A soldier stands guard at a funeral for fallen Air Force officer at a suburb of Colombo on Thursday. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels killed 14 servicemen at the Anuradhapura military base October 22. A group of 20 Black Tiger suicide bombers destroyed a fleet of aircraft at the Anuradhapura base, knocking out the air surveillance capability of the military.  AFP

• Exchange and interest rates down after controversial bond issue
  Ajit Nivard Cabraal
  The rupee-dollar exchange rate had appreciated by about one rupee following the successful conclusion of Sri Lanka’s first international sovereign bond issue raising US$ 500 million with a five-year maturity at a rate of 8.25% per year, Central Bank Governor Ajit Nivard Cabraal said.
   

• Free currency conversion at People’s Bank
  "We will not charge a commission or a service charge from those wanting to exchange US dollars, Sterling pounds and Euro notes into Sri Lanka rupees," the bank said in a news release.

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• Ethnic problem and human rights
  My second justification in that article was that a continued failure to counter the LTTE militarily would have led to the establishment of Eelam. The LTTE would have again closed the Mawilaru anicut, and proceeded to take sufficient territory to set up a viable Eelam. The international community would have seen the State and people of Sri Lanka as acquiescing in the setting up of Eelam, and proceeded to accord it recognition. Probably the peace bigwigs in Norway would have wanted to give President Rajapakse the Nobel Peace prize, a fitting reward for the greatest apostle of non-violence since Mahatma Gandhi.
   

• Political Watch
  LTTE, UNP, PA, and the resilience of a democracy
  Ven Galaboda Gnanissara (Podi Hamuduruwo). Some time ago, Podi Hamuduruwo had given Wickremesinghe a mighty telling off at the height of the UNP campaign to have defense secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse removed from his post. The monk had expressed the fullest confidence in Gotabhaya and had taken Wickremesinghe to the cleaners for having suggested that he be replaced by Janaka Perera, because Wickremesinghe himself had never appointed Perera as defense secretary when he had the opportunity to do so.

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• The Mahatma's quirks, some impish, some dictatorial
  - Nan
  
  We are familiar with the truly abominable comment Churchill made on seeing a picture of Gandhi visiting the Viceroy in Delhi. His comment to Irvin: "a seditious Middle Temple lawyer, now posing as a fakir of a type well-known in the East, striding half-naked up the steps of the Viceregal Palace." Irvin ignored him and later when asked whether Gandhi had been very tiresome, Irvin replied: "Some people found Our Lord very tiresome."

• The Noose
  by Tisaranee Gunasekara
  'An international human rights presence in Sri Lanka would be an important step in improving human rights, accountability, and the rule of law, and ultimately resolving the conflict in Sri Lanka', McCormack said Monday" (International Herald Tribune - 22.10.2007; emphasis mine). This is not a request we can dismiss lightly. If we prove to be obdurate - and offensive - President Bush may well sign the Leahy Amendment into law, thereby depriving us of vital American aid, weapons and military technology. Not a very sensible way to behave, particularly in the light of the very heavy losses sustained at Saliyapura.

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• Prima's operation and its socio-economic
  contributions to Sri Lanka
  The Government was freed from the financial burdens in maintaining stockpiles of wheat grain, wheat flour and other supplies, which amounted at that time to about USD 60 million. Indeed, based on today's wheat prices, this financial burden would exceed USD 120 million.
   

• Rights issue cash helps JKH boost half-year profit 45%
  The results indicate that for the six interest income of nearly Rs. 1.1 billion for the six months under review, up from Rs. 128 million a year earlier and Rs. 11.7 billion invested in government securities.

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• The Diva Magic
  
  A dozen models, beauty queens and leaders of fashion from a vintage gone by made a startling statement on the catwalk at the Ballroom of the Galle Face Hotel, with their superb air of poise and confidence, to turn the 'Divas Are Back' into a refreshing success.
   


 

• A premiere with a difference
  
  The apple green of the lovely saree Angela Seneviratne wore had a ribbon border in red with a white design on it. The gossamer body of the saree was scattered with flowers that looked as though they were caught lying on a field of grace.

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• Armed and dangerous
  
  ‘After all, Murali is visiting the country where he has suffered his worst experiences, the country where his action has been condemned on the field, the land where his most outspoken critics can be found…’ writes Peter Roebuck in Sydney Morning Herald
   

• Strong start by Sri Lanka
  ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) - Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya hit 84 runs from 85 balls in the first session and went on to score 154 Saturday on the first day of a three-day tour match against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI.

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