Monday, April 30, 2007

Billionaires battle to buy London's poshest homes

It could be the stuff of World War III: Arabs, Americans and Russians trying to outfox each other and seize control of valuable land. A new terror crisis? A stormy session of the UN? No: this is a typical scene from central London's super-wealthy and overheated housing market, where the rich and famous compete for the rarest of commodities -- a perfect property in a prime location.

The whole of the London property market may be hot at the moment, with the average asking price nearly £379,000 (US$757,000), the property Web site Rightmove said, but central west London -- from Kensington and Holland Park in the west, through Bayswater to the north of Hyde Park, past the mews of Mayfair and Knightsbridge and down to Belgravia and Chelsea in the south -- is at melting point.

Rightmove said that in Kensington and Chelsea, average property prices have soared by £120,000 to £1,329,878 this month and by £620,000 in a year.

There are two reasons for this extraordinary increase. The first is pure economics: there are far more wealthy buyers than there are homes for sale. The second is status: when the world's wealthiest buyers want to add another prestigious address to their real estate portfolio, they look to Pimlico rather than Paris, to Marylebone instead of Manhattan.

"London has what the world's richest people want -- security," said Charles Peerless of Winkworth estate agents. "It speaks the new universal language of English, has an easy air hub at Heathrow, good schools, a welcoming tax regime for foreign owners and the world's financial capital in the City."

Peerless has visited Singapore, Dubai, the US and Shanghai, to explain London's property market to wealthy would-be buyers.

"The number of high net-worth individuals [HNWI] is expanding more rapidly in North America than in Europe for the first time since 2001, while Singapore, South Africa, Hong Kong, India and Australia have seen the highest growth in HNWI numbers," explained Liam Bailey of Knight Frank, an estate agent that at any one time has about 300 of London's most expensive homes on its sales books.

Bailey says Britons now buy only half of the most expensive homes in prime central London, where apartments routinely cost over £1 million and houses usually over £2.5 million. That share drops to just 40 percent of the "super-top-end" homes costing more than £4 million.

The surge in overseas interest means central London's market is the hottest in the country and now operates to totally different rules to those of other major cities in the UK. For one thing, foreign buyers don't have a home to sell in London, so they add to demand without helping to maintain supply. Therefore prices go up faster and competition intensifies.

Another issue is safety. "Security is key," Peerless said. "Although fear of terrorism has eased, there's a lot of concern that any property lived in by a wealthy buyer's family must have the security associated with exclusive new developments in the very prime areas of London -- CCTV, direct access from underground car parks to flats, and so on."

The underlying economic attraction of London has rarely been stronger. City bonus payments this winter have hit £8.8 billion, of which about 60 percent will be spent on property. Oxford Economic Forecasting, a consultancy, says the City's financial institutions -- where average annual pay is already over £120,000 -- will add another 12,700 to their staff by the end of this year.

Over 65 percent of Fortune's Global 500 companies, a key barometer of the world's financial operations, have chosen London as their European or world headquarters. The capital has more foreign banks than any other city.

So where does this leave British buyers in the capital?

"Wealthy Brits buy a small mews house or pied-a-terre in London, then have a main house or estate in the country," said Robert Bailey, who believes the summer will see another influx of foreign buyers just as domestic purchasers start their holidays.
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Double standards on LTTE abductions

The conduct of sections of the international community is most curious when it comes to handling the LTTE - to say the least.

Some of these sections which vociferously berate and fault the Lankan State on what are considered humanitarian issues are deafeningly silent on the atrocities of the LTTE.

This intriguing mode of conduct comes to the fore, once again, on the abduction of two UN workers, around a month ago, by the Tigers in the North.

As revealed by some sections of the press, the Colombo mission of the UN is fully aware of the incident, but has not reported it to the UN Secretary General's office in New York, to date.

Apparently, the Colombo UN mission is aiming at obtaining the release of the workers through covert talks with the Tigers.

Why keep the talks under wraps, when the correct procedure to follow would be to report the incident, both to the UN Secretary General's office and the Lankan State? Ideally, the help of the latter should be obtained to trace those who have been abducted and effect their release.

Apparently, the UN mission here is acutely sensitive about offending the LTTE. Why?

Is this institution having some sort of collaborative link with the LTTE? If so, this is very bad news because an upholder of international law and order, such as the UN, could have nothing to do with a terror organisation, such as the LTTE, which is the very anti-thesis of the UN.

The UN needs to be a model of impartiality and straight-dealing on account of its identity as an upholder of law, order and peace.

The UN can not only have nothing to do with the LTTE, it should be in a position to apply equal standards to all parties to a conflict, stringently and consistently. If not it could stand accused of adopting double standards.

That is, one set of standards for the State and another for the LTTE. In short, the UN would be devaluing itself and opening itself to ridicule.

Accordingly, we urge the UN's Colombo mission to come clean on this issue of the abduction of its workers. It simply cannot afford to be double-faced on this question.

If it does so, it would be only encouraging the LTTE in its evil conduct, whereas what it should do is seek the assistance of the State to track down the workers and obtain their release. It could have no truck with terrorists.

This is an inviolable rule in the conduct of international relations and all legal actors in the world system need to strongly uphold it.

Perhaps we are seeing in this situation one of the reasons why terror is prospering in the world. It is the witting or unwitting encouragement it is receiving from some sections which is making terror prosper.

Terrorists and terror should be roundly condemned by the right-thinking and collaboratively hunted down. Secret arrangements with terrorists would only lend the latter some legitimacy and enable them to strengthen themselves in the world.

We caution the UN that there could be no fence-sitting on these issues. The more terrorists are recognised and related to, the greater would be the turmoil in countries such as our's. To the extent to which terrorists are hunted down and incapacitated, the greater would law and order prosper.

Courtesy: Daily News

Army overpowers Terror ambush, Six LTTE cadres killed- Welioya

SL army overpowered an ambush laid by the LTTE terrorists at Kokkuthuwuai in Welioya on Sunday (29th) morning. The incident occurred when the terrorists attacked at an army foot patrol around 7.a.m.

The troops effectively suppressed the attack killing six LTTE terrorists. According to the defense sources, three of the slain LTTE cadres were females. Troops also found six T-56 riffles, six magazines and communication set. The sources further said that the six bodies will be handed over to the ICRC today (30)

Naval troops Gun down LTTE leader in Charge of Jaffna Islands- Kaytes

On information received from civilians, naval troops conducted a cordon and search operation in Suruvil, Velani in Kayts Island Sunday (29th April 2007) around 10.30 a.m.

Naval troops according to the information were ready to enter the "Amman Kovil/Puliyankadal" premises with the Kovil incumbent in Suruvil/Velani Sunday (29) around 10.30 a.m. When troops were ready to enter the Kovil, LTTE cadres opened fire from inside the Kovil.

Naval troops retaliated with small arms which resulted in two explosions. In the confrontation five (05) LTTE cadres who were inside the Kovil were killed including the LTTE leader in charge of Jaffna Islands and the deputy leader named Eelamaran and Udayan.

The incumbent of the Kovil was also killed in the crossfire.

Naval troops have recovered an improvised suicide device and following items during the search operation.
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T 56 SMG - 03
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9 MM Pistol - 01
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9 MM Pistol Magazine - 03
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Pouch - 01
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Cyanide Capsule - 02
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Hand Grenades - 07

A search operation is in progress in the area.

Shortly after the LTTE air attack, Air Force struck the targets near the airstrip of the LTTE at Iranamadu in the rebel controlled northern Wanni dis

Apr 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka government said today that its security forces are ascertaining the new threat of air attacks by LTTE and would take short term and long term measures to detect and destroy the LTTE air capability and to ensure the safety and security of the military, economic and civil establishments.

Minister of Mass Media and Information Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said the government is fully capable of meeting any challenges from the LTTE terrorist outfit and assured that all effective steps would be taken to ensure safety of the nation and its people.

During the early hours of today two Tiger air crafts dropped four explosive devices in Kolonnawa area and Muthurajawela area causing minor damages to two privately owned oil storage facilities. The management of those oil facilities which are in close proximity to the government oil storage plant said there is no disruption in the operations.

Following information received by the military on approaching Tiger air crafts air defense system was activated. Three Air Force aircraft were also airborne as a defensive step, the Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Ajantha Silva said.

Shortly after the LTTE air attack, Air Force struck the targets near the airstrip of the LTTE at Iranamadu in the rebel controlled northern Wanni district, the military said.

“The Air force has established that two light aircraft landed at Iranamadu area and launched an aerial attack on several identified targets at Iranamadu in Kilinochchi at 5.30 a.m. today. The damages caused to enemy establishments are yet to be confirmed,” the Minister Yapa said.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

London Fertility Centre Responds To The HFEA Consultation On Hybrid And Chimera Embryos

London Fertility Centre commends the decision by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to hold public consultation into the regulation of hybrid and chimera embryos since it is aware that members of the general public may not agree with this area of research, considering it as science stepping into science fiction. However, the use of such embryos may have scientific and later clinical benefits that far outweigh these initial concerns.

London Fertility Centre considers that there would not be any need to entertain the idea of chimera and hybrid embryos if HFEA initiatives were promoted to give realistic financial compensation for more egg and sperm donors to come forward and donate their gametes specifically for research projects, including the isolation of stem cell lines.

This is especially so now that the HFEA have given permission for one centre to allow women to donate half of their eggs to research at the same time as benefiting from IVF from the remaining half of the eggs that are not given away thereby receiving an indirect financial benefit.

London Fertility Centre predicts that in general there would be fewer concerns if research was to be undertaken on human embryos from donors who have given informed consent to their specific use rather than research being undertaken on embryos created in part with animal eggs.

London Fertility Centre (LFC) is one of the most comprehensive and long standing providers of assisted conception treatments in the UK. LFC offers a broad scope of services for both male and female factor infertility as well as a caring approach.

