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29 December 2009 Sivajilingam: The wildcard Tamil candidate by Kumar David TNA parliamentarian, K. Sivajilingam, will probably come third, and if he succeeds in attracting a fair proportion of the TNA’s base he may receive more than three hundred thousand votes. However if the TNA and other Tamil leaders undercut him he will fall below 100,000. My reasoning is as follows. The Tamils of the N&E number 10-12% of the population, and 10% of the 14 million registered voters is 1.4 million – I prefer the lower percentage because of demographic uncertainties of Tamil population movement and migration. Usually we expect over 70% poll in an exciting election, however massive numbers are unregistered or displaced and since the TNA is not officially contesting there will be abstentions. We have to opt for a much lower percentage; at a guess 50% (700,00) N&E bred Tamil voters, wherever they live, may turn out, if encouraged by their leaders. Douglas, Sritharan and possibly Pillayan will root for Rajapakse till they are hoarse, some Tamils will pick Fonseka directly, and the Left candidates – especially Bahu – will attract Tamil votes. After these allowances, would it be unreasonable to guess that 300,000 will pick Sivaji? If, however, jealous Tamil leaders undermine him, which is quite possible, this number will fall precipitately. This kind of pie in the sky arithmetic may turn out to be silly; we will know in 30 days. But the ballpark numbers make the Sivaji phenomenon interesting for three reasons; in the absence of a landslide in the Sinhalese vote it may cause both major candidates to fall short of a 50% poll. Second, if it goes to recount Sivaji’s voters’ second preferences will decide the outcome. Third, and very important, a large Tamil turnout (for Sivaji or for others) will revitalize Tamil politics at home and throw up new leaders. It will also debunk the boycott-craze of numskull sections in the post-LTTE Tamil diaspora and in the TNA. If the Bahu- Shivaji linkup becomes strong, long-lasting and is built on mutual trust it could lay the foundations for an important and long awaited trend reversing the decline that started at the fateful 1964 LSSP Party Conference. Who is this Sivajilingam? Sivaji is not known in the South so some brief bio may be useful. He is one of the early pioneers of Tamil resistance from the Thangathurai-Kuttimani, pre-Prabakaran era and is probably the only pioneer militant who is still active in Tamil resistance today. He has been identified with emancipation and social justice campaigns on behalf of socially oppressed Tamils and when in the Federal Party, Sivaji campaigned against his uncle Mothilal Nehru in support of oppressed caste candidates. He was a bridge between the old and new political trends in Tamil nationalism in the 1970s and 1980s. There is an anecdote, which I cannot confirm, that when Prabakharan was stuck in Sri Lanka in the early 1980s, he turned in desperation to Sivaji who arranged a boat to India for VP and his mates. Nevertheless, many of Sivaji’s contemporaries were killed in the LTTE-TELO fratricidal war of 1986. Troubled TNA waters The TNA is sliced like a pizza; the three slices are of about equal significance. A leadership group including Sampanthan wishes to support Fonseka and opposes posting a TNA candidate. Another section, dinosaurs that have not been reincarnated from their cringing-before-LTTE previous life, cry boycott. The third slice was determined to put forward a Tamil candidate, refused to pull back and nominated Sivaji, but offered to withdraw if there was an official TNA nominee. Now they have forced a campaign dilemma on the leadership: Dare the TNA sabotage a Tamil parliamentarian and support an erstwhile Tiger hunter and recently retired Rajapakse trooper, Fonseka? Sampanthan and the TNA are caught by the short and curlies. How can they traverse the North and East campaigning for LTTE vanquisher Fonseka against one of their own? Nor can they refrain from campaigning all together; that would be a walkover –point, set and match - to Douglas! Foist by its own petard the TNA may still do the only thing it can, and accidentally turn it into a shrewd move. It could, for appearances, support Sivaji, but slip in the second preference for Fonseka recommendation in the campaign, thus hanging on to both baby and bathwater. If the TNA gets semi-officially into tow, the Tamil poll may increase substantially and Fonseka’s eventual gain could be large. War crimes investigations Sivaji’s two-point manifesto has my endorsement: Federalism as the solution to the national question and a demand for an internationally credible investigation of war crimes. Fonseka, in a newspaper interview, asserted that he had information that persons coming forward to surrender with white flags raised were shot dead, in cold blood, by the army, pursuant to a premeditated decision by government leaders. The next day he tried his darndest to backtrack since there was a storm of protest; "You are a traitor letting the side down by exposing these things" was the gist of the protests – apparently even war crimes are military secrets! In his capitulation he went on to say that that there was no violation of international law and that as the then army commander he would take full responsibility for the behaviour of his legions. Let us take this matter in two distinct steps. Is the assertion of cold-blooded murder true or false? This and this alone is the primary factual issue that overrides everything else in importance. The conflict between Fonseka and the Rajapakse brothers, electioneering, these are ethically and legally irrelevant; the truth or falsity of the alleged cold-blooded shooting is of primary import. It is so serious a matter and emotions are in overdrive, so there has to be an investigation with international participation. Presidential Commissions have become such shams that only unimpeachably respected international participation can restore a modicum of credibility.The second step follows after that. Fonseka's opinion that no international law was violated is tendentious; his personal involvement is implicit and he has an interest in the outcome. Once an independent investigation is completed, if it is found that there is prima facie evidence of indictable offences, there must be prosecutions. None of this should be prejudged, that would be wrong. All persons, if any, held indictable must be prosecuted - Generals, Defence Secretaries, even Heads of State; there is no indemnity for war crimes. The terms of reference of the investigation must include a probe of alleged LTTE war crimes; it must not be confined to a probe of the state. This may seem pointless if possible offenders are deceased; not so, moral responsibility must to be assigned, even posthumously. Let us take a cool-headed, mature, unemotional approach to alleged war crimes, whichever political party or presidential candidate one supports or what community one belongs to. There is no alternative if we want to be a civilised nation. Sivaji could not be more right than to demand a probe, on behalf of his people, into this and allegedly 50,000 other deaths, but he needs to extend the scope of his demand to include alleged war crimes by both sides. Federalism Mucking around with the 13th Amendment, plus minus or zilch is getting nowhere; 13A has become contentious for the way in which it was enacted as much as for what it says. A new constitution needs to be written making 13A, in its locale as an amendment, irrelevant. Why should the national question be confined to an amendment? Decentralisation in general, and the devolution of power to address minority concerns, are aspects of the balance of power between centre, regions and minorities; they are central to, and must be located in, the heart and body of the constitution. There is near universal agreement that the executive presidency must be abolished or muzzled, that the existing proportional representation system must be discarded, the 17th Amendment enforced and a slew of other changes made. Clearly, a wholly new constitution, bottom up, has to be drafted incorporating a new structure of power with the national question uppermost but not the only issue to be addressed. I am in agreement with Sivaji that the federal option is the best. A group at the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) led by Rohan Edirisinha and Asanga Welikala has done essential theoretical groundwork and the material is accessible in books and scholarly papers. Without detracting from the quality of this work I raise two concerns, the number of federal units, and asymmetrical rather than symmetrical devolution. The CPA group has retained a putative eight-unit federal model (one Tamil unit plus seven others) based on Sri Lanka’s nine provinces. I understand but do not agree with their reasoning, which is that to try to change units, merge provinces, or shift districts around will end in dispute and failure. But, federalism envisages substantial autonomy and an eight way split of so much autonomy in a small country will be a mad-hatters tea party. There has to be just one Tamil unit consisting of the whole of the North and still to be demarcated portions of the East. A new delineation of the rest of the country, limited to just two, or maybe three at most federal units needs to be worked out. Asymmetrical devolution In conversations, the CPA group concedes the logic of an asymmetrical relationship; that is the centre relates to the Tamil unit differently from its relationship to other units – be they three or eight. Asymmetry in inter-unit relationships, in so far as the Tamil unit is concerned, is also necessary. However the CPA group is reluctant to formally support the concept of asymmetry. They opine, "It is too complicated to sell; the devil is in the details; there will be so much opposition to an asymmetrical package from stakeholders that the exercise will flounder". My view is that the political relationship between a putative Tamil unit and the centre, and the relationship between this unit and the other ("Sinhalese") units, will need to be different, from the relationship between these units and the centre, and the relationship among these units themselves. The UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) arrangement is radically asymmetrical and the EU is also a supra-scale asymmetrical relationship between confederate states; all to accommodate diversity. Sri Lanka must construct its own asymmetrical model sui generis, but learn from elsewhere as need be. Sivaji is on the right track in standing for Federalism; it is the model that can sort out the ethnic conflict; however fleshing it out needs a lot more work. But first one must sell the idea and Sivaji has made a good start by making it one of the pillars Srilanka Tamil congress has taken a decision to boycott the upcoming presidential election? Srilanka Tamil congress has taken a decision to boycott the upcoming presidential election during a high level conference held in Jaffna.The Srilanka Tamil Congress is part of the TNA party and in recent times there have been confusions and disagreements amongst TNA members on their stand on whom to support in the presidential election.Decision to boycott the elections was taken in front of hundreds of supporters by Srilanka Tamil Congress leader Appapillai Vinayagamoorthy in the presence Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam who also attended the conference.GTN learns this information is not going to be officially announced to the media until the final decision is taken by the TNA party. TNA is expected to make a decision on their stand on the 4th of January 2010. TNA leader has ignored plantation Tamils Minister Chandrasekeran Upcountry People's Front Leader and Community Development and Social Inequity Elimination Minister P. Chandrasekeran said casting votes for candidates who cannot win the Presidential Election is a wasteful exercise. He said it would not bring any benefit to the Tamil community. Referring to the statement by TNA leader R. Sambandan, the UPF leader said he had failed to include the plantation Tamils. Thousands of displaced upcountry Tamils had been permanently settled in the North and East. "Apart from that more that more than half of the IDPs in welfare camps during the last phase of war were upcountry Tamils," he said. "Tamils of the North, East and the plantation should convey their unanimous support in one voice. he said in a statement. The UPF has declared its support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election. The Minister further added that the Tamil organizations in the North and East should not commit the historical blunder of rejecting the plantation community. The TNA had clearly explained the blunder made by Tamil parties at the last Presidential Election. "Such a mistake should not occur this time," he said. He called on all minority parties to rally round under one banner. "If we commit a blunder now the destiny of our people will not be written by us, but by somebody else ushering a bleak future," Chandrasekeran added. 27 December 2009 Lankan presidential candidate deported 22 December 2009 TNA should not support the two main presidential candidates – TELO MP Srikantha TNA and TELO parliamentarian Srikantha says their party should not support the main presidential candidates as they have still not brought in a proposed solution for the ethnic problem faced in the country. He further added both candidates have pointed out on the implementation of the 13th amendment bill but no clear word on a permanent solution to the problem faced by the minority.Srikantha says Sampathan’s comments on not boycotting the elections or fielding a candidate was not true as stated earlier as a decision taken during the meeting held on the 9th of December. He added no clear decision were made during the meeting and went on to say the TNA should support M.K Sivajilingam or boycott the polls.Meanwhile the TNA leader R. Sampanthan stated they had a very constructive meeting with General Fonseka last Sunday.He said the general gave very positive replies to the requests and points put forward by the party.No detailed comments were made on the outcome of this meeting by both sides. 21 December 2009 Shivajilingam explains candidature TNA and TELO Jaffna district parliamentarian and independent Presidential candidate M.K.Shivajilingam said he decided to contest the forthcoming Presidential Polls since TNA leaders were still on the fence over their stance. “We were on the stance that the TNA should field its own candidate. Since the TNA was not going to do this I decided to contest as an independent candidate,” Shivajilingam told the media after handing over his nomination at the Elections Secretariat at Rajagiriya. “Some of our leaders were of the view that we must equally support the two main parties. That was the problem,” he said explaining why the TNA refrained from fielding its own candidate. “We have 22 members in Parliament. Twelve of us said we must not support the two main parties while seven voiced the opinion that we must field our own candidate. Five were of the view the TNA should boycott the election,” he said. The MP turned Presidential candidate said since they could not find common ground on this issue and the leaders were indecisive, he cameforth to contest the election as an independent Presidential candidate representing the Tamil community. I’m contesting to force a second count- TELO MP M K Sivajilingam Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M.K. Sivajilingam handed in his nomination papers to contest the Presidential elelctions along with 22 other candidates, last week.MP Sivajilingam is contesting the polls as an independent candidate, though he is yet a member of the TNA. LAKBIMAnEWS spoke with Sivajilingam on the key issues of the imminent election. Q: What made you want to contest the Presidential Election? A: Our problem is not with the executive presidency. We do not believe that either of the main candidates, who are runningthis time, will succeed to solve the ethnic issue, just as it was never tackled by many other presidents who came to power and ruled this country. We want a confederal system for the whole nation, where the people in the North and East will be under an internally autonomous state, and the people in the south will be ruled according to their own wishes in whatever way they prefer. Q: Are you running with the intention of splitting the votes of President Mahinda Rajapaksa or of General Sarath Fonseka? A: That is absurd. If we criticize President Mahinda Rajapaka, then we will be accused of trying to split his votes. If we criticize General Sarath Fonseka, then we will be accused of trying to split his votes. There is no doubt about the fact that it is either of these two candidates who will win the election. It will either be X or Y. But our main intention is to make them get less than 50% votes, where the power of the minority will be showcased to the international community ....leading to a second count. Q: Who in your opinion will win this election; will it be President Mahinda Rajapaksa or General Sarath Fonseka? A: I do not want to answer that question; whoever will get the most count of votes will win. Q: You are campaigning with the Left Front Leader Dr. Vickremabahu Karunaratne who is also a candidate in the forthcoming election. Can you adduce any reasoning behind this decision? A: The simplest answer would be the fact that he understands us and agrees with what we are saying, which is the need for Tamil autonomy, equality, a homeland and self-determination. Both of us agree on the fact that we want the main candidates to achieve less than 50% votes. That is our only aim. Q: How many votes do you estimate you will gain? A: I think I will get at least 100,000 votes as an independent candidate. However, if I will get the support of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), then I do believe that I will be able to gain at least 300,000 votes. Q: You are still a member of the TNA. So do you believe that you will get the support of the TNA? A: I do not know, because our party was divided on this matter.. Seven MPs including me, Selvam Adaikalanathan, Nallathamby Srikantha, S Vino Noharathalingam and three others were of the opinion that the TNA should contest the presidential election. While one stated that the TNA should support General Sarath Fonseka, five others said that we should let time decide and wait and see what happens. However 12 members entertained the view that the TNA should neither support Sarath Fonseka nor Mahinda Rajapaksa. So I do not know whether I will get the support of the TNA though I’m still a member of that party. Q: What kind of position do you think the MP R. Sambanthan entertains when it comes to the presidential polls; who is he planning to support in your view? A: He has spoken with both Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sarath Fonseka. However I do believe that he is also adopting the ‘wait and see’ attitude. But I also believe that he is maintaining this attitude because, he listens to what India and other western countries ask him to do. So he will wait and see, and finally, decide to act, when he is given the instructions by those countries. Q: Did either President Rajapaksa or General Fonseka try to contact you after you stated that you will be contesting the presidential election? A: No. Q: You had a strong pro India bias at one time. Is there any connection with that factor, and your contesting the election? A: No. I stayed in India, but I was not allowed to stay there for more than a month. And I do not have such a strong relationship with the members of the Congress party, which is the ruling party there. Q: What are your thoughts on the executive presidency? A: As per the executive presidency all the powers are at the centre and given to one person. This creates problems, so we do believe it is good, if this system can be abolished. But the question is how are they going to abolish the executive presidency? They will need a two third majority and will have to make amendments to the constitution. However, if they do bring in a new constitution, then we would most willingly support that. But today unfortunately, what is happening here is that both President Mahinda Rajapaksa and General Sarath Fonseka are more concerned about who is a true Sinhalese war hero, rather than evolving solutions to any of our problems. Q: What are your views on the allegations leveled against the opposition candidate, General Sarath Fonseka and the Hi-Corp Company? A: I do believe that there is no point in making allegations without any proof. So what the government should do is to create a presidential commission of inquiry and make free and fair investigations into the allegations, without being partial to any party. Then everyone will get an opportunity to know the truth. Q: There is much talk going on about the last phase of the war these days. Some claim that the LTTE leaders were killed after they surrendered. As a Jaffna MP how true do you think this view is and what are your own personal views on this matter? A: According to the knowledge we gathered from international journalists, Nadesan, Ramesh and many other LTTE leaders including families and injured LTTE cadres have approached the SL army with white flags and surrendered. But they were killed. Also 50,000 people have died in the Wanni war, which is why we are demanding an international inquiry. Q: As you mentioned just now, you have demanded an international inquiry about the war saying at least 50,000 people died. So in your opinion what’s ultimate justice for the Tamil people? A: To have an international inquiry regarding the deaths which took place due to the war, to resettle the people who are now living without homes either in IDP camps or in some relative’s house, to pay compensation, to punish the people who did wrong, and committed crimes --- and also to find and enter into a political solution. Q: How do you feel about the IDP situation prevailing in the North today? A: Of the 300,000 IDPs now 200,000 have been released, but they are still not resettled. The talk about resettling these victims of war is a lie, and we will not believe it at all. The government is putting forward the issue of landmines to the international community and this is just an excuse. They are trying to hoodwink the international community with this story.. The truth is that the government does not wish to resettle these people. I know for a fact that on the Eastern side of the A-9 road the Indian de-mining teams are not allowed, while they claim that the SL army de-mining teams are working in that area. But we do not know how true that is, and still no one is allowed to go there, not even the Indian de-mining team. Solution to Tamil issue in neither main candidate getting 50%. TNA Parliamentarian M.K. Sivajilingam on Tuesday handed over his deposit to Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake to contest the upcoming presidential election as an independent Tamil candidate, thus taking the number of contenders to 21. He explains to Hard Talk the rationale behind the decision. Q: The TNA remains sharply divided over the Presidential Election with seven MPs from your camp wanting to field a common Tamil candidate while three other members including Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam are planning to boycott the election in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. How do you think the Tamil people will respond to your candidacy? On December 9th the TNA Parliamentary Group's 18 members met to discuss this issue. 