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31 December 2007 Curfew in Jaffna to be relaxed for New Year Sri Lanka vows victory against Tigers in 2008 Sri Lanka's top military commanders have vowed to win the decades-old war against Tamil separatists in the new year, a state-run daily said. Army chief Sarath Fonseka said he hoped government forces would be able to dislodge the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from the line of bunkers guarding their de facto mini-state in the north of the island."We can bring the war against the LTTE to a turning point once we are able to destroy the LTTE capabilities to operate in bunkers and forward defence lines," Fonseka was quoted as saying in the Daily News.The paper also quoted both navy chief Wasantha Karannagoda and air force commander Roshan Gunatilleke as saying they were "confident" of defeating the Tigers in the new year.The LTTE has been leading a drawn-out campaign for an independent homeland for the island's ethnic Tamil minority since 1972. More than 60,000 people have been killed in the conflict.Karannagoda said the guerrillas were starved of supplies after the navy sank their fleet of gun-running ships in 2007, but the rebels continued to receive some items from neighbouring India."The arms and ammunition they receive at present come only across the Palk Straits from Tamil Nadu" in southern India, the paper quoted Karannagoda as saying.Government forces wrested control over the east of the island in July, and have since focused attention on dismantling the mini-state in the northern Wanni region."The Tri-Forces commanders yesterday expressed confidence that 2008 would be a decisive year in their effort of eliminating terrorism... they were already on course towards accomplishing this task," the Daily News said.On Sunday, the state-run Sunday Observer said the military planned to "eliminate" the Tamil Tigers -- and their estimated 3,000-strong army -- in the next six months.And on Saturday the brother of the island's President Mahinda Rajapakse and its powerful defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, said the government should formally pull out of a now-moribund truce brokered by Norway in 2002.The ceasefire, he said, has "become a joke."The air force carried out strikes against rebel-held territory in the north on Monday, following heavy clashes at the weekend, military officials said.The defence ministry said troops killed at least 33 members of the LTTE and wounded another 38 in the latest battles in the district of Mannar. The ministry placed its own losses at six soldiers wounded, but the Tigers said they had killed at least 20 government soldiers and wounded another 40.Both sides regularly make sharply differing claims about the number of casualties and independent verification is rarely possible. Journalists are not allowed into rebel-held areas in the north. 4 Sri Lankan soldiers injured by rebel attack At least four government soldiers were injured when Tamil Tiger rebels triggered a claymore mine targeting a convoy of military buses in northern Sri Lanka on Monday, said the military. Military Spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said three Navy sailors and one Army soldier were injured in the attack in the Mannar district around 12:30 p.m. local time (0700 GMT). The injured have been rushed to the Anuradhapura hospital, with one victim in critical condition, hospital officials said. Defence officials said the convoy of buses were carrying unarmed security forces personnel going on leave for the New Year holiday. Mannar and other parts of the Northern Province are now the major battlefield between government troops and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after the military said in mid-July that the entire Eastern Province had been free of rebels. More than 5,000 people have been killed in the new wave of violence since the end of 2005, making the Norwegian brokered ceasefire agreement exist only on paper. Claiming discrimination at the hands of the Sinhala majority, the LTTE has been fighting the government since the mid-1980s to establish a separate homeland for the minority Tamils in the north and east. Sri Lanka's LTTE orders NGO workers to leave Mullaitivu The deadline given by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for workers of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to vacate the Mullaitivu area of Sri Lanka's Northern Province expires today. The Voice of Tigers, the radio operated by the LTTE, claimed that the organization came to this decision after considering the safety of NGO workers amidst the developing conflict in the region. However, others sources reveal another reason for the decision. According to them, the LTTE’s Intelligence Wing has raised suspicions over possible leakage of inside information to the Sri Lankan security forces through NGO workers. The LTTE has not ordered NGO workers to leave Kilinochchi, even though they also face the same volatile situation in that district. Sri Lanka media watchdog slams president over unruly minister Incredible turn The FMM statement said it expresses serious concern and alarm at the "incredible" turn of events that have occurred in the aftermath of the incident, where the government was hounding television workers and not acting against the errant minister. The FMM said it believes Silva's behaviour, both on well-documented previous occasions in which he abused the media, as well as the latest case, "is prima facie cause for summary dismissal under any democratic dispensation." It said the responsibility lies squarely with President Rajapakse who made Silva a minister and appointed him to parliament as a National List member. "However, the President appears to have adopted an attitude wholly at odds with the public revulsion Minister Silva's conduct has provoked throughout Sri Lanka," the FMM said. It quoted news reports and reliable sources as saying Rajapakse had berated the TV station's management for having allowed the live telecast of last Thursday's events and launched a police probe against the journalists. "Astoundingly, the President has not shown the same commitment to accountability with regard to his own Minister, against whom no disciplinary action whatsoever has so far been taken, in a trend that would seem to indicate no action will be taken in the future either." Silva has earned notoriety for abusing and assaulting journalists and has also been alleged to have links with the underworld and drug dealers, charges he denies. Hounding The FMM said Rajapakse's inaction against Silva and hounding of journalists "is cause for grave disquiet in respect of the freedom of expression, media freedom and independence, and the integrity of democratic institutions and democracy in Sri Lanka. "The FMM, together with all Sri Lankans committed to liberty, human rights and democratic institutions, is appalled by the course of conduct adopted by the President in which he has now become the focus of attention in respect of bad governance, maladministration, and of defending the indefensible." It said it was at a loss to understand how the President can, with good conscience, persecute journalists of the SLRC whilst shielding his errant Minister, in blatant violation of every applicable democratic ethic. "FMM emphatically calls upon the President to desist from the persecution of journalists and instead devote his efforts to discipline Minister Silva forthwith." It also urged the government to free the state print media from its control and to "re-establish state broadcasting institutions as truly public service broadcasters. "Air force destroys rebel training camp, clashes in northern Sri Lanka kill 15, says military Sri Lanka: Air force jets attacked and destroyed a Tamil Tiger training camp Monday in war-torn northern Sri Lanka, while two days of infantry clashes killed at least 15 combatants, the military said.Fighter jets bombarded the training camp in Oddusuddan village of the rebel-held Mullaithivu district early Monday, the defense ministry said in a statement. Pilots confirmed the camp's destruction, but reported no casualties.Separately on Monday, suspected Tamil rebels set off a roadside bomb targeting a bus carrying troops in northern Vavuniya district, a defense official said on condition of anonymity, citing government rules.The blast wounded three sailors and one soldier, he said.Also on Monday, soldiers attacked a rebel bunker along the front lines in the northern Jaffna Peninsula, killing four insurgents, the official said. Troops suffered no casualties.On Sunday troops stationed in Parappaankandal village in northern Mannar district came under rebel mortar attack, killing one soldier and wounding four others, the official said.The violence followed the military's announcement Saturday that it had captured part of Parappaankandal village from the rebels.The two sides fought two more battles in neighboring Vavuniya district Sunday, killing five rebels and a soldier, the official said.A separate clash broke out in Mannar district, leaving four rebels dead, he said.Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be contacted for comment Monday.Government forces and the rebels have been battling for months over territory in the country's north, where the rebels have set up a de-facto state that the army has vowed to destroy. A spike in clashes there followed the government's announcement in July that it had driven the guerrillas from eastern parts of the country.Ambushes, clashes and airstrikes have become frequent in areas surrounding rebel-held territory.The rebels have fought the government since 1983 to create an independent homeland for the country's ethnic minority Tamils after decades of discrimination by the state. More than 70,000 people have been killed in nearly 25 years of fighting. Lankan team skips Bhutto funeral Contrary to reports published Saturday no high powered government delegation represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of assassinated former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto at Ghari Khuda Baksh in the Sindh Province.It is reliably learnt that following security warnings from Sri Lanka High Commission in Islamabad and Consul General in Karachi, both Minister Ferial Ashraff and Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana cancelled their visit. They were scheduled to represent Sri Lanka at the request of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Widespread violence by angry mourners paralysed much of Pakistan yesterday and triggered alarm around the world. 