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 14th June 1998 |
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Re invention of the sports saloonAlfa Romeo's new medium segment model,The Alfa156,is a sports saloon in a great tradition,created to reinterpret the brand ethos in the light of the most advanced automotive engineering. Here is a car that contains Alfa Romeo's heritage of sports character and superlative engines within a design which inherits all the elegance of the Italian school. This is a car that excites in appearance and performance. Saloon that sets new standards in handling and driving pleasure,while epitomizing a sports car concept that incorporates all the comfort and elegance of a luxury saloon. At 4.43 metres long,1.74 wide and 1.41high ,the Alfa 156 is an assertive yet compact saloon with 2.595 mm wheel base (5mm more than the Alfa 155).It is a safe,sturdily built car with the ability to transmit all its engine power to the wheels. This car's exciting styling is highlighted by a number of distinguishing features,unique aesthetic details that proclaim its powerful personality and make it instantly recognizable. As befits a saloon with a distinctly sporty character, the interior is built around the driver's seat.Facing him he will find the classic sports car array of two round instrument dials:speedometer and rev counter. The gear lever is positioned high, close to the steering wheel,to be in easy reach.At the centre of the wraparound facia a console holds three smaller dials also circular and oriented towards the driver;the optional built -in radio,the climate control commands and ashtray are positioned lower down. An extroadinary car for road holding,handling and driverbility ,the Alfa 156 owes most of its excellent road manners to its suspension layout. The double wishbone arrangement at the front combines the superlative stability of front wheel drive with exceptionally precise steering. This configuration maximizes tyre contact with the road surface,independent of any body shell or suspension movement,for optimum grip on bend,in acceleration and braking.
Swarnamahal goes with the latest to Las VegasSwarnamahal Jewellers, will move into the international jewellery market when they unveil an entire range of custom designed new jewellery at the international JCK convention in Las Vegas next month. Company sources say the new venture will be a separate enterprise. The new company EAP Expo (Pvt) Ltd. will retain the Swarnamahal brand name for overseas marketing. Swarnamahal is also set to open their first overseas outlet in Singapore next month."This is a logical and necessary step for us given our strength and dominance in the local market", said a senior official of the company. The showroom is in the prestigious Orchard Road shopping district and promotional strategies have been planned for the launch. According to master designer Bernard Mederipitya, the General Manager of EAP Expo, the entire range of jewellery to be displayed in Las Vegas was designed specifically for the overseas market."The initial offering will be three separate collections of gem studded gold jewellery, with the emphasis on Sapphires and other Sri Lankan stones",he said. In accordance with western tastes and current trends in the world-wide jewellery industry the collections consist of simple yet delicate designs with the central emphasis being on the stone. The first of the three ranges, the Peacock Collection , comprises "delicately designed jewellery set with Sri Lankan Sapphires," according to Mr. Nanda Nakkavita, the marketing executive of, EAP Expo. The sapphires in this collection are magnificent , ranging from lustrous blues and yellows to dazzling pinks. The Sunset Collection also features Sri Lankan Sapphires. However this range consists of a fusion of the multihued beauty of sapphires amidst the dazzling brilliance of Diamonds. According to Mr. Mederipitiya this is essentially a collection of wedding jewellery, and was designed with this in mind. Finally, the Rainbow collectioin is a dazzling array of Sri Lankan stones. The designs here are simple and elegant. Attention is focused on the stones themselves rather than design. Many of the items feature two or more different stones creating an interesting contrast and mix and of colours.
