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30 August 2007 Sri Lanka says no plan for major north offensive Sri Lanka has no plans for a major offensive on rebel-held territory in the country's north, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said on Thursday.Government forces have recaptured strategic parts of the island nation's east from separatist Tamil Tiger guerrillas in the past year, fanning talk that they might soon attempt to drive the Tigers out of their main stronghold in the north."There's no plan for a major offensive in the north," Bogollagama told Reuters in an interview during a visit to Malaysia, insisting the government's main priority was to look instead for a political solution to the 24-year-old conflict."We want the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) to return to the negotiating table."Sri Lanka's defence secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, vowed in January to attack and destroy all Tamil Tiger military assets, including those in the northern stronghold they control under the terms of a tattered 2002 truce.Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict, around 4,500 in the last year alone. Rupee plunges to all time low The rupee yesterday plunged to an all time low of Rs.113.36 against the US dollar hitting hard on the country’s economy.The rupee that closed at the beginning of last week at Rs.112 made a straight jump in one week by Rs. 1 and economic analysts predict further fall in the coming few weeks and warned it would take the rupee to Rs. 115 to Rs.118 to the Dollar. The weakening of the rupee would inevitably have an impact on the country’s economic expansion with Sri Lanka being heavily import oriented. Further it would adversely affect the inflation rate which had seen a high of 17.2% just last month, analysts said.This will thereby have a negative impact on the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) coming into the country. Moreover, it is expected that the dollar dominated foreign borrowings would inevitably increase with cost of servicing foreign debt set to become larger.As an export oriented country this could impact on Sri Lanka’s Balance of Payments which by the end of July this year was at US$163 million. This surplus is expected to reduce further, according to analysts.The rupee is steadily depreciating mainly due to trade-related moves in an economy that runs a hefty trade deficit because of costly fuel imports and the impact of inflation. Rs. 30 billion to purchase Mig-29 amidst corruption charges on Mig-27 deal Details of another dubious deal to procure more aircrafts to Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) at the cost of Rs. 30 billion is being exposed amidst the charges against the government on corruption in purchasing four Mig-27 aircrafts.The government has planned to purchase F-7 GS, Mig-29, Mig-29 UB and PT 6 fighter crafts for the SLAF. United National Party (UNP) media unit chief Lakshman Kiriella said that the Jane’s Defense Weekly has revealed the details of this dubious deal. He introduced this deal to be sealed without tenders as another business of the Rajapakse Company. Mr. Kiriella said that the transaction has not been informed to the parliament and the Auditor General too.Mr. Kiriella posed several questions to the government to answer before the procurement. They are as follows: Have tenders called for the purchase? Is it a government-to-government deal? If so, what are the governments? Are the aircrafts 25 years old? How many flying hours have they? He said that the public have a right to know the details of the transaction of US $ 500 million. Mr. Kiriella said that neither the Defense Minister nor the Secretary of the Ministry has answered the question posed by the UNP on the procurement of 25-year-old Mig-27 flying coffins. If this much of money is spent for the procurements for the SLAF, the expenditure for purchasing arms for all three armed forces would be billions of US dollars, he said.He further said that military procurements are a good business one can earn huge wealth in a short while and enquired why the government is carrying out these transactions without transparency.Meanwhile, the government is planning to obtain a loan of US $ 500 million from HSBC pledging to cut the subsidies, said Mr. Kiriella enquiring the motive behind the loan taking and arms acquiring.The UNP media chief said that President Mahinda Rajapakse's mandate, which the UNP would not accept as legitimate, was obtained through a pledge to grant a solution to the ethnic problem within three months and not through a pledge to wage war. He said that if the voters of North and East were granted the right to enjoy electoral rights, the result of the Presidential could be changed. Britain Favours 'regime Change' In Sri Lanka: Top Official Britain is looking for a 'regime change' in Sri Lanka because it favours the opposition United National Party (UNP) over the present ruling party, the head of the island's peace secretariat has said.'They would be delighted if there was a regime change,' Rajiva Wijesinha, secretary general of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), said while hitting out at sections of Western human rights groups and other interest groups.Speaking to IANS here during a three-day visit, Wijesinha was particularly critical of the Europeans and singled out Britain. He praised the US approach towards Sri Lanka and at the same time urged India to do more to end his country's nearly 25-year-long ethnic conflict.'At one stage they (Britain) would have liked to replace the Norwegians,' the peace facilitators, said Wijesinha, 52, a politician-cum-academic who took charge of SCOPP in June, succeeding Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona. Wijesinha said Britain had taken the lead in undermining Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse, a brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. The younger Rajapakse heads the country's war machine against the Tamil Tigers.'One of the main problems they have is they still hanker after the UNP,' he added, referring to Britain, which in recent times has displayed active interest in trying to defuse ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka.'They would be delighted if there was a regime change... People think it is on the cards now.'Asked if he really meant that Britain was working towards toppling President Rajapakse, he answered: 'They would prefer it... They don't like the status quo now.'Wijesinha has in recent times taken an aggressive stand against Western human rights groups that have flayed Sri Lankan authorities for a variety of rights violations including killings, disappearances, arrests and mass displacement of civilians.'What I see is a concerted campaign to attack the Sri Lankan government on the human rights issue, with a particular thrust to impose an external authoritative mechanism,' he said. Referring to specific reports from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Gareth Evans of the International Crisis Group and also the Human Rights Watch, Wijesinha asked: 'My point is what is the reason for all this?'He said some Western rights groups - as opposed to Sri Lanka's University Teachers for Human Rights 'for which I have the highest regard' - were acting in concert with the UNP and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).Wijesinha added that the LTTE, which has suffered military reverses in the eastern province, would like to undermine the government on the issue of rights abuses. 'This is where there is a congruence in (their) positions.'The peace official said that most Sri Lankans wanted India to be more closely associated with the co-chairs group of countries overseeing the island's now battered peace process - the US, Japan, Norway and the European Union.'India should do more,' he said while pointing out 'fatal flaws' in the 1987 India-Sri Lanka pact that sought to end the ethnic conflict.'Successive Sri Lankan governments have rightly understood that any solution should be in consultation with India.' LTTE areas in Mannaar come under SLA artillery fire Sri Lanka Army Wednesday evening around 4:00 p.m. launched artillery attack from Thallaady base and Senath bar base on areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the Mannaar district. All villages in Maanthai West divisional secretariat division in the LTTE led territory came under artillery attack. Details of casualties or injuries are not known.SLA sources said the LTTE started first attacking SLA Forward Defence Line (FDL) sentry points. Lanka troops face probe Sri Lanka is to probe allegations that members of the state security forces helped abduct children as fighters for a band of renegade rebels seen allied to the government, the island's human rights ministry said yesterday. The move comes as President Mahinda Rajapakse's government faces international pressure to halt rights abuses blamed on elements of the military, paramilitaries and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels-and just weeks before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights meets in Geneva. The new "Committee to inquire into allegations of abduction and recruitment of children for use in armed conflict" also comes seven months after the government told the UN it would pave the way for a credible investigation into the allegations, made by rights groups and UN envoy Allan Rock. Rock said last year there was credible evidence that elements within the security forces had helped to abduct children as soldiers for a former band of Tamil Tiger rebels who broke away from the mainstream group in 2004 and are now called the Karuna faction. The government angrily rejected the allegations at the time. "All these are allegations and we are willing to look into the allegations," Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, said. The government has repeatedly denied state involvement in rights abuses, including the high profile murder of 17 local aid workers in August 2006 that Nordic truce monitors have pinned on the security forces. A presidential commission is probing that case. The government has rejected calls for a United Nations rights monitoring mission in a land counted among the most dangerous in the world for aid and media workers given the numbers killed over the past two years. UNICEF says the Karuna group, like the Tigers, continues to recruit children into its ranks. JVP's Anura Kumara Disanayaka meets Ranil JVP parliamentarian Anura Kumara Disanayaka met with the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe recently and had a intimate discussion extended for half an hour.The themes of the discussion on last Thursday (23) were the current political situation and the harm caused to the county due to the activities of the government.The meeting seems not a random incident amidst talks by the SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena and other leaders about a conspiracy to topple the government.SLFP-PW Co-convener Mangala Samaraweera said in few occasions that he would provide the needed eight votes to topple the government if the JVP pledges support for it. Ranil, CBK hold talks Opposition UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe officially met former President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday for the first time after her return to the country, and discussed a wide range of issues relating to the peace process, human rights violations and the present political situation in the country.The 45-minute long meeting took place at Ms. Kumaratunga’s official residence. However, the media were not briefed by either party about what transpired at the meeting.It is learnt the former President had commended the stand taken by the National Congress on the ethnic conflict. Meanwhile, former Minister Mangala Samaraweera who spearheads the SLFP (Mahajana) Wing will meet Ms. Kumaratunga tomorrow for a discussion. Veerapuram residents threatened by Sinhalese Mob Tamil civilians in the neighbouring village of Veerapuram have received death threats from a group of Sinhalese after the shooting death of four home guards and a bus driver in U'lukku'lam in Vavuniyaa on 20 August by unidentified gunmen, sources said. The group has vowed to kill three times the number killed in U'lukku'lam in Vavuniyaa.Fearing for their lives 20 Tamil families from Veerapuram have begun moving to safer areas in Vavuniyaa and Mannar. Some are staying in Cheddikulam in the night.Meanwhile, the residents have also lodged complaints with Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and also brought this situation to the attention of Vavuniya district Government Agent (GA). Nauruan 'raped' by asylum-seekers SIX Sri Lankan asylum-seekers in immigration detention on Nauru have been charged with the rape and indecent assault of a 20-year-old Nauruan woman, in a case likely to reignite debate about the merits of the Coalition's Pacific Solution.On Tuesday, Nauruan police charged one Sri Lankan asylum-seeker with rape and five others with indecent assault, a spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews confirmed to The Australian. The six allegedly assaulted the local woman on Monday afternoon while in the community under the "open centre arrangements" of Nauru's immigration detention facility, run for the Australian Government by the International Organisation for Migration. The accused men appeared before a magistrate in Nauru yesterday and were remanded in police custody until September 5, the spokeswoman said. "The department was advised on the morning of August 28, 2007 that six Sri Lankan asylum-seekers had been taken in to custody by the Nauruan police force for the alleged sexual assault of a Nauruan woman," she said. Under the arrangement between Australia and Nauru, asylum-seekers held there are allowed free movement in the community from 8am to 7pm. The spokeswoman refused to comment further on the alleged assault, saying the matter was before the court. The Australian understands that the six men did not have legal representation when they appeared before the magistrate but that IOM will arrange legal representation ahead of their next court appearance. It is believed the victim required hospital treatment. There are 89 asylum-seekers on Nauru under the Howard Government's so-called Pacific Solution: 82 Sri Lankans intercepted in February and seven Burmese Rohingyas intercepted last September. Some of the Sri Lankans are being assisted by Australian lawyers, but it it understood the men accused of rape are not among them and have opted to pursue their protection claims without legal assistance. The alleged attack is likely to reignite debate in Australia about the merits of processing asylum-seekers offshore, under the policy introduced in 2001 following the Tampa affair. Labor has pledged to end offshore processing of asylum-seekers in places such as Nauru. The Coalition, meanwhile, sees a strong stance on border protection as the key to its recent election successes and credits the Pacific Solution with a significant reduction in asylum-seekers attempting to enter Australia by boat. Chandrika meets SLFP-PW officially A discussion between the former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party - People's Wing (SLFP-PW) will be held on August 31. The conveners of SLFP-PW Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Suriyaarachchi, Tiran Alles, SlFP-PW Administrative Secretary Sisil Bandara Senarathna and Upulangani Malagamuwa will participate in the discussion.Administrative Secretary Sisil Bandara Senarathna said to Lanka-e-News that the meeting would be an official meet between the SLFP-PW and the former President.Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga sent a congratulatory note from UK when the SLFP-PW signed a MOU with the United National Party (UNP). The meeting on 31st is considered a beginning of a new political march. The former President has personally taken the responsibility of organizing the memorial ceremony of the SLFP founder and slain Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike that will be held at Horagolla on September 26. She called upon the officials and the chiefs of the SLFP organizations in Aththanagalla electorate to Visumpaya, the official residence of Minister Anura Bandaranaike, for a special discussion on this. The memorial was organized by the Presidential Secretariat while she was holding the Presidency. Analysts say that former President's direct involvement in organizing the memorial is a sign of a political transformation. Top Pillayan associate killed, suspect held 'TMVP leader' shot dead Re-capturing the east Sri Lanka government last month announced re-capturing the east from the Tamil Tigers.Deputy Inspector General (DIG -east) Upali Gunasekara said he was not aware of the presence of any other armed group in Trincomalee district.Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna, a senior military strategist of the LTTE, broke away from the Tigers in March 2003.The Karuna faction is accused by human rights groups of gross human rights violations including child recruitment.The Karuna faction denies accusations. British visa section may move out The British High Commission in Colombo has decided to close down its visa section soon and applications for visas will be diverted to its mission in Chennai, the Daily Mirror learns.However, the High Commission in Colombo would only say there was an ongoing review in this regard. “Once the review is finished and agreed the High Commission will announce the development,” High Commission Spokesman John Culley told the Daily Mirror yesterday.He declined to give more details but said he hoped an announcement could be made by next month. “I cannot guarantee it, it may be by September,” he said.Meanwhile, a diplomatic source told the Daily Mirror yesterday that the all local visa related matters would be handled by a private company named Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) at Duplication Road in Colombo, which handles visa operations for several other countries as well. The reason for closing the British visa operation in Colombo is yet to be ascertained.Currently the Colombo High Commission is receiving a large number of visa applications everyday.It is also learnt that a large number of British officials are attached to the visa section of the High Commission. 29 August 2007 LTTE says it is ready for Wanni battle Boat capsizes killing three Three persons from the same family were drowned when the boat they were travelling in capsized in the Kurumanweli Lagoon at Kaluwanchikudy in Batticaloa last evening.The family of five had used the Kalmunai lagoon as a shortcut instead of the road and the boat had capsized due to rough weather. A 55-year-old man, his daughter and his granddaughter (6) were among the victims while two others had managed to escape. Kaluwanchikudy Police OIC D.C. de Zoysa said the boat was too small for the group. The recovered bodies are now at the Kaluwanchikudy Hospital mortuary. EU to move resolution on Lanka at Human Rights Council The European Union is planning to reintroduce a resolution on Sri Lanka before the UN Human Rights Council sessions in September, The Morning Leader learns.Informed sources said a resolution is currently under discussion within the EU and will be discussed among member nations before it is placed before the council. The EU presidency is currently held by Portugal.The UNHRC is meeting in Geneva from September 10-28.It is learned the EU is taking the position that there has been an escalation of the conflict, and an increase in the number of abductions and missing persons during the last several months. A EU sponsored resolution which was to be taken up at the last session in March was deferred following assurances by the government that appropriate steps will be taken to address the human rights concerns raised by the EU.The statement last week by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse that the security forces will shortly move to take Wanni will also add weight to the contention that there is an escalation of the conflict, these sources said. It is learned the statement by Government Spokesperson, Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle where he described UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Sir John Holmes as a 'terrorist in the pay of the LTTE' has also had an adverse impact on the government in the backdrop of President Mahinda Rajapakse's failure to condemn or distance his administration from the allegation.Meanwhile, the government has decided to dispatch a high level delegation to lobby the EU and member nations to refrain from moving a resolution claiming the human rights situation has improved during the last few months. The government delegation will also distance itself from the statement made by the Defence Secretary on planning an operation to attack the Wanni.The three member government delegation led by Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and comprising Attorney General C.R. De Silva and Peace Secretariat Chief Rajiva Wijesinha will leave for Geneva next week. The delegation will meet the EU Ambassadors and other UNHRC members to brief them on the steps taken by the government to improve the human rights situation in the country. The delegation is to return to the island before the September 10 sessions commence. The government delegation for the UNHRC sessions from September 10-28 will be led by Sri Lanka's representative in Geneva, Dayan Jayatilleke and include Deputy Solicitors General Shavindra Fernando, Yasantha Kodagoda, Rajiva Wijesinha, Shirani Goonetilleke and an official from the Foreign Ministry.It is learned the senior delegation will return to the island before the sessions commence following assurances by Sri Lanka's representative in Geneva that the situation is under control and that the resolution will not be tabled at the sessions. Athas column translator threatened The translator of the Sunday Times Defence Column ‘Situation Report’ to the daily Lankadeepa, senior journalist W.G. Gunaratne was threatened by an unidentified person on Monday night at the newspaper’s editorial premises.Mr. Gunaratne had been threatened for continuing to translate Iqbal Athas’ Defence Column to the daily Lankadeepa. It is also learnt that the unidentified person had said he was an officer from the Sri Lanka Air Force.The latest threat was reported days after Mr. Athas’ security was withdrawn and he continued to receive more death threats.Meanwhile, The Free Media Movement (FMM) said that in a message sent to it, Mr. Athas had stated that he fears for his own safety as well as for the safety and security of his family, given the situation that is emerging following his publication of these articles. Mr. Athas says since the withdrawal of his security he had received credible reports that insidious attempts were being made to ascertain his sources as well as to seize documents he had used for his disclosures. “In a context in which there have been repeated attacks and harassment of journalists and media persons in Sri Lanka in the past months, the Movement is convinced that there is a very real basis for Mr. Athas' fears regarding his security,” the FMM added. The Tamil Nadu police deny LTTE infiltration Tamil Nadu Deputy General of Police Mukeriji has denied the reports that there is LTTE Infiltration in the seas near Rameswaram . In an interview with a Tamil Nadu daily, he categorically stated that there was no chance for any LTTE infiltration in the southern sea. He further explained that security measures are undertaken to monitor the movement of LTTE in the coastal areas of the Tamil Nadu. They had identified the villagers in the coastal areas, who helped the LTTE members and due steps have been taken to bring the situation under control. High powered motor boats are used by the coastal guards to monitor the movements of the LTTE. Mukerji concluded that there has been no intelligence report regarding any infiltration by the LTTTE in the seas around Tamilnadu. Explosives haul raise concerns in East Controversy surrounds the arrest of two Tamils and a Sinhalese with a haul of explosives in the East on Monday, with intelligence sources telling the Daily Mirror the explosive material may have been supplied by a TMVP operative.Kalkudha Police said the Army arrested the three men with the explosives found hidden in a fishing boat as the suspects prepared to set sail on Monday morning. Among the items seized were three kilograms of C-4 explosives, nine detonators and 25 gelignite sticks which could be used in a terrorist attack. The Kalkuda OIC said the suspects claimed the items were to be used for fishing. “You don’t need C-4 explosives for fishing. So we suspect other motives. We still don’t know who they are because they haven’t revealed much,” he said.However, an intelligence source with links to the TMVP identified the men as Pushpakumara Udaya, Ravindran and Kamalendren and said the suspects confessed to having obtained the explosives from a top TMVP operative in Vakarai.The source said the suspects might have either attempted to create mayhem in the east and blame it on the LTTE to further the cause of the TMVP to continue carrying weapons for security reasons or carry out some sort of attack in the South and again pin it on the Tigers.The Kalkuda OIC however said he was not aware of the suspects’ motives or where they got the explosives from as investigations were still proceeding. The TMVP could not be reached for comment. Sri Lanka markets off to a shaky start, rupee edges lower There was also active trading in Touchwood Investments Ltd (TIL), a forestry management firm whose accounting methods have generated controversy and which has reportedly been the subject of a takeover bid. Asiri Surgical and the Softlogic group have expressed interest in talking over Asha Central. The share price of Asha doubled in recent days while Asiri Surgical's price also rose. Sri Lanka Telecom shares settled down around 33 rupees with investors still trying to figure out the impact of Monday's Supreme Court ruling on tariffs on the telco's profits. The Supreme Court gave a ruling Monday under which SLT has to cut tariffs and shift to a per second based billing system by November 1. SLT said in a statement that the adjusted tariff "will represent not more than a maximum reduction of 9.03 percent of SLT’s domestic telephone revenue." Under the court settlement, in a case filed by a consumer rights group, it was also agreed that from January 1, 2007 to October 31, 2007, consumers will be provided a credit equivalent to 8.72 percent of the monthly bills that had been issued during the period. This credit will be provided in the November 2007 telephone bills. Brokers said the market is expected to move up next week mostly on retail investor interest and continuous buying by foreigners. Some 243,800 Touchwood shares changed hands in early morning trade with the price hitting 75 rupees compared with the close of 72 the previous trading day. Touchwood has been the subject of speculation following the announcement by Lanka Orix Leasing Company (LOLC) that it was in talks with the firm on recovering loans where TIL shares were pledged as security. But LOLC said at the time it would not make a mandatory offer to shareholders. Touchwood has got into a controversy over its accounting practices and valuation of its assets. Arjuna Dassanayake of DFCC Stockbrokers there appeared to be some profit taking with the end of the month approaching but that prices were expected to move up next week. "There is a little bit of interest from investors, mostly retail, and also there's been continuous foreign buying for the last two months. Foreigners have been net buyers – they've been collecting John Keells Holdings." Dassanayake said generally market conditions had improved. "Retailers have tasted a little bit of success in the last week or so. Low priced stocks have moved up. Policemen injured in blast An inspector and a constable attached to the Kaluwanchikudy police station in Batticaloa sustained serious injuries when their vehicle was targeted by an LTTE pressure mine in the Karadiyanaru area last evening.The inspector and his constable driver had reportedly gone to the Karadiyanaru area to inspect the construction work of the new police station to be established in Karadiyanaru on Sep.01. 00101.osopened on September 01. The police jeep was travelling through the Shanthimalai area when the mine exploded around 4.00 p.m. The duo who had sustained serious injuries were immediately rushed to the Batticaloa hospital in a critical condition, the police sources said. UNP to protest before HSBC Sri Lanka office Sri Lanka's major opposition United National Party (UNP) will have a demonstration before the Colombo HSBC bank tomorrow 12.30 PM to protest the bank and the government for dealing on a high interest loan that UNP says hateful to the state and the people. UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe has already written to the Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Holdings PLC, Stephen K. Green that the party would not honor the dollar bond under a future UNP administration. UNP has also informed this decision to the heads of J.P. Morgan Chase and Barclays PLC banks, the other two financial institutes involved in the deal. UNP also voiced suspicions over a huge kick back behind the US$ 500 million long term bond. The government says this loan is meant for infrastructure development in the country under ‘Randora’ (Golden Gate) programme. Bribery Commission investigates senior army officers The Commission to investigate Bribery or Corruption is currently investigating complaints against 16 senior Army officers, the commission said.It also said all complaints reported concerns earning huge sums of money illegally. So far the commission has recorded statements from five of the officers accused, concerning these allegations.Meanwhile, the commission said a large number of complaints have been received against a total of 170 military personnel. Sri Lanka's APRC party leaders to meet this evening The party leaders participating in the deliberations of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) of Sri Lanka will meet this afternoon in a crucial attempt to reach a consensus on several key issues. All the leaders of the APRC parties will attend the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka. The APRC is now limited to the parties of the government coalition since the major opposition United National Party (UNP) and the Marxist People’ Liberation Front (JVP) are boycotting it. The major Tamil constituent Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was not invited to the APRC. The proceedings of the APRC are now trapped in the differences between the parties over the nature of State and the unit of power devolution. Ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) opines maximum power devolution in a unitary state while smaller Sinhala parties often blamed for racial bias oppose power devolution. A large stock of weapons and explosives recovered in NE Security forces engaged in search operations in conflict areas recovered several sets of weapons and explosives including a large stock of Anti-Personal Mines in Vavuniya and Anuradhapura areas.Troops recovered a powerful claymore mine and 133 Anti-Personal Mines in Kuduruvittankulam in Vavuniya yesterday morning. Meanwhile troops also recovered some weapons and military equipment in Kattamankulam area in Saliyapura, Anuradhapura yesterday. A T-56 assault rifle, a jacket, two belts, four T-56 magazines, ammunition for 120 T-56 rifles and a pair of boots were among the items recovered. 'Restore' Iqbal Athas' security MiG-27 fighter jets The Ukrainian government, says Athas, has launched an investigation into the alleged high level corruption while purchasing the fighter jets which was supposed to be a government to government arms procurement.An intermediary company known as Belimissa Holdings registered in UK was named as the beneficiary of the purchase though the company cannot be traced in UK Company Register, according to Athas' revelations.The Sri Lanka government announced a parliamentary probe into the alleged corruption of the MiG-27 deal.The government has withdrawn the journalist's security, provided since last year after a security assessment, a day after the details appeared in Lankadeepa Sinhala daily. Protest near Athas' house A protest organised in front of his house led by a provincial council member of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) called on Athas to stop revealing 'sensitive' security information.SLWJA Secretary General, Poddala Jayantha, described Monday's protest as an 'systematic intimidation'."We view this protest as an attempt to stop his investigative journalism," Jayantha told BBC Sandeshaya.Athas' regular defence column did not appear on this week's Sunday Times.The journalist fears for his life and his family is also in danger as result of government's sudden decision, the newspaper said. M.I.A shows her stripes A NEW recording artist who finds success can expect many perks, including financial rewards. But perhaps the most exciting side benefit is the explosion of options.Superstars court you for collaborations. You get exclusive, V.I.P. invites.And you inch ever so closer to becoming part of music's mainstream. Rapper M.I.A. had all of that and more within her grasp after she released her debut CD, Arular - an exotic blend of intoxicating world rhythms made gritty by her hard-hitting, politically charged rhymes. The album was a critical success, sold a respectable 130,000 copies (according to Nielsen SoundScan), made her an indie-scene darling and got her raves from the likes of Pitchfork and The New York Times.But she couldn't partake of much of that good fortune, thanks to legal limbo that kept her out of the United States for a good part of the last two years _ unable to secure a long-term work visa to enter the country thanks to familial ties to guerrilla fighters in her homeland, Sri Lanka, and perhaps her own biting words on record. "After the `Arular' album I had financial freedom but I couldn't have the other sort of artistic freedom, because people sort of like scrutinizing the words I said, and I couldn't get a visa because of it," says M.I.A, who was born in London but spent most of her youth in the tumultuous Sri Lanka before settling in Britain with her mother and siblings."On the one hand, you get all the opportunities; you can go to Beverly Hills, you can work with Timbaland, you can go to Gwen Stefani's house, but you can't get in. Creditwise, all the artists are like, `Oh, she's really amazing,' but I couldn't go and participate in any of that."So instead of waiting for an invitation to come play in their world, M.I.A. retreated further into her own. She traveled the globe to record her sophomore album, Kala, but instead of heading to posh locales with state-of-the-art studios, she landed in places like war-torn Liberia, spent time with Aborigines in Australia, drummers in India and musicians in Trinidad, resulting in an album that has a decidedly Third World perspective - one that's not heard nearly enough in music today, in M.I.A.'s opinion."The thing is, an American voice, in every shape, form, size, is getting heard all over the world. If you go to a mud hut in Africa, they are listening to an American voice," M.I.A. says with her distinct British accent. "(But) a two-way exchange can exist." M.I.A. (real name: Maya Arulpragasam) helped further that exchange with the 2005 release of Arular, a dizzying mix of reggae, rap and other genres that made for an eclectic, fresh new sound. With her striking looks and deft rhyming skills, she was one of the few rappers from overseas to make a dent in the American rap scene."M.I.A., missing in action, going to start a revolution," she chants on one the album's skits.In the meantime, M.I.A. had already decamped from London, so for the next two years, she was in essence, homeless, leaving her out of sorts and unsettled."Personally I just needed a home, like I needed somewhere that I could just have a train of thought and live with it and then wake up tomorrow and have the same train of thought," she says wistfully.However, not being able to record in the United States with A-list producers may have enhanced her artistic endeavours, as she layered her album input from far-flung places."India gave me the bulk of it musically, just building the elements, and then Trinidad just gave me loads of inspiration to put those elements together and create songs and light a certain vibe," she says.Of course, it's not just the sound that makes the album unique - it's the words the accompany it, and they are still fierce. On Kala, she references warlords, raps with the artist Afrikan Boy about poverty, and talks about oppression of the world's poor. But she's not as blatantly political as she was on Arular. "I had to morph," she says with a coy smile. "I'm going to get into more trouble for saying this, but it was morphing from being lyrically political into just living political and being comfortable with that. Sometimes you don't have to shout out about stuff."It's kind of like what people say about money: they say that money talks but wealth whispers, and I think you can apply that to being political."That approach may have paid off: early this summer, she finally gained her work visa, and celebrated by relaxing in her New York apartment.Though it took her two years to get settled in, in the end, M.I.A. doesn't feel as if she's lost anything by not being in the United States. In fact, she thinks it was the United States that may have come out the loser for the delay."Me not being able to get into the country actually forced me to go to Africa and India, which actually works out worse for whoever wants me to shut up, because the worst thing you can do is make Africa look cool, or like make India look cool," she says. "They just made it a step closer for a bridge to get built between modern developing countries and modern Third World and America, which is what needs to happen." 28 August 2007 Enough is enough I read recently that one nationalist political party had condemned the APRC’s proposals and poured scorn on Prof. Vitharana who had chaired the APRC meetings.I think it is time that the rational section of our society called a halt to tolerating the nonsense that emanates from this political party. Despite often conflicting falsehoods MPs of all political parties are collectively responsible for having sold their permits, breaking the law and enriching themselves. According to Minister Fernandopulle he has been as guilty in this respect as the rest. No party has been innocent in this regard; an indication of the depths of corruption that our politicians have sunk to. In these circumstances we do not have to pay any respect to any politician’s views. Everybody’s views, will need to be examined in the light of reason. The particular party is against the APRC’s proposals because they appear to be federalist in nature – even more federalist than the Indian model according to them. And what is wrong with that? There are many countries that are federalist in nature and they are all doing better than Sri Lanka. To mention a few, there are India, the USA, Switzerland, UK, Australia and Belgium. Practically every aspect of life in those countries is superior to what prevails in Sri Lanka today. So there is absolutely no reason why federalism should be abhorred, or even feared. We should therefore dismiss their views on Federalism as worthless. Most of their views are based on ignorance. They are under the impression that in the USA all revenue is collected by the centre and doled out to the states. This is nonsensical. The states have their own taxes in addition to the federal taxes collected by the centre.These parties are our local equivalent of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Evangelical extremists in the USA. They are fundamentalists who, while they would not kill directly for their faith, are quite prepared to condemn the masses to poverty and deprivation, through their ignorant economic policies. They are vehemently against Privatisation that has worked wonders in the fields of telecommunication and insurance to mention just two irrefutable examples. Like the Taliban their hostility is based on ideological grounds, not on practical considerations. They do not realize that government should not be engaged in commercial activity. Every one of the government institutions that engage in it is running at a loss or a miniscule profit. State Owned Enterprises are a burden on the exchequer (which means all of us) and only serve to enable politicians to give employment to their supporters and relations. I am playing here the role of the child who pointed out that the Emperor had no clothes. Most people do not have the courage to do this. But when it is pointed out everyone is quick to agree. Unfortunately all politicians today tend to smell bad because the actions of quite a few are beneath contempt.Why do I keep addressing my remarks to ‘the rational sections of society’? The reason is that a large number of our citizens have become fundamentalist (and therefore irrational) in their views. It is they who think that our present problem is a terrorist one, not an ethnic one. They do not realize that terrorism both here, and in Iraq, and in Afghanistan, and in Pakistan, has its roots in some deep provocation. They cannot see it because of their fundamental intolerance. They lack the empathy to put themselves in the shoes of a terrorist. It must take enormous hatred to make a suicide bomber. We must ask ourselves what has caused this hatred, and try to eradicate those causes. The proposals of the APRC go some way towards removing some of the frustrations and injustices that those who are not in the Western Province have suffered. Our fundamentalists have no idea of the huge difference in the quality of life of those in the Western Province (the Centre) from that of those in the periphery. That is what the APRC proposals are all about. Humanist Omanthai opens longer amidst fighting The Omanthai crossing point leading into LTTE-controlled areas opened for civilian traffic yesterday under the new schedule where it was agreed by both the government and the LTTE to open the key route for five days of the week as to the earlier three days a week. The key crossing point was opened amidst reports that at least nine LTTE cadres were killed and five soldiers injured following confrontations along the west of Omanthai in Kallikulam and Thampanai during the past 48 hours. The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said troops had also recovered a large stock of weapons during the same period. The Omanthai crossing point was opened after both the government and the LTTE met the ICRC at separate meetings last week and agreed on the new schedule to facilitate the transport of essential items and civilian traffic to the Vanni. The route was earlier opened only during three days of the week. Mr. Ten Percent becomes Mr. Five Percent; Kick back Rs. 2.5 Billion Information are pouring on a huge kick back of Rs. 2.5 billion a relative of a top level government leader is to obtain as commission from a loan of Rs. 55 billion the state is to obtain from international financial market.Lanka-e-News learns that a former CEO of People’s bank, Derrick Kelly, whose contract was not extended by the government, is the intermediary in this deal. The expressed interest of this loan is 7%. However, the banking experts point out that when the 5% libor rate and the 4-5% rupee depreciation rate are considered, the actual interest would be 16% per annum.Making a special statement in the parliament, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe said that the government had submitted details of the 50 million dollar long term bond to the agents of HSBC, HSBC JC, Morgan and Barclays Banks without tabling in the parliament.The government has secretly agreed to these banks to cut the budget for subsidies up to 3.9% of GDP from current 5.6% GDP, said the Opposition Leader. He said that the cut would lead to reductions in Samurdhi and fertilizer subsidies and services such as health and education. The Opposition Leader questioned from the President at the Nittambuwa Janarala rally what kind of fraud is behind this loan of $ 50 million. He further said that all these malpractices would open the Golden Gate (Ran Dora) of Percy Mahinda Rajapakse."These funds will not go to the Southern Expressway or the Puttalam - Padeniya road for which money has been already allocated," said Mr. Wickramasinghe enquiring what the fraudulent motive behind this deal. The Opposition Leader further said that he had already informed the heads of these banks in writing that a future UNP government would not pay back this loan. Responding to the Opposition Leader's statement at the parliament, Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka said in his long statement that this historic bond would give guidelines even to the country's private sector to obtain credit from international financial market. He said that the procedure for the credit was revealed to the parliament since 2006 through budgets and the loan would be invested in the development of infrastructure of the country.The bond will strengthen the rupee, reduce the interest rate, enhance the balance of payment, increase the foreign deposits and develop infrastructure such as road network, power generation, harbors, airports, irrigation and water supply, said the Premier. The Opposition Leader who knows these has got upset and is threatening not to pay back the loan due to his hypocrisy, he further said.Meanwhile, the UNP has decided to hold an agitation before the HSBC Bank in Bambalapitiya to protest the government on 30 August at 12.30 PM. UNP General Secretary Thissa Aththanayaka will lead the protest campaign. No info on Tiger ‘cub’ handover, says UNICEF UNICEF said it had no knowledge of an alleged handover of LTTE child soldiers in Ampara today after the rebels claimed that a group of ‘Tiger’ cubs were attacked by the Special Task Force (STF) last night. The LTTE claimed that the child soldiers were being transported to Ampara last night in preparation for the handover today when they came under STF attack. The STF however said they attacked a group of LTTE cadres who were fleeing from Kanjikudichchiaru in Ampara, causing heavy damages to the Tigers. “We just attacked a group of LTTE cadres when they tried to escape to Sangamankanda Point area around 8.30 pm,” a senior STF official from the area said. He said the LTTE cadres fired at the troops with small arms.The official also said that later the STF found a T-56 weapon from the area during a search operation and also noticed blood stains on the ground, raising suspicion that several LTTE cadres had been seriously injured or killed.He also said that during the last few days, the Tigers had made several attempts to escape from Kanjikudichchiaru to Sangamankanda Point.UNICEF spokesman Gordon Weiss said they were not aware of a handover of child soldiers as claimed by the LTTE. There were fears that some of the child soldiers may have been killed or injured in the clash. Sri Lanka rupee at 13th straight low, stocks firmer Sri Lanka's rupee weakened to a 13th consecutive life closing low on Monday as importers bought dollars to settle trade bills amid a lack of dollar liquidity in the market while shares gained, dealers said. The rupee closed at 112.82/112.90 per dollar, surpassing the previous life low of 112.68/112.75 hit on Friday. The local currency has hit a series of new all-time lows in recent months. The rupee weakened by 0.68 percent last week alone after the central bank temporarily lifted restrictions on its reverse repurchase agreement window, which it imposed in January to help curb bank credit and contain inflation, to ease a liquidity crunch. The window is now shut again. "Importer demand and a lack of liquidity made the dollar more attractive. Although the central bank intervened in the foreign exchange market through a state bank, it couldn't control the weakening of the rupee today," said one currency dealer. Some analysts expect the rupee to weaken to as much as 118-120 per dollar by the end of the year. Others are eyeing 114 per dollar. The rupee has depreciated 5 percent so far this year, after weakening by the same amount in 2006. The rupee is steadily depreciating mainly due to trade-related moves in an economy that runs a hefty trade deficit because of costly fuel imports and the impact of inflation. The Colombo All Share index closed 0.36 percent stronger at 2,484.68 points, a rise of 9.0 points. Bourse heavyweight and No.1 mobile phone operator Dialog Telekom rose by 1.15 percent to 22.00 rupees a share as calculated on a weighted average. Leading fixed-line telephone operator Sri Lanka Telecom closed unchanged at 33.00 rupees a share while conglomerate John Keells Holdings also ended flat at 129.00 rupees. Vanik Incorporation , Venture Capital , and Kshatriya holdings were the most traded stocks. Vanik shares rose by 5.88 percent to 1.80 rupees a share while Kshatriya Holdings ended 6.12 percent firmer at 13 rupees a share. Venture Capital closed 1.37 percent weaker at 18.00 rupees a share. "Retail participation was higher as most of the lower value (price) counters attracted (small investors)," said Harsha Fernando, CEO at SC Securities in Colombo. Market turnover was 135.7 million rupees ($1.2 million), a fraction of last year's average daily trading volume of around 400 million rupees. The index has fallen around 18 percent since life highs in mid-February amid escalating war between the state and Tamil Tiger rebels and high interest rates, which have prompted some investors to turn to fixed deposits and bonds. The bourse is down around 9 percent so far this year, with renewed war between the state and Tamil Tiger rebels hurting sentiment. For more technical analysis of the Colombo Stock Exchange by the reuters please go to www.reutersindia.net/sri%20lanka.htm. Call rates fell to 15.274 percent from 15.851 percent on Friday as calculated on a weighted average. (US$1 = 112.86 rupees) SLMM concerned over Gotabhaya’s comments The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) has noted that recent statements made by the government and the LTTE - undermine the good intentions or violate the spirit of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA). The SLMM concerns follow the comments made over the weekend by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who said the government would make a military push for the Wanni despite President Mahinda Rajapaksa seemingly saying on numerous occasions the doors for peace negotiations with the LTTE were still open.“The SLMM observes and monitors these statements and will comment on them in its regular report to the Parties,” the SLMM said Monday.UNP frontliner Lakshman Kiriella also raised questions as to whether the statement made by the Defence Secretary was a sinister move to substantiate future attempts by the state to purchase more “old aircraft like the MiG-27 fighter jets”.“It is surprising (the comments by the Defence Secretary) because we got to know that the President had sent a secret message to the LTTE with the intension of resuming peace talks. As usual it seems the government does not know what it is doing. Maybe they are just trying to get more 25 year old planes or flying coffins,” the UNP MP said in response to what was said by the Defence Secretary. With the government moving ahead with the establishment of civil administration in the east Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on Sunday said the entire Wanni region also would be cleared in the very near future.He assured that the state would not keep room for the LTTE to regain control of the east by encouraging an unstable political situation in the South.Kirielle said the comments by the Defence Secretary raised more confusion as it came at a time when the President was pursuing political consensus for a final negotiated settlement through the All Party Representative Committee (APRC).Government Defence spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle however said at no point was the government saying the doors for peace were closed but it was only keen on ensuring the LTTE had no choice but to enter negotiations from a position of weakness.