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Diplomatic sources reveal that Norway believes that the government and the LTTE would resume talks by next week. At a media briefing Minister Rambukwella said, when the government insisted for a personal commitment from Tiger Leader Prabakaran, it is said that his response to it has been conveyed to the government through the facilitator Norway.According to reports emanating from Colombo Prabakaran is keen in ending this conflict which has lasted more than 3 decades. A request made by Norway special envoy Eric Solhiem to meet Prabakaran has been turned down sighting security reasons.

Though talks were held between SLMM chief and Thamil Selvan yesterday at Kilinochchi nothing was revealed about the outcome of the talks to the media.SLMM chief Maj. Gen. Lars Johan Solvberg has said that the government and the LTTE have flouted the CFA several times during the last 2 months. According to him closing of Mavil Aru was an instance that the LTTE flouted the CFA and capturing Sampur was an instance that the government flouted the CFA.Minister Rambukwella speaking in this matter said a democratically elected government and a terrorist organization cannot be treated on the equal footing and the sLMM has no power to do it.

Norwegian special envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer will reach Sri Lanka Sunday to lay the groundwork for talks between the government and the Tamil Tigers, even while India has sought an early resumption of dialogue between the two parties. Hanssen-Bauer's trip follows the announcement in Colombo Wednesday that Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran had assured the government that his group was ready to enter into 'sincere talks' to find a solution to the ethnic conflict.IANS learns that Hanssen-Bauer will meet government leaders in Colombo and then travel to Kilinochchi in the north to meet leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to know their minds on the possible venue and dates when they can meet and take forward their repeatedly interrupted peace dialogue.

As and when the security situation improves, Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim will also proceed to Sri Lanka for a meeting with Prabhakaran, the man at the centre of the nearly quarter century long conflict.Solheim was the last international personality to meet Prabhakaran in January this year. That meeting had produced hope that the spiraling violence would die down. But that did not happen, and Sri Lanka is now enveloped in the worst conflict phase since a Norway-brokered ceasefire was signed by the LTTE and Colombo in 2002.

The decisions on visits by Hanssen-Bauer and Solheim follow some hectic Norwegian diplomacy and a meeting of the international support group on Sri Lanka in Washington Wednesday, all aimed at ending a violence spree that has claimed hundreds of lives this year and dislodged hundreds of thousands from their homes in the island's northeast.India, which is in touch with all international players, is also pushing for early talks. Through the day Wednesday, various officials and politicians here conveyed the message to three visiting Sri Lankan Tamil politicians.

Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran in particular emphasized the need for all violence to end and for negotiations to resume in Sri Lanka. Ahamed was particularly concerned about the increasing attacks on Muslims in the island's northeast.This was conveyed during discussions with Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) president V. Anandasangaree, D. Sitharthan of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOT) and T. Sritharan of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF). All three groups oppose the LTTE.

The trio was also told that New Delhi was doing its best, without much fanfare, to prepare a possible consensus between the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the main opposition United National Party on the need to devolve powers to the minorities.India, the visitors were told, would under no circumstances agree to any break up of Sri Lanka. But it wanted Colombo to give a 'reasonable solution', based on the federal system of governance, to the Tamil minority so as to end the ethnic conflict that has left over 65,000 dead since 1983.

In their discussions, Anandasangaree, Sitharthan and Sritharan blamed both LTTE and Colombo for the sufferings of the ordinary people caught in the conflict and said that any forward movement in the peace process should lay emphasis on democracy and a stop to all killings in the island's northeast.The Indian thinking was similarly conveyed earlier to five Sri Lankan MPs belonging to the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) when they visited New Delhi.India strongly backs the driver's seat Norway occupies in the internationally supported Sri Lankan peace process. It is believed that Solheim will stop over in New Delhi after he visits Colombo and Kilinochchi.

The United States is hopeful of continued progress in finding a peaceful solution to the ethnic crisis in the strife-torn Sri Lanka through negotiations, US Ambassador to India David C Mulford said today. The US envoy, who called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence here, told reporters that progress in peace talks would bring about a system that would ensure stability and peace in the island. It would also stem the exodus of refugees from the country, he added. Describing his 30-minute meeting with Mr Karunanidhi as "very, very friendly," Dr Mulford said he had looked forward to meet the Chief Minister as "he is a very respected and reputed leader in India."

The US Ambassador also said he was impressed with the investment-friendly climate prevailing in Tamil Nadu. There were number of US companies which had set up business in the state, he pointed out. Besides the Lankan issue, he also discussed with Mr Karunanidhi import of wheat from the US, he added. Asked about Wednesday's email threat to the US Consulate here that a human bomb would blow up the office, Mr Mulford said he was aware of it but nothing had happened. Mr David T Hopper, US Consul General, Chennai, said the Tamil Nadu police had been cooperating and extending full support in security aspects. "We have been well taken care of," he added.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna parliamentarian and former politburo member Nandana Gunathilake who was constantly in the headlines over the past few weeks has decided to resign from the party, 'Lanka e News' reliably learns.It is reported that his letter of resignation has already been drafted and will be handed over to the party General Secretary Tylvin Silva within the next couple of days. However he will not step down from his parliamentary seat.Earlier Gunathilake, a former presidential candidate of the party was removed from the party's politburo. According to internal JVP sources he has cited that the JVP?s politics would not contribute the progress of the country and has alleged that the party is engaged in an opportunistic politics on the needs of Weerawansa and Somawansa without adopting a policy-based political program, as reasons for his resignation.

After the 88-89 brutal crackdown of the JVP, he was instrumental in rebuilding the party without fleeing the country and became the party's presidential candidate at the 1999 presidential election. Earlier JVP's Gampaha district parliamentarian Siripala Amarasinghe, who was an older member than even Gunathilake, resigned his parliamentary seat as well as party membership.The reason for their decision to leave the party is Somawansa-Weerawansa, Vijitha Herath clan's opportunistic policies, running the party as yet another capitalist party filled with lies and duplicity without any Marxist, radical dynamism and for adopting an extreme racist stand on the national problem. They have exerted pressure on the party leadership to initiate an immediate dialogue with the LTTE leadership.A powerful faction of the JVP headed by Gunathilake which includes several parliamentarians shares this view and one of the elusive yet influential members of the party, its Internal Secretary 'Kumar'- a Tamil- is also in this faction.A member of this group told 'Lanka e News' that General Secretary Tylvin Silva has become a 'watered down' character in this episode.

Black band-wearing Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians continued their sit-in protest for the second day today. They are demanding the reopening of the A9 road and the lifting of the economic embargo that they say has been imposed on the Jaffna population after fighting between Sri Lankan troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) broke out on August 11. Meanwhile, Chandrakantha Chandraneru took oaths yesterday as the Tamil National Alliance Batticaloa district MP. He was appointed to the position left open after the murder of parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham. The new MP was seen participating in the sit-in protest with his colleagues.

40 Thamil MPs in India must interact with 22 TNA MP—says Dravida Peravai General Secretary N. Nandhivarman

Dravida Peravai General Secretary N. Nandhivarman said it is high time that 40 Thamil Members of Parliament in India meet their counterparts 22 Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members of Sri Lanka and interact with them to find out a lasting solution to ethnic conflict in the island country. He said the voters must exert pressure on their respective Members of Parliament to raise humanitarian issues of the suffering people of Tamil Eelam. He was presiding a reception programme at Pondicherry, now legally renamed as Pudhucherry, accorded to TELO Muthalvar Mr. M. K. Shivajilingam, M.P of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) from Srilanka. The meeting was presided by Dravida Peravai General Secretary N. Nandhivarman. Industrialist Mr. Ira Sembian rendered the welcome speech in poetic form.

State President of Rastriya Janata Dal headed by Lalu Prasad Yadav at national level Thiru.T.Sanjivi, Mr.Thanga. Kalaimaran of Bahujan Samaj Party headed by Mayavathi, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Sundaramurthy of Nationalist Congress Party headed by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and A.Vanthiyathevan Publications Secretary of Marumalarchi DMK were in the dias. The Organizing Secretary of Dravida Peravai Syed Khader and Treasurer of Dravida Peravai Narambai Mahalingam also attended the programme.On arrival NCP leader Sundaramurthy presented a shawl and welcomed TELO Muthalvar Shivajilingam. Mr. Agni Subramanian, Editor of Manitham, accompanied the visiting Parliamentarian.

In his Presidential speech N. Nandhivarman said, all Thamils all over the world feel terribly upset and disappointed because still the Tamil National Alliance Members of Parliament have not been given appointment to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Kalaignar M. Karunanithi.He said Thamils are known for their hospitality. We have welcomed all races and have ensured their happy living in our soil. It is most unfortunate that the woes of the Thamil people of Eelam could not be presented to Indian leaders. Mr. Nandhivarman said in Ramayana when Rama wanted to find out an auspicious time to launch attack on Ravana, Rama only approached Ravana, who true to his professional knowledge of astrology fixed a date despite knowing it would be detrimental to his interest. Such is the nature of the nobility of Thamil race.

Criticising Indian leadership for their reluctance to even listen to elected Tamil representatives of Sri Lanka, he said India must try to persuade Sri Lankan government to hold a plebiscite under the aegis of United Nations and the people of North and East must be given three options to choose which are total independent Eelam or State Autonomy under Sri Lankan Government or Thamil provinces joining Indian Union and becoming 29th State of Indian Union. “Out of these three options if people choose Eelam that verdict must be accepted by all parties to conflict. In case if independent State is intolerable idea and Thamils have to remain subjects in a Unitary Government, then I think instead of being under Sri Lankan Government, it is better for them to join Indian Union and become a province under Indian Constitution. This is only loud thinking and not a binding suggestion”, Nandhivarman said.

According to his proposal, a two-minute silence was observed in the programme in remembrance of Thileepan who gave up his life fasting on Gandhian lines. Mr. Nandhivarman said it is wrong to differentiate Eelam struggle of pre and post-Rajiv Gandhi period. For the sake of argument if revenge had to be taken, India can only punish few and not the entire Thamil race. He recalled that Indira Gandhi was assassinated by a Sikh and as tit for tat in Delhi riots nearly 4000 Sikhs lost lives. That is all. The episode of wreaking vengeance ended. Healing touch was applied and what more befitting example India can show other than making a Sikh Prime Minister to bury the sorrowful events of past.

After Rajiv how many thousands of Tamils were killed in Srilanka? Is not the deaths enough to end the revenge and avenging of Rajiv’s death? All nations have faced similar circumstances but nowhere for single assassination a whole race is cursed to bear the cross or driven to catacombs.Mr. Shivajilingam M.P. narrated how many Sri Lankan governments have failed to honour commitments given to Thamils. Mr. Shivajilingam pointed out politely to India to take note of increasing Pakistani involvement in Sri Lanka including 17 Pakistani pilots to fly warplanes over Eelam and the multi-barrel guns and other arms supplied to Sri Lanka to crush the aspirations of Thamils.

“Even if India does not help us but does not hinder our efforts, we will defeat the combined conspiracies of Pakistan, China and Sri Lanka. If Thamil Eelam attains freedom, forever it will remain as friendly country of India”, he observed. Agni.Subramanian of Manitham magazine painted a gloomy picture of human rights violations and the sufferings of Thamil people in Sri Lanka. Mr. P. Parangusam, Treasurer of Aringnar Anna Foundation gave the vote of thanks.A group discussion followed the meeting in which many questions were posed to Mr. Shivajilingam by the people as well as spies sent by Indian intelligence agencies. It was an open discussion with no hidden agendas and Mr. Shivajilingam reiterated that allowing Eelam to come into being is the only solution to present conflict. The representatives of many parties of North India came together pledging to persuade their national leadership to understand the ground realities in Tamil Eelam. Even a representative from Tamil Nationalist Movement Ira. Azhagiri participated in the meeting.

Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has gifted a white shawl to Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran. The gift was passed on to the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) when Ravi Shankar briefly flew to the rebel-held northern Sri Lankan town of Kilinochchi a week ago, a spokesperson to the guru told IANS Thursday.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who enjoys considerable following around the world including Sri Lanka, usually gives away white shawls to select people 'as a sign of blessing', the aide said over telephone from Bangalore, where the guru's Art of Living Foundation is headquartered. White also signifies peace.The aide did not say if the gift was given directly to Prabhakaran, who is at the centre of a quarter century long Tamil separatist campaign in Sri Lanka, or to any of his representatives.'We cannot say anything more,' the aide said. 'It is a very sensitive issue.'

The aide was responding to a question arising out of a Sri Lankan official briefing Wednesday that indicated that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar might have possibly met the LTTE chief when he went to Kilinochchi in a helicopter arranged by Colombo.On Sep 21, after visiting Kilinochchi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had told IANS that his efforts were aimed at building confidence and that among other things he had discussed an active role for India in the peace process.'Change of opinion can only be brought about by spiritual people,' the guru had said on telephone from the Katunayake airport near Colombo.'We are trying to bring the parties together,' he said, referring to Colombo and LTTE, which have been locked in military clashes in recent months that have killed hundreds. 'The technical details can be left to others. We will put our effort, and keep our fingers crossed.'

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who in April visited Jaffna and interacted with thousands of Tamils, added that both the government and the Tigers desired peace.Swami Sadyojathah, who heads the Art of Living project in Sri Lanka and flew with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to Kilinochchi, had said: 'This is the beginning. The guruji suggested that India should play an active role in the peace process and they (LTTE) supported the idea.'Swami Sadyojathah did not specify whom the guruji met. 'There were a lot of discussions about the whole issue. We exchanged ideas,' he added. 'The LTTE told us that they would like to come to peace talks without any conditions.'

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has over the past 25 years established a global presence. 'Guruji is respected by all sides in Sri Lanka,' a spokesperson for Art of Living told IANS.The spiritual leader visited Sri Lanka last year in the wake of the deadly tsunami that killed over 30,000 people in the country, including in areas of the northeast where the LTTE holds sway.The Art of Living Foundation is an international non-profit educational, charitable and humanitarian group offering programmes in more than 140 countries including war torn places such as Iraq and Lebanon. The LTTE is outlawed in India since 1992 for its role in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

If you can't accept our programme of work we will contest the next presidential elections. Mobilize hundreds of thousands of people into the streets. We will not betray you while being close like Dilan Perera.This challenge was put to the president by the leader of the JVP Mr. Somawansa Amarasinghe.While identifying the SLFP few days back as a party indulging in prostitution he said that the SLFP could never win on election without the support of other parties.Mr. Somawansa made these comments at a meeting held opposite Central Market Kandy Without naming the president Mr. Somawansa said the era that bites the hand of goodwill has agued. While stressing the importance of political discipline he said to support a cabinet of 100 ministers massive amount of public money is wasted and you cannot say in public how these ministers go about eat and drink.

Citing devolution of power as a possible solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict, India today asked the island nation to examine its Panchayati Raj system as a possible model.Addressing the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) and Panel of Experts who are tasked with evolving a solution to end ethnic conflict in the island nation, Panchayati Raj Minister Mani hankar Aiyar provided insights "about the methodology, principles, and practical issues regarding this system (Panchayati Raj) of devolution (of power)." Aiyar also offered to provide further assistance and cooperation in this regard, a government statement said."In his address, Minister Aiyar explained the concept of Panchayati Raj and described its implementation in India," the statement added.The Panchyati Raj is a system of local democracy through local councils known as Panchayats that has been established by the Indian Constitution, he said.It provides a mechanism for devolution of power from the central government to people at the local levels, he added.

200 civilians killed in two months of fighting in Sri Lanka, truce monitors say

Sri Lanka At least 200 civilians have died in two months of fighting between government soldiers and separatist Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka, European cease-fire monitors said Thursday.The figure was released as the government announced that Australian forensic experts will visit the country next week to probe last month's killing of 17 aid workers.Since large-scale hostilities broke out in late July, "over 200 civilians have been killed and several thousands are internally displaced, creating a serious humanitarian crisis," the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said in a report sent to the government and Tamil Tiger leaders.The monitors accused both sides of serious violations of the cease-fire, including risking civilian lives, creating a refugee crisis, denying people access to food and blocking the entry of monitors and aid workers into conflict areas for investigations and to help trapped civilians.

The monitors said "the gravity of the violations have led to a dangerous escalation in hostilities.""It is important that the parties realize the seriousness of the current situation and do whatever there is in their power to move forward instead of engaging in military confrontation," the monitors said in a statement.The fighting began with a government offensive in eastern Sri Lanka to open an irrigation reservoir closed by the Tamil Tiger rebels. As the conflict spread to other areas, the government captured some strategic territories held by the rebels in the north and east.At least 1,000 combatants and civilians were killed and some 220,000 people were forced to flee their homes.On Thursday, one Sri Lankan soldier was killed and two were wounded in Tamil rebels' artillery fire in Muhamalai in the northern Jaffna peninsula, the defense ministry said.

Soldiers retaliated causing "heavy damages" to the Tigers, a national security Web site reported without elaborating.The execution-style killing of 17 Sri Lankan aid workers of Action Against Hunger last month and the hacking deaths of 10 Muslim laborers on Sept. 17 in eastern Sri Lanka were among the worst incidents of violence against the civilians.The foreign ministry announced on Thursday that Australian forensic experts will visit Sri Lanka next week to help probe the killing of the aid workers in the northeastern town of Muttur.According to the terms, the experts will "observe and at the request of Sri Lanka authorities, provide technical advice and assistance in the conduct of forensic investigations," the ministry statement said.Nordic truce monitors have accused government troops of being behind the killings, a charge vehemently denied by the government.

Meanwhile, 12 international aid organization representatives met on Wednesday with the rebels' political head, Suppiah Thamilselvan, and discussed ways to provide humanitarian aid to people affected by the fighting and to boost security for aid workers, the groups said in a joint statement.A similar meeting had previously been held with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's office, the statement said.Norwegian peace broker Jon Hanssen-Bauer will visit Sri Lanka on Monday, said Erik Ivo Nurnberg spokesman of Norway's embassy in Colombo.He is expected to meet government and rebel leaders and discuss the current status of the peace process, threatened by the fighting.The Tamil rebels began fighting in 1983 for a separate homeland for Tamils, Sri Lanka's largest ethnic minority, citing decades of discrimination by the Sinhalese majority. About 66,000 people died in nearly two decades of violence before the 2002 cease-fire.

AUSTRALIAN forensic experts will return to Sri Lanka next week to probe the August massacre of 17 workers of a French charity, the foreign ministry said.The experts are due to advise Sri Lankan authorities on their investigation into the massacre of the local employees of Paris-based Action Against Hunger (ACF) which Nordic truce monitors blamed on government soldiers, it said.“The governments of Sri Lanka and Australia have finalised the terms of reference in relation to the providing of Australian forensic expertise into the investigations,” the ministry said in a statement.Sri Lanka's police exhumed the bodies of two of the employees less than two weeks ago following a request from the forensic experts.

A court order and permission from next of kin were granted for forensic tests on the bodies by the Australians to determine exact cause of death, a police official has said.He said the other bodies would also be exhumed as part of a probe that has been renewed after the Norweigan-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said in September security forces shot dead the workers at Muttur in eastern Sri Lanka.The killings on August 4 occurred during a period of heavy fighting between Tamil rebels and government forces in the area.The Government denied its forces were responsible for the massacre.The 13 men and four women, aged 23 to 54, worked mostly as engineers on water sanitation and farm projects for the charity.Earlier this month, the French charity said it would drastically scale down its operations in Sri Lanka such as tsunami relief efforts and will focus only on emergencies.

President Mahinda Rajapakasa during a dialogue with a team of British delegates from the Royal College of Defence Studies engaged in a survey of current defence situation and development process in the South Asia Region at the Temple Trees yesterday morning had emphasised that the people in the East have to decide about their future. The President said his government was committed to bring peace with dignity to the country. He was very emphatic in saying that neither the Executive nor the Legislature or the Judiciary could do that. "It is also a myth if anyone believes that the future of the Easterners can be decided by a person like Prabhakaran. No one can deny the democratic rights of the people living in the East".

President Rajapaksa has also pointed out that it was crystal clear and an established fact that the future of the easterners should be decided by the people at a referendum in accordance with the Indo - Sri Lanka Pact. The President while conceding that a referendum was a sine quo non in protecting the democratic rights of the people, said he would commit himself towards this end. The President described the Government's peace efforts and explained measures taken to provide optimum security to the people of North and East and how a committee including foreign representatives were formed to probe into abductions in the recent past. The delegates appreciated the measures taken by the Government.

With regard to the development process, the President said the development measures in Sri Lanka are not confined to urban areas but also include rural areas. He detailed to them the development activities connected with Gama Neguma and Maga Neguma programmes, Express highway projects and other infrastructure development projects. The British delegation is headed by British Government's Defence Advisor Lt.Col.Colin Martin and includes 12 members from the Royal College of Defence Studies. They were accompanied by British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Dominick Chilcott and his staff.

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India could soften its stand towards the Tamil cause in strife-torn Sri Lanka in view of increasing military co-operation between the island nation and Pakistan, TELO Muthalvar and Jaffna MP, M K Sivaji Lingam said Yesterday.Pakistan was rendering a lot of military assistance to the Sri Lankan governrment, he told reporters at a felicitation function organised by the World Tamil Fedration.India's non-interference in the Sri Lankan crisis has prompted the entry of Pakistan into the scene, he said."Pakistan has supplied multi-barrel rockets and heavy military equipment, and at present over 15 fighter planes are bombarding the Tamil Eelam areas," the MP said. SivajiLingam was part of a five-member delegation of Tamil MPs, who met Union Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahmed, foreign secretary designate, Shiv Shankar Menon and National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, last week, to apprise them of the situation in the island nation.While the Centre's concern about the Sri Lankan crisis is gratifying, Tamil Nadu's support to the affected Tamils is also very encouraging, he said.

TNA MPs protest in parliament

Tamil parliamentarians in Sri Lanka have staged a ‘Satyagraha’ in the parliament against the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the north and the east.The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs said they wanted to bring to the attention of the government the plight of the hundreds of thousands, mainly Tamil, due to the ongoing violence in the region.“A-9 road, for example, is closed. People in the north do not get enough supplies as a result,” Jaffna district MP Nadarajah Raviraj told bbcsinhala.com.

He recalled that parties in the conflict agreed to open A-9 road in signing the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) in 2002.The parliamentarians also urged the authorities to lift the restrictions imposed on certain goods to Jaffna peninsular.“It’s been two months since the A-9 is closed. All the schools in Jaffna are closed for nearly two months,” MP Raviraj said.He said the school children have to stay in queues to buy bread and other essential goods, instead of going to schools.The situation in the east is also not much better than the north, the legislator added.

The LTTE Supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, has assured the Sri Lankan government that his organisation will enter into sincere talks to end the current military conflict and find a solution to the ethnic problem, according to the government's Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella."I am personally very satisfied with the commitment made. However, it will have to be discussed with the President (Mahinda Rajapaksa).The government's response will come in due course," he told newsmen in Colombo on Wednesday."Twenty-five years of experience of backtracking by the LTTE makes us cautious about any assurances from it," he said, adding a note caution.One of the main demands of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government has been that Prabhakaran himself, personally, must give a "credible and verifiable" assurance that he will enter into unconditional and sincere talks.

Prabhakaran had said that he would be available, in some way, for consultations during the talks, Rambukwella said.The LTTE chief had explained that because of security considerations, he could not be present at the talks venue itself.The government understood this problem and was open to alternative arrangements for quick and credible consultations with him, Rambukwella said.At the very least, Prabhakaran had agreed to meet the chief Norwegian Peace Envoy, Erik Solheim, he added.The elusive Tiger chieftain has been avoiding Solheim for a long time, as indeed he has avoided all other leaders.The government's spokesman refused to give any details about Prabhakaran's assurance, even if it was oral or in writing.But apparently, the substance has been conveyed through the Norwegian facilitators, who had been in touch with the over-ground political wing of the LTTE.

The government spokesman hinted that the Indian spiritual guru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of the Bangalore-based Art of Living Foundation, had met Prabhakaran on his visit to Kilinochchi on September 21 or 22.But he refused to say if the guru had a role in changing the mind of the Tiger chieftain.He had flown in and out of Kiliniochchi in a Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter indicating that his mission had the green signal from both Colombo and Kilinochchi. Apparently, the Norwegians came to know of this and felt bad that Prabhakaran had met the Godman but was refusing to meet them. The guru had de-briefed the Sri Lankan government about his talks with the "LTTE hierarchy" in Kilinichchi, Rambukwella said.But he refused to go into the substance of the guru's talks with the Tigers. All he would say was that he "preached peace" to the Tiger hierarchy.

Explaining the government's insistence on a "personal and credible" assurance from Prabhakaran himself on the talks, Rambukwella said that the government was put off by the contradictory statements made by the various leaders of the LTTE at various times to suit exigencies of the moment."Just before the meeting of the Co-Chairs in Brussels, the Political Wing Leader SP Tamilselvan said that the LTTE was ready for unconditional talks.The idea, clearly, was to give the impression of being good boys while the government was a set of naughty boys.""The plan was to soften the Co-Chairs stand towards the LTTE.""But after the Brussels communiqué, in which the terrorist group was unfairly equated with the democratically elected government of Sri Lanka, the LTTE's Military Spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthirayan announced conditions for talks," Rambukwella pointed out.

When the two sides were to meet in Oslo for talks on the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), the LTTE opted out at the last minute saying that it would not meet a delegation consisting only of Sri Lankan officials. It said it would talk to ministers only.Colombo also did not know how much of authority the LTTE delegation had, to make decisions and commitments at the table.It acutely felt the absence of the LTTE top brass, especially the Supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Asked why Prabhakaran was now giving assurances, Rambukwella said that the terrorist leader knew that "his days were numbered."There was mounting military pressure from the government, and also increasing international hostility and isolation to contend with."The international community, which till recently viewed the LTTE as either freedom fighters or rebels, is now seeing it as a terrorist group," the government spokesman pointed out.The government was also making a sincere effort to solve the basic political problem, the Tamil problem, he added."After a long time, a Sri Lankan government is trying to get the opposition to join in the task of finding a solution to the ethnic question.The Tamil people should seize this opportunity to come to a settlement," Rambukwella said.

Air force fighter jets yesterday pounded several LTTE camps in Mullaitivu and destroyed a few of them, a day after they destroyed a sea Tiger base in Mannar.A senior air force official said “Air force K-fir jets yesterday morning and evening bombed a training camp and transit bases in Puthukudiruppu.” He also said that a series of explosions were detected by air force surveillance planes from the bombed area for several hours, following the air strike. “Ground troops confirmed that bombing successfully destroyed the transit bases in Puthukudirippu,” the officer said.Meanwhile, media centre for national security said “air force had conducted air strikes on well-identified tiger training and transit bases at Puthukudiruppu causing heavy damages to the training base facilities and killing unknown number of tigers.” “The missions had been carried out on precise information received by electronic and ground means before and whilst the mission was on,” it said.On Tuesday the air force bombed a sea tiger base in Vellankulam.

First driven from their homes by a Tamil Tiger warning, then forced to move back as the military emptied schools-turned-refugee camps, many residents in Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna peninsula are hungry and afraid. Cut off from the rest of Sri Lanka by rebel territory, surviving on dry rations shipped in by the state and living under the pall of daily murders and abductions, 9-year-old Calista Emmanuel's mother is too afraid to send her daughter to school. Mindful of a boycott on lessons imposed by the pro-rebel Jaffna students union, instead she makes her sit on the roadside near their coastal home to sell chicken drumsticks, coconuts and mangoes to bring in a few rupees.

"There is no normal life for us," she lamented. "If there was normalcy, there would be no shortage of food, no long queues. How can children go to school when their stomach is empty and they are awake from 3 a.m. because of shelling?" The government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have both pledged to resume peace talks after a five-month impasse, but a new chapter of the island's two-decade civil war continues to flare. The military fires sporadic artillery and multi-barrel rocket fire towards rebel territory. The Tigers fire artillery and mortar bombs. Each side always accuses the other of provoking confrontations, and analysts fear the violence will only deepen. Civilians -- hundreds of whom have died in crossfire in the north and east since the worst outbreak of fighting since a 2002 ceasefire erupted in late July -- are trapped in the middle.

"This is a sad experience. I am still scared to live in this house," said newly-married Donald Nelson Wilfred, 29, standing by his beachside home in Jaffna. He was turfed out of a school where he had sought refuge after the Tigers warned the neighbourhood to clear out ahead of an imminent attack. "Life was easy at the school," he said. "Our problem is we have to obey two masters." Rights officials say 131 civilians have been killed on the peninsula since August, and that another 50 have "disappeared". Some people leave their houses at night to take refuge in churches for fear the rebels' naval arm will attack military outposts, before heading home at first light.

Many residents in almost entirely Tamil Jaffna town are gradually adapting to fuel, food and electricity shortages and a daily curfew, but many complain they are either not receiving food handouts or that rations are insufficient. Fortnightly ration cards allot 4 kg of rice, 3 kg of flour, 1 kg of sugar and 750 grams of lentils per person over the age of 5. Unemployed receive them from free, while others must pay. The town is in lock-down. Heavily armed soldiers man checkpoints at seemingly every corner, armoured trucks roar through town at high speed, and items like baby milk powder are out of stock.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga who has been appointed UNICEF Director General for the South Asian region is to visit India and Pakistan in October on invitations extended by the government of the two countries.This will be Kumaratunga's first official visit since assuming the UNICEF post. A spokesman of her Colombo office told 'Lanka e News' that the purpose of her Pakistani visit is to deliver a lecture on 'Disaster Management'.Kumaratunga is currently in the United States and is due to return to England next week. President Rajapaksa who was also in the US recently to attend the UN General Assembly had made an unsuccessful attempt to meet Kumaratunga while in New York. Sources close to her said that she had told the go between who tried to arrange the meeting that she did not want to meet or go after fellows who attacked her.Kumaratunga is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka after her Indian visit.

Thamilchelvan tells SLMM Head: Colombo's refusal to open A9 route a gross humanitarian violation

LTTE political head S.P. Thamilchelvan on Wednesday at a meeting with head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Major General Lars Johan Sølvberg expressed anger over refusal of Sri Lankan army to open A9 land route. He also expressed concern for not allowing SLMM to enter Muhamalai area and urged the Head of Mission to clarify the stand of Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) in this regard. Mr. Thamilchelvan said the sufferings of 5,00,000 civilians has reached unbearable stage because of closure of land routes to LTTE controlled areas including Jaffna Kandy A9 route and for economic embargo.

"The refusal of Sri Lankan Army to open A9 route is a serious humanitarian violation by the government," Mr. Thamilchelvan said referring to Article 2:10 of the Ceasefire Agreement that states, “the Parties shall open the Kandy-Jaffna road (A9) to non-military traffic of goods and passengers”. He said the government could take journalists to Muhamalai FDL area but it denied to give permission to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission”. Talking to media the LTTE political head referred to the last week report of the SLMM Head in which it was mentioned that “the humanitarian crisis in many areas in the North and in the East is steadily worsening with limited supplies being brought up to Jaffna and into various LTTE areas leaving thousands of people without basic necessities and paralysed economic activity." "Aid agencies are in general prevented from going into LTTE areas. With the monsoon season on its way it is likely that the conditions of people in general will get worse”, the reports added”.

The interim report of the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms to be presented by Minister Dinesh Gunewardene recommends a 225 member House to be elected by a mix of elected MPs under the first past the post system and district proportional representation.According to the draft interim report, which is yet to be formally adopted, the country will be divided into 150 single member constituencies to return 150 MPs on the first past the post system.It is further proposed, out of the remaining 75 MPs, 72 will be elected by the respective party secretaries on the basis of a district proportional representation system accounting only the votes polled by the defeating candidates.

The balance three seats are to be reserved for the minor parties who have polled a national vote exceeding 1% but have not qualified for a seat under the first past the post and /or district representation system.The interim report states the proposed model meets the goals of providing stability and governability of the parliament while ensuring fair representation of minority parties and communities.The Morning Leader learns, however the SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem has expressed reservations on the system proposed and sought time to make representations to the committee.The JVP and CWC too it is learnt are opposed to the proposed system.

Informed sources said the UNP too would make representations to the select committee particularly on the aspect of electing the 72 district proportional representation system MPs on the basis of accounting the votes polled by the defeating candidates.The interim report also recommends a return to the ward system for local elections subject to the re-demarcation of electoral boundaries by a fresh delimitation.

Airman nabbed filming Horagolla prior to President’s visit

An airman was arrested at Nittambuwa while secretly video filming the locations around Horagolla, where President Mahinda Rajapakse was due to attend the S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike death anniversary.The airman who serves in the North, was on leave when arrested. Police commenced investigations to ascertain as to why he filmed the location with a digital video camera hidden inside his shirt and also to find out whether he has any LTTE connections.In a separate incident in Nittambuwa a Tamil youth was arrested with the latest model of mini pistol on the eve of President’s visit to Horagolla yesterday. A Sinhala youth who was in the company of the Tamil was also taken into custody.

Q: The All Ceylon Tamil Congress this week wrote to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asking for UN troops to look into the plight of the Tamil people in Jaffna. Allegations were made in that letter that the government was involved in the ethnic cleansing of Tamil civilians. Is this an accurate assessment of what is happening?

The position of the Tamil National Alliance has always been that the government is engaged in a military agenda now. This is an agenda with a genocidal intent. The government troops use civilian shields for their purpose and disallow the civilians from going to the LTTE controlled areas. There are 200,000 displaced Tamils in the government controlled areas because of this.

We believe that the plight of the Tamil civilians is at its worst today and the international community must do everything it can to address that. Where the UN troops are concerned, the position of the TNA is different to that of the ACTC President A. Vinayagamoorthy. We however believe that the international community must understand this situation and remember that it can’t afford to make the mistakes it has made. If the idea of Mr. Vinayagamoorthy is to make awareness we agree if it is more on a UN involvement that is something the TNA is yet to make a decision on.

Q: The letter mentions abductions and killings on a daily basis and the general plight of the Tamil civilians in the affected areas. Is the allegation that the government purposely refrains from taking action to remedy the situation an accurate one?

The schools are all closed in Jaffna because the students are demanding that the A-9 route be opened so that the essential goods can reach them and normal life can resume. It is the best route for aid to reach the civilians. Humanitarian aid can’t be denied to the people like this. The government’s continued refusal to accept this situation is merely another aspect of its military agenda. The Jaffna GA confirmed that there was a severe shortage of goods in the area. The government says shipments have arrived but the shortage is still there. The goods are not reaching the people.

Q:But the President of the Tamil United Liberation Front V. Ananadasangaree, has yesterday urged the government not to open the A-9 route till it has the assurance of the LTTE that there will be no taxation of goods, and that abductions and extortion by the LTTE discontinue.

Anandasangaree is rejected by the Tamil people especially because of such views. The international community is aware of this situation and in the question of the humanitarian issue it is the government that is first and foremost accused in the situaton faced by the civilians. I am surprised Mr. Anandasangaree is not aware of this situation.

Q: The continuing increase in abductions and killings are a serious concern for civil society no doubt, but who really is behind this situation?

The ground situation is such that no one but the military and para military troops are involved in these killings. Even if the government refuses to accept the charges, they must be able to hold comprehensive inquiries and reveal the findings to the people. But the government is not doing anything of the sort. It is clear that the government is no longer concerned with the opinions of the international community.

Q: You keep accusing the government of a military agenda, but the government insists that they had little choice but to engage in limited military engagements against LTTE attacks?

But everyone knows it was the government that started the war this time. We also agree that it was the government that started the war. If the government was serious about peace then they must show it by stopping this engagement in military exercises. Mawil Aru showed that the government clearly had a military agenda. Even on Sampur the government tries to make out that the LTTE attacked the Trinco harbour first, but the truth is that until the government started attacking the LTTE.It was after that the violence spread. Now the government is just running out of excuses. Their actions are making us run out of time.

The LTTE Leader in his Hero’s Day speech last year clearly said he was giving time for the new President Mahinda Rajapaksa to make a positive approach towards peace. The LTTE has given the President ten months now. But the government is obviously not interested in this at all. As such it is running out of time. Now the LTTE will have to counter attack.

Q: But the President has on his arrival from the UN sessions intimated his willingness to share power.

While he verbally says so, he gives orders to aerial bombings on the other. We can’t take the government seriously. The President’s words must be turned to action. The LTTE has put its signature on the Ceasefire agreement. There is no more need for assurances. These are petty arguments to have.

Q: Although the LTTE have signed the CFA they are accused of violating it thousands of times over the government troops. Isn’t the real accusation against the lack of commitment by the LTTE?

We don’t believe so. We believe that everything this government does is with a military agenda despite the verbal assurances. What are the prospects for peace in this situation. The international community has its limitations yes, but they can persuade the Sri Lankan government. If they do that the situation can be better. The LTTE has responded positively to the Co-Chairs statement. If the talks take place it would be a start. But the problem with the talks is that the government is not keen on implementing any of the decisions taken. The international community must ensure that the government also implements the decisions they agree to. It is crucial that there is implementation.

Q: But the international community you speak of which formed the SLMM has maintained that the LTTE has violated the CFA more than the government. Where does that leave you with the need for implementation on the part of the LTTE?

Of course violations must stop. But what matters is the proportion of violence than the number. In that sense the kind of violations by the government is far more serious than that of the LTTE. The CFA makes provision for resettlement of 200,000 Tamil civilians in the North East. The people are still unable to go. The violations by the government is 200,000, everyday these people are unable to go back to their homes. The international community must take a realistic approach. We have satisfactorily briefed them on the ground situation. Now it is up to them to do what they will with the information we have provided them. The international community must decide if it will allow it to go and let the inevitable happen or stop it.

Q: Speaking on the international community, the TNA this week announced it was ‘assured’ of the Indian thinking of the Sri Lankan situation. What is the Indian thinking today?

The Indian government knows what is happening. They are closely watching the situation. We were reassured to know their stand on the issue here. We believe in India as a party with a long history on the key role and responsibility it has with the sitution here.

India is aware of its’ role but I can’t say what it is. We look to India to play a positive role on Sri Lanka. We believe in their role under these special circumstances today. We believe India can take action that is positive. How that will be done is a matter they can decide on. The Tamil people and the LTTE are committed to negotiations, but as long as the government thinks that the ways to solve it militarily are more, the prospects for peace will be minimal. We look towards the international community to clear the strategy and compel the government towards peace.

Q:You don’t believe the All Party Conference initiative was one directed at approaching a political solution?

For the Southern political parties to come together for a consensus, yes. But we are not ready to accept the APC as a separate process to peace alternative to talks. The government must use is to pay lip service and not look at the position of the Tamil grievances. We don’t believe that the APC must come first and the talks later. Talks must take priority. We don’t think the government is serious with the APC as a way to address Tamil grievances, because of the members selected for it. These are well known hardliners. How can the government expect to come to even a draft stage without talking to the LTTE? These measures are counter productive in that sense. All the suggestions are that it is just a front.

The international community is very clear about the suffering of the civilian populations. The issue is what are they going to do about it? Our position is that if the peace process is to move forward, the government can’t look at a military engagement. From 2000 forwards, despite the LTTE capabilities, the government was made to accept that the economy of the country did not point towards a military engagement. But with the tsunami and the defection of Karuna the government believed the LTTE to have suffered more than it did. And with the tsunami aid the attitude has changed towards a military solution. This is why we believe that it is the time for the international community to intervene and act in a way that demonstrates that military means is not the solution.

Muttur leaflets by 'Sinhala extremists'

The main opposition in Sri Lanka says that the country's Muslim community are calling for arms to self-defence.The United National Party (UNP) said the community is ‘very disturbed’ by attempts by “certain extremists” to create chaos in the region.Ampara District UNP lawmaker Mayon Musthapha told BBC Sandeshaya that there is concern over whether those trying to separate East from the north-east province are behind threatening leaflets.

Many residents in Muttur have fled their homes as a leaflet was distributed in the area threatening them to leave or face consequences.Residents told bbcsinhala.com they were afraid of further LTTE attacks though many did not see the leaflet themselves.The LTTE is accused of a series of attacks against the Muslims in the area and evicting nearly 100,000 of Muslims from Jaffna, earlier in the conflict.But the Tamil Tigers have denied any knowledge of the threatening leaflet.The UNP parliamentarian said some groups have filed lawsuits against the merger of the north and east provinces.“When you analyse the situation, it is clear that these extremist parties are behind these threats to Muslims,” he told bbcsinhala.com.Former Deputy Mayor of Colombo, Asad Sali, accused a certain official of police special Task force (STF) of killing 11 Muslims in Potuvil, last week.

He said the Muslims do not blame the STF as a force but the individual officer.11 Muslims were hacked to death on 18 September as they went to repair a sluice gate. The government accused the LTTE but they deny any involvement.Asad Sali accused the STF official of taking revenge as he was prevented burying a Sinhala villager by the Muslim protesters.“The offcial has threatened them that if they did not let him to bury the Sinhala man, I would bury 10 of yours,” Sali told the journalists in Colombo.Accusing the media of hiding the truth from the public, the former deputy Mayor questioned as to how the LTTE came to an area under “100% control” of the STF.

Two Kifir jets of Sri Lankan Air Force bombed Vellankulam village in the LTTE controlled areas of the Mannar district.Sources said the jets dropped bombs at about 8.30 a.m. on the village creating panic among the people of Vellankulam village, located about 33 km off north of Mannar town. The details on casualty or extent of damage of property by the air strike could not be known.

Police are trying to get a court order to arrest Ms. Amarasinghe Kankanamage Kusuma Cooray the sister of Somawansa Amarasinghe the leader of the JVP who was accused of running a brothel at Sinhapura, Battaramulla. Police have stated that numerous parties are exerting pressure on them not to arrest her.From the day this brothel was raided by the police Ms. Cooray has gone into hiding. Her son too is to be arrested. The four women who were arrested at the time of the raid were asked to appear at the courts today also.

