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06 February 2012

US to table motion against Lanka at Geneva

Secretary of state Hillary Clinton has written to external affairs minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, informing him that the US would table a motion against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Radio Netherlands has reported.The UNHRC sessions are due to begin in March this year.According to our correspondent in France, Rohan Rambukwella, the two officials are due to meet in Washington next month.Washington has asked Lankan authorities to conduct a proper investigation into allegations of civilian deaths during the final phase of the war against the LTTE.Meanwhile, spokesman for the London-based ‘Campaign Sri Lanka’ Fred Carver has questioned the impartiality of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission report.He has told Radio Netherlands that the Sri Lankan government has taken no follow-up steps after the releasing of the LLRC report.International Crisis Group’s Allen Kennan has said the world community was not satisfied with the steps being taken to build communal harmony in the country.Spokesman for the US delegation to Geneva David Kennedy has expressed belief an American motion would help Sri Lanka push towards harmony among communities.

3 US officials visits SriLanka

The United States is sending three top officials to Colombo ahead of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva where Washington is proposing to move a resolution on Sri Lanka.US official Steven Rapp, whose new designation is Ambassador at large for Global Criminal Justice. He will arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow and leave on February 11.He is expected to meet several government officials including Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.The two officials are Marie Otero, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights and Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary in the State Department for Central and South Asian Affairs. They will arrive in Colombo on February 12.

Implementation of 13plus would not solve problems of people in North and East: Diplomats

Religious leaders and diplomats of this country revealed it’s difficult to solve problems of people in the North and East by implementing the 13th or 13th plus amendment in this country , Divaina news paper reports.It was easy to establish peace and solve problems faced by the people of this country by providing equal rights for Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim people of this country.Professor of the Jayawardenepura University Most.Ven. Pelanwila Vimalatharana thera stated implementation of  13th plus amendment would not solve problems of people residing in North and East. It’s not necessary to implement such amendment according to the pressure made by the foreign nations.Steps should be taken to develop resettlement, education and health facilities of this country. Tamil and Muslim community people should not treated as second party of this country. They also need to be treated as Sinhala people of this country said the Thera.

Sri Lanka may drop dollar to meet Iran oil sanctions

Sri Lanka may avoid a costly squeeze by the United States sanctions on Iranian crude by purchasing it in a currency other than dollars, following India's lead, officials said on Sunday.The Indian Ocean island nation is facing the most potential collateral damage from the sanctions, which are meant to cut off the dollars Washington believes are being used to fund Iran's nuclear ambitions.Sri Lanka imports 93 percent of its oil from Iran, OPEC's second biggest producer, and its sole refinery, the 50,000 barrel-per-day Sapugaskanda plant, can only refine Iranian crude and three or four others that are in short supply.U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing, Luke Bronin, flew in for a one-day visit on Thursday to meet a host of government officials to explain the options available and the impact on Sri Lanka.A senior government official directly involved in Sri Lanka's payments to Iran who met with Bronin said he offered a potential solution."I don't know whether it was deliberate or it was accidental, but he said they are only concerned about transactions done in dollars, so that was a hint to us," the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.Sri Lanka's central bank pays its Iranian counterpart on behalf of the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation through the Asian Clearing Union (ACU), a nine-nation trade clearing house set up in Tehran in 1974.The ACU method would run afoul of the sanctions, which were signed into law on Dec. 31 and are due to take effect after a six-month deadline. India already ruled out the ACU last year.

ANYTHING BUT DOLLARS

The fact the United States appears only to be concerned with dollars opens up an opportunity for Sri Lanka to follow India's lead. India is considering rupee-denominated transactions and other similar options to pay for its Iranian crude needs. "It gives us the option of doing it in Indian rupees or some other currency, although we would prefer to do it in Sri Lankan rupees," the official said.President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week complained Sri Lanka and other small nations were being unfairly squeezed in a fight not of their making, and said he had asked his officials to find out what alternatives the United States could offer.A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said the United States was mainly concerned with dollar transactions, and had not attempted to extract a political price from Sri Lanka, which is separately under pressure from Washington over war crimes allegations and the slow pace of reconciliation following the end of its civil war."The point is to try and choke some dollars off, so we want to know what the Sri Lankan government is going to do in terms of a workaround," a U.S. embassy official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "At least they are trying, so that's good."Bronin declined to speak to a Reuters reporter on Thursday."He came to explain the act, the meaning of the act and what options are available to us," Foreign Secretary Karunaratne Amunugama told Reuters. "We are aware of the seriousness of the act, and government agencies are discussing what options we could take."Sri Lanka has already said it was looking at buying crude from Oman and Saudi Arabia, both of whom can supply something the Sapugaskanda refinery can handle. The possibility of a waiver from the United States, which requires a demonstration of lessened ties with Iran, is also under consideration. Meanwhile, an Indian petroleum ministry delegation visited on Friday and expressed formal interest in taking over the upgrade of the Sapugaskanda refinery."We already have interests here with Lanka Indian Oil Corporation, so it would fit in that context, and a technical-level team will be coming," an Indian diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity.Iran had initially proposed a $2 billion upgrade, but it fell apart when the government was unable or unwilling to contribute $500 million to it.

