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09 March 2010 India to Lanka: IDPs are an issue India Monday said it has urged Sri Lanka to quicken the resettlement of Tamils displaced by war and pledged aid for their housing projects as Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao returned home after a three-day visit to Colombo.In wide-ranging discussions with the Sri Lankan leadership and officials over two days, Rao told them that it was India's intention to continue supporting the task of development and reconstruction in war-hit northern and eastern Sri Lanka.She "expressed the hope that the resettlement process could be expedited, especially in Killinochchi and Mullaitivu, so that the IDPs could resume normal lives in their original places of habitation", the external affairs ministry said in a statement."In this context, she announced India's support for housing projects to be taken up in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts for the benefit of the IDPs," the ministry added.This will include the setting up temporary shelters, repairing damaged houses and building new houses.The number of IDPs now stand at less than 70,000.Assuring India's support in resettling Tamil civilians displaced by the civil war, Rao conveyed that India looked forward to opening a Consulate General in Jaffna.Improving connectivity in northern, eastern and central Sri Lanka figured high in discussions between the two sides. Rao announced the supply of 55 buses to educational, social and cultural organisations in these areas.She also indicated that India was considering providing additional Lines of Credit for railway projects in northern Sri Lanka.In her meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Rao underlined that the end of the civil war and the holding of elections provided Sri Lanka with "a historic opportunity to initiate a process of political reconciliation where all communities in Sri Lanka can live in peace and harmony".Rajapaksa appreciated India's multi-faceted assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of northern and eastern Sri Lanka and for the resettlement of IDPs. The two sides agreed to convene a meeting of the joint working group on fishing to discuss issues related to fishermen. Govt. ‘to abolish or reform’ Executive Presidency –DEW The government says it will abolish or reform executive presidency if re-elected with a two thirds majority at the forthcoming election. Constitutional Affairs Minister DEW Gunasekara told the BBC that the government was also planning to introduce a fresh Constitution in the new parliament."There is an opinion in the country that the executive presidency should be abolished or reformed," he told BBC Sinhala service. The BBC said:He however said there is no time frame for a new constitution to be introduced. "If the opposition says that they vote for the abolition tomorrow, we would not have this problem," he said. The main opposition coalition that contested the 26 January presidential election has vowed to abolish the very powerful executive presidency. Main opposition parties, including the UNP and the JVP, and Muslim and Tamil nationalist parties were members of the coalition. The minister added that a political solution aimed at minority Tamil community’s grievances might also be included in the new constitution after consultations with other parties. "The solution might include the devolution of power," Minister Gunasekara said.The much-talked about All Party Representative Committee (APRC) will be re-convened to discuss the proposals.However, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has dismissed all efforts that have been made so far to find political solutions to the country’s ethnic problem. Mr Rajapaksa has now said he does not think any generally acceptable solution has yet been suggested, so "after the present election I am going to put forward my own solution to the problem" he told BBC’s Charles Haviland in Colombo.He has remained vague on what this means although he has spoken of a possible upper house of parliament. The APRC convened in 2006 claiming to ‘reach consensus on a package of measures to guarantee the rights of Tamils,’ is yet to hand over its proposals. Manmohan invites MR to India Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is looking forward to an early visit by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India, visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said when she met President Rajapaksa today, the President’s office said.The Indian Foreign Secretary congratulated the President for his resounding victory in the recent Presidential Election and observed that so much had taken place for the better in Sri Lanka since she was last here as High Commissioner.During the meeting she said the victory of the President gave much cause for confidence and hope for bi-lateral relations between India and Sri Lanka in the future, and that the Indian Prime Minister looked forward to an early visit by President Rajapaksa to India, the President’s office said.Discussing current political developments in Sri Lanka, she said that the presence of more than 1,000 candidates for the forthcoming general election and the North and Eastern Provinces alone showed the enthusiasm of the people for the democratic process, and the change that had taken place with the restoration of peace. “There is a great sense of hope and optimism in the air wherever I have been to”, she said.Commenting on the forthcoming general election, President Rajapaksa said there was much enthusiasm by the people to participate in it, being the first nation-wide election of representatives to parliament after the restoration of peace, and that he was looking forward to working with the many new faces and leaders who are expected to be elected, especially from the North and the East.The Indian Foreign Secretary was of the view that Sri Lanka had made considerable success on the resettling of IDPs in the North and the East, with the number now standing at less than 70,000, and noted that this issue had now gone away from the attention of the international community. She expressed India’s willingness to continue assisting Sri Lanka in the resettlement of the IDPs. Similarly, India was also keen to assist in the complete restoration of the railway line in the North, she saidAmong other matters of mutual interest discussed were that of the problems faced