Thu, 30 Jun 2005

Sri Lanka's growth turns upwards

Sri Lanka's economic growth has started to recover from the tsunami which hit the island state in December. Expansion for the year to March was 4.8%, up from the 4.4% recorded three months earlier. But the central bank warned that the after-effects of the tsunami which killed thousands and devastated tourism and fishing could still depress growth. It also said instability within the government could pose a threat to continued recovery. It is predicting growth of 5.3% for 2005, down from 5.4% in 2004 and 5.9% the year before that.

Economic damage Before the tsunami, Sri Lanka had been finally staging a recovery from two decades of civil war - although the economy had slowed late in the year. The waves which hit the country on 26 December killed 31,000 people and left more than half a million homeless. According to the central bank, the economic effects were harsh too, with hotels and restaurants losing 39.6% of their trade and the fishing industry contracting by three-quarters.

Other sectors - including banking and transport - also suffered, the bank said. Even so, improved weather early in the year led to an increase in rice production over last year, helping agriculture take up the slack left by the fishing crisis. And the $3bn (£1.7bn) pledged by international donors to be spent on reconstruction could also help economic recovery. Splits But ongoing arguments over the division of aid could yet hamper growth in the rest of the year, the bank said. The main governing party, President Chandrika Kumaratunga's People's Alliance, is prepared to share aid with the rebel Tamil Tigers, who control much of the north-east of Sri Lanka. The decision to do so enraged their erstwhile Marxist allies, the JVP, who walked out of the government.

The resulting minority government could mean a general election later this year. The opposition United National Party is broadly in favour of the deal with the Tigers.

Thu, 30 Jun 2005

Implement P-TOMS as signed say WPF By S.S.Selvanayagam

The Western People’s Front held a demonstration and procession in support of the Joint Mechanism yesterday at the Gas Works Junction in Pettah.

Several political parties and organisations including the People’s Liberation Solidarity Front headed by Prof. Kamal Karunadasa, Democratic Left Front headed by Vasudeva Nanayakara, Hiru group headed by Bashana Abeywardena, New Left Front, New Democratic Party headed by E. Thambiah, TNA Parliamentarians M.K. Sivajilingam, N.Raviraj, Suresh Premachandran as well as WPF Deputy Leader N. Kumaraguruparan and its recently nominated Colombo Municipal Councillor V. Kanghaiverniyan took part.

WPF leader and parliamentarian Mano Ganesan led the procession. At the beginning of the campaign, crackers were lit and the demonstrators burnt an effigy depicting the caricature of the JVP and described as the devil of communalism.

The procession proceeded from Gas Paha Junction to Khan Clock Tower junction at Front Street and returned to the campaign venue. Following were some of the slogans they shouted: “Implement the Joint Mechanism as signed, Chauvinism itself is Separatism, “Let’s advance peace and defeat communalism, Sri Lanka is Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim country, Buddhism is Ahimsa not communalism, “Keep religion out of politics, Let’s share power and get rid of communalism and our donation is peace”.

Thu, 30 Jun 2005

EU welcomes tsunami aid sharing deal, urges LTTE to be democratic By Gihan de Chickera and Uditha Jayasinghe

The European Union yesterday urged the LTTE to adopt a more democratic and pluralistic approach and give other groups more ‘breathing space’ in the wake of the signing of the P-TOMS agreement. While congratulating President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Government and the LTTE for showing positive and constructive strength in signing the P-TOMS agreement, EU ambassador Wouter Wilton urged the LTTE to be more democratic and pluralist and give others breathing space in its future dealings.

Mr. Wouter pledged EU assistance to all parties to make sure the system works under the P-TOMS and urged all parties to make sure that peace is established in Sri Lanka. Addressing a media development programme on coverage of natural disasters organized by the Press Complaints Commission at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo yesterday, Mr. Wouter said the EU had allocated 100 million Euros which amounts to about 120-130 million US dollars for tsunami recovery projects in Sri Lanka.

He said sixty percent of the funds would be used for rebuilding and recovery operations in the North and East. The money would be contributed through the P-TOMS trust fund of which the World Bank is the custodian, he said, adding that the EU would also monitor the recovery process through the Bank. Of the EU funds allocated for the North and East sixty percent would be used for the regeneration of livelihoods and forty percent for reconstruction and infrastructure development with special focus on road rebuilding, he said.

Mr. Wouter also said there were people in Sri Lanka who needed help but were not affected by the tsunami. “Some of these people have been affected by a tsunami every day for the last two decades”, he said adding that such people should not be forgotten.

Thu, 30 Jun 2005
JVP to go it alone at future elections By Yohan Perera
The JVP yesterday said it would contest future elections on its own and gave an open invitation to the SLFPers who were against P-TOMS to join the party.

Addressing the party’s national convention at Town Hall JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said it was time to forge a new alliance to save the country and said he saw the downfall of the SLFP soon.Mr. Amarasinghe lashed out at President Chandrika Kumaratunga saying she would have to leave the Presidency with disrespect because of her recent actions.

In a fiery speech, Mr. Amarasinghe also told the security personnel and the police not to follow orders coming from high authorities if they saw them as Constitutional violations. He assured that such brave armed services and police personnel would be duly rewarded once a patriotic government was elected in the future. Mr. Amarasinghe also criticized the UNP for not taking a firm stand on the P-TOMS.

“The UNP has opted to go into political wilderness by acting in this manner. They are not even in a position to participate in television debates on P-TOMS,” he said.“We will set up a people friendly government soon by uniting all communities. We have already made initial discussions with Muslim groups,” he said.

JVP General Secretary Tilwin Silva said President Kumaratunga has fallen into the list of traitors by signing the mechanism. He called upon anti P-TOMS forces to oust her or join the new alliance which would be formed by the JVP soon. He vowed the JVP was ready to make any sacrifice to defeat the traitors.

Thu, 30 Jun 2005
Nghh; epWj;j cld;gbf;ifia Kiwahf Ngz rpwpyq;fh murhq;fj;jpw;F tpLjiyg; Gypfs; 14ehl;fs; fhyf;nfL!
Nghh; epWj;j cld;gbf;ifia rhpahd Kiwapy; eilKiwg;gLj;jTk; Nghuhspfspd; gazj;jpw;fhd ghJfhg;ig cWjpg;gLj;jTk; rpwpyq;fh murhq;fj;jpw;F jkpoPo tpLjiyg; Gypfs; gjpdhd;F ehl;fs; fhyf;nfLtpid mwptpj;Js;sdh;.

,d;W fpspnehr;rpapy; tpLjiyg;Gypfis re;jpj;j ,yq;if Nghh; epWj;j fz;fhzpg;Gf; FOtpd; jiyth; `f;ug; n`hf;yd;l; rpwpyq;fhtpw;fhd Nehh;Nt gpujpJhJth; MfpNahhplk; jkpoPo murpay; Jiwg;nghWg;ghsh; jpU.R.g.jkpo;nry;td; tpLjiyg;Gypfspd; jiyikg;gPlj;jpd; cWjpahdJk; ,Wf;fkhdJkhd ,e;j jPh;khdj;ij ntspapl;lhh;.

fle;j Qhapw;Wf;fpoik td;dpapy; ,Ue;J fpof;F Nehf;fp gazk; nra;J nfhz;bUe;j Nghuhspfs; nghWg;ghsh; kPJ fpisNkhh; jhf;Fjy; Nkw;nfhs;sg;gl;lJ njhlh;ghf ,r;re;jpg;gpd; NghJ fLk; mjpUg;jp njhptpf;fg;gl;lJ.

Nghuhspfspd; ghJfhg;G njhlh;ghfTk; Nghh; epWj;j cld;gbf;ifia mjd; tpjpfSf;fika eilKiwg;gLj;JtJ njhlh;ghfTk; 14 ehl;fSf;Fs; rpwpyq;fh murk; mjd; gilj;jug;Gk; cWjpahd gjpiy toq;fhtpl;lhy; Nghh; epWj;j cld;gbf;ifapd; Kd;duhd jkJ ghJfhg;G eltbf;iffisAk; gad eltbf;iffisAk; tpLjiyg; Gypfs; filg;gpbf;f NeUk; vd;Wk; mt;thW NeUk; gl;rj;jpy; Nghh; epWj;j xg;ge;jk; rpf;fyhf NeUk; vd;Wk; jpU. jkpo;r;nry;td; Fwpg;gpl;lhh;.

mt;thW Nghuhspfs; jkf;fhd ghJfhg;igAk; gadj;ijAk; Nkw;nfhs;Sk; NghJ rpwpyq;fh gilapdh; mth;fis jLf;f Kw;gl;lhy; rpwpyq;fh gilapdiu tpLjiyg; Gypfs; Klf;f NehpLk; vdTk; mth; njhptpj;jhh;.

