31 July 2005

LTTE moving towards UDI

The LTTE is moving towards a Universal Declaration of Independence (UDI) in early 2006.

The campaign to declare UDI was launched in Vavuniya on July 26 through the TNA and civic and religious leaders from the Tamil community including academics and writers. The campaign was launched under the title 'Tamil National Resurgence Convention.'

The LTTE was present in large numbers at the ceremony, but as invitees. At the convention the TNA, the LTTE and other groups present adopted a proclamation for the 'Tamil National Uprising.'

The proclamation called upon the international community to recognise the basic right to life on the basis of "our traditional homeland, our nationhood, self rule and struggle for sovereignty."

The first paragraph of the proclamation said, "Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism in southern Sri Lanka today has completely closed the door to a just and fair settlement to the Tamil national question."

"In this context we, the Tamil speaking people in the traditional homeland, place our perilous plight before the international community and seek urgent attention and justice," the proclamation read.

Going into details of the struggle for eelam, the proclamation called for the "the occupying Sinhala forces," to vacate "our lands and seas immediately."

LTTE Leader, Velupillai Pirapaharan authorised senior LTTE members V. Balakumaran, Head, Women's Political Wing, Thamilini and the district leaders of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar to attend the Vavuniya event.

The Sunday Leader learns that similar conventions would be taken from district to district in the north and east and proclamations adopted before the final declaration of UDI in early 2006. The proclamation also cites the failure on the part of the government to implement the P-TOMS.

Meanwhile, a similar event is planned in restive Batticaloa tomorrow, scheduled to take place at the Hindu College grounds.

Last week addressing an event organised by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) inside government controlled areas in Batticaloa, TNA MP, T. Jeeyanandamoorthi said the Tamils did not have any need for the security forces.

"We don't need the army, the police or the navy. Very soon we will have our own government from Jaffna to Ampara," he said addressing the event at Thiraimadu organised to hand over temporary shelters to tsunami victims.

The LTTE has also announced plans to have a series of public protests in Jaffna during the first week of August.

31 July 2005

US warns Lanka on religious bill
Aid and trade concessions might be affected
The United States has expressed “grave concern” to Sri Lanka over moves to introduce legislation against religious conversions. US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca, The Sunday Times learns, has told Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States, Bernard Gunatilleke that “religion cannot be legislated” and this was not something expected of Sri Lanka. She had reminded him the Government of Sri Lanka had given assurances at the highest level to US Ambassador Jeffrey Lunstead and the US administration that it would make sure a proposed bill would not become law.

Ms Rocca has explained that the Department of State was receiving numerous representations from Senators and Congressmen about the Government’s move. During a previous meeting, The Sunday Times learns, Ms Rocca had warned that pressure was building up and this could have adverse consequences on US aid and trade concessions to Sri Lanka. Buddha Sasana Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, obtained approval from the Cabinet for a “Freedom of Religion Bill” in October 2004. This was gazetted on June 27, this year.

In terms of this draft law, “converting persons unethically, subjecting a person to punishment for refusal to convert, accosting people with a view to converting and holding funds for such activities are prohibited.” A person convicted for such offences after a summary trial before a Magistrate is liable to imprisonment up to five years and to a fine of up to Rs 100,000. Where such an offence is committed against a minor, the offender is liable to a term of up to seven years and to a fine of Rs 500,000.

According to the Bill, where the offence is committed in a school, an institution of higher education, a place under the control of armed forces or Police, a refugee camp or transit centre, a hostel, a hospital, a home for children, elders, sick or the disabled, such fact is deemed by the Bill to be an aggravating circumstance which shall be taken into consideration when imposing the penalty. If the offence is committed by a body of persons all members of the body are deemed to be guilty unless they are able to prove that it was committed without their knowledge.

31 July 2005

JHU hits out
JHU Policy maker Champaka Ranawaka yesterday accused the government of trying to stall the process of enacting the anti-conversion bill due to international pressure. He said the international community had been mounting pressure to stop the legislation, warning that the enactment would lead Sri Lanka to be termed as a country which restricted religious freedom.

31 July 2005

CBK lays down the law to PM

President Chandrika Kumaratu-nga handed over the nomination for the next presidential election to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse subjecting him to several conditions. Kumaratunga stressed on the conditions during a meeting she had with the Bandaranaike family members and confidants. She ruled out any alliance with the JVP for Rajapakse.

Sources indicated that Kumara-tunga would head the SLFP campaign committee that will draft Rajapakse's policy statement. Among other conditions imposed by Kumaratunga and to be included in the policy statement, are guarantees that the P-TOMS would be implemented and to recommence peace talks with the LTTE. Kumaratunga has also insisted that while there was no room for any alliance with the JVP, any talks aimed at forming coalitions or alliances should be handled by her and the party general secretary.

Rajapakse's media campaign too will be handled by a committee headed by Kumaratunga

31 July 2005

JVP wants Mahinda to jettison P-TOMS

The JVP is to announce its own set of conditions to Mahinda Rajapakse if the new SLFP presidential candidate seeks the party's support. The JVP maintained last week that if Rajapakse wanted the party's support, he should jettison the P-TOMS agreement from his policy statement.

Despite initial reports that the JVP welcomed Rajapakse's nomination, it was subsequently revealed the party had run into policy issues following the announcement of the nomination. JVP seniors were of the opinion that if the implementation of the P-TOMS were included in the policy statement, the party would not be able to extend support.

The JVP is planning to shortly set out its own list of conditions for its support for Rajapakse. A similar list was also forwarded by the JHU

31 July 2005

VVIP security for LTTE Trinco leader Elilan
President Chandrika Kumaratunga has ordered the armed forces to provide the fullest security to Tiger guerrilla cadres passing through government -controlled areas during travel from North to East and vice versa.
Acting on this directive the armed forces gave a security cover fit enough for a visiting head of state or dignitary to LTTE Political Wing leader S. Elilan on July 23. This is whilst the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) is working out a formula to break the deadlock that has arisen over military escorts for Tiger guerrillas transiting through government -controlled areas.

The deadlock followed the LTTE rejection of an offer by Jayantha Dhanapala, Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat that there would be only one round trip provided a month from Kilinochchi to Batticaloa and Kilinochchi to Trincomalee under stipulated conditions. Mr. Dhanapala said “providing of military escort for LTTE’s movements through government -controlled territory is a confidence- building measure and not a right under the Ceasefire Agreement.”

But, how the military was told to respond to an LTTE request this time shows the VVIP treatment Mr. Elilan received. These arrangements were ordered to be in force by the Army’s 22 Division in Trincomalee. The orders went out to the 221 Brigade also in Trincomalee. An escort party consisting of two officers in the rank of Captain or Lieutenant and 34 other ranks; one Sri Lanka Corps Military Police officer, one radio operator to escort them from Kattaiparichchan to Habarana;

One Sri Lanka Corps Military Police and one Radio Operator along with two light vehicles and a Unicorn (an armoured truck) for the escort will be provided by 22 Division Headquarters; A platoon from 221 Brigade in Trincomalee will provide security along Kantalai-Habarana Road main supply route ; Ensure road security with additional pickets and patrols with a Unicorn/Buffel (armoured vehicles);Commanding Officers, Company Commanders and Platoon Commanders to be at their respective locations;

Two escorts to travel inside the vehicle of the LTTE member;Ensure proper take over of the escort parties at Kattaiparichchan and hand over of LTTE member at Habarana in liaison with escort party from Security Force Headquarters (West);SLMM to accompany the movement. Government sources said that the security measures in force for Mr. Elilan’s movement from Trincomalee (Kattaiparichchan) to Kilinochchi were a departure from the position taken up by the Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat.

This was because the LTTE had rejected his offer. The new arrangement involved the deployment of hundreds of troops.

31 July 2005

Tamileelam TV to begin broadcasts to SouthEast Asia

"The importance given to nurturing the electronic and printed media by the Tamil Eelam leader Pirapaharan is why we are now able to extend our Television services to countries in Asia," said K Veera of National Television of Tamileelam (NTT), speaking at an event held Friday 10 am at the Media Co-ordinating office in Kilinochchi to mark the inauguration of television broadcasts to southeast asian countries on 1st August, sources in Kilinochchi said.

"We faced several hurdles inform our public the factual details of events that affected them during the period of war. The ability of the State to spread false propaganda through state-controlled media taught us that building a strong media network to disseminate the Tamil point of view locally and internationally was crucial to our progress.

"Our media capability grew with our growth in military strength and now we have the capability to broadcast live news through satellite technology to most parts of the world where Tamils live. We urge all journlists to co-operate with us to make our new broadcast program to SouthEast asian countries a success," added Mr Veera.

The new service using Eurostar at 11.5GHz will reach India, parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mayanmar and China for two hours between 13.30 - 15.30 GMT, the media unit officials said. Head of LTTE media unit, Naresh, handed over new antennas to the Chief news editor of their sister media organization Voice of Tigers (VoT), Mr T Thavapalan, during the event. LTTE's media co-ordinator Thaya Master and Director of NTT S Karunakaran also participated in the event.

LTTE's Nitharsanam Television service broadcast programs in Jaffna district during 1980s. The studios were destroyed by the Indian army on 14 February 1987. The service restarted broadcast to European countries on 26 March 2005.

31 july 2005

UN dismisses LTTE claims on child soldiers(The Island)

Dismissing LTTE claims that most children who join their fighting force are volunteers, the UN’s special representative for children and armed conflict asserted last week that he continues to receive reports of coercion and recruitment through force. lara Otunnu also said there were indications that the LTTE was once again demanding one child per family for their army.

"There are many motivating factors for children to join groups like the LTTE, and this includes volunteering," said Otunnu, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, in an exclusive e-mail interview with the Sunday Island. "However, I receive reports which indicate that recruitment through force and coercion is predominant."

"For example, orphans from the recent tsunami were seen being recruited from temporary shelters and camps," he noted. "Also, there are indications that the LTTE is once again demanding that one child per family be given, especially during the recent spate of recruitment in the East."

"Regardless of the motivation of children to join an armed group or military force, it is that group’s responsibility to respect international legal principles and ensure that no children under the 18 years are among their ranks."

Otunnu made these comments just days after the UN Security Council took the unprecedented step of adopting concrete measures to protect children in armed conflict. The resolution — passed unanimously on Monday and the first of its kind within the UN — establishes procedures to report on the killing, maiming, rape and sexual abuse of children in conflicts; the recruiting and use of child soldiers; the abduction of children; and attacks on schools and hospitals. Offending parties had to come up with precise action plans, with time frames for ending violations; agree to release children within their ranks; allow access to camps; and allow for monitoring with time-bound benchmarks.

The Security Council also endorsed the idea of publicly identifying and naming offending parties which continued to commit grave violations against children. Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s latest report in February listed 54 parties drawn from eleven conflicts situations in Sri Lanka, Colombia, Sudan, Nepal, Uganda, Myanmar, Congo, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Somalia and the Philippines. The LTTE has been on the list at least twice in a row.

Otunnu confirmed that, when the UN released its ‘list of shame’ for grave violations against children, the LTTE was the first group to contact him with a request for dialogue. "The listing of the LTTE as an offending party on the Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council has had an impact," he stressed. "In fact, the LTTE was the first party to send a letter to my office acknowledging their inclusion on their Secretary-General’s report and list to the Security Council, and expressed their readiness to enter into dialogue. This is a mark of how seriously they take being listed."

Asked whether he had met the Tigers, Otunnu said he had awaited the outcome of the Security Council deliberations and their instructions with regard to children and armed conflict. He also indicated that he will not budge on the issue of child solders. now plan to advocate for a thorough implementation of this (Security Council resolution) and its call for immediate action plans by the LTTE to end all grave violations."

The envoy pointed out that many groups, including the LTTE, seek international recognition to uphold their legitimacy and diplomatic respectability. Therefore, naming and listing them has caused tremendous pressures on these parties.

He said he was pleased to hear that the two parties to Sri Lanka’s conflict were keeping to the cease-fire agreement. But he reiterated that constant reports of continued recruitment worried him. "I am deeply concerned that the LTTE continues to recruit children, despite their commitment made to me, and urge them to completely stop any new recruitment and to release all children within their ranks with immediate effect," he emphasised.

Asked to rate the UN’s success in reducing children recruitment in Sri Lanka, Otunnu said: "We have been working on this issue for a few years and there are areas of improvement, but there are situations that continue to be very difficult. But the number of child soldiers globally has gone down from 300,000 five years ago to about quarter of a million now.

"In Sri Lanka, I am pleased to note that more than 1,200 child soldiers have been formally released in the last three years, but the LTTE still have more than 1,000 children in their ranks. For the UN to be successful in putting an end to this scourge, we have to move beyond the corridors of the United Nations, and engage with parliamentarians, women’s groups, youth organisations, parents and even children themselves to build a movement to reverse this trend of abomination."

Asked if he will visit Sri Lanka, Otunnu said his office will be in contact with concerned parties at an appropriate time. Otunnu last came here in 1998.

Commenting on the Security Council resolution, Otunnu pointed out that offenders — including the LTTE — have been called upon to immediately come up with specific, time-bound action plans for ending all violations. For parties might not deliver on the action plans and failed to end violations, the Council would consider targeted measures, including travel bans, bans on the issuance of visas, bans on military assistance and arms embargoes.

"The LTTE have become highly political actors with sophisticated networks of connections around the globe," Otunnu said. "These connections provide important levers of influence in today’s increasingly interdependent world. Though some progress has been made under the current action plan between the LTTE and UNICEF, we cannot report that child recruitment has come to an end. "We must insist on this."

The UN Secretary-General’s ‘list of shame’ includes: the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) from Sri Lanka; Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) from Colombia; Janjaweed from the Sudan; the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) from Nepal; Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) from Uganda; Karen National Liberation Army from Myanmar; and government forces from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar and Uganda.

31 July 2005

Asymmetries in the peace process: the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam By: Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran

As Clausewitz observed, war is politics by other means. Negotiations are a form of politics, but without some real or perceived symmetry of power they will be an exercise in one side imposing its will on the other. Power – i.e. the ability of one party to move the other in an intended direction – is constituted by military resources, economic leverage, international legitimacy, the moral basis of one's position, mass support, leadership, etc. It includes 'hard power' such as military coercion, as well as 'soft power', which is defined by Joseph Nye as the ability to achieve one's intended results through cultural or ideological 'attraction'.

Symmetry can be created between states and non-state entities by military parity, the drain on the state's economy, persuasion or coercion by large powers, etc. The power to persuade, in large part a soft power, is perhaps the most important power at the negotiating table and can help the negotiating table be a 'leveller' in terms of power symmetry.

However, when the parties are competitive to the point of being unable to meet and have discussions, symmetry of power will not yield a negotiated settlement unless the international system in which the negotiation takes place forces the parties to adopt cooperative attitudes towards each other.

It is often argued that a government and non-elected non-state actor cannot be treated equally because the former is 'democratically elected'. This argument may have merit in some cases, but it is not applicable with respect to national liberation movements fighting for self-determination. In national conflicts, liberation movements represent a 'people' who share attributes such as language, culture, a sense of oneness and a territorial relationship. The aggrieved people often neither voted for the 'democratically elected' government in power nor owe any allegiance towards it. While liberation movements are not elected through ballots, Judge Amoun of the International Court of Justice observed that, "the struggle undertaken in common, with the risks and even sacrifices it entails... is more decisive than a referendum, being absolutely sincere and authentic".

Unfortunately, as many scholars have rightly observed, the international climate in which most negotiations take place inherently fosters asymmetrical relations in favour of states, which have presumptive and elite legitimacy, allies (whether genuine or interest-based), membership in international organizations and the resources of a government. The Sri Lankan government's prevention of the UN Secretary General's visit to the areas most severely affected by the December 2004 tsunami because they were governed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is one illustration of the asymmetry between states and non-state entities in their relations with international institutions. This article will elaborate on the ways in which the asymmetrical treatment of the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government by the international system has hurt the Sri Lankan peace process.

Negative effects of the state-based system

The impact that international institutions can have on the peaceful resolution of conflicts between states and non-state actors such as armed liberation groups is substantially diminished by this dominant pro-state bias. The state-based composition of international institutions has negative implications for their ability to engage successfully with all the parties in a national conflict. Thus, these international institutions are increasingly becoming less relevant to peacemaking in the contemporary world in which conflict between states and armed entities 'predominate and proliferate' to a greater degree than conflicts between states. Both the Report of the Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change and the UN Secretary General's proposal entitled In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for All failed to address this asymmetry between states and non state actors.

Since the current international system is an inter-state one, states playing the role of the mediator or facilitator tend to treat the state and non-state entities in an asymmetrical manner. This third-party state is itself a member of the existing inter-state system and thus has a vested interest in preserving it. While there may be exceptions to this general statement, the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord is a clear example. Besides her geopolitical interest, India treated the Sri Lankan state as an equal and entered into an agreement with her. The LTTE, though a protagonist in the conflict, was not a party to the Indo-Lanka Accord. Its exclusion resulted in failure to address the Tamil issue satisfactorily and ultimately the failure of India's peacemaking effort.

Proscription and anti-terrorist legislation

Before the commencement of talks in the current peace process, the LTTE insisted that the Sri Lankan government remove its legal ban against them. Although the proscription of the LTTE did not have any tangible impact on the organization, the LTTE wanted the ban removed because both parties should perceive themselves, and be perceived by others, as equals. The LTTE viewed the de-proscription as a visible sign of power symmetry between the two. The government has historically fought any recognition of equal status vigorously, but taking into consideration the military reality on the ground, its economic capacity and the arguments of the international community, the Sri Lankan government removed the ban before the commencement of talks.

Despite the fact that ban had been removed, the peace process was ongoing and the ceasefire in effect, the US government invited only the Sri Lankan government to attend the Washington donor conference of April 2003 that was meant to address post-conflict resettlement, rehabilitation and development. The LTTE, which was governing 70 per cent of the north east, the area mostly affected by the war, was not invited. The Sri Lankan government characterized this conference as a preparatory seminar for the main Tokyo donor conference in June that year. The LTTE was upset and pointed out that the Sri Lankan government's attendance in Washington was a breach of the parties' commitment to seek developmental aid as joint partners. The US government's rationale for not inviting the LTTE was not that the conference was limited to state representatives, but that the US anti-terrorism statute did not permit LTTE members to enter the US, because of their designation as a foreign terrorist organization. Yet if that were the case, the conference could have been held in a country without such a list.

The whole exercise was viewed by the LTTE as an attempt to destroy the power symmetry between the protagonists and added to growing mistrust between the Sri Lankan state and the LTTE. The LTTE's exclusion contributed to their dismay at the lack of progress in negotiations and the Sri Lankan government's failure to implement its obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding signed almost a year before. On 21 April 2003 the LTTE suspended its participation in the talks and decided to boycott the Tokyo conference. The LTTE's chief negotiator and political strategist Dr. Anton Balasingham observed, "As a non-state actor caught up in the intrigue-ridden network of the international state system, the LTTE was compelled to act to free itself from the overpowering forces of containment". By failing to engage with non-state entities, third-party states were also lessening their ability to persuade or become fair arbitrators of the conflict.

Anti-terrorism legislation is another example of how artificial and unhelpful asymmetry is created between states and non-state actors pursuing legitimate armed struggles. Anti-terrorism statutes address terrorist acts by foreign non-state actors, but not by state actors. Yet there is no moral or legal reason for state terrorism to be immune from any anti-terrorism statute. The provisions of the Additional Protocol I and II of the Geneva Conventions refer to the "party" to the conflict, not the state in conflict, and thus cover conduct of both state and non-state actors. Thus the rationale for limiting anti-terrorist legislation to non-state actors only is flawed. The unreasonableness of the anti-terrorism statute is demonstrated by the case of Sri Lankan government whose armed actions against the Tamils resulted in the mass murder of Tamils and their burial in mass graves. According to the UN Human Rights Commission, in the period from 1980 to 2000 Sri Lanka was second only to Saddam Hussein's regime in the number of outstanding cases of disappearances. Yet the officers of the Sri Lankan military establishment were able to come to Hawaii where the US Pacific Command is situated, whereas the LTTE's political and economic advisors were unable to enter the US as 'members' of a 'foreign terrorist organization'.

As an attorney who was involved in the legal challenges to the designation and/or characterization of the LTTE as a terrorist organization in the USA and in Canada I was privy to the unclassified information in those legal proceedings. I was appalled to see that the designation or characterization was primarily based on intelligence reports from the country in which these groups operate and from reports by academics of one of the protagonist nations claiming to be objective experts. Since the intelligence agencies are part of the conflict with the non-state entities in those countries, it cannot be expected that those agencies will provide unbiased information. However, other states uncritically accept the host government's demonization of an armed group when it suits their own geopolitical interests, and often possibly for the sake of courtesy. The above illustrates the asymmetry inherent in the international community that influences its legal systems.

Human rights violations and international instruments

It is notable that prosecutors from the newly established International Criminal Court, another multi-lateral initiative, have chosen to begin investigations of abuses by the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army but have not yet given indications that they will investigate alleged abuses committed by the Ugandan state in the north. In the Sri Lankan peace process persistent accusations about LTTE's recruitment of underage children are made, whereas the adverse impact on Tamil children of actions taken by the government in the name of security (such as depriving Tamil fisherman of their livelihood, which contributes to the starvation of Tamil children) is not brought up in international discussions. Another example is the Sri Lankan government's refusal to withdraw from high security zones in violation of the Memorandum of Understanding. This is a clear violation of humanitarian laws which only recognize the right to a military occupation of civilian properties for an "imperative need". Humanitarian laws do not accept forced occupation of civilian lands and homes for the sake of maintaining the balance of military power. Given the three-year ceasefire and the peace process, the occupation of civilian land by the military in the northeast is contrary to humanitarian laws and clearly unlawful, yet the international community does not condemn this.

With respect to the resumption of talks, the LTTE presented its proposal and expressed its willingness to resume talks in October 2003. However, the present Sri Lankan government failed to resume talks from the point left off by the previous administration in November 2003, as is customary in any negotiating process. Even though the government has changed the state has not. Even in cases of the succession of states, international law mandates that the new state honours the commitment made by the previous states. It is acknowledged that in some instances when governments change, their approach to negotiations also change, but it is clear that in Sri Lanka the failure to resume talks is due to the government's insistence on a completely new approach to the talks. Yet the government uses its access to the international media to spin the story that it was the LTTE who suspended the talks in April 2003.

The international instruments used to monitor the behaviour of states and non-state actors are also asymmetric. First of all, it must be recognized that almost all international agreements are negotiated and prepared by states. Thus, it should not be a surprise that these international agreements give primacy to state interests. Some say that the LTTE is in violation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Optional Protocol allows states to recruit individuals under 18 for their armed forces, while prohibiting armed groups from recruiting individuals under 18 for their national forces or even for political and administrative work. There is no provision in the Optional Protocol for a national liberation movement and/or a de facto government like the LTTE. Application of the Optional Protocol, which has not yet become customary international law, will favour the Sri Lankan state against the LTTE. However, there is criticism that the LTTE is violating the Optional Protocol provisions that it is not a party to, has never signed and thus is not legally bound by.

Negotiating peace

Asymmetry also characterizes the facilities for preparing negotiations between state and non-state actors. States' resources to train their diplomatic corps professionally and academically exceed those of non-state actors. The LTTE recognizes this asymmetry and compensates for it with the resourceful Tamil diaspora's talents and with assistance from some international NGOs and academics, a strategy manifested in the Interim Self-Governing Authority, a proposal put forwarded by the LTTE to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of the northeast.

The Sri Lankan government comprises various constituencies and ideologies and has to expend its resources to address various interests. For the government, the peace process is just one of many things on its agenda. The LTTE's commitment to the peace process has helped to reduce the asymmetry between its resources and those of the government.

Conclusion

This article has tried to identify some of the asymmetries between state and non-state actors pervasive in the current international state system in light of the Sri Lankan peace process, as well as the lack of factors in that system to compel state actors to adopt a cooperative orientation towards non-state actors. The third parties who are involved in such processes must address these asymmetries for the process to work. If the international environment is not rectified to enable the non-state actor to exercise its soft power effectively, the non-state actor will be forced to conclude that only through hard power can they level the playing field and compel the state actor to reach a negotiated settlement.

31 July 2005

Mervyn’s son to be charged
Although Police Chief Chandra Fernando believes there is insufficient evidence to take action against Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva’s son Malaka, following an incident in a popular night club in Colombo, the Attorney General is likely to indict him.

The Sunday Times learns that Attorney General K.C.Kamalasabeyson has called for the Information Book extracts regarding the complaint lodged by Police Narcotics Bureau officers. They said they had been obstructed and assaulted by Mr. Silva’s son and two others.

Mr. Silva’s son and two others are to be charged under section 323 of the Penal Code for causing hurt to a public servant to deter that person from discharging his duty. This is a criminal offence and if convicted they could be jailed for up to three years.

The Deputy Minister in an interview charged that a police officer was trying to fix his son and he vowed he would not quit his post this time as he did when another incident occurred last year.

31 July 2005

Accept Muslims as equal stakeholders"

A senior SLMC member, A. M. Faiz said yesterday that if the LTTE extends its hand to accept Muslims as equal stakeholders, the case of the minority Tamil-speaking people would be strengthened further.

Commenting on the opposition from Muslims to the P-Toms, especially the SLMC, he dismissed claims that the Muslims were a ‘spoiler’ opposed to the joint mechanism, which would be a confidence-builder to resume talks between the government and LTTE.

"We, Muslims accept and welcome all moves in this direction, but we cannot stand and wait while we are sidelined."

"We are also important stakeholder in Sri Lanka, especially the North and East", he said.

Muslims have paid the price as a result of the Ceasefire agreement, which was formulated without involving the Muslim community, Faiz noted.

"Similarly, today the international community and Norway accept that there has been a folly in not accepting the Muslims as equal stakeholders during the deliberations on the P-Toms. Why cannot the P-Toms agreement be re-formulated?" he asked.

The SLMC believes that Muslims should have been part and parcel of any discussions to formulate the P-Toms agreement, whereas the government had totally ignored the Muslims, who are very important stakeholders, he claimed.

"We are not opposed to all what was in the P-Toms agreement. We may want a minor change or two, but now as it is, we will not extend any cooperation as the process followed would have a direct impact where Muslims continue to be sidelined."

On the Presidential election he said: "We are not so much wowed about it. Let the dates be announced. Let us wait and see. Then we would state our stand."

31 July 2005

Key provisions in US Patriot Act struck down third time

U.S. District Court Judge Audrey Collins ruled Thursday that a key provision in the USA Patriot Act criminalizing the provision of "expert advice or assistance" to designated foreign terrorist groups is unconstitutional, despite an attempt by Congress to fix the problems in the 2004 Intelligence Reform Act. The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) based in New York originally filed the case on behalf of Humanitarian Law Project, a human rights organization and several Tamil-American organizations that seek to support the lawful activities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka, especially in areas affected by the 2004 tsunami.

Judge Collins also struck down two other key provisions of the bill that ban the provision of “services” and “training” to designated groups.

In December, Congress revised the Act in response to her rulings, and the case was sent back to District Court. On July 28, 2005, she ruled that Congress did not adequately clarify the bans on “training” and “expert advice.” She also ruled unconstitutional a new ban, added by the 2004 Act, on providing “services” to designated groups, the CCR website said.

"This law is so sweeping that it makes it a crime for our clients to provide medical services to tsunami survivors in Sri Lanka and to provide assistance in human rights advocacy to the Kurds in Turkey,” said CCR cooperating attorney David Cole, who argued the case. “Judge Collins's decision affirms that we must not sacrifice principles of free speech in the war on terror,” according to CCR's website.

31 July 2005
Sivaram murder : FMM writes to IGP

Sri Lanka’s Free Media Movement (FMM) has protested slow progress on police investigations regarding the murder of senior Tamil journalist Dharmeratnam Sivaram.

In a letter sent to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandra Fernando, the FMM has requested a meeting to discuss lack of progress on the murder investigations.

FMM convener Seetha Ranjanee told BBC Sinhala (BBC Sandeshaya) that the police chief is yet to reply to a letter sent on 03 June asking for a meeting.

Tamilnet editor Sivaram was abducted on 28 April in front of a police station in the capital, Colombo.

His body was found dumped near parliamentary complex, in Colombo’s high security zone.

Although the police have arrested two suspects, the FMM expressed concern on the lack of progress after three months of the journalist’s murder.

31 July 2005

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2002 ngg;utup 22k; jpfjp Ghpe;Jzh;T Nghh;epWj;j cld;ghL nra;J nfhs;sg;gl;ljd; Nehf;fk; rkhjhd Ngr;Rf;fspd; %yk; ,dg; gpur;ridf;F jPh;T fhz;gjhfj;jhd; ,Ue;jJ rq;fjp Mdhy; fle;j %d;wiu Mz;L fhy Aj;j epWj;jk; js;shbj; jLkhwj; njhlq;fpapUf;Fk; #oypy; Aj;j epWj;jj;ij njhlh;e;J NgZtjw;fhd Ngr;Rf;fNs ,g;NghJ eilngw;Wf; nfhz;bUf;fpd;wd.rq;fjp ,jpypUe;J xd;Wkl;Lk; Ghpe;J nfhs;sf;$bahjhf ,Uf;fpwJrq;fjp fle;j %d;wiu Mz;Lfhyg; Nghh; epWj;jk; vd;gJ rkhjhd Kaw;rpfspYk; ,k;kpasTk; Kd;Ndw;wj;ijAk; nfhLf;ftpy;iy vd;gJ cWjpg;gLj;jg; gLfpwJ. rq;fjp

tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; Nghf;F tuj;J kw;Wk; ,uhZtf; fl;Lg;ghl;L gpuNjrq;fspy; Nghuhspfspd; ghJfhg;G vd;gJ njhlh;ghf vOe;Js;s rh;r;ir jPtpukile;jpUf;fpwJ.rq;fjp

,e;jg; gpur;rpidj; jPh;f;fg; Gypfs; nfhLj;j ,uz;L thufhy fhyf;nfL KbTf;F te;J ,uz;L thuq;fshfg; Nghfpd;wd.rq;fjp MdhYk; Gypfs; vr;rhpj;jgb jd;Njhd;wpj; jdkhf ele;J nfhs;stpy;iy.rq;fjp kpfTk; nghWikAld; ,d;dKk; jPh;T fpilf;ff; $Lk; vdf; fhj;jpUg;gjhfNt njd;gLfpwJ.rq;fjp Nghh; epWj;j fz;fhzpg;Gf; FO Gypfsplk; ,J njhlh;ghf ,ufrpa cj;juthjq;fs; vijAk; toq;fpAs;sNjh njhpatpy;iy.rq;fjp

Mdhy; ,uz;L thuq;fSf;F Kd;dh; ,Ue;j ,Wf;fkhd Nghh; neUf;fb kpf;f #oy; ,g;NghJ ,y;iy Gypfspd; nghWikahy; Vw;gl;bUf;Fk; #oNy.rq;fjp Mdhy; ,Wf;fk; mw;w #oy; ePz;l fhyk; ePbj;jpUf;f KbahJ Vnddpy; Gypfspd; gpur;rpidf;F jPh;Trq;fjp fhzg;glhtpbd; epr;rak; Aj;j #oy; xd;iwNa Njhw;Wtpf;Fk;.rq;fjp Gypfs; ,e;jf; Nfhhpf;iff;nfdf; fhyf;nfL xd;iwf; nfhLj;jJ mJ Kbtile;Jk; ve;j khw;wKk; Vw;gltpy;iy vd;d epiyapy; njhlh;e;Jk; jpl;ltl;lkhd eltbf;iia vLf;fhky; ,Ue;jhy; mij murjug;G ,th;fspd; gytPdkhfNt fUJk;.rq;fjp

vdNt Gypfs; ,e;j gpur;rpidf;f xU KbT fl;Lk; tiu ,Wf;fkhd Nghf;ifNa filg;gpbf;f Kw;gLth; ,jdhy; epyik ,d;Dk; Nkhrkiltjw;fhd tha;g;Gf;fNs njd;gLfpd;wd.rq;fjp ,e;j ,Wf;f epiyiaj; jzpf;Fk; Kaw;rpapy; Nghh;epWj;j fz;fhzpg;Gf;FO jPtpukhf <Lgl;bUf;fpwJ.rq;fjp GypfisAk; mur jug;igAk; Neubahf re;jpf;fr; nra;J ,J njhlh;ghf kl;Lk; Ngr;Rf;fis elhj;j nra;tjw;F fz;fhzpg;Gf;FO Kad;wJ.rq;fjp Mdhy; Gypfs; mbNahL epuhfhpj;J tpl fz;fhzpg;Gf;FO ,g;NghJ muRld; ,g;NghJ Ngr;Rf;fis elhj;jpf; nfhz;bUf;fpwJ ,e;jg; Ngr;Rf;fs; ve;j Kd;Ndw;wKk; vl;lg;glhj #oNy njhlh;fpwJ.rq;fjp

MdhYk; mLj;j Rw;Wg; Ngr;Rf;fspy; rhjfkhd KbT vl;lg;glf; $Lk; vd;W fz;fhzpg;Gf;FOj; jiyth; `f;ug; n`hf;yz;l; njhptpj;jpUg;gJ Fwpg;gplj;jf;fJ.rq;fjp

Nghh; epWj;j fz;fhzpg;GFOj; jiytuhf ,Ug;gjhy; mth; ,g;bnahU jPh;g;igj;jhd; $w KbNk jtpu mLj;j Rw;Wg; Ngr;Rf;fSk; ntw;wpaspf;fhJ vd;W $w Kbahjy;yth?rq;fjp

vdNt fz;fhzpg;Gf; FOtpd; epiy ,yT fhj;;j fpspapd; epiyNghyNt njd;gLfpwJ Nghh;epWj;j cld;ghl;il njhlh;e;Jk; eilKiwg;gLj;jp jf;fitj;jy; vd;w gpur;rpidf;F jPh;T fhz;gNj kpfg;nghpa tplakhfptpl;lJrq;fjp

Nghh;epWj;j Vw;gl;L tpl;lhy; rhp mLj;J Ngr;Rf;fs; %yk; gpur;rpidfis jPh;j;J tplyhk; vd;w epiy 2002 Muk;gj;jpy; ,Ue;jJ Mdhy; Nghh; epWj;jj;ij jf;f itg;gjw;Nf Ngr;Rf;fis elhj;j Ntz;ba Ju;g;ghf;fpa epyik njhlh;tjhy; rkhjhd gpur;rpidfspd; fijia Nfl;fth Ntz;Lk; rq;fjp murhq;fKk; GypfSk; gu];guk; ek;gpf;ifapd; mbg;gilapy; Ngr;Rf;fspy; gq;Nfw;f Ntz;Lk; Mdhy; jk;kPJ epoy; Aj;jk; elhj;Jk; muRld; vg;gb Ngr;Rf;fis elhj;j KbAk; vd;gJ Gypfspd; tpthjk;.rq;fjp

,g;Nghija gpur;rpidfSf;F fhuzkhf ,Ug;gJ murhq;fj;jpd; MjuTld; ,aq;Fk; MAjf; FOf;fs;jhd;. rq;fjp Nghh; epWj;j cld;ghl;bd;;gb ,j;jifa MAjf; FOf;fsplkpUe;J MAjq;fs; muR fise;jpUf;f Ntz;Lk;.rq;fjp

Mdhy; Gypfis gytPdg; gLj;jntd;Nw fUzhitj; jd;trk; itj;Jf;nfhz;L murhq;fk; xU Jizg; gilia cUthf;fp Gypfs; kPJ epoy; Aj;jk; xd;iw elhj;jp tUfpwJ.rq;fjp

,e;j epoy; Aj;jk; epW;jg;gLtjpy; jhd; ,g;Nghja neUf;fbapd; jPh;T jq;fpapUf;fpwJ Mdhy; ,g;NghJs;s epiyapy; ,e;j epoy; Aj;jj;ij epWj;Jfpd;w rf;jp murplk;; ,Uf;fpd;wjh vd;W Nfs;tp vOg;gj;Njhd;WfpwJ.rq;fjp

,uhZtg; Gydha;Tj; Jiw jhd;Njhd;wpj;jdkhf Jizg; gilfis ifahSfpd;w NghJ murhq;fj;jpd; fl;Lg;ghLfSf;F Jizg;gil nrtp rha;f;Fkh vd;gJ re;NjfNk.rq;fjp ,tu;fis fl;Lg;gLj;Jk; nghWg;gpypUe;J murhq;fj;jhy; tpyf KbahJrq;fjp Mdhy; murhq;fKk; ,uhZtg; Gydha;TJiwAk; xUth;kPJ xUtuhf gopiaNghl;Lg; fz;zk;G+r;rp MbtUfpd;wd.rq;fjp neUf;fbfspd; NghJ jkf;F njhpahky; ,uhZtg; Gydha;Tj;Jiwapdh; ele;J nfhs;tJ Nghd;W muR ele;J nfhs;fpwJ.rq;fjp

gilajpfhhpfis jz;lid nfhLj;J ,lk; khw;WtJ Nghd;W gjtpAah;T toq;FtJk; murpd; thbf;ifahfptpl;lJrq;fjp jpUNfhzkiyapy; Gypfspd; jsgjp bf;fhd; cl;gl ehy;thpd; nfhiyapd; gpd;dh; 22tJ btprdpd; Gydha;T mjpfhhpahd gpupNfbau; ,lkhw;wk; nra;ag;gl;bUf;fpwhh;.rq;fjp

Mdhy; ,e;j ,lkhw;wj;Jld; ,e;j gpur;rpidf;F jPh;T fpilf;fg; Nghtjpy;iy GypfSf;F vjpuhd murpd; epoy; Aj;jj;jpd; je;jpNuhghaq;fspy; ,JTk; xd;whfptpl;lJ.rq;fjp

,g;gbNa muR ifahSk; je;jpNuhghaq;fspdhy;jhd; Aj;j epWj;j cld;ghNl Nfs;tpf; FwpahfpAs;sJ ,e; epyikf;F cld; jPh;T fhzg;glhtpbd; mJ Aj;jj;jpw;Nf Kjw; fl;l efh;thfNt mike;JtpLk;.rq;fjp

Gypfspd; nghWikapd; vy;iy vJtiu ePOk; vd;gij muR mwpe;J nfhs;s Mirg;glf;$lhJrq;fjp Vndd;why; mth;fspd; nghWikia Nrhjpf;f tpUk;gpdhy; mJ mopTfSf;F miog;G tpLj;j fijahfNt KbAk;.rq;fjp

31 July 2005

cyfpy; mjpfhuk; kpf;f ngz; nfhz;lyPrh iu]; 25 MtJ ,lj;jpy; [dhjpgjp re;jpupfh>

cyfpy; kpf mjpfhuk; kpf;f ngz;fspy; kPz;Lk; Kjyplk; ngw;Ws;shu; mnkupf;f ntsp tptfhu mikr;ru; nfhz;lyPrh iu];.

mjpfhuk; kpf;f ngz;fis ju tupirahf Nju;T nra;J Mz;LNjhWk; mij ntspapl;L tUfpwJ ghu;g]; ,jo;. ,e;j Mz;L me;j gl;baiy tpahof;fpoik ntspapl;lJ.

fle;j Mz;by; ,e;jpa fhq;fpu]; jiytp Nrhdpah fhe;jp ,e;jg; gl;baypy; ,lk; ngw;wpUe;jhu;. jw;Nghija gl;baypy; ,lk; ngwtpy;iy.

fle;j Mz;bYk; ,e;j gl;baypy; Kjyplk; ngw;wpUe;jhu; iu];. Mdhy;> Kd;dhs; Njrpa ghJfhg;G MNyhrfu; vd;w Kiwapy; ,lk; ngw;wpUe;jhu;.

,uz;lhtJ ,lj;ijg; ngw;wpUe;jtu; rPdj; Jizg; gpujku; T+.ap.>%d;whk; ,lj;ijg; ngw;wpUe;jhu; Nrhdpah fhe;jp.

,g;Nghija gl;baypy; ,e;jpahtpd; 3 mz;il ehLfspd; ngz; jiytu;fs; ,lk; ngw;Ws;sdu;.

kpad;khupd; [dehaf ,af;fj; jiytpAk; Nehgy; gupR ngw;wtUkhd Mq; rhd; R+ fpap (15 MtJ ,lk;)> ,yq;if [dhjpgjp re;jpupfh FkhuJq;f (25 MtJ ,lk;)> tq;fNjr gpujku; Ngfk; fhypjh ]pah (29 MtJ ,lk;) MfpNahu; me;j 3 Ngu;.

rPd Jizg; gpujku; T+.ap. ,e;j KiwAk; 2 MtJ ,lj;ijj; jf;f itj;Js;shu;.

cf;iud; gpujku; A+ypah ijNkhnrq;F 3 MtJ ,lj;jpy; cs;shu;. mtUf;F mLj;j ,lj;ij gpypg;igd;]; [dhjpgjp FNshupah mNuhNah ngw;Ws;shu;.