by fisherman from both counties, the proposed coal powered power project in Trincomalee, and the necessity for understanding between India and Sri Lanka on the protection of the environment and the eco-systems, the President’s office said. TMVP to hold talks with Delhi A TMVP delegation led by Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan is to head for New Delhi for talks following an invitation extended by the Indian government, TMVP spokesman Azad Maulana told Daily Mirror online. He said that the invitation was extended by visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao when she met Chandrakanthan today at which meeting the TMVP also presented its manifesto for the upcoming General Elections.During the meeting, Rao had also assured Chandrakanthan that India would do everything possible to support and help the TMVP and promote its policies. "Ms. Rao went through the TMVP's manifesto and Mr. Chandrakanthan explained to her our party policies. She said India would help us in every way possible way and also invited us for talks with the Indian government soon after the elections. She also said India is very happy with us," Maulana said.He added that following the invitation extended by Rao, Mr. Chandrakanthan had assured her that he would fly to New Delhi with his delegation soon after the concusion of the General Election and discuss their policies further with senior Indian government members. Soldiers 'victimised by government' A human rights group representing the families of disappeared military men in Sri Lanka has accused the government of victimising soldiers.Visaka Dharmadasa, convenor of the Association of War Affected Women (AWAW), said her organisation is currently campaigning to get soldiers arrested by the Rajapaksa administration released. "During the war, we have been visiting Kilinochchi to seek the release of arrested soldiers from the LTTE," she told BBC Sinhala service, Sandeshaya. "Now we are going to Temple Trees to meet President Rajapaksa seeking the release of soldiers." Fonseka supporters She made the comments as representatives of women's organisations and women from victims' families attended a meeting at JR Jayawardene Centre in Colombo to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. The gathering was organised by many women's rights organisations, calling for press freedom, re-establishment of democracy and more representation of women in parliament. Mrs. Dharmadasa, a previous nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, said politicians only cared about soldiers when the troops started winning against the Tamil Tigers. "When there were setbacks, when our children were losing their lives, there was nobody to console us," she said. At least 53 military officers and soldiers, some of them already retired, were arrested by the government after the presidential election. 'Fake tears' They were suspected of being supporters of the main opposition candidate, Gen (retd.) Sarath Fonseka."Accusing that they were in a conspiracy against the government, we are blamed for making an unfair demand. Then it seems we have been totally unfair in demanding the LTTE to release our children who were fighting against them," Ms. Dharmadasa added. Anoma Fonseka, the wife of Gen Fonseka who is currently in military custody, urged the women in Sri Lanka "not to betray the dignity for money" or other perks. She would continue to get her husband released, Mrs. Fonseka said, and to persuade Gen Fonseka to be strong "at a time of need." Sandhya Eknaligoda, wife of disappeared journalist Prageeth, strongly criticised the state media for making mockery of victimised women's tears and laughter. "A government official said I was not crying so Prageeth cannot be missing. But when Anoma Fonseka was crying the media made mockery out of her tears," she told BBC Sandeshaya. Roshini Dandeniya, whose father DG Wijedasa is missing since early 90s said she is determined to find out what happened to her father. "I have a dream," she said, "I am determined to find out what whether he was killed and who the culprits are while my mother is still alive," she said. ITAK begins three day election campaign in Moothoor Tamil villages Ilangkai Thamizh Arasuk Kadchi (ITAK) Monday began a three day campaign by holding election meeting in every Tamil village in the Moothoor East, Verukal DS division, Moothoor DS division in Trincomalee district. ITAK leader and the chief candidate for the Trincomalee district Mr.R.Sampanthan is leading the campaign with other six candidates in the list. The ITAK team first arrived in the historic Verukal Sri Siththiravelautha Swamy Koayil located along the Verukal River, a branch of the Mahaweli Ganga that flows into the sea. Verukal River divides the two districts Batticaloa and Trincomalee in the south.Candidates led by Sampanthan first participated in the Pooja in the Koayil and then proceeded to hold propaganda meetings. The first election meeting was held in one of the remotest village Uppooral Monday morning. The second was at Cheenive'li village. The final meeting on that day was held at Ilangkaiththu'rai Mukaththuvaaram. India ready to open Consulate General in Jaffna Fonseka 'tortured' army officers 'In dark rooms' Gen Fonseka refused to eat from Sunday to protest at being denied access to a telephone, his wife Anoma Fonseka's told journalists.Anoma Fonseka said her husband was prevented from speaking to his daughters, who are currently overseas. Mr. Hulugalle said there was no obligation to provide General Fonseka with a telephone. "Gen Fonseka should understand that he was legally arrested," Mr. Hulugalle told BBC Sinhala service, "and no arrested person is allowed to keep a telephone in Sri Lanka." The Democratic National Alliance (DNA), headed by Gen Fonseka, on Monday held protests in Colombo demanding the release of their party leader who was arrested a month ago. Describing the arrest as illegal and accusing the government of violating the constitution, the former Chief Justice Sarath Silva earlier described Gen Fonseka as a political prisoner. Fonseka given mobile phone to talk only to daughters Military Spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe yesterday said former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka was given the chance to use a mobile phone since yesterday on the condition that it be used to contact his two daughters only. The Military Spokesman