OTHER NEWS Italian secret police re-arrest 8 released LTTE suspects 59 AP mines uncovered during search operations Sri Lanka: Pillaiyan ‘too busy’ to meet Karuna Equipment belonged to a SP and ammunition recovered close to Air Force Commander's residence    Advertisement Print Version | Email to friend Bridge under troubled waters 13-05-2008 The much-loved story of Ramayana, a famous epic of ancient India, is as timeless as history itself. It is a story of courage that embodies a moral code of ethics and culminates in the triumph of good over evil. In dance performances depicting Rama\'s life, the story tells of how the demon king, Ravana, uses trickery to kidnap Lord Rama\'s wife, Sita, and how Rama, with the help of his army of monkeys, builds a bridge of stones from India to Sri Lanka to rescue her. Ram Setu, meaning Rama\'s Bridge (also known as Adam\'s Bridge) is the name given to the narrow ridge of sand and rocks between Sri Lanka and India which may or may not be the mythical bridge. For the majority of Indians on the subcontinent and countless more worldwide, particularly across South-East Asia, the 48-kilometre-long underwater feature is physical evidence of the Ramayana and hence has huge cultural significance. The name Adam\'s Bridge indicates that Christians and Muslims may have reason to revere the bridge. But now it needs rescuing. The Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project has started dredging the sunken causeway with the aim of reducing travel time for ships going from the west to the east coast of India. Dredging began two years ago and already 20percent of the bridge has been destroyed. However, after fierce criticism, the project stalled in 2007 and is yet to restart. Perhaps Rama\'s monkeys are lending a hand again. The bridge has been mentioned in many historical documents and 12th century maps including those of Marco Polo. He called this area Setabund-Rameswara, which means a bridge constructed at Rameswaram, reinforcing the belief that this structure is the ancient bridge. In 2002, a NASA satellite produced images of what looks like a string of pearls connecting Rameswaram off the south-eastern coast of India with the north-west of Sri Lanka. The question being asked is, \"Is it a natural phenomenon or the remnant of something man-made?\" Calls for the preservation of the bridge have come from various groups including naval cartographers and shipping specialists who question the usefulness of dredging when the resulting canal will be just 12metres deep, and only small and medium-sized vessels will be able to use the new passage. The worldwide trend in shipping is to larger ships because it is more economical. The Panama Canal allows vessels of 90,000 tonnes and the Suez 120,000 tonnes - but the maximum for the Sethusamudram would be 30,000 tonnes. Print Version | Email to friend

Italian secret police re-arrest 8 released LTTE suspects Tue, 08-07-2008 07:00:00 Of the 28 LTTE suspects arrested in Italy recently for offences under Italian and International law, including extortion to support a terrorist organization, eight were released by the local Magistrate on the grounds of insufficient evidence to prove their complicity with the LTTE. However, the Italian Secret Police, headed by Dr. Antonio S. Bersone and Dr. Missou, invoking Italian Anti-Terror laws,rearrested all eight and produced them before a Magistrate in Naples who was convinced ... |FULL STORY|

59 AP mines uncovered during search operations Mon, 07-07-2008 08:00:00 Security forces uncovered 59 anti-personnel mines (AP), during search operations conducted in Mannar and Welioya fronts on Sunday (July 6). According to security sources, 32 AP mines were uncovered by troops engaged in clearing operations in general area Palamoddai, Mannar, while 27 other AP mines were found in a similar operation conducted North of Janakapura at Welioya.... |FULL STORY|

Advertisement

Sri Lanka: Pillaiyan ‘too busy’ to meet Karuna By Munza Mushtaq Sun, 06-07-2008 22:00:00 Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillaiyan, who is the Deputy Leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), has put off meeting with his Leader Karuna Amman owing to his “extremely busy schedule.” Karuna arrived in the country on Thursday after he was deported by British authorities. Sources said that he was hoping to meet with Pillaiyan who took over his reigns but he was in for a disappointment when Pillaiyan had repeatedly refused to mee... |FULL STORY|

Equipment belonged to a SP and ammunition recovered close to Air Force Commander's residence Sat, 05-07-2008 18:00:00 Army personnel recovered this morning (05) a bag with arms, ammunition, a cap worn by Assistant Superintendent of Police and a passport belonged to a Superintendent of Police in close proximity to the official residence of the Air Force Commander in Keppetipola Mawatha, Colombo. There were 90 T-56 ammunition, parts of bore 12 shotguns, one locally produced gun, three empty magazines, one pouch, a cap worn by Assistant Superintendent of Police, an applet and stars worn by chief police ins... |FULL STORY|

EVENT REPORTS Songstress Nanda Malini takes UK by storm..[Read] Sri Lankans unite at Bak Maha Ulela in London..[Read] UK Visakhians Elect the 2008-09 Committee at the 25th AGM..[Read] Agents sparkle at SriLankan awards night..[Read]