Nfhbf; fzf;fpy; thrfu;fs; $l;lj;ij <u;j;Js;s `up nghl;lu; Gfo; khah[hy vOj;jhsu; Nf.ut;ypq; 40 MtJ ,lk;> mnkupf;f [dhjpgjp N[hu;[; lgps;A+ G\;\pd; kidtp yhuh 46 MtJ ,lk;. Kd;dhs; [dhjpgjp gpy; fpspd;ldpd; kidtp `pyhup 26 MtJ ,lj;ijAk; gpbj;Js;sdu;.

ntw;wpfukhd ngz; njhopyjpgu;fs; gl;baypy; caupa ,lj;jpy; cs;shu; ,d;lu;nel; Vy ikakhd "<Nf" epWtdj;jpd; jiyik epu;thfp khu;fnul; tpl;khd; (5 MtJ ,lk;).

mtUf;F mLj;j ,lj;jpy; cs;stu; nyuhf;]; jiyik epu;thfp Mdp Ky;rfp. ,e;jg; gl;baypy; Kjy; gj;Jg; Ngu; tupirapy; ,e;j KiwAk; b.tp.> thndhyp epfo;r;rpf;F Ngl;b vLg;gjpy; uhzp vdf; fUjg;gLk; Xg;uh tpd;gpNu ,lk; ngw;Ws;shu;. ,tu; fle;j Mz;by; 62 MtJ ,lj;jpy; ,Ue;jhu;.

ikf;nuh nrhg;l; epWtdu; gpy; Nfl;]pd; kidtp nkypd;lh Nfl;];> gj;jhtJ ,lj;ijg; gpbj;Js;shu;

31 July 2005

[dhjpgjp Nju;jYf;F Kd; nghJj; Nju;jy; ,lk;ngWnkd vjpu;ghu;f;Fk; N[.tp.gp.

[dhjpgjpj; Nju;jypy; gpujku; kfpe;j uh[gf;?\Tf;F Mjutspg;gJ Fwpj;J mtrug;gl;L KbntLf;f Kbahnjdj; njuptpj;jpUf;Fk; N[.tp.gp. kw;Wk; njd;dpyq;if ngsj;j murpay; fl;rpfs; ehl;bd; ,iwikia ghJfhf;ff; $ba cj;juthjkpy;yhky; vtiuAk; vLj;j vLg;gpy; jiyapy; J}f;fp itf;f KbahnjdTk; typAWj;jpAs;sd.

N[.tp.gp. jiytu; Nrhktd;] mkurpq;ftplk; [dhjpgjp Nju;jy; njhlu;ghf Nfl;l NghJ [dhjpgjp Nju;jYf;F Kd;du; vt;tsNth fhupaq;fs; eilngw Ntz;bAs;sjhfTk; ehl;bd; murpay; Fok;gpg; NghAs;s epiyapy; gykpy;yhj murhq;fj;ij itj;Jf; nfhz;L [dhjpgjp mjpfhuk; nrYj;j Kaw;rpg;gjhfTk; Fwpg;gpl;lhu;.

N[.tp.gp.apd; murpay; epiyg;ghL vd;dntd;gJ gw;wp gpujku; kfpe;j uh[gf;?\Tf;Fk; njupAk;> ];uPyq;fh Rje;jpuf; fl;rpapdUf;Fk; njupAk;. me;j epiyg;ghl;Lld; ,ize;J Nghf mf;fl;rp Kd;tUkhdhy; gpujkiu Mjupg;gJ Fwpj;J Nahrpf;f KbAk; my;yJ fl;rp khw;W topiaf; iff; nfhs;Sk;. vt;thwhapDk; [dhjpgjp Nju;jypy; If;fpa Njrpaf; fl;rpia Njhw;fbg;gNj vkJ gpujhd Nehf;fhf ,Uf;Fk; vd;Wk; Nrhktd;] mkurpq;f Fwpg;gpl;lhu;.

jw;Nghija murpay; neUf;fb epiyapy; muR vt;tsT fhyj;Jf;Fj; jhf;Fg; gpbf;Fk; vd;gijf; $w KbahJs;sJ. [dhjpgjp Nju;jYf;F Kd;djhf kPz;Lk; nghJj; Nju;jnyhd;Wf;F Kfq; nfhLf;f Ntz;ba epiy $l Vw;glyhk; Nghy; njuptjhfTk; mtu; Fwpg;gpl;lhu;.

nghJj; Nju;jy; eilngWkhdhy; ,k;Kiw N[.tp.gp. jdpj;Nj Nghl;bapLk;. N[.tp.gp.apd; kf;fs; rf;jp vj;jifaJ vd;gij mLj;j Nju;jypy; ep&gpj;Jf; fhl;ltpUf;fpd;Nwhk; vdTk; Nrhktd;] NkYk; njuptpj;jhu;.

31 July 2005

Clf mr;RWj;jYf;F Nku;tpd; rpy;th kd;dpg;G Nfhu Ntz;Lk;
-Clf mikg;Gfs; ahuplKk; kd;dpg;Gf; Nfl;fg; Nghtjpy;iy -Nku;tpd; rpy;th

vd;Dila tho;f;ifapy; ehd; vtuplKk; kd;dpg;Gf; Nfl;lJkpy;iy Nfl;fg; NghtJkpy;iy. Clfj;Jiwapdiu xU topf;Ff; nfhz;Ltuhky; tplkhl;Nld;' vd;W kPz;Lk; kPz;Lk; mr;RWj;Jk; tifapy; Mgj;jhd vr;rupf;ifia tpLj;Jf; nfhz;bUf;Fk; njhopy; cwTfs; kw;Wk; ntspehl;L Ntiytha;g;Gfs; gpujpaikr;ru; Nku;tpd; rpy;thtpd; eltbf;iffs; ehSf;F ehs; mjpfupj;Jf; nfhz;L nry;Yk; epiyapy; mJ njhlu;ghf vtUk; ,Jtiu ve;jnthU ftdKk; nrYj;jtpy;iynad;gJ Fwpg;gplj;jf;fJ.

nfhOk;gpYs;s Ie;J el;rj;jpu N`hl;ly; xd;wpy; ,lk;ngw;W te;j Nghijg; nghUs; tpw;gid njhlu;ghf mq;F NjLjy; eltbf;iffSf;fhf nrd;w Nghijg;nghUs; jLg;Gg; gzpag; nghyp]hu; kPJ jhf;Fjy; elj;jg;gl;lJld; me;jj; NjLjy; eltbf;ifAk; jLj;J epWj;jg;gl;lJ.

,e;jr; rk;gtk; njhlu;ghf gpujpaikr;ru; Nku;tpd; rpy;thtpd; kfDk; mtUf;F toq;fg;gl;bUe;j nka;g;ghJfhtyu;fSk; rk;ge;jg;gl;bUe;jjhf Fw;wQ;rhl;lg;gl;lJ.

,r; rk;gtk; njhlu;ghf Njlg;gl;L te;j Nku;tpd; rpy;thtpd; kfd; jq;fsJ rl;lj;juzpfs; Clhf nfhOk;G Nfhl;ilg; nghyp]; epiyaj;jpy; ruzile;J nghyp]; gpizapy; tpLtpf;fg;gl;l NghJ mjid nra;jp Nrfupf;fr; nrd;w Clftpayhsu;fs; kPJ jhf;Fjy; elj;jg;gl;Ls;sJ.

,r; rk;gtj;jpd; NghJ jdpahu; njhiyf;fhl;rp epWtdnkhd;wpd; tPbNah glg;gpbg;ghsupd; kPJ Nku;tpd; rpy;th elj;jpa jhf;Fjypd; NghJ mtupd; xU ifapy; gyj;j fhaNkw;gl;Ls;sJ.

,jidtpl mq;F epd;w Clftpayhsu;fis Nehf;fp Nku;tpd; rpy;th kpf Nkhrkhd ,opthd thu;j;ijfshy; mr;RWj;Jk; njhdpapy; fPo;j;jukhf $f;Fuypl;L vr;rupj;Js;shu;.

,njy;yhtw;iwAk; tpl Fwpg;gpl;l xU jdpahu; njhiyf;fhl;rp epWtdj;jpd; KOikahd tuyhW njupahj epiyapy; ,e;jpa tk;rhtsp kf;fisf; Nftyg;gLj;Jk; tifapy; gpujpaikr;ru; Nku;tpd; rpy;th jpl;bj; jPu;j;Js;shu;.

kdpj Fy tpOkpaq;fis JspasTk; Gupe;J nfhs;shj mbg;gil murpay; mwpT ehfupfk; vd;gtw;iw mwpe;jpuhj xU fhl;Lkpuhz;bahfNt Nku;tpd; rpy;thtpd; ,e;jpa tk;rhtsp kf;fisf; Nftyg;gLj;Jk; tpjj;jpyhd thu;j;ijg; gpuNahfq;fs; mike;Js;sikAk; Fwpg;gplj;jf;fJ.

,e;j tplaj;jpy; kiyaf jkpo;f; fl;rpfNsh jkpo;j; Njrpa $l;likg;gpdNuh mwpf;iffSld; jkJ eltbf;iffis epWj;jptpl;L nksdk; fhg;gJ Nku;tpd; rpy;th Nghd;w rpWghd;ik r%fq;fSf;F vjpuhf nraw;gLk; ,dthjpfis Cf;Ftpg;gjhfNt mikAk;. vdNt ,t;thwhd fhl;Lkpuhz;bj;jd murpay;thjpfSf;F vjpuhf kf;fs; Nghuhl;lq;fis Kd;ndLf;f Ntz;Lnkd;W gy;NtW jug;gpduhYk; tpLf;fg;gl;Ls;s Nfhupf;if epuhfupf;fg;gl Kbahjnjhd;whFk;.

mNjNeuk;> Nku;tpd; rpy;thtpd; Clfj;Jiwapdu; kPjhd rz;bj;jdj;ijf; fz;bj;J midj;J jkpo;> rpq;fs> K];ypk; Clftpayhsu;fSk; jkJ fz;ldj;ijAk; vjpu;g;igAk; ntspg;gLj;jpAs;sdu;.

nfhOk;G Nfhl;il uapy; epiyak; Kd;ghff; fle;j nrt;tha;f;fpoik Nku;tpd; rpy;thTf;nfjpuhf elj;jg;gl;l fz;ld Mu;g;ghl;lj;jpy; Rje;jpu Clf mikg;G> ,yq;if jkpo; Clftpayhsu; xd;wpak;> ,yq;if ciof;Fk; gj;jpupifahsu; rq;fk;> Clf mikg;Gfspd; njhopw;rq;f xd;wpak;> K];ypk; kPbah Nghuk;> Mfpa 5 gpujhd Clf mikg;Gfspd; gpuKfu;fs; fye;J nfhz;ldu;.

Clfj;Jiwapdu; kPJ gpujpaikr;ru; Nku;tpd; rpy;thtpdhy; fl;ltpo;j;J tplg;gl;Ls;s mlhtbj;jdq;fs;> mr;RWj;jy;fs; njhlu;ghf [dhjpgjp re;jpupfh gz;lhuehaf;fh FkhuJq;f Kjy; murkl;l caujpfhupfs; tiu Kiwaplg;gl;Ls;s NghjpYk; ,Jtiu ve;jnthU eltbf;ifAk; vLf;fg;glhJ Clfj;Jiwapdu; kj;jpapy; tprdj;ijAk; mjpUg;jpiaAk; cUthf;fpAs;sJ.

,jw;F Kd;dUk; gy jlitfs; Nku;tpd; rpy;th Clfj;Jiwapdiu ,opthd thu;j;ijfs; %yk; tirghbAs;sJld; ,U rpq;fs ehopjo;fspd; mYtyfq;fSf;Fs; jdJ mbahl;fs; rfpjk; mj;JkPwp Eioe;J mq;fpUe;jtu;fis kpul;ba rk;gtq;fs; fle;j fhyq;fspy; ,lk;ngw;w NghjpYk; mJ njhlu;ghf ,Jtiu ve;jnthU eltbf;ifAk; murjug;gpduhy; Nkw;nfhs;sg;gltpy;iy vd;gJ Fwpg;gplj;jf;fJ.

gpujpaikr;ru; Nku;tpd; rpy;thtpd; kfd; ,jw;F Kd;dUk; gyjlitfs; Ie;J el;rj;jpu N`hl;ly; kw;Wk; ,uT Neu fspahl;l tpLjpfSf;Fs; Eioe;J mq;fpUe;jtu;fisj; jhf;fp mehfupfkhd Kiwapy; nraw;gl;ltu; vd;W Fw;wQ;rhl;lg;gl;l NghjpYk; nghyp]; jug;gpdu; ve;jnthU cupa eltbf;ifAk; vLf;ftpy;iynad;Nw Fw;wQ;rhl;lg;gLfpd;wJ.

,t;thNw> Kd;dhs; mikr;ru;fshd k`pe;j tpN[Nrfuh> v];.gp.jprhehaf;fh> lhf;lu; [ayj; n[atu;jd MfpNahupd; kfd;khu;fSk; Ie;J el;rj;jpu N`hl;ly;fspy; mehfupfkhd Kiwapy; nraw;gl;L ml;lfhrj;jpy; <Lgl;ltu;fs; vd;W Fw;wQ;rhl;lg;gl;l ngUikf;Fupatu;fs; vd;gJ ftdpf;fj;jf;fnjhU tplak;.

gpujpaikr;ru; Nku;tpd; rpy;thtpd; kfd; vt;thW murpay; nry;thf;fpd; %yk; rl;lj;jpd; gpbapypUe;J eOtpf;nfhz;lhNuh mt;thNw Kd;dhs; mikr;ru;fshd k`pe;j tpN[Nrfu> v];.gp.jprhehaf;fh> lhf;lu; [ayj; n[atu;jd MfpNahupd; kfd;khu;fSk; Nkw;nfhz;l mlhtbj;jdq;fSf;F vjpuhf rl;leltbf;if vLf;fg;gltpy;iynad;gJk; Fwpg;gplj;jf;fJ.

,njy;yhtw;wpw;Fkg;ghy; njd;dpyq;ifapy; gpujhd rpq;fs ngsj;j ,dthjf; fl;rpahd [djhtpKf;jp nguKd (N[.tp.gp.) jkpo; Clfq;fSf;F vjpuhd fLikahd nraw;ghLfspy; <Lgl;L tUtJ mz;ikf; fhyq;fspy; mjpfupj;Js;sJ ftdpf;fg;gl Ntz;banjhU tplakhFk;.

Kd;ida fhyq;fspy; N[.tp.gp. elj;Jk; Clftpayhsu; khehL kw;Wk; Mu;g;ghl;lk; nghJf;$l;lq;fs; vd;gtw;Wf;F nra;jp Nrfupf;fr; nry;Yk; jkpo; Clftpayhsu;fisg; gpd; njhlu;e;J fz;fhzpg;gpy; <Lgl;l N[.tp.gp. Fz;lu;fs; jw;NghJ jkpo; Clftpyahsu;fis mr;RWj;jp kpul;Lk; nraw;ghLfspYk; <Lgl;L tUtJk; ftdpf;fj;jf;fJ.

fle;j rpy jpdq;fSf;F Kd;du; nfhOk;G Nfhl;ilapy; nghJf;fl;likg;G jpl;lj;jpw;nfjpuhf N[.tp.gp. apduhy; elj;jg;gl;l vjpu;g;G Mu;g;ghl;lj;ij nra;jp Nrfupf;fr; nrd;w jkpo; Clftpyahsu; xUtu; kpul;lg;gl;L N[.tp.gp. Fz;lu;fshy; mq;fpUe;J ntspNaw;wg;gl;Ls;shu;.

1990 fspd; gpw;gFjpapy; mg;NghJ Ml;rpapypUe;j If;fpa Njrpaf; fl;rpapduhy; Rje;jpu Clftpayhsu; upr;ru;l; b nrha;rhitf; flj;jpr; nrd;W gLnfhiy nra;jjd; Clhf Muk;gpj;J itf;fg;gl;l Clf Rje;jpuj;jpw;nfjpuhd fhl;Lkpuhz;bj;jdkhd eltbf;iffspy; njhlu;e;Jk; rfy jug;gpduhYk; ngUk; mr;RWj;jy; xd;iw vjpu;nfhs;gtu;fs; jkpo; Clftpyahsu;fNs

vkJ rNfhjuu;fis ,opTgLj;jpa gpujp mikr;ru; gjtp tpyf Ntz;Lk;Gj;jgfthDk; ,e;jpahtpNyNa gpwe;jtu; vd;fpwhu; utpuh[;

vkJ rNfhjuu;fis ,opthf Ngrpa gpujp mikr;ru; Nku;tpd; rpy;th mikr;R gjtpapy; ,Ue;Jk;> ];uPyq;fh Rje;jpuf; fl;rpapy; ,Ue;Jk; tpyf Ntz;Lk;. ,tuJ nraw;ghl;il fz;bj;J kiyaf kf;fspd; jiyikfs; vLf;Fk; vj;jifa Nghuhl;lj;Jf;Fk; jkpo; Njrpaf; $l;likg;G MjuT toq;Fk; vd;W $l;likg;gpd; ghuhSkd;w cWg;gpdu; eluh[h utpuh[; njuptpj;jhu;.

rpq;fs kf;fspd; Mjuitg;ngwhj Nku;tpd; rpy;th gpd; fjthy; ghuhSkd;wj;Jf;F te;J tpl;L vkJ rNfhjuu;fs; kPJ tirghLtjid Vw;Wf; nfhs;s KbahJ. gpujpaikr;ru; rNfhju kf;fis ,opTgLj;Jk; tifapy; Ngrpaik fPo;j;jukhd nrayhFk; vd;Wk; njuptpj;j mtu; NkYk; $wpajhtJ:

Nku;tpd; rpy;th tzq;Fk; Gj;jgfthd; $l ,e;jpahtpNyNa gpwe;jhu;. ,jid mtu; Gupe;J nfhs;s Ntz;Lk;. gpujpaikr;ru; ,t;thW tir ghba gpd;dUk; kiyaf jiyikfs; ,t;tplaj;jpy; nksdk; rhjpg;gjhdJ vkf;F ftiyaspf;fpd;wJ.

Nku;tpd; rpy;thtpd; kfDf;F nghyp]; gpiz toq;fpaik ve;j rl;lj;jpd; fPo; vd;gij nghyp]; kh mjpgu; njspTgLj;j Ntz;Lk;. ML>khL vd;gtw;iw fsntLg;gtu;fSf;Nf ,Uthuk; tpsf;fkwpay; toq;fg;gLfpd;wJ. ,e;j epiyapy; nghyp]hu; kPJ jhf;Fjy; elj;jpatUf;F nghyp]; gpiz toq;fg;gl;Ls;sJ. ve;j rl;lj;jpd; fPo; nghyp]; kh mjpgu; ,jid toq;fpdhu;?

vdNt> ,j;jtWf;F nghWg;Ngw;W nghyp]; kh mjpgUk; gjtp tpyf Ntz;Lk;. gpujpaikr;ru; Nku;tpd; rpy;thtpd; nraYf;F [dhjpgjpNah> gpujkNuh kd;dpg;Gf;Nfhutpy;iy. ,e;jpahtpy; uapy; tpgj;J ele;jhNy Fwpj;j mikr;ru; gjtp tpyFtJ tof;fk;. gpujpaikr;ru; Nku;tpd; rpy;thNth xU r%fj;ij ,opTgLj;jpAs;shu;. vdNt mtu; gjtp tpyf Ntz;Lk;.

Iup];; FbauR ,uhZtj;jpd; mbr;Rtl;il Gypfs; gpd;gw;wpdhy; ,d neUf;fbf;F jPu;T- fjpu;fhku; $Wfpwhu;

tpLjiyg; Gypfs; jkJ ,uhZt fl;likg;Gfis fiyj;J tpl;L rptpy; mikg;ghf khwpdhy; khj;jpuNk ,yq;ifapd; ,dg;gpur;rpidf;F jPu;T fhz KbAk; vd ntsptptfhu mikr;ru; yf;\;kd; fjpu;fhku; njuptpj;Js;shu;.

[dhjpgjp re;jpupfh gz;lhuehaf;f FkhuJq;ftpd; tho;f;if rupjj;ij ntspapLk; epfo;T nts;spf;fpoik tpRk;ghatpy; ,lk;ngw;w NtisNa ntsptptfhu mikr;ru; ,jid njuptpj;jhu;.

];uPyq;fh Rje;jpuf; fl;rpapd; ntspj; Njhw;wj;ij khw;wpatu; vd;w tifapNyNa [dhjpgjpia tuyhW Kf;fpakhf kjpg;gpLk; vdTk; njuptpj;j mtu;> [dhjpgjpapd; tuyhW xU iky;fy; vdTk;> vdpDk; ,J mtuJ mw;Gjkhd murpay; tho;f;if Kbtpw;F te;Jtpl;lij ,J Fwpf;ftpy;iy vdf; Fwpg;gpl;lJld; NkYk; njuptpj;jjhtJ;

tpahof;fpoik tuyhw;W Kf;fpaj;Jtk; tha;e;j epfo;nthd;W ,lk; ngw;Ws;sJ.

,yq;if [dhjpgjpAld; Neubahf njhlu;Gs;s tplaky;y vd;w NghjpYk; mtuJ nfhs;iffs; rupahdit vd;gij Gyg;gLj;jpAs;sJ. Aj;jk; vd;gJ mtrpakhd jPik vd;whYk; mJ ey;y tplaky;y vd;gJ [dhjpgjpapd; epiyg;ghL.

Iup]; FbauR ,uhZtk; jdJ jrhg;j fhy MAjg; Nghuhl;lj;ij iftpLtjhf mwptpj;Js;sJ.

jdJ njhz;lu;fis murpay; Ntiyj; jpl;lq;fis [dehaf topKiwfspy; Kd;ndLf;FkhWk; mJ NfhupAs;sJ. NkYk; MAjf; fisT tplaj;jpy; xj;Jiof;fg;NghtjhfTk; njuptpj;Js;sJ.

tl mau;yhe;J tptfhuk; ,yq;ifAld; gy tplaq;fspy; xw;Wikia nfhz;Ls;sJ.

Kf;fpakhf ePz;l fhy MAjg; Nghuhl;lq;fis Ngr;R thu;j;ijfs; %ykhf khj;jpuNk Kbtpw;Ff; nfhz;L tuyhk; vd;gij Gyg;gLj;jpAs;sJ.

,yq;ifapd; neUf;fbf;F jPu;T fhz; gjw;fhf ru;tNjr r%fk; jPtpu Kaw;rpfis Nkw;nfhz;Ls;sJ.

vdpDk; ru;tNjr r%fKk; rkhjhd Kaw;rpfspy; <Lgl;l murhq;fq;fSk; MAjf; fisT tplaj;jpid jtpu;j;J te;Js;sd.Nlhf;fpNah khehl;by; khj;jpuNk ,e;j tplak; Fwpj;J typAWj;jg;gl;lJ.

tpLjiyg; Gypfs; jkJ ,uhZtk;> flw;gil> tpkhdg; gil vd;gtw;iw fiyj;J tpl;L rptpy; mikg;ghf khWfpd;w tiuapy; ,yq;ifapd; ,d neUf;fbf;F jPu;T fhz KbahJ. Iup\; FbauR ,uhZtk; ,e;jg; gijapNyNa mbnaLj;J itj;Js;sJ.

[dhjpgjp jdJ murpay; vjpu;fhyj;jpw;fhd gapw;rpia fpuhkg;Gw kf;fSld; gzpahw;wpa NtisAk; jdJ je;ijapd; nfhs;iffspy; fhl;ba mf;fiwA+lhfTk; ngw;Wf; nfhz;lhu;. vjpu;fhyj;jpy; murpaypy; EioAk; Nehf;fj;JlNdNa mtu; jd;id jahu; gLj;jpf; nfhz;lhu; vd $w KbahJ.

tpjpapd; jUzj;jpw;fhf mtu; jd;id jahu; gLj;jp te;jhu;. vdpDk; mtuJ fdTfs; fLk; ajhu;j;jj;ij re;jpf;f Ntz;bapUe;jJ. vdpDk; jdJ murpay; cWjpg;ghL fhuzkhf mtu; mjid ntw;wpfukhf vjpu;nfhz;lhu;.

murpay; uPjpahf mtu; gy Kl;Lf;fl;ilfis vjpu;nfhz;lhu;. mtuJ nfhs;iff;fhd MjuT cau;tJk;> jho;tJkhf ,Ue;jJ - ,Uf;fpd;wJ. vdpDk;> mtu; njhlu;e;Jk; jdJ gazj;ij njhlu;fpwhu;.

[dhjpgjp xU etPd fhyg; ngz;kzp. gioikthj r%j;jpypUe;J tpLgLtjw;F mtu; fLikahfg; Nghuhl Ntz;bapUe;jJ.

1968 Nk khjj;jpd; Gul;rp [dhjpgjp kPJ r%f mf;fiw Fwpj;j tpopg;Gzu;r;rpia Vw;gLj;jpapUe;jJ.

NkYk;> mtuJ je;ijaplkpUe;J mtu; ngw;w r%f mf;fiwAk; rpWtu;fs;> ngz;fs; vd r%fj;jpd; gyjug;gl;ltu;fspd; eyDf;fhf jpl;lq;fis Kd;itf;f J}z;baJ. [dhjpgjp mtuJ fl;rpapd; ntspj;Njhw;wj;jpy; ghupa khw;wj;ijf; nfhz;L te;jijNa tuyhW mtuJ kpfg;ngupa rhjidahf kjpg;gpLk;.

1994 ,w;F Kjy; ];uPyq;fh Rje;jpuf; fl;rp kjthj rpe;jidapy; %o;fpf; fple;jJ.

[dhjpgjpapd; jiyikapyhd Rje;jpuf; fl;rpia kf;fs; jkJ xU gFjpahfTk; NjhodhfTk; ghu;f;fpd;wdu;. ,e;j khw;wj;ij Vw;gLj;jpatu; [dhjpgjpNa.

ed;dlj;ijapd;ik> Mghrk; Nghd;wit fhzg;gLk; murpay; R+oypy;> [dhjpgjpapd; nraw;ghLfs; khWg;gl;lit. mtu; njhlu;e;Jk; ,uf;fKk; fUizAk; nfhz;ltuhf jpfo;fpwhu;.

vjpu;f;fl;rpfspd; Kf;fpa jiytu;fs; rpyu;> xU jdp kdpju; vd;w tifapy; mtu; mw;Gjkhdtu; vdf; Fwpg;gpLfpd;wdu;.

31 July 2005

tpLjiyg; GypfSk; MAjq;fis ifaspf;f Ntz;Lk; vd;W NfhUtJ Vw;Wf;nfhs;sf; $bajy;y: N[hrg; guuh[rpq;fk;

jkpo;j; Njrpaj;jpw;F ghJfhg;G mw;w R+oypy; [up]; tpLjiy ,uhZtk; MAjq;fis xg;gilf;f Kd;te;jJ Nghd;W tpLjiyg; GypfSk; MAjq;fis xg;gilf;f Ntz;Lk; vd;W Nfhupf;if tpLg;gJ Vw;Wf;nfhs;sf;$ba xU tplaky;y.

yz;ldpy; cs;s [up]; tpLjiy ,uhZtk; Nghd;W tpLjiyg; GypfSk; MAjq;fis ifaspf;f Ntz;Lk; vd;W rpwpyq;fh muR Nfhupf;if tpLj;jpUg;gJ njhlu;ghf jkpo;j; Njrpaf; $l;likg;gpd; kl;lf;fsg;G khtl;l ehlhSkd;w cWg;gpdu; N[hrg; guuh[rpq;fk; I.gp.rp jkpo; thndhypf;F fUj;J njuptpf;Fk; NghNj Nkw;fz;lhtJ njuptpj;Js;shu;.

mtu; njuptpj;Js;s fUj;Jf;fs; tUkhW>

jkpo;j; Njrpaj;jpw;F ghJfhg;G mw;w R+oypy; [up]; tpLjiy ,uhZtk; MAjq;fis xg;gilf;f Kd;te;jJ Nghd;W tpLjiyg; GypfSk; xg;gilf;f Ntz;Lk; vd;W Nfhupf;if tpLg;gJ Vw;Wf;nfhs;sf;$ba xU tplaky;y.

fhuzk; vd;dntdpy;> tpLjiyg; GypfSk; rpwpyq;fh murhq;fKk; Aj;j epWj; xg;ge;jj;jpy; Mu;tkpy;iy my;yJ Vw;Wf;nfhs;s Kbahj R+o;epiyapy; 14 ehl;fs; jtizAld; Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifapypUe;J ntspNawyhk; vd;W Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifapy; $l njspthff; $wg;gl;bUf;fpwJ.

,t;thwhd R+o;epiyapy; fle;j %d;W tUlq;fSk; ehd;F khjq;fshf rkhjhdg; Ngr;Rthu;j;ij njhlug;gl;L MWRw;Wg; Ngr;Rthu;j;ijfSf;F gpw;ghL mJ jilg;gl;bUf;fpwJ> ,ilepWj;jg;gl;bUf;fpwJ Mdhy; Ngr;Rthu;j;ij ,d;Wtiu njhlutpy;iy.

jkpoPo tpLjiyg; Gypfs; rku;g;gpj;Js;s jd;dhl;rp mjpfhu rig njhlu;ghf me;j mbg;gil Njit$l Ngr;Rthu;j;ijf;fhf vLf;fg;glTkpy;iy. mJ Kd;ndLj;Jr; nry;yg;glTkpy;iy.

,it vy;yhtw;wpw;Fk; Nkyhf Njrpa mopT vd;W $wg;gLfpw Mopg;Nguiyapd; gpd;dUk; $l mjw;fhd kdpjhgpkhd mbg;gilapy; Nkw;nfhs;s Ntz;ba nghJf;fl;likg;igf; $l muR toq;f Kd;tuhky; mjid ifr;rhj;jpLtjw;Ff; $l MW khjfhyk; ,Oj;jbjpUe;jJ. rpwpyq;fhtpd; ePjpj;Jiw $l mjid jil nra;Js;sJ. ,t;thwhd xUtpj R+oypy; vt;thW tpLjiyg; Gypfs; MAjq;fis fPNo itf;f KbAk;?

jkpo; kf;fSila gyNk jkpoPo tpLjiyg; GypfSila MAjk; jhd;. jPu;Nth Kiwahd jPu;T Vw;gl;L jkpou;fs; NfhUfpd;w mNj mbg;gilapy; jq;fisj; jhNk ghu;j;Jf; nfhs;sf;$ba mbg;gilapy; xU jPu;it va;J jq;fSila jhafj;ij jhq;fNs Msf;$ba R+o;epiy Vw;glhjtplj;jpy; me;j MAjk; vd;fpd;w KOikahd jw;ghJfhg;ig xg;gilf;f KbahJ. ,J xU jtwhd nrayhFk;.

Kjypy; mtu;fs; gpur;ridia jPu;f;fl;Lk;. gpur;ridiaj; jPu;j;j gpw;ghL jkpoPo tpLjiyg; Gypfs; mJ njhlu;ghf rpe;jpg;ghu;fs; vd;whu;.

31 July 2005

I.eh.ghJfhg;Gr; rigapd; jPu;khdk; rpWtu;fis Aj;jj;jpy; <LgLj;Jtij jLf;Fk;

ntsptptfhu mikr;R njuptpg;GrpWtu;fspd; ghJfhg;G njhlu;gpy; I.eh. ghJfhg;Gr; rigapy; fle;j 26 Mk; jpfjp Vfkdjhf Vw;Wf;nfhs;sg;gl;Ls;s jPu;khdj;ij tuNtw;Ws;s ntsptptfhu mikr;R> ,J rpWtu;fis Aj;jj;jpy; <LgLj;Jtij jLf;FnkdTk; njuptpf;fpwJ.

rpWtu;fspd; cupikfis NgZtjpy; ,yq;if Kd;dzpapYs;sJ. rpWtu;fis nfhiy nra;jy; my;yJ mq;ftPduhf;Fjy;> gilfspy; gad;gLj;jy; my;yJ Nru;j;jy;> ghlrhiy my;yJ kUj;JtkidfSf;nfjpuhd jhf;Fjy;fs;> ghypay; ty;YwT my;yJ Vida ghypay; uPjpahd Jd;GWj;jy;fs; vd;gtw;iw fz;fhzpj;J mwpf;ifapLtij ,j; jPu;khdk; Vw;Wf;nfhs;fpwJ.

,jd; %yk;> ePz;l fhykhf Njitnad fUjg;gl;L te;j tplak; G+u;j;jp nra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ. mj;Jld; jPtpug;Nghf;Fila mikg;GfSf;F vjpuhd eltbf;iffisAk; cWjpg;gLj;Jk;.

,j; jPu;khdj;jpy; tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; ngaUk; jPtpug; Nghf;Fila jug;ghf Fwpg;gplg;gl;Ls;sJ. vdNt mtu;fs; kdpjTupikapd; tpOkpaq;fisAk; mbg;gilfisAk; kjpj;J elf;fNtz;bapUf;Fk; vd mikr;R tpLj;Js;s mwpf;ifapy; Fwpg;gplg;gl;Ls;sJ.

30 July 2005

Presidential elections in Nov. this year?

The Presidential Elections will be held before November 22 this year and the date of the polls will be announced in the last week of next month, the Daily Mirror learnt last night.

When asked about the exact date, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake – the man in the centre of a major political controversy -- said the date would be fixed subject to Article 31 (3) of the Constitution which stated that the poll should be held not less than one month and not more than two months before the expiration of the term of the President in office and the relevant provisions in the Presidential Election Act No. 15 of 1981.

Daily Mirror learns that the government too has become aware of this decision since several legal luminaries had privately told the SLFP leadership of the strong possibility of the Elections Commissioner calling for elections this year.

The nomination of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse as the SLFP’s presidential candidate despite the public proclamations by the party’s top leadership that elections would only be held in 2006, was attributed to this realization.

Meanwhile the Government Press has already printed more than 50,000 applications for postal ballot papers for the presidential election on a directive of the Election Commissioner’s Department.

These applications were handed over to the Election’s Department on Tuesday.

Legal sources said the Elections Commissioner most probably would be guided by the aborted 2000 August draft Constitution which was endorsed by the Cabinet and reviewed by the Supreme Court. The draft Constitution which was presented in parliament by the President herself stated that the term of the incumbent president ends after “… a period of six years calculated from December 22, 1999”.

However the SLFP is likely to challenge the Elections Commissioner’s decision triggering a controversial yet landmark legal battle.

At a news conference in Colombo yesterday government spokesman Nimal Siripala de Silva reiterated the stand that the presidential elections would be held next year and sent warning signals that the ruling party would go to courts against what it sees as any unconstitutional decision by the Elections Commissioner. Minister de Silva said the Elections Commissioner was vested with powers to declare the date and the decision should be in accordance with the law.

When asked if the government would go to courts if the Elections Commissioner decided to go for an election this year, the Minister said: “We can go to courts if he gives an unconstitutional decision. Anybody can go to courts against an unconstitutional decision. We are ready for any decision”.

30 July 2005

Norway’s deputy FM due in Sri Lanka

In a bid to push the stalled peace talks in Sri Lanka, Norwegian deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen will come here next month, the government announced today.

Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva at a Cabinet press briefing in Colombo said that the Norwegian deputy Foreign Minister will also travel to the tsunami-hit South during his stay here.

He is expected to meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga and other senior government officials and also the LTTE leadership

NE Catholic Bishops confer with Tamilselvan on current situation

Catholic Bishops of Jaffna, Mannar and Batticaloa-Trincomalee Rt.Rev. Dr.Thomas Savundranayagam, Rt. Rev. Dr.Rayappu Joseph and Rt. Rev. Dr. Kingsley Swampillai met with Mr.S.P.Tamilselvan, Head of the LTTE Political Wing today 29 July 2005 at the Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi. The main theme of the discussion was the current political situation in the context of a stalled peace process, undue delay to the structuring of the post-tsunami management and the public resentment over the humanitarian misery. Mr.Tamilselvan briefed the Bishops on the stand of LTTE in the midst of public outcry for resolution of their day to day problems and a lasting solution to the political crisis.

30 July 2005

Navy on alert for LTTE arms ship

Information that a ship carrying arms for the LTTE was seen on the sea off Jaffna coast has been received by the intelligence services and the Navy surveillance in the region has been increased, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri said yesterday (29).

He also said the Army in the region has been informed about the intelligence reports and troops have been alerted to keep watch for any suspect activity on land in the coastal areas of the North.

He said the forces were aware the LTTE is using various ruses to transport arms across the government administered areas and every possible precaution has been taken to prevent such attempts.

30 July 2005

THE PROMISE OF PEACE
The military presence in Northern Ireland is being scaled down after the IRA's historic promise to abandon violence and embrace peace.Work has started to remove a watchtower in the republican stronghold of south Armagh and vacate an Army base in Forkhill.Lieutenant General Sir Reddy Watt, the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland, said a lookout post will be removed at Newtownhamilton police station.

A revised security programme is also being published in the near future and plans are being made to allow on-the-run paramilitary fugitives to return home.Unionists, however, have reacted with anger at the military scale down.Arlene Foster, a senior member of the Democratic Unionist Party, said: "It's criminally irresponsible of the government to do that, given what has gone on in those border areas.

"It's startling that when the IRA give a statement saying they will stop what they should never have been doing the government act so soon.". The decision to abandon armed struggle in favour of "political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means" means new efforts to restore devolution are expected.

But Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain will likely delay the opening of any discussions until September.By this time the British and Irish governments hope the Provisionals will have completed their decommissioning process.

Tony Blair, in a joint statement with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, said: "If the IRA's words are borne out by actions, it will be a momentous and historic development."Independent verification will be vitally important to enable trust and confidence to be restored."International disarmament chief General John de Chastelain is due to meet an IRA representative in the coming days as part of lans to empty the arms dumps.

Two clergymen - one Protestant, one Catholic - have been chosen to scrutinise the destruction along with Gen de Chastelain. 30 July 2005

Mangala formula averts SLFP crisis

Ports and Shipping Minister Mangala Samaraweera appeared to have tackled an unprecedented political crisis by recommending a formula that pleased President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Premier Mahinda Rajapakse and Minister Anura Bandaranaike.The plan worked out by Samaraweera, in consultation with several others, including three senior government officials close to President Kumaratunga, envisaged Rajapakse and Bandaranaike being simultaneously named as the UPFA'spresidential and prime ministerial candidates respectively.

It also envisaged a far reaching amendment to the SLFP Constitution to pave the way for Kumaratunga to continue as the party leader. Samaraweera is believed to have outlined his plan at a meeting, at the Janadhipathi Mandiraya last Tuesday (26) night, chaired by Kumaratunga. The meeting got underway late as President Kumaratunga addressed security forces and police officers at the BMICH. The BMICH meeting scheduled to begin at 2.30 p.m. got underway about three hours late. During her speech, President Kumaratunga had strongly defended the P-TOMS agreement while insisting the importance in continuing with the Oslo-arranged Cease-Fire Agreement (CFA) despite provocations. From BMICH, she had rushed to Janadhipathi Mandiraya where the committee tasked with naming the party's presidential election candidate had been waiting. Ironically Rajapakse and Bandaranaike too had been on the committee.

The Island learns that the JVP backs Mangala's formula. The JVP quit the coalition on June 16 protesting President Chandrika Kumaratunga's decision to go ahead with hotly disputed P-TOMS agreement with the LTTE.Samaraweera succeeded in securing the JVP's support to retain power in the Western Provincial Council by appointing Nandana Mendis as the Chief Minister even after the Marxist party's pull-out from the coalition. Unfortunately this arrangement collapsed after an influential section in the coalition negotiated a controversial deal with the UNP to reinstate Reginald Cooray, facing a presidential investigation on corruption, financial irregularities and alpractices.

Well informed sources said that Samaraweera moved swiftly amidst efforts by an influential section of the coalition to undermine Rajapakse.Rajapakse, Bandaranaike, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Anuruddha Ratwatte, Maithripala Sirisena and Alavi Moulana had been present at Tuesday's meeting. Alavi Moulana, obviously acting according to a previously agreed arrangement, had proposed Rajapakse as the party's presidential election candidate. He had also proposed Bandaranaike as the party's prime ministerial candidate.

"Alavi averted a possible confrontation," the sources said while expressing delight that they succeeded in resolving the crisis amicably.

Well informed sources said that the UPFA and the JVP would have to reach agreement on the forthcoming budget likely to be in November. The UPFA stands to lose if the JVP vote against its second budget leading to fresh parliamentary elections early next year. The JVP would have to compromise unless it wants a general election ahead of the presidential election.But a lot would depend on Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake's decision. In a front-page story "Dayananda shows his hands" last Sunday, we revealed his decision to call for presidential electionlater this year.

30 July 2005
Announce the date for Presidential Election

A petition has been filed requesting an order directing the Commissioner of Elections to announce the date for Presidential Election. Dharmadasa Gomis, a lawyer has filed the petition in the Court of Appeal.

One party says the Presidential election should be held in 2005 and the other party's stance is that it is due in 2006. Hence, considering the right of the people in Sri Lanka to know the exact date of the election, the petitioner has requested the Court of appeal to make the order. Commissioner of Elections as well as the Attorney General have been named as respondents.

30 July 2005

Sri Lanka Premier condemns Deputy Minister’s behaviour.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapksa, the SLFP nominee for President at the Presidential Election today condemned the bad behaviour of Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva as unbecoming of a politician for threatening the private media by calling names.

Premier told the media today that we all should allow the media to do their services for the people and politicians should not interfere with their work. The media will write or telecast what they think the people should know and it may not be to our liking. But we should not yell at them or threaten them.

While stating that politicians should respect the media freedom as true democrats, the Prime Minister said that he was confident and optimistic that the media will act with responsibility in carrying out their reporting for the people and for the country.

A group, calling Supporters of Democracy staged a protest at the Sirasa premises yesterday as a response to the protest organized by several media organizations against the ‘nasty’ act of the Deputy Minister at the Fort Railway Station the previous day. Deputy Minister targeted some TV stations in the country expressing his wrath over them at the Fort Magistrate premises where media gathered to cover his son’s arrest. Deputy Minister’s son was allegedly involved in an attackagainst some police officers who have gone to investigate a drug deal at a hotel in Colombo.