LFC has an impressive track record in comprehensive fertility treatments and pioneered many of the new developments now used routinely in assisted conception worldwide.

Grand welcome awaits Sri Lankan team

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has arranged a grand welcome ceremony for the Sri Lankan team on their arrival from the Caribbean after their highly successful World Cup campaign. This arrangement has been made irrespective of the outcome of the final in Barbados on April 28 where Sri Lanka meet Australia.

The team will be greeted at the Bandaranaike International Airport by cricket board officials and VIPs, which includes government ministers. They will be escorted on a motorcade from the airport to Independence Square where the players will be honoured.

Samantha Algama, the team media manager, said the players will be garlanded on their arrival at the VIP lounge by Duleep Mendis, the chief executive of SLC. Mendis was the team manager during the 1996 World Cup victory.

"We are requesting all cricket and sports fans to line the streets from the airport to Independence Square to greet our cricketers," said Algama. "The event will be telecast live by local television and radio stations."

World Cup fever grips Sri Lanka

Apr 28, Colombo: World Cup excitement is reaching fever pitch in Sri Lanka with the much awaited Cricket World Cup final to start this evening, Sri Lanka time.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is now in Barbados to watch the final match, yesterday met the Sri Lanka team and wished them good luck.

The sun has now risen on Kensington Oval, Barbados, where the world champion will be determined.

Regardless of the outcome, this stellar team will return home as heroes. A motorcade will wait for them at the airport in Katunayake to escort them to a national greeting at Independence Square.

The Postal Department has announced that four stamps will be issued if Sri Lanka wins the Cup. Two stamps will be issued if Sri Lanka is the second best.

The Sri Lankan style is in start contrast to others in the region, where players are abused despite this level of international success.

LTTE terrorists Killed five Indian fishemen and abducted 12 others- Indian Police

News reports from India indicate that the Tamil Nadu police have discovered the true killers of the five Indian fishermen who were killed in the Indian waters on 29th of March 2007.

According to the news reports, the Indian Police said that it was the LTTE terrorists who had killed the five Indian fishermen. The police further added that 12 Indian fishermen who had gone on missing before the killing incident, were abducted by the LTTE terrorists. The Tamil Nadu police officials said to have obtained these facts from the confessions made by the six LTTE terrorists arrested by the Indian Coast Guards on the 11th of this month.

The LTTE along its docile political parties in the Tamil Nadu floundered hard to mislead the relatives of the murdered fishermen saying that the SL navy was responsible for the crime. SL Navy however, denied the absurd accusations stating that it had no authority to sail into the Indian waters. It is now quite clear that pro-LTTE politicians in Tamil Nadu had attempted to cover up the true killers of their own people by making such false accusation at the neighboring country.

Read below the full text of the article published on the Indian National Daily "The Hindu" about the issue:

`Sea Tigers,' the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), were directly involved in the firing on a fishing boat off the Kanyakumari coast on March 29 that left five fishermen dead.

The Sea Tigers had opened fire as they suspected that the Indian fishermen were spying on their movement.

This was disclosed to the `Q' branch by the Sea Tigers, who were nabbed by the Coast Guard on April 11, according to a press release from the Director-General of Police D. Mukherjee.

Six arrested

The Coast Guard secured six Sri Lankan Tamils and their boat "Maria" along with six Indian fishermen and their two boats on April 11 and handed over them for inquiry to the police in Tuticorin on April 12.

Since the boat involved in the firing incident in the high seas in which five fishermen from Kanyakumari were killed on March 29 also bore the inscription "Maria," the injured fishermen in that incident were shown the boat and the Sri Lankan Tamils for identification. But, they insisted that the boat seized in this case was not the one involved in the firing.

The Sri Lankan Tamils were remanded to judicial custody, and taken on police custody on April 20 by the local police in order to ascertain their identity. On April 23, the case was transferred to the `Q' Branch CID.

The Q Branch interrogation revealed that all the above six Sri Lankan Tamils belonged to the LTTE's Sea Tigers Wing. They and some other groups of LTTE's Sea Tigers' wing routinely smuggled arms and ammunition from a ship belonging to the LTTE in the high seas and took them to their camp in Sri Lanka.

On April 10, while they were transporting arms and ammunition, their boat "Maria" developed a snag and started drifting towards Indian waters. When they chanced upon Indian fishermen from Kanyakumari, they dropped all their arms and ammunition into the sea and sought help.

The arrested Sri Lankans revealed that the boat "Maria," was the one involved in the firing incident on March 29. But, those involved in that firing was another group belonging to the Sea Tigers wing of the LTTE which was ferrying cargo on March 29 from LTTE's ship to their camp in Sri Lanka.

Missing fishermen

They told the `Q' branch that prior to the shooting, 12 fishermen from Indian were also abducted along with their boat by a group of the Sea Tigers' wing. The abducted fishermen are in the custody of the Tigers in one of their camps. The abducted fishermen (Kanyakumari - 10, Tuticorin - 1, Kerala -1) are those who sailed off for fishing on March 4 from Sakthikulangara in Kollam in a motor boat "Sri Krishna" and are missing since then

Courtesy: The Hindu

LTTE terrorists kill a Fisherman- Jaffna

The LTTE terrorists have fired at a fisherman who was engaged in fishing in the Jaffna lagoon this morning (Saturday the 28th of April). According to the available information the incident occurred around 10:10 a.m when the victim, Rasuppu Joseph aged 52 was engaged in fishing off Pasiyuir in the Jaffna lagoon. The victim who suffered serious injuries died after admitting to the Jaffna General hospital.

The victim was a father of three children.

Police investigations are in progress.

A light aircraft ride to statehood? - The Island

The Island in its today's editorial scoffs at the LTTE's recent claim that its acquisition of 2-3 light aircraft would give the statehood to the areas under its control. The National English daily says the LTTE is "still where it began over two decades ago in terms of achieving its objective", though it could inflict enormous damage to the Tamil community that would take generations to recover.

Read below the full text of the today's Editorial of The Island:

LTTE military spokesman R. Illanthirayan has told the Hindustan Times that the outfit's newly acquired limited air capability will help bolster its claim of statehood. Its air actions, he has said, open up new possibilities in the military, political and diplomatic fields. "We have territory, administrative, judicial, and law enforcement systems, an army, a navy and now an air force. Let's call a spade a spade; we are a state," he is reported to have said.

Wow! What miracles light aircraft are capable of! They can turn an illegally held territory into a separate state! The Taliban should also acquire Zlin planes and ride to statehood by dropping a few crude bombs on the occupation forces! Hello, hello, Mr. bin Laden can you hear the Tigers? Why should you eye jumbo jets? The smaller, the better!

The acquisition of Zlin aircraft may have added some zing into the LTTE's separatist project but it is nothing but will-o'-the-wisp that it has catapulted the outfit from a pocket of terror to a fully-fledged separate state.

Never mind aircraft. The LTTE is trying to make an omelette without eggs. It claims statehood on the basis of many things but the most important feature of the modern state-sovereignty. How can there be a state without sovereignty? It is not something that can be imported from Norway or smuggled in!

The LTTE, no doubt, has a formidable fighting force. But, it consists mainly of forcibly recruited children and youth. If the LTTE thinks it has a legitimate army, it should apply for officer training at Sandhurst! True, it has a fleet of stolen trawlers reinforced with armour plates, fitted with heavy guns and carrying its flag. It has, to give the devil his due, a group of dedicated cadres, some of whom are even ready to die for its macabre cause. But, if the LTTE thinks it has a legitimate navy, it should approach the Britannia Royal Naval College, Darmouth for training! It has acquired light aircraft and demonstrated its ability to unsettle the Sri Lanka military to some extent. But, does an air force mean only a few illegally acquired aircraft used for terrorist activities? Well, if the LTTE thinks it has an air force, it should send its 'air force officers' to Cranwell for further training. It may also try Scotland Yard for honing the skills of its 'police'! Or, it must place the order for spares for its aircraft in London or in New York!

A butcher, it should be seen, can never aspire to be a surgeon. He also uses a table and a knife, wears an apron, and inflicts cuts just like a surgeon. But, can he claim FRCS on the grounds of those similarities alone? A legitimate state is like a surgeon and a terrorist group a butcher. They are poles apart!

The LTTE's claim to statehood, which is being flaunted in some quarters, gets exposed for what it really is-a damn lie-when it is viewed against the backdrop of how the world is relating to it. The report of the LTTE claim coincided with the arrest of a top LTTE leader in the US. Will a senior leader of an outfit with a legitimate right to statehood get arrested in a democratic country?

The newly acquired air capability has, the LTTE says, opened up new possibilities in, inter alia, diplomatic fields. We don't know about those countries that are sympathetic to its cause for reasons best known to them. But, the air power has come at the expense of whatever support the LTTE may have enjoyed in the democratic world, which abhors terrorism. Its air power is widely considered a new threat to global democracy and has posed a new challenge to the nations battling terrorism. The article on the opposite page by R. Raman, a former Additional Secretary to Cabinet Secretariat, India, sheds light on how the democratic nations have taken the LTTE's air power. Note this particular observation therein:

The LTTE, despite its bravado, cannot use its planes frequently. Loss of aircraft due to ground fire or accidents would impair its air capability. The law of probability of loss of aircraft would operate more effectively against the TAF ['Tiger Air Force'] than the SLAF...

The LTTE is sadly mistaken, if it thinks the Zlin planes have helped it clear all hurdles on the path to separation. It is still where it began over two decades ago in terms of achieving its objective with the wheel of its terror having turned a full circle. It has got banned even in the countries that were once sympathetic to it. France has begun raids on its offices and resistance is emerging even in Norway to its terrorist activities!