Hirunika to join politics

Hirunika, the daughter of late Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra has announced she will join active politics from the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party.She came into the spotlight in the aftermath of the killing of her father during a shootout in Mulleriyawa on October 8 last year. During the shootout three others were killed while serious head injuries were cause to parliamentarian Duminda Silva. The Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya (SLMP) is a political party founded in 1984 by actor turned politician the late Vijaya Kumaranatunga, husband of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The late Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra entered politics by joining the SLMP.

LTTE Leader Pirapaharan postal stamp released in Norway

Eezham Tamil activists in Norway on Saturday released stamps featuring LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan, the map of Tamil Eelam and some of the LTTE declared national symbols of the de-facto state of Tamil Eelam, including the Tamil Eelam national flag. The stamps were released in front of the Norwegian Parliament by Jeyasri Balasubramaniam, a candidate elected to represent the Eezham Tamils in two elections held in that country. The event coincided with the so-called independence day of Sri Lanka. On 4th February 1948, the British conferred dominion status to the island then called Ceylon and transferred power to a Colombo-centric, ethnic majoritarian and unitary system of government.The release of the stamps, bearing Norway's postal authority insignia, comes following the release of similar stamps in other countries in Canada and in other countries in Europe. Tamil activists were seen distributing stamps to Norwegians and Eezham Tamils amidst the cold weather prevailing in the capital of Norway, sources in Oslo said.

Will not ‘stop’ till Katchchatheevu is retrieved: Jayalalithaa

Maintaining that she was working towards protecting the livelihood of fishermen, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Friday said she would not ‘stop’ till Katchchatheevu, an islet in the Palk straits now under the control of Sri Lanka, is retrieved. "The attacks on Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy can be stopped only by retrieving Kachchatheevu," she said in the state assembly. Replying to CPI member Arumugam, Jayalalithaa said her case on getting back Kachchatheevu from Sri Lanka was in the Supreme Court. The Tamil Nadu government too had passed a resolution on this effect. "Now, the state finance ministry is also attaching documents for this.I am working towards protecting the livelihood of the fishermen and I will not stop until Kachchatheevu is retrieved," she asserted. Kachchatheevu was ceded by India to Sri Lanka under an agreement in 1974.

WikiLeaks: “Looked Like” EPDP And SL Navy Burnt The Uthayan – Basil To US

“He added that it ‘looked like’ EPDP cadres, along with the SLN, had perpetrated the mid-August burning of the pro-LTTE Uthayan newspaper office in Jaffna”, the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” and recounts details of a meeting US Ambassador to Colombo had with the President’s advisor and brother Basil Rajapaksa on October 4, 2006. The cable was written by the US Ambassador to Colombo, Robert O. Blake.Ambassador Blake wrote “‘We have had trouble with other Tamil groups,’ Rajapaksa explained, naming Douglas Devananda’s Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) and the Karuna Faction who ‘might have weapons.’ Rajapaksa said that the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) has requested Devananda and the Tamil Mukkal Vidutalai Pulikal (TMVP – Tamil People’s Liberation Tigers, a.k.a. the Karuna faction) to control their members and in the case of the TMVP to ‘go back to Batticaloa.’ ‘We have clearly instructed Douglas and Karuna that they are personally responsible for the actions of their members.’ He added that it ‘looked like’ EPDP cadres, along with the SLN, had perpetrated the mid-August burning of the pro-LTTE Uthayan newspaper office in Jaffna.Under the subheading “Winning Hearts and Minds in Jaffna” the Ambassador wrote, “Rajapaksa spoke proudly of the GSL’s efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Jaffna, where fighting since August 11 has cut off the supply line by land. He said that in Jaffna ‘the Tamils feel we are trying to look after them by sending supplies. They know that the LTTE refused to allow the ICRC supply chain but that we have never stopped supplying food despite the cost.’”

03 February 2012

Independent international investigations against SriLanka : British parliamentary group

