By Jamila Najmuddin Daily Mirror online, Aug 10
DNA Leader General Sarath Fonseka has rejected an offer to join the UNP after an invitation was extended to him by UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya last week, DNA MP Vijitha Herath told Daily Mirror online.
Herath said that the General who was not even considering the invitation had not even been approached by any UNP members so far.
“The only invitation which was extended was by UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuirya. It was an open invitation which he issued when Mangala Samaraweera joined the UNP last week. The General has not personally heard from any UNP members,” Herath said.
When questioned if the General would hold discussions with the UNP if a personal invitation was made, Herath said that the General would not even consider it.
“These are all false rumours that the General might join the UNP. He is not even considering such a request,” Herath said. www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/5690-fonseka-rejects-unp.html
 
2. Tiger weapons for army: By Supun Dias, Daily Mirror online, Aug 10
The army is using some of the functional weapons recovered during search operation in the North and East, the military said today. Colonel Duminda Gamage of the Army Media Directorate said the Ministry of Defence would decide on whether the rest of the weapons would be sold or handed to the army.
“With Ministry of Defence (MOD) approval, weapons which are functional were handed over to the army,” Colonel Gamage said.
He said there were three types of weapons recovered by the security forces – weapons with extensive and minimum damages, and those that were outdated. “We send the recovered weapons to the Central Armory. They decide what should be kept in reserve and what should be dismantled,” he said.
So far the military has recovered hundreds of thousands of weapons hidden by the LTTE from the North and East. Meanwhile, security forces recovered a massive haul of weapons including eighty 60 mm mortar bombs during a search operation carried out at Iranamadu in Killinochchi and Mulliyaweli on Sunday evening.
The weapons included six 60 mm mortar cartridges, fifteen 60 mm mortar fuses, 14 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), one RPG launcher, one RPG body part, twenty-eight 81 mm mortar bombs, two claymore mines, two T-56 weapon body parts, one 120 mm mortar bomb and two T-56 assault rifles were also recovered during the search operation.
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/5700-army-using-ltte-weapons.html

3. PM to continue even after November reshuffle brings Prez’s son to the Cabinet
By Joseph Thavaraja in The Asiantribune
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne will continue to function as the PM even after November’s Cabinet Reshuffle.
It was already reported in April that the PM and the Cabinet will be reshuffled in November based on cabinet member’s performance and age. The PM’s & cabinet’s reshuffle will be to position the national administration towards “Sri Lanka – Asia’s Miracle” theme on which the President’s second term is poised to run.
The most prominent among the Sri Lankan young MPs is Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa, son of President Rajapakse. He had secured the highest preferential votes in Hambantota district in the April elections.
The other ‘young Ministers’ will most likely hail from Provinces of Western, North Western & ‘Uva’, according to government insiders.
Influential MP Sajin de Vas Gunawardene, a UPFA MP for Galle District, a business personality turned politician hinted about ‘young Ministers’.
Vas Gunawardene is widely believed as ‘someone who has President Rajapakse’e ear.’
www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/08/09/lanka-prime-minister-dm-continue-even-after-november-reshuffle-brings-president%E2%80%99s-so

4. Sajith Premadasa is looking to lead the country
Colombo: Sajith Premadasa is said to be vying for the position as the leader of the United National Party, but he pointed out that he was vying for the leadership of the country, as the Party leadership was too small for him. He categorically said that he possesses the positive quality of his father and he certainly wants to negate whatever negative things that existed in his father’s policy.
In a telephone conversation with Asian Tribune, Sajith Premadasa , the Member of Parliament for Hambantota District, son of Ranasinghe Premadasa, the former President of Sri Lanka and who was the former Deputy Minister of Health said that “the leadership of the party is too small for me. Pardon me for sounding a bit arrogant.”
Sajith Premadasa one of the leaders of United National Party, who was educated at the prestigious Royal College, Colombo and at the London School of Economics, has effectively turned out to be a challenge to the leadership of Ranil Wickremasinghe, the present leader of the Party. http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/08/10/sajith-premadasa-looking-lead-country-party-leadership-too-small-him

5. Ganesan asked to withdraw from government
Colombo: Democratic Peoples Front has written to MP Praba Ganesan to withdraw from the government or face disciplinary action.
General Secretary of the party and member of western provincial council Dr. Nalliah Kumaraguruparan with the concurrence of the party leader Mano Ganesan has informed Praba Ganesan MP in writing to withdraw from the government and return to the opposition benches in the house.
The letter has also warned MP Praba Ganesan against supporting and voting with the government for the later to obtain two thirds majority in the house. The ten member disciplinary committee appointed by Mano Ganesan is headed by general secretary Dr. Nalliah Kumaraguruparan and consists another nine politburo members of the party.
An emergency meeting of the DPF politburo is scheduled to be held at 11 am at the party headquarters in Colombo.  www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=9852

6. Sakvithi’s associates will be arrested – IGP
By Norman Palihawadana in The Island, Aug 10
IGP Mahinda Balasuriya yesterday said that the police would arrest several influential persons, who had helped Sakvithi Ranasinghe to flee the country after cheating depositors out of Rs 143,300 million, and also those who had associated with the suspect upon his return from India six months back.
The police arrested Ranasinghe and his wife, Kumari Anuradhini, last Friday at Nawagamuwa on a tip off.
Following his arrest the Mirihana police recovered the suspects’ passports, Rs. 50,306 in cash and a credit card he had obtained under the name, Radha Thangavelu.
Investigations have revealed that Ranasinghe adopted the name Radha Thangavelu upon his return from India.
Sakvithi and his wife are being interrogated by the CID. www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=3976

7. Over 70 jumbos storm Hambantota project site
Colombo:  Over 70 elephants had stormed into an area near the Hambantota Development Project site. The herd entered the area through a broken electrified fence.
It will be difficult to drive the elephants away from the area because of the dry season.
The elephants have crossed into the area through an opening of three kilometre where the thieves had removed wires from the electrified fence between Hambantota and Suriyawewa that was deterring potential elephant-human conflicts in the area, officials said.
Southern Province wildlife guards said, chances are high that the displaced elephants will raid farmlands near the forest and attack villagers.. http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/08/09/news13.asp