“The best way to get the LTTE to come for talks is for us to be in a position of strength. After the military liberated the east the LTTE has no choice but to come for talks or we will have to take appropriate measures even in the north for the sake of national security,” Minister Rambukwelle said.Commenting on SLMM’s notion that the CFA was being violated frequently, Minister Rambukwelle said the government would not allow the ceasefire monitors to dictate terms to the state when it came to national security. Born of political skullduggery, lived a rulers’ tool...another sham WARS can be won militarily, but winning the war for people’s hearts and minds is the ultimate victory. The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa strongly believes that its war on terror against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will end in a resounding victory.But it has miserably failed to win the hearts and minds of the people through a political solution that will assure the minority Tamil community that their socio-economic and political grievances will be addressed meaningfully. Yes, the administration upon assuming office in December 2005 appointed an all-party representative committee (APRC) to reach a southern consensus on a political solution to end the near quarter-century war. But the process appears to be more a device adopted to silence international criticism of the government’s war which has brought hardship on the people, especially those living in the north and the east of the country. When the APRC was first convened in July last year, many an independent analyst who has seen similar processes in the past being killed and buried in controversy, might have wanted to write an advance epitaph — “Born out of political skullduggery, lived as a tool of rulers, here lies just another sham.”To resolve the three-decade-old conflict, we have resorted to bipartisan and all-party mechanisms since 1983. In fact, with each change of government, a new all-party mechanism has come into being. Like every all-party mechanisms, the Rajapaksa-appointed one also began with much hope but a year later it is a damp squib. Rajapaksa shows little or no urgency to provide the credibility it badly lacks while critics hit out at the process, saying it is a time-buying exercise and an attempt to mislead the international community. Addressing the first meeting of the APRC, this was what Rajapaksa said:“Successive governments have taken initiatives to resolve our national problem without much success, which points to a weakness which we need to overcome. However we have the capability, the values and the commitment to do so. In the past we may not have demonstrated the political courage to take the bold decisive steps necessary, and as a result have failed to improve the quality of life of our people leading to dashed hopes and aspirations, not to mention lost opportunities. “I regard it as my bounden duty to do my best with all sincerity and commitment, however difficult the task is, to strive for peace on behalf of all our people. I will take whatever measures necessary to bring peace with honour and justice to my country; your country; our country.”I read the statement again and again. Idealistically-inspired words of a genuine peacemaker, I thought then, though in my sub-conscience I remained a sceptic. Rajapaksa urged the APRC to be creative and imaginative in working out a made-in-Sri Lanka solution. His only warning was that the solution “must exclude any division of the country”. He had a message for the Sinhala majority when he said that “it behoves the majority community to be proactive in striving for peace and there must be a demonstration of a well stretched hand of accommodation”.In retrospect, these words sound empty rhetoric. Today, political survival of his regime appears to supersede the national question with Rajapaksa adjourning the APRC sessions at a time when its chairman, veteran socialist Tissa Vitharana, wants to release the final draft worked out by 14 parties after 40 sittings. The main opposition United National Party withdrew from the process accusing Rajapaksa of splitting the party. The main Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance, which is an LTTE proxy, is also not in the APRC, while the LTTE has slammed the process as “a political drama to dress-up unitary constitution”. Rajapaksa, the very person who urged the APRC to come out with creative imaginative solutions last year, is reported to have urged Vitharana to include the word “unitary” to describe the nature of the state. He has apparently made the request, fearing reprisals from ultranationalist parties, on whom he depends for his political survival and a parliamentary majority. The ultranationalists — the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, the Jathika Hela Urumaya and the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna which together count for some 50 seats in parliament — remind Rajapaksa of a solemn pledge he gave the nation in his 2005 election manifesto that he would ensure that Sri Lanka would remain a unitary state. Rajapaksa also badly needs their support to get the budget passed in November.But Tamil parties within the APRC and outside it have rejected the unitary concept and called for a federal set up. A majority of eminent persons in the expert panel which assisted the APRC in their report described Sri Lanka as a “united” country consisting of regions. But their report drew fire from ultranationalists. Rajapaksa has demonstrated he lacked the political courage to accommodate the views of the minority, though he in his speech to the APRC’s first meeting urged the Sinhalese to demonstrate “a well-stretched hand of accommodation”.Like most of our leaders, Rajapaksa also has proved that he is a politician first and then a statesman. The president is in a dilemma. If he approves the APRC document that rejects the unitary state concept, he loses the nationalist’s support. If he rejects it, he will be seen as offering nothing to the Tamils in terms of power-sharing and the international community is likely to see some justification in the LTTE accusation that the Sinhala government would never agree to meaningful power-sharing. 27 August 2007 Government doesn’t want to solve the Tamil problem---Eelaventhan in Parliament M.K.Eelaventhan, TNA parliamentarian told the House that Tamils will not accept any proposals with district or province as unit of devolution. They want a meaningful federal solution akin to India. He further told the House that the education of the Tamil children in the north- east is in a very bad state. Tamil students are killed. Schools in the east have become refugee camps. There is no atmosphere congenial for studies in the north-east. He added that the studies of the upcountry Tamil students are also affected. Several Tamil schools in the Upcountry are closed. Sinhala Principals are appointed as heads of Tamil schools in the upcountry. The government is not interested in solving the problems of the Tamil people. 9 Tamil rebels killed attacks in north: Lankan military Civilian casualties in air strikes, says SLMM The SLMM meanwhile also said according to the mandate of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) signed in February 2002 it was not a violation for the LTTE to carry arms as long as it was within the limitations of the Agreement.“By entering into the CFA, the parties have obliged themselves to total cessation of all military action, hereunder also not to move munitions, explosives or military equipment into the area controlled by the other,” the SLMM said. It further adds that its position is that only the security forces should carry arms in government controlled areas and welcomed recent statements by high-ranking government officials about disarming paramilitaries in the East, which is according to article 1.8 of the CFA.The SLMM report also notes that it visited the hospital in Madhu, which reported that they lacked medicine due to difficulties in obtaining Government clearance for the transport across the Ulyiankulam Entry/Exit point. SLMM monitors in Kilinochchi also noted concerns regarding the rising commodity prices and difficulties in obtaining travel permission out of the Vanni. Sri Lanka Defense Secretary says the operations to liberate north will begin Sri Lanka's Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says that the operations to liberate the Northern Province areas from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) hold will begin shortly. Addressing the gathering at a passing out ceremony of Advanced Assault Group of the Civil Defense Force held in Galkiriyagama Higher Training School, the Defense Secretary said that the government would not inherit the terrorism to the future generations. Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier led the military campaign to capture the Eastern Province from the LTTE. Claymore mine recovered A claymore mine was recovered from a private building near Dalada Maligawa in Kandy yesterday. The recovery comes two days before the conclusion of the annual Esala Perahera.Meanwhile two other claymore mines with a combined weight of 15 kg were recovered by the army in Kalpitiya following a tip off by civilians yesterday. The two mines were laid out to explode simultaneously along the Padaviya Road.On a tip off received by Kalpitiya police, OIC Lakshman Ranwalaarachchi, a special police team searched a coconut estate close to Kurungganampitiya Junction on the Kalpitiya-Palaviya and found the two claymore mines hidden close to the road. All traffic on the road was stopped immediately and a joint special search operation was mounted by the police, the army and the Navy covering the entire area. A bomb disposal squad from the Puttalam army camp has been summoned to defuse the bombs.It is suspected that the bombs would have been targeted either a higher police official or a political leader who was scheduled to visit the area. During the last few weeks large amount of explosives have been recovered from the Chilaw police division.Chilaw SSP Roshan Fernando at the last moment cancelled a bi-annual inspection visit on Kalpitiya police scheduled about three days ago. Myanmar acting PM Thein Sein visits Sri Lanka Sri Lanka has so far injected one million U.S. dollars' investment in Myanmar since 1988, Myanmar statistics show.In November last year, Myanmar agreed with Sri Lanka to establish direct air and sea links to effectively boost bilateral trade ties between the two countries as proposed by Sri Lanka.Currently, trade between Myanmar and Sri Lanka is transacted through Singapore.Myanmar and Sri Lanka have enjoyed cultural and religious ties since the 11th century.Myanmar and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations 59 years ago and both of the countries are now members of the subregional grouping of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) which also comprises Bangladesh, India and Thailand.The BIMSTEC was originally formed with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand in June 1997 and later joined by Myanmar in August the same year. The grouping expanded its membership to include Nepal and Bhutan at the first BIMST-EC summit in Bangkok in July 2004. JVP warns govt. The JVP called on the government in Parliament not to make Ceylon Petroleum Storage Ltd (CPSTL), which is currently under CPC, an independent entity, and not to satisfy Indian Oil Company Limited (IOC) warning that it will have to face dire consequences if it goes ahead with it. JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa who making a special statement in Parliament charged that there is a plan to handover the oil trade to multinational companies. He said CPC, IOC and the treasury own a 1/3 stake of CPSTL each and it is currently managed by CPC. However, Mr. Weerawansa charged that there is a plan to make it an independent entity to satisfy the foreign companies by several persons whom he called ‘economic assassins’. “Making CPSTL an independent company is nothing but handing it over to a foreign company,” Mr. Weerawansa pointed out. He explained that if CPSTL is handed over to the private sector there would be no one to purchase the oil which is refined by the CPC. He informed the House that IOC does not purchase from the local refinery. The JVP Parliamentary Group Leader also charged that the fuel prices in Sri Lanka were not revised due to oil price in the world market. He therefore said the new prices were computed by adding a part of the burden of the debt, which the CEB owes to CPC. He charged that the IOC is enjoying a profit of Rs 10 for each litre of petrol. “This is because the IOC is not involved in the large debt of CEB. He complained that several trade union members of the CPC who educated the workers on the situation are being hunted by the government. Isn’t it essential to reduce the market share of IOC and increase the market share of CCPC?” he asked. Not easy for LTTE to infiltrate Tamil Nadu - Indian Coastguard Tamil Nadu Police denied reports that a ‘red alert’ has been declared along the south-east coast. “We are always on alert and there is no need for any sudden alert”, police officials told PTI referring to reports in a section of the media. Routine checks and combing operations were being done by the police. The Navy and Coastguard also have been doing the same, they said adding “as Security Forces, they have to be alert”. The Coastguard officials denied reports of infiltration by LTTE. “Infiltration is not easy now as the monitoring system has been fine-tuned. Further, we have state-of-the-art facilities to monitor the sea and the skies”, a Coastguard official told PTI. Referring to search operations on Thursday night, they said it was not conducted as part of any alert. “It was a surprise check, not even based on any information...an exercise, that’s all”. Moreover, the coastal security guards were undergoing training in various activities such as using of night vision binoculars and patrolling in the sea, they added. Government has all the resources to fight the LTTE: Gotabhaya With the government moving ahead with the establishment of civil administration in the east Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said the entire Vanni region will also be cleared in the very near future and also assured that the state will not give room for the LTTE to regain control of the east by encouraging an unstable political situation in the South."Our main desire is to liberate the remaining areas in the Vanni from the LTTE soon like we did in the east and make a self sufficient economy in the country," the defence secretary said during a passing out ceremony of the Civil Defence Department or Home Guards at the department Training Centre in Galkiriyagama.Speaking further Mr. Rajapakse said the government has all the resources to fight the LTTE and bring about peace to the entire country. "We have enough military hardware and talented three forces commanders and soldiers who are committed to their duty so it is easy to defeat the LTTE and bring about peace," he said. According to Defence secretary the government had to limit development activities in the country as large sums of money was spent for the war against the LTTE and training purposes but asserted that "President Mahinda Rajapaksa does not like to give that excuse." He also said that during the last 25 years many claimed that they had captured the east but the LTTE manage do regain control after creating political instability. "This time we would not let it happen, we should not let our children to face the war," he said.Commenting on the Civil Defence Department the defence secretary said that earlier home guards posed a major threat to the LTTE but the talent had dropped drastically because the lack of proper leadership. Praising the current Director General of the CDD Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara, Mr. Rajapaksa said "the proper leadership brought the CDD to this stand and since 2005 the force's strength increased by 20,000." JHU MP Ellawala Medananda thero, Chief of defence staff Donald Perera and several others attended the event where 142 personnel who followed special training passed out. Thandikulam students’ murder case transferred to Madawatchi; parents perturbed The hearing of the murder of 5 students of the Vavuniya Agricultural College was transferred to the Madawatchi Courts. The parents of the deceased students are perturbed over the transfer of the case to Madawatchi. 5 students of the Vavuniya Agricultural College were killed and 12 were injured, when men in uniform entered the premises of the college and fired at them following a claymore bomb explosion in the vicinity on Nov 18, 2006. The case was heard before Vavuniya Magistrate M.Elanmcheliyan.A team of police officers led by A.S.P.Gajasinghe coducted inquiries and produced two suspects in Court. One of the suspects was identified by members of the security forces on duty at an identification parade. Court of Appeal transferred the case to the Madawatchi Courts following an application by the suspects. Soldiers killed, knocked down by train Two soldiers were killed yesterday morning when the Colombo-Vavuniya train knocked them down at Nawakkulama in Medawachchiya.The accident occurred at about 12.30 p.m. The two soldiers were riding a motorcycle and were passing an unprotected railway crossing when the express train hit them. The trailer bike that the soldiers were riding had been dragged to about 200 metres down the railway line after being hit.The soldiers were killed on the spot. The train had reached Vavuniya railway station about 45 minutes late because of the accident.Medawachchiya police are conducting inquiries. Abductions and disappearances are more in the Jaffna peninsula at present ---PAFFREL In its media release, PAFFREl has pointed out that although abductions and disappearances have dropped relatively in the country, these incidents have increased in the Jaffna peninsula. The reports state that following actions taken by the police have helped to reduce such incidents. Following pressure from the international community and the appointment of a commission of inquiry by the President, these incidents have dropped. The report stressed that the government has a greater responsibility than any other agency in the country to put an end to acts of violence. Two LTTE war heroes cemeteries in Batticaloa destroyed by Sri Lanka military Sri Lankan military that is in control of the Paduvankarai area in Batticaloa bulldozed the two major war heroes memorial of the LTTE to the ground soon after it moved into the area a few weeks ago. The Tharavai war heroes’ cemetery, the largest in the east, was destroyed in June this year. The Thandiyadi war heroes’ cemetery, the second largest in the east, located in the middle of civilian settlement, was also bulldozed without any trace. The destruction of these two war heroes cemeteries in Tharavai and Thandiyadi in Batticaloa are only the last of the long list of war heroes’ cemeteries of the LTTE destroyed by “victorious” Sri Lankan military. 26 August 2007 Minority parties express discontent over rejection of federal set-up Difference of opinion among political parties, has once again brought the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) at a deadlock.It is reported that there is disagreement between the parties as to whether or not the ‘unitary character’ of the state should be preserved when reaching a final solution to the ethnic conflict.The Chief Government Whip and senior Minister, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle announced the latest stance of the government concerning the final solution to the national question last week. “We will agree to any solution based on devolution of power to the maximum while preserving the unitary state” he said at a media briefing.Meanwhile, the main opposition, the United National Party has withdrawn from the APRC expressing pessimism that it would not produce any positive results.It is also reported that the minority parties in the APRC have expressed their discontent regarding the rejection of a federal setup and the stubbornness of the ruling party to stick to the ‘unitary state’.Lakbimanews sought the views of political leaders representing minority parties on this issue. Here are excerpts: Leader of the National Unity Alliance and Minister Ferial Ashraff: There are a lot of discussions to be done as far as the APRC is concerned. Discussions are necessary to deal with sensitive issues such as the national question. I view the APRC very positively. I don’t think this is the right time to make conclusive remarks about the APRC.I am optimistic about it. The fact that the President has got the representatives of the political parties to sit and discuss these issues itself is very optimistic. Leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front Anandasangari: Even the SLFP was committed to a federal solution few years back. The UNP won over 49 per cent of popular votes contesting on a federal platform. Why are they harping on these terms? That is why I suggested that both the terms ‘unitary’ and ‘federal’ be dropped from any final solution to the national crisis. Let them conduct a referendum. I am sure, over 80 per cent of the people will vote for a federal solution. I am not blaming the President. I know he is pressurized by certain elements. Such people are the stumbling blocks in the path. They should go and see those who have lost their limbs and lives due to the war - those who are left widows. I am saying this because I am feeling the pinch. I am a person who has lost six people in my family to the war.If the country’s destiny is to be doomed, what can we do? No one is thinking about the suffering of the people.I am not talking about the Tamils alone, but the whole population. War is the cause of the escalation in the prices of goods. TNA’s Batticaloa district parliamentarian Pakkiays-elvam Ariyanethiran : we never had any hope in this APRC drama. Whether they postpone it indefinitely or submit their proposals immediately, we are not bothered about it at all. We know that it will be of no use. They are just trying to make the international community believe that they are concerned about finding a solution. All these efforts are pretentious. Leader of the Eelam Peoples’ Democratic Party and Minister Douglas Devananda: We have always stood for power sharing at the centre and autonomy for the North - East and a permanently merged North and East as a single Province. If the political parties in the South are stubborn on sticking to the ‘unitary state’ then it will necessitate the Tamil parties to demand for a ‘federal state’. There are numerous examples all around the world where power has been shared to the maximum level both within a federal structure as well as a federal set up.Whether the final solution should be based on a federal model or a unitary one is only a political issue. But when it comes to ground reality, one needs to find ways in which the problem could be solved without persisting on such labels. Ceylon Workers’ Congress Vice President R. Yogarajan: It is untrue to say that the APRC is stuck in a deadlock. Deliberations are going on. We will have to wait and see what will happen. Now it is too early to predict anything. When National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and Deputy Minister, K.A.Baiz was contacted, he declined to comment on the issue saying he was not authorized to do so and directed us to contact the party leader Rauf Hakeem, Party Chairman Basheer Cegu Dawood or Secretary General Hasan Ali. While minister Hasan Ali is abroad, several attempts to contact the other two ministers of the SLMC proved futile. APRC Sessions Suspended! The All Party Representative Committee (APRC), which is at the centre of a controversy, will not meet again until the party leaders sort out their differences, The Nation reliably learns.The APRC last met on August 23 (Thursday) to discuss core issues. However, the meeting ended inconclusively following Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka’s verbal assaults on APRC Chairman, Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana. The derogatory remarks made against the COPE chairman by Ranawaka also led to Prof. Vitharana threatening to quit the APRC.As the party leaders have not been able to iron out their differences over the core issues, the scheduled meeting of APRC will also not be held tomorrow (August 27).Already the APRC is sharply divided over one of the principal core issues – the power sharing mechanism.Speaking to The Nation Prof. Vitharana admitted that the APRC will not meet until the party leaders agreed on the core issues. He however did not wish to give more details.According to inside sources there is an attempt by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) to scuttle the process.Sources said these parties were planning to mount pressure on the APRC chairman to start discussing matters from the beginning. Already the APRC has conducted about 40 meetings and was on the verge of discussing the core issue last week to finish its findings.According to sources if the APRC had arrived at a decision the findings could have been handed over to the All Party Conference (APC) chairman President Mahinda Rajapakse this week.Tamil National Alliance (TNA) sources meanwhile expressed disappointment over the near collapse of the APRC and said they do not expect miracles from the APRC. Meanwhile Prof. Vitharana maintained that the APRC will work towards its ultimate objective and deliver whatever that was good for the future of the country. JHU to stay in APRC The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday said that they will not pull out from the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) though they do not accept the APRC proposals made by its Chairman, Professor Tissa Vitharana. JHU spokesman, Nishantha Sri Warnasingha speaking to The Nation said, “We met President, Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday, and expressed our disapproval of the proposals made by Prof. Vitharana, which indicate a federal solution for the North and East conflict. The President assured us that he will discuss this at the party leaders’ conference and reach a decision soon.”He also said that the SLFP was trying to apply the word “unitary” and accept the APRC proposals, adding that this would be an eyewash, since the Vitarana proposals are completely federal in nature. “These proposals are completely federal, and the JHU will not support a federal solution. The SLFP, by just applying the word “unitary”, is trying to accept the proposals. And, if the SLFP accepts these proposals, the government will not only be violating the mandate of the people but also, the pre-election pact President Rajapaksa made with the JHU. So, we hope that the government will reject these proposals,” the spokesman said. I am Not planing to Visit Srilankan soon - Erik Solheim I am Not planing to Visit Srilankan soon - Erik Solheim, Srilankan Peace Envoy with world's media to North Pole.Nearly 100 journalists from all over the world visited to the Global Seed Vault, which is under construction on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. Construction work on the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGS) started in April 2007 and the first bastings were performed in May.The facility will be opened on 28 February 2008. The visit to the facility will be lead by Project Manager Magnus Bredeli Tveiten from the Norwegian construction body Statsbygg. Part of the tour will include press briefings by Environment Minister Helen Bjoernoey, the head of the UN's Climate Secretariat Yvo de Boer, Development Minister and Srilankan Special Peace Envoy Erik Solheim, Head of Secretariat Cary Fowler from Global Crop Diversity Trust and the governor of Svalbard. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is being constructed as a cave excavated into the permafrost just outside Longyearbyen which in near to North pole.The SGS is intended to ensure genetic variety for the world's food plants by storing duplicates of seed collections from gene banks all over the world, and will have storage capacity for over four million different seeds. If a seed is lost somewhere in the world due to natural disasters, war or resource shortages, it can be re-established with seeds from Svalbard. When media ask about Srilanka Development Minister and Srilankan Special Peace Envoy Erik Solheim's said He is not planning to travel soon Police accused of murder and torture The Police has allegedly tortured a 20-year-old man after hanging him from the ceiling and the Magistrates Court had, allegedly, ignored allegations of torture despite observing the wounds he has suffered, a leading rights body charged last week .This is one in a series of allegations against police brutality on suspects. The latest allegations came in the wake of an alleged custodial death of a youth held in the cell at the Ratgama police.The youth, Thadallage Chamil Weerasena earlier died in the cell, allegedly after being tortured by the Ratgama police.In the latest incident, the victim, Meera Mohideen Gafar who had surrendered to Police had been assaulted, while he was hung from the ceiling, the Asian Human Rights Commission charged last week.The victim had been accompanied by his lawyer, Kularatna Bandara, to the Galaha Police Station when he was summoned by the Assistant Superintendent of Police, to inquire into a murder that took place at the end of July 2007.Police officers have allegedly tortured him by hanging him from the ceiling inside the Galaha Police station , while he was being interrogated. JVP rejects Mangala’s invitation to join hands The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has rejected the invitation by former Minister Mangala Samaraweera asking it to join the National Council made up of the SLFP Mahajana Wing and the UNP. The JVP says that it will not be part of an alliance in which the United National Party (UNP) is a principle partner.JVP Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday speaking to The Nation said “There is no disagreement in the fact that the existing government should be toppled. The government is not in a state to take the country forward economically or socially. Instead, it is committing fraud and cheating its own people. “There is no disagreement over the fact that this government should change. But we do not believe that uniting with the UNP is the way to do so, and therefore we refuse Samaraweera’s invitation and respect his right to act as he pleases and fall into a pit of corruption, but we will not follow his example.”Dissanayake further said that every charge that the UNP was presenting against the government were charges that could be levelled against the UNP itself. “Under a UNP government, parliamentarians who do not have ministries will become ministers and instead of one bunch of thieves, our country will get another bunch of thieves,” said Dissanayake. Trade union vows to topple government The JVP affiliated National Trade Union Center (NTUC) has decided to topple the government if it continues with its trade union suppression, Chairman, NTUC, JVP Parliamentarian K.D. Lalkantha said. Lalkantha told The Sunday Leader that unless the government stops trade union suppression and delivers acceptable solutions to the working class, the NTUC as a responsible trade union would take all necessary action to send the government home. "Although the NTUC is not a political party it has a powerful arm to make vital decisions to topple a government and to bring an administration that could solve the burning issues faced by the people. So instead of treading on the correct path if the government tries to control the masses forcibly using its resources there would be no other option but to work towards toppling this inefficient government," claimed Lalkantha.Accusing the government for taking the Teachers Trade Union members into custody for boycotting the A/L paper marking, Lalkantha said that this was not the first time it has happend and would not be the last occurrence as well if it continues to ignore the government's attempts to controll the trade unions. Government sidelines Karuna, promotes new front in East In a significant shift of strategy and political alliances in the east, the Government is believed to have virtually dumped the Karuna faction and is supporting a new Tamil front for local elections in the east later this year, political sources said. The new front led by Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader V. Anandasangaree and including the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and the Eelam People’s Liberation Front (EPRLF – Pathmanabha Wing) is to begin its political activities in the east within the next few weeks.It is due to function as the Tamil Democratic Alliance (TDA) and is inviting other Tamil parties to join the alliance to contest local elections followed by provincial elections in the east.Apparently as a sign of support, the government this week provided a helicopter to Mr. Anandasangaree, PLOTE leader Dharmalingam Siddharthan and EPRLF-Pathmanabha Wing General Secretary T. Sridharan to visit Batticaloa and have a hurriedly summoned meeting with government officials and representatives of international and local non governmental organisations. The visiting delegation told the NGO community that the purpose of the visit was to listen to the problems of the people of the area and convey them to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to find solutions. Among the grievances which they listened to were issues about continued child recruitment by the Karuna group in the government-controlled areas and the difficulties in travelling to some of the areas newly regained from the LTTE. The delegation was later flown to Vakarai, before returning to Colombo.On Friday night the visiting delegation met President Rajapaksa and briefed him about the visit as well as the problems in the area. Mr. Siddarthan who took part in the meeting told The Sunday Times said their plans were to contest the two upcoming elections and their visit was aimed at looking into the grievances of the people in the Eastern Province and the NGOs working in the region.During the meeting, he said the President had promised to expedite the ongoing relief and development activities in the cleared areas of the east. The fresh move has angered the Karuna faction which is claiming that the step was aimed at sidelining the group which was involved in assisting the security forces in the recent months.Ganesh Mahesh, spokesman for the Thamil Makkal Vidithalai Pulligal (TMVP) – the Karuna faction’s political wing — told The Sunday Times that the government was promoting groups which had never sighted the areas when the people were facing difficulties.Government’s plans to promote the new political front come amidst criticism that the Karuna group has been permitted to move about with weapons in government-controlled areas and no action was taken against them. The group also has been accused of forcible recruitment. Currently the TULF, the PLOTE or the EPRLF’s Pathmanabha wing do not have any parliament representation. MoU between Sri Lanka and Myanmar Myanmar is to sign a MoU with Sri Lanka on cooperation and intelligence sharing during the visit of Myanmar Acting Prime Minister, Lt. Gen. Thein Sein to Sri Lanka, which is scheduled for tomorrow. Several other MoUs will also be signed between two countries on cooperation in Buddhist studies and cultural cooperation. The Acting Prime Minister will lead a high level ministerial delegation including the ministers of foreign affairs, commerce, agriculture and irrigation, transport, religious affairs and forestry.Both countries are keen to increase bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, technology transfer, transport, communication, tourism and cultural relations. The business delegation accompanying the Acting Prime Minister will have discussions with the members of Business Chambers, the Board of Investment, trade, investment, tourism, potential investors and the business community within the frame work of the Sri Lanka-Myanmar Joint Commission, of which the first meeting was held in Myanmar in July 2007.The visit marks another important milestone in bilateral relations which coincides with the presentation of two tusker elephants by the Acting Prime Minister on behalf of the government and the people of Myanmar to the Sacred Temple of the Tooth, Kandy. He will be in Sri Lanka on the invitation of Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. Why discriminate Jaffna medical students: Union A proposal to send students, who pass out from the Jaffna University Medical Faculty, to hospitals in Jaffna for their internship has been forwarded to the Cabinet, Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.“The Cabinet is due to discuss this matter at its next meeting. We came to this decision due to requests made at the Parliament Consultative Committee, especially by TNA MPs,” the Minister said.He said appointing students to hospitals for their internship was due to take place on Monday but it has now been postponed for a month to give time for the suggested changes. The Minister said most of the other students were not prepared to work in hospitals in the North and East. They either go abroad or resign and therefore it would be more practical to appoint students from the Jaffna University to work in the North and the East. “After the year’s internship, they are free to request for transfers as the interns from the next batch will be filling the vacancies in those hospitals,” the Health Minister said. Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe, representing the 2000/2001 batch of medical graduates due to receive their internship appointments on Monday said this is a violation of the fundamental rights of the Jaffna University students.“The Jaffna University graduates will go to courts if this proposal is approved by the Cabinet because in such an instance the graduates will not be eligible to work in hospitals of their choice even though eligible to do so but will make it mandatory for them to work in the North and East disregarding their position in the merit list. CHA wants government to act against killings The Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) led by Executive Director Jeevan Thiagarajah on Thursday held discussions with high-ranking government officials to express concern over the increasing trend in aid worker killings in the country, The Nation learns.Incidentally, the discussion comes just days after a local aid worker who was attached to the Danish De-mining Group was gunned down by unidentified gunmen in Jaffna. Thiagarajah, who declined to disclose details on the discussion, however emphasised that the government should take immediate steps and control the widespread killings and abductions occurring in Sri Lanka. “The killings and abductions from January to July this year have reached an unexpected level. Steps must be taken to stop this dangerous trend,” he told The Nation. The CHA is hoping to continue its dialogue with the government on a more regular basis. The Consortium is also expected to forward a report on a monthly basis including an analysis on the country’s abductions, killings and violation of human rights.“We will analyse the situation in the country and report on the number of incidents for that respective month. The figures are not something that we can easily ignore as the number is so high that it is virtually impossible to ignore the numbers,” Thiagarajah noted.Commenting on last Monday’s killing of the local aid worker in Jaffna, Thiagarajah noted, “The recent killing certainly adds to the increasing number of humanitarian workers death toll, which is rapidly increasing within a short span of time. The last one-and-a-half years have seen a high number of killings in the country,” he emphasised.Meanwhile, the Danish De-Mining Group, which suspended operations in Jaffna following the killing of its aid worker, has decided to resume activities in the Peninsula early next month.The organisation is however continuing its work without any interruptions in the Trincomalee District. The Danish Group is likely to commence its activities in Jaffna during the first week of September. Net closing on Indian operatives helping Tigers India’s Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) which had received vital clues on former Indian intelligence operatives who have been assisting the LTTE, is now in the process of cracking down on them. The move by the CBI investigators comes in the light of Thursday night’s arrest of a former Indian foreign intelligence operative who was alleged to have been aiding the LTTE.Gowri Mohandas (44), who was residing in a four storey apartment in Chennai was said to have been on assignment in Colombo when the Indian Peace Keeping Force was operating here in the 1987-1990 period. The CBI was tipped off by an LTTE operative who is in the custody of the Indian authorities, of Gowri’s involvement in helping the LTTE smuggle manuals on weapons, explosives and help launder money for the rebels. When the CBI investigators raided Gowri’s residence they had found several manuals on weapons and vital intelligence reports that belonged to RAW. The investigators believe that Gowri would have sold some of the intelligence reports to the LTTE. The CBI is to conduct an assets investigation and also look into Gowri’s bank accounts. A CBI source who spoke to The Sunday Times from New Delhi on grounds of anonymity said information had been received of four other officials who were serving in Sri Lanka during the IPKF occupation and who had been aiding the LTTE.“We have received vital clues of four other RAW agents who have been providing intelligence for the LTTE. We believe that these intelligence agents would have been involved in many serious terrorist acts that have taken place in India and in Sri Lanka,” he said. Bandaranaikes sideline Mahinda from SWRD event The Bandaranaike family last week decided to take over the organisation of the September 26 S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike commemoration ceremony at Horagolla to the exclusion of President Mahinda Rajapakse.The September 26 commemoration ceremonyat Horagolla is one of the most important events in the SLFP calendar where all party seniors and diplomats attend to pay their respects to the SLFP's founder.The decision for the Bandaranaike family to handle the ceremony together with the people of Attanagalla was taken on Friday at Visumpaya, the official residence of National Heritage Minister Anura Bandaranaike.The meeting was also attended by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the SLFP organisers of Attanagalla.The President had earlier told Bandaranaike he proposed to brief the organisers on plans for the commemorative event.However at yesterday's meeting it was proposed that Bandaranaike be the Chairman of the Commemorative Committee with Kumaratunga appointed Deputy Chairman. A proposal to appoint President Rajapakse as Patron was rejected stating the organising committee should be confined to the SLFP organisers of Attanagalla. Gampaha Provincial Council member Ranjith Rupasinghe was appointed Secretary to the Committee.Kumaratunga who addressed the organisers for 70 minutes at Visumpaya on Friday said her parents would be saddened by the corruption and the human rights abuses taking place in the country today.The Sunday Leader learns the SLFP (M) wing led by Mangala Samaraweera will also take part in the September 26 commemorative event at Horagolla. Bhaila incident: Magistrate orders further inquiries Further inquiries into the alleged assault on British citizen Paul Saverimuttu by the son and private secretary of Deputy Minister Hussein Bhaila are to be conducted by the Bambalapitiya Police on the orders of the Additional Magistrate Court of Mount Lavinia.Both Mr. Saverimuttu and Mr. Azil Bhaila made complaints to the Bambalapitiya police after the two were involved in a clash which turned violent outside Mr. Saverimuttu’s residence in Bambalapitiya. Soon afterwards Mr. Saverimuttu was admitted to hospital with a head injury and internal bleeding under his right eye while Mr. Bhaila received treatment for a chest injury he sustained after Mr. Saverimuttu had allegedly punched him. The Additional Magistrate Court postponed the case to September 12, by which time the police would have to submit a report on the investigation. Mr. Saverimuttu who was in Sri Lanka for the past two months told The Sunday Times that the police had taken a statement from him on August 18 but when he went to the police station on August 20, the police report had omitted certain details of the incident.“When my lawyer and I looked at the police report we realised that the injuries that I sustained and the fact that Mr. Bhaila posed as a police officer was kept out. Soon after we made the necessary adjustments,” he said. He said that even though the police had tried to issue an arrest warrant, Mr. Bhaila was not available for arrest as he was reported to be still receiving treatment for his injuries. Mr. Saverimuttu is preparing a letter to the British High Commission to receive further assistance in the matter from the British Government. Meanwhile, Bambalapitiya police OIC Abeyratne Dissanayake said that the Judicial Medical Officer had submitted a report on Mr. Saverimuttu’s injuries.However, the report stated that the injuries were minor and had been caused by a blunt object and the police could not take Mr. Bhaila into custody as the offence was not serious enough. He said all the evidence and reports would be presented to court on September 12 after which the next step would be determined. TNA says no security in east The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) last week said that its parliamentarians could no longer expect the government to give protection to the MPs from Batticaloa.TNA Batticaloa MP S. Jeyananthamoorthi told The Sunday Leader last week that he could not attend the funeral of his brother who was gunned down in Batticaloa due to security concerns."My brother was targeted as they could not target me. I had protested and issued statements against the resettlement programmes in the east. My brother was killed as a result of this," he said.He added that the TNA had not decided on its future actions following the killing.Jeyananthamoorthi's brother S. Thiyagachandran was killed last Monday in Ottamavadi while returning home from work. The funeral was held on Wednesday."I did not go for my brother's funeral due to the threats I have been facing in the east," he said. 25 August 2007 Has the government arrested at least one for north-east murders?TELO Sri Kantha in Parliament N.Sri Kantha,TELO and TNA Jaffna Parliamentarian, stated that the government has not arrested even a single individual for the murders committed with impunity in north-east.He was addressing Parliament on the debate on the amendment to the Criminal procedure Code. He stated that it is meaningless to discuss about amendment to Criminal Procedure Code when the law and order situation in the country has become a mockery. He added that there have been murders, robberies and sexual harassments in the north-east.17 Aid workers were killed in broad day light. People are abducted or killed in the north during curfew hours. He told that the police have no courage to arrest the groups that roam about with arms and produce them before Courts. He explained that the Tamils are unable to make complaints in their mother tongue. Their statements are not recorded in Tamil. They say one thing but what is recorded is another version. As a result, suspects can escape from punishment. Omanthai crossing point to open 5 days a week The government and the LTTE yesterday agreed to open the Omanthai entry/exit point five days a week from Monday following meetings the ICRC had with the LTTE and the military over the past few days. The crossing point will be open from 9 am to 5 pm during the week.The LTTE put forward a set of proposals to the ICRC for the opening of the Omanthai crossing point and the conditions were discussed with the army in Vavuniya yesterday when the two sides compromised on opening the route five days a week.Meanwhile, Ms. N Selvy the LTTE spokesperson on humanitarian issues and human rights told the Daily Mirror via email that following repeated requests from many community leaders, humanitarian workers, UN agencies and the Government the LTTE had wanted the route to be open 7 days a week.Sri Lanka’s ICRC delegation head Toon Vandenhove, who met the LTTE in Kilinochchi on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the opening of the key route on the A9 road, put forward the LTTE proposals to the army brigade in Vavuniya and was looking at reaching an amicable solution. The army had however agreed to open the route 5 days a week.Since May this year the Omanthai crossing point has been opened 3 days a week - Monday, Wednesday and Fridays - for civilian movement but the ICRC was seeking security guarantees from both the government and the LTTE to open the route for additional days.LTTE Political Wing Deputy Head S. Thangan told the ICRC the LTTE had “restructured” its presence at the checkpoint and had given detailed instructions to operate efficiently to ensure the safety of civilians using the crossing point, Ms. Selvy said.The Omanthai crossing point on the A9 road was initially closed as a result of heavy fighting between government troops and the LTTE at the Forward Defence Lines but following an agreement facilitated by the ICRC the road was opened three days a week. Jaffna not safe for journalists Jaffna's media in the grip of terror A report about the plight of the press in northern Sri Lanka, entitled "Jaffna's media in the grip of terror," was released today by Reporters Without Borders and International Media Support, two members of the international press freedom mission to Sri Lanka, that carried out a joint fact-finding mission to Sri Lanka in June. Grave press freedom violations have been taking place in the isolated, Tamil-populated Jaffna peninsula, which has been badly hit by the fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Journalists have been the victims of murders, threats, kidnappings and censorship. At least seven media workers have been killed since May 2006, when the newspaper Uthayan was attacked by armed militiamen.The organisations that make up the international press freedom mission condemn the climate of violence and impunity that has made this one of the world's most dangerous regions for the press. They also condemn the failure of the security forces to put an end to the attacks on the press, as well as the unacceptable harassment by both government and LTTE of the few journalists still working in the peninsula. "Jaffna’s media in the grip of terror" is the first of three reports being prepared by the international mission. The results of its investigations in the east of the island and in Colombo will be published in the coming weeks. Last March, the international mission published a fact-finding report on the overall press freedom situation in Sri Lanka, entitled "The Struggle for Survival." It included recommendations to all parties to the conflict about the safety of journalists and official and unofficial censorship. Top Tiger nabbed LTTE’s former Sampur area ‘Police’ Chief K. Vindokumar was arrested by the Trincomalee police at a roadblock yesterday, a senior police officer said. The suspect who was travelling on a motor bike failed to establish his identity when the police checked him at a security check point in Trincomalee. He said according to initial investigations Vindokumar was in charge of the LTTE police at Sampur and fled to India when the area came under government control.”Meanwhile the defence ministry said the 29-year-old suspect had received three months training in police duties in Northern Ireland in 2003. The Ministry said after returning to the country the suspect had undertaken training programmes for Tamil youth conscripted to the LTTE's ‘Police’ wing in the Kilinochchi and Mulaithivu areas and was known among the LTTE cadres as ‘Sanjeewan Master’.“Mr. Vinodkumar has admitted he was recruited to the terrorist outfit as a child soldier, direct from school,” the Defence Ministry said. He was detained on a court order for further questioning. Ruling Sri Lanka is a family affair The Rajapakse family business is virtually everyone's business on this island.That's because the family's line of work is running the country -- and fighting a civil war, to boot. Between them, the four Rajapakse brothers occupy the most powerful jobs in Sri Lanka's democratically elected government, including the biggest plum of all: the presidency.Indeed, by appointing his siblings to key posts, President Mahinda Rajapakse has ensured that 70% of the national budget is under the control of his family, critics say. It's an eye-popping figure but, according to observers, a credible one.Mahinda Rajapakse also heads the Defense and Finance ministries, two of the government's largest portfolios. Last year, defense alone accounted for 19% of national spending, pushed to so high a level because of the lapse back into open battle between the Sri Lankan army and Tamil Tiger rebels, after the collapse of a fragile cease-fire. The architect of the government's campaign against the Tigers is the hawkish defense secretary and decorated military officer Gotabhaya Rajapakse. Basil is the president's senior advisor, described by some as the power behind the throne.The fourth Rajapakse brother, Chamal -- the only one besides Mahinda to be elected to office, as a member of Parliament -- is in charge of the Ports and Aviation Ministry.Under Sri Lanka's Constitution, and throughout 24 years of brutal conflict with the rebels, it has not been uncommon for presidents to retain the Defense Ministry for themselves. But by vesting so much authority from other areas of government in himself and his brothers, the current president, who was elected two years ago, has indulged in blatant nepotism and overstepped the bounds of propriety, his detractors say. "Maybe he could have all those ministries and departments that deal with the war, but not something like finance," said opposition politician Lakshman Kiriella. "Under the constitution, he can hold all the ministries. It's not illegal. But it's immoral."The Rajapakses do not reject complaints that they control most of the state's purse strings, choosing to ignore them. Requests for comment from the president's office and from the prime minister's office went unanswered.For months, critics have tried to make political hay out of the near-monopoly the brothers hold on government. Two former presidential Cabinet members crossed over to the opposition this year, partly out of frustration that the Cabinet, though composed of more than 50 people, wielded little real power compared with the Rajapakses. But Sri Lanka's hapless opposition has been unable to mount a serious challenge. The president's aggressive military push against the separatist Tamil Tigers has also made him a popular figure among his nationalist allies in Parliament and among some sections of the ethnic-majority Sinhalese public.And so far, although bureaucratic corruption ranks as one of the top grievances of ordinary Sri Lankans, no accusations have surfaced that the Rajapakse brothers have used their public authority for private gain.But some analysts are worried that the concentration of power sets a bad precedent for democratic governance on the island, which won independence from Britain in 1948."Given the dominance of the president, and his dependence on his brothers, it could be said that 100% of the budget is dependent on them, as they can block anything," said Jehan Perera, executive director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka. "This is not healthy." He said that civil society and businesspeople were "very much alienated by these happenings, and they constantly speak out. But that's about all they can do."Members of the opposition are trying to overcome internal squabbles and mobilize public opinion against the Rajapakses' lock on government. An anti-government rally last month drew tens of thousands of protesters in Colombo, the capital.But unless the ruling coalition is hit by more defections, or popular discontent swells, change is unlikely. For the time being, the business of governing Sri Lanka is liable to remain all in the family. Sri Lanka property bubble on the bursting path Borrowed Time Property bubbles are created by loose monetary policy, when central banks print too much money and artificially depress interest rates, especially in the long end of the yield curve. Unlike stock markets, where trading is efficient and prices reflect all publicly known information, property markets are illiquid, trading infrequent and information imperfect because there is no central exchange. Research by economists at Wellesley College and Yale University also found a “herd mentality” where property price movements in one direction in a certain year were followed by movement in the same direction in the year after. Setting price expectations by looking backwards has the obvious snag of ignoring future supply. Based on developer press releases and promotional material, Furkan estimates that four thousand, mostly unsold luxury condominium units, are under construction and that high interest rates and the slowing economy will dry up credit by the next one and a half years. UK’s conflict prevention proposal for SL COLOMBO: The British Foreign Office has published its proposal on conflict prevention in Sri Lanka. Titled ‘The UK Peace Building Strategy (PBS)’, the proposal highlights four key areas to bring stability to decaying Sri Lanka. These include a greater commitment to negotiated peace; Improved safety and security in communities and adherence to human rights; A governance reform agenda in key institutions, particularly the security services, to strengthen underlying conditions for a lasting peace; and A strengthened civil society more effective in peace building. The report states: ‘The UK Peace Building Strategy (PBS) sets out how the British government will support the conditions necessary for a sustainable peace in Sri Lanka. It is jointly written by the Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence’.The report published in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website is reproduced below: Aim: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) is committed to helping build a peaceful, prosperous equitable Sri Lanka where the rights of all communities are respected and protected. The direct impact on human lives and suffering of 25 years of fighting in Sri Lanka has been immense. 