31 March 2010

UK Foreign Secretary highlights priority areas for Sri Lanka's future

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in a special statement on Sri Lanka yesterday (30) there are three areas of concern in relation to the island nation, which are considered priority areas for Sri Lanka. The first priority Miliband said was the renunciation of violence, as violence does not serve any community in the country. The second area highlighted by him is the human, social economics and human rights of all Sri Lankan in an equal basis. Miliband expressed concern over the level of violence experienced during and after the Presidential election period and the restrictions on media freedom in the country. He said that a healthy democracy thrives not only through the holding of elections by independent reporting of them, an independent judiciary, and an open society. The second set of rights according to the Foreign Secretary is the development of Constitutional norms and order that respects the equal rights of all Sri Lankan citizens. “This is a challenging issue in any country. But respect for minority rights is an absolutely vital part of the values essential to a civilized society,” he said. Miliband said the European Union wants to have an open and engaged trading relationship with Sri Lanka, but were forced to suspend the GSP plus concession due to the absence of key human rights conventions raised by the EU Commission. He expressed hope that in this period the Sri Lankan Government would urgently address those issues. Miliband observed that these concerns were also raised by him during his address at the meeting organized by the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) recently.

India donates cement bags to the resettled families in Northern Sri Lanka

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ashok K. Kantha, at a ceremony in Peliyagoda today handed over the 10,000 cement bags to the Secretary of Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services U.L.M.Haldeen for the benefit of the resettled civilians in Northern Sri Lanka. This is the first lot out of the 400,000 cement bags being supplied by the Indian government, a press release issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo said. The cement bags procured from Ultratech Cement Lanka Pvt. Ltd. will be supplied in lots of 10,000 bags each day for the next 40-45 days. The bags will be dispatched to various areas in North by Sri Lankan government authorities for distribution among the resettled population in the Northern Province.Each resettled family is expected to receive 8 cement bags to use for repair and renovation of their houses damaged during the war. These cement bags, along with an earlier supply of 530,000 Metal Roofing Sheets by India are meant to contribute to reconstruction of dwellings of the resettling IDPs in the new areas of their habitation, the High Commission said.The total cost of the cement consignment at 200 million rupees (US$ 1.75 million) is financed from the 12.5 billion rupees grant assistance announced by Government of India for reconstruction activities in Sri Lanka in May 2009.The High Commissioner speaking on the occasion said the Indian contribution of cement bags and roofing sheets was based on the priorities and requirements projected by the Sri Lankan government.Kantha expressing hope that the supplies would assist the resettling IDPs in rebuilding their lives said India is actively working on rehabilitation assistance directed at restoring the social, cultural, and economic infrastructure in the Northern Province.The assistance includes a proposal for reconstruction and restoration of the damaged houses, hospitals, and schools for the re-settling IDPs as well as reconstruction of the railway infrastructure for which the Government of India has already announced a line of credit of US$ 425 million. The High Commissioner added that India and Sri Lanka enjoy extremely close and cordial relationship and Indian contribution to the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Northern Sri Lanka was a manifestation of the excellent and friendly relations between the two countries.

Tamil Tiger case accused walk free   
 
Three men who admitted giving more than nine-hundred-thousand (US) dollars to Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have walked free from court in the Australian city of Melbourne.The judge ,Paul Coghlan, said he was satisfied that the three , who are members of Australia's Sri Lankan community , had not believed they were aiding terrorist-related activities but just wanted to help Tamils in Sri Lanka. The Jugge imposed suspended sentences on the men.The Tamil Tigers fought a twenty-five year war for independence until they were defeated by Sri Lankan government forces last year.

30 March 2010

Q+A-Sri Lanka's parliamentary elections

Sri Lankan voters elect a parliament on April 8 for the first time since the government defeated Tamil Tiger separatists' three-decade insurgency last year and ended one of Asia's longest-running civil wars.President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling alliance has its eyes on winning a two-thirds majority in the 225-seat legislature, giving it the votes to amend the constitution to his liking.Here are some questions and answers about what's at stake:

WHO IS TAKING PART?

A whopping 7,620 candidates representing 36 parties and 301 independent groups are vying for seats. Of that group, 196 will be elected directly to parliament, with the remaining seats filled by parties based on their total vote percentages. Parliament can be an effective check on the presidency but Rajapaksa's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is expected to retain its majority. Election monitors from the Commonwealth are expected. The European Union has not yet said if it will send monitors.

WHAT ARE THE PARTIES OFFERING VOTERS?

As at every election, all parties offer jobs, increases in government handouts and rural and agricultural development plans. They differ little in substance.

WILL RAJAPAKSA GET HIS TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY?

It's hard to say. There is no reliable polling data. Only once has any political party got more than 50 percent of the parliamentary vote since Sri Lanka adopted a proportional system of representation in 1978. Rajapaksa got 57.8 percent of the votes against challenger General Sarath Fonseka's 40.2 percent at the Jan. 26 presidential election. While that's no guarantee the UPFA will do the same at this poll, it is worth noting that his alliance is still strong.

HOW STRONG IS THE OPPOSITION?

A diverse group of parties had backed Fonseka to try to capture the anti-Rajapaksa vote, and their cohesion has evaporated since the general was arrested Feb. 8 on charges of politicking while in uniform.The two big parties behind him, the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), share only one thing now: a pledge to free Fonseka if they win a parliamentary majority. That is seen as unlikely against Rajapaksa's dominance.

WHAT, IF ANY, IS THE TAMIL INFLUENCE?

The main Tamil coalition, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), also backed Fonseka but it struggled to get its voters out. The Tamil Tigers used to dictate who was elected in areas they controlled, so the TNA this time around is going to face competition from other Tamil parties and will likely lose some of its 22 seats. Overall, analysts expect Tamil parties to get around 20 seats, roughly proportional to the size of their minority population.

HOW ARE INVESTORS LOOKING AT THE VOTE?

The Colombo Stock Exchange <.CSE> has a habit of cooling off a bit before polls as local investors wait to see what happens and then buy in afterwards. But the market has generally shrugged off political noise given that even at its loudest, it is a huge improvement on the uncertainty and volatility the war brought.The market is up 5.1 percent since the Jan. 26 polls -- part of a surge that has seen it gain 154 percent since the end of 2008, when it turned from a multi-year low on optimism the government would defeat the Tamil Tigers.After the victory in May, foreign investors began buying stocks and were net buyers in 2009, but this year, they have sold a net of 13.2 billion rupees ($115.7 million) worth of shares, suggesting they have cashed in on the surge.Market players say Sri Lankan treasury securities, particularly those of 18 months' maturity or shorter, remain in demand from foreign investors. The benchmark 91-day t-bill at auction on Tuesday had a yield of 8.52 percent. With the elections out of the way, traders say they expect demand to rise.

WHAT IS THE SCOPE FOR VIOLENCE?

Most of the violence has been intra-party as rivals vie for better position. One notable exception was a rock-throwing protest at the offices of the nation's largest private broadcaster, ostensibly over sponsorship of a concert by R&B singer Akon, who appeared in a video which offended Buddhists. However, local media have reported the involvement of a number of ruling party politicians, suggesting some payback against the broadcaster, seen as pro-opposition.

TNA says it does not uphold ‘One country, two Nations’ policy – JU Student Union

Jaffna University Student Union (JUSU) representatives held discussions individually with the candidates of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Tamil National Peoples’ Front (TNPF) contesting forthcoming parliamentary elections Tuesday in which the candidates were requested to spell out their political principles, the stand and activities they intend taking after the election, the media report released by Jaffna University Student Union (JUSU) said. The discussion was organized by JUSU representatives so that the doubts prevailing among the Tamils about the political policies of both parties could be cleared. TNA did not accept TNPF’s doctrine of ‘One country, two Nations’ but upheld the policy of ‘One Country with Two Nationalities’, the report quoted TNPF candidates. TNA, while opposing the 13th Amendment and a political solution based on a unitary form of governance, was prepared to uphold the policy of ‘One Country with Two Nationalities’, the SU report said.Though both TNA and TNPF had similar principles in the spheres of economic development they held different views on a political solution, it added.There is legal space for the policy of ‘One Country, Two Nations’ and such a system embodies sovereignty whereas a ‘Nationality’ does not include same, TNPF candidates told the student representatives.TNPF further said that sovereignty could only be attained when the Tamil Nation achieves the stage of a Nation with its own land.When the subject of Indo-Sri Lanka Pact was taken up for discussion TNA said though TNA supported the pact it does not lead to a complete political solution while adding that TNA supported only the section which called for the merging of East and North. It further said that the appendix of the pact gives priority to the regional dominance of India and its economic interests.In response to questions raised on the selection of candidates to the current parliamentary election TNA assured it would not commit similar error in the future and that action has been taken for the members not to violate party regulations.Meanwhile, All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) chief candidate told the student representatives that his party is prepared to sacrifice anything for the benefit of Tamils.Both TNPF and TNA had offered their full cooperation to JUSU in the discussion with the view to earn its support in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Tense situation erupts in Rajagiriya when police remove posters

A tense situation erupted in Rajagiriya in Colombo city periphery today as the police removed decorations of a meeting of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe. The mobs blocked the police vehicles that had been used to bring down the UNP banners and posters. Eventually, the police officers returned the removed decorations amidst protest of the activists that supported Wickremasinghe.The chaotic situation was aired in a number of evening news bulletins. Activists were seen questioning police why they had not removed all the other illegal propaganda material but the ones used in the opposition meeting of Wickremasinghe. Police say this election is the one that the highest number of in-party clashes was reported. Most of the clashes occurred among the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidates in their desperate efforts to win preferential votes. Many ruling party Ministers are risking their re-election since the UPFA nomination lists were full of strong candidates.

UK regrets Lanka arms deal

A report by the British House of Commons, released today, has concluded that that the review and subsequent revocation of nine extant licenses for exports to Sri Lanka is to be welcomed and regretted that arms were exported to Sri Lanka during ceasefire periods.The report by a select committee of members of the House of Commons, available on the House of Commons website and to be released to the British Parliament today, notes that in evidence to the Committee in January 2010, the Minister of State for the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) had said that the UK Government had been concerned about the Sri Lankan situation “for quite a long period of time”, and, as such have been “very cautious”. The report says that although the evidence and information from Sri Lanka was “very patchy”, the Minister explained that the nine licenses revoked during July and August 2009, were a consequence of the review undertaken by the UK Government, and an example of lessons learnt following consideration of the conflict situation in Sri Lanka.Mr David Hall, Deputy Head, Counter Proliferation Department, FCO, confirmed that the evidence of what has happened in the past was taken into account in the risk assessments that are made in the future, the report said.Taking into consideration all the evidence at hand the report by the British House of Commons further concludes that the UK Government should take a longer term view about unstable countries, and further appraisal is required where the peace is fragile. UK arms exports have ended up in places that Scrutiny of Arms Export Controls (2010) 7 were contrary to UK policy in the case of Israel, and in the case of Sri Lanka, arms were exported during ceasefire periods, which, in retrospect was regrettable, the report said.

Hotel Nallur to open February

The Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka PLC (MBSL) has decided to invest in the leisure sector in Jaffna, with the tourism boom there. MBSL is a premier investor in Sri Lanka. They have decided to improve infrastructure facilities in Jaffna with an investment of Rs 400 million on Hotel Nallur in Jaffna. The venture into the hotel sector by MBSL will set standards in the tourism industry and provide adequate facilities, MBSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayaka told Daily News Business. The hotel will be constructed on a considerable plot of land expected to be completed as early as possible to address the needs of influx of tourists to the Jaffna peninsula. “The intended investors on tourism infrastructure will take sometime to establish on their investments. MBSL expects to finish the construction of Hotel Nallur by February 2011,” Ratnayake said. The Hotel Nallur will be a BOI approved three star city hotel with 80 luxury, deluxe rooms and suites. It is expected to go for an Initial Public Offering in the near future. The intention of the IPO will be to invite public for the investment that MBSL has made. Hotel Nallur will create 150 job opportunities from the construction till the completion and it will be equipped with a swimming pool and vegetarian and non-vegetarian restaurants.

Varadharaja Perumal in town

Former Chief Minister of Eastern Province and member of EPRLF, Varadharaja Perumal who became a controversial figure after he unilaterally declared a state of Eelam in 1989, had arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday evening.Though a Tamil website reported that he was to go to Jaffna for election campaign, EPRLF sources said he had come to Sri Lanka to look at the situation in the country and is scheduled to participate in several seminars and workshops. He is expected to go to Jaffna in a few days time.Asked whether he is planning to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the sources said they are not aware whether such a meeting is going to take place or not. Mr. Perumal who fled to India when the North Eastern Provincial Council was dissolved after he unilaterally declared Eelam in 1989 had come several times to Sri Lanka. He was residing in Orissa earlier and then moved to Delhi.

Government plans boat service from Pooneryn to Jaffna

Sri Lankan government is taking measures to launch a boat service from Pooneryn to Jaffna peninsula across the Jaffna lagoon, for the benefit of the travelers to the peninsula.Initial reconnaissance activities have been carried out to plan the boat service.Currently travelers from Pooneryn in main land have to take the A32 and then A9 through Elephant Pass to reach Jaffna, a route that takes at least two and half hours by land.With a boat service across the lagoon the traveling time will be short and less tiresome to the travelers, especially to the public officials who need to visit the localities for official work. Initially, the boat service will start from Kalmunai Point to Jaffna town by next month. Two boats will be in service to transport the passengers. Fishermen Associations in Jaffna and Pooneryn are to assist the authorities on the project.

Sri Lankan Economy Accelerates at Fastest Pace in Five Quarters

Sri Lanka’s economy expanded at the fastest pace in five quarters as the government stepped up spending on new roads and ports after the end of a quarter- century of civil war in the country. Gross domestic product rose 6.2 percent in the three months ended Dec. 31 from a year earlier after gaining 4.2 percent in the previous quarter, the statistics department said in a statement in Colombo today. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was reelected for a six- year term in January after defeating the Tamil Tiger rebels in May, has pledged to spend $1 billion on ports, roads and power plants in 2010. Reconstruction in the $41 billion South Asian economy is boosting profit in companies including Tokyo Cement Co. Lanka Plc and Central Industries Plc. “The infrastructure investments will have a spillover effect in the economy,” Saminda Weerasinghe, research manager at Acuity Stockbrokers Pvt. in Colombo, said before the report. “It will help even faster growth in the second half of 2010.” Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Nivard Cabraal on March 18 maintained benchmark interest rates at a five-year low to boost consumer demand and drive growth to as much as 7 percent in 2010. Sri Lanka’s reverse repurchase rate is 9.75 percent and the repurchase rate is 7.5 percent.

Low Inflation

Cabraal can afford to keep borrowing costs low because of tame inflation in the country. Consumer prices in the capital, Colombo, rose 6.9 percent in February from a year earlier, almost half the average inflation rate between 2004 and 2009. Commercial bank loans rose to 1.196 trillion rupees ($10.5 billion) in January from 1.195 trillion in December, the fourth gain in five months, according to the central bank, an indicator of growing consumer spending. Low interest rates are also critical to support domestic demand as Sri Lanka’s exports may slow in the coming months after the European Union on Feb. 15 said it will suspend preferential trade benefits to the island nation because of human rights “shortcomings” during the war. Sri Lankan exports rose 6.4 percent in December to $723.4 million after a yearlong decline. Peace has prompted foreign companies, including HSBC Holdings Plc and Emirates Telecommunications Corp., to start operations in the island’s northern and eastern areas that were earlier under the control of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. HSBC Holdings, Europe’s biggest bank, in February opened the first branch by any foreign bank in Sri Lanka’s northern Jaffna peninsula.

Start Operations

Etisalat, the United Arab Emirates’ biggest phone company, started services in Jaffna on Feb. 26 after acquiring Tigo Pvt., the Sri Lankan unit of Millicom International Cellular SA, for $155 million in October. Demand for building roads and ports after the end of the war helped lift sales at Tokyo Cement by 79 percent in the three months ended Dec. 31. Sri Lanka plans to invite overseas and local companies this month to set up business in a new $550 million tax-free port zone in the island’s south. The country is also seeking foreign investments to help build a new terminal in Colombo port, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Priyath Wickrarma said March 5.

STF personnel deployed in Nuwara Eliya to control clashes during election time

Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel have been called to control the clashes that have prevailed in Sri Lanka's Central Province during the last few days.Nuwara Eliya District Secretary D.P.G. Kumarasiri has said that STF personnel have been called to control intra-party clashes as well as those between supporters of opposing candidates. The decision to deploy STF personnel in the Central Province had been arrived at a discussion between Kumarasiri, District Assistant Elections Commissioner, and Police Election Desk head, Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne.

Sri Lanka's ex-army chief could die in custody: wife

The wife of Sri Lanka's detained ex-army chief Monday accused authorities of preventing her husband from receiving vital medical treatment and said he could die in custody.Sarath Fonseka's health had deteriorated since he was held at the naval headquarters in Colombo after his arrest on February 8 and was in need of urgent medical attention, said his wife, Anoma Fonseka."I suspect that the government is insisting that he is not suffering from any ailment to deny him specialist treatment and thereby ensure his natural death in custody," she said in a statement.Anoma Fonseka said her husband needed specialised care since suffering injuries in an April 2006 suicide assassination attempt blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels, whom he eventually crushed in May last year as army chief.Following concerns raised by Sarath Fonseka's political allies, the military had denied earlier that the general's health was failing and said a medical examination had found nothing wrong."A naval doctor and another specialist examined General Fonseka on Monday morning," the military said in a statement, adding that the doctors had not noticed any health problems with the former army chief.Fonseka, who led the military to victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels last year, fell out with President Mahinda Rajapakse and unsuccessfully tried to unseat him in elections in January.He faces one set of charges that he interfered in politics before he retired from the army, and another alleging he was involved in corrupt arms deals.Fonseka denies all the charges and says they are part of a vendetta against him. A court martial hearing is scheduled to reopen on April 6 while the country's appeals court will on Tuesday hear a petition against his arrest.He is in the running for the April 8 parliamentary elections as a candidate for the Democratic National Alliance, which is backed by the main Marxist party, the People's Liberation Front, also known as the JVP.Rajapakse has been accused by political opponents and international human rights groups of suppressing dissent since his resounding re-election.Fonseka entered politics after quitting the military in November, six months after the separatist Tamil rebels were finally crushed.When he resigned from the military, Fonseka said that Rajapakse suspected him of planning a coup.Fonseka was arrested 12 days after he lost the presidential election to Rajapakse.

Chinese help to build Sri Lanka port no security threat: Indian Navy

The Indian Navy today said it did not see any security threat to the country in the Chinese involvement in building Hambantota port in southern Sri Lanka."Building the port in Sri Lanka will not hamper our security. India is too vast for that," Southern Naval Command's Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral KN Sunshil, told newsmen after the commissioning of three Fast Attack Craft at Garden Reach near Kolkata."We need not be too concerned with Chinese assistance in building the port. What is to be seen is whether the Chinese sit there even after completion of the port," he said. Media reports say that China is helping build the Hambantota strategic port with an estimated investment of $1 billion over the next few years. The port is expected to accommodate nearly 33 ships by 2020.For the time being, the Chinese were providing the technology for building the port and it would be used as a freight hubbing centre, Sushil pointed out.Sushil said after the Mumbai attack, the Centre had come out with a coastal security plan involving the Navy, the Coast Guards, the local police and even fishermen."The idea is defence in-depth. This means, formation of several layers of defence so that if one layer misses the enemy, there will be others to intercept him," he said. He said that involving the fishermen in the coastal security system was yielding results and they were now playing an important role in surveillance."We have involved the fishermen in such a manner as to make it very difficult for any vessel to pass them unnoticed," he said.Earlier, speaking at the commissioning of water jet fast attack craft (WJFAC) 'INS Kabra', 'INS Koswari,' and 'INS Karuva,' at the Rajabagan Dockyard of the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), he said these ships would help the Navy counter unconventional threats.Commissioned by Sushil's wife Letha, the three ships are the last in the series of 10 WJFAC designed by GRSE.Welcoming the guests, GRSE chairman and managing director Rear Admiral KC Sekhar said the company's ongoing modernisation programme was expected to be completed by mid-2011.

29 March 2010

US-Lanka spat over military cooperation

The United States and Sri Lanka are at loggerheads over military cooperation in the context of the US charge that the Sri Lankan army had committed war crimes in the final phase of its military operations against the LTTE in 2009.While the US army refused to accept high level Sri Lankan officers for some advanced training in US bases, the Sri Lankan army said that it would not allow US air mobile units to participate in a joint training exercise involving the Special Forces of the two countries, The Island daily reported on monday.The US, however, has had no compunction about conducting joint exercises with the Sri Lankan navy and Air Force.  Political observers here see the US stand on training the Sri Lankan army as part of the West’s pressure to make the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration bend to its demand for an investigation of war crimes charges and the establishment of a war crimes tribunal. The West believes that about 40,000 Sri Lankan Tamils were killed as a result of incessant army shelling in the last few weeks of Eelam War IV. But the Sri Lankan government denies this and says that, if any thing, its army should be credited for rescuing 280,000 Tamils from the clutches of the LTTE terrorists.Diplomatic sources told Express that they were not surprised by the US refusal to train Sri Lankan army officers in their home bases because the US generally did not believe in exposing their systems to officers from outside the Western world. But the US would be eager to participate in joint exercises in other countries to know the capabilities of those countries and the conditions prevailing there.  Meanwhile, Sri Lanka received a set back in its spat with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon when Egypt , the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), wrote to Ban acknowledging his right to appoint a panel of experts to advice him on human rights issues in Sri Lanka. NAM agreed with Ban that the appointment of such a panel would not be an infringement of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.

Court orders arrest warrant for EPDP person in abduction, homicide case in Chaavakachcheari

Chaavakachcheari Magistrate, P. J. Pirabakar, Monday directed the police to arrest Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) member Jeevan, the prime suspect in the abduction and killing of Thiruchelvam Kapilthev and ordered action to be taken to prevent the suspect leaving the country, sources in Jaffna said. One of the fellow students of the victim arrested and detained had said in his statement to police that the said Jeevan was the key person in plotting the abduction and killing of Kapilthev, the sources added. The Department of Immigration and Immigration, Customs and Airport authorities had been instructed not to permit Jeevan leave the country.Six persons have been arrested and are being interrogated in this case.Jeevan, who had been a member of EPDP for eight years has been attached to Nu’naavil EPDP camp in Thenmaraadchi.He is the right-hand man to Charles, one of the EPDP candidates contesting Jaffna electorate in the forthcoming parliamentary election and was active in organizing campaign meetings and pasting wall papers for EPDP.

Tamil Nadu rejects Nalini’s plea for release

The Tamil Nadu government Monday rejected the demand for the release of Nalini Hariharan, sentenced to life for the 1991 assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.Tamil Nadu Advocate General P.S. Raman submitted the government’s decision to the Madras High Court, citing the decision of the Prison Advisory Board that had examined the request.The board, headed by the Vellore district collector, had listed eight counts on which Nalini should not be released, including her reported refusal to apologise for Gandhi’s assassination. Raman submitted to the division bench comprising of Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and K.K. Sasihdharan that the DMK government had accepted the board’s verdict.The case was filed by Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy challenging Nalini’s right for remission. According to him, Nalini has already got one remission - the reduction of death penalty to life imprisonment.DMK MP T.K.S. Elangovan told IANS: “The government has accepted the decision of the independent board.”The Congress party, the ruling DMK’s ally, welcomed the decision to keep Nalini in prison.Congress legislature party leader D. Sudharsanam told IANS: “Our stand is that of the Tamil Nadu government’s.”Congress leaders had opposed the release of Nalini and others convicted for the killing of Gandhi at an election rally at Sriperumbudur near here. Gandhi was blown up when a young woman suicide bomber from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) detonated explosives strapped on her body while pretending to touch his feet on May 21, 1991.Nalini was seated among the audience at the rally along with another LTTE woman member. According to investigators, she was part of the “killer team” that wanted to kill Gandhi for sending the Indian Army to Sri Lanka in 1987 that ended up fighting the LTTE.Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had said the state government would consult New Delhi on Nalini’s plea that she should be released since she has spent nearly two decades in prison. Originally, Nalini was convicted on 16 counts of murder and awarded death penality. Later, at the intervention of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the slain Rajiv Gandhi’s widow, this was commuted to life imprisonment. In September last year, Nalini filed a petition in the Madras High Court asking the Tamil Nadu government to convene the advisory board to consider her case for release from jail. In her petition, she said that she was entitled for release in 2005 itself as she had completed 14 years in jail. After her arrest, Nalini had married LTTE activist known by his nom de guerre Murugan. He is also in prison for the Gandhi killing. They now have a grown up daughter.In March last year, Priyanka Vadra, daughter of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi, visited Nalini in the prison. Nalini cited the meeting while demanding her release.

Lanka rejects LeT threat

The government has rejected reports that the Pakistan based militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba was setting up operations in Sri Lanka with government Minister Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan saying there was no evidence to prove that the group was in the island.Minister Muralitharan told Daily Mirror online that the government had not received any complaints of armed groups operating in the island after the defeat of the LTTE and had no evidence of the Lashkar-Toiba cadres being present in any parts of the island. “This is not true. The Lashkar-e-Toiba was never in the island. If they were we would have received some complaints or reports,” Minister Muralitharan said.The TMVP, who is currently controlling the eastern province, also rejected reports stating that the Pakistani based militants were operating in the island. “A few months ago we read some reports that the Lashkar-e-Toiba may be in the eastern part of the island. But this is not true. There are no armed groups here,” TMVP Spokesperson Azath Maulana said.A top US military official says the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba militant group, predominately a threat to India, is fast expanding operations to other South Asian countries including Sri Lanka.According to a PTI report Admiral Robert Willard, Commander of the US Pacific Command in his testimony before the US Senate Armed Services Committee last week has said that that the group is expanding in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives."Right now our concern is the movement of Lashkar-e-Toiba, the terrorist group that emanates from Pakistan that was responsible for the Mumbai attacks in India, and specifically their positioning in Bangladesh and Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka," Willard said in response to a question from Senator George Lemieux.

Japan to assist Sri Lanka police in reconciliation efforts

A Japanese delegation including a high-ranking police official is to visit Sri Lanka today to assess how to help the Sri Lankan police to overcome ethnic differences and support reconciliation efforts.A delegation from the Japanese Foreign Ministry and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) along with a former high-ranking official from the Fukui prefectural police is to visit Sri Lanka from Monday to assess ways to provide assistance, Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun reported.The government is weighing how to help police in Sri Lanka overcome ethnic differences that are hindering reconciliation in the aftermath of a civil war that ended last year, the report said.According to the Asahi Shimbun report, retired Japanese police officers will likely be tasked with helping Sri Lanka police to create organizational structures that deal with cases fairly and create closer ties with local neighborhoods.The Japanese government in the past has provided similar assistance to police in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Young man beaten to death in Vavuniyaa

Persons connected to Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) assaulted Thangarasa Krishnagoapal Saturday night at a liquor bar in Vavuniyaa who died of excessive bleeding Sunday due to injuries in Vavuniyaa government hospital where he was admitted by persons who were at the liquor shop at the time of the incident, sources in Vavuniyaa said. The victim was attacked by EPDP member Jeyaraj and EPDP student organization members, according to the statement given to police by the Krishnagopal at the hospital before he died. Opposing interests in the matters of election campaign meeting and supporters had been the cause of the assault on Krishnagopal, sources in Vavuniyaa said.Krishnagopal who was 24 years of age on the day he died was a trader in Vavuniyaa town.

SLAF readying to set up permanent bases near LTTE airstrips

The SLAF is in the process of preparing the ground for setting up of two permanent bases at Iranamadu and Mullaitivu adjacent to LTTE runways. About 300 troops are deployed at each site in temporary facilities.An authoritative official told The Island that contrary to reports LTTE runways could not be transformed for civilian use overnight. He said that it would be a gradual and costly process. According to him, only two runways at Iranamadu and Mullaitivu could be used, though terrorists had set up seven runways, east and west of the A9 road to launch light aircraft. Responding to a query by The Island, the official said that even the airfields at Iranamadu and Mullitivu were in poor condition and could not have accommodated a large fixed wing aircraft. They could have taken a Y 12, a Chinese-built light aircraft capable of carrying 16 persons, he said.

28 March 2010

Suresh Premachandran accuses EPDP men for abduction, killing of student in Chaavakachcheari

Suresh Premachandran, former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Jaffna district parliamentarian, accused Eealm People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) men, an ally of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), for the abduction and killing of Thiruchelvam Kapilthev, a 17-year-old student of Chaavakachcheari Hindu College in a report released Sunday in Jaffna. Suresh Premachandran accused the police to have willfully ignored the statements of the three students arrested and detained in this case where the involvement of EPDP members is mentioned. Suresh Premachandran, in his report, said that the police are protecting the killers of Kapilthev in the context of the forthcoming parliamentary election.He further said that it had been found that it was EPDP men who had abducted and killed Kapilthev and accused the police for not taking prompt action to arrest them though he had been abducted two weeks ago. Suresh Premachandran called upon the police to make public the truth and to take the suspects into custody immediately, in the report.Meanwhile, Mavai Senathirajah, former TNA parliamentarian of Jaffna district had condemned the killing of Kapilthev and to arrest the killers at the earliest, Sunday.Chaavakachcheari police recovered Saturday the body of the 17-year-old student who was abducted from his house in Madaththadi in Chaavakachcheari North on 14 March for a ransom of 30 million rupees, from the backyard of a house on Dutch Road in Chaavakachcheari. The body was recovered from the plantain garden in the backyard of one of the three friends of the victim arrested and detained in Jaffna prison.

Interpol arrest warrant issued on TRO chief in Sri Lanka

The Interpol has issued an arrest warrant yesterday on the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization chief in Sri Lanka, an ITN report said.According to the report Kanakalingam Premaraj alias Reggie is alleged to be the chief of the TRO which provided funds for the LTTE to procure weapons.Investigations have revealed that Premaraj had obtained money from various businessmen while the organization was operating in Colombo. A list found in Batticaloa by the security forces, contained the names of businessmen who provided the funds, the report said.The U.S. Treasury designated the TRO as a front organization for the terrorist LTTE in November 2007 and froze all its assets. Sri Lanka froze the assets of TRO in 2006.

Brigadier 'involved' in Lasantha murder   
 
The Attorney General (AG) of Sri Lanka has informed the Supreme Court that a senior military officer was involved in the assassination of Sunday Leader Editor, Lasantha Wickramathunga.In a written submission to the court, the AG has told the courts that Brig Duminda Keppetiwalana who was arrested on suspicion on conspiring to overthrow the government, was involved in the murder and the assassination attempt on another senior journalist, Upali Tennakoon. Mr. Wickramathunga, a strong critic of Mahinda Rajapaksa administration, was killed in a busy road in the Colombo district on 08 January, last year.

Editor assaulted

Editor of Rivira Sinhala weekly, Upali Tennakoon, has left the country after he and his wife were attacked with iron rods and other weapons days later in Gampaha district. At lease 53 military personnel, serving and retired officers, were arrested by the authorities after the 26 January presidential election on charges of conspiring to overthrow the government together with main opposition candidate, Gen (retd.) Sarath Fonseka. More than 23 of them were later released by the courts; Brig Keppetiwalana is the most senior serving military officer to be arrested. Gen Fonseka is facing two court martials on charges of involving in politics while in uniform and corruption in procurements.The AG made the submission in response to the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by Brig Keppetiwalana against his continuous detention. Brig Keppetiwalana's involvement was revealed after investigations on phone records, the AG has said.The Supreme Court has granted permission to further detain Brig Keppetiwalana, under emergency regulations, until 29 April.

26 March 2010

Postal voting peaceful

Over 65 per cent of the postal voters had exercised their franchise, according to PAFFREL."It was a peaceful poll," the organization’s Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchie said.He said the attendance of Party representatives was poor and there had been no representatives at certain booths. Hettiarachchie said that a few complaints had been received and two were against propaganda work just outside a polling booth.In the districts of Badulla and Moneragala, postal voting in the Police Station had been postponed for today since President Mahinda Rajapaksa was visiting the area.

EPDP continues to obstruct political parties from campaigning in the islets of Jaffna

The election campaign activities that were planned to be carried out in the islets of Jaffna by political parties including United National Party (UNP), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and other independent groups contesting Jaffna electorate Wednesday with police protection were given up at the last minute as Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) men continue to obstruct anyone other than the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and its allies engaging in election campaign in the islets of Jaffna which is held in the complete control of Sri Lanka Navy, sources in Jaffna said. The election campaign activities in the islets on Wednesday by opposition parties had been announced in the local media Wednesday.EPDP men who hold monopoly the islets of Jaffna with the assistance of SLN had earlier attacked UNP candidates and supporters who had gone to the islets of Jaffna some days ago.It is feared that EPDP will carry out election frauds in a large scale in the islets in the forthcoming election as it seems impossible to post their agents in the polling booths in the islets of Jaffna, the political parties and independent groups sources said.

Tamils should adopt compromise policy - Chandrahasan

The term 'sole representative' is inimical to democracy and the Tamil people should shift their position from 'being alone' and adopt a policy of compromise, the founder of OFFER (NGO) and the eldest son of SJV Chelvanayagam, SC Chandrahasan said. He said Tamils could achieve a lot if they acted in a pragmatic manner. Addressing a symposium titled 'The future of Tamils and the Timely Approach' at the Ramada Hotel, Colombo, formerly the Holiday Inn, Chandrahasan said the proper time had arrived for the Tamils to solve their problems and added this opportunity should be fruitfully utilized. During the past, we achieved a lot by our policy of compromise and consensus. Steps were taken to get citizenships for nearly 29,000 Sri Lankans who are in India as refugees. Opportunity to sit for GCE (O/L) exam among the students at refugee centres too were provided. "I have been here after 26 years and was able to locate my place of birth at Thellippalai. I also clearly observed the living standard of the Tamils in other villages." "I wondered whether we could not reestablish ourselves just like Japan and Germany had after the World War II. Then Shan Shanmuganathan posed the question whether we could do anything to raise the living standard of the people. Therefore, I have joined hands with him and come forward to achieve that task," he said. Shan Shanmuganathan, who convened the conference, in his welcome speech said that Tamils should adopt a new approach and work towards their emancipation under a new vision. "We must identify the unique problems of the Tamils. We all must pool our brains together and take meaningful steps towards this.""We must have a consensual and compromising approach when dealing with the Government," Shanmuganathan said. Professor S. Chandrasekeran, several intellectuals from overseas and academics too were present at the occasion.

French Ambassador to Sri Lanka visits Jaffna

The French Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Ms. Christine Robichon, accompanied by two key officials of the embassy visited Jaffna peninsula Thursday where she first met Jaffna Government Agent (GA) K. Ganesh at Jaffna Secretariat. She later went to the French Friendship Cultural Centre (FFCC) located in Thirunelveali to observe its activities, sources in Jaffna said. Ms. Chiristine Robichon was keen in learning about normalcy of life in Jaffna peninsula, the needs and livelihoods of the resettled Vanni Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the peninsula in her discussion with the GA, Jaffna Secretariat sources said.Foreign High Commissioners to Sri Lanka have been frequently visiting Jaffna peninsula after the opening of A9 road, the sources added.The China High Commissioner to Sri Lanka visited Jaffna recently and held talks with the officials who are involved in the road development projects in process with Chinese aid.He held talks also with the high officers of Sri Lanka Army when he was in Jaffna.

Japanese envoy rejects UN offer

A top Japanese official has rejected an invitation by the UN to be part of an expert panel to advice UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon on issues related to the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, Diplomatic sources told Daily Mirror online.The diplomatic source refused to name the Japanese official but said it was a “famous Japanese” official, raising speculation it could be former Japanese peace envoy and one time UN diplomat Yasushi Akashi.UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon had earlier told reporters that his Chief of staff Vijay Nambiar and Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Dr. Palitha Kohona are working on the composition of the panel of experts which will advice him on Sri Lanka.Ban ki-moon said that he is now in the process of finalizing the panel and his envoy, Lynn Pascoe, will visit Sri Lanka in the near future to discuss the matters with the Sri Lankan government.When contacted Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Daily Mirror online that Dr. Kohona had met Nambiar on several occasions to discuss various issues and the government’s official response on the panel will be made after the terms of reference of the panel is made public

TNA must consult us on re-merger of Northern and Eastern Provinces

Q: What are the immediate concerns of Muslim people?

Muslims want a change of this government. They fear whether the Constitution will be amended fully compromising the rights of the minorities. Therefore, Muslims are for a regime change.

Q: How far have the land issues of Muslims been resolved in the Eastern Province?

Muslims have huge land issues. They do not have enough lands even in Ampara where they are the majority. Some elements within the government have denied lands for the minorities. The Muslims also fear whether there will be state sponsored colonization projects changing the demographic pattern of the district.  

Q: If you are elected as a member of the ruling party, what responsibilities do you expect?

It is an important question. If the UNP wins, we will put pressure on the head of the state to address the issues of the minorities.  I will work in this regard.  

Q:How do you propose to build up inter-racial harmony, particularly in the eastern Province?

After the war, the understanding between Tamils and Muslims is developing. However, there is still suspicion and mistrust among the communities. We will take time to resolve such matters.

Q:What are your views on the TNA’s proposal to remerge the Northern and Eastern provinces into one?

The TNA has announced such a policy on their own. They never consulted us in this regard. They have to negotiate with us. We are the two main minority communities living in this country. 

Q:What is the model of the political solution you expect for Muslims?

Whatever is given to the Tamils should be given to the Muslims. There should be equal status for all. This country belongs  to all of us.

