27AUGUST 2005

Sri Lanka presidential election will be held on November 18th?
As the Supreme Court battle over the presidential election ends, the Commissioner of Elections is planning to hold the next presidential election on November 18, Election Secretariat sources revealed.

“We have sent the relevant gazette notification to the government printer,” the sources added. It is learned that nominations will be accept until October 15 for the presidential election.

Sources from the Election Secretariat also revealed that the 2004 voter register will be used for this election and hence it will include three hundred thousand new votes.

Meanwhile, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has summoned all assistant Election Commissioners to his office on Tuesday, August 30.

S.Lanka rupee falls after election ruling

The Sri Lankan rupee ended lower on Friday as investors covered short dollar positions after the Supreme Court decision ruled a presidential election should be held in 2005.

The rupee closed at 100.91 per dollar, compared to Thursday's close at 100.83.

"The market was looking at the decision to hold an election. That had an impact on the market," said one foreign exchange dealer in Colombo. "There were people who had a short (dollar) position and wanted to cover it," she added.

The court ruling was a victory for the political foes of outgoing President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who wanted to stay in power for another year.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his predecessor and main opposition United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, will now go head-to-head for the presidency.

We respect the Supreme Court's judgment" - Sri Lanka govt

Government spokesperson Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva says the Sri Lankan government respects and will act in accordance with the Supreme Court decision on the next presidential election date.

Speaking to LankaPage, he said the government will do whatever possible to facilitate the country’s highest court’s judgment, though that decision was not favorable to the SLFP’s wishes.

“We need to have this President another one year but Court decision differs from that. However, we can have a new President but from the same party, SLFP,” he added.

Legal battle ends, now the ballot

Supreme Court gives clear-cut order for presidential polls this year

After months of confusion, conflicting claims and contradictions, the Supreme Court in a much awaited judgement yesterday put the country on a fast clear track towards presidential elections before November 22 this year.

A five-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva in a unanimous verdict told a packed and heavily guarded court that the much disputed election must be held between October 22 and November 22 this year in terms of the Constitution.

Reading out the judgement which went against President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s repeated insistence that the next Presidential election was due only next year, the Chief Justice said that in terms of the constitution’s Article 31(3A) (d) (i) the President had taken her oath for the second term on December 22, 1999 and thus her second and final term must end this year.

On that basis the Court directed Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake to take steps to conduct the presidential election this year.

Yesterday’s judgement which could change the course of Sri Lanka’s political history was given on a fundamental rights violation petition filed by JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera who asked the Court for a binding declaration that the presidential election be held this year.

In terms of Article 129 of the Constitution President Kumaratunga had on August 2 referred this dispute to the Court for an advisory opinion but the judges did not give one.

Yesterday’s verdict by the Court came after the Elections Commissioner informed it last Monday his view was that the next presidential election should be held this year and that he would make an announcement soon. After yesterday’s Court judgement the Elections Commissioner was quoted by Reuter news agency as saying, “It is dead sure the election will be this year but I am not ready to announce dates right now”.

The other judges on the Bench which gave yesterday’s landmark verdict were Justices Nihal Jayasinghe, N.K. Udalagama, N.E. Dissanayake and N.G. Amaratunga.

As President Kumaratunga’s 11-year reign as Chief Executive neared its end, opposition supporters cheered on the streets and lit fire-crackers outside the Hulftsdorp Courts and in various parts of the country.

Opposition UNP leader and presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe had led the campaign to ensure that the presidential election is held this year. His party conducted a massive Jana Bala Meheyuma for this purpose last month and on Wednesday the party handed over a petition signed by one million people urging the Elections Commissioner to announce the order for the elections to be held this year.

The ruling SLFP has named Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse as its presidential candidate and he too has put his campaign into full gear though there were widespread reports yesterday that the President might dissolve parliament and call a snap parliamentary general election – the fourth within five years – before the presidential election.

Ms. Kumaratunga had argued that a left-over year from her first term should mean she could stay in office until late 2006.

She was first elected in 1994 and instead of completing the first six-year term, called a snap poll in 1999.

The chief justice, who is a personal appointee of the President, however ruled that her second and final term will end on December 21 this year.

Mixed reactions by the people...

People on the streets of the capital Colombo yesterday welcomed the Supreme Court judgment maintaining that a presidential election should be held this year.

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva yesterday decided that the second term of President Chandrika Kumaratunga ended in 2005. The bench ordered Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake to announce the date of the poll.

The Daily Mirror took to the streets soon after the court decision to ascertain the views of the general public about the judgment and the prospect of an election this year. A majority favoured the decision of the courts with many of them already speculating on the outcome of the poll.

A.Gangatharan, a lawyer, from Colombo expressed jubilation on the judgment. He emphasised that the Presidential election should be held first rather than the general election. He predicts that at both the Presidential and general elections, the incumbent chief opposition party the UNP would have better chance.

Assistant Security Officer S.A. Sooriyasena is stationed at the entrance to the Public Library Colombo. Sooriyasena swears that he has no party affiliations and says that he believes there is a crying need in the country for an election right now.

“An election is perfectly justified. A person can’t hold on to power forever like this. The second swearing in was totally wrong. We need an alternative now, there has been a shifting of power from one Walawwa to the other for so many years and both have taken the country for fools. I think it is time for alternative leadership. It is time for a new Walawwa to come into the picture. That is why I think people will vote for the Prime Minister. I say this without party bias. We need new blood. The prime minister understands the poor man’s heart. He can’t state a clear position on anything right now because he is trapped on all sides. If he opens his mouth he will be stabbed in the back by his own party people. But when he gets to a position of authority, he will do so. I think the people have enough faith in him to wait for that day. This country doesn’t have a war, it has a problem of poverty,” said the security officer.

Seyyed Fathahullah Moulana, a travel agent from Kolonnawa, says that the news of a Presidential Election this year was wonderful. He says that regarding the present situation of the country and the distress it is in, an election was inevitable and that it is the most appropriate and sensible decision. He also points out that of the six years of Ranil’s term only around two was actually given to him to fulfil his vision, and that judging by the progress he made in those two years, he would have achieved more if he was given his entire term. According to him, the foundation to the success of Sri Lanka, and the solution to most of the problems we have been facing had been laid, and that if Ranil comes into power, he can build on his past endeavours and improve the situation in Sri Lanka.

J.A. Sarath is a three-wheel driver from Dematagoda. He feels that the court decision ordering an election this year means that justice has prevailed.

“In this situation, there has to be an election one way or the other. Justice has to prevail in the country. People can’t stay in power as long as they want. An election is what the people want. You only had to watch TV in recent times and see what the people really want. So an election is a must. As for the outcome, it is most likely that the Prime Minister will win,” Sarath predicted.

William Sunil Siri Bandara an elderly man said that the judgment was a good one as the presidential election should be held this year. Postponing it would be unfair by the people. Regarding holding a general election before the presidential he said that it was best that it is held next year after the local government poll after determining the out come of it. He was of the opinion that Ranil Wickemesinghe is ahead of his rival Mahinda Rajapakse as the living conditions of the people have declined under the present administration.

Librarian, Public Library, Colombo, Mrs. C. Kannangara, had a different opinion.

“An election must be held. That is the right decision. I think it is likely Ranil Wickremesinghe will win. Right now, the country seems to be almost anarchic. We are living for the day, a hand to mouth existence. We need a new leadership, someone with a plan. This country needs a vision.”

M. Kanthi owner of a small shop in Colombo 2 also welcomed the decision as she thought that the greater percentage of the people preferred to have the presidential elections this year. She also spoke in favour of holding a general election as well so that the people will be able to elect a new administration. Kanthi preferred Ranil Wickremasinghe as he had consolidated his position during the last few months. “ Any one who is voted in should work for the country, “ she pointed out.

Sarath Sirimalwattege who is a government employee had a different opinion as he said that an election should give some benefit for the people. “It seems that holding elections this year will not benefit people in any way,” he said. He was of the opinion that Mahinda Rajapakse should be given a chance to govern the country so that people could test him.

S. Nalainee who is the Assistant Sales Manager of Bluescope Bysaght Ltd while welcoming the decision to hold Presidential elections this year said she’s of the opinion that country should be handed over to the UNP. “In that case I and most of my friends in the company prefer Ranil Wickremesinghe as the next President,” she said.

Mala Saundravel a 53-year-old housewife from Kelaniya said the government has failed to bring down the cost of living so far. “I don’t think Mahinda Rajapakse would be able to make much of a difference from the present government. I’m sure Ranil Wickremesinghe will win in the upcoming Presidential election,” she said.

K. Subhaschandra Bose, former diplomat, said it is high time that the Presidential election should be held in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. He said the people of the country want a change in the political situation and a change through the Presidential election. People are eagerly waiting for a Presidential election, he maintained. He said that the decision of the Supreme Court is appropriate and correct. He expressed consternation that the general public seemed to be aghast as there was an expectation that the Parliament would have been dissolved and the general election be held before the Presidential election.

What the people of the country want at present is not the general election but the Presidential election first. He is optimistic that the UNP has more plus points to win the election.

A.M.I.Thowfeek, sole proprietor of a pharmacy in Pamankada, said an election would bring the country back on the right track, as it was during the UNP regime. He said Ranil is an important factor to kick-start the peace process and the crippled economy. He also said that most citizens of Sri Lanka are fed up with the current government and that Mahinda, as rival candidate, is part of it, and thus the chances are highly unlikely that he would win this year’s elections.

Bank Executive E. Gunaratnam

Mr. Ranil Wickremesighe will win at the forthcoming election. I predict that with his capability for leadership, where he has already proven as Prime Minister, and also where holding portfolios as Minister of Industries and even as Minister of Education as shown in his past track. In his past records he had proven the capability of efficiently handling the International as well as the domestic affairs. People will vote for a leader, whom they will expect that these two fields will carry out well a balanced and also take correct decisions at the right time for the betterment of the people, who live in this country.

K. Bharathi - A member of Mutuval Anglican said

“Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe will win. He started his campaign for the forthcoming Presidential election far ahead of time. Mr. Wickremesinghe was able to hold talks with the LTTE and put a strong foundation to continue peace talks by signing the ceasefire agreement.

There is a chance of peace dawning on our nation under his leadership. During talks with the LTTE, he obtained the international community’s support. He will be able to offer good leadership to the people.

TNA to move motion in parliament condemning Tamil journalist attack
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided to move an adjournment motion in parliament Friday condemning the attack on Mr.Yathurshan Premachchandran, a trainee photo-journalist of a Colombo Tamil daily Sudar Oli when he was covering the JVP demonstration held in front of the Fort railway Station Tuesday afternoon. TNA parliamentary group has given notice to this effect to the Speaker Wednesday. The Speaker has agreed for a debate on this issue, TNA sources said.

Meanwhile five media institutions representing journalists of all three communities are scheduled to hold demonstration Friday in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station condemning the assault by a group of JVP activists on Mr.Yathurshan Premachchandran.

The adjournment motion in the parliament will be moved by Mr.Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Jaffna district TNA parliamentarian and seconded by Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Telo Leader and Vanni district TNA parliamentarian, TNA sources said.
Trinco students to protest against SLA presence around schools

Trincomalee District Tamil Students Forum (TDTSF) has called Tamil speaking students for a token boycott of classes on Monday in protest to the presence of Sri Lanka Army troops in large number surrounding schools in the Trincomalee town thus violating the ceasefire agreement. Trincomalee has become a garrisoned city following the unlawful erection of Buddha statue, sources said.

TDTSF sources said boycott is confined only to schools functioning at present in the Trincomalee town and not a general shutdown covering other fields.

Since the erection of Buddha statue in the vicinity of Trincomalee central bus stand on May 15, the Sri Lanka Army has deployed large number of troops in the east port town. Troops are seen in every nook and corner of the town conducting cordon and search operation at random, civil sources said.

Soldiers are deployed surrounding several schools including leading institutions such as Trincomalee Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College, Vipulananda College and Vikneswara Maha Vidiyalayam which are located in areas where only Tamils live.

Buddhist flags flutter surrounding the site where the Buddha statue is installed and guarded by soldiers, sources said.

Committee to look into shortcomings of N-E schools
PRESIDENT Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said a Ministry Committee will be appointed to look into shortcomings in education in the North and East and alleged irregularities in giving permanency to volunteer teachers.

This follows representations by TNA MPs to President Kumaratunga during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat on August 25.

North-East Governor Tyronne Fernando, Parliamentarians representing the North and East. President's Secretary, University officials and senior officers of the Education Ministry participated.

TNA members, though invited did not attend the meeting.

President Kumaratunga also said allocations have already been made under the Navodya Schools Program involving 748 schools islandwide to remedy shortcomings.

Political representatives of the respective provinces will be required to supervise the activities. With regard to teacher shortage in these areas, the President said this condition rose as a result of not conducting the examinations to recruit officers to the educational administrative service regularly and that steps have be taken to hold these examinations soon to fill existing vacancies.

Thenmaradchchi residents complain army harassment

Members of the Sri Lanka Army Intelligence Unit stationed in Thenmaradchchi division in Jaffna district are reportedly harassing the residents whom they consider supporters of LTTE, human rights activists have complained to civil authorities.

Army intelligence personnel visit houses of selected residents and threatening inmates in harsh language for supporting LTTE, sources said.

In another incident that took place Friday a group of soldiers surrounded a house where a member of Thamileelam Students Forum has been staying and warned him severely. The matter was immediately brought to the notice of Mr.S.Gajendran, Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian. Mr.Gajendran later went to Chavakachcheri and met with civil leaders of the areas. He condemned the SLA action, sources said.

SLA bans outsiders entering Manatkadu at night
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has imposed ban on outsiders from entering Manatkadu area in Vadamaradchchi east division in the Jaffna district after 9 p.m. Only the residents of Manatkadu would be allowed to enter the village during night hours, security sources said.

Members of public from other villages are turned away by SLA soldiers manning the checkpoint at Vilankadu Junction road, which leads to Manatkadu, civil sources said.

Meanwhile, security forces stationed in the area are seen strengthening the checkpoints and bunkers of the SLA located in the coastal areas of Vadamaradchchi division, sources said.

Twenty-one suspects arrested from lodges

Police arrested 21 suspects following a sudden cordon and search operation conducted in Colombo lodges on Wednesday night.

They were taken in from lodges in Modera, Grandpass, Maradana, Bambalapitiya, Pettah and Fort police divisions, security sources said yesterday.

Some of them who admitted to be LTTE deserters told the police that they arrived in Colombo to go abroad. Others said they had given up arms and wanted to find jobs.

Police said that legal action would be taken against the lodge owners who harboured these suspects for a long period of time without informing the police. The lodge owners in Colombo and suburbs had been mandated by police to inform of any suspicious clients and of persons staying longer than two weeks in their lodges.

Police said that there was a sudden upsurge of youth from the North and the East arriving in Colombo in search of jobs.

Police intensified the raid on lodges following the killing of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar .

India underlines need for durable political situation in Sri Lanka

Indian External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh has stressed the need to find a durable political solution that would keep intact the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and guaranteed the fundamental rights of all individuals in that country.

He made the remark Friday when meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Anura Bandaranaike who is currently visiting India.

Bandaranaike is on his first mission abroad after taking the charge of Sri Lanka's Foreign Affairs Minister, following the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar earlier this month. During the meeting, he exchanged views with Singh on how to further strengthen the existing excellent India-Sri Lanka relations.

The Sri Lankan minister, who is President Chandrika Kumaratunga's brother, briefed his counterpart on Colombo's assessment of the post-assassination situation and the status of the ceasefire agreement between Colombo and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE).

Singh has affirmed New Delhi's support for the process of seeking a comprehensive and negotiated settlement acceptable to all communities and which reflects the pluralistic nature of Sri Lankan society within the framework of a united and democratic Sri Lanka.

He stressed the need to maintain peace through respect for ceasefire agreement and underpinned the importance to deliver speedy and effective relief and rehabilitation for all the affected people, including in the north-east. Enditem

Emergency’ back again – Tamil Homeland trepidates
“Viduthalaippuligal”, LTTE’s official organ –July-August 2005

The state of ‘Emergency’ brought into effect now, is a subtle and horrendous strategy authorising the ‘Sinhala’ State forces to suppress the Tamil freedom struggle. During the last two decades and many times before, this piece of legislation has been ruthlessly made use of with meticulous precision by Colombo in enforcing ‘wild governance’ in the occupied areas of the Tamil homeland. Taking away peace from the Tamil people, this ‘piece’ from the Sri Lankan ‘book’, has caused the deaths of several thousands of their brethren and did provide immunity to the occupying forces to illegally arrest, detain, torture and make many of them just numeric in the list of ‘disappeared’.

The government of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has brought the whole island under a state of emergency at a time when there is an environment of relative peace. A State of emergency and a Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) are two situations that cannot prevail concurrently. Proclamation of emergency therefore, has placed the CFA in grave risk.

The holistic intent of the CFA is to ‘remove’ the cloud of war in the Tamil homeland and bring about an environment that could be called peaceful. It is such a situation that would create an environment conducive for political negotiations. And, the peace process gets a fillip only in such an atmosphere, a matter that was comprehended and mutually agreed upon by the parties to the CFA.

But, the government of CBK, consequent to the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar, proclaimed a state of emergency and by extension, has created a war panic. Kadirgamar was killed in the capital city of Colombo, that too, in a High Security Zone. To apprehend assassin/s in such circumstances, is to bring about a sudden halt to all traffic in the city, may be after declaring a curfew and carry out a search operation. That is the most realistic exercise.

Reality being that, one smells a political intent behind the declaration of emergency this time round and therefore rejects the simplistic explanation that it is to apprehend the culprits. It is very clear that there is a political agenda ‘necessitating’ the declaration of emergency. CFA, it is apparent, is the target of the ‘guns’ of emergency. Similar to the fate of P-TOMS that has been sent into a state of paralysis in the Sri Lankan judicial exercise, the emergency has pushed the CFA into grave risk and the service of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) meaningless.

Hot on the heels of the declaration of emergency, a disabled, right arm amputee LTTE member has been ‘arrested’, but in actuality abducted, by the occupying military in Jaffna and taken to Colombo. The state of emergency precludes LTTE from discussing the matter with the military. Nor can the SLMM intervene in the matter. The state of emergency, as is usual in this island, provides to the forces, ample arbitrary powers to arrest, detain unlawfully, torture and kill. Tamil people are being arrested indiscriminately and at random all over the island. Large number of Tamils have been arrested and detained in Colombo. Fifteen women including two instructors, engaged in a vocational training project under the auspices of UNDP in Mannar, have been arrested by the forces without adducing any reasons. All in all, a tense and panicky situation is in the making in all parts of the Tamil homeland. Human rights activists here are powerless to be effective.

This time again, as history has witnessed several times in the past, all the Sinhala parties have extended their support to the government to ‘pass’ the bill, extended support only because it is aimed at suppressing the Tamil freedom struggle. This is a peculiar political phenomenon Tamil people are being asked to face again. It is this attitude that pushes the Tamil people into abject frustration, in that, whatever move, whoever initiate to bring peace, consolidates Sinhala parties to join hands in successfully nullifying it.

Talk about direct talks between the Government and the LTTE on strengthening the CFA, is on the air these days. If the state of emergency is to continue for long, something that is not unusual in Sri Lanka, one foresees a tragic situation in which even direct talks may not be of any use. It is therefore the yearning of all peace loving people that emergency should be lifted, and lifted immediately.

26 August 2005

Withdraw emergency immediately: TNA
An adjournment motion to withdraw the emergency was proposed by TNA MP G.G. Ponnambalam. On August 19, 2005 a Tamil Journalist, Subramaniam Ramesh who was the Mawathagama correspondent for the Tamil language daily “Virakesari” was arrested under the Emergency Regulations, but the arresting authority, Kurunegala police had refused to provide details about the reason for arrest, he said.

“On the August 20, 2005, the Tamil language daily “Sudar Oli” office situated in Wellawatte came under grenade attack. On the August 23, 2005, a journalist of the same newspaper who was covering a protest rally organized by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was severely assaulted allegedly by JVP activists, and the victim was subsequently handed over to the police who went on to arrest him.

“Similarly, since Emergency was promulgated on August 13, hundreds of Tamil civilians have been arrested, harassed and intimidated. Daily, the government controlled areas in the North and East and Tamil populated areas in the South have been subjected to mass arrests due to cordon-and-search operations.

“It has become amply clear that the Emergency Regulations is being systematically used against the Tamil people. This grave situation that has resulted in several human rights violations must be brought to an end without delay. Accordingly, it is urged that the Emergency that has been declared be withdrawn with immediate effect.”

Separate Muslim delegation: Govt. to decide soon
The government will announce plans soon regarding the participation of the Muslim community as a separate delegation during talks on the ceasefire agreement.

Responding to a question from the SLMC, Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva told parliament the government had not yet decided to field a separate Muslim delegation at the talks with the LTTE to review the ceasefire agreement.

He said President Chandrika Kumaratunga would decide on the matter and make the announcement soon.

SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem said under various declarations and venues the Muslims were promised the right to have a separate delegation and asked whether the government had any interest in having a separate Muslim delegation.

Anura B’s pilgrimage to India –Daily Mirror K. Godage
We are happy at his appointment and think that, it would be like a duck taking to water. He should make us proud of him, as we were of the late Mr Kadirgamar.

I am somewhat intrigued that, Mr Bandaranaike has decided to rush to India before his visit to China. Whoever his advisors maybe, they are dead wrong on this. If, I were to surmise, I would not put it beyond the Indian High Commission here, to have advised him, stating that Delhi would get the wrong signal if he does not visit India first and pay tribute to the gods of Delhi.

What may we ask has India done in recent years to help this country with regard to resolving our national problem, which it helped to create by arming and training Tamil militants and letting them loose on us? She has more than a moral obligation –someone may say, that morality does not enter into international relations. Be that as it may, 25-years after the India trained militants started the conflict, the blood soaked LTTE, with the help of the Norwegians in particular, and because of the sin of omission of India, has this country by its throat.

Our politicians, both of the UNP and the SLFP, keep rushing to India in a servile manner, to pay ‘pooja’ to the Delhi gods. They have become the laughing stock in Delhi, because we are seen to be absolutely subservient to such an extent that, they have lost respect for us. India may have the power and capacity to destabilize us once again, but would not do so, as she has, no doubt, abandoned the imperialist policy of Indira Gandhi. India also appears to be preoccupied with problems there, as well as in Bangladesh and Nepal in particular, to devote any time to causing us further harm.

President Chandrika Kumaratunge, after she assumed office as President, described our relationship with India and our predicament, most succinctly, in the following words “India is our immediate neighbour, with whom we have been inextricably linked by ties, the origins of which have long been lost in the mists of time. We have, with India, the broadest and deepest interaction that, we as a nation, could have with another State. India, therefore, possesses the capacity, given her vastly disparate strength and influence, to help or hinder to a great extent. In a word, the India factor is crucial to the existence of our nation. Forging and sustaining a mutually trusting and supportive friendship with India must, therefore, be, for us, not just a conscious and soundly judged policy, it is a natural and vital ingredient for our national well being.”

To my mind, Anura is wasting his time visiting India, which is not prepared to even sign an innocuous Defence Cooperation agreement with us, unless of course, he is carrying a meaningful message to Delhi that, we would co-sponsor the group, which includes India, in their bid for a permanent seat in the Security Council and in return that, India should sign the Defence Cooperation Agreement. He should also kiss the hand he cannot cut, by supporting the Sethusamudram project, which India is determined to carry out, for security and strategic reasons. There is nothing we can do about that. The best we could do in the circumstances is, to cut a deal, support the project and demand that she comes into Trincomalee and establishes a base there. We should also offer India exclusive rights on the use of Palaly. I cannot understand our reluctance to concede this, for it is a vital security prop for us and we lose no skin off our nose. If, despite all these concessions, India is not agree to reciprocate or, tries to proffer excuses, then, Foreign Minister Bandaranaike should visit Pakistan soon and sign a Defence Cooperation Agreement with them, for they are prepared to formalize the current defence arrangements we have with that country. We may also, perhaps, consider signing a similar agreement with China, merely to formalize the defence procurement arrangements, we have with that country. China may agree, for China’s interest in the South Asian region is growing (one reason for the Sethusamudram). The least India can do is to sign the long overdue Defence Cooperation Agreement with us. She should also take the initiative and do what is necessary, to bring the LTTE to heel.

Since India has concluded a strategic Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States and has cultivated the closest of relations with that country, the Minister could invite the United States, not only to sign the Cross Services Agreement with us, but also to take whatever steps are necessary with India, to end this insurgency in Sri Lanka. India has more than an obligation to do this. India could also demand of the Government and the UNP, that they immediately effect amendments to the Concurrent List in the 13th Amendment, to make a reality of the devolution, which they themselves initiated through the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987, to ensure peace with justice for the Tamils.

In conclusion, we do hope that India would not, in the Communiqué after the visit of Minister Bandaranaike, once again serve up that trite ‘manthare’ which they do, whenever Sri Lankan leaders visit their country. The ‘Mantara’ reads as follows.

”India supports the process of seeking a negotiated settlement acceptable to all sections of Sri Lankan society, within the framework of a united Sri Lanka and consistent with democracy, pluralism, and respect for individual rights… India maintains an abiding interest in the security of Sri Lanka and remains committed to its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

These words ring hollow, as they may have “an abiding interest in the security of Sri Lanka” but have done nothing to ensure it and end the insurgency, restore normalcy and establish peace and security in this, their own backyard

PM’s movements restricted?

The ruling coalition’s presidential candidate, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse’s security unit is giving serious consideration to restricting his movements following the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar at his Bullers Lane residence on August 12.

As part of the strategy the premier is likely to have public meetings at Temple Trees where a special platform is to be put up.

Karannagoda new Navy Chief?
Navy Commander Daya Sandagiri is to retire from his post next Wednesday but is likely to continue as Chief of Defence Staff, a highly placed military official said yesterday.

It is also learnt that following his retirement, Eastern Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, who is number three in the Navy, is likely to be named as the Navy Commander, bypassing current Chief of Staff Mohan Wijewickrema, who is number two in the Navy.

During a meeting held at President’s House yesterday between President Kumaratunga and the commanders of the three forces and the IGP, the matter had been taken up and it is learnt that the President had indicated her choice would be Rear Admiral Karannagoda.

New problems crop up over Norochcholai

New major problems have cropped up over the proposed Norochcholai Coal Power plant.

In addition to the Talawila shrine and cultivation in the Kalpitiya area as well as prawn farming and the Salterns at Palavi, heavy South-West monsoon winds are also capable of carrying the unrecovered fly ash as far as Anuradhapura and Trincomalee, said Mr. Mubarak from the Puttalam Peoples Forum.

He said the proposed Coal Power Plant, of 300 MW Capacity, would need to burn 2,640 tons of coal, which had many impurities and this would produce over 175 tons of fly ash every day.

"Even if 99 percent of the fly ash is recovered, around two tons of it will be blown inland continuously and would be carried far as Anuradhapura and Trincomalee," he said.

"The siting of the project at Trincomalee was abandoned due to the threat to the forest as well as tea plantations on the reverse wind blow direction. It was given high consideration due to the Sulphur Dioxide falling over the forests and plantation areas and when it rained, it turned out to be a major disaste," Mubarak said adding that if the fly ash was blown over the Anuradhapura area, even a few grams of Sulpher could settle on the Sacred Maha Bodhi. "What would be the consequences of a little dizzle over the area? Would it not be a wash with Sulpheric acid?" he queried.

"The diesel power plant, originally to be sited at Nelunkulama was shifted from Anuradhapura to Horana, due to the threat of warming of the air which could affect the Sacred Sri Maha Bodhi. This was done on the advice of botanical experts," he said.

"However, todays so-called experts and promoters guarantee no harm, no damage and no disaster. Have they considered the risk of sulpher impurities being blown inland by monsoon winds? If sacred places of worship are to be wiped out in the name of development, where are we heading to?, he asked.

There must be alternate places and alternate methods for the development of the country. Having a coal plant and losing the Sacred Maha Bodhi is definitely not for the Buddhists or for Sri Lanka, he concluded.

Missing fishermen produced in courts, normalcy restored in Vadamaradchi

Mr.Arthur Tveiten, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Trincomalee, on receipt of information his counterparts in Jaffna, met with the Sri Lanka Navy officials in Trincomalee regarding the release of the two fishermen in the custody of Sri Lanka Navy. The two persons were produced in Trincomalee Magistrate's Court Thursday morning by the Trincomalee Harbour Police. Magistrate Mr.S.Ramakamalan ordered the release of these two fishermen. The Magistrate further instructed the prison authorities to keep those fishermen in protective custody until September 1 till their relatives in Vadamaradchi arrive and take charge of them, legal sources said.

Trincomalee SLMM officials have now informed the Vadamaradchchi fisheries society President Mr.Suriyakumaran and the relatives about the release of the two fishermen and requested them to come to Trincomalee with necessary documents to take charge of them, SLMM sources said.

The SLN officials in their report had stated that one of their naval crafts on its way to Trincomalee spotted these fishermen in a boat which was drifting about fifty nautical miles off from the northern shore and picked up them and brought to eastern naval headquarters, legal sources said.

Mr.Michaelpillai Regian and Mr.Sathyaseelan, two fishermen of Manatkadu in Vadamaradchchi division in Jaffna district who were earlier reported missing in northern sea while fishing and later found to be in the custody of the Sri Lanka Navy and kept in detention in Trincomalee naval yard.

Anura wants Norway back in ‘post box’
Foreign Minister Anura Bandaranaike yesterday put his foot down against Norway—sounding more on the lines of slain Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar-- and warned the facilitator had far exceeded its role of “post box” in the country’s peace bid.

Taking an equally tough stand against the Tigers, Minister Bandaranaike said the LTTE was in the habit of killing political leaders, then agreeing for talks and unilaterally deciding that talks should be held in Oslo.

“It sounds like a tragicomedy”, the Minister said,

Hours before leaving for India Minister Bandaranaike told the Daily Mirror that Norwegian Special Envoy Erik Solheim had once told him personally that they were just playing a mere “post box” role in the peace effort, carrying messages to and from the government and the LTTE.

“But Norway has far superseded its role. The government will have to “seriously reconsider” the Norwegian facilitation” the Minister warned.

The late Minister Kadirgamar criticized the role played by Norway and his latest attack came in June this year when he told Norway forthright to “stand aside and yield to other parties who could carry the flag of democracy into areas where darkness prevailed.

Minister Bandaranaike said the late Mr. Kadirgamar’s tough position regarding the LTTE was not merely his personal view, but the general opinion of the government.

“The LTTE is continuing its killing spree while claiming it is committed to uphold the ceasefire agreement. I wonder whether the resumption of talks would serve any purpose under this context. It’s election time now and political leaders will be out. Does that mean its killing time for the LTTE?”, the minister asked.

Referring to some media reports quoting LTTE Political Leader S.P. Thamilselvan as unwittingly saying the organization would continue with political killings, the Minister said the statement should be taken seriously if it was true.

Asked how terrorism would be addressed, possibly under a future government led by him, the Minister said the situation should be “reviewed in a fresh light”.

“I have no readymade formula. But successive Presidents from the UNP and the PA have failed at it. Things are up in the air,” he said.

The Minister said he would be taking up the matter with India who lost a leader like Rajiv Gandhi to the LTTE . Call to Muslims to vote Rajapakse at Presidential poll

Several Muslim Leaders who expressed their solidarity with Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Presidential candidate Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse in Parliament yesterday said "Inshaallah" . If the merciful Al-mighty Allah was willing Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse will win."

The meeting of the SLFP’s Muslim unit chaired by veteran trade unionist and Governor of the Western Province Alavi Mowlana and Secretary General Minister A. H. M. Fowzie was convened in the Committee room of Parliament for a luncheon meeting where presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse presided.

Muslim representatives of SLFP from Pradeshiya Sabhas, Provincial Councils, district and electoral, committees met yesterday and appealed to all Muslims to come forward to vote for the SLFP’s candidate as Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse was a person who had always stood for the cause of Muslims especially as President of Sri Lanka Palestine Friendship Society for several years.

The representatives numbering over a hundred said that they would commence a door to door propaganda campaign in all Muslim majority areas of the country to enlist their support for SLFP’s candidate.

SLFP Muslim unit chairman Alavi Mowlana said that Prime Minister Rajapakse was a person above communal or petty partisan politics.

He said that all minorities should rally around Prime Minister Rajapakse and cast their vote to make him the 5th president since independence.

Restore subsidy to Lanka Tamil refugees: Jayalalithaa to PM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday wrote to the prime minister seeking the revival of rice subsidy given to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees housed in various camps in the state.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she said the subsidy on rice being supplied to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees has been suddenly withdrawn and the reasons mentioned by the centre for this "do not stand scrutiny".

The 50, 674 refugees, residing in 108 camps, had sought refuge in the country during the ethnic strife in Sri Lanka during 1983-96. They have been waiting to return to their motherland as soon as normalcy returned there.

"I wish to bring to your notice that the sudden influx of refugees and their sustenance in India has always been recognised as an international issue. It is for this reason that the government of India has all along provided the rice subsidy scheme. The sudden withdrawal of subsidy on rice given to refugees, when they are still here, is inexplicable," she said.

Procedures could be simplified and "this cannot be the reason for a change in policy," she said.

Jayalalithaa said, "I am of the view that administrative inconvenience cannot be cited as a reason for taking a policy decision, which has wide ramifications. Moreover, the annual commitment for the government of India on rice subsidy for refugees is hardly seven crore rupees. The number will dwindle if normalcy returns to Sri Lanka".

She said the state government has all along been bearing the expenditure to the extent of Rs 25 crore towards providing "basic minimum needs", that is cash doles, shelter, food, clothing and utensils in camps and the state government has to wait for reimbursement from the Union government.

"It is not humane to leave the refugees in the lurch especially when they are waiting to return to their motherland. As the issue has wide international ramifications, may I request you to kindly intervene and restore the rice subsidy for the refugees as before?" she wrote.

Kilinochchi to hold Tamil Resurgence celebrations

In a press meet held at the Cultural Hall in Kilinochchi Tuesday, T Prabakaran, head of the Event Mobilization group, requested the attending journalists to provide publicity for the event to be held 1 September from 3 pm to midnight, and to publish historic articles describing the Tamil national movements in Kilinochchi district, sources attending the meeting said.

One of the key features of the event is the anticipated movement of more than 15,000 villagers from Akkarayan to Kilinochchi. This is being planned as a symbolic gesture to commemorate the 1987 displacement of large sections of Kilinochchi residents to Akkarayan to escape from the SLA shelling.

Organizers say that they expect close to 100,000 to attend the event.

"With tension escalating due to the increasing number of killings in the Northeast, it is necessary to demonstrate peoples power in combating excesses of the State," Mr Prabakaran said.

25 August 2005

TNA delegation meets UK envoy

A Tamil National Alliance parliamentary delegation Wednesday morning met with Mr. Stephen Evans, British High Commissioner in Colombo and exchanged views on the proposed talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) regarding the implementation of the ceasefire agreement to its word, current position of the P-TOMS following the Supreme Court's interim order, the urgency of establishing the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) and the future political scenario in the south which is expected to be followed with the order of the Supreme Court on the presidential election date controversy on Friday, TNA sources said.

The TNA delegation briefed the UK envoy that the international community should formulate a new plan to ensure the distribution of relief and assistance reach the northeast to rehabilitate and resettle the hundred of thousands of displaced Tamil people in the two decade old war in their own areas.

The TNA delegation pointed out to the UK envoy the blatant discrimination shown to Tamil people in allocating funds for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of districts where all three communities live, sources said.

The TNA delegation further stressed at the discussion that remarkable progress could be made in finding a lasting political solution to the Tamil national problem if the ISGA is established without delay, TNA sources said.

The discussion, which last for about an hour, was held Wednesday morning at the UK High Commissioner's office. Mr. Wilson, European Union envoy in Sri Lanka associated in the discussion with British High Commissioner. TNA delegation comprised parliamentarians Mr.R.Sampanthan, Mr.Jospeh Pararajasingham, Mr.Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan(TELO Leader), sources said.

Sri Lanka turns down LTTE request for talks in Norway

In a dramatic turn of events, the Sri Lankan government for the first time has refused to accept a LTTE request to hold peace talks in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.

A spokesperson of the government peace secretariat in Colombo told that they have conveyed this message through the Norwegian facilitator to the LTTE.

“We cannot accept the view of LTTE to having peace talks in foreign soil without any good reason. This time they [LTTE] have to discuss their problems here in Sri Lanka,” the spokesperson said.

A few rounds of peace talks were earlier held in Norway and Thailand. This new development would lead to delays in talks between the two hostile parties, political analysts said.

“This disagreement would delay efforts to complete preparations for the first high-level talks after April 2003,” peace activist Sunil Gamini commented.

Earlier, the LTTE put conditions on talks with the government and expressed unwillingness to amend the existing ceasefire agreement.

Press photographer beaten up amid continuing political tension

Reporters Without Borders today condemned the beating which news photographer Yathurshan Premachchandran of the Tamil-language daily Sudar Oli received yesterday in Colombo from activists of the JVP (People's Liberation Party) who accused him of belonging to the Tamil Tigers armed movement, the LTTE.

Premachchandran was suddenly attacked while taking photos of a JVP protest. Participants in the demonstration grabbed his camera, mobile phone and wallet, beat him up and then turned him over to the police.

"It is outrageous that Sri Lankan journalists are being made to pay for the current political tension," Reporters Without Borders said. "Three journalists have been killed and dozens have been physically attacked in the past 12 months. We call on the militants on all sides to stop making scapegoats out of journalists."

After being handed over to the police, Premachchandran was taken to the Colombo police station where members of the intelligence services came and questioned him about his supposed LTTE membership.

He was later transferred to the headquarters of the criminal investigation department and was released on bail when he appeared in court today.

Colombo Security Chief removed

In what is seen by analysts as the government giving into outside pressure, the head of Operations Command Colombo (OCC), Vajira Wijegunawardane has been asked to immediately relinquish his post which he held for eleven days.

Major General Wijegunawardane who was the General Officer Commander (23 Division) in Batticaloa was transferred to Colombo as the Quarter Master General a few months ago. Later, on August 10, he was appointed as the OCC at a time when there was a major security threat in Colombo.

It is learnt that last Monday the Military Secretariat had informed the Major General verbally that he should hand over his duties with immediate effect as he had been removed from the post. However neither a letter of removal nor another appointment has been given to Major General Wijegunawardane so far. The reason for his removal too has not been informed yet, the Daily Mirror learns.

Meanwhile, informed sources claimed there was pressure on the government at political and military levels demanding the immediate removal of Maj. Gen. Wijegunawardane from the OCC.

Soon after assuming duties as the OCC chief, Maj. Gen. Wijegunawardane had taken several initiatives to restrict LTTE activities in Colombo and the suburbs.

Following the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar security measures in Colombo had been tightened and search operations were launched under the direction of Maj. Gen. Wijegunawardane.

Just after the removal of Maj. Gen. Wijegunawardane, the newly promoted Major General P. Chandrawansa was appointed as the new head of the OCC with effect from last Monday. Maj. Gen. Chandrawansa was earlier due to assume duties as the Commandant of the Staff College in Batalanda.

LTTE releases 21 underage youths to parents
NorthEast Secretariat On Human Rights (NESOHR) released twenty-one youths of ages between 15-17 years to their parents 3 months after joining the Liberation Tigers, Tuesday at their offices located at Karadippoku junction 2km north of Kilinochchi town along A9 highway, officials of NESOHR said. Mr Thiagarajah, LTTE liason officer for NGOs, Rev Fr Kanagaratnam, president, and Ms Malathy Naguleswaran of NESOHR were present during the handover of youths which took place throughout the day.

Three of the youths were handed over to the International Labor Organization (ILO) funded Vocational Training Centre staff with the concurrence of their parents for skills training, NESOHR staff said.

All eleven girls released were attending high school when they joined the movement. Of the ten boys, only eight were attending school. One was working as a manual laborer at a quarry.

NESOHR officials said that youths were from Jaffna, Mannar and Vanni districts and were investigated by the LTTE after complaints were filed by the parents.

Mr Thiagarajah said the LTTE is actively reviewing other complaints to identify further underage youths to release.

NESOHR officials said that they are working on strengthening their staff in the east following the killing of Mr Chandra Nehru by paramilitaries.

Sri Lanka Election Commissioner is ready to resign?

Speculations were rife among the senior public administrators that Commissioner of Election is planning to resign again if Supreme Court decision is not favorable for his observation on controversial Presidential election date.

Election Commissioner, Mr. Dayananda Dissanayake is in a view that presidential election should be held year since President Kumaratunga’s oaths taking was recorded in year 1999. He already has given his observation to the Supreme Court. Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver its judgment on this controversy on Friday.

It is learned that the Commissioner is not in a position to maintain his official capacity if Supreme Court verdict differs from his already expressed decision. He reportedly told his staff to be prepared for the D-Day, Friday, when political and constitutional history can change with the Supreme Court decision.

A PLOTE Member killed in Vavuniya

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed Mr. Rajaratnam Sreekanathan, 58, an a member PLOTE. The killing took place at his residence on 3rd lane at Kovilkulam, four kilometers southeast of Vavuniya town around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Police said.

The gunmen shot him who was inside his house through a window using a handgun, according to the police.

Vavuniya Police is conducting investigations into the killing.