70,000 people, have been killed, half a million internally displaced, and hundreds of thousands of others have left the country seeking a better life overseas.The main barrier to unleashing Sri Lanka’s great potential is the violent conflict which drains financial, human and social capacity. Conflict affected areas lag well behind the rest of the country in economic and social development. Proposed Action: The UK Peace Building Strategy (PBS) sets out how the British government will support the conditions necessary for a sustainable peace in Sri Lanka. It is jointly written by the Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence.The strategy lays out how, between 2006 and 2009, the UK will continue to help Sri Lankans’ bring an end to the conflict and build a lasting peace through: A greater commitment to negotiated peace; Improved safety and security in communities and adherence to human rights; A governance reform agenda in key institutions, particularly the security services, to strengthen underlying conditions for a lasting peace; and A strengthened civil society more effective in peace building. The British government has an interest in seeing a lasting peace in Sri Lanka which brings benefits to all sectors of society. Conflict between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE/Tamil Tigers) has blighted Sri Lanka for decades. Violence and suffering is a daily occurrence. Only Sri Lankans can create peace in Sri Lanka, and unlock Sri Lanka’s full potential, but we believe that the international community can help create the conditions that are necessary for a sustainable transition to peace.The UK’s added value in peace building lies in our flexible, cross-government approach and our experience of peace processes, especially from Northern Ireland. Our specialist expertise in key sectors, such as security sector transformation, and our cultural links with Sri Lanka puts us in a good position to support peace building in Sri Lanka. Why is the UK involved The UK’s concern for human rights and good governance, and our commitment to advance the Millennium Development Goals, coupled with the need to combat the global threat from terrorism, international crime and the drugs trade, means it is important for the UK to encourage a sustained peace in Sri Lanka. Equally important is the need to reduce the pressure for migration and asylum, and reap the mutual beneficial business opportunities a peaceful Sri Lanka would offer.The PBS is well grounded in previous research, in particular the UK’s Peace-Building and Reconciliation Strategy of 2002 and the second, multi-donor, Strategic Conflict Assessment of 2005, partly funded by the UK. How will the UK deliver the Peace Building Strategy? British Government will support peace building between 2006 and 2009 through a range of activities focussing on four key objectives: Activity The UK will:Support the efforts of the Norwegians, the facilitators to the existing peace process; Help foster a supportive international environment for the peace process including through our membership of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN); Use the broad range of UK contacts to encourage the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to end violence and commit themselves to dialogue; Encourage key opinion formers, including those in the UK diaspora, to pursue every avenue for peacefully resolving the conflict; and Support work on peace building from community level to international negotiations. Objective 2: Improved safety and security in communities and adherence to human rights.People in Sri Lanka feel insecure in their day to day lives particularly following the increased violence and human rights violations. Violence and human rights violations are a symptom of the conflict, but they also sustain the conflict as trust between communities erodes. For peace to be sustainable, Sri Lankans need to have a greater sense of confidence and control over the security and management of their lives. Activity: The UK will seek to:Strengthen local capacity for managing conflicts within communities; Increase the opportunities for people to seek redress for grievances and human rights violations, through improved access to justice; Support efforts to enhance the conduct and human rights record of the security forces including through training on human rights and international Humanitarian Law; Work with local stakeholders, the UN and other agencies to attempt to improve the human rights situation in Sri Lanka; Support processes that reduce the availability and impact of small arms, taking action at community, national and regional level; and Work with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and like minded countries to promote Human Rights in Sri Lanka, including through the UN Human Rights Council. Human Security in the East of Sri Lanka Since 2003, the British Government has been supporting the local NGO Foundation for co-existence (FCE) to design and establish an innovative system of conflict early warning and rapid response. It has 20 field monitors who collect information on a daily basis and an Information Centre that analyses information to identify political and social tensions in the east of the country.The programme monitors human security in order to help decision-makers in government, international organisations and NGOs better anticipate, prevent, mitigate and respond to conflict situations. The programme also includes a locally managed conflict prevention programme for responding to increased tensions. It translates analysis into action by supporting the development of a network of organisations and individuals with a capacity for early response in conflict resolution. An early warning system was initiated whereby information is sent by text messages to policy makers and local mediators as soon as incidents occur. This enables more rapid responses aimed at reducing tension and violence before it spirals.An independent evaluation found that, ‘FCE’s Human Security Programme has prevented violence, either directly through interventions by staff members or indirectly by the efforts of the networks that FCE has helped create. Objective 3: A governance reform agenda in key institutions, particularly the security services, to strengthen underlying conditions for a lasting peace.The reform of key public institutions is crucial for Sri Lanka to be able to move towards a more sustainable peace. This objective aims to address governance issues, particularly in the security sector. It will, by necessity, be long-term and require sustained international engagement.The UK security forces have acquired expertise (principally from Northern Ireland and UN Peacekeeping operations) in policing conflict zones in a way that reduces tensions and violence. In 2001 the UK government established the Security Sector Development Advisory Team (SSDAT) as a centre of excellence for UK supported Security Sector Reform (SSR) activity, as part of its Global Conflict Prevention Pool activity. The SSDAT have a broad range of expertise on Policing, Justice, Defence and Intelligence and Security. They are available to provide practical support to the Peace Building Strategies objectives in Sri Lanka. Activity The UK will work with the Sri Lankan government and security forces to assist them meet international best practice on the accountability and oversight of democratic security forces, through:Development of policy and training in peacekeeping operations, civil military relations, international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict; Support of initiatives to help develop civil oversight of defence policy and military activity in order to promote transparency and accountability; Support for improved civil-military co-operation at regional, national and local level, with more effective co-operation between civilians, security services and government institutions; Educational and bilateral exchange activities with Sri Lankan defence force personnel to develop Security Sector Development skills; Improving English and Tamil language capacity of the police, military and judicial sector to enable enhanced communications with all sectors of society, and increased access to the services of national and local government; and Work with the Sri Lankan Police to support their development of a community based policing programme. Objective 4: A Strengthened civil society more effective in peace building To make progress towards achieving PBS objectives, a wider range of civil society actors will need to engage in meaningful dialogue with government, other actors, the public and the international community to influence policy and bring about sustainable change. Activity The UK will therefore:Encourage the engagement of a wider range of partners (including the private sector, religious organisations, the media, regional universities, political groups and other key opinion formers) in initiatives in peace building; Support innovative civil society mechanisms for peace building; and Help strengthen civil society to play an enhanced role in the search for peace. Facilitating Local Initiatives for Conflict Transformation Facilitating Local Initiatives for Conflict Transformation (FLICT) supports local initiatives to build the capacities of people to address conflicts in a peaceful manner. Since 2003, FLICT has supported more than 60 initiatives involving youth, women, regional level politicians, artists, media, the business community, religious leaders and the general public. 75% of FLICT partners operates outside of Colombo, including in areas of ethnic tension. FLICT partners work towards to promoting understanding amongst ethnic and religious groups (including through music and theatre), as well as supporting diversity and tolerance among these communities.Programmes seek to address root causes of violent conflict by, for example, the establishment of village level citizen communities to address contentious resource and development issues in a peaceful manner, and co-ordinating advocacy for non-violent elections in traditional ‘hot spots’ of the south. These initiatives help prevent political violence by constructively engaging with all communities, their leaders and local and regional politicians. The UK will work closely with the government of Sri Lanka and other local actors. We will also work in partnership with the international community – especially the Tokyo Co-Chairs, the EU, the UN, international financial institutions and development partners – co-ordinating and complementing our work with theirs.We have created an innovative Political and Development Section in the High Commission in Colombo which works in tandem with the Defence Section to implement the PBS, using funds from the UK’s Global Conflict Prevention Pool. PBS programmes will take a long-term approach aimed at tackling the underlying causes of the conflict. Evaluation and lesson learning will be central to our activity. The PBS is intended to be a living document: tight enough to give focus to our activities, but sufficiently flexible to adapt to changing circumstances and opportunities as they arise. Resources Implementation of the Peace Building strategy will be carried out by the British High Commission’s Political and Development Section with 4 UK staff, from the FCO and DFID, and 6 Sri Lankan staff together with the High Commissions Defence section with 2 staff from the MOD. These will be supported by central resources from the three departments in London.Funding for projects in 2007-2008 will be £2 million from the Global Conflict Prevention Pool. 24 August 2007 Govt. cannot act like terrorists, CBK tells media During her first meeting with the media after her long sojourn abroad, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga condemned the present trend of abductions and disappearances and said the government cannot act like a terrorist organization. “A government which is fighting a terrorist organization has to work tactfully and with a clear vision and should not act like a terrorist organization,” she said, while speaking to journalists after her meeting with Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC) on Extra Judicial Killings and Abduction convener Mano Ganeshan and its senior member TNA MP Suresh Premachandran at her residence yesterday.“The government is a government. Terrorists are terrorists and therefore the government cannot behave like terrorists,” she added.Ms. Kumaratunga said there were only one or two abductions during her tenure and those responsible were brought to book after thorough investigations. She said it was disturbing that extra judicial killings, abductions and disappearances had increased during the present regime. The former President was engaged in a serious discussion with the CMC representatives during which she was presented with a CMC report on abductions and disappearances. The CMC representatives requested her to use her experience and take up the human rights violations at the appropriate fora. Mr. Ganeshan claimed that the former President had responded positively to this request. War if unitary state-TNA ICRC – LTTE discuss opening of Omanthai The ICRC, over the last two days, held discussions with the LTTE on the opening of the Omanthai crossing point for a few more days to facilitate civilian movement between Kilinochchi and Vavuniya and the transport of essential items to LTTE controlled areas, an ICRC spokesman told the Daily Mirror.ICRC spokesman Davide Vignatti said ICRC delegation head Toon Vandenhoot met the LTTE on Wednesday to discuss the issue and was expected to have further talks yesterday too before returning to Colombo.Since May this year the Omanthai crossing point has been opened 3 days a week - Monday, Wednesday and Fridays - for civilian movement but the ICRC is seeking security guarantees from both the government and the LTTE to open the route for additional days.The Omanthai crossing point on the A9 road was closed as a result of heavy fighting between government troops and the LTTE at the Forward Defence Lines but following an agreement facilitated by the ICRC the road was opened three days a week. On July 17, the checkpoint at Omanthai was shelled during the night and partly destroyed. When the Omanthai crossing point reopened the next morning, the ICRC was able to once again facilitate the movement of civilians and goods.Last Sunday a confrontation erupted between government troops and the LTTE in areas west of Omanthai killing seven LTTE cadres and injuring several others. During the confrontation at least one soldier was also killed and eight others injured.In March this year a convoy of lorries carrying food, medicine and other essential items for civilians in un-cleared areas in the Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi districts were forced to be held up at the Omanthai entry/exit point following a heavy exchange of firing. As a result of the clashes government security forces temporarily shut down the Omanthai cross loading point for vehicular traffic taking stock of safety concerns of the public and passengers, the military said at the time while the LTTE blamed the army for the situation. Ease emergency laws, media rights group tells Sri Lanka JVP helping Rajapaksa brothers’ ‘company’ to prosper: Mangala While claiming all govt. parliamentarians barring 21 are willing to join the newly formed National Congress, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera yesterday charged the JVP of helping the Rajapaksa led government and his company of brothers to continue with their corrupt practices.“As a genuine political entity – the JVP should protest against the Rajapaksa ‘Company’ and not just put up posters,” Samaraweera told a media briefing of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party – Mahajana Wing, yesterday at Rosemead Place.He said the JVP refused to join them, citing the fact that they don’t like to work with the United National Party as an excuse. “I would like to remind them that they once rose up against the then President, Chandrika Kumaratunga’s government together with the UNP, on several issues which the UPFA had brought about for the well being of the country”. “When then the government tried to build a presidential palace at Madiwela at cost of a colossal 5oo million rupees, the JVP joined the UNP in protesting against it, saying it was a waste of money. Now however they are silent even as the incumbent President is busy constructing a bunker which costs close to 600 million rupees,” he charged. He questioned as to why such a prominent and respected political party as the JVP is playing a ‘double game’. The former minister urged the JVP to join them, as the new Congress can topple the current government only if the JVP joins them.Samaarweera also dropped a bombshell when he revealed that a large number of government members were willing to join the Congress in order to create a new political culture in the country. “Except for 21 parliamentarians in the government ranks, all others including senior cabinet ministers directly or indirectly had showed interest in joining the National Congress,” he said. Challenging the Chief Government Whip, Minister Jeyeraj Fernandopulle, to reveal the names of those 21 Parliamentarians, the former minister said Minister Fernandopulle is also willing to join them. “Minister Fernandopulle was the first person from the government ranks who showed an interest in joining us. We don’t like to take everyone who wishes to join as the Congress doesn’t want any corrupt people.”Speaking to the media, former Minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi said the National Congress will hold a series of public rallies every week until November. “Our past rallies show that people need a major change in the political scene, so we will make that change in the near future,” he added Sri Lankan court releases priest accused of helping rebels The Colombo Magistrate Thursday ordered the release of a Tamil Hindu priest accused by the authorities of helping Tamil Tiger rebels, officials said.The priest and the trustee of the Hindu temple in the Kayts island of the northern Jaffna peninsula were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in May after explosives belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were found hidden in the temple premises.They had been detained by the Terrorism Investigation Division in the capital Colombo since their arrest resulting in their filing a fundamental rights petition seeking release.However when the case was taken up on Thursday, the Attorney General told the court that no sufficient evidence were available to indict them.Both the priest and the trustee told the court they were not aware of any information on the arms found in the temple.The LTTE has been fighting the government since the mid-1980s to establish a separate homeland for the minority Tamils in the north and east claiming discrimination at the hands of the Sinhala majority.Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the island's separatist armed conflict during the last two decades. Military officers get Chinese scholarships For the first time Sri Lanka’s armed forces were offered an opportunity to send three senior military officers to follow a one year course at the prestigious Chinese National Defence University.Following the recent visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Chinese government had offered this scholarship to the armed forces.Accordingly, two senior officers from the Sri Lanka Army and one senior officer from the Sri Lanka Navy have been selected for this course. General Officer Command of the 23 Division and former Military Spokesman Major General Daya Ratnayake and Major Geeral Srinath Rajapaksa of the 53 Division in Jaffna had been selected from the Army while Director General Operations of the Sri Lanka Navy Rear Admiral Susith Weerasekera had been selected from the Navy, to follow the course at the NDU in Beijing.In the past, the Sri Lankan armed forces were offered only one scholarship each year, from the National Defence College – Pakistan, National Defence College - India, and the United Kingdom, United States and China.This one year course in China will provide senior defence officers detailed knowledge in the wider aspects of higher direction and the strategy in warfare. Another objective of this course is to provide future decision-makers with the necessary skills and background needed for filling senior positions in the national security hierarchy and in associated fields. Real Hela Urumaya against Jathika Hela Urumaya A new organization named as Saba (real) Hela Urumaya is now in the formation against the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU).National Sangha Conference former Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara and Vitharandeniye Medhananda Theroes are the pioneers of this organization.JHU did not fulfill any expectation of the people who hoped that it would end the corrupt politics of the country, says Rev. Vitharandeniye Madhananda Thero. He says the path of the JHU has now changed into a personal track.The Thero says that the future of the JHU is vague due to the work of the lay leaders who think that the Sinhala Buddhist movement is in their hands. He further said that the JHU's march towards a virtuous society should not limit to a portfolio and a chairmanship.Rev. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero said that several rounds of discussions were held to form the new party. He said that the JHU had good objectives but they have now been overshadowed by personal gains. 23 August 2007 Western world plots to divide Sri Lanka through federalism---JVP in Parliament Wimal Weerawansa ,JVP Parliamentarian, accused the western world of plotting to divide the island of Sri Lanka through federalism and that Minister Tissa Witharana and certain other ministers have fallen a prey to the plot by the envoys of the western countries. This is going to plunge the country in a dangerous situation. He was making a special statement on the Floor of the House. He charged that Minister Tissa Witharana is trying to formulate a proposal to easily divide the country through federalism and handing over to the LTTE. The people rejected federalism by defeating Ranil Wickramasinghe who advocated federalism in his campaign for presidential polls. Since Rajapakse spoke of unitary state the people gave him a mandate. Minister Tissa Witharana is trying to formulate a federal solution against the mandate given to the President by the people of this country. Sri Lanka Air Force Bombed Tamil Rebel Naval Base in Northeast Sri Lanka's military said air force jets bombed a naval training base of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the northeast of the country 10 days after killing six commanders of the rebel unit. The camp north of Mullaittivu was used by the Sea Tigers rebel force as a center for ``coordinating their activities with foreign terrorist organizations,'' the Defense Ministry said on its Web site yesterday. The LTTE hasn't commented on the raids. Naval units killed the third most senior leader of the Sea Tigers and five of their commanders in a battle on Aug. 13, the Defense Ministry said last week. Sri Lanka says the Tamil Tigers, who are fighting for a separate homeland in the South Asian island nation of 20 million people, have been defeated in the east. The LTTE, which remains in control of parts of the northern Jaffna peninsula, said last month its units are still operating in the eastern region around the port of Batticaloa. The military has targeted the Sea Tigers, a unit of about 4,000 fighters, on the eastern coast since winning control of the Batticaloa area last month after 14 years of fighting. Air force jets destroyed a rebel training base for the Sea Tigers at Alampil near Mullaittivu last month, the military said at the time. Chandrasekaran Pillai, the No. 3 Sea Tiger commander, was killed when their attack craft was destroyed by naval units off the eastern coastal town of Pulmodai, the Defense Ministry said. The LTTE said its forces repelled the navy, TamilNet reported at the time. Artillery Fire On the Jaffna Peninsula, army artillery units retaliated for rebels shelling military posts two days ago, military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said, according to the Defense Ministry Web site. Civilians were forced to flee their homes after the army shelled LTTE-controlled areas for several hours on Aug. 21, TamilNet reported. Sri Lanka's government said earlier this month it offered an amnesty to LTTE fighters stranded in the jungles in the east and those who surrender will be rehabilitated and given job training. The offer will begin Sept. 1. The LTTE has an estimated 12,000 fighters in its land forces and unveiled an air wing when light aircraft bombed areas near the capital, Colombo, in March and April. The killing of Jeyanantha Moorthy’s brother ---TNA vehemently condemns Tamil National Allaince states that the government must under take full responsibility for the murder of Senathiraja Thiyagendran, an elder brother of TNA Batticaloa Parliamentarian Jeaynanthamoorthy. In a statement issued by Mavai Seenathirajah, a senior Parliamentarian, it is stated that the government must trace the culprits and bring him to book. Earlier TNA Parliamentarians Joseph Pararajasingam and Natrajah Raviraj were murdered and the government has not taken any proper action. Now there are threats not only to TNA Parliamentarians but also to the members of their families. This is a serious situation. Sri Lanka students' demonstration tear gassed near President's house Sri Lanka Police used tear gas to disperse a large student march at Kollupitiya junction in the capital Colombo city around 2.00 PM yesterday. Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) gathered at the Lipton Circle yesterday afternoon and marched towards the Temple Trees, the official residence of the President to hand over a petition pertaining to their problems. The students chanted slogans against private universities, waiving of 20% of grants for the higher education, activation of the Anti Ragging laws, deploying police to contain student protest and lack of welfare facilities. The convener of the IUSF Duminda Nagamuwa said that the discussions with the Minister of Higher Education failed to find solutions for their demands. Jihad armed men on the rampage in the East-Source: Asiantribune.com Jihad armed group has suddenly gone berserk killing recently two Tamils in the East.On the last 20 August, according to reports, Jihad armed men have killed, Jeyaraj, (29 years), a three-wheeler driver, at Jinna Nagar, a suburb located at the Third Mile Post, three km north of Trincomalee Town. Also on the same day, Jihad gunmen killed Thiyagachandran (54 Years) at Valaichchenai, who is the brother of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Batticaloa parliamentarian S. Jeyananthamoorthy. In a statement, Eelam Revolutionary Organization (EROS) revealed that they have lost one of its members known within EROS as "Gerald" otherwise known as Jeyaraj, who EROS claims was shot and killed on the evening of 20 August at Jinna Nagar in Trincomalee by a man identified as "Nizam" who is affiliated to a group calling themselves the “Jihad – a armed group mainly of the Muslims in the Eastern Province. The Jihad armed group have been in existence since 1985 and known to have targeted political opponents and civilians in the past, however this is the first time the Jihad group who are based in parts of Trincomalee, Amparai and Batticaloa have begun to Targets Tamils from the East. Sources in the East told the Asian Tribune that since of late, Jiahd claiming themselves as holy warriors of Islam, has started functioning in the East and are involved in resettling Muslims in Oddamavadi and in the adjacent villages.Sources told Asian Tribune that Jihad armed group works very closely with some Muslim Government Ministers from the East. Also it was revealed that Jihad and some Muslim Ministers have taken steps to bring in Muslim internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and making arrangements to settle them from Welikantha to Oddamavadi with the view to carve out that region as a separate Muslim district. Court restrains colonization in Valaichenai Tami areas Valaichennai Magistrate Manikavaskar Ganesharajah has issued an injunction restraining colonization in state lands in Tamil areas of Kondaiyan Kerny, Kaluvankerni, Meeravodai etc in the Valaichennai division. The order was made sequel to an application made by an official of the divisional secretariat. The police also forwarded a report. Sri Lankan Buddhist monks to visit Iran A seven-member delegation of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks are to visit Iran during the third week of October on a mission to promote dialogue between Buddhism and Islam, MNA reported. The visit is being arranged by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Tehran in collaboration with the Islamic Cultural Relations Organization (ICRO).On Wednesday, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Iran and the director of the ICRO Research and Education Department signed a memorandum of understanding on facilitating closer cooperation between the two countries in the exchange of academic information, conducting joint research work, and holding seminars and workshops. During their visit to Iran, the Buddhist monks are scheduled to give lectures on various aspects of Buddhist history, the development of religious ethics in Buddhism, the history of cultural relations between Sri Lanka and Iran, common ideas for world peace and justice in the modern era, and the role of the monk in promoting peaceful coexistence with religious minorities. Cordon, search operation troubles fishing in Earaavoor Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Police and Special Task Force (STF) commandos cordoned off fishing villages 18 km northeast of Batticaloa Wednesday early morning. The search operation in the coastal villages, where Sri Lanka Navy has banned fishing during nights, affected the fishermen, causing scarcity of fish in Batticaloa town and Vaazhaichcheanai. Earaavoor police said the search operation was launched after monitoring the presence of armed attackers in the coastal villages. The house-to-house cordon and search operation was launched at 5:00 a.m. and lasted till 11:00 a.m. in Ka'luvankea'ni, Tha'lavaay and Chavukkadi villages. Around 50 fishermen were detained by the Sri Lankan armed forces for questioning and released later in the day. Batticaloa District Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians S. Jeyaanandamoorthy, K. Thangeswari and P. Ariyanaeanthran have already protested against the ban on night-fishing. 500 Tamil Speakers Apply for Police Jobs He said two deputy inspector generals of police are traveling in the Ampara and Batticaloa areas these days, helping the process of receiving applications through the Grama niladharis of the area. Asked whether the cadres of the LTTE will be eliminated from joining the police force, the DIG said under law all recruits to the armed forces and the police should have a clean record not only of themselves but also of their families. No person with any criminal past will be recruited to the police, he said.He said the police will be seeking the assistance of the Official languages Department interpreters in the training of the police officers, although the police already have some officers who are proficient in Tamil.In addition, to help the Tamil speaking people to lodge their complaints in their own language -- a human right requirement of the local people, the police department is going to employ retired Tamil government servants proficient in both languages at every police station, the police spokesman said.There was a downward trend in applying for police positions among the Tamils as the LTTE used to target Tamil police officers, calling them traitors. They were specifically being gunned down for being Tamil police officers during the last two decades. Sri Lanka's Rating Pressured by Debt Rout, Fitch Says Sri Lanka's credit rating may be cut because a global rout in debt markets is exacerbating the nation's financial position, Fitch Ratings said. Fitch in April held its rating for Sri Lanka at BB-, or three levels below investment grade, noting that a downgrade could result from further escalation of violence between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels. Mounting losses at U.S. mortgage lenders have roiled financial markets in the past month, spurring investors to shun low-rated debt. ``We continue to regard the negative outlook on Sri Lanka's ratings as appropriate,'' said Paul Rawkins, London-based senior director of Fitch's sovereign team. ``The security situation remains a cause for concern and the macroeconomic policy environment is not encouraging, particularly in the light of current global financial market turmoil,'' he said late yesterday, in response to an e-mail query. The global turmoil in credit markets may also make it harder for Sri Lanka, which has the highest borrowing costs in Asia, to raise funds overseas. The South Asian island on Aug. 2 hired JPMorgan Chase & Co., Barclays Capital and HSBC Holdings Plc to help manage bond sales aimed at raising as much as $500 million overseas. Fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam separatist rebels escalated in northern and eastern Sri Lanka last year as peace talks in October failed to progress toward a settlement of the two-decade-long conflict in the nation of 20 million people. Standard & Poor's Standard & Poor's on Aug. 8 raised its outlook for Sri Lanka to stable, citing improved state finances. Standard & Poor's has a B+ rating for Sri Lanka, four levels below investment grade. A negative outlook increases the country's chances of a rating downgrade. Sri Lanka's central bank on Aug. 14 kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 10.5 percent, the highest level in Asia, after inflation accelerated more than expected in July. Higher borrowing costs and escalating violence between government forces and Tamil separatists have weakened the island's $26 billion economy, which expanded in the first quarter at the slowest pace in two years. Military purchases to combat the Tamil separatists and costlier oil are fanning inflation and threatening the central bank's aim of containing price gains. The island's cease-fire, brokered by Norway, helped bring about uninterrupted growth and the country's longest respite from the conflict. Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal and his fellow policy makers, who raised borrowing costs by 1.25 percentage points last year and by half a point on Feb. 23, expect inflation to slow to a single-digit rate by the end of 2007. A return to single-digit inflation is ``essential'' for Sri Lanka to reduce debt servicing costs, Fitch Ratings said earlier. 22 August 2007 Did Tiger artillery target Army chief? The LTTE and the military were involved in a barrage of artillery exchanges in Jaffna yesterday forcing Army Commander Sarath Fonseka to suspend a scheduled visit to Palaly. The LTTE however played down the incident saying it was just part of a “routine exchange of shelling.”Commander Fonseka was scheduled to leave Katunayake for Palaly on board a military helicopter last morning when bad weather resulted in the flight being delayed. However some 45 minutes later, the approximate time it takes for the helicopter to reach Palaly, the LTTE launched a barrage of artillery shells towards Palaly and the Kankesanthurai harbour.As the news of the attack reached Colombo the Army Commander suspended his flight to Palaly while a civilian aircraft which was on its way to Palaly was also forced to return to Colombo, military sources said. There was speculation whether the army commander had been the target of the LTTE attack considering the timing of the incident. LTTE military wing spokesman Rasiah Illentheriyan speaking to the Daily Mirror, played down the Jaffna incident saying it was “no big deal” and claimed it was a routine exchange of shelling between government troops and the LTTE. However a military analyst said the LTTE shelling towards Palaly and KKS was significant as it was the first since last August. “There was the LTTE air raid on Palaly but there had not been any shelling so it does have some significance and cannot be played down,” the analyst told the Daily Mirror on condition of anonymity.The military said there was no damage as a result of the LTTE attack in Jaffna as the artillery shells had fallen outside the Palaly military complex and airfield compound. The army retaliated by firing towards rebel controlled Pooneryn from where the LTTE is believed to have attacked Palaly. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said tension was high in Jaffna following the attack on Palaly, adding that mobile communication too was down. It also said the Army had directed heavy Multi-barrel rocket fire towards Pooneryn and the Air Force had conducted several aerial attacks on Tiger positions.The SLMM added that the LTTE attack on Palaly was from the sea and not from land.Meanwhile, in a separate incident at least three LTTE cadres and a soldier were killed while nine government troops were injured, when both parties exchanged mortar shells at Periyakulam in Vavuniya yesterday, the military said.The LTTE launched the mortar attack on the military's Periyakulam point killing a soldier and injuring nine, the military said adding that it retaliated by targeting the rebel mortar position killing at least 3 rebel cadres. The LTTE could not be contacted to confirm the casualty figures. Fighting resumes after Madhu feast SEVENTEEN combatants were killed along the volatile Vavuniya – Mannar line of control during the weekend following the Madhu feast. Three soldiers were killed yesterday during fighting in the Tampannai area, east of Madhu. The government military and the Tigers had held their guns during the feast that fell on August 15 but confrontations erupted again east of Madhu and at Chettikulam on the Mannar-Madavachchiya road on August 20. Nine Tigers and a soldier were killed in fighting east of Madhu while four home guards including three females were killed when Tigers attacked a bunker near Chettikulam on Monday (20). The area had seen heavy violence in July with at least 60 combatants killed but violence died down during the feast period. Military spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinge said the Tigers also attacked the Uyilankulam checkpoint on Friday (17) as well. Samarasinghe said that the LTTE fired long distant mortars at the checkpoint.However, he said that pilgrims were not affected by the attack at Uyilankalam and the security force suffered no casualties.The military and the LTTE had assured the church that attacks would not be carried out throughout the days of the feast.Samarasinghe said the military would continue to strengthen security in the areas of Chettikulam and Uylikulam. SLA renames Thaandiyadi to Suniththapu'ra Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials, giving Sinhala names to traditional Tamil villages in the areas captured in military offensives in Batticaloa district, are compelling residents resettled in the areas to use the new Sinhala name for all purposes, accused Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Batticaloa district parliamentarian, T. Ariyanenthiran, Monday.Ariyanenthiran further said that according to complaints made to him by his constituents, SLA in Thaandiyadi had summoned residents of the area to its camp and compelled them to use the name Suniththapu'ra, the new Sinhala name given to Thaandiayadi by the SLA, instead of the traditional Tamil name Thaandiayadi. The heads of schools in the area too were called to the Thaandiyadi SLA camp and directed to use the Sinhala name Suniththapur'ra, Ariyanenthiran added. Thaandiayadi area, located 8 km from Vavu'natheevu in Batticaloa district, is the place where the Heroes Resting Home of the fallen Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres stood. The SLA captured this area from the LTTE in a military offensive in April. Govt. will stick to unitary state The government yesterday reiterated in parliament that any solution to the ethnic question by the UPFA administration would fall well within the unitary framework irrespective of any submissions by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) to the contrary.Responding to a special statement by JVP Parliamentary Group Leader, Wimal Weerawansa, Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle insisted that the government was mindful of the mandate received and that this was the official position.In his statement, the JVP parliamentarian said that there was media reports that the APRC was ready with a final report which recognized a federal solution, but sought to remind the administration that the people voted for the President to retain the unitary character of the Constitution.“But the APRC pushes for a federal solution which is a breach of the mandate received by the government and the President. It is very much against the will of the people,” said Weerawansa. He added that the APRC was dictated to by some diplomats and was full of representatives of archaic political parties with no public support.” This exercise has devalued the government’s mandate and insulted the people who voted for something entirely different,” he noted.He added that the APRC could not be maintained for amusement purposes and to appease the separatist sentiments, adding that the JVP had a right to remind this government of its true mandate as a party that helped create the said mandate.At this point, Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle intervened to state that the government was committed to maximum power sharing within a unitary framework.UNP’s Lakshman Kiriella at this point alleged the government was two faced about the solution. “We are told by Indian leaders that you pledge commitment to a federal solution when in New Delhi, but when in Sri Lanka, you cater to the unitary theory,” he said. TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran also intervened to say that the ruling party appeared to have no clue as to the core issue. “You have no idea what the problem is. And you want to perpetuate the war. A solution is not possible within a unitary framework and a solution requires radical constitutional reform,” he added.UNP’s Dayasiri Jayasekera next wanted to know whether Fernandopulle had a sense of responsibility when he made the statement, as his recent remarks have been an embarrassment to the government and countered by his colleagues. “He justified Tamil evictions in Colombo when the Prime minister apologized to the evicted. Then he insulted Sir John Holmes for which the Foreign Minister had to declare that it was his personal view and not of the government”. At this point, Fernandopulle repeated that he was expressing the official viewpoint of the government. UNP withdraws from All Party Representative Committee (APRC) until the Govt reaches a consensus United National Party (UNP) Executive Committee today (21) decided to withdraw from the APRC. UNP media spokesperson Gayantha Karunathilaka said to Lanka-e-News that his party was away from the deliberations of the APRC even before the Executive Committee decision. He said that the UNP stance on the ethnic problem had not changed.UNP media spokesman further said that the government was still incapable to reach a consensus among the government alliance and the government Ministers have begun to criticize the Chairman of the APRC who is also a member of the cabinet. He said that UNP would decide the future action after the government alliance would reach a consensus and set forth a proposal. Vitharana asks JHU not to disrupt APRC process Chairman, All Party Representative Committee (APRC), Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitharana yesterday called on the JHU not to disrupt the process of maximum consensus formation to resolve the ethnic conflict and said no finality has been reached on the nature of the state.Vitharana said while he did not as one who is influenced by the Buddha’s message of compassion wish to waste words replying the personal abuse directed at him by Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka and JHU representative to the APRC, Udaya Gammanpila, he wished to emphasise that the best way to defeat the LTTE was by isolating them from the Tamil people through the APRC proposals. The Minister has further pointed out that there were three core issues which could not be resolved after extensive discussions and that he wrote to the Secretaries of the SLFP, JHU and MEP, suggesting compromise solutions and requesting that he be given an opportunity to discuss these with them. JHU members Ranawaka and Gammanpila on Sunday at a press conference accused Vitharana of being an agent for the LTTE and dismissed the APRC report as reflecting the majority view."It is unfortunate that the Secretary of the JHU did not respond to my letter. In addition I must mention that the JHU representative Mr. Gammanpila kept away from the six meetings of the APRC before the last one," Vitharana wrote."The SLFP and MEP responded to my letter and the President summoned a meeting of the People’s Alliance leaders, which included the MEP leader Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena, together with the leaders of the SLFP to discuss the matter. Following this meeting he summoned a meeting of the leaders of the government where a clear decision was taken to retain the ‘Province’ as the unit of devolution, while strengthening the district as an administrative unit within it. "Views were exchanged on various core issues and there was also agreement on the return to the Westminster model of executive parliamentary government. This was made known to the public as well as the members of the subsequent APRC meeting who accepted these decisions. It is unfortunate that no one from the JHU was present at these meetings," Vitharana added. Vitharana further states core issues like the retaining of the word ‘Unitary’ in defining the nature of the state are still subjects for further discussion and will be taken up at the next meeting of the APRC. "On this question the views expressed by the SLFP will no doubt influence the final decision to be arrived at by the APRC," he has added. "I would appeal to Mr. Gammanpila to participate at the future meetings of the APRC, where he is free to express his opinions and have them recorded, without disrupting the process of maximum consensus formation," he has further said. 'AIDS plot' against Buddhist monks Sexual activity Asked how the monks would be infected without having engaged in sexual acts or using syringes that are infected, the leading monk said : "That is exactly the point I am making. They are trying to tarnish the name of the clergy by implying that monks engage in such acts".'Fundamentalist group of doctors', he said, is planning to infect monks using HIV infected blood to some leading monks.Ellawala Medhananda thero categorically denied the accusations is an attempt to cover up in case if Buddhist monks found to have infected with HIV."We do not want to cover up anything. We are not involved in any such corrupt activity," he told BBCSinhala.com. Car controversy The JHU is accused of illegally selling party chief's permit to import luxury car to a businessman making Rs. Millions as profit.A senior JHU leader, Minister Champika Ranawaka, is also accused of abducting and threatening to kill the person who bought Medhananda thero's luxury car.The JHU have denied accusations.Nine JHU Buddhist monks were elected to the parliament in 2004 April general elections.In Sri Lanka, It is illegal to sell duty free vehicles offered to parliamentarians before five years. Lanka to repatriate refugees in TN Parliament yesterday moved for the appointment of a select committee to amend laws to grant Sri Lankan citizenship to persons who are in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu and introduce a joint action plan with India to facilitate them.The motion calling for its appointment states that whereas it has been reported that in refugee camps for Sri Lankans situated in Tamil Nadu, there are at present 28,500 persons who though entitled to Sri Lankan citizenship, have not been granted such status.It states that the said persons have not been able to obtain citizenship due to the fact that they had to live in refugee camps in Tami Nadu, being unable to live in Sri Lanka due to the situation that prevailed there from time to time since 1983 that prevented them from fulfilling the requirement to the effect that "the children of those with continuous residence in Sri Lanka since October 30, 1964 will be qualified for citizenship" in terms of Granting of Citizenship to Citizens of Indian Origin Act No 35 of 2003. The motion recognises that the aforesaid persons who have not been able to gain citizenship in Sri Lanka have hence become a group of stateless persons and were requesting citizenship at present. As such, the select committee will have full powers to make arrangements for the resettlement of an approximately 80,000 Sri Lankans presently living in Tamil Nadu, to arrange a joint action plan in collaboration with India to take steps to uplift the condition of the Sri Lankan refugees as well as the refugee camps in Tamil Nadu.Further, the committee will be empowered to provide employment in Sri Lanka through a special graduate employment programme to nearly 2,500 unemployed graduates who have obtained their degrees from Indian higher education institutes while staying as refugees in Tamil Nadu, to provide without delay the required additional human and physical resources to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner’s Office in Chennai to conduct these activities vigorously and smoothly, and to provide for other matters in order to address the issues faced by the aforesaid groups of persons. Five held for supplying diesel to LTTE RAMESWARAM: The Navy and Customs on Tuesday busted a racket in selling diesel reportedly to the operatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelem. This came to light when a joint patrolling party headed by Rajiv Kumar, Leading Patrol Man of Indian Navy based at Rameswaram seized a mechanised boat and arrested 5 fishermen with Sri Lankan currency. The arrested fishermen have been identified as S. Kumar (30), A. Paltha (45), F. Robert (23), S. Packiaraj (32) and A. Anbukilavan (24). They all belong to Rameswaram and Thankatchimadam areas. The owner of the boat was identified as Arulanandam of Verkodu. “During interrogation, they confessed that they handed over 50 litres of diesel to the operatives of LTTE at Kottai Mannar in Mannar district. In exchange, the crew received Rs.1,500 in Sri Lankan currency. They also revealed that nearly 60 fishing boats exchanged diesel to the LTTE men on Monday by violating the International Maritime Boundary Line,” Commander S. Mukherjee, Area Commander (South), Naval detachment, Rameswaram, told The Hindu. It was found that the boat had a deep wooden hole specifically for keeping Sri Lankan currency, he added. According to the arrested crew, Mr. Mukherjee said, the modus operandi was representatives of LTTE that would throw cans at the mechanised boats, which went for fishing across the border, one by one for filling diesel. In the return direction, they would collect the filled cans in exchange for Sri Lankan currency. Money launderers It was suspected that a gang of money launderers was operating in and around Rameswaram island for converting Sri Lankan currency into Indian rupees. Karuna Group to retain arms till elections The Karuna Group intends to retain its arms until parliamentary elections are held, Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) Peace Secretariat Head, K. Mahesh said.Speaking to The Morning Leader, Mahesh stated that the only way the group would be ensured protection was by entering parliament."We are sure to win at least five seats and that is the only way the government could ensure our protection," he said.He added that the TMVP would contest individually at the local government elections.Mahesh stated that the TMVP would support the party with the majority support when contesting the provincial council and general elections. "However, we will not be contesting alone at the provincial council elections as it is totally different. We would support the party with the majority support," he said.He added that the government had not raised the issue of disarming the TMVP so far."We have no problem in laying down our arms. Our protection is important. We carry arms for our protection," he said. However, Mahesh said that they would discuss these issues if the government raises the issue with the TMVP."We will definitely discuss the matter with the government if it is brought to us," he said.However, he maintained that the government had to ensure the safety of its members. TMVP Political Head in Batticaloa, V. Thileepan also stated that the TMVP was continuing with its political activities regardless of the issues with regard to disarming."The people here should feel safe. They are more comfortable when we are there. We speak the same language, Tamil. We have to be armed to protect our members and the people as well," Thileepan said.He denied reports that the armed persons were a threat to civilians and humanitarian activities."These allegations are made by those who are allies of the Wanni Tigers. The fact is that the humanitarian work is continuing without any problems. We have been in constant touch with humanitarian organisations and are maintaining a cordial relationship with them," he said. U.S Pacific Command hosts military law programme Professionals dealing with military law from the United States Pacific Command hosted an exchange programme on the subject of military law, with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, to exchange ideas on ways to improve transparency, accountability and human rights in the furtherance of military justice.The US Embassy in a statement said a five-member team from the U.S Ministry of Defence met with thirty five Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force personnel last week for a three day programme at the Galadari Hotel, to foster a mutual exchange of ideas and discussion on laws affecting military commanders today. Speaking on the opening day, US Ambassador Robert O' Blake said “Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and I agreed that it would be useful to bring together military justice experts from Sri Lanka and the United States to exchange information, perspectives and best practices.”