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30 November 2009 Fonseka seeks Buddhist blessings for SLanka presidency Sri Lanka's president and the former army general who is attempting to unseat him in January elections opened their campaigns on Monday with visits to separate Buddhist shrines.President Mahinda Rajapakse and Sarath Fonseka have been at loggerheads over claiming credit for the military's victory against the Tamil Tigers in May, which ended decades of ethnic bloodshed on the island.Rajapakse received blessings at temples in the historic town of Anuradhapura, while Fonseka visited the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.Fonseka confirmed weeks of speculation on Sunday by declaring he would run in the January 26 vote against his former commander-in-chief.He said he was moving into politics because corruption was preventing Sri Lankans from benefiting from the success that military forces had secured under his command.Fonseka quit the military after accusing the government of sidelining him and falsely suspecting him of trying to stage a coup.The government called the election hoping to take advantage of its popularity following the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, who had waged a long and bloody fight for an independent Tamil homeland.Analysts say Fonseka's bid may split Rajapakse's Sinhalese nationalist voter base. TMVP fully supports President Rajapaksa Chandrakanthan totally rejecting the misleading news report that the TMVP would withhold support for President Rajapaksa, said the TMVP will launch its full effort for the victory of the President due to many reasons. The people in the North and East are now free from the clutches of LTTE terrorism which brought much sorrow to the whole country, the Chief Minister said. “If not for President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Eastern Provincial Council could not have been established and functioning. “The Eastern Province has undergone rapid development as a result of the peaceful situation in the country,” Chief Minister Chandrakanthan said. All development plans are being implemented as promised by the President. Massive development projects including infrastructure development programs are carried out throughout the Eastern Province. In line with the development activities, the livelihood of the people in the North and East has improved. The Government has allocated and invested billions of funds for the betterment of the North and East. “The allocation is really more than the people expected,” Chandrakanthan added. The friendship of the TMVP with the President and UPFA will remain as usual and it will strengthen day by day. Chandrakanthan pointed out that General Sarath Fonseka doesn’t have any political background or experience in politics. “Therefore not a single Tamil person will vote for General Fonseka at the presidential election since the people in Eastern Province are well aware of his background,” he noted. The TMVP will hold discussions with the President regarding certain issues in the Eastern Province in due course. “Those are at number two in our agenda. Number one is to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election,” he stressed. Act firmly against LTTE supporters: Union Minister Sri Lanka's camp inmates 'free to leave Tuesday' Sri Lanka will Tuesday allow thousands of civilians to leave state-run camps where they have been detained since the military's victory over Tamil Tiger separatist rebels, a senior official said.About 128,000 men, women and children who were displaced during the final stages of the conflict remain in heavily guarded military camps in Vavuniya district, 260 kilometres (160 miles) north of Colombo."There will be no restrictions on displaced people from December 1. They have to inform the army post they are leaving and can come and go as they wish," N. Thirugnanasampanther, a civil servant in Vavuniya, said Monday.Many of the detainees face a difficult task returning to their villages hundreds of miles (kilometres) away, and officials said they would not receive state assistance for their journeys.Thirugnanasampanther said resettlement work was on schedule as authorities step up mine clearing work in the former combat zone.Under intense international pressure, the government has promised to close the camps by the end of January. EPDP calls for expanded powers for Provincial Councils More powers should be given to the Provincial Councils (PC) than what will be given after the implementation of the 13th Amendment, EPDP Media Spokesman Nelson Edirisinghe told Daily Mirror Online. He added that through this constitutional amendment, they expect to solve the ethnic issue and that because they did not receive the necessary powers till now it was impossible to solve the problems faced by the Tamil population.Further Mr. Edirisinghe stated that they had proposed to the government to hold the Northern Provincial Council elections as soon as the Internally Displace Persons (IDP) are resettled in the North. Three navy officers arrested over Trinco fisherman’s murder Sri Lankans using India to flee overseas illegally 29 November 2009 Fonseka declares entry into politics,will contest under "swan" symbol General Sarath Fonseka formally declared himself as the common candidate for the January 26th presidential election and said he would contest under the symbol of the “swan”. “I am answering the question you have been repeatedly asking me for several weeks. Yes. I am entering politics. Yes. I am contesting for the post of President” General Fonseka told a packed press briefing held in Colombo. As some of his supporters clapped on hearing the announcement, he went onto say that his reluctant decision to enter politics was because he could not stand by and watch the deterioration of democracy, living standards, media freedom etc in the country while one family was thriving in the aftermath of the military victory over the LTTE. “We did not defeat the world’s most dastardly terrorist to hand the country over to a dictator.” Fonseka said. He said that he had made two promises, one when he took over as Army Commander to not leave the job of finishing off the LTTE to his successor and the other six moths ago that the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran would not live to deliver another “Hero’s Day” speech.” I have achieved both of them,” he said.The General apportioned the major segment of the credit for the military victory to the army and the two other forces as well as the people of the country and acknowledge that the political leadership should get a small part of the credit. However he was critical of the manner in which President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration has handled the situation in the country after the war. “I am here to clean up the garbage and I know my hands will get directly when I do that but I am willing to face all the mud slinging bravery,” he said. The General also condemned the manner in which the government is politicising the military. ”Military personnel in uniform are being used in the most unethical manner to sling mud at me. This is unprecedented and unethical,” he said. He also said attempts are being made to point the finger at him for all the unlawful incidents of the past. ”We all know that those behind the unlawful activities are thugs and hooligans .They are trying to bring disrespect to the military by pointing the finger at me,” he added. Pillayan withholds support for President Four Tamil parties back President Three key one time Tamil militant parties yesterday pledged their support to President Rajapaksa at the forthcoming Presidential election, while the leading estate sector party, the Ceylon Workers’ Congress said they were already campaigning for his re-election. CWC President Mutu Sivalingam speaking while campaigning in Nuwara Eliya yesterday afternoon said there was no necessity to announce their support to the President through media conferences as they were already campaigning for him in the hills.The Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and the Eelam People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (EPRLF) (Padmanabha Wing) said they would make their public announcements soon.EPDP Leader and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda said they have without any hesitation decided to back the incumbent President and they would make a formal announcement tomorrow.Leader of the PLOTE Dharmalingam Sithadthan said individually they had already made up their minds on supporting President Rajapaksa and they would formally meet on the matter soon and announce it to the public.He said their primary concern was the resettlement of IDPs and that process was going ahead. “No one can expect things to be perfect, but whatever the government is doing to resettle those people is being done with responsibility,” he said. Secondly, Sithadthan said Mahinda Rajapaksa was a known element with much political experience and they were quite confident in backing a winning horse.EPRLF (Padmanabha Wing) General Secretary T. Sritheran said they too would soon announce their support to the President. Sritheran said what mattered to them most was the continuation of the rich democratic traditions of the country, the expeditious resettlement of IDPs, going forward with the 13th Amendment plus the APRC process and the eradication of violent culture that plagued the country for more than two decades.“We will align with the progressive left forces in the South in supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-election,” he declared.The one time ardent supporters of the LTTE, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which has 22 Parliamentarians from four parties, however, appears to be in no hurry to take a decision on their stand at the election.Suresh Premachandran, a member of the TNA, who heads the other wing of the EPRLF and a strong critic of the government, when asked whether he was supporting Sarath Fonseka for President said, just because he was critical of the government that did not make him automatically support Fonseka. Premachandran added there was no necessity to rush to a decision as there was plenty of time to take a decision and they would take a decision as an alliance at the appropriate time.Asked whether they would promote a common Tamil candidate, he said that too should not be ruled out.TNA Jaffna District MP Pathmini Sithamparanathan said before December 8 all their MPs would come to Colombo for the emergency debate and they might take a decision on their stand on the Presidential election then. Army continues to take over private buses: Bus owners Continuous commandeering of private buses by the Army, despite the war being over now, is crippling public transport services, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association President Gemunu Wijeratne said yesterday. “The Army commandeered private buses during the war for the purpose of moving troops and the Association then extended full co-operation. Now that the war is over, we cannot understand why the Army continues to take over the buses,” he said.The incidence of Army taking over private buses is on the increase in Kurunegala, Negombo, Giriulla and Nittambuwa areas.The payments for the buses acquired were made expeditiously during the war, but now payments are not made on a regular basis, he said.They would commandeer buses promising to return them within three days. But this never happens, Wijeratne said.“The members of our Association say that we should take some collective action to press the authorities to end this practice. But, we prefer to watch the situation for sometime before taking any action, he added. Election lottery for underworld! Due to the prevailing political climate and the country heading towards a Presidential poll in two months, orders have been given out to the Police department to halt forthwith all operations to nab underworld kingpins and gangs, LAKBIMAnEWS reliably learns.After the war in the North and East concluded last May, the government launched an operation to eradicate the thriving underworld, and as a result over 100 underworld figures including many criminal gang leaders were killed. But some underworld leaders escaped and fled abroad.According to Police sources, the decision with regard to halting operations tracking down underworld leaders and gangs had been taken by the Police top-brass, following pressure brought on them by politicians providing a safe haven for these criminals.It is also said that most of the underworld leaders who had left the country due to the intense operations carried out by the Police have begun to return home —- since underworld elimination operations had been stopped for the time being.Political sources revealed that Kudu Lal who escaped abroad is due in Sri Lanka next week.A senior Police spokesman who spoke on condition of anonymity also said that as a result of the halt order on going after underworld figures, all subsequent operations launched to apprehend people engaged illegal distillery activities etc., in areas such as Ja-Ela, Seeduwa, Kandana, Negombo, and Dankotuwa too have come to a standstill. In addition, raiding of cannabis plantations in Thanamalwila and Ambilipitiya has also come to a standstill. Velu’s heroes day draws zero in a divided country My Dear Velu, I thought I must write to you even though you have been dispatched to the Land of No Return because this is the time you usually deliver your ‘Heroes’ Day’ address to us. And would you believe it, the day has come and gone and hardly anyone has noticed it! Of course, if anyone needed proof that you are in fact no longer with us instead of hiding in a bunker somewhere, now we have it because you didn’t deliver your ‘Heroes’ Day’ address -- but hardly a year ago, very few thought that this would be your fate... I suppose, Velu, you are partly to blame too. You cannot say that you were in the wrong place at the wrong time – Nanthikadaal in May this year to be precise -- because there were others who were with you who were smart enough to make a move. And look where they are now! Take that chap Karuna, for instance. It is true that the fellow had to spend some time in prison but that was in Britain, anyway. Why, he even said that someone’s brother gave him a forged passport to travel but still he managed to survive and he is envied by everyone today. And, why not? The military men who you wanted to kill are guarding and saluting him and he is now a Minister, not to mention being a Vice-President of the Blue party. And he probably gets more security than the Generals who outsmarted you. Now, if that won’t make you jealous, Velu, what will? Of course, some were not so lucky though. Your good friend KP was caught -- and they are still not telling us whether it was in Malaysia or Thailand -- and is now spilling the beans. I know you will be disappointed with that, but you didn’t give him a cyanide capsule to bite, did you? Velu, you might be wondering what has changed in the six months since you left us. I suppose the biggest change is that peace has indeed dawned and we are able to go about our daily work without wondering when the next bomb explosion -- or air strike -- will hit us. It is indeed a major change and for which we are grateful to all those who made it possible. The sad part of the story is that, in true Sri Lankan style, we are now fighting amongst ourselves trying to figure out who exactly was responsible for that near-impossible victory over you and your men. On the one hand, we have Mahinda maama, his band of brothers and his political ‘yes men’, all hailing him as king. On the other, we have the General who led the military victory, complaining that he was given the ‘Karapincha’ treatment and discarded like a leper after he masterminded the military victory. Other than that, Velu, little has changed. We still have the occasional strike that cripples everyday life, Uncle Bandula is still promising us goods at cheaper prices but it is very difficult to find them and yes, Mervyn is still running around threatening anyone who blocks his path. Of course, Velu, Uncle Ranil is still in the opposition, having lost a few more elections since you departed and comrades Somawansa and Weerawansa still hate each other -- although even Weerawansa’s little three-wheeler party has had one of its wheels deflated, because Nandana has run away to join the Blue brigade. In the North and East too, little has changed, Velu. The TNA chaps are still not on good terms with Anandasangaree and Douglas is minding his own business while no one is sure whether Pillayan is on talking terms with Karuna anymore! Velu, it might interest you to know that in the midst of all this we now have an election and this is where matters get ‘curiouser and curiouser’. That is because the ‘patriots’ in uniform who fought against you have suddenly become ‘traitors’ because they have decided to contest the powers that be. To make matters more hilarious, those ‘traitors’ who taunted the military men saying they were not good enough even for a Salvation Army have now embraced them and become ‘patriots’ overnight. This being Sri Lanka-and not the Eelam that you dreamt of-what more can you expect, Velu? I am sure, Velu, you will be observing what happens next from wherever you are. But don’t count on any statues being erected in your honour because the truth is that you wouldn’t be missed much here. Yours truly, PS: If it is of any consolation, your dream of dividing the country seems to have come true to some extent. Soon, the entire country will be divided on the issue of who really fought the war and who should get credit for it. And at first glance, this battle looks to be getting as intense as the one that led to your defeat! Pathmini, first TNA MP to be driven from Colombo to Jaffna Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian for the Jaffna District Pathmini Sithamparanathan last Sunday became the first Tamil MP to be driven from Colombo to Jaffna since opening the A-9 to normal traffic the previous week.Sithamparanathan told The Nation yesterday that she completed the journey with Ministry of Defence permission in about four and a half hours without any hassle, barring two checkpoints at Omanthai and Elephant Pass. And there had been no security escorts other than the constable assigned for the protection of each MP.The MP said she found many areas yet deserted in the North, especially in Kilinochchi, where she only saw cattle, other than an occasional vehicle or a bus convoy. Most of the people who have been resettled are in the interior of the district.Due to heavy fighting early this year some of the buildings that were earlier there in Kilinochchi no longer exist, she said. Nothern voters -- half can’t poll More than half the voters from the North will lose their right to exercise their franchise in the coming presidential elections claims the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE.) This will not only affect the outcome of the election but also will be a major blow to the reintegration of these people into the democratic process. “The voter registry was prepared during 2008 June and July. But the real question is how many people from the war torn areas have registered during that time and even if they had are they still living in the same polling division? The population of the Province is estimated to be around one million and from what I know more than 50% of the people have not registered or have moved away from their registered polling division, or are living in IDP camps, in various other temporary shelters or are with their relatives,” he said. “According to our system a person should vote in the division that he is registered in,” he added.Another issue facing the people who lived in LTTE held areas recently is the Identity Card factor, said Executive Director People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi. Many people have lost their National Identity Cards during the war and getting new ID cards for the presidential election is the least of their concerns.“Most of these people are living in IDP camps, temporarily shelters or with their relatives and getting a valid identity card so that they could vote is not on their list of priorities. I think if the authorities want them to participate in the presidential election they should carry out an aggressive campaign to provide them with IDs,’ Hettiarachchi said. “And also since this is a national election the Department of Elections should create cluster polling stations so that a person can vote from anywhere in the district. Otherwise many people will not be able to vote,” he added. A militarised Sri Lanka on an uneasy path to peace Sri Lanka has a history of violence. For a Buddhist country with a population of 20 million that history is gory – one long civil war, two bloody Marxist insurrections, ethnic riots, several assassinations and an abortive coup in 1962. If that wasn’t enough, the 2004 December tsunami battered the country’s scenic coastline and took the lives of thousands.Everyone knows about long war of attrition that government forces fought against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The 26-year-long war ended in May at the cost of an estimated 100000 lives and two hemorrhaging communities. Before Tamil militancy was the rebellion of the radical: not many outside Sri Lanka are aware that the country has seen two armed rebellions – 1971 and 1987-89 -- by extremist Marxists. The rebels of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) were fuelled by anti-western and waves of anti-Indian sentiments. Both claimed the lives of thousands of youth from the majority Sinhala community and were crushed under heavy military boots. Thousands more disappeared without a trace.But it was the protracted ethnic war with the LTTE that led to, what a political analyst said, a `national security regime’ (NSR) in the country. ``An NSR is created when militarisation is viewed as a necessary component of the conduct of a state. That doesn’t mean that country is under dictatorship; the regime could be in a broad democratic framework,’’ the analyst, who requested anonymity, said.It doesn’t really help that the country continues to be under a ``state of emergency’’ six months after the war. ``Holding of elections alone is not democracy. Many rogue systems have many forms of manipulated elections for no other reason than to have some legitimacy, particularly before the eyes of the international community,’’ the Asian Human Rights Commission said in a statement soon after LTTE leader V Prabhakaran was declared dead. The framework maybe democratic but essential components like the practice of civil liberties, artistic freedom and dissenting opinion is severely curtailed in such a regime. In Sri Lanka, it has meant the murder and assault of journalists and human rights activists, severe restrictions on critical opinion in the academia and a close watch, bordering on intimidation, on artists who want to make political comment.A well-known painter HT spoke to said: ``I would say (the situation), it’s scary. But don’t quote me. Do you get the picture?’’A more direct impact of the internal strife and the security regime has been the rapid strengthening of armed forces. Latest statistics is hard to come by as the military continues to be cagey about sharing numbers but Sri Lanka does have one of the highest ratios of soldiers to civilians in Asia. In 2006, according to a study by Mumbai-based Strategic Foresight Group, Sri Lanka had already emerged as the most militarised country in South Asia. ``For every thousand population, it has eight military personnel against 1.3 in India or four in Pakistan. In terms of military expenditure, Sri Lanka spends 4.1 per cent of its GDP against 2.5 per cent by India or 3.5 per cent by Pakistan,’’ the study said. Three years later, those numbers have gone up. The total number of the forces including the army, navy, air force, police and civil defence adds up to 350000-400000. The army accounts for about 2.4 lakh personnel. Military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara recently said the ``army would recruit another 10000 by the year-end.’’ Basic requirements are simple – applicant has to be between 18 and 24 years of age, unmarried and physically fit. Military budget is going up too. Recently, Parliament approved an additional 20 per cent budget, over above the already allocated $ 1.74 billion, for defence expenditure. The government argued it’s was necessary because the security forces still need strengthening. The arrival of Sarath Fonseka, the first four-star general and recently retired as chief of defence staff, in the political arena is another sign of how ``militarised’’ the Lankan society was becoming, Professor J Uyangoda, head of department, political science, Colombo University argued.``Militarisation has seen a gradual consideration in the society. Now with general Fonseka fighting the Presidential election as the opposition candidate, it indicates demilitarisation is not in the agenda even for the opposition. It doesn’t look like the United National Party (the main opposition party) is committed to demilitarising Sri Lanka,’’ Uyangoda said.Historian Silan Kadirgamar said he ``was afraid that the run-up to the Presidential polls could be violent as the stakes were high.’’``There are no professional army or security forces left in Sri Lanka. Having Rajapaksa is terrible and having Fonseka would be a nightmare. Unfortunately Sri Lanka has evolved a tradition where rogues contest the presidency and no one could remotely hold them down to their promises,’’ the respected civil rights group, University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) told HT over email.The run-up to the election could also see the proliferation of armed groups, some of which brazenly operate in parts of eastern Sri Lanka. These groups are usually affiliated to politicians and are known to kidnap and extort.What could add to the problem is the high rate of desertion from the armed forces. Nearly 30000 personnel from the three wings went home on leave but did not return to their regiments. There were 20,597 deserters from the army alone.``Desertion has increased after the end of the war. Yes, it is a problem because they are trained,’’ defence analyst and journalist Iqbal Athas said. Athas was also worried about politicians using thugs to protect their turf. So, what are the ways to demilitarise provided the political class has the intention. ``Battalions to the United Nations could be increased. Or a transitory civil defence force could be constituted. The extra force could also be used to strengthen existing police stations or to man new police stations in the north,’’ Athas suggested.The government has to demilitarise not only in numbers but also reduce its security paranoia. Sri Lanka’s history of violence cannot be denied. But the country deserves a future of peace. Ex-LTTE leader slams Prabhakaran A. Ram, a top LTTE leader now in the custody of the Sri Lankan government, has issued a Heroes’ Day message condemning the way Velupillai Prabhakaran had led the LTTE and the Tamil people, the Tamilnet website reports.Ram had blamed Prabhakaran’s “uncompromising policy” for the defeat of the Tamil armed struggle and the annihilation of the LTTE in Sri Lanka.“The parallel address, without any explanation to circumstances or citation of evidences, came out with a controversial announcement on the array of heroes. Ram's address contradicted the usual LTTE perspectives by saying that the human catastrophe was a consequence of the 'uncompromising policies' of the LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan,” Tamilnet said.The alleged message by Ram has not been put out by any of the Sri Lankan government’s websites.Ram asked the International Community to come out with a political solution to the ethnic question and had assured that his organisation (the LTTE) was prepared for ‘any compromise’ for that.All countries that “adamantly” helped crush the militant struggle should in the same way ensure the democratic rights of the Tamils, Ram’s address said. He also asked the Sri Lankan government to place before the Tamils, a “solid and permanent solution.”A couple of days ago, Ram had made a statement saying that LTTE members and activists in the Diaspora were ignorant of the current field realities .He criticised them for taking a political stand not conducive to the welfare of the 12,000 incarcerated cadre of the LTTE and the Tamil people suffering in various ways in Sri Lanka.Tamilnet charged that the Sri Lankan government was running a 'parallel' LTTE with the help of Tiger members in its custody. Australia to host 2011 CHOGM meeting, Sri Lanka's bid fails Australia has been selected as the venue to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2011 Australian reports said.The decision has been taken on Saturday at this year's CHOGM meeting currently proceeding in Port-Au-Spain in Trinidad and Tobago.Sri Lanka has been lobbying the Commonwealth nations to gather support for its bid to host the 2011 meeting in Colombo. However, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand vehemently opposed Sri Lanka's bid citing concerns over its conduct of the war against LTTE Tamil Tigers and the humanitarian issues.Sri Lanka may be considered to host the biennial event of 53 Commonwealth nations in 2013, sources said. 28 November 2009 PRESIDENTIAL POLL ON JANUARY 26 NOMINATIONS DECEMBER 17 Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake yesterday fixed December 17 as the day for accepting nominations for the presidential election and January 26 next year as the election date. Some 14,088,500 people are eligible to vote at this election. When compared with the 2005 presidential poll this is an increase of more than 700,000 eligible voters. Last Monday President Mahinda Rajapaksa directed the Elections Commissioner to hold the presidential election on a suitable date and according to the law, he was required to announce the dates for the acceptance of nominations and the conducting of polls within seven days of the directive being issued. The upcoming election is widely seen as historic since the President is contesting Former Army Commander and Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka who is known to be one of the chief architects of the victory over terrorism. The two main contenders are known to have started laying the groundwork for their election campaign with the President’s election manifesto being prepared by a panel comprising allies in the ruling UPFA while General Fonseka is expected to announce his political plans at a news conference tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Elections Chief told UNF leaders who met him yesterday that he hoped to invite four groups of international election monitors from the Commonwealth, the United Nations and the Asian Election Network. The UNF leaders asked him to stop the transfer of public servants and police officers in the run up to the poll and prevent certain political parties hosting receptions for their supporters at public expense. Mr. Dissayanayke said he would look into all these issues soon after he fixed the date for nominations. The UNF told him that air time on electronic media and space in the print media should be allocated equally for all candidates joining the presidential race and asked him to take steps to issue National Identity Cards to some 1.2 million people before the election so that they could exercise their franchise. The delegation comprised SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem; UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya; general secretary Tissa Attanayake, Ravi Karunanayake and Democratic People’s Front leader Mano Ganeshan. Canada to oppose Lanka hosting next Commonwealth summit 27 November 2009 Britain will oppose Sri Lanka hosting talks Britain will oppose Sri Lanka hosting the next Commonwealth summit because of concerns over its conduct of the war against Tamil fighters and its treatment of refugees, a government source said on Friday.Leaders of the group of 53 nations, mainly former British colonies, meet in Trinidad and Tobago from Friday and one of the issues to be discussed is who will host the next summit in 2011. Sri Lanka is one of a number of countries bidding to host the next summit.British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's opposition to Sri Lanka getting the honour could cause friction at the meeting."The prime minister has real concerns about Sri Lanka's bid. We simply cannot be in a position where Sri Lanka -- whose actions earlier this year had a huge impact on civilians, leading to thousands of displaced people without proper humanitarian access -- is seen to be rewarded for its actions," a British government source said."The prime minister will talk to other leaders about this, but is clear this won't wash," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.Britain criticised the conduct of the war earlier this year and remains concerned about the situation of about 130,000 displaced people in camps in Sri Lanka.Britain wants the next summit host to reflect the full range of Commonwealth values which include promoting democracy and respect for human rights and the rule of law, the British source said. Here are what the common candidate has agreed to – Lanka Irida Lanka Irida’ has got information through a very reliable source regarding the common agreements reached by Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who is to contest the presidential election as the common candidate and political parties of the opposition that have expressed their support to the General states ‘Lanka Irida.’ According to this agreement the executive presidency would be abolished and all powers would be handed over to the Parliament. There is also an agreement to implement the Constitutional Council through the 17th amendment and establish independent commissions. The first move of Gen. Fonseka as the President would be to set in motion the Constitutional Council. He has also agreed to abolish all repressive regulations including the ‘press council act’ and establish an independent media culture in the country. It has been also agreed to abolish all regulations that are used at present to suppress justifiable agitations and struggles carried out by mass organizations. One of Gen. Fonseka’s priorities once becoming the President would be to launch an urgent relief programme for those who are languishing in IDP camps and those who have been resettled in the North and the East. Gen. Fonseka and political parties have also agreed to expedite legal proceedings against those Tamil youth who are being detained at present and who had been involved in terrorist activities and rehabilitate all those who have no charges against them. The political parties that support Gen. Fonseka would take steps to bring these agreements before the general public soon. Tamil Tiger supporter deported after speaking at rally TORONTO -- Canadian immigration officials arrested an Indian man in Toronto on Thursday after he gave a fiery speech at an event where the flag of the outlawed Tamil Tigers rebels was flown.Sebastian Seeman, who was in Canada on a speaking tour, was taken into custody by Canada Border Services Agency officers and questioned before agreeing to leave the country immediately.A CBSA spokeswoman, Patricia Giolti, confirmed the arrest, and his lawyer Hadayt Nazami said immigration officials had intended to deport him on security grounds unless he left voluntarily. He departed Canada on Thursday night.Mr. Seeman was scheduled to speak at a Tamil community function last night but was forced to cancel due to his arrest. He was to speak in Montreal on Sunday.A film director from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Seeman is known for his hardline speeches in support of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers rebels and their fight for independence.The Tigers were wiped out by the Sri Lankan military in May, ending three decades of civil war but during the final months of the conflict Mr. Seeman was arrested several times in India for speeches considered inflammatory.He was also targeted by the Indian press after photos surfaced showing him smiling and posing with the late leader of the Tamil Tigers, Velupillai Prabhakaran.During his speech in Toronto on Wednesday, Mr. Seeman talked about restarting the civil war in Sri Lanka, according to several Tamil-Canadians who heard it on the radio or watched it on the Internet.He also spoke harshly about the ethnic Singhala who are the majority in Sri Lanka. "No Singhala can live," he said, according to the witnesses. He also said the war would have ended differently had the rebels bombed 100 Singhala schools for every Tamil school bombed by the Sri Lankan forces.In the video of his speech, a flag bearing the militaristic emblem of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, can be seen in the room. The Tigers are a banned terrorist organization under Canadian law.RCMP officers and members of the Toronto and Peel police services were involved in Mr. Seeman's arrest, which comes as police are cracking down on the pro-rebel events that were once common in Toronto. "I think that's what the accusation was, to be honest with you, that he was pro-LTTE ... membership in a terrorist group, whether by association, activity or speeches or we don't know," Mr. Nazami said.Mr. Nazami said Mr. Seeman had denied any ties to the rebels. He had agreed to leave because CBSA officials intended to detain him until at least Monday, which meant he would miss his speaking events. "I think for him that was the deciding factor," Mr. Nazami said. "The issue was, he's a film director, he's got things to do."Mr. Seeman's speaking tour coincided with "heroes' day," also known as "martyr's day," an event held each year to commemorate Tamil rebels who died during the fight for independence.A report by the Integrated Threat Assessment Centre, an agency based in CSIS headquarters, says that during the 2007 martyr's day event "children were photographed wearing LTTE t-shirts and one young boy was shown brandishing a fake weapon."Police have been investigating Tamil Tigers activities in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver since 2002. The investigation concluded that pro-rebel groups in Canada had funneled millions of dollars to the Tigers.RCMP Commissioner William Elliott said in a speech last month that while the Sri Lankan insurgency had ended, the Tamil Tigers remained a terrorist group that could have a significant impact in Canada."There are an estimated 250,000 Tamils in this country, more than anywhere else in the world outside of Sri Lanka. Canada is one of the few places in the world where LTTE terrorists and supporters might seek to hide in plain sight, and potentially launch terrorist activities," he said.Mr. Seeman entered Canada on Monday. He was traveling on a visa issued last month by the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi. He visited Canada in 2007 without incident. Restrictions eased on roads in Sri Lanka capital The Sri Lankan government yesterday relaxed the security measures that had been imposed on the roads in the capital Colombo.According to Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, the government has evaluated the country's security situation and arrived at the decision not to close the roads in the city during VIP movements.Under the new measures the stretch of the Galle road from Kollupitiya to Galle Face Green is now open to the public and one side of the road opposite the Temple Trees is also open for vehicle movements. The road leading to the Galadari Hotel roundabout from the Lake House roundabout was also opened from yesterday, he added. 26 November 2009 Fonseka likely to contest on Lalith Front ticket General (retd) Sarath Fonseka is likely to contest the next Presidential Election, on the Lalith Front ticket, The Island learns.Sources said the Lalith Front, though a registered party, had not contested elections for a long time and was willing to provide Fonseka with a forum to contest the presidency. "There will be no problem in changing the party’s name or symbol," they said.The joint Opposition, which is backing Fonseka as the ‘Common Candidate’, was exploring the possibility of using the ‘Rising Sun’ as its symbol, which belongs to the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF).Discussions were held with TULF leader V. Anandasangaree on his party giving up its symbol, but there had been no positive response so far, sources said.Meanwhile Fonseka has told the UNP National Organiser S. B. Dissanayake, who met him on Tuesday, that he welcomed Dissanayake’s support, but expected the UNP as a whole to help him re-establish democracy in the country.Asked what the TNA’s stand on backing Fonseka was, UNF sources said that their stand would depend on a public declaration of his solution to the problems confronting the Tamil community. I have never been defeated – Gen. Fonseka He had never been defeated in his life and his motto has been ‘Can do’ says former Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Sarath Fonseka. He said this delivering the keynote address at the 1st Annual Conference of the Institute of Certified Professional Managers held at Taj Samudra Hotel on Tuesday (24th) morning. Speaking further Gen. Fonseka said, “The head of the state as well as the general public trust the security forces. If the security forces breach this trust the general public as well as the head of the state becomes discontented. As such, the war that went on for a long period in this country is a good lesson to study what collective effort is. Hence, no one can claim achievement individually in such an exercise. The achievement should be compulsorily shared. Some have questioned as to what was the difference between the leadership in the Army and the political leadership. In a war there is no talk; there is only action. In politics you could talk without any work. I would be able to tell you regarding this perfectly in another two years time. Every time there was an attack on an Army camp everybody said ‘send Sarath Fonseka there.’ However, in war commemorations I was not even remembered. There were such difficulties. There was such a situation until the last days of my service. There is a nice expression in the Army for such a thing. They say I was like the ‘crocodile’ mamotee; it gets sharper and sharper more you use it. You need such a mentality. The more you are attacked and deprived of what is due to you more strength you should gain. You should learn to work with harassment and come through them victoriously. Answering questions posed by journalists after the address Gen. Fonseka said, “I would express my stand in a few days time. Let those political parties which were having an interest in the presidential election come out with their stands. I will tell my stand after that. Fonseka looks forward to support from India Former top General Sarath Fonseka, expected to run as the Sri Lankan Presidential candidate, today said that he was looking forward to support from India for his nation's future.Expressing that he was "very fond" of India, Fonseka, who is being endorsed as the joint opposition candidate to challenge the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa today said he was looking forward to support from India during his future plans."I will always do all I can to fulfill the aspirations of the people," Fonseka said when asked whether he would contest against Rajapaksa, to make it battle between war heroes.Both Fonseka and Rajapaksa are claiming credit for wiping out the dreaded Tamil Tigers and the former army chief told All India Radio that he would go public with his plans soon. Third candidate enters race in Sri Lanka's presidential election Sri Lanka Transport Board to utilize more buses on A-9 road to meet the growing demand The Sri Lanka Transport Board is planning to deploy more buses on the A-9 Colombo – Jaffna highway route for the convenience of public and to cater to their high demand, a SLTB spokesman revealed. Following the lifting of travel restrictions via A-9 road, there is a huge demand to travel to Jaffna on the A-9 road. About 2,000 people have made requests to travel on the A-9 road, the spokesman said. The government recently started the commuter bus service from Colombo-Jaffna to meet the growing travelling needs of the civilians. "Travelling to Jaffna is costly without a land service. The only other alternative is air travel that costs about Rs. 22,000 per round trip. That is why the SLTB operates the bus service under the affordable fares to benefit Jaffna and Colombo bound civilians. The fare on the semi-luxury bus between Colombo and Jaffna is Rs. 550 whereas in state owned Sri Lanka Transport Board buses it is only Rs. 368 for the 11 and a half-hour journey," the SLTB spokesman pointed out.According to him, The SLTB is expecting to launch Jaffna bound busses from other major cities in the future. "Commuters are subjected to the personal inspection only when they get on to buses in Colombo and at the security check point in Medawachchiya," he said. Govt. repression extended to newspapers in Jaffna It has been reported that the government has threatened Sudaroli, Valampuri and Thinakural, newspapers published in Jaffna not to publish anything against the government. A group of people who had arrived this morning wearing black masks have made this threat to the editors of the relevant news papers. They had said not to publish anything against the government if the editors wanted to continue to maintain their media institutions. Throughout the past there were many incidents of setting fire to media institutions, threatening, assaulting, abducting and murdering journalists. The inquiries in relation to these incidents are being swept under the carpet now. A head of a media institution speaking to ‘Lankatruth’ said the incident that occurred in Jaffna this morning too is another episode of the suppression carried out by the government against the media. Sri Lankan parliamentarian Mano Ganesan to support President Sri Lanka parliamentarian Mano Ganesan, the leader of the Western People's Front said that he is willing to support the President in the presidential election if the President takes appropriate measures to resolve the problems of the Tamils in the country. Mr. Ganesan further explained that President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under his leadership eliminated the terrorism and brought peace to the country. The Tamils are also enjoying the freedom together with other races. He made these comments addressing the provincial Tamil literary festival at the Elphinstone Hall, Maradana Tuesday evening. Mr. Ganesan appreciated the programs being implemented by the President for the betterment of all ethnic groups and he added that he is satisfied with them. Addressing the event Minister of Cultural Affairs of the Western Provincial Council Upali Kodikara said "all have embarked upon an era of nation building and the cooperation of the Tamil community is essential in this regard." He invited Mr. Ganesan to extend his support for the programs. EPDP to ask Tamils to support Govt. Social Services Minister and EPDP General Secretary Douglas Devananda said that President Rajapaksa would score a land-slide victory at the Presidential election. Although the JVP had expressed its willingness to support UNP, their attempts to defeat the UPFA Government would be in vain, he said adding that the EPDP would soon issue a statement on why the Tamil community should support the UPFA Government.He said the Tamil community was aware that Tamil liberation could be achieved only through democratic means and not through an armed struggle. The Tamil community had placed its trust and confidence in President Rajapaksa because it was he who took bold action to crush the LTTE.The EPDP had carefully studied how the Government had served the Tamil community. The UPFA Government had done much work for Tamil community, especially in the rehabilitation and resettlement programmes, he said. 