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General Sarath Fonseka to fight in Sri Lanka

2010-03-01T03:34:00.000-08:00

General Sarath Fonseka, the former Sri Lankan army chief, who was arrested this month on coup charges, filed nomination papers yesterday to contest parliamentary elections on April 8 as the leader of an opposition alliance.

The soldier-turned-politician, who led the army to victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels last year, filed his application through his wife, Anoma, who is allowed to visit him in custody in the naval headquarters in Colombo. “It’s all gone through: he’s contesting for the Colombo district,” Tiran Alles, a businessman and close supporter of the general, told The Times.

Letting Agents and Estate for Fitzrovia Properties

2010-03-01T03:27:00.000-08:00

Fitzrovia has been well known for offering beautiful landmarks ranging from Fritzrovia B.T Tower to Camden Roadside areas. One of the well known landmarks of this area is called Fitzrovia B.T Tower, which was also earlier called as Post Office Tower, was actually built for catering the telecommunication needs for the United Kingdom. In fact, what made this building more attractive is a restaurant, which will rotate. This restaurant will complete a circle with a time period of 22 minutes. It was in the 1961, the construction work for building the Fitzrovia B.T Tower started off. However, the engineers managed to get this building completely constructed within 1964 July. Unfortunately, the same building was closed in the year 1971, as some major terrorist attacks took place under this huge building.

In addition to the Fitzrovia B.T Tower, there are also other major attractions in this area such as the Charlotte Street. This street is also well known for locating the new media types, editing folk as well as the television production squads. There are also many cafes in each road of this area in order to sit back and relax having a cup of coffee. The Fitzrovia property has also become a topic from many well known writers including Fitzroy Tavern, George Orwell and Dylan Thomas.

Are you are looking forward to buy a property or sell in this area? If yes, then the good news for you is that we are exclusively available for this purpose. We have been aligned with many agents in order to make our service better and easy reachable for people in all ends of Fitzrovia. We boast ourselves with a highly knowledgeable staff, which is always ready to clarify your doubts and to answer for your queries. Canary Wharf Property guide.

STF confident of meeting LTTE threat in East

2008-11-10T06:24:00.000-08:00

A series of hit and run attacks in the east, particularly directed at the renegade Karuna faction has prompted Army headquarters to review security measures in place to meet the LTTE challenge.

The army top brass has expressed serious concern over what a security official called an alarming increase in LTTE activity. LTTE infiltrators have claimed the lives of a dozen Karuna loyalists in the recent past.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that action was being taken to neutralise the threat. "They are operating in small groups trying to cause panic," he told The Island yesterday. He speculated on the possibility of the presence of sleepers awaiting orders to launch operations.

With the army pulling out bulk of the infantry and support units for operations on the Vanni front, the Special Task Force (STF) has had to play a pivotal role in anti-insurgency operations in the East.

STF Commandant DIG K. M. L. Sarathchandra told The Island that the LTTE was making a desperate bid to make its presence felt in the East.

He said some of the infiltrators had been killed and their arms, ammunition and equipment recovered in operations carried out by his troops. A confident STF chief said that the LTTE wouldn’t be allowed to exploit the situation.

"We are on a heightened state of alert and will do everything possible to destroy them," he said.

Responding to our queries, he said that the LTTE had launched a major false propaganda campaign to deceive the Tamil Diaspora and people living in the South. He said that reports on several successful LTTE attacks on the STF had been posted on the pro-LTTE Tamilnet in the recent past. But nothing could be more ridiculous than the claim that the Jayanthan Brigade killed ten police commandos and wounded two at Koappaaveli on the Badulla road on November 4. TamilNet also claimed that the STF had lost three personnel two days later during a 30-minute confrontation in the Panama area.

Task Force 1 troops crossing marshlands of Ponneryn

2008-11-10T06:21:00.000-08:00

Amide vile weather and heavy terrorist resistance, Army Task Force 1 troops have stepped into the great marshlands of Poonaryn, the final obstacle they have to clear before achieving their mission, defence sources said.

According to the sources, heavy fighting have been reported since last evening (Nov 9) in the Chempankundu area, as infantrymen started crossing the extremely hostile terrain that runs about 18 Km, west to east from Chempankundu to Nivil. The marshlands that have about 2 km width at some parts stand as an excellent defence for the terrorists, the sources said. However, troops are not in a mood to slow down their pace of advance despite whatever barricade stand against them, the sources added.

Troops of 583 brigade, attacked an LTTE strong point in Chempankundu around 6.10 PM and reported heavy damages to the terrorists. Few soldiers laid own their lives and several others sustained injuries. Meanwhile, troops of 582 brigade confronted with a group of terrorists in the Mulaikoduttavil area around 7.40 AM. Troops claimed heavy damages to the terrorists.

Snipers deployed in the forward areas reported shooting down of two terrorists in the Navalladi and Pallai areas during the day.

Task Force 1 launched their operations early this year to dominate the northwestern coast of the island. So far, troops have marched about 75 km along the Mannar- Poonaryn road (A-32) and established their forward boundaries 7km south of Poonaryn at present.

Defence observers are in the view that troops would be able to wrest full control over the A-32 road once they cross the marshland. The accomplishment of this would open a land route to Jaffna peninsula after 20 years, they add.

London Property index

2008-10-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

Catholic cabinet minsiter Ruth Kelly quits

2008-09-24T08:08:00.001-07:00

Catholic minister Ruth Kelly insists her decision to quit the Government is a purely personal one.

The Transport Secretary is stepping down at the next cabinet reshuffle to spend more time with her family.

Her departure comes less than twenty-four hours after Gordon Brown's successful speech at the Labour Party conference.

But it’s a move that overshadows what was thought to be Brown’s most important political speech.

Ms Kelly’s resignation reignites suggestions of a fractured Labour Party.

In his speech, Mr Brown hoped to bury any doubts his over his leadership and claimed it was Labour's "duty" to focus on the challenges facing the country not disagreements within the party.

However, rumours persisted that Kelly had become disenchanted with Mr Brown's leadership. The Conservatives claim she uttered the word 'terrible' after his address.

But Ms Kelly, who's a member of Catholic group Opus Dei, is adamant that she's not leaving because of the Prime Minister's leadership.

“Bringing a front line politician, bringing up 4 your children, being a constituency MP - it’s not been easy all the time. I’ve relied on the support from my family and friends and I now think it’s time to take a step back and to repay them for the support they have given me over the years.”

Ms Kelly says this shouldn't fuel speculation she is unhappy with Brown’s performance. “I can’t think of anyone better.” She said, claiming that Gordon Brown was a towering figure of the Labour party and the right man for the job.

Mr Brown said: "She's been an MP all the time her children have been born. She is a very talented individual and I think the public will understand these are the things that happen when you have to juggle work and family life."

The Labour Party Conference comes to a close today. Chair of the Christian Sociality Movement, Labour MP Alun Michael tells Premier the mood among his colleagues.

“It’s very buoyant. We have had a lot of discussion not just among ourselves but people like the leaders of the free churches who have been visiting,” he said, “We have seen an increase of political engagement not just in the denominations but across faiths, upon which, I believe we can lead.”

"Api Wenuwen Api" Cultural and Musical show in London

2008-09-19T03:10:00.000-07:00

Sri Lankan expatriates in Britain have organised a cultural and musical showcase to raise funds for the "Api Wenuwen Api housing fund" for the tri-services personnel in Sri Lanka, at the Troxy Theatre in London, on Sunday (21 September). According to the organising committee of the event, the musical show will also be conducted by the Sri Lankan tri-services personnel, who invite all patriotic Sri Lankans and peace loving people to be present at the occasion.
Following are excerpts from the media release of the event.

"Api Wenuwen Api Fund" is a collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to build 50,000 houses for the serving Tri-Service personnel.

The gift of housing is one of the best and most tangible ways to demonstrate our gratitude and appreciation. This is the time for all Sri Lankans to support our brothers and sisters who are committed to bringing peace to our motherland - Sri Lanka.

The main event of this project "Api Wenuwen Api Cultural and Musical show" conducted by Tri Services personnel in Sri Lanka will be held at the Troxy Theatre 490 Commercial Road London E1 0HX on Sunday 21st September 2008 at 2.30 pm.

Taj Lanka to continue investing in city hotel despite "turmoil"

2008-09-07T00:06:00.001-07:00

Despite carrying accumulated losses of over Rs.1.3 billion in its books and posting a loss of Rs.30.3 million, down from a loss of Rs.63.6 million a year earlier, in fiscal 2007/08, Taj Lanka Hotels PLC will continue with its renovation program "in spite of present turmoil," the company's Chairman, Mr. Anil P. Goel has said in the company's just released annual report.

"The year under review has been extremely difficult for the hotel industry, a year in which your company operated under even tougher conditions," he said reiterating tht investment in their Colombo property will continue.

Goel made the point that the conflict in the North and the East and widespread media exposure of these events had contributed to the industry's "dismal performance" during the year under review.

"Further, inflation and cost of living have gone up significantly along with cost of imports due to the sharp devaluation of the rupee. These have contributed adversely to the cost of operations. Due to the uncertain future based on the current scenario, the deferred tax charge had impacted further on the net results of the company," he explained.

However, the company was committed to enhancing the image and position of the hotel in the market having renovated four floors and the swimming pool and opened a brand new coffee shop which was already popular.

The next phase of the renovation will focus on the remaining floors, restaurants, banqueting and fitness centre facilities, the chairman said.

He was hopeful that tourism will stabilize by the end of the second half of the current financial year which is the winter tourist season on the basis of information received from key source markets.

This, together with the proactive stand taken by the Tourism Ministry and the Sri Lanka Tourist Board to increase arrivals, is expected to show results by the end of this year, he hoped.

"As a positive initiative to target India, one of the fastest growing outbound markets, Taj group is partnering with the Sri Lankan government in new strategies to cater to various segmented tourism and in (projecting) Sri Lanka as a selected destination," he said.

Goel identified negative travel advisories by major tourist originating countries including UK, Germany, Australia, Italy and France as a deterrent to the progress of the tourism industry.

"These advisories together with the uncertain security situation were reflected in a decline in arrivals from all the major markets, except the UK, the Maldives, Middle, East and Russia," he said.

"As a result, earning from tourism declined to US dollars 385 million in 2007/08, an all time low figure, from US dollars 410 million in 2006/07. Nevertheless several initiatives were taken in 2007/08."

Taj Lanka has a stated capital of nearly Rs.1.4 billion and a revaluation reserve of Rs.1.2 billion in its books with borrowings running at Rs.444.9 million.

Net finance cost during the year under review had declined to Rs.29.9 million from Rs.54.1 million the previous year.

The Taj had been marginally profitable for four of the last six years except 2004/05 when a tidy profit of Rs.155.3 million was posted. The last two years had been loss making.

Taj Asia Limited with 58.14%, the Indian Hotels Company (24.62%) and Mrs. Jane Elizabeth de Silva (2.04%) are the major shareholders of the company.

The Taj Lanka share with net assets of Rs.8.53 per share, down from Rs.8.74 the previous year, traded at a high of Rs.11.50 and a low of Rs.7 during the year under review. This compared with a trading range of Rs.17 to Rs.10.50 the previous year.

The directors of the company are: Messrs. Anil P. Goel, U.L. Kadurugamuwa, B.K. Chaudhary (alternate Nirvana Chaudhary), Arun K. Chaudhary, Tilak de Zoysa, J. Daboo, Souvik Das (resigned 27.03.2008), R.H. Parekh (w.e.f. 27.03.2008), J.P. Kanoria, Vish Govindasamy, Dr. G. Sundaram and Ms. D.M. Harris.

Army releases HSZ land in Jaffna

2008-08-31T15:17:00.000-07:00

The army has released a small section of the High Security Zone (HSZ) situated in Ariyalai east between railway tracks and the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road. Army headquarters has authorised the release of 103 acres of cultivable paddy fields on the recommendation of Jaffna Commander Major General G. A. Chandrasiri.

Inter-Agency Standing Committee which represents all INGOs including UN agencies has confirmed the release of land in its latest bulletin.

A senior army spokesman based in Jaffna said the 73 families would be benefited. "We have already given them access to their land. They’ll be issued special identity cards," he said.

Ariyalai is situated in the area controlled by 51 Division deployed in the town and its adjoining areas. He said the return of the civilians would be subject to strict surveillance as part of the security measures to thwart LTTE infiltration.

Responding to our queries, the official said that the release of land had not been on a court order. He said people tend to mix up the release of Ariyalai paddy fields with an ongoing case over cultivable land within the Palaly HSZ. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he said the armed forces had initiated discussions with the Government Agent of Jaffna and the judiciary to explore ways and means of facilitating the return of civilians. But this wouldn’t be at the expense of security of the strategic bases, he said. Northern Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Tissara Samarasinghe and Major General Chandrasiri are involved in the ongoing deliberations.

The official said that gradual easing up of restrictions would largely depend on the support received from the civilian community. Emphasising the importance of thwarting LTTE attempts to cause trouble in the peninsula, he commended the civilians for protecting electricity transformers at the risk of their lives.

The LTTE recently damaged several electricity transformers as part of their efforts to harass the Jaffna administration.

Army captures Palamoddai and Ulathuvely areas

2008-08-28T09:17:00.001-07:00

The counter terrorist offensive operation launched to liberate Wanni region from LTTE clutches has reached to a significant milestone as the troops of Task Force-2 and 59 Division captured the Palamoddai Town, west of A-9 Road, near Omanthai, and Ulathuvely beach area, 4 km to the north of Kokkutuduvai in the Welioya front, respectively this afternoon, 28 August, the latest report received from battlefront said.

Troops of Task Force 2 advanced along the northwestern border of the Vavuniya district, on the west of the A-9 road have gained the total control over the Palamoddai town area. LTTE terrorists raised their fullest effort to protest this strategically vital area and to delay the security forces advances directing heavy resistance on them. With the fallen of Palamoddai, terrorists have to make more efforts to defend their territory in north of Omanthai area to face the fast moving soldiers towards Kilinochchi, defence sources said.

Simultaneously, troops of the 59 Division advanced to the north of Kokkutoduvai have captured the Ulathuvely area, about 4 km, north of Kokkutoduvai, a strategically important beachfront.

Farmers allowed cultivating lands in HSZ in Jaffna

2008-08-20T02:29:00.000-07:00

With the improvement in the security situation in the Jaffna peninsula, the farmers who own paddy land in the Ariyalai East High Security Zone (HSZ) have got the opportunity to cultivate their land. According to the Army Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna (SFHQJ), the farmers have been allowed to cultivate 103 acres of land that lies between the Ariyalai railway track and Jaffna-Kandy road (A-9) from 17 August.

73 farmers who had registered with the Ariyalai East Farmers' association commenced their work on Sunday (Aug 18). The sources said that the each farmer have been issued a special identity card by the civil military coordination office of 512 brigade.

The officials of the farmers association have welcomed the security forces' decision to allow the lands for the cultivation work. They have called the decision a vital confidence building measure between the civilian community and the security forces.

'Peace & Goodwill' continues to remain in Jaffna

2008-08-20T02:28:00.000-07:00

A review of all security measures in force, steps taken to prevent robberies and thefts, ongoing humanitarian and welfare projects in the Jaffna peninsula was made during the forum, "People's Council for Peace and Goodwill," assembled at the transit hall in Kankesenthurai Forward Maintenance Area last Sunday (17th August).

The meeting, led by Major General G.A Chandrasiri, Commander Security Forces Jaffna was attended by Chief Hindu Priest in Jaffna Rev Sri Somasundar Paramacharya Swamy, Jaffna Bishop Rt Rev Dr Thomas Soundaranayagam, Jaffna High Court Judge R.T Vignarajah, District Secretary for Jaffna K Ganesh, 51 Divisional Commander Major General L.B.R Mark, Northern Division Deputy Inspector General of Police W.F.U Fernando and a host of other senior Army and Navy officers.

Major General G.A Chandrasiri, giving an updated account of ongoing projects such as Chunnakam power project, Achchuveli industrial zone, Re-opening of Kankesanthurai cement factory, conduct of medical clinics, distribution of dry rations among low income groups, conduct of religious ceremonies and advanced level and grade five scholarship examinations, organizing of an educational exhibition, inter-school sports meet, computer training programme for school drop-outs and coordinated security network, run by combined Police and Army personnel in the peninsula, etc. highlighted that uninterrupted 24-hour power supply to the Jaffna people, has largely helped Security Forces to combat swelling criminal activities, the meeting was told. Establishment of a new rehabilitation centre for children and women, close to the existing Thelippalai one, is also in progress, it was disclosed, as numbers seeking protection from the Security Forces after abandoning LTTE terrorism are on the increase.

It was also pointed out that people over 60 years of age need not seek security clearance for their exit from the Jaffna peninsula. 51, 52 & 55 Divisions, effective from 1st September would issue security clearance for respective areas directly from the Division offices.

Possibilities to relocate Pannai Police station and Jaffna Police Headquarters were also taken up for discussion during this meeting.

Major General Chandrasiri announced that some 700 connections to CDMA telephones are to be restored and given to their owners on the recommendations of the security authorities, the gathering was told.

Matters concerning distribution of foods, arrangements made in connection with Nallur Kovil festival and smooth conduct of affairs in the peninsula, were also discussed during this friendly gathering.

Tamil Gangsters to be sentenced for murdering youth by stabbing - London

2008-06-17T07:20:00.001-07:00

Four Tamil gang members were convicted for the murder of another Tamil youth by stabbing him 31 times on a London street in the most insensate manner and the Old Bailey said they will be sentenced July 7.

