Sick of ailing hospitals
Doctors of the Government Medical Officers Association were out on strike from Monday demanding another salary revision after President Mahinda Rajapakse cancelled the circular issued to revise the salaries of public servants, following a discussion he had with the public service trade unions. The OPD, at the National Hospital, yesterday was a scene of patients, who had come from the wee hours of the morning, waiting to be treated by the few doctors who were available. This woman patient who too waited for a doctor for hours finally had fallen asleep on a bench at the OPD. In the background are the vacant chairs which are usually full on all days of the week.
Pic by Nishan S.Priyantha

• Objecting to re-introduction of cancelled circular
  Trade Union Fed threatens general strike
  The 800,000-member strong Trade Union Federation of the public sector is threatening to call a general strike if the government brings back the Circular 1 - 2006, which was earlier cancelled by President Mahinda Rajapakse, as demanded by the GMOA which has called on its members to strike.
  
  
• Gas should not have been sold to foreigners - Bhaila
  The LP Gas and Lanka Gas Companies should not have been sold to a foreign company but to a local private sector company, Deputy Minister of Plan Implementation Hussain Bhaila said Monday (6).
   
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• British Charity Commission report exposes TRO-terror links
  The exposure of the TRO titled "British Charities Fund Terrorists" was published in the Island on 4th October 2000. In the evening of the same day, SBS television in Australia also ran an in-depth investigation into the TRO. Simultaneous exposure of the TRO in Sri Lanka and Australia, led the LTTE to suspect that an orchestrated offensive against its overseas fund raising operations was underway.
   
• My loving, respectful image of Prophet Muhammad
  "None of you (truly) believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." (Prophet Muhammad)
  The above citation from the Prophet Muhammad's hadith popped into my mind as I was following the news here in the U.S. on the worldwide protests staged against the insulting cartoons of the Prophet. Earlier, I received an email from a friend with the website address containing the 12 cartoons, and also from an email group of which I am a member.
   
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• Growers encouraged to increase production
  Highest ever rubber price recorded
  The highest ever rubber in Sri Lanka’s plantation history was recorded yesterday with RSS No. 1 going at Rs. 200 per kilo gram.
  Forbes and Walker Commodity Brokers (Pvt.) Ltd. reported the sale of Kg 1,417 of Hiriwinna Estate at this price. The Crepe 1X grade too reached the highest price of Rs. 198 per Kg at yesterday’s auctions.
   

• Telekom Malaysia eyes stake in India’s Spice Telecom
  Malaysia’s biggest telecommunication operator, Telekom Malaysia, said its wholly-owned unit TM International is in preliminary discussions to buy a stake in India’s Spice Telecom Ltd.
  Telekom Malaysia said in a statement late Monday that the proposed deal was consistent with TMs continued interest in India, which "we see as complementing our other South Asian investments in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan."

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• Outplay South Africa by 76 runs in Hobart ‘decider’
  Sri Lanka enter VB Series finals
  Two well made half centuries, which finally proved match-winning feats, by skipper Marvan Atapattu (80) and Kumar Sangakkara (62), followed by a great display of leg-spin bowling by ‘super-sub’ Malinga Bandara (4 for 31 in 9 overs), helped Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 76 runs, in a decisive VB tri-series encounter, putting them in the best-of-three series final, at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, yesterday.
  Sri Lanka, after winning the toss and deciding to bat first on a batting-friendly pitch, fought on to score 257 for 9 in 50 overs and then restricted South Africa from the early stages, never allowing them to find their feat, before finally bowling them out for 181 in 43.4 overs.
   
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  Tasmania, AUSTRALIA: Sri Lankan spinner Malinga Bandara celebrates taking a wicket as he tears through the South African batting order during their one-day match played in Hobart, 7 February 2006. Sri Lanka defeated South Africa by 76 runs and will meet Australia in the first final of the triangular series in Adelaide, 10 February. (AFP)