Q: The government did not give the Chief Minister post of the Eastern Provincial Council to a Muslim. What are your views?

It is true. A political game was played between Hizbullah and Pillayan. The government told Hizbullah that he would be given the post if he could get a greater number of Muslins elected to the Council than Tamils. At the same time, Pillayan was promised that he would be given the post if he could get the highest number of votes. Two different deals were struck. Later, Pillayan was appointed the Chief Minister.

Q:How has  the political landscape evolved after the end of war in the East?

There is poverty in Batticaloa. It is clearly visible when you go into the interior areas.

Meaningful implementation of 13th Amendment is enough for the moment

Q:What are the immediate concerns of the  Muslim people?

Generally, the situation is favourable in the East after the LTTE was crushed. Now all the areas need economic development. That is common to all the communities in the province. Other than that, there are no major concerns as such.

Q:How far have the land issues of Muslims been resolved in the Eastern Province?

All the land issues in the Batticaloa district have been sorted out. There are some problems in Potuvil. I hope they too will be settled shortly. However, there is not a single land problem in Batticaloa.  All were settled with the help of the Chief Minister and other area politicians, and community leaders.

Q:If you are elected as a member of the ruling party, what responsibilities do you expect?

My electoral district is Batticaloa which needs to be developed. We have to improve the basic infrastructures. There are around 100 villages which do not have electricity facilities. If I am elected, I will attend to these problems with the assistance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Besides, I will look into problems faced by Muslims in areas outside Batticaloa.

Q: How do you propose to build up inter-racial harmony, particularly in the eastern Province?

There is a very good relationship now between the two communities in Batticaloa. After 1997, we now do politics in a totally different atmosphere. We have access to all the areas to canvass. I am a Muslim politician. Yet, I am supported by Batticaloa Mayor Sivageetha Prabhakaran and former politician Rajan Mailawaganam. They are Tamils.  Besides, there are a whole lot of community leaders such as school principals supporting me.  There is one Sinhala village called Mangalagama in Batticaloa. I also go there. Communal harmony now exists.

Q:What are your views on the TNA’s proposal to remerge the Northern and Eastern provinces into one?

I do not know whether any community will like this proposal. I cannot give a straightforward answer to this question. It has to be discussed. However, I believe there should be a political solution to this problem.

Q:What is the model of the political solution you expect for Muslims?

Now, the provincial council system is there. It has to be strengthened with the meaningful implementation of the 13th Amendment. That is what is needed at the moment.

Aren’t you for a federal solution?

 At the moment, the meaningful implementation of the 13th Amendment will do.

Q:You aspired to be the Chief Minister of the Eastern province. But, you were not given that chance. In such a context, why do you still support this government?

It was sorted out. I was given a powerful ministerial portfolio in the council. I have no heartburn. If I am given responsibilities in the central government, I will do more work.

Q:How have the political landscape evolved after the end of war in the East?

People are happy. Now their areas have to be developed economically.

SRI LANKA: Former rebel capital struggles with returnee influx

The northern Sri Lankan town of Kilinochchi – former capital of the defeated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) – is struggling to address the needs of thousands of returnees. According to Sri Lankan military officials, more than 24,000 people or close to 30 percent of the town’s original population have returned since December – many of whom are living in tents. Aid agencies pulled out of the town in September 2008 as the decades-long conflict intensified. The Sri Lankan Army successfully captured the political headquarters of the LTTE in Kilinochchi in January 2009. “This was an unparalleled victory," President Mahinda Rajapakse said at the time. "Kilinochchi was the capital of a state dreamt of by a terrorist organization. It will no longer be available to them. We should pay the gratitude of the whole nation to those heroic soldiers who achieved that victory." But 10 months since the government declared final victory over the LTTE in May 2009, Kilinochchi is grappling with an influx of returnees. Before 2008, more than 90,000 people lived in the town, accessible through the strategic A-9 highway than runs between Kandy and Jaffna. According to military officials from the Sri Lankan 57th Division, the town was completely evacuated during the Kilinochchi offensive, while much of the infrastructure - including schools, hospitals, water and electricity supplies - was badly damaged or destroyed, with nearly 80 percent of all homes affected. The Tigers destroyed the town when they were retreating,” a senior military official claimed. Thousands of residents fled the city en masse in the conflict’s final days, only to find themselves in displaced people’s camps in the town of Vavuniya or elsewhere.

Repairing the damage

But since the government decision to allow residents to return to their places of origin, ensuring quality returns over quantity is also proving a major challenge. “Lack of proper housing and water facilities is a major problem,” one local aid worker in Kilinochchi, who asked not to be identified, told IRIN. Many homes were damaged, leaving occupants particularly vulnerable to the southwest monsoon rains, which begin in June and run to October. “Our makeshift houses lack proper roofs,” Kumari Devarasa, a housewife who resettled last month, told IRIN. “The houses lack basic toilet, water and electricity facilities. It’s a very hard life.” Residents say the government has provided assistance, including wood, to build and repair their homes, while others continue to live in tents provided by NGOs or have covered their shelters with tarpaulins. Others still complain about access to health and education.

Livelihood concerns

“We don’t have proper jobs,” Nalini Jabesan. “We live from random amounts/stipends that the government gives us and doing odd jobs.” David Sivasundaram, a shop owner who resettled last month, described life as “a daily struggle”. “I don’t think the government has enough money to help us on a large scale,” he said, repairing the war damage to his shop. “Where can they find money?” “I have many complaints, but right now I don’t want to say this is somebody’s fault. Whatever the situation is, we have to fight ourselves for a better life,” another returnee said. UN aid agencies are gearing up to assist the government in the resettlement process, including food, emergency education, shelter, health and access to safe drinking water. According to the UN, more than 185,000 have returned to their homes or are staying with host families since the return process began, while some 93,000 continue to live in camps, the vast majority in and around the town of Vavuniya, northern province.

25 March 2010

Selection of expert panel on Lanka underway: Ban

UN chief Ban Ki-moon today said that process is underway of finding experts for an advisory panel that will probe allegations of human rights violations in Sri Lanka.Responding to a journalist's questions on a "delay" in setting up this panel, Ban said, "I am in the process of identifying persons who can work in the panel of experts.""My Chef de Cabinet (Vijay Nambiar) has been meeting with Sri Lankan ambassador and I'm in the process of making a move on this."Colombo had raised objections to the formation of the advisory panel which would look into the alleged human right violations by Lankan armed forces.

Postal voting for Sri Lanka parliamentary elections begins today

Postal voting for the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka commenced today and will continue through tomorrow.The Elections Secretariat has taken measures for 415,432 eligible voters to cast their votes at the respective working places these two days. The voters will be casting the votes at nearly 15,000 island wide centers.According to the election officials, the number of postal voters has increased by 14,414. Only 401,018 were eligible for postal voting at the Presidential election in January.The Election Commissioner Dayananda Dishanayake has requested the certifying officers to ensure that the voters can cast their votes securely as there were allegations during the presidential elections that some supervisors were able to see their employees' ballots.The Commissioner has also pointed out that it is illegal to display banners, cut outs, posters or any other displays of any political party at the postal voting centers. Meanwhile, distribution of general polling cards has already started throughout the country. The postal services have set Sunday March 28 as a special delivery date.

Ten schools closed in Pottuvil

The abuse of state resources has reached alarming proportions with ten schools in the Pottuvil electorate school closed on Tuesday to the UPFA in the Digamadulla district. Minister Athaullah had addressed teachers and non‐academic workers of these schools. The election meetings had been conducted by him in the guise of having education seminars for teachers.The schools closed are Potuvil Central College, Al Ilshan Vidyalaya, Al Ashraff Vidyalaya, Al Bahuja Vidyalaya, Al Vidya Vidyalaya, Al Munawara Vidyalaya, Al Aksha Vidyalaya, Al Meena Vidyalaya, Al Apyan Vidyalaya, Al Salam Vidyalaya, Al Mazmiya Vidyalaya, Al Hihra Vidyalaya and Darus‐ Salam Vidyalaya.Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Candidate Wasantha Piyatissa had complained to the Elections Commissioner in this regard in writing on the same day. According to him, teachers belonging to 15 schools of the Education Zone of Akkaraipattu had participated in these meetings suspending the academic activities of their respective schools.Asked for comments in this regard, Assistant Elections Commissioner of Digamadulla, Bandara Mapa confirmed that ten schools were closed for such political purposes despite it being a violation of election law.“However, it was too late when we received the complaint. Otherwise, we could have prevented him from proceeding with those meetings. We have informed the Provincial Education Director and the Zonal Education Directors in the district. This is unlawful,” he said Mr. Mapa said that he would request the authorities concerned to enforce a pay cut for these teachers for the day had they participated in this meeting without obtaining duly approved leave.Meanwhile, academic activities at a number of schools in the Anuradhapura district were also disrupted yesterday due to UPFA campaign meetings conducted for teachers and principals, said the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU).“The term tests are being conducted at most of the schools these days. But zonal and provincial education officials have asked the teachers and principals to attend these campaign meetings,” said CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin. The teachers had been requested to gather at the Provincial Education office by 8.30 a.m., yesterday,” he said.He said that some of the teachers had attended these meetings while being on‐duty and the others on leave for the day.According to him, the schools affected are Walisinghe Harischandra Maha Vidyalaya (56 teachers), Nivathakachethiya Maha Vidyalaya (48 teachers), D. S. Senanayake College (16 teachers) and St. Joseph’s College (28 teachers). Mr. Stalin pointed out that the Education Ministry has instructed the schools to conduct 1st term examinations within school levels.“But neither the Ministry nor has any of the provincial education authorities monitored or assessed on how these schools conduct the examinations,” he said adding that as a result, some of the schools have opted to have the tests while the others have conveniently ignored it. He said that these were the repercussions of the politicization the education sector.However, Director of Planning of the Anuradhapura Education Zone Athul Samadu said that he was not aware of such activities and that the academic procedures of the schools are continuing as usual.However Eastern Provincial Council Minister and a close associate of A.L.M Athaulla said that these were not election campaign meetings but School Development Committee meetings.“Many schools in Pottuvil have no proper facilities and these were the issues discussed at these meetings,” he said.

If the Tsunami fraud decision is wrong, President Rajapaksha should be in jail today –former CJ   
 
Former Chief justice Sarath N Silva when delivering a special discourse on ‘ law, Democracy and country’s future’ at the Jayawardena center said ‘ if the Govt.’s media is now alleging that all my judicial decisions I delivered were wrong during the time when I was the Chief Justice , then my judgment on the Tsunami fraud freeing Rajapakse is also wrong.Justice must be fair to all , and everyone must submit to justice, he pointed out .I dispensed justice even to President Rajapakse who disrespects laws. Now , the Govt. may tell all kinds of things and malign me. In 2005 on the Tsunami fraud allegation against Mahinda Rajapakse, on the complaint made by the UNP , he was to be remanded. He then filed a fundamental rights application. It is I who heard the case. At that time I said there was no clear complaint in that connection. The complaint was made by UNP Kegalle District M P. The latter had no relation to the Tsunami funds. But he produced details of a Rs. 70 million fraud. It was apparent to us that this complaint was not based on facts but politically motivated . If we had not taken such a decision , the President would have been in the same position and place where Gen. Fonseka is in, today.. If the President had been remanded on the Tsunami fraud allegations , he would never have been able to contest elections. The Govt. media is today charging that all my decisions were wrong. If that is so , even my decision in favor of the President is wrong , and he is a fraudster.In 2008 , a case was filed in the Supreme Court over the fuel price issue . This was regarding an agreement made by the CPC officials with the Banks relating to fuel price hikes. Under this agreement , if the fuel price rises , that Bank had to pay at the rate of US dollar two per barrel up to a certain limit for three months. On the contrary , if the price drops , we were bound to pay that amount to the Banks. Even a child will not enter into such an unfavorable agreement detrimental to us. Thereafter , the fuel prices plummeted deeply. Yet the CPC continued to pay at the rate of US dollars 140/- per barrel as per the agreement.  I am also compelled to expose these things because of the emergence of various matters. At that time , the President spoke to me on the phone and pleaded with me to find a solution as to how we can escape from this problem. This has become a serious controversy and a pain in the neck, he added. I told him , if a case is filed I will look after it , but it is his duty to see that the officials who the architects of the problem are punished and expelled . A case was filed from the side of the public. We took a decision that making payments to these Banks are illegal. Likewise , we gave an order to reduce the fuel prices . But when the Govt. did not respect the laws and the Court order at that time , the plaintiff wanted to withdraw the case , in which event , we also withdrew our earlier order which declared paying the Banks is illegal . These Banks have now filed action in the International Court . Very soon we will have to pay at least US $ 500 million . Out of whose money is the Govt. going to make this colossal payment ? the former CJ asked.

S.Lanka stocks at over 5-wk low; foreigners exit

Sri Lanka's shares fell on Wednesday for an eighth straight session to an over five-week low, led by local retail selling and a large sale of blue chips by foreign investors ahead of parliamentary polls.The All-Share Price Index .CSE of the Colombo Stock Exchange closed 0.21 percent or 7.95 points weaker at 3,722.72, its lowest since Feb. 16. It had hit a record high on March 15.Foreigners were net sellers of 595 million rupees worth shares, data showed. They have been net sellers in 42 out of the 54 trading sessions so far this year, selling a net of over 8 billion rupees worth shares."There is no buying side support these days and investors who don't have the holding power for a few days are selling their stakes," said Jaliya Wijeratne, institutional sales director at SMB Securities."Foreigners dominated the market today and retailers were not active, though local investors are still confident of the market picking up despite elections next month."Foreign investors, who had been net buyers since 2001, turned net sellers in 2009, selling 785.3 million rupees worth of shares to cash in on a boom after the end of a 25-year war which made Sri Lanka's bourse one of the world's best performers.However, some analysts say the numbers were distorted due to the gradual exit of a U.S.-based hedge fund after its Sri Lankan-born founder was charged in an insider dealing case.Analysts say concerns over economic stability amid an eight-year high budget deficit in 2009 and a delay of the third tranche of a $2.6 billion loan by the International Monetary Fund may be prompting overseas investors to leave The IMF last week said it would disburse its delayed tranche if Sri Lanka lays out concrete plans for fiscal consolidation in its budget after elections. Some analysts said investors are concerned over pre-poll violence as election monitors have complained of increasing intra-party violence.Sri Lanka holds parliamentary polls on April 8. For Sri Lanka's key political risks, The day's turnover was 1.9 billion rupees ($16.5 million), more than thrice of the 2009 daily average of 593.6 million rupees, mainly due to high foreign selling.The bourse is up 10 percent so far this year, following a 125 percent rally in 2009, one of the best performers in Asia. Top mobile operator Dialog Telekom DIAL.CM closed 3.4 percent weaker at 7 rupees.The benchmark 91-day treasury bill yield hit an over four-month high of 8.45 percent on Wednesday at a weekly auction and it has risen 1.3 percentage points since Dec. 2.The rupee LKR= closed flat at 114.05/08 per dollar, as importer demand for dollars offset exporter selling of greenback, dealers said.The interbank lending rate or call money rate CLIBOR, rose to 9.227 percent from Tuesday's 9.118 percent.

Government denies paying British MP's trips
 
A senior Sri Lankan Minister has denied allegations of paying British Parliamentarians travel and hospitality expenses to visit Sri Lanka. Speaking to journalists in Colombo on Wednesday Minister Maithripala Sirisena said “we totally deny these allegations of spending government funds to sponsor these visits”. He dismissed allegations of government spending as mere rumours.

British investigation

A BBC investigation into the parliamentary rules by MPs has found out that Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox has broke the rules on two occasions, having visited Sri Lanka five times in the past three years courtesy of its government. Liam Fox, MP, has failed to declare the hospitality when asking ministers how much UK aid had been given to Sri Lanka.A BBC investigation looked into which members had registered trips and declared those paid for by foreign governments.

'Must register' the visits

Under British Parliamentary rules, MPs must register such foreign visits within four weeks and must declare a financial interest when tabling questions, motions or bills and when speaking out in the commons.Dr Fox has visited Sri Lanka in November 2007, on a trip paid for by the Sri Lankan government, but did not register it until February 2008 - outside of the four-week requirement. Also, the BBC found that Dr Fox visited Sri Lanka four times between 2008-2009 - all paid for by the Sri Lankan government.On April 30, 2008, he tabled a question about aid for Sri Lanka but did not declare an interest. Dr Fox said: "I have been involved in attempts to promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, since I was a Foreign Office Minister in 1997.During my most recent visit I spoke at a press conference to outline my reasons for being there.” He says his visit in November 2007 was highlighted in the end of the year audit report.He added: "All visits have been fully declared on the House of Commons Register of Members' Interests and are therefore public knowledge and entirely legitimate. I do however recognise that when asking one question in 2008, I should have noted an interest and the Registrar has been informed of this.” Labour party MP Andrew Love, who visited Sri Lanka in April 2006 and March 2008 courtesy of its government, has asked questions in the parliament related to Sri Lanka, without declaring an interest. BBC investigation also found out that On 24 May 2006, Mr Love tabled a debate about Sri Lanka without declaring any interest, although he did mention a recent visit. Mr Love told the BBC that while he may not have met "the letter of the requirements of the code of conduct, I did more than meet the spirit of the code in terms of acting on all occasions in accordance with the public trust placed in me as an elected representative".

Demining Sri Lanka's north nearing completion

The demining process in the war-battered northern region is nearing completion, the military spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe said today. The Military Spokesman said demining process is being accelerated to facilitate the speedy resettlement of the internally displaced persons. The spokesman said in recent times 480 civilians have been injured due to landmine explosions. Seven NGO's are participating in the demining process and over 1000 Army engineers are deployed in the demining operation. Both sides of the A9, B69, B35 routes in Mullaitivu and Mannar districts, Kokavil, Kilinochchi, and Muhamalai to Paranthan have been cleared, Major General Samarasinghe said. According to Major General Samarasinghe already 183,219 IDPs have been resettled in their own villages after their land was cleared of landmines. Another 84,700 are to be resettled as soon as the demining is complete. Some 29,000 IDPs have gone out with permission and 54,000 remain in the camps. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army will built 680 new houses for IDP families in Jaffna peninsula and 437 housing units covering 224 square feet of floor area have already been completed. The finished houses will be handed over to the families in April. The remainder will be completed in the next 2 - 3 months, the Military Spokesman said.

Permanent military occupation of the North and East By Sujeewa Amaranath

In an official gazette notification earlier this month, President Mahinda Rajapakse declared that the extensive network of army camps established during the war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will be made permanent. This indefinite military occupation of the northern and eastern provinces is aimed at the forcible suppression of the basic democratic rights not only of Tamils but of all working people.The number of army camps in these two provinces, which have a population of about 3 million, has increased to 147. Two of the LTTE’s former strongholds—Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu—will become security force headquarters and permanent forward maintenance areas. Apart from the new military camps, at least a dozen new police stations will be established in the northern Wanni area captured from the LTTE.Rajapakse claimed that his renewed war against the LTTE from mid-2006 was to “liberate” the Tamil people from the “clutches of terrorism”. The defeat of the LTTE last May has only brought a further trampling on democratic rights throughout the island. In the North and East, the permanent presence of the army means not just military camps but roadblocks, checkpoints and patrols and the systematic surveillance, harassment and intimidation of the local Tamil population.Most of the population of former LTTE-held territories in the Wanni fled as the Sri Lankan army advanced. Towns and villages were devastated by the indiscriminate use of artillery and aerial bombardment. In the final months of fighting, more than a quarter of a million civilians were trapped in a small pocket of LTTE territory. A UN estimate puts the civilian death toll as more than 7,000 for the period from January to May 2009.After the collapse of the LTTE resistance, the army herded 280,000 men, women and children into military-run “welfare villages” surrounded by barbed wire and heavily armed soldiers and operated as prison camps. About 95,000 people are still being held in these detention centres. Those who have been allowed to return to their devastated towns and villages are subject to police restrictions and have been given little aid.As well as acquiring land for the new army camps, the government is planning to establish large high security zones (HSZ) around important installations such as the new headquarters in Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu. Such areas are out of bounds for civilians and have previously resulted in the forced displacement of residents.After the LTTE’s defeat in eastern province, the army established a HSZ in the Sampur area and prevented thousands of people from returning to their homes, farms and businesses. The government later declared a portion of the Sampur HSZ to be a Special Economic Zone, offering military protection to investors. In the northern Jaffna Peninsula, 15 high security zones have been established since the 1990s, covering 160 square kilometres or 18 percent of the peninsula’s land mass. Around 130,000 people have been unable to return to their homes as a result.The government is currently detaining thousands of young Tamils without trial as “LTTE suspects” at unknown locations. Now it has announced plans to use these detainees as a cheap labour force under a program initiated by Justice Minister Milinda Moragoda to “rehabilitate” alleged LTTE cadres.The Island reported on March 13 that more than 10,000 LTTE suspects will be “settled” in various prison labour camps including in the districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Jaffna. One of the army’s “welfare villages”—Zone 5 of the huge Manik Farm camp near Vavuniya—will also be used.According to the Justice Ministry, the spouses and children of LTTE cadres will be free to move in and out of the camps, but the detainees will be subject to strict security measures to ensure the “smooth functioning of the facilities.”The government has already announced the establishment of a dairy farm at Suriyawewa near Trincomalee, involving about 500 former “LTTE cadres.” Ceylon Cold Stores, a large company manufacturing beverages and milk products, will invest in the project, but the army will be in charge.The Island reported: “One of the most important aspects of the government initiative is to set up agricultural/livestock farms at Kandalkadu, Thrikonamadu which would be vested with the Sri Lanka army and air force. There would be six separate farms with each capable of accommodating 500 ex-LTTE combatants each, sources said, adding that about 11,000 acres would be allocated for this project.”The involvement of the army and air force in these projects points to the further militarisation of all aspects of life in Sri Lanka, including the economy. Far from there being any demobilisation, the country’s huge military—one of the largest per capita in the world—is being kept in place and entrenched as a permanent feature, particularly in the North and East.The government has also maintained all of the police state measures built up over a quarter century of war, including the state of emergency that gives the president extensive powers to detain people without trial, censor the media and ban industrial action. This apparatus is being kept in place not just to suppress the country’s Tamil minority but the working class as the Rajapakse government prepares to impose far-reaching austerity measures after the April 8 parliamentary election.

Confederation of nations, manifesto option of TNPF

The election manifesto of the Tamil National Peoples' Front (TNPF) comes out with an option for confederation of Tamil and Sinhala nations in the island, said former MP Selvarajah Kajendren to Tamil media on Wednesday. While stressing on Tamil homeland, nationalism, self-determination and nation of identifiable sovereignty as political aspirations, the other distinguishing features of the election manifesto of the TNPF were demand to repeal the 6th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, inclusion of the diaspora in the political processes of Eezham Tamils and an outlook to involve the international community in providing security and support to the political struggle of Tamils. The All Ceylon Tamil Congress led by Mr. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, which came out of the TNA alliance recently is the major constituent of TNPF. "In fact, the ball is in the court of Colombo and the powers backing it. It is they who have to come out with an acceptable model of political solution. Tamils on their own need not compromise their political aspirations, because every time Tamils compromised, that was misused by Sinhala politicians. The confederation model is only an option of ours, if at all we are hard pressed to come out with an option," said the former Member of Parliament Mr. S. Kajendren.By opting for the political model of confederation with the right to secede, the TNPF comes out with the maximum possible proposal permitted for any political party in the island under the current constitution of Sri Lanka, political observers said. The TNPF simultaneously demanding to repeal the 6th Amendment to the Constitution that has long disenfranchised Tamils from democratically expressing their aspirations is also significant, the observers said.Unlike the vague mention of shared sovereignty blunted by simultaneous mention of unspecified federalism, the confederation model unambiguously spells out how the solution should be based on joint sovereignty of nations that retain their respective sovereignties, TNPF circles told media.“After May 2009, diaspora Tamil community came out with programmes such as referendum on independent and sovereign Tamil Eelam, Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam and Country Councils in the diaspora.”“But, on the other hand, some sections of political leadership in the home country think of abandoning homeland, nation, self-determination and sovereignty and think of going back to the days prior to the Vaddukkoaddai Resolution. They push Tamils into the track of defeatism and criticize those who uphold the sovereignty of Tamils as hardliners,” the manifesto said.In the past, every Tamil compromise was misused by the Sinhala state of Mahavamsa mindset. While keeping Tamil nation, its right to self-determination and sovereignty beyond compromise, the model suggested by TNPF to keep the country of two nations together as equal partners, provides a meeting point for the removal of the fears of both the Tamils and the Sinhalese. The model also should satisfy removing the fears of India about having two countries at its southern borders and at the same time should satisfy the liberal democratic economic aspirations of the West, the manifesto further said.In the era of corporate colonial conquests, the Eezham Tamil diaspora forming an appropriate political formation and its co-function with the polity of Eezham Tamils in the home country is the greatest asset of Eezham Tamils in addressing the issues globally. The only political alliance that has positively recognised and incorporated this aspect in the manifesto is the TNPF, political observers said. The observers keenly watching the statements of the TNA leaders before and after the release of the TNA manifesto said that the All Ceylon Tamil Congress leaving the TNA alliance had a big impact on TNA coming out with certain concepts having the semblance of Tamil sovereignty in its manifesto to pre-empt the TNPF, but the TNA doesn’t show any seriousness about them in its campaign elucidations. Even though ordinary people don’t get the nuances of political concepts and models of solution through terminologies, they understand them and the political personalities behind them in their gut feelings, the observers further said.

Sri Lanka opposition leader celebrates his birthday with religious activities

Sri Lanka's main opposition United national party leader Ranil Wickremasinghe celebrated his 61st birthday yesterday (24) with a host of religious and social activities.The party and civil organizations loyal to the party have organized several religious ceremonies to invoke blessings on the UNP leader.A blood donation campaign was held yesterday at the UNP headquarters, Siri Kotha to mark the occasion while a health service campaign and special health camps were also conducted, the party anounced. Later in the day a special documentary film on Wickremasinghe's life and political career was telecasted on several private TV channels.The UNP also launched its official website on economic policy yesterday to create a public platform to discuss the economic issues and present the facts to the public.Economist and UNP National List nominee at the forthcoming Parliamentary election, Dr. Harsha de Silva said that all stakeholders should take part in this discussion, to solve the current economic crisis faced by the country.Dr. de Silva told the Island newspaper that the government, as it has been doing for the last four and a half years, was bluffing the masses, while diverting funds from the private sector for election propaganda and other ego boosting white elephants such as Mihin Lanka.Quoting government statistics Dr. Harsha de Silva pointed out that the commercial debt stock of Sri Lanka had increased by 150 percent during the last year. He said the opposition will select facts on a daily basis and present them to the government for viewing.

Rights group: Sri Lanka journalist still missing

A media rights group appealed on Wednesday to Sri Lanka's president to reveal the results of a police investigation into the disappearance of a pro-opposition journalist.Reporters Without Borders said police had "shown no interest" in finding Prageeth Ekneligoda alive, while "government ministers have made contradictory statements that have spread confusion about the circumstances of his disappearance" two months ago.The Paris-based rights group asked President Mahinda Rajapaksa to order the release of the results of the investigation into the whereabouts of Ekneligoda, who backed opposition candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka in January's presidential election.Police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody told The Associated Press that police investigations were still continuing.The journalist, a political columnist and cartoonist with Lankaenews.com, is believed to have been abducted while on his way home from work.The Web site has said that Ekneligoda's critical comments about Rajapaksa may have been the reason for his alleged abduction. Some government officials have claimed the journalist staged his disappearance to embarrass the government before the Jan 26 election.Media rights groups say Sri Lanka is among the most dangerous places for journalists. Amnesty International says at least 14 Sri Lankan media workers have been killed since the beginning of 2006.

24 March 2010

The validity of New Delhi's latest message to Colombo through Rao By Satheesan Kumaaran
 
The Indian central government's message to Colombo is coming out from behind closed-door meetings as well as direct telephone calls, by the leaders of both countries. Indian policy advisers are engaged in deeply heated arguments, which are also taking place behind closed-doors, due to the Chinese influence in India's backyard in the south. The Indians now realise that much water has flown under the bridge between China and Sri Lanka. They do not know what had transpired between Rajapaksa and China. All the connected headaches to New Delhi after Eelam War IV, declared by the Sri Lankan State in 2006 is not because of Rajapaksa's diplomatic acumen, but because he was prepared to accept any and all offers of favour to defeat the Tamil resistance. In this process China got the upper hand. It is now too late for India. In viewing New Delhi's recent activities in Sri Lanka, it is clear that there is evidence of paranoia. Recent activities in Sri Lanka, especially in view of India offering aid to develop Eelam, and the recent visit by the Indian Foreign Secretary, Nirupama Rao, who arrived in Colombo, on March 6, for a three-day visit, are for nothing but to counter China. New Delhi hand-picked Nirupama Rao, because she had served as the High Commissioner for India, in Colombo, from 2004 - 2006. Rao, she would be recalled during her tenure, was wooing the Sinhala nationalists, but to no avail. The current period is critical to Sri Lanka. On becoming president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, started the war against, not only the LTTE, but also, against the Eelam Tamils. Further, this is the first visit of Ms. Rao, to Sri Lanka, since she took charge as India's Foreign Secretary on the first of August, 2009. It is the first visit of any Indian official of her status, since the re-election of Mr. Rajapaksa, on January 26th. During Nirupama Rao's stay, she met with the leaders of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the principal Tamil party, the Eastern Chief Minister, Pillaiyan, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and several other high-ranking ministers, along with some other politicians. She also visited Kandy, in Central Sri Lanka, to inaugurate the English Language Training Center, in Peradeniya, which has been established with the support of New Delhi. She was given odd jobs to be kept occupied, because her visit was regarded as a nuisance at this juncture, while Sri Lanka forged ahead with their alliance with China. Whenever she broached the subject of political settlement of the Tamils, it was pre-empted by another offer of a contract, not important to the Chinese. China, with its horrendous human rights record, and its treatment of the Tibetans and Uigurs, in the west, is not interested in the welfare of the Tamils, or the Sinhalese. They are more worried about their own geopolitical interests, in the Indian Ocean, to advance its trade. Indians are ruthless traders. It is a case of an Indian meeting a Chinese, like the Greek meeting another Greek. While giving support to Rajapaksa, Sri Lankan authorities have also gotten wind of India which had also, in its own characteristic manner, given support to his now imprisoned rival, Fonseka. This is not surprising at all. While speaking to an audience in Peradeniya, Rao referred to India and Sri Lanka as "sister countries," which shared a "model, unique, and time-tested" relationship. Speaking of the high human development indicators, in Sri Lanka, she felt that there was much for India to learn from Sri Lanka and stated that, in this sense, the relationship between India and Sri Lanka was one of "give and take". It is clearly evident that the remarks made by Rao, stating that India is no longer a regional superpower, but it was bowing it's head to Sri Lanka, which is a tiny island in the southern tip of India, in the strategic Indian Ocean, just for the sake of pleasing Sri Lanka, so that New Delhi would feel that Sri Lanka would seek New Delhi's support in dealing with the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. This has come down from a position when India could have taken over Sri Lanka over the telephone. It is said that Indira Ghandhi, in the early 1980s, had offered the then TULF leader, Amirthalingam, a separate Tamil State, which Amirthalingam declined because, it is believed, he wanted to enjoy his perks as part of the Sri Lankan State, and not be forgiven by the LTTE.

Rao conveyed New Delhi's congratulations to Rajapaksa

Rao met Rajapaksa over lunch, at Janadhipathi Mandiraya (the president's house), on March 7, just hours after she inaugurated the English Language Training Center, in Peradeniya. She conveyed New Delhi's congratulations to Mahinda Rajapaksa, who acknowledged her lukewarmly, for his resounding victory, in the January 26 presidential polls. With the knowledge of the de-mining contract given to the Chinese, she assured Rajapaksa that New Delhi was willing to continue assisting Sri Lanka in the resettlement of the IDP's. She further told him: "India was keen to assist in the complete restoration of the railway line in the North. Among other matters of mutual interest discussed were that of the problems faced by the fishermen from both countries, the proposed coal powered power project in Trincomalee, and the necessity for understanding between India and Sri Lanka on the protection of the environment and the eco-systems." Later, upon meeting the press, she cited the current political developments, in Sri Lanka. She said that the presence of more than 1,000 candidates, for the upcoming general election, and the Northern and Eastern Provinces, alone, showed the enthusiasm of the people for the democratic process, and all that change had taken place with the restoration of peace. "There is a great sense of hope and optimism in the air (only in the air) wherever I have been to...the participation of more than 3,000 pilgrims from India at the recent feast at the shrine of St, Anthony, in Kachchatheevu, was a further indication of the good interaction between the Sri Lankan and Indian people," she said. In Jaffna, sources said that New Delhi could make statements that both sides of the people participated in great numbers as a strategic method. This is just for photo opportunity, because over 3000 Tamils from India took part in the festival, in Kachchatheevu, but only a few hundred people participated in the festival from Sri Lanka. Even the religious dignitaries from Eelam, who were escorted by the Sri Lankan navy, told the press that only a few hundred people participated in the event, due to the fact that the people were suffering from the recently ended war, which was instigated by the Sri Lankan State. Further, the Indian media brought to light the Chinese influence, which was evident, even in Kachchatheevu. The Indian Tamil devotees noticed numerous Chinese tents around the island. This is a significant alert to India, along with several others in Eelam, in the aftermath of the end of Eelam War IV. So, India had no other choice, but to send Rao to please Rajapaksa.

India's concerns over China and Eelam

India is hemmed in on three sides by hostile neighbours. It is very much concerned about China, while paying lip service to the political instability of the Eelam Tamils. India is facing a great military threat at its north-eastern and north-western borders, with China, along the Himalayan mountain regions. Now, China is eyeing the southern tip of India. Although China has no real influence in the south, it will soon set up an empire of Maldives, at the southern tip of India, that will lay waiting, in the Indian Ocean, with all the Andaman Nicobar islands in close proximity of India. China, which hitherto dominated the South China Sea, is eying the Bay of Bengal, the Palk Straits, and even the Arabian Sea, in the Indian Ocean. China does not want a direct military confrontation with India, in the Indian Ocean, but it definitely wants to have a stable sea route, just for the sake of transporting oil from western Asia, into Eastern Asia. So, China wants Sri Lanka because it is a strategic location, with greater control. So, China is dependent on maintaining a good relationship with Sri Lanka, because they have been a far greater friend of China over the years, than India. China is exploiting this. It is pathetic that India, for no obvious reason, is coming in support of Sri Lanka, despite the fact that Sri Lanka supported Pakistan, when Pakistan entered into war with India, Sri Lanka also supported China, when China entered into war with India. Sri Lanka never fulfilled several of the agreements in the past, such as Sashthri - Banda, Sashthri - Srimavo, and Rajiv - Jayawardene. India was not even able to protect their own citizens from the ravages of the Sri Lankan State of Terrorism, especially the Indian fishermen. India also failed to protect the Eelam Tamils, despite its promises that they will come in search of protection when they face hardships, particularly the pogroms, in 1977, 1979 1981 and 1983, which led to massive exodus into the north and the east, which is the homeland of Tamils. China aided Sri Lanka with $290 million for post-war reconstruction efforts, and deployed man, and material resources to northern Sri Lanka, to widen the Jaffna peninsula roads. Also, India promised nearly $70 million to aid Sri Lanka in the construction of the railroads, in the Eelam. New Delhi also expressed, through Rao, that India would set up consular office, in Jaffna, just to connect the people of India's south. Also, Rao was told that there should be a political settlement to Tamil's national question. This is just to warn China to stay away from Sri Lankan internal affairs. So, India and China are fighting hard to set foot in Sri Lanka. Both China and India are scrambling to set their feet in the north east. India's former prime minister, the late Indira Gandhi, helped Tamil militants fight against the Sri Lankan State, which was led by the, then Sri Lankan President, Jayewardene, to sign a defence agreement with the U.S., which, then, was hostile to India. But, things have changed now. India and the U.S. are now mutual friends, and they, both, see China as a common enemy. They do not want China to become an influential force in Indian Ocean. In this context, India is once again, playing sinister games. During her stay in Sri Lanka, Rao met with TNA leaders like Sampathan, Mavai Senathirajah, and Suresh Premachandran. She invited them to visit New Delhi, after the April 8th parliamentary election was over. Also, she met with the former LTTE fighter, who broke away from the LTTE, and later became the eastern chief minister, Pillaiyan, who is still a "child soldier" that never grew up. She invited Pillaiyan to visit India. Further, sources said, she asked the Tamil political parties to work together in the general elections. India cannot afford to continue to play both sides, whether it be with Tamil's political body, or the Sinhalese political body. India is fast changing its strategy, and the Indian central government has employed numerous think-tank organizations, along with its full-time intelligence wings, officials, and policy advisers, to stay alert over the events, in Sri Lanka, especially in regard to the increasing Chinese influence. Hence, India's message to Colombo, through Rao, is that India would not stand by and be a mute spectator when it comes to allowing foreign influence, especially out of respect for its own backyard, the Eelam are a crucial nexus between India, and Sri Lanka. India loves the Sri Lankan Tamils to death and they are once again a pawn in its game against China. Any foreign power, which comes to set foot with sinister motives, will not just come to develop Eelam, they will come to monitor India and to keep it at bay, not just in the south, but in all the nooks and corners. Sri Lanka, which had the Tamil militants to contend with, has two Frankenstein monsters at its doorstep. Perhaps the ancient Tamil inscription, found in a northern part of Sri Lanka, has credence--that the day would come when a slant eyed race would rule over Sri Lanka.

