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Sri Lanka's air force bombed Tamil Tigers in a key area in the island's east on Saturday, the military said, hours after a renegade group announced it overran rebel camps and killed at least 30 militants. The military, stepping up an offensive in the east, said a Tiger artillery gun position was destroyed in the air strike in Vakarai, one of the last major rebel strongholds on the coast.Another strike was successfully carried out on a Sea Tiger base in the nearby Pudukudiyirippu area, the military said in a statement.Fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which wants a separate homeland for Tamils in the north and east, has intensified in recent weeks. A 2002 truce is now in tatters and thousands have died in violence this year.

Earlier on Saturday, the Karuna splinter group said 200 of its members attacked Tiger camps in the jungles of Toppigala about 40 km (25 miles) from the town of Batticaloa in one of the biggest raids in months."Our intelligence reports said there were top LTTE commanders there, 30 cadres were killed on the spot," said Asad Maulana, a spokesman for the Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal, the political wing of the Karuna faction.Karuna Amman, a former Tiger eastern commander, split from the LTTE in early 2004, taking an estimated 6,000 loyal fighters with him. He accused the rebel leadership of discriminating against Tamils in the east -- his traditional stronghold.Two members of his group were wounded in the 90-minute attack, Maulana said. The three camps, including one for women fighters, were destroyed and a large quantity of ammunition including two rocket launchers was found.Three Tiger rebels were killed in another attack on Saturday in Paththiruppu about 16 km from Batticaloa, Maulana said. Two members of the Karuna group were killed in the fighting.

The LTTE said the attacks were repulsed and that only four of its cadres were wounded.It said the attack in Toppigala was carried out with the support of the Sri Lankan military firing mortar bombs."They came to attack our camps around midnight and tried to infiltrate, but we counter-attacked," LTTE defense spokesman Rasaiya Ilannthirayan told Reuters."They dispersed in the jungles along with a SLA (Sri Lankan army) group which was working in the background."He said the body of one member of the Karuna group was found in the jungle while another was captured alive."They had dreamed they would kill our leaders, they had dreamed 30 of our cadres would be killed, but it did not happen," the spokesman said.

Independent verification of the fighting in the remote area is not possible, and the military, the Tigers and the Karuna group are known to exaggerate rival casualties while playing down their own losses.More than 3,000 people have been killed this year in suicide bombings, clashes and air and naval raids. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the renewed conflict, including many who were made homeless by the tsunami that battered the eastern coast in 2004.A Sri Lankan army brigadier told Reuters on Friday that the eastern rebel stronghold of Vakarai was expected to fall to the military soon following weeks of fighting that had forced thousands of civilians to flee.

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), in its latest bombing raids in Vaharai on Thursday, completely destroyed a water refinery constructed by the UN agencies to remedy the drinking water shortage in the area near Verugal Murugan temple, charged S. Jeyanandamoorthy, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian from Batticaloa. In a press communiqué issued on Friday, the MP said: "the bombardment on the water refinery is not only a Ceasefire violation but is a human rights violation and a war crime too."Mr. Jeyanandamoorthy also slammed the Sri Lankan Government for "vicious plan of occupying Tamils land by planning to set up a coal power plant in Muthur East region.""The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has not only chased away the Tamils from their homes in Sampoor but also is trying to acquire their land covertly by building chemical factories."

The TNA consisting 22 out of the 23 Tamil members elected to Sri Lankan Parliament from the North Eastern Province, have repeatedly charged that the Sri Lankan armed forces were using humanitarian crisis as a tool of war.Already in May 2005, Sri Lankan soldiers manning the entry points in Batticaloa began blocking civilians from transporting cement, building and construction materials, fuel and other essential materials to the villages in Vaharai region, hampering the post-tsunami reconstruction.A year later, in May 2006, the ban was made official in contravention of the provisions in the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement. As the military confrontations intensified, International NGOs were prevented by the GoSL, first by official bureaucratic obstructions denying them the freedom of movement in the North-East and later by not allowing the relief workers to precede beyond the entry points citing "security reasons.

" The relief workers and vehicles of International relief organisations also came under attack by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the SLA run paramilitaries.A ban on fishing was imposed, causing a humanitarian crisis to the tsunami affected people along the SLA controlled coastal areas.All the access routes to Vaharai region and the only land route to Jaffna remain completely closed by the SLA.The call for safe-haven in Vaharai has also been rejected by the Government of Sri Lanka as it's military agenda was to drive out the civilian population from the LTTE controlled region.

Pope concerned over N-E crisis – Dr. Jayalath

Pope Benedict XVI is seriously concerned about the recent developments of the North-East crisis in Sri Lanka, Dr Jayalath Jayawardana MP said yesterday.He said he was informed about the Holy Father’s concern by Archbishop Pietro Parolin, the Pope’s Under-Secretary for Relations with States. Dr. Jayawardana, with his family, was in the Vatican Rome to attend the midnight Christmas Mass on December 24, at the invitation of the Pope. He had met Archbishop Pietro Parolin immediately after the Christmas Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.The Holy Father had mentioned about Sri Lanka in his Christmas Message.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who paid a surprise visit to the state owned Lake House yesterday had discussions with SLFP and other trade union leaders on ways of improving profitability and readership.Armed with piles of files showing past records of Lake House, the union leaders told the President that last year Lake House profits had been as much as Rs. 200 million but the situation this year was not the same.The President said his view was that ordinary journalists should be well treated instead of giving big perks and privileges to top level executives.President Rajapaksa was accompanied by Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundara.

A delegation of Members of Parliament from Tamil National Alliance (TNA) of Sri Lanka yesterday called on spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar and requested him to use his good offices to prevail on Indian leaders to take up the cause of Tamil people in that country. "Guruji is a widely-respected global leader and we requested him to persuade Indian leaders and the international community to take up the cause of Tamil people in Sri Lanka," said Suresh Premachandran, Convenor of TNA, after the meeting. Responding to the request, Ravishankar appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take immediate action to bring peace in Sri Lanka. "It is high time for Indian government to play a more proactive role to end conflict in Sri Lanka". 'The delay in finding a political settlement is costing many innocent lives', he said.

He said India's intervention could help build trust between the Sri Lankan government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elaam (LTTE) and appealed to both the parties to adopt non-violent means to resolve it, according to a release from the Art of Living Foundation, founded by Ravishankar. Pointing out that the situation in Northern Sri Lanka is alarming with scarce food supply and skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, he appealed to the international community to rush humanitarian assistance to the affected people. The TNA delegation accused the Sri Lankan government of delaying the peace talks. "The government is insisting that the talks can happen only after marginalising LTTE. In the name of marginalising LTTE, thousands of innocent Tamils are being killed everyday", said Premachandran.

The Central Bank said yesterday the Colombo Consumers’ Price Index (CCPI) at 5114.1 for December, 2006 registered a 19.3 per cent increase compared to December, 2005 and an annual average inflation of 13.7 per cent. The highest contribution to the increases arose from domestically produced agricultural food commodities. The year-on-year increase in prices for rice was around 10 per cent, while for vegetables, increases were in a range of 1 to 145 per cent. In addition, prices of major imported goods also increased. In response to the increasing price of wheat grain in the international market and the depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee, the import price of wheat grain increased by 24 per cent in October, 2006. This raised the price of wheat flour and bread by about 32 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. Compared to last December, 2005 the import price of sugar too increased, resulting in about 42 per cent increase at retail level, the Central Bank said.

The impact of the above price developments, aggravated by the upward adjustments in administered prices several times during the year, contributed to the headline inflation. Significant price changes were seen in fuel, electricity and transport. Their direct and indirect impact on domestic and imported items was reflected through higher transportation and input costs, it said. Core inflation, after exclusion of items with high volatilities in prices and administered prices, which is the part of overall inflation sensitive to monetary policy measures, was also increasing (15 per cent). This indicates the requirement for further tightening of demand management policies, including tightening of monetary policy and rationalization of fiscal expenditure and tariff. Based on inflation projections, high inflation is expected to continue into the first quarter of 2007 as well and to decline by the end of the year. However, there will be upward and downward risks associated with headline inflation influenced by possible changes in prices due to fluctuations of a seasonal nature and administered price revisions.

The Government categorically stated yesterday that it has no intention to go for a snap General Election as reported in some sections of the media. In a news release issued last night, Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said security decisions as well as development projects were taken in the long-term interests of the country. He said there are no preparations underway for a snap election and in any case, there is no requirement for a poll. He deplored attempts made by certain elements in the media to paint a picture of political instability in the country. This raises serious questions on media ethics, he said. He said this was a clear attempt to distort the Government's programme of work and vision. The Government has no intention of stopping this programme mid-way to hold an election, he added.

The Health Care and Nutrition Ministry plans to send 200 Sri Lankan nurses to United Kingdom annually, a Ministry spokesman said. He said Health Care and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has held discussions with the British Ambassador in this regard and an agreement between the Sri Lankan Government and the British Government will be signed shortly. The Ministry will release the nurses without any delay enabling them to take over new positions in UK hospitals. The Ministry has also planned to introduce a more flexible and convenient shift to allow all nurses serving in Sri Lankan hospitals to take leave without any hindrance and work with less family pressure from next year. The Ministry will be able to provide these facilities for nurses thanks to its recruitment drive launched in 2005 with the aim of recruiting 10,000 new nurses by 2007.

Acute shortage of newsprint and printing ink in Jaffna may force closure of Tamil dailies, Uthayan, Yarl Thinakural and Valampuri, administrators at the papers' main offices said. After the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) closed A9 in 11 August, no printing material and ink were allowed into Jaffna district, officials added.The Tamil dailies have been forced to reduce the number of pages and copies, as they have to buy the newsprint available in short supply in the open market at increased prices, staff at the Uthyan main office said. Sri Lanka Defence Ministry has refused permission to bring in the needed newsprint despite several appeals made through the Government Agent of Jaffna, the sources added. A ream of newsprint sold at Rs.1250 in the open market before the A9 closure, now has risen to Rs.3750 and the three Tamil dailies of the peninsula publishing 30,000 copies before, now print less than 25,000 copies.

The dailies have been also forced to cut down the normal size of the paper to tabloid size, besides reducing the number of pages.The newspaper publication in the peninsula will have to close down completely should this shortage continue, media sources in Jaffna said.The peninsula residents do not get newspapers published in the rest of Sri Lanka past the A9 SLA barrier. This is yet another calculated move of the SLA and the government to keep the peninsula residents in the dark and to stifle the voice of the media in Jaffna peninsula, the sources added. The new anti-terrorism laws have further introduced a chilling effect forcing the few traditionally liberal English medium publications in Colombo to self-censor articles. The papers have avoided publishing articles that criticize Sri Lanka Government policy, and any material that can be perceived as "supporting terrorism." Editor of Sunday Leader has also been threatened with arrest for printing stories innimical to "national security."

Sri Lanka Army Chief Sarath Fonseka yesterday visited Jaffna and held discussions with Division Brigade Commanders on the current security situation. “The Army Commander instructed Field Commanders on necessary adjustments for security plans and actions to carry out to build cooperation with civil authorities,” military spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said. During the tour, the Army Commander and the Security Forces (Jaffna) Commander held separate discussions with Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation Duminda Dissanayake regarding the existing situation. Over the last few weeks, Army Chief Fonseka has been touring the North and East to review the security situation in these areas.

Senior PLOTE leader killed

Leader of Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Ealam (PLOTE) says bodies of two of their missing members were found by the police.Dharmalingham Siddharthan said the two were apparently killed elsewhere and the bodies were brought to Galgamuva by the abductors.Bodies of Kanapathipillai Pakyarajah, a regional leader of the Tamil militant organisation turned political party, and his bodyguard, Karikalan, were found on Friday in Galgamuva.The pair was abducted in Chilaw on Thursday. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of North-Western Province, Pujitha Jayasundara, has informed of the incident to PLOTE leader.The former parliamentarian accused "a special force" of Sri Lanka military of abducting and killing Pakyarajah and his bodyguard.The abductors carried identity cards similar to that of security forces and the way the abducted behaved also convinced him that they were from a special force, Siddharthan told BBC Tamil Service.But Sri Lanka military spokesman, Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, denied any involvement of security forces.

Two people were wounded in a blast in a van on the outskirts of the Sri Lankan capital on Friday, the military said."There was a van parked there, there was an explosion, we are investigating what actually happened," Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told Reuters.The incident took place in Wattala, 10 km (6 miles) north of Colombo, he said. The van driver was among the two injured.Suicide bombings, mine attacks and clashes have increased across Sri Lanka as fighting between the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) intensifies in the north and east of the island.More than 3,000 have died this year despite a 2002 ceasefire that international monitors say now exists only on paper.

In a strategic move to operate in India’s backyard, Pakistan has greased the palms of some senior Sri Lankan army officials and bureaucrats and resorted to “honeytrap” tactics to sell arms and ammunition of poor quality to Colombo at exorbitant prices.However, the lid from the brewing Sri Lankan defence scandal blew off recently when the defence forces’ frustration reached the top brass after it was discovered that most of the military ware purchased from Pakistan was either sub-standard or second-hand.A “Top Secret” note, that reached the Government of India through diplomatic channels, said the situation became grim when some of the bombs aimed at LTTE targets by the Sri Lankan Air Force turned out to be dummies and fell in the target areas like stones.

A major problem area for the Lankan forces has been Pakistan-supplied electronic fuses, which are crucial components in bombs. Of the 500 electronic fuses supplied, 200 were found to be faulty. After Colombo took up the matter with Islamabad, the Pakistan Government reluctantly agreed to take back the remaining electronic fuses and sent a specially chartered An-32 transport plane with the replacement. Lankan forces’ personnel are openly talking in diplomatic circuits that Pakistani supplies were actually killing them more than the LTTE. The Tigers are able to fight more effectively with small arms compared with the dummy heavy ammunition supplied to the Lankan forces by Pakistan. So far, Sri Lankan defence forces have purchased military ware worth $30 million from Pakistan.

A repeat supply of the above merchandise has been ordered. Purchases in the pipeline include second-hand tanks (22 Al Zarar) worth over $ 80 million, armoured vehicles and jeeps. The Pakistanis are aggressively pushing for the defence supplies at the Sri Lankan defence HQ and Pakistani arms agents are making frequent trips to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is looking to make purchases worth $ 100 million from Pakistan in the coming few months. The deal size may even go up to a cumulative figure of $ 250 million in the next 18 months.Pakistan currently exports a tiny $ 200 million worth of arms. The possibility of such large orders flowing in from a single country (Sri Lanka) has made the Pakistani military machinery hyperactive.

Pakistan is making a killing in its arms supplies to Sri Lanka. That is because some of the spares that they have supplied to Sri Lanka have been procured from Ukraine and a few other Central Asian countries. Moreover, Pakistani spares' supplies of $ 6.9 million made to Sri Lanka in last few weeks were actually sourced by HIT-Pakistan (Heavy Industries Taxila) from Ukraine at $3 million and re-exported to Colombo. So far, $ 5 million have been paid to corrupt Lankan officials by Pakistan. The sleaze money has been deposited in a tax haven country, most likely St Kitts. Commission paid to the defence agent representing Pakistan in Sri Lanka is 20-25 per cent. Of this 15-20 per cent flows as kickbacks to the Sri Lankan officials.

Sri Lanka buys arms from Pakistan because Colombo has scouted around for meeting its spares’ demand, but few are willing to make supplies. It is against this backdrop that the Pakistanis, who themselves are facing spares crunch, have moved in quickly to fill the void.India cannot make military exports to Sri Lanka for obvious political reasons.The Pakistanis are, in fact, procuring spares and ammunition from third countries and re-exporting some of these to Sri Lanka at inflated costs.Pakistan defence companies are paying huge kickbacks to certain willing and corrupt Sri Lankan officials. It is estimated that bribes worth $ 15 million is likely to change hands in the immediate few months for the next batch of Pakistani arms exports to Sri Lanka. The kickback figure will go substantially higher if the deal size goes up to $ 250 million.Some of the sleaze money actually flows back to Pakistani officials. The Sri Lankan government is likely to order a probe into the defence scam soon.

Mr.Wickramatunga is surrounded by colleagues and friends at his office as news spread that the CID was about to arrest him. Pic. by Dinuka LiyanawatteConcerns that prevailing anti-terrorism laws could be used to suppress the media heightened yesterday amidst reports of alleged Government moves to arrest The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickramatunga over the contents of a lead story in his newspaper last Sunday.Mr. Wickramatunga yesterday charged that the Defence Ministry had ordered the CID to arrest him under recently introduced anti-terrorism laws, for the lead story headlined ‘President to get Rs. 400 million luxury bunker’ in the Christmas Eve issue of The Sunday Leader. The arrest was to be made on national security concerns.

He said the CID had consulted the Attorney General on the legality of such an arrest to which the AG had responded in the negative. “The Attorney General reportedly told the CID it was completely illegal to arrest me under such charges as I had not violated the law and the regulations did not apply to such situations,” he told journalists who had gathered at The Sunday Leader office in Ward Place.Mr. Wickramatunga charged that despite this, the Defence Ministry had ordered the CID to bypass the AG’s ruling and arrest him. He said to the best of his knowledge the Defence Ministry order was not a written one but a verbal notification.

Mr. Wickramatunga also made special reference to an article carried in the front page of the State run Daily News yesterday. The report headlined ‘Talking point: Sleeping with the enemy’ which asked why the AG was not taking action againstThe Sunday Leader for allegedly causing dissension among security forces.“I will face this crisis. I am not going to seek refuge in hospital. I will not go abroad or go into hiding. I am ready to face this head-on and live up to The Sunday Leader motto of ‘unbowed and unafraid’ ”, he said.

The Editor said he was being persecuted because his paper regularly exposed Government corruption and the abuse of State power. He charged that the motivation of the anti-terrorism laws was not to combat terrorism but to suppress media freedom and the South. “This is a signal to the South that the country is going back to the terror era. As far as I know no terrorist has been arrested under these laws”, he said. “I am not surprised this is happening”, he added, joking that never before has he received so much media attention.“If arrested I will file a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court” he added.

Commenting on the story which sparked the controversy, Mr. Wickramatunga said he had followed Government directives to clarify all security related stories from either the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Government media spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella or the Media Centre for National Security Director Lakshman Hulugalle. Accordingly Mr. Wickramatunga had reportedly called Mr. Hulugalle to clarify the presidential bunker story. Although Mr. Hulugalle denied any knowledge of the bunker, he had assured The Sunday Leader Editor that no action would be taken against the newspaper if such a story was reported.

“He categorically said no action would be taken against us and we quoted him in the article”, Mr. Wickramatunga said. However he charged that the CID later informed him of the arrest. “I called Mr. Hulugalle who said he knew nothing about moves to arrest me. He said he would get back to me regarding the matter, but never did” he said. Mr. Wickramatunga’s lawyer, former National Police Commission head Ranjth Abeysuriya told the Daily Mirror that the new anti-terrorism regulations allowed the Defence Secretary or a police DIG to issue detention orders for an arrest. However Mr. Abeysuriya said the reasons for such an arrest would have to be justified before the Supreme Court.

Lasantha Wickramatunga’s brother Lal Wickramatunga, who is also Chairman of Leader Publications, alleged that the order to arrest his brother came directly from Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. He said the CID had called at about 3 in the afternoon yesterday to say the arrest would be made at 5 in the evening. However he refused to disclose the identity of the CID officers saying that doing so would result in them losing their jobs.Amidst the chaos in his office, Mr. Wickramatunga received a multitude of phone calls last evening from international news services, fellow newspaper editors, media activists and diplomats.

Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) Director General Ranga Kalansooriya said Editors, journalists and media activists met three days after the new laws came into effect, to study whether they could be used to suppress the media. He said they wrote to Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa calling for a meeting to clarify the matter, but two weeks had passed with no word from the minister. “We have not received any clear guarantee from the Government that the regulations would not be used against the media. There have not been any deliberations between the Government and the media on the matter”, he said adding that the SLPI’s intention was to include journalists into section 19 of the regulations, which identify parties against whom the legislation cannot be used.“Whether it is The Sunday Leader or the Sunday Observer these regulations become an impediment to the media”, he said adding that three journalists working for the State press had already been questioned by the CID, and now the private media were being threatened.

Power devolution proposals expected before Indian Foreign Minister visits Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan government will introduce its power devolution proposals through the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) before the visit of Indian Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, who is expected around January 8, sources close to the government said. Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, meeting Indian Premier Manmohan Singh in India last month, promised him that the government's proposals to solve the ethnic problem would be out by the time the Indian External Affairs Minister visits the country. The second meeting of the APRC is scheduled for the second week of January. Sri Lanka's major opposition, the United National Party (UNP), which was boycotting the earlier meetings, has assured its participation at the next meeting. However, the Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) has withdrawn from the APRC now.

The owning company of the Jordanian merchant vessel ‘Farah 3’ which still remains in LTTE custody in Mullaitivu has sought Norwegian assistance to get the vessel released, a Norwegian embassy spokesman told the Daily Mirror.However the Norwegians have advised the owners to coordinate with the government and other relevant parties to have the vessel released as the mandate of the facilitators is only to communicate between the two warring sides and not carry out rescue operations.Subsequently the vessel owners as well as the local agents held talks with the Foreign Ministry yesterday on moves to salvage the stricken vessel.“It does not mean we will not assist. We can help with communicating with the LTTE. We have advised the owners to communicate with the government to have the ship removed,” the Norwegian embassy’s acting spokesman Tom Knappskog said.

LTTE media spokesman Daya Master said he was aware of the ‘Farah 3’ owners approaching the Norwegians for help but added the vessel still remained stranded in Mullaitivu together with the cargo of 14,000 MT of rice.The vessel was on its way from Kakinada in India to Durban in South Africa, when it developed engine trouble and requested its local agent to arrange for the assistance of a tug boat from Colombo. The vessel however drifted into rebel waters and was seized together with the 25 member crew. Ship Captain Ramaz Abdul Jabar and owner Bosun Mohamed Abdul Aziz Ahmed Alsiturman confirmed at a meeting with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and the Government Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) this week that armed LTTE cadres forcibly boarded the vessel after firing gun shots into the air and proceeded to force the weighing of the anchor, raided the vessel and took the crew to the shore after firing more shots.

The crew members were handed over to the ICRC on Tuesday and were subsequently driven to Colombo where they briefed the media on their ordeal with the rebels who had also looted expensive communication equipment and computers from the vessel.The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) meanwhile said in a statement yesterday that the LTTE had acted contradictory to its commitment to the CFA by taking matters into its own hands without permitting the government to rescue the vessel.“SLMM reiterates that the LTTE has no right to the sea and that the Government of Sri Lanka has the sole right to protect Sri Lankan territorial waters,” the SLMM said.

The SLMM on Saturday informed the LTTE that the Government would conduct a rescue mission to salvage the Jordanian ship M/V Farah III and its crew and strongly advised the LTTE to permit the operation to be executed.“Despite SLMM’s advice to allow for the Government to conducts its commitments to Farah III, LTTE ignored the advice and took the matter into their own hands,” the SLMM said.

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC)., (a Government of India Undertaking), Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Government of Sri Lanka today at the Presidential Secretariat for setting up of a 500 MW coal based thermal power plant at Trincomalee (eastern province). The power plant is expected to commence operations from 2011. With the signing of the Agreement will commence the process of site selection in Trincomalee which will be done on the basis of techno-economic and environmental feasibility studies and other relevant matters including availability of infrastructure etc.

The project would involve an investment of US $ 500 million and would be implemented by a joint venture company to be formed with a stake of 50% each by NTPC Ltd. and CEB. The project would be funded with a debt equity ratio of 70:30. In January 2007, a joint venture agreement between CEB and NTPC, a power purchase agreement between the JV company and CEB, an agreement between BOI and the JV company, implementation agreement and coal supply agreement are expected to be signed.

The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Mr. T Sankarlingam, CMD, NTPC Ltd, Mr. MMC Ferdinando , Secretary Power and Mr. W.A.S. Perera, Chairman CEB. Mr. Alok Prasad, High Commissioner, Mr. R V Shahi, Secretary (Power), Government of India and other officials of NTPC and the Indian High Commission were also present. The visiting Indian delegation and High Commissioner of India, Mr. Alok Prasad, also called on H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees.

NTPC is a Government of India undertaking wherein Government owns 89.5% equity. NTPC is one of the top six companies by market capitalization in India. The market capitalization of NTPC is approximately US $ 25 billion. NTPC has been declared successively for a continuous period of 3 years amongst the top three best places to work in India . In the area of environment, all of NTPC plants are accredited with ISO 14001 certification. NTPC is the second largest owner of trees in the country after Government of India. NTPC, the sixth largest power generator in the world, has an installed capacity of 26,000 MW.

Two Tamil residents of Semmandaluwa in Puttalam police area were abducted at gun point by an unidentified gang that came by a van. HQI Puttalam Police, Y.G.Gunaratne said the victims, Sureadh Pakyarajah and Deva Rajendran were allegedly members of the PLOTE organization in Batticaloa and settled in Puttalam as refugees.The police are inquiring into the incident. In Batticaloa too, a young man named Kandasamy Siridharan in Kalawanchikudi was abducted on Wednesday night by an unidentified gang. The Kalawanchikudi police said the victim was buying provisions at a boutique in Kalwanchikudi town when the abduction took place.The police are conducting inquiries.Jaffna branch of the Human Rights Commission has received 10 complaints of abductions from last Sunday to Wednesday. Aspokesman for the HRC said the incidents were reported from Kaytes, Udupplidy and Kodikamam.He said the Cease-fire Monitoring Mission and the police stations in the respective areas were informed of the incidents.

The Sri Lanka government is carrying out an undeclared war against the Tamil people who have been struggling for more than two decades for the legitimate right to self-rule.The government of Mahinda Rajapaksa, elected on a Sinhala chauvinist basis in November 2005, has consistently breached the 2002 cease-fire agreement with the LTTE. They have been conducting aerial bombardments, specifically outlawed under the agreement. In August, the Sri Lankan air force destroyed an orphanage in Sencholai, killing 50 children.The anti-war opposition has been put under extreme pressure. Tamil MP Nadaraja Raviraj was gunned down in Colombo on November 9 and other activists have received serious death threats.

External support for the Mahinda regime is essential in allowing it to carry out this war mongering. The Sri Lankan army leadership is trained at the British army training school at Sandhurst while the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) are banned as a supposedly “terrorist” organisation across Europe.We therefore call on our governments and international institutions to lift any bans on the LTTE and to demand that the Sri Lankan government:

End the aerial bombardments;
End the disappearances and stop support for paramilitaries;
Open the A9 road and other access routes so that essential humanitarian supplies can get through to the Tamil areas in the north;
Re-open negotiations with the LTTE for a just solution acceptable to the Tamil people.

A US Congressional report based on a recent mission by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the Asian region said yesterday the government of Sri Lanka did not take corruption seriously as an issue.On Sri Lanka, the report said NGOs surveyed were not in agreement that the Government provided ample space in which they could operate within the country.In addition, there was no shared consensus that “watchdog organizations fear being coerced politically, economically or physically.” but there was agreement that the Government does not take corruption seriously as an issue, the report said.

The mission by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was aimed at examining the state of democracy in the region, with particular emphasis on programmes supported with US Government funding via NGOs.The United States should take into account local sensitivities in its bid to promote democracy and good governance in Asia, the Congressional report said.It covered Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Sri Lanka and was part of a broad study that also included Africa, Central Europe and Latin America.The report also wanted US-funded democracy promotion efforts in Asia to focus on building democratic institutions and “avoid the occasional perception of targeting or promoting political personalities.” It said “US Government officials should recognize that effective promotion of democracy and good governance in Asia requires acknowledgement of cultural and national sensitivities”.The study was conducted amid concerns that governments across the world had increasingly tightened controls on foreign NGOs to restrict their ability to work independently.

Parliament Members of the British ruling party is demanding European governments to lift the ban on the LTTE. Labour party MPs John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn have signed a petition that calls on governments to demand that the Sri Lankan government allow unhindered access to the Tamil population in the North, halt aerial bombing and to stop providing support to the Karuna group. John McDonnell is the candidate for leader of the Labour Party. Many trade unionists in the UK have also backed the demands.

TULF President V. Anandasangree has told President Mahinda Rajapaksa the demerger of the North-East Province was untimely.“If you are serious about all our people irrespective of their ethnicity enjoying all rights like others, please stop further action on the de-merger and maintain the status quo” the TULF leader told the President in a letter sent to him on Tuesday.“ Having failed these 50 years to find a solution in a unitary state, the only option left is a federal solution within a united Sri Lanka. The international community welcomes it and the local Tamils too. The LTTE is also fully aware that the international community will oppose separation tooth and nail and that the LTTE should agree to a federal solution”, he said.

He also said: “Please bear with me for raising objections to the action being taken, as admitted by the Governor of the North-East Provincial Council, to the same. I am not arguing whether the merger of the North and the East is justifiable or not. I am only emphasizing to you that this is not the time to demerge it and that it should be left to the people concerned to take a decision, as promised by the Prime Minister in Parliament. This act can be compared to the passing of the 6th Amendment to the Constitution by President J.R.Jayewardene at a time when there was a major backlash in the country and the TULF Members were not in Parliament. If left alone, things would have been completely different today. President Jayewardene’s move only helped him to take over the leadership of the Tamils from the moderates and to hand it over to the Tamil militant groups.

One coup gradually eradicated all the other groups or silenced them with their fire-power. The present move of yours will lead to a situation like that. This is not what the country needs urgently today, that too in a war-torn area. Rightly or wrongly the Tamils and to some extent the Muslims too feel that their future lies in a merged province. De-merger at this juncture will only make the Tamils and the Muslims of the Eastern Province desperately go behind the LTTE, finding no alternative and forgetting all their ruthless recent past.In this issue I feel that you should allow the people to decide on their own. Please share your views with some Tamil and Muslim leaders as well. “The merger of these two provinces took place 17 years back and at a time when it was felt that there was a need for it to solve the ethnic problem. The then Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi took the initiative to merge the North and the East.

All these 17 years things moved smoothly in the provincial administration. Administration was by the public servants without any political party or politicians. It is not that there was no one during these 17 years to think of a fundamental rights petition, but there was no need for it at all. If only the LTTE had not taken over parts of these provinces under their control, the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims would have lived happily in peace and harmony. Now some parties filed the FR petition and the court justly held with them. Action need not be taken to de-merge the merged provinces. Instead action could have been taken and rectified through Parliament. The UNP being another national party that had ruled the country many times had even pledged its support.

Sri Lanka government owned petroleum distributor Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman Asantha de Mel said that the petrol price will be increased from the beginning of the next year due to the depreciation of Sri Lankan rupee. However the Chairman said that the diesel price will not be increased as the CPC has stocks purchased in advance. The Chairman predicted an increase of around five rupees per litre if the status quo in the fuel market and the rupee market remains

The UNP will submit its proposals on devolution of power to the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) in January. The APRC will hold its first meeting for the new year during the first two weeks of January. The UNP will be represented at the meeting by MPs K.N. Choksy and G.L. Peiris.A party spokesman told the Daily Mirror yesterday they would present their set of proposals based on the Oslo and Tokyo declarations to the experts’ panel.Asked to comment on the majority report submitted by the APRC, the spokesman said they would support it. The present stalemate of the peace process was discussed at the recent one-to-one meeting between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.The President had assured Mr. Wickremesinghe that he was awaiting the final APRC report to take the next step regarding the peace process.

There was a split in the APRC due to four members opposing the majority report and presenting an alternative report. Subsequently, the JVP also withdrew from the Committee citing it was meaningless to be a part of this exercise.APRC Chairman, Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitharana said he would prepare a separate document incorporating matters discussed at the previous rounds.Prof. Vitharana said he would consider views expressed by the respective political party representatives.“This will not be a case of presenting either the majority or minority report. I will draft a separate document as the basis for our future discussions. So, the JVP should not be concerned about it. Of course, they can now participate in future meetings,” he said. The Minister said they were trying to iron out various differences and reach common ground on the national question. He said they would accommodate aspirations of the Tamil people in this exercise, but not of the LTTE. “Then, Tamils will get the message that the same policy will be taken forward whoever comes to power. They will also realise the nullity of clinging to the LTTE cause,” he said.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and collaborating paramilitaries have abducted eight youths, including two students, in the Jaffna district between 20th and 25th December, according to complaints filed by the relatives with the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC), civil society sources in Jaffna said. SLA troops arrive in Buffel armoured cars with paramilitaries in white vans, and abductions take place either on streets in broad day light or at the victims' houses during night, the relatives of those abducted said. Brief details of complaints of abductions registered at the HRC Jaffna office against the SLA and the Tamil paramilitary groups follow:

1.On Friday, Sebastiampillai Aneenthiran, a family man aged 31 from Kayts, one of the Jaffna islets, was found missing after he had gone to buy provisions at the local shops around 12:00 noon.
2.Kanthiah Latheesan, a 20 year old student from Moolai, Vaddukodai disappeared after he went to attend classes in private tutory at Kannathidy in Jaffna town on Friday.
3.A student, Vijayathas Aravinthan, 17, from Valvettithurai in Vadamaradchy was forcibly taken away Friday night from his house by armed men arriving in a Buffel armoured car and a white van.
4.On Saturday, Subramaniam Rubanthas, 33, a family man from Kodady in Jaffna was missing after he left to Chavakacheri from his home in the morning.
5.Appathurai Insam, 22, from Udupiddy area disappeared after he went for pray in a temple in Udupiddy Sunday.
6.Rasenthiram Illankeswaran, 29, a trader from Chunnakam was reported missing after he went to Maruthnarmadam bazaar area on Sunday.
7.Two youths from Ariyali area, Sri Ayanthan, 22, and Rasenthiram Thevaseelan, 25 were found missing from Monday from Ariyalai.
Several youths have earlier surrendered to the HRC fearing for their lives, and have been ordered by the Jaffna District Court Judgento be placed in protective custody at the Jaffna prisons.

Sri Lanka's post offices are looking forward to the arrival of 7.5 million new stamps by air cargo tonight as they do not have stocks to issue to the customers seeking stamps to mail piles of greeting cards. The Post Master General's Office said that 20,600,000 more stamps have been ordered from foreign printers. Postage stamps with lower denominations are to be issued to the market after marking with higher denominations. Sri Lanka which needs an average of 34 million stamps per annum is facing a severe shortage of postal stamps. The government owned State printing Corporation cannot meet more than a half of the demand and the Postal Department has to import around seventeen million stamps a year.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse paid a surprise visit to the SL Naval Base in Trincomalee Wednesday morning and inspected the naval installations and participated in a passing out parade held in the naval base. This was his first visit to Trincomalee after assuming the executive presidency in December last year. Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Sri Lanka. Rajapakse arrived in the naval base by Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter.His visit to Trincomalee came in the wake of announcement by Provincial Governor Rear Admiral Mohan Wijayawickrema that effort to split the administration of the North East Provincial Council (NEPC) into three, a Special Administration for Trincomalee under him, and two administrations, one for northern province and the other for east, is underway.

Meanwhile, For the first time in the country’s history, the National Security Council presided by President Mahinda Rajapaksa met yesterday at the Trincomalee Naval Headquarters.Discussed several issues with regards to the current security situation in the country.The meeting was attended by President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Defence Ministry Seceretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, Chief Of Defence Staff Donald Perera, Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and Air Force Commander Roshan Gunatilake. Government Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella also participated at the two and half hour Security Council meeting.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers Wednesday conducted a house-to-house search operation in areas densely populated by Tamil residents in the heart of Trincomalee town.Ban on parking bicycles, motor bicycles, cars and other heavy vehicles along main roads in the east port town imposed by SLA and police is already in force.Police with the assistance of military stopped public buses at every checkpoint in the town. Passengers were ordered to get down and were subjected to severe check.

The mystery of the “missing” refugees has been resolved with the security forces declaring that they have taken fifteen youths into custody out of more than 30,000 refugees streaming into Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) controlled areas of Batticaloa district from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) dominated Koralaipattru North division known as the Vaakarai region.Relatives of twelve youths reportedly “missing” after security screening were worried about their fate and had complained to NGO and civilian Govt employees about it. They feared that the youths had been taken by the security forces or the Karuna faction known as Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP).

Earlier inquiries about the whereabouts of the missing “dozen” had failed to elicit any reliable information.The unknown fate of these missing persons was highlighted in these columns by this writer.The security forces have now officially declared that fifteen persons suspected of being tigers were now in army custody.Informed security sources told this writer that the twelve persons gone missing were among this fifteen. Later another three had been added to the dozen youths detained earlier.According to these sources about 25 youths among the thousands of refugees had been detained for further interrogation during the past few weeks. It was suspected that they were LTTE members mingling with genuine refugees.

Ten of these persons had been released after it was found that they were not LTTE members.But fifteen of those taken in were being detained for further interrogation..According to these sources twelve of the youths were identified as LTTE suspects by the TMVP while three were identified by the security forces.The detained persons were being kept at the Mankerny and Valaichenai paper factory camps.None of those detained were in the custody of the TMVP said these sources. The TMVP was helping security forces interrogate the suspects.Apart from these four persons had openly stated they were LTTE members and sought “asylum” from the security forces. They were being kept separately while security officials were de- briefing them.

Security sources said that more than 21.000 refugees had come out from LTTE controlled areas in the past two weeks. This brings the number of refugees described as Internal Displaced Persons (IDP) to more than 30,000.With a large influx of refugees streaming in , security forces suspect that the LTTE may have infiltrated the IDP”s. Some feel that the tigers may have engineered the exodus to smuggle out cadres in the guise of refugees. These cadres could be a potential fifth column in GOSL areas.So an elaborate screening process is underway.This is given priority. Instead of civilian Govt officials or UNHCR officials recording particulars of IDP’s the security screening is done first.

The Karuna faction or TMVP screens the IDP’s first. “Suspicious” persons are detained for further interrogation.. After the preliminary screening the security forces do another screening. Again people are detained on suspicion for more intensive questioning.Those cleared at screenings are registered by the army and given light refreshments like tea and biscuits. Tamil songs are played at army camps for the benefit of these IDP’s .Those in bad health are sent to hospitals. Others are sent to transit camps. The “shuttle” service provided by UNHCR, ZOA and IOM look after transport.The Karuna faction has opened up temporary “posts” or offices to screen the IDP’s. Civilian Govt officials have opened up 66 camps in the Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa districts to accommodate the new IDP’s. Of these 22 camps are in schools. All schools are scheduled to re- open for classes in two weeks.

Five permanent camps accommodating 12.000 IDP’s have been set up in Kiran, Sithandy, Chenkallady, Mayilambaaveli and Savukkukkaadu. Tents and sheds are being put up while toilts are being constructed speedily.Another six permanent IDP camps are likely to be constructed in the next two weeks.The Batticaloa District Secretary has made an urgent request for further finances from the Government to help cope with this humanitarian crisis.NGO”s have also been requested to help.Meanwhile the security forces continued an artillery barrage from three positions into the Vaakarai region.More than 20, 000 civilians are still living in the region.

The Sri Lankan government has raised a syndicated loan of US$ 100 million from several leading international banks in the Middle Eastern and Asian financial markets. The loan carries an all inclusive interest margin of 1.035% for a maturity period of 3 years over USD LIBOR, the Sri Lanka Central Bank announced. The loan agreement has been inked with Citigroup, which acted as the facility agent on 14 November, 2006. The funds were obtained on 21 December, the Central Bank announced yesterday. The Bank further stated that the loan will be utilised to meet general development expenditures and to stabilize domestic interest rates.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has lashed out at the Government for destroying the basis for resolving the conflict enshrined in the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord by appointing a separate governor for the Eastern Province. The unpublicised decision was taken last week by President Mahinda Rajapaksa following a Supreme Court ruling in October to de-merge the Northern and Eastern Provinces.The two provinces were merged under the Accord in 1989 and paved the way for the creation of provincial councils.President Rajapaksa has reappointed Governor, North Eastern Province, Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama as governor for the Eastern Province alone in keeping with the court ruling.However, it is learned that Wijewickrama has used his exclusive powers to order the officials of the North Eastern Provincial Council (NEPC) to split the unified administration of NEPC into two separate administrations.

ITAK Parliamentarian, Sivanathan Kishor said the decision has sought to destroy the foundation of the Tamils’ claim for self-administration and predicted more chaos following the decision."It has violated the spirit in which the provinces were merged under an international treaty. It is also a move against Tamil people and one that seeks to suppress their legitimate claim," Kishor said.He added that the procedure laid out in the agreement has been blatantly violated, breaching the core aspects of the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, which required the holding of a referendum a year after the merger. Also, the displaced had to be resettled before such resettlement occurs to fulfill the conditions for holding the same."Four presidents have simply used their executive powers and postponed the referendum. Then comes another who splits the merged provinces. The Tamil people are recognising this administration for what it is. This is an administration that works against Tamils," he added.

Informed sources said following the appointment, one administrative unit is to be set up in Vavuniya, to look after the affairs of the Northern Province and the other unit is to be located in Kalmunani to administer the Eastern Province excluding Trincomalee District.Parliamentarian Kishor added that the party has reliable information that Trincomalee would be brought under the new governor’s direct rule as well as the Government Agent, who are both ex-military officials holding civil positions.Kishor said that the situation would lead to more dissention and administrative chaos. He added that the TNA would decide on a possible course of action when parliament meets in the second week of January.

