28 September 2005

EU refuses to meet Tamil Tiger delegations because of continued terrorism

European Union said it would refuse to meet visiting Tamil Tiger delegations because of continued terrorism by the rebel group in Sri
Lanka's ethnic conflict.A statement released by the British high commission (embassy) in Colombovoiced concern about a "continuing use of violence and terrorism" by theLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

"The European Union has agreed that with immediate effect, delegations from the LTTE will no longer be received in any of the EU member states until further notice," the statement said on Tuesday. "The pursuit of political goals by such totally unacceptable methods only serves to damage the LTTE's standing and credibility as a negotiating partner and gravely endangers the peace process so much desired by the people of Sri Lanka."

The EU also said it is considering listing the Tigers as a terrorist group to curtail political activities such as fund-raising. "The European Union is actively considering the formal listing of the LTTEas a terrorist organisation," the statement said. A February 2002 ceasefire brokered by Norway between the government and the LTTE has been under strain because of recent killings, including the August 12 assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

The government accused the Tigers of carrying out the killing, but the rebels have denied involvement. The ethnic conflict has claimed more
than 60,000 lives since 1972. Several countries have already listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation including the United States, Britain and India. Britain currently holds the presidency of the 25-member EU.

Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels deny they are terrorists following EU rebuff A representative of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels on Tuesday defended the organization against charges of terrorism, a day after the European Union said the group was no longer welcome in Europe's capitals. In a statement released by the British government on Monday, the EU said the rebels "will no longer be received in any of the EU member states until further notice" as the body considers whether to add the Tamil Tigers to its list of terrorist organizations. Britain currently holds the rotating presidency of the 25-nation union.

The EU statement said the Tigers' "continuing use of violence and terrorism" threatened the country's fragile peace process.Reacting to the announcement, a rebel spokesman based in Sri Lanka's northeast denied the Tamil Tigers are terrorists. "We are not a terrorist organization," Daya Master told The Associated Press when reached by telephone. "We are fighting for the rights of the Tamil people."

The Tamil Tigers began fighting in 1983 for a separate Tamil homeland, saying the 3.2 million minority Tamils are discriminated by the 14
million majority Sinhalese on the island off India's southern coast. The war killed nearly 65,000 people before the 2002 cease-fire.

Subsequent peace talks stalled over rebel demands for greater autonomy in the areas under their control in the north and east. Master said a detailed statement may be issued later. The 2002 Norway-brokered cease-fire between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels has been severely tested by a spate of recent killings that included the Aug. 12 assassination of Sri Lanka's foreign minister by suspected Tigers. The Tigers deny involvement.Radicals among the Tamils started the armed campaign in 1983 after anti-Tamil riots in Sri Lanka. The rioting was sparked by an ambush of 13 soldiers by rebels. Over 800,000 Tamils fled to India and about a dozen Western nations, mainly to Canada, Australia and Britain.

Woman shot dead in outskirts of Jaffna

Jeyarasa Leelavathy, 37, from Oddumadam, was shot dead around 6.30 a.m. Tuesday by unidentified gunmen when she was coming out of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp located in the outskirts of Jaffna town, sources in Jaffna said. According to the eye-witnesses, two masked men were seen talking to Leelavathy, before she suddenly started to run. The men followed her into an abandoned housing area near Pommai Veli, shot and killed her before disappearing. Local residents identified Leelavathy as a woman involved in nefarious activities with the SL army personnel, TamilNet correspondent in Jaffna said.

Jaffna police are investigating the incident.

The deceased had received five shots on her head before she died, the Police sources revealed. Ms Srinithy Nanthasekaran, Additional Magistrate, Jaffna, visited the spot, held preliminary inquiries and ordered removal of the body to the mortuary attached to Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Sri Lankan officials misappropriated tsunami aid

Sri Lankan government officials misspent or misappropriated hundreds ofthousands of dollars worth of tsunami aid after failing to follow
instructions, the island’s auditor general said on Monday. Officials gave millions of rupees in tsunami assistance to thousands of
families who were not directly affected by the Indian Ocean island’s worst natural disaster in memory. There were others displaced by the tsunami whodid not get the rations they were entitled to.

Auditor General S.C. Mayadunne put the misappropriation down to confusion stemming from multiple instructions issued by different government departments. “As far as we see it, it is a misinterpretation of the ... instructions,”Mayadunne told Reuters. “Therefore, when you misinterpret ... it is a misappropriation. I should not say it is corruption.” In one case, 73.395 million rupees ($723,460) worth of aid was paid out
to
nearly 16,000 families in the divisional secretariat of Negombo, 20 miles (32 km) north of Colombo on the west coast, which was relatively unscathed by the Dec. 26 tsunami. Only 599 families in Negombo were directly affected by the tsunami, Mayadunne said in a report on flaws in post-tsunami aid distribution and accounting he has presented to parliament.

A government spokesman said he had no immediate comment to offer on the report which comes ahead of presidential elections set for Nov. 17. Hundreds of millions of rupees worth of aid collected locally by government agencies was still sitting in bank accounts by July, and in some cases had been invested in fixed deposits, Mayadunne added in the report.

“Test checks revealed instances such as spending only a small portion of the funds collected locally for the purposes, retaining collections in general deposit accounts without being used for the intended purposes,” the report said. International donors have pledged over $3 billion in aid to Sri Lanka, around a third of which has been firmly committed so far according to the island’s tsunami reconstruction body.

Mayadunne’s report, posted on the Web site www.auditorgeneral.lk, also details instances of apparent corruption, including the disappearance of aid materials. It also found that by the end of July, seven months after the tsunami killed nearly 40,000 people and flattened entire towns and villages along the island’s seaboard, only a fraction of pledged foreign aid had been spent on intended key sectors.

Only 8.2 percent of $120.5 million pledged for the ravaged fisheries sector had been spent, while 11.2 percent of $311.5 million intended for housing and urban development had been used. Mayadunne, who is tasked with auditing the accountability of Sri Lanka’s government and reports directly to parliament, is working on a comprehensive audit of Sri Lanka’s handling of tsunami aid.

Retired Commanders denounce JVP Leader's call to disband Security
Forces

Retired commanders of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces, General S.C.Ranatunge, Air Vice Marshal Harry Gunatilake, Lt.General Dennis Perera and General Hamilton Wanasinghe, Monday in a signed press release condemned the statement made by Mr.Somawanse Amerasinghe, leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) directing the Prime Minister Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse to disband
the government security forces no sooner he is elected Executive President of Sri Lanka if the security forces are unable to safeguard the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

Mr.Amerasinghe made the controversial statement at a presidential election rally held on September 20th in support of the Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, PrimeMinister at Colombo Town Hall, sources said.The press release was issued Monday afternoon at a media briefing held at Renuka Hotel, Colombo participated by the signotaries.

The full text of the press release follows: -

The statement of Mr.Somawanse Amerasinghe that the security forces shouldbe disbanded if they cannot protect the territorial integrity of the country in our view is a severe insult inflicted upon the security forces and is a demoralizing message to the thousands of soldiers who work with a sense of the dedication and deep commitment to protect the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We are of the view that his statement cannot be considered a casual remand or for that a matter of rhetorical statement made by a politician in view of the fact Mr.Amarasinghe on two occasions during his speech insisted that if the security forces are unable to safeguard Sri Lanka's territorial borders the Prime Minister must disband the security forces so sooner he is elected President of this country. Mr.Amarasinghe needs to be reminded that it is because the security forces have successfully defended the nation's
territorial integrity that our country withstood the attempt to carve out a separate by the separatist forces.

We wish to remind the nation including the JVP leader that Sri Lanka's armed forces have never failed in their duty to protect the territorial
integrity of the country and democratic form of government when it came under assault not only by the LTTE but also the JVP in the past

In performing their duty to protect democracy and the territorial integrity of the country, thousands of soldiers including celebrated top ranking security forces personnel have paid the supreme sacrifice for their motherland, and it is unbecoming of a political leader to make
statements inflicting humiliation not only on the soldiers in service but the disable and those patriots who have died fighting to protect the country's territorial integrity.

Mr.Somawanse Amerasinghe statement directing the Prime Minister to disband the security forces also revives memories of JVP's abortive attempt during the terror campaign of the late 1980s to force the soldiers to quit the security forces under the threat of murdering their family members. It is to the credit of the security forces that they withstood that terror campaign and performed their duty to protect the democratically elected government on that occasion and also the territorial integrity.

We can quote numerous other instances where the security forces bounded by their duty to protect the country and its people have acted fearlessly and with bravery in the past and have no doubt will continue to do so in the future notwithstanding any insidious attempts to demoralize and humiliate them.

In conclusion, we as servicemen who took active part in the battlefield and had the privilege of leading our courageous men to protect democracy and the territorial integrity of the country categorically condemn the statement made by Mr.Somawanse Amerasinghe, the JVP leader," the press release concluded.

27 September 2005

President to dissolve Parliament?

President Chandrika Kumaratunga is likely to dissolve Parliament within the next two weeks, political sources said yesterday . It is believed she would call for a general election prior to the Presidential election on November 17. The President as the leader of the SLFP is likely to form her own selection committee within the SLFP to decide on party nominations. It is likely that the SLFP would go for the general election alone.

The move is intended to undermine the electoral agreements signed by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa with the JVP and the JHU.
Political sources said that close family members had warned the President of a danger of the SLFP being hijacked by the JVP. Members of her family had recalled how her mother, the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike had protected the party for 17 years in the eighties and the early nineties amidst harassment from the UNP.

They had cautioned that in the event of Rajapakse winning the Presidential election, there would not be a place for the Bandaranaike’s in the party. These sources felt that by dissolving Parliament, the President could protect the party for future generations. It is said that the President’s move is aimed at bringing back party veterans who had been sidelined in the Rajapakse campaign which is dominated by the JVP.

In the eventuality of general elections being called, the JVP and JHU would have to contest on their own.

Muslim Congress still to decide on Presidential candidate

The speculation regarding the Sri Lanka Muslim congress support in the oncoming presidential elections continues. The party leader, Rauff
Hakim said that a correct decision would be taken at the appropriate time. Speaking at the death anniversary of their late leader M.H.M. Asraff held at Madawela Madina National school Mr. Hakeem said that in a complex political situation as at present, the decisions should be taken very carefully.

“Late Leader, Asraff has has given us the political leadership. The need to take correct decisions at the appropriate hour is on of his
precepts”. Mr. Hakeem said adding that the SLMC should not leave room for one section of the society to envy them. “The whole country is anxious to know the presidential candidate who could win t he support of the SLMC. However time is still not ripe to take the correct decision. It will take some more time to decide as the decision should be taken in a responsible manner” he said.

Trinco Tamils urged to boycott State banks

Tamil civil groups in Trincomalee have called on the Tamil speaking people not to open new accounts in State Bank branches in the district and to boycott these branches on Tuesday September 27 to show their token opposition for the blatant discrimination meted out to educated qualified Tamil speaking youths in the recruitment process. The boycott is to continue until the bank administration steps to recruit more Tamil speaking youths, sources said.

Of the 1350 youths recruited by the Bank of Ceylon and Peoples Bank recently, only sixty-six have been posted to northeast province. Of
these sixty-six, except six, others are Sinhalese youths residing in the other provinces in the south and not from the northeast province. Of the sixty-six, 59 (53 Sinhalese and six Tamils) have been posted to Trincomalee district.

In a statement the Tamil civic groups have said the procedure adopted in the recruitment clearly shows the attempt by the government to make these institutions Sinhala dominated banks in Tamil speaking areas. Even Sinhalese youths from the Trincomalee district are not recruited. Tamil speaking people should not allow this dangerous trend to succeed at a time when hundreds of educated Tamil and Muslim youths idling without job opportunities, the statement said.