Indian boost for IDP resettlement

Indian assistance in de-mining the war-torn Vanni region will be crucial to Sri Lanka’s efforts to resettle the war displaced. Although a section of the international community believed that Sri Lanka could not cope with the situation, Indian assistance, along with support given by several other countries, facilitated the re-settlement programme. Government sources told The Island that people could not be resettled unless mine clearing operations meeting UN standards were completed. The Sri Lankan Army is the main player in mine clearing operations.Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha recently visited the Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts, where Indian de-mining teams are deployed. Accompanied by Mullaitivu Security Forces Commander, Maj Gen. Athula Jayawardena, Kantha visited Oddusuddan and Kathaliyar samalankulam.Indian High Commission official said that the operation was run by Sarvatra Technical Consultants, an India-based de-mining organisation, which along with another Indian organization, Horizon Assignments, runs seven de-mining teams. He said that they were fully funded by India at a cost of about US $ 4 million (Sri Lankan Rs. 450 million).Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. (retd) G. A. Chandrasiri told The Island that mine clearing operations had reached a crucial stage. According to him, their focus was on the Vanni east, the area east of the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road. The Indian High Commission statement, issued yesterday, quoted Kantha as saying that de-mining operations undertaken by India was a sterling example of Indo-Lanka cooperation and a major contribution to accomplishment of the shared objective of the two governments to ensure early rehabilitation and resettlement of the war displaced in northern Sri Lanka. Indian de-miners were deployed in the wake of the Norwegians arranged CFA coming into operation in February 2002.According to the High Commission, India deployed four de-mining teams (two each from Sarvatra and Horizon) comprising 50 members each in June 2009. Subsequently, at the request of the Sri Lanka government, the Government of India deployed three additional teams (two from Sarvatra and one from Horizon) in November 2009.They have so far cleared an area of approximately 63,012,876 sq. metres in Vavuniya and Mannar districts. They are also engaged in carrying out a non-technical survey in Mullaitivu and Vavuniya district to identify areas, which need to be cleared of mines.Throughout the Eelam war IV, Sri Lanka received Indian assistance, though many tried to dissuade New Delhi from helping Colombo. Sources said that Indian help was crucial to post-LTTE era reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement process.

DNA oppose Ban ki Moon's panel  
 
The opposition party in Sri Lanka led by the former army chief has voiced strong objections against the proposed UN advisory panel on Sri Lanka.The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) said it opposed moves by UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon to appoint a team to advice him on human rights situation in Sri Lanka. Mr Ban plans to ask a panel of experts to advise the UN on "accountability issues" relating to possible human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. Human rights groups want some sort of accountability for abuses alleged to have been committed during the war against Tamil Tigers. The Sri Lankan government insists it did nothing wrong.

War crimes tribunal

However, former military commander, Gen Sarath Fonseka, who is the leader of the newly formed DNA on the day he was arrested told journalists in Colombo that he is prepared to give evidence on war crime charges against Sri Lanka. General Fonseka, The defeated candidate in Sri Lanka's presidential election, arrested in early February is awaiting a military trial on charges of participating in politics while in uniform and violating military procurement procedures. The opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is the main party contesting from the DNA at the April 8th general election.DNA General Secreatary Vijitha Herath told journalists that the party does not approve any intervention by the United Nations on Sri Lanka's sovereignty. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has also denounced plans by UN chief Ban Ki-Moon.Mr Rajapaksa has told Mr Ban the move was "uncalled for and unwarranted".  

Strong winds of change over Jaffna

Jaffna is turning red, with a bit of anger and embarrassment both, and wincing under the sudden attention it is getting from the rest of Sri Lanka.The quite town of narrow streets, churches and schools was all but cut off from the Sinhalese south for years. For years, the only Sinhalese who went to Jaffna were the military and police personnel who manned the hundreds of checkpoints and bunkers in and around town. The town hadn’t seen a battle since 1995 but resembled a battle zone with thousands of army personnel keeping watch and monitoring every inch of the peninsula.All that has changed in the last few months. With travel restrictions lifted from the A9 highway, tourists from the south have been surging towards Jaffna and its temples and sandy beaches. At the Omanthai checkpoint, an army captain told me that on weekends, 1200 vehicles including 400 packed buses carrying tourists hurtle towards the peninsula.Along the roads leading to the town, coconut groves have become picnic spots where tourists eat rice and curry, drink king coconut water and fan themselves with sarongs to escape the Jaffna heat.The army is still present but there are fewer checkpoints. Shops in town are now open till late; the evening curfew is a thing of the past.But many residents are guarded with their enthusiasm about this new season of opening up. Many are apprehensive that their enclave would be gradually taken over by businessmen from the Sinhalese south. Small local businesses would disappear, some feel. Others fear that the nuances of the Sri Lankan Tamil culture and identity would gradually be wiped out.The town itself is not prepared to tackle this sudden surge of tourism. Hotels are few. Some residents are renting out extra rooms for large sums of money. Hoteliers are rushing in but it would take several months before the infrastructure would be in place. A Jaffna Chamber of Commerce official said that land prices, as well as rents, were shooting up with many from Tamil diaspora planning to buy houses and property in their land of origin.

U.S. Government Provides 750 Scholarships to Youth in the East and North

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently awarded 500 scholarships in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to youth in the North. Earlier, USAID/Sri Lanka, the development agency of the U.S. Embassy, provided ICT scholarships to 250 young people from the East. The scholarships will provide the recipients with the skills needed to meet current workforce demands.USAID, in a partnership with Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential Partnership (UPP) program, developed computer-based ICT curricula to address the workforce needs in the agriculture, apparel, media, and tourism sectors.  Rebecca Cohn, USAID Mission Director said, “These four sectors account for about 39% of all jobs in Sri Lanka, and ICT skills are critical to succeeding in these areas.  These scholarships from USAID will enable the youth to find jobs and participate in the country’s economy.  That benefits the students, the communities, and Sri Lanka.” Infoshare, a local non-profit organization, designed the curriculum and IDM, an ICT academy, delivered the training through its national affiliates.  Although the UPP initiative is ending, another USAID project will use the curricula to train an additional 10,000 youth throughout the East.Harshi Hewage, Infoshare’s UPP Project Manager, said, “With the end of the war, we have an opportunity to bring development initiatives to the North and East. Infoshare is dedicated to enhancing social development of this region through the use of ICT.”Dr. Bandu Ranasinghe, IDM chairman, said “IDM, Sri Lanka’s premier ICT Academy, understands the importance of human resource development.  I appreciate the good work USAID and Microsoft are doing for the socio-economic development of the country. It is a privilege to collaborate with such organizations.” The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided development and humanitarian assistance in developing countries worldwide for nearly 50 years.  Since 1956, USAID/Sri Lanka has invested nearly $2 billion to benefit all the people of Sri Lanka.

Karuna says Tamils blindly backed SF;calls for wise decision on April 8

National Integration and Reconciliation Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralidharan said the Tamil people must not repeat the same mistake they made last time in voting blindly for Sarath Fonseka. "The Tamil people did not know anything of Sarath Fonseka and they blindly supported him. In case Sarath Fonseka had come to power they would have had to face many problems, but luckily they were saved by the Sinhala people," Muralidharan, a former LTTEer ranked as a Colonel with the nom de guerre ‘Karuna Amman’."The Tamil people are enjoying the fruits of freedom of expression and freedom of movement. All are campaigning freely at the moment without restrictions. All are enjoying their new-found freedom," he said.The Tamil people should understand that they had an excellent opportunity to be partners in the government. They should be wise to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa by voting for the betel symbol. He will govern the country for the next seven years and it would be only under his leadership that the Tamil people could develop their areas in the North and the East."The President is also very much interested in developing these areas as never before, He is a leader who never discriminates against anybody. That is why I wish to make a fervent request to the Tamil people to support the Government. We cannot blame the President or the Government if they failed to support him by voting for the betel symbol. If we support him all can participate in the development work in the country. It has to be a reciprocal gesture; one has to support the other," he said.Muralidharan said, "For example I have been nominated to parliament on the National List and in case the Tamil people don’t support the Government how could I urge the President to solve the day-to-day problems and political aspirations of the Tamil people. My personal aspirations are different to those of other Tamil leaders. I don’t aspire to be a leader of only Tamils, I don’t aim to be a Tamil separatist leader and I aspire to be a leader of all the communities in Sri Lanka and hope to be a national leader."We opened a Pansala at Eravur last week. Many people opposed this and most Tamil parties also opposed this. I believed that I did a very good deed in establishing a Pansala that was there 30 years ago. It was destroyed by the LTTE. A Pansala is a spiritual place and not a racial place or some place of colonisation and no reasonable person could oppose such acts. There are many Hindu temples in Sinhala areas of the South especially in Colombo but the Sinhala people do not oppose this,:. "That was the reason I called for the elimination of racist parties. Many people ask me why I cannot make use of my close connections with the President and obtain the release of former LTTE cadres who are in government custody. I have explained to these people that I had taken up this issue several times during meetings with President who also wishes to release them early. The problem is we cannot implement this because of the actions of our own people who are not allowing the President to do so freely. The people like former LTTE frontrunner Rudrakumar is attempting to revive the LTTE. He speaks of transnational or shadow government. He held a referendum among the Tamil diaspora. They want to revive the LTTE. Under that situation the government cannot listen to our request to release the ex-LTTE cadres because there are those in the government who believe that if we release them they could regroup again local and foreign backing. Obstacles such as this created by certain sections of the Tamil community are preventing the issue of releasing the LTTE cadres."Many offers by the government that would benefit the Tamil people are mooted but the majority of Tamil people cannot enjoy the benefits of such offers due to the wrongful actions of a few Tamil parties. It is not the Sinhala parties or the people who are responsible for this situation," he said.The Minister also said the TNA was a party that always spoke of racism and the TMVP was also talking of racism. Those attitudes affect the thinking of the Tamil people. The Eastern Province Chief Minister (CM) did not co-operate with the Governor of the Province. The Governor was a very good person. As a result of the suspicion, the smooth working of the development programme could not be implemented. "There is a necessity to increase the number of members in the ruling party in the seventh Parliament and if the Tamil people continue to support the political parties in the opposition we cannot achieve anything but we can only talk and talk and would not be able to carry out any development for the next seven years. The TNA had the support of 22 MPs in Parliament over the last six years but they could not achieve anything due to their confrontational politics."We hope to uplift the livelihood of our Thamil youth by finding them lucrative employment in the State and the private sector. We want to provide them the required skills so that they could go abroad for employment. The President has assured me his fullest support to create new employment opportunities for the youth."I have been promoting foreign investment for development and value addition in the fields of agriculture, dairy farming, fisheries and tourism. Several Indian companies have approached me and made inquiries to commence a poultry farm on 200 acres of land and a dairy farm with several hundred cows," added Minister Muralidharan He said: "Another matter that I have always discussed with the President is the IDP issue. We have some problems at the moment. We have given basic facilities which are not at all sufficient to construct houses. These problems cannot be solved this overnight, It needs some time to complete the resettlement programme of all refugees."As far as the TNA is concerned it is a party without a solid policy on the ethnic issue."The TNA has not changed their past policy of Thamil Eelam on the ethnic issue. They have only changed the word as their election manifesto clearly proves this by calling for "internal self determination and a system of governance which is equal to separation".The Tamil people who have just commenced enjoying their newly won freedom where they could go anywhere in the country without paying illegal taxes or subjected to any fear now aspired to lead peaceful lives by engaging in fruitful employment, he said.

North develops under Uthuru Vasanthaya

The Government has successfully undertaken several key road infrastructure projects under the Uthuru Vasanthaya to boost the economic and social activities in the North. There are four major road development projects including Kandy-Jaffna road (A9), Medawachchiya-Mannar-Thalaimannar road (A14), Mannar-Jaffna road (A32) and Silavathura-Murukandi roads are in the pipeline. These mega-projects would have a positive impact on the entire Northern region by facilitating Northerners to uplift their livelihood. Meanwhile, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed authorities to accelerate these road projects which would vastly develop the region's economy addressing economic and social issues in the North. These activities would help build a better future for the people of Mullaitivu, Killinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya and Jaffna. With the construction of these main roads, the internally displaced people will be supported immensely to engage themselves in their day to day activities. These projects were supervised by Highways and Road Development Ministry Secretary Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Ministry Additional Secretary P. Dissanayake and Road Development Authority Director General R.W.R. Premasiri. Meanwhile, Admiral Karannagoda has instructed officials to expedite the construction work. Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Kunio Takahashi also participated in the visit.

Less than 46,000 IDPs register for voting

There has not been a significant change in the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have registered to vote in the upcoming general election, when compared with the number that registered at the recently concluded Presidential election, according to the Executive Director of the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi. He also said, “Only 45,967 IDPs have registered to vote in the upcoming election. Some say that there are over 300,000 IDPs, but no one really has a clear idea of the real number of IDPs. Therefore, we can’t say what percentage of IDPs is actually taking part in the election process.” He added that one polling station in Colombo, six in Gampaha, two in Kalutara, four in Jaffna, 31 in the Wanni, one in Batticaloa, 37 in Puttalam and six in Ampara have been set up specifically for the IDPs. Hettiarachchi added that the government in response to the numerous complaints received after the Presidential election had said that it will take better measures to transport IDPs from their homes to the polling stations.Spokesman for the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), Keerthi Tennakoon, said that there are several obstacles to getting better participation of IDPs at the general election. “One of the major concerns is that there is still no confirmation on what form of identification the IDPs will be allowed to use. In the Presidential election they were allowed to use their camp IDs, but the Elections Commissioner hasn’t confirmed whether he will allow that this time around too.” He added that since most IDPs have now been resettled, and are not in one camp, it is hard to assess the common problems they face. “Some IDPs are not even resettled in their original hometowns, this complicates the problems faced with getting the IDPs properly involved in the election,” said Tennakoon.He added that even though there has been a lot of talk about getting more IDPs to exercise their voting rights, the government hasn’t been doing much to put those words into actions.

SI trying to join LTTE

A Team of Policemen conducting investigations in Pudukuduyiruppu has come across an application made by a Sub Inspector of Police who had sought to join LTTE. This was brought to the attention of Colombo Addl.Magistrate – Sujeeva Nisshanka.In order to verify and ascertain the signature of the policeman, court permitted an Investigating Police Team to obtain specimen signatures and one suspect was identified‐ a Sub Inspector attached to Mt.Lavinia Head Quarters Police‐Arangalage Don Manjula Sri Prabhath of Piliyandala.The Director of Intelligence Unit had made a complaint to the OIC ,Chief Inspector  ‐ Prasanna De Alwis, had apprehended the person at Katunayake Air Port, when the suspect was on his way from Singapore to Colombo.The ensued investigations have revealed that the suspect had passed on information about Police Head Quarters and about the Security Situation inside the Port..Also it has come to light that the suspect had helped in solving legal problems of the LTTE. A person by the name David Miranda alias Sampath had introduced him to the LTTE and  the sources said that the investigations are being conducted to apprehend him too.The Magistrate ordered the investigators to report the progress on 31st march to the courts.

Iran invites Sri Lanka President to Group of 15 Summit

The Ambassador of Iran, Mahmud Rahimi Gorji Tuesday (23) officially handed over an invitation from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa to attend the Group of 15 summit to be held in Teheran from 17 – 18 May 2010.Gorji handed over the official invitation to Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Rothitha Bogollagama at the Foreign Ministry while conveying the appreciation of the Government of Iran for Sri Lanka’s contribution to the G 15 process.President Rajapaksa is to assume the chairmanship of the 18‐member organization at the forthcoming meeting in Tehran.The Sri Lankan FM accepting the invitation on behalf of the President complimented Iran for its continued, effective leadership of the Group.The organization focuses on cooperation among developing countries in the areas of investment, trade, and technology.

Hunger-striker to sue over claims that he ate Big Macs

A hunger striker who held a 23-day fast in Parliament Square last year in protest at the Sri Lanka's offensive against the Tamil Tigers is suing two newspapers over claims that he secretly ate burgers during his vigil.Parameswaran Subramanyam, a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee who now lives in south London, has issued proceedings against the Daily Mail and The Sun over articles they ran last October claiming that he was secretly given Big Macs by his supporters.The hunger strike in May 2009 escalated an ongoing protest outside Parliament and focused international attention on the Sri Lankan government's bombardment of civilian populations during their final offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).The military offensive eventually crushed the Tamil Tigers, bringing to an end decades of civil war. But the Sri Lankan government was strongly condemned by international allies and human rights groups alike for failing to allow civilians caught up in the fighting to escape.During the peak of the protests, thousands of British Tamils poured into Parliament Square to blockade traffic, chant slogans and call on the British government to do more to pressure the Sri Lankans into calling a halt to the offensive. Tamils kept a 24-hour vigil outside Parliament for more than a month. Suggestions that the hunger strike was not as honest as it seemed appeared five months after the protests had ended. In a piece which ran in the Mail on 9 October 2009 headlined "Hunger Striker's £7m Big Mac", the Mail quoted an unnamed police official who said surveillance teams had seen the protesters sneaking food into the tent where Mr Subramanyam, 29, and fellow hunger striker Sivatharsan Sivakumaravel were staying.The claims were later repeated in The Sun newspaper in an article headlined "Hunger Striker was Lovin' it", and were picked up by newspapers around the world.The allegations were strongly denied by Mr Subramanyam who spent five days in hospital once he stopped his hunger strike. His supporters say he was frequently checked on by paramedics and doctors who would have been able to spot if he had secretly been eating.Lawyers from the firm Carter Ruck, which is acting on behalf of Mr Subramanyam, say their client asked for an apology and retraction from the newspapers in November but the requests were rejected by both papers. In a statement released yesterday, Mr Subramanyam said: "In light of the newspapers' false allegations about me and their refusal to apologise, I have been forced to issue libel proceedings against them. The false allegations have had a devastating effect on my life, to the extent that I have been ostracised by the Tamil community and had my life threatened."Both The Sun and the Daily Mail declined to comment.The British government did publicly criticise the Sri Lankan government's conduct in the war – a move which angered hawks in Colombo. A fragile peace has since taken over the island but there is widespread anger among Tamils at the tens of thousands of civilians still being held in internment camps by the Sri Lankan military. Tamil groups in Britain say they will plan a series of one-year anniversary protests to highlight what they regard as the ongoing suffering of their people.

Tissa named for British award

Journalist JS Tissainayagam has been nominated for an international award. Tissainayagam, who is currently on bail, is among 16 international journalists nominated by British Press Awards under the International Journalist of the Year.Journalists from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Eritrea, Azerbaijan and Burma are among the other nominees."Winning a British Press Award is justly seen as the crowning achievement of any journalist's career - and just being shortlisted is to be set among the elite of the profession," a statement issued by the organisers said. The award ceremony is due to held in London on Tuesday.Tissaianyagam was charged under terrorist laws, of causing disharmony among ethnic communities, and of raising money to fund 'terrorist' activities. He was given the longest ever jail sentence on a journalist by courts in Sri Lanka who found him guilty. "Although released on bail, Tissa remains afraid for his life and lives in isolation from his family and friends because of this fear," says one of his colleagues. "He cannot practice his trade and simply has no life," he added

Fox visits funded by Lanka

Sri Lanka had funded at least five visits by British MP Liam Fox to the country, the Weston Mercury quoted a BBC investigation as saying. According to the BBC, Dr Fox visited Sri Lanka in November 2007 and four times between 2008-2009 and all were funded by Sri Lanka.When contacted a Foreign Ministry official confirmed that the Sri Lankan government had funded a few visits of Dr. Fox to Sri Lanka and that funding visits to Sri Lanka by Foreign officials was nothing new.A BBC investigation looked into which members had registered trips and declared those paid for by foreign governments. Under Parliamentary rules, MPs must register such visits within four weeks and must declare a financial interest when tabling questions, motions or bills and when speaking out in the commons.

23 March 2010

TNA not objecting central defence

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday the party had no objections to powers such as defence, foreign affairs and transportation being held by the centre.TNA in its election manifesto calls for extensive power sharing under a federal structure with the Northern and Eastern Provinces merged again.TNA front‐liner Suresh Premachandran said the party had not asked for a separate state but only wanted a power devolution package to develop the Northern and Eastern provinces.“If we have such powers, we will use them not only to develop our areas but also assist other provinces. Powers should be shared between the majority and minority communities with common powers vested with the centre. We won’t object it,” he said. Mr. Premachandran referred to India’s role in Sri Lanka’s geo‐politics and said India had a thorough understanding of the situation here.“The Northern and Eastern Provinces were merged under the Indo‐Lanka Accord. In India too powers have been devolved to the states. They enjoy police and fiscal powers as well. They have even powers to get direct foreign investments,” he said.He said the TNA would continue its struggle through democratic means until a political solution was worked out.

EPDP men alleged of attack on UNP campaigners in the islets of Jaffna

United National Party (UNP) chief candidate for Jaffna electorate Ms. Vijayakala Maheswaran registered complaints with Jaffna Election Officer that persons of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) had attacked UNP candidates and supporters when they were pasting election campaign posters in Suruvil, Oorkaavattu’rai in the islets of Jaffna Sunday. Meanwhile, EPDP officials denied the allegation saying that the attackers were not their party men but ordinary civilians, sources in Jaffna said. When the islets of Jaffna is said to be under the full control of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) there is no possibility of ordinary civilians attacking them, the UNP candidates and supporters said. On an earlier occasion too a group of UNP campaigners who had gone to the islets of Jaffna for electioneering had been threatened and driven away by EPDP men, they said.Political parties and Independent groups contesting Jaffna electorate had also been subjected to threat and attacks by EPDP supporters.

MTV attackers 'chased away'
 
A group of attackers came in buses and vans to attack a private media station in Colombo were chased away, officials at the station said.Suranga Senanayake, News Manager of Sirasa FM told journalists that several workers at the station sustained injuries at the attack. Sunil Jayasekara, Secretary of Free Media Movement (FMM) said the attackers have tried to do a considerable damage to Sirasa/ MTV station's Colombo office in Baybrook Avenue. "The police have initially failed to take any action but were also attacked when tried to intervene," he told BBC Sandeshaya. BBC’s Charles Haviland who visited the scene says that the outer building housing the Maharaja organisation has come under attack and many windows were broken and plant pots smashed in the front yard. The protestors have failed to get into the inner building housing the television station. Police spokesman, SSP Prishantha Jayakody told BBC Sandeshaya that 16 suspects have already been arrested and investigations are continued.

‘Sinhala Only’ in a government office opening event in Jaffna

Local media reporters in Jaffna peninsula staged a walkout Monday from the official opening of Sri Lanka Foreign Employment (SLFE) branch in Nalloor in Jaffna Monday when it was conducted in Sinhalese language only. Tamil Minister Douglas Devananda was also present at the event along with Northern Province Governor, G. A. Chandrasiri. Meanwhile, the Governor and the Minister later participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony for the new building of Jaffna Municipal Council in its original premises. The government is fervent in opening various offices and laying foundation stones for new buildings in an attempt to entice the voters of Jaffna peninsula, civil society circles in Jaffna observed. President of SLFE Welfare Organization, Kingsley Rananwathe and its Secretary, Susil Srisena had come to Jaffna from Colombo SLFE head office to officially open the branch in Jaffna.How could an office meant to help the residents of Jaffna district achieve its goals if it cannot conduct its affairs in Tamil, asked local journalists.The main building of JMC had been blown up during the war in 1985.

Anoma Fonseka Questioned by CID

Detained former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka's wife Anoma was questioned by the CID officials in connection with the ongoing investigations against her husband."The CID questioned her for about three hours last evening," the Daily Mirror said today quoting reliable sources, after which she charged the government with not sparing any member of her family."I was the only one left out by the CID in this case. All our relatives have now been questioned," the news paper quoted Anoma as saying.The general's wife said "under the present political circumstances" she expected questioning by the CID."I am ready to face them. I am not scared to tell the truth," she said."The CID had to pause questioning as Mrs Fonseka had to take meals to Gen Fonseka who is under detention at the Naval headquarters," the report said.JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake has also been asked to appear before the CID, the Fonseka led (JVP dominated) Democratic National Alliance (DNA) party said.Anoma has told reporters that "Fonseka who helped in eradicating terrorism will not in any way assist terrorists." She said her husband was suffering from accumulation of phlegm inside the lungs which is very dangerous."He has been told to be careful about cough and cold.""Only I have been granted permission to take food for him. Despite the court granting permission, it is yet to materalise that we have been given a order from the higher ups. I don't think they have even heard about warm water (required for him)," Anoma said.DNA General Secretary Vijitha Herath told a news conference prior to the questioning that his party comprises politicians who were ready for any eventuality, and therefore they would not shy away from any of such threats.

More German investment on the way – Lankan official

Buddhi Athauda, Consul General for Sri Lanka in Frankfurt, on Saturday expressed confidence that the UPFA government, under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, will usher in economic prosperity to the country. He added that mega investment projects have been lined up.All economic indicators are on the upswing and there is overwhelming enthusiasm from leading German companies to invest in Sri Lanka, he said.Athauda said the President had cleared the biggest obstacle that thwarted such development projects, the scourge of terrorism which moved the country backwards for thirty long years."A large number of German entrepreneurs have already visited the country and made the initial plans to invest in Sri Lanka in areas of telecommunications, manufacturing, tourism, project financing, etc., as they have utmost confidence that safety and security are there and a conducive environment has been created for investment," he pointed out.Athauda, an IT expert turned diplomat, was the guest speaker at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party branch in Germany, headquartered in Frankfurt.The Tamil diaspora have indicated their willingness to return to their motherland after living in Germany for many years as they feel that it is safe to return home, he said.Nihal Samarasinha, President of the SLFP branch, said that all committee members have expressed their fullest commitment and active participation in the party’s campaign for the forthcoming general elections in the country. They have expressly said that they will all work in different electorates with the objective of helping the UPFA gain a 2/3 majority in Parliament."The Alliance need a 2/3rd majority to go ahead with the mega developments projects that have been lined up to achieve economic prosperity," he pointed out.Samarasinha emphasised the need to amend the present Constitution as some of the archaic laws in the country would hinder development. He also said that the government would have to withstand and counter the foreign pressures and the planned development process should continue unhindered."The most important factor after achieving peace is to see that all communities live in harmony and live in a united Sri Lanka," he said.In view of the General Election in Sri Lanka, the committee met for the first time in 2010 to establish its agenda and action plan, he added.Samarasinha distributing a copy of the ‘Mahinda Chinthanaya’ to members, said that he was happy to see that the membership had increased and added that he was privileged to lead an enthusiastic band of members consisting Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims."The diaspora has a responsibility to communicate with their friends and relatives in Sri Lanka after the bloody war was ended by the UPFA government under the leadership of President Rajapaksa," he said.The President said that UPFA Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Rohitha Bogollagama, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Athauda Seneviratne, C. B. Ratnayake, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Mervyn Silva and Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan, have visited the SLFP branch in Frankfurt to celebrate various events of national importance when they were in Germany on official visits.

The SLFP Working Committee in Germany:

President – Nihal Samarasinha, Vice President – Leslie Perera, Secretary, – Mervyn Lenora, Treasurer – Neeliya Abeysekera Neumann and Events Organiser – Azfer Sufi Ismail.

Bangladesh Army Officers here to share SL experience

A high-level military delegation from People's Republic of Bangladesh, now in Sri Lanka met Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya Monday (22) afternoon at Army Headquarters. The Bangladeshi delegation, aimed at further promoting bilateral relations and the bondage between the two friendly Armies, has also expressed their overwhelming willingness to share each other's experience, particularly in the aftermath of Sri Lanka's successful completion of the war for peace. During the meeting with Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya at his office, Army Headquarters, the visiting two Majors General Mohammed Ehtesham Ul Haque and A.K.M. Zafrullah Siddiq received a brief account on the recently-concluded Wanni operations from the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jayasuriya. They also discussed matters of mutual relevance to both Armies who have been maintaining excellent relations since both countries gained independence. Towards the end of day's interaction, the visiting Bangladesh Majors General presented a memento to Lieutenant General Jayasuriya who reciprocated as a token of goodwill. High Commissioner for Bangladesh in Sri Lanka was also associated with the meeting. The eight-member delegation during their visit to the Army Headquarters also received a briefing from Major General Shavindra Silva, Director General Operations, Army Headquarters. The Bangladesi Army delegation is expected to visit Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA), Security Forces Headquarters in Jaffna, Mullaittivu and Wanni during their stay in Sri Lanka. The delegation comprises Major General Mohammed Ehtesham Ul Haque, Major General A.K.M. Zafrullah Siddiq, Brigadier General Ridwan-Al-Mahmood, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Asadullah Minhazul Alam, Lieutenant Colonel, M. Taufiqul Hasan Siddique, Major A.S.M. Bahauddin, Major M.D. Nazrul Islam Khan and Major M. Shakhawat Hossain Chowdhury.

22 March 2010

Ranil promises effective resettlement scheme Rehab, resettlement projects on track, says government

Responding to a recent UNP pledge to launch an effective resettlement scheme in the North, Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. (retd) G. A. Chandrasiri said yesterday (21) that the rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement programme launched by the government at the end of the war had been successful.He said that their efforts had even been appreciated by the Tamil community and the international community. The former Army Chief of Staff and one-time Security Forces Commander in Jaffna told The Island that the resettlement programme should never be a political issue, but a process aimed at the restoration of civil administration in the war-torn areas.At last week’s launch of the UNP general election campaign in Jaffna, UNP and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said a victory for his party would pave the way for a systematic resettlement effort in the North. He also promised to do away with what he called unnecessary high security zones in the North, particularly in the Jaffna peninsula to expedite resettlement.Chandrasiri said that since the end of the war last May, the government had stepped up resettlement efforts. He said that there had been some 300,000 war displaced last May, but today there were fewer than 90,000 men, women and children in Jaffna and the Vanni. They, too, would be resettled within the next couple of months, he said, emphasising that resettlement of the war displaced was being carried out with the support of the UN. Responding to a query by The Island, he said that UN authorities had to sanction the return of the war displaced to their villages after the Army and NGOs/INGOs engaged in mine clearing operations had completed their task. He appreciated the support given by the international community to clear mines in the Vanni region, where the Army finished off the LTTE last May.Chandrasiri said Sri Lanka’s rehabilitation efforts had received the backing of the international community. Contrary to criticism, the government had given NGOs and INGOs access to the North, as part of the confidence-building measures now in place. He said that the LTTE had forced the entire Muslim population out of the Northern Province in 1990. But today, they could go back to their villages and regain their property after proving their ownership.Much progress had been achieved in the rehabilitation of LTTE cadres in the custody of the government, Chandrasiri said.

Minister wants Sri Lanka President's brother to be given premiership

Sri Lanka Minister of Labor Mervyn Silva urged the voters of Gampaha district to usher Mr. Basil Rajapaksa to the premiership of the country following the upcoming election. Addressing a religious ceremony held in Kelaniya Temple, Minister Silva emphasized that Mr. Rajapaksa who initiated the 'Negenahira Navodaya' (Eastern Awakening) development programme for the Eastern Province and the 'Uthuru Wasanthaya' (Northern Spring) for the Northern Province should be appointed as the Prime Minister of the country so that he can serve all countrymen. The Minister anticipated a two third majority to the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance at the general election and said that Mr. Basil Rajapaksa should be given the real leadership that can lead the parliamentary group. Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, the younger brother of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, contests the general election from Gampaha district leading the district team of candidates. He is a national list MP and the senior adviser to the President.Minister Mervyn Silva is also a national list MP and a candidate for Gampaha district.

Pakistan wants “Tiger” operation

Hundreds of tribesmen from Pakistan's semiautonomous regions near the Afghan border ended a rare tribal council meeting over the weekend with a declaration calling for the army to crush the Taliban like Sri Lanka did against the LTTE, the Pakistani media reported.The meeting in the city of Peshawar was called by an umbrella group of aid organizations and political parties in an effort to bring together people from the violence-battered region. Participants called for the army to escalate its attacks, dismissing earlier offensives as "military dramas." Sayd Alam Mehsud, a powerful tribal leader, said, "It should be a genuine military operation like the Sri Lankans did against the Tamil Tigers." He was referring to the military campaign that destroyed the separatist Tamil army in Sri Lanka, the Pakistani media said.

JVP eyes Tamil support in Jaffna The JVP yesterday set up its main political office at Uddupiddy, VVT, in the Jaffna district.

A senior party spokesman told The Island that JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe and National List MP Ramalingham Chandrasekeran had been present at the launch. According to him, they had also set up the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) office with the participation of candidates contesting the April 8 General Election on the DNA ticket. Responding to a query by The Island, he said that Tamil speaking people would exercise their franchise in support of the DNA to protest against the arrest and detention of Opposition presidential candidate Gen. (retd) Sarath Fonseka. He said that at the recently concluded presidential election, the people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces had overwhelmingly voted for Fonseka, who spearheaded the war against the LTTE.

Pillayan returns to campaigning

Eastern Province Chief Minister Sinavesathurai Chandrakanthan has returned back home and will restart his campaigning in the east this week after he was admitted to hospital with dengue, the TMVP said. The Chief Minister was airlifted to a private hospital in Colombo from Batticaloa for treatment for dengue fever last week, party sources said.Chandrakanthan had been treated at the Batticaloa Base Hospital for three days but had to be moved to Colombo after his condition worsened.

The cruel irony – KP the LTTE terrorist leader in joy ; General who saved the country from terrorists in sorrow -DNA
  
Nava Sihala Urumaya leader Sarath Manamendra addressing a Democratic National Alliance (DNA) media briefing today (21) said , the Govt. has got frightened of the massive support the people are extending to the DNA having understood the injustice this Govt. has meted out to General Fonseka. This Govt. is protecting and pampering the LTTE terrorist leaders, but has jailed the war Hero and former Army Commander who ushered in peace to this country by destroying terrorism, he added.The people are now ready to undo the injustice and unjust treatment this Govt. has meted out to Gen. Fonseka. The Govt. has got frightened of us and is attacking us at every turn owing to this . We are getting a silent vote from every household at this election , he asserted. Where is K P the brutal LTTE leader ? There is no case against him and he is in the lap of luxury. But , the Govt.has illegally detained Gen. Fonseka and filed action. Those who ought to be out and free today are jailed. It is in order to obstruct and hamper our election campaign that the Govt. is sending the CID to trail behind The DNA Leaders , he observed.

Boycott Sri Lanka campaign gains momentum in USA

Boycott Sri Lanka – a USA based Human Rights group composed of American citizens and international members concerned about the crisis in Sri Lanka was formed in 2009 after a group of American students who volunteered in Sri Lanka  were exposed firsthand to the stories of sufferings there. Sri Lanka has experienced a brutal ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese-dominated government and the Tamil population. Over 125,000 lives have been lost in the conflict, the overwhelming majority of which is Tamil.As part of the BoycottSrilanka committee’s initiative of hosting periodic “Boycott Sri Lanka Rally” in major international cities, Tamil Americans of Delaware Valley Region (Delaware, Pennsylvania and South Jersey) organized a rally in Philadelphia, on Saturday, March 20th, from 11AM – 3PM in front of Victoria’s Secret, 1721, Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103.Organizers expressed that the protest has raised awareness among large number of  shoppers and residents from downtown Philadelphia. Being the first day of spring – adds extra thrills to the shoppers and Philly residents spend more time outdoor and had the opportunity to participate in the protest. Fliers explaining the grave humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka was circulated. Organizers mention that Shoppers and local residents showed great interest in understanding the situation in Sri Lanka and shared their empathy towards to the suffering Tamil civilians of Sri Lanka.Several Americans of different ethnicity joined the “Independence Bell City” today to send a strong message to the oppressive Sri Lankan regime to adhere to world democratic norms and also respect press freedom.Boycott Sri Lanka had also recently released their third part in its video series – “No Blood For Panties”. This video series is part of a boycott campaign facilitated by new media to educate consumers about the state-sponsored violence against Sri Lanka’s Tamil population. This series is unique in its use of sexuality to illustrate that consumerism supporting corrupt actions, such as the genocide of Tamils, is anything but sexy.“Boycott Sri Lanka is very excited about its release of the video series” says group representative Anjali Manivannan. ‘This video series allows us to reach Americans who might otherwise be unaware of the repercussions of their consumer habits.“Sri Lanka uses tax revenue from the textile industry to oppress Tamil civilians and detain them in IDP internment camps” explained Manivannan. ‘No Blood For Panties sends the powerful message that buying ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ items and supporting state-sponsored human rights violations is not sexy. It sends the message that being a conscious consumer is where true sexiness is.’

Deal between Sri Lankan, Kerala banks

Kerala-based South Indian Bank (SIB) will Tuesday ink an agreement with Hatton National Bank (HNB), the largest private sector bank in Sri Lanka, to enable the exchange of expertise and services between the two financial institutions, an SIB official said here Sunday. 'The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be inked between V.A. Joseph, managing director and chief executive officer of SIB, and Rajendra Theagarajah, managing director of HNB, Tuesday in Thiruvananthapuram,' the SIB official told IANS on condition of anonymity. 'Once the MoU is in place, it would enable the customers of the two banks, wherever they are, to make remittances under demand draft drawing arrangements,' he added. SIB, which will close this fiscal with a business of more than Rs.38,000 crore, is planning a business turnover of Rs.48,000 crore in the next financial year. 'In the last one decade India has emerged as the largest trade partner of Sri Lanka, so our customers can now look forward for smoother trade-related business like issuing of letter of credits and also discounting of import and export bills,' the official said. SIB has achieved a credit growth of 30.47 per cent in the current fiscal and a deposit growth of 23.69 per cent, well above the industry average. The bank recovered stressed assets to the tune of Rs.241 crore and, thus, exceeded the target of Rs.225 crore for this fiscal with a fairly good margin, SIB had said in a statement. The gross non-performing assets (NPA) have come down to 1.46 per cent and net NPA to 0.39 per cent as of December 2009. In the next fiscal, SIB plans to open 60 more branches that will take the total number of its core banking service branch network to 640 in the country, it said.

