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TELO parliamentarian M.K. Sivajilingam wants the civilians who died in claymore attacks in the Wanni given compensation as well.“Civilians in the Wanni also die in attacks just like in the south. The most recent one left 11 schoolgirls dead,” he told Parliament Yesterday (Nov. 29th).The TELO and TNA MP noted that he too observed the one-minute silence proposed by JVP’s Wimal Weerawansa to remember those who died in attacks in Mahavilachchiya, Anuradhapura, Nugegoda and Mannar.Sivajilingam said that his party condemned these attacks, adding that civilians who die in attacks in the Wanni should be treated in the same manner and adequately compensated as well.

Sri Lanka will continue to attack Tamil Tiger rebel positions until Tiger "terrorism" is completely defeated, the prime minister told parliament on Thursday, a day after two separate explosions rocked the capital Colombo.The blasts killed 21 people, including two victims who died in hospital on Thursday and a suicide bomber.Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake told parliament the government was able to weaken the Tamil Tiger rebels and will continue to attack them."We are sure of our targets, those are not civilian targets. We will continue air strikes until the terrorism is eradicated," the prime minister told parliament, when a member of a rebel-backed cluster of minority Tamil parties asked the government to stop air raids in rebel-held areas as civilians were being killed by the strikes.Fighting has been intense in recent months, with almost daily land and sea battles, bombings and air raids.More than 5,000 people have been killed in clashes between the military and the rebels since early 2006.Wednesday's blasts came a day after Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran accused the international community of pandering to the government.In an annual address, he said he had no hope of a political settlement with the state to end the civil war and vowed that the guerrillas would fight on for an independent state.Following the Wednesday explosions, the government declared schools in the Western province, which includes the capital, to be closed as a security measure. The military had also requested the public to be extra vigilant and report suspicious items to security forces.A government offensive has pushed the Tigers from strongholds in the east, and its troops are trying to wipe out the rebels entirely despite international calls for peace talks.The death toll since the war erupted in 1983 is around 70,000 people, and analysts say the conflict is likely to grind on for years.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that he wants to drag his anti-government adversaries to the negotiating table. "We are ready to negotiate," Rajapaksa said in an interview with The Asahi Shimbun on Nov. 15. It was the first time for Rajapaksa to be interviewed by a Japanese media organization since he became president of the South Asian island nation in November 2005. The president is scheduled to visit Japan next month, the first by a Sri Lankan leader in 11 years. Sri Lanka is made up mainly by the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils. Many Sinhalese are Buddhists while Tamils are mainly Hindu. In the 1950s, the Sri Lankan government, mainly led by Sinhalese, started policies to make Sinhalese the country's official language and protect Buddhism. The Tamils reacted, creating a separatist movement. In 1983, the conflict escalated into a civil war between the government forces and the radical anti-government group, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). In February 2002, the two parties agreed to a cease-fire. In November 2003, however, the agreement was postponed indefinitely. Last year, the civil war resumed and since October 2006, dialogue between the two groups has been at a standstill. An estimated 70,000 people have died since the civil war flared in 1983. Of that number, 5,000 have been killed since last year. In the interview, Rajapaksa referred to LTTE members as "terrorists." According to him, they have implemented suicide bombings, compulsorily recruited children as soldiers, and have been engaged in the smuggling of weapons. "We put pressure on the group to give up its arms and enter the political mainstream. Terrorists must be wiped out from the Earth," Rajapaksa said. Government forces have tried to weaken the LTTE through military engagement, trying to drive it into a situation in which it must choose dialogue. The government has had some success, managing to bring eastern regions under control. However, there is no indication that the hard-line policy will eventually bring the LTTE back to the negotiating table. Some say the LTTE will never agree to resume the dialogue if it is in a position of weakness. The success of the government's forces in the eastern regions is said to be due mainly to the cooperation of an armed group that had split from the LTTE. But even some on the government's side say it would be difficult to bring the LTTE under control if the LTTE remains engaged in guerrilla war in the country's northern jungles, home to the rebel group's main strongholds. Whether dialogue can be renewed now depends on the content of a peace plan being worked out by a committee of leaders of political parties. At a committee meeting in January last year, Rajapaksa talked about the so-called devolution proposal, which gives autonomy to local regions. The proposal is aimed at easing the Tamil people's dissatisfaction with the central government. The devolution proposal, which is expected to serve as the basis for the peace negotiations, is supposed to have been decided upon by Dec. 15 this year. But Rajapaksa said the committee could not meet the deadline. He said that more time is needed to coordinate a deal between all the political parties. "I hope they will give me this proposal sometime in January or February (of 2008)," he said. He also said he wants the international community to put pressure on the LTTE to accept dialogue. By saying so, Rajapaksa expressed his hope for intermediation of the international community, especially Japan. Japan has been actively engaged in the intermediation between the government and the LTTE over the past several years. It has hosted peace negotiations between them and held international conferences on the reconstruction of the war-torn nation. Tokyo appointed Yasushi Akashi, a former undersecretary-general of the United Nations, as the Japanese government's representative in charge of peace-building and reconstruction in Sri Lanka.Japan is now the biggest aid donor to Sri Lanka. Some of the funds had been used to improve power lines and roads in the eastern and northern parts of the country. After the civil war intensified last year, aid to combat areas was stopped. But since the eastern regions came under the government's control in July this year, Rajapaksa has said he wants Japan to offer assistance to the war-ravaged regions. "In the areas that the LTTE once occupied, people's living standards must be raised," he said. "Officials (from both countries) will discuss infrastructure development, education, health sector and farming (as the fields that will receive new assistance from Japan)." In Sri Lanka, about 1,000 people have disappeared since last year. It is suspected that many of them, Tamil or those close to them, were kidnapped by the government's security organizations. The United States and some European countries have criticized the Sri Lankan government for the deteriorating human rights situation within the nation. Asked about that, Rajapaksa said that many of the criticisms are based on misunderstandings. "Most of those cases have been created. (In our country), there is the rule of law. People can file complaints," he said, adding that the government had set up a committee to investigate the issue

The European Union said yesterday (Nov. 29th) that it remained "gravely concerned about the welfare of civilians caught up in the Sri Lanka's conflict - in the Wanni, in Colombo or wherever." The EU said it expected the parties to the conflict to take the utmost care to avoid civilian casualties in accordance with international humanitarian law. The statement, issued by the British High Commission on behalf of the EU, condemned yesterday's "terrorist attacks in Colombo" and deplored "deliberate targeting of civilians." “These callous attacks can have no political justification and serve only to add to the suffering and grief of ordinary Sri Lankans. We extend our condolences to the victims and their families and friends,” it said

JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa has called for the immediate ban of the LTTE in Sri Lanka. “The bomb blast in Nugegoda claimed many lives including those of several schoolchildren. Are we going to allow the LTTE to function as an officially permitted organization any further?” Weerawansa asked Parliament yesterday (Nov. 29th).He also charged that certain media had given publicity to Prabharakan’s Heroes Day speech, giving diplomatic status to the Tiger leader. Speaking further, the JVP MP urged for an immediate stop to actions supportive of the LTTE. “The LTTE fired mortars at students of Mannar Tamil Vidyalaya. A large number of people died in the Nugegoda bomb attack. Four farmers were massacred in Mahavilachchiya in Anuradhapura,” he added.Following a request by the JVP MP, the House observed one-minute silence as a mark of respect to all those who died in these violent incidents.

France strongly condemns Sri Lanka bomb blast

France strongly condemned Thursday the bomb blast that killed 18 people in Sri Lanka Wednesday and urged the combatants there to seek a political solution to the conflict."France firmly condemns the attack which yesterday caused the deaths of eighteen people," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascale Andreani said in a press statement.France "expresses its entire solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka and sends its sincere condolences to the families and dear ones of the victims, as well as to the Sri Lankan authorities," the official added."France recalls that only a political settlement can bring a lasting solution to this conflict which has torn Sri Lanka apart for the past 30 years, " the spokesperson remarked.

While condemning the indiscriminate killing of at least 17 civilians and wounding of more than 30 by two bomb attacks, the Amnesty International said that 'the LTTE must stop any direct or indiscriminate attacks on civilians.'“They are forbidden under international humanitarian law and are never acceptable,” said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, as the organization raised its concerns about the rising number of civilians being killed or injured as a result of deliberate attacks in Sri Lanka's increasing violence.Amnesty International urges all parties in the conflict to comply with their obligations under international law to protect civilians and allow access by humanitarian aid agencies to populations in need. The security forces and the LTTE must immediately cease all violations of international humanitarian law, and take all measures necessary to ensure they are not repeated in the future, a statement said.“Amnesty International urges an immediate halt to the escalation of violence on all sides in order to protect the lives of innocent civilians and children,” said Irene Khan.

Angry ethnic Indians who marched in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to protest race-based discrimination in Malaysia carried portraits of Mahatma Gandhi as a symbol of their non-violent struggle. “But if their genuine grievances continue to be ignored, (Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers leader) Velupillai Prabakaran could soon replace Gandhi as their inspiration,” warns P. Ramasamy, former professor of history at University Kebangsaan Malaysia. In an interview to DNA from Singapore, Ramasamy, who was appointed by the LTTE to its Constitutional Affairs Committee in 2003, connected the dots that link the Tamil diaspora in Malaysia (which accounts for most of the Indian population there) to the Tamil Eelam movement in Sri Lanka. The chilling picture that emerges is one that holds serious foreign policy implications for India, quite similar to what it faced in Sri Lanka in the early 1980s. “There is a very real risk of radical groups taking over the movement if the Malay government persists with its racially discriminatory policies,” says Ramasamy, whose services at the University were terminated for criticiing government’s policies. “Today, the ethnic Indian movement may be a loose formulation, and their ideas may not seem well-formulated. But if there’s a police crackdown, there will be retaliation.” The government’s stated intention of invoking the Internal Security Act against demonstrators could trigger such a confrontation. Malaysian journalist Baradan Kuppusamy, who has been an up-close observer of events concerning the Indian community, too senses an increasing inclination to resort to militancy as a last resort. “They have been knocking their heads on the wall for so long, that some form of radicalisation has already happened.” Militant views are not yet being publicly articulated, “but they are frequently voiced in private gatherings,” he notes. It is in this context that the Tamil diaspora’s solidarity with the LTTE assumes significance. Ramasamy notes that Tamils in Malaysia are active contributors to the Tamil Eelam cause. “Indians in Malaysia are very sympathetic to Prabakaran, and Tamil newspapers valorise Prabakaran,” adds Kuppusamy. So is there a real risk of an LTTE-like movement getting underway in Malaysia? Says Kuppusamy: “From my study of the ethnic Indian movements, I feel that the current leadership – headed by firebrand lawyer Uthayakumar – is among the most radical, willing to take big risks, and court arrest.” But from there to an open call to arms is a long way off, and Kuppusamy believes this leadership is incapable of making that leap. “But there could be a splinter group in the years ahead, which could be far more radical, so, yes, the possibility does exist,” he says. For the Indian foreign policy establishment, which is still grappling with the Sri Lanka-sized problem, the prospect of Malaysia going down the same road can only be a nightmarish proposition.