Three prison guards killed in attack on prison bus

Three prison guards and an inmate were killed when unidentified gunmen shot at a prison bus transporting suspects to court in western Sri
Lanka - Monday, police said. There are tens of thousands of army deserters in Sri Lanka - said to be involved in organized crime and contract killing, according to Sri Lankan media reports. The Sri Lankan military says it has a list of more than 70,000 soldiers who deserted during a protracted civil war that has been temporarily halted by a 2002 cease-fire deal.

22 September 2005

General shut down paralyzes normal life in Trinco

Tamil speaking people observed a general shut down in Trincomalee town and its suburbs, Wednesday, putting forward 8 demands, including the immediate removal of the unlawfully erected Buddha statue in the vicinity of the central bus terminal, about five months, and to lift the military occupation of the town since then. Tamil civil groups in the east port town issued the general shut down call.

All government departments, provincial council offices, state and private sector banks, business establishments of Tamils and Muslims, offices of international and national non-governmental organizations, were closed down, as majority of employees did not report for work. Schools of all media were closed down, as students did not attend classes. Some shops in Sinhalese areas were seen opened, TamilNet sources sources said.

State bus services came to a complete halt. Private buses owned by Sinhalese were seen at the private bus stand. However, the bus terminals were deserted without commuters, sources said. The general market of the Trincomalee urban Council, which is dominated by Sinhalese traders, was seen deserted although vendors were seen in their stalls, sources said.

Additional Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and riot police squads are kept in readiness to quell any disturbances during general shut down, police sources said.

Joint appeal by JVP and TRO in Italy-(The daily Mirror)

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, which has often accused the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) of having links with the LTTE, seems to be having a good understanding with the Italian arm of this NGO.

The Italian arm of the JVP and the TRO are believed to have jointly signed an appeal calling on the Italian authorities to permit Sri Lankan immigrants living illegally to visit their relatives affected by the tsunami back home and re-enter Italy without having to face the law. The appeal with the joint backing of the JVP and the TRO as well as other groups in Italy is posted on the Peace Link website http://italy.peacelink.org/migranti/articles/art_8905.html dated January 04, 2005.

The same appeal also appears on the “Melting Pot” website www.meltingpot.org/articolo4516.html and “Unimondo.org” http://unimondo.oneworld.net/article/view/100810/1/ with the JVP’s Italian email address also listed for readers to post their inquiries. However, when contacted by the Daily Mirror the TRO office in Colombo, after speaking to the Italian TRO office, said at no point did the JVP and the TRO in Italy worked together.

Sri Lanka extends emergency for another month
Sri Lanka's Parliament Wednesday passed a motion extending the State of Emergency for another month by a majority of 94 votes. 118 members voted for the Emergency, and 24 voted against. The twenty members of Tamil National Alliance, two members of the Up-Country People Front (UPF), Mr. Mano Ganesan of Western Province Peoples Front (WPPF) and Mr. T. Maheswaran of United National Party (UNP) voted aginst the Emergency.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congres abstained from voting.

EPDP, JVP, JHU,NUA, MEP, and several UNP members voted for the extetion.

TNA members of Parliament Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham and Mr. S. Gajendran were not present.

Three SLA soldiers, policeman injured in grenade attack in Batticaloa
Unidentified attackers lobbed a grenade at a Sri Lanka Army and Police joint foot patrol wounding three SLA soldiers and a policeman near Iruthayapuram public market, 2 km north of Batticaloa town, Police said. The incident took place around 12:30 p.m Wednesday. SLA soldiers opened fire for 10 minutes following the attack, civilian sources said.

The injured SLA soldiers Mr. A. M. Ajithkumara, 36, Mr. S. Santhana, 32, Mr. A. M. Sanjeeva Adigari, 35, and the police constable Mr. A. M. Somasri, 22, were rushed to Batticaloa hospital.

Parliament okays Rs. 58 b. for tsunami reconstruction

Parliament yesterday approved the release of over 58 billion rupees from the consolidated fund of the Treasury for tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation work.

The funds totalling 58.62 billion rupees was approved by the House as a Supplementary Estimate from the Treasury and would be used for tsunami welfare grants and infrastructure and rehabilitation expenses, from January 1 to December 31 this year. 25.5 billion rupees of the total sum was received as overseas loans, mainly through multilateral donor agencies and foreign governments while the remaining 33.1 billion rupees came through local funds. 40 billion rupees of the money is capital expenditure while the remaining 18 billion is recurrent expenditure.

Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva stated in Parliament that the Supplementary Estimate was required for tsunami welfare and reconstruction work. "To carry out tsunami recovery work, government institutions had to incur extra expenses. Since the government had to bear these additional expenses this year, and will continue to have more expenses in the future, it is necessary to secure additional funds as a Supplementary Estimate", he said.

In addition to grants for tsunami-affected people, the government needs money for infrastructure development projects and new construction as well, he said. "We also need to allocate money to pay compensation for victims living within the 100-metre buffer zone to secure for them land to build new houses," he said. The Minister also outlined the various financial handouts the government had given tsunami victims. He said each victim currently received a weekly grant of 200 rupees, and 175 rupees weekly for dry rations. For kitchen utensils the government gave each family a one-off grant of 2,500 rupees and 15,000 rupees to carry out the final rites for each person who died in the disaster.

The government also gave four monthly installments of 5,000 rupees to build livelihoods. For a completely destroyed house a sum of 250,000 rupees was given and for a partially damaged house, 100,000 rupees, he stated.

Restoring Parakum era means achieving peace and prosperity - Senaratne

Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe’s pledge to restore the Parakum era in effect means that he would not only unite the country but also bring economic prosperity to the country, Kalutara district UNP MP Rajitha Senaratne said. Senaratne, told a media briefing at the Opposition Leaders office in Colombo yesterday that some in the SLFP through sheer ignorance were trying to poke fun at Wickremesinghe’s pledge to restore the Parakum era, but what they were in effect doing was insulting a great Lankan King.

He said that it was Parakramabahu the great who not only united the country but also brought economic prosperity."This is exactly what Mr. Wickremesinghe is trying to achieve when he says that he want’s to restore the Parakum era."

Senaratne, said that it was a Tamil general Rakka who helped King Parakramabahu to unite the country after a 14 year long battle. Similarly Mr. Wickremesinghe is seeking the support of all communities to get rid of separatism and unite the country in permanent peace.

The JVP and SLFP, he said were masquerading as the saviour of the farmers but it is the UNP that can take credit for all major irrigation projects such as the Senanayake Samudra, Mahaweli, Kantalai, Rantambe and Lunugamvehara. "The JVP’s 10,000 Weva programme as fallen by the way side. President Kumaratunga’s says not even 300 Weva’s have been completed and the whole project reeks of corruption."

Senaratne, said that the UNP is the only party that can associate it self with the Parakrambahu era considering the great contribution it has made towards agriculture, economic development and ethnic harmony.

Finance Minister leaves for USA to attend World Bank annual meetings
Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama has left for the United States to attend the World Bank annual summit in Washington. He will explain the country’s new economic strategies and progress to Sri Lanka’s main lender during his five-day visit to the USA. Mr. Amunugama, who tried to introduced major economic changes as Finance Minister amidst criticism from a former political ally, the JVP, is again affected after the JVP signed an electoral pact with ruling party presidential candidate Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

In their agreement, both parties had agreed to stop privatization of profitable public entities including government banks.

Sri Lanka: the JHU-Rajapakse deal and the reactionary role of Buddhist supremacism-(WSWS)
Mahinda Rajapakse, Sri Lanka’s prime minister and presidential candidate for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), signed a election deal last week with the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a Sinhala supremacist party under the leadership of right-wing Buddhist monks.

In return for JHU backing, the prime minister agreed to JHU demands for a more aggressive stance against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The 12-point agreement included the revision of the current government-LTTE ceasefire; the abrogation of a government-LTTE agreement for the joint administration of tsunami aid; and the rejection of federalism as the basis for a peace deal with the LTTE.

Like a similar deal with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the unmistakable logic of Rajapakse’s agreement with the JHU is to set the course for renewed civil war. Despite protestations that he is for peace, the prime minister has effectively torn up the major planks of the so-called peace process that the current president Chandrika Kumaratunga and his own government have been claiming to revive. The deals, clearly signed for short-term electoral gain, have opened up sharp differences inside the SLFP.

As the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) commented on the earlier Rajapakse-JVP agreement, the differences within the SLFP reflect broader divisions in the ruling class between those who want a negotiated deal with the LTTE and those who want a return to war. Neither faction has anything to offer the working class. The proponents of the peace process want a power-sharing arrangement between the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim elites to step up market reform, integrate the island into global production processes and intensify their mutual exploitation of workers. Their opponents are prepared to plunge the working class back into the nightmare of a war that has already cost at least 60,000 lives and led to widespread misery.

The Colombo press is full of speculation and commentary about the outcome of the rifts within the SLFP, their implications for the November 17 election and the political ramifications of the JHU deal. But one aspect of the Rajapakse-JHU agreement was passed over in complete silence—the ceremony itself.

The prime minister travelled to Kandy for the signing, which took place in front of the Temple of the Tooth, with the JHU monks decked out in their orange robes. All of this carried a heavy symbolism for Sinhala Buddhist supremacists. Kandy was the last capital of the decadent Sinhalese monarchy. The temple purportedly houses one of Buddha’s teeth—a relic that has political as well as religious significance as a symbol of Sinhalese power.

Rajapakse knelt before the JHU’s chief monk Ellawala Medananda to formally accept his copy of the agreement. Both then entered the temple to worship together before the tooth’s container amid various Buddhist rituals. The document was finally placed before the relic in order to make it sacrosanct.

As far as the Sri Lankan press was concerned, none of this was in any way abnormal. Colombo politicians from all the major bourgeois parties regularly make the pilgrimage to Kandy to receive the blessings of top Buddhist monks from one or other of the religious orders. Just days later, Rajapakse’s main rival—the United National Party’s Ranil Wickremesinghe—made his way to the Bellanwila Temple near Colombo to bow and scrape before the Buddhist hierarchy.

In other words, Rajapakse’s prostration before the JHU’s monks is just a particularly graphic example of the dependence of the entire political establishment on putrid communal politics.

The JHU’s policies and program express, in an extreme form, the ideology of Buddhist supremacism that permeates every political party, the state apparatus, the armed forces and the media. It was enshrined in the country’s constitution in 1972 in the clause that transforms Buddhism into a state religion, and in government policies that entrench anti-Tamil discrimination.

The JHU was formed prior to last year’s general election by transforming the existing right-wing Sihala Urumaya (SU) into a political vehicle for a section of the Buddhist hierarchy. Its reactionary outlook is little different from that of the right-wing Christian fundamentalists in the US, Hindu supremacist organisations like the RSS in India, or the Islamic extremists of Al Qaeda. Harking back to a mythical past of Sinhala Buddhist kings, the JHU asserts the “national right of the Sinhala nation” and calls for a state built “according to Buddhist principles”.

The JHU speaks for elements of the state apparatus, the armed forces and business whose interests are bound up with the maintenance of the continuing dominance of the Sinhala ruling elites over their Tamil and Muslim counterparts. These social layers are deeply hostile to any power-sharing deal with the LTTE and regard the peace process as a betrayal of the Sinhala nation.

It is no accident that sections of the Buddhist hierarchy are bitterly opposed to any peace deal. Their power and privileges were greatly enhanced by the constitutional provision turning Buddhism into a state religion. The Department of Buddhist Affairs has a substantial budget—185 million rupees in 2004—much of which finds its way into the hands of the monasteries. Any dilution of these anti-democratic measures would impact on the position of the Buddhist clergy.

