JKRSOTHY: April 2010

Friday, 30 April 2010

Sura Tamil Film: Sura Review, Vijay and Tamannaah Bhatia in lead roles

Sura is a Tamil 2010 action film. Written and directed by S. P. Rajkumar. Sura film will be rocking.
Vast film of Vijay is just released and first show is running on the screen of hundreads of theaters. This film is Vijay’s 50th number of film.
Star Vijay and Tamannaa Bhatia having key roles in Sura. The film, earlier patrician as Urimai Kural, will be Vijay’s 50th film upon release.
Sura, Produced by Sangili Murugan and spreaded by Sun Pictures. Sura has been released to 800 screens all over the world today.
Vijay has avowed all through the Audio utility of Sura, that film will be his preceding “mass” film and will start picking new scripts.
Sura releasing in 112 centers which is a record in Kerala film industry.

Refugee jailed as US fights asylum grant

Baskaran Balasundaram arrived at Logan International Airport in summer 2008 with a story of torture and survival, seeking refuge from a violent civil war in his native Sri Lanka.

He told immigration officials that he had been kidnapped from his parents’ farm by a terrorist group that forced him to live like a slave at a training camp. He said he escaped, only to be captured by the Sri Lankan Army and tortured repeatedly because he is an ethnic Tamil.

He is a southern superstar. As Vikram steps into Bollywood at the age of 44 with Raavan, he is acutely aware of going where perhaps no Indian actor has gone before - playing the hero in the Hindi version and the villain in the Tamil edition.

He admits to being initially scared to be part of the Hindi version of director Mani Ratnam's Raavan but says his co-star Aishwarya Rai's brilliant performance in the Tamil venture boosted his confidence.

"Initially, I was very scared because I had this mental block. What kept me going was that Ash didn't know Tamil and she was doing so well," Vikram said.

"Had I been only doing the Hindi version, I would have been really worried. But it is also in Tamil and everyone made me feel quite comfortable," he added.

Vikram is perhaps the first actor who is doing a film in two different languages and playing two different characters in them. In the Hindi version he will be seen in the positive role as Aishwarya's husband while in Tamil he will play Beera, a negative character being essayed by Abhishek in the Hindi version.

"No one in the world has done the same film in two languages and with a different role. I think that was something that got me hooked," said Vikram.

"For many days I had to shoot simultaneously in both the languages. It was amazing. I would do a sequence then I would go and change the make-up, take out all the dirt and blood, put another design of dirt and blood and do a sequence for the second language. Usually make-up takes an hour, but for this film here I had to get ready in 10 minutes to finish the fight sequences," said Vikram.

Reports say Raavan is a modern interpretation of the epic Ramayana. Commenting on that, Vikram said 'every film has taken something from the epic'.

"It's not Ramayana. When you see the film, you may find the main character is like Rama. But the way he (Ratnam) has designed it, the perspective is totally different.

"Whatever film has been made so far, they have something from Ramayana. So when you will see the film, you might find parallels. I think it's very contemporary. He (Ratnam) just wanted to experiment," said Vikram.

Vikram said he had been wanting to work with Ratnam for a long time.

"We had been planning to work together for the last couple of years, but it didn't happen. The dates didn't match, scripts didn't work out. Finally, for this he called me," he said.

Asked whether he would cast a spell on Bollywood, he said: "I guess forgetting everything and coming here (Bollywood) and working would have bothered me. They called me and I really liked the script...

"I, of course, loved the thought that my audience was going to be much larger. There are lots of people who watch my films. Now those who don't speak Tamil even they will watch my films. That's something that excites me."

A co-production of Madras Talkies and Reliance Big Pictures, Raavan is scheduled for a June 18 release.

Aide of Sri Lanka's former military commander released on bail

The Colombo Chief Magistrate has ordered the police to release former military commander Genral (Retired) Sarath Fonseka's aide Brigadier Duminda Keppetiwalana on bail after the Attorney General had not voiced any objections.

Colombo: Sri Lanka's stock market ended the week with another record high today at Colombo Stock Exchange as local investors continued their buying spree expecting high returns while their foreign counterparts took profits from recently gained stocks.
The All-Share Price Index rose to an all-time high of 4,188.88 to exceed Tuesday's high of 4,155.00 by 0.82% while the more volatile Milanka Price Index closed 0.36% higher at 4,712.43.

Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his delegation returned to the country after a successful conclusion at the 16th South Asian Association of Regional Conference (SAARC) Summit held in Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan from April 28-29.

Elephant Pass: Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa opened a fitting memorial dedicated to fallen war heroes at Elephant Pass in the North today (30).