30 July 2005

EPDP demonstrate in Jaffna against killing

Members of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) Friday afternoon held a demonstration with the body of Mr.Suriyapillai Nixon in front of the Jaffna office of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) demanding guarantee for their security and safety, sources in Jaffna said. Mr.Nixon, a member of the EPDP was shot dead Thursday afternoon by unidentified gunmen when was on his way to distribute copies of Thinamurasu, the weekly organ of the EPDP.

Earlier EPDP members escorted by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army and Policemen brought the body of Mr.Nixon in a procession from Kailasapillaiyar Koviladi junction carrying placards to the office of the SLMM located along Nallur Temple Road, sources said. EPDP members refused SLMM's request to remove the coffin from the site. The SLMM officials told EPDP members that they are prepared to discuss the issue of providing security to them. But EPDP members said that only if the SLMM guarantees their security they will remove the coffin, sources said. EPDP members left the coffin in front of the SLMM office and gathered in the Kailasapillaiyar Kovil premises.

Meanwhile, the security to the SLMM office has been strengthened by deploying more soldiers and policemen. The road leading to SLMM office has been closed for public use and traffic during the demonstration, sources said.

30 July 2005

A fleet from British Royal Navy on a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka

Royal Navy warship HMS York and her accompanying Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship Black Rover are due to arrive in Colombo on August 5 on a goodwill visit.

In a press release the British High Commission in Colombo today said that “The ships will visit for 3 days before heading further east as part of a Royal Naval deployment called ‘Volans 05’.”

British High Commissioner, Stephen Evans, said, “The visit of HMS York is a symbol of the good relations between the UK and Sri Lanka and the strong links between our two Navies. Immediately after the tsunami a Royal Navy Ship, HMS Chatham, and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary, RFA Diligence, visited Sri Lanka and helped provide relief to those affected by the tragedy, principally off the East coast near Batticaloa. The visit of HMS York will provide an opportunity to build on the goodwill generated by their work.”

HMS York’s Commanding Officer, Commander Matt Harvey of Royal Navy stated that “HMS York is both delighted and very privileged to be visiting Colombo. The visit follows a recent 4-week period at sea and my Ship’s Company has been looking forward to it immensely. For many of my sailors this is their first trip away from home and we all feel tremendously lucky to have the opportunity to sample and enjoy the Sri Lankan way of life.”

During the visit Commander Harvey will meet senior officers from the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Mayor of Colombo. Members of the crew will visit sights around Colombo and will play football, rugby and hockey matches against Sri Lankan Navy teams.

RFA Black Rover is a Fleet Tanker belonging to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service. These ships support Royal Navy warships including replenishment of fuel.

30 July 2005

Kalmunai Muslims protest against SL Minister Athaulla

More than one thousand Muslims from three different mosques in Kalmunai town marched Friday in protest against the Minister of Infrastructure Development in the Eastern Province, Mr. A.L.M Athaulla, a leader of one of the breakaway factions of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), accusing the lankan minister of "betraying Muslims in Kalmunai" and favouring his native town of Akkaraipattu in securing governmental facilities. Demonstrators also carried placards supporing Tamil - Muslim relations in Kalmunai.

The protestors alleged that Mr. Athulla was taking steps to relocate the deputy health director's office for Amparai district from Kalmunai to Akkaraipattu.

Muslim devotees who participated in Jummah prayers in Kalmunai Jummah Mosque, Ansar Sunnathu Mohammadullah Mosque and Mohideen Jummah Mosque, marched towards Kalmunai (Muslim) Divisional Secretariat at 1:30 p.m and held a demonstration till 3:00 p.m, sources in Kalmunai said.

The protest was organised by the All Mosque Federation in Kalmunai and the Federation of Muslim Organisationsand Clubs in Kalmunai.

At the end of the demonstration, organisors handed over a petition addressed to the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga to District Secretary (DS) Mr. A.H.M. Ansar at the Divisional Secretariat.

The petition urged SL President to ensure that the development of Kalmunai Muslim division is not blocked by secretarian politics and not to allow politicians to show favoritism to their own hometowns.

Mr. Athaulla was appointed as the Minister of Infrastructure Development in the Eastern Province, when he joined UPFA government coalition breaking away from the SLMC. Athaulla was Minister of Highways in the previous United National Party (UNP) led United National Front (UNF) coalition government.

30 July 2005

Fish vendors complain harassment at Muhamalai SLA checkpoint

Vendors engaged in the sale of fish in Jaffna district have complained to civil authorities that they are harassed by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army at Muhamalai checkpoint when bringing fish from Vadamaradchchi east division. They are asked to wait several hours at the Muhamalai checkpoint before entering the government-controlled areas in Jaffna district, civil sources said.

Vendors said SLA soldiers cut open big fish to check to ensure explosives are not taken to government controlled areas from LTTE held Vadamaradchchi east. Due to this they are unable to preserve the fish they take to Jaffna town for a longer period, civil sources said.

Soldiers in Muhamalai checkpoint say that they receive information that explosives are taken to Jaffna town concealing in big fish, according to vendors.

30 July 2005

Father of three shot dead in Achchuveli

Mr.Phillipiah Leonard Jeyaraj aged 52, father of three children of Achchuveli West in Jaffna district, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen Friday evening around 6 p.m. while he was walking towards his agricultural land. The Police handed over the body of the dead to the Achchuveli hospital, police said.

Four persons in two motorbikes followed Mr.Jeyaraj and fired at him killing him on the spot and fled from the scene, Achchuveli Police said.

The site where the incident took place is located about 300 meters from the Achchuveli Police Station and on the border of the high security zone, civil sources said

30 July 2005

UN Mechanism on child soldiers covers all conflicts
THE newly established UN mechanism on child soldiers worldwide will ultimately cover all conflict situations of concern. Under this mechanism, task forces will be established in phases to monitor the conduct of all parties and to transmit regular reports to a central task force based at UN Headquarters in New York.

These reports will serve as triggers for action against the offending parties, the United Nations Information Service said yesterday.

The latest report on the subject by UN Secretary-General lists 54 offending parties, governments as well as insurgents, drawn from 11 situations of conflict. These included the Tigers (LTTE) from Sri Lanka,

Fuerzes Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) from Colombia, Janjaweed from Sudan; the Community Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) from Nepal, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) from Uganda; Karen National Liberation Army from Myanmar and government forces from DRC, Myanmar and Uganda.

In a major ground-breaking development, the UN Security Council voted last Tuesday unanimously for a series of measures, including the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring and reporting mechanism, to ensure the protection of children exposed to armedconfict.

The mechanism will monitor grave violations by all parties, both governments and insurgents, focusing particularly on: Killing or maiming of children, recruiting or using child soldiers, attacks against schools or hospitals, rape or other sexual violence against children, abduction of children and denial of humanitarian access for children.

The Security Council has endorsed the continued naming and listing of all offending parties, both insurgents and governments, which are responsible for grave violations against children.

In the same resolution, the Security Council ordered offending parties which have already been listed, to prepare and implement right away, concrete action plans and timeliness for ending violations against children.

"We have now entered the 'era of application, commented UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara A. Otunnu. "For the first time, the UN is establishing a formal, structured and detailed compliance regime of this kind.

This brings together all the key elements we have been developing, in the last few years, to ensure accountability and compliance on the ground. This is a turning point of great consequence."

The Security Council's special Working Group, composed of all 15 members, will review reports and action plans, and consider targeted measures against offending parties, where insufficient or no progress has been made.

Such measures might include travel restrictions on leaders, and their exclusion from any governance structures and amnesty provisions, the imposition of arms embargoes, a ban on military assistance, and restriction on the flow of financial resources to the parties concerned.

In the last decade two million children have been killed in situations of armed conflict, while six million children have been disabled or injured. Over a quarter of a million child soldiers are being abused and exploited today in situations of armed conflict around the globe.

Since 2003, over 11 million children have been displaced within their own countries, and 2.4 million children were forced to flee conflict and take refuge outside their home countries.

Abductions are becoming more widespread, as witnessed, for example, in Darfur, Northern Uganda, Nepal and Burundi. Thousands of children, particularly girls, are subjected to rape and other sexual abuses in situations of conflict. Landmines kill or maim 8,000 to 10,000 children every year.

30 July 2005

Sovereign state as a last resort: TNA MP

The Tamil community would have no alternative but to secede and form a separate state as successive governments have demonstrated their indifference to solving the Tamil national question, a TNA MP said.

Speaking to Daily Mirror, TNA parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham said the objective of the ‘Tamil National Resurgence Convention’ held in Vavuniya was to impress upon the international community, the Tamil community’s genuine right to a sovereign state.

“After the armed struggle, there came the ceasefire agreement. So far, nothing concrete has happened to solve the country’s ethnic problem, and the government is not genuinely interested in solving the problem. Therefore, we have the right to form a sovereign state as a last resort”, he said.

However, he said that they would make every possible effort to find a solution to the problem within a united Sri Lanka.

The TNA Foreign Affairs Committee has also planned to hold a series of talks with the heads of foreign missions in Colombo to solicit the international community’s support.

The convention was organized by the TNA along with Tamil civil organizations to convince the international community that every attempt by Tamil leaders to seek a solution to the problem through negotiations, had been spurned by extremist Sinhala groups and therefore they deserve the right to their own sovereign state

30 July 2005

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mf;fiwapy;iy

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30 July 2005

gpupl;b]; Aj;j fg;gy;fs; ,yq;if tUfpd;wd

,yq;iff;Fk; gpupj;jhdpahTf;Fkpilapyhd ey;Ywitg; NgZk; tifapy; gpupj;jhdpa flw;gil Aj;jf; fg;gnyhd;Wk; Jizf; fg;gnyhd;Wk; %d;W ehs; tp[ak; xd;iw Nkw;nfhz;L vjpu;tUk; 5 Mk; jpfjp ,yq;if tUfpd;wd. vr;.vk;. v];.Nahu;f; vDk; Aj;jf; fg;gYk; gpsf;Nuhtu; vDk; Jizf; fg;gYNk %d;W jpdq;fs; ,yq;ifapy; jupj;J epw;fTs;sd.

,J njhlu;ghf gpupj;jhdpa cau;];jhdpfuhyak; tpLj;Js;s mwpf;ifapy; gpupj;jhdpa J}Jtu; ];Bgd; ,thd;]; Fwpg;gpLifapy;: ,yq;iff;Fk; gpupj;jhdpahTf;Fkpilapyhd ey;Ywitj; njhlu;e;J NgZk; tifapNy Nkw;gb ,U fg;gy;fSk; ,yq;if tUfpd;wd.

Rdhkp Nguiy jhf;fj;jhy; ,yq;if ghjpf;fg;gl;lNghJ> gpupj;jhdpahtpypUe;J cldbahf flw;gilf; fg;gy;fs; ,yq;if te;J kdpjhgpkhd cjtpfis ey;fpd. me;j Ntiyj; jpl;lj;jpD}lhf ,yq;ifAld; ey;Ywitg; NgzpaJ Nghd;W ,e;j tp[aKk; ey;Ywitg; NgZtjw;fhd re;ju;g;gkhf mikAk; vd;whu;.

30 July 2005

mikr;ru; mjhTy;yhTf;F vjpuhf fy;Kidapy; New;W Mu;g;ghl;lk;

mikr;ru; mjhTy;yhtpd; eltbf;iffSf;F vjpuhf New;W [{k;M njhOifia njhlu;e;J fy;Kid efupy; Mu;g;ghl;lk; xd;W ,lk; ngw;wJ. fy;Kid efupYs;s mur mYtyfq;fs; mikr;ru; mjhTy;yhtpdhy; mf;fiug;gw;W gFjpf;F ,lk;khw;wg;gLtjw;F vjpu;g;G njuptpf;Fk; tifapNy ,e;j Mu;g;ghl;lg; Nguzp ,lk; ngw;wJ. ,e;j Mu;g;ghl;lj;jpy; fy;Kid gFjpiar; Nru;e;j gy;NtW mikg;Gfspd; gpujpepjpfs; cl;gl Rkhu; 2 Mapuk; jkpo; >K];ypk; kf;fSk; fye;J nfhz;ldu;. New;W [{k;M njhOifia njhlu;e;J Muk;gkhd ,t; Mu;g;ghl;lj;jpy; fye;J nfhz;Nlhu; jkpo; K];ypk; Ngjk; Ntz;lhk;> fy;Kidapy; Rdhkpahy; ghjpj;j kf;fSf;F cjt kwe;j mjhTy;y ahUf;F mikr;ru;? fiuNahu khtl;l fr;Nrupia fy; Kidapy; epWTf. Nghd;w Nfhrq;fis vOg;gpathW Nguzpahf nrd;wdu;.

Nguzpapd; ,Wjpapy; gy;NtW Nfhupf;iffs; mlq;fpa kf[u; xd;iwAk; [dhjpgjpf;F mDg;gpitg;gjw;fhf Mu;g;ghl;ljhuu;fs; gpuNjr nrayhsu; V.vr;.vk;.md;ruplk; ifaspj;jdu;. ,e;j Mu;g;ghl;l Nguzp fhuzkhf fy;Kid ef&lhd Nghf;Ftuj;J xU kzp Neuk; ];jk;gpjkile;jpUe;jJ

30 July 2005

,yq;if tUk; n`y;fprd; [dhjpgjp kw;Wk; jkpo;r;nry;tDld; NgRthu; Nehu;Nt gpujpj; J}JtUk; fpspnehr;rp nry;fpwhu;

Aj;j epWj;j xg;ge;jj;jpid njhlu;e;Jk; ghJfhg;gJ Fwpj;J murhq;fk; kw;Wk; tpLjiyg; GypfSld; fye;JiuahLtjw;fhf Nehu;Ntapd; gpujp ntsptptfhu mikr;ru; tpjhu; n`y;fprd; mLj;j thuk; ,yq;if tuTs;shu;.

vjpu;tUk; tpahof;fpoik ,yq;if tUk; tpjhu; n`y;fprd; [dhjpgjp re;jpupfh FkhuJq;f kw;Wk; tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; murpay;Jiwg; nghWg;ghsu; R.g.jkpo;r;nry;td; MfpNahiuAk; re;jpj;JNgrTs;shu;. Nehu;Ntapy; tpLKiwapid fopj;J tUk; ,yq;iff;fhd Nehu;Nt J}Jtu; `hd;]; gpuh];fUk; tpjhu; n`y;fprDld; nfhOk;G jpUk;gTs;shu;. fle;j thuk; Nehu;Nt jug;gpdu; yz;ldpy; tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; murpay; MNyhrfu; md;ud; ghyrpq;fj;ij re;jpj;J NgrpapUe;jik Fwpg;gplj;jf;fjhFk;.

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ghJfhg;ghd Nghf;Ftuj;J njhlu;ghf murpd; Nahridf;F Gypfs; rhjfkhf gjpyspg;ghu;fs; vd Nehu;Nt gpujp J}Jtu; ek;gpf;if nfhz;Ls;sjhf njupatUfpd;wJ.

30 July 2005

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29 JULY 2005

Top Sinhala film director takes stand for Tamil people

Film director Asoka Handagama was not present to accept his award at the Presidential Film Awards ceremony, as a protest over the event being held on the anniversary of the July 83 riots.

He later announced that his Rs. 150,000 prize money would be donated to rebuild the Jaffna library which was burnt down in 1981.

Mr. Handagama in a letter to President Chandrika Kumaratunga made special mention of the Welikada prison massacre and the killing of pacifist Tamil leader Dr. Rajasunderam in that attack exactly 22 years ago on July 27 1983.

He said that on principle he was opposed to the Film Award ceremony being held on a date when people were killed in this country for being born to a particular race.

The letter which was read out by compere Wasantha Rohana was met with applause by those present including President Kumaratunga who was the Guest of Honour.

Mr. Handagama also congratulated President Kumaratunga for having the courage to sign the P-TOMS agreement and this statement too was also met with rounds of applause by the movie fraternity present that evening.

The renowned director was named to collect an award for ‘International Achievement’ at the glittering ceremony held at the BMICH after a lapse of four years.

Eight artistes including Mr. Handagama who were recipients of international awards between 2001 and 2005 were conferred special awards that evening.

Mr. Handagama won an award for his film ‘Me Mage Sandai’ (This is My Moon) which garnered five awards in the international circuit.

That night’s other award winners were film directors Bennet Ratnayake, Prasanna Withanage and Inoka Sathyangani and actors Nithyawani Kandasamy, Anoma Janadari, Dhamitha Abeyratne and Nimmi Harasgama.

Vimukthi Jayasundera who won the Camera D’or award at the Cannes film festival this year was also conferred a special award by President Kumaratunga at the event held at the BMICH.

29 JULY 2005
SLFP closes ranks in show of unity

The ruling SLFP came together in a show of strength yesterday to nominate Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse as its candidate for the next presidential election and Anura Bandaranaike for the premiership – while appealing to other parties including the JVP and the rebel factions in the UNP to join forces with the SLFP.After weeks of internal conflicts or rumours of conflicts over the nomination, the SLFP central committee comprising 62 members met yesterday at the President’s House and unanimously approved the recommendation of the nomination committee which proposed Mr. Rajapakse for the presidency and Mr. Bandaranaike for premiership.

After the three-hour meeting presided over by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, SLFP frontliners went to Temple Trees for a news conference where they announced the nominations. Neither Mr. Rajapakse nor Mr. Bandaranaike were present at the news conference thus fuelling more speculation but government spokesman Nimal Siripala De Silva denied media reports that the two were at each others throats.

The spokesman said President Kumaratunga had recommended that Mr. Rajapakse be nominated as the party’s candidate for the presidency but he did not say who proposed the nominations and who seconded it.

When asked whether nominating the SLFP candidate meant that the Presidential elections might be held this year as demanded by the main opposition UNP, Minister De Silva said the nomination was expedited to counter attack the UNP’s mud-slinging campaign against the Premier.

He insisted that the presidential election would be held next year while the Elections Commissioner had the power to decide on the date.

Inviting the UNP members disgruntled with Ranil Wickemesinghe’s leadership to join the government, the Minister said that they would hold talks with other parties also to get their support.

The Minister challenged the UNP to name its Prime Ministerial nominee and said the SLFP would soon launch a full scale presidential election campaign led by President Kumaratunga.

29 JULY 2005

Future leader should be from the common people: Wimal Weerawansa

Signalling that the outcome of the next Presidential election would be the same as the result of the recently held election of Diyawadana Nilame, JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa said the future leader of the country should be a person from among the ordinary people.

“It is always the ordinary people that took the country forward. Now the trend is changing positively. The country needs a leader who can bravely and directly face the separatism and terrorism and not a leader without a clear vision,” he said addressing the National Sangha Convention organized by the National Bhikkhu Front at the BMICH.

He said it was high time to take the leadership from the agents of western imperialism.

Mr. Weerawansa also said President Chandrika Kumaratunga was the only Commander-in-Chief that queried from the Army whether they needed a war.

“Do not think that we are calling for war. What we want to emphasize is that the army is an army and they should ever be kept ready psychologically and materially to protect the motherland, no matter whether there is a war or not. Whether a country needs a war or not should be decided by its administrators,” Mr. Weerawansa said.

He said the political leadership as well as most of the Non Governmental Organizations were attempting to brainwash the defence officials and bring their morale down, while the LTTE was accelerating its attempt to establish an Interim Self Governing Authority.

“They recently opened the Office of the Attorney General of Eelam and now we have got information that they are building a Parliamentary Complex,” he said.

29 JULY 2005

EPDP member shot dead

Unidentified persons shot dead an EPDP cadre.The victim was identified as 22-year-old Sooriyapillai Nixon. He was selling copies of the Tamil weekly Thinamurasu, published by the EPDP, when a gunman on a motorcycle shot him and fled the scene. The victim was killed on the spot.

Initial investigations revealed that the EPDP member had come from the Jaffna EPDP office without informing the police in charge of EPDP members’ security.

Security was tightened in the area following the incident.

Meanwhile, two men on a motorcycle, one claiming to be a journalist, who were video filming the Security Forces Forward Defence Line (FDL) at Omanthai entry/exit point while crossing it, were arrested by security forces on Wednesday evening.The two suspects claimed that they work for the pro-LTTE ‘llanadan’ Tamil newspaper and were proceeding towards uncleared areas after attending the LTTE protest meeting in Vavuniya.The suspects were handed over to the Omanthai Police post. They were to be produced in court yesterday.

29 JULY 2005

LTTE office in Vavuniya attacked

Two unidentified gunmen lobbed grenades at the Administrative Office of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Vavuniya around 10:00 p.m. Thursday. No one was injured in the attack. The attackers, who came in a motorbike, fired into the building after charging two grenades, Mr. Tharmendra, LTTE's deputy head of political affairs in Vavuniya, told TamilNet. The office is located 400 meters from a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) checkpoint at Thirunavatkulam, two kilometers north of Vavuniya town.

There were four LTTE administrative officials inside the building at the time of the attack, according to Mr. Tharmendra. The Liberation Tigers have lodged a complaint with the Scandinavian truce monitors, he added.

A motorbike and a computer were fully damaged in the attack.

29 JULY 2005

International community should recognise Tamil Freedom Sruggle”
-Tamil National Uprising resolves

Over 2000 delegates from the eight Tamil districts congregated at Vavuniya yesterday, 27 July 2005 and resolved that the International Community should recognise the Tamil Freedom Struggle and help to provide a political environment that would ensure the self determination right of the Tamil people and help to regain the Tamil sovereignty lost during the sixteenth century. A wider cross section of people from all walks of life, representing the eight Tamil districts and representatives from the hill country plantation sector and the Western Province participated on behalf of the Tamil people living in those areas. Religious dignitaries representing Hindu, Christian and Muslim faith participated in the conference and contributed immensely with their research findings on problems related to the Tamil freedom struggle, causes that motivated the Tamil youth to take up arms, injustices perpetrated by Colombo on the Tamil people from pre-independence days and state violence and terrorism let loose during peaceful ‘Satyagraha’ in the Tamil districts and in Galle Face grounds in the South that culminated in state orchestrated communal pogroms against the Tamil people.

Upcountry Peoples’ Front Leader Mr.P.Chandrasekaran, M.P. urged the Tamil people to band together at an important historical juncture like this and strengthen the hands of the Tamil National Leader Mr.V.Pirapaharan to take forward the freedom struggle. “The ce ase fire period, unfortunately, has been a period during which the Tamil people continued to demonstrate their commitment to peace, but the government did not reciprocate in building up the peace momentum and the Tamils are left with no other alternative than to join hands and fight against state oppression” said the Plantation leader and parliamentarian Chandrasekaran.

“The uppermost question in the minds of the Tamil people today is whether a war would erupt again and if so what is going to happen to the buildings that come up in the areas free of military occupation” said Mr.Selvam Adaikkalanathan Telo Leader and Wanni district TNA legislator and continued that if that is to happen the Tamil people will have to rely on the Tamil National Air Force to ward off aerial bombing by the SLAF. “We are only asking the international community to assess the ground realities and act without delay so that the tiny space available may be made use of to avert a war crisis” said Mr.Adaikkalanathan.

Western Province Peoples’ Front Leader Mr.Mano Ganeshan, quoting from past political blunders said that the senior Tamil Leader Late Mr.S.J.V.Chelvanayagam who entered into two pacts consecutively with the SLFP and the UNP, on finding that both the parties deceived the Tamils by abrogating the pacts, lamented in despair that God alone can help the Tamil people, but, Mr.Ganeshan continued, the Tamil people have been safeguarded by the freedom fighters and it is they who can win the freedom. Professionals and academics on a variety of subjects submitted research papers relating to the political struggle of the Tamil people from the state council days with special reference to communal pogroms in which Tamils were killed in thousands and their property ransacked and the genocidal pattern of state military activities that resulted in the burning of the Jaffna Library, aerial bombardment of churches, temples and schools where refugees were housed.

29 JULY 2005

Mahinda SLFP Presidential candidate; Anura Prime Ministerial nominee
CABINET Spokesman Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday officially announced the unanimous decision of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party's (SLFP) Central Committee to recommend Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse as the SLFP candidate for the 2006 Presidential Election.

Minister Siripala de Silva told journalists that despite the adverse media publicity and speculation created by the UNP during the last three to four months, the SLFP Central Committee, on the recommendation of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse as party candidate.

"The SLFP Central Committee has endorsed this unanimously," he said.

Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike has been nominated as the prime ministerial candidate.

President Kumaratunga had declared that she herself will lead the polls campaign and Minister Bandaranaike too, will play a vibrant role to defeat the UNP candidate, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

A committee was earlier appointed by the SLFP Central Committee to look into the modalities and the election campaign. The committee, headed by the President, met on Tuesday to discuss the issues and President Kumaratunga was given the powers to endorse her choice and her wishes.

"She wanted the Central Committee to discuss and announce this. It was also her wish that Rajapakse should be the Presidential Candidate of the SLFP," Minister de Silva stressed.

He appealed to all patriotic forces to join hands and rally round them to defeat Wickremesinghe and make Rajapakse the next President.

"All the media speculation and their rigorous campaign to show divisions within the SLFP, has now been destroyed," he added.

29 JULY 2005

Jaffna residents have whale of a time

A 40-foot skeleton presumed to be of a whale has been washed ashore at Chaddy, Velanai in the Kayts electorate. Hundreds of people are flocking to Chaddy to view the skeleton.

The Navy has taken custody of the skeleton and removed it to their camp. It is kept in front of the camp for public view.

Chaddy is a well-known tourist centre in Jaffna where people come for a sea bath and palmyrah toddy. It is also a hallowed spot where a famous mosque is venerated by Muslims.

29 JULY 2005

Sri Lanka police discover illegal arms manufacturing center in Medirigiriya

Medirigiriya police have come across an illegal arms manufacturing center in the Palakola Wewa area of Medirigiriya.

Acting on a tip-off, the Medirigiriya police laid a police net around the Palakola Wewa area and took into police custody a T-56 rifle, material used to manufacture arms, and a person suspected of involvement in the manufacture of these illegal arms.

Police investigating the issue say that the person taken into custody had been manufacturing illegal arms for some years

29 JULY 2005

LTTE: "no need to renegotiate ceasefire"

Rejecting a call by the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga inviting the Liberation Tigers for top-level talks to review and restructure the February 2002 ceasefire agreement, the Tigers this week urged the Sri Lankan government to implement the clauses and obligations of the truce without delay, so as to "consolidate the conditions of peace and normalcy in the Tamil homeland."

On Monday, Sri Lanka's President Kumaratunga, meeting with ambassadors of the Co-Chairs of the Peace Process (United States, European Union, Japan and Norway) in the wake of their governments’ strong criticism of Colombo’s failure to disarm Tamil paramilitaries working with the Sri Lankan military, had rejected the charges and sought the renegotiation of the February 2002 ceasefire agreement instead.

Commenting on the views expressed by President Kumaratunga to diplomats representing the Co-Chairs of the Peace Process, the LTTE’s Chief Negotiator and Political Advisor, Mr. Anton Balasingham, blamed the Sri Lankan government for the non-fulfilment of the obligations of the ceasefire agreement which contributed to the deterioration of the security situations in the island’s east.

In a special interview to the Tamil Guardian, Mr. Balasingham this week asserted that there was "essentially nothing wrong with structure of the ceasefire agreement that needed revision or restructuring through negotiation."

"The failure on the part of the Sri Lankan government to comply with the conditions and obligations of the truce agreement is the causative factor for the outbreak of violence and [ensuing] instability in the eastern districts," he said.

"The only way to strengthen the ceasefire, the very foundation of the peace process, is to implement the agreed clauses of the agreement," Mr. Balasingham told the paper.

The LTTE’s theoretician welcomed the "timely intervention" of the Co-Chairs of Peace Process in urging the Sri Lankan government to disarm the Army-backed Tamil paramilitaries and to ensure the security of unarmed LTTE cadres working in government controlled areas in compliance with the ceasefire agreement.

Last week the Co-Chairs (United States, European Union, Japan and Norway) said they were "alarmed the deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka," and called for a cessation to the violence. Calling on the LTTE to stop its attacks, they were strongly critical of Colombo’s failure to disarm Tamil paramilitaries working with the Sri Lankan military.

"The government’s claim that it did not condone or support the activities of Tamil paramilitaries and that these groups had already been disarmed under the ceasefire agreement is a baseless and malicious lie," Mr. Balasingham said.

"It is a well known fact that the Sri Lankan armed forces, particularly the intelligence wing of the military, operate in collusion with the Tamil armed groups and were behind the cold-blooded murders of several LTTE cadres and supporters in the eastern province," he said.

"These killings, which assumed the characteristic of shadow war against the LTTE, has generated a dangerous situation jeopardising the ceasefire agreement," he further said.

"It is therefore the responsibility of the Sri Lankan state to take urgent action to ensure the disarmament of the paramilitary groups and to prevent them from engaging in acts of violence," Mr. Balasingham said.

The LTTE’s Chief Negotiator is of the opinion that there is no need for the revision or restructuring of the ceasefire agreement through negotiation.

"Technically, there is nothing wrong with the [truce agreement]. The current escalation of violence could only be attributed to the failure on the part of the Sri Lankan government to fulfil its obligation under [it]," he said.

"We urge the international community, particularly the Co-Chairs of the Peace Process to use their good offices to bring pressure on the government to act with responsibility, conducting itself in compliance with the ceasefire agreement," Mr. Balasingham said.

Earlier this month, in the wake of the killings and an abortive paramilitary attack on LTTE members travelling under Army-escort, the Tigers withdrew their cadres from military-held areas - where they are allowed under the terms of the truce - to areas they control.

The withdrawal has helped ease tensions because the cadres are no longer exposed to attacks that the military blame on feuding between the Tigers and a renegade faction, but which the LTTE has said are proven to be facilitated and organised by Sri Lankan military intelligence.

But Hagrup Haukland, head of the SLMM, said that although he did not expect killings to escalate at this point, any trust between the two sides had evaporated.

"It's the worst situation I have experienced over these 3-½ years in terms of the mistrust and the climate between the parties," he told Reuters.

"The cornerstone in the ceasefire agreement is the ability of the LTTE to conduct their political work in the north and east. And if they can't do that then, for sure, the ceasefire is void."

26 JULY 2005

No protection for churches - Minister

Minister of Christian and Parliamentary Affairs Milroy Fernando admitted that the state has not given adequate protection to the Christian community. "There were already two attacks this week. One in Pulasthigama and the other one in Kundasale and most probably there will be attacks on a different church in the near future," said the Minister.

When queried whether the government has taken any steps to protect the churches from future attacks, the answer was, "Not yet." Speaking further, the Minister said that it was difficult to give any protection, as the attacks were on small churches in different areas. However, the Minister added that the police have been given orders to look into the Pulasthigama attack last Sunday. "That's all we can do at the moment," he added.

The Pulasthigama police are still investigating into the attack and no one has been arrested in connection with the incident.

26 JULY 2005

For criticising Auastralian PM Ravi blasts Anura

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) has come out strongly against comments made by Tourism and Investment Minister, Anura Bandaranaike in response to a view expressed by the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard in his capacity as Chairman, International Democratic Union regarding the holding of the presidential elections this year.

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake speaking to The Sunday Leader said that Bandaranaike's comments could harm the relations between the two countries.Minister Bandaranaike in a statement to the Australian Premier told him to "Mind his own damn business" and not get involved in Sri Lanka's internal affairs. Bandaranaike was responding to a view expressed by Howard when he met Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in the US last week.

Howard had said that he supported the need to hold Sri Lanka's presidential elections this year in accordance with the constitution. "The Australian Premier had only said what was right and in accordance with the country's constitution. Bandaranaike's lashing out at the Australian Premier was undiplomatic, especially since the former is a man holding office," Karunanayake said.

Karunanayake further said that government ministers should avoid making such statements as it harms international relations at a time when the country needs it most. "When we want financial assistance we go to them but when they say something the government is not happy. Bandaranaike is known to hit out at foreign governments. He needs to be told where to draw the line," the UNP MP stressed.

26 JULY 2005

LTTE no longer ready for excuses

The LTTE has warned the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) is facing its most critical stage since it was signed three years ago and added that it would no longer tolerate excuses from the government for failing to address the urgent needs of the Tamil people.

Political Head, S. Elilan speaking to The Sunday Leader said the government is yet to provide a tangible solution to almost all the issues raised by the LTTE and thus the time has come for the organisation to implement its own solutions.

"Whenever there has been an issue which needed urgent attention the government has come up with excuses like using the constitution or opposition from extremists to sidetrack from coming up with a resolution," he said. He also added that the Supreme Court decision on the P-TOMS agreement was expected by the LTTE as it echoed the views of President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) while accepting that the CFA was facing a critical stage expressed hope that peace will hold despite the rebels refusing to participate at future high level meetings with the government.

26 JULY 2005

Bandaranaikes not reluctant to hand over leadership - SLFP

SLFP General Secretary and Mahaweli Minister Maithripala Sirisena said President Chandrika Kumaratunga was not harassing Premier Mahinda Rajapakse and that the accusations on 'Helping Hambantota' had been created by the UNP, while another group of the UNP was trying to say that it had come from the President.

He said neither the President nor the Prime Minister was foolish and he accused the UNP and its propaganda machinery of being behind it. In an interview on YATV/TNL 'HARDLINE' programme last night he said, the selection of the SLFP Presidential candidate was their responsibility and they would not do this because the UNP was in a hurry. He said it was far too early talk of appointing a presidential candidate when there was nearly two years for the elections to take place.

When asked if the Bandaraianake's were reluctant to handover the leadership to others, Sirisena said "No. Nothing like that. Our President and the party love this country. There is a long time for us to elect the next leader and if we start our campaign it would only be a waste of funds and energy".

26 JULY 2005

Giant Mi-26 choppers on the way

Sri Lanka is seeking to hire two Russian built Mi-26 helicopters on an urgent basis. Air force headquarters yesterday said that at least two helicopters, designed to carry approximately 20 tons, are needed to ferry men and material to and from the Palaly airbase in the coming months.

An authoritative official said that fixed wing aircraft (AN 32s) would not be able to land at the Palaly airfield in view of the ongoing airfield restoration work. The Air force intends to deploy two MI-26 helicopters on what the official termed as a short term assignment. "We may need them for about six months," he said, adding that hiring of two of the world's heaviest helicopter was part of their strategy to maintain the air supply route to the strategic Palaly airfield.

Despite the Oslo-arranged Cease-Fire Agreement (CFA) giving the government the right to use the Kandy-Jaffna A 9 road for transport of troops to and from the peninsula, the Defence Ministry does not want to take a chance. Security forces solely depend on air and sea transport.

India uses Mi-26 choppers.

The Mi-26 is the first helicopter with an eight-blade main rotor, which is mounted above the fuselage midsection on a hump. The Mi-26 is capable of single-engine flight in the event of loss of power by one engine (depending on aircraft mission weight) because of an engine load sharing system. If one engine fails, the other engine's output is automatically increased to allow continued flight. China recently delivered three advanced K-8 trainer aircraft. Air force headquarters said that this would enhance its training capability.

26 JULY 2005

Canada funds P-TOMS

Canada is now considering the possibility of funding the P-TOMS to enable it to begin the rebuilding effort in the selected tsunami- hit areas, Political and Economic Consular of the Canadian High Commission in Colombo Christina Pretontaine told the Sunday Observer.

"We have not changed our stand in P-TOMS even after the recent judgement as P-TOMS would facilitate the identification, approval and monitoring of reconstruction projects in the selected districts. Canada hopes it would also pave the way for restarting peace talks", she said. But supporting the P-TOMS and funding it are two different processes. Although we supported the P-TOMS, the granting of funds towards it is a different process.

However our government is considering how it could fund the P-TOMS", Ms.Christian said. Earlier Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll welcomed the signing of the P-TOMS. When Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin visited Sri Lanka in January, he pledged that Canada would help Sri Lanka's rebuilding program and the Canadian International Development Agency has announced a four-year strategy to support Sri Lanka's P-TOMS.

As part of strategy, Canada will expand programming in three pre- tsunami sectors of focus governance, gender and economic well-being and two new sectors, environment, rehabilitation and management and fisheries. Canada has allocated $425 million towards relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in tsunami-affected countries and Sri Lanka would get grants from this allocation, she said.

26 JULY 2005

Lankan Parliament delegation off to US
A Parliamentary delegation led by Speaker. W.J.M. Lokubandara, comprising. Rohitha Bogollagama – Minister of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development and Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), Dilan Perera – Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation and Media and Information, MPs John Amaratunga, Wijeyedasa Rajapakse, Sunil Handunneththi, Mavai S. Senathirajah, Mr Neil Iddawal, Asst. Secretary General of Parliament and Mr S.C. Mayadunne, Auditor General, left for the US on Friday.

During their tour in the US, the delegation will visit the Congress to get an exposure on the working of similar Congressional Committees.

Minister Rohitha Bogollagama will also take this opportunity to meet with State officials and Members of the American Chambers and Trade Associations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington to discuss matters falling within the purview of the Ministry of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development, with special emphasis on trade promotion and export development activities. The Secretary to the Ministry Mr N.M.G. Lal Kumara will assist the Minister in these deliberations. The delegation will return to the island on 01 August.

26 JULY 2005

International community frets over the East

The foreign ambassadors have assured the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that they would do their utmost to prevent the possible resumption of hostilities between the LTTE and the Government, following the recent spate of violence in the East.

The TNA Foreign Affairs Committee, headed by MP Joseph Pararajasingham, has held discussions with several foreign ambassadors facilitating the peace process, last week, to discuss the tense situation in the North-East, the Supreme Court ruling on the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) and other matters regarding the current political situation.

Mr. Pararajasingham told the Daily Mirror yesterday that the present crisis would pose a serious threat to the fragile Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), and possibly lead to the resumption of war. “The Ceasefire is becoming more and more fragile after the Supreme Court ruling on the P-TOMS and the Government’s failure to guarantee security for LTTE members, when travelling through government-controlled areas,” he said.

The matters related to disarming paramilitary groups operating in the government areas, vis-à-vis the CFA, have also been discussed. According to the TNA, some of these problems have been admitted to by the ambassadors.

Asked about their stand on the killings of army intelligence unit members, he said that the ambassadors pointed out the necessity to stop all forms of killings, for the stability of the peace process. The TNA has met German and Swiss ambassadors and the acting Japanese ambassador, last week.

Meanwhile, Post and Telecommunication Minister D.M. Jayaratne said that the Government had informed the international community about their willingness to restart the stalled peace talks with the LTTE and the disbursement of tsunami aid. Asked about the LTTE’s disappointment over security provided to Tiger cadres in government-held areas, he said that violence had been unleashed on them by the Karuna faction, and therefore they would explain this reality to the LTTE through the Norwegian facilitators. “The LTTE is killing army personnel, assuming that the security forces are supporting the Karuna members to weaken them. We, as a government, do not support any terrorist faction” he said.

26 JULY 2005

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26 JULY 2005

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26 JULY 2005

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26 JULY 2005
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26 JULY 2005

Indian diplomat’s car snatched at gunpoint in Sri Lanka

Unidentified gunmen on Saturday snatched the vehicle of India’s assistant High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, K R Rajan Pillai, after forcing him and his family out of it, police said.

The brand-new four wheel drive vehicle was wrested from the diplomat at Ambepussa, about 60 km east of Colombo, by two gunmen as he along with his family left a restaurant on the main highway at which they had stopped for breakfast, police said. The vehicle, a Toyota Landcruiser, did not carry diplomatic number plates.

Pillai heads the Indian High Commission office in the hill capital of Kandy and was apparently on his way to Colombo when the incident occurred. Police said an investigation was underway.

26 JULY 2005

Tsunami warning canceled

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- A 7.2 earthquake centered in the Nicobar Islands shook the Indian Ocean but did not pose a widespread threat of a tsunami, an official said.

"There is no danger for the basin," said Barry Hirshorn of the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. "There may be a tsunami generated very local to the event, but there is no danger to the people far away." Officials in Delhi, India, said there was no damage on the Nicobar Islands from the quake, which struck at 12:02 p.m. ET. The Indian government did not issue a tsunami alert after the quake.

Shortly after it issued it, Thailand's National Disaster Center in Bangkok lifted a tsunami warning that had urged residents on the western coast and Phuket to move to higher ground. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at a preliminary 7.0 magnitude and said it was centered about 690 miles southwest of Bangkok.

"Yes, we felt tremors," Vivek Porwal, district commissioner of Nicobar, told CNN from the islands. "A lot of anxious people rushed out of their homes." A deadly tsunami hit the region last December 26 after a 9.15 magnitude quake centered on the same fault. More than 176,000 people were killed from Indonesia to Africa.