At least 27 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed during fierce clashes between the Sri Lankan security forces and LTTE militants in the island nation's embattled north, the army said on Thursday. "Three LTTE bunkers were destroyed killing at least seven militants this morning when troops responded at an LTTE offensive preparation ahead of the northern defences in Muhamalai and Killali in Jaffna," the defence ministry said in a statement on Thursday. In the first incident, the Sri Lankan army engaged in heavy gunfire and neutralized an LTTE offensive bid at Muhamalai early this morning, it said, adding the army destroyed a bunker killing three militants. Meanwhile in Killali, troops destroyed two LTTE bunkers killing four militants, it claimed. According to the sources, troops have recovered a T-56 assault riffle, a magazine, seven hand grenades and four anti-personnel mines. In Northern Vavuniya on Wednesday, troops killed at least 20 militants while inflicting heavy damages on them, the statement said. While eight militants were killed in Manthottam, two were shot dead in Villattikulam, it added.

A special statement by the TNA was postponed by Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara in Parliament yesterday amidst JVP and Government protests that notice of the statement was not given and that some sections of it were unconstitutional. TNA General Secretary Mavai Senadirajah yesterday started making a special statement to the House in the absence of party Lleader R. Sampanthan, when JVP Parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa raised a point of order against the TNA statement.Mr. Weerawansa said the statement referred to Tiger-controlled areas and spoke of separation, which went against the Constitution which every MP was bound to uphold in Parliament.Mr. Weerawansa added the statement was similar in content to an adjournment debate presented by the TNA to be taken up later that day.He said this was against the Standing Orders in Parliament, and urged the Speaker to stop Mr. Senadirajah from proceeding with his statement.Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva and Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle also said that statements violating the Constitution could not be allowed in Parliament.“The TNA is using Parliament to speak on behalf of the LTTE and take its message to the international community. There is constant talk about a separate state. We have no problem if the talking is about the problems of the Tamils but we are against talking in support of the LTTE,” said Mr. Fernandopulle.Minister De Silva said that the Government must be notified a day before opposition parties make statements in the House, but this notice was given only in the morning.Mr. Senadirajah protested saying that his statement and the adjournment motion were entirely different issues.“It is very unfair to prevent a statement about the killing of Tamil civilians being made in the House,” he said.

Sri Lankan shares eased for a fourth day in a row on Wednesday amid worries a civil war with Tamil rebels may intensify, while the rupee was held steady by the central bank.The Colombo All Share index fell 0.04 percent or 0.93 points to 2,562.86, its eighth decline in nine sessions. It has fallen around 3 percent since the close on Nov. 15.A Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blew herself up near the office of a minority Tamil minister, sharply opposed to the rebels, on Wednesday, killing his personal secretary and injuring two others.The attack came a day after Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran accused the international community of pandering to the government and said he had no hope of a political settlement with the state to end the war.There have been near daily land and sea battles, bombings and air raids in recent months, and more than 5,000 people have been killed in fighting since early 2006 alone, that takes the death toll since the war erupted in 1983 to around 70,000, and analysts say the war is likely to grind on for years."There were some retail buying in the plantation sector," said Harsha Fernando, CEO at SC Securities in Colombo, but many investors were on the sidelines worried about uncertainties.Leading fixed line telephone operator Sri Lanka Telecom fell 0.75 percent to 32.50 rupees as calculated on a weighted average, while No. 1 mobile phone company, Dialog Telekom , which accounts for around a fifth of the market, closed unchanged at 21.50 rupees.Malwatte Plantation closed 5.55 percent firmer at 28.50 rupees on expectations for better prospects, traders said.Market turnover was 174.1 million rupees , well below last year's daily average of 400 million rupees.The rupee <LKR=> closed at 110.48/50 per dollar, barely changed from Tuesday's close of 110.49/51.Traders said a state bank sold dollars on behalf of the central bank and helped the rupee hold its ground.Government officials said earlier this month they wanted to curb inflation by keeping the rupee between 110-110.50. The rupee touched a record closing low of 113.57/62 on Sept. 18.The central bank kept its key policy rates steady last week, for the ninth successive month, even though annual inflation on a 12-month moving average rose to 17.7 percent in October.The interbank lending rate or call rate <CLIBOR> fell to 14.398 percent on Wednesday from Tuesday's close of 15.423.

TNA condemns Colombo blasts

Sri Lanka's major political party representing the Tamil minority has strongly condemned the bomb blasts in the capital, Colombo.Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Chandrakanth Chandranehru told BBC Sandeshaya that the party does not condone any attack on the civilians."I myself would have been caught had I was there at the time of the blast," the MP whose parliamentarian father's assassination is still unresolved said.

At least 17 people were killed and 37 who sustain injuries admitted to the hospital after the attack in Nugegoda junction, authorities said.An eyewitness told BBC's Elmo Fernando that a parcel left in front of a shopping complex exploded as fire fighters attempted to open it.The blast occurred few hours after a suicide bomber struck outside the office of Social affairs Minister Douglas Devananada.This kind of tit-for-tat attacks would not result in finding permanent peace in the island nation, the TNA legislator said.

"As a politician I can't say straight away who carried out the attacks. I strongly condemn them whoever did it," Chandrakanth Chandranehru said.Sri Lanka's national question, he said, could not be resolved through armed conflict."Intellectuals in Sri Lanka should get together, find the root cause of the problem and find a long lasting solution so that our children could live in harmony," the parliamentarian told BBC Sinhala.com.The TNA regards Tamil Tigers as sole representatives of Sri Lanka's Tamil community.

Ban Ki-moon condemns suicide attacks in Sri Lanka

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced outrage at yesterday’s twin suicide attacks in the Sri Lankan capital, which have killed or wounded dozens of people, and yesterday’s aerial assault on a United Nations aid office in the far north of the troubled country.In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban condemned the attacks in Colombo, which occurred outside the Ministry of Social Services building and in the Nugegoda district, and offered his condolences to the families and friends of the victims.Media reports state that at least 16 people were killed in the Nugegoda blast and 37 others were injured, while one person was killed and two others hurt in the earlier bombing at the ministry building.The statement from Mr. Ban’s spokesperson noted that he was also concerned about yesterday’s aerial attack in the town of Kilinochchi in which the office of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) was damaged.“The Secretary-General appeals for an end to the destructive spiral of violence in Sri Lanka and calls on the parties to the conflict [Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)] to return to the peace process while making every effort to ensure the protection of civilians,” the statement said.

Tangalle Police on Tuesday arrested 6 Tamil speaking persons, including 2 Muslims, and detained them on suspicion after some Sinhalese registered their suspicion as the group of persons were seen conversing in Tamil. Tangalla, a coastal town is situated 63 km east of Galle and 37 km west of Hambantota in the Southern Province. The arrested persons were natives of Moneragala, Kaaththankudi and Puththa'lam. They are being detained under the Emergency Regulations for further inquiry.

Sri Lanka’s president secured 1.5 billion dollars worth of financial aid from Iran for infrastructure projects while on a three-day visit to the country, his office said on Wednesday. President Mahinda Rajapakse concluded his trip to Iran on Tuesday by signing eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with his Iranian counterpart for a range of projects including expanding an oil refinery and irrigation.“Iran donated a massive sum of 1.5 billion dollars in financial assistance, with the two countries signing an MoU to develop programmes of oil refineries and irrigation projects in Sri Lanka,” the president’s office said on Wednesday.Iran supplies 70 per cent of Sri Lanka’s light crude requirements. Sri Lanka plans to triple the capacity of its sole oil refinery to 150,000 barrels per day from 50,000 barrels per day. Iran has allocated 700 million dollars out of the bilateral financial package to upgrade the facility, the statement said.

NUGEGODA, Sri Lanka - Ethnic Tamil separatists set off a bomb at a popular department store in a suburb of the capital Wednesday, killing 17 people in a rare attack targeting civilians, the Sri Lankan military said. The blast, which came just hours after a suicide bomber tried to kill a Cabinet minister, showed that the Tamil Tiger rebels are still capable of striking deep in government territory despite months of punishing military attacks on their power base in the north.The attacks came a day after the rebels said that 22 civilians, including 11 schoolchildren, were killed in attacks inside rebel-controlled territory. They blamed the military, but the government denied responsibility for the roadside bombing that killed the children.Fearing Wednesday's bombings were only the first in a wave of rebel attacks, officials ordered all schools to close for the rest of the week in Western Province, which includes Colombo, the capital."The general public should be extra vigilant about their surroundings, especially in trains, buses, crowded areas and even in schools," police spokesman Jayantha Wickremarathna said.The explosion at the four-story No Limits department store in Nugegoda occurred after a security guard became suspicious of a package left with him for safekeeping and called over a police officer. The package exploded when they tried to open it, a military spokesman, Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara, said.He blamed the Tamil Tiger rebels, who have been fighting since 1983 to carve out a homeland for ethnic Tamils in this island nation just off India's southern tip. The rebels accuse the Sinhalese majority of discrimination.The blast hit as commuters crowded a nearby bus stop during rush hour. Shattered glass and crumbled concrete lay on the bloodstained sidewalk, and twisted, charred parts of motorcycles and three-wheeled taxis were scattered nearby."I was on the top floor of a shoe shop with my wife and child when I heard a big blast and there were glass pieces all over us," A. Jayasena told AP Television News. "As we ran away, I saw the entrance of the No Limit shop burning, and in the midst of it, a schoolgirl on the floor trying to get up and then falling back again."Jayasena and his daughter suffered minor injuries, while his wife was hospitalized with more serious wounds, he said.Police and firefighters were searching the rubble for more bodies late Wednesday. At least 17 people died and dozens were injured, the military said."We know that the attack bears all the hallmarks of the LTTE. It is nobody else but the LTTE," Nanayakkara, the military spokesman, said, referring to the rebel movement by the initials of its formal name, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.The Tamil Tigers, listed as a terror organization by the United States and the European Union, have carried out more than 240 suicide bombings and countless other attacks during a war that has seen more than 70,000 people killed.Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan did not answer calls from The Associated Press seeking comment Wednesday evening.The rebels have previously killed civilians in attacks on economic targets like the central bank and on religious shrines. In the past two years, rebel bombers had avoided deliberately targeting civilians, though they have ambushed military convoys at crowded places, causing many civilian deaths.On Wednesday morning, a suicide bomber blew herself up at Sri Lanka's social services ministry in the heart of Colombo in an unsuccessful attempt to kill the agency's minister, Douglas Devananda, who heads an ethnic Tamil party considered a rival to the rebels, the military said.Devananda, the target of repeated assassination attempts, was not injured, but the blast killed one of his staff members and injured two others, officials said. The bomber also died.