The LTTE only makes the discerning laugh when it stakes a claim to territory. Yes, it has some areas under its jackboot. But, has it forgotten that it is at present confined to just only two or three districts, whereas there are 24 administrative districts in this country? How can it reconcile its present position with its much advertised goal of carving out a separate state encompassing one third of the country's land mass?

Today, it has become a prisoner of its own violent project. It has killed many more Tamils than those who perished at the hands of Sinhala hordes in 1983, while claiming to be their liberator. It has deprived the country of the best Tamil leaders and intellectuals. The Sinhala goons set the Jaffna Library ablaze in 1981 in a dastardly bid to deal a blow to the education of the Tamil community. But, the LTTE has gone a step ahead of those criminals and deprived tens of thousands of Tamil children of education over the years by abducting them and turning them into killing machines. It can no longer deceive the world into the belief that it is a liberation organisation.

Prabhakaran has crossed the Rubicon in his armed struggle. He is killing to live and living to kill. He has no way of entering the democratic mainstream. Therefore, he never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity, as we have seen over the past so many years. How many peace processes has he scuttled? He will go on fighting for his own sake on false pretext. The acquisition of aircraft is only part of his 'war-for-myself' programme.

Let those who may still believe his promise of liberation or a light aircraft ride to statehood heed this counsel:

"If we are interested in Tamil well-being and Tamil education, we must obtain control of a federal area through negotiations. Time is against us. Another few years of war, through death and migration, there will be no Tamil people left to speak of. The war must stop before we are totally destroyed as a people." - the concluding remark of a lecture delivered by Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole at the Toronto University recently.

Another LTTE cadre surrenders; Sniper riffle found- Mannar

Sivarasa Selvaruban aged 24 years surrendered to the SL Army roadblock at Adampan in the Murukan area yesterday (Friday the 27th of April). The surrendee told the Army personnel that he was an LTTE cadre numbered as 1613 . He further stated that he had fled the LTTE camp at Katti Adampan due to the unbearable harassments of the LTTE.

Separately, the troops found a sniper riffle from the Vankalain area in Mannar yesterday. Troops made this recovery on the information received from a civilian.

LTTE air power is only aimed at a morale boost, experts say at a Radio

Interview-Australia

(By Walter Jayawardhana)

In a Radio Australia interview experts disagreed with a local newspaper editor who said the Tamil Tigers air wing brought ominous signs for the security forces and they said opposing the editor's views that the air operations of the Tigers lacked any tactical advantage for them.

Experts disagreed with Lasantha Wickremetunga, the editor of the local newspaper The Sunday Leader in an interview with Radio Australia who said the air wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has fundamentally altered the conflict in Sri Lanka and it is the greatest challenge the government has to face.

Wickremetuna, a confidante of UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said in the interview that the, "use of airpower by the LTTE has fundamentally altered the conflict " and "what the government had before was supremacy over the air but now the LTTE has gone into that area as well."

He said the very fact the Tiger planes could fly 250 kilometers and get back safely is an ominous signs for the security forces. He said the tactic is not likely to send the government in Colombo back to negotiations.

But Jane's Defense Asia correspondence disagreed with the local newspaper editor in the same interview. He said the air wing operations of the Tamil Tigers lack any tactical advantage and merely aimed at psychological step up.

"The indication suggests the Tigers are under heavy pressure on two fronts the first is the unprecedented split in the Tiger organization and there've been ongoing conflict since then and the second has been the election of a hard-line government in Colombo that has taken a much less consolatory approach. So the application of airpower doesn't give them a tactical advantage so a fair guess is that it's aimed at a psychological step up." he said.

Jane's Defence Asia correspondent Robert Carneil further said at a time when they have been suffering military setbacks on the ground and disruption to their fundraising in Europe and the United States the Tigers may be using the planes to mount a show of force.

The presenter of the radio program Bill Bainbridge commenting on the analyst view said the military worth of the planes is negligible and their real value may be in bolstering their claims to legitimacy by adding an air wing to the guerrilla army and small navy they already possess.

Lasantha Wickrematunga further said, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE, has been smuggling in parts for the light aircraft for the past decade.

"There have been reports since 1998 that the LTTE has been acquiring airpower, that they have been building airstrips intelligence available at the moment is that they have been smuggling various parts of the light aircraft at various stages so there had been constant reports that they had been acquiring this air power but the first display was when they went and attacked the air force base a couple of weeks back", he said.

International Defense analyst Paul Beaver further said in the radio program that It's dead easy to get hold of such planes. "You could buy one of the aero planes at any airfield in Europe or North America you can get it dismantled and crated there's no export control on it."

Bainbridge said the LTTE is reported to have relied on their wide network of international supporters and their network of merchant ships to smuggle in the aircraft, then assemble them in the jungle and rig them with a small payload of bombs. He said that suggests the acquisition of this fledgling air force only makes the prospect of peace even more distant in Sri Lanka.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Find out how to add value to investment property

The London Property Marketeer and founder of Home Stagers, Tina Jesson, will be sharing her secrets on ‘How to add value to investment property’ when she will be speaking at the London Property Network event on Tuesday, 8th May 2007. The event is held each month at the Selfridge Hotel, Orchard Street, London, W1H 6JS. It starts at 6:00pm and rolls on until about 10:30pm and you will pay £20 entry

LPN events are a combination of property seminar, networking and an exhibition event all under one roof right in the centre of London.

There are generally a minimum of two speakers each month, exhibition stands representing a number of services associated with property investment, the opportunity to network with other investors and finally, there is a speed networking opportunity.

It is very professionally presented and run and well worth a visit for property investors from the novice to the seasoned professional.

So please take advantage of this generous offer and come to find out to add value to your investment property, at the Selfridge Hotel on 8th May 2007, starting at 6:00pm.

Muslim group in London protests detention of suspects accused of inciting terrorism

LONDON: Chanting "Hands off Muslims!" and "UK — You will pay!" demonstrators converged on a high-security prison in central London on Friday to protest the detention on six men in anti-terror raids earlier this week.

About 100 Muslim men and women, some with scarves obscuring their faces, others waving placards and flags, walked from Regent's Park Mosque to Paddington Green Police Station, where they believe outspoken Islamic militant Abu Izzadeen is being held with five others arrested Tuesday.

Speakers took turns haranguing the crowd through a loudspeaker as a police photographer circled them, taking pictures.

The protest began shortly after midday prayers at Regent's Park Mosque, where Anjem Choudary, the former leader of the outlawed militant group al-Ghurabaa, addressed the crowd, demanding that they join him in protesting the detention of Izzadeen — a former spokesman for his group.

"You are living under oppression, the government is terrorizing the Muslim community," he told worshippers. "It's about time you stand together." More >>

Former Sri Lanka Foreign Minister to be reinstated in a ministry

Apr 27, Colombo: Sources close to the Sri Lanka government speculate that the former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera would be reinstated as the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation soon after the May Day.

A compromise was dealt between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera by Western Province Chief Minister Alevi Mawlana and the two held extensive talks at the Temple Trees last Tuesday.

The source speculate a possible compromise with the now remanded former Minister Sripathi Suriyaarachchi as well. Sripathi and Mangala who were ardent supporters of the Presidential campaign of Mahinda Rajapaksa recently estranged in creating tension in the government ranks.

LTTE on the run

The Tamil Tigers are on the run in the face of a concerted military offensive by the Sri Lanka government. This is evident, among other things, in their retreat from erstwhile strongholds in the east — Sampur in Trincomalee in September 2006, Vaharai in Batticaloa in January 2007, and in recent weeks a number of smaller bases. The Sri Lanka Air Force has played a leading role in boosting the state's ground forces. The two aerial raids by the Tigers — targeting the SLAF's main base at Katunayake on March 26 and the Palali air base on April 24 — can, in fact, be interpreted as symptoms of desperation. The LTTE has not been able to inflict any serious damage on Lanka military assets. The SLAF has, for the first time in history, acquired night strike capability. In effect, this doubles the strength of the Air Force and the Tigers no longer have a free run from dusk to dawn. There are questions relating to the accuracy and degree of effectiveness of the SLAF raids. In the absence of a credible monitoring mechanism and with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) grounded, it is difficult to evaluate the current state of the LTTE's fighting infrastructure.

The military managers of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime are confident that the armed forces will be able to degrade the terrorists' military machine provided there are no obstacles from within or outside the island nation. President Rajapaksa on his part has invested full faith in his generals. In the context of Sri Lanka, a `fight to the finish' military mission is a discredited phrase, given the track record of successive governments. The present strategy, which has been effective, springs from the conviction there can be neither peace nor development in the country as long as the offensive capability of the LTTE is not neutralised. The government is certainly within its rights in going after the LTTE. It has in its possession a video tape of a speech made by Velupillai Prabakaran to his commanders days after the 2002 Cease Fire Agreement was signed; here he asks them to treat the ceasefire as a period of rest and preparation for the bigger battle ahead. Assuming that the video recording is authentic, Mr. Prabakaran's harangue is of a piece with his past behaviour. The Rajapaksa administration's military strategy would do much better if it went hand in hand with a clear political vision to resolve the Tamil question on the basis of a federal devolution of power within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. The government must also show greater sensitivity to the sufferings of hundreds of thousands of innocent people caught in the conflict. Military gains have a habit of dissipating in the absence of sound political action.

Halifax: House prices in London

House prices in London have increased by 14.9 per cent in the last year according to research out today from Halifax.

This is the largest increase of all the English regions, and 3.8 percentage points above the UK average of 11.1 per cent.

Over the last three months house prices in the region are up 2.2 per cent.

The survey finds the average house price in London is £297,132. This is £104,818 above the national average of £192,314

New property in Camden attracts strong interest

A new development in the London property hotspot of Camden has attracted strong interest, with the first phase selling out in one day.