“It is valuable to discuss the challenges both our countries face in pursuing effective counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism practices, while ensuring respect for human rights and international law”, he said. while pursuing such operations,” Speaking further, Ambassador Blake said, “We are pleased to add Sri Lanka to the distinguished list of partners in the Military Law Exchange Programme. In the heat of battle, soldiers may occasionally act outside the law. What is important is that there are laws and institutions set up to investigate and respond appropriately to such transgressions. The successful empowerment of such institutions and the full implementation of such laws are measures taken by a strong and well-regulated military and a strong and healthy democracy.”The Military Law Exchange Programme was established by the U.S. Pacific Command, a department of the U.S. Navy, in 1995, as a means by which the exchange of views on legal issues at the military-to-military level could be under-taken. 21 August 2007 Tamil rebels fire artillery in northern Sri Lanka The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fired artillery at military installations in the northern Jaffna peninsula Tuesday, military officials said Tuesday.The LTTE started their artillery fire just before 9 a.m. Some shells fell near the air force base at Palaly.The rebels were thought to have targeted the Palaly military base and naval facilities at Kankesanturai harbour, the officials said. The extent of damage was not known.The military retaliated with Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire, said the officials.The fighting broke out in Jaffna exactly a year ago -- the first battle since the LTTE and the government entered the Norwegian-backed ceasefire in February 2002.The truce still holds because both sides have not chosen to formally withdraw from the agreement despite the escalation of violence.More than 5,000 people have died in the new cycle of violence since the end of 2005 in the war torn country. Bhagwati meets Rajapaksa Head of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) Justice P.N. Bhagwati called on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday to sort out the issues pertaining to the functioning of the Commission appointed by the latter on human rights violations.A senior official in the Presidential Secretariat told The-Hindu that the one-to-one meeting was “cordial”. He said the focus was on ways to carry forward the mandate of the President for a transparent and fair mechanism to monitor and bring to book those responsible for violation of human rights.The 11-member inter-continental experts group led by Justice Bhagwati was invited by the Government in February to oversee the functioning of the Presidential Commission of Enquiry (COI) set up in November to investigate prominent cases of human rights violations in the island since August 2005.According to the Presidential Secretariat, the President promised to strengthen the COI on issues related to funds and other logistical issues. TNA MP's brother shot dead A Tamil MP's brother was shot dead by an unidentified man in eastern Sri Lanka, a family spokesperson said Tuesday. The killing occurred in Oaddamaavadi, a region government troops claimed to have gained full control after nearly six months of operations.S. Thiyagachandran, 54, was returning home after work Monday evening when he was gunned down at Oaddamaavadi, 260 km east of Colombo.Police said the attacker was yet to be identified, but family members said they believe a breakaway group of the Tamil rebels, known as Karuna, is responsible for the shooting.The victim's brother, S. Jeyananthamoorthy, is a member of parliament, representing the Tamil National Alliance and the eastern Batticaloa district. The lawmaker and his family, including two children, narrowly escaped a rocket-propelled grenade attack by the Karuna group on their home in July last year.Government troops last month declared that they had fully captured the eastern province by driving out rebels belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), but the Karuna group, which backed the military in their operations against the rebels, have remained in the area and have been permitted to carry weapons for what has been described as their "own security".The Karuna group - led by the LTTE's former eastern province military wing leader V. Muralitharan, alias Karuna - broke away from the LTTE in April 2004. Tamil aid worker killed in north Sri Lanka Unknown gunmen shot dead a Tamil staff member of the Danish Demining Group in Sri Lanka's far north on Monday, the group said, the latest in a rash of aid worker killings on the island.The shooting took place in the army-held Jaffna peninsula, which is cut off from the rest of the island behind rebel lines and has been beset by shootings in recent months and attacks on troops blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels.Steen Wetlesen, country programme manager of the Danish Demining Group, said four staff members travelling to work on two motorcycles were chased by three people also on motorbikes."There were shots towards them. The backseat rider on one bike was hit in the bottom by a shot, so they stopped," he said. "The people pursuing followed the front bike and managed to catch up with them in the end and killed the driver."Wetlesen said the group, which has 300 staff in Jaffna, had suspended its work on the peninsula to determine how to improve staff security."Four of our staff during the last two years have disappeared. Two of our staff members have now been killed," he added.The killing comes just days after U.N. Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes visited the island and said it had one of the worst records in the world for aid worker safety in terms of the number of aid workers killed. Jaffna remembers Fr Jimbrown, “symbol” of war atrocities A year after the disappearance of the parish priest and his assistant, the diocese today remembered their courage and altruism with prayers and fasting. A book about what happened has been published. In Jaffna, there have been more than 560 cases of unclarified “disappearances” from December 2005 to April 2007. Prayers and commemoration ceremonies were held today in Colombo, Mannar and Jaffna to mark the first anniversary of the disappearance of Fr Thiruchelvam Nihal Jimbrown and his assistant, Wenceslaus Vimalathas. The day served to remember the priest’s selfless courage and to draw attention to all victims of daily abductions and killings in the northern peninsula of Jaffna. It was here that the Catholic priest and his assistant, a father of five children, disappeared on 20 August last year. They were last seen at a checkpoint in Allapiddy, an area tightly controlled by the Navy. Around 1,000 priests, sisters and lay people attended the three-hour fasting and prayers held this morning in the compound of Jaffna Cathedral. At the end of the service, the Justice and Peace Commission of Jaffna Diocese launched a book about Fr Jimbrown entitled “Missing”. Sources told AsiaNews that the publication detailed events in the lead-up to the priest’s disappearance, in particular the shelling of his parish church of St Philip Neri on 13 August 2006, when Allaipiddy was caught in crossfire between the security forces and separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). “Fr Jimbrown took the wounded out of the area, to safety. The Navy stopped him, but he fell to his knees and pleaded for his people,” recalled the sources. Other services to mark the priest’s memory were held in Colombo and Mannar, where Fr Jimbrown spent two years as assistant parish priest. Here, the bishop himself, Mgr Rayappu Joseph, presided over Mass at St Sebastian’s Cathedral. For the Church of Sri Lanka, particularly in Jaffna, Fr Jimbrown is a “symbol” of human rights violations that are perpetrated daily: “People are kidnapped or killed every day here. Our prayers today were for all of them.” Only a week ago, on 13 August, six men were shot dead by ‘unknown persons’ in Jaffna, and another three went missing. “People are living in utter fear and everyone is afraid to speak out,” continued the sources. “Only the Church can do something to highlight what is happening.”The de facto return to civil war in Sri Lanka has led to an alarming rise in abductions and ‘disappearances’ – often a euphemism for extrajudicial execution – committed by all the warring parties. The security forces and paramilitaries complicit with them are held to be implicated in the majority of recent cases. In Jaffna alone, more than 560 people who went missing between December 2005 and April 2007 remain unaccounted for. Home Guards killed in Vavuniya A secret message to LTTE from the President Lanka-e-News learns that the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Jagath Abesinghe left for the Tamil Tiger territory today (20) with a special message from the President Mahinda Rajapakse.When Lanka-e-News enquired about the Red Cross Chairman's tour from the Executive Director of the Red Cross Mahesh Jayasinghe, he said that Mr.Abesinghe went today to the Anuradhapura branch office of the society and said he was unaware if the Chairman went beyond Vavuniya. LTTE , SLA exchange artillery fire in Thenmaraadchi FDL Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lanka Army were engaged in a heavy exchange of artillery fire Monday evening. SLA fired artillery shells from Koappay area on LTTE held Poonakari, Muhamaalai and Nakarkoayil areas, while LTTE retaliated artillery shelling SLA bases in Mirusuvil and Usan areas in Thenmaraadchi.Casualties, if any, on both sides remain unknown.Koappay area was tense as the artillery barrage reverberated across Jaffna peninsula.Official information of the attacks is yet to be released by both parties in the conflict. M.I.A.'s New Album A Wallop Of Worldly Beats "M.I.A. is coming back with power power," chants rapper Mathangi Arulpragasam on the opening track of her new sophomore release "Kala."Looking like a pint-sized Afrika Bambaataa on the album's cover, the British-born Sri Lankan refugee, aka M.I.A., is definitely back ... with world beats thumping.Not nearly as brilliant as 2005's "Arular," a crush of lo-fi political wit, hip-hop, electro rhythms and urban sass, "Kala" continues M.I.A.'s quest to speak global underground truths. This time, instead of just rapping about her tumultuous youth in Sri Lanka (her dad founded a guerrilla group there) and later London upbringing, she looks to life and struggles spanning other countries. Produced by Switch and DJ Diplo, "Kala" was written and recorded during M.I.A.'s travels to India, Trinidad, Jamaica, Australia, Japan and Baltimore, with a smattering of international contributors."Hussel" finds her splitting rhymes with Nigerian rapper Afrikan Boy in a tune drenched in fuzzy synthesizers and bird chirps."You think it's tough now, come to Africa," Afrikan Boy shouts."Mango Pickle Down River" is a strange little ditty, all bass, drum and didgeridoo grind, with the eerie voices of Aborigine teen clan the Wilcannia Mob coated over M.I.A.'s deeper ode to fish and mango pickle.At "Kala's" best, M.I.A. lifts lyrics and licks from rock bands like the Modern Lovers, the Pixies and the Clash and fluidly works them into her urban-pop immigrant tales."Third world democracy Yah, I've got more records in the KGB," she boasts on "Paper Planes."At its worst, the album doesn't quite ride the same wave of delicious catchiness as "Arular."Even with Timbaland featured on the last track "Come Around," "Kala" is infectious, but not addictive. 20 August 2007 Tamils held incommunicado denied Police officials in Sri Lanka have denied accusations that three Tamil men are held incommunicado in Colombo.Three Tamil men are currently held incommunicado by Sri Lankan police in the capital, Colombo, Amnesty International (AI) said.Sujith Gunapala, Sasikaran Thevarajah and Satyaphavan Aseervatham were arrested by the police Criminal Investigations Division (CID) upon arrival from Thailand. No request by relatives Police spokesman, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Jayantha Wicramaratne, denied the AI accusation.He told BBC Sandeshaya that no request was made by the families or any other representative to visit the detainees."They are held in custody because they are accused of many other offences including immigration related offences before they left for Thailand," he told BBCSinhala.com.DIG wickramaratne however refused to reveal the exact centre where the detainess are kept.The men "are believed to be in grave danger of torture," a statement issued by the AI stated.Applications for political asylum in Thailand by the three Sri Lankan nationals were refused by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Asylum applications rejected "They are all ethnic Tamils and it is thought they have been detained on suspicion of having links with the LTTE armed opposition group because they have served prison sentences in Thailand for illegal possession of firearms," the statement added. Their lawyer was told that he must get formal permission from the CID Director before he is allowed to see the detainees.The rights watchdog says that over 1000 people are believed to be abducted by the armed forces, LTTE and other armed groups in Sri Lanka during the last 12 months period."Detentions in Sri Lanka are becoming increasingly arbitrary," the statement said."In many cases, no receipts or records of detention are made available to family members of those who have been arrested, despite a Presidential warrant of July 2006 requiring this". Youth killed, another injured in Kayts shooting A 25-year old youth riding a motorbike was killed and his 26-year old friend riding the pinion was seriously injured Monday morning in Pu'liyangkudal area in Kayts, Jaffna islets, when unknown gunmen following the victims in another motorbike sprayed gunfire at the victims, sources in Jaffna said.Sivasamy Sritharan was killed on the spot, and A. Sujithan, with serious injuries was taken to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital where he is receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit, hospital sources said.The incident follows the killing of a trader Sunday in Vealanai East, marking the resumption of killings following relative calm in the islets for several weeks, civil society sources said. Rajapakse's son meets Rahul Gandhi Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's elder son Namal has returned home after a brief visit to India during which he had a meeting with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.Rajapakse, heading a delegation of his NGO Tharunyata Hetak (Future for Youth), spent over 30 minutes with Gandhi on the evening of Aug 14, sources who interacted with the Sri Lankan youth told IANS."Meeting Rahul Gandhi was the main attraction of his visit," said one source. "It was one of the main events. He wanted to meet a young leader of India and so he met Gandhi."He wanted to get a sense of how things are going for India. What better way to do than by meeting someone like Rahul Gandhi?" It was Namal Rajapakse's first visit to the Indian capital, and comes about three months before his father is expected to make his third trip to New Delhi since taking charge of Sri Lanka in November 2005.Another source told IANS: "Rajapakse and Rahul Gandhi had a cordial meeting. Rajapakse also discussed the situation in his country."Rajapakse, who is studying law in London, has shown interest in areas of governance. Many believe that he is likely to take to active politics some day. A rugby player who also has interest in racing, the young Rajapakse is founder president of the Tharunyata Hetak group that seeks to unite youth for "national development".The Sri Lankan government is waging a bitter military campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which has been blamed for the May 1991 assassination of Rahul's father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Rajiv Gandhi had ordered the deployment of Indian troops in Sri Lanka's northeast in 1987 under a bilateral peace pact. The troops ended up fighting the LTTE and returned home in 1990 after losing nearly 1,200 men.A New Delhi-based group played host to Namal Rajapakse, who flew into New Delhi Aug 13 and left after the midnight of Aug 14-15 as India prepared to mark 60 years of independence from Britain.He was originally set to fly to Mumbai and spend a couple of days meeting some of India's top industrialists. But the Mumbai leg of the programme was cancelled at the eleventh hour.At a recent meeting in Sri Lanka's south, home to the island's majority Sinhalese community, the young Rajapakse said his group had succeeded in staying clear of politics and uniting and garnering the support of youth for public service. He also declared that his endeavour was to build a healthy and environment-friendly young people "rich in social and cultural values by weaning them away from liquor, smoking and drug habits".Rajapakse's visit came at a time when the Sri Lankan government is facing intense Western scrutiny over reports of human rights violations in the war-torn country, more so in the northeast.The Rajapakse government has made it clear that it intends to take the war against the LTTE to the island's rebel-controlled north after winning control of territory in the east that the Tigers have held on to for years.Thousands have been killed and many more displaced in heavy fighting in Sri Lanka since December 2005. Govt. recruits Tamils, Muslims to police in East The government over the weekend stated a mass recruitment drive of Tamils and Muslims to the police force in the Batticaloa district with more than 500 applications being received and the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (Karuna faction) confirming that in the future its cadres may also be recruited.“During the last two days, more than 500 applications had been received and most of them were from Tamils,” a senior area police officer said. He said it was a major success and the police expected the drive to reach the required number of youth within a short period.Meanwhile, TMVP Batticaloa area political head Thileepan told the Daily Mirror the party had not yet decided on formally merging its forces with the police but did not rule out the prospect in the future.“In the future that might happen but at the moment a decision has not been taken, so our cadres did not take part in the recruitment drive by the police over the weekend,” he said.The police official said the government expected to open more than 50 police stations in the newly captured areas including Thoppigala, Vakarai and Verugal. He said it was necessary to deploy Tamil officers in these Tamil populated areas to have a good rapport with the local communities. Sri Lanka accuse Indian fishermen of poaching Sri Lanka Navy finds Sulphuric acid hidden in Mannar Sri Lanka Navy this evening found 250 liters of Sulphuric acid hidden near the Katu mosque in Mannar, the Navy said.“The stock of acid in a cart meant to be given to Tamil Tigers was found concealed in a jungle area,” a senior naval official said. A truck carrying 4,000 liters of sulphuric acid towards Vavuniya was seized by the police at the Medawachchiya police road block on Aug 13th. Prabha at Thiyagan’s funeral The funeral of the third most senior Sea Tiger leader Chandrasekaran Pillai alias Thiyagan, who was killed in a recent sea battle with the Navy, was held on Thursday at Pudukuduirrippu. LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran participated in the event. Reports say a large number of LTTE leaders led by Mr. Prabhakaran had participated at the funeral that took place under tight security.On August 13 a fierce sea battle broke out in the seas off Nayaru when the Sea Tigers attempted to rescue a large number of Tiger cadres stranded in the jungles north of Trincomalee. Lt Colonel’ Sodilingam Nishanthan alias Kanyanthambi ; ‘Captain Sewandan Arulsuryan alias Agasur and three ‘Second Lieutenants’ Lylan Anushan alias Sembulwanan, Eswaranthan Waran alias Olinivan, Sasikumar alias Ahalkadal were among those killed in the sea battle in which a Tiger boat was also destroyed and several others damaged. 80 p.c. of Air Defence System completed SLAF ready for any threat, says Commander: COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka Air Force is ready to face any air threat from the LTTE with more than 80 per cent of the Air Defence System completed with India’s support, Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke told the Daily News. In an exclusive interview with the Daily News, Commander Goonetilleke said only a little more has to be done to establish a comprehensive air defence system. “Actually we have finished 80 per cent of the work. We have very little more to do. And that 80 per cent can definitely take charge of the kind of threat we saw in three [LTTE air] attacks,” the Commander added. He said with the LTTE air attacks the SLAF managed to accelerate the programme of establishing a fully capable air defence system with the help of India. “India volunteered to extend support. They have been good enough to give equipment to us free and their people to train our people, wait and operate these equipment until we are quite comfortable to operate on our own,” the Air Force Commander said. He said that apart from the establishment of the air defence system, the Air Force also took measures to destroy air capabilities of the LTTE by bombing those places. “We have not just waited. We have also bombed their places and done a lot of damage to where we think they have their facilities,” he said. He said although intelligence reports say the LTTE had flown again, the Air Force has not seen or collected any concrete proof to that effect. “Of course we are constantly alert,” the Commander added. He said the requirement to purchase MiG 29 fighter aircraft was forwarded prior to the LTTE coming out with the air threat and the SLAF will definitely go for MiG 29s once the Ministry of Defence approves it. Sacred Nallur Kantha Swami festival attracts thousands JAFFNA: The annual festival of the Nallur Kantha Swami festival in Jaffna commenced on Saturday with the Kodi Etram - the ceremony of flag hoisting to mark the beginning of the festival in the temple. The day pooja (adoration of deities with rituals) is to be held with the temple deity taken in a procession within the inner court of the temple. The evening pooja during the festival days will be held with the deity taken in procession at 4.45 pm. Temple authorities said the day’s pooja will be over by 5.30 pm for that day. The temple flag was brought to the temple in procession on Thursday from the Theradi Murugan matt located at the Sattanathar Street. The annual festival of the famous Nallur Kandasami Temple in the Jaffna peninsula is expected to draw tens of thousands of pilgrims from across Sri Lanka and also a few hundreds of Tamil expatriates from Western countries. Nallur Kantha Swami Temple is one of the most important temples in the Jaffna peninsula. 19 August 2007 APRC rules out Unitary State The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) is this week planning to release the main proposals to form the basis of a future constitution where Sri Lanka is defined as a free, sovereign and independent state known as the Republic of Sri Lanka. The main proposals backed by a majority of the parties represented in the APRC has excluded the 'unitary state' concept as proposed by the SLFP, JHU and the MEP. The 'main proposals' which were to be released on August 15 did not see the light of day after the SLFP and MEP moved for the indefinite adjournment of the APRC on a request by the President on Tuesday.However The Sunday Leader learns the proposals are to be released this week even if the President does not give the green light for the APRC to resume proceedings.A copy of the main proposals in the possession of The Sunday Leader states, 'the Republic of Sri Lanka shall give the foremost place to Buddhism with the state to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana while according to all religions the rights guaranteed by the articles in the proposed constitution.' The 'main proposals' also reiterate that the unit of devolution will be the province, once again rejecting the SLFP, MEP and JHU position. 'The Republic of Sri Lanka is a single state in the sense in which it shall be deemed to be an undivided, integrated and inter-dependent state structure where the devolved state power shall be shared between the centre and the provinces and among the provinces inter se,' the draft proposals state.It is learned the use of the word 'shall' was intended to give the proposed constitution a federal flavour as opposed to characteristics of the unitary state. In a ground breaking provision the draft also states the people of Sri Lanka shall be described in the constitution as being composed of "Sinhala, Sri Lankan Tamil, Moor, Indian Tamil and other constituent peoples of Sri Lanka. "The right of every constituent people to develop their own language, to develop and promote their culture and to preserve its history and the right to its due share of state power including the right to due representation in institutions of government shall be recognised without in any way weakening the common Sri Lankan identity..." the main proposals also state. Legal sources said this provision taken with the earlier provisions provide for a federal constitution all but in name. The report further proposes the abolition of the executive presidency at the end of President Mahinda Rajapakse's present term of office with Sri Lanka to return to a parliamentary democracy. The proposals state the president shall act on the advice of the prime minister. The proposals also envisage peace talks with the LTTE. It states two or three provinces can merge subject to a referendum in those provinces.The draft states since the Tamil parties have been agitating for the north-east merger it is best kept open for discussion at the peace talks with Muslim representation at such talks. The report further provides for the abolition of the concurrent list in the present constitution for the distribution of powers and makes way for a national list and a provincial list.The proposals also envisage far reaching fiscal devolution to enable the provinces to effectively develop their areas.It is proposed to look at the fiscal devolution proposed in President Chandrika Kumaratunga's 2000 Draft Constitution. APRC good as dead: Sampathan The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) which recently adjourned with no future date set to meet again is as good as dead, according to Trincomalee District Parliamentarian and Parliamentary group alliance of Tamil parties’ leader R. Sampanthan. Speaking at the ‘9th Business for Peace Forum’, organized by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), last week Mr. Sampanthan said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had readily acknowledged that he did not invite the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to participate in the APRC. The President had further cast aside the proposals set forth by the 15 member committee of experts (made up of 10 Sinhalese, four Tamils and one Muslim) appointed to guide the APRC, which could have been the basis for further dialogue and a chance for the parties to explore the option of federalism, he said. Mr. Sampanthan said that during the tenures of past leaders such as S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa and Chandrika Kumaratunga, the public discerned that some progress was being made regarding the ethnic conflict. However with the current government, the position is being reversed. He said there was a ‘subtle form of ethnic cleansing’ taking place in the East. Having declared that his intention was to flush out the LTTE or terrorists, the President had also flushed out 300,000 Tamil citizens, destroying their homes, farms and their livelihood potential. Furthermore, 300 Tamils have been killed in contravention of international humanitarian law. The President had also declared a high security zone in which 16,000 Tamils live, he said. Mr. Sampanthan said that if the President really wanted to retrieve Tamils from the hands of the LTTE, he would have allowed them to return and live on their land. The development programme for the East is a matter of great concern for Tamils.“Why the sudden passionate love for the Eastern Province?” Mr. Sampanthan asked. No Tamil or Muslim Parliamentarians from the area have been consulted, including Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem. Additionally, funds have been sought from various multi-lateral agencies for the rebuilding of the East with no consultation from Tamil and Muslim Parliamentarians, he said. Mr. Sampanthan said he believed the Government had ulterior objectives based on how matters were being handled in the Eastern Province, which is raising great doubts in the Government's sincerity and commitment to peace. He said Sri Lanka was perhaps becoming the most militarized state in the world, based on the percentage of military expenditure of the GDP. Furthermore, military expenditure in 2007 has doubled since 2005. Mr. Sampanthan said Sri Lanka was focused on a military agenda and the Government seemed to think that the answer to the ethnic problem involved a military solution.“Peace can never be brought on by war,” he said urging the business community to approach politicians and take the peace process forward through a fruitful dialogue. President to market devolution package at UN President Mahinda Rajapaksa is planning to market his devolution package when he addresses the United Nations General Assembly next month. Ministerial sources told The Nation that he would make it an opportunity to ask the international community to bring all parties concerned to the negotiating table, after presenting the package on devolution. The government believes that this move would please India, as well as the international community, since they have now devised ‘province’ as the unit of devolution, as reported in The Nation last Sunday. It is learnt that the government is envisaging going beyond the 13th Amendment for the Constitution under which the Provincial Councils came into existence. It will also go beyond the 2000 August package, which was proposed by Chandrika Kumaratunga’s government on the land policy. The government will also do away with the concurrent list, but would try to keep the unitary nature of the Constitution intact. It appears the government will devolve powers except for defence and monetary affairs and the foreign policy. Soldiers kill Tamil rebel in east Sri Lanka, military says Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan soldiers fatally shot an ethnic Tamil rebel Saturday after the insurgent allegedly attacked troops engaged in a search operation, the military said.The rebel attacked the soldiers with a grenade in the eastern district of Trincomalee, an official at the Defense Ministry information center said.Separately in the same district, soldiers arrested two men for carrying hand grenades, the official said on condition of anonymity, citing government policy.The government last month announced that it had driven Tamil Tiger rebels from the entire Eastern Province, which includes Trincomalee. However, soldiers are still searching the area.The Tamil Tiger rebels still control a large amount of territory in the island nation's north, where they run a de-facto state.Sri Lanka has witnessed a surge in violence in the past 21 months, with 5,000 people dying in bomb attacks, assassinations and air strikes. The fighting has virtually killed a Norway-brokered cease-fire signed in 2002.The Tamil Tigers, formally called the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, want to carve out an independent state for Sri Lanka's minority Tamils, who have long faced discrimination under successive governments controlled by the majority Sinhalese.More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict since 1983. Top Brass on TOD in North Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday briefed security forces in Jaffna, on measures to be taken against possible LTTE attacks in the future. During his briefing, Rajapaksa also warned that the terrorists would target both military and civil installations. The Defense Secretary visited Jaffna with Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka and Chief of Defense Staff Air Chief Marshall Donald Perera, to meet army and police personnel. The Defence Secretary gave instructions regarding security in Jaffna after SF-J Commander Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri and other senior officers briefed him on the present security situation in the peninsula. Mangala calls on intl. community to punish Rajapakse bros Convener, SLFP (M) Group, Mangala Samaraweera on Friday called on the international community not to punish the innocent people of the country by cutting down aid to the island for the wrongdoings of the Rajapakse brothers.Samaraweera was addressing the second district rally of the National Council, formed by the UNP and the SLFP (M) Group in Anuradhapura Friday. He told the large crowd that the international community should instead take steps to punish the Rajapakse brothers for the violation of human rights and corruption in line with international laws."Basil should not be allowed to return to the US and Gotabaya should be taken to task over the killing of innocent civilians. There is no point is cutting aid and making the rest of the country suffer for their misdoings," he said.Samaraweera who hailed the formation of the National Council as the beginning of a new political culture and an end to petty party politics said that it was time to bring an end to the country's misery by toppling the government. He also said that the development projects witnessed by the country were the ones initiated by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.Samaraweera once again called on the JVP to join forces with the National Council to topple the government."It is time the JVP too made a decision on joining forces to send the government home. How much more corruption and price hikes do they want to see to arrive at a decision?" he asked.Samaraweera said that Sri Lanka has been likened to countries like Ethiopia and Somalia under the present government and that it has failed by the people.Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe agreeing with Samaraweera said that President Mahinda Rajapakse has gone back on all the promises he made during the presidential election to uplift the living standards of the people."He promised so much. But has anything been given. Even the promised subsidy was not given," he said.Wickremesinghe said that the Brothers Company was ruining the country.He also said that several print media institutions too were now trying to follow the Rajapakse policies. "There are three Buddhist editors in three Sinhala newspapers, but they observe pansil every morning now by reciting the names of the three brothers," he said.Wickremesinghe also highlighted that the Rajapakse Brothers were trying to push the country into debt by taking loans at high interest rates.UNP Secretary General Tissa Attanayake addressing the gathering said that it was only Wickremesinghe who gave the people of the country the right to live by bringing in a ceasefire."Wickremesinghe's government was then toppled and the government now has done nothing but create dooshanaya and bheeshanaya," he said.He charged that the government was using the war to make money."That is why the UNP has now come out and formed the National Alliance to counter these," he said.UNP Chairman Rukman Senanayake, District Leader P. Harrison, Parliamentarians Johnston Fernando, Chandrani Bandara, Anuradhapura organisers Rohana Gamage, Kasturi Anuradhanayake and Upulangani Malagamuwa from the SLFP (M) group also spoke at the event. State assets to build SLFP hq. Heads of state corporations and statutory boards have been called upon to dispose idle assets and contribute to complete the Sri Lanka Freedom Party headquarters in Battaramulla amidst opening of an Elections Office at Temple Trees and preparations for polls.The instructions were given during a meeting Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and Senior Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle held with the heads at the Presidential Secretariat recently.According to a copy of the minutes seen by The Sunday Times, a number of other issues including measures to protect President Mahinda Rajapaksa against unwarranted allegations were discussed. The heads of corporations and statutory boards have been told that they should visit the Elections Office and get involved in Government's organizational activities. At least officially, the Government has declared there would be no parliamentary general elections until 2010. However, the Government has declared that local council elections will be held soon in the east. This is particularly in the light of Government claims that the entirety of the East has now been cleared. Though a foundation stone was laid in Battaramulla for a new headquarters building for the SLFP, the project has been dogged by many problems. Soon after the foundation was laid, a plaque commemorating the event went missing. Work slowed down after the party was unable to raise the Rs 100 million required to complete construction work.One instance where scrap metal lying at the Kantale Sugar factory was to be sold and proceeds given to the SLFP was related by the Chairman of the state venture, K.D.S. Gunawardena. He said Ministry of Agriculture approval was being awaited for the sale. Government Regulations prohibit the funds from the sale of Government property being diverted outside. JVP Trincomalee district parliamentarian Jayantha Wijesekera said the Kantale Sugar factory was acquired during the time of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. He said the Treasury was paying the salary of 95 workers and was meeting maintenance costs though there was no output. Minister Fernandopulle, who is now the Treasurer of the SLFP and government spokesman, had said it was one of his priorities to raise funds for the completion of the party headquarters. An official of the Land Reclamation and Development Board said they would approach private sector enterprises with whom they worked closely for donations.The heads of corporations and statutory bodies were also told by Mr. Fernandopulle that they should respond to adverse news reports. In this regard, they have been told that the Rupavahini has been playing a major role to counter any adverse publicity.Mr. Fernandopulle said corporations and statutory bodies should also give wide publicity to their own development work. The meeting will become a regular monthly feature, according to a decision reached. Chandrika bids farewell to Brattskar Fond farewells: Outgoing Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar and his wife made a courtesy call on former President Chandrika Kumaratunga last afternoon at her official residence in Torrington. Ambassador Brattskar received his appointment to Sri Lanka during Kumaratunga’s tenure in office. Brattskar concludes his assignment in Colombo later this month. The two exchanged pleasantries during yesterday’s visit, but no official discussions were held. UK Engineer alleges assault by Bhaila’s son A SriLankan-born British passport holder on holiday in Colombo was assaulted allegedly by Deputy Minister Hussein Bhaila’s son on Friday morning in front of his residence in Bambalapitiya after the two got into an argument over their vehicles passing through a narrow road. Paul Savarimuttu, a 57-year-old Sri Lankan Chartered Engineer living in Warrington, was injured in the incident and is receiving treatment at the Colombo eye hospital.Mr. Savarimuttu receiving treatment at Colombo Eye Hospital Mr. Savarimuttu said he was reversing his vehicle out of his home in Bambalapitiya when he noticed that a white Pajero had pulled up behind him. He said the driver of the Pajero beckoned him to move his vehicle to a side as the road was narrow and the vehicle could not pass.However, a misunderstanding between the two drivers caused the passenger of the Pajero, who was the son of Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila, to get down from his vehicle and argue with Mr. Savarimuttu.Azil Bhaila, who is also the private secretary of the Deputy Minister, allegedly pushed Mr. Savarimuttu into the passenger seat of his own car and started to assault him while the Pajero driver made no attempt to stop it.“If the neighbours had not heard the commotion and come and stopped him, these injuries could have been worse. He had restricted the movements of my hands so I couldn’t defend myself,” Mr. Savarimuttu said. After the neighbours wanted to inform the local police, Mr. Savarimuttu stated that the Deputy Minister’s son pretended to be a police officer and made a call from his cell phone saying he was informing headquarters.Later, two people in another four wheel drive pulled up with a suspicious ‘police’ sticker on the front stating that they were from police headquarters. The neighbours then insisted on calling the Bambalapitiya Police after which the suspicious police vehicle left the scene.After making a complaint at the Bambalapitiya Police Station, Mr. Savarimuttu was admitted to the eye hospital after the severe assaulting he received caused internal bleeding under his right eye. He said he would be taking immediate action against the Deputy Minister’s son and had already sought advice from his lawyers.But, Azil Bhaila told the Sunday Times that he was only defending himself against Mr. Savarimuttu who began the argument and attacked him first.“He completely blocked out the road when he was reversing his vehicle from his residence and then asked me to take my car all the way back up the road in order for him to take his vehicle. “When I refused he started an argument and punched me on my shoulder,” he said.Azil Bhaila denied all accusations of pretending to be from the police and said he was the one who called the 119 emergency number and requested the police to come to the scene. He said his action was purely one of self defence and was not a deliberate attack on a civilian.The Bambalapitiya police confirmed that a complaint was made regarding the involvement of the Deputy Minister’s son. The Police took a statement from Mr. Savarimuttu at his ward in the eye hospital on Friday while Azil Bhaila’s statement was recorded at the Bambalapitiya police station. Police said investigations were continuing and they could not comment on who hit whom first. Karu shops for political party Public Administration Minister and UNP defector Karu Jayasuriya is shopping for a political party, it is learned.Informed sources said Jayasuriya was looking to purchase a political party for the UNP defectors with the UNP appointing new organisers to the electorates held by them prior to accepting government office.The Sunday Leader learns the Jayasuriya group has already spoken with a couple of people to get the rights to a political party which is currently registered.Informed sources said Jayasuriya had spoken with Uva Governor Nanda Mathew recently and inquired whether he was willing to part with a political party he had registered which carries the 'Gate' symbol.It is learned the secretary of the 'Gate' party, Asoka Somaratne and former UNP General Secretary Sirisena Cooray were also present when Jayasuriya made the offer to take the party. Initial reports said Cooray was negotiating with Mathew to purchase the party for the Jayasuriya group. However Cooray told The Sunday Leader he had not negotiated to buy the party from Mathew but that he was present when Jayasuriya made the request for the party from Mathew and Somaratne at the Galle Face Hotel.He also said Mathew was not interested in selling the party but had put forward several conditions to part with the party. Sources said Jayasuriya was shopping for a party to prepare for the eventuality of a snap general election since none of the defectors would get UNP nomination.The sources said the UNP defectors would join the UPFA as a constituent party in the event of an election if they succeed in purchasing a political party.Meanwhile a source close to Mathew said the Governor would not part with the party since an earlier request for the party by President Mahinda Rajapakse and Advisor Basil Rajapakse was also turned down. " Having declined a request of the President how can the party be given to Karu Jayasuriya," the source close to Mathew said. UNICEF report exposes Government’s hand in child recruitments The controversy surrounding the government’s involvement in the Karuna faction to recruit children to the breakaway group has reached new heights. This is following a recent UNICEF report which charges that they had compelling evidence of the Sri Lanka Government’s involvement in assisting the Karuna faction in recruiting children, in government controlled areas. The report by Sarah Maguire commissioned by the UNICEF titled ‘Strategy Development for UNICEF and Partners in Sri Lanka on the Recruitment and Use of Children by Armed Groups,’ in June this year stated, “The Karuna faction is widely reported to be recruiting children. Again, some of them are very young. Evidence of the Government of Sri Lanka’s complicity in this recruitment is compelling: children in the Karuna faction are moved around the government controlled areas in sign of government security forces, the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikkal (TMVP) maintains political offices across the east of the country despite it not being registered as a political party and allegedly in contravention of the national laws as an organisation ‘engaged in terrorism’, as well as allegedly being in contravention of laws proscribing the recruitment of children.”The report points out that the security forces and governmental officials in the areas where the Karuna faction operates need to know that child recruitment is contrary both to Sri Lankan and international laws to which Sri Lanka is a State Party.“There are wide spread and credible reports that police and army personnel are or should be aware of the recruitment of children in the east but they take no action,” the report stated. The report also noted that the sovereignty of a state meant taking responsibility. The primary responsibility for the protection of children in Sri Lanka lay with the national government. Despite the LTTE having declared that it is a ‘de facto state,’ the government still has a responsibility in the provision of services and the protection of children within its jurisdiction. Nedumaran vows to enter Jaffna challenging border laws An organization called “Coordinating Group of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Stalwarts” in Tamil Nadu headed by Tamil National Party leader P.Nedumaran has vowed to enter Jaffna crossing the Palk Strait with food and aids in boats on September 12. A resolution to this effect was made at the end of a conference held recently in Viluppuram, Tamilnadu organized by the said group, to condemn the Indian central government for “its indifference toward the starving Tamils in Jaffna”, reports from Tamil Nadu said.The Tamil National Party leader P.Nedumaran is known to be a strong campaigner of the LTTE cause in Tamil Nadu.The group led by P.Nedumaran has been seeking permission from the Indian central government to consign food and other aid to war-torn areas of Northern Sri Lanka, through the International Committee of the Red Cross. However the Indian government has not heeded the request. “Then seythi” a Tamil newsletter of which P.Nedumaran is the editor has published a description detailing the decisions taken at the Viluppuram conference. “The Indian government continues to refuse, in granting approval to send aid items worth over 10 million rupees which the Tamils all over Tamil Nadu, donated to help the suffering Tamils in Sri Lanka” the newsletter said. “Thousands of telegrams and faxes were sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi requesting for permission. But all of them were turned down”According to Nedumaran two campaign groups will be sent from Trichi to Nagapattinam and Mathurai to Rameshwaram on September 7 to mobilise public support for the endeavour. “Even though our plan to cross the borders is in defiance of the law, we have no other option. We cannot bear to witness our siblings starving. Both the Indian government and the Tamil Nadu government should be held responsible for this” Then seythi said. Sri Lanka and Africa battle for garment access to the US Getting the benefits could spell big bucks for Sri Lanka, since as much as 40-50 percent of the island’s exports are in non agricultural goods like apparel, most of that to the US. “In the United States we export about two billion dollars worth of goods and 220 million dollars are paid as duties,” Senadhira said. “We have to get our duties down, otherwise for another 10-15 years we will have an unfair and uneven playing field.” African countries have identified 24 export products they want protection for, including garments and fish products. Countries like Lesotho, Kenya, and Mozambique export mainly garments, fish, and minerals products to the US and European Union. These products account for 60 to 90 percent of their total exports to these two markets. “But it also accounts for 59 percent of Cambodia’s exports, 55 percent of Bangladesh’s exports and 49 percent of Sri Lanka’s export as well,” Senadhira said. “So if you apply a different rule for these 24 products, nearly 50 percent of the exports to the USA - that is nearly 15 percent of global exports will not get any tariff reductions in this round.” Negotiators argue that high-income African countries also benefit from the tax breaks and smaller developing countries pay too high a price. “This benefit not only goes to low income countries but it also goes to high income African countries and Central American countries like Mexico - anybody who has a Free Trade Agreement with the USA. So should small countries be paying for this?” Sri Lanka together with Bangladesh and Cambodia are opposing African preferences unless they are extended to these three countries too. These three are the small developing countries who stand to lose the most if the tariff breaks for these selected product lines do not go through, Senadhira says. “We suggested that some consideration should be given to us and so we have proposed that from day one to give us the same preferential access.” WTO decisions are made on consensus and even one member’s objection can stop a deal. Last month, the joint negotiating committee decided to reduce Africa’s list of 24 tariff lines to 16 that are exported to the US market. Though a breakthrough, these 16 apparel tariff lines still make still make up 40 percent of Sri Lanka’s exports to the US and account for 15 percent of total exports. “By further narrowing the list the Chairman has minimized the adverse effects on these countries, but the situation is not so. We still have to look at the 16 tariff lines,” Senadhira said. “Should we take on the burden of a trade solution for other developing countries, some of who are more advanced than us? I believe not.” Kumar Ponnambalam: A Tragic Loss This article is being published in commemoration of Late Kumar Ponnambalam’s Birth Anniversary which falls this month. “Why is this age worse than earlier ages? Kumar Ponnambalam was the proud son of a more proud father. Kumar’s brutal killing by an assassin’s bullet was indeed a tragic loss to the Sri Lankan Tamil community and it stifled the independent voice of a leader who expressed his opinions without fear or favour. My association with Kumar dates fifty years ago when we were both schoolmates at Royal College, the prestigious educational institution in Sri Lanka. As a youngster, Kumar was a non-assertive, shy boy quite often smiling away at the school boy pranks of his fellow mates. But even at the tender age of ten, he displayed a certain amount of forthrightness and frankness in whatever he spoke or said. It is perhaps these traits in his character that blossomed in later years of his life as a lawyer and politician. His father the late G.G.Ponnambalam, the silvery tongued orator and brilliant criminal lawyer cum politician, was the founder champion of the Tamil cause with his famous political slogan of the fifty-fifty campaign, a cry for equal representation for the Tamil minorities in the Legislature. This had its effect in the classroom when Kumar was nicknamed “fifty fifty” by his Math teacher “Conner Rasa”. In later years, Kumar once told me that he was unaware at his young age what this “fifty-fifty” was, and he gathered guts to ask Appu (fondly referred by him of his father) what was all this fuss about “fifty fifty”. The little lecture the son received from the patriarch was perhaps the foundation on which he built his political career and understanding of Sri Lanka’s chequered political history .Ponnambalam Snr. was so wedded to this fifty-fifty theory that he put forward this political dogma before the Soulbury Commission on constitution making and laboured for two long days to prove his point This is reminiscent of what the powerful and controversial former Indian Defense Miinister Krishna Menon did when he championed India’s cause for hours before the United Nations General Assembly on the Kashmir issue.