7 of the members agreed that we needed a Tamil candidate at the poll because we couldn't support both of the main candidates in view of the suffering of the Tamil people following the war. There have been no concrete steps laid on seeking a solution to the Tamil issue either. Five of the members however said that we should wait and see while one even said that we should go ahead and support Mr. Sarath Fonseka to ensure a change of government. In that sense 12 members which accounts for the majority supported the view that we should support neither of the main candidates. However, we suspect Mr. Sampanthan's wait-and-see attitude as a move to support one of the main candidates at the last minute. We suspect that there is a secret understanding with one of the candidates with some international facilitation to this end. Q: You accuse both the two main candidates of providing little focus on the Tamil issue. How realistic is it to hope to address this issue without the support of one of the main candidates? We; as representatives of the Tamil people feel that there is an immediate need to address the issues of the Tamil people through a Federal solution or one that reconnects the North and the East. We will withdraw our candidacy and support any of the main candidates if either agree to this. We don't think any Southern candidate will agree, although they speak of a 13+ solution. The Tamil people need self determination and autonomy. The Southern people will vote for a change of government but its not based on our issue. Even implementing 13+ will not solve our problems as long as control is held in the center in Colombo. Q: What then is the rationale for a boycott at this point as pushed by some members of the TNA and how will you move your own campaign in this scenario? Both the main candidates will not get the Tamil vote because the Tamil people feel that both of them are responsible for the present plight of the Tamil people. I have therefore, decided to campaign with Mr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne because we are both aware that it is either the President or Sarath Fonseka who will become President. There is no doubt on that point. But if either fail to get a 50% of the vote, which we believe will be the outcome of the election, and this is also our target too, then we will be able to push for a solution through one of the candidates. If we can show that no one can get 50% to the international community we should be able to ensure a political solution through that, because we can then prove that governance would be impossible without offering a solution to the Tamil people. Our next demand is an international inquiry on the war where some 50,000 people have died. There must be some justice for the deaths and the suffering of the Tamil people. If either of the candidates will support such an inquiry I will withdraw my candidacy. We will accept any outcome of such an international inquiry. We believe both the Sinhalese and Tamils must come together to ensure Tamil rights. We want one Prime Minister for the Sinhalese and one for the Tamils with a President on top. Q: How do you think the Tamil vote will play at this election, especially those of the Internally Displaced? The government knows very well that only 150,000 of the IDPs can vote at this election. Of that too I don't know if even 50,000 will vote. Each of these IDPs have to apply individually. How can voters be bothered with filling applications when there are more pressing issues of food and shelter? The government is also asking for their National IDs. Why can't they issue temporary cards for them? The government doesn't want these people to vote because their sentiments, which are of anger and frustrations will come out at the polls. If the government had done the sensible thing and released at least 1000 people a day from these camps, they would've solved this problem in 2 months. These people are today mentally down; at least half of them will need some form of psychological treatment. The government is responsible for this situation. The plight of the people since the end of the war and the situation of the hostages are all its responsibility. They can't shirk it away now. The Governor of the North East says that of those released only 90,000 have stayed back; this is because they have no where to go. Q: How do you see the plight of the IDPs resolved on a short term basis? The problem of the IDPs need to be resolved fast. 200,000 have already been allowed to go, but only 50,000 have resettled in the Wanni. The remaining 150,000 are either with their relatives or in some Transit camp, in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Ampara etc. It is these people whose issues must be met immediately. We want to the government to get some UN monitoring for this. Today they are like stray dogs and beggers. All they get are rice, sugar, dhal and coconut oil. Can a 2 year old child eat any of this? They don't get any milk powder. How can the people live without money to purchase anything else? They give 12 aluminium sheets to build a house, but can you do that with just 12? These are very serious issues. They initially said they were giving Rs. 25000 to help with resettlement each, then they raised it to Rs. 50,000. But today they've only been given Rs. 5000 saying they will invest the remaining 45,000 in the bank. How can this situation be fine? If the war is over then what is the security threat that prevents the government from letting these people just go? We demand that there is some form of UN involvement and the presence of international community. If this situation continues we will be worse than second class citizens in this country. Q: You accuse the government and Opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka of ignoring the need for a political solution to the Tamil problem at the polls. But didn't the government delegation assure the Indian government last week of a political solution to the issue? We don't believe that. Look at what happened to the APRC; it is in the dustbin today. They make all these pledges and false claims every time they go to India, but forget about them the moment they return. The reality is that they can't honestly address this issue with the people of the South. We ask both the main candidates to tell the Sinhala people what their solution to the Tamil problem will be. This is why we know that neither will go for a political solution. All the deaths on every side have been in vain. Over 250,000 Sri Lankans have died in this war, but we are still unable to seek a solution. This is the seriousness of the situation. How can we believe their pledges on development or employment in this scenario? Q: One of the main issues of the Opposition platform is the abolishment of the Executive Presidency. How serious an issue is this for the minority communities? We don't believe they will abolish it at all. This has been a broken promise from 1994. Even Sarath Fonseka when he says he will abolish the Presidency, knows he can't do it. How can he without a two thirds majority in the house? How does he plan to get the majority? Of course if they are serious they can do it with our support. There is bad and good for the minorities from the Executive Presidency. The only good however is that at times of elections like now, they remember the minorities! But soon afterwards they are forgotten. There is discrimination from the system otherwise to us minorities. We need to look after our issues. This is why we can't even believe in a solution like the 13th amendment because although there is some devolution of power the real power is still centered in Colombo. You still have to come to Colombo to resolve much of the issues. Even after 22 years powers vested under lands and police are not granted. Q: But the TMVP which also commands a significant portion of the Tamil vote maintains that they are satisfied with a full implementation of the 13th amendment. Pillayan is Chief Minister so he is happy with whatever he has, even if this means that he has no power over law and order or land. Can he honestly say he has the necessary powers? Can either Sarath Fonseka or the President say that they will grant these powers? Why not? Q: There are many allegations and counter allegations on the manner in which the war reached its end and denials about how the leaders of the LTTE were killed etc. How do you think the Tamil people will view this situation? A lot of our people died and the end of the war; at least 50,000. This is why we demand an international inquiry and justice for the dead. The government says one thing and Sarath Fonseka another. How can we trust either? There are death certificates issued even. We want to know who died and how. Will either of them say how the war ended? Both Sarath Fonseka and the President are responsible for the killing of the LTTE leaders. Q: There are reports to indicate that the LTTE is once again raising its head in the West with a possibility of it turning to militancy once again. How do you view this situation? All I can say is that the LTTE's arms struggle only reflected the Tamil national issue. LTTE simply took over the Tamil militancy as a solution to the problem. Today at the end of the war Tamil militancy stands defeated. If however, they will reawaken will depend entirely on the ability of the government to offer a viable political solution. If there is no solution not just LTTE even another armed gang gaining strength cannot be overruled. You need to remedy the cause and attend to the symptoms of the disease. This is why a political solution is crucial. Presidential election is an opportunity for the Tamils to air their grievances and aspirations - Sivajilingham The Presidential election is an opportunity provided to bring to the notice, the grievances and aspirations of the Tamil nation. Therefore this golden opportunity should not be allowed to go by.After filing his nomination today as an independent candidate in the Sri Lanka’s Presidential election, the former Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian M.K.Sivajilingham speaking to Asian Tribune said that the Tamils’ participation is the need of the hour and that is exactly why I have come forward to contest in the election in the absence of a decision on the crucial question of the participation of our people in this election on the part of the TNA colleagues. The former TNA parliamentarian Sivajilingham pointed out that “Both the major candidates for the Presidency, namely President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his main adversary retired General Sarath Fonseka have gone on record that in the event of their victory, the resolution of the national question would be based on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution – President Mahinda Rajapaksa states that he has a 13+ 1 formulae, while Sarath Fonseka says he will go beyond the 13th Amendment.” He further said "These announcements do not make any differences. In other words both these candidates of the two major alliances have failed or to come with a political package to address our long felt political grievances, therefore either of these two candidates does not deserves the support of the Tamils, at the same time, we cannot allow the opportunity presented by the forthcoming presidential election to simply go by.”Sivajilingham who was in India during the height of the war between the LTTE and the Government forces to bring to the notice of the international community the plight of the Tamils living in the war ravaged country said, "We have to face this election as a political challenge to express the political aspirations of the Tamil nation that remains oppressed in this country for the last 60 years since independence,” and further added "our aspirations need to be clearly explained in no uncertain terms."He also said, that a sound and a meaningful electoral expression of the Tamil national sentiments should be pronounced.He concluded by stating, "I am confident that a good majority of the Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarians would back me in this righteous mission."Sivajilingham is the second Tamil candidate to contest in the Sri Lanka’s Presidential election. The first one to contest was Kumar Ponnampalam, in the election held on 20 October 1982 and polled 173, 934 votes which was 2.67 % of the total votes polled in that election. 'Top Tigers ditched LTTE chief' In the last phase of Eelam War IV, many of the top leaders of the LTTE forsook Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran, and preferred to surrender to the Sri Lankan forces rather than attain martyrdom by fighting to the finish or consuming cyanide, the latest report of the University Teachers for Human Rights-Jaffna (UTHR-J) reveals. “Dissent was strong even amongst the leadership. Sea Tiger Leader Soosai had walked out of the last leaders’ meeting disagreeing with Prabhakaran. Pottu Amman too felt that military resistance was doomed and wanted another way out, but did not confront Prabhakaran openly as Soosai had done,” the report says. NO ROOM FOR PRABHAKARAN IN HISTORY Among the first to lose faith in Prabhakaran was V.Balakumar, the former EROS leader who went on to earn a name for himself as an ace motivator of LTTE cadre, including its suicide wing. He eventually became a rallying point for dissidents.“He was so disillusioned that he saw the continuance of the LTTE leadership as a grave liability for the Tamils. Many persons with dissident views found in Balakumar a source of moral support,” the report says.“Because of his personal rapport with Prabhakaran, he wrote to him regularly. Some who saw these letters told Balakumar that the issues were so serious but he was writing in the polite and restrained manner of a social exchange. Balakumar explained that if anyone told (adviced) Prabhakaran anything he would reject it out of hand. One needed to work on him gently so that he would feel the change as coming from him. However, in one of his final letters, Balakumar had told Prabhakaran that history would have no room for him,” the report reveals. SENT FAMILIES AWAY KEY LEADERS SURRENDERED Like Balakumar, many top LTTE leaders reportedly surrendered in the last three days of the war, between May 16 and 19.The UTHR-J report mentions the following top leaders as having surrendered: Karikalan (former eastern province political wing leader and subsequently in charge of the economic disivion), Yogaratnam Yogi (former spokesman of the LTTE), Lawrence Tilagar (a former spokesman of the LTTE, a one time head of LTTE office in Paris and later in charge of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation), Thangan (former Deputy political section leader), Ilamparithi (former head of the political section for Jaffna district), Elilan (former Trincomalee political wing leader), Papa (former head of the LTTE sports division), Puvannan (former head of the administrative division of the LTTE), Gnanam (deputy international head) and Tamilini head of the Women’s political wing.The LTTE detainees, who now number about 11,000, are kept in special camps, and their families are allowed to meet them. But according to the UTHR-J, in 25 percent of the cases, such a meeting has not been possible because the whereabouts of the detainees have not been revealed. 