Over twenty five thousand expatriate Tamils in Britain gathered Tuesday to mark ‘Tamil Remembrance Day’ to pay their respects to those who had died in the Tamil liberation struggle. The event, organized by Tamil National Remembrance Foundation, an association of families of Tamils who had fallen in the Tamil struggle, was held at London’s ExCel arena. Amid resumed conflict in Sri Lanka, it was the largest attendance at the annual event, despite Tuesday being a working day, organizers said.ExCel officials said attendees had filled the 21,000 seats and that several thousand more people arrived at the venue, filing in as others left. At the start of the event, the mother of a fallen LTTE fighter lit the welcome flame as people took their seats in the hall decorated in the traditional Tamil colours of red and yellow. The Heroes Day address by LTTE leader Vellupillai Pirapaharan was broadcast live on large screens. Attendees observed a minute’s silence.Mrs. Adele Balasingham, wife of the late Anton Balasingham, the LTTE’s political strategist and chief negotiator who passed away last year, thereafter lit the flame of sacrifice.The people then filed past two ‘pandals’ set up as monuments to place handfuls of flower petals as a mark of respect for those who had fallen in the Tamil struggle.Large quantities of the Tamil national flower, the karthigaipoo (gloriosa lily) were among the petals, attendees said. Thereafter they watched a series of Tamil dramas, traditional dances and other cultural events staged by performers in the Tamil Diaspora as well as a number of speeches.The keynote address was delivered Mr. Suba Veerapandian, a veteran Tamil nationalist politician from Tamil Nadu.The event was also addressed by three British parliamentarians - Keith Vaz, Virendra Sharma and Joan Marie Ryan - from the ruling Labour Party.A message of support from another British MP, Simon Hughes of the Liberal Democrats, who was attending his mother’s funeral Tuesday, was read out. Mr. Vaz and Mr Hughes head the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils.A message of support to the Tamil community from the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, was also read out.Mr. Vaz called for a negotiated solution and warned said if the Sri Lankan government continued the war, separation would become inevitable."I can totally understand the demand of some Tamils for an independent state. These calls will only get louder and louder unless there is just peace," he said.Ms. Ryan pointed out that over 70,000 Tamils had died in the struggle. Mr. Sharma said he had long supported the Tamils’ demand for their rights.

A female suicide bomber exploded herself inside Paramilitary leader and Sri Lankan Minister of Social Services Douglas Devananda’s office at Isipathana Mawatha in Colombo this morning (November 28th).Two people in critical condition are being treated at the National Hospital while another succumbed to his injuries.Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the bomber, who appears to be handicapped by polio, has exploded herself during a security check at the entrance. He added that the Minister’s Coordinating Secretary, Steven Peiris as well as two security officers Skanda Chitran (Personal Guard) and K.D.N. Ashok (MSD) were rushed to the Colombo National Hospital with critical injuries. Peiris succumbed to injuries at the ICU.Brigadier Nanayakkara said that it was not clear whether pro-government paramilitary group-cum-political party Leader Devananda was in the Ministry premises during the incident.Unofficial reports say that the body of the suicide cadre as well as another body were lying at the scene. Police blamed the LTTE for the attack.

The leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), V Pirapaharan, in his annual Heroes’ Day statement put a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of the international community for the breakdown of the peace process. He said that the involvement of the international community to resolve the Tamil national question has been unhelpful and added that their failure to condemn unambiguously the military path of the current regime has created the present situation in the island. He asserted that the propping up of the genocidal Sinhala State by the international community through economic aid, military aid and subtle diplomatic efforts will be counterproductive.

The 21st century began as the ‘Asian century’ and the world is looking towards Asia. Many countries in our region have grown in leaps and bounds in social, economical and scientific fields. They are researching space, moon and atom. The whole human race is taking up new challenges and has embarked on a united path, seeking answers to many of nature’s mysteries and looking for remedies to incurable diseases. It is seeking to protect the entire globe and its plant and animal lives. Sadly, the Sinhala nation is moving in exactly the opposite direction, on a path of destruction. It is trying to destroy the Tamil nation and, in the process, it is destroying itself. This beautiful island continues to soak in blood.

Buddhism is a profound spiritual duty. Its philosophy emphasizes a life without desires, a life of love and justice. The Sinhala nation, claiming that it has followed this path for more than two thousand years, has in fact remained immersed in the poison of racism. It is unleashing unthinkable violence against another people. During the long history of the Tamil struggle, first through non-violence and later through armed struggle, the Sinhala mindset has remained unchanged. The Sinhala nation did not change even after so much destruction and lost lives. It continues on the path of violence. It only desires to find a solution to the Tamil question through military might and oppression. It cunningly evaded efforts to seek peace and is boldly taking forward its military plan. The international community’s economic and military aid, its moral and political support, its diplomatic efforts, and its one-sided involvement directly aided this turn of events.

We know very well that the military, economic and geo-political interests of the world’s powers are embedded in our region. We understand their concern to take forward their interests. We also recognize the concerns of the international community to bring about stability and good governance to this island for these reasons. At the same time the chauvinistic Sinhala State is attempting to exploit this interest in our region of the international powers. It is trapping the international community in its chauvinistic project and turning the international community against the Tamil freedom struggle. Our people are dismayed and disappointed that these countries, trapped in the deceptive net of the Sinhala State, are being unhelpful in their involvement to resolve our problem.

These one-sided involvements of foreign powers are not new in our prolonged struggle. India intervened in our national question then as part of its regional expansion. India signed an accord with the Sinhala State without the consent of the Tamils. The Indo-Lanka Accord was not signed to meet the aspirations of the people of Tamil Eelam. In fact, India then attempted to force an ineffectual solution on our people - a solution which did not even devolve powers to the extent of the Banda-Chelva pact signed in the 1950’s. India tried to enforce that accord with the strength of more than 100,000 Indian forces, with the power of the agreement between two countries and with the assistance of treacherous Tamil paramilitary groups. However, even this ill-considered solution, which did not even address the basic national aspirations of the Tamils, was blocked by the chauvinistic Sinhala State.

We are intimately familiar with the Sinhala State and its deceptive politics. Our people have a long history of bitter experiences. That is why we explained to India on many occasions, at many locations and at many levels about the implacability of Sinhala chauvinism. We explained to India then that the aim of the Sinhala State was not to find a solution to the Tamil question and bring peace; but to occupy the Tamil homeland, destroy its resources, and enslave the Tamil nation. India refused to accept this reality. As a result our land witnessed great sorrow and destruction.

Today, the international community is making the same mistake that India made many years ago. Even the countries that are the guardians of the peace efforts succumbed to the deception of the Sinhala State and listed our freedom movement as a terrorist organization. What we find most incomprehensible is the fact that these same nations, which labeled us terrorists, not so long ago fought in defence of their own freedom.

The Sinhala nation is unable to stomach the support of our Diaspora for the Tamil freedom struggle; it is unable to accept the humanitarian help and the political lobbying by the Diaspora to end the misery heaped on our people. That is why the Sinhala nation is trying hard to shatter the bond between our people in our homeland and our Diaspora. Some countries are also assisting this amoral effort of Sinhala chauvinism. These countries are denouncing, as illegal activities, the humanitarian actions and political protests of our people abroad – actions that are carried out according to the laws of those countries. These countries have imprisoned and humiliated Tamil campaigners and representatives. These countries have ridiculed their protests and their efforts to seek justice.

This partisan and unjust conduct of the international community has severely undermined the confidence our people had in them. And it has paved the way for the breakdown of the ceasefire and the peace efforts. Furthermore, the generous military and economic aid they have given to the Sinhala State and their diplomatic efforts to prop up the chauvinistic Sinhala State has encouraged the Sinhala nation further and further along its militaristic path. This is the background to the confidence of the Rajapake regime in continuing with its unjust, inhuman war of occupation of our land.

Overconfident of its military victory over the Tamil freedom movement, the Rajapakse regime has shut fast the door for peace. The desire to oppress the Tamils has intensified as never before. With the entire world giving support, the Sinhala State, using the ceasefire as cover, and exploiting the peace environment, prepared its war of occupation. The SLMM that was monitoring the peace covered its eyes, tied its hands behind back, and went to sleep in Colombo. The exhausted Norwegian facilitators remained silent. The countries that preached peace to us also went silent and refused to speak out. The Sinhala State started its war and justified it with slogans like ‘War for Peace’, ‘War against terrorism’ and ‘War for the liberation of the Tamils’.

The Rajapakse regime assembled its military might and let loose a massive war on the eastern region of our homeland. This part of our homeland became a wasteland after incessant bombing and shelling. Trincomalee, the famous Tamil capital, was destroyed. Batticaloa, an ancient cultural city of the Tamils, became a land of refugees. Jaffna, the cultural centre of the Tamils, was cut off from the rest of the world and turned into an open prison.