,d;iwa re;jpg;G ,t;tifapy; kpfTk; Kf;fpakhdJ vdTk; jpU. jkpo;r;nry;td; Fwpg;gpl;lhh;.

rpwpyq;fhtpd; tpNrl cyq;F thDhh;jp %yk; fpspnehr;rpf;F tUif je;j ,yq;if Nghh; epWj;j fz;fhzpg;G FOj;jiytUk; Nehh;Nt Jhjuf mjpfhhpfSk; Kw;gfy; 10.00 kzpapy; ,Ue;J 12.00 kzptiu fye;Jiuahly;fis Nkw;nfhz;ldh;. tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; mjpKf;fpa nra;jpNahL 12.30 kzpastpy; ,yq;if Nghh; epWj;j fz;fhzpg;G FOtpdUk; Jhjuf mjpfhhpfSk; nfhOk;G jpUk;gpdh;.

jkpo;r;nry;td; mtu;fs; Clftpayhsu;fSf;F mspj;j nrt;tpapd; KOtbtk;

Nfs;tp:- ,d;iwa re;jpg;G njhlh;ghf?

gjpy;:- ,d;W Kf;fpakhd re;jpg;G ,lk;ngw;wJ. Nghh;epWj;j fz;fhzpg;Gf; FOj;jiytiuAk; mDruizahsh;fs; vd;w tifapy; Nehh;Ntapd; rpwpyq;fhtpw;fhd gjpy; J}jiuAk; re;jpj;Njhk;. ,r;re;jpg;gpy; Kf;fpa tplakhf mz;ikapy; Nghuhspfs;> nghWg;ghsh;fs; gaz xOq;nfd;W $wp cj;juthjk; mspj;J vkJ Nghuhspfis rjptiyf;Fs; rpf;fitj;J nfhy;tjw;F vLj;j Kaw;rp rk;ge;jkhfj; jhd; ,d;iwa re;jpg;gpy; vkJ jiyikg; gPlj;jpd; ,Wf;fkhd epiyg;ghl;ilAk; mjpUj;jpiaAk; njhptpj;jpUf;fpNwhk;. MfNt> ,t;thwhd jhf;Fjy; eltbf;iffs; njhlUkhfapUe;jhy; njhlh;e;J ,e;j Nghh; epWj;j #oiy jf;f itg;gNjh Aj;j epWj;j cld;ghl;bw;F Vw;g ehk; ele;J nfhs;tNj rhj;jpak; ,y;yhj xd;whf khWk;. ,d;iwa re;jpg;gpNy kpf Kf;fpakhd vkJ jiyikg; gPlk; vLj;jpUf;fpd;w ,Wf;fkhd cWjpahd epiyg;ghl;il njspT gLj;jpapUf;fpNwhk;. Vnddpy; mz;ikapy; vkJ Nghuhspfs;> nghWg;ghsh;fs; gazk; nra;fpd;w NghJ ,ilapNy ,uhZt Gydha;T mikg;G mth;fspd; JizNahL ,aq;Fk; MAjf; FOf;fSk; ,ize;J vkJ Nghuhspfs;> nghWg;ghsh;fs; kPJ nfhiy ntwpj; jhf;Fjy;fis nra;ag; Nghfpwhh;fs; vd;gJ Vw;fdNt vkJ Gydha;T mikg;G %yk; fpilj;j jfty; me;j jftiy fz;fhzpg;Gf; FOtpdhplk; njhptpj;jjd; mbg;gilapy; ,g;gbnahU jhf;Fjy; ,lk;ngwTs;sJ vd;gd mbg;gilapy; vkJ Nghf;Ftuj;Jf;fs; ,ilepWj;jg;gl;L ghJfhg;G rhpahf cWjpg;gLj;jg;gl;L me;j tifapy; fz;fhzpg;Gf;FO gilj;jug;gpdJk; murpdJk; KO cj;juthjj;Jld; vq;fs; Nghuhspfspd; gazk; ,lk;ngw;wJ.

,Ue;Jk; gy jlit Rl;bf;fhl;lg;gl;Lk; vr;rhpf;fg;gl;l epiyapYk; vkJ Nghuhspfs; gazk; nra;j NghJ ,ilapNy jhf;fg;gl;Ls;shh;fs;. mj;jhf;Fjy; neUf;fb epiyfis cUthf;Fk; jhf;Fjyhf mike;Js;sJ. me;j tifapy; vkJ epiyikfis tpsf;fpapUf;fpNwhk;. kpftpiutpy; ,uz;L thufhy mtfhrk; nfhLj;jpUf;fpNwhk;. ,uz;L fpoikf;Fs; Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifapd; gb vkJ Nghuhspfs; vkJ jhafg; gpuNjrj;jpy; ve;jtpj Mgj;Jf;fSk; ,d;wp Rje;jpukhf elkhlf;$ba epiy ,Uf;fpd;wJ. mij cj;juthjg;gLj;jNtz;baJ gilj;jug;GghFk; MfNt me;j tifapy; Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifapy; ifr;rhj;jplg;gl;l ,uz;L jug;G vd;w tifapy; ,uhZt fl;Lg;ghl;Lg; gpuNjrj;jpy; gilj; jug;Gk; muRk; Nghuhspfspd; ghJfhg;ig cj;juthjk; nra;a Ntz;Lk;. vkJ Nghuhspfs; Nghf;Ftuj;J nra;fpd;wNghJ fz;fhzpg;Gf; FOTk; ,uhZtKk; mjpy; gpurd;dkhf ,Uf;f Ntz;Lk;. ve;j tpj capuhgj;Jf;fSk; Vw;glhj cj;juthjk; vkf;F juNtz;Lk;. khjhe;jk; ,U gaz xOq;Ffis nra;J jUkhW Nfl;Lf;nfhz;Ls;Nshk;. vkJ Nghuhspfs;> nghWg;ghsh;fs; Nghf;F tuj;J nra;J vkJ jfty;fisAk; ghpkhw;wq;fisAk; nra;J nfhs;sh tpl;lhy; ehk; Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifia NgZtJ f;ukhf ,Uf;Fk;. gilj;jug;Ngh murhq;fNkh ,e;j Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifapd; gb xOq;FgLj;j jtwpdhy; gaz xOq;Ffis nra;aj; jtwpdhy; vkJ Nghf;Ftuj;Jf;fis Klf;Fkhdhy; vkJ NghuhfNsh> nghWg;ghsh;fNsh toik Nghy Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;iff;F Kd;dh; vkJ Nghf;Ftuj;Jf;fis vg;gb Kd;ndLj;NjhNkh me;j eilKiwf;Fs; ,wq;Ftij jtpuNtW topapy;iy. MfNt ,yq;ifauRk; gilj;jug;Gk; Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifia Ngz Ntz;Lk;. mikjptopapy; gpur;rid jPH;T fhzNtz;Lk; vd;w mh;gzpg;G ,Uf;Fkhdhy; Aj;j epWj;j cld;ghl;by; cs;s tplaq;fis eilKiwg;gLj;j Kd;tuNtz;Lk;. ,jpy; ,Oj;jbg;Gf;fis nra;J epiyikfis Nkhrkila nra;thh;fshdhy; njhlh;e;J nghWik fhj;Jf; nfhz;bUf;f KbahJ. ,uz;L thu fhye;jhd; ehk;fhy mtfhrk; nfhLj;J ,Uf;fpNwhk;. vkJ NghuhspfSf;fhd ghJfhg;ghd gazk; xOq;FfSf;F mjw;fhd rpghh;Rfis nra;jpUf;fpNwhk;.

Nfs;tp:- Nghuhspfs; gaz xOq;F kl;Lkh? my;yJ Aj;j epWj;j cld;ghl;il NgZtjw;fhfth fhy mtfhrk; tpLj;Js;sPh;fs;?

gjpy;:- Nghuhspfspd; gaz xOq;Fjhd; Kf;fpakhf Ngrg;gl;lJ.Nghuhspfs; nfhy;yg;gLfpd;w NghJ cld;gbf;if eilKiwg; gLj;JtJ rhj;jpak; mw;w tplakhf cs;sJ.vq;fSila Nghuhspfspd; gazk; Klf;fg;gLfpd;wNghJ ,uhZtj;jpDila Nghf;Ftuj;ijAk; Klf;Fk; toptifia ifahs ehk; eph;ge;jpf;fg;gLNthk; Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;if rPh;FiyTf;F cl;gLk;. mNjNghd;W Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifapy; $wg;gl;l eilKiwfs; rk;ge;jkhf ,Wf;fkhf typAWj;jpAs;Nshk;. mNjNghd;W Aj;j epWj;j cld;ghl;by; Vw;Wf;nfhs;sg;gl;l ,ay;G epiyiaf;nfhz;L tUtjw;F chpa eilKiwfs; rk;ge;jkhfTk; typAWj;jpAs;Nshk;. ,jw;F muRk; gilj;jug;Gk; jPh;f;fkhd KbT vLf;f KayNtz;Lk; kf;fs; nfhe;jspg;ghd epiyf;Fs; js;sg;gl;L cs;shh;fs;. Mh;ghl;lq;fs;> Ch;tyq;fs;>ntFIdg; Nghuhl;lq;fs; %yk; jPh;itj; Njb Kaw;rp nra;j tz;zk; cs;sdh;. ,e;j epiyAk; ,d;iwa re;jpg;gpy; Rl;bf;fhl;bAs;Nshk;.

Nfs;tp:- nghJf;fl;likg;G ifr;rhj;jplg;gl;ljd; %yk; jw;NghJ muR Gypfis Vw;wpUg;gjhf mikr;rh; xUth; $wpapUg;gJ njhlh;ghf?

gjpy;:- mth;fs; nrhy;tjpy; cz;ikapUf;fpd;wJ. rpwpyq;fh murhq;fk; ,d;W ,Uf;fpd;w murhq;fk; vd;gij ehk; epuhfhpf;f KbahJ Mdhy; ,uz;L Njrq;fs; cs;sd.MfNt jkpoh;fSila Njrk;>jkpoh;fSila gpujpepjpfs; ahh; vd;gij muR Vw;why; rhp. ,uz;L Njrq;fspy; cs;s mjpfhu ikaq;fis Vw;Wf; nfhz;ljpdhy;jhd; nghJf;fl;likg;ig Vw;Wf;nfhz;Ls;Nshk;. MfNt ,uz;L mjpfhu ikaq;fs; ,Uf;F vd;gij ehk; Vw;Wf;nfhz;lhy; mth;fSk; Vw;Wf;nfhs;thh;fs; vd;W ehd; epidf;fpd;Nwd;.,jpy; jtW ,y;iy vd;Wjhd; ehd; epidf;fpd;Nwd;.