17 December 2009 7 TNA MPs to support Sivaji European Commission on trade proposes to suspend the GSP+ facility to Sri Lanka The European Commission concluding that Sri Lanka has breached its GSP+ commitments adopted a proposal suggesting to temporarily suspend the additional trade benefits.Christiane Hohmann, European Commission Spokesperson for Trade said the Commission completed a thorough investigation into the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and in particular whether Sri Lanka is living up to the commitments it made to respect international human rights standards to receive the additional trade benefits of the Generalized Preference System Plus (GSP+)."The report came to the conclusion that there are significant shortcomings in this area and that Sri Lanka is in breach of its GSP+ commitments," the Spokeswoman said. According to the spokeswoman, after consulting with member States, the Commission has adopted a proposal to temporarily suspend these additional trade benefits. The EU Member States have two months to decide on the proposal."At the same time, the Commission is determined to pursue its dialogue with Sri Lanka on the substantive human rights problems identified in the report and the steps that Sri Lanka can take to address them. We want to work constructively with Sri Lanka on this and expect that any actions taken to improve the human rights situation will be suitably vigorous, rapid and verifiable," Ms. Hohmann said. Karuna and Pillayan supporters clash in Ampara A clash erupted between supporters of Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan) and Minister Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan (Karuna) in Thirukovil, Ampara today which left 3 people injured and a vehicle set ablaze, TMVP Spokesperson Azath Moulana told Daily Mirror online.When contacted Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakara confirmed to Daily Mirror Online that there was a clash between two groups and that a vehicle was set on fire but could not confirm the identity of the two groups. He also said that the army and police were deployed to the area. However, Mr. Moulana claims that supporters of Minister Muralitharan led by Inniyabharathi had attacked Pillayan supporters and left three people hospitalized, two of who are seriously injured. Minister Muralitharan was unavailable for comment. Tensions have been running high in the East between Minister Muralitharan and Pillayan from early 2007. The two parties have had various disputes including the alleged misuse of TMVP funds and harassment of TMVP supporters by Minister Muralitharan. Govt. denies Indian role in removal of Fonseka The government said that General Sarath Fonseka was not removed from his post of Army Commander following ‘external insistence’ but purely in accordance with the criteria required by the situation in Sri Lanka at the time.A report in Pakistan newspaper The Nation (nation.com.pk) published on Monday claimed that General Sarath Fonseka who led troops to victory, defeating the LTTE after decades of war, was replaced on the advice of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who conveyed to Sri Lankan leadership that he had received credible intelligence about the possible coup against the Sri Lankan government. Speaking to Daily Mirror Government Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella however, without directly making references to India, insisted that the Sri Lankan government ‘had not and would never’ be influenced in its decisions by ‘external forces’ and would most definitely never be ‘forced’ to make decisions of importance.The paper quoted well-placed sources in Colombo as saying that after the annihilation of LTTE, on the night of 21/22 May 2009, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Sri Lankan leadership on telephone and discussed matters in the context of intelligence. Indian Prime Minister warned that intelligence reports indicated that democratic institutions in Sri Lanka were under threat from Sri Lanka Army (SLA). “SLA and General Fonseka have become too powerful. The situation is dangerous as it had happened in Pakistan and Bangladesh, where military got control of democratic institutions,” the sources revealed while quoting the conversation that took place between Indian PM and Sri Lankan leader. It was quite obvious that India was not happy with Sri Lanka’s unprecedented victory that could lead to peace and domestic stability; thus denying India’s leverage in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs, the Nation reported. According to the report India was also displeased with Sri Lankan leadership for the killing of large number of Tamils during the war ...Reportedly, during the course of ground operations, General Fonseka had ignored President’s concerns on different occasions. Indians cashed in on the opportunity and created an unfounded fear among the President who got scared and made abrupt changes in Army’s leadership, without realising the consequences in the process,” the Nation reported. SMS Trimurti leadership of the TNA on the firing line Thangeswary Kathiraman, the independent Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian “I don’t want anyone to break the Tamil National Alliance. This is the political outfit that can safeguard the Tamils from the dangers the community would face in the future”, said Thangeswary Kathiraman, the independent Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian from the Batticaloa district. Speaking to Asian Tribune she said that in the last TNA meeting, “ I proposed that TNA should put forward a common Tamil candidate” She said that she proposed the name of R.Sampanthan.Unfortunately she said that her suggestion was not taken up seriously by the TNA parliamentary group. She added at present we are left with the three choices – Boycotting the election which is proposed by three to four TNA parliamentarians and the other two choices are either to support former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka or else the present President Mahinda Rajapaksa. (This statement was made by Thangeswary Kathiraman before M.K. Sivajilingham the TNA parliamenterian paying his deposit to contest as an independent candidate in the forthcoming presidential election).She said that she opposes the parochial mindset of Sarah Fonseka who said, "I strongly believe”, the General told the interviewer, ”that this country belongs to the Sinhalese, but there are minority communities and we treat them like our people...We being the majority of the country, 75%, we will never give in and we have the right to protect this country...We are also a strong nation ... They (the minorities) can live in this country with us. But they must not try to, under the pretext of being a minority, demand undue things…”This is the greatest insult ever heaped on the Tamils. I wrote an article condemning this statement and send it to a Tamil news daily. I don’t know whether it was published or not by that Tamil paper.No true Tamil would ever vote for Sarath Fonseka Tamils and Muslims in this country should have to be treated as stakeholders of this country and treated with due dignity and honor. We are not at the mercy of the Sinhalese for our existence and survival in our country. The chauvinistic mindset of of Sarah Fonseka is condemnable and no true Tamil who is born to a Tamil father and the mother would never ever vote for Sarath Fonseka who disgraced our existence and ethnicity in this country.In the case of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, I wish to know whether he will be able to solve the Tamils issue. He is a very senior political leader. No doubt about it. But will he or will he not consider to come forward to solve our issues. As long as we have not heard anything from him, we are unable to make up our mind.Thangeswary Kathiraman came up with a litany of complaints against the SMS leadership of the Trimurti. She said (S)ampanthar (M)avai Senathirajah, (S)usil Premachandran are monopolizing within the TNA and they always try to control TNA members of parliament. She alleged that so far no efforts has been taken by the SMS leadership, for the release of Sathasivam Kanagaratnam MP, representing Vanni and who is now languishing in the detention centre.She alleged that the 'Trimurti' leadership of the TNA has failed to make any efforts to negotiate either with President Mahinda Rajapaksa or with Sarath Fonseka the proposal for the political solution drafted by TNA members as a whole.In conclusion she appealed to the TNA parliamentarians to work united in the interest of the Tamil community. 16 December 2009 Tamil MP to run for presidency in Sri Lanka - source:Colombo Page A parliamentarian from Sri Lanka's Tamil National Alliance is to contest the presidential polls to be held in January next year.The Election Secretariat sources said TNA Jaffna parliamentarian M.K. Sivajilingam paid his deposit to contest the polls as an independent candidate.Sivajilingam earlier said that he will contest as an independent candidate if the TNA does not a field a presidential candidate.The Jaffna MP opposes both candidates, incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the former Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka.TNA however, was divided on its decision whether to support the two main candidates, or to field a contender from the party.Sivajilingam a leading member of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), was an ardent supporter of the vanquished terrorist outfit of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). During the height of the war, he was in Chennai, India, after taking leave of absence from the Sri Lanka parliament in October 2008. Channel 4 footage 'authentic' fabrication The Sri Lankan military said it was a fabrication. But the newspaper says analysis by an independent forensic video specialist found no evidence of manipulation or editing. The Times newspaper used a Canadian forensic analyst Grant Fredericks to examine the footage."Federicks is an independent forensic video specialist who is also an instructor at the FBI National Academy, suggests otherwise. He found no evidence of digital manipulation, editing or any other special effects". says the Times. an original recording His analysis concludes that there are subtle details that shows the footage is real "However, subtle details consistent with a real shooting, such as a discharge of gas from the barrel of the weapon used, were visible". “This level of subtle detail cannot be virtually reproduced. This is clearly an original recording,” said Fredericks to the Times. Grant Fredericks was previously the head of the Vancouver police forensic video unit in Canada.Philip Alston, the UN's special rapporteur on summary executions,who visited Sri Lanka earlier this year asked Srilankan authorities to launch an independent investigation about the video footage. UN envoy said the authorities were obliged to have a "very thorough investigation" in response to such an allegation. In an interview with the BBC in September, Minister for Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe said that the government is taking legal action against British Channel4 television over the controversial video footage. TMVP demands meaningful implementation The TMVP led by Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan has demanded the meaningful implementation of the 13th Amendment as a step towards the resolution of the national question, a senior TMVP member said yesterday on condition of anonymity. The party has pledged its conditional support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the next election in this respect. Party sources said they discussed several issues confronting the Tamil people at a meeting with the government recently.The TMVP has also demanded the removal of Eastern Province Governor Mohan Wijewickrama as a condition for their support to President Rajapaksa at this election. “We have decided to support the President. However, it is conditional. At the meeting, it was agreed not to divulge any of these demands to the media,” the TMVP member said. Among the other demands put forward by the TMVP are livelihood support programmes for widows and unemployed youth in the East. The government agreed to address these issues after the election, he said. At a recent news conference organized to announce TMVP’s decision, Mr. Chandrakanthan did not reveal these demands, and instead said it had decided to fully support the President at the election. Responding to queries about problems faced by him in his province, he said all those problems were sorted out at the meeting with the government. Tamil legislator to contest presidential poll in Sri Lanka -Source AFP U.K. Says Sri Lanka Must Ensure Elections Cover All Communities (Bloomberg) Sri Lanka’s government must ensure that all communities are involved in next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections, including Tamils displaced by the civil war that ended in May, the U.K. said. “Free, fair and credible elections will allow Sri Lanka’s communities to have their say in shaping the country’s future,” U.K. Foreign Secretary David Miliband told Parliament yesterday. “It is important for all those who want to play a role in Sri Lanka’s future to agree to an inclusive political solution that addresses the underlying causes of the conflict.” President Mahinda Rajapaksa called presidential elections for Jan. 26 two years before his mandate expires as he tries to capitalize on his government ending the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s 26-year fight for a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east of the South Asian island nation. Parliamentary elections must be held before April. Sri Lanka’s government has called on western nations to use their energies to help the country rebuild after the war rather than criticize its human rights record and the slow pace of settling more than 280,000 civilians displaced by the conflict. About 94,000 people remain in the main transit camp in the north and the government aims to have all displaced people returned to towns and villages of origin by the end of January. The election will allow people in the northern region to go to the polls after being deprived of the right by “LTTE terrorism,” Rajapaksa said last month. Resettled people will be able to vote, senior presidential adviser Basil Rajapaksa said on Nov. 24, according to the government Web site. Legitimate Grievances “The U.K. has consistently maintained that one of the prerequisites for lasting peace in Sri Lanka is a political settlement that fully takes into account the legitimate grievances and aspirations of all communities,” Miliband said, according to a statement on the Foreign Office Web site. Tamils make up almost 12 percent of Sri Lanka’s population of 20 million people. Sinhalese account for 74 percent, according to a 2001 census. As many as 600,000 Tamils fled Sri Lanka to escape the conflict, more than half of them going to the U.K. or Canada. Rajapaksa will face General Sareth Fonseka, the former army chief, who is standing as the candidate for the main opposition parties Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, or the People’s Liberation Front, and the United National Party. The general, who resigned in November as chief of defense staff, says there have been moves to take the credit for the defeat of the LTTE away from the army. Rajapaksa, who leads the United People’s Freedom Alliance, has pledged to rebuild a united country after the civil war. Tamil Candidate A Tamil lawmaker, K. Sivajilingam, will stand as an independent candidate in the presidential election, according to TamilNet, a Web site that gives reports from the Tamil perspective. Sivajilingam, a member of the Tamil National Alliance in Jaffna district in the north, said he has made an “individual decision and not a position taken by the TNA,” TamilNet reported. The TNA, the main group of Tamil parties, has 22 seats in the country’s 225-member assembly. While Sri Lanka in July received a $2.6 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, the end of the conflict has boosted agriculture and tourism. The central bank forecasts the country’s $41 billion economy will grow as much as 6 percent next year after expanding about 3.5 percent in 2009. Overseas investment in Sri Lanka rose about 10 percent in 2009 from about $3 billion last year, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said last month. 15 December 2009 UN says it was approached by LTTE officials to surrender Jaffna a tourist hub soon The picturesque beach fronts in Karainagar and Kayts island in the Jaffna Peninsula will be developed to attract tourists, said Northern Governor Major General G. A. Chandrasiri. He said this when he joined Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda to declare the Kazurina coastal belt in Karainagar and the Charti belt in Kayts as tourism promotion zones recently. Maj. Gen. Chandrasiri said the access road to Karainagar island would be rehabilitated to promote accelerated development while a luxury tourist hotel would be built in the Kazurina coastal belt. India forces Sri Lanka to replace Gen Fonseka The Sri Lankan General Sarath Fonseka who led troops to victory, defeating Tamil separatists after decades of war, was replaced on the advice of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who conveyed to Sri Lankan leadership that he had received credible intelligence about the possible coup against the Sri Lankan government. Well-placed sources in Colombo disclosed to The Nation on Monday that after the annihilation of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), on the night of 21/22 May 2009, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Sri Lankan leadership on telephone and discussed matters in the contest of intelligence. Indian Prime Minister warned that intelligence reports indicated that democratic institutions in Sri Lanka were under threat from Sri Lanka Army (SLA). “SLA and General Fonseka have become too powerful. The situation is dangerous as it sometimes happened in Pakistan and Bangladesh, where military got control of democratic institutions,” the sources revealed while quoting the conversation that took place between Indian PM and Sri Lankan leader. Above all, Indian Prime Minister also advised the Sri Lankan political leadership that they must act swiftly and order changes in senior leadership of Armed forces. It is quite obvious that India was not happy with Sri Lanka’s unprecedented victory that could lead to peace and domestic stability; thus denying India’s leverage in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs. India was also displeased with Sri Lankan leadership for the killing of large number of Tamils during the war and for not fully implementing the 13th amendment that meant grant of autonomy to Tamils in the North and East. It seemed a well thought-out strategy that was carefully crafted by Indian Intelligence Agency RAW in Colombo and New Delhi to steal away the rejoicings of Sri Lankan nation in the aftermath of a grand victory against LTTE. Reportedly, during the course of ground operations, General Fonseka had ignored President’s concerns on different occasions. Indians cashed on the opportunity and created an unfounded fear among the President who got scared and made abrupt changes in Army’s leadership, without realising the consequences in the process. 14 December 2009 I did not say , Gotabaya gave orders to kill the LTTE members who came to surrender- Fonseka Army Chief says troops faced their biggest betrayal Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, speaking to troops at the Army Headquarters a short while ago, said that the Army had faced its “biggest betrayal” a few hours ago but did not elaborate on who committed the betrayal or what the incident was.However it is believed the Army Chief was referring to the comments made by General Sarath Fonseka on the last stages of the war. He was reported to have said that top government officials had told the army to kill senior LTTE officials who surrendered to the army during the latter part of the war in May this year.Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, speaking after handing over appreciation letters to soldiers who took part in the final battle, said that the army should be conscious about this betrayal and face it together. 13 December 2009 TNA majority for Tamil presidential candidate The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which failed to agree on its stand on the forthcoming presidential election despite two meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, is now definitely tilting towards fielding its own candidate, TNA sources said yesterday.“Chances are very bright for a Tamil candidate,” one TNA source said.TELO Jaffna District Parliamentarian N. Sri Kantha conceded that out of the 17 TNA MPs who met in Colombo on December 8 and 9, a majority of seven, including himself wanted to field a party candidate, while five were for boycotting the election and the balance five were for backing a candidate after the nominations, depending on who makes the clearest stand on a political solution to the ethnic problem.Asked whether this tilting towards a Tamil candidate was due to pressure from the Diaspora, he said it was entirely their own decision.Sri Kantha said three or four names have been mentioned as potential candidate.