宮崎件日南市にある小玉醸造の芋焼酎「杜氏潤平」です。紅芋を使った焼酎のお勧めを紹介して欲しいという私からお願いに対して、「稲荷屋」のご主人が進めてくれた一本です。これは７２０ｍＬ。一升瓶は月に数本しか入荷しないということで入手しることは殆ど困難という話です。

小玉醸造合同会社のページ（宮崎観光情報）

さすがに一押しの焼酎だけありました。素晴らしい上品な香りが口の中に広がります。そして丸みのあるアルコールです。直ぐに７２０ｍＬが直ぐに終わってしまいそうで寂しい感じがしました。これは一升瓶で買わないと満足できそうにありません。

「杜氏潤平」は小玉醸造の杜氏の「金丸潤平」氏の名前から採っています。元々酒の醸造を学び故郷に帰って焼酎の醸造を始めたようです。使っている芋は普通の焼き芋に使われる「紅寿芋」だそうです。芋焼酎の他「麦焼酎」も作っているとのことです。

「Peter Logan」氏のローガン醸造所の「Ｗｅｅｍａｌａ」の「ピノノワール」です。フルーツの香りがするフレッシュなワインです。価格帯からすると「まあまあ」のわいんでしょうか。白黒のラベルがインパクトが強いです。描かれている鳥は、葡萄畑のあるオーストラリアＮＳＷの中央山脈に生息する「Ｂｒｕｅ　Ｗｒｅｎ」（ミソサザイ）だそうです。ホームページもしっかりしていました。以下ホームページから少し紹介します。

ＬｏｇａｎＷｉｎｅｓ

「Ｗｅｅｍａｌａ２００７」について

2007 Weemala Pinot Noir
Weemala is both an aboriginal word for ‘good view’ and the name of our vineyard in the Central Ranges of NSW. As the birds that live herecan testify, it does have a bloody good view. Right now you’ve got a pretty good view of our Pinot Noir. The 2007 Pinot Noir is cherry red in colour and has perfumed aromas of strawberry, clove and cinnamon with fl avours of cherry, plum and allspice on a smooth palate.

VINEYARD
The Pinot Noir grapes for this dry red were harvested at 13.3°Baumé on the 17th March 2007 from 11 year old vines in volcanic soils in range, New South Wales. The diffi cult 2007 vintage was characterised by very low yields as a result of drought. While temperatures were mild during the growing season, the low yields resulted in very early ripening. The low yields and mild temperatures produced well balanced grapes, although with a high skin and seed to juice ratio.

WINEMAKING
The grapes were crushed by a combination of the pigeage method (using our feet) and conventional mechanical crushing. Pigeage continued in open fermenters throughout fermentation for 10% of the wine with the other 90% being lightly pumped over twice per day. The grapes were seeded with burgundy yeast. The wine was pressed off the skins at 2° Baumé with 50% of the juice completing primary and malolactic fermentation in French and Hungarian barrels (a combination of new and used). This portion was matured in oak for 6 months. The emaining 50% completed primary/malolactic fermentations and maturation in stainless steel. The wine was lightly fi ltered before bottling.

ANALYSIS
Alcohol 13.5 %
Titratible acidity 5.6 g/L
pH 3.55
Residual sugar 0.7g/L

「Ｌｏｇａｎ」では最上級の「Ｌｏｇａｎ」そして廉価なワインとして「Ｗｅｅｍａｌａ」「ＡｐｐｌｅＴｒｅｅＦｌａｔ」を作っています。

"We have reliable intelligence information that fleeing LTTE cadres moved the Madhu statue inside dense jungle extending over 70km away from its place of origin. The LTTE may take the statue further in as a tactic to carry out their propaganda against the Security Forces in future when troops launch humanitarian operations to liberate the area from the grip of the LTTE," Minister Rambukwella pointed out.