The United Nations slammed Sri Lanka's warring parties for stalling tsunami reconstruction efforts as the island marked the second anniversary of the disaster. The outgoing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan blamed both Colombo and the Tamil Tiger rebels for the violence that has slowed rebuilding after the December 26, 2004 tsunami that killed an estimated 31,000 people in the island.In a statement, he said the conflict between the government and rebels had made reconstruction even more difficult in the mainly Buddhist nation."No one could have prevented the tsunami's wave of destruction. But together we can stem the tide of conflict, which threatens once again to engulf the people of Sri Lanka," Annan said.

Peacebroker Norway tried to arrange a sharing of the huge foreign aid for reconstruction between the government and the Tigers, but the Supreme Court shot down the idea last year, saying it violated the constitution.Since then, the two sides have escalated attacks against each other, with both blaming the other for the rising violence that has virtually halted all reconstruction work in the embattled northeast.Rebel areas suffered the most damage in the tsunami. More than two-thirds of reconstruction is in the northern and eastern regions, mostly held by the Tigers.In contrast, Indonesia, which suffered the biggest losses, was praised by Annan, who noted a spirit of solidarity in troubled Indonesia's Aceh province following the disaster, which killed 220,000 people around Asia.

"Alas, in Sri Lanka, that spirit has not been sustained. Instead, the spiral of tension and open conflict, which had wrought so much misery and destruction over the years, has resumed," Annan said."I am deeply disheartened by this turn of events. Let me remind all parties of their obligation to respect human rights... and particularly to protect and allow access to the civilian population."President Mahinda Rajapake, who last year admitted reconstruction was too slow, led the nation Tuesday in remembering tsunami victims.He observed a moment's silence at his office here and was due to unveil a statue of Buddha at the site where 1,000 passengers died when their train was wrecked by the tsunami.Sri Lanka also declared Tuesday "national safety day".

The disaster management ministry set up after the tsunami said the date would be marked by ceremonies aimed at creating awareness on how to deal with disasters."We want to move on," a presidential spokesman said.Official records and whistle blowers say corruption and violence is still blocking foreign aid for tsunami survivors.Only 56 percent of the estimated 100,000 devastated homes have been rebuilt, officials say. Thousands still live in tents.Sri Lanka received 3.2 billion dollars in foreign aid pledges but how much of that was received is not known. The state auditor general in September 2005 noted that out of 1.16 billion dollars committed by donors, only 13.5 percent had been spent. Since then, there has been no fresh government audit.

The Chairman, All Party Representative Committee (APRC), Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana will submit a comprehensive set of draft proposals to resolve the ethnic conflict reflecting the thinking of the APRC and the Experts Committee reports early January. The report will provide for the province to be the unit of devolution and will not make any reference to a unitary state. Minister Vitarana is expected to submit his report before the APRC meeting scheduled for the second week of January. Minister Vitarana said the task before him is to come out with a solution that addresses the grievances of the Tamil people and meet their aspirations. "I have said categorically, our need is not to satisfy the LTTE but forward a solution which will be acceptable to the Tamil people," he said.

The Minister further said it was on that basis as recorded in the minutes that the JVP, JHU and the MEP co-operated in the APRC but charged they took a different position outside claiming the objective of the APRC was to satisfy the LTTE.The UNP will also participate at the next meeting, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said Tuesday..Minister Vitarana said the Experts Committee reports will not be rejected by him as demanded by the JVP but would use the proposals that find common ground with the APRC.The Minister who confirmed his report would in all likelihood be ready for the next meeting said it will reflect the thinking of the APRC."In doing that, I will incorporate those ideas from the reports submitted by the Experts Committee which fit into that view point," he added.

The Minister said everyone in the Experts Committee has agreed that the province should be the unit of devolution and that more or less everyone in the APRC was also of the same view."Then everyone following our visit to India accepted that the devolution from the province should go down to the village. I will incorporate that in my report. Where there are commonalities in the various reports as well as the APRC, I will put them down as one set of ideas," the Minister added.He further said where there are differences in the two reports and where he feels the APRC will be happy with an intermediate position, it would be presented accordingly."If I feel the APRC will go along with the position in one report as opposed to the other then I will put that position forward," the Minister also said.He said if there were positions that cannot be reconciled, he would present it as a separate option.

The MoU with the Indian Government, to commence work on the proposed 1000 MW coal power plant in Trincomalee, will be signed at the ministry office in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday , Jan.5.Minister of Power and Energy John Seneviratne and Secretary, Indian Power and Energy Ministry R.V. Shabri and the Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad are also expected to participate.The plant, scheduled to be opened by 2110, will generate 500 MW during the initial stages, with its capacity to be increased later to generate a further 500MW.The project is estimated to cost US$ 500 million.

Sri Lanka's Sinhala Buddhist Racist political party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) is reportedly demanding a meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next month to counter the impact of the Indian Premier's meeting with Sri Lanka's Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary representatives.Singala Chauvinistic JHU Leader Ellawala Medhananda Thero recently charged that the LTTE, through its proxies was conducting an international campaign to halt the security forces’ capture of Vakarai. JHU charges that TNA Parliamentarians who met the Indian leaders have given only a one sided picture of the North and East issue of Sri Lanka. TNA parliamentarians were ignored by the Sri Lanka President who visited the parliament last month when they were engaged in a protest in the well of the parliament.

In an earlier occasion Indian PM Manmohan Singh had declined to meet the TNA and they had to contend with a meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed and National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan. Indian Prime Minister received five TNA leaders TULF R. Sampanthan,ITAK Mavai Senathiraja,ACTC Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam,TELO Leader Selvam Adaikalanthan and Suresh Premachandran at his office in New Delhi, last Friday. The meeting has been arranged by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidi and his Special Representative, Subaveera Pandiyan, has also taken part in the meeting.

Sri Lanka’s first vehicle location system is scheduled to be launched from early next year. A blue chip conglomerate, IWS Holdings Group is to commence the vehicle location system driven with global positioning satellite based Geographic Information Systems (GIS). However the system is yet to be approved by the Ministry of Defence. The company expects the defence clearance soon.The system could be used in operations such as defence, security services, fleet management, law enforcement, insurance, rental vehicles, critical cargo/freight and personal vehicles which are used to transport personnel, goods and services to any part of the country.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has restricted the use of its cash facility to the banking system, from January 01, in a further attempt to tighten liquidity and reduce inflationary pressure. The monetary authority told commercial banks that they will not be able to borrow cash through the reverse repo window, on days when the overall market has excess liquidity, while the facility would continue to be available when the market was short of cash on a net basis. At the moment, while banks which are short of cash borrow from the central bank via the reverse repo window, others with excess balances deposit cash at the central bank through the repo window.

This happens either because the banks that have cash have exceeded their credit limit to the borrowers in the interbank market, or because call market rates are higher than the reverse repo rate and borrowers prefer to borrow from the central bank. "We sometimes have excess cash but we cannot give it because the borrowing have exceeded our prudential lending limits," one dealer said. "Usually it is the state banks that exceed the limits." Banks that fund their lending through reverse repo cash are effectively printing money, and contributing to inflation and pressure on the balance of payments. Economists have pointed out that Bank of Ceylon and People's Bank which has to extend a large overdraft to the treasury usually go to the reverse repo window to finance them, and are a cause of inflation and balance of payments crises in Sri Lanka.

Analysts have warned that the Treasury overdraft with the Bank of Ceylon and Peoples' Bank have been topping 30 billion rupees. With the restrictions coming into place, banks that are short will have to borrow the money from the interbank market, even at high rates, or limit their lending to manageable levels. Analysts all banks which have high loan-to-deposit ratios would have to intensify efforts to raise deposits, and not rely on central bank financing to cover their lending, including state banks which lend to the Treasury. In the last monetary policy statement the Central Bank asked banks to raise deposit rates and mobilize more deposits.

The Central Bank earlier completely cut off primary dealer in government securities from the reverse repo window. Sri Lanka's monetary sector unraveled from about April as expansionary fiscal policy took firm hold of the economy and the government covered revenue shortfalls with commercial bank and central bank credit (printed money). Consumer inflation rose to 19.8 percent in November (3.4 percent in March) and the Sri Lanka rupee fell below 108 to the dollar from 102 earlier in the year, as Central Bank credit rose to 108.3 billion rupees in October from about 60 billion rupees in February.

India’s Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in Sri Lanka for a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa early January. The Minister is officially arriving in Sri Lanka to hand over the invitation for the SAARC Heads of State Conference scheduled to take place in India during the first week of April.However, it is learnt, the opportunity will be used to discuss the current status of the peace process and the humanitarian crisis in the north and east.A message from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who last week met with a TNA delegation and promised to take firm action to address the humanitarian crisis facing the Tamil people is also expected to be delivered to President Mahinda Rajapaksa during the visit.The Indian Minister is expected to fly in a special aircraft to Colombo and leave for the Maldives thereafter.

A GROUP OF UNIDENTIFIED men lobbed a hand grenade towards a People’s Liberation Of Tamil Ealam (PLOTE) office Tuesday (26) around 7.25 p.m. in PANDARIKULAM, VAVUNIYA. However, no injuries are reported due to the explosion. The VAVUNIYA Police are conducting investigations.

A policeman was killed when unidentified persons set off a claymore mine targetting a police patrol about 150 metres from Special Task Force (STF) camp at Park road in Vavuniya, at 8:35 a.m., Wednesday, police in the northern town said.STF elite troops rushed to the blast site and searched the area. The police man was killed on the spot and his body was handed over to the Vavuniya hospital by the STF troopers, the sources said.Vavuniya District Judge Mr.M.Ilancheliyan inspected the blast site.Separetley, a man was shot dead by unidentified persons in front of Kalaimakal school at Nelukkulam - Cheddikkulam road, around 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, police said. His body was lying at the spot till Wednesday morning.The victim is yet to be identified, the police said.

The administrative machinery of the North-East is now split following the Supreme Court ruling that the merger of the North-East which came into operation 18 years ago is in violation of the constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka. Although the SC ruling declared that the North-East merger is ultra-vires of the constitution, there was an option to ensure the North-East merger through an act of Parliament and it’s relevant to note that the UNP, a major opposition party, assured it would extend support to the permanent merger through Parliament. But, in a sudden move, the government has separated the administrative machinery in the North-East into two. It has also appointed two different governors and two different secretaries in the North and East respectively.

Not only that, the government has gone one step further and decided to set up three administrative units in the North-East. The administrative unit of the North will be in Vavuniya, the administrative unit of the east will be in Kalmunai, while, a third unit is to be located in Trincomalee. Although the government states that it is acting according to SC ruling, this decision, which affects the Tamils and the Muslims in the North-East, had been taken unilaterally. The government has taken this move although there was an option and without consulting other political parties and without addressing its mind to the serious repercussions that can follow.

The commitment made by Manmohan Singh to TNA Parliamentarians in Delhi that the North-East should not be de-merged under any circumstances must have caused a grave concern to Colombo. The government has implemented the de-merger on the very same day that Indian Prime Minsiter Dr.manmohan Singh declared this commitment of India so as not to give any time for India to intervene in this matter. It, therefore, can be seen as a challenge to India. The government is fully aware that the de-merger of the North-East is against the aspirations of the Tamil people. This action of the government appears to be a sinister move to distract the Tamil issue, to reduce the Tamil Muslim representation in the East and to create chaos and confusion.There is also an ulterior motive in keeping the Trincomalee harbour in the exclusive hands of a Sinhala majority administration.The step to de-merge the North-East, to appoint two governors and secretaries for the North and East separately and to set up three administrative units in the North-East can have serious repercussions in the long run.

Sri Lanka Airforce (SLAF) kfir fighter jets bombed Tuesday morning Kathiraveli and Palchenai residential areas in Vaharai in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) territory, and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched artillery and rocket fire from SLA camps in Mankerny, Kadjuwathe, during the second anniversary memorial prayers were being held for the tsunami victims at Vaharai Vigneswara temple around 9:25 a.m Tuesday. Five houses were badly damaged but no one was hurt when shells fell and exploded on residential areas, Vaharai sources said. A. Nixon, the President of Vaharai area Civil Society Federation, presided to the event held to remember those who have lost their relatives in 2004 and lit the flame of sacrifice.

M. Moorthy, the Director of Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) for Vaharai division, while delivering the condolence speech, said, "Tamils are today in a deplorable state without event the freedom to mourn their dead fellowmen. A natural catastrophe occurs rarely and inflicts heavy toll on those unfortunate to be hit. But as far as Vaharai area is concerned, innocent people are being killed everyday as hunted animals.“In the aftermath of tsunami, a number of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) came to Northeast to help, but today people are being affected worse than tsunami and no one appears to care.

“TRO serves our people as far as possible to fulfill their basic needs while our funds have been frozen by the Sri Lankan Government. The affected people are experiencing severe hardships. The inhumane Sri Lankan Government even does not allow the people to remember their dead relatives and pay homage to them,” he said.The Political Head of LTTE for Vaharai Division, Thangan, and the Deputy Head of the Educational Wing Mrs. Umathevi Ratheeswaran also participated in the event.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in a statement issued Monday, marking two year remembrance of the Boxing Day Tsunami disaster, said the assistance to the people devastated by the tsunami has not progressed beyond the temporary shelter-stage in Tamil areas as Colombo scuttled the internationally promoted joint mechanism signed between the parties. Tamils were "deeply hurt" as Colombo continued to find comfort in using the label of a "sovereign" government, the Tigers said. The statement appreciated the Italian Government for direct assistance and international humanitarian agencies that came forward to channel their assistance through the structures put in place by the LTTE.

"The tsunami waves that shook the conscience of humanity failed to wake the conscience of the Sinhala government immersed in the Sinhala Buddhist hegemonic philosophy," the Tiger statement said. "The Government of Sri Lanka, ignoring the fact that two thirds of those affected in the island were from the Tamil homeland, channeled all international tsunami aid to the Sinhala areas. It used the volunteers and the security forces that came to assist from several countries to rebuild the Sinhala areas.""The responsibility of caring for the devastated Tamil people fell on the shoulders of the LTTE," the statement said. "It is well known to the world that the recovery work in the Tamil homeland was exemplary. The structures put in place by the LTTE for tsunami reconstruction was praised world wide," the LTTE noted. "The assistance from their Tamil brethren living around the world went a long way to help the affected Tamil people.""Many international humanitarian agencies also came forward to channel their assistance through the structures put in place by the LTTE.""The Government of Italy also gave its assistance directly to the LTTE.""All of this assistance went a long way to alleviate the misery of the Tamil people."

'New Delhi must warn Lanka on genocide of Tamils'---Viramani at Human Chain Protest

K.Viramani, leader of Dravidian Khalagam and unrelenting supporter of Lankan Tamil cause, stated that the Indian Central government must warn the Lankan Sinhala government for its acts of genocide of the Tamils. He also announced that the mass human chain protest in Tamil Nadu by all political parties will continue until the Sri Lankan Tamils regain their legitimate rights. Viramani was addressing the mass human right chain protests at Chennai. The agitation was organized by Dravidian Kalagam and supporters of many political parties took part in the protest. In an emotion charged speech, Viramani stated that the Sri Lankan government unleashes abominable violence on the Tamils and has passed draconian legislations affecting the Tamil people.

He charged that Lankan government has starved the Tamil people to death by closing A9 highway in the North and the A15 highway in the East. It continues air strikes on Tamil refugee camps and on homes where Tamil orphans are sheltered. 30,000,00Tamils have suffered for the last 30 years due to the acts of communal Sinhala government. A large number of Tamils have been killed. These are obviously acts of genocide against the Tamils by the government. These are acts of barbarity that cannot be tolerated by any decent society. He went on that all the peace talks and peace efforts with the support of the international community have failed. There were peace talks at Thimpu. There were several rounds of peace talks at Geneva. There was a Ceasefire Agreement and there were cessations of hostilities but they all have ultimately failed.

He stressed that in view of the continual violence against the Lankan Tamils by successive governments, the central government can no more be an observer. Instead it should intervene in a realistic manner and warn the government categorically to stop the violence and find a political solution. He concluded that the mass human chain agitation is not the end but the beginning to urge the central government to act effectively and expeditiously.

Tamil Tiger rebels detonated a roadside bomb, killing three government soldiers in northern Jaffna, while troops killed five guerrillas elsewhere on the peninsula, Sri Lanka's military said Tuesday.The bomb exploded as a military patrol was passing in the town late Monday, killing three soldiers, military spokesman Maj. Upali Rajapakse said.Remote-controlled explosives, often packed with steel balls or rusted nails, are frequently used by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.Also in Tamil-majority Jaffna, troops shot and killed five rebels after they were attacked, Rajapakse said, adding that nine government soldiers were wounded in the incident that also took place on Monday.On Tuesday, suspected rebels threw a grenade at a military patrol in Jaffna, missing their target and wounding four civilians, Rajapakse said.

The incidents are the latest in a surge in violence this year that has left more than 3,500 people combatants and civilians dead, according to the Defense Ministry.Sri Lanka's two-decade civil war ended in 2002 when Norway brokered a cease-fire, but the truce has come under serious threat due to an escalation of violence.The rebels say they are fighting to create a separate homeland for the country's 3.1 million ethnic minority Tamils, saying Tamils face discrimination and can prosper only away from the domination of the majority Sinhalese.The government says it can give limited autonomy, but only within a united Sri Lanka.

Poverty levels in the tsunami hit districts have increased since the tragedy, a recent study has said. "Poverty, in terms of both headcount and severity, had increased after the tsunami in comparison to before in all three regions under consideration. Overall, while 64% of the households were deemed poor before the tsunami (severity-35%), it increased to 80% after the tsunami (severity-57%)," the survey titled People's Verdict on Tsuanmi Recovery commissioned by a UN agency said.Muttukrishna Sarvananthan, lead researcher for the survey said that 3000 families from the three worst hit areas, north east and south were interviewed for the survey that also indicated that unemployment and income levels too had also deteriorated. "The house hold income data from the survey reveal that the majority of the tsunami affected households live in absolute poverty," Sarvananthan said.

"There was significant rise in unemployment among the tsunami-affected households, i.e. among both heads of households (respondent and spouse). Unemployment was very high even at the time tsunami struck, i.e. 37% among the respondents and 42% among the spouses of respondents. Unemployment rate among the respondents increased after the tsunami to 54%, and to 53% among the spouses of respondents. Unemployment (among both the respondents and their spouses) was greatest in the north prior to the tsunami (42% & 47% respectively), but was greatest (among both the respondents and their spouses) in the south after the tsunami (57% & 56% respectively," the survey said.

The impact on poverty levels was predicted soon after the tsunami both by government agencies as well donors. Approximately 33% of the population in the tsunami hit areas other than in the districts of Cololmbo, Kalutara and Gampaha lived below the national poverty line even before the tsunami. " the knock on affect in the largely informal economy has been, and will continue to be significant," the UN warned in a draft report on the reconstruction stratergy despite the total job loss of 200,000 in the tsunami amounting to a mere 3% GDP.

Sri Lanka enters 2007 amid fears of more fighting after a year that began with hopes of peace which degenerated into suspicion, blood and tears. After a violent start to 2006, the Sri Lankan government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) opened talks in Switzerland in February in hopes of salvaging their ceasefire and saving a Norwegian-backed peace bid. The February peace parleys ended with more hopes that the two warring parties would hold their fire. A second meet in Oslo to discuss peace was scuttled by the Tigers who protested against the "low-level" representation by Colombo.

Another round was eventually held in Switzerland in October amid international pressure on both parties to save their fragile peace initiative, but that too ended in failure and led to more bloodshed. According to the Defence Ministry's latest figures, 954 security personnel and 620 civilians were killed in the past year. The Ministry claimed that 2,097 Tigers were killed in the same period. Sri Lanka's army chief Sarath Fonseka said the military will take action soon to clear the island's restive eastern province of LTTE resistance. "We will clear the Vakarai area in Batticaloa because this is a population centre they are using now," Fonseka said, accusing the rebels of using some 35,000 civilians there as human shields. Fonseka estimated the rebel strength in the area at about 700 combatants and placed the military strength there at about 8,000, and said an operation could begin anytime soon.

Defence writer Namal Perera said heavy fighting could be expected in the New Year in the absence of any peace moves as both parties try to establish their military strength through battlefield gains. The LTTE suffered a string of setbacks during the year. For the first time since the February 2002 truce went into effect, the Tigers conceded territory to advancing troops in the island's east. The Tigers also tried, but failed to capture the northern peninsula of Jaffna in August. A counter military offensive in the peninsula a month later saw the military suffer a bloody nose. Western diplomats here believe that both sides must realise the war is un-winnable before they enter negotiations again.

The peace process itself suffered a blow when the LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham died of cancer on December 14. Balasingham, who was based in London, was seen as a moderate and the rebels have not yet replaced him. A string of LTTE suicide bombings in Colombo has seen unprecedented security arrangements in the capital and the re-imposition of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism laws to curtail the liberties of the people. Tourism has taken a direct hit following the escalation of fighting while foreign investment is also suffering. However, the government also saw the country record a 7.4 percent growth of GDP this year, the best in 28 years, thanks to the expansion in services such as mobile telephony. However, international lenders have warned that a failure to show progress in the peace process or curtail the bloodshed would see a reversal of the growth momentum in the new year at a time when Sri Lanka's neighbours are zooming ahead.

ENDLF decries President Rajapakse’s demerger move of Northern and eastern provinces is resorting to the age old tactics of "divide and rule" and the collusion between the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Karuna Group is indicative of Mr Rajapakse’s ulterior motive.

The full text of the statement made by G.Gnanasekaran, President, Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front (ENDLF) is given below:

The Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front (ENDLF) condemns the action taken by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse in appointing a separate Governor for the Eastern Province thus effectively de-linking the Northern and Eastern provinces. President Rajapakse may say he is giving effect to the Supreme Court decision, but we believe it is a sinister plot hatched by him in collusion with JVP and JHU, his Sinhala extremist allies. President Rajapakse is resorting to the age old tactics of "divide and rule" and the collusion between the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Karuna Group is indicative of Mr Rajapakse’s ulterior motive.

North-East is the traditional homeland of the Tamils and it is the indivisible unit of the Eelam nation. Sowing the seeds of divisive politics in the minds of the Eastern Tamils will ultimately fail and the Eastern Tamils will refuse to be fooled by the machinations of the Sinhala politicians. De-linking North-East is a slap in the face of India. It is an insult to the memory of the late Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as the merger of the North East was a cornerstone of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord he signed in 1987. We call upon the Indian Government to request the Sri Lankan President to abandon his plan to de-link North East and, instead, ask him to bring necessary constitutional amendment in the Sri Lankan Parliament in order to merge the Northern and Eastern provinces as a single administrative unit without any further delay.

The political office of the Karuna Group at 15th Colony, Navithaveli, was bomb-blasted Monday around 9.45pm. The office was situated about 8 miles away from Kalmunai. The building was completely demolished. The office was empty for the evening. No one was hurt.Residents in the vicinity confirm of hand-grenades and RPGs being used for the attack. Earlier in the evening, Ms selvaratnam Parameswary, alias Leela was shot dead allegedly by Karuna group militants attached to Sri Lanka armed forces at Akkaraippattu. The two assailants on a motor-bike entered Leela's house at 7.20 and shot her dead.

Govt institutions involved in extra judicial killings, disappearances: WPC Opposition Leader

Western Provincial Council Opposition Leader, Kithsiri Kahatapitiya, charged that key Government institutions in the city, were involved in extra judicial killings and disappearances that have taken place within the province. Mr. Kahatapitiya called in the Council authorities to take action against the perpetrators and restore normalcy within the province. He made these points during the Council’s sessions recently. “People in the area are questioning us as to why the Provincial Council is keeping mum about the situation. He said that the Provincial Council should pressurize the central Government into cooperating with it, to maintain security.

Federal Party co-founder V. Navaratnam's remains are kept for public to pay their last respects at Darche Funeral Parlour, 7679 Taschereau boulevard, in Montreal, and the funeral would be held Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. His nine grandchildren will carry the casket from the funeral parlour to the site of the burial service, family members said. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Sunday posthumously conferred "Naattu Patralar" (Patriot) title on V. Navaratnam, who passed away, Friday at the age of 97.Mr. Navaratnam leaves behind his 80 year old wife Parameswary, and six children, N. Chandramohan, a chemical engineer (UK), N. Jegan, who owns four manufacturing companies in Canada, N. Jeganmohan, a barrister and lawyer who has a private law firm, N. Rajmohan, a stationary engineer in Canada, N. Shyamala, who works for the civil service in UK and N. Balamohan, a civil engineer who owns a technical firm in Toronto.

Amnesty International called for urgent action to locate the missing Vice-Chancellor of Eastern University raising suspicion on the involvement of an armed group operating with the support of the security forces.In a statement posted on its website, the AI said Vice Chancellor Prof. Sivasubramanium Raveendranath was also a heart patient and as such his life was in grave danger as he faced the risk of torture in the hands of the abductors who kidnapped him in Colombo on December 15.“Prof. Raveendranath was reportedly abducted while at a conference in Colombo. Since he was in an area tightly controlled by the military, it seems likely that his captors are an armed group operating with the tacit support of the security forces,” AI said.

Prof. Raveendranath had been attending a conference of the Sri Lankan Association for the Advancement of Science and was reportedly last seen by colleagues during the tea break between sessions.On September 20 gunmen abducted his colleague, the Dean of the Arts Faculty of the Eastern University, Dr Bala Sugamar. The kidnappers had demanded the immediate resignation of Prof. Raveendranath in return for Dr Bala Sugumar’s release. Sivasubramanium Raveendranath handed in his resignation and Dr Bala Sugumar was released soon after. However the University did not accept his resignation, on the grounds that it was a presidential appointment.

The Vice Chancellor however felt it was not safe enough for him to return to the university, and had been carrying out his duties from Colombo. His family has said the professor received several threats, though is not clear from whom.AI says in recent months in areas in the north and east of Sri Lanka, there have been reports of a number of people "disappearing" or being abducted by the security forces or armed groups. “Such people are often called or taken in "for questioning" and held incommunicado. No receipts or records of their detention are made available, and the official mechanisms for reporting such events, such as through the National Human Rights Commission, are often unable to find where the missing people are. Anyone held this way is in clear danger of torture or ill treatment,” the rights group said.

The Nordic truce monitoring mission has squarely blamed the government for the escalation of military action in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The mission has accused the SLA, SLAF and the elite Special Task Force (STF) of intensifying military operations in the region. According to data released by the mission, the SLA, SLAF and STF contravened two categories-violations of the CFA preamble and offensive military action more than the LTTE. The data is available with the government’s Peace Secretariat.The military pointed out that this was due to the LTTE assassination bid on Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka on April 25 and the massive assault on army’s Jaffna frontline beginning August 11.

A senior official accused the mission of ignoring grave provocations by the LTTE. "We’ll respond to their threat. We have no other option," he said. The government ordered air strikes immediately after the attempt on Lt. Gen. Fonseka.The government had been accused of violating CFA preamble on 64 occasions against the LTTE’s 34. The forces had been also accused of breaking the clause relating to offensive military action on 23 occasions against the LTTE’s two. A senior security official said that truce monitors had ignored the Mavilaaru crisis, attack on Muttur, attempt to hit a vessel carrying over 700 officers and men returning to their bases in the Jaffna peninsula, the abortive bid to target a second vessel on its way to Trincomalee harbour, a direct attack on a navy Fast Attack Craft (FAC) carrying a Nordic naval monitor and a series of high profile operations in the City and its suburbs.

According to the data, which covered the February 22, 2002 to November 30, 2006 period, the government had violated the CFA on 345 occasions whereas the LTTE breached it on a staggering 3,806 occasions.By November 30 last year the SLMM ruled 153 violations by the government and 3,423 violations by the LTTE. Since the last presidential election in November 2005 the rulings against government has doubled. The military slammed the monitoring mission over what a senior official termed as an effort to blame security forces and police for the deteriorating situation. The mission also accused the government of abduction of adults (22), abduction of children (3), harassment (80), assault (21), assassinations (31), provocative acts (5), hostile acts against civilians (23) intimidation (8), moving military equipment (1), restrictions on the movements of truce monitors (15) and construction of new positions (7). The government had been also blamed for failing to protect truce monitors on two occasions.

The mission accused the LTTE of child recruitment (1,743), abduction of adults (576), abduction of children (252), harassment (237), assault (202), assassinations (107), provocative acts (83), hostile acts against civilians (62) intimidation (50), moving military equipment (34), forced recruitment of adults (32) restrictions on the movements of truce monitors (26) and construction of new positions (17), torture (12),. The government had been blamed for failing to protect truce monitors on one occasion.Separately, the SLN had been accused of two cases of mounting offensive action. The LTTE had been blamed on 12 occasions.

According to the monitoring mission security forces and police in the Batticaloa district had been the worst culprits with the mission ruling 102 violations against them. The least number of complaints had been recorded against the forces deployed in the Trincomalee district. They had been faulted on 19 occasions. The LTTE deployed in the Ampara district had the least number (283) of complaints against them. This is almost three times the government’s worst district. The SLMM had ruled 1127 violations by the LTTE in the Batticaloa district. This is closely followed by Jaffna (1002) complaints.

Government is taking steps to avoid a breakdown in the supply of electricity to the Jaffna Peninsula after the after the contract to supply power, awarded to private firms, ends on December 30. Minister of Power and Energy, John Seneviratne, said they had decided to extend the contract for another nine months. Meanwhile negotiations have begun with a new company, which had submitted an offer. According to the Minister, out of the two offers that were submitted by two companies one had been rejected as the price was high, while the other has been forwarded for cabinet approval. He also said it will be difficult to provide power to the Peninsula for 24 hours as the supply centres have to be increased to 10 and currently there are only 3 centres in the area.

The LTTE this morning released the 25-member crew of the captured Jordanian ship Farha 111, which was carrying rice from India to South Africa. LTTE media spokesperson Daya Master said the crew members were handed over to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) around 10 AM today. “They left for Vavuniya by road,” he said. The Sri Lankan military at Omanthai also confirmed that the crew members entered cleared areas around 12.30 PM, escorted by the ICRC and Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). However, the LTTE is still holding the ship and its cargo. The Jordanian vessel, carrying 14,000 tons of rice from Port Casinader of India to Durban, South Africa, had been adrift at sea three nautical miles off the Mullaitivu coast. The 25-member crew included 13 Jordanians, 11 Egyptians and an Iraqi captain. They contacted the Jordanian embassy in India yesterday evening. City Bank Card, Chase low rate loan, American Express

The government has lodged a complaint with the Singapore based Regional Corporation to combat piracy regarding the sea tiger capture of a Jordanian vessel which strayed into waters close to rebel areas in Mullaitivu on Saturday, a Navy spokesman told th Daily Mirror yesterday.Navy spokesman D.P.K Dassanayake said international pressure was required to ensure the vessel and the 25 member crew were released immediately as the capture was a serious violation of international maritime laws.Commander Dassanayake said Navy Fast Attack Craft were on standby fearing the LTTE might attempt to use the vessel for terrorism purposes but stressed the Navy would act with restraint as the responsibility of the missing crew now lay with the Sri Lankan government.

The ICRC was meanwhile due to visit the crew members in Mullaitivu last evening after receiving the green light from the LTTE.The LTTE has said it rescued the crew after the vessel ran aground in Mullativu but if the Regional Corporation to combat piracy finds the LTTE guilty of violating international maritime laws it could seek action against the LTTE on the international platform. The LTTE says it has informed the UK based International Maritime Organisation that the 25-member crew of the cargo ship which drifted into LTTE waters off the Mullaitivu coast due to technical failure, were safe in Kilinochchi. LTTE's U.N. Liaison officer Pavarasan is in touch with the ICRC to facilitate safe passage to the crew members as the cargo ship was grounded, according to LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan.

Director of LTTEs Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi, S.Puleedevan, has been in touch with the International Maritime Organisation in UK and briefed them on the safety of the crew members, Mr. Ilanthirayan said. The Jordanian news agency (PETRA), quoting a statement released by Jordan's Transport Ministry, said the ship, owned by the International Al Salam (Peace) Company for Trade and Transport, was seized and burglarized by the LTTE.The statement said contacts are underway through the Jordanian government and its foreign ministry along with Sri Lankan authorities to ensure safety of the ship and its 25-member crew. Contacts have also been made with the International Maritime Organization to take necessary procedures in such emergency situations, the statement added.

The Farha-3 vessel, carrying 14,000 tons of Indian rice and sailing from the south Indian coast to Durban, South Africa, developed engine trouble Friday off Sri Lanka's northeast coast and was forced to stop before being seized by the LTTE, said the company's Board Chairman Said Suleiman, Petra added.According to the statement, all the 25 members of the ship's crewwere in good condition and none of them was hurt.International monitors overseeing a tattered ceasefire between government troops and the LTTE also weighed in, saying the rebels must respect international law.“The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has conveyed to the LTTE that the government will conduct a rescue mission to salvage the ship and its crew. SLMM has strongly advised LTTE to allow for this operation to be executed without any delay,” the mission said in a statement.The military said attempts to establish contact with the ship had failed and it was believed that the LTTE's Sea Tigers had disconnected the communication systems.

The Navy yesterday brushed off speculation that the Jordanian ship which drifted towards Mullaitivu seas following a technical failure was carrying arms to the LTTE. Navy Spokesman Commander D.M.K. Dasanayake said several authorities confirmed that the vessel held by the LTTE was actually carrying a rice consignment from India to South Africa at the time it drifted off to Mullaitivu seas due to an engine failure. "We have got confirmation that the ship was loaded with 14,000 metric tonnes of rice from the South Indian port of Kakinada, from the Indian Ports Authority," Commander Dassanayake said. Kakinada is 260 nautical miles North of Madrass. "We also questioned the Colombo Agent of the shipping line which owned Farha III and got confirmation from the Jordanian Ambassador based in India," he said when asked if the authenticity of the vessel had been established.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the Jordanian Government had been in touch with the Sri Lankan Government to gain release of the 25 member crew, now in the custody of the LTTE since Saturday. "We are trying to coordinate their release with the countries as the crew consist of different nationals," he said The ship is captained by an Iraqi and some crew members are Egyptians. The LTTE went on board the Jordanian ship disregarding a 'strong SLMM request' to allow the Navy to salvage the stationary ship and took the crew into custody. The SLMM also urged the LTTE to respect international Law and sovereign rights of the country in the territorial waters surrounding Sri Lanka. When asked if there was any communique as to when the crew will be released an SLMM spokesman said yesterday "No we don't have any information from the LTTE." The ship had been circumnavigating Sri Lanka from the East to West enroute to South Africa. The winds which blows towards land during the now active north eastern monsoon season had been the reason for the vessel to drift towards the Mullaitivu coast following the engine trouble.

Minister’s son-in-law arrested for poaching

Acting on a public complaint, police recently detained Labour Minister Athauda Seneviratne’s son-in-law, Lal Gunasekera, a lecturer at the Sabaragamuwa University for entering Lavennawatte forest reserve in the Yatiyantora area. The detection had been made on December 18. Police had accused him of hunting wild animals. Police also detained a double cab (253-3392) belonging to the Minister’s vehicle fleet. The vehicle had been produced before the Ruwanwella Magistrate’s Court. Police also recovered a weapon. Police emergency had swung into action immediately after receiving a telephone call. The Island learns at the time the police arrived at the scene they had not been aware of the suspect’s identity. The civilians are believed to have contacted Yatiyantota police following an altercation with the raiders.

The Karuna faction yesterday claimed it had destroyed the long range weapon recently used by the LTTE to attack a school in Somapura which left a teacher dead and several students injured.Karuna faction spokesman Azaath Maulana told the Daily Mirror the 120 mm heavy weapon was destroyed by a deep penetration unit of the Karuna faction which infiltrated LTTE controlled areas in Iripetichenai, Batticaloa late Saturday night.Mr. Maulana claimed the weapon was initially in Vakarai, Trincomalee when it was used to attack the army in Kallaru resulting in at least two mortars hitting a school in Somapura, about two kilometers away from the camp.“We received information that the 120 mm weapon which can fire a distance between 6 and 9 km and several other weapons were being shifted to Iripetichenai from Vakarai on Friday. We deployed a deep penetration unit to the area and destroyed the weapon,” Mr. Maulana said.

The attack on the school and Kallar army camp led to heavy displacements with thousands of civilians in the area fleeing their homes to seek shelter in nearby Kantale. Many still remain in temporary shelters fearing to return back to their homes.The Karuna spokesman said at least five LTTE cadres were also killed in the attack while a tractor used to transport the weapon was also destroyed but there was no independent verification of the claims while the LTTE had also not made any comments to that effect.Meanwhile, the Media Centre for National Security said the LTTE had fired artillery and mortars towards the ‘Black bridge’ in Batticaloa early last morning forcing the army to retaliate using mortars and shells. There were no reports of casualties on both sides.

India's Narayanswamy urges tough action against parties supporting Sri Lanka's LTTE

India's AICC General Secretary V. Narayanswamy has urged the Centre Government to take 'severe' action against political parties and organisations supporting the banned LTTE, reports said. He recalled that the government had intervened in Sri Lanka’s ‘Tamil issue’ during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi. “The LTTE, which later objected to it, assassinated Rajiv Gandhi,” a news agency quoted Narayanswamy as saying. He also said that External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee “had made it clear that the problem of Sri Lanka is an international one and the Indian government will not intervene. Even then, some of the political parties in India were supporting the LTTE.” Recently, Members of Parliament from Sri Lanka’s Tamil National Alliance, which is considered by many as a proxy party of the LTTE, met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

Seven Tamil youths including a woman were arrested in Habaraduwa in Galled district and in Kandy town in two separate cordon and search operations conducted by security forces Sunday evening, sources said.The security forces arrested a Tamil youth and woman when they were walking along Dalada Veediya in Kandy Town Sunday evening. Both had been residents of Killinochchi, police sources said.Five Tamil youths were arrested in Habaraduwa in Galle district.

A landmark partnership deal was signed between the Capital Maharaja Organization and Tokyo based New Media Group (NMC) to facilitate Sri Lanka's first step into Internet Protocol Television (IP TV) by aligning MTV Channels Pvt LTD.The strategic partnership deal was signed by Randy McGraw CEO NMG and Group Director Mano Wickramanayake in Colombo yesterday. Colombo based Raider Tech, the e-commerce and internet arm of the Capital Maharaja Organization has facilitated this deal. They hope to begin the operations from mid January next year. As a consequence of this partnership deal the Sri Lankan across the globe gets the opportunity of viewing MTV's locally produced trilingual programmes offered on an Asian bouquet to the Sino-Japanese region including the Korea.Raider Tech has notched up several lucrative IP TV deals with leading global telecoms including France Telecom, to provider Sri Lankan television content across regions such as North America and Europe. The Maharaja group feels it would steer the future of the media towards a new direction.

Mobile phone customers subscribing to the wireless-carrier Dialog GSM have started receiving dial-tones sin Jaffna district starting from the Christmas day after a break of 5 months, residents in Jaffna said. More than 40,000 people who had mobile telephones in the Peninsula lost the facilities when the Sri Lankan Military cut-off the services without prior notice following the break out of fresh violence on 11 August.Two telephone companies, Dialog GSM, which owns 90 % of the connections, and Mobitel, a collaborative company of Sri Lankan Telecom, have their main relay station in the Palaly Military Base. The Sri Lanka Army had severed the wireless links without consulting either the companies or the customers.However, in November, the Military Command permitted the functioning of the Dialog cellular phones in and around the Base for the benefit of the soldiers. In the other parts of the Peninsula, only the Dialog cellular phones started to function from Monday.Meanwhile, the officials of the Dialog GSM said the decision to resume the services was taken solely by the Sri Lanka Military.

German Minister's Bold Suggestion:"No Money For Sri Lanka Without New Peace Process!"

"The international community should make further assistance to Sri Lanka dependent on the resumption of the peace process in the country," - German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said in an interview to be published Sunday. Wieczorek-Zeul's interview, which was released a day early and is to be published in Berlin's Tagesspiegel am Sonntag, is to mark the second anniversary of the devastating Tsunami which swept across coastal regions surrounding the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. Sri Lanka was one of hardest hit by the catastrophe, which resulted in more than 230,000 deaths across Asia. Wieczorek-Zeul said her ministry had already stopped making new promises to the government in Colombo. "It would be good, if other western governments would act in the same way," she told the newspaper. She said that as result of the renewed civil war and the flare up in fighting in Tamil populated areas, no new funds could be allocated. Consequently, 19 million euros (25 million dollars), which had been intended for Sri Lanka, for the building of houses and education projects was to be redirected to the Indonesian province of Aceh .

A multimillion-dollar luxury bunker is under construction within the High Security Zone (HSZ) of Colombo for the protection of President Mahinda Rajapakse and his family. According to initial estimates done by the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau, the luxury bunker will cost in the region of Rs. 400 million given the protective cover to be afforded to the bunker. The Sunday Leader learns work on the luxury bunker commenced in July this year with the services of a private company availed to carry out the mammoth construction. Due to security considerations, The Sunday Leader refrains from disclosing the location of the luxury bunker or the names of the companies involved in the underground construction work.