“A Tamil candidate will provide an opportunity for Tamil people to express their legitimate political aspirations,” he said. The veteran lawyer said they hoped to announce their candidate within the next few days as the last day for paying the deposit is next Thursday (17).TNA Parliamentarian Pathmini Sithamparanathan said neither of the two major candidates had addressed their issues in the past and they were only now talking about making concessions to Tamils.Sithamparanathan also said that most of their constituents were still not showing any interest in any election as clearly seen in the recent local government elections held in Jaffna and Vavuniya. “They are still in a state of shock. They only want to rebuild their lives at present,” she said.Already, TELO Jaffna MP M.K. Sivajilingam has announced in Chennai in the previous week that he would contest as an independent candidate at the presidential election, if the TNA does not field a candidate to oppose both President Rajapaksa and his chief challenger Sarath Fonseka.Meanwhile, P. Chandrasekaran, Leader of the Upcountry People’s Front, a coalition partner of the government, will meet today President Rajapaksa with his demands, a party source said yesterday.It is learnt the UNP too has given them an ultimatum to either support their common candidate or to forget any chance of joining a future UNP-led government. “Gota Ordered Them To Be Shot” – General Sarath Fonseka Common opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka says Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa instructed a key ground commander in the north that all LTTE leaders must be killed and not allowed to surrender.In an explosive interview with The Sunday Leader General Fonseka the then Army Commander said he had no information communicated to him in the final days of the war that three key LTTE leaders had opted to surrender to Sri Lanka’s armed forces as the battle drew to a bloody finish.Fonseka charged that communications were instead confined between the LTTE leaders, Norway, various foreign parties, Basil Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament and the powerful senior adviser to the President and such information was never conveyed to him as he supervised the final stages of the war. “Later, I learnt that Basil had conveyed this information to the Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa – who in turn spoke with Brigadier Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army’s 58th Division, giving orders not to accommodate any LTTE leaders attempting surrender and that “they must all be killed.”General Fonseka explained how on the night of May 17th this year desperate efforts of three senior LTTE leaders trapped in the war zone to save their lives failed as they were instead shot dead as they prepared to surrender to government forces.The government later claimed that troops found bodies of three key LTTE leaders identified as Nadesan, Pulidevan and Ramesh during the mop- up operations in the last LTTE stronghold on the morning of May 18.General Fonseka said the incident took place as the remaining LTTE cadres were boxed into a 100m x 100m area, North of Vellamullivaikkal.Balasingham Nadeshan a former police constable of Sri Lanka police was the political head of the LTTE. Seevaratnam Pulidevan was the head of “LTTE peace secretariat” while Ramesh a senior special commander of the military wing.Hours before they surrendered, in a flurry of emails, text messages and telephone calls between NGOs, a foreign government and Sri Lankan officials in Colombo, the two LTTE political leaders had frantically inquired as to how they could give themselves up.They were told: “Get a piece of white cloth, put up your hands and walk towards the other side in a non-threatening manner.”But the attempt to surrender by the three LTTE leader and their families failed. Sometime between midnight on 17 May and the early hours of the next morning, the three men and their family members were shot dead.General Fonseka said it was Basil Rajapaksa together with the Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa who through foreign intermediaries conveyed a message back to the LTTE leaders who wished to surrender to walk out carrying a piece of white cloth. “It was their idea,” he said. GENERAL SILVA AND ARMY COMMANDER SAY ‘ NO COMMENT’ When we contacted Shavendra Silva, now promoted to Major General he sounded very shocked when told of the allegation but insisted he could not respond to this charge until he had clearance from the military spokesman.Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told us he had to get clearance from the Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya.Later in the day the military spokesman said that he had contacted both the Army Commander and General Shavindra Silva and both had said that they would not comment on the matter.The chief intermediary for the three LTTE men was the Norwegian government’s then Environment and Development Minister Erik Solheim. (Solheim is now the overseas development minister) On Sunday 17 May, Mr Solheim apparently received calls from LTTE figures who said they wanted to surrender.The ICRC in Colombo later confirmed that it had received word from the Norwegians that the two leaders were looking to give themselves up. “The ICRC was approached on this matter by the representatives of the LTTE as well as the Norwegian authorities,” spokeswoman Sarasi Wijeratne was quoted saying at the time of the incident. “The information was referred to the Sri Lankan authorities. We have no idea what happened [then]. We lost contact with everyone in the last conflict.”The government’s point man in the negotiations appears to have been former foreign secretary Palitha Kohona who is now Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United nations He was quoted by news agencies saying that in the days leading up to Sunday evening, he had received a number of messages indicating from Mr. Nadesan and Mr Pulidevan – whom he has met at various peace talks – wanting a way out.In one interview with ‘SiberNews’ Mr. Kohona said that his response had been that “there was only one way to surrender that is recognised by military practice”. He said they should obtain a white flag and give themselves up. “I kept saying this for three days,” he added.But General Fonseka maintains that Nadesan, Ramesh and Pulidevan had been shot dead by government troops as they advanced towards them carrying a white flag, as they had been instructed to do.Fonseka said he later learnt about what exactly had taken place as a result of journalists who had been entrenched at the time with General Shavendra Silva’s brigade command. These reporter’s according to Fonseka were privy to the telephone call received by the Army’s 58th Brigade Commander from the Defence Secretary –“telling him to not accommodate any LTTE surrenders but to simply go ahead and kill them.” – “These journalists later told me what exactly took place,” Fonseka said. “Norway never got in touch” – Basil Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa refuted this damning charge. He told The Sunday Leader, “The Norwegians never got in touch with me over this particular incident. I have been in touch with the Norwegians over various issues pertaining to the conflict but never once on this particular issue.”When asked if he had been unaware then that three LTTE leaders were seeking surrender during the last stages of the war – Rajapaksa replied, “No. I won’t say that. But Norway never got in touch with me.”Asked nevertheless if he did convey something to this effect to his brother and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mr. Rajapaksa said “If I had not been informed by Norway in the first instance then obviously the second did not happen.” Our attempts to contact Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa failed. When we telephoned the Defence Ministry Friday we were told Mr. Rajapaksa had not been in office the entire day. His staff refused to release any other telephone number. TMVP sways, keeps options open again 12 December 2009 Sri Lanka formally confirms Prabha's death to India Rohitha, Krishna meet in Myanmar and discuss IDPs Free Sri Lanka child soldiers: UN envoy A top United Nations envoy asked Sri Lanka on Friday to release detained Tamil Tiger child soldiers and urged the authorities to re-unite them with their families.Retired Major General Patrick Cammaert, the UN special envoy on children and armed conflict, said children who had been conscripted by the Tiger rebels should be allowed to return to their families."Hundreds of children are still missing or separated from their parents. They must be reunited as soon as possible," the Dutch UN official told reporters.Cammaert met nearly 300 children who were forcibly recruited by the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels during his visit, UN spokesman Gordon Weiss said."The best practice in other parts of the world show that children recover better from traumatic experiences when living with their loved ones," Cammaert said at the end of a five-day visit to the island.Government forces crushed the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May and detained thousands, including child soldiers, who are still held in camps which are off limits for international aid agencies.He said children in camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) were also at risk.The government allowed tens of thousands of civilians held in the IDP camps to go in and out freely from December 1, but aid agencies and reporters are still barred from entering them and speaking with inmates."The aftermath of the conflict makes children extremely vulnerable," he said. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable and preventive measures have to be taken to protect them from any form of abuse such as sexual violence."Cammaert said the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Save the Children should be allowed into all camps to help tracing and reunification of unaccompanied and separated children. LTTE child soldiers sit O/Ls Among a group of former LTTE child soldiers who had surrendered to the armed forces, 446 were given the opportunity of sitting the GCE Ordinary Level from yesterday at four special examination centres set up by the Examinations Department. In addition 7,768 schoolchildren of Internally Displaced families in the welfare villages of Vavuniya who had been admitted to schools organized for them were also sitting the GCE O Level examination at 46 examination centres organized for them. Among them were 4,032 schoolchildren and 736 private candidates, the Zonal Education Director Vavuniya said. He said the Education Department and the Examinations Department had provided all the facilities to ensure that all these children continued their education without any obstacle in collaboration with the Armed Forces. Spurning LTTE attempt to surrender during the final battle likely to be a key issue at coming presidential poll The government yesterday said that a fresh attempt was being made to blame the Sri Lankan government for turning down an LTTE offer to surrender a few days before the army wiped out the last organised LTTE resistance on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon.A top government spokesman told The Island that this was an Opposition strategy to denigrate the Sri Lanka government before the international community. Responding to our queries, he said that the Opposition had fuelled speculation that the Norwegians had contacted Basil Rajapaksa, MP after the LTTE sought their help to facilitate an unconditional surrender. He said that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had been accused of dismissing the LTTE appeal when it was brought to his notice by his brother Basil before directing the 58 Division to finish off the Tigers.This was likely to be a key opposition standpoint at the presidential election.Shortly after the army had wiped out the remaining LTTE cadres, including Velupillai Prabhakaran in the third week of May during a series of battles, the Tamil Diaspora, too, accused the government of spurning an LTTE bid to surrender. Referring to a statement attributed to former Army Chief General Sarath Fonseka, at his inaugural press briefing at the JAIC Hilton, an aide to President Rajapaksa said that the Opposition presidential candidate had declared that the offensive could not have been halted even if the international community demanded it. The press quoted the war veteran as saying that they (the military) had reached a point of no return.The government emphasised that the LTTE had ample time to surrender had it really wanted to before being cornered on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon. The government said that the top LTTE leadership could have easily negotiated its surrender through the ICRC as the international relief agency had a presence on the ground to facilitate the evacuation of the sick, wounded and the elderly."In fact, we expected them to make overtures through the ICRC but they never did," the aide to the President said. He regretted that the Opposition had sought to make political capital out of purely a security issue at a time even the harshest critics of the government had changed their approach. He was referring to the US position recently articulated by Ambassador Robert Blake that the defeat of the LTTE had created a tremendous opportunity for the people of Sri Lanka. "For the first time in over a generation, Sri Lankans live in a country that is not divided by war or marred by violence," he told the media last Wednesday after meeting President Rajapaksa.The government had also conveniently forgotten that almost 300,000 held by the LTTE, too, escaped during the final stage of the battle and reached the army-held lines. Among them were Prabhakaran’s parents and over 11,000 LTTE cadres, including child combatants, the government said. Had they bothered to check what the army and the Justice and Law Reforms Ministry had accomplished over the past few months, they would know that the prisoners of war were well taken care of. In fact, Justice and Law Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda went to the extent of moving some of the child soldiers to the Hindu College, Ratmalana, the government said. 10 December 2009 President visits Chettikulam welfare centers President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to the northern region yesterday paid a visit to the Chettikulam welfare centers where the internally displaced are temporarily housed. The President inspected the welfare of the inmates in those camps and issue instructions to the relevant officials to provide all and more facilities that the inmates needed. The inmates thanked the President for all facilities afforded to them till they are resettled in their former places of residence. The government expects to complete the resettlement of the internally displaced by end January 2010. The Sinhalese-speaking president talked for about 15 minutes in the Tamil language to a crowd of some 2,000 refugees, promising them housing, education and other aspects of development. President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday visited the Madhu Church in Mannar and met the religious dignitaries of the church. The priests blessed President Rajapaksa, the first Head of State to pay homage to the holy church after three decades. On receipt of the news that the Head of State was at the Madhu Church, crowds thronged the church precincts to talk to the Head of State. People thanked the President for liberating them from terror that engulfed their lives for 30 long years. The President exchanged pleasantries with the people and shared sentiments with them. Mano, Jayalath to visit Jaffna Mano Ganeshan MP, leader of the Democratic Peoples Party and Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana MP, Assistant Secretary of the UNP, will visit Jaffna today to attend several meetings to commemorate International Human Rights Day.They will meet civil society leaders, media personal and also visit Jaffna Prison during this visit.It’s holiday time for childrenAll schools were closed for year end vacations yesterday (9) and are scheduled to reopen on January 4. However, 80 schools marked for ‘O’ Level answer script marking would reopen on January 11, the Education Ministry said. Kilinochchi hospital opens Kilinochchi District Hospital damaged by the fleeing LTTE was reequipped, renovated and opened for the public last Friday by the Northern Province Governor G.A. Chandrasiri, official sources of the North said. The hospital once a well equipped one with all medical, surgical equipment and supplies was badly damaged by the terrorists and they had taken away vital drugs and equipment when they fled sources said. The hospital now has a maternity ward, OPD, dental clinic and a unit for wound dressing. An Anti-Malaria Campaign Unit was also opened at Kilinochchi by the Governor who said steps were being taken to provide high quality medical services for the people of the North under the Vaddikin Vasantham rehabilitation and resettlement program of the North implemented by the Presidential Special Task Force led by Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP. Crush PLA, Opposition MPs tell Govt. A lobby group of Opposition Parliamentarians yesterday called on the Government to start an immediate military operation in the East to crush the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) that has allegedly been set up in the East. The Parliamentarians for Human Rights president Mano Ganeshan told a news conference that there is reliable evidence that this organisation is out to destroy Opposition politicos including common Opposition candidate Gen. (retd.) Sarath Fonseka, UNF leaders and the JVP leadership during the Presidential election campaign. He said the PLA comprises mercenaries who had supported the Government against the LTTE during the war and they still hold weapons. “Since it is the responsibility of the Government to safeguard the country from these kinds of armies some thing has to be done to stop them,” he said. He said, therefore, the Government will have to take the responsibility if any thing happens to any Opposition politicians during the election campaign.”Mr. Ganeshan added that the he will visit Jaffna today to attend a ceremony organized to mark Human Rights Day. He said he will go there despite the risks. The MP charged that one back vehicle he had has been removed, in the guise of taking it for a repair, after he decided to back Gen. Fonseka. He said the MSD Director informed him that there was no alternate vehicle available to replace it. Referring to the human rights and IDP issues he said the Government has taken a sudden interest in speedy resettlement of IDPs as an election was round the corner. However he said he would be happy if the moves by the Government to resettle the IDPs and provide them necessary facilities for a livelihood benefit the displaced. Parliamentarians for Human Rights secretary Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena said the rights of many groups including the IDPs, media personnel and politicians are violated today in Sri Lanka. He said there is violation of rights in the Presidential election as well as it is held in a situation where the rights of the voters are in jeopardy mainly because of the absence of independent commissioners that had to be set up under the 17th Amendment to the Constitution. Karuna’s Golaya Inyaparidhi still collecting Kappam in Potuvil –peaceful elections there is doubtful Victory Monument - a symbol of sacrifices by all The victory monument that has been erected in the Puthukkudiyiruppu lagoon and unveiled by President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday is a tribute to the glorious Forces and to the State leadership by President Rajapaksa who gave the guidance to the humanitarian operation that led to the liberation of the country from terrorism, Army spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.The monument also symbolizes the services rendered by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the decisive command and military leadership of the Commander of the Army, General Sarath Fonseka, who led the military for the greatest victory through a humanitarian operation where terrorism was entirely eradicated from our motherland and restoring its territorial integrity and the noble peace, he said.These heroic efforts were ably supported by rest of the Security Forces which defeated the illusion of a separate state within Sri Lanka, history of which has never witnessed, destroying its cruel leader, subordinates and its bellicosity whose lifestyles were opulent while creating an evil society for the people of his own community and to the entire Nation, Brigadier Nanayakkara added.The LTTE while forcing children into combat, killing democratically elected Tamil and other leaders of the country and overseas, brutally massacred innocents of all communities, thus pushing the country and the nation into the darkest period of its time for nearly three decades which came to an end on the 19 May 2009.