LTTE Mortar attack injures seven civilians - Welioya

A Sporadic mortar attack was launched by the LTTE terrorists on Sunday the 18th of March targeting the civilians in a Sinhalese village at Athawatunuwewa in Welioya.

The hapless civilians panicked and ran helter-skelter with their beloved children as the first mortar barrage hit the village at 1.00 p.m on Sunday. Three civilians including a sixty nine (69) year-old elderly female and nine (9) year-old child who were in their residents received injuries due to the incident.

On the same day the LTTE terrorists attacked this Sinhalese village at 7.15 p.m again with mortar bombs. Four civilians sustained injuries and few houses were destroyed in the second attack too. Four year-old infant and fifteen year-old chid were among the victims who received injuries.

JVP holds protest demonstration against UN, Norway in Colombo

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Marxist Sinhala nationalist party, staged a demonstration Thursday morning in front of the UN office in Colombo against UN interference in Sri Lanka's local issues and the proposed special UN Commission to examine human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Slogans against Norway's peace initiatives were also voiced in the demonstration attended by Wimal Weerawanse, Propaganda secretary, General Secretary Tilvin de Silva, parliamentarians, and Provincial council members of JVP, media sources in Colombo said.

Hundreds of JVP supporters took part in the demonstration where slogans demanding the agreement entered between USA and Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse be made public.

Demonstrators said people of Sri Lanka should know the truth about these agreements that quite often sell Sri Lanka's sovereignty to foreign countries.

The demonstration caused traffic jam in Colombo Thumullai junction and Havelock road.

Iranian Foreign Minister meets Sri Lanka President

Mar 22, Colombo: Iran¹s Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki made a courtesy call on Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees today evening.

LTTE kidnaps 17 year old minors and young adults among war refugees - Priest of Madu Catholic Church

The parish priest of Madu Matha Catholic church charged despite continuous warnings not to do so, the LTTE cadres keep on kidnapping 17 year old minors and young adults among war refugees who have camped themselves in the church premises.

Fr. Emilus Pillai, the parish priest charged that LTTE recruiters enter church grounds and kidnap the war refugees among about 10,000 desolate people who have been living in the church grounds for protection for the last two months. They are Tamil civilians who have fled from the war between LTTE who are also known as the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lanka security forces.

He said, "First we told them not to enter the church premises armed and banned all such people from entering the church premises. Now they come unarmed and forcibly take away 17 year olds and young adults to be recruited for the war."

He said the church should become a sanctuary for all people regardless of their race or creed. He said by violating that concept the LTTE has violated the sanctity of the church.

Fr. Emilius Pillai said the refugees have come to the church since they had no other place to go and the helpless people should not be harassed at all and left alone.

The priest said he has seen it with his own eyes how they come and visit the people living around the church and kidnap them for war. On such occasions they are careful not to step inside the church, Fr. Emilius Pillai pointed out.

The Reverend Father said the refugees are leading an extremely difficult life and spending a hand to mouth existence due to food shortages. On the top of that comes the LTTE harassment, he charged.

Describing the difficulties of the Madu Church refugees the parish priest said they have been forgotten by NGO's. Fr. Emilius Pillai said they are living on meager rations of dry food supplied by World Food organization. He was of the opinion that all should do little more to lessen their misery.

SLA denies arresting youth in Vadamaradchy

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers arrested a youth during a cordon off and search launched at the school area near the church at Sakkottai in Vadamaradchy north Wednesday around 1:00 p.m, fisheries society sources of the area said. The SLA officials, however, did not acknowledge arresting the youth when contacted for information about the youth, according to relatives.
The search was triggered after there was noise of gunshots being fired in the area, and the SLA troopers rounded up all the fishermen in the vicinity and had them gathered on the main street where they were subjected to many hours of interrogation.

In another incident, SLA street patrol unit opened indiscriminate firing on youths who stood talking along Udupitty-Valvettithurai road at Valvetty area in Valvettithurai Tuesday evening.