Airman killed in Vavuniya

Sri Lankan Military officials said that an airman was killed and another injured in a claymore mine blast near the northern town of Vavuniya.Officials said the bomb went off on a road in Vavuniya while the men were on regular physical training exercises Tuesday morning.Defence officials have blamed the LTTE for the attack.The area was later cordoned off and a search operation conducted by the troops soon after the attack.

A Muslim trader was shot dead by unidentified men at Palaiyootu area, a suburb in Trincomalee at 8.10 p.m. on Monday.The victim, Mohamed Mooza, was a vegetable vendor by profession. The incident of his killing has given birth to panic among local people who sought refuge in the nearby church in fear of being attacked.A tense situation is prevailing in the area, locals said. Additional troops and police were deployed in the area to main law and order. Police launched cordon and search operation in the suburb that comes under Uppuveli Police division.

Sri Lanka's new Nordic peace monitor has been in the job for less than a month, and already he is shocked and disappointed at what he sees.Since taking over as head of the unarmed Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission this month after his predecessor was forced out by a rebel ultimatum, Norwegian Major-General Lars Johan Solvberg has had to deal with a military offensive and a civilian massacre."The nature of the violence by all parties in this conflict is shocking. I'm disappointed to see no real sign of will to limit this violence," Solvberg told Reuters on Tuesday in his first interview at the mission's new office in a leafy residential quarter of Colombo.

"I am also disappointed ... that the government side is not doing a wholehearted approach to investigate these brutal incidents, which elsewhere in the world would be a major, major case for the authorities," Solvberg said.Hundreds of civilians, troops and Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed since late July in the worst violence since a 2002 truce gave way to renewed civil war.The monitors have blamed both sides for a series of gross violations of the term of the truce, and pinned the execution-style killings of 17 local staff of aid group Action Contre La Faim in August on the security forces."I think it's unwise by the government, because the international community is losing its patience and the credibility of the government in the face of international opinion is severely hampered by the fact that they are not pursuing these incidents," Solvberg said.

"If you see the violations in general, numbers and gravity put together, my birds eye view on this is that there is no significant difference in the gravity of the violations (by either side)," he added. "That's a totally unacceptable situation if one should commit oneself to the CFA (ceasefire agreement)."The government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) accuse each other of being behind abuses and of starting confrontations.Each side argues that they still honour the truce, and that their foe is trying to force a full-blown return to a war that has killed more than 65,000 people since 1983.Thousands of displaced civilians caught in the middle continue to pay a heavy price -- particularly in the besieged army-held Jaffna peninsula in the island's far north, which is cut off from the rest of the island by rebel lines and where emergency food supplies must be shipped in and are insufficient."The situation in Jaffna is very alarming. It's a ship that is barely floating," Solvberg said. "Most of the mechanisms of the society are about to collapse."

Tamils want India to play a more active role in Sri Lanka, but they want to keep Pakistan at bay, a Sri Lankan Tamil politician said here Tuesday. R. Sampanthan, Member of Parliament from Trincomalee and leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group in Sri Lanka told media persons: 'India should no longer be a spectator.''If Pakistan thinks it can help Sri Lanka militarily against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) it is not going to happen,' said Sampanthan, who held discussions with the Indian establishment in New Delhi last week.The TNA leaders held talks with E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs, M.K. Narayanan, National Security Advisor and foreign secretary-designate Shiv Shankar Menon.

India had maintained a distance from Lankan Tamil groups since the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. 'After a long time we have been able to re-establish contact with New Delhi,' the Lankan Tamil leader told IANS. Asked if the team's inability to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was a snub, Sampanthan said, 'No date and time had been fixed for a meeting.'The TNA leader, who was upbeat on the outcome of the India visit, said, 'The visit has brought New Delhi a lot closer to the Tamils of Sri Lanka.'Asked if this would be a setback in the peace talks between Colombo and LTTE, Sampanthan said, 'I do not think so.'

He also denied that he was speaking on behalf of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).'Sri Lanka's constitution is like an albatross,' he said. 'It permits the dismissal of an elected government after a year. It encourages colonisation by Sinhalese in Tamil areas. It discriminates on the basis of language. You cannot find a solution to the Sri Lanka-LTTE problem within the Lankan Constitution,' Sampanthan said.Sampanthan, however, refused to comment on reports that Tamil leaders and groups were invited for talks by the prime minister.

'We are here to urge India to get the Sri Lankan government to behave in a civilised manner, to stop the killing of innocent Tamil civilians by aerial bombings. The present situation is like how it was in 1983, when as many as 250,000 people were displaced,' he said.'I do not think anyone else can play as effective a role as India in restoring peace between the Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic groups,' Sampanthan said, insisting that LTTE was not averse to such a settlement.Asked if Pakistan's interest in Sri Lanka is targeted at India's space research programme and defence facilities in South India, he said: 'It is a possibility'.

Keheliya Rambukwela , the government spokesman, has stated that the government will not agree to the re -opening of the A9 highway, but would consider any alternative proposal if put forward by the LTTE. Rambukella further said that the LTTE insists upon re- opening of A9 high way for the sole purposes of collecting tax from the people. Therefore the government is not prepared to re open the A9 high way. The government does not conduct the services of ships to use the people as shield. This service is conducted to meet the needs of the people. If the ship service is interrupted, it would be that they are not interested in the welfare of the people, he continued. He said the government is prepared to open the sea passage to Jaffna through Punakeri and Sankupitty instead of reopening the A9 high way.

Three anti-LTTE Tamil political leaders yesterday urged India to play an active role in the Sri Lankan peace process to end the decades-long conflict. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi T. Sritharan of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) said, “Tamils hope and pray that India once again involves itself and brings about peace (in Sri Lanka).” “India must help in getting Tamils devolution of power and democratic space in the northeast (of Sri Lanka),” Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) president V. Anandasangaree said. “Everyone I have spoken to in Sri Lanka will support an Indian model (of governance),” he added. The Indian government had invited the two leaders, along with the leader of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), D. Siddharthan, to New Delhi to discuss recent developments in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict.

TNA has appointed Chandrakanth, the son of Mamanithar Chandra Neru as Parliamentarian in place of Mamanithar Joseph Pararajasingam. According to M.K.Pathmanathan, Amparai TNA Parliamentarian, ,Chandra Neru is to swear in as member of parliament before the Speaker when the House resumes on September 27th. Josef Pararajasingam who was elected to Parliament from the TNA national list was assassinated last Chrismas day at Batticola church. Chandra Neru has been appointed to fill in the vacancy created by the death of Pararajasingam. With this appointment, Amparai district enjoys the services of two Tamil Parliamentarians.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intensified artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher attacks into Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) territory from Palaly military base and the 52-4 Brigade headquarters in Varani, Thenmaradchi, Tuesday evening around 6:00 p.m. Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarion, S. Kajendran, charged that the SLA for continued attacks in Nagarkovil and Muhamalai areas to avoid the issue of re-opening the A9 landroute to Jaffna.Mr. Kajendran charged that the Sri Lankan forces in Jaffna were trying to project the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil FDL area as a "war zone"."Sri Lanka Army is in offensive mindset," he said adding that the there was an "agenda of aggression" behind the "conduct of armed forces" in Jaffna. "The aggression is continuing despite the call from the International Community to cease violence and create condusive atmosphere for the peace process."Meanwhile, informed sources in Kilinochchi said the Tigers have invited the Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission on Wednesday for a crucial followup meeting in Kilinochchi on the ground situation.

Thousands of fighting cadres of the LTTE fasted on Monday in memory of the "martyrdom" of Lt Col Thileepan, who fasted unto death in September 1987, on a five-point charter of demands addressed to India, which had sent a Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to implement the India-Sri Lanka Accord in July that year.The mass fasting took place even as the LTTE set off a claymore mine in Poovarasankulam near Vavuniya in North Western Sri Lanka killing a Sri Lankan Airman, and the Sri Lankan Air Force sent a Kfir supersonic bomber to pound a LTTE-held village in Mannar in a retaliatory strike. Young Thileepan, who was popular among the students of Jaffna and was responsible for bringing women into the LTTE, died on September 26 in Nallur in Jaffna, after a 12-day fast over demands, which the LTTE had placed before the then Indian High Commissioner JN Dixit.

The five demands were: Release all political prisoners held under Sri Lanka's anti-terrorism law; halt all new settlement of ethnic Sinhalas in the Tamil Homeland (the North Eastern districts); stop the opening of new Sri Lankan police stations in the North East; disarm Tamil groups armed by the Sri Lankan government; and remove the Sri Lankan army from schools in the North East. "All are reasonable demands put to a Peace Keeping Force. Thileepan died, his demands unheeded," said a release from the LTTE's Peace Secretariat on Monday."Majority of the LTTE poralees (fighters) fast on this day of September 26 each year to remember Lt Col Thileepan," the release said.Significantly, the LTTE Supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, reportedly prefers to observe his birthday, which falls in November, by fasting rather than rejoicing.

‘ISI uses Sri Lanka to spread violence in India’-Interview(Tehelka .com) TELO Muthalvar and Jaffna District MP MK Sivajilingam of the Tamil National Alliance

Pakistan has always been keen on maintaining good relations with Sri Lanka to sideline India in the region. It has followed this policy for a number of years. Sri Lanka has never been loyal to India. Sri Lanka sought India’s help to deal with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna insurgency in 1971. Indira Gandhi helped then Sri Lanka Prime Minister Srimavo Banadaranaike by sending Indian Air Force planes and helicopters to quell the rebellion. However, Sri Lanka took an anti-India stand during the (1971) Indo-Pak war and provided re-fuelling facilities to Pakistani warplanes. Indira Gandhi had expressed her anger against the Sri Lankan government during talks with Tamil leaders in the aftermath of the 1983 genocide. She told them the Lankan government did not have gratitude and was always working against India.

How has the military cooperation between the two countries increased in recent years?

Pakistan has provided large supplies of arms and ammunition to Sri Lanka since 2000. It supplied multi-barrel rockets in 2000, which the Sri Lankan army used to devastating effect in Thenmarachi. The defence cooperation between both countries increased after Bashir Wali Mohammed was appointed as the Pakistani High Commissioner in Sri Lanka in 2004. Mohammed was a former director of the Pakistani Intelligence Bureau.

Pakistan has provided sophisticated military equipment to Sri Lanka in the last two years including bunker-buster bombs that were originally given to Pakistan by the US. Pakistan has helped in modernising the Sri Lanka air force. It had recently supplied two shiploads of weapons. The present Pakistani high commissioner Air Vice Marshal (retired) Shehzad Aslam Chaudhry provides military advice to Sri Lanka, especially on air force-related matters. This (Pakistan’s military support to Sri Lanka) would only encourage Sri Lanka to pursue a military solution (to end the ethnic crisis) and not show interest in talks (with the LTTE).

During his visit to Pakistan earlier this year, President Rajapakse announced a $10 million credit line for Pakistan. I said in Parliament it was like the old saying, “when the mother was begging for alms, the son went to Kasi to feed the poor.” Sri Lanka thinks it can earn the goodwill of Pakistan through such actions. It does not realise it would earn India’s enmity. India has begun to view us (Tamils) with more sympathy now.

There was criticism in India when Pakistan appointed Bashir Wali Mohammed as its high commissioner in Sri Lanka in 2004. Why do you think Pakistan posted him in Colombo?

India has not allowed Pakistan to open a deputy high commission office in Southern India so far. The reason being India apprehends that such an office would promote terrorism in south India. But now Pakistan is using Colombo as a base to build pro-Pakistan Muslim terrorist groups in the eastern provinces of Sri Lanka to create a Kashmir type situation in south India. These efforts began in 2000, but have increased since 2004 (after Mohammed’s appointment as Pakistan high commissioner). Now some Muslim (Tamil) leaders are demanding de-merger of the unified northern and eastern provinces. The ISI is backing all these groups.

Pakistan knows Sri Lanka Tamils are all pro-India. The Tamils in Sri Lanka support India even in an India-Sri Lanka match. Pakistan has clearly analysed this mentality of Tamils and concluded that LTTE would build up good relations only with India in the long run. Pakistan’s objective is to weaken India’s security in the region by promoting terrorism in Sri Lanka.

Air Vice Marshal (retired) Shehzad Aslam Chaudhry had recently replaced Bashir Wali Mohammed as Pakistan’s high commissioner in Sri Lanka. Is there any change in the situation after he took over?

Sometime ago there was some talk that the LTTE had plans to gun down Sri Lanka Air Force pilots when they were off duty at their homes. The Lankan pilots panicked and many went on medical leave and some simply vanished. Now we understand that about 15 Pakistani pilots are now in Sri Lanka, operating the Sri Lanka Air Force planes.

It is also being alleged that PM Amza, the Sri Lankan deputy high commissioner in Chennai is indulging in certain ‘undesirable activities.’ He reportedly met some Muslim clerics in Tamil Nadu to get their support for Muslim Tamils in Sri Lanka with an alleged motive of dividing the Tamils. It is definitely possible. It might be the reason why they had chosen a Tamil-speaking Muslim for the job.

The ISI has penetrated the Eastern Province comprising the three districts of Amparai, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee. Muslims are dominant in Amparai, and they are present in large numbers in Batticaloa, and Trincomalee. According to the 1981 census, Muslims constituted 33 percent of the population in the three districts. The ISI presence in this region would prove detrimental to India’s security interests in the region.

What do you expect India to do in this situation? Are you indirectly asking India to help the LTTE?

India should recognise the liberation struggle of Tamils. There would be security in the region only if we (Tamils) achieve liberation. We consider India as our motherland. Our culture is rooted in India. In the long run, the Eelam would be an asset to India.

Is it true that LTTE and Indian intelligence agencies have re-established contacts?

We don’t have any information on that. But the day is not far when the LTTE would join hands with India. The LTTE has appealed to India to forget the past. It has understood the reality that they can achieve nothing without India’s support.

A situation is emerging that would force India to such a position because of the activities of Mahinda Rajapakse and Pakistan (in the region).

Are you saying that emergence of the Eelam would be in India’s security interests?

Yes. We are a small country. We cannot antagonise a country like India. We would have very good relations with India. We will not allow America or Pakistan to get a foothold in the region.

Sri Lanka's navy and Tamil Tiger rebels fought a fierce sea battle, with both sides giving conflicting casualty figures ranging from three to 70 killed. A navy vessel detected several boats of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) off the coast of Mullaitivu sparking a battle that both sides said lasted nearly five hours Monday."On completion of the confrontation only 14 craft were seen fleeing... nine sank along with the crew," Sri Lanka's defence ministry said, adding it was "believed more than 70 Sea Tigers were killed and many were injured."The LTTE said only three of its fighters were killed and that no boats were lost."On our side, we lost three of our cadres killed," LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan told AFP from the Tiger offices in the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi in the island's north.

He said the Tigers damaged two naval craft. "Both naval craft had to be towed away," Ilanthiriyan said, adding, "we don't know navy casualties."He also denied naval claims that the Tigers were operating a flotilla transporting supplies and cadres to the eastern district of Batticaloa and said they were on a routine patrol."Nobody can take away our right to patrol the waters of our motherland," Ilanthiriyan said. "We will not stop that. Nobody can stop us either."The defence ministry said that one of its own craft was "slightly damaged" and "five sailors suffered injuries and one was transferred to Colombo for further treatment".Sri Lanka has suffered an upsurge in bloodshed since December that has left more than 1,500 people dead by official count and a 2002 ceasefire in shreds.The island's three-decade separatist ethnic conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives.

The LTTE also denied forcing minority Muslims to quit the coastal town of Muttur, where 17 local aid workers from a French charity were massacred last month and which is situated in the same area as where the sea battle erupted.Local residents said dozens of families had fled to public buildings fearing attacks after they received handbills warning of an impending rebel attack on the area.But the LTTE blamed government forces for what it described as a misinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the guerrillas and diverting attention from a recent massacre of 10 Muslim men elsewhere in Sri Lanka.Truce monitors accused government forces of killing 17 aid workers in Muttur earlier last month. The government vehemently denied the charge and has called for an investigation backed by Australian forensic experts.Ten Muslim men were hacked to death in the district of Ampara last week and local residents blamed speicalist police commandos, but the authorities denied responsibility and blamed Tiger guerrillas.

Mr. Rauf Hakeem the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress is to inform the co-chairs on the killing of 10 Muslims at Pottuvil.Mr. Hakeem has revealed to 'Lanka E News' that he has not received any intimation from the President for the letter sent and nothing has surfaced from the investigation conducted by the CID.He further said that he will be making a special announcement at the Parliament.When questioned by Lanka E News about the withdrawal of STF personnel provided for his security, Mr. Hakeem said that Senior Presidential advisor Mr. Basil Rajapakse discussed this matter with him and promised that the President would sort out this matter after returning to Sri Lanka, attending the UN Sessions.

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have denied forcing minority Muslims to quit a coastal town where 17 aid workers of a French charity were massacred last month. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Monday said they were not responsible for distributing leaflets among thousands of Muslims in the town of Muttur demanding they leave the area.Local residents said dozens of families had fled to public buildings fearing attacks after they received handbills warning of an impending rebel attack on the area.Thousands of residents of Muttur who fled the fighting last month began returning two weeks ago after security forces gained control of the nearby rebel-held town of Sampur, a key guerrilla artillery base.

The LTTE in a statement denied responsibility and in turn blamed government forces for a misinformation campaign to discredit the guerrillas and divert attention from a recent massacre of 10 Muslim men elsewhere in Sri Lanka."The military wins on three scores, diverting the attention, turning the anger of the Muslim people onto the LTTE, and pretending to protect the Muslim people," LTTE official S. Puleedevan said in a statement.Truce monitors accused government forces of killing 17 aid workers in Muttur earlier last month. The government vehemently denied the charge and has called for an investigation backed by Australian forensic experts.

Ten Muslim men were hacked to death in the district of Ampara last week and local residents blamed police Special Task Force commandos, but the authorities denied responsibility and blamed Tiger guerrillas.The Tigers have been accused of attacking Muslims, the second minority after Tamils, and driving them out of their homes in the island's Tamil-dominated north over 15 years ago.Sri Lanka has suffered an upsurge in bloodshed since December that has left more than 1,500 people dead by official count and a 2002 ceasefire in shreds.The island's three-decade separatist ethnic conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives.

President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) V. Anandasangaree has urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to reopen the A-9 (Jaffna-Kandy) Road, but said assurance should be obtained from the LTTE that the Tigers will no longer levy taxes on goods and passengers using the road. In a letter to President Rajapaksa, the TULF leader said, “The passengers should be allowed to go in and come out and without being subjected to extortion and abduction.”
A copy of his letter follows:

“While appreciating and thanking you for the action taken by your Ministers and officials on your orders, during your absence, to meet the urgent requirements of the people, due to their displacement and closure of the A-9 Road, I kindly request you to take immediate action for the matters referred to here. “First of all action should be taken without delay to open the A-9 Road. But before opening this road assurance should be obtained from the LTTE that no more tax will be levied on goods that are taken across and no toll for the vehicles and passengers. The passengers should be allowed to go in and come out and without being subjected to extortion and abduction.

“The A-9 Road remained closed for many years and was re-opened after the CFA [Ceasefire Agreement] was signed. During that period all schools functioned. It is obvious as to who is behind boycott of schools by the students who make it conditional for the opening of the A-9 Road, for them to call off the boycott. The students and the teachers should be warned that all sessions missed should be covered by extra sessions during the weekends too. Please do everything possible to save the children’s education.“There is an acute shortage of food items in the East and essential items both in the North and the East. Please make arrangements for the supply of such items without delay and to the North such items could be airlifted.

“Parents of students attending various institutions like the University, Teachers Colleges and Technical Colleges are worried of the security and food problems of their children. The authorities may be requested to look after their security and food and also to give priority treatment in transporting by ship to enable them to return to their parents. “Arrangements should be made for the Government servants who are on leave and stranded to be paid a percentage of their salary by the local office and could be recovered when they assume office at their respective offices.”

Government is getting bankrupt – JVP Lal Kanthe

Just like the earlier governments Mr. Mahinda Rajapakses’s government too is getting bankrupt said JVP Parliamentarian Lal Kanthe. He said this commenting on the government’s decision to declare several main services as essential services and forbid trade union actions in relation to those services. “What should have been done was to have discussions with trade unions and find solutions for the difficulties of workers. Instead, the government is getting ready to suppress trade unions as it is getting bankrupt,” said Mr. Lal Kanthe. He revealed that trade unions are having a dialogue to take action to turn back the action taken by the government and these actions would be taken in the future he added. A discussion regarding this is going on within the Parliamentary group of the JVP too said Mr. Lal Kanthe. The JVP supported to implement emergency regulations on condition that they would not be used to suppress workers. If the government acts contrary to this it is a matter to be concerned with said Mr. Lal Kanthe.

The recent rain in the southern Jaffna peninsula is the time for the farmers to sow the paddy fields. Displacement, inability to bring seeds and fertilizers into Jaffna, has resulted in thousands of acres of paddy land remaining uncultivated. Even those farmers who are in their residence are unable to sow the fields due to lack of seeds. A sack of rice which prior to the current blockade of Jaffna cost Rs 600 is selling for Rs 3000 at present making it out of reach for most daily wage earners in Jaffna. Hungry people are resorting to stealing food. Petty crimes will rise as people start to steal to ward off hunger. Isn’t this exactly what the Government of Sri Lanka wishes on the people of Jaffna?

Unidentified assailant shot dead a police constable with a pistol Monday around 11:15 a.m near a liquor bar at Paddiruppu junction, Kaluwanchikudy, 24 km southeast of Batticaloa town. Police Constable M. W. Ariyadasa, 45, succumbed to his serious wounds on the way while being transferred to Amparai hospital from Kaluwanchikudy hospital, Police said.

The Jaffna Students Consortium (JSC) Monday continued boycott of schools ignoring the requests from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) command from Palaly to return to schools, student sources in Jaffna said. JSC launched a peninsula wide boycott of schools starting from September 9 stating that "Students will continue their struggle and abstain from schools until the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) respects students' education and facilitates creating an environment conducive for education." Schools in Jaffna remained open without students, sources in Jaffna said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh suggesting that the Government "work out a perpetual lease of Katchathivu" island with Sri Lanka for the benefit of Indian fishermen. In the letter, he said the lease would facilitate "fishing, drying of nets and pilgrimage within the purview of the existing agreement." "I would be grateful if you could kindly look into this and use your good offices to resolve this long pending issue and restore the traditional rights of Indian fishermen in the waters in and around Katchathivu and impress upon the Sri Lankan Government to instruct their Navy to desist from harming innocent Indians, more specifically fishermen from Tamil Nadu who solely depend on fishing... for their livelihood," he said in the letter.

Referring to a number of incidents of attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy on fishermen from Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said that in the latest occurrence on September 8, four fishermen were intercepted near Velankanni within Indian waters, their catch was snatched, they were manhandled, pushed into the sea and ordered to swim to safety. The CM said two of the fishermen were feared drowned. The incident caused "deep anguish and distress" among fishermen and led to spontaneous protests. "Sri Lankan Navy is now preventing fishermen of Tamil Nadu from fishing in India's territorial waters”, he alleged.

SRI LANKA: "So Far, No Further," India Signals LTTE - By Col. R Hariharan (retd.)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh politely declined to meet a five-member delegation of Sri Lanka Tamil MPs on September 21, 2006. The MPs belonging to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the pro-LTTE face in Sri Lanka parliament, perhaps had high hopes of meeting the Prime Minister, thanks to the loud sponsorship of their case by Marumalarchi Dravida Makkal Katchi (MDMK) leader Vaiko. And perhaps that was the rub because Vaiko had been equally vocal as a political advocate of LTTE in Tamil Nadu.

The Prime Minister had a busy fortnight; he made whirlwind visits to Havana for the Non Aligned Summit and another equally eventful trip to the UN General Assembly Summit meeting. On his return he has a few major issues confronting him ? the Indo-US nuclear deal coming through, as well as the politically more explosive outcome of his meeting with General Musharraf in Havana. But the rebuff to the Sri Lanka delegation was not because he was busy. Nor was it because he considered the problem of Sri Lanka Tamils less important. The meeting with the Prime Minister was simply not on the cards. This is clear from the comment of a South Block official quoted in the Hindu, "They met everyone who had to be met."

The Tamil MPs, who wanted to discuss the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka, had been cooling their heels in Delhi for three days to meet the Prime Minister. Their earlier effort in Chennai to meet M Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had also met with the same rebuff. They are going home after meeting the National Security Advisor MK Narayanan and the Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahamed only. Of course, both at Chennai and Delhi they met some of the leaders of political parties including the Communist Party of India. That was it.

The TNA MPs know India very well. R Sampanthan, the head of the delegation, is a veteran politician who has living links in India. Another member Suresh Premachandran of Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) fought LTTE shoulder to shoulder with the Indian Peace Keeping Force. They are all seasoned politicians who have long years of experience in dealing with Indian politicians, notably of the Tamil Nadu kind. They have good understanding of the internal machinations that impel Tamil Nadu politics. They know the working of Indian bureaucracy at the state and central levels. In the heart of hearts they probably knew the prospects of meeting with the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister were dim, if not dismal. LTTE also probably had inkling of the abortive mission though it was taken in by the widely publicised efforts of Vaiko to arrange the meeting with the Prime Minister.

Of course, it is because LTTE decided that they should make the trip. Despite their impeccable political pedigree, the MPs have become the proxy voices of LTTE in Sri Lanka parliament. Their contribution to prod the stalled peace process, if any, is not visible because they are partisans of LTTE. So they have hardly any choice. LTTE has always used them to gain propaganda mileage with the rallying call of support to the Tamils suffering under the Sinhala government. So their first agenda in India would be to test the waters of Tamil Nadu to assess the support for LTTE and of course, highlight the atrocities perpetrated against Tamils in Sri Lanka.

But the more important purpose was to explore ways to fulfil LTTE's desire to mend fences with India. Ever since the international ambience started heating up for LTTE, it has started remembering the value of having India as a friend rather than a foe. Tamil militants in general and LTTE in particular were welcomed with open arms in Tamil Nadu when they fled their country in 1983. They were fed, feted, financed and trained to go back to settle scores. And India tried to rewrite the history of Tamil struggle when it intervened in a big way with troops to ensure the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord was enforced in Sri Lanka in 1987. When the mission failed, thanks to the newfound bonhomie between two mortal enemies - Premadasa and Prabhakaran - to get rid of Indian troops from the soil of "Tamil Eelam." The expedition soured India's emotional relationship with Tamil militancy. Then there was the mindless killing of Rajiv Gandhi masterminded by Prabhakaran. Dhanu, the suicide bomber, not only killed Rajiv Gandhi but she also killed the influence of LTTE militants in India.

Unfortunately, LTTE still lives in the memories of its experience of the 90s that have been wished away in India. It is this self-satisfying myth of LTTE that induced the LTTE ideologue Anton Balasingham in a TV interview on June 27, 2006 to describe Rajiv killing as "a great tragedy, a monumental, historical tragedy", and ask India to forgive and forget to "build a new relationship" with LTTE. On the same day, S.P. Tamilchelvan, political affairs head of the LTTE, in an interview to Singapore daily Tamil Murasu said, "If one looks at it from one's individual interest, there will be no close relations between the LTTE and the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu. But looking at it from the point of view of the people's welfare, we will surely extend a hand of friendship." This was clearly a muted appeal to the Tamil Nadu Government. However, that fishing expedition of LTTE in Indian waters failed. [For an analysis of the interview see SAAG Note no. 320 dated June 30, 2006 titled "LTTE regrets without remorse ? Up date 96" at http://www.saag.org/%5Cnotes4%5Cnote320.html]

Of course, the MPs while in Delhi tried to get their message through that India should be involved in the peace process for the sake of Tamils. R Sampanthan while speaking at the Indian Council of World Affairs regretted the killing of Rajiv Gandhi. He said: "The assassination of Gandhi was tragic and thoroughly unacceptable. A vast majority of the Tamil people is deeply disappointed. It should have never happened. It is a tragic aberration we sincerely and seriously regret." But significantly LTTE's responsibility for the assassination was wished away. This inability of TNA to even to verbally condemn LTTE for this "monumental tragedy" perhaps explains the limitations of their influence in dealing with LTTE.

The failure of the TNA MPs to fulfil their mission should send a loud and clear message from the Government of India to LTTE - so far and no further. The MPs can come to Delhi put across their messages, meet the officials and address meetings. Beyond that, their association with LTTE, which is a banned organisation in India, makes them "No go." For the MPs who had the free run of corridors of power in Delhi in their earlier incarnation two decades ago as respected leaders of their own political parties and not vassals of LTTE, this trip was probably a moment of truth.

The return of the delegation with no tangible results should warm the heart of the Government of Sri Lanka because it has shown the extent of their influence in Delhi. Despite the differences between the two governments recently over the supply of arms for domestic reasons in India, Manmohan Singh by refusing to see the MPs has made it clear that there is no change in India's stand on Sri Lanka. The relations between the two countries remain as warm as ever. Internally, the whole episode also shows the limited influence Vaiko wields in the Centre, let alone in moulding the foreign policy decisions on Sri Lanka. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will be happy about this. After all his advice rather than that of Vaiko has been heeded by the Prime Minister, and in the Brownie point score of Tamil Nadu politics everything counts.

The five-man delegation of the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is satisfied with its just concluded visit to New Delhi, even though it failed to get an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.While TNA members and Tamil dailies in Colombo felt cheated by the Indian Establishment and Tamil Nadu politicians, the members of the team themselves felt that their mission had ushered in a new era in India-Sri Lankan Tamil relations after a 15-year painful stand-off."India has opened the door to us," a senior MP, Mavai Senathirajah told Hindustan Times over phone from Trichy on Sunday.

Happy to have got an opportunity to meet the National Security Advisor, MK Narayanan, Foreign Secretary designate Shiv Shankar Menon, and the Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed, and to address a seminar at the prestigious Indian Council for World Affairs, the MPs declared that they had broken through to the top level in India."We opened our hearts to them and they opened their hearts to us," Senathirajah said."We had a very cordial meeting with the National Security advisor. In addition, he spoke to us on the phone prior to our departure," Senathirajah said.About their meeting with the Foreign Secretary designate, Shiv Shankar Menon, he said that Menon's previous experience in Sri Lanka as High Commissioner helped them communicate with him very well.

About the Prime Minister's inability to see them, the MPs were told that Singh wanted to give some time to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to sort out matters, as only a few days earlier he had spoken to him about India 's concerns vis-a-vis Sri Lanka, on the sidelines of the NAM summit in Havana.According to Senathirajah, Dr Singh had urged the Sri Lankan President to end the hostilities and killings in the North and East of the island, attend to the humanitarian issues triggered by the fighting, and go for talks with the LTTE.The Indian PM offered the Sri Lankan President, assistance for the relief and rehabilitation of the displaced people in the war-ravaged Tamil-speaking North East.When told about this, the TNA MPs requested that the aid be sent directly to the North and East and not through the Sri Lankan government, which, they alleged, could block it.

The Indian government, however, would not oblige them in this matter as New Delhi deals with Sri Lanka only through the government in Colombo.According to Senathirajah, the Indian Prime Minister told Rajapaksa that India would view with concern any move to de-merge the North and East and form two distinct provinces, as any such move would go against the India- Sri Lanka Accord and exacerbate ethnic tension in the North and East.The Indian top brass told the MPs that they could convey to New Delhi any issue that warranted India 's attention.

The Government yesterday laid a precondition before the Norwegian government, asking that it confines its role to that of a facilitator, in response to the call from the LTTE to resume peace talks.Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told The Nation that the government had informed Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar that his government should ensure that it did not exceed the functions of a facilitator. Furthermore the government has laid three preconditions for the LTTE and is awaiting a response from Kilinochchi via the Norwegian facilitators.Taking into consideration the LTTE’s style of operation during the last 23 years, the government has conveyed that this time it is waiting for a response from Tiger leader Velupillai Parabhakaran himself before committing to talks.

The LTTE Leader should personally give a guarantee to the Co-Chairs, the Norwegians and the Sri Lankan Government that the organisation is genuine in its intentions to move towards negotiations and agree to confine them to the core issues of the national question, Minister Rambukwella said. Since ceasefire periods have been used by the LTTE in the past to strengthen itself militarily, the government has also insisted on an assurance from the LTTE that it will not engage in weapons running in the future.Minister Rambukwella added that Ambassador Brattskar had been informed that the Co-Chairs and the facilitators should ensure that the LTTE’s arms smuggling is halted.“Also the right of the Sri Lankan government to retaliate in the face of acts of terrorism by an individual or the LTTE should be reserved, at any stage of the peace talks,” the Minister said.

In a scathing attack against the facilitators, Minister Rambukwella said that while earlier Sri Lanka was prepared to accept as gospel truth any condition laid down by Norway, that country had taken this as carte blanche to interfere in administration and day to day affairs of the Sri Lankan government, thereby infringing Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. He said that for 58 years after independence, the greatest impediment to finding a solution was disharmony between the two major parties, but that factor too has been resolved with President Mahinda Rajapaksa extending his hand to the UNP to form a government of national consensus.While the LTTE came into being representing the genuine grievances of the Tamil people, it had resorted to terrorism later, making itself the greatest impediment to achieving a lasting peace, Minister Rambuwella added.

“Paramilitary groups go about in Jaffna, in white vans. They abduct civilians and kill them. This is a daily occurrence,” All Ceylon Tamil Congress has told UN Secretary General Koffi Annan.A letter dated September 22, signed by the party’s President, former MP Appathuray Vinayagamoorthy says:

“Due to the deteriorating human rights situation, as far as the Tamils of Sri Lanka are concerned, and because of the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka, it has become urgent and necessary for me, as a Human Rights Activist, an Ex. Parliamentarian and President of the oldest Tamil Political Party viz. All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), to request Your Excellency to immediately consider the possibility of sending a United Nations Peace Keeping Force to Sri Lanka, to protect the Sri Lankan Tamils and ensure peace.”“Due to the ongoing undeclared war between the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka, the entire Jaffna peninsula is cut off from the rest of the country and people in Jaffna face starvation and death.”“What is taking place in Jaffna is genocide of Tamils. Abductions, killings, robberies and illegal arrests by the paramilitary groups which support the Government and State agents such as the Army and the Navy, take place almost daily. Tamils in Sri Lanka, are living in mortal fear and they do not know whom to complain to.”

“It does not seem that the Government can and will control the criminal activities of the armed forces and paramilitary groups. The paramilitary groups go about in Jaffna in white vans and arrest civilians, take them away and kill them. This is a daily occurrence,”“In this connection, I wrote a letter to the Hon. Elfyn Llwyd AS/MP, as regards the present plight of the Sri Lankan Tamils and he forwarded same to the Hon. Minister of State and a copy of the reply sent by him to the Hon. Elfyr Llwyd. AS/MP is attached hereto,” he stated in his reply:“I share Mr. Vinayagamoorthy’s concern at the worsening security and human rights situation in Sri Lanka. All Human Rights abuses by any party to the conflict, are deplorable and in all cases there must be credible investigations and the perpetrators brought to justice. We are deeply concerned at the plight of civilians in government-controlled areas, who are regularly subjected to brutal attacks by paramilitary groups and according to disturbing reports, also by government security forces acting with apparent impunity. Clearly, such attacks must cease.”

“Amnesty International has also stated recently that the army is responsible for the white van arrests in Sri Lanka. Paramilitary groups which assist and support the government, daily arrest Tamil businessmen in Colombo, take them to Ampara and Batticaloa and release them only after being paid large ransoms. This is almost a daily occurrence in Colombo.”United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour recently called for International Monitors for Sri Lanka, when 10 Muslims were found hacked to death in the East. She has further said:“There is an urgent need for the International Community to monitor the unfolding human rights situation, as these are not merely ceasefire violations, but grave breaches of International Human Rights and humanitarian law….” In the latest phase of its ethnic conflict, now more than 20 years old, Sri Lanka has witnessed a re-emergence of some of its most frightening ghosts; disappearances, abductions and killings by unidentified gunmen. Nearly 2000 people, majority of them civilians have been killed since the beginning of the year, according to the Nordic Monitoring Team….” “There is no protection for Sri Lankan Tamils and the Government Forces, which should protect the Tamils, are helping the paramilitary groups ...”“In the circumstances, I have no other alternative but to request your Excellency to immediately send a United Nations Peace Keeping Force to protect the Sri Lankan Tamils and maintain and ensure peace.

After accusing at a public meeting that the SLFP is engaged in the worlds oldest profession- the prostitution, by JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe, the Koswatta police raided a brothel alleged to have operated by his sister and presented before the Kaduwela court seven suspects including six women and the manager. The women were charged with engaging in prostitution and charges were also filed against the person who ran the brothel at Sinhapura, Battaramulla. The suspects were released on bail by acting Kaduwela magistrate Kaduruwana Gnanasiri and the Koswatta police said that the owner of the house, Somawansa Amarasinghe's sister had fled the scene and are looking for her.

This sister of JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe was married to UNP strongman Sirisena Cooray's brother Nandasena Cooray. There was wide spread speculation during the reign of terror in 88-89 that Somawansa Amarasinghe fled the country with the help of this sister and Sirisena Cooray who was then a leading a Minister.The SLFP leadership and members were seething with anger over the allegation made by Amarasinghe at a recent party propaganda meeting that the SLFP is engaged in prostitution.Responding to this accusation, SLFP General Secretary Maithreepala Sirisena took Amarasinghe to the task yesterday claiming that the SLFP does not want JVP's certificates. Addressing a meeting at Attanagalla, Minister Anura Bandaranaike said today that he 'feels sorry about an old man like Somawansa Amarasinghe making such statements'.

The TNA and the EPDP yesterday hailed the postponement of the local government polls in the North-East citing that the situation is not conducive at all for an election in the war-ravaged province. Party’s Jaffna district MP Pathmini Sithamparanathan said given the volatile security situation in the area their members were not in a position to canvas freely for the election, and therefore the postponement was a timely move.The EPDP also subscribed to the same view saying an election could not be held under the present circumstances where people are undergoing enormous difficulties. A party spokesman said that the government had taken the right decision.

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has decided to postpone the local government polls in the North-East till June 30, 2007.Mr. Dissanayake took this decision last week after a meeting with the Government Agents representing the two war-ravaged provinces. The election had earlier been scheduled for September 30, 2006, to elect members to local bodies in Jaffna, Mulaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts in the north, and certain other local bodies in the east.Meanwhile, Jaffna Assistant Elections Commissioner P.Kuganathan said that he requested Mr. Dissanayake in writing on September 21, to postpone the polls. There are 17 local bodies in the Jaffna district including a Municipal Council.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and Liberation Tigers exchanged rocket fire in the eastern Batticaloa at 4:30 a.m. Sunday lasting twon hours, LTTE sources in Batticaloa said. Fighting broke out when Sri Lankan government troops attempted to move from Pulipainthakal Bridge in Kiran, through Tharavai Road, into areas held by the Liberation Tigers. SLA soldiers withdrew to their positions after they came under attack by LTTE fighters. Rockets fired by the SLA troops hit villages of Iralakulam, Tharavai and Pondokalchenai, forcing hundres of civilians to seek refuge in safer areas. The displaced returned to their homes, later in the morning, LTTE sources said.

SLA sources, however, said that the offensive was carried out by the cadres of the paramilitary Karuna group and no SLA troopers were involved. Details of injuries or casualties are not known.Kiran is located 25 km. north of Batticaloa. SLA sources also said that their troops retaliated when the Liberation Tigers fired artillery at the Kiran, Vavunativu camps at 5:20 a.m. for twenty minutes. Communication facilities of the LTTE were disrupted in Vavunativu by the retaliatory fire by the SLA troopers, SLA sources added.

JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe has challenged the SLFP to win an election without being propped up by another party.Addressing a public rally in Kandy, Mr. Amarasinghe said the JVP had emerged as a strong political party today after proving its mettle, staging two armed struggles and facing a series of elections. “An era of handshakes and hugs has come. An era of covering the elephant with a coconut shell and of hitting terrorism so hard as to make it wince, has also come. Meanwhile, an era of biting the hand extended in friendship too has come,” Mr. Amarasinghe said.The JVP leader said that his party was prepared, not only to extend its helping hand, but even make the supreme sacrifice for the sake of the government, if it was ready to accept the 20-point programme it has presented.

“Accept our programme and we will be part of the government,” he said.“Deputy Minister Dilan Perera has challenged us to a debate on the policies of the SLFP and the JVP. Should we go for a discussion with a person for whom even the ‘pilikanna (backyard) of the President’s House is out of bounds?” Mr. Amarasinghe asked.The JVP, he said, was prepared to become a doormat for the good of the people. But it could never be used for the purpose of truncating the country or any other wrong purpose. Mr. Amarasinghe said that the talks between the UNP and the SLFP caused them no concern. “The UNP is just biding its time. It is marching on the same spot. The government is sadly mistaken when it thinks that it can devour the UNP”

The JVP leader also charged that statements that Dilan Perera had reportedly made were an affront to the armed forces.“The Deputy Minister is slighting the security personnel,” he said.Mr. Amarasinghe said: The ‘Daily Mirror’ in its Editorial says that we took up arms twice. We took up arms to bring democracy to the country, to bring democracy to our party.President Mahinda Rajapaksa is still our friend. There cannot be 100 ministers in the Cabinet. Please do not allow the drain of public funds…. There should be political morality if we are to respond to hugs and handshakes.”The JVP leader said some people could not be without ministerial portfolios ‘Their wives nag them to get ministerial portfolios. However, the bull and buffalo combination will never work. We wish to tell President Rajapaksa that if he is not prepared to accept our programme, we too are entering the Presidential race. We will take lakhs of our people to the streets,” said Mr. Amarasinghe.