CNN correspondents Ram Ramgopal and Narunart Prapanya contributed to this report

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kpfkpff; fbdkhd xU fhyfl;lj;jpy; MAjg; Nghuhl;lj;ijf; fl;b vOg;gpf; fsg;gypahf cq;fis gypje;J MAjg; Nghuhl;lk; ,d;W ,e;j mstpw;F tsh;r;rp fhz mj;jpthuk; ,l;Lr; nrd;w jkpo;j;jhapd; tPukpF jtg; Gjy;thfNs> vq;fs; jkpo; <o Njrj;jpd; khngUe; jiyth;fNs! md;W me;j kzw;fhl;Lf; flw;fiuapy; cq;fspd; ifJfs; jtph;f;fg;gl;bUe;jhy; ,yq;ifj;jkpoh;fspd; eyq;fis kl;Lk; fUjhky; cyfrkhjhdj;ijAk; fUj;jpy; nfhz;L nray;gl;l cq;fs; gue;j rpe;jid Fiwe;j gl;rk; vj;jid jkpo;j;jiyth;fspd; caph;fisAk; jkpoh;fspd; caph;fisAk; fhj;jpUf;Fk; vd;W vz;zpg;ghh;f;fpNwhk;. 2002k; Mz;L ngg;utup khjk; Vw;gLj;jg;gl;l Aj;j epWj;j xg;ge;jk; 3 Mz;LfSf;Fk; Nkyhfg; gyd;jUk; KbTfs; vjidAk; vl;lhky; ,d;Nwh ehisNah jdJ MAis Kbj;Jf;nfhs;Sk; xU epiyikf;Nf js;sg;gl;Lf;nfhz;bUf;fpd;wJ. jsj;jpy; njhlUfpd;w gLnfhiyfs; eLepiyikNgZk; ngUk;ghd;ikj;jkpoh;fis ehSk; thl;b tijj;Jf;nfhz;bUf;fpd;wJ. jkpoPok; vd;w jkpoh;fspd; ,yl;rpaf;fdT kpff; Fog;gkhd xU #o;epiyapy; GJg;GJ tpsf;fq;fSld; gyj;j Nfs;tpf;Fwpahf khwp jhafj;jpy; cs;s jkpoh;fis ngUj;j Vf;fj;jpw;Fk; Nrhjidf;Fk; cs;shf;fpAs;sJ.

my;yYw;W jpirawpahJ jj;jspj;j vk; ,dj;ij kPl;f tpbitj;Njbj;ju tpbnts;spfshf tpiue;Jte;j jd;dykw;w jiyth;fshd cq;fs; ,og;Gfs; ve;j topahYk; <Lnra;a Kbahj ,og;Gfshfp vq;fs; ,dk; fiufhz Kbahky; jj;jspf;fpwJ. kPz;Lk; xUKiw vkJ ,dj;jpd; tpbaYf;fhf vOe;J tukhl;Bh;fsh! gpwe;J tukhl;Bh;fsh! vd;W Vq;fpj;jtpf;fpd;Nwhk;!

jkpo; <o kf;fspd; Rje;jpuj;jpw;F tpj;jpl;l <L ,izaw;w jpahf jPgq;fNs! cq;fSf;Fk; ntypf;filapy; gLnfhiynra;ag;gl;ln[fd;> Njtd;> eNlRjhrd;> rptghjk;> =Fkhh; cs;spl;l 53 ,d khdg; NghuhspfSf;Fk;> 83 Mbf;fytuj;jpy; nfhy;yg;gl;l vq;fs; Ngud;gpw;Fupa jkpo; kf;fspw;Fk;> vkJ tPu tzf;fq;fSk;> mQ;rypfSk;.

cz;ikf;F NkilNah md;wp ntspr;rNkh Nghl;Lf; fhl;lj; Njitapy;iy. mJ epue;jukhf ntsptUtij ve;jnthU rf;jpahYk; jLj;J epWj;j KbahJ. - jkpoPo Njrgpjh jq;fj;Jiu.

vj;jid Mapuk; caph;fis ehk; ,j;jid fhyKk; gwp nfhLj; Njhk;> mj;jid Mapuk; caph;g; gypAk; jkpo; <ok; tpl;L vjidg; ngWtjw;Fvd;idj; J}f;fpypLtjd; %yk; gy;yhapuf;fzf;fhd Fl;bkzp fs; cUthFthh;fs;. mth;fs; epr;rak; jkpoPoj;ij ntd;nwLg;gh;fs;. -jsgjp Fl;bkzp.

jkpoPo tpLjiy ,af;fk; (T. E. L. O)

25 July 2005

Genocide 'July 1983 (Sri lanka)
On 24 July 1983, and in the succeeding weeks, around two thousand Tamils were killed - some were burnt alive - over a hundred thousand were rendered homelessOn 24 July 1983, and in the succeeding weeks, around two thousand Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka were killed. Some were burnt alive. Over a hundred thousand were rendered homeless.

''Considerably more people died during the recent violence in Sri Lanka than the 380 deaths the government there has admitted to, according to an aid organisation. Dr.Sjef Teuns, General Secretary of Novib, the leading private development aid organisation in the Netherlands, said between 1000 and 2000 people lost their lives. He returned to Netherland on Saturday. He accused the Sri Lanka government of serious human rights violations against the Tamil population and called the Dutch government to reconsider its development aid policy towards the country.'' (London Times, 22 August 1983) ''Estimates of the number of persons killed in the week of violence vary. Official estimates are just under 400 killed. These estimates are conservative.

Unofficial estimates are as high as 1500 to 2000. It is probable that many bodies were not at first discovered because they were burned in houses. Also some bodies were hidden and buried privately by people who were frightened by the prospect of further reprisals should the bodies be discovered, or scared to attract attention to themselves by reporting the deaths. At the date of our departure from Sri Lanka, September 1st, there were many people still missing or not accounted for.'' (Patricia Hyndman, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of New South Wales and Secretary, Lawasia Human Rights Standing Committee Report -Democracy in Peril, June 1985)
''The police and the government made no attempt to stop or hinder small gangs of men who went about with lists, burning the houses and flats (in Sinhala owned dwellings only the contents), grocery stores, pharmacies, textile shops, tailoring establishments, restaurants, bookshops, hardware shops, lawyers offices, studios... as well as tourist hotels.

They also burnt trucks, vans and cars. They went for only those things which were owned by (Tamils)... They did this expertly.... within sight of President's House in the administrative and business centre, a few yards away from the Prime Minister's official residence, near the UNP headquarters, in blocks immediately adjacent to or opposite major police stations - taking care, on a hot, dry morning, not to start fires which would spread to adjacent Sinhalese owned or state property. Accidents and violations of 'discipline' were few.'' (Sri Lanka - The Unfinished Quest for Peace - L.Piyadasa, Marram Books, 1988)

"Motorists were dragged from their cars to be stoned and beaten with sticks during racial violence in Colombo, the Sri Lanka capital yesterday (24 July). Others were cut down with knifes and axes. Mobs of Sinhala youth rampaged through the streets, ransacking homes, shops and offices, looting them and setting them ablaze, as they sought out members of the Tamil ethnic minority... A Sri Lankan friend told me by telephone last night how he had watched horrified earlier in the day as a mob attacked a Tamil cyclist riding near Colombo's eye hospital, a few hundred yards from the home of Junius Jayawardene, the nations 76 year old President. The cyclist was hauled from his bike, drenched with petrol and set alight. As he ran screaming down the street, the mob set on him again and hacked him down with jungle knifes.." (London Daily Telegraph, 26 July 1983)
''Pillars of smoke and flame rose over the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo yesterday as mobs attacked the minority Tamil community and looted their homes and stores...Some of the worst rioting erupted in the morning only 200 yards away from President Jayawardene's house... All over the city by mid-morning lorries jammed with young men shouting anti Tamil slogans, were moving into Tamil areas and into shopping centres picking out Tamil shops... Petrol was siphoned from cars into buckets and plastic bowls to speed the work of arson.. By noon Colombo resembled a city after a bombing raid. Smoke obscured the sun, main roads were blocked by burnt out vehicles.. The rioting surged into the heart of the city. In area after area Sinhalese rioters systematically picked out Tamil homes and shops, whether occupied or empty, and looted and destroyed them...'' (Guardian, 26 July 1983)

''A tourist told yesterday how she watched in horror as a Sinhala mob deliberately burned alive a bus load of Tamils... Mrs.Eli Skarstein, back home in Stavanger, Norway, told how she and her 15 year old daughter, Kristin, witnessed one massacre. 'A mini bus full of Tamils were forced to stop in front of us in Colombo' she said. A Sinhalese mob poured petrol over the bus and set it on fire. They blocked the car door and prevented the Tamils from leaving the vehicle. 'Hundreds of spectators watched as about 20 Tamils were burned to death'. Mrs. Skarstein added: 'We can't believe the official casualty figures. Hundreds may be thousands must have been killed already." (London Daily Express, 29th August 1983)

''Eye witnesses and victims reported that on the streets cars were stopped by gangs and the people inside were asked whether they were Sinhalese or Tamil. Some Sinhalese words are extremely difficult for people who do not speak the language fluently to pronounce, people were tested by being made to pronounce these words. The mobs were also demanding to see identity cards to establish whether or not people were Tamils... People identified as Tamils as a result of the questioning were told to get out of their cars and their cars were set alight... In cases where any resistance was offered, killings were likely to take place... It was reported by many people that in some instances students from Buddhist schools followed on behind the first rioters and that some Buddhist monks were seen amongst the gangs'' (Patricia Hyndman, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of New South Wales and Secretary, Lawasia Human Rights Standing Committee Report -Democracy in Peril, June 1985)Tamil owned businesses account for between 50 and 60 percent of the commercial life of the capital and they have been destroyed - scientifically extracted from among their neighbours and burned." (The London Times, 2 August 1983)

''A most distressing aspect of the vandalism was the burning and the destruction of the houses and dispensaries of eminent Tamil doctors - some with over a quarter of a century of service in Sinhala areas...'' (Eye witness account, Sri Lanka: Racism and the Authoritarian State - Race and Class, Volume XXVI, A.Sivanandan and Hazel Waters, Institute of Race Relations)

"Smoke from hundreds of shops, offices, warehouses and homes blew idly over Colombo yesterday. Any business, any house belonging to or occupied by a Tamil has been attacked by gangs of goondas and the resulting destruction looks like London after a heavy night's attention from the Luftwaffe. The sharp smell of destruction fills the nostrils and the roads beneath the feet crunch with broken glass. Cars and lorries lie at ungainly angles across the footways. In Pettah, the old commercial heart of the city, row after row of sari boutiques, electronic dealers, rice sellers, car parts stores, lie shattered and scarred... government officials yesterday estimated that 20,000 businesses had been attacked in the city." (The Guardian, 28 July 1983)
''About 100 industrial plants were severly damaged or destroyed, including 20 garment factories. The cost of industrial reconstruction was estimated at 2,000 million rupees (£55 million). This did not include damaged shops.'' (The Guardian, 9 August 1983)

The New York Times reported in early August: ''The shells of (Tamil owned) businesses line Galle Road, the main waterfront thoroughfare advertising the names that marked them for destruction. Lakshmi Mahal, pawbroker, or Ram Gram stores and florist.. Damage estimates are uncertain and incomplete, but the total economic loss has been placed at $300 million.''

''Seventeen industrial complexes belonging to some of the leading Tamil... industrialists were razed to the ground... Several cinemas owned by Tamils were destroyed... Probably the worst affected area was the Pettah, the commercial centre of Colombo, where Tamil and Indian traders played a dominant role. Hardly a single Tamil or Indian establishment was left standing.'' (Eye witness account, Sri Lanka: Racism and the Authoritarian State - Race and Class, Volume XXVI, A.Sivanandan and Hazel Waters, Institute of Race Relations).

Wide spread attacks in Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and elsewhere The attacks were not confined to Colombo alone. They spread to Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Bandarawela, Negombo, and many other areas where Tamils lived amongst a predominant Sinhala population.

"Violence also erupted in places such as Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and Bandarawela. On each of these occasions it followed a similar pattern. The incidents were started off by people coming in from outside the districts, lists were used to identify Tamil property and systematic attacks were made on it: the local people were then encouraged to follow with further depredations..." (Patricia Hyndman, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of New South Wales and Secretary, Lawasia Human Rights Standing Committee - Report on the Communal Violence in Sri Lanka, July 1983

''(A British tourist) said: 'Last Wednesday a taxi driver took us into Negombo... and the whole town was smouldering. All the Tamil property in the centre of the town had been burnt down. The cigarette factory had gone up together with a cinema and a garage. There was smoke everywhere and the whole area was a burnt out mess. ..there was no sign of any Tamil anywhere. We were told that Tamils were being grabbed off buses by groups of people wielding iron bars. We also saw young Sinhalese stopping cars to siphon out the petrol so they could use it to start fires.'.. '' (London Times, 2 August 1983)

''...the looting burning and killing that began last week end in Colombo spread to the cities of Kandy and Gampola in the central hills... In Kandy, 62 miles northeast of Colombo, mobs burned and sacked at least 55 stores owned by members of the Tamil minority in attacks that began Tuesday night and continued Wednesday...'' (The Guardian, 28 July 1983)

"The town (Kandy), which lies at the centre of the tea and rubber plantations of the central highland area of Sri Lanka has witnessed rioting and fire bombing against Tamil owned homes and businesses for the past four nights. And the presence of the rows of burnt out shops and of the 6000 Tamils in five temporary camps shows that the communal terror which has been unleashed in Sri Lanka is much more widespread than at first reported. The testimony of similar outrages in the villages in the steep sided hills and dense green country around Kandy reinforces that impression...The Sinhala District Inspector General of Police for the central range said: 'We usually expect what we call the soda bottle effect in these things. A sudden foaming up and then going flat but that hasn't happened yet.'... Two unidentified bodies were fished from the artificial lake in the centre of Kandy and a third body was found on a railway line close to the town. The body, which had been cut and chopped, was evidently thrown from a train..." (The London Times, 30 July 1983)

"...News of the extent of the violence directed at the centre of Nuwara Eliya by Sinhala mobs was somehow contained by the town's remoteness... But no point in Colombo or the surrounding suburbs matches the mess... Whole blocks have been reduced to charred rubble. Only a handful of provision shops belonging to Sinhala traders remained... Remarkably, only sixteen people died in the inferno..." (London Daily Telegraph, 6 August 1983)

''Two weeks ago (Nuwara Eliya).. became the focal point for much of the communal violence that has engulfed the island... We had already been in Sri Lanka for 10 days... before the events of 29 July. We had started in Colombo; we then fled to Kandy to escape the violence; when it followed us there we moved to Nuwara Eliya. Yet subsequent reports confirmed that the damage done to Nuwara Eliya was at least the equal of anything experienced elsewhere.. By dusk on Friday 29 July, not one building in the central street was left standing; fire had spread to the hills too, engulfing shops, homes and buses...''(Peter Hartnell, New Statesman, 12 August 1983)

''In the relatively small town of Lunugala in the Badulla District, 67 houses, 35 business establishments and two vehicles belonging to Tamils were burnt. A leading businessman and a nun were murdered.. In Badulla itself, according to a report in Virakesari of 1 October 1983, quoting the government agent, 127 houses, 252 shops, four Hindu temples, four printing presses, two cinemas, one tavern, three Tamil schools, 79 vehicles and a rural bank were destroyed. There were 20 murders. In the nearby small town of Passara, in the sam district, 63 houses, 21 shops, 16 vehicles and printing press were burnt and destroyed. There were two murders...'' (N.Shanmugathasan,Sri Lanka: Racism and the Authoritarian State - Race and Class, Volume XXVI, A.Sivanandan and Hazel Waters, Institute of Race Relations, London)

''Holiday makers who returned to Dusseldorf said hundreds of Tamils had been murdered and even their hotel waiter told them proudly, 'we have killed several of them." A business consultant said a dozen houses had been burned down near the popular seaside resort of Bentota, among them the local chemist shop...''(Oslo Report dateline 29 July 1983 in Madras Hindu)

''Fearing adverse international reaction to photographs and TV footage depicting the aftermath of the violence, the authorities yesterday imposed strict censorship on all still and moving pictures.'' (London Daily Telegraph, 2 August 1983) ''...the latest incident to be reported took place (in Badulla).. The survivor's account was given by Mrs.Sivamany Ganesan, aged 36, a mother of three children who belonged to one of two Tamil families attacked. Mrs.Ganesan said that she was a weaving teacher, married to a used car salesman, living with her family atMuthieyangama Road, Badulla, a well to do street which included three Tamil homes. At about 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27, a crowd gathered outside a bus depot 100 yards away, attacking passing vehicles. She said that her family telephoned the police to evacuate them but they did not come. The crowd then began to attack the home of a neighbour, Mr.Ramanathan, who had a shotgun and who fired a single round into the air through a window to try to frighten them away. The army then arrived.. and took up positions behind the crowd which began the attack again...

Mrs.Ganesan said that a son of Mr.Ramanathan, aged about 15, climbed onto the roof of their house... and was shot by a soldier from the street and fell to the ground. She fled to her aunt's house nearby with her children, hiding with them in the bathroom. She heard firing and then an explosion. They ran out of the bathroom to find that the house was on fire... On the main road in front of Mr.Ramanathan's house there was a pile of bodies including those of her husband, brother in law, father in law and her sister in law's husband... her husbands intestines (were) falling out and his head staved in... The Ramanathan menfolk had been hacked and beaten to death by the crowd she said... Diesel oil was then poured over three lorries, a van and a motorcycle parked around the house. A brand was lighted and handed to Mr.Ramanathan's daughter who was made to set... the vehicles on fire...'' (David Beresford reporting in the Guardian, 7 August 1983)

25.07.1983 ntypf;fil rpiwapy; jkpoPo tpLjiy ,af;f jiytu; jq;fj;Jiu> Fl;bkzp> n[fd;> eNlRjhrd; cl; gl 53 Ngu; fz;Njhz;b gpd; ntl;bf; nfhiy.

July jiytH jpU mkpHjypq;fk;>(TULF) NahNf\;tud; nfhiy nra;ag;gl;lhH

July PLOTE jiytH jpU ckhkNf];tud; cl;fl;rp Kuz;ghL fhuzkhf nfhiy nra;ag;gl;lhH

19.07.1957 rpq;fs `];uP'f; nfjpuhf jkpouR fl;rp rl;l kWg;G Nghuhl;lk;.

26.07.1957 gz;lh-nry;th cld;gbf;if.

20.07.1960 Ie;jhtJ nghJj; Nju;jy;. jpUkjp gz;lhu ehaf;f jiyikapy; rpwpyq;fh Rje;jpuf; fl;rp gjtpNaw;G: jkpouR fl;rp 21 ,lq;fspy; Nghl;bapl;L 16 ,lq;fspy; ntw;wp.

19.07.1970 Gjpa murpay; mikg;ig mikf;f murpay; epu;za rigapd; njhlf;f $l;lk;.

15.07.1971 murpay; epu;za rigia tpl;L ntspNaw kWj;j vk;.gp. khl;bd;.

06.07.1974 fr;r jPit ,j;jpahTf;F nfhLg;gjw;fhd cld;gbf;if.

27.07.1975 aho;.Nkau; my;gpul; Jiuag;gh Rl;Lf;nfhiy.

21.07.1977 nghJj; Nju;jy; 4/5 ngUk;ghd;ikAld; I.Nj.f. Ml;rpaikg;G> 18 ,lq; fis ifg;gw;wpa jkpou; tpLjiyf; $l;lzp gpujhd vjpu;f;fl;rpahdJ.

20.07.1978 Gypfis jil nra;tjw;fhd gaq;futhj jilr; rl;lk; ghuhSkd;wpy; epiwNtw;wk;.

01.07.1981 aho;.E}y; epiyak; vupg;G.

17.07.1981 aho;. Midf;Nfhl;il nghyp]; epiyak; kPJ jhf;Fjy; 2 nghyp]hu; gyp; 4 Ngu; fhak;.

02.07.1982 ney;ypabapy; nghyp]; [Pg; jfu;g;G: 4 nghyp]hu; gyp.

15.07.1983 Gypfspd; %j;j jsgjp nyg;.rPyd; tPur;rhT.

23.07.1983 Gypfspd; jiytu; gpughfud; Neupy; fskpwq;fpa aho;.jpUney;Ntyp jhf; Fjy;. 13 ,uhZtj;jpdu; gyp: MAjq;fs; kPl;G.

24.07.1983 tuyhw;Wf; fiwgbe;j jkpou;fSf;nfjpuhd ,df; fytuk;. 1>000 f;F Nkw; gl;Nlhu; gLnfhiy> gLfhak; 4>000 Ngu;> ty;YwT 600 f;F Nky;.

08.07.1985 jpk;G Ngr;Rthu;j;ijfs;.

05.07.1987 ney;ypab ,uhZt Kfhk;kPJ Kjd; Kjypy; fUk;Gypj; jhf;Fjy;. fUk; Gyp fg;ld; kpy;yu; tPur;rhT: 100 f;F Nkw;gl;l ,uhZtk; gyp.

17.07.1987 [dhjpgjp N[.Mu;. jkpoupd; gpur;rpid njhlu;ghf ,e;jpa J}jUld; Ngr;R.

19.07.1987 tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; jiytu; gpughfuDld; ,e;jpa ,uh[je;jpupfs; Ngr;R.

27.07.1987 ,e;jpaj; J}Jtu; bf;]pw;> [dhjpgjp N[.Mu;. n[atu;jdTld; Ngr;R.

29.07.1987 ,yq;if-,e;jpah xg;ge;jk;.

30.07.1987 ,e;jpag;gil jkpoPoj;jpw;F tUif.

10.07.1990 fl;lisf; fg;gy; kPJ fUk;Gyp jhf;Fjy;. 3 fUk;Gypfs; tPukuzk;.

11.07.1990 nfhf;Ftpy; ,uhZt Kfhk; Gypfshy; jfu;g;G.

10.07.1991 kl;lf;fsg;G Kj;Jfhy gLnfhiyfs;.

12.07.1991 jpUkiy fpz;zpab gLnfhiyfs;.

05.07.1992 MidapwT ,af;fr;rpapy; it.2 tpkhdk; Gypfshy; Rl;L tPo;j;jg;gl;lJ.

26.07.1992 Mfha> fly;> ntspr;rku;. nfhf;Fj; njhLtha; rku;.

25.07.1993 kz;fpz;b ,uhZt Kfhk; MAjf; fplq;F Gypfshy; ifg;gw;wg;gl;lJ.

09.07.1995 ethyp Njthyak; kPJ tpkhdf; Fz;L tPr;R ,lk; ngau;e;J jq;fpapUe;j 247 nghJ kf;fs; gyp.

13.07.1995 typfhkk; kPJ ,uhZtj;jpd; Kd;Ndwpg;gha;r;ry; ,uhZt eltbf;if.

17.07.1995 fhq;Nfrd; JiwKfj;jpy; itj;J `vbj;ju'fl;lisf; fg;gy; jfu;g;G. fUk; Gypfs; jhf;Fjy;.

18.07.1996 tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; Xahj miy 1 ,uhZt eltbf;if.

26.07.1996 ,uhZtj;jpdupd; `rj;n[a' ,uhZt eltbf;if.

20.07.1998 Ky;iyj;jPT Rje;jpuGuk; fpuhkk; kPJ fpgpu; Fz;L tPr;R 25 nghJ kf;fs; gyp.

24.07.2001 fl;Lehaf;f tpkhdj; jsk; kPJ Gypfs; jhf;Fjy; 28 thd; fyq;fs; mopg;G.

25 July 2005

Fears grow for missing Britons in Egypt

Fears are growing that several Britons were killed in the terror blasts that claimed at least 88 lives in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh.

More than 100 people were injured in the explosions, including eight from Britain. An emergency phone line - 020 7008 0000 - has been set up by the Foreign Office for concerned relatives.More than 70 people have been arrested in round-ups by police but none have been accused of involvement in the bombings.British Ambassador Sir Derek Plumbly could not confirm any deaths but Dr Saeed Abdel Fattah, a manager of the hospital in the popular Red Sea tourist spot, said two Britons had died.Around 240 tourists landed at Gatwick and Manchester Airports after being flown home on a special flight from Sharm El Sheikh.Many shell-shocked tourists, some draped in blankets, burst into tears as they were met by worried relatives at Manchester Airport.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned the perpetrators as "evil people" while Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who visited the scene, vowed to hunt down the "cowardly" culprits.

24 July 2005

George Galloway - MP calls for public inquiry into London police shooting of innocent man.

George Galloway, Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, today responded to the news that the man shot dead by police on the tube at Stockwell yesterday had no connection with any terrorist offence by calling for a public inquiry.

"We are all concerned about public safety in the wake of the attacks on London, but the police must act within the law and when they kill an innocent man they must be held to account. That process must be open and transparent and that means that the inquiry must command full public support. It must be a public inquiry and not an internal police affair" said George Galloway.

"Many Londoners, including Muslims, have been fearful that the government was encouraging the police to adopt a shoot to kill policy. Within hours of the latest London bombing attack we see the tragic result of such a policy."

John Rees, Respect National Secretary, said "however horrific the bombings in London on 7th July and however important it is to secure the safety of the public, 'there can be no excuse for the police adopting a shoot to kill policy which guns down innocent people in cold blood. This is precisely the crime for which we hold the terrorists responsible. The police in a democratic society have a duty to act with higher standards. They should be trying to diminish the climate of fear, not add to it."

24 July 2005

"It is human lives that are being targeted here, whether by terrorists or in this case unfortunately by people who are supposed to be chasing or catching the terrorists."

Police admitted on Saturday they had shot dead the wrong man in a tragic error as they combed London for four men after attempted bomb attacks on the capital's transport system. Plainclothes police chased the man onto an underground train on Friday after he ignored warnings to stop, shooting him five times in the head because they feared he was carrying a bomb and was going to detonate it.

Muslim groups condemned the killing and expressed shock at the news of the victim's innocence. "To give license to people to shoot to kill just like that, on the basis of suspicion, is very frightening," Azzam Tamimi of the Muslim Association of Britain told BBC television. "It is human lives that are being targeted here, whether by terrorists or in this case unfortunately by people who are supposed to be chasing or catching the terrorists."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it was investigating the killing, as it did all fatal police shootings. Analysts said police were operating under secret new guidelines, codenamed Operation Kratos, allowing them to aim for the head if they believe there was a threat to the public. But security experts and the former head of London's police warned the attacks could continue. Livingstone cautioned so-called soft targets could also be at risk.

24 July 2005

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24 July 2005

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24 July 2005

ngUe;Njhl;l Mrpupau; epakdq;fis gq;F NghlhNj' kiyafnkq;Fk; ghlrhiy khztu;fs; Mu;g;ghl;lk;

ngUe;Njhl;lj;Jiw Mrpupau; epakdj;ij ,e;jpa tk;rhtsp jkpou;fs; my;yhj vtUf;Fk; gfpu;e;jspf;ff; $lhnjd NfhupAk; ,e;epakdq;fis fhyk; jho;j;jhJ cld; toq;FkhW typAWj;jpAk; kiyafnkq;FKs;s jkpo; ghlrhiy khztu;fs; New;W tFg;G gfp\;fupg;gpYk; Mu;g;ghl;lj;jpYk; <Lgl;ldu;. fz;b> Etnuypah> nfhl;lfiy> mf;fug;gj;jid> gJis> nghfte;jyhit> lafk> ml;ld;> Nehu;T+l;> k];nfypah> gd;tpy> Gry;yhit> fk;gis> ehDXah> jythf;fiy gFjpfspy; midj;J ghlrhiyfisAk; Nru;e;j khztu;fNs New;W ,t;thW Mu;g;ghl;lj;jpYk;> tFg;G gfp\;fupg;gpYk; <Lgl;ldu;.

24 July 2005

K];ypk;fSf;F mjpf ed;ikfis ngw;Wf; nfhLf;Fk; nghJf;fl;likg;G

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Nkw;gb – tplaq;fs; %yk; Fwpg;gpLtjhapd; ePjpapd; Kd;dhy; kf;fs; Vw;Wf; nfhs;sj;jf;f Gdu;epu;khz kPs; fl;likg;G cjtpfis epthuz Gdu;tho;T> Gdu;epu;khz mikr;R %yKk;> Rdhkp epthuz rig %yKk; Kd;ndLf;fg;gl Ntz;Lk;.

24 July 2005

nghj;Jtpypy; 2 R+l;Lr;rk;gtq;fs; fhd;];lgps; cl;gl ,Utu; gyp

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24 July 2005

gzpg;ngz;iz ty;YwTf;Fl;gLj;jpa gpd; Gyp' nad gpbj;Jf; nfhLf;fg;Nghtjhf kpul;ly;

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24 July 2005

Batticaloa’s ancient rituals celebrate community values both in war and peace(Nrotheastern Monthly)By: J. S. Tissainayagam

The temple is festooned with decorations, and plantain trees stand upright at the entrance. Inside, a steady drumbeat reverberates through the air interspersed by the tinkling of a bell and murmur of voices. The poosari (priest) is chanting near the inner sanctum and the worshippers wait as a group of young men bring the idol of Ammal reverently to mount it onto a chariot with a small canopy. The chariot is shaped on both ends like the prow of a boat.

“Today is the kappal chadangu (boat ritual),” someone said by way of explanation from the crowd of verti-clad men and colourfully dressed women watching the event. The faces of some wore the look of intense, almost palpable piety, while others seemed to watch with less engagement. Children danced and played by themselves, seemingly oblivious to the mystery and sanctity of the ritual as well as their surroundings.

Just then two men, naked except for a bright yellow verti wrapped high around their loins to enable maximum movement, darted in. They wore thick bronze bangles and carried a sheaf of margosa leaves. Their greying hair was yellow with tumeric, while the same substance was used to mark yellow stripes on their arms and chest. Their eyes were turned upwards in a trance. But what was most intriguing about these men was that their slight but supple bodies were visibly shaking, making the muscles tremble and twitch. One of them gestured urgently and pointed to his head and somebody emptied a vessel of water on it. The man then went off at a trot, still shaking, to join the retinue that was forming around the chariot.

“They are possessed by the spirit of Ammal. The water was to cool his body,” a bystander said very reverentially. The months between May and July is ritual time in Batticaloa with many of its temples celebrating their traditional ties to local deities, who are still worshipped despite attempts at assimilation by Brahmin orthodoxy for centuries.

The temple rituals that propitiate deities such as Kali, Vairavar, Veerapaththiran, Narasingar, Kaathavarayan, Singanadar and others at these annual festivals are intimately tied with the function of protecting people of the area from mishap. Their protective function is twofold: they keep the local community secure from intruding enemies, and free of disease and illness. The area they are invoked to protect indicates the local nature of their power. The above ritual took place at the Sri Maha Muttumariyamman temple, which protects the residents of Tamaraikerni, in Batticaloa town, who live within half a square mile radius of the temple.

While the boat ritual was on, the procession stopped at four points, which marked the four corners of the territory Ammal was invoked to protect. A ritual sacrifice is made to the spirits guarding the four points. “A flame is lit and a coconut is broken at each point to commemorate the sacrifice symbolically,” said Sakthi K. Kumaradasan, chief priest of the Sri Maha Muttumariyamman temple. “Throughout the many years of conflict Ammal protected us. She never allowed any harm to take place at Tamaraikerni. That is why we worship her,” says Jothirajah Karunenthira, the temple’s assistant priest.

The role of the five-day ritual that concludes on full moon night of the month of June is to invoke the power of Ammal to banish and destroy evil lurking within the community and its environs. It cleanses people of disease and blesses homes. At the end of the ritual, the malefic spirits causing disease and suffering, which are subdued by the power of Ammal, are destroyed in the sea. The symbolism in the rituals is pregnant with meaning. Though it is difficult to estimate how many devotees are able understand the social significance of the ritual, quite a few offered explanations for them as did the chief priest. A brief account follows:

On the first day of the ritual, the preliminary task of invoking the goddess Ambal (Ammal) is undertaken. The door of the moolasthanam (sanctum sanctorum) is opened and the goddess is invoked. But this can only be done after propitiating the spirits that guard her. Then mantras are chanted to give Ammal life so that she can set about the task of destroying evil. On the second day of the ritual, Ammal undertakes penance and is rewarded by Lord Siva with a chain of 16 pearls (muthahai) , each symbolising a deadly disease. Lord Siva then commands Ammal to return to earth and cast the pearls on those who are evil and have transgressed divine commandments.

On the third day, Ammal undertakes the task of identifying evildoers. She does this by traversing the 14 worlds and throwing the deadly pearls at the sinners. Her journey is symbolised in the ritual by taking her idol in a procession along the streets. On the fourth day is the aforementioned boat ritual when, according to legend, Ammal undertakes a journey similar to that of the previous day, only this time sailing the seven seas. The journey is symbolically re-enacted by taking the idol in a chariot that resembles a boat.

While the boat ritual goes on, the women participate in a ceremony known as madipichchai, where they collect rice from homes in the neighbourhood. Those who want to be cured of illness or want a boon from Ammal, give a handful of rice. On the evening of the fourth day the nellukuththu chadangu (husking ritual) is undertaken. The women husk the rice in the temple courtyard. A girl (traditionally a virgin) then takes the vessel of rice in a ceremonial procession as an offering to the deity. “At that point she assumes the form of the Ammal,” said Karunenthira.

On the fifth and final day the vinayagapanai chadangu is performed, which symbolises the gathering of devilish or evil spirits, and sacrificing them to Ammal. This is followed in the evening by a very important ceremony known as the chakkaraiamuthu chadangu (ritual to feed syrup and honey). First, the rice collected at the madipichchai is cooked into milk-rice and served to the congregation; but more important, all the children in the community are gathered and the priest performs a ceremony after which they are given consecrated honey. “This is based on the assumption that the Ammal takes the form of children in all their innocence. Satisfying the children with honey is equated to satisfying Ammal,” said Karunenthira.

The chakkaraiamuthu chadangu has also another significance: it indicates the approach of the closing ceremonies. “The Ammal, who was energised over the past four days is ‘cooled’ by this ritual before returning into the moolesthanam, where she will remain till the next year,” said Kumaradasan.

The final ceremonies take place close to midnight by the sea. Ammal who was invoked by the rituals has captured and confined the evil, malefic and demonic spirits that pervaded the neighbourhood. They have to be destroyed in the sea. A procession leaves bearing the kumbams (pots that symbolise Ammal and said to have magnetic power to attract and contain malefic spirits). A final pooja is done on the beach after which contents of the kumbams are thrown into the ocean.

On the way home, Kumaradasan draws a line across the road at important junctions, breaks a coconut and lights a flame saying, “It is done to ensure that stray spirits should not return with the devotees.” The cynosure of all eyes during the rituals at the Mariamman temple were, no doubt, the people possessed by the spirit of Ammal. From the time they got into a trance and performed the various socially beneficial acts, till the end of the each ritual, which could last many hours, they took centre stage. “They are people without any extraordinary significance till they become possessed by the spirit. Then they are a medium through which the particular god or goddess works. After which they return to their human state,” said Karunenthira.

The medium which is in a trance cannot explain the process. Patricia Lawrence in her work Grief in the Body: Work of Oracles in Eastern Sri Lanka in the anthology ‘Sri Lanka: Collective Identities Revisited’ (Ed. Michael Roberts) says, “The moment of commingling of the oracle’s body and the presence of the Amman is referred to as uruvarutal (assuming form)… Oracles say they cannot remember what transpires during possession experiences. They explain when the hot energy of sakti, travelling upward through their trembling bodies reaches their throats, they lose the ability to speak in their individual human voices.” (What she calls oracles are termed mediums in this article)

“I only remember about 10% of what happens when I am in trance after I get out of it,” said S. Thanikasalam, one of the mediums. He is originally from Badualla and is now resident at Pullumalai, Batticaloa. “Possession and going into trances are well known phenomena, where attention is restricted,” say Dr. M. Ganesan, consultant psychiatrist at the Batticaloa hospital. “But it is difficult to say what lies beyond that – to verify whether there is actually the presence of the spirit in the mediums.” Important functions of the mediums are to defend households from enemies, heal the sick and protect the community from disease and illness, and act as an oracle of divine revelation. But these functions are not done in private with the individuals concerned, but in the presence of the community.

The rituals at Sri Maha Narasinghe Vairavar Swami aalayam on Boundary Road, Batticaloa, are to propitiate Vairavar, another deity believed to have immense powers. In the past there were animal sacrifices, which are now banned by law. The power of the mediums in this temple is well known throughout Batticaloa and many ‘hopeless’ cases are referred here. During the rituals between eight and 10 mediums are active. Their gestures are of controlled violence, their faces fierce and their trances powerful and intense.

A typical scene is by the Kali shrine on the side of the main structure of the Vairavar temple. A child has been brought with an incurable disease that is believed to be so because a spirit possesses him. Around the shrine, in full public view, the junior poosaris chant mantras to the beat of drums, invoking the goddess to find out identity of the spirit that possesses the child. The medium, trembling and in a trance, places his hand on the child’s head, anoints him with tumeric, wipes him with sheaves of margosa leaves, while the priest hopes the spirit in the child will identify itself.

Interestingly, the mediums are not totally impervious to what is happening around them. They do not talk but utter monosyllables. During the healing ritual, the medium whispers instructions into the priest’s ear. It is said different deities speak in different tongues through the medium, but the language in which the medium actually speaks to the priest cannot be heard. As the ritual continues the medium places betel leaves on the child’s head to find out the identity of the spirit. Suddenly the child begins to tremble as the medium does, but identifying the spirit is difficult.

“The spirits are very cunning. They never reveal their identity because they fear Kali will destroy them,” someone in the crowd said.

After trying to find out whether the child was possessed by a benevolent spirit, the medium went on to see whether if it was a demonic one. The bystanders later said it transpired the spirit was indeed demonic. The exorcism was to take place the next morning but this writer was unable to witness it.

“The communal nature of the healing process is very significant. There is stigma attached to certain illnesses in Sri Lanka. But by the cleansing ritual being conducted in the open, the disease and the patient find acceptance in society,” said Ganesan.Divine revelation (vaaku sollurathu) , is when the medium becomes an oracle. When in a trance, mediums are credited with the ability to have psychic vision. Lawrence’s essay referred to above, speaks of the vital function played by oracles in counselling the sufferers whose loved ones had disappeared in Batticaloa during operations by the security forces.

“War created conditions that did not permit open grieving. But when the deity speaks through the medium, certain ‘unmentionable’ matters come out. It makes such revelations acceptable. This also helps the grieving process,” said Ganesan. He said that during traumatic times of the war, unscrupulous persons used to tell grieving relatives about having met the disappeared or detained, in different army camps, police cells or prisons. Using this they demanded money on the pretext they would use it to give food or clothes to the detained person.

“If people could be fooled by other human beings, surely the deity’s words uttered through the medium appears much more truthful? When it speaks through the oracle it gives hope to the distressed, which is very important to relieve trauma. It also gives the grievers something to do such as giving a chicken or a goat to the temple,” Ganesan said.Karunenthira interpretation is slightly different. “Whether the words are right or wrong, the oracle can tell you something on which you can act. And if you believe in something wholeheartedly and act with earnestness, you can make it happen,” he stressed.

An oracle was working in one of the shrines of the Vairavar temple during this year’s rituals. In the presence of the throng, the priests, and tom-tom beaters, the person consulted the medium under a tarpaulin of cloth, which is ostensibly to ensure secrecy. But the medium’s answer is at least known to one person – the priest who interprets the oracular utterances. The bystanders could hear much of it too.

Ganesan is sceptical. “The oracle’s revelations are not to be taken too seriously. We should not forget that in small societies everyone knows each other and information of illnesses leaks out and reaches the ears of the mediums as much as other gossip,” he said.But he says that the public nature of the oracles is culturally appropriate to the informal social structures in Batticaloa. “It is important the treatment should be culturally sensitive. Private counselling in the east for instance is not necessarily successful with everyone,” Ganesan said.

Modernisation and westernisation has not only brought scepticism about the powers of the deities speaking through mediums, but also a degree of social stigma about those who allow themselves to be possessed by the spirit. Though there was a rich tradition in Batticaloa of women being mediums and oracles, it is now gradually diminishing, even though it continues among the poorer classes. The importance of community values and strengthening them has stood the people of Batticaloa good stead during the years of death, displacement and deprivation. It is instructive to see how the temple tries at least to integrate people belonging to the neighbourhood into a whole and make them all, in a sense, stakeholders in a community.

“Everyone should feel they are part of the community. That is why even though only seven children are needed for the chakkaraiamuthu chadangu, we allow all the children to take part. We do not want anybody to feel excluded,” Karunenthira said.

24 July 2005

Child Soldiers” – A distortion of ground reality to vilify the Tamil liberation struggle

It is very unfortunate that the very much- hackneyed term “child soldiers” is being used very loosely for the Tamil children who seek refuge with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for umpteen number of reasons and a social background for which they are not responsible.

In this context, Colombo media has a role to play, a role that becomes vital in the background of a two-decade old war and the misery it has wrought upon a selected community of people, the Tamils. To trace the background of the conditions that existed, one need to revisit the early seventies when the Tamil children were shamelessly told by the then government that they belong to a second class of citizenry, in that they have to pass more hurdles than their counterparts in the South to gain admission to the halls of learning. This, among other indignities perpetrated on their brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers, motivated those children to join the freedom struggle.

Children who have been witnesses to their mothers and sisters being gang-raped by state troopers, children who have seen their elders fleeing mayhem and murder in their work places in the South cannot be told of the international law relating to the age limit to become a fighter. They keep on asking, “What has the international community done to bring to book a rogue state that perpetrates heinous crimes like aerial bombing of churches and schools, killing hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians including children and women and what moral right these people have to ask us not to become fighters when we are being attacked”?

What is the ground reality today after two decades of war and a three and a half year cease-fire? Has the so-called peace process brought about any changes in the lives of the people who fled their habitats due to military onslaughts? An emphatic ‘No’ is the answer. Children who have lost their parents in carpet bombing and shelling, children who have lost their parents in the tidal wave disaster continue to seek refuge with LTTE, for that is the only place that provides them security from hunger, want and anti social elements that tend to abuse these children. Working with UNICEF, the LTTE ascertains the background and provide to these children a safer environment. Putting these children back into the right environment does not call for a news report captioned “Child Soldiers released by LTTE”. This is stigmatising an unfortunate lot of the society and vilifying a freedom struggle.

Journalistic ethics call for more responsibility on the part of the media and it is suggested that a little bit of investigative journalism is practised by actually visiting the areas and speaking to the people, seeing the special homes run by TRO and LTTE to take care of these unfortunate children and see the conditions of abject poverty in the homes that force the children to seek refuge with the LTTE.

24 July 2005

Govt's way of confidence building? Removes Intelligence chief on LTTE's request (The Island)

Director Military Intelligence, Sri Lanka Army, Major General Kapila Hendawitharana has been removed from his post with effect from yesterday (22). He is being posted to the Sri Lanka Embassy in Bangkok as 'Defence Attache'. This is a purely nominal position for a professional army officer of his seniority, security force sources said yesterday.