Kadir killing: 20 arrested in Bambalapitiya
Some twenty Tamil suspects who were employed at a company in Bambalapitiya were taken into custody yesterday for questioning in connection with the killing of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

A senior CID official said initial investigations revealed the Tripod, which was used by the killer had been found packed inside the company which was owned by an Indian businessman
Manatkadu protestors lay siege to SLA camp

Protestors at Manatkadu in Vadamaradchi East threw stones and burning-tires on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) vehicles Wednesday night. Violent protests erupted in the area following reports that the two fishermen, who went missing on Sunday in the northern seas, and later said to be in the custody of the Sri Lanka Navy, were not handed over to their families Wednesday evening as promised by the Sri Lankan military officials. The protestors have laid siege to the 52-4 Brigade camp of the SLA at Manatkadu, villagers said. Tension prevails in the area.

The two Manatkadu fishermen, Mr. Sathyarooban, 25, and a father of a child Mr. Michaelpillai Regian, 20, who went for fishing in the northern sea were missing since Sunday.

According to the villagers, the Sri Lankan military officials Wednesday morning informed the families that the two fishermen were in the custody of the Sri Lanka Navy in Trincomalee, and that they would be handed over to the families in the evening.

But they were not returned, villagers complained.

Upon hearing the news, they blocked the main supply route to the Sri Lankan Army camp in the area and demanded immediate return of the fishermen.

Manatkadu, a tsunami ravaged coastal village, is located in SLA controlled Vadamardchi East.

Fisherman of Jaffna's Vadamaradchi region have been demanding that the SLA leave schools, villages and farm lands it has garrisioned and that the SLA should lift restrictions on fishing. SLA and fishermen have also been at loggerheads since the signing of ceasefire agreement in 2002 over digging and dredging mooring points.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials have appealed to the villagers, through the local organisations, to remailn calm and assured that they would secure the release of the fishermen, sources said.

Sri Lankan opposition leader stresses Muslims' role in peace talks
Sri Lanka's Muslim minority must be represented in future peace negotiations aimed at ending the island's ethnic armed conflict, the main opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said Wednesday.

In addressing his party's legislators, Wickremesinghe emphasized the need for Muslim representation, saying that the matter was endorsed at a previous round of peace negotiations between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE) in 2003.

Rauff Hakeem, leader of the country's main Muslim party Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, was a member of the government delegation in the negotiations which took place between September 2002 and April 2003.

Later the Muslim parties demanded a separate Muslim representation which the Tamil Tigers at the time was not in favor.

The talks came to be stalled in April 2003 when the Tigers staged a temporary pull out.

Muslims and the Tamils have had a hostile mutual relationship particularly in the multi-ethnic Eastern Province.

The Tigers in 1990 chased away a large number of Muslims from the northern Jaffna peninsula as part of their then ethnic cleansing act.

However, after the signing of the Norwegian backed truce agreement in February 2002, Hakeem and the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran entered an agreement mainly aimed at halting LTTE harassment of the eastern Muslims

No contender from upcountry alliance

The new alliance that is to be formed by political parties in the upcountry is likely to refrain from fielding a Presidential candidate at the forthcoming Presidential election, Western People’s Alliance Leader MP Mano Ganeshan said.

Mr. Ganeshan who is at the forefront in forming the alliance said no decision has been made to contest the Presidential elections.

According to Mr. Ganeshan preliminary talks have been held with CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman and Upcountry People’s Front Leader T. Chandrasekaran to form the alliance with further discussions to be held shortly.

Asked whether the parties in the alliance represented in Parliament would act independently once the alliance is formed, he said no decision has been taken as political strategy has not been discussed yet.

The Daily Mirror learns the objective of the alliance is to make 1.5 million estate Tamils the deciding force in Parliament.

New Majors General

Former military spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne has been promoted to the rank of Maj. Gen. with immediate effect.

He is the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 55 Division deployed in the Jaffna peninsula.

Brigadiers Parakkrama Pannipitiya and Tissa Jayawardena too had been promoted to the rank of Major General.

Pannipitiya is GOC of 51 Division also deployed in the Jaffna peninsula while Jayawardena is GOC of 53 Division, a post previously held by Maj. Gen. Vajira Wijegoonewardene.

Launch of tsunami warning system
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced the launch of the United States government's Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS) program in response to the December 2004 tsunami disaster, states a news release from the American Embassy.

The release said: “This two-year, $16.6 million effort will contribute to the development of integrated early warning and mitigation systems that allow countries in the Indian Ocean region to detect and prepare for tsunamis and related coastal hazards.

“The program involves a number of key U.S. agencies, each contributing specialized expertise in tsunami warning and disaster management.

“USAID's Regional Development Mission for Asia in Bangkok will lead the U.S. effort, with technical support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), and USDA Forest Service (USPS). USAID also recently contracted with a joint venture between the International Resources Group (IRQ) and Tetra Tech, Inc. to provide overall support to the U.S. program as its ‘Lead Program Integrator’ contractor. IRG-Tetra Tech's principal subcontractor, the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), will contribute additional on-the-ground technical resources.

“The U.S. program involves close collaboration with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

“The IOC has the lead responsibility for developing the Indian Ocean's regional warning capabilities. At the national and local levels, U.S. technical assistance will primarily support efforts in Indonesia, Sri Lanka. India, Thailand and the Maldives - the countries most severely affected by the December 2004 disaster where over 220,000 people perished.”
Sri Lankan government blamed for inaction on India’s Sethusamudram project

A memorandum presented by the National Movement against Sethusamudram project accused the Sri Lankan government of adopting a conciliatory position for political expediency while the Indian government seeks to achieve its commercial and national objectives at the expense of environmental and social damages affecting the people of both the countries.

NMAS representing nearly 123 environment, fisheries, agriculture and civil rights organisations presented a petition to the Indian High Commissioner yesterday after staging a protest opposite the Fort Railway station.

The Chief Organiser, Suranjan Kodituwakku writing to the Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao urged the Indian government to consider the environment and social impacts of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project on the North and the Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka.

“ We are objecting to the fact that the environmental impact assessment by the Indian government had not considered the impact on the livelihoods of the Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen and the damage caused by the SSCP to the Mannar National Marine Reserve,” he said.

Nearly 1337 fishing families in Mannar and Jaffna with a population of 530,420 would be affected by the SSCP as the dredging disrupts the fish breeding and feeding grounds. These villagers provided nearly 15% of Sri Lanka’s annual fish catch amounting to an annual income of Rs. 1331 million.

The NMAS in its petition urged the Indian government to commission an independent and internationally acceptable study of the project and its impact on both countries and recommend viable alternatives.

Meanwhile the Environment Foundation Limited yesterday requested the Sri Lankan government to immediately make available all the relevant documents on SSCP to the public including the certified copy of the EIA, detailed project report, the modelling report and the any other relevant technical data.

Presidential election will be crucial for the Muslims’

The forthcoming Presidential elections will be crucial for the Muslims, providing them an opportunity to present themselves as an united political force to be reckoned with a press release issued by Hafiz Nazeer Ahamed, Secretary General of the Democratic Unity Alliance (DUA) and Leader of the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) said. "We can achieve meaningful results only if we forget our personal and political differences and present ourselves as an United Muslim Front," it states.

"To ensure our fundamental rights we much act democratically through discussions and get guarantees in writing from the authorities."

The late Mr. M. H. M. Ashroff’s political wisdom in persuading late President Premadasa to reduce the cut off point from 12% to 5% to enter Parliament ensured more representation for minority and smaller parties, the release added."

"Muslims, the release also states have been badly misused for selfish purposes during elections by the major parties and then betrayed. We must learn from history and never allow ourselves to be dumped in the political dustbin again."

"The present SLMC Leader is playing a hide and seek game with the two major political leaderships, for his personal glory at the expense of the community pretending to be the only saviour of the community."

"The SLMC leader must member that out of the 24 Muslim MPs, they have only 02 elected members and 04 from the National List in Parliament. Therefore major Parties should realise that the representation of the SLMC in Parliament is woefully a minority. Therefore the major parties, PA and the UNP should consult other Muslim parties and groups for the problems facing the community."

"The release further adds the leadership of the Muslim National Alliance is conferring with leading Muslim groups to build an united front to coordinate, cooperate and actively participate as a powerful Muslim political force in the forthcoming Presidential Elections.

24 August 2005

Tamil journalist in Colombo assaulted by JVP, arrested under ER

Mr.Yathurshan Premachchandran, a photojournalist of Colombo Tamil daily "Sudar Oli" was handed over to the Fort Police in Colombo after being assaulted by a group of JVP activists Tuesday afternoon around 4:00 p.m. The journalist was assisting his senior journalist in covering a JVP demonstration held in front of Fort Railway Station. Mr. Premachandran has complained that he was also attacked by the Police, according to media sources. The Fort Police has handed over the journalist to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) alleging him to be a member of the Liberation Tigers, sources added.

Sudar Oli authorities immediately made representation to the Fort Police to release Mr.Yathurshan Premachchandran, as he has been a trainee who accompanied a senior journalist of their institution to this event, media sources said.

However, the Fort Police officials are reported to have told Sudar Oli authorities that Mr.Premachchandran has been handed over to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) of the Sri Lankan Police for further interrogation under the Emergency Regulations now in force as they suspected him a member of the LTTE. Free Media Movement (FMM) spokesman Mr. Sunanda Desapriya told TamilNet that his organisation strongly condemned the JVP's attack on the journalist.

Later, a press release issued by FMM said: "Free Media Movement strongly condemns this undemocratic behavior of JVP supporters as well as the incessant hate speeches made by the party leaders against political opponents at public rallies."

"This is not the behavior of a democratic political party but of an extremist party which does not accept diversity," the press release added.

India expresses desire to find a negotiated settlement in Sri Lanka

The Indian government yesterday expressed its desire to find a comprehensive, negotiated political settlement acceptable to all communities in Sri Lanka.

In a statement at the end of Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to India, the External Affairs Ministry said, “We also stressed the need to maintain peace through respect for the ceasefire agreement, the need to deliver speedy and effective relief and rehabilitation for all the affected people, including in the northeast, and the need to find a durable political solution that maintains the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and guarantees the fundamental rights of all individuals while ensuring the safety and prosperity of the people.

“India has excellent bilateral relations with Sri Lanka. During the talks [with Wickremesinghe] these relations were reviewed and ideas exchanged on how to strengthen them further,” the Ministry said.

New Foreign Minister to India on first official visit
New Foreign Affairs Minister Anura Bandaranaike will leave for India tomorrow (25th), his first official visit overseas as Foreign Minister.

The visit is undertaken at the invitation of the Indian Government. During his visit Bandaranaike will meet Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi together with Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh. The visit assumes special significance given the close relationship that have existed between the Bandaranaike's and Ghandi's dating back to the days of Independent India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

This special relationship between the Ghandis and Bandaranaikes was fostered and continued down the years which provided for a healthy bilateral relationship between the two South Asian neighbours. The relationship blossomed and reached a peak during stewardship of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike in the mid seventies.The visit is doubly significant at this juncture since India has always been the cornerstone of Sri Lanka's foreign policy down the years.

UNP will form Govt. this year, says Ranil

Opposition UNP leader and presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday his party would definitely form a government by the end of this year.

Addressing a meeting at party headquarters Sirikotha to mark the 40th anniversary of the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya branch of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Wickremesinghe said that after taking over government, the party would launch a full-scale development programme next year.

Lashing out at the government, he said the UPFA had come to office promising a 70 percent pay hike but the people were now saddled with a 70 percent hike in the cost of living. UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya said the country desperately needed an able leader and the man for the job was Ranil Wickremesinghe who would have widespread national and international support.

UNP frontliner Rajitha Senaratne said the country would have a presidential election this year and the decision would be known on Friday.He said nobody could now stop Mr. Wickremesinghe from becoming the president of the country. He claimed that JVP trade union members in the Batticaloa district were joining the UNP in large numbers as were some 3,000 members of an SLFP trade union

Coalition partners pledge 'full support' to presidential candidate Rajapaksa

Nine political parties - all members of the ruling coalition government - have decided to support Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in the forthcoming presidential race.

During a media conference held at the Hotel Galadari this afternoon, Minister Mangala Samaraweera said, “Almost all parties in the coalition government have expressed their support to our Prime Minister Rajapaksa.” He also said the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, the former main ally of the UPFA, would give its support, along with the Ceylon Workers’ Congress, Ministers Susil Premajayantha and D.M. Jayaratne, MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardene, CP leader Dew Gunasekera, and several other party leaders.

Mr. Samaraweera also revealed that the government expects to get support from some UNP members from the ground level as well as the high level.

“Whether the election is held this year or the next, our support is steadfast,” Minister Dinesh Gunawardene said.

Nagarkovil line: Army and SLMM see it differently

Sharp differences seem to have arisen between the army and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) over reports that the LTTE had advanced its Forward Defence Line (FDL) at Nagarkovil, in violation the Cease Fire Agreement .

While the army insists there is evidence of the LTTE having brought forward its FDL, bordering government and LTTE territory in Nagarkovil, in the Jaffna peninsular, the SLMM says inquiries conducted at the location last Friday failed to substantiate that claim. Military spokesman Daya Ratnayke said troops on the border last weekend witnessed the LTTE clearing land inside government territory before advancing the FDL by placing barbed wire and poles.

"This is a clear violation of the Cease Fire Agreement and we have informed the SLMM to take appropriate action against it," Brigadier Ratnayke said.

SLMM spokeswoman Helen Olatsadoftir however said Jaffna monitors who visited the site and spoke to army officers had found that while the LTTE had cleared land close to the FDL in the government side it had not shifted the border line.

However she added that the monitors would visit the site once again tommorow to carry out further inquiries before giving a ruling.

Thousands of Marxist supporters protest against LTTE killings in Sri Lanka

, Colombo: Several thousands of JVP supporters held a demonstration in front of the Fort Railway Station against the government plan to hold talks with the Tigers and demand to punish the LTTE for their killings.

The demonstration started around 3 p.m. today and lasted for nearly two hours. “The time has come to get tough with the Tigers,” protestors shouted.

They also accused the LTTE for carrying out deadly attacks on political opponents while the ceasefire agreement is enforced. JVP General Secretary Tilvyn Silva told media that “The Tiger has fallen into a ditch by killing Kadirgamar, We must use this opportunity to expose the LTTE's reign of terror and murder committed behind the veil of the truce.”

Two fishermen reported missing in northern sea

Mr. Michaelpillai Regian and Mr.Sathyaseelan, two fishermen of Manatkadu in Vadamaradchchi division in Jaffna district are reported missing since August 21 after they went for fishing in their boat in the northern sea. Vadamaradchchi East Fisheries Co-operative Federation Tuesday lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to help them to trace the missing fishermen, sources said.

A group of fishermen in the area who went in search of the missing fishermen returned to the shore Tuesday morning unable to locate them and even their boat in the northern sea, sources added

Tamil man arrested for filming Wickramasinghe's office

Security officials at Sri Lanka's Opposition Leaders Office in Colombo arrested a 47-year-old Tamil man Tuesday around 11:30 p.m. for filming Opposition Leader Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe's office located at Cambridge Place in Colombo, Police said.

The security officials handed over the man who was in possession of a video camera and a digital camera, and his auto-rikshaw driver to the Cinnamon Garden Police.

Why Kumaratunga has disowned her ‘authorised’ biography?

S B Dissanayake, a one-time confidant of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, used to boast that he could read her like a book. It is said that the president and Dissanayake were so close that she even asked him to check whether her sari’s hem was perfect from behind.

Dissanayake crossed over to the opposition United National Party in 2001, precipitating a political crisis that forced the president to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections. The UNP was elected to office and Dissanayake became a powerful minister in the new government.

Political fortunes swung the President’s way in the April 2004 elections but the rivalry between the erstwhile friends rose to personal level, though it is said that in politics there are no permanent foes or friends but only permanent interests.

Subsequently when Dissanayake was given a two-year jail term for contempt of court, he saw it as a witch-hunt by Kumaratunga.

Dissanayake was both literally and figuratively brought to book. He decided to write a book from behind bars and his chief character was none other than Kumaratunga herself. He confided in friends that he knew a lot of things about Kumaratunga, including her secrets, and his book would expose her.

Eight months have lapsed since Dissanayake made the promise of his book but all that he could bring out from his cell was a couple of newspaper articles, which were nothing more than ramblings of a disgruntled politician. Perhaps, he has decided to hold his pen in return for a presidential pardon.

It was disappointment for the gossip hungry Sri Lankan public who wanted a peep into the life of the country’s first lady.

This was when Graeme Wilson, a writer from Scotland, made news when he announced that he had written the official biography of Kumaratunga. Wilson was hardly known to Sri Lanka’s literati before June 28 when he convened a news conference to announce he was the author of the biography titled ‘CBK: President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and her leadership of Sri Lanka’. He said the book would be released on July 17.

But there was no ‘CBK’ on July 17. This prompted one newspaper to ask in a headline, "Where is CBK?"

CBK was finally launched on July 28 amidst much fanfare with the President, ministers and the Colombo’s glitterati being present at the ceremony. But no sooner had the ceremony ended and the first few copies were sold than the book was embroiled in a controversy.

It came under fire from critics and newspaper columnists for errors and a slipshod job. They virtually threw the book at Wilson for not getting the manuscript proof-read or double-checked by a Sri Lankan. Some of the mistakes were glaring. For instance, the caption under the picture of Colombo’s Town Hall says it is Sri Lanka’s parliament. In another place, Wilson says Kumaratunga stayed at Temple Trees, the official residence of the Prime Minister, during the 1988-90 reign of terror. But the truth is that neither Kumaratunga nor her mother Sirimavo Bandaranaike were the residents of the Temple Trees at that time.

But the bigger controversy was not the few factual errors, which the author said he was rectifying, but a political pole vault from the presidential secretariat. At the launch, the book was introduced as the authorised official version of Kumaratunga’s biography and a few lucky invitees at the ceremony got the book autographed by the President. It was proof enough that the book, which the author undertook to write at the behest of Minister Mangala Samaraweera, had President’s nod for it to be described as "the official biography" of Kumaratunga. But six days later, the President’s Office issued a statement denying that the book was the "official" biography of the President.

The volte-face stunned everyone. Why did the President’s Office do it? Even Wilson did not know. So it was left for the media to come out with a plausible answer. One newspaper attributed it to a photograph of a controversial event in the book. It was the photograph of President taking oaths for her second term in December 1999. So, if the book was the President’s official biography, it is an admission by the President herself that her second term began in December 1999.

Accordingly, the presidential election should be held this year. But the President claims that her second term began in November 2000 — she insists there was a secret swearing-in ceremony that year — and the election should be held next year. The matter is now before the Supreme Court. This explains why the President relegated the biography to an unofficial version. It was certainly a big blow to Wilson.

Going by the intrigues surrounding the pre-race politics of the presidential polls, it is obvious Kumaratunga is not yet ready to close the book. She is planning to write a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s politics though the constitution which says she cannot seek reelection for a third term.

Tiger hunt in Colombo

Investigations are being conducted to track down nearly 70 LTTE spies, hitmen and suicide bombers, who are said to have arrived in Colombo recently with specific instructions from the Wanni leadership to target high ranking political and defence personnel, Military sources said yesterday.

The tracking operation will be conducted in a manner so as not to inconvenience the general public, the source said adding that the Emergency regulations would be helpful in their investigations but the civil right of the public will not be infringed.

Intelligence sources revealed that among the group of spies are also two women suicide bombers. who have been assigned to assassinate Minister Douglas Devananda. The Tigers are said to have put a price of five million rupees on Devananda’s head.

Investigators unhappy over special interest by HR groups

Investigators probing the assassination of former Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar complain that they are being hampered in their work due to pressure by certain human rights organisations.

The investigators were placed at a great disadvantage by the undue meddling into the investigations by certain functionaries attached to well-known Human Rights Organisations, a sleuth involved in the probe told the Daily News.

"We are doing our best to get to the bottom of the assassination," he said.

"Our highly trained officials are working on the clues that we have received in connection with the assassination.

This kind of interference only demoralise the investigators", he added.

Earlier, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing the assassination of Kadirgamar jointly with the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) forwarded all items collected at the scene for expert opinion and also other inquiries including DNA, Fingerprints and Ballistic tests. The Special Police Squad deployed on the direction of IGP Chandra Fernando and conducted by Senior DIG Sirisena Herath are trying to ascertain whether the owner of the house where the LTTE sniper fired the bullets through a window at the Foreign Minister are linked to the owners.

The CID, Colombo DIG Pujit Jayasundera, Colombo Crimes Division Director Senior SP Sarath Lugoda and Colombo South Senior SP S.H. Dayananda are assisting in the investigations.

Two new Buddhist temples in Jaffna
Under the cover of high security zones the military is building more and more Buddhist temples and setting up Buddhist statues in the residential areas of Tamils in Jaffna.

Two new Buddhist temples have been opened in Jaffna on the full moon day (poya day) of August 19th. The Thahukopam built by the Navy for the recently built Thambaloka Pathuna temple in Mathagal and the new Buddhist temple in the military hospital in Palay are the two opened on August 10th.

Many senior military leaders including the leader of all three forces Thaya Santhakiri attended the opening ceremony of the Thathugopam at Mathagal. Many Buddhist monks also attended the two ceremonies.

LTTE leader attends graduation of military trainers

LTTE leader, V Parbhaharan, took part in the graduation ceremony, for the teachers of battle front military training at Lt. Col. Rajan education division. LTTE leader inaugurated the ceremony by lighting the lamp for, and garlanding the picture of, Lt.Col. Rajan. He then delivered a speech.

The ceremony was presided by the head of the women’s section at the Lt Col Rajan education division. Certificates were handed out to those graduating and long serving teachers were also honoured. In his speech LTTE leader specifically pointed out the importance of the service provided by the teachers of battle front military training.

Leader of the political wing S P Tamilselvan together with many LTTE leaders took part in the ceremony.

23August 2005

PM Rajapaksa is more likely to win the next presidential election, survey says

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is in good standing to win the next presidential election, the Netherlands-based research group P3 - 'People, Press & Politics' - said in a survey report.

“Sixty-three percent of Sri Lankans believe that popular Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will [be appointed] as next President of Sri Lanka,” the P3 Center report said.

The Center is an independent opinion research group that studies attitudes toward the press, politics and public policy issues.

“Prime Minister Rajapaksa is seen as the more ‘down to earth’ person, and the number describing Rajapaksa as the more ‘honest and truthful’ candidate has risen to 67%, up from 54% in May this year,” it continued.

“Ranil Wickremesinghe is also given the advantage over his rival for using ‘good judgment in a crisis’ and for being ‘willing to take a stand, even if unpopular’. But more Sri Lankans like present Prime Minister as their next leader,” the report said.

It added that the business community is more comfortable with Wickremesinghe’s economic policies, while rural entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises favor more Rajapaksa’s stance on empowering the rural economy.

“Specially, Rajapaksa's practical leadership in the fields of ICT and infrastructure development emerges him as a new visionary leader for the war- and tsunami-hit country,” the report added.

With a few months to go until the presidential election, the public remains largely dissatisfied with economic conditions in the country and they are looking for fresh leadership, the report pointed out.

Presidential poll: D-day Friday
As the country awaited a decision that could change the course of political history, Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said yesterday the Supreme Court on Friday would give a binding judgement on the date of the next presidential election.

This came after Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake told Court yesterday the next Presidential Election should be held this year but in view of a request made by the Chief Justice he would not announce any decision till the Court gave its verdict on the JHU petition on Friday.

Counsel Elmo Perera appearing for Mr. Dissanayake told Court the Commissioner was of the view that the presidential election should be held between October 22 and November 21 this year.

The Chief Justice asked the counsel whether the date for the Commissioner to make the announcement had lapsed. When the counsel said it had, the Chief Justice made a request that the Commissioner should wait till the Court gave its judgement and the counsel agreed.

The Commissioner disclosed his view when the petition filed by the JHU secretary asking for a court declaration for the next presidential election to be held this year was taken up yesterday by a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva.

The other judges hearing this important case are Justices Nihal Jayasinghe, N.K. Udalagama, N.E. Dissanayake and N.G. Amaratunga. The Court said that since the case involved a matter of general and public importance, it could not permit any intervention by others who had filed petitions but their lawyers would be permitted to appear as amicus.

The Chief Justice who administered the oath to the President on December 22, 1999 and reportedly again in November 2000 said the administration of an oath was largely an administrative act and not any exercise of judicial power.

He said former Chief Justice Neville Samarakoon had to languish in the sun to administer the oath to President J.R. Jayawardene while former Chief Justice S. Sharvananda had to go to the Paththirippuwa to administer the oath to President R. Premadasa. He said Chief Justices had to go whereever they were required to go and administer an oath. Therefore if a petitioner claimed the Chief Justice should not be on the Bench becuase he administered an oath it amounted to a gross disregard towards Court.

He said Court would give a binding judgement on this matter on Friday though the President had also referred the matter to court for an advisory opinion.

The JHU secretary in his petition has asked Court for a declaration that the valid oath to the President was administered on December 22, 1999 and that the next presidential election should be held this year.

The JHU wants Court to give such a direction to the Elections Commissioner.

Counsel H.L. de Silva appearing on behalf of the SLFP General Secretary - one of the intervening petitioners -- said the party was of the view that the President's term of office would end on November 9 next year and not earlier.

Counsel Manohara de Silva appearing for the JHU said the party believed that having the Presidential election this year would enhance the sovereignty of the people.

He said the constitution should be interpreted mainly on the basis of the sovereignty of the people.

Attorney General K.C. Kamalasabayson appearing for the State said it was clear that the intention of parliament in the constitution and the amendments was to ensure that the President did not exceed the 12- year period for the two terms and there was apparently no intention to reduce the period.

Lawyer M.A. Sumanthiran appearing for the Centre for Policy Alternatives said they had asked that the Chief Justice should not sit on the Bench as it was he who administered the conterversial oath in Novemnber 2000. But since the CPA request was not heeded it would not make further submissions.

Political observers believe the SC judgement on Friday could change the course of Sri Lanka’s political history. If Court rules for an election this year the President is reported to be planning to dissolve parliament and call a snap general election before the presidential election.

Even before the judgement the main candidates UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse announced they would launch their presidential election rallies this month.

President's brother sworn as new Sri Lanka Foreign Minister
President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s brother Minister Anura Bandaranaike has been sworn in as new foreign minister of Sri Lanka replacing Lakshman Kadirgamar who was assasinated by unidentified gunmen a week ago. The Presidential Secretariat in a statement said Anura Bandaranaike will also hold his portfolio of Tourism. “Minister Anura Bandaranaike took his oaths as the Minister of Foreign Affairs before President Chandrika Kumaratunga this evening,” statement said.

Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama has taken over Minister Bandaranaike’s Industry and Investment Promotion portfolio. Minister Bandaranaike is also the prime ministerial candidate of the SLFP.

Protest campaign against Sethusamudram in Colombo

A protest campaign will be held tomorrow in front of the Indian High Commission in Colombo against the implementation of Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP) by the Indian Government. People’s Movement and the Green Movement of Sri Lanka have organized the campaign. The organizers said that another protest campaign is to be held on Wednesday in front of the Fort Railway Station against the SSCP.

A spokesman for the organizers said that they will continue their protest campaign until the Indian government expresses its willingness to hear the opposition.

Police refuse information on journalist arrested under ER - FMM

A Tamil journalist, Mr. Subramanium Ramesh, the Mawathagama correspondent for the Tamil language daily "Veerakesari", was arrested under Emergency Regulations sometime in the afternoon of 19 August 2005, said Free Media Movement in a news alert. FMM officials had called the officer in charge of Kurunagala police several times, but failed to obtain any information about the journalist. The Sri Lankan Police has been refusing to provide details on the arrest, the organisation said in the news release issued from Colombo on Monday. Meanwhile, The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance has urged the Minister of Media Dilan Perera and the Police chief Chandra Fernando to release the Journalist.

Although FMM officials introduced themselves and asked for the name of the officer who answered the phone, he refused to identify himself and responded rudely, the FMM news release said.

ALERT - SRI LANKA
22 August 2005

Journalist arrested under emergency laws; police refuse to provide information

SOURCE: Free Media Movement (FMM), Colombo

(FMM/IFEX) - FMM has expressed serious concern over the Kurunagala police's refusal to provide information about journalist Subramanium Ramesh, the Mawathagama correspondent for the Tamil language daily "Veerakesaree", who was arrested under emergency laws sometime in the afternoon of 19 August 2005. FMM accepts the security forces' right to arrest persons on suspicion, especially with regard to national security issues, but any arrest has to be carried out with due regard to the law.

FMM officials called the officer in charge of Kurunagala police several times, but failed to obtain any information about Ramesh. Although FMM officials introduced themselves and asked for the name of the officer who answered the phone, he refused to identify himself and responded rudely. FMM's secretary-general also reported Ramesh's arrest to Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission. Given Sri Lanka's history of tens of thousands of disappearances of arrested persons, FMM emphasises that the right to information about arrested persons has to be strictly enforced.

FMM deplores this police officer's behaviour and requests local, national and international human rights and press freedom organisations to write letters of concern. If this trend is not checked, FMM fears that emergency laws will be used against citizens on the whims of the authorities.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
- expressing serious concern over the lack of information about Ramesh

APPEALS TO:

Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
Colombo 2, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 244 6174

Senior Superintendent of Police
Police Station
Colombo Road
Kurunagala, Sri Lanka
Tel/Fax: +94 37 222 2226

Grenade lobbed at police checkpoint in Trinco

Unidentified persons lobbed a grenade at a sentry point of the police, which is located at third mile post along Trincomalee- Pulmoddai road about four km off Trincomalee town Monday evening around 7:00 p.m. One welder working close to the site was injured, police said.

No one in the checkpoint was hurt, according to the Police. This area comes under the Uppuveli Police division, sources said.

Unidentified men attack one civilian in Mannar

Unidentified men attacked 42 year old T.Ramesh Rajah, owner of a cinema hall in Moor Street, Mannar Sunday night around 10 p.m.in his house with pointed weapons causing grievous cut injuries. He was first admitted to Mannar hospital then transferred to Anuradhapura hospital. As his condition became critical he was transferred to Colombo National Hospital for emergency treatment, sources in Mannar said.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Army soldiers Monday morning conducted a cordon and search operation covering Sinnakadai bazaar area of Mannar town.

Soldiers photographed civilians during the search operation, civil sources said

Tamil mother and daughter killed as car ploughs into Paris cafe

A Tamil mother and her two-year-old daughter were killed in central Paris when a car veered off the road and ploughed into the pavement cafe where they were sitting late yesterday, police said.

Sujatha Nadarajah, aged 40, and her child both died in hospital overnight, after they were taken for treatment of their severe injuries.A companion next to the woman, also Tamil, was injured.The driver, a French surgeon in his 40s, had made a sudden right-hand turn into another street without indicating, resulting in his Mercedes being hit from behind by another car. The vehicle jumped the pavement and rammed into the entrance of the cafe, trapping the woman under its wheels.

Bystanders rushed to move the vehicle, according to witnesses, while many untouched customers looked on in shock.Police said the surgeon, who was treated for slight injuries, and the driver in the following car had both been placed in custody.The cafe, which is on a corner, is on a boulevard in the heart of Paris lined with establishments popular with tourists.

SLA bans transporting school building materials to LTTE held areas in Mannar

Construction work of new buildings in two schools in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled areas in the Mannar district has come to a halt due to the ban imposed by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on the transportation of building materials through Uyilankulam and Madu road army checkpoints, sources said.

The reconstruction works of the two schools, Palampiddy Government Tamil School and Thadchanamaruthamadu Government Tamil School in the LTTE held areas began in March this year with the financial allocation of Asian Development bank (ADB) funded North East Community Restoration Project (NECORD). The NECORD allocated about 2.7 million rupees each for the reconstruction of these schools.

Contractors who undertook to construct these new building first attempted to transport building materials through the Uyilankulam army checkpoint. Soldiers manning the checkpoint refused to allow the building materials through their checkpoint. Later, the contractors unsuccessfully tried to take the materials through Madhu road army checkpoint.

They approached the 24 Brigade of the SLA, which is located at Tantirimalai along Mannar-Mathavachchi road to obtain permission. But they were told to meet Vanni Brigade of the SLA for necessary assistance in this regard, Mannar district secretariat sources said. The contractors and the education authorities concerned have brought the matter to the notice of the Mannar District Secretary, sources said.

Police constable arrested with stolen firearms

The Thanthirimale Police, last Thursday arrested a Police Constable attached to the Dehiwala Police who is alleged to have stolen a haul of firearms from the armoury of the Dehiwala Police Station where he served.
The police also recovered a Pistol, a magazine and 10 live cartridges which were in the possession of the suspect. The raid was conducted by a police team under IP Udaya Hemantha, OIC Thanthirimale Police Station, following a tip off.

The suspect, on questioning told the police that a T56 riffle which was a part of the loot was sold to a Police Officer of the same Police Station for Rs.25000. The Dehiwala Police arrested the Police Officer who was alleged to have purchased the T56 immediately following the information.

The incidence took place at Dehiwala Police Station four months ago. The Thanthirimale Police handed over the suspect to the Dehiwala Police for further investigation.

Meanwhile the Medawachchiya Police arrested a van driver and took into custody a Dolphin Van bearing No.253-1704 worth around Rs.1.8 million which he was driving towards Jaffna area. The arrest followed a complaint made to the Galkiriyagama Police that this van which was at the Dambulla Taxi Park was hired by four persons under the pretext of visiting a funeral house.

On the way near the Telephone tower of Aliyamalagala along Galkiriyagama-Palagala Road the four men hijacked the van at pistol point after trussing the driver. The Galkiriyagama Police immediately alerted the neighbouring police stations.

By the time the Medawachchiya Police arrested the van, the hijackers were not there. They had left the van at Anuradhapura after entrusting the rest of the journey to another driver who was arrested by the Medawachchiya Police.The Galkiriyagama and the Medawachchiya Police are counting a joint operation to arrest the suspects.

Navy arrests trainees in a UNDP funded training project

Centre for Womens Development and Rehabilitation (CWDR) is a local NGO that conducts vocational training as well as many other projects for women. One such project was the training centre for manufacturing Palmarah fibre products in Pesalai in Mannar district. This project is funded by UNDP.

On Monday at 7.00 am the Sri Lankan Navy arrested all 15 women at this training centre. Thirteen of the women were trainees and the other two were teachers. All the trainees came from very poor families and many of them have lost their family bread winners. That is why they were chosen for this vocational training.

CWDR informed SLMM, UNDP, the local NGO consortium and the government agent about the arrest. When the government agent went and spoke to the Navy the Navy has said that they will release the women by 3.00 pm on Monday. However, the women were not released at 3.00 pm. The Navy is now saying that they will produce the women in courts on Tuesday morning.

22 August 2005

Emergency raises spectre of past disappearances – Telo Leader Adaikalanathan

"The reimposition of Emergency Regulations has raised the spectre of past disappearances, indiscriminate arrests, torture under custody and the impunity enjoyed by the Sri Lanka security forces for human rights violations against the Tamil people," said Selvam Adaikalanathan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Vanni district, when TamilNet asked for his reaction to the adoption by Sri Lanka's parliament Thursday of the motion to extend the State of Emergency.

"When other prominent Tamils who supported Tamil people's right to self-determination, such as Mr. Sivaram Dharmaretnam, were killed, the Government of Sri Lanka did not see it fit to reintroduce Emergency Regulations. However, the same Government has hurriedly imposed the draconian emergency in the wake of the murder of Mr. Kadirgamar," the Vanni district parliamentarian said.

Mr. Adaikalanathan further said: "In the period after the tsunami, the international community had been perturbed by the inaction of the Sri Lanka Government and the opposition from the South to the flow of aid to the humanitarian crisis in the NorthEast. The abrogation of the Joint Mechanism with assistance from the Supreme Court further appeared to have helped the International Community to understand the hurdles faced by the Tamils in their fight for a just solution to the Tamil National question."

He added that the imposition of Emergency is a component of the South's "concerted attempt" at an international campaign to accuse the Liberation Tigers for the increase in violence in recent months. "However, I am convinced that the Government's efforts will backfire," added Mr. Adaikalanathan.

The international community is likely to insist that for the CeaseFire Agreement (CFA) to survive, both parties should show commitment to work towards a peaceful solution, the TNA MP said. "And that entails that the Sri Lankan Government stops supporting the paramilitaries in the east," he said.

Central role for SLMM

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) will take centre stage in guiding the Ceasefire Agreement on the right track during forthcoming talks between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, SLMM Chief Hagrup Haukland said.

Haukland said the SLMM was going to take part for the first time in top level talks between the Government and the LTTE. The Norwegian facilitators will also participate. In her request to Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik to arrange direct talks between the two sides, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga specifically stated that the SLMM and the Norwegian facilitators should also participate.

Haukland said the SLMM was looking forward to iron out issues which the Government and the LTTE are still finding difficult to agree on.

Norwegian Embassy spokesman Tom Knappskog told the Daily News that Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen and his Deputy Vidar Helgesen were finalising the venue, date and the agenda for the top level talks, the first between the two parties since March 2003. It has been reported that a total number of around 3,140 ceasefire violations have been reported from both sides since the Ceasefire Agreement was signed in February 2002.

He said that several previous attempts were made to bring back both sides to the negotiating table.

"After attending the funeral of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar Petersen and Helgesen met President Kumaratunga and on their way to Oslo they met LTTE theoretician Dr.Anton Balasingham in London. They got his consent to have the top level meeting between the LTTE and the Government," Knappskog added. According to sources Dr. Balasingham preferred to have the talks in Oslo but the Norwegians are yet to decide on the venue and the date of the talks.

The LTTE's political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan and internal security chief S. Nadesan are expected to join Dr. Balasingham at the discussions.

The Government negotiators have not been named yet.

Tsunami-affected ignored by Govt.
The tsunami-affected people, representing seven districts in the country, yesterday made a combined request to the Government to address basic humanitarian needs by restoring their livelihoods immediately.

The request was made at the National Conference of the Tsunami Affected People organized by the ‘Janavabodha Centre’ and several other organizations, held in Negombo.

Speaking at the function Fr Sarath Iddamalgoda of the Centre, said that they identified the necessity to create a platform for the affected people to raise their voice against the Government’s failure in the relief effort. The people’s representatives said that they had been inconvenienced immensely due to the Government’s failure to restore their livelihoods even after the lapse of eight months.

People’s representatives from Matara, Colombo, Gampaha, Trincomalee, Ampara, Batticaloa and Hambantota participated at the conference. M.S. Lalitha from Trincomalee said that they received Government aid only for a few months, and it was only the NGOs who were assisting them now in their time of need.

“We were fisherfolk earlier. Now we have lost everything. Still, the Government has failed to provide us, at least a plot of land to build houses, confining us to transition camps for months,” she said. She said that the LTTE would have chased them away from the area if not for the presence of the armed forces in the town.

“We are worried about the transfer of the Navy chief in the area, to Colombo. He looked after us well, when tension erupted in the town,” she said.Velupillai Saraswathjai from Akkaraipattu said that they still lived in welfare centres, and had no means to restart their lives.

National anti LTTE campaign, not dialogue: JVP
The JVP, in a statement yesterday said that the Government should launch a rigorous national campaign against the LTTE, locally and internationally, at this juncture, without entering into a dialogue with them.

In response to the Government’s willingness to start a dialogue with the LTTE in Oslo, regarding the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), the JVP said that, especially at a time when the pro-LTTE Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) had been banned in the Untied Kingdom, they should be pressurised more and more, using the situation that has arisen after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

The JVP said that some elements, with the help of peace brokers and others, depending on their money, are now trying to force the Government into talks, with the hope of appeasing the LTTE, and therefore, all patriotic forces in the country should unite in the endeavour to prevent the country from being betrayed to separatists.

It also stated that though some elements interpret the LTTE willingness for talks to revive the CFA, anybody, even with a little understanding, could realize the hidden objective behind this.

LTTE women's political wing office in Vavuniya attacked

Three LTTE women officials were injured when unidentiefied attackers lobbed a grenade through the backdoor of the LTTE Women's political office located in Vairavapuliyankulam, 1.5 km west of Vavuniya town Saturday night at 10:55 p.m., Police said. This is the fourth time that an LTTE office in Sri Lanka Army controlled Vavuniya town has been subjected to attack, sources close to LTTE in Vavuniya said.

The women's political office is located close to the LTTE's District Political office, which was attacked twice earlier. The administrative office of the LTTE located in Thirunavatkulam was also attacked once, sources said. Wounded cadres were rushed to Vavuniya Hospital for treatment. Later, on Sunday, the injured cadres were transferred to Vanni, LTTE sources said.

A paramilitary camp of the EPDP is located 500 meters from the location. Vavuniya Police is conducting investigations into the attack. LTTE officials said that they have lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission office in Vavuniya.

Presidential election campaigns kick off
The two major political parties in the country, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), and the United National Party (UNP), have decided to commence their respective presidential election campaigns this week.

Political sources said the campaigns would get under way this week, with two massive rallies.The political parties are hopeful that the Supreme Court will deliver its judgment on petitions pertaining to the controversial date of the presidential election this week followed by the Elections Commissioner’s announcement of the date of the election.

The SLFP rally will be held at Kiribathgoda on August 26, with the Prime Minister and its presidential candidate, Mahinda Rajapakse in attendance, while the UNP rally, organized by the party’s youth front, will be held at the Colombo Town Hall grounds on August 27, with the participation of the Leader of the Opposition and the party’s presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe along with senior members of the party.

Homeguard injured in grenade attack in Anuradhapura

A homeguard was injured when unidentified attackers lobbed a grenade on Anuradhapura junction, a suburb about four km off the east port town along Trincomalee-Kandy Road Sunday evening. Police blocked the traffic on the Trincomalee-Kandy Road following the attack at 8:10 p.m., sources said.

