Munaf Patel.
Harbhajan Singh is the only
specialist spinner in the side.
Bangladesh deployed two
left-arm spinners, captain
Hasan and Abdur Razzak.
The only previous World Cup
clash between the two teams
was at Port of Spain in 2007,
when Bangladesh scored a
shock five-wicket win in a
group match that led to
India’s early exit from the
tournament.
India and Bangladesh are
with England, South Africa,
West Indies, Ireland and
Netherlands in Group B. Four
teams from the group will
advance to the quarterfinals.
Lineups:
India:
Virender Sehwag,
Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam
Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj
Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni
(captain), Yusuf Pathan,
Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer
Khan, Shantakumaran
Sreesanth, Munaf Patel.
Bangladesh:
Tamim Iqbal,
Imrul Kayes, Zunaed
Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim,
Shakib Al Hasan (capt),
Raqibul Hassan,
Mahmudullah Riad, Naeem
Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul
Islam, Rubel Hossain.
Umpires:
Steve Davis,
Australia, and Kumar
Dharmasena, Sri Lanka.
TV umpire:
Billy Doctrove,
West Indies.
Match referee:
Ranjan Madugalle, Sri Lanka.
Shakib Al Hasan won the toss
and elected to field against
India in the World Cup
tournament opener at the
Mirpur Stadium on Saturday.
India decided to field three
pace bowlers in Zaheer
Khan, Shantakumaran
Sreesanth and Munaf Patel.
Harbhajan Singh is the only
specialist spinner in the side.
Bangladesh deployed two
left-arm spinners, captain
Hasan and Abdur Razzak.
The only previous World Cup
clash between the two teams
was at Port of Spain in 2007,
when Bangladesh scored a
shock five-wicket win in a
group match that led to
India’s early exit from the
tournament.
India and Bangladesh are
with England, South Africa,
West Indies, Ireland and
Netherlands in Group B. Four
teams from the group will
advance to the quarterfinals.
Lineups:
India:
Virender Sehwag,
Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam
Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj
Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni
(captain), Yusuf Pathan,
Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer
Khan, Shantakumaran
Sreesanth, Munaf Patel.
Bangladesh:
Tamim Iqbal,
Imrul Kayes, Zunaed
Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim,
Shakib Al Hasan (capt),
Raqibul Hassan,
Mahmudullah Riad, Naeem
Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul
Islam, Rubel Hossain.
Umpires:
Steve Davis,
Australia, and Kumar
Dharmasena, Sri Lanka.
TV umpire:
Billy Doctrove,
West Indies.
Match referee:
Ranjan Madugalle, Sri Lanka.
Friday, February 18, 2011
JAPAN EXTENDS SUPPORT FOR THREE LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS
The government of Japan has
provided a sum of Rs.27.2
million for three projects in
order to improve the
livelihoods of the
communities in the
Monaragala, Ampara and
Matara Districts under its
Grant Assistance for
Grassroots Human Security
Project.
The grant will be used for
three projects which are to
uplif living standards of
communities in the
Monaragala District,
livelihood development
assistance in the Ampara
District and the economic
empowerment of women
through the increased
production of dry fish in the
Weligama area, Matara.
provided a sum of Rs.27.2
million for three projects in
order to improve the
livelihoods of the
communities in the
Monaragala, Ampara and
Matara Districts under its
Grant Assistance for
Grassroots Human Security
Project.
The grant will be used for
three projects which are to
uplif living standards of
communities in the
Monaragala District,
livelihood development
assistance in the Ampara
District and the economic
empowerment of women
through the increased
production of dry fish in the
Weligama area, Matara.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
28 INDIAN FISHERMEN IN REMAND UNTIL MARCH 1
The 28 Indian Fishermen who
were apprehended on
Wednesday night after
straying into Sri Lankan
waters were ordered to be
kept in remand until March 1
by the Malwanam
Magistrates Court in Jaffna.
The seven fishing vessels that
were seized by the Police
were also ordered to be kept
in custody.
This decision comes after the
112 Indian fishermen
arrested in Point Pedro
earlier this week were
ordered to be remanded for
two weeks.
were apprehended on
Wednesday night after
straying into Sri Lankan
waters were ordered to be
kept in remand until March 1
by the Malwanam
Magistrates Court in Jaffna.
The seven fishing vessels that
were seized by the Police
were also ordered to be kept
in custody.
This decision comes after the
112 Indian fishermen
arrested in Point Pedro
earlier this week were
ordered to be remanded for
two weeks.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
TWITTER BOWLED OUT BY ICC DURING WORLD CUP: REPORT
In a
bid to ensure a corruption-
free World Cup following the
spot-fixing scandal, the
International Cricket Council
has banned players and team
officials from tweeting during
matches.
The decision, an initiative of
ICC ’s Anti-Corruption and
Security Unit, was intended
to restrain the players and
officials from any possible
approach by people with
links to illegal betting during
World Cup matches.
The move from the ICC came
in response to Australian
team manager Steve
Bernard ’s tweets which
attracted more than 1,100
followers to his
@stevebernard37 account in
the past six months, including
during Ashes and the
subsequent ODI series,
according to a report in
‘ Sydney Morning Herald’.
The long-time manager was
told soon after arriving in
Bangalore with the team last
week that he, as well as any
other player or team official
at the World Cup, had been
banned from tweeting during
matches.
bid to ensure a corruption-
free World Cup following the
spot-fixing scandal, the
International Cricket Council
has banned players and team
officials from tweeting during
matches.
The decision, an initiative of
ICC ’s Anti-Corruption and
Security Unit, was intended
to restrain the players and
officials from any possible
approach by people with
links to illegal betting during
World Cup matches.
The move from the ICC came
in response to Australian
team manager Steve
Bernard ’s tweets which
attracted more than 1,100
followers to his
@stevebernard37 account in
the past six months, including
during Ashes and the
subsequent ODI series,
according to a report in
‘ Sydney Morning Herald’.
The long-time manager was
told soon after arriving in
Bangalore with the team last
week that he, as well as any
other player or team official
at the World Cup, had been
banned from tweeting during
matches.
Monday, February 14, 2011
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE POWERED BY LANKAN SOFTWARE
The London Stock Exchange’s
UK cash markets today
migrated to a new ultra low-
latency trading platform -
Millennium Exchange,
developed by London Stock
Exchange Group ’s leading
trading technology business
Sri Lankan based
MillenniumIT.
Millennium Exchange is a
highly scalable, multi-asset
class trading platform,
offering the Exchange ’s
clients superior technical
performance, ultra low-
latency and enhanced
functionality.
In a release Antoine
Shagoury, Chief Information
Officer, London Stock
Exchange Group, said:
“ Today’s roll-out of
Millennium Exchange for our
UK cash markets
demonstrates our continued
commitment to technological
innovation in the
marketplace. We are
confident that this new
platform will provide our
customers with exceptional
levels of performance,
functionality, and capacity.
“This migration is a crucial
step forward in our drive to
offer best in class trading
services and marks a key
milestone in the introduction
of tightly integrated
transaction technology
across our markets.”
UK cash markets today
migrated to a new ultra low-
latency trading platform -
Millennium Exchange,
developed by London Stock
Exchange Group ’s leading
trading technology business
Sri Lankan based
MillenniumIT.
Millennium Exchange is a
highly scalable, multi-asset
class trading platform,
offering the Exchange ’s
clients superior technical
performance, ultra low-
latency and enhanced
functionality.
In a release Antoine
Shagoury, Chief Information
Officer, London Stock
Exchange Group, said:
“ Today’s roll-out of
Millennium Exchange for our
UK cash markets
demonstrates our continued
commitment to technological
innovation in the
marketplace. We are
confident that this new
platform will provide our
customers with exceptional
levels of performance,
functionality, and capacity.
“This migration is a crucial
step forward in our drive to
offer best in class trading
services and marks a key
milestone in the introduction
of tightly integrated
transaction technology
across our markets.”
Friday, February 11, 2011
AMZA APPOINTED AS ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR UK
Deputy High Commissioner,
P.M. Amza was appointed as
the acting Sri Lankan High
Commissioner for the UK.
This decision came following
Former High Commissioner
of the Sri Lankan Embassy in
London Nihal Jayasinghe
retiring from his post.
P.M. Amza was appointed as
the acting Sri Lankan High
Commissioner for the UK.
This decision came following
Former High Commissioner
of the Sri Lankan Embassy in
London Nihal Jayasinghe
retiring from his post.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
ROAD CLOSED, LEAVE EARLY – SRILANKAN AIRLINES
SriLankan Airlines in a
release today advised
passengers proceed from
their homes at least 04 hours
prior to their booked flights
using alternative access roads
due to a temporary closure
of the Sri Lanka-Canada
Friendship road leading to
the Katunayake International
Airport, on February 12 and
13.
Passengers are
kindly requested to adhere
to this notice and avoid
being inconvenienced, the
statement adds.
release today advised
passengers proceed from
their homes at least 04 hours
prior to their booked flights
using alternative access roads
due to a temporary closure
of the Sri Lanka-Canada
Friendship road leading to
the Katunayake International
Airport, on February 12 and
13.
Passengers are
kindly requested to adhere
to this notice and avoid
being inconvenienced, the
statement adds.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
MURALI SAYS HE’S CONSIDERING INVITATION TO GUEST COACH IN AUSTRALIA
Sri Lanka cricket great
Muttiah Muralitharan says he
is considering a chance to
coach young spinners in
Australia, Canadian Press
reports.
Muralitharan, who will play
his last matches for Sri Lanka
during the World Cup
starting next week, says on
Wednesday he is finalizing
dates.
He did not give further
details, but Australian media
report the world record-
holder for wickets in tests
and one-day internationals
has been invited by the
Brisbane Centre of
Excellence to be a guest
coach in June.
Muralitharan’s relations with
Australia have been rocky
since early in his career when
he was called for an illegal
bowling action during a test
in 1995 in Melbourne,
Associated Canadian Press
reports.
Muttiah Muralitharan says he
is considering a chance to
coach young spinners in
Australia, Canadian Press
reports.
Muralitharan, who will play
his last matches for Sri Lanka
during the World Cup
starting next week, says on
Wednesday he is finalizing
dates.
He did not give further
details, but Australian media
report the world record-
holder for wickets in tests
and one-day internationals
has been invited by the
Brisbane Centre of
Excellence to be a guest
coach in June.
Muralitharan’s relations with
Australia have been rocky
since early in his career when
he was called for an illegal
bowling action during a test
in 1995 in Melbourne,
Associated Canadian Press
reports.
Monday, February 7, 2011
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS FOR UN ’S SL PANEL STILL UNDER DISCUSSION: UN SPOKESMAN
Discussions are continuing
concerning any
arrangements for UN panel
members to travel to Sri
Lanka, said UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon ’s
spokesman Martin Nesirky
during the daily noon news
briefing on Monday (Feb. 7).
Asked by the media about
the work of the advisory
panel dealing with Sri Lanka,
the Spokesperson noted that
it is not essential for the
panel to visit Sri Lanka in
order to carry out its work.
Discussions are continuing
concerning any
arrangements for panel
members to travel to Sri
Lanka, he has added.
concerning any
arrangements for UN panel
members to travel to Sri
Lanka, said UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon ’s
spokesman Martin Nesirky
during the daily noon news
briefing on Monday (Feb. 7).
Asked by the media about
the work of the advisory
panel dealing with Sri Lanka,
the Spokesperson noted that
it is not essential for the
panel to visit Sri Lanka in
order to carry out its work.
Discussions are continuing
concerning any
arrangements for panel
members to travel to Sri
Lanka, he has added.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
SRI LANKA BEATS WEST INDIES IN FINAL ODI, WINS SERIES
Sri Lanka (277/9) beat West
Indies (251) by 26 runs in the
third and final ODI played at
SSC a short while ago. Sri
Lanka wins the three match
series 2-0.
Darren Bravo top scored for
the West Indies with 79 runs
while Ajantha Mendis was
the highest wicket taker for
the Lankans with 4 wickets
giving away 46 runs. Medium
pacer Thisara Perera grabbed
3 wickets while Dilhara took
2 wickets including danger
man Chris Gayle.