Sources said his removal by the government was due to pressure from the LTTE.

Hendawitharana, who has been the head of the intelligence arm of the army for the past one year, is an experienced officer who played a pivotal role in the Long Rangers unit and had been in touch with the LTTE rebel and Prabhakaran's one-time second in command, Karuna Amman before he defected from the LTTE. The LTTE had also alleged that Hendawitharana had provided protection to Karuna when he was brought to Colombo from his hideout in the Toppi Gala forest by a UNP parliamentarian.

Hendawitharana's removal has taken senior members of the security forces by surprise and one senior officer said "This could be another one of the government's confidence building moves, but the question was whether confidence building really amounts to anything with a terrorist group which does not adhere to ethics or reason as we understand them." There was no Defence Attache at the Sri Lanka mission in Bangkok and the First Secretary was also 'looking after' the defence duties if there were any, official sources also said.

24 July 2005

JHU wants Karuna faction at future peace talks

JHU heavyweight Ven. Omalpe Sobitha told The Island yesterday that his party fully supports the dissident Karuna faction's call for an active role in the Oslo-managed peace process. The Deputy Leader of the JHU said that the Karuna faction represents the Eastern Tamil community whose grievances were not heard or taken into account by the LTTE.

"The Karuna group is vehemently opposed by the LTTE because they reneged on the grounds of continued negligence and Prabhakaran's Eelam has no place for Eastern Tamils. We propose their participation in the future rounds of negotiation and plan to campaign to ensure their inclusion as representative of their people," Sobitha Thero said. He pointed out that the LTTE, before entering into a Cease Fire Agreement with the former UNF regime, had demanded that all Tamil organisations in the government controlled areas in the North and East must be disarmed. "The UNF government heeded to their demand, and the LTTE signed the agreement.

The Thero said the LTTE had forwarded their demand to the Government through the Norwegian facilitators. "The LTTE demands the government to disarm their opponents and demands army security in their fight to silence the dissidents. We, the JHU, oppose the government's plans to provide security to a group of terrorists." "Instead the government must ensure that voices of all stakeholders be heard at the negotiating table if a solution, is to be sought", he said.

24 July 2005

Progressive forces must unite against neo-colonialism - JVP

All progressive forces must unite to defeat "sinister moves of neo-colonialism" and only the solidarity of true patriots can ensure the survival of true democracy, JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said.

"All progressive world leaders have decided to stand with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who challenged US super power. He was a leader who did not betray his nation. Our leaders must take President Chavez as a role model," Amarasinghe said after commencing a campaign yesterday to collect signatures of local progressive political leaders, artistes, religious leaders and people of all walks of life to a petition protesting against the US attempts to use force against Venezuela and the privatisation of education. The campaign commenced at 10.00 a.m. opposite the Fort Railway Station. The petition will be presented by a Sri Lankan delegation at the 16th World Youth and Students Conference to be held in Karakas in Venezuela next month.

"Since independence, our leaders were proven failures against Western expansionism and the Super powers’ moves to take control of all other minor nations. This is neo-colonialism. Most of our leaders today are West-built and know nothing but to follow the orders coming from few Western embassies in Colombo. They are not leaders of people, thus they have no confidence but have to rely on the Western powers. But people’s leaders in the calibre of Chavez can stand against any foreign force because they know the masses never abandon them. We must stand beside such leaders and then they would not stand alone," Amarasinghe said.

JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake who is also the President of the Sri Lankan National Preparatory Committee for the Karakas Conference said: "Leaders of both major parties are just puppets of a few Western powers. They assisted education privatisation in Sri Lanka. Currently education is being privatised by reactionaries all over the world on instruction of World Bank and other agencies of neo-colonialism."

The Karakas Conference from August 07 to 15 is expected to be attended by 15,000 progressive and socialist representatives from 115 countries. The Sri Lankan delegation includes JVP MPs Bimal Ratnayake, Vijitha Herath, President of the Socialist Students Union, Chameera Koswatte, President of the Socialist Women’s Union Dimuthu Atyigala, Dr. H.B.Dhammika, Pubudu Jagoda and Co-ordinator of the Students for Human Rights, Jeewa Kumarai Ranasinghe. Several representatives from the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna and Medical Faculty Students Committee too are expected to represent the Sri Lankan delegation at the conference.

24 July 2005

Bill borders on right to freedom of worship

The National Christian Fellowship of Sri Lanka (NCFSL) firmly opposes any attempts by short-sighted religious extremists to deny the Sri Lankan Christians their rights by seeking to introduce undemocratic legislation that is archaic in today’s multi religious, multi ethnic society. The NCFSL also notes that such forces who are attempting to undermine the country’s ethnic harmony is now seeking to split the nation along religious lines.

The NSFSL, expresses its deep concern pertaining to the Anti-Conversion bill being presented in parliament by the Government against a background of tsumani aid being mishandled, political chaos, a threat of war looking over the nation and a near anarchy situation, the NCFSL believes that a draconian bill of this nature to be introduced is suicidal as a nation before the international community and borders on insanity. The NCFSL which represents the indigenous churches in Sri Lanka further expresses its concern with regards to media reports that quote the Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle saying that the bill would indeed be presented in Parliament.

Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Minister of Buddhist Affairs who is responsible for introducing the Bill, is due to present the Bill in parliament in end July. The NCFSL notes that the Bill recommends measures that border on violation of one’s right to freedom of worship as guaranteed in the Sri Lankan Constitution. The all Buddhist monk party, JHU presented their own Anti-Conversion Bill which sought to impose equally draconian measures that in particular emphasized though penalties for anyone found guilty of converting another. It has been referred to the parliamentary standing committee for review after the Supreme Court ruled that all its clauses except one were inconsistent with the Constitution of the country.

The NCFSL further notes with concern the opposition by some political parties to the inclusion of Catholic or Christian MPs sitting on the standing committee.

24 July 2005

Don’t waste time, announce date now: PM tells polls chief

Emphasizing the value of time Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse said it was high time for the Elections Commissioner to tell the people of this country, the date of the next Presidential election without leaving room for speculation. He said people waste their precious time, in airing their views regarding the timing of the next Presidential election, when this time could be used for development work. The Premier made this statement at a meeting held on Thursday after opening the ‘Raja Rata Aruna’ trade exhibition at the Anuradhapura public playground. Speaking further on the timing of the next Presidential election he said it was the topic of discussion in offices and work sites.

“In the United States the people always know the date of the next election, but in our country the opposition members say that it will be in 2005 and the government party members say that no election will be held till November 2006. This poses a dilemma for the general public. No purpose will be served by making inquiries from either the President or the Prime Minister. It is the Elections Commissioner who should take a specific decision” he said adding that the Supreme Court could interpret the Constitution if there were any doubts.

Mr. Rajapakse said his party was of the opinion that the Presidential election should be held in 2006, but added it was prepared to face an election at any moment. He said the timing of the Presidential election was not a matter to be kept a secret by the Elections Commissioner. “Let us talk about elections when we go to cast our votes and make use of our time now to work for the development of the country” he said. Mr.Rajapakse said that as a man born and bred in the village he was not concerned about mud slinging.

“The primary duty and responsibility of all of us is to serve the people, to work for their welfare, alleviate poverty and solve the unemployment problem. I will work for the sake of the country under the leadership of the President despite mud slinging from various quarters”, he said.

23 July2005

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23 July2005

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MdhYk; ehd;fhtJ fl;l <og;Nghiu njhlq;FtJ vd;w Kbitg; Gypfspd; jiyikg;gPlk; vLf;ftpy;iy. kPz;Lk; Nghiuj; njhlq;fpaJ GypfNs> vd;W Gypfs; kPJ murhq;fk; gopiag; Nghl;Lj; jg;gptplf;$lhJ vd;gjpy; Gypfs; cWjpahf ,Uf;fpd;whHfs;.

,jdhy;jhd; mtHfs; kpFe;j nghWikAld; gilapdhpd; rPz;ly;fisnay;yhk; jhq;fpf; nfhz;bUf;fpd;wdH. ,g;NghJ ,uz;L jug;Gf;fSNk NghUf;Fj; jahuhd epiyapy;jhd; ,Ue;J nfhz;bUf;fpd;wd. Mf ehd;fhtJ fl;l <og;NghH ntbf;fg; NghtJ kl;Lk; cWjpahfptpl;lJ. Mdhy; mJ vg;NghJ> ve;j tbtj;jpy;> vq;Nf epfog;NghfpwJ vd;gJjhd; Nfs;tp.

jkJ Nghf;Ftuj;Jf;fhd fhyf;nfLit Gypfs; - NghHWepWj;j cld;ghl;by; Fwpg;gpl;lgb> mjpypUe;J tpyfpf; nfhs;tjw;fhd fhyf;nfhLthfTk;jhd; vd Gypfs; Fwpg;gpl;bUf;fpd;wdH. Neubahf Fwpg;gplhtpl;lhYk; ,Jjhd; cz;ik epiy. ,dpnahU ,uz;Lthu fhyf;nfhLitg; Gypfs; xUNghJk; nfhLf;fkhl;lhHfs;. NghHepWj;jj;jpy; ,Ue;J tpyfpf;nfhs;s Gypfspd; fhyf;nfhL fle;j 14k; jpfjpAld; Kbe;Jtpl;lJ.

MdhYk; Gypfs; rz;iliaj; njhlq;ftpy;iy. fhuzk;> Nghiuj; njhlq;Fk; rf;jpahfj; jhk; ,Ug;gijg; Gypfs; tpUk;gtpy;iy vd;gJld; ,e;j tplaj;jpy; mur gilfspd; r+o;r;rpf;Fg; gypahfptplf; $lhnjd;gjpy; Gypfsl cWjpahf ,Uf;fpd;wdh;.

Gypfspd; ,e;j cWjpahd> nghWg;Gkpf;f Kbtpdhy;jhd; fhyf;nfhL Kbe;j gpd;dUk; ehd;fhk;fl;l <og;NghH ntbg;gJ jhkjkhfpf;nfhz;Nl nry;fpwJ. Mdhy; ,e;jj; jhkjg;gLj;jy; vd;gJ epue;jukhdjhf ,Uf;fhJ vd;gijAk; ftdj;jpy; nfhs;sNtz;Lk;. jkJ fhyf;nfhL Kbtile;j gpd;dUk;;; Rakhd ghJfhg;Gld; jkJ Nghuhspfspd; gazj;Jf;fhd xOq;Ffisr; nra;ahky;> kPz;Lk; xU vr;rhpf;ifj; njhdpapyhd fbjk; xd;iwg; Gypfs; mDg;gp itj;jpUf;fpd;wdH.

,J Gypfspd; ,Wjpahd vr;rhpf;if fbjkhfNt njd;gLfpwJ. ,jw;Fk; muR krpahtpl;lhy; ehd;fhk; fl;l <og;NghH jtpHf;fNth> jLf;fg;glNth KbahJ. njhlHr;rpahd ,og;GfshYk; mur gilfspd; jhf;Fjy;fshYk; jkpo; kf;fSk; tpLjiyg; GypfSk; ,dpNky; rz;iliaj; jtpu NtW topNa ,y;iy vd;w KbTf;F te;Jtpl;ldH. me;jsTf;F Mj;jpu%l;Lk; rk;gtq;fs; mjpfhpj;Jtpl;ld.

Gypfspd; ,uz;lhtJ fbjj;Jf;F muR vg;gbg; gjpyspf;fNghfpwJ vd;gijtpl vt;tsT tpiuthfg; gjpy; nfhLf;fg;NghfpwJ vd;gjpNyNa - Nkhjy; epiy cUthFk; ehs; vJntd;gJ jPHkhdpf;fg;gLk;.

vdNt tpiuthf jhk; Fwpg;gpl;l Nahridapd;gb NghuhspfSf;fhd ghJfhg;ig cWjpg;gLj;jhtpbd;> Vw;fdNt Fwpg;gpl;lgb Rakhd ghJfhg;Gld; gazq;fis Nkw;nfhs;sg;Nghtjhf jdJ ,uz;lhtJ fbjj;jpy; murpay;Jiwg; nghWg;ghsH R.g jkpo;r;nry;td; Fwpg;gpl;bUf;fpwhH. mt;thwhdnjhU epiyapy; Nghuhspfspd; gazq;fis mur gilapdH jLf;fhky; ,Uf;f Ntz;Lnkd;Wk;> jLf;f Kw;gl;lhy; Gypfs; gjpy; eltbf;if vLf;f NehpLk; vd;Wk; mtH njhptpj;Js;shH.

gjpy; eltbf;if vLf;Fk; epiy Vw;gl;lhy; NghHepWj;j cld;ghL rpf;fyhdnjhU fl;lj;Jf;Fs; js;sg;gLk; vdTk; mtH mr;rk; njhptpj;Js;shH. ehd;fhk; fl;l <og;Nghhpd; njhlf;fk; vd;gJ Kfhk;fs; kPjhd jhf;FjYlNdh> fg;gy;fs;> tpkhdq;fs; kPjhd jhf;Fjy;fSlNdh njhlq;fhJ vd;gJ kl;Lk; njspthfj; njhpfpwJ.

mJ Nghf;Ftuj;Jr; nra;Ak; Nghuhspfisj; jLj;J gilapdH jhf;Fk;NghNj ntbf;Fk;. mJ flypNyh jiuapNyh epfoyhk;. mj;Jld; Muk;gpf;ff;$ba rz;il vj;jifa tpisTfis Vw;gLj;Jk; vd;gJ fw;gidf;F mg;ghw;gl;ljhfNt ,Uf;fpwJ. ehd;fhk; fl;l <og;NghH ntbj;jhy; mJ ePz;l ehl;fs; ,OgLk; xU Aj;jkhf ,Uf;fhJ vd;Nw fUjg;gLfpwJ. rHtNjr r%fj;jpd; neUf;Fthuq;fs; ,uz;L jug;Gf;fSf;FNk mjpfkhf ,Ug;gjhy; tpiue;J rz;ilia Kbg;gjw;Nf Gypfs; Kw;gLtH.

vt;tsT tpiuthf Nghhpd; Nghf;if khw;wpaikf;ff;$ba rkHfis elj;Jtjw;Fk;> ntw;wpfisj; jPHkhdpf;fpd;w tifapYk; jPHf;fkhd jpl;lkplYld;$ba rz;ilfisNa Gypfs; elj;JtH vd;gJ nghJthd vjpHghHg;G.

mur gilfisg; nghWj;jtiuapy; jphpNfhzkiy> kl;lf;fsg;G> aho;g;ghzk; ,e;j %d;W gFjpfspYk; mjd; ftdj;ijf; Ftpj;jpUf;fpwJ. Mdhy; Gypfspd; ftdk;> jhf;Fjy; jpl;lk; vd;gd vg;gb mikAk; vd;gijg; nghWj;Jj;jhd; Aj;jj;jpd; Nghf;F jPHkhdpf;fg;gLk;. Gypfs; vg;NghJNk Aj;jj;ijAk;> mjd; Nghf;ifAk; jPHkhdpf;Fk; rf;jpahf jhNk ,Uf;fNtz;Lk; vdf; fUJgtHfs;. mur gilfspd; eltbf;iff;Nfw;wthW tpiue;J> nefpo;e;J nfhLf;f mtHfs; jahuhf ,Uf;f khl;lhHfs;.

ehd;fhtJ fl;l <og;NghH vd;W Gypfspd; jiyik jPHkhdpf;ff;$ba efHTfspd; topNajhd; elf;Fk; - efHj;jg;gLk;. mJ ve;j efHT vq;fpUe;J vg;gb efUk; vd;gJ ePz;lfhy ,ufrpakhfNt ,Uf;fg;Nghtjpy;iy.

Vndd;why; Aj;jj;jpd; thry;fs; ,g;NghJ fpof;fpy; njhlq;fpapUf;fpd;wd vd;gijj;jhNd ,g;Nghija epfo;Tfs; Rl;bf;fhl;Lfpd;wd.

23 July2005

yz;ldpy; fhty;Jiwapduhy; nfhiy!!

njw;F yz;ldpy; cs;s ];nuhf;nty; epyj;jb njhl&e;J epiyaj;jpy; elkhba xUtiu fhty;Jiwapdu; Rl;Lf; nfhd;wpUg;gjhf jfty;fs; njuptpf;fpd;wd. ,d;W fhiy 10 kzpastpy; ];nuhf;nty; njhl&e;J epiyaj;jpy; Mrpa ehl;ltiug; Nghd;w Njhw;wKila xUtu; njhl&e;j xd;iw Nehf;fp Xbr; nrd;wNtis mq;F rhjhuz cilapy; kf;fNshL kf;fshf epd;w fhty;Jiwapdu; Juj;jpr; nrd;W Rl;Lf; nfhd;Ws;sdu;. ,NjNtis New;iwa Fz;Lj; jhf;Fjy;fSld; njhlu;G gl;l ehd;F jPtputhjpfs; gw;wpa milahsq;fisg; ngw;Ws;s fhty;Jiwapdu; ,tu;fisf; ifJ nra;tjw;F NjLjy; eltbf;ifapy; <Lgl;LtUtjhf njuptpf;fg;gLfpwJ.

23 July2005

Sri Lanka Prime Minister wants Elections Commissioner to set date for presidential election

"We are losing and wasting much of our valuable time arguing and debating the issue in our offices." Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was in Anuradhapura yesterday to open the "Rajarata Aruna" Trade Exhibition, organised with the support of the state and private sector.

Addressing the gathering, he said it was high time for the Elections Commissioner to declare the date of the next presidential election and anyone having disagreement with it could go to the Supreme Court and fight it there. The presidential election has stolen the attention of the media and it has become a subject widely discussed in offices as well, Mr. Rajapaksa said.

“It is a good topical issue that draws the attention of all concerned. But I would like to say that while welcoming the topic of the discussion, being a democratic government, we will hold the election at the proper time. We are also ready to face any election at any time. But the date of the holding of the presidential elections is in his hands of the Commissioner of Elections,” he said. He also pointed out that though the topic is quite interesting, it baffles and disturbs investors when in actual fact there is not going to be a presidential election this year.

“We are losing and wasting much of our valuable time arguing and debating the issue in our offices. And the media keep on highlighting this, forgetting all other priorities. But there is ample time to concentrate on it, but it is not the time to dwell upon it,” he said.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa said the message of the "Rajarata Aruna" was that we develop the country by developing the village. “‘Developing the village develops the country’ is a good theme and a concept that we could market. In the effort, we would strive hard to develop the country at large by introducing the rural and local entrepreneurs to the city and the world, and entering into the international market is our target. The new technology such as the computers do wonders in this respect,” he said. Prime Minister Rajapaksa commended the support received from President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the relevant Ministries and the private sector to go ahead with the project to harness rural talent and uplift lives in the villages.

The Premier said we should not “allow a handful of magnates to control the entire economy of the country.”

“We should give an encouragement and strengthen the rural youth, the entrepreneurs, and also we should protect our culture and heritage. Our desired end should be to eradicate poverty and ensure employment,” he said. Meeting the organisers of the exhibition and the participants, the Prime Minister assured that there would be an all-island fair in Kandy to coincide with the Esala Perahera and attract tourists.

23 July2005

Less than ten percent of Sinhalese want Norway to continue as the key facilitator of Sri Lanka peace process - survey
More Muslims believe that India should be the facilitator of peace process.
Only 9.8 percent of Sinhalese wants Norway to continue as the key facilitator of Sri Lanka’s peace process, a latest research indicated.

According to the quarterly research document “Social Indicator” published by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), of the people surveyed, 47.5% of Sinhalese wants India to be the key facilitator while only 18.2% of the Sri Lankan Tamils and 31.3% of the upcountry Tamils approved India playing the role of the facilitator. The national average for India is 41%.

On the other hand 66.5% of the Sri Lankan Tamils, 62.2% of the Indian Tamils still feel that Norway is the most suitable country to be the chief facilitator. Meanwhile the past three months have also recorded a steady increase in the number of Muslims who believe that India and not Norway should be the facilitator.

By June, 40% of the Muslims, up from 27.5% in March has expressed support for India to be the key facilitator while only 33.4%, down from 52.5% in March approved Norway continuing its role.

The national average that still prefers a negotiated settlement to war is 76.7%. The research discloses 82% Sri Lankan Tamils and 87.4% upcountry Tamils believe that the P-TOMS will be a stepping stone for permanent peace. On the other hand only 17.3% Sinhalese and 59% of Muslims feel so.

The study also reveals that 30.6% of the Sinhalese wants the United States to be the main facilitator while another 12.1% supports Japan. Besides 12.1% of Sinhalese, 11% Muslims, 6% Sri Lankan Tamils and 1.5% upcountry Tamils believe that Japan is the best nation to be the facilitator.

23 July2005

Minister says Aussie PM’s statement over presidential polls in Sri Lanka is 'an intervention in the internal affairs'

Condemning the statement of Australian Prime Minister in which he had stated that Presidential Elections in Sri Lanka should be held this year Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike described its as ‘an intervention in the internal affairs of a friendly country’.

The Minister in a letter to the PM of Australia has called it an intervention in the internal affairs that should be regarded with disgust and indignation. ”Sri Lanka is a democratic country. According to the constitution the presidential election should be held in 2006. It cannot be changed for the interest of a few individuals,” it said. Reminding a statement made by the Aussie PM about a Sri Lankan cricket player which was followed by the relevant player’s refusal to play in Australia, Minister Bandaranaike said that in such circumstances the statement by Mr. Howard about the presidential elections is not surprising.

A resolution was passed in the summit of International Democratic Union, in which the Aussie PM John Howard is the chairperson indicating that the presidential election in Sri Lanka should be held this year.

23 July2005

Recruitment ‘discriminates Muslims’

CWC leaders are trying to recruit teachers for over 3000 vacancies Hundreds of protesters gathered in Nuwara Eliya to protest government’s move to recruit teachers only from Hindu and Catholic backgrounds.They demanded the government withdraw a Gazette notification that called for applications from those who have passed GCE (O/L) Hinduism or Catholicism. Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) parliamentarian Faizer Mustapha said the government’s attempt to recruit 3500 teachers only from those backgrounds is discriminatory against other religions.

Mustapha told BBC Sandeshaya (BBC Sinhala) that he has already written to President Kumaratunga asking her to rectify the situation.

Racial harmony

“This may go against the racial harmony at a time when most need it.”

However, lawyers representing the CWC argued before the Supreme Court that the move was not against the Muslims in the upcountry. There have been reports of a clash between the CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman and the parliamentarian Mustapha over the issue. The Supreme on Friday rejected a request by Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Central Provincial Councillor M Niyamulla to issue an interim order against the move as the petitioner has failed to produce appropriate documents.

The petitioner argued that those who have passed Buddhism or Islam are prevented from applying for the teacher vacancies. The Fundamental Rights (FR) petition is to be considered by the Supreme Court on 27 July.

July 23, 2005

US welcomes Sri Lanka's action to enforce intellectual property laws
The United States government welcomed recent initiatives by the government of Sri Lanka to enforce intellectual property laws here and is hopeful that these efforts to boost intellectual property rights enforcement mechanisms would greatly benefit the economy of Sri Lanka.

The Embassy said that they are organizing a series of intellectual property rights seminars in Colombo from July 23-25, 2005. Counterfeit products from CDs, DVDs, software and watches to electronic equipment, clothing, processed food, consumer products and auto parts cost legitimate right holders billions of dollars annually.

The seminars and roundtables will be conducted by Mr. William O. Hennessey, Professor of Law and Chair of Intellectual Property Graduate Programs at Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, New Hampshire, and Mr. Timothy Browning, an Attorney-Advisor with the Office of Enforcement within the Department of External Affairs at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Law students, public and private sector groups, and journalists will attend the seminars in which Professor Hennessey and Mr. Browning will discuss the United States Government's perspective on several aspects of intellectual property rights protection.

An Embassy statement said that the seminars will provide an important opportunity for the United States and Sri Lanka to share information on efforts to combat the theft of inventions, brands and ideas, to learn from each other's experiences, and to commit to enhance enforcement mechanisms to make Sri Lanka a model for South Asia in the protection of intellectual property rights.

22 July 2005

rkhjhd Ngr;Rkpy;iy> nghJf;fl;likg;Gkpy;iy Nghu; epWj;j cld;ghl;il filg;gpbg;gjpy; mu;j;jkpy;iy Rtp];> n[u;kd; J}Jtu;fsplk; $l;likg;G

rkhjhd Ngr;Rf;fs; eilngwhj R+o;epiyapYk;> nghJf;fl;likg;G eilKiwg;gLj;jg;glhj epiyapYk; Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifia njhlu;e;J filg;gpbg;gjpy; mu;j;jkpy;iy vd;W jkpo;j; Njrpaf; $l;likg;G n[u;kd;> Rtpw;ru;yhe;J ehLfspd; J}Jtu;fsplk; vLj;Jf; $wp As; sJ. Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifia njhlu;e;Jk; eilKiwg;gLj;Jtjw;fhd Mf;fG+u;tkhd Vw;ghLfis murhq;fNk Nkw;nfhs;s Ntz;LnkdTk; $l;likg;G vk;.gp.f;fs; Nkw;gb J}Jtu;fsplk; Rl;bf;fhl;bAs;sdu;.

n[u;kd; J}Jtu; N[h[d; tP];> Rtpw;ru;yhe;J J}Jtu; ngdbd; n`hf; Nrhdp MfpNahiuj; jdpj;jdpahf New;W Kd;jpdk; gpw;gfy; $l;likg;gpd; vk;.gp.f;fs; re;jpj;J jw;Nghija murpay; epiy njhlu;ghf tpsf;fpf; $wpAs;sdu;.

$l;likg;gpd; ghuhSkd;w FOj;jiytu; ,uh.rk;ge;jd;> rpNu\;l vk;.gp. N[hrg; guuh[rpq;fk; kw;Wk; $l;likg;gpd; aho;. khtl;l vk;.gp.f;fshd RNu]; gpNukr;re;jpud;> fN[e;jpuFkhu; nghd;dk;gyk;> gj;kpdp rpjk;guehjd;> td;dp khtl;l TELO Leader, vk;.gp. nry;tk; milf;fyehjd; MfpNahNu Nkw;gb J}Jtu;fisr; re;jpj;Js;sdu;.

n[u;kd; J}Jtiu n[u;kd; J}jufj;jpy; gpw;gfy; 2.30 kzp njhlf;fk; 4.30 kzp tiu re;jpj;J fye;JiuahbapUf;fpd;wdu;. Rtpw;ru;yhe;J J}Jtiu khiy 5 kzp Kjy; 6.30 kzptiu J}jufj;jpy; re;jpj;J fye;JiuahbapUf;fpd;wdu;. Nkw;gb ,U re;jpg;Gfspd;NghJk; J}Jtu;fSf;F tpsf;fpf; $wpa tplaq;fs; njhlu;ghf $l;likg;G vk;.gp.f;fs; New;W Nfrupf;Fj; njuptpj;jjhtJ;

Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;if fle;j %d;wiu Mz;Lfhykhf eilKiwapYs;sJ. Mdhy;> rkhjhd Ngr;Rf;fs; ,Jtiu Muk;gpf;fg;gltpy;iy. Rdhkpf;F gpd;duhd nghJf;fl;likg;Gk; eil Kiwg;gLj;jg;gltpy;iy. me;jf; fl;likg;gpYs;s gpujhdkhd ehd;F tplaq;fSf;Fk; cau; ePjpkd;wk; ,ilf;fhyj; jil tpjpj;Js;sJ. ,e;j epiyapYk;> Aj;j epWj;jk; tpLjiyg; Gypfspdhy; njhlu;e;Jk; filg;gpbf;fg;gLfpd;wJ. vdpDk; ,uhZtKk; ,uhZt Gydha;Tj; JiwapdUk; ,uhZt fl;Lg;ghl;L gpuNjrq;fspy; Gypfspd; Nguhspfis jhf;fp tUfpd;wdu;. Mj;jpu%l;Lk; eltbf;iffspYk; <LgLfpd;wdu;.

fUzhtpd; ngaiu gad;gLj;jp ,uhZtk; fpof;F khfhzj;jpy; gy td;Kiwfspy; <LgLfpd;wJ. ,jw;F murhq;fKk; fhuzkhf ,Uf;fpd;wJ. Gypfspd; Kf;fpa cWg;gpdu;fis nfhiy nra;J tpl Ntz;Lk; vd;w Nehf;fpNyNa murhq;fk; nraw;gLfpd;wJ.

muNr nghWg;G

Aj;jKk; ,y;iy rkhjhdKk; ,y;iynad;w epiyapy; Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifia njhlu;e;J filg;gpbg;gjpy; mu;j;jkpy;iy. Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;iff;F Mgj;J Vw;gLk; epiy te;J tpl;lJ. mt;thwhdnjhU epiy Vw;gl;lhy; mjw;F murhq;fNk nghWg;G.

epthuz gzpfSf;fhd mjpfhukw;w rhjhuz nghJf;fl;likg;igf; $l murhq;fj;jpdhy; nraw;gLj;j Kbahj epiyik ,Uf;Fk; NghJ rkhjhd Ngr;Rf;fis [dhjpgjp vt;thW Kd;ndLf;fg;Nghfpd;whu; vd;w re;Njfk; jkpo; kf;fs; kj;jpapy; vOe;Js;sJ.

,ilf;fhy epu;thf rigf;fhd Nahridfis Gypfs; 2003 Mk; Mz;L fle;j murhq;fj;jplk; ifaspj;j NghJ [dhjpgjp me;j murhq;fj;ij rpy jpdq;fspy; fiyj;J tpl;lhu;. jw;NghJ [dhjpgjpapdhy; mikf;fg;gl;Ls;s If;fpa kf;fs; Rje;jpu Kd;dzp murhq;fk; $l gykpoe;j epiyapy; cs;sJ. nghJf;fl;likg;Gf;F vjpu;g;Gj; njuptpj;J N[.tp.gp. murpypUe;J ntspNawptpl;lJ.

murpay; mjpfhug; Nghl;b

jw;NghJ njd;gFjpapy; murpay; mjpfhu Nghl;b epyTfpd;wJ. ,e;j epiyapy; njhlu;e;Jk; jkpo; kf;fspdhYk; GypfspdhYk; rfpg;Gj;jd;ikAlDk; mikjpahfTk; ,Uf;f KbahJ. kPz;LnkhU Aj;jk; Muk;gpf;fg;gLtJ jtpu;f;f Kbahjjhfp tpl;lJ. me;j epiyikia ru;tNjr ehLfs; Gupe;Jtpl;lJ.

22 July 2005

jpUkiy> kd;dhupy; ,uhZtk;> flw;gilc\hu;; Nkyjpf JUg;Gfs; mDg;gpitg;G

jpUNfhzkiy> kd;dhu; gFjpfspy; ,uhZt kw;Wk; flw;gilapdupd; fz;fhzpg;G eltbf;iffs; jw;nghOJ mjpfupf;fg;gl;Ls;sJld; Nkyjpf JUg;GfSk; mq;F mDg;gp itf;fg;gl;Ls;sjhf ,uhZt jiyikaf tl;lhuq;fs; njuptpj;jd.

22 July 2005

ty;yuR murpay;

,e;jpag; gpujku; fyhepjp kd;Nkhfd; rpq; mnkupf;fhTf;F Nkw;nfhz;bUf;Fk; tp[ak; ,U ehLfSf;Fk; ,ilNaahd cwTfspy; tpaf;fj;jf;f Nkk;ghl;il Vw;gLj;jpapUf;fpwJ. ru;tNjr muq;fpy; mjpfupj;J tUk; ,e;jpahtpd; gq;if Vw;Wf;nfhs;tjpYk; me;ehl;Lld; Nru;e;J gzpahw;WtjpYk; mnkupf;fh fhz;gpf;ff; $ba Mu;tj;jpd; ciufy;yhf mZ tptfhuj;ijNa ,e;jpa Clfq;fs; mz;ikf;fhykhf tu;zpj;J te;jpUf;fpd;wd. fle;j jpq;fl;fpoik nts;is khspifapy; mnkupf;f [dhjpgjp N[hu;[; lgps;A+.G\;{f;Fk; fyhepjp rpq;fpw;Fk; ,ilapyhd re;jpg;Gf;Fg; gpwF th\pq;ldpy; ntspaplg;gl;l $l;lwpf;if ,e;jpahit mutizf;Fk; nraw;ghLfis th\pq;ld; tpiuTgLj;jpapUf;fpwJ vd;gij njspthf czu;j;jpapUf;fpwJ. mZ tptfhuj;jpy; ,Jtiu filg;gpbj;J te;j epiyg;ghLfis ,U ehLfSNk iftpl;bUf;fpd;wd.

cyfpd; kpfg;ngupa [dehaf ehlhd ,e;jpahit xU `mZthAj ehL' vd;W G\; gfpuq;fj;jpy; Vw;Wf; nfhs;shjJ xd;Wjhd; Fiw. kw;Wk;gb mjd; rptpy; mZj;jpl;lq;fSf;F KOikahd xj;Jiog;ig toq;Ftjw;F mtu; cWjpaspj;jpUf;fpwhu;. `Kd;Ndwpa mZj; njhopy;El;gj;Jldhd nghWg;G tha;e;j xUehL vd;w tifapy; ,e;jpah Vida ehLfisg;Nghd;W mNj gad;fisAk; mD$yq;fisAk; ngw Ntz;Lk;' vd;W $l;lwpf;ifapy; Fwpg;gplg;gl;bUf;fpwJ. 1970 mZthAj guty; jLg;G ru;tNjr cld;gbf;ifapy;(Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty) ifr;rhj;jpLtjw;F kWj;JtUk; ,e;jpah> mZthAjq;fis itj;jpUg;gijf; fhuzk;fhl;b mZj;njhopy;El;gq;fis mjw;F toq;Ftij th\pq;ld; jil nra;jpUe;jJ. ,g;NghJ me;j cld;gbf;ifapy; GJby;yp ifr;rhj;jplNtz;Lnkd;W tw;GWj;jhkNyNa ,e;jpahTld; mZj;jpl;l xj;Jiog;Gf;F G\; ,zq;fpapUf;fpwhu;.

jdJ ,e;jj; jPu;khdj;Jf;F jf;fthW rl;lq;fis khw;wpaikj;Jf; nfhs;tjw;F mnkupf;f fhq;fpu]pd; ,zf;fg;ghl;ilg; ngw G\; cj;Njrpj;jpUf;fpwhu;. ,e;jpahTld; KO mstpyhd rptpy; mZrf;jp xj;Jiog;G kw;Wk; tu;j;jfj;ij nra;tjw;F tif nra;af;$bajhf ru;tNjr cld;gbf;iffspy; khw;wq;fisr; nra;tjw;F NerehLfSld; Nru;e;J mnkupf;fh ghLgLk; vd;Wk; $l;lwpf;ifapy; njuptpf;fg;gl;bUf;fpwJ. gpujpAgfhukhf ,e;jpah mjd; rptpy; kw;Wk; ,uhZt mZj;jpl;lq;fis milahsk; fz;L NtWgLj;Jtjw;F ,zq;fpapUg;gJld;> mZg; gupNrhjidfs; kPjhd ,ilepWj;jj;ijj; njhluTk; cWjpaspj;jpUf;fpwJ. rptpy; mZj; jpl;lq;fis If;fpa ehLfspd; ru;tNjr mZrf;jp epWtdj;jpd;(International Atomic Energy Agency) fz;fhzpg;Gf;F mDkjpg;gjw;F ,e;jpah ,zq;fpapUg;gJ kpf Kf;fpakhd tplakhFk;. Mdhy;> ,itnay;yhk; RahjPdkhditNa jtpu> rl;l uPjpahd flg;ghL vijAk; nfhz;litay;y. mj;Jld;> mZthAj guty; jLg;G ru;tNjr cld;gbf;iff;F ntspNajhd; ,e;jpah njhlu;e;J ,Uf;fg; NghfpwJ vd;gJk; ftdpf;fj;jf;fJ.

,e;j ru;tNjr cld;gbf;ifapd; fPo; mnkupf;fh> gpupl;ld;> gpuhd;];> rPdh kw;Wk; u\;ah Mfpa ehLfNs mZthAjq;fis itj;jpUf;fyhk;. Rkhu; 182 ehLfs; rkhjhd Nehf;fq;fSf;fhd mZj; jpl;lq;fis Kd;ndLg;gjw;fhd cjtpfSf;F gpujpAgfhukhf mZthAjj; jpl;lq;fisf; iftpl;L cld;gbf;ifapy; ifr;rhj;jpl;bUf;fpd;wd. ,e;jpahitg; Nghd;Nw ghfp];jhDk; ,jpy; xUNghJk; ifr;rhj;jpltpy;iy. ,e;j cld;gbf;if tplaj;jpy; ,e;jpahTf;F mnkupf;fh fhl;bapUf;Fk; `rYif' gpujhd MAj tpw;gid ehLfshd u\;ah kw;Wk; rPdhTf;F jtwhd rkpf;iQfisf; fhl;Ltjhf mikAk;. mj;Jld;> cld;gbf;ifapd; fPo; mZ MAj mgpyhi\fisf; iftpl;l Vida ehLfs; mtw;wpd; epiyg;ghLfis kPs; guprPyid nra;a ce;jg;glyhk; vd;W rpy mnkupf;f ghJfhg;Gj; Jiw epGzu;fs; cldbahfNt tprdk; ntspaplj; jtwtpy;iy.

vJ vt;thnwdpDk;> jdJ Kjw; gjtpf; fhyj;jpy; ,e;jpahtplk; ,Ue;J rw;Wj; J}utpyfp epw;Fk; mZFKiwiaf; filg;gpbj;j G\;> jw;NghJ mij mutizg;gjpy; mjPj Mu;tk; fhl;Ltij mtjhdpf;ff; $bajhf ,Uf;fpwJ. ,e;jpag; gpujkupd; th\pq;ld; tp[aj;jpd; NghJ fhzg;gl;l ,zf;fg;ghl;il 1947 ,w;Fg; gpd;du; mnkupf;fhTf;Fk; ,e;jpahTf;Fk; ,ilNaahd cwTfspy; xU cr;r vy;iy vd;W G\; epUthf caujpfhupnahUtu; tu;zpj;jpUf;fpwhu;. Mrpahtpy; xU nghUshjhu ty;yik nfhz;l ehlhFtjw;F ,e;jpah Nkw;nfhz;L tUk; eltbf;iffs;> mjd; njhopy;El;g epGzj;Jtj;jpd; mghu tsu;r;rp> mjpfupj;JtUk; tu;j;jfr; re;ij kw;Wk; Nfe;jpu Kf;fpaj;Jtepiy Mfpatw;iwf; fUj;jpy; vLj;jpUf;Fk; mnkupf;fh> ,uhZt uPjpapYk; nghUshjhu uPjpapYk; rPdhTf;F xU rkijahd rf;jpahf ,e;jpahit Kd;Ndw;Wtjpy; ehl;lk; nfhz;bUf;fpwJ. mj;Jld; ,e;jpahtpd; mZthw;wy; tsu;r;rpiaf; fl;Lg;gLj;Jtnjd;gJ jdJ fl;Lg;ghl;il kPwpa fhupak; vd;gijAk; th\pq;ld; njspthf czu;e;jpUf;f Ntz;Lk;. jdJ Nehf;fq;fis epiwNtw;Wtjw;fhd je;jpNuhghaj;jpy; mZ tptfhuj;jpyhd Kd;ida nfhs;ifiaAk; iftpl mnkupf;fh jaq;ftpy;iy. ,JNt ty;yuR murpay;.mjpy; cyf Nkyhjpf;fj;ijj; jtpu Ntnwe;j ,yf;Fk; epiyg;ghLk; epue;jukhdjy;y.

22 July 2005

mf;fiug;gw;wpy; iff;Fz;Lj; jhf;Fjy;: 3 gilapdu; gLfhak;

mf;fiug;gw;W MiyabNtk;G tPjpapYs;s mfjp Kfhkpw;F Kd;dhy; fz;fhzpg;G eltbf;ifapy; <Lgl;bUe;j rpwg;G mjpubg; gilapdu; kPJ ,d;W gfy; 12.30 kzpastpy; ,de;njupahj egu;fs; Nkw;nfhz;l iff;Fz;Lj; jhf;Fjypy; ,U rpwg;G mjpubg; giladUk;> xU fhty;Jiwapdd; xUtUk; gLfhakile;Js;sdu;.

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NkYk; ,j;jhf;FjYf;F mk;ghiw khtl;l rPWk; gilazp chpikNfhhp Jz;Lg; gpuRuk; ntspapl;Ls;sJ> mz;ikf;fhykhf mjpfhpj;J tUk; Nghuhspfs;> kw;Wk; kf;fs; kPjhd gLnfhiyfisf; fz;Bj;Jk;> New;W gLnfhiy nra;ag; gl;l fy;Kid-03 Ir; Nrh;e;j mg;ghtp fpuhk Nrtfh; gh];fudpd; gLnfhiyia td;ikahf fz;bj;Jk;> ,f; ifq;fhpaq;fspy; <LgLk; mur gilfisAk;> mjDld; ,aq;Fk; ehrfhu Fk;gy;fSf;F vr;rhpf;if tpLg;gJld; ,dpAk; ,t;thwhd ehrfhu eltbf;fiffs; njhlUkhdhy; ,jd; tpisTfs; ghuJhukhf ,Uf;FnkdtK; vr;rhpf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ.

22 July 2005

Mind your business: Anura tells toAustralian PM

Referring to yesterday’s Daily Mirror page one story headlined "Call for Presidential Election in 2005", Minister and potential SLFP Presidential candidate Anura Bandaranaike issued a statement yesterday telling Australian Premier John Howard to mind his own business.

