Actress Sandra Bullock, Humanitarian Award honoree, poses with presenter Sri Lankan Ambassador Bernard A.B. Goonetilleke at Fashion Group International�s 22nd Annual �Night Of Stars� at Cipriani�s 42nd Street on October 27 in New York City.  

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse hands over the Award for Best Actor 2004 to Jackson Anthony (Randiya Dahara) at Thursday�s Sarasaviya Awards presentation at the BMICH.  

Northern Displaced Muslims declare ‘Week of mourning’

The internally displaced Muslims, who were evicted from the north and east by the LTTE in 1980 declared a "Week of Mourning" today to launch a signature campaign to coincide with the 15th anniversary of their eviction by the LTTE. They will commence a peaceful march from Kattar to Puttalam today in a bid to collect 100,000 signatures for a petition which would be handed over to President Kumaratunge, UN General Secretary Koffi Annan and to Heads of Diplomatic Missions of Muslim countries in Sri Lanka. It is reported that approximately 300,000 displaced Muslims live in Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Kalutara and other districts, while around 300 families have resettled at Musali in Mannar and 150 of them lived in un-cleared areas. (AB)

Mahinda shedding crocodile tears after depriving children of mid day meal –Kabir Hashim

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse was shedding crocodile tears after being responsible for depriving school children of the mid day meal, the UNP said Wednesday.Kegalle district UNP parliamentarian Kabir Hashim told a media briefing in Colombo, that Rajapakse was a member of the Peoples Alliance government that discontinued the miday meal for school children introduced by the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa."It is ironical to hear Mr. Rajapakse expressing concern about malnutrition and childrens welfare after keeping quite when the mid day school meal was discontinued."Responding to allegations that the UNP would scrap ‘Samurdhi', when it comes to power, Hashim said that those who want to remain with ‘Samurdhi' and pick up a pittance would be free to do so.However, ‘Samurdhi' recipients who want a 300 per cent increase in assistance have the choice of switching on to the ‘Siya Saviya' programme that would be introduced by the UNP.

Ratnapura district UNP parliamentarian Thalatha Athukorale, said that Rajapakse was sympathizing with children saying that there were many who faint in school due to malnutrition , but has failed to do anything to help them all these years."Mr. Rajapakse, claims that he understands school childrens problems since he has children of his own. If that is the case what was he doing when the school mid day meal was scrapped."Athukorale, said that the people cannot be deceived anymore and were flocking round Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe who has put out a workable manifesto with solutions to all issues faced by the people."Mr. Wickremesinghe has a earned a reputation for being a man who keeps his word and will deliver on all his promises .He will pay specific attention to bringing down the high cost of living and establish the elusive peace that everyone is longing for", she said. (courtesy The Island).

Sri Lanka to field 50,000 police, deploy army in northeast for presidential election

Sri Lanka will field 50,000 police nationwide and deploy military troops in the volatile northeast during the Nov. 17 presidential election, officials said Friday.A 2002 cease-fire between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels has been increasingly strained by violence, especially in the northeast, parts of which have long been under rebel control.Sri Lanka also has a history of violent elections and vote fraud. Police spokesman Rienzie Perera said uniformed and plainclothes officers will conduct vehicle and foot patrols to check for signs of conflict or attempts to sabotage voting.Perera said military troops will be responsible for security in the northeast, an area dominated by ethnic minority Tamils and the center of the Tamil Tigers' two-decade war against the government.The conflict, fueled by Tamils' complaints of discrimination by the majority Sinhalese, claimed about 65,000 lives before the government and rebels signed a Norway-brokered cease-fire in February 2002.

However, subsequent peace talks have stalled due to government-rebel disagreements over postwar power-sharing.Scores of people have been killed since the cease-fire, with attacks escalating after a factional split among the Tigers in March 2004. The government and rebels blame each other for the trouble.Past Sri Lankan elections have been plagued by violence and vote-rigging. In 2001, 61 people were killed in the days leading up to a parliamentary poll.

Meanwhile, the European Union Friday expressed ``frustration'' at the lack of progress in implementing its recommendations made after observing three previous elections. John Cushnahan, the head of a 72-member EU team, told reporters in the capital of Colombo that the union is ``clearly frustrated with the lack of follow-up to our previous election observation missions.''

He had expressed similar views after the April 2004 Parliamentary polls and warned that the EU was unlikely to send another mission if the government failed to set up an independent election commission, draw up a code of conduct for political parties, and take tougher action to stop election-related violence.There are 13 presidential candidates in the coming elections, but the main contest will be between Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is an opposition leader and former prime minister. Independent observers have said that conditions were better during last year's parliamentary election, except in parts of rebel-controlled areas in the northeast. Five people died.