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPGT) in collaboration with the British Tamils Forum (BTF) held an exhibition on 31st January 2012, at the UK Parliament building. The exhibition highlighted the current situation of the Tamils in Sri Lanka; and why,.the Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report recently published by the Sri Lankan Government will not deliver justice to the Tamil civilians for the crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces during the final stages of the war in 2009.The event in portcullis house was well attended by MPs from all the major parties, Members of European parliament, Peers from the House of Lords and diplomats from various foreign missions in London and journalists.Photos, books, publications, documentaries and videos were on display. There were also key eyewitnesses to the bloody war in Sri Lanka present at the event. Over one hundred invited honourable guests attended the event and were given information pack containing reports, documents and photographs. A printed version of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) response to the LLRC was also given to the visitors.This BTF coordinated effort was used as a launching pad for the March 2012 UN Human Rights Council session to push for political will in the UK and also coincides with the so-called Independence Day remembrance of Sri Lanka.The exhibition is part of the project ENLIGHTEN, which was started in Nov 2007 and continues to publish informative materials.British Tamils Forum (BTF), Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), Holland Tamil Forum (HTF), UK Tamils Youth Organisation (TYO UK) and Tamil Information Centre (TIC) helped in research and fact compilation for this exhibition.Documentaries named “My neighbour a Sri Lanka Tamil” by 3rd eye productions and “Mullaitheevu Saga” by S. Someetharan was screened in the exhibition room.UN Experts Panel Report on Accountability in Sri Lanka had presented that substantial evidence exists for war crimes and crimes against humanity charges against the Sri Lankan Army during the war in 2009. Panel recommended further investigation into these allegations. The Sri Lankan Government refused to conduct any such investigation and on the contrary, continues to silence those who clamour for independent investigation into this matter, through murder, intimidation and enforced disappearances.Recently released Sri Lankan government’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission report failed to investigate any of the war crime charges yet, cleared the Sri Lankan military and its command structure from any accountability for these charges. In June 2011,Speaking after the transmission of Channel 4’s documentary ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’, Foreign Office Minister for South Asia Alistair Burt said: “I was shocked by the horrific scenes I saw in the documentary that was broadcast on 14 June.The recent UN Panel of Experts’ report, this documentary and previously authenticated Channel 4 footage, constitute convincing evidence of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The whole of the international community will expect the Sri Lankans to give a serious and full response to this evidence.UK has called for an independent, thorough and credible investigation of the allegations that war crimes were committed during the hostilities and the UK Government expects to see progress by the end of the year. If the Sri Lankan government does not respond we will support the international community in revisiting all options available to press the Sri Lankan Government to fulfil its obligations.’’The above deadline given by the minister to Sri Lanka had passed and the participants requested that the UK government consider all the available ‘’options’’ now. The Sri Lankan government seems determined to disregard all international human rights conventions and embolden by the international inaction, has resorted to abductions, threats and unlawful executions while continuing its programme of structural genocide on the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. It has also resorted to unlawful and undemocratic means to silence the call for justice by those few amongst the Sinhalese community as well. If the international community fails to act now, the Tamil population and their identity would be completely wiped out from Sri Lanka within a short period, completing the structural genocide.Most of the MP’s present from all the major political parties in the British parliament called on the international community to come together and take immediate measures to establish an international independent investigation through the multilateral agencies like UNHRC and ICC, British Tamil Forum reports.

MR want to brief US

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stressed the need to send a delegation to the United States of America ahead of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, to brief the leaders of that country on the measures taken by him to improve the human rights situation here, sources said today. The US government has already announced that they will support a motion against Sri Lanka at the next session of the UN Human Rights Commission scheduled for next month. Also, State Secretary Hilary Clinton recently invited her Sri Lankan counterpart to visit the US and counter the allegations made against Sri Lanka. Governmental sources said that the issue was discussed at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. First, Senior Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara queried about media reports in this regard. The President noted that Sri Lanka should engage with the US ahead of the Human Rights Commission’ session.“It is important for us to brief them about measures we have taken, and plans for the future,” he told the meeting.However, Housing Constructions and Engineering Services Minister Wimal Weerawansa expressed reservations about such a diplomatic interaction with the US leaders at this hour. Mr. Weerawansa opined that  the US would not budge from its stand against Sri Lanka despite such a visit. Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa reportedly intervened at this moment and said that it was not advisable for anyone to look at this issue from an extremist point of view.  He supported the President’s idea to send a delegation to the US at this hour. Planation Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe also supported the stand taken by the President. Besides, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake emphasised the need to secure the support of India at this hour. “If India is with us, we can ward off the international pressure,” he said. 

Tamil Nadu boycott: Sri Lankan exporters remain unruffled ‘ONLYA TEMPORARY SETBACK

The government yesterday expressed confidence that the boycott imposed by the Tamil Nadu state on Sri Lankan exports of confectionery products such as biscuits and chocolates was only a temporary setback and that the matters would be ironed out before long.Director General of Commerce P. G. Fernando told The Island that he was in touch with both the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi and the Deputy HC in Chennai and was confident that matters would be sorted out soon.Sri Lanka Export Development Board Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said it was a only a temporary setback which could be overcome soon for Sri Lankan manufacturers to resume exporting their confectioneries to the South Indian markets soon. He said: "This is only a temporary setback. There were much bigger issues in terms of international trade such as the issues in Libya, Iran and Iraq which affected Sri Lankan trade and those issues were ironed out. So, this issue which was never of the same magnitude will also be sorted out with the passage of time and we will be talking to the right authorities and we will initiate the right dialogue."Sri Lanka’s export volumes were US$ 11 billion for last year and it would would improve this year and Tamil Nadu was just a small market, he said.One of the principal exporters of biscuits to Tamil Nadu- Ceylon Biscuits Ltd believed it was typical bullying by the giant neighbour."We have been very consistent with the exports to the Tamil Nadu market where we export four containers of Munchee Biscuits every month. This is grossly unfair on the part of Tamil Nadu government," Ceylon Biscuits Chairman Mineka Wickremasinghe told The Island in a telephone interview from Bangladesh yesterday afternoon.It was typical of Tamil Nadu which was playing the role of the overgrown bully and that was bad in the light of Sri Lanka stretching its arm to India in almost all the significant imports such as vehicles, pharmaceuticals and a whole range of other products, the CBL Chief said.Maliban Biscuits CEO Sales Ravi Jayawardena said that the Tamil Nadu market was virtually insignificant in the context of its exports which were spread over among 25 countries and that would not have no impact on its portfolio, despite the temporary setback.John Keells Holdings Deputy Group Chairman Ajit Gunewardene too said that Tamil Nadu was an insignificant market for Elephant House Ginger Beer, which was manufactured by its member company Ceylon Cold Stores.Indian High Commission’s Commercial Counsellor A. Manish was not available for comment as he was at meetings with a high profile Indian delegation in Colombo.

