Pakistan guarantor of Lanka's sovereignty: Asian Tribune

Tue, 2008-08-05 05:34 

By Janaka Perera in Colombo

Colombo, 05 August, (Asiantribune.com): Sri Lanka Broadcasting Chairman Hudson Samarasinghe said yesterday (August 4) that India cannot threaten and bulldoze her way into Sri Lanka in the same way she did in 1987 because the world has changed much since then. 

Samarasinghe recalled how the Indians – during the "Operation Vadamarachchi" - 'appealed' to the then Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa, "Please tell your President to stop the war" That was the start of the Indian interference that prevented Sri Lanka from nipping the Tiger menace in the bud. (Premadasa, along with the National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali, was among the strongest opponents of Indian intervention). 

The SLBC Chairman made this observation during his usually hard-hitting, daily news analysis over the Isira Sinhala Radio Channel of which he is the CEO. Participating with him in the program regularly is Shan Wickremasinghe, Chairman / Proprietor, Teleshan Networks Limited (TNL) which operates Isira.

Samarasinghe however stressed the need for Sri Lanka to prepare to defend herself if Tamil Nadu one fine day secedes from India. In the event of TN becoming an independent State there is absolutely no doubt that she will invade Sri Lanka over the Tamil issue, he warned. 

These comments came in the wake of the reported results of a recent survey conducted by the Tamil Nadu magazine 'Ananda Vikatan' which stated that 54.25 percent of people there support the LTTE and that many of them were proud that the Tigers possessed a standing army.

Samarasinghe also drew attention to the BBC report on Tamil National Alliance Leader R. Sambandan meeting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his Sri Lanka visit. Sambandan has reportedly told the Indian Premier that if the LTTE is branded a terrorist organization then the Sri Lankan government was a terrorist organization three times over.

For more on this article, please click on the following link: Pakistan guarantor of Lanka's sovereignty: Asian Tribune

Polo club still stylish respite in Pakistan: Cleveland.com

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

James Palmer

Newhouse News Service

Lahore, Pakistan - Eight helmeted men in white riding pants, leather boots and short-sleeved shirts galloped atop their well-groomed steeds toward the white ball as it bounced on a lush field.

Wooden mallets raised above their heads like swords, the men charged the ball with abandon.

Spectators in the grandstands sat beneath a white canopy and leaned forward in anticipation.

Then one rider burst forward, wound his mallet back as he approached the ball, and unleashed a furious strike that sent a cracking sound through the air. The ball split a pair of black and white striped posts, bringing a round of well-mannered applause from the audience.

Just another balmy Sunday afternoon at the Lahore Polo Club.

Founded in 1886 by a British military officer, the club is one of the oldest in the world. Despite the rise of violent attacks and political tension here, the sport continues to flourish at the club.

"For me, polo is a lifestyle," said Ahmed Mawaz Diwana, 38, a veteran polo player and member of the club. "It's an addiction - I can't let go of it."

The Lahore Polo Club has 225 members, 75 who actively play. A staff of more than 400, including horse trainers, groomers, groundskeepers, kitchen workers and administrators, keeps the club running smoothly....

For more on this article, please click on the following link: Polo club still stylish respite in Pakistan: Cleveland.com