Mr. Bandaranaike states “The news report yesterday said, ‘The International Democrat Union (IDU), under the chairmanship of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the Presidential election in Sri Lanka to be held in 2005, agency reports originating from Washington said.

The resolution stated, "The IDU expresses its concern at the attempts made by the Government of Sri Lanka to postpone the Presidential Election scheduled for this year.’As a Sri Lankan apart from being a senior Minister of the Cabinet, I find Prime Minister John Howard's statement to be obnoxious, highly provocative and an absolute interference in the internal affairs of a friendly country.

Apart from telling him "mind your own business", please be cautious not to tread in areas where even angels fear. Might I inform this IDU, that the Government of Sri Lanka will hold Presidential Election on the due date in the latter part of next year. Our country is an open Democratic and a free society.

The matter of the Presidential Election has been debated over and over again in the Parliament, Radio, TV, Newspapers, in the streets and every nook and comer. The President will hold election on the completion of her 6 year term and she has no intention of extending her term as she is the longest serving President in the history of Sri Lanka.

Just because a few people protest for personal reasons, elections will only be held when it has to be held according to the Constitution. Three members of my family have preserved Democracy and led Sri Lanka through assassinations, bomb attacks, insurgencies, and civil war for over 25 years and each one of them have been elected by massive mandates of the people.

"Try and match that Mr. Howard"

A Prime Minister of a friendly country such as Australia should know that there are certain boundaries in the international playing field that you do not cross. It's the same Mr. Howard that shot his foot and lambasted a helpless Sri Lankan Cricketer, so much so that he refused lo play in Australia.

Mr. Howard apologized much later after the damage was done. Therefore I am not in fact surprised that Mr. Howard has once again shot from the hip this time transgressing acceptable foreign policy norms. Finally may I say, please Mr. Howard "mind your own damn business". We are quite capable of looking after ourselves without your pontifications.

22 July 2005

Loss of privacy, dignity in camps, alleges FRT

Alcohol, drugs, child exploitation and prostitution have already sneaked into tsunami welfare centres and the inmates traumatised by the loss of privacy and dignity, charged UK Family Relief Trust’s representative Abdul Qadir Gooljar during a news briefing yesterday at Ranmuthu Hotel in Colombo.

The briefing was held by Families Relief Sri Lanka Trust to inform of its future projects. Mr. Gooljar said that he learnt these facts when they conducted a fact finding mission in Kinniya and Sainthamaruthu.

“In a camp we saw the canal near by is a mobile body of rotting sewage and floating rubbish. Its static bank serves as an ideal breading ground for mosquitoes,” he said. He related one of his experiences when coordinating relief work during the Bosnian conflict. He said all groups forgot their differences and joined hands enabling him to help 15,000 families to overcome poverty with the help of the British government. “Today I question myself why it is not happening here in the Eastern Province,” he said.

The UK Family Relief Trust was launching a programme to empower 114 families after careful analysis of their family situations, added Mr. Gooljar.Coordinator for Family Relief in Sri Lanka, Dr. Marina Rifai briefed the media on the proposed empowerment projects.

22 July 2005

SLMM Chief optimistic on CFA stability - spokesperson
SRI LANKA Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Chief Hagrup Haukland is optimistic that the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) would remain stable and the issue of LTTE's transport in the North-East could be amicably settled, SLMM spokesperson Helen Olafsdottir said.

Haukland met LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan along with the Norwegian Charge de Affaires Laegreid Oddavar on Wednesday. According to Olafsdottir, they met the head of the Peace Secretariat Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala soon after returning from Kilinochchi on Wednesday evening.

"Dr. Dhanapala was briefed on the discussion held in Kilinochchi. Today there will be a follow-up meeting between Dr. Dhanapala and the SLMM chief. "The transport issue of the LTTE is still being discussed and the SLMM is confident that a settlement could be reached," Olafsdottir added. "As far as the Ceasefire Agreement is concerned it remains stable and the SLMM does not see any big threat to it. It is the rumours and speculation which create panic on the existence of the CFA."

Meanwhile, Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarians met the Ambassadors of Federal Republic of Germany and Switzerland on Wednesday. The TNA Parliamentarians during their meeting with the German envoy Juergen Weerth and Swiss envoy Bernardino Regazzoni have urged that the International community should strive again to bring back the Government and the LTTE to the negotiating table. The TNA delegation led by R. Sampanthan comprised Parliamentarians Joseph Pararajasingam, Suresh Premachandran, Selvam Adaikalanathan, Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam and Padmini Sithamparanathan

22 July 2005

Tamil medium education to be enhanced in NE
THE Education Development Institute of North East (EDINE) was inaugurated to develop Tamil medium education in the northeast province, education sources said. Professor C. Mohanathas, Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University, unveiled the nameboard of the office and R. Thilakalingam, from North East Provincial Education Ministry, declared open the office.

Former Deputy Director of Education, K. Saravanapavan, was appointed as the Co-ordinating Officer of the EDINE, sources said. Former secretary to the North East Provincial Education Ministry Sundaram Divakalala made the introductory address, outlining the objectives of the EDINE to act as a parallel entity to the Sri Lanka's National Institute of Education (NIE) sources said.

According to education officials, objectives of the new Education Institute are: To develop appropriate and innovative strategies to strengthen curriculum designing, curriculum development, and curriculum delivery. To enhance and support, and promote the quality and professional competence of all those involved in teaching-learning processes.

To monitor and evaluate the functions of education system in order to suggest appropriate measures to promote equity, equality and excellence. To initiate and promote research activities by optimally utilising resources with to achieve sustainable development. To foster healthy linkages with similar national, regional and international organisations and institutions.

To support and strengthen the activities and programmes of the tertiary education institution to suit the needs of the North East Province, and To undertake relevant intervention whenever and wherever necessary to promote and develop education in the NEP. Currently the Education Ministry has entrusted NIE with preparing Tamil medium textbooks and the NIE does so by translating Sinhala medium textbooks. This has led to serious shortcomings in preparing standard Tamil medium textbooks.

Tamil education officials often accuse the NIE of distorting the history of the Sri Lanka and Tamil community in Tamil text books. The NIE also failed to set up a separate unit to prepare Tamil medium textbooks ignoring repeated requests made by Tamil educationists and trade unions, NIE's detractors say.

Tamil teacher trade unions and Tamil educationists for the last several years have been accusing the NIE, which is dominated by Sinhalese educationists, for ignoring the development of Tamil medium education in Sri Lanka especially in the Tamil dominated northeast province, sources said

22 July 2005

National Anti-War Front officials to meet Thamilselvan
A team of officials from the National Anti-War Front will meet LTTE political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan to discuss matters over the Trincomalee Buddha statue issue.

National Anti-War Front's Secretary Ven. Madampagama Assaji Thera told the Daily News that the LTTE had agreed to fix a date for the Front to meet with Thamilselvan on a request by the Front. Ven. Assaji Thera said that his Front was planning to apprise the LTTE that they had taken an unwise subject to grapple with in a situation where many hardliners and extremists are trying to invent an issue to upset the mood for peace in the country in the South.

The Thera said that the LTTE should not fall into the trap of becoming the party responsible for upsetting peace with their attempts to remove the statue. He said, "I am totally against the culture of having Buddha statues or images of any religion at road junctions." The National Anti-War Front had meetings with Tamil People's Organisation, which is led by Vigneswaran, which has a direct involvement in the issue, in organising hartals demanding the removal of the statue, he said.

"We told them their decision was wrong", he said. "I have reason to believe that these were done purposely by some organised groups to incite the LTTE. It was best that the LTTE do not entertain them," he said. "Besides, I have reasons to believe that there are sinister forces working behind these activities which try to separate people from their temples, " he said. "Having religious images at every junction can keep you away from real places of worship where Bhikkhus and other religious leaders live," he explained

22 July 2005

A Review: Sri Lanka's Iron Lady By Ana Pararajasingham
First Broadcast on 12th July on ABC TV’s Foreign Correspondent Program

"With both her parents former Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka, and her brother currently a parliamentarian with leadership ambitions of his own, Chandrika Kumaratunga was born into politics. But President Chandrika claims not to be at all interested in the power that comes with the job"

It was with these words that the 'Foreign Correspondent' - ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) TV’s flagship program - began its portrayal of the Sri Lankan President. Michael Maher, the interviewer, had little trouble drawing the Sri Lankan President into revealing her personality. Maher’s intention was to enlighten rather than sensationalize. His approach was friendly, polite to the point of being deferent, but probing. The Sri Lankan President obliged by speaking her mind out.

When Maher drew attention to the widely-held view that she was enthralled by power, the President dismissed it by saying that she found the whole idea of her love of power to be a joke. She simply did not like power except, of course, fo the good that she could achieve through the use of that power. This bold assertion made with all the conviction that she could muster was blown away minutes later when the President’s sister, Sunethra Bandaranaike, assured Maher in a separate interview that not only did Chandrika love power, but that she thrives on it. This was in answer to a question by Maher addressed to Sunethera in the presence of brother Anura, who sat quietly throughout this interview.

Then there was the matter of war resuming. Kumaratunge’s response was again a resounding denial, only to be countered by a Jesuit American resident of Batticaloa, Fr Miller, that war was the only way forward given the absolute lack of progress on the peace front. The priest pointed to the army rebuilding its bunkers in the East and the LTTE recruiting among the Tamil people. The priest’s interpretation was backed up by the LTTE’s spokesperson who told Maher that, whilst the LTTE was not interested in resuming the war, it was ready to fight a war thrust upon it.

Maher was also able to get Kumaratunge to admit that the Tamils had been oppressed by successive Sinhala regimes. This came about when Kumaratunge referred to the LTTE as ‘terrorists’ and was told by Maher that others (meaning the Tamils) look upon the LTTE as freedom fighters. Kumartunge immediately changed tack by agreeing that the Tamils had indeed been oppressed. She then made the point that she was the first Sinhala politician to publicly acknowledge this ‘discrimination.’ This candor, she went on to claim, had placed her life in great danger. In her words, her candor is ‘fatal.' She drew attention in the process to the collective mindset of the Sinhala public when it comes to acknowledging wrongs done to Tamils.

Also in the course of her interview, Kumartunge attributed the island’s woes to its ruling Sinhala elite. Under Maher’s gentle probing; she was soon forced to acknowledge that her own family, the Bandaranaike-Kumaratunge dynasty had played a part in this process, but ‘by default.' Maher did not pursue the point any further. Instead, Maher went on to to show that the violence endemic amongst the Sinhalese was that which claimed the lives of Kumartunge’s father and husband.

The Government’s role in the delivery of aid to the survivors of the tsunami was another area where Kumaratunga found herself making preposterous claims only to retract them or simply being exposed as someone who had no grasp of reality. According to Fr Miller, like the French monarch, Louis X1V, President Kumaratunge regarded herself and the state to be the same. "L’État, c’est moi" . (I am the State or’ " what is good for me is good for the people".)

Michael Maher’s assessment was that Kumaratunge was a Sri Lankan version of Eva Peron, ‘very interested in power.’ The Sri Lankan President’s response to this was an enigmatic "History will tell.’

22 July 2005

18 areas in Jaffna occupied as high security zones

The ceasefire agreement signed three and a half years ago between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government postulated that the security forces must vacate all public and private places within three months of signing the agreement. Three and half years later, they are still occupying vast areas of private and public places. Thousands of people are in refugee camps as a result.

The consortium of non-governmental organizations of Jaffna in its latest monthly statement for June has said that 18 regions in Jaffna are occupied by the military as HSZ. 190 square kilometres of land is under the High Security Zones (HSZs) and a total of 30,388 families are unable to live in their homes as a result and are living in welfare centres or with friends and relatives.

The statistics collected by the institute for alternate policies was published in the June statement of the consortium. This statistics also brings out that fishermen have been denied access to fishing in 81.5 square kilometres of sea area. It also said that 12,259 acres of rice cultivating land has been occupied and is banned from being cultivated. The statement also said that the ceasefire agreement has not brought about any progress to this situation of the HSZ.

Commenting on the situation of education of children in the 8 to 15 age group in the coastal areas of Pasaiyoor, Kurunagar, Navanthurai, Kakaitivu and Columbuthurai the statement said that more than 100 children have dropped out of schools in these areas due to poverty and home situation.

22 July 2005

Three injured in grenade attack on Police checkpoint in Kalmunai

One homeguard and two civilians were injured when two unidentified attackers, riding a motorbike, lobbed a grenade on a checkpoint at Kalavaddam Junction on Kalmunai Main Road around 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Special Task Force (STF) soldiers and the Police cordoned off and searched the area following the attack, residents said.

Mr. Susantha Kumar, 38, a home-guard and two civilians, Mr. Nalin Uthayakumara, 26, and Mr. A.C. Ameen, 25, were admitted to Kalmunai Ashraff Memorial Hospital with injuries. Police Officer In-Charge (OIC) A. L. Jameel is conducting investigations into the attack. Kalmunai is located 39 km. south of Batticaloa.

21july 2005

Nkhrkile;J tUk; neUf;fb epiyik gw;wp tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; epiyg;ghL cWjpahf njhptpg;G!

Nkhrkile;J tUk; neUf;fb epiyik gw;wp tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; epiyg;ghL cWjpahf ,yq;iff;fhd NehHNt gpujpj;J}JtH kw;Wk; NghH epWj;jf; fz;fhzpg;Gf;FO jiytH MfpNahH mlq;fpa FOtpdhplk; ,d;iwa re;jpg;gpy; vLj;Jiuf;fg;gl;ljhf murpay;Jiwg; nghWg;ghsH R.g. jkpo;r;nry;td; mtHfs; njhptpj;jhH. NehHNtapd; ,yq;iff;fhd gpujpJ}JtH Xl;tH yf;ul; kw;Wk; ,yq;if NghH epWj;jf; fz;fhzpg;Gf; FOtpd; jiytH `g;&g; n`hf;yz;l; MfpNahH mlq;fpa FOtpdUldhd re;jpg;gpd; gpd;dH nra;jpahsHfSf;F jftyspf;ifapy; mtH ,jidj; njhptpj;jhH. ,d;iwa nra;jpahsHfs; re;jpg;gpy; mtH njhptpj;jjhtJ:- rkhjhdk; njhlHgpy; rHtNjr r%fj;jpd;; fhpridiaAk; kjpf;fpd;Nwhk;@ Ghpe;J nfhs;fpd;Nwhk;. mDruizahsHfs; vd;w tifapy; NehHNtapd; Kaw;rpfisAk; kjpf;fpd;Nwhk;. Mdhy;> xU jug;ghf ,Uf;Fk; ,yq;if muRk; gilj;jug;Gk; ,g;NghJs;s epiyikia rPH nra;tjw;F Mf;fg+Htkhd eltbf;iffis vLf;fhj epiyapy; epr;rakhf rHtNjr r%fj;jpd; Kaw;rpfs; ntw;wpaspf;Fk; vd;W njhpatpy;iy. Ghpe;JzHT cld;ghl;bd; ruj;J 1.8y; typAWj;jg;gl;Ls;s vkJ jhafg; gpuNjrj;jpy; nraw;gLfpd;w MAjf; FOf;fspd; MAjq;fs; fisag;gl;L> mtHfs; jhafg; gpuNjrj;jpy; ,Ue;J ntspNaw;wg;gl Ntz;Lk; vd;gij ,yq;if muR nra;ahtpbd; jhafg;; gFjpfspy; elf;Fk; nfhiyfisf; fl;Lg;gLj;j KbahJ. epuhAjghzpfshf murpay; gzpapy; <Lgl;bUf;Fk; Nghuhspfspd; ghJfhg;G cWjpg;gLj;jg;glhJ> ,e;j epiyikfis rPH nra;a KbahJ. ,ij NehHNt jug;gplk; cWjpahfr; Rl;bf;fhl;bAs;Nshk;.

rkhjhdg; Ngr;Rf;fSf;fhd ve;j Kd;Ndw;wKk; ,d;iwa re;jpg;gpy; Vw;gltpy;iy. NghuhspfSk; nghJkf;fSk; nfhiy nra;ag;gl;Lf; nfhz;bUf;fpd;whHfs;. njd;jkpoPoj;jpy; murpay; mYtyfq;fs; jhf;fg;gLfpd;wd. ,e;neUf;fbia jPh;f;f NehHNt jug;gplk; muR ve;j MNyhridfisAk; Kd; itj;jpUf;ftpy;iy.

,Ujug;igAk; re;jpj;J Ngr itj;jy; vd;gNj NehHNt jug;gpd; MNyhridahf ,Uf;fpd;wJ. mjw;Fhpa rhj;jpag;ghlhd #oiy gilj;jug;G Fog;gpa epiyapy; ehk; xd;Wk; nra;aKbahj ,f;fl;lhd epiyapy; ,Ug;gij vLj;Jiuj;Js;Nshk;. Neubahd re;jpg;G vd;gJ ey;nyz;zj;ij fl;bnaOg;Gk; #oypy; jhd; rhj;jpag;gLk;. ey;nyz;zj;ijf; fl;bnaOg;Gk; #oiy muRk; gilfSk; fl;bnaOg;g Ntz;Lk; vd;gij typAWj;jpapUf;fpd;Nwhk;. vq;fSila epiyg;ghl;il mwpe;J nry;Yk; Nehf;NfhL jhd; NehHNt jug;G ,d;W tUif je;jpUe;jJ.

rk me;j];ij Vw;Wf;nfhz;lhy; td;dp nrd;W GypfSld; Ngrj; jahu;

nghJf; fl;likg;gpd; gpuhe;jpa rigapy; K];ypk;fSf;F rk me;j];j;J toq;f Ntz;Lk; vd;gij Gypfs; ,af;fk; Vw;Wf; nfhz;lhy; td;dp nrd;W Gypfspd; jiytu;fis re;jpj;J Ngr;Rthu;j;ij elj;j jahuhf ,Uf;fpNwhk; vd;W Njrpa If;fpa Kd;dzp nrayhsu; ehafKk; mikr;rUkhd NrF ,];]jPd; New;W Nfrupf;F njuptpj;jhu;.

mtu; NkYk; $wpajhtJ: nghJf; fl;likg;G xg;ge;j Mtzj;jpy; K];ypk;fs; jdpj;jug;ghf ifnahg;gkpl re;ju;g;gk; toq;fg;gl Ntz;Lk;. nghJf; fl;likg;gpd; gpuhe;jpa rigapy; Gypfs; ,af;fj;jpw;F toq;fg;gl;Ls;s gpujp epjpj;Jtj;ij Nghd;w mNjasT gpujpepjpj;Jtk; K];ypk;fSf;Fk; toq;fg;gl Ntz;Lk; vd;gjid mtu;fs; Vw;Wf; nfhz;lhy; ehk; td;dp nrd;W Gypfis re;jpj;J Ngr jahuhf ,Uf;fpNwhk;.

nghJf; fl;likg;G Fwpj;J ehk; K];ypk; kf;fspd; gpujpepjpfSlDk; Ngr;Rthu;j;ij elj;JNthk; vd Gypfspd; murapy; Jiw nghWg;ghsu; R.g.jkpo;r;nry;td; fle;j Nk khjk; $wp ,Ue;jhu;. [dhjpgjp jdJ murhq;fj;ij gytPdg;gLj;jp nfhz;L Gypfs; ,af;fj;Jld; nghJf; fl;likg;G cld;gbf;if nra;J jkJ ey;nyz;zj;ij ntspg;gLj;jpAs;shu;. Mifahy; cau; ePjpkd;wk; toq;fpa jPu;g;gpw;fhf vtUk; [dhjpgjpia Fiw $w KbahJ

21 July 2005

No Aussie funds for TRO/LTTE(The Island)

The Australian Government will not provide any funds to the LTTE or its front organization Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) because the LTTE is gazzeted as a terrorist organization in Australia, in accordance with Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, Acting Australian High Commissioner Matthew Hyndes told The Island yesterday (Wednesday)

Hyndes said "Australia has passed legislation and providing funds for the LTTE and several other organizations is banned in Australia. Therefore it would be an offence to provide funds for the LTTE". TRO is LTTE’s front organization and is involved in several projects. It is also a registered NGO in Sri Lanka. A Top Anti-Terrorism expert based in London said that TRO head office is located in Melbourne and the funds coming from South Africa and the UK to the LTTE/TRO is channeled via Australia. Head of TRO Jay Maheshwaran was also a member of LTTE’s peace negotiation team

In March this year a question was asked in the Australian Parliament, from Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, by MP John Murphy, as to whether the Australian Government recognises the TRO as an NGO delivering disaster relief services in the North East of Sri Lanka , if not why not? And the answer given was "The Government is aware of credible reports that the TRO has links to the LTTE the latter of which has been listed in Australia as an entity associated with terrorism pursuant to the Charter of the UN (Terrorism and Dealings with Assets) regulations 2002. Accordingly Australia has not provided direct funding to the TRO.

21 July 2005

Call for Presidential election in 2005
The International Democrat Union (IDU), under the chairmanship of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the Presidential election in Sri Lanka to be held in 2005, agency reports originating from Washington said.

The resolution stated, “The IDU expresses its concern at the attempts made by the Government of Sri Lanka to postpone the Presidential Election scheduled for this year. The IDU supports the efforts of the UNP and other democratic organizations to ensure that the sovereignty of the people is upheld and the people of Sri Lanka are able to exercise their franchise for the election of a President of the Republic this year”.

Party leaders from 26 countries including three Prime Ministers participated at the meeting. They included the Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen, Chairman of the U.S Republican Party Ken Mehlman and Chairman of the Conservative Party in the UK Liam Fox. Those endorsing this resolution also included the German CDU, German CSU, French Conservative UMP, the Spanish Peoples Party, Canadian Conservative Party, and the Greek New Demokratica.

Prime Minister John Howard, as chairman of the meeting, congratulated Mr. Wickremesinghe on his unanimous election as Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Democrat Union (APDU). In that capacity Mr. Wickremesinghe becomes a Vice-Chairman of the IDU along with the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen and Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.

At Prime Minister Howard’s initiative the IDU party leaders expressed the hope that member parties from Sri Lanka, Norway, Canada, Germany and Honduras succeed at elections due in this coming year. Later, Mr. Wickremesinghe along with other party leaders met with President George W. Bush at the White House at a roundtable discussion on freedom and democracy. At the meeting, Mr. Wickremesinghe was one of four IDU members to address the global party leaders. U.S. National Security Advisor Steven Hadley was also present at the discussion

21 July 2005

Govt. did little or nothing to defuse Trinco tension, says TNA

The Tamil National Alliance yesterday asked the government what steps it proposed to take to stop the ongoing subversive activities in Trincomalee. Making a special statement TNA parliamentary group leader R. Sambanthan said the origin of the prevailing unrest could be traced to the installation of the Buddha statue in Trincomalee town.

The following is the statement made by Mr. Sambanthan: “I wish to raise the following question relating to a, matter of Public Importance viz:- The situation that has developed in the Trincomalee town, and the Trincomalee District consequent to the installation of a statue of Lord Buddha under the cover of darkness on May 16, 2005, without permission from any authority, on land belonging to the State/Urban Council Trincomalee close to the fish and meat markets and liquor bars, in an environment wholly unsuitable for the veneration of Lord Buddha.

This statue of Lord Buddha was clearly not installed at this location for purposes of worship. The motive for this act was the promotion of conflict between the people of different races and religions. This act was part of a concerted plan to destabilize the situation in Trincomalee, and disrupt the conclusion of any measure relating to the implementation of post-tsunami activities that could help in promoting confidence amongst the people in the Northeast; the ultimate objective of this act being to impede the furtherance of the peace process.

The vast majority of the people looked upon this as an act of unwarranted aggression. There was a demonstration, a hartal, against this act in Trincomalee. Sporadic acts of violence occurred at different places in the ensuing days.

Additional contingents of armed forces, 100% Sinhala in composition and additional police forces, more than 98% Sinhala in composition, were brought into Trincomalee and stationed on duty in substantial numbers in thickly Tamil populated areas of Trincomalee town. The Trincomalee town and its outskirts presented a picture of being under military occupation. The Tamil people feel insulted and humiliated by this unwarranted oppression. The innocent are being punished for no reason. A government team consisting of House Leader and Senior Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Northeast Province Governor Tyrone Fernando, Deputy Minister Dilan Perera, Presidential Advisor and spokesman Harim Pieris met Tamil representatives in Trincomalee on May 25.

The following assurances were given:

1. Legal action would be instituted in court for a declaration that the installation of the statue was illegal.

2. Legal action would be instituted through the Urban Development Authority for the removal of the statue.

3. There would be de-escalation in the presence of the armed forces and police progressively returning to a situation in normal times. Legal action was instituted in the District Court of Trincomalee in keeping with the first assurance. No action was instituted according to the second assurance. The presence of the armed forces and the police has continued to be more or less the same.

A grave incident occurred in Trincomalee on July 10, wherein four unarmed persons, including LTTE cadres and civilians were gunned down and killed. On behalf of the TNA, I issued a statement in regard to the said attack. I forwarded a copy of the said statement to President Chandrika Kumaratunga with a letter urging immediate action. I tabled the said letter and statement and requested the same to be included in the Hansard.

On the July 13 a Fundamental Rights application filed in the Supreme Court in regard to the legal action instituted in the District Court regarding the unlawful erection of the Buddha statue was taken up for hearing before Justices Shirani Thilakawardane, Nimal Gamini Amaratunga and Salim Marzook. The media reported that during the hearing Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga posed the question whether, "Anyone had the right to erect on state land, a Buddha statue thus committing an unlawful act and in regard to the said matter, claim relief in court stating that his fundamental right had been violated”. The hearing was adjourned till July 18.

On July 18 when the case was taken up for hearing before Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva and Justices C.N. Jayasingbe, and Nimal Gamini Amaratunga the same was concluded on the basis that the Attorney General would withdraw the action filed in the District Court and the Petitioner would withdraw the FR application filed in the Supreme Court.

This decision completely negated the decision taken by the government pertaining to the Buddha statue.

The Sunday Observer of July 17 reports that ''On receipt of intelligence reports concerning the possible subversive involvement of a leading political party in the south, in the recent disturbances taking place in Trincomalee, the government has initiated a full probe into the entire range of incidents in the area during the last few weeks". The report continues, and I quote, "Attempts are also made by certain political forces to involve lower ranking elements of the armed forces too in these subversive activities".

In the context of the Armed and Police forces being almost entirely Sinhala in composition, these subversive activities place the Tamil people in Trincomalee in the most vulnerable position. All persons taken into custody during the recent unrest were Tamils. Though Tamils have been the victims of violence at the hands of the Sinhalese, not one Sinhalese person has been arrested. The law and order enforcement machinery in Trincomalee is very heavily biased against the Tamils.

Yet another statue has been unlawfully erected recently on the Kantalai Tank Bund Road, through all the Members of Parliament barring one, in the district were opposed to such installation. This is yet another step in the concerted attempt to disturb the situation in Trincomalee.

Such a lawless situation does not portend well for peace and stability in the Trincomalee District nor in the whole of the Northeast. Since independence, the Tamil people have been consistently betrayed by every arm of the government. The Tamil National Alliance calls upon the government to respond to the following questions:

1. What steps will the government take to honor the assurances given by the high ranking government delegation in regard to the removal of the Buddha statue?

2. What steps will the government take to bring to an end the subversive activities being presently carried on in Trincomalee by forces with a vested interest in disturbing and destabilizing Trincomalee and the Northeast?

3. What steps will the government take to relieve the Tamil people of the oppressive presence of the excessive armed and police forces, and to ensure impartial implementation in the enforcement of law and order?”

21 July 2005

CFA is at grave risk; SL government and military should act sincerely to salvage it”-Tamilselvan tells SLMM

“The cease fire agreement (CFA) is at grave risk and the Sri Lankan Government has the responsibility to salvage it from jeopardy by sincere attempts to implement clause 1.8 that prohibits the activities of armed groups in the Tamil homeland” said Mr.S.P.Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Wing, responding to the concern expressed by the Norwegian Deputy Ambassador and the Head of the SLMM in a meeting today 20 July 2005 at the Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi.

At the outset, the Deputy Ambassador said that the co-chairs and the wider international community is concerned about the deteriorating situation of violence in the Tamil territories.

“We respect the international community’s concern over the security situation and we do appreciate the interest shown by them in taking forward the peace process and giving effect to the post-tsunami management structure, but wish to make it clear that safeguarding the integrity of the CFA is in the hands of the government and its military” said Mr.Tamilselvan with a note of regret. “Armed violence against unarmed LTTE political activists and civilians is taking place in military occupied areas with the covert assistance of the military and therefore the government has the responsibility to ensure implementation of clause 1.8 of the CFA that prohibits the activities of armed groups” continued Mr.Tamilselvan.

“We are not asking for the moon; we only request that the government sincerely implement clause 1.8 to put an end to the accelerating violence perpetrated by these groups, which alone can ensure a violence-free environment” noted Mr.Tamilselvan. Referring to the travel arrangement for LTTE members, Mr.Tamilselvan insisted that free movement of unarmed members is an essential requirement for them to attend to periodical workshops and seminars with the leadership and the government should act without delay to implement the proposals submitted on 30 June 2005 in the wake of the land mine attack on the LTTE convoy in the military controlled area in Welikanda recently

21 July 2005
gLthd;fiu gpuNjrj;Jf;F vupnghUs; vLj;Jr; nry;y jiltpjpg;G

kl;lf;fsg;G khtl;lj;jpy; gLthd;fiug; gpuNjrj;jpw;F vupnghUs; vLj;Jr; nry;yj;jil tpjpf;fg;gl;Ls;sjhy; mg;gpuNjrj;jpy; thOk; Mapuf;fzf;fhd kf;fs; gy; NtW f\;lq;fis vjpu;nfhz;L tUfpd;wdu;. fle;j %d;W jpdq;fshf ngs]u; %yk; nfhf;fl;br; Nrhiy vupnghUs; epug;G epiyaj;jpw;F ngw;Nwhy; > Bry;> kz;nzz;nza; nfhz;L nry;tjw;F jil

tpjpf;fg;gl;Ls;sJld;> ngw;Nwhy; vLj;J te;j ngs]u; gilapdhuy; fSthQ;rpf;Fbapy; jLf;fg;gl;ljhf njuptpf;fg;gLfpd;wd. tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; fl;Lg;ghl;bYs;s gLthd;fiug;gpuNjrj;jpy; gl;bg;gis> nty;yhntsp Mfpa ,U gpuNjr nrayfg; gpupTfs; cs;sd . ,g;gpuNjrq;fSf;Fg; nghJthf xU vupnghUs; epug;G epiyaNk nraw;gl;L tUfpd;wJ.

,e; epiyaj;jpw;F vupnghUs; vLj;J tuj;jil tpjpf;fg;gl;Ls;sjhy; ,g;gFjpapYs;s Mapuf;fzf;fhd coT ,ae;jpuk; kw;Wk; thfdr; nrhe;jf;fhuu;fs; ngUk; mnrsfupaq;fis vjpu;nfhz;Ls;sdu;. jw;NghJ rpWNghf Ntshz; ik mWtil fhyk; kw;Wk; Mya cw;rt fhyk; vd;gjhy; kf;fs; ngUk; f\;lq;fis mDgtpj;J tUfpd;wdu;.

20 July 2005

Gypfspd; jiutopg; gazk;: Aj;jepWj;j fz;fhzpg;G FOtpd; %d;whtJ NahridAk; epuhfupg;G

,uhZt fl;Lg;ghl;Lg; gFjpapy; Gypfs; ,af;f cWg;gpdu;fs; jiu topahf gazk; nra;a Aj;j epWj;j fz;fhzpg;Gf;FO Kd;itj;j %d;whtJ NahridiaAk; ghJfhg;G mikr;R epuhfupj;Js;sjhf njupatUfpwJ. jw;nghOJ vOe;Js;s Gjpa neUf;fb epiy Fwpj;J Ngr;Relj;j fz;fhzpg;G FOj;jiytu; ehis Gjd;fpoik td;dp nry;fpwhu;.

,uhZt fl;Lg;ghl;L gFjpfspy; Gypfs; ,af;f cWg;gpdu;fs; ghJfhg;ghf gazk; nra;a Gypfspd; murpay;Jiwg; nghWg;ghsu; R.g. jkpo;r;nry;td; Kd;itj;j Nfhupf;iff;F murhq;fk; khw;W Nahridnahd;iw Kd; itj;jJ. Mdhy; murpd; khw;W Nahridia Gypfs; epuhfupj;J tpl;ldu;. mjd; gpd;du; Gypfs; ,af;fk; Kd; itj;j NahridiaAk; mjw;F murhq;fk; Kd; itj;j khw;W NahridiaAk; mbg;gilahf nfhz;L Aj;j epWj;jf; fz;fhzpg;G FO jdpahd %d;whtJ Nahridia jahupj;J murhq;fj;jpw;F toq;fpaJ. ,J njhlu;ghd Ngr;Rthu;j;ij ghJfhg;G mikr;rpy; eilngw;wJ. Ngr;Rthu;j;ijapd; gpd;du; %d;whtJ NahridAk; ghJfhg;G mikr;R epuhfupj;J tpl;ljhf njupatUfpwJ. ,jdhy; jiu top gazk; Fwpj;J murhq;fj;Jf;Fk; Gypfs; ,af;fj;Jf;Fk; ,ilapy; Gjpa ,Ogwpepiy Vw;gl;Ls;sjhf njupfpwJ.

,NjNtis murhq;fKk; Gypfs; ,af;fKk; 2002Mk; Mz;L ngg;utup khjk; 22Mk; jpfjp nra;J nfhz;l Gupe;Jzu;T cld;gbf;ifapd;gb murhq;fk; Gypfs; ,af;fj;jpd; jiu top gazj;Jf;F ghJfhg;G toq;f Ntz;ba mtrpakpy;iy vdTk; ek;gfj;jd;ikia fl;bnaOg;gNt ehk; ghJfhg;G topj; Jiz toq;f Kd; te;Njhk; vd;W ghJfhg;G mikr;R Nkw;gb epuhfupg;Gf;Ff;F fhuzk; fhl;bAs;sjhfTk; mwpag;gLfpwJ.

20 July 2005

nfhOk;gpy; elkhLk; Gypfspd; ifalf;f njhiyNgrp ,yf;fq;fis fz;lwpAk; Kaw;rpapy; nghyp]hu;

nfhOk;G efupy; elkhLk; tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; ifalf;f njhiyNgrp ,yf;fq;fis fz;L gpbf;Fk; Kaw;rpapy; Fw;wg; Gydha;T nghyp]hu; (rp.I.b.) jPtpukhf <Lgl;L tUtjhfj; njuptpf;fg;gLfpwJ. tlf;fpypUe;J nfhOk;Gf;F te;Js;s ngUksT Gypfs;> nfhOk;gpy; gy;NtW eltbf;iffspYk; <Lgl;Ls;sjhfTk; ,tu;fsJ eltbf;iffis fz;lwpAk; Kaw;rpapy; jhq;fs; <Lgl;Ls;sjhfTk; nghyp]hu; $Wfpd;wdu;.

Gypfs; gad;gLj;Jk; ngUk;ghyhd ifalf;fj; njhiyNgrpfs;> Kd;$l;bNa gzk; nrYj;jp ngwg;gLk; ml;ilfs; %yk; ,aq;Ftjhy; cupatu; gw;wpa gjpTfspy;iy vd;gjhy; ,tw;iw itj;jpUg;gtu;fis Njbg; gpbg;gjpy; ngUk; rpukq;fspUg;gjhfTk; ml;ilfs; toq;Fgtu;fshy; ciuahly;fs; xypg; gjpT nra;ag;gLtjpy;iy vd;gjhy; ,tu;fsJ ciuahly;fs; gw;wpa tpguq;fisAk; mwpa KbahjpUg;gjhfTk; njuptpf;fg;gLfpwJ. jw;NghJ nfhOk;gpy; ngUksT Gypfs; FOf;fshfr; nraw;gLfpd;wdu;. ,tu;fspy; xU FONt Nk[u; Kj;jypg;gpd; elkhl;lj;ijAk; fz;fhzpj;J te;Js;sik njupa tUtjhfTk; nghyp]hu; $Wfpd;wdu;.

,q;F te;Js;s Gypfspd; FOf;fnsy;yhk; xNu gzpfisr; nra;aNt te;Js;s NghjpYk; xt;nthU FO gw;wpAk; kw;iwa FOf;fSf;F vJTk; njupahJ. ,q;F te;Js;s FOf;fSf;fpilNa vJtpj njhlu;GkpUf;fhJ. xU FOitr; Nru;e;j vtuhtJ nghyp]huhy; ifJ nra;ag;gl;L tpl;lhy;> kw;iwa FOf;fisg; gw;wp tprhuizfspd; NghJ njuptpj;J tplf;$lhnjd;gjw;fhfNt ,e;j Vw;ghLfs;. vdpDk; ,e;jf; FOf;fisr; Nru;e;jtu;fs; fpspnehr;rpapypUf;Fk; nghWg;ghsu;fSld; njhlu;Gfisf; nfhz;bUg;gjhfTk; rp.I.b.apdu; $Wfpd;wdu;.

20 July 2005

kl;lf;fsg;G> mk;ghiw fl;Lg;ghlw;w gFjpf;F gw;wup> tau;> kpd;rhu cgfuzk; vLj;Jr; nry;yj; jil

kl;lf;fsg;G> mk;ghiw khtl;lq;fspy; tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; fl;Lg;ghl;Lg; gFjpf;F gw;wup> tau;fs; cl;gl kpd;rhu cgfuzq;fisf; nfhz;L nry;tjw;Fg; gilapdu; jil tpjpj;Js;sdu;.

,g;gFjpfSf;Fg; gazk; nra;Ak; nghJkf;fs; fLikahd tprhuizf;F cl;gLj;jg;gLtJld; ngz;fs; cl;gl midtUk; cly; Nrhjid nra;ag;gLfpd;wdu;. ,uhZtj;jpdUk; tpNrl mjpubg;gilapdUk; $l;lhf ,e;jr; Nrhjidfis Nkw;nfhs;fpd;wdu;.

,NjNtis> kl;lf;fsg;G- mk;ghiw khtl;lq;fspy; ghJfhg;Gg; gyg;gLj;jg;gl;bUg;gjhfTk; fl;Lg;ghl;Lg; gFjpf;Fs; nry;Yk; Eiothapy;fs; kpfTk; ,Wf;fkhf fz;fhzpf;fg;gLtjhfTk; njuptpf;fg;gLfpd;wJ.

khq;Nfzp> nrq;fyb> fWj;jg;ghyk;> kl;lf;fsg;G> kz;Kid> fSthQ;rpf;Fb ghyk; Nghd;w gFjpfs; Clhfr; nry;Nthu; fLikahd Nrhjidf;Fl;gLj;jg;gLtjhfTk; njuptpf;fg;gLfpwJ.

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20 July 2005

Afghan Zardad jailed for 20 years

Zardad was said to have kept a "human dog" to savage his victimsAn Afghan warlord found guilty of torture and hostage taking in his home country has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. Faryadi Zardad, 42, of Streatham, London, convicted in a landmark case at the Old Bailey on Monday, was given two 20-year terms to run concurrently. It was thought to be the first time torture offences committed in one country were prosecuted in another. The judge recommended Zardad be deported after serving his sentence. Victims traced

Mr Justice Treacy told the Afghan national, who controlled a series of military checkpoints between Kabul and Jalalabad, he was "in a position of real power." "You were personally involved in these acts of torture and hostage-taking as well as authorising your men." One of the key legal challenges of the case had been to show that although Zardad did not necessarily administer torture himself he was still responsible through the men he controlled at his checkpoints. The Old Bailey jury found Zardad guilty after hearing in a lengthy retrial of numerous incidents of hostage taking between 1992 and 1996. The jury in his first trial, last year, had been unable to agree.

The warlord, who came to Britain on a fake passport in 1998, was first tracked down at his south London home by John Simpson for BBC Newsnight. Police then mounted an investigation, which involved officers making several trips to Afghanistan under armed escort to track down the warlord's victims. The government's top law officer, Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, came to the court for the first time since his appointment to prosecute the first trial. He explained why Britain had decided to try the case, arguing that Zardad's crimes were so "merciless" and such "an affront to justice" that they could be tried in any country.

''Brutal regime' Sentencing, Mr Justice Treacy told Zardad that his crimes were so serious that they transcended national boundaries. "Their gravity is demonstrated by the fact that most unusually a person who has committed them in another country can be tried and punished for them by the courts of this country." He continued: "It is clear to me from the evidence that for a period of over three years you, as a powerful warlord, presided over a brutal regime of terror in areas under your control. "You represented the only real form of authority, law and government in the areas under your control and you grossly abused your power." In both trials, evidence from Afghan witnesses - many in fear of their lives - was beamed into the British court via a video link from the UK embassy in Kabul. One witness said he was held for four months and beaten so frequently that his family failed to recognise him.But Anthony Jennings QC, for the defence, had urged jurors to treat prosecution witnesses from Afghanistan with care and ask whether they had an axe to grind. Zardad himself told the court he had not tortured anyone but had given orders against torture.

20 July 2005

Police torture : 200 complaints (BBC)

Nearly 200 complaints on torture and killing in police custody within a yearSri Lanka’s police chief is not cooperating with the authorities to investigate complaints against police officers, the National Police commission (NPC) said. PC chairman Ranjith Abeysuriya, PC, said the commission does not have powers to investigate complaints against police officers.“We expect the police department to conduct internal inquiries on complaints. But unfortunately, we do not get sufficient support from the senior police officers.”