in response to a question raised by a journalist at a press conference at the Media Centre for National Security, said Fonseka was given this opportunity of using a mobile phone while he was in the Military custody as a privilege granted by the Army Commander but not on the orders of anybody. Samarasinghe emphatically stated that the opportunity was restricted only to talk to his two daughters. In response to another question, he said that there was enough ventilation at the residence where Fonseka was being held. It has a number of rooms, an office room, visiting room and a pantry. He said it was once the official residence of the former Navy Commander. He queried as to how one could find the ventilation inadequate after staying there for long as few weeks. LTTE fund raising in Germany led by cadre trained in Vanni He visited Lanka during CFA, accompanied LTTE 'peace' delegation to Thailand Among six LTTE operatives, including three German passport holders arrested in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia last Wednesday (March 3) for extorting money from Tamils living in Europe, particularly Germany, is Vaheesan alias Vijikanendra (34), who had received weapons training in the Vanni during the Norwegian brokered ceasefire agreement between the then UNP-led United National Front (UNF) government and the LTTE. The suspect is believed to have undergone political and military training for over a year and also worked closely with one-time LTTE's overseas administrative head Veeragattu Manivannan alias Castro. At the time of his arrest, Vijikanendra ran LTTE operations in Germany.Castro committed suicide at Mullivaikkal during the last phase of the ground operations on the Vanni east front. Intelligence sources told The Island that Vijikanendra had been in charge of funds collected in Germany used to procure arms, ammunition and equipment from different sources, including China, the largest single supplier of weapons to the LTTE.After the death of Castro, Vijikanendra had worked closely with Perinpanayagam Sivaparan, who bore the nom de gurre Nediyavan. Intelligence sources said that Sivaparan had even accompanied an LTTE delegation for talks in Thailand with the Sri Lankan government delegation. Sources said that Vijikanendra had moved with top LTTE operatives, who conspired against Kumaran Padmanathan alias 'KP' at the time of the 2002 ceasefire agreement. Vijikanendra was the senior most LTTE operative arrested in Germany, they said. Nediyavan was among many political and intelligence wing cadres sent abroad by the LTTE during 2002-2004 period. The sources revealed that Nediyavan operated from Norway and coordinated operations on behalf of the LTTE. The German authorities had moved against the LTTE gang after receiving a spate of complaints from Sri Lankan and German Tamils. Sources said that the suspect was a Sri Lankan passport holder.Among the other suspects were Sivanathan alias Master, 58, former LTTE leader in Germany. He had moved there in 1993 and operated there until 2000 before moving to the UK. He had operated there for seven years and returned to Germany in 2007 to work under Vijikanendra.They identified the other suspects as Rahulan, 23, a Sri Lankan passport holder and three German passport holders, M Sashidaran, 33, Koneshwaran, 39 and Poobalasigham, 42. Government sources said that Sri Lanka expected the UK and other European countries to crackdown on LTTE fund raising operations. The recent arrests in Germany proved that the LTTE had been busy raising funds, though the European Union proscribed the organisation in the aftermath of the assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. Fonseka faces over five charges Military Spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe yesterday said more than five charges will be filed against former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka within a few days. This will done in compliance with the provisions of the Army Act before a Court Martial, he said. He said the report of the Summary of Evidence on the charges against Fonseka was handed over to the Army Commander during the weekend. Military Spokesman Samarasinghe at a press briefing at the Media Centre for National Security, said the report is being scrutinized by Army Legal division officers before filing the charges. He said there was evidence to charge Fonseka on more than five counts. Immediately after the charges are filed, the Court Martial will commence sittings against Fonseka. The Court Martial will consist of either three or five judges appointed by the Army Commander under powers delegated to him by the President in accordance with the powers vested in him under the Constitution. With reference to the Summary of Evidence, the Military spokesman said 35 witnesses have given evidence at the inquiry. Out of them 22 are army personnel while seven witnesses are from the Police. The rest are civil society members. Samarasinghe also stated that the camp where the Court Martial would be held is yet to be decided. Ancient Chola period temple unearthed in North A heap of ruins where a Hindu temple of Chola period was believed to have been buried has been unearthed in the Northern part of Delft. The temple is 40 feet long and 10 feet wide. It is built with lime stone. The roof is covered with lime mixed plaster. The other parts of the temple are in ruins. Professor P. Pushparatnam of the Jaffna University History Department commenting on the findings, said the people of the locality are unable to say when this temple was built. The ruins indicate that the building would have been built many years ago. It is opined that if this temple had been built during the latter period of the Dutch reign or in the beginning of British rule in Sri Lanka, the people would be in a position to give some clues about the origin of the temple, he said. The people of the area would not have allowed the temple to go to ruin if it had been built during the Dutch or British period. It can be surmised that the temple was built before European rule in Sri Lanka, Prof. Pushparatnam said. The statues and the art work on stones, irrigation pipes made of baked clay and a coin found by one of Prof. Pushparatnam’s students with the name of Rajaraja Cholan embossed on it clearly indicate that the temple would have been built during the Chola period. Northern libraries to be developed The National Library and Documentation Services Board has launched a program to develop all libraries in the North destroyed due to LTTE terrorism. According to the National Library and Documentation Services Board, the program aims to distribute books among 110 public libraries in the North. Distributing books worth Rs. Four million was initiated in Vavuniya. A program will also be launched to train librarians. This program will be launched under the Uthuru Vasanthaya program. 