The West, Wickremesinghe & coat-hanger

Vol. 31 No.25 Wednesday 14th December, 2011, 48 pages Rs. 20 Registered in as a Newspaper - Late City Edition

WILKINSON THE NUCLEAR FRESH BATTLE LOOMS New UNP leader RETIRES FROM IMBROGLIO BETWEEN EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL — II by Sunday? HR COURT AND UK 8 10 11 14 RUGBY Dambulla, Bandarawela protesters tear gassed The police fired tear gas perishable items. in Dambulla and Riot police swung into Bandarawella yesterday action after repeated calls for afternoon to disperse those the traders and farmers not protesting against the to block the Dambulla junc- mandatory use of plastic tion were ignored. The police crates for the transport and also baton charged protesters storage of several types of resulting in street clashes.

Hezbollah identifies undercover CIA officers China offers to The militant group Hezbollah has revealed the identities of CIA officers work- ing undercover in Lebanon, a blow to agency operations in strengthen SL the region and the latest salvo in an escalating spy war. Vegetable traders and transporters protesting in yesterday. Pic Nishan S. Priyantha (More pics on P7)

US: Protesters block armed forces ports, streets Army Chief meets Chinese delegation More than 1,000 Crate dispute Occupy Wall Street pro- testers blocked cargo BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO trucks at some of the West Coast’s busiest ports Monday, forcing termi- Close on the heels of China’s commitment to fur- nals in Oakland, California, Portland, Oregon, Army Chief Lt. Gen. Jagath ther strengthen the Sri and Washington state, to halt operations. Jayasuriya’s return from Lankan military. The seven- India, a high level Chinese member delegation is led by deadlocked defence delegation met him General Ma Xiaotian, in Colombo yesterday (13) to Deputy Chief of General UN rights chief says discuss post-war coopera- Staff of the Chinese Protests sweep across country tion. People’s Liberation Army 5,000 dead in Syria Authoritative sources (PLA). BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO More than told The Island that during In the run-up to yester- hose running the country’s premier vegetable mandatory the use of plastic crates for the trans- 5,000 people the meeting at the army day’s pow-vow, Lt. Gen. and fruit wholesale market in the Pettah yes- port and storage of several types of perishable have died in the headquarters, the visiting Jayasuriya declared that Tterday launched a massive protest opposite items. nine-month-long delegation had reiterated the Fort Railway Station demanding that the gov- Traders blocked traffic for several hours in spite Syrian uprising, ernment reverse its controversial decision to make U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay said Monday. Coming or going? Podi Hamuduruwo’s birthday today Japan likely to buy Ven. Galaboda US F-35 fighters Gnanissara Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Japan’s govern- Gangaramaya temple at ment has selected the Hunupitiya, Colombo 2, Lockheed Martin F-35 affectionately known stealth fighter to bol- throughout the country as ster its aging air force and is likely to ‘Podi Hamuduruwo’ cele- announce the multibillion-dollar deal by the brates his birthday today. end of the week, news reports said Tuesday.

Brain science in court Mangala wants Criminal behavior can’t be blamed on how someone’s brain is wired, new theatre at least not yet, says a report from British experts who examined how neu- named after CBK roscience is being used in some court cases. BY DASUN EDIRISINGHE A section of opposition MPs yesterday claimed that it was shameful to name the newly constructed performing arts theatre after President Rajapaksa as it was initiated New Zealand’s Labour before he took the office. UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera, in a letter Party picks new leader Beleaguered Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe did not to President Rajapaksa, requested that the the- New Zealand’s betray his predicament one bit when he gave away awards of excellence to atre, which is to be opened on December 15, be opposition Labour twenty leading companies together with Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne on named after former President Chandrika Party announces a Monday night. He even cut a dashing figure as can be seen above when he Kumaratunga. new leadership team got up to give away the prizes. The award scheme was organized by He said that the project had been started in following a poor show- Business Today. In the background is the man who is plotting his ouster, 2005 during the Sajith Premadasa. (Pic by Nishan S. Priyantha) ing in the country’s tenure of national elections. Kumaratunga, Namal embarrassed by excessive but the plaque erected during coverage of Rajapaksa family the laying of the Russian billionaire to foundation stone BY INDRAJITH had been rival Putin at polls MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday lashed out at the State media removed. for causing trouble for the Rajapaksas. The Hambantota District Mikhail Prokhorov, “According to MP told parliament the recommenda- Russia’s third richest that needless media man, has announced tions of a com- coverage, both in the mittee headed by he will run against State-run electronic Prof. Roland Vladimir Putin in next and print media had Justice Ministry to Silva and Prof. ! resulted in negative train cops on Human year’s Russian presi- Senaka dency. feelings among the Rights. people towards the Bandaranayake, ! Will they ever learn Rajapaksas. whats’ right?