'Free detainees' says HRW About eleven-thousand held About eleven-thousand other Tamils are held in separate camps on suspicion of involvement with the Tamil Tigers. "As it prepares to allow the 130,000 internally displaced persons detained in camps to decide whether to stay or leave, the Sri Lankan government should ensure that no additional persons are subject to arbitrary detentions", Human Rights Watch said in a statement issued on Wednesday. The United Nations and aid agencies have criticised the government's handling of those internally displaced, but the authorities have argued they needed the camps to screen people for possible rebel connections. long overdue HRW calls the government to "either bring charges" or "release" over 11,000 detainees held in "rehabilitation centres".“The government’s promise to release displaced civilians from camps is welcome, though long overdue,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The government has been holding many Tamils for alleged involvement in the LTTE without providing them basic rights due under Sri Lankan and international law. The release of displaced persons should not be an excuse for another wave of arbitrary detentions.” says the Asia Director in his statement issued to the media. Srilankan authorities say the arrested and surrendered Tamil Tiger suspects need to be rehabilitated before they will be released. Since the end of the war, only a few of the prominent LTTE figures appeared in court. Explosives at Vellamulliwaikal The Vavuniya police Special Crimes Investigations Unit yesterday unearthed a large stock of high-powered explosives belonging to the LTTE. The munitions had been buried during the final stages of the war in two places in Vellamulliwaikal in Mullaithivu.Following information received by DIG Ravi Wijeyegunewardene, of the Wanni-West the Special Investigations Unit of the Vavuniya Police found plastic barrels holding a large stock of explosives buried in two places in the area close to the Vellamulliwaikal sea strip. DIG Police Ravi Wijeyegunawardene said together with the items found were a number of unknown powerful bombs, manufactured by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), that had not been seen or used by the security forces. Among the military hardware found were: 74 LTTE manufactured bombs – similar to mortar bombs – weighing 15 kg each, 38 bombs used for booby traps also manufactured by the LTTE, weighing 1 kilogram each, 2 claymore bombs weighing 5 kilograms each, 10 claymore bombs weighing 2 kilograms each, 12 boxes containing 500 grams of explosive powder, 11 bombs used for booby traps weighing 500 grams each, 125 hand bombs manufactured by the LTTE using a mixture of varied explosive powders, 81 bombs manufactured especially for the ‘Thamilan Brigade’ of the LTTE, 27 numbers of unknown globular shaped bombs weighing 5 kilograms each made especially for another wing of the LTTE, 16 claymorebombs for the special use of the ‘Pandiyan Brigade’, 7 para bombs, 7 RPG bombs, 4 chargers, and over 10, 000 numbers of 12.07 and 7.62 bullets. Charles Anthony’s driver arrested Mannar police arrested the driver of former LTTE Supremo Prabhakaran’s son, Charles Anthony - working since 2007 till the end of the war in May - police media spokesman I.M. Karunaratne said. He was one of the three suspects arrested by the police on Tuesday.The suspects were arrested based on a tip-off from LTTE cadres now in police custody and other informants. The other suspects had served in the political wing and were also involved in recruiting child soldiers to the organization and one person had worked as a driver of the LTTE Provincial Leader Lakshman respectively, Mr. Karunaratne said.The suspects were arrested in Adampan and Police sources said that the three men were a part of a group of civilians who were recently resettled from the camps in the North. Mannar intelligence officers arrested the LTTE operatives from Adampan and Parappakandal areas, SSP Karunaratne said. Princess Easwary is an explosive carrier for LTTE The Canadian officials have found more traces of explosives on Princess Easwary which brought 76 Sri Lankan Tamils to Canada last month, Canada Border Services Agency revealed. The traces of RDX, which is used to make plastic explosives, especially for military has been found in three separate compartments of the ship, sources further added. Residues of another two types of explosives have also been discovered on clothing of two migrants and they have been taken in to the custody by Canadian immigration officials. The Canadian terrorist experts have alleged that at least two of them belong to the Tamil Tigers, the military arm of the violent separatist group that waged a three decade long war with the Sri Lankan government. According to the Sri Lanka's Defense Ministry sources the Princess Easwary belongs to Ravi Shankar Kanagarajah alias Shangili, a most wanted transnational terrorist cum kingpin of overseas based human trafficking and illegal arms smuggling activist.The ship is an LTTE floating warehouse extensively used in human smuggling and gunrunning activities, a terrorism expert said. 25 November 2009 Rajapaksa rules out north-east re-merger Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday ruled out the re-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces to form a single Tamil-speaking province.Explaining this to editors N Vithiyatharan of Sudar Oli and Devaraj of Virakesari at a breakfast meeting with the heads of media institutions here, Rajapaksa said the merger of the two provinces had been a demand of the LTTE and there was no question of entertaining it now.Rajapaksa said that he had to keep in mind the interest of the Muslims, who, he said, were in a majority in the Eastern Province, and who, as such, would not be happy to be merged with the Tamil-majority. The two provinces, which were united following the India-Sri Lankan Accord of 1987, were de-merged by a Supreme Court decision based on technical grounds in 2006.In a bid to attract the votes of the Tamils of the North and East, Rajapaksa said one of the reasons for holding the presidential election two years ahead of schedule, is to give the Tamils of the North and East a chance to vote, as the LTTE had prevented them from voting in the last election held in 2005.Meanwhile, the JVP has announced that Fonseka would be its candidate and the General had agreed to it. Tamil Parties Recognize Need for Unity and Consensus for Durable Solution After a three-day conference in Switzerland, the political parties of the Tamil speaking peoples of Sri Lanka, recognizing the need for unity and consensus, committed themselves to the engagement by all segments of society towards a just and durable political solution in the island through a dignified, respectful and peaceful process. The parties also agreed to continue the discussions.The conference from 20 to 22 November 2009, titled “The role of the elected representatives of Sri Lanka’s Tamil and Muslim population in a process of national reconciliation, reconstruction and reform” was jointly organized by the Tamil Information Centre (TIC), the International Working Group on Sri Lanka (IWG) and the Initiative on Conflict Prevention through Quiet Diplomacy (ICPQD) at the University of Essex. It was hosted by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The following Tamil parties were represented at the conference: All Ceylon Muslim Congress, All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Ceylon Workers Congress, Democratic Peoples Front, Eelam People’s Democratic Party, Eelam People’s Revolutionary Front, Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students, Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi, Pathmanabha Eelam Peoples‘, Revolutionary Liberation Front, People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation, Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal , Tamil National Alliance, Tamil United Liberation Front and Up-Country Peoples Front. The conference was arranged in a climate of extreme unease in Sri Lanka and abroad in relation to the future of the Tamil speaking peoples in the island. Five months have elapsed since the Sri Lanka government announced the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), but despite the assurances of the government, little visible progress has been made towards addressing minority rights and grievances. Some suspect that there is no serious intention to implement meaningful reforms in the long-term and fear further erosion of minority rights. The most egregious sign of a lack of progress is the treatment of 300,000 internally displaced Tamil civilians, many of whom continue to be held against their will in miserable inhuman conditions. The political opposition, civil society and journalists who call for the protection of the IDPS or minority rights are portrayed as enemies of the state and have been silenced through assassination, violence and imprisonment or forced to flee the country.Under these circumstances it is essential for the representatives of the Tamil speaking peoples to unite to develop an effective common programme to hold the government accountable for the protection of minorities, and to act as a serious and dependable negotiating partner representing the demands of minorities in the development of meaningful proposals for reform in Sri Lanka. In this light, the short and long-term aims of the conference were as follows: q To provide a safe and facilitated space for dialogue and engagement between the representatives of Sri Lanka’s main political parties of the Tamil-speaking peoples; q To build on preparatory discussions with and between the parties aimed at bridging divides and identifying common ground on substantive issues; q To explore the possibilities for future cooperation towards the development of a common political platform for the representation of Sri Lanka’s Tamil speaking peoples within the political framework of pre and post-election Sri Lanka; q In the long-term, to support Sri Lanka’s Tamil speaking political parties to play a meaningful role in a process of national reconciliation and a programme of political, institutional and constitutional reform aimed at addressing their grievances and preventing a return to armed conflict. The meeting was conducted in a spirit of openness, mutual respect and constructive debate. The representatives expressed their full commitment to unity and to a common forum to seek a just and durable political solution. The participants obtained important clarifications and achieved common understanding. They also pledged commitment to continue their discussions in the interest of achieving full respect for the rights of the Tamil-speaking peoples and to building a peaceful, dynamic and prosperous society.Among the issues discussed were shared concerns of the long, medium and short-term. These included an in depth discussion on the evolution of an acceptable, inclusive political solution to the conflict. Also discussed were principles for and solutions to urgent matters such as the situation of internally displaced persons, Muslim IDPs, detainees and the disappeared, demilitarisation and the rule of law. Also discussed was the urgent need for the facilitation of voluntary return of all internally displaced persons to their homes and land in conditions of safety and dignity, and to expeditiously provide for their housing and livelihood requirements under competent and independent civilian supervision. At the end of the conference, the participating political parties issued the following joint statement: Joint Statement We, the representatives of the political parties of the Tamil-speaking peoples unanimously: Affirm the historic meeting enabling an exchange of views, and express a full commitment to a common forum among representatives of all Tamil-speaking peoples; Recognize 'Tamil-speaking peoples’ comprise three distinct peoples: Tamils, Muslims, and Tamils of Indian origin; Respect the distinct and separate identities, interests and positions of the parties; Recognize and affirm the need for unity and consensus among the Tamil-speaking peoples while acknowledging differences with regard to some issues and the paths to pursue them; Commit to the engagement by all segments of society towards a just and durable political solution through a dignified, respectful and peaceful process; Agree and commit to continuing our dialogue. Names: Mr. Veerasingham Anandasangaree, Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Mr. Periyasamy Chandrasekaran, Up-Country Peoples Front (UPF) Mr. Douglas Devananda, Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) Mr. Abdul Rauff Hakeem, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Mr. Mohamed Hizbullah, All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC) Mr. Mano Ganeshan, Democratic Peoples Front (DPF) Mr. Kulasekaram Mahenthiran, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) Mr. Sivasubramaniam Nanthakumar, Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students (EROS) Mr. Gagendrakumar Ponnambalam, All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) Mr. Suresh Premachandran, Eelam People’s Revolutionary Front (EPRLF) Mr. R. Sampathan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Mr. Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) Mr. Mavai S. Senathirajah, Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) Mr. Dharmalingam Sithadthan, People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOT) Mr. Thirunavukarasu Sritharan, Pathmanabha Eelam Peoples‘ Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF Patmanaba) Mr. Arumugan Thondaman, Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) 24 November 2009 Rajapaksa Calls 2010 Election After Ending Sri Lankan Civil War Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa called a presidential election for 2010, two years before his mandate expires, as he seeks to capitalize on his government ending a 26-year civil war with Tamil rebels. Rajapaksa met with members of his United People’s Freedom Alliance before making his announcement in Colombo late yesterday, the government said. The president said he’s seeking a mandate to continue “rebuilding the country that has been liberated,” according to the Daily News Web site. The Election Commission will announce the date for the vote, which will be held before parliamentary elections, Cabinet spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said yesterday. A general election is scheduled to take place by April next year. Rajapaksa, 64, may contest the ballot against General Sarath Fonseka, who led the army when it defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May, ending the group’s fight for a separate Tamil homeland in the South Asian island nation. The general resigned as chief of defence staff earlier this month amid speculation he will be a candidate. The opposition United National Party has yet to decide whether to field a presidential candidate. Fonseka, 59, has criticized people he didn’t identify for trying to take the credit away from the army for winning the war against the LTTE. The general’s departure “has been the main catalyst” for prompting the election call, said Jehan Perera, director of the National Peace Council, a non-governmental advocacy group. Record of Efficiency “The government is undoubtedly apprehensive that General Fonseka, with his track record of efficiency, can rejuvenate the dispirited ranks of the opposition,” Perera said yesterday. “He can also split the Sinhalese electorate that the government had come to monopolize.” Rajapaksa “will sweep through” an election contest against any candidate other than Fonseka, he said. The benchmark Colombo All-Share index closed down 0.1 percent at 2931.07 after the announcement. The rupee was little changed at 114.25 to the dollar, according to Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc. Rajapaksa declared victory over the Tamil Tigers in May after the army killed rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his commanders in a battle on the northeastern coast. In a speech in June marking the victory, he said he won’t allow the “shadow of separatism” to remain and pledged to build a united Sri Lanka. Tamils make up almost 12 percent of Sri Lanka’s population of 20 million people. Sinhalese account for 74 percent, according to a 2001 census. Victory Credit Credit for the victory over the LTTE is “divided and may accrue more to Fonseka,” Perera said. “The Tamils are unlikely to field their own candidates,” he said. “The ethnic minorities have reason to be doubtful about the intentions of both the Rajapaksa-led government and a Fonseka-led opposition.” UNP spokesman Gayantha Karunatileke said yesterday the party will announce whether it is fielding a candidate “within 24 hours” of the election date being set. Vijitha Herath, the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party’s propaganda secretary, didn’t answer calls to his mobile phone yesterday. The Vimasuma news Web site cited him as saying Fonseka may be fielded as a common opposition candidate. Rajapaksa’s government has been under increasing international pressure to allow ethnic Tamil civilians held in camps in the north since the end of the war to return home. The government says it must clear mines and secure the former conflict zone. A resettlement program has allowed more than half of the 280,000 civilians held when the war ended to return home and may be completed by the end of January, the government says. UN Envoy John Holmes, the United Nations under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, visited transit camps in Sri Lanka last week. While Holmes praised the government for the swift release of civilians in recent weeks, he raised questions about the amount of notice and preparation time given to UN agencies and the speed of mine clearing as well as the “quality of basic services” in areas where displaced people are being settled, the UN said. Rajapaksa’s UPFA has 105 seats and the UNP 82-seats in the 225-member assembly. The Tamil National Alliance, the main group of Tamil parties, has 22 seats. Rebuilding in Sri Lanka after the war is helping the island’s $41 billion economy with the central bank forecasting it will grow as much as 6 percent next year after expanding about 3.5 percent in 2009. UNP accepts Gen. Fonseka as common candidate –UNP Gen. Secretary JVP – General talks successful – results will be announced today The talks between the JVP and former Chief of Defense Staff ended successfully said a spokesman for the JVP today. A number of important agreements were reached at the talks held last evening (23rd) and the party would reveal what agreements the party reached with Gen. Fonseka at the press conference to be held this afternoon said the spokesman. Finally JVP accepts Ranil as caretaker PM Unprecedented UNF-JVP pact on General Fonseka sealedby Shamindra FerdinandoContrary to speculation in some politial circles as well as a section of the media over the past few days, the UNP-led United National Front (UNF) and the JVP have resolved a simmering dispute over a UNP condition that its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should be the Prime Minister in a future caretaker government. The Sri Lanka Musli Congress (SLMC) and MP Mano Ganeshan’s Western People’s Front are UNF constituents.The UNF-JVP combine has settled the issue at confidential talks involving key negotiators, including Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mangala Samaraweera, Tissa Attanayake, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and retired Army Chief General Sarath Fonseka. Well informed sources told The Island that the JVP had been reluctant to accept Wickremesinghe as their (joint opposition) prime ministerial candidate though General Fonseka strongly supported the UNP condition. Sources said that General Fonseka had emphasised the importance of resolving the issue immediately to enable them to move forward.The former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has said that fielding of a common candidate would very much depend on an early settlement of this issue. At one point, the JVP had suggested that a caretaker cabinet could be named leaving prime ministerial post vacant. The JVP subsequently withdrew opposition after being told that the very success of their campaign would heavily depend on Wickremesinghe’s appeal to UNP supporters. Sources said that UNF-JVP dispute had been a major obstacle though many believed that UNF proposals to General Fonseka would cause trouble. Sources said that finally negotiators had reached an ageement on Fonseka’s candidature at the forthcoming presidential election. They also agreed to declare Wickremesinghe as their prime ministerial candidate. Sources said that had talks collapsed on this issue, the UNF would have been forced to field Wickremesinghe as their candidate. Sources revealed that government even on Friday night (Nov 20) believed Wickremesinghe would contest the polls and the government leadership directed UPFA propaganda propagate that line. But once the government had received reliable information regarding the outcome of the latest UNF-JVP talks, the governent had immediately inquired from a close associate of Wickremesinghe whether the UNP leader was quiting the contest thereby paving the way for Fonseka to come forward. Asked whether Wickremesinghe’s decision was final, the UNP official had said that nothing could be changed now. Responding to our queries, sources said that Fonseka’s candidature would be officially declared immediately after President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared presidential polls ahead of parliamentary polls. Sources said that the UNF and JVP agreed that their candidate whould not contest on either UNP or JVP ticket but use another registered political entity. In a bid to prevent the government from receiving advanced information regarding their strategy, Wickremesinghe has restricted the involvement of MPs. Even those who had been close to Wickremesinghe had not been privy to secret negotiations leaving Messrs Wickremesinghe, Attanayake, Samaraweera and Anura Kumara Dissanayake in charge. Sources said that some MPs were denied access to prevent them from rushing to various media organisations or pass on information to the government and embassies.Among the persons kept in the dark was one-time political heavyweight who went around saying that he had even the blessings of India to be the opposition’s common candidate. Sources said that this was nothing but a barefaced lie. Speculation is rife that the Opposition alliance had the blessings of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.Sources said that even embassies believed it was going to be a three cornered fight with the JVP fielding their own man. SLFP MP dissident Samaraweera went to the extent of claiming that they were looking for eight or nine candidates whereas they had once choice. One of the highest paid NGO operators in Colombo is believed to have told many embassies that Wickremesinghe would fight it out with Rajapaksa at the presidential election as an understanding between the UNF and JVP was unlikely. Kohona adds to the Gen. Sarath Fonseka puzzle In a strange twist of events and despite the Foreign Ministry earlier issuing a statement to the contrary, a Sri Lankan envoy now says the United States had not attempted to quiz former Army Commander and Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka.Sri Lanka’s United Nations Permanent Representative the former Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona, in an interview told the online segment of the Daily Mirror ‘Hot Seat’ it had been conveyed to the highest levels that there was no such attempt by the US Homeland Security Department.When he was asked if under the UN conventions, the attempt to quiz General Fonseka was a serious infarction by the US which had bypassed normal diplomatic channels, Dr. Kohona said, “I think what you just said is wrong. We have information and it has been conveyed at the highest levels that no such attempt was made.”When pressed Dr. Kohona said, “We have no information to suggest that such an interview was sought.”Dr. Kohona’s denial that the US had made such an attempt contradicted a Foreign Ministry statement issued early this month said the General who was then in the US received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security requesting that he be present for an interview.“It will be recalled that towards the end of last month, the General who was then in the United States received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security requesting that he present himself for an interview on November 4 in Okhlahama City. Subsequently, there was also a telephone call from an official of the Department of Homeland Security to the General,” the Foreign Ministry statement had said.At the time the Foreign Ministry said that when this development was conveyed, including by the Sri Lanka’s Ambassador US, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama immediately invited the US Ambassador Patricia Butenis to meet him.At the meeting Mr. Bogollagama said that whatever information General Fonseka may have become aware while in the service of the Sri Lankan Government and in the course of his duties, had privileged status and therefore the US Department of Homeland Security should desist forthwith any attempt to interview General Fonseka. A similar representation was made to the US State Department through our US Ambassador Jaliya Wickremesuriya. These representations in Colombo and in Washington were followed by further diplomatic contacts and endeavours to reinforce the well-founded position of the Government of Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also said that it appreciated the receptive and constructive attitude adopted by US authorities, which allowed General Fonseka to leave the US without any damage to the national interest of Sri Lanka and to the dignity of the General’s Office. French court jails Tamil Tigers for extortion A French court on Monday jailed 21 Tamil Tiger militants convicted of extorting millions of euros from the Tamil diaspora in France to fund their armed campaign in Sri Lanka.The toughest sentence of seven years in was given to Nadaraja Matinthiran, whom the court heard was the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organisation in France.Matinthiran was accused of extorting some five million euros (7.4 million dollars) from France's 75,000-strong Tamil community, many of them refugees from the conflict in their homeland.The court also ordered that the Coordinating Committee of Tamils-France be dismantled after ruling that it was a front for the LTTE, which is on the European Union's list of terror groups.The alleged Tamil leader in France and the 20 other defendants appeared in court for the sentencing along with family members and a large contingent from the Tamil community, among the biggest in Europe.Two more LTTE members were given four years in prison and a third six years, while the others received sentences ranging from three and a half years to six months suspended. One defendant was acquitted.The defendants were convicted of having pressured Tamil families in Paris and the surrounding area to provide funds to support the LTTE's armed campaign in Sri Lanka.Most of the suspects were arrested in April 2007 and charged with criminal conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, financing of terrorism or racketeering to finance terrorism.Experts believe the Tamil Tigers exert a controlling influence over the diaspora, in many cases levying a "revolutionary tax" based on household size and income.Sri Lankan government forces overran the Tigers' last jungle holdout in the northeast in May, ending their four-decade struggle for an independent Tamil homeland, one of Asia's longest-running ethnic conflicts. UK seeks genuine efforts for reconciliation in Lanka JVP student leader admits war silence The leading student body in Sri Lanka has admitted that it did not protest when human rights violations were committed against Tamil students during the long conflict between the security forces and the LTTE.The pro JVP Convenor of the Inter University Student Union (IUSF) told journalist KS Udayakumar that the biggest student union in Sri Lanka had to "keep quite" while students were abducted and killed in a period of war against "separatist terrorism". However, he stressed that the student movement in Sri Lanka was "never racist"."The situation was different then and today. There might have been human rights violations during the war and of course we had to keep silent at a time of war against a separatist terrorism. But the student movement never worked on a racist agenda," he said. In TID custody In a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the IUSF for the first time has urged the government to release a Tamil university student and other students detained in refugee camps. It seeks immediate release of Rasaiah Dvaraka, an undergraduate at Peradeniya University.The IUSF is widely regarded as being controlled by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Many former IUSF leaders have later become JVP parliamentarians and activists. The IUSF also calls on the authorities to release all other school and university students currently in camps for internally displaced people (IDPs). Addressing journalists in Colombo, the IUSF convenor Udul Premaratne said the continuous detention of Tamil students might result in Tamils being pushed towards separatism once again. Udul Premaratne stressed that the IUSF will continue protests until Ms. Dvaraka, currently detained by police Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), released. Joint Indo-China effort to extend northern line China and India are to jointly fund the extension of the Northern Railway line to Kankesanthurai, General Manager of the Railway Department P.P. Wijesekara said yesterday.“The Railway Department will be laying the railway line to Omanthai, while the Indian Company will continue the work from Omanthai to Pallai and the Chinese company will be laying the track from Pallai to KKS,” Wijesekara explained adding that the work is due to start in February. The railway track until KKS will be completed in two stages and it will be known as the Yal Devi track, Wijesekara said.The track will stretch from Omanthai to Pallai and will be 96 km in length while the distance from Pallai to KKS is 56 km, Wijesekara said. At present the Northern railway line extends to Thandikulam, three kilometers after passing Vavuniya, he said. According to him these railway tracks are expected to be high quality concrete sleepers.Funds will be provided in terms of concessionary loans by the Indian and Chinese governments amounting to US $ 180 Million and US $ 240 Million respectively, Wijesekara said. IRCON an Indian company will undertake to construct the railway line from Omanthai to Pallai while China Railway Number Five Group will undertake the construction of the railway line from Pallai to KKS, the GM railways said.Meanwhile 28 railway stations from Vavuniya to KKS are to be reconstructed and built newly using funds by local donors, Wijesekara said. The northern railway track was functional upto Vavuniya at the end of the war, he added. The railway track beyond Vavuniya and the railway stations beyond were destroyed during the war and the Army is presently carrying out de-mining activities to clear the area so that the railway line can proceed northwards, Wijesekara said. UN concerned at how Tamils are being returned 20 November 2009 We’ll sit with TNA in Ranil’s caretaker cabinet – JVP The JVP says it is not apprehensive about being part of the same Cabinet as its bête noire, the Tamil National Alliance, dubbed in Parliament as the mouthpiece of the LTTE, in the event of a caretaker government being formed with UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. In reply to a question whether the JVP had no difficulty in sitting with the TNA in the same Cabinet after being critical of the latter’s pro-LTTE stance, JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said he saw no reason why his party could not do so because the caretaker government to be formed would consist of all political parties represented in Parliament.He said his party saw no alternative to winning the next presidential election with the help of a common candidate and forming a caretaker government to restore democracy.Asked whether the Elections Commissioner had rejected the JVP’s application for the registration of a new political party to field Gen. (retd) Sarath Fonseka at the next presidential election, Dissanayake said his party had not received any official communication to that effect.He said the application for the registration of the new party had been submitted on Oct. 12, 2009 and the JVP was hopeful that the Elections Commissioner would accept it and Gen. Fonseka would be able to contest on its ticket.Dissanayake said the party symbol was likely to be ‘something like a sword, but not so sharp’. Tamil, Muslim party heads in Zurich to find solution Leaders of all Tamil and Muslim political parties in Sri Lanka were in Zurich yesterday to attend a three-day conference on finding a lasting political solution to Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict.The conference, organised by the Tamil Information Centre (TRC), commenced yesterday (19) and will conclude tomorrow. Representatives of the TNA, TULF, EPDP, CWC, UPF, DPF, PLOTE, TELO, ACRC, SLMC, TMVP, and EPRLF (both Naba and Varatha wings) participated.The London based Tamil Information Centre, which was an alliance of Tamil militant groups, was founded in 1984 and had its head office in India. It became dysfunctional following the Indo-Lanka Agreement in 1987 and subsequently got amalgamated to the pro LTTE Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO). After the defeat of the LTTE it had been taken over by the Tamil Diaspora, Tamil political sources said. Many senior ex-militants and representatives of the Tamil Diaspora had also been invited to the conference to discuss the present political scenario in Sri Lanka, sources said. Tamil Diaspora representatives were scheduled to discuss with the Tamil and Muslim political parties from Sri Lanka how they could reach common ground for a political solution and the strategies the parties needed to adopt to function as a common pressure group, sources said When contacted, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), M. T. Hassen Ali, MP, confirmed yesterday that Party Leader Rauff Hakeem, Chairman Basheer Cegu Dawood and SLMC Director for International Affairs M. Faiz had left for Zurich.The main worry of the minority parties was that the President had called for elections without giving thought to the report of the All Party Representative Conference (APRC) which deliberated in 128 sittings, he said.The Tamil National Alliance is represented at the conference by its Leader R. Sampanthan, General Secretary Mavai Senathirajah and Convener Suresh Premachandran.EPDP leader Minister Douglas Devananda, too, has left for Zurich. Mano Ganesan, MP leader of the Democratic People’s Front is already in Zurich.The Ceylon Workers Congress was represented by its Leader Minister Arumugam Thondaman and General Secretary and Deputy Minister Mutthu Sivalingham. The Upcountry People’s Front was represented by Minister P. Chandrasekeram, TULF by V. Ananda Sangari, National Unity Alliance by Minister Ferial Ashraff, and EPRLF (Varadha Wing) by R. Sritharan. The TMVP is represented by Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, ACTC by Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, MP, TELO by Henry Mahendran, PLOTE by Dharmalingham Siddharthan. Students from Jaffna university meet JVP leaders A group of students from the ‘Management studies section’ of the University of Jaffna met General Secretary of the Tilvin Silva and other leaders of the JVP yesterday states media unit of the JVP. Member of the Central Committee Ramalingam Chandrasekar MP, Central Committee Member Duminda Nagamuwa and former PC Member Marugan Mogan and several other leaders of the JVP too participated at this event. A group of students from the University of Jaffna had engaged in a visit to Colombo and this meeting took place when they visited the JVP head office at Pelawatta. The students were treated for refreshments and they had a lengthy discussion with the leaders of the JVP. General Secretary Tilvin Silva addressing the students said the obstacle that existed which prevented having contacts with Tamil people has been removed now and an opportunity has been created to have fraternal relations with the Tamil people as in the past. He said he would like to name this opportunity as the beginning of such a rich relationship. JHU concerned over Gen. Fonseka's allies in political entry 19 November 2009 Security clearance lifted Ensuring the free movement of civilians from North to South, the Government yesterday announced that security clearance is no longer a requirement for Jaffna civilians to reach Colombo via land routes. People wishing to reach Colombo via land routes can forward their Identity Card or Passport at security checkpoints but they are not required to go through the security clearance process anymore. According to Northern Province Governor Major General G. A. Chandrasiri, the Government has decided to remove all obstacles that restrict the free movement of civilians from Jaffna to Colombo. Major General Chandrasiri added that the people in the Northern Province will now be able to enjoy full freedom after the country was liberated by the Security Forces. He said the President has arrived at this decision after a meeting with Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the people in the Jaffna peninsula can now reach Colombo without any obstacle after four months of reopening the A9 highway for the public. He said the Defence Secretary has also announced that lorry owners in the Jaffna peninsula can deploy their vehicles for transport without prior registration. “These lorries can transport food and other items from Colombo to Jaffna freely after an examination to ascertain whether these lorries are roadworthy or not at the Navakkuli Food Stores. “These lorries are checked at Navakkuli Food Stores to ascertain whether they are roadworthy or not before they leave for Colombo,” he said. More than 722 registered lorries in the peninsula were deployed to transport food and other items. No travel restrictions existed for civilians leaving for Jaffna from Colombo. John Holmes visits Menik Farm, praises resettlement The United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes today had praised the government of Sri Lanka for resettling a large portion of the 300, 000 internally displaced citizens in the North. He had made this comment whilst visiting the Menik Farm camp in Settikulam, Vavuniya this afternoon The Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs had also visited the Kadirgamar, Arunachulam and Ananada Coomaraswamy relief villages in the North and said that he was pleased with the facilities offered to the citizens by the government of Sri Lanka.John Holmes had been welcomed by Vavuniya Government Agent P.S.M Charles and the Vanni Security Forces Commander Major General Kamal Gunaratne. Yesterday Holmes visited Jaffna On his return to Colombo this evening Holmes had talks with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. Gen. Fonseka must accept UNF’s 10 point policy statement – Ranil Leader of the UNF Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that General Sarath Fonseka’s nomination as Presidential candidate was subject to his acceptance of the UNF’s ten-point policy statement.Wickremesinghe said that a decision on the Presidential candidate would be taken only after an election was announced and he was confident that Fonseka had a clear understanding of the UNF policies."There is no reason to assume that General Fonseka is not a democrat," he said.Among the conditions put forward for Fonseka’s candidature are that he must abolish the executive presidency or substantially reduces its powers in the event of being elected President, provide the TNA and JVP important portfolios in his Cabinet, ensure the speedy resettlement of northern IDPs, establish all the independent commissions required to ensure good governance and appoint Wickremesinghe as the caretaker Prime Minister.Meanwhile, the UNF said that in the event of a Parliamentary Polls preceding a Presidential Election, Wickremesinghe would be its Prime Ministerial nominee. Asked about the contentious crossover provision, which had led to the number of ministers in the Mahinda Rajapaksa government zooming to 108, Wickremesinghe said that a future UNF administration would scrap that clause in the Constitution."We have to sit down and discuss the details, but are agreed in principle that the crossover provision has to be abolished totally," he replied when questioned if the UNF would ensure that the liberty of crossing over would be denied to both Government and Opposition parliamentarians alike. UNP, JVP agree in principle on support for candidate LTTE equipment unearthed A special police team has unearthed LTTE communication equipment and a photo album containing photos of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakharan in a dense jungle in Serunuwara, Trincomalee. Police spokesman SSP I.M. Karunaratna said acting on information disclosed by an LTTE cadre, a police team from Trincomalee Crime Division recovered LTTE communication equipment in Mavalvedu jungle on Tuesday noon. They unearthed a J.R type hand grenade, a satellite receiver, two satellite telephones, a computer, 92 feet of solar electronic wire, a remote control device, a solar powered satellite telephone and an album which included photos of LTTE leader Prabakharan. 