Infotel will focus on Lanka's potentialInfotel Lanka which has built a reputation as one of the largest lT events of South Asia, aims to primarily give attention to the tremendous potential of the Sri Lankan IT industry taking into account the phenomenal progress that has been made in the field. A wide spectrum of products ranging from regional data base management technologies to 3-D interactive modelling is now available in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, with the Government's declaration of 1998 as the "Year of Information Technology" Infotel's role has broadened even further. The Principal Sponsors of Infotel '98 are themselves Firms with a strong involvement in the field of IT. They are Lanka Internet Services Ltd., Sri Lanka Telecom, Suntel (Pvt) Ltd., Debug Computer Peripherals (Pvt) Ltd,, Datamini Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Springfield Data Systems (Pvt) Ltd and East-West Information Systems Ltd to name just a few. Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) is the National Telecommunication Service Provider in Sri Lanka. Equipped with unparalleled resources, manpower, expertise and technology only SLT can boast of a network of communications that covers the entire country and extends virtually to all parts of the globe. SLT has the largest customer base of telecommunications in Sri Lanka which reached 350,000 in March 1998 and provides coin collection public telephones on a nationwide basis. Its switching and transport network, supported by national and international telecommunication links, serve as the foundation for all other telecom venture companies in the country. Currently SLT operates 263 telephone exchanges in the island with a switching capacity of 457,000. SLT provides worldwide connectivity through its international gateways. Two submarine cables complement the three satellite earth stations to provide access to the global telecommunication networks. SLT's two gateway exchanges also form part of this network. With these facilities SLT is able to supply a reliable high-quality link to 210 countries including IDD facilities to 146 countries. In the view of bringing telecommunication facilities within the reach of more people in Sri Lanka, SLT plans to provide 300,000 new telephone connections within 1998 & 99. Furthermore, corporate services such as ISDN, Video Conferencing, Frame Relay, Concert Packet Services are also in the pipeline for 1998. Lanka Internet is a BOI company and is the pioneering Internet Service Provider in Sri Lanka, backed by Central Finance, Lanka Ventures, Esjay Electronics and International Internet Services, Boston, USA. With a customer base of over 4000 and as the only ISP with a 24 hour help-desk and the highest band width of 256K upgrading of 512K, Lanka Internet is connected to United States SPRINT on the SEA ME WE 11 fiber optic submarine cable.
Thai shippers lash foreign linesForeign container lines have been accused of exploiting Thailand's shippers. The National Shippers' Council claims the liners have raised freight rates and slapped additional charges on exporters' goods without thought for the position of Thailand's shippers amid Asia's current economic difficulties. Shippers' leaders have condemned foreign liners over their ''arbitrary and unpredictable'' rate rises. They have singled out for criticism the Asia West Bound Rate Agreement rise of US$ 150 per-TEU and $300 per-FEU announced in July. The shippers point out that AWRA raised freight rates by $100 and $200 per TEU and FEU in January. They have also voiced concerns at the $300 increase in freight rates per box introduced in May by the Anera group. The NSC, which represents more than 2,000 exporters, says Thai shippers are handicapped by their lack of bargaining power with the foreign liners. Efforts to negotiate with shipping lines over freight rates foundered when the liners said they had no legal authority to hold talks. Thai shippers also say they are obstructed by the lack of legal requirements for foreign liners to register a representative in Thailand, as well as by the absence of other legal measures. Thailand is said to suffer a geographical disadvantage because ocean-going ships prefer to carry higher-value cargoes from Japan en route to Thailand, leaving less space for less expensive Thai freight such as canned foods. The current shortage of space means more than 3,000 boxes of foodstuffs are overdue in Singapore because of lack of space. Cargoes such as textiles are considered to be preferable because they are lighter to ship. The Thai government has recently approved a maritime business bill designed to compel foreign liners to unveil freight rate adjustments at least 60 days before they are implemented. They will also be obliged to have a legal representative in the country, to give shippers an avenue for negotiations within 15 days of news of the rate adjustment. However, Thai shippers claim the bill was halted by the transport ministry when it was reviewed by the Judicial Council. The transport ministry reportedly said there had been opposition from a Thai-European business council. There was also said to have been protest from the Dutch and US embassies, which had maintained that the stricter rules were against the spirit of free trade. (Asian Shipper) Hanjin Shipping celebrates 21st AnniversaryOn March 25, Hanjin hosted a ceremony to celebrate its 21st anniversary. Since 1977, Hanjin Shipping has undergone rapid advancement to become one of the youngest global carriers in the industry, whilst at the same time maintaining service levels to our customers. Hanjin's strategic investment to establish main trunk routes, dedicated terminals and the development of its infrastructure, has established itself as one of today's top global carriers. Following the merger with Korea Shipping Corporation (KSC) in 1988, HJS has steadily diversified its business by introducing new container and bulk vessels and developing logistics operations in key service areas. The company started its business with one 750 TEU-class container vessel. Hanjin now operates a fleet of 48 owned vessels. Last year, Hanjin transported more than 1.6 million TEU of container cargo and 55 million tons of bulk cargo. This has been achieved principally because of the hard work and competitive spirit of the people at Hanjin. Employees who have served with HJS for 10, 20, 25 and 30 years were recognized for their loyal service. In all, 164 employees were shown recognition. In his speech, President Cho Sooho appreciated employees' contributions to the companyand said'.Although present conditions are difficult, I believe that based on our past experience, we can successfully endure the opposing crisis intelligently as long as all employees' mindset is focused on unity and strong determination. I also believe that the present crisis will be an opportunity for us to move forward to the next phase in our company's growth."