Mr. A. H. Chamintha, the homeguard injured in the attack was rushed to Anuradhapura Hospital, sources added.
STF soldiers attack cloth dealer in Thirukkovil

Special Task Force (STF) soldiers attacked Mr. R. Selvarajah Pragalathan, 22, a cloth dealer who had come from the Liberation Tigers controlled area to Sri Lanka Army controlled Akkaraipattu town to purchase cloths. Mr. Pragalathan, was attacked by STF soldiers stationed at Kanjirankuddah checkpost in Thirukkovil on Sunday evening around 3:00 p.m.when he was on his way back to his village, sources said.

STF soldiers attacked Pragalathan with gun-butts, saying that he was transporting cloths to the LTTE, sources further said. Amparai district Political Head of the LTTE, Mr. Daya Mohan said that he, upon gathering details of the Sundays incident, has lodged a formal complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). He further said that the STF soldiers have virtually banned those they view as LTTE- supporters from entering SLA controlled area.
SLTMA condemns grenade attack on newspaper office

The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) in a news release Saturday said it strongly condemned the grenade attack on the Uthayan newspaper’s office in Wellawatte, Colombo, calling it a “cowardly act,” and urged the Sri Lankan government to take prompt action to stop such attacks.

”In recent days Tamil media personnel are being intimidated, and their professional activities are being monitored with suspicion,” said the SLTMA. “It is shocking to note that it was after the emergency regulations had come into effect, and the city of Colombo put under tight security, that the Tamil News paper office has been attacked.”

The SLTMA statement said that it was fortunate that the two deadly grenades did not explode and the police were later able to defuse them at a beach front in Wellawatte. According to the SLTMA, Uthayan, a popular Tamil news daily, has been in circulation for the past twenty years in Jaffna, and its sister paper, Sudaroli, has been in circulation in Colombo for the last few years.

In 1990, the Jaffna office of Uthayan came under a bomb attack that killed a security guard and injured two others. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Uthayan Publications, Mr. E.Saravanapavananthan, told TamilNet that a wreath was placed opposite his residence in Colombo on February 4 this year signaling a warning for him. He added that the investigations carried out by the police were a mere eye wash and that he did not believe the police would bring the perpetrators to justice.

Uniting plantation organisations

Efforts are being made to forge a new alliance of up-country political parties, trade unions and social organisations to confront common issues and problems faced by the plantation community. Sources close to the Ceylon Worker's Congress and Up-country People's Front said several discussions had already been held between them.

The unity among the political parties and trade unions and others would help increase the plantation community's representation in parliament, provincial and local council institutions. Agricultural and Plantation Worker's Congress President R.M. Krishnasamy said that any unity should be based on a common approach to socio-economic problems, education and welfare issues of the community rather than achieving petty political gains for one or other individual parties.

He said he would support an alliance that would fight for the rights of the plantation community. National Democratic Party's National Organiser E. Thambiah said that his party had not been invited for discussion. However, it is reported that efforts are being made by pressure groups to form an alliance of several political parties and trade unions including the CWC, UPF, Western Province People's Front, National Union of Workers, Aziz Democratic Worker's Congress, social organisations and some NGOs that function in the plantation area.

Today’s problems due to JR’s constitution — Dew Gunasekera

Dew Gunasekera, Minister of Constitutional Affairs and National Integration addressing a seminar on "Democracy and Peace" at the Kegalla U.C. Auditorium said the country faced various problems today due to the constitution of the late J. R. Jayewardene in 1978.

"Therefore, it has become incumbent to change the existing constitution that caused ethnic conflict and several unresolved disputes of the Tamils. Although it has been stated that the crime rate in the country has decreased, recent incidents show a sharp increase. In order to combat the situation amendment to the present constitution is vital. By implementing the death sentence crime cannot be avoided unless the constitution is amended and fresh legislation is introduced," he said.

Gunasekera said that due to the constitution of the late president many problems facing the Tamils cannot be resolved. "This resulted in terrorism in the north and east of the country, which impacted the day-to-day life of the people. The present government is confronted with various problems due to this situation. The future generation will curse us if this situation continues further, he said. Unless the constitution is amended there cannot be a government with a full majority. The 1994 elections has proved this. President Kumaratunga obtained 62 per cent of the votes, but the UNP was able to muster votes in electorates only."

When compared to India, in Sri Lanka, he said, education, and health services have shown great improvement, but in other fields the government is not so advanced. There is no national unity, and religious concord. To achieve success in these fields, changing the constitution is a must, he concluded.

21 August 2005

US, Britain offer help in Kadir probe
The United States and Britain have offered assistance to police in their investigations into the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
Police Chief Chandra Fernando, who is personally overseeing the investigations told The Sunday Times, "we are considering such offers. It is too soon to make a final decision."IGP Fernando on Friday presided over a conference of investigators from different police arms.

He told them of the need to pursue all clues and trying to obtain a breakthrough at the earliest opportunity. He allayed fears that questioning of security forces personnel was intended to place any blame on them but said it was necessary to obtain a fuller picture of the events that occurred.

The Sunday Times learnt that the United States’ offer of assistance, conveyed through its embassy in Colombo to Police Headquarters, would entail expert services from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Similarly, the British High Commission in Colombo has offered help from Scotland Yard.

A senior police official connected with the investigation said the probe was still at an early stage where they were engaged in recording statements of persons. Hence, it was premature at this stage to obtain any foreign help, he said. He pointed out that such help would become necessary when the need arose to analyze evidence, collate scientific data and related matters. On the other hand, the official said if the attack weapon was found, the need for foreign assistance pronto would be utmost.

Police Chief Fernando said there were other countries too that offered help in the investigation but declined to name them. “We will have to determine the type of assistance we require when the investigation progresses,” he said. The IGP said every effort was being made by the investigators to track down the perpetrators of this dastardly crime.

Sudaroli office at Wellawatta attacked

An unidentified man threw a hand grenade at the office the Tamil daily ‘Sudaroli’ on Perera avenue in Colombo 6 this evening around 5.45 p.m. but the hand grenade did not explode.

Military spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake said that the hand grenade has however been thrown with out removing its pin needed for detonation. The Wellawatta Police cordoned off the road and commenced investigations to find the motive behind this act.

SLFP ministers veto electoral pact with JVP

A powerful group within the SLFP has warned Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse not to agree to any future electoral pact with the JVP.

The Prime Minister was told by several ministers and deputy ministers, while they will not oppose him obtaining the support of the JVP for the presidential election, that it should not be at the expense of contesting the next general election in alliance with the JVP.

The Sunday Leader learns that Justice Minister John Seneviratne, Cultural and National Heritage Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene, Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Deputy Media Minister Dilan Perera are among the members who have raised this issue with Premier Rajapakse. The Premier was also told that the JVP was not in a position to contest the presidential election because it fears exposing the party's vote bank and that he should therefore insist they support him unconditionally.

The Prime Minister has been holding secret talks with JVP to form a fresh alliance after his nomination is formally endorsed at the SLFP convention on September 6. President Chandrika Kumar- atunga assured her members she will not allow Rajapakse to enter into an alliance with the JVP as long as she remains the head of the party.

Indian Ministers have no time for Norwegian facilitators
The high-powered Indian delegation comprising the Defence and External Affairs Ministers attending the state funeral of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar turned down a request from the Norwegian delegation that was in Colombo for the same occasion, The Sunday Times learns. Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh arrived in Colombo on a special aircraft on Monday after attending India's national day celebrations in New Delhi.

The plane landed more than half an hour late. The delegation had then sent a message saying they wanted to pay their respects first at the late Minister's residence before attending the funeral ceremonies at Independence Square.

The presence of India's Defence Minister was seen by political analysts here as a significant message from Sri Lanka's neighbour. The Norwegian delegation led by Foreign Minister Jan Petersen, included Deputy Minister Vigar Helgesen. Special Envoy Erik Solheim did not attend the funeral. The Norwegian delegation had requested a meeting with the Indian delegation, but the request was turned down.

A spokesman for the Indian High Commission in Colombo said the Indian delegation was on a tight schedule, and they agreed that Mr. Petersen could call Mr. Natwar Singh on Friday after their visit to London to meet LTTE spokesman Anton Balasingham. Meanwhile, in New Delhi later this week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders had requested Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to lend his support to the Government in its peace process with the LTTE, and its efforts at combating terrorism.
The UNP Leader had assured the Indian leaders of his support on these fronts and said his only difference with the Government was on the date of the Presidential elections.

On Thursday, the UNP voted in favour of the Government's imposition of a state of emergency to help in the investigations on Mr. Kadairgamar's assassination.

Four Tigers killed at Arasadithivu road block

At least four Tamil Tiger cadres were killed and three others were injured as a result of internecine clashes, SriLankan defence officials said yesterday. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) road block at Arasadithivu in Batticaloa came under attack around 11 pm last Thursday. Defence sources said the attack had been carried out by the rival Karuna faction who had arrived in push cycles at the road block. When the Tigers attempted to search the Karuna loyalists the renegade group members had opened fire at the LTTE cadres.

However, the Batticaloa LTTE leaders had denied the news of any casualties in the attack. Weapons belonging to the Tigers had been snatched away by the Karuna loyalists, it was reported. Karuna alias Vinayaga- murthi Muralitharan broke ranks with the LTTE in the early part of 2004. Although his whereabouts are not known, his loyalists have waged battle with the LTTE led by Velupillai Pirapaharan.

The LTTE accuses the Sri Lankan government troops of colluding with Karuna and carrying out attacks against it. The dispute has hampered the Norwegian efforts to revive the stalled peace negotiations.

EPDP cadre shot dead in Vavuniya

Unidentified gunmen on Saturday evening shot and killed a paramilitary cadre of Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Mr. Nadarasa Kesavavarnan, 25, in Vavuniya. The killing took place around 6:00 p.m. at Samanakulam, five kilometers southeast of Vavuniya town, Police said.

The paramilitary cadre was riding in a bicycle when unindentified gunmen approached him in a motorbike, sources said. The gunmen had used a micro pistol to kill the victim, Vavuniya Police Officer In-Charge (OIC) Mr. AMC Abeyasinghe Banda said. The Vavuniya district judge Mr. Manickavasagam Ilancheliyan visited the crime scene and ordered the Police to conduct investigations into the killing. The EPDP cadre, a father of two children, was from Asikkulam in Vavuniya, sources said.

No breakthrough in double murder

No suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation journalist and TV presenter, Relangie Selvarajah and her husband Sinnathurai Selvarajah. SSP, Colombo Crimes Division, Sarath Logoda told The Sunday Leader, "Investigations are still continuing and evidence is being collected."

SSP Lugoda added that there was no point in arresting people and taking them into custody without proper evidence. "It is better to collect as much evidence as possible and interview all the relevant people, and then make arrests," he stated. He also added that the police are very cautious with regard to the information released about the murders, in case the culprits will use this to their advantage. Relangie Selvarajah and her husband Sinnathurai Selvarajah were shot at a communications center, which they owned. At the time of the shooting the people who were working at the center were out for lunch. The investigation is being directed by Senior DIG Sirisena Herath and Colombo DIG Pujitha Jayasundera.

This murder follows the recent murder of another journalist, Dharmaratnam Sivaram.

SLA soldier injured in grenade attack in Batticaloa
Two motorcycle-riding attackers lobbed a grenade into a sentry point of the Sri Lanka Army located on Kalliyankadu Cemetery Road near the Batticaloa Railway Station Saturday noon. An SLA soldier, Sanjeeva Prasanna Wikramarachi, 21, was injured in the attack. SLA Soldiers at the sentry point opened fire and beat civilian travellers with rifle butts following the attack, civilian sources said.

The wounded soldier was rushed to Batticaloa Hospital. Four SLA soldiers were on duty at the sentry post at the time of the attack, Police said. Some travellers who were beaten by the SLA soldiers sustained injuries. Further details are not available at the moment.
No support for Mahinda if he supports federalism: JHU

The Jathika Hela Urumaya parliamentary group leader Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera explaining his party’s position on the upcoming Presidential Election and on plans to join the JVP with the fielding of a common candidate said the JHU had no objections to uniting with the JVP despite its hostile attitude towards the JHU in the aftermath of the 2004 general elections and the incidents in parliament.

“Although the JVP has been barbaric it had not been as barbaric as the LTTE. But if it is genuinely willing to correct itself, the JVP’s past will not matter only its future”, Ven. Rathana Thera told The Sunday Times in an interview. Following are excerpts:

The Jathika Hela Urumaya came out publicly last week with an invitation to its cold war opponent the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna for the purpose of forming a JHU-JVP. What was the reason for this?

We extended an open invitation to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Somawansa Amerasinghe and are awaiting a response. This was done following a Central Committee resolution adopted last Monday. But still there is uncertainty about the policies of the JVP. We are of the view the security of the country is in grave danger, and we believe that a broad based alternative front against the Tigers should be set up if we are to save the country.

But aren’t there any differences in the policies of the two parties?
Yes. The JVP as a Marxist party accepts the dictatorship of the working class and does not accept the spiritual foundation of man, whereas we on the contrary believe in the middle path (as taught in Buddhism) which advocates freedom and democracy.

Another issue on which we differ from the JVP is concerning the rights of the majority. The JVP does not accept the right of the majority community, the Sinhalese. The reason for not recognising this is the JVP’s belief in the working-class dictatorship.

We also differ when it comes to the economy. They do not accept the right to private enterprise while we recognize it. Malaysia during former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed’s tenure rose up against private entrepreneurs. Additionally we have a policy on the Preservation of the Environment for Sustainable Development. We believe in a holistic way of life whereas the Marxists believe in a secular lifestyle.

Hasn’t the JVP in the past, been hostile towards the JHU?
Yes. Just after the 2004 General Elections the JVP tried to rob the people’s mandate to the JHU, by abducting two of our priests who were elected as members of parliament. More than that the trust placed in the JVP by nationalistic quarters has been shattered as it failed to coerce the UPFA government to protect nationalistic interests. As an example it missed out on a golden opportunity to capitalise on Karuna’s split. It lost on what the socialist sections were able to accomplish during the United Front Government in 1970. Due to the ineffectiveness of the JVP, the UPFA was worse than the UNP when it comes to the handling of the peace process. Although the JVP has been barbaric it had not been as barbaric as the LTTE. But if it is genuinely willing to correct itself, the JVP’s past will not matter to us but only its future.

UPFA presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse is also canvassing, portraying himself as a Sinhala Buddhist. What is your comment?
But if Mahinda declares that he too accepts the Oslo or the Tokyo Declarations or in a federal solution we will not support him. However we must note that he hasn’t been firm on the issues of national security and privatisation of state property. When President Kumaratunga was trying her level best to implement the P-TOMS, he along with the two main parties blindly helped her cause.

However he must not forget that he would not have been nominated from the SLFP if not for the nationalistic vigour created in his Party which resulted with the JHU coming into politics. So after getting nominations Mahinda has to very clearly declare his policies. If he tries to get the support of the Sinhalese quarters by playing a dual role and then isolate the voters, we would prefer Ranil to him. It will be political suicide.

SLMC floats idea of running Hakeem in presidential race

As speculation mounted on the possibility of a presidential election being called this year, the SLMC yesterday flew a kite of running party leader Rauf Hakeem as a presidential candidate if the two major parties did not incorporate the concession of Muslim demands in their manifestos.

SLMC Chairman Basheer Cegu Dawood yesterday said that they were not willing to accept mere promises from the two major parties. Their high command had already decided that any presidential contender seeking Muslim support should commit himself to conceding Muslim demands in his manifesto.Cegu Dawood said that the Muslims must be separately represented at the forthcoming talks between the government and the LTTE in Oslo as they are as much a stakeholder as the Sinhalese and the Tamils.

Norway has made clear that the forthcoming talks likely in September was not a resumption of the peace process but will be devoted to the cease-fire agreement and ensuring compliance by both sides to that agreement. The Muslims have long been pushing for a Muslim majority unit in the North East in any devolution scenario. Cegu Dawood reiterated this position yesterday adding that the security, welfare and aspirations of Muslims outside North East must also be ensured.

20 August 2005

UNP pledges support for CBK in peace process

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at New Delhi pledged his party would extend its fullest cooperation to President Chandrika Kumaratunga in her commitment to the peace process despite the recent occurrences.

The Opposition Leaders office in a communiqué said Mr. Wickremesinghe told the Indian Premier his party was always committed to achieve a negotiated political solution acceptable to all ethnic groups and within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka should see India as a place of opportunities for economic development.

Dr. Mamnohan Singh and Mr. Wickremesinghe exchanged opinions on steps to be taken to ensure stability in the Asian region and the challenges faced by the region.

Details being worked out
Norway said yesterday it was arranging a face-to-face meeting between Sri Lanka`s warring parties in a bid to save a truce that was threatened following the assassination of the foreign minister.

The LTTE told Norway`s peace envoys it agreed to a request from the Sri Lankan government to review the faltering ceasefire, Norwegian embassy spokesman Tom Knappskog said.

'This is going to be a discussion on the implementation of the ceasefire,' Mr. Knappskog told the AFP news agency. 'It is not the resumption of peace talks, only a review of the ceasefire. When and where and the other details are yet to be worked out.'

Mr. Knappskog said the Norwegians were in contact with the government and the Tamil Tigers to arrange the meeting 'as soon as possible.'

Dhanapala declines the offer for the post of Sri Lanka Foreign Minister

The Head of the Peace Secretariat, career diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala has reportedly declined an offer made by President Chandrika Kumaratunga for the vacant Foreign Minister portfolio.

Informed sources said that Mr. Dhanapala, who is the Sri Lanka’s candidate for the UN Secretary General position, turned down the President’s request and told that he would prefer to stay in his current position as the Peace Secretariat Head.

Dhanapala also is an adviser to President Kumaratunga.

So far the post of the Foreign Ministry has not been filled, but reports said that President Kumaratunga’s brother Minister Anura Bandaranaike has been temporarily appointed for the post.

Hakeem insists on separate Muslim delegation

The principal Muslim party, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress yesterday said no talks should be held without a separate Muslim delegation participating.

SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem told the Daily Mirror that a separate Muslim delegation at talks was a condition by the international community at the Tokyo donor conference held in June 2003 and it was also an agreement reached at the fourth round of peace talks held in Thailand in January 2002.

“There cannot be talks without a separate delegation for the Muslim community. Failure to honour this condition will have disastrous repercussions on the entire peace process”, Mr. Hakeem said.

“While we welcome any fresh attempts towards resuming stalled talks what everybody should bear in mind is that if the discrimination against the community is continued and the commitments to the Muslims are breached, reaching a final settlement will remain a dream”, he said.

Mr. Hakeem called on the co-chairs of the peace process to make sure that their conditions at the Tokyo conference for the government and the LTTE were honoured by the two parties before the resumption of talks.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL CONDEMNS MURDER OF SRI LANKAN JOURNALIST

The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura today condemned the murder of Sri Lankan television journalist Relangi Selvarajah and her husband in the capital Colombo on August 12.

“I condemn the murder of Relangi Selvarajah and her husband,” the Director-General declared. “Informed public debate is essential to democracy and rule of law. Sri Lanka’s internecine conflict will only be laid to rest through open debate reflecting all shades of public opinion. Using murder to silence opinions will not secure peace in Sri Lanka, but only foment more of the violence to which it has been prey for all too long,” Mr Matsuura concluded.

Relangi Selvarajah, a former journalist for Sri Lanka Broadcasting Cooperation (SLBC) was working as a presenter for the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation (SLRC). The gunmen who killed Ms Selvarajah and her husband remained unidentified

SLA soldiers guard police stations in Jaffna

Sri Lanka Army has decided to provide security to all police stations in the Jaffna district with immediate effect. Twenty soldiers are deployed in the premises of each police station. The Police has suspended traffic duty in major towns in the Jaffna district and also stopped investigating complaints in regard to minor offences, police sources in Jaffna said.

A special team of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sri Lanka Police, which arrived in Jaffna following the killing of Mr. Charles Wijewardene, Senior Superintendent of Police, is currently conducting inquiries. Members of the CID team are reported to be staying in Kankesanthurai and Chunnakam Police stations, sources said.

As a part of the investigation, the Police recently arrested a LTTE cadre and are also searching for other suspects in connection with the killing. In this background army has started guarding police stations, sources said.

Tamil British citizen held

A Tamil who was filming the air Force camp at Chinabay with a video camera was arrested by Air Force troops on August 17 around 7.30 a.m.

The suspicious video cameraman identified as Aloysius Anderson, a British citizen was travelling in a train bound for Trincomalee.

The suspect, who had obtained the British citizenship had covered the Air Force camp, China Bay temple and a few other places on video film. Preliminary investigations confirmed that the arrested man on his return to the island was living at Wattala. The Air Force has handed over the suspect to the Police for further investigations.

He was to be produced before the court shortly.

The Chinabay police are conducting further investigation.

TRO funded Arabic College halls opened in Kinniya

Two new halls for the Kinniya-Munaichchenai Sumaiya Ladies Arabic College constructed with funds allocated by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) were declared open Wednesday evening. Mr.T.A.Ishak, Principal of the College unveiled the name board of the new building, Mr.V.Kalaivarnan, Project Officer of the TRO in Trincomalee and Mr.K.Nallasivam, TRO head in Thampalakamam declared open the two halls, sources said.

Mr.Ishak who is a retired Education Officer said in his presidential speech that the college had been functioning in Mancholai since 1978. In the tsunami last year the college was destroyed and about 160 students became refugees. Of them 14 lost their fathers and about 20 lost their properties. Hence the college was shifted to the present site at Munaichchenai where theologian classes are conducted in cadjan sheds causing hardships to students during rainy season.

"We brought this pathetic situation to the notice of the TRO administration in Trincomalee through Kinniya Jamiethul Ulama Sabah and TRO promptly agreed to provide funds for the construction for two halls to conduct classes. Muslims of Kinniya are thankful for the TRO for its timely assistance," said Mr.Ishak.

Sumaiya Ladies Arabic College is the only institution for theological studies for Muslim women in the Trincomalee district and six such institutions are functioning for boys in the district, Mr.Ishak said.

TRO has constructed about five hundred temporary houses for tsunami victims in Kinniya division and is implementing several relief projects through Jamiethul Ulama Sabah, he added

Centuries old relationship between Tamils and Muslims in the Trincomalee are strengthened by such goodwill activities. Both communities should not give room for a third force to ruin this relationship, he appealed.

Mr. Kalaivarnan and Mr.Nallasivam of TRO, Mr.Nassar and Mr.Hathiauthulla of Kinniya Jamiethul Ulama Sabah, Mrs. Sithi Zahira, retired principal and Mr.Hassan also spoke at the event.

Mr.Kalaivarnan on behalf of the TRO donated a consignment of exercise books to the students of the college.

Waste dhal given to tsunami affected

A group of tsunami affected families from Mattakkuliya complained yesterday (19) that they were issued with dhal sweepings, unfit for human consumption, at the Colombo South Cooperative Society`s Modera outlet in its weekly handout on August 05.

They brought samples of the dhal sweepings, issued to about five families among the 50 affected families living on the Hendala Thotupala Road, Mattakkuliya. They however said only five families found they were issued with 4.2 kilograms of dhal sweepings in their quota of weekly rations while the other dry rations including flour, gram, sugar and oil were free from dirt.

These tsunami refugees are allowed dry rations up to the value of 375 rupees per week per person in each family. Though eight months have elapsed since the tsunami of 26/12 these families are still living in temporary shelters.

Weerawansa blasts free media

`Where are the champions of the Free Media who could not protest against the murders of TV journalist Relangi Selvarajah and her husband' The couple was killed on the same day Foreign Minister Kadirgamar was killed but the Free Media people who are fed by NGO dollars have become voiceless as the murders were committed by the LTTE.

`When Sivaram Taraki was killed, the Free Media people and the NGOs made a hue and cry about it though Sivaram was working for the LTTE run Tamilnet. But when the Selvarajah couple was killed by the LTTE all these champions of the Free Media have gone into hiding and are keeping a deafening silence on the crime against a woman journalist and her husband,` JVP group leader Wimal Weerawansa said during the emergency debate in Parliament yesterday

19 August 2005

LTTE agrees for peace talks.-BBC

The Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka have announced that they've agreed to hold direct talks with the government. The announcement follows mediation by Norwegian envoys after the assassination of the country's Foreign Minister last Friday.

This comes a week after the killing of the Sri Lankan foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar. The talks will be the first high-level meeting between the rebels and the government in two-and-a-half years.

The Norwegian deputy foreign minister, Vidar Helgesen, described it as a really significant step forward for the peace process against the backdrop of the killing of Mr Kadirgamar.

He said the Tigers had agreed to discuss implementation of the ceasefire agreement after what has been a serious downward slide in the truce. It follows a meeting between the Norwegians and the Tigers' chief political negotiatior, Anton Balasingham, in London on Wednesday.

So far, it hasn't been decided when or where the talks will take place, but the delegations are expected to include political and military personal.

Earlier the political leader of the LTTE S. P. Thamilselven, told the BBC, that they will make a decision about talks with the government within the next few days.

The announcement comes as the President of Sri Lanka had directly written to the Norwegian Prime Minster Kjell Magne Bondevik, requesting an urgent meeting between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, in the presence of the facilitator and the SLMM, to review the practical functioning of the Cease Fire Agreement with a view to preventing further killings and other violations.

SL parliament approves State of Emergency
Sri Lanka's parliament Thursday adopted a government motion to extend the State of Emergency for a month after a one-day debate with a majority of 103 votes. 124 MPs voted for the motion and 21 against. President Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunge declared the State of Emergency soon after the killing of Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, and summoned the special session of the parliament to approve it on Thursday. According to the Constitution, the State of Emergency should be approved by parliament after ten days of its declaration.

The main opposition United National Party (UNP), Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), the dissident Sri Lanka Muslim Congress voted with the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) and Western Province Peoples Front (WPPF) parliamentarians voted against the motion.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) parliamentarians abstained from voting.

At the conclusion of the debate Mr. Mavai Senathirajah requested the Speaker to put the motion to vote and the Speaker agreed to it, sources said

Sri Lanka Opposition Leader calls for fresh election and backs President's move to dissolve the parliament
Backing President’s move to dissolve the parliament before presidential election, Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickramasinghe has called for fresh election to stabilize the country. Speaking to the foreign correspondents in India he added that stable parliament is needed for continuing the peace process with LTTE.

“This government is not capable of taking the peace process forward effectively. Therefore, a new, stable government, fortified by a fresh mandate is a pre-requisite for advancing the peace process," Ranil Wickramasinghe told media.

Earlier he called for presidential election and organized a people’s march from Galle to Colombo to force the government top hold the presidential election in this year. However, Mr. Wickramasinghe’s sudden change of political stance has embarrassed the other senior leaders in UNP.

“We really disappointed after he seeks fresh mandate at this crucial hour. The party mechanism is working for getting presidential election in this year,” a senior UNP leader told ColomboPage.

Earlier, ColomboPage reported that political analysts here believe President Kumaratunga and Opposition Leader Wickramasinghe closely work to undermine Popular Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the next presidential election. “If general election will be held before the presidential election, it would badly affect for Prime Minister’s campaign,” they said.

Kadir killing: Three-wheeler driver arrested
The three-wheeler driver who had allegedly transported the firearms and ammunition used in the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgarmar was taken into custody on Wednesday in the Welikada area by a special police team.

Inquiries revealed that this three-wheeler driver has brought a bag containing the firearms and ammunition in his vehicle and handed it over at Bullers Lane to two men who followed his vehicle on a motor cycle, police said. The men had allegedly paid the fare and taken over the bag.

Meanwhile about twenty officers and soldiers of various ranks who were on security duty at the late minister’s residence at the time of his assassination were questioned and their statements recorded by yesterday. A senior police officer said about one hundred officers and soldiers are yet to be questioned.

These men are being questioned to ascertain whether there had been any weaknesses in the security network provided to the late minister.

Grenade hurled at Vavuniya wine store

Unidentified men lobbed a grenade into a wine shop in Vavuniya town Thursday night around 8:40 p.m. Mr. Amarasegaram Jeyanatharajah, 25, an employee at the wine shop was injured in the grenade attack, Police said.

The injured alcohol seller is was rushed to Vavuniya Hospital.

The reason behind the attack is not known.

Large number of beer and arrack bottles were damaged in the grenade attack.

CBK requests Norway’s PM to intervene
President Chandrika Kumaratunga has requested Norway’s Prime Minister to summon an ‘urgent meeting’ between the government and the LTTE, to review the Ceasefire Agreement and to end political killings.

The President’s office said yesterday that she wrote to Norwegian Premier Kjell Magne Bondevik requesting a meeting be held in the presence of the facilitator and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.

“The President has now written to Norway’s Prime Minister requesting an urgent meeting between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to review the practical functioning of the CFA with a view to prevent further killings and other violations”, it said.

However, on a prior occasion, before Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar’s assassination, the President had requested the SLMM to arrange a higher level meeting between the military authorities and the LTTE, the statement said.

The President also condemned the attack on the UN office in Kilinochchi by the LTTE, it said

LTTE says he’s innocent, demands release
The LTTE claimed yesterday the main suspect arrested by police over the Charles Wijewardene killing was an innmocent person and demanded his immediate release.

The demand was made at talks in Kilinochchi yesterday between SLMM chief Hagrup Haukland and LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan, SLMM acting spokesperson Vilja Kugvonen said.

During the meeting Mr. Thamilselvan said the suspect arrested by the police was not involved in the killing of the SSP and his arrest amounted to an abduction.

The SLMM chief in response said an inquiry would be held soon.Meanwhile, the LTTE also raised the issue of the security situation in the East and expressed concern regarding its cadres.

The LTTE persisted that the government should disarm the paramilitary groups in the East who were posing a challenge to its presence in the area. During the discussion, Mr. Haukland proposed the holding of a high level meeting regarding the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement.

The assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was also taken up during the meeting with Mr. Haukland informing the LTTE that a formal complaint of the assassination was received.However, Mr. Thamilchelvan denied LTTE involvement in the assassination. The SLMM is scheduled to carry out an inquiry into this complaint, Mr. Haukland said. The issue of transportation of LTTE cadres was also taken up. The LTTE accepted the proposal put forward by the SLMM in this regard.

US military Advisor in Jaffna

Military advisor of US embassy in Sri Lanka Lf. Cornel James P. Ojale visited Jaffna for a special inspection tour this morning (18th Aug). SL Navy Commander Air vise Marshal Daya Sandagiri and Army Commander Lf. Cornel Shantha Kottegoda, Who visited Jaffna yesterday, too join with US military Advisor for this inspection tour. “They will inspect the front defense line from Nagakovil to Kankasanthurai in this special Tour” Army Sources said

Thalaysingham’s domestic aide grilled

Branches of a tree in the Thalaysingham compound were hacked away a few days prior to Foreign Minister Kadirgmar’s assassination to provide a clear view of the target for the assassin, police said on Wednesday.

The domestic aide of the Thalaysingham family who is said to have cut down the branches is being grilled by CID. Sleuths working on the case were puzzled why the special security commandos providing security to Kadirgamar did not take additional preventive measures after the branches were cut down. The commandos and others of the security group of the slain minister also are being questioned.

Police have learnt that two sons of retired SP Thalaysingham living in the UK had asked their brother living in the Thalaysingham residence to come to the UK some days before the assassination of Kadirgamar. Some important documents about the financial resources of the Thalaysinghams have also been found by the police, sources said.

The two brothers living in the UK had asked their brother to sell the property and leave the country for the UK a short time back, sources said.

IPKF almost eliminated LTTE, recalls former Lankan General

A former Sri Lankan Army General says that the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), which was in the island from July 1987 to March 1990, had "pushed the LTTE against the wall and almost eliminated it" when the then President, R Premadasa, expelled it from the island, under pressure from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

Participating in a panel discussion in the Newsline programme of MTV on Wednesday, Maj Gen (Rtd) Sarath Munasinghe said that Premadasa was "pushed" into expelling the IPKF by the violent agitation that was being organised by the JVP against the presence of foreign troops.

Gen Munasinghe's remarks came in answer a question by presenter Lasantha Wickrematunge, whether the LTTE would have been eliminated if President Premadasa had not given the marching orders to the IPKF, by giving an ultimatum to India to withdraw it.

Paying a tribute to the IPKF, the Sri Lankan General said that the IPKF had "suffered a lot while fighting for some other country."

Ironically, Gen Munasinghe had himself played a small role in facilitating an alliance between Premadasa and the LTTE, the main aim of which was to get rid of the IPKF.

Equally ironically, the JVP, which agitated violently against the induction of Indian troops in 1987-89, now says that India should come back and eliminate the LTTE! The third irony is that the man who was the chief link between LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran and President Premadasa in 1989, when the unholy alliance was struck, a Tamil gentleman by the name Abimanasingham Manickasothy, has now severed all links with the LTTE.

Mixed feelings about IPKF

Gen Munasinghe had had mixed feelings about the IPKF. Initially there was shock on the arrival of Indian troops. In his book A Soldier's Version (published in July 2000), he says: " The Sri Lankan Army were shocked and completely unaware of what was happening. We looked up to our seniors. They too were clueless and helpless."

Apparently, the country's political leadership had kept the military in the dark about the induction of the IPKF.

The relationship between the incoming Indian officers and the Sri Lankan officer cadre was not too friendly in the beginning. "Some of the Indian officers did not want to trust their Sri Lankan counterparts. Sri Lankan Military Intelligence Officers were keen to brief the officers of the IPKF. But the Indians were not keen to listen to them. Instead, the Indians relied mostly on their own experienced intelligence officers, and of course, the LTTE," Munasinghe says.

Later on, the relations improved, because many of the officers were batch mates in courses in Indian defence academies. "Some of these (Indian) officers openly expressed their displeasure for having to serve in Sri Lankan on a peace keeping mission," Gen Munasinghe recalls.

Role in facilitating Premadasa-LTTE alliance

On April 16, 1989, Munasinghe got a call from the Defence Secretary, asking him to pick up a certain Tamil gentleman from Duplication Road in Colombo and escort him "discreetly" to President Premadasa's estate residence off Kurunegala, 100 kms north East of Colombo.

The gentleman concerned was Abimanasingham Manickasothy. His mission was to hand over a letter written by a "senior LTTE leader" on behalf of LTTE chief Prabhakaran, to President Premadasa.

"He showed me a sealed envelop. A little while later, he pulled out a folded piece of paper from his side pocket and handed it to me. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was also about peace talks with the LTTE. He said 'this is a photocopy'. I came to know what was happening."

Gen Munasinghe is somewhat apologetic now about this mission. " For me it was another mission. I had to carry out my task," he says defensively.

Premadasa received Manickasothy warmly and after dinner, the sealed envelop was handed to him. Recalls Gen Munasinghe: "My friend wanted to make a few calls to London. The International Direct Dialling facility was readily available. They discussed. I was listening. The main topic was atrocities committed by the Indian Army personnel in Sri Lanka. I was happy for a moment, hoping that there would be peace in my country. But I thought to myself: "I know Prabhakaran and his desire presumably better than both of them."

Later, after the IPKF withdrew in March 1990, the Prabhakaran-Premadasa honeymoon ended in three months flat. And Eelam War II began in June 1990. Among the other changes, which took place, was Manickasothy's falling out with the LTTE. Late in 1998, when Gen Munasinghe was commanding 51 Division in Jaffna, he sent for Manickasothy, who was by then a bad diabetic patient. And the man, who was the link between the LTTE and President Premadasa in 1989, had "severed all links with the LTTE."

Emergency rule, an ulterior motive: TNA
The government would use the emergency regulations for political advantage despite its insistence that it was to facilitate investigations into the killing of the late Foreign Minister, TNA MP G. Ponnambalam said yesterday.

“We oppose the promulgation of the emergency for the simple reason that it has an ulterior motive, to take political advantage at a time when the government has clearly shown its inability to take the peace process forward,” Ponnambalam said.

The TNA MP while condemning the killing said that the results of the investigation would be credible if they were conducted without emergency regulations.

“However much we may disagree, or hold him in contempt, I cannot accept this killing. The culprits must be brought to book, exposed, whoever it may be. Even before the investigations are concluded, the LTTE has been blamed”, he said.

“There are hundreds of cases filed under emergency laws with almost 99 present of them filed with confession being the only source of evidence to link the suspect to the crime. How credible is a confession?” he asked.

The MP said in other countries confession was unacceptable under emergency rule, but in Sri Lanka it was accepted.

Meanwhile TNA MP N. Raviraj warned that the emergency regulations would hamper the CFA.

The MP voiced concern that the JVP had not handed over all its weapons, and urged the party to do so.

“Mr. Weerawansa is a verbal terrorist, he also has a hit list,” he said.

He also launched an attack on the Bandaranaikes stating that the family continued to ruin the country.

TNA MP warned by Speaker
TNA MP, M.K. Eleventhan was warned yesterday by the Speaker that he would be named and sent out of the chamber if he did not remain silent during the debate on emergency regulations in Parliament.

Several TNA MPs rose up in protest when Public Security, Law and Order Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake said that the Government would have to make a change in its policy if the LTTE failed to come to the negotiation table.

“If the party leaders cannot control their MPs, I will send them out one by one. Lets have a civilized debate”, Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara said.

The TNA back benches rose up in protest again during JVP MP Wimal Weerawansa’s speech, but sat down when the Speaker warned them.

LTTE agrees for peace talks.

The Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka have announced that they've agreed to hold direct talks with the government. The announcement follows mediation by Norwegian envoys after the assassination of the country's Foreign Minister last Friday.
This comes a week after the killing of the Sri Lankan foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar. The talks will be the first high-level meeting between the rebels and the government in two-and-a-half years.

The Norwegian deputy foreign minister, Vidar Helgesen, described it as a really significant step forward for the peace process against the backdrop of the killing of Mr Kadirgamar.

He said the Tigers had agreed to discuss implementation of the ceasefire agreement after what has been a serious downward slide in the truce. It follows a meeting between the Norwegians and the Tigers' chief political negotiatior, Anton Balasingham, in London on Wednesday.

So far, it hasn't been decided when or where the talks will take place, but the delegations are expected to include political and military personal.

Earlier the political leader of the LTTE S. P. Thamilselven, told the BBC, that they will make a decision about talks with the government within the next few days.

The announcement comes as the President of Sri Lanka had directly written to the Norwegian Prime Minster Kjell Magne Bondevik, requesting an urgent meeting between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, in the presence of the facilitator and the SLMM, to review the practical functioning of the Cease Fire Agreement with a view to preventing further killings and other violations.

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Urgent review of the CFA, President writes to Norway's PM
Thursday, August 18, 2005, 14:15 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
MEDIA RELEASE: OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT - DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA
Aug. 18, Colombo: On the direction of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Government had, prior to the assassination of the late Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, requested the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission to arrange a meeting between Sri Lanka's senior level military personnel and senior LTTE military cadres, in order to devise ways and means of ending the political killings that had been taking place recently, in contravention of the Cease Fire Agreement.

Following the assassination of the late Foreign Minister, the President has now written formally to Norway's Prime Minster Kjell Magne Bondevik, requesting an urgent meeting between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, in the presence of the facilitator and the SLMM, to review the practical functioning of the Cease Fire Agreement with a view to preventing further killings and other violations.

The international community has condemned the murder of the late Foreign Minister. Having noted, the statement of the President of the United Nation's Security Council, President Kumaratunga has condemned the violation of the UN offices in Killinochchi by the LTTE and regrets that this incident has taken place, besmirching cordial relations between Sri Lanka and the United Nations, in the 50th year of Sri Lanka's membership in that organization.

Director General
Presidential Media Unit
August 18, 2005

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War is not an option" - LTTE

The Liberation Tigers said Wednesday they are committed to ceasefire and would return to the Norwegian peace process if the February 2002 truce agreement was implemented in full. In an interview to Reuters, LTTE’s Political Head, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan, said the Tigers are ready to defend the Tamils from attack. "War is not an option," he told Reuters. "But if war is thrust upon the Tamil people, we will have no option but to face it... So it's in the hands of the Sri Lanka government", he said.

Abiding by an ongoing truce was the only way to resurrect a stalled peace process, he said.

"We want to maintain the ceasefire momentum, the peace ... and ensure that we walk back into the peace process again," Mr. Thamilchelvan said. Mr. Thamilchelvan rejected SL President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s accusation that the Tigers assassinated Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Few in Colombo believe the Tigers' denial of any role in Kadirgamar's killing, Reuters reported. Kadirgamar, a Tamil, is seen by many of his community as a traitor to their cause after campaigning to have the LTTE banned internationally as a terrorist group, and defending the Sri Lankan armed forces against international criticism of human rights violations.

However, Mr. Thamilchelvan said that although his organisation had little regard for Mr. Kadirgamar, a close confidante of President Kumaratunga, it did not mean the LTTE killed him. "The collective Tamil thinking and the judgment... of the man is that he is a traitor," Mr. Thamilchelvan said. "This does not necessarily mean he has earned his death, because it is not just Mr. Kadirgamar who did this."

"An eye-for-an-eye and a tooth-for-a-tooth is not the concern at the moment when we are strongly committed to the ceasefire agreement," he added.

"We are seriously interested in the ceasefire agreement."

The Tigers say Kadirgamar's killing at his private residence in a high security zone in Colombo by snipers late on Friday was probably an inside job by elements opposed to the peace process. But Thamilchelvan stopped short of accusing anyone directly, saying it was up to the police to investigate and find the culprits and for the courts to try them.

Kadirgamar "had 24-hour security," he told Reuters. "So if in the end someone had been able to infiltrate into that set up and meticulously carry out a killing, definitely there is an inside element in this matter." "The most simple way to get the peace process back on track is by sincerely and effectively giving implementation status to the ceasefire agreement," Mr. Thamilchelvan said.