“The Golden Sun of the Peace of all the people, rose wiping out the darkness of the North and East. The ‘Voctory Monument is a symbol of the sacrifices made by all these war heroes over three decades” Brigadier Nanayakkara stressed.He said the ‘Victory Monument’ was constructed by the troops of the Task Force 8 with direct supervision and guidance of Major Gen C P Gallage. Construction commenced on 04 July 2009 and ended on 04 September 2009 taking only two months to complete this mammoth monument structure and the complex which stands as the largest ever monument erected by the Sri Lanka Army. 09 December 2009 We want federal solution – TNA (TELO,TULF,EPRLF and ACTC) The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday that a political solution based on federalism was foremost among their conditions for supporting either of the two main candidates at the presidential election. TNA leader R. Sampanthan has already held negotiations with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gen. Sarath Fonseka, but the party has not yet to decided on its final stand. Besides, the party, which has 22 MPs, has also asked for the speedy resettlement of the displaced civilians, the scaling down of troops stationed in the Jaffna peninsula, the removal of High Security Zones and the withdrawal of plans to set up military camps in the Wanni area. Suresh Premachandran, the party’s MP for the Jaffna district told Daily Mirror that his party was awaiting responses from the two main presidential hopefuls on their stands regarding a political solution to the ‘Tamil national question’. Mr. Premachandran said that neither of them appeared to be clear about his position in this respect. “Troops continue to occupy certain public places in Jaffna and some hotels. They have to be removed immediately so that the people can live normal lives. We do not mind these troops being there if they are confined to barracks. Demilitarisation should take place in the post war era. Today, we see the IDPs being resettled in an ad hoc manner. The government does not have a proper road map for the resettlement,” he said. He said he had met Senior Presidential Adviser Basil Rajapaksa MP recently for a discussion in view of the presidential election. Asked for his comments on the progress of the negotiations between the TNA and the main presidential candidates, Mr. Premachandransaid that there had been some positive responses. “We want to see what they can offer to the Tamil people in terms of a political solution. There are talks about the 13th Amendment. Nevertheless, it has been implemented sans police and land powers. So why do they talk about the 13th Amendment?” he asked. Responding to a query about TNA MP M.K.Sivajilingam stressing the need for a common Tamil candidate, Mr. Premachandran said that a majority of the members had not been in favour of such an arrangement. “If the two main candidates do not respond positively to our demands, we shall have to look for other alternatives. Anyway most members are not in favour of fielding a common Tamil candidate. Mr. Sivajilingam has not discussed this with the party either,” he said. Govt resettlement program satisfactory - Robert Blake United States Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and Central Asia and former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert Blake expressed satisfaction with the Government's resettlement program now under way and the new freedom of movement allowed. He said he was pleased with the mine risk education being given to students. Blake made these comments during his visit to the Menik Farm relief centre yesterday morning. The total number of IDPs in Menik Farm has come down to 94,000 as of yesterday. Blake met the IDPs and questioned them about conditions at welfare centres. The IDPs told him that they were satisfied. Asked them if there were any problems, the IDPs replied that they had no problems. The IDPs expressed satisfaction with the meals, medical services and sanitation in the centres as well as the freedom of movement. Blake was received by Major General Kamal Gunerathna and Vavuniya Government Agent P.S.M. Charles. US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Patricia A. Butenis joined Blake in his visit. Navy brings three LTTE ships to Colombo Amidst a simmering political debate over LTTE assets seized by the government following the collapse of the LTTE in May, the Sri Lanka Navy brought three LTTE ships to the Sri Lankan waters. Well informed sources told The Island that the government had taken custody of the vessels following negotiations with foreign officials subsequent to information provided by the new LTTE leader KP, who had been in charge of the LTTE arms procurement network. The Island in its December 2 issue exclusively reported a move to take over ships belonging to the LTTE.Authoritative sources said that the three ships were believed to be among the LTTE fleet that was targeted by the SLN during September 2006 – October 2007 period. Three member delegation to visit India for bilateral talks A three member delegation consisting of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga will travel to India later this month for talks, Mr. Weeratunga told Daily Mirror Online today.Speaking to Daily Mirror Online Mr. Lalith Weeratunga stated that the purpose of the visit was to hold bilateral talks with top Indian officials but gave no specific date for the trip. The visit comes on the backdrop of Indian External Affairs Minister S. M Krishna’s statements at the Indian Rajya Sabha on Monday where he called on the Sri Lankan political process in Sri Lanka to hasten in order to provide a lasting solution to the Tamil minority in the country. The issue of IDP’s and Indian fisherman were also raised as a ‘main concern’ at the meeting. Mr. Krishna stated that what has been done so far for the IDP’s by the Sri Lankan government is not enough and also mentioned that a proposal has been made to the Sri Lankan government with regard to the safety of Indian fishermen. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has in the past sent his two brothers on specific missions to India regarding diplomacy and defense. India in turn has come to Sri Lanka’s aid in terms of relief for IDP’s and financial assistance. Reveal captured LTTEassets – UNP Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera asked the government to reveal to the House what it proposed to do to prevent the confiscated assets, frozen bank accounts and gold acquired from the LTTE from becoming the property of a single family.If those assets were going to be utilised for the benefit of the country, then how was it going to be done, MP Perera asked.Making a special statement in Parliament, MP Perera said that the armed forces who had recovered a massive stock of gold belonging to the LTTE, following the killing of its leader Prabhakaran, had handed over this stock to the government on November 26. Similarly there were reports that former LTTE financial head Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP had revealed details of LTTE wealth and assets to the Sri Lankan government following his capture.It was also reported that according to the information provided by KP, there were over 600 bank accounts worldwide where the LTTE’s money had been deposited. It was also reported that the LTTE had 20 ships and the Sri Lanka Navy had destroyed one of them. So far, the nation was in the dark as to what had happened to others."We want to know under whose custody these 19 ships are and where they are now," Perera said.MP Perera asked the government whether it had prepared a report of wealth, gold and assets recovered from the possession of the LTTE. If so, he asked the government to reveal it to the House.He also asked what action government had taken taken to acquire the massive wealth that once belonged to the LTTE in countries like Canada, the Netherlands and Germany. "Has the government made any written request to these countries to obtain these wealth and assets?" MP Perera asked.Seized LTTE assets will be made public when investigations complete – PM Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake yesterday told Parliament that intelligence agencies were in the process of assessing LTTE assets and once the process was completed, it would be made public."If we reveal the findings of these investigations now, it will hinder their progress," the Prime Minister said.He was replying to a question raised by Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera, who requested the government to reveal the recoveries made since the collapse of the LTTE, including gold, their bank accounts and ships.Premier Wickramanayake said the LTTE’s wealth belonged to the nation and said that they should be made use for the development of the country. CWC might support Gen.Fonseka’ The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) might support General Sarath Fonseka if he won the presidential election but it would support President Mahinda Rajapaksa unconditionally at the forthcoming election, said Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Deputy Minister Muttu Sivalingam yesterday..“We are now supporting the government candidate unconditionally; but if General Fonseka wins we will think about joining his government. But that remains to be seen at that time,” said Mr. Sivalingam.He explained that the CWC’s decision to support the government was based on the amount of development achieved in the estate community in terms of roads and schools. The government has, for the first time, begun to provide housing loans and grants of up to four lakhs to the estate community, he said.“We are supporting Mr. Rajapaksa without conditions since we have enough strength to apply pressure on the government after he wins the presidential election,” said Sivalingam. He said that other estate parties and trade unions had other agendas in mind and therefore opposed the government.“I can’t speak for the fool who compared President Rajapaksa’s satake to a noose for the minority Tamils,” said Sivalingam. Seized LTTE assets will be made public when investigations complete – PM Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake yesterday told Parliament that intelligence agencies were in the process of assessing LTTE assets and once the process was completed, it would be made public."If we reveal the findings of these investigations now, it will hinder their progress," the Prime Minister said.He was replying to a question raised by Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera, who requested the government to reveal the recoveries made since the collapse of the LTTE, including gold, their bank accounts and ships.Premier Wickramanayake said the LTTE’s wealth belonged to the nation and said that they should be made use for the development of the country. British and Norwegian diplomats visit Jaffna to observe development A delegation of British and Norwegian diplomats toured Jaffna in Sri Lanka's North on Sunday (06) for a two-day visit to witness the development in the peninsula.The delegation comprising British High Commissioner Dr. Peter Hayes, Norwegian Ambassador Tore Hattrem, British High Commission Second Secretary Dominic Williams, and Royal Norwegian Embassy Advisor G.Z Meenilanko were received by the Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General L.B.R. Mark.The diplomats had the opportunity to get a first hand look on various development projects and learn how the security forces are helping to uplift the civilian lives.The group met with the Army and Navy Commanders in the region, Jaffna Government Agent K. Ganesh, Jaffna Bishop Rev. Thomas Savundranayagam, Governor of Northern Province Major General (Retired) G.A. Chandrasiri, NGOs, INGOs, UN officials and the staff and students of the University of Jaffna.The dignitaries also had the opportunity to visit to an IDP camp, Kankasanthurai Naval Base, Elephant Pass and the communities living on the islands near Jaffna.The two envoys paid their respects at the Hindu Naga Pooshani Ambal Kovil and the Buddhist Nagadipa Vihara on Nainativu Island. They also visited the Delft Island.The British Ambassador commenting on the visit said the fishermen they met were concerned about protecting and developing their livelihoods. "The end of Sri Lanka's longstanding conflict provides a real opportunity to achieve greater prosperity not only for Jaffna's fishermen but all Sri Lankans," Dr. Hayes said. Meanwhile the delegation is scheduled to meet with the representatives of the Peoples Council for Peace and Goodwill and Human Right Commission today (08). Palestine denies any connection to PLA The Palestinian Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Dr. Anwar Al- Agha, yesterday denied reports that a link exists between the People’s Liberation Organization in Palestine and a new Tamil armed group called the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the East of the Sri Lanka. Dr. Agha said that he was not even aware of the existence of such a group, and that it is not possible for such ties to exist. His observations follow a report which appeared in the “Times online website,” hinting that an organization called the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in the East of Sri Lanka had the support of the well known PLO, who are active in Palestine, as well as another country. “We have had strong ties with the legitimate government of Sri Lanka and have supported the government in defeating terrorism and still support the government in their efforts,” he emphasized. A person identified as the head of the PLA’s Eastern District military command speaking to the “Time online” website vowed to launch attacks against government and military targets unless its demands for a separate Tamil homeland are met. The website quoted “Commander Kones,” the head of the military command, as saying that the PLO and another country are supporting the group. He had said that his organization, PLA, was an entirely separate entity, but said that former LTTE cadres would be able to join the organization provided that they swore their allegiance to the PLA and its political aims. Sri Lanka Says 94,000 Tamil War Refugees Remain in Transit Camp Sri Lanka says 94,000 civilians remain in the main transit camp in the north as the government tries to meet a January deadline to settle all displaced people held since the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels in May. The refugees, held at the Menik Farm center near Vavuniya, were visited yesterday by Robert Blake, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia and a former ambassador to Colombo, the Defense Ministry said on its Web site. More than 15,000 people are returning to their home towns and villages each week, according to the government. Each family is given about $400 dollars and provided with roofing sheets, building and cooking materials, as well as clothes and food for a week, it said. The U.S. and United Nations have criticized Sri Lanka for delaying the settlement program, saying prolonged detention of displaced people will fuel resentment among Tamils. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government says their return was delayed by the need to clear about 1.5 million mines from conflict areas and secure the north to prevent a return of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. More than 280,000 people were housed in camps in May when the army defeated the last forces of the LTTE, ending its 26- year fight for a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east of the South Asian island nation. All displaced people from the Jaffna region in the north have returned to the area where mines have been cleared, Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said, according to the Defense Ministry. Agriculture Industry The government is helping families engaged in the agriculture industry in the north and has set a target to cultivate 10,500 acres (4,250 hectares) of rice fields this season, the governor said. The main growing area around Mannar in the northwest has been cleared of mines, the government said last month. The so-called Mannar rice bowl produced a record harvest in 1991 before falling to 23rd out of 27 growing areas listed by the government before the region was captured from the Tamil Tigers in June 2008. While Sri Lanka in July received a $2.6 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, the end of the civil war has boosted agriculture and tourism that will help the country’s $41 billion economy. The central bank forecasts it will grow as much as 6 percent next year after expanding about 3.5 percent in 2009. Investment, Exports Overseas investment in Sri Lanka rose about 10 percent in 2009 from about $3 billion last year, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said last month. The country’s exports that include tea, rubber, textiles and clothes may start to grow in the first quarter of 2010 after dropping for 10 consecutive months, he said. The end to the war that killed about 90,000 people has helped push the benchmark Colombo All-share index up almost 90 percent this year. Rajapaksa last month called a presidential election two years before his mandate expires as he seeks to capitalize on his government ending the civil war. He will face General Sarath Fonseka, who commanded the army when it defeated the Tamil Tigers, in the ballot. The government and opposition must allow balanced coverage of the election, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders group said in an e-mailed statement today. “These elections are crucial for the country’s future, but they will not be considered democratic if there is no press freedom,” the group said. Free Press Sri Lanka must ensure a fair and free press, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a Dec. 7 report on relations between the countries. “Though the war is over, a culture of fear and paranoia permeates society, especially for journalists, which further erodes Sri Lanka’s standing in the international community and hampers its prospects for genuine peace,” it said. The committee said the U.S. risks losing Sri Lanka as an ally unless it focuses on helping the country’s security and economic development instead of concentrating on the political environment. Former Sri Lankan general fears assassination Sri Lanka's former military chief who led troops to victory over Tamil separatists in May said he fears fugitive rebels will try to assassinate him during his presidential election campaign. Sarath Fonseka, who is trying to unseat President Mahinda Rajapakse in the January 26 elections, said that about 1,000 Tamil Tiger fighters may have survived the end of the decades-long war. Fonseka said that although the Tiger leaders had all been killed, renegade suicide bombers remained a serious risk. "The Tigers still have an international network and about 1,000 cadres who are mingling with the IDPs (internally displaced people)," he said. "I know my life is in danger, but many people and those in the military and the police believe that I am the one who led them to victory." Fonseka, who was badly wounded when targeted by a suicide attacker in 2006, said the Rajapakse administration had cut his security protection despite his vulnerability on the campaign trail. "My security unit had 25 vehicles when I was in the army, now it is reduced to two or three," he said. "But the risk is now even greater because I am contesting elections." Presidential elections in Sri Lanka have often been violent. In 1994, the Tigers were accused of assassinating a top contender. In 1999, president Chandrika Kumaratunga survived a suicide bombing during her re-election bid. Fonseka, speaking at his busy election office in Colombo's fashionable Cinnamon Garden quarter, promised that he would curb the authority of the all-powerful president and make parliament more assertive if elected. "I will not be a dictator. The powers of the executive presidency are abused today and democracy is in decline," he said. "I want to be the man to bring change." Sri Lanka's president, who is also the defence minister and commander-in-chief, is not answerable to parliament. All presidents since 1994 have pledged to reform the presidency and revert to a British-style parliamentary democracy, but failed to deliver. "I will not be like them," Fonseka said. "I have a track record of keeping my promises. I promised to crush the Tigers this year and I did it ahead of schedule. My first priority, if elected, is to deliver on my political promise. "If I can't do that with the parliament I get (following parliamentary elections sometime after April), then there is no point in my hanging around." A member of the majority Sinhalese community, Fonseka, 58, is seen as sharing a similar hardline nationalist platform as Rajapakse. The two men fell out over who should take credit for defeating the Tamil Tigers, and their clash raised fears of a rift between the political establishment and the military. Fonseka said Rajapakse had suspected him of plotting a coup against the government after the military's massive offensive finally brought victory over the Tigers in the north-east of the island seven months ago. "They (the government) did not treat me properly and they suspected the army of trying to seize power. That is an insult to the professional and disciplined army that defeated the world's most ruthless terrorist outfit," he said. The former general added that his latest career move had taken even him by surprise. "The decision to enter politics was a very sudden one," he said. "It was a bold decision and a very courageous decision. From the military to politics is a big transition. "I wanted to spend more time with my wife and two daughters, but I see less of them now. The first few days (in politics), I felt jittery, but now I am adjusting well and getting used to this new role." Fonseka has the support of the two main opposition parties, which had criticised the government's handling of the Tiger war, but observers say major ideological differences exist within the alliance. Fonseka surprised his critics last week by agreeing to a possible war crimes investigation into allegations of human rights abuses in the last months of fighting - a move that Rajapakse has always refused. Emergency passed with majority of 74 The Parliament decided to extend emergency by another month by a majority vote of 74. All members of the government voted for the extension of emergency together with Bhikkus who have broken away from the JHU and sitting in Parliament as independent members. The members of the UNP and the JVP were not in the chambers when the vote was taken while TNA voted against the proposal. 