07 March 2010 India Gets Tough Prabha’s mother flown to Malaysia for medical treatment Vallipuram Parvathi (80), mother of deceased LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, has been flown to Malaysia on Friday for medical treatment, Tamil sources said.According to these sources, Parvathi, who had been living in their hometown Velvettiturai since the funeral of her husband Veerasamy Thiruvengadam Velupillai (86) on January 10, was brought to Colombo on Tuesday by a Red Cross ambulance. She had been living under the guardianship of former TNA Parliamentarian for Jaffna M.K. Sivajilingam.She had been staying at a popular lodge in Bambalapitiya known as Western Hotel as she awaited her flight to Kuala Lampur.Former Jaffna District TNA Member of Parliament Sivajilingam had accompanied Parvathi to Malaysia. Parvathi will be taken care of by her relatives while she is in Malaysia, they said.Sivajilingam, who recently formed the new party, Tamil National Liberation Alliance (TNLA) with his former fellow MP for Jaffna N. Srikantha, will return to Sri Lanka in the next few days to resume campaigning. The TNLA has handed in nominations to contest in all five Northern districts under the Left Liberation Front of Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne. Both Sivajilingam and Srikantha were dropped by the TNA along with about 10 other ex-MPs last month.Earlier, the elder Prabhakaran couple had been in Army protective custody since May last year when they surrendered to the authorities during the last days of the war in the Wanni. After the death of the elder Prabhakaran in January, Parvathy was handed over to Sivajilingam’s care on the basis of a power of attorney given to him by the LTTE leader’s sister living in Canada Vinothini Rajendran. Sivageetha’s last straw at being Mayor Batticaloa Mayor Sivageetha Prabakaran has created controversy again with her move to support former Eastern Provincial Minister M.L.A.M Hisbullah in his Parliamentary election campaign, a move some view as her last resort to sustain her position. Speaking to The Nation, a well placed source in Batticaloa confided that Sivageetha Prabakaran was not welcome in the UNP anymore after her latest move and neither was she welcome in the TMVP after she publicly announced her support for former Presidential nominee Sarath Fonseka. The TMVP too is contesting in the Batticaloa District independently of UPFA.“She does not have a good stronghold or a vote bank to vouch for, but on the other hand Hisbullah has a good following with at least 18,000 to 20,000 supporters in Kattankudi alone, which is sufficient for him,” he said. “Sivageetha can retain her position for a couple of more months with this move, but it’s a short-sighted move.” According to the source, Sivageetha was harassed after the Presidential election, which caused her to maintain a low profile, but has now come out to support Hisbullah. “She claimed that her father was a UNPer and she was glad to be back at the UNP, but now she has gone off to support Hisbullah.” It was also reported that she had previously wanted to rejoin the TMVP, which was turned down because she had acted against the advice of those around her, when she rushed to Colombo and declared her support for Sarath Fonseka in the presence of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during the Presidential election. The TMVP were reportedly embarrassed by this move and were not prepared to take her back anytime soon. Meanwhile, Hisbullah, who handed over his resignation on February 28, is currently contesting the general election under the UPFA ticket. Nandikadal revisited Around 10,000 motor cycles and 25,000 bicycles belonging to LTTEers and civilians who fled, are seen stacked in the Wellimulliwaikkal and Nandikadal areas and other areas in the Mullaitivu district. They, together with the innumerable ruined abodes ranging from what were once thatched cottages to well built houses, remain as the legacy of the three decade old war. The region bears tell tale marks of the war that was fought fiercely between the LTTE and Government forces. Remains of military vehicles such as bullet proof trucks and jeeps still lie around. Herds of cattle are still to be seen reminding us that villages once existed in these areas. The security forces are still in the process of de-mining with the aid of equipment received from a number of countries. Places like Puthukudiyiruppu, Viswamadu, and Putumattalan which were the central areas where the war was fought, are still out of bounds to the public due to the area being infested with mines and permission has to be obtained from the defence authorities to gain access to the area. A victory memorial has been put up in Puthukudiyiruppu captured by the 53 and 58 Divisions of the Army. Names of all regiments that took part achieving this victory are inscribed on this memorial. A monument to mark the spot where LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran fell is being erected by the security forces. Meanwhile, a visit was undertaken by Minister Milroy Fernando who hails from the Puttalam district to look into the possibility of fishermen from his district traditionally involved in fishing in the Nayaru lagoon and in the sea off the Mullaitivu coast, to return.Mr. Fernando said that fishermen from other areas have not been in the region for the last 20 years due to the conflict.He said that the villagers who lived in these areas were involved in cultivation and therefore there was a chance for fishermen from other areas to come into the area for seasonal fishing. 