1327 complaints Addressing a press conference in Colombo after publishing the first ever annual report of the NPC, the chairman said the commission cannot visit police stations to conduct investigations like national Human Rights Commission (HRC).There has recently been a significant increase on complaints of killing and torture in police custody.

NPC says police chief is not cooperative on investigations According to the report, NPC has received 199 complaints on torture and killings in custody last year.There have been 1327 complaints against the police altogether, Abeysuriya said.The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) earlier demanded the police chief investigate the incompetence of police to find culprits of a massacre in which dozens of Tamil youths burnt to death by mobs in 2000.

Bindunuwewa AHRC Executive director Basil Fernando called for the resignation of Inspector General of Police (IGP) if he fails to open a new enquiry into the police conduct on Bindunuwewa massacre.Ranjith Abeysuriya said the country’s democracy is in a crisis due to inaction by the authorities to implement the 17 amendment to the constitution.“There is no functional Constitutional Council (CC) at the moment.”

The NPC chairman was of the view that the judicial affairs are effectively disturbed and crime rate is rapidly increasing as a result.

20 July 2005

Stop killings immediately, Co-chairs tell govt. and LTTE

The Co-chairs of the Sri Lanka peace process — the European Union, the United States, Japan and Norway — said yesterday they were alarmed by the deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka.

In a statement the Co-chairs said that since February this year there had been an escalation of violence resulting in the killing and injuring of persons associated with the government of Sri Lanka, the LTTE and other political groups. “Unless security is guaranteed, a central pillar of the Ceasefire Agreement will be undermined. If the Ceasefire Agreement ceases to function, the wider peace process would be gravely jeopardized and international support for that process would be deeply eroded,” they warned.The Co-chairs call on the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to take immediate action to prevent killings.

“The LTTE must stop all killings by its forces. The Sri Lankan government, in accordance with the Ceasefire Agreement, must ensure that all paramilitary groups are disarmed and prevented from any activity that might lead to acts of violence. “The government must also guarantee the security of unarmed LTTE cadres in government-controlled areas. “Maintenance of the Ceasefire Agreement is the responsibility of the two parties alone. In this effort, they have had the excellent assistance of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and the full support of the international community,” they said.

The Co-chairs said they believed it was time the parties demonstrated the seriousness of their commitment to the Ceasefire Agreement by coming together to resolve outstanding issues and renew their cooperation. They said the SLMM could only fulfill its functions under the Ceasefire Agreement if the parties actively demonstrated the will to uphold the agreement.

20 July 2005

Fresh Norwegian attempt to break peace deadlock

Norwegian Embassy Charge de Affaires Laegreid Oddavar and Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Chief Hagrup Haukland will embark on a fresh attempt today in Kilinochchi for facilitating a direct dialogue between the Government and the LTTE over issues affecting both sides in recent days.

Issues such as stabilising the ceasefire and the transportation of LTTE cadres between the North and East will be taken up at today's meeting in Kilinochchi while exploring ways and means of making the Government and the LTTE meet face to face to thrash out whatever the differences between the parties in recent days, sources said. Oddvar, who is acting for Ambassador Hans Brattskar along with Haukland will meet the LTTE's political wing chief S.P. Thamilselvan at the LTTE's Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi today, sources said.

During the discussions, the Norwegian Charge de Affaires and the SLMM Chief will discuss in detail means of strengthening the ceasefire and of making fresh attempts for resuming the peace process which came to a standstill in 2003. Thamilselvan will be accompanied by head of the LTTE's Peace Secretariat S.Pulithevan and another senior member of the organisation P.Nadesan. Today's meeting is crucial and several contentious issues between the LTTE and the Government are to be discussed to neutralise the situation in the North and East, sources said.

The outcome of today's meeting will be conveyed to the Government and measures expedited to build up a constructive backdrop to resume the peace talks. Earlier on Sunday, Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarians met Thamilselvan and discussed the current political trend with regard to the North and East and the country at large, sources said.

20 July 2005

Colombo's political drama shatters hopes for peace- LTTE
"As Tamil people have repeatedly witnessed in their tortuous history of the past several decades, Colombo has shown its reluctance to provide remedies to Tamil people even after humanitarian disasters of colossal proportions. Sinhala leaders under severe international pressure, signed the deal after dragging for six long months, the Sinhala chauvinists then staged protests to derail the deal, and when all techniques were exhausted Sinhala nationalists engaged the willing apex court to use constitutional reasoning to scuttle the deal," said S P Thamilchelvan after a 4-hour long meeting with the TNA leaders in Kilinochchi Sunday.
Mr. Thamilchelvan pointed out that the escalating shadow war in the east, Sri Lanka Government's reluctance to provide security to cadres forcing the LTTE to take counter measures, and scuttling of agreements that benefits Tamils are some of the ground conditions that have poisioned the tenuous peace.

"This doesn't come as a suprise for the Tamil people. During the more than three and half years of cessation of hostilities little has been achieved in terms of implementation of any remedial measure to alleviate the suffering of NorthEast Tamils. The Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians and the Liberation Tigers have agreed to unitedly work to highlight this sad state of affairs to the International community," said Thamilchelvan. The pattern of behaviour of justice in the Sri Lankan state and the Supreme Court is well recorded. Everyone knows very well how the verdict of the Supreme Court when the culprits of a [Bindunuwewa] mass murder were brought to justice. They were simply set free by the Supreme Court, he said With the recent stay order, the hopes of achieving a solution through negotiations have been shattered, Mr. Thamilchelvan told the press.

Sri Lankan Forces and the Sinhala leadership alone have to decide how they are going to resolve the Tamil national question. We have repeatedly informed them that time was running out. Leader Pirapaharan has clearly spelt out to the Scandinavian monitors that Tamil people cannot wait indefinitely, Mr Thamilchelvan said. Parliamentarians of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the meeting with the Liberation Tigers Political Head resolved to jointly explain to the International community the realities on the ground with regards to the current stalemate and controversy created by the Supreme Court's stay order and the Tamil stand with regards to the nature of the Sri Lankan Constitution, TNA officials said.

Translation of excerpts from the press briefing conducted in Tamil follows:

Question: Can you tell us the issues discussed in the meeting today with TNA parliamentarians?
Thamilchelvan: Although we have been meeting the TNA parliamentarians regularly today's meeting has special significance. Situation on the ground has deterioted to dangerous levels and there are no signs that our people will get help to rebuild their lives after tsunami. TNA parliamentarians told us that they will work diligently to inform the international community of the predicament of our people. Liberation Tigers will closely collaborate with TNA in this effort.

Question: Can you comment on the court decision on the Joint Mechanism?
Thamilchelvan: This is an unfortunate turn of events. Sinhala leaders have been using one strategy or another to scuttle any deal that provides some benefit to Tamils. Sinhala leaders often resorted to using Sinhala Buddhist chauvinists, extreme Sinhala nationlist parties, or Buddhist clergy and if all fails, using the judicial system to defend the injustices and institutionalized discrimination of Tamils. Joint Mechanism was drafted to provide swift redress to a people who have undergone untold hardships. The reaction of the Sinhala polity to this humanitarian deal can be explained in the above historical context. Sri Lanka's judicial system has always sided with the majority. Recent ruling on a mass murder [Bindunuwewa] trial where the supreme court acquitted all accused is a clear example of what Tamil people can expect from Sinhala justice system. Sri Lanka's parliamentary legislative history too contains several instances of enacting laws intended to suppress Tamil rights.

Question: What have you planned to do with the Joint Mechanism deal?
Thamilchelvan: Sri Lanka's President, under severe international pressure, signed the Joint Mechanism after delaying more than six months. Fully cognizant that similar delaying tactics will be employed during implementation, we warned the Norwegian facilitators on the day the agreement was signed that they should take steps to implement the JM without delay. The Government of Sri Lanka, after waiting nearly a month, announces its representative to the P-TOMS committee one day before the Court's ruling. This is part of their political theatrics. In this situation we no longer desire to babble further on the JM. Looking at the last three and a half years, we have no confidence that Sinhala leaders are capable of implementing anything they have agreed to.

Question: Can you comment on the state of CeaseFire agreement in the East?
Thamilchelvan: Several of our cadres and Tamils have been killed recently in the east. These incidents happened in areas completely controlled by the Sri Lanka security forces. Sinhala military is on a relentless campaign to provoke us into war. Harassment and threat to our cadres by the security forces have escalated. We are constrained by the Memorandum of Understanding in our ability to carry arms or to defend ourselves. We were forced to advise our political cadres in the east to move to safer areas within our control. We have observed a marked increase in the intensity of shadow war against us in the east.

Question: The ultimatum you gave the Government to provide transport security has expired. Where do you stand on this?
Thamilchelvan: We have explained the situation clearly to the facilitators. If GoSL is unable to provide the required security to our cadres we will have to resort to our own arrangements to provide security. If the Sri Lanka security forces then attempt to interfere, CeaseFire Agreement will face difficulties.

Question: When will you start providing your own arrangements? Two weeks have already elapsed?
Thamilchelvan: We will use our transport as and when it is necessary. These arrangements will occur as usual and we are not going to publicize these events. You will likely hear of consequences if and when Sri Lanka armed forces attempt to resrict our movements.

Question: On CFA and MoU in other areas?
Thamilchelvan: Liberation Tigers and its leadership do not like to break the CFA or create difficulties in the peace efforts. For the past three years we have been working genuinely through peaceful means to realize the aspirations of the Tamil people. Our patience has been tested several times when our senior leaders and cadres were killed during this period. Now the situation is extremely dangerous. The future course of events is entirely in the hands of the GoSL and the security forces. Although we detest war if the security forces thrust the war on us, we will be prepared to defend ourselves.

Question: Can we assume that peace efforts have reached an end?
Thamilchelvan: We are rapidly moving to such an eventuality.

Question: You have said that you are exercizing patience. How long will your patience last?
Thamilchelvan: When Sinhala forces create conditions that require our response we will react.

Question: In Vavuniya district the SLMM is arranging a meeting between the LTTE and the security forces. Is there a benefit in having such meetings in the current situation?
Thamilchelvan: In some districts where there is imminent danger to our unarmed political cadres we have asked them to move to safer areas. In other districts our political groups are continuing to function. If security climate in these dstrict deteriorate then we will then make a decision to suspend political activities.

Question: Is Norway making any efforts to improve the deteriorating situation?
Thamilchelvan: Norway is trying. But whether Norway's efforts will be successful remains a question mark.

Question: Tamil people appear to sense that war is imminent. Your thoughts?
Thamilchelvan: Their fear is not misplaced. I believe that Tamil people have a correct view of the current situation.

19 July 2005

Govt. vows to implement P-TOMS

Presidential Spokesman Harim Peiris yesterday vowed that the government would implement the P-TOMS since bulk of the agreement remained intact despite Friday court ruling to stay certain clauses. He even expressed confidence that the LTTE too would agree on the matter. Mr. Peiris told the Daily Mirror yesterday that the court decision would not by any means hinder the implementation of the P-TOMS.

“We are extremely pleased with the court order. It was a clear indication that even the Supreme Court had agreed on the need to have a mechanism to deliver tsunmai aid, though certain clauses were questioned. But ninety percent of
the agreement is intact and we are ready to go ahead with it,he said.

When asked whether the ten percent that was ruled out by the Supreme Court especially where the funding is concerned was not the crux of the agreement, Mr. Peiris dismissed the matter saying the court ruling did not
prevent implementing the P-TOMS in toto. “That is not true. The court by no means ruled out the implementation of the entire agreement. It was only certain clauses that were considered unacceptable. But that is not the end of it,

Mr. Peiris said. He pointed out that certain elements were trying to misinterpret it by saying that it was the be all and the end all of the agreement, but it was not so. Queried if the government discussed the matter with the LTTE following
the court order, he said that the government was in constant contact with the LTTE and that both parties had
obviously accepted the need to a have a mechanism to deliver tsunami aid.

19 July 2005

P-TOMS incapable of coherent implementation: GL UNP spokesman G. L. Peiris said yesterday that the provisions which have been declared by the Supreme Court for the time being to be legally ineffective were of such a nature that once expunged, the agreement was incapable of coherent implementation.

The court order on the P-TOMS had created a new situation which was entirely different from that envisaged at the
time parties worked towards the formulation and the implementation of the agreement, he said. Professor Peiriss in a statement said that the court had stayed the operation of regional fund and the functions of the regional committee and the creation of the project management unit. It had also stayed the location of the regional committee which was Killinochchi according to the agreement. The situation now arisen is one pervaded by total confusion,” it said. It also transforms the character and implementation of the agreement as a whole.

The statement further said that the courts decision to uphold the P-TOMS agreement with the exception of the
provisions specially identified as warranting stay of implementation, meant that the ceasefire agreement was
endorsed in its entirety and its legality and applicability affirmed.

The circumstances to which this development had given rise were seriously aggravated by the escalating tension with
regard to the movement of troops in the Eastern province, specially in the Trincomalee District. It has to be pointed out that a variety of challenges, no less daunting in their nature and magnitude, had to be faced during the previous UNF administration between February 2002 and April 2004. The UNF government was able to deal with evolving situations in such a manner as to contain and indeed reduce tensions.

Without a shadow of doubt the need of the hour is to protect and sustain the ceasefire. In the midst of all the
contradictions much in evidence around us, the UNP will do every thing in its power to contribute towards the
attainment of this objective in the national interest,the statement said.

19 July 2005
Australian support for refugees in Mannar
Australian High Commissioner Dr Greg French, visited Mannar recently to see the Australian-funded activities of internally displaced people and refugees.

Australia is supporting resettlement through a range of integrated approaches, from removing landmines to building houses and providing livelihoods. Dr French watched de-mining operations being undertaken by the Swiss
Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) in Silvatturai, south of Mannar town, which is a priority area in which displaced Muslims families will be resettled. Australia has provided A$l million to FSD to clear landmines in Mannar and Vavuniya in 2005, with further support from the Governments of Switzerland and Japan.

Australia is also supporting the resettlement of over 2,600 displaced Tamil and Muslim families in Mannar and Vavuniya through a contribution of A$5 million to the UNDP Community Reconstruction Programme for 2005-06, in
close coordination with the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation.

The programme will assist communities to return to their villages, build permanent housing and improve their agricultural production, as well as access income by rehabilitating community assets destroyed during the conflict, including roads, schools and irrigation channels. Dr French met with members of a community to be resettled under the program at
Malluvarayarkaddoyadampan.

Assistance in Mannar also targets refugee communities returning to Sri Lanka after many years in India. It has provided A$3 million to the International Organisation for Migration (I0M) for 2005 to provide accommodation, settling-in kits, information on government services, basic health services and livelihood assistance to returned refugees.

'The High Commissioner visited a number of IOM -supported income generation projects in Mannar, including a store which had been improvised from a temporary housing structure, as well as candle-making and poultry-rearing projects.

"We remain committed to the peace process, and a key part of our support to the Government is assisting displaced people and refugees to return to their homes and make a new start" said the High Commissioner.

Development assistance to Sri Lanka in 2004-05 was valued at A$39.8 million, including A$10 million for emergency flows following the tsunami. Australia's aid programme is focused on alleviating poverty and supporting a long-term, sustainable peace in Sri Lanka, he said.

19July2005
LTTE is our people, not invaders - DEW

Minister of Constitutional Affairs and Government Representative on the P-TOMS Apex body, DEW Gunasekara says bringing the LTTE to the negotiating table is Sri Lanka’s problem and not that of the British or the Americans.

He also said the concerns expressed by the Americans that P-TOMS was dominated by the LTTE were of not much concern to the government, though it was an internal policy of the United States. However, he said the US was supportive of the peace process.

In an interview on YATV/TNL HARDLINE programme last night, Gunasekara said "It doesn’t matter what position they take. The LTTE is our own people. They are not invaders or foreigners. So leave aside the Americans and the British. We must take every possible step to bring them closer, that is our job not that of the Americans or British." Defending the Norwegian facilitators from criticism leveled against them, including by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Gunasekara said "The Norwegians were selected by the Government. Proposals came
from India, Britain and Norway.

The LTTE objected to India, the Government objected to Britain and they had to choose a smaller country like Norway. You cannot get 100 % unanimity in this issue. It is impossible." However, Gunasekara pointed out that the main role of the international community was to bring pressure on the LTTE to come to the negotiating table for talks.

18 July 2005
Jayadevan meets Norwegian (From:www.thenee.com)

Rajasingham Jayadevan who is the Chairman of Confederation of Tamil Associations-UK has met the Norwegian peace envoy Eric Solheim in Olso on the 12 July. Jayadevan who is also the Chairman of a Hindu Temple based in Wembley, Middlesex was on the news over the takeover of his temple by the LTTE by forceful means and its subsequent return to him following a High Court battle in the UK. An ardent supporter of the LTTE until recently, he carried out extensive political campaign work for them. He was taken captive against his will when he and his colleague trustee of the temple A K Vivekananthan were put incommunicado detention and underwent innumerable difficulties in captivity.

Sources close to Jayadevan confirmed that he had discussed wide ranging issues including his incommunicado detention by the LTTE. Jayadevan has played a major role in seeking the help from the British government to send the LTTE spokesperson Anon Balasingam to the UK to undergo medical treatment. The relationship between Anton Balasingam and Jayadevan has broken down following Balasingam slamming Jayadevan with abusive and vulgar language to restrain him from working independently.

It is expected that Jayadevan will play a role in the conflict resolution matters in the future and his visit Oslo is aimed to firmly register his future efforts in this area of work. It is widely believed that LTTE hierarchy will view Jayadevan’s meeting with Solheim with extreme concern as so far no one dared to test surpass LTTE’s authority in this manner. The LTTE calls themselves as the sole representative of the Tamil people and this new move of Jayadevan is expected to antagonise the LTTE.

In a major drive to marginalise Jayadevan the LTTE’s front Charitable organisation Sivayogam which was embroiled in the legal dispute with Jayadevan and the other trustees in the Eelapatheeswarar Aalayam dispute has acquired a freehold land for a staggering 900,000 sterling pounds (Rs 166,500,000) in Wembley to build another Eelam Shiva temple to the close proximity to Jayadevans temple. Nagenthiram Seevaratnam who is the right hand man and the prospective father in law of LTTE’s international head on fund raising Manivanan alias Castro and was once the financial controller of the LTTE’s international financial operations in the late 1980’s is in a full swing to build a massive money spinning temple in Wembley. Leaflets and letters appealing for funds for construction work of the temple is carried out in a big way. There are serious questions being asked how this £900,000 was derived by Seevaratnam to acquire this property.

The anti-LTTE Tamil Broadcasting Corporation is carrying out a full inquiry into the activities of the Sivayogam Trust and had confirmed Sunday Island that it is planning to broadcast a discussion programme towards the end of July about the activities of the said Trust. The Co-ordinator of the radio V Ramraj said that information gathered so far about the Charity and its Chairman Seevaratnam is very alarming and must concern the community as a whole and expects the matter may lead to a full scale investigations the by British fraud investigation authorities.

18 July 2005

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18 July 2005

16% of tsunami affected children malnourished Seven-year-old Kumara celebrated his birthday on July 8.

While it was an event much looked forward to for this innocent child as his father had promised him a bicycle last year, Kumara was however not awake to celebrate his birthday this year. Instead of being clad in his favourite pair of shorts and t-shirt awaiting his gift, Kumara spent the day sleeping on a dirty mat in a tent as he was suffering from high fever.

Kumara looked pale even while he lay asleep. His mother tells us he has not had a decent meal in months and was now suffering from malnutrition just like several other tsunami affected children in the south. "We have no income as I lost my husband to the devastating waves. The government gave us a Rs. 375 ration card in the first few weeks after the tsunami and later Rs. 5,000 which continued only for two months.

"However, we have not received a cent after that and now live each day in starvation as we have no money," cries Kumara's mother, P. Lilian . With tears pouring down her eyes in fear of losing her only child, Lilian looks at us silently - in the hope that someday her son would lead a normal and healthy life once again. "If I don't feed my child soon, he is going to die," she wails adding that she would continue to fight till they receive what they deserve.

Like Lilian and her son, the battle for survival and justice continues amongst thousands of tsunami victims - a generation who faced the worst natural tragedy in Sri Lankan history. While thousands continue to live in tents and temporary wooden houses in all parts of the island, the government's lethargy in providing aid has destroyed hope for many and has now led to starvation and malnutrition amongst the tsunami children.

Neglected by the authorities concerned, an alarming 16% of tsunami children have now been identified as suffering from high levels of malnutrition by UN agencies. "A lot of victims have no income and therefore are restricted to having only one meal per day. Therefore the threat of malnutrition is rising," an official from the World Food Programme told The Sunday Leader.

As these victims now live each day in fear of losing their children due to starvation, they claim the government should act fast before it is too late. "If we lose our children, the government will be responsible for it. They will have to pay heavily then," Lilian adds.

18 July 2005

Trinco religious leaders tell service chiefs Negotiate with the LTTE

Chief of Defence Staff and Navy Commander Daya Sandagiri and Army Commander Lt. General Shantha Kottegoda were told by religious leaders in Trincomalee to negotiate with the LTTE to bring the situation in the area under control.

The two service chiefs were told to negotiate with the LTTE at the meeting they convened with the religious leaders in the Trincomalee District at the naval dockyard on Friday. Speaking to the religious leaders of all denominations, the service chiefs solicited their advice on hoaw to bring the situation in Trincomalee under control. It is following this request the religious leaders in unison told the service chiefs the only way to resolve the issue, was by negotiating with the LTTE.

18 July 2005

Sethu Project will block Sea Tigers' activities: Indian expert

The Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) will prevent the LTTE's Sea Tigers from indulging in maritime terrorism, an Indian expert has said. Speaking at a national seminar in Kozhikode (Kerala) on the $560-million SSCP on Tuesday, V. Suryanarayan, Professor for Maritime Studies and Research at Calicut University, said the channel will enhance India's defence capabilities.

He said the LTTE's military preparations need to be looked into. The emergence of Sea Tigers as a credible fighting force in India's maritime neighbourhood has to be analysed in the context of changing strategic environment, especially in the Palk Bay, the objectives of the Sea Tigers, and the likely dangers posed by maritime terrorism.

The channel will enhance and facilitate the presence and movement of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, and put an effective check on the activities of the Sea Tigers in the region, Prof. Suryanarayan explained. Participating in the seminar, Indian Coast Guard's Deputy Director General Prabhakaran Paleri said, a direct benefit from the channel will be the ability of Naval and Coast Guard vessels to cross over from India's east coast to the west coast and vice versa in a shorter period of time because they do not need to go round Sri Lanka. In times of emergency, the Navy and the Coast Guard can mobilize more vessels and men in a shorter span of time, other speakers said.

Participants pointed out that the channel will provide a major boost to coastal shipping and promote the emergence of Tuticorin harbour as a hub on the Indian east coast. Besides, it offers a direct link between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea through the Palk Bay — entirely in Indian territorial waters.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had laid the channel's foundation stone on July 2. The Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) began dredging work on the same day on a 13.57km stretch of seabed at Point Calimere coast off Nagapattinam in Palk Strait. So far, it has dredged 200,000 cubic metres. Union Shipping Minister TR Baalu says that, at this rate, the DCI may complete the work of dredging 13.5 million cubic metres in 20 months, instead of the allotted 24 months. Dredging the remaining 69mcm at Adam's Bridge and Palk Strait will require greater expertise.

Global bids have since been floated for dredging at three sites. Tender documents will have to be submitted by end-August. Bids have been invited by dividing the work into four legs: two at Adam's Bridge (across 11km and 24.05km), and two at Palk Strait (across 40.86km and 13.57km). Successful bidders will start dredging work by November.

Vavuniya not safe for doing political work, says LTTE
Vavuniya district Head of LTTE Political Wing, Mr Gnanam, in a meeting held at the District Secretariat Friday 3 p.m., protested to the members of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that harrassment by the Sri Lanka Security forces on LTTE cadres engaged in political work has increased and requested the SLMM to take steps to ensure LTTE cadres' safety, sources said.

"Recent grenade attack at the Vavuniya LTTE offices, increasing incidents of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) threatening behavior towards LTTE cadres including a shooting incidents and the escalating violence in the Trincomalee district are forcing us to take precautionary measures. The situation is rapidly deteriorating and if this continues we will soon not be able do any political work," Gnanam told the SLMM, sources said.

Further, increase in incidents of random searches of the public by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the additional deployment of SLA soldiers in the town and surrounding areas have increased tension in the district, Mr Gnanam told the members of the SLMM.

17 July 2005

Promoting investment in NE

The Government is negotiating an insurance facility against political risk in a bid to promote investment in the North-East. Peace Secretariat Chief Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala said this week that the Government was negotiating a Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) facility to promote investment in the North-East. MIGA is the political risk insurance arm of the World Bank, which promotes foreign direct investment in developing countries by insuring against political risk.

"...Countries like Sri Lanka, which have been affected by conflict, have to think about how to improve the investment climate in general, and also come up with investment promotion strategies specific to the conflict area," Dr. Dhanapala said delivering the Sujatha Jayawardene memorial oration at the Colombo University Alumni Association.

He said the ceasefire had triggered an economic growth in the North-East and the North-Central provinces, referring to findings of a research survey conducted by the Economic Division of the Peace Secretariat. According to the research conducted by Senaka Abeyratne and Rajith Lakshman, the GDP of the Northern province has grown by an average of 12.6 during the ceasefire compared to 3.4% during the period prior to the CFA.

The GDP of the Eastern Province has increased by 10.1% per annum during the ceasefire, compared to 4.6% during the period prior to the CFA. And the GDP of the North-Central Province has increased by 8.2% per annum during the ceasefire compared to -0.2% during the period prior to the CFA. The research findings also reveal that the Northern Province grew twice as fast as the Western Province in respect of annual post-CFA GDP growth (12.6% versus 6.2%)

"It is therefore plausible to argue that the increase in the average GDP growth rate of Sri Lanka as a whole from 3.9% per annum in the pre-CFA period to 5.0% per annum in the post-CFA period was due largely to the exceptionally high growth rates realized collectively by these three provinces", Dr. Dhanapala said quoting from the research findings.

17 July 2005
Forget differences to help tsunami victims - EC Vice President

'A bipartisan approach by all parties is the best solution to assist the tsunami-affected people ensuring the Ceasefire Agreement and working towards peace,' European Commission (EC) Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy Vice President Margot Wallstorm told the media after a three-day visit in Sri Lanka.

The EC Vice President reiterated the EU's commitment to Sri Lanka and its continued support to the country's rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. She urged all parties to join to rebuild the damages brought by the tsunami, implying that it would pave the way for positive signs among international community who look at Sri Lanka.

The Vice President also reiterated the importance of a structure like P-TOMS. She further urged all the concerned parties to respect the Ceasefire Agreement as well as the P-TOMS at this crucial time. In her visit, she met President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Foreign Affairs Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Finance and Planning Minister Sarath Amunugama, several other party leaders, NGO and civil society representatives.

At the meeting she had with the Foreign Affairs Minister she was impressed by the efficient provisions of immediate relief. The Minister had elaborated to the Vice President the measures being taken to identify and allocate lands for those who had lost their dwellings due to the tsunami. Flexible buffer zone regulations, Judicial process on the P-TOMS and several other related topics had been discussed there.

She had assured that EU would certainly work constructively with tsunami relief arrangements. According to her, the EC hopes that the tsunami relief and rehabilitation operations will promote peace while strengthening the observance of human rights and fundamental freedom.

17 July 2005

Court ruling adds fuel to Sri Lanka chauvinism- Sampanthan
"Sri Lanka's Supreme Court's ruling on the P-TOMS is not a challenge to Tamil people but to the two main political parties, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National Party (UNP). The ruling ia a boost to the chauvinist forces that insist on the continuation of the unitary constitution and would like to see the P-TOMS abrogated," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group leader addressing members of the Trincomalee branch of Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Saturday morning in his residence, sources said.

Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian presided. The Supreme Court judgement has effectively blocked the implementation of the P-TOMS. Tamil people face continued darkness and realize that international assistance to recover from tsunami is not likely to reach them, Mr.Sampanthan said. There was some optimism as Tamil people looked forward to P-TOMS as a structure to rehabilitate and reconstruct the tsunami destroyed coastal villages in the northeast province. It has again been proved beyond doubt that Sri Lanka's unitary constitution will always be used by the chauvinists to derail any just settlement to the Tamil national question, said Mr.Sampanthan.

Despite Chief Justice's pronouncement earlier that the Court will not "unnecessarily intervene in national matters," Friday's ruling exposed the limitations of Sri Lanka's Supreme Court in handling issues of National importance. Unless Sinhala leaders seek extra-constitutional means to resolve Tamil National question, or indeed any issue that deals with fair and equitable sharing of Sri Lanka's resources with Tamil people, these attempts will end in failure, said Sampanthan. DeleteReplyForwardSpamMove...

17 July 2005

Jaffna Cancer unit to reopen after 15 years

The renovated Tellipalai District Hospital at a cost of about 90 million rupees and the Cancer Treatment Unit at a cost of 55 million rupees are to be commissioned by the North East Provincial Governor Mr.Tyronne Fernando on Saturday morning after a lapse of fifteen years. North East Provincial Ministry of Health has organized the opening event, sources said. Mr.W.Siriwardene, Provincial Health Ministry Secretary, Mr.S.Rangarajah, Chief Secretary of the North East Provincial Council (NEPC), Mr.K.Ganesh, Jaffna District Government Agent and several health ministry officials are to attend the opening event, sources said.

The World Bank funded North East Emergency Rehabilitation Project (NEERP), Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded NECORD, USAID, SIRUP, Government of Japan and CAARP have provided funds for the renovation of the Tellipalai DH and the establishment of the Cancer Treatment Unit with new Cobalt Plant, health ministry sources said.

The Tellipalai DH is situated in the high security zone area and the hospital buildings were destroyed in the war. Before the displacement in 1990 the hospital had been functioning with several facilities including laboratory, X-ray unit, specialised psychiatric and gynaecology units and also it served as a referral hospital to Central Dispensaries of Kankesanthurai, Pallai, Alaveddy, Chunnakam, Punnailaikadduwan and Ilavalai.

The nearest hospital with all facilities is the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, which is about 15 km away from Tellipalai, health ministry sources said.

17 July 2005
India to rebuild tsunami-hit Colombo-Matara rail line PK Balachandran

India is actively considering a Sri Lankan government request for help to rebuild and modernize the tsunami-hit Colombo-Galle-Matara railway line running along the island's western coast, according to diplomatic sources.The rail line had hit the headlines all over the world on December 26, 2004, when the vicious waves of the tsunami hit a packed passenger train at Peraliya, killing 1,500 men, women and children.

The money for upgrading the line will be taken from the $100 million credit line extended by India to Sri Lanka. The matter is being discussed at the inter-ministerial level in New Delhi and officials from the Indian Railways' consultancy organization RITES are expected to visit Sri Lanka in this connection shortly. An official had already had a look at the line soon after the tsunami.

Sri Lanka's railways have not been upgraded and expanded in any significant way since independence in 1948, but the country's transport requirements have burgeoned in the last 50 years. As part of its $23 million post-tsunami assistance to Sri Lanka, India will also be building base hospitals in Point Pedro in the northern Jaffna peninsula, Trincomalee in the East and Humbantota in the South.

India's development assistance is now getting oriented towards small scale; grass roots level projects with short gestation periods, so that the common man derives benefits quickly. Burgeoning private investment Private Indian investment in Sri Lanka is growing by leaps and bounds, with the total figure now touching $400 million. The annual India-Sri Lanka bilateral trade now totals $ 1.8 billion, with the Sri Lankan component standing at $381 million, and growing faster than the Indian component.

The trade balance has come down from 15:1 to 3.5:1. India imports from Sri Lanka copper, copper wire, computer software, furniture and pepper. India sells chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and vehicles both light and heavy. India has 50 per cent of the island's pharmaceutical market, 80 per cent of the heavy vehicle and three-wheeler market and 40 per cent of the new small passenger car market (Maruti Udyog).

Sri Lankan firms are now investing in India. With Ceylon Biscuits buying off Bakeman's in Punjab, it has become the third largest biscuit maker in India. Ceylinco Consolidated has entered the real estate market. Damro is making a name for itself in the wooden furniture market. Brandix, a major name in garments in Sri Lanka, has set up a manufacturing unit for export in Vishakapatnam. Sri Lanka's Board of Investment has opened an office in Bangalore to attract Indian investors.

India is entering the higher education field in Sri Lanka. The Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow is setting up a top-grade management school at Kelaniya University near Colombo. The air traffic between India and Sri Lanka is growing fast. Sri Lankan Airlines runs now has a weekly frequency of 109 in the Indian sector. Last year 105,000 Indian visited Sri Lanka.

Visas on arrival in India are not on the cards, even though Indians get visas on arrival in Sri Lanka. However, there is no difficulty in getting visas for India now, as the High Commission in Colombo has streamlined the procedure to give visas on the same day in 99.5 per cent of the cases.The Colombo-Kochi ferry service, which was mooted some time ago, is not being considered now because it is not economically viable. With so many flights to various Indian destinations from Colombo, it will not be worthwhile using the ferry, which will take 22 hours to do the Colombo-Kochi run.

India's attitude to peace process

India is absolutely firm about its commitment to the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. It stands for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the conflict, a settlement that will meet the aspirations of all the communities of Sri Lanka's pluralistic society. India is not for a return to violence and conflict.

Brokering peace is not easy

There is no possibility of India replacing Norway as the facilitator in the peace process, though Norwegian facilitation is highly criticized in Sri Lanka. India's stand is that facilitation by the Norwegians is on, and it has attained a certain momentum. However, India is carefully monitoring the Norwegian facilitation. India is kept in the picture and it dialogues with the Norwegians. India is not in renunciation. It has a certain presence in Sri Lanka by virtue of the fact that it is, in a sense, Sri Lanka's only neighbour, and there are close historical, cultural, religious and linguistic ties between the two countries.

India is aware that brokering peace is not easy. It feels that in the blame game that is now going on, the peace process should not be lost sight of. The fog of criticism should not blind one to the need for the peace process. Visits to the war-affected areas of the Sri Lanka in the North and East, will show that there is a "crying need" for peace and development.

On the controversial Joint Mechanism between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, certain provisions of which had been stayed by the island's Supreme Court, it is noted that the ruling has not questioned the government's right to enter into such a deal. India supported the Sri Lankan President's efforts to set up such a mechanism. All it wanted was that the mechanism should recognize the pluralistic nature of Sri Lankan society and see that the humanitarian issues were not lost sight of. On the question whether the establishment of the Joint Mechanism was a condition for giving foreign aid for North East rehabilitation, India's view is that a careful reading of the Kandy Declaration by the international donors will show that it was not a condition.

India's assistance will, as always, be routed through the government of Sri Lanka.

India will not undertake reconstruction work in the LTTE controlled areas because the LTTE is a banned organization in India. But it will be working in other areas of the North East, which are quite large. The LTTE controls only two districts, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi.

17 July 2005
Pro-JVP newspaper claims "secret deal" between Ranil and Chandrika to defeat Prime Minister in next presidential race "If this is succeeds, absolute winner would be Ranil Wickremesinghe. A pro-JVP weekend paper has alleged that President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe have agreed to sideline Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa from the next presidential race.

The Lanka weekend paper claimed the two leaders made a secret deal earlier this month and said the two would jointly campaign to defeat popular Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. “These two leaders [did] the same thing in 1994 to defeat then UNP leader late Gamini Dissanayake,” the news report claimed. It said Ranil Wickremesinghe and Chandrika Kumaratunga secretly implemented a political strategy to transfer the power of state. “History is repeating itself here in 2005,” the report said.

The pro-JVP Lanka newspaper said that misleading information about the Prime Minister regarding the Hambantota Tsunami Relief Fund was leaked to the pro-UNP Sunday Leader by the President’s Media Unit. It is reported that one ex-employee of the President’s Media Unit is involved in this misinformation racket.

The Lanka newspaper requested all Sri Lankans to be vigilant over the “Chandrika-Ranil” secret deal. “If this is succeeds, absolute winner would be Ranil Wickremesinghe. That’s why all pro-UNP media organizations are trying to tarnish the PM’s image,” the report claimed.

17 July 2005

Sri Lanka President is determined to resolve the national issue

The President said she was sad to note that among those who oppose resolution of the ethnic issue are some in robes.
July 16, Colombo: President Chandrika Kumaratunga says she is not ready to take back the step she took to resolve the national ethnic problem in the face of opposition from some "disgruntled chauvinist and extremist groups".

“Present is the best opportunity we have got to resolve 56-year-old ethnic issue. My father, late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, wanted to resolve the issue at a time when there was no war. But he was gunned down. But I am not ready to give up and I am fully committed to resolving this problem once and for all. It is the SLFP always did something to save the nation,” she said. Addressing the gathering at the Edward Silva Sports Ground in Matale yesterday after launching the Gam Pubuduwa program organized by the Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Ministry, the President said she was sad to note that among those who oppose resolution of the ethnic issue are some in robes.

“From time to time, both the SLFP and UNP kick on the issue and never resolved it. But I am proud that I held the view that Tamils of this country have been wronged and there is injustice. I want to treat all alike and although a group from the Freedom Alliance government has walked out opposing the move I have taken, I am not prepared to bow to these pressures. It is now or never.” She also said that as long as the people have confidence in her government, she would not fear to take the correct decision.

The Gam Pubuduwa program was launched to provide basic infrastructure facilities to over 14,000 villages in the country with the goal of improving rural life.

17 July 2005

Court ruling adds fuel to Sri Lanka chauvinism- Sampanthan
"Sri Lanka's Supreme Court's ruling on the P-TOMS is not a challenge to Tamil people but to the two main political parties, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National Party (UNP). The ruling ia a boost to the chauvinist forces that insist on the continuation of the unitary constitution and would like to see the P-TOMS abrogated," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group leader addressing members of the Trincomalee branch of Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Saturday morning in his residence, sources said.
Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian presided.

The Supreme Court judgement has effectively blocked the implementation of the P-TOMS. Tamil people face continued darkness and realize that international assistance to recover from tsunami is not likely to reach them, Mr.Sampanthan said. There was some optimism as Tamil people looked forward to P-TOMS as a structure to rehabilitate and reconstruct the tsunami destroyed coastal villages in the northeast province. It has again been proved beyond doubt that Sri Lanka's unitary constitution will always be used by the chauvinists to derail any just settlement to the Tamil national question, said Mr.Sampanthan.

Despite Chief Justice's pronouncement earlier that the Court will not "unnecessarily intervene in national matters," Friday's ruling exposed the limitations of Sri Lanka's Supreme Court in handling issues of National importance. Unless Sinhala leaders seek extra-constitutional means to resolve Tamil National question, or indeed any issue that deals with fair and equitable sharing of Sri Lanka's resources with Tamil people, these attempts will end in failure, said Sampanthan.

17 July 2005

P-TOMS receives belated praise from Clinton
Although Sri Lanka's aid deal, the Post Tsunami Operations Management Structure (P-TOMS), is engulfed in crisis with extreme Sinhala nationlists and Muslim groups opposing the deal, Sri Lanka President's official website quoted former US President, Bill Clinton, as saying, "problems between Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims have been now solved and they are working well together for tsunami recovery," and that the task forces established for post-tsunami rehabilitation must be kept for future disaster management. Sri Lanka's Supreme court also has issued a stay order to ascertain if the deal has violated Sri Lanka's constitution.

The Panel Discussion, "Lessons learnt from recent Indian Ocean tsunami disaster," led by President William J Clinton, UN Special Envoy for tsunami recovery, was held at the UN's Economic and Social Council in New York Friday.

Representatives from several UN agencies and countries affected by the tsunami made presentations, the report said.

"President Kumaratunga has lost her husband, father and was blinded herself in an attack, all stemming from political violence...Although she is a victim of violence she has now extended the hand of non-violence. She needs your support," the website said quoting Mr.Clinton.

17 July 2005

SLA soldier shot and killed in Chenkalady
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, Lance Corporal Sumith Kumara, 25, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen Saturday around 5:30 p.m. at Vantharumoolai Main Road, Police said. The soldier, attached to Kommanthurai Army Camp in Eravur, was deployed at duty in around 900 meters from the camp.
Two gunmen who came in a motorbike shot the soldier on his chest and abdomen from close range using 9 mm handgun, said Eravur Police conduting investigations into the killing.

Dead body is handed over to Valaichenai Hospital. Vantharumoolai is located 17 km north of Batticaloa.

16July 2005

Sri Lanka stocks dives on truce fears

Sri Lanka stocks plunged today at the Colombo Bourse due to local investors selling shares across the board as the ceasefire is being threatened amid escalating violence in the East.

16July 2005

300 km highway for the east
The cabinet has approved the construction of a 300 kilometer highway in the Eastern province , government spokesman Nimal Siripala de Silva said.He said that the cabinet on Wednesday also decided to pay salaries to Sathosa employees in the interim until a final decision is taken. The other decisions taken were to promote Glyricida as the fourth plantation and set up yards for boat repairs", he said.

16July 2005

NE tsunami funds only from Treasury, says Amunugama By Gihan de Chickera
All funds for tsunami recovery work in the North and the East would be channelled through the Treasury’s Consolidated Fund and would be open to scrutiny by the Auditor General and be liable to Parliament, said the Finance Minister yesterday.

Minister Sarath Amunugama, addressing a Cabinet news briefing at the Government Information Department in Colombo yesterday said foreign governments which had allocated money for ‘specified’ tsunami development projects had made it clear at the Kandy Donor Conference in May before the signing of the P-TOMS that their funds would be channelled directly through the Treasury and not through the P-TOMS trust fund.

“Donors from China, Japan, India and the United States made categorical statements opting not to work through the P-TOMS fund,” he said adding that media reports stating that these countries had taken a sudden decision to withdraw channelling their money through the P-TOMS fund were false and inaccurate. “These countries have their embassies and their own development staff in Sri Lanka and entered into bilateral agreements with the government for specified relief projects”, he said.