Nfs;tp:- nghJf;fl;likg;G njhlh;ghd Ntiyj; jpl;lq;fs; vg;NghJ Muk;gkhFk;?

gjpy;:- mJ gw;wpAk; ,d;W Rl;bf;fhl;bNdhk; Kf;fpakhf fz;fhzpg;Gf;FOj; jiyth; mth;fisAk; Nehh;Nt mDruizahsh;fisAk; mioj;jjd; Nehf;fk; ,d;Ws;s ghuhJ}ukhd epiyikfis tpsf;Ftjw;fhfj;jhd;. MfNt ,d;Ws;s epiyikfs; rPh; nra;ag;glhtpl;lhy; vy;yhNk rPh; FiyAk; vd;gJjhd; ,d;Ws;s ajhh;j;j epiyik mij ,d;W ehk; ntspg;gLj;jpaNjhL nghJf;fl;likg;G eilKiwf;F tpiuthf nfhz;L tuNtz;Lk;.; xg;gk; ,LtNjh ,zf;fg;ghl;il njhpag;gLj;JtNjh Kf;fpakpy;iy ,ij kf;fs; xU NghJk; ek;gg; Nghtjpy;iy kpftpiutpy; nghJf;fl;likg;G Ntiyfis eilKiwf;F nfhz;LtUtjw;fhd #oiy muR tpiue;J cUthf;f Ntz;Lk; vd;gij Rl;bf;fhl;bAs;Nshk;.

Nfs;tp:- nghJf;fl;likg;G mq;fj;jth; ngah; tpguk; njhpag;gLj;Js;sPh;fsh?

gjpy;:- tpiutpy; ifaspf;fTs;Nshk; ,uz;L my;yJ xhpU jpdq;fspy; vkJ jhafj;jpd; kPs;fl;Lkhdj;jpw;fhd epjpaj;ij epjpaj;jpd; fhg;ghshuh nraw;gl Nghfpd;w cyf tq;fpNahL NgrtpUf;fpNwhk; mg;Ngr;R Kbe;jgpd; vkJ epiyg;ghl;il mDruizahsh;fSf;F njhptpf;fTs;Nshk;.

Nfs;tp:- nghJf;fl;likg;G njhlh;ghf K];ypk; gpujpepjpfSld; Nghr;Rf;fs; elj;Jk; jpl;lk; cs;sjh?

gjpy;:- jw;NghJ cs;s epiyikfspy; Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifNa neUf;fb epiy mile;J nry;fpwJ.fs epiyikfs; Nkhrk; mile;J nry;fpd;wd. muRk; gilfSk; neUf;fb epiyikfis cUthf;fpapUf;fpd;wdh;. mtw;Wf;Fs; jPH;T fhzNtz;Lk; epiyikfs; rPuilfpd;w NghJ K];ypk; r%fj;Jld; ehk; NgRNthk;. vkJ jhafg; gpuNjrj;jpy; vd;d Ntiyj;jpl;lq;fs; Kd;ndLf;fg;gl;lhYk; K];ypk; r%fj;ij ,izj;J nfhs;tJk; ,ize;J nfhs;tJk; ajhh;j;jk; fhyNthl;lj;jpy; Ntiy jpl;lq;fis Kd;ndLf;fg;gLfpd;w NghJ K];ypk; kf;fSf;F mth;fSila vjph;ghh;g;Gfis epiwNtw;wf; $ba Kaw;rpfis nra;Nthk;.

Nfs;tp:- NI.tp.gp.,uhZtj;jpdiu jk;Kld; ,ize;J gzpahw;w mikg;G tpLj;jpUg;gJ njhlh;ghf?

gjpy;:- mJ njhlh;ghf jq;fs; NI.tp.gpia jhd; Nfl;fNtz;Lk; ,uhZtk; vd;d KbT vLf;FNjh mjpy; rpwpyq;fhtpy; Vw;glg;Nghfpd;w murpay; Vida khw;wq;fs; vd;gd jq;fpAs;sd.mt; epiyikg;ghL rk;ge;jkhf NI.tp.gpia Nfl;gJ jhd; nghUj;jkhf ,Uf;Fk; vd epidf;fpd;Nwd;.

Nfs;tp:- ,uz;L thu fhy mtfhrk; vd;gJ ,d;wpypUe;jh?

gjpy;:- ,d;wpypUe;J ,uz;Lthu fhy mtfhrk; nfhLj;J ,Uf;fpd;Nwhk;. ,uz;L thu fhy mtfhrj;Jf;Fs; Kbit njhptpf;f Ntz;Lk;. muR.Aj;j epWj;j cld;ghl;il NgZtjw;F jahuhf ,Uf;fpwjh? ,y;yhtpbd; Aj;j epWj;j cld;ghl;il Ngz tpUk;gkpy;iy Vw;Wf; nfhs;stpy;iy vd;w epiyg;ghL vLf;Fkhdy; mjhtJ ehk; Gjpa Nfhhpf;ifia Kd;itf;ftpy;iy Aj;j epWj;j cld;ghl;by; Vw;Wf;nfhs;sg;gl;l eilKiwiaAk; fle;j fhyq;fspy; njhlh;r;rpahf Ngzg;gl;L te;j eilKiwfisAk; nra;AkhWjhd; Nfl;Lf;nfhs;fpNwhk;.

Nfs;tp:- tha;%ykhfth vOj;J %ykhfth Nfl;L ,Uf;fp;d;wPh;fs;?

gjpy;:- tha; %ykhfTk; vOj;J KykhfTk; Nfl;L ,Uf;fpNwhk;. MfNt ,J rk;ge;jkhf ,uz;L thu fhyj;Jf;Fs; gjpy; juNtz;Lk; ,y;yhtpl;lhy; ehk; toikNghd;W Nghf;F tuj;J xOq;Ffis nra;aNtz;Lk;. gazk; nra;fpd;w NghJ gilj;jug;G ,ilkwpj;J neUf;fbfis nfhLf;Fkhf ,Ue;jhy; ,uhZtj;jpdhpd; Nghf;Ftuj;Jf;fis Klf;Fk; eph;ge;jj;jpw;F ehk; js;sg;gLNthk.; ,e;j epiyikia Rl;bf;fhl;bAs;Nshk;.. ,uz;Lthu fhyj;Jf;Fs; ,jw;fhd Kbit jUkhW $wpAs;Nshk;. muRk; gilj;jug;Gk; Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifia NgZtjh? ,y;iyah vd;gij mth;fs; jhd; KbT nra;aNtz;Lk;.

Nfs;tp:- Aj;j cld;gbf;ifapy; $wg;gl;Ls;s ,uz;L thu fhyk;jhd; jw;NghJk; nfhLf;fg;gl;Ls;sjh?

gjpy;: mg;gbAk; epidf;fyhk; vq;fisg; nghWj;jtiuapy; ,uz;L fhyj;Jf;Fs; mjw;fhd Kbit Nfl;L ,Uf;fpNwhk;. ,y;yhtpbd; vkJ ,Wf;fkhd epiyg;ghl;il ,uz;L thu fhyj;Jf;Fs; njhptpg;Nghk;. eilKiwfis ehk; tpsf;fp $wpAs;Nshk;. vkJ Nghuhspfs; Klf;fp ,Uf;f KbahJ. vkJ Nghuhfspfs; Rje;jpukhf elkhl Ntz;Lk; Kf;fpa vkJ jsgjpfs;> nghWg;ghsh;fs; vkJ jiyikg;gPlj;jpd; mbf;fb fye;Jiuahl Ntz;Lk;> xOq;F gLj;jy;fis nra;aNtz;Lk; my;yhtpbd; Aj;j epWj;j cld;gbf;ifapy; cs;s tplaq;fis NgZtJ f];ukhf vkf;F ,Uf;Fk; ehk; Rakhf vkJ gazj;ij Nkw;nfhs;tJ jtph;f;fKbahJ vd;gij ,d;iwa re;jpg;gpy; tpsf;fpAs;Nshk;.

Thu, 30 Jun 2005

Three SLA soldiers shot dead in Batticaloa

Three soldiers belonging to Sri Lankan Army (SLA) Intelligence were shot and killed in Urani, a suburb of Batticaloa, at 10.30 AM Thursday, Batticaloa Police said. The soldiers, attached to the Intelligence Unit at the Head Quarters of the 223 Brigade of the SLA, were killed by unidentified gunmen between a SLA mini-camp at Palameenmedu and a Police post at Periyaurani, while they were returing from Palameenmedu fish market in a three-wheeler, sources said.

Lance Corporal Saran Kularatne, Saman Kumara and Saminda Kumara, the driver of the three-wheeler were the soldiers killed by the gunmen. A T-56 assault-rifle was recovered from the scene, Police said. The incident took place at New Boundary Road, near the water tank in Urani. Further details are not available. Urani is located in SLA held territory, around 4 km north of Batticaloa

Thu, 30 Jun 2005

LTTE issues 2 weeks ultimatum for ensuring travel safety

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Thursday in a crucial meeting with members of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) demanded that the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) should provide a clear response on procedures to ensure safety of travel for LTTE cadres in the east. Head of LTTE Political Wing told Scandinavian delegation that Tigers will resume their own armed escort if the GoSL fails to provide satisfactory response within two weeks, sources from Vanni said.

The announcement follows the landmine attack in Welikande on the LTTE convoy escorted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and facilitated by the truce monitors.

"If LTTE decides to use its own armed escort, the CFA will likely collapse, and LTTE should not be held responsible for breaking the ceasefire," Thamilchelvan told the delegation.

When contacted by TamilNet, Mr S Puleedevan, Director of Peace Secretarait confirmed that the message was given to Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Mr Hagrup Haukland when the latter met LTTEs Political Head in LTTEs Peace Secretariat Thursday morning at 10.00 AM.