These social layers will stop at nothing to defend their interests. The JHU, and its predecessor the SU, have been involved in a series of violent confrontations and provocations. The SU was widely held to be responsible for a series of attacks on Christian churches. One of the JHU’s main planks is the demand for an anti-conversion law that will ban Christian evangelicals from “unethical conversions”—that is, offering any aid to the Buddhist poor that might cause them to change their religion.

The JHU was in the forefront of the vicious communal campaign against the agreement under which the LTTE and government agreed to temporarily work together to distribute tsunami aid. JHU secretary Omalpe Sobhitha, an MP and monk, planted himself in front of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and declared that he would fast until death to stop the deal, known as P-TOMS, being signed. Other monks in Colombo joined him in branding the agreement as a national betrayal.

Reactionary communalism

All of this is well known to the Colombo media. Yet there is never a hint of criticism of the reactionary role of Buddhism and the Buddhist hierarchy in Sri Lankan politics. To comment on the disgusting spectacle of Rajapakse kneeling before the berobed JHU leader would be regarded as a public outrage to be denounced and condemned by all.

The reason behind this studied silence has nothing to do with any reverence for Buddhism. Rather it is a reflection of just how vital the ideology of Sinhala Buddhist supremacism is to the maintenance of bourgeois rule. Ever since national independence in 1948, the Sri Lankan bourgeoisie has fostered and whipped up Sinhala chauvinism as the means for justifying the creation of an artificial nation on this small island, for dividing the working class along communal lines and for securing a social base for its parties, the SLFP in particular.

The local ruling elite learnt from their former colonial masters. In signing the 1815 agreement with the remnants of the defeated Kandyan kingdom, the British agreed that “the religion of Buddhoo, its rites, ministers and places of worship are to be maintained and protected.” As historian K. M. de Silva commented: “They [the British governors of the island] valued Buddhism for its potential as a countervailing force against movements for change and reform which raised the prospect of disturbing the political balance which the British were seeking to maintain.”

Insofar as Buddhist monks later took an anti-colonial stance, it was, like the JHU, a reactionary attempt to restore the previous dominance of the Sinhala kings and the Buddhist priestly order. They inveighed against the immorality of British rule and denounced the local “whisky drinkers” who mimicked their colonial masters and did their bidding. They sought to divert the growing hostility to colonial rule into a temperance movement for the revival of Buddhist values.

In the wake of the Russian Revolution, it was the working class, particularly the Trotskyist leaders of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), who waged a determined struggle against British rule. Confronting a militant and organised working class after 1948, the newly “independent” ruling class did not hesitate to stir up anti-Tamil chauvinism as a means of setting working people against each other. The political consequences have been one disaster after another—communal violence, pogroms and ultimately war.

The crucial turning point was the LSSP’s decision to join the SLFP-led government of Sirama Bandaranaike in 1964. In doing so, the LSSP renounced the international socialist principles for which it had previously fought and embraced the ideology of Sinhala Buddhist supremacism on which the SLFP had been founded. In 1972, the LSSP minister Colvin R. de Silva was responsible for drafting the constitution that enshrined Buddhism as the state religion and Sinhala was the state language.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the LSSP betrayal led to the emergence and dominance of communally based parties among radicalised youth—the LTTE among the Tamils and the JVP among rural Sinhalese. The Bandaranaike government’s discriminatory measures against Tamils, maintained and extended by the UNP government of J.R. Jayawardene, were responsible for the outbreak of war in 1983. The inability of any section of the ruling class to end this disastrous conflict stems from the fact that it can no more relinquish communalism than it can give up its wealth and social privileges.

A socialist alternative

The SEP is standing in the presidential election to offer a socialist alternative to working people in Sri Lanka and throughout the region. We call on workers throughout the Indian subcontinent to reject the chauvinism, sectarianism and racism that the various representatives of the capitalist class have deliberately stirred up for the purpose of maintaining the oppressive profit system. The only way that the working class can liberate itself is by uniting its struggles, regardless of race, religion, language or caste, and building its own political movement, independent of all bourgeois factions, to reorganise society on the basis of the social need, not private profit.

The SEP and its candidate will not be joining the political pilgrimage to Kandy or to any other place of religious worship—Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim or Christian. We insist that the working class has to be guided in its struggles by Marxism, that is by scientific socialism. We reject all forms of religion and mysticism, which in the final analysis are based on a passive acceptance of the status quo. Whether it is the high priests of Kandy or the Christian clergy, they all call on the poor to accept their miserable lot in exchange for the false promise of a better life in heaven or the next reincarnation.

The working class must put an end to the communal violence and war that has plagued Sri Lanka. The SEP demands the immediate and unconditional withdraw all security forces from the north and east of the island. The forcible maintenance of the unitary state has only resulted in the domination of militarism and attacks on basic democratic rights throughout the island. The SEP opposes every form of oppression and champions the rights of all, regardless of their ethnicity, language or religion.

Any resolution to the 20-year civil war requires the repudiation of the anti-democratic Sri Lankan constitution. The SEP advocates the establishment of a genuinely representative Constituent Assembly to enable ordinary working people, rather than cliques of capitalist politicians, to decide on all outstanding issues of democratic rights.

We call for the complete separation of the state and religion, which is the essential precondition for establishing the democratic right of all to freedom of religion. By making Buddhism the state religion, the constitution reduces other religions to a second-class status and discriminates against their adherents.

The struggle for democratic rights and socialist policies requires a broad offensive by the working class against the capitalist order. The Socialist Equality Party calls for the establishment of the Socialist United States of Sri Lanka and Eelam as part of the wider struggle for the United Socialist States of South Asia and throughout the globe.

We call on WSWS readers and our supporters to join the SEP in the campaign for this perspective in the presidential elections.

21 September 2005

Consensus on ethnic question a must for both major parties – TNA

Both major parties the SLFP and the UNP should reach consensus on the ethnic question and include clearly in their election manifestos if the majority Sinhala people wanted to stop the Tamil people from seeking separation, TELO Muthalvar and TNA MP for the Jaffna district M. K. Sivajilingam said yesterday. A recent survey by a foreign NGO had found that Tamil people were not much interested in the forthcoming presidential polls. This study was taken up at a recent discussion that TNA MPs had with LTTE’s political chief S. P. Thamilchelvan and was debated at length.

The opinion was expressed that government could create tension in the East by using the Karuna faction create violence so as to try and capture some votes through a fear psychosis. Finally there was a school of thought that was acceptable to the LTTE and the TNA to ask the Tamil people to boycott the forthcoming polls so as to impress upon the International Community that in the context of the present "war cry" by the majority the only alternative left for Tamil speaking people was to go for separation.

There is a another school of thought that the LTTE's TNA remains neutral and allow the Tamil people to vote according to their will. A survey carried out by a foreign organisation in the North East had found most Tamil people to feel disinterested in the forthcoming polls.

TELO Muthalvar M. K. Sivajilingam said that both the LTTE as well as the TNA look forward to both the two major parties to state their positions on the ethnic question clearly. But when one looks at the conditions put forward by the JVP, JHU to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, there does not seem to be much room for a political solution.

PM Rajapaksa's popularity decreased by 15% after signing political pacts - Survey
Issuing their second interim report on the Sri Lankan presidential poll, the Netherlands-based research group P3 (People, Press and Politics) says that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's popularity dropped by 15% after he signed political pacts with the JVP and JHU.

“Earlier sixty-three percent of Sri Lankans believe that popular Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will [be appointed] as next President of Sri Lanka. However, he loses his popularity significantly after he signed two political pacts with Marxist JVP and hardliners JHU,” the P3 Center report said. The report added that Premier Rajapaksa’s own party members including President Chandrika Kumaratunga showed their disapproval for the political pacts publicly.

It also said that UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe’s campaign for the presidency has now emerged at the national level and enjoys support and confidence from the country’s business class. “Opposition leader’s campaign is rapidly [growing] up and he is handling all political forces strategically for his victory,” the report said. The P3 Center is an independent opinion research group that studies attitudes toward the press, politics and public policy issues.

Trinco Civil society calls for general shut down Wednesday

Tamil civil groups in Trincomalee have called for a general shut down ('Hartal') on Wednesday, 21 September, putting forward 8 demands, including the removal of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentries and mini-camps which are located in the vicinity of schools and places of worship in the eastern port town.

The organizers are also demanding to stop “all planned sabotage activities in the Trincomalee town currently engineered by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and other Sri Lankan security agencies after the unlawful erection of Buddha statue in the port city.” Organizers have appealed to closedown all government departments, private business establishments, non-governmental organizations, state and private sector banks, schools, and private tutorials in the Trincomalee district. Appeal has been made to stop all vehicular transport to and from the Trincomalee, sources said.

Other demands for the general shut down follow: -

· 1. Condemning the government and the SLA for conducting a shadow war on the LTTE in collaboration with the paramilitary groups

· 2. Condemning the SLA and other security agencies for human rights violations taking place in the eastern province under the emergency regulations

· 3. Condemning the government for making the ceasefire agreement defunct in the northeast province with the support of the SLA,

· 4. Condemning the psychological war launched by the SLA against Tamil speaking people in the province.

· 5. Requesting the government to take immediate steps to provide necessary security assurance to the LTTE to resume their political activities and

· 6. Requesting the government to take immediate steps to remove the unlawfully erected Buddha statute, which is considered as the root cause for the present volatile situation in Trincomalee town.

Election on Nov. 17, nominations Oct. 7
After weeks of disputes, delays and speculation, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake yesterday announced that nominations for the Presidential election would be received on October 7 and elections held on November 17.

Assistant Elections Commissioner Rasika Peiris told the Daily Mirror, a gazette notification announcing the dates was being issued. Yesterday’s announcement came about four weeks after the Supreme Court gave a landmark ruling that the Presidential election be held before November 22 this year and not next year as claimed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

While 51 parties are registered with the Commissioner of Elections, the two major parties – the UNP and the SLFP have announced their presidential candidates though controversy and speculation still swirl over the position of SLFP candidate and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. Internally Displaced People would be given the opportunity to vote at other polling stations, Commissioner Dissanayaka said in a communiqué issued last evening.

According to the communiqué the Presidential Election Act provides for the displaced electors to apply to vote at other polling stations if such an elector is unable to cast his vote at the polling station due to the social and security conditions prevailing in the area. Printed application forms are available at the offices of the Returning Officers, Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladharis in areas where the displaced people are accommodated.

The applicant should indicate the national identity card number or the refugee identity card number or the number of any other identifying document -- passport, motor driving licence or an identity card issued by an employer. An application without an identity number or a Grama Niladhari certificate are liable to be rejected. Electoral Registers of areas from which the persons have been displaced will be made available in the offices of the Returning Officers in areas where the IDPs are now reported to be living except.

In the Colombo district the registers would be exhibited at places where postal voting registers are made available. Puttalam District registers would be available at Puttalam, Kalpitiya, Mundal and Wanathavilluwa divisional secretariats.

The last date for receipt of applications for IDP votes is September 26, 2005.

President Kumaratunga plans to set new guidelines for ruling party candidate
After lengthy discussions with her think-tank, President Chandrika Kumaratunga has decided to prepare a new set of guidelines for her party nominee in the forthcoming presidential election. President Kumaratunga earlier asked for a letter of explanation from Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa for signing an agreement with the hardline JVP, denying her own proposal of setting up a common power-sharing structure to share tsunami relief with the LTTE.

The President has already summoned her party central committee to discuss the latest developments and plans to have her new guidelines approved at the decisive meeting. However, some SLFP seniors fear the new guidelines for the presidential candidate would create more divisions among the party organizers and would badly affect the ruling party campaign.