CBK hosts diplomats for lunch        

Former President Chandrika Bandaranayke Kumaratunga was the hostess for lunch for several diplomats yesterday (21st). Diplomats from America, India, Australia and Britain were among those who attended the luncheon held at Ms. Kumaratunga’s Horagaolla residence between 12.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.

21 March 2010

TN Govt. urges Centre to take steps for political solution in Sri Lanka

The Tamil Nadu government has urged the Centre to take vigorous steps in arriving at a speedy political solution to the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.In his Budget Speech , Finance Minister K Anbazhagan said the Centre should take more vigorous efforts in arriving at a speedy political solution to enable the Sri Lankan Tamils to live comfortably with equal rights. He said the Sri Lankan Tamils, who have lost their livelihood during the war, were able to return to their original places from the camps on account of the great efforts taken by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.''We urge the Union Government to impress upon Sri Lanka to take necessary action for enabling the remaining Tamils still staying in the camps to return to their original places of residence'', he added.Mr Anbazhagan said with a concern for the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils living in the refugee camps for many years, the DMK regime had doubled the quantum of financial assistance provided to them.He said a sum of Rs 100 crore has been announced for improving infrastructure facilities in these camps and provision of houses and works were underway. 'We have also requested the Union Government to take necessary measures to grant permanent Indian resident ship to Sri Lankan Tamils housed in various camps in Tamil Nadu'', he added.Regarding the state autonomy, Anbazhagan said, that the Tamil Nadu Government has been consistently urging the Union Government to give their due rights to the States which are serving the people be being closer to them and to refrain from the tendency of enacting laws that take away the powers of State Governments in respect of subjects in the Concurrent list such as Teacher Training, Higher Education etc.Finance Minister further requested the Government of India to drop the proposed move to centralize all powers relating to higher education by establishing a unitary body of the National Commission for Higher Education. "We have clarified that devolution of powers in this manner is only one aspect of state autonomy, but that in itself can not be equated with state autonomy," Minister added."Having regard to the fact that different states in our country are at different stages of development with varied needs and special circumstances, we request the Union Government to formulate schemes after consultation with the State Governments and to provide for flexibility by which the State Governments can modify the schemes according to need and suitability for the respective states", Mr Anbazhagan said.

No Lankan national party promises federalism

In the run up to the April 8 Sri Lankan parliamentary elections, no national political party has promised a federal system, a demand Tamils have been struggling for since Independence in 1948.Strangely, Gen Sarath Fonseka, who got most of the Tamil votes in the last Presidential election, has explicitly rejected federalism. His outfit, the Democratic National Alliance’s manifesto said, it would defeat attempts to impose federalism on Lanka. It promised to do everything in its power to maintain the unitary character of the Sri Lankan constitution. One of the important constituents of the DNA is the anti-Tamil Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. The United National Party, which was with Fonseka in the Presidential election, is quiet on the post-war political structure. But to woo the Tamils somehow, it has promised the dismantling of many of the High Security Zones in Jaffna and allow settlements there. The party officials also said that the Palaly airport would be upgraded as an international airport.The ruling United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance says it is striving to go beyond the present provincial councils system under the 13th amendment, but its head President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said many times that powers, over land and the police will not be devolved.But the Tamil parties have, almost unanimously, demanded federalism. The Tamil National Alliance, the biggest of them all, has pitched for “internal self determination” for the “Tamil homeland” comprising a “unified Northern and Eastern provinces.” The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal led by Eastern Province Chief Minister Pillayan, has asked for land and police powers contained in the 13th Amendment. The Eelam Peoples’ Democratic Party has asked for this as well as a share of power in the Centre.

Indian envoy to Sri Lanka visits relief camps

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha on Friday visited Vavuniya, Oddusudan and Mullaithivu for a first hand knowledge of the relief camps and the assistance being provided by India for the rehabilitation and re-settlement of the Tamil civilians in the war-ravaged northern province. According to the Indian Mission here at Vavuniya, Mr. Kantha and Sri Lankan Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare Douglas Devananda inaugurated the limb refitment camp at Menik Farms Zone 1. Most of the displaced people are housed in camps in Menik Farms. About three lakh Tamil civilians were displaced due to the Eelam War IV, which ended in the last week of May. The Mission said the limb refitment camp was funded by India and was being implemented by the Jaipur-based non-governmental organisation Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), better known as the “Jaipur Foot.” In Vavuniya, the BMVSS deputed a team of 19 experts who will provide artificial limbs to about 1,200 Sri Lankans who lost their limbs during years of conflict in Sri Lanka. The camp, which started on March 13, will continue for a month. The Mission said the camp received enthusiastic response from the disabled internally displaced persons (IDPs). Mr. Kantha and Mr. Devananda saw the process of fitting artificial limbs and interacted with beneficiaries. At Mullaithivu, Mr. Kantha handed over Galvanized Corrugated Sheets (GC sheets) and agriculture “Starter Packs” to the IDPs. The GC sheets will be used to construct shelters in the new areas of habitation. India has so far supplied about 5,00,000 GC sheets at a cost of Sri Lankan Rs. 610 million. The first lot has already been distributed, benefitting about 20,000 families. The second lot is being distributed. The agriculture “Starter Packs” include basic tools and implements to help the IDPs resume cultivation in their homesteads, and subsequently in the farmlands allocated to them. The Indian government is supplying 70,000 “Starter Packs” at a cost of about Sri Lankan Rs. 160 million. Mr. Kantha also met local government officials in Vavuniya, Oddusudan, and Mullaithivu.

LTTE suspects can vote

LTTE suspects, who are being held in rehabilitation camps in Jaffna, will be able to vote at the forthcoming Parliamentary election. According to a spokesman of the Elections Commissioner’s Department, the decision has been made to set up special polling booths for the voting process to take place. “The Elections Commissioner has already discussed what needs to be done with the officials in Jaffna. We have made arrangements to provide them with transportation to reach the polling booths as well,” he said. “We have not deprived them of their right to vote. They will be free to vote using the temporary identity cards provided to them to vote at the Presidential election,” he said. Over 1,565 LTTE suspects, who were being held in rehabilitation camps in the North, had sent a written request to the Elections Commissioner demanding the necessary facilities to practice their right to vote at the upcoming Parliamentary elections. One of the demands that were forwarded was that they be provided with transportation facilities to reach the relevant polling stations. The issue of transportation was raised since over a thousand IDPs were denied facility to reach the respective polling stations at January’s Presidential elections.

“I Am Being Treated Worse Than A Common Criminal”- General Sarath Fonseka

 Posted by admin on Mar 21st, 2010 and filed under Lead. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry from your site Imprisoned in a Naval apartment for over six weeks, the beleaguered Retired General Sarath Fonseka says that he is being treated worse than a common criminal.“I am incarcerated within these walls for daring to uphold democracy and good governance. The treatment afforded to me is shocking and a common criminal would perhaps be treated better. I am confident that I am the legitimately-elected president of Sri Lanka. Due to irregularities in the electoral system, the people of Sri Lanka have been robbed of the effects of a vibrant democracy. However, this is a temporary glitch. I have petitioned the Supreme Court with my concerns and have asked them to consider the possibility of annulling the result,” Fonseka said in response to written questions posed by The Sunday Leader.Vowing to continue what he called his constitutional right to enter politics, he said, “I was entrusted with the task of returning peace to Sri Lanka. When I delivered that elusive peace and defeated the shackles of terrorism from this island nation, with the help of a disciplined, intelligent and committed armed force, I was hailed as a hero. Yet when I wished to exercise my constitutional right to resign from the Army and enter politics, I found a most undemocratic union against me.”In a statement to The Sunday Leader in which he handwrote a request to have it translated into Sinhala and Tamil too he adds, “When I decided to continue with my quest to return democracy to Sri Lanka, through the parliamentary elections, I was arrested. The very people who talk of democracy, the rule of law and good governance and those responsible to the people, have had me arrested in an attempt to silence my entry into the parliament. I am confident that no matter where I am, I will continue with my efforts to return Sri Lanka to a true democratic state. That was my desire before. That is my desire now. That is my desire for the future of all Sri Lanka.”Fonseka meanwhile appealed to the United Nations for help writing, “I appeal to the Secretary General of the United Nations as well as to all governments who are committed to fair play, good governance and to the people of the world to help protect me from the flagrant injustice that has been imposed upon me. In no other practicing democracy has this ever happened before.”The government has run into a series of problems in trying to prosecute General Fonseka in a military tribunal with the General’s lawyers raising a number of legal challenges. While the government claims that the General is being held in a luxury flat used by a former Navy Commander the General maintains his current accommodation is not fit even for a common criminal.

LTTE political wing is a political party in Britain

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political wing has been registered as a political party with the Commissioner of Elections in Britain. The party has been registered under the People’s Front of Liberation Tigers with the Tiger emblem on the red flag – the same logo and flag the organization used in Sri Lanka. British High Commission spokesman Dominic Williams told the Sunday Times that the Election Commission in Britain had received the application from the party known as the PFLT and it had been registered.“However the name has not been included in the final party lists as investigations have to be carried out to ascertain whether the organization has any links with the LTTE military wing which is a banned organization in Britain,” he said.Mr. Williams said that as long as the party was not involved in terror activities it would be allowed to engage in politics. After the party was registered this week, N. Balasubramaniam was named as party spokesman.He told a gathering of Tamil Diaspora representatives that in 1989 the same party was registered with the Commissioner of Elections in Sri Lanka, but the party had not been able carryout its functions.The party held its first convention in Vakarai in 1990 headed by Mahendraaja alias Mahattaya and General Secretary Yogaratnam Yogi.

JVP office in Jaffna opened       

The JVP will open its Jaffna District office today afternoon. The media unit of the JVP states the office at Uduppidi in Velvetithurai would be declared open by the Leader of the Party Somawansa Amarasinghe at 3.30 today. JVP Parliamentarian Ramalingam Chandrasekaran too will participate at the opening. The election office of the Democratic National Alliance  too would be opened today and all candidates contesting the general election from DNA for Jaffna District will participate. Speaking to ‘Lankatruth’ a spokesman for the JVP said opening a main party office in Jaffna in10 months after the 30 long years of war is a victory for the party. He said reaching such a target after a short period of doing politics in Jaffna indicates that the people in Jaffna are rallying round the JVP rapidly. He said his party would take measures to establish party offices in other parts of the Northern Province in the near future. 

SRI LANKA: No Action on Core Issues – By Col R Hariharan

After five weeks of absence from Sri Lanka watching, the country's political scene on the run up to the April 8 parliamentary poll strangely appears to follow the same rut of words rather than action. The country has been witnessing the same during the last two decades. The recriminations are similar, and the rulers callousness so repetitive. Only the show case trial of General Sarath Fonseka and of course, pre-election violence show a greater degree of viciousness unlike the presidential elections of the past.The trial of General Fonseka appears to be aimed at deconstructing his image as a national war hero and remove his potential to politically challenge President Mahinda Rajapaksa or tarnish status as the arch priest of victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). With this aim in view three streams of investigation and prosecution appear to be underway. The first one under the military law relates to his participation in political activity while in service, and the second is a corruption charge in military purchase deal, presumably in collusion with his son-in-law. But these two are not as damaging to the General’s ‘hero status’ as the third charge not yet levied on him. It is spoken of only through innuendos of his role in plotting to overthrow the elected President through a military coup and seize power. Thus in addition to the General and his family, the entire pantheon of his friends and admirers among retired and serving armed forces personnel, government officials, media men and politicians is likely to be dragged down in this process. Thus, now we have in Sri Lanka vendetta politics on its worst display. The Rajapaksa government appears to have succeeded in what it set about doing by arresting the General. Whether the charges against the hapless General, who dared to contest against President Rajapaksa are proved or not, his arrest has effectively taken him out of campaigning during the general election. This may well the objective of prosecuting him now, rather than on more serious charge of attempted coup when more details are collected. His removal from the electoral scene has deprived the opposition parties the only rallying point on which they could come together to fight the ruling coalition. However, lacking a Plan B after the General’s arrest, the opposition parties have started speaking in many voices dissipating their short lived unity of purpose. The President’s huge mandate from Sinhala population in the presidential poll has placed him in a unique position to resolve the ethnic problem. He had also kindled general expectation that he would take up this after his election. President Rajapaksa had painted the LTTE led insurgency as the root cause of all evils. If it had been so, ethnic divide should have vanished with the demise of Tamil Tigers. He has offered neither a creative solution nor a chalked out a time bound path for reconciliation. So ethnic divide is still very much alive; and it is at the root of most evils bugging the country. In fact, the elections have given a fresh lease of life to the ethnic issue. Even after the new parliament is elected no one is sure a political package would be offered as promised by the President. So many promises in the past have remained only that – promises. No one seriously believes political promises anymore, it seems. In the process it has turned the limelight on a whole lot of internationally embarrassing issues including those of governance, transparency, accountability and human rights.The Rajapaksa stratagem appears to be to play out for time; otherwise it is difficult to understand the purpose of appointing yet another committee "to study the root cause of the ethnic conflict, lessons learnt by the island-nation since sections of Tamils took to militancy in a bid to gain their rights and aspirations, and the challenges faced by the country." There are enough studies and papers written on the subject already. A historian rather than a committee should be adequate to cull out nuggets of wisdom from them. Committees have a survival instinct and elastic existence. It seems appropriate that Mahinda Samarasinghe, the Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights (a curious, but appropriate, combination of portfolios as Human Rights require disaster management now), announced the news of the proposed commission. Despite the lofty objectives proclaimed, the real reason for its creation is probably more mundane - a knee jerk reaction to the UN General Ban Ki Moon’s intention to appoint a commission of experts to probe possible human rights abuses and violations during Sri Lanka's civil war. As neither the UN nor international community is likely to impressed by such a move, it is also probably an expediency to buy time for political maneuvering rather than address core issues. This is so typical of the ‘Band Aid’ strategy of Sri Lanka government had been following for sometime now. Sri Lanka’s inability to address the core issues is understandable. Sri Lanka has to unlearn rather than learn a few things that have cramped its style and prevented it from addressing the core issues. These "interlopers" have sapped its strength and turned politics into a circus of short lived daring acts. These "interlopers" are: adoption of "emergency politics" as a political stratagem, erosion of rule of law, and continuing threat to fundamental freedoms including human rights, freedom of expression and the right to dissent. These issues affect the entire population rather than any specific ethnic group. Unless they are rooted out there will be no credibility in the political process including conduct of free and fair elections. The fall out of lack of credibility of government and rising public cynicism can prevent evolution of democratic solutions to national problems. Such societies become incubators of insurgency movements. The bottom line is the Tamil ethnic issue cannot be resolved unless structural issues are addressed with an open mind without political paranoia. Unlike the presidential poll, there is a clear lack of public enthusiasm in the parliamentary elections. In his detailed interview to the editor of The Hindu (published on February 13) President Rajapaksa sounded supremely confident of winning the parliamentary election "very comfortably." In fact, the President talked of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) getting a two-thirds majority or "close to that." Proportional representation system in parliament makes it difficult for any single party to gain absolute majority. Out of the 225 members of parliament, 196 members are elected directly. The remaining 29 members are appointed from the National List based upon the percentage of votes secured by the contesting parties. So despite Rajapaksa’s confidence, and weakening of the opposition, UPFA securing two-thirds majority may not be such a simple equation. In this context, Rajapaksa’s seemingly humorous remark on the subject made in the interview is significant. He said "finally, Ranil Wickremasinghe's crowd is there to come back and join me." It is much more than humour; welcoming deserters from the UNP to UPFA coalition had been part of his electoral calculus in the past. In the process of attracting defectors in the outgoing parliament, he managed to split almost all parties and benefited from its fall out. And we can expect this to happen now also.Proportional representation system in parliament makes it difficult for any single party to gain absolute majority. Out of the 225 members of parliament, 196 members are elected directly. The remaining 29 members are appointed from the National List based upon the percentage of votes secured by the contesting parties. The Tamil Diaspora still appears to the dreaming of Tamil Eelam. Dreams do not become reality unless they related to the real world. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has metamorphosed into Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) reverting back to the Federal Party days when the Tamil Tigers were not born. But this cosmetic change is not enough. The historical moment for reincarnation of Federal Party is probably over. The ITAK cannot have the cake and eat it for the Tamil Diaspora support. It has to make hard choices and it appears to be in no mood to do so.ITAK has to evolve a strategy to deal with the emergence of Mahinda Rajapaksa as an unchallenged leader. He has used a mix of leveraging circumstances, back room deals, arm twisting and street smart political moves to reach this position. Unless ITAK shows it can deal with him effectively to get the best deal for Tamils, it is likely lose its flock. Its dissipation of followers will also probably see the slow dismantling of other exclusive Tamil parties as national parties pick up their cadres offering carrots of power and position.

Trapped In Legal Limbo

Sri Lanka has outright rebuffed shocking allegations that some 11,000 suspected rebel cadres allegedly being held ‘incommunicado’ by the government are at risk of being tortured and are subjected to enforced disappearance apart from various other forms of harassment.The government’s denial comes as thousands of men and women with suspected LTTE links continue to be trapped in legal limbo with little freedom, all in the name of ‘rehabilitation’ sponsored by the Sri Lankan government.The Military Spokesman, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told The Sunday Leader that, “We categorically deny these charges. None of these detainees are tortured or harassed. Most of those who are under rehabilitation surrendered themselves willingly and only a handful were arrested.”Nanayakkara’s comments came just days after the New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the Sri Lankan government to end its indefinite arbitrary detention of more than 11,000 people held in rehabilitation centres and release those who are not being prosecuted.In a 30-page report, “Legal Limbo: The Uncertain Fate Of Detained LTTE Suspects In Sri Lanka,” which was based on interviews with the detainees’ relatives, humanitarian workers, and human rights advocates, among others, HRW claimed that the government had allegedly violated the fundamental rights of the detainees, an allegation vehemently denied by the Military Spokesman.HRW noted that the lack of transparency in the process and of information about the fate and whereabouts of some of the detainees raised concerns about possible torture or mistreatment in custody, and the possibility that some of the disappearances might have been forcible.The Military Spokesman maintained that there was transparency and these rehabilitation camps were in fact open to anyone who wished to visit them, including journalists and humanitarian organisations, despite reports that certain humanitarian organisations were locked out of these camps. “Parents and families of these detainees can visit them and see for themselves the rehabilitation they are undergoing,” he said.“The government has been keeping 11,000 people in legal limbo for months,” said Asia Director at HRW, Brad Adams. “It’s time to identify who presents a genuine security threat and release the rest.”However, Nanayakkara pointed out that from the 11,000 former suspected rebel cadres, 1000 with minor charges against them have already been released to their respective families upon completing the rehabilitation process.HRW maintained that it was unclear whether any of the 11,000 detainees have been formally charged with any crimes, and what acts these individuals had committed that led to their detention.However Nanayakkara disclosed that all these detainees have been produced before courts and it was the court which ordered their rehabilitation.He emphasised that no legal action would be taken against them, indicating that after they complete their rehabilitation, which includes skills training relating to beauty culture, information technology, teaching, tailoring and carpentry they will be released upon which they can lead a normal life.In an illustrative case, HRW in its report claimed that the army detained 32-year-old Jeganathan on May 15, 2009, after he crossed into government-controlled areas with his wife, Aanathi, and their one-year-old son. The military insisted that Aanathi continue to the camp and she heard nothing about her husband for several weeks. “I lost all hope,” Aanathi reportedly told HRW. “I thought that I would never see him again.”“A relative of Aanathi eventually located Jeganathan in one of the rehabilitation centres, and Aanathi has been able to visit him on occasion. Months after he was detained, the government has not informed him how long he is supposed to stay in the centre. He has not had access to a lawyer and he has not been able to contest his detention before a court. During Aanathi’s last visit to see her husband he told her that the authorities continue to interrogate him and that they had started beating some of the other surrendees,” the HRW report alleged. However the Sri Lanka military has vehemently denied these allegations.According to HRW, the Lankan government has asked international donors to provide financial support for the rehabilitation centres, however the rights group has urged the donors not to support the centres unless and until the rights of the detainees are fully respected.“In the absence of due process guarantees, support for these centres is support for the government’s illegal detention policy,” said Adams. “No donor should be associated with that.”“The government has the right and responsibility to protect public safety. International law allows the government to take measures to identify and apprehend individuals who acted on behalf of the LTTE in violation of the law, including LTTE combatants and leaders hiding among the displaced population. However, the detention and treatment of LTTE suspects must also be in accordance with international law,” HRW advised.“It is important for public confidence in the government that these cases be dealt with in accordance with Sri Lanka’s obligations under international human rights law,” the rights group added.HRW also called on the Sri Lankan government to immediately make public specific information on the whereabouts of those detained on security grounds and the legal basis for the detention of each individual.The New York based rights group also called on the United Nations, donor countries and institutions, and other concerned governments to call upon the Lankan government to comply with international law with regard to detention and treatment of LTTE suspects, while also urging the international community to support the government’s rehabilitation programme and the rehabilitation centres only on condition that they either are truly voluntary or that detainees are granted all of their rights under international law.

20 March 2010

Fonseka spoke of India threat: Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an interview said that post-LTTE defeat, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka had asked army strength to be increased by three lakh on plea that the island nation faced military threat from India.“Do you know he (Fonseka) wanted to increase the size of the army to 450,000?” the President said in an interview to the Straight Times of Singapore on Thursday. “He said there are external threats. So I asked, who he was talking about? And he said, ‘India’. So what can 450,000 do against 2.5 million (India’s armed forces strength)? I told him, let me worry about external forces,” Rajapaksa said.Asked if Rajapaksa still believed that Fonseka was planning a military coup, he said: “There was something going on. I cannot discuss details as inquiries and legal proceedings are on.”On the possibility of a presidential pardon, Rajapaksa said that military discipline would be adversely affected if Fonseka was pardoned. “What about the court martial of other officers? What can I do! This is the British law. They gave it to India and us. Fonseka himself put thousands of soldiers under court martial. At one time the figure was 8,500. I shouted at him and I had to release them,” the President said.Asked about Tamil minorities’ demand for federal structure, Rajapaksa said: “Federalism is a dirty word in Sri Lanka. It is linked so much with separation. If I want to leave politics and go home, the best way is to talk of federalism. They won’t accept me after that.”“I have learnt from India. You think I would make the same mistake? See what happened in Mumbai. It took eight hours to fly in the National Security Guard commandos because they needed the requisite permissions,” the Lankan President said.

“All military camps in Jaffna peninsula will be scrapped if UNP wins” – Ranil

Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of United National Party (UNP), who arrived in Jaffna accompanied by his wife said that all the military camps in Jaffna peninsula will be scrapped except Palaali Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, in the UNP election campaign meeting held in Jaffna Veerasingham Hall Friday. “High Security Zones are no longer necessary in the peninsula and the people evacuated from these places will be immediately resettled in their own properties if UNP becomes the ruling party in the general election,” he further said.  More than five hundred people attended this meeting where UNP chief candidate for Jaffna electorate Ms. Vijayakala Mahendran, Mrs. Ranil Wickremasinghe, Tissa Athanayake, the General Secretary of UNP and its treasurer Swaminathan were present.Ranil Wickremasinghe and his group were led from Jaffna town to Veerasingham Hall in procession with the playing of traditional pipes and drums.Ranil Wickremasinghe announced that the following matters will be expedited if UNP comes to power:

• All HSZs except Pallali will be scrapped and the owners of the properties, be they Muslims, people from Vanni or Jaffna, will be resettled in their properties immediately.

• A Commission of Inquiry will be established and it will immediately begin to find what had happened to the persons gone missing in Jaffna peninsula during the present government.

• No one except the government armed forces will be permitted to bear weapons and all paramilitary groups will be done away with.

“We all have to beg the forgiveness of the people for all the pain we had inflicted on them,” Ranil Wickremasinghe said.

“The burning of Jaffna Public Library, attacks of Dalada Maligawa and Maha Bothi, the loses of political leaders like Amirthalingam, Raviraj, Maheswaran, Joseph Pararajasingham and many others are all tragic indeed,” he added.“All of us are responsible for all these tragic events for which we have to apologize to the people,” Ranil said.Once UNP comes to power the aim of its government will be to restore normalcy of life and prioritizing development of the country and we will strive to achieve these goals, he said in conclusion.

No foreign monitors during general elections: Lankan Election Commission

Sri Lanka's Election Commission has turned down the demand for presence of foreign poll observers at the counting centres for the upcoming parliamentary polls. The demand was made by some opposition parties including United National Party (UNP) which said that such a presence would ensure accuracy in election results. The opposition request comes in the backdrop of allegations of malpractices in the vote count for Presidential elections. Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake did not outright reject the proposal but said that the political parties should have made such a request on the nominations day. The main Opposition United National Party (UNP) has sent a written request to the Election Commissioner asking for the presence of foreign poll observers at the counting centres to ensure accuracy of election results. Meanwhile, Rohana Hettiarachi, Director of People's action for Free and Fair elections (PAFFREL), said the organisation has sent several letters and reminders to the EC regarding the appointment of observers at the forthcoming general elections without avail. "The Elections Commissioner did not even dwell on the subject, it was pointed out, the UNP website claimed.

‘Give me a strong Parliament’

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that he had a duty to create a society which is well disciplined and has high moral values. Addressing the first major political rally in support of UPFA candidates contesting the forthcoming Parliamentary elections, the President said he was of the belief that a country’s progress could be retarded if it did not possess a disciplined society. “The people gave me a second successive mandate to govern the country with a 1.8 million majority with a lot of hope and conviction. A disciplined and morally rich society is one of their wishes. I am prepared and committed to fulfill their aspirations,” he said at the rally in Kandy. He pointed out to the large gathering that the people had elected him in 2005 with the main objective of delivering the country from the clutches of terrorism. “However I got a Parliament where we could not appoint even our own Speaker. We had a question mark before ourselves, when it came to our forward march. But we did not let the people down and delivered what they wished,” he said. “Now the country is yours. To drive it towards greater prosperity and accelerate the development process appoint a strong Parliament,” he said. The President also emphasized that the party came before anything else and everybody should work as a team to ensure victory of the Betel Leaf. The people have three choices when it came to the Manape and they can choose whom they like, he added. The large public gathering at the Getambe grounds in Kandy was also addressed by Minister and SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena, artiste Jackson Anthony, former MP Wimal Weerawansa, Ellawela Medananda Thera and all 15 UPFA contenders from the Kandy district. Two renowned local politicians of the UNP from Kandy joined the UPFA, namely M. Marjan and Chandana Bandara.

Lanka ‘a country of concern’ for Britain

The British Government in its Human Rights Report 2009 has named Sri Lanka as a “country of concern” as the media freedom continues to deteriorate and the poor human rights situation is exacerbated.“Following the end of the war the human rights situation has improved but remains a serious concern. Media freedom continues to be under threat and abductions of civilians, although reduced in number, continues. The poor human rights situation is exacerbated by weak policing and judicial systems,” the British Home office said.The report also stated that there had been little LTTE activity in Sri Lanka following the end of the fighting in May but a number of other armed groups continue to operate.“The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and cadres loyal to Muralitharan (aka Karuna), a Tamil government minister and former senior LTTE member, are reported to continue to carry arms in the east,” it said.The report also said the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam and other Tamil paramilitary groups are alleged to have been active in IDP camps in Vavuniya. And in Jaffna in the far north, Eelam People’s Democratic Party, a government‐aligned Tamil political party, is reported to be continuing to engage in paramilitary activity and to threaten political opponents. There have been claims that some of these groups disarmed in the latter stages of 2009 but there has been no verifiable disarmament process.The home office statement also said the UK has been at the forefront of international efforts to contribute to an improvement in the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, both in its direct dealings with the government and in concert with international partners. “The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary encouraged the government to take this opportunity to make progress on national reconciliation. We have also been encouraging the government to address concerns such as the pre‐election violence that resulted in five deaths and the arrest, on unspecified charges, of Presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka.” We supported EU action on the Generalised System of Preference Plus (GSP+) in response to the human rights situation. We will also continue to urge the government to produce the National Action Plan on Human Rights that it gave an undertaking to draw up as part of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sri Lanka in 2008, the report added.

Massive weapons haul found

One of the largest hauls of war material were seized during an extensive search operation by the police Special Task Force Commandos in Puliyankulama in Vavuniya yesterday. The operation was conducted after a tip-off by residents. These explosives were hidden by the LTTE terrorists. Seized landmines and explosives were handed over to the Vavuniya police station. The following explosives were found: 267kg land mine made with TNT explosives laid in a 210 L barrel 1, 174kg land mine made with TNT explosives laid in a 210 L barrel 1, anti personnel pressure mine 10, Detonators 02, 90m Wire roll 2.

Australia deports 4 Lankans

The Australian government deported four Sri Lankan asylum seekers, two Tamils, one Sinhalese and one Muslim, after their applications for refugee status were unsuccessful, a spokesman for the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) said today.  The departure of these intercepted individuals brings the total number of unsuccessful Sri Lankan asylum seekers removed from Australia to 80, since late 2008. The irregular maritime arrivals were on two boats intercepted in last year. The DIAC spokesman said the government’s position on asylum seekers was clear. “People who are owed Australia’s protection under our international obligations will be granted that protection,” the spokesman said. “All irregular maritime arrivals found not to be owed protection and with no other basis to remain in Australia will be removed.”The handling of claims for protection demonstrates the Australian Government’s commitment to dealing with irregular maritime arrivals in a timely and effective manner.“Irregular maritime arrivals are interviewed to assess, among other things, their reasons for travel to Australia,” the spokesman said. “This group was initially assessed as not having a valid claim for refugee status and an independent merits review has upheld this decision. This brings the total number of irregular maritime arrivals removed since late 2008 to 145. Of those, 19 have been removed in 2010.

Remove Sanath from IPL tournament until end of general election – Indian party       

Puthia Thamizhagam party of India has states Sanath Jayasuriya, who is contesting the general election in Sri Lanka as a candidate for the UPFA for Matara District should be removed from Mumbai Indians team in the Indian Premier League. K. Krishnasamy, the leader of Puthia Thamizhagam party addressing a media meeting had said his party would carry out a massive agitation opposite the stadium on the 6th if Jayasuriya is included in the team to play an IPL match. He had said Sanath Jayasuriya is a candidate contesting from President Mahinda Rajapakse’s party for the general election to be held on 8th April and he should be barred from playing in any of the matches until the election was over. “We have instructed the authorities of Mumbai Indians team to keep the candidate of Mahinda Rajapakse away from Thamil Nadu. If they get Jayasuriya to play in the match to be held in Chennai we would carry out a massive agitation opposite the stadium,” said Dr. K. Krishnasamy.   
 
UK says only independent investigations can address Sri Lanka's human right violations

Although the 26-year conflict in Sri Lanka came to an end very fundamental questions remain over the conduct of the war, which only independent investigations can address, the British government said.Britain's Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, made these remarks during the launch of the 2009 Annual Report on Human Rights at Lancaster House on Wednesday (March 17).The 194-page Annual Report on Human Rights 2009 issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and presented to the British parliament says over the course of the 26-year conflict in Sri Lanka, law and order had been eroded and a culture of impunity developed, both in government and LTTE controlled parts of the country.It said the Sri Lankan government needs now to grasp the opportunity provided by the decisive military victory achieved last May to forge a sustainable peace. While acknowledging that following the end of the war the human rights situation has improved, it says serious concerns remain as media freedom continues to be under threat and abductions of civilians, although reduced in number, continue.The report points out that the poor human rights situation is exacerbated by weak policing and judicial systems and the country's state-run Human Rights Commission is not politically or financially independent reducing its effectiveness."While there are some positive signs that the government is tackling the culture of impunity, no action has been taken in cases alleging police malpractice in relation to suspected LTTE members," it said.It urged the government to identify and prosecute those responsible for the most serious human rights cases, such as the killing of Action Contre La Faim workers in 2006 and the assassination of a leading newspaper editor Lasantha Wickramathunga in January 2009.The British report said the lasting peace in Sri Lanka and genuine reconciliation between its communities will depend in large part on the promotion and protection of the rights of all Sri Lankans, irrespective of their ethnic or religious background.The report said the UK government supported the European Union's decision to suspend the Generalised System of Preference Plus (GSP+) in response to the human rights situation.The British government said it will continue to urge the Sri Lankan government to produce the National Action Plan on Human Rights that it gave an undertaking to draw up as part of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sri Lanka in 2008.

Tensions between UN and Sri Lanka over war crimes

A diplomatic row has erupted between the Sri Lankan government and the United Nations over plans by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, announced earlier this month, to establish an expert panel to investigate human right violations during the last stages of the country’s long running civil war between the military and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).President Mahinda Rajapakse restarted the war in mid-2006, launching military offensives in open breach of a 2002 ceasefire arrangement. The government and the military relentlessly pursued the war and were responsible for widespread civilian casualties through indiscriminate shelling and aerial bombardment. In the final five months of the war to May 2009, the UN estimated that at least 7,000 Tamil civilians were killed. Other estimates put the figure as high as 20,000.All the major powers, including the US and the European powers, tacitly supported Rajapakse’s criminal war. But in the final months of the conflict, Washington and its European allies began raising limited criticisms of the military’s human rights violations. Their main concern was not the fate of hundreds of thousands of Tamil civilians, but rather the destabilising impact of continuing communal tensions in Sri Lanka on the wider region, and also the growing influence of China in Colombo.These underlying rivalries emerged into the open last May, shortly after the LTTE’s defeat. At a specially convened meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, Britain and France backed a proposal by Switzerland for a limited international investigation into human rights violations by both sides in the conflict. While not a member of the UN body, the US backed the resolution. The move, which was bitterly opposed by the Sri Lankan government, was defeated with diplomatic support from China, India and Russia. Far from backing off, Washington continued to pressure Colombo and undoubtedly had a hand in prompting Ban’s latest decision to establish a human rights panel.The Sri Lankan government immediately rejected Ban’s proposal. According to a press statement on March 6, Rajapakse told Ban that such a panel would be an interference in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs and warned that he would take the “necessary and appropriate action in that regard”. The statement described the proposal as “unwarranted” and commented that “no such action had been taken about other states with continuing armed conflicts on a large scale, involving major humanitarian catastrophes and causing the deaths of large numbers of civilians due to military action”.Rajapakse has been marshalling support from the so-called Non Aligned Movement (NAM) of countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, in which India plays a prominent role. Its Coordinating Bureau wrote to Ban opposing his proposal, noting it “strongly condemns selective targeting of individual countries”. Like Rajapakse’s reference to “other states,” the allegation of “selective targetting” is a rather timid criticism of the two-faced stance of the US and its European allies for reproaching the Sri Lankan military for crimes like those that the US and NATO are carrying out on a daily basis in Afghanistan and Iraq.Ban, however, announced on March 18 that he intended to proceed with his plan without delay, saying NAM had “misunderstood” his intentions. He gave no further details but insisted that it was within his powers to appoint such a body and declared it would not “infringe on the sovereignty of Sri Lanka”. Ban added that Rajapakse had yet to act on limited promises on human rights made last year. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama responded by branding the decision an “intrusive unilateral initiative” that provided political assistance for opposition parties in the campaign for the April 8 parliamentary elections.Rajapakse’s ruling coalition will undoubtedly exploit the UN plan to posture in the election campaign as a defender of Sri Lankan sovereignty against an “international conspiracy” to tarnish the reputation of the country and its military. The president’s stance is just as hypocritical as that of the US and its European allies—which he does not name so as not to upset diplomatic ties. His guarded references to the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—which Colombo supported and continues to support—are simply to deflect criticism from the Sri Lankan military’s crimes, for which his government is politically responsible.Rajapakse’s balancing act underlines the deepening rivalry between the major powers for influence in Colombo. Having plunged the country back to war, the president increasingly turned to China for diplomatic, financial and military assistance, offering economic concessions to Beijing in return.China was Sri Lanka’s biggest donor last year with $US1.2 billion worth of aid, including to build roads and power stations. The foreign ministry announced on March 10 that China’s Export-Import Bank has extended a new $290 million loan to Sri Lanka to construct another international airport and to develop the island’s railways. In return for its support, China was given the contract to build a major new port at Hambantota in the south of the island, which strengthens Chinese efforts to protect its key trading routes across the Indian Ocean.Washington’s determination not to allow Sri Lanka to slip into China’s sphere of influence was underscored by a report published by the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations last December. The document warned that “the United States cannot afford to ‘lose’ Sri Lanka,” noting it was “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”. It also pointed out that instability in Sri Lanka impacts on the south of India, which is now a key US economic and strategic partner.The US report dwelt at some length on the growing Chinese influence in Sri Lanka and called for “a broader and more robust approach to Sri Lanka that appreciates new political and economic realities in Sri Lanka and US geostrategic interests”. It urged a “multi-dimensional” strategy that was not driven “solely by short-term humanitarian concerns,” calling for greater US economic assistance and closer military collaboration.Nevertheless, Washington is continuing to bring low-key pressure to bear on the Rajapakse regime over human rights. Last week the US State Department issued another report on Sri Lanka commenting that the government’s “respect for human rights declined” by the end of the war. In particular, the report referred to the “numerous accusations against the pro-government paramilitary groups and security forces involved in torture, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and extortion,” noting that no action had been taken against them.Ban’s decision to establish a panel to examine Sri Lanka’s human rights record is fully in line with Washington’s tactics. The dynamic of the operation is clear: any move by Rajapakse closer to Washington will ease the examination of Sri Lankan war crimes; any move away will increase the likelihood that the president and his ministers might be directly implicated. The last thing that any of the actors in the charade want is a comprehensive investigation of the criminal war in Sri Lanka, which would not only expose the Colombo government but its international backers—including the US and the EU.

