By Quintus Perera - Asian Tribune

At the Annual General Meeting of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka held at the BMICH,in an overview of the Tourism Industry it is indicated that the year 2007 saw a set-back in tourism with tourist arrivals declining by 11.7 percent to 494,008 compared to 559,603 in 2006. The overview indicated that travel advisories issued by major tourist originating countries including the UK, Germany, Australia, Italy and France were a detriment to the progress of the tourism industry.

Asian Tribune – Sri Lanka SL Bureau

Government of Sri Lanka hailed Indian government’s victory on Tuesday and said it is another victory for Sri Lanka. Addressing a special press briefing at the parliament complex on Wednesday Minister Maithreepala Sirisena said it is a blessing for India and Sri Lanka. He said government has rejected LTTE’s so-called peace offer but said the UNP’s behavior on the government decision is shameful. "Our troops are now marching towards the Kilinochchi and Mullativu –LTTE’s heartland. But the UNP does not encourage our troops to end the terrorism, he said.

Bogollagama & Stephen SmithSri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama urged Australia to proscribe the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the separatist and terrorist outfit of Sri Lanka. "Such a measure would provide the legal framework for the authorities to take effective action against fund raising and propaganda activities by the LTTE and its fronts operating on Australian soil, he said. Rohitha Bogollagama, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister arrived in Singapore yesterday morning to participate in the 15th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). On the sidelines of the conference Sri Lanka’s Minister met the Foreign Ministers of number of Asian Countries as well as that of Australia.

By Shenali Waduge

Would anyone disagree that the distribution of wealth & resources in the world is unequal? It was not so but for some reasons or other we have two extremes - nations that are extremely rich & nations that are extremely poor. We are aware that one quarter of the world’s population live in the developed North & has four fifths of the world’s wealth at its disposal, while the majority of the developing nations lie south of the equator. Of the "Rich" Luxembourg comes top with an average person earning $40,000 per year, then there is the United States of America the world's most powerful and wealthiest country, with a GDP of $8650 billion - about $31,330 per person.….comparing this to $63 what a Sudanese would earn…there is certainly a visible difference.

Sri Lanka Government is looking at a National Policy for Durable Solutions for those affected by conflict and UN has come forward to support the efforts of the Government. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) completed a review of the Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) which outlines funding requirements for humanitarian programs for Sri Lanka during 2008. The review highlighted key humanitarian priorities and also highlighted key operational challenges in reaching those displaced by conflict in Sri Lanka.

By Asif Haroon Raja

The long march which started with lot of fanfare and evoked phenomenal response from all segments of society ended on a somewhat disappointing note. Somehow high expectations were pinned on the much awaited and much hyped long march that it would not only succeed in reinstating the deposed judges but also dig the last nail in the coffin of Musharaf. The ones who were watching the grand show from the sidelines were equally disillusioned. The leaders of the legal fraternity that have been eulogised as heroes have come under scathing criticism. It is widely speculated that Zardari with the help of Nawaz and Aitzaz had a key role in winding up long march inconclusively.

By Quintus Perera - Asian Tribune

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) provides an opportunity for Chartered Financial Analyst to interact and share their knowledge iwth aspiring investment professionals to provide best practices in research to the next generation of analysts, to provide experience in a real-world setting to complement students' academic curriculum and to develop interest in securities analysis and the investment profession at top universities and business schoos.

By Atul Cowshish - Syndicate Features

If reports of his ‘defiance’ of a diktat from the CPI(M) general secretary, Prakash Karat, are true the Lok Sabha speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, would have saved the high office that he holds from becoming an ill-chosen pawn in the battle between the Left-inspired opposition and the Congress-led UPA. This battle under Karat’s overall command has two purposes: throw out the government and pave the way for another dispensation that may well be dominated by the saffron brigade.

By M Rama Rao, India Editor, Asian Tribune

Manmohan SinghAfter all the high voltage suspense 24 x 7 TV channels have built up, the result in the two-day debate on a motion of trust in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whom the Left 'divorced' a fortnight back, was a tame affair. The result said it all: 275 votes in favour and 256 against in a house with an effective strength of 541. The Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and a MP from Kerala, PC Thomas who is under court orders not to vote, did not take part in the division called at around 7 pm on Tuesday. There were ten abstentions and cross votings, which affected BJP, TDP, Akali Dal, JD(S) and BJD. The Left, however, kept its flock together demonstrating in the process its USP party loyalty.

Our Lady of MadhuThe sacred statue of Our Lady of Madhu has reached the Bishop House in Mannar until its eventual journey back to the Madhu Church. It is obvious that efforts by Rev.Dr. Rayappu, Bishop of Mannar to make a case for keeping the statue away from Madhu has failed. Catholics in Italy especially in Napoli and Rome were sending petition to the Holy See and specially the Papal Nuncio in Colombo who always opposed the LTTE terrorists for having interceded in the matter and brought final victory for the Catholics in Sri Lanka. Catholics in Italy will assemble as a group and thank the Holy See for the intervention. They are planning to have a special mass with progressive Catholic Priests for answering their prayers.

Janaka Perera in Colombo

The Jaathika Hela Urumaya has expressed serious concern over the proposed Indo-Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and conveyed the party's apprehensions to Minister G.L. Peiris. At a recent discussion with the minister, the Venerable Athureliye Ratana said that CEPA could turn out to be the same as SAPTA (South Asia Preferential Trade Agreement) or even worse.

Recognizing the imperative need to meet the challenges of the food and energy crises faced world over, the forthcoming SAARC Summit will provide a platform to discuss the establishment of a mechanism to harness and share resources within the region, which would enable the effective use of the available resources, stated Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, when he met on Monday, with a ten member delegation from the European Parliament handling relations with the Countries of South Asia, who are on a five day visit to Sri Lanka. He further stated that such sharing would further facilitate connectivity amongst the South Asian nations.

Asian Tribune - Sri Lanka Bureau

Six Sri Lankan fishermen stranded at the port of Al Quseir on Egypt 's Red Sea coast, have been helped to return home to Sri Lanka by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The group, who left Sri Lanka’s west coast in March 2008, drifted into Egyptian waters when their boat developed technical problems. At Al Quseir they struggled without proper food and medicine, and had no means of getting home. The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sri Lankan Mission in Cairo then contacted IOM for help.

By Stephen Long, Los Angeles

Well, well, well. Now it’s getting really interesting. According to the Guardian yesterday, Bruce Fein, Esq., the infamous former Deputy United States Attorney and Beltway legal and PR mercenary who has been representing the alleged LTTE front organization, Tamils for Justice, appears to have a few problems on his hands. (It’s not exactly "alleged" since it is headed by Jayantha Gnanakone, who’s been pimping for Prabhakaran and the LTTE for thirty-five years.)

Palestine is a best tourist attraction. West bank is a very safe place to meet the business community and the country on the whole is very peaceful. Sri Lanka’s Representative in Palestine, Dr. T.Jayasinghe said,"I wish to inform all Sri Lankans that they need not think twice about visiting Palestine. I have been to most of the important cities in West Bank to meet the business community and the local political leaders and there is no problem in moving about. The country on the whole is peaceful. This being the summer season there are a large number of tourists from many countries coming to Palestinian cities of historical importance. Mount of Temptation and Dead Sea in Jericho are important tourist attractions.