The police said gangs of violent Sri Lankan Tamil men in South London area, where illegal fund raising activities of the liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are quite rampant are "constantly tooled up" and "ready to go", for such crimes .

"There have been a number of violent clashes involving groups of Tamil men in Croydon and other parts of south London in recent years", said a local newspaper Wandsworth Borough News.

"They culminated in the murder of 28-year-old Prabaskaran Kannan in Tooting last year. He was chased by a group of four men from Croydon who stabbed and slashed their terrified victim 31 times outside a fried chicken takeaway shop", the newspaper reported. The case came to be known as Chicken Cottage Tamil murder after the name of the take away restaurant. The chief detective in the case said Croydon's Tamil gangs were causing concern among officers.

Detective Sergeant Mick Snowdon spoke out about the problems surrounding Tamil gangs after five men were convicted of Mr Kannan's murder at the Old Bailey in London.

Witnesses said in the courts that Mr Kannan was heard shouting "It wasn't me, it wasn't me" shortly before he was brutally set upon and killed by the four Tamil gang members.

Last week, homeless Vabeesan Sivarajah, 22, Aziz Miah, 20, of Sumner Road, Croydon, Asif Kumbay, 20, of Grasmere Road, Purley, and Kirush Nathankumar, 18, of Purley Way, Croydon, were all convicted of murder by an Old Bailey jury. They all denied the charges.

"The young men burst into tears after the sentence was announced. A jury of nine men and three women took three days to reach their verdict", reported the local newspaper.

Police seeks public assistance to arrest terror suspect

2008-06-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

Police investigation units seek public assistance to arrest the terror suspect who has detonated an IED slightly damaging a rail track injuring 18 civilians between Wellawattha and Dehiwala this morning (June 4).

The Police while commending the public for their awareness, which had made it possible to avert tragedy, issued a photo of the suspect with following details.

Available details are as follows:

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Name: Jatheesan Balasubramaniyam
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Date of Birth: 1978.08.28
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Passport No: N 1898438
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NIC No: 782413538 V
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Address: Wattala (general area)

Inform details to following Police emergency numbers:

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118
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119
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0112421111
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0112327711

No nation should be ever forced to negotiate with terrorists - US President

2008-05-21T01:17:00.001-07:00

US President George W. Bush recently made some valuable comments on terrorism and extremism and the way the world should treat the nations that are threatened by them. Addressing the Israeli Knesset at celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel, the US President expressed his country's belief that the right of nations to defend themselves against terrorism and extremism must not be overridden by whatever sacrifices need to be made for peace. He then appreciated the courageous decisions made by Israeli leaders to build peace as well as to eliminate terrorism and said that no nation should be forced to negotiate with terrorists. More details

Terrorist chief Balraj dies in a heart attack

2008-05-21T01:16:00.001-07:00

Pro LTTE websites today said a senior terrorist leader known as Balraj had died in a heart attack at an LTTE base in Wanni on Tuesday (May 20). Balraj said to be the first leader of the terrorist band named after the son of LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran - "The Charles Anthony Brigade".

Balraj being a founding member of the LTTE was an accomplice in many civilian massacres carried out by the LTTE. According to the Pro terror websites, Balraj has been given self styled rank of "Brigadier:" by the LTTE leadership.

LTTE is a ruthless terrorist outfit that has been fighting a bloody war against the citizen of Sri Lanka since 1983. Inspired by the tribal ideologies of its megalomaniac leader V. Prbhakaran, the outfit's main cause is to create a mono ethnic separate homeland for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The LTTE is also blacklisted under the UN list of shame for using child soldiers in combat.

President's Vesak Message

2008-05-19T02:48:00.000-07:00

It is with much devotion and faith that I join all Sri Lankan Buddhists in celebrating the Great Vesak Festival.

We know that the greatest homage we could pay to the Buddha is to live the Vesak season according to the teachings of the Buddha.

The Buddha showed us that advancement in this world and the next could be achieved by appreciating what is good. The policy of the government is to steer the country to the correct path by adhering to the dhamma. In doing so our responsibility is to tolerate other opinions and act with loving kindness. As the Buddha has taught:

"Be alert; do not idle. Follow the law of virtue. He who is virtuous lives happily both in this world and the next" - Dhammapada. Ch. 13. v.168

Let us stop being indifferent and speaking ill of the past. We should brook no delay in working to build a virtuous land.

Our hope is to bequeath a prosperous country that is without armaments and fear of enemies and robbers; a country in which all could live in tranquility. Our resolve on this Vesak Day is to work with a correct vision in keeping with the dhamma. This will see the fruition of our actions to build a new Sri Lanka.

Let us resolve make this Vesak Festival meaningful by seeking refuge in the serene path of Buddha.

May you all obtain refuge in the Buddha!

The tsunami in Sri Lanka: A case study in US humanitarian missions

2008-05-14T01:43:00.000-07:00

Since the cyclone engulfed Burma on May 3, there has been an incessant campaign in the international media to push for foreign militaries, along with aid officials, to be allowed into the country. Article after article contrasts the paranoia, incompetence and callousness of the Burmese junta with the supposed willingness of the US and other major powers to generously provide humanitarian assistance.

The Burmese junta has clearly demonstrated once again its repressive methods and callous disregard for human life. But the claim that Washington and its allies are acting purely out of concern for the Burmese people is simply a lie. As in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush administration is pursuing its strategic and economic interests—in the case of Burma to undermine a regime that is allied to China, which the US regards as a potentially dangerous rising rival.

In making the case for an intervention in Burma, the media commentary frequently raises the 2004 tsunami, claiming that the international response, including the deployment of foreign militaries, was a model of efficiency and benevolence. Completely ignored is what actually took place in 2004, its political implications and the fate of the tens of thousands of survivors who are still struggling to survive in countries around the Bay of Bengal.

The case of Sri Lanka contains important lessons. After Indonesia, Sri Lanka was the country hardest hit by tsunami. According to official figures, at least 30,920 people died, 519,063 were displaced and 103,836 houses destroyed. The devastation was horrendous. Homes, schools, hospitals, road, rail lines, communications were all swept away. Whole villages disappeared. The survivors were left without shelter, food, clean water and medicine. Many, particularly fishermen, lost their livelihoods.

Burma is not alone in having an incompetent, repressive administration. For days the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga did nothing, particularly in the East and North where a tense ceasefire was holding with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). It was above all ordinary working people, including those with skills such as doctors and nurses, who streamed out of Colombo and provided the first assistance to desperate survivors.

The reaction of the government was to deploy soldiers and troops and place the entire aid operation under military control, including the teams of volunteers. Their prime concern was not to help the survivors, who faced appalling conditions in squalid improvised refugee camps, but to suppress any opposition or protests at the government’s indifference and lack of aid. Above all, the way in which ordinary Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims had come together to assist each other, cut directly across the decades of anti-Tamil communalism on which the Colombo political establishment has rested.

It was in this context that the Bush administration dispatched the US military to Sri Lanka. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell did not so much ask as demand that marines be allowed into the south of the island. Even in ruling circles, eyebrows were raised at allowing American troops into the country for the first time. An editorial in the Daily Mirror openly questioned whether the military intervention had ulterior motives—to further US interests in Central Asia and the Middle East.

Kumaratunga quickly acquiesced, however. Three hundred marines landed in the south of the island and were deployed there and at Arugam Bay in the East. The aid operation was very limited. The soldiers helped clear debris, handed out some relief supplies, posed for the media and then pulled out several months later. Undoubtedly some survivors received assistance, but the overriding purpose of the US military presence was political.

The operation had a number of motives: to overcome decades of deep hostility among the Sri Lankan masses towards US imperialism and to set a precedent that is now being invoked in the case of Burma. But as the Socialist Equality Party warned, above all Washington was seeking to forge closer military ties, including with Sri Lanka, to pursue its economic and strategic ambitions throughout the broader region.

Sri Lanka’s strategic significance

That warning was confirmed. Sri Lanka’s main strategic significance is its position astride the main sea-lanes of the Indian Ocean, including the main route from the Middle East through the Malacca Strait to the Pacific. In particular, the deep-water port of Trincomalee on the eastern coast has been long been regarded as an important prize. After the 2002 ceasefire was signed with the LTTE, a high-level team from the US Pacific Command visited Sri Lanka to make a detailed study of Trincomalee harbour and assess the potential LTTE threats.

At that point, the Bush administration was still publicly supporting the so-called international peace process as the means for ending the island’s bitter 20-year civil war. Washington’s concern was not, however, with the devastation that the war had brought to Sri Lanka’s population, but rather that the conflict was a destabilising influence which threatened US interests in the region, particularly in India.

By December 2004, however, the peace process was already at the point of collapse. Peace negotiations had broken down in April 2003 and in early 2004 President Kumaratunga summarily dismissed the United National Front (UNF) government for “undermining national security”. In the background, the military and Sinhala extremist parties, such as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)—a partner in Kumaratunga’s new government, were already pressing for a renewed war.

The US and other major powers used the catastrophe created by the tsunami to push for a joint mechanism between the government and the LTTE to distribute international aid. The proposal was regarded as the first step towards restarting peace negotiations. Kumaratunga tentatively embraced the suggestion, in part because of broad popular sentiment that the tsunami had demonstrated that all Sri Lankans were in the same boat and that the fratricidal war should be ended. However, the military high command and the JVP regarded the temporary aid body as an impermissible concession to the LTTE.

The tsunami was a convenient pretext for forging closer political and military ties with Washington. Powell visited Colombo in early January as part of his tour of affected countries. In April, Admiral William J. Fallon, then head of the US Pacific Command, visited Sri Lanka, met with government leaders and toured areas hit by the tsunami, including Trincomalee. In the same month, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca arrived in Sri Lanka to discuss the joint aid mechanism.

The Bush administration was clearly pursuing a two-pronged strategy—publicly pushing for peace talks, while privately holding top level discussions with the Sri Lankan military over possible war plans. Discussions over a joint aid administration dragged on for months. A conference of major aid donors on May 16-17 issued an ultimatum to Colombo to establish the body as the condition for a $US3 billion aid package.

Kumaratunga reluctantly established the Post-Tsunami Operations Management Structure (P-TOMS) with the LTTE, but it was a lame duck from the outset. The JVP withdrew from the government and successfully challenged the constitutionality of P-TOMS in the Supreme Court. At presidential elections in November 2005, the JVP backed the new candidate of Kumaratunga’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party—Mahinda Rajapakse—on a platform that scrapped P-TOMS completely and set the course for a renewed war.

Having narrowly won office, Rajapakse with the tacit backing of Washington immediately adopted a highly provocative stance towards the LTTE. In January 2006, the US ambassador in Colombo Jeffrey Lunstead signalled Washington’s support for a renewed war, demanding the LTTE accept the government’s terms for talks. “If the LTTE chooses to abandon peace,” Lunstead warned, “we want it to be clear, they will face a stronger, more capable and more determined Sri Lankan military. We want the cost of a return to war to be high.”

A covert war of provocation and murders erupted into open conflict in July 2006 when Rajapakse ordered the army to seize the LTTE-held area of Mavilaru in open breach of the 2002 ceasefire. This open act of aggression brought not a murmur of criticism from the US or the other sponsors of the “peace process”. Today the island is bogged down in a brutal civil war—with the US providing political and military support.

According to a report by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), direct commercial sales of defence materials to Sri Lanka increased from $US1.9 million in 2004, to $3.1 million in 2005 and $3.9 million in 2006. In return, the Rajapakse government quietly supports the Bush administration’s occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and last year signed an agreement to allow the US military to use the island for logistical support.

As for the victims of the tsunami, they have been completely forgotten. According to the government’s Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA), 6,718 families or more than 25,000 people were still living in appalling conditions in refugee camps in March—that is, more than three years after the tsunami. Most of the families—5,820—are in the North and East where the renewed fighting is taking place. Even in the district surrounding the capital of Colombo, there are 803 families in camps.

These official figures are undoubtedly an underestimate. Moreover, many more of the survivors, including those who have been re-housed, still face enormous economic difficulties. Many fishermen lost their livelihoods and were resettled away from the coastline. On the pretext of protecting the population, the government exploited the opportunity to clear away fishing villages to pave the way for luxury hotels and resorts.

The plight of these refugees speaks volumes. Hakeem from the eastern rural town of Marathumunai told the WSWS this week: “In our village 186 families were affected by tsunami. Hundreds were killed when the tsunami hit.” He said that no one in his village had a house. Many had no full time work and earned a little money as casual labourers. The central school at Maruthumunai has not been built.

The story is the same in the Western Province. An old abandoned government building in the Colombo suburb of Katubedda is where 56 families are currently living. The building is dilapidated. Each family has about 40 square metres partitioned off. Toilets overflow with effluent. Electricity has been cut off because the Disaster Management ministry has not paid the bill. None of the adults have a proper job.

A 19-year-old girl told the WSWS: “You ask about the situation in Burma. As we can’t watch television or have access to any other media we don’t know what’s going on there. I only know from you about the situation. It sounds somewhat similar. Throughout the world we see how ordinary people are hit by natural disasters and how the rulers treat them.”

The US marines have long since moved on, international tsunami aid to Sri Lanka has dried up and the government is diverting money from basic services into its renewed war. The story will undoubtedly be similar in Burma. The push to intervene in Burma is motivated by the economic and strategic interests of the major powers which are diametrically opposed to those of the majority of Burmese and will inevitably produce to new tragedies.

See Also:
A socialist and internationalist perspective to confront the Asian tsunami disaster
[9 February 2005]
Why the propaganda campaign for international intervention in Burma?
[10 May 2008]
A new Asian disaster: Cyclone kills tens of thousands in Burma
[7 May 2008]
Bush administration moves to exploit Burma cyclone disaster
[7 May 2008]

UPFA wins Eastern Province

2008-05-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

The ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won the Provincial council election in the Eastern Province 2008, by securing 20 seats against 15 by the main opposition the United National Party (UNP). The Jantha Vimukthi Peramua (JVP) and Tamils' Democratic National Alliance (TDNA) won one seat each.

In Batticaloa district UPFA secured the power winning 6 seats. The UNP won 4 seats and TDNA one seat. Ampara district was also won by the UPFA with 8 seats against the 6 of the UNP.

The UNP won the most number of seats in Trincomalee district winning 5 seats against f the UPFA. The JVP also won one seat.

Overall 55%-60% voter turnout in violence-free Eastern PC poll

2008-05-11T05:57:00.000-07:00

With an overall 55% to 60% voter turnout, the curtain came down on the Eastern Provincial Council election yesterday sans any major poll-related acts of violence.

The turnout for the poll in the three districts of the Province, Ampara, Trincomalee and Batticaloa -- held after a lapse of 20 years, was satisfactory, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said

Though there was a lull as polling opened at 7 am, it gathered momentum as the day progressed, election officials said.

"There were no major election-related incidents of violence", senior police and security officials said.

Ampara's Chief Returning Officer, Sunil Kannangara said polling was in the range of 60% to 65% in the Digamadulla district.

Trincomalee's Chief Returning Officer, Major General (Retd) Ranjith de Silva placed the voter turnover 55% to 60% in the district under his purview.

Chief Returning Officer of Batticaloa, Government Agent Sundaram Arumainayagam reported 55% polling in his district.

There were no major incidents during polling and voters were observed casting their votes in a relatively peaceful atmosphere, said W. P. Sumanasiri, the Additional Commissioner of Elections (Provincial and Local).

However, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) and People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) reported certain poll-related incidents in the three districts.

CMEV said in a statement that 25 complaints of incidents of election related violence were received and of them 18 fell into the 'major offences' category.

PAFFREL's Executive director Kingsley Rodrigo said 56 incidents were reported and of them 28 were made by the UNP. Most of them related to chasing away voters, impersonation and clashes between political party supporters.

He said that overall 80% had gone off smoothly but 20% had been marred by untoward incidents.

The leader of the TMVP, who is also the Chief Ministerial candidate of the UPFA Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan better known as Pillaiyan cast his vote at the polling station at Vipulananda Maha Vidyalaya in Valachchenai. Similarly, the other UPFA hopeful M. L .A. M. Hisbullah voted in his hometown of Kattankudy under heavy military cover.

The Chairman of the SLMC and chief candidate of the UNP from the Batticaloa district Basheer Cegudawood cast his vote at the Arafat Vidayalaya booth, adjoining his residence at Eravur.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, coordinating his party's campaign yesterday charged that the polls were not free and fair and cited certain incidents at Tirukkovil in Ampara, Verugal in Trincomalee. He accused the TMVP leader of rigging votes in Batticaloa but said he is hopeful of victory for the UNP.

Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa who was associated with Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva in leading the UPFA's campaign in the Digamadulla District also expressed confidence of victory for his party.

UPFA General Secretary and Minister Susil Premajayantha leading the campaign from the Batticaloa district said that the situation was quite calm without any major incidents and the voter turnout was improving by noon, "The UPFA is assured of an overwhelming victory "

Senior Advisor to the President (MP) Basil Rajapaksa leading the UPFA's campaign in the Eastern Province expressed confidence that the Government would get a resounding victory to move forward with developing the province.

DIG (Digamadulla) Shantha Rajapaksa said no violent poll-related incidents were reported.

DIG (Batticaloa) H. M. D Herath said that the situation was under control without any incidents worth mentioning.

DIG (Trincomalee) Upali Gunasekera said that expect for a few isolated incidents, voting took place in a peaceful atmosphere.

The last elections to the formerly merged North-East Province was held on November 19, 1988

This poll was held according to the Electoral Register for 2006 under which there are 982,721 registered voters who were eligible to cast their vote for 1,342 candidates belonging to 18 political parties and 56 independent groups to elect 35 members. Two bonus seats will go to the party or group that receives the highest number of preference votes.