06 March 2010 Sampanthan warns of ‘hidden agenda’ of Sri Lanka government “Sri Lanka government does not want any area in the island where minority community lives in majority. Hence the government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse is implementing its ‘hidden agenda’ to colonize such areas with Sinhalese to reduce the majority of minority community,” Mr. R. Sampanthan, leader of Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) and the chief candidate for the Trincomalee electoral district, said addressing representatives of Tamil civil groups in Trincomalee. He added that the government thinks if it allows the minority to live in majority in some areas it would lead the minority to claim its traditional homeland, right to self determination, and self rule to such areas.He said since the independence of the country successive governments had implemented state sponsored Sinhala colonization in the Tamil dominated eastern province. Sinhalese farmers were brought down from the south and settled on state lands. Now the government of Mahinda Rajapakse is giving permission to Sinhala dominated companies in the south to start factories and other commercial enterprises in the eastern province thus allowing them to bring down Sinhalese from the south to work in their factories, Sampanthan said. Under the guise of agricultural development and economic development, Sinhalicisation is taking place in the east.He said when the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam pact was signed in 1957 the percentage of the Sinhalese in the east was 13 percent. It was eighteen percent when the Dudley Senanayake-Chelvanayakam pact was signed in 1965. Now it has gone up to twenty five percent, Sampanthan pointed.The government’s plan is to make east a Sinhalese majority province and thereafter to “invade’ North by setting up Sinhala colonies. Rights experts to advise UN's Ban on Sri Lanka U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to ask a panel of experts to advise the world body on "accountability issues" relating to possible human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, his spokesman said on Friday.In a telephone conversation with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday evening, Ban said he intended to "go ahead with the establishment of a panel of experts," Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said."He also explained that such a panel would advise him, the secretary-general, on the way forward on accountability issues related to Sri Lanka," Nesirky said.Rights groups and Western governments are pressing for some kind of accountability for thousands of civilian deaths in the last months of the island's 25-year war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which aimed to create a separate homeland for the island's Tamil minority.Both sides were accused of human rights violations and atrocities during the long conflict.It was not clear if Ban's expert panel would go as far as human rights groups would like.Those groups have accused Sri Lanka and the LTTE of war crimes during the conflict's final phase and they have demanded an independent probe of the allegations, as has U.N. special rapporteur for extrajudicial executions Philip Alston.The Sri Lankan government has denied charges of deliberately targeting civilians and other human rights breaches. The government declared victory over the Tamil Tigers in May 2009.Ban had previously informed Colombo that he was considering setting up an expert panel that would advise him on the matter and "assist the (Sri Lankan) government in taking measures to address possible violations," according to Nesirky.Ban has said an investigation of war crimes allegations should be handled by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, Navi Pillay, who has called on Sri Lanka to investigate the allegations itself -- albeit with outside help."I am convinced that Sri Lanka should undertake a full reckoning of the grave violations committed by all sides during the war, and that the international community can be helpful in this regard," she told the U.N.'s Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday. EU To Hold Talks With Sri Lanka Regarding Duty Free Status The European Union could initiate talks with the Sri Lankan government after that country's General Elections next month, and which are aimed at retaining the nation's duty free status, or GSP plus trade concessions, according to an article posted on the Sri Lankan government's website.As reported, late February the EU temporarily removed Sri Lanka free export status. Sri Lanka enjoyed the duty free export status because the country agreed to rules on human rights as stipulated in GSP, enjoying exemption of duties for export into the EU as it committed itself to 27 conventions in the field of human and labour rights, sustainable development and good governance. EU Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Bernard Savage said that the objective of the EU is to have dialogue with the Sri Lankan government and move towards revising the recommendations of the European Commission which led to the suspension of GSP plus to Sri Lanka, according to an article from the Daily Mirror Online posted on the government's website.“Hopefully once the elections are finished we can get to a stage where we can have an amicable dialogue with the relevant authorities so that we can thrash out what can be done for the EU committee to revise its earlier recommendations, in a positive manner,” Savage was quoted as saying in the article. Additionally, the article noted that the suspension takes effect in August with Savage hopeful the dialogue between the EU and Sri Lanka would bear fruit and that Sri Lanka would have the concessions renewed before the suspension took effect.“Our objective is to see that the suspension will not take affect and to see what can be done to correct the situation before it comes into effect,” Savage was quoted as saying. 