19 March 2010

President says no early pardon for Fonseka

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ruled out an early pardon for his election rival retired General Sarath Fonseka and dismissed the former Army Commander and Chief of Defence Staff as a “fool” who was unprepared for politics. In an interview with Singapore’s Straits Times published on Thursday, President Rajapaksa also spelled out his economic ambitions for post‐war Sri Lanka and said it would take time to eliminate the vestiges of the Tamil Tiger rebellion.“He is a fool. On November 16 he was sitting right here and I asked him if he was interested in contesting and he said, ‘No, sir... I haven’t made up my mind.’ Even on the day of his last visit he didn’t tell me,” the president said.“So I advised him. I told him that politics is not the army. In the army, when you give an order they follow. In politics you give an order and they react in a different way,” he added.General Fonseka, who led government forces to victory against the Tamil Tiger separatists last year, was arrested by the military on February 8, two weeks after he lost the presidential election.He is now facing a court martial on charges of engaging in politics while he was still commander of the army, and of making irregular weapons procurements.President Rajapaksa said he could have prevented Fonseka from running against him by delaying the general’s retirement until after the deadline for nominations.“But I let him contest. I didn’t want people to say I was frightened.” He ruled out an early pardon for his rival.“But if I pardon him what about army discipline. What about the court martial of other officers? What can I do? This is the British law. They gave it to India and us,” President Rajapaksa said. “Fonseka himself had thousands of soldiers under court martial. At one time the figure was 8,500. I shouted at him and I had to release them.”On allegations that General Fonseka was plotting a coup, President Rajapaksa said, “There was something going on. I cannot discuss all details as inquiries and legal proceedings are on.” Referring to last month’s incident where police were reported to have found cash in safe‐deposit lockers held by Fonseka’s son‐in‐law, the president alleged that General Fonseka “placed the equivalent of 700,000 dollars in a bank after the elections,”“And that was only half the money and only because the locker wasn’t big enough to take more,” President Rajapaksa told the Straits Times.He said that, after ending the three decade‐long civil war, he hoped to double Sri Lankans’ per capita income to 4,000 dollars during his second term and turn the island nation into an aviation and shipping hub.When asked if the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was gone for good, he replied, “No. There are sleeping cadres and there are interested parties, especially outside Sri Lanka. Just because the leaders were eliminated, it is not over.”

It’s inch-by-inch for Indian deminers in Sri Lanka

“There is a saying among deminers,’’ the Indian official said. “It takes $3 to plant a mine and $300 to clear it.’’ Money is just a part of it; deminers have to have more than their share of patience. The Indians working for Sarvatra, a New Delhi-based NGO that has been carrying out demining projects in parts of Sri Lanka’s war-ravaged north, should know about it. The 100-odd Indians, mostly former army personnel, have been working here since 2003 — along with another Indian demining NGO, Horizon — and painstakingly clearing mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) like live grenades and IEDs.  A measure of how slow the process of demining could be is that the area cleared is calculated in square metres. “We have cleared an area of 139,889,550 square metres (139 square km) since 2003 (till 2009-end). Demining depends on the terrain, vegetation and climate. During the war, the pace of clearing mines was slow. We did not have access to many areas. Since May, 2009, after the war ended, the pace picked up,’’ a Saravtra official said. On an average, only 8 square metres to 10 square metres of area can be checked and cleared daily.HT spent a few hours in the jungles of Periyamadu, which the LTTE controlled till late 2008, where Sarvatra personnel were clearing mines. Parts of the jungle were dense. There were many abandoned homes and bunkers which the LTTE cadres used as fortification. At work was ‘Arjun’, an excavator which a retired Indian army officer had modified into a special demining machine. The ‘Arjun’, given extra layers of iron and bullet-proof cabin for the operator, digs into the earth and brings the mines or UXOs to the surface for being defused. The machine also helps in clearing more area everyday than manually possible.The Sarvatra team has recovered different types of mines used by the LTTE. “We found mines with names like Johnny 99 and Rangan and ones which had the stickers with names of soldiers like ‘Major Illuwalathi’,’’ the official added.

JHU lashes out at UN

The JHU yesterday said the UNwould not be allowed to interfere with Sri Lanka’s internal affairs or to undermine her sovereignty.Environment Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, addressing a Jathika Hela Urumaya press briefing at the National Library Services Board Auditorium, said: "UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will not be permitted to interfere in Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. We condemn his action to appoint a panel of experts to advise him on accountability in the post war period. Moon is even going against the majority of the Non-Aligned Movement countries in the UN up in arms against this move. He has not even received approval from the Security Council for this unacceptable and mischievous act."Ranawaka said that after the security forces had defeated the LTTE terrorists on May 18 last year (2009), there were many international and local conspiracies to tamper with Sri Lanka’s sovereignty on the pretext of promoting human rights etc. He said: "Just as Prabhakaran was to be defeated, the international community led by Britain, France, USA, Norway and even the UN tried their utmost to persuade the Mahinda Rajapaksa-led government to allow Prabhakaran and 40 other LTTE terrorists to surrender and even permit them to be flown out of the country."Now the international community and the Tamil Diaspora are trying to intervene in the internal affairs of this country through the UN. We will not permit this. The UN Secretary General says that he will not infringe on Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. If this is not interference, what is it?" Minister Ranawaka said the present Labour Party Government in Britain under Prime Minister Gordon Brown was facing defeat at the May 6 elections and an opinion poll indicated that Cameroon of The Conservative Party was leading by 39 per cent as opposed to Labour’s 37. The Labour Party is certain of defeat and now attempting to win over 40,000 LTTEsympathisers to vote for Labour on May 6. However, the Labour party would lose for sure, the Minister said. "We have faced international conspiracies successfully in the past and will do so now and in the future. We will take appropriate action against UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon’s decision to send a panel of experts to Colombo led by Lynn Pascoe, the Under Secretary-General (Political Affairs) of the UN," he said.He requested all SriLankans to unite and vote for the UPFA as a mark of protest against international conspirators.

Resettled IDPs still wait for promised money

The newly resettled people of the Vanni complain that though the government promised them Rs. 50,000 per family prior to the presidential election, they have not yet been paid even the amount (Rs. 25,000) they were initially promised. Officials in charge of the resettlement programme said once they got funds, they would be disbursed immediately.

Sri Lanka asks Interpol to treat Pottu Amman as dead

Sri Lanka has asked Interpol to remove the name of feared Tamil Tiger intelligence chief Pottu Amman from its most wanted list, though his body has never been found even ten months after the military campaign against LTTE ended.Pottu Amman is also wanted across the sea in India in connection with the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. He is also wanted for 1996 bloody bombing of the Sri Lankan Central Bank, which left 91 people dead."The Sri Lankan government yesterday asked Interpol to delete the name of LTTE's former intelligence chief Pottu Amman from its most wanted list," military intelligence chief Kapila Hendawitarana said."The government has reason to believe he (Amman) had been killed during the final stages of the war," the Daily Mirror quoted Hendawitarana as saying.

SLFEB in Jaffna, Vavuniya

Two branch offices of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau will be opened soon in Jaffna and Vavuniya to facilitate Northern youth seeking employment abroad.The Jaffna office will be opened on March 22 at Cross Road Nallur and the Vavuniya Office on the following day at the Agrarian Services Department building at Station Road.All work done at the Colombo office at present in connection Northern youth seeking foreign employment would be done at these two branch offices, the Foreign Employment Bureau said yesterday.

Sri Lanka gets German investment to make toys

Sri Lanka's investment promotion agency said German toymaker Fehm GMBH has started a manufacturing plant in the island's north-western Puttalam district.A subsidiary, Toymakers Pvt Ltd, will manufacture educational toys aimed at children up to the age of five years for the export market, the Board of Investment said in a statement. The factory at Unawaliwatta, in Madurankuliya, Puttalam, comes under the BOI’s 300 Enterprises Programme, that gives additional incentives to investors who start projects in rural, under-developed areas. BOI approval usually gives investors tax breaks and duty imports of machinery and raw material. "In the location of their factory, Toymakers, opted for one of the most 'difficult areas' where infrastructure is rudimentary and conditions less conducive for investment," the BOI statement said. "Hence the 350 jobs that will ultimately be created by the company will be very significant for the people of Mandurankuliya." The BOI said the global market for toys is valued at about 150 billion US dollars. "The exponential growth in real disposable incomes of the populations of India, China and other Asian states has led to an increase in demand for toys in those countries." The BOI said about 20 percent of the production of Mattel is sold in India. Mattel, which makes the famous Barbie doll, has annual sales of six billion dollars.

What about Gandhis, asks Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said there is no truth in the perception that he is building a family dynasty and referred to the Kennedys, Bushes and the Gandhis in politics as an example.In an interview to the Singapore-based Strait Times, Mr. Rajapaksa in response to a question on the oft-heard complaint that there are too many Rajapaksas in his regime has said, “But for that matter how many Kennedys were there in administration. Or Bushes. Or the Gandhis. I have only two brothers in administration.”He said the Rajapaksas had a 76-year history of electoral politics and the family was not involved in any other business.“Our business is elections, both winning and losing… although you will hear we own appam shops and thosai shops. I must admit I am the only one who didn't sell my property to contest elections. My father did it. Every election he would sell his land.”Asked about “federalist principle as a solution” to the ethnic conflict, Mr. Rajapaksa has said federalism is a dirty word in Sri Lanka and it is linked so much with separation. Maintaining that he has learnt from India and would not repeat the mistake, Mr. Rajapaksa has said, “This is not an India, a huge country. You cannot forget the history of Sri Lanka.“As for police powers, knowing my people, I would say, please do not devolve that power. See what happened when Sonia Gandhi went to Uttar Pradesh [and Chief Minister Mayawati, who is opposed to the Congress party, denied her permission to enter her constituency]. They are fighting for control of the police. You know, Chief Ministers are Chief Ministers”.“I have learnt from India. You think I would make the same mistake? See what happened in Mumbai. It took eight hours to fly in the National Security Guard commandos because they needed the requisite permissions”.To a question on the LTTE, Mr. Rajapaksa has said there are sleeping cadres and there are interested parties, especially outside Sri Lanka. “It has been just nine months since the war ended... Just because the leaders were eliminated, it is not over. The movement will take some more time. There are sleeping cadres, trained suicide bombers. They were a factory of suicide bombers”.Asked how he would like to be remembered, Mr. Rajapaksa has said, “As a man who loved his country and his people, and did my best to serve them.”On the matter concerning General Fonseka in the wide ranging interview with the newspaper, President Rajapaksa said, “This fellow had placed cash of 700,000 dollars ($975,534) in a bank after the elections. This man put it in lockers not regular deposits. And that was only half the money and only because the locker wasn't big enough to take more.”

18 March 2010

Ban Ki‐moon dismisses objections

UN Secretary General Ban Ki‐moon has dismissed Sri Lanka’s objections to his decision to set up a panel of experts to look into possible human rights abuses there and said he would do so  without delay.Mr. Ban told a news conference he was within his rights to appoint the panel of experts to probe possible violations during Sri Lanka’s civil war despite a complaint from President Mahinda Rajapaksa this month that the move was unwarranted.The UN chief also rejected as based on a “misunderstanding” a letter from non‐aligned countries at the United Nations charging that he was exceeding his authority.Ban said the appointment of the UN panel accorded with a joint statement with Sri Lanka issued after he visited Sri Lanka just after the end of the war last May.“The panel I am establishing will advise me on the standards, benchmarks and parameters based on international experience that must guide any accountability process such as the one mentioned in the joint statement,” he said.“I am convinced that it is well within my power as the secretary‐general of the United Nations to ask such a body to furnish me with advice of this nature,” he said, adding that the group would report to him directly. “This does not in any way infringe on the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.” A statement issued by President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s office on March 6 said the panel would be perceived as interference with the campaign for an April 8 general election and “would compel Sri Lanka to take necessary and appropriate action in that regard.” Ban said that despite the Sri Lankan objection and the non‐aligned countries’ letter there would be “no delay” in the establishment of the panel. He gave no further details of when it would be set up or who would serve on it.The Sri Lankan government has denied charges of deliberately targeting civilians and other human rights breaches during the conflict with the Tigers. Ban has come under pressure from critics who said that the timing of his visit, days after the end of the fighting, appeared to endorse the government’s victory.

Hearing in court-martial of Sri Lankan postponed

Judges presiding over the court-martial of Sri Lanka's defeated presidential candidate indefinitely postponed a hearing into one allegation against him Wednesday, a defense attorney said, but proceedings will continue on another charge.Sarath Fonseka, who as army chief led Sri Lanka to victory in its decades-long civil war but then fell out of favor after unsuccessfully challenging President Mahinda Rajapaksa's re-election bid, appeared before the court-martial Tuesday on accusations he prepared the groundwork for his run while still in uniform.A hearing was supposed to open Wednesday into a second charge — related to alleged breaches in the purchase of military hardware — but defense attorney Nuwan Bopage said the panel of three army officers postponed it. They want to ask Rajapaksa if another panel should handle the second charge.Reporters are barred from the court-martial, which will continue in April on the first charge.Fonseka has questioned the impartiality of the judges, saying the panel included two men whom Fonseka had disciplined when he ran the army. The panel's third member was a close relative of the current army commander who initiated the court-martial, Fonseka's lawyers said.Fonseka, a former four-star general, also argued that his case can't be heard by low-ranking officers, according to law. He pleaded not guilty to the charges filed Tuesday, Dissanayake said.The lawyer said the postponement shows that the tribunal is "fraudulent."The panel of judges "was not appointed overnight. They should have addressed this with the president earlier and got it sorted out," Dissanayake said.Government officials have also accused Fonseka of plotting to assassinate Rajapaksa and capture power, but those are not among the official charges.Fonseka's supporters say the government is punishing the retired general for challenging Rajapaksa and is attempting to cow the opposition before April 8 parliamentary elections. Despite his detention, Fonseka is running for a parliamentary seat.Rajapaksa and Fonseka were once strong allies in their campaign to defeat the Tamil Tiger rebels and end their 25-year armed campaign for an independent state. After routing the rebels last May, the leaders quickly turned on each other.

EPDP obstructs other parties campaigning in the islets of Jaffna

Candidates contesting Jaffna district electorate allege that supporters of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), a constituent party in the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), obstruct other political parties from electioneering in the islets of Jaffna which are under the complete control of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN). EPDP is trying to secure a seat in the parliamentary election in the islets of Jaffna with threats and physical harm to the contestants and supporters of other political parties, the candidate of a national political party who had been to the islets for election campaigning told TamilNet. During the 2004 general election Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members were assaulted by EPDP men in Naaranthanai area in the islets and two TNA supporters had been killed and many including the candidates were injured in the incident, he said.The same atmosphere prevails in the islets of Jaffna now and there is no room at all for any free election activity by others, he further said.Only one or two of the national political party candidates had gone to the islets for election canvassing, sources in Jaffna said.The candidates’ vehicle had been obstructed across the road by EPDP men in their vehicles and their propaganda over the loud speaker was drowned by EPDP songs and propaganda blared over their sound amplifying systems, they said.The wall posters they managed to paste were ripped off, torn and thrown on the roads within a short time, they added.Neither TNA nor Tamil National People’s Front political parties had gone to the islets of Jaffna for election campaign so far.The fear of being killed or attacked should they go to the islets for election campaign prevails among many of the contestants.

Country returning to normal Lanka tells EU

A top government delegation, which met European Commission officials said yesterday the return of normalcy to Sri Lanka provided a necessary basis for a continuing engagement with the European Union, a government communiqué said. “The delegation reiterated that there had already been palpable progress on several areas such as the re‐settlement of the Internally Displaced and the rehabilitation of those conscripted as child soldiers, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry.” “On Monday the delegation met with European Commission Trade Commissioner Mr. Karel De Gucht. The delegation consisting of a number of senior officials of the Government including Attorney General Mohan Pieris P.C., Secretary of the Ministry of Finance & Planning, Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary of the Ministry of Justice & Law Reforms, Mr. Suhada Gamalath and the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Romesh Jayasinghe is now in Brussels.“The delegation pointed out that Sri Lanka has a long‐standing democratic tradition. It is therefore inevitable that with the end of terrorism faced by Sri Lanka, there would now follow a progressive return to normalcy. As well as on‐going efforts towards the further strengthening of good governance, while having regard to transitional law enforcement and security challenges, the statement said.The meeting on Monday was followed by an in‐depth and substantive discussion on GSP+ related concerns with the officials handling Trade and External Relations matters in the Commission, according to the statement. “The delegation also met with the Director General of ECHO (the Humanitarian Aid arm of the European Commission) Dr. Peter Zangl. While briefing the Director General on the current situation in Sri Lanka, it was underlined that “the humanitarian catastrophe” predicted by some quarters in the aftermath of the end of the conflict situation was successfully averted.“The facilities provided to those re‐settled IDP’s were also detailed, by the delegation while areas of possible future needs were highlighted.“In a meeting with Mr. Robert Cooper, Director General for External and Politico‐Military Affairs of the European Council, the delegation underlined the importance Sri Lanka attaches to widening and deepening her ties with the European Union.  The meeting with Mr. Gilles De Kerchove,who is the Counter‐Terrorism Coordinator of the Council of the European Union, was used to stress the importance of the EU taking action to list the TRO, TCC and other known LTTE front organizations operating on European soil. “The delegation met with Madam Louise Arbour, President of the International Crisis Group (ICG) and former High Commissioner for Human Rights of the UN. The delegation briefed the ICG President of the many positive economic and political developments taking place in Sri Lanka, with the end of the conflict situation.“The delegation during the rest of its stay will meet with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) serving on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committees of the European Parliament, the Human Rights Sub Committee, the South Asia delegation of the Parliament and the ‘Friends of Sri Lanka’ group, it said.“The delegation will travel to Luxembourg to call on Vice‐Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Jean Asselborn and to have bi‐lateral consultations at the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry. Similar bi‐lateral consultations have already taken place in Brussels with the Belgian Foreign Ministry. “The delegation is assisted in its meetings by Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Brussels Ravinatha Aryasinha and his staff.Senior Advisor to the President Basil Rajapaksa had held discussions in Brussels last September with the Commissioner for External Relations of the European Commission (EC) and other senior European Union (EU) personalities. Thereafter the Deputy Directo‐General for External Relations of the EC Mr. Stefano Sannino was in Sri Lanka in early November, 2009

Terrorist members can claim asylum in Britain

The court ruled that being a member of the Tamil Tigers, which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the government, should not prevent an individual claiming asylum. Their ruling was made in the case of “R” who joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 1992, at the age of 10. The Tamil Tigers, or Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, have been involved in a bloody struggle in Sri Lanka, that stretches back 30 years. “R” occupied various positions until, at the age of 18, he was appointed to lead a mobile unit transporting members of the intelligence division through the jungles to Colombo. He also acted as chief security guard to the leader of the intelligence division and second in command of the combat unit of the intelligence division. In October 2006 he was sent under cover to Colombo to await further instructions but two months later he discovered that the Sri Lankan government was aware of his presence in the capital. He fled to Britain and claimed asylum on the basis that if he returned to Sri Lanka he would face mistreatment due to his race and LTTE membership. The application was refused, saying that there were grounds for considering that he had committed war crimes. It said the Tamil Tigers had been “responsible for widespread and systemic war crimes and crimes against humanity” and that his membership of an extremist group could be presumed to amount to “personal and knowing participation, or at least acquiescence amounting to complicity, in the crimes in question.” The decision was quashed by the Court of Appeal which said the government was wrong to assume that the individual, as a member of the LTTE, was guilty of knowing participation in such crimes and that the government should have considered whether there was evidence that he had made a significant contribution to the commission of such crimes. The Home Secretary appealed against the decision but on Wednesday that was turned down.

Lanka to clear LTTE legacy

The government has begun clearing all LTTE landmarks in the north in an attempt to wipe out any trace of the Tigers, a top government source told Daily Mirror online.According to media reports, LTTE landmarks have now become a popular tourist spot in the north as people flock to these areas to view the buildings and houses which once belonged to the LTTE leaders.However the government said that they do not want to promote tourism in the north due to the LTTE landmarks and were therefore clearing the area in order to construct fresh hotels and resorts.Tourism Ministry Secretary George Michael confirmed to Daily Mirror online that the government had begun clearing some LTTE landmarks in the north in line with the government’s policy to not highlight former LTTE landmarks for local or foreign tourists. “The official government policy is not to highlight former LTTE landmarks for tourism purposes. The government has already begun to clear some LTTE landmarks inline with the government’s view that terrorism, the LTTE and the violence which affected the public during the war should be forgotten,” Michael said. While the clearing LTTE buildings is underway, the Tourism Ministry has begun promoting Jaffna and the Northern Province as tourist destinations in an effort to empower the country’s economy. Following the opening of the main A-9 Kandy-Jaffna highway, the only land route to the Northern Jaffna peninsula, around 300,000 local and foreign tourists have flocked to the region reports said. The Ministry in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Army has set up a tourist information centre at Hospital Street in Jaffna town to offer help and facilitate those visiting the Northern peninsula.

How could ‘dead’ pottu Amman’s name be in Interpol ‘wanted’ list?

Even  today, the names of Pottu Amman and two others linked with him  have been posted  under red notice in the ‘wanted list’ of Interpol website. If Pottu Amman is dead, there is no reason for his name being published in the ‘wanted list’ in the Interpol website. His name has been included in the Interpol ‘red notice’ list last December. Does this mean that, though the Sri Lanka (SL) government   earlier concluded that he was dead, by last December  there were  clues to impel  the government  to change its view? According to government sources , Pottu Amman’s name is in the Interpol list because his death certificate was not issued.Previously, the Sri Lankan government  declared that Pottu Amman also died at the time Prabhakaran was killed. However, Pottu Amman’s body was not recovered though the government  was able to  discover the bodies of Prabhakaran and the other Tamil Tiger leaders who died.  Neither, is there a photograph testifying to his death in the possession of the government  despite the fact that the bodies of all the other Tamil Tiger leaders who died with Prabhakaran, and their photographs are available.The government   on the other hand said, Pottu Amman’s body could not be recovered because he committed suicide by setting fire  to himself ; therefore, even his ashes could not be discovered. It was also  the governments’s view that his wife too committed suicide with him. When the Indian government  asked from the Sri Lankan  government . for the death certificates of Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman to conclude the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the Sri Lankan  Govt. confirmed that both had died.In a case heard against Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman ,in a Court in Sri Lanka , the Sri Lanka Security Division declared   that  both of them had died , but only Prabahakaran’s body was found , while Pottu Amman’s wasn’t. The Court accepted this averment. Even though  India was informed of this , India did not accept this information. India refused to accept the death certificate of Pottu Amman without  his body being discovered. Pertaining to the acceptance of the  death certificate of Prabhakaran , it called for more evidence to confirm his death,Later , the Indian Intelligence Service began directing its attention towards searching for Pottu Amman. The Indian intelligence service was able to obtain a clue  from a person who was with Pottu Amman during the final phase of the war in Wanni. He informed that Pottu Amman in the final phase of the war had sustained gunshot injuries and received emergency treatment for it . However , before receiving   full treatment , he fled the scene  In any case , he assumed  that , as the injury was very serious , it was impossible for him to be alive without his injury having been treated.. He  also presumed that that he could have died while escaping. . On the contrary  , if he had received treatment , he could be alive , he added. The Indian Govt. began entertaining the belief that Pottu Amman could still be alive only after receiving this piece of information from the Indian intelligence service.A popular Indian Tamil Magazine ‘Ananda Viketan’ meanwhile published that, the issue  whether Pottu Amman is dead or is still alive is shrouded in mystery. When the Tamil Nadu MPs visited Sri Lanka sometime ago , they met and questioned Basil Rajapaksa about Pottu Amman,  the Magazine reported. Basil Rajapaksa has replied that, although the security Division identified the body of Prabahakaran, they could not say anything with certainty pertaining to Pottu Amman. The magazine carried a photograph of Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman dressed in white seated  together which had been published in a pro Tamil Tiger website . This magazine related the background story to this photograph which was taken  a week before the conclusion of the war  on the 18th of May 2009, and after Prabhakaran appointed Pottu Amman as the Tamil Tiger Deputy leader. All the Tamil Tiger leaders had graced this occasion and have expressed their consent to this appointment, the Magazine added.Thereafter, the Tamil Tigers had separated into three groups: one group was to engage in repulsing the advancing Army; the second group was to flee the battlefield  while the third group was to be in the ready to surrender to the Army when it penetrates. Prabahakaran had given these instructions, and all present have agreed to this plan, the Magazine reported. If Pottu Amman who was in the group that was fleeing had escaped, then, where is he?. This is the question which has been the main theme of discussion among the Tamil Diaspora, Magazine further states. Some members of the Tamil Diaspora claim that Pottu Amman is in Eritrea.The Defense secretary recently announced that the Tamil Tiger funds, assets and commercial ventures are in Eritrea. However, the authorities of Eritrea had rejected the Sri Lanka government’s offers to take action against them. In any event, the Tamil Diaspora taking into account the division of opinion among those in the  Tamil Tiger International chain, is of the view that if Pottu Amman is living , he is unlikely to come to the open now. Speculations are rife among the Tamil Diaspora that K P who was arrested earlier, surrendered to the Sri Lankan government  after he became aware  that Pottu Amman was alive and in fear of him.It is common knowledge that in 2002, K P was ousted from his post of leader of the International chain, and was replaced by Castro, the assistant to Pottu Amman. According to the Sri Lankan  governmnet , Castro committed suicide during the war period. Nevertheless, the government has admitted that the International chain launched by Pottu Amman is still in operation. Even though K P had been captured, the chain had not been disrupted. This admission has further fuelled the suspicion that Pottu Amman is still among the living.It is possible that Pottu Amman’s name got entered into the Interpol ‘Wanted’ list  because his death is a matter of uncertainty from the standpoint of the SL Govt. Who are these individuals, Charles and Navaratnam supposed to be linked to Pottu Amman whose names are also in the Interpol list? Has the Govt. got any clue that Pottu Amman has fled with the other two individuals and is living ? At all events, even if the realization dawns on the SL Govt. that Pottu Amman is living after all , and every doubt in that regard is dispelled, it is impossible to imagine that the Govt. would officially make an  announcement to that effect .

Tamil political prisoners in LLF national list

Although these political prisoners held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) have expressed their wish to contest in the elections from the respective districts they hail from, obstacles placed by authorities in signing their nomination papers have prevented that. If not stopped by red tape, these Tamil political prisoners would have also been contesting the elections alongside General Fonseka. However, the LLF have included them in the national list to highlight the demands of the Tamil  Liberation struggle and the plight of political prisoners.Long before General Fonseka these Tamil prisoners expressed their wish to participate in elections, in order to highlight the Tamil liberation demands and the plight of political prisoners. With the participation of the former military chief in politics, all nationalities other than Tamils too have become aware of the plight of political prisoners.According to the Movement for the Release of Political Prisoners (MRPP) led by Chamil Jayaneththi, only around 4000 prisoners are held in regular prisons under police and judicial jurisdiction. No specific details are given by authorities about other prisoners detained under military surveillance.

The following LTTE suspects are nominated in the LLF national list.

Mahendran Puvitharan, prison No 4533, arrested in 1994 by Baticcalo police, court case- magistrate court no 6. Kanagarajah Pirapaharan, prison No J 32919, arrested on 25/ 11/1999, case No 208 /2005, appeal court No 107 Colombo. C.I.Ragupathy Sharma, 5749 arrested 9/2/2000, TID Colombo, case no 891/02, high court no 4, Colombo. All of them are kept at G cell, H ward, New Magazine Prison in Colombo.

Catch me if you can

Retired General Sarath Fonseka’s son‐in‐law Danuna Tillekaratne was using roaming facilities obtained from a foreign service provider, CID informed court yesterday.CID detectives said Danuna was absconding though a warrant had been issued for his arrest.They  said they were investigating reports that Danuna had stayed at a house in Piliyandala between February 16 and 17.  This was revealed when the inquiry into the alleged cheating of public funds by HiCorp Limited Company was taken before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.“Transferring Rs.450,000 to a bank account of Dhanuna Tillekaratne at Nugegoda by HiCorp Ltd Company director Wellington De Hoedt, shows that the two suspects had maintained a close relationship”, the CID officer said.The CID officer moved to seek an order on 14 bank branches requesting the details of bank accounts to investigate whether the suspect had maintained bank accounts under another person’s name. Having considered the submissions, Colombo Fort Magistrate Ms. Lanka Jayaratne re‐issued a warrant for the arrest of Dhanuna Tillekaratne for absconding court and issued order on fourteen bank branches to submit details of bank accounts.Meanwhile, the Magistrate ordered that the suspect Wellington De Hoedt who is in remand custody be further remanded till March 31. In this case the CID alleged that locally registered HiCorp Private Company had cheated public funds by forwarding forged documents to the Sri Lanaka Army while appearing as an agent of British Borneo Defense Company in Australia and that the funds obtained had been deposited in an account at Bank of America under the name of Dhanuna Tillekaratne. Further inquiry into the matter was fixed for March 31.

17 March 2010

DNA vows to defeat federalism

The JVP led Democratic National Alliance yesterday, pledged to safeguard the unitary status of the country and to defeat all attempts to bring about a federal model to devolve power.Releasing its election manifesto, the DNA promised to focus on national reconciliation through decentralising of the administration on the basis of a scientific model and establishing equal status to all races and communities. The main aim of the DNA manifesto was to strengthen democracy, work on national reconciliation, economic development, elimination of corruption and national security. DNA Leader Gen. Sarath Fonseka’s wife Anoma Fonseka and the Party’s General Secretary Vijitha Herath presented the copies of the manifesto ‘Manussathwaye Sammuthiya’ to the religious dignitaries yesterday morning. The party has also pledged to bring down the cost of living and ensure benefits for the families of soldiers who died in action. The DNA says it will scrap the executive presidency and scale down the emergency regulations to create normalcy in the country.The DNA further said that if the party is elected to power, it would appoint only 30 Cabinet Ministers and the chairmanship of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Public Accounts Committee will be handed over to the opposition. The government, the DNA was aspiring to form, has been named as ‘National Reconciliation Government’ in the manifesto. The DNA also promises to implement the provisions of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution in full and to establish the independent commissions.The manifesto says that, if elected, the DNA will bring in laws to stop MPs crossing over from one party to another, allowing for allocation to cast his or her vote according to his or her conscience. It has also reiterated the implementation of the Rs 10,000 salary increment promised to each government sector employee made at the last presidential election. The DNA also promises to increase the daily wage of an estate sector employee to Rs 500 minimum. The manifesto also said that all unemployed graduates would be absorbed into the state sector with immediate effect.The DNA also pledged to ensure the franchise of the Sri Lankan expatriates.The party had promised to continue with free education and health care, public transport service and housing schemes for the underprivileged in the society.

EU gives hope to sri lanka

Following high level talks between the European Union (EU) and Sri Lanka, the EU may consider the possibility of extending the GSP+ facility through mutual agreements on key areas of concern, EU delegation head Bernard Savage said yesterday.In an interview with Daily Mirror on the eve of the talks with the four‐member Sri Lankan delegation in Brussels, Mr. Savage said the EU was conscious of the importance of the trade concession for Sri Lanka’s economy and had no intention of causing it harm. He stressed that the EU had stood with Sri Lanka in good times and in bad. “The EU looks forward to further improvement in three main areas in Sri Lanka’s domestic affairs such as the complete and total application to international conventions agreed to by Sri Lanka on civil rights, labour rights and children’s rights,”, Mr. Savage said.He said the extension of the GSP+ was inter‐connected with these issues and the EU and Sri Lanka would focus on the measures that should be taken by both sides to pave the way forward for the extension of the trade concession. “One must not hasten to think there will be an immediate change in the EU stance following this week’s talks. The talks will lay the ground work for a positive development on the extension of the GSP+ and other issues. The two sides will discuss the Commission report issued on Sri Lanka in December last year and see what needs to be done and where the two sides can reach a mutual agreement on the issues,” Mr. Savage emphasized. He said the EU was mindful of the possible loss of employment if Sri Lanka lost the GSP+ facility. “The officials in Brussels will take every effort to reduce or avoid the negative impact on Sri Lanka in the event the trade concession is suspended,” Mr. Savage said and added that EU’s economic, technical and educational social assistance programmes would continue un‐interrupted. “The EU maintains close contacts with the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and is working on ways of increasing investment by member states. The potential for major increase in investments is high in post conflict Sri Lanka,” Mr. Savage said. The cabinet last week decided to send a high level four‐member delegation headed by Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundara to Brussels. Other members of the delegation are Attorney General Mohan Peiris, Foreign Affairs Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe and Justice Ministry Secretary Suhada Gamlath.Meanwhile, a presidential secretariat official said the delegation left for Brussels on Saturday afternoon and official talks were scheduled to begin yesterday.
 
* February 5: EU said its member nations had decided to suspend Sri Lanka’s preferential trade status because of the country’s human rights record and will proceed to formalize the decision.
 
* February 6: The government said concessions such as GSP+ could not be terminated arbitrarily, but should be decided upon after political and socio‐economic ramifications were considered.
 
* February 17: The European Commission said it would consider re‐instating the GSP+ concession if human rights conditions improved in Sri Lanka.
 
* The EU is a major partner in tsunami rehabilitation projects in Sri Lanka, especially in the East and South where it has helped construct a large number of schools, hospitals, houses and community centers.

Colombo accuses Amnesty of bias

Responding to Amnesty International's media release that a leaked list in Colombo "reveal[ing] the names of 35 leading journalists and NGO officers of interest to the country’s secret services," was "believed to be compiled by the Sri Lanka Intelligence Unit," Sri Lanka's Defence Spokesperson, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, said that "gross allegations were being made against the [Sri Lanka] government, and organizations such as AI were continuing this trend," and "accused AI of being biased despite the [Sri Lanka] government having discussions with them in the past." Amnesty in the release further said, "[t]he list then grades each of them [the 35 journalists and NGO officers] according to their importance to the intelligence services," and added that "Amnesty International fears that the leak was a deliberate move by the government to intimidate and harass journalists in the country."The release quoted Mike Blakemore, Media Director of Amnesty International UK, as saying, “[j]ournalists are often at the forefront of protecting and defending individuals’ human rights. It is their bravery that can help expose abuses and bring them to an end.“Sri Lanka needs to respect media freedom and allow human rights defenders to go about their work freely and without harassment,” the Amnesty press release added.Mr Rambukwella rebuked, “Sri Lanka has been a country which has defeated terrorism. Because we had the power to do it, some organizations have been badly hurt by this and AI may be one of them. If they have the hit list, we challenge them to prove it,” according to Colombo media.Earlier, Executive directors of two NGOs, the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), a Colombo-based think tank, Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, and Transparency International, Sri Lanka (TISL), Weliamuna wrote a protest letter to Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse complaining about a news report in a Colombo website which said that "[Sri Lanka] state intelligence agencies have been compiling a list or lists of individuals supportive of the opposition," and that "there are reasonable grounds for fear about the physical liberty and safety of the individuals concerned."

16 March 2010

Teenage student abducted for ransom in Thenmaraadchi

Unidentified men arriving at the house of a popular merchant in Madaththadi in Chaavakachcheari North abducted his son, a 17-year-old student of a leading educational institution in Jaffna, Sunday night around 11:00 p.m, according to complaints lodged by his father with Chaavakachcheari and Jaffna police stations. The abductors kept demanding 300 million rupees as ransom to release the boy using various phones from the time of abduction until Monday dawn and had threatened to kill the boy if the money is not paid, the merchant said. The abductors had mentioned the names of some political parties contesting parliamentary election in Jaffna district while demanding ransom, he further said. The merchant is the owner of ‘Arul Vinayagar’ shop in Jaffna town which has been dealing in motorcycle spares for a long time.The mention of the names of political parties raises suspicion of contestants trying to cover their electioneering expenses by extortion.Involvement of a certain paramilitary group with the backing of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intelligence unit in this abduction is alleged by civil society sources in Jaffna.This abduction for ransom in Jaffna peninsula takes place after quite a long time, they said.

UN raises Fonseka arrest with Sri Lanka president

UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon raised the arrest of a defeated Sri Lankan opposition candidate with its president and expressed concern about events in the Asian nation, the United Nations said on Wednesday.In a telephone call Tuesday night, Ban also agreed with President Mahinda Rajapaksa that Lynn Pascoe, head of the UN political department, would visit the island soon after the presidential inauguration this month, a UN statement said.Tensions have risen in Sri Lanka since former army commander Sarath Fonseka was arrested Monday by military police on charges of engaging in politics against his president while still in uniform.Fonseka and Rajapaksa worked together to end a 25-year war against Tamil Tiger separatists last year but soon fell out. Fonseka lost to Rajapaksa in a January presidential poll and then accused his former commander-in-chief of rigging the vote.The UN statement said Ban "expressed his concern (to Rajapaksa) about recent developments in Sri Lanka," brought up Fonseka's arrest and "urged the government to respect the due process of law and guarantee (Fonseka's) personal safety."Ban also pressed Rajapaksa to keep a previous commitment to make proposals for a political solution of issues with the Tamil community in the north and ensure full accountability for any human rights violations.More needed to be done to return people displaced by the fighting with the separatists to their places of origin, the UN chief said.Human rights groups have accused Colombo of disregarding human life as the war ended, saying the Sri Lankan Army fired heavy artillery at a tiny strip of land where the Tigers had retreated along with hundreds of thousands of civilians.The Sri Lankan government has rejected the charges.Ban visited Sri Lanka shortly after the end of the conflict last May, but some human rights advocates charged that the visit appeared to be endorsing the government's victory.