Terrorism report says anti-LTTE groups used to terrorise citizens

2008-05-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

The United States while accusing the LTTE of targeting civilians has also accused the government of using anti-LTTE paramilitaries to terrorize those suspected of having ties with the Tamil Tigers.

The US State Department in its annual 2007 terrorism report released on Wednesday said Iran – Sri Lanka’s latest ally -- remained the most active state sponsor of terrorism with elements of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly involved in the planning and supporting of terrorist acts.

“In Sri Lanka, the LTTE and the government violated the 2002 Cease-fire Agreement on a number of occasions leaving more than 5,000 people dead and thousands

displaced since hostilities started again in 2006. The LTTE reverted to targeting civilians in bus bombings and claymore mine attacks, while the government used anti-LTTE paramilitaries to terrorize citizens suspected of having ties with the Tigers. Both the LTTE and armed groups allied to the government engaged in wide-spread human rights abuses including extra-judicial killings, abductions and extortions,” the report released by US Secretary of State Condaleezza Rice said.

The report said the government took effective control of the Eastern Province in mid last year but the LTTE continued to control much of the north and carried out attacks throughout the country while the LTTE and government forces engaged in retaliatory attacks throughout the year.

“The LTTE continued to finance itself with contributions from the Tamil Diaspora in North America, Europe and Australia and by imposing local "taxes" on businesses operating in the areas of Sri Lanka under LTTE-control and reportedly by extortion operations in government-controlled areas,”

The LTTE also used Tamil charitable organizations as fronts for its fundraising.

Troops capture rebel controlled town in Northern Sri Lanka, 35 combatants killed in fighting

2008-05-02T08:34:00.000-07:00

Advancing troops captured the town of Karuppukulam in the Mannar district yesterday (May 1) in an offensive while heavy fighting in the northern battle fronts killed at least 34 Tamil Tiger rebels and a soldier, the military said.

Army infantrymen pushed into the rebel controlled area and have captured an area 1 km in length and 600m in width Karuppukulam 6 a.m. yesterday, defense sources said. According to military sources, a soldier and 15 Tigers were killed in the operation.

Elsewhere in the fronts of Vavuniya, Jaffna, Mannar and Weli Oya troops destroyed LTTE bunkers and launched artillery attacks yesterday killing 19 Tigers, Defense Ministry reported.

Independent verification of casualty figures is not possible as the area is restricted to the media.

Sri Lankan government has launched a military campaign to wrest control of the northern regions from the Tamil Tigers after abrogating the defunct ceasefire agreement in January this year.

LTTE looting medical supplies: Hospitals in North face shortages

2008-04-18T01:27:00.000-07:00

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a statement released yesterday (April 17), said that hospitals in the non-liberated areas in Wanni and North are running short of basic medical supplies.

The Red Cross report attributes the problem as the lack of regular deliveries, limited number of staffers and medical equipment, but states it had managed to get supplies from the government.

"The supplies of medicine are safely dispatched up to Vavuniya but what happens beyond that point is unknown", Dr. Athula Kahandagamage, Secretary, Ministry of Health was quoted as saying to press.

He also commended the ICRC for helping out with the distribution of medicine and other equipment in the non-liberated areas. According to defence officials, the LTTE is to be held totally responsible for the suffering caused to many including children and women in the non-liberated northern patches as it is well known that the outfit is shamelessly looting government provided medical supplies and equipment for the treatment of its battle wounded.

Faced with severe battle casualties in the Wanni front the outfit has recently threatened every individual and household under its influence to giveaway a blood pint for the treatment of its cadres. Meanwhile, the floods caused by the torrential rains recently have further worsened the situation. Many local staffers working for humanitarian relief are been threatened by LTTE elements in these areas and the basic medical supplies, drugs and equipment provided by the government is taken away by the outfit once the consignments reach the non-liberated zones, the official further added.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is assisting hospitals in Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaittiuvu and Vavuniya Districts with medical equipment and supplies for the treatment of sick and war-wounded people.

German schoolboy, 13, corrects NASA's asteroid figures

2008-04-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

A 13-year-old German schoolboy corrected NASA's estimates on the chances of an asteroid colliding with Earth, a German newspaper reported Tuesday, after spotting the boffins had miscalculated.

Nico Marquardt used telescopic findings from the Institute of Astrophysics in Potsdam (AIP) to calculate that there was a 1 in 450 chance that the Apophis asteroid will collide with Earth, the Potsdamer Neuerster Nachrichten reported.

NASA had previously estimated the chances at only 1 in 45,000 but told its sister organisation, the European Space Agency (ESA), that the young whizzkid had got it right.

The schoolboy took into consideration the risk of Apophis running into one or more of the 40,000 satellites orbiting Earth during its path close to the planet on April 13 2029.

Those satellites travel at 3.07 kilometres a second (1.9 miles), at up to 35,880 kilometres above earth -- and the Apophis asteroid will pass by earth at a distance of 32,500 kilometres.

If the asteroid strikes a satellite in 2029, that will change its trajectory making it hit earth on its next orbit in 2036.

Both NASA and Marquardt agree that if the asteroid does collide with earth, it will create a ball of iron and iridium 320 metres (1049 feet) wide and weighing 200 billion tonnes, which will crash into the Atlantic Ocean.

The shockwaves from that would create huge tsunami waves, destroying both coastlines and inland areas, whilst creating a thick cloud of dust that would darken the skies indefinitely.

The 13-year old made his discovery as part of a regional science competition for which he submitted a project entitled: "Apophis -- The Killer Astroid."

China will stand by Sri Lanka against terrorism

2008-04-10T13:55:00.000-07:00

President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China assured Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that China will stand by Sri Lanka in its efforts to counter terrorism. This assurance was given when the two Presidents met at Yalong Bay Resort in the Hainan Province of China today.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is in China to attend the Annual Conference of the Boa Forum for Asia. This was the second meeting between the two leaders in 14 months, and is indicative of the strengthened links between the two countries, and the rapid emergence of China as one of the key development partners of Sri Lanka.

On matters of economic assistance to Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa thanked China for the considerable assistance given, highlighting the Chinese assistance to the Norochcholai Coal Power Project, the Hambantota Port and the Performing Arts Theatre in Colombo.
One China

President Hu Jintao was appreciative of Sri Lanka's continued stand in support of the One China Policy, and stated that this position has stood well as a test of the good relations between the two countries.

In discussions on developments in Tibet, the Chinese President explained the unfortunate incidents that have taken place there, and thanked the President and government of Sri Lanka for viewing the matter in the proper context.
Olympics

President Rajapaksa wished every success to the Olympics Games that are to be held in China later this year, and stated that Sri Lanka was proud that China will be hosting this important international sports event.

President Hu Jintao while appreciating the good wishes expressed by the Sri Lankan President for the Beijing Olympics stated that China will be sending a high level delegation as observers to the SAARC Summit to be held in Sri Lanka later this year.

On the development of investment opportunities, the Sri Lankan President invited Chinese investors to take advantage of the good potential that prevails in Sri Lanka as a destination for investment in the region.

In discussing cultural links between the two countries, the Chinese President reiterated China's agreement to assist in the establishment of the proposed International Buddhist Zone, at Piliyandala.

President Rajapaksa renewed the invitation to the Chinese President to visit Sri Lanka, to which President Hu Jintao said he looked forward to a visit at a mutually convenient time.

The President of China expressed his good wishes to the Sri Lankan President and the Sri Lankan people for the forthcoming traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

China has already pledged more that US $ 1 billion in assistance to Sri Lanka in 2007.

The Boao Forum for Asia, which President Rajapaksa is due to address, (BFA) was inaugurated in February 2001. The Annual Conference of Boao is a platform for political leaders, academics and business leaders from Asia and other countries concerned with the development of Asia to communicate and seek cooperation and common development of all Asian countries.

Troops overrun LTTE defence line: 13 killed, over 40 wounded

2008-04-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

Troops advanced and held into an 800m long LTTE defence line at Kalliadanchan, located 1.5km North of Giant's Tank northern bund in Mannar front during an early hour offensive launched today(April 2) security sources said.

According to reports received, 13 LTTE terrorists were killed and 43 wounded as heavy fighting broke out between SLA and LTTE since the wee hours. The advancing troops were assisted with heavy mortar, artillery and armour tank fire as they broke through the LTTE defences in the multi-pronged assault.

Despite being heavily fortified the land stretch fell into military, with soaring losses to the LTTE what was identified as a decisive blow to the outfit, defence sources said.

Meanwhile, a soldier has laid his life while 12 others were reported wounded in the confrontation.

Troops are now consolidating defences while search patrols continue to clear the area.

54 LTTE killed, 42 wounded as heavy fighting erupts in Mannar

2008-04-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

Defence.lk" style="border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 1px 4px; visibility: visible;" class="PopBoxImageSmall" title="Click to magnify/shrink" onclick="Pop(this,50,'PopBoxImageLarge');" align="left" border="1" height="166" hspace="1" vspace="1" width="250">Military reports received stated that, at least 54 LTTE terrorists were killed, 42 wounded and 14 others believed either killed or seriously injured in heavy fighting ensued between troops and LTTE on Tuesday(April 1) in the Wanni and Northern battle theatres.

The terrorist casualties tolled in the Wanni battle theatre as troops broke into the heavily fortified LTTE defences from the Vavuniya front, yesterday. According to reports, 36 terrorists were reported killed alone in clashes at the Vavuniya front, while 16 others were killed and 36 wounded ahead of Mannar defences.

At the Vavuniya front intermittent clashes broke out in general areas Maruthamadu, Sulanamarutamadu, Villatikkulama and Kallikkulama, security sources said.

Meanwhile, troops gained considerable ground in the Mannar front in general areas Puliyankulama, Puttukkulama, Malikittidai, Veddayamurippu and Palaikkuli as attacks were intensified targeting LTTE strong points, sources further said.

At the Jaffna front in Muhamalai, a terrorist was killed sniped, while 4 others were reported either killed or wounded in a separate confrontation in general area Nagarkovil. 2 soldiers were also wounded during the confrontation, security sources said.

Meanwhile, in the Welioya front troops recovered a total of 520AP mines during separate search operations conducted in general area Andankulama, security sources said. A terrorist was also reported killed when troops attacked an LTTE strong point in the same area, sources further said.

According to military reports, 2 soldiers have laid their lives in the confrontations while 22 others were reported wounded.

LTTE bunkers and trenches captured by troops while advancing in general area Parayakulama, on 01st April.

LTTE bunkers and trenches captured by troops while advancing in general area Parayakulama, on 01st April."

Sri Lanka enters global construction industry

2008-03-19T04:01:00.001-07:00

Construction and Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senaratne said the time is ripe for Sri Lanka to enter the international construction industry. The luxury housing project in Qatar is the initiative step, he said.

Nearly 1,600 persons including engineers, architects, surveyors and planners will leave for Qatar shortly, he said.

The project will be officially inaugurated in April.

According to statistics, 162 quantity surveyors in Qatar and 700 quantity surveyors in Dubai will be employed. There are 9,500 engineers and 700 designers are in Sri Lanka. Their contribution is vital for development, the Minister said.

On completion of this project, the State Engineering Corporation will gain a net profit of Rs. 4,000 million, Minister Senaratne added.

The Chamber of Construction Industry-Sri Lanka Chairman, Deshabandu Surath Wickramasinghe and Qatar Chamber of Construction Industry Deputy Chairman, Abdhul Aseez Al Emad signed the agreement at the Qatar Chamber of Commerce Head Quarters. Moves are also under way to construct 15,000 housing units in Qatar.

Deputy Solicitor General responds to Amnesty International

2008-03-13T07:43:00.001-07:00

The report prepared by the Amnesty International neglected the Government's policy of open and constructive engagement with the International Community and International Human Rights bodies, charged Deputy Solicitor General Shavindra Fernando is a statement issued yesterday.

"The report titled 'SRI LANKA – SILIENCING DISSENT' is based on alleged threats to the media and media freedom," said Mr. Shavindra, who specified several measures adopted by the Government of Sri Lanka to enhance protection of human rights in the country.

Fernando said that the Amnesty International report fails to acknowledge the many positive steps taken by Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) to promote freedom of expression which is also enshrined in the Constitution and also to enhance protection in an environment of combating terrorism and shadowy killers; the re-issuing of Presidential guidelines on arrest, the setting up of Independent Commissions of Inquiry, the crackdown by the police which has resulted in a decrease of allegations of abductions and disappearances, as well as invitations extended to special procedures mandate holders to visit Sri Lanka and present easy to implement recommendations to enhance protection.

The functioning of 14 media stations in the country is a clear and ample example to project the media freedom enjoyed by Sri Lanka media organizations, he said.

"A look at some of the weekend newspapers would prove the level of freedom enjoyed by the press in Sri Lanka to criticize anyone in particular senior government figures," he added.

"While affirming the commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka to uphold media freedom, the Government rejects attempts to denigrate national institutions in the eyes of the international community to achieve petty political objectives," the Sri Lanka Permanent Mission to the United Nations office in Geneva said on Monday (12), quoting Fernando.

UNP rocks the boat in the East

2008-03-13T07:42:00.003-07:00

The main opposition UNP yesterday called on the Elections Commissioner not to hold the Provincial Council Election in the East and handed over a petition to him against the local government polls in the Batticaloa District.UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake who handed over the petition together with MPs John Amaratunga, Ravi Karunanayake, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Lakshman Seneviratne said they requested the Elections Commissioner not to hold the Provincial Council elections in the East.

Mr. Attanayake said the Elections Commissioner will make his stand known in a few days.

The front line members of the UNP led by the Opposition Leader Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe held a protest opposite the Elections Department office prior to handing over the petition.

Mr. Wickremesinghe who addressed the protest said the UNP would not allow the Government to hold another election in the future, similar to the Batticaloa local government election.

“The Batticaloa election has ignored the people’s rights completely,” he said while describing it as an election through which the Government has handed over the East to a terrorist group after taking it over from another terrorist group. This is nothing but State terrorism, he added.

Karuna’s statement in a London court where he had accused the Government of supporting the TMVP creating a division between him and the Pillayan group testified to this, he said.

Mr. Wickremesinghe warned that this State terrorism will spread to other parts of the country as well and he pledged to put a stop to it.

The Opposition Leader expressed his dismay over the comments made by PAFFREL which he alleged had agreed with the UNP stand earlier. He said PAFFREL had declared that the election was free of violence but at the same time said that there would have been a blood bath if the UNP contested.

While stating that the election had given a grim picture on Sri Lanka to the international community and to the country, he said it is the LTTE which will ultimately benefit from it.

Sri Lanka to Start Power-Sharing Plan With Provincial Election

2008-03-13T07:42:00.001-07:00

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa said elections will be held for a provincial council in the east in the first stage of a power-sharing plan aimed at settling the issue of Tamil separatism.

The elections for the Eastern Provincial Council are a key part of the ``search for an end to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka,'' the government said in a statement on its Web site yesterday. More than 70,000 people have been killed in 25 years of fighting.

Voters chose members of local councils in the district of Batticaloa in the east two days ago in the first ballot in 14 years. A pro-government breakaway faction of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam won control of eight bodies.

Sri Lanka's army captured the eastern region in July, inflicting the heaviest defeat on the LTTE in its fight for a separate homeland. The Tamil Tigers hold bases only in the north where the government plans to establish a similar provincial council giving some powers to Tamils.

The ballot demonstrated that the government will restore democracy to areas formerly held by the rebels, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said yesterday, according to a government statement.

ICRC resumes Colombo-Jaffna charter flights for patients

2008-03-05T01:27:00.003-08:00

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) resumed its charter flights between Jaffna and Colombo from Monday (03) for those who seek medical treatments.

“ICRC Transported nine patients requiring specialized medical care, accompanied by two doctors and five bystanders on the first day,” the ICRC said.

Since September 2006, the ICRC had chartered weekly flights to transport patients whose conditions require specialized surgery, medical investigations or treatment not available in the Jaffna peninsula.

"We temporarily suspended ICRC-chartered flights between Jaffna and Colombo to re-assess technical arrangements and passenger safety,” said Toon Vandenhove, ICRC's Head of Delegation in Colombo.

"We worked under great pressure to resume flights, knowing that some patients would find it very hard to travel for more than 30 hours by sea and road to reach health facilities in Colombo," he said.

Starting from Monday, the ICRC will operate two chartered flights per week using a Beechcraft B1900 C that can accommodate up to 15 passengers.

Sri Lanka to import cement and rice from Pakistan

2008-03-05T01:27:00.001-08:00

Colombo: Sri Lanka plans to import cement from Pakistan through the recently set up State Trading Co-operative Wholesale Company Ltd (CWC) to counter the shortage of created by traders, authorities said.

A spokesman for the Trade Ministry said that Pakistan will supply cement and rice to Sri Lanka and agreements would be signed shortly to this effect.

Meanwhile, Pakistan media reports said that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has agreed to export 500 tonnes of basmati rice to Sri Lanka to bridge its demand-supply gap.

Sri Lanka's UNP democratic wing says 13th Amendment must precede the 17th Amendment

2008-03-05T01:26:00.001-08:00

Mar 04, Colombo: United National Party Democratic wing member, Minister Rajitha Senarathne says proper implementation of the 13th amendment is a prerequisite to implement the 17th amendment. He made this remark addressing a media briefing held to celebrate the 17th remembrance of late General Ranjan Wijerathne.

The two constitutional amendments have been the hotly debated issues in the political circles in the country currently.