"In terms of the provisions in the CFA relating to the transport of LTTE members through military controlled areas and more so according to the explicit understanding reached in a meeting with the SLMM and the Norwegian Ambassador, the SLA should have provided full security and safety to our members, but what has happened at Welikanda on 26 June 2005, gives us serious concern over the genuineness of the SriLankan Government’s commitment to the CFA," said Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan in a meeting with the SLMM and the Norwegian embassy officials, according to LTTE's Peace Secretariat website.

Thamilchelvan told the delegation that the date and time of travel of the LTTE convoy was only made known to the members of the SLMM and through the SLMM to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). "The miltary intelligence obtained the information from the SLA and has planned this attack. Further, none of the members of the Security forces were travelling on the bus," Thamilchelvan said.

"For the Kausalyan killing, Sri Lanka Government blamed the LTTE for not informing the Security Forces to provide armed escort. And now our seeking escort from the Security Forces has endangered the lives of 40 of our cadres," Thamilchelvan further told the delegation.

If LTTE decides to resume its own armed escort, it will also be forced to curtail movements of Sri Lanka Armed forces in areas that are critical to LTTE troop movement, Thamilchelvan told the delegation, according to sources in Kilinochchi.

Acting Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr Oddvar Lægreid and three other Norwegian officials were present in a two hour meeting with the LTTE officials, sources in Kilinochchi said.

Political observers in Kilinochchi noted the ominous sign of the ultimatum and compared this with a similar deadline LTTE gave before terminating talks in March 1995. LTTE was then blamed for breaking the truce even after giving a three week warning followed by a two week extension when the agreement called for only 72 hours notice.

LTTE Political Head this time has reiterated in clear terms that LTTE should not be blamed for breaking the CFA, observers noted.

29 June2005

International Thirukkural Conference July 8-10, 2005

Smith Auditorium, Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044 USA


The only gift is giving to the poor; All else is exchange. kural-221

About the Conference:

Over the course of the civilized human history, there have been a number of philosophers, saints and social and religious leaders around the world who have pondered over the meaning of life, the nature of truth, the existence of God, the ethical code of conduct, intricacies of human emotions and other intriguing questions. Their answers vary depending upon their religious beliefs, national origin and the time period in which they lived. It is unusual to find one book, written by one person that has explored almost all aspects of life and arrived at conclusions that are universally and eternally valid. Thiruvalluvar lived about 2000 years ago in Tamil Nadu, meaning the land of Tamils, currently one of the states in the southern part of India. Thiruvalluvar was a unique genius who wrote the book called Muppaal, later known as Thirukkural which has been hailed by many as the greatest gift to mankind.

In many respects, Thiruvalluvar is more comprehensive and covers the whole spectrum of human experiences than the well-known philosophers like Buddha, Confucius, Aristotle, Plato, Machiavelli and others. In spite of the remarkable nature of his contribution, Thiruvalluvar is relatively unknown outside his native land.

The objective of this conference is to create an awareness and understanding of Thiruvalluvar and Thirukkural among the younger generation Indians and people of other cultures in North America. This is also the first time a conference of this nature is being held in North America. It is expected that many Tamil Scholars and Thirukkural researchers will participate in this conference from many countries in the world.

The objectives of this Conference are:

To understand how Thirukkural can be a guide to humanity.

To create and promote awareness of Thirukkural in USA among Americans and the youth of Indian origin.

To compare Thiruvalluvar with other philosophers of the world.

E-mail :support@thirukkural2005.org

29 June2005

Bhikku Front and Patriotic Movement file cases against P-TOMS

The National Bhiku Front (NBF) led by Ven Dambara Amila Thero and the National Patriotic Movement (NPM) led by Venerable Elle Gunawanse Thero have filed separate cases on Tuesday asking the Colombo District Court to make the P-TOMS null and void, legal source in Colombo said.

The two organisations in their submission to the District Court have pointed out that the P-TOMS signed between the Government and the LTTE last Friday was against the unity and the intergrity of Sri Lanka and will pave way for political calamity in the future. Propaganda secretary of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Mr Wimal Weerawansa, also accompanied the National Patriotic Movement Ven Gunawansa Thera on the capacity as one of the founder members of the movement, sources said.

The National Bhiku Movement and the National Patriotic Movement have mentioned the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Ministry Secretary M.S.Jayasinghe and the LTTE representative Shumugalingam Ranjan who signed the P-TOMS as the respondents along with the Attorney General, and the Secretary to the President.

29 June2005

Positive response to Muslims demands
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has reassured the Muslim community that the Government would take steps to ensure that their concerns and aspirations are addressed in the implementation of the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS).

During an extensive discussion with Muslim Ministers and Deputy Ministers, President Kumaratunga responded positively to the Ministers' suggestions and undertook to give them every consideration and explore how their proposals could be implemented.

The President held a fresh round of discussions on the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) or Tsunami Relief Council (TRC) with Muslim Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

At Monday's discussions at the President's House, the Muslim legislators expressed their concerns regarding certain aspects of the P-TOMS, a Presidential Media Unit release said. "Their concerns were discussed in depth with the President. They proposed some options with the objective of resolving the issues causing their community apprehension," it said.

UPFA General Secretary Minister Susil Premajayantha was associated with the President at the discussions. Following the discussion, the National Unity Alliance has withdrawn an ultimatum to the Government that the P-TOMS be withdrawn by Tuesday. The party has since decided to stick with the Government. "Following talks with the President, the NUA will not rock the boat," a party official told reporters.

NUA spokesman and Condominium Management Authority (CMA) Chairman Abul Kalam said their party will continue to remain in the UPFA alliance since they strongly believed in President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's commitment of justice and fairplay by the minorities and were confident of the resolution of Muslims' concerns with regard to the P-TOMS. The President held several rounds of talks with Muslim theologians and legislators over the last few weeks prior to the signing of the P-TOMS last Friday. In a recent discussion with Muslim theologians in the East, the President assured them that the rights and security of the Muslim community would be safeguarded and respected and that they will be given their rightful share in the proposed P-TOMS.

President Kumaratunga met with Minister Ferial Ashraff and a delegation of her party on June 21. The President assured Minister Ashraff that she was fully conscious of the fears, anxieties and concerns of the Muslim people in the context of the suffering the Muslim community has endured during for more than two decades of armed violence and the recent tsunami natural disaster.

On that occasion, she assured Minister Ashraff that the Tsunami Relief Council takes into consideration and accommodates many of the interests of the Muslim community and has clauses for addressing their concerns.

During the long negotiations between the GoSL and the LTTE on the Tsunami Relief Council, the GoSL negotiated hard to accommodate Muslim concerns, persuading the LTTE to agree to some significant practical measures. Specifically the Muslim parties have equal representation at the national level, sufficient representation to prevent decisions that may adversely affect them at the regional level, and dominant representation in the areas where they live.

She assured Minister Ashraff and other Muslim leaders that her government would in the future as in the past take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of the Muslim people living in the East and the North.

Further, the President strongly recommended that Muslim leaders consider the proposed Tsunami Relief Council in its totality and the gains that may be made by the Muslim community as a whole, through full participation in it. The President also met MP Rauff Hakeem to discuss Muslim concerns regarding the P-TOMS.

29 June2005

UNP hits out at Kadirgamar’s stance
The main opposition UNP yesterday launched a fierce attack on Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, alleging he had tried to undermine the ceasefire agreement and was now not doing his duty to promote the P-TOMS agreement.

In a statement issued by Assistant Secretary Tissa Attanayake, the UNP said that like Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Minister Kadirgamar was also conveniently dodging the issue and he must now make his position clear. “While the Prime Minister had abdicated his responsibilities, the Foreign Minister too has not carried out his duties. It is the responsibility of the Foreign Minister to educate the missions and envoys abroad about such an important agreement and convey the message to foreign leaders through them.

“Not only has Mr. Kadirgamar failed to do this duty, but he has also steered clear of stating his position regarding the P-TOMS agreement. The Foreign Minster did not even come to parliament when this agreement was presented.

“The conduct of the Foreign Minister is important in this instance in the light of how he acted when we signed the ceasefire agreement. Mr. Kadirgamar at that time requested the Indian government on several occasions to intervene saying that the sovereignty of the country was threatened. He stated before Indian leaders that the security of India was also threatened because of LTTE activity such as the Manirasakulam camp. He showed the entire world that the territorial integrity of the country had been compromised by the ceasefire agreement.

“Through the P-TOMS, the President has officially accepted the ceasefire agreement. Now the question has arisen in the minds of the public whether Mr. Kadirgamar too has accepted the ceasefire agreement. If he accepts the ceasefire agreement, then invariably all that he has stated against it stands to be false. The entire world and the country are waiting to hear the stance of Mr. Kadirgamar,” the UNP said.

29 June2005 India and US sign defence accord

Mr Mukherjee and Mr Rumsfeld signed the agreement India and US have signed a 10-year agreement to strengthen defence ties between the two countries. The landmark agreement will help facilitate joint weapons production, co-operation on missile defence and the transfer of technology. Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld signed the agreement.There has been a significant transformation in relations between the two countries in recent years. The agreement was signed during Mr Mukherjee's visit to the US - his first since assuming his post last year. The United States and India have entered a new era

Statement on the agreement "The United States and India have entered a new era," a statement issued after the signing of the agreement in Washington said. "We are transforming our relationship to reflect our common principles and shared national interests."

According to AFP news agency, the statement said the ministers agreed to set up a "defence procurement and production 'group' to oversee defence trade, as well as prospects for co-production and technology collaboration".

