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Easter messages
Shun greed, hatred, says President
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in her Easter message called on the people of Sri Lanka to shun greed, hatred and all things that stand in the way of peace.

Quoting from Psalm 37:11 she said people must humble themselves before the sublime truths set before us by Jesus Christ and avoid all things that stand in the way of peace.

"The people of this nation have for too long been blinded by greed and a war of illusion and experienced the bitterness of hatred and animosity, and peace today is the burning need of our war-weary peoples".

The President called for prayer on Easter Sunday for the early dawn of peace anticipated by all Sri Lankans.

A time to hope for a new life: Anglican Church head
The Bishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Duleep K. de Chickera identified Easter as a time to hope for transformation and a new life for all facing hardship and struggle. This year, he said, Easter was being celebrated throughout the world amidst human suffering and injustice, referring to the several wars taking place around the globe, poverty, international debt, disregard for the environment and finally, Sri Lanka's crucial journey towards peace despite sporadic set backs and tensions.

Bishop de Chickera said, "As Sri Lankans we are called to die to violence and oppression and rise as an integrated caring and just society. We are called to die to ethnic suspicion and animosity and rise with more visible social trust."

As citizens of the world, he said, we were called to die to the evil and selfish ambitions of the more affluent and powerful that disregarded life and to rise as a liberated humanity.

"Good Friday reminded people that new hope and life are only possible through the suffering, rejection and death of Christ. It becomes one of the most important festivals of the Christians as it was a time to recall that God raised Christ from the dead and thus they celebrate thanksgiving, the gifts of new hope and new life in the risen Christ", he said.

Producer, director in row over ‘Ponmani’
A dispute has arisen over the screening of the film 'Ponmani' at an international film festival on the grounds that it violates the agreement between the director and the producer.

The film produced by Muttiah Rajasingam and directed by Dharmasena Pathiraja has now become the subject of a debate with the latter wanting to screen the film in Singapore.

Production Manager of 'Ponmani', Abeyan Rajadurai said that the screening of the film by Pathiraja would amount to a breach of contract between the two parties as there had been no agreement allowing the director to screen the film without the producer's permission.

Mr. Rajadurai said that he had raised these concerns with Mr. Pathiraja when he was contacted to obtain the reels of the film. However, he said, it seemed that Mr. Pathiraja possessed the reels of 'Ponmani' and would be going ahead with the screening without the producer's permission. He said this would also infringe the copyright the producer has on a film.

President on official visit to Bangladesh
President Chandrika Kumaratunga arrived in Dhaka, Bangladesh yesterday for a two day official visit aimed at further strengthening the existing close ties between the two countries.

President Kumaratunga was received at Zia International Airport by Prof. Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed, President of Bangladesh and Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, with full state honours including a twenty one gun salute and a ceremonial guard of honour.
The President is scheduled to have talks with the Bangladeshi PM today.

No change in venue
The next round of peace talks between the government and the LTTE will be held as scheduled in Thailand from April 29 to May 2 despite speculation about a change in venue due to the SARS outbreak, Peace Secretariat Chief Bernard Goonatillake said yesterday.

Earlier reports had suggested the venue might be changed to Oslo but Mr. Goonatillake said SARS had hit more than 25 countries and there would be little purpose in changing the venue.

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