UNP will support govt. to overcome international pressure

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) said today it was prepared to support the government to overcome any pressure from the international community in the future. But the government should establish an independent Attorney General’s Department, an independent Judiciary and an independent Police Commission as soon as possible. UNP Senior Vice President and parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella told a news conference that the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government which assured the international community of implementing the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) had conveniently forgotten about it today. Mr. Kiriella said this in response to a statement by External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris that the LLRC report would not be presented to United Nations Human Rights Council sessions later this month.He said the stand taken by the government was unbelievable because it was the very same government which called for the rejection of the Darusaman report on the assurance that the LLRC was a better option and its recommendations would be implemented. He asked how the LLRC report, which had confirmed some 90 per cent of what was stated in the Darusman report, could be rejected. “On what grounds can the government reject the report submitted by a commission appointed by it,” Mr. Kiriella asked. He said the Human Rights Action Plan to be presented by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe at the UNHRC sessions would not bring any positive results. He said this was a diluted version of the report prepared by civil society groups and NGOs at the request of the government. Mr. Kiriella said the government should set up independent commissions as proposed in the 17th Amendment to the Constitution and enact witness protection laws so as to put the country in an advantageous position when it comes to facing the UNHRC.To a question posed by journalists on the UNP’s stand on the All Party Conference proposed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr. Kireella said asking for help from opposition parties when the government was facing difficulties was not the best way to resolve these matters. He said UNP would support the government for the sake of the country if positive action was taken without resorting to delaying tactics.

TNA hopes to create separation through land and police powers : Vinayamoorthi Muralitharan

The Deputy Minister of Resettlement Vinayamoorthi Muralitharan blames by asking land and police powers Tamil National Alliance hopes to create separation in this country.Speaking at a media briefing held at the Ministry Minister stated I agree to grant land power towards provinces but by granting police powers what are the benefits would be achieve by TNA and also questioned what are the benefits they will hand over towards Tamil people of this country. Deputy Minister further said it’s was unable to announce political solution which would affect 75% of Sinhala people of this country.While addressing the gathering Deputy Minister went on to say, parliamentary select committee would make decisions on amendment . By supporting president it would be easy for us to solve our problems. It’s pointless on demanding land and police powers towards provinces of this country. This police power would create different types of suspicion in our nation.Replying to a question raised by a journalist on migrated Tamil nationals currently residing in India Deputy Minister went on to say we hope to complete resettlement prorgramme of internal displaced people of this country and also we have resettled people arrive from India. 1000 IDP’s have returned towards island said the Deputy Minister.

All party conference will only delay solution to Tamil problem : Ganesan

The President calling for an all party conference, to discuss the implementation of the devolution of power to the provinces, would not result in achieving any gain for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, since it would only cause further delay in providing a solution to the existing ethnic issue, leader of the Democratic Peoples Front Mano Ganesan said.The President had decided to hold an all party conference due to the delay by the opposition political parties to nominate representatives to the Parliamentary Select Committee proposed to find a political solution to the ethnic issue."The basis of the discussions between the Tamil National Alliance and the government should be the report of the All Party Representatives Conference (APRC), handed over to the president in early 2008, which was led by an expert committee," Ganesan said. The SLFP, the main party in the ruling alliance, had participated in that exercise.The APRC report suggested a number of proposals in favour of devolution of power to the provinces. It would provide a platform for the government and other political parties to discuss and reach an agreement on the level of devolution to be implemented, he said.Ganesan also said that the government presiding over a new all party conference would ultimately result in the implementation of the government’s position on the devolution of power, which might result in aggravating the grievances of the Tamil Community."The world eagerly looks for a fair and just solution to the Tamil question and this is not a time to start from the very beginning when the government already had the APRC Report as a basis for the discussions," he said.Responding to a query, Ganesan said that the Eastern provincial council unanimously approving that the land powers should be vested with the provincial councils, was an important move to stress to the government the need to devolve power.

Sri Lanka- Jaffna gets a 15 storied Star Class hotel

The rapidly developing Northern Province following the defeat of terrorism has become a springboard for local and foreign investors seeking investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. Construction of a 70-room, 15 storied star class hotel in the heart of Jaffna will be launched tomorrow.  Mercantile Merchant Bank Ltd,  and the Jetwing Group through an equally-owned joint venture will invest Rs. 700 million on this hotel project.Launching of the construction will be jointly officiated by Prime Minister D.M Jayaratne and the Minister of  Economic Development Mr. Basil Rajapaksa.The hotel named Yarl Jetwing will be constructed on a 50 perch land area on the Old Clock Tower Road, in Jaffna. Designed by Design Group 5, the hotel will have a roof top swimming pool and a Presidential Suite and the construction work is to be completed within 18 months.The location of the hotel will be adjacent to Rs. 500 million new shopping and entertainment complex being built by Cargills (Ceylon) Plc.The new Cargills shopping complex of 4 floors with a total floor area of 74,000 sq ft would comprise of retail/shopping space, a bank, a food court, a Cineplex with three cinema screens and a basement car park. The construction work of this complex is to be completed by mid-2013.Meanwhile, the MMBL is also implementing several other eco tourism projects in Delft Island in partnership with several other companies.