The government has proposed 13th amendment that refers to provincial council as the suitable political solution to country’s ethnic problem while the opposition is blaming the government for delaying the reactivation of the constitutional councils set up by the 17th amendment.

Minister Senarathne queried whether it is possible to implement constitutional council without the proper implementation of the 13th amendment that refers to the empowerment of provincial government. He asked, whether it is possible to implement a constitutional council in Jaffna.

“ When the house is in fire, we have to put it out, then only we can decide whether to repair the roof, fix new windows, colour wash…” he added.

India, Sri Lanka review anti-LTTE operations

2008-03-05T01:25:00.001-08:00

NEW DELHI: The heads of Indian and Sri Lankan armies on Tuesday spent some time together in analysing the gains and losses in the ongoing military operation in the Island nation against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

After meeting Indian Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor, the visiting head of Sri Lankan Army, Lt Gen G S Fonseka, said the political relations between the two countries were on right track and it was time for the armed forces to strengthen ties.

But that was what came out officially from the talks. The sources said Indian Army head took a detailed update on the recent military operations against the LTTE.

The Sri Lankan Army chief sought more cooperation with India which has kept itself away from bloody conflict.

India’s aloofness has forced Sri Lanka to look towards China and Pakistan to fulfil its requirements of military hardware like radars and surveillance equipment.

India only gives non-lethal military assistance to Sri Lanka which is seeking to modernise its armed forces to deal more effectively with LTTE. It needs a good number of aircraft for effective aerial penetration of LTTE strongholds.

At the political level, India reiterated that Sri Lankan Government should come out with a devolution package under the 13th amendment in the Constitution. It wants the Northern and Eastern provinces to be given powers which could not be withdrawn in the future.

Ailing Anura given three months leave by parliament

2008-03-05T01:22:00.000-08:00

Feb 05, Colombo: Sri Lanka parliament yesterday (04) approved three months leave for parliamentarian Anura Bandaranaike, who is in a critical condition at a hospital.

Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna moved the motion requesting leave for the MP Bandaranaike and the motion was seconded by Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera.

According to parliament regulations a Member of Parliament who is absent from sitting continuously for three months loses the parliamentary seat.

Currently, MP Bandaranaike is in a critical condition in an intensive care unit at a private hospital, hospital sources said.

MP Anura Bandaranaike is the brother of former President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Wanni battle continues; more terror defences fall to Army

2008-02-27T03:42:00.001-08:00

Heavy clashes between army and LTTE continued yesterday (February 24) in the Northern battlefronts as army launched several successful attacks at fortified terror positions. According to the military reports over 40 terrorist were killed and 38 suffered injuries during the confrontations that took place in both Wanni and Jaffna defences. Also, 6 soldiers were killed and 20 others sustained injuries during the same incidents.

On the Mannar battlefront, in the Wanni Theater of battle, heavy clashes continued from morning to noon in the Parayanakulama area as troops ran at LTTE bunkers and trench defences. Ground troops confirmed that at least 30 terrorists were killed and 15 others were either killed or wounded in four separate incidents. Also, the military reports indicate that 6 soldiers were killed and 16 sustained injuries during the same clashes.

Meanwhile, troops engaged in clearing operations in Chavalkadu, in Mannar, uncovered 220 liters of diesel contained in two barrels and 180 liters of Patrol contained in 3 barrels that had been made ready to be transported to LTTE dominated areas last afternoon.

On the Vavuniya front, several confrontations, exchange of artillery and mortars and sniper shootings were reported in the Periyapantrichurichchan, Chinnaralayankaddu and Periyavalayankaddukulam areas during the day. Military reports indicate that terrorists numbering 5 were killed and 15 were injured while 4 own soldiers sustained injuries during these incidents.

On the Welioya front, 3 clashes were reported in the Andankulama area during the daytime yesterday. Ground troops confirmed that 6 terrorists were killed, 2 injured and, 6 others were either killed or wounded during these clashes. No casualties to own troops, the sources added.

Meanwhile, the army snipers deployed at the Nagarkovil defence claimed that a terrorist was shot down around 3, last evening.

Responses to Concerns of International Community on Sri Lanka

2008-02-27T03:40:00.002-08:00

At a recent briefing for 16 EU Ambassadors based in New Delhi, concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, a Senior Minister of Sri Lanka addressed some issues of recent concerns of the international community. SPUR New Zealand believes that he has clarified the thinking of the Government of Sri Lanka on several important issues and decided to reproduce the news reports for the benefit of those who are interested in the current political developments in Sri Lanka.

Excerpts of the briefing made by Prof G L Piers, the Minister for Export Development and International Trade, who was a Professor of Law before he accepted the invitation of a previous Head of State to become a Minister, taken from Sri Lankan News papers are quoted below.

Sri Lanka Government did not believe in a military solution to the conflict, but terrorism required a military response. There would be a military response to the terror perpetrated by the LTTE and a political process to address the problems of the minorities. The basic characteristic of a political solution would be the devolution of power subject to the protection of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Peiris who had led the GoSL delegation for talks with the LTTE from Sept. 2002 to March 2003 offered the following thoughts on why attempts by successive governments had not yielded a favorable result. There is a disconnect between the proposed measures and the thoughts and feelings of the public of Sri Lanka mainly due to some aspects of the behaviour of the LTTE that are quoted below.

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For success, one had to inspire the confidence of the majority. The LTTE was never prepared to discuss the decommissioning of arms as was the case of in successful peace processes in other parts of the world such as Northern Ireland.
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The LTTE insisted that it was the sole representatives of the Tamils. This claim involved a conflict with basic democratic values and assumptions.
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The LTTE did not want to participate at elections and subject themselves to the people's mandate.

Looking for options to generate political momentum, GoSL felt that it should not engage in discussions regarding futile arrangements, which cannot be implemented, such as changing the Constitution which required a two thirds majority in parliament. Given Sri Lanka's electoral system, (Note: Which is similar to MMP system in New Zealand) it is unlikely that any government in the foreseeable future would command such a 2/3 majority. Moreover, far-reaching statutory changes may not be immediately needed, because implementation of the laws that exist through political will and sincerity would enable considerable progress to be made.

UNP's fullest support for 13th Amendment

2008-02-27T03:39:00.001-08:00

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday extended the UNP's fullest cooperation to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which has been proposed by the APRC proposals. The Opposition Leader gave this assurance following an extensive discussion with President Mahinda Rajapaksa held at Temple Trees yesterday.

During the discussion, President Rajapaksa briefed the Opposition Leader on the implementation of the 13th Amendment proposed by the APRC proposals.

In addition, the discussions also centred on the 17th Amendment, a media release issued by the President's Media Unit said yesterday. The UNP's representation for the next rounds of the APRC discussions was also discussed.

The discussions were conducted in a very cordial manner. SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Prof. Tissa Vitharana, Prof. Vishwa Warnapala represented the SLFP while the UNP Chairman MP Rukman Senanayake and MP K.N. Choksy represented the UNP, the release added.

Courtesy : Daily News

Earthquake felt across much of UK

2008-02-27T03:38:00.001-08:00

The biggest earthquake in the UK for nearly 25 years has shaken homes across large parts of the country.

People in Newcastle, Yorkshire, London, Cumbria, the Midlands, Norfolk and also parts of Wales, felt the tremor just before 0100 GMT.

A man suffered a broken pelvis when a chimney collapsed in South Yorkshire.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) said the epicentre of the 5.3 magnitude quake was near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire.

The tremor was felt in north, mid and south Wales although staff at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said they felt the earthquake but were not called to any related incidents.

Student David Bates, 19, suffered a broken pelvis when he was pinned under masonry in his attic bedroom in Barnsley Road, Wombwell, South Yorks.

His father Paul Bates said: "There was a rumble and then we heard a bang and my son screaming 'Dad'."

His son was taken to hospital and was due to undergo surgery later.

Sri Lanka government to open an escape route for civilians fleeing from Wanni

2008-02-19T01:29:00.000-08:00

go to LankaPage.com

Sri Lanka::
* Sri Lanka government to open an escape route for civilians fleeing from Wanni
Tuesday, February 19, 2008, 5:04 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Feb 19, Colombo: As heavy fighting continue to escalate in the northern region, the Sri Lankan government said that it would open a 'gateway' for trapped civilians in the Wanni area to crossover to the government controlled areas, media reports said.

“We would open an escape rout for civilians in the Wanni area and would give necessary accommodation,” government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukkwella told media.

He said that the government would create a ‘no war zone’ to facilitate the civilian movements. “We will drop leaflets to educate the public on our strategy which includes escape routes for them like we did when liberating Sampur,” the Minister has said.

Defence spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said some 100 civilians had already crossed over to cleared areas in Mannar and Vavuniya and they have been provided with food and shelter.

He said civilians could cross over to cleared areas using the Omanthai entry/exit point as well as by the sea route in Mannar.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka military said the Army had captured an LTTE bunker line in the Mannar battlefront following heavy clashes killing 10 Tigers and injuring another 20 cadres. Two soldiers were also killed and four were wounded from the fighting on Monday.

"Troops backed by artillery fire captured 600m of the LTTE's bunker line in Mannar," military spokesman Brigadier Nanayakkara said.

Australia being urged to ban LTTE

2008-02-19T01:28:00.000-08:00

Prabhakaran is surrounded and has a back to the wall fight. India wants him extradited no sooner we capture him.

He also has the Idi Amin option of leaving Sri Lanka-like Idi Amin who took money and some women with him-he might be able to fade into the sunset. Some say that even Norway might provide him a safe haven. Some want us to encourage Prabhakaran to leave Sri Lanka.

We are now in a position to bring about finality to this crisis. It is also good to know that Australia is thinking seriously about banning the LTTE. Those were some of the thoughts Dr. Palitha Kohona Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs expressed when Asian Tribune interviewed him.

The excerpts of the interview with Dr. Palitha Kohona:

Q: It is said that so far no action has been taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the appointment of nine new Consular Generals ?

A: Regarding this problem you should not blame the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Ministry has done everything. Now the papers are with the Minister.

In fact I reminded them even on Friday. Furthermore it is not nine consuls but it is the appointment of 12 new consuls. I can't remember the name and other details of the 12 appointees right now, but I know there are persons appointed for Poland, Germany and a few other places.

The Minister has with him now 12 documents in his possession. The Ministry has done all its work. Got the clearance, done the recommendations and finally the Minister has to sign them.

Q : After signing, it has to be sent to the High Post Committee for clearance ?

A: No, appointments of Consuls are not sent to High Posts Committee, only Ambassadors go to that Committee.

Q: Is there any move, by the Sri Lankan Government to urge the government of Australia to ban the LTTE ? As you were also earlier a diplomat from the foreign ministry of Australia and the present Australian prime minister was also a diplomat from the ministry. I think it will be easy for you pursue this matter and to explain Sri Lanka's position.

A: We are working on it , in fact I was there in January, and I worked very hard on that subject. Although I was there in January, it was a private visit, but as a Foreign Secretary there is no privacy. People talk to you all the time, especially when they know you. This is the campaign I have been carrying on for some time. And I think we will succeed one of these days.

Q: But so far what are the indications?

A: Indications are good. You know that three Tigers in Australia are now prosecuted in Melbourne ? And if those prosecution succeed and it is quite likely they will prosecute some more. So once that happens, it will be only a matter of time before they are banned.

There was earlier a reason for delaying the banning. It was due to their Parliamentary elections.

The Tigers made it known that if they are banned they threatened the then Government that they will vote for the Labour Party. However the Labour Party has won anyway. I know there is lot of anti-Tigers that worked for the Labour Party. The Tiger influence may have diminished some what.

Q: We learnt that there is a move an international Non-government is trying to open fronts to provide space for LTTE in Australia ?

A: We have to be careful with organisations like this. Sometimes this people promote ideas which are not necessarily anti-Sri Lankan, but if you think in a global sense it is a good idea.

Corporate sector responsibilities are very broad concept. Environmental responsibilities, Labour responsibility, human rights responsibility, I mean it is a very huge and wide concept. So it is not necessarily anti- Sri Lankan.

So what we need to do is, we must make sure that these concepts are not hijacked by the anti-Sri Lankans elements. So we have to participate in conferences like this. Make sure that our views are expressed.

Q: Who is going to participate in these conferences. Some one should come forward ?

A: You are right. It is the very International Alert that funded the rebel movement in Sierra Leone. Not actually funded the rebel movement, but they gave a lot of money to them.

Due to, may be out of sympathy, but then it turned out that they were a bunch of thugs like the LTTE. But on the other hand, International Alert is also very much involved in highlighting corruption in this country. There are good sides to their existence, we should not forget that.

Q: It was said that it was Kumar Rupasinghe was the first Secretary General of the International Alert and he started this organisation ?

A: With the backing of Norway.

Q: There is another story to stay that Norway is making arrangements to provide safe havens to Tiger leader Prabhakaran in Eritrea ?

A: That is a good idea no?

Q: Is it true?

A: We must encourage it. I think it is a solution that I have been proposing for sometime and which is referred internationally as the Idi Amin Solution. You give a lot of money to a guy like that and send him to a country where he can live happily ever after.

Former Uganda's Dictator Idi Amin was given lot of money and was sent to Saudi Arabia with his wives and children.

Q: Sri Lanka has established diplomatic relationship with Eritrea. Is it not possible to find out from them whether it is true that they are going to provide safe haven to Prabhakaran?

A: We have, it does not mean that we are going to send an ambassador there. It means that we have established a diplomatic relationship. It is very hard and very difficult country, the conditions are similar to living in Killinochchi.

Q: If he leaves Sri Lanka to any other country, then he faces the danger of being apprehended by India?

A: Yes, that is his problem. If he leaves Killinochchi, then India will get him for sure.

Q: But if he stays somewhere, keeping a low profile, then he will not have any problem? Is it possible that Sri Lanka encourages him to leave the country by having an agreement with India not to touch him after that?

A: It will be difficult. You know that an Indian court wants him. India is a very legalistic country.

They are not going to ignore their courts. You know they regularly send us notes for Prabhakarn's extradition. And they keep on reminding us to extradite Prabhakaran to India to face charges in the India's Supreme Courts, as he is a proclaimed offender in the Rajiv Gandhi's murder case.

Q: When was the last time you got the note from India for the extradition of Prabhakaran?

A: About three or four months ago. If we catch him, we will send him as the President said, but we have not been able to catch him so far.

Q: Have you responded to them back ?

A: No, we did not, because we don't have the man with us.

Q: Any attempts to catch him with the help of the Indian Army ?

A: I mean there is no formal request as such, but everyone is trying. As a sovereign State we can't do that.

Q: With the help of a group of a 1000 or 2000 commando force from India, and jointly attack and catch him?

A: It is difficult because you know he is well guarded, well surrounded and I think we will need a lot more force than that. That is my assessment.

Animal rights group protests LTTE attack on zoo

2008-02-19T01:26:00.000-08:00

An international animal rights organisation has protested the bombing of a zoo in Dehiwela in Sri Lanka, allegedly by Tamil Tiger rebels earlier this month.

'In addition to injuring several human beings - which was no doubt its intent - the explosive device that was set off near the zoo's birds enclosure terrified many animals in the zoo,' said Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a letter to the Tamil Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

At least seven people, including two children, were injured, when a grenade kept near the birds' enclosure went off Feb 3.

Newkirk said that animals got caught in the cross fire of wars all over the world and countless animals were being killed either intentionally or accidentally in bomb attacks worldwide.

US lawmakers - Tiger lobby links exposed

2008-02-11T01:39:00.001-08:00

US: The US Treasury Department's recent clampdown on the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) accusing it of raising funds on behalf of the designated terrorist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has once again thrown the spotlight on the shadowy 'LTTE lobby' whose access to powerful US lawmakers helped to legitimise this and other Tiger fronts allowing them to operate without let or hindrance for almost a decade, according to the US based Sri Lankan Express.

Investigations show that TRO operatives and individuals whose addresses or phone numbers are linked to the TRO, regularly made contributions to the campaign funds of the very legislators who have actively promoted the separatist cause and been harshly critical of Sri Lanka's war on the Tigers.

"TRO passed off its operations as charitable, when in fact it was raising money for a designated terrorist group responsible for heinous acts of terrorism," said Adam J. Szubin, Director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), explaining the action taken November 15 to freeze the US held assets of the TRO.

The Treasury said the TRO has raised funds on behalf of the LTTE through a network of "individual representatives" and that it was the preferred conduit of funds from the US to the LTTE.

Since the TRO 'hung its shingles' in the US, almost 10 years ago, these individual representatives, many of them successful Tamil professionals, have been the LTTE's foot soldiers, active in several states, raising funds while establishing and developing political contacts.

As reported by the Associated Press some time ago, the Chicago Tribune had faxed three pages from a federal indictment involving money laundering to a US Congressman's office which indicated that the trips of two unidentified individuals to Sri Lanka in 2005 were paid with $13,150 laundered through a US bank.

The source of those funds - whether they were raised for 'charity' or extorted from the Tamil diaspora - is not known.

Petty Officer Bandara commended by Navy

2008-02-11T01:38:00.003-08:00

The brave act and vigilance of Petty Officer NWSI Bandara of the Sri Lanka Navy, had averted a large-scale carnage and mayhem at the Sunday fair in Anuradhapura yesterday (10th February 2008). PO Bandara was commended by the Commander of the Navy for his brave act.

Petty Officer Bandara had made use of the expertise knowledge imparted to him by the Sri Lanka Navy during his qualifying courses leading to his present rank to perform his brave act. Armed with the expertise knowledge and the discipline and self-confidence instilled in him by the Navy instructors, he had carried out the delicate operation of defusing the deadly time bomb with meticulous attention to detail and patient adherence to procedure.