Biggest partner "Today, we agree on a new framework that builds on past successes, seizes new opportunities and charts a course for the US-India defence relationship for the next 10 years," the statement said. The statement said that the two nations had advanced to "unprecedented levels of cooperation". The defence pact came ahead of a three-day visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the US in July. In a speech in Washington on Tuesday, Mr Mukherjee urged the US to lift curbs on nuclear technology transfers to India.

The US imposed the restrictions in the wake of India's nuclear tests in 1998. Economic ties have grown between the two countries, once on opposite sides of the Cold War fence, and the US is now India's biggest trading partner. The two countries have also overseen increased military ties, holding joint exercises and expanded civilian, space and hi-tech contacts.

29 June2005

The Tamil National Question By: P. Ramasamy Source: TamilCanadian

The question foremost in the minds of many is whether the Tamil national question in the northeast of Sri Lanka whether in the form of separate state or through political accommodation with the Sinhalese can be successfully resolved under the present political, economic and social circumstances. While there are no clear answers as the political direction that the Tamil national question would proceed, there is general feeling that the approach to understanding and analyzing this important question has to go beyond the traditional analytical framework. In other words, while the relationship between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan state, whether conflictual or cooperation, will be a crucial component in the resolution of the Tamil nationalist conflict, there is another factor that need to be factored in. This is none other than the role of India. It is not that India has not been figured in the overall context of the Tamil national question, but academic and political discourses on this important question has sidelined India to some extent.

India’s posture of disinterest or neutrality in regard to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka as result of the debacle of the Indian Peace Keeping Forces in the late 1980s and the subsequent assassination of its Prime Minister Raji Gandhi have been accepted by academic analyses as sign of its limited importance in the Tamil national question. But however, some scholars and analysts have repudiated this posture in the recent past. They argue that although India sought to clear itself from interfering with the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the above two incidents, India’s could not just disentangle itself from the affairs of the island for geo-political reasons. Following the ceasefire, India has been kept informed about the nature of the peace process by the Norwegians, Sri Lankan government leaders have often traveled to India to discuss matters with the Indian political elite, India has often called for the negotiated settlement of the Tamil question through peaceful process and lately India has ventured into the dredging of the narrow Palk Straits, a stretch of water separating the southern part of the country from Sri Lanka. Beyond this, the possibility of defense pact/cooperation with the Sri Lankan state, military training programmes for the members of the Sri Lankan armed forces and most importantly the desire for India to maintain South Asian region free from the interference of super powers have provided some conclusive grounds that India is reasserting its regional role with the possibility of it affecting the nature of settlement of the Tamil national question.

The LTTE is not a naïve political and military organization. Its leaders, during the period of armed conflict with the Sri Lankan state, recognized the resolution of the Tamil question would invariably involve India in one form or another. However, during the temporary “retreat” of India from the affairs of the island, the resolution of the Tamil conflict came to mainly occupy the LTTE and the Sri Lankan establishment. Following the ceasefire brokered by the Norwegians in early 2002, after a six rounds of peace talks, the LTTE proposed the subject of interim administration for the furtherance of a negotiated political settlement. In late 2003, the LTTE gave its ISGA proposal to the Sri Lankan government so as to kick-start the peace process, but unfortunately, the fall of UNP government engineered by president Kumaratunga with support from the JVP derailed the discourse on ISGA. As international pressure was mounting on Kumaratunga to begin negotiations with the LTTE on the basis of the ISGA, the tsunami dealt a severe blow to thousands of Sri Lankans. The impact of tsunami lessened international pressure on Kumuratunga’s coalition government and ultimately paved the way for the discussion of the adoption of a joint mechanism for the management and distribution of financial aid to the victims. On 26 June 2005, the government and the LTTE despite opposition from the hardline Sinhalese spearheaded by the JVP and JHU have signed the P-TOMS MOU.

For the LTTE long isolated from the international main stream and branded as a terrorist organizations, the ceasefire was an opportunity in not only bringing normalcy to the Tamil areas long devastated by war, but also a means to gain international acceptance and legitimacy as the sole representative of Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka. The quest for an interim administration was predicated on the grounds that its participation in peace negotiations must be matched by measures to rebuild, rehabilitate and improve the lives of ordinary Tamils. Similarly the eagerness of the LTTE to embrace the joint mechanism was basically to ensure that financial aid from donor agencies and the international community would be able to relieve the suffering of Tamils affected by Tsunami. The ISGA and P-TOMS to the LTTE are mere temporary arrangements necessary to improve the lives of Tamils so that they share the benefits and the same time come to acceptance the peace process as something legitimate. However, it would be mistake to believe that LTTE relies on these two administrative mechanisms to resolve the Tamil national question once and for all. They can be considered as confidence building measures merely to convince Tamils not in mere words but in deeds of the benefits of engaging in a negotiated political settlement.

It need to be said in military and strategic terms, with or without these administrative mechanisms, if the Tamil national question is basically confined to the relationship between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan state, the latter could have moved in the direction of separate state. Some political analysts are of the opinion, in the absence of a third force, meaning India; the LTTE could have with some difficulty expelled the armed forces from the Tamil areas. But why it has not taken this step, is a mystery to some and not to others. The formidable presence of India, its hostility to the LTTE, its avowed principle not to allow for the separate state and its close cooperation with the Sri Lankan state are factors as to why the LTTE has not pursued the separate state option vigorously and in line with the ‘thirst’ of its cadres. About two years before the conclusion of the ceasefire, the collapse of the Jafffna was quite imminent, but then the LTTE pulled back, purportedly to avoid civilian casualties. This is merely a partial explanation. What was India’s position then?

The Sri Lankan state with all its mighty armour is not a position to defeat the LTTE, but counts on the good office of India to checkmate the latter’s quest for a separate state. For the LTTE resolution of the Tamil question is complicated and problematic. It is has not only to deal with the Sri Lankan state, it has reckon with India and to a limited extent the European Community and the United States. Even if the LTTE is prepared to pursue the line of substantial autonomy as enunciated during the peace talks in 2002, there is no evidence that the Sri Lankan state, given its political divisions, is in a position to provide a dignified solution to Tamils.

Well, if we believe that the struggle for a dignified solution to Tamils in Sri Lanka is a long protracted and arduous process, then there is possibility that some kind of paradigmatic orientation is necessary to re-focus and re-energize the process that would give us some hope as how best to solve the Tamil national question. Factoring India into this kind of a new framework suggests that supporters of the Tamil national liberation movement take up the intellectual challenge of fostering and nurturing good and amicable relationship with people of India. A functional people to people approach might lay the basis for a long-term relationship between the Tamil nationalist movements and other similar movements in India.

28June 2005

,e;jpa-,yq;if ghJfhg;G xg;ge;jj;jpw;F vjpuhf cz;zhtpujk;

tutpUg;gjhff; $wg;gLk; ,e;jpa-,yq;if ghJfhg;G xg;ge;jj;jpw;F vjpuhf jkpofj;jpy; jkpo;g; ghJfhg;G ,af;fj;jpd; rhu;gpy; cd;zhtpujk; eilngw;wpUf;fpwJ. xUNtis ,e;j xg;ge;jk; eilKiwf;F tUkhdhy; mJ jkpou; eyd;fSf;Fg; ghjfk; tpistpf;Fk; vd jkpofj;jpy; cs;s tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; Mjuthsu;fs; $Wfpd;wdu;.

Vw;fdNt ,e;j xg;ge;jj;jpy; ,e;jpah ifnaOj;jplf; $lhJ vd;W Nfhup kjpKf nrayu; itNfh mz;ikapy; ,e;jpag; gpujku; kd;Nkhfd; rpq; mtu;fisr; re;jpj;jpUe;jhu; vd;gJ Fwpg;gplj;jf;fJ.

,d;iwa cz;zhtpujj;jpy; ciuahw;wpa jkpo;g; ghJfhg;G ,af;fj;jpd; jiytu; njhy; jpUkhtstd;> kj;jpapy; Vw;gLk; muRfs; vLf;Fk; eltbf;iffs; rpy jkpou; eyd;fSf;F vjpuhf Ngha;tpLfpd;wd vd;Wk; ,e;jg; gpur;rid Fwpj;J jhd; kj;jpa jiytu;fSld; Ngr;Rthu;j;ijfs; elj;jg; NghtjfTk; njuptpj;jhu;.

28June 2005

jpUNfhzkiyapy; Cu;f;fhty; rpg;ghapd; rlyk; fz;Lgpbg;G

,yq;ifapd; jpUNfhzkiyg; gFjpapy; nrd;w thuk; fhzhky; Nghd Cu;f;fhty; giliar; Nru;e;j xUtupd; rlyk; ikyNtt fhl;Lg; gFjpapy; fz;L gpbf;fg;gl;bUf;fpd;wJ.

NrUEtu k`pe;jGuj;ij mLj;Js;s fhl;Lg; gFjpapy; ,e;j khjk; ,Ugjhk; jpfjp jdJ kidtp gps;isfSld; tpwF ntl;lr; nrd;w Cu;fhty; giliar; Nrhe;j ee;jnul;d fhzhky; Nghdhu;.

,Nj Ntis tpLjiyg; Gyfspd; fl;Lg;ghl;Lg; gpuNjrj;jpy; cs;sjhf njuptpf;fg;gLk; cg;ghW flw; gpuhe;jpaj;jpy; flw; gazj;jpid Nkw;nfhz;l epiyapy; ,e;j khjk; 18k; jpfjp tpLjiyg; gypfshy; ifJ nra;ag;gl;L fhtypy; itf;fg;gl;bUe;j fe;jsha; nghyp]; epiya fhd;];lgps; mkhy; gpurd;dh ,d;W gpizapy; tpLtpf;fg;gl;bUf;fpd;whu;.

tpLjiyg; gypfspd; ePjpkd;wj;jpy; ,tu; Ik;gjpdhapuk; &gh fhRg; gpizapy; tpLtpf;fg;gl;bUf;fpd;whu;. ,tuJ gpizg; gzj;jpid tpLjiyg; GypfNs nrYj;jpajhf tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; jpUNfhzkiy khtl;l murpay; Jiw nghWg;ghsh vopyd; njuptpj;jpUf;fpd;whu;.