A vessel carrying about 1,000 civilians and 600 security forces personnel reached the Trincomalee Navy base Sunday morning. The chartered vessel ‘Jetliner’ left KKS harbour Saturday evening under the heavy escort of a sizeable force of Fast Attack Craft (FACs). The military said that this was the largest single movement carried out by the Navy since the closure of Muhamalai entry/exit point on August 11."We took extraordinary security measures," a senior official said, adding, "This was partly due to the transfer of civilians and security forces personnel together."On three previous occasions, the Navy deployed its largest landing craft ‘SLNS Shakthi’ to ferry civilians from KKS to Trincomalee. A senior navy official said that ‘SLNS Shakthi’ altogether carried 2,206 civilians before ‘Jetliner’ brought a further 1,000 civilians from Jaffna.

The government directed the Navy to facilitate civilian movement after the ICRC declined to get involved in the operation. Although the first civilian ship, which left KKS after August 11, carried the ICRC flag, the humanitarian agency subsequently quit, allegedly due to LTTE opposition. The LTTE wants to re-open the overland entry/exit point.Ship movements continue despite the suspension of naval monitoring by the Nordic truce monitoring mission. The then Sweden-led monitoring mission suspended naval monitoring after Sea Tigers targeted the passenger ferry ‘Pearl Cruise’ carrying about 700 off duty personnel on May 11, off the Jaffna coast. This was a heavy burden, another officer said, expressing confidence in meeting the challenge.Meanwhile, the navy completed the deployment of troops in the newly cleared areas of Sampur, south of Trincomalee harbour. The navy deployed landing craft to ferry men and material to Illankanthai, a major LTTE stronghold before the combined forces regained the area late August. "It is easier to ferry men and equipment," he said, adding, "The overland route is circuitous."

A Police Constable attached to the personal security unit of TNA Parliamentarian K Pathmanadan had been gunned down by an unidentified armed gang at Vinayagapuram bus stand in Thirukkovil yesterday morning.The victim, Kunchithambi Kuvendran (38), was in the company of a fellow constable at around 10.40 am, waiting for a bus to get back to the Thirukkovil police station, when he was shot dead. A group of unidentified gunmen, in a white van, had fired several shots at the victim killing him on the spot, only 100 meters away from an STF sentry point, before fleeing the scene. The victim, a constable attached to Thirukkovil police served as a bodyguard to MP Pathmanadan. He had left his hometown Thambiluvil for Akkaraipattu to collect his salary that morning. OIC Thirukkovil police, H M Ranatunga, is conducting investigations. The reason for the killing is yet to be ascertained, the police said.

Tiger suspects blow themselves up

Two LTTE suspects committed suicide by exploding a hand grenade at Udappuwa on Friday evening. Police headquarters said that one of the suspects triggered the blast during a cordon and search operation by the Police.This came against the backdrop of the recovery of two T 56 assault rifles, two magazines and 56 rounds of ammunition hidden in an estate. The recovery had been made earlier in the day."We observed a suspicious movement nearby and swung into action," he said, adding, "The suspects immediately exploded a hand grenade. They died on the spot."

At least six people including women have been arrested from Wattala over the alleged possession of weapons.The arrests were made following information given by another person arrested at Medawachchiya together with a van carrying sucide kits and a large haul of explosives..Wattala police Inspector Percy Michael said the driver, who is a resident of Hendala, Wattala had two micro type pistols and 60 T 56 ammunition at his house Kerawalapitiya. His wife and five others were taken in for questioning. Investigations have also revealed that a leading LTTE cadre in Vavuniya had supplied the arms to attack VIPs in Colombo.The woman was remanded while the others are being detained for further questioning.Security in Colombo was tightened on Saturday following intelligence reports that LTTE cadres were in Colombo. Seventeen suspicious persons were arrested on Saturday.

Defence Secy., military top brass visit Jaffna

Military top brass, accompanied by Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapakse flew to Jaffna on Saturday, an Army Spokesman said.Secretary Defence and Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Roshan Goonathilake flew to Jaffna Saturday (23) morning.Jaffna Security Forces Commander (SF-J) Major General G. A. Chandrasiri, after receiving the Defence Secretary and top military brass at Palaly airport gave a full account of the security situation in Jaffna. SF-J Commander also explained how bravely the soldiers faced LTTE attacks, thwarting all efforts by terrorists to capture Jaffna from August 11.Inconveniences experienced by Jaffna civilians due to war situation and measures taken by Security Forces to restore normalcy in the peninsula were explained by Civil Affairs Coordinator before Secretary, Defence gave further instructions to be taken in future LTTE attacks. He also admired the valour shown by soldiers in defending Jaffna against the LTTE.

The SLFP-JVP honeymoon appears to have come to an end with the Marxist party’s leadership blasting the government over an unexpected move to forge closer bilateral relations with Norway. Rajapakse last Tuesday called for enhanced ties with Norway when he met Norwegian Premier Jens Stoltenberg in New York. This came against the backdrop of the ruling coalition seeking an alliance with the UNP to tackle national issues.This drew the wrath of JVP leader Somawansa Amaras-inghe who recently compared the SLFP leadership to that of woman practicing the world’s oldest profession. Amarasinghe ridiculed the SLFP’s refusal to abrogate the Cease-fire Agreement (CFA), end Norwegian facilitation in the peace process and de-link the Eastern Province from the North.

The JVP chief said that the SLFP was like a twilight woman waiting on the roadside to go with anyone who comes by. Somawansa warned of street protests, threatening to send President Mahinda Rajapakse home. He challenged the ruling coalition to face the people in parliamentary and presidential elections.SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisen Friday blasted Amarasinghe. Addressing a public meeting at Polonnaruwa, Sirisena who had clashed with the JVP previously, launched a scathing attack on Amarasinghe. "We don’t need his character certificates," he said, "The president did not go for a parliamentary election immediately after the last local government polls because he did not want to undermine the JVP."

Sirisena said that if Rajapakse called for snap parliamentary election, the JVP would have ended up with the world’s oldest profession. He severely criticized JVP attempts to capitalize on the recent battlefield success. Referring to JVP claims that the JVP was responsible for high morale in the security forces, Sirisena said this was all bunkum The Sunday Island learns that Sirisena launched a counter-attack after President Rajapakse was informed of Amarasinghe’s remarks on the SLFP which many partymen regarded as spiteful. Rajapakse is likely to hold talks with his close confidantes after his return today from New York to avert a possible crisis.

Political sources said that Rajapakse is in an awkward position as his coalition entirely depends on the JVP for survival in parliament. The 38-member JVP parliamentary group supports the coalition, both in and outside parliament.Government sources said that Rajapakse was not in a position to meet the JVP conditions to return to the government fold. The JVP quit the government in June last year over differences with the then President Chandrika Kumaratunga over PTOMS agreement with the LTTE. The US recently reiterated its support for the Norwegian role in the peace process while emphasizing her backing for to the Oslo-led Nordic truce monitoring mission.The TULF welcomed Rajapakse’s readiness to work with the Norwegians. "This would make things easier," TULF leader V. Anandasangaree told The Sunday Island yesterday.

The civilians in Jaffna are frustrated due to the present situation prevailing in the peninsula, Jaffna Bishop Rt. Rev. Thomas Soundaranayagam said. Speaking to The Sunday Leader he said the scarcity of essential items had also affected the civilians a lot. "Jaffna is isolated from the rest of the country. The only route of bringing in items into the peninsula was the A9 road and it was closed from August 11. Now none of the private traders have goods in their shops. The prices of the essential items are also increasing everyday," he said. He also said the peninsula was experiencing a shortage of fuel as well. "Kerosene is also running out. The people cannot even light a lamp these days," Rev. Soundaranayagam added.

He also said the seas were too rough these days for the items to be brought to the peninsula. "The LTTE has also said that they will not take any responsibility for sea transportation. That also is affecting the items being brought here," he added. Speaking further Rev. Soundaranayagam added he had written to the LTTE encouraging them to take part in the negotiations. He said the civilians are unsure as to what the future would be like. "There are conflicting statements made by the relevant parties after the Co-Chairs statement. That also frustrates the civilians a lot," he added. He also said he had written to President Mahinda Rajapakse to take steps to open the A9. "I have written to the President, asking him to take the necessary steps to open the A9. Something has to be done, because thousands of people are affected due to the closure of the road. I hope the President will take the necessary steps on this issue," he said.

The JVP is up in arms over tough new emergency regulations under which any trade union that disrupts essential services will face a ban and freezing of its funds.The party’s trade union spokesman K.D. Lal Kantha told The Sunday Times they would seek a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss the regulations which he believed would cripple trade union activities.The JVP-backed unions recently launched crippling strikes in the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Colombo Port. Similarly, JVP unions in the Ceylon Electricity Board have threatened to launch a one-day strike causing countrywide blackouts if their demand for salary increases are not granted.

The regulations which were gazetted under the Public Security Ordinance recently with certain sectors being declared as essential were approved by parliament as part of the emergency regulations.Mr. Lal Kantha expressed shock that such anti-trade union laws had been introduced under the guise of emergency regulations and warned that his party would reconsider its support for the emergency if those laws were not withdrawn.Under the regulations, a person who fails to carry out his or her duties in any sector declared as an ‘essential service’ will be deemed to have vacated the post with immediate effect.

The terms and conditions of employment, contract or other laws will not be taken into account in enforcing the regulation to terminate the service.All health services, distribution of fuel, supply of electricity, maintenance of postal and telecommunication services, public services, maintenance of transport and distribution of food supplies have been declared as essential and strikes in these sectors will be illegal. All services related to export of garments and other commodities as well as the management of tea, rubber, and coconut plantations also have been declared as “essential services” under these regulations.Health Services Trade Union Alliance leader Saman Rathnapriya also came out strongly against the new emergency regulations. He said the regulations went beyond what was internationally regarded as essential services and included garment factories also in the list of essential services.He said the regulations were a gross abuse of executive power.

Over 200,000 persons have been displaced and 10,000 or more have fled to India as refugees due to the escalation of the North-East conflict.Forum Asia which promotes human rights and development said that the displacement of such large numbers has resulted in an unmanageable humanitarian crisis. "Many thousands have been deprived of adequate food and other basic needs. The situation has been compounded by humanitarian agencies not being granted access to conflict affected areas", Forum Asia’s Coordinator Ruki Fernando said. "Over 1343 people, more than half of them civilians, have been killed since the escalation of the conflict in April 2006 to mid July 2006. Civilians have been the victims of targeted and indiscriminate killings by both the security forces and LTTE."

He, said that despite the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement between the Sri Lankan government and LTTE, human rights abuses such as extrajudicial killings, child recruitment, abductions, disappearances and attacks on minorities have escalated. "There are serious allegations against both the government and LTTE in this regard. Investigations into human rights abuses have been stalled due to lack of political will or evidence, reflecting both the prevailing culture of impunity and climate of fear, he said.Fernando, said Forum Asia believes that only an independent international human rights monitoring mechanism that has the full backing of the UN system, can release Sri Lankans from the cycle of violence and human rights violations.

A controvasy is looming up in the media circles and the literary circles over an invitation extended to Mr. Wimal Weerawansa to make the keynote address at the State Literary Festival at Anuradhapura.Many have questioned the logic of inviting Mr. Weerawansa who is not a literary figure.Originally it was decided to invite the Speaker Mr. W. J. M. Lokubandara to make the keynote address. As he was extremly busy a decision was taken to invite Prof. Wimal Dissanayake. As someone has blundered and sent the invitation to Mr. Wimal Weerawansa the organizers were unable to withdraw the invitation. Mr. Weerawansa too had said that even he was surprised when he got the invitation.It is said that Mr. Weerawansa too made some factual errors when making his presentation. He has referred to Earnest Hemingway's 'Old man and the sea' as a work of 'Guy de Maupassant'.

150,000 school children, 7,000 University students and 3,000 Technical College students remain unable to attend schools, campuses for more than 40 days in the Jaffna peninsula where the residents are "terrorized and held hostage by fear," said Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian of Jaffna District, N. Raviraj, at a press conference held in Renuka Hotel Colombo at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. TNA MPs from five districts addressed the press. "Tens of thousands of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are leading an uncertain life. Relief supplies have reached alarmingly low levels, and without fresh supply of relief provisions, the IDPs face a dismal future," said K. Thurairetnasingam MP from Trincomalee District.

The press briefing was held while Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse, accompanied by a delegation of more than 60 politicians and officials, was attending the (Non-aligned Movement) NAM in Havana, and UN meetings in New York.TNA MPs Saturday severely criticized the Sri lankan government as responsible for creating a climate of terror in the Northeast. "We want to tell the international community as well as the Sinhala people in the south that twice earlier the Sri Lankan Government had agreed to resume talks in both instances after co-chairs called on the parties to start talks. Later, however, the Government denied they agreed for talks," Mr. Raviraj said.

Teenage children are being killed, and scores have dissappeared. Even the UN agencies like UNICEF have been quite about the plight of thousands of children," Raviraj said. In Batticaloa and Amparai, many children were being abducted by paramilitaries, he said further. "The Government Agent (GA) in Trincomalee District which is 70% Tamil, is a former military official, and humanitarian issues are not high on his administration's list of priorities," said Trincomalee MP Mr. Thurairetnasingham. "IDPs are undergoing severe hardship under his administration. Even basic health facilities in the refugee camps are not available. Two children died due to diarrhea only a few days ago clearly points to unacceptable conditions in these camps. Eachilampattu hospital which was reopened recently has only one doctor and two workers. Urgent action is needed to address health issues in my district," the MP said.

The parliamentarians also accused the Government of freezing the bank accounts of Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), thereby blocking the main humanitarian and relief agency in the NorthEast from carrying out relief work. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians N. Raviraj, K.Sivanesan, S. Kajendran, Pathmini Sithamparanathan, K. Thurairatnasingam, K. Thangeswari, K. Pathmanahan and S. Kanakaratnam, representing five districts in NorthEast, Amparai, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Vavuniya and Trincomalee, addressed the press at Hotel Renuka.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged her Sri Lankan counterpart here Saturday to make a concerted effort in planned peace talks with rebels from the country's Tamil minority, a senior US official said. Meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaweera on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Rice voiced strong support for Norwegian-mediated efforts to halt a resurgence in fighting between government forces and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). "She urged the government to engage in a focused, concerted way with the Norwegians as they try to start another round of negotiations with the LTTE," the senior official said on condition he not be identified.

The warring parties agreed last week in Brussels to hold face-to-face talks early next month in Oslo in a bid to salvage a fragile truce in place since February 2002. A flare-up in tit-for-tat violence over the past 10 months has left more than 1,500 people and left the truced accord in tatters. Rebels among the Hindu Tamil minority have waged a drawn-out insurgency for a separate ethnic homeland in the north and east of Sri Lanka, a majority Sinhalese Buddhist nation. More than 60,000 people have died since the rebellion began in 1972. Rice and Samaweera also discussed human rights issues, and notably the massacre last month of 17 aid workers from the French aid group Action Contre la Faim. The Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission blamed the killings on government security forces and Rice told Samaweera she was "encouraged" by the government's decision to let international investigators join a probe into the incident, the official said.

A meeting between the SLMM officials and the LTTE leaders was held in Amparai in the morning on Saturday.Both sides in the meeting that began at 10 a.m. at the Pavaddai Peace Secretariat continued till 11.30 a.m., discussed the problems faced by the civilians at Kanchikudichchaaru, Rufuskulam, Thanga Velayuthapuram and Kombaththarachchi following the blockade by STF and injustice done to the Muslims at Pothuvil by the government forces.Mr. Havin, SLMM deputy leader and LTTE`s Gen Stanley led their respective sides in the meeting. LTTE`s Political Officer, Veeramany, also attended the meeting.This was the first meeting the SLMM attended at Amparai after a change in the structure of the monitoring body.Reciprocating, SLMM officials were told that the Tamil civilians have now been deprived of transport and medical facilities and their farming activities have been severely affected because of restriction imposed on them by the STF.The blockade is also affecting children’s study as they are not being able to go to schools.

The LTTE yesterday responded positively to a request by the donor Co-chairs to resume talks early.Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar travelled to Kilinochchi yesterday for a meeting with LTTE Political Wing Leader S.P. Thamilselvan carrying a message from the Co-chairs to resume talks in Oslo early next month. The pro-LTTE Tamilnet website reported that the LTTE responded positively but did not elaborate. “Mr. Thamilselvan discussed the ground situation and the recent statement from the Co-Chairs, who represent the donor community to Sri Lanka. The re-opening of the A9 Road and the ground situation in government controlled areas, where abductions and killings were taking place at an alarming rate, were discussed in detail at the meeting,” it said. The need for the effective functioning of the SLMM was also discussed at the meeting, it said.

The Co-Chair members, the United States, the European Union, Norway and Japan met in Brussels on September 12 and urged both parties to return to the negotiating table soon. The donors insisted that the government should honour the ceasefire agreement and fulfill pledges made during the Geneva meeting in February 2006 while the LTTE must show willingness to make the compromises needed for a political solution within a united Sri Lanka. Meanwhile at least six civilians, including the Thelippalai postman were killed allegedly by the LTTE pistol gang in separate incidents in the north and east on Thursday and Friday, the media center for national security said.It said suspected LTTE cadres shot and killed the postman of the Thelippalai post office in Chankanai.

The military sources said these civilians were killed for helping the security forces. Army found the bullet-riddled bodies of three men in the Jaffna peninsula where another man had been similarly shot dead by unidentified attackers on Thursday, the MCNS said.In another incident a woman, Rajendram Yasa (30) was shot dead allegedly by the LTTE pistol gang around 11.30 in the morning at Pethalai in Valaichchenai. A 58-year-old Tamil civilian was also shot dead allegedly by the LTTE pistol gang yesterday morning in Valvetithuari. The incidents were reported to the SLMM by the security forces.In another development the LTTE said yesterday the government should take full responsibility for the huge displacement of civilians in Trincomalee following the military takeover of the once rebel-held stronghold of Sampur.

LTTE Trincomalee head S. Elilan said this when he met SLMM acting head lars Johan Solvberg in Vaharai.Several families displaced from Sampur are being temporarily sheltered at refugee camps in Vaharai with aid agencies including the UNICEF and the ICRC providing relief supplies. But these families have told the SLMM their temporary shelters face the threat of flooding during rainy weather.Mr. Elilan also discussed other ceasefire related issues with the SLMM acting head who is on a visit to the east to meet government officials, LTTE leaders and SLMM district monitors.

Suicide kits found in Anuradhapura

Police in the north-central Sri Lankan town of Medawachchiya have found two suicide kits in a van.Inspector of Police (IP) at Medawachchiya police station Siripala Uswetti said they arrested the van as a police dog behaved “in an unusual manner” at the police checkpoint.The kits were hidden in a special cage created under the chassis of the van, he said.A claymore bomb, two remote controllers, two remote control circuits, four detonators and special laminated cards warning of explosives were also found by the police.Police said they also found a box containing meat in the van in an attempt to mislead police dogs.The driver of the van has been arrested but another suspect has run away after the officers stopped the van.

A special Defence delegation led by Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa and Army Chief Sarath Fonseka yesterday toured Sampur and Mavil Aru areas where Security forces and Police are now consolidating positions after recapturing the area.The Army Headquarters said Defence Secretary Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka flew to Trincomalee and got first hand information about the area.Their special attention was drawn to contingency plans to ensure security of the Trincomalee south where the LTTE used to pound mortars and artillery at the harbour which provides alternative base to transport food, essential items, troops and civilians to north via the sea due to constant LTTE attacks on the A-9 road. They also witnessed how the troops were clearing the affected Sampur and Mavil Aru areas of mines facilitating civilians to move back to their homesteads.General Officer Commanding 22 Division Major General Mendaka Samarasinghe briefed the visiting Defence Secretary and retinue of the present security situation in the Trincomalee area and measures to be taken to ensure security of the civilians, important places and military installations in Trincomalee, Army headquarters said.

The 'Ravaya' News paper has published what some residents said about the killing of 11 Muslims who were working at the reconstruction site of Redella tank.According to them there had a been a rift between the STF personnel and the Muslims before this incident. They have expressed astonishment over the 8 Sinhala labourers not reporting for work on the day of the incident. They believe the Sinhala workers kept away due to pressure put by security forces.Two days before the killing the Muslims have protested vehemently over an attempt made by some to bury a non Muslim in a burial ground exclusively used by Muslims. Though the STF personnel too have got involved in this the Muslims have not budged.

Next day when some Muslims went to wash their carts into the Radelle tank the STF personnel have stripped and assaulted them and later handed them over to police to be charged for felling trees.They have further said that when they tired to take the only survivor of the attack to the nearest hospital at Kalmunai the STF had ordered that he should be taken to Ampara hospital. Considering the condition of the injured man they have said that it was totally unacceptable to obtain a statement form him implicating the LTTE for the attack.When questioned Dr. Jayasinghe, the Director of the Ampara hospital divulged that superintendent of police Ampara Mr. Jayantha Wickramasinghe came to the hospital and obtained a statement from the injured man when his condition was poor.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission was yesterday granted access to the lone survivor of the Pottuvil massacre.The survivor Kareem Meera Mohideen is warded at the Ampara General Hospital receiving treatment for severe cut injuries.On Wednesday the police guarding the patient prevented SLMM monitors from seeing him citing his poor state of health and hospital policy which did not allow visitors, thus casting doubts over the transparency of ongoing police inquiries.However a second attempt by the monitors yesterday proved successful and the SLMM spokesman said the visit was satisfactory and the monitors would continue their probe before releasing a report.

“We managed to visit the patient yesterday. We are satisfied with the access granted and will now continue with our inquiries before releasing a report on our findings,” SLMM spokesman Thorfinnur Omarsson told the Daily Mirror.As inquiries were still progressing, he refused to say if the monitors had managed to record a statement from the victim who was earlier said to be in a serious condition.However the spokesman quoted hospital doctors as saying the victim was expected to fully recover from his injuries suffered during the brutal attack in which 10 of his colleagues were killed. It should be noted that the police while refusing access to the monitors on Wednesday, had said the victim was not in a condition to speak for at least another two weeks due to the severe injuries on his throat.The victim is under tight police guard with restricted access to include even his immediate family members as a result of the controversy over the incident with the government accusing the LTTE while residents blame the STF.

A leaflet has been circulated in the name of Homeland Redemption Force, a clandestine group, in Muthur asking the Muslims to leave the town soon.“We have decided to attack the area very soon to redeem our homeland from the occupying Sinhala aliens. The place will not be safe for civilians once war starts. Therefore we should like to advise the people to pay heed to our earnest call”. This leaflet has given birth to anxiety as well as flutter among the Muslims resettled in the area after the recent battle between the government forces and the LTTE.

Elections for Local bodies in the North and Batticaloa district which did not have Local Government Elections this year, will be held on June 30, 2007. The new election date, has been fixed by Returning Officers of the respective administrative districts, said Elections Commissioner's Department sources. The elections for local bodies in the districts of Jaffna, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Batticaloa, Mullaitivu and Mannar were to be held on September 30 this year. Hence the new date has been fixed for the election for these districts by the department, said sources at Election Secretariat. The following Local Authorities to which elections were earlier scheduled to be held on September 30, 2006 will have the election on June 30, 2007.

JAFFNA DISTRICT: Jaffna Municipal Council, Valvetithurai Urban Council, Point Pedro Urban Council, Chavakachcheri Urban Council, Karainagar Pradeshiya Sabha,Kayts Pradeshiya Sabha, Delft Pradeshiya Sabha, Velani Pradeshiya Sabha, Vlikamam West Pradeshiya Sabha, Valikamam North Pradeshiya Sabha, Valikamam South West Pradeshiya Sabha, Valikamam South Pradeshiya Sabha, Valikamam East Pradeshiya Sabha, Vadamaradchi South West Pradeshiya Sabha, Point Pedro Pradeshiya Sabha, Chavakachcheri Pradeshiya Sabha and Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha.

VAVUNIYA DISTRICT: Vavuniya Urban Council, Vavuniya North Pradeshiya Sabha, Venkalachcdikulam Pradeshiya Sabha, Vavuniya South (Tamil) Pradeshiya Sabha and Vavuniya South (Sinhala) Pradeshiya Sabha.

BATTICALOA DISTRICT: Batticaloa Municipal Council, Eravurpattu Pradeshiya Sabha, Koralepattu Pradeshiya Sabha, Koralepattu North Pradeshiya Sabha, Manmunai South and Eruvilpattu Pradeshiya Sabha, Manmunai Pradeshiya Sabha, Manmunai West Pradeshiya Sabha, Manmunai South West Pradeshiya Sabha and Porativupattu Pradeshiya Sabha.

KILLINOCHCHI DISTRICT: Pachchilaipalli Pradeshiya Sabha, Karachchi Pradeshiya Sabha and Poonakary Pradeshiya Sabha.

MULLAITIVU DISTRICT: Manthai East Pradeshiya Sabha, Thunukkai Pradeshiya Sabha and Maritime Pattu Pradeshiya Sabha.

MANNAR DISTRICT: Mannar Urban Council, Mannar Pradeshiya Sabha, Nanattan Pradeshiya Sabha, Musali Pradeshiya Sabha and Manthai West Pradeshiya Sabha.

Very keen on opening a line of communication with India’s top leadership in New Delhi the LTTE had encouraged its proxy in the Sri Lankan Parliament, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), to go to India and get an audience with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Unable to see him, despite waiting for a number of days in New Delhi as well as Chennai, the five-member team submitted a memorandum to Indian officials, and returned to Chennai, very disappointed, on Friday.They had come very close to seeing the Prime Minister twice, the last time was on Friday. But at the last minute they were told that a suitable slot could not be found.The Indian Prime Minister was apparently under pressure from officialdom and a section of his political allies in Tamil Nadu not to see the pro-LTTE MPs.

There were also other very important considerations relating to India-Sri Lanka relations in the context of Pakistan’s bid to woo Colombo in the absence of active Indian help to beleaguered Sri Lanka.India might also be wanting the current military effort by the Sri Lankan government to keep the LTTE on the run, to continue.In New Delhi’s view this may be the only way to get the recalcitrant outfit to see reason and come to the negotiating table with an intention to find a realistic and acceptable solution to both immediate and long term problems.The TNA MPs however met several top members of the Indian Establishment, including the Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed, the National Security Advisor MK Narayanan, and the Foreign Secretary designate, Shiv Shankar Menon.They participated in a seminar on India-Sri Lanka relations at the Indian Council of World Affairs where they said that the Tamils of Sri Lanka and the LTTE deeply regretted the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

Three more Sri Lankan Tamil politicians are arriving here for consultations as India comes under pressure to save the island’s barely alive peace process amid a surge in human rights violations.V. Anandasangaree of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), D. Sitharthan of the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and T. Sritharan of the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) will fly in Monday to discuss the Sri Lanka situation with senior Indian officials.All three - Anandasangaree and Sitharthan are former MPs - are bitterly opposed to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), unlike the five MPs of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) of Sri Lanka who ended their visit Friday after meeting Indian leaders and policy makers.

The Indian government, facing demands to up its involvement in Sri Lanka, is keen to get first hand knowledge of the crisis from various actors. A delegation of JHU, a party of Buddhist monks, may follow the three Tamil politicians.The idea is to interact with a wide spectrum of opinion, ranging from the LTTE, which while being outlawed in India is a key party to the conflict, to Tamils ready to be part of Sri Lanka but desiring devolution of powers as well as Sinhalese firmly opposed to power sharing with the Tamil community.A sharp rise in fighting since July between the military and the LTTE has left hundreds of people dead and over 200,000 displaced in Sri Lanka’s northeast. The clashes have also forced thousands to flee to India.

With no sign if the derailed peace talks between Colombo and the LTTE will resume and if so when, a large number of Tamils from Sri Lanka are turning to India to complain about growing incidents of rights violations including extra-judicial killings and disappearances - issues the TNA MPs took up with National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan here Thursday.Ordinary Tamils who say they are approaching India in desperation because they are not confident of getting justice from Sri Lankan authorities are speaking to Indian officials in both Colombo and New Delhi.A similar situation took place in April, forcing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to speak over the telephone to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.

While disagreeing with the political objective of the LTTE, other Tamil parties share the assessment that the situation is serious and an end to the crisis does not appear to be in sight.This, they feel, is primarily because there is no meeting ground as of now between the LTTE and a government, sections of which feel that war is the way to overcome the Tigers.Many Tamils are saying that India has to get involved seriously in the peace process even if Norway remains in the driver’s seat and that India alone can bring about a solution. But no one is spelling out what they expect from New Delhi.

LTTE circles feel that Colombo’s seemingly adamant refusal to go for power sharing with the Tamils while professing support for a negotiated solution may force global actors to realize that pledging support for Sri Lanka’s unity and territorial integrity will not push it to make meaningful concessions.At the same time, Colombo fears that the LTTE is not serious about a long-term settlement and is intent on breaking up Sri Lanka.India is caught in between. It remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s unity but feels that legitimate Tamil aspirations have to be met.Neither is happening, and a worried Indian administration - which in the 1980s badly burnt its fingers by imposing a solution to the crisis that eventually led to fighting between its troops and the LTTE - is trying to find out what is to be done. The talks with various Sri Lankan actors are a part of the exercise.

Catholic viewers yesterday expressed shock over JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa’s insult to His Lordship the Bishop of Mannar, whom he referred to as just Rayappu Joseph and virtually accused him of being a ‘koti’ sympathizer. Mr. Weerawansa made the remarks on ITN’s Thulawa talk show on Thursday night. The viewers told the Daily Mirror they believed ITN and Mr. Weerawansa should apologize to the widely respected Bishop who is looked upon by the people of Mannar as a father figure. TNA Parliamentarian N. Raviraj and SLMC member, Nizam Kariappar taking part in the talk show accused Mr. Weerawansa of indulging in extreme bigotry similar to that of US President George Bush. They said Mr. Weerawansa’s perception appeared to be that those who did not support the war were Tiger supporters and there was no middle path of dialogue, accommodation and peace as practised and preached by the Lord Buddha and other religious leaders.

Representatives of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) visited the sites damaged by the shelling and air-raids by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) in the LTTE controlled areas in Batticaloa district, and met S. Seelalan, the deputy Political Head of the LTTE for Batticaloa district, and Manoj, the Head of the Planning division, at Thenaham Thursday, LTTE sources in Batticaloa said. LTTE officials explained in detail to the SLMM officials on the hardships faced by the internally displaced people (IDPs) due to the continued shelling by the Sri Lanka military.S.Seelalan, talking to the media at the conclusion of the meeting said that the meeting was constructive and productive, and that they will be continuing the dialogue with the SLMM on other pressing issues in the future.

Britain extends travel warning in Sri Lanka, rebel killed in gunbattle

The British Foreign Office upgraded a travel warning to cover a Muslim-dominated eastern area of Sri Lanka, as daily fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels continued to make the country unsafe.In overnight violence, a Tamil Tiger rebel was killed in a gunbattle in the volatile northern Jaffna Peninsula, the military said Saturday. It also accused separatists of murdering a civilian woman Friday in the eastern town of Batticaloa.The rebels were not immediately available to comment on the incidents.A statement posted on the Foreign Office's Web site Friday advised against travel to Ampara town and Arugam Bay due to "the continued deterioration of the security situation," after the massacre of 10 Muslims in the area sparked violent riots earlier in the week.

On Monday, the bodies of 10 Muslim laborers were found in a remote jungle in Muslim-dominated Pottuvil, an area about 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of the capital, Colombo.Muslim protesters took to the streets of Pottuvil on Wednesday, claiming an elite police force was responsible for the slayings. Police, who denied the allegations, fired on the protesters, wounding 14, then imposed a temporary curfew.British authorities have been advising against traveling to the north and east of Sri Lanka since renewed fighting between government troops and ethnic Tamil Tiger rebels broke out in August. More than 1,000 combatants and civilians have been killed in the resurgent violence.

The Tamil rebels began fighting in 1983 for a separate homeland in the north and east for Sri Lanka's largest ethnic minority. The conflict was nominally halted by a Norway-brokered cease-fire in 2002 although the recent wave of violence has threatened to drag the country back into full-scale civil war.Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar on Friday met the Tamil Tigers' political leader, Suppiah Thamilselvan, in the northern rebel stronghold Kilinochchi. The two discussed a recent rash of abductions, the rebels said on their official Web site. No additional details were available.Hundreds of civilians have been killed or have disappeared in shadowy circumstances since December, when the latest surge of fighting began in earnest.

A multi million rupee transaction to acquire fighting sea craft is under investigation by a Presidential Commission. The one-man Commission is expected to finalise its report by end of this year. A controversial order for ten Fast Attack Craft (FACs) is among three major deals under investigation. President Mahinda Rajapakse appointed the Commission after Navy Chief Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda vehemently opposed a plan to upgrade the main armaments on FACs. A hotly disputed plan to replace 23mm cannon with 30mm cannon is under investigation along with the chartering of a passenger ferry to move troops between Trincomalee and KKS. The government blocked the cannon deal. The passenger ferry ‘Pearl Cruise’ is no longer in service. The navy is yet to bolster firepower of its FACs without giving the Sea Tigers a breathing space.

The cutting edge of the Navy is in its Trincomalee-based FAC squadrons. The Navy planned to acquire a squadron of heavy FACs to augment existing strength. "The top brass envisaged a bigger vessel," a well informed source said, adding, "They talked about a vessel 30 to 35 meters long before agreeing on 27 meter long vessel. But the actual order was for ten vessels each 24 meters long."The navy took delivery of nine of the ten vessels. One of them, a P 430, was recently sunk by the LTTE off Kalpitiya on the north western coast. The Navy is expected to take delivery of the last vessel shortly.

A second Commission is investigating procurement of high value weapons, equipment and services by security forces during the period of 2000-2005. Although both Commissions are expected to finish proceedings by end of this year, the second Commission is unlikely to meet the deadline. The Island learns that no officer volunteered any useful information. The Commissions openly called for officers to facilitate the investigation by secretly passing on information to the Commissioners. The Commissions placed advertisements in Sinhala, Tamil and English newspapers.On a Defence Ministry directive the three services made available the relevant documents to the Commissions.

In response to a government call that LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran should personally write to the authorities calling for peace talks the LTTE said yesterday that it would not do so since the organisation’s political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan has been authorised by Prabhakaran to deal with all matters connected to the peace process.Commenting on LTTE’s stand on Prabhakaran will not personally call for peace talks Defence spokesman and Minister Kheliya Rambukwella said that government cannot trust Thamilselvan and there were instances in the past where he has gone back on his assurances When the LTTE earlier announced that it was willing to commence peace talks, Government responded stating that Prabhakaran should call for the peace talks in writing and not any of his representatives.

" Thamilselvan is our leader’s representative " LTTE spokesman Daya Master told The Island yesterday.When asked about the LTTE arms ship that was sunk recently off the Kalmunai coast, Daya Master refused to comment. Rambukwella said the LTTE never admits its atrocities and added several LTTE cadres fed up of the organization had surrendered to the armed forcesDaya Master said the LTTE was aware of a few instances where their cadres had surrendered to the security forces but it was not a big issue.On Karuna’s defection he said that it has not made a big dent but said that it has only slightly affected LTTE.

Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar is to meet the LTTE political wing leader Thamilselvan today in Kilinochchi with a message from the Co-Chairs. According to informed sources Mr. Brattskar is to discuss the proposals made by the Co-Chairs on reviving the peace process.

Jaffna economy on the verge of collapse

Since 11th of August, merchants of Jaffna are struggling to run their business, said a report from the North. Bank officials warned that the banks’ money reserves have gone down by fifty percent and Jaffna economy is on the verge of collapse.Bankers in the north said that people are withdrawing their money and few deposits were made. “People like to keep as much cash as possible with them” a report from the area reveals. Acording to the bank officials, after the closure of the A9 highway wholesale traders in Jaffna are in extreme difficulty that is affecting Banks in the North. Bank of Ceylon said its money reserves have gone down by eighty percent. They also point out, it is important to increase the supply of goods either by sea or air.“If this situation continues, traders will be in grave difficulty” a bank official said. Banks are also facing difficulties in recovering Tsunami loans issued to Fishermen in the North. Reports stated that fishermen are unable to go fishing due to the restrictions imposed on them leaving them without any income.

Two more people were shot dead by unidentified gunmen within last 24 hours in the northern Sri Lanka Nadarasa Thawarasa, 39, was shot dead by unidentified gunman on Thursday morning in Sangane, 15 kilometres north of Jaffna Town.Postal worker was shot dead as he was on his way to work, a reports from the area said. Police said that eyewitnesses are refusing to give evidence in fear of reprisal.Shops in the area were closed after the killing.In Wadamarachchi, Kadiragamarlingam Amirthalingam,59 was gunned down by an unidentified assailant. There are no further details about both murders.

Barely a month after government intelligence reports indicated a major security threat to Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem, the Police Chief yesterday gave orders to withdraw the contingent of six STF personnel providing security to Mr. Hakeem, party sources said.Inspector General Chandra Fernando’s order comes in the wake of a request by the SLMC leader for an independent international commission of inquiry on the Pottuvil massacre for which the residents blame the STF.Police sources confirm the IGP had ordered that Mr. Hakeem’s STF security be withdrawn from today.Before the decision to withdraw his security, the SLMC leader in a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday reiterated his demand for an international commission of inquiry.

Mr. Hakeem said that appointment of an independent international commission of inquiry to probe the Pottuvil massacre would help elevate the Government’s stature internationally and restore good relations with Muslims.“Our proposal was not made on the basis that there were no competence or expertise locally to investigate into the killings, but largely on the acceptability of the ruling, both locally and internationally, given the accusations made by people in the area,” Mr. Hakeem said.He said his party was appalled by the manner Government Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella dismissed the party’s proposal for an independent international commission.Mr. Hakeem said that while people in the area suspected that individuals from or associated with the Special Task Force were responsible for the crime, his party’s position was that it was too premature to arrive at such a conclusion.

Acknowledging the contributions made by the STF in providing security to a large number of Muslim villages in the Eastern province, Mr. Hakeem said even the people in Pottuvil were not apportioning the blame on the STF as an institution, but only on some individuals.“It would be grossly discriminatory if the Government ignores the local and international call for an international commission of inquiry now that it had agreed to one for the Mutur massacre”, Mr. Hakeem said.

The Media Centre for National Security last night issued a statement denying reports there was a curtailment of security for Mr. Hakeem.However Mr. Hakeem told the Daily Mirror last night that the six-member STF contingent of his security said goodbye to him in an emotional farewell and informed him they would not report to work from today.“Since October 2000 I had been provided with a STF contingent as there had been regular reports of threats to my life. It appears that the Government is resorting to intimidatory tactics to get me to drop my demand for an international commission on the Pottuvil massacre” Mr. Hakeem said.While the elite STF commando guards were withdrawn, Mr Hakeem will continue to have his Ministerial Security Division guards.

The activities of the Sasthiraweli Police Special Task Force Camp, Potuwil were placed under the Army from last evening (20). The decision was taken following a discussion between Inspector General Chandra Fernando and Muslim organization representatives at Potuwil this afternoon. Inspector Gunaratne and 20 other officers of the camp have also been temporarily transferred to Colombo with effect from yesterday. Muslims of the area have pointed the finger at the STF for the killings of 11 Muslim and the STF has countered this allegation stating that Muslim timber racketeers together with the LTTE are attempting to put the blame on the STF. The Muslims in the area held protests for the last two day demanding the transfer of STF Chief Inspector.The officers of the STF camp were temporarily transferred on a promise given to Muslim representatives by the IGP and Deputy IGP Mahinda Balasuriya at yesterday's meeting held at Potuwil.

"As controversy surrounds the massacre of 10 Muslims in Pottuvil, it is imperative to make certain the only survivor who can shed more light on the gruesome massacre be given top class medical attention and also protection to ensure that no untoward incident occurs," said Nazeer Ahamed, Secretary-General of the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) .Dismissing speculation Ahamed said that any group could have carried out the massacre and to blame one group without evidence was not only foolhardy but also mischievous. "The LTTE could have carried out the massacre, but we must remember the incident occurred in an area fully controlled by the government and protected by the Special Task Force (STF)".

Many residents blame the STF for the massacre claiming the LTTE could not have carried out this brutality without being detected. There were STF camps around the scene where the massacre took place and it was puzzling how the LTTE could have escaped without being noticed by the STF, said the MNA Secretary-General.Nazeer Ahamed while strongly condemning yesterdays shooting incident where 14 Muslims were injured by STF gunfire said, "There has been animosity between the Muslims and the STF for the past few months and calls had been made for the removal of the Commander of the camp but such demands had fallen on deaf ears". He added today’s incident gave further justification and urgency for the Commander’s removal.

Mr. Ahamed said he was amazed by the manner the Tamil media had covered the incident and wished they gave the same coverage wherever Muslims suffered at the hands of LTTE. He also stated he was disappointed with the international community’s lackadaisical approach to the plight of Muslims in the country’s ethnic conflict. "In this incident too the international community is apathetic to the plight of the Muslims," he added "I wish they would show the same concern to the slaughter of the Muslims they showed to the slaughter of 17 innocent NGO workers in Muttur."

Nazeer Ahamed said he believed there was a sinister motive behind the horrible massacre. "Muslims in Ampara believe this brutality could have been carried out by Sinhala chauvinist forces within the STF to embarrass President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the UN where he is billed to make an address".He called for an immediate and impartial inquiry into the slaughter of the innocent civilians and said the Government should accede to demands for foreign participation if they had nothing to hide.

The LTTE continued to attack Muhamalai using artillery and mortars while the air force carried out air strike targeting LTTE artillery positions in Pallai yesterday, while security forces repulsed an LTTE attempt to enter in to cleared area in Eluthumadduval in Muhamalai on Wednesday night.Military sources said Kfir jets bombed selected targets in Pallai and its suburbs destroying several LTTE firing positions yesterday morning. On Wednesday, the air force bombed several LTTE camps in Thoppigala jungle.Meanwhile troops fired at a group of terrorists when they tried to enter the cleared area through Eluthumadduval, forcing them back leaving behind their explosive devices, weapons and a body of a dead fellow-terrorist. “The body of the LTTE cadre was to be handed over to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) through the police,” military sources said.