Spotting a time bomb planted by the terrorists at the Sunday fair, Petty Officer Bandara had swiftly cut off the two detonator cords fitted to the bomb seizing a pair of scissors lying near by. The improvised bomb, made with 1.5 kilograms of lethal C 4 explosives and 350 steel balls, was packed in to a plastic can and was wrapped in a shopping bag. It had been placed in between a fruit stall and a bags stall located inside the fair. The bomb was to explode within 05 minutes before its deactivation by the sailor.

The incident happened around 11.30 a.m. yesterday and approximately 4000 people had gathered at the fair to do their Sunday shopping. Petty Officer Bandra, who is attached to the Kondachchikudah Naval Sub Unit in Silawathura, had been at the fair with his wife shopping while on leave.

Tigers exploit Madhu No Fire Zone

2008-02-11T01:38:00.001-08:00

The LTTE has reverted to the tactic of taking cover of the 'No Fire Zone' in the holy Madhu shrine area as they got a heavy beating in the Vavuniya and Mannar fronts losing a large number of their cadres, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said yesterday.

The LTTE resorted to this tactic on Saturday afternoon directing 81 mm mortar fire towards the troops in the Mannar sector taking the cover of the Madhu shrine area at 4.47 p.m. and 4.49 p.m.

However, troops refrained from retaliating in honour of their commitment to protect religious places during these confrontations.

This was amidst the LTTE was getting heavy beatings at the hand of the troops in Vavuniya, Mannar, Weli Oya and Jaffna battlefronts on Saturday.

"More than 15 Tiger cadres were killed on Saturday morning as troops were advancing toward Periyapandivirichchan," Brigadier Nanayakkara added.

The LTTE fired mortar at the troops hours after the heavy losses in Periyapandivirichchan close to Madhu area. Three soldiers were killed and seven were wounded in action during this fierce battle in Periyapandivirichchan which is located some three kilometres south of Madhu shrine.

Tiger cadres operating in Periyapandivirichchan had withdrawn from the area along with their casualties after this fierce battle.

According to military sources the LTTE seems to have been highly disturbed by this situation as the advancing troops are poised to take full control of the Madhu area after they capture Periyapandivirichchan area.

The troops in Mullikulam area also confronted with Tiger cadres in three different incidents killing at least nine Tiger cadres.

Six soldiers also sustained injuries due to LTTE anti-personnel mines LTTE in Mullikulam and Thalayankulam. Meanwhile, heavy fighting erupted in Mannar sector too on Saturday as troops attached to Task Force-1 continued their advance in the Adampan area.

The troops in Muhamalai and Nagarkovil in the Jaffna battle front also killed seven LTTE cadres after confronting them in three separate incidents on Saturday, Brigadier Nanayakkara added

When will Prabhakaran understand human sorrow?

2008-02-11T01:37:00.000-08:00

M. Wasantha faints ... murmurs ...cries and looks at the main door. She does not care about flashing cameras or microphones and journalists or TV crews, who time to time try to get her views. She is in the news. Her son who was her pet has made her prominent at the cost of his life.

Still unable to believe that her son is no more, she waits untill he comes running asking for his favourite dish which he did not eat that Friday, the day he worshipped and hugged her last.

Wasantha's 17-year-old son Rajarathnem Radeeswaran did not know any difference between Sinhalese and Tamils but knew that both were having red blood. Being the only Tamil member of the D.S. Senanayake baseball team he knew the warmth of friendship but not the enmity.

On that fateful day, this sportsman who brought to the family many hopes of a better future, breath his last when a suicide female bomber blew herself in front of him and his base ball buddies, at the Colombo railway station last Sunday. Proving that there are no differences between humanity, Radeeswaran played together with the Sinhala dominated base ball team of the school while so-called saviours of his own nationality blast bombs, attacking innocent children and also using children younger to him as human shields and soldiers in a desperate attempt to fence a piece of land in this country.

The LTTE terrorists, yes of course, do not care for their own people, whom they claim that the outfit is taking care of. Radeeswaran's family which mourns with their Sinhalese friends poses a question where the whole conflict will take a new dimension if the LTTE Leader Vellupillai Prabakaran can understand.

Eight civilians killed and over 100 injured in LTTE bomb blast- Colombo

2008-02-03T04:39:00.001-08:00

LTTE terrorists carried out cowardly bomb blast targeting innocent civilians at the Fort Railway station this afternoon (February 3). Eight people have been killed and over 100 others suffered injuries as a suspected LTTE suicide bomber blew herself up on the third platform of the railway station around 2.10 p.m, said the defence sources.

According to the sources in the Colombo National Hospital, eight bodies are lying at the hospital and 95 are presently under going treatment at the hospital. 10 of the injured are in critical conditions while four of them have been already taken to the theatre for immediate surgeries, the sources added.

According to the available information the explosion was carried out by a female suicide bomber who had get down from a train reached to the Fort railway station.

LTTE is a ruthless terrorist outfit that fights for a mono ethnic separate homeland for the Tamils in Sri Lanka since 1983. It operates on an ideology based on extreme tribalism and carries out genocides against Sri Lankan citizens by way of bomb blasts, ethnic cleansing raids, suicide attacks, assassinations etc. However, the outfit as a policy never claim responsibility for any of its egregious crimes and also uses its agents in media to turn the blame of the crimes towards some other party.

Defence observers say that the recent attacks by LTTE terrorist in the South bear clear indications of the outfit's desperation over the ignominious defeats that it is presently encountering at the Northern battlefronts. They also highlight the need of national solidarity at this crucial moment to bring an end this brutal terrorism.

Speaking to the defence.lk a senior defence official said that several thousand lives have already been saved due to the unstinting support given by the civilians to the security forces to discover huge amount of bombs that the terrorists tried to emplace in the South during last few years. Had it not for the vigilance of the civilians and for the stern measures that has been taken by the security forces to curb terrorism, the LTTE must have already massacred several thousands of civilians in the South, he added.

Speaking further he said that, it is so unfortunate that some terrorists' sympathisers were given the opportunity to restrict security forces' counter terrorists operations positing bogus fundamental right issues. He said that it is high time for the public to understand that it is the future of their nation and their lives that have been put at stake by these bogus "rights" activists who thrive on "blood money".

Asian nations to interact on migrant worker rights

2008-01-31T01:11:00.001-08:00

Regional heads in Asia have come up with a co-ordinated effort to protect migrant worker rights and welfare in the region, according to decisions taken at the recently concluded “Colombo Process” convention in Dubai.

According to Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, member countries had agreed to have better interaction to minimise abuse against migrant workers.

Accordingly a proper mechanism has been proposed to look into the work of private employment agencies, employers and tough measures have been proposed to deter possible offenders.

Also special emphasis has been laid on the proper payment of migrant worker wages and also regarding exorbitant fees charged by private employment agencies, with the members agreeing on Government intervention over such matters.

Also it has come up with several proposals to uplift foreign employment promotion in the region with the focus on better skilled manpower.

The Minister said the member countries had agreed to launch a co-ordinated effort to train skilled workers for various sectors considering the high demand for such manpower in the region and beyond.

Yachtsmen arrested for shooting at fishing boats

2008-01-31T01:10:00.000-08:00

A fisherman was slightly injured when some foreigners on a yachting cruise fired warning shots towards some fishing boats, 30 nautical miles off Kirinda, Maharawana fort on Tuesday night.

A German couple and another German and Brazilian sailing on two yachts from the Andaman, Nicobar Islands to Kochin had observed some boats approaching towards their yachts, 30 nautical miles off Maharawana fort.

“The sailors on the two yachts fired warning shots but the boats failed to respond and were speeding towards the yachts. The sailors fired two warning shots below the fishing boats and had injured a fisherman in the arm”, Navy Spokesman Commander D.P.K.Dassanayake said.

The Navy later reached the location and arrested the fishermen and the sailors and handed them over to the police. “The injured fisherman was admitted to the Karapitiya hospital”, he added.

Lanka sixth in Australia's immigrant intake

2008-01-31T01:06:00.000-08:00

Australia's migrant intake is surging towards 200,000 a year, a quarter of whom head to Victoria.

New Zealanders, Britons and Indians are leading the boom, according to the latest Immigration Department figures.

Almost 192,000 permanent migrant visas were issued in 2006-07, up 6.7 per cent on 2005-06.

These included more than 51,000 visas given to those already living here, says the report, Immigration Update 2006-07.

The intake is the biggest since the mass migration of the late 1960s.

Australia arguably now has the world's highest per capita migrant programme.

Traditional rival Canada currently has a lower annual rate than Australia. Victoria welcomed more than 48,000 migrants last year, most settling in Melbourne.

About 55 per cent of this intake was Asian-born; fewer than 15 per cent of arrivals were from Europe.

The top source country by birthplace was India, followed by New Zealand, China and Britain, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sudan, and Iraq. Monash University migration expert Dr Bob Birrell said the influx was staggering, especially given that the figures didn't include foreigners living here on temporary visas.

Dr Birrell said the nation was experiencing a population "perfect storm" as high migration coincided with a baby boom.

"This is the legacy that the former Coalition Government has bequeathed to Labor," he said.

Dr Birrell said that while Sydney was still attracting more migrants than Melbourne, Victoria's capital was growing faster because far fewer people were leaving it to settle in other parts of Australia.

"Sydney has serious congestion problems and a high cost of doing business, which is slowing jobs growth," he said.

Of 48,861 migrant visas issued in Victoria last year, just over half were in the skilled category.

More than 10,000 visas went to spouses or fiancees of residents. About 3600 people arriving in Victoria won visas under the humanitarian program. Herald Sun

Japan, ADB to support rural road project in poorest districts in Sri Lanka

2008-01-23T13:20:00.000-08:00

MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - Japan and the Asian Development Bank are supporting a pilot project that will combine rural road work and the creation of income-generating opportunities in the poorest districts of Sri Lanka, the bank said in a release.

The project will be funded by a 2 mln usd grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to be managed by ADB and the Sri Lankan government and project beneficiaries will contribute 245,000 usd to complete the funding requirement, ADB added.

The improvement of rural access roads and livelihood development for the poor project will rehabilitate about 200 kilometres of rural access roads with community participation in Badulla, Monaragala and Ratnapura, the poorest districts in Sri Lanka.

The non-governmental organizations will also provide training for self-employment programs to 2,000 beneficiaries in the three target districts.

The assistance was in response to the request made by Sri Lanka to ADB for the development of an innovative project on a pilot basis to address the present poverty in the three target districts by improving their rural access roads.

'Although ADB finances the improvement of national and provincial roads, it has not yet financed improvement of rural access roads in Sri Lanka by generating income opportunities for poor village people,' said TM Tilakaratne, Implementation/Program Officer of ADB's Resident Mission in Sri Lanka.

'Lessons learned from the project could be applied to rural community development programs implemented by the government and other donors in other districts,' he added.

Sri Lanka’s Hatton wants 5 million customers

2008-01-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

Rajendra Theagarajah, the managing director of Hatton National Bank (HNB), is keen to ride on the coattails of Sri Lankan banks going global.

More corporates from the island are beginning to explore overseas opportunities by sourcing materials from other countries and outsourcing production around Asia. This is good news for Theagarajah, as growing local corporates can provide more lucrative fee-based business.

“Once these guys go global, the diversity in terms of political and country risk becomes manageable and they become more sought after [by investors],” he says. “So, I think we have a strategy to follow some of these big players.” Although the bank is already the country’s fourth-largest with over SLR237 billion ($2.2 billion) in assets, it clearly has its eye on a bigger prize than the Sri Lankan market.

Theagarajah has his eye on commodity exporters. He says they are getting smarter about branding, marketing and distribution. “This is where we feel our investment banking and corporate finance expertise can come in to convince some of these private family-owned businesses to give up part of their ownership and pursue a public listing,” says Theagarajah.

The alternative, he says, is to encourage them to raise funds through convertibles or private placements so these businesses can harness the potential of their balance sheets rather than relying on traditional bank financing to grow them.

The bank also wants to tap into Sri Lanka’s army of SMEs. The bank is keen to educate small business owners to help develop their businesses. “Traditionally, Sri Lanka has been an asset-backed lending environment, and we are slowly and steadily getting into cash flow lending,” says Theagarajah. The bank has developed more sophisticated risk management tools together with the International Finance Corporation, the private sector investment arm of The World Bank, to keep a check on its SME borrowers.

Sri Lanka Air Force destroys LTTE nerve center, ‘X-ray Base'

2008-01-23T13:18:00.001-08:00

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets this morning bombed a frequent visiting place of the LTTE leader in Kilinochchi, known as "X-ray Base". Air Force fighter jets in a low flying mission have targeted the base located east of Iranamadu Tank in the Kalmadukulama area, with pin point accuracy, the Defense Ministry said.

Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya said the air sorties were carried out on information obtained through real-time air surveillance and ground reconnaissance. “We believed he (Prabha) was in the base and no confirmation on his condition or whereabouts after the raid,” the spokesperson added.

Defence intelligence sources said that the air raid was timed with a “special” activity that was going on at the LTTE base. Fighter pilots have confirmed that the target was accurately hit. However, the extent of damage is yet to be ascertained.

The target was located in a thick jungle patch, north of LTTE’s “runaway” in Iranamadu. The area has been long demarcated as a “high security zone” and a ‘no go’ area for civilians, the sources added.

LTTE conspirator sentenced to 57 months in US

2008-01-13T11:09:00.000-08:00

A US District Court has sentenced a Sri Lankan to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to provide arms, ammunition and other military materiel to the LTTE.

The sentence was imposed on Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa, a Sri Lankan resident in the USA, by US District Judge Catherine C. Blake Baltimore, Maryland yesterday.

US Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announced that Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa has been sentenced to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and attempted exportation of arms and munitions.

Varatharasa will be deported from the United States after serving his sentence of incarceration.

Rosenstein said: “We are using undercover operations targeting people who attempt to obtain military weapons in violation of American law and all other available legal tools to prevent terrorism.”

According to his plea agreement, from April to September 29, 2006 Varatharasa conspired with Haji Subandi, Haniffa Osman and Erick Wotulo to export state-of-the-art firearms, machine guns and ammunition, surface to air missiles, night vision goggles and other military weapons to the LTTE to be used to fight against Sri Lankan Government Forces.

Claymore explosion targeting government minister ; 11 wounded- Ja-Ela

2008-01-08T01:30:00.001-08:00

A claymore bomb has been triggered off targeting a VIP motorcade carrying a non-cabinet minister of Nation Building, D.M Dassanayake, at Ja-Ela around 10.35 this morning, January 08.

According to the available information the motorcade was plying towards Colombo along the Negombo - Colombo (A-3) main road when the explosion occurred near the Rukmani Devi junction, defence sources said.

Latest information said that minister D.M Dassanayake and four others who sustained severe injuries are now being treated at the Intensive Care Unit at Ragama Teaching hospital. The Director of the Ragama hospital speaking exclusively to defence.lk said six others were also admitted following the explosion.

Boost for Lanka-Maldives ties

2008-01-06T05:23:00.000-08:00

Maldivian Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah Shahid who arrived in Sri Lanka on Thursday on a two-day official visit, called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

The discussions with the Sri Lankan leaders centered on a range of bilateral issues including further strengthening of the growing bilateral ties between the two countries.

Further, matters of common interest within the framework of SAARC and 15th SAARC Summit to be held in Sri Lanka also featured in the discussions.

The leaders expressed satisfaction over the rapidly increasing interaction between the two countries, especially since President Rajapaka’s state visit to the Maldives in 2007, which was followed by a number of Ministerial and officials’ level visits between the two countries.

Dr. Abdullah Shahid was appointed as the Foreign Minister in August 2007 and this is his first official visit to Sri Lanka as Foreign Minister.

Govt. to present political proposals soon

2008-01-06T05:22:00.000-08:00

The Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa is fully capable of presenting a set of political proposals that satisfy and receive the consent of all. The Government will present this set of political proposals shortly, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said.

Addressing the media at his office in Colombo yesterday, Minister Bogollagama said the main objective of the Government is achieving sustainable stability and peace.

The APRC is now in its final stage of drafting proposals. The Government is not focusing on banning the LTTE at the moment and the doors are always open for talks, he said.

Explaining the background and related issues to the abrogation of the CFA, Minister Bogollagama said the abrogation of the CFA does not mean that the facilitation extended by the Norwegian Government to the Sri Lankan Government also ends with it.

The Government immensely values the contribution of the facilitators, Co-chairs and the international community towards negotiations, the Minister said.

The diplomatic community understood the facts and agreed with the Government’s decision to abrogate the CFA, he said.

The Government decided to abrogate the CFA after carefully considering the ground realities, all unfolding events and acting honestly in a realistic way.

Cancer Institute gets new ward complex

2008-01-01T03:50:00.001-08:00

Urban and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardana inaugurated the construction of the three storeyed ward complex for Maharagama Cancer Institute which was estimated to cost Rs. 60 million. Australian High Commissioner Greg French also participated.

The patients of the Cancer Institute are undergoing immense difficulties due to the lack of sufficient beds and rooms. Over eight hundred cancer patients are receiving residential treatment in the Cancer Institute but there are only 600 beds, the hospital sources said.

The construction of new ward complex will accommodate more patients and ease the prevaling congestion.

Forces' Chiefs predict Tiger extinction in 2008

2008-01-01T03:47:00.000-08:00

The Tri-Forces Commanders yesterday expressed confidence that 2008 would be a decisive year in their effort of eliminating terrorism from Sri Lanka since they were already on course towards accomplishing this task by next year.

Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka who has already announced his intention of shifting the current battles to a decisive phase in August next year, expressed confidence of achieving the mission by reducing the existing number of Tiger cadres to 2,000.

