3:17 PM

Senator Barrack Obama Clinches Democratic Nomination


Senator Barrack Obama has effectively clinched the Democratic presidential nomination even if he were to lose both S. Dakota and Montana as many super delegates have just expressed their endorsements of Obama-he may win both primaries tonight. Based on a tally of convention delegates, both pledged and super delegates Obama has exceed the required 2,118 delegate count now. He becomes the first black candidate ever to lead his party into a fall campaign for the White House. He had greater sustaining power than his gamey contender Hillary Clinton who fought to the last primary.

Both Obama and Clinton drew historic voter turnout primary after primary. It looked somewhat racially polarizing towards the end as Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Virginia rallied behind Clinton. Obama is certain of getting more than the 2,118 delegates for clinching the party nomination at the Convention in August. The 46-year-old first term senator will face Sen. John McCain of Arizona in the fall campaign to become the 44th president.

The anatomy of the Obama win was described as a combination of unstoppable prodigious fundraising, ultra modern organizing skills delivered meticulously and his theme of change that motivated an electorate opposed to the Iraq war and worried about the economy. These were harnessed to his own innate gifts as an orator and a campaigner.

Clinton campaigned from the beginning as the candidate of experience ready to be president from day one, a former first lady and second-term senator of repute. It may have overstated the position so much as to sound like a scolding voice of a seasoned veteran jostling against a charismatic and audacious charmer,

But after a somewhat shaky year on the trail, Obama won the first Iowa caucuses on January. 3, 2008. Suddenly, the 46 year-old upstart had become acceptable currency-in fact, sovereign gold

His acceptance speech after winning Iowa was ''We came together as Democrats, as Republicans and independents, to stand up and say we are one nation, we are one people and our time for change has come.” A video built around Obama's ''Yes, we can'' rallying cry quickly went ballistic. It drew its one millionth hit within a few days of being posted,

8:12 AM

3 members of a Tamil family hacked to death in Kaathankudy

According to sources in Kaathankudy 3 members of a Tamil family were hacked to death by the suspected radical Wahhabist Muslim gang yesterday.

Tensions between the Tamil and Muslims communities of Kaathankudy are at an all time high. Members of the TMVP and the EROS have made every effort to maintain peace in the area by urging the communities to stay calm until matters are investigated and resolved by the authorities concerned.

"The Amparai district is the only area that has remained unaffected by communal violence in these recent weeks said Rasamanickam Yogarasa alias Yogan, the Amparai and Batticaloa District Leader of EROS".

8:00 AM

Bomb explosion in Wellawatta

A bomb has been exploded in a location along the rail track between Wellawatta and Dehiwala railway stations this morning, June 04.

According to the available information explosion occurred around 7.10 a.m and six civilians who suffered injuries are now being evacuated to the Kalubowila teaching hospital.

7:41 AM

An explosion occurred in Wellawatta

An explosion has been reported in Wellawatta area.

7:09 AM

19 killed and 82,420 families affected by flood

The National Disaster Relief Services Centre says so far 19 persons have died in the floods and four others are missing. The government has so far allocated 29 million rupees to assist persons affected by floods and torrential rains. Director of the National Disaster Relief Services Centre N.D. Hettiarachchi said that the highest allocation of 12 million rupees is for the Ratnapura district.
The number of families affected by flood and landslides has mounted to 82,420. The highest number of affected persons is reported from the Kalutara district. Additional District Secretary L.C. Perera said low lying areas are still underwater. Boat services are operating to assist the affected people.
Irrigation Engineer of Kalutara W.N. Silva said the water level of the Kalu Ganga has risen to 6.9 feet. As a result the flood situation in Kalutara will escalate. Meanwhile, in the Ratnapura district both floods and landslides have affected families. Officials of the National Building Research Institute are engaged in identifying landslide prone areas. The highest number of displaced persons in the Kegalle district is reported from the Dehiowita Divisional Secretariat area.