02 February 2012

The Fog of an Uncivil War in Sri Lanka

It has been nearly three years since Sri Lankan government troops crushed the separatist Tamil Tigers in a gory, scorched-earth campaign that brought an end to three decades of civil war. The final battles — with some 300,000 civilians caught in the crossfire — were fought on the northern beaches and in the impoverished hamlets of the island nation.But the fog of war still has not lifted in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka said Tuesday that it would not be sending a review of alleged war crimes to the United Nations for discussion. There’s no need, a senior government official said, because its international critics in New York won’t be persuaded anyway.A United Nations report has already called for an international inquiry into likely atrocities. Investigators found credible claims that a lot of hands had a lot of blood on them. The Tigers, after all, pretty much invented suicide bombing and the use of female suicide bombers. And Sri Lankan artillery batteries unleashed hell, even if civilians were in the way.Here’s one representative sentence from the U.N. findings: “The Government systematically shelled hospitals on the frontlines.’’ And this sentence, which found that the Tigers “started point-blank shooting of civilians who attempted to escape the conflict zone.’’It was that kind of war. More like murder.In December, after the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission had taken testimonies from hundreds of battlefield witnesses, the government completed its review of the war.Suresh Premachandran of the Tamil National Alliance, the leading political party of the minority Tamils, told The Associated Press that the government’s submersion of the report was meant to deflect a likely storm of criticism over its end-game prosecution of the war.Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry secretary told the Daily News in Colombo that government critics could not be persuaded by any explanation or defense. “We know that we can’t make them happy no matter what we do,’’ said Karunatilaka Amunugama.In a recent commentary in The New York Times, the journalist Namini Wijedasa said the government report was “a valuable document, but regarding the war’s final weeks, it is largely an apologia for the army.’’Sri Lanka’s Independence Day falls on Saturday, marking the former colony’s break from Britain in 1948. The timing would seem propitious for a reversal of the government’s stance on its refusal to make a break with its more recent past.Forwarding its report to the U.N. might also elicit some assistance from Washington if the United States and the European Union place further sanctions on Iran. Sri Lanka gets 93 percent of its oil from Iran.A senior U.S. Treasury official, Luke Bronin, is scheduled to have talks in Sri Lanka on Thursday. Iranian sanctions will certainly be on the agenda.“We need an alternative. We’ll tell them to give us an alternative,” President Mahinda Rajapaksa told reporters on Tuesday, noting that in the end, U.S. and E.U. sanctions “are not punishing Iran — they are punishing us, small countries.’’He was asked if he would ask for a waiver of the sanctions, for a way to escape the Washington-Tehran crossfire.“We might,’’ the president said. “Otherwise, how do we survive?’’

India, Sri Lanka hold defence dialogue

Aiming to enhance bilateral defence cooperation and to discuss the regional security situation, India and Sri Lanka have held the inaugural round of Annual Defence Dialogue here. The two sides were on Tuesday represented by the Defence Secretaries, officers of the armed forces and those from the Defence Ministry.  "Regional security situation including issues of maritime security in the Indian Ocean region dominated the inaugural Annual Defence Dialogue. Issues relating to bilateral defence interactions also came up for discussion at the meeting," Defence Ministry officials said here. Indian delegation comprising officers of the armed forces and senior officials from the Ministry was led by Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma. Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa co-chaired the meeting alongwith with officials. The two officers later also called on Defence Minister AK Antony at his office in the South Block. India and Sri Lanka share a close defence relationship with several exchange programmes and exercises. While some of the officer cadets of Sri Lankan armed forces are trained in National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Military Academy (IMA), its officers also come to other military institutions on exchange programmes.

Rajapaksa's appeal to Jayalalithaa

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has a message for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa: "Take care of our people who go there. Ministers, our relations etc."Commenting on the attack on his relative and industrialist, Thirukumar Nadesan, he said that he was attacked only because he was married to Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa."He is a Hindu, he is a Tamil from north not from south Even the Indian fishermen are protesting [against the attack on him]," the President said, at an interaction with foreign correspondents based here. Asked if he had a message for the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, he said: "Stop this."

Railway strike ends after talks

Stationmasters, guards and signalmen have ended their strike action that was launched Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 01), following a discussion they had with transport minister Kumar Welgama.Pressing for several demands, including the elimination of their salary anomalies, the railway workers struck work, and train passengers were severely inconvenienced as a result.At the Colombo Fort railway station, angry passengers turned unruly, reports said.

Senior police officer hospitalis​ed due to poisoning

SSP of Kurunegala Vaas Gunawardena has been admitted to hospital following possible poisoning.He was first taken to Kurunegala General Hospital, from where he was to be transferred to Colombo National Hospital.At the time of admission to Kurunegala Hospital, he was heavily inebriated and in an unconscious state said Soma Rajamandhri director of Kurunegal hospital.Doctor further said they are carrying out further research whether the body of the SSP has observed the poision in to his body.