It is learnt, millions of rupees worth of work has already been carried out on the construction, for which the Treasury is expected to meet the costs. The luxury bunker is built as a safe haven for the First Family with modern living quarters, which will be self-contained. Director General, Media Centre for National Security, Lakshman Hulugalle contacted by The Sunday Leader said he was unaware of the construction. Asked whether the new emergency regulations will be used against the media if such construction is reported, Hulugalle said the regulations would not apply to the media but only terrorism

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a telling message to President Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday posed for photographs with a visiting TNA parliamentary delegation having just weeks earlier denied the opportunity to the Sri Lankan Head of State. The TNA delegation comprising MPs R. Sampanthan, Mavai Senathirajah, Gajen Ponnambalam, Suresh Premachandran and S. Adaikalanathan met with the Indian Prime Minister Friday morning and gave a 'comprehensive briefing' on the prevailing conditions in the north and east and the humanitarian crisis. Associated with the Indian Prime Minister were Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and National Security Advisor, N.K. Narayanan.

The Indian Prime Minister who had expressed serious concern over the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, particularly in relation to Tamil civilians, last month refused to be photographed with President Rajapakse having instructed security not to allow any photographers for their meeting. However, on Friday, the Prime Minister who had agreed on representations made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for a 15-minute meeting with the TNA delegation continued the discussion for over 45 minutes and posed for photographs. Prime Minister Singh having listened to the representations made by the TNA had said there was no military solution to the ethnic conflict and that India stands for a negotiated settlement that would meet with the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil-speaking people within a united Sri Lanka.

According to informed sources, he had also expressed serious concern over the humanitarian crisis and the human rights situation. It is learnt the Prime Minister had said he would take firm action to deal with the situation. The Sunday Leader learns the de-merger of the north and east had also figured prominently in the discussion and the Indian Prime Minister had agreed with the TNA that the merger was the cornerstone for a negotiated settlement and had frowned at the demerger.

The 45-minute interview which the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh gave to Sri Lankan Tamil MPs in New Delhi on Friday is touted by the TNA as signalling a significant shift in New Delhi’s Sri Lanka policy.The TNA expects India to take up the Tamils’ legitimate grievances with the Sri Lankan government more actively and firmly than before, and turn Colombo away from the military path to the path of meaningful political negotiation with the LTTE. But perceptive observers of the India-Sri Lanka scene in Colombo say that the assurances given by the Indian Prime Minister are unlikely to be translated into action in any significant way.

The reasons cited are primarily two:

(1) The Sri Lankan government is determined to continue its policies even if these run counter to India’s declared policies. The government, in addition, has the full backing of the majority Sinhala community on the Tamil issue.

(2) New Delhi itself is not very serious about taking concrete or significant action. The objective seems to be to help its ally in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minster M Karunanidhi, contain a growing pro-Sri Lankan Tamil and pro-LTTE agitation in the state.

SL government’s resolve

The Mahinda Rajapaksa government in Sri Lanka is convinced that its Tamil/LTTE policy is politically sound and eminently in the interest of Sri Lanka.There is no sign of any dilution of the government’s thinking even though the international community, including India, has been telling it to give up the military option and move firmly, concretely and significantly towards addressing the immediate and long term demands of the Tamil minority.The need to contain the LTTE and ensure security is felt to be so great that the creation of 250,000 refugees and a food shortage in Jaffna with a population of 600,000 are not seen as being a big price to pay.Sri Lanka forces continue to bomb and shell the Tamil North East. And there is no sign that the A9 land route to Jaffna will be re-opened.

Even on the day the TNA MPs were meeting the Indian Prime Minister, the Air Force bombed Mullaitivu, where the LTTE chief, Prabhakaran, is said to be hiding.And even as the meeting was going on, the Sri Lankan government went ahead and took practical steps to de-merge the North-Eastern Province as per the judgement of the Supreme Court.A separate Governorship was created for the new Eastern Province and Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama was appointed Governor.The de-merger was sought by the Sinhalas and the Muslims, and bitterly opposed by the Tamils who saw it as a means to disunite the Tamils.

India too supported the merger, and had, in fact, brought it about through the India-Sri Lanka Accord of July 1987.Of course, it cannot be denied that the LTTE has also been responsible for the current intractable state of affairs. It has been triggering the civilian exodus by using civilians as human shields and recruiting forcibly. It has contributed to the food problem in Jaffna by not giving food ships the necessary security guarantee.

India’s agenda

It is felt in Colombo that Manmohan Singh’s latest moves are primarily meant to contain the pro-Sri Lankan Tamil and pro-LTTE agitation in Tamil Nadu, rather than to signal any firm action against the Sri Lankan government, whether diplomatic, economic or military.India has made it clear that it will not sell lethal weapons to Sri Lanka, and "suspended" the export of explosives to that country, even for peaceful purposes.But Home Minister Pranab Mukherji said in Chennai on Friday, that India had no intention of "directly" interfering in Sri Lanka. He also made it clear that the training of Sri Lankan defence personnel in Indian training establishments would continue.

As for economic sanctions, none is on the cards. In fact, India and Sri Lanka are now poised to sign a deal to set up a large coal fired power plant somewhere near Trincomalee port. The Sri Lankan government wants it to be set up in Sampur across the Bay, a militarily strategic area which was recently captured from the LTTE. The Sri Lankan Tamils are expected to oppose Sampur as the location. They also complain that Sampur has been denuded of Tamils since it was captured.

India’s stand on the question remains to be seen.

The Manmohan Singh government is constrained by coalition-government politics to help its ally the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, to accommodate a pro-Sri Lankan Tamil and pro-LTTE upsurge in the politics of Tamil Nadu.Karunanidhi has to go along with this agitation to avoid isolation. And by extension, New Delhi also has to go along with him, given the spreading sentiment in the state.In this context it is significant that the TNA’s delegation included Suba Veerapandian, a committed and vocal pro-LTTE leader from Tamil Nadu. He went as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s personal representative.Be that as it may, Manmohan Singh and Karunanidhi seem to have a limited objective - to smother the agitation in Tamil Nadu, at least for the time being, or prevent its immediate radicalisation.

A serious rift is developing between President Mahinda Rajapakse and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera over the appointment of the new foreign secretary. Minister Samaraweera last week wrote to the President recommending the appointment of Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India, Romesh Jayasinghe for the top post. The foreign secretary's post falls vacant on December 31 with the retirement of Secretary H.M.S. Palihakkara. The President however, according to informed sources, is not inclined to appoint Jayasinghe but a person of his choice. The President had indicated to confidants he would not appoint Jayasinghe.

Sources close to Samaraweera said if the President overlooks the Minister's recommendation and appoints a secretary without consulting him, there was a very real likelihood of the veteran SLFP member resigning his post. It is learnt the President upon receiving Minister Samaraweera's letter had discussed the issue with Palihakkara and was advised not to make an appointment that would be damaging to the foreign service. The rift between Rajapakse and Samaraweera widened after the President on several occasions bypassed the Minister in dealing with diplomats and foreign dignitaries, at times using the services of his Coordinating Secretary Sajin Vass Gunewardena.

The governor of the eastern and the northern provinces yesterday confirmed that the de-merger of the north-east province was proceeding as planned.Rear Admiral (Retd) Mohan Wijewickrama was last week sworn in before President Mahinda Rajapakse as governor of the eastern province. He had earlier been appointed to act as governor of the northern province. "From 1 January 2007, we have no choice but to run the two provinces separately," Wijewickrama told the Sunday Island yesterday. "Finances have already been appropriated separately for the two provinces."Fresh appointments are also to be made to the northern and eastern provincial councils in keeping with the Supreme Court ruling that the 1987 merger was illegal. The ethnic balance will be taken into consideration when these appointments are made. Consequently, the eastern provincial council is likely to have more Sinhala and Muslim employees than before. (Earlier, appointments had been made in keeping with the ethnic ratio of the combined north and east).

"I have already started appointing the secretary, deputy secretaries and heads of department to the two provinces`85 the filling of higher positions has almost been completed," Wijewickrama said. "A lot of structures are in place and they just have to be divided into two. Thus, there will have to be two secretaries of education, health and so on. There will also be two treasuries."New premises are to be found for the northern provincial council in a location to be decided by the government. "Vavuniya seems to be suitable but it’s a policy decision," the governor said. Wijewickrama said he was currently following guidelines set down by the constitution. Once the two provinces are fully separated, instructions and bylaws enshrined in the Provincial Council Act will become applicable. "The changeover is a daunting task," Wijewickrama confessed.

"We need to work very hard and people will also take a little time to realize that there are two provincial administrations instead of one."The governor will be selecting all new employees, he also said. "There will be very little importation (from other provinces)," he vowed. "We will go with whom we have but we will endeavor to see that the ethnic balance is maintained in both provinces."TamilNet on Thursday reported that Wijewickrama has ordered officials of the north-east provincial council to split the unified administration into two separate administrations. It said one administrative unit is to be set up in Vavuniya, to look after the affairs of the northern province while the other would be located at Kalmunai, in the Batticaloa district, to administer the eastern province. TamilNet said the Trincomalee district would be excluded from this arrangement and would fall under the direct rule of the governor and the government agent. Wijewickrama, however, shot down these claims as "nonsense". "Somebody has got short-circuited there," he said. "Both administrative offices will be temporarily located in Trincomalee until an alternative location is found for the northern provincial council. There is no move to have the governor and government agent run Trincomalee."

Ms.Kanimozhi, the Tamil Nadu Chief minister’s daughter, is in the forefront of almost every Eelam rally in Chennai these days and makes no bones about her strong feelings in support of the Tigers, who she insists are the “sole representatives of the Lankan Tamils.” “The sooner India acknowledges this by lifting the ban against the LTTE the better. The Tigers have expressed regret (Rajiv Ghandhi assassination) and we should leave things at that. We should not get stuck to the past and continue making more mistakes. Instead, we must move towards a solution and take the LTTE along, because only they are the true representatives of the Lankan Tamils,” Ms Kanimozhi, a poet and political thinker,told this newspaper. “India should immediately put pressure on Colombo to stop the killing of innocent Tamils on the pretext of targetting the Tigers. We must take on the role of presenting the Lankan Tamil case internationally as they have no one else to seek help from. Where will they go?” she asked. It is unlikely that she has not discussed her Eelam views with her father and it is even more unlikely she would pursue her line if he had objected.

Unidentified armed men opened fire Friday around 9:45 p.m on the office of Karuna group on New Muhathuvaram Road in Batticaloa injuring one Karuna group member, Batticaloa police said. There were more than eight Karuna group members inside the office at the time of the shooting, the police added. The firing on the Karuna group office, located in front of the Batticaloa Petroleum Corporation, lasted for nearly 15 minutes.

Tamil Tiger rebels said they had rescued 25 sailors from a crippled Jordanian ship off Sri Lanka's northeastern coast, dismissing government allegations they had staged a "pirate attack". "We noticed a ship drifting in our waters and we also saw suspicious activity of the Sri Lankan navy," Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan said by telephone from the rebel-held north."We boarded the ship to rescue the crew," he said, adding the seamen were being taken to safety despite rough seas while the ship was dangerously too close to the shore.But Sri Lanka's defence ministry said a distress message indicating that the vessel was "under armed pirate attack" was received by the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre in Britain which conveyed it to the Sri Lankan naval authorities."This armed pirate act by the LTTE is a clear violation of the international maritime laws and the Navy has found it difficult to react due to the presence of the ship's crew," the ministry said.The vessel, identified as the Farha III, was believed to be crewed by Jordanian and Egyptian nationals and was carrying 14,000 tonnes of rice from Kakinada, India to Durban in South Africa.

Tamil Tiger rebels say they have rescued 25 sailors from a crippled Jordanian ship off Sri Lanka's north-eastern coast, dismissing government accusations that they staged a "pirate attack". Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan says the seamen are being taken to safety despite rough seas. "We noticed a ship drifting in our waters and we also saw suspicious activity of the Sri Lankan Navy [and] we boarded the ship to rescue the crew," he said.But Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry says a distress message indicating that the vessel was "under armed pirate attack" was received by the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre in Britain, which conveyed it to the Sri Lankan naval authorities. "This armed pirate act by the LTTE is a clear violation of the international maritime laws and the Navy has found it difficult to react due to the presence of the ship's crew," the ministry said. The vessel, identified as the Farha III, was believed to be crewed by Jordanian and Egyptian nationals and was carrying 14,000 tonnes of rice from Kakinada in India to Durban in South Africa.

A five-member delegation of Tamil MPs from Sri Lanka Yesterday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to exert pressure on their government to take steps to protect the rights, dignity and self-respect of the Tamil-speaking population in the embattled island nation.The meeting with the MPs belonging to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) lasted 40 minutes at Dr Singh office in South Block. Pointing out that lives of innocent civilian Tamils were lost and their properties destroyed in the fight between the LTTE and the armed forces, the leaders sought the good offices of Dr Singh to restore peace in Sri Lanka.''The meeting was very successful. We impressed upon the Prime Minister the pathetic and deteriorating situation in regards to rights, dignity and self respect of Tamil civilian population in Sri Lanka,'' TNA President Era Sambandan told mediapersons after the meeting which was also attended by National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and External Affairs Secretary Shivshankar Menon.

''We are of the view that India should play a total role in resolving the Sri Lankan issue. We have conveyed our feelings to Dr Singh,'' he added.The delegation was in India in September to meet the Prime Minister, but they could not make it at that time. The meeting was made possible this time because of the intervention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi whom the delegation met at Chennai on Wednesday.Besides TULF Mr Sambandan, the delgation had MPs ITAK Mavai Senatiraja,ACTC Gajan Ponnamblam, TELO Leader Selvam Adaikkalanathan and EPRLF Suresh Premachandran.Tamil National Movement leader S Veerapandi also attended the meeting. The Tamil MPs also held discussions with CPI(M) General Secretary A B Bardhan, CPI leaders A B Bardhan and D Raja.

CHENNAI: Virtually ruling out a direct intervention in the Sri Lankan ethnic issue, Union Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee said that the government would continue to train Lankan military personnel in India because it was a ‘‘continuing process’’.The Minister’s assertion came on a day when the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) and other parties, including UPA constituent DMK, organised a human chain on the Sri Lanka issue, demanding that the Indian Government recognise the struggle for an independent Eelam.Talking to reporters here on Friday on the sidelines of the All-India Passport Officers’ Conference, Mukherjee said: ‘‘We are only training them and are not giving lethal weapons. There is nothing new in the issue because India has been training defence personnel from foreign countries.’’

He also said that as the Indian defence academies were reputed worldwide there was a great demand for training here.Reacting to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s request to the Centre for a rethink on the Lankan issue, Mukherjee virtually rejected the concept of an independent Eelam.‘‘India is interested in a solution to the Lankan problem by maintaining the sovereignty of that country. It should be within the constitutional framework and should take into consideration the legitimate aspirations of Tamils.’’The Indian Government had put on hold the transportation and export of explosives to Sri Lanka, which had become a sensitive issue in the wake of the state police stumbling on a consignment of ammunition meant for the island nation, he said.

The son of the Presidential defence advisor Major General M.D. Fernando, Mr. Mayura Dimuthu Malavige has gone missing since last evening. Mr. Malevige who was 43 is a married man with one child.Mr. Malavige who was a Major shareholder has left his offices premises at de Foseka Rd, Colombo 5 last evening and has gone missing ever since.The father of the missing man Major General M.D. Fernando has complained to the Bambalapity police and the CID.

V. Navaratnam, the only surviving founder member of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), the Federal Party, and who turned 97 last October, has passed away in Montreal, Canada at 4:10 p.m. Friday. The doyen of Tamil politics who inked the Bandaranaiyake Chelvanayagam pact and negotiated with the Sri Lanka leaders for sharing state power within a federal framework for almost three decades, came to a conclusion that the Sinhala polity would never compromise or agree on any decision to share state power with Tamils, and left the Federal Party, calling upon the Tamil youth to fight for the establishment of a separate self-governing Tamil State, as early as in 1969. Born in Karampon on 18th October 1910 in Jaffna and educated in Ceylon Law College, he was an Attorney-at-Law for nearly 58 years.

In 1956 he authored the book "Ceylon Faces Crisis," and in 1995 "The Fall And Rise Of The Tamil Nation," a book that provides a historic and detailed understanding of early negotiations between the Sinhala and Tamil leaders from a Tamil perspective.In an exclusive Interview to TamilNet, last year, Mr. Navaratnam said that the failure of every one of the long line of “Pacts” between the Tamil and Sinhala leaders was always attributed to the many divisions among the Sinhalese. "When one party agrees to condescend towards some solution on the Tamil problem, the others will rise in unison to object and obstruct. They will never compromise or agree on any decision when it comes to solving the Tamil problem by consensus." "It is not in the ethos or in the political character of the Sinhala leaders and governments to honour and abide by agreeements and pacts conceding rights to the Tamils as a people." Mr. Navaratnam was Member of Parliament for Kayts in Jaffna. Family members said Mr. Navaratnam was keeping current himself with the news till the funeral of Anton Balasingham, advisor and theoretician for the Liberation Tigers, Wednesday.

Renewed conflict in Sri Lanka will escalate into full-scale war if the military follows through on a declared plan to evict the Tamil Tigers from the island's volatile east, a top rebel has warned. Around 20,000 war-displaced Tamils have fled from camps in and around the eastern Tiger-held town of Vakarai since early November to escape deadly artillery battles that have killed dozens of civilians, some trekking for days through jungle and even swimming across rivers.Nordic truce monitors are alarmed at the military's plan to flush the Tigers out of the area, saying it violates the terms of a now tattered 2002 ceasefire, and the international community has appealed in vain to both sides to halt the killing.

"Such actions by the Sri Lankan military will be considered by the LTTE as full scale war," S.P. Thamilselvan, head of the Tigers' political wing, told Reuters in an e-mail interview."It will certainly be a declaration of war by the Sri Lankan government. Such war-mongering by the Sri Lankan government will take the island to a very destructive and disastrous war."The military has hemmed the Tigers into a 22-km stretch of coastline around Vakarai, and has already driven the rebels out of territory near the strategic northeastern port of Trincomalee further north.The area around Vakarai is the Tigers' only remaining direct sea access in the east, and losing it would leave them landlocked in large swathes of jungle inland and surrounded by government territory and army camps.

Officials say the government aims to clear the Tigers from the whole of the east and hold local elections that a faction of renegade rebels opposed to the Tigers and seen aligned to the military are expected to win, before heavily developing infrastructure there.Thousands of ordinary civilians displaced yet again by renewed fighting, many of whom were still striving to rebuild their lives after the 2004 tsunami, are now living in rudimentary camps set up in schools, fields and even temples in government territory.Some escapees accuse the Tigers of threatening to kill them if they left besieged rebel territory and effectively using them as human shields, while others blame army shelling for driving them out of their homes and killing their relatives and neighbours.

"People who have lost all their possessions in the tsunami are being forced out of their land and are being subjected to untold miseries. This is nothing less than ethnic genocide by the Sri Lankan state," Thamilselvan said.More than 3,000 civilians, troops and rebel fighters have been killed so far this year in a series of ambushes, air raids, ground and naval battles and suicide bombings.However the fighting has been largely confined to the north and east, and many fear an all-out return to a war that has killed more than 67,000 people since 1983 could spread throughout Sri Lanka and be catastrophic.The Tigers, who accuse successive Sinhalese-majority governments of discriminating against minority Tamils, say they are intensifying their fight for an independent state in the north and east after President Mahinda Rajapakse rejected their demands for a separate homeland.

Newspaper astrology published the life of a leader is danger, President Mahinda anger

A advisor to a newspaper dedicated to astrology published by Lake house has come under severe criticism from the top for publishing a forecast that a leading lady of Sri Lankan politics is to make a comeback and the life of a leader is to in danger.These forecasts have appeared in two issues of the said newspaper. First issue has published that a leading woman politician is to make a comeback. The second issue has warned of a danger to a top leader. After these appeared the President has summoned the director editorial Mr. Kongahage and lambasted him. Later Mr. Kongahage has called for explanation from Ms. Niluka Ekanayake the advisor to the said newspaper Even the president has called Mr. Ekanayake and asked why such forecasts were published.When enquiries were made by 'Lanka E News' Mr. Ekanayake said they do not publish forecast targeting individuals, and said that 28 of her forecasts have gone right.She further said that she would be resigning from her post due to unwarranted political interference.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga made a surprise visit on Thursday evening to Kandy, to worship the Sacred Tooth Relic and obtain blessings.When the former President visited the Dalada Maligawa, the monks who were in charge of the Thevawa provided facilities for her to perform religious observations. She also paid courtesy calls on the Maha Nayake Theras of Asgiriya and Malwatte chapters.

The army has taken a captain who was incharge of artillery guns in the Chenkaladi camp into custody for allegedly proving information to the LTTE. He has pretended to be a double agent obtaining information from an LTTE cadre on the activities of the LTTE. After observing his movements by the army intelligence he was taken into custody on the 18th. At the time of his arrest he was in possession of two cellular phones provided by the LTTE. The army has found that he had alerted the LTTE prior to artillery attacks by the army in most instances. As a result of his action army artillery fire has gone astray. Army intelligence also have found out that he has provided a map to the LTTE giving location of army camps in the Chenkalady area.

An army spokesperson revealed that the suspect has been handed over to the military police camp at Minneriya. The Bank accounts of the suspect and his immediate family is been investigated. So far 10 people including an army major have been taken into custody and with the captain taken into custody on the18th the number goes up to 11. After the initial investigations two are detailed to be court martialled. Ironically the major who has provided information to the LTTE too has been working in to army intelligence.

Northern province Governor Mohan Wijewickrama yesterday took oaths as the Governor of the Eastern province before President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The appointment came following a Supreme Court decision to de-merge the North and East provinces. Rear Admiral Wijewickrama already functions as the governor of the Northern province however with the de-merger a fresh appointment was required for the East.

The new Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Alok Prasad yesterday presented his credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat.Mr. Prasad comes to Sri Lanka from Singapore where he was India’s High Commissioner. He was previously Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Washington from 2000 to 2004. Mr. Prasad was formerly the Joint Secretary for Americas Division in the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi for five years. During that period, he played a key role in expanding bilateral relations between India and the United States. Mr. Prasad joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974. During the course of the next 30 years, he had represented India in various capacities in Germany, UN-New York, Netherlands, Nepal, Burma and Botswana. He has also worked in the Office of Prime Minister, where he was closely involved with India's economic liberalization and structural reform program. Mr. Prasad earned a B.A. and a Masters degree in Economics from the Delhi University.

The JVP denied allegations made by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) over its role in the plantation workers’ strike. The JHU had charged that the JVP and certain Marxist groups created panic among the plantation workers and this had paved the way for LTTE cadres from the Eastern province to infiltrate the central hills.JHU General Secretary Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha thera said in a statement that the JVP and certain Marxist groups were trying to create a chaotic situation in the plantation sector by insisting on a daily wage of 300 rupees for the workers. This was a part of a conspiracy to undermine the operations of the security forces in Vakarai and Serunuwara. The JVP and other groups were bent on destabilizing the hill country in a bid to provide a safe haven there for terrorist cadres fleeing the armed conflict areas in the East, he had said.

President of the All Ceylon Estate Workers Union, JVP MP Ramalingam Chandrasekar said that the Ven. Sobitha thera’s allegations did not reflect the policy of the JVP. "If the plantation people are to be prevented from sympathizing with terrorism and the LTTE, we have to get involve to redress their problems and grievances. That could be done only by the JVP. The racist political parties such the JHU are always suspecting, without factual evidence, that LTTE cadres and supporters are among the estate workers. These parties are pushing the estate workers to join the LTTE," Chandrasekar said."Whether there is a strike or not, the LTTE can carry out their activities in the Central hills. We can prevent it by doing politics in the Central hills. The JVP had represented the plantation workers always. We are fighting for their rights. It is the JVP’s responsibility," he said.

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets Friday bombed a Mullaithivu suburb between 8:50 and 9:15 Friday morning. Also on Wednesday, when Vanni observed the funeral of LTTE theoretician and Chief Negotiator Mr. Anton Balasingham, SLAF bombers targeted a suburb in Puthudiyiruppu in Mullaithivu district.

The Government yesterday took swift action to provide a 24-hour uninterrupted electricity supply to the Jaffna peninsula following requests by the people in the peninsula to the high powered Government delegation which toured Jaffna on Thursday. The people had complained to the delegation that they were facing immense difficulties due to the restricted power supply, a spokesman for the Media Centre for National Security told the Daily News. Arrangements have also been made to transport a three Mega Watt generator to Jaffna today to bridge a deficit of five MW of electricity generation during peak hours. Another generator will also be sent to the peninsula in the coming weeks, the spokesman added. Five buses will also be sent to Jaffna today to solve the transport problem in the peninsula as people wanted the Government to solve this immediately due to the immense hardship they face because of the lack of transport facilities. Meanwhile, the Government will also airlift essential food items especially milk powder for children, drugs and other vegetables as requested by the people from the Government delegation during their visit to Jaffna. A high powered delegation led by puppet Minister Douglas Devananda and Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa visited Jaffna on Thursday to find out the problems faced by the Jaffna population.

Sri Lanka Police investigating the killing of Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Nadaraja Raviraj have found evidence that a certain Tamil political party has engaged in the murder.Five persons from Southern Province Tangalle are now in custody in connection with the selling of the motor cycle used by the killers. The owner of the motorcycle who is a member of the mentioned political party is absconding and said sought safe haven in a well fortified house of a powerful politician.

Small time traders operating in trading complexes, such as the Liberty Plaza and Majestic City and Jewellers in the Sea Street, are being terrorised by a gang, which claims to be from the underworld. The gang has been extorting money and goods at gun point from them during the last five to six months.The gang has told shop owners that part of the loot goes to top brass of the police and can do as they please because of their connections. They don’t go to well established and recognized shops, instead they target small time traders, who have no influence, the victims complain. "Even last week they came to my shop for the seventh time in four months and demanded Rs 400,000 and after much pleading I had to part with Rs 200,000 and some items from my shop," a trader said. According to some of the victims, this gang is from the Grandpass area.

Their modus operandi is to first telephone the would be victim and demand a big sum of money, the victims say. Most of them say that members of the same gang keep on traumatising them through repeated telephone calls demanding protection money. Traders say this mafia promises never to return once they get what they want, but in most cases the same people have returned on five to six occasions to extort money and valuables, within a space of 20-25 days. One trader in Colombo, who owned mobile phone shops in Colombo, was forced to close them down because he was operating at a loss after paying money to this mafia. Another victim was a shoe shop owner.

This mafia warns the traders against complaining to the police and say even if they are jailed it will be only for a period of three to four months and once they are released, those responsible would be killed. When the traders plead with them that they can’t pay huge sums demanded, and ask for a reduction, they settle for less. If the victims are unable to pay the total sum demanded , they remove goods, complain the victims. One victim said the gang had all their personal information such as the their names, addresses and telephone numbers and those of their close relatives.

The gang members, who visit the shops after a man, claiming to be their leader, demands the money over the phone, talk to the victims brandishing weapons. The men threaten the shop owners with death, if they fail to meet their demand, and leave giving the description of the person who will come to collect the money. After a few hours, (not at the appointed time) an innocent looking young man turns up and takes away the parcel containing the money. They have boasted of killing a rival gang leader. The mafia has claimed that this money will be utilized to purchase weapons for them and the sophisticated cellular phones they take away, will be given to the policemen who assist them in their operation.

The LTTE Political Wing, in a press statement issued on Friday, said the Tiger leadership had taken decisive steps to stop the practice of underage recruitment.

LTTE leadership is making every effort to stop the practice of underage recruitment within the movement. It has taken two decisive steps to achieve this goal. It has passed a Child Protection Law that sets the minimum age of recruitment into the movement at 17 and the minimum age for taking part in direct military combat at 18. It has strengthened the Child Protection Authority with certain powers to investigate future allegations of underage recruitment and take immediate action to release them.LTTE Political Head, S P Tamilselvan, and the Child Protection Authority met Ambassador Allan Rock on November 10th and explained the prevailing context in which the underage youths are joining the LTTE movement; specifically the conditions that push the underage youths to lie about their age in order to join our movement. LTTE promised Ambassador Rock that it will take certain measures to eliminate underage recruitment within the movement. The Child Protection Authority is working closely with UNICEF in this regard and has begun to accelerate the process of releasing any remaining underage youths in the movement.

At this juncture, the Amparai incident on 18 December where LTTE members recruited some underage youths was very unfortunate. The LTTE leadership took immediate action to release the youths. The offenders have been called for investigations and will be punished.In this context, the latest sensational reports in the media regarding underage recruitment within LTTE was a propagandist ploy by the Sri Lankan military to redirect serious accusations against it for assisting the Karuna group child abductions.Indeed, this propagandist tendency in handling this issue has failed to do justice to the child rights situation in the Tamil homeland. A 2006 report by the New York based Social Science Research Council (SSRC) following a study of war affected children in Vavuniya, which was funded by UNICEF, noted the same (www.ssrc.org/programs/children). Below are some excerpts from the report on this issue.

On page 2, “The discourse and debate surrounding issues of children affected by armed conflict (CAAC) in Sri Lanka reveal a tendency to take a sensationalized, “propagandist” approach”.On page 115, “Thus, the question of child recruitment by the LTTE has been raised in Sri Lanka in a specifically political context and in a particularly politicized manner. The Sri Lankan government at the time basically had a propagandist dimension, and it was an essential component of a political-military campaign called the “war for peace.” Strangely enough, the question of children being immediate victims of war, suffering death, injuries, displacement, loss of parents and families, and loss of education, has not received such propaganda value either nationally or internationally”.

Norway has told India that it feels the Lankan peace process is stalled, and has expressed pessimism over the future of the process. It is learnt that the Norwegians, who are the key peace facilitators in the Lankan peace process, expressed their distress on the developments and have indicated to New Delhi that the ceasefire between the Lankan government and the LTTE exists only on paper. Norway conveyed its assessment to India recently at the India-Norway Joint Commission meeting, where Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Store met external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee. The Norwegians have also been forced to go on the defensive after the Lankan government charged them of having a pro-LTTE tilt.

It is learnt that Norway disabused this notion. Norway has also explained to India that this year’s EU ban on the LTTE has actually been counter productive for the peace process.The feeling is that the ban came at a time when the Norwegians were building bridges between both sides. It feels that the EU ban is a retrograde move and that it has made it difficult to facilitate the peace process. The ban has cut off the large flow of funds from the Lankan Tamil community in Europe to the LTTE. On its part, India has expressed its satisfaction on a number of occasions with the role Norway is playing. However, Norway’s assessment of the situation is worrying for the establishment here as escalating violence is also leading to a growing humanitarian crisis.

This has already resulted in Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi asking the government to intervene. He met a group of Tamil National Alliance MPs, who are sympathetic to the LTTE, on Wednesday and has assured them that he will put across their viewpoint to the Centre. Meanwhile, Norway has continued talking to the Lankan government and the LTTE to find a way out of the impasse. Norwegian peace envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer was in Sri Lanka recently and had discussions with Lankan government officials and LTTE rebels on how to restart the peace talks, but meanwhile, violence has continued in the northern parts of the country. LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran last month had also called the ceasefire defunct and said that he would continue his fight for an independent state. India has been getting continuous assessments of the situation in the island nation from the Norwegians as well as the Sri Lankan government.

The CID interrogated two senior journalists -Sunday Observer Associate Editor Lionel Yodasinghe and News Editor Ranga Jayasuriya - under the newly enacted anti-terror laws regarding a report published in the newspaper last week, on a defence matter.Detectives said the two journalists had been questioned on the fourth floor of the CID Headquarters for more than three hours, while senior Silumina journalist Prasanna Fonseka has also been summoned to be present at the CID today on the same report.The FMM in a statement appealed to the Government to reconsider the Anti-Terrorism Regulations which it said were incompatible with the principles of media freedom. It said it was a clear effort to suppress the freedom of the media and the right of all citizens to obtain information clearly in the public interest.

“We affirm that journalists have a right to gather and publish viewpoints and opinions in the media, that this right is unchallengeable and cannot be curtailed by anti-terrorism regulations now in operation,” the FMM said.Senior Silumina journalist Prasanna Fonseka has also been summoned by the CID for questioning on the same issue, it said. “We once again urgently appeal to the Government to reconsider the introduction of regulations that are incompatible with media freedom and ensure that journalists aren’t harassed, threatened or censored when carrying out their responsibilities as the watchdogs of democracy,” it added.

The LTTE yesterday said it had no intention of filling the vacancy created by the demise of it theoretician Anton Balasingham.Balasingham, who was domiciled in London died there last week and his funeral was held on Wednesday.He had been close to LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran from the inception of the group and functioned as its theoretician. He represented the Tigers in all but the last talks with the government on finding a solution to the problems of the North and East. LTTE spokesman Daya Master told The Island that the recent abduction of school children was a big mistake. "It caused us considerable damage and we are holding an inquiry to ascertain the truth." He said.Asked whether the LTTE would observe the ceasefire during the festive season, he said that he was unable to answer and it would be decided by the military wing.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has noted that the re-enactment of the PTA has dragged the country into the 1988-1989 terror period. Addressing a meeting of the SLFP Balamandalaya at Horagolla last week, the former Head of State said the country had reached a critical juncture. All aspects of the State, be it the economy, politics etc, has fallen apart. She has said that disappearances had been reported throughout the country. In addition there are human rights violations. "If we are not cautious, there is even a possibility of disappearance of Sinhala persons." The PTA is a very dangerous act. At present there is a war situation in the country. This is not the time for the re-enactment of the PTA. Therefore the reintroduction of the PTA will see the country dragged back to the 1988-1989 terror era." "We can still remember the terror period of 1988 -1989 which swept the country. The violence of that era formed the key topic of our own political platform. However, we have now turned the clock back. We cannot allow this to happen".

The Governor of the North Eastern Province, Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, with exclusive powers delegated on him by the Sri Lankan President, has ordered the officials of the NorthEastern Provincial Council (NEPC) to split the unified administration of NEPC into two separate administrations, breaching the core aspect of the 1987 Indo Lanka accord. One administrative unit is to be set up in Vavuniya, to look after the affairs of the Northern Province and the other unit is to be located in Kalmunani to administer the Eastern Province, excluding Trincomalee district, which is to be under direct rule of the Governor and the GA, both ex-military officials posted to civil positions. Sources close to the Governor's Colombo office revealed Thursday, on condition of anonymity, that Trincomalee would be looked after by the Governor and the GA, as the administrative unit to be located in Kalmunai would deal with the affairs of Batticaloa and Amparai districts. The move is yet to be officially publicised.

The Kalmunai political office of the Karuna Amman faction which was due to be opened today for formal operation was attacked with grenades by alleged LTTE cadres on Tuesday evening, police said. One member of the Karuna faction identified as Kayapatta alias Kappar was killed in the attack while two others injured had obtained treatment from the Kalmunai base hospital. The body was taken to the Kalmunai hospital inquest and post mortem.Kalmunai police said the political office located in a building on the Kalmunai-Batticaloa road had been used earlier by LTTE cadres as their political office.Police said that some Karuna faction cadres had been making preparations for today’s opening ceremony when about twenty five Tigers had attacked the premises using heavy arms such as rocket-propelled grenades causing serious damage to the building.The filling station and some other shops opposite this office had also been damaged in the explosion. Further inquiries are being conducted by the Kalmunai police.

Armed men clad in military fatigues abducted 19 youths, 16 boys and 3 girls, from a private bus en route to Colombo from Kattankudy at Korakallimadu in Kiran, in Batticaloa district around 9:00 p.m., Wednesday. The abductions have taken place on Katankudy - Polonnaruwa route, heavily guarded by Sri Lanka Army soldiers. Parents of six children have lodged complaints with the Police. Parents who opposed the abductions were beaten by the kidnappers, alleged to be paramilitary cadres of Karuna Group. At least five private buses shuttle between Kattankudy and Colombo daily.

Tamil Tigers free abducted boys

Seven boys abducted by the Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers on Monday night have finally been released and reunited with their families. Fifteen girls kidnapped at the same time were released on Tuesday. The Tigers admitted that taking the children was a "serious mistake". One of the boys is reported as saying the rebels had threatened to kill them if they refused to go with them. The Tigers said they had taken action against those involved in the incident.

"The remaining seven boys have been released and they have reached their homes," their headmaster, Saravanamuthu Peethambaram, told the BBC Tamil service. "I met them a short time ago." When news of the abductions emerged on Tuesday, rebel military spokesman Rasaiah Ilanthirayan initially told the BBC Sinhala service that the junior Tigers who abducted the children had been expelled from the movement. "It was a mistake by the field commanders, but we are taking strict disciplinary action against our own people involved in this." In a statement issued later on Tuesday, Mr Ilanthirayan said that the teenaged pupils wanted to join the rebel movement and had come of their own volition to Tiger-held areas. The statement said that when it was discovered they were underage, they were told to return home.

But one of the boys has now given a contradictory account to the Reuters news agency. "They had grenades in their hands and threatened us: 'If you don't come with us, we'll explode these grenades'. "We pleaded with them, saying we were students and wanted to sit our O-level exams." He said the boys and girls were driven away from a private tutorial centre in the eastern Ampara area where they had been studying for examinations. They were then forced to walk 10 km (6 miles) to a rebel camp, the boy said. About 100 students from the same school have been boycotting their exams, demanding the immediate release of their fellow students. Correspondents say it is a rare display of open protest by Tamil civilians against the rebels.

A regional officer for the International Red Cross, Martin de Boer said, "This was a clean-cut abduction," Reuters reports. He also said that a breakaway faction of the rebels led by Col Karuna, now fighting the main Tamil Tiger movement is now carrying out as many kidnappings at the Tigers. Last month, the United Nations children's agency, Unicef, said that "elements in the Sri Lankan military" were helping Col Karuna to abduct children to fight the Tamil Tigers - an accusation flatly denied by the government. Later on Thursday, police said at least 19 civilians, 16 men and three women, were abducted by unidentified gunmen in the eastern Batticaloa district. They were travelling by bus to the capital, Colombo, at the time. It is not clear who was responsible. The Tigers said they had "no connection with this incident". This year has seen a sharp increase in violence in Sri Lanka, with at least 3,400 people dead, the authorities say. The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says that all sides are believed to be building up their forces, preparing for a possible return to full scale war. The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for independence for the 2.5m-strong minority Tamil community in the north and east of the country.

Two children were seriously injured Wednesday around 7:30 p.m when a mortar shell, launched from the Kumburumoolai Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp at Kiran in Batticaloa, fell and exploded on a house in Kiran. The children were rushed to Batticaloa hospital. The two injured children V. Sathurjini 2 and T. Suman 9, both from Kiran, were playing in the front yard of the house. Kiran is located 25 km north of Batticaloa town.

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Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarians, in a surprise move met Kalaignar Karunanithy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, at his Chennai residence Yesterday(Dec 20) and briefed him of the plight of the Lankan Tamils, their problems and the atrocities committed on the Tamil people by the Lankan government. This is revealed in a press release by Dravidian Khalakam Tamilar Peravai. TNA delegation comprised of five Tamil Parliamentarians TULF R.Sampanthan, Mavai Senathirajah, TELO Leader Selvam Adaikalanathan, EPRLF Suresh Premanchandren and ACTC G.G.Ponnambalam. According to Suba Virapandian of Dravidian Khalaka Thamilar Peravai, the details of the talks between the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanithy and the Tamil Parliamentarians held in a cordial atmosphere will be released in due course.

At a press meet, they said Karunanidhi had assured them he would provide whatever help was possible and also take up the matter with the Centre.The MPs said they wanted India to take a more pro-active role in ending what they termed the "Sri Lankan terrorism" on Tamils.They said if India did not take such a stand, the Sri Lankan government would carry out its "military agenda" of "exterminating or driving out Tamils" from the island nation."Tamil Nadu and India have a duty, though their advice has so far fallen on the deaf ears of the Sri Lankan government. So, India should state its position more clearly and go beyond mere statement so that the Mahinda Rajapakshe government takes notice," MP R Sambandam told reporters.If a country failed to fulfil this obligation in a legal way and resorted to "genocide, then time has certainly come for India to take notice of it", Sambandam said.The MPs said India had a duty to intervene as the Sri Lankan government was exceeding the Indo-Sri Lankan accord."India should realise that despite certain unfortunate incidents in Sri Lanka, Tamils are the only true friends. India cannot remain a bystander to atrocities being committed on Tamils," one of them said.

Balasingham "stood for federalism"

Tens of thousands of mourners have gathered in London for the funeral of LTTE chief negotiator while LTTE leaders paid homage in Vanni. Dr. Anton Balasingham's body was brought to Alexandra Palace in London on Wednesday morning for the mourners to pay last respects to LTTE's theoretician.Norwegian Minister for International Development, Erik Solheim, was among the mourners gathered in London.Speaking exclusively with BBC Sinhala after the funeral Minister Solheim said: "He was one of the very few in the SL peace process whop has not lied to me. He wanted to peace process to be a success. He believed that an everlasting solution will have to on the Olso agreement which is a federal solution".

Mourners from France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada and South Africa were among those who paid last respects to LTTE leader's theoritician Senior LTTE leaders, meanwhile, paid homage in Vanni to LTTE's chief negotiator.LTTE supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, his wife, and political wing leader, SP Thamilselvan were among the mourners in Vanni.Tiger leader Prabhakaran described Mr Balasingham as the "central figure" in the Tigers' diplomatic efforts. Analysts say Mr Balasingham was a restraining influence on Prabhakaran. His death came as fighting with the military has steadily worsened.