The Sri Lankan Army and police jointly raided the headquarters of the Thamil Daily, Thinakkural, in Colombo twice within a span of nine hours—on Wednesday and Thursday. The first raid was made in the evening of Wednesday that lasted for half an hour while the second raid began at 4.30 a.m. on Thursday.During the raid the army kept vigil on the movement of newsmen, employees and other people of the area while Police thoroughly checked the office. All journalists were checked and their works were examined.The second raid lasted for two hours, but even after that SLA soldiers kept vigil on the buildings and roads adjacent to the newspaper office till 9 a.m., locals said.A civilian who went to the office with a letter to the editor in the morning on Thursday was taken into custody as the letter was from Jaffna.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who met the Swiss President Moritz Leuenberger has expressed hope that the Swiss government would take measures to curb disinformation and fund-raising activities of the LTTE amongst the Tamil population in Switzerland. The two presidents met in New York yesterday (19) where they are attending the 61st session of the UN General Assembly. President Rajapaksa also expressed his wish that the Tamils living in Geneva would be able to live in peace, free from intimidation by the LTTE.They exchanged views on a wide range of issues including terrorism in Sri Lanka, world peace and bilateral relations between the two countries. The Swiss President assured his country’s cooperation in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Mahinda Samarasinghe and Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary H.M.G.B.Palihakkara were present at the meeting.

The practical tests for the students, who sat the Advanced Level Examination in the North-East, will be held from tomorrow till September 26.Students who sat for Dancing, Music and Home Science from Trincomalee, Jaffna, Mannar, Mulaitivu and other areas in the North East are required to sit these practical tests during this period. Commissioner General of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe said yesterday the results would be out on September 30.

Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Thursday visited Sri Lanka's northern areas held by the Tamil Tigers, his office said, indicating he may be engaged in efforts aimed at promoting peace in the island. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose Art of Living project enjoys a large following in Sri Lanka, reached Kilinochchi, the headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), along with Swami Sadyojathah, who heads his operations in the island.Ravi Shankar flew to Colombo Wednesday from Bangalore, where his foundation is headquartered.No details of what he would do or whom he might meet in Kilinochchi were available. Most visitors to Kilinochchi hold meetings with S.P. Thamilchevlam, who heads the LTTE's political wing.

'We cannot give any details now,' a spokesperson told IANS on telephone from southern India where the Art of Living is headquartered. 'You will have to wait till his programme gets over.'The spokesperson sought to underline the fact that Ravi Shankar enjoyed warm and close relations with all sections in Sri Lanka including the government, the opposition as well as the Tamils.Former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is among the Sri Lankans who frequently flies to Bangalore to meet Ravi Shankar.'He is respected by all sides in Sri Lanka,' the spokesperson said.Ravi Shankar visited Sri Lanka last year in the wake of the deadly tsunami that killed over 30,000 people in the country, including in areas of the northeast where the LTTE holds sway.In April this year, he went to Jaffna where thousands of Tamils attended his interactions.

It is not clear if Ravi Shankar's visit to LTTE area is anyway linked to the present visit to New Delhi of members of the pro-Tigers Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the leading Tamil party in the Sri Lankan parliament.The TNA MPs, who reached New Delhi Tuesday, are widely expected to call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday.India keeps a close watch on Sri Lanka, where violence between the government and LTTE has shown a sharp rise in recent months claiming hundreds of lives and leaving hundreds of thousands displaced.The Art of Living Foundation is an international non-profit educational, charitable and humanitarian group offering programmes in more than 140 countries including in war torn places such as Iraq and Lebanon. As a NGO, it works in special consultative status with the UN, participating in a variety of committees and activities relating to health, education, sustainable development and conflict resolution.Ravi Shankar is a spiritual leader who over the past 25 years has established a global presence.

The twenty-five year long military conflict between the Tamil insurgents and successive Sri Lankan governments has made Sri Lanka the most militarised country in South Asia.In this respect, Sri Lanka has dwarfed the much larger India and military-ruled Pakistan, says a study conducted by the Mumbai-based Strategic Foresight Group (SFG).Published in January 2006, the SFG monograph says that Sri Lanka will continue to hold this "dubious" position between now and 2010, given the absence of any clear signs that the military conflict is going to taper off.Successive governments and the LTTE are both to be blamed for this sorry state of affairs, as both sides have continually raised the scale and technological sophistication of the war.

A major contributory factor in the high militarisation of Sri Lanka has been the nature of the LTTE.In military terms, the LTTE is unmatched in the South Asian region. No other insurgent group here has, or has ever had, the equipment and military capabilities that the LTTE has.No other country has faced the kind of challenges that the LTTE has posed to the Sri Lankan government.Presenting comparative data for 2004, the SFG's report says that Sri Lanka was the most militarised among the South Asian countries with 8,000 military personnel per one million population.The figures for other South Asian countries were: Pakistan, 4,000; Nepal 2,700; India, 1,300; and Bangladesh 1,000.In terms of military expenditure as percentage of GDP also, Sri Lanka spent the most.

The figure was 4.1 per cent in the case of Sri Lanka; 3.5 per cent in the case of Pakistan; 2.5 per cent in the case of India and Nepal; and 1.5 per cent in the case Bangladesh.According to the SFG, Sri Lanka's defence expenditure is also higher than other comparable conflict-ridden countries such as Colombia, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Sudan, the Philippines and Uganda.According to Indian army personnel, the Sri Lankan army is well-equipped. Against the LTTE, which is its only target, the 150, 000 man army uses Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers, long-range artillery, mortars, battle tanks and armoured personnel carriers.

The Navy is much smaller with 20,000 personnel. It uses Fast Attack Craft with 23 mm guns, Inshore and Offshore patrol vessels, landing craft etc.The Air Force uses Kfir supersonic fighter bombers, MIG-23, and choppers, including MI-24s.The defence expenditure, which is now about $ 700 million per annum, could go to about $1 billion, if current plans to increase the size of the armed forces and to give them better equipment and more ammunition are implemented. Aerial bombs and artillery shells cost a lot. "Sampur was captured by 2,000 soldiers, but to hold it, the army needs 20,000," a retired Air Marshal told Hindustan Times.

"The military arsenal of the LTTE is highly sophisticated," the SFG says.And being a military outfit essentially, expenditure on weapons and the maintenance of a war economy gets topmost priority in the LTTE.It does precious little for the economic well being of the people under its control, despite running a few social and economic organisations. The LTTE has no functioning Air Force and no anti-aircraft defences (at least now), but it is said have acquired two to five small aircraft, and built one or two airfields.But its ground forces and navy are very well equipped for an insurgent group.The ground forces have long-range artillery pieces, captured from the Sri Lankan forces, and a variety of mortars. But there are no tanks or armoured personnel carriers.

The LTTE's Sea Tiger navy has home-made but fast moving craft fitted with double barrel 23 mm guns and radar.The boats have speeds from 10 to 45 knots. The outfit has several ocean going vessels, which indulge in commercial activity besides gun running.But the LTTE is outnumbered. In comparison with the Sri Lankan's army's strength of 150, 000 men, the LTTE has only 10, 000.The LTTE's navy has about 2,000 in contrast with the Sri Lankan Navy's 20,600.The LTTE's annual expenditure on its cadres and military-oriented networks, both in the island and abroad, is estimated to be in the range of $8 million annually.But given the fact that the outfit's annual income is anywhere between $175 million and $385 million, the expenditure on cadres and the informer networks is "insignificant," the SFG says.

"The LTTE spends a minimum on its cadres and the maximum on sustaining a war economy and its support base internationally."It is believed that of the total income, $100 million to 250 million comes from drug trafficking, though there is yet no direct evidence of the LTTE's involvement in this trade.Local taxation and extortion is said to contribute about $30 million; human smuggling and funds siphoned off from NGOs gives $3 to 5 million; contributions from the Tamil expatriate community fetches $40 to 50 million; and profits from businesses from $35 to 50 million.The recent fighting showed that the LTTE has no answer to Sri Lanka's air power.It had been trying to buy SA-18 shoulder held missiles but unsuccessfully. Like the Sri Lankan army, the LTTE has been spending its artillery shells liberally. Replenishment needs are urgent.

The LTTE's Sea Tigers had conducted impressive operations, but they have not been able to stop Sri Lankan shipping of late. The LTTE would therefore be shopping for naval equipment.Last week, a ship, allegedly with a heavy load of artillery shells and missiles, was sunk by the Sri Lankan navy and air force off the South Eastern coast of the island.With both the government and the LTTE hell bent on increasing their military capability, the former to keep what it had captured, and the latter to recapture what it had lost, a lessening of military expenditure is not on the cards. On the contrary, hefty increases are.

Currency	Buying (Rs.)		Selling (Rs.)
US Dollar	101.93		103.07
Sterling Pound	192.32		195.45
Euro	129.17		131.60
Swiss Franc	81.28		83.03
Australian Dollar	76.56		78.41
Singapore Dollar	64.16		65.50
Japanese Yen	0.8655		0.8847
Country		Currency		Indicative Rate(RS.)

Bahrain	Dinar	272.08
Kuwait	Dinar	354.70
Oman	Rial	266.43
Qatar	Riyal	28.18
Saudi Arabian	Riyal	27.35
UAE	Dirham	27.93

A Sri Lankan Tamil party sympathetic to the Tamil Tigers Wednesday described the assassination of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi as 'thoroughly unacceptable' and said the insurgents will have to regret the epoch-making event in a manner acceptable to the Indian people. A delegation of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs here to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also urged India to 'play a very major role' in Sri Lankan affairs, particularly due to the large-scale human suffering in the island's northeast following fighting between the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).In remarks clearly aimed at building bridges with India, which outlawed the LTTE in 1992 and which since Gandhi's 1991 killing has taken an attitude that many Tamils think is pro-Colombo, TNA leader R. Sampanthan said only New Delhi had the capability to resolve Sri Lanka's dragging ethnic conflict.

Sampanthan, whose party considers the LTTE the authentic representative of the Sri Lankan Tamils, made it clear that Gandhi's killing by a LTTE woman suicide bomber at an election rally near Chennai could never be condoned.'The assassination of Gandhi was tragic and thoroughly unacceptable,' he told a meeting organised by the Indian Council for World Affairs. 'A vast majority of the Tamil people is deeply disappointed. It should have never happened... It is a tragic aberration we sincerely and seriously regret.'Referring to recent comments by LTTE ideologue Anton Balasingham that were widely seen as expressing regret over Gandhi's killing, Sampathan said: 'LTTE having made the start will have to move forward and make the people of India appreciate that they deeply regret this incident. In the due course of time that will become a reality.'

The TNA leader became nostalgic while highlighting the 'historical' ties between New Delhi and the Tamil people, going to the extent of saying that he would support India in a cricket match against Sri Lanka although he was a Sri Lankan.'You ask any Tamil in Sri Lanka: 99 percent would say that India should resolve this problem,' he said. 'Which other country can do it? No other country can do it.'There is a historical relationship between India and the Tamil people that should not be ruptured. We have a certain affection for India.'His party colleague G. Ponnambalam added: 'Tamil people have a special relationship with India. This is a historical fact. India is the only country that fully understands the actual root causes of the conflict and the only country sensitive to its concerns.'

At one time, Sampanthan described LTTE as 'a ruthless armed organisation' but said demonising it would not help. 'It is the only instrument of protection we (Tamils) have, the only instrument that can keep the struggle going.'He spoke at length about the human suffering in Sri Lanka's northeast caused by fighting between the military and LTTE and called upon India to make it clear to Colombo that its unity can be guaranteed only if it agreed to share power with the Tamil minority.'India has to tell Sri Lanka: You have to deliver politically, you will have to deliver,' he said. 'If you cannot deliver, there cannot be a solution.'But a senior Indian official told the meeting that New Delhi would never waver on the question of respecting Sri Lanka's territorial integrity.

He also said that there could never be a military solution to Sri Lanka's dragging ethnic conflict that has taken dangerous turns in recent months leaving hundreds dead and hundreds of thousands displaced across the island's north and east.The official said while India had proscribed the LTTE, it wanted Colombo to engage with the Tigers to find a mutually acceptable political solution. 'The legitimate aspirations of the Tamils need to be met.'The official added that contrary to the popular view, India played an active role behind the scenes with the help of Norway, the peace facilitator that brokered a truce between the LTTE and Colombo in 2002, and other members of the international community.The TNA delegation arrived here Tuesday and is expected to call on Manmohan Singh - a meeting they have been seeking for some two years - and National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan.

Internal sources from the People's Liberation Front (JVP) report that the party is drifting towards one of its most severe crises due to an ideological clash between two factions in the party. Two factions have reportedly built up in the JVP, one backing an alliance with the government and the other against it. The faction that supports the idea of an alliance is urging the party for a compromise on the conditions put forward by the JVP. But the other faction vehemently opposes an alliance and wants the party to be more leftist in its policies. Conditions thus far imposed by the JVP to form an alliance with the government have included the abrogation of the 2002 ceasefire agreement with the LTTE and the removal of Norway as facilitator of the Sri Lankan peace process.

Fourteen Muslims were injured, five of them seriously, when the Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) opened fire on an angry crowd in Ullai near Pottuvil in South Eastern Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Reports from the spot said the crowd of Muslims became restive when the local chief of the STF, tried to prevent them from observing a hartal in protest against the massacre of 10 Muslim youth at the Rattal Kulam reservoir nearby on Sunday.Following the massacre, which the Muslims blamed on the STF and the STF blamed on the LTTE, the Muslim and Tamil towns in South East Sri Lanka had been observing a hartal and demanding the transfer of the local STF chief.Following the firing, curfew was imposed in Pottuvil, as the Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando rushed from Colombo to defuse the tense situation, and the Defense Ministry top brass went into a huddle to discuss the situation.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian K. Pathmanathan on Wednesday strongly condemned the massacre of 10 Muslim youths by the counter-insurgency Special Task Force (STF) in Pottuvil.In a statement he said this atrocious act committed by the forces who want to create confrontation between Thamil and Muslim communities. “The Muslim civilians in the area have realized the matter and have demand that the government must accept full responsibility for this massacre," he said."The people who are holding responsible positions should unearth the truth instead of exploiting the situation for their own political benefits", the TNA parliamentarian said. Mr. Pathmanathan said the Muslim political leaders should take steps to improve and strengthen the relations between the Muslims and the Thamils.

The Government of Norway condemns the killing of 11 Muslim men and boys, found near a water tank south-west of Pottuvil in Ampara district Monday morning. These killings are yet another example of the extremely dire security conditions innocent civilians are facing today, says Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hans Brattskar. Ambassador Brattskar also stressed that it now is of the utmost importance that these horrendous crimes immediately and effectively are investigated and the culprits held responsible.

Curfew in Sri Lanka Muslim town, four hurt in police fire

Curfew was clamped on Wednesday in an eastern Sri Lankan town after a mob, protesting the massacre of 10 Muslim men, clashed with police personnel who opened fire wounding four civilians. A police officer opened fire on the angry protestors in the town of Pottuvil and wounded four as his vehicle was mobbed by a group, officials said. They said the curfew was imposed to get people off the streets and restore calm in the area following the massacre of 10 men two days ago. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the local residents have blamed security forces for the massacre while the government pointed fingers at the rebels. The bodies of the victims were found near Panama in the district of Ampara. The victims were labourers working on an irrigation project. Meawnhile, the defence ministry said tiger rebels shot dead two hospital employees in the district of Trincomalee yesterday.

Police station in Sampur

The Sri Lankan authorities have opened a new police post in strategically-important eastern town of Sampur.Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Ananda Levangama declared open the new post in a abandoned building by the Tamil Tigers in Karakadichena.Sampur was captured by the security forces after a week’s fighting in early September.

The refugees in Trincomalee, however, refused to return to their homes until normalcy returns.2366 Tamils displaced from violence in Sampur and Muttur are in ten refugee camps in Trincomalee.The refugees said the government and the LTTE should seek a political solution and stop war.They also accused the parliamentarians of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) of neglecting their plight.Journalist RG Dharmadasa told bbcsinhala.com that 770 Tamil refugee families were very vocal on their criticism towards TNA legislators.“We cannot stay in a refugee camp forever. But no Tamil MP came to see us for two months,” one woman said.

A coup by Sri Lankan deputy high commissioner to derail Tamil Nadu support for Sri Lankan Tamils-Source: Nakeeran a Tamil Nadu Magazine

P.Sithambaram, Indian finance minister who visited Sri lanka stressed the importance of re-commencing the peace negotiations at his meeting with the Sri Lankan President Rajapakse. Indian Premier Dr.Manmohansingh referred to the Sri Lankan issue in an interview he gave on the plane. Having watched these developments, Sri Lanka is disturbed and plots to take counter measures. Sri Lankan minister Anura Bandaranaike publicly accused Nirupama Rao, Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka of interfering unnecessarily in the internal affairs of their country. Meanwhile, the Rajapakse government has given a special assignment to Hamsa, the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai.

Hamsa is the person, who by passed all protocol and criticized the resolution passed by Tamil Nadu legislative assembly in favour of Sri Lankan Tamils. Colombo officials told that his assignment is to rally all the Muslim Mathrasas and Ulamas and to persuade them to make statements prejudicial to the interests of Sri Lankan Tamils. The same Colombo sources revealed that in pursuance of his assignment, Hamsa is to persuade these Muslim organizations to summon a press meeting and express anti Sri Lankan Tamil views. The Tamil parties in Sri Lanka that are aware of this plot told us that a Muslim group known as ‘Jihad’ operates secretly in Batticola, Amparai and Trincomalee in the east of Sri Lanka.

“It was Pakistan that has organized this group. It is Pakistan that funds this group. Pakistan’s strategy is that this group receive training in Sri Lanka and infiltrate into south India. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government is to make use of this group in its fight against the LTTE. It is for this twin purposes that this outfit is encouraged in Sri Lankan soil”, the Sri Lankan Tamil sources explained.They further said that the Muslims who were killed in the war in Muthur were from the Jihad and that Pakistan is angered over it. Hamsa is already engaged in meeting Mathraisas and Ulamas. In accordance with this assignment, he is to brief them to tell the press that it was the LTTE that killed the Muslims in Muthur, that Muslims are unable to live peacefully in the east and thereby request the Indian government to intervene on their behalf. Colombo circles indicate that the first phase of this assignment will come to light soon. Hamsa is attempting to drive a wedge between Tamil Nadu Muslims and political parties that adopt a pro-Sri Lankan Tamil line. This is part of his assignment. By courtesy Nakeeran, a bi-weekly Tamil magazine, based in Tamil Nadu

Norway says views of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission head do not reflect Norway's stand

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has told Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa that 'certain statements made by the Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission do not reflect the views of the Norwegian government.' The Norwegian Premier said this when he met President Rajapaksa on the sidelines of the 61st Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “The two leaders discussed bilateral relations between the two countries as well as the role of Norway as facilitator in the Sri Lankan peace process,” the President’s Office in Colombo said. President Rajapaksa expressed the desire of the Sri Lankan government to enter into negotiations with the LTTE at any moment, provided they cease terrorist activities including killings. The President also informed the Norwegian leader that recent operations by the Sri Lankan security forces were ‘purely of a defensive nature’, in which they were only responding to LTTE attacks. The Norwegian Prime Minister expressed his appreciation of the measures taken by the government of Sri Lanka.

Next week, hundreds of young students will flock to Cedar Drive Junior Public School to reconnect to their roots. At Cedar Drive, they will learn how to count, say hello and write their names in the languages of their homelands: Urdu, Tamil and Dari. "As our community grew, the need for the program grew," said principal Bill Hindle. Residents of Scarborough Village, which has many immigrants, campaigned hard for the International Language School, which has been hugely popular since it opened last year. Administrators say more than 200 children from the neighbourhood, and other parts of the Toronto area, are expected to arrive for the afternoon classes.

This is the second year for the program, which is among dozens across Toronto providing students with a chance to learn international languages. The campaign for language classes at Cedar Drive began when parents asked for help from officials at the Action for Neighbourhood Change project announced by the federal government and the United Way last year.With the help of project officials, the parents approached Cedar Drive school and the International Language School was born.A central motivating factor for many of the parents was a desire for their children to better connect to their families, particularly the elderly members. "Though they moved to Canada for a better life, they have no desire to lose their culture," Hindle said.

For Ashfaque Siddiqui, a father of three, it was a concern that spurred him to act.Siddiqui campaigned with his wife, Fahmida, to get the support of Urdu families in the region to convince the school that the demand existed. "I know how important this learning program is for the immigrant community," he said. "It will help the children effectively communicate with the people back home, with their parents, within their own society and also learn an additional language," he said. Most students are studying Urdu and Tamil, which is no surprise considering they are among the top languages in the community. Some 72 per cent of residents in the Scarborough Village area are visible minorities; more than half are recent immigrants. The classes, which are made up of 25 students each, will run every Wednesday afternoon from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. They are open to students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet in two or three days Sri Lankan Tamil MPs sympathetic to the Tamil Tigers, who arrived here Tuesday, as part of wider efforts aimed at resolving the ethnic conflict. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members flew into the capital from Chennai with the intention of presenting a memorandum to Manmohan Singh, who returned to India Monday night from Cuba.The MPs are here on the invitation of the state-run Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA). They will be meeting National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan as well as Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran at the earliest.They are likely to call on the prime minister most probably Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on his convenience.

With 22 MPs, the TNA is the largest Tamil bloc in the 225-seat Sri Lankan parliament. It supports the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which is outlawed in India. A likely meeting between the Indian prime minister and the TNA has created a stir in Sri Lanka.Mavai Senathiraja, a member of the TNA delegation led by their leader R. Sambandan, told IANS before leaving Chennai Tuesday that they were yet to know when they will get an audience with Manmohan Singh.The TNA has been seeking a meeting with Manmohan Singh for two years, arguing that the Indian leadership listens to all points of view from Sri Lanka barring that of the leading Tamil political party due to its pro-LTTE bias.

The understanding here is that there is nothing wrong in meeting the TNA as it is a political party whose MPs get to regularly interact with Indian diplomats in Colombo and also get invited to India's national day functions in Sri Lanka.But New Delhi is very clear that a meeting with the TNA should not be construed as an endorsement of its policies or as a likely change in India's overall understanding of the Sri Lankan conflict.India, officials say, desires a negotiated settlement to the dragging ethnic conflict in a manner whereby the aspirations of the Tamil minority are taken due care of.It is also being emphasized that the Indian leadership will also be meeting Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader V. Anandasangaree and members of the Jatiya Hela Urumiya (JHU), a Sri Lankan political party of Buddhist monks. Both Anandasangaree and JHU are bitterly anti-LTTE.

The objective is to have wider consultations with all sections of public and political opinion from Sri Lanka to reach a possible consensus that will help in a resolution of the conflict that has claimed over 65,000 lives since 1983.Officials here are not aware what the TNA MPs plan to tell the prime minister but are clear on what will be told to them: New Delhi desires a negotiated end to the conflict that has dangerously escalated leaving hundreds dead and hundreds of thousands displaced in recent months.The TNA MPs are expected to highlight the suffering caused to the Tamil community in the island's northeast due to the fighting, particularly since the start of July.The escalating trouble has also forced thousands of Tamils to flee to India.

IANS had reported Sep 6 that Manmohan Singh was most likely to meet the Tamil MPs Sep 8. The MPs were preparing to leave for New Delhi when they were told at the eleventh hour to stay put in Chennai.Manmohan Singh subsequently left on a weeklong tour of Brazil and Cuba, where he attended the Non-Aligned Movement summit.As one informed source told IANS: 'There is nothing wrong in meeting the TNA MPs. They are representatives of a legitimate political party who interact with Sri Lankan leaders. We will want to know what they have to stay.'Senathiraja had earlier told IANS that the TNA considered a meeting with Manmohan Singh 'important' and that the MPs wanted quality time to 'discuss all matters'.

The government said yesterday there was no need for international assistance to investigate the Pottuvil killings and the trend which took centre stage following the killing of aid workers in Mutur should be avoided. Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told a news conference, Sri Lanka had the expertise to carry out a full probe and assured the truth would be revealed once a statement was recorded from the lone survivor.The Minister’s comments came in the backdrop of calls by SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem for investigations by the UN after the security forces were blamed for the massacre and not the LTTE as claimed by the government.Minister Rambukwella hit out at those pointing fingers less than 24 hours after the Pottuvil massacre took place and also criticized elements who were attempting to make political gains from the incident.

Asked by a journalist on what basis the Minister himself pointed fingers towards the LTTE less than 24 hours after the Pottuvil massacre, Mr. Rambukwella said his claims were based on 23 years of LTTE history and of its modus operandi.“My stand has been very consistent. We work out our conclusions based on historical evidence. At the same time we never let investigations to be coloured by government influence,” Minister Rambukwella said.The Minister recalled that the LTTE had historically attempted to gain international support at a time it was facing defeat by carrying out such brutal massacres and blaming it on the security forces or the government.“An example of how the LTTE operates was clear when hours before the Co-chairs met Thamilselvan said in an interview the LTTE was ready for unconditional talks. That made the Co-chairs think the LTTE was genuinely keen on peace. But after the Co-chairs meeting Illentheriyan began to spell out conditions,” the Minister said.

Minister Rambukwella said the government remained committed to the peace process but urged a similar assurance from LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran himself to resume talks adding that assurances from Thamilselvan, Illentheriyan or anybody else would not suffice.He said since the Brussels Co-chairs meeting the LTTE had killed 35 civilians, including the Muslims in Pottuvil, eight soldiers, one sailor, three police officers and two home guards.The most notable incident that took place after the Brussels meeting was the navy attack on a vessel suspected to be transporting weapons for the LTTE. Navy spokesman D.M.P.K. Dassanayake said the occupants of the vessel were identified with the help of binoculars as tan in colour so it was likely they were LTTE cadres and not foreigners from Thailand.Commander Dassanayake said all measures were taken under international maritime laws to identify the vessel before it was attacked resulting in a major explosion, possibly caused by ammunition on board.Minister Rambukwella said the government had urged the Co-chairs and the Norwegian facilitators to include a clause in the ceasefire agreement to ensure the LTTE did not use the sea to re-arm itself while engaging in peace talks.

The delegations representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the United National Party met at the Parliamentary Complex at 9.30 on Tuesday 19th September to continue the discussion which commenced on Friday 15th September.The sub-committee, consisting of Hon Maithripala Sirisena, Hon John Senevirathe, Hon Prof G.L. Peiris and Mr. Malik Samarawickrama submitted their report on Priority Issues requiring a consensus between the Parties in the national interest.The delegations, after detailed discussions, adopted the report.The Priority issues, as accepted by the delegations, are the ethnic issue, electronic reforms, good governance, the public service, police, law and order, national security, media, elimination of corruption. Economic development including, infrastructure development, poverty alleviation, public finance, National building, national identity, educational reforms, cultural issues, environmental issues. Social Development, health and nutrition, youth empowerment and employment.

The delegations appointed 6 sub committees entrusted with the task of formulating a series of principles which would serve as the basic of a common national agenda in respect of each of the priority areas identified.Each committee comprised 4 members- 2 representatives of the SLFP and 2 representatives of the UNP.The delegation also appointed a sub committee consisting of 6 persons, 3 from each party to examine appropriate modalities of collaboration with regard to implementation of the proposed common national agenda.It was agreed that each of the sub committees would report to the plenary on Tuesday 3rd October 2006.

The UNP yesterday said that the ordering of duty free vehicles, by the entire group of JVP members of Parliament, is another instance that exposes their duplicitous policies. UNP MP Gayantha Karunatilleke told a press conference yesterday that this exposes the double game which the JVP has been playing since 2004. He explained that the JVP had gone back on its pledge to the people that they will sacrifice all perks and privileges and work for the betterment of the people. Responding to a journalist’s query, whether UNP MPs would refrain from getting duty free vehicles, Mr. Karunatilleke said that the UNP had never said they will not get such vehicles.

“It was the JVP that promised they will not go in for luxury vehicles and therefore, the question is why are they going back on their word,” he asked. Mr. Karunatilleke further said that the JVP, which promised to abolish the Cease-fire Agreement and send back the Norwegians, is keeping silent when the Government is to send for Norwegian Peace Envoy Erik Solheim and Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi, to restart the peace process.

Sri Lankan Airforce Kfir jets on Tuesday morning dropped two bombs on Tharavi in Eerakulam region, but none was hurt.Deputy head of the Batticaloa LTTE political wing S. Seelalan said Kfir jets flew over residential areas in the LTTEcontrolled territory in the Batticaloa district at about 7.10 a.m. on Tuesday.Meanwhile, Mr. Seelalan further said Sri Lanka Army (SLA) also fired shells at the areas close to Eeralakulam school where internally displaced peoples (IDPS) from Vadamunai, Oothuchenai and L.B villages have been sheltered. Panic-stricken refugees ran helter-skelter for safer places when SLA shelled, Seelalan said.He said five dwelling houses were destroyed when soldiers from the SLA camp at the Valaicheni Paper Mill also fired around 60 artillery shells on the Koolavadi, Pendugalchenai, Kooraveli and Chenaikudirruppu villages in the LTTE controlled territory.

The Norwegian Embassy in Colombo yesterday set the record straight with rumours that Minister Erik Solheim and peace envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer were expected in the country later this month to set the groundwork to resume peace talks.Embassy spokesman Mr. Erik Neurenburg said the two envoys had not made any plans as yet to visit the country this month as was rumoured over the past few days.“It doesn’t mean that they will not come in the near future. But as it stands there are no plans as such,” Mr. Neurenburg told the Daily Mirror.Meanwhile, the Japanese Embassy in Colombo said that Japanese envoy Mr. Yasushi Akashi was yet to confirm plans to visit the country although he was initially expected sometime this month.

Four Sri Lankan soldiers have been killed after rebels attacked an army convoy escorting reporters in northern Jaffna peninsula, the military says. No journalists were hurt in the attack near the front line at Mahumalai. The Tamil Tigers told the BBC they were not informed of the reporters' visit. Earlier, the air force bombed rebel targets in eastern Batticaloa district. Sri Lanka's 20-year civil war escalated in late July. Hundreds of people have been killed in violence this year.

Some of the fiercest exchanges in recent weeks have been in Jaffna. The army says it has made advances into Tamil Tiger-held territory in the Mahumalai area. About 25 reporters and photographers, including the BBC's Dumeetha Luthra, were being taken to inspect the so-called forward defence line when the mortars were fired. The journalists were taken back to the main military base of Palaly. The trip was the first access news organisations have had to Jaffna during weeks of heavy fighting. The clashes have effectively cut access by road to and from the Jaffna peninsula, leaving thousands of people trapped and running short of vital supplies. Ships have been sent by the government and aid agencies to bring supplies to the area and evacuate civilians. So far there are no details of any casualties or damage from Batticaloa. Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said jets attacked "identified" rebel positions.

The latest violence came as both sides were accused of failing to protect civilians during recent fighting. The US-based group, Human Rights Watch, says that both the government and the rebels have been responsible for numerous preventable deaths since major fighting resumed in April. The group urged both sides to accept a United Nations monitoring mission in Sri Lanka. "The renewed fighting has placed civilians at greater risk than at any time since the 2002 ceasefire agreement," said James Ross, senior legal advisor at Human Rights Watch, who wrote the report. "Both sides are responsible for serious abuses committed with utter disregard for civilian security." On Monday, the bodies of 11 Muslim civilians were found in the eastern district of Ampara, home to a large number of Sri Lanka's Muslim minority. They had been hacked to death after they had apparently gone to repair an irrigation system. The government accused the Tamil Tigers of the killings, but the rebels have blamed the army, pointing out that they happened in a government-held area. More than 60,000 people have been killed since the rebels began their fight the 1970s for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east.

Tension prevailed in Pottuvil and Akkaraipattu towns yesterday with the residents observing a day of mourning and a hartal to protest the killing of ten Muslims.Ampara DIG Lasantha De Silva said business premises, schools and government offices were closed bringing life in the area to a stand still. He said several sporadic incidents were reported but the police and army have strengthened their presence in the troubled spots and were maintaining law and order. The protestors carried placards accusing the STF of the massacre in which 10 Muslim workers engaged in repairing a bund were found hacked to death in a jungle area close to Pottuvil. Police Chief Chandra Fernando who visited the area said he had assigned senior police and STF officers for a full probe.He said the CID recorded statements from 12 witnesses including the person who survived the attack and the contractor of the repair project.Several Muslim organizations and political parties have called on the government to hold an impartial investigation into the killing of the civilians.

Japan grants Rs.143mn more to clear mines

Government of Japan has extended a further grant of Rs. 143 million to accelerate mine clearing activities in the North and East of Sri Lanka. The grant is being provided through two International Non Governmental Organizations, the Danish De-mining Group and Halo Trust.Japanese Ambassador Kiyoshi Araki and representatives of the two INGOs will sign the documents today in the presence of the Secretary Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development M. S. Jayasinghe at the MinistryThe Ministry in a statement said that the Mine Action Programme has up to now covered over 50 per cent of the mined area of which 30 per cent has been released for resettlement and rehabilitation. Mine connected accidents have been reduced from about 15 per month to 2 per month due to clearance.Of the 730 villages currently identified as mine affected, about 230 have been freed of mines and handed over to the Government Agents. 200 villages are being cleared and another 300 villages are now being surveyed for clearance.

The Navy is on high-alert around the country’s coastal belt following Sunday’s incident in the Eastern high seas, as initial investigations revealed that the suspected LTTE ship had come from Indonesia.A senior navy official said “We continue to stay on high-alert to prevent any arms smuggling into the country and any other illegal activity”. He also said due to the alertness of the navy, it was possible to track down the suspected LTTE vessel which was bringing lethal military hardware, including heavy artillery and ant-air craft missiles. The official also believed that at least fifteen LTTE cadres on board had been killed due to the sinking of the ship and among them was a senior LTTE leader.“We received confirmed reports that the ship had sailed off from Indonesia and was scheduled to unload the military hardware at an undisclosed location in the eastern coast,” the official said adding that they sought international assistance for the ongoing investigations”.

Chandrika to speak at Clinton’s Global Initiative meeting

Madam Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will be visiting New York from today to September 22, at the invitation of President Bill Clinton, to attend the Second Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative.The Clinton Global Initiative invites a select group of distinguished and dedicated world leaders, including current and former Heads of State, business executives, intellectuals and academicians, to exchange ideas with a view to identifying solutions to selected global issues. This year the attendees include Queen Rania Al-Abdulla of Jordan, President Jacques Chirac, President Viktor A. Yushchenko, Prime Minister Tony Blair, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Bill Gates, Lakshmi Mittal and other such distinguished world leaders.

The Clinton Global Initiative undertakes projects in developing countries to alleviate poverty, combat climate change, improve governance and use religion as a force for reconciliation. Several such successful projects are presently under implementation.Madam Kumaratunga has been invited by President Clinton to participate as a panelist for the working group on "Mitigating Religious and Ethnic Conflict," at the annual meeting. As a panelist Madam Kumaratunga will participate in a moderate dialogue with distinguished guests.

Currency	Buying (Rs.)		Selling (Rs.)
US Dollar	101.99		102.94
Sterling Pound	191.40		194.19
Euro	129.22		131.44
Swiss Franc	81.07		83.04
Australian Dollar	76.51		78.37
Singapore Dollar	63.91		65.10
Japanese Yen	0.8599		0.8774
Country		Currency		Indicative Rate(RS.)

Bahrain	Dinar	271.87
Kuwait	Dinar	354.48
Oman	Rial	266.21
Qatar	Riyal	28.15
Saudi Arabian	Riyal	27.33
UAE	Dirham	27.90

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse that only negotiations can resolve the island nation's dragging ethnic conflict.At their meeting on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Havana Saturday, Manmohan Singh emphasised the need for a negotiated settlement while firmly ruling out war as an option. The Indian leader also underlined to his Sri Lankan counterpart the necessity to take into consideration the aspirations of the Tamil minority while convincing the Sinhalese majority to go for political concessions.According to information made available to IANS, Manmohan Singh and Rajapakse had cordial discussions during which they touched upon at some length the crisis in Sri Lanka as well as international efforts to resolve it.

India is very clear that whatever the immediate exigencies, Sri Lanka should aspire in the long run for a negotiated end to the armed conflict that has pitted it against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The two delegations agreed that the LTTE was a 'dangerous organisation', but New Delhi's belief is that this should not come in the way of talking to the Tigers.A political, and not military, solution is what Sri Lanka should aim at - this was India's message.The Indian leadership pressed that the island's Tamil-majority northeastern province should not be de-merged without a referendum and that such a referendum would only be possible when there was a 'conducive atmosphere'. The merger of the northeast is an emotive issue with the Tamil people. Sri Lanka's overwhelmingly Tamil-majority north and multi-racial east were joined by the 1987 India-Sri Lanka peace accord to form a single administrative unit.

But some in Sri Lanka are now insisting that they should be de-merged on grounds that their merger was illegal.In his remarks, President Rajapakse distanced his government from the opposition to the merger now before the Sri Lankan judiciary. He said this was a political issue and not a judicial problem.Rajapakse complained that Norway, the peace facilitator, did not consult his government before announcing in Brussels Sep 12 that Colombo and LTTE would talk in Oslo early next month.He said that there was a lot of opposition to Norway in Sri Lanka although he remained committed to its role as peace facilitator.Despite the unilateral announcement by Norway, the president said, Sri Lanka had agreed in principle to talk to the LTTE.He, however, alleged that the LTTE had continued to commit violence even after the Brussels meeting.

Although the Oslo-sponsored 2002 ceasefire agreement between the Sri Lankan government and LTTE is now in tatters, India strongly backs Norway's role as the facilitator.New Delhi believes that whatever the shortcoming, Norway, with international backing, alone has the infinite patience and ability to bring the warring sides to the negotiating table.Although India is not a member of the co-chairs, it is fully kept in the picture by the international community seeking to end the Sri Lankan conflict.On his way to Brazil and Cuba, Manmohan Singh had told Indian journalists that New Delhi's efforts would be to ensure that the current ceasefire held as a pre-requisite for a durable solution to the island's crisis.Manmohan Singh also said that India was in touch with Norway and Sri Lanka.'Our effort is to ensure that the ceasefire holds and that both parties are scrupulously committed to preserving the ceasefire,' he said. 'I think that is an essential prerequisite before we can move forward to a durable solution.'

Mr. Wimal Weerawansa the propaganda secretary of the JVP has requested people to get organized to prevent Solhiem from coming to Sri Lanka.At a meeting with the media held Yesterday(18) morning at Colombo Mr. Weerawansa said that he will be requesting from the government to prevent Solhiem from coming to Sri Lanka and not to allow him to go Killinochchi to meet the Tiger leadership.Mr. Weerawanse asked what the co chairs have to say about Sri Lanka's protest against giving a date for talks without consulting the Sri Lankan government or the bringing of a shipload of arms by the LTTE which was subsequently destroyed by the Navy and the Air Force.

Both Mr. Anura Bandaranaike Minister of Tourism delivering the 6th M.H.M Ashraff memorial lecture, and Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe delivering a lecture to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of President J.R. Jayawardena,lambasted the JVP policy on the national question and their past record.It is silly on the part of the JVP to ask the LTTE one of the most powerful terrorist organizations of the world to lay down arms before coming for talks. Mr. Bandaranaike asked not to put pre- conditions to the LTTE and said that the JVP will never drop these silly views.The leader of the opposition said we should have allowed the IPKF to remain in Sri Lanka for some more time to solve the North East question. Today the entire country is suffering due to the short sighted demand of the JVP of asking the Indians to quit at that particular time.

India has lodged strong protest with the Sri Lankan Government over the recent incidents of firing by the island nation's Navy on Indian fishermen, a senior Coast Guard official said today.The recurring incidents of Sri Lankan Navy firing on Indian fishermen were of serious concern and this had been brought to the notice of the island's republic government, Coast Guard Director General Vice-Admiral R F Contractor said."The Sri Lankan Navy looks for suspicious vessels, especially in the night, and has been firing indiscriminately, for security reasons. Several of our fishermen, who have been straying into foreign waters due to lack of navigational equipment, have been hurt in the firing," he said.

He attributed the reason for the frequent problems between the Sri Lankan navy and Indian fishermen, mostly from Tamil Nadu, to the large number of unregistered boats fishing in Indian waters."Though as many as 1,65,350 boats have been registered, there are even more unregistered boats, which are into fishing operations illegally. Thus, it is posing a huge challenge to the Sri Lankan Navy to differentiate between genuine fishermen and extremists and others," Contractor said.With the inflow of Sri Lankan refugees hitting an all time high of over 13,600 this year, compared to over 34,600 in the past decade, the Sri lankan and Indian Navy had stepped up vigil in the International Maritime Boundary and were undertaking co-ordinated patrolling of international waters, he said.

The Coast Guard was taking all steps to combat smuggling and poaching in the South of Sri Lanka, as the shipping activity increased, and the maritime boundaries of Bangladesh, Contractor said. The Sri Lankan Government sought the assistance of the Indian Coast Guard in controlling the oil leak caused due to the sinking of a Bangladeshi ship in Sri Lankan waters last week, and they were very happy with the work done by our pollution buster vessels, he said."As part of its vision, the Indian coast guard will acquire as many as 200 offshore patrol vessels, small interceptor boats and other vessels, including six multi-mission aircrafts," he said.

With the delineation of the maritime boundaries, the maritime area covered by India, which is around two million sq. Kms at present, was expected to go up to over three million sq. Km, he said."Even with 44 ships and seven aircraft with the Eastern Regional command at present, we are able to cover only 40 per cent of the coastal area," Inspector General Rajender Singh Commander, Coast Guard Region, East, said."The induction of more number of ships into the Coast Guard fleet, will help fill in these gaps," he said.

Four more killed in Jaffna

Four more people were shot dead by unidentified gunmen within 24 hours in the northern Sri Lankan town of Jaffna.The United Nations on Monday expressed “grave concern” over extrajudicial and political killings in Sri Lanka.UN Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour told an international gathering that killings and disappearances are reported “each day” from Jaffna.Selvarajah Shantha Kumar, 25, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Monday morning in Vadamarachchi.The poultry farmer was shot dead as he tried to sell poultry to two unknown people.