Documentary on Tharaki's life

A documentary on the life of slain journalist Dharmaratnam Sivaram alias Tharaki has been produced.‘Tharaki: Journey of a Journalist’ has received contributions from several journalists as well as activists in the political and social fields, its director S. Someetharan told ‘Srilankamirror’ correspondent in France, Rohan Rambukwella.He has previously directed ‘Burning Memories’ and ‘Mullaitivu Saga’, and had worked with Sivaram in ‘North Eastern Herald.’There are several other films produced on the life of the murdered journalist, who had also served in ‘The Island’, ‘Sunday Times’ and ‘Weerakesari’ newspapers.A military and political analyst, he later started the website ‘Tamilnet.’He was abducted on April 28, 2005, and the dead body was found on the following day near Diyawanna Oya close to the parliamentary complex.The judicial process into his murder is still ongoing.

PFLT, 2 other parties lose registration

The Elections Department cancelled the registration of three political parties namely the National Unity Alliance (NUA) formed by SLMC founder leader late A.H.M. Ashraff, the People’s Front of Liberation Tigers(PFLT) formed by the LTTE and the Eelam People’s Democratic National Front (ENDLF) The Elections Commissioner has cancelled these parties where they have failed to submit relevant documents required annually to keep their registrations intact. The parties are required to send their annual statements of accounts in terms of the new law.Peoples Front of Liberation Tigers was established by the LTTE political wing in 1989. LTTE Deputy leader Gopalasuwami Mahendraraja alias Mathaiya appointed has the party leader and Yogaratnam Yogi appointed has the general secretary of the party. Tiger was symbol of this party.The Late president Ranasinghe Premadasa named this party as the Peoples Front of Liberation Tigers during the all party meeting in 1989.However since beginning of war this party has withdrawn from the political activities in 1990.The first national conference of the party was held in Vakarai on 24th of February- 1st of March 1990. More than 15,000 members were present at this conference and the party also announced their constitution on this event.According to the political anylist A.H.M.Ashraff establish the National Unity Alliance in year 2000 to enter in to the national politics of the country.Later Berial Ashraff wife of Asfraff and current Singapore Ambassador to SriLanka appointed has leader of this party.Group of members separated from the Plot and EPRLF establish Eelam People’s Democratic National Alliance in 1987.This party was lead by Patmanaba and the Military troop of the party was led by the current Minister of Small Enterprises and the leader of EPDP Douglas Devananda.Group separated from the Ealam Peoples Democratict National Alliance lead by Minister Devananda joined with the Plot Paranthan Rajan.Indian peace forces supported this political party to face the attacks carried out by the LTTE. Minister Douglas Devananda separated from this party establish EPDP political party.

01 February 2012

Death sentence to be imposed against TNA representatives who will give evidence against the country at the UN Human Rights Council: National Patriotic Movement

The National Patriotic Movement announced death sentence to be imposed against TNA representatives who will give evidence against the country at the UN Human Rights Council session I Geneva.America and several other western countries are hoping to conduct international investigations against our country. Movement pointed out at present our country is forced to struggle against these allegations in order to save our motherland.Organizer and the General Secretary of the National Patriotic Movement Vasantha Bandara stated there is no doubt international would stress to carry out investigations against proposal of final report of LLRC at the UN Human Rights Council session schedule to held in march.At present country is facing difficulties where the LLRC panel made their interferences in to the political activities of the country. Due to this number of international allegations increased against the country. Up to now Tamil National Alliance fail to carry out work which would benefit our country or the Tamil people of this nation.They are releasing false statements towards international. Death sentence would be impose against TNA members if they give evidence against our country at the UN Human Rights Council.

Sri Lanka Tamil party tells President not to vacillate on the ethnic issue

Sri Lanka's major Tamil political party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says that President Mahinda Rajapaksa should stop vacillating in finding a political solution to the ethnic issue and honor the undertaking given to the TNA.TNA parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran told ColomboPage that the President should not be changing his stance with regard to finding a solution to the ethnic issue."He keeps changing his stance on the issue every now and then," he said.He explained that the President has given an undertaking to the TNA that a solution to the ethnic issue would be discussed with the party."However, he then proposed a parliamentary select committee (PSC) and asked the TNA to submit names to it. The TNA then agreed to provide names after reaching a substantive agreement with regard to the solution in the talks with the government. The government then stopped the discussion with the TNA. Now the President is trying to convene an all party conference," he observed."It's not good for the President to be changing his stance. He must honor the agreement with the TNA," Sumanthiran noted.

Who’s the liar – the President or the Indian FM?

Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna who was in Sri Lanka on an official visit recently announced in a media conference held here that President Mahinda Rajapaksa agreed for a devolution package that goes beyond the 13th amendment. However, at the monthly meeting of media heads held at Temple Trees yesterday (30th) the President had said he had discussed with Krishna but had not agreed for a devolution that goes beyond the 13th amendment.When the Indian Foreign Minister announced that the President had agreed for a package of devolution of power that goes beyond the 13th amendment Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris was present at the media conference. He didn’t contradict the Indian foreign Minister’s official announcement nor did the government make any official announcement regarding it.There was uproar in the country regarding Indian Foreign Minister’s announcement.  The JVP responded sternly regarding the statement pointing out political repercussions Indian Foreign Minister’s statement would bring about. The JVP asked whether the Indian Foreign Minister was a media spokesman for the government of Sri Lanka.President Mahinda Rajapakse, who was silent all this time despite there was a political turmoil created by the Indian Foreign Minister’s statement, has held a tea party for the media heads and responded to it. The main issue springing up from this is who is the liar – the President or the Indian FM?