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) conducted air strikes with its Kfir jet planes on a factory in the thick jungle that produces arms, ammunitions and mines for the LTTE in Pudukudirippu in the rebel stronghold of Mullaitivu, said the Media Centre for National Security. According to Air Force sources, the operation was successful. Meanwhile, the LTTE Peace Secretariat issuing a statement said the SLAF bombed a civilian settlement in Mullaitivu at 10.00 AM yesterday(20). The LTTE accused the Sri Lanka government of attempting to disrupt the final funeral rites of LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham was held in Kilinochchi yesterday.

The talk of Batticaloa town is that the Eastern University Vice Chancellor S. Ravinthranath was abducted by the Karuna faction in Colombo last Friday. Though the CID, probing the abduction, suspected the LTTE, it is believed the Vice Chancellor, who is from Jaffna, but served in Batticaloa for more than 30 years, was abducted by the Karuna faction in an apparent bid to rid the East of Jaffna academics.Before the abduction of the Vice Chancellor, eight academics who served in the Eastern University, were either abducted or threatened and all of them fled to Jaffna overnight.The LTTE earlier chased out all Muslims from the Peninsula and subsequently highly placed Batticaloa based Tamils were sent out. It is now firmly believed that Karuna cadres wanted to reciprocate in a similar manner by ridding Batticaloa of Jaffna Tamils.The main reason Karuna attributed to his leaving the LTTE was that the LTTE was more pro-Jaffna and the Eastern cadres were ill-treated Several local and international organizations have lodged strong protests against this abduction and wanted those responsible to release him immediately.

The Government yesterday issued a direct warning to the LTTE to desist from its terror activities or face the consequences be it militarily or through international and media propaganda which could lead to further isolation of the rebel group.The warning comes as the LTTE abducted a group of students and teachers from a school in Ampara on Monday night for arms training and also in the backdrop of warnings from top military officials that the rebels will be flushed out from areas in the East.“The country has nothing to lose by trying to flush out terrorism,” Government defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the media yesterday adding that the Government has decided to take firm decisions against the LTTE if the rebels continued with their terror activities.Asked if the firm decisions include considering a ban on the rebels in Sri Lanka, Minister Rambukwella said the Government would look at the pros and cons of such a move while reiterating that the LTTE will not be allowed to get away with terrorism.

“The LTTE has been exposed. Canada has banned the Tigers. Today Australia is contemplating it. We are looking at Asia next.We will respond militarily, internationally and through the media. Tamils have a problem and we accept that. But to solve it we don’t have to talk only with Prabhakaran,” he said.Earlier this week a top Army official told the Daily Mirror the ultimate goal of the military was to flush out the LTTE from Vakarai and areas around Kathiraveli so as to completely neutralise the threat posed by the rebels to civilians and the military.Military spokesman Prasad Samarasingha told the media yesterday the security forces had already captured 2 rebel defence lines closer to the Panichankerni bridge which leads into Vakarai and added that the forces were duty bound to save the civilians trapped in Tiger-controlled Vakarai.“The more they fire the more they lose,” Minister Rambukwella added.

Thousands of civilians have been fleeing LTTE controlled Vakarai through the thick jungles and by sea as the A15 land route, the only land route out of Vakarai, remains closed with both the Government and the LTTE blaming each other for the closure.Meanwhile Brigadier Samarasinghe said seven boys and a girl remain missing since the abduction of 23 school children and two teachers by the LTTE from a school at Vinayagapuram in Ampara on Monday night.The LTTE has since accepted abducting the children although a rebel statement said the abductees had expressed willingness to be trained and were thus taken to a training base in Ampara but were later sent back when the leadership came to know they were underage.

“The LTTE is giving contradictory versions over the abduction by saying the students expressed willingness to join but later saying they were abducted unaware of their age. Everybody knows O/L students are underage. The LTTE is trying desperately to deceive the knowledgeable public and the international community because of the media coverage the incident got,” Mr. Rambukwella said.He said evidence pertaining to the abduction would be released last night adding that the evidence comes quicker than the time the special advisor to the UN Allan Rock is taking to submit his credible evidence against the allegations that certain elements of the security forces were collaborating with the Karuna faction to abduct children.

In an e-mail to the Daily Mirror a spokesman for the UN envoy for children Ms. Radhika Coomarswamy confirmed that the report on Sri Lanka which also includes abductions by the LTTE will be put forward to the UN Security Council Working Group at the beginning of next month.Brigadier Samarasinghe said more than 450 underage children had been abducted by the LTTE from Government controlled areas this year while overall more than 2000 children were abducted since the signing of the CFA in 2002.“You were interested in the credible evidence I have against Rock. But unlike him I will not wait more than two months to give evidence against the LTTE. I will give you that evidence today,” Minister Rambukwella said.Meanwhile he expressed disappointment at a certain private electronic media institution, in its nightly news bulletin on Tuesday, for not naming the LTTE as the perpetrators of the abduction despite the LTTE claiming responsibility.“I am disappointed that even though there was evidence by the time the news was aired the station did not reveal the truth,” the minister said adding it appeared the institution did not want to expose the LTTE over the incident.

The PLOTE yesterday ordered all shops in Vavuniya, which put up shutters as a mark of respect for LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham, to open immediately.Soon after the news of Balasingham’s death, PLOTE cadres urged all shop keepers in Vavuniya and Mannar not to close shops, but the orders were ignored at that time.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya yesterday charged that the JVP and certain Marxist groups were trying to create a chaotic situation in the plantation sector by insisting on a Rs.300 daily wage for estate workers.“The plantation management has signed two collective agreements with the unions providing for a daily wage of Rs.250 and Rs. 260 respectively. Yet the JVP and the other Marxist groups continue to incite workers. We cannot condone their action. This is part of a conspiracy to undermine the operations by the security forces in Vakarai and Serunuwara,” the JHU said in a media release yesterday.

The JHU said the JVP and other groups were bent on destabilising the hill country in a bid to provide a safe haven there for terrorist groups fleeing the war theatre in the East. “None of these parties have done anything for the Sinhalese people displaced from the upcountry to get back even an inch of land. Some elements are trying to stage a revolution using students and workers as cat’s paws under the smokescreen of patriotism,” the JHU statement said.The party also requested the Government to safeguard the collective agreements signed, protect the workers and ensure national security.

The Karuna faction has banned the sale of the Tamil daily ‘Thinakkural’ in Batticaloa, officials of the newspaper told the Daily Mirror. The sales of weekly editions of the publication as well as that of two other Tamil newspapers also remain restricted owing to alleged threats from the former LTTE outfit.“I think it has something to do with an article we published were we had mentioned the word paramilitaries,” the newspaper official said.Sales of ‘Thinakural’ was banned earlier as well by the Karuna faction but was given the green light until last Tuesday when a fresh restriction was enforced on the publication. The ‘Sudar Oli’ news paper is also banned in Batticaloa while the sale of the Sunday edition of the ‘Veerakesari’ is also prohibited. The Karuna faction, it is learned, is attempting to propagate its own publication ‘Thamil Alai’ in the east and views the sale of newspapers which carry pro LTTE news as a barrier to such moves.However Karuna spokesman Azath Maulana said his organisation had not imposed any ban on the ‘Thinakural’ publication and further raised suspicion of LTTE involvement.

The death of the LTTE's chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham last week, is yet another set-back for the peace process in Sri Lanka, says former Norwegian peace envoy, Vidar Helgesen. Balasingham died from cancer last week, and his funeral was to be held at Alexandra Palace in London yesterday. According to Norwegian Radio in Mr. Helgesen's opinion, it will be more difficult to find a solution to the Sri Lanka conflict without Balasingham at the negotiating table. Mr. Balasingham has been associated with the LTTE liberation struggle for more than 30 years and participated as chief negotiator on behalf of the Tigers in almost all political negotiations, beginning with the Thimpu talks in 1985.

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The funeral of LTTE ideologue Anton Balasingham will be held in London today. He passed away due to cancer on December 14.Balasingham’s death is likely to have a major impact on peace negotiations. Despite his rhetoric he was seen as a moderate and had established a good working relationship with the Norwegians."Anton Balasingham was a theoretician. I had great pleasure discussing with him the key thinkers in Europe and relate their philosophy and approach to the peace process in Sri Lanka," Norwegian Special Peace Envoy Jon Hanssen-Baur said."He could draw the lines back to 1970’s, ’80’s and to the first talks in Thimpu, to the five rounds of talks that did not work, and tell us the focus needed in the sixth and the new rounds of talks. He was not only an experienced man; he was also a negotiation practitioner. With the demise of Balasingham, the LTTE has lost its chief negotiator; the Tamil people have lost one of their most important spokesman," he added.

A day of mourning will be observed in the Jaffna peninsula today as a mark of respect for LTTE theoretician Dr. Anton Balasingham.The Union of All Organisations in the peninsula has urged the people to observe today as a day of mourning for Balasingham.In a statement, the union stated that Dr. Balasingham had brought the troubles faced by the Tamils in the country to the attention of the international community."It was due to him that the problems of the Tamils were noticed by the international community. He, through his intelligence and excellent command of the English language, took our issues to the world," the statement read.The statement added that he dedicated his life for the freedom of his people despite having a very bright future ahead of him."While many other intellectuals remained silent and continued to mind their own businesses, Dr. Balasingham dedicated his life for the Sri Lankan Tamils. He did not opt for the bright future that was in store for him due to his academic qualifications. He used his knowledge for the benefit of his people," the statement added.

14 day plantation strike called off

Estate workes have called off their strike on agreement that their demands are met, Sri Lanka Government said.The 14 day strike will be called off following agreement reached on Tuesday on the demands of the trade unions, government said.Trde UNions have agreed to increase current daily wages from Rs. 190 to Rs. 260. Accordingly, the minimum wage in the plantation sector that was Rs. 135 will be raised to Rs. 170, and the incentive allowance will be raised from Rs.50 to Rs. 70, government said. Trade Unions earlier demanded a daily wage of Rs. 300.Government said the trade unions decided to call off the strike following the intervention of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussions with unions and the plantation management companies held at Temple Trees on Tuesday.

Leader of the Upcountry Peoples Front, Minister P.Chandrasekeran said at the discussions presided by the President Mahinda Rajapaske it was agreed to appoint a commission to look into issues of estate workers within three months."Though it is not a 100 per cent increase we are happy to agree with the wage increase", Minister, Chandrasekeran saidIt is learnt that the 14-day strike in the plantation sector has cost the country Rs. 3 billion in losses, government said.

There is a deadlock in the peace talks. All efforts by Norway to reconvene the peace talks have failed. As a result, the Norway facilitator is frustrated. At this critical juncture, Anton Balasingham, LTTE ideologue has passed away and this too has in a way affected the progress of the peace talks. The CFA signed between the government and the LTTE is not in force. The agreement is not honoured. The innocent Tamil civilians are killed and injured daily following the violence in the North-East.

Watching these developments, the leaders of Tamil Nadu including the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanithy have expressed the view that India must exert pressure to find a solution to this problem. It is hoped that the new development in Tamil Nadu will make a change in the attitude and the approach of the Central government. Tamil Nadu police have detected explosives meant to be sent to Lankan government. This exposure created a tension in Tamil Nadu. There were staunch protests from the people of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanithy has raised this issue with Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi has written to Karunanithy assuring that India would not extend any military assistance to Lankan government. Union defence Minister Antony has categorically stated that India would not provide any military training to any Lankan security forces. What is next? The peace negotiations must be reconvened. The A9 highway in the North and the A15 highway in the east must be re-opened. The humanitarian problems of the Lankan Tamils must be solved. The ethnic problem must be resolved. Therefore the role of India must be to exert relevant pressure to ensure these.

A paramilitary cadre of Karuna Group was killed and another wounded when unidentified gunmen armed with Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers attacked the office of the group in Kalmunai town, located 36 km southeast of Batticaloa. The paramilitary office, located between a police post and the Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) camp in Kalmuani, was completely damaged in the attack that took place around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Sri Lankan counter-insurgency Special Task Force (STF) officials identified the killed Karuna cadre as "Castro."The wounded cadre was admitted at Amparai hospital.

The Karuna group has sought security from the government following Monday’s attack in Chenkaladi, which killed three of its members, officials said.Following the Chenkaladi attack, Karuna himself has personally instructed party members to communicate with the government and put forward the request."He had a discussion with the political leadership, and it was decided to make the request. We are in government areas and we need protection," Spokesperson Asad Moulana said.He said that Karuna’s political movement, the TMVP, has opened 21 offices in the north east plus the office in Colombo. "We are not armed in government-controlled areas and we need protection."

The Karuna group said it was capable of defending itself in uncontrolled areas where members were armed. "We can do that in those areas but in our political offices we need protection," Moulana said.The Karuna group members came under attack in Chenkaladi on Monday morning near the public market. "Three young men died on the spot while the three-wheeler driver was admitted to Chenkaladi Hospital with severe injuries and later transferred to Batticaloa Hospital," the Media Centre for National Security said.

The Indian High Commission has announced the offer of 40 scholarships to Sri Lankan nationals under the scheme ‘Scholarships for Nationals of Sri Lanka’ for undergraduate courses in various Indian universities during the forthcoming 2007/2008 academic year.The High Commission will select meritorious young Sri Lankan nationals for these scholarships in consultation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.The scholarships will cover the full tuition fees for the entire duration of the course. Students will be paid a monthly allowance of Indian Rs. 3600 at undergraduate level. The scholarship also covers accommodation allowance of up to Rs. 3000 per month and an annual grant for books and stationery at the rate of Indian Rs. 3600. An annual grant of Indian Rs. 2000 will also be given for educational tours to various parts of the country apart from several other auxiliary benefits.

Three unidentified armed men arriving in a car shot dead three men and injured a woman at their house at Chalampaikulam in Vavuniya Monday around 7.45 p.m, said the injured woman to Vavuniya police. Two of the dead men were identified as Arunachalam Arulkumar from Batticaloa. The third man killed is said to be from Killinochchi, presently residing at Vavuniya, the police said. The injured woman is Sulojan Mathanalogini, 22. Motive of the killings is not known. The killers escaped from the site immediately after the shooting.Vavuniya district Magistrate, Manickavasagar Illancheliyan inspected the three dead bodies recovered by the police at Vavuniya hospital morgue and ordered further investigation.

Tigers abduct 23 school children

Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have admitted kidnapping at least 23 students in the east of the country. A rebel spokesman told the BBC that junior Tiger fighters had made a "serious mistake" in taking the children from their school. Correspondents say that in the past the Tigers have always denied abducting children to use as soldiers. This year has seen a sharp increase in violence in Sri Lanka, with at least 3,400 people estimated dead. Rebel military spokesman Rasaiah Ilanthirayan told the BBC Sinhala service that the junior Tigers who abducted the children had been expelled from the movement. He said that the children were being handed back to their parents.

Earlier, army spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC News website that the children, mostly teenage girls, were abducted in the eastern Ampara area. Brig Samarasinghe said 21 girls and three boys, all teenagers, were preparing for a school examination when they were picked up by the rebels on Monday evening. "The incident was reported to the local police. The police have informed the peace monitors and the human rights commission," he said. Brig Samarasinghe said the children could have been taken away for "forced conscription". The issue of child recruitment has been a major point of difference between government, human rights and international organisations and the rebels. The Tigers have in the past denied recruiting child troops. But they have been accused repeatedly of doing so by human rights groups and the UN throughout Sri Lanka's years of conflict.

The leader of a breakaway faction of the Tigers now, Colonel Karuna, has also been accused of recruiting child soldiers. Last month, the United Nations children's agency, Unicef, said that "elements in the Sri Lankan military" were helping Col Karuna to abduct children to fight the Tamil Tigers. A senior UN official said there was "credible evidence" that troops had rounded up children to fight with the renegade rebel group. The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for independence for the 2.5m-strong minority Tamil community in the north and east of the country.

Two Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres have been ordered transferred to Kilinochchi from Amparai, to face disciplinary action for enlisting underage youths from a tuition centre in Thirukkovil Monday, LTTE officials in Amparai told TamilNet. All the 23 civilians, including the 21 students, in the custody of an LTTE unit attached to a training camp, were freed after an internal investigation initiated by LTTE Commander Ram. Two teachers, Tharmarasa Vigneswaran and Velupillai Uthayakumar, were among the persons taken by the LTTE unit from the tuition centre.The Tigers have outlawed recruitment of under-17s and participation in combat of under-18s.Tamileelam Child Protection Act 2006 (Act No. 03 of 2006), was enacted in October by the Tamileelam legislatature, making education compulsory upto grade 11.The Act would be fully enforced by January 2007, according to the Tigers.

Government Proxy Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda plans to set up a boat service from Jaffna to Talaimannar via Kurikattuwan following a discussion with President Mahinda Rajapaksa. This will help Jaffna residents to overcome transport restrictions, difficulties in moving their agricultural produce to the South, short supply of food items and obstructions for the inflow of food and essential items into the peninsula. This boat service is expected to commence soon. This will provide a convenient transport channel for people to move in and out of Jaffna within a comparatively short period.

Two armed men shot dead the owner of a hairdressing saloon close to Athiady temple on the Thondamanaru-Valvetithurai road in Vavettithurai in Vadamaradchi at his saloon Tuesday around 10:30 a.m. The victim was identified as Anthonypillai Pirabakaran, 32, a family man. The killing which took place in an area continuously monitored by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers has shocked the Athikovilady residents, sources said.

The debate on the no-confidence motion against the Western Province Minister Hector Bethmage ended in turmoil yesterday after a gunman who was later found to be Mr. Bethmage’s driver, disrupted proceedings. The debate and the drama ended with the driver being arrested for carrying a pistol into the chamber.Mr. Bethmage added to the conflict and confusion by claiming that he had told his driver to bring his spectacles from the car but the driver had brought his pistol.Western Provincial Council Chairman (Speaker) Jagath Anagage adjourned the sessions because of the commotion and a fresh motion is likely to be presented later. The presence of Mr. Bethmage’s driver with a gun prompted JVP Member Jagath Pushpakumara to demand tighter security for councillors.Mr. Bethmage apologised for the incident.

JVP calls for FM’s explanation

JVP parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti has written to the Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera querying what action the Government intends to take about the Washington Times editorial of December 17, under the heading ‘Peace and Tamil Tigers’ pointing out that until fund raising by the LTTE in the West is stopped, achieving peace was unthinkable."The Washington Times editorial emphasized that the destructive LTTE should be prevented from fund raising in the West and it cannot be lightly treated as it was published by a leading newspaper of the country reflecting the concerns of the US about LTTE terrorists who are trying to divide the country. It appears to be a major topic of discussion in that country," the letter states.Handunnetti has requested the Foreign Minister to tell the country what steps the Government intends taking about this important editorial of a US newspaper.

A group of 67 eminent academics from all parts of the world yesterday expressed deep concern over the abduction of Eastern University Vice Chancellor S. Ravindranath on December 15.The academics in a statement called for the swift and safe release of Prof. Ravindranath and the protection and safety of their colleagues in Sri Lanka.

“We wish to express our deep concern about the apparent abduction of Prof Ravindranath,. On Friday 15th December, he left a meeting of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science in central Colombo, and has not been seen since. His family has reported his disappearance to the police.

“In September an unidentified armed group kidnapped the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Eastern University, demanding Prof. Ravindranath’s resignation in return for the Dean’s release. The Vice-Chancellor has not been able to return to the University since that incident and had been carrying out his duties from Colombo. “Our colleagues in universities across Sri Lanka have struggled heroically in the face of war and natural disaster in recent years. Eastern University is located in one of the areas most devastated by the civil war and by the Tsunami of 2004. That it is still capable of producing world-class researchers is testimony to the quality and dedication of its academic staff. Prof. Ravindranath has played a central part in the work of the university from its foundation in 1981, and his tenure as Vice-Chancellor has coincided with major developments like the opening of the first medical school in the East of Sri Lanka.“As colleagues, friends, and, in some cases, academic partners of the Eastern University, we urgently appeal for the swift and safe release of Prof. Ravindranath, and for the protection and safety of all our colleagues in Sri Lanka.

2. Prof Thongchai Winichakul, Professor of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

4. Dr. Nicholas Van Hear, Senior Researcher, The Centre on Migration, Policy and Society, University of Oxford, UK

5. Dr. Terrance J. Taylor, Research Associate, Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, University of Missouri-St. Louis, USA

6. Prof Donald K. Swearer, Director, Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard University, USA

7. Dr. Alison Strang, Institute for International Health and Development, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh, UK

9. Associate Prof. Birgitte Refslund Sørensen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

10. Prof Jonathan Spencer, Professor of the Anthropology of South Asia, School of Social and Political Studies, University of Edinburgh

11. Associate Prof Hans Skotte, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

12. Dr. Bob Simpson, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Social Science and Health, University of Durham, UK

13. Professor John Side!, Sir Patrick Gillam Professor of International and Comparative Politics, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

14. Prof. N. Shanmugaratnam, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Norway

15. Prof. Saskia Sassen, University of Chicago, USA and Centennial Visiting Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

16. Prof SW R de A Samarasinghe, Tulane University, USA & Executive Director, ICES, Sri Lanka

18. Dr. Susan A. Reed, Director, Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender and Assistant Professor, Women’s and Gender Studies and Anthropology, Bucknell University, USA

19. Prof. Ve Narayana Rao, Krishnadevaraya Professor of Languages and Cultures of Asia, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

21. Prof Jonathan P. Parry, Professor of Anthropology, London School of Economies and Political Science, UK

23. Dr. Ranjini Obeyesekere, Lecturer Emerita, Department of nthropology, Princeton University, USA

24. Prof Gananath Obeyesekere, Professor Emeritus, Departnt of Anthropology, Princeton University, USA

26. Dr. Martha Mundy, Reader in Anthropology, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

27. Elizabeth Monson, Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia, University of Wisconsin- Madison, USA

28. Dr. Jody Miller, Associate Professor, Criminology & Criminal Justice, University of Missouri-St. Louis, USA

29. Prof. Eric Meyer, Vice-President, National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations, University of Paris, France

30. Prof Barbara McPake, Director, Institute for International Health and Development, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh, UK

31. Prof Susan McGrath, Director, Centre for Refugee Studies, York University, Canada

32. Dr. Caitrin Lynch, Assistant Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences, Olin College of Engineering, USA

34. Dr.Wasantha A. Liyanage, Lecturer in Sinhala Language, Department of Asian Studies, Cornell University, USA

35. Prof Jonathan Lewis, Institute for the Study of Global Issues, Hitotsubashi University, Japan

36. Assistant Prof Benedikt Korf, Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Switzerland

40. Associate Prof. Jennifer Hyndman, Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Canada

43. Prof John Harriss, Professor of International Studies, Simon Fraser University, Canada

44. Prof Olivia Harris, Professor of Social Anthropology, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

45. Associate Prof. Charles Halliscy, Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

46. Prof Janet Gyatso, Hershey Professor of Buddhist Studies, Harvard University, USA

47. Dr. Aijun Guneratne, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Macalester College, U.S.A

48. Prof. Anthony Good, Head of School, School of Social & Political Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK

54. Prof C. R. De Silva, Dean, College of Arts and Letters, Old Dominion University, USA

55. Assistant Prof Donald Davis, Department of Languages & Cultures of Asia, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

57. Dr. Michael Cullinane, Associate Director, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

58. Prof A.P. Cohen, FRSE, Principal & Vice-Patron, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh, UK

59. Assistant Prof. Bambi L. Chapin, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of Maryland, USA

61. Associate Prof Cathrine Brun, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

62. Dr. Robert Boyce, Department of International History, London School of Economics & Political Science, UK

63. Dr. Anne M. Blackburn, Associate Professor of South Asia & Buddhist Studies, Cornell University, USA

64. Dr. Zoltán Biedermann, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Los Angeles, USA

65. Assistant Prof Bernard Bate, Department of Anthropology, Yale University, USA

66. Dr. Daniel Bass, Adjunct Professor, Religious Studies & Fellow of The Honors College, Florida International University, USA

67. Prof Yoshiko Ashiwa, Institute for the Study of Global Issues, Hitotsubashi University, Japan

Q: Can the actions of the JVP with regard to the APRC really harm the process? What’s the worse that can happen?

A: Well, it’s a highly emotional issue. Given that the LTTE has openly declared military action at Prabakaran’s Mahaveera speech we have to understand that the people can easily be roused from a nationalistic perspective. I think we have to take note of that to form a strategy to make it work. We can’t take the role of God and pass judgment on whose right or wrong. We need to work together as long as is necessary.

This is a highly charged issue. There is a Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim nationalism that is roused. We have to be careful and act in a way to act responsibly and objective in working out a strategy.

Q: Wasn’t what happened with the expert panel and the ‘leak’ mere politics at play with such emotion?

There is a very simple explanation. Since July we have been discussing to work out a solution to the ethnic problem with the perspective of implementing devolution of power. There are several possible options and the problems in implementing them affects stakeholders in many ways. The experts were to draw from their expertise and experiences outside the country. The end was a common set of probable solutions where they had agreed on several key points, that the unit of devolution be priority. There were some areas of disagreements, so the document signed by the 11 is really the starting point from which the others who disagreed gave given the dissenting reports. And there was a joint meeting with the APRC where the document was presented. During that there was a fair exchange of views and issues which the members including the JVP and the JHU participated. There was no objection to this whole process. Then we decided on that and I outlined how to proceed and all those who participated emphasized how to proceed and not indulge any of it, so that we could proceed without any pressure from outside. Everyone agreed to it and if you looked at the conduct of the members by and large that was respected.

This whole episode of the leak speaks of reactionary action to retard the process and not letting it go forward. The media itself has a role in this. You have to look at it in a more constructive manner.

Q: Was the leak a deliberate attempt to sabotage that process? Who is responsible for it?

It is extremely unfortunate that there was, what I think was a deliberate leak of the report. I checked up and no one either in the APRC or the Peace Secretariat had any access to any of the documents till we went to that meeting.

We can only guess. It’s very unfortunate. And the media also highlighted that one aspect they wanted to. Document A gave several options but the media decided to highlight only one. They didn’t even mention the other options, so that the public concluded that it was either this or none. The stand taken by certain public figures also reflected this.

I don’t know, but there maybe people who didn’t want this process to go on so that it would become this difficult. I feel that this process be maintained as much an inclusive one as possible, where maximum input of all political parties is obtained. I feel that the JVP should also be a part of that.

Q: Does this mean that you feel that the JVP was an absolutely necessary element to this process? Given the political backdrop can’t the process move without them?

The process needs all sectors of the people to be represented. The Tamil representation is of course the main interest at this juncture because of the military nature of the LTTE. But that doesn’t mean that the views of the Sinhalese and the Muslims are not equally important. All others become necessary so that any final solution reflects maximum support of the people of this country. Any solution that gets that support is more likely to succeed so that any opposition to a final solution is minimized as much as possible.

Q: Are you worried that any exclusion of the JVP may lead to another P-TOMs scenario?

I’m more worried because we need to work out a process that doesn’t lead to a polarization with the community in the South. That is why I appeal to the JVP to stay in the process. I can understand that we can only have a situation where we can work out a maximum understanding. And I understanding them not wanting to be involved where there has to be more at a final solution. But not to leave this early in the process and say what they say. It isn’t a reasonable position. I feel that they can and would very much like for them to be a part of this very important process.

Q: But can the process wither so much politically motivated obstacles? Isn’t time a crucial element to the whole process?

A: No it can’t. And it would have been easier for me to take a confrontational stand on the issue but as a policy I refuse to do that, in the interest of the country and the peace process. We must keep all political entities within the process. I have in fact put in place course of action to bring the JVP back to the process.

We can go ahead without the JVP. But it’s better if they come with us and I’m hopeful that they will.

Q: Many feel that the JVP’s lack of cooperation is nullified by the UNP position to remain committed?

No. Of course the fact that the UNP comes in with all this support certainly strengthens the position of the government, but the process can be so much better if there is support from a maximum number of political parties like the JVP. The biggest factor is that the UNP and the SLFP have come to an agreement. The most positive aspect of this process has been that the UNP and the SLFP signed a MoU and they are giving priority to the issue of the national question. If that support remains it can benefit the country tremendously. But we still can’t ignore the smaller parties, partly because they represent minority groups. Just numbers alone don’t mean we are being democratic. Everyone must be included, and not just religious or racial groups but also all of the political divide.

Q: The JVP claims that the report contravenes what the Mahinda Chintana stood for?

Firstly the Mahinda Chintanaya clearly states that maximum devolution would be granted within a unitary structure. So those who accepted that position and campaigned for it would like to work within that framework. But the fact remains that the new process has the inclusion of many political parties that did not uphold that position. A party like the UNP for instance can’t be expected to observe the Chintanaya. If you try to lay it down as a condition you can’t come to a common position.

Q: The position of the JVP is not new when it comes to the national issue and no one believes there can be a change to that. The government surely was aware of this when the process started. Isn’t their withdrawal really waiting to happen at some point?

Well, the process hasn’t come to a standstill. All the parties are giving it their fullest support. Infact the Jathika Hela Urumaya came for the meeting we had on Monday ( 18). And they made a statement that a newspaper report that the JHU was going to ask for the removal of myself as the Chairman was incorrect. They are very much a part of the process.

Even the JVP actually magnified a series of events which took place during this process and drawn conclusion of a conspiracy of trying to forge a pro-LTTE position. It’s possible that the JVP felt that they should get away from that. The fact remains that certain points of the report of Group B support those of Group A. It was not that the Chair wanted to give preference to Report A over B. There have been a lot of misunderstandings and exaggerations along this whole exercise.

I don’t know. Let us just try to make this whole process as inclusive as we possibly can.

Q: The accusation is also leveled that the INGO Berghof Foundation influenced the thinking of the panel?

As far as I know Bergof hasn’t submitted a document and isn’t among the 700 odd public documents received by the expert committee.

What happened is that they had a workshop at which various views were presented and invited members of the Committee and the APRC to participate. It was left to individual members to participate if they wanted to. I myself did not. I don’t think the accusation is warranted.

Q: Their accusation is based on allegations that the Berghof Foundation has earlier attempted making recommendations downsizing the armed forces, threatening national security. The JVP claims there is a link that is part of a bigger political game?

I frankly see this as a problem of deep concern to the whole of Sri Lanka and any ultimate solution to the issue is one we should all work as and getting maximum support from our people. I am unhappy with any outside influence whether it is INGOs, multilateral organizations or governments.

Their role should only be to support take the process forward. But we have to be conscious of the fact that we have to also win international support. If the LTTE tries to declare UDI its success or failure depends entirely on if governments outside accept that or not. We must not put ourselves in a position that affects that.

I’m aware of the history of imperial rule where they have always preferred to divide and rule. As far as I’m aware such imperialism is still very much alive and kicking and we need to be on our guard and always be mindful in our international dealings.

I have faced similar incidents in the past. I became a member of the LSSP in 1952 and have along the way faced many similar incidents.

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the employers of the plantation sector, must act responsibly to address the plight of the plantation sector workers, the majority of whom, economically and socially the most marginalised Tamils of Indian origin, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said Monday, expressing solidarity with the plantation workers in the up-country. "It cannot be denied that these plantation workers, through their sweat and toil, have continuously made a steadfast contribution to the country's economy."
Full text of the Press Release issued by the TNA follows:

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (Tamil National Alliance) expresses its solidarity with the plantation workers in regard to their demand for a reasonable wage. It cannot be denied that the plantation workers, the vast majority of whom are Tamils of recent Indian origin, are economically and socially the most marginalised section of Sri Lankan society.It also cannot be denied that these plantation workers through their sweat and toil have continuously made a steadfast contribution to the country's economy.It is regrettable that the contribution of these hapless people is not adequately recognized.

We consider it the duty of both the Government and the employers to ensure that these workers are paid a salary that is commensurate with their work, and also comparable with the wages received by other similar workers.The complaint of the workers that the wages received by them is inadequate for their survival and existence, should be given serious consideration by the Government and the employers.We strongly urge that a compromise which will reasonably address the demand of the workers and which is acceptable to them be arrived at.

R. Sampanthan
Parliamentary Group Leader
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi
Tamil National Alliance

CWC joins plantation strike

Two major political allies of Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa have joined hands with striking plantation workers.Both major trade unions representing workers of Indian origin, Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and Up Country Peoples Front (UPF) urged the President to take steps to resolve the strike.Both parties, whose leaders are Cabinet ministers of Rajapaksa government, accused each other of initiating the strike, "at a time of war".

The CWC have accepted an appeal by the UPF to join hands with the striking workers, CWC deputy leader R Yogarajan told journalists in Colombo.But the CWC leader Minister A Thondaman was not present at the press conference.UPF leader, Minister P Chandrasekaran, has met President Rajapaksa in an attempt to solve 14-day dispute. Details of the meeting were not available.Riot police were called to Shannon estate in Hatton as workers continued their Satyagraha in front of the estate.

The workers called on President Rajapaksa to increase their daily wages to Rs. 250. They have on Sunday rejected a proposal by the President to wait for the outcome of a Presidential Commission to redress the pay anomalies.The striking workers pledged to continue with the strike, if the authorities do not heed to their demands.The workers are demanding daily package of wages and allowances be increased to Rs. 300. They have rejected an offer by the employers to increase the package into Rs. 250.

The National Anti War Front yesterday called on the Government and the LTTE to maintain a ceasefire during the festive season.“We appeal to the two parties to recognize the immense human sufferings the people are facing as a result of the current hostilities. It has been customary for both parties to respect the festive season and refrain from hostilities, so that an opportunity is given to the people to celebrate festivals in tranquility,” NAWF said in a statement. It also called on all peace loving people including political parties, trade unions, professional, civil society and religious organizations to demand a political solution to the conflict.“It is our view that extremist forces are planning to disrupt and sabotage the President’s initiative in forming the expert committee to provide a just solution to the national question,” it said.NAWF together with all the progressive forces intend to organize peace rallies promoting a political package acceptable to all parties.

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers warned the army on Monday they would resort to pre-emptive strikes if the military pushes ahead with a declared plan to drive them out of rebel-held territory in the island's volatile east.The military says more than 17,000 war-displaced have fled camps in and around the Tiger-held town of Vakarai in the district of Batticaloa, some through jungle and others by sea, since early November to escape artillery duels.The army accuses the Tigers of using civilians as human shields and, to the shock of Nordic truce monitors, has vowed to push them out of areas they control under the terms of a tattered 2002 ceasefire pact which still holds on paper.

The rebels say the civilians are fleeing because of army artillery shells that have hit refugee camps and killed dozens. They deny they have held civilians against their will as some witnesses have said."The flushing-out plan ... is not about flushing out the LTTE, it's about displacing all Tamils," Tiger military spokesman Rasaiah Ilanthiraiyan told Reuters by telephone from the rebels' northern stronghold. "It has been happening since independence.""We will resist in every way. The Sri Lankan government is already in a full-fledged war. It takes two to tango," he added. "If they accumulate more forces to launch against us, then we will have to make pre-emptive actions in future."Asked if that would include attacks on the capital, given a spate of suicide attacks and killings in recent months, he said the pre-emptive strikes would be confined to the battlefield.

The military has hemmed the Tigers in to a 14-mile (22-km) stretch of coastline around Vakarai, and has already driven the rebels out of territory near the strategic northeastern port of Trincomalee further north."There is a threat to the civilians in Trincomalee south. They are firing artillery and mortars," said military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe. "So as a defensive measure, we have to get these LTTE mortars and artillery neutralised for these civilians to be resettled."Thousands of displaced are now crammed in to temples, schools and welfare camps in government terrain, many with little more than the clothes on their backs and living on food handouts.

The United Nations, the Red Cross and the international community have all called on both sides to halt the fighting and guarantee the safety of civilians trapped in the crossfire, but both sides have ignored them.More than 3,000 troops, civilians and rebel fighters have been killed so far this year in a series of land battles, air strikes, ambushes and attacks. The conflict has killed more than 67,000 people since 1983.The Tigers, who accuse successive Sinhalese-majority governments in Colombo of discriminating against minority Tamils, say they are intensifying their fight for an independent state in the north and east after President Mahinda Rajapakse rejected their demands for a separate homeland.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will hold a one to one meeting within the next two days to discuss the present spate of abductions and extra-judicial killings and matters pertaining to the national question.The issue was taken up at the UNP Working Committee meeting held yesterday, and party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed to take it up with the President at his forthcoming meeting.The Party’s Assistant Secretary and MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane told journalists yesterday that Mr. Wickremesinghe would also make a special statement on the situation shortly.“The UNP is highly concerned about the situation,” he said.Dr. Jayawardane said they also decided to support the government in Parliament to work out a solution to the national question. “This is not to create rifts between the government and its allies, the JVP and the JHU,” he added.

He said the members of the All Party Representative Council (APRC) had submitted four different reports on power devolution to resolve the problem. “The UNP will support any practical solution in keeping with the party’s stand and the MoU signed with the ruling SLFP. We are for a solution acceptable to all the communities under a united Sri Lanka. There cannot be any division of the country in this exercise,” he said. While scotching speculation that the UNP supported the report submitted by the majority APRC members, he said it was not advisable for them to comment on any report at this juncture given the sensitivity of the national question.

The reduction in curfew hours announced by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for Jaffna district brings little relief to the residents cut-off from rest of Sri Lanka, living with severe shortage of food and basic essentials, and gripped with fear of abduction by SLA and paramilitaries as part of the counter-insurgency campaign unleashed by Colombo, civil society sources from Jaffna said. SLA has issued directives that curfew hours will be limited to 11:00 p.m to 4:00 a.m. from Monday.Peninsula residents are unlikely to venture out of their homes after 6:00 p.m, for fear of being attacked, their identity cards confiscated, and their motor cycles taken away by SLA troopers manning the numerous sentry posts along the roads in the peninsula, civil society leaders. White van abductions also have been escalating in the peninsula in the last three months.

The announcement is another deceptive act of the SLA to create an impression to the outside world that normalcy is returning to Jaffna peninsula, residents said.The SLA clamped a 24 hours curfew on the peninsula when clashes erupted between it and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on August 11. This was later changed to 6:00 p.m to 6:00 a.m first and later limited to 8:00 p.m. to 5 a.m.Both private and government establishments too closed early in the evenings so that their employees and staff could be home before 6:00 p.m.

About 36,000 people who crossed over to government controlled areas from uncleared areas complain of difficulties faced by them such as milk food plus other necessities such as milk bottles teats mosquito nets basins.Our reporter from Kantalai reports that Virus fiver and malaria is quite prevalent and there is a scarcity of drugs.According to the media center for National Security up to yesterday 16139 of people have crossed over to the government controlled areas. 2229 people have crossed over only yesterday. According to the said centre 22373 people have crossed over since July 1st this year.Since April this year about 12,000 Sinhala and Tamil displaced people have come to live in Kiriveddiya Thanganar Schools and it is said that Tamils are scantily treated by the government and NGO’s. They are not in a position even to purchase any thing as shops are closed at Serunuwara.

Nearly 10,000 acres put under paddy cultivation too have become barren due to non availability of fertilizer.The students have kept away from sitting the GCE (O/L) examination due to confrontations of LTTE and government forces.Due to the prevailing war situation postal activities in Kantale and Seruwila have come to of stand still. It is said that thousands of letters are piled up at Kantale.15 people below the age of 35 who had came from Vakarai area to Thoppur are under police custody as they are suspected of having links with the LTTE. When questioned they have revealed that they received training under Marvapadai the LTTE home guard unit. Out of this 15 are kept at Vanella police station and 5 at Kantale police, under detention orders.

The parents of these people under arrest complain that they have fallen into another trap by coming into Sinhala area trusting the Sinhalese.When questioned by 'Lanka E News' The relief services Minister Mr. Amir Ali said that they maintain 8 camps in the Divisional Secretariat area of Kantale and the displaced people camped there are provided with the basics and they do not have any problems.The minister said there are about 20,000 displaced people in 20 schools and camps in Valachchenai area. As displaced people keep arriving daily he further said they will be maintaining two stores in Polonnaruwa and Valikanda area.A centre will be opened to screen the people who arrive from Vakarai from today at Punani Rideedenna, he said.

Sri Lanka's oldest political party, the Marxist Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), yesterday celebrated its 71st birthday. The Suriya Flower movement that was launched by the Colombo South Youth Association against the poppy flower campaign of the British colonialists pioneered the LSSP, which was launched on 18 December, 1935. The LSSP was the second major party in the independent Government of Lanka's first parliament. They became the major opposition in the 1956 government. The LSSP made a coalition with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and ruled the country from 1962 to 1965 and from 1970 to 1976. This period was marked with significant socialist reforms in Sri Lanka's economic political structure and the difficulties the people faced caused the LSSP's ultimate defeat in the 1977 general election that threw all the LSSP veterans out of parliamentary politics. LSSP is now a minor coalition partner in Sri Lanka's ruling United People's Freedom Alliance and one of its leaders, Prof. Thissa Vitharana, holds the post of Minister of Science and Technology

Students and academic staff of the Eastern University in Vantharumoolai, 17 km north of Batticaloa, have shut down the University in protest against the reported forced disappearance of their Vice Chancellor in High Security area in Colombo, Friday. Vice Chancellor Professor S. Raveendranath, a founder member of the EUSL, was forced to submit the resignation of his post in October to the University Grant Commission (UGC), to secure the release the Dean of the Arts Faculty, Bala Sugumar, who was abducted by the paramilitary force demanding the resignation of the Vice Chancellor. The resignation, pending approval by the UGC, had forced the VC to function from Colombo till he was reported missing.