"Considering the number of Tiger cadres that get killed each day in the Wanni front and in Jaffna, this task can be achieved soon," the Army Commander added.

"We can bring the war against the LTTE to a turning point once we are able to destroy the LTTE capabilities to operate in bunkers and FDLs," he added.

"Then it would be a case of hunting down the Tiger cadres in the jungles", the Army Commander added.

He said it would be difficult for Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to engage in a game of hide and seek for long since the Air Force is taking each and every hideout of the LTTE in the Wanni.

He also explained that the Army was ready to take on this task with the formation of five offensive Divisions in the Army to face an estimated 5,000 Tiger cadres left in the Wanni.

Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Roshan Gunatilleke also expressed confidence that the task of totally defeating the LTTE in 2008 was high.

Salary hike for SL migrant workers in UAE

2007-12-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

It is reported that Sri Lankan migrant workers employed in United Arab Emirates (UAE) are entitled to receive a minimum monthly salary of 825 Dirhams (AED) per month effective from January 1, 2008. This will amount to around 24.500/= in rupees monthly.
According to foreign media sources this new regulation of the revised minimum wages has been communicated to the recruiting agencies and agents through the Sri Lankan missions.

The Sri Lankan government has revised the minimum wages of housemaids in the entire Gulf region. While Dh825 has been set for the UAE, the wages in other countries in the Middle East have been set according to their respective per capita income.

This decision came along with the visit of Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare, Keheliya Rambukwella, to Dubai in October, when he told reporters that the government was considering increasing the wages.

According to procedures, the missions first approve the contract drawn up by the agent, after which the housemaid is brought from Sri Lanka to the UAE.

Any contract renewed after January 1 will also be considered as new and the employer would have to pay the revised wage. Sources said.

Auspicious opening of Mahanama Bridge, Matara

2007-12-26T14:07:00.000-08:00

President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared open the new Manama Bridge at Matara today. The bridge, destroyed by the tsunami, was constructed with a grant worth USD 7 million provided by the Government of Korea.
The newly reconstructed Mahanama Bridge is 116 meters in length, 29.5 meters wide and has six tracks. The Project was implemented by Road Development Authority (RDA) Sri Lanka, with the Korean Highways Corporation providing consultancy services. The bridge is built across the Nilwala River and is in the heart of Matara city. Work on the bridge commenced upon President Rajapaksa's request when he was Prime Minister.

The bridge, declared open on the third anniversary of the tsunami, is expected to improve the quality of life of the people of the area and enhance the prosperity of the Matara District.

The President reminded the nation how unlike any other nation Sri Lanka was able to emerge from the debris left by the tsunami.

Sri Lanka observes Tsunami anniversary

2007-12-26T14:06:00.000-08:00

Third Tsunami anniversary is being observed as National Safety Day in Sri Lanka Wednesday.

The main commemorative function is being held at Ratnapura in southern Sri Lanka.

A special prayer meeting is also being held at Peraliya, south of Colombo where more than 1000 passengers were killed as their train was washed away by the giant waves three years ago, All India Radio reported.

The whole of the island nation went into silent prayers for three minutes in the morning as mark of respect to those who perished in tsunami.

The nature's fury had killed more about 40,000 people besides displacing 2.5 million in Sri Lanka, the worst affected country after Indonesia.

India was the first country to have rushed to help Sri Lanka when Tsunami hit the island.

Besides pledging dlrs 23 million as Tsunami relief, New Delhi had dispatched ship loads of food and relief materials to the Tsunami hit regions.

More than 1000 military and medical personnel from India worked day in and day out to help Sri Lanka recover from the tsunami shock.

In Indonesia Mass prayers as well as a major emergency Tsunami drill are being held in coastal Calang town in Aceh, province.

Archipelagic Indonesia was the nation worst hit by the earthquake- triggered tsunami, with some 168,000 lives claimed by the catastrophic walls of water that lashed Aceh province at the northern tip of Sumatra island.

Housing market continues to slow

2007-12-16T05:14:00.000-08:00

The property market is still cooling, despite a slight rise in house prices during October, official figures show.

Prices rose by 0.1% in that month, the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said, compared with 0.3% in September.

The annual rate of house price inflation was 11.3%, up from 10.8% the previous month.

But the average figure for the three months to October, seen as a more reliable indicator, fell to 11.1%.

DCLG calculated that the average price of a home in the UK is now £220,195, just £84 more than the average price in September.

Tourism recovers from earlier slump

2007-12-16T05:13:00.001-08:00

Tourism has staged a turn around from November, with a robust arrival gain of 20 per cent for the month. The drop-in arrivals peaked in May this year to 40 per cent after the LTTE attack on the Bandaranaike International Airport and the subsequent curfew imposed on night flights.

Since September this year, a recovery was seen with a strong turn into a positive last month. Arrivals for November was 45,102 compared with 37, 591 for the same month last year. With the current boost Sri Lanka tourism got with the Barmy Army of nearly 7,000 fans currently enjoying the cricket test matches.

December is expected to perform better. With the third and the final test matches in Galle attracting much attention, nearly 10,000 cricket fans are expected to be in Sri Lanka.

“Looking at the forward bookings, we are confident that we will end up with a good winter season performance this time. With events like the Galle Literary Festival, The Pearl Fishers opera, lifestyle shows in April and other exciting events planned for next year, we should expect the recovery to be sustainable,” said Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Renton de Alwis.

“We also note the achievements in the Middle East market where an overall 30 per cent gain has been achieved between January and November, with an increase from 9,535 to 12, 327,” he said.

India tests surface-to-air missile: Defence Ministry

2007-12-16T05:11:00.000-08:00

India on Friday successfully tested its surface-to-air Akash missile at an eastern coastal site, the second firing of the weapon in as many days, defence officials said.

The missile blasted off from the Chandipur-on-Sea testing site, 200 kilometres (125 miles) northeast of Orissa state capital Bhubaneswar, a defence ministry official said.

The test of the Akash missile on Thursday was also described as a success. The 700-kilogramme (1,540-pound) Akash, meaning “sky” in Hindi, has a range of 27 kilometres and can carry a 55-kilogramme warhead.

The tests came days after India announced plans to increase its nuclear prowess with a ballistic missile capable of hitting targets up to 6,000 kilometres away.

New Delhi also announced two tests this month of Indian-manufactured interceptor missiles.

India has built a range of ballistic and cruise missiles as a deterrent to China and Pakistan.

Russian astronaut guest of honour at Sir Arthur C. Clarke felicitation

2007-12-16T05:10:00.000-08:00

Astronaut Alexey Leonov of Russia, the first man to walk in space will be the guest of honour at a ceremony to felicitate Sir Arthur C. Clarke on his 90th birthday at a Central Bank auditorium today at 5.00 p.m.

The Foreign Ministry will host the ceremony to felicitate Sir Clarke which will be held under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama will deliver the welcome address. Dr. Alexey Leonov who was the first man to walk in space, when he stepped outside the Voskhod 2 spacecraft for about 12 minutes, on March 18, 1965.

He is also a long standing personal friend of Sir Arthur C. Clarke. Dr. Leonov is due to present Sir Arthur a medal from the Federation of Cosmonautics of Russia and deliver an address on “Sir Arthur C Clarke: A personal memoir”.

Eastern Tamils rally against alleged LTTE, TNA coalition

2007-12-11T02:28:00.000-08:00

Thousands of Tamils and Muslims are flocking to Batticaloa town today (December 10) with slogans and banners condemning alleged LTTE, TNA coalition's obstruction of resettlement and development work, in a demonstration organized by the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), reports our Eastern Area defence correspondent.

Latest reports said that an estimated crowd over 9000 participated in the event to stage their strong protest against the self-claimed Tamil representatives.

People were seen coming in from all parts of the recently liberated Eastern Province to stage a mass protest against the LTTE - TNA axis, said defence sources observing the activities.

According to available information many Tamil and Muslim civilians from Kallady, Chenkallady and Valachchenai and many other areas are making their way towards Batticaloa, where the demonstrators are expected to hand over a memorandum to the Batticaloa GA, to be forwarded to H.E the President.

Our Defence Correspondent has learnt that the memorandum requests the President to continue the resettlement and mega-development projects in the east, despite attempts of the LTTE - TNA coalition to disrupt this work

"TNA has no right to bellow on the grievances of us Tamils. They are neither our representatives nor democrats. They dwell under the sympathy of the LTTE and only fiddles its tribal ideologies", viewed a Tamil school teacher who was among many at the demonstration.

When one charity is banned LTTE finds another to raise funds in the UK

2007-12-11T02:27:00.000-08:00

How did the LTTE terrorist's front organization which operates under the disguise of "White Pigeon" charity succeed to continue the activities of the defunct UK charity TRO (Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation?)

UK sources indicate that a major fund raising programme has been organised to take place on the 12 January 2008 under a pseudo name of 'Mega Musical Festival - 2008' and the venue, is going to be the Alexandra Palace in North of London, one place, for some unknown reason, the LTTE does not seem to have any problem in booking the massive hall which can accommodate 10,000 people, despite the terrorist outfit is banned in the UK under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

It is equally ironic how the Terrorists have managed to get down officially a few Tamil Nadu cinema stars and entertainers costing them over œ30,000 ( Rs.6,840,000). The cost of hiring the hall is expected to be in excess of œ25,000 ( Rs.5,800,000). Entry tickets for the show are going to be priced at œ25 (single) œ75(family), andœ100(VIP).

Sources further add that since the UK Charity Commission clamping down on the pro-LTTE TRO, their front line activities still continue under a different charity name called 'White Pigeon'

'White Pigeon's founder and present chairman is said to be Dr N Sathiyamoorthy, also known as Dr Moorthy who was the chairman of TRO in the UK at the time of Charity Commission's regulatory arm intervened and subsequently ordered its closure.

He is said to be a former armed cadre of the LTTE in the Trincomalee area who has since coming over to the UK claimed political asylum in the United Kingdom. He is known as one of the frontline activists of the LTTE in the UK who makes political commentaries from the LTTE front line media. He is also believed to be involved in fund raising activities for the terrorist organisation. At a remembrance mass held very recently at the Harrow Leisure Centre in aid of Thamilselvan who perished under SLAF bombing, Dr N Sathiyamoorthy was entrusted to garland the picture of the deceased, source further add. .

Nokia meets demand for localisation

2007-12-07T00:13:00.002-08:00

Rural women can use their mobiles to create business opportunities, Head of Mobile Phones, Nokia, Kai Oistamo said at the Nokia World 2007, the annual conference in Amsterdam, yesterday.

"Mobiles can be used by rural women to commence businesses. Exciting changes are taking place in countries like Africa where women lend their phones to others in the village to make calls. When people start coming to their houses they start a small business like selling food. Women have the purchasing power in emerging markets and they make the purchasing decision most of the time," he said.

"In few years time mobile phones will be the most used device to access internet. The key objective is to know what the consumer wants. The emerging market is interesting. There is a great deal to be done to the emerging markets if you have an insight. You have to put yourself in the shoes of who you are designing for," Oistamo added.

He also noted that Nokia is concerned about the security of the devices. "We are bullishly leading in security and will continue to be ahead of the people who are trying to break it," he said.

"There is a demand for localisation. Nokia creates very human technology. We also create solutions that appeal to both men and women. We have 83 different languages to make the products localised," Oistamo added.

Mobitel opens flagship centres

2007-12-07T00:13:00.001-08:00

Mobitel opened its flagship centres at Mobitel Headquarters as well as in Excel World yesterday.

"The atmosphere created here at the flagship centres complies with International standards and emerging global trends of today's youth" Chairman of Sri Lanka Mobitel Asoka Weerasinghe de Silva said.

He said this particular ambience will help shift paradigms of visitors to the store, by facilitating them to experience the best flavours of modern lifestyles of Mobitel.

The new store layout will encourage the customers to roam around and self serve catchy ring tones, explore the latest technologies and also about mobile phone models at very interactive DIY counters and kiosks.

Business customers and corporate customers will be served in the business class enclosure where they will have access to competent customer service consultants who will work with customer solution engineers, who will design customised solutions for corporate specific needs.

"Seeing is believing" CEO of Mobitel Suren J. Amarasekara said. He further stated that, people will be amazed at the capabilities of M3, Mobitel's super 3G services.

Defence vote passed with majority of 126

2007-12-07T00:08:00.000-08:00

The vote on the Defence, Public Security, Law and Order Ministry was passed with a majority of 126 votes in Parliament yesterday.

One hundred forty one members including the UPFA, JVP, JHU, SLMC and the CWC voted in favour of the vote.

Thirty seven JVP members also voted in favour of the vote.

Fifteen MPs including 13 TNA MPs, UNP MP T. Maheshwaran and Western People's Front MP Mano Ganeshan voted against while the other UNP MPs abstained from voting.

The TNA asked for a division. Later the JVP asked for a division by name.

Addressing Parliament during the Committee Stage debate of the votes of the Defence Ministry, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka said the heroic Armed Forces were acting with dedication to defeat terrorism.

"Today the country has reached a decisive stage, and steps should be taken to wipe out terrorism completely. It is a pity that there are some groups who could not tolerate the steps we have taken to crush terrorism and appreciate the victories our Armed Forces have achieved so far," the Prime Minister added.

He said: "The country has reached a decisive stage. Steps should be taken to completely eradicate terrorism. This is the wish of the entire nation. Our heroic Armed Forces are acting with dedication to defeat terrorism. But there is a certain group which cannot tolerate these victories achieved by our Armed Forces.

When the LTTE faces severe setbacks this group gets very upset. There are local and foreign forces who are trying to stifle the victories of our Armed Forces. The intention of this group is not to see a peaceful Sri Lanka by defeating terrorism.

They have taken various measures to sabotage the military operations launched by our Armed Forces. Therefore, we are at a decisive stage today.

Bloodthirsty LTTE terrorists again attempted to assassinate Minister Douglas Devananda as they tried on 11 previous occasions. Why is the LTTE killing its own Tamil political leaders ?

This clearly shows the brutality of Prabhakaran. He knows that his end is nearing. Therefore he is attempting to make the South unstable through his murder and mayhem. Nearly 20 people were killed while more than 50 were injured in the bomb explosion at Nugegoda. The intention of Prabhakaran is to resort to more terrorist acts in the South and measures should be taken to prevent such terrorist activities.

An opportunity should be created for the people to live without any fear. The LTTE wants to create an unstable situation in the South.

Govt., Forces doing utmost to protect lives, properties

2007-12-07T00:04:00.000-08:00

The Government and the Security Forces are doing their level best to protect the lives and properties of the people from the barbaric acts of the desperate LTTE. The duty of everybody must be to uplift the psychological strength of the Armed Forces and the public, said Information and Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing held at the Government Information Department Auditorium, Colombo 5 yesterday, Minister Yapa said that the Government is doing its best at the moment to wipe out terrorism from Sri Lanka and has been doing so since it came to power.

The LTTE shows its cowardice through ruthless attacks on civilians. The Government has taken all the precautions to protect human lives and property. The Government believes that its prime duty is protecting the people belonging to all ethnicities, he added.

"The public should be well aware of the existing situation and be vigilant but this should not be interpreted as scaring or terrifying the public. The Government will pay compensation to all affected by the LTTE bomb attacks but the value of the lives lost cannot be estimated in terms of money. Now everyone including the SLMM has to accept the reality and the truth about the ruthless LTTE," Minister Yapa said.

Explaining the recent barbaric attacks carried out on innocent civilians by the LTTE, Minister Yapa said that in Kebithigollewa alone the LTTE has killed 80 civilians by exploding claymore mines on buses on two occasions (day before yesterday and June last year) and killing around 30 innocent civilians with bomb attacks at Nittambuwa, Ambalangoda and Ampara," he said.

The Sri Lankan Government started to pay attention to the problems of the Tamil community a long time ago and when the Provincial Councils were introduced only the LTTE rejected it.

But the LTTE continuously sabotaged the solutions by assassinating President R.Premadasa and by trying to assassinate former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

It showed that the LTTE never believed in or wanted to find a settlement through discussion. Only the Sri Lankan Government always wanted it. During the CFA the LTTE killed all army intelligence officers and the informants of the Army living in the North and East. The LTTE trained their cadres and collected arms to strengthen their capability, Minister Yapa said.

The right of every democratically elected Government is protecting people and their property. Communities develop their identities along with the economical, cultural and social development processes of a country and not through a group that kill innocent people. The APRC will come out with its proposals soon.

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that all the organisations who made a big hue and cry when the Sri Lanka Air Force bombs legitimate LTTE targets now keep quiet about the LTTE's barbaric killings of innocent civilians.

Those organisations only see one or two civilians injured by accident during attacks on LTTE targets and they never see the hundreds of innocent civilians killed by the LTTE in very barbaric manner.

The SLAF never targets civilians intentionally but the LTTE always kills innocent civilians in a ruthless manner, he added.

Special Awards for two eminent Sri Lankans

2007-12-01T13:40:00.001-08:00

The highest award bestowed in Sri Lanka namely, the ‘Sri Lankabhimanya’ Award will be granted to former Supreme Court judge Dr. C.G.Weeramanthri and Dr. A.T. Ariyarathne tomorrow (01st) of December.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will ceremoniously present the awards at Temple Trees.

This ‘Sri Lankabhimanya’ Award can be bestowed only on five eminent living Sri Lankans at one at the same time. Formenr Executive President D.B.Wijethunga, Dr. Arthur C. Clark, Dr. Lester James Peiris are three who have received this award earlier.

Supreme Court judge Dr. C.G.Weeramanthri is a Judge of the UN International Judiciary and was its Deputy Chairman and a recipient of Alternative Nobel Prize.