"That alone is sufficient to get the peace process back on track for the parties to sit down and talk."
Sri Lanka President plans to resign and ready to lead the next general election?

Inner circle of ruling party SLFP was rocked today when they heard that President’s desire to resign from her post in near future, ColomboPage learns.

President Kumaratunga reportedly told her close associates about her wish of stepping down as the President. It is reported that she would lead the next general election campaign as prime ministerial candidate despite already publicized nomination of Minister Anura Bandaranaike. “From this strategy she can at least become Leader of the Opposition, if she lose the election,” a close-confidante told ColomboPage on condition of anonymity. He added that if she were successful in the campaign she would become a Prime Minister of the country.

It is learnt that President Kumaratunga plans to discuss her plan with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and is also trying to get his support for a power-sharing deal in a future SLFP government. According to the constitution, the Prime Minister would become the President when the post is vacated from resignation or death.

Ex TELO cadre shot and killed in Vavuniya

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a former Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) cadre in Kurumankadu, around 1.5 km. west of Vavuniya around 8:20 p.m. Wednesday, Vavuniya Police Officer In-Charge (OIC) Mr. A.M.C. Abeyasinghe Banda said. The killing took place in a populous area, close to UNHCR office in Vavuniya.

The victim, identified as Mr. Mathy, 30, was shot twice in his head with a 9 mm. handgun, Police said. Meanwhile, the TELO office in Vavuniya said that Mr. Mathy, who is from Maharambai kulam in Vavuniya, had left their organisation a few months ago.

The Vavuniya District Judge, Mr.M. Ilanchelian, who visited the crime scene ordered the Police to investigate

Norwegian envoys to meet rebel negotiator over Sri Lanka FM's killing
Due to the current prevailing situation in Sri Lanka, Norwegian peace brokers will hold crucial talks with London-based LTTE Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham today. Norway's Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Peterson and his deputy Vidar Helgesen will meet Balasingham at his London home.

Spokesman for the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo Tom Knappskog confirmed that Peterson is to meet Balasingham. The talks will focus on the assassination of Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar

Two policemen shot, Jaffna tense

Two Sri Lankan policemen were shot and injured at Kaladdy in Kokkuvil, a suburb of Jaffna, Wednesday around 11:30 a.m, Police said. One of the two wounded policemen, in critical condition, was airlifted to Colombo Hospital. The Sri Lanka army in Jaffna deployed additional troops in Jaffna town, the areas surrounding the University of Jaffna and Jaffna Teaching Hospital following the incident, sources said.

The other policeman is admitted to Palaly Military Hospital, Police said.

An official attached to the Financial Division of the LTTE, Mr. Kaidramalai Gopi, was arrested at his house in Kallady while he was visiting his parents. Mr. Kadiramalai, father of Mr. Gopi, told TamilNet that the shots were fired by Sri Lankan Army soldiers who were outside the house while policemen were taking his son away through the front door.

According to the Police, the police constables, N. M. Hemage, and L. Jeyalath were shot when they attempted to enter the house with the Sri Lanka Army soldiers in a cordon and search operation Wednesday morning.

The house is located close to Jaffna Technical College.

LTTE complains to SLMM against the abduction of Gopi
Jaffna District Political Secretariat of the LTTE Monday lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that the abduction of Mr.Gopi, an LTTE cadre by a group of Sri Lanka Army soldiers and policemen from his house is a blatant violation of the Ceasefire Agreement. "LTTE has informed to the SLMM that Mr.Gopi should be released immediately," said a statement issued by Mr. Imayavan of the LTTE Jaffna district political secretariat Wednesday.

On 17th August Wednesday morning around 8.30 a.m. a group of army soldiers and policemen surrounded the house where Mr.Gopi was residing with his parents and opened fire on the house. Thereafter they abducted Mr.Gopi in the presence of neighbors and members of his family, the statement further said.

"We have already brought to the notice of the SLMM that the SLA and police have been making false complaints in recent days against the LTTE with ulterior motive to weaken the ceasefire agreement. The abduction of Mr.Gopi is also a part of the plot of the SLA and police," said the statement.

Foreign Minister's death: Condoleezza Rice says 'no cause that is justified by terrorism and by violence'
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice placing her remarks at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington over the death of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, said that there can be no cause that is justified by terrorism and by violence.

She remarked “I have come on behalf of President Bush and on behalf of the American people to honor the memory of Foreign Minister Kadirgamar. I had the honor and pleasure of meeting him just a few weeks ago when he was here in Washington. He will be greatly missed. He was a man of courage. He was a man of integrity. He was a man who dedicated his life to the search for peace and for a better life for the Sri Lankan people.”

“I want to say to the people of Sri Lanka that we mourn him, we mourn your loss, we mourn the loss for his family, and they will be remembered in our thoughts.”

“I also want to note that it is the great hope of the United States that out of this tragedy people will once again commit themselves to a path to peace. There can be no cause that is justified by terrorism and by violence. And I want to say to the President, with whom I spoke just a couple of days ago, that we have been impressed with her vision and with the people of Sri Lanka and how they have responded to this tragedy. But we call upon all parties to try and find a way to peace,” she stated.

Policemen shot in Iruthayapuram

Unidentified persons fired on two Sri Lankan policemen, wounding them on Tuesday night around 8:30 p.m. in the Iruthayapuram suburb of Batticaloa town, Police said. The attackers used T 56 rifles and shot from a long distance, Police said.

The wounded policemen, Mr. Amararatna Dissanayake, 46, and Mr. K. N. Gunawardana, 39, were rushed to Batticaloa Hospital at 8:50 p.m. The policemen were on duty, around 50 meters from a sentry post at the time of the incident.

Iruthayapuram is located about 2 km. off Batticaloa town.

EPDP office in Jaffna attacked, one injured

At least one senior member of EPDP was injured when a Unidentified persons launched an attack on the EPDP office in Jaffna in the early hours today. Military sources said that Unidentified persons had attacked with a grenade injuring the EPDP member who was asleep inside the office. The EPDP member was admitted to the Jaffna hospital.

In the recent past, many EPDP political offices in the north and east came under grenade attacks causing damages and injuries to political activists.

SLN arrests youth with explosives in Mannar

Soldiers of the Sri Lanka Navy conducted a cordon and search operation in the Pallimunai coastal area in the Mannar district Wednesday for about two hours from about 7:00 a.m., civil sources said. During the operation SLN soldiers recovered about three kg of gelatin sticks, 31 detonators and four feet of wire.

The soldiers arrested a Tamil youth and handed him to the Pallimunai Police for further action, sources said.

Trinco TRO Director released

Muttur Magistrate Mr.M.Ganesharajah Wednesday ordered the release of Mr.S.Wijekumar, Trincomalee District Director of Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) following an application by the Muttur Police that he could be released with the money Rs 2 million he was in possession at the time of arrest, legal sources said. Sri Lanka Army soldiers manning the checkpoint at Kaddaiparichchan to the entrance of the LTTE controlled Muttur east Tuesday evening took into custody Mr.S.Wijekumar, and handed him over to Muttur Police.

The Muttur Police produced Mr.Wijekumar along with other officials who were taken into custody by the soldiers manning the Kaddaiparichchan army checkpoint Tuesday evening when he was proceeding to LTTE held Muttur east area to make payments for the several development projects now being implemented by the TRO.

The Muttur Police told court that at the inquiry held into the incident that it was found that the money was being taken to make payments as stated by Mr.Wijekumar. Hence the Police had no objection to release TRO officials with the money. Accordingly the Magistrate released Mr.Wijekumar and others of the TRO, legal sources said.

There is no Sri Lankan bank in Muttur east except the Socio Economic Development Bank (SEDB) which has its headquarters in Killinochchi

Dr. Kanagaratnam and the Jaffna Cancer Unit

It is reported that Mr. Tyronne Fernando, the N-E Provincial Governor declared open the Cancer Treatment Unit at Tellippalai some three weeks ago. This unit will no doubt be a boon to the people of the Northern Province and will significantly reduce the work load on the Maharagama Cancer Institute.

That our premier cancer hospital in Maharagama could not meet the needs of the entire country was appreciated by a few health professionals several decades ago. Foremost among them was the late Dr. K. Kanagaratnam, who had an illustrious career in the Health Department and was the first Superintendent of the Colombo Group of Hospitals which included the then greatly expanded and revamped General Hospital (the present National Hospital, Sri Lanka). On retirement in 1958, he settled in his home town and soon thereafter inaugurated the Jaffna Cancer Society.

As the secretary of this society in the 1970s I became intimately aware of Dr. Kanagaratnam’s most vigorous and passionate campaign for the establishment of a cancer treatment centre in Jaffna. He met the top health bureaucrats, all the Jaffna MPs and a succession of Health Ministers. He reasoned, argued, appealed and pleaded with all of them till his death in 1980. Then in 1983, the health authorities gave the green light for the establishment of a cancer unit in Tellippalai but it did not become fully operational; the civil war intervened and most of Tellippalai became part of the High Security zone. With travel between Jaffna and Colombo virtually at a standstill, the plight of the cancer patients, especially the poorer ones, became even more dismal.

Now, almost 45 years after Dr. Kanagaratnam started his campaign, the unit has been resurrected, equipped and staffed, at least partly. Let us hope it will remain functional and be a memorial to his foresight and pioneering work. It would be most appropriate to name this unit the ‘Dr. K. Kanagaratnam Cancer Centre.’

Dr. R. Natkunam,
Consultant Surgeon,
Townsville,
Queensland, Australia.

Anura vows to take NGOs to task as FM

Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike who is expected to be sworn-in as Foreign Minister said yesterday one of his first acts as Foreign Minister would be to inform the international community that certain world renowned NGOs who promised the government to construct houses for the Tsunami-stricken people were yet to start work.

Mr. Bandaranaike told the Daily Mirror yesterday he would complain to the relevant organisations and the respective countries that those NGOs had not set up houses despite lands allocated by the government.

The state television last week listed out International Red Cross, OXFAM and World Vision saying the government was considering legal action against them for the delay in setting up houses. However Minister Bandaranaike dismissed reports saying the agreement signed between the government and the respective NGOs did not allow provision to take legal action hence they might only be black listed in the eyes of international community.

“It was a lapse on the part of the officials when the agreement was signed initially and therefore those who prepared the agreement should be held responsible first, ” a government official said.. World Vision National Director, Yu Hwa Lee , said the delay was owing to several ground realities like difficulties in identifying the beneficiaries and marshy lands.

Most people were not willing to move elsewhere and were insisting that their houses be rebuilt in their original locations. We did not want to complete houses which would not have people since we are accountable to the donors world over, Mr. Lee said. While acknowledging the government’s sense of urgency in setting up houses, he said they too had their share of genuine excuses.

Brushing aside allegations that millions of monies sitting in accounts of World Vision, he said the funds allocated for Sri Lanka are with the Australian counter part and will be remitted according to specified projects. “Fourteen million Australian dollars collected from the cricket match is not exclusively for Sri Lanka but for the entire Tsunami-hit region”.

OXFAM Media Coordinator Ravi Prasad said they were in the process of “consulting the affected communities” and would be setting up houses soo

Emergency debate today: TNA to oppose, conditional support from UNP

The Government will seek to obtain Parliamentary support today to extend the current State of Emergency by a month, with the TNA saying it would oppose the move and the main opposition UNP likely to reveal its stance today.

Parliament which meets for a special session today will debate for a full six hours the State of Emergency declared by President Chandrika Kumaratunga in the aftermath of the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. Article 155 (4) of the Constitution requires the House to meet within ten days to approve the declaration of Emergency.

However only the Government and the JHU had by yesterday decided to support the extension of Emergency with the major parties saying they would reveal their stance in Parliament later today. The opening statement of today’s debate will be made by Deputy Defence Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake and the concluding speech by Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva.

President Kumaratunga in a gazette issued on Monday summoned Parliament to meet for a special session today using the powers vested in her in Article 70 of the Constitution.

Party leaders and Speaker W.J.M Lokubandara met in the Parliamentary complex at 11.30 am yesterday to discuss the logistics of the debate and decided to grant 65 percent of the allotted time to the Opposition and 35 percent to the Government. All parties except the TNA attended yesterday’s special meeting.

TNA Jaffna district parliamentarian Nadaraj Raviraj said the party was against the extension of the emergency because it saw the move would not solve the real problem. The SLMC would approve the Emergency only if its functions were limited and not abused for political gain, party General Secretary Hassan Ali said.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and his party men met yesterday to decide on the matter but the stance would only be revealed in Parliament today, UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake said. However the UNP is likely to support the government on some conditions that it would not be to suppress student protests and trade union action.

The JVP and CWC said they would decide on the matter in Parliament today. JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake and CWC Deputy Leader R. Yogarajan said their parties would take a decision this morning.

Soldier sentenced to 2 years RI suspended for five years

A soldier by the name of J.L. Chandana Pushpakumara was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment suspended for five years, after he pleaded guilty to all charges filed against him, by the Cinnamon Garden Police Station and the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) in connection with theft of goods belonging to the West Indies cricket team.

According to a report submitted to the Colombo Magistrate Court, the accused was charged with theft, possession of stolen goods and trading in stolen property. He was caught while attempting to exchange foreign currency for the stolen items. The investigation was launched following a complaint lodged by the Manager of the West Indies Cricket team, Mr. Anthony Howard, claiming a bag containing items worth Rs. 514,500 had been stolen during the Sri Lanka-West Indies Test Match played at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) grounds, recently.

Appearing for the accused, Counsel Rexy Piyadasa explained that his client was a keen enthusiast of the West Indian Cricket team and that he deeply regrets the incident. The accused had returned the stolen items

17 August 2005

Dec. ‘99 swearing-in constitutional, polls chief tells Supreme Court

The Elections Commissioner yesterday told the Supreme Court that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had taken oath as President on December 22, 1999 and that she had acted in terms of the Constitution.

Mr. Dayananda Dissanayake was filing objection in the petition filed by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) in the Supreme Court seeking a declaration that the next Presidential Election should be held in 2005. The Elections Commissioner, in his statement of objections filed to the Supreme Court stated that the Elections Commission would take necessary statutory steps to hold the Presidential Election and for the purpose of conducting the election and the appropriate time in accordance with the Constitution and the Presidential Election Act.

Mr. Dissanayake in his statement of objections filed yesterday (15) denied there was any likelihood of the infringement of the fundamental right to equality and equal protection of the law of the petitioner, JHU General Secretary Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera, enshrined under Article 12(1) of the Constitution. The polls chief stated that in terms of Section 27(2) of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, he continue to exercise and perform the power and functions of the office of the Elections Commissioner as were vested in him immediately prior to the commencement of the said act and of the Elections Commission, until an Elections Commission is constituted in terms of Article 103 (titled Commissioner of Elections) of the Constitution.

He states the poll for the election of the President shall be taken not less than one month and not more than four months before the expiration of the term of office of the President in office at the appropriate time by the Elections Commission. The Elections Commission shall fix an appropriate date as the date on which the poll shall be taken not less than four weeks and not more than six weeks from the date of nomination, he stated.

At the appropriate time, the Elections Commission shall fix the date of nomination of candidates being a date not less than 16 days and not more than 21 days from the date of publication of such order, he added. The relevant calculation will be made by the Elections Commission in terms of the Constitution and the Presidential Election Act No; 15 of 1981, he asserted. The Elections Commission is empowered to announce the dates for the election and nomination for a Presidential Election at the appropriate time, the Elections Commissioner stated in his objections.

The Supreme Court had already granted leave to proceed with the Fundamental Rights violation petition for an imminent infringement of the fundamental right to equality and equal protection of the law. Petitioner in his petition asked the court for a declaration that the term of the office of the present President Chandrika Kumaratunga expires upon the completion of six years from December 22, 1999. He is seeking the court also to direct the Commissioner of Elections to hold the next Presidential election in 2005 and to take all necessary statutory steps. President Chandrika Kumaratunga was declared elected as the President on November 10, 1994 after securing victory at the poll held on November 9, 1994.

She assumed office on November 12, 1994 after making and subscribing the affirmation set out in the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution. The assumption of the office by President Chandrika Kumaratunga was proclaimed by Gazette Notification dated November 12, 1994.

After completion of four years in the office, she by proclamation declared her intention of appealing to the people for a mandate to hold office, by election, for a further term, by virtue of the powers vested in her under the Constitution. The said proclamation was published in the Government Gazette on October 20, 1999. A Presidential election was held on December 21, 1999. Ms. Kumaratunga secured victory at the said election and the then Acting Commissioner of Elections declared that she was elected President. The said declaration was published in the Government Gazette dated November 22, 1999. Thereafter President Kumaratunga on December 22, 1999 made and subscribed the affirmation set out in the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution before the Chief Justice and thereby assumed the office of President.

Petitioner contends that upon her making and subscribing to the affirmation referred to above before the Chief Justice, she assumed the office of President on December 22, 1999. He maintains that the performance of the aforementioned constitutional/statutory act is an irreversible constitutional act or function which will result in the commencement of the term of office of the President.

He claims that in terms of Article 30(2), the President shall hold office for a term of six years and accordingly her term of office which commenced from December 22, 1999 would complete on December 21, 2005 or by December 22, 2005. He states that in terms of Article 31(3) of the Constitution, the poll for the election of the President shall be taken not less than one month and not more than two months before the expiration of the term of office of the President in office.

He contends that accordingly the next Presidential election should be held by any day between October 22, 2005 and November 22, 2005 and that in terms of Section 2(1) (b) of Presidential Elections Act, the Commissioner of Elections shall fix a date as the date on which the poll shall be taken not less than four weeks and not more than six weeks from the date of nomination. Therefore, for this purpose it is necessary to accept nominations for the next Presidential election any day between September 17, 2005 and October 25 of 2005, petitioner maintains.

Accordingly, the Elections Commissioner is empowered to announce the dates for election and nomination for a Presidential election after August 27, 2005 and before October 9 of 2005, he contends.He challenges that the failure on the part of the polls chief to hold the Presidential election in 2005 and/or his failure to take necessary statutory steps for the purpose of conducting the election in 2005 is unconstitutional, unlawful, arbitrary, capricious and undermines the rule of law and therefore is in violation of the fundamental rights of the petitioner and his supporters and voters as enshrined in Article 12(1) of the Constitution.

He claims that for the reasons stated above there is a likelihood of an imminent infringement of the right to equality and the equal protection of the law.

UN protests against LTTE over flag issue in Kilinochchi UN office

The United Nations today condemning an incident in Kilinochchi, where a group attempted to bring down UN flags flying at half-mast during the day of national mourning on Monday, urged the LTTE to ensure such incidents do not happen again.

In a statement United Nations Office of the Humanitarian / Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka Miguel Bermeo said “The United Nations is disturbed and saddened by the incidents that took place in Kilinochchi. As a sign of respect and solidarity, the UN flags were flying at half-mast during a day of national mourning and of the funeral of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister who had been tragically assassinated on 12 August.” “A group of some 60 people forcibly entered UN agency compounds in Kilinochchi and proceeded to bring down UN flags. The compounds included UNHCR, UNDP and UNICEF. These regrettable incidents took place after UN staff refused to comply with the group’s demand that the flag not be flown at half-mast.”

“The United Nations condemns these kinds of incidents in the strongest possible terms. We are here to serve the needs of all the people of Sri Lanka and we expect that UN staff and property should be respected and protected if we are able to fulfil our mission.” “In the wake of these incidents, the UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka has issued a protest to the LTTE, as the incident took place in a LTTE-controlled area. He has also requested that the LTTE ensure such incidents do not occur again. The Government of Sri Lanka has been informed accordingly,” it added.

Paramilitary cadre shot dead in Polannaruwa
Unidentified gummen shot and killed Mr Mahathevarajah, a cadre from the paramilitary Karuna Group, Monday night at Namalpockuna in Polannaruwa. Mahathevarajah was shot in his head with a 9 mm. handgun, Aralaganwela Police said. The dead body was found by Aralaganwela Police Tuesday morning following a tip off from the two Karuna Group cadres who told the police that they escaped from the attackers. The three Karuna cadres were attacked near a forest area, according to their statement to the Police. Namalpockuna is located 89 km. northwest of Batticaloa, in Polannaruwa District.

SLA soldier shot dead in Muttur
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, Corporal Heendeniya at 64th milepost in Muttur Tuesday around 11.30 a.m. The scene of crime is located along Trincomalee - Batticaloa Road, about three km. Off down south of Muttur town, police said.

24-year-old Mr.Heendeniya is a native of Matale in the central province. His marriage took place about four months ago, police said. The body was handed over to Muttur Hospital. The Muttur Magistrate visited the scene and ordered postmortem, hospital sources said

Sri Lanka President to reconvene the parliament on 18th

President Chandrika Kumaratunga using her powers conferred on her by the Constitution has reconvened the parliament on Thursday 18th by an extraordinary Gazette Notification issued midnight. After the conclusion of the two-day debate on the P-TOMS last Friday the Speaker postponed the sitting of the parliament for August 22nd.

Parliament will meet on Thursday to discuss emergency regulations, which was imposed by the President just after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. The main purpose of this exercise is to obtain the approval of the parliament to the declaration of the emergency regulations. “We have summoned parliament on Thursday (18) according to the constitution,” a spokesperson of the Speaker’s office told this evening. Accordingly, the government will move the emergency regulation motion and must get the approval of majority of parliamentarians on that day. However, it would be a great challenge to a minority government to obtain the large number of votes in parliament.

“JVP and JHU already agreed to extend their support to the emergency regulations,” Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle told ColomboPage. It is learnt that the JVP is seeking an assurance from the government that these regulations are not going to use against political activities in South.

SLA blocks civilian movement, LTTE tells SLMM

Mr.Semmanan, Trincomalee District Deputy Political Head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Tuesday urged the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to take immediate steps to provide relief to thousands of residents who are prevented from traveling to and from the LTTE controlled areas in the district by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) since the declaration of State of Emergency Saturday, LTTE sources said.

Mr.Semmanan briefed Mr.Arthur Tveiten, Trincomalee head of the SLMM Tuesday on the ground situation at a discussion held Tuesday morning at the LTTE district political secretariat located in Sampoor in LTTE held Muttur east, LTTE sources said. Mr.Semmanan told the SLMM local head that even though the SLA is reported to have removed the ban on the movement of civilians the ground situation does not reflect that. Civilians are not allowed freedom of movement, LTTE sources said.

The SLA has imposed ban on the movement of civilians to and from LTTE held areas in the Trincomalee district through its checkpoints in Kaddaiparichchan, Mahindapura and Thoppur following the killing of Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister last Friday midnight. The ban was relaxed for few hours but reimposed later.

Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian Monday sent an urgent message to the President to take steps to remove the ban immediately as about forty thousand people in the Muttur east and Eachchilampaththu divisions are being prevented from attending their day to day business, and patients from obtaining treatment in hospitals in the government controlled areas, sources said.

Rs. 6 million from Korea to reconstruct tsunami-damaged schools

The Ministry of Housing & Construction Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development has launched a special programme to reconstruct the school buildings in the Eastern Province. Almost 50% the school buildings were fully destroyed or partly damaged by the recent tsunami.

According to this programme the Korean International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) under the guidance of the government of South Korea has volunteered to construct two school buildings for Al-Siraj Vidyalaya and Al-Hithaya Vidyalaya at Saithamaruthu in Navithanvely Divisional Secretariat Division. For this purpose, US$ 60,000 (SLR 06 million) has been donated to the Minister of Housing and Construction Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development, Mrs. Ferial Ashraff by Lim Jae-Hong, ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Colombo.

Construction work of this school buildings was inaugurated at Saithamaruthu by Mrs. Ashraff on August 5.Mrs. Ferial Ashraff addressing the inauguration said, "The government is doing everything possible to restore educational infrastructure devastated by the Tsunami". Deputy Resident Representative of KOICA in Sri Lanka, Mrs. Young Ah-Doh said that the Sri Lanka and South Korea enjoy longstanding close relations.

"The government and people of Korea provided immediate relief assistance to the tsunami-affected in Sri Lanka. We are happy to be partners in efforts of the government to restore normalcy in the field education in the East. We hope to continue our services towards the tsunami affect children", she added.

General Manager of National Housing Development Authority, Piyal Ganepola, Director, Ministry of Eastern Province Education & Irrigation Development; Sunil Kannangara, Provincial Director of Education and M. T. Thowfic, Provincial Director of Education took part in the event.

Mahinda should not deviate from party manifesto says Anura
Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike yesterday said that the President will not oppose any future alliance with the JVP provided her stand with regard to P-TOMS and the ethnic issue was not compromised and warned the Prime Minister not to deviate from the party manifesto despite on-going talks with the JVP.

“ There is no reason why the President should oppose a possible alliance with the JVP, provided the party’s stand is not compromised”, Minister Bandaranaike who is also the Prime Ministerial candidate of the SLFP told the Daily Mirror. Asked if the Premier had already hinted at deviating from the manifesto, he replied in the negative, yet warned a pro-nationalist line will not get the party anywhere. “The party cannot win elections by taking a nationalist line.” The Minister accepted that the SLFP was already weak on attracting the minority vote hence they should aggressively campaign for Tamil, Muslim and Catholic votes as well.

Stressing that the party could not compromise its stand regarding P-TOMS and the ethnic issue the Minister said that they would pursue a negotiated settlement to the ethnic conflict under a future SLFP government. He admitted that he stepped down sacrificing the candidature for the Presidency to Premier Mahinda Rajapakse and hoped he would not deviate from the party manifesto despite ongoing talks with the JVP.

Minister Bandaranaike said that the fact that there was a “fight between him and the Premier was nothing new”. “I never got a motion passed in my favour although I knew that half of the SLFP central committee would support my candidature for the Presidency. I never got my catchers to help me like that”.

He said that the JVP and the UNP thought that the party would split but it did not happen that way. “My very decision to step down and offer the Presidential Candidature to Mahinda put the JVP in a soup and UNP in shock”. Calling Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar’s killing “unfortunate” Minister Bandaranaike said that it was an “unnecessary risk” that Minister Kadirgamar took knowing very well that his life was under threat.

“It is a great tragedy to lose a statesman like Lakshman. He had been already alerted by the IGP. So he should have listened to it. It is not entirely fair to put the blame on the forces”, he said. Minister Bandaranaike held the LTTE responsible for the assassination and insisted that political killings should be stopped.

SLA conducts cordon and search operation in Mannar
Hundreds of soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Tuesday morning conducted a cordon and search operation in Mannar town and suburbs covering Uppukulam, Sinnakadai and hospital area. This was the first major search operation conducted by the SLA in Mannar since the signing of the ceasefire agreement, civilian sources said.

The operation which began early morning around 5.30 a.m. concluded at about 10 a.m. Soldiers stopped all vehicles and searched them, sources said. SLA soldiers in groups entered houses and questioned residents regarding their movements. Soldiers had informed occupants that SLA is conducting search operation under the State of Emergency declared Saturday after the killing of Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar, sources said.

No one was arrested during the operation, sources said.

BCC Removed TRO From Charities List

The British Charity Commission removed the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) from its list of registered charities, and closed its investigation into the TRO initiated in October 2000. A specialist British law enforcement agency was particularly interested in the activities of the TRO and even the British Prime Minister’s Office had made inquiries about the TRO from the Sri Lankan authorities.

The Charity Commission placed the administration of the TRO in the hands of a firm of Chartered Accountants while investigating allegations that the TRO is a terrorist front of the LTTE, a listed terrorist organization in Britain. It was alleged that the TRO was raising funds for terrorism under the guise of a rehabilitation organization.

Wife appeals for husband's release in Mannar explosives case

Ms Sahayanathan Sutharjany, a mother of three children from Mannar suburb Keeri, Tuesday made a written appeal to the Mannar Citizens' Committee to help obtain release of her husband Mr.Thangiah Sahayanathan, the three-wheeler driver who with six others are in remand for allegedly transporting a consignment of claymore mines and other explosives into the government controlled territory, sources said.

Mr. Sahayanathan was arrested on July 17 with four others when a consignment of explosives was being loaded in a three-wheeler at Konthaipiddy landing site in Mannar shore. Later on further information the Police arrested two more persons including a woman in regard to the alleged offence and are now kept in remand in Anuradhapura prison, sources said Ms Sutharjany in her appeal said her husband was not the owner of the three-wheeler, which was involved in the incident but a driver being paid 250 rupees per day. He did not have any connection with the alleged offence, she said in her letter.

Since the arrest of her husband she and her three children aged 14,10 and 07 are undergoing untold suffering without any income in running their day to day life. "Hence we appeal to the committee to intervene on humanitarian ground to get the release of her husband. As her husband is now kept in remand at Anuradhapura prison I am unable to visit him due to several difficulties," said Ms Sutharjany in her appeal.

Police want ex-SP’s sons extradited from UK
Police have advised the government to seek the extradition, from the UK, of two sons of retired Superintendent Police P. Thalaysingham whose house was used to assassinate Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, police sources said yesterday (16).

The CID, investigating the assassination, have learnt that one of the sons was allegedly collecting funds for the LTTE in the UK. Thalaysingham has three sons, one of them, residing in the house from where the assailants had fired at Kadirgamar last Friday night, is being detained by the CID and is being grilled about a number of persons who had been visiting the house before the assassination.

Sources also said the house was jointly owned by all three sons.

The son, in occupation of the house was said to be addicted to liquor and a large number of empty liquor bottles were found inside the house when police inspected it after the assassination. His wife is paralysed. When questioned by the CID both of them had said that they were not aware of anyone intruding into their house on the night of the tragedy.

But the sleuths are continuing to grill them.

Security officials had spotted a window, similar to the one used by the assailants, in a nearby house facing the Kadirgamar residence, but it had been sealed with cement and bricks.

The window in the Thalaysingham residence had remained unclosed, possibly as the house was owned by a retired senior police officer, sources said.

TELO Salutes the People of India on Their 58th Independence Day

16 August 2005

Dhanapala or Anandasangari for next Sri Lanka FM portfolio?
Speculations were rife in diplomatic circles that prominent diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala or moderate Tamil politician V. Anandasangari will be appointed to the post of Foreign Minister. Foreign Ministry sources said that President Chandrika Kumaratunga has already consulted these names with her inner circle.

Mr. Dhanapala is currently working as the Head of government Peace Secretariat while Mr. Anandasangari, a close associate of slain Minister Kadirgamar, is heading the moderate Tamil political party TULF.

"Both of them are ideal nominees for the important post. But substitute for Kadirgamar is non other than Kadirgamar himself," a key minister told when ColomboPage inquired about the speculations. However, the minister also said that Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike is also interested in taking the foreign ministerial portfolio.

Buddhist rituals mark Kadirgamar's State Funeral

The funeral of slain Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was held with full state honours at the Independence Square at 6 p.m. Monday. Late Kadirgamer's son Ravi lit the funeral pyre after sunset according to Buddhist tradition. Several thousand people paid their last respects as the remains of kadirgamar was taken in procession to the Independence Square from his official residence at the Wijerama Mawatha. From the beginning of the drive of the Independence square to the venue where the funeral orations were made by the religious leaders and the Prime minister on behalf of the Sri Lanka government, the military parade accompanied the cortage.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike kumaratunge was present at the Independence square and was seen consoling the wife of late kadirgamar Suganthi Kadirgamar who was sitting next to her. Premier Mahinda Rajapakse in his speech said that Lakshman Kadirgamar believed in the integrity of Sri lanka and said Mr Kadirgamar was a true son of the soil.

Many parliamentarians including the leader of the Opposition and the Presidential candidate of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe were present at the Independence square.

Meanwhile, the Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian and TELO Leader Selvam Adaikalanathan speaking to TamilNet said the reimposition of Emergency Regulations is causing hardship to Tamil civilians. Mr Adaikalanathan added that declaration of emergency has also created a fear psychosis among the Tamil people, raising the spectre of excesses of Security forces who will have widespread powers to arrest and detain civilians.

He also condemned the Sri Lanka Government for accusing the LTTE in connection with the assasination of Kadirgamar without producing any evidence.

Sri Lanka government informs all diplomats the death of the Minister was a serious set back for the peace process

The government has informed all Colombo-based foreign diplomats that the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was a serious setback for the country’s peace process.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry Secretary S. Palihakkara said that Minister’s killing clearly shows the trademark of the LTTE. Agency reports quoting Mr. Palihakkara said, “This has gone too far, the international community must understand (that) this is a serious setback to the peace process.” He also conveyed this message to all diplomatic missions in Colombo

SLMM Chief to hold urgent talks with LTTE

SLMM Chief Hagrup Haukland is to make an 'urgent' visit to Killinochi on Thursday to discuss the serious impact the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar might have on the already faltering peace process. Mr. Haukland is to meet LTTE Political Chief S.P Thamilselvan and LTTE peace secretariat head S. Pulithevan.

SLMM acting spokesperson Vilja Kubvonen said Mr. Haukland was in constant contact with the LTTE and the government to ensure they acted with restraint in the wake of the assassination.

Ms. Kubvonen said though the Ceasefire Agreement did not give the SLMM the right to inquire and report into last Friday`s killing, the monitors were acting as facilitators between the government and the LTTE to ensure that peace was maintained.

Pranab, Natwar meet Chandrika, Sonia letter given Lankan Prez

India and Sri Lanka were today understood to have discussed all aspects of the evolving situation in the island nation in the wake of the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh had an hour-long meeting with Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, shortly after attending the funeral of Kadirgamar who was shot dead by suspected LTTE snipers near his residence on Friday night.

The peace process in the island nation came up for discussion at the meeting where Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Nirupama Rao were also present, sources said. Natwar Singh handed over to Kumaratunga a letter from UPA chairperson and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

The meeting also discussed relations between India and Sri Lanka and the situation in the region, according to the sources.

SLA attempts attack on office- Jaffna students

International Student's Association of Tamil Eelam (ISATE) alleged in a letter of complaint sent to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers attempted to attack their office located at the Parameshwara Junction, Thirunelvely Jaffna, 3km northeast of Jaffna town Monday morning at 2 am.

"We witnessed several SLA soldiers clad in military uniform surrounding our offices and making phone calls to our office. We did not answer the calls. We are convinced that the soldiers tried to determine if students were awake inside the premises before carrying out an attack," the letter said.

"SLA soldiers have attacked our offices twice in recent months. We regard these attempts as a threat to all students in schools, technical colleges and in the Jaffna University. "Parliamentarian S Gajendran's office is also located within our building.

"We request the SLMM to take steps to prevent SLA from harassing members of our Association," the letter said.

Blockade to LTTE held areas in Trinco - MP complains

Security forces are still enforcing the ban on the movement of people and vehicles to and from the LTTE controlled areas in Muttur east division and Eachchilampathu division in the Trincomalee district causing untold suffering since Saturday morning, said Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian in a letter to Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunga.

"I am told by higher officials of the army and the police in Trincomalee district that the exit and entry points to LTTE held areas are closed down on the orders of higher authorities in Colombo. Since Saturday morning people in the LTTE held areas are not allowed to enter government controlled areas. Even buses are not allowed to these areas," said Mr.Thurairatnasingham in his urgent complaint faxed to Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge.

Residents of Muttur east division and Eachchilampathu division have access to government-controlled areas through army checkpoints located at Kaddaiparichchan, Mahindapura and Thoppur. Since the killing of Mr.Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister in Colombo last Friday midnight all these exit and entry points are closed down. Even sick are not allowed to enter government-controlled areas for treatment in government hospitals, Mr.Thurairatnasingham pointed out.

LTTE cadres barred from travelling through Omanthai military
The Omanthai military checkpoint in Vavuniya was closed for several hours on Sunday morning. Later, even when it reopened, LTTE cadres were barred from travelling through it. This is a violation of article 1.13 of the Memorandum of Understanding between LTTE and the Sri Lankan government.

A team of LTTE political division workers lead by Gnanam, head of the Vavuniya district political section, which attempted to travel from Vavuniya to Vanni were stopped at the Omanthai military checkpoint. The military personnel explained that they were following orders to close the checkpoint. The LTTE team had to go back to Vavuniya. Gnanam lodged a complaint of ceasefire violation with SLMM.

Civilians who tried to travel through the checkpoint were told that the LTTE checkpoint after this was not opened and that is why they are not allowing people to travel. However, Gnanam said that this is a lie and the security forces are spreading this story to bring bad reputation to the LTTE

Clinton hopes assassination will not renew fighting in Sri Lanka

Condemning the "brutal and criminal" assassination of Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister, former United States President Bill Clinton, United Nations Special Envoy overseeing recovery efforts from December's devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, has appealed to the people of south Asian island to avoid renewed hostilities.

"I am shocked and personally saddened by the assassination of Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar," Mr. Clinton said in a statement. "Since December 26, 2004, the people of Sri Lanka have demonstrated enormous courage and determination in their efforts to promote recovery in the aftermath of the tsunami," he added. "The ceasefire in Sri Lanka has helped foster an environment conducive to reconstruction, and I hope that the people of Sri Lanka will persevere in their efforts to avoid a renewal of hostilities."

Two months ago, Mr. Clinton voiced the hope that the disaster would usher in a new chapter in the peace process in Sri Lanka, where the Government and Tamil separatists have waged a decades-old war, thereby making it easier for aid to be distributed and reconstruction to take place.

JHU : Extradite Balasingham

Sri Lanka’s Buddhist monk-led Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) urged the British government to arrest and extradite Anton Balasingham, the main negotiator of the Tamil Tigers, to the Sri Lankan government.

The JHU handed over a petition to the British High Commission in Colombo and asked the international community to join hands in fighting terrorism in Sri Lanka. Aturaliye Rathana thero, the parliamentary group leader of the JHU, told BBC Sandeshaya that the British government has given protection to Balasingham, who is a mastermind behind the LTTE.

Muslim clerics

In the wake of the recent bomb explosions in London, British government has taken action to against Muslim clerics for alleged terrorist involvement under the laws of that country, he said.

The thero questioned why not similar treatment is given to Anton and his wife Adela who are propagating in support of terrorist activities in Sri Lanka. “In Sri Lanka, leaders and other precious lives and valuable properties and resources are destroyed. Amidst all these things, are we to further bow down to terrorism? Is this what international community expect under the so-called peace process?”

The thero said that despite all these killings and the sacrifices people have made the terrorist activities continued unabated. International community has not taken any measures against the LTTE, he said.

15 August 2005

TNA statement on Kadirgamar killing

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Sunday expressed shock and consternation on the killing of Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister. "We urge that the peace process be recommenced in the meaningful way. That would be the only way to sustain the Ceasefire Agreement and discourage all forms of violence," said the TNA in its press release.

The full text of the press release follows: - Press release issued by the Tamil National Alliance on the killing of Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, M.P., P.C., Minister of Foreign Affairs: "The killing of Hon.Lakshman Kadirgamar, MP, PC has caused shock and consternation. "We strongly disapprove of the killing. We convey our deep condolences to Ms Kadirgamar, the children and all other members of the Kadirgamar family.

"The killing of Mr.Kadirgamar has happened at a critical time in the peace process. The many killings that have taken place in the past several months have had an adverse impact of the Ceasefire Agreement. Unless the ceasefire is sustained, the peace process cannot recommence.

"Delay and drift in the peace process encourages other parties who want to sabotage the peace process and creates the environment for violence."We urge that the peace process be recommenced in the meaningful way. That would be the only way to sustain the Ceasefire Agreement and discourage all forms of violence."

Time to read riot act in Lanka, feels Delhi

India feels it is time the Sri Lankan government as well as the international community should read out the riot act to the Tamil Tigers and redefine the peace terms to the rebels.

Delhi has not officially blamed the LTTE or anybody else. But after the “brutal assassination” of foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, it wants a strong signal to the Tigers that such violent acts in future would lead to global isolation. Kadirgamar, a hardliner who helped outlaw Tamil Tiger rebels internationally and was long seen as a prime target, was shot dead yesterday by a sniper at his heavily guarded Colombo home.

In a brief but strongly worded statement, India today “unreservedly” condemned the assassination. Although it did not name the LTTE, it expressed hope that the “perpetrators of the terrorist crime” will be brought to justice.Delhi made it clear that the assassination was aimed at “undermining Sri Lanka’s unity and political stability” and maintained that it will not support any move for a separate Tamil Eelam.

“The Government of India’s support for the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka remains constant and undiluted,” foreign ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said while reading out the statement this afternoon. This is a known Indian position but that Delhi decided to repeat it now was a clear signal to the rebels what its stand is on the issue. The statement expressed hope that the Sri Lankan government will overcome the challenge posed by the assassination by making sure that the peace process remains on track.

Sources in the Indian government said it was for Colombo and the international community to turn the heat on the Tigers. But, at the same time, it was important that the LTTE does not break away from the talks for a peaceful settlement of the ethnic conflict that has claimed thousands of lives.

Although the Sri Lankan government has not yet blamed the LTTE, its army has clearly said the Tigers are behind the killing. Sources in Colombo said the Tigers may have denied any involvement, but the assassination bore the “hallmark” of the LTTE. The sources pointed out that though it was the first time that a sniper had killed a senior political leader, similar tactics had been used against army officials when the Indian Peace Keeping Force was deployed in the eighties. Kadirgamar, they added, was killed not only because he was one of the strongest opponents of the Tamil Tigers but also because the LTTE wanted to return to the limelight.

With the focus being on the coming presidential elections, the Tigers, the sources said, were getting increasingly agitated that their demands were being pushed to the backburner by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the leadership in Colombo.

An official announcement is likely on the dates of the presidential polls by next week.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw:

‘I strongly condemn that brutal killing of Mr. Kadirgamar yesterday.