The Lockhouse development, from new homes specialist Barratt, is made up of studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments close to Camden Lock, and on the banks of Regent's Canal.

The first apartments are due to be complete in summer 2008, and start from £350,000.

The Lockhouse features apartments with balconies, which have views over either the canal or the split-level courtyard garden, a residents' fitness room and a 24-7 concierge service.

The Camden area has a diverse mix of architectural styles, shops, street markets and entertainment venues, and is close to major green open spaces including Hampstead Heath, Primrose Hill and Regent's Park.

Camden Town underground station provides links to the tube and rail networks and there are direct services to Euston, King's Cross and Waterloo from Camden Road railway station, with the Silverlink Metro linking Richmond and Stratford, from the station.

President at Barbados to encourage Sri Lankan team

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Barbados on an invitation extended by the Prime Minister of Barbados. He will be present at the Cricket world cup finals which will be held at the Kensington Oval ground, Bridgetown - Barbados on the 28th between Sri Lanka and Australia.

After defeating New Zealand with 81 runs at the Sabina Park Cricket Ground on last 25th Sri Lanka qualified for the final match of the ICC Cricket world cup and will take Australians who recorded a 7 wickets victory over the South Africans at Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet in St Lucia.

From the cricket world cup history which started in 1975 West Indies won the World Cup in two times, Australians thrice, And Sri Lanka beating Australian in 1996, Pakistan in 1992 and India in 1983.

Earlier, Prime Minister of Barbados invited the President of Sri Lanka to join as a spectator of this historic day to Sri Lankans and all Cricket lovers if the Sri Lankans enter for the final match. This is the second occasion Sri Lanka entered the final of World Cup. On the last occasion in 1996, Sri Lanka won the final beating Australia.

Courtesy: National Information Department

Sri Lanka Air Force fires at a suspicious air craft - Katunayake [2nd Lead]

The Sri Lanka Air Force engaged its air defence weapons at a suspicious air craft observed in the skies off Katunayake, on Thursday the 26th of April, at 10.45p.m.

A suspicious air move was detected by the air defence radars, according to official sources.

The air defence weapon systems was activated targeting the suspicious air craft in order to avoid possible terror air raid at the Air Force camp. The Air Force sources further confirmed that no air raid has taken place and the situation was completely arrested.

U.S applying indirect pressure on LTTE's cross border terrorism

By Kannan Padhmanaban in Los Angeles

The US is indirectly applying more pressure to the LTTE to cease its continued terrorism and violence in Sri Lanka against the sovereign state and the Sri Lankan community.

The United States government is also alarmed and concerned of the links between the LTTE and Al Qaeda. The charges against Karunakaran Kandasamy will be sending a strong message to the LTTE leadership that the United States of America will not sit back and tolerate the LTTE, a designated foreign terrorist organisation in their country from raising funds in the United States of America and allowing them to carry acts of terrorism in its country and abroad.

The LTTE agents are being forced to operate even more covertly, however the intelligence agencies and information passed from the intelligence wings of the Tamil Democratic Alliance is helping the western governments tackle the LTTE. Members within the Tamil diaspora are complaining against the activities of LTTE agents and gangsters on a regular basis to the authorities which is resulting in more and more arrests.

The US is trying to tame the LTTE and tame Prabhakaran and force the LTTE to cease all violence and attacks and come to the negotiating table with the SL government without giving any usual excuses. I telephoned Mr Nesan Shankar Raji of the EROS Democratic Front in Zurich and he said "whether Prabhakaran's arrogance will give in is yet to be seen and until then we will be encouraging the US and western governments to actively engage in targeting the LTTE's interests abroad and also encouraging other governments to ban the LTTE as a terrorist organisation and at the same time educating them that the LTTE does not represent a vast majority of the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora as they claim".

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Yeltsin heralded a new era in Russia - President

COLOMBO: Boris Yeltsin goes down in history as the person who heralded a new era in Russia after his election in 1991, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday in a condolence message sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The message: “I was profoundly saddened to receive news of the passing away of Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin, the former President of the Russian Federation. The death of former President Yeltsin who steered your country through a difficult transitional period, will be greatly felt.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka and on my own behalf, I convey my deepest sympathies to Your Excellency, the Government and the People of the Russian Federation and the members of his family, on this sad occasion.”

CEB mulling tariff revision

Wasantha Ramanayake

COLOMBO: The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was contemplating a tariff revision on par with the diesel price increase, a Power and Ministry official said.

The official said that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had decided to increase the price of diesel from Rs. 60 to Rs. 63 per litre. As a result the CEB was compelled to increase the electricity tariff accordingly.

He added that the CEB had purchased a litre of diesel at Rs. 55 when the market price was Rs. 60 and likewise a furnace oil litre was purchased at Rs. 40. The CEB was selling a unit of electricity to the consumers at Rs. 10.80 bearing a two rupees loss, the actual production cost being Rs. 12.80.

The official further added that the CEB was daily incurring fifty seven million rupees due to the subsidy given to the consumers and that the contemplated increase by the CPC would further swell the loss of the CEB, which compelled the CEB to consider a tariff revision, he said.

No change in Govt. stance - Defence Spokesman

GOVT FOR TALKS, BUT LTTE ALWAYS SABOTAGED THEM

The Government has always been committed to the peace process and it is the LTTE which caused a setback in this regard by withdrawing from negotiations proffering spurious excuses, the Government said yesterday.

Addressing the weekly security media briefing yesterday, Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the Government has always reiterated this position.

"The LTTE wants the Government to restart peace negotiations. There were reports during the last ten days that the LTTE was willing to come back to the negotiation table. The LTTE doesn't have to communicate its interest to re-enter negotiations because the Government is always fully committed to open the doors for a negotiated settlement to the conflict," Minister Rambukwella said.

He said the history of the peace process showed it was the LTTE who always withdrew from the negotiations process. The LTTE frequently came out with various excuses to justify its withdrawal from peace talks.

"The history of the peace process is full of instances of the LTTE backtracking - Viz. Geneva and Oslo after enjoying the hospitality of the Norwegian facilitators."

The Minister emphasised that during the peace talks in Geneva the Government tabled a seven point agenda and was to take them up one by one. However, when the Government delegation was about to meet the LTTE in Geneva, they took up issues such as A9 road, food supplies as prerequisites for talks to begin.

The LTTE also carried out several attacks on the Security Forces soon after withdrawing from the peace talks including the attempt on the life of the Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. Still, the Government did not deviate from the peace path, the Minister said.

He said: "The Government's policy for a negotiated settlement never changed. When the LTTE calls for recommencing the peace talks, the Government has to explain its stance. Government Chief Peace Negotiator Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva called on the Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar and discussed with him the Government's position and that the door is open for talks.

Minister de Silva also explained to Brattskar how the LTTE withdrew from the peace process and told him to convey to the LTTE that the Government is ready for talks".

Minister Rambukwella strongly denied media reports that the Norwegian Ambassador was not allowed to visit Kilinochchi by the Government.

"The truth is we explained to him about the present security situation as a duty of a Sovereign state. It is the duty of the Defence Secretary and the Foreign Ministry to inform in advance about the ground situation when a diplomat undertakes to visit the conflict zone.

A group of diplomats were attacked by the LTTE in Batticaloa. Brattskar postponed his meeting with the LTTE till he felt it was safe to go," he added.

Commenting on a Memorandum submitted to the UN office in Sri Lanka that there are flaws in the Muttur massacre investigation, the Minister said "we will not ready to undermine the commission appointed by the President and we are also totally against any international organisation interfering in our investigations".

The President appointed this commission to oversee 16 cases of human rights violations. An International Groups of Eminent Persons are assisting them.

These two committees are carrying out their investigations successfully, even involving an Australian forensic team, he added.

Courtesy - Daily News

LTTE gathering point destroyed in SLAF air raid- Killinochchi

A prominent LTTE gathering point east of Killinochchi, came under heavy SLAF air bombardment, obtained on real-time ground information through intelligence sources, on Thursday the 26th of April at 07.15a.m.

Air force sources said that, the identified LTTE target was completely neutralized and it was believed that a number of high profile terrorists were present at the gathering.

According to the SLAF sources the precision air strikes were made as a surprise assault on the terrorist gathering, who were believed to be regrouping for a fresh offensive against the security forces.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Four killed 35 injured in LTTE claymore blast

VAVUNIYA: Four civilians were killed and 35 others injured when a Colombo bound bus from Mannar was caught in a LTTE claymore mine on Monday night. The incident took place near Chettikulam, Police Media Spokesman Senior DIG Jayantha Wickramaratne said.

“A private bus plying from Mannar to Colombo was hit by a LTTE claymore mine killing four passengers and injuring 35 others.

The incident took place in Chettikulam, on Colombo- Mannar A-14 road on Monday at around 11.30 p.m. The bus had left Mannar carrying 39 passengers at around 9.30 p.m. Just as it was passing the Manik Farm Junction when LTTE triggered off the claymore mine”, DIG Wickramaratne told the Daily News.

Four passengers who were critically injured have been admitted to Chettikulam and Medawachchi hospitals, he added.

Police and army conducted a joint search operation.

UN workers in LTTE custody: Lanka urges UN not to shield Tigers

UN workers in LTTE custody: Lanka urges UN not to shield Tigers

by Shamindra Ferdinando

The government Monday criticized the hotly disputed UN attempt to secure the release of two UN employees held by the LTTE through secret negotiations.

Defence Secretary Colonel (retd) Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that they should have brought the abduction of UN employees to the government's attention immediately.

The Island recently revealed the arrest by the LTTE of two local UN employees accused of helping Tamils flee the LTTE-held region. Some of them are believed to have fled to avoid being forcibly conscripted.