At Vantharumoolai, the student's hostel stood vacated as most students left the University premises on Monday. "Academic freedom and intellectual diversity are totally suppressed in Batticaloa," an academic at the University told the TamilNet reporter who visited the University premises last afternoon."Professor Raveendranath is a genuine educationalist. He has no political association with anyone," the academic who did not wish to be named told TamilNet. Raveendranath, 55, father of two, who has been associated with the EUSL since it's inception, has been actively initiating collaborative programmes with external Universities. The paramilitary Karuna group, has imposed a press censorship in SLA controlled Batticaloa .Thinakaran, the Government owned paper, Thinamurasu, the paper owned by the EPDP and the Karuna Group's "Thamil Alai" paper are the only papers circulating in Batticaloa town. (Tamil Net)

The United States has pledged support to Sri Lanka and Somalia to help with the exodus of refugees, Reuters reported. The White House has announced that the US would offer $5.215 million for the welfare of refugees fleeing homes in these countries due to wars and insecurity. Thousands of Sri Lankans, the majority of whom are ethnic Tamils, are fleeing their homes due to escalating violence between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forces in the Northeastern Province of Sri Lanka. Thousands of Somalis fled their country in fear of fighting between Somalia's internationally recognized government and the Union of Islamic Courts after the Islamic Courts seized the capital and most parts of the country. Floods have also made thousands of families homeless as torrential rains pounded the central and southern provinces of the country, destroying hectares of cultivated land, Reuters reported.

Karuna cadres killed in Batticaloa

Three members from the breakaway Karuna faction of the Tamil Tigers have been shot dead in the eastern Sri Lankan district of Batticaloa.The members of Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulihal (TMVP) were shot at the main road in Chengalady town by unknown assailants, Eravur police said. A spokesman from the TMVP told the BBC that they suspect Tamil Tigers were responsible for the killing. He said the diseased were identified as Kanapathipillai Gnanaratnam alias Sudan, 22, Pakyarasa Nithyarasa alias Ilamolian, 20, and Sivakumar Nishanthan alias Iniyavan.TMVP also said that all three were unarmed and had gone to the area for political work.Acting magistrate for Batticaloa, Vinoba Indran, has called off the post mortem until Thursday

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The death of a top peace negotiator for Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels dealt a huge blow to the moderate cause, and could spark a backslide to full-scale war in the island nation, analysts say. Even before chief Tiger negotiator Anton Balasingham -- regarded as a moderate even by his rivals -- succumbed to cancer last week in London, Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka vowed to flush out rebels in the restive east. And diplomats involved in the Norwegian-backed peace process said Balasingham's death was a setback to their efforts to bring the two parties back to the negotiating table they left in October. "A peace deal with Balasingham would have been possible," said a Norwegian diplomat who declined to be named. "It will be a challenge for the Tigers to replace him. In the meantime, it is bad news for the peace process."

Two rounds of abortive peace talks this year failed to stem the separatist violence, which has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972. Analysts say Balasingham's death would reduce the moderates' influence on the process, adding it was only a matter of time before the country slips back to full-scale war with a formal ending of the tattered February 2002 truce. "I think we will see that happen sooner than later," said Sunanda Deshapriya, a director at the Centre for Policy Alternatives, an independent think tank. The two sides "will have to realise that the war is unwinnable before they decide to return to the table," he added. Freelance defence analyst Namal Perera said the country was already at a crossroads, and Sri Lanka's key international backers could be hard-pressed to prevent further hostilities. "The question is not if there will be war, but if there will be space for peace moves," Perera said.

Fonseka made it clear Wednesday that he intended to launch a drive against the Tigers in the island's east despite the truce, telling a Sinhalese-language daily that the "people will be liberated from the Tigers very soon". He said between 350 and 400 Tigers had been killed in the clashes in the Vakarai area last week, but did not mention any military losses. Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran also indicated that he would step up his campaign after declaring last month that he had no alternative but to press for outright independence for Sri Lanka's minority Tamils. In a eulogy for Balasingham, Prabhakaran said: "His death comes at a time when we needed him most, as our freedom struggle intensifies." Both the UN and the Nordic truce monitors have expressed concern that Sri Lanka is fast heading towards more conflict and urged both sides to protect the 35,000 civilians who could become caught in the crossfire in the east.

Such concern was previously channelled to the Tigers through Balasingham, the main contact for Norway and others involved in attempts to solve the Sri Lankan conflict. His December 2002 offer to consider a federal state for the Tamils instead of full-blown independence marked a watershed in the rebel campaign. The last round of peace talks in October, which Balasingham did not attend due to illness, ended in failure and was followed by Prabhakaran's vow last month to renew the struggle for independence. "Where is the ceasefire?" asked former rebel turned politician Dharmalingam Sithadthan. More than 3,500 people have been killed in violence in the past year. Each side accuses the other of starting the violence and both say they are acting in self-defence.

Despite President Mahinda Rajapaksa warning that the economy was heading for a major crisis, Estate workers, with their strike entering 12th day warned of all out action with more sectors including electricity, fuel, health, railways and education joining in the trade union action launched by them. Trade unions were split yesterday with some unions including the CWC and Jathika Estate Workers Union calling off their action after agreeing to the Rs 250 wage hike offered by the employers. However majority of unions were going ahead with the strike. Meanwhile Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva who was in Talawakele yesterday to have discussions with the workers had to return empty handed after the hostile approach taken by some unions.Trade unions are expected to meet today at the National Trade Union Centre to decide on the course of action.

On behalf of the estate workers, the National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) had called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to directly intervene on the matter. In a letter to President Rajapaksa, NTUC President K.D. Lal Kantha had said since it wasnot possible to negotiate with the subject Minister further, the President should intervene immediately. The NTUC also charged that several ministers had taken several steps, ignoring official circulars, resulting in many malpractices within the sector. The NTUC also charged that Ministers had neglected the unions Mr. Lal Kantha suggested that a Cabinet sub committee be appointed to look into the matter. The NTUC also warned it would be compelled to take stern action jointly, with all other trade unions, if the demand for the daily wage hike to Rs 300 was not granted immediately.

Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Athauda Seneviratne had said he had nothing to do with the issue, as it was the employers who would have to deal with the workers. Meanwhile, the hunger strike launched by the union on Friday, will continue until its demand for the daily wage hike is given by the employers, while it called on the Government not to drag the issue anymore, as the strike had already caused a loss of Rs 3 billion to the sector. It is also reported that the Employers have refused to increase the daily wage up to Rs 300, as they cannot afford it, but willing to hike it to Rs 250. However, the trade unions are of the opinion that the increase to Rs 300 is possible, as sufficient profit is being earned by them at the moment. There were several discussions between the employers and the workers last week, with Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake also intervening in the matter, with no success. It was during these discussions that the employers agreed to increase the daily wage up to Rs 250. In addition, the President also promised to appoint a commission to look into the problems faced by the estate workers.

Recent relocation of Jaffna bus terminal to Pannai by Sri Lanka Army (SLA), and overflow of traffic along outer peripheral roads due to reconfiguration of traffic flow including prohibition of parking, have created additional burdens to families from the islets entering and leaving Jaffna town, civil society leaders said. Restrictions of intra-islet travel, and of transport in interior land routes have added further hardships for the people in these areas. More than 50,000 civilians from 14192 families reside in the main population centers in the islands of Kayts, Karainagar, Velanai, according to a report from the welfare centers in the islets. The statistics include: Velanai - 17460 people of 4709 families, Kayts – 15147 people of 4388 families, and Karainagar – 10687 people of 3381 families.

The Kurikattuvan jetty located in Punguduthivu connects Neduntivu, Nainathivu and Analaithivu. With intra-islets ferry service limited by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) for the past few weeks, residents of the islets of Analaitivu, Eluvaithivu, Nainativu and Delft (Neduntivu) in the Northern archipelago are facing greater difficulties without means of obtaining their basic needs, the sources added.The distant- most Delft Island's Mavilathurai jetty is served by a single boat trip in the morning and the passengers are stranded in the island until the return trip in the following morning, the sources said.To add to the woes of the residents in the main islets, the transport by land too has been restricted to a single trip and as a result the vehicles proceeding to Kurikadduvan via Velanai and those traveling directly to Kayts in the morning are able to return only in the afternoon seriously hampering the free movement of the civilians during the day, civil sources said.

Passengers through the land route have complained of severe harassment and intimidation by the Sri Lankan Navy manning the check points, and residents are scared to travel other than for urgent needs. This has further worsened the plight of islet residents forcing severe economic hardships, deprivation of medical needs and hampering of educational activities, the sources complained.Visits of Sinhala pilgrims to the Buddhist shrine in the island of Nainathivu, which increased MOU was signed after remaining low for almost two decades, have come to a complete stop with the closure of A9.But the pall of Sri Lanka Navy presence continues to cast a shadow on Tamils who are still subjected to checks and regulations. The islets were terrorized in May this year when twelve residents of the islets were killed in two separate incidents.

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) troopers from Mandaithivu camp surrounded a civilian house in Allaipiddy in Mandaithivu islet, on 13 May this year, and opened fire killing 8 civilians.The same day three civilians belonging to same family were killed at their home in Puliyankoodal in Kayts by Sri Lanka Navy operated paramilitary gunmen while a tea-shop owner was also found shot dead near Velanai junction. Kayts district court Judge, Mr. Jeyaraman Trotsky, who rebuked the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for attempting to coverup the Allaipiddy investigations.Eighteen years ago, thirty eight Tamil passengers, travelling in boat called ‘Kumudhini’ from the island of Delft to the Kurikkatuvan Jetty on the island of Punguduthivu were hacked to death at sea by armed persons suspected to be Sri Lanka Navy personnel. Colombo took little interest in investigating the case, which was shelved after being taken up in the Jaffna courts briefly.

More civilians flee Vakarai fighting

Sri Lankan authorities say that over 8000 have fled fighting in Tamil Tiger held Vaharai.Batticaloa Government Agent (GA) Chelliah Puniyamoorthi told BBC Sandeshaya that over a thousand refugees arrived in government held Batticaloa on Sunday."They are temporarily given shelter in several schools," he said.The GA said that the refugees come through jungle routes adding that the main road was not safe for travelling. "Once they reach the Sri Lankan Army check point, they are provided with transport."Food for the refugees is sufficient for another week, said the Batticaloa GA.Government authorities have been reached for additional support."We have requested from Colombo to send more food," said GA Puniyamoorthy.However, he said that it is impossible to send supplies to over 35,000 trapped in Vaharai due to heavy fighting. He said, "We have asked the commissioner of essential services to get the permission from the ministry of defence in order to make arrangements by talking to both the parties".

Norwegian Minister for International Development Erik Solheim is likely to participate at the funeral of Anton Balasingham in London on Wednesday December 20.The Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer during his recent visit to Colombo had conveyed to Minister Mangala Samaraweera that Anton Balasingham was suffering from a terminal illness and that they would participate at the funeral in the event of his death. The death of Balasingham is posing a major problem to the Norwegian facilitators since he was the main link between the LTTE and the facilitators, according to a government source. However he said that Bauer and Thamilselvan are developing a healthy relationship since of late.

A Tamil woman gave birth to a baby boy at a military checkpoint hours after fleeing rebel-held areas in eastern Sri Lanka - where thousands are trapped in heavy fighting, the military said Sunday. Female Sri Lankan soldiers helped Latha, who like some Tamils uses one name, to delivery the boy. ``Our soldiers noticed the woman in pain and called our women soldiers who realized that she was in a very advanced stage of pregnancy,'' said military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe about Friday's incident. Samarasinghe said Latha and her husband Udaya Kumaran earlier tried to escape the war-torn northeast but were separated. The husband was later located at a refugee camp and the two were reunited. On Friday, the United Nations called on the rebels to let tens of thousands of Tamil civilians flee the area. Samarasinghe said a total of 17 refugee camps have been set up. Heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels has taken place over the last few weeks.

Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickeremesinghe was hosted to dinner by Sri Lanka’s representative at the UN Prasad Kariyawasam last Sunday during his visit to New York, which was also attended by UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy and Indian head of mission Nirupam Sen.The meeting took place at Kariyawasam’s residence and they had discussed several important issues.It is learnt that the reappointment of Radhika Coomaraswamy as UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict was also discussed at this meeting. Kariyawasam had organized this meeting and the invitees came around 7.30 p.m and left his premises around 10.30 pm. After the meeting all invitees sat for a dinner hosted by Prasad Kariyawasam.Meanwhile the Consortium of Sri Lankan Expatriates an umbrella organization of Sri Lankan associations in the United States,has launched a campaign to prevent the reappointment of Radhika Coomaraswamy as the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict for the next five year term.

VILLUPURAM: Expressing deep anguish over the genocide of ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi appealed for patience to resolve the decades-long issue.Addressing a meeting, after distributing improved lands to poor farmers on Sunday, he said, ‘‘I am pained to watch and read the news reports about the killings of Tamils in the Island.’’As the Sri Lankan Army kept butchering Tamils, they were cornered in their homeland and went as refugees wherever the doors were open in the world. More than 10,000 Tamils had been taken as refugees in Tamil Nadu for the past few months, he added.‘‘I contacted Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi recently and drew her attention to the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils. She considered the issue on a humanitarian ground and wrote to me recently,’’ he said.

‘‘Taking help from all the sections of the people in Tamil Nadu, I will take up the problem of the Tamils and strive to restore peace in Lanka. The State will take steps to protect the interests of Tamils, descendants of the great Chera, Chozha and Pandiya Emperors in the Island,’’ he said.On the OBC issue, he said, there might be several discrepancies in the proposed Bill on providing 27 percent reservation to them in the Central Government educational institutions in the country and these would be sorted out in the future. For the past five decades, the Sudras were waging a battle for development, he added.Today, the DMK-led DPA has become a partner in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre and many MPs were given berth in the Union Cabinet, he said and added that the party reached this position only after 50 years. The DMK would take up the issue, pertaining to the staggering implementation of the reservation policy with the Central Government and resolve the issue amicably, he added further.

Talking about the government scheme of distributing improved lands to poor farmers, he said the government had sanctioned Rs 3 crore for the first phase and 5 crore for the second phase.The scheme was launched on September 17, 2006, on the birth anniversary of late great visionary and reformist EVR Periyar. The developed land distributed to farmers on the 17th of every third months. The Chief Minister distributed pattas to 20 farmers on the occasion.Among others, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice K Venkatapathy, Minister for Higher Education K Ponmudi, secretary, Revenue Administration, S Adiseshaiah, MP Dhanraj and other MLAs spoke on the occasion.

It was, in a sense, a re-run of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s campaign in 1956, some 49 years later. The hastily assembled United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) was a virtual re-incarnation of Bandaranaike’s Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) coalition of 1956, not only in terms of its constituent parties but also in respect of the political philosophy it preached: that a more conservative-and not liberal- approach was needed to resolve ethnic issue, which was simmering even five decades ago.For the student of political history, there must be a sense of déjà vu in the events that have been unfolding in the past year, with the elevation of Mahinda Rajapaksa to the presidency.The November 2005 presidential contest was the closest this country has seen. There will always be those who argue that the United National Party’s Ranil Wickremesinghe lost the poll only because Velupillai Prabhakaran, leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) called for a boycott of the election, apparently to ensure a Rajapaksa victory.

But it is also a fact that Ranil Wickremesinghe was convincingly defeated in the South except in urban areas, especially in the rural heartland of the country and that too by wide margins. Therefore, even if Wickremesinghe had won he would have found governing quite a difficult task, an experience the incumbent President is becoming familiar with now.But what was more interesting, is the platform that Mahinda Rajapaksa campaigned from. His slogan was one of unabashed nationalism and his most convincing advocates were none other than the left-of-centre Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). Together, these two allies and their brigades of fiery speakers did more to swing the southern vote in Rajapaksa’s favour than all the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) put together.It was, in a sense, a re-run of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s campaign in 1956, some 49 years later. The hastily assembled United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) was a virtual re-incarnation of Bandaranaike’s Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) coalition of 1956, not only in terms of its constituent parties but also in respect of the political philosophy it preached: that a more conservative-and not liberal- approach was needed to resolve ethnic issue, which was simmering even five decades ago.

There is irony too, if one were to compare the campaigns of Bandaranaike and Rajapaksa. Bandaranaike, by breaking away from the United National Party (UNP) and forming the SLFP was challenging the old order of the Grand Old Party. Fifty years later, Rajapaksa was also challenging the old order- but ironically, it was the old order of the SLFP itself which was forwarding a potential leader who was not a Bandaranaike for the first time. The SLFP did forward Hector Kobbekaduwa in 1982 to contest J.R. Jayewardene but that was more out of necessity than invention and Kobbekaduwa was a Bandaranaike kinsman anyway.Where the comparison between the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Rajapaksa campaigns become more interesting is in the aftermath of their election victories. History, perhaps unfortunately, appears to be repeating itself.Bandaranaike, for all his fire-breathing about the Sinhala Only policy, entered into the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam (B-C) pact. Primarily, the Pact advocated the use of Tamil in the North and East. It also proposed an ‘amalgamation of regions’ for ‘specific purposes of common interests’.

However, Bandaranaike was to find the same nationalist forces that carried him to power, rallying against him on account of the Pact. Protests reached a high pitch, monks marched towards his residence in those days when high security zones did not exist Bandaranaike himself tore up the pact, in order to appease them. And the rest, as they say, is history.Is Mahinda Rajapaksa on the same road? For all his gung-ho during his presidential election campaign, Rajapaksa did not plunge headlong into war with the LTTE. The Ceasefire Agreement was not dumped and even two rounds of peace talks-no matter how nebulous they turned out to be- materialised.An All Party Conference was mooted to find a solution to the ethnic issue, but now that the conference-or its panel of experts-has publicised its proposals, it appears that all hell has broken loose in the UPFA.The JVP first raised strident alarm bells about the proposals, compelling President Rajapaksa to go on the defensive and announce that the APC experts’ proposals were not those of the government. Undeterred, the JVP has now walked out of the APC, placing its entire relationship with Rajapaksa in jeopardy.

Not to be outdone, the JHU is also on a campaign of its own to defeat what it sees as a sell out to the LTTE. Given that the JHU’s clout within parliament and even within the national electorate is lesser than the JVP’s, the impact of this opposition is difficult to quantify, but fasting Buddhist monks and fiery sermons are headaches that the President could do without, right now.But for all the déjà vu vis-à-vis 1956, President Rajapaksa has an unexpected ally. While S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike had to contend with a UNP smarting from its electoral drubbing in 1956 and J.R. Jayewardene leading the campaign against the B-C pact, Rajapaksa may well be able to enlist the support of J.R.’s nephew Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP which of late has held a more accommodating view with regard to the ethnic issue.It is the peculiar dynamics of the UNP that allow this marriage of convenience, but Rajapaksa would be foolish not to grab the chance. But of course, whether the forces within the SLFP will permit that, paving the way for the UNP to eat into its stranglehold on power is a different question but it is also a question on which the nation will judge the SLFP. Interesting times surely lie ahead.

Batticaloa district ICRC handed over to M. Mathy, Karadiyanaru LTTE head of political wing, Friday around 11:00 a.m, bodies of six Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres killed in an ambush by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and its paramilitary troopers Wednesday at Miyankulam. The LTTE cadres, injured in an earlier battle, were being taken for treatment across the Colombo-Batticaloa road at Miyankulam, when they were ambushed, Batticaloa sources said. Miyankulam lies on the border between LTTE held area in Vaharai and SLA held areas.

Three of the dead were identified as Ethirmannasingham Kannathasan, alias Sujithan, 18, of Kardiayanaru, Batticaloa, Abraham Ronard Antony, alias Thamil Mannan, 18, of Thanthamalai, Kokatticholai, Batticaloa and Tharman Jegan, alias Vipunakaran, 19, of Uthayanmoolai, Sithandy, Batticaloa. Details of the other three are not available.The remains five LTTE cadres were interred at Tharavai Heroes Resting Home and one at Thandiyady Heroes Resting Home with full military honours. LTTE commanders, combatants and local residents took part in the burial ceremonies held at both places.

“Acting on information received from a civilian, the security forces on Friday recovered a haul of 22 T-56 rifles and 48 T-56 magazines from an abandoned well in Nerichchami in Kayts,” military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.He said that earlier, also on information received from civilians, troops, in search operations, recovered 5,630 live rounds of T-56 ammunition from Karanthan, Kalviyankadu, Pandetherruppu, and Kottawatta in Jaffna. 4,750 live rounds were recovered from the Kottawatta area. On information from a civilian, troops on search operations, recovered 19 hand grenades from Pandetherruppu, Sirippiddi, Kopay and Navanthurai in Jaffna.

A soldier, attached to an Army cantonment in the North on Saturday (16) committed suicide by exploding two hand grenades.The Chavakacheri Magistrate Premshanker directed City Coroner Edward Ahangama to hold the inquest into the death of Private Ranasinghe Kankanamage Isanka (19) of Pitabeddara and forward the report. Giving evidence at the inquest, witness Samarakoon Mudiyanselage Weerasundara (25), of Gemunu Watch, said that on the day of the incident, at about 5.00 pm he heard the sound of an explosion, and along with other officers went to investigate. He said he saw the deceased fallen near a bunker with the left part his body shattered. He added that the deceased’s uniform was torn and the pins of two hand grenades were found on the ground, along with the deceased’s T-56 weapon. The witness said that there was no grounds to suspect foul play and the point where the incident happened was not accessible to terrorists.AJMO Taraka Elvitigala, who held the post mortem said that death was due to multiple injuries to both to chest and abdomen. A verdict of suicide was returned. PS 27689 Pathirana assisted in the inquest.

Sri Lanka Marxist party in trouble over media allegations against its Propaganda Secretary

Sri Lanka's Marxist party, the People's Liberation Front (JVP), is in trouble with a media revelation that party Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa allegedly attempted to sexually harass a young woman. A Sri Lankan newspaper published a recorded telephone dialogue a journalist had with the woman, who says she is a far relative of Wimal Weerawansa's wife. She was working in the government-owned Lake House when the reported incident took place. Internal JVP sources said the party has decided to give the eloquent party propagandist less prominence in future party activities. Wimal Weerawansa is one of the prominent leaders of the Patriotic National Movement also.

No solution to Lanka conflict till funding from West cut-off`

Unless all funding from the West to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is cut-off, the end to violence and a chance of political settlement in Sri Lanka is a distant dream, a leading American newspaper has said. In an editorial "peace and the Tamil Tigers?", the Washington Times has referred to the flow of funding from private sources to the Tamil Tigers from countries like the United States, Canada and in Europe with one major source of this funding being Tamil expatriates. "A successful peace accord cannot be reached in Sri Lanka until the financial support for the terrorist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam can be altogether strangled. The Tamil Tigers have one political goal: a division of the small island and the creation of a separate state.

"The Sri Lankan government, however, justifiably rejects this notion. The Tigers' pursuit of that goal, the last two decades of conflict and failed ceasefires have shown, trumps considerations of peace" the editorial said. It also pointed to the Tamil expats in the West being a major source and a group that is "isolated from the violence that their money supports". The paper pointed to a fund collection tactic that the Tamil Tigers are alleged to be resorting to in foreign countries. "These donations are sometimes made with the purposeful support of the Tigers, but -- alarmingly -- other times donations are coerced or extorted from Tamils living in the West," the editorial said attributing this to a report of the human rights watch.

The face of the TRO- American-born Arjunan Ethirveerasingam Interview source;The Nation

Q: TRO IDP camps were recently attacked in Vakarai. Can you tell us something about these camps, the people they held and what their position is right now?
A: The most recent one was on December 10. Approximately 40 people who were in three different TRO camps were killed. TRO has been the only organisation working in the Vakarai area because of the work permit rules where international NGOs are not allowed to go LTTE controlled areas unless they have work permits. As a result no INGOs work in those areas apart from the UN and the ICRC who have intermittent access depending on the conditions and approval from the GA and the Sri Lanka Army. So TRO officers have been living and working with the UN and the ICRC when they bring the food convoys or the tents. The TRO then coordinates the distribution, the record keeping of the IDP camp inmates etc, where they are. Once this shelling happened, TRO was helping bring the people to the hospital and assisting the ICRC to take the people to Batticaloa and Valachchennai hospitals. Communications are difficult. Phones lines work some of the time and sometimes not.
Q: Vakarai has been the constant target of aerial and artillery attacks and the situation doesn’t look to be getting any better any time soon. What is the feasibility of the TRO continuing to have welfare camps in such a volatile area?
A: We don’t force people to go anywhere or be any place they don’t want to be. We help provide services for them once they are displaced wherever they go, we help coordinate resettlement and provide them shelter and food and assist them to cook their own food. Work out water and sanitation issues. We respond to emergencies. It would be ideal for them to be housed in Colombo for the next few weeks but that’s impossible. We make do with the conditions that they’re in. One of our appeals is that the Vakarai area be declared a zone of peace or a safe zone, so that only the IDPs will be there and both sides will respect the civilian status. These IDPs are not involved in the conflict, they are affected by the conflict so they should be respected as being civilians and not be collateral damage.
Q: How do you respond to the government’s charges that the LTTE is using these IDP camps as a human shield and firing from areas in which there is a high density of civilians in order to provoke retaliation?
A: One of the things we say is allow the SLMM and the ICRC to spend the night in Vakarai and then they will know whether there is shelling coming from the camps. Our officers there, aid workers, categorically state that there was no firing from inside these camps. But if you want an independent international observer then by all means that is the best way to know. They will be able to tell you. The Sri Lanka government and the LTTE are both engaged in a war and I don’t much put too much weight in any public statements that either of them make.
Q: How have the new emergency regulations affected the operations of the TRO?
A: They haven’t really affected us. We have not changed any procedures. Two TRO vehicles were stopped in Valachennai, but that was because they had copies of the vehicle registration and not the original. So we sent the registration out to them and the police had checked with the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and cleared it and said it was TRO’s vehicles and it was all legitimate. We are a registered NGO in Colombo and the south and we operate according to the rules of the country.
Q: Your funds were recently frozen. Can you explain this?
A: About 80 million rupees – 75-80% of which comes from INGOS – the UN and even the government of Sri Lanka has about 200,000 rupees there because of the NECORD which is an Asian Development Bank funded project which we do in partnership with the government of Sri Lanka, so they have frozen their own money. So this 80% of funds which comes from UN agencies etc, is very carefully monitored by all these international organisations because they are very particular about where the money is spent. Twenty percent of the funds come from the Diaspora and we use that for our administration and overhead expenses since a lot of the INGOs don’t like to pay for administration costs. For instance A Save The Children organisation is building 36 pre-schools with us throughout the north east. We are working with the Sinhalese and Muslim communities also. They didn’t want to give any overhead costs so we use Diaspora money to build up that area. But yes, we are quite confident that our lawyers – some of the best in the country – Desmond Fernando, Romesh De Silva, Mr. A.P. Niles and others – they have all said that based on the evidence put forward by the Central Bank, the judge will rule in our favour. But so far, the last two months, it has been procedural points of law that they keep debating.
Q: News reports indicated that the TRO had moved its funds outside after the regulations came into effect. How do you respond?
A: We only came to know that our accounts had been frozen on August 28, when our accountant went to the bank to make their normal transaction to one of the projects in Batticaloa. They were told they cannot do it. So that is how we came to know and by that time the accounts had already been frozen. In fact as a result a lot of TRO staff has been cut, in terms of salaries and things. In Colombo key personnel only come in only on Monday, Wednesday Friday, they don’t come Tuesday, Thursday. But out in the field
people are working without salaries and we are existing on the cash reserves that we had at the time and local businessmen are giving us loans or goods on credit.
Q: Do you anticipate the banning of the TRO, as a front for the LTTE if the regulations become more stringent over time or if the PTA comes into effect?
A: It would all depend on whether or not we remain a recognised organisation or charity we would continue to operate as such. I don’t particularly know much about the PTA or the regulations, but someone was saying that there were provisions for humanitarian organisations to have interactions with the LTTE. But I was hoping that we would be able to continue, otherwise it would be a bad sign for the peace process, or what’s left of it. We came down here and registered in Colombo after the CFA and we had been in existence for 20 years before in the LTTE controlled areas of the north east. We were requested to do that by the Wickremesinghe administration and the UN as well. They wanted us to come and participate and we were one of the organisations bringing the peace dividend to the people of the north and east. A lot of INGOs were running around doing good work but we were the most grassroots organisation out there. So to have us be limited in our current situation out there would be a bad sign.
Q: There has been a shift in the way this current government looks at all NGOs across the board, the TRO included. In that sense, do you think that at some point, the TRO might be banned? Is this government more hostile to the TRO, are you having issues?

A: Doctors without Borders won the Nobel Peace Prize a few years ago and they have been accused of things. So I don’t know. But we have had difficulties in the last two years travelling in the north and east and our vehicles don’t have big TRO stickers on them because of the dangers involved – although not from the government as such or anything. But there has been a change in the atmosphere – it is more negative, but I won’t point at any group or any individual for that, I would say it is part of the situation in the country.
Q: What is the mood among people in LTTE controlled areas now?
A: The people are very disillusioned over the last four years. Peace has been promised and talked about, the peace dividend was supposed to filter down to their level. There has been prosperity in the south here and you can see it. But in the north east, the structures were debated and talked about and monies promised, but the development never came. The P-TOMS was signed and agreed on and then there was nothing. If you look at the number of houses that were built, just break down the government zone stats. It shows that 90 percent of the south is finished, the hotels are back in business but the north east is still for one reason or the other – conflict or lack of funds – is still suffering. That’s not just the Tamils, but the Muslims and the Sinhalese. Everyone wants peace but they realise that it is a difficult thing to achieve.
Q: The government recently levelled charges that tsunami aid given the north east – UNHCR tents and things – were being used in LTTE bunkers. TRO was most often the channelling agency for tsunami aid in the north east. How do you account for these materials becoming LTTE property?
A: UNHCR had their own operations there, they had their own presence and they were the lead agency for temporary shelters. We built about 9000 temporary shelters ourselves. There is this whole issue of decommissioning of temporary shelters. What happens to the materials? In most cases – in TRO cases – once people moved into the permanent houses built for them, they were allowed to take the materials and use it to build an animal shelter or storage room. What is given to the IDP person becomes their property and they don’t have to turn it back to the UNHCR or the TRO once it is given to them. So we had no control over what they did with it. Someone may have given it to his brother who was in the LTTE or something. It’s hard to tell. The government would blame the UNHCR for providing shelter, but the piece of tarpaulin may have been from 1995 or 1998, there were refugee camps in the past. They can’t track every piece of material. It’s a bit silly but it makes a good photo.
Q: The TRO has often been accused of being a fundraising arm for the LTTE’s operations. How do you answer these charges and maintain your credibility as an NGO is not jeopardised worldwide?
A: Every TRO office around the world is a separate organisation. They have their own function and charter in keeping with the laws of that country. In the US they are a registered charity – Canada, Australia it is the same. There is no overarching unit holding them together, like Save the Children or something. These are separate entities. They do fund raise in the names of that money will be sent to TRO Sri Lanka. In that sense they are all independent and what we say is that if any of them violate the laws of their country then they should be prosecuted under the laws of that country. It should not reflect on us. We are engaged in humanitarian work and if somebody jeopardises that by using our name they should be taken to task. We are confident that we haven’t been political and we won’t. We invite the Central Bank to look at our books and investigate us. We are an open, transparent organisation.
Q: What have the impact of the recent abductions, disappearances and extra-judicial killings been on the TRO’s security?
A: We have had people resign, we get faxes, threats and phone calls. Our people don’t travel much. Most of them live here. It’s a concern. During tsunami time and upto July this year, we had about 45 people working in an office over here. A lot of our foreign staff have now gone home. They came for development work and not to be involved in a war situation. In a conflict there is a limited amount of work that can be done – humanitarian relief and emergency response. But in peace time, there is room for development work, so you have more need. A lot of the people we had back then wouldn’t be very useful now.
Q: Under the circumstances, how safe is it for YOU to stay in Colombo?
A: I have received threats personally too. My mother wants me to leave. (laughs). When I first came there was a misunderstanding at a hotel, three guys when they found out I worked for TRO they assaulted me and knocked my teeth out and these are fake teeth I have now. I don’t tell people I work for TRO anymore. But now because of the kidnappings and everything I have been in the media a lot, so I have people recognising me. But our mission is humanitarian and we have worked in the north east and LTTE controlled areas historically, but we would seek to expand to all communities equally. We are in the process of building Sinhalese and Muslim pre-schools and we have some peace building things to bring all three communities together in the east and that’s a way forward and hopefully we’re able to continue that. The freezing of the funds is a political thing and hopefully, with due process things will get back on track.

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) is to consider supporting the controversial report of the Experts Committee 'A' which made sweeping recommendations on devolution to the All Party Representatives Committee last week as a "starting point" for a joint UNP-Government constitutional reforms proposal to end the northern insurgency.The Sunday Times learns that UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is to convey this position to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Mr. Wickremesinghe, who was on a working visit to the United States this week, has requested a meeting either today or tomorrow with the President. He is due in Colombo today.

The recommendations by eleven members from a panel of 17 titled report of the Committee 'A' has generated a political controversy with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) walking out of the APRC, slamming it as having gone beyond its brief by making political proposals based on the views of a German-based NGO.Mr. Wickremesinghe had also conveyed his position to both the Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns and Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher. The US, it is learnt, has endorsed the Committee 'A' report as one that could be "built on, quickly".Mr. Wickremesinghe is to brief President Rajapaksa on the outcome of his talks with US Government officials and convey the US position on the matter.

In Washington, Mr. Wickremesinghe said he was willing to provide President Rajapaksa with the parliamentary support he required to carry forward a joint UNP-Government set of proposals if the JVP withdrew its support to the Government on the same question.In an official statement released by his Office in Colombo, the UNP Leader has stated that the Party stands for a political settlement based on the Tokyo Declaration and decisions made at previous rounds of peace talks.Mr. Wickremesinghe who took with him the Committee 'A' report to Washington has now stated that he is in accord with views expressed in this report as a "starting point" for the formulation of Government proposals, but was uncertain whether President Rajapaksa was willing to carry its recommendations forward due to JVP opposition.

He had, however, not taken with him the report of the Committe 'B' written by a breakaway group of the main committee and headed by senior lawyer H.L. de Silva which critiqued severely the findings of the Committee 'A'. During his stay in Washington, Mr. Wickremesinghe had also spoken to Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim and Japanese special envoy Yasushi Akashi on the telephone to obtain their concurrence for a push by the Co-Chairs to impress on the Government to quickly place its constitutional reforms proposals as a means to end the Northern separatist insurgency.

The government is likely to throw away the so-called majority report which proposed far reaching constitutional amendments to facilitate the resumption of direct negotiations between the government and the LTTE.The LTTE quit the Oslo-led peace process in April 2003 during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure as prime minister.Although a section of the government still believed that the report could be the blue print for a negotiated settlement President Mahinda Rajapakse is sceptical. The president is of the view that the report submitted to the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) could not be implemented.

On a presidential directive Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa recently disowned the report. The Sunday Island learns that both the majority report and a second statement referred to as the minority report ignored hundreds of public representations. Although the 17-member panel received approximately 700 public representations, both from individuals and organisations the members had not perused them.A panellist said that they didn’t have access to the documents. There had been representations from Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. He speculated that public representations were ignored as the group responsible for the majority report pre-determined its recommendations.

Speculation is that India had been privy to the confidential report even before it reached President Rajapakse. Interested parties presented it as Sri Lanka proposals. Amidst the furore over the leaked document the JVP quit the APRC. The MEP and JHU too had dismissed the report. The TNA had never been a party to the APRC. Political sources said that the absence of the JVP, MEP, JHU and TNA had made the whole exercise worthless.

Ironically the UNP which boycotted the APRC to pressure the committee to accept two of its representatives, namely K. N. Choksy and G. L. Peiris, said it would join. The JVP vehemently opposed the inclusion of two UNP members as other political parties were given one slot. The UNP based its demand on the SLFP-UNP bilateral co-operation agreement which envisaged two slots for the UNP in the committee.The Sunday Island learns that the JVP opposed APRC Chairman Professor Tissa Vitharana’s stand that they would have to present a set of proposals acceptable to the LTTE.

The JVP and JHU yesterday called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to dissolve the Expert Committee appointed to extend legal expertise to the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) with immediate effect. JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe writing a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday informed that the JVP will consider rejoining the APRC in an endeavour to formulate a solution to the North and East problem if the Expert Committee is dissolved. He stressed in his letter that the JVP can not totally be a way from an effort to formulate a solution to the national question as a responsible political party.

JHU Policy Formulator Champika Ranawaka told the Sunday Observer that the Expert Committee has not been entrusted to prepare any report by the APRC and their report has no any legal validity. He too urged the President to dissolve the Expert Committee immediately. Ranawaka noted" the APRC almost reached an agreement on the village level power devolution but the Expert Committee report torpedoed the entire process". He urged that the majority report should not be taken up at the APRC for any discussion and it should not be influenced when drafting a devolution package.

The experts panel of the All Party Representatives Conference (APRC) is awaiting political direction, a member revealed yesterday. Meanwhile, despite the controversy that has erupted over the preliminary reports, panel chair M. D. D. Peiris has scheduled a fresh meeting for after Christmas so that the panel could "take stock, even if there is no response from the APRC". "The thinking was that we cannot sit on our haunches and wait," the member said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The panel must, at least, meet and think about a work plan for the new year."It is also learnt that Peiris will resign from the post of chairman in the new year. Asked for confirmation, Peiris said he was leaving the post "due to personal reasons". He also indicated that he had informed the panel of his decision well before the preliminary reports were handed over to the APRC.

Seven Internally Displaced civilians traveling from Kathiraveli to Vaharai in a two-wheel tractor were killed when an artillery shell fired by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) exploded on their vehicle at 5:00 pm Friday, injured passengers in the tractor told medical officials in Kathiraveli. The fellow passengers told the officials that they had to bury the dead before returning to Kathiraveli.Meanwhile, SLA continued shelling from the Kallar SLA camp towards LTTE controlled Kathiraveli region from 11:30 a.m Saturday, sources in Trincomalee said. Krishnapillai Venukanthan, 19, from Echilampattu, Trincomalee area who earlier was displaced to Kathiraveli was seriously injured in the SLA shell attack.New borns in Vaharai are suffering from matnutrition, Dr Varatharajan said of the deteriorating welfare situation in Vaharai. Two new borns weighed 800 gms when the average weight of a healthy new born is nearly 2.5 kgm Dr Varatharajan said. One of the underweight baby died, the gynecologist said.

The funeral of Anton Balasingham, the late theoretician and political adviser to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), is to be held in London on December 20. His body will not be brought to the land where he yearned to create an independent Tamil state. Leaders of his organization also will not participate in the funeral due to the United Kingdom’s ban on the LTTE. Sri Lankan government sources said neither has the LTTE made any official request to bring Balasingham's body to Kilinochchi nor has the government any intention to allow it.Balasingham, who was born in Batticaloa in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, grew up in Jaffna, worked as a journalist and translator in Colombo, and later migrated to England and obtained citizenship there. Balasingham, who had a MA in Marxist psychoanalysis, joined the LTTE in the late 1970s and led all its peace delegations from the 1985 Thimpu talks to the February 2006 Geneva talks. He died of cancer last Thursday at the age of 68 and is survived by his second wife, Adele.

LTTE Theoretician Anton Balasingham had made all arrangements for his funeral, 10 days before he passed away last week. Balasingham had instructed that no elaborate ceremonies should accompany his funeral and that his body should be cremated. He had booked the funeral parlour in London and booked the Alexandra Hall, close to his residence to keep his remains for public display for a few hours. Balasingham's instructions were that after the public paid their last respects, his remains should be taken straight to the parlour and cremated. "Put it in and put the switch on," he had told a friend during his final days. Balasingham passed away on December 14 at the age of 68.

Sri Lanka's Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) is going to hold 150 rallies in all but the country's North and East to build public opposition to "interventions" by international forces on the country's internal political affairs. The JVP expects to hold at least one rally in each Divisional Secretariat and the first of these was held yesterday in Kalutara, the home town of JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe and Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa. The JVP expects to hold 150 rallies within a month. The party claims that international forces intervene in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka with the hope of extorting the oil resources found in the country.

Prof SM Ravindranath, Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University based in the troubled Tamil district of Batticaloa, was kidnapped by an unidentified group while on a visit to Colombo on Friday.University sources told Hindustan Times that Prof Ravindranath was kidnapped at about 1 pm while he was on his way to a meeting.His family promptly filed a complaint with the police, alleging abduction.This is the first case of a VC being abducted in Sri Lanka.

Many see the kidnapping in the context of the on-going conflict between the Tamils of the Northern districts and the Tamils of the Eastern districts of Sri Lanka, which got accentuated after the LTTE commander Col Karuna split from the parent organisation, and began espousing the cause of the Eastern Tamils through armed action. Ravindranath's kidnappers, sources feel, may be representing the Eastern Tamils, and wanting to get rid of Ravindranath who is a man from Kokkuvil in the northern district of Jaffna.A well-known agricultural expert, Ravindranath had been under threat from this shadowy group earlier too, and had resigned about three months ago.But his resignation was not accepted. On the advice of the government of Sri Lanka, he was functioning from Colombo instead of Batticaloa.Some university sources, however, said that the kidnapping could well have been done by a group with some other interest."It is likely that people wanting out of turn promotions may be trying to get Dr Ravindranath out by foul means," a source said.Ravindranath was a stickler for rules, the source said.