‘Mr. Kadirgamar served with distinction as Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister for several years and had close personal ties to the UK. I always found my meetings with him very useful. His death will be a great loss to Sri Lanka, the region and the international community.’

A beacon of inspiration, he supported the Muslim cause: SLMC
The late Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was a towering personality who steadfastly and boldly stood for what he believed and was one of the few politicians who commanded respect of people from all walks of life as a statesman, a rarity in today’s local politics, says Sri Lanka Muslim Congress in a condolence message. It said: “Born a Tamil his ascendance in politics as the Foreign Affairs Minister of the country and also at one point a possible candidate for premiership, all purely on merit, will definitely serve as a beacon of inspiration for the minority politicians in the country.

“The late Minister Kadirgamar has throughout his political career been a sympathizer and also a strong supporter of the Muslim cause. “It is with a great sense of gratitude the SLMC recollects the brilliant speech he made at the adjournment debate on a separate Muslim delegation in October 2003, urging the parties to the conflict and the international community to give up the discriminatory practices on Muslims.”

16 arrests over Foreign Minister’s assassination
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandra Fernando says that 16 suspects including three Sinhala persons have been arrested over Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar’s assassination.

“We have questioned almost 100 people and 16 of them were taken in to custody,” IGP said. Police also found firearms and food parcels in a safe-house close to the Minister Kadirgamar’s private residence in Colombo 07. Security was tightened in Colombo just after the shooting. Sri Lanka was plunged into shock, anguish, and crisis when Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was shot dead by a suspected LTTE sniper at his private residence at Bullers Lane last night.

Govt. points finger at LTTE
Says Ceasefire Agreement with LTTE to continue

The Government last night blamed the Tiger guerrillas for assassinating Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and rejected their claims of innocence.
"Indications are that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is responsible," Cabinet Spokesman Nimal Siripala de Silva told a news conference.

He said "the Government finds it difficult to accept the LTTE's denial." Earlier, guerrilla Political Wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan declared they were not involved in the assassination and claimed "there are several other forces opposed to the Ceasefire Agreement in the South." Police Chief Chandra Fernando backed Minister de Silva's claim that the LTTE was involved. He said from the weapons used for the killing, a 7.62 telescopic sniper gun and the grenade launcher found later, it is obvious the LTTE was behind the killing. He declared no other group has this kind of weapons.
Despite Cabinet spokesman de Silva's claim last night, a statement issued earlier yesterday by President Chandrika Kumaratunga avoided any reference to the LTTE. She said Mr. Kadirgamar was "felled by political foes opposed to the peaceful transformation of conflict and who were determined to undermine attempts towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict." What was apparently a new Government position, charging the LTTE came, at a news conference chaired by Minister de Silva.

The government spokesman de Silva said the killing of Mr. Kadirgamar was a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement and a grave setback to the peace process but the government would abide by the ceasefire agreement. He said the National Security Council chaired by President Chandrika Kumaratunga held an emergency meeting yesterday and decided to declare a state of emergency while putting the security forces on full alert. The minister vowed that killers, whoever they were, would be hunted down and brought to justice. He said the government would ask the international community to put pressure on the LTTE to end the spate of killings.

State funeral at Independence Square The slain Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar will be given a state funeral tomorrow and it will also be a day of national mourning, the funeral committee has decided. The body of Mr. Kadirgamar was taken to his official residence at Wijerama Mawatha yesterday. The funeral procession will start from there and reach Independence Square at 2 p.m. The body will not be taken to Parliament in keeping with a request by the family. The government has requested that all liquor shops be closed tomorrow and that the national flag be flown at half mast.

How the sniper carried out the assassination

Investigators have clearly established with evidence that the fatal shots which killed Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar came through a ventilation opening in an upstair bathroom from the house opposite the late Minister's residence in Buller's Lane.

When members of the Special Task Force (STF) arrived at the residence barely 15 minutes after the shooting, their immediate attention was drawn towards the second floor window of the house opposite the slain Minister's residence, STF Chief, DIG Nimal Lewke told The Sunday Leader.

Finding the gates locked, the STF officers had climbed over the wall and woken up the occupants - cricket captain of the 1965 Royal College team, Lakshman Thalaiyasingam (58) and his wife, Vipiyan Selvalogini Thalaiyasingam. The house is located around 100 meters from the position where Kadirgamar was fatally wounded. Inside the house, the officers found nothing suspicious on the ground floor. However, officers retrieved an empty 40 mm grenade cartridge from the corridor on the upper floor of the house.

STF officers also recovered a modified tripod with a seat. The tripod was about seven feet in height and appeared to be made to measurement, according to officers. Officers had also recovered two different sets of finger prints from the upstair bathroom. "The tripod was kept overlooking the pool at the Minister's residence and the assassins had made use of the ventilation opening in the toilet and the gun shots were fired from inside the toilet," DIG Lewke said.

Three empty cartridges were found on the floor. In the room adjoining the toilet, police found a bag similar to a cricket bag. The contents of the bag included chocolates, cheese, fruit cake, a bottle of aerated water and a packet of murukku. The name of internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan cricketer Russel Arnold was on one side of the bag and the name of the Lalith Athulathmudali Maha Vidyalaya, Mt. Lavinia on the other side of it.

According to Lewke, the assailants would have used a sports bag to transport some of the ammunition as the area is usually frequented by sportsmen.However, a further search of the premises in the morning led the officers to six packs of 40 mm grenade packs and a launcher abandoned in the back garden. Police also recovered the alleged sniper rifle from a shrub near the residence yesterday morning.

Lewke said that investigators felt the assailants had jumped over the back wall of the house and run towards Narahenpita after the shooting. Lewke added that it was hard to believe that the occupants of the house were unaware of the events that took place Friday night as the house has only one entrance and anyone would have to enter through that entrance, especially to go to a toilet upstairs.

"Even if they did not know of anyone entering their house, the noise during the shoot out would be hard to miss," he said.

Kadirgamar used to frequent the house to swim. The slain Minister used to boast that still at his age he could do a good swim every day. Investigators also said that the house was very dimly lit. Police had taken in the Thalaiyasingams for questioning Saturday morning. Investigators believe that the assailants had used a 8.33 mm gun with night vision capability. The army was also checking on several leads.

The STF after conducting initial inquiries handed over the case to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD).

President breaks down

President Chandrika Kumarat- unga who rushed to the accident ward of the National Hospital wept uncontrollably upon seeing the lifeless body of her foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

The President recounted the service Kadirgamar rendered the government with tears streaking down her face and said she hoped the people would at least now appreciate the importance of a lasting solution to the ethnic problem through peaceful negotiations. Premier Mahinda Rajapakse who too arrived at the hospital appeared visibly shaken.

Kadi's last words with TULF leader

The late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was to meet Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Leader, V. Anandasangaree today (14) at 5 p.m. at his official residence in Wijerama Mawatha to discuss current political developments. Anandasangaree was one of the last politicians to speak to Kadirgamar before his assassination at the launch of a book edited by him at the BMICH on Friday evening.

"I was with Kadirgamar till 8.45 p.m. and when I told him that I had some matters to discuss with him, he asked me to meet him on Sunday at 5 p.m.," Anandasangaree told The Sunday Leader. He observed that Kadirgamar's assassination is a great loss to the Tamil people. "Tamils had a good person to negotiate for a settlement and now it is lost," he aid. Anandasangaree pointed out that Kadirgamar was keen on solving the ethnic issue although he was not for the cause of establishing a separate state. "Kadirgamar' role was not clearly stated by anyone and it is that confusion that made him look a traitor in the eyes of the LTTE," he said.

Anandasangaree was of the opinion that if eminent people of the calibre of Kadirgamar are killed, the country would face a grave situation. When Anadasangaree heard of the killing from a friend overseas, he had called the Minister's official residence to be informed that there indeed was a shooting incident involving Kadirgamar. "We both wanted to leave the BMICH together, but then someone came to speak to him. So I left saying I would see him on Sunday. That was the last time I spoke to him," Anandasangaree said.

LTTE political office in Batticaloa bombed

Political office of the Liberation Tigers in Batticaloa, located inside the Sri Lanka Army held eastern town's high security area, was attacked by two unidentified men Sunday noon. The attackers, who approached the office in a motorbike, lobbed more than five grenades, one by one, into the building through the main entrance, neighbouring residents said. Five LTTE political officials who were inside the building narrowly escaped from the attack, sources said.

Frontal part of the building, documents and the furniture inside the office were damaged in the attack. The Batticaloa political office of the LTTE has been attacked at least six times within the last 12 months, sources added. The nearest police post is located at Arasady, 100 meters from the office. LTTE says that the paramilitaries working with the Sri Lankan armed forces are behind the attacks on their political offices in SLA-held areas in the east.

Grenade lobbed at Thirukkovil police station

Two unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike lobbed a grenade and shot into the main entrance of the police station in Thirukkovil around 8:45 p.m. Saturday. No one was injured in the attack, Thirukkovil Police Officer-In Charge (OIC) Mr. Ahmeer said. Police returned fire, but the attackers managed to escape from the site. Thirukkovil Police Station is located 10 km. south of Akkaraipattu in the Amparai district.
Dayananda says poll in 2005

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake on Wednesday informed Attorney General K.C. Kamalasabayson that he would be calling for the presidential election in 2005.

The Elections Commissioner informed the Attorney General of his decision when they met at the Attorney General's Department to discuss the fundamental rights application filed by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) seeking a Supreme Court order that the election should be held this year.

The Supreme Court had earlier granted the JHU leave to proceed with its application and fixed the case to be argued on August 22. The two respondents to the JHU application are the Elections Commissioner and the Attorney General. Dissanayake also informed the Attorney General he would be retaining private counsel to represent him in the case. The Supreme Court had fixed August 15 for the filing of objections to the JHU application by the respondents and the Elections Commissioner has informed the Attorney General that he will be filing papers stating the election should be held this year.

Dissanayake had also drawn the attention of the Attorney General to the report on the 1982 presidential election submitted by former Elections Commissioner, Chandan- anda De Silva to substantiate his position. That report refers to President J.R. Jayewardene seeking a fresh mandate in 1982 in terms of the Third Amendment to the Constitution and sacrificing a part of his term by taking his oath on February 4, 1983.

14 August 2005

LTTE denies involvement in Kadirgamar killing

Denying any involvement in the assassination of Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mr. Lakshman Kardirgamar, LTTE's Political Head, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan Saturday condemned Colombo for hastily blaming the Liberation Tigers for the killing. Thamilchelvan said that there are several forces opposed to the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) in the South. "We also know that there are sections within the Sri Lankan Armed forces operating with a hidden agenda to sabotage the CFA," he said and urged Colombo to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the assassins.

LTTE's Political Head further said that Colombo, ridden with internal rifts and power struggles, should look inwards for culprits of the assassination. He added that there is a growing trend in the South to blame the Liberation Tigers for all killings.

Traffic along A9 entering Sri Lanka Government controlled region were held up at the Muhamalai and Omanthai checkpoints for several hours Saturday morning, civil sources said. Similar restrictions were temporarily placed in several Sri Lanka Army checkpoints in the east. Situation is back to normal at these checkpoints, travellers said.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mr. Kadirgamar was shot Friday by unidentified sniper at his residence, which is guarded by more than a hundred armed security personnel.

The SL Government has declared a state of emergency following the assasination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on Friday night.

Inspector General of Police Mr. Chandra Fernando said that special police teams and the members of the armed forces have been deployed in Colombo and suburbs to apprehend the assasins.

Armed Force personel were deployed on the streets and key locations in Colombo to search the vehicles and the buildings.

Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge who rushed to the Colombo General hospital when she was informed on the incident, has appointed Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake to look into the funeral arrangement of Lakshman kadirgamar.

Government of Sri Lanka has also announced a state of mourning in respect of Kadirgamar.

State of Emergency declared in Sri Lanka after the assassination of Foreign Minister

Strongly condemning the attack, President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Kumaratunga declared a nationwide state of emergency following the assassination of Sri Lanka’s popular Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Kadirgamar, 73, was gunned down by sniper fire yesterday night at his heavily-guarded residence in Colombo. He was shot in his head and rushed to the National Hospital in Colombo where he died an hour later. The military believes the assassination is a work of Tamil Tigers.

Oxford-educated Foreign Minister, himself a Tamil, is well known for his role in getting Tigers outlawed in the United States and in Britain and forcing them to come to the negotiation table.

Following the shooting over 1,000 police and soldiers have been deployed in the city to carry out cordon and search operations. Three people from a residence across the FM’s residence have been arrested for questioning.

Profile Of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar

Mr Lakshman Kadirgamar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and a close confidante of Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge was killed by a sniper's bullet near his residence Saturday 12.15 am. During his tenure as foreign minister during 1994-2001 People's Alliance (PA) government he was widely credited for his relentless campaign in foreign capitals to brand the Liberation Tigers as terrorist organization and to ban the LTTE. Mr Kadirgamar was held in high esteem by most of the South for his vehement opposition to separatism and for his passionate defense of the sovereignty of Sri Lanka. Mr Kadirgamer never held an elected office.

Mr Kadirgarmar was born on 12th April 1932 to Tamil Christian parents Samuel Kadirgamar and Mrs Parimalar Kadirgmar from Manipay Jaffna. He was educated at Trinity College, Kandy and obtained his Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of Ceylon in 1953. He was admitted to the Ceylon Bar in 1955 and to United Kingdom Bar in 1958 as a Barrister at Law, Inner Temple.

He was a leading debater at Balliol College Oxford University, UK where he was awarded a Bachelor of Literature by the University of Oxford. He was elected President of the Oxford Union in 1959. Recently the Oxford Union honored him unveiling his portrait.

Mr. Kadirgarmar practised at Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, London,the highest appellate Court for Ceylon then, from 1955 -1960 and from 1971-1974. He served as a Consultant to the International Labour Organization (ILO), Geneva in 1974 and as the Director for Asia and Pacific of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) from 1983-1988. During his active practice at the Ceylon Bar from 1960 -1971 and from 1989 -1994 he specialized in commercial, administrative, intellectual property, industrial and labour, constitutional and international law. He was appointed President's Counsel in 1991 and was appointed Chairman of SAARC in 1998.

In 2003 Kadirgamar was a candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, but was defeated by Don McKinnon of New Zealand.

He also courted controversy during his political career.

His harsh criticism of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) when it confirmed on 15 September 1999 an attack by the Sri Lankan Airforce that killed 22 civilians in Puthukkudiyiruppu near Mullaitivu, his refusal to support Ambassador to United States Jayantha Dhanapala for a top UN post in 1997, his security expenses during the UNP regime and more recently the expenses on his foreign trips are some controversial issues that raised questions on his integrity and judgement.

He is estranged from many of his close relatives for his pro-Government stand on the Tamil National question, a relative of Kadirgamar told TamilNet.

Mr. Kadirgamar developed close ties with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in recent years.

In April 2004, the JVP opposed the move by Kumaratunga, for not appointing Kadirgamar as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka as opposed to what was agreed between the JVP and the SLFP. Kumaratunga caved in to pressure from a powerful section of the Buddhist clergy and her party, which warned her that thirty five SLFP parliamentarians in the UPFA alliance would function as an independent group if Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse was not appointed as Prime Minister.

Government of Sri Lanka has declared a period of National of mourning and has announced that Mr Kadirgamar will receive a state funeral, media reports in Colombo said.

US, UN Condemn Sri Lanka FM AssassinationU.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has condemned the assassination of Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, calling it "a senseless murder and vicious act of violence."

Ms. Rice urged Sri Lankans to remain calm and not to let the assassination lead to a resumption of civil war. She said her Sri Lankan colleague was a man of dignity, honor and integrity, who devoted his life to bringing peace to his country.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed shock and sadness at what he called Mr. Kadirgamar's criminal and senseless murder.

Norweigan officials involved in mediating the Sri Lankan conflict described the foreign minister's death as a major setback for the fragile peace process.

Police arrests Tamil owners of Bullers Road house

Police has arrested a Tamil couple, Mr. Lakshman Thalaiyasingam, 58, and Mrs. Vipiyan Selvalogini Thalaiyasingam, the owners of the house located at 42, Bullers Lane where the sniper had taken position to strike at Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar. Mr Thalaiyasingam, an executive officer in a leading Colombo business establishment, and his wife were at the house at the time of the incident and have told Police that they had no knowledge that the assassin had taken position at the top floor of their house. The couple told the Police that the top floor was rarely used by them.

Mr Thalaiyasingam's residence is located approximately 100 meters from where Mr Kadirgamar was struck, and security around that area is very tight due to the proximity of the location to the Swedish Embassy, according to sources familiar with the area.

A bathroom window at the top floor of the house was broken and the sniper had used a 7 feet long steel stand to take position on the target.

Water and soda bottles and a pair of foot slippers that were possibly used by the gunner, were recovered at the house.

Two different fingerprints were also recorded by the police from the bathroom of the house.

Police said they believed that the sniper had used an 8.3 mm gun with attached night zoom vision.

Four sniper bullets were fired, according to the Police.

Police found four empty cartridge cases in the outside compound of the house.

A grenade-launcher-gun with 8 bullets was recovered behind a bush in the neighborhood, police added.

The attackers could not have escaped far away from Colombo, according to the Inspector General of Police Mr. Chandra Fernando. He added that special police teams and the members of the armed forces have been deployed in Colombo and suburbs to apprehend the assassins.

More than a thousand security personnel are continuing search operations in Colombo's Wellawatte, Bambalapitya and Kirillapone areas.

Armed Force personel were deployed on the streets and key locations in Colombo to search the vehicles and the buildings.

Government of Sri Lanka has also announced a state of mourning in respect of Kadirgamar.

Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge who rushed to the Colombo General hospital when she was informed on the incident, has appointed Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake to look into the funeral arrangement of Lakshman kadirgamar.

State burial is scheduled on Monday at 3:00 p.m at the Independece Square in Colombo-7, media reports from Colombo said..

STF water bowser attacked in Pothuvil

Unidentified gunmen fired at a water bowser belonging to Special Task Force (STF) Friday evening around 4:30 p.m. at Sangamamkandy in Pothuvil, 90 km. south of Batticaloa. Three STF soldiers sustained minor injuries and the vehicle was damaged, Police said.

The incident took place at 212 milepost on Akkaraipattu - Pottuvil main Road, between Thandiyadi and Komari. Sangamamkandy is located in Amparai district.

STF water bowser usually supplies water to Sangamam kiramam and Kalugolla village, sources said.

Pothuvil police is conducting investigations into the attack.
Sri Lanka declares Monday as a national mourning day

The Sri Lankan government today declared a period of mourning as a mark of respect for the slain minister. The mourning period will continue until the funeral is over.

“Monday is his funeral day and we declared this day as a national mourning day,” Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told ColomboPage. The Prime Minister urged all Sri Lankans to respect the slain minister.

Meanwhile State radio, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation toned down their transmission from this afternoon.
Ceasefire Agreement in danger’-SLMM

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission says that it is important to follow the clauses of the Ceasefire Agreement amidst tension of war between government and the LTTE.

“It is reported that the LTTE clearly indicates that they are going back to the war again with the government forces,” a spokesperson of SLMM said on condition of anonymity.

The LTTE leader reportedly has summoned his high-command to his Wanni headquarters in the early-hours of Saturday and discussed latest developments in Colombo.

“We have received reliable information that they are going to withdraw from the truce agreement which was signed three years ago with then Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe,” spokesperson said.

13 August 2005

KADIR SHOT DEAD Suspected LTTE sniper assassinates Foreign Minister-Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka was plunged into shock, anguish and crisis when foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was shot dead by a suspected LTTE sniper at his private residence at No. 36, Bullers Lane, Colombo 7.

Mr. Kadirgamar, who had presided last night at the launch of a journal he edited, returned to his private residence for a swim and was going back to his official residence, when the sniper shot him thrice in the head and the chest, apparently from a neighbouring residence, where the police later found ammunition and a tripod.

The 73-year-old Mr. Kadirgamar, who has been foreign minister from 1994 to 2001 and again from April last year and played a major role in national and international affairs, was rushed to the national hospital where top surgeons conducted emergency surgery in a desperate bid to save his life but he passed away at 12.15 this morning. National Hospital Director Dr. Anil Jayasinghe confirmed the death of Minister Kadirgamar.

Colombo DIG Pujitha Jayasundera who was at the scene told the Daily Mirror it was suspected Mr. Kadirgamar had been shot by a sniper around 11 pm. The area was cordoned off with the police sweeping the area for the assassin. Mr. Kadirgamar in the evening attended a function at the BMICH to launch the journal of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies from where he had returned to his private residence.

Addressing the gathering at the BCIS auditorium, Mr. Kadirgamar said the journal was his dream project and he presented the first copy to Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao. President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse rushed to the hospital while security was tightened around Colombo city. Helicopters with search lights hovered around the area searching for the assassin while emergency road blocks were set up at the main roads.

A fortnight ago three persons with suspected LTTE links were arrested by police when they were caught videoing Minister Kadirgamar's official residence at Wijerama Mawatha. They were arrested by the Ministerial Security Division while videoing the residence and the surrounding area.

Mr. Kadirgamar, a Tamil Christian, carried out an intense international campaign against LTTE terrorism to get the rebel organization banned in Britain and other Western countries. He was educated at Trinity College, Kandy, and obtained a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree from the University of Ceylon in 1953. He also has a B.Lit. from Oxford University. He practised law at the Ceylon Bar and in London until 1974, when he became a consultant to the International Labour Organization in Geneva.

- Reports by Kesara Abeywardena, Ravi Laddu-wahetty, Ranga Sirilal and Susitha R. Fernando

Sri Lanka's foreign minister assassinated Tamil Tiger rebels suspected From Iqbal Athas Special to CNN

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was shot in the head Friday night just outside his private residence in Colombo and died an hour later after emergency surgery, according to hospital and police sources.

The Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) were immediately suspected in the shooting. Earlier this month, two LTTE members were arrested outside Kadirgamar's official residence -- about a kilometer away from where he was shot -- after conducting surveillance and videotaping the area.

Kadirgamar had just returned to his private residence late Friday for a swim, after attending a function for the release of his new book, police said. As he walked toward the house from the pool, a sniper fired three shots, striking him in the head and chest. The shooting took place around 11 p.m. (1 p.m. ET). He was immediately rushed to National Hospital in Colombo for emergency surgery.

A cease-fire agreement between Sri Lanka's government and the Tamil Tiger rebels -- which has been in place since February 2002 -- has been threatened by recent violence and the suspension of talks in 2003.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar has been shot dead in the capital, Colombo. -BBC

Mr Kadirgamar, 73, underwent emergency surgery at the National Hospital after the shooting, but doctors were unable to save him. Police said the minister was shot near his heavily-guarded home by an unidentified attacker. A ceasefire between the government and Tamil Tiger separatists has been in place on the island since 2002.

Mr Kadirgamar, who was from the South Asian island's minority Tamil community, was a close aide of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Top Tamil broadcaster, husband shot dead in Colombo:

A well-known Tamil woman broadcaster and her husband who is an activist of the PLOTE were brutally killed yesterday by unidentified gunmen at their Bambalapitiya residence adjoining a communications centre run by them.

The victims 44-year-old Relangi Selvarajah and her husband Sinnadurai Selvarajah (47) were reportedly gunned down inside their house adjoining the communications centre at St. Peters Lane opposite St. Peters College.

Relangi Selvarajah was a well-known news presenter for state television Rupavahini and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. She also produced the SLBC’s Ithaya Veenai programme which was often severely critical of the LTTE and was widely seen as a pro-EPDP programme. Relangi was also well known for her TV talk shows and was the Tamil announcer for major events shown live on TV.

Four employees had been working at the communications centre and three of them had gone for lunch while the other had gone to the bank at the time of the slaying. The assailants who had stormed the communication centre around 1.00 p.m. had entered the victim’s house and fired several shots repeatedly at the couple killing them on the spot.

Bambalapitiya police who are conducting investigations said they found ten rounds of ammunition which had been fired from a 9 mm pistol at the crime scene. According to police, so far no clue of the killers has been established but there is some suspicion as to whether it could be the work of an LTTE pistol gang because of Relangi Selvarajah’s anti LTTE reports.

Some PLOTE connection is also suspected in the recent killing of well-known journalist Dharmaratnam Sivaram who had earlier been a leading figure in PLOTE but later emerged as a well-known columnist Tharaki supportive of the LTTE. Colombo Crime Division detectives said they were also looking into suspicions regarding two of the communication centre employees.

Last evening Mount Lavinia Magistrate Kishani Dodangoda visited the scene along with officials of the government analyst’s department and the fingerprint’s bureau. The anti-Tiger Democratic People's Liberation Front (DPLF), the political wing of PLOTE said last evening Mr. Selvarajah, was one of their supporters.“We have no doubt that this is the work of the LTTE,” DPLF leader Dharmalingam Sitharthan was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.

Jitney Pooneshkumar sister of the slain broadcaster, said all four employees of the Communication Centre had unusually gone out together and this left room for suspicion. “ Usually at least one employee remains in the centre while others go out, but today all of them had gone out together and this is suspicious” she said. She said the slain couple had a baby who would be one year next Wednesday.

One policeman killed, two injured in Amparai

A Police Constable, Mr. Athukorala, was shot and killed and two other policemen were seriously injured when unidentfied gunmen shot at a police mobile unit Friday evening around 2:30 p.m. at Dehiyathakandia in Amparai district in the East. Injured police constables have been admitted to Amparai Hospital, Police said.

Amparai Police is conducting investigations into the attack. Meanwhile, a vehicle belonging to Special Task Force (STF) was also attacked in Amparai, sources in Amparai town said.

Unknown gunmen kill Tamil radio announcer and husband in Sri Lanka

Unknown gunmen, believed to be members of Karuna faction have killed a popular Tamil announcer and her husband this afternoon, police says. "Mrs. Relangi Selvarajah and her husband were shot dead in Colombo today," police confirmed.

Police said that around 1.30 p.m. gunmen have come to their travel agency at King Rose Avenue in Wellawatta and opened fire at the husband and wife using a micro type pistol killing them on the spot. Mrs. Selvanathan, who worked for the State-owned Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation as an announcer earlier, voluntarily retired few months ago. Police said that the popular Tamil female announcer's husband had some contacts with LTTE. "That's what we heard from their close-friends," police said. Following the incident security had been tightened in the area. Cordon and search operations are continuing.

P-TOMS not close to Tamil peoples aspirations: TNA

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday said that the Post Tsunami Operations Management Structure (P-TOMS) does not ‘come close’ to the Tamil people’s aspirations and the only way for the settlement of the ethnic question was for the southern polity to resume negotiations on the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA).

TNA front liner G. Ponnambalam joining the last day of the P-TOMS debate in parliament reiterated their parliament group leader R. Sampanthan’s statement saying that the P-TOMS was only a ‘simple’ administrative mechanism that ‘does not come close to the Tamil peoples aspirations”.

“If the Supreme Court holds in its final judgement that the stay order is correct, then that will shut the door for any negotiated settlement of the ethnic conflict. The only way that can be avoided, is by accepting that, you have to go outside the parameters of the Constitution,” he said.

“The P-TOMS does not create enough or necessary confidence for the peace process. If you are to generate any confidence, immediate talks must resume on the ISGA, if the southern polity is not ready for talks on ISGA, and if the Tamil people are asked for an election in this volatile situation, I have to warn, the Tamil people will have to make difficult decisions that were clearly indicated in the resolutions adopted in the various conventions,” he said.

“The creator of this ethnic conflict is this Constitution. As long as the peace process is concerned, if it is going to be restricted with the parameters of the Constitution, it will fail. This Constitution never addressed the Tamil people’s aspirations; it was created to marginalise Tamil people’s aspirations. The very element agreed by all as the solution, power sharing, is defeated by this Constitution. Therefore the solution should be outside the parameters of this Constitution. If you play politics with the peace process, the consequences will be dire,” he said.

"P-TOMS will bring back lost confidence between Govt - LTTE"
In parliament

Dilan Perera - Deputy Minister Ports Shipping and Media: President Kumaratunga proposed the P-TOMS to rehabilitate the affected people of the North and East on an agreement with the LTTE as the majority of the areas hit by the tsunami were under the control of the LTTE. The P-TOMS will bring back the lost confidence and trust between the government and LTTE. Only those who held extremist views are opposed to the P-TOMS.

JHU Parliament Group Leader Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said there was much being said about the role of the Sinhala National Forces and the language policy of the S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike government of 1956 as the cause of the ethnic conflict. But all of those reasons adduced are not based on historical facts or on realities.

The British Colonial rulers perused a policy of developing minorities and depriving the majority of fair opportunities in all the countries they ruled. In this country till the 1950s, Tamils filled all the learned profession as the North was given more educational facilities and English education. In 1956 a historic injustice perpetrated on the 76 per cent Sinhala majority was corrected by making Sinhala the official language. Till then Sinhalese could not even gain employment as a minor clerk if he had no English education.

The P-TOMS will not build confidence, nor will it help the majority of people in the North and East but will only help the LTTE.

Maithripala Sirisena - Minister of Mahaweli & Irrigation Development: Though JVP and SLFP formed the UPFA government the two parties had different policies on the solution of the problem of the North and East but the President took a bold and decisive step proposing the P-TOMS as a measure to the provide relief to the poor people of the North and East with the full agreement of the central committee of the SLFP.

He said he could not agree with the JVP member Wimal Weerawansa that the SLFP was not aware of the proposal nor was it supportive of the P-TOMS. The intention of the government had been misinterpreted by the JVP but the P-TOMS proposal sought to build confidence among the tsunami affected people off the North and East and the LTTE.

R. Sampanthan (TNA) group leader: Most persons affected by tsunami in the Northeast were also affected by the long, savage war. P-TOMS was a purely administrative arrangement to render humanitarian assistance and to alleviate the extreme suffering of a segment of the country's inhabitants, very substantially the Tamil-speaking people in the Northeast, in a most effective and expeditious way.

The President, the head of state, the head of the executive, and of the government and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, was the strongest advocate in favour of the P-TOMS and took the responsibility of the execution of P-TOMS agreement.

The 39 JVP Members of Parliament, who were in alliance with the UPFA government, having left the government on this issue, challenged the P-TOMS agreement in the Supreme Court as being violative of their fundamental rights.

The rest of the UPFA government supports the P-TOMS agreement. The UNP, the main opposition party is supportive of the P-TOMS agreement. Other than the JVP, the only other party that opposes the P-TOMS is the JHU, with some exceptions. It could in fact be said that the P-TOMS agreement is able to command support from over 2/3 majority of the Members of Parliament.

Even if a vote is not taken, we would strongly urge that representatives of political parties should state their position on the P-TOMS agreement in Parliament so that the country would be aware of the measure of support the P-TOMS agreement enjoys in Parliament.

Karu Jayasuriya - UNP Gampaha District: "I am happy to participate in this debate in order to place before the House the view of the United National Party on the P-TOMS agreement, the background to the formulation of the agreement and the issues that have now arisen in consequence of the Interim Order delivered by the Supreme Court on the 15th of July 2005.

"I consider it appropriate to begin this statement with a reference to the Ceasefire Agreement which was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on 22nd February 2002. The Government led at that time by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesingh realised fully well that the need of the hour was peace on the ground. It was no easy task to bring to an end hostilities which had gone on for more than 20 long years and torn asunder the fabric of our nation.

Even the present Government today acknowledges that the main strength of our nation today is the peace that has endured for 2 1/2 years.

I would like to emphasise that, according to the thinking of our Government, a substantive dialogue leading to a political resolution of the ethnic conflict in our country, is the most important objective we should strive to achieve. The Ceasefire Agreement of 2002 was the point of departure. It enabled a dialogue to take place between the parties in an atmosphere relatively free of tension and strain.

At the same time, I must emphasises that out commitment was not to dialogue for the sake of dialogue but to a discussion based on a bedrock of principle. One of the landmark achievements of our government in its handling of the peace process took place at the conclusion of the 3rd Session of the peace talks in Oslo when the parties agreed on 5th December 2002 ‘to explore a solution founded on the principle of internal self-determination in areas of historical habitation of the Tamil speaking peoples, based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka’.

I would draw your attention to the decision made by the Donor Co-Chairs, reflected in the Brussels Declaration of 25th January 2005, to "support the Government and the LTTE efforts to strengthen co-operation on assistance for relief, rehabilitation and development in the tsunami affected areas of the North and East." Similarly, the statement released by the Co-chairs in Washington on 13th June 2005 stated: "The Co-Chairs support the commitment by the President, her government and the LTTE to rapidly implement the structure to administer tsunami assistance in the North and East... We urge the immediate signing of the agreement in order to ensure proper flow of reconstruction aid to tsunami victims in the North and East."

Killings must stop - SLMM Chief

THE Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Chief Hagrup Haukland yesterday called for a halt to the killing spree in the East that has raised tensions in the area and threatened the stability of the ceasefire.

Speaking to the Daily News after his three-day tour in Ampara and Batticaloa this week, Haukland said: "Frequent killings in the Eastern region are complicating and disturbing the SLMM very much." Haukland said that despite the efforts taken by the SLMM to control the situation, the killings which occur every other day were disturbing.

"Too many killings and they lead to a state of confusion," Haukland added. Commenting on the volatile situation in the East, he said. The SLMM was aware of the armed groups operating in the East. He has brought this to the notice of the Government. "The SLMM expects that the killings should come to and end once and for all and the Ceasefire Agreement remain stabilised. The support from all sides in maintaining peace is the need of the hour," Haukland said.

"The SLMM is trying its best to see that clashes are not taking between the Armed Forces and the LTTE in the North-East. During my visit to Ampara and Batticaloa efforts were made to bring the representatives of the Armed Forces and the local LTTE representatives together to sort out issues confronting both sides, but nothing was successful.

The SLMM has now urged the LTTE leadership to make their local leaders to engage in talks with the Armed Forces," Haukland said.

Majority of Sri Lanka MPs opposes early dissolution of parliament

A majority of parliamentarians in government and the opposition is opposing any move to dissolve the parliament before the presidential election. They said that this parliament can continue at least till the next presidential election.

"The government can continue without any problems. The need of the hour is presidential election not a general election," Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said. He added that holding a general election would badly affect the Prime Minister's presidential campaign.

"As a responsible party we have to strengthen the PM. After wining the presidential race we can easily test our parliament power at a general election," he added. Meanwhile, main opposition UNP strongly opposed the proposal of having general election before the presidential poll. "Our leader will call a snap election after he became the President in this December. We can create a more supportive ground at that time," UNP MP Rajitha Senarathna said.

Speculation is rife that President Kumaratunga is planning to call general election before the presidential race. However, political analysts say that such a move undermine the Prime Minister's presidential battle with his rival Ranil Wickramasinghe.

Minister’s son charged on assault

Minister has threatened journalists covering the case involving his son Sri Lanka’s Attorney General (AG) has filed charges against a son of a deputy minister on an alleged assault on police officers. The AG department has filed charges against Malaka Silva, son of deputy minister Dr. Mervyn Silva, and his bodyguard Samapath Kumara.

	Two suspects are accused of preventing the officers from Police Narcotics Bureau carrying out duty and assaulting them at the night club in Colombo’s five-star Taj Samudra hotel. Considering the case as a special one AG Kamalasabeysan has carefully studied the police reports before charging them, courts reporter KS Udayakumar told BBC Sandeshaya (BBC Sinhala).
'No evidence' Police earlier released the suspects without producing them before the courts. The AG department is considering whether the police action amounts to contempt of court. Minority Tamils urged president Kumaratunga to expel the minister Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chandra Fernando, told the media that there was not enough evidence to charge the minister’s son.

Journalists and Tamil leaders later protested minister Silva's verbal abuses against the media and Sri Lanka's minority community. Mervyn Silva earlier resigned from his deputy ministerial portfolio after his son was accused of involving in a brawl in a night club. He was re-instated as a deputy minister by President Chandrika Kumaratunga during a minor cabinet reshuffle last week.

Dr. Silva, who lost the general elections in April 2004, was later appointed as a member of the parliament from the national list by the president.

12 August 2005

Clinton lauds President's peace, tsunami recovery efforts

FORMER US President Bill Clinton telephoned President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga early this week to enquire about the progress of Sri Lanka's recovery efforts after the December 26 tsunami tragedy.

During the conversation President Clinton told President Kumaratunga: "You have changed reality. It is now difficult for anybody else to turn back the clock. I understand the pain and loss that you have had to face." While talking about her peace efforts President Clinton said: "I know it was with great difficulty that you stood by your convictions and I admire your courage. I use you as an example when talking to other leaders who have conflicts within their communities".

President Clinton assured Kumaratunga he will continue to help Sri Lanka construct more permanent dwellings for tsunami affected families with the special funds allocated to him in his capacity as the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery.

EU releases euro 45 m for tsunami recovery

THE European Commission released its first tranche of euro 45 million for long term post-tsunami reconstruction operations in Sri Lanka, this week. The funding which mainly covers the reconstruction of the damaged coastal road from Matara to Batticaloa, is nearly 50 per cent of the EU's entire tsunami reconstruction pledge for Sri Lanka, the EU's Colombo Chief Wouter Wilton told reporters yesterday.

Hosting a press conference at its Colombo Office, Wilton said the EU pledged 100 million euros to rebuild tsunami devastated areas in Sri Lanka soon after the Boxing Day tsunami. This amounts to nearly one third of the entire 350 million euro commitment of the EU for all tsunami affected countries in the Indian Ocean rim. Immediately after the tragedy, the EU released 30 million euros as emergency aid for relief work in Sri Lanka before this first instalment of the EC's longer term reconstruction package.

"This compliments the 30 million euro emergency assistance and subsequent 2.3 million euro provided last month to kick start the long term reconstruction work in Sri Lanka," the EU representative said. He said their funding was based on the needs assessment plan offered to donors by the Government. Wilton said the biggest chunk of euro 39.5 million approved by the EU on Monday will be spent to reconstruct the road from Matara to Batticaloa, a stretch of 270 kilometres on the Southern and Eastern coastal belt.

The EU and the Asian Development Bank will finance the road project, viewed by the Government as a strategic priority for post tsunami recovery as well as long-term sustainable development. It will cover widening the existing road, upgrading it to national standards, improving the drainage system and elevating the road above the periodical flood level.

The Colombo Chief said the Tsunami Roads Coordinating Committee, the Roads Development Authority and the provincial councils will collaborate in this South-Eastern road link programme. The balance 5.5 million euro will support livelihood recovery in the areas affected by the tsunami in the North and East. This will support some 5,000 affected people to restart their traditional livelihoods, particularly in the fisheries, agriculture, livestock and the small industry sectors and some 2,000 others to find alternative income sources.

Implemented through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) the community development project will also fund establishing boat yards, ice packaging and food processing plants, provision of tools and textile machinery. The EU has stressed that its aid will be sensitive to the ethnic issue and support the principals set in the Oslo declaration for a peaceful resolution to the conflict within a united country.

Where is CBK’s adopted tsunami girl?

There is no information on the Tamil tsunami orphan girl President Chandrika Kumaratunga said she would adopt after the tsunami disaster in December, though almost eight months have passed since the killer waves struck parts of Sri Lanka.

In January this year Kumaratunga announced at a press conference she would adopt a pretty Tamil girl. Thereafter Presidential Spokesman Harim Pieris told the BBC that the President wants to adopt a child from the minority Tamil community Pieris denied there was any political motive in the move and the LTTE dismissed Kumaratunga’s initiative as "inappropriate" and a "token gesture" Pieris said in January "The President wants to undertake, care and nurture an orphan because so many children are affected and many have become parentless "He said the President was against sending children to orphanages and wanted to adopt a Tamil girl Pieris also told the BBC, Kumaratunga’s decision to adopt was intended as a message not just to politicians, but to the whole country about the disproportionate effect the tsunami had on Sri Lanka’s children. Though not clear , some reports also spoke of certain logistical reasons why she could not adopt the child as yet.

Kumaratunga ran into further problems after signing a joint mechanism between the government and the LTTE. Her ally the JVP left the government She has also faced the wrath of the Muslims, the most affected community, democratic Tamil parties and the southern people and from sections within her own party.

UNP criticizes govt.’s handling of P-TOMS
UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya told parliament yesterday that many problems regarding the P-TOMS had arisen due to the government’s weakness in handling the process, and therefore called for a fresh approach to address the problem.

Joining the P-TOMS debate in the House, Mr. Jayasuriya said the government should go back to the drawing board and decide how it should proceed. “In particular, the government should give urgent attention to the seriously deteriorating security situation in the North-East. The ceasefire agreement itself is becoming fragile. It is this aspect of the situation which causes the gravest concern to the UNP,” he said.

He said in the official statement made by the UNP on June 24, it criticized the government’s manner of handling the P-TOMS agreement. “The most important issue to be noted in this debate is the situation that arises from the Interim Order made by the Supreme Court. In particular, an important provision relating to the Regional Fund established by Section 7 of the P-TOMS agreement has been deprived of legal force for the time being. In these circumstances, it is incumbent on the part of the government to identify a fresh approach,” he said. He said that the UNP would support any approach which is consistent with the Oslo and Tokyo declarations. He said the most important objective we should strive to achieve, is a substantive dialogue leading to the resolution of the conflict.

“In our view any agreement should have been viewed as an integral part of the peace process. It is sad that the government took particular pains to detach the P-TOMS agreement from the peace process and to insist that it was entirely distinct and separate. We do not share this view,” he said.

Excerpts of Mr. Jayasuriya’s speech follows:
“I consider it appropriate to begin this statement with a reference to the Ceasefire Agreement which was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on February 22, 2002. The Government led at that time by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe realised full well that the need of the hour was peace on the ground. It was no easy task to bring to an end hostilities which had gone on for more than 20 long years and torn asunder the fabric of our nation.