95 voted for the extension of the emergency while 21 voted against it. 07 December 2009 Reveal your political solution: TNA (TELO,TULF,EPRLF and ACTC)tells President, Fonseka The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday that it must understand the policies of the two main presidential candidates with regard to the ‘ethnic conflict’ before taking a decision to support one of them.TNA Jaffna district Parliamentarian, Suresh Premachandran told Daily Mirror yesterday that both President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Common Candidate, Sarath Fonseka should reveal their stand on the ethnic conflict.“Though the war is over, the conflict for a political solution is still there. It has to be addressed. Both main candidates should announce their policies first. Only after that we can take a decision,” he said.Asked about the ruling UPFA’s invitation for a meeting, Mr. Premachandran said that his leader R. Sampanthan had one-to-one-meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday. However, he did not reveal what had transpired at that meeting.He said that the invitation was extended by UPFA Secretary Minister Susil Premajayantha only on Thursday. Attempts to reach Mr. Sampanthan for his comments in this regard failed. Deposit placed for Sri Lanka President at the Election Secretariat for upcoming polls The General Secretary of the United People's Freedom Alliance, Minister Susil Premajayantha has placed the required deposit on behalf of President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning at the Election Secretariat in Rajagiriya. A candidate of a recognized political party must place a deposit of 50,000 rupees while an independent candidate is required to deposit 75,000 rupees for contesting the polls. An independent candidate desiring to place a deposit must prove that either he is an incumbent or a former parliamentarian. Candidates contesting the polls can place their deposits at the Elections secretariat office in Rajagiriya during normal office hours until December 16th.Nomination of Candidates will take place from 9.00 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the 17.12.2009, at the Elections Secretariat. The elections will be held on January 26th, 2010. Disillusioned opposition stalwart SB joins Sri Lanka ruling party Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party national organizer and opposition leader of the Central Provincial Council S.B. Dissanayake has joined the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance, the government media unit announced today.Dissanayake addressing a media briefing now in progress at the Hotel Taj Samudra in Colombo has pledged to support the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential polls and to do his utmost to defeat the opposition alliance candidate, retired military chief, General Sarath Fonseka.The government media reported that Dissanayake has relinquished all his posts in the opposition party. Accordingly he has resigned from the posts of national organizer of the United National Party, leader of the opposition of the Central Provincial Council and the UNP chief organizer of the Walapane electorate.Dissanayake, who was disgruntled with the opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe over the decision to support General Fonseka instead of fielding a candidate from the party, had a meeting with the President, Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday at his residence in Hanguranketha.According to a report in a Sri Lankan daily, Dissanayake summoned his supporters and made an emotional farewell speech following the meeting with the President.The UNP strongman was not present at the party's 54th convention held at the Nawaloka Esplande in Welisara yesterday morning to introduce General Fonseka as the party's choice for president.Dissanayake crossed over to the UNP in 2001 from SLFP during the Chandrika Kumaranatunga administration. New Tamil group People’s Liberation Army vows to start a fresh war U.S. Report on Sri Lanka Urges New Approach A report on Sri Lanka to be released next week by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee urges a less confrontational approach to that nation, citing strategic American interests in the region. The report says that while the Sri Lankan government has been widely criticized for its handling of the war against the Tamil Tigers, who were fighting for a separate state for the ethnic Tamil minority in northern Sri Lanka, the government has also achieved a measure of progress in resettling the conflict’s displaced and rebuilding the war-shattered east of the country. “With the end of the war, the United States needs to re-evaluate its relationship with Sri Lanka to reflect new political and economic realities,” says the report, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times. “While humanitarian concerns remain important, U.S. policy toward Sri Lanka cannot be dominated by a single agenda. It is not effective at delivering real reform, and it shortchanges U.S. geostrategic interests in the region.”The bipartisan report, which was endorsed by Senator John Kerry, the Democratic chairman of the committee, as well as Senator Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican, is being released as the Obama administration is preparing to announce its new policy on Sri Lanka. It also comes as questions persist about what Western countries can do to influence the government there. Concerns about human rights and humanitarian aid for the people affected by the conflict have dominated the relationship between the United States and Sri Lanka over the past few years as the hard-line government in the capital, Colombo, pressed its military offensive against the Tigers. The tough strategy of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s president, and his two brothers, Gotabaya and Basil, helped defeat the insurgency in May after more than two decades of war. The rebel group used brutal tactics like the use of child soldiers and female suicide bombers. It was also responsible for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, a former prime minister of India who was hoping to return to power, in 1991. Government troops overran a narrow strip of beach where the leaders of the rebel group were pinned down, along with about 300,000 Tamil civilians. Human rights groups have pointed to evidence of an indiscriminate use of heavy weapons by government troops in areas crowded with civilians in the last weeks of fighting. The United Nations documented at least 7,000 civilian deaths in a tally that does not include the last, and probably bloodiest, weeks of fighting. The government also faced pressure to release nearly 300,000 Tamils it had held in closed camps since the end of the war. Officials said the displaced people needed to be screened to weed out fighters, but conditions in the crowded camps deteriorated as the monsoon rains arrived. On Tuesday , the government said the displaced were free to leave, with some limitations. Sri Lanka has resisted calls for an international investigation of its conduct of the war, and has dismissed the demands of the Western countries that have bankrolled much of its humanitarian aid effort as imperialism. Sri Lankan government officials have repeatedly pointed to growing ties between their country and China as a sign that the West’s influence there is on the wane. Mr. Rajapaksa, who is running for re-election in January — and is staking his campaign on the war victory — has accused foreign aid organizations and Western countries of meddling in Sri Lanka’s affairs. More broadly, government officials have expressed dismay at the barrage of criticism they received abroad after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers. Mr. Rajapaksa portrayed the conflict as part of a global fight against terrorism, and the victory over the Tigers as a model for anti-insurgency military campaigns elsewhere. Sri Lankan officials deny that large numbers of civilians were killed by government troops. The United States and other Western countries abstained from a vote at the International Monetary Fund in July to lend $2.6 billion to Sri Lanka. The United States has also curbed military aid because of concerns about human rights abuses in the war against the Tamil Tigers. But Sri Lanka is too important a country to be isolated from the West, the report argues. “Sri Lanka is located at the nexus of crucial maritime trading routes in the Indian Ocean connecting Europe and the Middle East to China and the rest of Asia,” the report says. “The United States, India, and China all share an interest in deterring terrorist activity and curbing piracy that could disrupt maritime trade.” 11,000 Tamil 'fighters' held in secured Lankan camps: Report Over 11,000 Tamil 'fighters', including children, were held by Sri Lanka without charge in highly secured "rehabilitation centres", despite claims by authorities it had lifted restrictions on the movement of all displaced persons, a news report has said.According to The Times newspaper, more than 11,000 Tamil prisoners are being held without charge in closely guarded "rehabilitation centres", even as the government claimed it had released all Tamil civilians from detention centres last week. It said children are among 11,000 Tamil 'fighters' held in rehabilitation.According to the report, the prisoners, whose exact number has been unknown due to the government placed restitutions, is allegedly a "combatant category" that includes former LTTE fighters. However, the definition of "Tamil Tiger" is unclear. Apart from the hardcore LTTE cadres, many of those in the camps are thought to be Tamil youths, their family members and civil administrators, forcibly conscripted by the Tigers in the final stages of the war.According to media reports, the parents of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the Tamil Tiger leader killed this year, are being held in the notorious "4th Floor" detention complex in Colombo. They are in their seventies and had long been alienated from their son by his terrorist activities. Even as the government allowed nearly 1.30 lakh Tamil civilians housed in refugees camps in northern Sri Lanka to visit their relatives this week, there is concern over the fate of the 11,000 still being held, the report said.The London-based daily pointed out reports suggesting a new round of arrests over the past few weeks among civilians on the verge of being released from camps."I've got between 30 and 40 cases in which families have been released here from the detention centres, only to have their menfolk taken away at the final moment to a so-called rehabilitation centre," Father V. Yogeswaran, director of the Centre for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, in Trincomalee, was quoted as saying."As for 'secret' detention camps? I wouldn't openly say that they exist for sure, but I tend to think they do. Some men have been taken away and never accounted for," he said.Last week the government allowed nearly 1.30 lakh Tamil civilians housed in refugees camps in northern Sri Lanka to visit their relatives as authorities lifted restrictions on their movement.Some 3 lakh Tamils were housed in the refugees camps after the final stage of the government's military operations that defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels in May. Risath Bathiyutheen, the Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, told the media that there will be no restrictions imposed on the duration of their absence from the villages.The government has declared that civilians will be free to leave the villages once they have given their personal details to the authorities concerned.All civilians of the Vavuniya welfare village from Jaffna Peninsula and Eastern Province have already been resettled, an official statement said. The government has said all efforts would be made to resettle all displaced people by January 31. Ask Sri Lanka to devolve powers to Tamils: BJP Accusing UPA government of not realising the "gravity of the situation" on the Lankan Tamils issue, BJP today said India should immediately ask Colombo to expedite resettlement of internally displaced Tamils and press for devolution of powers as per the Indo-Sri Lanka accord.Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here that the party was "disappointed" with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's statement in Parliament yesterday that the Centre would consider sending another team of Parliamentarians to Sri Lanka to assess the relief work for Tamils displaced in the war between the LTTE and the army."We call upon government to send an all-party delegation immediately to visit the camps and meet the people to know the situation there," Naidu said.A team of MPs from Tamil Nadu had recently visited Sri Lanka to assess the conditions of displaced Tamils. 06 December 2009 President, Ranil wooing TNA support Indian leaders fight shy of General Presidential candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka returned to Colombo after a day visit to India, apparently to open a line of communication with Indian political leaders.Indian media reported that Gen. Fonseka met Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha on Wednesday, a day before he left, leading to speculation that he had requested Kantha to make arrangements to meet a few Indian leaders.The High Commission did not comment on Gen. Fonseka’s visit. Kantha himself was in New Delhi on Friday for a private function.However, a highly placed source said that there was no official invitation from the Indian government for Gen Fonseka.Gen. Fonseka’s visit follows former prime minister and opposition leader, Ranil Wickeremsinghe’s visit to New Delhi in November. It is expected that another opposition delegation would visit New Delhi soon. During interactions, he has been stressing his personal military ties with India, remembering to mention the four military courses he followed in India.But India would be cautious in its approach to Gen. Fonseka, known for his nationalistic Sinhala views, Indian media reported. It was reported that the former Chief of Defence Staff left on a private visit to India on 3rd morning, has returned to Colombo with a heavy heart and uncertain future, as his stars clearly indicated “a future with uncertainty.”Reports from New Delhi said that Indian government leaders did not show any interest in meeting with the retired General. It is learnt that, before he left for India, he implored the Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha, for special arrangements to meet Indian government leaders in New Delhi. But it seems that his request was not heeded. Gen. Forseka was accompanied by his financier Senaka De Silva, an arms dealer. 05 December 2009 KP in Mahinda’s campaign – a plan to get votes in the North for President There is an attempt to use Kumaran Pathmanadan alias KP, Daya Master and George Master to get votes of the people in the North to President Mahinda Rajapakse at the presidential election states a very reliable source. KP is detained in a special protective house with the mediation and supervision of the Defense Secretary. Under the election exercise of the government it has been proposed to have discussions with Rudrakumaran, who lives in a foreign country, through KP and get him involved in President Rajapakse’s campaign in the North. It is revealed that Daya Master and George Master have been released on bail as a part of this exercise. The two ‘Masters’ were released when the government was prepared for an election and with the intention of using them for their propaganda in the North. It is planned to canvass the Tamil diaspora through Rudrakumaran and get them to influence their relatives in Sri Lanka to vote for President Rajapakse say these sources. It is revealed that KP’s girlfriend is allowed to visit him in the special protective but luxurious house he is being detained. Several countries including India have wanted to question KP but the government has been avoiding this state these sources. UNP rebels demand SB or Sajith as presidential candidate, not Sarath There were enough heavyweights within the United National Party to contest the forthcoming presidential election and there was ample time to field one of them, UNP Kurunegala District Parliamentarian Johnston Fernando told the media yesterday in Colombo.Ranil Wickremesinghe knew that he could not win an election, Fernando said. "Bringing in General Sarath Fonseka by sacrificing the party symbol to safeguard his position was a situation similar to making Gamini Dissanayake the presidential candidate in 1994," he said.UNP Deputy leader, S. B. Dissanayake and UNP Assistant Leader Sajith Premadasa were among eligible candidates. If they were given the opportunity they would contest the election, Fernando said."We earnestly request Wickremesinghe to stop talking about democracy and abolishing the executive presidency at this juncture and to restore the UNP’s internal democracy, Fernando said.He said he was aware of plots being hatched against him because the majority of those at Sirikotha were with him. He said he had reliable information that there was a conspiracy to boo and stone him and former Mayor Azath Salley at today’s (December 5) UNP Convention. Surprisingly, Wickremesinghe, who did not like to see anyone else’s name on the agenda, had permitted SB to speak. "We also have information that if SB changes his stance on Fonseka, he will be attacked by the goons from Matara," he added. Fernando said he had not yet decided whether to attend the convention or not.Former UNP Mayor Azath Salley said that he vehemently opposed Sarath Fonseka’s candidacy because he could not work with a person who had been critical of the rights of minorities.Salley said that Wickremesinghe was the only political leader who was against the progress of Muslims other than Cader from Kandy. "That’s why Cader said at the Executive Committee meeting, he would take Fonseka on his shoulders to Kandy, regardless of his statements against minorities," Salley said. US envoy to visit Sri Lanka WASHINGTON — A senior US envoy will head to Sri Lanka next week to encourage post-war reconciliation, days after the island nation allowed Tamil civilians to leave detention camps, officials said Friday.Robert Blake, the assistant secretary of state for South Asia, will visit Sri Lanka on Monday and Tuesday in the highest-ranking US trip to the island nation since it ended a 37-year guerrilla war in May, the State Department said.Blake, formerly the ambassador to Colombo, will meet with "government officials, political leaders and civil society," it added in a statement.Sri Lanka's relations with the United States and other Western nations soured earlier this year as troops defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels, who waged a bloody campaign for a separate homeland.Western powers and the United Nations had voiced concern about the safety of non-combatants in the final offensive and were alarmed when Sri Lanka later detained tens of thousands of civilians, arguing it was weeding out rebels.Sri Lanka opened the gates Tuesday as part of a plan to close down the widely-condemned displacement camps by the end of January. But many civilians have stayed put because their villages were destroyed or mined in the long ethnic war.A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that detainees' freedom of movement was "critically important" to reconciliation in Sri Lanka."We welcome the government of Sri Lanka's actions to allow increased freedom of movement for IDPs," or internally displaced people, the