Secretary Rajapaksa is on a tour in the Northern region evaluating the safety and security in the region as the war-battered region is experiencing a influx of tourists, businessmen and vendors from the South.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about his government's plans to reach a political settlement with the Tamil ethnic community, which will include the setting up of a panel of eminent persons to examine all issues of discord.

Raavan was great fun: Priya Mani

Priya ManiOn Raavan:

Cannot talk much about Raavan at this point of time. All I can say is that it will be worth looking out for. I will be seen in all the three versions of the film — technically two versions because the Telugu version is a dubbed one. I don’t have any scenes with Aishwarya. But I do share screen space with Abhishek Bachchan.

And I must say it was great fun. There was never a dull moment on the sets, whenever Abhishek was around. His sense of humour was amazing. We were shooting at a village near Madhya Pradesh and the cast would get up as early as 6am and explore the place.

On Mani Ratnam:

Tamil New Year's day at the rehabilitation centre for soldiers

More than 1000 soldiers, maimed by civil war, celebrate first New Year without war together. Races, songs, dances, and the desire to return now a new life.

Ragama (AsiaNews) - Ragama, at the Ranaviru Sevan Institute of Rehabilitation, hundreds of soldiers maimed in the brutal civil war that lasted over 30 years, celebrated the Lunar New Year Tamil and Sinhala (Aluth Avurudda)on April 27. The festival, which lasted from morning to evening, took place in an highly emotional atmosphere as it was the first since the war. The veterans expressed their pride in their sacrifice for the nation, as well as their determination and confidence that they will soon resume their place in society, now that the war is over.
The veterans participated in the traditional New Year games and competitions such as grease pole climbing, pillow fights, tugs of war, balancing, pot cracking, eye-spotting, musical chairs, marathon races, wheelchair races, fancy dress competitions and many others, to the amusement of all. They also participated in the live entertainment such as the concert of the band Ranaviru who played popular melodies.
The 6 km race in a wheelchair was won by a 27 year old soldier, Lasantha Ranweera (pictured), who May 19 2008 lost his right leg on a landmine hidden during a reconnaissance in the area of Periyamadu. He spoke to AsiaNews about his delight at party and recalled how, when he saw his leg severed, he was afraid to die and prayed to Jesus to save him. Now he says he is "proud of having done his duty."

As expected Kushboo has let slip her long hidden interest in politics and is all set to join a political party. The actress who is relieved after the Supreme Court dismissing the cases filed against her for her comments on pre-marital sex has come public with her views. Kushboo now says she stands by what she said in an interview to India Today five years ago. That is she stands by the words she denied having said when activists made her life difficult with a slew of cases slapped on her. She learns things fast which a prerequisite to survive in politics.

National award winning actor Vikram is impressed by the lively nature of Abhishek Bachchan. The Tamil actor who has a significant base and following down south is awed by Abhishek Bachchan’s professionalism.

He was surprised to see how easily Abhishek managed to balance work with fun. Even while shooting in demanding conditions, Abhishek was full of life and fun but when Mani ordered he use to transform into an obedient actor forgetting about any pranks if any. In return Abhishek duly respects Vikram as an actor and addresses him as Vikram Sir. Rehearsals of a great bonding it seems.

SRI LANKA: Muslims and Tamils deal with the past

Sri Lankan Muslims displaced during the country's decades-long civil war are slowly returning home, but the challenge of reconciling with their Tamil neighbours, and their past, remains.
About 75,000 Muslims were evicted in October 1990 from the northern districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu and some parts of Vavuniya by the now-defeated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who were fighting for an independent Tamil homeland.
Since the end of the war in May last year, the question of their return or resettlement has gathered momentum.

“I’m not a man. There’s no way I could have indulged in sexual activities with women. Do a potency test on me”. That’s the sum and substance of Swami Nityananda’s startling statements to CID sleuths soon after he was brought to Bangalore after being arrested in Himachal Pradesh.

he Sri Lankan government’s overwhelming desire to be seen as the mainspring of economic development in the Tamil-speaking northern province is killing local, Tamil entrepreneurship, says Mu thukrishna Sarva na n than, director of the Point Pedro Institute of Development.

here was redemption for south Indian actress Khushboo on Wednesday after five long years of battling 23 cases filed across Tamil Nadu against her remarks on prevalence of pre-marital sex in Indian cities. Putting an end to her harassment, the Supreme Court quashed all proceedings pending against her in trial courts, saying the complaints woefully lacked in evidence.

The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, is organizing a seminar on the new procedures for applying for a visa to the United States, a U.S. Embassy press release issued today said.
According to the statement, the U.S. Embassy now requires the use of the newly-developed DS-160 non-immigrant visa (NIV) application which incorporates existing NIV forms into one interactive, online form.
The event will take place on May, 11, 2010, from 9:30am-11:30am at the Colombo Hilton. The seminar aims to provide a better understanding of U.S. visa procedures to company CEOs, HR Managers and other Senior Management Staff.