Defence Secretary Rajapaksa accused the Colombo-based UN bigwigs and an influential section of the diplomatic community of double standards. The abduction took the centre stage at a Defence Ministry meeting

Chaired by Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe to review the ground situation. The bi-weekly meeting was attended by senior representatives of local and international agencies active in the North and East. US Ambassador Robert O. Blake was among the diplomats present.

The UN had kept the seizure under wraps believing that the LTTE would eventually free the captives.

Well informed sources said that the UN headquarters too, had been informed of the unprecedented act of terrorism directed against the UN staff.

Both the army and the LTTE are strengthening their positions in the region as the security forces tighten their grip on the eastern theatre of operations.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa pointed out that that although the UN workers were abducted in February it was kept a secret. He accused a section of the international community of adopting a different approach when dealing with the LTTE and expressed the belief that human rights champions and those who accuse the government of death and destruction at the drop of a hat are silent. Their effort to shield the LTTE, despite the high handed act was a case in point, he said.

The LTTE has told the UN that anyone challenging their authority would have to face the consequences. A senior Defence Ministry official said that the both print and electronic media which champion the cause of the LTTE are maintaining a deafening silence.

The Defence Secretary urged them not to shield the LTTE by keeping silent. This request was made in the backdrop of a high profile campaign against the government and security forces over human rights violations.

In response to the Defence Secretary's remarks, NGOs acknowledged that they were under tremendous pressure with the LTTE stepping up conscription in the Vanni. People irrespective of their affiliation to NGOs are being targeted by the LTTE as part of their ongoing efforts to strengthen the fighting cadre.

Courtesy: The Island

LTTE attack on Air Base foiled


PALALY: Contrary to the bleak picture of chaos and mayhem painted by the LTTE, journalists who visited Palaly witnessed no scenes or disorder at the sprawling air base following an aborted LTTE foray into its High Security Zone.

Except for some minor damages, caused by LTTE bombs launched using obsolete technology there was no major impact caused by this second attempt by the LTTE to carry out an air attack against a major security installation.

The situation was quite contrary to what has been speculated by the pro-LTTE media to the outside world when a Ministerial and a media delegation arrived yesterday in Palaly to obtain a first-hand account of the situation in Palaly.

The Palaly Airport was busy as usual despite the pre-dawn incident involving a light aircraft of the LTTE, that was explained as a minor incident by the Jaffna Security Forces Commander G. A. Chandrasiri.

The Security Forces in Palaly and Milady explained how they averted yet another attempt by the LTTE to make a big damage to the Palaly Air Base. According to Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General G. A. Chandrasiri, the incident started to unfold at 1.05 am yesterday with 20 LTTE artillery rounds began to fall inside and outside Palaly High Security Zone from Pooneryn direction.

“We took steps to neutralise the LTTE artillery fire making use of the beach craft which was on another mission in Jaffna to identify the artillery locations of the LTTE”, he said.

Amidst artillery fire of the LTTE, troops in south of Jaffna reported about an aircraft arriving from the south of Jaffna peninsula towards Palaly Air Base under the cover of darkness at 1.20 am.

“The aircraft took the path along the marshy lands in Jaffna where lesser number of troops on duty. The troops were ready after switching off the lights at the Palaly Air Base once the light aircraft arrived close to the Palaly Air Base”, he said.

There was big retaliatory fire using light and heavy weapons available at the Palaly High Security Zone towards the aircraft compelling the Tiger cadres to change their path towards Thondamanaru area towards the sea as they couldn’t achieve the target.“They dropped three bombs at Milady area while nearly 30 to 40 soldiers who came out of the bunkers fired towards the aircraft”, Major General Chandrasiri added.

Six valiant soldiers, five attached to the Engineering Regiment and one attached to the Infantry Regiment were killed as the light aircraft dropped three bombs as the aircraft passed the area towards seaside, failing to achieve their target. Major General Chandrasiri said the Security Forces were ready to face any such attack by the LTTE and they had completed a rehearsal a day prior to the incident to face such an eventuality.

“This is just an attempt by the LTTE to get publicity”, Major General Chandrasiri added. “We are ready to face such incidents in the future too.

We will take steps to destroy the aircraft with the fire power and strategies available with us”, he added.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

LTTE to remain on EU blacklist

COLOMBO: The LTTE will remain on the European Union blacklist together with 29 other international rebel groups and more than 30 individuals, EU foreign ministers at a two day meeting in Luxembourg said Monday. The EU however agreed to inform groups and people why they were put on its list of terrorist organisations, a move aimed at avoiding decisions being overturned in court. The EU's reasoning will be officially published for the groups and individuals for whom it has no address.
Those listed will then have 30 days “to present their arguments” against the decision. “The persons, groups and entities concerned will be informed via a statement of reason of the specific information that form the basis of the Council's decision,” it said, adding the groups would be allowed to comment on the decisions.
The reasons for blacklisting would only be revealed if a blacklisted group agreed to it, the statement said.
The European Union last May placed the LTTE on their list of banned terrorists despite warnings from the rebel at the time that this could lead to full-blown civil war in Sri Lanka. The 25 member block unanimously agreed to the ban last year after Britain and other countries persuaded Sweden, Denmark and Finland to overcome their reservations.
Scandinavian countries were showing solidarity with Norway, which has acted as peace broker in Sri Lanka and strongly believes that proscribing the LTTE will be counter-productive.
The first direct casualty of the ban on the peace process in Sri Lanka was the SLMM. The LTTE demanded all EU representatives of the SLMM to withdraw resulting in the cease fire monitors having to be crippled for a short period.
Responding to the ban imposed last year the late rebel chief negotiator Anton Balasingham said the move was unfair, untimely and biased. He said the EU intervention would thus emerge as a serious impediment to reaching a just and lasting solution to Sri Lanka’s conflict.
The LTTE could not be contacted for a comment on the extension of the EU ban.
Europe's second-highest court last year annulled an EU decision to freeze the funds of the People's Mujahideen, the armed wing of France-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, for failing to give it a fair hearing or adequate reasons.
The European Union has kept the group on its blacklist, having sent a letter explaining its reasons.

orwegian ambassador’s visit to Northeast Sri Lanka cancelled

Apr 23, Colombo: Norwegian Ambassador for Sri Lanka Hans Brattskar today cancelled a trip to Kilinochchi, the capital of the de facto Tamil state run by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The visit meant to create a suitable background to recommence the peace negotiations between the Sri Lanka government and the Tamil rebels was cancelled on the request of the Sri Lanka government on security grounds.

An Embassy spokesman said the government last evening told them it was not advisable to go due to security concerns and that the trip had to be cancelled.

Brattskar was to hold talks with LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilchelvan, Peace Secretariat head S. Pulithevan, police chief S. Nadesan and the deputy leader of the political wing S. Thangan.

Earlier the plan was to provide the Norwegian Ambassador with a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter to fly to Kilinochchi and there onwards he was to travel along the A-9 highway to Kilinochchi in Embassy vehicles.

It is not known when the visit can take place.

Six Tigers killed in sporadic clashes in Sri Lanka

Apr 22, Colombo: Six Tiger Cadres have been killed in separate clashes in the North and East Sri Lanka yesterday, the Media Centre for National security (MCNS) said.

Tiger cadres clashed with the troops guarding the Forward Defence Line (FDL) in Vavuniya yesterday. Five LTTE terrorists are believed to be killed at various locations along the FDL by the security forces during the confrontation.

In a separate incident the Special Task Force (STF) personnel on a foot patrol have retaliated LTTE fire at Thirukkovil last evening wounding an LTTE cadre who later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

A T-56 rifle and two magazines with fifteen rounds of ammunitions belonged to the dead LTTE cadre have been taken to police custody.

Meanwhile, the Army troops found 72 anti personnel mines from the Priyathmpalai area in Vavuniya. The troops found these mines during clearing operations carried out in the area yesterday.

The mines were later defused by the Army bomb disposal unit.

Sri Lankan government dismisses Tiger claim of air attack in Jaffna

Apr 24, Colombo: Sri Lankan government dismissed the Tamil Tiger claim that a Tiger aircraft have bombed a Sri Lankan military air base in Northern Sri Lanka.

Defense officials denied the air raid claim but said the rebels fired artillery towards the military complex.

"We have reports saying they had attacked with artillery but there was nothing like an air strike,” a military official said.

The Tiger web site said their air wing attacked Palaly airstrip and military storage and returned safely.

Last month a rebel aircraft in a first ever air attack bombed the Katunayake air force base killing three airmen and wounding 16 others. The attack however failed to inflict any damages on the fighter jets on the ground.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Anti-Indian Tiger operating in S. Africa to undermine Tamil leaders

This is the first time that two prominent Tamil political leaders - Douglas Devananda and V. Anandasangaree from Sri Lanka are on a state visit to South Africa

On the invitation of the S. Africa government, two Tamil leaders - Douglas Devananda, Sri Lanka's Minister for Social Services and Social Welfare, who is also the leader of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party and V. Anandasangaree, Leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front - are touring S. Africa right now. This is the first time that two prominent Tamil political leaders from Sri Lanka on a state visit to South Africa. While in South Africa the two Tamil leaders are expected meet a cross-section of the Tamils of Indian origin living in South Africa. They constitute nearly 2 % of the population is people of Indian origins, mainly Tamils, out of the total population of 44 million.

When Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse and South Africa President Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki met at the Non-Aligned Summit Conference held on Havana in September 2006, both agreed that a Sri Lankan delegation consisting of Tamil leaders must visit South Africa to explain the present political situation in Sri Lanka. As a result, the South African Government invited Minister Douglas Devananda and veteran politician V. Anandasangaree to South Africa on a week-long official visit.

These two leaders are expected to lobby against the LTTE's anti-Tamil activities and expose the covert activities of the separatist outfit led by Velupillai Prabakaran, who runs a one-man regime in the Vanni.

Minister Douglas Devananda is expected to meet President Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki and deliver a special letter addressed to South African President by Sri Lanka's President.