TNA warned against splitting N&E Tamil vote

The All Ceylon Tamil United Front has warned the Tamil National Alliance against conspiring to split the Tamil vote at the upcoming general election in the North and East and leave Tamils rudderless. The warning was issued to TNA leader R. Sampanthan by Dr. K. Vigneswaran.ACTUF General Secretary Dr. Vigneswaran was speaking to a group of Tamil intellectuals who had cautioned the Tamil voters to be wary of a conspiracy to divide the Tamil vote and make them powerless.Dr. Vigneswaran, who is contesting the Trincomalee District on the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) ticket was earlier a political advisor to EPDP leader Douglas Devananda. Some Tamil intellectual had brought to the notice of Dr. Vigneswaran an unusually large number of Tamil candidates in the North and East (1,814) belonging to a record number of political parties and independent groups contesting in the five districts of Jaffna, Batticaloa, Vanni, Digamedulla and Trincomalee to elect 34 members.Dr. Vigneswaran said that he advocated that the TNA, TULF, TMVP and his party should contest as one alliance under the TNA.He said he had prepared a new constitution and handed it to Sampanthan but he rejected it claiming that the TMVP was an armed group. "Later, he agreed to accommodate the TMVP when I pointed out to him that TNA partners TELO and EPRLF were also armed groups," said Dr. Vigneswaran. Sampanthan had then laid down a condition that Federal party founder S. J. V. Chelvanayakam’s grand son Ilangovan be permitted to contest in Jaffna. Dr. Vigneswaran said they had agreed to the condition and during talks with Eastern Province Chief Minister Chandrakanthan, Sampanthan had said that the TMVP was not acceptable to the TNA as it was against the merger of the North and East.Vigneswaran said that subsequently Sampanthan had avoided meetings and started enrolling candidates. That had led to Gajendrakumar Ponnabalam’s exit from the TNA."Let the Tamils of the North and East understand that the TNA is solely responsible for the disunity among the Tamils," Dr. Vignewaran said.

General Fonseka appears before Sri Lanka military court

Sri Lanka's ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka is appearing before a military court on charges of participating in politics while in office.The defeated presidential candidate is also accused of violating military procurement procedures. He says the charges are politically motivated and an attempt to stop him contesting April's parliamentary polls. Gen Fonseka was arrested by the army last month. He lost to incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January. Protests against his arrest and court martial have been held in Colombo. Gen Fonseka was in charge of Sri Lanka's army when it defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels last year after 25 years of civil war. But he and President Rajapaksa fell out over who should take credit for the victory - and both fought the presidential election boasting of their roles in the war. Officials have also accused Gen Fonseka of plotting a coup and the assassination of President Rajapaksa - charges he denies - but those accusations will not figure at the court martial.

Secret trial

Sri Lanka's ex-chief justice, Sarath Silva, has said the court martial is unconstitutional as Gen Fonseka, in his view, is not subject to military law. Gen Fonseka would have to be tried in a civilian court, he said. Gen Fonseka's daughter, Apsara, has accused the government of trying the retired general in order to remove him from the 8 April parliamentary election, in which he intends to stand. The court martial will be held at naval headquarters in the capital, where Gen Fonseka is detained. There he will be tried, completely in secret, by a panel of officers junior in rank to himself, the BBC's Charles Haviland reports from Colombo. Even the wording of the charges has not been made public, our correspondent says, adding that sources say some 35 witnesses are likely to be called and that Gen Fonseka could face up to five years in jail. Gen Fonseka can have his own lawyers present at the court martial and can appeal to the higher civilian courts if he is found guilty, Sri Lanka's military spokesman has told the BBC. Ahead of the court martial, Gen Fonseka's Democratic National Alliance party said he would not co-operate with the proceedings, AFP news agency reported.

Sri Lanka main opposition to launch its manifesto today

Sri Lanka's main opposition, United National party (UNP) is to launch its election manifesto today (16) at the party headquarters, Sirikotha.UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake has said that the manifesto would focus on the reduction of waste and propose the reduction of perks enjoyed by government ministers.Attanayake told the media that the party would suspend the Rs 100,000 house rent allowance given to ministers and concentrate on waste reduction. He said the party aims at reducing the budget deficit by cutting down such wasteful expenditure.According to Attanayake, the party would look at maintaining discipline in state organizations and would not privatize essential services.The party is also to propose a package for farmers and others in various professions. The UNP would also focus on reducing the prices of essential items by reducing the taxes on them, Attanayake said.The UNP will also launch a special manifesto for women on Thursday (18).

'No democracy' in S.Lanka, says Fonseka supporter

Sri Lanka's former chief justice slammed the arrest of ex-army chief and opposition leader Sarath Fonseka on Monday on the eve of his court martial, saying there was "no democracy" in the country.Retired chief justice Sarath Silva criticised the treatment of Fonseka, who challenged President Mahinda Rajapakse at January elections, as hundreds of supporters of the ex-army boss demonstrated in Colombo."There is no democracy since there is no room for dissent," Silva told reporters. "There is no freedom of expression. The arrest and detention of General Sarath Fonseka is against the constitution."He said that the government was not using civilian law as that "would give Fonseka recourse to the court system to seek redress."Silva, who retired as the head of the Supreme Court last June, supported Fonseka's bid for the presidency after accusing Rajapakse of failing to uphold the constitution.Fonseka and the president were allies in the crushing of Tamil Tiger rebels last May, which ended their 37-year separatist struggle that left up to 100,000 people dead according to a UN estimate.Ahead of Fonseka's court martial, his Democratic National Alliance (DNA) party has said he will not cooperate with the closed-door proceedings at naval headquarters in the capital.The demonstrations in Colombo were the latest in a string of protests against Fonseka's arrest and court martial.The military has accused Fonseka of engaging in politics while in uniform and violating military procurement laws.His party says the court martial is aimed at stopping the 59-year-old from campaigning in parliamentary elections set for April 8.Rights groups and other critics have accused the president of cracking down on the opposition and dissent since he defeated Fonseka.Fonseka has challenged his arrest in the Supreme Court, which has fixed a hearing for April 26.Fonseka fell out with Rajapakse over who should claim credit for the victory over the Tigers.

Sri Lanka: Secret list reveals government's media hit list

A leaked list – believed to be compiled by the Sri Lankan intelligence unit – has revealed the names of 35 leading journalists and NGO officers of interest to the country’s secret services.The list then grades each of them according to their importance to the intelligence services. Amnesty International fears that the leak was a deliberate move by the government to intimidate and harass journalists in the country. Mike Blakemore, Media Director of Amnesty International UK, said: “Such a blatant leak can have only one purpose and that is to intimidate those individuals on the list and deter anyone from speaking to them.“Journalists are often at the forefront of protecting and defending individuals’ human rights. It is their bravery that can help expose abuses and bring them to an end. “Sri Lanka needs to respect media freedom and allow human rights defenders to go about their work freely and without harassment.”Amnesty International is calling on all its supporters to write to the Sri Lankan authorities expressing their concern for the safety and well-being of the 35 people on the list.Two human rights defenders, Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu and J C Weliamuna, are at particular risk.  Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, executive director of the Sri Lankan NGO, the Centre for Policy Alternatives, and J C Weliamuna, Sri Lanka director of international NGO Transparency International, have both been threatened previously and are graded as being of great interest to the intelligence services on the list. Other colleagues from their organisations are also named.

Background:

In September 2008, a grenade was thrown at the house of J C Weliamuna, damaging property but causing no injuries. That attack was thought to be in retaliation for his legal representation of clients in human rights cases where the Defence Ministry was implicated. Despite demands from local and international human rights groups, there was no credible inquiry into this attack. An article on 20 February in the national daily newspaper, Sri Lanka Guardian, reporting on a meeting between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a group of ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party lawyers, singled out J C Weliamuna, specifically, saying “something must be done about him”.Meanwhile, Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu received a death threat via an anonymous letter posted to his home in August 2009. At least 14 media workers have been killed in Sri Lanka since the beginning of 2006. Others have been arbitrarily detained, tortured and allegedly disappeared while in the custody of security forces. More than 20 journalists have left the country in response to death threats.  None of these attacks has been properly investigated or prosecuted.Sri Lankan journalists have given Amnesty a list of 56 of their colleagues who face serious threats, including some working for the government-owned Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, as well as the Independent Television Network, Lak Hada and the Lake House Group.

Thellippazhai govt. hospital allowed to operate again in its original building

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Jaffna Commander, Major Gen. Mahintha Kathurusinghe and Jaffna Government Agent, K. Ganesh officially handed over Monday afternoon the original building of Thellippazhai government hospital to its administration which had been functioning in government buildings outside the SLA High Security Zone (HSZ) in Thellippazhai for the last 20 years. SLA had taken over the hospital building during the war in 1990, sources in Jaffna said. The hospital has been functioning in the government buildings located in front of Thellippazhzi Thurkkaa Theavasthaanam.Meanwhile, SLA has announced that patients and visitors to the hospital could go there in their own vehicles without any checks on the way.SLA which had been saying that it would permit the internally displaced persons from Thellippazhai HSZ to resettle in their own properties is yet to keep its word, representatives of IDP welfare organizations said.There is no point in allowing the hospital to function in the HSZ when the people of the area are not allowed to resettle in their houses there, they added.

Police record complaints in Tamil

Western Province South DIG Ananda Hettiarachchi at the function held at Welikada Police Station yesterday to start accepting Police entries in Tamil. Also present were Nugegoda SP Deshabandu Tennakoon, retired SSP Rajapaksa, ASP Nugegoda, Nishantha Zoysa and OIC Gamini Sarath with Police personnel who had gained proficiency in the Tamil language.A number of Police Stations in the Western Province have started accepting entries from Tamil speaking members of the public in their own language after Police officers and policemen were given Tamil language proficiency under a directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Welikada Police Station started accepting entries in Tamil for the convenience of Tamil speaking citizens yesterday with DIG Western Province South Ananda Hettiarachchi being present at a function held at the Police Station. For a start the Welikada, Kohuwala, Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia Police Stations will accept entries in Tamil.

14 March 2010

Sri Lankan Tamil alliance drops independence demand

Sri Lanka's main ethnic Tamil party has dropped its demand for an independent state and said it is ready to accept regional self-rule, following the defeat of separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in a 25-year civil war. The Tamil National Alliance, which backed the rebels, said ahead of parliamentary elections that it would accept a "federal structure" in the north and east provinces with power over land, finance and law and order.Formed in 2001, the alliance acted as a proxy for the Tamil Tigers until their military defeat by government forces last year. It has 22 members in the outgoing 225-seat parliament.Tamils have long complained of discrimination at the hands of the island's majority Sinhalese, but Sri Lankan authorities have rejected any self-rule, saying it would be a prelude to secession.The president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, called the 8 April parliamentary vote in an apparent attempt to consolidate his political dominance after winning re-election as president in January, in a ballot called two years ahead of schedule. The opposition leader, former army chief Sarath Fonseka, has been detained on sedition allegations.The Tamil alliance, which supported Fonseka in the presidential election but plans to contest the parliamentary vote on an independent platform, demanded resettlement, housing and livelihood programmes for the nearly 300,000 Tamil civilians displaced in the last stages of the civil war, about 100,000 of whom are still in refugee camps.Some of the displaced civilians live with relatives and friends while others have been sent back to their villages without proper shelter or means to make a living.The alliance also asked the government to permit the return of nearly 1 million Tamils who fled to Europe and India as refugees. It wants the government to demilitarise former rebel-held areas and dismantle high-security zones where troops occupy thousands of acres of private land and houses.Between 80,000 and 100,000 people were killed during the civil war.

TNA isolates Tamils in North and East - Prof. Vitarane

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leadership was trying to isolate the Tamil community of the North and the East from the rest of the Sri Lankan society by seeking international intervention and support for its rigid stance on a political solution to the Tamil problem, Minister of Science and Technology and leader of the LSSP Prof.Tissa Vitarane said. At meetings in the run up to the April 8 parliamentary election the TNA is seeking the mandate of the Northern and Eastern Tamils for internal self-autonomy based on the Tamil motherland concept and falsely claiming that their stance on this was supported by the international community. The Minister who is also the chairman of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) said that they should remember that all past efforts of Tamil hardliners to bring the international community into the Sri Lankan scene spelt disaster to the community. Obviously, the former TNA parliamentarians did not participate in the APRC because the LTTE prevented them from doing so. Now that the LTTE has been eliminated and the TNA is contesting the polls as an independent political party they should air the grievances of the Tamils and present any political proposal at the APRC sittings. Since its inception in June 2006,the APRC held over one-hundred sittings for deliberations in an effort to find a solution acceptable to all communities and political parties within a unitary state, Prof. Vitarane said. Political parties representing inter-alia, the North, East Tamils, the up-country Tamils and the Muslims who are committed to pluralism and democracy participated in the APRC to reach a consensus on a package of measures to guarantee the rights of the Tamils, he said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that the TNA would be invited to take part in the APRC process after the parliamentary elections as it is the right forum to evolve a political solution, the Minister said.

'Tamils have not given up demand'

TORONTO: Reacting sharply to reports from Colombo that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has given up its demand for a separatist demand, the Canadian Tamil Congress here said Saturday that the Tamils have not given up their demand for a separate homeland."The TNA has been misquoted. They are in constant touch with us and what the media has put out is absolutely wrong. The TNA has not abandoned its four co-principles which include a separate homeland for Tamils,'' Canadian Tamil Congress leader David Poopalapillai told IANS here.Outlining the TNA's "four co-principles", the Tamil diaspora leader said, "These include a separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka, their right to self-determination, preservation of distinct Tamil identity and citizenship rights for Tamils who came to Sri Lanka from India in the 18th century.''Poopalapillai said, "The 1.3 million-strong Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora is behind the TNA and it has full faith in its leadership. We are very firm on what we want.''The Tamil leader added, "What we are fighting for is something like Puerto Rico and the US - two nations with one passport. The island of Sri Lanka will be one country with two nations - one Tamil nation and one Sinhalese nation.''He said nearly half of Tamils of Indian origin who were settled in central parts of Sri Lanka in the 18th century but still have no citizenship will be accommodated in the new nation.Reports from Colombo said Friday that the ethnic Tamil party has given up its demand for an independent state and is ready to accept regional self-rule under a federal set-up.The TNA, which backed the Tamil Tigers since its formation in 2001, reportedly released its so-called platform to accept a federal set-up. The party has 22 members in the nation's 225-member parliament. It supported former army chief Sarath Fonseka during the January presidential election.

JHU Open To Discussing 13th And 17th Amendments

The government would address three main challenges after the formation of the new government following the April 8 general election, JHU theoretician and Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka said.He listed the first challenge as the formulation of a new constitution which would make the executive presidency answerable to the legislature and the judiciary Minister  Ranawaka told The Sunday Leader that although his party believed there was no ethnic issue in the country, they were open to discuss the 13th and 17th Amendments to the Constitution in order to sort out its current complexities and confusions.He added that the new constitution would also look at giving power to villages through a form of Gam Sabha scheme and create functional constituencies where intellectuals and other professionals would also be included in the decision-making process.“We need professionals involved in the decision-making process, politically and otherwise,” he said. Ranawaka noted that the government would defeat the ideology of creating an Eelam in the international arena through awareness and a strong propaganda process.The government would also steer the country towards economic prosperity, he said. He explained that many Asian countries that lagged behind in the 1950s have now come to the forefront in development and that Sri Lanka aimed at becoming an economically-advanced nation in Asia “After decades, there is going to be a period where there would not be elections held for a few years, no terrorism and no security threat. All this would create the necessary conditions for a stable government. Such a situation has not been there for several decades,” he said.

Panel to study cause of conflict in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to appoint a “committee” to study the root cause of the ethnic conflict, lessons learnt since sections of Tamils took to militancy to gain their rights in the mid-seventies and challenges faced since the military defeat of the LTTE in May last year, said Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe here on Friday.Asked if the committee would cover the circumstances leading to the deployment of the IPKF and the 1989 Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) second insurgency, the Minister said: “Yes, it would be a comprehensive study covering all aspects.”The announcement on the committee coincided with the controversy over the decision of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a panel of experts to advise him on Sri Lanka and the vociferous objections raised by Colombo to the proposal. In the course of a telephone conversation with Mr. Ban, Mr. Rajapaksa termed the move uncalled for and unwarranted.Mr. Samarasinghe pointed out that the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) comprising 124 member states had condemned Mr. Ban's move.Since the defeat of the LTTE, the government has been countering demands for a commission to investigate alleged human rights violations in the 34-month long Eelam War IV and repeatedly pointed to the resolution by the Human Rights Commission lauding Sri Lanka on the issue.Chair of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement, Ambassador and Permanent Representative Maged A. Abdelaziz in his letter to Mr. Ban said: “The Non-Aligned Movement strongly condemns selective targeting of individual countries which it deems contrary to the Founding Principles of the Movement and the United Nations Charter.”

Rail link

The government on Saturday said it had initiated a programme for rapid restoration of damaged rail links in the war ravaged northern province and it would not be long before the rail links between the north and the rest of the island nation were fully restored.India is engaged in big way in helping in the task. An official statement said here that the railway track from Vavuniya to Thandikulam had already been renovated and the Yaldevi train travelled from Colombo to Thandikulam at present.As the second step of this programme, all the necessary arrangements hade been made to lay tracks on a ten-km stretch from Thandikulam to Omanthai and the Army had been assigned with the task of de-mining.

Pillaiyan to meet Indian leaders

Chief Minister of the Eastern Province, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (alias Pillaiyan) is tipped to visit India to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, Leader of India’s Congress, after the general election. Spokesperson for the TMVP Azad Moulana told The Nation that after a cordial meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, the Chief Minister was invited to meet with Indian leaders in the presence of the Indian High Commissioner. “Both Chief Minister and Ms Rao spoke on various issues ranging from the development of the Eastern Province to the power sharing deal,” he said. “Ms Rao expressed her interest and said that India fully supported the provincial councils and the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.” During the meeting, the TMVP also handed Ms Rao with their election manifesto and spoke to her of why they were campaigning separately during the general election. “We are not against the government although we are contesting separately. We hope to join forces with the government once the election is over.” Moulana, commenting on the meeting, said that the discussion was cordial and friendly. And that Ms Roa understood where the TMVP were coming from and their ideals. It was consequent to that that Ms Roa had invited the Chief Minister to New Delhi, which he is expected visit once the election is over. “Where the Eastern Province is concerned, India has helped us tremendously and we didn’t want to make any special requests. However, Ms Roa has pledged her support to assist rehabilitate widowed women and provide for the educational needs of children in the area. The Indian Foreign Secretary arrived in Sri Lanka on the March 6 for a three-day visit where she met the President, Foreign Minister and other senior officials. Rao is a former Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka who served from 2004 to 2006 until she became India’s first woman Ambassador to China.

Fonseka refuses to accept charge-sheet

Retired General Sarath Fonseka has refused a directive to appear before a General Court Martial on Tuesday and Wednesday.He has re-iterated the position he took at the recording of 'summary of evidence' that he is not covered by military law and that his arrest is illegal. On Thursday, the Government named a three member General Court Martial presided by Major General Harsha Weeratunga. The Court will hear five charges contained in two different Charge Sheets.According to JVP frontliner Anura Kumara Dissanayake, former joint spokesman for retired General Fonseka, lawyers will represent the former Commander of the Army. They will object to the constitution of the General Court Martial on the grounds that it is illegal.Among lawyers retained by retired General Fonseka is Daya Perera, PC, one of the country's best known criminal lawyers.Until recently Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Canada, he is one of the few criminal lawyers qualified in military law in Stanmore, Middlesex, UK and spent time with the British Army of the Rhine back in the late 1960s.A former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, he is currently holidaying in Canada and is due back in Colombo shortly.

Eastern, South Eastern universities temporarily closed

The university administrations of Eastern University and South Eastern university in the Eastern Province have closed the universities temporarily due to conflict situation among student groups, sources in Batticaloa said. The conflict arose between the representatives of the Student Union who forced Eastern University Vice-chancellor, Professor Pathmanathan to resign his post and the students who had demanded the Student Union to be dissolved, the sources added. Educational activities of all faculties except the medical faculty have been suspended, according to Acting VC of Eastern University, Professor. K. Premkumar.Students were asked to leave their hostels in order to bring the situation under control.The Registrar of South Eastern University, Mansoor. A. Cader, said that there was unrest among the students following the student union election of office bearers and this situation had precipitated the suspension of lectures in the university.

Prabhakaran’s mother expects asylum in Canada

Former TNA MP M. K. Sivajilingam yesterday (March 13) expressed confidence that there wouldn’t be any problems over the departure from the country of slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s mother, Parvathiepillai Velupplai, who left the county last week without informing the authorities.In a brief interview with The Sunday Island, the Jaffna District MP said that he helped Parvathie to obtain a new passport about a month ago and the air ticket a few days before her departure in the early hours of March 6. Sivajilingam, who ran at the recently concluded presidential election, accompanied the ailing woman on a Singapore Airlines flight to Malaysia where her late husband’s relatives received her.Responding to a Sunday Island query, he said that the government hadn’t been aware of their departure until she reached Malaysia. According to him, Prabhakaran’s sister, Vinodhani Rajendran, who lives in Canada will arrange to take her 79-year mother there. He expressed confidence that Canada would quickly facilitate her travel there and in the unlikely event of Ottawa turning her down, she would have to live with her other daughter in India.Asked whether there had been some sort of an understanding between the government and him to release Parvathie, Sivajilingam said that the Army had released her after Prabrakaran’s father passed away at the Panagoda Army cantonment on January 6.Initially, the government directed that the body of Prabhakaran’s father should be cremated in Colombo. Sivajilingam said the government had insisted that Parvathie would be released from Panagoda on the condition that she returned there after the funeral. The MP said that he rejected both conditions, but the government subsequently allowed him to take the body to Velvettiturai, where the cremation took place on January 10. Prabhakaran’s mother had stayed at the government hospital at Velvettiturai until she returned to Colombo on March 2 and was accommodated at a small hotel at Bambalapitiya until her March 6 flight to Malaysia.He said that Prabhakaran’s parents, who had sought refuge in India in 1983 returned here in 2003 after the Norwegians arranged CFA came into operation in February 2002. He revealed that civilians fleeing fighting on the Mullaitivu front last year had helped Prabhakaran’s parents to reach the army-held area. The Army found them on May 28, ten days after troops killed Prabhakaran on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon.Sivajilingam said that people would have revealed their identity to the Army. He said that Prabhakaran’s father would have promptly acknowledged his identity if the Army had asked him, the politician said. Sivajilingam and Nallathamby Sri Kantha (formerly of the TNA) are contesting from the Jaffna electoral district on the Tamil National Liberation Alliance (TNLA) ticket at the April 8 parliamentary election.

Sri Lankan diplomat returns with landlord’s piano, antique clock

A Sri Lankan diplomat who served in Japan has been accused of bringing back to Colombo his landlord's personal belongings including a piano, an expensive wall painting and an antique clock.In a complaint to the Foreign Ministry in Colombo, the landlord has said the items were among his other belongings that were in the house rented to the Sri Lankan diplomat. Until the items are returned to him, the landlord, an influential Japanese businessman, has said, he will not return the 610,000 Yen (Rs 762,500) deposit placed with him by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan.The diplomat involved, the Sunday Times learnt, is a non career officer who served in Tokyo until September last year as Minister Counsellor. He had lived in this house in Tokyo's Neguro area. Using the facility allowed to diplomats, this Minister Counsellor had shipped what were described as his personal belongings, to Colombo in a container. Costs for this purpose are met by the Government.The landlord has alleged that the piano and the expensive painting were his personal property. He has also said that the antique clock was of great sentimental value to his family since it has changed hands from generation to generation. The Sunday Times learnt that the Foreign Ministry is yet to respond to the Japanese landlord’s complaint.The post of Sri Lanka Ambassador in Japan has remained vacant since the recall of the last incumbent. The post is now being manned at Charge d'Affaires level by Esala Weerakoon. This came amidst a controversy over the exposition of Buddha relics in at a Temple in Kobe. It turned out that what was sent from a temple in Pelmadulla were not Buddha relics.

The great wonder of the Jaipur Foot

Sri Lanka’s separatist war finally over, Indian experts are in the island nation to provide the Jaipur Foot, artificial legs known to be cosmetically and functionally close to the human limb.Nineteen skilled technicians of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), makers of the famous Jaipur Foot, are camping in Northern Sri Lanka to give away the artificial limb to about 1,000 amputees free.The Jaipur Foot is considered the most inexpensive and cost effective in the world.According to A.B. Sharma, the team leader, the Jaipur Foot camp started Friday at Vavuniya, 254 km north of Colombo and a key town in Sri Lanka’s former war zone. The camp will end April 10.D.R. Mehta, founder and chief patron of the BMVSS, said the organisation had fitted more than 370,000 artificial limbs around the world including in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and Sierra Leone.“The mobility earned through the artificial limb helps amputees to change their lives and earn their livelihood,” he said.Sri Lanka has known the Jaipur Foot for a long time. Even the Tamil Tigers, who were crushed militarily in May last year, have used them in large numbers for their fighters who lost their legs in the conflict.The BMVSS has held 36 camps in the world, particularly in countries that have witnessed horrific wars that have left thousands disabled.According to experts, the beauty of the Jaipur Foot is its lightness and mobility. Those, who wear it, can run, climb trees, pedal bicycles and drive a car – all without the aid of a stick or any other support.The organisers believe that the demand for Jaipur Foot could soar in Sri Lanka, where a Tamil separatist campaign that raged since 1983 killed some 90,000 people and left thousands injured and maimed, mainly due to landmines.

13 March 2010

TNA releases election manifesto

Federal solution based on shared sovereignty and right to self-determination in a contiguous north and east of Sri Lanka was the highlight of the TNA manifesto released Friday. While irreversibly committing on federal solution, the manifesto is ambiguous on the nature of the sovereignty of Eezham Tamils and their right to self determination, said Tamil political circles in their immediate responses. The term shared sovereignty is used to describe structures such as the European Union as well as federal structures with or without the right to secession. The manifesto refrains from either asserting to Tamils exercising their right to self determination to decide the national question in an internationally monitored arrangement or including the unavoidable diaspora in the political process of reaching a solution, the political circles commented further. Sections on the TNA stand expressed in the election manifesto on finding a political solution and matters of immediate concern follow:

OUR STAND ON THE POLITICAL SOLUTION

The principles and specific constitutional provisions that the TNA considers to be paramount to the resolution of the question of the Tamil speaking Peoples in Sri Lanka relate mainly to the sharing of the powers of governance through a shared sovereignty amongst the Peoples who inhabit this island. The following salient features of power sharing are fundamental to achieving lasting peace and development for all the People of Sri Lanka:

The Tamil People are a distinct nationality and have inhabited the island of Sri Lanka together with the Sinhalese People and others
The contigous preponderantly Tamil Speaking Northern and Eastern Provinces is the historical habitation of the Tamil Speaking Peoples
The Tamil People are entitled to the right of self determination
Power sharing arrangements must be established in a unit of merged Northern and Eastern Provinces based on a Federal structure, in a manner also acceptable to the Tamil Speaking Muslim people
Devolution of powers should be over land, law and order, socio-economic development including health and education, resources and fiscal powers
Direct foreign investment in the North and East will be facilitated resulting in new industries and other employment opportunities being created for our youth
Avenues for tertiary education will also be set up so that those who cannot enter the Universities can pursue higher education in relevant fields

MATTERS OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN FOR OUR PEOPLE:

In addition to continuing to pursue a just and lasting peace for our people, we will actively engage in addressing the immediate and current concerns of our People and will strive to achieve the following:

There must be meaningful de-militarization in the return to the pre-war situation as it existed in 1983 by the removal of armed forces, military apparatuses and High Security Zones from the Northern and Eastern Provinces
Tamil People who have been displaced in the North and East due to the conflict must be speedily resettled in their original places; housing provided, their livelihoods restored and their dignity respected
Compensation must also be paid for the loss of lives, to those who have been maimed and to those who have suffered losses as a result of the military campaign
Persons who are detained without charges must be released promptly and a general amnesty should be granted to the others, as an initial step towards national reconciliation
Tamils who fled the country over the last 30 years also must be permitted to return to their homes and conducive atmosphere for same created for their return.
A comprehensive programme for the resettlement of the Tamil People and their rehabilitation and development of the North and East including the creation of employment opportunity for the youth will be undertaken with the active participation of the Tamil Diaspora and the International Community.
There ought to be no displaced persons. But until we achieve that we will take steps to increase the relief granted to the IDPS in order to meet the growing cost of living.
We will emphasise the need to establish a special commission to uplift the socially and economically disadvantaged sections of our society, in order to increase their livelihoods and dignity and make them equal citizens.
We will take necessary steps to raise the standard of living of fishing communities by providing them access to modern technologies and an atmosphere in which they can engage in their vocation with freedom.
The salaries of government servants and private sector employees need to be raised and the living standards of daily employed and those at the very bottom of the social scale needs to be raised.
The equal status of our women must be ensured and women, elders and children affected by war need special attention in order to secure their livelihoods and protection from future exploitation.
We will do everything in our power to secure employment opportunities to unemployed graduates and others.

Canada asks Sri Lanka to start talks with Tamil groups

Canada has asked Sri Lanka to start talks and the reconciliation process with the Tamil groups, saying such a step is crucial for lasting peace in the country."After 30 years of war, reconciliation is crucial for lasting peace in Sri Lanka. Canada awaits to see what steps the Government of Sri Lanka will take towards this reconciliation," Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, told Sri Lanka's new High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara during a meeting."Canada urges the government of Sri Lanka for an early safe return and resettlement of the approximately 100,000 individuals who remain displaced," Obhrai said.He said: "Canada is encouraged by the return of close to 160,000 internally displaced persons to their homes."Obhrai pointed out that Canada encourages the government of Sri Lanka to allow access by NGOs and the media to camps and resettlement areas and to continue to pursue effective coordination with humanitarian agencies and donors."It is high time that the government of Sri Lanka lift the state of emergency as that the conflict is over," he said.Obhrai told the High Commissioner that Sri Lanka remains a priority for Canada.Canada looks forward to working with the Government of Sri Lanka to address many of these issues, he added.

US reports rights violations in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka violated human rights last year as it dealt a final blow to Tamil Tiger insurgents and clamped down on media freedom, the US State Department said Thursday.But in an annual report, the State Department also reported some signs of progress since May when Sri Lankan forces defeated the Tigers who had waged a 37-year war for a separate Tamil homeland."The government's respect for human rights declined as armed conflict reached its conclusion," the State Department said.It said that young Tamil men accounted for an "overwhelming majority" of victims of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, even though Tamils only make up some 16 percent of the population.The State Department said that "media freedom deteriorated" in much of Sri Lanka, with "most journalists" practicing self-censorship after threats and violence against them.Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga, a member of the Sinhalese majority who was critical of the war, was gunned down near Colombo in January 2009."Senior government officials repeatedly accused critical journalists of treason and often pressured editors and publishers to run stories that portrayed the government in a positive light," the State Department said. "Statements by government and military officials contributed to an environment in which journalists who published articles critical of the government felt under threat," it said.But the State Department also reported some improvements.It said that the number of disappearances went down with the end of the war and found that Sri Lanka made "significant progress" in reducing the use of child soldiers by the pro-government Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal.It also said that Sri Lanka improved conditions in detention camps for tens of thousands of Tamil civilians after an international outcry.In December, Sri Lanka allowed civilians to leave the camps. The government said it had needed months to weed out Tiger partisans.

Anoma appeals to Court against Gen. Fonseka’s detention

Mrs. Anoma Fonseka, wife of (retired) General Sarath Fonseka, has filed a Habaes Corpus application in the Court of Appeal, seeking the release of the General from military custody.The petition said Sarath Fonseka retired from the army on July 19, 2009 and hence thereafter he could not be arrested under the military law.The arrest on February 8, 2010 and thereafter the detention of Fonseka, is illegal and arbitrary and done out of animosity.The petition requested the Court to direct the present Army Commander and the other connected respondents to produce Fonseka before the Court. The petition further requested the Court to order the respondents to release Fonseka from detention custody.Among the respondents are the Army Commander Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya, Brigadier E. K. J. K. Wijesuriya and the Navy Commander, Vice Admiral J. S. G. Samarasinghe.

Navy recovers weapons haul

Naval troops attached to the Point Pedro Naval Detachment in the Northern Naval Area recovered a haul of C 4 explosives and suicide jackets concealed in the bottom of a dinghy on Thursday while Army troops and de-mining groups engaged in clearing and search operations in the North found a consignment weapons including 103 antipersonnel mines on the same day. Navy spokesman Captain Athula Senarath told the Daily News that the recovery was made as a result of continuous checks conducted by Naval troops on Fibre Glass Dinghys (FGDs) used by IDPs to come to Government controlled areas in haste during the humanitarian operations. He said the FGD was thoroughly searched due to its excessive weight and 3 kg C 4 in 13 Packs, 5 complete suicide jackets, 5 delay timer switches, 5 remote control units, 2 detonating cord coils, one T-56 weapon, one T 56 magazine, 260 ammunition of 7.62 x 39 mm type and 15 9v batteries were found in its false double bottom. Army sources said the troops in their search operations conducted in areas of Passiyur, Super Madam, Periyathampanai, Iranamadu, Mulaikoduttavil, Vattapalai, and Puthukudiyiruppu recovered four 60 mm mortar bombs, two anti personnel mines, two hand grenades, one 120 mm mortar bomb, twenty one 81 mm Para bombs. Meanwhile, de-mining groups found one hundred and one anti personnel mines, three RPG bombs, two 60 mm mortar bombs, one 40 mm bomb, one 81 mm mortar bomb and one detonator on the same day from Periyathampanai, Sinnapandivirichchan, Palampiddi, Nochchikulam, Chettiyarmakan, Kattaiadampan and Iranamadu areas.

Marxist party accuses Sri Lankan government of playing a dual role

Sri Lanka's Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna today accused the government of playing a dual role when international issues were concerned by saying one thing to the Sri Lankan community and another to the international community. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva told the media that it is firmly against any foreign interference in the country's internal affairs and is also against the dual approach taken by the government in dealing with international issues. Silva said that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was planning on appointing an expert panel to advise him on Sri Lankan affairs was not to probe the violation of human rights in the country but to review the progress of certain agreements that Sri Lanka reached with the UN after the defeat of the LTTE last year. The UN Chief last week informed the Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he will name a panel of experts to advise him on the way forward on accountability issues related to Sri Lanka.However, according to the JVP General Secretary, the government was misinterpreting the issue just to receive more votes at the upcoming general elections.He noted that the government after initially saying it would not beg for the renewal of the GSP Plus trade concession was now sending a delegation to the European Union to beg for the same concessions."The government was also campaigning for a two-thirds majority in Parliament at the next general election promising a change in constitution. But it is yet to announce what sort of constitution it is to present as an alternative. Will it be another J.R. Jayewardene constitution like the present one, which we want to get rid of right now," Silva asked.

 
Prabha’s mother off to Canada

Former TNA MP M.K. Shivajilingam has made arrangements to send the mother of slain LTTE Leader V. Prabhakaran to Canada where her daughter Vinothini Rajendran lives. Shivajilingam told the Daily Mirror today that he took Prabhakaran’s mother Parvathipillai Velupillai to Singapore recently and handed her over to some of her distant relatives.  The relatives are expected to take her to Malaysia from there.Prabhakaran’s sister is expected to pick her mother from Malaysia to be taken to Canada.  Mrs. Vellupillai is now 79 years old.

Moragoda says LTTE rehab efforts on track

An internationally backed effort to rehabilitate over 10,000 LTTE cadres in government custody is on track with an ambitious plan to set up special rehabilitation facilities to allow families of the detained to live under one roof. The first such facility is expected to be established in ‘Zone 5’ of Menik farm bordering the Malwattu Oya. The government intends to set up similar facilities in Trincomalee, Jaffna and Batticaloa as part of its overall plan to help ex-LTTE combatants resume civilian life.Justice and Law Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda told The Island that this would give ex-combatants an opportunity to undergo rehabilitation while living with their loved ones. He said the spouses and children would be given freedom of movement, though the detainees would have to abide by security measures in place to ensure the smooth functioning of the facilities.The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and several other local and foreign donors are supporting the government initiative. To the credit of Moragoda, he had directly involved the All Ceylon Hindu Congress (ACHU) thereby giving confidence to the Tamil community and the Tamil Diaspora.The minister said that their plan envisaged the setting up of pre-school and day care facilities as well as separate vocational and technical training facilities. He emphasised that the project was a confidence-building measure in a post-LTTE era. He said that the rehabilitation project had achieved tremendous success less than a year after the end of the war last May.The Justice Ministry is spearheading the rehabilitation effort with the support of the Army and several other ministries. In line with government strategy, a special facility is expected to be established in Vavuniya to accommodate married ex-LTTE combatants. The government plans to move 142 LTTE couples and eight single mothers with 11 children to the proposed facility. At the moment, they are being held in different detention facilities.A military official told The Island that separate vocational and technical training facilities would be made available at the special facility for LTTE couples. The government is also in the process of finalising plans to launch a dairy farming project at Suriyawewa in the Alle-Kantale area for the benefit of about 500 ex-LTTE combatants. The Sri Lanka Army and Ceylon Cold Stores are expected to implement this project with the latter making a substantial investment. The military official said that about 1,800 farmers would be hired as regular suppliers of milk. According to him, they were in the process of acquiring additional government land needed for the project in addition to land belonging to the Sri Lanka Army.One of the most important aspects of the government initiative is to set up agricultural/livestock farms at Kandalkadu, Thrikonamadu which would be vested with the Sri Lanka Army and Air Force. There would be six separate farms with each capable of accommodating 500 ex-LTTE combatants each, sources said, adding that about 11,000 acres would be allocated for this project.