President Kumaratunga argues that her party nominee should follow party policies and principles rather than political ideas set by hardliners. The full text of the Co-chairs’ statement issued by the US Embassy in Colombo after Monday’s meeting follows:

Statement of the Sri Lanka Co-Chairs

The Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference in support of the peace process in Sri Lanka met in New York on 19 September to discuss the current situation in Sri Lanka, following the assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Kadirgamar.

The Co-Chairs reiterate their unequivocal condemnation of the assassination of the Foreign Minister. This unconscionable act of terrorism casts profound doubt on the commitment of those responsible to a peaceful and political resolution of the conflict. The Co-Chairs call on the LTTE to take immediate public steps to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process and their willingness to change. An immediate end to political assassinations by the LTTE and an end to LTTE recruitment of child soldiers are two such steps.

The Co-Chairs believe that the peace process between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is facing its most serious challenge since the Ceasefire Agreement came into force in February 2002. The Ceasefire Agreement remains the essential anchor of the peace process and is put at grave risk by the continuing violence. Effective implementation of the agreement is the responsibility of the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE.

The Co-Chairs commend the Government of Sri Lanka for its restraint following the assassination of Foreign Minister Kadirgamar and for its willingness to discuss the Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE. The Co-Chairs are disappointed that the LTTE have not agreed to the proposed venue for talks with the Government of Sri Lanka about implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement. The Co-Chairs urge both parties to engage constructively with special representative of Norway, Major General Furuhovde, during his planned visit in October to find practical ways of improving implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement.

The Co-Chairs deplore the activities of paramilitary groups, which fuel the cycle of violence and unrest. The Co-Chairs underscore the responsibility of the Sri Lankan government under the Ceasefire Agreement to disarm or relocate these groups from the north and east.

The future of Sri Lanka lies in the hands of the people of Sri Lanka. The forthcoming elections are a time of political choice in Sri Lanka. It is natural that there will be vigorous debate on the best way forward in the peace process. The Co-Chairs look to all parties to refrain from violence and from statements and acts that could undermine progress toward the peaceful resolution of the conflict after the elections.

The Co-Chairs hope that the peace process will be reinvigorated following the elections. The Co-Chairs reiterate that a peaceful resolution of the conflict can only be achieved through a negotiated political settlement that follows the principles agreed in Oslo in December 2002 to explore a solution based on a federal model within a united Sri Lanka, and which ensures democracy and full respect for human rights and the legitimate rights of all ethnic groups.

Nearly a year has passed since the tsunami, and the Co-Chairs reiterate that the international community remains fully committed to implementing the pledges made for tsunami reconstruction. Cooperation between the Sri Lankan government, the LTTE and the Muslim community will be important for sustainable recovery in the north and east. Finally, the Co-Chairs wish to thank outgoing Norwegian Foreign Minister Petersen and Deputy Minister Helgesen for their tireless efforts at facilitating the peace process in Sri Lanka. We reaffirm our strong support to Norway as facilitator.

Prabha writes to Norway’s new PM

LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has written to Norway’s new Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg urging his country to continue its role as facilitator in Sri Lanka’s peace process, diplomatic sources said yesterday.They said this in the letter sent through chief negotiator Anton Balasingham. Mr. Prabhakran warmly greeted the new premier and said the LTTE wished him and his country well.

Ex-PLOTE cadre shot and killed in Vavuniya
Motorbike-riding gunmen shot and killed Mr. Yoganadarajah Sellathurai, 45, an ex-PLOTE cadre, in Pattakadu, 3 km west of Vavuniya town Monday at 8:45 a.m. The victim, who was riding in a bicyle, was shot thrice with a 9 mm handgun, Vavuniya Police said. Vavuniya District judge, Mr. Manickavasagar Ilancheliyan visited the site and ordered the Police to conduct investigations into the killing. Vavuniya Police Head Quarters Inspector Mr. A.M.C. Abeysinghe Bandara is heading the investigations. Twenty-six persons have been gunned down in Vavuniya district since the killings began to escalate, police added.
SLMM ready for role at polls
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said yesterday it was prepared to position its monitors at check points dividing government and LTTE territory, at the upcoming presidential elections, if such a request was put forward by the government.Such a move will ensure less harassment for voters who enter government territory from rebel controlled areas to cast their vote. SLMM spokeswoman Helga Olafsdottir said the role of the monitors at the elections would be considered only as a "minor" role as it involved maintaining peace on the border.

The SLMM played a similar role at the last general elections when the monitors were stationed at similar check points to ensure the smooth movement of civilians.The police and army will also be at full strength at the borders to ensure LTTE members do not use the opportunity to enter government-held areas with weapons. President Chandrika Kumaratunga speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York over the weekend called on the international community to pressurize the LTTE to desist from making any moves that might disrupt the polls.

Mannar rape victim disappears before court hearing
Mr.M.Remedius, human rights lawyer said Monday that Ms Ehambaram Wijakala, one of the two women complainants in the Mannar rape incident is reported to be missing and the other victim Ms Sinnathamby Sivamani has received threats that she will be killed if she gives evidence in Anuradhapura High Court where the case is listed for hearing on Wednesday September 21, legal sources said.

Twelve policemen of Sri Lanka Police and two soldiers of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) have been indicted with rape and torture of these two complaints while in the custody of the Mannar Police during the month of March in 2001, legal sources said.

Counsel Mr.Remedius is watching the interest of these two women complainants in this case, legal sources said.

19 September 2005

An embodiment of antimony," – Thamilchelvan on Kumaratunga's speeches in New York
"The LTTE is still ready for immediate talks on the implementation of the CFA, outside the island," reiterated Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan, Political Head of the LTTE, in an exclusive interview to the TamilNet on Friday. "We see a lot of contradictions in the speeches of Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, made abroad and in the south. The fact is the Tamil people have lost faith in Kumaratunga's statements, speeches and promises. It is high time the international community takes this into consideration," said LTTE's political head.

"It is ludicrous for Kumaratunge who is at the tail-end of her presidency to pontificate now that she is committed to a federal system for the resolution of the Tamil national question," said Mr.Thamilchelvan, commenting on the statement by Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge in New York.

"We consider Kumaratunga's speech in New York a pack of chicaneries trying to hoodwink the international community. During her ten-year period of presidency CBK failed to implement anything to enhance the welfare of the Tamil people. She tried desperately to prevent the then United National Front (UNF) government from holding talks with the LTTE on the proposal of Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA), which she vehemently criticized. At her earliest opportunity, she dismissed the UNF government, jeopordising the chance for the resumption of the peace talks centred on the ISGA proposals."

"She failed to take action using her executive power to solve the humanitarian problems of Tamil people when misery struck them. It was because of the international pressure that She signed the P-TOMS agreement with the LTTE. But she did not make any move to implement it. She has now rushed to shift the blame for the non-implementation of the P-TOMS on to the Supreme Court and the Sinhala extreme nationalists. Hence we see no credibility in the speeches and statements made by her abroad. They ring hollow. Even last year, when she went abroad, she spoke profusely in favour of a political solution based on federal concept, with a view to win the hearts of the international community. But once she returned to Sri Lanka,it became a forgotten tale," pointed out Mr.Thamilchelvan, to the TamilNet correspondent at the Peace Secretariat of the LTTE, in Kilinochchi.

The Political Head of the LTTE emphasised the fact that the LTTE was ready for immediate talks on the implementation of the CFA in an international venue. While it had become the accepted practice to conduct talks outside the island, Kumaratunge government’s sudden insistence on having talks in Sri Lanka was to conjure a new ploy that would help abjure the talks, Thamilchelvan observed.

Commenting on the reports that that Mr.Jayantha Dhanapala, the Secretary General, Sri Lanka's Peace Secretariat, had requested Ms Christina Rocca, US Assistant Secretary of State that the international community should exert pressure on the LTTE to come to the negotiating table, Mr Thamilchelvan said, "Southern politicians and diplomats are used to giving a picture of deceit to the international community regarding the problems affecting the Tamil people in Sri Lanka."

He pointed out that the LTTE has established a good rapport with the international Community and has, through regular briefings, presented the predicaments the Tamil people in Sri Lanka per se. Sri Lankan politicians and diplomats are now engaged in disrupting the good relations and understanding the LTTE has built up with several countries.

"We also consider the Sri Lankan government's insistence on holding future peace talks in Sri Lanka and not abroad is with a view to sever the rapport the LTTE has built up with the international community," Mr.Thamilchelvan added.

"The Sri Lankan government's strategy is to marginalize the Tamil people and weakening the LTTE on one hand, while assuring the international community it is prepared to hold peace talks with the LTTE, on the other. Sri Lankan diplomats including Dr.Jayantha Dhanapala are now engaged in the implementation of this strategy of duplicity," Mr.Thamilchelvan further said.

"If Sri Lanka is seriously committed to taking forward the peace process, it should have first agreed to hold talks on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in a neutral country, without breaking the status quo, for which the LTTE is always ready," Mr.Thamilchelvan assured.

"We have categorically informed the Norwegian government that the talks on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement should be held in a neutral country. But due to the pressure of the Sri Lankan government, probably from the President herself, the Norwegian government proposed Sri Lanka," replied Mr.Thamilchelvan to a question from the correspondent.

"The Norwegian government did not impose on us its decision on a venue in Sri Lanka. We have now received news that Norwegian government is considering our proposal regarding venue for talks,” Mr.Thamilchelvan added.

"We have also pointed out to the Norwegian facilitators that the contradictory statements and speeches by President Chandrika Kumaratunge who is on the verge of leaving her post are causing serious impediment to the peace process. We are sure the Norwegian authorities are quite aware of the development,” said Mr.Thamilchelvan.

New candidate if PM does not accept SLFP policy President strikes back

President Chandrika Kumaratunga will decide on another candidate from the SLFP for the presidential election if Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse does not accept the SLFP's policy platform for the upcoming election.

The President had revealed her thinking at a meeting with SLFP prime ministerial candidate Anura Bandaranaike prior to her departure to address the UN General Assembly sessions in New York. The Sunday Leader learns the issue had been further discussed at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in New York where the President and her delegation were staying.

The President also wrote to Prime Minister Rajapakse prior to her departure for New York accusing him of breaching party discipline by entering into an agreement with the JVP without reference or approval of the party central committee. The Prime Minister has in agreements with the JVP and JHU pledged to uphold the unitary character of the state and abolish the P-TOMS agreement in direct contravention of SLFP policies on the issues.

The President addressing the Asia Society in New York on Wednesday replying to a question from the audience said the Prime Minister though appointed the SLFP presidential candidate could not take unilateral decisions in violation of party policy and that appropriate action would have to be taken if he had done so. The President also insisted that the solution to the ethnic conflict lay through a federal state. "My party has had a consistent stand on the conflict in the country. Until this moment the party has not changed the policy," she said.

" I am proud to say it would be difficult to reverse the momentum of the peace process," she added. Meanwhile, the President has cut short her stay in New York by five days and is expected in Sri Lanka tomorrow to face up to the policy challenges posed by Rajapakse.

The President is expected to summon an emergency meeting of the SLFP central committee and set the policy guidelines for the party's presidential candidate, which if not accepted by Rajapakse will lead to the President proposing the name of another candidate from the party. Informed sources said that if the Prime Minister accepted the policy statement it would effectively negate the agreements with the JVP and JHU.

EPRLF(V) cadre shot dead in Vavuniya
R. Loganathan (45), a cadre of Eelam People Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF - Varathar faction) was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in front of Vavuniya Maha Vidyalayam along A9 highway at 9.15pm Friday, sources said. The gun used in the killing was a 9mm micro-pistol, police said. Vavuniya District judge, Mr. Manickavasagar Ilancheliyan who later visited the scene of the crime, directed Vavuniya police to conduct investigations into the killing.