West Indies was all-out for
251 with one over to spare.
Indies (251) by 26 runs in the
third and final ODI played at
SSC a short while ago. Sri
Lanka wins the three match
series 2-0.
Darren Bravo top scored for
the West Indies with 79 runs
while Ajantha Mendis was
the highest wicket taker for
the Lankans with 4 wickets
giving away 46 runs. Medium
pacer Thisara Perera grabbed
3 wickets while Dilhara took
2 wickets including danger
man Chris Gayle.
West Indies was all-out for
251 with one over to spare.
Friday, February 4, 2011
BRITISH ACTOR HENRY CAVILL CAST AS SUPERMAN
British actor
Henry Cavill is going up, up
and away.
Cavill will star as Superman
(and, obviously, Clark Kent)
in the next installment of the
movie franchise. Warner
Bros. Pictures announced the
casting Sunday.
The film is to be directed by
“ 300” director Zack Snyder,
who says in a statement
Cavill is “the perfect choice
to don the cape and `S’
shield.”
No title has been announced
for the film, which is
intended to reboot the
franchise after its latest
incarnation fizzled.
The 2006
movie “Superman Returns”
was directed by Bryan Singer
and starred Brandon Routh
as the Man of Steel.
Cavill is relatively unknown.
He had been considered for
the blockbuster roles of
Batman, James Bond and
even the previous version of
Superman. He co-starred on
Showtime’s “The Tudors.”
Warner Bros. is targeting
December 2012 for release.
Henry Cavill is going up, up
and away.
Cavill will star as Superman
(and, obviously, Clark Kent)
in the next installment of the
movie franchise. Warner
Bros. Pictures announced the
casting Sunday.
The film is to be directed by
“ 300” director Zack Snyder,
who says in a statement
Cavill is “the perfect choice
to don the cape and `S’
shield.”
No title has been announced
for the film, which is
intended to reboot the
franchise after its latest
incarnation fizzled.
The 2006
movie “Superman Returns”
was directed by Bryan Singer
and starred Brandon Routh
as the Man of Steel.
Cavill is relatively unknown.
He had been considered for
the blockbuster roles of
Batman, James Bond and
even the previous version of
Superman. He co-starred on
Showtime’s “The Tudors.”
Warner Bros. is targeting
December 2012 for release.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
SRI LANKA BEAT WEST INDIES BY 8 WICKETS
Sri Lanka won the second
one day international against
West Indies at the SSC today
after reaching their target of
197 runs with 8 wickets in
hand. Opener Upul Tharanga
scored an unbeaten century
while Mahela Jayawardena
remained at 48 not out.
A rain delay meant that the
second innings was only 47
overs long while West Indies
total of 203 runs off their
allotted 50 overs was
brought down to a target of
197 runs. Sri Lanka got there
comfortably with 27 balls
remaining and with 8 wickets
in hand.
one day international against
West Indies at the SSC today
after reaching their target of
197 runs with 8 wickets in
hand. Opener Upul Tharanga
scored an unbeaten century
while Mahela Jayawardena
remained at 48 not out.
A rain delay meant that the
second innings was only 47
overs long while West Indies
total of 203 runs off their
allotted 50 overs was
brought down to a target of
197 runs. Sri Lanka got there
comfortably with 27 balls
remaining and with 8 wickets
in hand.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
ANGELO MATHEW APPOINTED AS HP BRAND AMBASSADOR
HP the world’s largest IT
Company and Sri Lanka’s
No.1 IT brand has appointed
Angelo Mathew as Brand
Ambassador.
Angelo Mathew’s youthful
exuberance and talented
skills has made him one of
Sri Lanka ’s leading cricketers.
His all-round abilities in all
forms of cricket makes him
an international star of
highest caliber.
“Angelo Mathew’s aggressive
and intelligent approach to
the game and his ability to
win games for Sri Lanka in
tight situations, playing
innovative cricket- personifies
HP ’s brand aspirations said
Lackshmindra Fernando
Country Business Manager
HP Personal Systems Group.”
HP’s range of Desktop PC’s
and Notebook PC’s, including
the Pavillion Series and HP
All-in-One PC, offer
customers ultimate in
performance with slim, sleek
designs delivering essential
functionality and easy-to-use
features at an affordable
price.
HP Notebook pc’s enables
customers to break free with
exceptional performance &
creative designs.
Highly
reliable, classy HP Notebooks
always deliver the highest
performance.
HP offers a broad family of
laptops, notebook
computers, netbooks and
tablet PCs for a variety of
uses. This includes high
performance laptops for
watching movies, playing
music, and sharing photos.
HP ’s powerful notebook
computers can handle your
extreme gaming needs as
well. HP also offers a full
range of laptop computers
for your business office
needs.
HP ’s ultra-portable
laptops, notebook
computers, netbooks and
tablet PCs are lightweight
and can be used almost
anywhere. For any kind of
lifestyle, at home or the
office, HP delivers an
outstanding choice of laptops
and notebook computers to
suit your needs.
Besides the wide variety of
HP laptops, learn more about
the full range of high
performance computers for
personal or business needs.
HP also offers the latest
touch screen computer
technology that brings
computing to whole new
hands-on level.
Company and Sri Lanka’s
No.1 IT brand has appointed
Angelo Mathew as Brand
Ambassador.
Angelo Mathew’s youthful
exuberance and talented
skills has made him one of
Sri Lanka ’s leading cricketers.
His all-round abilities in all
forms of cricket makes him
an international star of
highest caliber.
“Angelo Mathew’s aggressive
and intelligent approach to
the game and his ability to
win games for Sri Lanka in
tight situations, playing
innovative cricket- personifies
HP ’s brand aspirations said
Lackshmindra Fernando
Country Business Manager
HP Personal Systems Group.”
HP’s range of Desktop PC’s
and Notebook PC’s, including
the Pavillion Series and HP
All-in-One PC, offer
customers ultimate in
performance with slim, sleek
designs delivering essential
functionality and easy-to-use
features at an affordable
price.
HP Notebook pc’s enables
customers to break free with
exceptional performance &
creative designs.
Highly
reliable, classy HP Notebooks
always deliver the highest
performance.
HP offers a broad family of
laptops, notebook
computers, netbooks and
tablet PCs for a variety of
uses. This includes high
performance laptops for
watching movies, playing
music, and sharing photos.
HP ’s powerful notebook
computers can handle your
extreme gaming needs as
well. HP also offers a full
range of laptop computers
for your business office
needs.
HP ’s ultra-portable
laptops, notebook
computers, netbooks and
tablet PCs are lightweight
and can be used almost
anywhere. For any kind of
lifestyle, at home or the
office, HP delivers an
outstanding choice of laptops
and notebook computers to
suit your needs.
Besides the wide variety of
HP laptops, learn more about
the full range of high
performance computers for
personal or business needs.
HP also offers the latest
touch screen computer
technology that brings
computing to whole new
hands-on level.
Monday, January 31, 2011
READY TO SHED CLOTHES, IF ROLE DEMANDS : JACQUELINE
Just as Sri Lankan actress
Jacqueline Fernandez
replaces Mallika Sherawat in
Murder 2, she claims to have
no qualms about shedding
her clothes along with that
nice-girl image. Well, that
much was obvious!
“As an actor, I must do
whatever the role demands.
No point otherwise, ”
Jacqueline told reporters.
A sequel to the 2004 movie
Murder , famous, or rather
infamous for Mallika ’s
steamy bedroom scenes with
ever-since serial-kisser
Emraan Hashmi, Murder 2
also promises to live up to
the hype. We wonder, is
Jaqueline going the same way
as Mallika?
Jacqueline had earlier
worked in Aladin, a
performance which had
earned her an IIFA and also a
Stardust in 2010. The
stunning beauty was also
seen in Jaane Kahan Se Aayi
Hai opposite Ritesh
Deshmukh.
Jacqueline Fernandez
replaces Mallika Sherawat in
Murder 2, she claims to have
no qualms about shedding
her clothes along with that
nice-girl image. Well, that
much was obvious!
“As an actor, I must do
whatever the role demands.
No point otherwise, ”
Jacqueline told reporters.
A sequel to the 2004 movie
Murder , famous, or rather
infamous for Mallika ’s
steamy bedroom scenes with
ever-since serial-kisser
Emraan Hashmi, Murder 2
also promises to live up to
the hype. We wonder, is
Jaqueline going the same way
as Mallika?
Jacqueline had earlier
worked in Aladin, a
performance which had
earned her an IIFA and also a
Stardust in 2010. The
stunning beauty was also
seen in Jaane Kahan Se Aayi
Hai opposite Ritesh
Deshmukh.
Friday, January 28, 2011
MICROSOFT LYNC® NOW IN SRI LANKA, TAKING COMMUNICATIONS TO NEW HEIGHTS
Microsoft Sri Lanka has
released Microsoft Lync, the
next generation of
communications that
connects people in new ways.
Starting today, Lync is
available to all business
customers in the country.
Recently released by
Microsoft Corp. in the US
markets, Lync is a single
platform that integrates
instant messaging, presence,
audio, video and web
conferencing and voice to
bring people together in the
ways they communicate best.
Lync provides one interface
that works with applications
that businesses know and use
today, including Microsoft
Office, Microsoft SharePoint
and Microsoft Exchange.
Microsoft Lync is now known
as the new family brand for
the products formerly known
as Microsoft Communications
Server, Microsoft Office
Communications Online and
Microsoft Office
Communicator which now
also includes Microsoft Lync
Web App and Microsoft Lync
Online.
“Lync delivers on Microsoft’s
vision to unify all of the areas
of modern business
communication, giving
people a more collaborative
experience with features like
HD video conference
recording activity feeds,” said
Mr. Pubudu Basnayake –
SMS&P Director, Microsoft
Sri Lanka. “In addition to
transforming how people
communicate, IT
departments can also benefit
from Lync and evolve their
infrastructure while
enhancing or eliminating
their traditional PBX systems,
saving time and money. ”
Microsoft Lync can make
every engagement a virtual
face-to-face meeting,
because any interaction can
include video and audio
conferencing, application and
desktop sharing, instant
messaging, and telephony.
Lync has been designed from
the ground up to work with
Microsoft Office, SharePoint
and Exchange, which helps
reduce end-user adoption
hurdles and increase return
on investment. People can
also stay connected to others
on a wide range of devices
while away from the office
and manage their
communications and calls in
new ways, such as easily
moving a call from a PC to a
mobile device while leaving
the office without disrupting
the conversation.
Microsoft Lync is now
available as a hosted
solution. Microsoft recently
announced Office 365, an
always-up-to-date cloud
service that brings together
Lync, SharePoint, Exchange,
and Office. IM, presence and
conferencing will be
available in Office 365 via
Lync Online, which will be
available later this year.
Office 365 gives people the
power of Office with the
capabilities of Microsoft ’s
market-leading servers – all
in a single cloud service.
Office 365 is considered to be
a new approach to cloud
applications altogether. It
brings Office desktop
software and Office Web
Apps to business cloud
services for the first time. It
also entails more complete
versions of Exchange,
SharePoint and Lync and a
new platform with single sign
in, federated identity,
scripting and more.
The Lync
Web App is a browser-based
application that enables
people to either join a
meeting through the browser
or download the client to
their desktop.
Lync Online is
a rich application that
includes IM, Presence, web
conferencing and peer-to-
peer audio (PC to PC). It has
all of the Lync Server
functionality (integration into
Office, SharePoint, and
Exchange) and collaboration
tools (desktop sharing,
document sharing,
whiteboard, etc.).
The Microsoft Office
Communicator Mobile offers
a variety of features that
extend far beyond those
offered by others in the
industry. Users of Office
Communicator Mobile can
“ hand off” a call to an
alternate number such as a
home phone or mobile
phone when answered or
redirect the call when it
rings. Some of the other
features are that voicemails
appear as emails and a
preview transcription
accompanies the voicemail
ready to play on the mobile
device. Enterprise Cellular
Telephony (ECT) allows calls
made to a user’s desk phone
to automatically generate an
“ incoming call” notification
on their Communicator
Mobile phone and Instant
Messaging and presence
allows users to see status of
availability of their contacts
and provides access levels to
control the amount and type
of presence information is
available to them.