Celebrating Ramadan In USA - Perspectives

Saher Iqbal who is an International student from Pakistan studying at the Oglethorpe University said that the Ramdan fasting is important for Muslims to cleanse themselves from worldly things. She said that fasting during the daylight hours of the month of Ramadan is also an important pillar of Islam. The main function of fasting is to make the Muslim pure from "within" as other aspects of Islamic law to make him/herself pure from "without." By such purity he responds to what is true and good and shuns what is false and evil.

She also quoted the Qur'anic verse:

"You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may gain piety. "

Elaborating further, she said fasting awakens one's conscience and gives it scope for exercise in a joint experience for all society at the same time. She said that fasting offers a compulsory rest to the over-exhausted human machine.

She also said that fasting reminds an individual of those who are deprived of life's necessities throughout the year or throughout life. Thus the practice cultivate sensitivity with in our selves to develop kindness and sympathy towards those who are less fortunate.

When asked on how she perform Ramdan fasting, she said that she usually get up early in the morning and eats food and start the fasting. Saher however said that she only take very less food before starting the fasting. She said that she would not eat or drink until the sun sets at about 7 PM.

Saher says that she miss her family and whole atmosphere at home of everyone doing the fast. She says the atmosphere at home makes her feel spiritual and holy. However she said that Ramdan is practiced in most Muslims just as same as Muslims do in Pakistan.

Commenting on the cultural values of Muslim younger generation, Saher said the values depends on the family. She claims the younger generations are always shaped up by the family environment than many other external factors. However, she said most Muslims in Georgia actively take part in Ramdan practice,She also said that the major challenge Muslim families' confront is to teach their children the mother tongue and to make them read Quoran and teaching them to pray 5 times a day. Saher speaking on the activities of the Mosque's during the Ramdan period said that everybody have to go to Mosque after breaking the fast(Iftar) and pray Taraveez ( prayer for the roza next day). She said that last 10 fasts are very important for Muslims and therefore people at tmes ends up all night praying.

Saher commenting on the latest earthquake disaster in Pakistan which claimed more than thirty thousands life said that she feel the pain of the victims She also said that Muslims in Atlanta area had taken huge efforts to provide relief support for the earthquake victims.

"Most of the people are trying to help others by providing them food and tents, medicines and all the necessary things. Most of the patients are brought down from Kashmir to Lahore where they will be admitted in the hospital. " she said.

She stated that she is confidence of efforts of Muslims in Georgia areas to make a difference in the lives of the victims. Georgia consists of one of the diverse Muslim populations in the USA. The Muslim population in Georgia basically consists of Syrians, Egyptians, Indians , Pakistanis and African-Americans.

She also expressed her positive hopes on India and Pakistan working collaborated to provide relief for victims will ultimately lead to India Pakistan peace process

"Pakistan and India were coming close to peace and now even more. No one can stop the natural disaster and everyone is willing to help each other. It will definitely assist India and Pakistan to come closer towards peace." she added.

Tehmina Mirza, another Muslim student from Oglethorpe speaking to Asian Georgian times highlighted the ignorance prevailing among the majority of Americans on Islam and Muslims.

"People sometimes give me funny looks due to the way I dress (Tahmina wears a head cover accordingly to the Islamic traditions)

Other than that, people have come to know me like me and they treat me nicely" she said with her usual pretty smile. However, she was critical of certain elements American media practices of religious bias against Islam.

"Whenever a terrorist who was a Muslim does an attack, media give a prominence. "she said

She also pointed out that non Islamic terrorist groups such as Liberation Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka had always been overlooked by the media since the groups are non- Islamic.

Tahmina strongly condemned Muslims doing terrorist activities claming such activities are totally un-Islamic. She argued that the groups who commit such atrocities are not Muslims but simply cold blooded murderers.

"It is like people claiming the kkk's actions are Christian" she pointed out.

However, she praise America as a "great country with many opportunities" and goes on to say that she would not live in anywhere else than the USA.

"I have been able too retain my Islamic beliefs but I could not retain my Pakistani heritage since I was born here and exposed very less to Pakistan." She confessed.

Mhanida had no plans for Kalmuani Coastal District - Hakeem

"A separate Provincial Council and a Non Contiguous Unit are the inevitable needs to ensure the defence of the Muslim Community and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress has this in its policy. The only institution that could ensure these needs of Muslims is the United National Party, and the leader of that party has included the self autonomy and the Non Contagious Unit for Muslims in his manifesto" said the SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem when addressing an election campaign rally at Al-Manar Central College in Maruthamunai, Tueday (25).