スリランカのニュースページに掲載されていた記事です。スリランカの反政府組織のＬＴＴＥがスリランカで最も古い「マドー教会」の「聖母マリア像」を持ち去ったとのこと。

２０年以上に及ぶスリランカの民族対立の歴史の中では幾つか宗教施設に対する攻撃が行われました。アヌラダプラにあるインドのブッダガヤからもたらされた「聖菩提樹」への攻撃、またキャンディの「仏歯寺」にもテロが行われました。今回はゴアの聖ザビエルからもたらされたという「聖母像」が持ち去られました。そして「マドー教会」自体も戦闘の被害にあったもようです。

泥沼化してしまった民族対立は、非戦闘員への被害の拡大、歴史・文化施設の破壊にまで至っています。現在の人間達の対立が過去から受け継がれた遺産を後の世代に残せなくなってしまっています。

妻とずっと研究してきたのですが、今日デジタル一眼レフカメラを購入しました。妻はバイト先の歯科医院で治療用のデジタルカメラを研究した結果、オリンパスを買ったそうなのです。「口の中」をストロボを焚いて撮影するので少し特殊用途のカメラを探したようでした。

家庭用ならば普及品で大丈夫ということでニコンがＤ６０を出したのでまずニコンに的を絞ったのですが、これは非常に中途半端でした。「木村拓也」を使って派手に宣伝していますが、Ｄ６０はＤ８０に比べると大分スペックが落ちます。オートフォーカス機能が３点測定という点も少し弱く思えました。そのニコンに対抗するようにキャノンではキッスＸ２を出していました。これは非常にコンパクトで軽量でオートフォーカス機能は充実しています。殆ど「Ｘ２」に決めようかと思ったのでした。

ところがＸ２の本体には最近流行の「手ブレ補正機能」が付いていません。従ってこの機能が欲しい場合には「手ブレ補正機能付きのズームレンズ」を装着することになります。そうすると気になる点が二つでてきました。まずレンズが重くなるということです。同じスペックのズームレンズで「手ブレ防止機能」が付くと２００ｇくらい重くなります。そうなると本体が軽くても全体で重くなってしまいます。更にその種のレンズが値段が高いということも考慮すべき点でした。

このように研究してくると、ペンタックスのＫ２００Ｄが非常にバランスが取れていて初心者向けには十分な機能を装備していることが分かりました。「手ブレ補正」が本体についています。バッテリーは単３電池４本ですが２００ｍｍズームレンズ（手ブレ補正なし）を取り付けた場合にはキャノンのＸ２より重さは軽くなるのです。ということで最終的にペンタックスに決めました。

唯一引っかかった点は、ニコン・キャノンに比べて知名度というか会社の安定度が今イチであるということ。つい最近ＨＯＹＡガラスに買収されたのでした。でもテレビ等で派手に宣伝しない所を見ると「製品」で勝負しているのではないかと勝手に解釈しています。ペンタックス・ＨＯＹＡさんには頑張って欲しいものです。

葡萄：Tempranillo（テンプラニーニョ）１００％
醸造元：Dominio de Eguren社

スペインの「エストラテゴ・レアルの赤」です。１０００円台前半で買えるワインとしては本当に美味しいワインです。複雑さと強さを併せ持っています。このワインはテーブルワインですが製造元のエグレン家（Egvren）では様々なワインを造っていて近年注目されているようです。現当主の「MARCOS EGUREN（マルコス・エグレン）氏には注目しておいて損はないでしょう。

このエストラテゴリアルには「赤」のほかに「白」があるようです。こちらも試してみたいワインです。

シンガポールとスリランカのコロンボを結ぶシンガポール航空の飛行機の発着時刻が変更になっているようです。当面２００８年の３月３０日から１０月２５日までの措置です。


Flight Number Sector Departure　Arrival
SQ466 　　　SIN – CMB 　0705 　0815
SQ467 　　　CMB – SIN 　0930 　1555

これまでのフライトスケジュールは以下の通りでした。

Flight Number Sector Departure　Arrival
SQ468 　　　SIN – CMB 　2245 　2355
SQ469 　　　CMB – SIN 　0110 　0755

これまでは深夜にシンガポールを出発していました。この便の乗るために成田から午前中の便でシンガポールに行くことになり、シンガポールのチャンギ空港で４時間程時間を潰すことになっていました。しかしこれからは早朝便なのでチャンギ空港で一晩潰すことになります。そして帰りは午後にシンガポール着なのでシンガポールで一泊しなければならなくなります。

この措置はスリランカ内戦激化で深夜のフライトの危険性が増したことによるもののようです。

スリランカのマラソン大会で自爆テロがあり、来賓の「高速道路大臣」が亡くなったそうです。このような市民を巻き込んだテロが頻発するようになり、スリランカ社会は大変苦しい状況に陥っています。戦闘が続く北部ばかりではなく、南部の社会でも民族紛争による衝突が一般的になっています。