30 December 2007 India gets tough, calls Sri Lanka’s bluff! India has categorically warned Sri Lanka that its Prime Minister will not visit the island to partake in the country’s 60th independence anniversary celebrations on February 4, 2008 if the President Mahinda Rajapaksa led government fails to announce a political package to resolve the ethnic conflict. Sources said that the Indian government has urged Sri Lanka to at least prepare an interim proposal before February next year. “India is demanding that Sri Lanka pressure the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) to bring out at least a draft package before Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits the country in February,” sources claimed. The Nation learns that the strong Indian message was delivered during several discussions held during the past few weeks, especially when a government minister met with the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, Alok Prasad this month. “India wants to see how sincere the Sri Lankan government is about its rhetoric and so has given the Rajapaksa led administration a virtual ultimatum. India believes that everything cannot happen in one-go but something positive must be done, which is either to fully implement the provisions on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, or to at least announce an interim political package as a solution to the ethnic problem,” sources noted. According to sources, Manmohan Singh’s visit must derive something worthwhile bilaterally or else there will be no point in India attending Sri Lanka’s diamond jubilee of independence. “If Sri Lanka fails to please its ‘big brother-India,’ its neighbour will openly express its displeasure by not attending the Independence Day celebrations,” sources added. EPDP forms anti-Tiger alliance The Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) has proposed to jointly contest the local polls in the East with other Tamil political parties, EPDP sources said. Early this week the party extended an invitation to the People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) and Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF - Pathmanaba wing) for a discussion in this regard. The meeting was to be held yesterday in Batticaloa. The government announced the dates for the local election in Batticaloa last week. Polls are to be conducted to elect members to eight Pradeshiya Sabhas and Batticaloa Municipal Council. The government is planning to receive nominations from political parties and independent groups from January 4 to 21. The TMVP has already announced that it would contest the elections. Meanwhile TELO Jaffna district parliamentarian N. Srikantha told Lalbimanews that the party would file a case in the Supreme Court in the event of government going ahead with the polls. “We will file a case on the grounds that right to franchise is an essential ingredient of sovereignty of the country as enshrined in the Sri Lankan constitution. A paramilitary named Pillayan group is running riot in the Eastern province.” Bush signs budget act, barring military aid to Sri Lanka Sri Lanka troops surround LTTE stronghold, military says Sri Lankan Army troops have occupied the LTTE's Forward Defence Lines and surrounded the Wanni LTTE bases from all directions, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said today.In an interview with the 'Sunday Observer’ newspaper the Army Chief said that the LTTE could not prevent losing their remaining 3000 cadres and there is no assurance that the LTTE leader would survive for the next six months as the Sri Lankan Air Force plans to attack all the LTTE bases.Meanwhile the Defense Ministry reported that at least 33 Tigers were killed and another 38 were wounded yesterday when security forces made decisive in-routes towards non-liberated Parappakandal area in Mannar. "Troops advanced into Parappakandal West in the non-liberated areas of Mannar, 800 metres forward and took control over a total area of one square kilometre at the moment," military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told media. Three Tigers were killed and another three were injured in a confrontation yesterday in the Killali, Jaffna. Five soldiers were also reportedly injured in the incident, defense sources said.A soldier was killed in Mannar last night in a grenade attack launched by the Tigers while two soldiers were injured in mine explosions in Vavuniya. India a major factor in Sri Lanka: Rajapaksa India is 'a major factor' in any resolution of the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict and Sri Lankans must realise this, says Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.Asked about India's role in finding a solution to the dragging conflict, Rajapaksa told the state-run Sunday Observer: 'India is a major factor and we have recognised it from the very beginning.'Lots of people talk about the international community but we believe that India is the major factor in our problem.'We have to realise the importance of India because it is becoming a superpower,' he added.Rajapaksa, a brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, added: 'It is true that India has concerns over us. When they are powerful, they have to think about their security. It is natural they should be concerned about what is happening around them. So we have to be concerned about their concerns.'Whatever steps we are taking, we are briefing them. We do not have anything to hide. We have won their confidence. We do not want to do anything that will harm their security and their concerns.'They know that we are not against the Tamil community and we are doing all these only to defeat terrorism,' he said. Mano flees for safety Parliamentarian Mano Ganesan has decided to leave the country fearing for his life after the government drastically pruned down his security mid this month.Ganesan told The Nation that he had decided to ‘temporarily’ leave Sri Lanka within the next few days because he feared that he may be dealt with the same fate that befell TNA MP N. Raviraj.“I am convinced by these actions, that the stage is set for my assassination,” he charged. The MP, who is also the convener of the Civil Monitoring Mission, had in a letter, also appealed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is Minister of Defence, to take steps to re-instate his security. Although the letter was sent mid last week, Ganesan had yet to receive a response to it at the time this edition went to press. A letter had also been sent to the Inspector General of Police, Victor Perera, where issues with regard to his safety were highlighted, quoting police intelligence who had disclosed that his life was under continuous threat from many elements. Ganesan lamented that the present dangerous scenario had compelled him to leave the country at least temporarily, as he had no other choice. On December 18, the security given to Ganesan was reduced from ten to two and his backup vehicle was also withdrawn. No reasons were given for the sudden action. No TV show for stripping of CBK residence While the country was glued to the Rupavahini, watching the live drama at the state-owned TV on Thursday, with Labour Minister Mervyn Silva getting a taste of his own medicine, another silent drama was played out at No. 27 Independence Avenue, the official residence of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.Sources said that in an operation lasting about six hours, officers from the office of President Mahinda Rajapaksa painstakingly removed various moveable and immoveable items from Ms. Kumaratunga’s office after taking a careful inventory. This was in keeping with a May 3rd Supreme Court judgment which declared that she was not entitled to a luxury residence and an office at Independence Ave. at tax payers’ expense.Coincidentally or not, Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga moved to implement the Supreme Court decision only on September 30, five months later, by issuing a “without delay” quit notice to Ms. Kumaratunga soon after the much publicized grand reception she threw at the Mt. Lavinia Hotel for her only daughter Yasodara and her newly married husband Englishman Dr Roger Walker. No one from the country’s first family had been invited to that reception.After the takeover of furniture and fittings from her office on Thursday, the last remaining employees of that office too have been reverted to the Public Administration Ministry. At the time of the serving of the “without delay” quit notice at the end of September her office had a cadre of more than two dozen state employees. US Tamil group to take Gota, Basil and Fonseka to courts A United States based organisation called ‘Tamils for Justice’ has launched a massive fundraising project to de-proscribe the LTTE and to bring to justice the three US citizens holding power in Sri Lanka for allegedly committing gross violations of humanitarian laws, and crimes against Tamils.According to ‘Tamils for Justice,’ Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s two brothers, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa and Army Commander Gen. Sarath Fonseka are clearly subjected to US law and jurisdiction and are believed to be guilty of gross violations of humanitarian laws, crimes against Tamils and other serious offences such as money laundering.The endeavour has been named the ‘Bruce Fein Project,’ which hopes to retain the services of Bruce Fein, an Attorney in the United States Bruce Fein, who has served as associate Deputy Attorney General in the Department of Justice; as counsel to then Congressman Dick Cheney on a joint House-Senate Investigating Committee; and, is also an author, newspaper columnist and broadcast commentator on every significant issue confronting the United States and the international community for four decades.He specialises in constitutional and international law.The group expects, by hiring Bruce Fein, to achieve statehood for Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka. According to them, Bruce Fein’s extensive network in the media, Congress, Senate, and Executive Branches of the US Government, would aggressively persuade everyone to understand and support Tamil statehood, which for half a century has never been advocated effectively.They also pointed out that Fein’s international experience is unsurpassed, especially in the area of federalism or new statehoods, for example, Kashmir, Cyprus, Spain and Sudan. ‘Tamils for Justice,’ is expected to raise US$ 90,000 for the first phase of the Bruce Fein’s project. No paper trail of Karuna’s passport Documentation and letters leading to the granting of a diplomatic passport to Karuna Amman - and his subsequent flight to the UK - have “disappeared” from Sri Lankan files, an investigation by Lakbimanews has revealed. Despite the absence of documentation on the Sri Lankan side, British investigators have now found sufficient and concrete evidence of the Government’s involvement in procuring a diplomatic passport for Karuna and in facilitating his visa. This includes a completed passport application form that was forwarded to the Department of Emigration and Immigration with a request from the Presidential Secretariat that Karuna be granted a diplomatic passport under the name of Kokila Dushm-antha Gunawardena. Inflation, high interest and debt recovery key in 2008 Political instability, high inflation, low investments, increasing lawlessness and possible strikes by JVP-led unions in 2008 are the main concerns of Sri Lankan businessmen and economists.Commerce chambers are hoping against hope that the situation would improve in 2008 compared to 2007 when the conflict hurt business and investments. A few remain optimistic however about the New Year. President of the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka Kulatunga Rajapakse said he hopes that the country will be on the right path in 2008. His chamber is concentrating on the development of exports and Rajapakse said the export of industrial products is the only way the country can develop. He said he has been working closely with authorities and negotiating to solve the three main points of contention for exporters, those being cargo space, bank interest charges and the high cost of electricity. "We have been working on this repeatedly," he said. "This is purely for sustainability. The balance of trade has to be improved." President of the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries A.K. Ratnarajah is concerned about inflation and the impact it will have on the public, in particular employees who will face serious problems with the escalating cost of living and the ability to cope and be productive. He said the war has to end and a solution to the problem must be found by both parties. "It is far too costly on the country," Ratnarajah continued. "Terrorism has to be wiped out but at the same time, it is too costly." He said it not possible to make progress in bringing down the cost of living, interest rates, increasing investment and tourism in the country if the conflict continues. Lead economist at Lirneasia, Dr. Harsha de Silva said 2008 will bring greater political instability with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) wanting to assert themselves and the President attempting to balance the situation between them and the rest. "I foresee increased trade union action, strikes and the like," he said. "The JVP will go overboard to show the country that they are most unhappy with the government with respect to economic management now that they got egg on their face after the budget vote." Tax expert N.R. Gajendran believes the biggest challenge is how the government will be able to raise the billion of rupees targetted from taxes next year.Among the challenges are high interest rates of over 20 % compared to 10%, 18 months back; businesses run on borrowed money and four months credit (in reality) against two months earlier; and difficulty in recovery. “This is besides other things being normal,” he said, adding that an escalation of the war would further aggravate the situation. Asked how listed companies and banks still show huge profits despite ‘dismal’ economic conditions, he said one of the reasons was that these