“I would like to emphasise that, according to the thinking of our Government, a substantive dialogue leading to a political resolution of the ethnic conflict in our country, is the most important objective we should strive to achieve. The Ceasefire Agreement of 2002 was the point of departure. It enabled a dialogue to take place between the parties in an atmosphere relatively free of tension and strain. In our view, any agreement should have been viewed as an integral part of the peace process. Its essential characteristic was its quality as a confidence building measure. It is to be regretted that the Government took particular pains to detach the P-TOMS agreement from the peace process and to insist that these were entirely distinct und separate matters. We do not share this view.
“At the same time, I must emphasise that our commitment was not to dialogue for the sake of dialogue but to a discussion based on a bedrock of principle. One of the landmark achievements of our Government in its handling of the peace process took place at the conclusion of the 3rd Session of the peace talks in Oslo when the Parties agreed on 5th December 2002 "to explore a solution founded on the principle of internal self-determination in areas of historical habitation of the Tamil speaking peoples, based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka". We were and continue to be very firm in our view that a negotiated settlement must be based on a cluster of essential values and principles.

“The principles that we insisted on, are set out in the official statement by the Royal Norwegian Government at the conclusion of the 2nd Session of Peace Talks in Nakhorn Pathom, Thailand from 31st October to 3rd November 2002. We insisted that: "Acknowledging that peace belongs to all peoples of Sri Lanka, the parties are committed to accommodate the needs and aspirations of all three communities in the East". This principle underpins our approach to all aspects of the peace process including the P-TOMS agreement. We recognise as a vital principle that, tsunami relief and rehabilitation must be given to all affected areas in the country and that this benefit must be conferred on all citizens of Sri Lanka including those resident in parts of the country at present dominated by the LITE. The UNP recognises that the task of accessing and mobilising Donor Funds required for these areas makes necessary the establishment of a coherent structure.

“I would draw your attention to the decision made by the Donor Co-Chairs, reflected in the Brussels Declaration of 25th January 2005, to "support the Government and the LTTE efforts to strengthen cooperation on assistance for relief, rehabilitation and development in the tsunami affected areas of the North and East." Similarly, the statement released by the Co-Chairs in Washington on 13th June 2005 stated: "The Co-Chairs support the commitment by the President, her government and the LTTE to rapidly implement the structure to administer tsunami assistance in the North and East. We urge the immediate signing of the agreement in order to ensure proper flow of reconstruction aid to tsunami victims in the North and East."

“The most important issue to be noted in this debate is the situation that arises from the Interim Order made by the Supreme Court on Friday, 15th July 2005. In a statement issued on 17th July 2005 by Prof. G L Peiris on behalf of the United National Party, we pointed out that the effect of this Interim Order is to suspend the operation of 4 key provisions of the P-TOMS agreement, until the final determination of the matter by the Court. In particular, an important provision relating to the Regional Fund established by section 7 of the P-TOMS agreement has been deprived of legal force for the time being. In this situation, it is very clear that the agreement cannot be enforced in the manner contemplated by the Parties.

“In these circumstances, it is incumbent on the part of the Government to identify a fresh approach to the problem. The Government must go back to the drawing board and decide for itself how it is to proceed. In particular, the Government has to give urgent attention to the seriously deteriorating security situation in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of the Island. The Ceasefire Agreement itself is becoming increasingly fragile. It is this aspect of the situation which causes the gravest concern to the United National Party.

“We must some day lay our bones to rest in the soil of this land and we will spare no effort under a future UNP Government which we will form, to restore peace, harmony and dignity among all the communities who inhabit Sri Lanka.”

Cabinet decisions at a glance
The Kantale Sugar Factory is to be taken over by PERC while under taking to pay Rs. 900,000 per month for the workers.Permission was granted to continue the supply of electricity to the Killinochchi area. Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to assist the CEB in its financial crisis. A Bill is to be drafted not to privatise the CEB under any circumstances. Sundays to be declared as a day of religious observations. Rs. 200 million to be allocated for the development of the Nuwara Eliya district. A subsidiary of Rs. 23,000 to be granted for every metric tonne of Urea making a 50 kg bag Rs. 550.00. The Italian government signed a MoU with the government for a Euro 2.4 million tsunami aid.

A committee headed by Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle appointed to take back the privatised CWE retail division. A programme, “Randiyadhara Nildiyawara” to be set up under the Samurdhi Ministry to alleviate poverty.

Weerawansa attacks President
The JVP yesterday ridiculed the government saying in the end, there was no P-TOMS, no Alliance, no peace and not even a word of appreciation from the LTTE or TNA for signing the P-TOMS agreement.

Opening the two-day debate on the P-TOMS in Parliament, JVP Parliamentary Group leader Wimal Weerawansa made a lengthy speech hitting hard at the government and what he called its NGO ‘crows’ for betraying the country to appease Western powers. “Now the situation is worse than before, despite the signing of the P-TOMS. We cannot see the Tigers being tamed. They appear to be more violent. The LTTE has got bold enough to threaten our MPs,” he said. Mr. Weerawansa displaying a copy of the P-TOMS agreement said contrary to popular belief, the P-TOMS Apex Committee was instituted to oversee tsunami damaged zones not only in the 6 districts, but in the whole country. He said despite the one-year pledge, the P-TOMS would exist for years even after reconstruction of tsunami damaged areas was completed.

Commenting on some features of the P-TOMS, Mr. Weerawansa said the P-TOMS had ‘hijacked’ Parliament’s authority over public finance through its Regional Fund.

“But we obtained an Interim Order from the Supreme Court blocking the establishment of the Regional Fund. We remember how the SLFP lamented in 2002 that the UNP had not shown the ceasefire agreement to the President, Parliament or the Cabinet. Now this party is repeating the same mistake. The SLFP did not show the P-TOMS to anybody. In the end the Alliance fell as plotted by conspirators,” he said.

“The President expected two results from the general elections. First was to lessen the UNP presence and pressure and the second was to ensure continued existence of her family’s role in politics. Only the first goal was achieved. But she could not cement the second objective. Therefore, with ample advice from her NGO crows, she has signed this P-TOMS agreement to ensure her family’s political prospects,” he said.

Mr. Weerawansa named several people working closely with the President and claimed they were in the pay role of NGOs.

Patient unable to attend court, kept in chains
A man allegedly beaten by the police and implicated in false charges is now in hospital with serious injuries and unable to attend court to sign his bail bond.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) yesterday wrote to the Registrar at Teldeniya Magistrate Court, requesting that Rohitha Upali Liyanage be allowed to sign the necessary documents at the Kandy hospital itself. "The law allows for such humanitarian gestures when citizens, due to medical incapacity, are unable to carry out technical obligations, such as signing a record in the required manner," AHRC, urgent appeals coordinator Kim Soo A said in the letter.

Rohitha's family has provided the bail money and completed all other formalities; all that remains is for Rohitha to attend court and sign the papers. The seriousness of his injuries however, prevents him from doing so. Rohitha was injured on July 28, when some police officers allegedly beat him and his friend with iron rods. The reason for the alleged beating was that Rohitha attempted to stop the officers from riding his motorcycle, which they had taken without permission. The beating resulted in Rohitha's fractured leg and other injuries.

The AHRC has therefore suggested that either the court registrar or another officer take the necessary records to the hospital for Rohitha's signature. Any costs incurred may be claimed from the patient or his relatives. The AHRC also pointed out that Rohitha would be more comfortable not being chained to his bed, particularly due to his serious leg fracture.

12August 2005

A dirty War of Attrition in the East" - LTTE blames Colombo
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Thursday blamed the Government of Sri Lanka for "covertly supporting a dirty war of attrition" against the Liberation Tigers in the Eastern Province in collusion with Tamil para-militaries that is gravely endangering the ceasefire. Criticising the SL Government’s armed forces, particularly the military intelligence, for the fast deteriorating security situation in the eastern province, Mr. Anton Balasingham, the chief negotiator and political advisor of the LTTE, warned that the increasing tension has the potential of exploding into a full-fledged armed confrontation, if the government failed in its truce obligation to disarm the para-militaries.

In a special interview with the TamilNet Mr Balasingham explained the silent war in the East in the following terms.

"It is a well established fact that there are five Tamil para-military armed groups, including the Karuna group, who are paid and provided with logistic support by the Sri Lanka security forces in this covert military campaign to destabilise the Eastern province and to paralyse the LTTE’s political engagement in the region.", Mr. Balasingham said.

"The Colombo regime is fully aware of the situation. Yet, the government attempts to distort this violent phenomenon as an internal conflict within the LTTE arising from the split by the Karuna group. It is deeply disappointing to note that President Kumaratunga's government, which claims serious commitment to peace and negotiated settlement to the ethnic conflict, has allowed its armed forces to support and sustain a shadow war of the Tamil para-militaries in grave violation of the truce agreement that could rekindle the civil war," Mr. Balasingham added.

The LTTE's political advisor dismissed the comments made by Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala, head of the Government’s Peace Secretariat, on disarming para-militaries as "absurd and ridiculous". "Mr Dhanapala suffers from poverty of knowledge in so far as the reality of the ground situation is concerned," Mr Balasingham observed. "Karuna’s group is not functioning from deep jungles of the East as Mr Dhanapala fantasizes. They are often operating from Sri Lanka military camps and their hide-outs are well protected by the armed forces. By providing sanctuary and support to Karuna and his group, the Sri Lankan military should assume direct responsibility for the bloody internecine warfare that is threatening the current peace process," Mr. Balasingham declared.

Mr. Balasingham called upon the international community, particularly the co-chairs of the peace process, to prevail upon the government of Sri Lanka to take urgent measures to disarm the Tamil paramilitary groups and to put an end to the shadow war that is fast eroding the truce agreement. "A congenial situation conducive to the resumption of the peace process could be created once these Tamil armed groups are disarmed and a secure environment is created for the LTTE’s political cadres to carry out political work in the government controlled areas of the Northeast," Mr Balasingham observed.

Civilians trained by Tamil Tigers –source BBC
Tamil Tiger rebels have been training thousands of civilians in what they call homeland security. A rebel spokesman said it was the first time this had taken place since a ceasefire was sealed with the government more than three years ago. He said it had been resumed because there were fears that the war would start again. Analysts have expressed concern that the already fragile truce is being stretched to breaking point.

The Tamil Tigers called the training self-defence. The training lasts around two months and includes lessons on AK-47 rifles and using grenades. 'Muscle-flexing' In the eastern district of Trincomalee, 3,000 people have already been trained, the rebel spokesman, Daya Master, said.

At least 3,000 more are being trained in other rebel held areas. The Tigers blamed the deadlocked peace process and the failure of a post-tsunami aid-sharing deal to be implemented. There has been a low-level shadow war going on in the east since a split in rebel ranks last year. But this has escalated in recent months into direct clashes between the government and rebel forces. International sources said they found the training worrisome, but one described it as more a flexing of muscles.

Although the training was not a good sign, Sri Lanka was far from a resumption of hostilities, he said.

Kalashnikovs, karate? S.Lanka rebels offer training Source: Reuters

- Want to learn how to handle a Kalashnikov, or try basic martial arts? Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels are offering civilians a crash course in self-defence guerrilla-style, just in case a two-decade civil war resumes. Around 2,000 housewives, university students, school teachers and senior citizens living in rebel-held territory assembled at a ground in their northern stronghold of Kilinochchi on Thursday for a fitness drill.

"We are not doing this because war is imminent but if there is a war imposed on us, the people will want to protect themselves," rebel media coordinator Daya Master said. The Tigers' war for self-rule has been in limbo since a 2002 truce. The camp will go on for a month and is open to men and women between the ages of 20 and 55 years and attendance is not compulsory. "The people need this training for their own safety," Daya Master added, saying however that those trained will not fight alongside the Tigers if war does break out.

A rash of violence in the island's restive east blamed on a feud between the rebels and a breakaway faction they accuse the military of supporting is straining the ceasefire and raising the spectre of a return to a war that has already killed over 64,000 people.

Tamil activist Vasantha Raja optimistic on Sri Lanka PM’s leadership

Tamil rights activist and former editor of Tamil Guardian newspaper Vasantha Raja says Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s unique ability to relate to the UNP must have been a decisive factor in mobilizing 'behind-the-scene' forces - both foreign and local - to canvass in his favor in the next Presidential election. He said that Rajapaksa's seemingly deliberate evasion of divisive issues seems to have paid off in the end, despite many analysts' seeing it as a weakness.

Writing a weekly political column to his London based publication, Vasantha Raja said In the upcoming presidential election, for example, the JVP would find it hard to put up an independent candidate of its own, for such a move will be perceived unfavorably by the anti-UNP electorate as a sure way to undermine Mahinda Rajapakse and help Ranil Wickramasinghe. “On the contrary, the JVP will almost certainly be compelled to campaign for Mahinda Rajapakse, thus enabling the SLFP to regain lost ground during its marriage to the JVP,” he writes.

He also added that the surprisingly trouble-free rise of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the incumbent prime minister of Sri Lanka, to become the UPFA's common candidate in Sri Lanka's coming presidential election has baffled many media pundits. “Many had predicted sinister manoeuvres by President Kumaratunga to undermine Rajapakse's bid for the candidacy, but such calculations have proven faulty,” he pointed out.

“The SLFP was badly in need of a leadership capable of uniting its scattered forces in the aftermath of its nightmarish rendezvous with its 'Marxist' ally, the JVP. The SLFP also needed a presidential candidate capable of regaining lost grounds among the island's ethnic and religious minorities. Without such a personality, challenging the Wickramasinghe-led opposition's presidential campaign - already in full swing - would have been unthinkable,” Vasantha Raja said in his weekly column.

P-TOMS fate confirms Tamils' grave skepticism- Sampanthan

Mr. R. Sampanthan M.P. Leader Parliamentary Group TNA, speaking during the adjournment debate on the P-TOMS structure Thursday in the Sri Lanka Parliament said that JVP mounted a "high profile challenge levelled against the P-TOMS" because the "agreement was intended to substantially benefit the Tamil speaking people of the Northeast," and that the failure of P-TOMS has confirmed the "grave sense of skepticism amongst the Tamil people."

Excerpts from Mr Sampanthan's statement in Sri Lanka Parliament follow:

"Most persons affected by tsunami in the Northeast were also affected by the long savage war. P-TOMS was a purely administrative arrangement to render humanitarian assistance and to alleviate the extreme suffering of a segment of the country’s inhabitants, very substantially the Tamil-speaking people in the Northeast, in a most effective and expeditious way. "The President, the head of state, the head of the executive, and of the government and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, was the strongest advocate in favor of the P-TOMS and publicly took the fullest responsibility for the execution of the agreement.

"39 JVP Members of Parliament, who were in alliance with the UPFA government, having left the government on this issue, challenged the P-TOMS agreement in the Supreme Court as being violative of their fundamental rights. "The rest of the UPFA government supports the P-TOMS agreement. The UNP, the main opposition party is supportive of the P-TOMS agreement. Other than the JVP, the only other party that opposes the P-TOMS is the JHU, with some exceptions. It could in fact be said that the P-TOMS agreement is able to command support from over 2/3 majority of the Members o Parliament.

"Even if a vote is not taken, we would strongly urge that representatives of political parties should state their position on the P-TOMS agreement in Parliament so that the country would be aware of the measure of support the P-TOMS agreement enjoys in Parliament.

"The constitution is so restrictive, so regressive, that the Supreme Court despite upholding the right of the President to enter into such an agreement, and even upholding entering into such an agreement with the LTTE – in the process recognizing the CFA which has been entered into with the LTTE, has nevertheless held that in terms of the constitution, the regional committee should in the interim be restrained from exercising certain powers. Though the main grounds on which the P-TOMS agreement was challenged have been rejected by the Supreme Court, in effect recognizing the necessity for the LTTE to play a role in the affairs of the Northeast, the P-TOMS agreement has been rendered non-operational.

"A bare minority in Parliament has been able by invoking the judicial process to impede the implementation of the decision of the supreme executive and the will of the majority in Parliament. "The JVP have been successful in denying relief to very needy Tamil speaking people. We are sad that this has happened to people who have suffered very much for very long.

"What has happened raises in the most serious way the question of whether the Sri Lankan state can ever deliver an acceptable resolution of the Tamil question if it is unable to deliver on something as nominal as the P-TOMS. "The P-TOMS agreement as everyone knows does not even touch the fringe of a solution to the Tamil question. The P-TOMS agreement is certainly no substitute for an Interim Self Governing Authority in the Northeast. The P-TOMS was intended to have nominal administrative authority in regard to post-tsunami related activity.

"The CFA inert-alia deals with the separation of forces. It entitles the GOSL’s armed forces and the LTTE’s fighting formations to hold their ground positions and maintain a zone of separation. Restrictions are imposed in regard to the movement of military equipment by the parties into each other’s territory. "The CFA has not faced any legal impediment thus far though its provisions clearly impinge on the authority of the Sri Lankan government on vital internal matters.

"Many Tamils who looked forward to early implementation of the P-TOMS agreement take the view that different standards are being applied to the CFA and the P-TOMS agreement. The CFA has not faced any legal impediment because it benefits the whole country, particularly the south. The P-TOMS agreement was intended to substantially benefit the Tamil speaking people of the Northeast. This explains the high profile challenge leveled against the P-TOMS agreement by the JVP and the jubilation when they obtained some interim relief.

"The Tamil Nation does not accept that the Tamil question can wither away without resolution. It would be most unwise for anyone to so think. The Tamil people are increasingly concerned that the peace process has been floundering during the 3 1/2year period of the ceasefire. "The fate of the P-TOMS only confirms the grave sense of skepticism amongst the Tamil people. "The Tamil Nation urges the international community to recognize and acknowledge that the peace process at present at present has for the above reasons lost its direction and purpose.

"Much as the Tamil Nation earnestly desires a peaceful resolution of the Tamil question, it is most unfortunately becoming increasingly clear that the Sinhala political establishment is lacking in a serious commitment to an acceptable resolution of the Tamil question. The Sinhala political establishment also has its own agendas, which are an impediment to the furtherance of the peace process.

"This view of the Tamil people was clearly manifested at a convention held on the 27th of July 2005 at Vavuniya and attended by over 2000 delegates representing Tamil speaking people from different walks of life and from different parts of the Northeast. A resolution was adopted at the said convention and I table a copy of the said resolution to be included in the Hansard which reflects the true state of mind of the Tamil speaking people for the benefit of the House and the country at large. "I think everyone needs to remember that a peace process should be meaningful and have substance that would inspire confidence in the process.

"The peace process that gravely concerns all of us does not as of now inspire such confidence."

Youths on Fast-to-death campaign against Dam project
Six youths from the HillCountry Youth Front (HYF) has launched a fast unto death campaign at the Talawakelle bus stand in protest of the proposed Upper Kotmale hydro electricity project Thursday, sources from Talawakelle said.

The protestors condemn that the project is environmentally hazardous to the region and several thousand upcountry plantation workers would be displaced by the project. The leader of the Hill Country Youth Front, A.Suthkaran, said that the today's fast unto death by his movement is the beginning of a focussed concerted action against the project. Earlier several rallies and protest marches were held in several parts of the upcountry in protest against the project.

A section of the Talawakelle residents told TamilNet that there is also a sinister motive behind the Upper Kotmale project. "Talawakelle is the bedrock of upcountry Tamils activism. By dissecting the Tamil dominated region, the ruling Governments of Sri Lanka plan to bring Talawakelle under Sinhala dominance thereby preventing the rising activism and self-assertion of upcountry Tamils." The Sri Lanka Government which plans to launch the project with the Japanese assistance believe that the hydro project would help Sri Lanka to deal with the impending energy crisis.

Upper Kotmale is a 150 MW plant hydropower project proposed by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) which is a Government Agency responsible for generation of electricity in Sri Lanka during the UNP government in 1987. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project was submitted for approval of the Ministry of Irrigation Power and Energy in December 1994 and Central Environmental Authority was the concurrent agency. The project was approved in 1998.

11August 2005

India has to play a role in Sri Lanka - Expert(Hindustan Times)

It is time India gave up its hands-off policy and played a pro-active role again to help end Sri Lanka’s continuing ethnic conflict, says an American academic based in Britain. Brendan O’Duffy of Queen Mary College in the University of London told a gathering here there were indications the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was prepared to give up its separatist goal and go in for a political settlement with Colombo.

"For any sustained peace process, it seems natural for India to have some kind of a guarantor’s role (in Sri Lanka)," said O’Duffy, a senior lecturer in politics at Queen Mary College.O’Duffy, who specialises in the study of nationalism, ethnic conflict regulation and European politics, said given the unending uncertainties in the Sri Lankan polity as well as in LTTE’s attitude, the international community had a role to play.

"The role of India is also vital," he said. "The Indian government has to play a very important role." He made it clear he was not suggesting that New Delhi should militarily intervene in Sri Lanka as it did in 1987-90, taking on the LTTE in the process and losing nearly 1,200 soldiers. "Intervention is highly unlikely to be attempted and unlikely to succeed. "India should play the role as an external facilitator. Such a role will protect its own territorial integrity by protecting the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. "The role Norway is playing is positive although not as effective as it should be."

O’Duffy was presenting findings of his research on Sri Lanka carried out as part of a project of the Social Science Research Council (US) and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. The New Delhi-based Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies played host to Tuesday’s event.

India played host to Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups in 1983-87 before undertaking its military intervention. It has adopted a hand-off policy vis-`E0-vis Sri Lanka since the LTTE assassinated former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. O’Duffy, currently researching peace processes in Northern Ireland, the Middle East and Sri Lanka, said the key question was how the Norwegian-mediated peace process would go ahead in the island nation and what the Tamil Tigers would do since signing a ceasefire agreement with Colombo in February 2002.

"The (LTTE) leadership has been fighting for 20 years. The generational factor is important. They do start to think about life afterwards. "Whether Prabhakaran is himself experiencing this generational change is debatable. But it cannot be discounted that they may be looking for some kind of federalism (as a solution to the conflict). They are making the right noises." O’Duffy said second-rung leaders in the LTTE such as its political chief SP Thamilchelvam did have an influence on Prabhakaran, who is wanted in India and sought by Interpol for Gandhi’s assassination.

"They (Tiger leaders) have a political debate in the higher echelons of the (LTTE) movement. And that movement has moved towards a settlement other than independence. "Federalism combined with some power sharing arrangement..." He said the LTTE’s decision to field a political proxy, Tamil National Alliance (TNA), in Sri Lanka’s general election last year was another sign of the Tamil Tigers maturing politically.

O’Duffy said the US role vis-`E0-vis Sri Lanka was "understandable" in the post-9/11 era. He said Washington feared LTTE’s ability to move arms and weapons from one part of the world to another and to export its bomb making capabilities to other groups.

CITY OF LONDON ON ALERT

It is only a matter of time before terrorists attack London's financial heartland, according to a police chief. James Hart, commissioner of the City of London Police, said there had been "hostile reconnaissance" of the City since the September 11 attacks in 2001. He said: "Every successful terrorist group pre-surveys its target. There's no doubt we've been subject to that surveillance and that sort of thing has been successfully disrupted."

He pointed out that the area had been a terrorist target for three decades, saying: "Look at the number of time we were hit by the IRA. I think (another attack) is a question of when rather than if." He said potential targets that had been staked out included iconic sites, businesses and prominent buildings, "anywhere where the maximum damage can be inflicted on the financial systems of the City of London and where you can associate that with mass murder and maximum disruption." Mr Hart estimated that only 50% of businesses had contingency plans in place in case of an attack.

He said the mindset of would-be terrorists meant the financial centres of western governments were prime targets. "If you want to hurt the Government, hurt people at the same time, and you want to cause maximum disruption... where better to hit than at the financial centre?" he said.

Sri Lanka Premier resigns from the Chairmanship of Parliamentary Unethical Religions Conversion Committee

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has resigned from the Chairmanship of the parliamentary standing committee on the bill to prevent unethical religions conversions. Speaker W.J.M Lokubandara announced yesterday at the parliament that party leaders are to be met today in parliament to appoint a replacement. However Chief Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said that he will propose the name of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe. Opposition Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe suggested that senior Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake should be the chairman.

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Sri Lankan schools still not rebuilt after tsunami-Source WSWS
Education is the main path to escape from poverty for young people in the Ampara district, one of the most economically disadvantaged regions in Sri Lanka. The devastation of schools by the December 26 tsunami was a heavy blow to ordinary people, especially to students in this district along Sri Lanka’s eastern coast. According to government figures, 40 schools in the district were damaged by the tidal waves. Of these, 28 were within 200 metres of the sea where President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s government has banned any construction and therefore have to be rebuilt elsewhere.

In Akkaraipattu, out of the 23 schools damaged in the zone, reconstruction has commenced in only one. In the Kalmunai educational division, 17 schools were destroyed—15 completely—and 8 have to be relocated. In this zone also, reconstruction has started in just one school. A WSWS team recently visited a number of schools that were destroyed and are now conducted in temporary facilities. Shams Central College in Maratamunai, established in 1978, was severely affected by the tsunami. Of 1,542 students, 104 were killed. About 1,300 now attend the school.

School vice-principal P.M.M. Bathurdeen said: “This school is at the centre of education in the area. Since 1978 it has produced more than 300 university graduates, including 23 doctors and 50 engineers. Even at last year’s university entrance exam, two students were selected to the medical faculty and one to the engineering faculty. Altogether, around 30 students went to university. The school has the best results in the whole region. Its destruction is a big blow to the people.” The school is temporarily conducted at the Masjudul Kabaer mosque. Seven sheds have also been built with tin sheets. Bathurdeen explained: “Because of the dedication of the teachers, old boys (former students) and the parents, we were able to restart the school on January 25. The 20 computers we had were destroyed by the tsunami. Now we don’t have any computer lab or a library.”

The education ministry told the school administration that it was responsible for finding suitable land to rebuild. A former student, now a resident doctor in the United Kingdom, has bought a plot for the school. Situated between the lagoon and the sea, the area is densely populated and poor. Unlike the other parts of Ampara, it is difficult to find land for paddy cultivation. Only 20 percent of people are engaged in farming because the water is not suitable for agriculture. A quarter of the population depends on fishing, another quarter on hand weaving. The rest are in government jobs, such as teachers, clerks, doctors and engineers.

Most of those in the public service received their qualifications because of free education. Bathurdeen’s brother, P.S. Nazrudeen, told the WSWS: “My father is a fisherman. But none of his seven boys are doing fishing now. All of us went to the university. I am the only person in the family who couldn’t complete my Bachelor of Arts degree. I entered the Colombo university in 1988 but had to leave the campus before finishing the course because of the instability in the country at that time. Now I am working as a nurse at Maratamunai peripheral hospital.

“A brother of mine is a philosophy lecturer in Paradaniya University. Our family is not an exception in the area. In nearly every house there are one or two graduates.”

“We didn’t even get a reply”

We visited another Muslim school, Malharus Shams Maha Vidyalaya. According to the principal, A.A. Rasool, 98 of the 1,765 students were killed. At present, 1,448 students are continuing their studies but lack basic facilities. The tsunami destroyed the library, and computer and science labs. So far the government has done nothing to remedy the situation. A temporary science lab—if you can call it that—is operating with a few test tubes and some chemicals. Rasool explained: “We were only able to restart the school in February. Grades 1 to 5 were held in the Sainthamaruthu GMMS School from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., while grade 6 to university entrance classes were held in another school, Al Hallal, also in the evenings. In GMMS, classes were held regularly. But because there was not enough room at Al Hallal, the classes took place on a rotation basis. Grades 6, 7 and 8 were held one week. The next week these classes had a holiday and the other classes were held.

“We couldn’t conduct education properly. So the parents, old boys and teachers got together and shifted the school to this place, the public ground of the Kalmunai municipal council. There was lots of building rubbish here. A non-government organisation (NGO) cleared it. Another built three temporary sets of classrooms with plywood and tin sheets for the roof. As you can see, we also use a half-built pavilion.

“Still there is not enough room, so the school is conducted for two sessions—evening for grades 1 to 5 and morning for the other classes. One Hungarian NGO came forward to construct school buildings, but because the government has not officially transferred the land to the school, they moved away. When we spoke to the municipal commissioner, he said he didn’t have the necessary legal power and we would have to get it from the Governor of the Northeast Provincial council. The School Development Society wrote to the Governor, but we didn’t even get a reply.”

A student in the university entrance class said: “Our school was destroyed by the tsunami. It is now functioning at the Sainthamaruthu playground temporarily. Because of the lack of room, classes are conducted in two sessions. Before, 45 minutes was allocated for one subject, now we get only 30 minutes. Our books were destroyed but still we haven’t received any new ones. Six months have passed, but the government has done nothing.

“Our (parliamentary) representatives, Ferial Asraff and Abdullah [of the National Unity Alliance (NUA)—a Muslim political party], are also doing nothing. By contrast to the politicians, our teachers are doing a remarkable job, under a lot of hardship and in difficult conditions. Some people oppose their playground being used for a school. Playgrounds can be relocated but schools are very important. The government should immediately build permanent buildings in this place.”

He condemned the chauvinist campaign being waged against the joint mechanism established between the Kumaratunga government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to distribute tsunami aid. “Because of the discrimination against them, Tamil people took arms. During the 20-year war, the country was destroyed. Now the chauvinist Buddhist monks are fasting against the joint mechanism. Are they ready to go to war? We don’t want war and the government must treat everybody on an equal basis.”

A female student in the same class said: “In this temporary building we can’t study because of the disturbances. It is very noisy. The classes are not separated properly. We always hear what the teacher in the class next-door is saying. We don’t have enough toilet facilities, only one temporary water tank. We don’t have a science lab, home science facilities or computer facilities. We want a permanent building, to continue our studies.”

“How can we concentrate on our studies?”

At the Vipulananda Central College in Karathivu, 27 students died in the tsunami. Of the 1,200 students before the disaster, 1,150 are now attending the school. Deputy Principal S Thillaiyampalam told us: “We are functioning temporarily in the RKM Girls School with the help of canvas tents provided by UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund]. But because there is not enough space, the school is conducted in two sessions. Classes from grades 10 to 13 are held in the morning from 8 to 12.30, and grades 6 to 9 in the evening from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“The Italian embassy said it will provide 120 million rupees for a school building, but we must find five acres of land. The market price is 3.5 million rupees [$US35,000], but the government is not ready to give us this money. We also asked several NGOs, but nobody has helped us. So we have decided to build the school on the former site, which is just outside the 200-metre buffer zone. If we go there the student attendance will be low. The teachers are not happy about it. But we don’t have any other alternative.”

He explained the problems faced by teachers, 13 of whom had their houses demolished by the tsunami, losing all their belongings. “The government promised to give them one year’s salary as an interest-free loan, but they still haven’t received it. How can they rebuild their houses with only their monthly salary? These teachers are staying with their relatives. In these difficult conditions, how can they teach properly?”

A grade 7 student said: “It is difficult to study in the evening school. The school closes at 5 p.m., so we are late getting home. How can we concentrate our studies? We don’t have proper water or toilet facilities.” Other students complained about the lack of tables and chairs. The science lab, computer room and library were destroyed, and the government is yet to replace them.

Another school, Al Bathur Vidyalaya in Akkaraipattu, is currently located in the Bathur Nagar mosque. With UNICEF providing tents and books, the school is functioning under very difficult conditions. The temporary water tank was empty when we visited the school and teachers said they had not had water for three days. The mosque administration has asked them to move out within a month, but teachers said they had nowhere to go. The former school, just 100 metres from the sea, was completely destroyed.

The future of the 108 students seems very bleak. One teacher said: “We need 40 million rupees for the buildings and another 2.8 million rupees for the land. One higher official in the education ministry said the government doesn’t have the money and that it is the responsibility of the teachers, parents and old boys to find suitable land for the school. Then the ministry can coordinate with an NGO to fund the buildings. We are not rich. How can we find the money for it?”

JHU-JVP link on Presidential candidate?

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) is to present a common Presidential candidate with the JVP. Discussions were under way to appoint a candidate agreeable to both parties, according to the JHU. JHU Leader Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera told a news briefing that despite a major difference on national and religious issues the JVP is the only party the JHU could agree with on the question of national security and sovereignty.

“Candidates from both the main political parties are not concerned about the burning issues of the country,” the Ven. Thera said adding that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse is following an evasive policy while Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is trying to become the President using the rising cost of living as the main issue. He said that none of the candidates have presented their policy on national security and terrorism, which is the burning problem at the moment.

The JHU has a second option to nominate its own Presidential candidate, if the talks between the JHU and JVP fail to reach a consensus, he said. Ven. Medhananda Thera said the candidate would be novel to the Sri Lankan political scene and added his or her identity would be revealed in a month. He said there is still time for Prime Minister Rajapakse to accept the five main concepts of the JHU and gain its support. “However at the moment we have little faith in both the candidates and do not think that they could save the country from the grip of terrorism,” he said. The five main concepts of the JHU include the acceptance of the sovereignty of Sri Lanka, denouncing of any form of terrorism and abolition of the executive presidency through constitutional amendments.

Meanwhile JHU Parliamentary Group Leader Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera accused Premier Rajapakse of duplicity on national and religious issues. “The Prime Minister despite his Sinhala Buddhist outlook had failed to state his policy on the LTTE and terrorism and had publicly withdrawn his support for the anti- conversion bill,” he said.

Ven. Ratana Thera said the Prime Minister has resigned from the chairmanship of the Parliamentary standing committee on the Bill to Prevent Forced Conversion to Religions and had not recommended a replacement. He further challenged the government to reveal the truth behind the Jaffna SP’s killing and questioned as to why the government is not taking any action against the two TNA MPs who were allegedly present at the scene of the incident.

Families of Bindunuwewa victims compensated
Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation has arranged to pay compensation to the next of kin of the eight unidentified victims of the Bindunuwewa rehabilitation centre killing. Payment of compensation of Rs. 200,000 each were made by D.M. Dassanayake, Deputy Minister or Relief, Rehabiliation and Reconciliation at the Ministry on Tuesday.

There were 26 inmates in Bindunuwewa Rehabilitation Centre who were killed in an incident that took place on October 26, 2000.

The President had approved a payment of compensation of Rs. 200,000 to each of the deceased persons to the next of kin of their family members eighteen persons were identified and compensation was paid by the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Authority of the North (RRAN) and the Rehabilitation of Persons, Property and Industries Authority (REPIA) respectively, to those who have been issued death certificates. However, eight bodies which were badly burnt and mutilated were beyond recognition and therefore could not be identified and death certificate could not be issued. The next of kin of these eight deceased persons have so far not been paid any compensation. This issue was taken up by the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development in the Eastern Province and approval has been obtained from the Cabinet for the payment of compensation to the next of kin of these eight deceased persons to whom death certificate were not issued.

The Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation has made available the necessary funds to REPIA to facilitate the payment of this compensation without delay. The next of kin of these eight persons were issued cheques for Rs. 200,000 each at an official ceremony held on August 9 at 10 a.m. in the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation.

My son behaves normally: Mervyn

Deputy Minister Meryvn Silva who is in the centre of controversy, yesterday said youngsters who did not behave like his son, should be shown to a doctor.Speaking in Parliament during an adjournment debate on the crime situation, Mr. Silva said the IGP had enough ‘spine’ to take action against clubs and karaoke bars.

“If someone says that my son is the only one to behave like that in the world, I would hang him in the Galle face. But it is not so. So many youth behave like that. It is natural for them to make such mistakes at this age. If a youngster of his age does not behave like that, that boy should be shown to a doctor,” he said. However, JVP frontliner Anura Kumara Dissanayake countered the Deputy Minister’s statement saying such behaviour originated due to bad examples set by the father. “The Deputy Minister says it is normal for youngsters to beat up police officers on duty. But the sad realty is it is not normal for youngsters of the common folk to beat up policemen. It is ‘normal’ only for a select few,” Mr. Dissanayake said. In response Deputy Minister Silva said people who did not have children would not understand about a child’s ‘normal behaviour’ while the JVPer quipped saying ‘God bless the child’.

Public security Deputy Minister Jayaratne Herath said the crime rate in the country had dropped by 12 percent in the first quarter of this year while 22 underworld figures had been killed during clashes with police. The UPFA and JVP charged that UNP MP John Amaratnuga had no right to speak about the underworld and the crime rate, but the former Interior Minister rejected the allegations.

Arms ship arrested in Colombo port
The Navy last night took into custody a vessel carrying arms and ammunition at the Colombo port.Sources said the vessel with an Indonesian crew was drifting in the out harbour when the Navy on suspicion had checked the vessel and found it to be carrying a large stock of ammunition, mortars and two ambulances. On questioning the Russian Captain of the 60-metre long ship had claimed they were on the way to Bangladesh – a route that goes via Mullaithivu. Sources said the ship had arrived n Colombo from Indonesia.

Arms ship arrested in Colombo port
The Navy last night took into custody a vessel carrying arms and ammunition at the Colombo port.Sources said the vessel with an Indonesian crew was drifting in the out harbour when the Navy on suspicion had checked the vessel and found it to be carrying a large stock of ammunition, mortars and two ambulances. On questioning the Russian Captain of the 60-metre long ship had claimed they were on the way to Bangladesh – a route that goes via Mullaithivu. Sources said the ship had arrived n Colombo from Indonesia.

JHU-JVP link on Presidential candidate?

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) is to present a common Presidential candidate with the JVP.

Discussions were under way to appoint a candidate agreeable to both parties, according to the JHU. JHU Leader Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera told a news briefing that despite a major difference on national and religious issues the JVP is the only party the JHU could agree with on the question of national security and sovereignty.

“Candidates from both the main political parties are not concerned about the burning issues of the country,” the Ven. Thera said adding that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse is following an evasive policy while Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is trying to become the President using the rising cost of living as the main issue. He said that none of the candidates have presented their policy on national security and terrorism, which is the burning problem at the moment. The JHU has a second option to nominate its own Presidential candidate, if the talks between the JHU and JVP fail to reach a consensus, he said.Ven. Medhananda Thera said the candidate would be novel to the Sri Lankan political scene and added his or her identity would be revealed in a month. He said there is still time for Prime Minister Rajapakse to accept the five main concepts of the JHU and gain its support.

“However at the moment we have little faith in both the candidates and do not think that they could save the country from the grip of terrorism,” he said. The five main concepts of the JHU include the acceptance of the sovereignty of Sri Lanka, denouncing of any form of terrorism and abolition of the executive presidency through constitutional amendments. Meanwhile JHU Parliamentary Group Leader Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera accused Premier Rajapakse of duplicity on national and religious issues. “The Prime Minister despite his Sinhala Buddhist outlook had failed to state his policy on the LTTE and terrorism and had publicly withdrawn his support for the anti- conversion bill,” he said. Ven. Ratana Thera said the Prime Minister has resigned from the chairmanship of the Parliamentary standing committee on the Bill to Prevent Forced Conversion to Religions and had not recommended a replacement. He further challenged the government to reveal the truth behind the Jaffna SP’s killing and questioned as to why the government is not taking any action against the two TNA MPs who were allegedly present at the scene of the incident.

Nallur Kandasamy Temple festival begins
Twenty-seven day annual festival of the historic Nallur Kandasamy Temple in Jaffna began Wednesday morning with the Sacred Flag hoisting ceremony (Kodi Yetam) in the presence of large number of devotees. The chariot (THER) festival will be held on September 2 and the Water Cutting (Theertham) festival on September 3, temple authorities said. The Annual Festival of Nallur Kandaswamy (Lord Murugan) Temple begins The Sacred Flag Tuesday morning was taken in a decorated chariot from Nallur Saddanathar Sivan Kovil to Nallur Kandasamy Temple and handed over to the Kandasamy Temple chief priest, according to traditional rites which has been in force since the rule of King Sangiliyan.

The flag was hoisted Wednesday 10.30 am with large number of devotees chanting. All roads leading to the Nallur Kandasamy Temple have been closed for traffic for the 27 days to allow devotees unimpeded access to the temple facilities, transport authorities said. Local volunteers have been deployed in the vicinity of the temple to monitor all traffic arrangements. The police are taking steps to set up temporary police post near the temple vicinity to maintain law and order, sources said.

Two LTTE cadres shot and killed in Thirukkovil
Two political cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were shot and killed by unidentified gunmen who were riding in a blue colour van Wednesday around 7:30 a.m. The incident took place at Kanjirankuda junction on Akkaraipattu-Pottuvil Main Road, around 300 meters away from the Special Task Force (STF) base in Kanjirankuda, which is located 3 km south of Thirukkovil in Amparai district. Two of the gunmen, wearing military fatigues, were seen entering the STF base by the residents of the area. The driver of the van was in Police uniform, according to the residents.

Truce monitors from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) rushed to the spot from Akkaraipattu.

The LTTE cadres, Mr. Ramesh (Vellayan), 32, from Sinnathoddam in Thirukkovil and Mr. Sujiventhan, 19, from Vinayagapuram were traveling in a motorbike from LTTE controlled Pavattai to their political office located in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled Thambiluvil village, Mr. Daya Mohan, Amparai District Political Head of the LTTE, told TamilNet. Hands of the slain LTTE cadres were bound behind their backs. Their motorbike was taken by the attackers, sources said.

The shops in Thirukkovil area were closed and the traffic was off the roads following the killings.

10 August 2005

Govt. plans to solve national question through dialogue

The government of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) will enter into dialogue with the LTTE and other groups, based on reasonable conditions, to solve the country’s national question, a document tabled in Parliament by Constitutional Affairs Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara revealed yesterday.