The youths fled leaving their motorbikes and bicycles behind.

The SLA troopers took all of them in their vehicles, Valvetty residents said.

SLA troopers launched a cordon off and search in Valvetty area following the incident.

No one was apprehended in this search.

Meanwhile, the reintroduced SLA fishing ban on fishing Wednesday on Vadamaradchy north and east seas continues.

Sri Lanka, Tamil Tiger Rebels Fight a War That Can't Be Won

By Anusha Ondaatjie

March 22 (Bloomberg) -- Sri Lanka and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam escalated fighting in recent months, creating a refugee population of more than 200,000 people, in a conflict that analysts said won't be won by either side.

``The two parties have decided to fight each other,'' said Rohan Gunaratna, head of terrorism research at Singapore's Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies. ``Continuing the current spate of violence is not going to bring about a different outcome or change the status quo.''

The South Asian island nation of 20 million people is experiencing the worst fighting since a cease-fire was declared in 2002, a truce that helped the $26 billion economy post uninterrupted growth since then. Two rounds of peace talks in Geneva last year between the government and LTTE failed to make any progress.

Almost 4,000 people have been killed in violence in the past 15 months, compared with 130 deaths related to the conflict in the three previous years, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, the Norwegian-led group that oversees the February 2002 cease-fire, said last month. The LTTE has been fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east for two decades, a conflict that has killed 60,000 people.

``Both parties have developed significant support to be able to recover from losses, but this type of warfare is protracted,'' Gunaratna said. ``What is needed is a negotiated settlement'' to the conflict.

Armed Forces

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

Sri Lanka's army deploys about 155,000 soldiers in operations against the rebels and has stepped up air force attacks in recent months.

Their forces are separated by a 15 kilometer (9-mile) so- called line of control in the Jaffna peninsula where they occupy forward defense posts as little as 50 meters to 600 meters apart. There is no line of separation in the east where the two sides regularly cross areas dominated by each other.

The LTTE, classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the European Union and India, accused the government of trying to impose a military solution after the army captured 16 rebel bases in the northeast since January and began offensives recently near the eastern port of Batticaloa.

The government and Tamil Tigers ``do think engaging in hostilities gives them an advantage in negotiations,'' said Sanjana Hattotuwa, senior researcher at the Center for Policy Alternatives, a Colombo-based independent body. ``They aren't interested in peace talks.''

Rebel Faction

Tamil Tigers say the military is supporting a breakaway rebel faction known as the Karuna group, an allegation the army denies. The splinter group takes its name from Colonel Karuna, a former LTTE commander in the island's east, who in March 2004 broke away from the main command in the north.

``Karuna's departure was a major debacle to the LTTE in the east, but it will be a stretch for the government to think they can liberate Jaffna using Karuna,'' said Hattotuwa.

The U.S., EU, Japan and Norway, the leading international donors to Sri Lanka, have repeatedly asked the government and LTTE to resume peace negotiations.

While the military has gained ground in the island's east, government forces suffered defeats in the north, including the loss of at least 74 soldiers in battles in the Jaffna peninsula on Oct. 11. Rebels have struck with suicide bombings, including the deadliest attack in the civil war that killed about 100 sailors on Oct. 16 near Colombo.

Displaced People

An estimated 600,000 people remain cut off in the Jaffna region by fighting that began last August, Unicef, the UN Children's Fund, said this month in a report. Clashes in the country in the past six months forced as many as 200,000 civilians from their homes, the UN said.

Sri Lanka last week acknowledged that fighting around Batticaloa this month created an exodus of more than 52,000 people and a ``serious problem'' for the authorities.

Sri Lanka asked India last week to help monitor vessels using sea lanes between the countries, in a move to protect Indian fishing boats and stop LTTE arms smuggling operations.