His name was seen written in Tamil using his blood at the scene of the murder.Shanmuganathan Suresh Kumar (35), a father-of-two, was taken away by two people who came to his home in Kankasanthurai road, Kondavil, on Sunday night.His wife has heard a private radio announcing that the body of Suresh Kumar was found this morning near the old railway station in Kondavil.She could not inform the police or contact anybody else as her husband was taken away during the curfew hours, she said.The security forces have imposed curfew in Jaffna from 6pm (SLT) to 6am.

Residents say many killings and disappearances in Jaffna are taking place during curfew hours.A 26-year old man was shot dead on Sunday evening in Nirveli.Witnesses said Lohanadan Selvakumar had about five gunshot wounds after coming under attack near his house in Nirveli at about 1540 SLT. In Alaveddi South, Kandasamy Thyahalan, 36, a father-of-five, was asked to come out of his house when he was asleep on Sunday evening.His wife, who witnessed the attack, has tried to protect her husband but assailants managed to shoot him and fled away.Two people were killed and two more injured in Jaffna peninsular earlier on Sunday and Saturday.

Sri Lankan Tamil MPs belonging to the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) would be flying to New Delhi on Tuesday to await an appointment with the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, TNA sources told Hindustan Times.The MPs have been in Chennai for some days now, meeting a cross section of Tamil Nadu political leaders while waiting for a call from the mandarins of the Indian Foreign Office.However, official sources in New Delhi said that it was still not clear if the meeting with the Prime Minister would come through.

They said that New Delhi would have to think of what such a meeting would mean for its relations with the regime in Colombo and its policy on the LTTE, because the TNA is but a proxy of the banned LTTE.The sensitivity of the subject is so great that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi, has not met the TNA MPs despite three reminders about their request for an appointment.It seems as if Karunanidhi prefers to see them after they had met the Prime Minister.Or he might not see them at all, if the Prime Minister did not meet them.Karunanidhi has not forgotten that it was his dalliance with the LTTE, which had cost him his government in 1990.The DMK government led by him was sacked for alleged links with the LTTE.The DMK's alleged links with the LTTE came up again in 1996, and shook the Central government.A political source in Chennai told Hindustan Times that Karunanidhi was now busy grooming his son, Stalin, as his successor, and that he would rather not let the Sri Lankan Tamil issue spoil Stalin's chances.Karunanidhi is also aware that his principal rival, AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, has categorically said that she will have no truck with the LTTE.

However, despite the sensitivity of the issue, New Delhi would still like to engage the TNA, and through it get to the LTTE in an indirect and unofficial way.This is the reason why the MPs were called in the first place.Engagement with the TNA is considered necessary if India is to play a meaningful role in the Sri Lankan peace process, which is in a precarious state now.At a seminar organised by the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) in Bangalore recently, the general view was that India would have to shed its reserve and play a proactive role if the vacuum in Sri Lanka was not to be filled by a hostile force like Pakistan.Indian strategic experts like B Raman have warned that if India is not watchful, Pakistan may strengthen its hold over the powers-that-be in Sri Lanka and turn the island into a place for carrying out its designs on South India.

Serious human rights abuses continue in Sri Lanka, the U.N.'s rights chief said Monday, urging the international community to address the abuses committed both by the Tamil Tiger rebel group and government forces."While LTTE (Tamil Tigers') abuses continue on a large scale, human rights violations by state security forces and the failure of the government to provide the protection of the rule of law to all its citizens also generate serious concerns," U.N. human rights chief Louise Arbour said at the opening session of the Human Rights Council."There is an urgent need for the international community to monitor the unfolding human rights situation, as these are not merely cease-fire violations, but grave breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law," she said.

Arbour's call comes amid an upsurge in violence in the island nation that could undermine efforts by European mediators to bring the warring sides back to peace talks. The military reported that 11 Muslim men were found hacked to death in a remote jungle in eastern Sri Lanka on Monday, blaming Tamil Tiger rebels for the killings.Some 65,000 people were killed in the conflict before the 2002 cease-fire, which began unraveling in December. Hundreds more lives have been lost this year, including more than 400 government troops since July, and more than 220, 000 people have been from their homes.

Sarala Fernando, Sri Lanka's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, told council members that the government's military action was "clearly and specifically defensive" and "necessitated by the clear and present danger forced by the LTTE to strategically critical infrastructure."Fernando said the government remained committed to the cease-fire and appreciated the peace efforts by the international community."We note, however, that the LTTE has always used peace talks as a period to enhance its military capabilities," she said, requesting the international community to help the government preventing illegal arms procurement.

"The government remains fully committed to participate at peace talks," she said.Aid agencies repeatedly have accused the government of hindering relief work. Arbour said "restrictions on humanitarian access have been imposed by both sides, worsening the vulnerability of these populations."Arbour also said the use of child soldiers was a major problem in Sri Lanka."The LTTE's persisting record of forced military recruitment, including children, is a major concern," she said.

A Tamil Doctor abducted today at Colombo, we don't trust the govt.. - Mano Ganeshan

Mr. Mano Ganeshan the leader of the Western Province Peoples Front said that though the government says that it has taken steps to create a special police team to probe abductions and appoint a commission to probe abductions disappearances and extraction of extortions from the Tamil Businessmen, he does not believe that it will serve any purpose.The above was divulged to 'Lanka E News' by Mr. Ganeshan when contacted to ask why the hartal by organized by shop owners of Colombo scheduled for today was postponed.

Mr. Ganeshan said that the business community took this decision yesterday (18) of postponing the hartal due to the request made by the government to abstain form such action and the assurance given by the government that it will take suitable action to prevent such further incidents. He added that the government got cold feet due to the publicity given by Tamil business community and opposition political parties including himself to hold a hartal today. Any how the government approached few business leaders and through them made a request from the political organization not to go for such harsh action at the present juncture.

He added that more than 50 Tamil businessmen have been abducted form Colombo and he is possession of details of 25 of them. Though there are assurances from the government that abductions would not take place, a private practitioner of Maradana, Dr. Gunalan was abducted today and nothing is heard of him.He further said that the leader of the political parties that was supportive of the hartal will meet today at 10.00 am at the old Town Hall Pettah and explain the background to the decision to suspend the hartal.

Eleven Muslim workers were butchered to death in Pottuvil on Monday morning and two others are said to be missing. Sources said the Muslim workers on Sunday went to repair, Rattalkulam, a small reservoir, 9 km south of Pottuvil in Amparai district and they were found butchered to death this (Monday) morning, Police said. One injured worker was recovered while two others are said to be missing from the site. The massacre has taken place near a Special Task Force (STF) training camp near Yala National Park. A rift between Sinhalese and Muslim farmers in the area developed over the repairing of the reservoir, according to sources. Further details are not available at the moment and a tense situation is prevailing in Pottuvil.

"Special Task Force (STF) troops killed these people," Muslim M.S. Mohedeen, told Reuters as around 2,000 people, including women and children, gathered around the Periya Pallivasal mosque in the eastern town of Pottuvil where the bodies were laid out and incense burned to mask the stench of death. The protestors rejected Sri Lankan government accusations the Tamil Tigers were responsible for the killings near the Yala game reserve. The LTTE condemned the massacre and, citing the August massacre of 17 aid workers blamed on government forces, said Sri Lanka’s military had “a long tradition of blaming the LTTE for the atrocities it commits.”"We don't blame anyone else," he added. "The LTTE can't come into this area. It is completely controlled by the STF. Without the STF's knowledge, no one can come into this area."

Earlier, the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry blamed the LTTE, saying: "the Tiger terrorists have massacred 11 Muslim civilians who had gone to repair an anicut. The LTTE denied the accusation and condemned the massacre."The LTTE notes that this is a Sri Lankan government controlled area and a Sri Lankan military camp is stationed near the location of the massacre," the LTTE said in a statement on its Peace Secretariat website."The Sri Lankan military is adopting its long tradition of blaming the LTTE for the atrocities it commits," the statement added, pointing to the massacre of 17 aid workers in August which the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) blamed on Sri Lankan troops.

The bodies of 10 Muslim men found hacked to death were buried in this farming village on Monday as Tiger rebels and Sri Lankan forces blamed each other for the massacre.The victims, mostly between 20 and 27 years of age, were brought to the Jumma Mosque in this eastern coastal area as shops closed in protest against the killings and police stepped up security.About 500 villagers gathered at the burial site as heavily armed police ringed the area amid fears of reprisal attacks.Initially, the defence ministry said 11 people were killed, but a later count confirmed that 10 people died and one man had escaped with injuries.

Sri Lankan Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) has focused attention to again attract the school children to their future political programmes. As a preliminary step the JVP has organized a teacher and student discussion panel on 19th at the Colombo Public Library auditorium on the Party's programme to defeat terrorism and for a real victory for the country. School students have been called for the meeting which is also participated by the university students and the lecturers.JVP led a bloody campaign against the Indian Peace Keeping Force and the Provincial Council system that came under the Indo – Sri Lanka Peace Accord in 1987 -1990 period. Many school students were mobilized in the rebellion along with the university students and thousands of them were killed in the counter subversive operations.

BRITISH Tamils are to celebrate the United Nations-sponsored International Day of Peace on Thursday (September 21) by holding vigils across London urging "peace with dignity" for Tamils of Sri Lanka.The event is being organized by the North Harrow-Tamil Councillors and Associates, a cross-party organisation.The group's chairman is Labour Harrow councillor Thaya Idaikkadar. The vigils will be held in front of Harrow Civic Centre and Brent Town Halls from noon to 8pm and will start with a moment of silence.The organisers said they expected local dignitaries and MPs to attend the events.

They said: "The Tamil people in Sri Lanka have been facing oppression at the hands of consecutive Sri Lankan governments for over half century, since independence from Britain."The oppression that started with discrimination in education and employment, over the years, turned violent."For the past two decades Sinhalese-dominated Sri Lankan governments have employed a clear policy of genocide against the Tamil people with torture, rape and killing."Disregarding a Norway-facilitated peace process, the present Sri Lankan government has embarked on a campaign of terror killing hundreds of innocent Tamils including school children with indiscriminate and heavy artillery and aerial bombardment.

"The British Tamil Diaspora is urging Britain to apply tangible pressure on the Sri Lankan government, a signatory to the UN resolution declaring September 21 as International Day of Peace, to abide by the resolution and conform to the ceasefire and work towards a peaceful solution that recognizes the Tamil people's right to selfdetermination and fulfills their legitimate aspirations."

Had the Sri Lankan Government allowed the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) to stay a little longer, the North-East conflict could have been resolved by now, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.He was speaking at a ceremony organized to mark the 100th birth anniversary of the late President J.R. Jayewardene at the Jayewardene Centre yesterday. Mr. Wickremesinghe said various other Tamil militant groups joined the democratic process after the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord. “The IPKF was tasked to bring the LTTE too to the democratic stream,” he said.Mr. Wickremesinghe said the IPKF was asked to leave the country following pressure from the JVP during that period, and all had to pay the price for it today. Commenting on Mr. Jayewardene’s vision on the conflict, he said the former pursued a political solution which ensured the rights of all the communities living in the country.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said the late President brought about an unprecedented renewal in a wide spectrum of issues after assuming office, far exceeding the performance of ancient kings.He said the marvelous irrigation works such as Kotmale and Samanala Wewa built during his period were far greater than the works of king Parakramabahu.The UNP leader said the economy of this country had progressed during four eras in the history; the periods of King Mahasen, King Parakramabahu, British rulers and the late President Jayewardane. He said that the country had made significant strides in the economic process due to the far sighted vision of Mr. Jayewardene who took a bold step in introducing the open market economic system in 1977.

President Rajapaksa is in New York to attend the Sixty-First (61st) General Assembly Session of the United Nations, his first as Head of State. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera arrived in New York earlier in the day. Vito Fossela, Republican Congressman from New Jersey will be the first to call on the Sri Lankan President at the Hotel UN Millennium Plaza. It will be followed by a meeting with Congressman Frank Pallone, Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus of Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan Americans. In the afternoon, President Rajapaksa will visit the New York Buddhist Vihara. This is the first time a Sri Lankan President is visiting the New York Buddhist Vihara. In the evening the President, the First Lady and the delegation will attend a Special Reception hosted by Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam to meet invited guests.

Tomorrow, United Nations Under-Secretary- General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children & Armed Conflict, Sri Lanka’s Radhika Coomaraswamy will call on the President. It will be followed by a bilateral meeting with the President of the Swiss Confederation Moritz Leuenberger. The opening of the General Debate of the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly will commence at 11.00 a.m. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will also attend a Round Table Discussion on Democracy on the invitation by President George W. Bush to a selected group of Heads of State/Governments of Democratic Nations. President Rajapaksa will also attend the inaugural meeting of the Lower Middle-Income Countries in New York. This Group known as the G-11 (Group of Eleven), comprising Croatia, Ecuador, Georgia, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Sri Lanka and Tunisia will be chaired initially by Jordan until May, 2007. Thereafter, other countries will be expected to Chair the Group on an annually rotating basis and the Secretariat will be located in the Chairperson’s country and the group is expected to coordinate on issues of economic importance.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has urged both the Government and the LTTE to arrive at a common understanding over an acceptable mode of transport to be used by the aid agency, to transport people and relief goods in and out of Jaffna.With the Navy now undertaking the task of transporting stranded civilians from Jaffna, when asked if the ICRC could escort such vessels with soldiers also on board, the head of delegation of the ICRC in Sri Lanka, Toon Vandenhove said this would go against the internationally-accepted principle of the Red Cross and international humanitarian law. “Whenever the ICRC escorts a ship or convoy, we guarantee there are no military supplies or military people on board and that it is purely humanitarian. Our operations must never be mistaken for military operations. We also do not accept armed escorts,” he said.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror, at the ICRC headquarters in Colombo, Mr Vandenhove also stressed that the ICRC was collecting information about possible violations of international humanitarian laws, at the events that took place in and around Mutur in early August.He said the organization would raise any credible allegations of abuse, during its regular confidential contacts with the parties to the conflict and if necessary, ask them to launch an investigation. On the Jaffna transport issue, the LTTE has told the ICRC, that it can only guarantee the safety of ICRC chartered transport by land, while the Government insists on sea transport and recently criticized the international aid agency for “giving into LTTE demands.”

Mr. Vandenhove said that as a neutral humanitarian organization, the ICRC needed the approval and agreement of both parties, in order to carry out such operations, as having the backing of one single party, could jeapordise that balance.“To remain neutral, it is important that we get the green light from all parties to the conflict, for whatever major operation we undertake. In this case, one party - the LTTE - insists we use the land route and the other party – the Government – insists we use the sea route. The ICRC has to search for a common position to provide relief supplies to Jaffna and also help civilians leave the area,” Mr. Vandenhove said.

He added that, however, the ICRC activities in support of the Jaffna population, through its local office with five expatriates and 44 local employees is continuing.Mr. Vandenhove said that the conflict parties have always agreed with the ICRC's neutral policy, which is why, in 2002, they asked that the ICRC ensure a neutral presence at the lines separating Government and LTTE-controlled areas.The ICRC head also noted that it was wrong to assume that the Red Cross flag on its own, is sufficient to guarantee the security of a relief operation.

“Unfortunately, simply flying the flag without security assurances from all sides is not enough. In 2003, a massive car bomb attack targeted the ICRC office in Baghdad clearly marked with the flag. It had not been possible to obtain security assurances from all armed groups. That is why for the protection of our staff and of any civilians or wounded we might be transporting, we need the guarantees of both parties,” he said.However, at the same time Mr Vandenhove complimented government moves to deal with the crisis by carrying out its own humanitarian operation.“As long as both parties do not agree on how the ICRC can facilitate transports to Jaffna, to help the civilians and the Government decides to help the civilians on its own, we welcome that commitment and compliment it,” he said.

Since June, the ICRC has provided essential household items to about 60,000 displaced people in conflict-affected areas and also provided hundreds of thousands of litres of potable water and medical supplies to 12 hospitals and other healthcare facilities. In the Trincomalee district, the ICRC and other components of the ICRC and the Red Crescent Movement provided Muslim, Tamil and Singhalese displaced families in Kantale, Kinniya, Seruvilla and Trincomalee town with almost 5,000 hygiene kits, 1,400 baby parcels and 1,000 kits of essential household items.

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) closed the only land route to Jaffna islets through Allaipiddy from Sunday morning, civil society sources in Jaffna said. Civilians are stranded on either side of the closed road, and with the shortage of essential items prevailing in Jaffna district, islets' residents will suffer further deterioration of living conditions, civil society members said. Residents of islets have already been affected by severe shortage of fuel, and with communication links to the islets cut by security forces, few details of the condition in the islets are reaching Jaffna, added concerned civil leaders in Jaffna.In the last several weeks, when the SLN conducted search operations in various regions in the islets, the SLN soldiers regularly close the road at the Allaipiddy checkpoint.The road was closed from morning until evening last Friday, 15 September.Sources in Jaffna said that they cannot confirm whether the SLN has embarked on a similar search operation in the islets.Residents of islets of Delft, Punguduthivu, Analaitivu, Eluvaitivu and Velanai off the east cost of Jaffna Peninsula use the land route through Allaipiddai to travel to and from the Jaffna.

Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike has called on the Government to agree to unconditional talks with the LTTE without making irrational demands.Mr. Bandaranaike made this appeal during his speech at the 6th death anniversary commemoration ceremony of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) founder Leader M.H.M. Ashraff, held at the BMICH on Saturday.“Will the best organized terrorist organization lay down arms,”? asked Mr. Bandaranaike.The Tourism Minister also warned the Government against leaving out Muslims and taking Karuna on board at the peace talks.“I got to know that Karuna had wanted to participate in the peace talks. If the Government decides to leave the Muslims out and include him, it will have to face something which it least expects,” Mr. Bandaranaike cautioned.However, he commended the efforts by the two principal parties to forge an alliance.“Both the SLFP and the UNP have played football with the ethnic issue without scoring a goal and it is time to forget the past and get together to solve the issue,” he said.

The Tourism Minister said he strongly recommended a federal solution as a way out of the North and East conflict, since it addresses the principal grievances of the Tamils and the Muslims.The Minister said that the Bandaranaikes had always stood for the rights of the Tamils and the Muslims. He said that his father was the first to suggest a Federal system, while his mother too, had leading Muslim leaders such as Badiuddin Mohammed serving as ministers in her Cabinet. Slamming the US and UK for waging war against Iraq and provoking Iran, the Tourism Minister reminded that Iraq was the number one buyer of Sri Lankan tea, by the time the war broke out. “The US and UK’s war on Iraq, based on fake theories, had resulted in a big blow to the Sri Lankan economy,” he added.“Get the hell out of Iran and Iraq as fast as you can,” he demanded from the world super power and its ally.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bandaranaike welcomed the decision of the Indian authorities to transfer High Commissioner Nirupama Rao. “This means that the Nehrus still listen to the Bandaranaikes” he said. Mr. Bandaranaike paid tribute to the late Mr. M.H.M. Ashraff, describing him as a leader who stood steadfastly for the rights of the Muslims. “The SLMC is the precious gift given by Mr. Ashraff ,” he said. He expressed confidence that the present leader of the SLMC, Rauff Hakeem will continue to safeguard his late leader’s legacy.

The Navy and the Air force yesterday jointly thwarted an alleged LTTE attempt to smuggle weapons to Sri Lanka by sinking a large vessel carrying weapons and ammunition off Kalmunai seas.Military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said the vessel carrying large quantities of weapons and ammunition, sailing in the deep seas about one hundred nautical miles off Kalmunai was destroyed around noon yesterday.He said the ship sailing without a flag was detected by the Navy around 7.30 a.m. The ship had ignored the warning shots fired by the Navy to stop and identify. “In the absence of a response from the ship, the Navy, in keeping with international maritime regulations, fired warning shots towards the ship. It had suddenly retaliated with small arms fire prompting the Navy to call for reinforcements from Trincomalee Naval station,” the Brigadier said.

The Navy with the assistance of the Air Force destroyed and sunk the suspected vessel, he said. It is believed all 15 Tiger cadres on board were sunk with the ship.Meanwhile, Government Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the government would take this issue seriously with the relevant parties, as it clearly proved that the LTTE continued to re-arm itself despite international warning.“The LTTE has opted for peace talks every time it was weakened by the Security Forces. This is a clear instance which proves that the LTTE was buying time to procure arms and strengthen itself,” the Minister said.Meanwhile the government is to seek an amendment to the existing Ceasefire Agreement to prevent the LTTE from using sea routes to re-arm itself following yesterday’s confrontation, Minister Rambukwelle said.

The BBC yesterday quoted LTTE military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan as saying the government should “fully implement” the Ceasefire Agreement before commencing the talks.Mr. Ilanthirayan demanded the government withdrew from the areas captured recently, including the strategically important Sampur saying that the rebels would not attend talks if the government failed to implement the demarcation lines according to the Agreement.

Following last week’s protest by the government over the statement by Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to meet Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in New York this week. The two leaders are scheduled to meet while attending the sixty first session of the UN General Assembly. Diplomatic sources said that the discussion would revolve around the fragile peace process and Norwegian facilitation. The Sri Lankan President is also among a select group of Heads of States and Governments invited by American President George W Bush for a round table discussion of democratic nations that is scheduled to start on the 19th in New York.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to arrive in New York today accompanied by a record 52 member delegation which includes some provincial politicians as well. President Rajapakse is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Wednesday just before the anti American fire brand, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.The President’s delegation includes Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Trade Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda, Education Minister Susil Premajayanth, Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Viswa Warnapala, Resettlement Minister Rishard Badiuddin , Regional Development Minister Gunaratne Weerakoon.Also Deputy Skills Development Minister Sripathy Sooriyaratchchi, Deputy Education Minister Nirmala Kotelawala, Parliamentarian Dallas Alahapperuma, Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Mahipala Herath, Deputy Speaker Geetanjana Gunewardena, Western Provincial Council Member Renuka Perera and Central Provincial Council Member P Digambaram are included in President Rajapakse’s team.

The other key members of the massive delegation are Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Foreign Secretary H. M. G. S. Palihakkara, Head of the Peace Secretariat Palitha Kohona, Presidential Adviser Jayantha Dhanapala, Consultant to the President Gamini Gunaratne, Additional Secretary to the President Gamini Senerath, Co-ordinating Secretary to the President Sajin Vas Gunewardena and Public Relations Officer to the President S. Rajapakse.The General Assembly (GA) of the United Nations opened its sixty-first session on September 12 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York headed by its new President Sheikha Haya Rashid Al Khalifa. Sheikha Haya is the first female General Assembly President since 1969 and the first Muslim woman to hold the post. She was elected President of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly on June 8, 2006. At the time, she was serving as Legal Adviser to the Royal Court in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

During his visit President Rajapaksa is expected to participate in the first meeting of 11 Heads of States of lower middle income countries to advance their interest in the global economic, investment and trade arena to pursue result oriented assistance, which is convened by the King of Jordan Abdullah Bin Al- Hussein. According to UN sources heads of State of Croatia, Ecuador, Georgia, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Tunisia and Sri Lanka will participate at this meeting.On September 18 President Rajapaksa is scheduled to meet SLFP, US branch members at New York Buddhist Vihara auditorium in Queens. This meeting is organized by SLFP, US branch head Nanda Ranasinghe. He told The Nation that this meeting will be an open forum to their party members to find answers to their queries direct from President Rajapaksa.

LTTE rebels accuse Lanka Govt of killing nearly 100 civilians

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels on Sunday accused government soldiers in concert with paramilitary units of killing nearly 100 civilians in the island's embattled Jaffna peninsula this month. The rebels and government troops have escalated fighting in the northern peninsula since August 11 with air, ground and artillery attacks that have created siege-like conditions for tens of thousands of mainly Tamil civilians. The rebels claim the military has used a near blackout on outside access, except for some aid shipments, to launch extra-judicial killings of Tamil sympathisers in Jaffna. "The scene is worst in Jaffna which is blocked out and blacked out by the government of Sri Lanka," the rebels said in a statement. "In spite of this haunting atmosphere, the international media remains blind to the fact."

Separately this month, the Nordic truce monitors blamed soldiers for killing 17 French aid workers in the east coast city of Muttur on August 4. The Defence Ministry denied the allegations about Jaffna and Muttur and said President Mahinda Rajapakse had initiated a separate mechanism for speedy investigations. Fighting in Sri Lanka has intensified since December, shattering a 2002 ceasefire and leaving more than 1,500 dead, according to official figures. More than 60,000 people have been killed in Sri Lanka's Tamil separatist conflict in the past three decades.

Priyardarshini is holding her eight-month-old baby, Yadushika. They have just arrived on the southern shores of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and the journey from Sri Lanka nearly cost them their lives. "The boat capsized and we thought we were all going to die," she tells me. "Luckily we'd wrapped the baby in polythene, so she floated." Finding herself once more in Sri Lanka, Priyardarshini had faced a terrible choice. Return to her home surrounded by war and violence, or risk making the crossing again. "I was very scared and refused to make the journey. But in the end we were forced to. Every day our house was being shelled, the shops were being burnt. We couldn't live there."

When the ceasefire was signed in Sri Lanka four years ago, some of those displaced by two decades of fighting began to return home. But the recent upsurge in violence has again forced large numbers of Tamils from the north of the island to look across the narrow Palk Strait to India. Packed into tiny fishing boats they risk the crossing to Tamil Nadu where they find relative safety, and a common language and religion. So far this year more than 13,000 have made the journey. It's thought at least 10 people have drowned. There are more than 100 refugee camps in Tamil Nadu, providing shelter, food and a subsistence living allowance as well as education for the children. The conditions are basic, but in a poor country they are often better than those endured by many of the locals living close by.

The Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation (OfERR) is a charity that has been providing support for Sri Lankan refugees in India since the early 1980s. Founder member SC Chandrahasan says the refugees are grateful for the sanctuary that India provides. He says not only are they fleeing the shells of the Sri Lankan army but also the recruiting tactics of the Tamil Tigers, still believed to be using child soldiers. "A lot of the refugees are taking their children to safety," he says. "They may not say it openly but confidentially they will say that they don't want their children to be recruited by the Tigers or taken away by the army."

The United Nations estimates that more than 200,000 people have been internally displaced within Sri Lanka. Many are living in areas that the aid agencies find it very difficult to reach. So in some ways the refugees who make it to the white sandy beaches of southern India are the lucky ones. In the Mandapam transit camp near the town of Rameshwaram a group of more than 100 new arrivals sit in the shade waiting to be registered by the camp officials. They're surrounded by what's left of their lives, a few suitcases and plastic bags stuffed with what little they could carry.

Priyardarshini and her family have lost everything. Her husband, Vinayaka-Murthy, was a successful tailor in Trincomalee. As well as leaving the home and business, they lost all their belongings when the boat capsized. All they have is their tiny daughter. But they're not looking back. "Anyone who says there is no war in Sri Lanka should speak to us," Vinayaka-Murthy tells me. "There is a war, we were living in the middle of it. I'm never going back. We will find our future in India."

TNA delegation all set to meet Indian PM- TNA M P Suresh Premechandran Interview

Q: The TNA seems to have had a disappointing trip to India and has failed to meet the Indian prime minister. Can you brief us on what really happened?
A: There is no disappointment as such. The TNA parliamentarians who left Sri Lanka on this tour are still in Chennai and they will be meeting the various Tamil Nadu political leaders. After meeting the local politicians they hope to proceed to Delhi to meet the Indian prime minister. The premier is not in town at present but after he returns the TNA will meet him.
Q: Reports indicate that the Indian premier opted not to meet the TNA because the TNA is a proxy of the LTTE? Under this situation are you of the view that the premier would ever want to meet the TNA parliamentarians even after his return?
A: Well, the Indian prime minister has so far not disclosed to any one of us that he is not willing to meet us. The only reason for that being his busy schedule. No such statement was made by him at all. In fact this is the first time we wrote direct to the Indian prime minister’s office to get an appointment. We also wrote to the foreign ministry seeking appointments with senior ministry officials. And we will be meeting them at the earliest.
Q: Wasn’t your trip organised by Tamil Nadu politician Vaiko?
A: Well, he did play a crucial role in this regard. But we on his advice approached the PM’s office direct.
Q: It is learnt that because of Vaiko’s involvement in this tour, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi too refused to meet the TNA delegation. Is there any truth in this?
A: No. Karunanidhi has not refused to meet us. As I told you earlier, we will be returning to the country only after meeting all of them. In fact rivalry does exist between both Vaiko and Karunanidhi. But it is only between them. When it comes to addressing an issue related to the Tamils of Sri Lanka, I strongly feel they are united. This trip was organised through the Indian High Commission. I think the High Commission is doing the necessary work. We sent the invitation through the HC and we are optimistic we will get a positive response early.
Q: Does it mean Vaiko never got himself involved in this process directly?
A: He has in fact directly inquired from the premier whether he could meet our delegation. That is all. Other than that we have been doing work on our own. Vaiko is branded as pro LTTE because as a representative of the Tamil Nadu State Assembly he was against the Sri Lanka-India defence agreement. Also when the Sri Lankan government bombed the Tamils, he was against it and raised several questions. He supports the Tamil cause. Whenever he meets the PM of India he discusses the Tamil issue. I heard that Vaiko had asked the PM to meet the TNA so that the premier could obtain first hand information on the current situation. Otherwise it is the High Commission that is officially doing everything.
Q: It is learnt from some Indian reports that Karunanidhi is unlikely to meet the TNA MPs. Are you aware of this?
A: I do not know about that. But as far as I know the TNA parliamentarians are meeting various MPs in Chennai and they would be meeting Karunanidhi also soon.
Q: The TNA tour of India is shrouded with secrecy. The TNA went to India in fact to meet the prime minister. But now it appears that the PM has refused to meet them and the delegation is meeting other low level politicos. What is the truth behind this?
A: There is no secrecy as such in this trip. Definitely they will meet the prime minister or sometimes even his principal secretaries.
Q: Could it be that the PM refused to meet them due to his heavy schedule as reported in the media?
A: I want to put facts correct here. He never refused to meet the TNA. He was eager to meet them but time factor prevented him from doing this. He is also facing a lot of problems within and without India. I think he is now finding it very difficult to meet any foreign delegation.
Q: Why couldn’t the TNA obtain a firm invitation from Sri Lanka to meet the Indian premier, prior to flying to India with the anticipation of meeting the premier?
A: Well, the TNA’s trip to India is also on the invitation of several local politicians. We did not just go there to find ourselves lost in a foreign land. And we thought it was proper to meet the premier to outline the prevailing situation in our country. That is all. But having said this I must also say that we are definitely meeting the prime minister. In fact the principal secretary from the PM’s office has given us a very positive response and most probably we might meet the premier on the September 19.
Q: What are the issues that would be raised by the Lankan parliamentarians?
A: All issues pertaining to the current political situation in Sri Lanka. We will be informing India about the present government’s human rights violation and the series of abductions that take place on a daily basis. More than 80 businessmen have been abducted and millions of rupees have been demanded from them. In the North-East alone more than 1000 people have been abducted so far. We will also be raising the issue regarding the daily killings and especially the government’s block on the INGOs to visit the displaced people and their camps. In Sampur and other areas more than 43,000 Tamils are displaced. They are in Vagarai and Kadiraweli. They don’t have food, shelter or sanitary facilities. In Jaffna more than 140,000 are displaced and the government is refusing to open the road. Basically we will raise issues regarding the human tragedy and the abduction and also the need to stop the war and the need to start peace talks at the earliest.
Q: What type of contribution do you expect from India?
A: Definitely the Indian government can mount pressure on Sri Lanka to improve its human rights condition. We want India to tell Sri Lankan to stop the war and start negotiations. The LTTE has already expressed willingness to talk. Also more than 10,000 people have crossed the Palk Strait from here and we want India to play a bigger role in helping these people.
Q: Karunanidhi in fact has said India should and would not interfere in the affairs of Sri Lanka. Given this situation do you think India will make any contribution officially?
A: Karunanidhi and India have always supported the Tamil cause. It is just that they don’t want to officially make statements but India is really concerned about the suffering of the Tamils. Though Karunanidhi says this, when there was bombing in Mullaitivu the Tamil Nadu assembly condemned it through a motion that was introduced by the DMK, led by Karunanidhi himself.
Q: The Co-chairs and the government are at loggerheads after the announcement made by the Co-chairs regarding the venue of the peace talks. The government says the Co-chairs have not consulted them to fix the date and the venue. On the other hand even the LTTE says it would agree to peace talks only if the government halts military action. Do you think there is any chance for peace talks given this kind of situation?
A: It is difficult. Both parties must realise that under any circumstance there should be peace. This is the not the time to find fault with each other. On the other hand I think without any green signal from the LTTE and the government Erik Solheim would not have made such a statement in public from Brussles. Solheim has been working here for a long time and he knows how to handle this situation. But when Minister Keheliya Rambukkwella says that the government is totally out of this, the next day the peace secretariat chief says there is only confusion. So here again there is a communication gap within the government institutions. But the most important thing is to hold talks immediately and not blame each other.
Q: The President has invited the main opposition to help him solve the crisis. Do you think there could be any breakthrough?
A: I strongly believe nothing would come out of it. Both parties are talking about matters that are not palatable to the Tamils of this country. In my view both parties and even all the Southern parties must be talking about something that would meet the aspirations of the Tamils. The previous UNF government spoke to the LTTE with a document in hand. But this government has none. Then how can we proceed with talks. I don’t know.

Britain is expected to appoint a special ‘envoy’ shortly to engage in the Sri Lanka peace process as it seeks to play a bigger role in the search for a political solution, highly placed political sources said.Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to make this appointment before long following talks he had last month with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at his country residence “Chequers”, the sources said.Meanwhile the opposition Conservative Party under the new leadership of David Cameron is preparing a position paper on Sri Lanka, especially acts of violence and terrorism by the LTTE, another political source said.The Conservative Party which is now several points ahead in opinion polls is expected to take a tough stand on terrorism, the funding of organisations declared terrorist under British law and money laundering.

In the more-than-hour-long discussions between President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Blair, mistakenly interpreted by some news media as sudden and hurriedly-arranged, the stalled peace process and issues arising out of the long-drawn out negotiations had figured prominently.Prime Minister Blair, who has played a lead role in the “war against terror”, is said to have considered positively a suggestion by President Rajapaksa that Britain should play a role in finding a solution to the Sri Lankan conflict as it is equipped to do so.Given its historical links with Sri Lanka and having largely settled its own terrorist problem in Northern Ireland, it was felt that the vast majority of Sri Lankans would like to see Britain with its vast experience in the field, more involved in the peace process.While envisioning a role for itself, London did not wish current facilitator Norway to think that Britain was trying to “muscle in and knock Oslo off its perch”, the sources said.

To avoid any misunderstanding, the British foreign office is said to have informed beforehand Norway’s special envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer about the meeting between Mr. Blair and Mr. Rajapaksa and the possibility of Britain being more involved in the peace process.This happened when Mr. Hanssen-Bauer was transiting London on his way back from Colombo in August. During the discussions with the Sri Lanka President, Mr Blair had made the point that in the negotiations on Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, was never accorded equal status with the British Government, highly placed sources said.In Sri Lanka’s case Norway has taken up the position, which it did even a few days ago, that the Sri Lanka Government and the LTTE should have parity of status.

Mr. Blair is also believed to have taken serious note of reports of fund-raising for the LTTE by various front organisations. His attention had also been drawn to recent FBI arrests of US and Canadian citizens for alleged arms buying missions and attempted bribery of American officials in which a London-based Tamil doctor was also detained and his house subsequently searched.Political analysts here say that the hurried effort by Norway to schedule peace talks without prior consultation with the Sri Lanka Government was not only a pre-emptive move to force the Rajapaksa administration into talking with the Tigers but also compel the two parties into negotiations before Britain a key member of the European Union, became involved.

Political insiders say that unlike in the days of former British High Commissioners Linda Duffield and Stephen Evans whose pro-LTTE sympathies largely influenced British policy on Sri Lanka, the tide has now turned with the Blair government much more conscious of the dangers of terrorism and the presence of supporters of banned organisations living in the country.With this change in thinking in British political circles, Oslo is worried it would not be able to have its way over Sri Lanka policy even though it has the support of the EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferraro-Waldner whose opposition to the EU ban on the LTTE has seriously dented her reputation among European foreign policy analysts and terrorism experts, political sources here said.

Several political parties have called for a hartal in Colombo on Tuesday (19) to protest the increasing number of abductions. The Western People’s Front, New Left Front, Tamil National Alliance and a group of Marxist political parties along with the Opposition leader of Colombo Municipal Council Vasudeva Nanayakkara, yesterday at a joint press conference protested at the increasing number of abductions of mostly Tamils.“It may be Tamils today but it could be the Muslims and Sinhalese tomorrow. Due to fear of abductions several Tamil businessmen in Colombo have closed down their shops and gone abroad,” warned Member of Parliament (MP) for the Western Peoples Front, Mano Ganeshan. The Opposition Leader for the Colombo Municipal Council Vasudeva Nanayakkara said these days people in the City of Colombo are stricken with fear due to a spate of abduction in the recent past. People experienced a similar trend in the past, during the 1988-1989 insurgency in the South. People today experience a similar trend with abductions, disappearances and killing of several persons, according to reports published in the news papers.

He said although the political leadership of the country was not aware of such happenings, the involvement of security forces in such exercises cannot be dismissed according to allegations levelled against such establishments. Therefore all political parties should unite together to prevent such occurrences in future.The Leader of the New Left Front Dr. Wickremabahu Karunaratne said that the government should take the responsibility for the abductions of persons in Colombo under broad day light despite security check points in every nook and corner of the city. TNA Member of Parliament N. Raviraj said during the last two months hundreds of Tamil people including innocent civilians were abducted and killed. The President who is due to address the United Nations Assemble shortly has appointed a one man commission to investigate abductions to hoodwink the international community. He appealed to the President to take action against the security forces responsible for these abductions, More than 400 Tamil persons have been killed during the last 40 days, he said.

An employee of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was killed and two others were injured when armed men fired at the vehicle in which they were traveling, near Chunnakam, around 8 p.m., Saturday. They were traveling in a vehicle belongs to CEB, along Chunnakam - Mallakam road towards Allaveddy to do maintenance work, when they attacked.Linganathan, 54, was killed in the shooting, while Lawrence, 50, who was driving the vehicle and Kengatharan, 45, were injured, sources at the Thellipalai hospital said.Linganathan's body is kept at Thellipalai hospital.The attack occured while Sri Lanka Army (SLA) announced curfew was in force.An official at the Chunnakam power station said the CEB staffs had special curfew pass issued by SLA authorities.

A peace vigils organised by British Tamil Councillors and Associates (BTCA) will be held in 32 boroughs in London on the International Day of Peace on September 21 (Thursday) in support of Thmils’ struggle to live in “Peace with Dignity”.Peace vigils are scheduled, starting from the moment of silence on International Peace Day, till 8:00 p.m. Issuing a press release the organisation has called for a peaceful solution to establishment of Thamil peoples’ right to self determination and their legitimate demands. "Since the island of Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain, the Thamil people have been facing oppression at the hands of consecutive Sri Lankan governments for over half century", the press release said.It also said, "Disregarding a Norway facilitated peace process, the present Sri Lankan government has embarked on a campaign of terror killing hundreds of innocent Tamils.” The BTCA, chaired by Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, said that it would be the first time in England for a community to hold an even across 32 boroughs simultaneously.

The Sri Lankan government is preparing for a major battle with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) with the armed forces being replenished on an urgent basis, a senior official said. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he said the forces would go on the offensive to thwart LTTE aggression.This comes against the backdrop of Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference—Norway, the USA, EU and Japan calling parties to the Oslo-arranged Cease-Fire Agreement (CFA) to return to the negotiating table early October. Ministerial sources said troops would not give up territory they brought under their control consequent to operations conducted in Trincomalee and Jaffna districts in the Northeast of Sri Lanka. Ground forces would continue to strengthen their frontline positions with the airforce poised to engage enemy positions in the event of fresh attacks. Although recent battlefield success did not come cheap, the government is of the view that the forces are in a position to inflict further losses on the enemy.

The entry and exit point at Muhamalai remains closed with the government deploying navy vessels to facilitate civilian movements between KKS and Trincomalee. The road is unlikely to be re-opened in the near future as troops continue to strengthen their positions in and around Kilali-Muhamalai frontline amidst intermittent mortar and artillery fire.Political sources said the ruling coalition’s talks with the United National Party (UNP) were on reaching a political agreement on the legitimate rights of the Tamils. The government proposes what a senior official called President Rajapaksa’s maximum devolution concept but stops short of altering the Constitution. The government is of the view that the unitary character should remain whereas the UNP favours adjustments to facilitate an early resumption of talks on a final settlement. While the ongoing Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)-UNP talks may fail on this point, the same fate could befall the negotiations between the SLFP and leftist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) due to the government reluctance to abrogate the CFA, terminate the Norwegian role and de-merge the eastern province from the north, analysts believe.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in Thenmaradchy Forward Defense Line (FDL) areas have been accused of allegedly stealing millions of rupees worth of belongings left behind by the fleeing refugees from Thenmaradchy villages following clashes between the Government troops and the Liberation Tigers, civil society sources in Jaffna said. SLA troopers from Varani 52-4 Brigade Head Quarters located along Point Pedro- Kodikamam road have come under severe criticism from residents slowly returning back to their homes in villages surrounding the Varani camp for having ransacked their houses and stealing valuable property, residents said.Many villagers returning from Vadamaradchy where they sought refuge during the clashes close to their native villages of Idaikuruchchi, Karambaikuruchchi, Iyakkavil, Usan, Vidathal Pallai and Ketpali areas in Thenmaradchy, said most of their belongings have been stolen by the SLA troopers."Foot prints of SLA boots can been seen all over the compound of our houses, and we have also seen some of our belongings inside the Sri Lanka Army camps," distraught villagers told TamilNet.Villagers also said that the SLA officials have warned them against making complaints to any Government authorities or Human Rights officials.SLA officials refuted the allegations.