The Sinhala State’s war of genocide destroyed the peaceful life of the Tamils. It turned the Tamils into refugees in their own homeland, ruined their nation’s social and economical infrastructure and plunged them into unprecedented hardships. While our motherland, caught within gruesome Sinhala military rule, is destroyed, Sinhalisation of our historic territory is going on under the pretexts of High Security Zones and Free Trade Zones. This naked Sinhalisation proceeds by the hoisting of Lion flags, the erection of Sidharthan statues, the renaming of Tamil streets with Sinhala names, the building of Buddhist temples. Sinhala settlements are mushrooming in the Tamil homeland.

The unjust war, the economic blockade, the restrictions on our people’s freedom of movement, the killing of thousands, the displacement of hundreds of thousands, have all deeply wounded the Tamil psyche. The Sinhala nation is celebrating this tragedy as a victory. It is lighting firecrackers believing it has defeated the Tamils. The Sinhala military leadership believes that its occupation of the east has been completed and the barbed wire noose around the neck of Jaffna has been tightened. The Sinhala nation arrogantly believes it has manacled the eastern coast from Pothuvil to Pulmoddai. The Sinhala leadership thus believes it has won great victories against our struggle.

The Sinhala nation has always misunderstood our freedom struggle. It consistently underestimates us. Only after carefully scrutinising the global situation and external conditions; only after accurately estimating the strengths and weaknesses of the adversary; only after gauging the enemy’s goals and strategies; only after ensuring that we remain focused on our own strategy; only then did we implement our plans to take our liberation struggle forward. We have strategically withdrawn from the east while launching defensive attacks. The Sinhala nation could have learnt the dangers of putting its feet too wide apart in our land as it did during past battles. But the Sinhala military has fallen yet again into the net we spread and it is now forced to commit large numbers of troops to rule land without people. Caught in a territorial trap, it will soon be forced to face the serious consequences of its misguided ambitions.

Operation ‘Ellalan’, the very first combined Black Tiger and Tamil Eelam Air Force attack was a massive blow to the Sinhala military. It has disrupted the daydreams of the Sinhala nation. The Sinhala nation has not emerged from this massive shock delivered by our beloved fighters. The immeasurable dedication and sacrifice of our Heroes is delivering a message to the Sinhala nation. Those who plan to destroy the Tamil nation will in the end be forced to face their own destruction.

The Rajapakse regime is never going to realize that the Tamil national question cannot be resolved by military oppression. The Sinhala leadership is not going to shed its desire for military supremacy or the Sinhalisation of the Tamil homeland. The Rajapakse regime is working hard to import more and more destructive weapons from all over the world without care for the cost. Therefore, it is not going to give up its war of genocide.

The All Party Representative Committee was appointed by the Rajapakse regime to spread a smokescreen over the misery that its military adventures are creating in the Tamil homeland and to deceive other governments to get their aid and support. We clearly predicted this would happen one year ago. We have been proved right. After dragging on without putting forward any solution, the committee has gone on holiday.

The past sixty years have proven beyond any doubt that no political party in the South has the political honesty or firmness in policy to find a just solution to the Tamil national question. It has been also proved beyond any doubt that none of the Southern parties are ready to accept the core principles for a lasting peace: the Tamil homeland, the Tamil nation and the Tamil Right to self determination. The ruling party is adamant on unitary rule; the red and yellow parties are calling for no solution at all; and the main opposition party, somersaulting from its earlier position, is, on the one hand, saying nothing concrete and using evasive language to support the military actions of the government and, on the other hand, saying it supports peace efforts. All this clearly clarifies our point and proves beyond doubt that all the Sinhala political parties are essentially chauvinistic and anti-Tamil. To expect a political solution from any of these southern parties is political naivety.

The Sinhala nation showed eagerness in the peace talks only when we shattered their ‘Operation Fireball’ military action and made them realize that the Tigers cannot be defeated. It was only when we proved our military prowess and only when we were militarily in a position of strength that the Sinhala nation signed the ceasefire agreement. Now, with abundant monetary and military aid from several countries, it has rehabilitated its destroyed military and has prepared itself for war again. It is yet again walking the military path having abandoned the peace path.

The Rajapakse regime, after unilaterally abrogating the ceasefire agreement, is ruthlessly implementing its military plan to remove the contiguity of the Tamil homeland. It has killed and disappeared thousands of our people. It reprimands and controls the Norwegian facilitators. It vehemently criticizes the SLMM. It even dares to brand senior UN officials as terrorists in order to hide its own terrorism. It is obscuring the ground reality in the Tamil homeland by striking fear among journalists and NGO workers.

The world’s powers, even while taking forward their own geo-political interests, respect human rights and democratic institutions. Be it this universe, human affairs or international relationships, they all revolve on the wheel of justice. That is why nations like East Timor and Montenegro broke free of their subjugation and gained their freedom with the help and support of the international community. Even now, the international community continues to work for the freedom of nations like Kosovo.

Yet the actions of the international community with respect to our own national question are unjust. The confidence our people placed in the international community has been eroded. By only paying lip-service to peace the international community has contributed to the killing of an extraordinary son of our nation, Tamilselvan. It has stopped the heartbeat of a light that walked the path of peace. I will be lighting the lamp for my dear brother, Tamilselvan, who until last year was with me every time we, with a burning desire to reach our goal, lit the lamps for our fallen Heroes. The international community has made the entire Tamil world drown in its tears. Had the international community firmly and unambiguously condemned the anti-peace activities and the war mongering of the Sinhala regime, Tamilselvan would be alive today. A huge blow would not have fallen on peace efforts.

The Co-chairs, acting as the guardians of the peace process, have failed in their responsibility. If the Co-chairs do not have a moral obligation to protect peace efforts, what exactly is the purpose of their meeting from time to time in different places? Is it their intent to assist the Sinhala regime to wipe out the Tamils? Questions like these have arisen in the minds of our people. Our people firmly expect that at least from now on the international community will take a new approach in relation to our freedom struggle. On this sacred day it is the hope of our people that the international community will cease giving military and economic aid to the Sinhala regime and accept the right to self determination and the sovereignty of the Tamil nation.

We are an ancient people with special qualities. We have a unique national identity and national foundation. We have been struggling non-violently and by armed struggle for a very long time against national oppression. We are not terrorists, committing blind acts of violence impelled by racist or religious fanaticism. Our struggle has a concrete, legitimate, political objective. We are struggling only to regain our sovereignty in our own historical land where we have lived for centuries, the sovereignty which we lost to colonial occupiers. We are struggling only to reestablish that sovereignty and rebuild our nation. The Sinhala nation is continuing to reject our just and civilized demands for freedom. Instead, it has declared a genocidal war on our land and our people. Behind the smokescreen of fighting terrorism, it is creating immense human misery.

Despite our people enduring injustice and oppression, facing death, destruction and massive displacement, no country, no nation, no international organization has raised its voice on our behalf. We face this situation alone because, although 80 million Tamils live all around the globe, the Tamils do not have a country of their own.

On this day, when we remember our Heroes, I ask the entire Tamil speaking world to rise up for the liberation of Tamil Eelam. I wish to express my love and gratitude to you for your past participation in the building of our nation, bringing together your abundant intellectual, material, monetary and many other resources in the service of our nation and ask that you stand with us in the coming years of our freedom struggle.

Thousands of our fighters are standing ready to fight with determination for our just goal of freedom and we will overcome the hurdles before us and liberate our motherland. On this day when we remember our Heroes who sacrificed themselves for this sacred goal, let each one of us carry their dream in our hearts and struggle until it is achieved.

Sri Lanka's government has marked the birthday of Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran with a vow to kill him. The island's powerful defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, said Colombo now had the upper hand in the long-running conflict, with the elusive guerrilla chief limited in both his movements and ability to score strategic victories.Earlier this month the political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), S.P. Thamilselvan, was killed in what the government said was a precision air strike on the north and not a mere lucky hit."The killing of Thamilselvan sent a very powerful message: they know we have good intelligence on their movements," Rajapakse told AFP in an interview Monday at the heavily-fortified defence ministry in Colombo.Monday was also the day the LTTE chief marked his 53rd birthday, and Rajapakse said that if all goes to plan it will be his last. "We are after him. We are specifically targeting their leadership," he said."For the last few months he (Prabhakaran) has been even more restricted in his movements. We want to keep them under pressure. We are gathering intelligence, information."The threat came as Prabhakaran was set to give his annual speech from a jungle hideout in his northern mini-state marking the end of "heroes' week", commemorating around 20,000 Tamils who have died fighting for a separate homeland.Prabhakaran's speech, due to be broadcast later Tuesday, will come at the end of a year of several setbacks for the LTTE.Government forces regained full control over the east of the island in July, and have also managed to sink what the government says is the bulk of the rebels' fabled fleet of gun-running ships.The outspoken defence secretary, who is also the brother of the island's president, insisted that the tide of the 35-year-old conflict -Asia's longest-running civil war- was finally turning in the government's favour.He also signalled that the year ahead would see a renewed escalation of the conflict, finally closing a chapter of "phoney war' that began with a 2002 Norwegian-brokered ceasefire and its progressive collapse."Our objective is to weaken them. We have to defeat them militarily, we have to control Wanni," he said of the LTTE's northern stronghold."It is possible. We just have to squeeze them. Then a political solution becomes possible," the defence secretary said, repeating his view that the Tamil Tigers only used a truce to smuggle in more arms and can therefore only be bombed into peace.Prabhakaran, in his speech Tuesday, is also expected to cast aside any talk of diplomacy and issue a rallying call to his thousands of hardened guerrillas.The LTTE supremo, renowned for his ability to bring out the suicidal tendencies in his followers, has also managed to withstand successive government offensives in the past.And over the past year, he has unleashed new weapons -- namely light aircraft sent on nocturnal missions to strike as far south as the capital and damage Sri Lanka's economy in the process."Black Tiger" suicide squads have also been active. Still, Rajapakse brushed aside the significance of such rebel attacks. "In the end it's just symbolic. it affects morale, but strategically it makes no difference," said the defence secretary, who narrowly survived a suicide bomber sent by Prabhakaran last year. "In the end, what have they gained during the last 20 to 30 years? Just destroyed property and destroyed lives."