The three universities in the war-torn North East Sri Lanka are unsafe for everybody, from the Vice Chancellor down to the students.Dr Ismail, VC of the Muslim-dominated South Eastern University based in Oluvil, was shot at by a disgruntled employee.The VC of Jaffna University, Dr Ratnajeevan Hoole, could not go to Jaffna to function as the VC, because the LTTE was threatening him.A Dean and some Professors of the Eastern University have fled the country out of fear.Non-Tamil students, allotted seats in the universities of the North-East, have felt unsafe and sought transfers, with the result, universities in the North-East have become ethnic ghettos.

Meanwhile, kidnapping of Tamil businessmen in Colombo and south Sri Lanka continued, after a brief lull.According the Civil Monitoring Committee set up by Mano Ganeshan (head of the Western Province Peoples' Front), a 42 year old Colombo businessmen, Maxie Bolton, was kidnapped on December 9 by five armed men posing as CID officers.T Puveneswaran, a businessman of Matara in South Sri Lanka, was kidnapped by two men posing as police.A few months ago over 50 Tamil businessmen were kidnapped from Colombo for huge ransoms.According to Ganesan, millions of rupees had been collected by shadowy groups allegedly enjoying the tacit support of a section of the police."How could the kidnappers escape every time, when Colombo was bristling with security personnel and innumerable checkpoints, if it was not for some connivance?" Ganesan asks.The government, however, had stoutly denied the charge. About the lack of progress in the investigations, the government would say that the victims' families were not coming out with any clues about the abductors, either out of fear or for some other mysterious reason.

Tamil National Alliance met Robert.O.Blake, American Ambassador in Sri Lanka, at the Parliamentary complex on Thursday(Dec 14) and appealed to him to recognize the justice in the cause for which the Tamil people are struggling on the basis that America is a country that had fought and won freedom for its people. In the two hour discussion, TNA Parliamentarians R.Sampanthan and Suresh Premachandren explained in detail and with statistics, the Present political situation in the North-East as the American Ambassador listened patiently. TNA pointed out that the activities of the Rajapakse government are directed towards a military solution, the closure of the A9 highway in the North and the A15 highway in the east have led to sufferings of the Tamil people and the enactment of the Prevention of Terrorism Act while the CFA is in force will pave the way for the arrest of Tamil civilians without any valid reason by the security forces.

TNA brought to the notice of the American Ambassador that due to the closure of these two main highways, the Tamil people in the peninsula and in Vaharai are driven to the brink of starvation, and that the displaced people from Muthur, who live as refugees in Vaharai are targeted by the security forces resulting in the killing of more than 100 refugees and injuring 100’s of refugees by mortar attacks. They cited that 30 of the injured people including children and women were brought to the hospital by the ICRC through the sea route overcoming many hurdles. They indicated that all these acts of violence appear to be on the hidden agenda of the government, otherwise the government could have contained them.

TNA Parliamentarians categorically stated that the proposals before the All Party Conference to resolve the ethnic problem do not meet the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people in any manner. The Robert.O.Blake told the TNA that the closure of A9 high way, the incidents in Vaharai and the ensuing human rights violations in the North-East are matters that cause grave concern to him. TNA Parliamentarians told that the deliberations they had with the American Ambassador were very cordial and encouraging.

K. Thurairetnasingam, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Trincomalee district, urged the International Community and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to convince the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), to demarcate a safe zone in Vaharai where thousands of Internally Displaced People (IDP) from Trincomalee district who had fled their homes due to SLA onslaught are currently trapped. Mr Thurairetnasingham condemned Colombo for engaging in a provocative military offensive to drive out the entire Tamil population from the Vaharai region, and added that the Sri Lanka military while refusing the freedom of movement to the Tamil civilians in Vaharai, is assisting the Sinhala population in the same region to set up new bunkers.

"I understand that the starving Tamil children in Vaharai are digging bunkers with bare hands and aluminum plates donated by Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to save them from shells and aerial attacks while funds and machineries are channeled to the Sinhala civilians living in Kallar in Trincomalee district, near the SLA artillery positions," the MP said."Furthermore, the starving refugees of Vaharai were forced to walk several kilometers and brave the seas for medical treatment and humanitarian assistance," the MP added,"In Trincomalee, we have witnessed in the past that many Tamils were chased away from their traditional villages from time to time by Sri Lankan Armed Forces and Sinhala extremists, and none of the displaced were later allowed to return home. What we witness today is ethnic cleansing."Hence, we appeal the International Community not to support the GoSL's agenda of driving Tamils away from Vaharai area and urge to work with SLMM jointly to find ways to demarcate a safe zone for poor people in Vaharai," he further said.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga has expressed shock and dismay over the Presidential order for her brother, Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike to be evicted from his official residence, Visumpaya. Kumaratunga said that she could not believe the Presidential directive following the meeting convened by Bandaranaike of the Attanagalla SLFP central organisation, which was attended by her. President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga on Monday called on Bandaranaike to vacate Visumpaya on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapakse. The Tourism Minister has refused to do so.

The President had earlier informed Bandaranaike that he was under surveillance by the LTTE and should restrict his movements. The President had further told Bandaranaike that he should continue to reside at Visumpaya since it was easier to provide security at that location. However, the Presidential order to vacate Visumpaya came after news that the former President had attended the Attanagalla central organi- sation meeting and received a rousing welcome. Kumaratunga told The Sunday Leader that she was horrified at the decision to compromise her brother's security by asking him to vacate Visumpaya.

She said when Anura Bandaranaike had offered to vacate Visumpaya after the presidential election it was President Mahinda Rajapakse himself who had advised him to stay on, citing security considerations. "Nobody can stop the Bandaranaikes from working for the people in Attanagalla," she said. The former President also observed that neither the Bandaranaikes nor the Attanagalla electorate could be wiped out by anyone, adding that she would not allow anyone to do so.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's appointment as a Consultant for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for South Asia has been suspended by the world body due to complaints over violations of human rights and press focus."This issue is now under review," Muriel de Pierrebourg, spokesperson for UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura confirmed to The Sunday Times last night. She made the comments from the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

A letter Mr Matsuura sent to Ms. Kumaratunga's London address states that these accusations against her "could undermine the objectives" of UNESCO. In that he asked her to change her arrangements concerning her plans to visit Asia. It had been sent from New York where he was attending the launch of Global Monitoring Report on EFA at the time. He said her assignment on behalf of UNESCO, had come to the attention of various human rights watch groups and she had been the subject of "very harsh criticism and press focus."Ms Kumaratunga who ended her second term in November last year, soon after Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in as President, lobbied strongly for the UNESCO assignment. This was through United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan who relinquishes office on January 1 next year.

Press reports also stated that she sought and obtained the support of French President Jacques Chirac for this job. After the appointment was made, Ms Kumaratunga declared that she had expressly sought to leave out Sri Lanka and deal only with other South Asian countries. "Given the sensitivity of your mission with its subject area," Director General Matsuura has said, "I am concerned that the perceptions held by these human rights groups could undermine the objectives of a future relationship and your generous desire to further the work of UNESCO in South Asia in a mutually beneficial way."

Mr. Matsuura has told Ms Kumaratunga, "In the light of these developments; I must also re-examine the proposed arrangement with you; however, I will revert to you as soon as possible on the outcome of this reconsideration." He has apologised for the "inconvenience, which he has said is "beyond our control." According to the Director General's spokesperson last night, the matter is still under review. Mr. Matsuura has added: "I am very mindful of your continued commitment to education for all and your desire to assist the region of South Asia and so I ask your understanding of this unexpected development and the need to ensure that UNESCO's ability to advocate on behalf of these goals remains paramount."

Last week, Ms. Kumaratunga visited her former electorate of Attanagalla and told Sri Lanka Freedom Party workers there that astrologically it was good for her in April, and that she would return to active politics by then.The former President’s office spokesman, Piyasena Dissanayake, denied any personal knowledge of the UNESCO intimation to Ms. Kumaratunga.He provided to The Sunday Times the contact details of Ms. Kumaratunga’s office. When the newspaper contacted officials in her office for a comment from Ms. Kumaratunga, they assured they would convey the message to her. However, there was no response from her.

Civilians in Jaffna are planning a white Christmas as a mark of protest against the prevalent security and the humanitarian situation in the peninsula. Civilians are planning to dress in all white devoid of any fancy jewellery during Christmas celebrations as a mark of protest. "How can we celebrate when there are people dying daily. Many of our loved ones have been killed and abducted. We do not know where our relatives are. We have all been separated," a civilian from Jaffna, Mary Theresa said. Religious leaders in Jaffna have also advised the parishioners to halt all Christmas related celebrations and observe a sombre mood during the festive season.

"We have informed all the people that there should be no celebrations. There can be no celebrations amongst such suffering. There will only be the Christmas mass and no further celebrations," the Parish Priest from the St. Nicholas Church in Jaffna, Father M.V.E. Ravichandra said. He added that they would also welcome the move by the civilians to dress in full white as a mark of respect for all those who have suffered and died in the past few months. The situation in Jaffna has deteriorated since August 12 when the A9 Highway was closed. Foreign aid agencies have pulled out foreign staff from Jaffna and aid workers have warned that the situation has hit rock bottom in the last month.

The Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies in its latest monthly assessment report said that the reign of terror had retuned to Jaffna with unidentified gunmen and armed groups roaming the streets without any hindrance. Abductions and revenge killings have also been on the increase. The CHA said that there was an urgent need for medicine and essential items. Law enforcement authorities should act with responsibility and be on the alert to bring culprits to justice, the CHA said. "The trauma of being trapped inside a war zone should be erased from the minds of the people," the CHA added.

The country's tourism industry is in a downward spiral due to the prevailing security situation, and hotels in a bid to reduce costs have adopted cost reduction measures which include the laying off of staff. All the resorts and city hotels have recorded a very low bookings for the next three months in the peak winter season claims the Vice President, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) Srilal Mithapala. The THASL has carried out a survey in all its member hotels and the highest occupancy forecast is currently in the range of 40-50% according to Mithapala. "This is a devastating situation particularly considering the fact that from December to March is the peak season where very high arrivals are experienced but the adverse publicity the country received in the last few months was very badly timed as October and November was the peak booking period for the winter 2006/ 2007 season. Hence bulk of the prospective bookings have gone to other destinations," Mithapala said.

According to Mithapala, as a direct result of this downturn all hotel companies in an effort to minimise their losses are implementing cost reduction methods, which include laying off staff as well. "This would lead to a sizeable number of staff being unemployed and in addition the service charge which is an important component of the overall remuneration package coming down sharply thereby affecting those who are employed resulting in a radical reduction in their monthly earnings. Apart from this those who are indirectly involved in the leisure sector too will have to suffer," he added. Mithapala further stated that it was from mid 2006 that the industry started to fully recover from the 2004 tsunami. "This is evident from the arrival figures up to September 2006 which is 443,972 in comparison to the same period in 2005 which was 405,585 which is a 9.5% increase. Revenue increased from US$ 241.1M to US$ 349.8M for the same period which is a 45.1% increase. However from late October the country's security started deteriorating and occupancy levels dropped dramatically with cancellations. Currently hotels are discounting heavily to try and attract whatever business is available," Mithapala said.

R. Sampanthan, the Parliamentary Group Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), in a condolence message following the demise of Liberation Tigers theoretician Anton Balasingham, said: "Mr. Balasingham had a clear understanding of the inequalities and inequities to which the Tamil people as a whole, were consistently subjected by the Sri Lankan State. He was also aware of the collective violence unleashed against the Tamil people when they engaged in peaceful protests and civil disobedience campaigns. He also had clear comprehension of the political aspirations and goals of the Tamil people. He was able to articulate the views of the Tamil people on these questions with clarity."R.Sampanthan, leader of the parliamentary group of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)

The demise of Mr. Anton Balasingham at a critical juncture in the political struggle of the Tamil people, has caused much grief. For several decades, the Tamil National Struggle was non-violent. Failure to resolve the Tamil National Question peacefully, inexorably led to an armed struggle. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were in the forefront of that struggle. Mr. Balasingham was the theoretician and a principal player in the formulation of the political strategy of the LTTE. Mr. Balasingham represented the LTTE at negotiations and was the chief negotiator of the LTTE.

Mr. Balasingham had a clear understanding of the inequalities and inequities to which the Tamil people as a whole, were consistently subjected by the Sri Lankan State. He was also aware of the collective violence unleashed against the Tamil people when they engaged in peaceful protests and civil disobedience campaigns. He also had clear comprehension of the political aspirations and goals of the Tamil people. He was able to articulate the views of the Tamil people on these questions with clarity.

He thus played a very useful and valuable role in the furtherence of the struggle of the Tamil people towards the achievement of their legitimate goals and aspirations. His demise at this time creates a great void. He could have continued to be of immense service to the Tamil people. Mrs. Adele Balasingham had always been a source of great strength to him in every possible way. We convey our very deep condolences to Mrs. Balasingham and all others who are grieved by the demise of Mr. Balasingham.

A source of unwavering strength in the political and diplomatic efforts of our freedom movement, and the light of our nation is extinguished. Bala Annai, from whom I sought advice and solace, is no more with us. It is an irreplaceable loss for our entire nation and for me.

Bala Annai’s life has been much too short. His death comes at a time when we needed him most, as our freedom struggle intensifies. I cannot find words to express my grief and loss.

From the beginning of our struggle, when we first met, there was a deep mutual understanding. The fondness that rose from that understanding developed into a rare friendship. We thought and acted in unison. Our friendship grew in strength through our shared day-to-day experiences. This friendship stands apart from ordinary human relationships. It matured with time and was shaped by our shared history.

I was deeply fond of Bala Annai. In the great family that is our movement he was its eldest son and its guiding star for three decades. That is how I looked up to him. During the time we lived together as one family, I came to realize that he was no ordinary human being. He was strong and unshakable even during the illness that threatened to take his life and the severe pain that illness brought him. The strength of his soul was inspirational. I grieve for him.

Bala Annai has a permanent historic place in the growth and the spread of our movement. He was its elder member, its ideologue, its philosopher and, above all, my best friend who gave me encouragement and energy. He shared my sorrows, my anxieties and my travails. He was with me from the very beginning of our movement, sharing its challenges and hardships. He was the central figure in all our diplomatic efforts.

Saluting the immeasurable service he rendered our nation in the political and diplomatic arenas and the efforts by which he put our national freedom movement on the world stage, allowing our nation to stand with dignity, I am proud to bestow the title of ‘Voice of the Nation’ on Bala Annai.

The funeral of Mr. Anton Balasingham, the theoretician and chief negotiator of the Liberation Tigers who passed away Thursday, will be held on Wednesday 20th December at Alexandra Palace in London, official sources said. The venue would be open from 8am to 3pm that day for people to pay their respects.The Palace is located on Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London, N22 7AY

Norwegian minister Erik Solheim, who last met Tamil Tigers ideologue Anton Balasingham only a week ago, says his death is a setback to Sri Lanka's tottering peace process."He was such a towering figure in the peace process. So it will now become more difficult without him," Solheim told IANS in a telephonic interview from Oslo, saying he was deeply saddened by Balasingham's death in London Thursday."I feel very sad," said Solheim, who enjoyed a close rapport with Balasingham and had more than 100 meetings with him, mostly in London, since Norway began taking interest in Sri Lanka some six years ago, leading to the 2002 ceasefire between Colombo and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Solheim, who for years was Norway's special envoy to Sri Lanka and still oversees the peace process, said Balasingham believed that only a negotiated settlement would end the violence in the island nation."He wanted to make peace. He saw the formula in Oslo in 2002 (agreement between LTTE and Colombo), exploring a federal solution, as the only way out in Sri Lanka," said the Norwegian minister."He was very, very sad to see that the situation in Sri Lanka had become more negative compared to three or four years ago. He was also confident that ultimately there would be a negotiated settlement."His wish would be that we should keep on where he left. I am clear about that. We need to remember this."

Solheim described Balasingham, who was a confidant of LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, as someone who was "very dedicated to the Tamil struggle" although "he was very much looking forward to a negotiated settlement".Solheim added: "He was one of the persons in the peace process who never lied to me. He always spoke the truth as he saw it. I had great amount of respect for him... He was a very tall figure."While Norwegian leaders kept in touch with their Sri Lankan counterparts, Solheim remain in contact with the LTTE primarily through Balasingham, a British citizen living in London with his Australia-born wife Adele.

Solheim last met Balasingham a week ago at his London home. By then, Balasingham, who for years has suffered from diabetes and resultant complications and had became a patient of cancer, had stopped eating and knew that his death was not far off.Solheim said: "He told me: 'It will be a matter of weeks (for me to die)'." Eventually he died Thursday.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday condoled the demise of LTTE chief peace negotiator Anton Balasingham. Balasingham passed away at his residence on Thursday in UK after battling cancer.In his condolence message, Karunanidhi said that Balasingham, till he breathed his last, had considered the problems of Tamils more important than his failing health."His demise is an irrepairable loss," he said in his message to Balasingham's wife.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem said yesterday the death of Anton Balasingham who led the LTTE campaign to internationalize the Tamil struggle in Sri Lanka, was likely to create a vacuum in the LTTE team.In a statement of condolence Mr. Hakeem said that during his interaction with Mr. Balasingham at SLMC-LTTE bilateral talks as well as the six rounds of peace talks of the UNF government,, he came to realize “his (Balasingham’s) skills as a negotiator and his unfailing commitment to the Tamil cause.”

“While being fully focused on the Tamil cause, Mr. Balasingham also managed to liberally exercise his right to dissent while conforming to the general consensus of the organization, thus creating his own niche in the leader-centric rebel movement,” Mr. Hakeem says.Recollecting his one-to-one talks with Mr. Balasingham in London in September 2002, Mr. Hakeem said that during this meeting the LTTE chief negotiator reiterated the LTTE’s stand that his organization was in agreement with the SLMC position that Muslims should be granted an independent delegation at peace talks.

This was followed by a statement by the government of Norway that Muslims would be represented by an independent Muslim delegation from the second round of talks onwards.“His message to Sri Lankan Tamils, on being diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago, exemplified his unwavering commitment to the cause despite his private tragedy while his recent comments especially on the assassination of former Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi were evidence of his coming to terms with political realities,” the SLMC leader said.“The SLMC conveys its condolences to his wife Mrs. Adele Balasingham who had been an invaluable companion in Mr. Balasingham’s illustrious and eventful passage to win autonomy for Tamils in Sri Lanka,” he added.

Against the backdrop of reports on explosives being sent to Sri Lankan Armed Forces triggering concern among political parties in Tamil Nadu, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday said the central authorities have assured her that no such explosives have been provided to that country which can be used against its civilians. "I have been assured by the central authorities that the policy of Government of India is not to provide the Sri Lankan authorities with any arms or materials that could be used against the civilian population, especially Tamil population", she said in a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, a copy of which was made available to the press.

Replying to Karunanidhi's letter of December 1 about reports on interception of a vehicle carrying explosives, Gandhi said she was told that a shipping agent was "claiming that the explosives were meant to be distributed to private explosives sellers through the Sri Lankan Navy for use in sea blasting, dredging and blasting of rocks".Central authorities were trying to confirm this. "The circumstances under which and the authority under whom the detonators and explosives were sent would, I am assured, be properly enquired into", she said.Gandhi said Congress party's stand was that nothing should be done that would affect the lives of the Tamils in Sri Lanka whose "welfare remains a matter of utmost concern".Gandhi's letter comes after several political parties, including PMK, had alleged explosives were sent to Sri Lankan Armed Forces.

A senior British diplomat was summoned by Sri Lankan police after he photographed a presidential motorcade with his mobile phone, the British High Commission said on Friday, terming it an "innocent mistake".The incident comes in the wake of a raft of new laws imposed to crack down on Tamil Tiger rebels and their supporters as the island's two-decade civil war entered a new, violent phase.Photographing security posts and government buildings is prohibited in the capital, Colombo, where green sandbag turrets bristle with assault rifles and ministerial motorcades whip through town with heavily armed guards.

"We can confirm that a British diplomat (the Head of Political and Development Section at the High Commission) was asked to visit a police station today so that a photograph of the president's motor cavalcade on his mobile phone could be examined," the High Commission said in a statement."The individual is new to Sri Lanka. He made a genuine innocent mistake in taking the photograph, which was for personal interest as a souvenir," it added.Suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bombers have mounted a series of attacks in the capital this year, including a failed assassination attempt against President Mahinda Rajapakse's brother earlier this month. Police have arrested several suspected rebels caught filming high security zones downtown."Security is very tight at the moment, especially around the president, and the police are at liberty to question anyone," said police spokesman Rienzie Perera.

Refugee boat capsizes in Sri Lanka, 4 killed, 2 missing

A boat transporting ethnic Tamil refugees capsized off eastern Sri Lanka on Friday, leaving four dead and two missing, police said.The refugees were fleeing the rebel-held village of Vaharai in eastern Batticaloa district, where there has been heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels.The United Nations said on Thursday that about 35,000 people have been trapped in Vaharai by the fighting between government troops and guerrillas, and were suffering from indiscriminate shelling.The government claims the rebels are holding them captive as human shields, while the rebels say the government has sealed the only road out of the town. The jungle paths in and out of the village are mined and unsafe.Refugees who managed to leave Vaharai on Friday told The Associated Press that they were held forcibly by the rebels and managed to sneak out when the guerrillas were involved in fighting.

The United Nations is distressed to hear about the tragic loss of life today of 7 internally displaced persons including a young child whose boat capsized as they tried to reach safety away from Vaharai. More are feared dead as two boats remain missing. People are risking their lives daily on small boats and more such accidents will occur as vulnerable people are desperate to reach safety by any means, land or sea. The United Nations urges both parties to find immediate means to ensure the safe passage and protection of civilians in the Vaharai area. The United Nations calls for a cessation of hostilities by both parties and urges the LTTE to facilitate and allow IDPs to leave the area and that the Sri Lankan Army grants and ensures their safe passage. We call on all parties to comply with their obligations under International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, as expressed in the Security Council Resolutions on the Protection of Civilians and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

Orla Clinton
Spokesperson for the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka
Mobile no: 077-320-7505
E mail: clinton@un.org

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had met his erstwhile buddy, Milinda Moragoda at a mutual friend’s residence recently. Although both parties declined to reveal the outcome of the meeting, a well informed source said that it apparently helped to break the ice."It didn’t come as a surprise," the source said. The meeting, at the Inner Flower Residence of the business magnate, had been followed by a visit to Temple Trees. Speculation is that the businessman accompanied Moragoda to meet President Mahinda Rajapakse to discuss way out of the current political impasse.

The Temple Trees meeting triggered speculation that Moragoda was seeking to reach an understanding with the President on behalf of a section of the Reformists. Sources close to Moragoda denied the charge.Wickremesinghe’s camp said that any attempt to engineer crossovers would be against the SLFP-UNP bilateral agreement which envisaged a two-year honeymoon between the two major parties. The President should not expect the UNP to honour the agreement if he sought a private arrangement with a section of the UNP parliamentary group, the sources said.

Sri Lanka's central bank to raise key interest rate for the fourth time

Bloomberg reported that Sri Lanka's central bank might raise its key interest rate for the fourth time in 2006 after inflation climbed to a 10-year high.The Central Bank of Sri Lanka will increase its benchmark policy rate by half a percentage point to 10.125 percent, according to six of 10 analysts in a Bloomberg News survey. Four expect a quarter-point increase. The bank's decision is due in Colombo early next week Sri Lanka's central bank, which last increased borrowing costs in an unscheduled move on Sept. 28, left its key rate unchanged in October and November to boost economic growth. Government borrowing and consumer loans are fueling inflation, which accelerated to 19.8 percent last month, adding pressure on the central bank to raise rates again, analysts said. Consumer prices in the capital Colombo rose 19.8 percent in November from a year earlier, after increasing 17.2 percent in October, the Department of Census and Statistics said. That's the most since October 1996.

A breakaway rebel faction said Thursday it killed 20 members of the mainstream Tamil rebel group during a raid on a camp. Tamil Tiger rebels have fought since 1983 to create a self-ruled homeland for Sri Lanka - 's 3.1 million minority Tamils because of discrimination by the majority Sinhalese. A Norway-brokered cease-fire signed in 2002 officially stands, but is in tatters as open fighting resuming this year, killing 3,500 fighters and civilians. More than 65,000 people were killed in the conflict before the cease-fire.

Sri Lankan Puppet Minister clashes with Indian Minister on supply of food to Jaffna

In a recent visit to New Delhi, the Sri Lankan Puppet Tamil Minister, Douglas Devananda appealed to T.R. Balu, Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, to provide ships to carry humanitarian aid to Jaffna. Despite the agreement between the two to keep the talks confidential Balu told the Indian media that he had rejected the appeal.Puppet Douglas Devananda: "The ship was needed to transport food items purchased in Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lanka Government to feed our people in the Peninsula."Tamil Traitor Douglas Devananda states the Balu had misunderstood the whole conversation. He told the "Asian Tribune" from Jaffna : "The ship was needed to transport food items purchased in Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lanka Government to feed our people in the Peninsula. It was for this purpose that I asked the Minister the ship. I think he has misunderstood my request. He must have thought that I was talking about the food items collected by the Indian Government to provide the people of Jaffna. This is not my problem. If in case the Government of India come forward to donate food and other essential items to the people in the Jaffna peninsula, then it is the problem of the Central Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu to make suitable arrangements to ship those food items according to the agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka.

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Brain behind the Tigers' brawn

Anton Balasingham, whose death from cancer was announced on Thursday, was the ideologist of the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka. Officially know as the group's political adviser and theoretician, for over 25 years he played a unique role in the political struggle of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority. Over the years, this normally reticent man was the public face of the Tamil Tigers. Living in London, it was his job to communicate with the outside world about the aspirations of his people.He was the main force in bringing the attention of the world to a forgotten war in this small island nation.

Earlier in his life, Balasingham worked as a journalist in one of the Colombo newspapers before joining the British High Commission in Colombo as a translator. In his youth he was an activist of the left, before he came to London to study for his doctorate. Many commentators believe Balasingham was the moderating force - always on the search for a political solution - within one of the most belligerent rebel organisations in the world. He is known for his relentless attempts to bring the Tigers to the international negotiating arena. It was mainly due to his perseverance that the Tigers acquired a reputation as a progressive organisation among certain liberals in the west. He was able to live in Britain even though his organisation is proscribed by the UK government. For over a decade however, Balasingham was plagued with physical ailments. Apart from bile duct cancer, he suffered from chronic diabetes, motor neurone disease and acute kidney failure.

Despite these illnesses, however, he never stopped his persistent campaigning to extend the armed struggle to the political arena. In his memoirs, he wrote how sceptical the Tiger leader, Prabhakaran, had been about the national leadership of Sri Lanka. He described how he managed to persuade a reluctant leadership to engage in peace talks, arguing his point time and time again that this was the right course of action. Although he was not a part of the delegation in the first round of talks of 1985 in Bhutan, he was the main adviser to the Tamil delegation. Subsequently, he was actively involved in peace negotiations with many governments in Colombo.

Balasingham represented the Tigers in many of these talks as the chief negotiator. He accompanied Prabhakaran at almost every meeting held with Indian and Sri Lankan political leaders, where he played a double role as interpreter and as adviser to the reclusive Tiger supremo. Analysts who had studied the role of Balasingham within the organisation say his departure will create an irreplaceable void within the organisation. "Balasingham was the only person in the organisation who addressed the leader as an equal. Prabhakaran respected him as a teacher or an elder. There is no one else who has got such influence over the leader any more," says senior Tamil journalist DBS Jeyaraj.

With such power and respect, Balasingham will be remembered as perhaps the only person able to criticise certain decisions of the Tiger leader who is revered - and feared - for his teachings and diktats. "We respected him as a guru. All of us read his books. He motivated us for our struggle," says the Tiger's military spokesman Rasaiah Illantherian. Balasingham's high profile in the West, and his knowledge of the politics of the outside world, were an asset for the Tiger leadership which has never had much exposure outside of South Asia. His departure will be a blow not only to the Tamil Tigers but also to many in the south of the country. He provided a thread of hope for a peaceful resolution to the seemingly intractable and escalating conflict of Sri Lanka.

Liberation Tigers officials in Kilinochchi announced a 3-day mourning period, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, for the death of LTTE's theoretician and political advisor Anton Balasingham. Meanwhile, representatives of the diaspora Tamil organisations, expressing condolences following the demise of Mr. Anton Balasingham, have also announced a 3-day mourning, according to IBC Tamil radio. The funeral arrangements are yet to be informed. "It is with profound sadness that we record the death of Anton Stanislaus Balasingham, the political advisor and chief negotiator of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who passed away in London this afternoon," said Tamil Information Centre (TIC) in London in a condolence message. "Balasingham devoted the major part of his life to the Tamil liberation struggle.""His knowledge, experience and the confidence he enjoyed with the leader of the LTTE contributed to the course of the peace talks. His demise is a huge loss to the LTTE.""The death of Balasingham is a loss of another leader in the Tamil national struggle and who contributed to the peace process."

APRC process to resolve ethnic conflict will continue despite JVP pulling out

The All Party Representative Committee deliberations, aimed at finding a solution to the ethnic conflict, will continue despite the JVP pulling out of the committee, the government said yesterday. Government spokesman and Media Minster Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing in Colombo, said that the APC expert panels report did not necessarily reflect the views of the government."We are in the process of obtaining a cross section of views. The final solution will be arrived at after considering all opinions. Meanwhile the APRC will strive hard to achieve a consenus."

Yapa, said it was unfortunate the JVP had quit the APRC, but the door is always open for them to return.Asked if the JVP-government honeymoon was over, he said that was not so "We expect them to return to the APRC. Differences of opinion can always be sorted out."Questioned as to why the LTTE had not been banned despite repeated attacks on important personalities, Yapa said that the tough anti terror laws were aimed at preventing such acts.A majority in the APC Experts panel have recommended that maximum devolution be provided for the North and East. The two provinces they said should be merged for ten years at the end of which are referendum on the unit of devolution should be held.Some members of the Experts panel have called for the drafting of a new Constitution.They have alleged that the majority view had been arrived at the behest of the pro LTTE lobby.

General shut down was observed in Mannar Thursday in remembrance of the internally displaced people in Vaharai in Batticaloa district killed due to the indiscriminate artillery fire and air strike by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sources in Mannar said. The appeal for show of solidarity was made by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). The normal life in the town came to a standstill. Shops, banks, government and private establishments including offices of non-governmental organizations were closed. Transport services also came to a standstill, sources said.Traders disregarded the warning of the Sri Lanka Army that they would not allow shops to be opened for another ten days if they observed a general shutdon Thursday.TELO Leader Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Wanni district parliamentarian on behalf of the TNA thanked the people of Mannar for making the general shut down a success in Mannar and Vavuniya, despite threats and intimidation by SLA soldiers, sources said.

The popular Jaffna based Tamil newspaper Uthayan was one of the nominees for the global award from the Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) for courageous reporting and press freedom.It was nominated in the news media category with three other newspapers from Burma, Russia and Lebanon. However the award was won by the Russian bi-weekly Novaya Gazeta.In this category, RSF recognizes media for their struggle for the right to inform and be informed. In its nomination Uthayan was identified as being widely read in Jaffna, the Daily Uthayan has maintained a relatively independent editorial line for nearly 20 years, despite the civil war raging in northern Sri Lanka. At least five of its employees have been killed this year, two of them in an attack on the newspaper on the eve of World Press Freedom Day. The press that prints the Colombo edition was the target of an arson attack in September. In Jaffna, the newspaper has twice been forced to publish communiqués at gunpoint.The awards ceremony was held in Paris early this week.

The government is to recall Major General Janaka Perera for military service from his post as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia.Major General N. Mallawarachchi is to be appointed as Ambassador in place of Major General Janaka Perera.Major General Janaka Perera was one the army officer who aptly supported General Denzil Kobbekaduwa in his war effort. He was one of the officers who ruthlessly crushed the 89 rebellion with an iron hand. It is said that he led the team that arrested Rohana Wijeweera.

Additional troops were rushed to the Kathankudy area yesterday as clashes between two Muslim factions intensified with one group allegedly damaging public property.According to the police, some 5,000 people belonging to one faction had stormed the Kathankudy town from Wednesday, had allegedly had set fire to several commercial establishments including state and private banks and a CTB bus.One person was hacked to death while about 25 injured in clashes had been admitted to the Kathankudy and Batticaloa hospitals. The angry mob had allegedly set fire to the People’s Bank, Bank of Ceylon, Hatton National Bank and the Seylan Bank before looting them.

They had reportedly attacked police personnel who had been deployed to defuse the tense situation in the area. Police said they had been compelled to use tear gas to disperse the mobs.Several army reinforcements were also sent to the area to assist police in curbing violence and restoring peace and order.According to residents of the area, the clashes had erupted after a dispute over the burial site of a leader of one faction. The body of the leader had been buried in the compound of a religious site claimed to be an illegal structure by the opposing group. Courts ordered that the structure be demolished after a case was filed by the opposing faction. This resulted in bitter relations between the two parties. Local police curfew has been clamped in the area to prevent further violence.

Minister Dr. Mervyn Silva has most recently bought the latest "Cayan" Jeep, a vehicle considered the fastest and safest among the luxury range of Porsche vehicles. In Sri Lanka this model is sold at Rs.21 million and Minister Dr. Silva is now going about in a White Cayan Jeep, which had been registered under his name. Silva is also in possession of a very expensive Jaguar car, it is said.According to law, such vehicles carry with them a special luxury tax, which has to be paid at the time of purchase and no vehicle is sold on "open papers". The open question nevertheless is, whether such wealth is sent to the Department of Income Tax, said an observer, who had seen Minister Silva whizzing past other vehicles in his white Cayan Jeep.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed the Treasury to pay Rs. 5 million as compensation to the family of the late TNA MP Nadarajah Raviraj who was assassinated by an unknown gunman last month. Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said the Cabinet had approved a proposal to make an ex-gratia payment to Mrs. Sashikala Raviraj, and two children Praveena and Yuthishtran.

The Karuna faction and the military which has long been accused of collaborating with each other were certainly not in good terms yesterday as both parties traded charges claiming responsibility for the rescue of a soldier who was held captive by the LTTE in the east.Military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said Sergeant Ratnayake, who was reported missing in action since October this year, was rescued by the Army when he was being transported from the Thoppigala jungles in Batticaloa to Vakarai.“The Army confronted the LTTE between Welikanda and the Poonani railway station. Sergeant Ratnayake was being transported at the time by the LTTE when the confrontation took place. We managed to rescue the soldier,” Brigadier Samarasinghe told the Daily Mirror.

The soldier was admitted to the Polonnaruwa Hospital for treatment and his family members were expected to visit him last evening. The Military spokesman said that five LTTE cadres were killed in the confrontation on Wednesday night while five T-56 assault rifles were also recovered in a subsequent search operation conducted in the area.However Karuna spokesman Azaath Maulana had a different story, saying that cadres loyal to Karuna Amman rescued the injured soldier following a confrontation with the LTTE and later had handed him over to the military in Marnkerni.Speaking to the Daily Mirror Mr. Maulana claimed that the LTTE launched an attack on the Karuna faction near Poonani on Wednesday night resulting in a confrontation between the two factions in which at least 20 Tiger cadres were killed.“We found the sergeant in the area where the confrontation took place. We handed him over to the military at Marnkerni last morning. We are glad he is alive. That is what is important,” the Karuna faction spokesman said.

Brigadier Samarasingha however refuted the claims saying there were two separate confrontations and that the soldier was rescued following the confrontation between the troops and the LTTE.Mr. Maulana meanwhile said that 10 children under 16 years of age were also rescued from the same area and would be handed over to UNICEF within the next few days.The LTTE meanwhile claimed that the Army attacked a convoy of wounded Tiger cadres being transported by the LTTE medics from Vakarai to Tiger-controlled Karadiyanaru for medical treatment via the sea on Wednesday night.

LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said the Army attacked an unarmed medical transport and described the attack as "cowardly." "Wounded LTTE fighters and a wounded Sri Lanka soldier were being transported by our medics. Also, a group of civilians who wanted to move out of Vakarai but not to a Sri Lanka Army controlled territory, were sent in the medical transport," Mr. Ilanthirayan said. The ICRC had contacted the LTTE and informed that the bodies were taken to Valaichenai Hospital and the wounded admitted to the Batticaloa Hospital, according to the LTTE military spokesman.

India should play decisive role in ushering peace in Sri Lanka-TELO Muthalvar Sivajilingam MP

India has to play a more decisive role for a successful negotiated settlement to the crisis in Sri Lanka, a Tamil MP from the island nation said today.Tamils in Sri Lanka are not against a negotiated settlement to usher in peace but the all-pervading feeling is that a separate homeland is the only solution,TELO Muthalvar Sivajilingam of Tamil National Alliance, a LTTE-backed group, told reporters here.India, he said, had taken several steps and even expressed its concern at happenings in the island nation, but it has to go beyond this, he said.The immediate requirement is to feed starving Tamils and provide life-saving drugs on an emergency basis, he said.

TELO MP Sivajilingam blamed the Sri Lankan government for the country's problems and accused it of not being serious and "causing a delay" in negotiations. India should play a crucial role to end the six-decade-old strife to change the situation so that Tamils can live in peace and dignity, he said.He said, on one hand, the government wanted peace talks, and on the other it had revived draconian laws. There are instances of human rights violations against Tamils.He alleged that it was the government's attitude that had brought the Norwegian-brokered peace talks to a standstill. Sivajilingam accused the Sri Lankan government of closing the national highway connecting Jaffna with the rest of the country, thus preventing food from reaching Tamils.

Eliyathamby Ratnasabapathy, one of the founder members of the Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS), passed away Tuesday morning in London after a prolonged illness. He was 68.Born in Inuvil, Jaffna on 3 November 1938, he developed an interest in politics from he was young. His concerns at the plight of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka turned him on his life’s struggle against oppression. He founded the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students (EROS) in London in 1975, contested the parliamentary elections in 1989. He was elected to the Sri Lankan Parliament along with nine other members of EROS, but later resigned.

Sri Lanka's army chief has vowed to drive out Tiger guerrillas from the island's restive east as dozens of civilians fled their shelters amid a lull in shelling. The commander of the army, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, said the military had captured two guerrilla defence lines inside their Vakarai stronghold, according to the state-run Dinamina newspaper."The people will be liberated from the Tigers very soon and the Tigers will be driven out of the eastern province," Fonseka said in an interview with the Sinhalese-language daily.He said between 350 and 400 Tigers had been killed in the clashes in the Vakarai area in the past few days, but did not mention any military losses.His remarks were published as the number of people seeking refuge in the northeastern district of Trincomalee rose to 4,500 from 3,300 over the weekend, local officials said on Wednesday.

Nearly 400 Tamil civilians also fled to safer locations in the neighbouring Batticaloa district to avoid shelling by government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels.Military officials said there was a lull in shelling after the airforce bombed a suspected Tamil Tiger artillery position in the Vakarai area on Tuesday.The United Nations and Norwegian truce monitors have voiced grave concern for 35,000 civilians trapped by the fighting in the Vakarai area.The defence ministry said the air force destroyed a makeshift rebel artillery position inside rebel-held territory, but claimed there were no civilians in the area.The Tigers said at least 41 civilians were killed in shelling by security forces over the weekend.

The Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) accused the rebels of preventing civilians from moving out of the battle zone and blamed the military for preventing monitors from getting to the area to evaluate the situation.However, small groups of people were trekking through jungle paths to reach safer locations, the military said.Journalists have not been allowed into the troubled area and access for relief workers has also been seriously curtailed, making it difficult to independently verify the situation.

The monitors said the conduct of both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the military in the Vakarai area, where there had been heavy, shelling breached the February 2002 truce.The UN also called for humanitarian supplies to be rushed to those stuck on a thin strip of land in the middle of fighting between the LTTE and government forces.The Tamil Tigers are fighting for independence for the island's minority 2.5 million Tamil community in the majority-Sinhalese nation of 19.5 million people, where more than 3,500 people have been killed in the past year.The bitter ethnic conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972.

The ongoing operations in the Eastern theatre are aimed at bringing Vakarai region under government control. The government intends to neutralize LTTE units, particularly their long range weapons deployed in the area and deny them easy access to the sea front.The LTTE had lost their first and the strongest line of defences between Panichankerni and Kadjuwatte. Troops are in the process of consolidating the newly captured positions amidst sporadic fire. Advancing troops came across UNHCR tents which had been used by the LTTE.

A senior Defence Ministry official yesterday expressed confidence in completing the operation in the near future. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he said that the government would go ahead with the operation. "We have to neutralise their artillery and mortar pieces to prevent further attacks on civilian settlements in the area," he said. "The bottom line is that we wouldn’t be shackled by the ceasefire agreement." He acknowledged that the presence of civilians impeded the operations.Earlier, troops brought Sampur under their control. In the first week of September troops expanded their Muhamalai frontline.