'LTTE fundraisers' arrested in Germany German police have arrested six leading Tamil separatists, the federal prosecution agency said Friday.The men - three German and three Sri Lankan nationals - are suspected of belonging to an organisation which extorts money from ethnic Tamils living in Germany, to fund Sri Lanka's rebel Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) group.One of the men, 34-year-old Vijikanendra V. S., is suspected of leading the German-based Tamil Coordination Committee (TCC), federal prosecutors said.The other men are thought to be members of the organisation, which represents the LTTE in Germany.The European Union (EU) listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation in 2006.Police also searched eight premises, including the TCC's centre in Oberhausen, in North Rhine-Westphalia. Chinese presence in Kachchaitheevu exposed by Tamil Nadu journalists The presence of Chinese in Sri Lanka owned island of Kachchaitheevu, considered as a threat to the security of India, is confirmed by a group of journalists and social activists from Tamil Nadu. More than thirty huts with Chinese names were found on the island of Kachchaitheevu located on the sea boundary between India and Sri Lanka by Tamil Nadu journalists and social activists who participated in the recent annual festival of Kachchitheevu St. Antony’s Church, sources in Raamanaathapuram in Tamil Nadu said. The huts, however, were unoccupied but evidence of people living in them was observed by the visiting journalists from Tamil Nadu who were not permitted to photograph them by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers. The presence of Chinese in the island of Kachchaitheevu is seen as a threat to the security of India by its citizens, the sources added. Sri Lankan fishermen and the SLN soldiers to whom the journalists spoke during the festival confirmed that Chinese men who were staying in Kachchaitheevu had been temporarily moved out due to the festival.They were further told that a program of joint patrol surveillance training for SLN and Chinese navy soldiers is in progress in Kachchaitheevu.‘Attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen’, ‘Tamil Nadu fishermen chased off from Kachchaitheevu by SLN’, ‘Chinese surveillance tower in Kachchaitheevu’, ‘China targeting India’ are some of the recent allegations raised by Tamil Nadu fishermen.The allegation of a Chinese surveillance tower had caused quite a stir in India and when questions were raised Sri Lanka government had categorically denied any presence of Chinese in Kachchaitheevu, the journalists said.It was suggested that representatives from both countries should jointly investigate into the allegation visiting Kachchaitheevu but it did not materialize due to reluctance of Sri Lanka, they added.Hence, journalists and social activists from Tamil Nadu had participated in the festival with the aim of finding the true situation in Kachchaitheevu using the opportunity of visiting Kachchaitheevu which is out of bounds for anyone.Sri Lanka had permitted devotees from Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu to attend the Kachchaitheevu St. Antony’s Church festival this year after nearly 23 years.The festival had not taken place from 1978 t0 2001 after which though important rituals were allowed until 2005, devotees were not permitted to take part in them. Sri Lanka to protect Colombo from floods with Chinese finance Sri Lanka will build a flood protection system for parts of the capital Colombo with Chinese funding, a government minister said.Colombo suburbs of Kotte, Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia, Maharagama, Kesbewa and Moratuwa will be protected from storm water flooding by the project, minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris said. The 6,800 million rupees (59 US dollar) project will be financed with a loan from China Construction Bank. China emerged as the top lender to Sri Lanka in 2009, committing 1.2 billion US dollars of aid, the finance ministry said in a report this week. Q+A-Why are foreigners net sellers of Sri Lanka bourse Sri Lanka's shares hit a record high this week to make the market the top performer in Asia after a meteoric 2009 when the index soared 125 percent.But the rise is not proving attractive to foreign investors. They have been net sellers of the market since an end was declared to the island's 25-year civil war last May. Here are some questions and answers about why foreigners are leaving: WHAT IS THE FOREIGN INVESTMENT TREND? Foreign investment was a net 1.4 billion rupees ($12.3 million) between Jan. 1 and the end of the island's 25-year civil war in May 2009.By the end of the year though, the investment had turned into net sales of 789 million rupees, the first outflow since 2001.The trend is continuing this year. Foreigners have been net sellers of 5.6 billion rupees ($49 million) worth of shares in 33 out of the 41 trading sessions so far in 2010. WHY ARE FOREIGN INVESTORS SELLING? Government officials and some analysts say a large proportion of the selling is from a U.S.-based hedge fund after its Sri Lankan-born founder was charged in an insider dealing case.However, many analysts said foreign investors are selling because of concerns over the economy in the medium-to-long term. The government last year ran its biggest fiscal deficit in eight years, which has prompted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to delay the third tranche of a $2.6 billion loan.Foreign investors might stay away until they see if the government makes an effort to reduce its fiscal deficit to meet IMF conditions on the loan and whether ratings agencies get agitated by the deficit.They could get answers from the next budget, which will be held after parliamentary elections on April 8.There are also more structural constraints, such as a lack of market liquidity partly resulting from low levels of freely floating shares.Market capitalisation is now about $11.2 billion and daily turnover this year has averaged about 1.5 billion rupees.Foreign investors have also complained in the past that regulations against insider trading are too loose. ARE THERE ANY POLITICAL CONCERNS? Yes. Sri Lanka's government is seeking re-election in April 8 parliamentary polls with a package of populist measures to woo votes, which is making investors wary. These include raising public sector salaries at a cost of 1 percent of GDP.Such populist policies in the past have hurt corporate profits and been criticised for fuelling high inflation and government borrowing. ($1=114.165 Sri Lankan Rupee) U.S. Government expands scholarship program for young journalists The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the expansion of its scholarship program to bring youth to study at the Sri Lanka College of Journalism. U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Valerie Fowler made the announcement at the Sri Lanka Press Institute Diploma Program graduation ceremony. USAID, the development agency of the U.S. government, is providing scholarships for 26 students to attend the one-year Journalism Diploma Program in 2010. The Program focuses on radio, television, or print media. Courses are conducted in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, and all