The Minister explained that only funds allocated for ‘unspecified’ tsunami relief projects would be handled by the P-TOMS trust fund and that too after being channelled through the Treasury’s Consolidated Fund. These funds would be used for post-tsunami rehabilitation in the six districts under the P-TOMS, namely Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara.Commenting on the World Bank expressing its willingness to facilitate the implementation of the P-TOMS fund the Minister said that such a role would be necessary to ensure transparency and equal treatment of tsunami funds by the government and the LTTE. “These are grants and the donors would like to have some overview of how the funds are being used. These are free gifts, not loans and such supervision is necessary to ensure transparency by the two parties”, he said.

Mr. Amunugama said the organisation appointed as custodian would only play a supervisory role and would not have authority over the utilization of funds. However the custodian would preserve the right to interrogate the government and the LTTE regarding the utilization of the money, he added.

16July 2005

Security for LTTE: Govt. reiterates commitment

The government yesterday said it remained committed to providing security for the LTTE in its movements in government controlled areas, but could not agree to all the conditions insisted on by the LTTE.

Commenting on the recent attacks on security personnel and LTTE cadres in Trincomalee government spokesman Nimal Siripala de Silva said the decision was taken following extensive talks with the National Security Council on Wednesday. Addressing journalists, the Minister reiterated the government had no hand in the attacks on the LTTE and vowed it was genuine in its commitment to peace.However he blamed the UNP for the violence in the East because the ceasefire agreement was signed during its regime. “If there are lapses and flaws in the ceasefire agreement UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should take the responsibility” he said.

The Minister said the government was probing the escalating incidence of violence in the East and vowed to reveal the details once the investigations were completed.Mr. de Silva ruled out the possibility of inviting an independent group to investigate the killings in the East.

16July 2005

Sri Lanka military pushing for war- Batticaloa LTTE

"Sri Lankan military is visibly pushing for a war. Sri Lanka Military Intelligence personnel is deployed all over the borders monitoring our cadres. Heavily armed Sri Lankan soldiers are being deployed in SLA held areas of Batticaloa. The situation is getting tense and our political officials in SLA held areas are under threat. If this situation continues, we will be forced to relocate all our political cadres and officials," said Deputy Head of LTTE's Batticaloa-Amparai Political Division, Mr. Dayamohan Thursday.

"Functions at our Batticaloa town office are ongoing but we are getting ready to withdraw from our office any time," Batticaloa Town Political In-Charge of the LTTE, Mr. Anpumaran, told.

16July 2005

President appeals for calm and restraint in Trincomalee
PRESIDENT Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga expressed deep concern and sadness by the violence and loss of life occurring in and around Trincomalee, precipitated by the assassinations of several senior unarmed political cadres of the LTTE in their Trincomalee office earlier this week, the President's House said in a media release.

The President held several meetings since Monday, July 11 with the security forces commanders at National Security Council meetings regarding the deterioration in the law and order situation in Trincomalee. Several specific measures and systems have been put in place to arrest and remedy the situation and the respective security forces commanders have been instructed to directly oversee the implementation of the same. Specific measures to ensure strict adherence to the CFA by all parties shall also be implemented.

Also the authorities have been instructed to conduct a complete investigation of the events that have occurred in the Trincomalee area and to take strict action against the perpetrators in accordance with the law. President Kumaratunga firmly believes that conflicts that have caused political violence should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations and not through hostility.

At a time when the Government of Sri Lanka has taken the momentous and historic decision to commence working together with all stakeholders in the Post-Tsunami reconstruction efforts in the North and East, through the P-TOMS (Tsunami Relief Council), it is regrettable but not entirely surprising that opponents of the same would seek through various means including orchestrated violence to disrupt the conflict transformation process, desired by the vast majority of the people of Sri Lanka.

The President appealed to all concerned to exercise restraint and contribute towards normalising the situation.

16July 2005

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tpLjiyg; GypfSf;nfjpuhfr; nraw;gLk; ,tu;fSf;nfjpuhf eltbf;iffis Nkw; nfhs;Sk; tifapNyNa Ky;iyj;jPtpyp Ue;J gp];uy; FOtpdu; tTdpah te;Js;s jhf mur Gydha;Tj;Jiwf;Fj; jfty; fpilj; jijaLj;J gilapdu; tTdpahtpy; ghJfhg;ig gyg; gLj;jpAs;sJld;> thfdq;fspy; gazk; nra;Nthupy; re;Njfj;jpw; fplkhdtu;fis Nrhjidapl;Lk; tUfpd;wdu;.tTdpahtpy; - Nfhtpw;Fsk;> rpd;df;Fsk;> FUkd;fhL Mfpa gpuNjrq;fspy; tpLjiyg; Gyp fspd; gp];uy; FOtpdu; elkhLt jhf gilapdUf;F jfty; fpilj; jpUe;jhYk;> ,Jtiu gilapd uhy; elj;jg;gl;l Nrhjidapy; gp]; uy; FOitr; Nru;e;j vtUk; ifJ nra;ag;gltpy;iyaadTk; gil tl;lhuj; jfty;fs; njuptpj;jd.

16July 2005

yz;ld; Fz;Lj;jhf;Fjy;fspy; gypahNdhUf;F mQ;ryp

tpahof;fpoik rupahf cr;rpNtisapy; fle;j tpahof;fpoik yz;ld; Fz;Lj;jhf;Fjy;fspy; gypahNdhUf;F mQ;ryp nrYj;jg;gl;lJ. Fz;Lfis itj;jtu;fs;> yz;ld; fpq;]; fpuh]; uapy; epiyaj;ijr; Rw;wp Ruq;f uapy; ghijapy; tlf;F> njw;F> fpof;F> Nkw;fhf xU vupAk; rpYitia cUthf;f tpioe;jhu;fs; vd;W fUjg;gLfpwJ. Mdhy;> %d;W Fz;Lfs; ntbj;j cld; Ruq;f uapy;ghij %lg;gl;ljhy;> ehd;fhtJ

Fz;L xU g];rpy; itj;J ntbj;jNjh vd;W Nahrpj;J tUfpwhu;fs; yz;ld; fhty;Jiwapdu;. Mf> ,it ,q;Nf gpupl;ldpy; Kjy;Kiwahf ele;jpUf;Fk; jw;nfhiyj; jhf;Fjy;fs; vd;W fUjg;gLfpd;wd. ,tw;iw e;lj;jpapUg;Nghupy; %tupd; ngau;fis fhty;Jiwapdu; ntspapl;bUf;fpwhu;fs;. ,e;j %tUk; gpupl;ldpy; gpwe;J tsu;e;j rhkhdpa K];ypk; ,isQu;fs;. ,tu;fspy; xUtu; fpupf;nfl; tpisahl;by; ehl;lk; nfhz;ltu;.

MSk; njhopw;fl;rpiar; rhu;e;j ehlhSkd;w cWg;gpdu; fhypj; Kfk;kJ. jPtputhjpfs; gw;wpg; nghJthf epyTk; fUj;Jf;fs;> mgpg;gpuhaq;fs; rupahf ,Ug;gjpy;iy vd;fpwhu;. murpay; gpd;dzpNa ,t;tifj; jhf;Fjy;fSf;F ce;Jrf;jpahf mikfpwJ vd;fpwhu;> ,];yhkpa murpay; rpe;jid Muha;r;rp epiyaj;jpd; ,af;Feu; m];]hk; jkpkp.

rup> ,Jgw;wp ,dp vd;djhd; nra;a KbAk;? ,d;W gj;jpupif xd;wpy; ,Jgw;wp gpupl;b\; ,sturu; rhu;y;]; vOjpa fl;Liuapy; gpupl;ldpy; thOk; xt;nthU K];ypKk; jPtputhj gpur;rhufu;is> Nghjfu;fis NtuWf;f cjt Kd;tu Ntz;Lk; vd;W Nfl;Lf;nfhz;bUf;fpwhu;. New;W gpupl;b\; gpujku; Nlhdp g;nsau;> jPtputhjpfis ehl;il tpl;L ntspNaw;Wk; Nehf;Fld; fLk; rl;lq;fs; ,aw;wg;gLk; vd;W $wpapUf;fpwhu;. Mdhy;> yz;lk; kj;jpa kR+jpapd; ,af;Feu; mfkJ my;-Jghaidf; Nfl;lhy;> gpupl;b\; K];ypk; rKjhaj;ijr; rhu;e;j jPtputhj ,isQ;u;fSld; xU tpthjj;ijj; njhlq;f Ntz;baJ mtrpak; vd;fpwhu;.

Mdhy; ,t;tif ,isQu;fis td;Kiwg;ghijapypUe;J kPl;gJ mt;tsT vspjhd fhupak; my;y vd;fpwhu; gpupl;b\; ,];yhkpaf; fTd;rpypd; Kf;fpa mjpfhup N\f; ,g;uh`pk; Nkhf;uh. yz;ld; Fz;Lntbg;Gf;fis mLj;J> ,q;Nf gpupl;ldpy; kpf rpf;fyhd Nfs;tpfs; vOe;Js;sd. Fwpg;ghf ,q;Fs;s ,];yhkpa rKjhaj;jpd; cs;shf ,t;tiff; Nfs;tpfs; vOe;Js;sd. Fz;Litj;j ,isQu;fis ed;F mwpe;jtu;fs;

,tu;fs;jhd; ,ijr; nra;jhu;fsh vd;w mjpu;r;rpapy; ciwe;J NghapUf;fpwhu;fs;. K];ypk; rKjhaj; jiytu;fisg; nghWj;jtiu> ,jw;fhd gpd;dzpia mtu;fs; Gupe;Jitj;jpUg;gjhfj; njupfpwJ. Mdhy;> ,Nj ghijapy; kw;wtu;fSk; nry;tij vg;gbj; jLg;gJ vd;gJ ,d;dKk; njspthfj; njupatpy;iy.

15July 2005

Final de-listing program for Army deserters begins
RECENT de-listing programs launched by the Sri Lanka Army at different district levels prompted a large number of Army absentees and deserters to obtain their official resignation from the Army.

As the final stage of this program absentees and deserters of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR), Gajaba Regiment (GR), Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG) and Sri Lanka Rifle Corps (SLRC), have now been called upon to obtain their formal resignation from the Army between July 25, 2005 and August 05, 2005 at Vijayabahu Infantry Regimental Centre, Boyagane, Kurunegala, the Army announced yesterday.

Those who do not find their names in the deserters' lists already on display at respective District Secretary offices could obtain resignation on production of their Identity Card to officers at the de-listing centre during July 25 - August 05, 2005 at Boyagane. This opportunity could also be used by those, who missed previous de-listing programs held at Panagoda and Malay Street, Colombo 2.

15July 2005

kl;lf;fsg;gpy; K];ypk;fs;- Gypfs; Ngr;R

Ngr;Rthu;j;ijapy; fye;J nfhz;ltu;fs; kl;lf;fsg;G khtl;lj;jpy; jkpo; - K];ypk; kf;fspilNa Vw;gLk;> fhzp tplak; cl;gl gy gpur;rpidfSf;F R%fkhd jPu;Tfisf; fhz;gjw;F tya kl;lq;fspy; fl;likg;Gfis Vw;gLj;Jtjw;F K];ypk; gpujpepjpfSk; tpLjiyg;GypfSk; ,d;W $l;Lj; jPu;khdnkhd;iw vLj;Js;sdu;.

nfhf;fl;br;NrhiyapYs;s tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; khtl;l murpay; Jiw mYtyfj;jpy; tpLjiyg; Gypg;gpujpepjpfSf;Fk; khtl;l midj;J gs;spthry;fs; rk;Nksdg; gpujpepjpfSf;Fk; ,ilapy; ,lk;ngw;w re;jpg;gpd; NghJ ,e;j $l;Lj; jPu;khdk; vLf;fg;gl;lJ.

ePz;l fhy ,ilntspapd; gpd;G ,lk;ngw;w ,e;j re;jpg;gpy; fhzp> tptrhak; Nghd;w gpur;rpidfs; cl;gl gy; NtW gpur;rpidfs; Fwpj;J Muhag;gl;lNghJ> fhzp njhlu;ghd gpur;rpidfs; Kf;fpa gpur;rpidfshf ,Ug;gjhf ,U jug;gpdUk; Vw;Wf; nfhz;Ls;sdu;.

,e;j re;jpg;gpy; vLf;fg;gl;l jPu;khd;qfspd; gb gpur;rpidf;Fupa ,lq;fshf milahsk; fhzg;gl;l ,lq;fs;> 3 tyaq;fshf tFf;fg;gl;L ,e;j fl;likg;Gfs; Vw;gLj;jg;gLk;. ,jpy; tpLjiyg; Gypfs; >K];ypk;fs; >kw;Wk; rptpy; mjpfhupfs; vd gyu; mq;fk; tfpg;ghu;fs;. me;je;j gFjpfspy; Vw;gLk; gpur;rpidfSf;F ,e;j fl;likg;G %yk; jPu;T fhzg;gLk;.

,d;iwa re;jpg;gpy; Rdhkp nghJf;fl;likg;Gfs; njhlu;ghf fUj;Jf;fs; gupkhwg;glyhk; vd vjpu; ghu;f;fg;gl;l NghjpYk; mJ gw;wpf; fUj;Jf;fs; vJTk; gupkhwg;gltpy;iy.

15July 2005

murhq;fj;jpd; gjpypy; Gypfs; mjpUg;jp gjpy; fbjk; mDg;gg; Nghtjhf mwptpg;G

,uhZtf; fl;Lg;ghl;Lg; gFjpA+lhd jq;fsJ ghJfhg;ghd Nghf;Ftuj;J njhlu;ghf jhq;fs; Kd;itj;j Nfhupf;iffs; Fwpj;J muR jug;G mspj;Js;s gjpyhy; mjpUg;jpaile;Js;s tpLjiyg;Gypfs;> ,J njhlu;ghf muRf;F fbjk; mDg;gTs;sjhf njuptpj;Js;sdu;.

,uhZtf; fl;Lg;ghl;Lg; gFjpfShlhd jq;fsJ ghJfhg;ghd Nghf;Ftuj;Jf;fhf rpy epge;jidfis tpjpj;j Gypfs; ,J njhlu;ghf Nghu; epWj;jf; fz;fhzpg;Gf; FOtpD}lhf murpw;F fbjnkhd;iwAk; mDg;gpapUe;jdu;. jq;fsJ ,e;j epge;jidfis epiwNtw;w muRf;F ,Uthuf; fhyf;nfLitAk; Gypfs; tpjpj;jpUe;jJld;> ,jw;F cupa gjpy; fpilf;fhtpbd;> Nghu; epWj;j cld;ghL ifr;rhj;jplg;gl Kd;du; fly; kw;Wk; jiutopahf jhq;fs; vt;thW Nghf;Ftuj;jpyPLgl;NlhNkh mt;thNw Nghf;Ftuj;Jr; nra;ag; NghtjhfTk; $wpapUe;jdu;.

Gypfspd; ,e;j epge;jidfs; njhlu;ghf ghJfhg;G mikr;R> gilj;jug;G> Nghu; epWj;jf; fz;fhzpg;Gf; FO kw;Wk; mur rkhjhdr; nrayfnkd;gd jPtpukhf Muha;e;J ,J gw;wp [dhjpgjpAld; fye;jhNyhrpj;j gpd;du; murpd; gjpy; fz;fhzpg;Gf; FOtpD}lhf GypfSf;F mDg;gpitf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ. ,e;jg; gjpyhdJ> Gypfs; tpjpj;j fhyf;nfLit epuhfupj;jpUg;gJld; jq;fsJ ghJfhg;ghd gazk; njhlu;ghf Gypfs; Kd;itj;j epge;jidfisAk; Vw;Wf; nfhs;tjhapUf;ftpy;iy.

,uhZtf; fl;Lg;ghl;Lg; gFjpA+lhf jq;fsJ Nghuhspfs; gazk; nra;Ak;NghJ> mtu;fsJ ghJfhg;Gf; fUjp Nghuhspfs; rpW FOf;fshfg; gpupf;fg;gl;L> mtu;fs; jdpj; jdpahf g];fspy; nry;Ny tz;Lk; vdTk; mt;thW nry;Yk; NghuhspfSld; gilapdUk; xt;nthU g];fspYk; nry;y Ntz;LnkdTk; Gypfs; Nfl;bUe;jdu;. vdpDk;> muR ,jid Vw;Wf; nfhs;stpy;iy. Gypfs; nry;Yk; g];fspy; fz;fhzpg;Gf; FOtpdNu nry;thnudj; njuptpj;Js;sJ.

mj;Jld;> xU khjj;jpy; ,t;thwhd ,U gazk; eilngw Ntz;LnkdTk; Gypfs; Nfhupf;if tpLj;jpUe;j NghjpYk;> khjnkhd;Wf;F xU gazj;jpw;Nf mDkjpf;f KbAnkdTk; muR $wpAs;sJ. murpd; ,e;jg; gjpyhdJ> Gypfis mjpUg;jpailar; nra;Js;sJ. ,J njhlu;ghf fz;fhzpg;Gf;FOtpD}lhf muRf;F gjpy; fbjnkhd;iw mDg;gTs;sjhf Gypfs; njuptpj;Js;sdu;.

Gypfspd; ,e;jg; gjpy; fbjk; mLj;j XupU jpdq;fspy; muRf;F mDg;gg;gLnkdTk; ,jpy;> jq;fsJ ghJfhg;ghd gazk; njhlu;ghf mLj;J jhq;fs; Nkw;nfhs;sTs;s eltbf;if njhlu;ghd KbT ,Uf;FnkdTk; ,J fLikahdnjhU fbjkhapUf;Fnkd vjpu;ghu;f;fg;gLtjhfTk; td;dpj; jfty;fs; njuptpf;fpd;wd.

15July 2005

Navy men fire back at Tigers (Daily Mirror)

More incidents in the East: tight security to maintain law and order At least one LTTE cadre was shot dead and another two captured, when Navy personnel retaliated after coming under gunfire from a group of LTTE cadres at Kamburuppidy in Trincomalee last night, police said.

Trincomalee ASP G. Stanislaus said around 7.30 p.m. yesterday the Navy post came under fire from a group of LTTE men and Navy personnel at the post had to retaliate in self-defence. At the time of the incident there were three Navy personnel at the post, he said. Later the security forces were able to capture two LTTE cadres, one with injuries along with a weapon and a communication set. The injured cadre had been admitted to the Trincomale hospital and the captured cadre handed over to the police.

In another incident around 8.30 p.m. yesterday a group of LTTE cadres attacked the Weeramuna police post at Samanthurai in Ampara with small arms, but no casualties were reported. At least two civilians were injured when suspected LTTE cadres threw two hand grenades at an Army truck last evening at Anuradhapura junction in Trincomalee. Eastern DIG Rohan Abeywardane said only one hand grenade exploded. Military spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake said the security forces were under constant threat from the LTTE which wanted to provoke the forces.

Meanwhile, following intelligence reports that the LTTE leadership had instructed LTTE political cadres to withdraw from Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts, security has been tightened in these districts with more troops being deployed. Since early this week, the LTTE carried out a series of attacks on security forces injuring more than 35 Police and Army personnel.

LTTE’s media spokesman Daya Master told the Daily Mirror the Wanni LTTE leadership had informed its political leaders in the Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts on Wednesday to immediately withdraw from political activities in government-held areas in these districts and return to the Wanni base citing security concerns. DIG Abeywardane said generally a calm situation prevailed in the Trincomalee district throughout yesterday, but more security forces would be deployed in the district to meet any emergency situation.

“Police and military are on high alert around the clock to maintain law and order in the area”, he said.

15July 2005

Xke;ij gps;isahu; Nfhtpy; tstpy; itf;fg;gl;bUe;j Gj;ju; rpiy mfw;wg;gl;lJ

Xke;ij gps;isahu; Nfhtpy; tstpDs; itf;fg;gl;bUe;j Gj;ju; rpiy mfw;wg;gl;ls;sjhf tTdpah khtl;l Nghu; epWj;j fz;fhzpg;G F tpdu; vkf;F mwptpj;Js;sjhf tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; tTdpah khtl;l murpay; Jiwapdu; njuptpj;Js;sdu;. ,r;rpiy mfw;wg;gl;Ls;snjd;gij tTdpah nghyp]hUk; cWjp nra;jdu;.

Xke;ij gps;isahu; Nfhtpiy jdpg;gl;l uPjpapy; elj;jpte;j Myaf; FUf;fSf;F nrhe;jkhd fhzpapy; Nfhtpy; tstpNyNa ,e;j rpiy mikf;fg;gl;bUe;jJ vd;gJ Fwpg;gplj;jf;fJ. ,e;jr; rpiy njhlu;ghf Myaf; FUf;fshd Iau; tTdpah ePjpkd;wj;jpy; tof;nfhd;iwj; jhf;fy; nra;jpUe;jhu;. vdpDk; tTdpah nghyp]hu; ,J njhlu;ghf [{d; khjk; 3 Mk; jpfjp gp mwpf;ifnahd;wpid tTdpah ePjpkd;wj;jpy; rku;gpj;jpUe;jdu;.

,e;j tplak; njhlu;ghf Ma;T nra;J cz;ik epiyik vd;d vd;gij ePjpkd;wj;jpw;F mwpf;ifapLkhW mDuhjGuj;jpy; cs;s njhy;nghUs; Ma;Tj; jpizf;fs mjpfhupfSf;F tTdpah khtl;l ePjpgjp vk;. ,sQ;nropad; cj;jutpl;lJld; ,J njhlu;ghd Nky; tprhuizfis Nkw;nfhs;SkhW nghyp]hUf;Fk; cj;jutpl;bUe;jhu;.

Xke;ij gps;isahu; NfhtpYf;F tp[ak; nra;J ghu;itapl;l mDuhjGuk; njhy;nghUs; Ma;Tj; jpizf;fs mjpfhupfs; mJ njhlu;ghd jkJ mwpf;ifia ePjpkd;wj;jpw;Fr; rku;gpj;jpUe;jdu;. ,uz;L jtizfshf gfpuq;fkhf ePjpkd;wj;jpy; ,e;j tof;F miof;fg;gl;l NghjpYk; Gj;ju; rpiy njhlu;ghf tof;nfhd;iwj; jhf;fy; nra;j Nfhtpy; Iau; ePjpkd;wj;jpy; Neubahf M[uhfpapUf;ftpy;iy. mj;Jld; jkJ rhu;gpy; rl;lj;juzp xUtiu M[u;g;gLj;jTk; ,y;iy vd ePjpkd;w tl;lhuq;fs; njuptpj;jd.

,Ue;jNghjpYk; Gj;ju; rpiy tptfhuk; rkhjhdr; R+o;epiyiag; ghjpg;gjhf mike;J tplf; $lhJ vd;w fhuzj;jpdhy; ,e;j rpiy njhlu;ghd njhy;nghUspay; mjpfhupfspd; mwpf;if kw;Wk; tprhuiz njhlu;ghd tpguq;fSk; ePjpkd;wj;jpdhy; ,ufrpakhf Ngzg;gl;lJ. ,J njhlu;ghff; fle;j 11 Mk; jpfjp tTdpah khtl;l ePjpgjpapd; mYtyf miwapy; ,Wfg; G+l;ba miwf;Fs; td;dpg; gpuhe;jpa gpujp nghyp];kh mjpgu; rpNu\;l nghyp]; mj;jpal;ru;> tTdpah nghyp]; epiya jiyikaf ,d;];ngf;lu; kw;Wk; Xke;ij gpuNjrj;jpw;Fg; nghWg;ghd ,uhZt mjpfhup cl;gl;l jug;gpdUld; ePjpkd;wj;jpd; cjtpf;fhf rl;l MNyhrfg; gq;fspg;gpw;fhf rl;lj;juzpfs; rq;fj; jiytUk; M[uhfpa epiyapy; eilngw;w tprhuizapd;NghJ tTdpah gpuNjrj;jpy; epyTk; mikjpahd R+o;epiyia Kf;fpakhff; fUj;jpw; nfhz;L ,e;j tptfhuj;ijf; ifahs;tnjd ,zf;fk; fhzg;gl;lJ.

Gj;ju; rpiy tptfhuk; ,g;gFjpapy; mikjpf;Fg; gq;fj;ij Vw;gLj;jptplf; $lhJ vd;w r%fg; nghWg;Gzu;Tld; ,jidf; ifahs;tnjd ,uhZt nghyp]; jug;gpy; ,e;j %ba miwf;Fs;shd tprhuizapd; NghJ xg;Gf; nfhs;sg;gl;lJ. ,jidaLj;J ,e;j tof;if mLj;j jtizf;fhf vjpu;tUk; 20 Mk; jpfjpf;F xj;jpitj;j ePjpgjp Gj;ju; rpiy njhlu;ghd epiyik Fwpj;J md;iwa jpdk; mwpf;if rku;gpf;FkhW tTdpah jiyikaf nghyp]; ,d;];ngf;lUf;F gzpg;Giu tpLj;Js;shu;.

,e;jg; gpd;dzpapNyNa mikjpahd Kiwapy; Gj;ju; rpiy mfw;wg;gl;Ls;sjhfj; jfty;fs; ntspahfpapUf;fpd;wd. vdpDk; ,e;jr; rpiy vg;NghJ mfw;wg;gl;lJ vq;F nfhz;L nry;yg;gl;lJ vd;gJ Fwpj;J tpguq;fs; ntspahftpy;iy.

15July 2005

gPw;wu;rd;> tpjhu; n`y;fprd; mLj;j thuk; tUfpd;wdu;

Nehu;Nt ntspAwT mikr;ru; [hd; gPw;wu;rd;> gpujp ntsptptfhu mikr;ru; tpjhu; n`y;fprd; MfpNahu; mLj;j thuk; nfhOk;Gf;F tp[ak; nra;aTs;sdu;.

Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifia njhl u;e;J mKy;gLj;Jtjpy; Vw;gl;Ls;s Ku z;ghLfs; kw;Wk; nghJf;fl;l ikg;ig mKy;gLj;JtJ njhlu;ghf murhq; fj;JlDk; tpLjiyg; GypfSlDk; fy e;JiuahLtjw;fhfNt ,UtUk; nfhO k;G tUtjhf Nehu;Nt J}juf tl;lhuq;fs; njuptpj;jd.

. [dhjpgjp re;jpupfh gz;lhuehaf;f FkhuJq;f> gpujku; kfpe;juh[gf;\ kw;Wk; Gypfspd; murpay; Jiwg; nghWg;ghsu; R.g.jkpo;r;nry;td; MfpNahiu mikr;ru; [hd; gPw;wu;rDk; gpujpaikr;ru; tpjhu; n`y;fprDk; re;jpj;J fye;J iuahlTs;sdu;. [dhjpgjpia re;jpj;j gpd;dNu ,UtUk; fpspnehr;rpf;F tp[ak; nra;thu;fs; vd;Wk; me;j tl;lhuq;fs; NkYk; njuptpj;jd

15July 2005

[dhjpgjp khspif gpuNjrk; ehis Kjy; mjpAau; ghJfhg;G tyakhf gpufldk;

[dhjpgjp khspifia mz;kpj;j gFjpfs; mjpAau; ghJfhg;G tyakhf ehis nts;spf;fpoik Kjy; gpufldg;gLj;jg;glTs;sd. ,jidnahl;b ,g;gFjpapd; ghJfhg;G Kk;klq;fhf mjpfupf;fg;gl;Ls;sjhf nfhOk;G gpuhe;jpa gpujp nghyp]; khmjpgu; G+[pj;j [aRe;ju njuptpj;jhu;.

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15July 2005

Troops to hit back at Tigers if targeted(The Island)

Army Chief Lt. General Shantha Kottegoda said that his troops would hit back at the Tigers. He emphasised that his troops would return fire if the Tigers target them. LTTE cadres on Wednesday morning fired at a refugee camp, housing tsunami survivors at Muttur, wounding four soldiers and a child.

The rebels burst into the camp at Muttur, tossing a grenade and firing on the guards and tsunami survivors sheltered there, a senior police spokesman said. He said a small boy and three soldiers at the camp were wounded in the attack.

In a separate attack hours later, in the same region, another soldier was wounded in a grenade explosion and shooting at an army post. Troops yesterday arrested a person after he lobbed a hand grenade at troops at the Abayapura junction, Trincomalee

15July 2005

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15July 2005

Tamil refugee to sue Denmark for refusing wife (AFP)

Copenhagen: A Tamil refugee is to sue Denmark for twice refusing to issue a residence permit to his wife before finally relenting, claiming the Scandinavian country had violated his human rights, Danish media reported yesterday.The 33-year-old man, only identified as Karuna, is a former member of a youth faction supporting the Tamil Tigers that are fighting for independence from Sri Lanka. He was granted political asylum in Denmark in 1995 after escaping from a Sri Lankan prison in which he was reportedly tortured.

But in 2003, the Danish Immigration Service declined to give his wife a permanent residence permit, granting her only a temporary visitor’s visa, citing the country’s family reunion laws. “For more than two years my wife and I have been so nervous that we could hardly sleep at night. We were so frightened that she would not be allowed to stay in Denmark,” Karuna told Danish daily Politiken, pointing out that the couple could not return to Sri Lanka for fear of political persecution.

“We have not been able to be good parents for our little child because we have been so anxious about our future,” he said.

His wife’s application for a residence permit was turned down twice but after Karuna appealed, the ministry of immigration looked into the case again and finally allowed the family reunion. It remained unclear when and where the case would be heard and how much money Karuna would ask for in compensation, but his lawyer Niels-Erik Hansen, a racial discrimination expert, said his client’s human rights had clearly been violated.

The case is the first to challenge Denmark’s ultra-restrictive immigration laws and test their legality as regards international conventions with possible consequences for government policy on immigrants. Denmark’s immigration policy, one of the most restrictive in Europe, includes blocking foreigners without long-lasting ties to Denmark - regardless of whether they are married to a Dane - to obtain a permanent residence permits.The policy has attracted international criticism, with Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles concluding in a report last year that Denmark’s immigration laws violated international human rights conventions, a stance corroborated by Denmark’s own independent Institute of Human Rights.

“This is a very interesting case for us and for outside bodies,. It is very important that this sort of case be taken to the courts,” Birgitte Kofod Olsen, head of the domestic section of the Danish Institute for Human Rights, said. “In this way we will be able to get an independent evaluation of the government’s legislation on the immigration front,” she added.

15July 2005

Tamil youth shot dead in Puttalam
Mr Krishnan Ravichandran,23, a Tamil, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen Thursday around 2:30 a.m. at Sempattai, Mathuramkuli in Puttalam district, sources said. The victim, a father of a child, is from Jaffna and is living in Grandpass, Colombo 14. Unidentified men driving in a white van abducted the victim, brought him to Sempattai in the van, and shot and killed him there, Police said.

Munthal Police Offier In-Charge (OIC) Mr Ajith Prasanna is conducting investigation into the killing.

15July 2005

Compensation to injured army personnel increased by 100%
Compensation paid to army personnel for injuries caused while on duty had been increased by hundred percent.

Army Headquarters said that Army Commander Shantha Kottegoda in accordance with provisions of the Army Routine Orders (ARO) has approved an increase of hundred percent in compensation payments backdated to January 1, 2005. This covers death caused by injury, permanent disablement after injury and partial disablement.

Army personnel, engaged in formal duties, general work within the scope of ordinary duties in consequence of any act related to execution of duties and on a journey from place of work to report for official work or whilst returning to place of work from duty point, are entitled to receive the increased compensation. Bedsides, compensation for accidents, injury caused while on the way to report for duty or returning after duty so far would continue to be paid for the injuries that occurred before January 1, 2005, the headquarters added.

15July 2005
Imperialist forces using P-TOMS, to divide our country, says Wimal
Patriotic National Movement joint president parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa charged that the imperialist Western forces were trying to divide the nation through agreements such as P-TOMS.

Addressing a seminar organized by the PNM Colombo District Executive Committee yesterday he accused the Western imperialist forces of trying to divide Sri Lanka and destabilizing the South Asian region. “P-TOMS agreement is a foundation stone to divide Sri Lanka and there are only two agreements more that would lead to the final division of the nation”, he said. Mr. Weerawansa asked all patriotic forces to join the struggle to drive out of power the present political leadership of this country whom he called puppets of the Western imperialist forces. He lashed out at President Chandrika Kumaratunge and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe saying they danced to the tune of these forces.

“Chandrika is like a kite with a broken string while Ranil is a kite which is being controlled by Western forces”, he said.

Reiterating his opposition to the P-TOMS agreement he said it would pave the way for the LTTE to strengthen itself militarily. Mr. Weerawansa said the P –TOMS had however brought the Sinhalese and the Muslims together. “That is the only good thing about the P-TOMS”, he added. PNM joint president Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera said President Kumaratunga had got herself into a helpless position after signing the agreement as some of her close associates including Ministers Dilan Perera and Sarath Amunugama were now remaining silent and were not speaking on her behalf when the PNM took the P-TOMS to court.

He blasted the members of the Buddhist clergy who protested against the P-TOMS and said they too were remaining silent now.“Where are they now”, he asked. He reiterated the pledge made by PNM leaders to sacrifice their lives for the nation. PNM joint secretary Gunadasa Amarasekara criticizing the P-TOMS said that it was more like ‘pacha toms’ as it not was not what the president claimed it was. “It is something which paves the way for the LTTE to win Eelam”, he said.

15July 2005

Omanthai Buddha statue removed

The Buddha statue erected at Omanthai in Vavuniya has been removed from the location following a consensus reached between the Vavuniya district judge M. Ilanchelian and security heads. It was said the decision on Tuesday was taken for the sake of peace despite it being located in an area of archaeological significance.There was a threat to close the Jaffna – Kandy (A9) highway and to stage a hartal campaign if the Buddha statue was not removed since it had been erected near a Hindu Temple.

15July 2005

Tamil Tigers begin pullout from government areas amid fears for Sri Lanka's truce

Associated Press: Tamil Tiger rebels on Wednesday began closing their political offices and withdrawing supporters from government-controlled areas in Sri Lanka's volatile east amid growing fears that the country's fragile truce may collapse.

The Tigers were pulling back into rebel-held territory in the island's eastern cities of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara, rebel officials and the military said on condition of anonymity. Tiger political chief S.P. Thamilselvan demanded on June 30 that the government boost security for rebels traveling through government-held areas within two weeks - or risk the collapse of the February 2002 cease-fire that ended this country's brutal two-decade civil war. The government on Monday agreed conditionally to increase the Tigers' security escorts, but the guerrillas were not satisfied.

Since the truce, the military has provided escorts for rebels traveling through government-held territory in the north and east, parts of which are under guerrilla control. But the rebels have demanded better protection and threatened to use their own armed escorts after a bomb narrowly missed a bus carrying 41 rebels last month. Cease-fire terms bar the rebels from carrying arms in government-controlled areas. A violation could lead to a confrontation with government forces - and the collapse of the truce.

Also on Wednesday, the government accused the Tigers of resuming violence against security forces in the east after the rebels issued a new warning of war, following the killing of two senior Tiger members on Sunday. The rebels blamed military intelligence agents, but the military has denied involvement. Military spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake said the rebels had lauched at least nine bomb and shooting attacks over the last two days. ``They are trying to provoke, but the soldiers are acting with patience and restraint.'' Suspected rebels tossed a grenade and opened fire on an open truck carrying soldiers late Wednesday, injuring eight soldiers and one officer in the Trincomalee, he said. ``We have to work toward building confidence, and the (Tigers are) working backward,'' he said. ``It affects the cease-fire.'' European truce monitors in Sri Lanka also expressed worries.

``We are very concerned about the escalating violence that is a strain on the cease-fire,'' said the monitors' spokeswoman, Vilja Kutvonen.

The monitors closed their Trincomalee office on Tuesday after protesters, angered by the rebels' deaths, burned tires and set up road blocks in the area, Kutvonen said. The office reopened Wednesday. Earlier Wednesday, suspected guerrillas attacked a camp for homeless tsunami survivors, wounding at least four soldiers and a 4-year-old child in Trincomalee, said area police chief Rohan Abeywardene. A day earlier, at least 13 policemen and a soldier were hurt in two separate attacks by suspected Tamil Tigers in Trincomalee. Additional police and soldiers have been deployed in the area since Monday.

Sri Lanka's east has been hit by violence between Tiger factions since a split in their ranks a year ago. The rebels accuse the military of supporting the renegade faction, a charge the army denies. The Tamil Tigers began fighting in 1983 for a separate homeland for minority ethnic Tamils in the country's north and east, claiming discrimination by the majority Sinhalese. The conflict killed nearly 65,000 people before the February 2002 cease-fire.

Post-truce peace talks have been stalled since 2003 over rebel demands for wide autonomy.

15July 2005

BOMBER DIED IN TUBE BLAST

It is "highly likely" one of the Tube attackers died in the strikes on the Underground network - but Sky News has been told all the men were probably suicide bombers. Sky News correspondent Martin Brunt said senior anti-terror police were working on the assumption the men were suicide bombers and had died in the explosions - and were probably British nationals. The suspected bombers travelled down from West Yorkshire and met at Kings Cross station shortly before the attacks were launched on Thursday morning, police said at a press conference. Their images were captured by CCTV cameras.

In other another key development, explosives have been found in an abandoned car at Luton railway station which is thought to be linked to the terror attacks. Personal documents have been found at all four bomb scenes and although the four attackers are thought to have died police were careful not to say whether Britain had suffered its first suicide bomb strike. Police said there was forensic evidence that meant it was "very likely" the bomber responsible for the train explosion at Aldgate died there. One of the four men had been reported missing by his family on the day of the attacks and his property was found at the bus blast scene. The second man's property was found at the scene of the Aldgate blast and the third man's property at both the Aldgate and Edgware Road blasts. One man has been arrested in west Yorkshire in connection with the attacks and will be questioned in London.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of Scotland's Yard anti-terrorist branch, said: "The investigation quite early led us to have concerns about the movement and activities of four men, three of whom came from the West Yorkshire area."We are trying to establish their movements in the run-up to last week's attack and specifically to establish whether they all died in the explosions. We executed six warrants under the Terrorism Act at premises in the West Yorkshire area.

"These included the home addresses of three of the four men. A detailed forensic examination will now follow and this is likely to take time to complete." He continued: "We know that all four of these arrived in London by train on the morning. We have identified CCTV footage showing the four men at King's Cross Station shortly before 8.30am on that morning, July 7. "One of them who had set out from West Yorkshire was reported missing by his family to the casualty bureau on July 7. We have been able to establish that he was joined on his journey to London by three other men. We have since found personal documents bearing the names of three of those four men close to the seats of three of the explosions.

"As regards to the man who is missing, some of his property was found on the route 30 bus in Tavistock Square. Property of a second man was found at the scene of the Aldgate bomb and in relation to a third man property with his name was found at the Aldgate and Edgware Road bombs. "We have strong forensic evidence that it is very likely that one of the men from West Yorkshire died at the explosion at Aldgate." Sky News terror expert Steve Park said the documents may have been deliberately planted to "send police the wrong way". Meanwhile, police have raided the homes of three of the four men in West Yorkshire along with three other houses in Leeds.

13July 2005

BOMBER DIED IN TUBE BLAST

It is "highly likely" one of the Tube attackers died in the strikes on the Underground network - but Sky News has been told all the men were probably suicide bombers. Sky News correspondent Martin Brunt said senior anti-terror police were working on the assumption the men were suicide bombers and had died in the explosions - and were probably British nationals.

The suspected bombers travelled down from West Yorkshire and met at Kings Cross station shortly before the attacks were launched on Thursday morning, police said at a press conference.

Their images were captured by CCTV cameras.

In other another key development, explosives have been found in an abandoned car at Luton railway station which is thought to be linked to the terror attacks. Personal documents have been found at all four bomb scenes and although the four attackers are thought to have died police were careful not to say whether Britain had suffered its first suicide bomb strike.

Police said there was forensic evidence that meant it was "very likely" the bomber responsible for the train explosion at Aldgate died there.One of the four men had been reported missing by his family on the day of the attacks and his property was found at the bus blast scene. The second man's property was found at the scene of the Aldgate blast and the third man's property at both the Aldgate and Edgware Road blasts. One man has been arrested in west Yorkshire in connection with the attacks and will be questioned in London.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of Scotland's Yard anti-terrorist branch, said: "The investigation quite early led us to have concerns about the movement and activities of four men, three of whom came from the West Yorkshire area.
"We are trying to establish their movements in the run-up to last week's attack and specifically to establish whether they all died in the explosions. We executed six warrants under the Terrorism Act at premises in the West Yorkshire area.

"These included the home addresses of three of the four men. A detailed forensic examination will now follow and this is likely to take time to complete." He continued: "We know that all four of these arrived in London by train on the morning. We have identified CCTV footage showing the four men at King's Cross Station shortly before 8.30am on that morning, July 7.

"One of them who had set out from West Yorkshire was reported missing by his family to the casualty bureau on July 7. We have been able to establish that he was joined on his journey to London by three other men. We have since found personal documents bearing the names of three of those four men close to the seats of three of the explosions.

"As regards to the man who is missing, some of his property was found on the route 30 bus in Tavistock Square. Property of a second man was found at the scene of the Aldgate bomb and in relation to a third man property with his name was found at the Aldgate and Edgware Road bombs. "We have strong forensic evidence that it is very likely that one of the men from West Yorkshire died at the explosion at Aldgate." Sky News terror expert Steve Park said the documents may have been deliberately planted to "send police the wrong way". Meanwhile, police have raided the homes of three of the four men in West Yorkshire along with three other houses in Leeds.

13 July 2005
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