,t;thW gpizapy; tpLtpf;fg;gl;l gpurd;dh ,d;W khiy jpUNfhzkiy khtl;l Nghu;epWj;j fz;fhzpg;G FOtpd; jiytu; Mu;j;ju; Uitw;wdplk; ifaspf;fg;gl;lhu;. ,jidj; njhlu;e;J Nghu;epWj;j fz;fhzpg;Gf; FOtpd; jiytuhy; ,tu; FLk;g cWg;gpdu;fsplk; xg;gilf;fg;gl;ljhfTk; fz;fhzpg;Gf; FO tl;lhuk; njuptpj;jpUf;fpd;wJ.

28June 2005

nghJf;fl;likg;gpd; ed;ikfis xd;W Nrh;e;J mDgtpg;Nghk;! - K];ypk; kf;fSf;fsplk; jkpo; $l;likg;G

jkpo; kf;fs; murhq;fj;jpw;F ntspNa ,Ue;J elj;jptUk; Nghuhl;lj;jpd; gadhf fpilj;jJ jhd; ,e;j nghJf;fl;likg;G. ,e;j nghJf;fl;likg;gpdhy; fpilf;fg;NghFk; ed;ikfis jkpo; kf;fSld; ,];yhkpa kf;fSk; xd;whf ,ize;J mDgtpf;f Ntz;Lk;. mr;rk;> re;Njfq;fis xU gf;fj;jpy; itj;jtpl;L> ,];yhkpa kf;fs; ,J tplaj;jpy; rpe;jpj;J xj;Jiog;G toq;F khW Nfl;Lf;nfhs;fpd;Nwd;. vd jkpo; Njrpa $l;likg;gpd; ghuhSkd;w FOj;jiyth; ,uh.rk;ge;jd; njhptpj;Js;shh;.

New;W jpq;fl;fpoik rhk;gy;j;jPTf; fpuhkj;jpy; jpUNfhzkiy eyd;Ghpr;rq;fk; elj;jpa epfo;T xd;wpy; gpujk mjpjpahf gq;F gw;wp ciu epfo;j;Jk; NghNj mth; ,jidj; njhptpj;jpUf;fpd;whh;.

tlf;F> fpof;fpy; jkpo; kf;fSk; K];ypk; kf;fSk; njhlh;e;Jk; epue;jukhf tho Ntz;Lk;. vd;WNk gphpe;J tho KbahJ. tlf;F fpof;fpy; jkpo; ,];yhkpa kf;fs; njhlh;e;Jk; epk;kjpahf tho;tjw;F xw;Wik Njit.

nghJf;fl;likg;gpy; jkpo; K];ypk; kw;Wk; rpq;fs kf;fspd; chpikfs; cj;juthjg; gLj;jg;gl;Ls;sd. jq;fspd; chpikfs; kWf;fg;gLk; vd K];ypk;fs; vz;zNtz;bajpy;iy vdTk; mth; njhptpj;Js;shh;.

28June 2005

jpBu; Gj;ju; rpiyapy; kWf;fg;gl;l ePjp: ANd];Nfhtplk; Kiwapl jkpou; kdpj cupik ikak; Ntz;LNfhs;

jpUNfhzkiyapy; ,dtd;Kiwfisj; J}z;Lk; tifapy; jpBnud jpzpf;fg;gl;l Gj;ju; rpiy tptfhuj;jpy; jkpou;fSf;F kWf;fg;gl;l ePjp Fwpj;J And];Nfh mikg;Gf;F KiwaPl;L kDf;fis mDg;GkhW gpuhd;]; jkpou; kdpj cupik ikak; cyfj; jkpou;fSf;F Ntz;LNfhs; tpLj;Js;sJ.

,J njhlu;ghd gpuhd;R jkpou; kdpj cupik mikg;gpd; mwpf;if:

Gj;jgpuhd; fpwp];JTf;F Kd; 563 Mz;L ,e;jpahtpy; cs;s fgpyt];J mUfhikapy; cs;s Yk;gpdp vDk; fpuhkj;jpy; ,e;J rkaj;ij rhu;e;j mur FLk;gj;jpy; gpwe;jhu;. ,tu; jdJ ,sik gUtj;jpy; rpj;jhj;ju; vDk; ngaUld; thOk; Ntisapy;> jdJ mur tho;f;ifia Jwe;J Gjpa Nghjidfspy; <Lgl;lhu;.

,g;Nghjidfs; ,Wjpapy; ngsj;j Nghjidfshf khwpd. ,d;Wk; ngsj;j Nghjidfs; gy ,lq;fspy; je;Jtq;fshf Vw;Wf;nfhs;sg;gl;litNa jtpu ,ij Xu; rkakhf Vw;Wf;nfhs;sg;gltpy;iy. Mdhy; rpwpyq;fhtpy; ,ij Xu; rkakhf Vw;Wf;nfhs;sg;gl;lJ kl;Lky;yhJ ngsj;j rkaj;jpw;F rpwpyq;fhtpd; 1978k; Mz;L murpay; ahg;gpdhy; Kd;Dupik nfhLf;fg;gl;L ghJfhf;fg;gl;L tUfpd;wJ.

ngsj;j jj;Jtq;fSf;F Kd;Dupik nfhLf;fg;gl;Ls;s mNj ehlhd rpwpyq;fhtpy; Gj;jupd; Nghjidahd rkj;Jtk; rhj;tPfk; Nghd;wit gLNkhrkhd Kiwapy; Gj;j gpf;FfspdhYk; murpay; jiytu;fspdhYk; jtwhd topapy; elj;jg;gl;L tUtij ahtUk; mtjhdpf;ff; $bajhf ,Uf;fpwJ. rpwpyq;fhtpy; gLnfhiyfSk; ml;^opaq;fSk; epiwe;j ngsj;j Ml;rp epytptUfpwJ.

fle;j Nk khjk; 15k; jpfjp kdpj ,dNk mjprapf;Fk; tifapy; gjpide;J mb cauKs;s Xu; Gj;ju; rpiyia jkpou;fspd; jhaf G+kpahd jpUNfhzkiyapy; rpwpyq;fh murhq;fj;jpd; J}z;LjYld; ngsj;j gpf;FfSk; ngsj;j mbtUbfSk; ,uNthL ,uthf murpay; fye;j fgl Nehf;fj;Jld; epWtptpl;ldu;.

,e;j mePjpf;F cl;gLj;jg;gl;l jpUNfhzkiy tho; jkpo; kf;fSk;> jpUNfhzkiy efurigAk;> ,g; Gj;ju; rpiyia cld; mfw;WkhW jpUf;Nfhzkiy khtl;l ePjpkd;wj;jpy; tof;F xd;iw jhf;fy; nra;jdu;. Nk 18k; jpfjp ,t;tptfhuj;ij tprhuiz nra;j jpUNfhzkiy kthl;l ePjpgjp> rl;l tpNuhjkhf epWtg;gl;l ,g; Gj;ju; rpiyia cld; mfw;WkhW fl;lisapl;lhu;.

kPz;Lk; jdJ jPu;g;ig Nk 25k; jpfjp cWjp nra;jhu;.

Mdhy; rpwpyq;fhtpy; cs;s ngsj;j murhq;fKk; mjd; ghJfhg;G gilAk; ePjpgjpapd; fl;lisia epiwNtw;Wtjw;F vjpu;khwhf rl;ltpNuhjkhf epWtg;gl;l ,g; Gj;ju; rpiyf;F gyj;j MAjg; ghJfhg;G toq;fpAs;sdu;. ,Njtis ,g; Gj;ju; rpiyia rl;ltpNuhjkhf epWtpNahu; ,jw;F Xu; epue;ju fl;llj;ij epWTk; Kaw;rpapy; <Lgl;Ls;sdu;.

,g; Gj;ju; rpiy tptfhuj;jpy; muR ePjpkd;wj;jpd; fl;lisia xU khjfhykhfpAk; epiwNtw;wtpy;iy. khwhf xU khj fhyj;jpd; gpd;du; mjhtJ nrd;w thuk; ngsj;j ePjpgjpia nfhz;l kPs; guPrpyid ePjp kd;wj;jpdhy; jpUNfhzkiy kthl;l ePjpgjpapd; jPu;g;G uj;J nra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ. rpwpyq;fhitg; nghWj;jtiuapy; ,q;F jkpo; kf;fSf;F vjpuhd ve;jtpj ePjpkd;w fl;lisfSk; cld; epiwNtw;wg;gLfpwJ. Mdhy; jkpou; tptfhuj;jpy; ngsj;j rpq;fstUf;F vjpuhd ve;jtpj ePjpkd;w jPu;g;Gk; tYtw;wjhfptpLfpwJ.

rpwpyq;fhtpy; ghJfhg;Gg; gilfspd; gpujk jsgjpAk; epiwNtw;W mjpfhuj;ijf; nfhz;l [dhjpgjp tpUk;gpapUe;jhy; ,g; Gj;ju; rpiy tptfhuj;ij jpUNfhzkiy khtl;l ePjpgjpapd; cj;juTld; kpfTk; ,yFthf mfw;wpapUf;fyhk;.