It is also learnt that Senior Cabinet Minister Douglas Devananda will formerly extend the invitation on behalf of Government Sri Lanka to South African President to Visit Sri Lanka.

Minister Douglas Devananda and Anandasangaree are also expected to meet Deputy President Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Foreign Minister Dr. NC Dlami Zuma, Minister for Social Development Dr ZST Skweyiya , other Government leaders and leaders of the political parties in South Africa.

They are also expected to meet Nobel laureates Dr. Nelson Mandela and Rev. Dr. Desmond Tutu and brief them of the countries situation and convey the greetings and wishes of President Mahinda Rajapakse and the people of Sri Lanka.

Fearing that their presence would affect the Tamil Tiger interests in S. Africa they have dispatched M. Kanakenthiran (nom de guerre Eelaventhan), a known anti-Indian activist, to counter the influence of these two Tamil leaders. Kanakenthiran has been deported from India for his clandestine anti-India activities.

India's Union Home Ministry of India deported Eelaventhan on 04 December 2000. Indian deportation was based on his links with the LTTE - a banned organization responsible for killing India's Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He was also suspected of having close links with Prabhakaran, LTTE Leaders, and Pakistan's Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence ISI.

This anti-Indian activist is reported to be moving among the Indian community pretending to be a friend of India and Indians.

After becoming a Member of Parliament in 2004 April, Eelaventan, a persona non grata, tried to enter India on 24 July 2004 on the pretext of participating in a conference organized by P.Nedumaran, who is in the pay roll of the LTTE.

But the Indian Government intervened and refused permission to enter India and deported him back to Sri Lanka.

Reports reveal that Eelaventhan is involved preparing posters, pamphlets against the two Tamil leaders.

The Sri Lanka Embassy in South Africa has shown serious concern over the activities of Eelaventhan for his mischievous campaigns, promoting and glorifying terrorism in a peace loving South Africa.

Courtesy : Asian Tribuneu

Sri Lanka's Civil War Spares Economy, Industrial Base in West

By Anusha Ondaatjie and Paul Tighe

April 23 (Bloomberg) -- Sri Lanka, facing a return to civil war between the army and Tamil separatists, is maintaining its fastest growth in 30 years because the fighting is taking place far from industries driving the $26 billion economy.

``This is a conflict that the country has learnt to live with,'' said Agost Benard, credit analyst at Standard & Poor's in Singapore. ``Businesses still invest, factories still produce. The main reason is because the conflict is localized.''

The worst fighting since a cease-fire was declared in 2002 erupted a year ago in the north and east, halting efforts to end the two-decade struggle by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for a separate homeland in areas it controls.

Sri Lanka, which is also recovering from the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami, saw its gross domestic product grow 7.4 percent last year, buoyed by a 10 percent expansion in Western province, the home of the textile and clothing industries, the biggest export earners. Two rounds of peace talks last year in Geneva failed to make any progress toward ending the conflict in the South Asian island nation of 20 million people.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka maintains its 2007 growth forecast of 7.5 percent. Manufacturing, which includes tea processing, rubber-based products and construction, grew 7.2 percent in 2006 from a year earlier, while services, such as cargo handling and telecommunications, expanded 8.3 percent.

Sri Lanka's garment industry, responsible for about 4 percent of the economy, supplies for brands such as Gap Inc., Banana Republic and Marks & Spence Group Plc.

Overseas Investment

The island last year attracted record overseas investment of $600 million, mostly from garment makers and telecommunications companies in the capital, Colombo, which is also located in Western province.

Dialog Telekom Ltd., Sri Lanka's biggest mobile-phone operator and a unit of Telekom Malaysia Bhd., said in February full-year profit rose to a record after spending about $150 million expanding its network to increase customers.

The benchmark Colombo All-Share Index reached a record 3016.42 on Feb. 13. The index fell to 2729.21 points on March 16 and has since recovered about 1.5 percent.

``Entrepreneurs know what risks to take and foreign investment players who are active, already know the situation,'' said Saman Kelegama, executive director of Sri Lanka's Institute of Policy Studies. ``Because the north and eastern provinces have been battered, their supply capacity has reduced.''

Tourist arrivals fell in eight of the 10 months since June as visitors stayed away from Sri Lanka's white-sand beaches, ancient Buddhist sites and hill resorts as a result of travel advisories from countries such as France and Italy, citing the conflict. Tourism is Sri Lanka's third-biggest revenue earner.

Tamil Tigers

The Tamil Tigers, estimated to have 12,000 fighters, have their headquarters at Kilinochchi in the northern Jaffna region. They also have a 4,000-strong naval force, known as the Sea Tigers, who are based in the northeastern Mullaitivu area.

The LTTE, classified as a terrorist group by the U.S., European Union and India, says the Tamils, who make up less than a fifth of the population, are discriminated against by the majority Sinhalese.

The army inflicted defeats on LTTE forces this year, overrunning 16 rebel camps in the northeast in January and earlier this month seizing the eastern region around Batticaloa after taking control of the main road link for the first time in 14 years. The LTTE accused the government of trying to impose a military rather than a political solution to the conflict.

Government forces suffered defeats in the north, including the loss of at least 74 soldiers in battles in the Jaffna peninsula on Oct. 11.

Tired of War

``If the government gets more control over the east, it can be uplifted closer to other provinces,'' said Kelegama. ``The people, who are sick and tired of the war, will appreciate economic activity increasing.''

Fighting around Batticaloa last month forced an estimated 95,000 civilians to flee to join 60,000 people already in refugee camps in the region, according to the United Nations.

Almost 4,000 people have been killed in violence in the past 15 months, compared with 130 deaths related to the conflict in the three previous years, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, which oversees the 2002 truce, said in February.

Almost half the 30,000 Sri Lankans killed in the 2004 tsunami disaster lived in the north and northeast where the LTTE said it raised its own funds to build homes for survivors in areas under its control.

The rebels say navy operations and stepped up air force attacks are preventing the Tamil community's main fishing industry recover from the tsunami.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, elected in November 2005 with a mandate to renegotiate a peace treaty with Tamil separatists, increased spending on the army, navy and air force by 44 percent this year to a record 139 billion rupees ($1.3 billion).

Sri Lanka expects to receive $4.5 billion in overseas aid in the next three years for highways, expanding the Colombo port, and building its second coal-fired power plant in the northeastern port town of Trincomalee, the government said on Jan. 30.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Petrol station credit card scam LTTE

Police are investigating a scam which involves credit cards being 'skimmed' at petrol stations.

Friday, April 20, 2007

LTTE training facility destroyed in SLAF air raid- Jaffna

SLAF super sonic MIG-27s and K'Fir jets made few sorties over an identified LTTE training facility, dropping heavy pay loads in the un-liberated Periyapachchilaipallai area, on Thursday the 19th of April, at 10.00p.m.

The night sorties were carried out with precision air strikes destroying the terrorist training facility. Observation units confirmed that huge fire balls were seen looming from the LTTE dominated area, with a series of ex

A senior LTTE cadre identified as Sivapalasuntheram alias Kadaiyalagam, was killed in a successful air raid on 18th April.

The target had been identified as a major LTTE military training base, and the accurate air sorties were made on pre-information received of heavy terrorist activity in the area. Terrorist casualties are expected to soar as intercepted LTTE communication circuits were busy with pleas for immediate casualty evacuations and reinforcement to secure the FDLs fearing a possible surprise assault.

Meanwhile, military intelligence sources said that a senior LTTE cadre identified as Sivapalasuntheram Gunaseelan, alias Kalaiyalaagam was killed on Wednesday(18), following a successful air raid at a strategically important LTTE location at Puthukkudiyiruppu in the East of Kilinochchi.

Periyapachchilaip

plosions.

Greece enters into the set of European nations to beat LTTE

"We will do whatever possible to not allow terrorists or their front organizations to raise funds," said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Dora Bokayannis referring to inclusion of the LTTE in the list of terrorist organizations. Greek Minister said this when she met with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday in Athens.

The Government of Greece has agreed to provide Coast Guard training to Sri Lanka. Greece is believed to be one of the foremost country in Europe that stands with a highly advance system of naval and shipping.

The statement made by the Greece Foreign Minister is another positive energetic response which strengthen the chain of 'combating terrorism internationally'. With in the last couple of months the Government succeeded in putting forward the real image of the LTTE terrorists to the international community. These incidents led the foreign nations to investigate activities of LTTE terrorists in Europe and to take stern action against them.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister while explaining the present situation of the country stated that the Government under the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa is always committed bring about a negotiated settlement to the problem but the reluctance shown by the LTTE to come to the negotiating table has hindered the peace process.

Mr. Bogollagama while requesting the international community to apply pressure on the LTTE to stop terrorism and to return to the negotiation table also sought the cooperation of them in combating terrorism by obstructing the mechanisms of illegal arms smuggling, fund raising, drug smuggling, money laundering and human smuggling carried out by the LTTE in most of the European countries through their internationally spread network.

He also noted that out of the 25 districts in Sri Lanka only two and half districts were affected by LTTE activity and therefore when countries issue travel advisories it is important to mention that the remaining areas of the country is safe to travel

Minister Bogollagama while conveying the Sri Lankan peoples' gratitude towards the Government and the people of Greece thanked the Government of Greece for assisting Sri Lanka with post-tsunami recovery activities with their financial donation of 37 million Euros said that the people are back to business and most of the reconstruction work is now completed.

Foreign Minister Bokayannis said the people of Greece had supported the building of hospitals, schools and fishery harbors and to provide boats for fishermen after the Tsunami devastation that hit Sri Lanka. She pledged to continue to do so.