SLMC to reveal stand after nomination day- Hakeem

The support of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) in the coming presidential poll would be for a political party that would not act in to weaken the strength of the Muslim political leadership, which has been endorsed by majority Muslim people in Sri Lanka, said Rauff Hakeem, Leader of SLMC participating as the chief guest in the fifth death anniversary religious event of SLMC founder leader, the late A.H.M.Ashraff held in Trincomalee Zahira College Friday evening.

"Main political parties contesting the forthcoming presidential election are in agreement on what should not be given to Muslim people. But they are in agreement on the question of what rights are to be given to the Muslim community. The agreements signed by one of the main political parties with Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) have proved this," said Hakeem.

"We will decide our stand on the presidential poll after the nomination day on assessing the policies of the main political parties in regard to the problems confronting the Muslim community. The main political parties should come out with the proposals for an interim and permanent solution to Muslim problems and their legitimate political aspirations if they seek the SLMC support," stated Hakeem.

Business community for federal state

The business community has strongly criticised proposals submitted to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to maintain a unitary structure in Sri Lanka. Chamber leaders are of the view that a proposal to finding a solution to the ethnic crisis through a unitary character of state would lead to economic chaos and push the country towards war.

President, Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Nawaz Rajabdeen told The Sunday Leader that a federal system should be implemented without delay as power had to be divided amongst all communities in order to achieve a lasting peace. "President Kumaratunga and the LTTE have the same views on a federal system. So why shouldn't it be implemented? Only a federal system would allow the minority parties to live in peace," Rajabdeen said.

He added that with the current political unrest prevailing in the country, the government had to be flexible and take into consideration the demands of all communities in order to solve the national problem. "Countries such as India and the United States do maintain a federal system. Such a system has only led those countries to success," Rajabdeen added.

President, Joint Business Forum (J-BIZ), Kingsley Bernard also maintained that in order to solve the country's north-east conflict, a federal system was the only solution. "Considering the present political status, a federal state is the only solution that can achieve lasting peace. In order to discuss peace, it is important to transform the LTTE into a democratic political force," Bernard said.

The Chamber leaders added that by maintaining a unitary state, Prime Minister Rajapakse would only cause further confusion and added that despite agreeing to such a proposal, the Premier would be unable to fulfill it. "We maintain a unitary state but what have we achieved so far? It is evident that the Premier has accepted this demand only in order to gain power," the FCCISL President said. Meanwhile, President Chandrika Kumaratunga once again on thursday committed herself to a federal system of government as a final solution to the ethnic conflict and said that the dual challenges ahead would be to transform the LTTE into a democratic political force.

The President made her comments at the Asia Society in New York where she further said that a federal solution was favoured by an overwhelming section of Sri Lankan society.

Politics of division, exclusion dominate Sri Lankan polity- Australian MP

“Minorities [in Sri Lanka] have progressively seen their rights eroded through ingrained discrimination and segregation...Racism and fear is fostered. It is the politics of division, exclusion and misrepresentation, with the truth hidden from the outside world,” said Australian Member of Parliament for Strathfield, New South Wales, Ms Virginia Judge, during the first session of the 53rd parliament on 15 September in a stinging indictment of the Government of Sri Lanka.

Ms Judge returned from Sri Lanka last week after a fact finding mission to different parts of Sri Lanka including the NorthEast to research a suitable project for funds raised here after the tsunami to assist victims.

She said that although she “experienced first hand a concerted campaign” to prevent her from visiting the NorthEast, she was able to visit parts of NorthEast where she said: “[I] was able to witness for myself the suffering of this proud people as well as their determined efforts to rebuild their community. The Tamils are a resilient people. I observed that in a remarkable three year period the Tamils developed a virtual state within virtual state within the north and north-east of Sri Lanka.” “I visited their judiciary and court, school of law, police station, police academy, medical and technical colleges and small industries, a community bank plus a children's home housing 278 children left orphaned by the war and the recent tsunami. The Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) runs a variety of development, relief and reconstruction projects as well as assisting several non-government organisations with their projects. All this is a tribute to the spirit and resilience of the Tamil people,” she said.

She urged the Sri Lanka Government to give up its “monopoly of power,” by working towards a federal structure that guarantees the rights of the Tamils by working within the CFA brokered by the Norwegian Government.

Muralitharan rejects alleged links to Indian bar girl being investigated for match-fixing

Sri Lankan spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan on Friday rejected reports that he was linked to a bar dancer in India who is being investigated for links to match-fixing.

There has been widespread speculation in the Indian media this week of fresh match-fixing in South Asia, with some reports hinting at Muralitharan's possible involvement. Reports have said that Muralitharan, the second highest wicket taker in test cricket, was introduced to a dancer called Tarannum Khan at a Bombay nightclub called Deepa Bar. The controversy then erupted after Indian police launched an investigation after discovering vast amounts of money at her home.

``On one occasion, I met actor Aditya Pancholi who invited me to dinner. Afterward, we visited Deepa Bar for approximately one hour before I returned to my hotel,'' Muralitharan said in a statement. ``Contrary to media speculation, I have never been introduced to and nor do I have any links whatsoever with a woman called Tarannum Khan, who was apparently a dancer in the Deepa Bar. In addition, this was also the only occasion in my life that I visited this particular bar.''

Muralitharan told The Associated Press that he had to issue the statement, ``because this is totally false.''

``Recent media reports of my close alliance with this bar or the dancer are therefore total fabrications. I have been associated with a match-fixing controversy on the basis that I innocently patronized a bar a few years ago, which I believe is grossly unfair,'' his statement said. The widely read Cricinfo Web site said that police had reportedly ``uncovered proof on the nexus between big-time bookies, the Hindi film industry and organized criminal gangs.''

``Representing Sri Lanka as a cricketer is a truly great honor and a source of immense personal pride. I have always strived to perform to the very best of my ability and have maintained at all times while doing so the highest ethics of the game,'' Muralitharan said. ``It is thus deeply upsetting for my family and I that such wild allegations are now being made. I have therefore spoken to my lawyers and I am taking all necessary steps legally available to me in order to safeguard my reputation and integrity,'' Muralitharan said.

Govt. oppose overseas tours for LTTE-(The Island)
The government strongly opposes overseas tours for the LTTE accused of assassinating Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Highly placed officials said that the government would resist attempts to arrange overseas visits for LTTE delegations on the pretext of study tours. A senior official claimed that the LTTE and its local and international backers were in the process of arranging an overseas visit on an urgent basis in the aftermath of the assassination. The government believes that no further concessions should be given to the LTTE unless it denounced any form of violence.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga in her speeches at the Asia Society in New York and the United Nations General Assembly accused the LTTE of assassinating Kadirgamar. Foreign Secretary H. M. G. B Palihakkara, Peace Secretariat chief Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala and Ambassador Bernard Goonetillke based in Washington, too, had blamed the LTTE. The government also expects the UK to take meaningful steps to curb LTTE activity, particularly high profile status of London — based LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham.

European and Scandinavian countries organised a series of overseas tours over the past three years for LTTE delegations, most of which were led by their political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan.

18 September 2005

SLA searches TELO MP's Mannar residence

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers from Mannar camp encircled Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Telo MP Mr Vino Noharathalingam's residence at 5.15pm Thursday before entering the house, and searched all rooms in the house for suspicious material, the MP said in registering his complaint to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).

Mr Noharathalingam's house is located in Pettah, Sebastiar Road in Mannar. Only the TELO MP's house was searched in that area by the SLA soldiers, area residents said. Mrs Noharathalingam said in her complaint to the SLMM and local police that she was in the house with women friends when the SLA soldiers entered the house, and that the soldiers ignored her plea that the she was the wife a TNA parliamentarian.

Selvam Adaikalanathan, Telo Leader and TNA parliamentarian for Vanni said that the incident is an inevitable consequence of escalating threats and harassment of district residents by SLA soldiers. He added that he was, however, surprised by the SLA violating special previleges afforded to a parliamentarian especially when Emergency Regulations was not in force.

IMF warn Sri Lanka on subsidies -BBC

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned Sri Lanka that it is exceeding government spending targets. It urged Sri Lanka to cut subsidies, especially on fuel, to help restore economic stability. The report said that higher spending, combined with lower than expected tax revenues, had led to high inflation. But, it also acknowledged that financial aid and a freeze on debt repayment after last December's tsunami had provided some economic relief.

"On the expenditure side, subsidies for fuel have been considerably higher than budget provisions and 20 billion rupees ($20 m) has already been spent on tsunami relief," the report issued on Tuesday said. 'Politically difficult' The IMF said that the government should be prepared to increase prices, even though "it may prove politically difficult". It also called on the government to increase interest rates in order to combat inflation, which was forecast to rise to 14% this year from 7.9% last year. The body wants the government to continue a policy of economic liberalisation. But, with presidential elections pending the future of Sri Lanka's economic policy is uncertain.

Ruling party candidate - and current prime minister - Mahinda Rajapakse has signed a pre-election deal with left-wing Sinhalese nationalist party, the JVP, in which he has pledged to halt privatisation if elected.

PM to cancel P-TOMS, rejects ISGA:Wimal

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse who made an unexpected appearance at the Patriotic National Movement (PNM) led Federation of National Organizations convention at the Maharagama Youth Centre yesterday made a patriotic plea to safe guard the country. “I will save the nation for the future generation” he said amidst loud cheers.

The Prime Minister thereafter pledged to build a nation where all communities could live peacefully. “I am a southerner who hails from Giruwapathuwa and that’s why I have managed to get the support of all forces. I will not let these forces down and am ready to sacrifice any thing for the betterment of the nation” he added. The PM said that Sri Lanka had a great history compared to the USA and he stressed the need for teaching the 2500-year-old history to the children of the nation. “I will not allow anyone to divide this nation’ he said further drawing another huge round of applause from the spectators.

However Mr. Rajapakse assured that he would solve the ethnic issue through dialogue and pledged to solve other outstanding issues in the country.

“There is a challenge ahead of us to save this country for the younger generation” he added. PNM Joint President Wimal Weerawansa said that the presidential elections this year has become a battle between the patriotic forces and the traitors of the nation. “A line has been drawn between these two forces and there is no place for moderates” he added.

He lashed out at Ranil Wickremesinghe saying that he is a puppet of the western forces who wish to destroy this country. “Mahinda has agreed to cancel the P-TOMS agreement and have rejected the ISGA and therefore all patriotic forces should get together to ensure his victory” he added.

Sri Lanka 'must be federal state' Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has stressed that Sri Lanka must become a federal state, as splits in the ruling party deepen. The president opposes a pre-poll pact made by the prime minister - and ruling party presidential election candidate - with Sinhalese nationalists. The deal signed by PM Mahinda Rajapakse includes a commitment to maintaining a unitary state and reviewing the ceasefire with Tamil Tigers.

An election is due by the end of 2005 In a speech to the Asia Society in New York, President Kumaratunga said she believed the main challenges for the peace process in Sri Lanka were a transformation of the state and of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam).

"We need to transform the state so it is more inclusive - equally reflecting the concerns of all communities," she said. "My view and the view of overwhelming sections of Sri Lankan society is that this will involve transforming the state from a unitary one to one that is plural and federal in nature." She also called for the transformation of the LTTE into a political force that engages with the state, rather than a militant group. Devolution On Wednesday, Sri Lanka's foreign minister - and brother of the president - added his voice to criticisms of the deals signed by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse with the Sinhalese nationalist JVP and Buddhist party, the JHU.