(incidentally, Menon, who was running a high temperature when he spoke, slumped in his chair after the marathon speech and was wheeled out of the U.N.Assembly rostrum-(source:Krishna Menon by T.J.S.George) History is now repenting that reasonable requests of minorities in a multi-racial country had been ignored at an early stage and now resulting in much bloodshed and almost a parting of the ways for the two communities. Astute political leaders like Dr.Colvin R.De Silva and Mr.S.J.V.Chelvanayagam were prophetic when they remarked in the Legislature on more than one occasion that if reasonable requests of minorities are not granted it could well lead to more drastic demands which can end up in requests for a separate state. Unfortunately we have now reached that stage in Sri Lanka’s troubled and chequered political history. Kumar’s tragic death is in a way a reflection of violence in politics for differences in opinion and political thinking. Perhaps his boldness and frankness in his thoughts, speeches and writings made him pay the supreme sacrifice with his life. It is very unfortunate that our politicians have not arisen to a level to at least give the opponents their right to differ in thinking. The great French philosopher Voltaire once remarked “I may differ from what the other man says but will defend till death his right to say it”. Kumar’s contribution to the Tamil community and political thinking is that he expressed his thoughts publicly in a forthright and frank manner. Whether we agree with his thinking or not is a different question. Speaking from the capital, in an environment of fear psychosis, among the minority community, he did not mince his words or camouflage his thinking when it came to espousing the cause of his community’s rights and obligations. Kumar’s loss to the community at this juncture of its history is both tragic and irreparable. Let us sincerely and truthfully hope that his cherished vision of fair and just rights for his community will one day come true in the near future. The future pages of History will only reveal that .In conclusion it could be said that ‘His life was gentle, the elements were so mixed in him that Nature would stand up and say-This was a man’. 18 August 2007 Army involvement in abductions? The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said in its latest weekly assessment report it had received complaints of army involvement in abductions in the north, but claimed that despite the complaints being made public on its website they were yet to be verified. According to the SLMM report the ceasefire monitors had received three complaints on abductions during the week August 6 to 12 and in two of the cases, the army was alleged to be the perpetrator. “These are just complaints which have yet to be verified,” the SLMM said when contacted for further details. Media Center for National Security director Lakshman Hullugalle said he could not comment on the claims as he had not seen the SLMM report.According to the SLMM, nine cases of extortion and harassment were also reported from Mannar during the same week but no payments were made while the police claimed to have made an arrest and solved the case.The monitors also said that according to the complainants abductions were regularly carried out in broad daylight, and the victim was on one occasion driven blindfolded through military check points. Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its recent report had said according to a credible non-governmental organisation that tracks disappearances, on the Jaffna peninsula alone, 805 persons were reported missing between December 2005 and April this year. As of May 1, 564 of these persons were still missing.HRW also inspected a report from the Government Agent (GA) of Jaffna, which had statistics from April to December 2006. During that time, the GA registered 354 missing persons. HRW visited Jaffna in February and interviewed the families of 37 persons who had “disappeared” over the previous year. Of these, in 21 cases the evidence strongly suggested the involvement of government security forces. In two cases the families strongly believed that the perpetrators were members of the EPDP (based on their accents, appearance and cars leaving in the direction of EPDP camps). HRW asked the Sri Lankan government about the army’s authority to arrest or detain civilians in Jaffna, as well as the number of persons the army is detaining in its camps. The government replied that the army can arrest individuals under regulation 18 of the Emergency Regulations, and it is required to hand over to the police all arrested persons within 24 hours. Sri Lanka names suspects in killings of Red Cross workers Suspects in the deaths of two Red Cross workers have been identified, Sri Lanka's government said Friday, announcing a reward for information on the alleged ringleader's whereabouts. The two workers S. Shanmugalingam and K. Chandramohan, residents of Sri Lanka's eastern Batticaloa district had been in the capital, Colombo, for a workshop in early June. Colleagues said they were at a train station on their way home when they were taken away by men who claimed to be police. The two were later found dead with gunshot wounds to the head, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) from Colombo. The government has offered 1 million rupees (US$9,000; euro6,600) for any clue leading to the arrest of Vivekananthan, who has been in hiding since the killings, the statement said. Both Shanmugalingam and Chandramohan were ethnic Tamils, a minority group on whose behalf the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels claim to fight. The government says suspected gang ringleader, Vivekananthan, is also a Tamil and a Batticaloa resident. Since 1983 the Tamil Tigers have been battling Sri Lanka's government, trying to carve out an independent homeland for Tamils after decades of discrimination under ethnic majority Sinhalese-dominated governments. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Sri Lanka's Trinco port to be developed as eco-port Over 30,000 participate in Anuradhapura 'Janarala' The third of the series of protest campaigns organized by the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party People's Wing (SLFP-PW) under the theme Country Devastated; Come Forward' is now being held in Anuradhapura Salgadu Grounds.Over 30,000 eager demonstrators marched in three demonstrations from main bus stand, Kada Panaha and and Market Complex to the Salgadu Grounds chanting anti-government slogans, said 'LeN' Anuradhapura correspondent. He further said that massive crowds flocked on roadsides to watch the demonstration. The Salgadu Grounds and the city area were decorated with thousands of blue and green flags, said the correspondent. UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe and SLFP-PW Co-convenor Mangala Samaraweera are participating in the rally with other leaders. Mangala Samaraweera addressing the rally said, "The opposition has 107 seats in the parliament with JVP MPs. I would like to tell the JVP not to waste time and money pasting posters. If they need to bring down the government, I can give them six MPs. Come, We can do it in a week." If JVP agrees to topple government I’d give 6 If the JVP supports the National Congress he would give the remaining six members to topple the government says former minister Mangala Samaraweera, convener of the SLFP (M) wing. He said this addressing a rally held today at Anuradhapura to protest against the government. Speaking further Mr. Samaraweera invited the JVP to join his front to topple the government instead of organizing agitations and putting up posters allover the country. If the JVP joined the National Congress the number of MPs in the opposition would be 107and the remaining 6 members would be presented from SLFP (M) he added.Addressing the rally UNP Parliamentarian from Anuradhapura District P Harison said his party would form a new government in Sri Lanka in another three months. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe and its Secretary General Tissa Attanayake too participated at the rally Sri Lankan Monk Slammed for Mercedes COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- The tale of the Buddhist monk and his shiny, new Mercedes-Benz has fueled a bizarre national drama that has angered Sri Lankans and tainted a group of revered religious leaders with corruption. The monk -- leader of a hawkish Buddhist party in the governing coalition -- insists the scandal is a fiction created by political rivals to smear him with accusations he illegally sold the car at a huge profit. Shrugging off the monk's renunciation of material goods, his comrades have insisted the silver, E-class Mercedes remained his -- even as his bitter political enemy was seen driving it around town. "They (the monks' party) came into politics promising to set new standards for the political mainstream, but see what they are doing today. This is unacceptable," opposition lawmaker Gayantha Karunathilake said Monday. The roots of the scandal lie in a special perk for lawmakers that allows them to import cars without paying the country's massive duties, which often double or triple the cost of a vehicle. The law bars them from selling the cars -- often giant SUVs or stylish luxury sedans -- for five years; Lawmakers routinely defy it, turning over the keys to wealthy businessmen for a hefty fee. But allegations that devout monk-legislator Ellawala Medhananda made tens of thousands of dollars by selling his new car was too much for many Sri Lankans, especially when much of the country is struggling to eke out a living amid a bitter civil war. Medhananda's party, the monk-led Jathika Hela Urumaya, or National Heritage Party, fought back against the accusations, which have dominated the news here for more than a month. "We have not sold or transferred the ownership of vehicles. This is merely a well-planned political campaign to discredit our party and weaken the government, which has shown military success against terrorism," party spokesman Udaya Gammampila said. The monks' party, which calls for the government to crush the mainly Hindu Tamil separatists and opposes proposals to share power with the ethnic Tamil minority, has only eight seats in the 225-member parliament. But it wields great influence among the 70 percent of Sri Lankans who are ethnic Sinhalese, most of them Buddhist. The conflict, one of Asia's longest running, has left some 70,000 dead since 1983 and displaced hundreds of thousands. The car controversy, which has been simmering for months, exploded into a near farce recently when opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe -- an intense rival of Medhananda's -- turned up for a meeting with another prominent monk at a Buddhist temple driving the Mercedes. Wickremesinghe said the businessman who reportedly bought the car, Hemantha Nishantha, was his supporter and lent it to him. Medhananda's party colleagues accused Wickremesinghe of essentially stealing the monk's car, and threatened to press charges. Through intermediaries, Nishantha, the businessman, declined requests for comment. In an interview in The Sunday Leader newspaper, he said he paid $116,000 to an intermediary for the car and had received an offer from the monk's party to buy it back for less than half that amount. Many Sri Lankans said the involvement of a monk in what would otherwise be a routine corruption scandal made it difficult to digest. Manoj Dissanayake, a local businessman, said it underscored that monks should stay away from politics. "For centuries, the role of Buddhist monks was to advise rulers and not to become rulers," he said. The Morning Leader newspaper said Medhananda should be held to a higher ethical standard than other politicians. "It could be argued that transfer of such (vehicle) permits by (members of Parliament) to outsiders for millions of rupees is an open secret," it said in an editorial last month. "But should MP monks, said to be the epitome of morality and virtue, engage in such shady practices?" Police to arrest the current owner of the luxury Benz of JHU monk MP Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is to arrest Hemantha Nishantha, who became famous as the current owner of the luxury Benz imported under the duty free license of Jathika Hela Urumaya leader and MP Rev. Ellawala Medhananda Thero. CID alleges that Hemantha Nishantha is connected into a murder.A CID spokesperson said to 'LeN' that few suspects arrested for the killing of Hemantha Nishantha's wife have confessed that Nishantha is also connected to the murder. He further said that the corpse of the wife of Hemantha Nishantha would be exhumed soon for further investigation. India poised to become 3rd largest economy: Chidambaram With a sustained growth of around nine percent, India is well poised to wipe out poverty in 20 years and emerge as the world's third largest economy, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has said.With a sustained growth of around nine percent, India is well poised to wipe out poverty in 20 years and emerge as the world's third largest economy, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has said.He also said Friday evening that the country's financial requirements towards infrastructure stood revised to $475 billion at current prices over the next five years, against an earlier estimate of $320 billion.'We are growing and will continue to grow at around 9 percent,' Chidambaram told a valedictory dinner for foreign diplomats from some 25 countries who attended a professional course organised here by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI).'Studies show by growing close to 9 percent, we will become the third largest economy in 20-25 years,' he said. 'We must produce wealth and then divide it equitably. How can we have a welfare state without wealth?' Chidambaram said infrastructure was the main constraint to growth and this was pulling down the expansion of gross domestic product (GDP) by as much as 1-2 percent.'The challenge of infrastructure is huge. The requirement of funds is humungous. It had been estimated that between 2007 and 2012 we would need to invest over $320 billion in the infrastructure sector alone,' he said.He said now the level of estimated funds required has been revised upward by an official panel on infrastructure financing to $384 billion at 2005-06 prices, and that means $475 billion at current prices.'But I can say with confidence that no country needs, and no country but India can absorb, such large funds for the infrastructure sector,' he said, adding that the increase in savings and investment rates gave him that self-assurance.He said $130 billion was required towards energy, $66 billion for railways, $49 billion for national highways, $11 billion for seaports and $9 billion for civil aviation.The minister said he was particularly concerned about the performance of India's farm sector, which had seen stagnation in both production and the area under food grain between 1998 and 2007.While the area under food grain had stagnated at between 120-125 million hectares, the productivity stood virtually frozen at 68-73 million tonnes for wheat and 85-91 million tonnes in the case of rice.'It is, therefore, necessary that we urgently address the issues relating to both production and productivity,' Chidambaram said, adding that the Rs.250 billion package announced recently should reverse the situation.The participants at the 43rd batch of FSI's course for professional diplomats came from countries including Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Turkmenistan, South Korea, UAE, Cambodia and Lesotho. India promotes 'goodwill' naval exercises A month from now, the Bay of Bengal will come alive to one of the biggest naval exercises to be held in these waters when the navies of India, the United States, Australia, Singapore and Japan conduct a five-day joint exercise. The event is sure to create more than mere ripples in the region. Code-named "Malabar 07", the multi-nation naval exercise that will take place from September 4-9 will see the participation of two destroyers from Japan, a frigate from Singapore, and a frigate and a tanker from Australia. However, it will be the US and Indian navies that will hold center stage. The US Navy will be represented by 13 warships, including its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which stirred controversy in India last month when it dropped anchor at Chennai for a few days, and USS Kitty Hawk, as well as the nuclear submarine USS Chicago, two Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, and six Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. The Indian Navy will be represented by seven warships, including its aircraft carrier, INS Viraat. Besides, the Indian Air Force's deep-penetration Jaguar strike aircraft, the Indian Navy's Sea Harrier jets, and the Sea King helicopters from INS Viraat will be part of the action. While the Indian Navy has been exercising with its counterparts from Singapore and the US for more than a decade, it was only this April that for the first time the navies of India, Japan and the US participated in a joint exercise in the Pacific Ocean, off the Boso Peninsula in central Japan. Although the Indian and Australian navies have held joint exercises before, this is the first time they will be part of one of this magnitude. The upcoming exercise in the Bay of Bengal is the 13th in the ongoing US-India Malabar series of naval exercises. It has been "extended" to include other countries, Indian officials have said. This is the first time a Malabar naval exercise is being conducted on India's eastern seaboard. "The purpose of the Bay of Bengal exercise is to develop naval interoperability among the participating fleets," said Lawrence Prabhakar, associate professor at the Madras Christian College and visiting fellow at the Singapore-based S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. The exercises will include offensive and defensive missions, surface and submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, and operations to counter piracy and terrorist acts at sea. The exercise will be held between Visakhapatnam, headquarters of India's Eastern Naval Command, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands - not far from the strategic Strait of Malacca. Drawing attention to the significance of the site of the exercise, Prabhakar told Asia Times Online that the Bay of Bengal lies at the confluence of seas with the Indian Ocean on one side and Southeast Asian waters on the other. "It is at the tapering end of waters through which oil traffic coming out of the Strait of Hormuz pass before entering the Strait of Malacca." The Strait of Malacca connects the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea. This narrow waterway is crucial to maritime trade - it is one of the busiest ocean highways in the world. Its traffic density is projected to increase from 94,000 ships in 2004 to 141,000 in 2020. A quarter of the world's oil shipments pass through this waterway every day. Half of China's imported oil and 95% of the oil shipped to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan pass through the strait. Although China is not a Bay of Bengal littoral, it has systematically cultivated naval ties with Bangladesh and Myanmar to attain access to these waters. Its presence in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean has been growing thanks to such ties - a matter of grave concern to such countries as India. The joint naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal sends out a message to the Chinese navy "that its future presence will not go unchallenged in the Indian Ocean", said Prabhakar. The upcoming Bay of Bengal naval exercise is seen by some as an extension of the activities of the recently launched Quadrilateral Initiative (also known as "Quad" or the "axis of democracy"). After all, the exercise involves all four members of the Quad - India, Japan, the US and Australia - plus Singapore. The navies of India, the US, Japan and Australia had formed a core group to provide relief to Indonesia during the 2004 tsunami disaster. That experience, the four Asia-Pacific democracies have argued, underscored the immense potential that lay in the four working together. But China is not impressed by these claims. Beijing feels there is more than just disaster management in this informal quadrangular exchange. It believes that the Quadrilateral Initiative is an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an alliance to contain a rising China. Beijing, which expressed annoyance during the India-US-Japan naval exercise off the Japanese coast in April, went a step further a month later and issued demarches seeking explanations from Canberra, New Delhi, Tokyo and Washington on the purpose of the exercises during their meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Regional Forum (ARF) meeting at Manila in May. The Quad's members have gone to great lengths to dispel speculation that their alliance is seeking to contain a rising China. After the Manila meet, for instance, where the Quad was inaugurated, all four members stressed that the meeting was not directed against China but limited to discussing a few issues of common concern. Earlier, Japan had described the grouping as an "arc of prosperity and freedom", while India clarified that the initiative has "no security implication". During his visit to New Delhi last month, Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson stressed that Canberra was in favor of limiting the initiative to trade and culture. After the April trilateral naval exercise, Tokyo sought to calm Beijing's ruffled feathers by claiming that the war games were not directed at any third country but were a goodwill exercise, while New Delhi pointed out that its navy was exercising with the Chinese as well. Indeed, within days of the US-India-Japan naval exercise, two destroyers of Indian Navy joined Chinese warships of the People's Liberation Army Navy's North Sea Fleet for a bilateral exercise. The naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal involving the Quad plus Singapore is bound to cause ripples far bigger than those that followed the April exercise. Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is said to have conveyed to Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee Beijing's concerns over the Quad. Interestingly, Yang is said to have brought up the issue when Mukherjee broached the question of China extending support to India's case for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council. With New Delhi looking to win China's support in the Nuclear Suppliers Group so that restrictions on nuclear trade with India might be removed, India will certainly not want to run the risk of raising Beijing's hackles. And then there is the border question that India is anxious to settle. India stands to gain little from irking China at this juncture, a retired Indian diplomat said: "It will therefore not want to be seen to be ganging up against China." Fortunately for India, all of the Quad's other members too have interests in China they would not want to jeopardize at this point. So they will be with India on the tightrope walk. India's quiet sea power India's new listening post in Madagascar has reportedly begun operations. Under construction for more than a year, the monitoring station will provide India with electronic eyes and ears in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Located in northern Madagascar, the monitoring station "was quietly made operational" in early July, according to a report in The Indian Express. It will be linked with similar facilities in Kochiand Mumbai "to gather intelligence on foreign navies operating in the region", the report said. Mumbai and Kochi, which are on India's west coast, are headquarters of the Indian Navy's Western and Southern Commands, respectively. Madagascar, a large island off Africa's east coast, is among a growing number of Africa's Indian Ocean shores with which India is building naval and other ties. The Indian Navy took charge of Mozambique's sea security during the African Union summit there in 2003 and during the World Economic Forum summit the following year. To Madagascar's east lies Mauritius. In 1974, India laid the foundation of its naval security cooperation with Mauritius with the gift of the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Amar. India later provided Mauritius with an interceptor patrol boat, INS Observer, in 2001 and a Dornier Do 228 maritime surveillance aircraft in 2004. The Indian Navy has patrolled waters off Mauritius a few times. Media reports last year spoke of a possible larger profile for India in Mauritius. According to reports, Mauritius offered its Agalega Islands to India on a long-term lease ostensibly for development as tourist destinations. The Agalega Islands are 1,100 kilometers from Mauritius, 3,000km from India and 1,800km from the US base at Diego Garcia. Both India and Mauritius quickly denied the lease report - the leasing of a predominantly Creole island to India would be a touchy issue in a country with a delicate ethnic balance between the francophone Creoles and the Indo-Mauritians. However, according to the Indian Express report, "India is looking at developing another monitoring facility at an atoll it has leased from Mauritius [Agalega] in the near future." The report said that while the government is silent on the issue, "sources say some forward movement has recently been made on the project". Across the channel to Madagascar's west lies Mozambique. Last year, India signed a memorandum of understanding with Mozambique that envisaged maritime patrolling of the waters off the latter's coast, supplying military equipment, training personnel, and transferring technical know-how in assembling and repairing military vehicles, aircraft and ships. India's long-standing ties with Seychelles were further strengthened in 2005 when Delhi gave the latter's coast guard a fast-attack vessel, INS Tarmugli. India has given a few helicopters to Seychelles over the years and Indian naval ships routinely visit the archipelago. India's naval foray into the southwestern Indian Ocean has gone by largely unnoticed. In contrast, its naval presence and activity near the Malacca Strait to its east and the Gulf of Oman to its west has been widely reported. The Indian Navy has been conducting exercises with the Republic of Singapore Navy for more than a decade, with the Indonesian Navy since 2004, and with the Royal Thai Navy since last August. Next month, the navies of five countries - India, Singapore, the United States, Japan and Australia - will participate in a huge naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal. To its west, India has been holding joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea with such countries as Oman, Iran and France. India's naval profile in the southwestern Indian Ocean is smaller but growing quietly. Naval exercises with South Africa - the only medium naval power in Africa - and Brazil are expected to take place next year. Indian Navy officers say that India's gifts of patrol boats and other equipment to countries in its immediate and distant neighborhood are to "help them identify and isolate more effectively fast-moving surface craft that may be carrying terrorists, gun-runners or smugglers. By providing these countries with better equipment, India is not only helping them secure themselves but also hoping that this will halt the flow of arms, ammunition and contraband into India." There is the problem of piracy, too, in the waters off Africa that has affected India's trade. To the north of Madagascar lies Somalia, whose coastline has been identified by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) as the area with the highest piracy risk in the world. According to the latest IMB report, there were 15 reported attacks on vessels in or near Somalia's waters in the first seven months this year, compared with 10 incidents during all of last year. An Indian merchant ship was seized by Somali pirates this May and held for a month. For India, monitoring the waters off Africa's east coast is an essential part of its effort to secure sea lanes of communication in the Indian Ocean. Most of India's trade is by sea - nearly 89% of India's oil imports arrive by sea. These sea lanes are thus lifelines for the Indian economy and any disruption can have disastrous consequences for its economic and energy security. India has been acting to secure sea lanes in the Indian Ocean, and the monitoring station in Madagascar is part of this larger naval and maritime strategy. India is reaching out far into the Indian Ocean, way beyond its shores, as it sees this ocean as its domain. In an article published last year in the Naval War College Review, Donald L Berlin, professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu and an expert on Indian Ocean strategic issues, wrote: New Delhi regards the Indian Ocean as its back yard and deems it both natural and desirable that India function as, eventually, the leader and the predominant influence in this region - the world's only region and ocean named after a single state. This is what the United States set out to do in North America and the Western Hemisphere at an early stage in America's "rise to power". American foreign policy throughout the 19th century had one overarching goal: achieving hegemony in the Western Hemisphere. Similarly, in the expansive view of many Indians, India's security perimeter should extend from the Strait of Malacca to the Strait of Hormuz and from the coast of Africa to the western shores of Australia. For some Indians, the emphasis is on the northern Indian Ocean, but for others the realm includes even the "Indian Ocean" coast of Antarctica.Of major concern to India is China's steady influence in the Indian Ocean through its naval and other ties with India's neighbors, including Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. China has a major role in the Gwadar port in Pakistan at the mouth of the strategic Persian Gulf, about 400km from the Strait of Hormuz, a major conduit for global oil supplies. Concern mounted in India in January when Chinese President Hu Jintao rounded off his eight-nation trip to Africa with a stop at Seychelles. It was to preempt a Chinese offer of naval assistance to Seychelles that India quickly gave INS Tarmugli to the Seychelles Coast Guard. Hu's visit - the first by a Chinese president to an island state in the southwestern Indian Ocean - underscored the looming challenge that China poses to India's influence in this region. Raja Mohan, an Indian strategic-affairs expert, pointed out: "No one doubts India's desire to retain its foothold in these geopolitically crucial island states. But question marks remain on whether India has a strategy to cope [with] China's dramatic entry into the western Indian Ocean." East Asian security: India's rising profile As the 14th conclave of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) convened in Manila this week, its search for a collective security framework is being rapidly overtaken by a series of new bilateral and multilateral security arrangements. India is a surprising new actor in the unfolding security politics in East Asia, marked by China's growing power, Japan's new assertiveness, and the revitalization of US military alliances. The rise of India is no longer an abstract notion, but is beginning to manifest itself in the redefinition of Asian geopolitics. India's return to the mainstream India is simultaneously expanding its participation in multilateral security initiatives as well as deepening its bilateral defense cooperation with great powers like the US and Japan as well as key regional actors like Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore. Long viewed as marginal to the region, India, since the mid 1990s, has focused on returning to the East Asian mainstream. New Delhi's much talked about Look East policy focused initially on expanding economic cooperation and becoming part of the region’s dynamic multilateralism. With the exception of the forum for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), India is now a member of all the region's institutions including the East Asia Summit (EAS).If security initiatives were conspicuous by their absence in the first phase of India's Look East policy, they have begun to acquire a new importance in the second phase that had begun in the middle of this decade. Although India initiated a range of bilateral and multilateral military exercises with global and regional players from the early 1990s, it was the conclusion of a bilateral defense cooperation agreement with Singapore in 2004 that launched vigorous security diplomacy in the region. At the end of 2004, Indian Navy was quick to respond, on its own, to the tsunami disaster and later joined the navies of the US, Japan and Australia to provide relief in Southeast Asia. In 2005, the Indian Aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, arrived for the first time in the ports of Southeast Asia - Singapore, Jakarta in Indonesia and Klang in Malaysia. India's military diplomacy The intensity of India's current military diplomacy can be gauged from the range of initiatives since the last annual ARF meeting in Kuala Lumpur in July 2006. At the end of 2006, India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh traveled to Tokyo to proclaim "a strategic partnership," with a strong defense component, with Japan. Singh also endorsed the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's initiative for political consultations among "like-minded" countries in Asia-Pacific (read the US, Japan, Australia and India.)Few observers, however, had expected this initiative to gather momentum. In April 2007, India conducted its first trilateral naval exercises with the US and Japan. That this exercise took place off Guam suggested India's increasing naval profile in the East Asian waters. New Delhi, however, took care to reassure China that its expanding military diplomacy was not targeted at China. Within days after the trilateral exercise with the US and Japan, an Indian naval contingent traveled to China and Russia for separate bilateral exercises.In May, senior officials from the US, Japan, Australia and India met for the first time, on the margins of an ARF meeting in Manila, to formally launch the so-called "democratic quad" in Asia. As Beijing lodged formal protests, all the four capitals reaffirmed that the consultations were not directed against China and were limited to a few issues of common concern. In June, India completed its first-ever purchase of a naval ship from the US, the USS Trenton. Renamed INS Jalashwa, the ship is now the second largest in the Indian Navy. It is no secret that the landing platform dock (LPD) ship increases India’s ability to conduct amphibious operations far from its shores. India now plans to acquire a second ship in the same class from the US. Although the Indian Navy has always been among the strongest in the region, its ability to project power has begun to acquire a new edge. In the same month, the Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee was in Indonesia to reaffirm New Delhi's strong commitment for an expansion of security cooperation with Jakarta. The Indonesian Parliament has already approved a bilateral defense cooperation agreement that envisages arms acquisition from India as well as joint production of weapons.Earlier this month, the Amnesty International criticized India (as well as China) for plans to sell a wide-range of armaments, including light helicopters, to Myanmar. New Delhi, however, insists that its sales to Yangon are limited to defensive equipment. In the last few years, New Delhi has stepped up its defense cooperation with Yangon, as part of its effort to deepen strategic ties as well as limit Beijing's growing influence in Myanmar. India's grand strategy? July also saw the unveiling of a strategic partnership between India and Vietnam during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to New Delhi. The joint declaration issued by Singh and Dung on 7 July, "welcomed the steady development of bilateral defense and security ties" and "pledged themselves to strengthen cooperation in defense supplies, joint projects, training cooperation and intelligence exchanges." Another visitor to New Delhi in July was Brendan Nelson, the defense minister of Australia. He signed a new agreement with India to enhance bilateral cooperation in maritime security and exchange of intelligence information.Come September, India will host the largest multilateral naval exercises ever in the Bay of Bengal. Participating in these exercises are navies from the US, Japan, Australia and Singapore. Is there a grand strategy behind the frenetic pace of India’s military diplomacy? India argues it has no desire to align with any one power against another and that its interest lies in contributing to a stable balance of power in a "multipolar Asia."As Indian troops contributed to the reversal of the Japanese occupation in Southeast Asia during World War II, the well-known diplomat-historian KM Panikkar argued that a "free and stable" India, "conscious of its responsibilities and capable of playing its part in Southeast Asia" is the “essential prerequisite" of any credible regional security mechanism. Until recently India seemed either unwilling or incapable of measuring up to its own power potential. Now, as it delivers annual economic growth rates of 9 percent, undertakes a significant military modernization, reorders its relations with the great powers, and deepens its cooperation with the regional actors, India is poised to reclaim its role in shaping Asian security. 17 August 2007 Sri Lanka Tamils pressured to stop court cases: rights group But the defence ministry Wednesday said that two Claymore mines and three hand grenades were found at the Ideal Guest Inn following a tip-off. Seven men who had challenged the forced eviction of nearly 400 Tamil men, women and children from the capital Colombo in June were staying at the Ideal Guest House. "The seven petitioners are now under pressure to withdraw the case that is before the Supreme Court," Ganeshan said. Last month, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court allowed a challenge to the eviction, which was carried out during a drive against the Tamil Tiger rebels. The court permitted the challenge on the grounds that anti-torture provisions of the constitution may have been violated by police and troops. It fixed a formal hearing for November 28. The court was initially petitioned by a lobby group, the Centre for Policy Alternatives, which was later joined by those directly affected by the crackdown. The lobby group complained that hundreds of Tamils were dragged out in their night clothes by security forces and taken out of Colombo in buses, violating their basic rights. An order preventing police and security forces from carrying out similar evictions would remain in force until the conclusion of the case, officials said. Some of the evicted Tamils have since been brought back to Colombo. Others have returned to their homes in the war-affected areas of the island. Sri Lanka's government was heavily criticised over the evictions. Rights groups said the move was a form of "collective punishment". The government apologised, although police argued that Tamil Tiger suicide bombers and assassins had been using budget accommodation to plan attacks.The rebels are fighting for an independent homeland for Tamils in the north and east of the tropical island. The conflict has cost some 60,000 lives over the last three decades. Wellawatta claymore story under suspicion The recovery of a travelling bag that contained two claymores, three hand grenades, two detonators, and a cyanide capsule from a car parked in the premises of a lodge in Wellawaththa is suspected to be an attempt to trouble the owner of the lodge.The lodge is the dwelling place of the seven petitioners who filed applications over fundamental rights violations in Supreme Court, against evacuating 376 ethnic Tamils from Colombo lodges after a discussion between the Secretary of the Defense Ministry and the senior police officials.Lanka-e-News learns that the bag of bombs suddenly appeared from a room of the lodge following the lodge owner's non-response to threats to remove the seven petitioners from the lodge.An individual who came to the lodge around 7.45 AM yesterday had left his travelling bag there, after the workers turned down a request from him for a room since they do not rent single rooms. The suspected man told that he came to obtain a passport.As soon as the lodge workers lodged a complaint at the Wellawaththa police station, the officials rushed into the lodge and recovered the bombs. The lodge workers have divulged the physical characteristics of the suspect.Police said that several occupants of the room which the suspect expected to stay were arrested for interrogating and still a clue to identify the person have not been revealed.Lanka-e-News learns that the police rushed into the lodge as soon as the suspect kept the bag there and left. U.N. chief backs relief official against Sri Lanka U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said comments by a Sri Lankan official calling his humanitarian coordinator a "terrorist" were "unacceptable and unwarranted," a U.N. spokeswoman said. John Holmes, the U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said last week in Colombo that Sri Lanka was among the most dangerous places in the world for humanitarian workers. He specifically referred to 17 workers from Action Against Hunger killed execution style in eastern Sri Lanka a year ago. Several government officials angrily rejected Holmes' statement and demanded a retraction. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, the government's chief whip in Parliament and a cabinet minister, on Wednesday called Holmes a "terrorist" and said he had taken a bribe from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebel group. U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas told reporters, "We believe them (the comments) to be unwarranted and unacceptable and the secretary-general fully supports the work of his emergency relief coordinator, John Holmes." She said Holmes, a Briton, has written to Sri Lanka's minister for disaster management and human rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, saying it was "regrettable that a few words used in an interview have attracted disproportionate attention and have threatened to overshadow his sincere desire to have the most constructive relationship possible with the government." Holmes, according to Montas, said he had simply referred "factually to the terrible incident that has taken place regarding humanitarian workers last year" and the need to prevent such events in the future. During his visit to the island nation, Holmes said almost 30 aid workers had been killed over the past 18 months. The Consortium for Humanitarian Agencies, an umbrella group of 104 aid agencies operating in Sri Lanka, puts the number at 34, a figure the government questions. Holmes' visit coincided with the anniversary of the discovery of the massacre of 17 local staff of Paris-based aid agency Action Contre la Faim, which Nordic truce monitors have blamed on state security forces. The government's peace secretariat has blamed the aid group, accusing it of negligence and irresponsibility. President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government denies security forces have been involved in rights abuses and says a presidential commission is probing the allegations. The government has also rejected calls for a United Nations rights monitoring mission. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict in Sri Lanka since 1983 -- around 4,500 in the last year alone. The security of defense columnist Athas withdrawn for revealing the secrets of the Mig-27 deal The security provided by the government to the defense columnist Iqbal Athas has been removed immediately after he revealed a number of unknown facts of the deal to purchase four Mig-27 aircrafts through Sunday Times last week. Athas pointed out in his column that the Ukraine government considers the Mig deal was a ruse since it was done through a third party, an unknown company named Belimissa Holdings registered in UK. However, Sri Lanka government attempted to show that the deal was between two states. 'The MiG-27 procurement/overhaul Contract between the Sri Lanka Air Force and Ukrinmash, a subsidiary of the Ukrainian Government owned trading arm Ukrspetsexport, was signed in Moscow on July 26, 2006. In that, Bellimissa Holdings Ltd., is described as the "Designated Party" and were touted as the "financier" of the deal. The Contract (article 24) gave the address of the firm as second floor, 145 - 157 St. John Street, London EC1V4PY,' Athas wrote in his article. Athas further said, 'The Sunday Times has re-confirmed that there is neither any staff nor an office facility at this address. The company has been listed in the Contract only with a fax number - (00) 44 870 8362430. There is no response to messages sent there. The names of Directors, beneficial shareholders or the company profile are not available anywhere. A leading UK publishing house was forced to conclude the company is non-existent except "on paper" and is "operating secretly." This is because their detailed probe did not find a shred of evidence on the workings of the company.' The Sunday Times Situation Report also points out that the contract has been signed just one day before July 27,2006 when Lanka Logistics and Technologies Limited, a wholly state owned limited liability company came into being to procure all equipment and services for the armed forces and the Police. Athas ends his column with the following comment; "In the more than two decades of separatist war, not one side has fully won completely defeating the other so far. Those who have won heavily are only those corrupt who have become billionaires and millionaires overnight through military procurements. They are both in uniform and outside it. The more successive Government leaders have pledged to deal with the corrupt; the more things have remained the same. Nevertheless, the stakes have become higher and higher. A vast segment of the population is reeling from the heavy burden placed on them by the mounting cost of living. Prices are rising daily. A few peons, clerks, constables and the like are being rounded up for taking a few hundred rupees.However, those dabbling in millions of dollars or billions of rupees in military procurements get away in this paradise isle. The only casualties are those exposing them. They continue to become prime targets and many an embarrassed official want to hound them out. Little wonder, to some, war is big business." TNA to submit its own proposal on North East issue TNA is likely to come up with its own proposals to resolve the North and East issue its Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan said yesterday. Mr. Sampanthan made this point at the “Business for Peace Forum” of the Federation Chamber of Commerce (FCCISL) yesterday. He explained that many foreign government heads which the party had met recently had requested the TNA to come up with a proposal. He said the party would give it a serious thought. Emphasising particularly on the sentiments expressed by India he said the subcontinent had informed them that the de-merger of the North and the East is not acceptable by them. Elaborating more on the international community’s perception on Sri Lanka he said the nation is in a horrendous position with regards to human rights. “Sri Lanka has become the most militarised nation in the world with GDP percentage spent on military has doubled in 2007 compared to the percentage it spent in 2005,” he pointed out. Sinhalese allowed to live in Kolonnawa HSZ, why are Tamils discriminated in HSZ in the East?---Sampanthan R.Sampanthan, TNA Parliamentary group Leader, made these observations at the ‘Business for Peace Forum’ of the Federation Chamber of Commerce (FCCISL) held yesterday (August 16th)He added that the government does not have the mandate to develop the East. He criticized the government heavily for not consulting those political parties who have the mandate to work for the people in the area. He argued that President Mahinda Rajapaksa does not have the mandate in the East as he polled lesser than this opponent UNP candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe. He blamed the government for not consulting the TNA and the SLMC which he said has the people’s mandate and therefore he pointed out that they do not have faith in the development program for the East. “We are democratically elected people and I am the MP who polled highest number of preferential votes at the last general election and so why didn’t the government consult me?” he queried He condemned the government for recruiting ex service men for various posts in the East. Mr. Sampathan also charged that the government has declared a high security zone in the east covering 28 villages where there are 198 schools and the people have not been allowed to reside within this area. Colombo for global efforts against terror Sri Lanka is to host an “International Conference on Countering Terrorism” (ICCT) from October 18 to 20 here to compare experiences and discuss strategies required to counter such threats through enhanced international cooperation. Foreign Minister and Chairperson of the Board of Management of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS), Rohitha Bogallagamma, told a news conference here on Thursday that the need for such a conference was felt as not much attention has been paid to the terrorist threats faced by the developing world, particularly democratically elected governments.The theme of the conference is “Terrorism: A Challenge to Democratically Elected Governments.” To be inaugurated by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, the renowned French investigating magistrate in charge of counter-terrorism affairs Judge Jean Louis Bruguiere would be guest of honour at the conference. The Minister said that Judge Bruguiere has been credited with having tracked down and captured one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, Carlos (the Jackal) and has been involved in the case of UTA Flight 772 which was sabotaged over the Sahara Desert in 1989 with the loss of 170 lives. Mr. Bruguiere was invited by the U.S. Government to assist in the investigations conducted into the terrorist acts of 9/11 in New York and Washington. He had also investigated the LTTE’s illegal fund raising activities in France. The Minister said the conference will devote an entire session to the theme “Transforming Terrorists”. He maintained that the theme is reflective of the Sri Lanka Government’s continued commitment to arrive at a negotiated settlement, notwithstanding past failures. “We are ready to learn from the experiences of other countries, as well as our own, how this goal can be achieved.” Separately, Sri Lanka military claimed on Thursday that at least six cadres of the Tamil Tigers were killed in separate clashes with the army at Welioya and Vavuniya in the north. Sri Lanka's HSBC tightens credit card lending The bank has a computer based scoring system to approve new card issues and sophisticated software allowing it to track and chase after delayed payments. Last week it launched a new credit card incorporating a micro-processor which is expected to reduce fraud. Sri Lanka had 828,000 active credit cards with outstanding loans of 23.8 billion rupees according to Central Bank data. The regulator said Thursday credit card advances had grown three billion rupees or 10 percent in the first half of 2007 and non-performing loans were around 6 percent. The Central Bank had tightened provisions requirements of late and has been encouraging banks to be more prudent in lending. The government also slapped a punitive tax on credit card transactions. However analysts have been warning that money printing and financial repression that caused negative real rates in the last three years would eventually push up defaults in the banking system. Sri Lanka's three month gilt yields are now 17.4 percent. Last month inflation spiked to 17.6 percent though some analysts expect it to moderate in August which is historically considered a 'low inflation' month due to seasonal trends. APRC proposals ‘definitely’ next week The final set of proposals of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) will ‘definitely’ be submitted to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by next week, Committee Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitharana told the media yesterday.