``In the case of increasing surveillance, the LTTE will very much be choked.'' said N. Manoharan, senior research fellow at the New Delhi-based Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. ``The LTTE have to keep their morale high, and that is also going to be affected.''

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked political parties to produce a new plan on giving some powers to the Tamil community to try to bring an end to the conflict. The LTTE wants an interim self-government established in areas it controls in the north and east before a peace settlement is reached.

To contact the reporter on this story: Anusha Ondaatjie in Colombo at anushao@bloomberg.net

Four more arrests over stabbed teenager

property Clerkenwell Property limehouse Property docklands

Four more young men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a teenager in east London last week.

Scotland Yard said that four further males in their late teens or early 20s were arrested in east London this afternoon and were being held in relation to Adam Regis' stabbing,

Three were arrested in a vehicle stopped by police in Stamford Road, East Ham, and a fourth was detained after police attended an address in Forest Gate.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan police said all four remained in custody at various east London police stations.

Three other youths were arrested in connection with the murder at a single address in Beckton, east London, at last night, while a 17-year-old youth had been arrested in East Ham earlier in the day.

Adam, 15, died after being stabbed last Saturday night following spending the evening at the Showcase cinema in Beckton, and police believe he got off a bus with two friends shortly before he was attacked.

The two friends left him at some point on their journey from the bus stop and Adam, the nephew of Olympic sprinter John Regis, was stabbed on the junction of Boundary Road and Kingsland Road in Plaistow.

Adam was taken to Newham General hospital but died from his injuries later on Saturday night.

A post-mortem concluded he died from a single stab wound to the chest and abdomen.

Police had previously said they were hunting two black males who were seen running away from the area where Adam was killed. They were said to be wearing grey hoodies

North Korea demands money before talks

CHINA: North Korean nuclear disarmament talks stalled again on Wednesday as Pyongyang refused to come to the negotiating table until 25 million dollars in frozen funds were back in its coffers.

Planned meetings of the chief envoys to the six-nation talks on Wednesday morning did not take place, officials involved in the negotiations said, as North Korea insisted it would not talk until the money was safely returned.

“It is difficult for me at the moment to predict when the plenary meeting among the chief delegates will open today,” chief South Korean envoy Chun Yung-Woo told reporters.

“It depends on North Korea... If North Korea keeps insisting that it should not take part in the discussions at all before the transfer of the money, it will be difficult to have the plenary talks.”

Authorities in Macau, where the money has been frozen since 2005 due to US accusations of North Korean money laundering and counterfeiting, said this week it would be released to a North Korean bank account.

But no-one involved in the process has said when this will take place.

North Korea has repeatedly said it will not begin implementing a six-nation disarmament accord signed on February 13 until the money is safely back in its hands.

The United States announced on Monday, at the start of the latest round of six-nation talks, that it had struck a deal with North Korea to end the dispute and the frozen money would be returned.

The United States insisted that it had received assurances from North Korea that the money would be used only for “humanitarian and educational purposes,” however officials from Pyongyang have not said where the funds will go.

Despite the hold-up in the talks, which have been plagued by delays and arguments since beginning in 2003, parties remained confident that the key initial steps of the February 13 accord could be implemented on schedule.

North Korea, which conducted its first atomic test in October last year, agreed in the deal to close its main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon by mid-April and allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back into the country.

In return, North Korea would initially receive 50,000 tonnes of heavy fuel for energy use.

Reporting “good progress” at the talks, China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday afternoon said the North had indicated it would abide by the accord.

“We found that North Korea is ready to shut down and seal the facility in Yongbyon and accept the monitoring and supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters.

Chief US envoy Christopher Hill also said on Tuesday night, after meeting with North Korean negotiator Kim Kye-Gwan for an hour, that achieving the initial phase of the agreement remained a realistic possibility.

“We are pretty much on schedule,” he said.

North Korea would eventually receive one million tonnes of heavy fuel or equivalent energy aid if it permanently closed its nuclear facilities and completely disbanded its atomic weapons programme.