18 November 2009 TNA leaders see IDP camps, express relief, call for more financial aid TELO Jaffna MP N.Srikantha Terming their visit to IDP welfare centres at Menik Farm and other places on Nov 16 as a very good opportunity to have a firsthand assessment .N.Srikantha, Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian who led a six member TNA parliamentary delegation, said overall there is solid ground for satisfaction at the progress in resettling the IDPs. The people are in an upbeat mood, he said and added that there is a strong case to increase the cash relief from Rs. 25000 as the extent of damage varied from house to house and village to village.In his view, the officials at the camps were very down to earth , very cooperative and (of) understanding nature . R.N.Imam, P. Ariyenthiran, Selvam Adaikalanathan, Sivanahtan Kishor, S.Vino Noharathalingam, and Dr.Thomas William are the other members of the delegation. An acupuncture specialist, Thomas became an MP from Amparai district in place of Pathmanathan, who died. He is an acupuncture specialist in his early 60s Srikantha and his colleagues held discussions with the IDPs, officials, and local army authorities to gain an understanding of the situation. Their interaction helped to speed up the dates for the return of some families and for some others the date of return was hastened. Talking about their visit with Asian Tribune, TNA leader SriKantha stated that at their request the authorities agreed to introduce a system that would allow IDP to leave the camps freely during day time and meet their relatives and friends in other camps around the Menik Farm area. The system should be in place very soon. Then there won t be any restrictions on the IDPs to visit their kith and kin .Another positive fall-out of the visit, according to TNA MP was the willingness of the authorities to let wives and children meet surrendered suspects who are held in an exclusive camp. While on IDP camps, the delegation went around schools, and went to Mannar to see the developmental work that is being carried on in Mannar district like at the bund being raised at the Giants Tank. Here is the text of the Interview: Asian Tribune: How was your trip to the IDP welfare centers? N.Srikantha MP: Well, it was O.K. I mean we visited the IDP camps today (on Monday 16 November). Asian Tribune: Who are the others with you in TNA delegation ? N.Srikantha MP: They are our parliamentarians R.N.Imam, P. Ariyenthiran, Selvam Adaikalanathan, Sivanahtan Kishor, S.Vino Noharathalingam, , Dr.Thomas William and myself. Asian Tribune: Dr. Thomas William? N.Srikantha MP: Yes. Thomas. He is a new comer to parliament from Amparai district in place of the late Pathmanathan. He is an acupuncture specialist in his early 60s. First, we went to the IDP camps located in the Menik Farm, Cheddikulam to meet with the people there, and talked with them freely. The Governor of Northern Province Major General Chandrasri and Vanni commander Major General Kamaal Gunaratna accompanied us together with several other officials, both from the military and civil administration. Asian Tribune: What about the GA? N.Srikantha MP: Yes, the Vavuniya GA wasn t there, but when we went to Mannar, the Mannar GA was there. We talked to the IDPs and we find that the required basic the amenities are there, but, however, there are few shortcomings here and there. The IDPs did not complain with regard to the basic amenities. Basically they are yearning to go back to their homes. That is the repeated request made everywhere and they are trying to find out when they will be able to go. Now that little over 100,000 have left the camps and got resettled and these people are also trying to find out when they will also be allowed to leave. Well, that is quiet natural. We were able to give certain section of the IDPs positive indication of the possible dates in which they will be able to leave the camp after we gathered the information from the officials concerned. For some we were able to tell that they will be resettled in their areas commencing on the 1st of December 2009. In regards to some others we were able to say they will be resettled from the 15th of December 2009. Because officials were there, so we were passing on these questions to officials and they were giving us the information. Another request was to get a pass system, whereby IDPs are able to leave the camps freely during day time, so that they could visit their relatives and friends in other camps around the Menik Farm area. So we passed it on to the officials and they said that very soon they are going to introduce a system whereby all will be able to visit their kith and kin and there won t be any restriction. At present, they are allowed to visit relatives but in a very restricted manner. Also with regards to the people in the special camps, that mean the detainees, they are the surrendees including those who got conscripted and there were some request from some people that the head of the family is there and the rest of the family is in the IDP camps. The family members would like to meet with the father or the husband of the child. Therefore, they can meet frequently though even currently they are allowed such meetings but only one member from each family can go there. A lady was complaining that how could she leave her children alone and go and meet her husband who is there? That is understandable Asian Tribune: They are separated? N.Srikantha MP: Yes, the man is suspected of LTTE connection, surrendered or subsequently arrested, so he is in the camp meant for such people and whereas the wife and the children are in one of these camps meant for the civilians; the wife would like to meet with the husband and children would like to meet with father. We put that question to the officials and they said that they will allow. Asian Tribune: The officials were very friendly and down to earth? N.Srikantha MP: Yes, they were very cooperative and of understanding nature. Then we went to Mannar. We were able to see the development work that is being carried on in Mannar district. One is the Giants Tank. The level of the bund is getting raised by another 2 feet and the work is almost over. The engineers there explained the prospect of irrigation covering wide range of area almost about 50,000 acres. There are also small tanks that are getting renovated. They say that the water from the small tanks will be first utilized. During the February- March period they will use the water from the Giants Tank for irrigation. \ Then we went to Karunkandal village, in Tirukettheeswaram area, we were able to meet with some children who were released from the IDP camps and are attending school for the last 4 or 5 days. The school got reopened very recently about a week ago. We were able to talk to the children and teachers and also some people who returned to their homes. So the people who are resettled were really in an upbeat mood and they were repairing their houses and roofing it with tin sheets which are provided by the government and Rs. 25,000 in cash. But they need more things as the extent of damage varies from house to house. Most of the houses whether it is in Mannar, Vanni region Mullaiivu and Kilinochchi district and North of the Vavuniya district, you know the damage has been so extensive and I think in these areas more assistance is needed. Any way the people we met in Mannar and subsequently in Thulukai were in a positive mood. Mannar I think was more particularly in need of special help. Asian Tribune: So you were in Malavi? N.Srikantha MP: Yes, in the Malavi central college and all that. Yoga Puram Mahavittiyalayam has been reopened. We were told by one of the teachers that the students have started attending, first it was 200, then 500 and now it has jumped up to 800. So that, so many families are being resettled in Thunukkai area the resettlement is almost getting over in a day or two. The last batch is there and they have been temporarily placed in some buildings or a school. They have been to their houses to check and they will be resettled either tomorrow or day after. So we find from the data provided also from the people met with both in Vavuniya in the Army head quarters and in the Thunukkai Brigade headquarters, there was a video presentation and we were able to get all the relevant details with maps. So there is information and convincing data to show that eventually people are being released on a daily basis. Even today I was told that in the zone number 3 or 4 people were getting released. Asian Tribune: Things are moving? N.Srikantha MP: The pace of resettlement is giving us satisfaction. The only problem is the rainy season and we were yet to have rains in full force with full vigour. The questions are what will happen in the event of this low lying area getting flooded. We put that question sometime back to Basil Rajapakse M.P when we met with him, he assured us that arrangement are made to house these people in some concrete buildings, eventually. In Mannar the GA of Mannar was there and we were able to see the new bridge on the Mannar causeway linking Mannar Island and the mainland. You know the old bridge is getting replaced at a heavy cost and it will be reopened in February or March 2010. For me it is nothing new because I have been to Mannar many times. I was attending some of my cases in the Magistrate court of Mannar. But for the other MPs they were able to see the construction work coming to a completion. Asian Tribune: Give us your final assessment? N.Srikantha MP: I must say that this was a very good opportunity for us to have a firsthand assessment of the situation prevailing in the IDP camps. And also the progress that is being made in resettling the IDPs, - overall a solid ground of satisfaction. Asian Tribune: You know sometimes you will be blamed that you are making a positive comment favouring the government. N.Srikantha MP: I am not bothered. We are viewing it positively. I know what you mean. There may be certain people who might try to twist our comments. As elected representatives of people, we can t be sitting in Colombo and making verbal jabs in regards to the whole question. We wanted to go there and see personally and we had to repeatedly ask the government and today we got the chance and we got the opportunity and the people when they saw us they were happy. Asian Tribune: Have you made up got an idea as to what you should do for IDPs after seeing them? N.Srikantha MP: As it is, apart from the assistance given by the government, the external assistance is essential. Our Tamils are everywhere in every part of the globe, so my appeal is that they should start contributing through a well organized channels. Asian Tribune: What about your party TNA? N.Srikantha MP: That is right, we discussed this issue and now we want to have an organization. Asian Tribune: Why a separate setup? Why don t you have committee in your party to look into the matter of funds to the IDPs? N.Srikantha MP: No, Mr. Rajasingham that will lead to various allegations. Since the money had been used for political purposes, elections, we would not want anyone from TNA to be involved, maybe one or two the most. But we want people, social activists, community leaders, religious leaders and other people who are generally concerned to be there. The Rs. 25000 given by the Government is not enough and I have requested the government to raise the amount. Asian Tribune: It is not even USD250. What can you the do with that? N.Srikantha MP: Now many people have lost their tractors and other agricultural implements, a family we met in Thunukkai, the wife was worried about their vehicle that has been lost. They have been bravely facing all the hardship right from the day when the military conflict was raging so they gone really through the test of fire. Their only yearning is that they will be able to get back as quickly as possible. But at the same time they are also aware of the practical difficulties, the demining and all that, only thing that they want the matters to be speed up. Asian Tribune: Have you seen the demining area? N.Srikantha MP: Yes, yes I am coming to that. Karunkaddal area, we went there, and we were able to see the demining in progress, with the dogs and all. Asian Tribune: Army people were involved? N.Srikantha MP: Yes, basically it is done by the army. The main burden is carried by the army because army is well placed with the expertise to deal with the situation. Overall I would say it was a meaningful effort that has been put in by both our side in meeting with IDPs and our trip to Thunukkai. I must also say that both the military and the civilians are very serious about the resettlement. I was able to see that. We all hope that all those now in the IDP camps are resettled soon and everyone in the country is free to move around without any restrictions at all. French Ambassador for HR visits IDP camps The French Ambassador for Human Rights Francois Zimeray of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs congratulated Minister of Resettlement Rishad Bathiudeen on the progress made in the IDP camps.He said that during his visit to the welfare villages he had searched for reasons on why the conditions of the welfare camps had been subjected to so much criticism. He reported that he could find none . He also looked into the facilities given to the IDPs once they were resettled, emphasising on the need to ensure human dignity in the IDP’s return process.The Minister had explained the Human Rights Ambassador the entitlements given to the IDPs as well as the progress in infrastructure and other government services available in the resettled areas, the cash grants and non-food items given to each IDP, basket of food items for 6 months and commitment to build permanent housing for IDPs.The Minister pointed out the facilities available for education, health, vocational training and other services at the IDP welfare villages prior to the resettlement process. LTTE was hasty in its strategy: Karunanidhi The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) did not take into account future consequences while implementing its war strategy, Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi said on Tuesday.Recalling the LTTE’s call to Tamils for boycott of the 2005 presidential elections, Mr Karunanidhi, in a statement, said that SLFP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa had defeated UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe by a margin of about 1.81 lakh votes and that seven lakh Tamils in Sri Lanka did not cast their votes. Mr Wickramasinghe had then promised the electors that he would give priority to peace talks with the LTTE in the event of his election. “Who would know our silent pain while we reflect over the outcomes of the hasty political action?” he wondered.The Chief Minister’s statement was issued in the context of a recent interview given by Mr Wickramasinghe to a Tamil journal. Mr. Karunanidhi also alleged that leaders of different Tamil groups and organisations were systematically killed in fratricidal clashes. The absence of a planned approach led to the death of numerous people, particularly the youth, and the sufferings of those who had to remain in camps for years together. The DMK leader said he was forced to record all these out of anguish that those who had to work for the uplift of the Tamils met untimely death. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who had expressed willingness for the fulfillment of rights of Sri Lankan Tamils, was killed in Tamil Nadu and this was a setback to the Tamils struggle, he added. Tamil rebels face doubtful future -BBC News It is six months since the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka but Tamil Tiger rebels and their supporters are yet to recover from the dramatic military defeat by security forces earlier this year.The recent attempts by remnants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) abroad to revive the movement have not succeeded so far. Now questions are being raised over the future of its international network and millions of dollars worth of assets spread across continents. It is a dramatic reversal of fortune for the LTTE, once described as one of the most powerful guerrilla movements in the world which almost had a de facto state and its own naval and air wings. More than 10,000 suspected Tamil Tigers and their supporters, arrested in the aftermath of the offensive, are detained in military-run camps in the island's north. The Sri Lankan government says it wants to hold special trials for LTTE fighters, especially for the leaders, now under detention. Tamil hopes In the absence of an active presence inside Sri Lanka, many Tamils believe rebel leaders living abroad can play a role in reinvigorating the group. But their hopes seem to be fading away. "The LTTE's overseas network is in a state of flux. The structures remain but it no longer appears cohesive or centrally controlled," says Canada-based Sri Lankan analyst DBS Jeyaraj. The group's leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, and his senior aides were killed in the final military assault on their stronghold in north-eastern Sri Lanka in May this year. Under the present circumstances, very few people believe that the group can revive militarily within Sri Lanka in the near future. Although the Tamil Tigers suffered a crushing blow within Sri Lanka their international network has largely remained intact. Until May, the structure was directly controlled by senior leaders based in northern Sri Lanka. Tamil Tiger supporters hoped that rebels living abroad could revive the organisation and continue with their activities, at least in foreign countries. But the dramatic arrest of their new leader, Selvarasa Pathmanathan, from a south-east Asian nation in August dealt a severe blow to their hopes. Soon after his arrest, the Sri Lankan defence ministry said intelligence agencies in several countries were looking for a number of high-profile Tamil Tiger operatives. Fearing that Mr Pathmanathan may reveal their names, many senior leaders of the LTTE living abroad have either gone underground or are lying low for fear of being arrested and taken to Sri Lanka. Transnational government On the other hand, a section of the LTTE leaders and supporters based in North America and western Europe have been trying to form a government in exile to press for their political demands. For any such effort to succeed, the support of the LTTE's overseas network is considered crucial. For years, it provided much needed financial resources and carried its propaganda through well-oiled media machinery. This overseas network was instrumental in collecting funds, managing investments, buying sophisticated arms and clandestinely transporting them to Tamil Tiger-held areas in north-eastern Sri Lanka. Tamil Tiger investments overseas are said to range from grocery shops to real estate, from petrol stations to Hindu temples, from commercial shipping to financing movies in India. Tamil Tigers are also believed to own commercial centres in many cities including Toronto, London and Paris. In addition, they were collecting money every month from their supporters and sympathisers abroad, many of whom paid through direct debit from their bank accounts. But most of these activities were carried out under false names, as the rebels were banned in many countries around the world. The estimates about the LTTE's assets and investments range from $500m to $1bn. Infighting Now there are reports of intra-factional rivalry within the LTTE to wrest control of the organisation as well its assets. This has led to disenchantment and confusion among LTTE supporters. "When the rebels were collecting money earlier they had a purpose. Now Tamils are questioning what they will do with the money. They also want the two competing groups to come together to highlight the Tamil cause," says Shan Thavaraja, an exiled Tamil journalist based in Switzerland. Also, there have been reports that some LTTE sympathisers and activists living abroad whose names were used to own businesses and buildings for the movement are slowly taking control of those businesses for their own benefit. Many Tamils living abroad are worried this trend is likely to increase as overall knowledge about rebel assets was restricted to very few leaders, most of whom were killed during the conflict. Although regular monthly contributions from ordinary individuals have decreased, many die-hard supporters are still willing to make donations. Some LTTE sympathisers say prominent rebel supporters, who are lying low at the moment, will not hesitate to revive the organisation if the conditions become viable. They say it all depends on developments back in Sri Lanka. Tamils living abroad believe that only a concerted global campaign can put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to allow the hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced during the war to return to their homes. The civilians are now confined in government-run camps in northern Sri Lanka. They want the LTTE to regroup if only to launch massive campaigns in Western capitals highlighting the plight of war-displaced Tamil civilians. But the in-fighting seems to have dented their hopes. "We can see that a lot of divisive tendencies are growing among LTTE leaders overseas. As a result, the chances of the LTTE gradually disintegrating are high," says Mr Jeyaraj. Sri Lanka: Gen. Fonseka Devalues Himself By B. Raman The Khalistani terrorism in India and the terrorism of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka are two unique instances in the history of terrorism where the State prevailed over the terrorists without conceding their demands. 2. The threat faced by Sri Lanka was more complex and difficult to handle than the threat faced by India. Sri Lanka was confronted with a ruthless mix of a full-blown insurgency seeking territorial control and terrorism seeking to intimidate the civil society. The Khalistani terrorism was a purely terrorist movement with no mix of an insurgency. 3. The situation, which Sri Lanka faced, was similar to that faced by the US and other NATO forces and the Afghan National Army in Afghanistan. They have not yet been able to find an effective answer to the complex mix of insurgent and terrorist tactics used by the Neo Taliban. 4. It goes to the credit of the counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism machinery of Sri Lanka that after having struggled against the LTTE for nearly 23 years till 2006, they were able to fashion an appropriate mix of tactics to prevail over the LTTE. 5. This mix had a number of components. The political component, which was handled by President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself, focussed on giving the security forces and the intelligence agencies the resources and capacities needed by them to prevail over the LTTE and at the same time, ensuring that the counter-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations of the security forces did not drive more Tamils into the arms of the LTTE. 6. The diplomatic component, which was handled by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, ensured the diplomatic isolation of the LTTE. In fact, it was the success of the Sri Lankan diplomacy in getting the LTTE declared as a terrorist organisation by the European Union countries and in persuading the US, the EU countries and the Governments in South-East Asia to act energetically against the flow of money and weapons to the LTTE, which laid the foundation for the ultimate success of the Army on the ground. 7. If Sri Lankan diplomacy had not acted as energetically as it did in getting the sources of weapons supply to the LTTE choked off, the LTTE might not have collapsed as completely as it did. 8. It also goes to the credit of Rajapaksa and his Foreign Office that they realised the importance of India in any effective strategy to defeat the LTTE. China and Pakistan might have supplied arms and ammunition to the SL security forces, but what really helped the security forces was the assistance rendered by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and intelligence to their SL counterparts in ensuring that the LTTE was not able to smuggle in fresh stocks of weapons from abroad. Another contribution made by the Government of India was in the handling of any political fall-out in Tamil Nadu to prevent any backlash against the Sri Lankan operations in Indian territory. 9. It is the political and diplomatic handling of the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency campaign by Rajapaksa and his political aides such as his Foreign Minister and professional aides such as his brother Gothbaya Rajapaksa, who as the Defence Secretary was the Chief Co-ordinator, that paved the way for the ultimate success of the armed forces. 10. The Armed Forces fought bravely. The credit for working out a ground strategy, which will prevail against the LTTE, should go to Gen. Sarath Fonseka, the chief of the Army, who subsequently became the Chief of the Defence Staff after the victory over the LTTE. The victory of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces over the LTTE was even more remarkable than that of the Indian security forces over the Khalistani terrorists, who were as ruthless as the LTTE. 11. We were not able to neutralise the command and control and leadership of the Khalistani terrorists as completely as the Sri Lankan Armed Forces under the leadership of Fonseka were able to do in respect of the LTTE. In any history of counter-terrorism, the way the entire Sri Lankan counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency machinery under Rajapaksa fought against the LTTE and prevailed over it would form an important chapter. 12. In his newly-assumed post of the Chief of the Defence Staff, Fonseka would have been able to do a retrospective analysis of the entire evolution of the LTTE and the way different SL Governments had handled the threat in order to draw lessons for the future. Such an exercise would have been of immense benefit to his own country as well as to India and others who face similar problems. 13. Instead of doing so, he has allowed his pique over perceived slights by the Government to get the better of him and has resigned from his post as the CDS after making a series of allegations against the Government. A perusal of his letter to Rajapaksa does not speak well of his intellectual maturity as an individual. He was a brilliant professional, but professionalism alone does not make a good leader. 14. Media reports say that he has developed political ambitions of contesting the next Presidential elections against Rajapaksa. He has every right to do so as a Sri Lankan citizen. Unfortunately, his letter to Rajapaksa does not bring out any latent political acumen in him. They only bring out his huge ego and his pique. The message which comes out of the letter is: "I am the super hero of the success against the LTTE. My role in the triumph has not been sufficiently recognised." 15. As one reads his letter, one's mind goes back to our triumph against Khalistani terrorism. The success was achieved when K.P.S.Gill was the Director-General of Police of Punjab. He has never projected himself as the super hero of the success. He is always the first to admit that the success of the Punjab Police under his leadership would not have been possible without the political leadership and guidance of Narasimha Rao as the Prime Minister and Beant Singh as the Chief Minister of Punjab, without the team work put in by the police, the armed forces, the intelligence agencies and the Foreign Office and without the co-operation of foreign intelligence agencies which gave a lot of valuable intelligence. 16. Punjab is the most important of our successes against terrorism and insurgency, but not the only one. We have had other successes in Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and Kashmir. The professionals--- whether from the Armed Forces, the police or the intelligence agencies--- who were instrumental in making those successes possible, did not go around projecting themselves as super heroes. They recognised the role of others and maintained their sense of balance. 17. By failing to maintain his sense of balance and by allowing his pique to get the better of him, Fonseka has only devalued himself. The political forces in Sri Lanka which are exploiting his pique as a stick to beat Rajapaksa with are playing an unwise game. They may end up by diluting the professionalism of the SL Army. Northern underworld gang arrested The police have arrested an armed gang alleged to have been involved in a series of robberies and at least five killings. Police investigators have recovered a stock of arms from the gang. A senior police official said that the gang had been involved in about 70 robberies and five cases of extortion.Acting on information regarding an attempt to extort Rs. 500,000 from parents of an abducted student, the police had swooped down on the gang, the official said. The 17-year-old boy had been abducted about a month ago. The parents had managed to secure his release by paying Rs. 100,000. The police had swung into action after DIG Ravi Wijegoonewardene in charge of the Vavuniya area, received a tip off. According to police, the gangsters had been formerly with the LTTE and carried out several attacks, including the killing of a school principal and two home guards. Presidential poll coming first President Mahinda Rajapaksa is likely to declare a Presidential Election shortly, highly placed government sources said yesterday. According to the Constitution, the President can make the announcement for a presidential election after the completion of four years in office. The President will complete his fourth year tomorrow.Unconfirmed sources last night said the election was likely to be held on January 23.Meanwhile, the President yesterday held a meeting with SLFP district leaders and heads of the political parties that are in the ruling coalition to discuss strategies for a major election campaign. Nevertheless, the President did not say what election would be conducted first.A Minister who participated in the meeting told the Daily Mirror on condition of anonymity no one asked about it either since it was now obvious for everyone in the government. The President had instructed the party organizers to start political work in view of a major election in their respective electorates from today itself. He asked whether these members wanted more time for campaigning. However, those who attended the meeting had reportedly replied that a short period would be sufficient for their campaign trail this time. President Rajapaksa had pointed out that both local and international conspiracies were being hatched to topple the government, and party organizers should take stock of such matters too. He noted that all those in the ruling UPFA should act in unison while being ready to accommodate some possible crossovers from the UNP in the run up to the election campaign. The President also exchanged ideas with the participants of the meetings on the SLFP convention conducted on November 15, and said there was public enthusiasm for a major election. HSBC plans landmark Jaffna branch opening HSBC will become the first foreign bank to open a branch in Jaffna, the war-torn northern peninsula of Sri Lanka that only six months ago was synonymous with the long-running conflict with the separatist Tamil Tigers.The plan by the UK-based banking group to open the branch by January is the strongest vote of confidence yet in the economy’s emergence from decades of civil war.“The fact that the HSBC logo is going to be on display up in Jaffna sends a powerful signal to the international investment community,” said Nick Nicolaou, HSBC chief executive for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.Analysts said it would take more than symbols to revive Jaffna, a place the army still runs akin to an open prison and the scene of some of the worst abuses against civilians by the government and separatists. But the government’s crushing military victory in May has given Sri Lanka its best chance of peace since the war started in 1983.“Everything’s not 100 per cent, that’s for sure. We are not living in a dream world,” said Ajit D. Gunewardene, deputy chairman of John Keells Holdings, a hotels, property and ports conglomerate. Mr Nicolaou pointed to Sri Lanka’s buoyant economic growth this year in spite of the war and global downturn.“Given what the country’s come through and the economic growth achieved at the height of the civil war, you just have to assume that with peace it’s going to do better than that,” he said. Mr Nicolaou added that the branch in Jaffna would serve the northern region’s growing horticulture, fishery and seafood industries as well as handle remittances from the peninsula’s overseas diaspora. Reminder to UK visa applicants The British High Commission in Colombo yesterday said it would like to remind applicants that the UK Border agency will be unable to accept new visa applications during the period of Thursday 19 November to Monday 23 November, 2009. This is due to the installation of a new IT system at the British High Commission, as part of an IT rollout to offices world-wide.The last day on which VFS will accept new applications will be Wednesday 18 (today). A full service will resume on Tuesday 24, November.However, during this time, applicants who made a visa application before 18 November will be able to collect their passports from the visa application centre between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.Customers who intend to travel to the UK in November and December are advised to submit their visa applications as soon as possible. Currently the UK Border Agency is processing applications within the published target times. 17 November 2009 TNA (TELO,TULF,EPRLF and ACTC)satisfied with pace of resettlement: Sri Kantha After visiting the IDP camps for the first time since they were set up after the end of the war the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), said yesterday government appeared to be serious about the resettlement of these displaced persons. TNA members said there was a sense of commitment by the military and civil officials in this respect.A seven–member team of TNA members visited the IDP camps and the newly resettled areas yesterday. The visit was organised by Government.TELO MP for the Jaffna district N. Sri Kantha told the Daily Mirror basic facilities had been provided to displaced persons housed in welfare camps and villages in Chettikulam, Vavuniya. The MP added the people however yearned to return to their original homes.He said the people raised their grievances and the TNA promised to take them up with Government and relevant authorities. The MP said there was a need for a regulated system to issue passes to IDPs to enable them to visit relatives in other camps.The TNA identified cases where the LTTE suspects and persons who surrendered were separated from their families and kept in reservation camps. Mr. Sri Kantha said his team brought these issues to the notice of the officials concerned, who responded positively. The IDPs pointed out the need for financial assistance to purchase requirements, apart from dry rations provided by Government. “Basic facilities have been provided and people have understood the situation. They are bravely facing it. We must appreciate the role played by Government and military officers in attending to the needs of the IDPs. We have to approach the whole problem in a positive manner” he said.The MPs also visited resettled areas of Mannar and Thunukkai and interacted with the people. Mr. Sri Kantha said the resettled people were relieved to have eventually returned to their homes.“We are satisfied with the pace at which the resettlement process has been progressing. In fact this visit was very useful,” he said. The TNA MPs also visited areas where de-mining was taking place and observed progress of the task. The TNA delegation comprised TELO Jaffna MP N. Sri Kantha, P. Ariyanethran, Sivanathan Kishor, TELO Vannei MP Vino Noharathalingam, TELO President and Vannei MP Selvan Adaikkalanathan, R.M. Imam and Thomas William Thangathurai. JVP demands to know from President if there will be a snap election The JVP yesterday asked President Mahinda Rajapaksa to reveal whether there would be a snap election and, if so, what it would be, presidential or parliamentary.However, the JVP would go ahead with its plans to field a common presidential candidate, the party’s Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissnayake told the media at Battaramulla.Dissanayake said that the SLFP convention had been postponed from September 15 to November 15, apparently to announce the date of a premature election. "But nothing came out at the convention either on the date or which election would be held first," Dissanayajke said.On the intended talks with the UNP Dissanayake said the JVP would not forge an alliance with the UNP but it would only support a common candidate with a view to achieving objectives such as the abolition of the executive presidency, establishment of the constitutional council, resettlement of the internally displaced people (IDPs) and the prosecution or the release of the Tamil youth taken into custody during the war against the LTTE.Dissanayake said the people had not asked for an election but it was the government that had fuelled speculation about a snap election. Even the Elections Commissioner had been instructed to ready for an election but for some reason without making any announcement, the government had postponed it, he said.A party convention, Dissanayake said, was far superior to a Central Committee, an Executive Committee, a Working Committee or a politburo and when the President queried from SLFPparty members which election they preferred first, he had been told that it should be a Presidential election. But, the President had said that he would consult the party on the matter, Dissanayake said. A decision made at a national convention was final and should treated as such, Dissanayake said. He wondered whether the President had wanted to consult ‘some other party’ before making a final decision on the matter. John Holmes arrives The United Nations Under-Secretary General of Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes is scheduled to arrive this morning. According to Foreign Ministry Sources Mr. Holmes will engage in an extensive tour of the North visiting camps of the Internally Displaced Persons and observing the resettlement process there.On his return to Colombo tomorrow the Under-Secretary General will meet with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. On Thursday he is expected to meet with the President, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, Secretary of Defense Gothabaya Rajapaksa and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa. Mr. Holmes is said to leave the island on Friday. This is his fourth visit to Sri Lanka in the past year, including the one with the Secretary General Ban-ki Moon in May. Tiger involved in CB blast arrested The Criminal Investigating Department arrested a key LTTE suspect involved in the Central Bank bomb blast in 1996. He was convicted by the Colombo High Court and sentenced to 200 year imprisonment. Sellathambi Navaratnam (53) had surrendered to the Security Forces as an Internally Displaced Person during the last lap of the battle in Vellaimullivaikkal on May 16 along with several other IDPs. Police spokesman SSP I.M. Karunaratne said in the Government move to resettle the IDPs from camps in Vavuniya, people aged over 60 were released in the recent past. Navaratnam producing a forged Identity Card fled from the camp in Vavuniya. “Navaratnam who is 53 years, grabbing the opportunity forged an ID card indicating that he is over 60 years and used it to flee from the IDP camp,” he added. Acting on information provided by a special police team, CID nabbed the LTTE suspect in Udarikulam Road, Chettikulam. “It was revealed that Navaratnam had played a key role in the Central Bank bomb blast in 1996. He had brought the bomb laden lorry to Colombo on before the attack and returned to Kilinochchi,” the SSP said. He noted that Navaratnam was convicted by the Colombo High Court for his involvement in the bomb blast. He was sentenced for 200 year imprisonment. Investigations are continuing. Protest near Welikada prison The Democratic People’s Front (DPF) led by Mano Ganesan and several other political parties will stage a protest in front of the Magazine prison today against the clash that injured several inmates last Friday. According to DPF General Secretary N. Kumar Guruparan, several Tamil political prisoners in the Magazine prison in Welikada have started a fast unto death campaign against the clashes. A tensed situation developed at the Welikada Magazine prison on Friday morning after a stone was lobbed towards one of the prison officials resulting in a clash between two groups of prisoners. 20 suspects held under PTA released Twenty persons held in custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act on suspicion of being members of the LTTE, were released yesterday following a direction from the Attorney General’s Department after it was revealed there was a lack of evidence against them. Prisons Chief Major General V.R. de Silva told the Daily Mirror “there wasn’t sufficient evidence against those suspects. Because of this the AG’s Department decided to release those cadres, last month another twenty-six suspects were released because of the same reason” he said.He added another 600 persons suspected of being affiliated to the LTTE and arrested under the PTA were still in custody.The Commissioner General said action had been initiated to seek the AG’s advice regarding the status of these suspects. Amnesty International takes action for Sri Lanka displaced Activists and supporters of Amnesty International will launch a week of action on Monday highlighting the continued detention of thousands of displaced civilians in government camps in Sri Lanka. Activists in more than 10 countries will take action as part of the Unlock the Camps campaign. Events include a ‘Circle of Hope’ in Canada, a street march and signature campaign in Nepal, a poetry reading in Switzerland and solidarity actions in France, Germany, Mauritius and the United States.Throughout the week, Amnesty International activists based in London and participating sections will write blogs about the events taking place across the world.. Six months after the end of the war between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sri Lanka continues to confine people who fled fighting in the north to closed displacement camps in uncomfortable and sometimes hazardous conditions. Releases from the camps have increased in recent weeks. However, camp shelters have deteriorated as Sri Lanka has entered the rainy season, with funds for shelter repair running out.This week John Holmes, lead advisor on humanitarian affairs to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, travels to Sri Lanka to assess the situation of the people in the camps. TRAPPED Around 150,000 displaced people living in government camps in northern Sri Lanka are still being denied their basic human rights including freedom of movement. The military control whether the displaced can leave camp premises - even to seek medical care - and they are denied basic legal protections.The government has widely publicised recent releases but Amnesty International has received reports that many people have been held by local authorities to determine whether they had links to the LTTE. VOICELESS Displaced people have been given no voice in decisions regarding their release, return or resettlement.Families have received no warning about impending releases or been informed of conditions in their former homes. They have not been given clear information about their rights and obligations, legal status or procedures for tracing family members. Humanitarian organizations have been prevented from talking to displaced people in the camps, obstructing their ability to conduct crucial human rights work such as providing legal aid or assisting with family reunification. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has not had access to the camps since July. UNPROTECTED Since the war ended in May 2009, many thousands of people detained in camps have been subjected to 'screening' by the security forces in an attempt to root out LTTE members. An estimated 12,000 people (including children) suspected of links to the LTTE have been arrested, separated from the general displaced population and detained by the authorities in irregular detention facilities, such as vacated school buildings. Amnesty International has received repeated, credible reports from humanitarian workers about the lack of transparency and accountability in the screening process, which is conducted outside of any legal framework. There are also increased dangers to detainees when they are held incommunicado. While screening is appropriate to ensure that LTTE combatants are not housed with the general camp population, proper procedures should be followed and the screening process must not be used as an excuse for collective punishment. Independent monitors (including the ICRC) continue to be denied access to sites housing adult LTTE suspects. Detainees have not been charged with any offence, and have been denied legal counsel and due process. Many are held incommunicado. Amnesty International has called on the Sri Lankan government to respect and protect the human rights of displaced people, including the rights to liberty and freedom of movement. 