were not ‘fair valuation profits’ which is slowly coming into the books now. “Once fair value is used in the computation of profits, then the numbers would be different,” he said. Economist de Silva said that unless the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CB) tightens monetary policy by increasing rates, which are already the highest in Asia, and engage in sustained mopping up of liquidity in the market, inflation will continue to remain high, ridiculing CB Governor Nivard Cabraal's undertaking to bring inflation to single digits by end 2007 as per the ‘monetary policy road map.' De Silva feels that there is no question that the CB has been 'captured by the President's men and monetary policy has become a tool of fiscal policy.He said the recent statement made by Minister of Trade, Marketing and Consumer Affairs, Bandula Gunawardena, that there is no option but to print money shows how bankrupt the government is, not only in terms of cash but more importantly, in terms of 'plans to get out of the mess we have been put in by them.' He feels that changing the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) to show a lower level of inflation will only drive a wedge between the trade unions and the government and sooner than later, the credibility of the CB and the Department of Census and Statistics inflation number will be seriously eroded. "Interest rates will continue to be sky high until inflation is brought down," de Silva forecasted. "The rupee appreciation will not continue unless further short term bonds are raised or limits on foreign purchases in treasury bonds are increased. However, this is absolutely disastrous, like a reverse bungee," he continued. "We saw the rupee appreciate after the massive US dollar inflow after the tsunami aid which did not have to be repaid but in this case, we are adding on unsustainable short term US dollar debt. We will suddenly come to a point where our repayment will just inundate us." Laugfs Holdings Managing Director Thilak De Silva is however positive about 2008 in which the group expects to expand. “We are in a very positive frame of mind for 2008 and also optimistic that all political parties will shed their differences at least for the sake of finding a solution for ethnic problem and also to strengthen further, democracy, freedom of expression, human and fundamental rights,” he said. Professor M. T. A. Furkhan, Chairman Confifi Group, said that while the tourism industry still lives in hope it is also distinctly aware of the challenges in 2008. “There will not be much investments in tourism, but we have some hope,” he said. He noted that it is a positive development that the Ministry officials are working closely with the industry stakeholders. “They are putting a special effort and it is an encouraging change in the right direction,” he added. Hiran Cooray, Managing Director, Jetwing Hotels had the same sentiments. “It is a testing year for tourism and our wish is that peace will dawn. Till there is a cessation to the hostilities we will not have a good year.” However he said that the company is going ahead with their plans. “We are going ahead with our plans such as product development and marketing strategies but we will not start any new investments,” he said. Ramal Jasinghe, CEO Asian Alliance Insurance said that 2008, while being seen as a challenging year will also present opportunities in the light of those challenges that are thrown. “The economy will be very challenging for insurance companies in terms of the regulatory environment, the budgets and the economic backdrop that we are going into in 2008,” he noted. He reiterated that the industry will have to innovate in order to survive in 2008.Another insurance industry expert said that it will be a difficult year in 2008 as consumer spending power has shrunk considerably. “Any business for that matter including the insurance sector will thrive on consumer spending power. We are entering 2008 when the consumer spending has deteriorated due to escalating inflation and this will affect companies in a negative manner,” he added. He noted that the ‘confidence issue’ will prevent companies from venturing into new businesses. Minister blocks implementation of 13th Amendment A top government minister appears to be blocking government moves to implement the 13th Amendment, The Nation learns. The minister, a senior Tamil politician, has voiced his disapproval against President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s decision to appoint seasoned former Parliamentarian V. Anandasangaree to head the Northern Council. “The Tamil minister has objected to the appointment and has instead demanded that he be given control of the council once it is established,” sources said. According to the sources, objections raised by the minister have caused the delay in implementing the provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, and to gazette the setting up of the Interim Councils for the North and East Provinces.“This politician cannot head the Council for the simple reason that when you are a minister, the Constitution does not permit you to get into the provincial set up,” they noted. The Nation reliably learns that India has expressed support towards the Northern Council being led by a non-LTTE moderate politico, who is neither a pro-LTTE nor anti-LTTE. Supporter, but maintains a moderate outlook. The Nation early this month, reported that President Rajapaksa is likely to announce the full implementation of the provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution shortly.Rajapaksa is expected to implement this before the scheduled visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Singh is expected to attend Sri Lanka’s Diamond Jubilee of independence on February 4 next year as chief guest. Successive governments failed to implement the provisions of the 13th Amendment fully, enabling the provinces to administer their areas as separate entities.The government is now planning to devolve the areas of law and order to the two provinces, which have hitherto been under the control of the central government. 29 December 2007 Why Tamils are struggling for Tamil Eelam? Tamils are the original inhabitants of Ceylon, now called Sri Lanka. This is the story of the Tamil people in the second half of the last century.In 1948, the very year that the British handed over the Ceylon Government to the Sinhalese majority on a platter without any safeguards for minorities, the Sinhalese-dominated government passed a law rendering half the Ceylon Tamil population stateless in the land of their birth. Under the Ceylon Citizenship Act, of the nearly two million Tamils in Ceylon, over one million Upcountry Tamils, who had lived in Ceylon for generations, were deprived of their citizenship. To make matters worse, the Sinhalese government disenfranchised these Tamils by depriving them of their voting rights by passing the Ceylon Elections Amendment Act.The Upcountry Tamil leaders launched a peaceful satyagraha to protest against this racist policy, but it was ignored by the government. The first Prime Minister of Ceylon, D. S. Senanayake -a scheming racist, set the dangerous precedent for others to follow.Subsequently, there was massive land grabbing forcing a planned colonization of the traditional homeland of the Tamils in the Northeast by settling Sinhalese from the South. Indigenous Tamils were uprooted and Sinhalese criminals made to reside in Tamil-dominated villages. All protests by Tamils and their leaders were scrupulously ignored.In 1956, the Sinhalese government passed the Sinhala Only Act, making Sinhala the only official language, divesting official status of the Tamil language. The Tamil language spoken by Tamils and Muslims was the mother tongue of one-third of the people of Ceylon, but it was suppressed. This cultural attack was carried out by Prime Minister Mrs. Bandaranayake.Furthermore in 1956, Sinhalese mobs attacked and drove out Tamils from their villages in the Gal Oya Valley in the Batticaloa district. This was commencement of Sinhala mob terrorism against unarmed Tamils. The police was ineffective and remained mute spectators.The next step in the genocidal programme was to stop employment to Tamils. Those already in the government service were deprived of their increments unless they passed the Sinhala proficiency tests.In 1957 Tamil leaders signed the Bandaranayake-Chelvanayagam Pact with the Sinhalese government, to devolve power to regional councils, but it was soon unilaterally and dishonestly abrogated. Again in 1965, Tamil leaders signed the Chelvanayagam-Senanayake Pact to devolve power to district councils was also abrogated.In 1958 Sinhalese mobs and criminals unleashed terror against the Tamils all over the Sinhalese provinces. Tamils were massacred, their houses burnt, people burnt live, women raped and tortured. Rendered defenselss, over a 100,000 Tamils fled to their traditional homelands in the Northeast.In 1970, by a scheme of standardization, Tamil students were discriminated and barred from higher education. Tamil students were required to score higher marks than the Sinhalese for admission to higher studies.In the early sixties of the last century, Mrs. Srimavo Bandaranayake indulged in mass deportation of the stateless and disenfranchised Upcountry Tamils to India. The Indian government colluded with the Ceylon government in this move by signing the Srimavo-Sashtri Pact in 1964. Half a million Tamils were forced out of Ceylon to India.In 1974 the Sinhala state unleashed police violence against the Tamils who had gathered to hold the Tamil Research Conference in Jaffna, killing nine and wounding many. In 1976 the Sinhalese police opened fire at a mosque killing many Tamil-speaking Muslims.In 1977 the UNP government of Prime Minister J.R. Jayawardena unleashed mob violence against the Tamils particularly in the plantations, killing hundreds of innocent people. Nearly 40,000 Tamils were made refugees and destitute and many fled to India. Nearly 100 Hindu temples were destroyed with the active involvement of Sinhalese politicians. In 1978 the Sri Lankan Parliament enacted the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act and armed forces were given a free hand to kill Tamil youth. Torture camps were set up and Tamils disappeared involuntarily in large numbers. The government unleashed the Sinhalese and Muslim home-guards to oppress Tamils.In 1981, the Sinhalese armed forces rampaged in Jaffna, killing and setting fire to buildings including the historic Jaffna Public Library containing 94,000 invaluable books. This act of cultural genocide was carried out by two Sinhala ministers, Athulathmudali and Cyril Mathew, who were present in Jaffna at the time of attack. The Sinhalese government chased out Tamils from their villages in large numbers in the Northeast and replaced them with the Sinhalese from the South. Plantation Tamils, who had taken refuge in Northeast due to Sinhala terror, were forcibly put into buses and dumped in the Central Province. Tamil students in the University of Peradeniya were also attacked. Tamils were arrested in large numbers and held without trial for long periods. Many were tortured and many disappeared, obviously involuntarily. In the Welikade jail, many Tamil prisoners were killed in July 1983.This reign of terror continued during the tenure of J.R. Jayawardena, Premadasa, and Chandrika Kumaratunga. The Sinhala armed forces continued a reign of state terror. Mass arrests, killings, disappearances, torture, rape, burning of houses, destruction of schools, hospitals, businesses, shops, temples and churches rendered Tamils destitute. Tamil villages were bulldozed and the army followed a scorched-earth policy in the Tamil homeland.In the village of Manalaru, where the Tamils were uprooted, it was renamed Welioya, and Sinhalese convicts were settled. Jaffna, Palali, Nedunthivu, Manalaru, Valvettiturai, Kilali, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kokkadicholai, Mannar, Bidunuwewa, Kanchirankuda have suffered the most. Tamils were massacred and buried in mass graves in Chemmani. It is disgusting to note that some of the gross violators of human rights have been rewarded with ambassadorships.The Sinhala government imposed economic embargo on Tamil provinces preventing supply of food, clothing, and medicines, building materials, fuel and other basic necessities. People