Air base to become container terminalA former US air force base on Luzon island in the Philippines is being groomed for development into a container terminal. Initial plans for Wallace Air Station had called for the construction of a modest 33-hectare port, but the Bases Conversion Development Authority, which administers the development of all former US bases in the Philippines, has said that as the site is so well located it would be best to spend more money turning it into a world-class facility. The authority has therefore proposed a much larger-scale 250-hectare project costing an estimated US$1 billion, that will ultimately provide container handling and ship repair operations and an airport suitable for medium-haul aircraft such as Boeing 737s. The former base lies on La Union province's Poro Point, and opens onto the South China Sea. The development authority claims it is significantly closer to Hong Kong and Kaohsiung - both busy trans-shipment hubs - than any of the Philippines' current container ports, giving a significant fillip to its chances. The proposed project would require the reclamation of about one square kilometre, and the authority says it has already aroused interest of overseas companies in becoming part of a joint venture in the reclamation. (Asian Shipper)
Strategy 2002: putting Sri Lanka on the-hi-tech mapSitting on a silicon valley Quartz mines key to hi-tech prosperity? By Asiff Hussein
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Early
twentieth century writer Sholom Aleichem's Yiddish story Fiddler on the
Roof expanded into a book by Joseph Stein became a highly successful Broadway
musical.
attempt
and present with imagination and skill.
movement
on stage captivated the audience.
his
daughters.
I will not avoid doing what I think is right; though
it should draw on me the whole artillery of libels; all that falsehood
and malice can invent, or the credulity of a deluded populace can swallow.
Once for all, let it be understood, 'that no endeavours of this kind will
influence any man who presently sit here" said Lord Mansfield . The
Sunday Observer, the official organ of the Government, on June 7 1998 published
as its main news item in 36 pt banner headline " Accused UNP politico
at dinner with HC judge" and the news item read "A High ranking
UNP politician, against whom a case is pending in the High Court, is reported
to have met that particular Judge hearing the case over DINNER (emphasis
mine) at the Blue Oceanic Hotel in Negombo recently. The meeting is said
to have been arranged by a Magistrate who has plans to contest the forthcoming
Provincial Council elections on the UNP ticket. 
Another
High Court Judge who is also said to be a good friend of the Magistrate
made the trio at the dinner session. The Magistrate concerned has already
made arrangements to contest the elections and is also said to have close
connection with the underworld. According to judicial sources, the meeting
over the dinner and the newly cultivated friendship between the UNP politician
and the High Court judge, may have a significant impact on the judgment
in the case" The same news item, which was carried in the Silumina
of the same date, had a slightly different banner headline. The accused
UNP politico has been elevated to a leader of the UNP. According to the
Silumina, the alleged meeting of the accused, who is according to the news
item a front line leader of the UNP, at the Blue Oceanic Hotel was at LUNCH.
(emphasis mine). Anyone with a modicum of intelligence would inquire how
two newspapers published at Lake House could make a mistake as to whether
the accused politico sat for lunch or dinner with the High Court judge.
