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