The two Ministers agreed to work together and appoint a joint committee for further action in the areas of Investment, Trade, Culture, Tourism, Training and Education and Fisheries

Courtesy : Government Information Department

Prabhakaran slammed for blocking civilian entry to cleared areas - Anandasangaree

TULF Leader V. Anandasangaree said the LTTE leader who had killed more Tamils than anyone else had no moral right to proclaim himself as the leader of the Tamil people.

Speaking at a commemorative meeting to remember the late Kethesh Loganathan, organised by the Sri Lanka Democracy Forum, a Tamil community organisation firmly opposed to the LTTE at the Conway Hall in London, the TULF leader slammed the LTTE leader of blocking civilian resettlement in the cleared east.

"The LTTE is now trying to prevent civilians from re-settling in cleared areas."

He said it was Prabhakaran's wish to confine innocent civilians to IDP camps so that he could exploit the situation to wage his profitable war.

Pointing the finger at the LTTE for the killing of Loganathan, the Peace Secretariat Deputy Chief, Anandasangaree said Prabhakaran's dictatorial rule despised independent views.

He said Kethesh stood for federalism and encouraged dialogue with the Tigers but the LTTE did not want other members of the community to express themselves independently.

The TULF leader's speech was disrupted by an LTTE activist who tried to insult him. This person identified as V. Chandrakanthan was physically removed from the auditorium as he tried to interrupt his speech continuously.
Anandasangaree said this was a typical manifestation of how the LTTE deploys its members even in the UK to intimidate people and silence those who criticise the LTTE.
The event-Chairperson, Tamil Times Editor P. Rajanayagam in his opening address said Kethesh championed peaceful co-existence of Tamils and Sinhalese against the separatist ideology of the LTTE.
He said Kethesh never hesitated to criticise Sri Lankan Governments who failed to address the concerns of the Tamils.
Former Premier of the Ontario State Bob Rae said the late Tamil leader was a victim of a struggle within the community for leadership. Calling him a voice of moderation Rae said Kethesh was a close friend and a great champion of democratic values.
He called for redoubling of the international effort to push for a resumption of negotiations to find a viable political solution.
A commemorative volume titled Remembering Kethesh was released at the event attended mostly by the Sri Lankan Tamil community in the UK. The programme included speeches, music and poetry readings to honour the memory of Loganathan.


LTTE activists being thrown out from the meeting

TULF leader with Nesa

The TULF leader's speech was disrupted by an LTTE activist who tried to insult him. This person identified as V. Chandrakanthan was physically removed from the auditorium as he tried to interrupt his speech continuously.

Anandasangaree said this was a typical manifestation of how the LTTE deploys its members even in the UK to intimidate people and silence those who criticise the LTTE.

The event-Chairperson, Tamil Times Editor P. Rajanayagam in his opening address said Kethesh championed peaceful co-existence of Tamils and Sinhalese against the separatist ideology of the LTTE.

He said Kethesh never hesitated to criticise Sri Lankan Governments who failed to address the concerns of the Tamils.

Former Premier of the Ontario State Bob Rae said the late Tamil leader was a victim of a struggle within the community for leadership. Calling him a voice of moderation Rae said Kethesh was a close friend and a great champion of democratic values.

He called for redoubling of the international effort to push for a resumption of negotiations to find a viable political solution.

A commemorative volume titled Remembering Kethesh was released at the event attended mostly by the Sri Lankan Tamil community in the UK. The programme included speeches, music and poetry readings to honour the memory of Loganathan.

LTTE activists being thrown out from the meeting

TULF leader with Nesa

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Arthritis program, fundraisers scheduled

Arthritis program - To combat a disease that affects one out of five adults, the Arthritis Foundation is busy promoting upcoming awareness and fundraising events.

The first will be the "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" program from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at The Landing at 2801 S. Michigan St., South Bend.

It will consist of several information sessions on different aspects of arthritis and prevention.

"We are hoping to call attention to this disability and teach appropriate disease management," Beth Harsch, branch director of the Indiana Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, said.

"Mostly doctors are presenting, but we also have a dietitian, personal trainer, acupuncturist and other volunteers."

The sessions include "Living with Arthritis," "Gardening and Arthritis" and "Oh, My Aching Shoulder!"

London Property Boom

London Property Boom - Property has been a money spinner for investors in the last decade or so.

Listed property companies naturally have also done very well. The good times are continuing. Rugby Estates (LSE: RES) , which released its results yesterday, saw pre-tax profits rise by 79% and increased the dividend by 100%.

In particular, the company saw strong demand for office rental in its main central London market. Both rents and property values have been pushed up, allowing the company to realise some of these gains by selling some of its investments.

Such profits from property have encouraged ever more investors to seek part of the action.

"Private buyers, from both the UK and overseas, have continued to compete with institutional investors, who are increasing their target weightings for property", said David Tye, the chairman, in his annual review. There is a "continued surge of both equity and debt capital seeking a home in property as an alternative to other forms of investment".

This surge has pushed up property prices and as a consequence yields have dropped. It has also meant that the 'yield differentials' between primary and secondary property has narrowed. In some cases it is 'too narrow', according to Rugby. In other words, some property in secondary locations is over-valued.

Rugby notes that there has been a marked increase in development both for property which has been let before being built, and speculative property that is built first with the hope that it can be let later.

That's interesting because it's sometimes said by investors that the building of such speculative property is a sign of a bubble. However, if you believe Rugby, the development boom looks set to continue.

"A plentiful supply of debt continues to fuel a seemingly insatiable appetite for property investment and development opportunities in all sectors throughout the UK and particularly in London and the South East," said finance director Stephen Jones in his report.

Rugby has been able to take advantage of investor demand and has raised £27.6 million through a placing. This is is being invested in a number of projects and, in particular, into an investment vehicle, 0 Twelve Estates, which will develop sites in East London for the Olympic Games. Rugby is managing this development.

The investor demand, which, in my opinion, may be partly fuelled by the introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in January this year, could mean that the boom in the property market has quite a lot further to go.

Rugby's outlook statement is vaguely positive saying that their aspirations for this year are similar to those of last.

Barring some systemic shock I think they probably will meet the aspirations. The question is whether in this heady market, cautious investors should be investing.

British envoy embroiled in Sri Lanka media crisis

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse "invited" British high commissioner (ambassador) Dominick Chilcott to his tightly-guarded office at short notice Thursday, a high commission spokesman said.

"They talked about the role of the media," the spokesman said. "The high commissioner and the defence secretary agreed that the confidentiality of the meeting would be preserved."

The summons came after Chilcott visited the editor of Colombo's Daily Mirror, Champika Liyanaarachchi Wednesday, a day after she said she received a death threat from Rajapakse.

Chilcott's unexpected visit was seen by diplomats as a signal of Britain's deep concern over recent attacks against the freedom of expression in this former British colony.

His gesture of support came hours after the Sri Lankan government accused unnamed diplomats of interfering in the island's internal affairs and warned that those meddling would be kicked out.

Rajapakse denied issuing a death threat, in remarks posted on the defence ministry web site.

"While admitting that he had had a telephone conversation with the said newspaper editor, the defence secretary said that it was just a frank exchange of ideas on two controversial articles published on the said newspaper," the site said.

"He further stated that he did not make any threat to the said editor other than openly expressing his views and was surprised how certain media had exaggerated the issue."

Media organisations have described Sri Lanka, where the government is fighting a bitter war against Tamil Tiger separatist rebels, as the most dangerous place on earth for journalists after

Sri Lanka Central Bank Governor to be appointed chairman of Advisory Board of the Financial Intelligence Unit

Apr 19, Colombo: The Sri Lanka Cabinet has granted its approval to appoint Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal as the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

The Sri Lankan government said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, submitted the relevant Cabinet Memorandum.

The Cabinet of Ministers also granted approval to allow the members of the Advisory Board representing Ministries and other institutions to continue on the Board in the future.

On approval, the Central Bank Governor will appoint a suitable person as the CEO of the FIU, subject to approval from the Monetary Board, as the present CEO has given notice to resign from the post.

Sri Lanka President and his delegation welcomed by Italian President

Apr 19, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his delegation met Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinal Palace today.

President was welcomed with a Guard of Honor at the Palace

President introduces Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle to the Italian President while Minister Rohitha Bogollagama is watching.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Sri Lankan military says 60 to 70 rebels may have died, wounded in air strike, rebels deny

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - A Sri Lankan air force raid on a Tamil rebel training base in the island's north may have killed or wounded as many as 70 guerrillas, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The raid on Tuesday, which the government said set off a series of explosions and fires at the base, was the latest in stepped up tit-for-tat attacks between the Tamil Tiger rebels and Sri Lankan forces.

"The base of the LTTE suffered major damage due to our bombing," said Lt. Col. Upali Rajapakse of the Defense Ministry's information center, citing visuals taken from the air. Rajapakse called the rebels by their acronym, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

"Generally 60 to 70 (guerrillas) live in such bases and we believe that they have died or (been) wounded due to the bombing and resulting explosions," Rajapakse said.

Air force planes on Tuesday targeted the Tiger camp in Vattappalai village in Mullaitivu district, a guerrilla stronghold, he said.

Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan, speaking Wednesday from the insurgents' stronghold of Kilinochchi, denied the government report, saying "no training camp was hit."

Ilanthirayan said there were no casualties.

Rajapakse said earlier that the bombing triggered explosions and a fire, possibly from an arms store inside the base.

There was no independent confirmation of the rival claims, as the areas are generally not accessible to reporters.

The air force has conducted frequent raids on suspected rebel positions since an unsuccessful suicide attack on the country's army commander a year ago.

Sri Lanka's civil conflict flared in 1983. A Norwegian-brokered cease-fire in 2002 halted large-scale fighting, but a resurgence of violence in 2005 has taken the death toll past 69,000.

