Galle Literary Festival 2009

The Galle Literary Festival 2009 has begun 28th January and extends till 1st February.
Galle Literary Festival is the first one in it's kind. It take place in and around the world heritage site of Galle Fort.
Galle Literary Festival features writing workshops, panel discussions, topical debates, poetry readings, cooking classes, theatre workshops and literary lunches. By night there are poetry slams, jazz performances, late night movies, art showings and photographic exhibitions.

You can meet Edna O’Brien and Moses Isegawa at the Galle Literary Festival at the following events:

Literary Dinner 7.30pm-10pm Thursday January 29th Fort Printers

Enjoy an extravagant dinner party with Edna O’Brien and Yasmine Gooneratne with culinary creations by Carina Cooper.

Out of Africa 10am-11am Friday January 30th Hall de Galle

Moses Isegawa reads from his own Abyssinian Chronicles and introduces us to exciting new writing coming out of Africa today.

A Private Affair 12.30pm-2pm Friday January 30th

Both Edna and Moses will be hosting intimate lunches in heritage homes in Galle.

Dead Men’s Tales 9pm-11pm Friday January 30th Dick’s Bar

We asked our Festival writers which book and writer they’d most like to hear about at a literary festival. Hear them read aloud from the work of their literary heroes. With Moses Isegawa, Colin Thubron, Tahmina Anam Michael Morpurgo and Pico Iyer. Germaine Greer plays critic.

Literary Dinner 7.30pm-10pm Friday January 30th The Dutch House

Join Edna O’Brien, Ireland’s most famous living writer, for an alfresco gourmetdinner.

Did You Have To Be There? 10am-11am Saturday January 31st Hall de Galle

Tahmima Anam, Moses Isegawa, Sivamohan Sumathy and V V Ganeshananthan debate the role of writer in responding to public crises.

A Life of Reading 2.15pm-3.15pm Saturday January 31st Hall de GalleEdna O’Brien, novelist, playwright and firebrand tells us about hers.

LTTE submarine found in Mullativu

Srilankan security forces have found a submarine belonged to the LTTE terrorists in Udayarkattukulam in Mullaittivu.
Soldiers of the Task Force 3 commanded by Brigadier Sathyapriya Liyanage found this 40-feet long submarine during search operations in the area last evening.
Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara says a boat similar to Dora craft and 3 suicide boats were also found during these search operations. Soldiers of the 631 brigade commanded by Lt. Colonel Priyantha Perera also overran a LTTE camp with an underground workshop. The camp also consisted of ten luxurious houses.

Mahida Rajapaksha Desires for a Ceasefire

Srilanka President Mahinda Rajapaksha once again expressed his desire to a ceasefire agreement with LTTE. Tamil Tigers now weakened than ever before. They are losing cadres in huge at every day and most of them deserted from the organization. Recently they lost the Mullativu which is an strategically important city. Now LTTE isolating to a 350km smaller area and Srilankan forces going forward at every moment.
Today Rajapaksha Once again invited to LTTE leaders to come in a ceasefire agreement. “Once the LTTE surrenders arms and gives an undertaking before the Indian leaders that they are ready to join the democratic mainstream, our government is ready to consider favourably a ceasefire.”
Rajapaksha also request LTTE to release civilians who are holding by LTTE as a human shield.Srilankan Government keens to provide safe to civilians escaping from LTTE clutches.
Today 27 January the chief UN secretariat Ban Ki Moon also asked LTTE to release civilians and make safer passages them to flee from LTTE controlled areas to Government controlled areas. Moon also request from both parties to provide safe and essentials to civilians.




For More pictures go to Lanka Prints.

Srilanka ARMY enters Mullativu

Srilanka 59 division troops today entered to the LTTE's last stronghold Mullativu.
Commanders of 59 division says they had a greater ressistance from LTTE terrorists, However troops successfully overpowered the heavy fire from LTTE and marched forward to Mullativu.
Troops enterd to Mullativu via boats by crossing the Nanthikadal Lagoon.
Mullativu Town situated on the eastern coastal lines of the srilanka. While Srilanka NAVY's fighter boats patrolling along the coastal area to avoid any escapes and to disable LTTE's sea activities.
Mullaittivu town which had been a chief Army stronghold fell in 1996 when terrorists captured it. Srilankan troops recaptured it today, after 13 years domination by LTTE. Mullativu is strategically significant town next to Trincomallee.

For more Pictures go to - Lankaprints

Cricket : Sri Lanka won by 234 runs over Pakistan

For More Pictures
Go to : The Lanka Reporter Image Gallery













One Day International Series: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Lahore.

Srilanka won the match and series over pakistan today 24 jan, at Lahore.

Opeing batsman Tilakaratne Dilshan scored 137 not out.
This was the T.M. Dilshan's highest ODI score.

Nuwan Kulasekara and Thilina Thushara have able to picked up 06 wickets of Pakistan team.
(Kulasekara 3-17, Thushara 3-33, Muralitharan 2-02)

Srilanka Inning
50 overs, 309 runs for 5 wickets - (Dilshan 137*, Sangakkara 50, Jayasuriya 45)

Pakistan Inning
22.5 overs, 75 runs for 10 wickets

Attack on Sirasa TV : Suspects Released

In a previous day one of srilanka's leading Television and Radio network attacked.
The main control room was heavily damaged by this attack. Attackers have used T56 guns and grenades to destroy the control room. MBC officials says the loss is nearly few millions.
After two days Maharagama Police arrested a person who is a UNP councilor of Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte Muncipal Council, suspecting with the case. Sources says that Maharagama Police officials falsely attempts to link the case on UNP MP Mr. Ravi Karunanayake.
Today 19 January, Maharagama Police produced the suspect with 04 others to the Nugegoda Magistrate court. After hearing the case the Magistrate ordered to release all suspects arrested by Maharagama Police, and further said that Maharagama Police attempting to mislead the total situation on another way.

Sri Lanka Air Force missions causes heavy damages to LTTE in Mullativu

Sri Lanka Air Force missions causes heavy damages to LTTE in Mullativu.

SLAF Jets and MI24s engaged few missions in last hours against LTTE in support of 59 division in South of Mullattivu and destroyed a barge and attack carders building Earth bunds South of Chundikulam.

MI-24 Helicopters engaged LTTE positions one kilometer East of Daramapuram, in a mission carried out this afternoon in support of 58 division of SL Army. Ground troops have confirmed this attack caused heavy casualties in LTTE carders.

In last few days Srilanka air force carried out successful missions against LTTE and they caused heavy damages to LTTE.
Recently released video clip by SLAF shows, an air raid attacking to LTTE cadres who retreating with their artilleries and vehicles in Mullativu.
See video
http://www.youtube.com/v/aZXJ7WPWhSo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0

It's inevitable that the success of the ground forces on attacking Mullativu is partly depends on supportive Air force and NAVY attacks.

See SLAF attacks here ( videos )

Srilankan army gained the full control over Jaffna Penninsula

Srilankan army gained the full control over Jaffna Penninsula.

Today 14 january srilanka army's 55 Division soldiers liberated Chundikulam from LTTE.
with the Chundikulam victory now the control of whole Jaffna Penninsula is on the hands of srilankan government.
sources says LTTE cadres retreated with their dead comrades to the Mullativu, the last stronghold of LTTE.
Meanwhile more than 60 tamil civilians arrives to the government controlled areas from Mullativu , searching protection of Srilanka government.