As government moves to reach a national consensus with main political parties contniue, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress said yesterday the party had not taken a decision on whether to extend support to the government though talks were continuing.SLMC parliamentarian Basheer Segu Dawood said the party would join the government only after assurances were given on the security of the Muslims living in the north and east.“The majority of the areas where Muslims live in the north and east are under government control and the government must be responsible for their security,” he said.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) on Friday agreed to continue the discussions on a common national policy which will help to resolve the present crisis.UNP, Deputy General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told the 'Sunday Observer' that the sub-committee already appointed which is represented by Prof. G. L. Pieris and Malik Samarawickrema from the UNP and Ministers Maithripala Sirisena and W. D. J. Seneviratne from the SLFP will play a major role to draft issues pertaining to the future discussions.The second and third rounds of talks will be held on September 19 and October 3. The inaugural meeting, held on Friday was led by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka, while UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya led the UNP delegation.Attanayake said that he was unable to make further comments on the future matters to be discussed by the UNP committee at the next talks, since it is handled by two of their party members. “However, the two committees will have to work hard to look into the common problems that have aggravated at present, he said.When contacted, Prof. Pieris said that they had taken a decision to refrain from making statements to the media on various matters to be discussed by the two committees until they are forwarded to the next round of talks.

Investigators exhume slain Sri Lankan aid workers as killing continues in north

Australian investigators probing the execution-style killing of 17 aid workers exhumed two bodies from a cemetery in eastern Sri Lanka on Saturday, officials said, as clashes between ethnic Tamil rebels and security forces killed a soldier and an insurgent in the troubled north. Police Saturday also said that seven civilians have been shot dead over the past two days in northern Jaffna, long a flashpoint for violence in the Sinhalese-dominated state's near-two decade war with separatists Tamil Tiger rebels. The 17 employees with international relief agency Action Against Hunger _ all but one of them ethnic Tamils _ were shot at close range in August amid a fierce battle between the government and rebels for the eastern town of Muttur.

International monitors of Sri Lanka's disintegrating cease-fire have implicated government troops in the massacre _ a claim strongly denied by authorities. The United Nations and aid agencies have pressed for an impartial investigation. The remains of the aid workers would be transported to the capital, Colombo, where they would be re-examined as part of an Australian-led, independent inquiry, said police spokesman Nihal Samarakoon in the eastern port town of Trincomalee. Other bodies may be exhumed once their families give their consent, Samarakoon said.

Trincomalee and the Jaffna peninsula have seen some of the fiercest fighting since the two sides signed a Norway-brokered cease-fire in 2002. Major hostilities have apparently eased in recent days, although the cease-fire has unraveled amid fighting that has killed more than 400 government forces since July. One army soldier was killed and two others wounded when the insurgents attacked a sentry post overnight with hand grenades and small arms overnight, the Defense Ministry's Media Center for National Security said in a statement Saturday. The military also distributed photos of an alleged dead Tamil Tiger rebel, said to have been killed in a counterattack by the army Saturday afternoon. Rebel officials weren't immediately available for comment on the claims.

In northern Jaffna, at least seven civilians were killed Thursday and Friday, police said Saturday. They did not want to be named because they feared they too could be targeted. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been fighting since 1983 for a separate homeland for the country's 3.2 million ethnic Tamil minority in the northeast, citing decades of discrimination by the Sinhalese majority. The conflict cost the lives of about 65,000 people before cease-fire. Meanwhile, a severe fuel shortage took hold in the battle-torn north, causing power cuts for most of the day, halting public transportation and forcing people to swap motorcycles for bicycles, residents said.

The five, suspected of being crew members of the large steel-hulled fishing vessel, were taken into custody while 160 men were escorted to a dockside warehouse to be fed and spend the night.Migrants in Los Cristianos portPolice arrested five men on suspicion of people-smuggling after 165 men were taken off a large boat that had been towed into port in the Canary Islands, officials said Saturday.The five, suspected of being crew members of the large steel-hulled fishing vessel, were taken into custody while 160 men, believed to be would-be immigrants from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India, were escorted to a dockside warehouse to be fed and spend the night.

The boat bearing the name “Al-mari” was brought into port after police boarded it while anchored and flying no flag two miles (three kilometers) south of Tenerife island on Thursday.Initially Spain refused permission for the migrants to get off the boat, which tied up at the port of Santa Cruz midday Friday, although 20 were taken off for medical treatment.Late Friday, those still aboard were allowed on land to be given food, an Interior Ministry spokeswoman said. Police, who had originally believed there were 216 men aboard, then corrected the count and moved to identify the suspected crew members. It was not known where the suspected crew were from.On Friday Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said the government suspected most of the migrants on board were nationals of Pakistan.Fernandez de la Vega said that Spain would look to negotiate fast-track repatriation of all on board.

In a separate incident, police escorted a small, open boat containing 57 migrants into Los Cristianos port in Tenerife early Saturday. One of those on board was dead on arrival and four had to be taken to a hospital suffering from hypothermia and severe dehydration, an emergency services spokeswoman said.More than 24,000 migrants, mostly from Africa, have been caught trying to reach the Canary Islands this year after sailing from west Africa in crowded open boats, braving dangerous journeys in the hope of a better life in Europe.

A total of 380 Sri Lankan tamil refugees have been brought from the Mandapam camp near Rameshwaram, and lodged in a community hall here, official sources said today.The refugees, brought by six buses,include those who had come three months to 10 days ago from Vavuniya, Mattakalappu, Trincomalee, Mannar and Tirukalur in Sri Lanka, the sources said. There are 140 men, 132 women, 54 boys and an equal number of girls, belonging to 100 families, they said, adding the refugees would be divided and sent in batches to various refugee camps in the district shortly. The families have been provided with identity and ration cards and would be given relief materials, including rice, kerosene, besides money, the sources said. Expecting immediate intervention by Union and Tamil Nadu Governments to find a permanent solution to the ethnic problem, the refugees told PTI that they had no plans to return to the Island, till peace is restored there.

UN ruling 'not binding' in Lanka

The Supreme Court (SC) in Sri Lanka says the country cannot implement rulings by the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland.A five-member bench headed by the Chief Justice (CJ) ruled that the judiciary is not bound to implement UNHRC recommendations against Sri Lanka’s constitution or the legal framework.Although Sri Lanka has signed the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Covenant has not been incorporated into the constitution, the SC ruled.

CJ Sarath Nanda Silva also observed that the leaders of the state should be more responsible in signing international treaties affecting the country’s sovereignty.The SC made these remarks after refusing an appeal by Nallaratnam Sinharasa to abolish a prison sentence imposed upon him by a Sri Lankan court.Sinharasa was sentenced to 10 years under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) by Colombo High Court.After considering an appeal in Geneva, the UNHRC however ordered the Sri Lanka state to annul the sentence and release Sinharasa.But the Supreme Court has rejected Singarasa’s appeal to implement UNHRC ruling.The SC cannot order the state to override the constitution by implementing UNHRC rulings, Sarath Silva said.

A new breakaway political party from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party titled 'Sri Lanka Freedom Party-Bandaranaike Group' is now being formed, well informed political sources said. Several rounds of talks have already been held within the SLFP regarding the formation of the new party and it is expected to gather momentum with the return o the island of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Three Chief Ministers, several ministers and 20 SLFP parliamentarians area said to be backing the breakaway group. President Mahinda Rajapaksa who got wind of the internal rumblings in the party had tried to meet Kumaratunga during his recent visit to England but she had refused to meet the President.

Ms.Kumaratunga's daughter Yasshodara's wedding is to be held in England shortly and after the ceremony she has decided to return home and enter active politics once again, sources close to the former President said.Although security concerns have been an obstacle for her return to Sri Lanka, it was her brother Anura Bandaranaike who revealed for the first time on the 10th of this month at a function at Alawala, Attanagalla that his sister would be returning to the island next month. "Only she was able to poll 62.8 % at a presidential election and the value of her service is felt most when she is not in the country" Anura said adding that he will never allow the services rendered by her to the people to be forgotten.

Speaking further on the Bandaranaikes and his sister Anura further said "Chandrika ruled the country for 5 years even though she lost sight in one of her eye. Was the service she rendered with one eye not enough? Her husband was killed in cold blood in front of her own eyes. My father was gunned down. My mother's civic rights were taken away. What else is left there for the Bandaranaikes to sacrifice for the SLFP? During the rest of our lives Chandrika and I will continue to serve for the SLFP".Political analysts say Anura Bandaranaike's remarks were well thought out and an indication of his future political plans.

Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao who was involved in a major controversy recently over her alleged interference in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs is to take up the important post as India’s Ambassador to China, diplomatic sources said yesterday.They said this was part of new Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon’s diplomatic restructuring process and that Alok Prasad now India’s High Commissioner in Singapore would be posted to Colombo. SLFP front-liner Anura Bandaranaike recently accused Ms. Rao of interfering in Sri Lanka’s affairs through her efforts to prevent the takeover of the Indian-owned Apollo Hospital. But both the Sri Lankan and the Indian governments strongly defended Ms. Rao’s conduct with President Rajapaksa reprimanding Mr. Bandaranaike for his comments.Despite Ms. Rao’s intervention the Apollo Hospital was bought over on Thursday by business tycoon Harry Jayawardena.

The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) arrested 70 Tamil civilians who were fleeing to Tamil Nadu in India to seek refuge there, military sources said. The arrested include 24 men, 19 women and 27 children and all of them belong to military occupied areas of Trincomalee district, sources said.They were fleeing their motherland by two small fishing boats due to continuous human rights violation by Sri Lankan armed forces. According to statistics, extrajudicial killings in Sri Lankan army controlled areas have claimed the lives of more than 500 Thamil civilians in 2006 alone. More over, there are a lot of incidents of sexual harassment and massacres of entire families have taken place in the military occupied Jaffna, Batticaloa and Mannar districts. More than 10,000 Thamils have fled to Tamil Nadu of India in 2006 alone risking their lives, according to Indian sources.

Defence sources have received information that Karuna faction of the LTTE intend to open an office at Vavuniya. Karuna loyalist has decided to open the office at Kurumankadu in Vavuniya - Mannar Road.Though three owners agreed originally to give their homes on rent initially, they have backed down after realizing that it is for Karuna.The opening of the Karuna faction office at Vavuniya has been delayed due to not finding a suitable place.

A cadre of Karuna group was shot dead by unknown armed men at about 7.15 a.m. on Friday at Chenkalady near Kommathurai SLA camp in Eravur police division in Batticaloa district.The victim, identified as Samithambi Thirumal, 27, succumbed to his injuries at the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital.

With the increased killing of Tamils connected to the government the security of these members of different organizations has been beefed up and some are provided with weapons.The security of the members of political parties such as EPDP, PLOTE and EPRLF who are very often attacked by the unknown armed men was increased.About 60 members of these organizations who deserted them due to threats have returned to their organizations and they are being strictly advised to use the weapons provided to them inside the camps. Up to now 168 weapons such as T56 and pistols are provided to the members of these organizations in addition to the security provided by the police and the army.

The newly appointed acting head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Larse Solveberg, visited the LTTE administrative headquarters at Kilinochchi. According to the LTTE, he and the head of the LTTE political wing discussed the opening of A9 highway closed for several weeks following escalation of hostilities resulting in hardship to thousands of citizens. A release quoted LTTE political head S.P. Tamilselvan as saying the SLMM head expressed serious concern about the closure of the highway. It said Mr. Tamilchelvan emphasised the seriousness of the situation due to the closure of many other routes too. He told the SLMM head that people were being killed in large numbers and that displaced persons were facing untold hardships. Disappearances were taking place at an alarming rate and that Colombo was implementing an economic blockade denying people them basic food and medicine.

The Army released a CD containing photographs of the aerial attacks carried out by the Air Force on identified Tamil Tigers targets in the north and east. It contains a list of 11 locations. "The limited operations to neutralise Tiger attacks on security forces forward defences will continue," the military said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed Mahanama Tillekeratne, retired High Court Judge, to inquire into the increasing instances of abductions, disappearances and killings in the country. An official statement said the appointment followed representations made to the President from concerned citizens, human rights organisations and media reports about the recent rise in such incidents. The public can make representations to this one-man commission.

The Army and the LTTE exchanged intermittent shell-fire overnight, but the tense northern frontline was relatively quiet as hope rose for a resumption of peace talks, the army said yesterday.Army spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said one soldier had been killed and four soldiers wounded when rebels fired artillery shells and mortar bombs in Jaffna. The army had returned fire.“Some small incidents are taking place and we are retaliating to them,” he said.The government and the LTTE rebels announced this week they were ready to resume peace talks after a gap of five months. But both sides called on the other to stop attacks, and left themselves room to pull out of talks if fighting continues.

Peace facilitator Norway has called for talks in Oslo early next month, but the government said on Wednesday it had not yet been consulted about the date or venue.The government and rebels accuse each other of trying to restart a two-decade civil war.The LTTE pulled out of peace talks in April and a new bout of fighting erupted in late July, killing hundreds of troops, rebels and civilians in the worst violence since a 2002 ceasefire.Both sides have launched offensives since then, although the tide appeared to be turning in the army's favour.It has captured rebel territory near the strategic port of Trincomalee and says it has overrun Tiger frontline positions in the Jaffna peninsula.

The military is keen to press home recent military advances before the onset of monsoon rains next month and is reluctant to silence its guns immediately, analysts said.But the government is under pressure from donors such as the United States, the European Union, Japan and Norway to come to the negotiating table.On Wednesday, two soldiers were killed and one wounded when rebels ambushed a foot patrol in Jaffna, Samarasinghe said. Another soldier was killed and two hurt by shelling near Trincomalee in the northeast of the island, also on Wednesday.

Aid workers said thousands of the more than 200,000 people displaced since late July were gradually returning home to towns and villages in Trincomalee district.“An important part of the return process is making sure that people who go back home can access durable shelter, nutritious food, clean water, sanitation, and health care,” Guy Hovey, head of the United Methodist Committee on Relief's Sri Lanka mission, said in a statement.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in its first detailed reaction to the Sri Lanka Co-Chairs' statement two days ago that the rival sides in the island nation had agreed to hold unconditional talks in Oslo in October, said the Norwegian facilitators and the international community must ensure that the Government adheres to the territorial demarcations and the terms and conditions of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), to create a conducive atmosphere for talks. Speaking to TamilNet web site, the head of the LTTE's political wing, S. P. Thamilchelvan, welcomed the Co-Chairs' insistence that the Government "must ensure that its military abides by the Ceasefire Agreement and implements the pledges from the Geneva meeting in February 2006."

"It is the Sri Lankan Government, which by launching major aggression against our controlled areas, has carried out breaches of the CFA of the utmost seriousness. "It is, therefore, the primary responsibility of the [Mahinda] Rajapaksa regime to create a conducive environment by respecting the lines of territorial demarcation underpinning the CFA so that the peace process can move forward," Mr. Thamilchelvan told the web site. He said the LTTE's position had been unambiguously set out when the Tigers met a Norwegian delegation led by Ambassador Hans Brattskar on September 6 in Kilinochchi. There was no change in the LTTE policy since then. About the charge by the Government that the LTTE is not allowing supplies for the population of the Jaffna peninsula, Mr. Thamilchelvan said his organisation has told the International Committee of the Red Cross that it would cooperate fully in the transportation of humanitarian supplies through demarcated land routes. However, the Government, which was engaged in military aggression against the LTTE, was determined not to reopen the supply routes, he said.

He alleged the armed forces occupying the LTTE-controlled areas had carried out abductions, extra-judicial killings and committed other abuses. These matters would be taken up when the new leadership of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission met the LTTE on Friday, he said. On the political front in the country, the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the main Opposition party, United National Party (UNP) are to commence their joint meeting on Friday to take stock of the situation in the country and consider ways to cooperate in the larger interest of the people.

Both parties have nominated a group of five representatives for the purpose. The attempt to narrow differences between the two sides and look at possibilities of greater cooperation is a follow-up to the meeting between Mr. Rajapaksa and the UNP supremo and Leader of the Opposition, Ranil Wickremesinghe, earlier this week. Meanwhile, at least seven persons, including two soldiers, were reported killed in sporadic acts of violence in Sri Lanka. According to the military, LTTE cadres fired at an STF camp in Vavuniya and soldiers retaliated with small arms. Two LTTE members were killed. In another incident, suspected LTTE cadres shot dead three civilians in the district. The Government said the STF arrested an LTTE cadre with a cyanide capsule attempting to cross the checkpoint at Nugelanda in Ampara. In another incident at Vavuniya, Tigers lobbed a hand grenade at the army/police sentry point from the Vavuniya-Colombo bound inter-city train.

Politician jailed for 10 months.

Sri lankan freedom party politician, Muthukumar Krishnaswami (47) was jailed yesterday after being caught with a false passport at the Luton Airport. He was cought on the 7th of August this year after arriving on a flight from France. He said he was under threat from the Tamil tiger independent fighters, as he was a candidate for the ruling freedom party.Luton crown court was told he paid £10,000 for the documents which had allowed him to travel from Colombo, then to Singapore, Paris and in to Luton. Krishnasamy pleaded guilty to possessing identity documents with intent. He appeared in the dock in a distressed state with his hands clasped in a prayer position. The court proceedings were translated for him by an interpreter.

Defence barrister Michael Gleeson told the court Krishnasamy was "a man of some standing in Sri Lanka." He ran his own business and stood for the ruling Sri Lankan Freedom Party in his home town of Jafna Mr Gleeson said Krishmasamy's anti-separatist position put him under threat from the Tamil Tigers. His family moved to Colombo, but at the start of the year he received more threats and fled. He is now applying for asylum in the UK.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday said that whoever termed themselves as the international community, should be aware of the fact that the Sri Lankan people have questioned the role of the Co-Chairs at the last Presidential Election and were of the opinion that more countries, specially Asian, should be included into the role of the Co-Chairs.JHU Leader Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera said that at present, the Co-Chairs, especially Norway, should understand that nobody could go beyond the supremacy of the Sri Lankan people, the Constitution, the Judiciary or the Executive powers.

Criticising the statement issued by the Co-Chairs on Tuesday, the Ven.Thera said that they have no right to command the Lankan government, as it was elected by free and fair elections, by the people of this country.“It was a big mistake that former President Kumaratunga did by inviting Norway to be involved in the matter and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe by giving them the peace facilitator role, without having a people’s mandate. Yet, if foreign countries could change the policies and decisions of an elected government, there won’t be a need for an electoral system,” he added.

He also noted that the government received a mandate at the last Presidential Election, to usher in peace within a unitary state.“We insist that the Tigers should lay down their arms and opt for a democratic path, before having any discussions. So far, what happened was that the Sinhala leadership went for political solutions, fearing the fascist weapon power. Now, they must realise that the Sinhalese cannnot be suppressed by using weapons.” He said that if the Tigers do not come to talks, it would undoubtedly lead to all democratic Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils taking up arms.

Five people gunned down in Vavuniya

Five people were gunned down and one person injured in a spate of gun attacks in Vavuniya on Thursday, police said. Among the dead is an EPDP member who was shot by unidentified gunmen. Police say another EPDP member suffered injuries as a result of an attack. Meanwhile, police investigations into three dead bodies discovered in Vavuniya on Thursday morning have revealed that the deceased were Sinhala men.Police say these men had come to the area to do carpentry work at a local medical centre and have been gunned down with their hands tied at the back. Police say all killings were carried out by Tamil Tiger rebels. But the Vavuniya district court judge who conducted the initial investigations said the gunmen could not be arrested due to the failures on the part of the police and security forces.

The passenger who committed suicide while in the custody of Immigration authorities at the Bandaranaike International Airport had reportedly been detained for nearly two months for not possessing identification papers to enter the country.A statement issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration claimed the victim, Balasubramaniam Jayakumar had reportedly committed suicide on September 10, while in detention at BIA, Katunayake. The man was deported to Colombo from Madras on July 22 and Immigration and Emigration authorities have refused him entry into the country since he had not possessed a valid travel document. Immigration and Emigration Controller P.B. Abeykoon said although the passenger claimed he was a Sri Lankan, he did not have any documentary evidence to prove it.

According to the airline which brought Jayakumar from Madras, he had been previously deported from London to Madras since he was found in possession of a forged United Kingdom refugee travel document. As the birthplace of the passenger stated in the travel document was Sri Lanka the Madras immigration authorities had deported him to Colombo. The department said it had informed all airlines operating to Colombo not to carry any passengers without proper travel documents and if they did so, they would be held responsible for the passengers’ safety and care until admitted into the country. Hence, the airline had made arrangements with Airport and Aviation Ltd. to detain the passenger at the BIA until such time he produced documents to prove his nationality and identity.

JVP CALLS NORWAY AN ENEMY NATION OF SRI LANKA AND DEMANDS THAT LTTE SHOULD LAY DOWN ITS ARMS BEFORE PEACE TALKS

The coalition partner of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government infuriated by the statement of the Sri lanka’s donor co-chairs vehemently attacked Norway and called the peace facilitator as an enemy nation of Sri Lanka. JVP’s parliamentary group leader attacking Eric Solheim’s statement that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam had agreed to go to the peace talks without any pre-conditions said it was untrue and Thamilselvan has been demanding that the government should cease its military operations as a pre-condition and it was only Solheim who was saying they were ready to go to talks without pre-conditions.

He said Norway always wanted to give a constitutionally elected government and an illegal terrorist group equal status in their so called peace process. Weerawansa said the report of the donor co-chairs had untruths in their reports based on Norwegian lies and the Sri Lanka Air Force never bombed a school in Mulaithivu. What they bombed was a LTTE military training center and the co-chair lost its credibility by telling those lies, Weerawansa said.

Weerawansa attacked Colombo’s Norwegian embassy “that has been always associated with the LTTE” and said Thamilselvan who has been mysteriously silent in the military defeat only opened his mouth to brag after Norwegian ambassador Brascarr’s visit to Kilinochchi. Weerawansa demanded that at least the LTTE should lay down its arms as a pre-condition to the peace talks. The JVP parliamentary group leader said that the LTTE should renounce violence as a pre-condition to the peace talks

The UNP yesterday appointed its seven- member team headed by Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya for the first round of talks with the SLFP at the Parliamentary Complex today. The members are frontliners and former ministers Ravi Karunanayake, Milinda Moragoda, G.L. Peiris, Rukman Senanayake, John Amaratunga and former UNP chairman Malik Samarawickrama.Party General Secretary N.V.K.K. Weragoda yesterday wrote to SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena naming the UNP delegation for talks aimed at reaching an SLFP-UNP consensus on the ethnic conflict and other important national issues.Meanwhile, the SLFP has also increased its team to seven by appointing Ministers Susil Premajayantha and John Seneviratne yesterday. This was in response to a request made by the UNP to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

However, two SLFP Ministers representing the Government team, are now in Havana along with the President to attend the Non-Aligned Summit. They are Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.The other members of the SLFP team are Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Ministers Nimal Siripala De Silva, Maithripala Sirisena.UNP frontliner G.L. Peiris told journalists yesterday that they would start today’s dialogue in a spirit of optimism with an open mind to reach consensus on seven key prioritized areas- the peace process, economic development, issues of governance, health, education, infrastructure development and vocational training.Prof. Peiris said this was a historic occasion to formulate a ‘Common National Agenda’ on these areas, deviating from the confrontational politics that existed in the country for decades.

He said there should be clear modalities for the purpose as mere words of good faith and intention did not serve the intended target. “We will get into the substantive business today as there cannot be further delay in this exercise,” he said.Commenting on some elements arguing that such a programme would dilute the UNP policies and identity, Prof. Peiris said that there would not be any abandonment of party policies in the process.“It is a common programme to work together,” he said.Citing examples from India, he said that Sonia Gandhi reached such consensual politics after winning the election in 2004.

He said that successive governments had proven inability to solve problems based on their policies in a unanimous approach in the past.He also said that a critical role from the Opposition is necessary to the functioning of parliamentary democracy, and therefore that role is no way being abandoned through this exercise. Meanwhile, Kandy district UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said that they should support Government while being in the Opposition only.“In this issue, we should not accept ministerial portfolios,” he said.He said that they would not play the role played by the SLFP as the Opposition during previous UNP regimes when it came to the sorting out the North East issue. “They demonized our effort to solve the problem for political gains. We do not come to such low levels as a responsible opposition,” he said.

Currency	Buying (Rs.)		Selling (Rs.)
US Dollar	101.88		102.90
Sterling Pound	190.90		193.56
Euro	128.98		130.99
Swiss Franc	80.04		82.88
Australian Dollar	76.22		77.82
Singapore Dollar	64.45		65.55
Japanese Yen	0.8638		0.8798
Country		Currency		Indicative Rate(RS.)

Bahrain	Dinar	271.74
Kuwait	Dinar	354.22
Oman	Rial	266.10
Qatar	Riyal	28.14
Saudi Arabian	Riyal	27.32
UAE	Dirham	27.89

British High Commissioner Dominick Chilcott yesterday said it appeared that the armed forces had got the better of the fighting on land and sea, in the last few weeks, but it would be a serious miscalculation to believe that the country’s problem could be solved militarily. Chilcott was addressing a Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies at the Landmine Ban Advocacy Forum in Colombo. "The Sri Lankan armed forces appear to have had the better of the fighting in the last few weeks – on land and sea. But most outside observers, including the United Kingdom, continue to think that it would be a serious miscalculation to believe that this means Sri Lanka’s national problem can be solved military action.

"We British know from our experience of Northern Ireland that you can have tens of thousands of troops patrolling every inch of the country, opposed by perhaps only a few hundred active militants and still the conflict will continue."He said the 2006 Landmine Monitor Report was an authoritative document which had been carefully researched. "Its authors know their subject intimately. It inspires confidence. This is definitely not a work of propaganda; it is not the product of a spin-doctor. We can trust it." The High Commissioner said after 2002, Sri Lanka seemed to be very much in that of the post-conflict countries category. "Sadly, since the resurgence of hostilities, Sri Lanka now feels more like a country in the midst of conflict than a country recovering from one. I hope this feeling proves to be short-lived".

"All of us who have this country’s best interests at heart fervently wish that this latest outbreak of fighting will quickly burn out. We want to see an early cessation of hostilities, a renewed and sincere commitment by both sides to honour the spirit and letter of the ceasefire agreement and, without a long delay, the resumption of talks on an overall settlement."He said the latest news from the Co-Chairs in Brussels and from the government spokesman was a bit puzzling; however the bottom line must be that both sides should, without delay, and without imposing conditions, seize the opportunity for talks in the interests of peace.

He said he believes that what will eventually stop the fighting here, as in other conflicts around the globe, is when the people themselves have had enough of war and make it that clear and when all the parties to the conflict believe they have the opportunity, through a credible political process, to achieve at least some of their aspirations. "To their credit, the government is putting together the elements of such a political process. One of the key pieces in that will be the framework for a new constitutional dispensation in Sri Lanka. There is a huge responsibility on those working on this question, under the auspices of the All Party Conference, to get this aspect right", he added.

He stressed that another key aspect was convincing all communities - but especially the Tamils and Muslims - that the government and institutions of the state are acting in the interests of all communities in Sri Lanka. The High Commissioner also said that strategic success, by which most people mean a lasting and fair peace within a new constitutional dispensation in Sri Lanka, cannot be achieved without there being a sense that the welfare and development of all the communities in this country – Sinhalese, Muslim and Tamil – are being pursued equally and without discrimination by the government and its agencies. "I am happy to make clear that the UK government strongly supports yesterday’s statement by the Co-Chair’s on this and other points."

He also said landmines were a scourge for the people who live near where they have been laid. Because almost all the landmines have been laid in the north and the east of the country, it is the people who live there who stand to benefit the most from the removal of landmines."The Sri Lankan army deserves credit for its contribution to date in removing landmines, as do the other de-mining organisations working here. "But the administration could do more. It would be a hugely significant gesture to those communities in the North and East to hear that the government had definitively decided to give up using landmines and that is was going to make this commitment legally binding on itself through becoming a party to the Ottawa Treaty.

The beauty of such a move – Sri Lanka acceding to the Mine Ban treaty – is that it is a win-win situation for all concerned, including all those who have the genuine interests of the people of the North and East at heart," he said." He said that in the international sphere, the advantages to Sri Lanka’s standing as a progressive country from joining the Ottawa treaty are so obvious that the government has stated on several occasions that it would like to do so - but only after reaching an agreement with the LTTE on the non-use of these weapons. For their part, the LTTE have said that significant progress towards peace is necessary before they would consider a ban. "If the government were willing to show strong leadership in this area by signing the treaty, it would rightly receive the praise of all progressive-thinking nations who have already signed," he concluded.

JVP dictates conditions for talks

Sinhala Nationalist JVP imposed conditions on the government to resume talks with Tamil Tigers.The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) strongly criticised the statement issued by Sri Lanka’s donor Co-Chairs after a meeting held in Brussels on Tuesday. Speaking to the media, JVP propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa pointed out that LTTE political wing leader SP Thamilselvan did not say that LTTE is ready for unconditional talks.“Demand made by Thamilselvam that government must stop its attacks before the talks itself is a pre-condition” Weerawansa claimed.“Government should go to talks with LTTE, only after the LTTE lay down the arms” said Weerawansa The JVP was very critical of the role played by the Norwegian facilitators.“Its Solheim who says that LTTE is ready for talks without any conditions” JVP argues. JVP believes that LTTE is weakening at this moment therefore government should react with caution to international pressure.We request the government that talks should resume only on the grounds that LTTE is going to renounce the violence, the JVP propaganda secretary said.

Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram expressed his optimism on the resumption of peace talks and the re-settlement of Tamil refugees fleeing to Tamil Nadu. Chidambaram who met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday had a cordial round of talks, in which many bi-lateral issues were discussed, including the 60th Commonwealth Countries Finance Ministers' meeting. Chidambaram had also expressed deep concern on the exodus of Tamil refugees to Tamil Nadu, to President Rajapaksa. He had told the President that he would re-settle most of them immediately. After the meeting, he told the Daily News, "As I learnt from the press, perhaps there is a likelihood of peace talks resuming soon, and I urge them to do so. Things will then change favourably".

The Norwegian state-run radio NRKon Wednesday in its "World Today," programme said experts on the Sri Lankan issue were of the opinion that the proscription of the LTTE by EU was a "big mistake." They also observed the ban contributed to the worsening of the already fragile situation in the island country, the radio said.It also said all the actors involved in the Sri Lanka process, including EU's External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, seemed to have realised that the EU ban was a mistake. Meanwhile, giving interview to NRK, Norwegian International Development Minister, Erik Solheim, on Wednesday said that Norway had International Community's resolute backing and the mandate of the parties to the conflict for resuming the talks.

"We have resolute support of the International Community for the process forward," Mr. Erik Solheim told the radio. "Lately, India has done what it could in it's capacity, to support the Norwegian role as facilitator," the Norwegian Minister said. He gave this interview after attending a cruicial meeting of the Co-Chairs in Brussels on Tuesday. Mr. Solheim, however, did not make any comment on the EU ban and said there was no official Norwegian stand on the EU proscription of the Tigers. "It is a known issue that the monitoring mission in Sri Lanka has expressed doubt whether it was [the EU's terror listing] was a suitable way forward," he said.

Erik Solheim further said that the Norwegian facilitators had "made it clear, all the time, of the importance of as many as possible from the International Community, talking to Tigers. They [the Tigers] need input. They also need channels to let their views be heard.” When his attention was drawn to issue that the Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer, had recently received "rock hard" criticism from Colombo for his recent statements of the facilitator's need to treat both the parties to the Ceasefire Agreement equally, Mr. Solheim said there are many "uncomfortable" and "negative" articles are appearing in the Sri Lankan press.

A Sri Lankan Tamil politician who is a trenchant critic of Tamil Tigers has won an international peace prize that carries a cash reward of $100,000.UNESCO director general Koïchiro Matsuura has designated V. Anandasangaree, president of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), as the winner of the 2006 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence.According to a UNESCO statement, Anandasangaree was picked by an international jury made up of Andrés Pastrana Arango, former president of Colombia, Bahia Hariri of the Lebanese Parliament, Inder Kumar Gujral, former prime minister of India, and Sergei Markarov and Manu Dibango, both UNESCO Artists for Peace.The prize will be presented to Anandasangaree in Paris on Nov 16.

Born in Sri Lanka in 1933, Anandasangaree worked as a teacher and lawyer before taking to politics. He became the TULF president in 2002 and is a bitter critic of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)."As an indefatigable advocate of democracy and peaceful conflict resolution, he has contributed to raising awareness of the Tamil cause in a spirit of dialogue, while seeking to promote non-violent solutions to Sri Lanka and opposing terrorism," the UNESCO statement said.The $100,000 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize was created in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, thanks to the generosity of the Indian writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh, who is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.Dedicated to advancing the spirit of tolerance in the arts, education, culture, science and communication, the prize is awarded every two years to an individual or institution for exceptional contributions in the promotion of tolerance and non-violence.In 2004, the prize went to Bangladeshi writer and journalist Taslima Nasreen.

UNP frontliner Milinda Moragoda has reacted angrily to an attempt to target him over his recent meeting with President Mahinda Rajapakse. The former Minister emphasised that the meeting took place with the knowledge of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.A furious Moragoda is likely to issue a statement clarifying his position with regard to his role in deliberations with Rajapakse. According to a well informed source, Moragoda briefed Wickremesinghe on the outcome. An influential section of the UNP issued a statement on Monday distancing the party from Moragoda’s one-to-one confab with Rajapakse. It claimed that Moragoda did not represent the party. The statement, attributed to the party, emphasised that the Colombo district MP was not authorised to formulate an agenda for a hastily arranged meeting between Wickremesinghe and Rajapakse.

Authoritative coalition sources said that the government would continue to consult Moragoda who played a pivotal role in the Oslo-led peace process during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure’s as the Prime Minister. "We value his experience," an official said. Rajapakse invited Moragoda to share his experience with government delegates to Geneva 1 early this year. It is widely believed that Moragoda’s advice is taken seriously.After meeting Rajapakse, Moragoda flew to India fuelling speculation that he was involved in an effort to bring the two major parties together with the blessings of the Indians. Although Indian officials have flatly denied any such role, speculation persists.The Island learns that the top UNP leadership is against Moragoda challenging the party statement which distanced the party from the Moragoda-Rajapakse pow-vow.

The owner of the 'Sri Maithili Jewellers' sea street, Mr. Egamparam (64) his son Saravanan (27) and one of their employees Ganeshan Muhundan (22) were abducted by unknown persons when they were on their way home at Bambalapitiya last night after closing their shop. They have lodged a complaint with the Pettah police.Mr. Mano Ganashen the parliamentarian of the Western peoples front speaking to 'Lanka E News' said that during the last two months more than 50 leading Tamils businessmen have been abducted and some of them were done away with.He said that they have kept the government and international community informed about this issue and raised this issue inside the Parliament too.

A woman who was abducted by unidentified men from her house in Aanaikottai on Sunday was released on Tuesday.Her parents informed the Human Rights Commission office in Jaffna of her release and withdrew the complaints filed in this connection.The parents told HRC that she was released from a Sri Lanka Army camp in Anaikottai area. However, they declined to elaborate on her abduction to media.

Sri Lanka is entering a ``period of terror'' with an increasing number of people reported missing, many of them after being taken away by men believed to be government military personnel, a human rights group said on Wednesday. With the cease-fire between the Sri Lankan government and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels nearly collapsed, ``the country is entering into a further period of terror in the name of counterinsurgency,'' the Asian Human Rights Commission said in a statement. Earlier, Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission had said more than 400 ethnic Tamil youth were reported missing since December and 50 of those happened in August. The AHRC said many such disappearances were caused by masked men traveling in ``white vans without a number plate,'' which it said means government military. ``In Sri Lanka causing of forced disappearances has been treated by the state as a legitimate means by which to deal with 'terrorism.' The failure to investigate and to take appropriate legal action is also evidence of the state's involvement in such matters,'' the commission said.

The United Kingdom today announced that will make a new $1 million contribution to the United Nations and Red Cross to help Sri Lankans displaced by recent violence in their country. Gareth Thomas, Minister at the Department for International Development, said, “UK funds will help to meet the immediate needs of almost 250,000 people who have fled their homes because of security concerns. It is imperative that the hostilities should stop soon so that those displaced can return to their homes without fear of violence or intimidation. “In the meantime it is vital that the government and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) allow safe humanitarian access to all parts of the country, so that much needed assistance can reach the displaced wherever they are. And it is crucial that basic human rights are upheld by all. “The government and LTTE recognise the need to uphold the civil rights of those arrested during the conflict, inform families about missing relatives and prevent the recruitment of child soldiers,” it added.

Currency	Buying (Rs.)		Selling (Rs.)
US Dollar	101.97		102.94
Sterling Pound	190.45		193.27
Euro	128.82		131.07
Swiss Franc	80.74		82.72
Australian Dollar	75.85		77.71
Singapore Dollar	64.34		65.55
Japanese Yen	0.8604		0.8779
Country		Currency		Indicative Rate(RS.)

Bahrain	Dinar	271.67
Kuwait	Dinar	354.18
Oman	Rial	266.02
Qatar	Riyal	28.13
Saudi Arabian	Riyal	27.31
UAE	Dirham	27.88

The government and the LTTE have informed Norway of their desire to resume stalled peace talks unconditionally and fresh talks are likely to be held in the first week of October, Norwegian Development Minister and former peace envoy Eric Solheim said in Brussels today addressing a media briefing held after the Co-chairs meeting.Meanwhile special Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi said it was a positive development and appealed to both parties to cease violence.Meanwhile in an e-mail interview with Reuters, LTTE political wing head S.P.Tamil Selvam said that they are ready to resume talks and called on the government to halt its military offensives and enforce the cease-fire agreement. He also made a veiled threat claiming that the war could spread to the South if violence continues unabated in the Tamil homeland.Addressing the Commonwealth Finance Minister's Meeting kicked off in Colombo today, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he once again appealed to the LTTE to return to negotiations to bring and development to all communities in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka government this evening denied it had agreed to unconditional peace talks with the LTTE and blasted the Norwegian peace facilitators for announcing a possible time frame for the talks. Government defence spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella said, "We will put forward our conditions. I cannot tell those offhand; they need to be discussed." He also said that no one has the right to make announcements on behalf of the government of Sri Lanka. “There more matters to discuss before such arrangement,” he said. Earlier, Norwegian peace broker Erik Solheim announced that the Sri Lankan government and the Tiger rebels had agreed to “unconditional peace talks” in the first week of October. “The decision by the government and the LTTE was discussed at a meeting of the main foreign aid donors in Brussels Tuesday,” Solheim reportedly said when contacted by telephone. “The government of Sri Lanka said it was ready for talks without any pre-conditions, and the LTTE has said the same,” Mr. Solheim said.

A local aid worker attached to World Concern was killed in Trincomalee on Monday afternoon, bringing the total number of aid workers killed in in the last few weeks to 20.The victim, Ragunathan "Ragu" Ramalingam (31) was returning to the office on a motorcycle after lunch at home with his family, when he was shot and killed around 1.30 p.m. on Monday at the eighth mile post on Nilaveli Road. He leaves behind a wife and young children including a newborn son, just five days old.Issuing a statement, World Concern said that there was no known motive behind the killing and that there were no suspects as the time. However, the case is under investigation.The murder comes at a time the country has come under pressure from the international community and the UN to conduct a thorough investigation into the murders of aid workers. Several aid agencies have pulled out foreign staff from Jaffna and Trincomalee from August due to security reasons.

At least six people were wounded when a powerful bomb exploded in a busy market in Sri Lanka's northeastern port town of Trincomalee om Tuesday, police said. The parcel bomb exploded just before noon as a police vehicle drove by, police said, adding four constables and two civilians were wounded and now in hospital. Shops closed and the streets quickly emptied as panic-stricken shoppers fled, residents said. The attack came despite tight security in the restive town, which is the capital of the district of the same name where there was heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil Tigers last month. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had been firing artillery at the port town where the navy and the airforce maintain key bases. Trincomalee, 160 miles (260 kilometres) northeast of Colombo, is the starting point for sea travel to the island's embattled northern peninsula of Jaffna where troops and Tigers are locked in long-range attacks. Sri Lanka has suffered an upsurge in bloodshed since December that has left more than 1,500 people dead by official count and a 2002 ceasefire in shreds. The island's three-decade-old separatist ethnic conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will leave for Cuba today to participate in the 14th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in the capital city of Havana tomorrow.The President is scheduled to address the summit on Friday. It is believed that economic development, multilateral relations and the eradication of terrorism to be discussed at this summit would be of pivotal importance to Sri Lanka at this crucial juncture.The term “non alignment” itself was coined by former Indian Prime Minister Javaharlal Nehru in the course of a speech in 1954, in Colombo. Thereafter the origin of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) could be traced to a conference hosted in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955. It was at the Bandung Seminar the world’s non-aligned nations declared their desire, not be involved in the East-West ideological confrontations of the Cold War.The founding fathers of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) were 5 great leaders - Martial Tito Yugoslavia. Sukarno of Indonesia, Nasser of Egypt, Nkrumah of Ghana and Nehru of India.The Non Aligned Summit was first held in Belgrade in 1961 with the participation of delegates from 25 countries. 11 countries represented Asia and Africa along with Yugoslavia, Cuba and Cyprus.The 5th Session of the Non Aligned Movement was held in Colombo in August 1976.

Face to face talks though promised with Prabhakaran but were held with Ranil- Johnston

Under the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration, in addition to war, hunger has also been crowned, UNP parliamentarian Johnston Fernando said addressing a media briefing at the Opposition Leader's office this morning. He added that the responsibility of achieving a fruitful result for the country by responding positively to the UNP's support lies with the President and the government.The UNP has a history of not seeking petty political advantages from the national problem, Fernando said and recalled how the JVP and certain sections of the SLFP set the country on fire when the Indo-Lanka accord was signed. The JVP which acted in such a manner has today entered Provincial Councils and are enjoying all is benefits, he noted. Mahinda Rajapaksa promised to hold face to face talks with Prabhakaran to usher in the peace but ultimately he had to hold face to face talks with Ranil Wickrmesinghe, the UNP parliamentarian quipped.