were dying, but international bodies were denied access.According to an estimate, some 800,000 Tamils have fled from Sri Lanka to India, U.K., Europe, North America, Australia and Africa. One million Tamils have been displaced internally and most of them have become homeless. A large number of children have been orphaned and many more have been maimed.Even after years of cease-fire, Sinhalese armed forces are occupying Tamil homes, hospitals, schools, places of worship and public places in many provinces. The Sinhalese police and army are also guilty of sadistic torture of Tamil girls and women. There has been forced sterilization of Plantation Tamils. Due to abject poverty, a large number of Tamil children are employed in Sinhalese homes as domestic servants and are subjected to abuse. The culprits escape punishment due to state patronage and biased judiciary.The devastation to the Sri Lankan Tamil people caused by the Sinhalese pogrom has reduced the Tamil population to 30 percent of what it was in 1948. It is time that the Sinhalese accused are tried for genocide and crimes against humanity. (S. Makenthiran is a graduate of the University of Ceylon, Colombo and a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants of UK. He has served in Sri Lanka and different countries in Africa including Zambia, Malawi and Botswana. He was a World Bank Project Finance Officer, before immigrating to Canada. In Canada he works as an accountancy, financial and tax consultant. He may be contacted at makenthiran@yahoo.com) 'Tamil issue can be taken up after truce is scrapped' Sri Lanka's Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has said that the government will begin addressing the issues faced by the minority Tamils after the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) with the Tamil Tigers is scrapped and the terrorist outfit banned."The government can make a fresh start to addressing the Tamils' grievances once it officially scraps the Ceasefire Agreement signed with the LTTE," the government-run Daily News quoted Rajapaksa as saying on Saturday.The CFA signed in 2002 is now virtually defunct with an undeclared war going on for the past two years."I think the most sensible thing is that we must end this Ceasefire Agreement by officially declaring there is no Ceasefire Agreement and ban the LTTE, since it is a terrorist organization and we are fighting them," the defence secretary said."We should not give solutions to the LTTE, which is a terrorist organization. Solution should be given to the Tamil people," he stressed."Military victories will definitely pave the way for a peaceful solution of the north-east problem as successive governments had failed to combat terrorism though they had genuine political solutions," Rajapaksa said. Asked if the LTTE would be given time before a ban was clamped, he said: "It should be given an opportunity to mend its ways." JVP will oppose attempt to bring federal proposals The JVP has decided to oppose any attempt to bring federal proposals as a solution for the national question said a spokesman for the party. The political Bureau of the JVP had met during the last weekend and has taken the decision to defeat all attempts to bring in federal proposals.However, Dr. Tissa Vitharana, Chairman of All Party Representative Committee (APRC) had told the media that a devolution package would be presented within two months. Also, according to sources Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh is to be invited as the chief guest at the 60th Independence celebrations to be held next year and the government has planned to bring forward a devolution package to solve the national question that would satisfy India before the arrival of the Indian PM. Advisors to the government have pointed out that Indian support was vital amidst the political instability that has emerged. Hence, the government has planned to get a set of proposals through Minister Tissa Vitharana that would satisfy India say these sources. However, the JVP spokesman pointed out that a devolution package by the government would be a betrayal of the victories achieved by the heroic Security Forces and would affect the ongoing operations to liberate the innocent civilians in the Wanni. He also pointed out the package would be a boost for the tiger terrorism which is being defeated by the heroic armed forces and would give the terrorists an opportunity to raise their heads again. He said it would give the international forces sympathetic to tiger terrorism and separatism an opportunity to launch their interventions with new vigour. Woman gang raped in Vadamaraadchi Armed men in military uniform abducted a woman Saturday early morning from her house in Imaiyaa’nan close to the Jaffna-Point Pedro road at in Vadamaraadchi, Jaffna, and gang raped her in a shrub land near her house, according to a Women Welfare volunteer Organization. The woman was found lying unconscious by relatives, and was rushed to Manthikai hospital first and later transferred to Jaffna Teaching hospital for further treatment, sources in Jaffna said. The officials of the Women's organization expressed their wish to remain anonymous due to fear for their lives from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and SLA-backed paramilitaries who are accused of committing sexual violence on women in Jaffna peninsula. The said Women Welfare Organization has confirmed the incident to media in the peninsula but wishes not to disclose the name.The woman was alone at home bathing at the well in the backyard before going to the temple where her husband and children had gone to attend December early dawn Thiruvempaavai prayers.Relatives of the woman, searching for her in the morning, found her lying unconscious with severe injuries of sexual violence and had rushed her to Manthikai hospital.The abduction and gang rape of the woman and the alleged involvement of SLA and SLA-backed paramilitaries have alarmed peninsula residents already living in a climate of fear.The SLA high authorities in Jaffna have repeatedly refuted allegations directed against their men despite many instances of sexual violence on women taking place during curfew hours when SLA troops patrol most areas of the peninsula.The list of recent victims include a 16-year-old girl student and a lady teacher in Jaffna, a family woman in Maalichchanthi in Vadamaraadchi, an elderly woman in Neerveali, and a school girl raped, killed and dumped in a well in Pungkudutheevu. US, Russian training for armed forces Instructors from the United States Marine Corp, and the Ukrainian and Russian Air Force are scheduled to arrive in the country to conduct a series of separate training sessions for the Sri Lankan forces, a top defence official said Friday. He said the team of US Marine Corp will arrive soon to train the Sri Lanka Army Special Forces and the Special Boat Squadron of the Sri Lanka Navy. “These teams will be here as part of a military cooperation between Sri Lanka and these countries,” the official said. Two separate teams from the Ukrainian and Russian Air Force are also due in the country to train Sri Lanka Air Force personnel in several areas. In mid-December, a high level Russian military delegation led by Colonel General Vladimir Moltenskoy held talks with Sri Lankan military officials on purchasing military hardware for the Army. A six-member medical team headed by Colonel William Howard at the Medical Department of the US Army also toured Sri Lanka recently and explored avenues for facilitating rehabilitation programmes and further medical assistance for soldiers undergoing treatment. The US military medical team visited military hospitals to asses the available medical facilities. In the recent past, Russia and Ukraine provided military hardware including supersonic jest for the use of Sri Lanka Air Force. LTTE and breakaway faction continue to recruit children: UN Mr Elango appointed as the new Head of the Tamileelam Police Tamil National Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on November 19, 2007 appointed Mr K Elango as the new Head of the Tamileelam Police. The Tamileelam Police was created by the Tamil National Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran exactly 16 years ago. Tamileelam Police has been rendering in valuable service in maintaining law and order and through this ensuring justice and equality in Tamileelam for the last 16 years. U.K. group urges protection for Sri Lanka's rights defenders A U.K-based Rights Group, Tamil Information Center (TIC), in a report released this week expressed serious concern "over the plight of human rights defenders in Sri Lanka, who are facing persecution and threats to life from [Sri Lanka] government authorities," and said the situation requires "urgent intervention by the International Community." The report urged the "Government of Sri Lanka to bring to an end a cycle of cumulative disregard for human rights in general and for abuses against human rights defenders in particular and to accept the offer of the international community to establish a human rights monitoring mechanism." Human rights defenders need stronger international protection The report said, "[T]he latest victims are three Members of Parliament – Mano Ganeshan, leader of the Western People’s Front (WPF), N Sri Kantha, MP of TELO and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and T Maheswaran, MP of the United National Party (UNP). Mr Ganeshan is also a founder member of the independent Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC), which has been actively campaigning against government-inspired abductions, killings and disappearances. "The Ministerial Security Divisions, which assigns security to MPs comes under Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the President’s brother. Mr Ganeshan has been receiving death threats for several months. The Chairperson of the CMC Siritunga Jayasuriya narrowly escaped physical injury when government inspired armed thugs attacked a peace rally organized in Colombo by the CMC in January 2007. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauf Hakeem’s security was removed after he blamed the police Special Task Force for the massacre of eleven Muslims in Pottuvil in September 2006." The report added that when the "Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) withdrew support in Parliament in August 2007, the government withdrew the security provided to the CWC members," and that the "government reduced the security of Sunday Times journalist Iqbal Athas after he exposed highlevel corruption in government involving defence purchases."The Rights group noted that the "liberal space for expression of opinion has shrunk substantially and they [Rights defenders] are increasingly exposed to death threats and attacks. They are facingsevere retaliatory measures over struggle against abuse of authority, breach of the rule of law, corruption and impunity.""Poor governance, corruption, nepotism, severe political tension in the country and lack of accountability remain the main facilitators of human rights abuses," the report pointed out. TIC has received reports that New Left Front leader Dr Wickramabahu Karunaratne and veteran film maker Dharmasiri Bandaranayake have been subjected to threat and intimidation for their forthright and unswerving stand on the conflict in Sri Lanka.The main perpetrators of the recent spate of human rights abuses are the "agents of the State including the police, army, and other law enforcement agencies...The intelligence services and other shadowy groups operated by senior government officers are also resposible for abuses. These violations are mainly arbitrary arrest, torture, disappearances and murder," the report said.The report said are the LTTE, paramilitary groups operating with the security forces, individuals or groups linked to armed criminal gangs, parties of the ruling coalition or the opposition, and mercenary gangs hired by local politicians are also some other perpetrators of abuses against human rights defenders.Even the "NGOs maintaining a position independent of the government in defense of human rights have also been frequently harassed and attacked," the report added. On media freedom the report said, "[D]uring the past two years twelve media personnel have been killed in Sri Lanka. President Rajapakse, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse and the army commander have summoned meetings of media representatives on several occasions to warn them against criticizing the war on the grounds that it will affect national security and the morale of the security forces. The Uthayan newspaper which reports the conditions of ordinary people in government-controlled Jaffna has lost five jounalists.The report accused the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka also to be complicit in promoting impunity to the Security forces on rights violations. "The courts, particularly the Supreme Court, are hostile to the defenders," the report said, adding, "The Chief Justice himself has threatened human rights defenders during court proceedings, that he would suitably deal with them if they brought human rights cases before the Supreme Court against the security forces." Congress seeks ban on meetings held in support of LTTE CHENNAI: Congress in Tamil Nadu today demanded that the Tamil Nadu government should take stern action against the supporters of outlawed LTTE and ban the meetings held in support of the organisation.