Air Force bombs VOT building

Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka say their main radio station is flattened by a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombing raid.The bomb raid occurred as the station prepared to broadcast LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's annual speech, the LTTE said.'Many civilian employees' of the Voice of Tigers (VOT) radio station were killed in the attack, according to the Tamil Tigers.The Sri Lanka military confirmed that Air force launched an attack on a radio station at 1630 (SLT) on Tuesday.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told BBC Sandeshaya that SLAF raided 'a clandestine radio station' in Thiruvaiaru, Kilinochchi.Military says SLAF targetted 'a clandestine radio station' in Kilinochchi The military was not aware whether it was exactly the VOT station, he added.LTTE leader's speech is being delivered by the VOT despite the air raid, journalists in the area said.This is the second time that the SLAF targetted VOT in Kilinochchi.In October last year the VOT transmitters were destroyed in an air raid.

Seven school girls, riding in a Hiace van engaged in rural first aid service, were killed on the spot at Iyangkea'ni on Kokkaavil - Thu'nukkaay Road in Vanni Tuesday at 11:30 a.m, in a Claymore attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU). The driver of the van and three male volunteers were also killed in the attack, according to Tamileelam Police in Ki'linochchi.The DPU attacks have been stepped up in Vanni during the last three days when Heroes Day remembrance events were being held in Vanni.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to be the chief guest at the 60th anniversary celebrations of Sri Lanka's independence in February next year."The Sri Lankan government had extended an invitation to the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he has accepted it," a senior Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry official said."He will visit Sri Lanka on 4th of February," the official said.The official, however, said it was not yet finalised whether Singh's visit will be for one day or two days.Earlier in the day, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Parliament that Singh will be the chief guest at the 60th anniversary celebrations on February 4.

Senior Presidential Advisor and National List MP, Basil Rajapakse is tipped to be appointed Finance Minister in a cabinet reshuffle if the government wins the budget vote on December 14, a top government source said.The top source said the Cabinet of Ministers would be reshuffled by President Mahinda Rajapakse late December with several portfolios to change hands. The Morning Leader learns the President will also prorogue parliament if he succeeds in the budget and appoint afresh members to the Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).It is learned Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama will be a casualty in the reshuffle with the most likely to go to External Trade Minister G.L. Pieris or Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda.The source said the Government would also appoint new Chairmen to COPE and PAC.

TELO slammed the Pakistan Head of State General Musharaff in Parliament calling him a dictator. TELO & TNA MP N. Srikantha, who participated in the committee stage of the Budget in the House yesterday, said dictators like him will be thrown into the dustbin one day.He recalled former Pakistani head of state, General Zia Ul Haq was also a dictator and his reign was cut short as he was killed in a plane crash. He said both the main opposition and the government are carrying an unnecessary debate on Pakistan in the Parliament. "I cannot understand why the members have to talk so much on this issue," he said. Mr. Srikantha said he was however only making an observation and not trying to show the government what it should do.

TMVP said it would take ‘necessary action’ if an official complaint was made to the TMVP Colombo office on the activities of armed cadres in the east.TMVP spokesperson Azath Moulana said that the party would take immediate action if a complaint was made to the TMVP office in Colombo with proof.The UN this week had raised concerns over the activities of armed cadres in Ampara and had stated that groups including the TMVP continued with harassments, civilian intimidation and extortions.The SLMM also in the past few weeks had stated that abductions and extortions in the east were continuing.Moulana said that these organisations should inform the TMVP office with proof for them to take necessary action on their cadres who allegedly carry out these activities."We are not saying these things do not happen. There are around 1200 cadres in the TMVP. We cannot expect all of them to abide by the rules. However, organisations such as the SLMM and the UN should also inform the TMVP of this issue. They can give the details to our Colombo office with proof," he said.Moulana also said that the TMVP was making arrangements to meet the UN and SLMM representatives."We have not decided on a date. But, we will meet them soon," he added.The military also said that it would take action against armed groups.Military Spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told The Morning Leader the military had provided maximum security in the east and added it would take action against any armed cadres.Speaking on the abductions and extortions in the east, Brigadier Nanayakkara said the civilians could go to the nearest police post on the issue."We have taken action on these complains. We are continuing to do so," he said.

Army Commander Sarath Fonseka yesterday visited Jaffna to review the contingency plans, adopted to ensure the security in the peninsula during LTTE’s Maveerer day that fell yesterday.Army Headquarters said that Security Forces Commander Jaffna Major General G.A. Chandrasiri and Commanders of the Divisions, Brigades and other formations briefed the Commander on the security situation in respective areas.Before leaving Jaffna, the Army Chief gave additional instructions to senior ground commanders on security matters.

A Sri Lanka military air strike today on the Voice of Tigers, the radio station of the Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the country, was a “war crime,” Reporters Without Borders said. Three of the station’s staff, who had not been given any warning, and six other civilians were killed in the bombardment by air force jets. “Voice of Tigers is a propaganda radio operated by the LTTE rebels, but the rules of war are clear - military bombardment and bombing must be limited to strictly military targets,” the press freedom organisation said. “The government in Colombo uses the Geneva Conventions to condemn LTTE crimes but forgets the conventions when it bombs what is a civilian installation and therefore protected by the conventions.” The air strike on Voice of Tigers, located near Kilinochchi, took place in the afternoon and left a total of nine civilians dead (including three of the station’s employees) and around 10 civilians wounded. The Tamilnet website identified the dead employees as Isaivizhi Chempiyan (a former presenter), Suresh Linbiyo (a technician) and T. Tharmalingam.The bombing was carried out as the station was providing coverage of the annual War Heroes’ Day ceremonies, which the LTTE observes in the regions it controls. According to Tamilnet, broadcasts were able to continue with the help of another clandestine transmitter. The Sri Lankan military confirmed that the air force had destroyed the “clandestine Tiger terrorists radio station” in Kilinochchi. Previous air strikes in October 2006 caused serious damage to the station and wounded two employees. The Berne-based International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (created under Protocol 1 of the Geneva Conventions), told Reporters Without Borders last year: “Deliberate attacks against journalists and infrastructure belonging to or used by the press constitute a serious violation of international law. Journalists have the right to perform their role in territories where fighting is taking place.” News media in other countries have been targeted as “propaganda media,” setting very dangerous precedents for the press. NATO bombed Serbian radio and TV headquarters in Belgrade in April 1999, killing 16 employees. The Israeli military blew up the Voice of Palestine radio and TV building in Ramallah, on the West Bank, in January 2001. And the Kabul bureau of the pan-Arab TV station Al-Jazeera was the target of a US air strike on 12 November 2001.

Speculation is rife in both government and diplomatic circles that Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G.L. Peiris may be appointed as the Foreign Minister and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama given the ministry of Export Development. Prof. Peiris has already earned the respect of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his handling of international affairs and has been sent on several special missions to Washington DC, UK, Switzerland, Canada, Russia and Ukraine. News from Uganda says President Rajapaksa was furious at the way Bogollagama handled the suspension of Pakistan at the recently concluded Commonwealth summit. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogollagama has been severely criticised by both his Cabinet colleagues and the media for his handling of the ministry. President Rajapaksa had warned the minister on several occasions for bringing the Foreign Service to disrepute. Bogollagama is also known for his late arrivals at meetings. Early this year he was pulled up by the President at the New Delhi SAARC summit for arriving late for a meeting the President had with Bhutanese leaders . It is reported that he was delayed for a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee as well. Mukherjee, a senior and respected Indian leader is the number two in the Indian Cabinet after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This year President Rajapaksa summoned both Minister Bogollagama and Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona to Temple Trees and asked the Foreign Minister to work in close co-operation with his Foreign Secretary. The two were summoned after privately owned newspapers published that Kohona had been gagged. Minister Bogollagama also earned the wrath of his Cabinet colleagues Dinesh Gunewardane and Ferial Ashraff and also Suganthi Kadirgamar, widow of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar who was assassinated by the LTTE, for the mishandling of the issue on Kadirgamar statue. The statue is yet to be erected. Senior minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle once told journalists at a media briefing not to take the comments made by Foreign Minister Bogollagama seriously since the minister visited Sri Lankan only for holidays. The President had also used the services of Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda and sent him on special missions to several countries. Early this year Japan extended a special invitation to Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa (now MP). The Japanese government accorded the highest protocol to Rajapaksa undermining the subsequent visit by Foreign Minister Bogollagama. At the UN General Assembly in September, the US State Department refused to provide special protection to the Minister saying that he had no serious security threats.

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Sri Lanka Tamil Tiger chief to rally for war: observers

The leader of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers will give his annual policy speech from a jungle hideout this week, with observers predicting a rallying call to arms as the island slides back into all-out war.The reclusive Velupillai Prabhakaran will be speaking at the end of a difficult year for his separatist guerrillas, who were ejected from the east in July and lost their political chief in an air raid earlier this month. The rebels' fleet of gun-running ships has also been decimated in a string of naval clashes and their fundraising activities abroad severely curtailed, meaning Prabhakaran -- who turns 53 on Monday -- has little to celebrate. The last year has seen 950 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters killed, a massive figure given the modest size of armies involved in the conflict. The mood in the rebel-held north will also be especially sour at the end of "heroes' week", commemorating the deaths of nearly 20,000 Tamil fighters in Asia's longest-running civil war. Prabhakaran's speech to mark this event, due to be broadcast on Tuesday at 6:00 pm local time (1230 GMT), is likely to see a renewed declaration of war and underscore that a Norwegian-brokered peace process is well and truly dead. "He will probably say the only way out is war. He will not say anything about peace," said Dharmalingam Sithadthan, a former LTTE member who now leads a Colombo-based Tamil party opposed to the rebels. "The speech will be hardline. For all intents and purposes the peace process is dead," he told AFP. The Sri Lankan government blames the LTTE for the collapse of a 2002 truce, but Sithadthan said the Tigers are equally firm in their belief that it is the ethnic majority Sinhalese politicians in the south who are responsible. With the rebels feeling hemmed in, he warned they may shift the focus of their attacks towards Sinhalese civilians. The Tamil Tigers will also be determined to 'bust out' of their mini-state and reassert their claim for an independent homeland that includes the Jaffna peninsula in the far north and the eastern coastline, both of which are currently in government hands. "They might say the Sinhalese people in general are responsible... and even go for a big civilian target in the south, or not care about hitting civilians," said Sithadthan. "In the north they will try for a big victory." "From the outside it looks like they are on the defensive. But the LTTE has trained a large number of civilians -- some say 40,000. They still have a large number of hardcore fighters, about 4,000." Despite the setbacks over the past year, the rotund Prabhakaran has previously shown that he is resourceful. Using second-hand, Czech-made single-engine propeller aircraft smuggled into the island in bits and on boats, the LTTE now boasts an air force which has conducted a string of night raids against economic and military targets. Last month a group of at least 21 suicide bombers also attacked the Anuradhapura military base north of Colombo, virtually wiping out the government's fleet of spy planes. The government -- apparently convinced it can win the war -- has responded by stepping up security across the country to suffocating levels, investing in expensive radar equipment and once again boosting its defence budget. Emboldened by its killing of LTTE political wing leader and negotiator S.P. Thamilselvan on November 2, Sri Lanka's military has also vowed to go "all out" to target Prabhakaran and bomb the north of the island into peace. "Prabhakaran will probably say the government has killed a hero of peace (Thamilselvan)," said Chulawansa Sirilal, editor-in-chief of the Lankapress news agency. "So he will say the war must go on."