official said."We hope that all Sri Lankans who have been displaced from their homes over the course of the conflict can voluntarily return to their homes and villages in safety and dignity as soon as possible," the official added."We urge the government of Sri Lanka to continue and strengthen its cooperation with the international community to provide assistance and services to returnees."The official said the United States was looking at additional assistance options after providing nearly 58 million dollars in humanitarian aid in the past year, including for emergency food to detainees and demining villages.Human rights group Amnesty International called on Blake to urge Sri Lanka to provide more assistance to detainees, saying some were simply being left on the roadside without knowing the state of their villages."The authorities must make good on their declared intentions to free some 120,000 people and must do so unconditionally," Amnesty International USA executive director Larry Cox said in a letter to Blake.Amnesty also called for transparency and accountability in the screening of some 11,000 people authorities plan to keep in camps as rebel suspects. The ruling UPFA has invited the TNA for a discussion TNA and SLMC criticise executive presidency India: "We are committed to doing more" for Jaffna Tamils India said today that it will work with the Sri Lankan Government to ensure the resettlement of 3,00,000 people displaced in the island-nation’s civil war-ravaged northern region, freed from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May this year. India also said it is keen to see revival of the political process in the island nation, said External Affairs Minister SM Krishna in a suo moto statement in the Rajya Sabha, Parliament’s upper house, on recent developments in northern Sri Lanka. "We continue to work with the Sri Lankan government to ensure the resettlement of all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)," Krishna said. He said it is crucial that nearly 3,00,000 IDPs are given immediate humanitarian attention and that urgent steps are taken to resettle them in their original places of habitation.Sri Lanka should focus on issues of relief, resettlement, rehabilitation and reconciliation, he noted. Krishna informed the House that, after India conveyed its concern over the issue, Sri Lanka government had "agreed that bulk of the IDPs" would be resettled within 180 days. He said India is keen to see the revival of the political process in Sri Lanka that will meet the legitimate interests and aspirations of all communities including Tamils and Muslims, within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. Revival of such a political process and an inclusive dialogue will help bring the minority communities into the political mainstream, he noted. "We have continued to emphasise to the Sri Lankan government to put forward a meaningful devolution package... We will remain engaged with them through this process of transition and reform," he said. Krishna said the government attaches utmost importance to rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts being undertaken by Sri Lanka in the northern region. "India continues to do whatever it can to assist Sri Lanka at this crucial turning point." He said conclusion of the military conflict in the northern territory of Sri Lanka presented it an opportunity to heal the wounds created by decades of protracted conflict. Resettlement of IDPs will ensure that a semblance of normalcy is restored to their lives after the traumatic experience they had undergone during the conflict. "We have consistently urged the Government of Sri Lanka to quicken the pace of rehabilitation and resettlement," he said. The minister added that more than 1,00,000 IDPs have been resettled subsequent to the visit of a delegation of MPs from Tamil Nadu in October. The delegation had visited Jaffna, IDP camps in Vavuniya and other areas. Quoting Sri Lankan government sources, Krishna said more than 1,50,000 IDPs have been resettled and around 1,45,000 still remain in camps. "We understand more have been resettled recently," he said. "We have been assured that by end of January 2010, all IDPs would be resettled," he said. On relief measures, Krishna said India had sent 2,50,000 family packs consisting of dry ration, clothing, utensils and footwear from Tamil Nadu to these IDPs since October 2008. He said the 60-member emergency ‘field hospital’ set up by India there treated more than 50,000 patients. The hospital was in operation between March and September this year. Indicating that government may allocate more funds for rehabilitation of the IDPs, he declared: "We are committed to doing more." The government has already set aside five billion Indian rupees for rehabilitation of the IDPs and welfare of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, he added. The minister also said India will send three more de-mining teams even as four such teams are already there, as per the recommendation of the parliamentary delegation. India will double the supply of shelter material from the current 2,600 tonnes and send consignments of cement for rebuilding the damaged houses, he said. The government is also committed to help the island-nation in reviving agriculture in its northern region. Sounding a note of caution that Indian fishermen should not venture into Sri Lankan waters, Krishna said there has been a sharp decline in number of boats seized and fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka after an "understanding" with the neighbouring country in October, 2008. 02 December 2009 Amnesty International Calls on Sri Lankan Government to Permanently Release All Civilians Amnesty International is calling on the Sri Lankan government to permanently release civilians who have been illegally detained in camps since the end of the civil war six months ago.“The authorities must make good on their declared intentions to free some 120,000 people and must do so unconditionally,” said Yolanda Foster, Amnesty International’s expert on Sri Lanka. According to the Sri Lankan government today, families living in displacement camps in Vavuniya will be given a choice: remain in camps, seek alternative accommodations or attempt to return home.However, Amnesty International has received information about possible restrictions on families choosing to leave the camps. Media reports have suggested that they could be asked to return to the camps after only 15 days.“A permanent release from camps must be accompanied by assurances that people are not subjected to further questioning or re-arrest in new locations,” said Foster. “It is also critical that the government maintain its responsibility to care for displaced people wherever they choose to go.”Another concern is the lack of assistance for those who have already been released. A church group has reported instances of civilians being simply ‘dumped, left on the road’ after being bussed from Manik Farm.The government is providing conflicting messages about the process of return. It is also unclear whether freedom of movement will apply to camps in other parts of the country as well.As releases and resettlement efforts accelerate, Amnesty International urges Sri Lankan authorities to allow displaced people to make informed and voluntary decisions about return and resettlement.“The Sri Lankan authorities must alert displaced people to the living conditions in the places they come from so that they can make plans about their future,” said Foster. “They should also provide them with clear information about their rights, their legal status and procedures for tracing family members.“Humanitarian and human rights organizations should be given unimpeded access to displaced people. For those attempting to resettle, such organizations should be permitted to monitor their safety and wellbeing and ensure their needs are being met, including that they are protected against further human rights violations.“Thousands of people have started to leave camps in the north east but the promise to unlock the camps must be followed up by the protection of the rights of the internally displaced people both within and outside the camps.” Background: After fierce fighting and thousands of civilian casualties in May 2009, the Sri Lankan government declared victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). By the end of May, 300,000 displaced people who had fled the fighting were detained in camps supervised by the military.In response to the unlawful detention of hundreds of thousands of displaced people, Amnesty International launched a global campaign “Unlock the Camps,” calling for liberty and freedom of movement for the displaced. Over 40,000 activists have taken action. 'Detained LTTE chief KP owns 5 ships, 600 bank accounts' Detained LTTE chief Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias KP owns five ships and 600 unidentified bank accounts which are sought to be frozen, a senior Sri Lankan minister said on Wednesday. KP, who was was arrested overseas and brought to Colombo in August this year, is considered to be a key custodian of slain LTTE Supremo V Prabakaran's wealth. During interrogation KP had revealed the existence of five ships out of which efforts are on to seize three of them with process being initiated, Defence spokesman and senior cabinet minister Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters. Rambukwella said the questioning also brought to light the presence of 600 unidentified bank accounts. "We want to get these account frozen," he said while stating the details of the accounts were not known. Rambukwella said the government was also exploring the possibility of converting the assets and properties of KP into state properties. He said discussions were on with the Attorney General on the issue. Besides being wanted in connection with Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the role of KP is also being determined over his involvement in the Sri Lankan Central Bank bombing in 1996 and arms procurement operations oversees for terrorist activities in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Must Aid Refugees Leaving Camps, UN Says Sri Lanka must ensure that Tamil war refugees receive assistance now they are allowed to leave transit camps where they were held since the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were defeated in May, the United Nations and human rights groups said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government yesterday ended restrictions on people leaving camps in the north that hold about 120,000 civilians. It plans to return all the displaced people to their home towns and villages by the end of January. “It’s a very mixed picture,” Gordon Weiss, a UN spokesman, said in a telephone interview from Colombo today. “The civilians are from the worst-affected areas where their homes are destroyed, are abandoned, or are infested with mines.” The government must “maintain its responsibility to care” for displaced people, Amnesty International said. Sri Lanka has been under international pressure to allow about 280,000 displaced civilians held in camps since May to go home. The government says their return has been delayed by the need to ensure security in the north and to clear an estimated 1.5 million mines and unexploded ordnance from conflict zones. “They released about 10,000 people from the camps yesterday,” Weiss said. “They have issued passes for them to be away for 10-15 days.” Temporary Shelter People without homes “are being provided with basic materials to build a temporary shelter,” Rishad Bathiudeen, minister for resettlement and disaster relief services said by telephone from the capital today. “The government is also giving cash.” The government is giving conflicting messages about the process of returning displaced people, Amnesty International said in an e-mailed statement today. “A permanent release from camps must be accompanied by assurances that people are not subjected to further questioning or re-arrest in new locations,” Amnesty said. The government must alert people to the conditions they will find in the areas they come from “so they can make plans about their future,” it said. “The promise to unlock the camps must be followed up by the protection of the rights of the internally displaced people both within and outside the camps.” Sri Lanka said last week it completed the return of Tamil civilians to the northern Jaffna region. Those still in camps are from the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts, it said. Heavily Mined Both areas were heavily mined as the LTTE had its headquarters in Kilinochchi town and staged its last stand around the northeastern port of Mullaitivu in May. Rajapaksa, seeking to capitalize on his government’s success in ending the LTTE’s 26-year fight for a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east, has called a presidential election for Jan. 26, two years before his mandate expires. He will face General Sarath Fonseka, who commanded the army when it defeated the Tamil Tigers, in the election. The ballot is a strong reason to send as many people back home as they are eligible to vote, Weiss said. “It has to be viewed in the context of these people being released by January,” he said. The authorities have “a good political imperative for doing this.” Rebuilding after the conflict is helping the island’s $41 billion economy. The central bank forecasts it will grow as much as 6 percent next year after expanding about 3.5 percent in 2009. The end to the war that killed about 90,000 people has also helped push the benchmark Colombo All-share index up almost 90 percent this year. Sri Lanka’s detention of the Tamils “could squander hopes for national reconciliation,” The Elders, a humanitarian group created by former South African President Nelson Mandela, said last week. The confinement of the civilians breaches international law and deprives them of basic human rights, the group said in a letter to Rajapaksa. It called on the government to allow “unimpeded access” to the camps. British Minister welcomes opening IDP camps in Sri Lanka British International Development Minister Mike Foster welcomed the opening of the welfare camps in Northern Sri Lanka where thousands of displaced civilians were detained for over six months after the end of the war.Pointing out that the United Kingdom has repeatedly called the government to free the civilians and allow them the choice to return home, Foster said "Opening the camps and granting real freedom of movement will allow the thousands still living in the camps to start to rebuild their lives." "But now it is imperative that humanitarian agencies be allowed full access to give them the help they need in all the places that they return to," he added.The British Minister reiterated his government's continued support "to clear landmines, provide transport from the camps, and help restart their lives so people can return home quickly and safely." Toronto Tamil Tiger supporter describes how group murdered his father A Toronto man who will be sentenced in the United States next month for procuring weapons for the Tamil Tigers rebels described in court documents how those same rebels murdered his father.Thiruthanikan Thanigasalam, 43, said in a sentencing memorandum in U.S. District Court that he fled to Canada after the Tamil Tigers took away his father and shot him eight times for refusing to give them money.Mr. Thanigasalam did not explain why, while living in Canada years later, he would take part in an illicit conspiracy to buy black market weapons for the very rebel group that had killed his father.But the memorandum portrays Mr. Thanigasalam as a man traumatized by Sri Lanka's brutal civil war, who spent his youth in temporary camps and was detained, beaten and tortured by both sides in the conflict.The married father of two is asking the court for no more than the 25-year minimum sentence, as is Sahilal Sabaratnam, another Canadian convicted on the same charges. Prosecutors are seeking sentences of up to life in prison.The men are among six Canadians arrested by the FBI and RCMP in 2006 after they allegedly tried to buy 500 AK-47 assault rifles and ten SA-18 heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles for the Tamil Tigers, separatist guerrillas who were then fighting for independence from Sri Lanka.The rebels, also known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, were wiped out by government forces in May. Last week, a Tamil nationalist was arrested in Toronto after giving a fiery speech in which he called for the resumption of the war. A Toronto Buddhist temple used by Sri Lankans was torched the next night.U.S. officials have depicted Mr. Thanigasalam as the technical expert of the group, and allege he had sought missiles that could shoot down the Kfir fighter jets used by the Sri Lankan military.Mr. Sabaratnam, 30, immigrated to Canada at age nine, studied commerce at Carleton University and later worked at TD Waterhouse in Toronto. He was allegedly in charge of paying for the weapons.But his lawyer argued that Mr. Sabaratnam was a "last minute participant" in the conspiracy, and had only become involved at the request of his brother-in-law."Without a doubt, Sahil made the worst decision of his life and, in turn, has forfeited his liberty, future, hopes and dreams and extinguished hopes and dreams of his parents, family members and fiancée," Bobbi Sternheim wrote.The pair is to be sentenced on Jan. 12. Another Canadian, Sathajhan Sarachandran, the former president of the Canadian Tamil Students Association, is to be sentenced Jan. 11. All three pleaded guilty. Three more Canadians are awaiting extradition to the U.S.Asked why Mr. Thanigasalam would support the rebels after they killed his father, his lawyer Lee Ginsberg said, "I can't explain it. I'm not sure my client can explain it. "If you want my view for what it's worth, it wouldn't surprise me if there are many Tamils who were upset with the way the LTTE was operating in Sri Lanka and had family members displaced because of them."On the other hand there are sympathies with the general proposition that the Tamil people were being repressed and other things, and I think it falls somewhere in that category." Defence Ministry Additional Secretary Former Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickremaratne has been appointed as an Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence by President Mahinda Rajapaksa with effect from yesterday December 1, 2009. Jayantha Wickremaratne was appointed to the post of Additional Secretary on a Cabinet decision. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had also approved his appointment to the post of Ministry of Defence Additional Secretary. Jayantha Wickremaratne recently received his Post Graduate Diploma Certificate in Criminology from the Sri Jayawardenepura University. He completed his education at Thurstan College and later obtained an Honours Degree in Public Administration from the Sri Jayawardenepura University in 1973. Wickremaratne joined the Police Force in 1974 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and was promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police in 1983. The first ever “Police News Magazine” was published in 2003 under the chairmanship of Jayantha Wickremaratne. This informative Journal was welcomed by both the Police personnel and the general public. EPRLF to support President The EPRLF (Pathmanabha Group), an anti-LTTE Tamil party based in the North and the East, has decided to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the January 26 presidential election. Party leader R. Sritharan said yesterday there was space now for democracy since the LTTE was destroyed and this was a great achievement by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.He said EPRLF leader Pathmanabha and many other senior leaders of the party were killed by the LTTE.