In order to make Microsoft
Lync as user friendly as
possible, today, Lync is
already available on IE, Safari
and Firefox. Microsoft
pledges that it will continue
to evaluate other browsers
based on customer demand
so that Lync can be used on
competitive browsers as well.
In keeping with the intention
of being user friendly
Microsoft Lync is available
for business customers
worldwide in over 150
countries and in more than
38 languages.
Microsoft Lync 2010 and
Microsoft Lync Server 2010 is
available for purchase in Sri
Lanka.
released Microsoft Lync, the
next generation of
communications that
connects people in new ways.
Starting today, Lync is
available to all business
customers in the country.
Recently released by
Microsoft Corp. in the US
markets, Lync is a single
platform that integrates
instant messaging, presence,
audio, video and web
conferencing and voice to
bring people together in the
ways they communicate best.
Lync provides one interface
that works with applications
that businesses know and use
today, including Microsoft
Office, Microsoft SharePoint
and Microsoft Exchange.
Microsoft Lync is now known
as the new family brand for
the products formerly known
as Microsoft Communications
Server, Microsoft Office
Communications Online and
Microsoft Office
Communicator which now
also includes Microsoft Lync
Web App and Microsoft Lync
Online.
“Lync delivers on Microsoft’s
vision to unify all of the areas
of modern business
communication, giving
people a more collaborative
experience with features like
HD video conference
recording activity feeds,” said
Mr. Pubudu Basnayake –
SMS&P Director, Microsoft
Sri Lanka. “In addition to
transforming how people
communicate, IT
departments can also benefit
from Lync and evolve their
infrastructure while
enhancing or eliminating
their traditional PBX systems,
saving time and money. ”
Microsoft Lync can make
every engagement a virtual
face-to-face meeting,
because any interaction can
include video and audio
conferencing, application and
desktop sharing, instant
messaging, and telephony.
Lync has been designed from
the ground up to work with
Microsoft Office, SharePoint
and Exchange, which helps
reduce end-user adoption
hurdles and increase return
on investment. People can
also stay connected to others
on a wide range of devices
while away from the office
and manage their
communications and calls in
new ways, such as easily
moving a call from a PC to a
mobile device while leaving
the office without disrupting
the conversation.
Microsoft Lync is now
available as a hosted
solution. Microsoft recently
announced Office 365, an
always-up-to-date cloud
service that brings together
Lync, SharePoint, Exchange,
and Office. IM, presence and
conferencing will be
available in Office 365 via
Lync Online, which will be
available later this year.
Office 365 gives people the
power of Office with the
capabilities of Microsoft ’s
market-leading servers – all
in a single cloud service.
Office 365 is considered to be
a new approach to cloud
applications altogether. It
brings Office desktop
software and Office Web
Apps to business cloud
services for the first time. It
also entails more complete
versions of Exchange,
SharePoint and Lync and a
new platform with single sign
in, federated identity,
scripting and more.
The Lync
Web App is a browser-based
application that enables
people to either join a
meeting through the browser
or download the client to
their desktop.
Lync Online is
a rich application that
includes IM, Presence, web
conferencing and peer-to-
peer audio (PC to PC). It has
all of the Lync Server
functionality (integration into
Office, SharePoint, and
Exchange) and collaboration
tools (desktop sharing,
document sharing,
whiteboard, etc.).
The Microsoft Office
Communicator Mobile offers
a variety of features that
extend far beyond those
offered by others in the
industry. Users of Office
Communicator Mobile can
“ hand off” a call to an
alternate number such as a
home phone or mobile
phone when answered or
redirect the call when it
rings. Some of the other
features are that voicemails
appear as emails and a
preview transcription
accompanies the voicemail
ready to play on the mobile
device. Enterprise Cellular
Telephony (ECT) allows calls
made to a user’s desk phone
to automatically generate an
“ incoming call” notification
on their Communicator
Mobile phone and Instant
Messaging and presence
allows users to see status of
availability of their contacts
and provides access levels to
control the amount and type
of presence information is
available to them.
In order to make Microsoft
Lync as user friendly as
possible, today, Lync is
already available on IE, Safari
and Firefox. Microsoft
pledges that it will continue
to evaluate other browsers
based on customer demand
so that Lync can be used on
competitive browsers as well.
In keeping with the intention
of being user friendly
Microsoft Lync is available
for business customers
worldwide in over 150
countries and in more than
38 languages.
Microsoft Lync 2010 and
Microsoft Lync Server 2010 is
available for purchase in Sri
Lanka.
VIRTUSA ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER FISCAL 2011 FINANCIAL RESULTS
Third quarter fiscal 2011 revenue of $55.6 million increased 33% year-over-year and 6% sequentially · Third quarter fiscal 2011 operating margin of 9% increased 130 basis points sequentially · Third quarter fiscal 2011 diluted EPS was $0.17 inclusive of $0.02 of foreign currency transaction losses, an increase compared to $0.12 in year ago period · Cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments increased to $103.3 million as of December 31.
Virtusa Corporation (NASDAQ: VRTU), a global information technology (IT) services company that provides IT consulting, technology implementation and application outsourcing services through an enhanced global delivery model, today reported financial results for the third quarter fiscal year 2011, ended December 31, 2010.
Third Quarter Fiscal 2011 Financial Results Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 was $55.6 million, an increase of 33% year-over-year and 6% sequentially. On a constant currency basis (1), third quarter fiscal 2011 revenue increased 34% year-over-year and 5% sequentially.
Virtusa reported income from operations of $5.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, an increase compared to $3.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010, and an increase compared to $4.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 increased to $4.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to $2.9 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2010, and $3.7 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 included $0.5 million of foreign currency transaction losses.
Virtusa ended the third quarter of fiscal 2011 with $103.3 million of cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term investments (2). The Company generated cash from operations of $8.8 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Kris Canekeratne, Virtusa’s Chairman and CEO, stated, “We are pleased with third quarter performance which was driven by broad based growth. We are enthusiastic about the increasing investment in areas such as cloud, social and mobile computing.
This is necessitating programs to rationalize IT applications, accelerate time to market and improve the consumer experience. Our expertise positions us well to partner with our clients and lead them through this transformation.” Ranjan Kalia, Chief Financial Officer, said, “We are pleased with our revenue growth and our ability to further optimize our operations, resulting in operating margin expansion both sequentially and year-over-year.” Mr. Kalia continued, “Our current guidance calls for another quarter of strong sequential revenue increase and robust full fiscal year 2011 growth.” Financial Outlook Virtusa management provided the following current financial guidance: Fourth quarter fiscal 2011 revenue is expected to be in the range of $57.3 to $59.3 million, with diluted EPS of $0.19 to $0.23. Fiscal year 2011 revenue is expected to be in the range of $217 to $219 million, with diluted EPS of $0.64 to $0.68.
The Company’s fourth quarter and fiscal year 2011 diluted EPS estimates assume an average share count of approximately 25.1 million and 24.7 million, respectively (assuming no further exercises of stock-based awards), and assume a stock price of $17.12 per share, which was derived from the average closing price of the Company’s stock over the five trading days ended on January 25, 2011.
Deviations from this stock price may cause actual EPS to vary based on share dilution from Virtusa’s stock options and stock appreciation rights.
Virtusa Corporation (NASDAQ: VRTU), a global information technology (IT) services company that provides IT consulting, technology implementation and application outsourcing services through an enhanced global delivery model, today reported financial results for the third quarter fiscal year 2011, ended December 31, 2010.
Third Quarter Fiscal 2011 Financial Results Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 was $55.6 million, an increase of 33% year-over-year and 6% sequentially. On a constant currency basis (1), third quarter fiscal 2011 revenue increased 34% year-over-year and 5% sequentially.
Virtusa reported income from operations of $5.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, an increase compared to $3.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010, and an increase compared to $4.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 increased to $4.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to $2.9 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2010, and $3.7 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 included $0.5 million of foreign currency transaction losses.
Virtusa ended the third quarter of fiscal 2011 with $103.3 million of cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term investments (2). The Company generated cash from operations of $8.8 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Kris Canekeratne, Virtusa’s Chairman and CEO, stated, “We are pleased with third quarter performance which was driven by broad based growth. We are enthusiastic about the increasing investment in areas such as cloud, social and mobile computing.
This is necessitating programs to rationalize IT applications, accelerate time to market and improve the consumer experience. Our expertise positions us well to partner with our clients and lead them through this transformation.” Ranjan Kalia, Chief Financial Officer, said, “We are pleased with our revenue growth and our ability to further optimize our operations, resulting in operating margin expansion both sequentially and year-over-year.” Mr. Kalia continued, “Our current guidance calls for another quarter of strong sequential revenue increase and robust full fiscal year 2011 growth.” Financial Outlook Virtusa management provided the following current financial guidance: Fourth quarter fiscal 2011 revenue is expected to be in the range of $57.3 to $59.3 million, with diluted EPS of $0.19 to $0.23. Fiscal year 2011 revenue is expected to be in the range of $217 to $219 million, with diluted EPS of $0.64 to $0.68.
The Company’s fourth quarter and fiscal year 2011 diluted EPS estimates assume an average share count of approximately 25.1 million and 24.7 million, respectively (assuming no further exercises of stock-based awards), and assume a stock price of $17.12 per share, which was derived from the average closing price of the Company’s stock over the five trading days ended on January 25, 2011.
Deviations from this stock price may cause actual EPS to vary based on share dilution from Virtusa’s stock options and stock appreciation rights.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Woman survives fall from 23rd floor
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – An Argentine woman survived after jumping from the 23rd floor of a downtown Buenos Aires hotel on Monday, landing on a taxi moments after the driver dashed to safety, the state news agency reported. The 33-year-old woman was in the intensive care ward of a Buenos Aires hospital after the suicide attempt, the Telam agency said. Taxi driver Miguel Cajal said he got out of his parked taxi and ran for safety when he saw a policeman looking up at the woman, who was on an upper floor of the Panamericano hotel. "If I hadn't got out, I'd be dead," Cajal, 39, told local television, which showed pictures of his mangled vehicle, its windshield and roof crushed by the impact of the woman's fall.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
SWADESHI KHOMBA ENLIGHTENS ALOKA POOJA OF KELANIYA RAJA MAHA VIHARAYA FOR THE 12TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
The Swadeshi Industrial
Works PLC, Sri Lanka ’s
pioneer herbal-based
personal care products
company sponsored the
“ Aloka Poojawa” of the
Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya
for the 12th successive year
through the company ’s
flagship brand Khomba, the
first herbal soap
manufactured in Sri-Lanka.
The Aloka Pooja was held
from the 16th to the 19th
January 2011.
Lord Buddha visited the
Kelaniya temple with five
hundred other enlightened
monks on the third visit to Sri
Lanka by an invitation from
King Maniakkitha who was
the King of the snake tribe.During his visit, the Lord
Buddha preached to King
Maniakkitha and his
followers. The King
constructed the Stupa of the
Kelaniya Temple on that very
place.
With the invasion by the
Portuguese and the Dutch
the Kelaniya Temple was
destroyed and lay in a
deteriorating state. During
the reign of King Keerthi Sri
Rajasingha who ruled the
Kandian Empire, Ven. Valivita
Sri Saranagkara Sangaraja
Thero requested and guided
the King to renovate the
temple.
The golden era of the
Kelaniya Temple began with
Helena Wijewardene
Lamatheni who regularly
worshiped at the temple. At
that time the temple was in a
decaying state. She started
the renovations of the Vihara
Mandiraya and laid marble
for the floors of the temple.
In 1927 Helena Wijewardene
Lamatheni started the work
of the new Vihara Mandiraya
by laying the foundation
stone.
As part of its annual CSR
programme, Swadeshi
supports the Aloka Poojas of
all the temples that honour
the four guardian Gods of Sri
Lanka, Kelaniya Raja Maha
Viharaya - God Vibishana,
Ruhunu Kataragama Maha
Devalaya - God Kataragama,
Saman Devalaya Ratnapura -
God Saman and Devundara
Uthpalawarna Sri Vishnu
Maha Devalaya - God
Uthpalawarna Sri Vishnu.