He added that "when a cabinet paper was presented to establish a coastal administrative district covering the areas of Kalmunai,Pothuvil and Sammanthurai in the Ampara district and a separate administrative district in the North Western Province made of two electorates; Kuliyapitiya and Nikkawaritiya, Mr. Athaullah opposed to it, demanding that Akkaraipattu be made the capital of the proposed coastal district of Kalmunai".

Hakeem said that when he had prolonged the matter for some time and re-negotiated it with the people of Kalmunai, Mr. Athaullah had again turned it down preventing the tabling of a cabinet paper.

‘It is those who jeopardized such initiatives are now criticising that the SLMC did nothing. However we will achieve these with the UNP's presidential candidate' he said.

He reminded that a separate administrative unit for the Muslim community was the dream of their late leader Mr. M.H.M. Ashraff, who had continuously warned the Muslims that even though they were unable make the dream come true immediately, it would be the JVP who would oppose it.

‘Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had no plans for a coastal district, at our discussions with him he told us that he would consider this once he is elected as the president. He also said he intends forming a commission to redefine boundaries of districts and provinces, as demanded by the JHU and the JVP' Hakeem said.

‘It was very clear that Mr. Rajapaksa had fallen in the snare of the JHU and the JVP, who went on to claim on political stages that they could bring in victory for Rajapakse without the support of the SLMC. This encouraged us to work hard to ensure he is defeated', he said.

National Muslim Congress Ceased to Exist forthwith – Harees

Former Parliamentarians H.M. Haress and M.B.A. Azeez who represented the Digamadulla electoral district, officially re-joined the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress today.

Haress, who was the Secretary General of the National Muslim Congress (NMC) addressing a media conference this morning said, that a non- Contiguous unit for Muslim was the prime concern for them when they left the SLMC to support the UPFA. ‘But the UPFA government miserably failed'.

Addressing the media, SLMC Rauff Hakeem said that two former Parliamentarians have re-joined the party to ensure the victory of the UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremasinghe.

‘In bringing UPFA to power we played major role in our areas, we have produced a large number MPs, Ministers and Deputy Ministers. But this government failed to deliver what was expected', said Azeez.

‘In the run-up for the presidency Ranil Wickremasinghe has included vital demands including a Non Contiguous Unit, submitted on behalf of the Muslims by the SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem. Therefore, to strengthen the SLMC and hands of its leader Rauff Hakeem, we have re-joined the party, today said' Harees.

When asked as to what was the fate of the NMA, Minister Athaulla and Deputy Minister Anver Ismail who represented the NMC? Harees said that they were sacked from the party after their failures in the P-TOMS and they identified themselves as members of the National Congress, "as far as the party National Muslim Congress is concerned, it ceased to exist forthwith" he said.

Mahinda Rajapaksa embracing the boys during the visit in kattankudy 

100,000 Signature petition from forcibly evicted Northern Muslims

The Organization for the forcibly affected Northern Muslims will be sending a petition with 100,000 signatures to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, United Nations Secretary -General Kofi Anan and Ambassadors of Arab countries tomorrow (Friday) and carry out a silent protest to commemorate the 15 anniversary of their eviction by the LTTE.

The silent protest will commence from Thillyayadi in Puttalam. The Organization say they were evicted from their homes by the LTTE fifteen years ago when the United National Party was in power and nothing had been done so far to address their issues and also to re-settle them in the North where they belong. The organization rquests the international community to bring pressure on the LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran to re-settle them in the North. The Muslim community living in the North/East continues to live under pressure and hardship. LTTE from time to time carried out ethnic cleansing of the Muslims

Section of the Crowd in Kattankudy SLFP me 

The section of the crowd during the SLFP meeting in Kattankudy today 

Presidential Candidate Prime Minister Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksha is presented in Kattankudy election meeting on 27.10.2005 

People squat on a raft in a flooded area at Katakhali in Gaibandha district, 240 km (149 miles) north of Dhaka on Friday, October 14, 2005. About half a million people and 26 people died in floods as a result of heavy rain in northern Bangladesh over the last two weeks. 

Police commandos search a van on Monday, October 17, 2005 in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo as part of tighter security ahead of next month's presidential elections. Police have found abandoned weapons and explosives which they say may have been intended for assassinations. 

Tighter security for Lanka candidates amid suicide bomb fears

Security has been tightened for Sri Lanka's two Presidential candidates amid fears that Tamil tigers may resort to suicide bombings against key politicians in the run-up to next month's elections, officials said today.