“LTTE presence had constricted the space available for democracy to function. Now, the whole country is free from the scourge of terrorism,” he said.Mr. Sritharan said the APRC report had been finalized and an agreement in place to devolve power beyond the 13th Amendment. “We want a credible power devolution formula. We believe the President will address our demands. We are for a multi-ethnic society,” he said. When asked about his party Central Committee member Vartharajah Perumal who had fled the country after the unilateral declaration of Tamil Eelam in 1990, Mr. Sritharan said his views were incorporated in his party’s proposals to the APRC.He said Mr. Perumal who was living in India would return to Sri Lanka soon to continue his political work. “I contact him often over the phone. He will come back. But the exact date is not known,” Mr. Sritharan said. Earlier, PLOTE, another Tamil party based in the North and the East, expressed its support to the President. Apart from these two parties, no other party in the North-East have come out openly to announce their support to any of the two main candidates JVP deny Somawansa boycotted campaign launch The JVP yesterday denied reports that party leader Somawansa Amarasinghe had left the country to avoid Monday’s launch of its propaganda campaign in support of former Army Chief, General Sarath Fonseka, contesting the forthcoming presidential election, at the Hyde Park. Amarasinghe was expected to return tonight (Dec 2), the party said.JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told The Island last night Amarasinghe had left the country on November 15 as he had to attended a series of events in the UK, Germany, France and Italy to coincide with the Maha Viru Samaruma.He accused the government of engaging in cheap tactics to undermine the Opposition campaign. "They are using the State media to sling mud at political opponents. We will not give in to government propaganda," he said urging the government to conduct a positive media campaign. 01 December 2009 No time for national leaders to play election politics on ethnic question: Ganesan Tamil and Sinhala partners in the Rajapakse government are contradicting each other. The Tamil people demand to know President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s stand in respect these contradicting stands. The President, who is UPFA candidate has to reveal his political formula towards the national ethnic issue before the presidential nominations, says Democratic Peoples Front (DPF) leader Mano Ganesan.The Tamils and the peace loving people of this country demand to know the position of the President, who is to be the presidential candidate, his stance on the 13th Amendment. Tamil people also demand responses from those Tamil parties and politicians who are canvassing for Tamil votes to the president, adds Mr. Ganesan. A media release from the Democratic Peoples Front states: UPFA (United People’s Freedom Alliance) partners Champika Ranawaka and Wimal Weerawansa are finding fault with common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka for publicly accepting the political reality to go beyond the 13th Amendment as the solution to the national ethnic question. Wimal Weerawansa even sheds tears for his former party, the JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) on this and calls it a contradiction.However there is no contradiction on this between the UNF (United National Front) and the JVP. It is because what is prevailing between the UNF and JVP is only a single point electoral understanding in respect of the abolition of the Executive Presidency. There is no political alliance between the UNF and the JVP. Both entities are very clear on this.The contradiction is very much within the ruling UPFA. EPDP leader Minister Douglas Devananda and TMVP leader and Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan are demanding additional powers to the PCs. This is what is called the 13th plus. This is what president Mahinda Rajapaksa went to Indiaand promised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. We are aware of this. But today both Indiaand the President have forgotten this fact. But Tamil people have not forgotten this fact.The Tamil and Sinhala partners of President Mahinda Rajapaksa are against each other. Tamil people are demanding to know the stand of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in respect of the contradicting stands of his Tamil and Sinhala allies. The President, who is also going to be the presidential candidate of the UPFA, needs to come open on his political solution formula for the national ethnic issue before the presidential nominations. The Tamil and the peace loving people of this country demand to know the position of the President, who is going to be the presidential candidate, on the 13th amendment. Tamil people also demand responses from Those Tamil parties and politicians who request Tamil votes for the president.We demand responses from Ministers Douglas Devananda, Arumugan Thondaman, P. Chandrasekaran, Chief Minister Chandrakanthan, Tamil leaders Anandasangari and Siddharthan. Tamil people are not going to cast their votes closing their eyes. We will vote after classifications of what is on offer as a political solution. Since the war is over now, there is no more time left for national leaders to play election politics on the political solution to the ethnic question. Clashes erupt within JVP In a dramatic change of events the struggle between the senior leaders to the JVP has erupted into a massive scale clash with party leader Somawansa Amarasinghe leaving the country in the midst of an appeal by loyalists within the party to extend his support to the decision reached by the Central Committee to promote Gen. Sarath Fonseka.Meanwhile highly placed sources reveal that Amarasinghe’s decision to refrain from attending the public meeting organized by the JVP Hyde Park Grounds on the 30th of last month was a result of the heavy criticism that he had to under-go in protesting the decision to back Fonseka.It is also reported that the party has come under heavy criticism by several key players of the Central Committee including the recently resigned central committee member, Priyanga Kotalawala that the decision to back Sarath Fonseka was not ‘prudent’ given serious division in opinion. Kotalawala's position was backed by many others.Sources further reveal that the attempt of JVP parliamentarian, Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take part in the media briefing called by Sarath Fonseka was blocked by the UNP parliamentarians who objected Dissanayake’s entry to the room.Meanwhile Dissanayake has left the place expressing his dissatisfaction over certain statements made by Fonseka.Fonseka stated that that he accepts the ‘open economy’ and that an extended time period is necessary to abolish the executive presidency. He also said that he will depend heavily on the expertise of the UNP in relation to economic affairs. Dissanayake has stated that he was instrumental in bringing Fonseka as the common candidate of the opposition but now he is finding it hard to face the grass root level members of the partly due to these contradictory statements of Fonseka.Sarath Fonseka’s entry to politics with the blessings of several UNP and JVP parliamentarians has a major inconsistency in the political agendas of the both parties, analysts observe.It is reported that parliamentarians Sunil Handunneththi and Bimal Ratnayake will soon leave the country in protest of these moves of the party. General is now with 'LTTE camp' 'Life in danger' Gen Fonseka who formally announced his candidacy against incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming presidential elections, has complained that the security provided to him by the government is inadequate. Speaking to journalists in Colombo on Monday, Minister Alahapperuma said "friends of the LTTE" and "those who spent all of their life for the LTTE" are in Gen Fonseka's camp. He told BBC's Elmo Fernando that breakaway LTTE leaders, Karuna and Pillayan who are currently with the government, have denounced violence and joined the democratic process. The minister added that apart from the last five years, much details of Gen Fonseka's career are not known to the public.Joining the press conference the Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka warned of an impending violence similar to that in 1993 during provincial council elections. "Those forces that created the series of murders and counter murders might do the same to stop development process," the minister who is also a senior leader of Buddhist monk-led Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said. All eyes on Sri Lanka presidential poll Even as all eyes in the island nation are on the January 26 presidential election, in which incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa is being confronted by the retired Army General Sarath Fonseka, the Sri Lanka Election Commission has set in motion the process for the parliamentary election scheduled to be held by April.A new gazette notification by the Commission denominated a number of seats for the Northern Province. After the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, the two provinces of north and east were temporarily merged. However, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in October 2006 ruled the merger illegal.TamilNet reported that the number of parliamentary seats for the north and east provinces in the new Parliament would be the same as at present 31. “There is no change,” according to the gazette notification issued by Commissioner-General of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake… The number of parliamentary seats allocated for the districts in north and east are Jaffna district 9, Vanni district in the north 6, and Batticaloa 5, Trincomalee 4 and Digamadulla (Ampaarai) 7 in the eastern province.A Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Rajapaksa, in the third week of October announced that the presidential and general elections would be held before April.The general election before April — preceded by the presidential election — was anticipated after the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), led by Mr. Rajapaksa, secured an absolute majority in the Southern Provincial Council elections on Sunday. Speculation Though in an interview to The Hindu (published on July 6, 7 and 8), Mr. Rajapaksa had categorically declared that he would seek re-election before the parliamentary polls, there was speculation on whether or not he would stick to his promise. The suspense ended on November 18 with the signing of a proclamation by Mr. Rajapaksa about the presidential election.Under the Constitution, the President can call the presidential election once he or she has completed four years of the six-year tenure. Mr. Rajapaksa completed four years in the third week of November. Since the presidential election is going to be held before the parliamentary election, observers believe that the outcome of the presidential race would have a major influence in defining the contours of the new Parliament. Unlike the presidential election, where the alignments are centred on Mr. Rajapaksa or Gen. (retd.) Fonseka, the general election is expected to be a totally different ball game. Wimal attacks Fonseka National Freedom Front leader and parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa yesterday described common Presidential candidate General Fonseka’s first ever press conference as one of baseless and contradictory statements.Weerawansa speaking to the media, at the party’s Battaramulla office yesterday, disputed General Fonseka’s claim that he was the common candidate and said he is a candidate of the United National Front(UNF). "He first said that he would abolish the executive Presidency and thereafter his statements were contradictory to his claim of abolishing the executive presidency", Weerawansa said.The JVP, Weerawansa said, was opposed to imperialism but indirectly embraced it by supporting the UNP’s reactionary policies. He said General Fonseka was claiming credit for defeating the LTTE but any Army Commander could have defeated the LTTE if Ranil Wickremesinghe had given firing orders to the Army instead of agreeing to a ceasefire. He said his party would urge the Government to replace the proportional representation system of election.On General Fonseka’s candidature, Weerawansa said he was the representative of foreign imperialist forces.By accepting the UNP’s economic policies and General Fonseka’s candidacy the JVP had abandoned its progressive policies, Weerawansa charged. He finally said the NFF would support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential election. JVP kicks off campaign for Presidential poll The JVP which kicked off its campaign for General Sarath Fonseka yesterday, came out with details as to what would happen if he emerges victorious at the coming presidential election stating that the Parliament would be dissolved on January 28 if the General is elected while he would be sworn in on January 27.Leaders of the party told a packed rally at Hyde Park last evening that a caretaker cabinet without a Prime Minister would be appointed as soon as General Fonseka comes to power. The party said the caretaker cabinet will comprise members of all political parties including the genuine SLFPers. JVP General Secretary Tilwin Silva said the party would go it alone at the general election and contest under its usual bell symbol. He said the general election that would be held under the caretaker government would be the first free and fair election in the country. While stating that General Fonseka would appoint the Constitutional Council and the independent commissions under the 17th Amendment of the Constitution immediately after he is sworn is as the President he said this election would be held under an independent police commission and other commissions. “This election would be different as it will be held under a president who does not belong to any political party,” he said. Mr. Silva said the JVP had supported the idea of fielding a neutral common opposition candidate to be in line with the vision of its late leader Rohana Wjeweera. He recalled that it was late Wijweera who first mooted the idea of fielding a neutral common candidate at the 1982 presidential election to challenge President J. R. Jayewardene. “We have therefore managed to maintain the original stance of out party,” he said. JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said General would be sworn in on January 27 after the results are declared while the Parliament would be dissolved on January 28. He said the implementing the 17th Amendment would be the first act performed by General Fonseka if elected. He said the rights of the minorities would also be guaranteed and the IDPs will be freed. Mr. Dissanayake said a change is necessary as the present government had failed to keep all its promises. He said President Rajapaksa promised to abolish the executive presidency without holding another presidential election but now he had gone into the extent of holding another presidential poll. Mr. Dissanayake said the ‘Mathata Thitha’ had also failed as 2.1 billion liters of liquor has been imported to the country compared to 1.3 billion liters imported in 2005. He said the’ Api Wawamu Rata Hadamu’ campaign has also failed as imports of many agricultural products have increased compared to 2005. Citing an example he said the country’s potato imports have been 43 percent of the country’s needs while 57 percent of the country’s demand for potatoes is being imported today. Fonseka’s wife says Astrologers predict good times ahead Anoma Fonseka, the wife of Gen. (Retd) Sarath Fonseka, the presidential candidate of the UNP-JVP combined opposition, yesterday said that her husband’s horoscope had been read by some leading astrologers in the country and all were of the opinion that he would have a good time ahead. "We did not have much faith in horoscope readers and soothsayers. But as our friends and relatives kept on insisting that his horoscope should be read, I gave it to them. They took his horoscope to several leading astrologers who all had said that the time ahead was good for him and there were no signs of any problem," she told The Island.Mrs Fonseka said that she had no intention of participating in her husband’s political works actively but would encourage him. Socialist Alliance fully supports President The Socialist Alliance, consisting of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Communist Party of Sri Lanka,Democratic Left Front and Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, fully supports President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election. Leaders of Socialist Alliance speaking at a seminar held in Colombo stated the need for re-electing President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the second term. Science and Technology Minister and LSSP Leader Professor Tissa Vitarana said that the Government is committed to a political solution to the ethnic problem. He said that the All Party Representatives Committee had 126 meetings with the participation of 13 parties, including nine representing Tamils and Muslims, in the initial stages. However, three parties left from the Committee, he said. The Minister added that not only two-thirds majority needed in the Parliament but also a referendum was necessary. If the Government could muster a two-thirds majority at the General Elections it would be easy for the devolution of powers to the Provincial Councils. He said under the Framework Legislation the Central Government would have powers but not interference in the provincial administrations. Prof. Vitarana stressed the need of a Finance Commission as there was no proper funding to the Provincial Councils. He said the Government hoped to introduce a Village Council system, where one would represent 100 families. He added that the Government’s intention was to create a Second Chamber consisting of 75 members in which Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims have their representation. Two committees would be formed to look after the interests of Indian origin Tamils and Muslims. Referring to the Police Commission, the Minister said that there would be only the National Police Commission that includes all provinces. He added that State land will be vested with the Central Government and the provincial land with themselves. Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka D.E.W. Gunasekera said that no party could form a government without an alliance. At present there were 15 parties in the UPFA, UNP three and TNA three. He said that there was an alliance of the UNP with other political parties called Hath Hawla in the past. D.E.W. Gunasekera said President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not bow down to western pressures. He added that thanks to China, India, Russia and other developing countries it was possible to eradicate terrorism. It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s political leadership and guidance that brought victory over terrorism. The CPSL General Secretary said that considering the objective conditions and the national, regional and international situation, the Socialist Alliance decided to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election. D.E.W. Gunasekera pointed out that J.R. Jayewardene’s 6th Amendment paved the way for terrorism in the country. Socialist Alliance’s General Secretary Raja Collure and several others addressed the seminar. Germany further eases travel advisory With the security situation in the country rapidly improving with the collapse of the LTTE in May this year, Germany has further relaxed travel restrictions imposed on German nationals visiting Sri Lanka. The German Embassy said that a long standing travel advisory had been eased enabling German tourists to visit Yala National Park and Arugam Bay. The Defence Ministry welcomed the move while urging other countries to review existing travel restrictions on foreigners imposed years ago. A senior Ministry official told The Island that the LTTE no longer posed a threat on national security. Sri Lanka’s tourism has great potential. The new German Ambassador Jens Uwe Plotner who makes the observation says that the wide diversity tourism covers in Sri Lanka range from cultural sites, sunny beaches, tea plantations to wild life and safaris. It indeed is a small universe which he says has attracted German tourists to Sri Lanka for over three decades. He was not surprised to find that the most number of tourists to Sri Lanka for several years had come from Germany. "Now is the time for Sri Lanka to exploit its vast tourism potential by assuring stable and reliable investment-conditions, investing in transport-infrastructure and upgrading existing hotels on the Island, she will be able to once again climb to the top lists of Asian holiday destinations," Ambassador Plotner told The Island. He added: The well-established label "Green Lanka" besides is very relevant for tourism. Even during their holidays European tourists are increasingly becoming sensitive to environment-protection and Sri Lanka can develop a real quality-brand!" Canada seeks help to distinguish potential Tigers
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