“The LTTE continued to be a banned organisation and the supporters of the outfit should be dealt firmly by the government,” senior party leader and former Union Minister S R Balasubramaniam told reporters here.He also wanted the political parties to refrain from supporting the organisation.On the power shortage in the state, Balasubramaniam said industrial towns like Coimbatore and Tiruppur were worst affected by it. The state should take steps to overcome the shortage, he said. Fate of Mervin Silva, a politician, thug and a clown December 27th mark historic day in Sri lankan politics and media freedom. The incident involved with minister Mervin Silva in the premises of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation is sending strong signals to both political and judiciary circles in the country that people of this country is not satisfied and no longer willing to tolerate their inability to curb violence unleashed by politicians in the society. Political history Mervin Silva entered into politics under the patronage of Mahinda Rajapaksa in Hambanthota district. However, later he left SLFP and joined hand with UNP. He used to be an keen critics of CBK. He used harsh and abusive words to criticize her. But soon after CBK won the presidential election, this shameless political clown got back the membership of SLFP after knelt down and asking for forgiveness in front of CBK in public.In the general election in 2004, Mervin Silva contested in Colombo district and people of Colombo rejected Mervin Silva and made him the last in the list with only less than 3000 votes from the entire district!However, by that time, he had managed to add his wife into the National list and defeated Mervin Silva somehow convinced CBK to enter his wife in to the parliament. Later Mervin entered into parliament using this national list seat which was allocated to his wife.It is said that National list is there for intellectual and professionals to enter into the legislature. However it is unfortunate that national list was used by this clown to enter into the parliament.It was great shame that president Rajapaksa appointed this crook as the minister of Labor, the same portfolio that president held for some time. The working class of this country believes this appointment as an insult for them. History of thugery In September 2007, Chaminda Serasinghe, brother of UNP Western Provincial Councilor Sujeewa Serasinghe, was beaten up by Malaka Silva who is beloved son of Mervin Silva at a night club down Duplication Road. The victim claims that Malaka Silva, along with ten of his bodyguards, assaulted him when he visited a popular latino dance club, to have dinner with a German lady. The lady is believed to be the reason for the brawl, since she had once had an intimate relationship with Junior Silva.In November 2006 Malaka and two of his bodyguards pleaded guilty for attacking Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) officers, who were on a drug raid at a night club in a five-star hotel. On that occasion, Colombo High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne ordered each of them to pay compensation of Rs. 10,000 and enter into a bond of Rs 100,000 each, to be in good behavior for a year. Malaka Silva is widely believed to be a dealer in the banned substance.In another incident, both Mervyn and Malaka jointly ran amok and destroyed property at another Colombo night club in 2004. On that occasion, Junior got into a fight at Clancy’s night club and Senior came along with his goons for support. Before long, severe damage was caused to the Clancy’s night club and the Soprano’s Karaoke Bar in the same building. A security guard who witnessed the whole incident told police that it was Mervyn Silva, along with his goons, who had damaged the property of the club. However, a few days later, the security guard had changed his story, presumably under political pressure and gave an affidavit retracting his earlier statement to police. The courts, meanwhile, dismissed the case for the lack of evidence. Mervin and media Whenever his sons are at play, Mervin Silva is always there to defend them and his finger is always pointed against the media personals. He has verbally abused media personals in public in numerous occasions. Over the years Sirasa, Swarnavahini and Divaina had been targeted by this clown politician. However the state media had blind eye in all those incidents over the years. It is in this backdrop that Mervin Silva came to question the director of news of Rupavahini Corporation for not telecasting of his petty speech in the opening ceremony of the ‘Mahanama’ bridge in Matara.It is a comic of his own fate that at last, this bankrupt thug got his due place in the premises of state owned Rupavahini Corporation itself. Though he entered to play the role of a thug, he has to leave the place just like a clown after beaten up by the staff and fellow journalists. When the justice is not evident If the past cases involved with minister Mervin Silva and his sons got the due justice and the culprits are penalized in the judiciary system, this incident would never ended in violence. However, when people do not see the justice, it is natural for them to take the law in their hands.In the last general election people made him the LAST in the preferential list. Still the political helm preferred to select him as a minister. Now people themselves have curbed his thugary and exposed his true clown face. What more people should do to convince the political helm that Mervin is a rejected politician ?The question begging for answer is does the government and particularly president Mahinda Rajapaksa is willing to amend mistake of appointing a political clown as a minister. If not, the government may have to play heavy political price in the next election. 28 December 2007 India does not favour unitary system in Sri Lanka India has told a group of Tamil politicians from Sri Lanka that it hopes Colombo will not go for a unitary system of governance when it unveils a power sharing formula to end the ethnic conflict.National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan told the delegation here Thursday that India had repeatedly told Sri Lankan leaders that it was vital to grant substantial autonomy to the island's Tamil areas, informed sources told IANS.Narayanan conveyed the Indian government views to V. Anandasangaree, D. Sitharthan and T. Sritharan just before they ended a six-day visit to New Delhi where they met senior officials and opinion makers.Anandasangree heads the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), Sitharthan the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOT) and Sritharan is from the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF-Varada group).Among the others the three met included Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon.Amid a costly war that rages between the military and the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lanka has been battling within over how much autonomy it must grant to Tamils as well as Muslims to give them a sense of power sharing.While most people among the minorities and sections of the Sinhalese majority are for a federal system of governance, influential groups in the government and in allied groups insist that Sri Lanka's unitary system must stay.Some in Sri Lanka fear that federalism or substantial autonomy may trigger separatist tendencies one day. India does not share this view.At their 40-minute meeting, Anandasangaree, Sitharthan and Sritharan gave a detailed assessment of the military and political situation in Sri Lanka, where government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) appear to be headed towards a decisive showdown in the island's rebel-held north.Violence raging since late 2005, primarily in the country's northeast, has killed thousands and left many more homeless.According to the sources, the Tamil leaders urged Narayanan to pressure Sri Lanka's badly divided political establishment to come to a consensus on issues of governance. Without this, they argued, there could be no peace.The delegation also emphasised that there was an urgent need to spread the values of pluralism in the LTTE-controlled region which the group rules supreme.They urged New Delhi to play a more active and direct role to provide help to the thousands forced to quit their homes in the eastern province because of fighting.According to the delegation, while the Sri Lankan government was doing its bit for the displaced Tamils, particularly in Batticaloa, a lot more had to be done.Other Indian officials also told the delegation that New Delhi continued to favour a merger of Tamil-majority areas in Sri Lanka's north and east to form a single administrative unit.There seemed to be differences in perception among Anandasangaree, Sitharthan and Sritharan on what can be achieved by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC), which the government wants to come up with a nationally accepted devolution package.The understanding in official circles here is that India will wait for the APRC report before taking up the issue with Sri Lankan authorities. But New Delhi is clear that without genuine autonomy to the Tamil-speaking minorities, prospects of peace in Sri Lanka will be dim. 'Arrest all suspects' police ordered The Judiciary in Sri Lanka has expressed dissatisfaction over police investigations into an alleged attack on journalists by minister Mervyn Silva.Chief Magistrate in Colombo, Mackie Mohamed, warned the police to be more serious in their approach while investigating an incident that was "witnessed by the whole country". Labour minister Dr. Mervyn Silva and his aides are accused of assaulting the news director of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) at the SLRC premises. Derogatory remarks The minister was angry that the SLRC did not telecast his indecent remarks at a rally in Matara, in which President Mahinda Rajapaksa was also present. Demanding an apology, the SLRC workers have taken the controversial minister hostage for nearly three hours after the alleged assault. Minister Silva, who is accused of abusing and threatening journalists in the past, was assaulted by angry workers as he left the SLRC premises escorted by army commandos. Live telecast The SLRC has telecast the whole episode live but journalists say the tape was removed from later news bulletins by the authorities.Police informed the court that Udaya Nuvan Gunathilake, a suspect arrested on the incident, has been admitted to the hospital.Questioning as to why only one individual was arrested after such a serious incident, the magistrate said the judiciary could not accept police reports on the incident. Public will throw stones at judiciary if police reports are accepted, judge Mackie Mohamed told the open court.The judiciary ordered the police to arrest all suspects and postponed the hearing till 11 January.Suspect Udaya Nuvan Gunathilake was also remanded in custody until 11 January. Sri Lanka says kills 35 Tamil Tigers, rebels deny it Sri Lanka's military said on Friday troops had killed 35 Tamil Tigers in a series of land clashes in the island's north in 24 hours as the death toll from renewed civil war climbs inexorably higher.The army said troops battled the rebels in the northern district of Vavuniya on Thursday killing 25 