Air Force bombers pounded a LTTE leaders’ meeting point in Puthukudiyrippu yesterday. A senior air force official said ten minutes later another identified LTTE target was hit west of Kilinochchi by the supersonic jets of the Air Force. “Air strikes are carried out after targets are identified by air surveillance and reliable ground intelligence. The pilots confirmed that the targets were successfully engaged,” he said.The previous day air force bombed the Tiger Satellite Communications and Coordinating center in the same area causing heavy damage to the center.

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers have attacked two densely populated areas in Puthukkudiyiruppu and Ki'linochchi in Vanni on Monday. 13 houses have sustained damages in five rounds of air attacks. The first attack was reported in Puthukkudiyiruppu, 150 meters from the town junction, between 5:00 and 5:20 p.m. 7 houses have sustained heavy damage. No civilian casualties were reported. The second attack was reported between 5:30 and 5:50 p.m. in Jeyanthinakar, a suburb of Ki'linochchi town, where six houses were damaged. An 18-year-old youth was wounded in Jeyanthinakar.The airstrike on Puthukkudiyiruppu targeted a settlement, 2nd Ward, twice. The settlement is located along Paranthan Puthukkudiyiruppu Road, which is a densely populated area with four schools and the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital. The explosion shook the hospital. Three SLAF bombers attacked Jeyanthinakar with six separate settlements three times, continuously, for 20 minutes. The wounded youth was identified as M. Pathmanathan. A reconnaissance Beechcraft was continuously spotted over Vanni on Sunday and Monday.

Tamil group says it will defy ban, continue work in Lanka

Despite a ban imposed by Sri Lankan government, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation, a charity group considered to be a front of the Tiger rebels, has vowed to continue its work in the island nation. "TRO has been working for the war-affected people from 1985 and was not a Sri Lanka government-registered NGO until 2002. We will continue our work as we have for over 22 years in areas not under government control," its spokesman Arjunan Ethirveerasingam said on Sunday. The organisation's Colombo office, however, has ceased to function. "With the banning of the TRO the final nail in the coffin of the peace process has been hammered home," the TRO said in a statement after it was proscribed last week. "Today the pulse of the peace process has stopped and peace is a lifeless, dead body. It is a tragedy that the international community, while ignoring the human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), continues to dangle this dead peace, that the GoSL continues to show no interest in pursuing, before the Tamil People," it said. Meanwhile, TRO President V Sivanadiyar in a statement said, "Although our organisation is banned by the Sri Lankan government, we assure you that our mission will continue in our homeland areas (LTTE-held areas) without interruption and we call on the international community and the Tamil diaspora to continue to support TRO's work with war and tsunami-affected persons."

Visiting Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse, in a meeting with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here Monday, said his country supports Iran's inalienable right to use nuclear energy. According to Foreign Ministry Media Department report on Monday, in the meeting, Mottaki presented a report on the latest situation of Iran's peaceful nuclear program, active cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency( IAEA) and (IAEA Chief) ElBaradei's report to the IAEA Governing Council. Referring to the level of bilateral ties, Mottaki said, "Iran is interested to expand ties with Sri Lanka in all fields and the visit is a new chapter in mutual relations." The foreign minister added, "President Ahmadinejad has already ordered the implementation of the signed agreements between the two countries." Mottaki expressed Iran's readiness to cooperate in constructing power plants, refineries, irrigation projects and exporting engineering and technical services to Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse briefed Mottaki on the situation of Sri Lankan Muslims and said, "Muslims in Sri Lanka enjoy a good situation, and have an active role in the country's politico-social life." He also called for the implementation of a number of agreements previously signed between the two countries.

The Supreme Court today (Nov. 27th) ruled that Land Minister had acted against the law when he acquired a 33-acre land from Kiriwattuduwa, Homagama for a housing scheme for fishermen displaced by the tsunami. The SC took up a fundamental rights petition filed by a private company.The Land Minister as well as Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and the Chairman of the Urban Development Authority were cited as respondents. The SC found the Land Minister’s move against the Land Acquisition Act and ordered the respondents to pay the expenses of the petitioner. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva and Justices Shirani Thilakawardena and Andrew Somawansa took up the case.

The JVP yesterday charged that the annual budgetary allocation for Sri Lanka’s education sector was much less than that of Ethiopia.Speaking during the committee stage debate on the votes of the Education Ministry, JVP front-liner Vijitha Herath said according to internationally accepted norms at least six percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) should be allocated to the education sector.He said Sri Lanka spent only 2.7 percent of the GDP for this purpose, and it was hardly sufficient to meet the present needs in the sector.“Even in Ethiopia 4.8 percent of the GDP is allocated for education while in Cuba it is the very high percentage of 8.9,” Mr. Herath said.He said the budgetary allocation in Norway was 6.8 percent, 5.6 percent in the US, 5.6 percent in Britain and 5.8 percent in France.“Education is an investment for the future,” Mr. Herath emphasized.

A remote controlled toy plane had landed on a house in Wellampitiya, a suburb of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo yesterday morning creating a panic situation in the area.Wellampitiya police said that following a call to the police emergency number, police and Air Force teams rushed to the place and conducted the investigations. However, there were no explosives or any other suspicious items found from the toy aircraft.Initial police investigations revealed that a child had operated the aircraft using a remote control device for play.

KOCHI: With its movement restricted on the Tamil Nadu coast due to constant surveillance by Navy and Coastguard, the LTTE has started shifting its operations to the Kerala coast, a top Naval official on Monday said. The Sri Lankan forces have understood LTTE's tactics and the Indian Navy has increased vigil on the Tamil Nadu coast, making it virtually impenetrable, Flag officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval command, Vice Admiral Sunil K Damle said. Now attempts are being made by the LTTE to slowly use Kerala coast for smuggling arms and ammunition and drugs. Efforts are also being made by other terrorist organisations to use Malabar as a landing point for RDX, he told reporters. Citing instances of LTTE's illegal activities in Kerala waters recently, including when the outfit allegedly seized a fishing vessel between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, for its clandestine activities, he said "this is just the beginning of infiltration." Another militant organisation, which had smuggled in RDX through the Konkan coast, was now trying to bring it in through the Malabar coast. "We were told that some attempts had been made in the Malabar coast," he added.

The Supreme Court today ordered a full probe into ABC Radio Network. Managing Director of the radio station Raynor Silva was ordered to furnish all details of broadcasting rights and the tenures of its board of directors, on December 10th. The SC deferred a decision on Silva, who is facing contempt of court charges. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva and Justices Shirani Thilakawardena and Andrew Somawansa took up the case.

Shell attack on Mannar school

Military in Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers accused each other of launching an artillery attack on a school in the north.Five school children and two teachers have sustained injuries in the attack as four shells exploded near the school, Murungan police said.A teacher and student with serious injuries were admitted to Mannar hospital. Others are being treated in Murungan hospital.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara accused the Tamil Tigers of launching the attack on Kattai Adappan Roman Catholic government school."The attack was launched by the LTTE towards Sri Lanka Army soldiers" he told BBC Sandeshaya.The LTTE, meanwhile said they did not launch any attack towards the area during the day.Sri Lanka Air Force launched air attacks on Pudukuduiruppu in Mulaitivu using Kfir fighter jets, LTTE said.Brigadier Nanayakkara said LTTE position was destroyed in the air attack. The LTTE said none of their cadres were hurt in the attack.

Four Sinhala paddy cultivators, including a female, were shot dead Monday morning around 8:45 in Maha Vilachiya DS division, northwest of Wilpattu wildlife sanctuary, Police said. Maha Vilachiya, situated northwest of Anuradhapura district is bordering the southern part of Mannaar, the Chilavattu'rai area which the SLA brought under its control two months ago. The division also borders the southern part of Vavuniyaa district. The security of the area has been beefed up after the attack on Anuradhapura airbase. Earlier, in March 2007, the Sri Lanka Army commander of the Anuradhapura Saliyapura Gajaba Regimental Headquarters, Colonel Jayantha Shurawera, and three of his men inlcuding a Major, and four national park employees were killed in a gunfire ambush inside the sanctuary.

Continuing its allegations against the UNICEF, the JVP yesterday charged that the agency had provided bulletproof plates to vehicles belonging to the LTTE and took the Foreign Ministry to task for remaining “tight lipped” over some of these allegations.JVP parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa claimed the UN Child rights agency had spent 12,375 US dollars to obtain the bulletproof plates for LTTE vehicles and had fixed the plate to just one UNICEF vehicle.If such colossal sums were allocated to fix bullet proof plates for one UNICEF vehicle, he asked whether the other plates were fixed to LTTE vehicles.The JVP also charged that UNICEF had provided a vehicle to the TRO.“It is a serious offence even under international regulations to spend money meant for Sri Lankan Children for a terrorist movement,” he said.Commenting on the import of combat rations which were taken into custody by the customs, Mr. Weerawansa said there was no doubt that they brought for the use of Tiger terrorists in Kilinochchi and Mulaitivu.