16 November 2009 President says decision on next polls will be taken soon Speaking at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) national convention a short while ago, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the government will decide in due course if a Presidential or General election should be held first adding that there is still time to decide that.After calling for a show of hands from the public and members of the SLFP attending the party convention in Colombo this evening if they wanted a Presidential or General election , the President said the views of the party members will be considered when deciding what to hold first.There was anticipation that the President will announce at the convention this evening if he will go for a Presidential or General election first.The President however noted that the government was not afraid to face an election adding that the opposition in the island was very weak to the extent that it was now “begging” for a candidate to contest the next election.President Mahinda Rajapaksa also charged that the main opposition was operating with ant-national interests. He also said that there were attempts to divide the military.Also speaking in Tamil, the President said that there are no minorities in Sri Lanka and that the government has achieved almost everything it had promised under the “Mahinda Chintanaya” election pledge. Sinhala families 'settled in Tamil lands' ‘Indian power sharing model suits Lanka best’ Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday stressed that a power sharing mechanism based on the Indian model where there was clear separation of power under a democratic system which was designed to preserve the unity and integrity of the country without disintegration was best suited for Sri Lanka Mr. Mukherjee made this point delivering the Lakshman Kadirgamar memorial lecture on Saturday. He said the late Foreign Minister Kadirgamar’s vision drew upon the experience of the working of the Indian model. The Indian Finance Minister said the late foreign minister believed that the Indian experiment with democracy was relevant to Sri Lanka as India had chosen a democratic system which was designed to preserve the unity and integrity of the country without allowing for its disintegration. “Democracy has indeed served India well since its independence and it is the protective sheath that preserves and protects its extraordinary diversity,” he said. He said through effective devolution of power, equal status before the Constitution, equal access before it and equal access to opportunities, India has ensured that decisive tendencies are contained and addressed in an open and democratic fashion. “Clear separation of powers, rule of law and social justice, secularism, free press and vigilant citizens and civil groups have ensured that threats to your sovereignty from within and without are tackled with an inner strength that can come only through the ballot,” he further pointed out, indicating that the components he talked of such as clear separation of powers, rule of law and social justice and free press were important for Sri Lanka’s future.Mr. Mukherjee lauded the government’s effort to resettle the IDPs but said there was more to be done in that aspect and the opportunity that had been created by crushing terrorism should be made use of to the fullest. He said both Sri Lanka and India could play a leadership role in the quest for integrating the region, creating strong interest in each other’s stability and prosperity and also in critical connectivity of goods, people and ideas. LTTE not only armed, trained ULFA too: Former rebel Karannagoda to don uniform again? Speculation is rife that the government may invite former navy chief Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda to succeed General Sarath Fonseka.President Mahinda Rajapaksa accepted General Fonseka’s resignation immediately after he offered to quit the post with effect from December 1.Well informed sources said that the government could amend the CDS Act to pave the way for Karannagoda to wear the uniform again. Karannagoda was appointed Highways Secretary following his retirement. If not, Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke will be General Fonseka’s successor. New bus depot for Thunukkai ‘India’s help, a must to defeat LTTE politically’ Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that it was important to develop good relations with India to defeat the LTTE politically in the international arena and prevent its revival. Delivering the Olcott Oration at the Ananda College in Colombo on Saturday, the Defence Secretary said that though the LTTE had been defeated militarily, it was politically active overseas. Some military cadres who had escaped the war were also active, he said. "The LTTE’s vast international network of sympathisers and criminal associates who funded and facilitated the organisation’s separatist activities are still operating outside Lanka," Rajapaksa said. In that context, it was important to develop ties with other countries, especially India, he said. "The relationship developed over the past four years where our closest ally, India, helping us with our war against terrorism. Having their support helped reduce the pressure by other nations and thus we were able to proceed with our humanitarian operations. It is important that we strengthen this relationship further in the years to come."Excerpts of his speech: "Bringing about the permanent defeat of separatism remains a top priority of His Excellency the President and the Government of Sri Lanka. Several initiatives have been taken in this regard. These include the strengthening of relations with key foreign nations and the collaboration of our intelligence services with their counterparts in other parts of the world. These efforts enabled us to capture Kumaran Pathmanadan, the newly appointed leader of the LTTE, within two months of the defeat of the terrorists in Sri Lanka. We need to continue these initiatives if we are to destroy the LTTE’s international network and ensure the confiscation of their assets. From the very beginning, strengthening relationships with our key allies remained a top priority of the President. The relationship developed over the past four years with our closest ally, India helped us in many ways in our war against terrorism. Having their support greatly helped reduce the pressure mounted by other nations, which allowed us to proceed with our humanitarian operations unhindered. It is very important that we strengthen this key relationship even further in the years to come. Significant support was also received from other key allies due to the efforts of His Excellency the President and the Government to strengthen our longstanding bilateral ties. They, too, helped us withstand the pressure being directed by the international community to leave the war unfinished. These countries also provided us vital material assistance towards the war effort, when barriers were put in place that prevented our obtaining military hardware from our western allies.Although it had been virtually ignored in the past, South East Asia was another region we focused on. The close ties we developed with this important region helped us counter and obstruct the LTTE’s activities there. However, there is still a lot more to be done, and developing these relationships even further will be vital to our efforts to permanently dismantle the LTTE’s international network.If this task is to be achieved successfully, we also need to focus on countering the propaganda offensives still being launched by LTTE sympathisers around the world. This propaganda effort, together with the petty electoral politics of key western states, has distorted the view some counties have our war against terrorism. It is essential that the west understands that Sri Lanka’s war against terrorism is little different from theirs; the LTTE used many of the same networks as other international terrorist groups; they perfected the use of suicide attacks as a tactical tool; they operated extortion networks in other nations to fund their separatist ambitions. When taken together with their complete disregard for the lives of innocent civilians, it should be clear that there is little philosophical difference between terrorist groups the world over. Instead of accepting the propaganda offensive of terrorist sympathisers in their corridors of power, the countries that are still mounting pressure on Sri Lanka should understand that we all face similar challenges. Instead of criticizing our success, they should learn from it." Australia deports 119 failed asylum-seekers 15 November 2009 Delay in poll announcement: President uncertain? Despite an expectant nation waiting with bated breath for President Mahinda Rajapaksa to announce his position at today’s SLFP General Convention as to which poll - Presidential or Parliamentary, he will hold first, the announcement is not due for certain reasons. Media reports indicated in recent weeks that President Rajapaksa would be making a formal announcement today as to which poll he would go for first, even with the dissolution of the current Parliament billed to be on or before April 2010. United People’s Freedom Alliance General Secretary and Education Minister Susil Premajayanth told Lakbimanews yesterday that any announcement or declaration relating to the date of President Rajapaksa seeking a re-election and fresh mandate has to be on the day or after he completes four years in office, which date falls on November 19, 2009, and any announcement or declaration prior to that deadline was deemed illegal, he said. Presidential Advisor- Basil Rajapaksa, also echoing very much the same sentiments to this newspaper, said that the President would not make any announcement on elections today. However, many Ministers told us that the background to these events stemmed from the President being undecided as to which poll to hold first.Analysts pointed out that President Rajapaksa was also in two minds with the advent of General Fonseka’s possible entry into the political fray and had asked his political friends at all levels --- District Secretariat (Pradeshiya Sabha), Provincial Council, Government Parliamentary Group and at Cabinet levels as to which polls, if held first, would be advantageous to the Government.Some senior Cabinet Ministers, Lakbimanews reliably learns, had exhorted President Rajapaksa to opt for a Parliamentary poll first, by which time the Fonseka syndrome would be out of the minds of the voters, while some others had implored the President to hold the Presidential poll first given that General Fonseka was no looming threat to the first citizen as he could not garner the Northern and Eastern Tamil votes. Jaffna, Colombo travel restrictions relaxed With the opening of the A9 road any Sri Lankan can travel to Jaffna from Colombo or vice versa without the security clearance certificate that was required earlier Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri said. According to officials any Sri Lankan citizen can travel to Jaffna or to Colombo from Jaffna using public transport. “People must have the National Identity Card (NIC) or any other document to prove that they are citizens of the country and no one will be restricted,” Wanni Security Forces Commander Major General Kamal Gunaratne said. According to the Wanni Commander security will be relaxed and there will be checkpoints for random and compulsory checking of passengers. Holmes to arm-twist President The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is likely to exert more pressure on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to carry out the assurances on IDP resettlements and a political solution for ethnic Tamils given to the Secretary General. Ban Ki-Moon has decided to send Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, to Sri Lanka on a three- day visit again. John Holmes is scheduled to arrive in Colombo on November, 17.Marie Okabe, deputy spokesperson for the Secretary General said on Friday in New York that Holmes will also follow- up on the commitments that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa made earlier this year to the Secretary-General, and later to the Under-Secretary-General of Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe. She also disclosed that John Holmes will travel to assess the situation of internally displaced persons and those returning to their places of origin and he will address ongoing concerns, particularly those relating to continued restrictions on the freedom of movement for IDPs who remain in camps, and also look at the conditions in areas of return. Sri Lanka should find political solution that benefits all: Pranab Colombo: India today said Sri Lanka should find a political settlement to the Tamil issue as a sequel to the victory over the LTTE, and ensure every stakeholder gains from the solution irrespective of religion and ethnicity.Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is visiting Sri Lanka, said that the country should also ensure that the political solution to the ethnic problem does not come at the cost of any particular community."While a military victory has been achieved, there is also a great victory to be achieved in the political arena when every stakeholder owns the process and gains something from it," Mukherjee told a gathering here."A political settlement can only mean one thing --- a victory for all people of Sri Lanka irrespective of their religion, ethnicity, numbers or race," he said in his address at the fourth Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture here. Mukherjee said it was important for all communities of Sri Lanka to realise that a political settlement "is not a zero-sum game"."It need not and should not come at the cost of another," he said, citing India's experience of a multi-religious and multi-cultural society. He said through effective devolution of powers, equal status before the constitution and equal access to opportunities, India had ensured that divisive tendencies were addressed in an open and democratic manner."Clear separation of powers, rule of law, social justice, secularism, free press and vigilant citizens and civil groups have ensured that threats to your sovereignty from within and without are tackled with an inner strength that can come only through the ballot," Mukherjee said.On the economic front, Pranab said the Sri Lankan economy was showing a growth path, witnessing a decline in inflation and narrowing of the trade deficit. At the lecture titled "Economics as a Driving Force of International Relations," the finance minister said the Lankan economy had exhibited considerable resilience in the first few months of 2009 despite shocks from the global recession and the resultant slowdown in domestic economic activity. More surprises for government, Mano promises Democratic Peoples Front leader Mano Ganeshan first wanted to leave the recently formed United National Front (UNF) if they were going to nominate General Sarath Fonseka as the presidential candidate of the UNF. But, later Ganeshan decided to support him. Excerpts of the interview as follows: You have reportedly expressed a willingness to support Gen. Sarath Fonseka in the event the latter is placed as the presidential candidate by the United National Alliance (UNA) of which your party is an ally. It would mean that you are supporting the very same person who led the war which you spoke highly critical of a few months ago. What is the rationale behind your stance...? My party, DPF is a component of UNF. Neither DPF nor the UNF have made any official announcements. Fonseka has just submitted papers for retirement. Has he officially said that he is contesting? We are only looking at all available options. Fonseka would be also an option. Anyway, I as the leader of my party commenced some discussion with Sarath Fonseka. We have discussions with Tamil and Muslim parties. We are discussing with the parties within UNF. I think this is the sign of a functioning party within the democratic radius. Some of the minority parties are said to be of the view that support could be offered to Gen Fonseka on the condition that he should abolish the executive presidency. Nonetheless, all the Presidents in the past two decades promised to do away with the existing system but none of them did it in reality. Besides, Gen Fonseka in September 2008 reportedly said `I strongly believe that this country belongs to the Sinhalese’. He also reportedly said that ‘minorities must not demand undue things’. What makes you think that he would act differently or that he would heed to the minority parties? Minority parties, you mean the Tamil and Muslim parties? More than the Tamil and Muslim parties, today UNP, SLFP (M) and JVP are asking for the abolishment of the Executive Presidency. Until recently minorities thought that the Executive Presidency is advantageous to the minority interests. Today Parliament has been weakened very much and the real government is run from the Presidential palace. There is a new class of ‘President’s men’ who has arrived in this country today. Pathetic are the cabinet Ministers within the Parliament. It is because they are not in the know of the running of the government. Now within the UNF our party and SLMC have also come to the position for abolishment. I think we as minorities can never go to Presidential palace but only to the Parliament. Therefore, we cannot just be idle when our Parliament is slowly becoming a mere talk show assembly. Yes, CBK and the incumbent President agreed for the abolishment but did not adhere to the agreements. We need two third numbers in the Parliament and a friendly President who agrees for abolishment. So we are trying all the available avenues. What is the democratic alternative for us? If all the democratic avenues are unsuccessful then it will be an invitation to revolt. People may take to streets. Last part of your question refers to Sarath Fonseka’s comments made in 2008. We can never accept that stand. This country belongs to all of us. Let Sarath Fonseka be told. But, these types of comments have been made by many in the major parties. If you ask me, I will tell you that a sizable number of politicians harbor such ideas within themselves. Not only in JHU and NFF but there are such persons in SLFP, UNP and JVP. There are Sinhala politicians while in government had said worst things. Some had gone to the level of eating the Tamil flesh. On other hand there had been Tamil counterparts too. Certain Tamil politicians wanted to swim in the Sinhala blood. It is the pathetic reality of our common motherland. We need to rebuild our common motherland for the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims and Buddhists, Hindus, Islamists and Christians. Please let me tell you loudly that the Common motherland is more important than a common candidate. We have to work through to achieve. If you have an alternative tell me. The pundits who criticize never come out with any successful alternatives. A few weeks ago, you stated that you had communicated with a representative of Gen. Fonseka. Is it confirmed that he will be nominated by the UNA as their Presidential candidate? A representative of Fonseka met me in Colombo. I said that some time before. How do you interpret the letter sent to the President by Gen. Fonseka. Does it indicate that he would contest the Presidential elections? Sarath Fonseka has already removed his uniform unofficially. I think it has a political meaning. He means business. Isn’t he? This is my guess. The TNA has not ruled out the possibility of fielding a Tamil Presidential candidate. In that event who would you support? The government has said that it would allow the opposition Parliamentarians to visit the IDP camps in the future? What is your comment about this new development? Are you planning to visit the IDPs? Why the sudden announcements after six months? Is it GSP phobia? It is coming after allowing Indian MPs. Yes, we will visit independently. Visiting the camps is just one element of our struggle. We want our people to go home. Their rights to their ancestral land are supreme. As a human rights campaigner, what are your observations about the resettlement process which is said to have been expedited..? More than the conditions of the camps, the violation of the rights is my concern. They are being kept there against their will. The barbed wire and military security surrounding the camps are not for the protection against any external invasion. They are to prevent people from going out. The people should have been given the right to stay with their relatives and friends of their choice long before. In the name of demining and screening, you can’t keep the women, children, sick and aged for months behind barbed wire. Government is expediting the process due to our pressures. Anyway this is what is expected out of a government. They can’t demand credit for this. We legislators have to visit and make our own independent assessment. We need to know the total numbers of people arrived since May and settled and the numbers that remain. They can’t put them into another transit camp and call it resettlement. The people need to go to their very own villages. Until then this is going be the top priority for us. Rajapakse regime and the Fonseka phenomenon: Genesis of current crisis by D.B.S. Jeyaraj Notwithstanding desperate denials to the contrary, current developments have clearly demonstrated the deep divisions existing between the ruling Rajapakse regime and former Army commander Lt.Gen Sarath Fonseka. In a controversial turn of events General Fonseka has submitted his resignation from the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post held by him. It has been promptly accepted by President Rajapakse and is expected to come into effect from December 1st 2009.It is widely believed that Sarath Fonseka after official retirement would plunge into politics and would contest against President Mahinda Rajapakse in the forthcoming presidential election The erstwhile army commander’s foray into presidential hustings is expected to get the backing of a number of opposition parties ranging from the United National Party(UNP) to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). In May this year when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE)met its waterloo by the waters of Nandhikkadal lagoon, the lion’s share of credit for the victory against the tigers was apportioned to a triad at the helm. The triumvirate comprising President Mahinda Rajapakse, Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse and Army chief Sarath Fonseka was hailed for providing political, administrative and military leadership respectively in the triumphant war against the tigers. Barely six months later this triumphant triumvirate lies fractured with Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka getting ready to cross swords with the other two in what is likely to be a bitter, divisive political battle to be fought fiercely. It is as if Bernard Montgomery was contesting against Winston Churchill after World war two or Sam Manekshaw competing with Indira Gandhi after the Bangladesh war! Why has this happened? What are the reasons for this unsavoury spectacle where an army chief responsible for leading his troops against the enemy is now training his “electoral” guns against the very same commander in chief under whom he fought victoriously? There are no clear or definite answers at this juncture. Nevertheless the purpose of this article is to examine recent events and and shed some light that would be helpful in understanding the genesis of this crisis Mahendra Percival Rajapakse known as Mahinda Rajapakse was elected executive president on November 18th 2005. Despite being elected through an enforced boycott by the tigers it soon became apparent that Medamulana and Valvettithurai were on a collision course. President Rajapakse made two crucial appointments at the onset of his presidency in anticipation of a savage war with the LTTE. One was to make his younger sibling Gotabhaya Rajapakse Defence secretary. The other was to appoint Sarath Fonseka as Army commander and extend his tenure. Gotabhaya an old soldier himself held Lt. Colonel rank when he quit the army in 1991 and migrated to the United States of America.Although a US citizen Gotabhaya returned to serve his brother and country with a missionary zeal . His objective was to defeat and destroy the LTTE and rid Sri Lanka of a menace plaguing it for decades. It was at Gotabhaya’s behest that Sarath Fonseka was made army chief. He was scheduled to retire as he would have reached the mandatory age 55 on December 6th 2005. But Gotabhaya persuaded his brother to make Sarath army chief because Fonseka was the best man to lead the army at that point of time. The serving commander Maj-Gen Shantha Kottegoda was sent to Brazil as ambassador and Fonseka brought in. Thereafter his term was extended each year in December.This time he would not seek extension on Dec 6th. There is unanimous opinion that Sarath Fonseka is a tough soldier and astute commander. He is a man of tremendous courage and remarkable military acumen. But there were other aspects to his character and military record that negated his prospects of being Army commander. Chief among them was an inflated ego of gigantic proportions. This resulted in a lot of friction earlier between Fonseka and his contemporaries . The long standing rivalry between Fonseka and his Naval counterpart Wasantha Karannagoda is legendary. So too was the intra-army strife with another top notch soldier Maj-Gen Janaka Perera There was also Fonseka’s colossal arrogance. He fancied himself as a combination of Hannibal, Alexander, Julius Caesar, Napoleon & Rommel.In Sarath Fonseka’s self-perception he was Sri Lanka’s greatest military treasure and all glory was due to him alone. It was the “I, me., myself alone” syndrome. Most contemporary officers resented the cantankerous bullying and crowing of Sarath Fonseka. They admired him as a professional but disliked him at a personal level. But Fonseka was highly popular among the rank and file. He always looked after their welfare and earned their respect and regard There were also other ignoble traits. There have been many allegations (None proven) of sexual impropriety. Moreover as a hawkish soldier his human rights record was abysmal. In 1990 for example there were large scale massacres of Tamil youths in the Amparai district which was under his command.Even recently Fonseka’s hand was suspected in some attacks on journalists. Sarath Fonseka like Janaka Perera had been “fingered” in many reports by reputed Human rights organizations as well as those by Commissions of Inquiry. Though they hated each other Janaka and Sarath were both in the same boat. Both President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe were reluctant to appoint them earlier as army commanders. Despite their positive military credentials their negative attributes stood in the way of achieving highest military office. Another reason contributing to this was the suspicion and fear about ulterior motives. There was paranoia (unfair perhaps) that Sarath and Janaka could bring about a coup d’etat. This is a perpetual concern of successive regimes since the 1962 abortive coup. For all these reasons, Sarath Fonseka was denied what he felt was his rightful place as Army commander. It is said that President Rajapakse was also reluctant to appoint Sarath but Gotabhaya got his brother to go ahead . Apparently the President relied on his brother’s guarantee that Sarath would be “managed” by him (Gota). This is how Sarath became Army chief. After the first year Mahinda wanted to let Sarath go but again Gotabhaya intervened and stayed his brother’s hand. In the early stages Gotabhaya evolved a satisfactory working relationship with Sarath and set the military juggernaut rolling forward. Both had a lot in common as they were fellow Anandians and more or less of the same age. Sarath got into the army as part of the third intake while Gotabhaya was of the fourth intake. They served together in crucial battlefronts like that of Vadamaratchy in 1987. Both played a role in the “midnight express” evacuation exercise of Jaffna Fort in 1990. Sarath was Colonel and Gotabhaya Lt. Colonel when the latter quit the army. Another bond between both was their common intention of destroying the LTTE.The reverse of this was that the LTTE also was determined to kill both as the tigers realised that the death of this duo would cripple the war effort beyond redemption. Sarath Fonseka was seriously injured in a woman suicide bomber attempt within army headquarters but miraculously survived and bounced back in what was perhaps a medical marvel. This was another revelation of the man’s grit and stamina There was a near successful attempt on Gotabhaya too when a three- wheeler exploded near his convoy at the “Pithala” junction on Greenapth. Gotabhaya was not injured but again escaped death by a hair’s breadth. The fact that both survived LTTE attempts to kill them drew them closer and strengthened their resolve to fight the war to the finish.Initially there was a lot of camaraderie between both and so great was this perceived relationship that there were rumours of their offspring marrying. But this was simply a rumour. The war progressed and the nation as well as world at large witnessed the LTTE being slowly driven back and the armed forces advancing. But the Sarath- Gotabhaya equation was under strain. According to defence establishment insiders the greater share of blame for this was Sarath’s. There was a time when a uniformed Gotabhaya saluted his superior officer Sarath Fonseka. Now Gotabhaya was in civils but entitled to salutes from Sarath as Defence secretary. Though Sarath saluted Gotabhaya and addressed him as “sir” in public, the egoistic Fonseka was unhappy t this turnabout. To the average military officer anyone in “civvy street” was an objecr of contempt. This was so in the case of Sarath who was now perceiving Gotabhaya as a civilian boss. Gotabhaya to his credit did not play “soldier” and indulge in antics like Anuruddha Ratwatte . He conducted himself as a civilian in authority refusing to wear uniform or be made “General”. Nevertheless there were several instances of Sarath Fonseka shooting his mouth off about how galling it was for himself to salute Gotabhaya his junior in the army. Given the penchant for tale-carrying in Sri Lanka these comments were duly conveyed to Gotabhaya. But Gotabhaya stomached them and continued to work with Sarath as he felt that Fonseka was the best person to prosecute the war with the LTTE. It must be remembered that Gotabhaya was a man with a mission and was prepared to sup with even the devil till “mission accomplished”. There is no doubt that ultimately war’s are won on the actual battlefield and that the role of the infantry is crucial at decisive stages but the problem with Sarath Fonseka was that he regarded the army and the army alone as being pivotal and the sole repository of all kudos. In this there was something puerile in Fonseka. Unfortunately the power he wielded made him an “enfant terrible”. There was much inter-service strife. So great was the animosity against the Army commander and by extension the army that it required herculean efforts to get the Navy and Air Force cooperate with the army. Ideally this coordination should have been the task of former Air Force chief and Chief of Defence staff Donald Perera. But Fonseka paid scant regard to Donald Perera It was therefore the onerous duty of Gotabhaya to manage tensions and coordinate matters. He liaised between the Army and navy and Army and Air Force. He smoothed ruffled feelings and secured the cooperation of all. Fonseka and Karannagoda the navy chief were not on speaking terms. Relations were rather strained though not ruptured between Air force chief Gunatilleke and Fonseka. The Navy had played an important role by destroying many LTTE ships and interdicting supplies to the tigers. The naval cordon too had been very effective curtailing sea tiger movement to a very great extent. Likewise the Air Force had conducted several successful strikes on LTTE installations demolishing many tiger arms dumps. The aerial attack that killed LTTE political commissar Suppiah Paramu Thamilselvan was a significant achievement. But all these were apparently not acknowledged by Fonseka in discussions within the corridors of power. Discussions like those of the National Security council were turned into colleague haranguing monologues by Sarath Fonseka. Still Gotabhaya managed to keep the war going by deftly striking a balance among all three services. Both Mahinda and Gotabhaya treated Sarath as a “prima donna” throwing occasional tantrums. As far as Sarath Fonseka was concerned he went on like a spoiled brat causing havoc. A latter day Dennis the menace! Gotabhaya was alike a tolerant mother cleaning up the mess made by her recalcitrant child. There was also Sarath’s selfishness that created a lot of heartburn within the Army too. Sarath Fonseka departed from tradition by withholding promotions and transferring officers whom the army chief regarded as not being efficient or up to the mark. In a noteworthy deviation from accepted norms several junior officers who proved themselves in battle were given rapid promotions. Fonseka justified these actions as promoting the “strong” and penalising the “weak” in the army so that the force could be transformed into a formidable fighting machine. This unorthodox approach was rather successful in extracting frontline results and had the support of Gotabhaya in principle. But the downside of this was growing discontentment against Fonseka among many officers. Several officers of Major, Lt. Col & Col rank were deprived of rightful promotions and sullenly harboured resentment. Again it was Gotabhaya’s lot to soothe hurt feelings.These feelings were exacerbated by the naked favouritism displayed by Fonseka towards certain officers and unconcealed antipathy towards some others. For instance Parakrama Pannipitiya the “conqueror” of the east was transferred and then removed from his post despite his military triumph. This was simply because he had fallen foul of Fonseka. Pannipitiya was treated very shabbily and denied security. He had to go to Courts to get it restored. Later Pannipitiya was “framed” on a frivolous treasure hunt charge and penalised. He is now being restored to grace after Fonseka’s fall from grace. On the other hand blue-eyed boys of Fonseka like Samantha Sooriyabandara were not subjected to penalties in spite of an abysmal military record as 53 division commander. Sooriyabandara suffered many reversals in his ill-fated attempts to break through LTTE defences along the Mhamaalai axis but was not axed. Eventually he got a plum assignment as defence attaché to the Washington embassy. The growing disenchantment within military officers towards the conduct of Sarath Fonseka was best encapsuled in a pithy comment attributed to battle-hardened Brigadier Rajaguru. “If we go front there is Johnny and if we fall back there is Fonny”. Johnny refers to the LTTE’s anti-personnel mine and Fonny of course is Fonseka.A glaring illustration of Fonseka’s tendency for self-aggrandizement on the one hand and denying honours to subordinate-colleagues was visible in 2007 when the Vishista Seva Vibushanaya (VSV) awards were conferred.The VSV is regarded as equivalent to the Distinguished Service order.In the case of the Army all officers above Lt.Col rank with 30 years of unblemished service were eligible for this. Incidently Sarath Fonseka who completed 30 years in 2000 was yet to be awarded a VSV due to perhaps the operative requirement “unblemished”.What the Army chief did in 2007 was to refrain from recommending any serving officer other than himself for the VSV. He also proposed that only retired or serving army commanders be given the VSV. To his credit Gotabhaya disagreed.Regulations forbade the recommendations of the army commander being disregarded in the case of serving officers. But the Defence secretary ensured that 11 retired army officers got the VSV. This infuriated Fonseka.Irritants between Sarath and Gotabhaya were not restricted within the defence establishment alone. Sarath Fonseka in media interviews would drop very heavy bricks causing adverse fall-out. On one occasion he called Tamil Nadu politicians “jokers in the pay of the LTTE”. When New Delhi remonstrated Fonseka was asked to issue an apology. He refused. It was left to Gotabhaya to patch up by issuing an apology for no fault of his own.Then there was the infamous interview given to the Canadian newspaper “National Post”. Fonseka said Sri Lanka belonged to the majority Sinhalese and that the minorities can stay but have no say.He was asked to do some damage control by clarifying matters in another interview to a state controlled newspaper. In that he was even worse saying the minority communities could not make “undue demands” like federalism. It could be seen therefore that relations between the Rajapakse’s and Fonseka had been under strain for quite sometime. The public “split” was not something sudden out of the blue but a logical culmination of simmering tensions. Sarath Fonseka’s “attitude” was resented but accommodated because he was considered crucially important to the war effort. He was humoured greatly but when the war ended and Fonseka was perceived as exceeding his limits the Rajapakse regime came down heavily on him. This situation was compounded by paranoia on the one hand and pique on the other. Sarath Fonseka had been regularly boasting about his prowess in prosecuting the war successfully as the battles were in progress.He saw himself as a latter day Dutu Gemunu and even had at one stage a picture of Gemunu on an elephant before whom a cowering Elara was kneeling. A foreign journalist who saw this “art” said that the face of Gemunu resembled Sarath When Fonseka went on blowing his “Rohana” trumpet the Rajapakses were annoyed but tolerated him till the task was done. He was also allowed to derive popularity mileage due to the war. Even President Rajapakse basked in reflected glory with some posters showing Mahinda and Sarath marching together towards victory. But the president was growing uncreasingly insecure about Sarath’s growing popularity among the people. This was akin to Ranasinghe Premadasa’s resentment and fear over Denzil Kobbekaduwe. But Rajapakse was confident that brother Gotabhaya would not let things get out of hand, On the other hand Fonseka was resenting the fact that he had to “share” popularity gained through war victories with the president and government. For example he was irritated by the delay in announcing the fall of Sampoor in order to coincide with the SLFP convention. Fonseka was openly critical of politicians and politics and referred to them derisively. This resentment on the part of Fonseka to the President getting praised for war victories was manifested during the demise of Velupillai Prabhakaran. The president who was abroad at the time was misinformed that the LTTE leader was no more on May 16th. A jubilant Rajapakse returned on 17th and kissed the tarmac in an exhibition of patriotic glee. He learnt later that Prabhakaran was not yet reported dead but was very likely to be encircled and finished off very soon. An address to the nation was scheduled by the president for the morning of May 19th to announce the tiger supremo’s death. But to Mahinda’s chagrin Fonseka refused to confirm the death and the president’s anticipated announcement did not materialise. But after the presidential address was concluded the Army chief announced to the nation that Prabhakaran had been killed. Sarath Fonseka and not Mahinda Rajapakse made the historic announcement. This heralded the floodgates opening for waters of resentment in Rajapakse ranks to flow towards Fonseka. The army chief aggravated the situation by glorifying himself as the sole cause for victory. The contribution of other officers ,other defence services, the defence secretary and President were overlooked or ignored. Several newspaper articles singing paeans of praise to Sarath Fonseka began appearing in the media. Victory celebrations extolled the martial virtues of Sarath.Fonseka blew his own trumpet lustily in media interviews. Media persons close to Sarath wrote books giving too much credit to the army chief. The president and defence secretary were eclipsed While the role played by Sarath Fonseka in the war is certainly praiseworthy the part played by Gotabhaya also deserves much credit. It was he who planned out the military strategy and implemented it by coordinating and directing the entire military effort. He was the lynchpin that linked the defence establishment with the political executive.Gotabhaya secured military assistance from diverse sources and channelled them productively. He, Basil Rajapakse and Lalith Weeratunge were responsible for winning over India. The full cooperation of the armed forces were secured by Gotabhaya despite the stumbling blocks placed by Sarath Fonseka.Likewise President Rajapakse provided leadership at a very high level. He fully backed the war effort resisting tremendous pressure from powerful quarters to call off the war. He stood resolutely against mounting international criticism about how the war was being conducted.The president gave a free hand and unlimnited support to the armed forces to finish the job.Under these circumstances President Rajapakse also deserved praise for the war success. Besides President Rajapakse was relying heavily on war victory euphoria to gain victories in the political arena.Fonseka’s attempt to hog all credit was impacting on these plans.Another evolving divergence was about re-settlement of Wanni IDP’s. President Rajapakse had given assurances to the UN,IMF , western nations and India on this account and had obtained aid from the IMF predicated on these guarantees. But the hawkish Fonseka was of a different opinion. He wanted prolonged detention of IDPs to identify and eradicate tigers masquerading as civilians.Fonseka also wanted the army’s strength to be increased to 300,000 and at least 100,000 deployed in the Wanni. He had elaborate plans of settling army families in cantonments in the Wanni thereby changing the demography in the north. Fonseka had once stated in an interview about attacks from “Tamils” during his childhood in Amparai district. For him the war was not over.There was also a perceived shift in Sarath Fonseka’s outlook. The adulation received from the masses was affecting him.From being a person who spurned politics and ridiculed politicians the army chief began hinting at a political role for him in the future.On “spirited” occasions the General fires off like a loose cannon. Fonseka began talking of himself as the man who defeated the Tamils like the son of Ruhunu and began querying from friends and acquaintances in bantering tones “Why can’t I be the next president?”He was also critical of sycophantic attempts to project Mahinda as the great emperor who won the war and saved the country. As far as Sarath was concerned it was he and not Mahinda who won the war and saved the country.As news of this changed attitude was conveyed to the Rajapakse brothers the alarm bells started ringing. A real or imaginary threat to the president’s political fortunes was perceived.At least three separate intelligence reports were officially and unofficially commissioned. The essence of these reports stated that Fonseka was nursing political ambitions and that he enjoyed equal if not more popularity among the masses than Mahinda Rajapakse himself.There was thus a re-alignment within the triumvirate. The brothers Rajapakse saw an emerging threat in Sarath Fonseka. On the one hand Mahinda saw Sarath as someone who could usurp his political leadership. On the other Gotabhaya was miffed by the crudely blatant efforts of Fonseka to deny the important role played by the defence secretary.The Rajapakse regime that mollycoddled Sarath Fonseka and tolerated all his past idiosyncrasies and foibles was no longer prepared to do so. First came a rule by the defence secy that no service chief could give media interviews without permission or monitoring.This effectively restricted the media monopoly of Fonseka.Then came a swift transformation of public posters. The earlier ones with Mahinda and Sarath gave way to new ones with Mahinda,Gotabhaya and Basil. The old trinity was replaced with the new one based on blood ties.There was also an incident that caused a “rift” between Gotabhaya and Sarath. Two shipments of ammunition and artillery shells ordered earlier arrived after the war ended. Gotabhaya turned them back saying they were unnecessary as the war was over.According to knowledgeable circles the middleman was a Pakistani national who went by the name “Ahmed Nissar”. It was widely rumoured that Sarath Fonseka’s son in law Danuna Tillekaratne was associated with this middleman and received US 2 cents per bullet and US $20 dollars per shell as commission. These rumours have neither been confirmed, denied challenged or disproved.There continued various irritants between the Rajapakse’s and Fonseka. Some of the noteworthy ones included the one where first Lady Shiranthi Rajapakse and elder son Namal were stopped by the army on a journey to the north and were delayed unduly for hours. This was seen as being done at the behest of Fonseka himself.ON July 9th Fonseka spoke at a book launch about the war in which he heaped compliments upon himself lavishly. Token lip service was paid to the President’s role. Gotabhaya was virtually ignored. According to Sarath he and he alone had won the war with the President’s support. It was a one-man show. This inplied that Sarath and not Mahinda was the saviour of the nation.Another incident was the felicitation ceremony at Dharmasoka College , Ambalangoda on July 10th. All traffic was stopped along the Galle road for hours. There were massive security arrangements made arbitrarily by Sarath’s security personnel causing much hardship to people.Sarath waxed eloquent about his role in winning the war alone to an appreciative “home” audience. In the process he shot himself in the foot by allegedly admitting that tigers who surrendered with white flags were shot dead in cold blood. There were increasing signs that Sarath and his merrymen in the army were becoming a law unto theselves. It was as if a parallel authority was being exercised by Fonseka in certain spheres.At one point five journalists who sang Fonseka’s praises in their respective media organs were granted special protection by the army chief. The reason given was that there was a threat to their lives from the Naval chief Wasantha Karannagoda’s men.Another high-handed incident was the one in which military officials acting under the orders of Fonseka arrested the aide de camp of Jagath Jayasuriya the present army chief. There was even a move to arrest Jayasuriya too but was thwarted.In the meantime developments in far off Honduras were impacting on Sri Lanka. Manuel Zelaya the Honduran president was planning a referendum aimed at extending his term of office in a roundabout way.The Courts rejected the referendum proposal but Zelaya in an act of defiance went ahead and ordered the army to begin distributing ballot papers.The Army chief Gen.Romeo Vásquez Velazquez refused to do so. President Zelaya then sacked Velazquez and went ahead with his plans. On June 28th Velasquez staged a military coup. Zelaya was arrested and packed off to neighbouring Costa Rica. News of this Honduran coup rattled the powers that be and a state controlled newspaper in Colombo gave a lot of prominence to the event.Shortly after this coup a friendly country passed an intelligence tip that a military coup was possible in Sri Lanka too. The friendly country suggested that the army chief could enact a coup with the backing of another country. Both countries concerned were sworn enemies but were friendly towards Sri Lanka.It was against this backdrp that the government acted. Fonseka was urgently summoned on July 12th and given three days to bow out as army chief and take over as Chief of Defence staff(CDS).The CDS post had been in existence for decades but in recent times the powers were revamped. As the seniormost service chief Karannagoda was to succeed Donald Perera but Fonseka who regarded the navy chief as his “bete noire” objected vehemently and wanted it himself.This was granted but Fonseka wanted to take up that position only after the ceremonial functions of the Army’s 60th anniversary were over. Fonseka wanted to be army chief at that time.Another reason for procrastinating was that Fonseka was unhappy about the CDS having to report to the defence secy and not the president. He was seeking an amendment on that count.Since Fonseka objected to Karannagoda being made CDS , President Rajapakse appointed the navy chief as defence adviser. Karannagoda was also made secretary to the Highways ministry.Fonseka was angry at this. He was also resentful of the close friendship between the first lady and Mrs.Karannagoda.But suddenly Fonseka’s world went crashing down. He was summoned and given an ultimatum. Reluctantly Fonseka submitted and relinquished his army chief post and became CDS. His request that his close associate Gen. Chandrasiri be made Army chief was rejected. The Rajapakse’s were in no mood to appoint someone close to Fonseka. Instead Jayasoriya ranking 9th in seniority was appointed army chief.Thereafter Fonseka found himself being undermined systematically. Exhibits pertaining to him were emoved at the army exhibition. His address at the 60th anniversary function was blacked out in the state and significant sections of the non-state media.There were also rumours that people suspected of being close to Fonseka were being edged out slowly from sensitive posts in the defence establishment. Strategically important positions were filled by persons hostile to Fonseka. Even his staff at CDS was infiltrated by elements hostile to him. There was also much talk that Fonseka and those regarded as loyalists were being monitored.In a comical exercise there was an anniuncement that Fonseka would be made secretary to the sports ministry. Sports minister Gamini Lokuge was not informed but welcomed it. But the proposal turned into a damp squib as Fonseka rebuffed it.Fonseka suporters in opposition parties began a campaign criticising the govt for insulting the ex- army chief by offering him the sports secy post. It was also projected by the opposition that being appointed CS was a comedown for Fonseka. This compelled the usually taciturn Gotabhaya to set the record straight on the CDS affair via newspapers.In another development cabinet ministers and non-cabinet ministers started attacking Fonseka indirectly. He was implicitly criticised for having political ambition. There was also constant paranoia that a coup was being planned. There was also suspicion that Fonseka was engaged in negotiations with opposition parties though a journalist emissary.While all this controversy was raging Fonseka himself kept silent holding his cards close to his chest. This itself amounted to making a virtue out of necessity as Fonseka could not make public statements without permission while in the service.While the country was agog with excitement at this undeclared tussle between the Rajapakse regime and Fonseka phenomenon pathetic efforts were made by people like defence spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara to deny the obvious. A jocular attempt was made to cowe the media into silence by threatening legal action.But the divide became very visible when Sarath Fonseka visited the US in October to renew his green card. When Fonseka informed Colombo about a potential nterview with US dept of homeland security there was widespread panic resulting in Foreign minister Bogollagama staging a press conference to protest. This indicated very clearly the breakdown in relations between the governmed and its ex-army chief.After Fonseka’s return to the country speculation increased that he would quit the army soon and enter politics by contesting against Mahinda Rajapakse if a presidential poll was held. There was also speculation that many opposition parties including the UNP and JVP would support Fonseka as common opposition candidate.On Novenber 6th Sarath Fonseka met with Ranil Wickremasinghe, Rauff Hakeem, Mano Ganesan and Mangala Samarweera. It is believed that a decision was arrived at then for these parties to support Fonseka but no one has explicitly confirmed or denied it.On Wednesday November 11th the commander-in-chief of the armed forces had a one to one meeting with his erstwhile Army chief at “Temple Trees”. In a candid