Outgoing President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who herself faced a bid on her life during a previous election campaign, has sent her elite bodyguards to protect Prime Minister and ruling party candiate for the November 17 election Mahinda Rajapakse, her office said in a statement.

The main opposition candidate, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was also given addtional security and told to plug the holes in his security system, the statement said.

"Security for the two candidates was strengthened and they were provided additional security personnel, vehicles and other logistics as directed by the President," it said.

Ports Minister Mangala Samaraweera said meanwhile that they feared that Tamil Tiger rebels may resort to suicide bombings against the Premier and other key politicians in the run up to the vote.

Tamil Tiger rebels have been accused of assassinating an opposition presidential candidate in October 1994 and trying to blow up Kumaratunga when she ran for re-election in December 1999. She lost one eye in the attack.

The new security measures also come in the aftermath of the assassination of foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in the heart of the capital. The government immediately blamed the Tigers for the killing, a charge denied by them.

Mecca ‘Ceylon House’ in dire straits

The Ceylon House', in the Holy City of Mecca, a gift from the late King Faisal Ibnu Abdul Aziz to the Muslim national leader Dr. T. B. Jayah in 1960, for use by Sri Lankan Muslims as a pilgrims rest, is today in a critical situation, former Parliamentary Affairs Minister A. H. M. Azwer says.

"The Ceylon House is the property of Sri Lankan Muslims. A Board of Trustees comprising seven Sri Lankans and one from Saudi Arabia was appointed to administer it. All the Sri Lankan trustees have passed away. The place is now being rented out by the Saudi trustee and I have witnessed shops have been constructed," Azwer said in a letter to President Chandrika Kumaratunga seeking her intervention to urge Saudi authorities to save the place for Sri Lankan pilgrims visiting Mecca. "New buildings are established in the area where the Sri Lankan Medical Team functions during the Haj season."

"It is learnt that all attempts made by Sri Lankan Consul General in Jeddah to meet the Saudi Trustee to protest against illegal structures hindering the pilgrims have failed as the Trustee over there had evaded all meetings," he said.

"Presently, the Saudi Government constantly extends area of the Haram Sheriff to accommodate the ever increasing annual Haj pilgrims. The site in which the Ceylon House is located will also come under the hammer in the near future. Compensation will then be paid for re-building of a new Ceylon House. Who will then receive the compensation is the concern of every Muslim in our country. Will the Sri Lankan Muslims, who are the rightful owners of this building, be the beneficiary or would it be the sole Saudi representative?"

Azwer in his letter requests the President who is also the Minister of Muslim Affairs to take prompt action to address a communication to Saudi leader King Abdullah appealing him to intervene in this matter to restore ‘Ceylon House' to the ownership of a newly appointed Board of Trustees.

Despite the pressures and turmoil of campaign politics, President Chandrika Kumaratunga wears one of her broadest smiles as she admires a gift presented to her from a grateful people of the city of gems Ratnapura during a rally in support of Mahinda Rajapakse. 

LTTE neutral in Presidential poll

The LTTE has decided not to put its weight behind any candidate in the Presidential Elections, but would permit canvasing in the Wanni.

"We have decided to be neutral... We will not support any party," The LTTE spokesman, Daya Master told the Sunday Observer.

"We will let people make their choice," he said. He said the LTTE could not recommend to Tamil people to vote for any main contenders, given the "history of broken promises".

The LTTE would permit canvasing in LTTE held areas, he said, however adding that candidates would be required to obtain prior permission. He said though the LTTE would not back any candidate, it was firm that the people's right to exercise universal franchise should not be curtailed under any grounds.

"There were previous incidents where Tamil people were prevented from voting," he said referring to the closure of entry-exit points to Vanni in the Parliamentary polls in 2001, disenfranching an estimated 80,000 voters.

The Supreme Court later ruled it a violation of fundamental rights. He said the LTTE proxy Tamil National Alliance would also not support any candidate.

A Mississippi Department of Transportation vehicle moves past the lighthouse along U.S. Highway 90 in Biloxi, Miss., Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2005. Amid the crushed casinos, uprooted trees and ruined hotels that mark Biloxi's touristy stretch of beach highway, the city's famous cast-iron lighthouse still stands mostly unscathed after Hurricane Katrina. 

Strong waves batter the resort city of Cancun, Mexico as Hurricane Wilma approaches Thursday Oct. 20, 2005. Wilma weakened slightly as it roared toward Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and south Florida, with forecasters calling it an 'extremely dangerous' storm that has already killed 12.