U.S. punishing small nations, says Rajapaksa

As the United States' and European Union's combined sanctions against Iran take effect, small nations like Sri Lanka are extremely worried. Sri Lanka depends almost entirely on Iran for its crude oil supplies and the only refinery in the country, Sapugaskanda, can only process Iranian crude.“We are discussing what we should do,” Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said when asked what the country's options were at an interaction with foreign correspondents based in Colombo at his official residence, Temple Trees.The Iranians provide a seven-month credit facility, and 93 per cent of the crude comes from Iran. A major part of the crude is converted to fuel oil at Sapugaskanda, a facility put up in the sixties and which is in dire need of renovation. Fuel oil powers the turbines to produce electricity.

ALTERNATIVE NEEDED

“We need an alternative. Finally they [the U.S. and the West] are not punishing Iran. They are punishing us, small countries,” said Mr. Rajapaksa. Asked if Sri Lanka is considering approaching the U.S. for a waiver of the sanctions, he said: “We might. Otherwise how do we survive?” Asked if the U.S. Embassy in Colombo had written to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka asking it not to make dollar payments to Iran, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said the general sanctions had been notified. “There has been no real interaction so far,” he said.Mr. Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka was also considering approaching China and India for help.Asked if Sri Lanka will follow the example set by India — India has said it will be guided only by U.N. sanctions and not U.S. sanctions — he said this had to be studied.On the question of modernising the refinery, Mr. Rajapaksa said discussions were on with a few countries, including Canada and the Czech Republic. In fact, the Czech Export Bank had, last year, written to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, detailing its interest in participating in modernisation of the plant.Meanwhile, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and former U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert O' Blake, is expected to visit Colombo and hold discussions with leaders here. Also expected is the much-delayed visit of an Indian Petroleum Ministry delegation in the first week of February.

Sri Lanka is no pearl on China's string, Rajapaksa says

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was emphatic: China's presence in Sri Lanka is strictly business, and not political.Challenged on speculation that China financed and built the $1.4 billion Mahinda Rajapaksa port on Sri Lanka's south coast so it could sneak a naval base into India's backyard, Rajapaksa laughed and said his giant neighbour had not complained."No one has said anything to us, not India, not even the U.S. Even the U.S., the British and India are now inviting China to come and invest," he said on Tuesday at a meeting with foreign journalists.Located just off of India's southern tip, the island of 21 million has become a visible front in the cold war between the Asian giants, where mutual suspicion crossbred with commercial ambition have produced a construction arms race of sorts."They try to match each other. A coal plant on one side of the country by the Chinese, another by the Indians on the other side. A port in the south by the Chinese, a port in the north by the Indians," said a European diplomat based in Colombo.Sri Lanka's location astride an ancient and lucrative trade route in the Indian Ocean makes it of strategic commercial and military interest to Washington, New Delhi and Beijing.That, some analysts theorize, makes it a prime part of China's so-called "String of Pearls" strategy to surround India and project its presence by setting up coaling stations under commercial auspices at port after port in the Indian Ocean.So far, the weapons of influence have been financial: India and China have both funded huge chunks of Rajapaksa's $6 billion post-war overhaul of roads, railways, ports and power plants.

STICKY IRANIAN WICKET

Rajapaksa's foreign policy is firmly rooted in Sri Lanka's Non-Aligned Movement history, and during the last year of a three-decade war with the separatist Tamil Tigers, he played China, India and the West off each other as it suited him.So now, with the West lobbying for a probe into war crimes allegations from the conflict's bloody end in 2009 and U.S. sanctions on Iranian crude threatening almost all of Sri Lanka's oil supply, Rajapaksa once again is taking stock of his friends."We are talking with the Indian government and the U.S.," he said, referring to ongoing talks with New Delhi and a visit later this week by Luke Bronin, a U.S. deputy assistant treasury secretary, who is expected to brief the government on its options regarding the Iran sanctions."We'll tell them to give us an alternative. There must be an alternative. We can't stop all the railways," Rajapaksa said. "Finally, they are not punishing Iran, they are punishing us, the small countries."Asked if he would consider seeking a waiver from the U.S. sanctions, Rajapaksa said: "We might, because 93 percent of our crude we are depending on Iran for."The United States, at the fore of calls for Sri Lanka to look into war crimes allegations itself or else face an external probe, would likely extract concessions from the government on post-war reconciliation and reduced ties with Iran in exchange for a waiver."We likely won't want to spend that political capital," a senior government official involved in the Iran negotiations told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Iran is Sri Lanka's fourth-largest trading partner and biggest tea buyer.