The six-nation talks involve China, the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia.

Beijing, Wednesday, AFP

LTTE attacks Police route clearing - Vavuniya

The LTTE terrorists launched an attack targeting the security forces personnel on route clearing duty at Salambakulam in Vavuniya this morning, Thursday the 22nd of March.

Defence source says that the Police personnel were attacked by the LTTE terrorists at 7.10 a.m today, whilst they were on duty along the Vavuniya - Mannar main road.

A Police personnel received minor injuries due to the incident.

Sources further said the LTTE terrorists fled in the face of effective retaliatory fire launched by the security forces personnel.

LTTE extortion ring in Colombo bared - R. Srikanthan in London

The LTTE is reported to be carrying out a very effective extortion campaign within Colombo targeting the relatives of the expatriate Tamils.

An elderly couple residing in the City were approached by the LTTE's collectors recently demanding Rs 5 million for its war effort. The children of the couple are living in Britain, the Daily News learns.

These men who without hesitation declared their affiliations with the LTTE have produced extensive details of the family's income connections and their property before demanding for money for the LTTE funds.

The couple left for India immediately afterwards and are planning to migrate to Europe for the fear of their life.

It is alleged that the children of this couple, known to be LTTE sympathisers have palmed off large sums of money to LTTE agents in London every time they were approached.

The Daily News learns that the LTTE has earmarked households with rich relatives abroad and extort them to fatten their diminishing reserves.

It is suspected that the LTTE had used the details filled in a fund raising questionnaire circulated last year among the Tamil diaspora to intimidate the families and extort money.

The questionnaire sought particulars of their property and relatives in Sri Lanka.

Courtesy - Daily News

Technorati Profile

Technorati Profile

Confidence boost in UK property market

Confidence in the UK property market has been boosted since the fall following January's interest rate rise, the latest figures show.

A report from Propertyfinder.com claims that 81.9 per cent of Britons expect house prices to rise over the next year by an average of 6.4 per cent, which is good news for those wishing to reap returns by selling some of the property in their portfolio.

The figures were an increase on the 77.8 per cent of people who expected house prices to rise over the next 12 months in February, who predicted house price growth of an average of 5.9 per cent.

Chief executive of Propertyfinder.com, Warren Bright, said that the organisation had seen a slow down in the housing market in recent months.

He added: "However, people have faith in the value of bricks and mortar, and as long as the UK housing market continues to experience such drastic supply issues, this is unlikely to change significantly."

The report also revealed that the number of buyers and sellers expecting house price rises this month had become more balanced, whereas in February ten per cent more sellers had expected house prices to rise by two per cent more in value than buyers.

Hamptons International reported that there was currently an average of eight buyers for every seller in the UK property market.

Bloomsbury Property Bloomsbury Estate Agents Barbican Property Barbican Estate Agents

Muralitharan: I could play the next World Cup

Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka's champion off spinner, believes he could play in the 2011 World Cup but isn't so sure about capturing 1000 Test wickets. "For all you know, I can go on to 40 years. I am 34 and in another four years I will be 38 so I could also play in the next World Cup," he said ahead of Sri Lanka's Group B match with Bangladesh in Trinidad. "It's just how my mind thinks, how fit I am. I would love to play the next World Cup because it's on home soil."

Muralitharan has 674 wickets from 110 Tests, second only to the retired Shane Warne's 708, and has been tipped by a few to touch 1000. "It's very difficult because you need another 300 wickets. It will take another 4-5 years or 40-45 Tests. I can only take it match by match," said Muralitharan. "Having said so, I must also say that I am still going up the ladder. Last year was my best as I took 96 wickets in 11 or 12 Tests."