Anura Bandaranaike said PM Mahinda Rajapakse had joined with "extremist forces" to try to win this year's presidential elections. Both the JVP and JHU are opposed to federalism in Sri Lanka. After signing the deal with the JHU, Mr Rajapakse said that he favoured devolution of power within a unitary state.

The elections have been prompted by a Supreme Court ruling stating that President Chandrika Kumaratunga's term ends in December. Under the constitution, she is barred from contesting a third term. President Kumaratunga was at the helm during six rounds of peace talks with the Tamil Tigers. Those talks broke down in 2003, but before then both sides had made an unprecedented agreement to work towards a federal solution of the conflict on the island. Mr Rajapakse's main opponent in the presidential elections is former Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe.

Mr Wickramasinghe is campaigning on a platform of reviving the peace process with the Tigers and continuing policies of economic liberalisation.More than 60,000 people have been killed in Sri Lanka since the Tamil Tigers launched their campaign for a separate Tamil state in the north and east of the island in 1983.

Sri Lanka to extend emergency laws for another month
COLOMBO (AFX) - The government announced that it will extend for another month the state of emergency enforced after the assassination of former foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.Government spokesman Nimal Siripala de Silva told reporters that an extension resolution will go before parliament next week."It (the resolution) will be presented on the 21st and will be approved for another month," de Silva said.He did not explain the reason for prolonging the sweeping powers granted to police and security forces to arrest and detain suspects without warrants.The emergency was first imposed for 10 days shortly after the August 12 assassination of Kadirgamar. The government accused Tiger rebels of the killing, a charge rejected by the guerrillas.
Police have already arrested two men allegedly directly involved in the gunning down of the minister at his private home here.The rebels have asked the government to lift the state of emergency, saying it is adding pressure to an already tenuous ceasefire declared in 2002.

Sivaram killers identified says Crimes Division

A Police officer of Colombo Crime Division (CCD) informed the Kaduwela Magistrate court on Friday (September 16), that all information and location details regarding the killers and the gun used in the murder of Tamil Net senior editor D. Sivaram has been found.

Kaduwela Magistrate Ms. Champa Janaki has ordered CCD in open court to produce a full detailed report of the Sivaram murder investigation to courts on 27th September. According to the CCD police officer, a suspect held in custody had disclosed all information regarding the killers and the gun used for the murder to the investigating officer following a long period of questioning. Providing details of the killers and the gun in court, the police officer said that it is now possible to arrest Sivaram's killers on this information. Sivaram was abducted and murdered on April 28, 2005.

14 September 2005

TELO Sun TV retransmission station attacked

Unidentified Paramilitary men lobbed a hand grenade and opened fire at the TELO Sun Television retransmission station in Vairavarpuliyankulam,located one kilometer west of Vavuniya town at 9:15 p.m. Monday, No one was injured in the attack, according to an official of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation, the organisation that operates the retransmissionstation in Vavuniya. The station, located 50 meters away from a paramilitary camp belonging to Eelam People Democratic Party (EPDP) .

The TELO official said that the attackers have used AK-47 assault rifles tofire at the office. The attackers were riding a Dolphin type van, according to an employee atthe station. The employees standing outside the station before the attack had observed a man riding a bicycle to inform someone via cell phone that there were persons standing outside the building. The attack occured within a few minutes later.

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials and the Sri Lankan police in Vavuniya who arrived at the spot around 10:15 p.m. examined the
retransmission station, sources said. Unidentified Paramilitary assailants hurled grenades at the same centre onJune 2, damaging transmitting equipment and computers. The centre picks up satellite transmissions from Sun TV, based in neighbouring India. All the land routes leading to the station have check posts and sentry points manned by Sri Lankan soldiers and the police.

Chandrika-Ranil alliance on the cards

The ruling party SLFP has plunged into new crisis as party leader Chandrika Kumaratunga has decided to start political dialogue with
her main opponent, Ranil Wickramasinghe.

President Kumaratunga has already set up a think-tank to formulate a new strategy for a coalition government with the main opposition UNP, President's office sources told ColomboPage. This committee is looking for new avenues for Chandrika-Ranil political alliance,sources added. It is also reported that President Kumaratunga has invited UNP chairman Malik Samarawickrama for further discussions on September 22. Earlier, she met with the UNP chairman at his private residence and hinted there was significant potential for a government of national consensus.

ColomboPage earlier exposed a Chandrika-Ranil secret pact to sideline Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in the presidential race.

Tamil businessman shot dead in Innuvil

Unidentified gunmen abducted a Tamil businessman from Uduvil and later shot and killed him in Innuvil west around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, sources in Jaffna said. The victim, Mr. Balasingham Sivanesan, 38, an owner of a fancy shop, was abducted by gunmen when he returned home located on Love Lane in Uduvil for lunch Tuesday.

The body of the victim, a father of 3 children, was later found in a paddy field in Innuvil West. The gunmen have used handgun to shoot the victim, sources said. Sri Lankan armed forces have been deployed in the area following the incident and tension prevails in Innuvil west, sources said. The motive of the killing is not known, Police said.

Anura joins battle against Mahinda over JVP-JHU deals

Party has been betrayed and damaged, I donât care about the election now, says Foreign Minister President working out new deal with Thondaman, but no details still Days after President Chandrika Kumaratunga launched an attack on SLFP Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse, Minister Anura Bandaranaike joined the battle yesterday saying he had lost interest in the presidential campaign and the President too was equally disillusioned about the manner Mr. Rajapakse was conducting his campaign.

I really donât care about the outcome of the election now since the partys long upheld principles have been betrayed. Our partys andidate has joined hands with extremist forces and understandably I and my sister strongly feel a major damage has been done to the party by his actions, Foreign Minister Bandaranaike told the Daily Mirror in an exclusive telephone interview from London.

Describing the new agreement between Mr. Rajapakse and the JVP as disastrous, he said as a person who spearheaded the campaign to form the Sandanaya with the JVP, he regretted he had to now say that the JVP had pushed the country towards the war front.

The JVP has disappointed us once. I donât want to say more about it because I still feel disappointed about what it did to the President, said Mr. Bandaranaike who was last month named by the party as the virtual running mate of Mr. Rajapakse and the Prime Ministerial candidate. Commenting on speculations that President Kumaratunga would make moves to get CWC Leader Minister Arumugam Thondaman - who is also a member of the Presidents delegation to the United Nations - to support a Presidential candidate, Minister Bandaranaike said Mr. Thondaman would do exactly what the President wanted.

But at this point even I donât know what she is going to tell the CWC leader. I will join the President and Mr. Thondaman tomorrow in New York and I should be in a position to tell what the plans are after that,Minister Bandaranaike said.

He also said there had been rumours even that the National Unity Alliance (NUA) was not comfortable about the developments and added he could not blame anybody for being so.. He said the Prime Ministers decision to join hands with the extremist JHU had placed him in an awkward position since he was due to meet US leaders.in his capacity as Foreign Affairs Minister.

I am meeting President George Bush, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and several leaders along with the President. It is already known that the JHUs plan to push the anti-conversion bill is seen as an extremist, anti- minority move by the US. Although it may have its own mistakes, the fact remains that the United States is the superpower today. It is not wise to antagonize it by joining hands with extremist parties he added.

When queried about his letter to Deputy Sports Minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi calling for explanation for his failure to inform Minister Bandaranaike about a meeting held in Gampaha while his name had been displayed in the posters, Minister Bandaranaike said such disciplinary action was mandatory.

We are already witnessing how the lack of discipline, even among senior members, has made inroads into the reputation of the party. It is with the best interests of the party in mind that I decided to send the letter to Sripathi, Minister Bandaranaike said.

Minority support for Mahinda depends on his attitude... - TNA

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakses gaining votes from the minority communities would depend on how far he could rectify the mistakes made by former leaders said Tamil National Alliance (TNA) convener Suresh Premachandran yesterday.

The Jaffna district MP, who is also the Secretary General of the EPRLF, was speaking on the scheduled September 14 meeting between the LTTEs political chief SP Tamil Selvan and 22 TNA parliamentarians at Kilinochchi. He told ˜The Island that the LTTEs political chief had invited all TNA MPs to be present to discuss the prevailing situation in the country and the forthcoming presidential elections in 2005.

He said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse had already reached an agreement with the JVP and was to do the same with the JHU.

"These two parties have already laid down conditions which the Tamil parties and Tamil people are opposed to, as they are for a negotiated settlement and are firm that the settlement should be an honourable one. All including President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, UNP Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as well as international community know very well that it would not be easy to find a negotiated solution within a unitary state and the LTTE who had sacrificed several thousands of lives as well as billions of rupees in property during their three decade or more struggle for a separate state, would be willing to accept a federal system as a solution within a united Sri Lanka," he said.

"If Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse does not rectify the mistakes and continues with present policy, I do not think he can have any minority votes. So while we the TNA consult the leaders of the LTTE there is enough time for Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse to rectify the mistakes in the manifestoes both parties releases after the nominations so that Tamil parties and Tamil peoples can make a decision," he said.

Norway's new government offers to maintain Sri Lanka peace bid

Norway's government-elect will offer to keep up peace mediation efforts in Sri Lanka "in whatever manner the parties want," top peace envoy Erik Solheim told AFP. "After the new government is formed by mid-October, it will formally contact the Sri Lankan
government and the Tamil Tigers offering to continue its services in whatever manner the parties want," Solheim said on Tuesday. An opposition coalition, comprising Labor, the Socialist Left Party and the agrarian Center Party, won a majority in Norway's arliamentary election Monday. Solheim who is expected to be part of the new government said the peace process will be continued by outgoing deputy foreign minister Vidar Helgesen and should continue under a new government

There will be no change in the process as far as I can see," Solheim said.

9 September 2005Mahinda taking country towards war with JVP, JHU help

If Mahinda Rajapakse wins the presidential election with help of the JVP and the JHU, the country is definitely bound to be pushed towards a
war with massive repercussions, New Left Front leader Wickremebahu Karunaratne said. Speaking at a news conference yesterday morning he said the Prime Minister has now become the common candidate of the JVP and the JHU and posing himself as a communal minded war candidate after riding on the shoulders of SLFP.

He said Mr. Rajapakse was treading a path totally different from what President Chandrika Kumaratunga had walked in the recent past. Dr.
Karunaratne said democratic people and the true leftists in the country cannot in any way help Mr. Rajapakse in his march towards war.

“I feel he is digging his own grave”, he said. Mr. Karunaratne said according to the conditions laid down by the JVP and the JHU for their support to the SLFP presidential candidate, even an administrative structure to help tsunami victims in the North East cannot be set up.

He said President Kumaratunga has requested the United Nations -- which is controlled politically by capitalist powers -- to intervene in solving the national problem and I presume Norway has been asked to go. Dr. Karunaratne said foreign intervention was not necessary but the government should talk with the Tigers directly to solve the problems.

He said if the President had forwarded the problem to be settled by world leaders she has admitted there were two nations in this country and in a way given official recognition to the Tamil liberation struggle. “Prime Minister Rajapakse is not contesting the election as a SLFP candidate, but as a candidate of chauvinist forces”, he concluded.

TNA representatives meet UN envoy

Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians, Mr. R. Sampanthan, Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, Mr. Gajendran Ponnambalam and TELO Muthalvar Mr. M. K. Sivajilingam on Tuesday met Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General Mr. Kofi
Annan, in Colombo.

The TNA MPs briefed the U.N. Envoy on current political situation, explaining Tamls concerns related to the peace process, the Cease Fire Agreement, scuttled tsunami aid-deal and the humanitarian situation in the NorthEast. The MPs also gave a historic overview of the Tamil struggle justifying the Tamil demand for right to self-determination, TNA sources said.