The Sri Lanka government on Sunday signed an agreement with the Chinese government to obtain a loan of $455 million for the construction of the Norochcholai coal power plant. The Secretary to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Finance Dr. P.B. Jayasundara and the Assistant General Manager of the Import and Export Bank of China signed on behalf of the governments of Sri Lanka and China, respectively. $300 million of the loan will be provided as a soft loan with 3.5% interest and 15-20 years to pay back. The Norochcholai coal power plant will be comprised of three 300 MW generators and will be completed by 2010 in three stages.

The army on Monday took over the house believed to have belonged to LTTE eastern commander Sornam in Sampur.Military Spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told The Morning Leader the house was discovered during clearing operations in Sampur."We did not know that it was the LTTE commander’s house initially, but later found out as we investigated and searched the house," he said.

The government yesterday hit out at the International Committee of the Red Cross, for refusing to transport a group of civilians from Jaffna – but the ICRC said it would continue to stick to its policy of calling for the agreement of both parties in a conflict to carry out such operations.The LTTE meanwhile wrote to the ICRC yesterday assuring safe passage for humanitarian operations by land via the A9 route but stressed it could not give such guarantees for transportation via sea routes.The tension in the North has forced thousands of civilians to flee the Jaffna peninsula with the Navy earlier this week assisting in the evacuation after the ICRC refused to undertake the operation owing to security concerns.

Government defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella expressed displeasure at the ICRC refusal saying it was important for the agency to offer its assistance at a time confrontations were escalating between government troops and rebel cadres.“We are surprised and disappointed that INGOs have decided to stop offering assistance. This is the time we need their assistance. Why they withdrew is questionable. The government will do its bit to do the job of INGOs like the ICRC to help the civilians. The Navy is hoping to help evacuate more civilians from Jaffna,” Minister Rambukwella said.ICRC communications coordinator Davide Vignatti told the Daily Mirror the agency was standing by its policy which needs the agreement of both parties to carry out humanitarian operations in conflict affected areas.

“We are ready to help evacuate civilians from Jaffna at any time, however, we can only do that with the full agreement of both parties. As a neutral organisation we require the agreement of both parties and not just one,” Mr. Davide said in response to government criticism.The ICRC last month helped evacuate 160 foreign nationals from Jaffna after both the government and the LTTE assured the security of the ICRC chartered vessel but has refused to carry out similar evacuations due to security concerns.Military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said the ICRC had also refused to take custody of two LTTE female cadres who were arrested by the military in Nelliady. One cadre committed suicide by swallowing cyanide after the two were subsequently handed over to the police.

In a letter to the ICRC yesterday the LTTE said it was fully committed to the articles of the Geneva Convention and the customary international laws that are applicable to non-international conflicts.“We wish to repeat here what we have already said in our earlier letter to you. The LTTE will give its pledge to stop all retaliatory fire during the land passage of, humanitarian supply convoys, ambulances, and employees of non-governmental organizations. We also assure protection and passage through standard procedures, for vehicles and travellers of these categories, through the A9 road in the areas under our administration,” the LTTE said.However it refused to guarantee safety for transport by sea as the ceasefire agreement did not have specific articles about demarcation lines in sea and as such it was not possible for the LTTE to provide protection to ICRC sponsored ships using these waters.

In a prompt response to the request received from the government of Sri Lanka, the government of India has despatched its naval Dornier aircraft and two coast guard ships to the Southern coast of Sri Lanka to contain the oil spill that has occured from a merchant ship off the coast of Koggala, the India High Commision said yesterday.The aircraft and the ships have been working to contain the spill over the last two days since September 11. Both the Indian coast guard ships “Veera” and “Vikram” have on board special helicopters and would be carrying out pollution control activities. A total of 260 officers and men of the Indian coast guard are involved in the operation The government of Sri Lanka has conveyed its sincere appreciation to the government of India for the quick and generous assistance rendered in this context.

Technical and Vocational Training Deputy Minister and Upcountry People’s Front (UPF) Secretary, P. Radhakrishnan urged the government to take immediate steps to put an end to the abductions of Tamil businessmen in Colombo."How can the Tamil business community live in peace with these threats and how can we rectify this situation," he asked.He added this issue was earlier faced by the Tamils in the north-east and now it had spread to the south."The Tamils living in the north-east were facing these threats in recent times and now the problem has reached Colombo," he added.He said the abductions had been carried out by unidentified persons and that most of the time a white van was used for these abductions."Even though the registration number of the vehicles were noted, the police said the abductors had put on fake number plates on the vehicles," he added.

Two policemen attached to the Kaluwanchchikkudy Police Station were shot dead by unidentified gunmen while they were travelling with two other colloquies, in a passenger bus bound to Batticaloa, around 10.30 a.m. at Cheddipalayam, Police sources said. The injured Constables W M. Vijayarathna, 35 and M. Ramanathan, 38 were rushed to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital and succumbed to their injuries.Police alleged that LTTE pistol group had waylaid the bus and fired at the Policemen who were on a private visit to Batticaloa.Cheddipalayam is located about 17 km off south of Batticaloa town.

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference on Sri Lanka Brussels 12 September 2006

1.The Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference, Norway, the European Union, the USA and Japan met in Brussels on September 12.

2.The Co-Chairs welcome the expression of willingness of the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to come to talks unconditionally as conveyed to the Facilitator. The Parties should cease all violence immediately.

The Parties should use this opportunity to show maximum flexibility regarding the arrangements to be proposed by the Facilitator.

The meeting should take place urgently in Oslo at the beginning of October, to be agreed to by the Parties, The Co-Chairs will meet at the end of October to review progress of the talks.

3.Until now, the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE have engaged in military ground operations and neither has responded adequately to our call in Tokyo and taken the necessary steps to reverse the deteriorating situation as we recommended.

4.The Co-Chairs are deeply alarmed by the recent deliberate violations of the Ceasefire Agreement by the Parties, These have escalated violence and resulted in massive and widespread human suffering, including the abuse of human rights, the displacement of innocent citizens, a humanitarian crisis and an. exodus of refugees to India.

5. The political challenges of the north and east cannot be resolved through war. The Co-Chairs urge the Parties to resume negotiation and show real political commitment to achieve a political solution based on the previous six rounds of negotiation, there should be no change to the specific arrangements for the north and east which could endanger the achievement of peace.

The legitimate interests and aspirations of all communities, including the Tamil, Muslims and Sinhala communities, must be accommodated as part of a political settlement.

6.The LTTE must similarly abide by all agreements and renounce terrorism and violence. The LTTE must show that it is willing to make the compromises needed for a political solution within a united Sri Lanka. The Government must ensure its military abides by the Ceasefire Agreement and implements the pledges from the Geneva meeting in February 2006.

7.Both parties must stop further violations of fundamental principles of Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. The Co-Chairs condemn the numerous violations, such as the disappearance and feared killings of large number of Muslims in Mutur, the murder of 17 aid workers from the French NGO Action Contre la Faim, the claymore attack on a civilian bus in June and the bombing of the school in Mullaitivu in August. The Co-Chairs are particularly concerned that even major cases of human rights’ abuses are not successfully investigated or prosecuted. As in any modern state, the culture of impunity must stop. The Co-Chairs welcome the call of the President for international assistance, and offer to send a mission of high-level experts to review the current situation and suggest further actions before the end of October on the needs for international support to correct it.

8. The Co-Chairs expect guarantees for the safety of NGO workers and for ensuring access for NGOs and international organizations to help citizens and communities in need of essential humanitarian assistance and valuable reconstruction and development work.

Failure to ensure safe working conditions of NGOs could result in the withdrawal of some international NGOs and their funding from Sri Lanka, which would be extremely detrimental to the situation of all Sri Lankan citizens in the concerned areas.

9. The Parties must guarantee safety of media representatives, civil society activities and religious leaders and ensure true freedom of speech and expression can be exercised without fear. Intimidation, attacks and killings of such persons from any quarter on all sides are reprehensible.

10. Co-chairs encourage moderate forces on all sides to engage constructively in the peace process. In this regard, the Co-Chairs welcome the President’s offer to other political parties to work together with a view to move towards a common national agenda and a lasting peaceful constitutional settlement of the conflict. Co-Chairs further encourage the civil society to continue to play a major role in promoting and supporting a peaceful solution to the conflict.

11. Failure to cease hostilities, pursue a political solution, respect Human Rights and protect Humanitarian Space could lead the international community to diminish its support.

12. Co-Chairs and other members of the international community continue their support for the tireless efforts of Norway to facilitate the peace process and the SLMM to monitor the Ceasefire Agreement.

The Kilinochchi hospital is facing difficulties due to the shortage of fuel.Hospital sources said medicines had already run out and patients were facing immense difficulties.Civilians in Kilinochchi say the hospital is unable to cope with the number of patients each day."This problem has been going on for a long time. The patients are facing a lot of difficulties due to the shortage of medicine and fuel," civilians said.Hospital sources said the fuel to run the hospital was enough only for a few days, and that the relevant authorities had been informed.Sources said the fuel and medicine said to have been sent to Kilinochchi had not arrived there yet.

“The LTTE is ready for talks. However, the opportunities for resuming the talks will be much stronger when the Sri Lankan government ceases its military attacks and all the CFA articles are fully respected and implemented”, says S.P. Tamilselvan in a e-mail interview to Reuters.

Reuters: What will the Tigers do if the army continues to mount offensive operations.

Tamilselvan: If the Sri Lankan armed forces continue with their military offensive attacks, violating the CFA in the most serious manner possible, then, unfortunately, LTTE too will be forced, from their current position of having to take defensive military operations, into the situation of having to launch offensive operation. I am afraid there is a possibility that this will turn into a full scale war.

Reuters: Is the CFA now completely dead? Do the Tigers now consider it to be void?

Tamilselvan: Within the context of the military offensives by the Sri Lankan armed forces and their continuing forced occupations of the Tamil homeland, we do consider that the CFA has become meaningless. However, since the facilitators and the international community are eager to strengthen the peace efforts, the LTTE is also continuing to examine options for strengthening the CFA. In this regard the LTTE continues maintain its communications with the facilitators.

Reuters: Are the Tigers prepared to resume talks with the government and the mediators?

Tamilselvan: The LTTE is ready for talks. However, the opportunities for resuming the talks will be much stronger when the Sri Lankan government ceases its military attacks and all the CFA articles are fully respected and implemented.

Tamilselvan: The present CFA had greatly contributed to brining peace in this island that had been torn by two decades of civil war. This CFA helped to avoid large scale war for four and half years and maintain semblance of normalcy. It is only by implementing 100%, this CFA that came into being with the support of the international community and the efforts of the facilitators that this situation can be halted.

Reuters: Do the Tigers think peace talks with this administration are destined to failure given President Rakapakse’s refusal to consider a separate Tamil homeland?

Tamilselvan: Beyond considerations of what is and what is not useful, everyone must understand what is realistic and come to a common position accordingly. At some point in time in the future, everyone has to arrive at such a realistic and practical position. I believe it will be meaningful if we all continue to search for opportunities to arrive at that realistic position. Mahinda Rajapakse also most certainly needs to change his position. No one can deny the rights of the Tamil people. At some stage everyone must accept this. Therefore Mahinda Rakapakse too must take up a decent position in this regard.

Tamilselvan: Since the Sri Lankan government, in violation of the CFA, has occupied new areas that were administered by the LTTE under the CFA, we believe we must take all necessary actions to recover these areas according to the CFA.

Reuters: If attacks by the army on the Tigers continue, will the Tigers bring war to Colombo?

Tamilselvan: If the Sri Lankan armed forces continue with their cruel war all over the Tamil homeland, and continue to put the people in the Tamil homeland in great misery, I do believe that the spread of this war to all parts of the island will be unavoidable.

Currency	Buying (Rs.)		Selling (Rs.)
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Sri Lankan troops and ethnic Tamil rebels waged a fierce battle in the north, where the military says 148 combatants have been killed in five days of fighting, edging the country closer to all-out war. As fighting raged in northern Jaffna peninsula, a human rights official said at least 50 ethnic Tamils are still missing after disappearing in the area last month. Jaffna has long been a flash point for violence in Sri Lanka's 19-year war between the Sinhalese-dominated state and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who claim it as the cultural heart of the country's 3.2 million ethnic Tamil minority. The Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for Tamils in the northeast, and Jaffna - controlled by the army but predominantly Tamil - would be its capital. Although a 2002 cease-fire temporarily halted large-scale hostilities, recent weeks have seen escalating battles along borders separating rebel- and government-held territory in the northeast.

Although neither side has formally withdrawn from the truce, many here say it exists on paper only. Government soldiers have captured the guerrillas' forward defense line at Muhamalai in the north, an official at the Media Center for National Security said. Rebels fired mortar and artillery shells at the troops as they sought to consolidate their gains on Monday, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing agency rules. Military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said 33 government troops have been killed since Thursday, with another 132 wounded. The Defense Ministry's Web site said at least 115 Tamil Tigers had been killed. A senior rebel official, Seevarathnam Puleedevan, however, denied the military's claims that the Tigers had been overrun.

"The LTTE has retaliated forcefully and we have stopped their movement," he said. Puleedevan said only 12 Tiger fighters have been killed and put the military death toll at 78. "We don't hide our casualty figures," he said. Both sides are known to exaggerate each other's death tolls, and independent verification is virtually impossible. The offensive in Jaffna follows the army's capture of Sampur, a rebel-held village in the northeast, on Sept. 4, the first significant territorial gain since the cease-fire. The Tigers have threatened retaliation and a resumption of war unless the army withdraws from Sampur. The rebels want to carve out a separate state for the country's predominantly Hindu Tamils, citing decades of discrimination by the mostly Buddhist Sinhalese majority. The conflict - one of Asia's longest-running - cost the lives of about 65,000 people before the truce. Hundreds more combatants and civilians, however, have been killed and about 220,000 displaced since April. More than 400 people also have gone missing in Jaffna since December, Sri Lanka's independent Human Rights Commission said. Of the 67 missing-person complaints received in August, 50 are still unaccounted for, it said.

As the Co-chairs to the peace process are due to meet in Brussels today to persuade the warring parties to get back to the negotiating table, Air force fighter jets yesterday carried out fresh air strikes on selected LTTE targets in Pooneryn and Palai.Military sources said they had destroyed an LTTE ammunition dump and the death toll in the latest fighting in Muhamalai rose to 183 on both sides.Meanwhile, Military Spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said, troops were carrying out shelling on LTTE targets in response to its artillery and mortar fire. “The military consolidated its recent advance amidst heavy shelling by the LTTE,” he said.Nearly 150 LTTE cadres and 33 soldiers died in the clashes, Brigadier Samarasinghe said.

He said a large number of bodies of LTTE cadres could be seen in front of the newly captured LTTE FDL in Muhamalai. “We have only got the bodies of twelve LTTE cadres and they were handed over to the Jaffna hospital through the Police,” the Brigadier said.He said the number of security forces personnel killed in the battle rose to 33 as five more soldiers were killed on Sunday. “A large number of troops were injured when they accidentally stepped onto a large mine-field in front of the LTTE FDL,” Brig. Samarasinghe said.Denying military claims, the LTTE said its FDL had not been overrun and it continued to resist the government’s fresh offensive. “We only lost six cadres and 13 others were wounded,” Tamilnet website reported quoting an LTTE official.On Thursday, the LTTE started to fire artillery at security forces in Muhamalai prompting the security forces to launch a fresh operation to destroy the LTTE artillery positions.

On Board Air India One - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said India’s efforts would be to ensure that the current ceasefire holds in Sri Lanka as a pre-requisite for a durable solution to the island’s crisis.To a question from a correspondent accompanying him on his official visits to Brazil and Cuba, the prime minister said India was in touch with both the Sri Lankan government and the Norwegian facilitators. ‘And our effort is to ensure that the ceasefire holds and that both parties (the Sri Lankan military and the Tamil Tigers) are scrupulously committed to preserving the ceasefire,’ he said. ‘I think that’s an essential pre-requisite before we can move forward to a durable solution,’ he added. Recent weeks have seen intensified fighting between the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) with New Delhi highly concerned about the possibility of renewed outbreak of war in the country’s south with political and social repercussions for India.

Commonwealth Secretary General Donald C. McKinnon yesterday called upon the Government and the LTTE to work towards a political resolution to bring an end to Sri Lanka’s longstanding ethnic conflict. Mr. McKinnon who is now in the island to participate in the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting which kicks off today, asserted that military success cannot deliver peace and that the conflict could only be brought to an end through negotiations. “Ultimately, the task of resolving the country’s conflict can only be achieved at the negotiating table,” he said. In an interview with the Daily Mirror at the tightly guarded Cinnamon Grand Hotel, the Secretary-General pointed out that the civil war has been a heavy burden on the country’s economy owing to the additional spending on Defence purposes.

“You must remind yourself of the huge number of deaths that have taken place as a result of this war as well as the extra cost of maintaining the military. Both the Government and the LTTE should seriously work towards achieving sustainable peace,” he stressed, adding that the Commonwealth would be willing to help in whatever way they can. Mr. McKinnon had his first meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday evening, prior to the President’s meeting with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. The discussion with the President had centered around the challenges facing Finance Ministers of the Commonwealth, in which McKinnon had emphasised on the need to produce benefits in the form of economic opportunities for ordinary people.

The President, in turn, brief ed Mr. McKinnon on the security situation of the country. Prospects for post-tsunami assistance too had been discussed. “Sri Lanka should make full use of its membership in international organisations and ensure that they receive the best in return,” he stated. “We are keen to see ideas being exchanged through which new ways of promoting economic growth can be explored and fresh approaches worked out. So we will ask ourselves what the secrets of economic growth are; in particular, what forms of economic growth can best create facilitate livelihoods,” he said. This topic will be discussed under the theme, “An Agenda for Growth and Livelihoods” and takes places just ahead of the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank.

Asked to comment on the perception that the Commonwealth was inert as an institution, McKinnon said that this was far from the case. He explained that the Commonwealth has been actively encouraging governments to embrace democracy, while equipping countries with technical assistance based on their needs via the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation. He further pointed out that over the past five years Sri Lanka has received £1.15 million in terms of direct technical assistance and that Sri Lanka gets eight dollars for every one dollar that is paid to the Commonwealth annually.

Coincidentally, Mr. McKinnon’s first visit to Sri Lanka was on September 11, 2001, the day of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the US, this being his fifth visit to the country. Mr. Mackinnon also held meetings with Mr. Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake yesterday. The Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting will bring together ministers and delegates from 53 member states. Participants are expected to discuss trends in the world economy including high oil prices and how they affect member nations,

Senior police officers have pointed out that holding LTTE suspects in a building almost adjacent to President’s House, posed a grave security threat.A large number of terrorist suspects are held in the CID Headquarters located on the first floor of the of the New Secretariat building.The President’s Security Division has prepared a report, on the subject, to be sent to Police Headquarters. The office of the DIG Colombo was vacated and that space too has been given to the CID.Police Headquarters sources said the Colombo DIG’s office and a number of other offices have been vacated and relocated at other places at the instance of a senior CID officer, but so far most of the LTTE suspects, including suspect suicide bombers, have been held in a number of places within the High Security Zone in Colombo.Senior police officers warned that holding terrorist suspects in the High Security Zone around the President’s House was an invitation to danger.

Udayan Threatened Again

Three people who scaled the security wall of the Jaffna Udayan premises were taken into custody by the police who were manning the security of the place after a fracas. They were carrying weapons at the time of arrest.When they were about to be handed over to the police they have divulged that they belong to security forces. As they managed to establish there identify the police have set them free.Three days prior to this incident some intruders who entered the Udayan office pointing weapons forced the editor to publish some article. They have introduced themselves as Karunas' men.Mr. Vidyadaran of the Udayan revealed 'Lanka e News' that an employee of the Udayan newspaper has lodged a complaint with the police and manager has lodged a written complaint with the DIG of the area.

Over ten persons including relatives have been questioned in connection with the abduction and death of W.M.Suriya Kumar (26) a communication centre operative of Dehiwela whose body was found in a paddy field at Kelaniya on Friday. OIC Dehiwela police Ranjit Kotachchi said that Suriya Kumara had been abducted by seven persons who had claimed to be from the CID.Earlier he had lived in Canada and had collected monies for the LTTE.Investigations are on to verify whether he still had LTTE connections. Kelaniya police said they had found six empty 3.8 pistol bullets at the venue.A joint Kelaniya and Dehiwela police operation has been launched to arrest the suspects.

Eight civilians, including 2 young women were abducted in Jaffna by unidentified armed persons in white van, in five separate incidents, during the last 24 hours, ending at 6 p.m., Monday. Meanwhile, Surenthiraraja, the coordinator of Human Rights Commission in Jaffna Monday said that 67 persons were reported "disappeared" in August alone. He said 17 of these complaints have been resolved, 14 being released while three others are being detained by SLA troops in Kankesanturai.Mr.Surenthirarajah said his office has received 76 complaints against SLA Personnel regarding arrests, intimidation and threat.

According to complaints made with the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna, 2 women were abducted from their home in Anaikottai on Sunday. At Kokuvil, two youths were dragged out of their homes at gun point, in the presence of their parents. Two more youths were abducted at gun point in Manipay, while a youth from Kumaraswamy road near Jaffna university and another from Kantharmadam have also been abducted, according to the complaints.The parents of those abducted have lodged complaint at the Jaffna office of Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission. The parents have, however, said that they do not wish to reveal the names of the abducted persons to the media, fearing reprisals.

Meanwhile many others are feared to have been abducted from Vadamaradchy, Kopay, Chulipuram and Alaveddy by the 'white van squads' and only the body of one youth has been recovered in Chulipuram while mystery surrounds the fate of others.SLA sodiers has blamed Karuna Group, a paramilitary group operating along with the Sri Lanka Armed forces for the killings and disappearances.

A bullet-ridden body of young man with face mutilated beyond recognition was found at Theater Lane in Inuvil in Jaffna, Monday morning. The youth is believed to have been abducted from his home by unidentified men in white van, with out carrying registration number, Sunday evening, neighbours said.The victim is beleived to be around 30 yeras. He was wearing black coloured jeans. The victim had been severely beaten before he was shot dead, sources said.The body was taken to the Jaffna Teaching hospital Morgue and kept for identification.Mrs. Sarojini Ilangovan, the District Judge for Mallaham told that that the youth might be one of the disappeared in the Peninsula in recently.Separately, Mylvaganam Sasitharan, 24, of Thunnalai South was shot dead by unidentified men at Mareesan junction on Jaffna-Point Pedro Road near Nelliday in Vadamaradchy, around 9:30 a.m, Monday.

In another incident at the same location Kiddinar Uthayakumar, 24, was shot and serioulsy injured.Both incidents occured near a Sri Lanka Army camp and two unidentified persons on a motorcycle were responsible for these incidents,sources said.Meanwhile, aSivasingam Sasiharan, 24, traveling in a bicycle from home was shot dead by unidentified gunmen near Manthuvil tempel in Thenmarachchi area, at 6.30 p.m., Sunday.

Tamil families take to the sea as they flee horror of a savage war- By Ashling O'Connor

WITH their worlds wrapped up in plastic bags, thousands of Sri Lankan refugees are risking their lives by crossing the Palk Strait to India to escape the fighting ravaging their homeland. Since January more than 13,000 Tamils have completed the treacherous 20-mile voyage from Mannar to Rameswaran, a temple island in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, where they are dropped on Kodiakkarai beach to eke out an existence alongside 59,000 others in government-run refugee camps. They have paid between 2,000 and 8,000 Sri Lankan rupees (£10 to £40) each, a small fortune, for their berth on a rickety fishing boat that may not make the journey in rough seas. Many drown when the vessels capsize or when the boatmen, panicked by a chasing Sri Lankan navy ship, dump them on a sandbar several hundred yards from the shore.

Pathunamathan, 56, a fisherman from Trincomalee, and his wife and two daughters were lucky to be spotted yesterday by an Indian navy coastguard, who rescued them from such a predicament. His story reflects a worsening situation in an area that has been the focus of renewed fighting between the Sri Lankan Army and the separatist Tamil Tigers. “We just left our house and ran,” he said, wet and shivering from his ordeal. “There is no secure place for Tamils.” Packed on to trucks, the disorientated travellers are taken for questioning at the police station at Dhanushkodi before being found shelter in a camp where they receive a small government allowance. The biggest of the 118 camps is Mandapam, originally built for the reverse journey in the 19th century when Tamils were sent to Sri Lanka by the British to work on the plantations.

Among its 7,000 inhabitants is Shantakumar, 32, a former driver for a Dutch refugee care centre in Kutcheveli. Clutching his daughter Dinogini, 11, he cries as he tells how he was unable to save his younger sister and her family from the 2004 tsunami. “I could not reach her,” he said. “I was trying to forget what I lost in the tsunami and then the fighting happened.” After a bomb blast on August 20, his brother was riding his motorcycle home and was pulled over for questioning by the Sri Lankan Army. “They made him kneel down and they shot him in the head,” he said. “I saw it with my own eyes. Every time I think of it, I think I do not want to live in a country like that.”

Eight days ago he brought his wife and four children to India. They have joined people such as Udhayakumar, 18, who says that he left Trincomalee after his mother and elder sister were hacked to death by a Sinhalese mob after a bomb ripped through the town in April. “Whatever these people do to us, the Government is not bothered,” he said. “If the Sri Lankan Army treated Tamils equally we would not be here.” So far this month officials have counted around 2,000 refugees but more are pitching up every day and there are unconfirmed reports that about 50,000 are waiting to follow. On Sunday at dusk two boatloads arrived despite the choppy sea and high winds. Most were from Trincomalee.

Mani, 40, and his wife and five children left all their possessions behind. The plastic bag of betel wrapped into his lungi, a wraparound cloth, was the only thing he had salvaged. Logeswary, eight months pregnant, had forsaken her husband, a Sinhalese. The Tamil Nadu government has some sympathy with the refugees who share their mother tongue. The central Government too has reacted to their plight, committing 400 million Indian rupees in July. The apparent inaction on the part of Sri Lanka has been used as a political lever by the Tigers to embarrass the Government in Colombo. In response to accusations of apathy, the Sri Lankan Navy in July burnt 75 fishing boats. It disrupted the flow of human traffic only briefly. The special constables at Dhanushkodi are used to the ritual of taking names and segregating families. “Every night it is like this,” said one.

While most refugees complain of relentless harassment by the Sri Lankan Army, some come with stories of persecution by the Tigers if they did not agree with their politics. Sasikala, 28, fled after her husband, a leader of a rival Tamil group, was dragged out of his house by rebels, tied to an electricity post and shot. She sold her gold earrings in Mannar to pay for the boat trip to India but her parents could not afford to follow her. The 2002 ceasefire is officially still in place but the thousands of Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka are evidence that the situation in the country is spawning a humanitarian crisis. “These are the people caught in between,” said Chandarahasan, the founder of the Organisation for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation, which is funded by Christian Aid to supplement the Indian Government’s relief effort.

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UNP heavyweight Milinda Moragoda is expected to visit New Delhi for urgent consultations regarding ongoing efforts to forge an alliance between the ruling coalition and the UNP. Moragoda is likely to leave for New Delhi today. Speculation is rife that New Delhi and donor co-chairs, namely the US, EU, Norway and Japan, are trying to work out a deal that would propel the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to resume negotiations. Moragoda Friday evening had a one-to-one meeting with President Mahinda Rajapakse to discuss the entire gamut of issues. "It was a fruitful meeting," a well informed source said. The discussion centred on a framework for negotiations for the forthcoming talks between the government and the UNP.

The meeting took place hours after Moragoda returned from an overseas visit, the sources said. Moragoda, who played a key role in the Oslo-led peace process during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure as the Prime Minister, is expected to brief Indian officials of the current status of affairs, particularly relating to an alliance between Rajapakse and Wickremesinghe. Moragoda has agreed to share his experience with Rajapakse’s government.The Island learns that Rajapakse wanted to meet Moragoda ahead of his scheduled confab with Messrs Wickremesinghe and Karu Jayasuriya.

Moragoda briefed Wickremesinghe of the outcome of his discussion with Rajapakse, the source said.Party sources emphasised that the meeting took place with the knowledge of Wickremesinghe who is scheduled to meet Rajapalse along with Jayasuriya today.Wickremesinghe and Presidential advisor Basil Rajapakse recently visited India. Their discussions centred on the current crisis triggered by the LTTE’s abortive bid to control the Mavilaru sluice gates.

Sri Lankan troops, Tamil rebels in heavy fighting for fifth day; military deaths at 33

Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger rebels exchanged mortar and artillery fire across their northern front lines Monday, as the military death toll rose to 33 in five days of heavy clashes, an official said. Government soldiers had advanced up to a kilometer (0.6 miles) into rebel territory in Muhamalai village of the northern Jaffna Peninsula and captured their forward defense line, an official of the Media Center for National Security said. Rebels fired mortar and artillery shells at the troops as they sought Monday to consolidate their gains, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing agency rules. He said the toll for government troops in clashes in the area since Thursday had risen overnight by five to 33. Three soldiers also were killed Sunday by a roadside bomb in the northern town of Vavuniya, in an attack blamed on the rebels, bringing the overall toll for government soldiers in recent days to 36.

Fierce fighting that broke out on Saturday in Muhamalai, when Government troops broke out of their Forward Defence Line (FDL) and moved ahead by one kilometre, left over 150 LTTE cadres dead, while the army suffered 28 dead and 120 injured, the military said.The Navy on Saturday, ferried 795 civilians trapped in Jaffna, by warship to Trincomalee.The Navy’s ‘Shakthi’, which the Government and international aid agencies used to dispatch supplies to Jaffna, is now being used to evacuate civilians from the peninsula, where a serious shortage of essential items has arisen since fighting broke out last month.

Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said: “the battle lasting several hours, ended with the Army capturing the LTTE’s FDL in Muhamalai on Saturday.” He said that the battle started as the terrorists, from south of their FDL, directed a barrage of artillery and mortar fire at the Army’s FDL. “Troops, while tactically neutralizing the LTTE threat, retaliated effectively to continuous enemy fire and repulsed their advance, after breaking through their positions to neutralize their firepower.”He also emphasized that the security forces launched only a defensive operation, not an offensive one. “We had to neutralize the LTTE’s continued attacks on us. So, this is yet another defensive action taken by Government troops,” he said.

He said that yesterday there were sporadic exchanges of artillery and mortar fire. Monitoring technical sources claimed that troops had inflicted heavy casualties and damage on the LTTE. “It is confirmed at least 150 terrorists were killed in the battle,” the spokesman said. He also claimed that a large number of LTTE cadres were injured.“By yesterday, troops were consolidating their positions and clearing the area of all explosive devices that were buried by the LTTE, ahead of their defence lines,” Brig. Samarasinghe said. Meanwhile, the Government disconnected telephone connections to Kilinochchi and Jaffna, due to the ongoing military operation in the Jaffna peninsula, military sources said. However, fixed lines in Jaffna were still working.

Meanwhile, the pro-LTTE TamilNet website quoted the LTTE’s military spokesman, Rasaiah Ilanthiriyan, as saying that heavy fighting had broken out in the Muhamalai area, south of Jaffna, on Saturday, with the Sri Lankan forces trying to consolidate their positions along the FDL. It also claimed that four of their members were killed in this fight.

Sri Lanka's military launched a major offensive to capture a strategic rebel artillery base ignoring a fresh move by peace broker Norway to end the bloodshed, the Tiger guerrillas said on Sunday.The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they were in negotiations to remove their artillery guns from the town of Sampur which threatened the strategic naval port of Trincomalee. "Negotiations were in progress with Norway facilitation for LTTE to move the weapons from Sampur," the Tigers said in a statement. "Indeed in a letter from the Norway ambassador dated August 24, the LTTE position was stated."

"The LTTE was ready to move weapons from Sampur if the GoSL will cease all shelling and aerial bombardments. While the negotiations were in progress, the government of Sri Lanka launched its onslaught for occupation." "The attack and occupation achieved through a scorched earth policy left the area deserted with heavy damages to life and property." There was no immediate word from the Colombo government or the Norwegians. It was also not immediately clear why the Tigers made the disclosure on Sunday although at the time they had warned that war will break out of the military captured Sampur. Tigers had also initially discounted military claims of capturing Sampur, but the military last week took nearly 100 journalists and reporters to sampur to prove that they were in control over the area.

Sri Lankan police personnel lying in ambush shot and killed 2 members of the Liberation Tigers at Karuwakkerny Vikneswara Vidyalayam in Valaichenai, about 30 km. north of Batticaloa, around 8 p.m., Saturday.The Police said they have recovered 2 pistols, 2 hand grenades and 2 cyanide capsules.The police handed over the bodies to Valaichenai hospital. Sources in Valaichenai said the LTTE mebers were idetified as Sutha and Viji.P.Thayamohan, the Political Head of the LTTE for Batticaloa District said their organization will contact ICRC to receive the bodies.

LTTE losses on the battlefield and on the international front - Indian Maj. Gen.

A fragile cease-fire from 2002 still technically prevents the country from returning to the 19-year-long civil war, LTTE losses on the battlefield and on the international front have, for the first time in many years, opened up the possibility of an eventual defeat of the LTTE.The recent fighting shows that the LTTE "don't have the capability to wipe out the Sri Lankan garrisons," says Indian Maj. Gen. Ashok Mehta (ret.), who led an ill-fated Indian peacekeeping force against the LTTE in 1987. Back then, the LTTE withstood the fourth-largest army in the world, killing 1,200 Indian soldiers. "The LTTE [in the late '80s and '90s] was made of sterner stuff."

The LTTE, who invented suicide bombing and are famous for overwhelming targets with speed and fire power, have over the years emerged as a formidable nonstate force.However, the recent spate of fighting with the government - the fiercest since the cease-fire - suggests otherwise. In fighting on Saturday(sep.2), the LTTE's sophisticated naval wing was routed by the Sri Lankan Navy as they tried to infiltrate the northern Jaffna peninsula. According to the Sri Lankan military, 13 of the LTTE's 30 suicide boats were destroyed by the Navy while the rest were forced to retreat.Since the cease-fire, the Sri Lankan Army has significantly replenished its manpower and military stockpile, dwarfing the strength of the LTTE. However, the Army's victories are not being attributed as much to their martial competence as to the debilitations faced by the LTTE.

New LTTE recruits are less motivated, and the LTTE now face open defiance by a growing number of Tamil civilians, says Mr. Mehta. The breakaway in 2004 of a LTTE faction led by Colonel Karuna has not helped the LTTE. Mehta also notes that the LTTE haven't been firing missiles during recent confrontations - weakening their artillery positions. The LTTE could be saving the missiles for another day, but Mehta suspects that the LTTE are acutely short on firepower.

Ever since he assumed office, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has had his hands full.He has had to deal with the scourge of terrorism, with hardly any respite being offered by Velupillai Prabhakaran and the issue has now ballooned into war in everything but name.Prabhakaran, who initially called Rajapaksa a “pragmatist” then embarked on a series of provocations to try and lure Rajapaksa into the war that the latter virtually promised during his presidential election campaign.The war never materialised in its true sense, but Prabhakaran perhaps got more than he bargained for as Rajapaksa succeeded in securing some military advantages, culminating in the success at Sampur, however nebulous that may be in the larger context of the conflict.In between dealing with Prabhakaran and his diabolical bomb plots in the city and elsewhere, President Rajapaksa has set his sights firmly on the real politik in the South of the country.

He is clearly thinking not of the next election, he is thinking beyond that and well into his second term of office.Consider the many political manoeuvres he has set in motion: The sidelining of Chandrika Kumaratunge, first by a series of inspired leaks from the Presidential Secretariat itself and then by slowly but surely easing out her loyalists from powerful positions in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), was the first move in a grander scheme.Kumaratunge took wing to London and then it was quite plainly intimated to her that her return was not an event the incumbent President looked forward to: Her security was pruned, benefits that had been accorded to her were being challenged in court and brother Anura Bandaranaike was being given the cold shoulder, despite being a Senior Cabinet Minister.

The nail in Kumaratunge’s political coffin was when she was stripped of the leadership of the SLFP and this week’s 55th anniversary of the party was a stark reminder to old faithfuls that the Bandaranaike era of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party may well and truly be over.If getting rid of the Bandaranaikes was priority number one, then strengthening his stranglehold on power within Parliament was priority number two. Towards this end, Rajapaksa played his cards extremely well, succeeding in roping in disgruntled members of the United National Party (UNP) as well as Arumugam Thondaman of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC). And, if media reports are to be believed, Rauff Hakeem and his Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and even Nandana Gunatillake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna have been seduced by Rajapaksa’s political charms.Not satisfied with his political conquests, Rajapaksa then set his sights on the biggest prize of them all, the United National Party (UNP) itself, offering what superficially appears to be a magnanimous opportunity to join the government.

The offer has caught the major opposition party unawares with some wanting the plums of office immediately and others opting to wait for greater luxuries, hoping to oust Rajapaksa from the Presidency in 2011 or win a general election prior to that.So, after ten months in power, Rajapaksa scores perhaps a five out of ten for his handling of the ethnic issue if one were to be generous and then maybe a score of eight out of ten for his deft machinations of the southern political landscape.But, where the President fails miserably is on the economic front, where the general public has been subjected to burden after burden with no respite in sight.True, sky high world oil prices can be blamed for anything and everything but that should hardly be the response of a responsible government. Pay hikes for public servants have been measly in the face of escalating prices and recently even a cost-of-living allowance was withheld, strategies that hardly endear a regime to the masses.

But the most irksome factor that emerges is the lack of a coherent financial strategy to deal with the economic crisis at hand. Economic bottlenecks are disposed of in an ad-hoc manner and there are no realistic development strategies in sight that would yield results in the long term. It appears that the Rajapaksa administration is being frog marched from one economic mess to another.Sooner rather than later, the ‘trickle-down’ economics are likely to take its toll: As the financial burdens of the economy are passed on to the man on the street, success at Sampur alone will not keep the hunger pangs at bay. And when an economic crunch reaches that stage, salvation for its authors is an extremely remote possibility.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is not short of advisors; nor is he of cabinet ministers. To cap it all, he himself is the Minister of Finance. So, if his political applecart is overturned because of poor management of the country’s economy, he has only himself to blame. We must hope, for the sake of the country at least, that this wouldn’t be his political epitaph. And if there is one thing that Mahinda Rajapaksa should say to himself every morning as he looks in the mirror and ties his trademark ‘saatakaya’, it is to remind himself that, “It’s the economy, you stupid…!”

Five Wanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians boycotted the Mannar District Co-ordinating Committee (DCC) meeting held Saturday in the Mannar district secretariat with Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrema, North East Provincial Governor in the chair. "Development is not an immediate priority at this time when hundreds of Tamil civilians fleeing to South India to save their lives from abduction, killing and harassment from Sri Lanka armed forces," said TNA parliamentarians, sources said.TNA parliamentarians representing Wanni district,TELO Leader Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, C.Kanagaretnan, Sivasakthi Ananthan, Vino Noharathalingam(TELO) and Sivanathan Kishore, said the boycott decision was taken unanimously by all TNA parliamentarians.

"We can look at development after the urgent need for safety and security of Tamil people in NorthEast is established. We want the ongoing destruction of life and properties in our homeland in the North East by State armed forces to stop," said Mr. Noharathalingam(TELO).He added Tamil people are being killed daily in North East due to military operation by the State armed forces. Several people have died in indiscriminate aerial bombardment and artillery fire by the SLA and SLAF. Tamil people in Trincomalee, Jaffna, Vavuniya and Mannar are displaced in thousands from their homes to ensure their safety. Most of them have come to Mannar to flee to South India to seek refuge there, he said.

Tamil political circles in Colombo feel that the indefinite postponement of the meeting between the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs and the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi may have been at least partially due to the intense rivalry between two top Tamil Nadu politicians.The Colombo-based Tamil daily Virakesari reported on Sunday, that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi did not like the Sri Lankan Tamil MPs meeting the Indian Prime Minister courtesy Vaiko, his bitter rival and leader of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).The paper said that the TNA MPs had asked for an appointment with Karunanidhi two days earlier, but had got no reply.

While Karunanidhi's Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is an important partner in the ruling coalition in New Delhi, Vaiko's MDMK is outside the alliance, having had to quit it following a quarrel with the DMK.Virakesari said that it was due to Vaiko's initiative that Dr Singh had agreed to meet the Tamil MPs from the troubled island, and that a meeting was even fixed, albeit tentatively, for Friday September 8.If the meeting had taken place, Vaiko would have walked away with the credit, and Karunanidhi would have been isolated on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, which is an increasingly emotive issue in Tamil Nadu.

Karunanidhi will certainly like the meeting with Singh to take place at his initiative or his blessings, even if it is arranged by the Mandarins of the Prime Minister's office and the Ministry of External Affairs.Friday's appointment did not come through ostensibly because the Prime Minister's schedule was too tight on account of his imminent departure for Havana for the Non-Aligned Summit, and also the crisis created by the twin blasts in the communally sensitive town of Malegaon in Congress-ruled Maharashtra.The TNA MPs told Virakesari that they were determined to meet the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and all other leaders in Tamil Nadu before going to New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the leaders of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

If the Indian Prime Minister were to meet the Lankan Tamil MPs, it would be the first time, in the last 16 years.After the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991 by the LTTE, the Indian political leadership, especially the Prime Minister, had not met Sri Lankan Tamil MPs supporting the LTTE.The TNA exists courtesy LTTE, and speaks for it unabashedly in parliament and outside.The TNA, with 22 MPs in a 225-strong Sri Lankan parliament, is the biggest Tamil group in the House.Therefore, the TNA's plea that the top Indian leadership should meet them as it does major groups in parliament, cannot be easily brushed aside.And the emerging political scenario in Tamil Nadu favours such a meeting.