Dr. A.T. Ariyarathne, is the Leader and the Pioneer of the Sarvodya Movement in Sri Lanka. He has been recognized with Ramon Magsazay Award, Mahathma Ghandhi Peace Award of India, and Herbert M. Humphrey Award of the USA and other similar awards for his contributions in Community Development work

Tamil duo interrogated by Swiss Police for filming Sri Lanka’s Geneva Mission

2007-12-01T13:38:00.000-08:00

Two suspicious Tamil civilians who were caught filming outside the Consulate yesterday morning were interrogated by the Diplomatic Police of Geneva. The Consular Section is housed in the Permanent Mission.

The 30 year old woman who lives in Switzerland claimed to have come to the Consulate to renew her passport. She was accompanied by a 27 year old man resident in Italy. They were apprehended by the alert Consulate staff and were handed over for questioning to the Diplomatic Police of Geneva. The Consulate is closed on Fridays.

Their camcorder contained footage of both outside the building and public areas just outside the Consulate. The Consulate has obtained copies of the relevant pages of their passports and other documents. The Diplomatic Police of Geneva are conducting further inquiries.

The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva in their press release sated that, the incident took place while the Sri Lankan Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe is in Geneva to brief Ambassadors and a top UN human rights official on the latest efforts undertaken by the Government of Sri Lanka regarding human rights.

Laugfs ventures into leisure sector

2007-11-29T01:24:00.001-08:00

Laugfs Holdings is diversifying its business into the leisure sector with a Rs. 500 million investment on a small luxury hotel.

The project is targeted to be completed within eighteen months, General Manager, Laugfs Leisure Limited, Aruna Jayalath said.

Jayalath said the construction of the project will start in January 2008.

They have also applied for membership with the Small Luxury Hotels Association (SLHA)in UK. There are only three Sri Lankan hotels who are members of this organisation. SLHA has commenced inspections on this project.

The hotel is planned to be built in an area between Negombo and Chilaw. The area is untapped in terms of development.

The village income is based on the fisheries sector.

It stimulates attention of tourists with the natural environment, he said.

Disabled female Tiger blows herself up as attempt to kill Minister fails

2007-11-29T01:23:00.001-08:00

A disabled female LTTE suicide bomber targeting Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) leader and Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda blew herself up when her attempt to assassinate the Minister was foiled, police said.

The woman blew herself near the Ministry’s Public Relations Office at Narahenpita around 8.05 am killing the Public Relations Officer and injuring two other Ministerial Security Guards, police spokesman Senior DIG Jayantha Wickramaratne said.

The LTTE suicide cadre had entered the Ministry with other public who had appointments to meet Devananda.

“The woman after submitting her ID at the Public Relations Office was subjected to a body search before meeting the Minister. While she was being searched she blew herself up on the spot.”

The ministry’s Public Relations officer Steven Peries, 72, succumbed to his injuries. “Three persons injured in the blast were admitted to hospital around 8.30 am.

Two were in critical condition. One succumbed to his injuries on admission while another is being treated at the ICU. The other sustained minor injuries,” General Hospital Director Dr. Hector Weerasinghe said.

17 killed, 37 injured in Nugegoda blast

2007-11-29T01:22:00.000-08:00

At least 17 civilians were confirmed killed and 37 civilians were injured as a suspected parcel bomb exploded near a popular fashion store at Nugegoda junction around 5.55 p.m. yesterday.

Police believe that the parcel bomb had been placed in one of the parcel counters at the No Limit clothing store by a suspected LTTE cadre who had left the scene. The No Limit store and the adjoining building were damaged by the resulting explosion and fire. The shops and the nearby bus halt was crowded during the evening rush hour.

The busy Nugegoda junction filled with students after their tuition classes and a large number of home bound office workers witnessed chaotic scenes immediately after the explosion causing a huge traffic jam on the High Level road and Stanley Thillekeratne Mawatha towards Kohuwala.

“The explosion was due to a suspicious parcel bomb kept in the parcel counter of the No Limit fashion shop,” Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily News.

According to reports, the bomb had exploded as a private security guard at the shop attempted to search a suspicious parcel kept in the parcel counter with the assistance of a Police officer on duty close to the Nugegoda junction, Brigadier Nanayakkara added.

The bodies were brought to the Kalubowila Teaching hospital after the incident. Four of the bodies charred beyond recognition were also lying at the hospital.

According to the Director of the Kalubowila Teaching hospital, Dr. W.G. Gunawardena 33 injured persons were admitted to the hospital after the incident and four seriously injured persons were transferred to the Colombo National hospital.

More women among the injured

2007-11-29T01:20:00.002-08:00

In the bomb blast at the heart of Nugegoda town last evening (28) 17 were pronounced dead and 37 injured. According to the Director of the Kalubowila Hospital, Dr. W.J. Gunawardena 17 were dead on admission. Among them were seven women, six men and the others were unrecognizable due to burns.
Of the 37 injured five were in a critical condition and transferred to the National Hospital. Among them were two teenage school girls and one has succumbed to her injuries while the other is still in a critical condition. In the bomb blast at the heart of Nugegoda town last evening (28) 17

17injured women are being treated for burns, wounds and shock.

Dr. Gunawardena said that the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital is well-equipped and could meet any emergency situation.. The Hospital staff readily cooperate in any emergency regardless of time and labour They had faced similar circumstance on a few earlier occasions and were therefore prepared for emergencies.

Aftermath of the bomb blast they had to take some in for immediate surgery.

Iran gives $15b aid for Lanka

2007-11-29T01:20:00.001-08:00

Sri Lanka has received US $15 billion as aid from Iran for development schemes including the modernisation of the Oil Refinery and several irrigation schemes including the Uma Oya scheme.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Iran from November 26 to 28 opened a new chapter in the centuries old friendship and relations between the two countries, sources said.

The President’s official tour of Iran has been highly successful and rewarding, a joint statement issued by the two countries following the conclusion of the President’s tour on November 27 said.

Meanwhile, private sector business co-operation between Sri Lanka and Iran will be further enhanced with the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding with the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka and the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka.

A joint statement between Sri Lanka and the Islamic Republic of Iran yesterday said President Mahinda Rajapaksa accompanied by a high-ranking political-economic delegation paid an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran from November 26 to 28 on the invitation of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad.

President Nejad welcomed President Rajapaksa at a formal ceremony at the presidential office site. After the welcoming ceremony, the two Presidents during official talks attended by high-ranking officials of the two sides discussed various aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Sri Lanka bans TRO

2007-11-22T00:47:00.003-08:00

The Government has decided to proscribe the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) whose bank accounts were frozen by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka last year (2006).

This decision was taken by the Cabinet of Ministers following the findings of TRO links with the LTTE terrorist group.

The United States last week froze TRO assets accusing the organization which has raised funds on behalf of the LTTE through a network of individual representatives. "According to sources within the organization, the TRO is the preferred conduit of funds from the United States to the LTTE in Sri Lanka." U.S. Department of the Treasury announced.

The TRO under guise of a charity organization collected and directed funds to the LTTE for procurement operations. Those operations included the purchase of ammunitions, equipment, communication devices, and other technology for the LTTE.

Meanwhile the International Leader of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), Vinayagamurthi and his wife were taken in to custody in the US. He is believed to be a master mind behind LTTE naval strength. He is supposed to be involved with developing and the use of sea Submarines in their sea attacks.

Courtesy: Government Information Department

Foreign Minister urges Canada, Australia and others to freeze TRO assets

2007-11-22T00:47:00.001-08:00

Following the US Government naming the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) as a front for the LTTE operating to obtain funds and procure weapons, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama called upon the international community to follow suit.

The minister made this appeal especially to the governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France and the UK, pointing out 'the continuing ability of the LTTE's numerous front organizations to pose off as charities undermined the ban imposed on the Tigers by India, USA, the UK, and EU member states and Canada'.

The US has frozen TRO assets and banned her citizens from engaging in any transactions with this organization and other LTTE fronts. This measure carried out under Executive Order 13224 has been described as aimed at financially isolating terrorist groups and their support networks.

The Minister also stated:

"The Government of Sri Lanka has in recent times emphasized that the proscription of the LTTE by India, US, Canada and the EU member countries has been undermined and diluted through the continuing ability for numerous front organizations of the LTTE which posed off as charitable fronts - under the guise of rehabilitation, educational, social, religious, and economic groupings - to continue collecting funds to bolster the LTTE arsenal. The TRO has been the most prominent among them and in September 2006, following investigations into its financial transactions by the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank under Sri Lanka's Financing of Terrorism Law, the Government of Sri Lanka froze TRO accounts in Sri Lanka.

In this context, that I wish to place on record the deep appreciation of the government of Sri Lanka and this entire house, to the US Administration, especially the Treasury Department, for the speedy investigation carried out and for the action taken yesterday against the TRO. In doing so the US Government becomes the first foreign government to take tangible action against an LTTE front organization. . It must be recalled that besides India which proscribed the LTTE in the aftermath of the assassination of Shri Rajiv Gandhi in 1992, the U.S. was the first Western government to take action against the LTTE, when the Department of State designated the LTTE a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on October 8, 1997 and on November 2, 2001, named the LTTE a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT)."

Chinese company to help construct thermal power plant in SP

2007-11-19T02:59:00.004-08:00

The Chinese Daytang Power Group Company has come forward to construct a 300 MW Thermal Power Plant in the Southern province, which is a result of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s State visit to China.

A group of delegates led by Daytang Power Group Company Chairman Shai Royu who visited Sri Lanka held discussions with Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister Sarath Amunugama in connection with the establishment of the Thermal Power plant in the Southern Province.

Minister Amunugama explained about the infrastructure facilities and other essential facilities granted to foreign investors in Sri Lanka.

Daytang Power Group Company is the only Chinese Power Company which is listed in Hong Kong and UK Share markets.

Woman among five held in land racket

2007-11-19T02:59:00.003-08:00

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has uncovered a massive fraud where lands are sold on forged deeds following the arrest of five including a woman. The woman had posed off as the owner of several lands and assisted gangleaders to sell land on forged deeds.

CID DIG D. W. Prathapasinghe directing investigations has deployed a special team to ascertain whether any Land Registry employees are involved in the racket.

The CID DIG warned landowners to check their deeds at the Land Registry to ascertain that their lands have not been transferred to any other person without their knowledge on forged documents.

An organised gang operating in Colombo and other parts prepare bogus deeds of declaration conniving with attorneys and transfer them to gang members.

This is done without the land owner’s knowledge.

Investigations have revealed that a Sri Lankan in Australia had complained to the authorities that his land in Sri Lanka had been sold to an outsider without his knowledge.

Jobs for Lankan professionals in Qatar

2007-11-19T02:59:00.001-08:00

A Memorandum of Understanding between Sri Lanka and Qatar on bilateral cooperation in the construction industry was signed in Qatar, recently, enabling Sri Lankan professionals and technicians to offer their services in Qatar.

The MoU was signed by Chairman, Sri Lanka Chamber of Construction Industry Deshabandu Surath Wickremasinghe and on behalf of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry by Abdulaziz Al-Emadi.

The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Minister of Construction and Engineering Services Rajitha Senaratne and comprised 32 engineers, architects, surveyors, draftsmen and valuers.

The first discussion between the delegation and the professionals in the construction sphere in Qatar was held at the Sri Lankan Embassy while the other major meeting was held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Qatar in Doha. This was attended by over 100 participants.

Prof. Peiris said Sri Lankan professionals and workers were creative, skilled and productive and they have been employed around the globe.

He also said employers had a very high opinion of their skills, knowledge and efficiency.

Sri Lanka to import onion from India

2007-11-19T02:57:00.001-08:00

Welcoming India’s decision to ease onion exports, Sri Lankan importers on Saturday said they will buy 30,000 tons of the bulb from it to augment supplies in the domestic market.

“Our agents are already waiting at the Tuticorin and Chennai ports in India for buying the onion on hopes of lifting of restrictions and we will import 30,000 tons of onion by December,” an Essential Commodities Importers Association spokesman said.

Sri Lanka had recently imported 20,000 tons onion from China, but the long transition period caused damages to the commodity, traders pointed out.

The Indian Government has withdrawn the ‘export licence’ restriction for overseas sale of onion, as the prices of commodity have started to soften in the domestic market.

The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has notified that exports of onions could be undertaken after getting the no-objection certificate from NAFED and 12 other state trading agencies (STEs).

Onion exports from India have plummeted by 44 per cent during last month to 22,500 tons as compared to 40,490 tons in the previous month. Times of India

Sri Lanka to import onion from India

2007-11-19T02:57:00.000-08:00

STF confronts LTTE group; three LTTE bodies found - Pothuvil

2007-11-12T02:09:00.002-08:00

Police Special Task Force personnel confronted a group of LTTE terrorists roaming inside the jungles of Pothuvil last evening (November 11) defence sources said.

According to the available information, the confrontation had taken place around 7 p.m., at a location inside the jungle in the Senminikulama area. During the subsequent search in situ, STF personnel had found three bodies of LTTE cadres and a tractor, the sources further said.

The three bodies are presently lying at the Pothuvil government hospital. Police investigations are in progress.

Meanwhile, a Muslim civilian was seriously injured in an LTTE claymore mine attack at Vaddan, south of Trincomalee around 7:30 last night (November 11). According to the sources, the LTTE terrorists had triggered the road side bomb targeting the victim's Canter truck.

The victim is presently undergoing treatments at Government hospital in Serunuwara.

Hayleys turnover tops Rs. 14.2 billion in 2Q

2007-11-12T02:09:00.001-08:00

Strong performances from companies in global markets and manufacturing in the second quarter of 2007-08 have generated a welcome improvement in top and bottom line performance for Hayleys PLC, the diversified multinational blue chip conglomerate.

In results released to the Colombo Stock Exchange last week, the Group reported that profit before tax had

grown 16 per cent to Rs. 534.9 million in the three months ending September 30, taking the figure for the first half of the year to Rs. 719.5 million.

Profit after tax for the quarter at Rs. 398.5 million reflected a growth of 20 per cent over the corresponding quarter of 2006-07, resulting in a consolidated first half post tax profit of Rs. 466.6 million.

Turnover for the first six months of the year was up 7 per cent to Rs. 14.2 billion, helped by a 10 per cent growth in the second quarter. Hayleys Chairman N. G. Wickremeratne said: “The Group’s performance showed welcome improvement in the second quarter of the year.

Although performance for the half year still lagged behind that of the previous year due to the results of the first quarter, profit before and after tax and attributable to equity holders of the company were all higher in the second quarter compared with the corresponding quarter of last year.”

“We are encouraged by the overall result achieved in the second quarter of the year and strive for a performance for the year which will be significantly better than the previous year’s,” Wickremeratne added.

Spanish King tells Chavez to shut up

2007-11-12T02:08:00.001-08:00

Spain’s King Juan Carlos I told Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to “just shut up,” bringing an Ibero-American summit to end in spectacular fashion on Saturday.

Spain’s monarch stormed out just before the scheduled end of the forum, visibly furious at Chavez’s description of his former prime minister as a “fascist” and for launching a wide-ranging tirade that could not be stopped.

The dispute was a dramatic finale for the 17th meeting of the heads of state and government of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries in Latin America, and Spain, Portugal and Andorra, which started Thursday.

His description of Spain’s former conservative prime minister Jose-Maria Aznar as a “fascist” prompted current Prime Minister Jose-Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, a socialist, to call on Chavez to show more “respect.”

But Chavez forged on, and on Saturday he repeated the contentious f-word in relation to Aznar, adding: “A fascist isn’t human, a snake is more human than a fascist.”

An irate King Juan Carlos then stepped in, demanding of Chavez: “Why don’t you just shut up?”

But the Venezuelan leader carried on, attacking the United States (a favorite target of his), the Catholic Church in Venezuela and the pope.

He also accused the United States and Europe of having approved of the failed coup against him in 2002. Spain’s king then stormed out of the conference as Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega stepped up to support Chavez.

Chavez’ outburst and King Juan Carlos’ finger-pointing admonition to “shut up” was replayed again and again late Saturday on Spanish television news programs to the delight of viewers.

Government to recruit 12,854 grads as teachers

2007-11-12T01:43:00.003-08:00

THE Government will recruit 12,854 graduates to the teacher service to quell the prevailing teacher service on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said State Revenue and Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.

The Minister was addressing the media at the Ministry recently.

Over two thousand graduates who have undergone training under the Tharuna Aruna third programme will receive teaching appointments by January 01 next year.

In addition, 10,766 graduates will be posted to National and Provincial Schools as teachers. 1,507 graduates will be appointed to National Schools while 9,259 graduates will be posted to Provincial Schools.

The Minster said the prevailing teacher shortage in rural and under privileged schools could be solved when this proposed teacher recruitment programme is implemented.

The Minister said the President looked into this issue from a humanitarian perspective. That is why he has suggested to offer 10,000 jobs for graduates at the last budget.

Some politically motivated elements are trying to score over this matter by creating problems for the people when the Government has taken steps to solve this issue, the Minister said.

Indian Finance Minister, President hold talks

2007-11-12T01:43:00.001-08:00

Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram paid a courtesy call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday.

President Rajapaksa and Minister Chidambaram had a lengthy discussion to further consolidate the existing bilateral links between Sri Lanka and India in the spheres of trade, social and economic activities.

Minister Chidambaram was in Sri Lanka as the Keynote speaker at former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar’s second commemoration ceremony held under the auspices of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Foundation, at the BMICH yesterday.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagamma, Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundera also participated in the discussions.