khwhf ,g;Gj;ju; rpiyf;F ghJfhg;G nfhLj;J rpiyia mfw;wtplhJ ftdpg;gJ rpwpyq;fhtpy; ,UNtWgl;l ePjp Kiwfs; eilKiwapy; cs;sJ vd;gij njspthf gpujp gypf;fpd;wd. fle;j Mz;L a+iy Xf];l; khjq;fspy; ,yq;if jPTf;F gazk; nra;j jkpou; kdpj cupikfs; ikaj;jpd; gpujpepjpfs; fle;j etk;gu; khjk; ntspapl;l gazj;jpd; mwpf;ifapy; jpUNfhzkiyapy; kl;Lky;yhJ jkpoPo tpLjiyg; Gypfspd; epu;thfk; jtpu;j;j kw;iwa gFjpfshd jkpou;fsps; jhaf G+kpapy; mur kuk; fz;l ,lnky;yhk; Gj;ju;rpiy epWtg;gLtjhfTk; murkuk; ,y;yhj gFjpfspy; ngsj;j epWtdq;fspdhy; mur kuq;fs; fgl Nehf;fq;fSld; ehl;lg;glg;gLfpd;wJ vdf; $wpaJ ,q;F Fwpg;gplj;jf;fJ.

rpwpyq;fhit nghWj;j tiuapy; ngsj;j rkak; ghJfhf;fg;gl gytpjr; rl;lq;fs; cUthfpd;wd. mz;ikapy; [hjpfnfy cWka vd;w Gj;jgpf;Ffis mq;fkhff; nfhz;l murpay; fl;rp Kf;fpakhf ngsj;ju;fs; fpwp];jtu;fshf rkakhw;wk; eilngwhky; ,Ug;gjw;F ghuhSkd;wj;jpy; Xu; Gjpa rl;lj;ij Kd;nkhope;Js;sdu;.

,r; rl;lj;ij kPWNthUf;F gy tUlfhyr; rpiwj; jz;lidAk; gy yl;rk; &gh mguhjKk; tpjpf;ff; $bajhf ,r; rl;lk; Kd;nkhopag;gl;Ls;sJ. rpwpyq;fhitg; nghWj;j tiuapy; Gj;j gpf;FfNs murhq;fj;ij Ml;rpf;F nfhz;Ltu> muir elj;j> muir ftpo;f;f cjTfpd;wdu;.

,e;j uPjpapy; jpUNfhzkiyapy; rl;lj;jpw;F Kuzhf epWtg;gl;l Gj;ju;rpiy tptfhuj;jpy; khtl;l ePjpkd;wj;jpd; jPu;g;G myl;rpak; nra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ. vdNt rpwpyq;fhtpd; Njrpa rl;lj;jpd; fPo; nray; ,oe;Js;s khtl;l ePjpkd;w jPu;g;ig eilKiwg;gLj;j ru;tNjr epWtdq;fshd If;fpa ehLfs;rig> If;fpa ehLfs; rigapd; fy;tp> tpQ;Qhd> fyhr;rhu ];jhgdkhfpa ANd];Nfh> If;fpa ehLfs; rigapd; kdpj cupik Mizahsu;> If;fpa ehLfs; rigapd; rka cld;ghLfSf;fhfd gpujpepjp Nghd;Nwhu; jpUNfhzkiyapy; ,uj;jf;fsupiaj; jtpu;f;fTk;> ,d;DnkhU Nghu; rpwpyq;fhtpy; %shkYk; cldbahfj; jiyapl Ntz;ba Njit Vw;gl;Ls;sJ.

,e;j uPjpapy;> If;fpa ehLfs; rigapd; fy;tp tpQ;Qhd fyhr;rhu ];jhgdkhfpa ANd];Nfhtpd; ,af;Fdhu; ehafj;jpd; ftdj;jpw;F> ,j;Jld; ,izf;fg;gl;Ls;s kDit cldbahf njhiy efy; %ykhfNth (gpuhd;]; jtpu;e;j kw;iwa ehLfspypUe;J 00-33-1-45685555 my;yJ 00-33-1-45685591 vd;w ,yq;fj;jpw;Fk; gpuhd;]pypUe;J 0145685555 my;yJ 0145685591 ,yq;fj;jpw;Fk;) my;yJ jghy; %ykhfNth jaT nra;J mDg;gp itf;FkhW gpuhd;]; jkpou; kdpju; cupik ikak; Mfpa ehk; jaTld; Ntz;LfpNwk;.

njhiy efy; %ykhf mDg;GtJ tpUk;gj;jf;fJ.

gpuhd;]; jtpu;j;j kw;iwa ehLfspypUe;J : 00-33-1-45685555 my;yJ 00-33-1-45685591

gpuhd;]pypUe;J : 0145685555 my;yJ 0145685591

ePq;fs; mDg;g Ntz;ba kD:

Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura
Director General
UNESCO
7, Place de Fontenoy
75352 PARIS 07 SP

Dear Sir,

Appeal to remove the statue of Buddha, erected with political motivation

On 15 May 2005, a statue of Buddha was illegally erected overnight in the Eastern town of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka by so called Buddhists. The unauthorized erection of the statue on land belonging to the Trincomalee Urban Council (UC) was immediately challenged in the courts by the Special Commissioner of the Urban Council and the President of the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples' Forum (TDTPF). This matter has created tension between the Tamil and Singhalese people in Trincomalee. Several violent incidents have been reported all over the Trincomalee District.

The lawyers who appeared on behalf of the Special Commissioner of the UC and the President of the TDTPF told the court that they "revered Lord Buddha and are not against the Buddhist religion. But they said they suspected political motives behind the overnight erection of the statue and only a court order for temporary removal of the statute will lead to the restoration of peace in the town".

On 18 May the Trincomalee Magistrate and Additional District Judge instructed the Police to take all possible steps to temporarily remove the controversial statue and pronounced that a long term solution to the matter could be found by the Urban Council taking legal action. On 25 May, the Judge reaffirmed his earlier judgement regarding the temporary removal of this statue. Meanwhile another statue of Buddha was erected in Trincomalee close to the Hindu cemetery in Ehamparam Road in Vijithapura on May 23, 2005.

The court order was ignored by the law enforcement agencies and the statue has remained in the same location for one month, guarded by the Sri Lanka Army, Police and the Buddhist followers.

In the meantime those who erected this Buddha statue wanted to have a permanent building constructed around it. On 13 June, this idea was put on hold on the orders of the Attorney General department . This case was postponed until 3rd August as the respondent of this case has not appeared in the courts.

But this respondent, filed another case (became a petitioner) in the Court of Appeals, challenging the order given by the Trincomalee Magistrate on 18 May for the temporary removal of the statue of Buddha. The petitioner pleaded in his appeal to nullify the order of the Trincomalee Magistrate. On 17 June, his appeal was accepted by a Buddhist Judge in the Court of Appeals, who issued a restraining order on the Trincomalee Police and Trincomalee Urban Council preventing them from temporarily removing the statue of Buddha illegally erected on state land located in Trincomalee town. The decision of the Court of Appeals on 17 June was a discriminatory decision rather than based on the rule of law.

In Sri Lanka, the culture of impunity prevails in all affairs concerned with the grievances of Tamils. Perpetrators of violence against Tamils are not brought to book. However any judgement against a Tamil is implemented immediately after the judgement. The President who enjoys executive powers has turned a blind eye on the controversial statue of Buddha. With the court's order, being Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan security forces, the President could have easily removed the Buddha statue on 18 May, if she were genuinely for equality and justice.

As the legal judgement, within the National law, is partial and the state has deliberately ignored the court order of the Trincomalee Magistrate, we kindly and urgently request the Director General of UNESCO to intervene immediately to remove the statue of Buddha which was erected with political motivation, to create tension among communities. The court order issued twice by the district courts in Trincomalee should be respected without further delay.

We kindly request you to intervene immediately to prevent bloodshed and war in Sri Lanka.

Thank you

Yours sincerely

28June 2005

Lanka IOC to Build Gas Stations in Former Rebel City (Update1)

June 28 (Bloomberg) -- Lanka IOC Ltd., a unit of India's largest oil refiner, plans to open gas stations in Jaffna, a Sri Lankan city formerly held by rebels that killed 1,500 Indian peacekeeping troops during the two-decade civil war.

``We want to bring Lanka IOC to the whole island,'' said Lanka IOC Managing Director Mahadevan Nageswaran in a June 23 interview in the capital, Colombo. ``People think of us as an oil company, not as an Indian company.''

Lanka IOC, a unit of Indian Oil Corp., follows rival fuel seller Ceylon Petroleum Corp. and Dialog Telekom Ltd., Sri Lanka's biggest cell-phone operator, into the former rebel-held area after a 2002 cease-fire revived the $20 billion economy, lifting car sales 23 percent last year. The investment is the first in the area by an Indian company since the country sent 60,000 troops to northeast Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990.

``In Jaffna, petroleum companies don't have a strong presence because no investment has been put in since the war,'' said Saman Kelegama, executive director at the Institute of Policy Studies in Colombo. ``Lanka IOC, even if it's Indian, won't be a problem because people in Jaffna really need essential services.''

The Jaffna peninsula, at the island's northern tip 30 kilometers from India, faced regular power and fuel shortages during the civil war. The city was only accessible by plane or boat during hostilities, which lasted from 1983 to February 2002, destroyed infrastructure like fuel storage tanks and petrol stations and left as many as 60,000 dead.

Lanka IOC, which appointed top Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan to promote its brand last year, aims to capture half of the retail fuel market from Ceypetco, whose monopoly was broken up by the government in 2002. Ceypetco Maavai Senathirajah, a resident of Jaffna who commutes the 14-hour drive to Colombo once a week, says price would decide whether he buys gas at a Lanka IOC outlet when it opens in his hometown.