Unless the sleuth or the scribe saw the High Court Judge and the Accused
sitting for lunch and continued eating till dinner.
The
rationale behind this attack is obvious. The President and the lesser personae
of the government have been elevated to power by the people of this country,
who believed the propaganda outbursts of these self proclaimed messiahs,
who promised they would with their life and blood protect the judiciary
from the humiliation that the august institution was subjected to during
the JRJ regime. 
Three
sisters Salini, Sambavi and Samalai Kanagasabapathy, disciples of Kalasuri
Smt. Vasugy Jegatheesvaran (Natya Kala Mandhir - Academy of Fine Arts)
will perform their Bharatha Natya Arangetram today at 5.45 p.m. at the
Ramakrishna Hall, Wellawatta. They are the children of Mr. & Mrs. V.
Kanagasabapathi, and one student of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya.
There
are diverse forms of flash floods- floods that suddenly inundate a region
with lightning speed . They may occur within an hour or less of a rain
or thunderstorm, or may be a sudden flood overnight. Some may not describe
the latter as flash floods.
The
Visitor Centre at Muthurajawela has established itself as a successful
venture- combining tourism and nature protection.
The
adjoining Rangali Island is linked by a wood and steel bridge to the main
island and it is here that guests, who arrive by sea plane, are met. Rangali
Island features 30 water villas which are built on stilts over the clear
blue waters of the Indian Ocean.
Druvinkas
paintings are somehow intrin sically resistant to the efforts of language
to apprehend them. The last time I wrote about them, the artist had given
me a narrative clue; she said they were triggered by the plight of the
Hutu refugees she had seen on a TV screen. This time when asked about her
most recent work, she said they were just compositions with figures, and
after some hesitation, she added this time the figures could be of children,
the thousands of children in the modern world who are displaced, orphaned,
sick and starving: in Sudan, Iraq and North Korea. 
Nasireen
Samdin, a Malay artist who paints in the universal medium and writes his
literary contribution in Sinhala, poses interesting questions to the interpreters
of his works.
Sujatha
Jayawardena - one of my oldest and certainly, dearest friends passed away
just a short time ago. In the days following her death I was to learn with
near disbelief of the length, breadth, height and scope of her admirable
life. 
On
May 27 this couple celebrated 50 years of life together. Both blessed with
a sense of elegance and style, they have lived a life of love and service
for those less blessed than themselves. 
Siva,
then a Miss Dassanaike was at Ladies College and was captain of both the
netball and tennis teams. They were an unusual couple, since their wedding,
recalled JPO, was sandwiched between a netball match scheduled for the
day before the wedding and a dog show a day after the wedding. 
JPO
said, I owe a great deal in my life to Walter Stanley Senior whose birthday
was on May 10. I was greatly privileged to come under his influence since
he stayed with us while teaching at University College.
Ven.
Nagitha Thero did not request or want the publicity. But, he conceded,
the students deserved it. I also hope that what we are trying to do will
be an example to others.
His
idea was well received by the staff. Especially by Joseph Yogarajah, one
of the three Tamil lecturers in the faculty, who is greatly involved with
the Tamil Day presentations. Yogarajah studied Sinhala at Kelaniya two
decades ago. Today he teaches Tamil to Sinhala students.
Some
scenes from the scandalous video tape promoting tourism in Sri Lanka
The
Cabinet granted approval in October, 1997, for the production of the documentary
as a tourist promotion effort, Sri Lanka Tourist Board Chairman H.M.S.
Samaranayake, told The Sunday Times.
Basil
Rodrigo has been appointed as the Regional Officer for rugby in the Western
Province. 
This
was evident at Galle in the Second Test when they crashed to an innings
defeat and at the SSC pitch too, they repeated the performance to lose
by 164 runs and the series where Murali had a rich haul of 19 wickets (Man
-of-the-series), while Bandaratilleke had 16 wickets in the three Tests.
The duo were ably supported by Kumar Dharmasena, who bowled well in the
Galle Test.