“We are honoured to have
supported this event for over
a decade, being a truly Sri
Lankan brand, we will
continue to be a part of this
blessed path, which I believe
would also bring righteous
blessings to the whole of Sri
Lanka ”, commented Mrs.
Amari Wijewardene,
Managing Director and
Chairperson of The Swadeshi
Industrial Works PLC who is
also the great granddaughter
of Helena Wijewardene
Lamatheni.
The company also supports
the annual Aloka Poojawa of
the Dambadeniya Raja Maha
Viharaya encouraging
traditional and religious
practice.
The pioneer and market
leader in herbal personal
care products in Sri Lanka,
The Swadeshi Industrial
Works PLC, was incorporated
in 1941.
The company
manufactures and markets
many leading brands
including the top herbal soap
brand Khomba Herbal and
the heritage beauty soap
brand Rani Sandalwood.
The Swadeshi Industrial
Works PLC complies with the
ISO 9001: 2008 International
Standards for Quality
Management Systems and
produces a portfolio of
brands in a range of
categories that include Rani
sandalwood soap, Khomba
herbal soap, Khomba herbal
baby soap, Khomba herbal
shampoos, herbal liquid
soaps, herbal facial wash,
herbal creams, floral
perfumes, laundry soaps,
washing powders, liquid
detergents and cleaners.
In
an effort to strengthen the
local manufacturing and to
cater to the local market
needs.
Amongst the product
portfolio Apsara Venivel,
Perlwite, Lak Bar, Lady
Perfumery and Black Eagle
Cologne Spray & After Shave
are strongly perceived
amongst the mass. Swadeshi
plays a pivotal role in
developing the Sri Lankan
economy through promoting
“ Be Sri Lankan, Buy Sri
Lankan” concept.
The
company laboratory
performs extensive research
and development and the
newly launched “Safeplus”
family soap is a result to a
growing consumer need. As a
company, The Swadeshi
Industrial Works PLC has
made rapid progress by
constantly upgrading its
manufacturing process,
investing in new technology
and infrastructure.
Today
Swadeshi operates a large
modern factory equipped
with-the latest soap finishing
equipment, resulting in very
high quality finished soaps
and personal care products.
Works PLC, Sri Lanka ’s
pioneer herbal-based
personal care products
company sponsored the
“ Aloka Poojawa” of the
Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya
for the 12th successive year
through the company ’s
flagship brand Khomba, the
first herbal soap
manufactured in Sri-Lanka.
The Aloka Pooja was held
from the 16th to the 19th
January 2011.
Lord Buddha visited the
Kelaniya temple with five
hundred other enlightened
monks on the third visit to Sri
Lanka by an invitation from
King Maniakkitha who was
the King of the snake tribe.During his visit, the Lord
Buddha preached to King
Maniakkitha and his
followers. The King
constructed the Stupa of the
Kelaniya Temple on that very
place.
With the invasion by the
Portuguese and the Dutch
the Kelaniya Temple was
destroyed and lay in a
deteriorating state. During
the reign of King Keerthi Sri
Rajasingha who ruled the
Kandian Empire, Ven. Valivita
Sri Saranagkara Sangaraja
Thero requested and guided
the King to renovate the
temple.
The golden era of the
Kelaniya Temple began with
Helena Wijewardene
Lamatheni who regularly
worshiped at the temple. At
that time the temple was in a
decaying state. She started
the renovations of the Vihara
Mandiraya and laid marble
for the floors of the temple.
In 1927 Helena Wijewardene
Lamatheni started the work
of the new Vihara Mandiraya
by laying the foundation
stone.
As part of its annual CSR
programme, Swadeshi
supports the Aloka Poojas of
all the temples that honour
the four guardian Gods of Sri
Lanka, Kelaniya Raja Maha
Viharaya - God Vibishana,
Ruhunu Kataragama Maha
Devalaya - God Kataragama,
Saman Devalaya Ratnapura -
God Saman and Devundara
Uthpalawarna Sri Vishnu
Maha Devalaya - God
Uthpalawarna Sri Vishnu.
“We are honoured to have
supported this event for over
a decade, being a truly Sri
Lankan brand, we will
continue to be a part of this
blessed path, which I believe
would also bring righteous
blessings to the whole of Sri
Lanka ”, commented Mrs.
Amari Wijewardene,
Managing Director and
Chairperson of The Swadeshi
Industrial Works PLC who is
also the great granddaughter
of Helena Wijewardene
Lamatheni.
The company also supports
the annual Aloka Poojawa of
the Dambadeniya Raja Maha
Viharaya encouraging
traditional and religious
practice.
The pioneer and market
leader in herbal personal
care products in Sri Lanka,
The Swadeshi Industrial
Works PLC, was incorporated
in 1941.
The company
manufactures and markets
many leading brands
including the top herbal soap
brand Khomba Herbal and
the heritage beauty soap
brand Rani Sandalwood.
The Swadeshi Industrial
Works PLC complies with the
ISO 9001: 2008 International
Standards for Quality
Management Systems and
produces a portfolio of
brands in a range of
categories that include Rani
sandalwood soap, Khomba
herbal soap, Khomba herbal
baby soap, Khomba herbal
shampoos, herbal liquid
soaps, herbal facial wash,
herbal creams, floral
perfumes, laundry soaps,
washing powders, liquid
detergents and cleaners.
In
an effort to strengthen the
local manufacturing and to
cater to the local market
needs.
Amongst the product
portfolio Apsara Venivel,
Perlwite, Lak Bar, Lady
Perfumery and Black Eagle
Cologne Spray & After Shave
are strongly perceived
amongst the mass. Swadeshi
plays a pivotal role in
developing the Sri Lankan
economy through promoting
“ Be Sri Lankan, Buy Sri
Lankan” concept.
The
company laboratory
performs extensive research
and development and the
newly launched “Safeplus”
family soap is a result to a
growing consumer need. As a
company, The Swadeshi
Industrial Works PLC has
made rapid progress by
constantly upgrading its
manufacturing process,
investing in new technology
and infrastructure.
Today
Swadeshi operates a large
modern factory equipped
with-the latest soap finishing
equipment, resulting in very
high quality finished soaps
and personal care products.
WEREWOLF BOY APPEALS TO DOCTORS TO FIND A CURE
An 11-year-old "werewolf"
boy who desperately seeks a
cure for his condition is
baffling medical experts.
Pruthviraj Patil is one of 50 in
the world who suffers from
hypertrichosis, a rare genetic
condition known as
Werewolf Syndrome.
As a result his face and body
is covered in thick, matted
hair.
But he is hoping doctors will
one day find a cure for his
ailment.
Born in the Indian district of
Sangli, near Bombey, he
hardly ever leaves his village
because of his fear of being
traunted by strangers.
The only parts of his body
that are not covered with
hair are the palms of his
hands and soles of his feet.
The son of a well off farmer,
his parents have tried
homeopathy, traditional
Ayurvedic remedies and laser
surgery. But none of them
have worked.
It is believe his genetic
condition was caused by a
flaw during pregnancy.
"Why did God do this to us,"
his 32-year-old mother Anita
pleads. "He looks so odd and
whever we go people throng
to see him."
Plastic surgeon Vinay6 Saoji
has examined the boy and
confirms that the condition is
very rare.
"Hairy nevus, where a person
has patches of excess growth,
or hirsurism, is not
uncommon, but hair
persisting all over the body is
very rare," he added.
Pruthviraj says he is anxious
to get the hair removed but
even after laser treatment it
simply grows back.
The doctors don't have any
answers to his predicament.
When he first went to school
he said he got bullied and
the other children laughed at
him. But now they have got
used to him and they treat
him like normal.
He appealed to the doctors
to help find him a permanent
cure.
boy who desperately seeks a
cure for his condition is
baffling medical experts.
Pruthviraj Patil is one of 50 in
the world who suffers from
hypertrichosis, a rare genetic
condition known as
Werewolf Syndrome.
As a result his face and body
is covered in thick, matted
hair.
But he is hoping doctors will
one day find a cure for his
ailment.
Born in the Indian district of
Sangli, near Bombey, he
hardly ever leaves his village
because of his fear of being
traunted by strangers.
The only parts of his body
that are not covered with
hair are the palms of his
hands and soles of his feet.
The son of a well off farmer,
his parents have tried
homeopathy, traditional
Ayurvedic remedies and laser
surgery. But none of them
have worked.
It is believe his genetic
condition was caused by a
flaw during pregnancy.
"Why did God do this to us,"
his 32-year-old mother Anita
pleads. "He looks so odd and
whever we go people throng
to see him."
Plastic surgeon Vinay6 Saoji
has examined the boy and
confirms that the condition is
very rare.
"Hairy nevus, where a person
has patches of excess growth,
or hirsurism, is not
uncommon, but hair
persisting all over the body is
very rare," he added.
Pruthviraj says he is anxious
to get the hair removed but
even after laser treatment it
simply grows back.
The doctors don't have any
answers to his predicament.
When he first went to school
he said he got bullied and
the other children laughed at
him. But now they have got
used to him and they treat
him like normal.
He appealed to the doctors
to help find him a permanent
cure.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
BACHCHAN EVACUATED FROM LONDON HOTEL FOLLOWING SUSPECTED EXPLOSION
Bollywood superstar Amitabh
Bachchan was evacuated
from a London hotel on
Monday following what
police said was a suspected
bomb explosion.
A tweet from Bachchan said
“ Emergency in my hotel in
London. Everyone evacuated
out on the street in biting
cold. Suspecting explosion in
next door. Managed to get
into a car and driving away
from site of emergency.
Police not allowing anyone
near. ”
The tweet came even as
controversy surrounds
Bachchan ’s cold war with the
International Indian Film
Academy, the organiser of
the annual IIFA awards which
has decided to do away with
the post of brand
ambassador, a position
Bachchan occupied for a
decade.
Tweeting from London a day
and a half before the IIFA
holds a news conference in
Toronto, where the next IIFA
is to be held, Bachchan
wrote: “We are not coming
to IIFA... IIFA said our services
are not required !!”
He added: “It’s not me... it’s
the organisers of IIFA that do
not want me in Toronto... Sri
Lanka was the same. ”
The Canadian city of Toronto
is the scheduled venue for
this year ’s IIFA awards, slated
from June 23 to June 25,
2011.
A source in Wizcraft, the
event management company
behind the IIFA, said the
battle lines had been drawn
when Bachchan refused to
participate in last year ’s
awards ceremony, held in
Colombo, thus failing to
honour his contract as brand
ambassador.
The Bachchans had backed
out after members of the
South Indian Film Chamber
of Commerce demanded
they not attend the event in
a country where a large
number of Tamils were killed
during anti-LTTE operations.
Some Mumbai-based Tamils
had protested before
Bachchan ’s home in Juhu.
Film industry sources,
however, said the reason the
Bachchans skipped the
Colombo ceremony was the
IIFA ’s decision not to
premiere Mani Ratnam’s
Raavan, which featured
Abhishek Bachchan, at the
event.
The annual IIFA event had
always been a showcase for
the Bachchan family since
the superstar officially
became its brand
ambassador.
Bachchan had, therefore,
expected the Colombo event
to give a kick-start to
Abhishek ’s big release last
year.
Ratnam later argued that the
film wasn ’t ready, but
industry insiders say Wizcraft
had refused to screen Raavan
after the pro-LTTE lobby got
the entire Tamil film industry
to boycott the Colombo
show. - (ANI)
Bachchan was evacuated
from a London hotel on
Monday following what
police said was a suspected
bomb explosion.
A tweet from Bachchan said
“ Emergency in my hotel in
London. Everyone evacuated
out on the street in biting
cold. Suspecting explosion in
next door. Managed to get
into a car and driving away
from site of emergency.
Police not allowing anyone
near. ”
The tweet came even as
controversy surrounds
Bachchan ’s cold war with the
International Indian Film
Academy, the organiser of
the annual IIFA awards which
has decided to do away with
the post of brand
ambassador, a position
Bachchan occupied for a
decade.
Tweeting from London a day
and a half before the IIFA
holds a news conference in
Toronto, where the next IIFA
is to be held, Bachchan
wrote: “We are not coming
to IIFA... IIFA said our services
are not required !!”