Responding to allegations by the JVP, the UNICEF yesterday said it only had a blast proof vehicle and not a bullet proof vehicle as claimed by the JVP.It is common for humanitarian agencies to use blast proof’ vehicles, with a special ballistic blanket fitted in, to protect aid workers operating in areas with an identified landmine threat, UNICEF spokesperson Gordon Weiss said. “We have to comply with the Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) of the UN. If our staff is operating in insecure areas they expect us to follow certain guidelines,” he said. “Earlier there was a recommendation that we put these ballistic blankets on our vehicles. However, it altered the driving capacity of the vehicle. Therefore, given the choice between safety and maneuverability the organization chose maneuverability,” Mr. Weiss said, explaining the reason for only upgrading one vehicle. Responding to JVP allegations that the UNICEF had provided bullet proof vests to the LTTE, Mr. Weiss said every UN operation anywhere in the world had a supply of Kevlar vests for the use of its staff and it was also part of falling in line with MOSS standards.Mr. Weiss also said an external audit team had been flown into Sri Lanka to trace the funding trail of projects done through the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO).“The audit team started work on Monday and a report is due within two or three weeks. They would be tracing the funds transferred to the TRO prior to early 2006,” he said.The UNICEF spokesperson also rejected Mr. Weerawansa’s call for the extradition of UNICEF Operations Officer Jennifer Tailor.“She has done nothing wrong. She is simply the one who manages contracts and signs off on most of them. She has almost finished her four-year term in Sri Lanka and would be leaving at some stage in the next 6 months. But this has nothing to do with the demands of the JVP,” he said.Commenting on the issue of four UNICEF employees who participated in a protest in June Mr. Weiss said the matter was being reviewed by the department of Humanitarian Affairs in New York.”“These cases will be resolved before the end of next month. However, two international staff members involved in the case have left the country as their terms had ended. One of them has left the UNICEF, while the officer s still engaged in UNICEF activities,” he said.Describing the impact of the series of allegations on the relationship between UNICEF and the Sri Lankan government Mr. Weiss said, “we have a great working relationship with the government and we are keen to defend it. The government has promised to make a clear statement at the conclusion of the investigation.”

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The foreign policy of the UPFA Government has no clear direction. This has been manifested again and again since the assassination of former Foreign Minister Mr. Laxman Kadirgamar.The President and the Foreign Minister are at this very moment in Kampala, Uganda, participating at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM)Foreign Minister Mr. Rohitha Bogollagama, at a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth countries, supported suspension of Pakistan from the Commonwealth. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) strongly opposes this action of Mr. Bogollagama.We are very much concerned about the inconsistency of the UPFA government on important national and international issues. The spokesmen of the government, without admitting its grave mistakes, are making a futile attempt to isolate Mr. Bogollagama by saying that his decision to support the suspension of Pakistan from the Commonwealth was a personal one. The Government of Sri Lanka is so naïve as to expect the world to believe this stance of theirs. We believe that it is the responsibility of the UPFA government to safeguard the good name of Sri Lanka and act so as not to lose the support of friendly countries, particularly at a time Sri Lanka is confronting a separatist terrorist threat. Sri Lankan Government must be well aware that Pakistan government also has taken similar actions to curb terrorist activities in their country. As a country vehemently opposing foreign intervention in her internal affairs, Sri Lanka is required to be cautious before taking decisions regarding events in other countries. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is well aware that the President of Pakistan, H.E. Farvez Musharaf, has already announced that a general election will be held on January 8, 2008. The Pakistan government has released thousands of political prisoners and established favourable conditions in the country for the self - exiled leaders of the opposition to return. We welcome the stance of the President and the Government to reverse Sri Lanka's support for the suspension of Pakistan. We urge the Government to express its regrets to the President and the Government of Pakistan.

More than 1500 army deserters have rejoined the army during the latest amnesty period which began on November 12 and ended midnight yesterday, army sources said. While warning that operations would be launched to track down army deserters, who failed to report during the latest amnesty period, military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said army assisted by police would begin islandwide search operations for this purpose. "By noon yesterday the number of returnees topped the 1500 mark, but the final figure will be higher as some figures are yet to be received," Brigadier Nanayakkara said. He also said rejoined deserters would be deployed for duties after an initial training. The Army launched the latest amnesty on November12. With the intensifying of military operations in north and east army launched a series of recruitment drives and also announced several amnesties for army deserters. Last week defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also said that more than 20,000 youths joined the armed forces during this year.

It wasn't "once upon a time" that one member of the 17 member dissident UNP group peeled off the Opposition leader layer by layer, as the worst politician one could come across in today's politics. Yet, just three days after the vote on the budget, the DM came with the news that the "Karu" group, or the self proclaimed democratic group of the UNP is proposing a National government with Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister. It's the same Opposition leader whom this member; a leading spokesman of the group discarded as a total failure, not once but many a times in the most recent past, who is now being proposed to head the much talked of National government.This by no means should surprise the people with some common sense. It’s quite possible that none of them, crossed over to the government benches on actual political issues. Every one of them is reported to have had very personal reasons to leave the UNP, but those would never be publicly said. This was more than evident as all of them had many political differences with and accusations too against the government, Mahinda Chinthanaya, the PA leadership and also against individuals who matter in the government. None of it changed for the better on the government side. Why do they now want the very person whom they jettisoned as a failure to join a National government as its Prime Minister ?This needs to be said clearly and precisely. Every crossover negates the core essence of representative democracy in a proportional representative system where the voters have to first elect the party. With that said, it should now be said the proposal for a National government is only a short cut to accommodate all who want to cross over. A comfortable attempt to look decent in being part of "centralised" political power without the consent of the people. Cross-overs and jump-overs in the present parliament only denote a power struggle between two contending power blocs in the South, relevant to the South and affecting the South to partake in centralised power. These political manoeuvrings may have their impact on Tamil politics in deciding how soon a "separate state" would finally evolve and only on that. The TNA is out of all this political jugglery, perhaps wondering how they are still in the same parliament with these Southern politicians.

The attempts at crossing over and proposals for coalescing "nationally" do not in any way discuss, nor do they ever take into consideration the issue of "DEVELOPMENT" in a democratic South at least. All through almost six decades of centralised political power since independence, the issue of "development", to put that in terms of Tamil politics, the right to decide the fate of our people had never been a serious issue in the South. This most important aspect of politics is being pushed into an unholy compromise as a war with those who kept asking for their right to develop their own area. It's projected as a patriotic war. A National government at that, again with centralised power that distracts all issues of development though the talk is of nationalism. In all these years of centralised power, "development rhetoric" delivered absolutely no results despite colossal amounts pilfered and wasted. Take a look at what has been left in the South with such centralisation of power in the hands of our patriotic politicians over the past decades. According to the Department of Census and Statistics that released the survey, Poverty In Sri Lanka - Issues And Options / Year 2006, [quote]"….with all the governmental interventions to reduce poverty, analysis of surveys conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) shows that substantial poverty and under nutrition among children still remains, though there is gradual reduction. With all the welfare programmes that have been implemented during the last few decades by the successive governments, Sri Lanka could have done better." (page / 06) [unquote] There is more that needs to be added from the same source. [quote] "…..in certain Districts, outside the Western province, such as Hambantota, Badulla, Monaragala, Ratnapura and Kegalle the percentage of population below poverty has remained more than 30 percent during the 12 year period covered by the three surveys." (page / 14) [unquote] Which means there has been no development during the last 12 years. Not that there had been any before.The quality of education and the benefits derived by the population through education is very clearly written into this quote in the same survey by the DCS as follows. [quote] "In-depth analysis shows that in the poorest Divisional Secretary Divisions, around 75 percent of the Heads of Households are engaged in own account work, mainly in agriculture or related activities and around 90 percent of Heads of Households in these Divisions have not reached even G.C.E.(O/L) education." (page / 27) [unquote] It also says inadequacy of water and more so drinking water is a major problem in the dry zone areas.

On the other hand, if one calculates the amount of money that is spent by these politicians annually, it is staggering. Take for instance the district of Hambantota where the people elect 07 MPs at every election. Each of them spends Rs.05 million every year from the Decentralised Budget, supposedly for development. Which means in Hambantota district every year, Rs. 35 million is disbursed for supposed development work. From year 2002, they have spent Rs.210 million. Let's not forget that there are other allocations too for a district through State institutes and also through other special development projects funded by agencies like ADB, UNDP, JICA, GTZ, USAID etc. How many billions would have been spent during these past 06 years alone in Hambantota district, not counting the Tsunami rehabilitation work ? How many billions more would have gone down the drain or to some unknown bank accounts, where 25 MPs in the 03 Southern districts spent Rs. 125 million every year over the past 06 years ?One should not forget that this centralised system carried through foreign funded Integrated Rural Development Programmes (IRDP) from 1974 July onwards in 19 districts that left out the North and definitely swallowed up hundreds of billions of rupees. What rural development they achieved is more a tragedy than a joke. The worst is, this centralised system does not even have the capacity to utilise funds allocated and in all IRDP's the funds utilised have not exceeded 31% from the committed total. With all that and for all those reasons, there is substantial poverty and under nutrition among children. Poverty remains more than 30 percent. In the poorest Divisional Secretary Divisions, around 75 percent of the Heads of Households are engaged in own account work and around 90 percent of Heads of Households in these Divisions have not reached even G.C.E.(O/L) education. Water is scarce.

Is it not better therefore, for the South to leave this centralised governing system, a failure in every sense and ask for a federal system of governance within which the Southern polity could have a say over development planning and finances in their own poverty ridden areas ? A system that would make governance more participatory instead of this failed representative democracy ? Our representative democracy is a proven farce in this society. Once a political representative is elected, people lose the right to question his or her role thereafter and the very meaning of representation is lost. That is what the present parliament is all about. A parliament sans the sovereignty of the people.The opportunity to have political power in close quarters with a participatory system was created for the South by the Tamil people when they campaigned for power sharing rejecting centralised power. If the South was willing to be part of that discussion to design a new system of governance in a single country where power could be provincially utilised for provincial development, Rs 125 million that is spent through the decentralised budget every year in the South would be enough money to raise many worthy development projects along with all other allocations that also go waste.Unfortunately for the poverty ridden South, they opt to fight the very people who provide an opportunity for them to plan and design their own development. So, may the triple gem bless them patriots.