rebels.The military said it had also killed 10 rebels on the Jaffna peninsula, in Vavuniya and in Welioya town on Friday. It said one soldier was wounded in a mine blast in Jaffna.The rebels denied any of their fighters were killed in Jaffna. There were no independent accounts of what had happened, and analysts say both sides tend to overstate enemy losses and play down their own amid a parallel propaganda war.Later on Friday, the air force said it bombed a rebel position in the north but gave no details of casualties or damage."Air Force jets pounded a meeting place of LTTE terrorists in Puthukudiyirippu in Mullativu," said Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Priyantha Weerasinghe.The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who are seeking to carve out an independent state in north and east Sri Lanka, said in and email statement they had prevented military infiltration attempts in the Jaffna peninsula on both Thursday and Friday."One SLAF (Sri Lanka Armed Forces) personnel was killed and at least five others sustained injuries... The LTTE front liners suffered no casualties," said Tiger military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan.However the rebel statement made no reference to fighting in Vavuniya and were not immediately available for comment on the air raids.The violence came after the military said it sank 11 rebel boats in a clash off the island's northern tip on Wednesday killing around 40 insurgents, and after the air force bombed a suspected rebel naval wing base in the northeast on Thursday -- the latest in a litany of confrontations.The military has vowed to wipe out the Tigers militarily, and is seeking to drive the rebels out of the northwestern district of Mannar after evicting them from vast swathes of jungle terrain they controlled in the east earlier this year.More than 5,000 people have been killed in fighting between the military and Tigers since early 2006 alone, taking the death toll since the war erupted in 1983 to around 70,000.Military analysts say there is no clear winner on the horizon, and fear the war could grind on for years. A massive protest before the Rupavahini Corporation Media and civil organizations today staged a massive demonstration in front of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation this afternoon urging the President and the government to take stern action against the Minister of Labor Mervin Silva who broke into the SLRC premises and physically assaulted the News Director.The victimized News Director T.M.G. Chandrasekara also took part in the demonstration while Jathika Hela Urumaya Media Secretary Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe flanked with two Buddhist monks was another notable participant.Slogans were chanted against Minister Mervin Silva and his name was tagged with the heroine dealings as well. Police let thugs of Mervyn Silva escape Sri Lankan Air Force pounds rebel target Body of sunken FAC’s commander found after Delft sea battle Four Tamils go to court PHILIPSBURG--Four men from Sri Lanka, claiming to be asylum seekers, launched an injunction Thursday against the Lt. Governor in a bid to obtain their freedom. The four men were arrested at Princess Juliana International Airport on November 24 because they were travelling with false passports. The men came from England and France and were attempting to travel to Canada via Guadeloupe and St. Maarten. The men, one aged 55, the others in their 30s, all belong to the Tamil minority, said their lawyer Denicio Brison. Many Tamils in Sri Lanka feel they are being discriminated against by the Singhalese majority in their country. This resulted in a demand for federalism, which in the 1970s grew into a movement for an autonomous Tamil country. The situation deteriorated into civil war in the early 1980s. A ceasefire in effect since 2002 broke down in August 2006 amid shelling and bombing from both sides. The four Tamils applied for asylum in England and France, one as early as 2004. However, they were afraid their requests would be turned down. Fearing that they would be persecuted in their home country they attempted to travel to Canada. According to their lawyer, they fell in the hands of professional human smugglers who provided them with falsified passports, but their efforts stranded in St. Maarten. Brison said it was not the first time the four were arrested here. They were also arrested on July 25 for the same crime. They were then released from detention after eight weeks, pending a temporary solution for their problems. According to Brison, this solution was never found and the injunction filed was in an effort to find some kind of arrangement for his clients. He explained that under international law, rejected refugees are to be returned to the country they came from, in this case to France. This is also the position taken by the Lt. Governor in this case. Government lawyer in this case, Richard Gibson Jr., told Judge Willem Jan Noordhuizen that the Lt. Governor wants the four Tamils to be sent back to France. Brison said there was an easier solution than to send the four back to France. “France is only a ten-minute drive away. However, up till now the authorities here have not tried to involve the authorities in St. Martin in this case. This injunction was intended to force the Lt. Governor’s Office to do something for my clients.” Brison said the Tamils are currently being held at the Police Station. “But they are no criminals. Their detention is a violation of international human rights,” said Brison. The judge will give his decision on January 7 SRI LANKA: Tsunami aid "missing", says anti-corruption group Over US$500 million in tsunami aid given to Sri Lanka has gone "missing", an anti-corruption organisation has charged. Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) said its investigations had revealed a gap between the amounts disbursed by foreign aid agencies and what has been spent on relief and recovery projects since the 2004 tsunami. "The difference between the disbursed and the expended (amounts) has been a controversial issue that does not have a credible explanation," said TISL in a statement released to mark the third anniversary of the disaster. "There is no precise evidence to explain the missing sum of Rs 53,597,253,625 (about US$535 million)." The government, however, has consistently said its recovery programme has been a notable success. Government spokesman and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said last week that Sri Lanka had performed better than other tsunami-stricken nations, and that there had been "an overall 80 percent success" rate. According to figures TISL said it obtained earlier this year from the Development Assistance Database (DAD) - an official website which tracks tsunami aid inflows - donor agencies gave about $1.2 billion (having initially pledged about twice as much). Of this approximately $1.2 billion, the amount spent on tsunami projects is Rs. 68,533,124,662 (about US$685 million), according to the DAD. TISL said it had reason to believe that some of the funds "have been utilised by the government for other purposes", but did not elaborate on to what these "other purposes" might have been. Government dismisses allegations A government official overseeing tsunami recovery dismissed the allegations: He said the figures were misleading because they were entered into the database by bilateral and multilateral agencies themselves. "The government has no check on what figures have been entered into the database because the donors enter the figures themselves," Shanthi Fernando, a presidential adviser on post-tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation affairs, told IRIN. "This is not money that the government has received directly." No government audit of tsunami aid TISL said there had been no government audit of tsunami aid since an interim report issued in 2005. "Thus, the overall picture on finances is ambiguous and left for speculation," its statement said. However, presidential adviser Fernando said individual ministries which had undertaken tsunami projects had conducted their own financial reviews and, as such, there was no need for the government to conduct an additional review. Among the other issues raised by TISL were political interference in the allotting of housing and allegations of corruption against village level officials which have yet to be investigated. "Large-scale reconstruction processes… need a system to receive complaints relating to corruption," TISL said, recommending that the government establish a formal complaints procedure. 27 December 2007 Sri Lankan Minister Held Hostage After Storming Television Station Sri Lanka's Labor Minister Mervin Silva tries to close the door of his vehicle, while a policeman puts his arm around him protectively, outside state-run Rupavahini television network, 27 Dec 2007 A Sri Lankan government minister has been held hostage by employees of a state television station after he and others stormed its offices and assaulted its news director.Labor Minister Mervyn Silva barged into the Rupavahini television station Thursday complaining that a speech he gave a day before was not aired. Journalists became enraged and managed to trap Silva and others in a small room, where they were held for several hours. He was not released until he issued a public apology. Police took him from the scene as journalists and others jeered and cheered.Television footage of his departure showed the minister covered in red ink and staffers throwing stones at his car.Silva has previously been accused of brawls with the media. Sri Lankan military says its jets have destroyed Tamil rebel base in embattled north Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan air force jets destroyed a Tamil Tiger naval base in the country's north Thursday, a day after a fierce sea battle and a wave of infantry attacks killed at least 66 rebels and 14 troops, the military said.Separately, a bomb blast blamed on the rebels killed four civilians in the north, the military said.There were no immediate details on casualties from the airstrike, which came amid weeks of heavy fighting between the military and ethnic Tamil separatists in the dense jungles of northern Sri Lanka.President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he aimed to crush the rebels, who have been fighting for a separate Tamil homeland for more than two decades, before he will enter a new round of peace talks."We are for a political settlement, but there is no point in talking about a political settlement without first defeating terrorism," Rajapaksa said Wednesday, according to a government Web site. As part of its offensive against the rebels, who control a de facto state in the north, air force fighter jets bombed and destroyed a naval training camp in the rebel stronghold of Mullaitivu early Thursday, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said.Also Thursday, a roadside bomb blast killed four civilians including a 10-year-old child, near the northern town of Vavuniya, Nanayakkara said. Six others were wounded, he said. He blamed the Tamil rebels.Another bomb blast, also blamed on the rebels, killed a police officer in eastern Sri Lanka, the site of sporadic attacks six months after the government routed the rebels there, he said.Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan did not answer a phone call seeking comment on the violence. In a statement e-mailed to reporters, he said Tamil Tiger fighters killed at least one soldier Thursday when they repelled a military offensive against rebel areas along the front lines in the northern Jaffna peninsula.Nanayakkara said he did not have details of the fighting.The two sides often give widely divergent death tolls, exaggerating their enemies' casualties while undercounting their own.According to the government, the sea battle Wednesday was one of the most intense in months. It began when naval patrol boats attacked a rebel flotilla transporting weapons off the coast of the northern Mannar district, said Nanayakkara.The navy sank nine of the 16 rebel boats, killing 40 guerrillas, Nanayakkara said. The body of one officer was found, and 11 others were missing and presumed dead, he said.The rebels said their fighters sank one naval craft and damaged two others and claimed only four Black Tigers, the rebel group's suicide fighters, were killed, according to an e-mailed statement from Ilanthirayan.The rebels maintain a significant navy they use for attacks and for smuggling weapons into areas they control in parts of the north. The Sri Lankan military said earlier this year it had sunk nearly all the rebels' 10 large smuggling ships, badly damaging their sophisticated supply network.Ground battles in the north Wednesday also killed 26 guerrillas and two soldiers, according to the military.The Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting since 1983 to create an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority after decades of discrimination from governments dominated by the Sinhalese majority. An estimated 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting. Sri Lanka ethnic crisis, a lesson for India: experts The Sri Lankan ethnic crisis should be taken as a lesson by the South Asian countries, and particularly India, feel experts."Politicians should not create sectarian identity among people, which ultimately tears the country," according to S D Muni, an expert on Sri Lanka.He was speaking at a function to mark the launch of a book, 'Sri Lanka: A land in search of itself', authored by Mohan K Tikku, a journalist, here on Wednesday."Particularly India should take lessons from the crisis as ours is a plural society and the violence is increasing here, and threatening the world's largest democracy," H K Dua, an eminent journalist, said.Talking about the present Sri Lankan crisis, Muni said, "The two main political parties, the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and main opposition the United National Parties are also responsible for the present plight of the people in the island nation as they talk of minority welfare during election campaigns but forget to implement when voted to power.""And unless the two main parties come out with a positive approach and do not sandwich the Tamils in the process, the countries' ethnic crisis can not be resolved," he said.Dr P Wingnaraja, Co-chair, Indo-Sri Lanka Track-II, said that solving the economic problem of the people and thereby bridging the gap between rich and poor is the most important requirement for solution of any crisis, especially of ethnic basis. "The Nepal peace process is an example for us and shows that it is possible to bring peace in any part of the world," he said, adding that a vision is also required for building a foundation for solution of a crisis, particularly Sri Lanka."Warning the political class for avoiding short-cuts in Politics, Dua, said,"our political class should realise that shortcut to power is no way of nation-building."We should look at future for the solutions as digging the history will not only derail the process but even destroy it," he said.About his book, Tikku said that 'Sri Lanka: A land in search of itself' gives an insight into history, politics and culture of Sri Lanka while also touching upon the problems that afflict the island nation in the contemporary times. SLFP General Secretary condemns Mervyn Silva for assault Devananda gives set of proposals to Prelate EPDP leader and Minister Douglas Devananda yesterday said that there is no possibility of finding a lasting solution to the national problem as long as LTTE leader Prabhakaran is alive.Handing over a memorandum containing a set of proposals aimed at resolving the national crisis to Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita, Mahanayake Thera of Asgiriya Chapter, Mr. Devananda said: “Prabhakaran will never entertain the idea of establishing democratic rule in the North, because he fears that people will happily rally round another leader to escape from his clutches. Therefore, it is essential to defeat Prabhakaran completely if a political solution is to be reached.” He also said democracy and peace should be restored to people in the North soon.Receiving the set of proposals from Minister Devananda the Ven. Buddharakkhita Thera noted that the government is carrying out military operations to wipe-out terrorism. “It is necessary to find a political solution to the national problem soon after combating terrorism. I think this set of proposals could be useful in this regard,” Ven. Thera said.In his proposals Mr. Devananda has suggested that an interim Executive Council should be established for North and the East under Article 154 of the Constitution to aid and advise the President and governors of these two provinces.Minister Devananda later met the Mahanayake of the Malwatta Chapter too. 3 EPDP paramilitaries, girl killed in Claymore ambush A Claymore attached to a bicycle, parked by a woman in Kuruma'nkaadu in Vavuniyaa exploded targeting an EPDP paramilitary vehicle at 1:45 p.m. Thursday, killing three paramilitary men and a girl. The ambush has taken place 200 meters from the paramilitary camp, Police said. A police and five others were rushed to Vavuniyaa hospital with injuries. The attack has taken place near the Kuruma'nkaadu junction, 25 meters close to a Sri Lanka Army post. The vehicle was transporting the newspaper, Thinamurasu, issued by the paramilitary group-cum-political party. Asgiriya Chapter expels two monks The Venerable Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya, Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha in a statement issued yesterday 26, said that two members of the Supreme Council of the Asgiriya chapter (Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha of the Asgiriya Chapter - were expelled from the Supreme Council.All privileges granted to the two monks as members of the Sangha of the chapter were withdrawn, he said.The two members of the Sangha Alawattegama Sobhitha, Chief incumbent of Kotakedeniya Raja Maha Vihare in Gelioya and Arattana Raja Maha Vihare of Hanguranketha and Upadyaya Hunupolagama Vijirasiri, Chief Sanghanayake of Wannihatpattu and Chief Incumbent of Migalewa Resvehera Raja Maha Vihare, Grikarawa Raja Maha Vihare and Hantana Raja Maha Vihare.The Mahanayake Thero had said in the statement issued to the media said the decisions were effective from 07.10.2007.This step has been taken after holding inquiries into the allegations against the two monks, the statement said.The Mahanayake Thero has informed all members of the Sangha and laymen to take note of the decision taken by the Karaka Sangha Sabha for the well-being of the sasana in accordance with the code of conduct of the sasana. Indian Coast Guard to counter LTTE threat The Indian Coast Guard is planning to set up an Air-Station in Tamil Nadu or Puducherry to deal with any threat from the LTTE, a top coastguard officer said in Mandapam. After reviewing the coastal security in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Straits from the Coast Guard Liner base following reports of LTTE activities, he said negotiations were going on with Air Force station officials at Thanjavur and other officials at Puducherry and Tuticorin. Once permission is granted to establish the station, the Coast Guard would deploy its aircraft, Dornier or the like, Inspector General and Commander Coast Guard, Eastern Region, Rajendra Singh told reporters. "We are still in the stage of identifying an ideal location," he said. Coast Guard had submitted prospective plan for 2007-08, and for 15 years from 2007-22,in which it had requested the Centre to establish two coast guard stations, one in Tamil Nadu and the other in Orissa, he said. "We will choose either Nagapattinam or Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu and Gopalpur has been chosen for Orissa," he said. They had requested the State government to provide land for the facility, he said. The full-fledged station would help coast guard operate bigger ships, interceptor vessels and others.A Communication centre would also form part of the Station. The Commander said five acres of land would be required for the establishment of the Station. 26 December 2007 TNA to go to courts against polls in East The Tamil National Alliance yesterday vowed to take legal action against moves to hold local government elections in the East on the ground that there is no conducive atmosphere in the province for people to exercise their franchise freely and fairly. TNA and TELO Jaffna district parliamentarian N. Srikantha told the Daily Mirror the party took a unanimous decision to file a case in the Supreme Court, because the climate was not conducive at all for holding free and fair elections in the East where a certain group roams in the area brandishing weapons and committing various crimes. Mr. Srikantha said the right of franchise was not a ‘joke’, but an essential ingredient of the sovereignty of country as enshrined in the Constitution. He said he believed the sole idea of holding an election now was to perpetrate a political fraud on the people of Batticaloa who are at the receiving end of the Nature’s fury as well. He said that there is a ‘sinister design’ in this case, and the TNA saw it with due seriousness. “It is going to be a big political and electoral fraud,” he said recalling that three of its members representing Batticaloa were unable to exercise their franchise during the third reading of the budget following threats from this armed group.He also said the East had been liberated from one armed group to be handed over to another. The government has already planned to receive nominations for local government polls from January 4 to 21 next year from recognized political parties and independent groups fielding candidates to eight Pradheshiya Sabhas and the Batticaloa Municipal Council in the East. The Pradheshiya Sabhas are Manmunai Pattu, Manmunai South and Eruvil Pattu, Porativu Pattu, Manmunai South-West Pattu, Manmunai West, Koralai Pattu, Eravur Pattu and Koralai Pattu-North. Meanwhile, the TMVP yesterday said it would contest the local government election in the Eastern province and look forward to filing nominations for the nine local government bodies. TMVP spokesman Azath Maulana told the Daily Mirror that they were trying their best to get the Party registered with the Elections Commissioner’s Department early next month before the filing of the nominations begins. “We will hold discussions with the other political parties like the TULF, EPDP and EPRLF to see whether there is a possibility of forming an alliance to contest the upcoming local government election,” Mr. Maulana said. Sri Lanka Navy lost Dvora Fast Attack Craft and 12 sailors missing Sea Tigers lost 6 boats and 24 cadres in sea battle Sri Lanka's Navy battled a flotilla of Tamil Tiger boats off the island's northwest tip on Wednesday, sinking 6 rebel vessels including two suicide boats, the military said."They were involved in arms smuggling," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara."Altogether 16 Tiger boats were observed. The navy destroyed four boats, and two suicide boats rammed a navy fast attack craft, which was badly damaged."It was not immediately clear how many people were killed in the clash, the latest in a series of land and sea battles. There were no independent accounts of what had happened and the Tigers were not immediately available for comment.The rest of the rebel boats sped back to Tiger-controlled territory, Nanayakkara said. According to Tiger sources, Sri Lanka Navy’s two more Dvora FACs sustained damage and retreated to Kaankeasanthu'rai (KKS) port, one of them damaged beyond repair. The clash that began at noon was still continuing at 2:30 p.m. The Tigers are yet to release details of the clash. However, analysts say both sides tend to exaggerate enemy losses and play down their own.President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government has vowed to destroy the Tigers' military assets and to clear the rebels from territory they control in the island's north after capturing their eastern strongholds earlier this year.Military analysts say there is no clear winner on the horizon, and fear a war in which around 70,000 people have been killed since 1983 could grind on for years. Govt. begins to take revenge on SLMC Sri Lankan military investigates Indonesian ship on suspected involvement with Tamil rebels The navy detained an Indonesian-registered vessel off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka - to investigate suspected involvement with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, the military said Wednesday. The vessel was detected about 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the