He added: “It’s not me... it’s
the organisers of IIFA that do
not want me in Toronto... Sri
Lanka was the same. ”
The Canadian city of Toronto
is the scheduled venue for
this year ’s IIFA awards, slated
from June 23 to June 25,
2011.
A source in Wizcraft, the
event management company
behind the IIFA, said the
battle lines had been drawn
when Bachchan refused to
participate in last year ’s
awards ceremony, held in
Colombo, thus failing to
honour his contract as brand
ambassador.
The Bachchans had backed
out after members of the
South Indian Film Chamber
of Commerce demanded
they not attend the event in
a country where a large
number of Tamils were killed
during anti-LTTE operations.
Some Mumbai-based Tamils
had protested before
Bachchan ’s home in Juhu.
Film industry sources,
however, said the reason the
Bachchans skipped the
Colombo ceremony was the
IIFA ’s decision not to
premiere Mani Ratnam’s
Raavan, which featured
Abhishek Bachchan, at the
event.
The annual IIFA event had
always been a showcase for
the Bachchan family since
the superstar officially
became its brand
ambassador.
Bachchan had, therefore,
expected the Colombo event
to give a kick-start to
Abhishek ’s big release last
year.
Ratnam later argued that the
film wasn ’t ready, but
industry insiders say Wizcraft
had refused to screen Raavan
after the pro-LTTE lobby got
the entire Tamil film industry
to boycott the Colombo
show. - (ANI)
CHINA BANKS LEND MORE THAN WORLD BANK
Two Chinese state controlled
banks have lent more to
developing countries than
the World Bank, according to
a report.
The China Development Bank
and the China Export Import
Bank offered loans of at least
$110 bn (£69.2 bn) to
governments and firms in
developing countries in 2009
and 2010, reports Chris Hogg
for BBC News from Shanghai
in China.
The research was undertaken
by the Financial Times
newspaper.
Between mid-2008 and
mid-2010, the World Bank’s
lending arm issued loans of
just over $100bn (£63bn).
The two Chinese banks do
not publish a detailed
breakdown of their overseas
loans, so this research is
based on public
announcements about
specific deals from them,
their borrowers or the
Chinese government.
That means the figure arrived
at for the amount of Chinese
lending is more likely an
underestimate than an
overestimate because some -
more sensitive - loans will
not have been made public.
The Chinese lenders are so-
called policy banks - they
have a mandate to further
whatever Beijing sees as its
national interest.
One of China Development
Bank ’s specific tasks is to try
to alleviate and, where
possible, eliminate
bottlenecks in supplies of
raw materials or land for
China ’s economy.
It also tries to open up
foreign markets for Chinese
companies.
The period looked at by the
researchers included the
worst of the global financial
crisis.
Chinese banks were offering
loans to producers of raw
materials at a time when it
was hard for them to attract
financing from elsewhere.
That helped secure long-
term energy deals, including
oil supplies from Russia,
Venezuela and Brazil.
The Chinese government,
which is sitting on $2 trillion
(£1.26 trillion) of foreign
exchange reserves, has ample
amounts of cash to fund
loans which help promote its
strategic objectives.
But what is interesting is that
in the private sector, it is a
different story.
Outward Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) by Chinese
companies (not including
banks) was around $50bn
(£31.5bn) last year - around
half the FDI that flowed from
foreign companies into
China.
This is the world’s second-
largest economy but its
outward flow of FDI is just
the fifth largest in the world.
That suggests that Chinese
companies still do not have
the confidence to make big
acquisitions overseas in order
to grow, or of course that
they are unable to.
What does not help is the
sometimes murky
relationship between the
government and some of the
country ’s biggest firms which
can make the targets of such
acquisitions or potential
merger partners nervous
about doing deals with the
Chinese.
banks have lent more to
developing countries than
the World Bank, according to
a report.
The China Development Bank
and the China Export Import
Bank offered loans of at least
$110 bn (£69.2 bn) to
governments and firms in
developing countries in 2009
and 2010, reports Chris Hogg
for BBC News from Shanghai
in China.
The research was undertaken
by the Financial Times
newspaper.
Between mid-2008 and
mid-2010, the World Bank’s
lending arm issued loans of
just over $100bn (£63bn).
The two Chinese banks do
not publish a detailed
breakdown of their overseas
loans, so this research is
based on public
announcements about
specific deals from them,
their borrowers or the
Chinese government.
That means the figure arrived
at for the amount of Chinese
lending is more likely an
underestimate than an
overestimate because some -
more sensitive - loans will
not have been made public.
The Chinese lenders are so-
called policy banks - they
have a mandate to further
whatever Beijing sees as its
national interest.
One of China Development
Bank ’s specific tasks is to try
to alleviate and, where
possible, eliminate
bottlenecks in supplies of
raw materials or land for
China ’s economy.
It also tries to open up
foreign markets for Chinese
companies.
The period looked at by the
researchers included the
worst of the global financial
crisis.
Chinese banks were offering
loans to producers of raw
materials at a time when it
was hard for them to attract
financing from elsewhere.
That helped secure long-
term energy deals, including
oil supplies from Russia,
Venezuela and Brazil.
The Chinese government,
which is sitting on $2 trillion
(£1.26 trillion) of foreign
exchange reserves, has ample
amounts of cash to fund
loans which help promote its
strategic objectives.
But what is interesting is that
in the private sector, it is a
different story.
Outward Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) by Chinese
companies (not including
banks) was around $50bn
(£31.5bn) last year - around
half the FDI that flowed from
foreign companies into
China.
This is the world’s second-
largest economy but its
outward flow of FDI is just
the fifth largest in the world.
That suggests that Chinese
companies still do not have
the confidence to make big
acquisitions overseas in order
to grow, or of course that
they are unable to.
What does not help is the
sometimes murky
relationship between the
government and some of the
country ’s biggest firms which
can make the targets of such
acquisitions or potential
merger partners nervous
about doing deals with the
Chinese.
Monday, January 17, 2011
INTEL ASSISTS EDUCATORS IN THE SOUTH TO BECOME MORE ICT FRIENDLY
• Intel launches Directors’
Leadership Technology
Forum for Education
Professionals in Sri
Lanka ’s Southern Province
• Highlighting the role of
Educators in the Effective
Integration of Technology
in Learning
Intel believes that the key to
solving global challenges lies
amongst the young people of
the world. As a result, the
Company has initiated
a global program to
effectively integrate
technology and education to
ensure that the youth is
sufficiently skilled to face the
challenges of today ’s world.
The Intel® Teach Directors
Leadership Technology
Forum was recently launched
for officials of the Ministry of
Education in the
Southern province of Sri
Lanka. The forum was held in
Unawatuna, Galle and it is
hoped that by instructing
educators and getting them
enthused about the use of
ICT in education, students
too will become eager and
comfortable about doing so.
The forum, which was
attended by Zonal Directors
of Education and other
officials in the Southern
province of Sri Lanka, was
an introduction to the Intel®
Teach In-service Teacher
Training program. The
program offers teachers
professional development
supporting skills that have
become commonplace in the
21st century. The Intel®
Teach Program has proven to
be the most successful
program of its kind around
the world as it promotes a
student-centered approach
which helps teachers to
encourage students to use
technology in appropriate
ways for learning, creativity
and communication. So far,
over 17,000 teachers from
the Western, Uva, Central.
Sabaragamuwa, Northern
and Eastern provinces in Sri
Lanka have been successfully
trained under this program.
Prior to introducing the Intel
Teach program, the Forum
discussed the present status
of ICT in the Southern
province of the country while
laying out the vision for the
future role of ICT, especially
in the field of education in
the province.
It is expected that by sharing
this insight, the Forum can
provide direction and
guidance to educators while
giving them possible
options for developing lesson
plans that are best suited for
the students of the province.
Speaking at the event Indika
de Zoysa, Country
Business Manager, Intel EM
Limited, Sri Lanka Liaison
Office said, “It is important
for ICT to be tightly
integrated with education in
an appropriate manner. By
launching DLTF in the
Southern province, Intel
hopes that teachers and
educators in the region will
be able to identify
the opportunities as well as
the available tools and
resources to use ICT in
learning and help them
utilize them effectively. It is
part of Intel ’s commitment to
providing the youth with
digital literacy which is
crucial for them to succeed
in the present world. ”
The Ministry of Education has
also identified the need to
foster ICT in education and
has many initiatives which it
has implemented to achieve
this goal. Mr. Anura
Dissanayake, Additional
Director Ministry of
Education and Project
Director EKSP prior to the
event said, “We are pleased
that organizations such as
Intel are investing in the
youth of our country by
training educators on how
best to integrate technology
with learning. ”
The Chief Guest Provincial
Director of Education Mr.
Kithsiri Liyanagamage
thanked Intel for introducing
a world class teacher
training programme to
Southern province.
The
Additional Director of
Education and Project
Manager of EKSP Mr. B.
Jayatissa mentioned that
the Intel Teach is the best
teacher training programme
they have received upto now
as per the feedback from
other provinces.
Independent evaluation of
the Intel Teach Program has
revealed that 91%# of
teachers who are
participating in the program
reported their students were
‘motivated and involved in
the lesson’. In addition, 81%#
of participating teachers
reported that ‘student
projects showed more in-
depth understanding ’ than
comparable work. Thus, it is
apparent that initiatives such
as the Intel Teach Program
are effective tools in
preparing young people of
our nation to face the
expectations of a
technologically advanced
world.
About Intel: Intel, the world
leader in silicon innovation,
develops technologies,
products and initiatives to
continually advance how
people work and live.
Additional information about
Intel is available at
www.intel.com/pressroom
and blogs.intel.com
Leadership Technology
Forum for Education
Professionals in Sri
Lanka ’s Southern Province
• Highlighting the role of
Educators in the Effective
Integration of Technology
in Learning
Intel believes that the key to
solving global challenges lies
amongst the young people of
the world. As a result, the
Company has initiated
a global program to
effectively integrate
technology and education to
ensure that the youth is
sufficiently skilled to face the
challenges of today ’s world.
The Intel® Teach Directors
Leadership Technology
Forum was recently launched
for officials of the Ministry of
Education in the
Southern province of Sri
Lanka. The forum was held in
Unawatuna, Galle and it is
hoped that by instructing
educators and getting them
enthused about the use of
ICT in education, students
too will become eager and
comfortable about doing so.
The forum, which was
attended by Zonal Directors
of Education and other
officials in the Southern
province of Sri Lanka, was
an introduction to the Intel®
Teach In-service Teacher
Training program. The
program offers teachers
professional development
supporting skills that have
become commonplace in the
21st century. The Intel®
Teach Program has proven to
be the most successful
program of its kind around
the world as it promotes a
student-centered approach
which helps teachers to
encourage students to use
technology in appropriate
ways for learning, creativity
and communication. So far,
over 17,000 teachers from
the Western, Uva, Central.
Sabaragamuwa, Northern
and Eastern provinces in Sri
Lanka have been successfully
trained under this program.
Prior to introducing the Intel
Teach program, the Forum
discussed the present status
of ICT in the Southern
province of the country while
laying out the vision for the
future role of ICT, especially
in the field of education in
the province.
It is expected that by sharing
this insight, the Forum can
provide direction and
guidance to educators while
giving them possible
options for developing lesson
plans that are best suited for
the students of the province.
Speaking at the event Indika
de Zoysa, Country
Business Manager, Intel EM
Limited, Sri Lanka Liaison
Office said, “It is important
for ICT to be tightly
integrated with education in
an appropriate manner. By
launching DLTF in the
Southern province, Intel
hopes that teachers and
educators in the region will
be able to identify
the opportunities as well as
the available tools and
resources to use ICT in
learning and help them
utilize them effectively. It is
part of Intel ’s commitment to
providing the youth with
digital literacy which is
crucial for them to succeed
in the present world. ”
The Ministry of Education has
also identified the need to
foster ICT in education and
has many initiatives which it
has implemented to achieve
this goal. Mr. Anura
Dissanayake, Additional
Director Ministry of
Education and Project
Director EKSP prior to the
event said, “We are pleased
that organizations such as
Intel are investing in the
youth of our country by
training educators on how
best to integrate technology
with learning. ”
The Chief Guest Provincial
Director of Education Mr.