ところでマラソン大会というような市民参加イベントでは映像を残っているケースが多いです。スリランカで放送されたニュース映像が「ＵＴｕｂｅ」に沢山投稿されています。それを見ると大臣の「フェルナンドプール氏」がスタート合図をする直前にテロが起こったことがはっきり分かります。北部のジャングルでの戦闘と違い南部のテロはテレビで放送されます。反政府組織ＬＴＴＥこのような形で戦闘をアピールするようになってしまいました。


Apr 06, Colombo: A suspected Tamil Tiger bomb explosion in Sri Lanka has killed the Minister of Highways and Road Development Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and ten others this morning, the Defense Ministry said.

The bomb targeted a marathon event in Weliweriaya town, about 25 km north of Colombo this morning. The bomb was detonated just before the Minister kicked off the event according to the security officials.

Defense sources said Gampaha Division SSP Hector Darmasiri was also seriously injured and admitted to the General Hospital at Gampaha. Over 50 people were admitted and more casualties are expected.

Minister Fernandopulle was a senior minister in the Rajapaksa government. He is member of the parliament from the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom party since 1983.

ボルドーの「Chateau Laforet Pimouguet 2005」です。２００６年のボルドー･アキテーヌ･ワインコンクールで金賞を受賞したワインです。こういうワインは安くても安心して買えます。その評価とおりコストパフォーマンスは非常に高いワインでした。

葡萄はメルロー 60%　カベルネ・フラン 25%　カベルネ・ソーヴィニョン 15%

スパイシーで果実の香りがたっぷり。アルコール濃度１４％でボディーもしっかりしています。

スリランカのナショナルフラッグ「スリランカ航空」の経営権に関する記事です。アラブ首長国連邦の航空会社の「Ｅｍｉｒａｔｅs」は１９９７年にスリランカ航空の株式をスリランカ政府から購入し、株主間契約書を締結して同会社の経営権を握ってきました。その株主間契約書が２００８年３月３１日に失効して、経営権がスリランカ政府に移管され、下記（二番目の記事）のような人事が発令されたのでした。

会長は大蔵次官のＤｒ.ジャヤスンデラ氏、役員の中にラリット・デ・シルバ氏の名前が見えます。両氏ともスリランカテレコム関連の仕事で面識があります。彼等はテレコムに加えて、航空キャリアの経営に参画することになります。

実は日本のＮＴＴがスリランカテレコムに参画したのが１９９７年でした。そして昨日の記事のように２００８年４月１日に全株式をマレーシアの通信会社に譲渡したのでした。航空業界のスリランカ航空（かつてのエアランカ）も同様に１９９７年に一部の株式を「Ｅｍｉｒａｔｅｓ」に譲り、同じ１０年間の間海外の会社に経営を任せてきたのでした。

「スリランカエアー」の場合、この１０年間は非常に複雑なものがあったようです。とにかくスリランカでは政権が変わると、前の政権の政策は徹底的に批判されます。しかし当事者同士の正規な契約は変えることができません。そのことが下の大統領の挨拶に現れています。

この二つの会社の１０年目の経営変更については身近に見てきただけに非常に感慨深いものがあります。


Emirates looks to sell SriLankan air stake (6 Jan 2008)

DUBAI (Reuters) - Emirates airline said it is looking to sell all or part its stake in state-controlled SriLankan Airlines after the South Asian island's government sought greater control over the carrier's day-to-day business.

Dubai-based Emirates, which owns 43.6 percent of SriLankan and whose 10-year management contract of the carrier expires in April, would value its stake it about $150 million, Emirates President Tim Clark told Reuters on Sunday.

"It's a good buy," Clark said. "The government was seeking greater control over the day-to-day business of the airline, which was not acceptable to us."

SriLankan investors might be interested in buying Emirates' stake, Clark said, without being more specific.Emirates said on Sunday it would not renew its management contract, though it did not give a reason.

"Emirates has notified the Government of Sri Lanka that it will not be renewing the shareholder's agreement, which expires on March 31," the carrier said in a statement.

"With effect from April 1, management control of SriLankan Airlines will pass to the Government of Sri Lanka," it said.

