SAB NEWS FAST

December 10, 2009: Many eligible to cast their vote at the forthcoming Presidential Election do not have a valid form of identification, says the election observers.

Keerthi Tennakoon, media coordinator of the Campaign for a Free and Fair Election or CAFFE, an election monitoring body, said that according to information received, around 2.6 million persons did not possess a valid form of identification.

However, the National Polls Observation Centre said that it did not possess information to the effect that such a large number of persons did not have identity cards.

“According to our information, around 1.2 million persons do not have a valid form of identification,” said Rasanga Harischandra, media spokesman for the Centre.

Meanwhile, ten candidates, nine from accepted political parties and on independent candidate, contesting the upcoming presidential election, have placed their deposits.

December 10, 2009: The International Olympic Committee, which met in Switzerland yesterday, has decided to award the Silver Medal for the Women's 200 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympics to Sri Lanka's Susanthika Jayasinghe.

The meeting was held to decide on the medals which the American star athlete Marion Jones would lose. She would lose the medals she won for the 200 metres and long jump events at the year 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Susanthika Jayasinghe said that after almost ten years, the sparkle of winning the Olympic medal has lost its lustre.

“When I heard about the drug abuse case with regard to Marion Jones, I knew that innocent athletes like us are the ones who would suffer from it.

“If this issue was discovered on the 28th of September 2000 itself, the joy would have been much more. With the passage of time, everything has lost its value. It's been ten years now.

“It won't be the same feeling as winning a medal and bringing it back to the country. The only thing is that I will be getting that medal.

“Even when she was running past me that day, I knew that that speed would be impossible for a human being. So I came to the conclusion that there should be some mystery behind it.

“However I won a Bronze Medal that day. Now it had become a Silver Medal. But it's the same feeling for me because I was able to do something for my country having come from a rural village,” said our own sprint queen.

December 10, 2009: The investigation into the assassination of veteran journalist Lasantha Wickremathunga has been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

The Mirihana police informed court today that this was done under the instructions of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Police informed court in this regard when the case was taken up for consideration before Mount Lavinia chief magistrate and additional district judge Harsha Sethunga.

Accordingly, the chief magistrate ordered the CID to appear before court on the 24th of this month.

The suspect, who had stolen the mobile phone of Lasantha Wicremathunga at the time he was assassinated, was also produced in court today.

The court ordered the suspect to be placed under remand custody until the 4th of this month.

The veteran journalist was assassinated on the 8th of January, 2009 near the Malagalage Junior College in Attidiya.

December 10, 2009: President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that the government is committed to defeating terrorism, bringing freedom to the country, propagating democracy to every part of the country and honouring human rights.

He made this statement issuing a communique to mark the World Human Rights Day.

Celebrating the World Human Rights Day in Sri Lanka is important because following the defeat of terrorism, the people have been given the opportunity to enjoy many rights that were not granted for a long time, the President said in the statement.

The government was committed to safeguarding the human rights enshrined in the Universal Deceleration of Human Rights adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations 62 years ago.

The President goes on to say that the government will continue its efforts against terrorism which pressure the people and threaten their freedom while working together with other institutions to promote human rights endorsed by the United Nations.

December 10, 2009:

Sri Lanka secured a decisive 29-run win over India in the first Tweny-20 encounter yesterday.

The game, played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, saw Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara walking away with the Man of the Match award.

Lankans got off to a promising start with an opening stand of 43 runs between T. M. Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya.

Sanath was the first to go, dismissed for 26 runs. Kumar Sangakkara went on to score his 11th Twenty-20 half century in just 21 balls.

T. M. Dilshan was dismissed for 34 runs a short while later as he was undone by a superb Rohit Sharma delivery.

Mahela Jayawardene didn't last long as he was undone for 9 runs.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Kapugedera then went on to put on a 69 run stand for the 4th wicket which steadied the Sri Lankan innings.

Kapugedera,who managed to score 47 runs was eventually dismissed by Ashish Nehera.

Skipper Sangakkara top scored with 78 runs to guide the Sri Lankans to a score of 215 runs in their 20 overs.

India, who commenced their reply also got off to a flying start but lost opener Virendra Shewag for 26 runs off the bowling of Nuwan Kulasekera.

Gautham Gambhir, however, steadied the Indian innings scoring his 13th 20/20 half century which included 10 boundaries.

However, Gambhir was the next wicket to fall as he was undone for 55 runs by Angelo Mathews.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni fell shortly after at the hands of Muthumudalige Pushpakumara for 9 runs.

Yuvraj Singh fell a short while later for six runs giving Angelo Mathews his second wicket of the day.

Debutant Pushpakumara also bagged his second wicket dismissing Suresh Raina for 21 runs.

The Indians were eventually restricted to 186 runs in their 20 overs.

Sri Lanka currently lead the two-match series 1-nil.