But an Indian PM-TNA meeting could raise the hackles in the majority Sinhala community in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan government, which depends on the support of the majority community.There will be a question as to how the government of India can do business with a group, which is avowedly pro-LTTE, an organisation banned in India.But India cannot ignore the Tamils and the TNA. India is committed to safeguarding the interests of the Tamil as per the India-Sri Lanka Accord of July 1987.Geopolitical and domestic Indian interests also dictate that New Delhi opens and maintains a dialogue with the TNA, a legitimate, over-ground Tamil political group.

Predictably, to counter the TNA's move to meet the Indian Prime Minister, the ultra Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has also expressed a wish to meet him.The JHU leader Venerable Ellawela Medhananda Thero told the state-owned Sunday Observer that his party would meet the Indian Prime Minister to tell him that Sri Lanka Tamils wanted to live in a democratic Sri Lanka and not under the LTTE.Medhananda Thero said that the Indian PM had declined to meet the TNA MPs because he knew that they were nothing but the voice of the LTTE chief, Prabhakaran.

419 'dissapeared' in Jaffna

The Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka (HRCSL) says it has received 419 complaints on disappearances in Jaffna peninsular since December last year.Commissioner Dharmasiri Jayawickrama said the HRCSL has already begun investigations based upon the complaints received."The security forces are accused for 60 dissapearances," he told bbcsinhala.com.54 others were released after intial investigations by the police, he added."23 others are detained by the police".

No information was available on what happened to 245 others, according to HRCSL.It is suspected that 183 of those missing were abducted by ‘some other militant group’.Commissioner Jayawickrama told BBC Sandeshaya that HRCSL received reliable information that that some of those were abducted by the Tamil Tigers.Others have joined the LTTE voluntarily, the former Apeals' Court judge added.The Commission is also to investigate dissapearances in the capital, Colombo."We will initiate investigations on media reports that nearly 30 people are missing in Colombo".

At least 26 troops were killed and over 125 wounded Saturday in new fighting as Tamil rebels resisted an army advance into guerrilla-held territory in northern Sri Lanka, military sources said. Hundreds of Sri Lankan troops were involved in the offensive along the de facto border between government- and rebel-held areas in the Jaffna peninsula, the sources said. The operation, launched from three locations along the front lines, sparked clashes with the rebels, the sources said, adding troops had moved almost a kilometre (half-mile) into territory previously held by the Tigers. "There was heavy resistance initially," a military source said. "Casualties are mainly due to long-range weapons fired by the Tamil Tigers. The operation was launched to secure the army's forward defence lines."

"At least one officer and 25 soldiers were killed and about 125 were wounded and most of them were listed as walking wounded," a military source said declining to be named. There was no immediate word from the Tigers about the latest clashes or about any possible casualties on their side. However, the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said there had been no casualties among the rebels. A new wave of fighting erupted in Jaffna last month when the Tamil Tigers staged a major artillery and mortar bomb attack against military positions within the peninsula, but most of the battles died down after two weeks. Security forces were staging the latest action to strengthen their defences and push back Tiger artillery guns that hit the main airbase in Jaffna, the sources said.

The fighting has also effectively cut off the only road access to the peninsula where about 8,000 civilians, including a large number of foreign nationals of Sri Lankan origin, are believed to be trapped. The International Red Cross last month operated a ferry to evacuate 161 people, while the Sri Lankan navy Saturday sent a troop carrier to ferry some 795 civilians out of the peninsula. "The navy undertook this humanitarian mission considering the plight of civilians in the Jaffna peninsula who are faced with irregular transport facilities," the defence ministry said in a statement.

President Mahinda Rajapakse will meet with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and his deputy Karu Jayasuriya tomorrow to discuss the possibility of the two parties collaborating on a common minimum programme which falls short of a national government, The Sunday leader learns. The President's decision to invite Wickremesinghe and Jayasuriya for talks follows a written request made by the UNP leader on Friday for an urgent meeting to discuss issues arising from the communication sent by Rajapakse to the party last week.

Wickremesinghe in his letter to Rajapakse also agreed to appoint a five member UNP delegation to discuss with the five member SLFP team the 'establishment of a respectful nation' as described by the President. The President in his original letter to the UNP invited the party to join the government at this hour of national crisis but has since backtracked after both the UNP leader and the deputy agreed in writing to discuss the invitation. However with the talks between the SLFP and JVP to join the government on the verge of breaking down, the President made a fresh attempt Friday night to woo the UNP to work together on a limited agenda.

This the President did by inviting UNP Colombo district MP, Milinda Moragoda for talks Friday evening as a precursor to the meeting with Wickremesinghe and Jayasuriya. Moragoda met with the President after informing the UNP leader and briefed Wickremesinghe Saturday night of the discussion. The President several weeks earlier too had a discussion with Moragoda on the peace process. The President, it is learnt had said he is keen to develop a southern consensus for a political settlement and would like UNP's support in that process.

Rajapakse had also said he is genuine about collaboration between the two parties and getting everyone together within a common framework. The President had further said the framework can be developed through discussion but had not specifically indicated the end objective was a national government. The President had further pointed out such a framework should also deal with a development plan for the country. The Sunday Leader learns, the President had added he is open minded on the framework and would discuss it with Wickremesinghe and Jayasuriya on Monday and clarify any issues that arise. The UNP, it is learnt will ask the President at Monday's meeting what the end objective is of the discussions between the two parties.

As part of the on-going military operations, telephone links with Kilinochchi, the headquarters of the LTTE, have been cut. The town is currently without electricity too.The cutting of the phone lines on Thursday, has adversely affected news gathering by media organisations based in Colombo and Jaffna.In Jaffna, fixed lines are still working, but mobile phones are dead.Meanwhile, Tamilnet website quoted the LTTE's military spokesman, Rasaiah Ilathirayan, as saying that heavy fighting had broken out in the Muhamalai area south of Jaffna on Saturday, with the Sri Lankan forces trying to consolidate their positions in the Forward Defense Line (FDL).The Sri Lankan army, however, down played the operations.Sources in Jaffna told Hindustan Times that there was no sound of heavy artillery or rocket fire on Saturday.But agency reports said that 20 servicemen were killed and 53 were injured in the fighting on Saturday.Tamil sources said that the army was on the move to capture Elephant Pass, which divides the LTTE-held Wanni from the Jaffna peninsula.The Sri Lankan Air Force had bombed Palai, north of Elephant Pass.

Talks between the SLFP and JVP were on the verge of collapse yesterday with President Mahinda Rajapakse insisting on the Marxists dropping their hardline demands if an agreement is to be reached for the party's entry into government. The SLFP delegation which met with the JVP on Friday said the party cannot agree to the demands for the abrogation of the CFA, ouster of Norway, demerger of the north-east and confining the cabinet to 30. The SLFP delegation comprised Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Maithripala Sirisena and Susil Premjayanth. The JVP was represented by General Secreatary Tilvin Silva and MPs K. D. Lalkantha and Wimal Weerawansa.

The Sunday Leader learns Weerawansa had proposed as a compromise that the government agree to consider the implementation of the four contentious demands after a period of one year, but the SLFP had said that too was unacceptable. The meeting ended with an agreement for President Rajapakse to meet with JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe this week and take a final decision on the issue. It is learnt, the President will tell Amarasinghe the JVP will have to drop the four hardline demands if it wants to join the government.

Sri Lankan Minister backs Indian envoy Nirupama Rao

Brushing off his colleague's criticism of her, Sri Lankan Minister for Youth Empowerment and Socio-Economic Development Arumugam Thondaman on Saturday backed Indian High Commissioner to the country Nirupama Rao. "She (Rao) has been doing a tremendous job in promoting good relations between the two countries...If someone made any remark on her, you better ask the concerned person and not me", he said on the sidelines of 53rd annual conclave of planters' association of Tamil Nadu held at Glenview Hall of Upasi at Coonoor this morning. Lankan Minister Anura Bandaranaike had recently accused Rao of "meddling with the affairs of the island nation" asking her to "mind her own business". The Sri Lankan government however, yesterday stated that the minister's remarks "did not reflect the government's opinion".

On the escalation of tension in the island nation, Thondaman, who is also the President of Ceylon workers Congress, said, "the North-Eastern issue in my country which has affected every quarter of the society, should be resolved at the earliest by the government keeping in mind the grievances and aspirations of Tamil people in those areas". The minister also said that his Ceylon workers Congress will always supported the peace process and would wish that both the government and LTTE resolve the issues as soon as possible by concrete negotiations and political will. Thondaman claimed that "India could play a pivotal role as a valuable negotiator between Sri Lanka and LTTE". Sri Lanka has been receiving a lot of foreign exchange through its tourism sector and has not collapsed during the recent past on account of mass killings between the "two warring groups", Thondaman said. Even "Mumbai has been facing severe threats from terrorism, but its tourism was not affected at any point of time", he added. Thondaman also said that Sri Lanka had an excellent rapport with the Tamil Nadu government.

The JVP last week lashed out at India during an international conference for interfering in Sri Lanka's internal affairs. JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe made critical comments of both India and Norway in his address at the International Conference on Asian Political Parties in Seoul, South Korea on Friday. Amarasinghe charged that the biggest problem Sri Lanka faced in combating terrorism was interference by India and Norway. Accusing India of fostering, nurturing and breeding terrorism, Amarasinghe said it stopped for a while after a leader of that country leader was killed and it was hoped they will change but that it was not to be. There is no difference.They are interfering again.That is our biggest problem, Amarasinghe had said. Amarasinghe who was a fugitive from the law after the failed JVP insurrection in the 1980s upon his return to the country at a public meeting in 2000 thanked India and its then Prime Minister for helping him to flee the country illegally.

Eight arrested in Madawachchi search operation

Eight civilians including Tamils and Muslims were arrested at Ikkirigollawa village in Anuradhapura district in the North Central Province in a seven hour combined cordon and search operation by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).Police and home guards conducted on Friday morning from 5 a.m. till noon. The first search operation in this Muslim village was on Monday following a claymore explosion. In that operation four Tamils including a woman were arrested for investigation. A-9 (Jaffna-Kandy) highway is going through this village located in Madawachchi electorate. All buses and other vehicles going through this village were stopped and passengers checked during the search operation. Vehicles were also subjected to severe checks

President Mahinda Rajapakse was informed yesterday that there was a severe food shortage in Jaffna and that the people would die of starvation if the situation was not addressed within the next two weeks. The President was informed of the grave crisis facing the people in Jaffna in a special report submitted through President's Secretary, Lalith Weeratunge yesterday by the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA). In the report forwarded by the CHA Executive Director, Jeeven Thiagaraja, it is stated that while food is in short supply, prices have also soared, making it beyond the reach of the people.

The report states that apart from the rising prices of essential items, which are in any event in short supply, abductions and killings of civilians have also increased. The report further states that within the last 24 hours alone, five civilians were killed. It is also stated that there are no transport facilities from Jaffna to other places of the country from August 11 with telecommunication facilities also minimal. It has also been pointed out that electricity supplies also has been curtailed with fuel supplies fast running out.

The report further states that about 14,500 people have registered with the GA seeking transport out of Jaffna including many patients. The report also states while the essential items are in short supply, a liter of petrol is Rs. 400, kerosene Rs. 130, vegetable oil Rs. 175, a kilogram of rice Rs. 75, a kilogram of dhal Rs. 140, sugar Rs. 180, flour Rs. 140 and one pack of 10 candle sticks Rs. 100. It further sates that there is no milk powder in the market while baby foods are available in limited quantity.

You have hit the headlines in the local media this week but not for the best of reasons?

Diplomats and the media share a symbiotic relationship in so many ways. Even in my own country, the media closely scrutinizes the activities of our foreign office. At a personal level and speaking for myself alone, I was taken aback by the remarks attributed to the Tourism Minister whom I deeply respect and with whom I have had a very cordial relationship at all times. I am guilty to only one charge in the court of public opinion – to having tirelessly tried during my tenure here to further improve and strengthen Indo-Sri Lankan relations in many fields, to deepen the understanding between our two countries and to have never at any stage, sought to take any step that would harm Sri Lanka.

I would hesitate to speculate on the matter. Suffice it to say that my faith and trust in the relationship between our two countries remains unshaken.

Could it be because of your recent intervention in the attempt to purchase the Indian owned Apollo Hospital?

Speculation is not an activity I indulge in – our training as bureaucrats teaches us otherwise. In the Apollo Hospital case, I only intervened to protect the interests of Indian investors in what is a flagship Indian project in this country. Foreign diplomats are in fact their Government's trade representatives as well and they have every business to intervene, provided it’s done the proper way, in the investments of their nationals.

Or has this got something to do with your behind-the-scenes moves to forge internal political alliances such as your virtual brokering an alliance between the CWC and the Government etc?

I completely agree with you that it is the job of a foreign diplomat to promote and protect the business interests of his/her country, as also the investments made by their country’s business corporations, to the extent possible. That is an article of faith. As far as the forging of internal political alliances as you call it is concerned, I have never indulged in such power play, which is alien to my character. The CWC joined the Government on its own volition and on the basis of its own decision and determination where its interests lie.

Your Government has stood by you by issuing a statement on Thursday saying that you have conducted yourself "in the highest professional standards" and that India does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Given the past, and India's - especially Tamil Nadu State Government's acknowledged support for the LTTE in its formative years, shouldn't Sri Lankans take the second part of that Indian Government statement with a pinch of salt?

I am grateful to my Government for its quick and positive response in which it has reposed its confidence in me. Non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries is one of the basic principles on which India’s foreign policy is founded. I would urge all Sri Lankans to recognize the fact that India values its special relationship with Sri Lanka and that it has shed the blood of its sons to preserve the unity and territorial integrity of this country.

You wouldn't like to be compared with one of your predecessors, Jyotindra Nath Dixit ?

All of us who worked with Mr. Dixit in the External Affairs Ministry revere his memory, his undisputed professionalism, his unswerving commitment to India’s interests, his intellectual vision and the human touch he never lost. It is not a question of being compared with him, but rather, learning from the experiences of this great diplomat and yet, bringing your own stamp and individual ability to realize the goals that are set for your work.

We did criticise the President for breaking protocol and making a visit to 'India House', your official residence for that dinner-meeting with the CWC leader. Many people did think it was improper conduct on the part of the President. You obviously didn't.

I would beg to differ – it was an honour and privilege to receive His Excellency the President at India House. Previous Presidents of this country have also visited India House from time to time. I do not want to go into the details, but I can assure you that this is the truth. The practice is not unusual and is followed in many countries where the host government shares a special relationship with the country represented by the Ambassador or High Commissioner concerned. When I was Ambassador in Peru, the then President of the country visited my residence for dinner, with his daughter and other ministers of his Cabinet. I recall seeing a photograph dating back to the early 1960s of President John Kennedy visiting our Embassy residence in Washington, together with his Vice-President, for a dinner with our Ambassador and his wife. The examples are many. There was no breach of protocol. Diplomacy is an intricate craft, and different situations demand different responses. It is a question of the right calibration, and the nature of a particular situation. Flexibility and pragmatism, problem solving and building common ground – these are important words in my lexicon as a diplomat.

But those would have been strictly social calls. Your hosting the Sri Lankan President was to talk politics with another local political leader.

I know that there has been much speculation about that meeting. May I say quite simply that there was no talk of politics on the occasion you are referring to. The conversation was general in nature, and the mood was relaxed. At the most what can be said is that in the true spirit of Christmas, which was just around the corner, some ice was broken.

It has been, so far, most fulfilling and professionally one of the most challenging assignments I have undertaken, marked by so many watershed events, including the December 2004 tsunami where India worked very closely with Sri Lanka in the relief efforts. I have made many friends, and have actually seen almost every part of the country. The relationship between India and Sri Lanka has been maintained on a steady keel, and has been marked by a spirit of mutual confidence and deepening understanding. Ours is not just a friendship, it is a partnership in many spheres – whether it is in trade and commerce, culture, cooperation in multilateral fora, capacity building in many fields, high level political dialogue and understanding, and people to people contact.

Have people you meet in Sri Lanka ever told you that there is a perception that Big Brother India is bullying Sri Lanka?

Never to my face, although one cannot miss what some media commentaries say from time to time. I realize that India’s size and its population of one billion create perceptions in the neighbourhood that are both positive and negative. We as diplomats have to work hard to remove those negative perceptions. That is the challenge we face and must overcome. I personally do not see India as a big brother of Sri Lanka. In my mind, we are like members of one family – and remember that in many South Asian families, the little brother or sister always has his or her way! But that apart, I would like more and more Sri Lankans to understand India better and the advantages of closer connectivity and cooperation with India and its vast development experience. As two of Asia’s oldest democracies, we are equal partners, and the adjective “big” and “small” need not apply.

Do you think you are being pushed around or bullied because you are not a Dixit?

On the contrary! I don’t recall any occasion when I’ve been pushed around or bullied. I take the media comments for or against me as part of a moving montage. Nobody promised me a rose garden! I am sufficiently insulated against what you call “bullying”. I am here to do a job, and I will strive to do it well.

Your erstwhile colleague from Pakistan now accuses India of trying to assassinate him in Colombo. There are concerns that Indo-Pakistan rivalry was overflowing to Sri Lankan soil.

These charges have been rejected unequivocally and emphatically by the Government of India. I need not add to that. There is no question of any “rivalry”, as you term it, overflowing on Sri Lankan soil. India has a multi-faceted relationship with Sri Lanka which stands on its own merits. Our relationship with Pakistan does not hyphenate our relations with Sri Lanka. On a regional note may I add that as members of SAARC, all of the countries in this region need to work together in the cause of economic development, countering terrorism, and eliminating poverty.

We know that India has woken up again to the Sri Lankan issue, and the official line is to keep lecturing about the need for a 'political settlement' to the northern insurgency. What about the need to eliminate terrorism from the sub-continent. Sri Lankans see contradictions in Indian foreign and domestic policy in dealing with terrorism.

Terrorism is a universal scourge, and we, both the Indians and Sri Lankans, are cooperating intensively within the United Nations, to see the conclusion of a Comprehensive Convention against International Terrorism. Our policy against terrorism, whether foreign or domestic, brooks no dilution or compromise. As far as the ethnic question in Sri Lanka is concerned, you are aware of the fact that the LTTE is a proscribed organization in India. We do not foster insurgency or instability in your country. Rather, we wish sincerely for peace to return once more to this beautiful island country of yours. Yours is a pluralistic society where many religions and languages and ethnicities have co-existed for centuries. The beauty of that fabric must never fade, for the strength of Sri Lanka resides in that diversity. We stand firmly for the unity, the sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and for a solution to the ethnic issue that preserves this unity while accommodating the interests of the minorities under arrangements that provide for maximum devolution.

How do you deal with Sri Lankan contradictions where on the one side they want India to ' Do something' about the northern insurgency, and on the other, they want India 'Not to interfere'.

I believe we understand Sri Lanka clearly and that we feel a great deal of empathy with all of your people. It is a complex situation that you face and there are no easy solutions. Therefore, these “contradictions” as you call them, are not difficult to comprehend. Let me assure you that India remains your closest neighbour and best friend.

In a bid to counter the JVP’s fundamental rights petitions that seek to de-merge the North and East, Tamil entities of voluntary socio-religious organisations yesterday filed intervenient petitions in the Supreme Court. Kadirgamathamby Thambiaiyah of Trincomalee, Vettivel Jayanathan and N.Thillaiyampalam of Amparai districts filed their counter petitions.The leader of the United Socialist Party (USP), Sirutunga Jayasuriya has already filed one too.Petitioner Thambiaiyah who has for the last 40 years taken an active interest in political affairs of Tamil people is an active member of Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi, known as Federal Party and in his petition says that the claim of Nekathgedera Wijesekera of the JVP to have polled the highest number of preferential votes in Trincomalee at the last General Elections, was false.

He contends that the highest number of preferential votes in the Trincomalee district was obtained by a Tamil candidate from the ITAK and that another Tamil candidate from the SLMC polled more preferential votes than the petitioner, Wijesekera.He states that the renowned ‘Thiru Koneswaram’ temple has been referred to as ‘Thakshinakailas’ in the “Puranas” (the Hindu Texts from time immemorial) and Hindu Saints Thiru Gnanasambanthan, Arunagirinathar and many others have sung the praises of the Temple from the 7th Century onwards.He cites Dr Paul Peiris, the famous Sinhala Historian as stating, “Long before the arrival of Vijaya, there was in Lanka, five recognised Isvarams of Siva, which claimed and received the adoration of all India. These were: ‘Thirukoneswaram opposite the great bay…’

He claims that the Northern and Eastern Provinces have been traditionally recognised as Tamil speaking areas well before colonisation and have remained so even after independence.He states that the Bandaranaike – Chelvanayagam Pact, in recognition of this fact provided for the creation of Regional Councils beyond Provincial boundaries.He contends that the provisions for the language of the courts and the governmental administration for the Eastern Province under both the 1972 and 1978 Constitution, which were enacted without the participation of the Tamils, accept this fact and have made Tamil, the language of official administration of the Eastern Province.He maintains that this is a clear indication that the Tamil speaking people are the clear overwhelming majority in the Eastern Province and are the historical habitants of the Eastern Province.

He says that according to the government census of 1921, Tamil people constituted an absolute majority in every district in the Northern and Eastern Provinces; Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. (Ampara district was part of Batticaloa).He states that in 1827, the Sinhala populace of the Eastern Province amounted to a mere 0.53% of the population, whilst the Tamil speaking populace stood at 99.24%(Tamils – 74.52 and Muslims – 24.72) and contends that this statistic alone, is evidence of the Eastern Province being a place of historical habitation of the Tamils.In 1827, Trincomalee consisted of 81.52% Tamils, 16.93% Muslims and 1.53% Sinhalese and the capital of the Eastern Province is clearly and unquestionably a place of historical habitation of the Tamil people, he maintains.

He alleges that over the years, systematic state sponsored colonisation has taken place in the Eastern Province, with a view to erode the majority status enjoyed by the Tamils and relegate them to the status of a minority within their place of historical habitation.He points out that the Sinhala populace in the Eastern Province amounting to 0.53% in 1827 rose to 9.87% at the time of independence and stood at 24.92% in 1981; while the Tamil populace that formed 74.53% in 1827, had fallen to 42.13% in 1981.He contends that State-aided settlement of Sinhalese persons from other parts of the country on state lands in the Eastern Province, particularly in Trincomalee and Amparai, has resulted in the Tamils losing their status as the clear majority of persons in the Eastern Province.

He further states that the percentage of Muslim persons in the North – East will still be more than the percentage in the whole country.He maintains that state aided colonisation took place according to the law of the land, which required that citizens living in the vicinity of the State lands that were to be alienated be given preference. He alleges that this was a clear discrimination against the Tamil speaking people of the Eastern Province and is the single reason why the demographic composition of the Eastern Province has changed so drastically.

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers told the government on Friday to immediately withdraw from a rebel stronghold it seized this week or face war.The army captured the territory on the southern edge of the strategic Trincomalee harbour on Monday after days of artillery battles. It was the first major capture of territory by either side since a 2002 ceasefire."We perceive the Sri Lankan armed forces occupying our territory as tantamount to a declaration of war," S. Puleedevan, head of the rebels' peace secretariat, told Reuters.He said the Tigers would launch a counter-attack and "evict" the army from Sampur if it did not withdraw immediately, adding that the ceasefire agreement was "in tatters".

"The conflict is already widening all over the northeast, the Tamil homeland," Puleedevan said by satellite phone."So far, we have tried very hard to maintain restraint, not to launch offensive attacks, but there are limits."Until now, and despite heavy fighting in recent weeks, the government and the rebels had been insisting that they continued to stand by the terms of a 2002 truce.But the foes blame each other for trying to force a full-scale return to a war that has killed more than 65,000 people since 1983.On Wednesday, the rebels' political chief met the Norwegian ambassador and mediator Hans Brattskar in the northern town of Kilinochchi and said the ceasefire had effectively been destroyed by the seizure of Sampur."By this occupation, the government of Sri Lanka has brought an end to the ceasefire agreement," S.P. Thamilselvan was quoted as telling the ambassador, according to the rebels' Web site.

The government was also putting Tamil civilians "through absolute misery by the bombings and shelling and other forms of violence", the Web site quoted Thamilselvan as saying."He warned that the Sinhala population will have to face the consequences soon," it said.The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had used their base at Sampur to shell a naval base in Trincomalee and disrupt a maritime supply route to the besieged, army-held Jaffna peninsula in the north.The latest episode in Sri Lanka's two-decade civil war began with air strikes on rebel territory in late July amid a dispute over a blocked water supply. The fighting then spread to Jaffna.

Hundreds of civilians, troops and Tiger fighters have been killed in the past month, and more than 200,000 people have been displaced and are living in refugee camps across the island's rural northeast.Fighting has died down around Sampur this week, and thousands of civilians used the lull to return to the nearby Muslim fishing town of Muttur on Thursday.On Friday, a policeman and six civilians, including three schoolgirls, were wounded when a bomb concealed on a dead body exploded near the northern town of Vavuniya, the defence ministry said.The body was of a man abducted the day before by six people in a white van and shot, it said. His body was found abandoned in a three-wheel taxi, which exploded when police went to investigate.

Mahanayakes to visit Pakistan

The Mahanayake theras of the three Nikayas are scheduled to visit Pakistan from September 17 to 21, on an invitation of the Pakistani Government.A spokesman for the delegation said "The visit is sponsored purely to enhance the cultural relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. A whole host of Buddhist art and architecture as well as the ruins of ancient Buddhist Universities such as Thakshila are preserved in Pakistan. However, the Buddhist in Sri Lanka are not quite conversant with these places of religious and cultural interest. It is therefore hoped that this pioneering effort of the government will result in a better understanding of the cultural heritage of both our countries."

The Gampaha district UNP Parliamentarian, Mr.John Amaratunga leveled a serious allegation against the IGP last Wednesday at the parliament that it was the IGP who is behind the abductions of Tamil businessmen and extorting money from them.Taking part in the debate for the extension of the emergency Mr Amaratunga said that he is having serious doubts whether an era of abductions is surfacing again. While few journalists are abducted and murdered and abductions still continue to take place.Speaking about the abduction of Tamil businessmen Mr. Amaratunge said that it had created a fear psychosis among the business circle. Tamil businessmen continue to pay extortions but no action is taken by the police. There are several gangs that extort money and there are stories to the effect that the IGP is behind these gangs.

Nothing in heard about the investigations handed over to the CID. The police should act to solve the problems of the people. But in reality they aggravate matters.Further he said that monies amounting from 500,000 to millions have been extorted from Tamils and a businessman involved in the construction business has escaped being abducted by giving 100 million rupees. A famous food importer living in Colombo 07 was abducted in broad daylight and taken to Welikanda and the abductors have arrived in a vehicle similar to the variety used by politicians.

Gunmen storm into Uthayan office

Gunmen forced their way into the Jaffna offices of the Uthayan newspaper Thursday evening, threatened the staff and handed over a statement to be published in the newspaper, the Free Media Movement (FMM) said Friday. "The armed group had come on motorbikes. This incident took place during the curfew hours in Jaffna," the FMM said, quoting details from the Managing Director of the newspaper group, E. Saravanapavan. Police confirmed the incident.The gunmen warned the editorial staff of dire consequences if the statement is not published immediately, Saravanapavan, had said. His editorial staff is fear stricken after the incident at 7.45p.m. Thursday, he said. The Chief editor of Uthayan, Mr. M. V. Kamylnathan, told FMM that he is forced to carry the statement in next edition of Uthayan. Uthayan staff could not be reached to clarify the contents of the statement.

New York, September 8, 2006 - The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Sri Lankan authorities to fulfill their duty to protect the staff of the pro-Tamil Jaffna newspaper Uthayan, which was threatened and coerced on Thursday. The incident was the latest in a series of attacks and acts of intimidation against the newspaper. E. Saravanapavan, Uthayan's managing director, said two men, one brandishing a pistol, forced their way into the papers' offices around 7:45 p.m. The men threatened the staff with harm if they did not print a statement telling Jaffna students to call off a school boycott they were planning, Saravanapavan said. He said the men were among a group of six armed motorcyclists who arrived outside the newspaper's offices.

Saravanapavan said Uthayan's staff felt compelled to print the statement. He said the newspaper's efforts to get government protection have been ignored. "Please tell everyone that I have repeatedly asked the government for protection for my staff, and I have appealed to all of the high commissions and to everyone I can think of in civil society organizations to help us. The government has removed all protection from my staff, despite our repeated pleas for assistance," Saravanapavan told CPJ from Colombo. He said he had moved to the capital recently because he feared that he would be attacked if he continued to live and work in Jaffna. He said some Uthayan staffers, fearing for their lives, no longer ventured onto public streets and were living in the paper's offices.

Saravanapavan said he told the government's Civil Affairs Office in Jaffna that he suspects state agents were involved in the threat, but he said he was given no response. He said he based his suspicion on the fact that the motorcyclists traveled unfettered in a high-security area despite a government curfew. Officials in the Civil Affairs Office said they would not speak with CPJ about Saravanapavan's assertions. "We are greatly concerned about the safety of Uthayan's staff and the growing threat to all journalists in Sri Lanka's civil conflict," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. "It's past time for all parties in Sri Lanka's civil conflict to respect the lives and rights of all of the country's media workers. We also on call police and other government authorities to do their jobs by protecting all citizens, including these journalists."

The newspaper and its staff have been attacked three times already this year. Here are details:

- On August 19, warehouses containing Uthayan's printing equipment were burned to the ground. Four days earlier, on August 15, an Uthayan driver was killed in Jaffna. See CPJ's August 21 alert.

- On May 2, five masked gunmen killed two employees and wounded at least two others, one seriously, when they sprayed the paper's Jaffna office with automatic weapons fire. See CPJ's May 2 alert.

In an open letter on February 22, CPJ called on all parties in Sri Lanka's civil conflict to recognize that even journalists who choose political sides are not valid targets for arrest or abuse. "We urge all sides to make a commitment to ensure that journalists are able to carry out their duties without fear of intimidation or reprisal," CPJ said in its message to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leader Anton Balasingham, and members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, who are overseeing the 2002 ceasefire.

Proposals to solve Sri Lanka's ethnic problem to be presented to SLFP central committee

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party's (SLFP's) proposal to solve the country's ethnic problem has been finalised and will be presented to the party central committee within three weeks, SLFP sources say. The party committee that was appointed to compile the proposal has handed over the draft to SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena. It will be discussed in the next session of the party central committee. The SLFP committee was comprised of Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake (chairman), Maithripala Sirisena, Prof. Vishwa Warnapala, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Alavi Moulana, W.D.J. Senevirathna, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha and Dilan Perera.

A top level delegation of the Muslims Peace Secretariat (PSM) held talks with Minister Erik Solheim and special peace envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer in Oslo on Thursday, PSM sources said.The three-member delegation comprising PSM Chairman A.M. Faiz and Directors M.H.M. Salman and Abul Kalam had briefed Mr. Solheim and Mr. Bauer on the grievances of the displaced Mutur Muslims and the security issues of those who have returned from Kantale.The PSM delegation explained to the Norwegian facilitators the growing concerns of the Muslims, their economic interests and the regular targeting of the Muslims.The delegates also emphasized the need to open dialogue between the LTTE and the Muslims to thrash out these contentious issues.Mr. Solheim and Mr. Bauer informed the PSM delegation they fully understood the grievances of the Muslim community especially in the face of the recent mass displacement and would seek opportunities to initiate talks between the Muslims and the LTTE..

The triumph of Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) soldiers is being celebrated in the power corridors of Colombo and Sri Jaywardenapura.An orchestrated campaign to project Sampoor as a famous victory to the “Sinhala” South is on. This campaign obviously has not taken some salient factors into account.There is some confusion about Sampoor. The small town by that name was vacated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Sunday September 3rd night. The soldiers moved in cautiously on the morning of Monday Sep 4th and by noon had brought it under full control. The LTTE had its Trincomalee district headquarters, military head camp, Political office iin Sampoor. There were also other tiger institutions like a Police station, courthouse, bank, tax office etc. By these standards the armed forces have certainly succeeded in delivering a powerful blow to the LTTE.But it is not a knock out punch. The tigers are down but not out.

The Sampoor region of more than 19 square miles is not fully under army control yet. The LTTE in its missive to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission(SLMM) states that 75% of Sampoor region has been taken over by the army. This means that 25% of the area is dominated by the LTTE still or has not been brought under the control of the army yet.While most of the media accepted GOSL version of Sampoor being conquered and projected an impression that the LTTE was defeated the tiger political commissar for Trincomalee , S. Elilan said that the tigers were present in Sampoor region and that the fighting had not ended.

What has happened is that the armed forces have brought some seven places in the region under control. They are Sampoor town, Kattaiparichan, Senaiyoor, Kadatkaraichenai, Koonitheevu, Ambalnagar and Ganeshapuram. Most of these areas are in the littoral of Muthur East. Apart from remaining areas of Sampoor region (25%) most of the hinterland areas of the Muthur East division in Trincomalee district are still dominated by the LTTE.The armed forces are still engaged in bringing the rest of Sampoor under control. They also have to take over much more territory in Muthur East and secure the region.

The tigers may have transported their artillery to the Verugal - Vaaharai region and also pulled out cadres and military assets from Sampoor region. But they have certainly not quit the place entirely. The LTTE has certainly not “fled” the area as the state media would have us believe. The armed forces realised this when they went about the task of consolidating and securing the captured areas and outlying areas.Tranquility in the war ravaged Muthur East region was shattered on Tuesday September 5th as fierce fighting erupted again in three places including Sampoor .

GOSL troops and LTTE cadres were engaged in artillery and field - artillery fire intermittently for several hours. Sri Lankan navy personnel who landed at Foul Point and hoisted the Sword bearing Lion flag at the lighthouse were also involved in further operations to take over Ilakkanthai and Soodaikkuda. It is not known whether the tigers resisted these coastal landing attempts or not.Even earlier on Monday Sep 4th when the LTTE vacated Sampoor and GOSL soldiers moved in to Sampooor town and outlying areas the tigers fired artillery at the Selvanagar camp and killed two security personnel and injured a few others.

On Tuesday Sep 5th morning at about 7. am troops from Selvanagar camp moved out but faced intense artillery fire from the LTTE . Soldiers fired back with field artillery and from battle tanks and armoured cars.After heavy exchanges of fire the soldiers returned to base at about 8.30 am. They had suffered four deaths and thirteen injuries. The amount of LTTE casualties were not knowm After a few hours of “lull” artillery firing commenced again in the afternoon at Selvanagar. This continued late into the night.Meanwhile GOSL troops also commenced two ground based drives at about 8 am from Sampoor and Pallikkudiyiruppu. Troops from Pallikkudiyoruppu tried to move into Pattalipuram from one direction.

Troops from Sampoor tried to move forwad in two directions. One formation tried to go around the coastal bend towards Ilakkanthai. The other formation thrust itself through Senaiyoor to Pattalipuram from another direction.LTTE cadres who had supposedly vacated the region sprung a surprise when they commenced retaliatory artillery fire. Troops also fired back and returned to previous positions after a while. Both sides however engaged in sporadic artillery fire till evening.The casualty rates of fighting in Sampoor and Pallikkudiyiruppu are not known. Fighting in these areas was restricted to artillery firing. There was no direct fighting.

On Wednesday Sep 6th both sides were engaged in sporadic artillery fire at Selvanagar and Pallikkudiyiruppu. According to Army sources about 30 to 35 soldiers were injured on both days. The condition of three was critical.

” AS SIXTEEN MORE BUSES with a few hundreds of displaced Muslims and Tamils in MUTTUR and its suburbs left for their original homesteads this morning (06) after they volunteered to return and resettle following entry of troops into liberated areas, troops were still actively engaged in clearing SAMPOOR and the east of SELVANAGAR areas in TRINCOMALEE

At the break of the dusk on Tuesday (05) terrorists operating from PALLUKUDIYARUPPU area began to fire shells on troops clearing the areas in SAMPOOR. Terrorist fire struck soldiers in the area claiming the life of a soldier. At least 31 members of the Armed Forces received injuries in LTTE direct and indirect fire in hostilities on Tuesday (05) but troops repulsed the enemy attacks with retaliatory fire. “.What the euphoria (both spontaneous and engineered) surrounding Sampoor’s fall has failed to realise is the actual ground condition in Muthur East.

The security forces need to bring a swathe of territory ranging from Kattaiparichan to Ilakkanthai under full control. Thereafter a high security zone (HSZ)has to be established. This is the only way for the security forces to retain control of the Muthur - Sampoor - Foul Point - Ilakkanthai coastline. If safeguarding Trincomalee and China Bay from LTTE long range artillery attacks is the objective of the Sampoor operation then setting up a HSZ becomes essential. Otherwise LTTE infiltration would be possible. The negative aspect of this highly militarised perspective is that the displaced 17.000 Tamils from the area have little chance of returning home.

Like the original and rightful inhabitants of lands coming under HSZ areas in the North - East these people too would be “permanently” displaced persons. Their traditional homeland would be usurped by interlopers in uniform. State sponsored “ethnic cleansing” continues in the name of security.Interestingly the GOSL troops were engaged in fighting with the tigers on three fronts including Sampoor when cabinet spokesperson on Defence Affairs Keheliya Rambukwella was stating in Colombo that there would be no war in Sampoor. He said that there would be no more offensives and that the Government was only interested in peace. Rambukwella however seems to have stated a bitter truth when he said at the press briefing that taking control of Sampoor was not a “Victory”.

Given the recent past where GOSL troops managed to drive the LTTE away through superior manpower and firepower there seems little doubt that they will at some point succeed in clearing target areas of tigers and Tamils and set up a high security zone. The moot question however is whether that “success” would bring peace and normalcy back.In the first place normalcy can never be achieved until the displaced people are back in their habitat. This seems impossible as setting up a HSZ means the displaced can never return. With an increase in security camps being very likely perpetual conflict is very much on the cards.

Lasting peace can be achieved only when the Tamil National question is resolved on the basis of justice and equality. The inalienable Tamil right to self - determination, nationhood and historic homeland has to recognized . Likewise the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka has to be recognized.Sovereignty could be “shared”. The structure of the Sri Lankan state has to be altered where Federalism is enshrined. . Democracy, pluralism and Human Rights have to be guaranteed .The Muslims have to be granted equal statusUnless this “distant dream” is achieved there can never ever be lasting peace on the Island.Until then strife is certain with interspersed phases of “no war no peace”.

As for the current reality of the East the “conquest” of Sampoor does not guarantee peace or tranquility. The clearing and consolidation of captured areas as well as attempts to acquire fresh adjacent areas will be resisted by the tigers. Since the LTTE vacated Sampoor with almost all its personnel and military assets intact the tigers launching fresh assaults or infiltration attacks cannot be ruled out.If this is the micro - situation there is the macro - situation too. This column has on previous occasions referred to the hidden agenda of the Rajapakse regime. That agenda envisages greater control of the East. Therefore prolonged war is a definite prospect.The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has called for the expulsion of the LTTE from the Eastern Province

Though President Mahinda Rajapakse assured the four co - chairs that Sampoor was a limited operation intended to remove the security threat to Trincomalee subsequent events are proving that Colombo is on a military push in Muthur East.Despite taking control of LTTE vacated Sampoor the GOSL seems determined to continue the war until more areas are captured and consolidated. Signs of spreading conflict can be seen in other areas of the Seruwila and Eechilampattru divisions. Both the GOSL and LTTE are firing long range artillery at each other in the Maavilaaru - Kallaaru and Verugal - Vaaharai regions.

Forces from the Kallaru camp in Seruwila division of Trincomalee district commenced Multi - Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire at noon on Tuesday September 6th killing three and injuring eleven Tamil civilians.Kallaru is the premier army installation in the region with Deputy military commander Maj. Gen Nanda Mallawaratchy being stationed at Kallaru to oversee the Sampoor military campaign.Troops fired MBRL barrages at 12. 30 pm towards the Trincomalee - Batticaloa border areas.Firing continued for about 40 minutes.Rocket shells hit the Verugal area in Trincomalee district and Kathiraveli, Paalsenai and Vaaharai areas in Batticaloa district.

The region is full of people displaced from other areas in Trincomalee who fled here in search of refuge due to intense bombardment and artillery attacks.More than 50,000 displaced persons have sought refuge in Batticaloa district and Verugal.Two women were killed and seven other displaced civilians injured when shells fell on a makeshift refugee camp in Verugal.The names of affected persons were not known.One person was killed and four injured when MBRL fire hit another makeshift refigee camp in Kathiraweli in Batticaloa district. Fortunately a team of ICRC Red Cross was nearby and provided prompt assistance.

The ICRC took the injured Internally displaced persons to Vaalaichenai hospital in their vehicle. Of these three critically injured people were taken by ICRC officials to Batticaloa hospital.One person succumbed to his injuries. His name was Subramaniam Mahendrarajah. The 45 year old man had worked as a lorry driver at Eechilampattru cooperative before displacement.The injured people receiving treatment at Batticaloa are M. Arulchelvam (38) and S. Inthira (32).

The Government on the other hand has accused the LTTE of firing artillery from Verugal region towards newly established camps in the Maavilaaru region. Two men were killed and 18 injured in two days of shelling by the tigers.It appears that some of the artillery shifted from Sampoor to Verugal - Vaaharai are being used by the LTTE.The shelling from Kallaru camp came as a shock because the fighting was expected to subside after Sampoor was retaken by the GOSL. The shelling makes people fear that some more military offensives seem to be on the cards. The Government may intend clearing the Verugal - Vaaharai region of tigers in the days to come.

As in the case of Maavilaaru where shelling and bombing continued even after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had opened the sluice gates GOSL attacks on civilian targets are likely to continue despite Sampoor being retaken. The raison d’etre would be that of “neutralising’ the LTTE artillery in the Verugal - Vaaharai region. Advances could be made from the Batticaloa sid