students receive English language instruction. Current USAID scholarship recipients represent Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim communities from the Eastern Province (12 students) and the Northern Province (14 students). In addressing the graduates, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Valerie Fowler said, “As journalists, you are duty-bound to be defenders of democratic rights and values. In the modern era, the press has played a critical role as one of the pillars of democracy. Apart from the traditional three bodies of government in a democracy --- legislative, judicial, and executive --- the media has acted as a kind of fourth branch, helping to ensure the traditional arms of the government remain honest and serve the people. Because the media serves as a purveyor of the truth and a watchdog of the public interest, media protects and promotes our democratic rights and values. Media demands that our leaders operate in an environment of transparency and fairness. If not, the media is there to tell the truth and expose injustices, all for the sake of preserving and protecting our rights. This is true in any democratic country.” In 2009, USAID provided scholarships for 14 students from the Eastern Province and two students from Monaragala District in Uva Province. As a condition of the scholarship, USAID scholarship recipients will return to their home districts or provinces to work as journalists after receiving their diplomas. This will strengthen regional reporting and ensure journalists are well-trained and prepared to cover important stories that are of interest to local and national audiences. The Diploma in Journalism Program is conducted by the Sri Lanka Press Institute through their educational arm, the Sri Lanka College of Journalism. Since 2004, the program has produced about 60 graduates per year with a 97% job placement rate in print and electronic media. The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided development and humanitarian assistance in developing countries worldwide for nearly 50 years. Since 1946, USAID/Sri Lanka has invested nearly $2 billion to benefit all the people of Sri Lanka. LTTE may seek asylum in UK The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan has said that some LTTE leaders in the guise of asylum seekers could take refuge in the UK which could pose a grave threat to regional as well as global peace.“Yes absolutely, if terrorists get asylum in Britain as civilian immigrants, it could pose grave security challenges,” Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody said in response to this scribes’ enquiries in the backdrop of the chances of relocation of Tamil rebels to the Britain.He added, “I don’t think that the Britain is promoting terrorism but if somebody tries to organise the terror elements or the relics of crushed Tamil rebels, it is not only a cause of concern for us but for every country as it could endanger world’s peace.”He further said that the LTTE was completely defeated and its key leaders were killed and arrested while some had absconded. “By aiding or organising these elements would be very counterproductive,” he cautioned.The strong protest lodged by Sri Lankan government with the Great Britain over its backdoor and public interactions with Tamil rebels have once again mounted Lanka’s concerns that some terrorist leaders could seek asylum in Britain to pose a grave threat to regional as well as global peace. The incident has questioned the uncalled for interference of UK in South Asian region.British Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s meeting with the leaders of Global Tamil Forum had backfired earlier this week triggering massive protests with hundreds of Sri Lankans gathering outside the British High Commission in Colombo to flay Britain’s support for GTF, a shadow organisation of LTTE. However, the British authorities have kept mum over the issue and senior diplomats of the British High Commission here are reluctant to give their on-the-record version in this regard. Sripathy’s wife goes to ‘strengthen the hands’ of President China’s pearls spook Indian observers Le Monde's Bruno Philip reports on how strategic Chinese construction projects are encircling India, raising fears that new facilities could be used by China for military purposes should a regional conflict erupt. China is weaving a web of trade and maritime agreements around its old rival India, encircling the country with strategically placed construction projects and schemes to enlarge port facilities. In the days of the Bush administration, US analysts hatched a theory that has since become accepted wisdom: China is putting together a “string of pearls” in India’s home waters.“The ‘string’ is part of an indirect strategy, which ... aims to trap India in a spider’s web, reducing its options in the event of crisis,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, professor of political science at Hong Kong Baptist University.Beijing claims it is pursuing exclusively commercial goals, but the Indian Ocean is China’s main route for importing energy supplies, increasing the likelihood that these facilities could be used for military purposes should a regional conflict erupt, observers say. The project giving India most cause for concern is a Chinese-funded port being built at Gwadar on the coast of Pakistan’s Baluchistan province.In Burma, another Chinese ally, Beijing is involved in the construction of ports at Sittwe, Mergui and Dawei. China is also extremely active in Sri Lanka, where it is busy developing the port of Hambantota. China Eximbank is funding 85% of the work on port facilities, worth an estimated $1bn. Beijing also helped fund part of the war effort against the Tamil separatist movement quelled last year.In Bangladesh China is contributing to the modernisation of the deep-water port at Chittagong, slated to become a major container hub.The last pearl on the string, Nepal, is a landlocked country but one that occupies a strategic position for Beijing. Since the unrest in Lhasa, the capital of neighbouring Tibet, in 2008, the Nepalese have come under pressure from China to tighten Tibetan border controls and suppress demonstrations by Buddhist monks in Kathmandu.Last month the Nepalese prime minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal, led a visit to Beijing that, according to the Chinese media, resulted in an agreement