The Sri Lankan government last month cancelled the work permit of SriLankan Chief Executive Officer Peter Hill - who was seconded from Emirates - after the carrier refused seats to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and 35 officials who were visiting the United Kingdom.
"It's an amicable parting," Clark said.

Emirates had in September expected to renew its management contract for at least another five years and wanted to double the carrier's fleet to as many as 30 aircraft.　Emirates paid $70 million for the stake in SriLankan, its only investment in another carrier.

************************************************************

Sri Lanka Government appoints SriLankan Airlines・Chairman & Directors
-March 28th, 2008

The Government of Sri Lanka has nominated and appointed a new Chairman and Directors to SriLankan Airlines, with immediate effect.

Dr P B Jayasundera has been appointed Chairman with Mr. Nishantha Wickremasinghe, Mr Lalith De Silva and Mr Sunil Wijesinha as Nominee Directors to represent the government which holds 51.05% shares while the Emirates Airline holding 43.63% shares will be represented by Mr Tim Clark, Mr Gary Chapman and Mr Nigel Hopkins.

************************************************************

President's Speech at New SriLankan Airline Ceremony
April 03, 2008, Katunayaka, Sri Lanka.


I remember how Sri Lankan Air Line was handed over to another company a decade ago. When that decision was taken it gave a huge shock to people in this country. People were shocked having listened to the largest transaction at the time.

I still remember a photo published on newspapers showing employees of this airline sadly looking at parking of an aircraft that bore a different logo from Air Lanka from distance.

Those who behind the deal at the time could only explain it with words that country should embrace the new global economic trends. We are not going to take cover from these words. But, we clearly state that we are going to the future with the new global economic trends while protecting our identity.

That is the vision with that we should deal with the world.

We are not a nation new international trade. We are nation that has been doing international trade and maintaining diplomatic ties with world for over thousands of years. We are well experienced in trading with global economy. We also faced the invasions that had come with those transactions. Therefore, we have to comprehend this global reality and to get used to make good business with it.

Friends ! This is a moment that the shock given to our people decade ago turns to a pleasure.

There is no point of blaming the past. No point of cursing the management. No point of cursing people behind the deal. What I believe is that the past is to learn lessons but not blame and complain.

Let's correct this mistake for the nation and for the future generation. We launched Mihin Lanka airline to give back the lost heritage for the people. We started it with 250 million. Today, not even a boutique can be started with 250 million. To go head solving the problems we need cooperation of all.

World has been able to win over the skies excellently since the day that Rights brothers invented the aircraft. Distances between countries have been reduced by the speed itself. Air travel has become the safest and the swiftest mode of travel.

Air travelers have become a group that enjoys luxurious amenities. But, what as a nation, have we been able to contribute to the air line industry?

When aircraft technology reaches the sky in development we have not been able to build a competent management at least. It has been calculated that loss incurring from air travel for this year is 5000 million. In certain years our air lines have shown profits by selling out their aircraft. This is a situation we have to be ashamed of as nation. Our first battle should be to come out of this shame.

Our endowments are not going to be protected just because an indigenous management is appointed. It is not going to be protected because the government has the ownership either. We have to overcome lot of challenges if we are to make this airline a national heritage. We have taken a great responsibility. You should see the great challenge in front of you when you assume this responsibility.

We are assuming this airline at a time when large numbers of competitive airlines have come up in the region, also, at a time when the global economy has to face lot of challenges.

Fuel prices are skyrocketing at global markets. It affects all airlines in the world. Also, food prices are going up today. The world most wicked terrorists in our country are dieing hard to disrupt our air travel. By carrying out several attacks at our national airport they attempted to stop aircraft coming into the country, the attempt was to isolate us from the rest of the world.

It is under this situation that we are taking over the responsibility to run this airline. I believe this responsibility is not too much for us. Having won the east we are now getting ready to win north. This is a time that we are offering democratic rights to the people in the East. Also we have achieved a huge economic growth. I would like to remind that the terrorists attacked this airport itself at several instances; that labeled themselves as the world most ruthless terrorists are now coming to their knees.

Meanwhile, even before such serious challenges, we have not changed a letter of the Mahinda Chinthana. Please look at the giant leap that we have taken from separation of North and East, to abrogation of Cease-fire agreement, to fighting drugs, to ensuring democracy in the East. Nobody has even thought of taking such serious decisions. Those are the real challenges in the political world.