A Tamil politician has claimed that the Sri Lankan security forces have demolished the house of late LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran's parents situated at Valvettithurai in the Jaffna peninsula.
Secretary of the Tamil National Liberation Alliance M.K. Sivajilingam, told the AFP news agency Thursday that the Sri Lankan security forces destroyed the house as it has become a tourist attraction.

Sri Lanka stock market reached another high Thursday (29) at the Colombo Stock Exchange as local investors purchased shares while their foreign counterparts took profits from recently gained stocks.

The All-Share Price Index rose to an all-time high of 4,155.00 to exceed Tuesday's high of 4,134.46 by 0.50%. The more volatile Milanka Price Index barely changed to close at 4,695.39.

The 16th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) conference in the Bhutanese capital of Thimpu concluded today with the participants pledging to increase the trade and regional corporation and eliminate terrorism from the region.

During the two-day summit leaders of eight South Asian nations including Sri Lanka intensely deliberated on significant issues that affect the region including climate change, security and stability, trade, energy and food security.

Netherlands arrest ‘LTTE suspects’

Seven Tamil Tiger suspects were arrested by the authorities in the Netherlands, the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Netherlands, Grace Asirvathan, confirmed to BBC.

The arrest was made after an intensive study of the LTTE banned activities in the Netherlands, the National Criminal office said.

Southern superstar Vikram is playing Raavan and Rama in Mani Ratnam’s new film! Confused? So was the actor, who plays opposite roles in the Hindi and Tamil versions of the film “Raavan”.While in the Hindi version he plays Aishwarya Rai’s cop husband Dev, in the Tamil version he plays the brutal outlaw Veera. Both the versions were shot simultaneously.Vikram was constantly running in and out of the two completely different characters, makeup and languages, sometimes within half an hour.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Sunday hoped Tamil will be one of the Supreme Court languages in the future and as a first step it should be accepted in the Madras High Court.
Speaking at the unveiling of B.R. Ambedkar's statue in the Madras High Court premises, he said:

President Barack Obama has said it is the reckless and irresponsible speculation on the Wall Street that led to a recession and hammered Main Street across the United States.

“When I took office, we were in the midst of this historic financial crisis brought on by reckless and irresponsible speculation on Wall Street.

Police arrested seven LTTE suspects and also searched the homes and offices and seized equipment of LTTE suspects in the Netherlands.
"They are suspected of raising funds for the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) through collections, fundraisers, the sale of DVDs and calendars and illegal lotteries," said a statement from the national police.
Investigators searched 16 homes and businesses in different towns and seized computers, telephones, photos, DVDs and a cash sum of more than 40,000 euros (53,000 dollars).

uspended IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has made it clear that the battle over IPL is far from over. Modi tweeted on Monday, Apr 26, that he is still the Chairman of IPL, just a day after being suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on late Sunday, Apr 25, night as the IPL chairman,

Tamil Nadu law minister Durai Murugan told the state assembly on Friday that Nalini Murugan, serving a life term in the Vellore special prison for women in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, had made eight calls to the United Kingdom from the mobile found in her prison cell.“The state police’s Q branch is investigating the case. We have filed a fresh case against Nalini for possessing an active mobile in jail. From preliminary investigations, it has been revealed that Nalini spoke eight times to UK, once to Sri Lanka and made 22 local calls, including five to Chennai,” Durai said.

Malaysia said it has arrested and deported several leaders of the Sri Lankan separatist Tamil Tiger rebels over the past few months to prevent them setting up a hub in the country.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in a statement late Thursday he had informed Sri Lanka of the action against the unnamed leaders of the Tigers between August last year and March this year.

Soren's son apologizes to BJP for father's mistake

Apr 29: In an apparent to calm the BJP's nerves, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren's son, Hemant said on Wednesday, Apr 28, that his father was ready to resign if the BJP wants to form the government in JharkhandHemant Soren asked the BJP to reconsider its decison to withdraw support from the Soren government, adding that his father was ready to step down if he had hurt the sentiments of its coalition party by voting in favor of the UPA in the cut motion.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani is all set to meet in Thimpu on Thursady, Apr 29, for their first bilateral talk since the Sharm-el-Sheikh.

Singh and Gilani will meet on the sidelines of the Saarc summit in Bhutan.

The Tamil Nadu Government on Friday said former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassin Nalini Sriharan made calls to foreign countries, including Britain and Sri Lanka from the cell phone recovered from her in the high security Vellore Jail.