Kithsiri Liyanagamage
thanked Intel for introducing
a world class teacher
training programme to
Southern province.
The
Additional Director of
Education and Project
Manager of EKSP Mr. B.
Jayatissa mentioned that
the Intel Teach is the best
teacher training programme
they have received upto now
as per the feedback from
other provinces.
Independent evaluation of
the Intel Teach Program has
revealed that 91%# of
teachers who are
participating in the program
reported their students were
‘motivated and involved in
the lesson’. In addition, 81%#
of participating teachers
reported that ‘student
projects showed more in-
depth understanding ’ than
comparable work. Thus, it is
apparent that initiatives such
as the Intel Teach Program
are effective tools in
preparing young people of
our nation to face the
expectations of a
technologically advanced
world.
About Intel: Intel, the world
leader in silicon innovation,
develops technologies,
products and initiatives to
continually advance how
people work and live.
Additional information about
Intel is available at
www.intel.com/pressroom
and blogs.intel.com
Sunday, January 16, 2011
FACEBOOK IS NOT CLOSING ON MARCH 15
NEW DELHI: If you spend a
better part of your life living
out of Facebook, rejoice.
Facebook won ’t be closing
on March 15 after all.
Surprised? Read on ...
More than one million
people have already fallen
for a hoax that claims that
the popular social
networking site will be
shutting down on March 15.
According to IT security firm
Sophos, a bogus news story
published by the “Weekly
World News”, said Facebook
founder Mark Zuckerberg
had told reporters that
“ managing [Facebook] has
ruined my life. I need to put
an end to all the madness. ”
Some panic-stricken
Facebook users and mischief-
mongers spread the story far
and wide across the internet
in no time. Although
Facebook debunked the hoax
via its Twitter account late on
Sunday, users still continue
to pass the bogus messages
onto their online friends.
The “Weekly World News”
article went on to quote
another company official,
Avrat Humarthi, vice-
president of technical affairs
at Facebook, as saying “After
March 15th the whole
website shuts down. So if you
ever want to see your
pictures again, I recommend
you take them off the
internet. You won ’t be able
to get them back once
Facebook goes out of
business. ”
Sophos said that many
people would not believe the
report, which comes from a
newspaper that has
previously reported George
Clooney is running for
president and that alien
spacecrafts will visit earth in
2011. However, it only takes
only a small number of
people to think it might be
possible to turn a joke of a
news story into an internet
hoax as has been proved
many a times in the past few
years.
“I certainly wouldn’t disagree
that users would be wise to
have their own backup of
their photographs, rather
than rely on Facebook -- but
it ’s nothing more than a
scare to suggest to people
that they have to do it before
March15th because
Facebook is going to close
down, ” explained Graham
Cluley, senior technology
consultant at Sophos.
“There’s an important lesson
here -- don’t believe
everything you read on the
internet, and think twice
before you pass a story on to
your friends. ”
Although a hoax is not as
serious as malware worming
its way between users and
stealing information, it ’s still
a nuisance, clogging up
communications, increasing
the overall level of spam and
perhaps leading people to
make decisions for the wrong
reasons. – (Times of India)
better part of your life living
out of Facebook, rejoice.
Facebook won ’t be closing
on March 15 after all.
Surprised? Read on ...
More than one million
people have already fallen
for a hoax that claims that
the popular social
networking site will be
shutting down on March 15.
According to IT security firm
Sophos, a bogus news story
published by the “Weekly
World News”, said Facebook
founder Mark Zuckerberg
had told reporters that
“ managing [Facebook] has
ruined my life. I need to put
an end to all the madness. ”
Some panic-stricken
Facebook users and mischief-
mongers spread the story far
and wide across the internet
in no time. Although
Facebook debunked the hoax
via its Twitter account late on
Sunday, users still continue
to pass the bogus messages
onto their online friends.
The “Weekly World News”
article went on to quote
another company official,
Avrat Humarthi, vice-
president of technical affairs
at Facebook, as saying “After
March 15th the whole
website shuts down. So if you
ever want to see your
pictures again, I recommend
you take them off the
internet. You won ’t be able
to get them back once
Facebook goes out of
business. ”
Sophos said that many
people would not believe the
report, which comes from a
newspaper that has
previously reported George
Clooney is running for
president and that alien
spacecrafts will visit earth in
2011. However, it only takes
only a small number of
people to think it might be
possible to turn a joke of a
news story into an internet
hoax as has been proved
many a times in the past few
years.
“I certainly wouldn’t disagree
that users would be wise to
have their own backup of
their photographs, rather
than rely on Facebook -- but
it ’s nothing more than a
scare to suggest to people
that they have to do it before
March15th because
Facebook is going to close
down, ” explained Graham
Cluley, senior technology
consultant at Sophos.
“There’s an important lesson
here -- don’t believe
everything you read on the
internet, and think twice
before you pass a story on to
your friends. ”
Although a hoax is not as
serious as malware worming
its way between users and
stealing information, it ’s still
a nuisance, clogging up
communications, increasing
the overall level of spam and
perhaps leading people to
make decisions for the wrong
reasons. – (Times of India)
Friday, January 14, 2011
CANADA TO HELP 6000 FLOOD-AFFECTED FAMILIES IN SRI LANKA
The Canadian High
Commission today
announced an immediate
contribution to supplement
efforts made by the
Government, UN and other
agencies to assist those
affected by severe flooding
afflicting many parts of Sri
Lanka.
“We wanted to help get
assistance to people quickly
and Caritas has a record of
being able to deliver
efficiently, ” said Canada’s
High Commissioner, Bruce
Levy. “We will also give
careful consideration to any
further appeals that may
come from the Government
of Sri Lanka and other
agencies. ”
Canada’s support to the
Social and Economic
Development Centre (Caritas
Sri Lanka) will help to bring
relief to almost six thousand
families and will also focus
on the provision of
emergency relief supplies
and shelter materials, the
High Commission says in a
statement.
“With this contribution from
our Canada Fund for Local
Initiatives, it is our intention
not only to render much-
need assistance but to
encourage others to do the
same ” remarked the High
Commissioner.
Through the Canada Fund
for Local Initiatives, the Social
and Economic Development
Centre (Caritas Sri Lanka)
will receive $20,000 toward a
project that it will manage
over the next three months
and which is expected to
require a total of
approximately $240,000.
Commission today
announced an immediate
contribution to supplement
efforts made by the
Government, UN and other
agencies to assist those
affected by severe flooding
afflicting many parts of Sri
Lanka.
“We wanted to help get
assistance to people quickly
and Caritas has a record of
being able to deliver
efficiently, ” said Canada’s
High Commissioner, Bruce
Levy. “We will also give
careful consideration to any
further appeals that may
come from the Government
of Sri Lanka and other
agencies. ”
Canada’s support to the
Social and Economic
Development Centre (Caritas
Sri Lanka) will help to bring
relief to almost six thousand
families and will also focus
on the provision of
emergency relief supplies
and shelter materials, the
High Commission says in a
statement.
“With this contribution from
our Canada Fund for Local
Initiatives, it is our intention
not only to render much-
need assistance but to
encourage others to do the
same ” remarked the High
Commissioner.
Through the Canada Fund
for Local Initiatives, the Social
and Economic Development
Centre (Caritas Sri Lanka)
will receive $20,000 toward a
project that it will manage
over the next three months
and which is expected to
require a total of
approximately $240,000.
Sri Lanka name 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup squad
Sri Lankan
selectors have named their
final 15-man squad for the
ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda
Vaas and Suraj Randiv are
the notable absentees.
Captain of Sri Lanka's 2007
World Cup side, Mahela
Jayawardena, has been
named as the vice-captain
The squad is as follows:
Kumar Sangakkara (captain),
Mahela Jayawardene (vice-
captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan,
Upul Tharanga, Thilan
Samaraweera, Chamara Silva,
Chamara Kapugedera,
Angelo Mathews, Thisara
Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara,
Lasith Malinga, Dilhara
Fernando, Muttiah
Muralitharan, Ajantha
Mendis, Rangana Herath.
selectors have named their
final 15-man squad for the
ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda
Vaas and Suraj Randiv are
the notable absentees.
Captain of Sri Lanka's 2007
World Cup side, Mahela
Jayawardena, has been
named as the vice-captain
The squad is as follows:
Kumar Sangakkara (captain),
Mahela Jayawardene (vice-
captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan,
Upul Tharanga, Thilan
Samaraweera, Chamara Silva,
Chamara Kapugedera,
Angelo Mathews, Thisara
Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara,
Lasith Malinga, Dilhara
Fernando, Muttiah
Muralitharan, Ajantha
Mendis, Rangana Herath.
World Cup squad to be picked on January 17
Mumbai, Jan 14 (PTI) The
final 15-member Indian
squad forthe forthcoming
ICC Cricket World Cup in the
sub continentwill be picked
by the national senior
selection panel onJanuary 17.
"The
selection
committee is to pick the
World Cup squadon the 17th
at Chennai," a Cricket Board
source told PTItoday.
The selection panel, with
Krishnamachari Srikkanth
atthe helm, has picked a
preliminary squad of thirty
members forthe mega event,
and the list would be pruned
to the requirednumber as
per ICC regulations for the
tournament.
The list of probables already
picked by the selectorsis as
follows: M S Dhoni, Virender
Sehwag, Sachin
Tendulkar,Gautam Gambhir,
Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh,
Suresh Raina,Harbhajan
Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish
Nehra, S Sreesanth,
MunafPatel, Ishant Sharma,
Vinay Kumar, M Vijay, Rohit
Sharma,Ravindra Jadeja,
Ajinkya Rahane, Sourav
Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan,Parthiv
Patel, R Ashwin, Wriddhiman
Saha, Dinesh Karthik,Shikhar
Dhawan, Amit Mishra, Piyush
Chawla, Cheteshwar
Pujara,Pragyan Ojha, Praveen
Kumar.
The World Cup is to be held
in India, Sri Lanka
andBangladesh from
February 19-April 2. India are
placed in GroupB in the
preliminary phase along with
co-hosts Bangladesh,England,
South Africa, West Indies,
Ireland and Netherlands.
India and Bangladesh will
kick off the tournament in
thelatter�s backyard � at
the Sher-E-Bangla National
Stadium inMirpur.
final 15-member Indian
squad forthe forthcoming
ICC Cricket World Cup in the
sub continentwill be picked
by the national senior
selection panel onJanuary 17.
"The
selection
committee is to pick the
World Cup squadon the 17th
at Chennai," a Cricket Board
source told PTItoday.
The selection panel, with
Krishnamachari Srikkanth
atthe helm, has picked a
preliminary squad of thirty
members forthe mega event,
and the list would be pruned
to the requirednumber as
per ICC regulations for the
tournament.
The list of probables already
picked by the selectorsis as
follows: M S Dhoni, Virender
Sehwag, Sachin
Tendulkar,Gautam Gambhir,
Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh,
Suresh Raina,Harbhajan
Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish
Nehra, S Sreesanth,
MunafPatel, Ishant Sharma,
Vinay Kumar, M Vijay, Rohit
Sharma,Ravindra Jadeja,
Ajinkya Rahane, Sourav
Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan,Parthiv
Patel, R Ashwin, Wriddhiman
Saha, Dinesh Karthik,Shikhar
Dhawan, Amit Mishra, Piyush
Chawla, Cheteshwar
Pujara,Pragyan Ojha, Praveen
Kumar.
The World Cup is to be held
in India, Sri Lanka
andBangladesh from
February 19-April 2. India are
placed in GroupB in the
preliminary phase along with
co-hosts Bangladesh,England,
South Africa, West Indies,
Ireland and Netherlands.
India and Bangladesh will
kick off the tournament in
thelatter�s backyard � at
the Sher-E-Bangla National
Stadium inMirpur.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
BOLLYWOOD TO SET TUNES FOR CRICKET WC THEME SONG
There will be a touch of
Bollywood in this year ’s
cricket World Cup in the sub-
continent. The celebrated
Indian musical trio of
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy will be
composing the event ’s official
theme song titled De
Ghumaa Ke with versions in
Hindi, Bangla and Sinhalese.