The meeting took place in Hilton Hotel from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., sources said. As Special Adviser, Mr. Brahimi advises the UN Secretary-General on a wide range of issues, including situations in the areas of conflict prevention and conflict resolution.

Mr. Brahimi has undertaken special missions on behalf of the Secretary-General to a number of countries, including Iraq, Afganistan, South Africa, Haiti, Congo, Yemen, Liberia, Nigeria and Sudan. Before coming to the U.N., Brahimi, who represented the National Liberation Front (FLN) in Jakarta during Algeria's 1956–1961 independence movement, was the Algerian Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1991 until 1993.

8 September 2005

Airport is no place for political discussions devoid of mistrust” Tamilselvan responds to Norway

“Katunayake international airport cannot be a venue for meaningful political discussions and the argument that it is secure for LTTE as a transit point to a location outside Sri Lanka, does not hold good when what is contemplatd is a serious political discussion involving
decisions at the top to trickle down to the armed forces for proper implementation of the CFA” said Mr.S.P.Tamilselvan, responding to the suggestion put forward by Norway

In a meeting with the Norwegian Deputy Ambassador and Head of the SLMM today 8 September 2005 at the Peace Secretariat in
Kilinochchi, Norway’s suggestion to have the proposed discussion between the GoSL and the LTTE at the Katunayake airport was ruled out by Mr.Tamilselvan as totally unacceptable. “Parties to the CFA have not been meeting for quite some time now and the CFA
has run into risk by the SriLankan government not implementing clauses that facilitate normalcy to the war affected people, resulting in
frustration and a political vacuum which necessitates a common venue equally comfortable for both the parties” said Mr.Tamilselvan, reiterating the fairness of the request.

Touching on the political trend and preoccupation of the south in the presidential poll, Mr.Tamilselvan lamented that extremist elements are joining hands in an unprecedented manner to shatter the core concept of political resolution through negotiations on sharing of power. “The overwhelming desire one sees in the political landscape in the south seems to be the continuation of the ‘unitary state’ and throw to the winds any understanding on humanitarian delivery for tsunami victims through a well structured mechanism and this
nullifies the efforts taken during the last three and a half years to build confidence” said Mr.Tamilselvan regretfully.

Head of the SLMM, in responding to Mr.Tamilselvan on a clarification of the news item that the SLMM met with dismissed LTTE member Karuna’s armed group in a location in Batticaloa, said that the purpose of the meeting was to confirm this group’s presence in GoSL controlled areas and confront the SriLankan government on the ground reality which is being continuously denied by the
SriLankan government. Mr.Tamilselvan said that this is the cardinal issue that need immediate action to end violence and now that the SLMM has had an opportunity to vouchsafe their presence in close proximity to the SL military in violation of the relevant CFA clause, it
should act meaningfully in urging the Sri Lankan government to get rid of these armed elements.

Two SL armed personnel killed, five civilians injured in Batticaloa
Two Sri Lankan armed personnel were killed, five Special Task Forces soldiers and five civilians were injured in two separate clashes when unidentified gunmen attacked STF soldiers and policemen who were monitoring the Batticaloa - Kalmunai Road in Manmunai, 7 km south of Batticaloa between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. Thursday. The first clash erupted at Manmunai where unidentified armed men lobbed a grenade and fired at the STF and police personnel on Batticaloa - Kalmunai Road. At least one policeman was wounded in the attack, Police said.

The second attack occured at 5:45 p.m. when an unidentified group of attackers lobbed a grenade into an STF vehicle carrying soldiers and policemen who were returning to Manmunai STF camp from Thalankudah. More than 5 STF soldiers were severely injured. Five civilians in the area were also injured, according to police sources. Exact details of casualties were not available at the moment. Tension prevailed in Manmunai following the attacks. 1 killed, 62 injured in stampede after bomb scare aboard jet.

A woman was killed and 62 people were injured today in a stampede triggered by a bomb scare aboard a Saudi plane which was about to take-off with over 400 passengers from the Colombo international airport. The Jeddah-bound Boeing 747-300 long-range aircraft of the Saudi Arabian Airlines was about to take off when the control tower informed the pilots of the anonymous call they received about
the bomb threat, an airport official told PTI.

"The pilots opened the emergency exits and the passengers panicked. Most were hurt in the stampede," the official said adding that the woman who was killed was a Sri Lankan seeking employment in Jeddah.

The woman along with five others, including two young girls, was rushed to the nearby Negombo Base hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, a hospital spokesman said. Fifty seven others sustained minor injuries, with most getting hurt while trying to leave the aircraft through emergency exists after the control tower received the phone call, which turned out to be a hoax. The authorities were trying to trace the hoax call which came a day after Sri Lanka's peace broker Norway said they decided to stage Sri Lankan truce review talks at the airport. The airport said despite the search on the Saudi aircraft, no flights were disrupted.

EPRLF (P)joins hands with Sri Lanka Premier

Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF, Padmanabha) leader T. Sritharan announced yesterday that his party has decided to support Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in the forthcoming presidential elections.

In a statement, the party leader said, “Democratic parties cannot operate freely in the North/East now. We lost many people due to the
flawed Ceasefire Agreement. The Prime Minister understands democratic values and he is known to be a campaigner for human rights.
He is also from the grassroots like many of us.”

The party’s support was pledged during a meeting with Premier Rajapaksa yesterday at the Temple Trees. “What we need is devolution of power and democratic space in the North/East. It is our duty to support the Prime Minister, who is acceptable by right thinking people of all communities. He is sensitive to the needs of our people,” Mr. Sritharan said.

He also said that he has decided not to support Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. “It is because more people and leaders were killed after the CFA including many of our members,” he said.

Rajapakse, JVP sign policy deal

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) presidential candidate Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sinhala extreme nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) secretary Mr. Tilvin Silva signed the 12-point policy agreement Thursday morning at the Prime Minister
official residence, Temple Trees in Colombo.

The MoU signing ceremony started at 11 am in the garden of Temple Trees with SLFP ministers, JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe and parliamentarians Douglas Devananda, Leader of Eelam People Democracy Party, Leader of Mahajana Ekasath Peramuna, Mr. Dinesh Gunwardene, and National Unity Alliance leader Ms. Ferial Ashraf attending.

Many Buddhist monks and other religious representives also attended the ceremony. Sri Lanka Communist Party and Lanka Sama Samaja Party leaders were not present.

Buddhist Monks held the worship session and gave blessings for a Rajapksa victory in the forthcoming presidential Election. Later other religious representives also held a prayer session to bless Mr Rajapaksa.

PA constituent parties unhappy over JVP, JHU policies

Constituent parties of the PA have told SLFP Presidential Candidate Mahinda Rajapakse that they could not agree with the policies of the JVP and JHU. Party representatives said although they agreed on the need to join hands to defeat the UNP presidential candidate,
they were against communal-minded parties like the JVP and the JHU.

At a meeting with Mr. Rajapakse, the PA constituent parties criticized the 12 point conditions put forward by the JVP and especially expressed concern over moves to abolish the P-TOMS deal. They also said any amendments to the Cease Fire Agreement should be made in consultation with the LTTE and not unilaterally. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse in response told PA leaders not to go by what is being said in the media and insisted clauses in the agreement that appeared in the media were incorrect.

Commenting on the P-TOMS, the Prime Minister said even though the P-TOMS had been temporary stalled following a court ruling, the mechanism should not be allowed to collapse. He said the need had arisen to establish a more workable mechanism to deal with the issue and pledged to work towards it.

He also agreed to talk with the LTTE in a bid to sort out matters relating to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

Anuruddha released on conditional bail

Former Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte who appeared in courts on charges of having spent Rs. 45 million over and above his declared income was released on conditional bail by Colombo Additional Magistrate yesterday.

Magistrate Ajith Anavaratne ordered the release on cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and the production of two guarantors on surety bail of Rs. 300,000 each. When the Additional Magistrate ordered that Gen. Ratwatte’s passport be impounded, his counsel Rienzie Arusakularatne claimed that the passport was already in the custody of the Colombo High Court. Bribery Commission, Deputy Director (Investigations) Sarath Somaweera who filed the charges said the commission had begun inquiries on a complaint made by former CID Director.

DIG Somaweera said the CID, after obtaining a warrant from the Fort Magistrate’s Court searched the vault at the Hatton National Bank on a tip-off that unlicensed firearms, gold and narcotics could be hidden in a safe-deposit box belonging to Gen. Ratwatte and his wife. He said in their search they found 88 treasury bills totalling to Rs. 42.18 million. DIG Somaweera said although the owners of the
safe-deposit box had been questioned as to how they came to posses the treasury bills, they were unable to provide an acceptable explanation.

He told court that this prompted the Bribery Commission to begin a detailed investigation into the matter and institute legal action. DIG
Somaweera said an investigation into Gen. Ratwatte’s assets between March 31, 1997 and August 31, 2002 had revealed, the General had spent Rs. 41.5 million more than his income.

He told the Magistrate the investigations were now complete and the commission had no objection to the suspect being granted bail on the
condition that he would present himself in court when notified. The DIG also requested the Magistrate to disallow Gen. Ratwatte to
leave the country without seeking the permission of the court. Counsel for the suspect, Hareen Gomes, Priyantha Upali Amarasinghe, Wasantha Batagoda, Thejitha Korala and Rienzie Arasakularatne asked the court to ensure the charges were filed before the High Court as soon as possible.

Mr. Arasakularatne asked court that his client be released on bail now that investigations had ended. Responding to a question by the
Magistrate about whether the investigation was over, DIG Somaweera responded that it was and that charges are to be filed in the High Court. The case has been fixed for November 2.

7 September 2005
Mahinda agrees to cancel P-TOMS deal

SLFPs presidential candidate and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse has made major concessions to the JVP and will among other things cancel the P-TOMS agreement with the LTTE in exchange for the JVP support at the upcoming presidential poll, the party announced yesterday.

Mr. Rajapakse has also agreed with the JVP to review and revise fully the ceasefire agreement, hold talks not only with the LTTE, but also with all other relevant parties and to reconsider Norway role as the acilitator in the
peace process.

Norway has shown unprecedented bias and partiality towards the LTTE in its role as a facilitator in the negotiation process between the Government and the LTTE and in the monitoring mission of the ceasefire agreement. As Norway has failed to act impartially in performing its obligations, it is agreed hereby to reconsider seriously whether it should be allowed to engage in those activities further and necessary action shall be taken accordingly, according to an agreement reached between Mr. Rajapakse and the JVP.

JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe told a news conference Mr. Rajapakse had also agreed to meet 11 other
pre-conditions presented by the party, following several rounds of talks.

Now that Mr. Rajapakse has agreed to meet our pre-conditions, our central committee has unanimously decided to support Mr. Rajapakse at the upcoming presidential election, Mr. Amarasinghe said

He said the policy agreement would be signed this week. The agreement says: “It is hereby declared that the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure which was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and on June 24, the implementation of which has been already stayed by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and also was subject to much public criticism shall not be reactivated, enforced or implemented in whatever manner. For the purpose of accelerating, expediting and regularizing the provision of the necessary relief services to all the people affected by the tsunami, a new programme shall be formulated as a priority task on reviewing the existing programme and to activate it forthwith through the assistance and intervention of the government.

We believe that it is necessary to have negotiations not only with the LTTE but also with all other relevant
parties to resolve Sri Lanka's national question and that without being agreed on such lasting solutions it is
agreed hereby not to grant Interim Self-governing Authority or any such political or administrative structure to
the LTTE or to hold negotiations with it on that basis.