on Sino-Nepali border security.But an editorial published last month on the Chinese Global Times website sought to reassure. “Worry about China competing for dominance of the Indian Ocean runs deep inside India,” it explained. “Such worries are unnecessary. China watches closely over the Indian Ocean because oil imported from the Middle East and Africa has to go through it.”So is the military threat posed by an increasingly tight string of pearls exaggerated? “The ports could serve as logistical bases should China’s navy need to evacuate its nationals from an emergency somewhere in Africa or the Middle East. But things could be much more complicated if there was a war on,” Cabestan said. 05 March 2010 Indian Foreign Secretary to visit Sri Lanka Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is to arrive in Sri Lanka on March 06 for a three day visit in the island, Foreign Ministry sources said. Rao is to have discussions with the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and several other senior officials.She will visit the Peradeniya town in hill country to attend an opening ceremony of an English language training unit that was set up with the funds granted by India. Nirupama Rao, a former Indian High Commissioner of Colombo has very cordial relationship with Sri Lanka. She was assigned to Sri Lanka as High Commissioner for India in 2004 and served until 2006 when she became India's first woman Ambassador to China. UNF to oppose, JVP undecided The United National Front (UNF) will oppose the extension of the emergency when it is taken up for debate at a special session of parliament next week, UNF General Secretary Tissa Attanayaka told Daily Mirror Online.The UNF which includes the main opposition the United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Sri Lanka Freedom Party Mahajana Wing and the Democratic People's Front will voice its strong objection against the emergency especially at a time when the country has other issues to concentrate on, Attanayaka said.“The government is clearly avoiding issues which they should be focusing on by extending the emergency,” Attanayaka said. The JVP which will also attend the special session however remains undecided on whether it will oppose or accept the emergency next week. JVP Member Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that his party would hold a discussion on the matter soon in order to reach a decision. Both the JVP and UNP had opposed the emergency when it was taken up for debate just before parliament was dissolved last month. Parliament will reconvene for a special session on March 9 to extend state of emergency by another month. Parliament was dissolved on February 9 in order to conduct General Elections next month but President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to convene a special session of the house next week to extend the State of emergency. U.N. rights chief slams abuses in Sri Lanka Human rights abuses in Sri Lanka are damaging prospects for reconciliation after 25 years of civil war and a violent crackdown on dissent in Iran is deeply worrying, the top U.N. human rights official said on Thursday.Repeating her call for an independent investigation into war crimes allegations in Sri Lanka, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told the U.N.'s Human Rights Council she was singling out outstanding cases in different countries."I am convinced that Sri Lanka should undertake a full reckoning of the grave violations committed by all sides during the war, and that the international community can be helpful in this regard," she said in a speech presenting her annual report.The opportunity for peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka was marred by the treatment of journalists, human rights defenders and other critics of the government.Her comments on Sri Lanka and other states will reassure critics of the council who argue that the 47-member body often fails to deal with human rights violations as countries unite in regional alliances to shield each other from scrutiny.Last May, the council held a special session on Sri Lanka just after the end of the war against the Tamil Tigers, but the government deflected criticism by introducing its own resolution praising its defeat of the separatist group, which was then passed, boosting the Colombo stock exchange. Rajiva Wijesinghe, former secretary in the human rights ministry who has resigned to stand in April 8 parliamentary elections, rejected the charge of abuses linked to the war. Cops arrested over molestation Four policemen attached to the Mount Lavinia police crimes division have been arrested over allegations they molested a woman in Mount Lavinia last night while under the influence of liquor, the Mount Lavinia police told Daily Mirror online.The policemen had molested the lady near the beach of a bar in Mount Lavinia last night while she was alone in the area. Relatives of the lady had later gone to the Mount Lavinia police station to vent their anger over the incident.Following a complaint lodged at the police station the four police officers were arrested and produced before the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) to see if their were under the influence of liquor. The lady who was molested is also to be produced to the JMO Mahinda will take oaths for second term on Nov. 18 – GL President Mahinda Rajapaksa will take oaths for his second term on November 18, this year, Export Development and International Trade Minister G.L. Peiris said yesterday.He told the Cabinet press briefing in Colombo that the commencement of the second term, would be in keeping with the Supreme Court ruling, on the determination that was sought by the government.Rajapaksa was sworn in for his first term on November 19, 2005. Commenting on tourism promotion, he said that the government was on course to attract 5,000 more French tourists to Sri Lanka before the end of the year.The focus, he said, would be on promoting eco and health tourism. In this regard, he had met representatives of a leading French travel agency, yesterday.The number of western tourists visiting the country had appreciated considerably, he claimed. A-9 road opening brings better prospects The supply of rice, vegetables, fruits and other local produce from the North and East has increased rapidly with the opening of the A-9 road after 30 years, said Trade, Marketing Development and Consumer | ||