Three murders including the gunning down of a security officer at the University of Jaffna have been reported from the North and the East over the weekend, the police told the Daily Mirror yesterday. According to the Jaffna police unidentified gunmen had shot dead the security officer identified as Thambirasa Thureraja and had fled the area. Another person identified as Thangadevan Thurairaja had been shot dead by an unidentified gunman at Thutortum on Saturday. Meanwhile a body of a youth was recovered in Vavuniya on Saturday evening. According to police he had sustained head injuries indicating suspected assault to death.

A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) have recovered his dead body after confronting an SLA Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) that infiltrated into LTTE territory in Kaddaiyadampan in Mannar, LTTE military officials in Mannaar told media. Two T-56 assault rifles were also seized by the Tigers. There was no LTTE casualties in the encounter, according to the LTTE military officials.

The United Nations has warned that the fresh controversy surrounding UNCEF and the meal pack saga can damage the generally excellent working relationship between the UN and Sri Lanka. The United Nations Office of the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator for Sri Lanka in a statement on Friday also disclosed that the consignments of Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs), which was initially cleared by Sri Lanka Customs in early August, but recently impounded, was imported to the country with the knowledge of the government. Customs impounded the consignment after allegations were levelled against the UN organisation of allegedly bringing down the meal packs for the use of the LTTE rebels. “In the estimation of the UN, this false impression undermines the security of every UN staff member, obstructs the implementation of basic development projects for all Sri Lankans, erodes the confidence of donor governments, and damages the generally excellent working relationship of the UN and the government,” the statement said. According to the UN, this consignment was purchased by UNICEF on behalf of 12 UN and other agencies for the use of only staff in every UN office in Sri Lanka in the event of an emergency when food might be scarce. “This ‘three day ration’ is in accordance with global security measures stipulated by UN Headquarters, and is common practice throughout the world. While the UN acknowledges and fully supports the right of a sovereign government to investigate credible allegations of wrongdoing, the circumstances of this action appear to have been driven by unsupported statements in Parliament earlier that day, by a member of the opposition. The UN looks forward to a speedy resolution of this issue, so that the good work of the UN in Sri Lanka can continue unimpeded,” the statement added.

Sri Lankan Air Force jet fighters pounded a LTTE satellite communications and coordinating center in Dhrmapuram area, North East of KILLINOCHCHI today (25) at 7.20 a.m. said Media Center for National Security.Media center further said, the air strike was carried out after confirmation of intelligence gathered about the satellite communication center and it was also a clandestine meeting place for LTTE leaders.Air Force pilots affirm that the air strike was a success.But the LTTE said to foriegn media the attack only hit a civilian settlement, killing three members of the same family and injuring seven other locals.Meanwhile, the LTTE's Heroes Week with several commemorative programmes in the Wanni held on low key. LTTE leader Velupilli Prabhakaran's much-looked-forward-to annual Martyr's Day speech on Tuesday at 6.08 p.m. on Voice of Tigers radio. Meanwhile, the LTTE sources yesterday announced that 954 cadres had been killed so far this year. It also said that the movement had lost 19,887 fighters from September 1, 1982 to November, 20 this year.

A father and mother with their daughter and a teenage girl were killed, their son and his wife were seriously wounded with four other civilians, Sunday morning, when Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked a civilian settlement twice, between 7:15 and 7:40 a.m., at Tharmapuram 8th Unit, located in Ki'linochchi district. A 4-years-old girl, a teacher and a retired postmaster were among the wounded. The airstrike, using bombs that explode underground, comes as November 27 Heroes Day remembrance events were being observed in Vanni. The explosions have created 6 to 10 meter depth craters. The victims killed were identified as M. Subajini, 15, Varnalingam, 54, his wife V. Saraswathy, 49, and their daughter V. Sumitra, 25, members of a displaced family from Eezhaalai in Jaffna. 28-years-old Kamalraj from the same family, with injuries in his chest and stomach, was rushed to Ki'linochchi hospital. His 19-year-old wife, K. Thanayogam (Thana) has lost a leg. T. Anushya, 04, M. Nadanavathy (Thevi), 41, a dance teacher at Tharmapuram Mahaviththiyaalayam, with wounds to her stomach, Ariyakuddi Velmurugu, 60, a retired postmaster, with wounds to his legs and Lingeswaran, 60, with wounds to his head were admitted at the hospital.More than 8 bombs were dropped, destroying two houses completely, and causing damage to seven other houses.

At the government parliamentary group meeting held last Sunday, Deputy Minister Nirmala Kotalawala told President Mahinda Rajapaksa to refrain from inviting opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to form a government. Speaking at a crucial group meeting, prior to the second reading of the Budget, Kotalawela referred to newspaper reports where Rajapaksa had invited Wickremesinghe to form a government. Kotalawala told the President he could invite anyone else from the UNP but not Wickremesinghe to form a government. The group had apparently approved the decision unanimously.Later last week, member of the UNP-D group, Minister Mahinda Wijesekera invited Wickremesinghe to be part of a national government. However, he later denied that he invited Wickremesinghe to become Prime Minister.UNP sources later said that the UNP-D invitation was because they were at the risk of losing their seats if the President was to dissolve parliament. Sources said that the UNP is at present making all efforts to defeat the government’s third reading of the Budget scheduled for December 14, which would compel the President to dissolve Cabinet in the event of a defeat. The new Cabinet, to be appointed by the President after the defeat, could present a second Budget. If that Budget too is defeated, then President Rajapaksa will be compelled to dissolve parliament.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) will vote for the third reading of the Budget scheduled for December 14, only after consulting its politburo on November 30 and working committee on December 1.This decision was taken by the party’s high command that met on Friday, November 23, under the leadership of Party Leader and Posts and Telecommunications Minister Rauff Hakeem.The SLMC, which has come under severe pressure from party supporters to withdraw support to the government, voted for the Budget on November 19.However, the party met Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa and Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle subsequently and placed before them certain conditions as the basis for extending support at the third reading.Two prominent conditions were to reverse the state action to grab lands from Muslim landowners and serious action to give Muslims prominence in the eastern development programme.SLMC General Secretary, Deputy Minister Hasan Ali said though verbal assurance was given to the SLMC by both Rajapaksa and Fernandopulle, so far nothing has been put in writing, which he said has caused fears among the Muslims as to whether their grievances would ever be met.“Based on this, the Muslims in general are pressurising us to vote against the government. However, we thought of getting the views of the politburo and the working committee in this regard,” he said.He told The Nation that the minority Muslims expected a permanent solution to the long-standing issues they have been confronted with over the years.“If we do not get favourable answers from the government, then we might have to seriously reconsider extending our support to the government,” he said.He said the SLMC could either vote against the government or vote with the government and then quit.“There is nothing more that we could do at this juncture. We are confident that President Rajapaksa will look into these sensitive issues and avoid a major problem,” he added.

Leading Muslim organisations, including theologians and trustees, passed four resolutions last week during a special meeting held at the Grand Mosque in Colombo with regard to the recent sound ban, cattle transportation and slaughter.The organisations have also decided to seek a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa upon his return to the country to appeal to him to intervene in the issues. The resolutions were to take steps to revert the Supreme Court decision which banned the use of loudspeakers from 10 a.m. until 6 a.m., take steps to put an end to the impediments faced during the transportation of cattle and also deal with moves to shut down the Colombo Municipal Council slaughter house.Former Colombo Deputy Mayor Azath Salley told The Nation that during the meeting the Muslim organisations had also considered meeting up with members from the Jathika Sangha Sabha to discuss issues on the noise ban.“The ban is also an impediment to the Buddhists, so we are looking at appealing the Supreme Court together,” Salley said.

Brigadier Chandana Rupasinghe, Brigade Commander of the 213 Division in Puttalam was yesterday remanded until December 4 on suspicion of killing his wife, K.P.K.D. Thejangani in Makola, Kelaniya.Sapugaskanda OIC M.P.E. Jayaweera said that the Brigadier had been questioned regarding the killing as his personal revolver had been allegedly used for the killing. The Brigadier had initially told police that his wife had committed suicide, but after further questioning by police he was produced before Gampaha Magistrate Anura Kumara Dissanayake who remanded him.

Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) attackers, in two separate Claymore attacks on Sunday targeted civilians in Oddisuddaan, 22 km southwest of Mullaiththeevu town and Mudkompan, 20 km northwest of Ki'linochchi town in Poonakari (Pooneryn) division Sunday, Tamileelam Police officials said. The Claymore attack in Oddisuddaan claimed the lives two, a student and a business man, around 7:55 a.m. and another attack at Mudkompan targeted an ambulance around 9:50 a.m. The two DPU Claymore attacks during Heroes Day remembrance days in Vanni come two months after a similar attack that claimed the life of Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith who was on a humanitarian mission.S. Kiritharan, a student of Puthukkudiyiruppu Sree Subramania Viththiyalayam and Periyasaami Vijitharan, a business man, lost their lives when they were caught in the DPU Claymore explosion on Puthukkudiyiruppu - Oddisuddaan Road. Thavaseelan, 29, the driver of the ambulance was wounded in the attack on Mudkompan. Loss of lives avoided in the attack as there were no patients in the ambulance. One month ago, on October 29, two DPU intruders were gunned down by the Tigers in Valaignan Kaddu area in Mannaar district.

The political party of the renegade Eastern Tiger commander Karuna, the TMVP is forging ahead with an alliance with Tamil political parties after the government had unofficially assured the party of Provincial Council Elections in the East by February next year. TMVP deputy leader, Pillayan said he was in consultation with TULF Anandasangaree and several other leading Tamil politicians to launch an alliance of the non LTTE Tamil political parties.Meanwhile, highly placed TMVP sources told Lakbimanews, the government had assured the party that provincial council elections will be held in the East by mid February.

R. Karpoorasundara Pandian, Commissioner of Rehabilitation, conducted an inspection at the refugee camp set up at Thappathi near here for Sri Lankan refugees, on Saturday.Official sources said that the check was carried out to study the welfare of the members of 444 families lodged at the camp.