As for Sri Lanka's chances in the World Cup, Muralitharan felt the media had a large hand in portraying them as favourites. "The game in the middle is little different. Any team can beat anyone in one-day cricket. In this game of 50 overs, a matter of 15 overs can change everything," he said."As for having the best attack, it depends on how you play in the park. Form on paper doesn't matter at all. Quality is what you deliver not what you claim to have." More >>

Sri Lanka: Red Cross launches Rs.175 million project to improve Kamburupitiya Base Hospital

A Red Cross project has been launched for the provision of improved facilities for healthcare of the people in the Southern part of Sri Lanka. It includes construction or renovation of hospitals and other health facilities that were affected by the tsunami.

Inaugurating this project, the foundation stone was laid on 24th of February for construction of this four storey building for the Kamburupitiya Base Hospital in Matara. The proposed building will house an outdoor patients unit, clinics and wards complex, with the financial assistance of 175 million rupees from the French Red Cross and other facilities for the project from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Coordinating Secretary Parliamentary Affairs to HE the President Mr. Kumarasi Hettige, Hony.President of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Mr.Jagath Abeysinghe, Head of Delegate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Mr.Al Panico, Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Mr.Bharatha Jonikku Hewa and Hony. President Galle branch were present at the foundation stone laying ceremony

Property investors look to UK market

Fancy buying a dental surgery in west Scotland or a fashion store in south east London?

These are just two of the UK property investment opportunities which will go under the hammer at auction in Belfast next week - and there'll be no shortage of takers.

For while the Northern Ireland residential property boom continues, many investors are turning to invest in the commercial sector.

But with a shortage of stock here, there's an growing interest in tapping into markets in the rest of the UK.

Next week's auction - organised by Osborne King estate agents - has 66 lots up for sale at a combined estimated value of £100m.

Seventeen of these are commercial sites and development land in Scotland and England.

Osborne King's investment department director, Andrew Coggins, explained why local investors are looking further afield.

"It seems that people in Northern Ireland hold on to stock for longer for a number of reason, including a desire to keep it in the family," he said.

"The UK market is very attractive for Northern Ireland investors especially when the stock is limited here and they often get better returns for their money."

And according to Mark Carron, Osborne King associate director, the trend for buying commercial property by public auction is set to continue.

"The key to a successful auction is being able to select properties that appeal to investors and developers right across the property spectrum," he said.

"We've been working hard to ensure that we have the right mix and quality of property."

€ The auction takes place next Friday at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, from 11am. For more details visit www.osborneking.com/auction.asp.

Property investors look to UK market

Fancy buying a dental surgery in west Scotland or a fashion store in south east London?

These are just two of the UK property investment opportunities which will go under the hammer at auction in Belfast next week - and there'll be no shortage of takers.

For while the Northern Ireland residential property boom continues, many investors are turning to invest in the commercial sector.

But with a shortage of stock here, there's an growing interest in tapping into markets in the rest of the UK.

Next week's auction - organised by Osborne King estate agents - has 66 lots up for sale at a combined estimated value of £100m.

Seventeen of these are commercial sites and development land in Scotland and England.

Osborne King's investment department director, Andrew Coggins, explained why local investors are looking further afield.

"It seems that people in Northern Ireland hold on to stock for longer for a number of reason, including a desire to keep it in the family," he said.

"The UK market is very attractive for Northern Ireland investors especially when the stock is limited here and they often get better returns for their money."

And according to Mark Carron, Osborne King associate director, the trend for buying commercial property by public auction is set to continue.

"The key to a successful auction is being able to select properties that appeal to investors and developers right across the property spectrum," he said.

"We've been working hard to ensure that we have the right mix and quality of property."

Silent Warriors sink another LTTE Ship - Off Arugam Bay

Sri Lanka Naval ships operating in the Eastern waters destroyed an LTTE arms carrying vessel around 9 this morning (Sunday, the 18th of March). Naval sources said that the vessel sank with huge explosions onboard, at a location approximately 190 NM east of Arugam bay in the eastern sea of the Island. The sources said that the vessel is about 70m in length and displayed no ensign.