Tamil Nadu Government to take decision on Nalini's release within two weeks

The Tamil Nadu Government on Thursday said that it will take a decision on the plea for premature release of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassin Nalini Sriharan in two weeks time.This was informed to the Madras High Court by the counsel for the State Government. The government also submitted the Prison Advisory Board report on the plea to the High Court."Hopefully we should be able to report the decision before March 29, but the truth of the matter is the government has asked for certain additional details from the board and collector. For some factors, beyond the government's control, if the decision making process takes a little longer we may have to ask the court for some more time," said P S Raman, Advocate General of the Tamil Nadu Government. Nalini, who is undergoing life imprisonment, is lodged at the Vellore Central Jail.On Wednesday, the two Judge Bench comprising Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Justice K.K. Sasidharan had asked the State Government to submit the report on Thursday.The Tamil Nadu Government advocate G.Desingu claimed that the Government had just received the report and sought time to study it.Nalini's original death sentence was commuted to life in prison after Sonia Gandhi intervened and asked for the reprieve for Nalini after the assassin had a baby daughter. In September 2009, Nalini went on a hunger strike to demand that she be set free. In her appeal to the Madras High Court, she said, "I would like to settle down peacefully... I am already 43. ue to my health condition after 18 years in jail, I cannot expect to live long.

09 March 2010

India to Lanka: IDPs are an issue

India Monday said it has urged Sri Lanka to quicken the resettlement of Tamils displaced by war and pledged aid for their housing projects as Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao returned home after a three-day visit to Colombo.In wide-ranging discussions with the Sri Lankan leadership and officials over two days, Rao told them that it was India's intention to continue supporting the task of development and reconstruction in war-hit northern and eastern Sri Lanka.She "expressed the hope that the resettlement process could be expedited, especially in Killinochchi and Mullaitivu, so that the IDPs could resume normal lives in their original places of habitation", the external affairs ministry said in a statement."In this context, she announced India's support for housing projects to be taken up in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts for the benefit of the IDPs," the ministry added.This will include the setting up temporary shelters, repairing damaged houses and building new houses.The number of IDPs now stand at less than 70,000.Assuring India's support in resettling Tamil civilians displaced by the civil war, Rao conveyed that India looked forward to opening a Consulate General in Jaffna.Improving connectivity in northern, eastern and central Sri Lanka figured high in discussions between the two sides. Rao announced the supply of 55 buses to educational, social and cultural organisations in these areas.She also indicated that India was considering providing additional Lines of Credit for railway projects in northern Sri Lanka.In her meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Rao underlined that the end of the civil war and the holding of elections provided Sri Lanka with "a historic opportunity to initiate a process of political reconciliation where all communities in Sri Lanka can live in peace and harmony".Rajapaksa appreciated India's multi-faceted assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of northern and eastern Sri Lanka and for the resettlement of IDPs. The two sides agreed to convene a meeting of the joint working group on fishing to discuss issues related to fishermen.

Govt. ‘to abolish or reform’ Executive Presidency –DEW

The government says it will abolish or reform executive presidency if re-elected with a two thirds majority at the forthcoming election. Constitutional Affairs Minister DEW Gunasekara told the BBC that the government was also planning to introduce a fresh Constitution in the new parliament."There is an opinion in the country that the executive presidency should be abolished or reformed," he told BBC Sinhala service. The BBC said:He however said there is no time frame for a new constitution to be introduced. "If the opposition says that they vote for the abolition tomorrow, we would not have this problem," he said. The main opposition coalition that contested the 26 January presidential election has vowed to abolish the very powerful executive presidency. Main opposition parties, including the UNP and the JVP, and Muslim and Tamil nationalist parties were members of the coalition. The minister added that a political solution aimed at minority Tamil community’s grievances might also be included in the new constitution after consultations with other parties. "The solution might include the devolution of power," Minister Gunasekara said.The much-talked about All Party Representative Committee (APRC) will be re-convened to discuss the proposals.However, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has dismissed all efforts that have been made so far to find political solutions to the country’s ethnic problem. Mr Rajapaksa has now said he does not think any generally acceptable solution has yet been suggested, so "after the present election I am going to put forward my own solution to the problem" he told BBC’s Charles Haviland in Colombo.He has remained vague on what this means although he has spoken of a possible upper house of parliament. The APRC convened in 2006 claiming to ‘reach consensus on a package of measures to guarantee the rights of Tamils,’ is yet to hand over its proposals.

Manmohan invites MR to India

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is looking forward to an early visit by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India, visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said when she met President Rajapaksa today, the President’s office said.The Indian Foreign Secretary congratulated the President for his resounding victory in the recent Presidential Election and observed that so much had taken place for the better in Sri Lanka since she was last here as High Commissioner.During the meeting she said the victory of the President gave much cause for confidence and hope for bi-lateral relations between India and Sri Lanka in the future, and that the Indian Prime Minister looked forward to an early visit by President Rajapaksa to India, the President’s office said.Discussing current political developments in Sri Lanka, she said that the presence of more than 1,000 candidates for the forthcoming general election and the North and Eastern Provinces alone showed the enthusiasm of the people for the democratic process, and the change that had taken place with the restoration of peace. “There is a great sense of hope and optimism in the air wherever I have been to”, she said.Commenting on the forthcoming general election, President Rajapaksa said there was much enthusiasm by the people to participate in it, being the first nation-wide election of representatives to parliament after the restoration of peace, and that he was looking forward to working with the many new faces and leaders who are expected to be elected, especially from the North and the East.The Indian Foreign Secretary was of the view that Sri Lanka had made considerable success on the resettling of IDPs in the North and the East, with the number now standing at less than 70,000, and noted that this issue had now gone away from the attention of the international community. She expressed India’s willingness to continue assisting Sri Lanka in the resettlement of the IDPs. Similarly, India was also keen to assist in the complete restoration of the railway line in the North, she saidAmong other matters of mutual interest discussed were that of the problems faced by fisherman from both counties, the proposed coal powered power project in Trincomalee, and the necessity for understanding between India and Sri Lanka on the protection of the environment and the eco-systems, the President’s office said.

TMVP to hold talks with Delhi

A TMVP delegation led by Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan is to head for New Delhi for talks following an invitation extended by the Indian government, TMVP spokesman Azad Maulana told Daily Mirror online. He said that the invitation was extended by visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao when she met Chandrakanthan today at which meeting the TMVP also presented its manifesto for the upcoming General Elections.During the meeting, Rao had also assured Chandrakanthan that India would do everything possible to support and help the TMVP and promote its policies. "Ms. Rao went through the TMVP's manifesto and Mr. Chandrakanthan explained to her our party policies. She said India would help us in every way possible way and also invited us for talks with the Indian government soon after the elections. She also said India is very happy with us," Maulana said.He added that following the invitation extended by Rao, Mr. Chandrakanthan had assured her that he would fly to New Delhi with his delegation soon after the concusion of the General Election and discuss their policies further with senior Indian government members.

Soldiers 'victimised by government'

A human rights group representing the families of disappeared military men in Sri Lanka has accused the government of victimising soldiers.Visaka Dharmadasa, convenor of the Association of War Affected Women (AWAW), said her organisation is currently campaigning to get soldiers arrested by the Rajapaksa administration released. "During the war, we have been visiting Kilinochchi to seek the release of arrested soldiers from the LTTE," she told BBC Sinhala service, Sandeshaya. "Now we are going to Temple Trees to meet President Rajapaksa seeking the release of soldiers."

Fonseka supporters

She made the comments as representatives of women's organisations and women from victims' families attended a meeting at JR Jayawardene Centre in Colombo to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. The gathering was organised by many women's rights organisations, calling for press freedom, re-establishment of democracy and more representation of women in parliament. Mrs. Dharmadasa, a previous nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, said politicians only cared about soldiers when the troops started winning against the Tamil Tigers. "When there were setbacks, when our children were losing their lives, there was nobody to console us," she said. At least 53 military officers and soldiers, some of them already retired, were arrested by the government after the presidential election.

'Fake tears'

They were suspected of being supporters of the main opposition candidate, Gen (retd.) Sarath Fonseka."Accusing that they were in a conspiracy against the government, we are blamed for making an unfair demand. Then it seems we have been totally unfair in demanding the LTTE to release our children who were fighting against them," Ms. Dharmadasa added. Anoma Fonseka, the wife of Gen Fonseka who is currently in military custody, urged the women in Sri Lanka "not to betray the dignity for money" or other perks. She would continue to get her husband released, Mrs. Fonseka said, and to persuade Gen Fonseka to be strong "at a time of need." Sandhya Eknaligoda, wife of disappeared journalist Prageeth, strongly criticised the state media for making mockery of victimised women's tears and laughter. "A government official said I was not crying so Prageeth cannot be missing. But when Anoma Fonseka was crying the media made mockery out of her tears," she told BBC Sandeshaya. Roshini Dandeniya, whose father DG Wijedasa is missing since early 90s said she is determined to find out what happened to her father. "I have a dream," she said, "I am determined to find out what whether he was killed and who the culprits are while my mother is still alive," she said.

ITAK begins three day election campaign in Moothoor Tamil villages

Ilangkai Thamizh Arasuk Kadchi (ITAK) Monday began a three day campaign by holding election meeting in every Tamil village in the Moothoor East, Verukal DS division, Moothoor DS division in Trincomalee district. ITAK leader and the chief candidate for the Trincomalee district Mr.R.Sampanthan is leading the campaign with other six candidates in the list. The ITAK team first arrived in the historic Verukal Sri Siththiravelautha Swamy Koayil located along the Verukal River, a branch of the Mahaweli Ganga that flows into the sea. Verukal River divides the two districts Batticaloa and Trincomalee in the south.Candidates led by Sampanthan first participated in the Pooja in the Koayil and then proceeded to hold propaganda meetings. The first election meeting was held in one of the remotest village Uppooral Monday morning. The second was at Cheenive'li village. The final meeting on that day was held at Ilangkaiththu'rai Mukaththuvaaram.

India ready to open Consulate General in Jaffna
 
The visiting Foreign Secretary, Mrs. Nirupama Rao on Monday disclosed that India has conveyed to the Sri Lankan President its desire to open a Consulate General in Jaffna to help the people of the peninsula and to see the connectivity to south India restored At an informal interaction with the Indian media contingent here at the end of her three day official visit Mrs. Rao said in the course of her nearly two hour long interaction with the Sri Lankan President, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa she welcomed the relaxation of movement restrictions on the war displaced Tamil civilians and expressed the hope that the resettlement process could be expedited, especially in Killinochchi and Mullaithivu, so that the IDPs could resume normal lives in their original places of habitation.The Foreign Secretary chose the occasion to congratulate Mr. Rajapaksa President on his electoral victory and underlined that the elimination of terrorism and holding of elections provided Sri Lanka with a historic opportunity to initiate a process of political reconciliation where all communities in Sri Lanka can live in peace and harmony.Mrs. Rao said that the response of the President to the Indian desire for a Consular General office in Jaffna was positive. A few weeks ago the Foreign Minister of the island nation, Rohitha Bogollagama had indicated that the Government would have no reservations if India decided to have consulate offices in other parts of the country.The Foreign Secretary further said that she formally extended an invitation to the President to visit India and he had agreed to travel to India sometime after the April 8 general election. According to official sources the exact dates of his visit would be worked out in the due course of time.In the course of her visit Mrs. Rao also met the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the Senior Advisor to the President Basil Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, In addition, she also met representatives of leading political parties, including Tamil and Muslim parties. 

Fonseka 'tortured' army officers
 
The Sri Lankan government accuses its former military chief Gen Sarath Fonseka of torturing army officers and soldiers while in office.Lakshman Hulugalle, the Director General of Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) told BBC Sandeshaya that Gen Fonseka has "taken revenge" from certain officers while he was the commander. "It has now been revealed that he has even kept those who were facing court martial in dark rooms," he said.He added that investigations are continued on alleged torture of army officers as the victims were "intimidated" by Gen Fonseka. The BBC could not get Gen Fonseka's remarks as he is not allowed to speak to outsiders from his prison cell.

'In dark rooms'

Gen Fonseka refused to eat from Sunday to protest at being denied access to a telephone, his wife Anoma Fonseka's told journalists.Anoma Fonseka said her husband was prevented from speaking to his daughters, who are currently overseas. Mr. Hulugalle said there was no obligation to provide General Fonseka with a telephone. "Gen Fonseka should understand that he was legally arrested," Mr. Hulugalle told BBC Sinhala service, "and no arrested person is allowed to keep a telephone in Sri Lanka." The Democratic National Alliance (DNA), headed by Gen Fonseka, on Monday held protests in Colombo demanding the release of their party leader who was arrested a month ago. Describing the arrest as illegal and accusing the government of violating the constitution, the former Chief Justice Sarath Silva earlier described Gen Fonseka as a political prisoner.

Fonseka given mobile phone to talk only to daughters

Military Spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe yesterday said former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka was given the chance to use a mobile phone since yesterday on the condition that it be used to contact his two daughters only. The Military Spokesman in response to a question raised by a journalist at a press conference at the Media Centre for National Security, said Fonseka was given this opportunity of using a mobile phone while he was in the Military custody as a privilege granted by the Army Commander but not on the orders of anybody. Samarasinghe emphatically stated that the opportunity was restricted only to talk to his two daughters. In response to another question, he said that there was enough ventilation at the residence where Fonseka was being held. It has a number of rooms, an office room, visiting room and a pantry. He said it was once the official residence of the former Navy Commander. He queried as to how one could find the ventilation inadequate after staying there for long as few weeks.

LTTE fund raising in Germany  led by cadre trained in Vanni He visited Lanka during CFA, accompanied LTTE 'peace' delegation to Thailand

Among six LTTE operatives, including three German passport holders arrested in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia last Wednesday (March 3) for extorting money from Tamils living in Europe, particularly Germany, is Vaheesan alias Vijikanendra (34), who had received weapons training in the Vanni during the Norwegian brokered ceasefire agreement between the then UNP-led United National Front (UNF) government and the LTTE. The suspect is believed to have undergone political and military training for over a year and also worked closely with one-time LTTE's overseas administrative head Veeragattu Manivannan alias Castro. At the time of his arrest, Vijikanendra ran LTTE operations in Germany.Castro committed suicide at Mullivaikkal during the last phase of the ground operations on the Vanni east front. Intelligence sources told The Island that Vijikanendra had been in charge of funds collected in Germany used to procure arms, ammunition and equipment from different sources, including China, the largest single supplier of weapons to the LTTE.After the death of Castro, Vijikanendra had worked closely with Perinpanayagam Sivaparan, who bore the nom de gurre Nediyavan. Intelligence sources said that Sivaparan had even accompanied an LTTE delegation for talks in Thailand with the Sri Lankan government delegation. Sources said that Vijikanendra had moved with top LTTE operatives, who conspired against Kumaran Padmanathan alias 'KP' at the time of the 2002 ceasefire agreement. Vijikanendra was the senior most LTTE operative arrested in Germany, they said. Nediyavan was among many political and intelligence wing cadres sent abroad by the LTTE during 2002-2004 period. The sources revealed that Nediyavan operated from Norway and coordinated operations on behalf of the LTTE. The German authorities had moved against the LTTE gang after receiving a spate of complaints from Sri Lankan and German Tamils. Sources said that the suspect was a Sri Lankan passport holder.Among the other suspects were Sivanathan alias Master, 58, former LTTE leader in Germany. He had moved there in 1993 and operated there until 2000 before moving to the UK. He had operated there for seven years and returned to Germany in 2007 to work under Vijikanendra.They identified the other suspects as Rahulan, 23, a Sri Lankan passport holder and three German passport holders, M Sashidaran, 33, Koneshwaran, 39 and Poobalasigham, 42. Government sources said that Sri Lanka expected the UK and other European countries to crackdown on LTTE fund raising operations. The recent arrests in Germany proved that the LTTE had been busy raising funds, though the European Union proscribed the organisation in the aftermath of the assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Fonseka faces over five charges

Military Spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe yesterday said more than five charges will be filed against former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka within a few days. This will done in compliance with the provisions of the Army Act before a Court Martial, he said. He said the report of the Summary of Evidence on the charges against Fonseka was handed over to the Army Commander during the weekend. Military Spokesman Samarasinghe at a press briefing at the Media Centre for National Security, said the report is being scrutinized by Army Legal division officers before filing the charges. He said there was evidence to charge Fonseka on more than five counts. Immediately after the charges are filed, the Court Martial will commence sittings against Fonseka. The Court Martial will consist of either three or five judges appointed by the Army Commander under powers delegated to him by the President in accordance with the powers vested in him under the Constitution. With reference to the Summary of Evidence, the Military spokesman said 35 witnesses have given evidence at the inquiry. Out of them 22 are army personnel while seven witnesses are from the Police. The rest are civil society members. Samarasinghe also stated that the camp where the Court Martial would be held is yet to be decided.

Ancient Chola period temple unearthed in North

A heap of ruins where a Hindu temple of Chola period was believed to have been buried has been unearthed in the Northern part of Delft. The temple is 40 feet long and 10 feet wide. It is built with lime stone. The roof is covered with lime mixed plaster. The other parts of the temple are in ruins. Professor P. Pushparatnam of the Jaffna University History Department commenting on the findings, said the people of the locality are unable to say when this temple was built. The ruins indicate that the building would have been built many years ago. It is opined that if this temple had been built during the latter period of the Dutch reign or in the beginning of British rule in Sri Lanka, the people would be in a position to give some clues about the origin of the temple, he said. The people of the area would not have allowed the temple to go to ruin if it had been built during the Dutch or British period. It can be surmised that the temple was built before European rule in Sri Lanka, Prof. Pushparatnam said. The statues and the art work on stones, irrigation pipes made of baked clay and a coin found by one of Prof. Pushparatnam’s students with the name of Rajaraja Cholan embossed on it clearly indicate that the temple would have been built during the Chola period.

Northern libraries to be developed

The National Library and Documentation Services Board has launched a program to develop all libraries in the North destroyed due to LTTE terrorism. According to the National Library and Documentation Services Board, the program aims to distribute books among 110 public libraries in the North. Distributing books worth Rs. Four million was initiated in Vavuniya. A program will also be launched to train librarians. This program will be launched under the Uthuru Vasanthaya program.

07 March 2010

India Gets Tough
 
A steadfast India will press Colombo to immediately unveil a political settlement for the Tamil minority in the country. The message will be communicated to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, who arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday on a three day official visit. “In May it will be a year since the LTTE was routed out, but despite rhetorical assurances the Sri Lankan Government has so far failed to forward any solution to the problems of the ethnic Tamils. Rao will deliver a message from the Central Government urging Rajapaksa to act fast on his promises,” an official from New Delhi’s External Affairs Ministry told The Sunday Leader. According to the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, Rao will meet President Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, senior government officials and leaders of opposition political parties during her stay in Colombo.

Prabha’s mother flown to Malaysia for medical treatment

Vallipuram Parvathi (80), mother of deceased LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, has been flown to Malaysia on Friday for medical treatment, Tamil sources said.According to these sources, Parvathi, who had been living in their hometown Velvettiturai since the funeral of her husband Veerasamy Thiruvengadam Velupillai (86) on January 10, was brought to Colombo on Tuesday by a Red Cross ambulance. She had been living under the guardianship of former TNA Parliamentarian for Jaffna M.K. Sivajilingam.She had been staying at a popular lodge in Bambalapitiya known as Western Hotel as she awaited her flight to Kuala Lampur.Former Jaffna District TNA Member of Parliament Sivajilingam had accompanied Parvathi to Malaysia. Parvathi will be taken care of by her relatives while she is in Malaysia, they said.Sivajilingam, who recently formed the new party, Tamil National Liberation Alliance (TNLA) with his former fellow MP for Jaffna N. Srikantha, will return to Sri Lanka in the next few days to resume campaigning. The TNLA has handed in nominations to contest in all five Northern districts under the Left Liberation Front of Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne. Both Sivajilingam and Srikantha were dropped by the TNA along with about 10 other ex-MPs last month.Earlier, the elder Prabhakaran couple had been in Army protective custody since May last year when they surrendered to the authorities during the last days of the war in the Wanni. After the death of the elder Prabhakaran in January, Parvathy was handed over to Sivajilingam’s care on the basis of a power of attorney given to him by the LTTE leader’s sister living in Canada Vinothini Rajendran.

Sivageetha’s last straw at being Mayor

Batticaloa Mayor Sivageetha Prabakaran has created controversy again with her move to support former Eastern Provincial Minister M.L.A.M Hisbullah in his Parliamentary election campaign, a move some view as her last resort to sustain her position. Speaking to The Nation, a well placed source in Batticaloa confided that Sivageetha Prabakaran was not welcome in the UNP anymore after her latest move and neither was she welcome in the TMVP after she publicly announced her support for former Presidential nominee Sarath Fonseka. The TMVP too is contesting in the Batticaloa District independently of UPFA.“She does not have a good stronghold or a vote bank to vouch for, but on the other hand Hisbullah has a good following with at least 18,000 to 20,000 supporters in Kattankudi alone, which is sufficient for him,” he said. “Sivageetha can retain her position for a couple of more months with this move, but it’s a short-sighted move.” According to the source, Sivageetha was harassed after the Presidential election, which caused her to maintain a low profile, but has now come out to support Hisbullah. “She claimed that her father was a UNPer and she was glad to be back at the UNP, but now she has gone off to support Hisbullah.” It was also reported that she had previously wanted to rejoin the TMVP, which was turned down because she had acted against the advice of those around her, when she rushed to Colombo and declared her support for Sarath Fonseka in the presence of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during the Presidential election. The TMVP were reportedly embarrassed by this move and were not prepared to take her back anytime soon. Meanwhile, Hisbullah, who handed over his resignation on February 28, is currently contesting the general election under the UPFA ticket.

Nandikadal revisited

Around 10,000 motor cycles and 25,000 bicycles belonging to LTTEers and civilians who fled, are seen stacked in the Wellimulliwaikkal and Nandikadal areas and other areas in the Mullaitivu district. They, together with the innumerable ruined abodes ranging from what were once thatched cottages to well built houses, remain as the legacy of the three decade old war. The region bears tell tale marks of the war that was fought fiercely between the LTTE and Government forces. Remains of military vehicles such as bullet proof trucks and jeeps still lie around. Herds of cattle are still to be seen reminding us that villages once existed in these areas. The security forces are still in the process of de-mining with the aid of equipment received from a number of countries. Places like Puthukudiyiruppu, Viswamadu, and Putumattalan which were the central areas where the war was fought, are still out of bounds to the public due to the area being infested with mines and permission has to be obtained from the defence authorities to gain access to the area. A victory memorial has been put up in Puthukudiyiruppu captured by the 53 and 58 Divisions of the Army. Names of all regiments that took part achieving this victory are inscribed on this memorial. A monument to mark the spot where LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran fell is being erected by the security forces. Meanwhile, a visit was undertaken by Minister Milroy Fernando who hails from the Puttalam district to look into the possibility of fishermen from his district traditionally involved in fishing in the Nayaru lagoon and in the sea off the Mullaitivu coast, to return.Mr. Fernando said that fishermen from other areas have not been in the region for the last 20 years due to the conflict.He said that the villagers who lived in these areas were involved in cultivation and therefore there was a chance for fishermen from other areas to come into the area for seasonal fishing.

06 March 2010

Sampanthan warns of ‘hidden agenda’ of Sri Lanka government

“Sri Lanka government does not want any area in the island where minority community lives in majority. Hence the government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse is implementing its ‘hidden agenda’ to colonize such areas with Sinhalese to reduce the majority of minority community,” Mr. R. Sampanthan, leader of Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) and the chief candidate for the Trincomalee electoral district, said addressing representatives of Tamil civil groups in Trincomalee. He added that the government thinks if it allows the minority to live in majority in some areas it would lead the minority to claim its traditional homeland, right to self determination, and self rule to such areas.He said since the independence of the country successive governments had implemented state sponsored Sinhala colonization in the Tamil dominated eastern province. Sinhalese farmers were brought down from the south and settled on state lands. Now the government of Mahinda Rajapakse is giving permission to Sinhala dominated companies in the south to start factories and other commercial enterprises in the eastern province thus allowing them to bring down Sinhalese from the south to work in their factories, Sampanthan said. Under the guise of agricultural development and economic development, Sinhalicisation is taking place in the east.He said when the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam pact was signed in 1957 the percentage of the Sinhalese in the east was 13 percent. It was eighteen percent when the Dudley Senanayake-Chelvanayakam pact was signed in 1965. Now it has gone up to twenty five percent, Sampanthan pointed.The government’s plan is to make east a Sinhalese majority province and thereafter to “invade’ North by setting up Sinhala colonies.

Rights experts to advise UN's Ban on Sri Lanka

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to ask a panel of experts to advise the world body on "accountability issues" relating to possible human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, his spokesman said on Friday.In a telephone conversation with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday evening, Ban said he intended to "go ahead with the establishment of a panel of experts," Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said."He also explained that such a panel would advise him, the secretary-general, on the way forward on accountability issues related to Sri Lanka," Nesirky said.Rights groups and Western governments are pressing for some kind of accountability for thousands of civilian deaths in the last months of the island's 25-year war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which aimed to create a separate homeland for the island's Tamil minority.Both sides were accused of human rights violations and atrocities during the long conflict.It was not clear if Ban's expert panel would go as far as human rights groups would like.Those groups have accused Sri Lanka and the LTTE of war crimes during the conflict's final phase and they have demanded an independent probe of the allegations, as has U.N. special rapporteur for extrajudicial executions Philip Alston.The Sri Lankan government has denied charges of deliberately targeting civilians and other human rights breaches. The government declared victory over the Tamil Tigers in May 2009.Ban had previously informed Colombo that he was considering setting up an expert panel that would advise him on the matter and "assist the (Sri Lankan) government in taking measures to address possible violations," according to Nesirky.Ban has said an investigation of war crimes allegations should be handled by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, Navi Pillay, who has called on Sri Lanka to investigate the allegations itself -- albeit with outside help."I am convinced that Sri Lanka should undertake a full reckoning of the grave violations committed by all sides during the war, and that the international community can be helpful in this regard," she told the U.N.'s Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday.

EU To Hold Talks With Sri Lanka Regarding Duty Free Status

The European Union could initiate talks with the Sri Lankan government after that country's General Elections next month, and which are aimed at retaining the nation's duty free status, or GSP plus trade concessions, according to an article posted on the Sri Lankan government's website.As reported, late February the EU temporarily removed Sri Lanka free export status. Sri Lanka enjoyed the duty free export status because the country agreed to rules on human rights as stipulated in GSP, enjoying exemption of duties for export into the EU as it committed itself to 27 conventions in the field of human and labour rights, sustainable development and good governance. EU Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Bernard Savage said that the objective of the EU is to have dialogue with the Sri Lankan government and move towards revising the recommendations of the European Commission which led to the suspension of GSP plus to Sri Lanka, according to an article from the Daily Mirror Online posted on the government's website.“Hopefully once the elections are finished we can get to a stage where we can have an amicable dialogue with the relevant authorities so that we can thrash out what can be done for the EU committee to revise its earlier recommendations, in a positive manner,” Savage was quoted as saying in the article. Additionally, the article noted that the suspension takes effect in August with Savage hopeful the dialogue between the EU and Sri Lanka would bear fruit and that Sri Lanka would have the concessions renewed before the suspension took effect.“Our objective is to see that the suspension will not take affect and to see what can be done to correct the situation before it comes into effect,” Savage was quoted as saying.

'LTTE fundraisers' arrested in Germany

German police have arrested six leading Tamil separatists, the federal prosecution agency said Friday.The men - three German and three Sri Lankan nationals - are suspected of belonging to an organisation which extorts money from ethnic Tamils living in Germany, to fund Sri Lanka's rebel Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) group.One of the men, 34-year-old Vijikanendra V. S., is suspected of leading the German-based Tamil Coordination Committee (TCC), federal prosecutors said.The other men are thought to be members of the organisation, which represents the LTTE in Germany.The European Union (EU) listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation in 2006.Police also searched eight premises, including the TCC's centre in Oberhausen, in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Chinese presence in Kachchaitheevu exposed by Tamil Nadu journalists

The presence of Chinese in Sri Lanka owned island of Kachchaitheevu, considered as a threat to the security of India, is confirmed by a group of journalists and social activists from Tamil Nadu. More than thirty huts with Chinese names were found on the island of Kachchaitheevu located on the sea boundary between India and Sri Lanka by Tamil Nadu journalists and social activists who participated in the recent annual festival of Kachchitheevu St. Antony’s Church, sources in Raamanaathapuram in Tamil Nadu said. The huts, however, were unoccupied but evidence of people living in them was observed by the visiting journalists from Tamil Nadu who were not permitted to photograph them by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers. The presence of Chinese in the island of Kachchaitheevu is seen as a threat to the security of India by its citizens, the sources added. Sri Lankan fishermen and the SLN soldiers to whom the journalists spoke during the festival confirmed that Chinese men who were staying in Kachchaitheevu had been temporarily moved out due to the festival.They were further told that a program of joint patrol surveillance training for SLN and Chinese navy soldiers is in progress in Kachchaitheevu.‘Attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen’, ‘Tamil Nadu fishermen chased off from Kachchaitheevu by SLN’, ‘Chinese surveillance tower in Kachchaitheevu’, ‘China targeting India’ are some of the recent allegations raised by Tamil Nadu fishermen.The allegation of a Chinese surveillance tower had caused quite a stir in India and when questions were raised Sri Lanka government had categorically denied any presence of Chinese in Kachchaitheevu, the journalists said.It was suggested that representatives from both countries should jointly investigate into the allegation visiting Kachchaitheevu but it did not materialize due to reluctance of Sri Lanka, they added.Hence, journalists and social activists from Tamil Nadu had participated in the festival with the aim of finding the true situation in Kachchaitheevu using the opportunity of visiting Kachchaitheevu which is out of bounds for anyone.Sri Lanka had permitted devotees from Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu to attend the Kachchaitheevu St. Antony’s Church festival this year after nearly 23 years.The festival had not taken place from 1978 t0 2001 after which though important rituals were allowed until 2005, devotees were not permitted to take part in them.

Sri Lanka to protect Colombo from floods with Chinese finance

Sri Lanka will build a flood protection system for parts of the capital Colombo with Chinese funding, a government minister said.Colombo suburbs of Kotte, Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia, Maharagama, Kesbewa and Moratuwa will be protected from storm water flooding by the project, minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris said. The 6,800 million rupees (59 US dollar) project will be financed with a loan from China Construction Bank. China emerged as the top lender to Sri Lanka in 2009, committing 1.2 billion US dollars of aid, the finance ministry said in a report this week.

Q+A-Why are foreigners net sellers of Sri Lanka bourse

Sri Lanka's shares hit a record high this week to make the market the top performer in Asia after a meteoric 2009 when the index soared 125 percent.But the rise is not proving attractive to foreign investors. They have been net sellers of the market since an end was declared to the island's 25-year civil war last May.

Here are some questions and answers about why foreigners are leaving:

WHAT IS THE FOREIGN INVESTMENT TREND?

Foreign investment was a net 1.4 billion rupees ($12.3 million) between Jan. 1 and the end of the island's 25-year civil war in May 2009.By the end of the year though, the investment had turned into net sales of 789 million rupees, the first outflow since 2001.The trend is continuing this year. Foreigners have been net sellers of 5.6 billion rupees ($49 million) worth of shares in 33 out of the 41 trading sessions so far in 2010.

WHY ARE FOREIGN INVESTORS SELLING?

Government officials and some analysts say a large proportion of the selling is from a U.S.-based hedge fund after its Sri Lankan-born founder was charged in an insider dealing case.However, many analysts said foreign investors are selling because of concerns over the economy in the medium-to-long term. The government last year ran its biggest fiscal deficit in eight years, which has prompted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to delay the third tranche of a $2.6 billion loan.Foreign investors might stay away until they see if the government makes an effort to reduce its fiscal deficit to meet IMF conditions on the loan and whether ratings agencies get agitated by the deficit.They could get answers from the next budget, which will be held after parliamentary elections on April 8.There are also more structural constraints, such as a lack of market liquidity partly resulting from low levels of freely floating shares.Market capitalisation is now about $11.2 billion and daily turnover this year has averaged about 1.5 billion rupees.Foreign investors have also complained in the past that regulations against insider trading are too loose.

ARE THERE ANY POLITICAL CONCERNS?

Yes. Sri Lanka's government is seeking re-election in April 8 parliamentary polls with a package of populist measures to woo votes, which is making investors wary. These include raising public sector salaries at a cost of 1 percent of GDP.Such populist policies in the past have hurt corporate profits and been criticised for fuelling high inflation and government borrowing. ($1=114.165 Sri Lankan Rupee) 

U.S. Government expands scholarship program for young journalists

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the expansion of its scholarship program to bring youth to study at the Sri Lanka College of Journalism. U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Valerie Fowler made the announcement at the Sri Lanka Press Institute Diploma Program graduation ceremony. USAID, the development agency of the U.S. government, is providing scholarships for 26 students to attend the one-year Journalism Diploma Program in 2010. The Program focuses on radio, television, or print media. Courses are conducted in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, and all students receive English language instruction. Current USAID scholarship recipients represent Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim communities from the Eastern Province (12 students) and the Northern Province (14 students). In addressing the graduates, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Valerie Fowler said, “As journalists, you are duty-bound to be defenders of democratic rights and values. In the modern era, the press has played a critical role as one of the pillars of democracy. Apart from the traditional three bodies of government in a democracy --- legislative, judicial, and executive --- the media has acted as a kind of fourth branch, helping to ensure the traditional arms of the government remain honest and serve the people. Because the media serves as a purveyor of the truth and a watchdog of the public interest, media protects and promotes our democratic rights and values. Media demands that our leaders operate in an environment of transparency and fairness. If not, the media is there to tell the truth and expose injustices, all for the sake of preserving and protecting our rights. This is true in any democratic country.” In 2009, USAID provided scholarships for 14 students from the Eastern Province and two students from Monaragala District in Uva Province. As a condition of the scholarship, USAID scholarship recipients will return to their home districts or provinces to work as journalists after receiving their diplomas. This will strengthen regional reporting and ensure journalists are well-trained and prepared to cover important stories that are of interest to local and national audiences. The Diploma in Journalism Program is conducted by the Sri Lanka Press Institute through their educational arm, the Sri Lanka College of Journalism. Since 2004, the program has produced about 60 graduates per year with a 97% job placement rate in print and electronic media. The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided development and humanitarian assistance in developing countries worldwide for nearly 50 years. Since 1946, USAID/Sri Lanka has invested nearly $2 billion to benefit all the people of Sri Lanka.

LTTE may seek asylum in UK

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan has said that some LTTE leaders in the guise of asylum seekers could take refuge in the UK which could pose a grave threat to regional as well as global peace.“Yes absolutely, if terrorists get asylum in Britain as civilian immigrants, it could pose grave security challenges,” Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody said in response to this scribes’ enquiries in the backdrop of the chances of relocation of Tamil rebels to the Britain.He added, “I don’t think that the Britain is promoting terrorism but if somebody tries to organise the terror elements or the relics of crushed Tamil rebels, it is not only a cause of concern for us but for every country as it could endanger world’s peace.”He further said that the LTTE was completely defeated and its key leaders were killed and arrested while some had absconded. “By aiding or organising these elements would be very counterproductive,” he cautioned.The strong protest lodged by Sri Lankan government with the Great Britain over its backdoor and public interactions with Tamil rebels have once again mounted Lanka’s concerns that some terrorist leaders could seek asylum in Britain to pose a grave threat to regional as well as global peace. The incident has questioned the uncalled for interference of UK in South Asian region.British Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s meeting with the leaders of Global Tamil Forum had backfired earlier this week triggering massive protests with hundreds of Sri Lankans gathering outside the British High Commission in Colombo to flay Britain’s support for GTF, a shadow organisation of LTTE. However, the British authorities have kept mum over the issue and senior diplomats of the British High Commission here are reluctant to give their on-the-record version in this regard.