All three versions will feature
in the build-up to and during
the tournament that will run
from February 19 to April 2
in India, Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh.
The ICC said in a statement in
Dubai, De Ghumaa Ke is a
passionate expression that
creatively captures the fierce
sense of competition and the
desire to win. It literally
means ‘Hit It Hard’.
The statement said that this
local cricket euphemism is
every fan ’s wish and every
cricketer’s intention as it
encapsulates all that it takes
to win a match.
Bollywood in this year ’s
cricket World Cup in the sub-
continent. The celebrated
Indian musical trio of
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy will be
composing the event ’s official
theme song titled De
Ghumaa Ke with versions in
Hindi, Bangla and Sinhalese.
All three versions will feature
in the build-up to and during
the tournament that will run
from February 19 to April 2
in India, Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh.
The ICC said in a statement in
Dubai, De Ghumaa Ke is a
passionate expression that
creatively captures the fierce
sense of competition and the
desire to win. It literally
means ‘Hit It Hard’.
The statement said that this
local cricket euphemism is
every fan ’s wish and every
cricketer’s intention as it
encapsulates all that it takes
to win a match.
CANADA’S ACCEPTANCE RATE FOR SRI LANKAN REFUGEE CLAIMS UP
Despite a decision from the
Immigration and Refugee
Board that suggests things
are getting better in Sri
Lanka, the acceptance rate
for Tamils seeking refuge in
Canada ended on an
upswing, according to figures
provided by the IRB.
QMI Agency reported late
last year that after accepting
more than 80% of all Sri
Lankan refugee claims for
most of the year, the
acceptance rate dropped to
47% in September. Just-
released figures show that
the acceptance rate fell again
in October to 43% before
heading back up to 67% in
November and 68% in
December.
In 2010, Canada accepted
76% of the 672 refugee
claims that were finalized.
These figures do not include
the nearly 500 Sri Lankan
nationals that arrived in
Canada on the MV Sun Sea
last August.
Despite the drop in the
acceptance rate, which stood
at 90.7% in 2009, Sri Lankans
still have the highest
acceptance rate among the
top-10 source countries for
refugees. Canada’s overall
acceptance rate for refugees
in 2010 was 38%.
The second-highest
acceptance rate was for
refugee applicants from
Nigeria, 64% of whom were
accepted, while the United
States had the lowest
acceptance rate -- just 1% of
the 969 cases. Mexico
provided the highest number
of finalized refugee cases in
2010. Of the 5,827 Mexican
cases that were settled, just
11% were accepted.
In November, the IRB
rejected a refugee
application from a Sri Lankan
man on the basis that his life
is no longer threatened in his
home country with the end
of the civil war in the spring
of 2009. That decision has
now been deemed a
“ persuasive decision,” one
which the IRB says members
do not need to follow.
“They
are decisions that members
are encouraged to rely upon
in the interests of consistency
and effective decision-
making, ” the IRB said.
The United Nations High
Commission for Refugees
recently reported an increase
in the number of refugees
they have assisted in
returning to Sri Lanka. The
UN agency helped more than
2,000 people resettle in 2010,
while thousands more
returned on their own, the
Toronto Sun reports.
Immigration and Refugee
Board that suggests things
are getting better in Sri
Lanka, the acceptance rate
for Tamils seeking refuge in
Canada ended on an
upswing, according to figures
provided by the IRB.
QMI Agency reported late
last year that after accepting
more than 80% of all Sri
Lankan refugee claims for
most of the year, the
acceptance rate dropped to
47% in September. Just-
released figures show that
the acceptance rate fell again
in October to 43% before
heading back up to 67% in
November and 68% in
December.
In 2010, Canada accepted
76% of the 672 refugee
claims that were finalized.
These figures do not include
the nearly 500 Sri Lankan
nationals that arrived in
Canada on the MV Sun Sea
last August.
Despite the drop in the
acceptance rate, which stood
at 90.7% in 2009, Sri Lankans
still have the highest
acceptance rate among the
top-10 source countries for
refugees. Canada’s overall
acceptance rate for refugees
in 2010 was 38%.
The second-highest
acceptance rate was for
refugee applicants from
Nigeria, 64% of whom were
accepted, while the United
States had the lowest
acceptance rate -- just 1% of
the 969 cases. Mexico
provided the highest number
of finalized refugee cases in
2010. Of the 5,827 Mexican
cases that were settled, just
11% were accepted.
In November, the IRB
rejected a refugee
application from a Sri Lankan
man on the basis that his life
is no longer threatened in his
home country with the end
of the civil war in the spring
of 2009. That decision has
now been deemed a
“ persuasive decision,” one
which the IRB says members
do not need to follow.
“They
are decisions that members
are encouraged to rely upon
in the interests of consistency
and effective decision-
making, ” the IRB said.
The United Nations High
Commission for Refugees
recently reported an increase
in the number of refugees
they have assisted in
returning to Sri Lanka. The
UN agency helped more than
2,000 people resettle in 2010,
while thousands more
returned on their own, the
Toronto Sun reports.
COLOMBO TEMPERATURE DROPS TO 61-YEAR LOW
The temperature in Colombo
has dropped to 18. 8⁰C, the
lowest recorded temperature
in 61 years, the
Meteorological Department
reported today. Nuwara-Eliya
recorded a temperature of
7. 9⁰C while Batticaloa
recorded 16.9⁰C. The cold
climate will continue
throughout today and
tomorrow, the Met
Department reported.
Back in 1950 Colombo
recorded a temperature of
15.2 ⁰C in the month of
January.
has dropped to 18. 8⁰C, the
lowest recorded temperature
in 61 years, the
Meteorological Department
reported today. Nuwara-Eliya
recorded a temperature of
7. 9⁰C while Batticaloa
recorded 16.9⁰C. The cold
climate will continue
throughout today and
tomorrow, the Met
Department reported.
Back in 1950 Colombo
recorded a temperature of
15.2 ⁰C in the month of
January.
HC SUMMONS DEFENCE SECRETARY AS WITNESS...
Colombo High Courts today
ordered Defence Secretary
Gotabaya Rajapaksa to
appear before courts on
January 25 to give evidence
regarding the White Flag
case against Sarath Fonseka.
The Defence Secretary will
be the fourth witness in the
case.
ordered Defence Secretary
Gotabaya Rajapaksa to
appear before courts on
January 25 to give evidence
regarding the White Flag
case against Sarath Fonseka.
The Defence Secretary will
be the fourth witness in the
case.
HC SUMMONS DEFENCE SECRETARY AS WITNESS...
Colombo High Courts today
ordered Defence Secretary
Gotabaya Rajapaksa to
appear before courts on
January 25 to give evidence
regarding the White Flag
case against Sarath Fonseka.
The Defence Secretary will
be the fourth witness in the
case.
ordered Defence Secretary
Gotabaya Rajapaksa to
appear before courts on
January 25 to give evidence
regarding the White Flag
case against Sarath Fonseka.
The Defence Secretary will
be the fourth witness in the
case.
COLLECTION CENTRE FOR FLOOD AFFECTED
The Presidential Secretariat of sri lanka
has opened a collection
centre to receive relief
material for flood affected.
Public could get more
information by calling
0094773721202 or
0094773929292.
has opened a collection
centre to receive relief
material for flood affected.
Public could get more
information by calling
0094773721202 or
0094773929292.
INDIA TAKES UP SHOOTING INCIDENT WITH SL GOVT...
The Central Government has taken up the matter of firing at the Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy strongly with Sri Lankan government through Indian High Commission in Colombo, Indian media reports.
India emphasised that firing in such situations has no justification and has called on the Sri Lankan authorities to desist from use of force. India has asked Sri Lanka to adhere to the October 2008 understanding reached between the two governments and called on the Sri Lankan Navy to exercise maximum restraint and avoid use of force in such situations.
DMK took up the matter with the Centre and demanded strong action. However, Sri Lankan navy has denied that they had fired and said they were assisting the fishermen to return into Indian waters. AIADMK has slammed the Tamil Nadu government for not taking enough steps to stop the atrocities against fishermen and said the matter should have been taken up at the highest level when Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse visited India.
“We should take strong action. Rajapakse came here and there was an absolute silence. What are we doing ?” asks AIADMK MLA Badar Saeed.
The firing reportedly occurred as the Lankans believed the Indians were trespassing. But it is not clear whether the fisherman were in Indian territorial waters or in Lanka’s, CNN IBN reports.
Here’s India’s official response on the issue:
“We have received reports of the death of an Indian fisherman due to firing by Sri Lankan Navy personnel. Our High Commissioner in Colombo has immediately taken up this matter with the Sri Lankan Government and expressed our deep concern and regret at this incident. We have emphasized that resort to firing in these situations has no justification and called on the Sri Lankan authorities to desist from use of force. The welfare and the safety of our fishermen in the waters between India and Sri Lanka have received very high priority by Government. We have consistently emphasized to the Sri Lankan Government to refrain from firing on our fishermen and scrupulously adhere to the October 2008 Understanding reached between the two governments. We call on the Sri Lankan Navy to exercise maximum restraint and avoid use of force in such situations.
India emphasised that firing in such situations has no justification and has called on the Sri Lankan authorities to desist from use of force. India has asked Sri Lanka to adhere to the October 2008 understanding reached between the two governments and called on the Sri Lankan Navy to exercise maximum restraint and avoid use of force in such situations.
DMK took up the matter with the Centre and demanded strong action. However, Sri Lankan navy has denied that they had fired and said they were assisting the fishermen to return into Indian waters. AIADMK has slammed the Tamil Nadu government for not taking enough steps to stop the atrocities against fishermen and said the matter should have been taken up at the highest level when Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse visited India.
“We should take strong action. Rajapakse came here and there was an absolute silence. What are we doing ?” asks AIADMK MLA Badar Saeed.
The firing reportedly occurred as the Lankans believed the Indians were trespassing. But it is not clear whether the fisherman were in Indian territorial waters or in Lanka’s, CNN IBN reports.
Here’s India’s official response on the issue:
“We have received reports of the death of an Indian fisherman due to firing by Sri Lankan Navy personnel. Our High Commissioner in Colombo has immediately taken up this matter with the Sri Lankan Government and expressed our deep concern and regret at this incident. We have emphasized that resort to firing in these situations has no justification and called on the Sri Lankan authorities to desist from use of force. The welfare and the safety of our fishermen in the waters between India and Sri Lanka have received very high priority by Government. We have consistently emphasized to the Sri Lankan Government to refrain from firing on our fishermen and scrupulously adhere to the October 2008 Understanding reached between the two governments. We call on the Sri Lankan Navy to exercise maximum restraint and avoid use of force in such situations.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sony has launched legal action against hackers who uncovered and published security codes for the PlayStation 3.
The hack potentially allows anyone to run any software on their machine, including pirated games. Sony's lawsuit argues that this constitutes copyright infringement and computer fraud. But George Hotz, one of the hackers at the centre of the controversy, told BBC News that he was "comfortable" the action would not succeed.
"I am a firm believer in digital rights," Mr Hotz said. "I would expect a company that prides itself on intellectual property to be well versed in the provisions of the law, so I am disappointed in Sony's current action. "I have spoken with legal counsel and I feel comfortable that Sony's action against me doesn't have any basis." The twenty-one-year-old, who rose to prominence for breaking the iPhone's security, is named in the lawsuit alongside more than 100 people associated with a hacking group known as fail0verflow.
In the filing, submitted to the Northern District Court of California, Sony asks for a restraining order that bans Mr Hotz from further hacking and prevents distribution of the software produced as a result. "Working individually and in concert with one another, the defendants recently bypassed effective technological protection measures employed by Sony," the document states.
"Through the internet, defendants are distributing software, tools and instructions that circumvent the [protection measures] and facilitate the counterfeiting of video games. Already, pirate video games are being packaged and distributed with these circumvention devices." Secret codes The controversy centres around a series of secret codes that Sony uses to protect its system from being used for unauthorised purposes. Among them is a number used to "sign" all PS3 games and software as a way of proving that they are genuine. Once the key is known, however, it can be used to sign any software - including unofficial software and, potentially, pirated games.