``If they can offer at a lower price, then of course I will go there,'' said Senathirajah on June 24. ``Lanka IOC being an Indian company doesn't matter, if they have good service.'' The truce, which ended daily curfews and security checks, has boosted car sales. New motor vehicle registrations rose to 223,842 last year from 181,502 in 2003, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said in its annual report.

Sri Lanka needs to secure a permanent peace agreement with Tamil rebels to attract investment to the country, Peter Harrold, World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka said yesterday. ``Moving into the north is good as long as the war is over,'' Namal Kamalgoda, who manages $145 million in stocks and bonds as chief investment officer at Eagle NDB Management Co. in Colombo, the island's biggest fund, said on June 23. ``The big problem is Lanka IOC is in a tight cash-flow position but I don't think that would disrupt their expansion plans.''

Funding Lanka IOC, which is owed $53 million in fuel subsidy payments by the Sri Lankan government, will fund the $10-million expansion from internal reserves, Nageswaran said. The Indian company is borrowing from Standard Chartered Bank, the state- controlled Bank of Ceylon and Citibank N.A., to fund its day-to- day expenses.

``We have borrowed $40 million and we are paying interest at 10 percent,'' Nageswaran said, ``If we get paid, we will give out an interim dividend.'' Lanka IOC shares have risen 20 percent this year on the Colombo Stock Exchange while the Colombo All Share Index, the world's 9th best performer, has gained 34 percent.

Lanka IOC's Nageswaran is unlikely to be able to fulfill the company's ambition to open gas stations all over Sri Lanka. Rebels control areas in the north east captured during the war. They run a fuel distribution network in Kilinochchi, a city of 30,000 people 65 kilometers south of Jaffna, which is also the birthplace of Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Tamil Rebels

``We have our own cooperatives and they buy fuel from Ceypetco but they operate their own network in our territory,'' said Daya Master, spokesman for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in a telephone interview from the Kilinochchi headquarters on June 23. Master said the rebels wouldn't allow Lanka IOC or other oil companies to operate in rebel-held territory. ``If they are opening in Jaffna, we have to see what their policy is going to be. We will look into the matter.''

28June 2005

Muslim Council Meets Ranil Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo,

An eight member delegation from the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka met opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinge at the opposition leader's office at Cambridge Terrace at 4 PM today. During the meeting, the Muslim Council presented its concerns with regard to the P-TOMS signed by the Government and the LTTE. The Muslim Council pointed out the serious flaws in the agreement, with special emphasis on the need for the Government of Sri Lanka to maintain the chairmanship at all levels of administration and equal representation for the Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala community in the regional and district committees.

The opposition leader also commented on the injustice to the Sinhala and Muslim Community in the P-TOMS agreement and assured his support and consideration in a future government under him. The opposition leader also agreed to meet a delegation of Muslim Youth from the Eastern province on Friday at his office. Wickremasinghe wants to assure the youth that he will find a solution to their grievances under a UNP government and urged them to avoid violence, and conduct any opposition through peaceful means.

The Muslim council of Sri Lanka has also requested a meeting with President Chandirika Bandaranayke Kumaranatunga. They will also meet the Tamil National Alliance, The Prime Minister, other Political parties and Co-chairs of the Tokyo agreement to discuss their concerns.

28June 2005 People march in Kayts demanding the withdrawal of SL forces

More than 5000 people marched on Monday in Kayts demanding the security forces stationed there to leave. Among the marchers were members of parliament K Sivanesan and Pathmini Sithamparanathan. Also among the marchers were representatives of local NGOs, students and teachers. The march started at 11.00 a.m. from Karampon-Palakkadu junction and proceeded to St Sebastian temple junction. Marchers accompanied by drums shouted the slogans, "Government of Sri Lanka withdraw your forces " and "Traitors leave the peninsula". The Sri Lankan navy and police heavily protected the camp of the EPDP in the area. Large number of riot police was also stationed there. When the marchers reached Kayts junction they could be seen carrying placards of the Tamil National leader V Prabhaharan. They shouted slogans like, "We want our land back", "Sinhala security forces, leave the peninsula immediately", and "Hand-over the interim self-governing authority to the LTTE". The marchers then reached the Urkavalthurau Assistant Government Agent (AGA) office and held a meeting. Letters to the head of the European Parliament, Foreign embassies in Colombo, and Tamil National Leader were handed to the AGA. AGA Srimohan assured the marchers he would promptly send the letters to the people concerned. An effigy of the Minister and the Secretary General of EPDP, Douglas Devananda was dragged behind a vehicle and then set alight in front of the AGA office.

8June 2005

Japan gifts 256 transitional houses for tsunami victims

The Japanese Government has provided a sum of US$ 200,000 to IOM (International Organisation for Migrants) an NGO, for the construction of transitional houses with water supply, sanitation and electricity, states a press release from the Japanese Embassy. It said that 256 transitional houses were handed over Friday to tsunami-affected people in Modarawila, Panadura .

The houses at the Modarawila site will accommodate 1,152 beneficiaries, bringing the total of transitional accommodation in the country to 1,556 for more than 7,002 beneficiaries. This site will have families from around the district who will be involved in developing future plans to strengthen their new community. IOM has provided electricity for each household, while there will also be a community centre and a pre-school at the site, for the benefit of the community.

In addition, UNICEF had provided water and sanitation services. Issues such as waste management and security will be addressed with the assistance of IOM and the Sri Lanka Government's Transitional Accommodation Project (TAP).

In response to the tsunami emergency, IOM provided tents and emergency shelters for over 13,000 people who lost their homes in the districts of Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Colombo. With over 1,500 transitional accommodations complete, the construction of additional accommodation will commence as land is identified and prepared. At present, land has been allocated for IOM to build a total of 3,397 accommodations.

The opening ceremony of these new transitional houses took place on June 24 at 3 p.m. in Modarawila, in the presence of the Commissioner General for Essential Services and head of TAFOR Thilak Ranaviraja, Deputy Head of the Embassy of Japan Hiroshi Karube and Chief of IOM Mission in Sri Lanka Ms. Mary Sheehan, while First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy Dr. Yuji Miyahara, and TAP-Colombo officers, Project Director W.G. Mithrarathne and Public Relations Consultant P. Gamage Karunasiri. IOM Chief of Emergency Operations, Christopher Gascon, and National Programme Officer/Field Office Coordinator Sunil Fernando, were also present on the occasion.

28June 2005

JVP goes to court over P-TOMS

The UPFA government's former ally, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), today filed a case in the Colombo District Courts against the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) agreement signed between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE.

The plaintiff, JVP Western Province councilor Vasu Gunawardene, filed the case seeking an order to immediately stop the P-TOMS agreement. He was accompanied by JVP parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti. Attorney-at-law Sunil Wattawala represented on behalf of the plaintiff.

The plaintiff also urged the court to place an interim injunction with immediate effect on the structure’s authority to divest development funds. He cited M.S. Jayasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation, and S. Ranjan, Deputy Head of Planning and Development at the LTTE Secretariat, both of whom had signed the P-TOMS agreement, along with the Attorney General and the Secretaries to the Ministries of Finance and the President as respondents.

JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe had told the media yesterday that his party would contest the government's signing of the agreement. Addressing a media conference in Colombo, he had said they will file a case against the government for signing the MoU as there was no mandate from the people to do so.

He also challenged the UPFA to sack the JVP members from the parliament and said that according to the UPFA Constitution, if one party leaves, the UPFA would collapse. He said his party is considering whether to write to the Commissioner of Elections, advising him to dissolve the government if the UPFA throws the JVP members out.

28June 2005

LTTE ‘cannot’ rebuild Trinco harbour area By Sassanka Samarakkody

COLOMBO: The strategically vital Trincomalee habour and adjacent areas come under the controversial P-TOMS, the regional tier of which is LTTE-dominated, and is located in the Tiger controlled no-go district of Kilinochchi.
Trincomalee harbour and the adjacent coastal areas, regarded for centuries as a strategic prize, and of particular concern to Sri Lanka and India owing to the recent LTTE build-up in the area, were affected by the tsunami.
However, they have not been exempted from the ambit of the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure. Thus they come into the tsunami disaster zone as per the P-TOMS, which is within the 2km strip from the waterline, analysts have pointed out.

The tsunami affected areas of six districts in the North and East come under the ambit of the P-TOMS.
The regional tier of the P-TOMS has five LTTE members, making the Tigers the largest single shareholder of the structure. This regional level committee is located in the Tiger heartland of Kilinochchi, according to the P-TOMS Memorandum of Understanding. However, speaking to journalists, Jayantha Dhanapla, Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat defended the agreement from this criticism, saying that the P-TOMS merely reiterates the Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE signed by the Ranil Wickremesinghe regime, under which High Security Zones have been set out.

The Trincomalee habour being one of these zones, the Tigers will not be able to undertake any reconstruction work in the area. The tsunami affected areas of the Sinhala and Muslim dominate Ampara district also come under the LTTE-dominated regional committee of the P-TOMS, to be located in Kilinochchi. Ampara is so distinct in ethno cultural composition that the 1986 December 19 proposals worked out by Indian minister P Chidambaram envisaged its exclusion from the merged North and East. Dhanapla has said that the district level committee of the P-TOMS is representative of this specific composition, and the proposals it sends up to the regional level will reflect that composition and those concerns.

Meanwhile, political commentator and writer Tisaranee Gunasekara states: “The Muslims are merely a minority in this Tiger dominated North-East and the role they have been accorded (as per the P-TOMS) is strictly in keeping with this minority status (even though the majority of the tsunami victims are Muslims).“The role of the government (GOSL) is partly that of a quasi-external facilitator enabling the donors to directly fund the Tiger dominated Regional Committee and partly that of a ‘Sinhala representative’ looking after the interests of the Sinhala minority of the North-East.” “The structure of the P-TOMS represents a restructuring of Sri Lanka, he said.”