MTV/MBC attacked by thugs

An armed group believed to be associated with a notorious Deputy Minister attacked the MTV/MBC office at Braybrooke Place a short while ago severely damaging the place, an MBC official told Daily Mirror online.

When asked if the Minister was also present at the scene, the official said that the Minister was not to be seen at the time of the incident.

He also said that the MTV staff members were attacked by stones and the staff had retaliated by throwing the same stones at the gang afterwhich the gang fled the scene.

Police who arrived at the scene made ateleast 16 arrests.

Government and Opposition members also rushed to the scene to see the extent of damage and hold discussions with the MTV/MBC management.

Members of the Special Task Force and the police have been deployed outside the premises.

Meanwhile eye witnesses said that some of the attackers at the scene had held placards against the upcoming concert by popular international artiste Akon for which MTV/MBC is a sponsor. Source By:(Daily Mirror online)

Source By Video : YOUTUBE

Minor quake in South Indian Ocean, no tsunami threat

A minor earthquake has struck the South Indian Ocean on early Monday, seismologist said. According to the Meteorological Department of Sri Lanka the earthquake was below 6.0 magnitude and there is no threat of a tsunami. The earthquake at 02.33 a.m. local time (20.33 UTC Sunday) had a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 and was centered about 1,151 kilometers (716 miles) south-southeast of Colombo,Sri Lanka’s capital, according to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center. It struck about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake. A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, according to the United States Geological Survey. The earthquake’s depth was measured at 6.2 miles and was located 710 miles southeast of Colombo and 730 miles southeast of Negombo.

Earthquake Details

Magnitude	6.0
Date-Time	Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 20:33:10 UTC Monday, March 15, 2010 at 02:33:10 AM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	2.763°S, 83.678°E
Depth	10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region	SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN
Distances	1155 km (710 miles) SSE of COLOMBO, Sri Lanka 1155 km (720 miles) SSE of Kandy, Sri Lanka 1185 km (730 miles) SSE of Negombo, Sri Lanka 1365 km (850 miles) SE of MALE, Maldives
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 8.5 km (5.3 miles); depth fixed by location program
Parameters	NST= 94, Nph= 95, Dmin=>999 km, Rmss=0.86 sec, Gp= 50°, M-type=teleseismic moment magnitude (Mw), Version=6
Source	USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	us2010tvb3

source: US Geological Survey

Government to reform presidency

The government says it will abolish or reform the executive presidency if elected with a two thirds majority at the forthcoming General election. The government says it is also planning to introduce a fresh constitution in the new parliament. Source by: DM

Fonseka supporters tear gassed in Ampara, Galle too

Supporters of retired General Sarath Fonseka who were staging a protest near the clock tower at Ampara town were tear gassed by police, reported the Adaderana correspondent in the area.

Police media spokesman said that the protestors who gathered peacefully later began pelting stones at the Police and tear gas had to be used to bring the situation under control.

Meanwhile, a similar incident where Fonseka supporters were tear gassed was reported from Galleas well. Source By: Ada Derana

General Fonseka arrested

Former army Chief and opposition Presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka and his media secretary Senaka de Silva were arrested by the military police a short while ago, opposition Member of Parliament Mano Ganeshan told Daily Mirror online.

Military spokesman Major Prasad Samarasingha confirmed that the General has been arrested from his Colombo office for committing military offences.

Source By: Daily Mirror.

Elections Commissioner to quit

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka is to quit as Elections Chief following the conclusion of the Presidential Elections next week. The Elections Commissioner had told this to political party representatives a short while ago that he will resign as none of his recommendations have been followed by the political parties contesting the polls next week, JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka told reporters.

The Elections Commissioner also told political party representatives that the competent authority appointed by him to oversee the conduct of the State media has been withdrawn as he failed to carry out his duties properly. (ISA and SMD)

SB to join SLFP, support President SB to join SLFP, support President

S.B. Dissanayake said a short while ago that he will join the SLFP and support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming Presidential Elections to defeat Common Opposition candidate. He also added that he will contest the upcoming General Elections. Source by: Ada derana

Daily mirror:
UNP stalwart S.B Dissanayaka announced a short while ago that he has decided to join the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to extend support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming Presidential elections. He said he reached the decision after being disappointed with the UNP.

S.B Dissanayaka said that he feels President Rajapaksa will win the elections and is the only candidate who can establish democracy and ensure peace prevails in the island.

He also said he will contest at the next General Election.

Presidential Election on January 26

The Department of Elections announced that the Presidential Elections will be held on the 26th of January 2010. Nominations will be accepted from December 17 2009 between 9 am and 11 am.