island's eastern coast Tuesday morning and navy troops had boarded the ship for an investigation, a defense ministry official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Tamil Tigers have been known to smuggle arms aboard ships during the two-decade conflict against government forces. In September, the navy claimed it sank three rebel ships packed with weapons and carrying light aircraft, nearly destroying what remained of the separatists' smuggling fleet. Tamils left out in Lanka's tsunami rehab plans Anton Balasingham memorial in London Expatriate Tamils in London held a one year memorial event Sunday for Mr. Anton Balasingham, the LTTE’s former theoretician and Chief Negotiator, who passed away in December 2006 after a brief battle with cancer. Mr. Balasingham with his wife Adele Balasingham in Geneva in February 2006, while attending the Geneva I talksTraditional bharathanatyam dancers were amongst the performers who marked the event at the Walthamstow Assembly Hall in Northeast London.Mrs. Adele Balasingham lit the lamp of remembrance before a thousand mourners from the different regions of London filed past a portrait of Mr. Balasingham and paid their respects by placing flowers in front of it. They included many of London’s Tamil councilors.The keynote address was delivered by Mr. N. Vithyatharan, the editor of the Jaffna-based Uthayan newspaper. In his hour long speech, he reflected on Mr. Balasingham’s wide-ranging political abilities and experience and the veteran negotiator’s personal qualities Mr. Balasingham represented the LTTE at five peace processes with the Sri Lankan state, including the ‘Geneva 1’ negotiations in early 2006. Long a diabetes and kidney patient, he was compelled by ill health to retire shortly afterwards. He passed away from cancer on December 14, 2006.The LTTE leader, Vellupillai Pirapaharan, in his condolence message described Mr. Balasingham as a "source of unwavering strength in the political and diplomatic efforts of our freedom movement." In recognition of Mr. Balasingham’s enormous contribution to the Tamil struggle for self determination, the LTTE conferred the title ‘Voice of the Nation’ on him. 25 December 2007 'Release' French journalists 'No media accreditation' He told BBC Sandeshaya that the group the journalists are now held in custody under the Terrorist Investigation Unit (TID), after being transferred to Colombo from Ratgama police. The journalists have failed to get media accreditation to work in Sri Lanka, according to police speokesman.Fifteen people including two workers of the bus in which they travelled were detained in the police overnight.The video journalists are to be produced before the court on Wednesday, FMM convenor Sunanda Deshapriya told BBC Sandeshaya."Videoing a road block is not a crime to keep whole family and two journalists over night in a police station. There are so many instances that road blocks are filmed for various purposes including news reporting. Making a film on a family is not a crime either. FMM views this as another attempt to intimidate foreign media covering conflict related issues in Sri Lanka," a statement issued by the FMM said. 'Operation carpet arrest' Deploring the police action to deprive the peoples right to know, the FMM urges authorities to "speed up the investigation and release the journalists in detention without further delay". Over 400 Tamils, majority of them of Indian origin, were detained in the Boossa detention camp after the security forces detained about one thousand Tamils in Colombo after two bomb blasts. Colombo district Tamil parliamentarian Mano Ganeshan described the move as 'operation carpet arrest' as the hundreds Tamils were arrested without a valid reason. The joint search operation was carried out after Tamil Tigers are accused of a series of bomb blasts in the capital killing at least 20 people. Deputy Minister P Radhakrishnan told BBC Sandeshaya at the time of the arrest that over 400 of those arrested were sent to Boossa camp. Some of them were later released by the authorities but many still are detained in the camp.The French journalists were filming the journey from a lodge in Colombo to down south of a Tamil family who visited their relatives detained in the camp. FMM says the TV crew was not allowed to enter the camp and was arrested by the military as they were waiting in a nearby restaurant. 54 killed in Sri Lanka, Army captures part of Thampane At least 52 LTTE militants have been killed in gunbattles between security forces and the rebels in Sri Lanka's embattled north, where the Army captured a portion of the rebel-held Thampane area.Elsewhere two civilians also lost their lives in attacks by suspected tiger rebels, the army said today."We on Monday night moved in about one km inside Thampane and one of the camps which was taken control of could accommodate 300 LTTE militants," a ministry spokesman said.In two other areas of Thampane, the troops moved in about 300 metres and 500 metres respectively, the spokesman said, adding this was the fourth major success for Army during the last few days.Last week, the Army said it had captured a key LTTE post named 'Vitenam Base', hours after taking control of two defence lines in the region.Delayed reports today said during the capture of Uyilanakulam LTTE entry-exit point on Saturday at least 22 militants were killed, the army said "This information has been confirmed through intercepted LTTE communication", it said.Five rebels were killed today when troops confronted a group of tiger militants in Vilatikulam in Northern Vavuniya.In Kallikulam, troops confronted a group of tigersand killed three rebels, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.Two soldiers sustained injuries in an Anti Personal Mine explosion in Periyathampanai in Vavuniya this evening, it said. Two civilians were shot dead by unidentified gunmen near the sluice gate at Ragendrakulamtam tank in Vavuniya yesterday.A LTTE local leader was killed in Vinayagapuram in Eastern Ampara yesterday, the MCNS said.Two rebels were killed in a confrontation with Army troops at Kandaperiiyakulam in Mannar yesterday.Five militants were killed in three separate incidents ---Pokkaravani, Paripittanmodai and Narikkulam-- in Vavuniya-Mannar border yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.Ten LTTE rebels, including two regional leaders of the outfit, were killed yesterday in confrontations with troops at Kandaperumakulama, Pokkaravani and Navatkulama areas in Vavunia, it said.In Mannar region, security forces attacked a bunker manned by the LTTE in the south of Adampan area, killing two LTTE cadres yesterday, the ministry said.In another incident, troops destroyed two bunkers in Kilaly and Nagarkovil in Jaffna, killing two tiger cadres, it added.The pro-rebel Tamilnet website, meanwhile, claimed that a Sri Lankan soldier was killed and 28 troops injured in three separate clashes in Mannar on Sunday."According to reports received from Mannar operations commanders of LTTE, no casualties among LTTE cadres were reported," it said. JVP to agitate against any kind of solution to the ethnic problem Intelligence sections have informed the Government that the JVP was preparing to launch mass agitations country wide, similar to the 1989-90 period against any kind of solution proposed to the ethnic problem.The intelligence reports have pointed out that the protests of the university students and the upcoming strike series by the JVP trade unions are precursors of the move.The unique development is that the two factions of the JVP, supporting armed struggle and the cohabitation with the Government rspectively, have consented to the campaign.Police revealed through investigations that the damage done to the University Grants Commission (UGC) gate was not students act but a work of a special gang of thugs called in this purpose. Intelligence sections have revealed that there was a conspiracy to take the UGC Chairman hostage at an agitation of the students of the Applied Science Faculty of the Sabaragamuwa University. UGC Chairman Gamini Samaranayaka was an insurgent in 1971 and he was held in jail for more than a year.All Party Representative Committee Chairman Prof. Thissa Vitharana has announced that the solutions for the ethnic problem will be put forward within the next couple of months. JVP hates Thissa Vitharana’s Chairmanship and Vimal Weerawansa has said that he was self-appointed. Trinco Urban Council to be upgraded to Municipal status Ministry of Local Authorities and Provincial Council has appointed a three-member committee to report on the upgrading of the Trincomalee Urban Council to Municipal Council, sources in Trincomalee said. Mr.K.Godage, the chairman of the committee, is currently the Chairman of the East Provincial Public Service Commission. The other two members are Mr.K.Kunanathan, Trincomalee Regional Assistant Commissioner of Local Government, and Mr.S.Sathiananathan, Trincomalee's Assistant Superintendent of Surveys. Mr.Kunanathan is also the secretary of the committee.The Local Authorities and Provincial Councils Ministry has directed the committee to submit a report regarding the boundaries of the proposed council, the number of members, and the revenue expected to the council.The committee has now decided to call for written representations from the people, public institutions and other related agencies to submit their views about the proposal to upgrade the Trinco UC to municipal status within twenty-one days from the date of official announcement. People are also given time to make verbal evidence before the committee, media reports said.Local authority system was introduced in Trincomalee 123 years ago in the year 1884 with the establishment of an institution called " Local Board". It was later upgraded as Trincomalee Urban Council from 1.1.1940. Since then the urban council is administering Trincomalee town. Sri Lanka's militarism keeping tourists and investments away By Lee Salter. Sri Lanka figures intermittently in the British news media, but the coverage does not really prepare first-time visitors to the country like me who usually get a different sort of information in universities and the media.A week travelling across the country recently brought to me the reality of Sri Lanka's conflict-ridden everyday life. As a white Westerner, I was immediately absorbed by the many Colombo-based NGO workers, or 'internationals', as they refer themselves.The internationals are just that - international, from all corners of the (rich) world. Furthermore, each seems to be a world citizen: born in Hong Kong, schooled in Switzerland, teeth cut in Afghanistan, or thereabouts.The internationals are to be the only outsiders I meet in Sri Lanka. Many of them swept in with the 2004 tsunami, others trying to mitigate the effects of the civil war.Sri Lanka is a confusing country. The tranquillity and warmth of the inhabitants seems odd in a country in its 25th year of civil war. This is one place where the gap between media coverage and reality seems stark as ever.It is a shock, therefore, to hear the explanation for the explosions I hear on my first night in Colombo: 'Is that the war?' I ask. 'No, it's probably the bloody Freedom Party celebrating the passage of the war budget' is the almost contemptuous response of a security specialist.My confusion was compounded on hearing that Buddhists and Marxists are amongst those perpetuating the conflict. This is not the sort of information that circulates in British universities - at least not in my experience.Ordinary Sri Lankans contrast starkly with the soldiers who overwhelm the main roads north and east of Colombo. Pillboxes and checkpoints seem to be ubiquitous and appear to be manned by two types of soldiers - the young and nervous and the young and battle hardened, with the latter in the majority.As we depart Colombo to travel around the country, I am somewhat relieved that as white Europeans we are waved on without interference at every checkpoint. Our driver cannot disguise his relief at this little bit of racism.If the impact of the war on ordinary Sri Lankans is not immediately apparent, its impact on tourism cannot be hidden. Hotels in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy are empty and the main tourist sites in the centre of the country eerily quiet.Reasons for this absence abound in my mind, so I am driven to enquire. Perhaps the hotels | ||