The sources further said that the suspected ship speeding towards the island was detected around 2:30 a.m. this morning by the naval units patrolling in the Eastern waters. When intercepted and challenged via international Maritime Radio Channel (Channel 16) the vessel gave false details on its identification and started evading the area.

The naval units after a hot pursuit approached the vessel and ordered it to be stopped for checking purpose. Since the vessel did not comply the orders the navy had fired several warning shots, the sources further added.

Since, the suspected vessel started attacking at the approaching naval units with gun fire; the navy too retaliated and destroyed the vessel around 7:30 a.m. The vessel caught fire and with huge explosions being taken place onboard sank around 9:30 a.m. A search operation is presently under way in the area.

Residential Investments UK and Overseas

Our Residential Investment UK division has clients throughout the UK and overseas who are active in acquiring properties for either the long or medium term. Many of our clients will be adding to an existing portfolio, whilst others may only be investing in a single London flat for the first time. Investment in property requires careful consideration and planning; the years of accumulated experience within the residential team enables Hurford Salvi Carr to provide valuable investment advice. Our 'Residential Investor' bulletins update clients on market trends.

The strength of this sector of the market is demonstrated by the fact that institutional investors are now acquiring residential investments at a time when the 'Buy to Let market' has become commonplace and residential propertyLondon deregulation is encouraging greater investment

'Squatters rights' give man £200,000 home - Barbican Property

A man who has hardly paid any of his mortgage for 12 years looks set to be given his home after a High Court judge ruled his bank had left it too late to repossess it.

London Estate agents Barbican Property Clerkenwell Flats

Djabar Babai wrote to the solicitors for Natwest Bank in September 1999 telling them he had "lost everything" around 10 years earlier and was now unemployed.

Three years later the bank told him he still owed them £61,887 for the detached 1960s home in Heaton Mersey, Stockport.

He agreed to repay the mortgage at £40 a month but only made a small number of the promised payments, the High Court was told.

Two years later, in January 2004, Mr Babai was declared bankrupt and by October last year that debt had spiralled to around £165,000 on a property valued at over £200,000. But Judge Richard Arnold, QC, sitting at London's High Court, said Natwest had no claim on the property under the Limitation Act 1980.

The law, which enshrines the principle commonly known as "squatters rights", says actions for possession of land must be brought within 12 years.

The letter Mr Babai had sent in 1999 was "too ambiguous," said the judge, to be an "acknowledgement" of the mortgage as Natwest had claimed.

He said the bank's "right of action" began in 1992 and any claim for possession was now "statute barred".

It means the mortgage over Mr Babai's home is now "extinguished" and Natwest no longer has any right to seek to enforce its debt.

The court also heard that Mr Babai is the registered owner of the property, along with his wife Zinat Babai.

Why the world should rally round Sri Lanka ?

Redeveloping the Eastern Province is, indeed, one of our highest priorities. Considering the importance attached to the 'hearts and minds' component of quelling disaffection and terror, the State could not do better than ensure the well being of the Eastern Province, now that the State is re-asserting its authority almost in full in the region.

Concurrently, the world community would be acting with foresight by responding positively to Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama's call to siphon all the material and moral support they can muster, to bring prosperity and well being to the East.

Minister Bogollagama has voiced this pronouncement to no less a person than UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and we hope the international community would rally round this highly worthy cause.

We need hardly say that the task of rejuvenating the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka has just begun. The fine military victories scored by the Security Forces in the province have only brought to completion the military component of defeating terror.

From now on, the 'hearts and minds' battle must begin and this involves meeting the material and developmental needs of the Eastern populace on a sustained and systematic basis.

This is insightful thinking on the part of the State because an armed separatist rebellion could not be considered as having been quelled completely as long the material and other urgent needs of the population groups in question go unmet by the State.

Therefore, no one could question the wisdom of emphasising the need for more and more development. Accordingly, the world would do well to cooperate with Sri Lanka