The LTTE is believed to be unable to reinforce its cadres deployed in the Vakarai region due to the increased presence of the Navy off Vakarai. Although the LTTE initially managed to delay the advance, troops are gradually taking the upper hand. Their operations are being supplemented by small group operations conducted by Special Forces in addition to raids carried out by the Karuna faction.Army Headquarters said that troops killed several senior LTTE cadres including the Vakarai leader Viduthalai. The LTTE subsequently identified him as a ‘Lieutenant Colonel.’ Troops also killed Arivu, the second-in-command in Trincomalee. He had been ‘Colonel’ Sornam’s deputy.

The Vakarai region encompasses a large expanse of land north of Navalady Junction extending 50km to the Verugal River. The army controls Navalady Junction.The region’s eastern boundary extends to the shores overlooking the Bay of Bengal and the West, lined by agricultural land and forests. The Batticaloa-Trincomalee highway (A-15) passes through Vakarai. The villages of Kayankerni, Mankerni, Pannichchankerni, Vakarai, Kandalady, Paalchenai and Kathiravelly lie along A-15 (from south to north). The Uppaar Lagoon separates the coast and the hinterland. Vakarai village proper lies east of the lagoon by the coast.

Since the operations began over a week ago, the army lost 24 officers and men. Army headquarters placed the number of wounded at 68. The Island learns that about 200 terrorists had been killed in the Vakarai region after the fall of Sampur. Of them about 70 had been killed in the past few days. The operation got underway after a series of successful operations conducted by Special Forces in the region, particularly west of Vakarai.

The biggest threat from the PTA is to Progressive Sinhalese of the South - Mano Ganeshan

Mr. Mano Ganeshan leader of the Western Peoples Front Mr. Mano Ganeshan MP speaking to 'Lanka E News' said that the reintroduction of(Prevention of Terrism Act) PTA could be interpreted in different ways and its biggest threat will be to progressive Sinhalese who work for a negotiated settlement and who work relentlessly for peace, democracy and Human Rights.Speaking further he said that the situation is highly regrettable and they as representatives of the Tamils and the people, who took at this problem not as a terrorist problem but a political problem, will be at risk.Without thinking of a political solution when repressive legislation is introduced it is quite evident that the government seeks a military solution and do not believe in a political solution.When looked from the angle of the Tamils even without this act they are at the bottom of the social ladder in every aspect. From the speech made by the President to the Nation it is quite evident that the government is drifting towards the direction of the JVP and JHU.

A Ukraine-made Antonov 32 transport aircraft of the Air Force skidded off the runway at Ratmalana on Monday evening when it made an emergency landing due to a technical fault, causing injuries to several security personnel on board, a senior Defence Ministry official said yesterday.“When the aircraft touched down at the Ratmalana airfield, the plane had skidded off the runway into the nearby marshland,” he said. He said a top level-four member team had been appointed to inquire into the accident.The official also said at the time of the accident the aircraft was carrying around 60 security personnel coming on leave from Jaffna. Initial reports said the pilot had to make an emergency landing when he lost control of the aircraft. However, the official said the cause of the accident has yet to be ascertained.

Air Force Commander Roshan Goonetilake had appointed the top level inquiry team led by a senior Air Force official. “The team was asked to hand over its investigation report as soon as possible,” the official said.He said several of those on board the plane who were admitted to hospital, had already left after receiving treatment for minor injuries. There are four persons still in hospital, he added.“Several parts of the aircraft including the wings were damaged in the accident,” he said.Antonov 32 is the mainstay of the Air Force transport fleet. During the last few years the Air Force has lost some Antonov aircraft due to a variety of technical failure. This Ukrainian built transport aircraft was inducted into the Air Force in 1995.

Sri Lanka Sinhala Buddhist party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) giving time to the government to resolve the crisis at the all party conference (APC) before next Monday has threatened to resign from it. JHU accuses the APC expert panel for trying to bring federalism to Sri Lanka in a fraudulent manner. JHU further urges a probe against Lanka Samasamaja Party Minister Tissa Vitharana to decide if he has betrayed the mandate of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) and demands his removal from the Chairmanship if found guilty. JHU Leader Ven. Ellawala Medanada Thero addressing a press conference yesterday said the expert panel had proposed to set up regions based on ethnic and religious concentration of the population creating separate Muslim regions in the East, Tamil regions in the North, a Tamil region in the Hill Country and a Catholic region in Negombo. He vehemently criticized the establishment of two vice presidents from two main minority communities. He denied the proposal to make the state secular by removing Buddhism's state religion status. The Thero said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa must be answerable to the people on this matter and said the party is capable of defeating any force which sets about to divide the Nation. City

A tipper was burnt and the cleaner was assaulted to death by an angry mob at Samanthurai yesterday when three people were knocked down and killed by the said tipper.Last night the tipper traveling at high speed has knocked down a cyclist and two people traveling on a motor cycle killing all three. The onlookers who turned violent have set fire to the tipper and had assaulted the cleaner to death. All three who were run over were Muslims and the cleaner assaulted to death happen to be a Sinhalese. The people turned violent after the incident and the police party that was called to bring the situation under control was attacked by the mob injuring 4 police personnel. Curfew was imposed after the incident and it was lifted at 5.00 am yesterday morning(13). According to Samanthurai police the situation has returned to normal today.

Sri Lanka government is to issue a commemorative stamp in honour of the late leader of Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Appapillai Amirthalingam. The commemorative postal stamp and the First Day Cover are to be issued ceremonially by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Amirthalingam was the Leader of Opposition since 1977 to 1980s until the TULF vacated the parliament in protest of the sixth amendment to the constitution that made an oath to keep the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka essential to bear a government position. TULF under the leadership of Amirthalingam took the decision for a separate Eelam state for Tamils at a TULF convention held in Vattukottai in 1976. Later TULF proclaimed the 1977 general election as a referendum for a separate state and won all the seats in Sri Lanka's north and east except a single electorate. Despite all his endeavours.

Daily News allegations 'False'

The Norwegian opposition says that allegations against Erik Solheim made in a Sri Lankan state owned English daily are false.Morten Hoeglund, spokesman on foreign affairs for the Progress Party told the Norwegian parliament on Wednesday that claims and allegations carried by the Daily News against the Norwegian International Development Minister are "completely without roots in the reality".Progress Party is the largest opposition party in Norway governed by the Socialist Left Party.The Daily News on the 27th of November carried an interview reportedly with LTTE breakaway leader V Muralitharan publicly known as "Karuna" accusing Erik Solheim of provided with funds and material to Tamil Tigers.Karuna was quoted in the Daily News saying that the LTTE chief negotiator was given money by Erik Solheim in Oslo."They are false and they are only made to slow down and hurt the process for peace in Sri Lanka," said Morten Hoeglund.The LTTE has directed allegations against the Sri Lankan government of aiding paramilitaries led by Karuna who was a member of the Tamil Tiger negotiating team until talks between the two parties broke down in 2003.

The Old Moor Street Traders Association (OMSTA) sought Presidential intervention yesterday to work out a solution to the ongoing strike launched by estate workers.OMSTA President, K. Palaniandy told journalists yesterday that workers are ready to call off the strike if they are assured of a minimum basic daily wage of Rs. 225.Mr. Palaniandy said the families of estate workers depend entirely on this meagre daily wage, and now they are undergoing grave hardships without an adequate income due to the 12-day-long strike.“If the situation continues, they would not be able to celebrate Thai Pongal festival in January,” he said.Under the present salary system, a worker is paid Rs. 200 on a daily basis only if he or she continuously work for 24 days for a month.

Mr. Palaniandy said if a worker reports for duty less than 24 days per month, he would be entitled to a daily wage of Rs.135.“If they work for at least 23 days, they are given Rs.135 per day. What an unreasonable scheme is this,” he asked.He said that estate workers are denied Rs. 65 per day in this manner, and requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa to settle this issue. “Unconditionally, they should be granted at least Rs .225 as the basic salary per day. Workers are ready to accept it,” he said.He also charged that most of the trade unions in the estate sector are deceiving ‘innocent workers’ by pledging to ensure a minimum daily wage of Rs. 300. “These trade union leaders have links with the estate authorities while being the government ministers.Therefore it is practically impossible for the workers to speak up for their rights who are hapless victims,” he said.He added, “I am speaking for the workers’ rights despite being a trader because my parents were also estate workers. I came to this position conquering enormous hardships,” Mr. Palaniandy said.

'If national poet Subramanya Bharathi were alive today, he would have raised his voice in support of Sri Lankan Tamils', general secretary of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) Vaiko has said. Stating this at a function to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Bharathi here yesterday, Vaiko showered praise on the poet and recalled his love for Tamil, patriotic songs, fearless writing in support of freedom movement and support to women's liberation. Releasing a Tamil book Karisal Kattin Kavithaisolai Bharathi, the MDMK supremo said, 'Bharathi never failed to raise his concern for Tamils living in other parts of the world, while writing in support of freedom movement'. He noted that the poet called for an armed struggle, too. In fact, he supported the Russian Revolution and wrote in support of it in an Indian magazine. The poet wanted nationalists to follow the footsteps of the revolutionaries by setting up secret association to carry out armed rebellion to ouster the Britishers.

MDMK headquarters secretary K S Radhakrishnan , who edited the released book, said Bharathi always leaned towards radicals led by Tilak in Congress and wrote articles and editorials in support of militant struggles against the colonial rulers. Veteran Parliamentarian Era Sezhian said revolutionary poet Bharathidasan, who admired Bharathi and considered him as his mentor, has said many a times that no one had spoken against casteism and religious practices like Bharathiar did. Descendants of Bharathi including his grand daughter Vijaya Bharathi were honoured at the function. Film actor Sivakumar received first copy of the book. Former bureaucrat B S Raghavan and Tamil scholar Bharathi Baskar also spoke.

Kandy: A stock of ammunition including twenty five rounds of T56 amunition and instruments used for manufacturing local fire-arms were unearthed in a house compound at George E. de Silva Mawatha by the Kandy Police.Police have recovered a large number of forged rubber seals of high ranking officials of state agencies and VIPs buried in the same place.Police suspect the illegal articles belonged to the former occupant of the house.The former house occupant was a suspect in several casesrelating to unlawful activities police said.Investigations are conducted by Nipuna Dehigama, OIC, Crimes Investigations Branch, on the directions of HQI Bandaranayake.

Amnesty International yesterday expressed concern over the serious food shortage in the North and East and further accused the Government and the LTTE for failing to protect civilian lives.Amnesty's Government Relations Officer Mona Dave said the conflict in Sri Lanka had been marked by years of human rights violations committed by the Government, Tamil Tiger rebels and other armed groups. She said civilians often took the brunt of the abuses“Neither the Government forces nor the LTTE have taken adequate precautions to protect civilian lives,” she said.

Amnesty said this year alone, more than 2,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in fighting between Government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels and another 200,000 displaced. “Political killings and abductions have been on the rise and cases of disappearance have increased while child recruitment continues to be a large problem in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, Amnesty International is concerned about reports of food shortages and other provisions in the north and east of Sri Lanka,” she said.

Ms. Dave said Amnesty is calling on the Sri Lankan Government to establish a strong international monitoring operation with powers to investigate abuses as they occur. The cover story of Amnesty USA Winter 2006 magazine focuses on the situation in Sri Lanka and the plight of the civilians as a result of what it terms a ‘killing match’ between Government troops and the LTTE.

The 17-member panel of "Legal/Constitutional Experts" tasked by Sri Lanka' president Mahinda Rajapakse to aid the sub committee on Constitutional Reforms to formulate proposals for constitutional changes, in June 2006, failed to agree to produce a single set of recommendations, and instead produced four separate, competing reports which were leaked to the media. The exercise widely believed by the Tamils and noted Think-tanks in Colombo, as a project by Colombo to buy time while engaginng in military offensives in the East, has triggered controversy in ruling circles, as Colombo attempted to distance itself from recommendations in the main reports.

Eleven members of "expert panel" produced what came to be known as "majority" report, that contained power-sharing propoals based on the current provincial system. Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadrshana Yapa, Monday, described as "outrageous and devious attempt by certain media organisations and groups" in portraying a draft report to assist the All Party Representative Committee (APRC), as a "proposal emanating from the Government to resolve the North and East question."

Four Sinhala hardliners headed by a leading lawyer and Presidential Counselor, H.L. de Silva, a stark opponent of the federal model, together with lawyer Gomin Dayasiri, with two others, Manohara de Silva, a lawyer of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), the all monk ultra nationalist party, and Professor G.H. Peiris, drafted a separate report ("Minority Report"), which called for decommissioning of arms, de-merger of North and East, and opposed to dividing Sri Lanka on ethnic lines saying “creation of ethnic conclaves will accelerate the disintegration of the country and contribute to further aggravation of ethnic tensions that could provide an impetus to secession”.

Mr HL de Silva and Dayasiri appeared as counselors for the JVP petition that led to the recent ruling by Sri Lanka Supreme court on NorthEast de-merger, and functioned as legal advisors to the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) delegation to Geneva II Talks. "From 1956 [Mr Dayasiri] has been in the forefront of the Sinhala Buddhist anti-Tamil and anti Christian campaigns, Daily Mirror said.In addition, there were two dissenting reports, by the panel chairman and former civil servant, M.D.D. Pieris, and K.H.J. Wijayadasa, former Secretary to President Ranatunga Premadasa.The JVP announced Tuesday its withdrawal from the All Party Representative Committee (APRC).

On Sunday, Democratic Left Front (DLF), in a communique, criticized the "Majority"expert panel's report for falling short of the "high degree of autonomy and the possibility of a near federal constitutional dispensation promised in the 2002 Oslo Declaration," but attempted to welcome it as forming an "an adequate basis as a Southern Consensus for initiating negotiations with the Tamil and Muslim people."While welcoming the reports' approach to address the concerns of the different "ethnic communities" as a core issue, the communique said the report "felt constrained to balance this out with near paranoia about threats to sovereignty and fears of secession."The Expert panel's Report has gone too far in evoking excessive presidential powers and focussing excessive authority in the Centre to the detriment of devolved Provincial democracy, the communique said, and added that "granting the President the right to dissolve Provincial Governments if he/she feels that sovereignty is threatened," is "undesirable."

Baseline Road, which is closed during the night, for security reasons, as the Kelanitissa Power Station is adjacent to it, was forcibly opened by a Minister on Monday (11) night around 11.30 p.m. after threatening the security personnel manning the check points on the road.The Minister was accompanied by a backup security vehicle and his security personnel had asked the Army and Police personnel manning the checkpoint at Orugodawatte to get the barriers removed. The Army personnel had reported the matter to the Commandant of Colombo, Maj. Gen. Lawrence Fernando but despite objections of the personnel manning the checkpoint, the Minister’s security personnel had removed the road barriers for the Minister to pass through Baseline Road, police sources said.

On an application made by the Bureau of Terrorist Investigations, the Chief Magistrate, Colombo, on Tuesday suspended the operation of bank accounts of seven suspects including the Army Major who are in custody, suspected of having aided and abated the LTTE to obtain information important to security measures. The Army Major was arrested three months ago on suspicion that he supplied information for the assassination of Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Thuwan Nisham Muthaliff and Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Parami Kulatunga. The suspected Army officer, five soldiers and a person posing as a Medical Officer were the seven persons whose bank accounts were suspended in this manner. The suspected Army Major is a resident of Kendaliyadda Army Quarters, Homagama, where the deceased Major General Parami Kulatunga too was residing. The other six suspects were taken in to custody on the statements made by the Major.

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Sri Lanka's main left party JVP, said that it has decided to withdraw from the advisory panel of the all political party forum to recommend a solution to the country's long drawn out separatist armed conflict. Somawansa Amerasinghe, the JVP (People's Liberation Front) leader, told reporters that the JVP was unhappy with the announcement of recommendations by a part of the experts panel appointed by President Mahinda Rajapakse. The experts panel had come out with four reports -- a majority report by 11 members, and a minority report by four members plus two other short reports. "We have decided to withdraw our member from the advisory panel because we feel that the panel appears to serve the separatist intentions (of the Tamil Tiger rebels)," Amerasinghe said.

He accused Rajapakse of working against the mandate he received at the presidential election where the JVP played a key role in his victory. The majority report advocates maximum devolution by conferring power on the existing system of provincial councils. The JVP is opposed to devolution as a solution to the separatist armed conflict and negotiations with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels until the group gave up arms. However, Tissa Vitharana, the minister of Science and Technology who heads the All Party Representative Committee (APRC), said that all four reports would be taken up as discussion papers at the next meeting of the APRC. The government on Sunday disowned the majority report and said that no finality had been reached on the proceedings.

The all political party panel was appointed by Rajapakse in January aimed at reaching consensus among south based political parties in the island. The efforts for a negotiated settlement to the conflict have been marred by the escalation of violence since December 2005. The government early last month said over 3,500 people had been killed in the renewed violence.

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) kfir jets dropped eight bombs in four sorties Tuesday around 10:00 a.m on the civilian villages of Kattumrivu, Kathiraveli and Palchenai in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held territory in Batticaloa district, sources in Batticaloa said. No casualties were reported though four houses of civilians were badly damaged.Civilians in Kathiraveli, Palchenai, Vammivettuvan and Kandalady fleeing from artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket fire from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) positions in the last three days had sought refuge in Vaharai hospital. If not for this evacuation from the bombed areas, many lives would have been lost, Vaharai hospital sources said. Meanwhile, from Tuesday morning, intermittent shelling from Kallaru in Trincomalee, and Kadjuwathe, Punanai, Mankerny in Batticaloa and Singapuram in Polanaruwa SLA bases are being made on LTTE held areas. The shells, falling and exploding near Vaharai Hospital, pose great danger to the lives of the people who have sought shelter there.

Jaffna has been turned into a virtual terror city in the last month with unidentified gunmen and white van abductions dominating the peninsula, local aid agencies said.In a report titled Rapid Peace and Conflict Assessment released by the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) it said that unidentified gunmen and armed groups have completely shattered normalcy in the Jaffna district compelling civilians to move away from the district."White van abductions, subsequent killings, and harassment of civilians have increased during the month. Growing number of disappearances engender terror among the general community. Therefore, people are afraid to speak in public about the real situation," the report said.

The report added that it should further be noted that the human rights violations that take place in the peninsula have increased significantly. According to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, there were 61 complaints recorded with regards to missing persons in Jaffna during October. The number of complaints recorded during the month of September was 54.The CHA also said that the authorities should take immediate actions to ensure human security in the area."The perpetrators should be brought to justice; the police need to be on alert and take immediate and adequate measures to ensure safety of the civilians. Furthermore, it is vital to ensure the normalcy of life of people with economic stability. The opening of the A9 will largely help the above need, as any other transportation is not a feasible idea in the given context," the report said.

The CHA also went onto say that a dreadful economic condition prevailed in the Peninsula due to the abductions and killings and the closure of the A9 Highway. This, the CHA said had crippled the living status of the people in the peninsula."The LTTE turned down the alternative supply route suggested by the government and stated that they oppose the food convoy too. While both parties debate on the road issue by submitting various facts/reasons, people in the district suffer numerous difficulties," the CHA said.

Deadly artillery shelling of civilians by both Sri Lanka's military and the Tamil Tiger rebels is violating human rights, a deeply concerned United Nations said on Tuesday, appealing to both sides to stop. More than 1,200 civilians have been killed so far this year in the crossfire of renewed civil war between the state and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), according to truce monitors, and thousands are fleeing fighting in the east.The Tigers say dozens of civilians have been killed by army artillery fire in and around the rebel-held town of Vakarai in the eastern district of Batticaloa since Saturday, while the army accuses their foes of using them as human shields.

Around 30,000-35,000 displaced minority Tamils are living in camps in Vakarai, while more than 3,000 majority Sinhalese in government-held territory in neighbouring Trincomalee district have fled rebel artillery fire."All fundamental rights are currently being breached in areas like Vakarai and villages in Trincomalee district," Amin Awad, Acting UN Resident Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator said in a statement."It is imperative that direct shelling where civilians reside stops and the civilian population must be granted full and unhindered freedom of movement, away from military operations," he added.

Thousands of civilians have sought refuge in Buddhist temples and schools in the government-held town Kantale in the far northeast, while tens of thousands more live in constant fear in the northern army-held Jaffna peninsula, which is cut off from the rest of the island by rebel lines.The military said they had refrained on Tuesday from retaliating against rebel shells from Vakarai because they had been fired from civilian areas."Today we couldn't retaliate because we got it confirmed that they fired from near a hospital (in Vakarai)," said military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe.

He said civilians who had fled from rebel-held areas said they had been forcibly taken to areas where the Tiger artillery guns were positioned, something the rebels deny."They shift the guns and fire, and always use the civilians as human shields," Samarasinghe added.More than 3,000 troops, civilians and rebel fighters have been killed so far this year amid a new chapter in a two-decade civil war that has killed more than 67,000 people since 1983.The Tigers, who accuse successive Sinhalese-majority governments of discriminating against minority Tamils, have vowed to resume their fight for an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka after President Mahinda Rajapakse flatly rejected their demands.Rajapakse last week introduced a raft of anti-terrorism laws aimed at cracking down on the Tigers and their supporters after a failed suicide attack on his brother, and analysts say any eventual peace agreement is likely years off.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has been sidelined by President Mahinda Rajapakse with regard to crucial foreign policy initiatives resulting in mixed signals going out to the international community from the government.The Foreign Minister was also not invited by the President for a briefing of Asian diplomats last week on the new emergency regulations and the enforcement of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). However Acting Foreign Secretary Geetha De Silva was invited to participate at the briefing.

Minister Samaraweera was invited for a subsequent meeting with another group of diplomats following representations made.Informed sources said the President is currently taking foreign policy advice from Head, Peace Secretariat, Palitha Kohona.Foreign Ministry sources told The Morning Leader the sidelining of the Minister has created confusion within the Ministry with regard to issuing foreign policy directives to Sri Lankan missions overseas on matters of national importance.

It is learnt, US Ambassador Robert Blake on Monday met with Samaraweera for the second time in a week to express serious concern over the enactment of new emergency regulations and the enforcement of the PTA, which can impact on civil liberties.But the Ministry sources said the Minister did not have a decisive say in the decision making process to make take any meaningful steps to address the concerns of the international community.Minister Samaraweera opposed President Rajapakse’s proposal in cabinet last week to ban the LTTE and a majority of the ministers supported him, resulting in the proposal being dropped.

Plantation workers stop train

Protesting plantation workers have stopped a train n Talawakele after talks with the authorities on pay hike colapsed.The workers of Indian origin have disrupted Podimenike train running from Badulla to Colombo on Monday at Talawakele station for nearly two hours.The workers were demanding the authorities increase their daily pay to Rs. 300. Wearing black bands and hoisting black flags, they urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government to increase the basic daily payment to at least Rs. 250.An offer by the authorities to increase the daily wages up to Rs. 260 has earleir been refused by the workers.“We cannot live with Rs. 135 per day. We appeal to the President to listen to our concerns,” a protesting leader said.The protesters have agreed to disperse after the leader of the Up Country Peoples Front (UPF), Minister P Chandrasekaran visited the scene.Leaders of the trade unions representing majority of nearly half a million plantation workers, UPF and Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), are members of President Rajapaksa’s cabinet.

Forty people were arrested on Monday in a massive search operation conducted in Trincomalee by the Army, Navy and Police jointly under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).The 40 youngsters were suspected LTTE activists, according to Trincomalee police, and were supposed to be responsible for many acts of violence in the region. "Most of them were from Batticoloa and Jaffna. They were attached to the Mitsui Cement Company based in Trincomalee, where they had come seeking temporary employment," SP Bandusena, Trincomalee Police Department said.Those arrested had been released on bail yesterday and were awaiting a court hearing later, according to the SP. He said the operation had been conducted to curb the heavy violence in the area.Bandusena said 17 murders had been reported in Trincomalee since August. Police allegedly had found bombs and other ammunition at some of the houses during the search operations on Monday.SP Bandusena said Sinhala and Muslim houses had been searched as well Tamil homes.

Pottuvil police recovered the body of a male civilian from a well in the premises of the office of the Veterinary Surgeon of Vaddiveli Tuesday morning in Pottuvil area in Amparai district with severe bodily injuries, sources said. The victim was identified as Kanapathypillai Mochinathan, 48, of Vaddiveli, a carpenter by profession. He left for work on Friday but failed to return home, the relatives said. The body was brought to Pottuvil hospital and after post mortem examinations, was handed over to the relatives.The motive for the killing is not known, police said.Pottuvil is located 50 km south east of Amparai.

A Grenade attack was launched on the political office of the Karuna faction in Ariyampathi, Batticaloa early last morning.Karuna spokesman Azaath Maulana told the Daily Mirror suspected LTTE cadres had reached government territory in Batticaloa by sea and launched the pre-dawn attack on the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) office using RPG and small arms.The Karuna spokesman said TMVP cadres were in the premises at the time of the attack but there were no casualties or damages to the building.“The RPG missed its target so the building and our people who were in the premises were safe,” Mr. Maulana said.

Udayan Newspaper office was attacked with small arms this morning (12). A person who had come to its security shed has fired at the office and fled injuring a police constable who was guarding it. Later he was admitted to hospital with gunshot injuries. The police jointly with the army are conducting investigations.

An unidentified young man shot dead a policeman attached to Palameenmadu police station at Kurukalmadam in Kalavanchikudi police division in Batticaloa district Monday around 6:05 p.m, Kalavanchikudi police said. The assailant had followed the policeman and shot him while he was waiting for bus to report for duty, the police added. The victim was identified as S. Chandrakumar, 34, a father of two children. He had come home on two day's leave to see his child suffering from fever, his relatives said. Kalavanchikudi police recovered the body and brought it to Kalavanchikudi hospital for inquest into the death. Chandrakumar's dead body was handed over to his relatives on Tuesday morning. Kurrukalmadam is located 17 km south east of Batticaloa town.

Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike left the country yesterday in the wake of death threats following his support for President Mahinda Rajapakse’s proposal to ban the LTTE in cabinet the previous week.Bandaranaike was the only minister who supported President Rajapakse’s proposal to ban the LTTE at the cabinet meeting on December 1 following the suicide bomb attack on Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse.The proposal was subsequently dropped after Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, backed by several other ministers, opposed the move.The Morning Leader learns Bandaranaike had received several death threats by telephone and in writing subsequent to his support for the President’s proposal to ban the LTTE and he left the country Monday night.He was to leave Sri Lanka later in the month on a private visit but the departure was advanced following the death threats, a source close to Bandaranaike said.

The CID investigating the attempt on the life of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has uncovered that documents pertaining to the issuance of the National Identity Card to the suicide bomber at the Department of Registration of Persons were missing. According to the CID, the IDs of all earlier suicide bombers were recovered. However, the documents that ought to have been submitted by the latest LTTE suicide bomber to obtain his ID had gone missing from the Department of Registration of Persons (DRP). Investigations revealed that the suicide bomber who targeted the Defence Secretary had submitted forged documents to obtain his ID, sources added. "It is difficult to pursue the investigations since the Department has no information pertaining to his identity. All information supplied on his ID are bogus.

There are no documents at the DRP," the CID said. Similarly documents of the ID of the suicide bomber in the Kollupitiya attack was also missing. The CID said strangely it was only when during the period that Vijaya Ranasinghe was the Commissioner of DRP that ID cards of LTTE suicide cadres following attacks, though recovered did not have documents with the DRP to trace their owners. Ranasinghe is already in custody. According to the CID the LTTE suicide bombers obtain ID cards for a second time on the pretext of having lost their original ones. "To get an ID card the second time they should have a police report, Grama Sevaka Report and Birth Certificate. The DRP has no such documents in their possession.

A hartal programme organized by the Muslin businessmen had virtually paralyzed the regular lifestyle of Kattankudi, in the aftermath of a conflict between two religious factions in the area.The hartal has been carried out by the Kattankudi businessmen since last Monday (11), reported that it was also carried in the Batticaloa bazaar as well.According to civilian sources, a clash between two religious factions was the reason for the hartal. After the death of a leader of one fraction M.Z.M. Abdullah also known as ‘Payilwan’ last week, his body was burried in Kattankudi. Although a group backed by an opposite faction had commenced a hartal demanding to exhume the body saying it was burried in an illegal land. A case was filed in Kattankudi Magistrate’s Cours and the court was to give the final verdict on Monday. However the verdict has been postponed and woud be given only on Thursday, the sources said.

He added that there was no harm for the daily chores of the people. “Government offices, banks and shops in the bazaar were closed, the security was tightened in Kattankudi and especially in some houses which belonged to the ‘Payilwan faction’,”he said. Recently eight houses were burnt and few civilians were injured due to a clash between the two religious factions.Meanwhile Kattankudi police said additional security had been deployed in the area to meet any situation.

UK backed Israeli deal to enhance Lanka’s firepower Presidential probe on shady arms transactions

The controversy over the alleged irregularities in a multi-million US dollar deal, to upgrade the firepower of Fast Attack Craft (FACs), has taken a shocking turn with the revelation that the British Government assured Sri Lanka that the transaction was above board.Britain also offered the Sri Lankan government an opportunity to inspect the 30 mm KCB cannons at a US government bonded store in St. Louis. The British High Commission made representations on behalf of the British supplier S.G.E. Limited to facilitate the deal worked out by Rafael Armament and Development Authority Limited of Israel. The UK based supplier specialises in the supply of naval equipment, tools and services. Rafael won the contract worth US $ 10.8 million in December 2003 to upgrade 15 FACs. The Israeli and the British firms, according to documents submitted to the Tilakawardena Committee, had worked closely for two years on this particular deal.

In an unprecedented move both the supplier and the British High Commission made representations to the three-member Presidential Commission headed by Justice Shiranee Tilakawardane. They challenged the cancellation of the order on the basis that the S.G.E. Limited and Rafael planned to supply 20-year-old guns discarded by the Royal Navy. The British emphasised that the guns manufactured in 1985 and kept at St. Louis were new. The British assured that none of the guns had been used or refurbished while reiterating that the long-term storage of the KCB material had been done according to internationally accepted standards.President Mahinda Rajapakse appointed the committee to investigate shady transactions in the armed forces. The committee recently handed over its interim report which exclusively dealt with the SLN to Rajapakse.

An authoritative British High Commission spokesperson yesterday confirmed the action taken by the mission to facilitate the deal. The former British High Commissioner Stephen Evans had apprised Defence Secretary Colonel (retd) Gotabhaya Rajapakse early this year of the transaction. The British offered to arrange an expert to inspect the guns at St. Louis or sent a complete 30mm KCB cannon set to Colombo at no cost to Sri Lanka.The SLN initiated an ambitious project in 2001 to upgrade the firepower of its FACs. The cutting edge of the SLN is its FAC squadrons based in Trincomalee. The SLN planned to replace the existing 23 mm cannons with 30mm. The Island learns that the project did not materialise due to a variety of reasons, particularly the differences among the UNF bigwigs over the deal with some of them resolutely calling for the acquisition of US built Bush Master Cannon (MK 44).

The recent confrontations between the SLN and Sea Tigers indicated that the enemy may have acquired a weapon superior to the 23mm now in service with the SLN. SLN lost six FACs this year. Of them four had been hit during engagements. Despite losses the SLN has inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and keep sea supply routes to the Jaffna peninsula intact.If the government accepted the British offer and verified their claim then Rafael could have finalised the deal. Upgrading of the FACs would have given a tremendous advantage to the SLN over Sea Tigers. The FACs are equipped with Israeli-built Typhoon Weapon Stations.

The British Government also assured Sri Lanka that the 30mm cannon and its ammunition remain in production. The British reiterated their faith in the weapon by revealing that over five dozen units would remain in service and that the same weapon had been chosen for deployment with a new destroyer scheduled to join the British naval forces in about three years. Although two dozen units are to be replaced, the British navy would continue with the system deployed on the remaining vessels. According to Jane’s Defence Weekly the new frigate -HMS Daring is ‘the most powerful destroyer ever built by the Royal Navy’ and ‘the backbone of the fleet for the next 40 years." The last two contracts for 30mm KCB cannon had been to a Middle Eastern customer in 2002 and a Far Eastern country last year.

The British High Commission said that Sri Lanka cancelled the deal after the Government approved the sale. According to the British over 250 units of 30 mm KCB are in service in many parts of the world. The production of cannon takes almost one and half years.Former Navy Chief and Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Daya Sandagiri gave the go ahead for the Rafael deal on the recommendation of a three-member committee chaired by the then Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrema. The recently retired Vice Admiral Sarath Weerasekara had been also on the committee. The Presidential Commission summoned both officers along with Sandagiri.The British indicated that they would appreciate if the Tilakawardena committee recommended the inspection of the cannon in the US or bringing down a complete set to Colombo for the same purpose.The Island learns that S.G.E. Limited offered to supply the cannon directly to Sri Lanka after the cancellation of the original order with Rafael.

A case is due to be filed by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) against a chief incumbent of a pirivena in Matara over the alleged rape of a minor.The priest, was accused of allegedly raping a girl under 14 and making her pregnant. The girl recently gave birth to a child, according to NCPA officials.Legal officials at the NCPA said the case was yet to be filed against the accused, adding that the brief was with the Attorney General.

With the grief of losing their young son still fresh, the family of a boy who drowned in a partially frozen Scarborough pond is facing the prospect of being deported to Sri Lanka. In court documents, the boy's father Muralidaran Nadarajah, 45, claims to have been arrested and tortured by the Sri Lankan Army for 31-months. He says the army accused him of being a high-ranking officer within the Tamil Tiger terrorist organization. The Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) seems to support the accusation in a report filed with the federal court. That CSIS report alleges that Nadarajah was one of the Tamil Tigers' top international leaders while living in Switzerland before coming to Canada.

It also alleges that Nadarajah claimed refugee status in Canada in 1998 using a false name after crossing the border in Montreal. Nadarajah denies being associated with the terrorist group. "I am not a terrorist, I (was) never, ever involved in arms or any violent activities in my whole life," he told The Canadian Press Tuesday. Nadarajah claims he was "helping the people who are suffering in Sri Lanka," adding that it was for "education and promoting cultural activities." The entire family is now fighting a deportation order that was issued after their claim for refugee status was denied. The parents say that returning to Sri Lanka could mean the entire family would suffer serious harm. They are also afraid their children will face forced recruitment by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), under fear of persecution and torture. A judge has ordered a judicial review of the Nadarajah case. While they wait, the family is preparing to bury 11-year-old son Brunthan Nadarajah.

Tragic drowning

Brunthan Nadarajah, 11, was hailed as a hero after he died trying to save a friend who had plunged through the thin ice of a Scarborough pond. His friend, 15-year-old Kishoban Alakeswaran is in critical condition at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. At about 3:15 p.m. Sunday both boys were on their way to a pick-up soccer game. The frozen pond was a popular short-cut to the soccer pitch. The older boy plunged through the thin ice sheet that covered the pond. The younger boy tried to pull his friend from the water, only to break through himself. After an agonizing search, rescuers managed to pull both boys from the icy water and rush them to hospital. Brunthan did not survive. Paramedics managed to revive Alakeswaran, who is clinging to life at the Hospital for Sick Children. A funeral for Brunthan is expected on Saturday.

Canada's federal government added the LTTE to the Criminal Code list of terrorist groups in April of this year. The LTTE's stated goal is the formation of a separate state, called Tamil Eelam, on the island of Sri Lanka. On the LTTE website, the organization argues that the Tamil people form a "social entity, with their own history, traditions, culture, language and traditional homeland." Canada's government says the more than 20-years of conflict between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government has resulted in more than 64,000 deaths.

Leader of the SLMC Rauff Hakeem said that he had been offered a Cabinet portfolio but declined it, as there are ten Muslim Ministers already in government."I asked the ‘person’ who made the offer as to what purpose would be served by my becoming a minister when there are ten Muslims with portfolios already."Hakeem, said that the ‘Person’ then suggested that he could form a cricket team by becoming a minister."I think it is pointless just making up the numbers. What can I achieve that the ten ministers have not been able to?"Nine former SLMC members, he said are now government ministers. "It would be a futile exercise accepting positions which do not have the clout to address Muslim aspirations and grievances."Hakeem, said that the SLMC was a party with a strong foundation and has the ability to speak on behalf of the Muslims ."Therfore, there is no need to be hankering after positions."Referring to LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s recent statement that the government’s approach to resolving the ethnic issue was like "looking for a black cat in a dark room", he queried as to why there was no government response to it.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga simply laughed off calls by her Attanagalla loyalists to make a come back to politics or enter Parliament.Ms. Kumaratunga who is the Chairperson of the Attanagalla party organization addressed a gathering at Horagolla on Sunday. The ceremony organized by Attanagalla Organiser and Minister Anura Bandaranaike went on for about two hours followed by lunch. This was the first time she addressed a political forum since she left the country for London early this year. Among the members who urged ms. Kumaratunga to enter Parliament was provincial Councilor Ranjith Rupasinghe who insisted that the former President should continue to remain in politics while several others echoed similar views. Ms. Kumaratunga who declined to comment instead said she would be engaged in social service and get involved in politics in her electorate only when the need arose.

The Interim Report submitted by an eleven-member majority of the Expert Committee of the APRC falls short of the high degree of autonomy and the possibility of a near federal constitutional dispensation promised in the 2002 Oslo Declaration. Nevertheless it is a considerable advance on the 1997 and 2000 constitutional proposals, the previous best so far. The more progressive members of the Committee would, no doubt, have had to make compromises in order to achieve a majority consensus - an understandable and important consideration in enhancing the credibility of the recommendations. What is more important is that this Report forms an adequate basis as a Southern Consensus for initiating negotiations with the Tamil and Muslim people.

The real trouble, however, will start only now. Will the government and the UNP have the nerve to accept these proposals as they stand, or will they water them down to accommodate the JVP-JHU and the Minority Reports? The Minority is retrogressive on devolution, North-East merger and sensitivity to Muslim and Up-Country Tamil interests? If the past is any guideline, the SLFP and the UNP leaderships have bowed to chauvinist threats; and threats and intimidation there will be a plenty in the coming months. The DLF calls upon the APRC, the APC, the PA Government and the UNP to resist such pressures.

The most welcome aspect of the Report is attitudinal. In recognising that Sri Lanka is a country made up of different peoples; it has conceptually grasped the reality that the concerns of different ethnic communities must be addressed up-front as a core issue. The Report seeks to foster concord among "the constituent peoples of Sri Lanka", an excellent phrase, and makes a declaration of plurality ("multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural character of the Sri Lankan society").Unfortunately, the Majority has felt constrained to balance this out with near paranoia about threats to sovereignty and fears of secession (Section 4). Given the LTTE’s Eelam stance and given that the bottom line of a solution, in so far as the South in concerned, is an assurance of the indivisibility of sovereignty, a firm commitment to this principle is obligatory. However, the Report has gone too far in evoking excessive presidential powers and focussing excessive authority in the Centre to the detriment of devolved Provincial democracy. One such undesirable provision is granting the President the right to dissolve Provincial Governments if he/she feels that sovereignty is threatened.

In India, for many years, the Centre was vested with similar powers, which have been abused. In the US and other truly federal dispensations the Centre is denied such powers. Neither the US Administration nor Congress can dissolve State Legislatures, nor can the President dismiss noncompliant elected State Governors who can be removed only by impeachment. The Report envisages appointed Provincial Governors and Chief Ministers from the elected Legislature; such duplication is avoided in the US. Appointees are always pliant recipients of political patronage, removable at will, unlike elected leaders who derive their authority from the people. Vesting excessive powers in the President and the Centre, though couched in the language of safeguarding sovereignty, will in the end come to serve more petty ends.

It is welcome that the Report envisages Asymmetrical Devolution in two respects, though it fights shy of using the term. One, the merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces for a period of ten years to be followed by a referendum, and secondly, special provisions for the areas of Muslim and Sinhalese concentration in the Eastern Province. It is necessary and appropriate that an asymmetrical principle (what befits the N-E is not necessarily what best fits the rest of the country) has been introduced; this is the meaning of learning from elsewhere and then designing a system that best suits the Sri Lankan situation. An autonomous zone with an appropriate role for the Up-Country Tamils is also envisaged. The Muslim and Sinhalese sub-territories in the East are to be non-contiguous.

Delineating the sub-territories and the autonomous zone, designing the devolved powers to be vested therein, and defining their relationship with the larger units within which they are embedded, are going to be very challenging tasks. The Report leaves this issue in the form of a large number of possible options in Article 6.10(A to D), presumably to be adumbrated in the final report. It is a pity that the Majority lacked the courage to go all the way and solve this problem by taking the Asymmetrical Principle to its logical conclusion. The Northern and Eastern Provinces should be treated as a special unit for obvious reasons, but the rest of the country does not need seven Provincial Legislatures and Provincial Governors at all. In the N-E a crisis of ethnic identity and a civil war justifies special asymmetrical arrangements. The rest should have been left alone (as in the Scotland-England case), or been limited to, say just two units.

The present Provincial Council system has been a failure; little has been achieved in terms of devolving power down to the grassroots and there is corruption, waste and duplication. Administrative decentralisation, not an excessive number of units of devolution would much better fit the needs of the South. Seven constitutionally empowered Provincial Legislatures in the South with constitutionally devolved powers to make Provincial laws, levy taxes, appoint judges, determine school curricula, administer police forces and make sundry regulations, would be utterly counterproductive in a country of Sri Lanka's size.