conversation Fonseka told the president that due to “erosion of trust and confidence” he was compelled to quit.President Rajapakse responded by saying that Fonseka’s resignation would be accepted promptly if and when submitted. According to news reports the President had quipped that Sarath Fonseka could always return to him after suffering defeat at the presidential elections. Fonseka reportedly smiled.Gen Sarath Fonseka then submitted his resignation coming into effect from December 1st to Presidential secretary Lalith Weeratunga at 1.30 pm on Thursday November 12th.The three-page letter outlining 17 reasons for quitting was promptly accepted as President Mahinda Rajapakse had given clear instructions that the resignation should be accepted if and when Fonseka submitted it.Fonseka worshipped at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara on the evening of Nov 12th. Replying to questions from the media about his plans for entering politics the General replied that he would speak out after shedding his uniform formally in December. Fonseka however said that his views on politics had changed indicating that he was ready to throw his hat into the ring.In a disgraceful indicator of what Fonseka could expect in the future an instigated “mob” gathered at the Vihara premises blocking Sarath’s vehicle. He was also hooted at and cheered. The mastermind behind the “mobbing” is well-known.The current crisis is a result of brewing discontent between the Rajapakses and Fonseka over a long period of time. While these tensions were managed and contained during the war they have exploded openly after the war victory. In a sense the strife is all about who deserves the greater credit and reward for fighting and winning the war. A fight for the spils of victory!Essentially this is a personality clash devoid of differences in principle or policy.Extreme paranoia, seething passions, jealousy, vengeful thinking and wounded pride have exacerbated the situation.Attempts by one side to put down perceived political challenges and efforts by the other side to counter them are creating a situation where diametrically opposite forces are reconfiguring themselves as political bedfellows.There is lamentable absence of firm policy and a complete abandonment of principle. A no holds barred political expediency seems to be the order of the day.On another level the current situation is also the culmination of a long process of militarisation of Sri Lankan society and a gradual politicisation of the military.There has been a creeping militarisation that has eroded civic, democratic values. The military was afforded an unhealthy paramountcy over the years. It’s crunch time now!This then is the situation. The nation has come to a sorry state where the former army chief is poised to wage an electoral battle against his former commander in chief. Whatever the outcome of this titanic clash there is no doubt that the country on the whole will suffer irredeemable harm. SRI LANKA: Comments on Gen Fonseka’s Resignation –By Col R Hariharan General Sarath Fonseka, Chief of Defence Staff, and national war hero submitted his resignation letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 12. Later the Information department of the government announced the President had accepted the resignation with immediate effect. Although the General was to retire from service from 1 December 2009, his resignation before that was not unexpected. In fact it is the successful culmination of efforts of the opposition parties to put up the General as their candidate to oppose President Rajapaksa in the presidential election likely to be held in early 2010. They had been relentlessly trying cash in on his steadily deteriorating relationship with the President ever since the war ended. The confirmation of Fonseka's political ambitions would be when he files his nomination paper for the presidential poll. This is probably only a matter of detail now as his resignation has been accepted by the President. The General’s anguish over the treatment meted out to him is brought out the resignation letter [copy of the letter published in http://www.lankatruth.com is at annexure]. It clearly lists out the reasons for his decision. Comments Here are my comments on his resignation in response to specific questions raised by the media: General Fonseka has spoken about the government alerting the Government of India on its suspicion about the Sri Lank army staging a coup. What do you think of it? Yes, this was also reported in the Colombo media. I think after the war the huge size of the army – around 200,000 –built up for the war (General Fonseka was talking of expanding it to 300,000), coupled with the President's growing differences with the General, made the government nervous. It was more a reflection on the worsening relationship of the General with the President than on the credibility of the army. Do you think India would have positively responded to Sri Lanka’s request for troops to control a possible coup attempt? India has always had close relations with Sri Lanka. In the past India had responded to Sri Lanka’s requests for military support to avert possible coups. When massive protest was building up in Colombo after the signing of India-Sri Lanka Agreement in 1987, President JR Jayawardane feared the possibility of an army coup to topple him. To avert this he sought Indian assistance. India promptly sent two warships to Colombo with troops stationed on board presumably to discourage such an attempt. President Rajapaksa has built close relations with Indian leadership. Probably he made no major move that would impact India's strategic relations with his country without consulting India. However, this is not at all unusual in view of the strong bonds of friendship that exists between the two countries, Sri Lanka leaders have always made it a point to keep India on the information loop. Definitely India would not have been happy if the armed forces toppled the elected government of Rapaksa. Though I am not privy to the decisions of India’s Ministry of Defence, in all probablility India would have responded positively to any request for assistance from the Sri Lankan President. What do you think of Indian reaction to General Fonseka’s resignation? I am sure the news of his resignation would have come as no surprise to the Indian government. Thre are regular briefings between the two countries on key issues. Moreover, Indian leadership was probably briefed on such a possibility by Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader of the main opposition party the United National Party (UNP), during his recent visit to New Delhi. After his resignation, General Fonseka is likely to be pitched against President Rajapaksa in the presidential elections. What is your comment on this? I think the development is good for the country’s democratic polity. President Rajapaksa’s is immensely popular and wields enormous political clout. He is at present in an unassailable position. Perhaps the General is the only person who can give him a run for the money when the country goes to the presidential poll. And that could make the President to critically look back at his record rather than taking people's support for granted. Both the President and Fonseka have been responsible in their own spheres for the success in the Eelam War. So when these two powerful candidates contest for presidency vital issues (other than the military achievement) that were ignored earlier are likely to be discussed and debated. These issues include the Tamil demand for autonomy, ethnic equity, growing unemployment and high cost of living due to inflation. This is a healthy development for the growth of democracy. There is a fear in some quarters about military commanders occupying the highest offices in the government. What is your view on this? I think this fear is unfounded. There are generals like Eisenhower who served the country well. On the other hand we have generals in South America, who have turned their country into dictatorships after their election. So I think it depends upon the individual leader than on his military background. We should not forget a military leader brings in qualities unique to his profession like a structured way of thinking, abilities in problem solving, hard work and refusing to be browbeaten. These are great assets in any national leader. Lastly, in our own country we have the example of General Khanduri whose excellent performance in improving national road infrastructure as a minister in Vajapayee’s government is yet to be equaled. Later he successfully headed the Himachal government as chief minister. What would be India’s preference between Rajapaksa and Fonseka as president of Sri Lanka? I think Rajapaksa has a better equation with Indian leadership. He is a seasoned politician who has cultivated the Indian leaders over the years. On Tamil autonomy issue he has no great differences with India, although he has pushed it down in his list of priorities for political reasons. General Fonseka has his networking more with Indian military leadership than with political leaders. His strong views smacking of Sinhala nationalism rather than Sri Lanka nationalism makes Government of India uncomfortable. On the other hand, the UNP - his main supporter in the presidential election - has good rapport with New Delhi. In particular, the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has the ear of New Delhi and that could be an advantage for the General in putting India at ease. But there are also political compulsions of New Delhi that condition its Sri Lanka policy. The ruling coalition’s partners from Tamil Nadu, particularly the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi, always have a say in shaping it. Tamil Nadu political leaders will not be happy to see Fonseka as the president. That would be an advantage for Rajapaksa by default. So overall, India would probably prefer Rajapaksa to continue as president. 14 November 2009 Pranab to visit Colombo Pranab MukerjeePranab Mukherjee, India’s time tested trouble shooter is likely to make a two-day visit to Colombo, which has slipped into election mode.This will be his second visit to Sri Lanka this year, the first being about ten months back as external affairs minister, when the island nation was waging what was a decisive war against the LTTE and its brand of terrorism.There is still no formal announcement here about the visit. Mr. Mukherjee, who moved from external affairs to finance since his last visit to Colombo, was in Kolkata on Friday. Informed sources said that the Indian Minister will be flying to Sri Lanka, probably on Saturday. The visit will provide an opportunity to the Indian Minister to gauge the Sri Lanka mood and the evolving situation. Delhi has been closely following the recent developments that have culminated in the resignation of the Sri Lanka war hero Gen Sarath Fonseka and the media reports about his plans to enter the presidential race. In a significant coincidence, President Rajapaksa accepted Fonseka’s resignation from the army on Friday itself without waiting till December 1, the day Fonseka has fixed for his resignation to become effective.Mukherjee’s discussions with his hosts will factor in the findings of Indian lawmakers from Tamil Nadu, who visited the IDP camps last month, and will cover issues related to IDPs rehabilitation and the frequent attacks on India fishermen off Kachchativu. In May , when the Wanni War ended with victory for Sri Lankan forces, India announced an assistance of Rs 1000 crore towards relief and rehabilitation effort. India also sent a detachment of army doctors to set up a field hospital and provide medical relief to the IDPs to Sri Lanka after the war was over. The Indian finance minister will do some stock taking on the how the aid was utilised and what more will be needed.For quite a while the diplomatic circuit has been buzzing with reports about the possibility of President Mahinda Rajapaksa coming to Delhi on an official visit. But a few days back he made a pilgrimage to Tirupati, instead of a political journey to Delhi. Plight of IDPs, new Army chief behind resignation The need for a clear policy to win the hearts and minds of the Tamil people and the deterioration in the standards of the military under the new Army chief are two striking points made in the three-page resignation letter of Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka.General Fonseka, in his letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, complains he was removed from the job of Army chief on July 15 and made the CDS despite his request to continue till the Army celebrated its 60th anniversary on October 10. His removal, he alleged, was on the basis of reports from various agencies of a possible coup immediately after the victory over the LTTE. “This fear psychosis of a coup is well known among the defence circle,” he said.The General further states that Mr. Rajapaksa went ahead with the appointment of Jagath Jayasuriya, against whom disciplinary inquiry is pending, as the new Army commander. Fall in standards “Appointing an officer pending a disciplinary inquiry who performed duties only as a holding formation commander in the final battle, as my successor, disregarding my recommendations to appoint Major-General G.A. Chandrasiri as the commander of the Army who was the then Chief of Staff and an officer with an exemplary service as the Security Forces Commander in Jaffna for over three years. This has already led to a deterioration of the high standards I was capable of introducing to the Army, to my bitter disappointment,” the letter said. Appalling conditions General Fonseka said the plight of the war displaced, nearly 1.5 lakh Tamil civilians currently housed in government-run camps in the north, was of great concern to him as they continued to live in “appalling conditions” due to lack of proper planning.“Your Excellency’s government has yet to win the peace in spite of the fact that the Army under my leadership won the war. There is no clear policy to win the hearts and minds of the Tamil people, which will surely ruin the victory, attained paving the way for yet another uprising in the future,” the letter said. Presidential poll: JVP to support common candidate Amidst speculation that Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Sarath Fonseka would contest a possible snap presidential election, the JVP Central Committee, at a special session, has decided to support a common candidate, who did not represent any political party. The party has decided that this candidate should agree to abolish the Executive Presidency as his prime objective after being elected to office.Asked for comments, JVP MP K.D. Lalkantha said that his party had taken the stand for a common candidate to defeat President Mahinda Rajapaksa for a long time. Nevertheless, this was the first time that the JVP reached a decision of supporting a common candidate at a presidential election.“However, there is no agreement with any individual for this purpose,” he said.He said that this common candidate, to whom they support, should agree to reconstitute the Constitutional Council and ensure media freedom once he becomes the president. “A common programme should be worked for the state media to accommodate views of all political parties,” he said. The JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that the abolition of the post of executive president should be given the foremost priority in the election manifesto of this common candidate. Mr. Silva said this candidate should ensure democracy in the country and declare a general election soon after the presidency was secured.“Then, people can elect whatever party in a democratic atmosphere. We support a common candidate who does not belong to any political party. He should represent neither the JVP nor the UNP,” he said. New Indian High Commissioner arrives in Sri Lanka The new Indian High Commissioner-designate, Shri Ashok K. Kantha called on Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. The Indian High Commissioner-designate who arrived only only on Thursday is due to present his credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa shortly. Gen. Fonseka’s security withdrawn There are reports that security for Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Sarath Fonseka has been removed. Earlier 800 Army personnel were deployed for the security of the General and head office of the Army. However, at present the number of personnel engaged in Gen. Fonseka’s security has been reduced to 35. Also, majority of the vehicles assigned to him have been taken over and only two jeeps and a bullet proof vehicle has been allocated to him. Many senior officers of security forces who retired earlier had been allocated considerable security. Earlier the government had promised to provide lifelong security for heads of security forces including the Chief of Defense Staff. According to the media when the President had lunch with the General on the 11th he had personally promised him that he would be provided with adequate security. However, the President has broken his promise after two days. Sources say this situation is a threat to the life of the General. Rudd says future of Lankan asylum seekers lies with UN Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the future resettlement of Sri Lankan asylum seekers now in a detention center in Indonesia lies with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Twenty-two Sri Lankan men who were on the Australian customs vessel Oceanic Viking moored off the Indonesian coast have left the boat and were transported to the Tanjung Pinang detention center yesterday, the Australian newspaper said. Fifty six people remain on the boat. The 22 men received written guarantees from Australian authorities that they will be resettled in Australia within 12 weeks if their claims for refugee status are proven, the newspaper said, citing an official from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. “We will work our way calmly and methodically through all of them,” Rudd told reporters in Singapore, where he is attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit. “We have been quite clear about the fact that the resettlement responsibility for the individuals concerned first of all lies with the UNHCR in terms of processing and secondly us working with the UNHCR and the other 15 resettlement countries in terms of where any bona fide refugees should then go,” he said. A violence prone situation against Tamil prisoners at Welikada prison TNA MP arrested from IDP camp produced in courts TNA Parliamentarian, Sathasivam Kankaratnam who was arrested from an IDP camp after he left the Wanni during the height of the war was produced before the Vavuniya Magistrate and further remanded, officials said. This was the first time he was being produced before a Magistrate. The case was taken up by Magistrate M.Sittampalam. He was arrested in May. He was living in the Wanni area for several months during the war. He has been remanded until Dec 4. Indian forces were put on high alert on Lanka's fear of army coup The Indian armed forces were put on high alert in the middle of October after a worried Colombo fearing a coup by the Sri Lankan army contacted New Delhi and requested the Indian government to prevent a military takeover. On the night of October 15, top Lankan politicians and bureaucrats got in touch with New Delhi through the Indian High Commission in Colombo and conveyed their apprehensions and request for help. Till Thursday, these events were part of political gossip. Now, it’s been put on record by outgoing chief of defence staff, general Sarath Fonseka.In his letter – 2100-odd words of hurt pride, anger and disgust and 15 reasons for premature retirement -- to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Fonseka wrote that the government’ action in contacting India on the rumours of a coup tarnished the image of the army.``…it was noted that the same army which gained victory for the nation was suspected of staging a coup and thereby alerting the Government of India once again on the 15th of October 2009, unnecessarily placing the Indian troops on high alert. This action did tarnish the image and reputation gained by the SLA…This suspicion would have been due to the loyalty of the SLA towards me as its past Commander who led the Army to the historic victory,’’ Fonseka wrote. He said various agencies mislead Rajapaksa about ``a possible coup immediately after the victory over the LTTE which obviously led to a change of command in spite of my request to be in command until the Army celebrated its 60th Anniversary. This fear psychosis of a coup is well known among the defence circle.’’It was learnt that during a one-and-half hour meeting between the two on Wednesday, the issue of the coup was brought up by Fonseka. Rajapaksa did not deny it.When contacted on Friday, Fonseka told HT: ``the information (about the Indian armed forces being put on alert) was accurate’’ and the government here ``had got in touch with somebody in New Delhi’’.Fonseka made another reference to India while requesting the security cover of ``combat soldiers, bullet proof vehicle, escort vehicles’’ after leaving his post. "I would also wish to quote an example in the case of the former Indian Chief of Army Staff General A S Vaidya, instrumental in leading the Indian Army in Operation Blue Star against the Sikhs at the Golden Temple, Amristar in 1984, was assassinated whilst on retirement in 1986 purely in revenge of his victories achieved. I do not wish to experience a similar incident," he wrote in the letter. 13 November 2009 Word ‘election’ is taboo at SLFP summit Despite several ministers stating that an announcement would be made regarding the election to be held in the future at the summit of the SLFP to be held on the 15th of this month, a very reliable source states the President has decided not to mention anything regarding elections at the summit. As the incidents that occurred in the political field during the past few days were disadvantageous to the government, the President has decided not to mention anything regarding elections and those speakers scheduled to address the summit and those organizers who gather people to participate at the summit have been told not to mention anything regarding elections. Many say that the political instability of the present government is vividly displayed and proves the harm that has been inflicted on the SLFP and UPFA recently. General who beat Tamil Tigers quits to challenge the President The Sri Lankan general who oversaw the successful military operation to crush the Tamil Tigers has resigned from his post amid mounting speculation that he is to challenge the country's powerful President at the ballot box.General Sarath Fonseka yesterday confirmed that he had stood down from his position as chief of the defence staff but declined to detail his future plans. "I gave my retirement papers," the general told reporters after performing religious rituals at a Buddhist temple near Colombo. "I have been serving my country in the past and I will serve the country in future as well." Last week, it was announced that the main opposition, the United National Party, had formed an alliance with nine smaller groups to challenge President Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose current term ends in April. They said their main aim was to scrap the country's powerful presidency and increase the say of parliament under a prime minister.Now, as evidence mounts about a falling-out between the general on the one hand and the President and his brother – who heads the defence department – on the other, there have been a flurry of reports in the Sri Lankan media that General Fonseka is in talks with the new coalition to stand as its presidential candidate. "I can't comment as I am still in uniform," the general said yesterday. "I will decide my future once my retirement comes into effect at the end of this month. I have the same basic right as anybody else."Some Sri Lankan observers say General Fonseka believes the Rajapaksa brothers have stolen the glory for defeating the LTTE, who had waged a bitter 25-year war, while his own role has been largely overlooked. Indeed, two months after the last of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels were crushed in May, the 59-year-old general was moved from his position as army head to the largely ceremonial position of chief of the defence staff. While the war triggered widespread international consternation about the number of civilians caught up in the violence – the UN estimated that 10,000 may have lost their lives – it provided a considerable boost to Mr Rajapaksa's popularity. Seeking to capitalise on this, the government announced last month that it would call early presidential and parliamentary polls. "The opposition has not been able to come up with anyone else," said one Colombo-based analyst who asked not to be identified. "But if Fonseka is the candidate it could mean that the election and run-up to the elections sees some violence. It could mean there is a split in the security forces."Observers say that General Fonseka is as much a Sinhala Buddhist nationalist as the Rajapaksas. Earlier this year, as LTTE troops were cornered in the far north of the island and international aid groups were warning of the threat to Tamil civilians caught up in the violence, General Fonseka said that Sri Lanka "belongs to the Sinhalese... [minorities] can live in this country with us. But they must not try to – under the pretext of being a minority – demand undue things". Last month it was reported that General Fonseka, who holds a US green card, had been asked by officials from the Department of Homeland Security to attend an interview when he was in America visiting his daughters. Reports in Sri Lanka suggested officials wanted to question him about the war against the LTTE and the role of Defence Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Sri Lankan government complained to the US embassy in Colombo about what it claimed was a breach of protocol. General Fonseka was never questioned. President promptly accepts Fonseka’s resignation President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday accepted Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka’s resignation letter. Accordingly, Gen. Fonseka will cease to be CDS with effect from Dec. 01, 2009. Gen. Fonseka informed the President of his desire to resign at a one-to-one meeting on Wednesday, where they were expected to iron out their differences. Cordial as the meeting was, President Rajapaksa said he had no objections to Gen. Fonseka’s resignation or his decision to enter politics. "I have instructed my Secretary to accept you resignation letter immediately, should you tender it," the President told Gen. Fonseka.After the meeting while Gen. Fonseka was walking towards the door, according to highly placed sources, a smiling President Rajapaksa said, "Sarath, you can always come back to me after your defeat in politics."Sources said Gen. Fonseka had smiled and proceeded.Gen. Fonseka’s resignation came hot on the heels of the UNP-led Opposition’s call that the CDS should wait till the President announced a snap presidential election at the SLFP Convention on Sunday (Nov. 15), to resign. Gen. Fonseka’s letter is said to contain 17 reasons for his decision to call it quits.A senior spokesman for the President’s Office confirmed that the President had accepted General Fonseka’s resignation. He told The Island that General had indicated that he would like to leave his uniform within the next few weeks.General Fonseka told The Island yesterday evening that copies of his letter of resignation had been handed over to Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Secretary to the Defence Ministry Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Declining to comment on the possibility of his immediate entry into politics, General Fonseka said that he expected the President to accept his resignation. During a recent visit to the Washington Buddhist Viharaya, the General said that he was ready to shed his uniform to do ‘what was required in a post-LTTE era’. A section of the Buddhist clergy urged him to remain in uniform and not to enter politics.A senior government official told The Island that the CDS wanted his resignation effective December 1, 2009. He said that as long as General Fonseka held the post, the government expected him not to engage in politics.Responding to our queries, government sources said that the President could appoint one of the service commanders, in this case Air Force Commander Air Marshal Roshan Goonetilike, to act as the CDS during the period originally given to General Fonseka.The first Sinha Regiment officer to command the Army, Gen. Fonseka spearheaded Sri Lanka’s successful war against the LTTE before being promoted to the rank General and appointed CDS. The army waged its final battle on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon, where troops killed LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his top commanders on May 18.Gen. Fonseka’s resignation came in the wake of a spat over who should be in charge of security at the army headquarters. There had been a dispute among some of the top brass regarding the deployment of the Armoured Corps in place of the Sinha Regiment, though it was customary for the serving commander’s unit to be in charge of security.Although it was expected initially that theUNP-led United National Front (UNF) would unconditionally accept Gen. Fonseka as the Opposition’s common candidate, UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe put forth several conditions for endorsing his candidature on Nov. 09. The UNP’s conditions as spelt out by Wickremesinghe in an interview with the Tamil publication, the Sudar Oli. He called for the appointment of a caretaker government with him( Wickremesinghe) as the Prime Minister in the event of his (Fonseka’s) election. Wickremesinghe said the United National Front, the JVP and the Tamil National Alliance should be agreeable to Gen. Fonseka’s candidature. He said he expected Gen. Fonseka to clarify certain issues concerning the Tamil people and the Tamil National Alliance should endorse that General Fonseka’s clarifications were acceptable to the Tamils. The UNP leader said that he expected the common candidate to fulfil certain other obligations and make some pledges in public regarding the abolition of the executive presidency and the resettlement of IDPs.Wickremesinghe demanded that General Fonseka make a prior announcement that he would assign important portfolios to the JVP and TNA in the proposed caretaker government. Fonseka should pledge that he would do away with the Emergency Regulations and ensure the full implementation of the 17th Amendment. Govt relaxes transport along A9 The Government has decided to relax transportation of goods and passenger transportation by A-9 Road, for the convenience of the public in Jaffna. The following decisions were made: * There is no restriction to transport goods to Jaffna and back as in the case of any other part of the country. * The vehicles that are already registered with the Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES) can engage in the transportation of goods. Registration of vehicles by CGES for transportation of goods to Jaffna is extended till November 30, 2009. * The vehicles belonging to Government Departments, Corporations, Banks and Manufacturing Companies, will be permitted to transport goods by their own vehicles, for six months continually. They are requested to submit applications for CGES approval. The public are permitted to travel to Jaffna and back by public transport and private busses which are now in operation. Any private bus/coach owner who wishes to operate between Colombo and Jaffna, should apply to the National Transport Commission for route permits. Private vessels are permitted to carry cargo to the North from any port of the country, subject to naval clearance and operational requirements of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Approval of the CGES is not required. U.S. Ambassador opens two schools in Mutur The U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Patricia A. Butenis, officially opened two schools in Mutur. The schools were rebuilt by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the development agency of the U.S. Government, as part of its program to help former conflict-affected communities return to normalcy as quickly as possible. Ambassador Butenis presided over the ceremonial openings of Amman Nagar and Arafa Nagar Schools in Trincomalee District, two of five schools rehabilitated by USAID with funding from the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM). In addition to the five schools in Trincomalee, two schools and one hospital were also rehabilitated in the Batticaloa District.U.S. Ambassador Butenis said, “Stronger schools lead to a better education, which leads to more opportunities for young people. These schools are symbols that a brighter and better future is possible for these two communities, and the United States Government is pleased to contribute.” The schools in Amman Nagar and Arafa Nagar were severely damaged during the many years of conflict. The rehabilitation of the schools signals a positive change to the communities and will encourage residents displaced by the conflict to return. UN humanitarian chief to visit Sri Lanka next week The United Nations humanitarian chief will undertake a mission to Sri Lanka next week, the world body announced today.The 17 to 19 November visit will be the fourth this year for Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes, who previously travelled there in February, April and May.The UN has been closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka, where more than 270,000 people were staying in closed camps after hostilities between the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended in May. In recent months senior UN humanitarian and human rights officials have voiced concern over the safety of these internally displaced persons (IDPs), which according to recent estimates by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) now number about 163,000. Gen. Fonseka’s relatives removed from security services Several relatives of Gen. Sarath Fonseka who were attached to defense services have been removed from their posts says a reliable source. According to this source Gen. Fonseka’s brother- in- law Sarath Munasinghe, Director of Ministerial Security Division, has been transferred to Traffic Police with immediate effect. Also DIGP Sisil Perera, father of Gen. Fonseka’s daughter’s groom to be has been removed from that post. They have been removed from their positions as soon as Gen. Fonseka presented his letter of resignation. Sri Lanka Says Emergency Rule Needed for ‘Shadows of Terrorism’ Sri Lanka will retain emergency rule as it faces the “shadows of terrorism” after the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May ended a 26-year civil war, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake said. The state of emergency and the presence of security checkpoints are “absolutely necessary as the shadows of terrorism haunt in the background,” Wickramanayake said, according to the government’s Web site. Security forces will have to study whether some of the measures may be relaxed, he said. The government has cited the need to establish security and clear mines from the conflict zone in the north as a reason for delays in settling more than 280,000 displaced civilians housed in transit camps after the war ended. The United Nations and U.S. have led international calls for Sri Lanka to swiftly release the mainly Tamil refugees. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government said yesterday more than half of the displaced people have now left the camps. “We must preserve the freedom and victory gained over terrorism,” Wickramanayake said, adding that some security controls in place during the conflict have been eased. The prime minister was speaking at a ceremony yesterday for war heroes, according to the government. The number of displaced people in camps has been reduced to 140,087, said Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, the government spokesman and minister of mass media and information. As many as 160,000 displaced people have been returned to their places of origin, he said yesterday, according to the Information Department. Mine Clearing An estimated 1.5 million mines and unexploded ordnance contaminated 500 square kilometers (193 square miles) of the north when the war ended, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka’s army commander, said Oct. 27. Civilians are returning to areas around Kilinochchi, the town in the north where the LTTE had its headquarters. A program has begun to settle more than 16,000 people in the Mullaitivu district in the northeast, the government said. The army defeated the last Tamil Tiger forces in a battle at Mullaitivu in May, killing leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his commanders and ending their fight for a separate Tamil homeland in the north and east of the South Asian island nation. Thousands of civilians were caught between the opposing forces in the final weeks of the conflict. Tamils are being kept in “conditions of internment” in the camps, Navi Pillay, the UN human rights commissioner, said in September, a comment rejected by the government in Colombo. John Holmes, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, will visit Sri Lanka Nov. 17-19 to assess progress settling the displaced people, the UN said yesterday. Holmes visited the country in February, April and May. Fonseka Resigns General Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka’s chief of defense staff, resigned yesterday amid speculation he will challenge Rajapaksa in presidential elections scheduled to take place before April next year. Fonseka was head of the army during the operations that led to the defeat of the LTTE. The war against the Tamil Tigers was won by the ground forces though some others tried to take the credit for the victory, the country’s Island daily newspaper cited Fonseka as saying yesterday on its Web site. Boasting about the military victory serves no purpose as security forces need to stop any attempt to revive the LTTE, Fonseka said. It would be a “grave mistake” to assume the killing of Prabhakaran ended the threat of separatism, he said. Rajapaksa, in a speech in June marking the victory over the LTTE, said he won’t allow the “shadow of separatism” to remain, as he pledged to build a united Sri Lanka. Tamils make up almost 12 percent of Sri Lanka’s population of 20 million people. Sinhalese account for 74 percent, according to a 2001 census. PLOTE to go with President Former parliamentarian and PLOTE leader D. Siddharthan said that his party would not support the National United Front. He expressed hope that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be able to find a just solution to the ethnic problem. Siddharthan said all Tamil parties were for the resettlement of the IDPs. The Government has started the process and more than 130,000 left the Manik Farm welfare centre in Cheddikulam. During his recent visit to Cheddikulam he had observed no congestion. He added that IDPs had been resettled in about 15 villages in Manthai West Divisional Secretariat Division. When the IDPs left their places had an impression that they would never return to their villages. Now they are happy as normalcy has returned. Siddharthan added that the IDPs who returned were kept at temporary transit camps mostly for three days. If their homes were not damaged they could return immediately otherwise they were allowed to repair them while staying in these camps. "These villages had no transport facilities as the roads were damaged. At his request, he said, Head of the Presidential Task Force on Rehabilitation and Resettlement of IDPs in the North Basil Rajapaksa immediately instructed the authorities to provide one bicycle for each family. He said the people thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for their early resettlement. The people wanted dry rations until the next harvest is over. They are in urgent need of agricultural inputs and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa has agreed to solve these problems. Siddharthan emphasized that there was no truth in the allegation of violation of freedom of movement. The people are free to travel anywhere, including Colombo, if they wanted. The Government has ensured their freedom of movement, he said. He expressed hope that in the new parliament there would be alignment and re-alignment of forces and the President would be able to find a just and longstanding solution to the Tamil national question during his second term. 12 November 2009 Wait till poll is announced UNF tells Fonseka The leaders of the newly formed United National Front yesterday requested General Sarath Fonseka to hand over his resignation from the post of Chief of Defence Staff only after the President declares a presidential election. UNF sources said its leaders decided on this course of action on receiving information of a move by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to call a general election instead of a presidential election in the event that General Fonseka resigned from his post. The sources said the government was planning to carry out a campaign against General Fonseka if he was projected by the opposition as its common candidate, as such Gneral Fonseka’s decision to resign would depend on the type of election to be declared. Meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapaksa met General Sarath Fonseka yesterday for the first time since his arrival from the United States. The meeting took place at Temple Trees after the National Security Council meeting. The private meeting was preceded by lunch. However the topics discussed were not known, sources said. Monks condemn Sri Lanka over junta visit Dissident Myanmar monks living in Colombo yesterday criticised the Sri Lankan government for inviting junta leader General Than Shwe for a state visit. The monks said Sri Lanka’s increasingly close relations with Myanmar’s military regime would further raise international concern over the island’s human rights record. They said President Mahinda Rajapakse was “foolish” to become associated with Than Shwe, set to arrive on Thursday. “The Sri Lankan government has been criticised for their human rights violations and restrictions on media freedoms,” the monks said in statement referring to the conflict against Tamil separatists that ended in May. “We dare say the situation in Sri Lanka is several times better than in Myanmar,” they added. Than Shwe is to fly to the central district of Kandy on Thursday for a two-day tour of Buddhist temples and meetings with senior Sri Lankan officials, including talks with Rajapakse. UNP angered over removal of cut-outs of Gen. Fonseka The removal of hoardings and cut-outs along the Parliament Road and several parts of Colombo by the Urban Development Authority sparked angry protests from the UNP yesterday. UNP members charged Government was removing cut-outs with General Fonseka’s photograph. UNP MP John Amaratunge said it was wrong for the Government to show such disrespect to General Fonseka who was the driving force behind the defeat of the LTTE. He said the General deserved more respect for the hard work and commitment he had shown in bringing peace to the country. He is a war hero whom we must celebrate, not condemn”. He added removing pictures of the General could not be approved. Meanwhile the UDA rejected the allegation they were removing cut-outs and hoardings with General Fonseka’s image.Director General of the UDA Sanath Weerakoon told the Daily Mirror yesterday, the UDA had removed hoardings on Tuesday (10th) night along the road leading to Parliament, but added the removal of pictures of General Fonseka were not influenced by Government pressure. “There were several hoardings of Ministers we removed. There may have been pictures of military officers but I’m not too sure. We took down all hoardings and cut-outs in sight along the Parliament Road, in Borella and in other parts of Colombo as well,” Weerakoon said.He said though the UDA did not remove hoardings and cut-outs on a daily basis, they tried to ensure hoardings were taken down as often as possible. “It is our responsibility to ensure the surroundings are clean and look presentable,” he said. In talks with Fonseka, says opposition COLOMBO: Mano Ganeshan, leader of Sri Lanka’s Western People’s Front (WPF) and Colombo district parliamentarian, disclosed on Wednesday that his party along with several other opposition parties were engaged in discussions with Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka on fielding him as a candidate against President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the event of an election.In a lengthy response to criticism on how a party which claims to represent aspirations and concerns of Tamils could even consider the General who spearheaded the Eelam War IV, Mr. Ganeshan said his party had sent a set of questions to General Fonseka and was awaiting his response.The confession of the civil rights activist-cum- politician is significant as Mr. Rajapaksa is set to announce the dates for the general election and a possible presidential election on November 15.The former Sri Lankan Prime Minister and opposition leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who heads the 12-party opposition alliance, has openly come out in support of the candidature of the General and is scheduled to return on Thursday after consultations with New Delhi on the general situation in Sri Lanka. “Until then we will say that if his [General Fonseka] answers satisfy us we will decide positively. It is logical. Isn’t it? First let him answer. We are also discussing with the main opposition for alternative candidates. We are also discussing among the Tamil and Muslim parties. There are some efforts made from the government side too for some discussions with me,” said Mr. Ganeshan.He maintained that as a party which represents the oppressed Tamil minorities, it maintains dialogues with all sources and cannot always be very ambitious and rigid. “We will be wiped off if we refuse to answer all the calls we receive. We cannot be another LTTE. We value engagements.”Mr. Ganeshan said a “deadly” silence was maintained by all Tamil leaders since General Fonseka’s name was proposed as the common opposition candidate. “But we spoke at the appropriate time and initiated a national dialogue in the media, street corners, households, offices, among the political parties etc. A national dialogue on ‘Sarath Fonseka and Tamil people’”.Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror in a report said that at a Cabinet meeting, Mr. Rajapaksa told several Ministers that if General Fonseka resigned with the intention of contesting the upcoming presidential election, he would accept it forthwith. “The President had said there were many reports in this regard and if he received a resignation letter from General Fonseka he would act within half an hour to let the General know that he had accepted the resignation. The President had said he would act with a clear political conscience,” the paper said. Tamil Nadu cabinet to discuss Lankan refugees today Pakistan Air Chief here TMVP undecided over support at a general election The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TVMP) led by Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan is still undecided on who they would support in the event of a general election.TMVP spokesman Azad Moulana speaking to Daily Mirror online said the TMVP is grateful for the victorious defeat of the LTTE by the Sri Lankan Government headed by President Mahinda Rajapakse but are still undecided on who to support if there is a General Election Moulana also noted that the TMVP has clearly distinguished itself as a strong party in the Eastern region with nearly 80% support from the Tamil and Muslim community. Hence the decision on who it will support would only be reached once the general election is announced. More petrol filling stations for North The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Ceylon Petrol Terminal Ltd. will introduce petrol filling stations in the Northern Province as a part of the 180-day and two year development projects of the Government's to speed up development in the North under the Uthuru Vasanthaya. This is to ensure that fully-fledged filling stations are available in districts of the Northern Province as in Colombo and all fuel needs in the Province would be met without any shortage CPC Deputy Director General Sunil. W. Gamage said. Gamage said they have commenced constructing and reconstructing petrol filling stations in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts. "We plan to set up new filling stations at Mankulam, Kilinochchi, Palei, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Puliyankulam, Wellankulam, and Pulmoddai areas firstly," he said and added, "The aim of this will be to restore distribution of petrol in the Northern Province." CPC has allocated Rs 120 million to construct three storage tanks with a capacity of 5,000 gallons in two tanks and 3,000 gallons in one, to store petrol, diesel and kerosene oil in eight filling stations it plans to build with sophisticated supply pumps, he said. South Africa pledges to curb LTTE activities on their soil South Africa has pledged to help curb LTTE activities overseas and in discrediting the provincial and transnational governments of Tamil Elam. The assurance was made at a meeting between the South African Minister M. Maite Nkoana Mashabane (Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa) and Foriegn Minister Rohitha Bogollagama today. The US based LTTE activist Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran has stated earlier that moves are underway to hold elections in April 2010 to form the Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (PTGTE) which would provide an opportunity for the Tamil Diaspora community to exercise their democratic rights.The two Ministers went on to discuss matters of bilateral interest and the need to stand together in matters of global importance. Jeyaraj’s wife on cop turned LTTE agent Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, wife slain Minister Jayaraj Fernandopulle and SLFP Organiser for Katana yesterday told The Island that she had never suspected SP Lakshman Cooray’s involvement with the LTTE even after her husband’s assassination. She said once Cooray had brought to her notice a move to serve him a charge sheet over the assassination in relation to shortcomings in security arrangements. Responding to queries, she said that Jeyaraj had been invited to Cooray’s homecoming. She said some believed that the minister was an attesting witness at the police officer’s wedding though she could not confirm it.Dr. Fernandopulle quit a top Health Ministry post on November 9 to take over the Katana electorate. She had urged the police then not to blame Cooray over the killing as she felt that he could not be held responsible for negligence on the part of somebody else. She said that Cooray’s involvement with the LTTE had been brought to her notice only a few months ago.She said that Minister Jeyaraj had known the suspect’s father, who had been a member of the SLFP-run Western Provincial Council. She said a petition was being signed to seek maximum possible punishment to the suspect. She said she believed that the police would have been involved in Jeyaraj’s assassination. Holy Father calls on international community to aid Sri Lanka 11 November 2009 TNA says no poll boycott, support to Fonseka unlikely Excerpts of the interview: Asian Tribune: You may be aware there is going to be a presidential and parliamentary election soon. I am told that President Rajapaksa would be making an announcement on the 15th at the National Convention of Sri Lanka Freedom Party at Ketavarama stadium. It appears they will be having the presidential election first. N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, that is true, I also heard so. Asian Tribune: What is TNA stand? Do you (TNA) have any preference for a particular candidate? Will you enter into any electoral tie-ups? N.Sriskantha M.P.: Oh! It is too early to talk for us in the TNA to talk about our preference. But then with the election announcement expected very soon as you have rightly said with regards to the presidential election, I think I can only say ‘We are with an open mind’. We have number of options; the options are limited in a sense; the fact a few options are available to us. We have to wait and see who the major contenders are. I think President Rajapaksa will be seeking the re election… there is no doubt about that…otherwise he won’t be holding the election two years ahead of the due date. On the other hand there is a good possibility of a common candidate being fielded by the newly formed United National Front or Alliance, or whatever we may call the opposition group led by United National Party (UNP). Asian Tribune: United National Front, I think. N.Sriskantha M.P.: In conjunction with the JVP. Asian Tribune: JVP has not yet joined the UNF N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, that is true, but I understand that parleys have been going on between the UNF partners and JVP during the last several days. Whatever the JVP is going to back the common candidate or not, the UNF candidate will be the main challenger of Rajapaksa. We have to wait and see as to who is going to be that candidate. Asian Tribune: You are not thinking of fielding a common Tamil candidate? N.Sriskantha M.P.: So far no but I won’t rule out the possibility all together at this juncture. We will wait and see who are the main contenders, that is one issue. The second issue is that we have to give serious thought to the question of our taking a position in this election. We have to take a particular position there is no doubt. We can’t be evasive. In regards to that position we have few options; we may decide to support this candidate or that candidate of the main party and the other of the President. We are not sure at the moment as to which way JVP is going. They may field their own candidate. We don’t know; then that person cannot be the main contender. We have to take a position between the two main contenders that is, the president and his main opponent. Second, as you rightly suggested leaving theses people aside whether it is advisable to field a candidate on our own behalf or to leave the option open to our people – ask them to decide and vote. But I think that is not a correct position; we have to guide our people. We cannot simply leave the decision to the voters………. They are the people to decide, of course, but we have got to guide them in taking a position. Candidate General Fonseka ….. Raw Memories Asian Tribune: If UNF fields former army commander Sarath Fonseka, will you support him? N.Sriskantha M.P.: Support whom? Asian Tribune: If the UNF fields the former army commander as the common candidate of the opposition, will you be in a comfortable position to support him? N.Sriskantha M.P.: First of all, whether we will be in a comfortable or uncomfortable position is not an issue. In the first place you know the question is whether we are going to support Sarath Fonseka if he is going to be the candidate on behalf of the main opposition. I will put it that way. It is a very interesting question. I can only say this much on my own behalf, if the candidate is going to be someone other than General Sarath Fonseka that scenario will be, at least to some extent, different from if Sarath Fonseka is in the fray. I hope you understand. At least to some extent it will be a different scenario would be different in many aspects, even if there are many fundamental differences. Asian Tribune: If the General becomes a common opposition candidate in the presidential election…? N.Sriskantha M.P.: Well, our memories are not short. Our memories are very fresh in regards to each and everything that has happened in this country since we gained independence vis- a-vis the plight of the Tamil speaking people. We will wait and see because I think it is not appropriate for me to give even an indication in regards to our making a decision; first we have to give serious thought to this issue and then we will make the right decision. But you know it is not fair to say anything on the army commander…he has not said anything on entering election. Asian Tribune: what about his comments about Tamils ….some are really highly inflammatory remarks about Tamils…. There are reports that he was responsible for rounding up Tamils who were living in Colombo and packing them off to Vavuniya…. Allegations of tortures and killings of the Tamils under his command. N.Sriskantha M.P.: As I said, our memories are not short. When the time comes to take a decision, we will take the decision, a considered decision; I think it will be the right decision…. No Poll Boycott Asian Tribune: TNA boycotted the election in 2005. Any such plan now also if you think situation warrants a boycott. N.Sriskantha M.P.: No. there will be no boycott. We will not boycott. I can assure you that much. That is the only thing I can state now with utmost certainty that we will take a position on the presidential candidates. Asian Tribune: What will be your stand on parliamentary election? Will you go solo? Will the TNA enter into any electoral alliances…? N.Sriskantha M.P.: No alliances. We will not have any alliance. TNA may get enlarged with the induction of few more Tamil parties. In fact, I am happy to say that the PLOTE is positively responding to our overtures. I talked to Sidharthan, a couple of weeks ago….. He responded positively. I think he is a sensible politician to work with. Asian Tribune: Yes, his father, late V. Dharmalingham was my good friend. N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, my personal assessment is that he is a good man. Personal perceptions apart, I think there is a need and necessity to broaden the TNA… If some other Tamil parties are willing to come and join then we have got to accept them. Frankly, we are keen on enlarging the TNA …. PLOTE, TULF’s Anandasangaree, and then Pathmanpha’s EPRL group led by Sridharan…..Very soon we will be able to have something concrete ( on boad basing TNA). I will personally will be too happy to have the TNA enlarged ….to see the TNA enlarged incorporating or rather including each and every Tamil party…..for this matter even Tamil speaking Muslim parties who are willing to join hands with us. Pillaiyan - Welcome Asian Tribune: I want to ask you one more question. Will you also accept N.Sriskantha M.P.: Well, that means TMVP severing its alliance with the UPFA and joining us? Is that correct? Asian Tribune: Hypothetically, we may say, yes. N.Sriskantha M.P.: I also will hypothetically say yes. Asian Tribune: If they come forward? N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, if they come forward. I am telling my personal view; we have not discussed this issue though it has cropped up once or twice in relation to other Tamil parties. Asian Tribune: There is a factional tussle going on between Karuna and Pillaiyan. N.Sriskantha M.P.: Karuna is out of question, he is with the SLFP. We have nothing to do with him. Pillaiyan and TMVP is a different proposition. TNA and Youths Asian Tribune: Are you promoting any new people as candidates? N.Sriskantha M.P.: I think, you know, in any election it is nothing but natural for any party or any political formation to bring in new faces. In the case of TNA I think there is a pressing need to infuse some new blood, I mean, young blood. You see, due to the military conflict that has been raging on since 1983, Tamil professionals are reluctant to enter political main stream… they are really on the sidelines. Now, it is a different atmosphere all together and even in the last local body election in Jaffna we were able to field at least 2 or 3 candidates who are totally new to politics but very young and active and some are rather educationally qualified people. Therefore, that is a good sign we will work on that and we have to bring in younger people. You know Mr.Rajasingham, when S.J.V. Chelvanayagam, the late leader of Federal Party faced the first general election in 1952, he fielded A. Amirthalingham, who was then barely 24years and he just sat for his law college final exams. Amirthalingham narrowly lost coming third after In 1956, I know, as an expert in politics you know very well, still, I want to state this. Chelvanayagam fielded not one but four new candidates who were young at that time. About Amirthalingham you know. Then there was S. Rajathurai. He was 28. V.Navarthanam was 26. K.P Rathanam was 25; even Mr. Mustafa who won the Pottuvil electorate in the East was in his early 30s. The scene has radically changed in recent times. The candidates who had been contesting in the last two general elections, except for a few are beyond 40 years and generally in the mid 40s and some in their 50s and in their 60s. So this should change…I would like to say that experienced politicians should retire from parliamentary electoral politics. We need experience as well as freshness. So it should be a right mix in regards to age and different walks of life…We have to look for young people at least this time. We have Gajendrakumar who is in his early 30s.When he contested in 2001, he was barely 26. I am talking about Gajendrakumar. Asian Tribune: Ponampalam’s son? N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, G.G. Kumar Ponampallam’s son or G.G’s grandson. So we need few young men and women like him who are in their 30s like Gajendrakumar. We need one or two candidates in the mid 20s or late 20s and at least a few in their 30s and in 40s. Asian Tribune: When I was in Dawasa group of newspapers, we had an Editorial Managing Director and he was D.B.Dhanapala, a veteran journalist of repute. N.Sriskantha M.P.: I know him very well. Asian Tribune: G.G. Ponampallam used to call Dhanapala and tell him to send Rajasingham for an interview or to make the statement. G.G. the senior, he is from our village from Allvai. I used to go to him and take down his statement as he dictated... When I was about to leave he used to ask me to wait and join him in lunch. He used to treat me for a sumptuous lunch. He never used to give lunch to anyone you know that. But he always treated me with lunch. N.Sriskantha M.P.: I know that he was rather said to be a different sort. Asian Tribune: I have seen many of his party leaders waiting outside to talk with him but he used to ignore them and spend time with me. Those days I used to see Kumar Ponampallam as young boy and he always called me “Annai, annai, how are you and all those things”. I still remember N.Sriskantha M.P.: Then were you in your early 30s? Asian Tribune: No, then I was in my early 20s. Tie Up With UPFA? Asian Tribune: Ok. Let me ask you about poll alliances. In case there was an approach by the government party UPFA for a coalition arrangement? N.Sriskantha M.P.: Coalition is out. Totally out. Asian Tribune: Electoral arrangement? N.Sriskantha M.P.: No…no…not with anybody… neither with the ruling front or with the main opposition or with JVP. We can only have any relationship only with Tamil and Muslims parties and that is only acceptable to us. Asian Tribune: Are you trying to contest as Illankai Tamil Arrasu political party or going to register TNA as a political party? N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, there is a strong move to have TNA registered with a well defined constitution. We have to wait and see how the situation evolves, develops. We are keen but let us see. Sivajilingham MP and Adaikalanathan MP Are Back Asian Tribune: What about Sivajilingham and Adaikalanathan coming back to Sri Lanka? What happened to them? N.Sriskantha M.P.: Well Sivajilingham is not facing any problem. But Adaikalanathan was asked to come over to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TDI) and was questioned and his statements were recorded in the 5th and the 6th of November. Asian Tribune: What were the charges against him? N.Sriskantha M.P.: Since it is an ongoing investigation, I don’t want to comment on it but as his lawyer, I can say that he has been questioned on a number of matters. That could be covered either under the normal law or either under the emergency regulations. Adaikalanathan has vehemently denied all the allegations. Because he is not answerable for what others did. Maybe someone is a friend of mine, employee or member of the party. So under the law he is answerable to what he does. How can you me to answer a functionary of the political party namely the TELO, member of a TNA either an ordinary member of the party or supporter have done? Violating the law according to the investigator? Asian Tribune: Sivajilingham has no problem? N.Sriskantha M.P.: So far no problem. I hope that it will continue. Asian Tribune: What is the point of having him as a member representing Point Pedro when he spends all his time in India? N.Sriskantha M.P.: He had a problem, try to understand that there was a bit of indiscretion in his public pronouncement that led to serious concern in our own quarters in regards to the advisability of he returning to Sri Lanka during the last several months ….some concern about his security when the war was going on. Misunderstanding is rather a very difficult proposition. Now we are happy he has returned on his own and is active in parliament and in TNA also. So therefore, we have to understand his problem. I am not trying to justify certain statement attributed to him. It is also my firm view that he should have been very cautious in making public pronouncement on certain sensitive and vital issues. Because it is our political position that the political solutions must be found within the united country to the national conflict or national solution, I think every TNA member is duty bound to act accordingly. If anyone of our MPs or Front liners, regardless of their political position, find it difficult to go with the party line, then they should give up their position in the party. In future we will stick to this stand very strictly. World Classical Tamil Conference Asian Tribune: Any invitation to TNA to attend World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore? N.Sriskantha M.P.: So far no invitation. We have more pressing problems at home. We will leave such matters like WCTC to the academics and others who are best suited to deal with them, since we have so many other problems in our hand. Our priorities are different. Asian Tribune: You are not endorsing the conference? N.Sriskantha M.P.: No, I don’t see any politics on that. It is purely an academic conference so let us view that on that basis. There is no question of endorsing or rejecting it. That question does not arise. Will never arise. IDPS And The TNA Asian Tribune: Have you met the IDPs who are in the camps or welfare centeres in Vanni? N.Sriskantha M.P.: Well, so far we were unable to do that because we were not permitted. Basil Rajapakse (Chairman of the Northern Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province and Senior Adviser to the President) has told some of the TNA members, when we had a casual meeting with him, that we can visit the IDP welfare centres. I think soon we will visit. He also wanted us to visit the demining areas. Asian Tribune: What about looking after the welfare of resettled people? N.Sriskantha M.P.: We would like to see the people who are resettled. So we will have a firsthand knowledge of what is happening. I think that is something that is seriously considered. We would definitely visit the IDP welfare centres and the areas where resettlement is going on and also where demining is going on. Asian Tribune: Is your party making any arrangement to provide houses for these settlers? N.Sriskantha M.P.: There are some members of the Tamil diaspora who have been in touch with the TNA to float a fund for the benefit of the IDPs who are being resettled. We have got to have an organizational structure so that whoever wants to help the IDPs and those who are being resettled can go through a reliable active organizations. Asian Tribune: Any time frame…. N.Sriskantha M.P.: Time frame! Well, you see, we have to do this fast. It is a pressing need. Verbal sobs won’t do. Ban on Opp. MPs’ visits to Vanni IDP camps lifted The government will shortly invite Opposition MPs to visit northern relief camps, where about 140,000 war displaced people are accommodated. The government has so far refused the entire Opposition, including the UNP, the TNA and the JVP, access to the facilities run with the support of some international community, particularly UN agencies.Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Risad Bathiudeen yesterday told The Island that a 32-member Consultative Committee of his ministry would be invited to visit northern camps shortly. The Minister said that he had obtained Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s consent on Monday (Oct 9) for that purpose.The Minister said the IDP camps had held almost 300,000 persons at the end of war last May. The number had rapidly come down to 140,000 after the government accelerated the resettlement programme, he said.The government would shortly open Pooneryn in the Kilinochchi District for resettlement. Responding to our queries, he said that about 28,000 persons would be resettled in the Pooneryn area. Of the delay in resettling civilians, Minister Bathiudeen said in political programme telecast over state and private television channels on Monday night that in keeping with a 180-day deadline given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a Presidential Task Force headed by Basil Rajapaksa, MP had time till January 31, 2010 to accomplish the task. He dismissed Opposition accusations that the government was planning to deny the displaced an opportunity to exercise their franchise at the forthcoming elections.Northern Province Governor Major General G. A. Chandrasiri (retd) yesterday told The Island that the government concentrating on Tunukai, Mallavi and Pooneryn areas, west of the A 9 as the resettlement process entered an important stage. "We recently reopened Mallavi hospital and are in the process of launching public transport services," he said. Although full restoration of public transport would take some time, the government would explore the possibility of operating a few buses initially.According to him, some UN agencies had been given access to the area west of the A9 to facilitate their efforts to resettle the displaced. He said that the WFP, the UNHCR and the IOM were among international agencies given access. At the height of the Vanni battle, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa directed all INGOs and NGOs based in the LTTE-held territory to vacate the area. They complied with his directive last September.Chandrasiri said that the northern rehabilitation efforts would be strengthened by deployment of an additional 109 vehicles this week. Of them 35, were given by the Government of Japan, he said, adding that the situation at welfare centres would continue to improve as the number of people accommodated there continued to dwindle. He said that vehicles donated by Japan would be used to improve sanitary conditions at welfare centres. Sri Lanka urges Australia to ban the LTTE on their soil US helped destroy some LTTE ‘floating arsenals’-President responding to criticism that Sri Lanka’s foreign relations were in shambles and the country isolated internationally, declared that the United States of America had helped Sri Lanka to wipe out the LTTE shipping fleet. An irate President said that the US had alerted Sri Lanka to the presence of LTTE ‘floating arsenals’ on the high seas. This confirmed the recent revelation by The Island that a foreign power had helped the Sri Lanka Navy to destroy four of the eight ships, including three sunk in a two-day operation in 2007, causing a severe setback to the LTTE.He said that contrary to condemnation of his foreign policy, the country had received the support of many foreign countries to defeat the LTTE. All of them had sold arms, ammunition and equipment to Sri Lanka.The President was responding to queries raised by a group of journalists, representing the print and electronic media, during a three-hour press meet at Temple Trees telecast live over both state and private television networks.The President said that the government had succeeded in maintaining its foreign relations. Appreciating the support extended by Pakistan, China and India for Sri Lanka’s war against LTTE terrorism, the President said that some questioned his ability to meet the LTTE threat. Others said that the LTTE could not be defeated by what he termed Medamulana strategy. To the credit of their foreign policy the country had managed to receive the support of many countries though some of them desperately tried to throw a lifeline to the LTTE. The Many countries and organisations had intervened on behalf of the LTTE at the height of the war though the government did not succumb to international pressure he said.He recalled the extremely difficult and unfavourable economic conditions under which his government had to wage war against a well entrenched enemy. The government launched new development initiatives and provided employment to over 300,000 persons though the war sapped the economy.Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that the government had successfully battled the LTTE both here and overseas. Referring to the arrest of Kumaran Padmanathan aka ‘KP’ he said that the government was continuing operations to destroy their international network though the LTTE no longer posed a military challenge.Minister A. L. M. Athaulla said that the Rajapaksa administration had not received any support at all from the Opposition. Praising the President and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for their leadership, he said that people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces had been finally liberated from the LTTE. He asserted that the Opposition could not understand the ground realities though the people of the Eastern Province appreciate what the government had achieved against tremendous odds. "We are finally free. Our children are now free to attend school." People flock to Trincomalee and other eastern towns to enjoy life. Former LTTE commander turned UPFA MP Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralidaran aka Karuna, too, explained the rapid development taking place in the East after the liberation of the province. Lanka army chief may quit by month-end, contest polls General Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka’s chief of defence staff (CDS) and an architect of the military victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), may resign by the month-end.This could clear the way for him to contest in next year’s presidential election against incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa.A coalition of opposition parties are ready to field Fonseka against Rajapaksa.Fonseka, as army chief, and Rajapaksa are credited with bringing Lanka’s 26-year ethnic conflict to an end. But HT has learnt that the general — who survived an LTTE suicide attack in 2006 — was unhappy with how days after Colombo declared victory against the LTTE on May 19, he was promoted to CDS — “an appointment without power”. From being the chief of a 2 lakh-strong army, he had been made a ceremonial head. The animosity between Fonseka and Rajapaksa deepened when earlier this month the president “summoned” the CDS back from the US, after homeland security there sought Fonseka as a source of information on the involvement of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, defence secretary and the president’s brother, in alleged rights violations.Fonseka returned to Colombo immediately. MR will accept Gen. Fonseka’s resignation President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said if Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka submitted his resignation from the post with the intention of contesting the upcoming Presidential election, he would accept it forthwith.The President made the comment when several Ministers inquired from him whether there would be a legal problem for General Fonseka if he wanted to resign soon to contest an election. The President had said there were many reports in this regard and if he received a resignation letter from General Fonseka he would act within half an hour to let the General know that he had accepted the resignation. The President had said he would act with a clear political conscience and would not hesitate to accept General Fonseka’s resignation from the post of Chief of Defence Staff. Earlier there was speculation whether General Fonseka could resign from the post of CDS on his own wish without serving the full term of two years for which he had been appointed. Trouble at the top in Sri Lanka? BBC News Presidential candidate? There is no open quarrel. But each side's comments do seem telling. In a speech two weeks ago, Gen Fonseka said that people in Colombo who "hold responsibilities" had forgotten the importance of the army in the war victory. But government ministers and deputies have been making pointed remarks of a different kind - for instance, that in Sri Lankan history it was kings, not soldiers, that won wars; or that military rule in Pakistan (a close friend of Sri Lanka) had left that country "in a total mess". That is relevant because there are growing indications that the general may seek to enter politics as a presidential candidate against Mahinda Rajapaksa after quitting his military post. The election is due before April. This would be an intriguing prospect. Gen Fonseka is a strong Sinhalese nationalist, who in a Canadian newspaper interview last year was quoted as saying that "this country belongs to the [majority] Sinhalese" although minorities must also be treated "like our people". Yet a Tamil politician in the newly formed opposition coalition, Mano Ganesan, has told the BBC that opposition parties may support Gen Fonseka as a candidate for a limited term as they cannot see any other way of ousting Mr Rajapaksa - also widely regarded as a Sinhalese nationalist. The opposition leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, says he has set out preconditions for the general to be acceptable as a candidate. These would include giving government portfolios to the Tamil National Alliance, a pro-Tamil Tiger parliamentary group. To many, such a possibility seems scarcely credible. There was a further twist last week when the Sri Lankan government alleged that the US government had sought to use Gen Fonseka to testify against the defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, over war crimes allegations. The Americans declined to comment but the government hurriedly called a news conference to say the general was not allowed to divulge privileged information to third parties. Asked by the BBC whether there was a split between the general and the defence secretary, Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Rohitha Bogollagama, said "I don't think so" but did not elaborate. President Rajapaksa has not commented directly on the possibility of having Gen Fonseka as an electoral rival. Speaking on state television this week, he said the general was "a military officer under my command - the most senior" and he had nothing further to say. His brother Gotabhaya said in the same broadcast that the public must not engage in acts that would "divide the military". 'Suicidal move' Some government supporters are getting anxious, with newspaper columnists urging the general not to stand and Buddhist religious organisations telling him not to "fall prey to national and international conspirators". An ultra-nationalist politician, Wimal Weerawansa, said the general should not "make any suicidal move that would tarnish his image". It has not been possible to speak to the general recently. It is unclear exactly what his own thinking is, although opposition politicians say his associates have been in contact with them. If he does stand, the opposition would be trying to meet the government on its own territory - contesting the election with the war victory as a central issue, rather than other everyday issues which do seem to be gaining in importance. It would be mainly a battle for the Sinhalese vote, with many members of minorities left with the option of casting some kind of protest vote or not voting at all. The question is how well such a contest would go down with the voters - whether Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim or any other. 10 November 2009 Ranil puts forth conditions for endorsing Fonseka’s candidature Close on the heels of the newly formed UNP-led United National Alliance’s approval for Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Sarath Fonseka’s nomination as its candidate at the next presidential election, UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday put forth conditions for endorsing his (Gen. Fonseka’s) candidature. Wickremesinghe said Gen. Fonseka had to agree to appoint a caretaker government with him (Wickremesinghe) as the Prime Minister in the event of his election.The UNP leader expressed these views in an interview with the Editor of The Sudar Oli, Nadesapillai Vidyadaran, published yesterday.Wickremesinghe said the United National Front, the JVP and the Tamil National Alliance should be agreeable to Gen. Fonseka’s candidature. He said he expected Gen. Fonseka to clarify certain issues concerning the Tamil people and the Tamil National Alliance should endorse that General Fonseka’s clarifications were acceptable to the Tamils. "I expect even the JVP and the TNA to come to some understanding over this issue," Wickremesinghe told the Sudar Oli.The UNP leader said that he expected the common candidate to fulfil certain other obligations and make some pledges in public regarding the abolition of the executive presidency and the resettlement of IDPs.Wickremesinghe demanded that General Fonseka make a prior announcement that he would assign important portfolios to the JVP and TNA in the proposed caretaker government. Fonseka should pledge that he would do away with the Emergency Regulations and ensure the full implementation of the 17th Amendment.Wickremesinghe told the Sudar Oli that he was hopeful that an understanding on these issues could be reached among the Opposition parties."Under these circumstances the Government that is already in a dilemma could even postpone the intended presidential election, in which event it would be advantageous to us" the Opposition leader said.Wickremesinghe was quoted as stating that bringing an end to President Rajapaksa’s rule was the most important of all issues. Local Government elections to be postponed by a year The local government elections which were to be held in 2010 will be postponed by a year. The government took this decision as a number of elections were being held back to back, causing the popularity of the government to decrease, a government official said.The local government’s term ends next April, according to the Provincial Election Act the elections can be held one year prior or after the due date. Hence it has been decided to hold the local government elections in 2011.W.P Sumanasiri, Deputy Elections Commissioner stated that although they have been told that the elections will be postponed, no written request have been made. A Palace for Karuna Amman too ! India sends more demining teams to sri lanka In an effort to expedite re-construction work on the northern railway line, India has increased the number of de-mining teams sent to the country to seven, as three more such teams arrived in the island to add to the four already operating here, which they said has cost them Rs. 500 million. Diplomatic sources said that India is soon to sign a contract with the Sri Lankan government to start reconstruction work of the northern railway line destroyed during the war. “To start reconstruction work, the track has to be de-mined. One team will be deployed especially for this purpose,” sources said. Meanwhile, India has also decided to send another 50,000 packages of agricultural implements to be distributed among the displaced persons to resume crop cultivation. Earlier, India had delivered 20,000 packages of such items to the country. Increasing the quota of assistance the Indian government offered to Sri Lanka to a supplementary line of credit of US$ 67.4 million was approved for the rehabilitation of the Southern Colombo-Matara Railway Line. The line of credit has been requested by Sri Lanka to finance the second phase of work on the southern railway line. India earlier provided a line of credit of US$ 100 million to finance the first phase of rehabilitation work on the Southern Railway Line. Two Indian companies – RITES and IRCON – had signed contracts in this regard in 2008 and work on the first phase of this project is currently underway. The total package includes the supply of 20 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) sets, reconstruction of the railway line from Colombo to Matara, construction of maintenance sheds for the DMUs and training of Sri Lankan engineers in India in handling and maintenance of these new units. India has also conveyed its approval to supply the second consignment of 2600 MT of Galvanized Corrugated Sheets to be used as shelter material for displaced persons in the north. The total cost of these items was estimated at US$ 2.65 million. Monks call on Fonseka to reconsider moves to enter politics Soldiers remanded for rape Two soldiers arrested on a complaint of rape were yesterday produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Nishantha Hapuarachchi, who remanded them till November 23.The complainant was handed over to the custody of the Salvation Army.The Keselwatte Police said that the complainant was having an affair with one of the suspects.She had arrived with the two suspects at night at the Pettah Bus Stand. They had taken her to a darkened upstair room in a commercial complex where they allegedly raped her.WSI Abeyratne of the Women’s and Child Care Bureau conducted investigations.On a Court order, the complainant was subjected to a medical examination by AJMO A. Dayapala. LTTE’s EP leader Ram recaptured The LTTE Eastern province leader Ram, who had escaped from Army, was arrested yesterday. The Army nabbed him following a massive search operation conducted in the Minneriya jungles. Ram had been under interrogation in an army camp in the Giritale Area in Polonnaruwa, when he fled last Saturday (7). With the escape of the LTTE Eastern Province leader, the Army commenced a search operation with over 3,000 soldiers deployed to trace him down.Ram was captured while he was hiding in the jungle near the Minneriya tank. Ram had been appointed to the leadership of the LTTE’s Eastern Province following the defection of Karuna Amman. He had a through knowledge of the terrain in the East and led a number of attacks against the security forces. Ram had left for the North after his members were killed by the STF during confrontations. Wanted ‘Army Manju’ netted ‘Army Manju’ a notorious criminal wanted in connection with several killings and attempting a bank robbery was arrested in the Moratuwa area, police media spokesman Nimal Mediwake said.Police said that the suspect was also linked to several robberies in the Moratuwa area and had been previously jailed. The suspect was arrested by the Mount Lavinia Special Crime Investigations Division on a tip off received from the public.He was wanted by the police mainly for attempting to rob money from the Bank of Ceylon, Piliyandala branch, DIG Mediwake said. Finally, the real Alex steps forward FORMER Toronto gang member Sanjeev Kuhendrarajah is heavily tattooed, has a criminal record for death threats and firearms possession that got him deported from Canada six years ago, and is now, perhaps improbably, the articulate and thoughtful spokesman for a boatload of Tamil asylum-seekers trying to get to Christmas Island. A Canadian immigration department assessment refers to chronic alcohol and drug abuse in his youth, persistent anger management issues and a "love-hate relationship" with his mother.But the 27-year-old adamantly denies he is a people-smuggler. Kuhendrarajah, otherwise known as Alex - a pseudonym he said he had used for years and which he goes by on the social networking site Facebook - has finally spoken about his past after the Sri Lankan government accused him and a brother of being involved in the human trafficking business. Because of his excellent English, Kuhendrarajah became the voice of the boatload of nearly 250 Sri Lankan refugees tied up at Merak dock, in western Java, after it was intercepted by the Indonesian navy on an Australian intelligence tip-off early last month. But now, fearful for the safety in Sri Lanka of his wife and three young children, who are trying desperately to also escape the country after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebellion was put down several months ago, he says he regrets having taken such a prominent role in the affair.He has also admitted concealing facts about his life. Kuhendrarajah agreed to speak out on the condition that his immediate family not be identified. The Australian has, however, spoken to Kuhendrarajah's wife in Sri Lanka, where she is awaiting travel documents she hopes will be organised within days. "The Sri Lankan government is out to get me, they are going to try to crucify me, and they will do that by any means necessary," he said. "The reason I'm speaking up against these allegations is to prove to the world that this government is cruel, that it has no mercy. They will do anything to try to discredit me and to ruin my family. If anything happens to my wife, if anything happens to my children, I will hold the Australian government and the Indonesian government responsible for their murders." Kuhendrarajah said he grew up in Canada, after his family fled Sri Lanka following anti-Tamil riots in 1983. Arriving in Toronto via London - where his father remained after separating from Kuhendrarajah's mother, and is now a prosperous gold trader - the family joined relatives who had been in the multicultural city for more than two decades. By his own admission, Kuhendrarajah's life went off the rails early, and at the age of 12 he became a ward of the state after running away from home and accusing his mother of abuse. He says he eventually fell in with a Tamil street gang at the height of a Toronto turf war that left several people dead. "The criminal conviction that had me deported was because as a child I made some very bad mistakes, and those mistakes cost me my entire life," he said. Kuhendrarajah was, for about three years until his arrest in September 2000, a member of the A.K. Kannan gang, one of two major Tamil criminal organisations responsible for a reign of terror on Toronto's streets. An uncle was also a senior leader of the gang. "There were many fights, and these fights got bigger with each year," he said. "First people started fighting with their hands, and then people started fighting with small knives and then larger knives. It just escalated." A.K. Kannan had started out as a small heroin-trading franchise but the conflict quickly exploded with its main rival, the VVT gang, named for the town of Valvettithurai in northern Sri Lanka where its leader originated. Reports have linked VVT to funding for the Tamil Tigers, although Kuhendrarajah was adamant the battles, while originating in homeland discontents, were mainly about local issues. More than a dozen tit-for-tat fatal shootings in the late 1990s forced authorities to act, rounding up for deportation several dozen gang members in late 2001. By that time Kuhendrarajah, one of those identified for forced removal under a special organised crime section of the country's immigration act, had already spent a year in jail on the firearms and death-threat convictions, and was due for release. "And that is the point where I learnt I wasn't a citizen," Kuhendrarajah said, revealing as he has done so many times in his short life a combination of acute intelligence and blind naivety. "Growing up from the age of five, singing the national anthem every day of my life, at that point, at the age of 19, I thought I was a (Canadian) citizen. I just totally couldn't believe I wasn't - because my grandmother was a citizen, and my mother is a citizen, my uncles, my aunts are citizens, my grandfather was a citizen. And I just didn't understand how I could not be a citizen. But my mother had applied for citizenship while I was under the care of the Children's Aid Society, when I was 14, because I had run away from home, so I didn't receive it." Canadian immigration department documents obtained by The Australian cite the view of a department panel in 2002 that it was "not persuaded the prospect (of rehabilitation) are good or even fair", after the incident for which he was arrested, and confirming his deportation order. The documents show Kuhendrarajah was seized by police with a sawn-off .22 calibre semi-automatic handgun loaded with seven rounds, after having threatened to kill an opponent. Kuhendrarajah described himself and his former gangmates yesterday as "spoilt brats who didn't have a mind to think for themselves", and claimed they were "used" by the gang leaders to wage power struggles in the city. The court documents, however, describe him as living in a basement squat with other friends who were linked to kidnappings and assaults, and contain Kuhendrarajah's own admission that he had been involved in "petty crimes with friends" and fights in bars. Kuhendrarajah was deported in 2003 to Sri Lanka, where he had no family but plenty of money from his wealthy relatives in Canada and London. There he met his wife, with whom he moved in 2006 to Chennai in India, fearful of ongoing anti-Tamil violence in Sri