Sripathy’s wife goes to ‘strengthen the hands’ of President  
 
UNF Gampaha District leader and candidate for the upcoming General elections, Dilrukshi Sooriyaraachi met the President Mahinda Rajapakse on Thursday (04), and has joined the Govt. party purportedly to strengthen the ‘hands’ of the President.Dilrukshi is the wife of Sripathy Sooriyarachchi, one of the founder members of the SLFP (M). She has been accompanied to the President by Gampaha UPFA candidate Ex Minister Felix Perera and Lalindra Perera, a close Business friend of President’s brother Basil Rajapakse.Dilrukshi has taken these steps after she got involved in a number of controversies with the SLFP (M) and the UNP. She had accepted UNP membership when she obtained UNP nomination.Following the death of Sripathy Sooriyarachi, Dilrukshi was appointed as a member of the SLFP M Central working Committee and the Gampaha District leader. But charges were leveled against her for not carrying on the duties duly. She had entered into conflicts with the party’s Executive Secretary Dr. Sisil Bandara resulting in her being precluded from visiting the party Headquarters. She was then carrying on her functions via Party’s National Organizer and Gen. secretary Tiran Alles. Dilrukshi originally asked for the candidature in the National list of MPs of the UNF through the SLFP M on behalf of her husband Sripathy. But the SLFP M appointed Ruwan Ferdinands, its National Organizer for that position. Consequent upon this she decided to resign from her posts she held in the SLFP M.After she obtained membership in the UNP, she made two requests to its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe . The first, in the same way as SLFP M Upalangani Dilangamuwa was appointed as UNP Orgainizer for Galgamuwa, she shall be appointed as the Kelaniya Organizer. Yet, the UNP appointed T Bevan Perera J.P. to that position.She had then requested the UNP leader not to appoint another female candidate to Gampaha District UNP list. But, the actress, Upeksha Swarnamali of the teledrama ‘Paba’ and who supported the opposition common candidate at the last Presidential election was included in the list after giving her a rousing reception. As none of her requests was complied with, Dilrukshi entertained doubts even about her being appointed as an MP from the Gampaha District National list, and hence she was disillusioned. She had therefore accepted the invitation from the Govt. and decided to pledge her support to ‘strengthen the hands’ of the President on Thursday (4), she explained. When Lanka e news inquired from SLFP M leader Mangala Samaraweera Thursday morning (4), the latter stated, he cannot say anything on this because if he is to comment, it might constitute an insult to Late Sripathy. Anyway, ‘sin. deserted’ were the two words he used to describe the situation.

China’s pearls spook Indian observers

Le Monde's Bruno Philip reports on how strategic Chinese construction projects are encircling India, raising fears that new facilities could be used by China for military purposes should a regional conflict erupt. China is weaving a web of trade and maritime agreements around its old rival India, encircling the country with strategically placed construction projects and schemes to enlarge port facilities. In the days of the Bush administration, US analysts hatched a theory that has since become accepted wisdom: China is putting together a “string of pearls” in India’s home ­waters.“The ‘string’ is part of an indirect strategy, which ... aims to trap India in a spider’s web, reducing its options in the event of crisis,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, professor of political science at Hong Kong Baptist University.Beijing claims it is pursuing exclusively commercial goals, but the ­Indian Ocean is China’s main route for importing energy supplies, increasing the likelihood that these facilities could be used for military purposes should a regional conflict erupt, observers say. The project giving India most cause for concern is a Chinese-funded port being built at Gwadar on the coast of Pakistan’s Baluchistan province.In Burma, another Chinese ally, Beijing is involved in the construction of ports at Sittwe, Mergui and Dawei. China is also extremely active in Sri Lanka, where it is busy developing the port of Hambantota. China Eximbank is funding 85% of the work on port facilities, worth an estimated $1bn. Beijing also helped fund part of the war effort against the Tamil separatist movement quelled last year.In Bangladesh China is contributing to the modernisation of the deep-water port at Chittagong, slated to become a major container hub.The last pearl on the string, Nepal, is a landlocked country but one that occupies a strategic position for Beijing. Since the unrest in Lhasa, the capital of neighbouring Tibet, in 2008, the Nepalese have come under pressure from China to tighten Tibetan border controls and suppress demonstrations by Buddhist monks in Kathmandu.Last month the Nepalese prime minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal, led a visit to Beijing that, according to the Chinese media, resulted in an agreement on Sino-Nepali border security.But an editorial published last month on the Chinese Global Times website sought to reassure. “Worry about China competing for dominance of the Indian Ocean runs deep inside India,” it explained. “Such worries are unnecessary. China watches closely over the Indian Ocean because oil imported from the Middle East and Africa has to go through it.”So is the military threat posed by an increasingly tight string of pearls exaggerated? “The ports could serve as logistical bases should China’s navy need to evacuate its nationals from an emergency somewhere in Africa or the Middle East. But things could be much more complicated if there was a war on,” Cabestan said.

05 March 2010

Indian Foreign Secretary to visit Sri Lanka

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is to arrive in Sri Lanka on March 06 for a three day visit in the island, Foreign Ministry sources said. Rao is to have discussions with the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and several other senior officials.She will visit the Peradeniya town in hill country to attend an opening ceremony of an English language training unit that was set up with the funds granted by India. Nirupama Rao, a former Indian High Commissioner of Colombo has very cordial relationship with Sri Lanka. She was assigned to Sri Lanka as High Commissioner for India in 2004 and served until 2006 when she became India's first woman Ambassador to China.

UNF to oppose, JVP undecided

The United National Front (UNF) will oppose the extension of the emergency when it is taken up for debate at a special session of parliament next week, UNF General Secretary Tissa Attanayaka told Daily Mirror Online.The UNF which includes the main opposition the United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Sri Lanka Freedom Party Mahajana Wing and the Democratic People's Front will voice its strong objection against the emergency especially at a time when the country has other issues to concentrate on, Attanayaka said.“The government is clearly avoiding issues which they should be focusing on by extending the emergency,” Attanayaka said. The JVP which will also attend the special session however remains undecided on whether it will oppose or accept the emergency next week.  JVP Member Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that his party would hold a discussion on the matter soon in order to reach a decision. Both the JVP and UNP had opposed the emergency when it was taken up for debate just before parliament was dissolved last month. Parliament will reconvene for a special session on March 9 to extend state of emergency by another month. Parliament was dissolved on February 9 in order to conduct General Elections next month but President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to convene a special session of the house next week to extend the State of emergency.

U.N. rights chief slams abuses in Sri Lanka

Human rights abuses in Sri Lanka are damaging prospects for reconciliation after 25 years of civil war and a violent crackdown on dissent in Iran is deeply worrying, the top U.N. human rights official said on Thursday.Repeating her call for an independent investigation into war crimes allegations in Sri Lanka, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told the U.N.'s Human Rights Council she was singling out outstanding cases in different countries."I am convinced that Sri Lanka should undertake a full reckoning of the grave violations committed by all sides during the war, and that the international community can be helpful in this regard," she said in a speech presenting her annual report.The opportunity for peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka was marred by the treatment of journalists, human rights defenders and other critics of the government.Her comments on Sri Lanka and other states will reassure critics of the council who argue that the 47-member body often fails to deal with human rights violations as countries unite in regional alliances to shield each other from scrutiny.Last May, the council held a special session on Sri Lanka just after the end of the war against the Tamil Tigers, but the government deflected criticism by introducing its own resolution praising its defeat of the separatist group, which was then passed, boosting the Colombo stock exchange. Rajiva Wijesinghe, former secretary in the human rights ministry who has resigned to stand in April 8 parliamentary elections, rejected the charge of abuses linked to the war.

Cops arrested over molestation

Four policemen attached to the Mount Lavinia police crimes division have been arrested over allegations they molested a woman in Mount Lavinia last night while under the influence of liquor, the Mount Lavinia police told Daily Mirror online.The policemen had molested the lady near the beach of a bar in Mount Lavinia last night while she was alone in the area. Relatives of the lady had later gone to the Mount Lavinia police station to vent their anger over the incident.Following a complaint lodged at the police station the four police officers were arrested and produced before the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) to see if their were under the influence of liquor. The lady who was molested is also to be produced to the JMO

Mahinda will take oaths for second term on Nov. 18 – GL

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will take oaths for his second term on November 18, this year, Export Development and International Trade Minister G.L. Peiris said yesterday.He told the Cabinet press briefing in Colombo that the commencement of the second term, would be in keeping with the Supreme Court ruling, on the determination that was sought by the government.Rajapaksa was sworn in for his first term on November 19, 2005. Commenting on tourism promotion, he said that the government was on course to attract 5,000 more French tourists to Sri Lanka before the end of the year.The focus, he said, would be on promoting eco and health tourism. In this regard, he had met representatives of a leading French travel agency, yesterday.The number of western tourists visiting the country had appreciated considerably, he claimed.

A-9 road opening brings better prospects

The supply of rice, vegetables, fruits and other local produce from the North and East has increased rapidly with the opening of the A-9 road after 30 years, said Trade, Marketing Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Goonewardena. This has resulted in the price reduction of rice at the local market with a kilo of local white rice being available between Rs. 45-50 and consumers can buy this variety at Rs 45 per kilo at all CWE branches in the country. Meanwhile vegetable from the North have begun to arrive at the local market and this will further reduce the price of vegetable by April. The Minister said the CWE outlets will be increased to 200 from the present 160 by April and added that the addition of 363 coop city shops and another 1100 mini coop city shops would further ensure consumers with a better service throughout the country.

03 March 2010

India stresses 'necessity' of political settlement to Sri Lanka

India has stressed to the Sri Lankan government "the necessity" of reaching a political settlement acceptable to all the communities there, including the Tamils."The government is of the view that the conclusion of the military operations in Sri Lanka provides an opportunity to make a new beginning and pursue a lasting political settlement in Sri Lanka," external affairs minister SM Krishna said while replying to a written question.He said the way forward lies in a peacefully negotiated political settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka acceptable to all the communities there, including the Tamils."The necessity of reaching a political settlement has been stressed to the Sri Lankan government," he informed.India has taken several initiatives to provide humanitarian relief assistance to IDPs (Internally Displaced People) and civilians affected by the conflict in Northern Sri Lanka, including 5200 tons of shelter material and 70,000 agricultural starter's packs.

US honours displaced Sri Lankan Muslim woman

A Sri Lankan Muslim woman who has been internally displaced in the north of the country for 20 years has won a top award from the US state department.Majeed Jensila is one of 10 worldwide recipients of the state department's International Women of Courage award for 2010. She heads a group called the Community Trust Fund, engaged in "activities for the betterment of minority women". The state department said her focus was on uniting Muslims and Tamils. The US Embassy in Colombo said that Ms Jensila had worked with young people on minority women's issues including women's rights, peace building, relief work and mine risk education. Ms Jensila, from Mullaitthivu in Sri Lanka's northern province, told the BBC Tamil service that she had been displaced when Tamil Tiger rebels evicted the entire Muslim community from the area in 1990. She and others sought refuge in Puttalam, a small fishing town on the north-western coast, where she lives now with her husband and three children. She started the Community Trust Fund with five people in 1992. "At the start the task was very difficult," she said. But she was able to overcome the obstacles with support from her husband and family. The annual International Women of Courage award was started in March 2007 to recognise women around the globe who have shown courage and leadership in advocating women's rights. Two women from Afghanistan also won awards this year.

TULF reiterates call for Indian model

The TULF, in its election manifesto, has reiterated its call for a decentralization of powers in Sri Lanka along the Indian model. Leader of the party V. Anandasangaree said a unitary constitution was unlikely to devolve powers to the Tamil areas. The merge of the north and the east would harm no one, he observed, adding that the Tamils, Muslims and others displaced by the war should be resettled in their own homes in the Wanni. The TULF manifesto also calls for the full payment of compensation to those affected by the war and extends its fullest support for legislation to punish violators of human rights. Mr. Anandasangaree added that his party wanted the removal of high security zones and child soldiers presently under rehabilitation be returned to their parents.

Parliamentary Elections, 2010 - Tamil United Liberation Front Election Manifesto

Bearing in mind the difficulties experienced by members of the minority communities in Sri Lanka, without any substantial or permanent relief for well over half a century, and the consistent opposition from the hardliners to the efforts taken by the right minded leaders to find a reasonable solution acceptable to the minorities, the Tamil United Liberation Front is compelled to take prudent action to change its stand on certain vital matters that formed the very foundation of the TULF. Furthermore the recent events including the war have increased the humanitarian concerns of the minorities, which the TULF feels is the responsibility of the likeminded parties and persons, to deal with unitedly. The need for joint action arises to expose the sudden surge from various quarters, unbelievably even from certain individuals who had ruined the country by taking radical positions in the past, within and outside Sri Lanka, now giving recommendations and issuing statements contrary to the real situation prevailing in the country, obviously with certain hidden motives. It is the candid view of the TULF to create a contented society wherein all are equal and no one will feel superior or inferior to one another. People have short memories and we Sri Lankans are no exception. The problems we face in our country today have directly or indirectly affected every one. The loss of several thousand lives, several billions worth of both public and private property and the un-imaginable amount of money spent on the recently concluded war, several millions spent every day in the maintenance of camps and service personnel etc. should have taught all of us a very good lesson that we will never again want this situation to be repeated and we should not allow that to be repeated. The Tamil United Liberation Front being aware of the fate of Section 29 of the Soulbury Constitution, the only safeguard the minorities had in it, strongly feel that any solution for the ethnic problem, if found under the Unitary System, may be subjected to review by a future Parliament and all efforts taken so far at heavy loss of life and property will go waste. The TULF during the past five years had been advocating for a solution under a Federal Constitution and have also offered to accept the Indian Model as the only alternative to a federal solution. This proposal should satisfy those who are opposed to both the Federal and Unitary systems. The TULF is fully convinced that no acceptable solution can ever be found under the Unitary System and totally reject any solution under a Unitary System. As regards the merger issue, The TULF does not believe that the merger of the North and the East will prove detrimental either to the country or to any ethnic group. Instead it will help to promote good-will and communal harmony among various communities living there. The TULF is also opposed to any planned colonization since it will instead of promoting communal harmony will only cause dissensions among various communities. The TULF is firmly committed in these three matters. The TULF genuinely and strongly feels that if the following matters are implemented, the country that had got in to this mess can be pulled out of it and a strong bond of friendship could be established among various communities.

1. The TULF genuinely feels that the delay in re-settling the Internally Displaced persons in their respective residences is very unfair. Whether they are Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Tamils of Indian origin or of any other ethnic group, they should go back to their original places of residence before they were displaced. The TULF will pressurise the government to do so.

2. The TULF demands that full compensation should be paid immediately for the loss of lives, limbs, and properties of the IDP’s, be they Tamils, Muslims, Sinhalese or Tamils of Indian Origin. The TULF expects the Government to provide proper transport and health facilities in re-settlement areas. The TULF will pressurise the Government to take quick action.

3. Quick action should be taken to compile a list of missing and dead persons and other relevant details of those people who lived in Vanni during the war for which the TULF will give all cooperation.

4. The TULF demands that immediate action should be taken to hand over the 10,000 odd children detained in rehabilitation camps, wrongfully branded as Tiger cadre. There may be a few of them who had joined the Tigers voluntarily but all the others were forcibly recruited. What these children now need urgently are care and affection of the parents. Steps should be taken to hand over these innocent children to their respective parents who can decide as to what type of education their children really need. Most of these children, due to the war or for some other reasons like fear of conscription had lost their schooling for a few years. The TULF will pressurise the Government to create opportunities for them to continue their studies.

5. The TULF will demand that the activities of the Human Rights Commission be extended to the North to go into the abductions and killings of innocent people. Many are willing to give evidence to trace the culprits.

6. The TULF request, now that the war is over, the high security zones should be disbanded and the houses within the high security zone handed over to the owners. Immediate action should be taken to compel those now occupying houses and other buildings forcibly, to return them to the owners or their heirs.

7. Most people in the North and the East were compelled by the LTTE years back to contribute a fixed quantity of gold with a promise to return same on a future date. A few got their gold back but many did not. Apart from this, people had been pawning their articles and also depositing their money with the Eelam Bank illegally run by the LTTE. All the gold and the cash recovered in Vanni belong to the people of the North and the East. Hence the TULF demands that whatever jewellery and cash recovered should be kept in custody until all claims are met.

8. The TULF urges the Government that a University for Vanni should be set up forthwith to accommodate children who missed their admission for various Universities during the past few years due to the war and conscription. Hence at least courses like Agriculture and Arts degrees should be started for the benefit of the Vanni Students.

9. The TULF will insist that some of the business community in Vanni have lost everything and are now paupers. The Government should ensure that all sub-agencies, authorized dealership petrol stations etc. should be given to those dealers who had them before they were displaced.

10. The TULF recommends that two special units should be set up, one to take charge of the resettlement of the unfortunate Muslims of the North who were displaced in 1992 and the other to resettle the most unfortunate Tamils of Indian Origin who had migrated to Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu, more particularly between 1958 and 1986 from the Up Country region and from many other areas in the country.

11. The TULF will insist on unifying families of which the husband is in the detention camp and the wife and children are at their homes or in IDP camps. It will also insist on handing over those who had lost their limbs, eyesight etc. and those who carry pieces of shell in their bodies undergoing severe pain.

12. The TULF will endeavour to find employment opportunities for the youths by reactivating the factories not in operation now and also demand employment opportunities in the government sector and through the government in foreign countries. In these matters the TULF will demand from the Government a bigger share in view of the opportunities missed due to the war and related matters.

13. Two thirds of the North is surrounded by sea. Those engaged in fishing face a lot of challenges in their employment. The TULF will find ways and means of settling their problems.

14. Those engaged in agriculture also face similar problems and the TULF will endeavour to solve their problems as well.

15. The TULF demands from the Government not to depend on a favoured few to get engaged in development works in the North and East. To get the maximum benefit the state should engage, apart from the representatives of the government, representatives of the respective districts and representatives of the donor countries.

16. The TULF will endeavour to redeem the livelihoods of the youngsters who lost their track due to the war and economic disparities.

17. The TULF will endeavour to raise the standard of education in the North and the East since their standard had deteriorated to a low level, to the international level.

18. The TULF will also, if necessary muster support from abroad to raise the standard of sports to the international level.

19. The TULF insists that a strong chapter on Human Rights with strong penalties for violations.

20. Numerous displaced persons presently settled in foreign countries have various links in their motherland. The TULF will help to facilitate them to resettle in their respective homes and to visit their kith and kin when necessity arises without any harassment from any body.

A large number of political parties and Independent groups are in the field contesting the forthcoming parliamentary elections. This number is unheard of in the history of our country. Some of these groups are contesting without any knowledge of the present ground situation, instigated by some forces and had fallen in to their traps. Most of the victims are youths. On behalf of the people of this country the TULF pleads with everybody to become aware of the danger the country is facing today. The TULF urges the youth to study the ground situation and act sensibly without rushing in hoping to enter parliament easily. The TULF being a senior political party, very keenly interested in the future of the Tamil speaking people and doing politics with no self-interest and had gained the trust and confidence of the local people and those living abroad, will endeavor to gain for the Tamil speaking people a solution with peace and dignity. The TULF as usual will go all out to make available for all the others a situation under which they enjoy fair play and justice. The TULF strongly urges all its supporters in the Electoral Districts of Jaffna, Vanni, Batticaloa and Colombo to vote for the symbol ‘Rising Sun’.

Signed: V. Anandasangaree President - TULF, K.K. Kanagarajah - Secretary General - TULF

CID raids home of Hashan Tillakaratne, questions him

Cricketer-turned-politician Hashan Tillakaratne had his home searched and later questioned by the CID in connection with the whereabouts of his cousin Danuna Tillakaratne who is on the run. Armed with a search warrant, the CID raided Mr. Tillakaratne's house in Piliyandala today (Mar. 03), reports said. Today, police recorded a statement from him regarding Danuna, who is wanted in connection with the alleged fraud by Hicorp in dealings with the Sri Lanka Army. The company is allegedly owned by Danuna, the son-in-law of Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who is detained over conspiracy charges. Meanwhile, the Colombo Fort magistrate's court has permitted the Army to record a statement from a director of Hicorp Ltd., Wellington de Hoedt. Arrested on January 17, Mr. de Hoedt was rejected bail once again by the court.

Lanka to purchase Chinese aircraft

Sri Lanka is to purchase six turboprop-powered MA60 transport aircraft from China with the help of a Chinese government preferred loan scheme, an aviation website quoted an official at Xian Aircraft as saying.Sri Lanka is to receive two of its MA60s this year, with the remainder to be delivered in 2011, says the Xian official.Sri Lanka's ports and aviation ministry confirms that the country is in negotiations to buy six MA60s for the air force. Four of the MA60s will be dedicated for use by the service, but the other two may end up at state-owned carrier Mihin Lanka, it adds.The Sri Lankan air force currently relies on Antonov An-32s, Lockheed Martin C-130Ks and Chinese-built Harbin Y12s for its transport activities.Chinese firms are helping to finance and build airports, roads and other infrastructure in Sri Lanka, and Beijing often makes soft loans to such countries, the aviation website reported.

02 March 2010

TULF releases election manifesto in Jaffna

Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader, V. N. Anandasangari, released the election manifesto of TULF Tuesday at the party office in Stanley Veethi in Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said. He said that the Tamil parliamentarians elected in the last general election in Jaffna district had done nothing for the good of the Tamils and that they should withdraw from contesting so as to pave the way for TULF. Hundreds of TULF supporters were present on the occasion. Anandasangari accused the government for not identifying or arresting the persons who lobbed grenades on politicians and their offices during the presidential election and pointed out that a paramilitary group continues to function full scale in Jaffna. “How could a paramilitary group function while the government claims that the Liberation Tigers had been eliminated?” he asked.

The following are some of the declarations in the TULF manifesto:

• Put a stop to the culture of arms completely.

• Develop the lives of the war affected people of Vanni.

• Identify and reject the persons using politics for their own benefit.

• Support politics sans violence.

The manifesto further said that the TULF is sincerely interested in the future welfare of the Tamils and that it never had engaged in politics to further selfish motives.Anandasangari said that the TULF is a political party that is accepted by people in the country and abroad.He further said that TULF will try to create the right atmosphere to achieve peace with honour for the Tamils and justice for all.He requested voters to vote for the ‘Rising Sun’ symbol of TULF and pointed out that the votes of the Tamils are being split by many political parties and independent groups contesting in the forthcoming parliamentary election.

Too many Ind. Groups a problem for Polls chief

Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake was strongly of the opinion that some remedial action needed to be taken to curb the increasing number of Independent Groups entering the fray as this has caused unnecessary problems for the Elections Department and a greater burden on the public purse, Elections Secretariat sources said yesterday. The Ballot Paper for the Digamadulla District would have to be four feet long.The Assistant Commissioner of Elections for the Batticaloa District T. Krishnandalingham said that the second highest number of nominations, 360 candidates from 17 Political Parties and Independent Groups, were in the fray to elect 05 members to Parliament.Even during the last Presidential Elections the Commissioner expressed strong sentiments that action was needed to prevent dummy candidates being planted as Independents by some of the main Political Parties to increase the number of Polling, Counting Agents and obtain extra airtime on the State media to put forward their views.Elections Secretariat Officials said the majority of these Independent Groups cannot even obtain a few votes to save their deposits. This time, running in the contest for the 7th Parliament are 7,620 Candidates from 35 Political Parties and 301 Independent Groups to elect 196 members. This has put the Election Department into difficulties in the preparation of Ballot papers, Elections Secretariat sources said.The Assistant Commissioner of Elections for the Digamadulla District Bandera Mapa said that a record 70 Nominations were received of which a nomination of a Political Party and three Independent Groups were rejected. A record number of candidates, 660 from 18 political parties and 48 Independent Groups, are in the fray to elect 07 members to Parliament.He said that the Elections Department had run out of symbols as it had only 40 in hand. With the increase in the number of Independent Groups an extra 20 symbols had to be Gazetted last week.The spokesperson for the District Secretary and Chief Returning Officer for the Colombo District Talagodaarchchi Joseph Sylvester said that the highest number of candidates had been recorded in the Colombo District, 836, belonging to 22 Political Parties and 16 Independent Groups to elect 19 to Parliament.

Police stations in all liberated areas

Police stations will be set up in all liberated areas in the North this year to facilitate normal civilian life and civil administration in them, said IGP Mahinda Balasuriya. He was speaking after opening the new police station on the A-32 road at Pooneryn Sunday. Balasuriya said the new police station was set up under the Government’s Uthuru Vasanthaya program on the initiative of the President, Defence Secretary and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa. Balasuriya said he has also laid the foundation stones for the proposed new police stations at Mankulam and Killinochchi on that day. Work would be completed within six months under the sponsorship of a well-known private firm, he said. Balasuriya said several existing buildings were utilized to open the Pooneryn police station which is the last police outpost along the A-32 road. He said nearly 10,000 people have re-settled in Pooneryn. The resettlement program is progressing rapidly in the North with the people busy rebuilding their homes and restarting their agriculture, fishing and other vocations with great enthusiasm. They were motivated with a sense of security and protection with the setting up of the new police stations, he said. Divisional Secretary of Pooneryn, Commander of the 66th brigade and several other police and armed forces officials were present.

Sri Lanka CID arrests a high ranking member of LTTE financial wing

Sri Lanka Criminal Investigations Division (CID) has arrested a high ranking member of the LTTE's international finance wing, the state-owned radio reported.The CID arrested the suspect, who has arrived in the country from Geneva in Switzerland on January 10th, while hiding in a house at Pallidora road in Dehiwala.The CID says the suspect has arrived in the country to look into the business enterprises owned by the vanquished terrorist organization.Reportedly the suspect has obtained a passport and visa after producing false information to the immigration and emigration controller. Although Sri Lankan security forces have completely eliminated the top ranking members of the LTTE organization in the country, its international network remains functional, mostly in Western countries.It has been reported that the LTTE received funds nearing 300 million dollars a year from its overseas network.Sri Lanka arrested the LTTE's main arms procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP last August in a South Asian country and brought to Colombo. He has revealed valuable information on the international finances and operations of the terror outfit.

S.Lanka probe army officers over editor's murder

Sri Lankan police are to question dozens of military intelligence officers in connection with the internationally condemned assassination of a senior editor, a spokesman said Tuesday.Investigations into the January 2009 slaying of Lasantha Wickrematunga, chief editor of the anti-establishment Sunday Leader, had led them to military personnel, said police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody.Sri Lanka's opposition and rights groups had blamed the government for the killing of Wickrematunga, a staunch critic of the military campaign that eventually led to the crushing of the Tamil Tiger rebels last year.President Mahinda Rajapakse has denied that his administration was behind the murder, which was condemned by the US, the United Nations, European Union and both local and international rights groups.The privately run Sinhala-language Divaina newspaper said the head of the military intelligence unit, a major general, was already in police custody and being questioned.The military declined comment.Wickrematunga was last month named one of the 60 World Press Freedom Heroes by the Austria-based International Press Institute (IPI).The IPI said 17 journalists were killed in Sri Lanka because of their work over the last decade. Two were killed in 2009. No one has been brought to justice in connection with any of the killings.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader's security restored

Sri Lanka police told the country's Supreme Court today that the security for Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem will be restored.The Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya through the government counsel informed this decision when a Fundamental Rights petition filed by Hakeem was heard today.The IGP further informed the Court that the police have decided to restore security to former parliamentarians who are either party leaders or general secretaries.The Supreme Court yesterday ordered the Attorney General to explore the possibility of granting some security to the former parliamentarians when they heard a petition filed by 17 members of the dissolved parliament against the withdrawal of their security. The State counsel informed the Court that the legislators are not entitled for the privileges of security after the legislature was dissolved.

Lanka says China key partner in development of northern region

China is an important partner in the development of the war-ravaged northern region where the process of resettlement of Tamils has gained momentum, Sri Lankan Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. "China, as one of the leading international partners for northern development, has also donated 6,252 tents and 34 more heavy machinery and equipment to be used for resettlement and reconstruction work in the North," the Ministry said in a statement. Premier Ratnasiri Wickremanayake yesterday received de-mining equipment from China. A stock of 50 de-mining detectors and 50 Protective Equipment for army de-miners conducting humanitarian operations in the North was handed over to him by Chinese Ambassador Yang Xiuping here. Army Chief Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya and other senior officials were also present on the occasion. The Chinese equipment valued at Sri Lankan Rs 50 million are expected to accelerate the ongoing army de-mining operations in the North, the statement said. Earlier this month, the Chinese government donated equipment worth Rs 285.4 million for infrastructure development in the North and East. Immediately after the end of the war with the LTTE in May last year, China made a cash donation of USD 100 million to Sri Lanka. Thereafter 6,257 tents were donated, the ministry said, adding in addition, 2,000 tents were given by China's Sichuan Province. Meanwhile, Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, Rishard Bathiyudeen, said the government will expedite the resettlement of the remaining 70,000 Internally Displace Persons (IDPs) in welfare villages. The resettlement process of IDPs from the Menik Farm and Mannar camps in Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts has also gained momentum recently. Around 1,000 army de-mining troops have already cleared approximately 200 sq km in Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Mannar districts using 29 de-mining equipment by February 20 this year. A total of 822 anti-personnel mines, an anti-tank mine and 304 unexploded explosive devices had also been removed by the mid of February, according to statistics released by the Army Engineers. The de-mining process has been almost completed in most parts of Killinochchi district too, enabling around 90,000 IDPs to return to their villages safely. The UNCHR has also provided five de-mining flail .

01 March 2010

ITAK begins election campaign in Trincomalee

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) Sunday evening inaugurated its election campaign in Trincomalee district in support of its candidates led by its President and former Member of Parliament R.Sampanthan. Mr. Sampanthan with other candidates S.Mathialagan, K.Selvarajah, (Trincomalee Urban Council Vice Chairman), K.Nageswaran, K.Thiruchelvam and M.Neminathan participated in the election rally. Former Member of Parliamentarian K.Thurairetnasingham presided over the rally held at Sivan Koayil Veethi. At the commencement they participated in Pooja held in Trincomalee Katpakap-pillaiyaar Temple and Trincomalee Sivan Koayil. Thereafter they were taken in procession to the venue along Thirugnanasampanthar Street. Former MP Thurairatnasingam garlanded the statue of ITAK founder leader S.J.V.Chelvanayagam before the commencement of the rally.ITAK leader Sampanthan appealed to the people to rally round the ITAK in this crucial time to achieve its objective to find a lasting honorable political solution to the Tamil national question.

FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka holds parliamentary elections on April 8 amid economic worries, not least the IMF's decision to delay the third tranche of a $2.6 billion loan after the government missed its 2009 deficit reduction targets.

Following is a summary of key political risks to watch:

* PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Newly re-elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa is proceeding full speed ahead towards the April polls, aiming for a two-thirds majority in parliament that would give him a free hand to change the constitution. He won the presidential election by a margin of 18 percent over former army commander General Sarath Fonseka, and the opposition is yet to recover from the defeat. The fractured and demoralised opposition's claims of poll rigging are expected to go nowhere, and political protests are now prohibited up to April 15 by law because parliamentary elections have been called.

What to watch:

- Whether Rajapaksa can secure two-thirds majority. This would be broadly positive for markets as it would allow decisive policymaking, including reforms, to attract foreign investment. He is likely to make overtures to opposition parties to secure this.

- The parties Rajapaksa keeps in his rejigged coalition. That will indicate the kind of policies he will follow.

- How the government deals with a coup plot it says Fonseka and his supporters tried to hatch, or any large protests after the polls. If it acts with too heavy a hand, it risks some backlash at home, plus further damage to international ties.

* IMF LOAN AND FISCAL REFORM

The IMF's delay in paying a loan tranche was a negative factor for investor sentiment. The $40 billion economy will face more pressure as the government says the 6 percent IMF deficit goal for 2010 is also challenging due to spending to promote reconciliation after the end of the war with the Tamil Tigers. The IMF says it will reconsider paying the third tranche after going through the budget numbers following the parliamentary polls. The delay comes ahead of Sri Lanka selling a 10-year, $500 million sovereign bond this year

What to watch:

-- Whether the IMF delays the loan tranche again after review in May, or comes up with additional conditions for continuing.

-- The reaction of ratings agencies to any further delay.

-- The impact of any further delay on the price Sri Lanka is able to get for its sovereign issue. It will have to pay a higher interest rate if the IMF withdraws support. However, the yield on Sri Lanka's Eurobonds LK045930114= LK032736246= has come down in recent weeks, despite the IMF's concerns.

-- Progress in efforts to raise revenue collection or rein in public-sector spending. Rajapaksa pledged pay raises to public employees during the election. How he pays for this will be a good indicator of what tack his government will take.

* ECONOMIC REFORM AND POST-WAR FOREIGN INVESTMENT

Despite post-war economic optimism, foreigners remain interested mostly in the safest heaven, government treasury bills and bonds CENSL10, in which there is a foreign investment cap of 10 percent. Offshore investors in Sri Lanka's bourse .CSE, one of the world's best-performing last year with a return of 125 percent, have been net sellers so far this year to the tune of over $42 million.

Foreign direct investment fell a third in 2009 compared to a year earlier. An uptick in FDI is expected now the war is over, but many potential direct and portfolio investors say they want to see reforms first -- in particular reducing the corporate tax rate and the bureaucratic hurdles for starting a business.

What to watch:

- How much corporate tax rates are cut through a tax reform committee after the post-poll budget by end-April.

- Timing of the central bank issue of its planned $500 million sovereign bond and whether it increases the foreign investment limit in government securities

* THE RUPEE AND INFLATION

Inflation has been rising for five months and hit 6.5 percent in January. The central bank has kept rates at multi-year lows to spur growth. Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal has said the central bank will allow flexibility in the rupee LKR= exchange rate, with currency controls set to be relaxed to spur investment and allow the rupee to float more freely.

What to watch:

-- Any monetary tightening, and the impact on inflation and the rate of credit growth.

-- Any move to relax currency controls, and the subsequent reaction of the exchange rate.

* INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Western countries, and groups in the Tamil diaspora, are pressing for some kind of accountability for thousands of civilian deaths at the end of the war. Sri Lanka is adamant its soldiers did not violate international law, and that for now has cost it enhanced European Union trade preferences known as GSP+ worth $136 million a year. Rajpaksa's behaviour towards beaten presidential candidate Fonseka has added to misgivings among Western countries. However, Sri Lanka's willingness to turn to China, Russia, and Iran appears to have prompted the West to take a softer line. India remains a steadfast ally, and its influence is likely to help Sri Lanka avoid a serious rift with Western countries.

What to watch:

-- Whether Sri Lanka can reach a deal with EU to get GSP+ back. The reinstatement of the trade concession would help Sri Lanka's garment industry, its top export earner.

-- The extent of Western redevelopment aid, versus that from India and China, largest donors since the end of the war so far.

-- Any concrete steps Rajapaksa takes to address Tamil political demands, something he said he would do after elections.

Protest against UK in Colombo   
 
Around two-hundred supporters of Sri Lanka's ruling coalition have staged a protest outside the British High Commission in Colombo, accusing Britain of supporting Tamil separatists abroad. The demonstrators criticised the British foreign secretary, David Miliband, for addressing a meeting in London last week of expatriate Tamils who Colombo accuses of being rebel sympathisers. British officials said they would continue to engage with all Sri Lankan communities engaged in an effort to promote an equitable peace. Britain, like a number of other western countries, has been critical of Sri Lanka's conduct during the final stages last year of the long-running civil war against the Tamil Tiger rebels.   

Online petition launched demanding General's release       

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) has taken measures to get signatures to an online petition to demand the government of Sri Lanka to release Gen. Sarath Fonseka who was illegally arrested by the Military Police and is being arbitrarily detained without any charges. Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva launched the web site www.freesarathfonseka.com today morning at the head office of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA). The first signature for the petition was placed by the former Chief Justice. Mr. Sarath N. Silva also delivered the keynote address of the ceremony.   Ms. Anoma Fonseka, Leader of the JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe, former Parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga and a large gathering were present.

Tamil spokesman flees asylum seeker boat

The spokesman for more than 240 Sri Lankan asylum seekers locked in a long-running stand-off with the Indonesian government is on the run.Sanjeev "Alex" Kuhendrarajah fled the asylum seekers' rickety cargo boat, which has been docked in the western Java port of Merak since October, late last week.Another of the asylum seekers, Nimal, said Kuhendrarajah crept away in the middle the night without telling anyone."We really don't know why he left the boat," Nimal told AAP on Monday.But Australian refugee advocate Ian Rintoul said Kuhendrarajah decided to flee because he believed his presence was slowing progress toward a resolution of the stand-off."He thinks the focus should not be on him, it's never been about him, it's about the future of the 250 people on that boat," Mr Rintoul said.Kuhendrarajah was also worried about his personal safety after being threatened by local officials, Mr Rintoul said.Intercepted by Indonesia at Australia's request en route to Christmas Island, the Tamils were taken to Merak and all but a handful have since refused to leave the boat. They fear they will have to wait years for resettlement if they come ashore without a promise of rapid processing.Kuhendrarajah, 27, became the group's spokesman because of his impeccable English.He later said he regretted taking such a prominent role in the affair because doing so had potentially exposed his wife and three children to harm back in Sri Lanka.Kuhendrarajah spent most of his childhood in Canada after his family fled strife in Sri Lanka in 1983.He later joined a gang and was convicted of making death threats and possessing firearms before being deported back to Sri Lanka in 2003.The Sri Lankan government has also accused Kuhendrarajah of people smuggling but he has strongly denied it.A spokesman for Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry said police were now searching for him.

China donates more de-mining equipment to Sri Lanka

The government of China today donated a stock of demining equipment worth 50 million rupees to Sri Lanka to help demining activities in the Northern region.Ambassador for People's Republic of China, Ms. Yang Xiuping ceremonially handed over 50 De-mining Detectors and 50 De-mining Protective Equipment to Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka this morning at the Prime Minister's office in Colombo.The equipment were later handed over to the Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya.Speaking at the occasion the Premier said the machineries presented by the government of China will help to further expedite the de-mining activities in North. He also praised the cooperation granted by the international community for the efforts taken by the government to bring back normalcy to the lives of the people in North. Chinese Ambassador said that her country is always ready to support Sri Lanka since both countries have been good friends.