Subject to this concern the DLF broadly and in principle agrees with the approach to Power Sharing (Section 5, but see next paragraph), Distribution of Powers (Section 7), provisions for Up-Country Tamils (Section 12), Individual and Group Rights (Section 15) and Land (Section 17). We reserve our comments on Local Government (Section 13) and the Public Service (Section 14 seems overly complicated), for the time being.

The DLF agrees that the size of the Central Legislature should be no more than 180 and that post-devolution a Second Chamber limited in size to about 60 will be needed. However we have reservations whether the latter should be elected entirely by the Provincial Legislatures (Section 5.1e). It would seem more appropriate to establish a mixed method of selection including members directly elected on a district basis. We are also disappointed that there is no mention in the Report of doing away with the all-proportional method of parliamentary elections. And Sub-section 5.2a entitled "The Provinces" is quite opaque; it is not clear what the authors are attempting to say.

In respect of Section 8 on the Judiciary we have some concern, especially in respect of the N-E devolution unit, that the Provincial High Court is unduly subjugated to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. The overlong concurrent list in Section 7 suggests that this topic has not been thought through sufficiently.

In respect of the all-important topic of Fiscal Devolution (Section 9) the Report adverts repeatedly to the provisions of the Constitutional Bill of 2000. This Section consists almost entirely of textbook principles of fiscal devolution; obviously specific and concrete proposals are still a long way off in the drafting. The devil, in the end, will be in the details. However, the DLF agrees that it would be more appropriate to return to this matter later, after having had the Report's principal recommendations endorsed by the APRC and the APC.

We do not disagree with the contents of Section 16, but we note a particularly glaring omission. The importance of the English language, both as a world language of communications and technology and as a link language, has not been adequately emphasised. A great deal of damage has already been done to youth from underprivileged social classes by the short-sighted policies of ultra-nationalists who have cut them away from a window of opportunity into the modern world and also fostered cultural insularity. Furthermore, because of its utilitarian advantages young people can be more easily motivated to pick-up English than a second national language; hence in many cases it will become the preferred inter-ethnic link language. These advantages should be recognised and capitalised on.

The Report skirts around the main issue - the integration of the armed forces of the State and the LTTE - in favour of general platitudes about sovereignty, security and the defence (Section 10). Even here the structure proposed for the police force seems to be overly complex and convoluted. This arises from the Majority Report’s expectation of up to eight units of devolution. We have argued above that a two-unit model, or at least a model with a much smaller number of units, is more appropriate. In such a case each unit will be large enough to dispense with some elements of the overlapping structure that has been proposed.

We support the concern about making the virtually mono-ethnic police force multiethnic, but do not agree that it cannot be done at an accelerated pace.

On the crucial question of integrating and transforming two exclusively mono-ethnic armed forces into a single national force, there is experience elsewhere to learn from. In Zimbabwe three armies were integrated after the 1983 settlement. In Nepal, at this very moment, an imaginative programme is under way to combine two armies into one; practical steps are being taken to separate and confine the two armies into cantonments, and a new Armed Forces Act is being prepared to pave the way for eventual integration.

We support the recommendations in the Subsection on Implementation of Language Provisions. The Subsection titled Security Concerns should be entitled Eliminating Human Rights Violations - there is no point hiding from the truth for reasons of political correctness. The recommendations in the Subsection on Relief and Rehabilitation is not adequate in that it fails to call for the immediate reopening of the A9 and other land routes. The Subsection on High Security Zones speaks unrealistically of the "decommissioning of LTTE arms" as opposed to our proposal for integration of the forces made above. Notwithstanding these limitations we support the spirit in which the Annexure has been prepared.

The critical comments contained in this DLF communiqu� are made for the purpose of public discourse and in a spirit of constructive engagement. Overall we believe that the Majority Report is an adequate starting point to commence negotiations with the LTTE and other Tamil and Muslim entities. We would strongly oppose any further watering down of these proposals by the APRC, the APC, the Government or the PA-UNP under the terms of their joint MoU. A watered down version would serve no purpose; it would fail as meaningful set of initial proposals for negotiations.

Road A9 has a long history. It was the connecting Rd, between Kandy and Jaffna even during the time of Kandyan kingdom or even before. There is evidence to show that this road was used during Gampola Kingdom. Hence this is a trusted highway used for a long period. It can be used through out the year under difficult weather conditions. Even today there is no accessible road that can be compared to A-9. When this road is closed Jaffna becomes virtually an isolated island with only sea route access. But the latter will be vulnerable to attacks under present war condition. A-9 is today closed at Muhamale. It is open from Kandy up to Muhamale through the LTTE controlled area. Only at Muhamale it is closed to all traffic in and out from Jaffna. Government gives lame arguments for closing this road. If LTTE cam misuse this road it can do it anyway because it is open from Vavuniya up to Muhamale through the LTTE controlled territory. Jaffna is a government controlled area. Hence by closing this road, access is denied to those who are living in Jaffna which is under government controlled. Jaffna people have no access to other Tamil areas leave apart the Southern Sinhala areas. It is like putting Jaffna people in an open prison. While they are denied essential items, armed forces get their supply through air and sea. In other words occupying Sinhala army is provided facilities while Jaffna is starved of essentials. It is almost a story out of Dark Ages, when enslaved people were made to rot by occupying armies. What is strange is this horrible situation is tolerated by Western powers and by India who support Mahinda regime.

Situation created by this enslavement of Jaffna people is reported by various independent sources including Catholic Bishop of Jaffna. Usually Catholic Church keeps away from political disputes taking a rather conservative stand. But Jaffna priests are forced to come out exposing the human misery because of the actual suffering of the Catholic population. Jaffna Bishop has given a detailed account of food prices at grass root level and also about starvation. Lack of milk food has affected newly born children. Old people are suffering due to scarcity of important medicine. On the other hand no one can come out or go in to Jaffna even for a very important matter. One has to linger in the queue for a flight or sea voyage to Trinco.

What are the arguments of the government for this most inhuman embargo? Government says that if A-9 in opened there will be an exodus of Jaffna youth to Tamil areas for military training. On the other hand trained LTTE cadre will penetrate to Jaffna to make guerrilla attacks. But these are lame arguments. Even if the A-9 route is open, there can be intensive checking by the armed forces to stop all those “harmful” activities. On the other hand if militant youth want to go for military training and comeback as guerrilla fighters to Jaffna that they will do using difficult alternate routes available. There is no way government can stop all infiltrations. There is a contradiction in the argument of the government. The government position is that most of the cadres are forced recruitments. LTTE is claimed to be thoroughly unpopular. Hence government cannot maintain that large numbers- of Jaffna youth are waiting to run away in to the jungle to join the LTTE. In this way from all angles what the government claims is not valid.

Looking closely one could notice a sinister plan that may be behind this irrational position that government has taken. Jaffna Tamils are the main section of the Tamil resistance. Most of the intellectual leadership for Tamil liberation is based in Jaffna. Throttling Jaffna population one could remove the steam from Tamil liberation struggle. We cannot be surprised if such an argument is behind the closing of A-9. It may be a sound military strategy to starve and throttle Jaffna population to hit at the Tamil liberation struggle. May be it is less costly and more effective than intense bombing of Kilinochchi and Mulativ. If such arguments are truly put forward, then the war against Tamil speaking people has come down to Barbarism unparallel in recent history. It is necessary to make the people both here and elsewhere aware of the tragedy faced by Tamils in Jaffna. Suffering of the SL Tamil people in their struggle to protect their identity will definitely take a special place in human history.

Fighting rages in east Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan army says that it is continuing military operations against Tamil Tigers rebels in the east. The offensive follows fighting at the weekend in which thousands of civilians were displaced. Both sides say they have inflicted heavy casualties on each other, but correspondents say it is impossible to get independent verification. Officially neither side has formally declared an end to a 2002 ceasefire, but unofficially they are now at war.

"Sri Lankan army troops undertook a limited operation in the eastern province on Monday morning to neutralise the Tamil Tigers' heavy artillery and mortar positions," a statement from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence said. It said that two "enemy" gun positions had been destroyed. The army says that 12 soldiers have been killed in the recent fighting, along with 40 rebels. But the Tigers say that at least 30 soldiers have been killed, with their side losing only three men. Both sides agree that thousands of civilians have been killed, injured or displaced in the latest confrontations. The government says that at least 3,000 Sinhalese civilians were forced to seek shelter in Trincomalee district on Saturday following fierce fighting.

The rebels say that 41 civilians were killed in areas bordering Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts, and that dozens of wounded people are being treated in hospital in rebel-held areas. Talks in Geneva in October between the two sides ended in deadlock, and correspondents say that the fighting looks set to continue. The rebels want independence for the 2.5m-strong minority Tamil community in the north and east of the country. At least 3,400 people have been killed in the conflict in the past year, the government says. More than 65,000 lives have been lost since 1972.

LTTE losing ground in Vakarai – Karuna Source-The Island

Tigers had suffered heavy casualties and lost one third of the area they previously held in Vakarai as the fierce battle to destroy the LTTE gun positions continued for a second day yesterday (12), the Karuna Group said.According to Armed Forces sources, more than 70 Tigers were killed in the operation launched on early Sunday morning. Defence Spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said that 24 soldiers had been killed and 69 wounded in the battle.A Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) spokesman said that according to their sources, 30 Tiger LTTE bodies had been handed over to the ICRC so far.He said they believed that the second-in-command of the commander Nagesh who led the battle of Tigers was among the dead.

Brig. Samarasinghe said that the Tigers had moved their artillery pieces deeper into the jungles as they had to withdraw from Kaddimuravikulam, Kadjuwatta, Kirimichchiya and Madurankerni areas in Vakarai West, which had fallen to the Armed forces on Sunday.He said that the LTTE shelling on civilian targets in Serunuwara, Somapura, Kallar, and Mahindapura areas had decreased during the last 24 hours. The Army said it had destroyed one 81 mm mortar position and one 120 mm artillery position in Kaddumurivululam.According to Defence Spokesman about 30,000 civilians had been held by the Tigers as a human shield to protect their artillery from counter fire and they had booby trapped the area to prevent civilians leaving the war torn area.

Hundreds of families had fled their homes in villages bordering the conflict zone as the LTTE artillery fire on civilian targets had killed four civilians and several others were wounded, the army said.LTTE spokesman in Kilinochchi Daya Master said the war had started and the Eastern Province LTTE leader Sornam had taken over the command of the LTTE group fighting in the Vakarai area. When asked if the LTTE was not coming back to the negotiation table he refused to comment but said there was no peace now.Asked about the details of the LTTE casualties in the Vakarai area he said only seven cadres had died but refused to give further details.

Sri Lanka's Department of Examination organized General Certificate of Examination (Ordinary Level) conducted by the began Monday in about 3900 centers except in the three centers in Vaharai, Kathiraveli and Vammivedduwan located in LTTE held areas in Batticaloa district, education officials in the East said. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has refused to allow question papers and other related documents to be transported through Mankerni checkpoint from the co-coordinating center located in the government controlled Valaichchenai.GCE O/L is the fifth public examination not held in Vaharai area since the outbreak of fighting.

Earlier Grade 5-scholarship examination conducted by the Department of Examination, Grade 9 examination held by North East Education Ministry, half yearly examination held by school authorities, and final year promotion examination conducted by provincial education ministry were also not held in Vaharai.Department of Examination sources said the GCE O/L/ examination would be held in these centers on a later date.About 377,000 candidates from schools and about 147, 000 privates are eligible to sit the examination.

ICRC transports Vakarai victims

The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) says it transported injured civilians from LTTE –held area to government –controlled territory.ICRC Communications coordinator Davide Vignati told BBC Sandeshaya that they transported 30 injured from Vakarai hospital to Valaichchenai hospital.Seven children were among the injured, he added.The workers who saw four dead bodies of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, could not transport the bodies due to lack of space in the boats, he added.

Dr. P Varadarajah of Vakarai hospital confirmed that ICRC workers transported injured to Valaichenai.Shells dropped near Vakarai hospital while ICRC workers visited the area, Dr. Varadarajah added.The ICRC was earleir accused by the SLA of not taking steps to evacuate civilians trapped in the east.Davide Vignati said the ICRC could not visit the Somawathie school in Kallar as they did not get security clearance.ICRC workers intend to visit the scene of the LTTE attack on Tuesday, he added.

Refugees in Kallar meanwhile accused anti-war campaigners of not raising their voice against LTTE atrocities.“Where were the anti-war protesters when we were attacked?” a refugee leaving Kallar to Kanthale questioned.Scores of refugees from Kallar are still being transported from Kallar to Kanthale.

Journalist RG Dharmadasa who travelled in a bus with the refugees says that people have many reasons to leave the area apart from war.“No medicine at the hospitals, shops open but nothing available to buy,” a refugee said.Security officials were also critical of the conditions in the area.Home Guards said they lacked food as women have left the conflict zone leaving only men to look after their affairs.

Thousands of protesters, from hardline Marxists to Buddhist monks in saffron robes, marched through Sri Lanka's capital on Monday to demand the government ban the Tamil Tiger rebels and end a tattered 2002 truce.Holding banners reading "Shame for not banning the Tigers" and chanting "Ban them immediately, withdraw from the ceasefire", around 3,000 demonstrators massed near President Mahinda Rajapakse's Colombo offices to hand over a petition.The protest by majority Sinhalese nationalists comes as a new chapter in Sri Lanka's two-decade civil war intensifies. Near daily artillery clashes and ambushes have killed about 3,000 civilians, troops and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters this year alone.

"The government must take a correct decision and ban the LTTE and withdraw from the ceasefire," Wimal Weerawansa, Propaganda Secretary of the Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP).Rajapakse last week introduced a raft of anti-terrorism laws aimed at cracking down on the Tigers and their supporters after a failed suicide attack on his brother.But he stopped short of an outright ban analysts said would likely have killed hopes of restarting peace talks."We want peace, we must live like friends, but the Tigers don't want to stop the war, so we say the government must fight the LTTE," said Medhananda Thera, a member of the hardline Buddhist monk JHU party, marching in robe and sandals.

The military and Tigers exchanged artillery fire and mortar bombs in the volatile east over the weekend, driving about 3,000 civilians from their homes to seek refuge in Buddhist temples and schools.Hundreds of displaced families scrambled to find what shade they could in temple grounds on Monday, eating rations of rice and curry."The first shell fell into our playground ... There were children playing but no-one got hurt," said 15-year-old schoolgirl R. Sadamali, recounting how her village was shelled."The second one fell under a tree behind the school hall. Some of the children who were under the tree got injured. We left the village after that," she added.

The military said on Monday 24 soldiers were killed over the weekend in the fighting, and said they believed they killed around 40 rebels. The Tigers said dozens of civilians were killed. Independent confirmation of what had happened behind rebel lines was impossible.The International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday evacuated 30 wounded civilians by fishing boat from the rebel-held town of Vakarai, where an estimated 30,000 displaced civilians are living in camps.The Tigers say they are resuming their fight for an independent state for minority Tamils. Analysts say that means a war that has killed more than 67,000 people since 1983 will likely deepen.

If 2006 saw a four-year-old Norwegian-brokered truce between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil rebels falling apart, the prospects for respite from ethnic warfare in the coming year look even bleaker. More than 3,500 people died in this year's spiral of violence, according to the government. Of the dead 800 were civilians, mostly ethnic Tamils in the north and east of the island, who international aid agencies and advocacy groups have repeatedly warned, are trapped in the deadly fighting. The Tamil Tigers have retaliated with attacks on ‘high value' targets in the Sinhala dominated south. On Dec.1 defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, narrowly escaped a suicide attack on his convoy. But the attack left three dead and 14 injured and images of charred bodies and burning vehicles in the heart of Colombo reminiscent of pre-ceasefire times.

Soon after the attack, the hardline allies of the government, the People's Liberation Front (PLF) and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHL) launched a public campaign to slap a formal ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), as the Tigers are formally known, and thus nullify the truce. Posters appeared in Colombo calling for a ban and Sinhalese Buddhist monks staged a support protest. And the government responded by bringing back into play anti-terrorism laws that were non-operational since the Feb. 2002 ceasefire. "Taking all this into consideration, our government decided to reactivate provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act to face this cruel and senseless terrorism. We also have for the first time defined terrorism, and brought in special provisions and regulations to curb it. I wish to tell you that our government took this decision giving due consideration to all relevant facts and making a deep study of the situation," Rajapakse said.

LTTE's political head, S.P.Thamilchelvan, in an address on International Human Rights Day, Sunday, delivered at the Tamil headquarters of Kilinochchi in northern Jaffna, described the revival of the anti-terror laws as a move by the government to ‘'deprive the Tamil people of their fundamental birthrights such as the "right to life, right to national identity and the right to homeland''. Thamilchelvan also said that by reactivating the anti-terror act, the government had ‘'disabled'' the ceasefire -- though the deal has long existed only on paper. But in fact, the attack on the defence secretary was a warning from Tiger supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, that the truce was now defunct. "The Rajapakse regime hopes to decide the fate of the Tamil nation using its military power. It wants to occupy the Tamil land and then force an unacceptable solution on the Tamils. Due to this strategy of the Rajapakse regime, the CFA (ceasefire agreement) has become defunct. The Rajapakse regime, by openly advocating attacks on our positions, has effectively buried the CFA," Prabhakaran said in his annual speech delivered on Nov. 27.

"You expect this kind of talk from the Tigersà this is what they know, to threaten," defence spokesman and minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. Prabhakaran's speech defined the mood in a year in which many feel that the gains of four years of relative peace were reversed. Soon after Rajapakse was elected on Nov. 18, 2005, the Tiger leader did offer to work with the new President towards building peace but warned Rajapakse that he would have to prove a willingness to accommodate Tamil aspirations and not succumb to the demands of his pro-Sinhala supporters, the PLF and JHL. In effect, the President had very little time. Three days after the Tiger leader's offer violence erupted in northern Jaffna when two Tamils who had been active in organising pro-Tiger events were murdered. Retaliatory strikes left 16 soldiers dead. Thereafter, despite two significant lulls when the two sides met in Europe for negotiations, the bloodletting has been relentless.

"A new twin-track process emerged, in which a more hard line military strategy mixed uncomfortably with a political strategy attempting to build a southern alliance," the Brussels-based International Crisis Group said in a report on Sri Lanka, referring to the contradictory approach of the new Rajapakse government. The twin-track approach was also fuelled by the Tigers who stepped up attacks on government forces. As the year progressed, skirmishes were replaced by full throttle confrontations between the two sides in which hundreds of combatants died. Air strikes on areas under the control of the Tigers became frequent as were suicide attacks in the south. Before the attack on the defence secretary, army commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka survived a similar assassination attempt in April.

Fonseka's third-in-command and the deputy of the government peace secretariat were both killed in Colombo as also a parliamentarian from the pro-Tiger Tamil National Alliance (TNA), sending out a chilling message that the war could indeed be carried into Sinahalese-dominated areas. President Rajapakse said last week that it was the attempt on the army commander in April that prompted retaliatory strikes by the Sri Lankan armed forces. But there have been provocations by both sides that clearly violated the ceasefire from December 2005 onwards. The deadliest attack in Sri Lanka's 25-year-old conflict took place in October when more than 100 sailors were killed in a truck bomb in north central Habarana. The conflict has claimed more than 67,000 lives since it first began in the early 1980s and the lines were well and truly drawn by the ‘Black July' anti-Tamil pogrom in Colombo that left more than 3,000 people dead and 85,000 others homeless.

And now both sides are, in effect, calling for a military solution to the conflict. The stepped up violence and the attacks on high ranking government officials has predictably intensified calls for the abrogation of the truce agreement. "In his speech, Prabhakaran admits that there is no ceasefire, their actions proved it so, and now he is admitting it," PLF parliamentary group leader and a moving force in the National Patriotic Movement, Wimal Weeravansha, said. Extra judicial killings and abductions are now commonplace. "In Sri Lanka the conflict has flared up again. In the past six months, the country has descended further into violence with the death toll climbing to include an increasing number of civilians," U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Louis Arbour said during the session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in December.

The government has been fending off international calls for the setting up of an international human rights monitoring mission in the country. It has established a special presidential commission to inquire into 16 selected cases, including the murder of 17 aid workers with the French charity Action Contre le Faim in north-eastern Muttur in August. However, the commission itself and the group of international observers tipped to work with it, have been criticised by rights groups. "Amnesty International wishes to emphasise that the Commission of Inquiry and the IIGEP (international observers) do not address the need for an effective and on-going international human rights protection presence that can also investigate human rights abuses in Sri Lanka," the rights watchdog told the U.N. Human Rights Council.

The government has also come under fire from the U.N. on alleged complicity of troops in incidents of child recruitment. The claims, first made by the truce monitors, were given wide credence when U.N. envoy Allan Rock went public with them after a visit to the island in November. The allegations are supported in a report compiled by the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch. While the government has sought evidence to prove Rock's allegations, the U.N. envoy has informed Rajapakse that he was in possession of them. Rock is expected to submit a report to the U.N. Security Council's working committee on children in armed conflict in January.

The standoff between the government and the Tigers has severely hampered supplies to Jaffna, home to more than 500,000 people. The Tigers demand the reopening of the main land route, the A9 highway, that has remained closed since Aug. 12 when the Tigers launched an attack on the army's defences. The government has sought to move in supplies by sea and says that the A9 would be open only after strict guarantees are made by the Tigers with the backing of the international community. For their part, the Tigers have refrained from providing security guarantees to ships supplying Jaffna, forcing relief agencies including the ICRC to suspend accompaniment of ships. On top of all this, the prevalent security situation has constrained supplies to Tiger-held areas in the north and east where hundreds of thousands of civilians who fled the fighting remain trapped. As the year draws to a close, fighting has once again erupted south of the Trincomalee harbour and thousands, mostly Sinhalese, have fled the area to escape the fierce artillery duels between the LTTE and the army.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. P.B. Jayasundara has handed over his resignation papers to President Rajapakse.He has resigned in shame as he could not face the allegations made by the Cope implicating him to various questionable transactions and agreements signed as the secretary to the finance ministry. It is said that the Dr. Jayasundara had to answer some of the questions raised by its members till 5.00 pm somedays.It is alleged that Dr. Jayasundara signed questionable deals, such as selling of Insurance Corporation which incurred a loss of 6000 million to the state, sale of a 8 acre land in the harbour incurring a loss of 2500 million and selling of oil to Emirates at a subsidize rate incurring a loss another 2500 million. In the report presented to the parliament by the auditor general on state tax revenue management special audit on the 20th of July it was categorically stated that the secretary to the finance ministry has eluded his statutory responsibilities.

Responding to speculation that he has resigned Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera confirmed yesterday that he was very much serving in his capacity and would remain so.He told the Daily Mirror he had not tendered his resignation but had indicated to President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he would like to be relieved of his duties at a later date since the government’s ten-year development plan required greater commitment from the Finance Ministry.Meanwhile, state media reported yesterday that Dr. Jayasundera had submitted his resignation to the Finance Ministry.

A claymore explosion in Akkaraipattu last morning injured 5 policemen and a civilian, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said. The mine had targeted a police jeep but missed the target and hit a civilian van instead resulting in the policemen escaping with injuries. The injured were rushed to the Akkaraipattu hospital. According to MCNS the policemen were returning from the hospital after handing over the body of a man involved in a murder incident in Pahankaduwa, Akkaraipattu when the explosion took place. Akkaraipattu police are conducting further investigations.

The Executive Committee of the Association of Disabled Ex-Service Personnel (ADESP) will shortly decide whether to take part in a death fast to win their burning demands.ADESP President Asoka Dayaratne told The Island yesterday that during their district meeting many members had strongly stated that the Association must take a firm decision against the Government’s failure to take necessary steps to give pensions to the disabled soldiers who had served the forces for between 12 and 20 years."I don’t believe in a fast to death and other such actions but the majority of the 11,600 members are for it. In fact, the next executive committee will discuss this. However, he said that if the majority of the executive committee members are for a death fast, he would have to give the green light.Dayaratne also said that the Association is planning to meet President Mahinda Rajapakse to spell out their problems.

The son of a former Chief Police Inspector who had two unlicensed firearms in his possession was remanded till December 22 after being produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate Mrs. Ayesha Jayasena on Friday (08)The remanded suspect is Kutila Lanka Prasad Jayawickrema of Ratmalana. He was taken into custody in connection with fraud involving the transaction of a cheque and when his house was searched police had recovered point 3.8 revolver and a 12 bore gun. Inquiries revealed that the revolver is the one that a sub inspector attached to Mount Lavinia police station had lost in 1990.Inquiries are being conducted by Mount Lavinia police special crime investigations unit.

H.E. Mr.Robert O Blake, the ambassador of USA in Sri Lanka met Somawansa Amarasinghe the leader of the JVP at the JVP head office on 8th December 2006.They had a cordial and friendly discussion on The National Question and on The Education System in Sri Lanka.The JVP leader answering questions posed by the Ambassador Blake explained JVP's position that Sri Lanka is a multi- ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi religious Democracy and that the JVP rejects attempts to create mono-ethnic regions inside Sri Lanka. JVP leader appreciated USA's decision to ban the LTTE and condemnation of LTTE terrorism.Mr. Micheal R. DeTar , the 1st secretary (Political section) of the US embassy and Mr.Bimal Ratnayake JVP MP for Kurunegala District also participated.

Provincial Council Chief Ministers have decided to meet President Mahinda Rajapakse to brief him on the dangerous trend of backtracking on the powers devolved under the 13th Amendment.They believe that if this is allowed to continue it will result in further bottlenecks in the administration of the country, going against the policy of a government that advocated "Maximum Devolution of Power" as a permanent solution to the long standing ethnic crisis.At the 19th Provincial Chief Ministers Conference, presided over by the Chief Minister of the North Western Province Athula Wijesinghe at Kurunegala last Saturday, the Chief Ministers passed a unanimous resolution to strongly oppose moves by the Ministry of Education to bring the Provincial Teacher Service under the administration of the Central Government

Chief Minister Of the Western Province Reginold Cooray, told The Island that the Chief Ministers firmly opposed this decision which would be unfair when there are two catergories of schools in the country, there are the National Schools in highly urbanised areas and Provincial Schools in difficult and remote areas.At present the Government was unable to transfer a teacher from a National School to a provincial school to meet the shortfall in teachers, as the teachers are the spouses of senior Government officials or the are the wives of influential people"We have proposed to recruit teachers from difficult areas and appoint them to their own village schools, and they will not ask for transfers and be more productive," he said.Chief Minister of the Southern Province Shan Wijelal de Silva said that it was also decided to oppose the National Transport Commission issuing permits for Inter – Provincial Bus routes, without getting the consent of the relevant Provincial Authority.

Peradeniya Police are investigating into how a Para-searchlight normally used by the Army in their night operations happened to fall on to the roof of a house between Peradeniya and Kiribathkumbura, resulting in the roof and the ceiling collapsing into the building.The Army which inspected the searchlight informed police that it was similar to the ones used by them.

Plantation workers to launch Satyagraha for pay hikes

Protesting Plantation Workers, who took to the streets in their thousands vowing to continue their justified struggle for a basic daily wage of rupees 250, have now decided to move a step further and launch Satyagraha opposite all Tea Factories and offices from today. The Plantation workers had put aside all their political , trade union, class, creed , community, and religious differences to unite as never before in their common struggle, a union spokesman said. They accused certain powerful trade unions of having thrived on the "Sanda panam" (Union Fees) and their misery and of having set goons to threaten and intimidate workers and also of having prevented President Mahinda Rajapakse from intervening to resolve the crisis

The protesting workers, who commenced a work-to-rule campaign almost three weeks ago and launched a strike on Monday, were joined by traders.All plantation trade unions such as the Lanka Estate Workers Union, General Secretary and President Of Joint Plantation Trade Union Centre S. Ramanathan, Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union General Secretary, S.Velautham, Ceylon National Workers Congress General Secretary S.Sathasivam the Upcountry Peoples Front Leader Minister P. Chandrasekeran, People’s Liberation Front Propaganda Secretary MP Wimal Weerawansa and MP Ramalingam Chandrasekeram have pledged to join their struggle, workers said.

They said the Ceylon Workers Congress, which had promoted the privatisation of the Estates, was today complaining that they were unable to convince President Mahinda Rajapakse or the President of the Ceylon Employers’ Federation Gothabhya Dissanayake that their daily basic wage of rupees 250 was justifiable in keeping with the high cost of living and the high prices for Tea and Rubber in the World Market .

Mahawela police and Colombo based Terrorist investigations division are making joint investigations into an incident where two persons who arrived in a three wheeler made inquiries about a block of land at Moragaspitiya, Ehelepole in Pallepola owned by head of the Peace Secretariat Dr.Palitha Kohana.The watcher of the block of land has told Mahawela police that the two who came in the three wheeler have asked him whether the land is for sale and that they were made to understand that it was to be sold. Police have questioned the three wheel driver and several others about the visitors.It is also said that Dr.Palitha Kohana visited the land about a week back.

Human rights day was marked in Tamil Eelam in a very subdued manner due to the killing of 22 civilians on 9 December and further killing on 10 December totalling 41 civilians being killed in Vaharai.LTTE Polictical Head, S P Tamilselvan, in his speech, marking the human rights day recounted some of the other inhuman massacres of entire families including very young children. In his speech he also said, “The UN representatives, particularly that of the UN Under-Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict Mr.Allan Rock, and the Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions, Mr Philip Alston, have revealed without any bias the human rights excesses perpetrated by the Sri Lankan armed forces in the Tamil Homeland. Besides, on May 24th Madam Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed her deep concern over the human rights violations in Sri Lanka and condemned, moreover, the killings and grave violations of human rights laws and breaches of humanitarian laws. The special representative”

On this day in 1948, the General assembly of the United Nations proclaimed the Universal declaration of Human rights as milestone in the forward march of civilization. Now we commemorate this day as the International Day of Human rights. This declaration was born as a lofty legal value enjoying – for the first time in history – international recognition for safeguarding the rights of all people living in the world transcending race, religion, language and nation. Although 58 years have rolled by since the provenance of this declaration of rights, yet even now there are in different parts of the world various peoples fighting determinedly for their human rights. The life of these people journeys on facing state oppression and the spectre of genocide.

Following the Declaration, a number of conventions, covenants, declarations and resolutions have taken shape as international human rights law. But as far as the Tamil people living on the island of Sri Lanka are concerned, from the very year 1948 when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed up to the present day, these human rights have remained empty words; not rights that they could actually enjoy. Such has been our history. Since 1948 when the island of Sri Lanka gained independence from British colonialism, the Tamil people have been facing extreme forms of oppression and human rights violations perpetrated by the successive Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinistic governments of this island. We wish to protect ourselves from this genocide and to live as a people endowed with the right of self-determination which ensures our enjoyment of all the rights in full. On the international plane, human societies are leading a life of dignity and just-peace by preserving such national identities as ethnicity, language, culture and country along with their human rights. It is precisely for such a life for ourselves that we have been conducting our freedom struggle. It is solely by being a people with the right of self-determination to determine by ourselves our own destiny that we can live as people with all human rights ensured. This is why the right to self-determination is enshrined in the customary law as an inviolable legal value.

But today our people find themselves deprived of their fundamental birthrights such as the right to life, right to national identity and the right to homeland. Against this backdrop, we have been pitch-forked into a situation where we are subjected to the most horrendous human rights violations as a result of the Sri Lankan Government’s malicious propaganda that depicts our struggle for rights as terrorism, and the acquiescence of the international community with regard to these violations.

The cease-fire agreement signed in the year 2002 through the facilitation of Norway and the support of the international community, has been rendered defunct by the continuous attacks and military offensives carried out by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. The cease-fire agreement has been further disabled by the Prevention of Terrorism Act presently introduced. This Prevention of Terrorism Act has encouraged enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions without trial, and has furthermore put into jeopardy such rights as the freedom of expression and freedom of the media.

The anti-Tamil human rights violations that have been taking place covertly and on a relatively small scale since the cease-fire agreement, are now being staged overtly since the appearance of the Rajapaksa-led government on the scene. It has now attained the proportions of a full-scale genocide through the unleashing of atrocities by the Sri Lankan armed forces: killings, aerial bombardments on hospitals, schools and residential areas; sexual violence on Tamil women, enforced disappearance and so on. Recent researches on the serious violations of human rights by the Sri Lankan State have produced statistics that clearly expose the extent of such violations in the Tamil Homeland. Since the cease-fire agreement came into effect, there have been 1392 civilian killings and 512 enforced disappearances. 210 000 people have been displaced owing to military offensives. In the last month alone 134 civilians have been killed and 28 disappearances. The civilian killings include 70 children.

The rights and security are ensured by the articles of the cease-fire agreement related to the restoration of normalcy and other articles. Both at the first and the second rounds of talks that took place in Geneva, Switzerland, we stressed the need for the complete implementation of the cease-fire agreement and resolving the humanitarian crisis that has developed in the Tamil Homeland. But instead of protecting the rights of the Tamil people by respecting the cease-fire agreement, the Sri Lankan government has exploited human rights as a means for its petty political gains.

The Sri Lankan armed forces and the para-militaries operating in league with those forces are now unleashing horrible violations of human rights in the Tamil Homeland and creating a massive humanitarian disaster by weaponizing food. In a shell attack by the military on 08.11.06 on a school where IDPs were taking refuge, 47 civilians were killed and over 300 wounded. Representatives of the SLMM, UNICEF and ICRC who were immediately rushing to the site were intercepted. The Sri Lankan government is on the genocidal war path and violated not only human rights laws but also the Geneva humanitarian laws by carrying out bombardments on hospitals and schools. In the aerial attack near the Kilinochchi general hospital the latter was damaged and five civilians were killed. The patients, expectant mothers and new-born babes had to be evacuated which created tremendous human misery. The atrocity that caused immense pain and kindled anger in the hearts of the Tamil people occurred on 14.08.06, 55 young girls fell victim to a bomb attack by the Sri Lankan air force on a Children’s Home.

Today, while on the one hand the human rights violations continuously taking place in the Tamil Homeland are being brought to light by UN special rapporteurs, ambassadors and Amnesty International and UN aid organizations, on the other the elimination and enforced disappearances of Tamils in the Tamil homeland go on unabated. Amnesty International has condemned the barbarous act of hacking and shooting to death of 13 civilians including aged children four months and four years at Allaipiddy in May 2006. Amnesty International also claimed that it had credible evidence of the presence of the EPDP para-military and Sri Lankan navy at the site of the incident.

The UN representatives, particularly that of the UN Under-Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict Mr.Allan Rock, and the Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions have revealed without any bias the human rights excesses perpetrated by the Sri Lankan armed forces in the Tamil Homeland. Besides, on May 24th Madam Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed her deep concern over the human rights violations in Sri Lanka and condemned, moreover, the killings and grave violations of human rights laws and breaches of humanitarian laws. The special representative Mr.Allan Rock exposed to the world that the Sri Lankan armed forces are operating in complicity with the Karuna para-military group in the recruitment of children.

While the Tamil people in the Tamil Homeland are faced with genocide, Tamil intellectuals and, in particular, politicians, people’s representatives and media personnel who are courageously exposing to the international forum the human rights violations against the Tamil people and the justification of their struggle have come under threat and been stripped of the freedom of expression. Since the cease-fire agreement Tamil Members of Parliament and people’s representatives like Chandra Nehru, Joseph Pararajasingham, Raviraj, Vanniasingham Vigneswaran and Arumugam Senthilnathan havfe been murdered; and so have senior press personnel like Nadesan and Sivaram.

For the Sri Lankan government, it has become a habit to commit murders, enforced disappearances and rapes, and to hoodwink the international community by appointing commissions to investigate them when they come to light. The Commissions appointed to investigate the gross violations that have been committed so farm particularly the mass graves discovered at Chemmani and the hundreds of enforced disappearances have been pretentious, aiming only to satisfy the international community.

Given this background, the Tamil people who have been clamouring for fair investigations into the injustices against them and for urgent measures to prevent violations of their rights, stand utterly deceived by the membership conferred on the Sri Lankan state to the newly formed Human Rights Council.

Further, the deferment of the resolution proposed by the European Union at the second session of the Human Rights Council regarding the human rights violations in Sri Lanka, has brought disappointment and hurt to the Tamil people. It is worth noting that in the statement it released on 6th October 2006m Human Rights Watch too expressed its disappointment.

With utter disregard for human rights and humanitarian laws the Sri Lankan government is continuing to perpetrate human rights atrocities against the Tamil people. We have now been driven to protecting ourselves from the genocidal campaign of our aggressors who are carrying out their acts of murder, abduction and rape with absolute impunity. On this day we resolve to retrieve the rights we have lost to the aggressors and breathe the air of freedom as a people enjoying the right of self-determination.

The TNA sought presidential intervention yesterday to facilitate the ICRC’s attempts to transfer Tamil civilians, injured in ongoing battle, out of Vakarai. Party Leader, R. Sampanthan, said in a letter addressed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday, there are 51 such civilians at the Vakarai hospital yesterday, and two of them had been succumbed to their injuries without adequate medical treatment.He said seven seriously injured persons had been transferred in boats by civilians from Vakarai to Valaichchenai. “The ICRC is making arrangements to transfer the rest of the injured out of Vakarai tomorrow by boat,” the letter says. Sampanthan requested the President to instruct his officials to co-ordinate with the ICRC officials to transfer these people out of Vakarai today. He said 41 Tamil civilians inclusive of men, women and children had been killed due to heavy artillery fire and people had been compelled to bury bodies in their compounds.“I urge that the shelling of areas populated by Tamil civilians be discontinued as otherwise there would be more civilian deaths,” he said.

Scores of civilians, government troops and LTTE cadres were killed and many more were injured, as the Sri Lankan offensive to capture the strategic area of Vaharai in Eastern Sri Lanka from the LTTE continued for the second day on Sunday.The government said that 40 Tamil Tigers were killed and another 40 were injured. The army, it added, lost two soldiers. Forty personnel sustained various kinds of injuries.The LTTE said that 30 Sri Lankan Army soldiers, including two senior officers, were killed in the battle over Eechchilapatru in East Sri Lanka on Saturday.The LTTE did not give casualty figures for Sunday.Fighting began on Sunday at 6 am when government troops moved towards Vaharai.By mid day, there was a pitched battle at Panichenkerni, south of Vaharai, the LTTE’s military spokesman, Rasaiah Ilanthirayan, alias Marshall, said.Artillery shells fired by the army had fallen on the Kandalady school housing Tamil refugees from Patchenai and Vammuivadduvan, killing 10 of them, Marshall said.

On Saturday, the Sri Lankan special forces had started an offensive from the Mahindapura army camp at 5 am, supported by Multi-Barrel Rocket fire from the Kallaru camp.The troops had broken through the LTTE’s Forward Defence Lines (FDL) and reached Eechchilapatru also called Eechchilampattu, where fierce resistance for several hours resulted in the death of 30 Sri Lankan soldiers.The army columns were forced to retreat, the LTTE said.It further said that the retreating troops had fired artillery shells into the villages of Vammivedduvan and Patchenai, killing 15 civilians and injuring thirty five.The LTTE, in turn, shelled the Kallaru army camp and neutralised the guns there, Marshall said.On Sunday, the army’s shelling was incessant. Shelling was carried out from the Kallaru, Kadjuwatte, Valaichenai and Karadikulam army camps.The government hospital at Vaharai had reported 20 civilian deaths by Sunday.

The fighting had severely affected the majority Sinhala community also, because their villages had been targets of the LTTE’s artillery.According to the National Security website, 1450 villagers had been displaced by the LTTE’s indiscriminate firing from December 7 onwards.On December 7, the LTTE had fired shells into the Somadevi school in Serunuwara killing four persons and injuring many children.The Sinhala refugees are being housed in the Buddha viharas and schools.

A Sri Lanka Army offensive south of Vaharai along the costal line towards Panichchankerni was defeated by the defence forces of the Tigers, said S. Elilan, Trincomalee Political Head of the Tigers. 19 civilians were killed in SLA and Sri Lanka Navy shelling and 50 civilians were wounded Sunday. ""Around 27 IDPs were critically wounded. ICRC was ready to offer transportation to wounded civilians from Vaharai hospital. But the Sri Lankan military did not allow them to transport the wounded.""An attempt by SLMM to facilitate transportation was also failed today. A patient died."Today, a group of civilians on their own initiative, transported a few wounded on boats towards Batticaloa, amid shell attacks, risking their lives, Mr. Elilan further said.

The CWC wants President Mahinda Rajapakse to return the plantations portfolio to Arumugam Thondaman. Thondaman who quit the cabinet shortly before the Budget presentation in November, later withdrew his letter of resignation after Rajapaksa assured him that his grievances would be addressed after the Budget.CWC sources said that they expected the President to keep his promise.

The rupee which is trading around Rs 108 against the US dollar will depreciate to Rs. 115 and cost of living will rise 22% by April next year, Colombo District UNP MP Bandula Gunawardena predicted."By the time the Sinhala and Tamil New year arrives the prices of goods and services would have skyrocketed beyond the reach of the poor, who were bluffed into believing that the Mahinda Chintana will end their sufferings, " he said. "Financial mismanagement, he pointed out, was at its peak due to political opportunism being the basis of the governments economic policies" he asserted."Short sighted policies are ruining the economy and it would be an uphill task to pull the country out of the rut it has s