The PlayStation's protection had remained impenetrable for several years, but members of fail0verflow demonstrated the first breakthrough in December when they presented a security exploit at the Chaos Communication Congress in Berlin . Mr Hotz then revealed that he had uncovered the secret signing number using a similar method.
fail0verflow's website was taken down overnight, replaced with the message "Sony sued us" and a brief statement . "We have never condoned, supported, approved of or encouraged videogame piracy," it says. "We have not published any encryption or signing keys. We have not published any Sony code, or code derived from Sony's code." The group has said in the past that it is vehemently against games piracy and that it had worked on the hack so that users could install other operating systems and amateur software on the console.
Sony had indicated previously that it would try to fix the hack by updating the PS3's software over the internet. Console hacking and online copyright infringement is a contentious topic, frequently ending in high-profile court cases as technology companies seek to prevent their systems from being copied or modified. While most cases in recent years have involved music and video file-sharing services like Napster, Grokster and Kazaa, a growing number of cases have involved the hacking of video games consoles.
Last year, a team released a piece of hardware called PSjailbreak that allowed gamers to play homemade and pirated games on the PlayStation 3. Although the company has issued software to block the device and launched legal action, it has not prevented it entirely - with a Spanish court ruling that the gadget is not illegal.
In December, meanwhile, federal prosecutors dropped their case against a student accused of pirating games for Microsoft's Xbox 360. The case against California resident Matthew Crippen was dropped after the judge said that he had "serious concerns" about the legality of the evidence collected against him.
"I am a firm believer in digital rights," Mr Hotz said. "I would expect a company that prides itself on intellectual property to be well versed in the provisions of the law, so I am disappointed in Sony's current action. "I have spoken with legal counsel and I feel comfortable that Sony's action against me doesn't have any basis." The twenty-one-year-old, who rose to prominence for breaking the iPhone's security, is named in the lawsuit alongside more than 100 people associated with a hacking group known as fail0verflow.
In the filing, submitted to the Northern District Court of California, Sony asks for a restraining order that bans Mr Hotz from further hacking and prevents distribution of the software produced as a result. "Working individually and in concert with one another, the defendants recently bypassed effective technological protection measures employed by Sony," the document states.
"Through the internet, defendants are distributing software, tools and instructions that circumvent the [protection measures] and facilitate the counterfeiting of video games. Already, pirate video games are being packaged and distributed with these circumvention devices." Secret codes The controversy centres around a series of secret codes that Sony uses to protect its system from being used for unauthorised purposes. Among them is a number used to "sign" all PS3 games and software as a way of proving that they are genuine. Once the key is known, however, it can be used to sign any software - including unofficial software and, potentially, pirated games.
The PlayStation's protection had remained impenetrable for several years, but members of fail0verflow demonstrated the first breakthrough in December when they presented a security exploit at the Chaos Communication Congress in Berlin . Mr Hotz then revealed that he had uncovered the secret signing number using a similar method.
fail0verflow's website was taken down overnight, replaced with the message "Sony sued us" and a brief statement . "We have never condoned, supported, approved of or encouraged videogame piracy," it says. "We have not published any encryption or signing keys. We have not published any Sony code, or code derived from Sony's code." The group has said in the past that it is vehemently against games piracy and that it had worked on the hack so that users could install other operating systems and amateur software on the console.
Sony had indicated previously that it would try to fix the hack by updating the PS3's software over the internet. Console hacking and online copyright infringement is a contentious topic, frequently ending in high-profile court cases as technology companies seek to prevent their systems from being copied or modified. While most cases in recent years have involved music and video file-sharing services like Napster, Grokster and Kazaa, a growing number of cases have involved the hacking of video games consoles.
Last year, a team released a piece of hardware called PSjailbreak that allowed gamers to play homemade and pirated games on the PlayStation 3. Although the company has issued software to block the device and launched legal action, it has not prevented it entirely - with a Spanish court ruling that the gadget is not illegal.
In December, meanwhile, federal prosecutors dropped their case against a student accused of pirating games for Microsoft's Xbox 360. The case against California resident Matthew Crippen was dropped after the judge said that he had "serious concerns" about the legality of the evidence collected against him.
South Korea: Communication lines with North Korea reopened
The South Korean Ministry of Unification confirmed Wednesday that it has reopened communication channels with Pyongyang, North Korea, in the border area of Panmunjom. A media officer at the ministry said officials reopened a direct hotline between the two Koreas and Red Cross communication channels. With the reopening of the direct communication line, the two Koreas are able to discuss issues such as holding reunions for separated families and initiate contact for aid or inter- Korean talks. It is the first time in eight months that the two sides have reopened the hotline. North Korea cut off the hotline on May 26 to protest South Korea's response to the sinking of the Cheonan naval ship in March, which killed 46 sailors. South Korea and the international community blamed the North for the sinking, but Pyongyang has denied the accusations.
Tensions rose again in
November, when North Korea
shelled Yeonpyeong Island.
The incident killed two South
Korean marines and two
civilians. North Korea said the
strike was in retaliation to
South's navy firing into
Northern waters.
Tensions rose again in
November, when North Korea
shelled Yeonpyeong Island.
The incident killed two South
Korean marines and two
civilians. North Korea said the
strike was in retaliation to
South's navy firing into
Northern waters.
Haiti marks solemn anniversary, 1 year since quake
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) -
The air was choked with
memory Wednesday in this
city where everyone lost a
brother, a child, a cousin or a
friend one year ago in the
earthquake. Haitians
marched down empty,
rubble-lined streets singing
hymns and climbed broken
buildings to hang wreaths of
flowers.
The landscape is much as the
quake left it, thanks to a
reconstruction effort that has
yet to begin addressing the
intense need. But the voices
were filled with hope for
having survived a year that
seemed to get worse at every
turn.
"We've had an earthquake,
hurricane, cholera, but we
are still here, and we are still
together," said Charlemagne
Sintia, 19, who stood at the
Silvio Cator soccer stadium in
a school uniform.
The nation held a minute of
silence at 4:53 p.m., the
moment when the
earthquake ripped the
ground open exactly one
year earlier. The government
raised its death toll estimate
Wednesday to more than
316,000, but it did not explain
how it arrived at that
number.
Thousands gathered around
the city to be with loved ones
and pray. They flocked to the
ruins of the once-towering
national cathedral, to a
soccer stadium that served as
an open-air morgue and
later housed a tent camp, to
parks, hillsides and the
neighborhood centers.
Businesses were closed.
Instead of traffic, streets
were filled with people
dressed in white, the color of
prayer and mourning. They
waved their hands, cheered
and called out to God as they
wound down roads beset by
ruins. Astride the unrepaired
buildings are camps where
an estimated 1 million
people still live, unable to
afford new homes.
"God blessed me by taking
only one of my cousins that
day. Our house collapsed but
we have health and life," said
Terez Benitot, a 56-year-old
woman whose husband, a
mason, can not find work
amid a reconstruction all are
waiting to begin.
The air was choked with
memory Wednesday in this
city where everyone lost a
brother, a child, a cousin or a
friend one year ago in the
earthquake. Haitians
marched down empty,
rubble-lined streets singing
hymns and climbed broken
buildings to hang wreaths of
flowers.
The landscape is much as the
quake left it, thanks to a
reconstruction effort that has
yet to begin addressing the
intense need. But the voices
were filled with hope for
having survived a year that
seemed to get worse at every
turn.
"We've had an earthquake,
hurricane, cholera, but we
are still here, and we are still
together," said Charlemagne
Sintia, 19, who stood at the
Silvio Cator soccer stadium in
a school uniform.
The nation held a minute of
silence at 4:53 p.m., the
moment when the
earthquake ripped the
ground open exactly one
year earlier. The government
raised its death toll estimate
Wednesday to more than
316,000, but it did not explain
how it arrived at that
number.
Thousands gathered around
the city to be with loved ones
and pray. They flocked to the
ruins of the once-towering
national cathedral, to a
soccer stadium that served as
an open-air morgue and
later housed a tent camp, to
parks, hillsides and the
neighborhood centers.
Businesses were closed.
Instead of traffic, streets
were filled with people
dressed in white, the color of
prayer and mourning. They
waved their hands, cheered
and called out to God as they
wound down roads beset by
ruins. Astride the unrepaired
buildings are camps where
an estimated 1 million
people still live, unable to
afford new homes.
"God blessed me by taking
only one of my cousins that
day. Our house collapsed but
we have health and life," said
Terez Benitot, a 56-year-old
woman whose husband, a
mason, can not find work
amid a reconstruction all are
waiting to begin.
Will facebook be closed ???
Will Facebook end on
March 15, 2011?’ and ‘Is
Facebook shutting down?’
are burning up the search
engines, Google Trends,
Twitter, Plurk, Yahoo
Answers and even Youtube.
Apparently, several blogs
reporting that the Facebook
founder and CEO Mark
Zuckerberg has announced
the closure of the social networking site.
Here is a snippet from
Weekly World News article;
PALO ALTO, CA –Mark
Zuckerberg announced that
Facebook will be shut down
in March. Managing the site
has become too stressful.
“Facebook has gotten out of
control,” said Zuckerberg in
a press conference outside
his Palo Alto office, “and the
stress of managing this
company has ruined my life. I
need to put an end to all the
madness.”
Zuckerberg went on to
explain that starting March
15th, users will no longer be
able to access their
Facebook accounts.
“After March 15th the whole
website shuts down,” said
Avrat Humarthi, Vice
President of Technical
Affairs at Facebook.
“So if
you ever want to see your
pictures again, I recommend
you take them off the
internet. You won’t be able
to get them back once
Facebook goes out of
business.”
This news is a hoax since it is
coming from Weekly World
News which is known as a
satirical website, just like The
Onion.
Here is a snippet of Weekly
World News disclaimer;
“Weekly World News articles
are drawn from a number of
different sources and some
are fictitious or satirical.
Weekly World News uses
invented names in some
stories, except in cases where
public figures are being
satirized. Any other use of
real names is accidental and
coincidental. The reader
should suspend disbelief for
the sake of enjoyment. No
mutants or aliens were
harmed in the making of this
website. Any further
disclaimers neglected to be
made are hereby reserved”
International sites also
reported that Weekly World
News was the one started
the buzz about Michelle
Obama being pregnant, and
Michael Jackson spotted on
the moon.
March 15, 2011?’ and ‘Is
Facebook shutting down?’
are burning up the search
engines, Google Trends,
Twitter, Plurk, Yahoo
Answers and even Youtube.
Apparently, several blogs
reporting that the Facebook
founder and CEO Mark
Zuckerberg has announced
the closure of the social networking site.
Here is a snippet from
Weekly World News article;
PALO ALTO, CA –Mark
Zuckerberg announced that
Facebook will be shut down
in March. Managing the site
has become too stressful.
“Facebook has gotten out of
control,” said Zuckerberg in
a press conference outside
his Palo Alto office, “and the
stress of managing this
company has ruined my life. I
need to put an end to all the
madness.”
Zuckerberg went on to
explain that starting March
15th, users will no longer be
able to access their
Facebook accounts.
“After March 15th the whole
website shuts down,” said
Avrat Humarthi, Vice
President of Technical
Affairs at Facebook.
“So if
you ever want to see your
pictures again, I recommend
you take them off the
internet. You won’t be able
to get them back once
Facebook goes out of
business.”
This news is a hoax since it is
coming from Weekly World
News which is known as a
satirical website, just like The
Onion.
Here is a snippet of Weekly
World News disclaimer;
“Weekly World News articles
are drawn from a number of
different sources and some
are fictitious or satirical.
Weekly World News uses
invented names in some
stories, except in cases where
public figures are being
satirized. Any other use of
real names is accidental and
coincidental. The reader
should suspend disbelief for
the sake of enjoyment. No
mutants or aliens were
harmed in the making of this
website. Any further
disclaimers neglected to be
made are hereby reserved”
International sites also
reported that Weekly World
News was the one started
the buzz about Michelle
Obama being pregnant, and
Michael Jackson spotted on
the moon.
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