On April 20, during a routine check, prison authorities recovered cell phone from her.

Apr 28, Sri Lanka is to gift a sapling of the most sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura to India to mark the 2600th anniversary of Buddha Jayanthi.

Apr 28, Aiming to revamp his ministry and increase productivity, Sri Lanka's new Petroleum Resources Minister Susil Premajayantha has asked all the current directors and chairmen of his ministry to hand over resignations from their posts.
The Minister plans to fill the position accordingly after all the resignations were handed over, a source said.
The heads of institutions within the Ministry have been advised not to leave the island.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today met several South Asian leaders on the margins of the SAARC Summit in Thimpu, Bhutan.
President Rajapaksa held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister of Bangladesh Mrs. Sheikh Hasina Wazed and Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani.

Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris participating in the 32nd session of the SAARC Council of Ministers on Tuesday (27) in the Bhutanese capital of Thimpu held bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the meeting with his counterparts from the region.

Basil Rajapaksa to assume duties as new Tourism Minister today

Sri Lanka's newly appointed Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa is also to assume duties as the new Tourism Minister today (26).
Minister Rajapaksa is scheduled to visit the Ministry today to commence work in the respective portfolio.
He is expected to outline the new plans for the tourism industry during his meeting with the media.
The Tourism portfolio was previously held by Achala Jagoda.

A three member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Asoka de Silva today (26) postponed the hearing of the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by former Army Commander and DNA Colombo District parliamentarian General (Retired) Sarath Fonseka's wife, Anoma Fonseka on behalf of her husband.

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) is to make some major changes in the party, a opposition parliamentarian indicated today.

Addressing a media briefing at the opposition leader's office, UNP spokesman and Galle District MP Gayantha Karunatileka told reporters on Monday that the ailing party is considering some significant changes.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his delegation arrived at the Paro International Airport in Bhutan this morning to attend the 16th Summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Sri Lanka National Team to leave for T20 World Cup tomorrow

Sri Lanka National Team is scheduled to leave tomorrow for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup to be held in West Indies.

The team will have a photograph session at Sri Lanka Cricket Headquarters and receive religious blessings before their departure in the evening.

The government of Iran has granted a US$ 105 million loan to Sri Lanka for a rural electrification project.

The Power and Energy Ministry is to launch the project to supply electricity to about 1,000 villages in the rural areas of the country, the government announced.

Constituent party of the main opposition United National Front, the Democratic People's Front (DPF) that quit the opposition alliance is yet to make a final decision on its future role.

DPF Leader Mano Ganesan has said that several opposition and governing party members have had discussions with him after his party quit the UNF for being denied a National List slot.

Sri Lankan government is preparing a mini budget for the six months for the period between July to December this year a senior minister said.

The Minister told the media yesterday (23) that the period from May to June would be covered with another Vote-on-Account.

The people gave an overwhelming majority to the government with hope and expectations and the new ministers and deputy ministers need to dedicate themselves to fulfill the aspirations of the people, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

Sri Lanka's new cabinet, 37 Ministers sworn in

The newly appointed Cabinet comprising of 37 Ministers took oaths before the President at the Presidential Secretariat early Friday afternoon in the capital Colombo.
Basil Rajapaksa has been sworn in as the Economic Development Minister. G. L. Peiris as Foreign Affairs, Education - Bandula Gunawardana and Helth portfolio went to Maithripala Serisena.
HIGHLIGHTS ::

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed the Gampaha district MP Mervyn Silva as the Deputy Minister of Mass Media and Information to the surprise of media circles in the island.
Mervyn Silva swore in as the deputy of the Ministry that is held personally by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa's younger brother Basil Rajapaksa has been appointed into a powerful position as the Minister of Economic Development.
Basil Rajapaksa, identified as a hard worker, a meticulous planner and an astute manager is expected to handle the prospects of economic growth of Sri Lanka in the post-war period.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa retained several most powerful ministries under himself in the cabinet, sworn in today in Colombo.
The Ministries comes under the President are Defence, Finance and Planning, Ports and Aviation and Highways.

Sri Lanka to hold first Tourism Road Show in Palestine

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau is to hold its first Tourism Road Show at Ramallah City in Palestine on Thursday (22).
This will be the first time a trade or tourism delegation from Sri Lanka will be visiting Palestine.

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Friday, 30 April 2010

Thursday, 29 April 2010

Wednesday, 28 April 2010

Monday, 26 April 2010

Saturday, 24 April 2010

Friday, 23 April 2010

Tuesday, 20 April 2010

I LOVE OUR SRILANKA

WE WISH OUR PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSE GOOD HEALTH, STRENGTH, WILL POWER, LOVING KINDNES

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