Minister Gunasekara was unable to complete his reply regarding the Government’s strategy to solve the ethnic problem during the question and answer session, due to frequent disruption from the Opposition. However, in the end, he was able to table the document, according to which the UPFA government is committed to solve the problem through negotiations. The objective of negotiations is to find a sustainable solution to the problem, establishing democracy and instilling law and order, according to the will of the majority of the people.

He said in the document, that the homeland concept regarding a particular ethnic group, is rejected by the Government and therefore the rights of the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities to live and practice their culture in any part of the country, would be ensured in the new constitution. The Ceasefire Agreement will be enforced continuously. Separatism and political violence are rejected by the UPFA government. A lasting political solution will be found within the parameters of territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. He said that the transparency of the talks would be maintained fully, in this regard.

The Government will bring in new legislation to correct the problems arising from the present system, in respect of education and granting promotions in employment, based on ethnic lines. A new education policy will be introduced making English, Sinhala and Tamil compulsory, and teachers will also be recruited for this purpose under the proposed National Language Education Board. An accelerated programme is to be introduced to grant citizenship to people in the plantation sector, if they are willing to become citizens of Sri Lanka. The document also states that steps would be taken to address issues faced by the war-affected people in the North-East and other parts of the country.

The new constitution will also ensure the people’s right to engage in administrative activities in whatever language they wish, and laws and regulations will be introduced to attach bilingual people to these administrative units

SLFP seeks court order declaring 2005 poll illegal

The SLFP yesterday filed a motion in the Supreme Court requesting it to reject the JHU petition for a declaration that the Presidential election should be held this year. In the petition, SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena, has sought the court’s permission to intervene in the JHU petition. The SLFP is calling on the court to declare that the holding of a Presidential election this year will be illegal since the President’s term of office ends only on November 12, next year.

The SLFP petition states that after being elected president in 1994, President Chandrika Kumaratunga called for a Presidential poll on December 21, 1999 before her term of office was concluded . The petition states, that following an LTTE bomb attack in which President Kumaratunga lost an eye, she was sworn in before the Chief Justice on December 22, 1999 because the Constitution states that the President must be seen to be in good health and it was necessary to establish that.

The SLFP petition states that on November 12, 2000, the President was sworn in before the Chief Justice and since the President must remain in power six years following the oath-taking, her term of office ends on November 12, 2006. The petition seeks the opinion of the court on Article 129 of the Constitution and requests an order from the court stating that holding an election before the President’s term of office ends is illegal.

The petition states that the SLFP is a mainstream political party and that the President was given a mandate for six years in governance at the last Presidential poll by SLFP supporters and many other voters. Therefore, the petition argues, holding a poll before the President’s term of office ends will be a violation of these citizens’ rights. Along with the petition, Mr. Sirisena has submitted to courts, copies of the certificates dated November 12, 1994, December 22, 1999 and November 12, 2000 following the President’s swearing in ceremonies before the Chief Justice on each of those dates.

Also attached are copies of the gazette notices published in November 1994 and December 1999.

Govt. assures maximum punishment for SSP killers

The government would take stern action against the killers of SSP Charles Wijewardena, Public Security, law and Order Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake told parliament yesterday. In response to a query by Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU) MP Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera, the minister described the SSP’s killing as a dastardly crime, inhuman and cruel.

“SSP Wijewardena was not merely killed. He was tortured cruelly and inhumanely. It is a terrible crime. The IGP has already been sent with a team of specially trained police officers to investigate how the killing took place. They are there. That is all I can reveal to the House for the time being. But I can promise that whoever the killers are, we will give them the maximum punishment prescribed by the law,” he said.

JHU MP Ratana Thera making a special statement said the government should reveal to parliament the actual facts and details regarding the killing of the police officer. He questioned whether the killers were arrested, whether the barber’s shop frequented by troops operated as an LTTE intelligence outpost, what action was taken to save the SSP from the abductors, whether it was true that an order came from a higher authority to withdraw and not attempt a rescue operation

Disappeared youth in SLA custody, parents complain

Karunakaran Sasikaran (16) of Allarai Kodikamam in Thenmaradchchi division in Jaffna district who is alleged to have been taken into custody by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in Muhamalai checkpoint recently when he was crossing to enter Wanni has not been released yet, according to complaints lodged by the parents of the boy with the Jaffna regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and the Jaffna office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Monday, civil sources said.

Parents said that they have not received any response to their complaints from the HRCSL and SLMM, sources said. Sasikaran's parents said that they believed the boy is being detained in a military camp. Parents have appealed to the civil authorities to take steps to get their son released from the army custody, sources said. Arbitrary arrests by the SLA without proper procedures to inform relatives or human rights institutions will damage public trust in the SLA, civil sources said.

Return of money does not expiate PM – UNP

We have to examine the present situation regarding the tsunami funds which the Prime Minister held in a private account. This has become necessary because members of the government are seeking to get over the problem by claiming that it is a mud slinging campaign, Kalutara District UNP MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne told the media at the office of the Leader of the Opposition yesterday.

If the Prime Minister is confident that the issue is an instance of mud slinging, why did he close up the private account at the Chartered Bank and transfer the funds to the Central Bank, to where it legally belonged? he asked. It is an admission of guilt of misappropriation and fraud but the mere return of the money does not expiate the Prime Minister. If it does, it would be akin to an incident of an underaged girl being abducted and returned a few days later with an assurance that she has not lost her virginity. The crime of abduction remains.

Both of us, Mahinda Wijesekera and I have enjoyed a warm personal friendship. We have known him for over 30 years and it is embarassing to expose this fraud, but we have no choice since it is a serious crime against the victims of the tsunami, who are yet lingering in tents, Dr. Senaratne said.

Even though the Rs. 83 million has been returned, what about the interest earned. What about the Rs. 1.5 million paid to Willie Gamage. Why was he paid this money? The details have to be provided. This money is not the private property of the Prime Minister. He has to be responsible for the money which he accepted on behalf of the President, who was overseas at the time of the tsunami.

There are a number of deposits and withdrawals, all of which must be explained in detail. It must also be mentioned that when the tsunami struck in December 2004, all those who were not affected prepared everything they had in their homes and went from camp to camp feeding the victims who had lost everything. They did not hold back to what they had unlike the President and the Prime Minister who are holding Rs. 239 million and Rs. 83 million in bank accounts without spending them on tsunami victims, for whom the monies were gifted by the international community.

Matara district UNP Parliamentarian Mahinda Wijesekera said that the government is trying to get out of the mess of misappropriation of tsunami funds by saying that the Prime Minister is the victim of a mudslinging campaign. The difference between exposing a factual situation and mudslinging is that mudslinging allegations are made without any form of substantiation. The difference here is that every single transaction both of deposit and withdrawal has been exposed and substantiated. The address of the account has also been revealed. Further the Prime Minister who is under intense investigation has attempted to sweep the matter under the carpet by closing the account and transferring the money to the Central Bank.

It is a great crime against the penal code and violation of financial regulations. The account "Helping Hambantota" has been opened under the aegis of the D. A. Rajapakse Trust, The Trust was established in favour of the Prime Minister’s father. The international community did not provide funds in order to promote the Trust of the Prime Minister’s father, he said.

Even though a complaint was made to the CID over 3 weeks ago, no action has been taken. However when former UNP Minister Cader obtained funds from the Samurdhi for a religious function, he was hurriedly frisked off to remand even without giving him time to change his clothes or get into a pair of slippers. Personalities do not matter here. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. The Prime Minister cannot get away by calling this a mud slinging campaign. He must give an acceptable explanation.

The episode is serious enough to be called the Watergate of Sri Lanka. The UNP has already won the battle in that the Prime Minister has admitted his guilt by returning the illegally detained funds to the Central Bank. However the matter will not rest there. The investigations must continue and the wrong doer must be brought to book whether it be the Prime Minister, his Secretary or the Accountant.

Money which belongs to the state cannot be spent by private persons at their whim and fancy. Every cent including the interest earned must be accounted for by the Prime Minister. Exception cannot be made, whatever the position of the people involved. The most honourable course of action to be taken by Mahinda Rajapakse is to resign from the post of Prime Minister, Wijesekera said.

SLA collects information on Nedunthivu resettlers

Soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) have started collecting names of displaced persons who are resettled in Nedunthivu, one of the islets in Jaffna peninsula, after the ceasefire agreement came into operation, residents said. Large number of families who were fleeing Nedunthivu in 1990 following the military operation of the Sri Lanka Army sought refuge elsewhere in the Jaffna town. They again had to leave Jaffna to Vanni region in the 1995 Riviressa operation, sources said.

Majority of the displaced had returned to Nedunthivu and resettled when the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) signed the ceasefire agreement in the year 2002, with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources said.

Villagers protest opposite SLMM office

Over 1000 villagers demonstrated opposite the SLMM Ampara office from early morning till about 2.00 p.m. yesterday demanding the release of two youths allegedly abducted by the LTTE. The demonstrators put up road blocks by burning old tires at Hingurna town, Ampara, Muwangala junction and Eragam junction.

Demonstrators who had come from distant places paraded the streets demanding that shops be closed in support of their cause. When the demonstrators tried to hand over a letter to the SLMM requesting the release of the two youths abducted, police told them that SLMM officers were at Akkaraipattu and if possible to handover the letter at Akkaraipattu. Then demonstrators sat on the middle of the road and started shouting slogans until the SLMM members arrived.

The two youths Nalaka Prema Jayantha (21) and Ranjith Dissanayake (18) were abducted on July 30 while they were riding a motorcycle.

No bodyguards for politicians’ kin

Sri Lankan Police have decided that they would not provide bodyguards or security personnel to the children, especially sons, of parliamentarians to accompany them on private events. The Daily Mirror said the Police chief Chandra Fernando had instructed the head of the Ministerial Security Division to strictly enforce this order. The order comes in the wake of a series of incidents in the past few years where sons of politicians — dubbed political brats — have misbehaved in public particularly in night clubs or hotels where they have been involved in arguments and fights. In some case their bodyguards have also been involved in the clashes. The most recent incident involved Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva’s son who is to face obstruction-of-justice charges in a court. Officials were quoted as saying police protection would in future be provided to children of important personalities who are under severe threat such as the President and the Prime Minister

Existence of Karuna faction internal problem of LTTE - Jayantha Dhanapala

A feud between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and a breakaway faction is an internal rebel problem and the Government will not hunt down and disarm the renegades, a top official said on Tuesday. Jayantha Dhanapala, head of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process told Reuters in an interview that the emergence of the Karuna faction in the East was an internal problem of the LTTE.

"To go after them would involve going into the deep jungles, where there is a risk of the troops then confronting LTTE groups quite apart from Karuna groups," said Dhanapala. "And those confrontations can lead to major incidents that could rupture the entire Ceasefire Agreement," he added. "So discretion has been the better part of valour as far as the Army is concerned and they have very firmly discouraged the activities of the Karuna group."

"They do not qualify as a paramilitary group because they were not there prior to the Ceasefire Agreement," said Dhanapala, Sri Lanka's candidate in the upcoming race to succeed UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Dhanapala wants the international community to pile pressure on the Tigers to resume peace negotiations. He says the United Nations should impose sanctions on them if they continue to recruit child soldiers as UNICEF has reported.

"It is precisely when the LTTE is faced with sanctions internationally that it will be constrained to move a little more speedily into being a democratic political organisation," he said. "If child recruitment continues, there has to be sanctions at the end of it," he added. "You cannot pussyfoot around the subject." "We do need to engage the LTTE," Dhanapala said. "Clearly there are political factors now that have entered into play ... "I have no doubt that the LTTE are watching and waiting."

09 August 2005

Up-Country Tamils protest against Sri Lankan Minister

More than five-thousand protesters demonstrated Monday in front of Colombo Fort Railway station from 3:00 p.m till 4:30 p.m. against the Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment, Mr. Mervyn Silva, over his recent racial slurs directed at the Up-Country Tamils of Indian origin. Mr. Silva, while verbally abusing journalists who went to cover a court case where his son was involved, also insulted the Up-Country Tamils, according to journalists in Colombo. A general shut down was observed in Up-Country towns Talawakelle, Nuwara Eliya and Hatton.

Hundreds of protestors travelled from Up-Country to Colombo to join the protest. Security was beefed up with police and the armed forces in the vicinity of Fort Railway Station and other key places in the city of Colombo. Demonstrators chanted slogans against the comments made by deputy Minister Mervyn Silva and urged Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to take stern action against Mervyn Silva.

Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Up-Country People's Front (UPF), Western Province People's Front (WPPF) together with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and other organisations jointly participated in the demonstration. "The attitude of Minister Mervyn Silva highlights the chauvinistic nature of Chandrika's government," Mr. Vasudeva Nanayakara, leader of the leftist New Democratic Front, said addressing the rally.

UPF leader Mr. P. Chandrasekaran, CWC leader Mr. Arumugan Thondaman, parliamentarians Mr. M. S. Sellasamy, Mr. V. Puthirasigamani, WPPF leader Mr. Mano Ganesan and Free Media Movement (FMM) spokesman Mr. Sunanda Desapriya attended the demonstration. Mervyn Silva, a confidante of Kumaratunga, lost the general elections in April 2004, but was appointed as a member of parliament from the national list. On 18 July he was appointed as Deputy Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment by Kumaratunga.

Expats flock to Nallur Kovil festival

A large number of expatriate Tamils from various parts of the globe have arrived in Jaffna for the annual historic Nallur Kanthaswamy Kovil festival which begins on August 10. The expatriates, most of whom left the island soon after the communal clashes in 1983, have returned on holiday to the peninsula as the ceasefire is now observed in the region.

"German, French, Norwegian and English speaking offspring of the expatriates are moving around Jaffna visiting their kith and kin and seeing the places which carry the scars of the two decades of war," a Jaffna resident said. The Nallur festival season which begins on August 10 will continue for 25 days. During the season, prices of vegetables increase and seafood and meat prices decrease as most people in the peninsula remain vegetarian during the festival season, sources said.

Several residents in the vicinity of the Nallur temple area have given rooms to expatriates for Rs. 2,000 and above per day, sources said. There will be special traffic arrangements during the festive season, sources said.

Trees cut down to reinforce Jaffna FDLs, Police stations

Sri Lanka armed forces have begun cutting down coconut and palmyra trees to strengthen forward defense lines and the perimeters of police stations in the Jaffna district, residents said. A group of Policemen stationed in Nelliyady Police Station in Vadamaradchchi had gone into a private property in Thunnalai recently and had felled large number of palmyra trees, residents said.

Top army and police officials including representatives of the international and national non-governmental organizations agreed at a conference held on 10th December 2004 at the Jaffna district secretariat to stop felling valuable trees to safeguard the environment of the district. Security forces resuming cutting trees again violates this agreement, civil sources said. It was pointed out at the conference that about one million trees have been felled by security forces to strengthen their forward defense lines, camps and police stations and also for the construction of bunkers and sentry points in the peninsula during the two decade old war , civil sources said.

Kantalai JVP office attacked

An unidentified person lobbed a grenade into the office of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in Kantalai town Sunday afternoon around 1.30 p.m. A policeman providing security to the office was injured, Kantalai Police sources said. Kantalai is located along Trincomalee-Kandy road, about thirty nine km southwest of Trincomalee town. At that time of incident Mr.Jayantha Wijesekara, JVP parliamentarian of the Trincomalee district, was inside the office. He was unhurt, police sources further said. The Kantalai Police took a Tamil youth with his motor bicycle seen at the site into custody on suspicion, Police sources said.

The injured policeman was transferred to Dambulla hospital.

Dmonstrations against attack on JVP office in Kantale

Several thousands of civilians launched a massive demonstration today at Kantale against the grenade attack on the JVP office. The demonstration was organized by the Trincomalee District JVP parliamentarian Jayantha Wijesekera. Shops and other government establishments in Kantale town were closed and black flags have been hoisted everywhere in the town. The demonstration started at 10.30 a.m. today and marched to Kantale Clock Tower and then to the center of the town. JVP parliamentarians, S.K. Subasinghe, Ranaweera Pathirana, Namal Karunaratna and JVP members of North Central and North Western Provincial Councils attended

Private bus owner abducted in Vavuniya

Unidentified men abducted a private bus owner, Mr. Balachandran Karikaran, 40, at gun point on Goodshed Road, 1.5 km. west of Vavuniya town Sunday around 8:30 p.m., sources in Vavuniya said. The abductors attacked the victim's wife who intervened to persuade them to release her husband. She was admitted to Vavuniya Hospital with cut injuries. LTTE's Political Co-ordinator for Vavuniya town, Mr. Tharmendra, said that witnesses have notified the registration number of the vehicle used by the abductors to the LTTE office. Vavuniya Police is conducting investigations into the incident.

Over 20 injured in train accident at Ratmalana

More than 20 people were injured when a train struck another passenger coach, which had stopped on the railroad track at Ratmalana. Police said that the train traveling from Colombo to Aluthgama crashed into the coach, which had accidentally broken away from a train traveled earlier on the track. Police said that three people including the train driver are in serious condition.

All injured persons were admitted to the nearby hospital and some have been sent to Colombo, police added. Due to the accident the train service in the coastal line was disrupted for few hours.

SLA soldiers attacked in Mirusuvil

Three soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army sustained injuries when the vehicle in which they were taking meals to fellow soldiers stationed in the area came under attack after being waylaid by unidentified persons Sunday night around 9 p.m. at Mirusuvil in Thenmaradchchi divisions in Jaffna district, police sources said. The attackers fled from the scene, Kodikamam police said. Two soldiers sustained minor injuries and the third was admitted to the Palaly military hospital in a critical condition, security sources said. Kodikamam Police is conducting investigations into the incident, security sources said.
We should not go down on our knees and beg for peace
Navy’s Deputy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera on Saturday who was transferred from Trincomalee to Colombo stated at a passing out ceremony held at Navy training camp at Poonewa in Anuradhapura where 391 sailors completed their six month training, that by not taking any action against the LTTE’s brutal killings and already violations of the peaceful environment, had discouraged the establishment of a peaceful settlement. ‘It only shows cowardliness and timidity’ he said. The Admiral said “Some are thinking that taking action against those breaking peace are working against peace. But, the Navy both in war and peace had done everything to protect the country’s dignity and sovereignty before the signing of the ceasefire agreement as well as after it”.

“Now the LTTE is using the Cease Fire Agreement as a tool to strengthen their power. They are getting equipped themselves more and more in all fields- Socially, economically as well as politically and we have became mere ‘monitors’ as we are only monitoring the situation”, Rear Admiral Weerasekera accusing those responsible for such a situation. He also said “We need peace but it must be without incidents in the country. If anybody is objecting to it, we should be ready to establish peace even through war. Soldiers clamour for peace more than anyone else as they are the people who will personally experience it. But we should not go down on our knees and beg to achieve it”.

Several senior navy officials and parents of the new sailors also participated at the event.

Tigers silent on Prime Minister’s visit to Madhu
The LTTE has so far not responded to the request by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse to visit Mannar for the Madhu Feast on August 15.

Bishop of Mannar Rev. Rayappu Joseph told the Daily Mirror that the Prime Minister had asked him whether he could visit the Madhu Church and he had conveyed the message to the concerned parties. According to the Bishop, the parties concerned had remained silent up to date. “Therefore it is not sure whether he would attend the feast or not” he said. “The Prime Minister wanted to come as a pilgrim for the feast and there is nothing wrong with it” he added.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister’s office on Friday denied media reports that Prime Minister Rajapakse had sought permission from the LTTE to participate at the Madhu Church feast. A statement from the Premier’s office said that he had not planned a visit to the church at this moment.

Pigs are Flying in Batticaloa!by Sachi Sri Kantha

No, no, I am not asserting a new discovery which would contradict a well-certified zoological fact. The title of my commentary relates to the opinion piece of D.B.S. Jeyaraj, The Sunday Leader (Colombo)’s token Tamil pontificator, which appeared on July 24, 2005. In the imagination of Jeyaraj, pigs are indeed flying in Batticaloa, and he has seen them from Canada – of all locations. That is how one has to infer the cockamamy yarn Jeyaraj provided under the caption, "Tigers get a taste of their own bitter medicine."

D.B.S.Jeyaraj’s yarn For those who have missed reading Jeyaraj’s yarn, I reproduce the initial segment consisting of 214 words. "For the first time in many years the Tigers feel threatened and beleaguered. The organisation that revels in terrorising others particularly those of the Sri Lankan Tamil community through violence finds itself at the receiving end. In a remarkable reversal of roles a motley group of various anti-Tiger Tamil elements aided and abetted by the security and intelligence networks of the state is providing the LTTE a taste of its own bitter medicine. Naturally the Tigers are not relishing it.

The Karuna factor dismissed derisively by the Tigers and their sycophants is looming large on the eastern horizon. Karuna himself shuttles between Sri Lanka and a southeastern country where his family resides. He left Sri Lanka last on May 6. Some say he has now returned. In any case, as this column stated earlier, Karuna is now a brand name. A large number of Tiger cadres loyal to him are now in the Eastern Province and Polonnaruwa District. They are kept in different units in different locations. They are functionally autonomous but are helped and to some extent logistically supported by the security network.

Sri Lankan military intelligence provides some guidance and direction. It also exercises some amount of control and restraint. The espionage agency of at least one country has provided financial aid…." Jeyaraj is a master of ‘hide and seek’ and learnt his journalism from the Madras Hindu school of camouflage, so he would neither identify his "sources" nor mention any names. He has not a single ‘Deep Throat,’ but dozens of ‘Deep Throats’ to protect. Check again his last sentence quoted above. "The espionage agency of at least one country has provided financial aid…"

This is presented by Jeyaraj as a big finding, while every Tamil child in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya would name names. That espionage agency has an acronym - RAW - and its headquarters are in New Delhi. Relating to the issue of how defector Karuna is shuttling between Sri Lanka and an unnamed "Southeastern [Asian] country where his family resides," I have heard from a Batticaloa source who visited Batticaloa in June and July. His assessment of the ground-level situation is interesting and I would like to pass it on to readers.

Defence Analyst Iqbal Athas’s View

Before that, I also would like to present excerpts [published on the same day, July 24, 2005, in the Sunday Times] from the commentary of Colombo defence correspondent Iqbal Athas, which somehow contradicts the ‘Pigs are Flying’ yarn of Jeyaraj. Pertaining to the recent assassination of LTTE Sea Tiger leader, Dikkam, and one of his colleagues, Iqbal wrote: "Senior Army officials who spoke to The Sunday Times on grounds of anonymity insisted that neither their intelligence arm nor other personnel were involved in the attack [in Chelvanayakapuram, Trincomalee]

At least one suggested it could have been the work of the dissident Karuna faction, though the group has dwindled in numbers and had its ammunition stocks run low. Even if they were behind the attack, the source argued, the LTTE would not concede it because that would amount to giving credit and credibility to the dissident group as a formidable rival…" Then, contradicting Jeyaraj’s ‘Pigs are Flying’ tale, Iqbal described the Sri Lanka’s military establishment’s view of how the LTTE countered the loss of Sea Tiger leader Dikkam. As I have previously written in my ‘Pirabhakaran Phenomenon’ series, the LTTE leader is a master of the ‘Jimmy Malone offense,’ which I named after the Sean Connery character in ‘The Untouchables’ movie.

"…LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran ordered a stepped up campaign to eliminate personnel of all state intelligence agencies in the East. Operatives of the country’s premier intelligence organisation, the Directorate of Internal Intelligence (DII) in the east were ordered to remain indoors. Personnel of the Army’s Directorate of Military Intelligence were told they required the permission of their superiors before they ventured out to meet informants.

In a separate development, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga tasked Major General Kapila Hendavitharana, now Director General of Military Intelligence (DGMI) for a temporary foreign assignment. This came amidst reports that Tiger guerrillas had planned to eliminate him first, before they killed Lt. Col. Tuan Nizam Muthaliff. They had mounted surveillance and found that he frequented a market area on Sundays. This is where the attack was to be carried out but he had gone abroad that week, as revealed in The Sunday Times (Situation Report) of July 10.

Maj. Gen. Hendavitharana, a former Director of Military Intelligence, was attached to the Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH). His post as Director General of Military Intelligence (DGMI) is to remain suppressed until his return to Colombo. However, retired Major General Chula Seneviratne, Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) is to overlook his responsibilities. A routine Posting Order on Thursday attaching Maj. Gen. Hendavitharana to Army Headquarters had fuelled wild rumours that he had been removed from his post.

It turned out that intelligence operatives in the East were not the only targets Tiger guerrillas were pursuing…" Iqbal continued further, which rather reflects the sense of haplessness prevailing in the Sri Lankan military establishment, as opposed to the LTTE’s no-nonsense response to the activities of puppet-masters and their puppets.

"….The head of the Military Intelligence branch at the Army’s 22 Division Headquarters in Trincomalee, responsible for intelligence activity in the district, was immediately transferred to Colombo. This week, President Kumaratunga spoke to General Officer Commanding (GOC) 22 Division, Major General Sumith Balasuriya, an experienced officer, about the prevailing situation in the area and on other important matters. This came amidst a number of other steps she took in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The Sunday Times learnt she has initiated a top level inquiry to ascertain who was responsible for the Chelvanayakapuram incident. The probe which was under way in Trincomalee this week was also trying to ascertain whether "a hidden hand" was behind the string of incidents in the East including grenade throwing in order to sabotage the peace process.

Some senior military top brass have been ticked off for not being aware of what was going on under their very nose. A state run Sunday newspaper even suggested that pro Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) recruits to the Army were behind attempts to trigger hostilities…" In sum, Iqbal Athas - reporting from Colombo - has debunked the delusion of D.B.S.Jeyaraj and has inferred that ‘Pigs are not flying on the Eastern Front.’

Now, I provide my correspondent S. Sivakumaran’s field report from Batticaloa in response to my request. He visited Batticaloa in June and stayed there till mid-July. He works outside the boundaries of Sri Lanka S.Sivakumaran’s report [via e-mail] on Karuna’s current status in Batticaloa

I haven't read the D.B.S.Jeyaraj’s article, which you have mentioned. Anyway, it is not worth reading him anymore. Last February, he wrote about Karuna's ‘Second Coming’and that Batticaloa and Amparai will fall under Karuna's control by April [New Year] 2005. Yes, you had dismissed this as a "Pigs are flying story" by Jeyaraj. April has come and gone. As you had mentioned, Karuna remains a faceless phantom to date.

As for the Karuna affair, both the UNP and SLFP are playing on the same side. Remember the role played by Ali Zahir Moulana (former MP from Eravur) and his vanishing act from the scene when his link came out in the open. Ranil Wickremasinghe and the UNP have, for the moment, safely extricated themselves from the Karuna affair.

Now, Karuna is being harboured and used by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her army. Whether it is Ranil or Chandrika, the Sinhalese army remains the same. Also, the entire puppet show is being run by the Indians (UNP, SLFP, JVP - on the Sinhalese side; Karuna, Anandasangaree and other Tamil paramilitaries, on the Tamil side). This is an open secret to all in Sri Lanka. So, now the only game in town is the LTTE (Eelam Tamils) vs Indian tentacles, namely - RAW. Now, RAW has access to any place or any facility in Sri Lanka, except in LTTE-controlled areas.

Karuna cannot be (need not be) in Sri Lanka. He is only a faceless, phantom figure used by the Indians (and Sinhalese) to break- up Tamil solidarity, mainly the bond and linkage between the North and East. It was reported in July/August 2004 that Karuna’s wife had left for Malaysia with a few bags full of cash. This "bags full of cash" part of the Sinhalese media story was to stress that Karuna’s wife had gone to Malaysia with this booty. Most probably it appears that Karuna and his family have landed in India, well guarded by RAW, using Malaysia as a transit point; RAW guys have worked this in the past, for Varatharaja Perumal (EPRLF). In Malaysia, who will provide security to Karuna and his kin, around the clock? Moreover, in Malaysia, RAW cannot have Karuna under their effective control. Like how Varatharaja Perumal was kept in cold storage during the 1990s, Karuna is being kept now, in one of the North Indian states.

No, Karuna can never physically appear anywhere in Batticaloa hereafter; especially in Kiran. The presence of the LTTE is very strong in the Valaichennai, Kalkudah and Kiran areas. Also, Kiran is predominantly a LTTE support area. When Karuna was a very successful LTTE commander, he was widely respected, more so in Kiran and Batticaloa, as a son of the soil. This fame and respect for Karuna was an extension of that for the LTTE, for its efforts towards the Tamil cause. As an individual, without his LTTE connections, Karuna is a zero. Now that he has defected from the LTTE, even in Kiran his support is very suspect.

Since Batticaloa town is under the control of Sri Lankan forces, all the anti-LTTE paramilitaries (PLOTE, EPRLF, the Razeek group, ENDLF, etc) have their bases and camps in the town area, especially in Puliyam Tivu, an island surrounded by the lagoon with only three access bridges, which are well guarded by the police and army. Also, people supportive of these anti-Tamil groups and their families have moved into Batticaloa town area as it is a safe haven for them.

Thus, due to fear of reprisals from these groups, the general public that is supportive of the LTTE are not that vocal now. One does not find the movement of these anti-LTTE groups beyond the town area. So, an outsider, when entering into Batticaloa town, finds quite a handful of groups that are against the LTTE. Now that they have ‘made’ Karuna the captain of all the anti-LTTE groups, it is natural for an outsider to think that Karuna commands a lot of support in Batticaloa. These outsiders think that Batticaloa town reflects the general mood of the entire Batticaloa and Amparai districts. They are completely misled by what they see and hear in Batticaloa town.

During my vacation (June/July) I traveled quite widely in Batticaloa district and interacted with the ordinary people at various villages and spoke to my friends. A few of these friends are government servants in various departments; others are ordinary traders who sell firewood, curd, etc. I found that Karuna does not have any support among this populace. Also, what has Karuna done to the public since he left the LTTE, to command their support? Everyone knows that he has betrayed the Tamil cause and is now with the Special Task Force (STF) and Army who killed our youngsters until 2002. Since Karuna is an ex-LTTE commander, he knows fully well that he cannot come out in public - neither in Batticaloa nor in any foreign land. So Karuna will only exist in the romantic yarns penned by guys like D.B.S. Jeyaraj and B. Raman.

In Batticaloa, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission’s (SLMM) head office is located on Lake Road, a stone's throw from my house. The very next compound to this SLMM office is the camp where Razeek group personnel are being housed. Next to the SLMM's main gate there is a road barrier, manned by the Razeek group boys, with a long log across the road. This Razeek group camp compound belonged to the EPRLF-politician Sam Thambimuttu, killed in 1990.

One early morning I met Karuna's maternal uncle, (Mrs. Vinayagamoorthy’s younger brother) Mr. Kumarakuru. In the past, he was working at Valaichenai Paper Mills Corporation as a foreman, in charge of the "Weighing Bridge." During the 1980's, till I left the Paper Mills Corporation office in late 1989, he served as the President for the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (the UNP trade union). I met him around 6.00am, while he was doing his morning walk in Adidas. I was very careful with him and just inquired about the general welfare of him and his family and did not bother to ask about Karuna.

To sum up, in reality, Karuna now remains faceless except in some 'Pigs are Flying' stories.

8 August 2005

Civil groups call for day of mourning for Inuvil killing

Jaffna Civil Organizations' Consortium (JCOC) Saturday appealed to the people of Jaffna district to observe Sunday as a mourning day to coincide with the funeral of Mr.Santharoopan who was killed by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers Thursday at Inuvil, civil sources in Jaffna said.JCOC in a statement issued Saturday condemned the killing of Mr. Santharoopan and requested the Sri Lanka Government to take immediate steps to stop deploying armed soldiers in densely populated areas in Jaffna to avoid such incidents in future.

The JCOC said earlier that speeding SLA vehicles and reckless driving by SLA personnel have killed several innocent Tamil civilians. Now the SLA is starting to blatantly kill civilians in business premises raising the spectre of SLA killings with impunity during periods of war. The government should take urgent steps to stop such unwanted killing of civilians by its troops. People would resort to serious action if such killing continues unabated, the JCOC said in its statement.

Racism the cause Interfaith International (II) has said racism had been at the heart of the political problems in Sri Lanka since independence.

Dirdre McConnell of Interfaith International making a statement on the Administration of Justice, Rule of Law and Democracy to the United Nations on August 2, has said racist policies implemented on citizenship, language, education, land and other areas discriminated severely against the minorities in Sri Lanka. He has said the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provision) Act, made permanent in 1982, gave wide powers to the police to arrest and detain Tamils for a period of 18 months without being shown before a court and that this act gave a free hand to the security forces to arrest, detain, torture, rape, kill and dispose of bodies with impunity.

"Confessions obtained under torture were admissible in evidence and shifted the burden of proof to the accused. Many detainees continued to languish in jail, without charge or trial," he has said.

CID team goes to Jaffna

A special Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team headed by a Supdt. of Police, has been despatched to Jaffna on the instructions of IGP Chandra Fernando to probe into the circumstances that led to the abduction and murder of Jaffna Supdt. of Police Charles Wijewardena last week, DIG (CID) Lionel Gunatilleke told the Sunday Observer. They would investigate the death of a barber who was reportedly killed when a soldier's firearm went off accidentally inside a barber shop at Inuvil.

The soldiers involved will be questioned as to why they went inside a barber shop for a hair cut when such facilities are available at army camps. SP Wijewardena was abducted by a group of persons on Thursday evening around 5.30 p.m. at Inuvil, enraged over the killing of the barber.

His body was found two hours later in the Inuvil area. SP Wijewardena had gone to Inuvil that day to restore peace when angry mobs were demonstrating and burning tyres on the road.

JVP keeps options open on Mahinda
The JVP is weighing the option of fielding a candidate at the forthcoming presidential election and has not ruled out this possibility, well informed sources said. According to these sources the party was also exploring the possibility of fielding a common candidate. In that case, the candidate would be a non-party member. But their first choice is Premier Mahinda Rajapakse, who recently won the SLFP/PA candidacy, but the JVP has indicated that it would keep its options open until it reached a workable agreement with Rajapakse.

The JVP says the SLFP/PA should not expect their support unless the two parties reached consensus on the national issue. The party has ruled out its backing to continue with the Oslo-managed peace process as it is. About a week after quitting the ruling coalition on June 16 in protest over the P-TOMS, the JVP urged Rajapakse to reveal his stand on the controversial tsunami aid sharing deal with the LTTE.

The JVP vehemently opposes what a senior member termed as successive governments appeasement policy towards the LTTE. It claims the two main contenders for the presidency are taking a similar stand on the peace process. Political sources said that this was part of the JVP’s strategy aimed at coercing Rajapakse to take a stand different to President Chandrika Kumaratunga. She has pledged to go ahead with the P-TOMS agreement and is also on record saying the deal would facilitate the resumption of the peace process suspended in April 2003.

Certain interested parties supporting the peace process are also wooing Rajapakse. They want him to echo Kumaratunga now pushing hard to get the peace process back on track.

Political sources said that Rajapakse was trying to avoid controversies and disputes.

Rajapakse’s office said that there was no truth in claims that Premier Rajapakse wanted to have the presidential election in November this year. Disputing our front page story "Rajapakse camp wants poll this year", his Press Secretary Chandrapala Liyanage said that the premier did not wish to have presidential election this year. He emphasised that SLFP/PA and the government were united in the position that the presidential election should be held next year. Liyanage also said that there was no truth in speculation that premier sought approval from the LTTE to visit Madhu. His office said that there was a conspiracy against the premier and accused some political parties and a section of the media of carrying out a campaign to undermine him.

SLFP divided over Rajapakse's links with JVP

Senior Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members are to pressurise President Chandrika Kumaratunga to summon a meeting of the members to find out whether presidential candidate and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse should be allowed to align with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), SLFP sources said.

They said though they prefer Rajapakse linking with the JVP for the sake of winning the presidential election, they would not like to see an erosion of the policies of the SLFP as a result of joining with the Marxists. Justice Minister John Seneviratne told The Sunday Leader, whatever alignment there may be between the presidential candidate and the Marxists, nothing should affect the SLFP's image.

He said the presidential candidate should not sacrifice SLFP policies in the process of his alignment with the JVP.

Deputy Minister in hot water

The Up-country People's Front (UPF) along with Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) and Western Province People's Front (WPPF) last Friday called on all those "who are affectionate to and interested in the welfare of up-country Indian origin people" to join hands in the demonstration scheduled to be held tomorrow in Colombo opposing and condemning the utterances of the Deputy Minister Mervin Silva, which, those parties claim, have severely hurt the feelings of all Sri Lankans.

In a press conference held last Friday leader of the UPF P. Chandrasekaran said that all up-country parties, despite their political differences, had agreed to show their opposition vehemently. He vowed that they could no longer tolerate such an insult made upon the whole community whom his party represents and would continuously display their opposition until an appropriate action was taken.

CWC's Colombo district coordinator R. Yogarajan, Provincial Council member of WPPF Prakash Ganeshan, UPF parliamentarian P. Rathakrushnan and UNP parliamentarian M. Maheshwaran were also present at the meeting.

Police faulted over favoured treatment to Mervyn’s son
Police headquarters’ decision to grant police bail to Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva’s son, Malaka, and two others, including an ex-sailor, accused of obstructing plainclothesmen raiding "My Kind of Place" at the Taj Samudra on a court order is coming under scrutiny of the Attorney General’s Department and the Fort Magistrate’s court.

Magistrate Sarath C. Karunaratne on Friday rapped the Fort police for releasing the suspects accused of being armed and abusive towards the raiding party. Karunaratne emphasised that the suspects should not have been released without being produced in court. The suspects surrendered to police after the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) complained to the Fort police of the obstruction during the raid authorised by the Fort Magistrate on the Taj nightclub around midnight on July 23. The plainclothesmen had been on the trail of a person allegedly selling ‘ecstasy’ pills at Colombo nightclubs, including the one raided.

IGP Chandra Fernando and Excise Chief Parakkrama Ekanayake Bandara ordered action against five star hotels, nightclubs and karoke bars following the killing of fashion designer student Yvonne Johansson on the 19th floor of the luxury Royal Park housing complex on July 1. The Sunday Island learns that the Fort police was to produce them in court on Monday. Well informed sources said that the officers investigating the incident planned to produce them before Fort Magistrate Sarath C. Karunaratne. The Colombo police on July 24 announced their decision only to be vetoed by IGP Chandra Fernando a few hours later.

Fort police acted on the directive from above when the suspects accompanied by lawyer Lakshman Ranasinghe appeared at the police station. Fernando whose anti-crime drive, particularly the crackdown on the underworld won public acclaim surprised his officers by publicly disputing the PNB complaint.

"What they did was serious. They pulled revolvers on police officers," a police officer said. "We were not allowed to do our job," he said while appreciating the stand taken by the court. The Fort Magistrate Friday directed police to obtain the Attorney General’s Department view before the case comes up before him on August 18. It was of the opinion that this was a clear case of obstruction. Well informed sources said that the department was expected to endorse the original course of action against the suspects intended by Fort police.

No funds for new vehicles

The lack of funds in the Treasury has resulted in a delay in providing vehicles for the 65 new members of parliament elected to the 13th parliament.

The Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, which currently runs sans a mMinister, is unable to fulfil the demands of the MPs due to the shortage of funds and the absence of a decision maker, Ministry sources revealed. Sources further revealed that despite the necessary documents being forwarded to the Treasury last year, requesting for funds in order to provide the newly elected MPs with vehicles, the matter had been postponed to this year. However, this year the Ministry said that although cabinet has been informed, the Treasury maintains that it is unable to provide the monies due to a shortage of funds.

"Earlier a proposal was forwarded requesting for a vehicle bonanza for all the 225 MPs.

However, due to the lack of funds, the Finance Minster's orders were to provide the 65 newly elected MPs with vehicles. But the Ministry was unable to carry out even this due to the severe shortage of funds," Ministry sources said.

Meanwhile chaos has erupted within the Ministry following the removal of Minister Milroy Fernando from his post as the parliamentary affairs minister. Sources say that the functions of the Ministry have come to a standstill due to the absence of a decision maker and according to the constitution, President Kumaratunga is now the parliamentary affairs minister, but the President has failed to administer the Ministry till date.

The Ministry Secretary, M. E. Kuruppu has also been transferred to another Ministry, it is learnt.

Child soldiers – a war crime: LTTE faces prosecution before ICC(Sunday Times)

NEW YORK -- The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), which has been closely monitoring the growing recruitment of child soldiers by the LTTE, wants the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute rebel leaders and armed groups that abuse children.

But ICC action -- including a declaration labelling rebel leaders as war criminals -- can be initiated only by the UN Security Council or alternatively triggered by a member state that is a party to the Rome Statute that created the criminal court.

"Sri Lanka cannot initiate action against the LTTE because it is not a party to the ICC treaty since it has neither signed nor ratified it," a UN official told the Sunday Times.

"If, however, it decides to ratify the treaty, the government can take the LTTE all the way to the criminal court in the Hague, for all the illegal actions that the Tigers commit in the post-ratification period." he said.

Asked why Sri Lanka is refusing to sign and ratify the treaty, a knowledgeable source said it was obvious that the ICC could cut both ways: even government leaders accused of war crimes could be hauled before the same court.

A delegation from the New York-based Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) was in Sri Lanka recently to convince the government to sign and ratify the treaty.

The 15-member UN Security Council, which refused to impose sanctions and travel bans on recruiters of child soldiers, adopted a tame resolution last month setting up only a monitoring mechanism.

"The Security Council must make good on its promises to take 'measures' against parties that continue to recruit and use children as soldiers by imposing targeted sanctions, such as arms embargoes and travel bans on their leaders," Julia Freedson of the 'Watch List on Children and Armed Conflict' told the Sunday Times.