NOT INDIA'S CUBA

That's where both India and China come in: both support Sri Lanka against calls for an external war crimes probe, and in finding a way around the Iranian oil sanctions.China for the third year running was Sri Lanka's largest bilateral donor, committing $784 million through the first nine months of 2011, or 44 percent of the total.India's bilateral loans pale by comparison in the same period at barely $9 million, but that primarily has to do with the fact that private Indian companies invest directly whereas China loans the money for projects in which its companies invariably do the work and provide the equipment.Over the past two months, the lawn in front of the defence ministry on Colombo's Galle Face seafront in Colombo has been a show of Chinese commercial force: more than once it has been turned into an outdoor bazaar of freshly delivered Chinese buses, bulldozers, road graders and auto-rickshaws.A Western diplomat in Colombo said commercial interests were a much better explanation for China's push into Sri Lanka than the "string of pearls" theory, which he dismissed as "existing mainly in the minds of Indian think tanks".Sri Lanka would fall in line with "Mother India" very quickly if anything happened between India and China, the diplomat said. "This isn't going to become India's Cuba."

Clinton invites GL to Washington
 
The US government has decided to grant space and opportunity to Sri Lanka to come up with concrete proposals on reconciliation and accountability issues.Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has invited External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Pieris to visit Washington in March to discuss Sri Lanka’s plans to “move ahead on reconciliation and accountability issues and the Provincial Council elections of the Northern Province.”However, the US has emphasized that it has decided to go ahead with the resolution against Sri Lanka at the next sitting of the United Nations Human Rights Council which is scheduled to start on 27 February.The US has stated that they are under increasing pressure from concerned parties and will go ahead with the resolution.A letter with regard to this resolution has already been handed over to External Affairs Minister G.L. Pieris by the US Deputy Chief of Mission in Colombo on Friday.Clinton’s letter to Minister Pieris stated “while our decision about the March session has been made to help guide our thought on future action. I would like to invite you to Washington DC in March to discuss your plans to move ahead on reconciliation, accountability and provincial elections in the Northern Province”“The visit would provide a valuable opportunity for you to meet with think tanks of our Congress and brief them on the government’s intention and action plan”In the same letter, Clinton has stated that she is looking forward to discuss with Pieris and other concerned members of the international community to achieve lasting peace, reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.She also states “US has been a strong supporter of Sri Lanka since its independence and we remain committed to ensure a secure, peaceful, united and prosperous Sri Lanka where all citizens enjoy equal rights and opportunities”According to highly placed diplomatic sources India would also support the US resolution on Sri Lanka at the March sitting of the UNHRC.

Ex Tamil Tiger rebels 'free to join Sri Lanka police'

Police in Sri Lanka say that former Tamil Tiger fighters are free to apply to join the police force.They say more general efforts are also under way to recruit Tamil-speaking police from the areas affected by decades of war.However there has not been any formal announcement that former combatants can apply for police jobs.The conflict in Sri Lanka ended in 2009 when the military defeated Tamil Tiger rebels after decades of fighting.Police spokesman Ajith Rohana told the BBC that a recruitment drive is now on in the former war area and that ex-rebel members can apply.He said that almost all former combatants were forced to join rebel ranks and go to battle.As long as they have not been convicted, do not have trials pending and have the right physique, they can be considered for police jobs.But it will not be easy for all ex-fighters to consider such jobs: O-levels, A-levels or a university degree are needed, depending on the level of the post.Some who have undergone government "rehabilitation" in special camps have gone on to pass school-level exams.The government says about 10,000 such men and women, who it says surrendered as the war ended, have now been freed.About 1,000 remain in the camps while others will face trial. There are also hundreds of Tiger suspects already in prison.Mr Rohana said that recruiting Tamils and Tamil-speaking Muslims to what remains an overwhelmingly Sinhalese force is important because the main root of the war was the language barrier.However many commentators also cite political exclusion and discrimination as root causes of the war.He said 450 new Tamil-speaking sub-inspectors and constables, including some women, have just started their training.Last year some Tamil recruits to the force expressed dismay when they were suddenly excluded from a war anniversary parade. One said they appeared to be viewed as a security problem.

JVP dismisses MR’s all party conference

The JVP today dismissed President Mahinda Rajapksa’s proposal to convene an all party conference to discuss a solution to the ethnic issue.JVP Propaganda Secretary and parliamentarian Vijitha Herath said the all party conference is a failure like the conference that was previously summoned by the President.“The all party conference did not have an agenda and there was no proper outcome from it. It was a failure and there is no guarantee that the same exercise would not be repeated once again,” he said.“The JVP handed its proposals and an agenda for the talks when the all party meeting was convened by the President last time, but it they were not considered,” he added.According to Herath, the all party conference was nothing but a time buying exercise and a move to engage the international community.

Suicide jacket found in Kataragama rest house washing machine

Police recovered a suicide jacket inside a  Kataragama Pilgrim rest  on Tuesday.Police has sought help of the Government Analyst Department to check whether it contains live ammunition. Ten employees are presently being questioned.Our correspondent M.N.Piyaratne reports; the suicide jacket was found   at about 9.30 am at the Kataragama Muslim pilgrim rest,  according to O.I.C.Kataragama police inspector I.H.T.Bandara.The police have called the army and they have identified this as a suicide bomb armour kit  with two detonators in either side worn by L.T.T.E.cadres.According to the manager of the rest Mr.M.I.A. Samad, he had asked a carpenter attending to some repairs there, to find some tools from a store room.The carpenter  had witnessed this bomb there and informed the manager who informed the police.Kataragama police and the army are conducting the further investigations.