The Inaugural Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture was delivered by President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Dr Karan Singh in 2006.

SRI LANKANS Please Treat this oil and natural gas resources belongs to our Motherland as your own

2007-11-12T01:35:00.001-08:00

It has been revealed through media that the present government is taking various steps to tap the oil and natural gas resources considered to be within the sea area that belongs to Sri Lanka.

Mr. A.H.M. Fouzy, Minister of Petroleum & Petroleum Resources Development, making a statement on the 3rd of this month to a radio channel that transmits from Britain had said several exhibitions would be organized in London, Houston and Kuala Lumpur during the next month to attract companies to excavate those oil reserves. Minister Fowzy had further said tender forms for the relevant excavations too would be presented to the companies at the same time. He had further said issuing of tender applications would be closed by December and by April 2008, 3 companies would be selected for excavations after scrutinizing the received tender applications.

The minister has also told that the sum of nearly US$450 million (More than Rs.5000 billion) required as expenses for the mobile exhibitions to be held in London, Houston and Kuala Lumpur is conferred by 'Fugro', a foreign company.
It is our belief that US$450 million required for the mobile exhibitions is given by 'Fugro', a company in the USA, not as a loan. Our investigations have shown that 'Fugro' is a company of auctioneers in Now York. If the US$450 million is given by this company not as a loan what it means is that they have an unholy intention behind their offer. It is only a little child who would not know that the company's intention is not only to 'lick fingertips'.
When a country, which possesses oil and natural gas resources, needs to hold mobile exhibitions to attract foreign companies to explore such resources, it has to be either through necessity or to pave the way for someone to squander a large amount of money. It is for the very reason that there are larger resources of oil and gas in the sea around Sri Lanka than what we have been made to believe that more than 200 companies, including several companies that are involved in large scale exploration of oil and gas, have responded to the bid for tenders by the government; not because those mobile exhibitions are held.

According to the tender forms distributed among these companies the agreement for the exploration of oil and gas that has been prepared is disadvantageous to Sri Lanka so that the country which owns the resources receives only a royalty of 10% which is a very minimal amount. The large portion goes to foreign companies. Even those countries that are desolate and have signed very disadvantageous agreements have not come down to this level. The formulation of agreements and preparation of data has been handed over to 'Fugro' the foreign company, a company which has got involved in oil explorations in Ethiopia, Madagascar etc. It is an agreement prepared by such a company that decides the destiny of the petroleum resources in Sri Lanka.

It is evident that doors are being opened to various companies to plunder the oil and gas resources we possess which is the most valuable and principal resource that has the capacity to develop Sri Lanka. This is more evident when we consider those individuals who participated and what occurred at the international summit on marine oil resources held in Houston in the USA on the 1st of May this year.

According to information revealed already by certain reports those who represented Sri Lanka at the relevant summit were Minister A.H.M. Fauzy, USA Ambassador Robert O. Blake and an economical assassin Neil de Silva, the self appointed Director General for petroleum development and has come here from Canada for the purpose of paving way for the plunder of oil reserves in Sri Lanka and Kew Gomes, Chief Executive of Caltex Sri Lanka (Devron). What is the purpose of American Ambassador participating in such a summit representing Sri Lanka? Why should the chief executive of Devron or Caltex Sri Lanka participate in that summit?

Furthermore, during the summit Joel Haz, senior policy Advisor of the American State Department has participated in a workshop held at rooms 201/201/203 in Lion Centre and also made the welcome address as well as the concluding speech of the workshop. What this implies is that the red carpet is being laid for the oil hungry western imperialism to plunder oil and gas resources that belong to Sri Lanka.

Colombo Dockyard Ltd has already received an order for building oil derrick steering crafts, at a scale unprecedented in this region. It is evident that Colombo dockyard would never receive such an order if there wasn't oil in large quantity. Norway attired itself with the garment of peace envoy only after it attired itself with the garment of explorer for petroleum data. The fact that more than 200 companies have expressed their desire to explore for oil in Gulf of Mannar indicates the vastness of oil and gas reserves in the ocean area belonging to Sri Lanka. Isn't it for this purpose that a proposal was included in Ranil Wickremasinghe' s destructive neo-colonialist programme of 'Regaining Sri Lanka' to build Asia's biggest refinery in an economic zone created by merging Monaragala and Hambantota Districts? Is it for nothing that certain private companies in Sri Lanka have already got ready for joint explorations with Norway? Doesn't all this indicate that Sri Lanka possesses very large reserves of oil and natural gas? If not will the USA, at a time when it declines to finance any programme, make available US$65 million to establish an institute to manage oil related trade?

We have a sea bed area that is more than twenty times of Sri Lanka's land area. In that context Sri Lanka is an ocean state. Our country is situated in the world's oil belt. As it lies along the oil belt from the Middle East to Indonesia and also for certain significant geographical reasons there may be large reserves of oil and gas not only in the ocean bed but also within the country. The government of Sri Lanka has already stated that in reserves in Gulf of Mannar alone there are more than a billion barrels of oil. When compared with our daily consumption of oil this reserve would last us for 20 years.
At the moment neighbouring India produces 30% of its oil needs. In an oil well at Cauvery Basin , very close to Sri Lanka India produces 75000 barrels of oil for a day. A large area in Cauvery Basin belongs to Sri Lanka. Also, it is no secret that most of the countries in this 'oil belt' own oil and natural gas resources. Eastern Timor was separated from Indonesia mainly to plunder the oil resources in EasternTimor, It is evident that the western world is shedding crocodile tears regarding military rule in Burma not to wipe the tears off the masses but to plunder the oil resources in that country. Hence, owning of large quantities of oil and natural gas and the strategic location of the country are reasons enough for imperialist countries to have Sri Lanka in their grasp. As such, it is apparent that there is a serious threat to the destiny of the whole of Sri Lanka and on the manner we manage our oil and gas resources the victory or the destruction of Sri Lankan Nation would largely depend on.

The daily requirement of petroleum in Sri Lanka is hundred thousand barrels. Our refinery supplies between 50000 to 55000 barrels a day and the rest of the requirement is imported spending more than Rs.100 billion per day as foreign exchange. It is for this reason that international economic reports have placed Sri Lanka in the 5th position of Asian countries that are bound to face destruction as a result of spiraling fuel prices. According to accepted reports our fuel requirements go up in about 10% annually.

If we are able to tap our oil resources and produce our daily requirement at a maximum cost of US$15 a barrel, we would be able to save US$80 billion of foreign exchange per day. However, expert reports have shown that oil could be produced in Cauvery and Mannar for less than US$5 per barrel. If so the money that we save would be much higher. Accordingly, it is evident that we could save more than US$30000 million for a year. It is more than the money we spend for the war and the amounts we get as loans annually. Hence, it is evident that it is only on this oil and gas resources we possess that we could come out of the political and economic bondage that we are placed today. We have come to this inference without even considering the large profits we would get if we enter the petroleum byproduct industry which has a very high demand internationally. When considering the escalating demand for oil in countries like China and India and the rising prices of oil internationally it is no secret that we have the measures to develop this sector. On the other hand, when compared with many other countries, the scope to utilize the educated human resources of our country in the development of petroleum industry is higher. We could use all these advantages if we could correctly manage the oil and natural gas resources.
Can we silently watch such a resource being allowed to be managed and plundered by international companies? How many countries are there that have been ruined and divided after allowing plundering companies of western countries to control their oil resources? Isn't it to plunder oil and other minerals that a large number of African counties were divided by the imperialists? Don't we have to think of the unborn future generations of the country, who really are the inheritors of these resources, when we take decisions regarding these oil and gas resources? However, what is in motion at present is not a process that care about such responsibilites.
The decisions regarding the oil and gas resources are being taken secretly in this country today. Has the President seen the data regarding oil and natural gas resources in Sri Lanka? This data is in a special computer that belongs to a company called Fugro. Cannot Neil de Silva, the suspicious character and self-styled 'Director General of Petroleum Resources' who has suddenly emerged from a foreign country be the economic assassin who has come to pave the way for companies of western countries to plunder these resources? Can there be bigger idiots than us if we allow such people and Minister Fouzy to take decisions regarding these resources on which our happiness or sorrow would depend?

The minister or Neil de Silva or the President has no right to take arbitrary decisions regarding these resources. These resources belong to the whole Nation. Hence, decisions regarding it should be taken in a very transparent manner; with the participation of all responsible parties. Sri Lankan expatriates with expert knowledge in this field or our scientists, whether retired or still in service, could be consulted. The agreements should not be prepared according to whims and fancies of a company like 'Fugro.' If we make blunders in coming to agreements or making decisions there is every possibility that they could not be corrected. It is evident the process that is being carried out now is one that allows western countries and their companies plunder the most valuable oil and gas resources that belong not only to us but also to the unborn next generation of our country. Hence, we call upon the President and the government to stop the process that allows a few individuals to acquire their booty immediately. We also demand that the process of taking decision on the oil and natural gas resources be handed over to a special Parliamentary Committee. We call upon the authorities to get our own scientists who love our country to prepare a strategic plan and make it the national charter; open up institutes to train our human resources in the relevant field and to refrain from taking hasty decisions as if selling peanuts.

We also call upon the people in this country to treat this most valuable wealth that belongs to our Motherland as your own, consider allowing it to be plundered by anyone as allowing your and your off springs future to be plundered. Hence, you should consider the correct management of oil and natural gas reserves as your absolute right. We also call upon the masses to rally to defend that right.

Let's not allow anyone to make this wealth that brings dignity and prosperity to the Nation one that would bring destruction and misery instead. Let's not allow imperialist countries that have already directly or indirectly banded together with separatist tiger terrorists to plunder our oil and gas resources. The legitimate children of Mother Lanka would never keep quite when anyone tries to make Sri Lanka another Nigeria, Sudan or Ethiopia. Let's make defending our oil and gas resources and our Motherland the only condition of our lives. We call upon this government not to ignore this and come to idiotic decisions that are hostile to the country.

SRI LANKANS Please Treat this oil and natural gas resources belongs to our Motherland as your own

2007-11-12T01:35:00.000-08:00

New recruitments to the Engineering service

2007-11-09T04:46:00.000-08:00

It has been decided that 139 new Engineers have been recruited to the Sri Lanka Engineering Service by the Government, following a proposal made by the Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs, Karu Jayasuriya. The decision was prompted by the shortage of engineers for various development projects that have been launched at district and divisional secretariat level.

According to the Ministerial sources, these engineers will be placed in the various accelerated development projects which commenced following the launch of the Negenahira Navodaya-Eastern Development project.

World Class Sri Lankan businessman honoured in USA

2007-11-09T04:44:00.000-08:00

Susantha Sisilchandra, a Sri Lankan Entrepreneur, received "the Exceptional Performance by a Young Professional" award at the 5th Annual SLF Awards Ceremony held in Los Angeles, California, recently under the patronage of Hon. Jaliya Wickramsuriya, Sri Lankan Consul General in Los Angeles.

Mr. Sisilchandra is the founder and CEO/President of Ceyhinz Link International, Inc., and his US-based company with 100% Sri Lankan made products is now generating millions of dollars annually.

His business venture includes introducing Sri Lankan made coir substrate to greenhouses and nurseries in North America and 30 countries across the globe, spanning six continents. Since the inception of Ceyhinz Link, Mr. Sisilchandra has managed to acquire world’s top greenhouses over a short period of time.

He has also introduced coir fibre based Sri Lankan made ecological restoration products for North America and many other countries. His products are mainly used by the US Army Engineering (Corp) and US National Guard projects in many states in the USA.

Remarks by Ambassador Robert Blake at the Innaugeration of the Bribery Commission Office, Colombo

2007-11-09T04:43:00.000-08:00

Attorney General de Silva, Chairman Ismail, Director General Ranasinghe, Mr. Withanachchi, Mr. Harold, and Mr. Weliamuna, thank you for coming today to inaugurate the newly renovated Bribery Commission. It is an honor for me to be here to demonstrate the support of the United States for this vital Sri Lankan Government body.

One of the U.S. Government’s key priorities in Sri Lanka is to support institutions that improve public service provision and accountability to the public. The Bribery Commission is one such institution.

The renovation of the Bribery Commission library and auditorium will give case investigation officers and researchers improved tools and environments in which to provide faster and better service to the public when handling complaints about bribery and corruption.

The cost of corruption is difficult to quantify, but there is little doubt that it has dramatically negative economic and political consequences. Corruption damages economic development and reform, impedes the ability of countries to attract foreign investment, hinders the growth of democratic institutions, and concentrates power in the hands of a few.

A recent Sri Lankan study indicated that Sri Lanka’s GDP would have grown by at least two percentage points in 2006 had government corruption been prevented. The best way to combat corruption is for a government, any government, to be open and transparent.

For the past 18 months, the U.S. and Sri Lanka have been working together to develop strategies to fight corruption. The Sri Lanka Anti-Corruption program was created by the U.S. Agency for International Development after the tsunami, and was designed to help minimize corruption in the distribution of post-tsunami assistance.

In addition to the renovation work for he Bribery Commission, USAID supported the publication of this children’s book about corruption [hold up book], written by Sri Lanka’s own Sybil Wetthasinghe. We hope that this little publication will raise public awareness and understanding about the negative impact of corruption on Sri Lankan society and contribute to an environment in which corruption is openly discussed and addressed. By focusing on children, we hope the book will inculcate in Sri Lanka’s next generation a strong aversion to corruption.

I’d like to thank our implementing partner Transparency International for all their good work on behalf of this project, and offer them our heartiest encouragement for continued success in their five-year strategy to combat public corruption in Sri Lanka, and our ongoing support wherever possible.

I also want to thank Attorney General de Silva for coming. Your presence here demonstrates the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to combating public corruption.

Finally, I’d like to commend the Bribery Commission, particularly Chairman Ismail, for the good work the Commission has done since its establishment in 1994. While there are always many opportunities for improving the environment to make it free from corruption, during its short existence, the Bribery Commission has become a deterrent to corruption and has lead the way in the Government to help restore public trust in government institutions.

Thank you.

IT Organizations: Operating in a world of constant change

2007-11-03T14:33:00.001-07:00

The nature of business today is that change is the only constant. Organizations, be they public or private entities, are faced with change as a result of reorganization, business expansion, competition, the impact of new technology, mergers and acquisitions, industry or government regulatory controls and a myriad of other factors.

The reality is that any change that affects an organization will have a flow-on effect to the IT organization.

One can say that an organization’s ability to adapt to change is directly related to its IT system’s ability to adapt to those changes. There are many examples of organizations that have suffered considerable harm to their reputations and market values through IT disasters that resulted from poorly implemented systems, and upgrades that went wrong.

From the release of the first commercially available relational database system in 1979, to support for Very Large Database (VLDB) requirements in the late 1990s, to databases for grid computing environments in recent years -- the last 30 years have seen many important innovations with new server architectures emerging to support mission critical systems.

In the past, customers had fewer choices in server architectures as symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) servers were almost the de-facto standard for UNIX-based applications. Today however, we witness the emergence of architectures such as blade servers, clutered servers and new operating systems such as Linux.

Back then, moving from one vendor’s SMP server to another was relatively simple as benchmarks could be conducted to ensure that the new server would deliver the required performance.

Today, customers looking to migrate from a UNIX SMP architecture to a Linux architecture based on blade servers are faced with a significantly more complex task. The potential for errors is higher and this can lead to decisions that bring on disastrous results.

Data centres have changed fundamentally in the way they look and operate with the introduction of grid computing. From silos of disparate resources to shared pools of servers and storage, organizations cluster low-cost commodity servers and modular storage arrays in a grid.

President pays tribute to our war heroes

2007-11-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

Paying a tribute to the success of the Sri Lanka Military Forces President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he is grateful to them profoundly and consider them as the most disciplined Force in the world.

President Rajapaksa made this assertion at Seenimodera in Tangalle in handing over the Rana Setha Rana Viru Housing Complex consisting of 88 housing units to families of disabled Rana Viru (War Heroes) who had sacrificed their lives and limbs to protect the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of their Motherland.

“They are fighting with commitment to salvage the country from the grip of ruthless terrorism. They are dedicated towards an ultimate victory.” he added.

The President said that our War Heroes are fighting for a cause, with a vision and a mission.

He pointed out that there was an era when the youth of the country shunned a way from joining the Forces. The tide has changed now their yearning and very keen to join the forces. This shows their patriotism and dedication to the cause of the country.

A suicidal terrorist could re-appear anywhere, anytime. There could be ad-hoc and isolated bomb blasts and steps taken to strengthen the security of the people. This ought to be expected. However the Forces’ Chiefs, Defence Secretary or the Government are not prepared to resign as demanded by the Opposition,” he said. More >>

Sri Lanka’s rank improved in global competitiveness

2007-11-03T14:26:00.000-07:00

The Global Competitiveness Report reveals that Sri Lanka’s rank has improved where the global competitiveness is concerned registering the 70th position out of 131 countries.

“Last year Sri Lanka was ranked 81 out of the 122 countries. This is a good indication that Sri Lanka is becoming competitive in the global arena,” the Chief Economist in the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Gayathri Gunaruwan said at a seminar. The event was organised by the CCC on the topic `How Competitive is Sri Lanka for Business’.

Gunaruwan said that in the World Economic forum it takes two indices on Global Competitiveness and Business Competitiveness. She emphasized on the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), which look at macro and micro economic aspects calculated on 100 variables.

According to her GCI looks into 12 main areas in measuring the country’s competitiveness globally and Sri Lanka has done better in certain sectors compared to last year.

The areas that have been taken into consideration were innovation, business sophistication, market size, technological readiness, finance market sophistication, labor market efficacy and good market efficiency.