In 2003, Uganda's President Yoweri Museweni referred the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group notorious for recruiting child soldiers, to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

Last year, the ICC determined that there is sufficient basis to start an investigation against the rebel group. In a move to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the UN, the LTTE wrote two letters to Olara Otunnu, the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, seeking to establish a dialogue with him.

At a news conference last month, Mr. Otunnu said that when 54 parties were identified as child recruiters on the "list of shame", he recalled that the first rebel group to get in touch with him was the LTTE.

"They indicated their concern about being placed on the list and wanted to engage in a dialogue to address the issue," he told reporters. But Mr. Otunnu cold-shouldered the request -- primarily because the LTTE has broken virtually all of its pledges to stop recruiting children.With Mr. Otunnu's term of office having come to an end on July 31, he has been temporarily replaced by, Karin Sham Poo, one of the highest ranking Norwegians in the UN system, who until recently was a deputy executive director of UNICEF. Since Norway has been brokering a peace deal and going soft on the Tigers, the LTTE may try to get a toe hold in the UN by making a third attempt at sending a delegation to New York.

Although the LTTE is banned in the United States, one of the LTTE leaders has already given an assurance to the UN that it is expected to receive a "special visa" to enter the US.

The new resolution adopted last month could also provide the LTTE with a backdoor entrance to the Security Council, although successive Sri Lankan governments have refused to "internationalise" a primarily domestic issue. India, for example, has succeeded in keeping its Kashmir problem out of the Security Council chamber for a similar reason.

If and when the Security Council decides to impose targeted sanctions on rebel groups such as the LTTE, there is also a proposal to exempt rebel leaders from the travel ban, particularly if they are involved in peace negotiations. So the bottom line would be that the Tigers will still be able to roam Oslo, London and New York -- travel ban or no travel ban.

Known and unknown facets of Sivaram and our society
Three months since journalist D. Sivaram’s passing is good a time as any to set the record straight about some matters connected to his passing. While those who want to mourn his death are doing so in a free country, there are others who have taken on his memory in a comic posthumous challenge. To get to the point, various jack-in-the box commentators have launched an attack on Sivaram after his death, and gone to the extent of castigating those who have in various ways decried his cold-blooded assassination.

The intention here is not to launch a return attack on these various hacks and assorted merchants of bile, but to place the events connected to Sivram’s death against the social backcloth of our times. Sivaram’s death makes it clear that even those who do not agree with the LTTE are not spared the venom of the Sinhala lunatic fringe. Dayan Jayatilleke for instance, is one among five of the severest critics of the LTTE in recent times. So is Gamini Weerakoon, who contributed a piece to the Sunday newspaper titled “Sivaran was a charismatic man.’’

But, Jayatilleke was later attacked in the public space for his condemnation of Sivaram’s murder. Gamini Weerakoon may not have been attacked by name for all of the nice things he said about Sivaram -- but he easily fell into the category of the Sinhalese who were taken to task for publicly lamenting the death of a friend or a colleague.Perhaps Weerakoon was not named in the attacks, because the commentators would rather wish away the fact that a staunch and vehement anti LTTer -- a fellow traveller --could also mourn the death of someone who was labelled a Tiger propagandist , Prabhakaran’s Goebbels, as they called him.

They couldn’t believe what they were hearing! It was something like a second tsunami hitting them -- Gamini Weerakoon, a man who publicly condemned the Tigers on a daily basis was also saying now that Sivaram was a charismatic man. In their state of sheer unbelief, they swept the whole unpleasant fact of his comment under the carpet, and pretended that Gamini Weerakoon’s appreciative obituary on Siva simply did not happen.

So what have the brave guys who called for the heads all of those who lamented Siva’s death got to say about consistent Tiger attacker Weerakoon praising Sivaram? That Weerakoon has had a momentary lapse of judgment? Or that he should be disowned by the Sinhalese for this one salute to a Tiger propagandist -- no matter that he has offered a staple diet of anti Tiger writings since from almost longer than we can remember?

Dear bravehearts, is it that difficult to come out of the woodwork, and say something for yourself on this and other inconvenient facts concerning Sivaram’s passing and the events associated with it?? So it is that Sivaram’s death and the events associated with it say something about the hilariously confused times we live in. Seems even if you don’t lie with the lunatics you invariably wake up with some of them clinging onto your sarong or pajama these days. It gives the lie to the Marx’s old line: sleep with the dogs, and you wake up with the fleas?

The general line of argument among those who saw something evil in lamenting Siva’s assassination was that he was a Tiger propagandist, who would have therefore also been a LTTE intelligence operative in Colombo.

About the latter surmise, there isn’t a shred of evidence.
This proves the fact that those who seek to hang his corpse from six feet under, are not quite sure of the fact that they can hang him for his journalism alone. So, what if they can’t quite convince themselves that he cannot be condemned for what he wrote? Do the next best thing -- invent a lie that he was the LTTE’s chief spy!

The fact is that even if he was the LTTE’s chief spy in Colombo, we don’t know it -- and it’s a rare kind of species that seeks to attack a dead man for what’s not known about him.

The fact is that legally, and morally, there is only one real charge that can be brought against Sivaram by any grandstander for the Sinhala south -- which is that his journalism was an apology for what the Liberation Tigers did.

On the same count, the British should in that event murder John Pilger, Harold Pinter and Tariq Ali. These are all people who condemned Tony Blair’s invasion of Iraq, and who went to the extent of saying that terrorism against the British was a backlash against British policy in Iraq and the Middle East in general. They were in other words, apologists for terrorism as Siva is accused of being one in our context.

But, Pinter and Pilger and Ali still walk as free men in London. They are not just free, they are celebrated critics of the Blain administration. Some say there are new laws that may prosecute them, but even if these guys fall within the ambit of such laws, they are only going to be prosecuted in the courts of law, not murdered and left for dead on the grass.

This is not to look upto Britain and say its the only tolerant society we know -- but its just to take on the moral bankruptcy of the moron mafia here which says that it was a good thing Siva was bumped off because his journalism was good for the Tigers.By bumping him off, or at least condoning the fact that he was bumped off, those elements of the Sinhala south which say so are in fact playing straight into the hands of the Tigers, giving them enough room to say that Sri Lankan society has no room for dissenting opinion.

That fact -- that its an own goal when the south cheers Siva’s murder - - should be basic as ABC even to the most dense blockhead on the block, but when we talk of the Lankan fringe -- we are talking of those who are unremittingly beyond the pale. You have to be denser than a blockhead to belong in that particular league, but there is some fun, in watching these guys choke on their own venom…

The other thing that was said about the Sivaram killing was that those who issued statements about his passing did not say anything about Major Muthalif’s murder.

Concerning some gentlemen, this may be true. They went out of their way to condemn Sivaram’s killing, but kept a studied silence when Muthalif was taken out. That’s hypocrisy, and there is no gainsaying it.
But, for most others, Muthalif’s killing was something to be condemned, and they did condemn it in the same way that they condemned Sivarams death.

Jayatilleke, Weerakoon and myself all condemned the Muthalif killing, and there are the archived newspapers to prove that fact. If we wrote more words about Sivaram and less about Muthalif however, that’s just by accident of fact that we knew Sivaram personally, while we did not know Muthalif as a friend or a colleague. Can a writer be condemned for having personal knowledge of one dead man’s life and not the others’??

Lastly, there was one queer who said that Sivaram would have respected his murders more than his mourners because his mourners did not have the courage to agree with him -- but were only liberally tolerant of his views.

Does a man respect the guys who abduct him in the dead of night when he is unarmed – gag him – and shoot him dead and leave him lying in a thicket like a dead dog? I don’t know about that, but pity Sivaram is not around to ask him!

REMEMBERING HIROSHIMA

Japan has marked the 60th anniversary of the dropping of the A-bomb on Hiroshima.Some 140,000 people were killed after a US B-29 bomber - the Enola Gay - dropped the first device of its kind on the city. he attack, on August 6, 1945, caused devastation to the city. Three days later another atom bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Six days after that, Japan surrendered, bringing the Second World War to an end. Survivors, families of victims and dignitaries including Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi have been marking the anniversary.

They assembled at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima near the spot where the bomb detonated.At 8.15am Japanese time - the exact time that the bomb was dropped - a minute's silence was observed.A thousand doves were released into the air as a symbol of peace.The commemoration came as countries including Japan continue to try to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons.

Iran is also thought to be trying to build a nuclear arsenal - although its leaders deny this.
The bomb's mushroom cloud over Hiroshima

Hiroshima mayor Tadatoshi Akiba said in a speech that countries - including the UK - that have such weapons were "jeopardising human survival".Yohei Kono, speaker of parliament's lower house, said the anniversary should serve as a reminder for Japan not to return to militarism. The dropping of the atom bombs remains controversial to this day. Defenders argue that more than a million Japanese civilians would have perished had the US been forced to launch a land invasion. But others say Japan's economy was on the verge of collapse and that sections of the leadership were already in surrender talks with the Soviet Union.

COOK DIES AFTER COLLAPSE

The former foreign secretary Robin Cook has died from a heart attack at the age of 59.The Labour MP was mountain walking with his wife and friends along Ben Stack in the Highlands when he collapsed. Mr Cook was taken by air ambulance from the mountain, near Thurso, to a hospital in Inverness at around 2.30pm. He was with his second wife, Gaynor, when he suffered the heart attack near the summit of the mountain. It is thought they had to ask other walkers to dial 999 for help as they had no means of communication themselves.

Mr Cook, MP for Livingston since 1983, is thought to have been conscious when he was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, but was pronounced dead at 4.05pm. Leading the warm and respectful tributes was the Prime Minister, who had a political battle with Mr Cook over the Iraq war.

Tony Blair said: "Robin was an outstanding, extraordinary talent - brilliant, incisive in debate, of incredible skill and persuasive power." The Chancellor Gordon Brown, of whom Mr Cook was a keen supporter, said: "He will be mourned greatly not only by his family, friends, colleagues and constituents, but in every continent of the world." In March 2003, Mr Cook made an impassioned and emotional speech in resigning from the Government after disagreeing strongly with the war on Iraq.

But that did not lessen the esteem in which fellow politicians and Labour members held him.

Former Number 10 communications director Alistair Campbell said: "He showed at the time that it was possible to have a principled and honourable disagreement without it becoming overly personal or overly nasty." In 1997, he divorced first wife Margaret after starting a relationship with his former Foreign Office secretary Gaynor Regan, whom he married in 1998.

He leaves behind a wife and two children from his first marriage.

SHEIKH BIN LADEN SAHEB, WHERE ARE YOU?

(Source SAAG)by B.Raman
Dear Sheikh Saheb,
You have not so far responded to my letter of May 10, appealing to you to give sign of life by sending a message through Al Jazeera.

2. I did receive an E-mail message from someone, who claimed to be writing on your behalf, saying: "The Sheikh is alive and well. Allah is great!".

3. I wrote back to him:" I don't know how to react to your letter. If I said "I am glad the Sheikh is alive and well", the CIA will target me. If I said"what a pity, the Sheikh is still alive and well", you will target me. So I keep quiet."

4. I never ceased looking for signs of you. From Al Jazeera, whose ratings are kept high by you, from the Mullas of Pakistan, who hold you in great esteem, from Gen.Pervez Musharraf, who looks upon you as his greatest strategic asset after his atom bomb and the Al Qaeda watchers, who have replaced the nuclear experts of yesterday as the most well-paid and affluent analysts of today.

5. After the London explosions of July 7 and 21, I told myself, the Sheikh Saheb will surely speak now. Has he not personally reacted after every major jihadi terrorist strike in the world, whether it was carried out by his boys of the Al Qaeda or by some other Muslim martyr?

6. Did you not send a detailed message on April 14 last year a month after the Madrid blasts, making an offer of reconciliation to the Western powers and a three-month truce to enable them to withdraw their troops from Iraq?

7. The London explosions coincided with the first anniversary of the expiry of the truce period. Why did your boys take so long to hit back at the West, I wondered.

8.The Sheikh, who has not spoken for over nine months, will definitely speak now, I told myself. He will draw the attention of the West to his offer of reconciliation after the Madrid blasts and point out the consequences of the West failing to respond to him.

9. I kept my eyes and ears glued on the Al Jazeera.

10. The statement on the London explosions telling the West of the consequences of their ignoring your offer came, but not from you, but from Dr.Ayman al-Zawahiri?

11. Oh, my dear Sheikh, why did you fail to react? Why did you leave it to Dr.Zawahiri? You know he doesn't have the same charismatic appeal in the Ummah as you have. You know nobody in the Ummah takes him seriously.

12. He has already spoken thrice this year, but you have not spoken even once. What has happened? What has gone wrong with you? Are you again incapacitated in your speech as you were when you were undergoing medical treatment in the Binori madrasa of Karachi before August , 2002? Are you dead? Or, worse still, have you been marginalised or overthrown by al-Zawahiri?

13.Sheikh Saheb, please say something. Send a message to the Al Jazeera at least on the death of King Fahd. Otherwise, many of us---at least I--- might start thinking you are dead. Not good for you, but good for President Bush.

14. Don't ask that stupid follower of yours to send me another message that you are alive and well. I won't believe him.

15. By the way, why is al-Zawahiri's beard looking much greyer now than it was in June? Has Musharraf stopped supplying hair-dye?

Anxiously awaiting your reply,

Yours sincerely,

B.Raman
To

Sheikh Osama bin Laden,

C/O Gen.Pervez Musharraf,

President and Chief of the Army Staff,

Islamabad.

7 August 2005
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7 August 2005

Rje;jpuj;Jf;Fg; gpd; ,Ug;gpoee;j <oj;jkpou;fspd; tuyhWfs;(source-Eelanadu)

1948 Mk; Mz;L ,yq;if me;epa Ml;rpapypUe;J tpL jiy ngw;wjhff; nfhs;fpd; Nwhk;. me;j tpLjiy epfo;it xt;nthU Mz;Lk; epidT $u;e;Jk; tUfpNwhk;. Mdhy; ,e;j tpL jiyf;fhf ,yq;if Ml;rpahsu;fs; Nghuhbdhu; fsh...? Nghuhl;l tpisnt Dk; tpUl;rj;jpy; kyu;e;jJ jhd; ,e;j tpLjiyah? .... my;yJ ,e;jpau;fs; Nkw; nfhz;ljpahfg; Nghuhl;lq; fshy; ,yq;ifAk; tpLtpf; fg;gl;ljh?... mg;gbahdhy; ,e;j tpLjiyiaf; nfhz; lhl ,yq;ifaUf;Fj; jFjp Az;lh?.... ,itaay;yhk; xU Gwr; ru;r;irahf murpay; vDk; me;juq;fj;jpy; xypj;Jf; nfhz;L ,Uf;fpwJ. ,J xU GwkpUf;f> Rje;jpukile;j gpd; jkpod; xLf;fg;gl;l tu yhWfisr; rw;Wg; Gul;bg; ghu;g;Nghk; -

1948 Mk; Mz;by; Vw; gl;l ,yq;ifapd; Rje;jpukh dJ - rpWghd;ikj; jkpopdj; jpd; Rje;jpuj;Jf;F Kw;Wg; Gs;sp itj;jJ. gy Njrpa ,dq; fs; ,Uf;Fk; ehl;by;> ngUk; ghd;ik ,dk; ehlhS kd; wj;ij Mo;tJk;> rpWghd;ik apdk; eRf;fg;gLtJk; gy;NtW ehl;LtuyhWfs; czu;j; Jk; cz;ikahFk;. Mdhy; cyf ehLfspd; njhlu;Gfs; Fiwe;j me;jf; fhyg;gFjpapy; tho;e;j jkpou;fSf;F ,e;j tuyhw;W cz;ikfs; njspT ngWk; re; ju;g;gk; ,Uf;ftpy;iy. ,yq;if apYk; ehlhSkd;w Kiw mwp Kfg;gLj;jg;gl;l Ntis> ,yq;if jkpo; kf;fs; murpay; mDgtNkh> mwpNth ,y; yhJ ,Ue;jdu;.

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1952 Mk; Mz;by; eil ngw;w Nju;jypy; 1948 Mk; Mz;by; ,Ue;jij tpl> 7 ehlhSkd;w Mrdq;fisf; Fiwthfj; jkpou;fs; ngw;whu; fs;. mj;NjhL ,e;jf; FbAup ikr; rl;lj;jpd; %yk;> thf; fhsu; njhif Fiwf;fg;gl;l jhy; 14 njhFjpfspy; jkJ Kd;ida gyj;ijAk; jkpou; fs; ,of;f Neu;e;jJ. ,jd;gpd; jhd; ehlhSkd;wj;jpy; mq;fk; tfpj;j jkpou;fs; - murhy; cU thf;fg;gLk; ve;jr; rl;lj;ij Ak; jLf;Fk; rf;jpia ,oe;J tpl; Nlhk; vd;gij czu;e;jdu;.

czu;e;j NghJk;> jkpo;j; jiytu;fs; midtUk; xU Kfkhf rpe;jpf;Fk; Nghf;F ,Uf;f tpy;iy. ,e;jf; fzg;nghO jpy; jhd; jkpou;fs; Raepu;za cupik ngw;W> rkj;Jtkhd gpui[fshf kjpf;fg;gl Ntz;Lnkdpy;> jd;dhl;rp KiwNa jkpou;fSf;F Vw;wJ vd v];.N[.tp. nry;tehafk; miw$ty; tpLj;jhu;. ,jd; mbg;gilapy; jhd; 1949 Mk; Mz;L jkpouRf; fl;rpia ,tu; Muk;gpj;jhu;. xU rk\;b muir epWTtjd; %yNk jkp ou;fs; ,oe;j cupikia kPl; nlLf;fyhk; vd ,e;jf; fl;rp KbntLj;jJ. ,e;jf; fhyj; jpy; ,tuJ fUj;Jf;F Ku zhf rpq;fs muir ek;gp> kbg;gpr;ir Ntz;Lk; jkpo;j; jiytu;fs; md;Wk; ,Ue;j du;. ,jdhy; ,tuJ nfhs; ifia kf;fs; kj;jpapy; gug;G tjw;fhf ,tu; fbdkhf ciof;f Ntz;bNaw;wgl;lJ.

,e;j epiyapy; 1956 Mk; Mz;by; v];.lgps;A+. Mu;. b. gz;lhu ehaf;ftpd; jiyik apy; ,Ue;j murhq;fk; - rpq;f sk; kl;Lk; murfUk nkhop vd;w rl;lj;ij epiwNtw;wpaJ. njhlu;e;J FbNaw;wj; jpl; lq;fs; vd;fpd;w ngaupy;> jkp ou;fsJ ghuk;gupa epyq;fs; gwpNghdJ. rpq;fs kakhf; fy; nraw;jpl;lq;fs; ntw;wp fz;ld. ,jidf; fz;L nghWf; fhj jkpo;j; jiytu;fs; jk; khy; ,aYkhd topfspnyy; yhk; fLikahf cioj;jdu; jkp ou;fspd; ,iwikiaf;fhf;f.

,e;j ciog;G 1958 Mk; Mz;by; Ngr;Rthu;j;ijfs;> cld;gbf;iffs;> cz;zhtpu jg; Nghuhl;lq;fs; rj;jpahf; fpufq;fs; vdg; gy gupkhzq; fs; ngw;wd. Mdhy; ,it vJ Tk; jkpou;fSf;Fr; rhjfkhd gjpiyj; jutpy;iy. khwhf jkp ou;fis xLf;Ftjw;fhd fhy ePbg;igNa rpq;fs Ngupd thjj; Jf;F Njbf; nfhLj;jJ.

apjkpou;fis gytPdg; gLj;j fhy ePbg;ig rpq; fstu;fSf;F Vw;gLj;jpa re;ju;g;gq;fs;.

1. 1958 Mk; Mz;L [_iy 26 Mk; jpfjp gpujkuhf ,Ue;j v];.lgps;A+.Mu;.b gz;lhu ehaf;fhTf;Fk;> jkpouRf; fl; rpj; jiytuhd nry;tehafj; Jf;Fk; ,ilapyhd xg;ge;j nkhd;W ifr;rhj;jplg;gl; lJ. ,JNt gz;lh - nry;th xg;ge;jkhFk;.

,jd;gb jkpo;nkhop - rpWghd;ikapdupd; nkhop vd mq;fPfupf;fg;gl;L> tlf;F - fpof;F khfhz epu;thfj;jpy; jkpopd; cgNahfj;Jf;F ,l kspf;fg;glNtz;Lk;vd;Wk;> gpuNjrrigfs; mikf;fg; gl;L mtw;wpd; nghWg;gpy; jkpoupd; mj;jpahtrpa nraw; ghLfs; tplg;gl Ntz;Lk; > Ntiyahl;fis mku;j;jy;> tup tR+ypj;jy;> fld; Nghd;w vy;yhtw;Wf;Fk; gpuNjr rig fNs nghWg;G vdf; $wg;gl; lJ. ,e;j xg;ge;jk; - mg; NghJ ,Ue;j gpf;Fkhu;fspdJk;> vjpu;f;fl;rpapdJk; fLk; vjpu;g; ghy; iftplg;gl;lJ.

2. 1960 Mk; Mz;by; rpwp khNth gz;lhuehaf;fh Nju;jypy; ngUk;ghd;ikg; gyk; Ntz;Lnkd;gjw;fhf> ,uz;L fl;rpfis jd;trkpOg; gjw;fhf jkpouRf; fl;rpAl Dk;> yq;fh rkrkhrf; fl;rpAl Dk; xg;ge;jnkhd;iwf; ifr; rhj;jpl;lhu;. Mdhy; ,J tpl ak; Kbe;jJk; iftplg;gl; lJ.

3. 1965 Mk; Mz;L khu;r; 24 Mk; jpfjp mg;NghJ ,Ue;j gpujkuhd ll;yp Nrdehaf; fhTf;Fk;> v];.N[.tp. nry;t ehafj;Jf;Fk; ,ilapy; tlf; F - fpof;Fg; gFjpfSf;fhd epu;thf mjpfhuk; njhlu; ghd xg;ge;jnkhd;W ifr;rhj; jplg;gl;lJ. ,JTk; ngsj;j FUkhu;fshYk; > rpq;fs ,d thjpfspd; vjpu;g;ghYk; gpd; du; iftplg;gl;lJ.

4. 1983 > 1984 Mk; Mz;L fspy; ,yq;ifapd; ,dg;gpur; rpidiaj; jPu;g;gJ rk;ge;j khd khehLfs; ,lk; ngw; wd. ,itAk; ve;jtpj KbT fSk; ,d;wp Kbtile;jd.

5. 1985 Mk; Mz;by; jkpo; FOf;fshd TULF , LTTE, EROS, PLOTE, EPRLF, TELO Nghd;w tu;fSk; > ,yq;ifaurpd; gpujp epjpfSk; G+l;lhd; jiyef uhd jpk;Gtpy; khehL xd; iwf; $l;b gpd; tUk; MNyhr idfis Kd;itj;jdu;.

\;1.jkpou;fs; xU Njrpa ,d nkd mq;fPfupf;f Ntz;Lk;.

\;2.jkpou; jhafk; mq;fPfupf; fg;gl Ntz;Lk;.

\;3.jkpou;fsJ Raepu;za cup ikfs; mq;fPfupf;fg;gl Ntz; Lk;.

\;4.vy;yhj;jkpou;fsJ FbAup ikfSk;> mbg;gilAupikf Sk; Ngzg;glNtz;Lk;.

6) ,jd; gpd; 1987Mk; Mz;L [_iy 26 Mk; jpfjp ,yq;if muRk; - ,e;jpa muRk; nra;J nfhz;l xg;ge;jj;jpd; mbg;gilapy; (N[.Mu;. - uh[Pt; cld;gbf;if) ,e;jpag; gilfs;> rkhjhdg; gilfs; vd;fpd;w ngau; Fj;jp te;jpwq; fpaJ. mikjpg;gil - Mf;Nuhrg; gilahfp jkpou;fisAk;> jkp ou;fspd; clikfisAk; mopj;J tpl;L> 1990 Mk; Mz;L khu;r; khjk; ,e;jpah jpUk;gpaJ.

7. 1989 Mk; Mz;L nrg; nuk;gu; 13 Mk; jpfjp gpNuk jhrhthy; tpLjiyg; Gypfs; jtpu;e;j 21 fl;rpfis xUq;fp izj;J ru;tfl;rp khehL xd;iw Muk;gpj;jhu;. ,jpy; 69 gpujpepjpfs; fye;J nfhz;l du;. ,J gy tUlq;fs; ,Oj; jbf;fg;gl;L> ve;jtpj KbT kpd;wp Gwe;js;sg;gl;lJ.

8. 1993 Mk; Mz;by; gpNuk jhrh ,wf;f> gjtpf;F te;j tp[ aJq;f jkpou;fSf;Ff; nfhLf; fg;gl Ntz;ba cupikfs; vy;yhk; nfhLf;fg;gl;L tpl; lJ> tpLjiyg; Gypfs; xU gaq;futhjg; NghiuNa Nkw; nfhz;L tUfpd;wdu;> ,tu; fis ,uhZtg; gyk; nfhz;L mopj;jhy;> jkpoupd; gpur;rpid jPu;f;fg;gLk; vdf;$wp %u;f; fj;jdkhfr; nraw;gl Kide; jhu;.

,jidj; njhlu;e;J 1994 Mk; Mz;by; rkhjhdj;ij Vw;gLj;Jtjhff; $wp> mjpfh uj;ijf; ifg;gw;wpaJ nghJ [d If;fpa Kd;dzpapd; re;jp upfh murhq;fk;. ,e;j murhq; fk; Ml;rpiaf; ifg;gw;wp 6 khj fhyk; tiu tpLjiyg; Gyp fSf;Fk;> muRf;Fk; ,ilapy; fbjj; njhlu;G ,lk;ngw; wJ. ,t;thwhf 70 fbjq;fs; tiu gupkhwg;gl;ld. Mdhy; ,J Kuz;ghl;ilr; rw;W tsu;f;f Muk;gpj;jJk;> 5 Mk; fl;lg; Ngr;Rthu;j;ijfs; ,lk; ngw;wd. Mdhy; ,JTk; Kd;G NghyNt mu;j;jkw;witahf Ngr;R kz;lgj;Jf;Fs;NsNa klf;fg;gl;Lk;> Kwpf;fg;gl;Lk; tpl;lJ. Vd; Kwpe;jJ? vg;gb Kwpe;jJ? ,ij mur jug;G mwptpf;ff; $l kWj;J tpl;lJ. ,jdhy; jhd; tpLjiyg; Gypfs; kj;jpa];jkpd;wp ,dptUk; fhyq; fspy; Ngr;irj; njhlug;Nght jpy;iy vd KbntLj;jdu;.

2001 Mk; Mz;L uzpy; jiy ikapyhd If;fpa Njrpaf; fl;rpauR Ml;rpf;F te;jJ. ehl; bd; rkhjhd mbg;gilfisf; fl;baaOg;Gtjw;fhf 2002 Mk; Mz;L Vg;uy; jkpoPo tpL jiyg; GypfSf;Fk;> uzpy; murhq;fj;Jf;Fk; ,ilapy; Gupe;Jzu;T xg;ge;jk; ifr;rhj; jplg;gl;lJ. ,ijj; njhlu;e;J Nehu;Nt ehl;L kj;jpa];jj; NjhL Ngr;Rfs; Muk;gpf;fg; gl;ld.

,jd; gpd; rkhjhd efu;Tfisg; nghWf; fhj muR - jdJ [dhjpgjp mjpfhuj;ij Ak;> N[.tp.gpapdJ mOj;jj;ijAk; gad; gLj;jp uzpy; murhq;fj;jplk; ,Ue;j %d;W mikr;RfisAk; ifg;gw;wp> If;fpa Njrpaf; fl;rp muirf; ftpo;j;jJ. ,jd; gpd; Vw; gl;l gy ru;tNjr mOj;jq;fshYk;> Ml;rp iaj; njhlu;e;J jf;fitf;f Ntz;Lk; vd; gjw;fhfTk; Rdhkp mdu;j;j nghJf; fl;l ikg;gpy; ifr;rhj;jpl;lJ.

jw;Nghija muR ,dp vd;d nra;ag; NghfpwJ? vg;gbg;gl;l murpay; gpujptpk; gq;fs; cUthfg; NghfpwJ vd;gJ xU GwkpUf;f> rpy Kf;fpa tuyhw;W ,ilak; rq;fs; gw;wp Nehf;FNthk; -

Nghuhl;l Muk;gj;Jf;fhd mbg;gilfs;

,oe;j vkJ jhafj;ijg; Nghuhb kPl;gJjhd; top vd;fpd;w ,e;j KbT> jpB nud vLf;fg;gl;lKbNth> gpd;G ngha;g; gpf;ff; $ba KbNth my;y. frg;ghd mDg tq;fs;> ghupa ,og;Gfs;> njhlu;r;rpahd Vkhw;wq;fs;> mur gaq;futhjg; Nghf;Ffs; Nghd;wtw;why; vLf;fg;gl;l KbTjhd; ,J. me;j tifapy; ,e;jg; Nghuhl;l Muk; gj;Jf;F mbg;gilahf ,Ue;j jkpo; khz tu;fspd; fy;tpj; jilfs; gw;wp Nehf;F Nthk;.

fy;tpapy; xLf;F Kiwfs;

1960 Mk; Mz;L tiu ,yq;ifapypUe;j ghlrhiyfs; ngUk;ghYk; ,e;J> ngsj;j> fpwp];jt mikg;Gfspd; Nkw;ghu;itapNy jhd; ,aq;fp te;jJ. 1960 ,Yk; 1961 ,Yk; ngUk; ghyhd ghlrhiyfs; Njrpa ka khf;fg;gl;ld. ,jidj; njhlu;e;J ghl tpjhdq;fs; cl;gl> ghlrhiy epu;thfk;> Mrpupa epakdk;> ghlrhiy E}yf epu; thfk; Nghd;w vy;yhtw;wpYNk murpay; ,lk; gpbj; Jf; nfhz;lJ. ,jdhy; jkpo; khztu;fsJ fy;tp ngUk; ,f;fl;Lf;Fs; js;sg;gl;lJ. ,J jtpu> Kf;fpakhf xU tplak; ,q;F Nehf;f Ntz;bAs;sJ.

mJ ahnjdpy;> rpq;fsk; mur fUk nkhopahf;fg;gl;l ijj; njhl u;e;J> mur gjtpfspy; njhopy; ngWk; ehl;lk; nfhz;l jkpo; kf;fs; jk; gps;isfisr; rpq;fs nkhop %yg; ghlrhiyfspy; Nru;f;f Muk;gpj;jdu;. ,jdhy; Vw;fdNt rpq;fstu;fshd jkpou;fistpl> ,tu;f Sk; rpq;fstu;fshapdu;. gpd;G jpUkzk;> tho;f;if Kiwfs; vd nfhOk;G> ePu; nfhOk;G> Gj;jsk; Nghd;w gpuNjrq;fspy; tho;e;j jkpou;fs; rpq;fs kf;fshf tho Muk;gpj;jdu;. ,J jkpo; kf;fSf;F ngUk; rthyhf mike;jJ.

ghlg; Gj;jfj;ij vOJk; rigapy;> rpq;fs - ngsj;j Njrpaj;jtNu ,Ue;jdu;. ,tu;fs; ngsj;j Njrpaj;ijj; jOtpNa nghJf; fiyj;jpl;l mikg;Gfis cU thf;fpdu;.

,jidtpl 1970 Mk; Mz;Lfspy; rpwPkh murhq;fj;jhy; nfhz;Ltug;gl;l gy; fiyf; fof mDkjp njhlu;ghd jug;gLj; jy; - jkpo; khztu;fspd; fy;tp Kd;Ndw; wj;jpd; ,Wjp ,yf;Ff;Fg; ngUk; rthyhf mike;jJ.

6 August 2005

Night curfew imposed in Jaffna

A night curfew from 10 p.m. Friday till 5 a.m. Saturday has been imposed in Jaffna district, civil sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, Mr.Chandra Fernando, Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police (IGP), is to visit Jaffna Saturday following the Inuvil Thursday where a civilian was shot dead by Sri Lanka Army and a high ranking official was killed in retaliation.

The IGP has appointed a twelve- member team headed by Mr.Mahinda Balasuriya, senior police officer to conduct inquiry into the killing Mr. Charles Wijewardene, Jaffna Superintendent of Police, police said.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Sinhala Marxist nationalist party and the main opposition United National party (UNP) have condemned the killing of Jaffna Police Superintendent Mr. Charles Wijewardene in Jaffna on Thursday, Colombo media sources said.

6 August 2005
Funeral of Jaffna SP on Sunday

The funeral of the Superintendent of Police Charles Wijegunawardhana who was brutally murdered at Inuwil in Jaffna will take place on Sunday evening in Kurunegala. His body was handed over to his relatives this evening. He was 57 when he met with his ill fated death. Born on 5th April 1948, Charles Wijegunawardhana was an old boy of Vidyartha College, Kandy.

He has shown colours as a rugby player both at school and after he left school. He joined police as a sub inspector in 1972. He was promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police in May 2000. Charles Wijegunawardhana served in Jaffna last year as the Police Superintendent there.

6 August 2005

Sri Lanka President condemns Jaffna deaths

President Chandrika Kumaratunga has condemned yesterday's events in Jaffna, in which a youth was accidentally shot dead by Army personnel and a Police Superintendent was murdered in retaliation.

The full statement is as follows:

“President Chandrika Kumaratunga has condemned the unfortunate shooting incident on Thursday [4th August] involving Army personnel near Innuvil in the Jaffna Peninsula. She has directed the relevant authorities to fully investigate yesterday’s incident and bring the perpetrators to justice without delay. “President Kumaratunga last night directed the Chief of Defence Staff Daya Sandagiri to convey her deepest sympathies to the bereaved families. The President said the families of those who lost their lives will be paid a full compensation and that the Police Officer killed will be granted a posthumous promotion.

“President Kumaratunga has appealed for calm and restraint despite all provocation,” the statement added.

6 August 2005

SLA-LTTE officials meet in Jaffna

An LTTE delegation led by Mr.C.Ilamparithi, Jaffna district political head and Major General Sunil Tennekoon, Jaffna area commander of SLA, met at 6.45pm for nearly two hours in the presence of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Jaffna SLMM offices. They discussed in detail the current ground situation in the district following Thursday incidents and to take steps to restore normalcy, SLMM sources said.

Other members of the SLA attending the discussions were Lt.Colonel Athula and Major Duminda, sources said.

Mr.Ilamparithi speaking to press persons after the discussion said he has requested the SLA officials to reduce the movement of armed soldiers in densely populated areas to prevent similar incidents in the future. SLA delegation is reported to have expressed regret for the unfortunate incident and explored with LTTE representatives ways to maintaining peace when there are incidents that can create tension, sources said.

However, no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Such action would adversely impact the peace process, SLA delegation had warned at the discussion, sources said.

6 August 2005
Jaffna SP’s killing a tragic irony of President’s defence take over - UNP

The slaying of Superintendent of Police, Charles Wijewardena Is the latest in a series of events which cause grave concern about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the North, the United National Party said yesterday.

"It is a tragic, of which the public is actually mindful, that President Kumaratunga in November 2003 took over the Ministry of Defence against the wishes of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on the pretext of improving the security situation in the country," the statement said.

Following is the text of the statement:

"This outrage appears to have been committed in the course of mob violence which the Government was clearly under a duty to deal with, particularly because the incident, occurred in an area under the direct control of the Government."

"We condemn this act unreservedly and demand that those responsible be apprehended and deterrent punishment be meted out to them."

"This sequence of killings bears comparison with the tragic violence among several groups which was seen to spiral out of control in the year 2000."

"It is with increasing dismay that the United National Party views the lack of any coherent policy on the part of the Government to deal with the current situation relating to security and the maintenance of law and order."

"The glaring contradictions which characterise the Government’s approach to the extremely serious developments which are now taking place, have contributed in’ substantial measure to the obvious lack of effectiveness in the Government’s handling of escalating violence, especially in the, Northern and Eastern Provinces."

"The Government’s explicit statement that the peace process is in the back burner, is singularly unfortunate."

"Moreover, it is evident that the Government is speaking with several voices on vital aspects of the ceasefire and the broader peace process. For instance, in one breath, the Government impugns the objectivity and the good faith of the Royal Norwegian Government, in its role as facilitator and, in the next breath, calls on that very Government to play a vigorous role in resolving vexed issues connected with the maintenance of the ceasefire. Similarly, the Government, while upbraiding the international community for commenting on distressing developments in Sri Lanka exhorts the Co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference to undertake the primary responsibility for addressing the fragility of the ceasefire and adopting remedial measures."

"The United National Party, for its part, believes that the international community has a significant function to perform in this regard. However, we have no doubt that the goodwill and friendship of other nations, useful as it is, can in no way be regarded as a substitute for resolute and consistent action by the Government of Sri Lanka."

"It is a tragic irony, of which the public is acutely mindful, that President Kumaratunga in November 2003 took over the Ministry of Defence against the wishes of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on the pretext of improving the security situation in the country."

"We would like to point out that the United National Front Government, during its management of the peace process, was called upon to deal with situations no less difficult than those confronting the present administration. However, there was in place at that time a stable mechanism which enabled the UNF Government 0 contain tensions and to avert the calamitous consequences which are all too apparent today."

"We remind President Kumaratunga, the country’s Minister of Defence, that the Protection of life and limb is the indispensable duty of any government.

"The immediate need is to conduct a through and impartial investigation of the incident yesterday and bring to book those responsible."

"We call on the President and her Government, even at this pathetically belated stage, to do their basic duty by the people an([ to prevent continuing outrage in respect of the maintenance of law and order."

"Meanwhile, we extend to the bereaved family our heartfelt condolences and share with them their deep sense of loss over the untimely and tragic death of a brave officer who rendered yeoman service to his country,"

6 August 2005

Helgesen meets with LTTE amidst high expectations

Mr.Vidar Helgesen, Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister and H.E. The Norwegian Ambassador Mr.Hans Bratskar flew in to Kilinochchi today 5 August 2005 and had a lengthy meeting with LTTE’s Political Head Mr.S.P.Tamilselvan in the Peace Secretariat.

Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), P-TOMS, Crisis situation in Jaffna and the LTTE members’ travel arrangements were among topics discussed. Mr.Tamilselvan, while guaranteeing the LTTE’s commitment to the CFA, said that the government, as the party responsible to the activities of the armed groups in the GOSL areas, need to act more resolutely in putting an end to its engagement with such groups clandestinely for subversive activities. In the context of the interim injunction on P-TOMS, Mr.Tamilselvan said that a violence free environment is absolutely essential to carry out even ad hoc humanitarian relief activities in the absence of well- structured P-TOMS modalities.

Lamenting over the fate of P-TOMS, Mr.Tamilselvan reiterated the necessity to effect immediate humanitarian delivery to tsunami victims and restoration of normalcy to war victims in the overall interest of the peace momentum. Responding to the visiting team’s concern over the situation in Jaffna consequent to the incidents that took place yesterday, Mr.Tamilselvan said that it is very unfortunate that innocent civilians have been killed and again reiterated the necessity for the adherence of CFA stipulations relative to military presence and activities in densely populated areas contrary to the understanding agreed upon in the CFA with time frames. He however assured that the LTTE would do the best in the restricted military controlled area to calm the situation.

6 August 2005

Don't try to amend S.Lanka truce - peace envoy Source: Reuters

A Norwegian peace envoy on Friday warned against any efforts to amend Sri Lanka's ceasefire with Tamil Tiger rebels, saying both sides must find ways to better implement a truce that halted two decades of war.

Sri Lanka's government says it is ready to review the terms of the 2002 truce, which has come under severe strain from a silent war in the island's restive east that the rebels and the military blame on each other.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) refuse to discuss any changes, and accuse the government of failing to disarm paramilitary groups they say are helping to kill their cadres.

The Tigers have threatened to carry arms in military-held areas -- a move that could rupture the island's longest truce since war broke out in earnest in 1983 and rekindle a conflict that has already killed more than 64,000 people.

"In our view, there is a need for both sides to take a hard look at not amending the ceasefire agreement," Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vidar Helgesen told reporters after meeting the rebels in their northern stronghold of Kilinochchi.

He said the foes should instead "look at how the ceasefire agreement is being implemented and look at ways of improving the implementation".

CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS

The government wants the ceasefire agreement tightened to stop hundreds of violations that Nordic truce monitors have identified, from child soldier recruitment to abductions and illegal carrying of arms.

"The president expressed the government's readiness to a review of the ceasefire agreement ... in order that ancillary arrangements can be put in place to remedy the current gaps," President Chandrika Kumaratunga's office said in a statement after she met with Helgesen.

The Tigers, who have repeatedly warned that the 3-1/2-year ceasefire is in danger of collapse, said the government could help defuse a standoff over a rash of killings in the east if it guaranteed the safety of its cadres in military areas.

The rebels also called on the international community to channel foreign tsunami aid directly through them after the Supreme Court blocked a long-awaited government pact to share $3 billion worth of the aid with them -- a request diplomats say is out of the question.

"The ceasefire agreement was accepted by both parties," S.P. Thamilselvan, head of the Tigers' political wing told reporters after meeting Helgesen. "All accepted articles of the ceasefire agreement should be implemented immediately."

The international community "should make arrangements with the LTTE to undertake and proceed with the humanitarian needs of our people," he said. "This type of goodwill measures would ease the present situation and bring about a peaceful environment to a certain extent."

Analysts say the current truce will likely hold for now, but some diplomats warn the situation could easily spiral out of control.

6 August 2005
Time for donors to provide direct aid to NorthEast- Thamilchelvan

"Time has come for the International Community to provide direct aid to the Tamil homeland without waiting for Colombo,"