Both sides say the cease-fire exists only on paper, but neither has withdrawn from it officially.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
04/18/07 00:30 EDT

Pope urged to help end abductions

HRW urges Pope to raise rights abuses when he meets President Rajapaksa
An international rights watchdog has urged Pope Benedict to raise Sri Lanka's human rights abuses when President Rajapaksa visits Vatican.
New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has requested the pontiff to urge Rajapaksa to accept a UN rights monitoring mission "to monitor abuses by both the LTTE and state security forces".
In a letter sent to Pope Benedict XVI, the HRW has highlighted five major issues to discuss with Rajapaksa, who is scheduled to have an audience with him on 20 April.
Catholic LTTE supporters
Highways minister Jeyaraj Fernandopullai told BBC Sinhala that the President is to seek pontiff's help to approach Sri Lanka's Catholic community.
The government should make public a list of all persons detained by the military and police under emergency regulations and other laws, and provide these people proper access to their families and legal representation

HRW letter to Pope Benedict
A considerable Tamil community in and out Sri Lanka who support Tamil Tigers respect Pope as their religious leader, Fernandopullai said.
In his Easter Message, the pontiff urged Sri Lanka's warrying parties to find a negoatiated solution to end bloodshed.
"In Sri Lanka, only a negotiated solution can put an end to the conflict that causes so much bloodshed," he said.
UN monitoring mission
HRW urges Pope Benedict to raise the issue of child abductions by the Karuna group in the east and "disappearances" by the state and state-sponsored armed groups, including the Karuna group, EPDP and PLOTE.
In Sri Lanka, only a negotiated solution can put an end to the conflict that causes so much bloodshed

Pope on Sri Lanka's conflict
"The government should make public a list of all persons detained by the military and police under emergency regulations and other laws, and provide these people proper access to their families and legal representation," the HRW letter said.
Forcibly returning the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) by the government is another serious issue, according to HRW.
"We hope our proposals will help protect civilians, promote human rights, and assist the development of a lasting political solution (in Sri Lanka)," the HRW letter signed by Asia Director Brad Adams stated.

Italy signs bilateral agreement with Sri Lanka, assures support to combat terrorism

Apr 17, Colombo: Sri Lanka and Italy signed a bilateral agreement on cultural, educational, scientific and technological co-operation in Rome yesterday. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama signed the agreement on behalf of Sri Lanka with Italian Foreign Affairs Minister and Vice Prime Minister, Massimo D’ Alema.

Bogollagama who is on an official visit to Italy briefed the Italian leaders on the current political situation in the country and the steps taken by the Sri Lankan government to address these issues, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Minister Bogollagama reiterated his government’s commitment to find a political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka that is acceptable to all parties.

Minister D’ Alema condemning all forms of terrorism including the indiscriminate attacks on civilians assured his government’s support in combating terrorism. He assured Italy’s collaboration with Sri Lanka in combating other illegal activities such as narcotics and human trafficking and money laundering.

Italy also agreed to extend its support to develop human resources in Sri Lanka, particularly, technical and vocational training, including teaching of Italian language.

Minister Bogollagama is also expected to meet other Italian political leaders and prominent Italian businessman to promote trade and tourism. The Foreign Minister will visit Greece next to meet his counterpart and Greek Prime Minister for bilateral discussions.

Sri Lanka fighter jets destroy an LTTE training facility in Mullaitivu

Apr 17, Colombo: Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets raided an identified LTTE training facility located in Wattappalai, south of Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullativu district in the morning, the military said.

Defense Ministry said according to Air Force officials, air visuals obtained from the attack site confirmed simultaneous explosions occurring from the identified LTTE training base.

It is reported that LTTE have cut-off communications immediately following the air raid. The losses suffered by the LTTE are yet to be evaluated, defense officials said.

Sri Lanka President observes New Year at Presidential Secretariat

Apr 17, Colombo: President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning to mark the Sinhala and Tamil New Year and meet his staff. President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and senior officials and staff are also pictured.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Sri Lanka face defeat

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (Reuters) - Captain Mahela Jayawardene helped rescue Sri Lanka from a precarious 27 for three to the comparative prosperity of 226 all out in their World Cup Super Eights match against Australia on Monday.

Jayawardene (72) and Chamara Silva (64) shared a third-wicket partnership of 140 but when they fell in consecutive overs to Brad Hogg the innings disintegrated.

Nathan Bracken returned the outstanding figures of four for 19 from 9.4 overs.

Sanath Jayasuriya started brightly by punching the final ball of Bracken's opening over for four through the covers and gathered another boundary when a top-edged hook flew over Adam Gilchrist's head to the boundary.

He had reached 12 from as many balls when he was lbw playing across a full-length delivery from Bracken.

Kumar Sangakkara lasted only four balls before he was also lbw without scoring to Glenn McGrath and Upul Tharanga fell without addition to the score for six.

Jayawardene and Silva played and missed against McGrath, whose first three overs cost five runs, but relished the return of Shaun Tait with Silva flicking a ball past Hayden to the boundary and square-cutting another four in the same over.

Captain Ricky Ponting did not take his second Powerplay immediately and the pair gathered runs comfortably against support bowlers Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke.

The return of McGrath and Tait was the signal for further boundaries from each batsmen with Jayawardene lofting a full toss from the latter for a six to leg to bring up his 50 from 64 balls and the 100 partnership from 150 deliveries.

After Silva finally perished sweeping Hogg to Clarke at short fine-leg and Jayawardene went in the left-arm spinner's final over stumped by Gilchrist, Australia wrapped up the innings with little fuss apart from two late sixes by Malinga Bandara (17).Both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals and Sri Lanka rested their two leading bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan while the injured Lasith Malinga was not considered for selection.

The seven-week World Cup culminates with the April 28 final in Barbados.

Beware: The deadly epidemic of diagnoses

For most Americans, the biggest health threat is not avian flu or mad cow disease. It’s our health-care system.

You might think this is because doctors make mistakes (we do make mistakes). But you can’t be a victim of medical error if you are not in the system. The larger threat posed by American medicine is that more and more of us are being drawn into the system not because of an epidemic of disease, but because of an epidemic of diagnoses. Americans live longer than ever, yet more of us are told we are sick.

How can this be? One reason is that we devote more resources to medical care than any other country. Some of this investment is productive, curing disease and alleviating suffering. But it also leads to more diagnoses, a trend that has become an epidemicThis epidemic is a threat to your health. It has two distinct sources. One is the medicalization of everyday life. Most of us experience physical or emotional sensations we don’t like, and in the past, this was considered a part of life. Increasingly, however, such sensations are considered symptoms of disease.

Everyday experiences like insomnia, sadness, twitchy legs and impaired sex drive now become diagnoses: sleep disorder, depression, restless leg syndrome and sexual dysfunction.

Perhaps most worrisome is the medicalization of childhood. If children cough after exercising, they have asthma; if they have trouble reading, they are dyslexic; if they are unhappy, they are depressed; and if they alternate between unhappiness and liveliness, they have bipolar disorder. While these diagnoses may benefit the few with severe symptoms, one has to wonder about the effect on the many whose symptoms are mild, intermittent or transient.

The other source is the drive to find disease early. While diagnoses used to be reserved for serious illness, we now diagnose illness in people who have no symptoms at all, those with so-called predisease or those “at risk.”

Two developments accelerate this process. First, advanced technology allows doctors to look really hard for things to be wrong. We can detect trace molecules in the blood. We can direct fiber-optic devices into every orifice. And CT scans, ultrasounds, M.R.I. and PET scans let doctors define subtle structural defects deep inside the body. These technologies make it possible to give a diagnosis to just about everybody: arthritis in people without joint pain, stomach damage in people without heartburn and prostate cancer in over a million people who, but for testing, would have lived as long without being a cancer patient.

Second, the rules are changing. Expert panels constantly expand what constitutes disease: thresholds for diagnosing diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis and obesity have all fallen in the last few years. The criterion for normal cholesterol has dropped multiple times. With these changes, disease can now be diagnosed in more than half the population.

Most of us assume that all this additional diagnosis can only be beneficial. And some of it is. But at the extreme, the logic of early detection is absurd. If more than half of us are sick, what does it mean to be normal? Many more of us harbor “pre-disease” than will ever get disease, and all of us are “at risk.” The medicalization of everyday life is no less problematic. Exactly what are we doing to our children when 40 percent of summer campers are on one or more chronic prescription medications?

No one should take the process of making people into patients lightly. There are real drawbacks. Simply labeling people as diseased can make them feel anxious and vulnerable — a particular concern in children.

But the real problem with the epidemic of diagnoses is that it leads to an epidemic of treatments. Not all treatments have important benefits, but almost all can have harms. Sometimes the harms are known, but often the harms of new therapies take years to emerge — after many have been exposed. For the severely ill, these harms generally pale relative to the potential benefits. But for those experiencing mild symptoms, the harms become much more relevant. And for the many labeled as having predisease or as being “at risk” but destined to remain healthy, treatment can only cause harm.

The epidemic of diagnoses has many causes. More diagnoses mean more money for drug manufacturers, hospitals, physicians and disease advocacy groups. Researchers, and even the disease-based organization of the National Institutes of Health, secure their stature (and financing) by promoting the detection of “their” disease. Medico-legal concerns also drive the epidemic. While failing to make a diagnosis can result in lawsuits, there are no corresponding penalties for overdiagnosis. Thus, the path of least resistance for clinicians is to diagnose liberally — even when we wonder if doing so really helps our patients.

As more of us are being told we are sick, fewer of us are being told we are well. People need to think hard about the benefits and risks of increased diagnosis: the fundamental question they face is whether or not to become a patient. And doctors need to remember the value of reassuring people that they are not sick. Perhaps someone should start monitoring a new health metric: the proportion of the population not requiring medical care. And the National Institutes of Health could propose a new goal for medical researchers: reduce the need for medical services, not increase it. -- New York Times