“We all agreed to hand over the final proposals by next week to the President as final touches are being done now,” Prof. Vitharana said.He said though they had planned to hand over the proposals to the President last Wednesday (15), it had to be postponed as two parties wanted to consult their leaders. “We have to wait for their response, so we decided to finalize it by next week.”Prof. Vitharana also claimed that all parties participating at the APRC deliberations have agreed on all issues except two in the proposals. “We will be able to come to some kind of agreement for those two issues as well,” he said.He also claimed that the All Party representatives had agreed to devolve power based on the Provincial Council system. Commenting on the latest threat by the main Opposition UNP to withdraw from the APRC citing the postponement of the finalization, Prof. Vitharana charged that the party was trying to gain political mileage by using petty issues.“They UNP wanted to come to a conclusion by end August. But we are ready to finalize and hand over the proposals by next week. Now they are threatening to withdraw, so it is now clear that they don’t want to solve the decades-long crisis at all,” Prof Vitharana charged.He also urged the UNP, as a responsible party, to put the people before the party. “This is all about Sri Lanka and its people. So let us solve this problem without any political agendas,” he urged. ACF 'co-operate' with EU probe International condemnation 17 aid workers of Action Contre La Faim (Action against Hunger -ACF) were found dead with gunshot wounds on 04 August as battle continued for the control over Muttur.Condemning the killing of the aid workers as a "war crime", the international community demanded an independent investigation.The international truce monitors ruled that Sri Lanka military was responsible as the military denied access to monitors.But the government accused Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) of being biased and said the Tamil Tigers were running the town at the time of the killing. 16 August 2007 Sri Lanka's Rights violations dominate TNA's European talks Senior members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) after concluding their month long visit to European capitals to meet with top Government officials, said in a press release issued Wednesday, that the meetings focussed on the "horrendous human rights situation" in Sri Lanka, the "retrogressive movement in regard to the political process," and the Sri Lanka Government's attempt to "impose a military solution" to the Tamil National conflict.TNA Parliamentary Group Leader, R. Sampanthan M.P., General Secretary ITAK, Mavai S. Senathirajah M.P., General Secretary ACTC, G. G. Ponnambalam M.P., Secretary General EPRLF, Suresh Premachandren M.P., and Leader TELO, Selvam Adaikalanathan M.P. participated in the tour of several European countries. Full text of the press release follows: 16 August 2007 A delegation comprising of Members of Parliament of the Tamil National alliance (TNA) have concluded a visit to several European Countries to meet with representatives of Governments in the said countries and explain the current situation in Sri Lanka. Such meetings focused on: 1.The horrendous Human Rights situation prevalent in Sri Lanka caused by extra judicial killings, enforced disappearances, abductions for ransom of Tamils, and killings of and grievous injuries to Tamil Civilians; The destruction of Housing, places of Worship, Public Buildings; The destruction of livestock, farming and fishing equipment, and other livelihood potential by aerial bombardment and heavy artillery fire including the firing of multi barrel rockets into Tamil Civilian populated areas displacing hundreds of thousands of Tamil Civilians and rendering them destitute; Tamil Civilians living in such areas being deprived of food, medicine and other essentials; International and domestic NGOs being prevented or hindered in rendering necessary relief to the affected Tamil Civilian population subjecting the Tamil Civilian population to extreme deprivation. Sgd Hon. R. Sampanthan M.P. (TNA Parliamentary Group Leader) Jeyaraj accuses Holmes of being a terrorist Chief Government Whip and senior minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle hit out at Mr. John Holmes, UN Under Secretary of Humanitarian Affairs, who visited Sri Lanka last week accusing him of being bribed by the LTTE to carry out a mudslinging campaign worldwide against the Government.Addressing the media at the Information Department yesterday Minister Fernandopulle rejected the claim by Mr. Holmes that Sri Lanka was one of the most dangerous places for relief workers. “This man is also a terrorist. The Government pays no attention to what this man utters,” he said. “Surprisingly these foreigners never talk about the abductions and killings of the LTTE. Even at this moment hundreds of relief workers from a number of NGOs are working in the north. There are hundreds working for the UNICEF,” Minister Fernandopulle claimed. Elaborating on the Government’s plans to establish normalcy in the East he said local government polls would be held in the near future with the participation of all the political stake holders in the province. “We invite all the political parties to contest the polls including the TMVP of the Karuna faction and the LTTE. But it will be compulsory for all militant groups to lay down arms before contesting the local government polls,” he said.Commenting on the alleged attempts by the Opposition to block a loan package of US$ 500 million the Government expects to draw from a consortium of foreign banks he said despite the canard to the contrary three banks have consented to release the loan. The loan obtained from HSBC, J.P. Morgan and Barclays will be utilized to develop 22 infrastructure projects, the minister said. “Ranil Wickremesinghe must not worry about repaying the loan. The repayment period for the loan package is ten years. The Rajapaksa government can pay it back in full within ten years as in the next ten years this government will remain in power,” he said.Referring to a threat allegedly made to the Lankadeepa newspaper by Mr. Wickremesinghe, he said the Sinhala daily has not carried certain allegedly defamatory remarks reportedly made by the UNP leader in Matara recently. “He has threatened an editor for not carrying his full speech. Now the UNP has printed the speech as a booklet and distributes it free of charge,” Minister Fernandopulle said. Commenting on the controversy over the duty free vehicle of Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera he said almost all Parliamentarians have sold their car permits. Most of them are UNPers. A closest confidant of the Opposition Leader has obtained a bank loan for Rs. 3.5 million to import a car. He had sold the vehicle and now pays back Rs. 170,500 a month to the bank, he said. Sri Lanka displaced vulnerable: report A fact-finding mission on the state of the displaced persons in the north and east in Sri Lanka since the escalation of hostilities between the military and the LTTE over a year ago, has said the conflict has led to a “large scale shifting of population” that has become vulnerable to machinations of several actors in the field.A comprehensive report by South Asians for Human Rights (SHAR) led by the former Prime Minister, I.K. Gujral, has concluded that the element of fear has had a major impact on the people and their lives in the regions.“Most people said that the multiplicity of actors —GOSL, LTTE, TMVP and EPDP — made it difficult for them to negotiate the simplest activities on a day to day basis. The mission found that despite such a high element of fear leading to the radicalisation of some sections of all communities, there were also individuals who had a nuanced and in-depth understanding of local realities and were firm in their belief that a negotiated settlement was the only way forward”, it said.The mission says the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are often used as pawns by both state and non-state actors, in clear violation of the basic principles of humanitarian law. Target of criticism It has said various agencies working among the IDPs and advocating on their behalf have also been the target of both warranted and unwarranted criticism, and at times intimidation and harassment.The report said the increase in the activities of the LTTE splinter group Tamil Makkala Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP)/Karuna Group has also had an impact on displacement, return and resettlement. “Further, continued internecine violence within the Tamil armed groups such as the reported split within the TMVP, [where commander Pillayan issued a warning to Karuna to leave the group or face being removed by force], only added to prevailing insecurity in the region and heightened”. Crossing the line in Sri Lanka-Guardian UK Discretion is a virtue in the humanitarian aid industry and its workers do think carefully before speaking out in public on controversial matters.However, the recent statement by a top Sri Lankan government official that Action Against Hunger (Action Contre la Faim) were responsible for the massacre of 17 of their own local staff last year through "negligence" and "irresponsibility", deserves some sort of response.The massacre, which happened a year ago, was the single largest act of mass murder perpetrated against aid workers since the Baghdad bombing of 2003. There is strong suspicion that it was carried out by Sri Lankan government soldiers, but international observers are being increasingly branded as "terrorist sympathisers" for challenging the government's security crackdown. The government's chief whip, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, recently described the UN's undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, John Holmes, as "completely a terrorist, a terrorist who supports terrorism" after he spoke out about the safety of humanitarian staff. I have a small personal interest in the case because I was one of the international aid workers who were "scrambled" to Sri Lanka after the Tsunami disaster of Christmas 2004. I had just finished a year and a half in Afghanistan, where I had been managing a legal aid programme for the Norwegian Refugee Council, followed by a shorter stint to set up a similar programme in Colombia.Arriving in Sri Lanka the first thing that struck me was how peaceful it seemed. A truce had brought an end to the country's long-running civil war and the main focus of my programme was to help resettle the people who had been displaced by this conflict. I remember being reassured at my security briefing that no one regarded us "legitimate targets". It soon no longer seemed strange to drive around Colombo in an open tuk-tuk or head into the field in a thin-skinned vehicle. We no longer had to worry about the ethics of donning flak-jackets or accepting military escorts. We travelled freely through government and rebel controlled territory without even thinking about the need for special precautions. My successor, with whom I had previously worked in Afghanistan and the Balkans, arrived a couple of months later and I moved on to two more short-term postings in first Liberia and then Aceh. Both were similarly peaceful and I received a bit of a shock when I bumped into him at a seminar in Norway in June of last year.A few weeks previously one of his national staff had been murdered just yards from an army checkpoint after he had refused to give a lift to some soldiers in one of our vehicles. The truce was collapsing and the country was sliding back into war. It was not difficult to recognise the symptoms of post-traumatic stress building up in my colleagues.Since then 30 more aid workers have been murdered in Sri Lanka, making it probably the most dangerous place in the world for us to operate. The civil war has claimed over 4,500 lives during the same period with civilians caught, as ever, in the fighting between the two forces. There is now every indication that things are going to get worse. Within this larger tragedy, it might seem self-interested to focus on the plight of aid workers, but attacks on them have a multiplier effect in terms of human suffering because it disrupts the delivery of life-saving relief. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and now desperately need food and medical supplies.For the past year Action Against Hunger has been pressing for a full investigation into the murder of its staff. They were found in their own compound wearing T-shirts that identified them as humanitarian workers. They were lying face-down and it appears that they had been deliberately executed. Ironically the latest statement, made by Rajiva Wijesinha, head of the government's peace secretariat could actually be considered a step forward. Although he condemns Action Against Hunger for their "utter irresponsibility" for "putting such workers at risk" he has at least called upon the government's minister for human rights to investigate the matter.It is difficult to think of anywhere else in the world that such a scandal would have raised so little outcry. Sri Lanka's brutal civil war has rumbled on for almost a quarter of a century attracting little attention from the outside world. But there are some red lines of inhumanity that governments should be told they cannot cross. Bharti plans to invest $200 m in Sri Lanka STF clears LTTE camp in east Despite government assertions that there were no LTTE camps in the eastern region, the Special Task Force yesterday said that they had recently attacked a newly built LTTE camp in Kanchikudichchiaru in the Ampara district.A statement issued by the Special Task Force Headquarters stated that “during the ‘Niyatha Jaya’ humanitarian operation launched on August 1, STF men attacked a newly built LTTE camp, named ‘Nizam Base’ in Kanchikudichchiaru and captured it after killing six LTTE cadres and injuring seven others.”It also said that the STF men had recovered one light machine gun, three T-56 weapons, 50 anti-personnel mines, one hand grenade, a stock of dry rations, some tractors and bicycles from the ‘camp’.During the fighting, one STF constable was injured, the statement said. However, a senior military official told Daily Mirror that there were several groups of LTTE cadres now in Kanchikudichchiaru who were being driven out by the continuing military operations in these areas.“There were only gathering points, there were no camps at all in these areas as they were waiting to flee from the area,” the official said.A few months ago, the government claimed that the security forces had completely liberated the entire eastern province from the LTTE, that there were no camps in this region and that the government was in the process of resettling people. Lankan govt not ready for talks with Tigers COLOMBO: A small but encompassing word explains why Nagamuthu Nagalingam fled his home of 80 years, and why he has little intention of going back: “Fear,” he says flatly.Fear of brutal intimidation by Tamil Tiger rebels. Fear that his youngest son may wind up being “disappeared,” by people and for reasons unknown. Fear that government troops, having just driven the Tigers out of eastern Sri Lanka, are gearing up for a major assault on the rebels’ stronghold in the north, where Nagalingam lived the simple life of a farmer until a few months ago.“Whether they capture the north or not, we are the ones suffering,” Nagalingam said on a muggy afternoon, sitting in the weed-choked courtyard of a dilapidated guesthouse here in the capital. “We don’t know what’s going to happen.” Few Sri Lankans do — except, perhaps, for President Mahinda Rajapakse and his circle of close advisers. So far, none of them is saying exactly how the next chapter will unfold in the dirty ethnic civil war that has convulsed this teardrop-shaped island for 24 years.But based on the last 21 months, during which a cease-fire was blown to bits and 5,000 people have been killed, suing for peace hardly seems to figure on any list of options under consideration by either the Sinhalese-dominated government or the Tamil rebels, known formally as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, who seek to carve out an independent homeland in north and east Sri Lanka. The Rajapakse administration appears particularly loath to negotiate now that it is gripped by euphoria over its recent gains in eastern Sri Lanka, which allowed it to proclaim the area free of enemy fighters after months of battle. The president speaks confidently of having the rebels on the run, and has vowed to restore “freedom and democracy to . . . all of Sri Lanka.”Such hawkish rhetoric is by no means a first in this country. The history of the last quarter-century here is littered with leaders who believed that they would be the ones to rout the fearsome Tigers and unify the nation. None has succeeded.So Sri Lankans are bracing for a long, lethal summer. Life over the last year and a half has steadily become more miserable, especially for residents of government-controlled Jaffna on the island’s northern tip, who are squeezed by food shortages and frightened by artillery fire. To many in the north, the beating heart of the homeland that the Tamil separatists wish to establish, a battle in their backyard seems a matter of when, not whether.“I think there will be a northern offensive. The government does not believe that a negotiated settlement with the LTTE is possible,” said Jehan Perera, executive director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka. “Also, the government’s parliamentary majority depends on nationalist parties who advocate a military solution. But the offensive may not be soon. It may be a gradual one.”The government knows that taking the north is an entirely different proposition from recapturing the east. Eastern Sri Lanka has traditionally been more diverse, with a population composed of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, and of both Tamils and Sinhalese, the island’s dominant ethnic group. The Tigers’ hold in the region has always been weaker.In the mostly Tamil north, however, the rebels are so entrenched in the steamy jungles that they run a mini-state. Their discipline, zealotry and ruthlessness are legendary, to the point that many fighters wear cyanide capsules around their necks in case of capture. The group was among the world’s first to use suicide bombers, and though it claims to have given up the practice, the rebels’ recruitment of children continues. Storming the Tigers’ northern redoubt would be a long, bloody and expensive undertaking.“In the north, the LTTE would be pushed against the wall,” said Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka. “They’ll have to fight back. They have no place to run.”As commander of the Sri Lankan army, Fonseka has his hands full. He is trying to mop up and maintain a grip on the newly “liberated” east, prepare for another potential phase of conflict and recruit thousands more soldiers. Ideally, he said, he would add 20,000 men and women to his ranks, bringing army forces up to 140,000.Defense already accounts for nearly one out of five rupees the Sri Lankan government spends — a huge chunk of the national budget, especially for a country as poor as this one.“The government seems to think, ‘Forget about the expenditure — let’s let the writ of government authority prevail in the north and east,’” said former air force chief Harry Goonetileke. “But there will have to be more belt-tightening. If you push to the north, that will mean more belt-tightening for the people of Sri Lanka.”At the beginning of the year, residents staggered under inflation of 20 per cent. The rate has since come down, but still hovers in the double digits.According to projections by the Asian Development Bank, Sri Lanka’s expected economic growth in 2007 of about six per cent will be the lowest of all South Asian nations except Nepal. Fonseka waves such concerns aside. “Ending up with a bankrupt country is better than ending up with half a country,” he declared in an interview at army headquarters here. “If you want to beat the enemy and save the country, you have to make a few sacrifices.”Fonseka said he would maintain 20,000 soldiers in the east to keep the peace, but others estimate it could take twice that many to do an effective job.Last month, the government announced an ambitious plan to rebuild and develop the east, and to hold local elections there by year’s end, a pledge greeted with wholesale scepticism by analysts and other observers.Many displaced people have returned to their homes, but there are reports that in some cases, officials cut services to refugee camps, leaving people with little choice. Independent monitors have been blocked by the military or allowed only limited access to the area.And there continue to be allegations of collusion between government troops and a breakaway rebel leader known as Col. Karuna. His followers, allegedly with the tacit or even direct support of the army, are suspected of kidnappings, harassment and other crimes in the east.For their part, the rebels say they will switch to guerrilla tactics and go after soft targets to disrupt the economy. Although the Tigers acknowledge setbacks in the east, few observers discount their continued capabilities. At least twice this year, the group shocked government forces by mounting assaults from the air, using light planes that they had apparently smuggled into the country in pieces and assembled in the jungle. One of those sorties, at the end of April, managed to penetrate all the way down to Colombo, where two fuel-storage facilities were bombed, sustaining minor damage.Pressure from the international community, including the United States, on both sides to go back to the table to hammer out a political solution has produced nothing.For this reason, all eyes are turned to the north, wondering when the storm brewing there will break.Some say it already has. Skirmishes and shelling are frequent. In mid-July, days after the government declared victory in the east, the army attempted to pierce deeper into the jungle in the north, a foray that resulted in heavy casualties for the Sri Lankan military, and possibly for the Tigers as well. A few days later, rebels launched a deadly predawn raid on a military post in the Mannar district. Some of the uglier aspects of this war have also reared their heads, including a wave of unexplained abductions in and around Jaffna.That is why 21-year-old Pratheep Arulanathan, a Jaffna native who works as an insurance company claims adjuster, is trying to immigrate to Dubai.He fled from the north down to Colombo several months ago, applied for a visa, got it and was on the verge of leaving when the Sinhalese-dominated government, to widespread outrage, ordered the expulsion in June of hundreds of ethnic-Tamil citizens from the capital, purportedly as a security measure.The courts overturned the expulsion order — but not before Arulanathan had been detained and sent partway back to his hometown, causing him to miss his flight to Dubai.He has applied for another visa. He does not know whether he will succeed again. But of one thing he is certain.“I can’t go back to Jaffna,” he said.—Dawn/The Los Angeles Times News Service SLAF again bombs civilian settlements in Vavuniyaa A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Mi-24 helicopter gunship bombed civilian settlements in Nedungkea'ni in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled territory in Vavuniyaa north from Tuesday midnight up to Wednesday noon, causing heavy damages schools, houses and cultivation, sources in Nedungkea'ni said. Residents of the villages bombed, scattering in panic, managed to save their lives, seeking shelter away from the exploding bombs. The SLAF gunship targeted civilian settlements at Katku'lam, Maruthoadai, Keerichuddaan, Olumadu, and Nedungkea'ni in Nedungkea'ni area.Schools in Olumadu and Maruthoadai were damaged by the bombs which fell on them while areas close to Nedungkea'ni Regional Secretariat too came under SLAF attack.The bombs fell and exploded on cultivated fields causing heavy damage to crops while a house was totally demolished. No one was in the house when the gunship bombed it.Monday morning, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombed a civilian area in Maruthoadai, Nedungkea'ni Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled territory in Vavuniyaa, killing a 20-year-old female.A government school, Maruthoadai Tamil Mixed School, was destroyed in the bombardment.A Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society building, a rice mill and two civilian houses were also damaged in the bombardment that took place twice between 6:40 and 7:10 a.m.A couple, the owners of one of the houses, was seriously wounded in the air-attack. Mohan attacked again Thinakkural journalist K.P. Mohan was admitted to the Accident Ward of the Colombo National Hospital after an unidentified gang threw acid at him yesterday afternoon, just weeks after he was allegedly harassed and assaulted by a group of Airmen. Mr. Mohan was reportedly returning from the hospital after treating a wound in his elbow that was operated last week, when he came under attack around 1.30pm yesterday.A speeding trishaw had approached him near the hospital square and a person in it had thrown acid at Mr. Mohan and fled the scene. Out of pain Mr. Mohan had run to the accident ward and was immediately admitted and treated. A close family member said the victim had burn injuries on the side of his face, an arm and the back. His condition however is not known to be critical. Mr. Mohan had a growth on his left elbow following the alleged assault by Air Force personnel few weeks ago. He spent almost a week at the National Hospital after a group of Airmen at Fort allegedly assaulted him saying he tried to jump at the motorcade of the Air Force Commander. Thailand deports top LTTE arms smugglers Three top LTTE suspects who were under detention in Thailand for attempting to smuggle weapons to Sri Lanka in 2003 were deported to Sri Lanka on Tuesday and are now in CID custody, well informed sources revealed to the Daily Mirror yesterday.When contacted, a CID official confirmed that the three Tiger operatives, involved in a major gun smuggling ring in Thailand, were brought to Sri Lanka and were being interrogated on LTTE operations in Thailand. The Daily Mirror also learns that the three suspects objected to being deported to Sri Lanka. However they were deported following pressure from the Sri Lankan government. The ICRC was expected to visit the suspects in CID custody. Three LTTE operatives, identified at the time as Sujit Gunapala (27), Sasiljaran Teverajah (27) and Satiepawan Arseawatap (34), were arrested in the Ranong province in Thailand on May 12, 2003 with 10 Glock pistols and three HK Mark 23 pistols in their possession. The suspects pleaded guilty and in November 2003 received a five- year jail sentence. Following the arrest 14 Thais were also taken into custody including 8 police and military officers. They were believed to be in the same gun smuggling ring. The weapons confiscated from the LTTE operatives in Thailand are similar to those used by the Norwegian Special Forces and SWAT teams around the world. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama recently urged the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the largest and the only security mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region, to stop Sri Lankan rebels from smuggling arms to other terrorist groups, including the Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines.At the end of the 14th ARF at the Philippine International Convention Center, Mr. Bogollagama said the LTTE in 1995 had shipped weapons to the Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines, through contacts with an al-Qaeda cell based in Pakistan. Same year, the LTTE transported a cache of arms and ammunition at the behest of Harkat-Ul-Mujahideen (HUM) of Pakistan for use by the Abu Sayyaf operating in Southern Philippines. At the end of the ARF, ASEAN foreign ministers renewed their call for a more concerted global war against terror by adopting without delay the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). The 10-nation bloc is composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. During the ARF meeting, ASEAN ministers stressed the need “to continue the strengthening of the international legal foundation in countering terrorism.” Monk's Mercedes-Benz is the talk of the town in violence-hit Sri Lanka The tale of the Buddhist monk and his shiny, new Mercedes-Benz has sparked a national drama that has enthralled Sri Lanka and left many questioning the political and religious ethics of the cleric's hawkish political party. The roots of the scandal lie in a special perk for Sri Lanka's lawmakers that allows them to import cars without paying the country's massive duties, which often double or triple the cost of a vehicle. The law bars them from selling their tax-free cars for five years, but it's common practice for lawmakers to do so, importing expensive vehicles in their names and turning the keys over to wealthy businessmen for a hefty fee. Devout monk-legislator Ellawala Medhananda has denied accusations he sold his new silver, E-class Mercedes for a huge profit. But even as he insisted the car was still his, a top political rival was driving around town in it. For many here, even allegations that a Buddhist monk would join in the shady practice and break the law to make tens of thousands of dollars (euros) were too much, especially when much of the country is struggling to eke out a living amid a bitter civil war. ``They (the monks' party) came into politics promising to set new standards for the political mainstream, but see what they are doing today. This is unacceptable,'' opposition lawmaker Gayantha Karunathilake said Monday. Medhananda's party, the monk-led Jathika Hela Urumaya, or National Heritage Party, called accusations that it sold the car to businessman Hemantha Nishantha a political smear. ``We have not sold or transferred the ownership of vehicles. This is merely a well-planned political campaign to discredit our party and weaken the government, which has shown military success against terrorism,'' party spokesman Udaya Gammampila said. The monks' party, which calls for the government to aggressively fight against mainly Hindu Tamil separatists, wields great influence among the 70 percent of Sri Lankans who are ethnic Sinhalese, most of them Buddhist. The conflict, one of Asia's longest running, has left some 70,000 dead since 1983 and displaced hundreds of thousands. The country was also hard-hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and many people are still struggling to recover, having lost family and livelihoods. The car controversy exploded into a near farce recently when opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe an intense political rival of Medhananda turned up for a meeting with another prominent monk at a Buddhist temple driving the Mercedes. Wickremesinghe said the businessman, Nishantha, who happens to be a supporter of his, lent him the car. Through intermediaries, Nishantha declined requests for comment. In an interview in The Sunday Leader newspaper, he said he paid 13 million rupees (US$116,000; euro85,350) to an intermediary for the car and had received an offer from the JHU to buy it back for less than half that amount. Medhananda's exasperated party colleagues accused Wickremesinghe of essentially stealing the monk's car, and threatened to press charges. Many Sri Lankans said the incident underscored the corruption plaguing the country, but the involvement of a monk made it even more difficult to digest. Manoj Dissanayake, a local businessman, said Buddhist monks should stay away from politics. ``For centuries, the role of Buddhist monks was to advise rulers and not to become rulers,'' he said. The Morning Leader newspaper said Medhananda should be held to a higher ethical standard than other politicians. ``It could be argued that transfer of such permits by (members of Parliament) to outsiders for millions of rupees is an open secret,'' it said in an editorial last month. ``But should MP monks, said to be the epitome of morality and virtue, engage in such shady practices? 15 August 2007 5,749 outstanding cases of enforced disappearance in Sri Lanka -AI Amnesty International has published an article on the International Day of the Disappeared (observed on August 30 each year) in the August 2007 issue of The Wire, AI's monthly magazine. The sections of the article relating to Sri Lanka follow below. "In Sri Lanka, the Vice-Chancellor of Eastern University, Sivasubramanium Raveendranath, was reportedly abducted while at a conference in the capital, Colombo, on 15 December 2006. He was in an area of the capital tightly controlled by the army; it is likely that his captors were military agents. He has not been heard from since. There are currently 5,749 outstanding cases of enforced disappearance in Sri Lanka being reviewed by the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. Since 2006, hundreds of people have reportedly been abducted and forcibly disappeared by the security forces or armed groups in areas in the north and east of Sri Lanka, as well as in Colombo. Often taken in 'for questioning' and held incommunicado, no records of their detention are available. Many cases implicate members of the security forces, others implicate armed groups including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Karuna group." The entire article can be found at http://web.amnesty.org/wire/August2007/Disappearances . Military says 6 rebels, 1 soldier killed in battle in northern Sri Lanka A group of Tamil Tiger fighters attacked a military foot patrol in northern Sri Lanka, sparking a gunbattle that killed six rebels and one soldier, the army said Wednesday.The battle began Tuesday when the rebels used small arms and mortar shells to attack the soldiers in the northern Vavuniya area, on the frontier between government-controlled areas and rebel held parts of the north, the military said. The death tolls could not be independently confirmed, and rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan did not answer a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment. Both the government and the rebels routinely exaggerate death tolls on the other side. The battle came the same day as another rebel fight with soldiers near the front line killed three insurgents, the military said Tuesday. The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for an independent state in northern and eastern Sri Lanka for minority ethnic Tamils, who have faced discrimination from the majority Sinhalese-dominated governments. The war has killed about 70,000 people. A 2002 cease-fire that largely ended the fighting has collapsed over the past 21 months into renewed violence in which more than 5,000 people have died and hundreds of thousands of others have been displaced. JVP warns Govt. of withdrawing support The JVP yesterday warned the government to opt for a people-friendly administration immediately or face the consequences.Addressing the public rally following a procession from Campbell Park in Borella to Lipton’s Circus with a massive crowd of supporters to protest against the government, JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe charged that the government had failed to benefit the people and warned that the rally itself would be the start of the party’s withdrawal of its unconditional support to the government.“Today, everybody has to come to the streets to tell anything to the government. We ask those so-called powerful government ministers whether they are aware of the rising cost of living. We have to come to the roads and the public has to shout slogans as government members pretend to be deaf and blind,” he charged.He said the JVP had signed a blank sheet offering its support to the government on many occasions.“This could be the beginning of a warning and an end of the unconditional support for the government. It is up to the President to decide whether he wishes to go along with our support or whether to face the consequences by continuing the present policies,” he said. Mr. Amarasinghe also charged that some, including Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, were overwhelmed by the sky rocketing cost of living, assuming that they were getting closer to achieving power.“Neither the UNP nor the newly-formed National Congress will be able to grab power as long as we are there because we will not let their dreams come true. The JVP is capable of forming a new government with the support of patriotic forces and will put an end to the burden on the public,” he added. No water for some Wellawatte residents The residents of Wellawatte complained that their water supply had been on a standstill since last week. Many residents of Wellawatte, said that houses in Perera Lane, Madangahawatte Lane and Arethusa Lane had been without water for many days. They complained that they had to carry cans and go in search of water for the past few days. According to residents who had inquired from the Water Board the officials there had informed them that water had been released from the Dehiwala Reservoir to the Kesbewa area. The officials had also informed the residents that the water had to come from Ambatale to Dehiwala. Water Board Deputy General Manager, Greater Colombo, S. A. S. De Silva, when reached by the Daily Mirror, said that there had been a system failure in the area over the week- end and that the water supply would be back to normal within three days. 53 School girls killed in 2006 SLAF bombing, remembered The first anniversary of the death of fifty three school girls killed at Va'l'lipunam Chenchoalai orphanage premises from an aerial raid by Kfir fast attack crafts belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on 14 August 2006, was observed throughout Vannni in Ki'linochchi and Mullaitheevu districts at 10:00 a.m Tuesday, sources in Vanni said. The portraits of the school girls and staff killed in the SLAF bombing were displayed in all venues where the commemoration events were held. Friends, class mates, parents, relatives and local public paid respects to the school children killed and paid floral tribute to their portraits.Commemoration events were held simultaneously at Ki'linochchi Cultural Hall, Vaddakachchi Public Hall, Visvamadau Mahaa Vithiyaaalayam, Paranthan Hindu Maha Vithiyaalyam, Mallaavi Maha Vithiyalaayam and Akkaraayan Vithiyaalayam, in Ki'linochchi district.Mullaitheevu Regional Director of Education, P. Ariyaratnam, participated in the commemoration event held at Udaiyaarkaddu Mahaavithiyaalayam by lighting the common flame of sacrifice.In Mullaitheevu disrtrict the event was observed at Udaiyaarkaddu Maha Vithiyalayam and in the Golden Jublee Hall at Puthukudiruppu Central College.Head of Tamil Eelam Education Centre, V. Illangkumaran hoisted the Tamil Eelam National flag at the event while Ki'linochchi Education Regional deputy director lit the flame of sacrifice.K. V. Balakumar, the senior member of Tamil Eelam Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). V. Illangkumaran and Ki'linochchi Traders' Union Secretary, S. Navaratnakumar delivered speeches in remembrance of the 53 school girls killed.Tamils Rehabilitation (TRO) Administrative officer, M. Jeraad, presided the commemoration event held at Ki'linochchi Cultural Hall. Rev. Fr. I. Reginald of Annai Illam Psychological Resource Centre lit the Common Flame. Army commanders at hush-hush Aussie meeting A special meeting of Army Commanders from 19 countries around the world on battling terrorism was held in a very confidential closed-door session in Australia recently. The secret meeting which was held under tight security at a five star hotel in Sydney was attended by Sri Lankan Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka too. Although it was a closed-door meeting for the media, it was later exposed after certain media had managed to get access to the points discussed at the meeting, an Australian website www.thewest.com.au stated. After the contents of the meeting was publicized, the Australian Army Commander had told the media that although the meeting was held in a confidential manner due to security reasons, it was the fifth of a series of annual meetings in the zone. The challenges faced by the contemporary armies in the world, steps that should be followed to overcome them, facilitating aids in disasters, peace building and controlling terrorism were some of the chief topics that had been discussed at the meeting, Australian Army Commander Lt. General Peter Lehi told the media. Army Commanders from 18 foreign countries including the USA, India, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Canada, Chili, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Tonga, Vietnam and Sri Lanka participated. Sri Lanka posts 20% fall in July arrivals Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka fell 20.3 per cent in July from a year earlier, the island's tourist board said on Tuesday, blaming security fears related to the renewed war between the state and Tamil Tiger rebels.The civil unrest reduced arrivals by 23.7 per cent in the first seven months of the year and many hotels struggling with low occupancy are discounting rooms in a bid to lure clients. Tourist arrivals in July totalled 44,142 compared to 55,354 a year earlier. Arrivals in June were down 30 per cent."The arrivals have come down because of the country's security situation but the (performance) has improved," said S. Kalaiselvam, director general of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. "July is an off-season, so arrivals of more than 40,000 tourists is a considerable achievement amid the current situation." A number of foreign embassies have advised nationals to avoid north and east Sri Lanka because of the new chapter in a two-decade civil war that has killed nearly 70,000 people since 1983 and around 4,500 people since last year.In March, the rebels bombed an air force base adjacent to the island's international airport, which is 20 miles (32 km) north of the capital, Colombo. Night flights were halted for weeks.According to central bank data, earnings from tourism in January to April fell by 14.8 per cent to $130.8 million compared with last year. LTTE leader killed: Army Sri Lanka’s military on Tuesday claimed that the third seniormost leader of the “LTTE’s rudimentary naval wing” Chandrasekaran Pillai alias Thiyagan was killed along with five senior cadres on Monday in an intense sea battle in Pulmodai.According to the Defence Ministry, the Navy, in a pre-dawn confrontation off Nayaru, destroyed an LTTE attack boat when the latter attempted to evacuate its cadres stranded in the jungles north of Trincomalee.“Intercepted radio transmission among the LTTE cadres has revealed that two self-styled “Lt. Colonels” of LTTE identified as Thiyagan alias Chandrasekaran Pillai and Sodilingam Nishanthan alias Kanyanthambi, one self-styled “Captain” named Sewandan Arulsuryan alias Agasur, and three self- styled “Second Lieutenants” named Lylan Anushan alias Sembulwanan, Eswaranthan Waran alias Olinivan, Sasikumar alias Ahalkadal had been killed in the incident.” Reprisal attacks The Ministry said the death toll could be higher as the type of the craft destroyed usually carry a crew of 12.The military alleged that the LTTE gunmen killed two Tamil youths in two separate locations in Jaffna. However, TamilNet, quoting LTTE sources, said the two youths were among eight killed by pro-government forces.The military said tension prevailed in the area where “armed LTTE operatives have launched ‘reprisal attacks’ on civilians” for coordinating with security forces. In another development, Government Peace Secretariat chief Rajiva Wijesinha has asked the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) to issue a formal apology for its false allegations regarding destruction of evidence on the execution style killing of 17 aid workers of a French NGO in August last year. In a letter to ICJ chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson, he said Australian expert Dr. Dodd had specifically refuted Michael Birnbaum’s Addendum which has regrettably been issued in the name of the ICJ, in saying “there is no suggestion in my mind of substitution of exhibits, and to this end I would categorically refute the suggestion in the Birnbaum Report”. APRC meets sudden death The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) proceedings came to an abrupt halt Tuesday after the SLFP and MEP called for its adjournment indefinitely. The APRC was to finalise a draft report by today to keep to a deadline set by the UNP for its participation in the future proceedings. However, the SLFP and MEP representatives who walked in at 5.30 pm for Tuesday’s meeting scheduled for 3.30 pm, called for the indefinite adjournment of proceedings until such time President Mahinda Rajapaksa meets with all party leaders in the APRC who are members of the government. No dates were fixed for the next meeting. The APRC had a series of meetings during the last two weeks to finalise its report before August 15.The APRC had by a majority view taken the position that the unit of devolution should be the province and the nature of the state should be "united" as opposed to unitary. The parties that supported these positions were the UNP, LSSP, CP, CWC, UPF, SLMC and NUA.The SLFP, MEP and the JHU had opposed the majority position.Informed sources said the President had on Monday called the APRC while it was in session to finalise its report at the earliest.However, the sudden decision to move for an adjournment came following representations made by the JHU to the President Monday night.The SLFP and MEP representatives to the APRC, Minister Vishwa Warnapala and Nalin de Silva had informed Chairman Tissa Vitharana that the proceedings had to be adjourned in keeping with a request made by the President.Other members at the APRC had commented that if the President did not want the proceedings to continue nothing could be done since it was his initiative.Meanwhile, the UNP said last evening they have been proved correct that the entire APRC process was an eye wash.A spokesman for the party said the UNP’s August 15 deadline stands and with Tuesday’s decision to adjourn the APRC indefinitely the process is dead in the water. The APRC, which had reached 70 per cent consensus on many issues had earlier planned to handover its final report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa within this week.According to some of the party representatives who attended Tuesday’s meeting SLFP Representative Prof. Wiswa Warnapala and the MEP representatives had wanted the meeting adjourned as they wanted to consult their party leaders. At this moment, some of the minority party members had questioned whether the SLFP wanted to consult the President. Prof. Wisawa Warnapala who had represented the SLFP had mentioned that the President had to be consulted on certain matters. Responding to the statement the minority parties had asked that the next date of the meeting be notified to them as they were prepared to attend it on short notice.Prof. Wiswa Waranapala confirmed that he together with the MEP wanted the meeting adjourned as they had to consult their party leaders. However, the APRC is to meet next Monday, according to him.Earlier it was reported that the APRC had agreed in principle to abolish the Executive Presidency. Highly placed political sources said it had been agreed to make the Executive President answerable to Parliament under the proposed constitutional reforms aimed at resolving the national issue. As agreed, the abolition of the Executive Presidency is supposed to be done when the first term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa expires in 2010. However, during the interim period the Committee had recommended that the President be made accountable to the House. 14 August 2007 Sri Lanka Keeps Key Rate at Highest Level in Asia Sri Lanka's central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at the highest level in Asia after inflation accelerated more than expected in July. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka maintained its repurchase rate at 10.5 percent for a sixth straight meeting, according to a statement released in the capital Colombo today. The decision was predicted by all 14 analysts in a Bloomberg News survey. Higher borrowing costs and escalating violence between government forces and Tamil separatists have weakened the South Asian island's $26 billion economy, which expanded in the first quarter at the slowest pace in two years. The central bank's three rate increases between September and February helped slow inflation from a decade high of 20.5 percent in January. ``The central bank may not make any move that could be interpreted as loosening monetary policy,'' said Vajira Premawardhana, head of research at Lanka Orix Securities Pvt. in Colombo. ``A further rise in interest rates may stifle economic growth some more.'' The Sri Lankan rupee was holding around a record low of 111.97 to the dollar at 11:35 a.m. in Colombo, according to First Capital Treasuries Ltd. The yield on the 7.6 percent bond due in August 2009 rose about 20 basis points to 17.4 percent. Sri Lanka's economy grew 6.1 percent in the three months to March from a year earlier, the central bank said June 29. Citigroup Inc. expects the economy to expand 6 percent this year from 7.4 percent in 2006. `Favorable Impact' Consumer prices in the capital Colombo rose 17.6 percent in July from a year earlier, after increasing 13 percent in June, due to higher oil and food costs. The central bank on July 3 said it will continue with steps to tame inflation to a single digit by the end of the year. ``The central bank measures have helped to maintain market liquidity broadly in balance and, hence, to stabilize the market interest rates,'' it said today. ``Revisions in administered prices, particularly the domestic fuel prices, would eventually contribute to contain the future inflationary pressures through its favorable impact on the fiscal management.'' Sri Lanka will freeze diesel prices and electricity and water tariffs for the rest of this year to help slow inflation, the state-run Daily News reported on Aug. 7, citing Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake's office. State-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corp. and Lanka IOC Ltd., the local unit of Indian Oil Corp., on July 29 lifted fuel charges for the fourth time in two months due to higher global oil costs. Sri Lanka generates about 65 percent of its electricity from oil-fired plants and imports all the fuel it needs to run them. A depreciating currency has increased import costs. Credit Rating Sri Lanka plans to sell locally 60,000 metric tons of rice from its reserves to boost supplies and help reduce inflation, the government said on Aug. 6. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has increased spending on the army, navy and air force by 44 percent this year to a record 139 billion rupees ($1.2 billion) to help fight Tamil rebels. That's likely to further widen a budget deficit that the Asian Development Bank estimates was equivalent to 8.9 percent of gross domestic product last year. Standard & Poor's on Aug. 8 raised its outlook on Sri Lanka's credit rating to ``stable'' from ``negative,'' noting improved state finances and limited fallout from the worst violence on the island after a 2002 cease-fire. S&P affirmed Sri Lanka's B+ rating, four levels below investment grade. Higher borrowing costs have helped damp money supply and loan growth. Reserve money, one of the factors that fuels inflation, grew to 247.2 billion rupees in July, slower than the targeted 253.8 billion rupees, the central bank said on Aug. 2. Sri Lanka's exports increased 13 percent while imports rose 3.9 percent in the first half of 2007, narrowing the island's trade deficit, the central bank said in its statement today. The country posted a balance of payments surplus of $161 million by end-July as private remittances climbed. The island's reserves were $2.7 billion, it said. Move to ease tension at Arafa Nagar The Brigade commander of the Mutur area has spoken to the villagers of Arafa Nagar, south Trincomalee yesterday and said that he will appeal to the government to re-demarcate the High Security Zone (HSZ) Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. According to the Asst.Government Agent of Mutur M. Shariff, during the last three months the families were visiting the area and clearing overgrown weeds. “Only a month ago they started to cultivate few fruits and vegetables on a small scale” he said.