Lanka. "Eventually I did start a small business (in Chennai), and I think this is where the Sri Lankan government got the idea that I'm a people-smuggler," he said. "I did not have an office, but I started a small business where for tours, or anybody that needed a vehicle to rent, I just rented out mine. And whilst doing this I started working in a call centre, because of my good command of English and my knowledge of American lifestyle and American culture. In the call centre in Chennai they loved me, and they were willing to pay me a lot of money. So as time went by I became very well off in India and I had a good life there." On the understanding that his removal order from Canada lasted only five years, Kuhendrarajah began making plans last year to obtain Sri Lankan passports for his children - his wife gave birth to their third daughter just weeks ago, while he was hiding in Malaysia waiting to board the Lestari Jaya 5, the ill-fated boat that brought him to Australia's attention - and try again to make a North American home. On their return from India to organise the passports, however, he said he was arrested by Sri Lankan authorities on suspicion of being a Tigers supporter and detained without charge for months. After being released, he said, and brimming with frustration, he leapt at the opportunity a friend was offering to sail from Malaysia to Australia. "The plan was for me to get out of the country immediately, and then as soon as my child was born, for them to follow however they could," he said. "I was determined that if I was able to get on to Christmas Island, that I would be able to tell the truth to the UNHCR, and they would be able to understand my situation, understand that I made mistakes when I was young, and it has been years since I left (Canada). My life has changed a lot since then. "But I am not a Tiger, and I am not a people smuggler. I want to put these people (people smugglers) away as much as anyone does. They may now have cost me my family and my life." 08 November 2009 Opposition’s common candidate: Gen. Fonseka We’ll back you to topple Mahinda, JVP tells UNP The JVP has assured the UNP that it will support a common candidate fielded by a joint opposition alliance-led by the main opposition party if President Mahinda Rajapaksa called an early presidential election ahead of parliamentary polls.Well informed political sources told the Sunday Island that this would be a new alliance and should not be mistaken with the recently formed UNP-led United National Alliance (UNA) which would campaign for parliamentary polls scheduled to take place by April next year. Presidential nomination deadline strategic With the possible announcement of Presidential election on November 15th by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the SLFP convention, leaders of political parties (opposition and the government) are in a tug o’ war to win members from respective opposing camps.Meanwhile, lengthy discussions have been held among top government rankers to call nominations for the presidential election in November (possibly November 19th) and close the nominations before December 18th to prevent any military officer contesting. Oppositionists said that a very prominent military officer would resign from the army and contest the forthcoming presidential election, and that the announcement would be made at the UNP Convention.Also, prominent personalities in the government are in discussion with disgruntled UNPers to make them join the government. Meanwhile, Joint Chairman of the recently formed United National Front Mangala Samaraweera is holding discussions with some of the SLFP members, who have been sidelined for years and with those who will lose their organizer posts with the appointments of new SLFP organizers on November 15th.Many SLFP organizers who lost posts earlier too have confirmed to Samaraweera that they would join the new alliance formed last week.Though the government has tried its utmost to make UNP National Organizer S.B.Dissanayake support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the next Presidential election, Dissanayake has declined to join the government, political sources said.UNP MP K.N.Choksy who first applauded the government’s Vote on Account when the UNP collectively ridiculed it, was pacified by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe after he heard that Choksy would join the government. Thereafter, Choksy voted against the Vote On Account last Thursday evening.Meanwhile, National Freedom Front’s general secretary Nandana Gunathilaka resigned from all his posts in the NFF and will contest the next general election from the UPFA from the Kalutara district. Minister of Justice Milinda Moragoda is likely contest from the Purawesi Peramuna which was formed by former UNP Minister Sirisena Cooray. UNP leader Wickremesinghe has declined the offer by some of Moragoda’s friends attempt to reconcile him with Moragoda.The new alliance (United National Front) formed last week has decided to ensure good governance, maintenance of law and order, strengthening country’s security and media freedom, and eradication of corruption, but there was no pledge on reduction of cost of living. Fonseka’s regiments out As a measure to forestall any attempt at coup d’ etat, the Singha Regiment, which had been assigned security at the Ministry of Defence has been relieved of its duties.The Singha Regiment had earlier been assigned security of the Army Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence. According to the latest changes made yesterday, Singha Regiment would be assigned the security of the Army Headquarters in the area up to the office of the Chief of Defence Staff, but not further. The rest of the area would be assigned to the Armoured Corps. General Sarath Fonseka was an illustrious officer of the Singha Regiment, and acted as the colonel of the Regiment until recently. It has also been decided that Presidential Security Division would escort the President on his visits to the Army Headquarters. Until now, the PSD did not accompany the President’s motorcade when in Army Headquarters. France asks Sri Lanka to end emergency laws COLOMBO : A top French envoy on Saturday asked Sri Lanka to end its state of emergency and probe war crimes ahead of a key European Union ruling on trade concessions to the troubled island. Ambassador for Human Rights, Francois Zimeray, said he hoped Colombo will signal the ending of its war with Tamil rebels in May by withdrawing emergency laws which allowed the detention of suspects for long periods without trial. "Ending of the emergency (in force since 1983) should have been the first consequence of ending the war (in May)," he said at the end of three-days of talks with key Sri Lankan leaders on the island's human rights situation. "The fact that the conflict is over should be an opportunity to put an end to emergency laws," he said referring to the draconian legislation which was also used in August to jail an editor for 20 years. He echoed international calls to probe alleged war crimes in the final stages of the fighting and said Colombo should allow independent investigations to ensure that a culture of impunity did not persist. His visit, which took place against the backdrop of a European Union probe into the island's human rights record, could influence the stance Paris will adopt in deciding future trade concessions to the island, he said. His remarks came as Sri Lanka said the probe by the EU, the findings of which could cost the country lucrative trade concessions, was "politically motivated." The EU report highlighted the slow resettlement of war-displaced people in camps and allegations of rights violations and torture during the decades-long conflict between the government and Tamil rebels. "The government contests this (EU) position," the foreign ministry said in a 48-page response to the October report. The ministry said the EU decision to order the investigation was "politically motivated and accompanied by a high degree of prejudice." The EU could decide to suspend trading concessions worth over 100 million dollars given to Sri Lanka under a trade preference called GSP Plus. Zimeray insisted that they were not imposing "western values" on Sri Lanka, but only wanted the island to implement its own laws in respect of protecting human rights and ensuring the rule of law. The GSP Plus scheme offers tariff cuts for the country's key exports like clothes and ceramics. The report also focused on the killing of an editor who was a prominent war critic and the 20-year jail term given to a Tamil editor accused of supporting the rebels. The report said there was an absence of media freedom. Sri Lanka dismissed the notion of media suppression, saying journalists write freely and that reports of attacks on media personnel were being investigated. Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said he hoped the EU executive would "extensively examine" Colombo's response to the report and make a positive recommendation. Two LTTE cadres arrested with explosives in northern Sri Lanka Sri Lanka police in Vavuniya have arrested another two LTTE cadres with a stock of explosives Saturday night. Police spokesman Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Nimal Mediwaka said that these two LTTE cadres were arrested by a special police team during a search operation conducted at Thonikal area in Vavuniya. The police have found a claymore mine weighing of 7.25 kilogram, an electric detonator, a remote control, and several other war items in their possession. Further questioning of the two LTTE cadres is currently underway, Senior DIG Mediwaka added. Australia’s Foreign Minister Smith to Visit Sri Lanka Tomorrow Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said he will visit Sri Lanka tomorrow for talks on people smuggling and the effort to rebuild the island nation following the end of internal conflict. His visit will be the first to Sri Lanka by an Australian foreign minister since 2003, Smith said in a statement today. Smith will be in Singapore from Nov. 10 to Nov. 12 for the 21st APEC ministerial mieeting. Ex-NFF Gunatilaka tipped to receive SLFP post Tourism Minister Nandana Gunatilaka who resigned from the National Freedom Front (NFF) last Thursday is tipped to be given the SLFP ticket along with the post of Panadura SLFP organiser while the NFF is to appoint a new General Secretary and a National Organiser in two weeks.Minister Gunatilaka, along with NFF national organiser Kamal Deshapriya Mannapperuma informed the Elections Commissioner that they were resigning from all posts and responsibilities held in the Party.Citing NFF leadership’ failure to address the original policies and principles of the party as the rational behind his resignation, Minister Gunatilaka also said that even the struggle to rectify such shortcomings within the party without bringing them to the limelight was also lost.Meanwhile, NFF sources said that they will replace Gunatilaka and Mannapperuma at their General Convention which is to be taken place in two weeks time and appoint a new Party General Secretary and a National Organiser.“It was a shortcoming in our part that we did not inform the dismissal of these two earlier. We were patient and bore their irresponsible behaviour for several months. They never performed their due responsibilities entrusted to them by the party. Anyway they took advantage of our good heart,” the source said.However, NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa declined to comment on the issue. Government dismisses LTTE ‘poll’ attempt Sri Lanka snubbed moves by LTTE remnants to hold a ‘poll’ in April next year to elect members to its so-called transitional Government, saying this was another futile attempt to revive the terror organisation. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told the Sunday Observer that their declared government-in-exile was a myth and so is the move to hold a poll as announced on Thursday by the US based LTTE proxy Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran. “If they try to perpetuate LTTE terrorism in the guise of various other front movements, this will also be countered by us,” he said commenting on Rudrakumaran’s claim. The LTTE is banned in countries including the US where Rudrakumaran who is said to have taken over the diaspora activities of the LTTE, is based. The Minister said, “No country should be allowed to host any groupings or meetings that serve a separatist cause in Sri Lanka.” Rudrakumaran said the poll will be conducted among the diaspora community to elect members for what they called the Transitional Government (PTGTE). International terrorism expert and Professor of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore Rohan Gunaratna said the LTTE international wing has three factions with Rudrakumaran heading its political affairs part and Oslo based Nediyawan who strives to continue the LTTE armed struggle, leading another. “The more significant threat to Sri Lanka will come from the Nediyawan factor.” Dr. Gunaratna warned adding that Norway held a huge responsibility to ensure that the LTTE is dismantled on their soil since the country has emerged as a key centre for LTTE activities. According to Dr. Gunaratna the most secretive faction of the LTTE is headed by Ponnaiah Anandarajah alias Ayyar who is a US citizen and a double Accountant. He was responsible for procuring weaponry from North Korea that was used to kill tens of thousands of civilians and military personnel. “Ayyar’s right hand man Ravi Shankar Kanagarajah alias Sangili is now under investigation in Canada over the recently intercepted LTTE ship MV Princess Easwary smuggling LTTE cadres.” He said the Government should now build a robust capability to counter the post-Prabhakaran threat landscape. First school reopens in Mullaithivu tomorrow The Yogapuram Tamil Vidyalayam in Mallavi area in the Mullaithivu District which closed down like other schools in the region when the war intensified early this year will be reopening on Monday to over 1,000 registered students in the area to resume their studies.Speaking to The Nation, Imelda Sugumar the Government Agent for the Mullaithivu District said that the school had not closed down permanently, but had to restrict their activities when the conflict intensified last year. “There are over 1,000 students who are registered to come back to school, some of them are still at IDP camps while others have been resettled, but all of them are willing to come back,” she said. “There are about 250 staff members, most of whom were in IDP camps, and they are willing to get back to work.”Sugumar added that many other schools, both primary and those offering higher education have been asked to resume conducting classes and examinations. There are around 52 schools in the area. She also said the divisional secretariat office is also open and all other civil servants have been asked to report back to duty immediately. Responding to a request made by newly resettled civilians in Thunukkai to the President during his visit last week, Sugumar added that the GA’s office was in conversation with Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) officials on resuming transport services to Thunukkai. “The civilians had also requested their wish to restart the use of postal services, about which I have already written and spoken to the postmaster general and we are getting the details worked out,” she added. “So, by next week, we should have both transport and postal services in the area.” During his visit the President met with some 1,200 resettled people in Thunukkai and delivered a short address to them in Tamil. Let Us In – ICRC Tells Government 07 November 2009 TNA and TELO Jaffna MP hails resettlement In a clear signal that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has succeeded in garnering support from a section of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), a parliamentarian of the group came out openly in support of the government in Parliament.During the debate on the government motion for extension of emergency on Thursday, TNA’s N. Sri Kantha was all praise for Basil Rajapaksa, MP and senior adviser to the President, for his contribution in resettling the war displaced “quite early” in the Northern Province.Mr. Basil Rajapaksa is the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and heads the Presidential Task Force over relief, rehabilitation and resettlement in the north. Panel Meanwhile, the President on Friday appointed a five-member “independent committee” to comprehensively study and formulate recommendations for his consideration on 170 allegations of human rights violation during the last phase of the Eelam war IV as stated in a U.S. State Department Report to Congress on October 22. The group was constituted a day after the U.S. House of Representatives in an unusual move approved a non-binding resolution urging Colombo to guarantee the safety and quick release of the Tamils and other war-displaced people currently housed in government-run camps in the north.The 68-page report details “atrocities” by both the military and Tigers during the final stages of the war in May. ‘Colombo wary of Kosovo-type fate’ Wary of a Kosovo-type fate, Colombo wants to adopt a cautious approach to the issue of political settlement of Tamils, a senior Sri Lankan official told The Hindu here.“We need to move forward on the process of empowerment. But one problem with federalism in a small country is that it is more subject to splitting. Take Kosovo. They [The West] said give autonomy and we will guarantee unity. But two years later they supported independence. Clearly a promise should be a promise. We have to be careful,” said Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights Rajiva Wijesinha.Conceding the need to concentrate on the political question because the first few actions of Colombo since Independence were discriminatory, Mr. Wijesinha said that with a new crop of Tamil leaders coming up, it was time to strengthen grass-roots democracy to ensure that the issues agreed upon in 1987 began to be implemented.“There is clearly need for a new beginning in the body politic. Unfortunately, there was discrimination and violence against the Tamils in the 1970s and early 1980s. The 1983 riots were appalling and had the government support as they were not quelled immediately. Some Tamils had very bitter experiences,” he acknowledged. Colombo believed that the settlement of 1987 should have helped to resolve several issues, but it did not happen due largely to the intransigence of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as also to internal Sri Lankan politics. “Unfortunately over the next 20 years, the LTTE was able to present itself with greater success as the sole representative of the Tamil people. This was fiction. There were many Tamil groups, though they might not have had the heroic image of the LTTE. These groups became the greatest victims of the peace agreement of 2002. Unfortunately, the government was not strong enough to resist the decimation of these non-LTTE Tamil groups. The ground was swept under their feet,” Mr. Wijesinha said. In the post-LTTE phase, what the displaced Sri Lankan Tamils returning home wanted was empowerment — the ability to decide all non-security aspects of government such as the social and educational systems, he said, pointing out that Jaffna now has a woman Mayor as does have Batticaloa in a 26-year-old. “We have solved some initial problems but have not been implementing the provisions fast enough due to tension of the last 20 years,” the Secretary underlined.Mr. Wijesinha pointed out that complaints of lack of job opportunities were no longer valid now that the private sector opened up in a big way. Displaced increasingly returning home from camps – UN Emergency passed The motion submitted by the Government seeking the state of emergency for one more month, was passed in Parliament yesterday with 95 votes for and 17 against. The TNA and the SLMC voted against it, while the UNP was not present at the time of voting. Earlier the UNP had stated that they would oppose the move to extend the emergency law. Allow humanitarian access to IDP camps in Lanka: US lawmakers IMF board clears second part of loan for Sri Lanka Army chief reiterates support for political leadership UPF’s Sivalingam joins DPF Murugan Sivalingam, the founder and Secretary-General of the Up-Country Peoples Front (UPF) a party led by Minister P. Chandrasekaran, joined the Democratic Peoples Front (DPF) led by Mano Ganesan yesterday.DPF sources said Mr. Sivalingam took up DPF membership at the DPF head office in Colombo in the presence of party leader Mano Ganesan MP, general secretary Dr. N. Kumaraguruparan and national organizer Praba Ganesan, yesterday. If all consent I too am for Fonseka –says Ranil 05 November 2009 TELO President and TELO Leader questioned at the airport The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Sri Lanka has recorded statements from two Tamil National Alliance and TELO parliamentarians at the Bandaranayke International Airport yesterday evening. According to the TELO sources the two MPs, TELO Leader M.K.Sivajilingham and TELO President Selvam Adaikalanathan were questioned by the CID on their return to Colombo from India. M.K. Sivajilingam and Selvam Adaikkalanathan who were abroad for more than a year returned to the country yesterday and hoped to restart their political work. Soon after they arrived in the country, they attended Parliament. The reason for the questioning was not known according to TELO sources. TELO Leader M.K Sivajilingham contested the elections under the banner of the TNA from the Jaffna district in 2004, and was elected to Parliament.TELO President Mr. Adaikkalanathan on the other hand contested the Vanni district in 2004, and topped the preferential votes’ list for the third consecutive time. The TNA is an amalgam of four parties namely TELO, EPRLF, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) and the TULF. Actor Sarath Kumar to visit IDPs in Sri Lanka Govt committed to protect all - President President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday emphasized that the Government was committed to looking after its people who had the discomfiture of being displaced in their own home country due to atrocities by terrorists. "It is my duty to protect all citizens of this country. I am committed to this task and would fulfill it successfully," he added. Addressing the newly resettled IDPs at Thunukkai, about 20 km west of Mankulam, the President said that the terrorists had done a huge injustice to the affected people by leading them on the wrong path which ultimately led them being displaced in their own homeland. "I am your relative. You can trust me. The Government is committed to equip you with necessary facilities. We should all join hands to build a united nation," he told the newly resettled. The President also emphasized that he would not allow the ugly head of terrorism to rise again. "Terrorists took advantage of you and used you as a human shield. We would not allow such happenings in this country in the future. Now you all have a new life. "We would not allow the gun culture to raise its head again in this country. We would make this a place where all could live without fear. "However, we cannot rebuild this country by harping on differences such as racial, caste, and religion. We should solve our own problems. For this purpose we all should work as one," the President added. The President also assured the newly resettled that the remaining IDPs too would be resettled at the soonest possible in their places of origin. He said that the 'Uthuru Vasanthaya' development program was ushering unprecedented development hitherto not seen in the north and that the people were assured of a bright future.He also urged the elders to lead their children on the correct path identifying them as the flag bearers of future Sri Lanka. "They are your biggest treasure. Protect them and educate them. They should live happily. They should be erudite citizens of this country," the President told the newly resettled. The President freely later interacted with the newly resettled and inquired about their necessities. The event was held at the Sri Lanka Army's 65 division headquarters in Thunukkai. Gen. Fonseka back from US today Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka was scheduled to arrive in Colombo early morning today after leaving the United States without being subjected to questioning by US authorities, the Government said yesterday. “General Fonseka leaves the USA for Colombo without being subjected to any questioning as per requests made to Washington by the Government,” the Government Information Department said yesterday. A Government official confirmed that General Fonseka had left the US yesterday without giving any statement to the US authorities. Earlier the Government said that General Fonseka had been asked by the US Department of Homeland Security to give a statement against Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. The US State Department had endorsed the request made by the Sri Lankan Government over facilitating free passage for General Fonseka to return to Sri Lanka bypassing the meeting which was scheduled for November 4, with the US Department of Homeland Security, a top Government official said.The official said that General Fonseka was expected to land at the Bandaranaike International Airport around 4 a.m. today. He said that the US Government had decided not to obtain a statement from General Fonseka following a request by the Sri Lankan government to the US.Earlier yesterday JVP MP Samantha Widyaratne broke the news in Parliament that General Fonseka was heading back to Sri Lanka without being subjected to questioning. In the meantime Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Parliament yesterday that the Government’s diplomatic intervention regarding the attempt by the United States to question former Army Commander Gen. Sarath Fonseka had given positive results.Minister Bogollagama said that he contacted US Ambassador Patricia Butenis and the State Department even on Tuesday night in this respect.He said that there is an organization called ‘Tamils against Genocide’ operating in the US, which is trying to trap various Sri Lankan officials.The Foreign Minister said that Gen. Fonseka had been summoned for an interview by the Homeland Security Department to be questioned on Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.“Gen. Fonseka is a top official of the Sri Lankan Government. He has privileged information which cannot be revealed to a third party without the permission of the Government. We explained this to the US Government,” the Minister said.Mr. Bogollagama said that the US had no right to question Gen. Fonseka in this manner.“We are sure our diplomatic intervention will bear fruit and Gen. Fonseka will not be questioned,” he said.Minister Bogollagama was responding to a statement by JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.In his statement, Mr. Dissanayake said Gen. Fonseka as the Army Commander accomplished a special task in the decimation of LTTE terrorism which plagued this country for 30 years.He said that the US move to question Gen. Fonseka, poses a grave danger to this country’s security. Tamil Tigers look to regroup in Canada: expert The Tamil Tigers organization hopes to use Canada as a strategic base to continue the fight against the government of Sri Lanka, according to an authority on the alleged terrorist group."I cannot think of any other country that is more important for the Tamil Tigers as Canada, to regroup and continue their campaign against Sri Lanka," said Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, a Singapore-based think-tank.Gunaratna is advising the Canadian government as it investigates the 75 Tamil migrants currently in immigration custody in Vancouver. The men were found aboard a ship seized off the coast of British Columbia on Oct. 17.Lawyers for the men have said they are not Tamil Tigers, but Gunaratna disagreed."There are many members of the Tamil Tigers on board that vessel," Gunaratna said in an interview from Singapore. The Tigers — banned in Canada as a terrorist organization — were defeated in May 2009 after a 23-year insurgency. Alleged mastermind named Gunaratna also alleged that a Canadian — Ravi Shankar Kanagaraja — was the mastermind behind the ship's arrival."He arranged for this ship to come to Canada, and right now the Canadian authorities are hunting for him," Gunaratna said.One of the lawyers for the men has accused Gunaratna of bias because of his past association with Sri Lanka's government."If they are going to make allegations that people are connected to the Tamil Tigers, they'd better have evidence and, from my point of view, Mr. Gunaratna is not credible," said Lorne Waldeman.In Ottawa, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney suggested Tuesday he was heeding the advice of the government's expert for now."It's our view [the migrants] constitute a flight risk and we are not entirely satisfied about their backgrounds," Kenney said.An immigration hearing Monday for one of the migrants was told that residue of two chemicals used in explosives was found on clothing owned by two of the men aboard the vessel.Monday's hearing was also told that the identity of the ship was hidden on its voyage to Canada because it was known to have been used to ship arms for the Tamil Tigers.Lawyers representing the men are seeking to have them accepted as refugees in Canada, and say the men's lives would be in danger if they were forced to return to Sri Lanka. Kuchchaveli hotel projects - mixed reactions Kuchchavei, the densly populated Muslim majority DS division in Trincomalee district will soon have number of star class hotels. Residents express fear of reduced fishing activities and cultural invasion in the event although they welcome promotion of tourism in their coast. EP Chief Minister Chandrakanthan is also not happy with the project prepared by the UDA at the request of the Tourism Ministry as he has repeatedly argued that alienation of lands is a devolved subject under the 13th Amendment. More than 60 prospective investors have applied to build hotels in the newly proposed 8-kilometre tourism zone on the Kuchchaveli coast, Tourism Ministry sources said. Most of the applicants are joint venture with foreign investors, it is learnt. Secretary to Tourism ministry said a crucial meeting among all stakeholders in the proposed project, expected to inject hundreds of millions of dollars in investment into Trincomalee District will take place at the Trincomalee Kachcheri on 9th November.Those invited, he said included the prospective investors, Chief Minister Sivanesaturai Chandrakanthan, District Secretary, Land Commissioner, Tourism Development Authority, UDA, Coast Conservation Department, Environment Ministry, RDA, CEB, the Water Supply and Drainage Board and SLT. Though, the Chief Minister is invited, the conference is likely to be chaired either by the Governor or the Tourism Ministry Secretary.A few months ago the government halted all ad hoc state land alienations done in the Trinco disitrict amidst allegations that it was happening amidst much corruption. There is a severe demand for coastal land in the district with unspoilt beaches for tourism with the ending of the war in May.The new tourism zone will come up on approximately 500 to 600 acres of state land. The UDA plan includes public and recreational areas and new roads. TDA, the successor to the former Tourist Board will undertake the development of public areas. Secretary to the Chief Minister Ranjini Nadarajapillai, said they had not received any invitation to the conference. The Tourism Ministry Secretary said there was neither acquiring of anyone’s land nor anyone walking away with any land and whatever investment there would be for the benefit of the hitherto undeveloped areas and most of the jobs created would also go to the people of the region.The central government, he said was involved inthe project only to ensure standards are maintained and approvals are done according to the rules more in a consultative approach, while the actual allocation of land for each hotel project can be done by the Provincial Council, the GA and the Land Commissioner. 04 November 2009 TNA to register as new political party Leaders of the Tamil National Alliance -- an amalgam of four Tamil parties -- will meet this week to discuss plans to register the TNA as a recognized political party and also to invite other Tamil parties to join it. At present the TNA consists of the TELO, the EPRLF, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress and a section of the TULF.TNA parliamentarian N. Sri Kantha told Daily Mirror yesterday this meeting had been convened at the request of TELO General Secretary Prasanna Indrakumar. He said it was essential for the TNA to have a separate constitution and a new set of office bearers. Mr. Sri Kantha said the party hoped to invite youngsters especially professionals and academics to join the party in this post conflict period.“Professionals and academics stayed away from politics during the war but we need them now to come forward and work for the community,” he said.Mr. Sri Kantha said he spoke to PLOTE leader D. Siththarthan who gave a positive signal on joining the TNA in case its name was changed.“We hope the EPRLF (Pathmanabha Group) and TULF led by V. Anandasangari will also respond positively to our request to join the party,” he said.Mr. Sri Kantha said a mechanism would be devised to accommodate in an active role the nearly 10 TNA parliamentarians who did not belong to any of the four parties in the alliance. The proposed TNA constitution highlights the need for a political solution to the national question within a united Sri Lanka. When asked about the TMVP led by Eastern Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, Mr. Sri Kantha said the TNA would gladly welcome the party if it wants to join. DM ready to be PM Sri Lanka court acquits Tamil MPs A court in Sri Lanka has acquitted four Tamil MPs charged under anti-terror laws with making statements against the government and security forces.They were accused of making statements in Australia and Europe at Tamil cultural events, during a ceasefire between the rebels and the government. It was alleged that the events were organised by Tamil Tiger rebels - a charge they denied. Police said that there was no evidence to prove the accusations. Subsequently a Colombo magistrate on Tuesday acquitted Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs S Gajendran, P Ariyanethiran,TELO Leader M.K Sivajilingam and S Jeyananthamurthy. Their lawyer, KV Thavarasa, told BBC Sinhala that the MPs were not the only ones to have addressed Pongu Thamil events in the past - some ministers in the current administration had also done so. "However, I pointed out that the charges were only filed against these four MPs," he said. Sit Rep 31 Oct 2009 1. The direction the Sri Lankan Military will take These may not be the most ideal directions for either, yet they are ones that are at best described as realistic and unavoidable. There are many moves by politically motivated Sri Lankans, including Sinhala groups and also non Sinhala Sri Lankan groups to exploit a disagreement that has unnecessarily spilled over into the public's eye due to politics in the military and a very small section of the military in politics. These groups, particularly those civilians involved who are not insiders or have little inside information can or will not understand the discipline of a professional soldier to take what he wants and to relinquish duty when required sans insubordination. A professional soldier is not Dutugemunu. The Sri Lanka Army/Military is a modern Army/Military positioned within a democratic society. The professional soldiers serving in it will know when to let go. By asking them to perform a larger role based solely on selfish motives of individuals in the periphery, they may destroy that soldier and even themselves and their reputation. The Sri Lankan Military and its leaders are now hailed the world over for their victorious feat. Their role in bringing peace to the country through military means will be remembered for decades to come as the ultimate example of a trained military executing its sacred task flawlessly from start to finish. But remember this, dear readers, military action is a means of achieving the end and the end is always political.DefenceWire, as an impartial site whose work you have witnessed for over 3 years now wish to appeal to our readers to refrain from joining or supporting either 'camps' and to allow the professional soldier and professional politicians to resolve potentially resolvable issues mentioned above. S'porean faces US trial over Tamil Tigers arms case Sri Lanka tables interim budget Sri Lanka has presented an interim plan to parliament ahead of polls expected in the first quarter of 2010 seeking permission from lawmakers to spend up to a third of last year's budget.A 'vote on account' presented to parliament by deputy finance minister Sarath Amunugama sought permission to spend 356.4 billion rupees until a formal budget was presented. A further 6.2 billion rupees was sought as 'advances'. The ruling coalition of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to announce poll dates on November 15, with the possibility of parliamentary as well as early presidential polls being held. Sri Lanka's economy is recovering from a global slump and excessive government spending which saw high inflation in recent years. Government spending has been reined in somewhat under a deal agreed with the International Monetary Fund with strict limits on domestic borrowing to keep interest rates down. Sri Lanka main opposition Unite National Party had objected to the vote on account saying it is against a fiscal management responsibility law, which is in effect from 2003. But the speaker permitted the vote on account to be tabled. Sri Lanka's opposition unites to face snap polls Sri Lanka's main opposition on Tuesday formed an alliance with minority Tamil and Muslim parties and a breakaway faction of the ruling coalition to contest possible snap elections.Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said his United National Party had set up the United National Front (UNF) to press for the scrapping of the executive presidential system and for a return to parliamentary democracy.The government announced last month that it would hold early presidential and parliamentary elections as the ruling party moved to gain from strong public support after its defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels earlier this year.President Mahinda Rajapakse narrowly won the November 2005 presidential election on a pledge to abolish the presidency, but has since vowed he wants to contest for a second term.The next presidential poll, which was due by November 2011, will now be held before April 2010, according to the government. The U.S. Wants to Talk to Sri Lanka's Tiger Tamer To many Sri Lankans, Lieut. General Sarath Fonseka is a bit of a hero. Now the equivalent of the U.S. military's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Fonseka was the former army commander who helped strategize and lead the campaign that put a decisive end to the quarter-century-long separatist war of the Tamil Tigers. The intensity of the onslaught raised criticism around the world, including a 68-page State Department report to the U.S. Congress that took to task the conduct of both government forces and the Tigers. Now, what appears to be an attempt by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to interview Fonseka about the war has raised angry protests from the highest official ranks in Sri Lanka.According to Fonseka and other Sri Lankan officials, the DHS contacted the general on Oct. 28 during his trip to the U.S. to visit his daughters, who live in Oklahoma. Fonseka, who holds a U.S. green card permanent-residency certificate, was asked to show up for an interview on Nov. 4. According to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Fonseka had been told by the DHS official that the objective of the interview was to "use him as a source against Defense Secretary Gottabaya Rajapaksa." Apart from being a co-author of the successful campaign against the Tigers, Gottabaya Rajapaksa is also the brother of Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Responding to previous international criticism, the Sri Lankan government declared that it would not subject any of its military commanders or civilian officials who led the war to any kind of international investigation or war-crimes tribunal. The apparent request from American officials led to a similar dismissal. In the U.S., the DHS's office of Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), which reportedly made the Fonseka request, refused to confirm or deny the allegation. ICE spokesman Brandon Alvarez-Montgomery said: "If there was an investigation, there's nothing we can provide. Especially in cases that are very sensitive under human-rights violations, until that person or group were fully investigated [we] would never comment." Foreign Minister Bogollagama said he had made his government's concerns clear to the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis. "The U.S. authorities should not exert procedures on [Fonseka]," Bogollagama said. "The interview should not take place." The Sri Lankan government believes that despite Fonseka's status as a green-card holder, the U.S. does not have any jurisdiction over him at this point because he entered the country on a Sri Lankan passport. "General Fonseka is a citizen of Sri Lanka and he holds a diplomatic passport from Sri Lanka," said Bogollagama. The minister said that Fonseka could not divulge privileged information he knew of the war and its conduct without approval from his superiors and the Sri Lankan government.Defense Secretary Rajapaksa — who also happens to be a U.S. citizen — was interviewed for about an hour on arrival by immigration officials when he was in New York City as part of Sri Lanka's delegation to the U.N. General Assembly sessions in October. "It happened and I was there," said Bogollagama. "We took all the necessary actions that were required." The report of the DHS interview request comes at a curious time in Sri Lankan politics. Fonseka has been the subject of speculation that he may run against President Rajapaksa in the next election. Some political observers claim that the Rajapaksa brothers are trying to sideline the general, an allegation that the Defense Secretary has denied. "This is nothing but a despicable plot being hatched at the expense of the entire country," Defense Secretary Rajapaksa told a weekend newspaper amid reports of a growing gulf between Fonseka and the government. But on Oct. 26, Fonseka seemed to have veered away from a hard-line stance he shared with the Rajapaksas. At a Buddhist temple in Washington, he spoke of the "need to resettle persons who are in camps and provide security to them." That appears to be a softening of his previous position that the peace-and-order climate in the areas reconquered by the military should not be undermined by speedy resettlement. Sri Lanka has an estimated 186,000 internally displaced people, refugees from the war with the Tigers. He warned that there might still be thousands of Tigers among them and that they needed to be weeded out. He said nothing about his alleged presidential ambitions, only that "the people who really know the victory are those who went to battle." Trainee police officer killed in Eastern Sri Lanka A trainee police officer at the Police Training School in Kaladi, Batticaloa was killed due to an explosion that took place inside the school. Police spokesman Senior Inspector General of Police, Nimal Mediwaka said the trainee officer was killed while he was attempting to defuse a bomb this morning. Another three trainees at the school have been injured and admitted to the hospital. Sri Lankan judges denied transit visas via Australia Sri Lankan judges and magistrates who are expected to arrive in Fiji today were denied transit visas through Australia, Fiji Times reported. At a press conference in his judicial chambers in Suva yesterday, Fiji Chief Justice Anthony Gates said the Sri Lankan judges were not allowed to transit Australia and had to come through Korea. He said the judges applied to the Australian High Commission in Colombo for transit visas and until the date of departure nothing was received from the commission. "Later each one of the judicial officers was telephoned by a visa officer from the Australian High Commission counselling them against taking up the appointments in Fiji," Justice Gates said. He said they were each warned that if they took up the appointments they would not be allowed to travel to Australia during their time in Fiji and they would not be allowed into Australia for medical treatment, Fiji Times reported. "The judges nonetheless resolved to carry on with their decision and to travel by a different route," Justice Gates said. "They have been commendably brave and steadfast in doing so." Justice Gates said some of the judges would arrive today and others would arrive in a few weeks time. "The Sri Lankan Judicial Services Commission has permitted its judges leave of absence in order that they might serve here for two to three years," he said. Justice Gates said if the judiciaries of Australia and New Zealand could see this interference to be clearly wrong, "I would urge such judges to speak with their parliamentary colleagues on the need for its rejection", Fiji Times reported. Meanwhile Radio Australia qouted the Australian Foreign Ministry as saying that completely contrary to Chief Justice Gates, a decision had been made to issue transit visas to the judges, but this did not happen as they withdrew their applications having decided instead to travel to Fiji via Korea. The Australian High Commission in Colombo advised the judges that once they took up their positions in Fiji, they would be subject to Australia's travel bans. Contrary to the claim of Chief Justice Gates, this did not amount to a warning to the judges. It's also completely incorrect to claim the judges were not told they would not be allowed into Australia for medical treatment for themselves or their families either. Sanctions have been relaxed on a case-by-case basis on compassionate grounds, the Australian Foreign Ministry said. 03 November 2009 Lanka says US can't quiz Fonseka Sri Lanka strongly protested US plans to question Chief of Defence Staff Gen Sarath Fonseka over alleged human rights violations in the last phase of the civil war, saying he has no authority to share any information relating to national security with third parties. The US Department of Homeland Security authorities have asked Fonseka, who is currently on a visit to the US, to make himself available for questioning in Oklahama, on Wednesday. "Our position is that the meeting should not take place," he told reporters after Foreign Office summoned US Ambassador Patricia Butenis to lodge protest over the move and was told that the US should "forthwith desist from any endeavor to interview General Fonseka." "Whatever information General Fonseka may have acquired in the exercise of his official duties is privileged by nature. Therefore, it cannot legally be shared with third parties without the prior approval and consent of the Sri Lanka authorities," Bogollagama said. Foneska, who was the Army Chief during the last phase of the war, had travelled to the US on a diplomatic passport for pre-arranged appointments, he said. He said Fonseka, a US green card holder, has been asked to testify before US authorities whose objective is to to use him "as a source against human rights violations by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa)." Rohitha in talks with US Ambassador over Gota issue Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama is currently at a meeting with the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis, Foreign Ministry sources said adding that the meeting was believed to focus on the attempts by the US government to gather information against Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Speaking to reporters following the meeting Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that the US envoy will take up the concerns raised by Sri Lanka with Washington. He added "I have invited you to meet with me this afternoon, to emphasize in my capacity of Foreign Minister that the President and the Government of Sri Lanka stand firmly behind the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka. We will not allow that high post to be denigrated or made vulnerable. The facts of the case as available to us are that the CDS General Sarath Fonseka who is at present in the United States, received a letter from the US Department of Homeland Security or DHS, calling him for an interview at 3.00 p.m. on Wednesday 4 November in Oklahoma City, in the State of Oklahoma. Moreover, he has also received a telephone call on 28 October during which a DHS Attorney had stated that the objective of the interview is to use him “as a source against human rights violations done by Secretary/Defence”. It had been clarified during the telephone conversation that the reference to "Secretary/Defence" relates to Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order of Sri Lanka.It is pertinent to recall in this regard that Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa's duties as Secretary of that Ministry required his dealing with a situation of a grave onslaught that threatened the integrity of Sri Lanka and which was launched by the LTTE, an organization proscribed by several countries including the United States, for its terrorist activities. The allegations therefore leveled against the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary affect the vital interests of the Government of Sri Lanka and have occupied considerable time and attention of the respective Governments, at the highest levels. In fact, the US Ambassador in Colombo has already been briefed of the decision taken by the President of Sri Lanka to appoint a Panel to consider the matters raised in this Report. This decision by the President stems from Sri Lanka's unbroken commitment as a democratic nation to the Rule of Law, under which allegations are first assessed as to whether they possess any substance meriting further inquiry.The Chief of Defence Staff is a high level position within the Sri Lanka Government. He traveled to the United States on a diplomatic passport for pre-arranged appointments. Moreover, whatever General Fonseka may have become aware of during his service with the Government of Sri Lanka and in the course of his duties, has the status of privileged information. He has no authority to divulge or share this information with third parties, without the prior approval and consent of the Sri Lanka authorities.I have accordingly met earlier this afternoon with H.E. Ms. Patricia Butenis, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, to convey through Her Excellency the message that the Department of Homeland Security should forthwith desist from any endeavor to interview General Fonseka. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the US Jaliya Wickramasuriya has also made similar representations to the State Department in Washington DC. Let me reiterate that this position of the Government of Sri Lanka is based on the following two well founded principles.Firstly, whatever information General Fonseka may have acquired in the exercise of his official duties is privileged by nature. Therefore, it cannot legally be shared with third parties without the prior approval and consent of the Sri Lanka authorities. The matter under reference has serious implications for the security and welfare of the people of Sri Lanka and the Government of Sri Lanka will under no circumstances, authorize such an illegal act. Secondly, the action taken by the DHS is not needed, since any issues that may be of concern are already being addressed at the highest levels on the part of both the Government of Sri Lanka and that of the United States. You would recall that I have earlier in my remarks to you, already referred to the briefing given to the US Ambassador, concerning the appointment of a Panel by H.E. the President of Sri Lanka." If war crimes charges are brought against Defence Secretary the U.S. will learn an unforgettable lesson - JHU It is learnt that the United States security agencies are have requested General Sarath Fonseke to become a witnesses against Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. This is a very serious matter and the attempt to detain and pressure Sri Lanka’s former Army Commander presently visiting the U.S. in order to frame war crimes charges against the Defence Secretary is clearly a threat to our country’s political sovereignty. Similar course of action was pursued against Yugoslovia’s Slobodan Miloðeviã and Sudan’s President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir who branded war criminals and punished after being hauled before an International Tribunal. The U.S. is now obviously engaged in an identical conspiracy against Sri Lanka. We should not forget the possibility that the charges that are being framed against the Defence Secretary will also be directed against the President. Hence it is the duty of all patriotic forces to quickly come forward at this crucial moment to defeat this despicable conspiracy that the United States hatching against the Defence Secretary and Sri Lanka, using General Fonseka who gave leadership to defeat Tiger terrorists. The JHU wishes to warn the U.S. that the party would not tolerate this harassment anymore and patriots and nationalist forces would not hesitate to teach Washington an unforgettable lesson in this country if the U.S. tries to punish Sri Lanka by resorting to unwarranted actions. Sri Lanka steps up Tamil releases 'Plausible' The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says some of the many Tamils leaving the camps are going to host families, some to relatives. Others are going to farmland which may or may not have been their original home. Those leaving have told the BBC they are very happy to do so but are concerned about the future - in many cases they'll be starting again "from zero". The authorities have provided many with sums of cash, with tools to clear overgrown land and with tin sheets for roofing their homes. A Sri Lankan government minister has said some 80,000 people have now been resettled and nearly 190,000 remain in the camps. The UN refugee agency told the BBC it could not confirm the figure of 80,000 returns. But a diplomatic source in Colombo said it was plausible and that the pace of resettlement had significantly increased in the past week. Family visits to the camps, and outsiders' access, have been severely restricted. Opposition parliamentarians in Sri Lanka have been vocal in protesting that they, too, cannot get inside. The government has said the incarceration is necessary while the refugees are screened for possible links with the Tamil Tiger rebels and while the land is de-mined. President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he wants all the refugees resettled by the end of January. 'Diplomatic passport' News that Sri Lankan army chief Gen Sarath Fonseka, who is on a visit to the US, faces questioning there emerged on Sunday. The US Department of Homeland Security has asked him to make himself available for questioning on Wednesday, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said. "Our position is that the meeting should not take place," Mr Bogollagama told reporters. He said Gen Fonseka was holding a diplomatic passport and was representing the Sri Lankan government on official work. The American State Department published a recent report outlining allegations of human rights abuses during the war. Sri Lanka's government says it is investigating the allegations after first dismissing the report as "unsubstantiated". The UN has previously said an inquiry is needed to determine culpability. FACTBOX-Five political risks to watch in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is heading into election mode, after President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government said early presidential and parliamentary polls will be held by April.Following is a summary of five key risks in Sri Lanka, which won a 25-year war against the Tamil Tigers in May: * ELECTION FEVER Expecting Rajapaksa to win re-election to a second six-year term is still a safe political bet, in spite of growing union threats and the emergence of former army commander General Sarath Fonseka as a potential challenger. Already, trade and university student unions which back the opposition JVP, Sri Lanka's main Marxist party, have threatened slowdowns from Nov. 11. Past election seasons have shown they can disrupt normal economic life. The first shot was fired by workers from the state-owned oil company in a four-day slowdown last month to demand pay raises Rajapaksa promised to deliver after the war ended, but has not. Key issues to watch: -- Fonseka has been silent on his plans, but his presidential candidacy would split Rajapaksa's core nationalist vote base because he could no longer lay sole claim to the war victory at the ballot box. That could derail Rajapaksa's plans to have a two-thirds majority in parliament, which would give him the votes to change the constitution.-- Continued job actions by unions. Sri Lankan unions have in the past made life difficult for incumbents, and full-on strikes would bring the country to a standstill. * ECONOMIC REFORM Although foreign direct investment into Sri Lanka has picked up now the war is over, investors say there are plenty of reforms that need to be made on both the macro- and microeconomic levels. Doing business can be a tricky affair in Sri Lanka. The bureaucracy and tax code are what one might expect from a former colonial shipping outpost with a post-independence history full of socialist policies. The effective corporate tax rate can be over 60 percent, according to the World Bank. Corruption exists, but is lower than some regional peers.Monetary policy is seen as having been well communicated, and exchange-rate management has generally viewed as having benefited both exporters and importers. Under Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, inflation has fallen from record levels last year to single digits. But last week, the president in his capacity as finance minister cut state bank lending rates in half, in a move analysts say was driven more by election politics than sound fiscal management. Central bank officials said they were not made aware of that decision, normally their purview, until after it happened. Key issues to watch: -- Any sign of an erosion in fiscal policies laid down by the central bank, which were instrumental in the negotiations to secure a $2.6 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. Credit rating agencies say adherence to the IMF plan is crucial to international investor confidence in Sri Lanka, which last month issued a $500 million sovereign bond.-- Any signs that Cabraal is being sidelined so the government can dish out the usual election-season largesse, which could run it afoul of the IMF. * PRESSURE OVER WAR'S FALLOUT Western countries, and groups in the Tamil diaspora who supported the Tamil Tigers, are pressing for some kind of accountability for thousands of civilian deaths at the end of the war. Sri Lanka is adamant its soldiers fought in proportion to the LTTE threat and did not violate international law.The U.S. State Department, at the behest of Congress, prepared an overview report of potential war crimes which hit the government and Tamil Tigers in equal measure last month.The European Union's executive has also recommended Sri Lanka be suspended from a trade preference called GSP Plus, which has been a boon to the nation's apparel industry, its biggest earner of foreign exchange. The government is adamant it can live without GSP Plus, and diplomats say the government's lack of interest in answering the accusations will make it hard to reverse the negative recommendation. Key issues to watch: -- The government is due to answer the EU's report by Friday, and diplomats say willingness to show compromise would be welcomed. But the exigencies of the upcoming election, where anti-Western sentiment is a strong vote-getter, mean there is unlikely to be much compromise until polls are over, by which time it could be too late.-- In the case of the U.S. war crimes report, Sri Lanka has promised to investigate. Diplomats Reuters spoke with said there are independent organisations making more thorough probes which could yield an international response.-- What General Sarath Fonseka says during an interview requested by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Local newspapers this weekend reported that Fonseka, a U.S. green card holder presently visiting Oklahoma, has been asked to incriminate Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president's brother. * REFUGEES One big risk is how the government handles roughly 260,000 Tamil war refugees who fled fighting in the waning months of the war, and are now being held in military-run camps. Western countries, India and the United Nations are pressing the government hard to send them home, and Rajapaksa has said 70-80 percent will be resettled by January. So far, about 15,000 have been sent home, and last week the government said it had begun moving at least 40,000. Those pressuring Sri Lanka say holding them will breed resentment detrimental to reconciliation between the Tamil minority and the Sinhalese majority. Key issues to watch: - Look for the rate of returns to pick up, or for countries paying for the camps to stop funding them if the government does not keep on target. * SECURITY The Tamil Tigers are finished as a guerrilla fighting force, but there are still well-financed members of its international network out there and no shortage of Tamils raised on the LTTE's virulent propaganda who are furious at how the war ended.Sri Lanka says there is minimal threat, but military and police checkpoints are ubiquitous in the capital, Colombo.The broad message is that the military and intelligence agencies are not finished neutralising remnants of the Tiger networks responsible for assassinations and suicide bombings. Key issues to watch: - A gradual easing of security -- this will indicate greater government confidence it has finished the LLTE.- Any attack credibly attributed to Tiger remnants. It would likely be shrugged off quickly by investors -- Sri Lanka's economy remained strong throughout much of the 25-year civil war. Three LTTE cadres arrested in Sri Lanka capital Sri Lanka police have arrested another three key LTTE cadres yesterday morning in Grandpass, a suburb of capital Colombo. The police spokesman, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Nimal Mediwaka said a special police unit arrested the three LTTE cadres during a raid conducted in the area. The raid has been conducted on information given by another LTTE suspect who is currently in custody. The police are further questioning the three LTTE cadres. DMK for return of all IDPs: Kanimozhi Chennai: DMK wanted all internally displaced persons, now accommodated in camps in Sri Lanka, should be returned to their respective places at the earliest and favoured a political solution to the ethnci strife in the island, DMK Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi said today.Kanimozhi, daughter of Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, told reporters that after delegation comprising MPs of DMK, Congress and VCK visited Sri Lanka last month, there was 'some mprovement' in the situation and over 50,000 IDPs had returned to their native places.'This is not enough. DMK wanted all of them to be sent to their native places, besides a political solution, under which they can live honourably', she said. Mahinda Balasooriya is the new IGP Army deserter involved in 34 burglaries An Army deserter involved in 34 burglaries and robberies who had served as a sports instructor was arrested by Matale Police over the weekend.The suspect had escaped from remand custody when he was taken from Kegalle Remand Prison to Kurunegala court last week. Police said he had managed to remove the handcuffs and fled from custody.Thereafter, he has carried out robberies in Matale, Palapathwela, Imbulandanda, Kottegoda and several places in Matale when Police arrested him.A three sovereign gold chain and two motor cycles robbed by him were also recovered by the Matale Police unsolved crimes division.The suspect is also a heroin addict, Police said. Minority parties meet today to discuss alliance The minority parties who are working towards forming an alliance are to meet in Parliament today. A leader of one of the parties in the alliance told Daily Mirror yesterday that they would meet to discuss issues pertaining to the proposed alliance. Asked if the alliance will field a candidate for upcoming presidential election the sources said no decision has been arrived at yet. “We will discuss upcoming elections when a poll is declared,” the party leader said.Meanwhile one of the Tamil parties, which are also a part of the minority alliance, the Democratic Peoples Front led by MP Mano Ganeshan, is expected to sign an agreement on a common opposition alliance with the UNP today. Tamils IDPs' houses unlawfully occupied Colombo: Having spent months in refugee camps, the homecoming to northern Sri Lanka is turning bitter for nearly 1,500 war-displaced Tamil families as their houses have been unlawfully occupied allegedly by Sinhalese people. This ordeal was faced by Tamil families who returned to their homes in Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Batticaloa, under the government's resettlement programme. A Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) leader told a local daily that around 1,486 Tamil families were unable to enter their homes in Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Batticaloa as they found their houses occupied by the majority Sinhala community. There are more than 500 families of the majority community who have set up houses and are cultivating paddy in areas that belonged to Tamils before the war intensified," Packiyaselvam Ariyanethiran, a member of ITAK said. He said that he wrote to President Rajapakse on September 16 requesting a probe and a peaceful solution to the issue. "The President in response to my letter had written to the Government Agents (GAs) on October 26 asking for a thorough report on the situation. I believe the GAs are yet to make their official statement on the matter. However, once the holidays are over, I wish to meet them and inquire of what they plan to do" the ITAK member told the 'Sunday Nation'. According to officials, the number of IDPs in various welfare villages has come down to 1,80,000 on 27 October, 09 from 2,88,000 when the war in the island nation ended in May this year with the death of LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran. This is a result of the well coordinated resettlement programmes according to international standards undertaken by the government in collaboration with the UN and which are according to international standards, they said. Ariyanethiran said even those who were displaced in Puttalam (in North West) were also unable to return to their original houses due to such unlawful occupation. He said the encroachment began swiftly and has reached a point where there is a significant presence of the majority community that had not lived there earlier, he claims. The newspaper report also pointed out a motion tabled in Parliament last week, TNA Leader R Sampanthan also highlighted that, "Such unlawful occupation of state land by members of the majority community acting with total impunity has been a continuous process with no action taken by the government". Army Commander meets troops in Pooneryn and Thunukkai Boat capsizes off Cocos Islands Aircraft despatched The rescued passengers were on board two vessels, Australia's Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said. "Eighteen are on board the LNG Pioneer and nine on board the [Taiwanese fishing vessel] FV Kuamg," he said. "The FV Kuamg also has one deceased person on board." The two commercial vessels are remaining in the area to help three Australian aircraft which have arrived to help with the search. Hopes are fading of finding more survivors, who would be facing their second night in the water after the boat sank late on Sunday. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it had received a distress signal on Sunday reporting that a boat had a hole in its hull and was taking on water in rough seas about 350 nautical miles (650km) north-west of the island group. The chief of the Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, told reporters that a Taiwanese trawler had been first to get to the scene late on Sunday night "When the first ship got there this vessel was still intact," he said. By the time the merchant ship, LNG Pioneer, had arrived, the boat had already sunk, he said. Asylum debate It is unclear where the vessel was heading or whether it was carrying asylum seekers. Mr O'Connor said the passengers' safety was "the first and only matter that is of concern at this point" but that their status would be investigated later. Officials said the rescued people could be taken to Australia's immigration detention centre on Christmas Island. Dozens of boats carrying asylum seekers, mostly from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, have been intercepted trying to reach Australia this year, sparking a fierce political and public debate. On Saturday, the government announced the capacity of the Christmas Island detention centre would be increased to more than 2,000 beds to cope with the influx. Gota was questioned while in the US for UN conference 02 November 2009 US wants Fonseka 'to testify against Gotabhaya' Defence Secretary A senior Sri Lankan government source told the BBC that the US Department of Homeland Security wants to interview General Sarath Fonseka on the allegations this Wednesday, and wants him, specifically, to testify against Sri Lanka’s powerful defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. The general is in the US visiting his daughters. The source said that Sri Lanka has raised objections to the interview request. The US embassy in Colombo declined to comment.The State Department report quoted sources alleging that government forces shelled a civilian safe zone and killed combatants who were seeking to surrender. It also cited reports that the Tigers recruited children and forcibly stopped displaced Tamils from fleeing the war zone. The Sri Lankan government quickly dismissed the allegations against it but later said it would set up a committee to investigate them. Three more cops wanted over B’balapitiya attack The Police will seek the Attorney General’s advice to take into custody three more Policemen allegedly involved in last Thursday’s attack a man near the Bambalap-itiya Railway Station. Police spokesman Senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka told The Island that they would not hesitate to take action against police personnel involved in the incident. The Policeman, who is alleged to have attacked Bala Sivakumar near the Bambalapitiya Railway Station on Thursday afternoon, surrendered to the Bambalapitiya police. The constable, Dimuthu Somnas, was handed over to the Colombo Crime Division, Mediwaka said.The deceased was a mentally retarded person and had been treated at the Kalubowila Hospital and the National Mental Health Institute, Angoda recently, members of his family said.Before he developed this mental condition he had worked in a garage, they said.According to eye witnesses Sivakumar had pelted stones at passing trains and vehicles on the Marine Drive and one of the stones had shattered the glass window pane of a train compartment. He had also thrown stones at policemen and soldiers.He had been chased and brutally attacked with clubs by a group of persons who arrived at the scene. The victim had jumped into the sea to escape the attackers. He had struggled in the sea for about a hour but his attackers had not allowed him to come ashore although he had pleaded with them. Finally he had been dealt a terrible blow by one of the attackers leading to his death by drowning.The whole incident had been videoed by a television station which operates in close proximity to the place where the incident took place. TULF seeks Karunanidhi’s intervention Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has been urged by a Tamil politician here to intervene and help secure the Tamils a political framework on the lines of Indian federalism. Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) president V. Anandasangaree has said that Karunanidhi needed to muster the support of everyone in Tamil Nadu to back a just political solution in Sri Lanka. ‘Your participation … is indispensable,’ the TULF leader said in an open letter. ‘I have proposed that the Sri Lankan problem should find a solution based on the Indian model. The powers similar to those devolved on various states in India, if devolved on Provincial Councils in Sri Lanka, may satisfy the aspirations of the minorities and also will be acceptable to a large section of the Sri Lankan people,’ he said. ‘Any solution under a unitary constitution will leave it open for hardliners to meddle with it in the future,’ he said. ‘That is why I am insisting on a solution based on the Indian model which promotes unity in diversity.’ The TULF chief also sought compensation for the losses suffered by Tamils in the military campaign against the Tamil Tigers that ended in the destruction of the rebels in May this year. LTTE tractor driver held Police headquarters said that the Kuchchuveli police had found a tractor bearing 36 Sri 6116 belonging to the LTTE during a search operation conducted in the area on October 26. The police also arrested a person who allegedly operated the tractor on behalf of the LTTE. Investigations are continuing. Gotabaya slams attempts to promote Fonseka candidacy Amid growing debate on the merits of Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka entering the presidential race, Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said there is no question of the government permitting any person in uniform entering politics.In a lengthy interview to The Island published on Saturday, Mr. Rajapaksa (younger brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa) lashed out at a section of political leaders who have been openly talking about supposed differences between the President and General Fonseka, who as Army chief led Eelam War IV.Responding to allegations of attempts to sideline General Fonseka and to deny him the credit he deserved for spearheading the war against the LTTE, the Defence Sectary told the paper that a group of bankrupt politicians were now working overtime to destabilise the country.“This is nothing but a despicable plot being hatched at the expense of the entire country,” he said.In recent days, a number of senior opposition leaders and a section of the media have been publicly debating the possibility of General Fonseka shedding his uniform and entering politics.The talk assumes significance as the date for the general election due by April and a possible presidential election before it are to be announced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a convention of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) on November 15.The Leader of the Opposition and head of the United National Party (UNP), Ranil Wickremesinghe, had said there was nothing wrong in the media reporting a military officer going to contest the presidential election.Mr. Wickremesinghe’s remarks came on the same day General Fonseka told a gathering at a Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple in Washington D.C. that although there were those attempting to take credit for the victory against the LTTE, it was only the troops on the ground who really knew who deserved the praise. General Fonseka is currently on a private tour to the U.S. and is expected to return in the next few days.Majority of the opposition parties are of view that given the popularity of General Fonseka as a war hero, he is an ideal consensus candidate to take on Mr. Rajapaksa.The Defence Secretary told The Island that while there was nothing wrong in military personnel entering politics, it was definitely not on as long they were in uniform.He said their triumph over the LTTE had been the result of a joint effort spearheaded by the Army. He said one of the most important decisions taken by the government had been to double the strength of the Army while bolstering the ranks of the Navy, the Air Force, the police, STF and Civil Defence Force.He further argued that unlike the previous moves by the opposition to weaken an elected government, this was an attempt to sow dissension among the country’s battle-hardened armed forces.“Those who play politics with national security in a post-LTTE era will incur the wrath of gods and voters at the forthcoming elections,” he told the paper.An irate Defence Secretary rejected the opposition allegation that General Fonseka had been ill-treated by the government: “Let me tell you that General Fonseka was appointed as CDS with his consent. Although, I haven’t discussed this issue publicly before, I have no option but to reveal what really transpired.”He charged the opposition with making a desperate bid to challenge the President whose popularity was at its zenith and asserted that the government was fully confident of meeting the threat and taking whatever action necessary to ensure peace and stability in the country.Meanwhile, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe said the government would resettle the remaining 1.85 lakh internally displaced people by January 31, next year. Navy Commander looks into welfare of civilians resettled in North Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe visited the Northern Naval Area on October 29. During the visit, he met civilians now resettled in their original places of residence in the northern islands under the naval purview and looked into the social, educational and welfare schemes being implemented there. The Commander of the Navy also met members of the local fishing communities and fishing society leaders of the Velanai Fishing Marsha lling Point. Facilities for fishing activities were discussed in detail in addition to other activities. He inquired into the issues faced by the local fishermen and gave directions to the naval official regarding assistance to local fishing communities in the area. The fishing community said their living conditions had improved. AGA of Velanai Mr. M. Nandagoapalan, Dr. Priyantha Senevirathna of Velanai Government Hospital and Chairman of the Velanai Fisheries Society Mr. S. Karthikethu also took part in the visit. 01 November 2009 Top-level Indo-Lanka talks soon The second round of top-level consultations between Sri Lanka and India since the military defeat of Tiger terrorism will get under way in New Delhi soon.This is when a three-member delegation comprising Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa leaves for New Delhi.The delegation is to brief Indian leaders and senior officials on a variety of issues. Main among them are measures taken to re-settle Internally Displaced People, political proposals to address Tamil grievances, the prevailing security and political situation. The delegation is also to thank India for its willingness to respond to Sri Lanka’s security needs when situations arose.This is the second time the three-member delegation is visiting New Delhi since the defeat of Tiger guerrillas. The first took place in June, this year. Then, the delegation assured Indian authorities that the Government planned to implement a proposal which was an enhancement of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.Among those the delegation is scheduled to meet are Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna, National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar.President Rajapaksa stepped on Indian soil for the first time since the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam yesterday. This was on a private visit to take part in religious ceremonies in a well-known temple in Tirupathi in the state of Andhra Pradesh. This was during his return from a visit to Nepal. The Government of India had assigned a heavy security detail for his protection. Presidential poll likely; signs of rift in cabinet US war crimes questions for SLanka general SLMC to decide tomorrow A crucial meeting will take place tomorrow between the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) representatives and leaders of other opposition parties that will determine whether the SLMC would join the United National Alliance. SLMC General Secretary Hasan Ali told The Nation that the final decision will be announced on November 3, the day the official signing of the agreement is to take place.“We had a high command meeting and the members felt that there were still some issues that needed to be clarified. Since we are a minority party we must think about specific issues faced by the Muslims. Therefore, we will meet the leaders of the other parties in the alliance on Monday and take a final decision,” he said. “Definitely, the announcement will be made on 3,” he added.Commenting on the media reports that the SLMC might join the government or form an alliance with other minority parties, the party’s general secretary said that they have yet to decide on what cause of action to take. “As a minority party we are always trying our hardest to resolve the specific issues faced by the community. And I must admit that the idea of an alliance between the minority political parties is also gathering momentum, but we are with an open mind and have not decided on anything. We hope that we will be able to clarify the issues we have during our meeting tomorrow,” he said. Meanwhile, United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told The Nation that some of the parties will sign the agreement on Tuesday (3) while some other parties will join later. “We have spoken to over 20 political parties and organisations, and some discussions are still going on,” he said. Rudrakumaran gone into hiding? Rudrakumaran who was so much in the public eye has allegedly gone underground since the arrest of Raj Rajaratnam by the FBI investigators. The reason is obvious. He had been a close associate of Rajaratnam.The other Tiger leaders and activists in the States too are maintaining a low profile. A number of Tiger websites too are closed. Being the LTTE’s chief legal advisor, he represented the interests of Tiger activists in court cases in the States on numerous occasions. However, interestingly, Rudrakumaran has not appeared for Raj Rajaratnam in the bourse scam case. Surprisingly, the Tiger website, Tamil Net has failed so far to report anything about the arrest of Raj Rajaratnam. 'Don't rush judgement' on asylum seekers Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says he cannot confirm if most of the 78 asylum seekers aboard the Oceanic Viking have spent the past few years in Indonesia. In messages thrown overboard from the Australian customs ship, some of the asylum seekers reportedly claim they have been living in Indonesia for up to five years and had been accepted by the United Nations office in Jakarta as genuine refugees.Mr Smith has told Channel Nine that it is yet to be proven that the Sri Lankans have spent time in Indonesia."Always in these things I believe it's best not to rush to judgement," he said."That may or may not be the case. That's best determined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "It's another reason, another argument if you like, why the asylum seekers on board should follow the advice they have been receiving from our officers on the Oceanic Viking, and that is to calmly and peacefully walk off the ship."But Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull says the news the ethnic Tamils may have lived in Indonesia demolishes the Government's claim that the recent increase in asylum seeker boats is due primarily to the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. No deadline on stand-off The asylum seekers, all ethnic Tamils, have been on board the Oceanic Viking for two weeks now.They are refusing to leave the ship until they are accepted as refugees by Australia. Mr Smith says it is unknown how long the stalemate will go on for. "We're not setting a deadline on it, we're not setting a timeline on it. It's difficult. It's complicated," he said. "The Prime Minister, the Immigration Minister and I have all been quite upfront that this has been a difficult circumstance."He says the Government is working closely with the Indonesian government to find a solution and he has been in touch with his Indonesian counterpart."We spoke at the end of last week. We spoke about the general strength of the relationship between Australia and Indonesia," he said. "We also spoke about the Oceanic Viking issue. He and I both share the view that we have to be calm and patient."Mr Smith says Australia will continue working with Indonesia in combating the people smuggling issue."He and I, once this issue is resolved, both want to look to the future, both want to look to the strength of our relationship," he said. Massive business activities were processed in Colombo by Tamil Eelam Liberation tigers A Sinhala media has published a news item, that the Tamil Liberation tiger movement has processed massive business activities in Colombo. Shopping complexes, apartments, and many business ventures are manned by Tigers is according to information. Such information were obtained from recently arrested and who under is investigation, Kumaran Pathmanathan was according to sources. The information of such businessmen by whom they are manipulated are also received. Reports states, the said Businessmen had granted massive amount of money to tiger movement. How LTTE made hard-core cadres of undergrads Defence units have detected a number of LTTE cadres involved in exploding bombs fixed to railway lines, buses and electric transformers in Colombo and adjacent areas. Defence units unearthed this information from senior LTTE cadres who were arrested at the Vavuniya welfare camp.Meanwhile, the person who committed suicide jumping off the 7th floor of an apartment block in Wellawatte last May when State Intelligence Service officers surrounded the building, was also said to be an engineering graduate of the University of Moratuwa. He was a specialist in explosives and was residing at ‘Sunflower Court’ in Wellawatte. Another student of the University of Moratuwa was arrested by the CID for the bus bomb explosion in Katubedda, Moratuwa that killed 24 and injured 72 people on June 06 2008. In addition, the Crimes Detection Bureau arrested two more undergraduates trained by the LTTE last week. The two students were living at a house in Vijitha road, Pamankada. They had taken the house on a monthly rental of Rs 8000. It was revealed that a senior LTTE intelligence cadre named ‘Murali’ had given instructions to carry out the explosions . One of the undergraduates, Mohan Kumar, a resident of Killinochchi, had passed the GCE A/L examination with flying colours and had registered as an undergraduate of the Management faculty of Sri Jayawardanapura in June 2004. Mohan Kumar visited his parents and brother regularly in the Vanni. In 2007, Mohan was confronted by the LTTE at the Omanthai barrier and LTTE cadres urged him to assist them in their terrorist activities. Mohan Kumar politely declined. But the LTTE persisted. In April 2007, Mohan got a call from the LTTE saying that they had taken his brother into their custody, and that he would not be released until he accedes to their request Mohan immediately agreed to help them in order to secure his brother’s freedom. He then went to an LTTE camp located near the Iranamadu tank for a ten-day training programme on explosives and fixing bombs. He was under the supervision of top LTTE intelligence wing leader Kapil Amman. The first mission given to Mohan was to provide a hideout for a LTTE intelligence cadre who had come from the Vanni to Colombo under his care. Rajendran Ranjith Kumar met Mohan in Wellawatte in August 2007. The latter had passed the GCE A/L examination and had been selected to the faculty of Ayurvedic medicine, University of Colombo. He was however forced to join the LTTE’s intelligence wing and was trained at the ‘Sudan’ camp in Killinochchi. Rajendran was able to come to Colombo only after he completed the training and on his arrival, Mohan took Rajendran under his care. Rajendran gave up following the Ayurvedic course and began following a course at the Nawala Open University. Meanwhile, Murali had been getting information from the two of them about the state of security in Colombo and the two new recruits were stealthily handed over C4 explosives, detonators, electric circuits and timers through Murali. They kept the explosives safely burying them in the garden of the house that they were staying in. Mohan Kumar had fixed the timers to C4 explosives with the help of Rajendran. JVP leader’s mail hacked JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe confirmed last week that somebody had hacked into his email and generated an embarrassing message begging for money. The brief letter which was sent from an address he regularly uses to contact media organisations states: “I made a trip to London England. Unfortunately all my money has been stolen at the hotel where I stayed by some armed robbers, and since then I’ve been without any money and stranded. I would like you to assist me with a soft loan urgently with the sum of 2,250 GBP; about 2,950 USD. I need to sort out the hotel bills and get myself back home. I will appreciate whatever you can afford and I promise to pay back as soon as I return. I am worried about this situation. I need assistance and any help from you will be welcome.”The message signs out, “Thanks a lot for helping, Somawansa Amarasinghe.”Amarasinghe said he had received several complaints and questions over this message. He has since stopped using the address from which it was sent out. Sri Lankan president prays at Tirupathi Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Saturday offered prayers at the famous Lord Venkateshwara temple at Tirupathi in Andhra Pradesh.Rajapaksa arrived in a special aircraft from Nepal, where he was on a pilgrimage, and after a 'darshan' at the temple atop Tirumala Hills left for Sri Lanka, officials said. Accompanied by his wife and some officials, the Sri Lankan president landed at Renigunta airport near Tirupathi and drove straight to the world's richest Hindu temple. The dignitary was welcomed by Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) chairman D.K. Adikeshavulu Naidu and the priests amid the chanting of Vedic hymns. Rajapaksa entered the sanctum sanctorum through 'mahadwaram' or main door and offered prayers. Top priests blessed the couple. However, the entry of Rajapaksa and 25 others through 'mahadwaram' created a row. Some religious leaders criticised the TTD authorities for allowing him through 'mahadwaram' in violation of TTD rules. They pointed out that under TTD rules only mothers with infants, the aged, infirm and physically challenged can have direct entry through 'mahadwaram'. The entry of some VIPs through the main door had created a controversy in the past and the government had directed TTD to stop rolling out red carpet for VIPs and focus on providing better facilities to ordinary devotees. Sri Lanka seeks access to suspected LTTE cadres held in Canada Sri Lanka is seeking access to a group of Sri Lankan Tamils held in Canada following intelligence reports that some of them are members of the LTTE. The suspected LTTE cadres, including some of those believed involved in the group’s clandestine shipping operations, were apprehended recently while approaching the Canadian coast in an LTTE-operated ship.A senior government spokesman told The Sunday Island that representations had been made to the Canadian High Commission in Colombo in this regard. He said that the Sri Lankan mission in Canada, too, called for access to the detainees as this would help Sri Lankan intelligence services to track down remaining LTTE operatives based abroad.An intelligence official said that the Canadians have been fully briefed of the presence of LTTE cadres on board the seized vessel. Sri Lanka has also alerted Interpol.Government sources said that the Canadian government may find it difficult to allow Sri Lankan officials an opportunity to question suspects though some of them could be hardcore terrorists. They said that the Sri Lanka could not ignore the fact that most of the 78 persons now in Canadian custody had boarded the vessel in Indian waters. Responding to The Sunday Island queries, they said that there was irrefutable evidence that the vessel had been to India in August/September several months after the final battle on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon killed Velupillai Prabhakaran. India too should be involved in this investigation for several reasons, they said. The vessel could have carried LTTE cargo at the time it had entered Mumbai and then moved to a second port. Sri Lanka had every right to seek access to persons held in Canada as there was absolutely no doubt of their involvement in terrorism, the sources said.Foreign Ministry sources stressed the need for an international investigation to establish a possible link among the ship intercepted by the Canadians as well as about 370 Sri Lankans recently held by Indonesia and Australia. Sri Lanka is yet to receive access to them despite evidence that LTTE cadres can be taking refuge among civilians.
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