Aamna's writing

FINANCIAL TIMES By Aamna Mahboob Sri Lankan farmers should adopt modern agricultural cultivation techniques to obtain maximum output, stressed Moratuwa University Chancellor Vidya Jyothi Dr. Ray Wijewardene.He made these observations at a discussion conducted by Colombo MBA Alumni Association (CMBAAA) held last week. The centuries-old agricultural techniques used by Sri Lankan farmers need to be replaced with modernized Western techniques, he said. They use the old methods and are following the path of their forefathers, which, in the present age is of no use, he added. Sri Lankans are talented and intelligent and can produce everything in their own country by turning to the modern scientific methods, he said. “We in Sri Lanka are truly blessed with resources. I must admit that our scientists in Sri Lanka have failed to take a lead helping exploit the vast resources with which this country is blessed, and not only to the extent of ' writing a paper' for some foreign journal or ...

By Aamna Mahboob SPORTS After their early and embarrassing exit from the 2007 World Cup to rookies Ireland the Pakistani cricket team has a chance to win back some dignity in the upcoming one-day-international tournament against World Cup finalist Sri Lanka at a three-match series in Abu Dhabi from May 18. Pakistan is injecting new blood in the likes of Najaf Shah and Fawad Alam to its side at the expense of the more experienced players such as spin magician Danish Keneria, all-rounder Azar Mahmood and Younis Khan. Young Shoaib Malik has been appointed captain over a number of senior players. Sri Lanka too will not include its star bowlers, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas and wicket keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara. All three have county commitments in England. While the Sri Lankan cricketers are in high spirits after becoming runners-up, the Pakistan side is, understandably, feeling a little dejected and demoralized due to their controversy-ridden exit from the World Cup. Foll...

Aerial Attack on Colombo Since 26th March 2007 the first LTTE’s show off air power much water has flown down the stream. The LTTE attack at Sri Lankan Air Force Kattunike base sent cold down the spine of every Sri Lankan. It also sent message aloud to other terrorist organizations to fallow the suit. Ironically this attack was carried out before holding of the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi, which concluded on 4th April with a joint declaration against terrorism. Latterly SAARC means Cooperation for Development among the countries of South Asian region. And of course the recent declaration to fight against terrorism sound sweet, but the people yearn and wait for their dream for peace and tranquility in the region. If one looks around the realism of SAARC achievement and efforts for peace and dismal picture of subversion interference in others affairs appears on the seen. Some big members of the body who are really big try to influence the policies of their smaller partners. At times s...

By Aamna Mahboob Nawaloka Hospitals last week recapped the host of achievements of its Heart Centre and said it has grown in success. General Manager of Nawaloka Hospital Professor Chandaresena said that the Heart Center has achieved highs in heart surgeries since its inception on August 12, 1994. He said that since the starting of the first private sector Cardiac center in Sri Lanka, the Heart Center is proud about their expert Cardiologists to perform the first Coronary Angiogram to the first PTCA of Left Main coronary artery in Sri Lanka. “The Heart Center is having good machinery and personnel to deal with all situations and many cases rejected by other places, as they are perceived to be high risk, are performed here”, he said. The Heart center is also first in Sri Lanka to do Beating Heart Surgery using "Octopus", to use Radial Artery (Artery of the Hand) and Right Gastro-epiploeic artery (Artery of Stomach) for Bypass operations. The hospital has done over 12,000 Angio...

By Aamna Mahboob Some 30 police and military personnel are among the 450 people arrested in connection with human rights abuses including abductions, disappearances and murder a civic action leader said yesterday. Kingsley Rodrigo the Chairman of the Peoples Action Front for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) said he had records of the police arresting 452 people in connection with human rights violations. PAFFREL, with the assistance of the Human Right Commission of Sri Lanka and Police is currently working on a human right report which will be released on May 15. “So far we have received one thousand complains from the public,” Mr. Rodrigo said adding that 24 PAFFREL officers were active in 24 districts collecting information for the report. He said the purpose of the project was to control the current spate of abductions, killing and assassinations in the country. Mr. Rodrigo said his organisation had also appointed lawyers in some districts to intervie and provide advice to the victi...