“The confusion was due to the military in the nearby Kattaparichchan camp allowing the families to re-visit and cultivate the area prior to the gazette notification” Brig. Samarasinghe said. However, the families were not allowed to re-settle in the area he added. According to Brig. Samarasinghe in 1985, forty eight families left Arafa Nagar when the LTTE captured the area. Now 22 years “After re-capturing the Sampur, 84 families with 423 people have returned to re-claim the land” which was once owned by them he said. 56 Families of Arafa Nagar claim dry rations from the government said Shariff. All the families who were displaced during 1985 live with relatives and friends he added. Killings shock Kaithadi, 8 civilians slain in Jaffna Sri Lanka Army operated gunmen in Thenmaraadchi, Jaffna, have shot and killed seven civilians since Sunday noon. Four civilians, including a Village Officer (GS) were slain on Monday in Kaithadi where two civilians were shot dead last wednesday and a gurellia ambush killed four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers on Sunday when a youth was also killed in SLA gunfire. Two civilians were killed in Meesaalai and one in Vara'ni in Thenmaraadchi on Monday. Meanwhile, a Jaffna Municipal Council employee, shot in Jaffna city has succumbed to his injuries. Tension prevails in Kaithadi where armed men also burnt down a house, according to the residents in the area.Retired Grama Sevaka officer, K Chelliah, 65, was gun down at this house in Kaithadi at 11:00 a.m. Monday by unknown gunmen. His body has been transferred to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, according to hospital sources.In the third incident in Kaithadi East, Jeyathaas Ruban, a father of two, was shot dead Monday morning by four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intelligence operatives in civil clothes riding in motorcycles, according to sources in Jaffna.In Vara'ni in Thenmaraadchi another civilian was shot dead Monday morning. Details of this killing is not available.On Sunday, armed men who arrived at the house of Thambyaiyah Chandramohan, 30, in Kaithadi south, gunned him down Sunday around 6:30 p.m. Chaavakachcheari police has recovered Chandramohan's body and handed it over to Jaffna Teaching hospital mortuary Two civilians were killed last Wednesday in Kaithadi. 3 days later, on Sunday, four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 12 troopers wounded in a Claymore ambush in Thenmaraadchi in the southwestern Forward Defence area adjoining Kaithadi. Meanwhile, in Jaffna, gunmen shot and seriously injured an employee of Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC), K. Thevarasa, 28, in front of Jaffna St. Patric's College Monday morning around 6:00 a.m. Two armed men on motor cycle who waylaid Thevarasa, shot and seriously injured him while he was cycling to his work. The victim, a resident of Rajasingham Veethi, Thirunakar, succumbed to his injuries at Jaffna Teaching hospital. Thevaras's body is also being kept at Jaffna hospital mortuary.Another civilian was seriously injured Monday in a separate shooting incident around 12:15 p.m. on Kankeasanthu'rai (KKS) Road. The victim was identified as Sinnaraasa Vijayasingham, 30. Sinnarasa is from Vela'nai 6 Division. 3,600 litres of acid bound for uncleared areas seized A large consignment of acid comprising 3,600 litres concealed in 90 plastic cans were seized by the Medawachchiya Police while being transported to the uncleared areas on Sunday night, Anuradhapura SSP Macarthy Perera said. A Tipper carrying a large consignment of acid was seized by the police on Sunday at around 11.00 p.m. “The Tipper accompanied by a motorcyclist providing security was stopped by the police while attempting to storm past the Medawachchiya Police road block,” SSP Perera told the Daily News. He said the Medawachchiya Police inspected the suspicious tipper and found 90 plastic cans each bearing the 40 litre mark and 98% Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4). “We believe that these liquid chemicals were being transported from Medawachchiya to the uncleared areas in Vavuniya,” SSP Perera pointed out. Three suspects, the motorcycle and the tipper have been taken into police custody. “Samples from the seized acid liquid have been sent to the Government Analyst for examination,” he added. The Medawachchiya police are conducting the investigations. Trader shot dead in Chankaanai, Jaffna Unknown gunmen shot dead a 30-year old trader using a pistol near Chankaanai market in Valikaamam Jaffna at 6:30 a.m, source in Jaffna said. The killers escaped in a motorbike after shooting at the victim.Thiagarajah Vimalarajah, who is from Chunnaakam area in Valikaamam, was at the Chankaanai Common Market as part of his daily trading activities when he was shot. Vimalarajah died on the spot, according to witnesses.Mallaakam Magistrate conducted inquiries at the scene of the killing and directed the Police to transfer the body to Jaffna Teaching Hospital for postmortem examinations. Amendments to election laws next month Draft legislation to amend election laws and the local government election system is to be placed before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Electoral Reforms on September 6, its Chairman Dinesh Gunawardena said yesterday.He said since there was widespread consensus among all parties for a change in election laws, the Committee decided to initiate legal reforms to effect the necessary changes.Accordingly, the Committee which met last week advised the Elections Department to submit a preliminary draft to amend election laws on a priority basis. It was the second meeting for the PSC after the presentation of its hotly disputed interim report on June 5. In line with the recommendations made by the Elections Commissioner, the changes to be included in the Draft law will cover a range of modifications including a requirement for candidates to attach a police clearance certificate against criminal charges, while also making it mandatory to submit a statement of assets and liabilities at the time of handing over nominations. Furthermore, legal reforms to include an electronic voting system will be incorporated into the Draft Bill, which is currently being prepared with the assistance of the Attorney-General’s Department. Asked whether a deadline had been set for the presentation of the PSC’s final report to Parliament, Minister Gunawardena responded in the negative. “There is no time bar for the final report but the Committee has agreed to proceed on the basis of the proposals contained in the interim report,” he said. Responding to UNP and JVP protests that the recommendations should have been subjected to the approval of an independent delimitation committee, Mr. Gunawardena said a proposal to this effect had already been outlined in the PSC’s interim report. “It is sad that MPs don’t read the relevant documents. If they did, they wouldn’t be making such sweeping statements,” he said. Sri Lanka Air Force raids Tiger camp Sri Lanka Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said that Air Force launched aerial attacks on a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Tigers (LTTE) training camp and an artillery launching pad in Nedunkerni in Vavuniya district yesterday morning. Troops patrolling in Umayaratuvarankulam in Vavuniya came under LTTE mortar and heavy weapon fire yesterday afternoon. The troops retaliated the attack killing a Tiger cadre and recovering 16 grenade launchers. Two soldiers received minor injuries, MCNS said.MCNS said combined ground and sea attacks by the Army and Navy in Pulmodai foiled an attempt by the Tigers to retrieve their cadres stranded in the recently captured areas in the East. Navy and LTTE in fierce sea battle The Navy and LTTE Sea Tigers were involved in a fierce battle off the eastern seas on Sunday night resulting in the death of at least 12 Tigers and injuries to 3 sailors, a navy spokesman said.A navy patrol detected a flotilla of sea tiger craft heading east and confronted them near Pulmoaddai resulting in a fierce battle that lasted for nearly three hours.“The LTTE craft opened fire on the navy fast craft and the navy retaliated. The battle lasted for nearly three hours. An LTTE armed craft was destroyed in the battle,” the navy spokesman said.He estimated at least 12 Sea Tigers may have been on board the Tiger craft and were presumed killed. He said 3 sailors who sustained minor injuries were admitted to the Trincomalee hospital.The Tamilnet website however claimed that three Navy Fast Attack Craft were damaged in the battle and added that only three Sea Tigers were killed. Just hours later air force fighter jets pounded what it claimed was an LTTE gun position and training base. Meanwhile the defence ministry said the security forces foiled an LTTE attempt to bring back its remaining eastern cadres stranded in the Jungles, North of Trincomalee to the Wanni on Sunday night. Intercepted radio communication among the LTTE cadres has revealed that three LTTE cadres were killed and ten others suffered injuries in the incident. Military sources said one soldier was killed in the fighting. Suspected extortionists nabbed in Kotahena Kotahena Police yesterday arrested three Army deserters who had allegedly tried to extort money from residents in Jampettah Street, on information given by the Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC). CMC convenor MP Mano Ganesan said the three persons posing as CID officers had been going around the houses in Jampettah Street in Kochchikade yesterday questioning the residents. On suspicion, the residents had informed the CMC after which the Police was called in. It had been found that they had a large sum of cash with them. The CMC had informed the residents to identify the suspects at the Kotahena Police. The CMC which is monitoring abductions and disappearances lauded the Kotahena Police for taking swift action in arresting the suspects. However, when contacted, the Kotahena Police said a special inquiry was being carried out and further details could not be revealed. Shootout on Oslo's north side Three men were shot, stabbed and run down by a car in what police are calling a "grotesque" battle within Oslo's Tamil community late Sunday afternoon. The raw violence erupted around 6pm, when two men were shot repeatedly in broad daylight in the Kalbakken district of the capital on the city's northeast side.One of the victims was also attacked with what police are calling a Samurai sword, in addition to being shot several times in the chest. Newspaper VG reported that one of the man's arms was chopped off, but police wouldn't confirm that.Doctors at Ullevål Hospital in Oslo worked through the night trying to stabilize him and save his life. His condition remained critical on Monday.A second victim was also reported in critical condition after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. A third victim was treated at Oslo's emergency clinic after being hit by what police believe was a car driven by the assailants.There were at least 10 witnesses to the bloody shootout, including several young children, and police were scrambling to secure their accounts of events. Police said they found handguns, knives and the sword strewn over the scene around the football field at Nordvedt.Police couldn't confirm what set off the violence, but said it apparently followed "an event" the day before, believed to be tied to a conflict within the Tamil community. All three victims are Tamils. Chandrasekaran to disclose UNP-LTTE deal Upcountry People’s Front leader Minister P. Chandrasekran revealed that the United National Party attempted to strike a deal with the LTTE before the Presidential Election. Chandrasekaran said he discussed with the LTTE on behalf of the UNP and vowed to disclose those details in due course. He said allegations that the Government has given funds to the LTTE were completely unacceptable and baseless. The people should know about the UNP-LTTE discussions and the UNP’s allegations against the Government on a deal with the LTTE could boomerang on the UNP, he added. He said it would not be easy to topple the Government which enjoys tremendous public support. No conspiracies will be able to bring down the Government. 'Security Eye'; a pay mobile service from Police Mirihana Police has commenced a new police mobile service named 'Security Eye' that charges Rs. 750 per person who have joined in a civil defense committee that provides a van to police. When Lanka-e-News enquired from the Senior Superintendent of Police, Nugegoda, Deshabandu Thennakoon about this he said that the Police did not charge any money and the civil defense committee that was formed by businesspersons, banks, supermarkets etc. did it. The SSP further said that the objective of this program is transforming the civilians' vigilance to a service in the national defense. He said that the police expects to obtain the assistance of the civilians to the defense since the police and security forces cannot fight terrorism alone. He said that a wide sector of society from pavement vendor to university student contribute to the 'Security Eye' and hopes that public vigilance can be improved through it.These mobile services have numbers different from usual police emergency numbers 118 and 119 and are always in patrol in the city. When Lanka-e-News enquired if the service is only for those who pay for it, the SSP said 'no'. However, a lawyer who opted to remain anonymous said that it amounted to privatizing the police mobile service that was provided free of charge so far. He said that giving priority to the payees could not be avoided and said that this would add to the social recognition of police as a corrupt institute.By now many businesspersons in Nugegoda, Nawala and Rajagiriya area have paid Rs. 750 per month for this 'Security Eye' mobile service. One Businessperson said that obtaining this service for Rs. 750 was very cheap and asked from Lanka-e-News how much he would have to pay if it was obtained from a private security service. Sri Lanka Offers Amnesty to Rebels in Eastern Region Sea Battle Army and navy units carried out attacks early yesterday after intercepting LTTE units trying to escape from the eastern region by crossing north of Trincomalee to the Wanni area, the Defense Ministry said. Navy vessels prevented LTTE boats reaching the coast for a possible attempt ``to pick up stranded eastern cadres,'' the ministry said on its Web site. LTTE sea units drove the navy vessels away after more than four hours of fighting, the group said, according to a statement carried by TamilNet. The Tamil Tigers have a 4,000- member naval unit known as the Sea Tigers and about 12,000 land fighters. The group unveiled an air wing when light aircraft bombed areas near the capital, Colombo, in March and April. Political Move Irasiah Ilanthirayan, the LTTE's military spokesman, said in a July 24 telephone interview that Tamil Tiger forces are still operating in the east. The government is claiming victory in the east as a political move to boost President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he said. The government wants the LTTE to return to peace talks, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said last month. As long as the group threatens civilians and attacks strategic and economic targets, the government will work to destroy its military capabilities, he added. Sri Lanka and the LTTE held two rounds of talks in Geneva last year that failed to make any progress. A cease-fire signed between the two sides in 2002 remains the basis for holding new peace negotiations, S.P. Thamilchelvan, head of the LTTE's political wing, said in an interview with TamilNet on June 25. The accord, brokered by Norway, recognizes the de facto existence of a Tamil homeland with its own civil administration, defense force and judiciary, Thamilchelvan said. Gunmen supported by the Sri Lankan army killed seven civilians in three attacks in the past three days in the Jaffna region in the north, TamilNet reported on its Web site yesterday, without saying where it obtained the information. The government denies the army backs any armed groups. India, Sri Lanka may sign economic partnership agreement by year-end India and Sri Lanka are likely to conclude negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the year-end, according to P.M. Amza, Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Southern India.Addressing the members of the Consultative Committee of City Chambers of Commerce (CCCCC) here on Monday, he said the 11th round of talks would be held in Colombo shortly. The draft text of the main agreement was under negotiation, while those of services, financial services and investments had been finalised. The agreement would boost the bilateral trade. Talking to The Hindu later, Mr. Amza said: “The present situation on the island is conducive for investment… The trade relationship is increasing, and it is a positive sign for further growth. Sri Lankan Airlines is planning to increase the frequency of its flights to India to make it 100 from the present 94.” He urged Indian businessmen to take advantage of the GSP Plus scheme that provided opportunity to export 7,200 items to the European Union with zero duty. “Since the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA), the Foreign Direct Investment flow into the island is on the rise. The Balance of Trade is heavily in favour of India. The ISFTA has also made India the third largest exporter, and trade is likely to touch $3 billion this year,” he said.Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission Minister (Commercial & Economics) in Chennai, H.M.B. Herath said: “Sri Lanka is the most attractive investment destination in South East Asia. It doesn’t have corruption or red tapism. It is one of the 13 countries to have been granted permission by the European Union under the GSP Plus scheme. Please make use of it to derive more benefits.” Bilateral trade CCCCC chairman and Andhra Chamber of Commerce president Baboolal P. Rathore said the bilateral trade exceeded $2.05 billion in 2005. Exports from India to Sri Lanka in 2004 amounted to $1,350 million, while exports from Sri Lanka to India were over $382 million. 13 August 2007 CBK back, talks with SLFP(M) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga who retuned to the country yesterday is expected to hold talks with the SLFP Mahajana Wing in the coming few days, political sources said. It is learnt that apart from meeting former ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriarachchi who are spearheading the Mahajana Wing, the former President is expected to meet several other government and opposition politicians as well.Ms. Kumaratunga after being away for three months returned to the island on an Emirates flight from London following the wedding of her daughter Yashodara. The former President while in London sent a congratulatory note to Mangala Samaraweera after the signing of the agreement for a common alliance with the UNP. In that letter she was highly critical of the present administration and said it had veered from the party policies and her parents who were the founders of the SLFP would have given their blessings to the new alliance. Meanwhile the UNP and the SLFP-Mahajana Wing are organising their third protest rally in the SLFP strong hold of Attanagalle on August 24.At this meeting to be held in Nittambuwa close to the Horagolla Bandaranaike ancestral home, several Bandaranaike loyalists are expected to team up with the Mahajana Wing, party sources said. Although initial permission for the protest rally was not given by the SLFP-controlled Nittambuwa Pradeshiya Sabha, it is learnt the green light for the rally was given after the intervention of National Heritage Minister Anura Bandaranaike. Claymore attack on Army truck in Jaffna; 4 killed and 13 wounded EPDP wants devolution before Eastern PC polls The EPDP, a party in the ruling coalition, said yesterday that it would not contest future Provincial Council elections in the East unless the government put forward a power devolution package for the resolution of the national question.Party leader and Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda told the Daily Mirror that the Provincial Council system was an issue linked to the national question, and therefore there should be a ‘political package’ for them to contest such an election in the Eastern Province. Mr. Devananda said the EPDP would, however, vie for the proposed Local Government polls in the East. Asked about a possible escalation of violence with the Karuna faction planning to join the fray, the Minister said they did not have any such problems at the moment.“If problems arise, we will sort them out. We have enough members to contest the elections there. Once the election is declared, we will prepare the nomination lists,” he said. Meanwhile, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which is increasingly under threat from the Karuna group, said the party was yet to take a decision regarding future elections in the East.TNA Jaffna district MP Suresh Premachandran said they would discuss the issue with Party leader R. Sampanthan upon his return to the country soon and take a decision.However, Mr. Premachandran said many forces had stressed the need to disarm the Karuna faction if a free and fair election in the east it to be ensured. Lanka orders to arrest Nedu Maran, if he sails into its territorial waters Orders have been given to the Sri Lankan Navy to arrest Pala Nedumaran and his colleagues if they sail from Tamil Nadu into Sri Lanka’s territorial waters with food commodities. Earlier Pala Ndumaran, a veteran Tamilnadu leader, had announced that he would sail along with others in a convey of boats on August 12th carrying food and other essential commodities donated by the Tamil people in Tamil Nadu for their brethren in Sri Lanka, since the central government had refused permission. It is in the back ground of this development that the Sri Lankan navy has been ordered to be on alert and arrest them. The Navy has been ordered not to let any boat to enter the Lankan territorial waters. Kamalasabayson is no more Former Attorney General K.C. Kamalasabayson passed away yesterday morning while receiving medical treatment at Apollo Hospital in Chennai, South India. He was 58. Arrangements are being made to bring his remains to Colombo for last religious rites. Funeral arrangements would be notified later.The late Mr. Kamalasabayson was highly respected in the legal arena. He cut his teeth in the realm of law under the tutelage of legal luminaries H.V. Perera QC and E.R.S.P. Coomaraswamay. He served as the Attorney General since 1999 till his premature retirement this year. Hailing from Trincomalee, he was a past pupil of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. He passed his final examination for the admission of Advocate with honours and was enrolled as an Advocate on June 23, 1972.He practised for two years (1972 – 1974) as an Advocate in both original and appellate courts as private counsel. He joined the Attorney General’s Department in August 1974 and served as State Counsel at the outset and later as Deputy Solicitor General, Additional Solicitor General and Solicitor General before he climbed to the zenith as Attorney General. Mr. Kamalasabayson was appointed President’s Counsel in 1996 and received his appointment as Attorney General in October 1999. He successfully completed the Government Legal Advisors’ course at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies at the University of London, a course in International Contract Negotiation from the International Law Institute in Washington, USA and a course in Construction Contracts at the International Development Law Institute of Rome in Italy. Tamil village Eruthayapuram, to be changed as Pansalawatha It is reported that there are moves to change the name of the Tamil village Eruthayapuram in the Trincomalee District as Pansayawatte. The security forces stationed in Eruthaypuram have already called it Pansalawatte. The army camp in the Tamil village is called Pansalawatte army camp. When people are summoned to the army camp for inquiries, they are told to come to Pansalawatte army camp. Tension in Arafa Nagar,Trinco A tense atmosphere has been created in Arafa Nagar, south of Mutur after Defence authorities ordered the eviction of some 251 people in 67 resettled families in the area, reports from Trincomalee said.According to the reports the order had come on August 10 and the families are now accommodated in a school in Paali Nagar in Mutur.A local politician told the Daily Mirror these Muslim families who were from Arafa Nagar had been living as IDPs in Mutur due to LTTE harassment since 1985.After the August 2006 clashes in Mutur, they had fled to Kantale and from there they had been sent to Paali Nagar in Mutur, he said. On the first week of March these families were given permission by a commander then in charge of the near by military camp to cultivate their lands in Arafa Nagar. The families with the help of Muslim Aid cleared the jungle, put up huts and started their farming activities.On Thursday evening military has sent a message for the villagers to meet with them.On Friday morning the men in theses families on receiving a message from the military the previous day to meet them went to the military camp and were told that their village came under the High Security Zone. The men had argued that they were given permission initially but the military proceeded to the village with them and reportedly got every one out of the village. The reports said the farmers had pleaded with the military to give them time since they had invested all what they had to cultivate their lands and the harvesting time was not far off. People in the camp said in the last two days wild animal would have destroyed their crops. However when questioned, Trincomalee Division SSP Kithsiri Dayananda as well as Mutur police denied any knowledge of such an eviction.Military Spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe too told the Daily Mirror he was unaware of such a development. Interpol arrest Sri Lankan abductor in Dubai Interpol officers in Dubai arrested the mastermind who was responsible for several abductions and extortion rackets in Colombo where several wealthy businessmen suddenly disappeared last year. The suspect, a Muslim businessman from Mawanella fled to a Middle Eastern country when CID sleuths were hot on his trail, CID sources told the Sunday Observer. The mastermind had abducted several wealthy businessmen from Colombo with the help of Special Task Force men (STF) and Policemen and Air Force officers. The abducted businessmen were whisked away in white vans to far away places where they were detained for several weeks and threatened with death if they do not pay ransom money. Some of the businessmen were lucky enough to be released after paying huge sums of money. According to CID sources the gang had extorted close to a sum of Rs 200 million from hapless victims. The CID finally alerted the Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, giving the description of the suspect. Altogether 14 persons who were involved in the abduction and extortion racket were arrested. More suspects from the security forces are to be questioned in this regard, sources said. A special unit has been set up at the CID headquarters to deal with abduction cases. The unit is operational for 24 hours. Meanwhile a team of sleuths are looking for suspects involved in the abduction and killing of the ICRC officers from Batticoloa. Home Guard escapes from custody A Home Guard arrested by the Beat Forest Officers of the Wilpattu National Park had escaped from custody yesterday and fled leaving the service weapon behind. A group of Beat Forest Officers on an inspection tour in the game park had noticed two Home Guards engaged in poaching. One of the Home Guards had fled the scene on seeing the Officers while the other was taken into custody with his T-56 service weapon. He was brought to Katupathwewa Beat Forest Office and his statement was recorded. The suspect had managed to escape from custody and fled the scene.It is reported that the Home Guard who escaped was attached to the Nochchiyagama police station that had been deployed at the Katupathwewa Civil Security point. Game Warden of the Wilpattu National Park J. K. Weerasinghe told the Daily Mirror that most of the intruders engaged in poaching are identified to be armed Home Guards. When contacted the officers of the Nochchiyagama police said they were not aware of the incident. Mini cyclone hits Ampara A mini cyclone hit Damana and Nimthitha areas in the Ampara district on Saturday night and had damaged 10 houses. According to Damana police the roof of these houses have got blown away with the gushing winds. It was also reported that a large number of trees have been uprooted while some of the farmers have lost their harvest which were stored. The authorities in the area have arranged relief materials to the displaced people. Sri Lanka has been experiencing mini cyclones since February this year in areas such as Galle, Bandaragama and Pannipitiya. According to the Meteorological Department this is a common phenomenon during inter monsoonal period. Rains, troop shortages hit Sri Lanka push against rebels Sri Lanka's military has been unable to push into Tamil Tiger strongholds in the north due to the threat of monsoon rains and a lack of manpower, defence officials and analysts say. The government had hoped to build on recent territorial gains in the east of the troubled island by going after guerrilla bases in the northern Wanni region, where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) run a mini-state."Inter-monsoon rains start in October and it will be difficult to move tanks and heavy guns in boggy conditions," said one field commander who asked not to be named."But in the run-up to the monsoon, there could be smaller-scale operations."The LTTE last month admitted losing its final bastion in the jungles of Sri Lanka's Eastern province, but vowed to keep up hit-and-run attacks in the area.One senior officer attributed the victory last month to a combination of superior tactics, firepower and guerrilla-style attacks behind enemy lines."What they used to do is send small groups to harass us. We had to tie up a large force to hold our static positions," he said, requesting anonymity. "This time, we infiltrated their lines and kept them on their toes." But for defence analyst Namal Perera, that success may require the deployment of a huge number of troops if the military wants to maintain control over the areas wrested from the rebels."With the manpower commitment in the east expected to be very heavy, it will be a challenge to deploy more men for a new offensive in the north," Perera said. "It will be difficult at this time.""As long as the army is tied down in the east, the LTTE knows the military will not make a new push in the north."LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan admitted the rebels had suffered a setback with the loss of territory in the east, but said the Tigers were bolstering their defences in the north."Militarily you can't call this an advantageous situation," Ilanthiriyan said. "Because, if you want to control one region, you may have to lose control over another region."The Rivira newspaper reported that the Tigers had withdrawn cadres from the eastern front and sent them to the north. "The next battle which will start in the Wanni will be decisive for both parties," the paper's defence analyst Tissa Ravindra Perera said.The military has suffered heavy losses trying to break into rebel territory in the north of the island in recent weeks, while the Tigers have experienced similar setbacks trying to gain a foothold in the army-held Jaffna peninsula.A recently retired senior military officer predicted that government forces might not be able to replicate in the north the tactics used in the east because the terrain was different."In the east, there are no clearly demarcated areas of control and that helped us to sneak into areas dominated by the Tigers," said the retired officer, declining to be named."In the north, there is a physical boundary and getting through that is not going to be easy. We have already lost a few groups that tried." A February 2002 truce arranged by Norway is in tatters and some 5,200 people have been killed in fighting in the past 19 months alone, according to government figures. Sunanda Deshapriya, director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, an independent think-tank, said neither side was keen on returning to negotiations that collapsed last October and predicted the "war atmosphere" would continue. The rebels are fighting for an independent homeland for the island's minority Tamils. More than 60,000 people have been killed in the conflict since 1972. 12 August 2007 APRC likely to oppose Westminster System The All Party Representative Committee (APRC), scheduled to wrap up its sessions on Tuesday, is likely to bring out a majority report proposing the Westminster System. The system, adopted by India, recommends a ceremonial President and identifies the country’s Prime Minister, as the most powerful person in the Government. The Nation understands that the majority of the APRC will accept the Tissa Vitarana proposals on devolution of power with some minor modifications to some aspects of the proposals. Sources said that although the Tissa Vitarana proposals have recommended the doing away of the executive powers vested with the President and has instead proposed an executive Prime Minister under the new constitution, the proposal had been dropped owing to stiff opposition from majority of the APRC parties including most of the minority parties. The committee was initially scheduled to deliberate issues pertaining to the devolution of power last Monday. However, as the party representatives had informed the chair that they were still not prepared and had not thoroughly studied aspects on devolution of power, it was decided to discuss the issue at length the following Monday (tomorrow). According to sources, the devolution of power is the only main issue which is left for the committee to discuss upon. Vatican says 'no' to Dayan The Vatican has declined to accept the accreditation of Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Dayan Jayatilleke.Jayatilleke was accredited to the Vatican by the Sri Lankan government recently in keeping with past convention but the Vatican has 'unofficially' informed the government the accreditation cannot be accepted due to personal issues concerning Jayatilleke.The Sunday Leader learns Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry has been informed that while the Vatican would not formally reject the accreditation to avoid embarrassment, it would give the government time to make a fresh appointment.Secretary to the Foreign Ministry contacted by The Sunday Leader, Palitha Kohona said Jayatilleke's accreditation has not been 'rejected'. Asked whether it was accepted, Kohona said it was too early. "These things take time," he said. Islamic leader shot dead in Ampa'rai Armed gunmen, believed to be members of a Muslim armed group, shot and killed a religious leader, Mawlawi Rafeek, Saturday evening around 7:30 at Ninthavoor in Ampa'rai, Chammaanthu'rai Police said. Two gunmen, riding in a motorbike, entered the house of the Mawlawi, located on VC Road, fired at him. The motive behind the killing could be a sectarian clash, according to the Police. Mawlawi Rafeek died at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Kalmunai Base hospital. Ninthavoor is located 6 km east of Chammaanthu'rai. President gives in on unit of devolution The United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government has decided that the unit of devolution to resolve the ethnic conflict would be the province. Informed sources said that the Government headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at this decision after deliberations held last week with the participation of all party leaders of the UPFA coalition. Though the President was reluctant to amend his earlier proposal when the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) stated that the unit of devolution would be the district, the President after much persuasion by others had agreed to accept the province as the unit of devolution. However it is learnt that the government was not prepared to amend the unitary nature of the constitution and rejected proposals that Sri Lanka should be a united country with quasi federal features. Jeyaraj imports 9700 vehicles illegally; the loss to the govt. Rs. 6 billion United National Party (UNP) MP Lakshman Kiriella says that the Government Chief Whip and the Minister of Highways and Road Development Jeyaraj Fernandopulle has made a loss of six billion rupees. The loss was incurred through importing 9700 vehicles illegally during the immediate aftermath of tsunami disaster while Mr. Fernandopulle was the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Mr. Fernandopulle imported 9700 vehicles covering to information given to customs that vehicle spare parts were imported, said MP Kiriella in the parliament yesterday adding that Rs 200,000 to one million was charged per a license for such vehicle. Making this allegation Mr. Kiriella said that Minister Fernandopulle was a crook. Making a special statement to Lanka-e-News, Mr. Kiriella said that one vehicle importer told him that Rs. 35 million was paid to the person who was responsible for the importation of vehicles illegally. Resigning ministers re-join government The Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) ministers, who tendered their resignations to President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week, are likely to rejoin this week and accept portfolios, The Nation reliably learns.The members are expected to take fresh oaths shortly after the return of CWC Leader Arumugam Thondaman, who is currently on a visit to India.The Nation learns that Highways Minister and Chief Government Whip Jeyeraj Fernandopulle has smoothed out the differences between the government and the CWC, following an argument that erupted between several CWC officials and Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa.Minister Fernandopulle told The Nation yesterday that he had personally informed Thondaman that he and his colleagues must remain in the government if they wanted to serve the plantation community in the future.Fernandopulle said he had also informed the CWC leadership that it was essential to remain in power if they wanted to offer assistance to an ethnic minority. He added that if the UPFA was defeated and the UNP came to power tomorrow, then they should join hands with the UNP, with a view to serving their community.“I told them that it was not prudent to quit the government and be powerless. I told them they should share power under whatever government in order to serve their community,” he said.When asked whether the CWC members were planning to take oaths the Minister said this was likely after the return of Thondaman.Fernandopulle said the President had still not accepted the resignations of the CWC members and therefore, they could rejoin the government any time.Meanwhile, CWC Spokesman R. Yogarajan said he was unaware of any move by the CWC ex-ministers to reaccept portfolios.He said until Thondaman left for India there had not been any plan, but added anything could happen in the future.In another strange twist to the episode, The Nation also reliably learnt that just prior to his visit to India, Arumugam Thondaman had requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa to grant his party more Cabinet portfolios.However, CWC sources denied this. FM frowns on Holmes' meeting with President The Foreign Ministry has protested to the Presidential Secretariat an appointment given to UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes to meet President Mahinda Rajapakse.Holmes met the President on Wednesday at Temple Trees where Sri Lanka's human rights record and the disarming of the Karuna Group were discussed among other issues.The Foreign Ministry had advised against givingHolmes an appointment to meet the President stating he was too low in the UN hierarchy to meet a head of state. The Foreign Ministry had also pointed out that Holmes had made critical comments on Sri Lanka's human rights record on previous occasions and it would be inadvisable for the President to meet the UN representative.Following the decision to grant an appointment to Holmes, The Sunday Leader learns the Foreign Ministry had called and protested to the Presidential Secretariat the decision to act against their advise but was told the decision to grant the appointment was taken by 'Basil Aiya.'The Foreign Ministry had also pointed out that Holmes had made critical comments on Sri Lanka's human rights record on previous occasions and it would be inadvisable for the President to meet the UN representative.Following the decision to grant an appointment to Holmes, The Sunday Leader learns the Foreign Ministry had called and protested to the Presidential Secretariat the decision to act against their advise but was told the decision to grant the appointment was taken by 'Basil Aiya.'Holmes in an interview with Reuters during the visit had reportedly expressed concern at the killings of aid workers and said Sri Lanka's record is one of the worst in the world. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake making a special statement in parliament on Friday rejected the quotes attributed to Holmes and said the UN representative has by his comments contributed to those who are seeking to discredit the government and tarnish Sri Lanka's image internationally. Indian visa going private The Indian High Commission in Colombo had decided to outsource its visa handling unit, similar to what had been adopted by several European diplomatic missions in the country such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. A High Commission spokesman told The Nation that tenders had already been called, and a total of six companies including two foreign companies had already sent their applications and the High Commission was in the process of evaluating the companies. Once the High Commission decides on a company, all future applicants would have to apply for Indian visa directly from this company and not via the Indian High Commission in Colombo. “Once implemented, we hope the process of obtaining visas will be much easier,” the spokesman said. “We have to see whether the selected company to whom we will outsource our visa handling unit, have the capacity to handle around 1000 applicants a day, the place be air-conditioned and other basic necessities are provided for all applicants,” he noted. “We get approximately 1000 applicants a day, and we do our best to grant visas to all applicants on the same day, but now owing to the large number of applicants, we are unable to approve all applicants on the same day,” the spokesman pointed out. Most of the applicants are those applying for business and academic purposes. “We will be implementing this system as soon as possible,” he added. Mahinda rules out Intl. HR monitors The government last week shot down any chances of a UN backed human rights monitoring mission in the country.Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe last week told the press that the government was working with the UN to enhance the capacity of the local bodies and that international participation in human rights monitoring would be limited to such involvement."It is not something to be brought from outside," Samarasinghe said on human rights monitoring in the country, terming his reply as the final answer at the press conference attended by visiting Under Secretary of UN Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes. The UN official while declining to elaborate on the human rights situation said that urgent and transparent actions were needed."What is needed is to try to dissipate some of the problems highlighted by the likes of Human Rights Watch," he said. Holmes said that organisations like HRW were serious international entities and concerns raised by them had to be looked at seriously. Samarasinghe added that the HRW report had several factual errors. The Minister also said that the government's position on international human rights monitors was unlikely to change."We will reiterate when she (UN Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour) comes to Sri Lanka," he said. UN Commissioner for Human Rights is expected to visit the country in October. 48,000 IDPs in Batticaloa A total of around 48,000 persons are still displaced and living either with host families or in one of the 48 camps for displaced persons in Batticaloa District according to the latest report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) The ICRC acted as a neutral intermediary to facilitate the crossing of 19,000 civilians at Omanthai and Uyilankulam. At the Omanthai crossing point, the ICRC facilitated the transfer of about 200 patients between areas controlled by the government and the LTTE. The report also stated that the ICRC maintained its support for health authorities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. In the past month, 39 patients and nine hospital staff were flown from Jaffna to Colombo, as were 203 laboratory specimens. The ICRC also transported medical equipment and supplies to the Teaching Hospital in Jaffna and to government health services in the peninsula. Surgical supplies were provided to the Vavuniya hospital, to which most surgical patients in Kilinochchi are referred. Liberal Democrats fully support UK ban on LTTE Belying attempts by some Liberal Democrats to question the validity of the British Government’s ban on the LTTE, the party has officially said that it fully supports the ban imposed six years ago.The Liberal Democrats shadow foreign secretary Michael Moore is understood to have informed Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner that the party fully endorses the ban because of the LTTE’s continued activities including violence.The official position as clearly stated by the shadow foreign secretary is an implied criticism of the Liberal Democrat chairman Simon Hughes who during a adjournment debate in the House of Commons on Sri Lanka questioned the reasonableness of the British Government’s ban and stated views which were supportive of the LTTE.During the debate which had been called for by the then newly former All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, another Liberal Democrat MP, Ed Davey even called for the lifting of the ban on the Tigers.Following the debate last May, Sri Lanka High Commissioner Kshenuka Senewiratne is said to have expressed Sri Lanka’s concerns over the utterances particularly of Liberal Democrat chairman Simon Hughes whose personal conduct lost him the leadership of the party last year.Mr. Moore is said to have distanced himself and the party from the remarks of Mr. Hughes which, he is believed to have said, do not properly reflect his views as foreign affairs spokesman.The Liberal Democrats believe the solution to the conflict was a political settlement in which the Tamils are granted a reasonable degree of autonomy within a secure, peaceful and stable Sri Lanka. This is a rejection of the goal of a separate state. The shadow foreign secretary is also said to have stated that his party does not believe the LTTE represent all Tamils, a position that is expected to deflate the expectations of several Liberal Democrat and Labour Tamil borough councillors who have been trying to convince the non-LTTE Tamil community that they have the support of the Liberals.Meanwhile, Mark Malloch-Brown, the new Minister of State for Africa and Asia in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has told his ministerial colleague the Rt. Hon Stephen Timms that though several sources are responsible for the violence in Sri Lanka, the LTTE’s responsibility for violence against all communities over several years is well documented. Mr. Malloch-Brown was replying to concerns raised by Stephen Timms on behalf of Sri Lankan constituents especially from the organisation Campaign for Peace and Unity in Sri Lanka (CPUSL). He has reportedly said the Government agrees with several of the points raised with Mr Timms by the CPUSL relating to the LTTE. 2000 home guards to be recruited this week Two thousand home guards are to be recruited this week as the security system in the north needs to be strengthened, the Civil Defence Department said.Director Civil Defence Department Sarath Weerasekera told The Sunday Leader that the recruitment programme would be in the Vavuniya area.He further added that areas in Vavuniya needed to be strengthened, civilians had to be protected from terrorists and the lands needed to be safeguarded and that was the reason for the recruitment programme.Applications have been accepted for the recruitment of 1000-2000 home guards and would be deployed within the week to checkpoints and areas around Vavuniya.Weerasekera said that the home guards would support the civilians in the north by overlooking fields and croplands that belong to them.According to Weerasekera the civil defence department has a strength of over 35,000 officials. British Police help sought to trace missing scout British Police assistance has been sought to help detect a young Sri Lankan boy who allegedly decamped at the World Scout Jamboree in England, Sri Lanka Scouts Association (SLSA) sources said. The seventeen year-old-scout from Akkaraipattu, left to attend the World Scout Jamboree at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex, with a delegation of Sri Lankan scouts led by Chief Scout Commissioner C. Batuwangala.The Sri Lankan boy along with twelve others disappeared amidst the thousands which crowded the streets while the British Police suspect the youths were planning to stay in Britain illegally. Recent media reports which said another Sri Lankan scout also disappeared with the rest, were denied by the (SLSA).SLSA Assistant Chief Commissioner M.S. Moheed told The Sunday Times the Scout Chief would be arriving in Sri Lanka today. Mr. Moheed said the SLSA District Commissioner for Ampara District had tried to contact the boy’s parents who failed to meet him.The boy is said to have family members living in England which led them to believe that the disappearance was planned by his family.“We fear that the boy had planned to illegally settle in Britain while the parents may have been aware of his plan,” he said. 11 August 2007 Controversy over Holmes’ Jaffna meet A leading Jaffna based civil society organisation was yesterday denied access to a meeting with UN Humanitarian Chief John Holmes, placing further doubt regarding the transparency of the meeting, after the Centre for Policy Alternatives condemned the event for its heavy military presence.The People’s Council for Peace and Goodwill (PCPG), an organisation headed by religious and community leaders in Jaffna, was not given an invitation for a meeting on humanitarian affairs with Mr. Holmes, which took place at the Jaffna Public library amidst military presence.The UN said the government organised the event and was responsible for inviting humanitarian and civil society groups for the meeting. “The UN played no role in this”, UN Chief Communicator, Gordon Weiss told the Daily Mirror yesterday.Representatives from the UNHCR, UNDP and the UNICEF attended the meeting along with workers attached to some NGOs in the north, while Government officials and heads of government departments in Jaffna were also present. “People’s representatives must be allowed for such meetings to represent the ground situation in Jaffna. Government officials cannot come out openly and express shortcomings. There is no point having these meetings if the actual ground situation is not told”, a spokesman for PCPG who wished to remain anonymous told the Daily Mirror.The PCPG was expecting an invitation for the meeting, as it had participated at previous meetings of similar nature with UN Children and Armed Conflict Special Representative Alan Rock and US South Asian Affairs Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher.“We are an independent group and don’t dabble in politics. Our sole aim is to propagate the needs of the people and rectify shortcomings of the government and other organisations for smooth living. We must be allowed to air our views because the people are suffering”, the spokesman said.The PCPG was established in 1996 after the Chemani mass grave tragedy, and is considered the primary civil society organisation in Jaffna. Among its patrons are Jaffna Bishop Rt. Rev Thomas Saundaranayagam and the Hindu Chief Priest. Former Jaffna University Vice Chancellor Prof. P. Balasundarapillai is the current PCPG president. The CPA in a letter to Mr. Holmes said, “We have learnt that your attempt to meet civil society representatives during your visit to Jaffna was marred by the heavy presence of the military at the Public Library where the meeting was held”. It said the day before Mr. Holmes’ visit to Jaffna, the military commander had instructed NGOs and civil society representatives not to refer to human rights issues, and restrict themselves only to issues of humanitarian assistance.“We condemn this type of military interference in matters relating to civil society and NGO activity. This completely undermines existing practice in which visiting UN officials meet with civil society groups during country visits, insisting on privacy for such meetings, even going as far as declining invitations when these conditions are not met” the CPA stressed, adding that it was also deeply concerned of the security implications for those who attended the meetings.