Whilst facing such challenges we have been able to make Sri Lanka one of the countries with lowest unemployment rate and to maintain an economic growth of approximately 7%. It has been above 6% during that three years. This is the fist time that we had such situation after independence. Please do not underestimate these. We have been able to make the per capita income to 1600 US dollars.

For country that overcoming such challenges this challenge is not too much at all. Therefore, now take up this challenge with the new management. Now , it is you who have the responsibility.

Now, there is no outsider to be blamed if the airline fails before the world. We have to accept both the challenge and the blame.

Sri Lankan Airline must show the pride of our country. But do not make it inaccessible to the common people of the country. Even majority of our people living in rural villages are now becoming aircraft passengers at least for few hours in their lives. The opportunities to overseas travel are so abundant. Hospitality should be equally offered to foreigners and the locals as well. Public servant when using Sri Lankan Airlines should be given special prices. Now we have made it mandatory for public servants to use Sri Lanka Airlines when going aboard. We should give a better service to the people of our own country.

Today when your destiny is given to your own hands, the trade unions too have a vital role to play. Do not think that Trade Unions are only there to win rights for the employees. Those trade Unions that had rally their protests when selling these institutions must have a responsibility to protect them when they are being given back. They should give their support to leverage this airline to one of the best in the world.

This air line is important not only because of the profit , but also it is a part of our nation's pride. It is the best way to carry our flag to the world. It should be a diplomatic service that shows our hospitality to the world. Please fulfill this responsibility.

I wish that I will be able to see a picture of happy employees of a profitable airline looking at their own aircraft soon, instead of a picture of sad employees looking at a outside aircraft arriving at the terminal.

I request you all commit yourselves to lift this airline to a significant position in Asia for the nation for our future generation.

May all of you have bright future!

昨日のスリランカ発の経済ニュースです。ＮＴＴがスリランカ最大の通信会社スリランカテレコム株式をマレーシアの通信会社ＧＴＨ社の売却しました。

Japan's NTT exits Sri Lanka Telecom by selling its 35% stake to Malaysia's Global Telecom Holdings for $299 million.
Japan’s NTT Communications Corp has sold its 35% stake in Sri Lanka Telecom to Global Telecommunications Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia's Usaha Tegas, for $299 million.

NTT has sold its entire holding of 635,076,318 shares, representing 35.19% of Sri Lanka Telecom, at a price of SLR50.50 ($0.47) a share totalling SLR32 billion.

Global Telecommunications Holdings, which is a Netherlands-based company will now, under the Sri Lanka Takeover Code, have to make a mandatory offer to the remaining shareholders of SLT. Global’s parent, Usaha Tegas, is a holding company of Ananda Krishnan and also owns a stake in Malaysian telco Maxis.

SLT was Sri Lanka’s first telecommunications company and has an estimated 87% market share of the fixed line network in the country. NTT paid $225 million for a 35% stake in SLT in 1997, one year after it was incorporated as a public limited company. The rest was owned by the government. In 2002 SLT acquired Mobitel, one of the four mobile operators in the country, in which it previously had a 40% stake.

SLT listed in 2002 at which time the majority shareholder, the government of Sri Lanka, sold a 12% stake. Post-IPO the government holds 49.5% and the public 15.3%.

SLT currently has a customer base of 800,000 and provides domestic and international voice, internet and other services to customers. Mobitel currently has 15% share of the mobile market.

NTT is an information and communications technology company which offers internet protocol, web-based, and managed network solutions. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31 2007 were more than $10 billion. NTT said it “will post a special profit of approximately 3.3 billion ($33 million) from the sale of the SLT stake”.

Since its investment, NTT has provided strategic advice to SLT, trained its employees and helped it develop marketing strategy. NTT has also helped develop SLT’s network, information technology and its operating and financial controls and systems.

NTT had indicated in March 2007 that it was in discussions with Global but a deal was then held up by a Fundamental Rights Application filed by a law-maker against the sale of shares. On March 10 2008 Sri Lankan courts ruled that the deal between NTT and Global should be permitted to move forward.

The deal was transacted by two Colombo-based brokerage houses and is the largest ever trade on the Sri Lanka Stock Exchange. SLT shares were trading around SLR40 before the deal was announced and moved up intra-day to SLR48, near the offer price.