“The steps taken by the military in Jaffna to restrict your access to information can only reaffirm concerns in the international community that there is no transparency and accountability of the government, and of the military, when it comes to both human rights and humanitarian issues in the conflict-affected areas of Sri Lanka” the CPA said. Sri Lanka anger at UN aid claims 'Sensationalism' During his visit Sir John had paid tribute to 17 workers of French charity Action Against Hunger who were shot dead execution-style a year ago. He said the government needed to push ahead in its investigation of those and other aid worker killings. Sir John said in one interview the island was the worst in the world for murders of humanitarian workers. In parliament, the prime minister said the comments could call into question the ability of the UN to be impartial. "The government of Sri Lanka, in no uncertain terms, rejects John Holmes' assertion that Sri Lanka is not safe for humanitarian workers," Mr Wickremanayake said. "The government cannot but feel that Sir John has contributed to those who seek to discredit the government and tarnish its international image." Mr Wickremanayake said: "It is precisely because of past experience with journalists who seek sensationalism at the expense of the truth that Sir John was advised to be cautious with the media." The PM said Sir John had met President Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday and "expressed appreciation" for government efforts on aid worker security. This week US-based Human Rights Watch accused the Sri Lankan government of a shocking rise in abuses by its security forces. The government said the allegations were "not based on credible evidence". Sri Lankans exit stock market due high rates, war They helped push Sri Lanka's stock market to life highs earlier this year, but small investors like retired bank worker K. Jayaratne are now selling their holdings because of high interest rates and renewed civil war.Sri Lanka's stock market, which was among the world's best performers in 2006 when it rose 42 percent, has fallen around 20 percent since peaking in mid-February, after official interest rates rose to their highest levels since 2002.The leading All Share Price Index is now down around 10 percent so far this year after local investors turned to fixed assets and deposits instead -- and was Asia's worst performer during the first half of 2007."I have very little hope in the market. All my colleagues have left due to high interest rates and the conflict situation in the country," said 61-year-old Jayaratne as he watched share price updates on a screen in a virtually empty stock exchange.He has sold off 64,750 rupees worth of shares so far this year, leaving him with around 500,000 rupees in blue-chip fixed-line operator Sri Lanka Telecom and conglomerate John Keells Holdings , two of the market's most heavily traded shares.Many small investors rely on bank borrowings to fund their trading, and high rates have made that unviable. Some were also driven away by a new companies act that restricts bonus issues.While central bank key policy rates are at their highest since 2002 at 10.50 percent for the overnight repurchase rate and 12 percent for the reverse repo, traders say interest rates are in reality far higher.The benchmark 91-day treasury bill yield, which banks use as a barometer in setting their own lending rates, rose to 17.41 percent at auction this week. That is the highest level since August 2001.Fixed deposit rates offered by banks are over 17 per cent, while lending rates are over 20 percent. RATES WARD OFF INVESTORS "High interest rates in the financial market have compelled the retail investors to move away," said S. Umasudhan, Research Analyst at the SC Securities."Higher rates on borrowing have more than 50 percent of retail investors, who kept the market active, as their portfolio value continued to drop during the past 4 months," he added.Foreign investors, however, continue to buy shares in leading blue chips, attracted by perceived bargain basement prices after the sharp fall and despite the fact the rupee is steadily depreciating through consecutive new life lows.The rupee <LKR=> has depreciated around 4 percent so far this year to a new low this week of 111.93 per dollar. That comes on top of a 5 percent depreciation last year.Inflation is near 1994 highs, quickening to 17.2 percent in July as measured on a 12-month moving average.Foreign investors accounted for 43 percent of net investment on the bourse in the first seven months of the year -- a total of 55.62 billion rupees -- which compares to 35 percent during full-year 2006.That share of net investment has risen to 66 percent in the past three months."Most of the blue-chip counters like JKH, SLT, Dialog Telekom , Distilleries and Commercial Bank are trading at attractive price levels," said Geeth Balasuriya, assistant manager of research at HNB Stockbrokers. "That is an encouraging sign for the foreign investors."However, analysts say the market has now largely priced in the impact of high rates and a new chapter in a two-decade civil war between the state and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, which has seen sporadic attacks reach the capital and cut tourist arivals by 24.4 percent in the first half of the year.While international lenders estimate the conflict shaves around 2.0 percentage points off potential economic growth each year, they also say the economy has proved highly resilient in the past.The central bank is forecasting growth of 7.5 percent this year, which would outpace 7.4 percent growth in 2006 -- itself the fastest growth rate since 1978.Umasudhan of SC Securities expects the bourse to remain range-bound between 2,300 and 2,500 points. The market closed at 2,434.99 points on Thursday. President hosts SLMC Politburo to dinner President Mahinda Rajapaksa last evening hosted the entire Sri Lanka Muslim Congress politburo to dinner at Temple Trees.The invitation to dinner came a few days after CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman tendered his resignation from the government thus threatening the parliamentary majority enjoyed by the SLFP led ruling coalition.The SLMC however is already on record saying that it did not have an immediate plan to quit the government. Put an end to atrocities against Tamils----UNP Tamil Parliamentarian Maheswaran T.Maheswaran, UNP Tamil Parliamentarian, speaking in Parliament, told the government to put an end to all atrocities committed against the Tamil people in the north-east. He told the house that at least three people are killed in the Jaffna peninsula daily. During the presidential polls, the President promised to have a dialogued with the LTTE but he has now declared a war against them. He added that about 400,000 people have been displaced in the east. A real Buddhist never supports a war. The Prime Minister, who submitted the list of the persons killed in the country, has failed to give details of the killings in the Jaffna peninsula. Communication equipment carrier a former NGO activist A Tiger Intelligence operative who was taken into custody in Chilaw along with communication equipment disclosed that he had served as human rights activist in a NGO after the tsunami in 2004. He was taken into custody while he was in possession of one hundred and six walkie-talkies and 72 Global Positioning System instruments. The suspect, who was born in 1979 had after passing the GCE (A/L) examination joined the LTTE Makkal Padai. After undergoing training in the use of firearms he had joined the Tiger Intelligence Wing. He was employed in the fishing industry at the time of his arrest.He had attempted to migrate illegally to France but had come back going only as far as Vietnam.While participating in a Human Rights work shop at the Peradeniya University he had come to Mabola, Wattala on the orders of the LTTE. He was apprehended while he was taking the equipment given to him to be given to some persons who had come in a van to Vavuniya. The suspect said he was to be paid for taking the said equipment to Vavuniya.On the order of the Additional District Judge Chilaw, the suspect, Punappa Moorthy Thapan is being kept under detention order.Further inquiries are being conducted on the orders of Chilaw SSP, Roshan Fernando Veteran campaigner bids farewell Left unity In a condolence message, former LSSP parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara said: " His sacrifices and dedication for this work was so intensive and rigorous his colleagues stood up in sheer admiration".Nanayakkara, leader of the Democratic Left Front in which Muttiah was a ex-Co member added:" Wesley encouraged fresh thinking and new initiatives in the Left Movement with every kind of support. He also championed the cause of Left unity and spared no effort in mobilising resources in which he excelled".Wesley Muttiah who migrated to England later returned to Sri Lanka where he launched book publishing campaign with late Sydney Wanasinghe.The pair then went into publishing dozens of books on the struggles led by LSSP."I can not think of anybody in the new generation who was passionate about spreading the message through the books like Wesley and Rodney," Hector Abeyawardene said. TNA MP says Tamils and LTTE are one Batticaloa district TNA MP S. Jeyanandamoorthy said on Thursday that there was no difference between the LTTE and the Tamil people, and it was a myth to think that the Tigers could be separated from the people.“The Tamils and LTTE are not separate. The LTTE is the people and the people are the LTTE. It is a myth to think otherwise”, he said, speaking during the emergency debate in Parliament.He added that although the government claimed to have defeated the LTTE in the east, only time would tell if their operations had been successful. “It would be interesting to see how the MPs who now gloat over the military victories in the east will talk then”, he said.The MP charged that the government was engaged in the ‘Sinhalization’ of the eastern province. He said one way of doing this was to give Sinhala names to the roads in the areas. The MP added that the security forces were using the state of emergency to suppress the Tamils in the east. 09 August 2007 UK in landmark Sri Lanka ruling Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers in the UK are at risk of torture if returned to Sri Lanka, according to a landmark ruling by a British tribunal. An asylum and immigration tribunal on Monday upheld an appeal by a Sri Lankan refugee known only as Mr LP. The ruling is also intended to offer guidance for similar cases in the UK. Mr LP's lawyers argued that he was at risk of torture if he returned home because of his perceived support for Tamil Tiger separatists. 'Substantive weight' "This is the first such judgement after the breakdown of the Sri Lankan Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) signed in 2002," said Arun Gananathan, a lawyer from the firm who represented Mr LP. He said that the judgment has set a precedent for future cases about Sri Lankan asylum seekers. "However, the tribunal has made it clear that every case need to be assessed individually," Mr Gananathan said. The tribunal ruled that a 2006 UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) report on Sri Lankan asylum seekers could be used as the basis for providing protection to Mr LP in the UK. The British Home Office had argued against this. "Individuals suspected of having (rebel) Tamil Tiger affiliations are at risk of human rights abuses by the authorities or government-sponsored paramilitary groups," the UNCHR report had said. The tribunal ruled that the report carried "substantive weight". Under earlier rulings, only those who were "actively engaged" with the Tamil Tigers were considered genuinely capable of arguing that they faced persecution by the Sri Lankan authorities. Endangered But the ruling on Wednesday said that Tamil Tiger sympathisers - including relatives and those who have not actively taken part in combat - are also in danger. The Tigers are fighting for a separate state in the north and east of Sri Lanka. They are banned in the UK as a terrorist outfit. "According to the ruling, the fact that the Tamil Tigers are banned in the UK will not affect Sri Lankan asylum seekers who are their supporters," said Fritz Kodagoda, a Sri Lankan barrister in London. Over 60 Sri Lankan asylum seekers have been on hunger strike over their planned repatriation to Sri Lanka from several UK detention camps. The asylum seekers said their lives would be in danger if they are forced back. Human rights groups say both the government and the rebels have committed abuses against each other's supporters. There has been no immediate response from the Sri Lanka government on the ruling, but on Monday it strongly denied a report by Human Rights Watch which accused the security forces of gross human rights violations. STF Killed in Amparai Wednesday UN relief chief tours conflict-wracked areas of eastern Sri Lanka Karuna faction assures full support for free poll in East The TMVP (Karuna faction) yesterday assured it would give its fullest support and cooperation for the holding of a free election and fair poll at the local government in the East, scheduled for mid-November.The party said it would join forces with any other political party or organization including the EPDP if they had the same goals as the TMVP. In an interview with the Daily Mirror TMVP political wing leader Thileepan reiterated that the use of weapons would be minimized and said the organization had no intention of engaging in intimidatory tactics to lure voters. He said such a ploy would not be necessary as the Provincial Councils in question were all predominantly Tamil. “We plan to nominate a candidate for each of the local bodies. Already our selection committee is in the process of evaluating possible candidates for each of the eight local bodies. The selection committee is headed by TMVP leader Karuna Amman while the secretary is Padmini. There are 27 members in the committee. Meetings are held every month to formulate future plans and a campaign is already in the pipeline,” he said. Referring to fears voiced by residents, of a violence marked election, Thileepan said other Tamil organizations and political parties have had discussions with the TMVP regarding the elections and were willing to work with any party which had the ‘well being of the Tamil people at heart and are genuinely willing to work for their benefit and fight for their rights as we are.’ However, he said it was too soon to predict which organizations would eventually join with the TMVP or if these discussions would bear any practical fruit. The political wing leader said the Muslim community has long had the benefit of parliamentary representation which has given a voice to the problems faced by it, but the Tamils had been deprived of such a space. “Even the politicians who were elected in the previous elections have not done anything for the people and it is to regain the rights of the Tamil people that we broke away from the LTTE,” he said adding that the TMVP understands that guns cannot win political rights. When questioned if elections should be given priority at a time when the people had much more urgent needs such as housing and livelihood, Thileepan said the people’s issues should take precedence but argued that with the assistance of the Government the atmosphere would have improved when elections come around in three months time. “Moreover the people’s standards of living cannot be improved without political representation, so their problems must be voiced at national level to gain serious attention. Rehabilitation and political representation should go hand in hand for lasting development,” he said. As many international and national non-governmental organizations have limited access to resettled areas he said discussions were being carried out with the Army to ease the travel embargoes so that by election time the security situation would have improved as well. Nonetheless, no livelihood programmes have been initiated in the resettled areas and the numbers of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Batticaloa remain around 48,000 according to UN statistics. Out of this around 28,000 are living in 46 camps or welfare centres and plans for them are unclear. Most of the people at these centres are from Mutur, Ichchalampattu and surrounding areas while the others are living with host families. They are still being provided food by the World Food Programme. Vavuniya point attacked, 2 dead, five injured A soldier and a home guard were killed while two soldiers and three home guards sustained serious injuries when suspected terrorists launched a mortar attack on two sentry points in Vavuniya last evening. The security forces also retaliated forcing the terrorists to withdraw from the area, Media Centre for National Security confirmed.Meanwhile, a home guard was also killed and two soldiers sustained injuries in separate LTTE attacks in the East while the Air Force bombed an identified Sea Tiger base yesterday. In Ranabapura, Welioya the LTTE launched a mortar attack yesterday morning around 6.30 and a home guard was killed. In Thonical, Vavuniya two soldiers received injuries when the LTTE cadres exploded a claymore mine yesterday afternoon around 1.15, the Media Centre for National Security reported. The soldiers were admitted to the Vavuniya hospital and a search operation was launched. Sri Lanka Upcountry Tamil party to return to the government Two civilians shot dead in Kaithadi, Jaffna Unidentified gunmen two civilians in two separate incidents iside the high security area of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Thenmaraadchy Wednesday, sources from Jaffna said. In the first incident a family man was shot dead in Kaithadi South. The second killing took place at 5:30 a.m. in Kaithadi North.The first victim, Murugesu Rajkannan, 30, was killed by a group of armed men who surrounded his house and sprayed bullets at him. The gunmen assaulted Rajkannan's pregnant wife when she pleaded with the attackers to spare her husband.The second victim was identified as Shanmugalingam Chithiravel,39.Chaavakachcheari police handed the two bodies to Jaffna Teaching hospital following the inquest into the deaths conducted by Chaavakachcheari Magistrate.The SLA, during the offensive in Kaithadi in 1996, took more than 35 youths from Kaithadi for interrogation. Most of the arrested have gone missing since then, Kaithadi residents said. JVP blasts Govt. as total failure The JVP said yesterday it is now convinced that it is a futile exercise to try put the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government on the correct path and forming an alternative government was the only way to salvage the country.JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe told the media that although defeating the present Government was a must, it does not mean the once defeated UNP should be supported to come back into power. “If not for the JVP, the SLFP would not have been able to defeat the UNP Government in 2001.We are quite confident that we can change the face of politics in the country along with patriotic forces,” he said.“The Government has messed up everything in its attempt to seek in numbers stability in Parliament. It has completely forgotten the general public which elected the Government in their process. The Government still does not understand that those who were bought over once could also be bought over at a higher price by someone else again. The Government is losing all its previous supporters and the very stability it sought as a result,” he said. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said the Government has failed in every way in governing the country. “For instance, despite having a giant Cabinet the Government had to go to courts to come up with a policy for Grade 1 admissions, which again is a big mistake. Government should immediately act to rectify the recent policy before it creates more chaos in the country,” he added while saying all successive governments failed to come up with a national policy on education.He said governance has degenerated to such an extent that university students had to stage protests and undergo teargas attacks in their struggle to win their basic demands.“It is wrong to treat their demands as absurd. What is the use of a government if the students had to come to Colombo and protest just to get an interview with the minister? Do they have to picket to get water and lecturers which are basic needs,” Mr. Silva asked. Exert influence to implement directives by Chief Justice in the peninsula-Jaffna District Judge requests John Holmes Jaffna District judge Vignarajah made an appeal to John Holmes, UN Under Secretary general for Humanitarian Affairs, to exert his influence of his good office to implement the two directives issued by Chief Justice Sarath de Silva in order to bring murder, abductions and disappearances under control in the Jaffna peninsula. He made this request when John Homes called on him at the Jaffna Court House.Judge Vignarajah told him that the Chief Justice has in his directives insisted on taking strong action against anyone, who moves about freely during the curfew hours. Chief Justice also made a directive to establish a rehabilitation center in an appropriate place adjacent to the Court House or the prison for the people who seek refuge in the courts for their safety following death threats. Sri Lanka jets destroy Tamil Tiger camp Sri Lankan fighter jets destroyed a separatist rebel camp in the north on Wednesday, while six combatants were killed in two ground clashes between government troops and the insurgents, officials said. Rebel military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said he was not aware of an airstrike. The military did not offer immediate comment on that clash. The local guards protect mainly ethnic Sinhalese villages bordering Tamil rebel strongholds from attacks. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Both sides have repeatedly violated the cease-fire and say the agreement has become meaningless. But neither has abrogated it officially, fearing international isolation. President's China tour costs Rs. 56 million The cost for the President's tour in China is Rs. 56 million. 192 indivisuals were accompanied to China with the President in this tour from February 27 to March 4. The crew that raised the eyebrows of even the Chinese government was the biggest batch accompanied by a state head who toured China in the history, media reported.The Government Chief Whip Jayaraj Fernandopulle revealed these data at the parliament in a time the cost of living and the fuel prices were skyrocketing and the economy was deteriorating as a result of turning the war into a massive business.Minister Fernandopulle had to reveal the data as he answered a question posed by the Colombo district UNP parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayaka. According to the Minister, the total cost for the tour of the President and the team was Rs.56,016,298.20.The President, the first lady, 16 Ministers, 60 security, media and other officials, 16 members of the Navy cultural troupe, 20 members of the Sri Lanka Transport Board dancing group with three officials, Six chefs, three officials of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, 12 Buddhist representatives and 54 business representatives were included in the touring group.The President's budget spent Rs. 27,501,425.40, Export Development Board spent Rs. 1,005,736.93, Sri Lanka Transport Board spent Rs. 867,587.65 and Board of Investment spent Rs. 2,535,545.65 for the tour. The flight ticket costs of the team were Rs. 24,106,007.63. Jewelry shop owner and visiting Jaffna youth feared abducted The scene: The lodgers Lenin, Eksath, Sugath, Helaruwan, Raheem, and Viraj are chatting in the dining hall of the lodge. Time: about 9 pm on a Wednesday Lenin: You all must be hungry. Why don’t you take your dinner? Meanwhile, I’ll inquire why Rama is late. Eksath: Did Rama tell you why he had to go to the Police station? Lenin: He only said that he had to see Police about some urgent problem and he might get a little late in getting back to the lodge. He sounded highly agitated. Helaruwan: Police must have wanted to question him about some matter. Police might want to question us too. That’s why, I told you Lenin sahodaraya that we were only courting trouble by accommodating Rama given the present security situation in the country. Lenin: Hang the security situation! Helaruwan, we have to help a friend when he is in difficulty. (A car draws up to the porch. And they hear the footfalls of an approaching person) I think Rama is coming Chandi Silva: Hello everybody! Why are you all staring at me as if you have seen a ghost? Lenin: We thought it was Rama who was dropped here by the vehicle. Chandi: I met Rama at the Police station. Lenin: Ah! He called you and asked you to help him? Chandi: No. I met him there by sheer accident! Sugath: What were you doing at the Police station? Chandi: A Mudalali, a Tamil jewelry shop owner known to me had been abducted for ransom by some gang. His son wanted me to help trace his father and secure his release. The Mudalali’s son rang me up from the Police station and asked me to come over there. In fact, he should have rung me up direct before going to Police. Because I could have helped him more easily keeping Police completely outside the picture Lenin: You could help trace the missing Mudalali? Chandi: I got in touch with my contacts. I am sure the abductors will release him soon. Helaruwan: Who are your contacts ,Chandi ? Chandi: Some of them are politicians and some others are big names in the underworld. Though you, Helaruwan appear to be so naïve, your political friends too have close links with such characters! Helaruwan: My political friends have no links with the underworld. Don’t make that allegation ever again. Lenin: Now you two stop fighting. Chandi, you are yet to tell us why Rama had to go to Police. Chandi: That Rama’s nephew Viveka who stayed one night here with Rama the week before last had disappeared. Rama made a complaint to Police. Lenin: You mean that nice young fellow who had come to Colombo to participate in some special program or workshop? I remember Rama telling me that Viveka was leaving Colombo for Trincomalee from where he would proceed to Jaffna by sea. Chandi: Viveka had not turned up at home in Jaffna. It looks that he had not gone to Trincomalee either because he was expected to visit some relatives there before proceeding to Jaffna and their relatives had informed Rama that he had not turned up there. Rama’s fear is that the young man could have been abducted in Colombo itself. Lenin: Why don’t you help Rama to trace Viveka the way you are helping to trace the jewelry shop owner? Chandi: Don’t worry. I have already gone into action. Viraj: By the way Chandi, how did you get involved with the Mudalali’s family? Chandi: I help those who help me. I believe in give and take, so to speak. Once I got him out of a soup and sometime later I went to his shop to buy jewelry for my daughter on the eve of her wedding. The Mudalali gave me a very warm welcome and refused to accept money for the jewelry I bought. But I forced him to accept a nominal amount. When the Mudalali was abducted, his son had remembered that I had earlier got his father out of a big fix and contacted me on my mobile. I rushed to the Police station Lenin: Because you thought it was worth your while! Chandi: Sure, sure (throws back his head and laughs) Eksath: Chandi, when you wanted to buy jewelry you picked the Mudalali’s shop because he was under obligation to you? Lenin: And you thought he would give you some concession? Nimal : Eksath, we know what you are planning now; to splash a sensational story on page one of your newspaper, ‘Abduction saga continues: Rich jewelry shop owner and Tamil youth from Jaffna abducted in broad daylight’ Eksath: Do you think that these abductions should go unreported? Nimal: You are only providing meat for bogus NGOs and human rights groups who are out to tarnish our country’s image abroad. Government is fighting a war to wipe out terrorism. Meanwhile, you are undermining this war effort by embarrassing the government by sensationalizing abductions and disappearances. Sugath: Quite true. Besides, these two missing persons may turn up sooner or later quite safe and sound. It is possible that they are visiting friends or relatives in secret. Lenin: What a turncoat you are, Sugath! Before, the cross-over of the 17, you were a great human rights champion and a great friend of the Tamils. You were hailing Mano’s Front with gusto. What a great change your conversion to the new chintanaya has brought about in you! Sugath: Even the President told some aggrieved families and those howling about abductions and disappearances recently that 90 percent of those reported abducted had either returned home or gone abroad! He must have surely based his statement on government intelligence reports. Lenin: Granting what the President said is correct, what about the 10 percent of abductions so far not accounted for. Are we to write them off just as we discard fractions when making some calculations? Eksath: We journalists too are under threat. You all must have read about the young journalist from Jaffna who went missing after attending a workshop in Colombo and whose body was later found by the roadside in Jaffna. Helaruwan: A high government defense official – I do not want to mention names, had recently said that no activist of a mainstream political party or a journalist of a national daily or a weekly had so far been abducted. You, Eksath, being a journalist of a national daily need not entertain the fear that you would be abducted. Lenin: That means that the gangs of abductors whoever they are, have received strict guidelines and are religiously following them if we are to take what the defense official says seriously. So let us all pray that we do not fall into that unfortunate 10 percent or the non-mainstream political and journalistic category! (All characters portrayed as lodgers in this column are fictitious and bear no relation to any person living or dead) 08 August 2007 Conspiracy to topple government Public Administration Minister, Karu Jayasuriya told parliament yesterday that there was a conspiracy by an infamous Tamil businessman with LTTE links to pay large sums of money to UNP dissident MPs to topple the government. Making a special statement in parliament yesterday (7), Minister Jayasuriya alleged that that he was reliably informed about the conspiracy and the offer of money to the tune of Rs 10 million per government MP who consents to vote against the government by the businessman Charles Gnanakoon.Jayasuriya amidst disturbances said that there were many invisible hands at work, trying to topple the government at a time when the state was taking all measures to curb terrorism and recording military victories."There is a treacherous move to topple the government, and it emerges in differences faces at different times. Gnanakoon’s contribution comes in the form of bribing parliamentarians to vote against the government at crucial time for a fee of Rs. 10 million according to the information I have," he stated.The minister added that the House had sufficient knowledge about the questionable conduct of Gnanakoon whose name was connected to the assassination of former foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and who was later arrested in connection with the same."There is no dispute about his direct links with the LTTE. The biggest allegation against Gnanakoon is that it was he who paved the way for Kadirgamar’s assassination by lulling him into a false sense of security that he (Kadirgamar) would not be assassinated by the LTTE as long as he held government office," said Jayasuriya. Jayasuriya also said that members of "our group" have informed him of the said conspiracy to topple the government. "As the leader of this group, I wish to declare that all of us condemn and reject the ugly offer made to purchase our loyalty. The UNP Democratic Group stands for a strong government that will have the courage to defeat terrorism in the country. He added that it was with the intention of keeping the House and through that the people of Sri Lanka about the conspiracy that he made the statement. Minister Jayasuriya’s statement from the very outset was disturbed by UNP benches that caused him to seek the Chair’s intervention to have the opportunity to speak sans disturbance.Following the statement, Chief Opposition Whip, Joseph Michael Perera said that there had been a breach of discipline as all the UNP dissidents still call themselves UNPers, those who received any information about such a conspiracy should have informed him (Perera) and not Jayasuriya."They are talking about groups and leaders. I am the Chief Opposition Whip as everyone knows and any problem faced by a UNP parliamentarian should have been first brought to my attention and not any other," Perera said. UN urges investigations of deaths and more security for aid workers United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes has strongly urged Sri Lanka to conclude slow-moving investigations into the year-old killing of 17 humanitarian workers even as humanitarian agencies said security concerns were slowing down aid delivery. Holmes, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, also called on the government to give better access for aid workers to communities in need and to ensure the safety of local and foreign humanitarian workers.Describing the gunning down on 6 August 2006, of the Action Contre la Faim (ACF) employees in eastern Muttur town in Trincomalee District, as the "single worst crime committed against humanitarian workers in recent history," Holmes, who is on a four-day visit to the island, asked the government to do everything possible to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy. Twenty-eight NGO staff killed The killing of the ACF workers who were trapped in their office during fierce fighting between the security forces and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is the most high-profile of at least 28 murders of members of non-governmental organisations, including Caritas and Terre des Hommes, since January 2006."We have never lost so many development agency workers as we have since 2006," noted Jeevan Thiyagarajah of the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies. "This is part and parcel of the unfinished conflict that we have here."A special Commission of Inquiry set up by President Mahinda Rajapakse to probe human rights abuses has taken up the ACF case as one of its first investigations. UN calls for "full force" investigation Holmes said, "I repeat the call of the [UN] Secretary-General to the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate this murder with the full weight and force of the justice system," he told a gathering aid agencies marking the first anniversary of the murders. "They were not the first humanitarian aid workers to die in this country. They have, sadly, not been the last.""The government takes seriously its responsibility to ensure the protection of all these workers," said Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe. "Ensuring security is, however, extremely difficult given the complex, constantly evolving situation with which we are faced." "The security of our staff gives us great concern now," said Loan Tran-Thanh, ACF's head of mission in Sri Lanka. The agency has scaled down its operations in the troubled eastern districts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee over the past year and has even removed its name board from its office in the capital Colombo. "This climate of intimidation is slowing our work down dramatically," said Chris Bleers, acting country director of the Norwegian Refugee Council which, like other agencies, has increased security measures in the wake of heightened hostility to aid workers. "It has impacted on our ability to react quickly to emergencies." Process "too slow" The ACF's coordinator of its international network, Benoit Miribel said: "We would like to know the truth. We are confident that the government will do the maximum, but the process is too slow." Like the ACF employees, 16 of whom were from the Tamil community and one of whom was a Muslim, two Sri Lanka Red Cross volunteer workers abducted and murdered by unknown gunmen in June were also local employees working in the strife-torn north and east of the island. The latest attack was on 23 July in the northern Jaffna peninsula, when a national employee of the Danish Refugee Council was shot dead.Since the conflict between government troops and the LTTE escalated last year, aid workers have increasingly found it difficult to reach people in need of emergency assistance and are at risk from armed combatants. In Batticaloa where some 159,000 people sought shelter in welfare camps when hostilities flared up in March, the problem of resettling them has been compounded by continued lack of access for many NGOs and the presence of armed groups.Humanitarian agencies complain that the militiamen threaten workers and demand materials and equipment meant for the displaced people. In the wake of the attacks, aid agencies have overhauled security procedures, especially regarding travel with foreign staff always accompanying local colleagues and restricted night-time movement. In Batticaloa, at least one expatriate staff member is stationed in NGO offices to deal with the threats made by armed groups. "There are a number of groups who perceive NGOs in a negative light" said the Norwegian Refugee Council's Jake Zarins. "They are complicating our activities and we find it difficult to operate at full level." Chinese aid for largest Sri Lankan coal power plant UNP, JVP and MC join hands to defeat the govt. at WP Council A proposal to express displeasure to the government over its measures such as maintaining a big cabinet and increasing the cost of living to an unbearable level was passed in the Western Provincial Council with a majority today. Opposition Chief Whip UNP councilor Lakshman Abegunawardhana set forth the proposal. JVP and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress MPs joined with the UNP to vote for the proposal while the SLFP voted against it. As a result, the proposal was passed with a majority of 24 votes. 52 councilors voted in support of the proposal while 28 voted against it. Thanking the JVP and the SLMC, UNP councilor Lakshman Abegunawardhana introduced this move as a slap on the face of the anti people program of the government from one of the major people's institute. Tiger cadre kills himself A suspected LTTE suicide bomber blew him self up when he was approached by troopers at Kumankulam in Vavuniya yesterday, the Media Center for National Security said. An MCNS spokesman said the bomber and an accomplice were traveling on a bicycle when a group of soldiers who were suspicious of their behaviour approached them. The suspected LTTE cadres then hurled hand grenades at the troopers injuring two of the soldiers.The troops retaliated by opening fire killing one Tiger cadre.According to the MCNS spokesman the other cadre who was reported to have had a suicide belt strapped round his waist then blew himself up. Indian Governments responsible for the plight of Tamils of Indian origin----Mano Ganeshan Mano Ganeshan, Colombo District Parliamentarian, has accused the successive governments of India for the present sorry and sordid plight of the Tamils of Indian origin. He was addressing the meeting of Upcountry youths at Colombo on August 6th. He charged that New Delhi and Colombo entered into an agreement known as Srima–Shastri Pact, unilaterally without consulting the Tamils, in a manner detrimental to the interests of the Upcountry Tamils. This Pact ruined the political future of the Upcountry Tamils. He stressed that the Upcountry Tamils need a leadership that is self respecting, that will not barter the interests of the Upcountry Tamils for petty favours such as portfolios. They need a leadership, that is strong, that is sincere and united. Gotabhaya imported flying coffins at the cost of one billion rupees, says UNP United National Party (UNP) questions why the Auditor General is not granting permission to audit the accounts of the Sri Lanka Logistics Company in which Gotabhaya Rajapakse holds a director post. The company handled the controversial purchasing of the outdated Mig-27 assault aircrafts that came to public as a massive misappropriation of billions of rupees. Sri Lanka Logistics Company was set up by the current government to handle the purchasing of logistics to the security forces and police. The Directors of the company are Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, Finance Secretary P.B. Jayasundara and lawyer Mohan Peiris. Addressing a press conference held in the official residence of the Opposition Leader, the head of the UNP media unit Lakshman Kiriella said that the deal violated all the financial regulations and tender procedures of the country. He said that Sri Lanka lost 10.7 million US dollars through this corrupt deal and the purchased four aircrafts were 25-year-old outdated planes that were parked in hangers since 1991 without flying. Mr. Kiriella pointed out that in 2000, a technical group from Sri Lanka rejected to purchase these aircrafts for Rs. 160 million each and the same aircrafts were bought in 2006 for Rs. 240 million paying Rs. 80 million more. He further said that the UNP investigation unit had conducted a scientific study on the issue with the help of several former security forces official and the report was submitted to the parliament. The MP said that the statements issued by the Defense Ministry and posted in the web site of the Ministry after the revelations of the former ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Suriyaarachchi were misleading. The UNP report points out that the Ambassador of Ukraine Udaya Weerathunga is a close relative of the Rajapakse Company. He was appointed to the post under political influence despite his questionable business deals. Although the Defense Ministry stated that the deal was between governments, the money paid by Sri Lanka government had first gone to the Belimissa Holdings Company of UK. The Company is not registered in UK and the shareholders, investment and accounts are secrets, said the UNP report. Mr. Kiriella said that the reasons for the rise of cost of living and the people's suffering was such corruption of the government and urged the government to answer these questions instead of covering to war. UNP MP Sagala Rathnayaka addressing the press briefing said that Sri Lanka has made history through being the only country that purchased Mig-27 aircrafts in 21st century. He said that flying outdated aircrafts is dangerous and against the international conventions. He named these aircrafts as flying coffins. To stay or not to stay: UPF undecided The Upcountry People’s Front (UPF) is to announce its final decision on staying in the government after the party’s central committee meets tomorrow (8).UPF Leader and Minister P. Chandrasekeran told The Morning Leader that the sub-committee appointed by the central committee was expected to submit its report late last night or early tomorrow morning."The central committee would meet as soon as the sub committee hands over the report. The final decision would be arrived at after discussing the issues highlighted in the report," he said.Following the resignation of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) from the government and ministerial portfolios last week, the UPF decided to take into consideration the present political climate and the issues faced by the people before arriving at a final decision.However, Chandrasekeran said that the UPF would not decide on leaving the government purely due to the withdrawal of the CWC."The CWC resigning from the government is not a political issue. They resigned because their party was insulted. Therefore we cannot support it and resign because of that. We could have supported if it was based on a national issue," Chandrasekeran said. Walkie-Talkies detected en-route to Vavuniya Chilaw police yesterday detected 106 walkie-talkies along with six GPRS equipment in the possession of a Tamil national who is believed to have links with the LTTE.The suspect was arrested while behaving suspiciously in Chilaw town yesterday while he was carrying a large travelling bag. According to Chilaw police the suspect had come from Wattala in an intercity bus and got down in Chilaw. He was reportedly planning to travel to Kurunegala and thereafter take another train to Vavuniya. The suspect had told police that someone had given him the equipment to be delivered to someone in Vavuniya. Under the instructions of SSP Chilaw Division, Roshan Fernando, sergeant Ranjith (21261) and constable Aravinda (41353) of the Divisional Terrorist Investigation Unit and sergeant Jayasinghe (41161) and constables Susantha (50716) and Herath (44028) made the arrest. Local elections in the east based on 2006 voters’ list The election to the local government bodies in the east will be held on the basis in 2006 voters list. Commissioner of Elections has revealed this to the Supreme Court. He further states that necessary instructions have been sent to the returning officers in the eastern province. He added that on the basis of the 2006 voters’ list , 10,000 youths will be entitled to cast their votes for the first time. He has also indicated that the displaced people presently living in welfare centers will also be entitled to cast their votes at this election. Necessary enactments have been passed by Parliament. Tamil Tigers lists 19,476 as fallen Heroes The Tamil Tigers in a latest release by its Hero’s department claimed that they have lost 19,476 carders in their quest for a separate state for the Tamils in the Island nation of Sri Lanka.The 19,476 carders include 15,356 males and 4120 females, Hero’s department further said. The period sited for the numbers from November 27, 1982 to 31 July 2007. The Tamil Tigers lost their first carder Lt. Shankar on November 27, 2007. That’s the day widely celebrated by the Tamils as Heroes' Day.The Number includes 322 Black Tigers as well. Among them were 232 male black Tigers and 90 Female black Tigers. 81 of them died in land operations and 241 died on sea operations, the release said. The Tamil Tiger sea arm, the Sea Tigers considered being an effective conventional arm capable of crippling Sri lanka’s sea operations. 279 auxiliary forces members, 35 Police personals who died on operational duties also included in the number. Another 477 civil society members who were killed by the government forces or the Para military forces for their commitment for the Tamil Cause also listed as Heroes.In an earlier release on November 20, 2006, The Tamil Tigers listed a total of 18,742 fighters as fallen Heroes. That means they lost another 734 carders in the last 8 months of war, a defence analyst said in the Capital Colombo. THE PLIGHT OF THE TAMILS EVEN WHILE PRAYING 'Unsubstantiated allegations by HRW' Unconfirmed and unsubstantiated allegations The statement say,"These largely unconfirmed and unsubstantiated allegations and outdated information do not justify the demand for a special UN Observer Mission on Human Rights in Sri Lanka".The Pressident's office also say the numbers of the missing and the displaced are not correct. "Among the unsubstantiated information are the numbers of persons who have allegedly disappeared and the number of IDPs. The work of government agencies to establish the whereabouts of these persons has been ignored". The statement claim the government had managed to reduce the number being abducted in the recent months. "The Report also ignores the fact that the numbers of alleged disappearances and abductions have sharply declined in recent months due to the firm action taken by the Government and the arrest of two criminal gangs against whom legal action is being pursued". HRW spokeswoman Charu Hogg told BBC Sandeshaya that action taken by the government is not sufficient. "In its report, HRW lays down very clearly its reasons why the commission of inquiry is inadequate to deal with the level of current and on-going abuses". However the statement, the authorities does not deny the unlawful killings and abductions during the present administration. The statement say, "A Special Commission appointed by the President is at present investigating specified instances of unlawful killings and disappearances, and the work of this Commission is being observed by an International Group of Eminent Persons". campaign against a brutal terrorist group The statement say that the accused crimes were commited while fighting a 'brutal terrorist' group. "It is regretted that insufficient attention has been paid by Human Rights Watch to the fact that these allegations are made against the background of a campaign against a brutal terrorist group, the LTTE, which has been banned as an international terrorist organization by many countries; and which has for many years been engaged in gross violations of Human Rights, particularly the recruitment and use of children for armed conflict". In the statement, the government accuses the Tamil Tigers of exploiting the freedom in the West. "The LTTE also exploits the freedoms of democracies, particularly in the West, to obtain funding from abroad to purchase more weapons to use against the democratically elected Government of Sri Lanka, and to oppress the people under its jackboot". one-sided report The statement says, while fighting the Tamil Tigers the government is also is committed to peaceful negotiated settlement. "It is also regretted that Human Rights Watch has thought it fit to issue such a largely one-sided report, weighed so heavily against the legitimate government of Sri Lanka, that is maintaining and protecting democracy, and seeks to take it to sections of the population that have been deprived of democratic rights by the LTTE for nearly two decades; and, remains committed to a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the prevailing crisis in the country, caused essentially by separatist terrorism".In response to the accusation of being biased, HRW told BBC Sandeshaya: "Human Rights Watch has a long history of documenting abuses by the LTTE and will continue to do so. Its report on the LTTE’s fund-raising tactics abroad is used by the government’s Peace Secretariat website.” 07 August 2007 Sri Lanka accused over 'abuses' Muttur anniversary Human Rights Watch said there had been an increase in abuses since conflict resumed between the Tamil Tiger rebels and the government, effectively ending a 2002 ceasefire. The disappearances have been there, it is true. All of the cases that are reported are investigated The group's Asia director, Brad Adams, said the government had apparently given the green light to its security forces to use the tactics of dirty war. The report said the Tamil Tiger rebels stood accused of targeting civilians, extortion and the use of child soldiers. But Mr Adams said that was no excuse for what he described as the government's campaign of killings, disappearances and the forced returns of the displaced. According to Human Rights Watch, from January 2006 until June this year, more than 1,000 abductions had been reported in Sri Lanka. A Sri Lankan government spokesman for security and defence, Keheliya Rambukwella, told the BBC that every disappearance was being investigated. "The government is taking every possible step... The disappearances have been there, it is true. All of the cases that are reported are investigated." Mr Rambukwella denied the security forces were involved in an increase in abuses. "These allegations are not based on credible evidence," he told the AFP news agency. The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says the report comes as humanitarian agencies mark one year since the bodies of 17 workers for the French charity Action Against Hunger were found in the east of the island. They were shot dead as the town of Muttur changed hands between the rebels and the government. International ceasefire monitors blamed the military. The government denied it, but no-one has been brought to justice. Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) abducted me; I said no because they forced me to say Hemantha Nishantha, the businessperson who has purchased the Benz car imported through the duty free license of the JHU monk MP Ellawala Medhanada Thero has submitted an affidavit to the Opposition Leader that he was abducted by a group linked to the JHU and was intimated asking for to return the vehicle. He has mentioned in the affidavit that he stated to the Homagama police station that he was not abducted because the abductors forced him to do so and were present in the police station while he made the statement. Mr. Nishantha Hemantha says that JHU Minister Champika Ranawaka and Udaya Gammanpila are linked to this incident and they even have threatened him over the phone.The Leader of Opposition Ranil Wickramasinghe said that there were information that the motor cars bearing the numbers KC 0079 and KE 1699 are connected to the abduction. The Opposition Leader said that necessary steps would be taken in this regard when the parliament would meet tomorrow.However Udaya Gammanpila denies these allegations. Ellawala Medhananda Thero told that his Benz car had been seized and the Minister Champika Ranawaka said at a press briefing held in Colombo in this regard yesterday that the only Opposition Leader in the world who used a vehicle seized from somebody was the opposition Leader of Sri Lanka.He vowed to file a defamation case against the Leader of Opposition for his statement that he and Udaya Gammanpila had made abduction. Introducing the abduction as a melodrama staged by the UNP against the JHU, Minister Ranawaka said that the Opposition Leader was responsible for the abduction since it took place in front of his office. Minister Champika Ranawaka said that Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe was using Ellawala Medhananda Thero's vehicle under a false attorney license that did not contain the signatures of the witnesses, the vehicle engine number and also the registration. He said that it was something very simple to the UNP, which has expertise in preparation of such fake documents. Minister 'abducted' entrepreneur Minister 'supervices' abduction Environmental Affairs minister, Champika Ranawaka, and head of Environmental Authority, Udaya Gammanpila, personally supervised the abduction in which Hemantha was kept in a vehicle overnight, he told journalists in Colombo.The Buddhist monk-led JHU is a key ally of Rajapaksa administration.Dilruk Hemantha who regularly travels to Japan for business purposes said he requested his coordinator, Bandula Liyanage, to buy the luxury vehicle belonged to JHU leader on his behalf."Minister Ranawaka and Gammanpila threatened me to bring ba | ||