It is agreed hereby that in considering the harmful and prejudicial effects and other serious implications of the
ceasefire agreement that was entered and signed by the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the LTTE on February 22, 2002, the said agreement shall be reviewed and revised fully and the said agreement shall be completely redone on removing and eliminating all the clauses which are prejudicial and harmful to the national security and foster and nurture separatism and are inconsistent with the Constitution of Sri Lanka.”

Excerpts of the policy agreement between Mr. Rajapakse and the JVP are as follows;

It is hereby agreed to protect, defend and preserve the unitary nature of the Sri Lankan State under any solutions to be presented, formed or formulated for the purpose of the resolution of Sri Lanka's national question.

As it is axiomatic that Norway as a facilitator, has shown unprecedented bias and partiality towards the LITE in
the negotiation process between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE and in the monitoring mission of the ceasefire agreement and also as she has undoubtedly failed to act impartially in performing her obligations, it is agreed hereby to reconsider seriously whether the Norway should be allowed to engage in those activities further and the necessary actions shall be taken accordingly.”

“It is agreed hereby that the re-establishment and restoration of human rights, democracy and law and order which have become a completely non-existing phenomena due to the terrorists activities of the LTTE in the Northern and Eastern provinces shall be considered as a prioritized task. All necessary and appropriate actions shall be taken to ensure to all democratic political parties to carry out their political activities without any impediments, to create an atmosphere for the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim people to live without any fears and perplexity and also to ensure that multi-party political system shall be restored in the said provinces.”

“The Executive Presidential System being most destructive and harmful to the democracy of Sri Lanka and having accepted its abolition as an essential priority task, it is hereby agreed to terminate the Executive Presidential System before the end of the term of office of the 6th Executive President which is to be commenced from 2005.

“No party shall accept the so-called liberal open economic policy as Sri Lanka's national economic strategy
nevertheless both parties shall agree that an economic policy aimed at strengthening and promoting national economy with equilibrium shall be adopted.”

“The harbours, seaports, airports, State commercial banks, the Petroleum Corporation, Ceylon Electricity Board and all other Government establishments including water and mineral resources which are the nerve centers of the national economy shall not be privatized and also shall agree to abolish any such actions whatsoever taken so far towards privatization of the aforesaid institutions, services and resources.”

“The right to have free education shall be ensured and also any moves towards the privatization of education sector including the "White Paper" presented by the United National Party in 1981 shall be abolished after comprehensive review and carefully considering the views of intellectuals,
academics, teachers and students. In resolving the problems faced by workers who contribute to the national production process, and the farmers,
factory owners, entrepreneurs, business community and consumers who face hardships in view of soaring inflation, the proposals of the JVP shall be accepted and shall agree to act in conformity with those proposals.”

“Sri Lanka shall adopt a non-aligned foreign policy and in particular shall be taken into account the regional and the Asian cooperation in revisiting the foreign policy.”

Three LTTE cadres killed, five injured in Vaharai

Three Liberation Tigers cadres were killed when a group of armed men wearing military fatigues raided a sentry post at Kattumurivu inside Liberation Tigers controlled Vaharai area Tuesday morning around 8:45 a.m. Five cadres were injured in the raid, according to LTTE officials in Sampoor. Meanwhile, SLA sources in Welikanda told local reporters that a 40 mm grenade launcher, four T-56 rifles, ten grenades, two claymore mines and three
LTTE uniform kits were captured by the attackers, claiming that the raid was carried out by "Mangalan Master", a Karuna loyalist.

The LTTE cadres killed in the raid were: Mr. Sutharalingam Sinnarasa (Vinoth) from Iralkuli, Muttur, Mr. Pathmanathan Senthuran (Sarangan) from 6th Mile Post, Periyankulam, Nilaveli and Mr. Nagaratnam Sivathasan (Siva), Athiyamman Kovil Road, Kiliveddy. The bodies of the killed cadres are being kept at Sampoor Political office of the LTTE, sources added. The LTTE officials alleged that the raid was carried out by a heavily armed group of Sri Lanka Army soldiers and said that the attackers retreated to the Sri Lanka Army garrison in Singapura, 3 km west of Kattumurivu which is located between Vaharai and Kathiraveli.

Liberation Tigers accuse the Sri Lanka army for employing Karuna loyalist cadres as paramilitary cadres in the remote interior villages on the
Polannaruwa-Batticaloa border to carry out a proxy war against them in the east.

TNA not overly excitedby upcoming election

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said it had come to a point where it could not commit itself to either of the main contenders at the upcoming Presidential election until there was clarity on their policies with regard to the peace process. TNA MP Gajan Ponnambalam said the party would take time to first study the manifesto of SLFP candidate Mahinda Rajapakse and UNP candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe before meeting the
LTTE leadership and announcing its stand. "We need to be sure what the main candidates will do with regard to the peace process. We also want to make sure we have a common stand with the LTTE on the Presidential election. We will announce our stand only after we meet the LTTE leadership," Ponnambalm said.

TNA MP Mavai Senathirajah said the Tamil party hopes to meet several minority parties tomorrow (7) and Thursday to discuss the policies the new President would need to adopt in relation to the peace process. Meanwhile sources within the party said it was utterly disappointed with the verbal assurances of both candidates.

"Both candidates are known to say one thing on one day and something opposite the following day. We are really sick and tired of the false pledges these people make," a TNA official said on condition of anonymity. He said it would take a lot of assuring, especially by Prime Minister
Mahinda Rajapakse if he was to get TNA support. This follows reports that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) decided to offer conditional support to the Premier at the Presidential election.

"It would be unrealistic to think the JVP will have any commitment towards the peace process and we are disappointed with the pacts the PA pursues with them," the TNA official said. The party said it was not overly excited about the upcoming elections, calling it a "southern political exercise"
which failed to address the aspirations of the Tamils in the North and East.

JHU pledges support to Premier Rajapaksa .

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today announced that it has decided to support SLFP presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa in the forthcoming presidential election, but with some conditions. The decision was taken after a meeting between the Prime Minister and the JHU parliamentarians today. It is learnt that the Premier had agreed not to pursue any power-sharing arrangement with the LTTE.

JHU frontliner MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said his party has agreed to support the Premier and an agreement in this regard will be signed in Kandy on September 13. The Thera added that the official announcement will be made tomorrow.Yesterday, the JVP also extended its support to the Prime Minister for the forthcoming election.

Army officer arrested while entering cleared area at Omanthai

An Army officer, who has been absent from duty for several months, was arrested at the Omanthai military checkpoint yesterday evening when he tried to enter into cleared areas with three others. Operational Headquarters said the officer was arrested while he was entering from Jaffna without following guidelines laid down for members of the Armed Forces.

The officer, who was absent without leave since December 5, was traveling by vehicle with two Tamils and a Sinhalese when police arrested them. Preliminary investigations confirmed that the absentee had neither obtained approval for the trip, nor did he claim his true identity when he crossed
over to uncleared areas or when he returned.

Thondaman's security tightened

The security provide to Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) Leader Arumugam Thondaman has been increased after intelligence operatives found that there was a threat to his life, senior vice President of the party R. Yogarajan said yesterday. Thondaman's security has been strengthened with personnel from the Air Force and the police, he said adding that the security threat had been exposed after several Tamil youths were found loitering hear the CWC headquarters 'Sayuma Bawan' at Green Path in Collpetty, Thondaman's country Bungalow "Wawendon" in Ramboda and the Technical Institute
at Kotagala.

After questioning these youths the state intelligence had advised that extra personnel from Air Force and Police be deployed to provide security to Thondaman. When asked about UNP MP T. Maheswaran's accusation that Thondaman had demanded 181 million rupees to extend the CWC's
support to UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremasinghe, Yogaragan denied the accusation, asking how any party could afford to give such a large sum of money.

Kadirgamar killing is LTTE gain India needs to get involved now- General Satish Nambiar

General Satish Nambiar a former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Indian Army, Force Commander and Head of Mission of the UN forces in former Yugoslavia and formerly a advisor to the Government of Sri Lanka on certain aspects of the peace process says that India needs to get involved in
the Sri Lankan process now because India is also responsible for what has happened in Sri Lanka.

He told The Island "I cannot speak for the Indian establishment. But, I have always been of the view that India needs to play a more active role in this
process. After all we have common interests, affiliations and we are neighbours. I will also be the first to admit that we owe a responsibility to the people of Sri Lanka because in part we were also responsible for what had happened in Sri Lanka"

General Nambiar who visited Sri Lanka several times to study the issue of High Security Zones described late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar who was assassinated by the LTTE as one of Sri Lanka’s most distinguished leaders and a man with principles. Nambiar said "His loss is certainly the LTTE’s gain. The government of Sri Lanka will now have to look for a person who can articulate his views"

Satish Nambiar said it was time for the international community to put pressure on the LTTE after the assassination of Mr. Kadirgamar. "I also feel the LTTE couldn’t care less about the international community" said the former Indian General General Nambiar who looked at the High Security Zones in Sri Lanka agreed that the LTTE also have several high security zones. He said The LTTE has not allowed access even to the monitors (SLMM), to many places they control and the LTTE feel the monitors must not go. "It is not a good state of affairs. They must have access to all those places."
Said Nambiar

6 September 2005

Kumbakaranas in Delhi must wake up to LTTE threats - Suryanarayan

Professor for Maritime Studies and Research at the University of Calicut and Analyst on Sri Lankan affairs, Professor V. Suryanarayan, who is also a Senior Professor and former Director Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Madras, said the leaders in New Delhi must wake up and neutralise the Sea Tigers and the Air wing of the LTTE. He said the time was right for India to do it.

"Time is up for the Kumbakarana’s of New Delhi to wake up. It is in India’s interest to neutralise the Sea Tigers and the LTTE Air wing. The greatest threat to India is the emergence of the Sea Tigers as a credible Navy. India should act now before it’s even too late. I really don’t know when the Kumbakarana’s in New Delhi would wake up," he said

The respected Sri Lankan Analyst and Academic described the ISGA proposals, put forward by the LTTE, as a clever and a dangerous plan. He said with it two thirds of the Sri Lankan coastline would have gone to the LTTE. Suryanarayan said the objective of LTTE leader Velupullai Prabhakaran was very clear. "He is fully committed to a separate state. He would take one step back and two steps forward. It is the only terrorist organization in
the world which boasted of an Air force," the Indian professor said

Suryanarayan blamed the LTTE for the brutal assassination of the late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. He said "The LTTE has not given up
assassinations. All the perfumes of Arabia would not be able to wipe out the smell of LTTE’s assassination of Kadirgamar. They cannot deny it".

Jayalalitha demands halt to Sethu Canal dredging work

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms Jayaram Jayalalithaa on Friday demanded that the dredging work for the controversial $560-million Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP) be halted immediately because she claims it has badly hit the livelihood of fishermen and endangered marine biology in the sea south of the southern Indian state.

In a strongly-worded statement issued in state capital Chennai, she declared: "Concerned with the welfare of the people, my government cannot permit this project completely ruining the fishermen’s lives. We cannot remain a silent spectator when the fishermen are being put to great suffering.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had launched the dredging work for the project at a gala public function in Madurai on July 2. It was attended by the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and leaders of UPA partners in Tamil, including Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo Muthuvel Karunanidhi.

But Ms Jayalalithaa had boycotted that function on the ground that the project was being rushed through by her political rivals without proper environmental assessment. The bitter rivalry between Ms Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK (now in power in Tamil Nadu), and the DMK (which
shares power in Prime Minister Dr Singh’s coalition government at the center) has converted the Sethusamudram project into a political football.

The DMK is trying to impress the state’s voters by taking credit for making the 145-year dream project a reality, and hopes to return to power in the assembly polls due early next year. By launching a tirade against the project, Ms Jayalalithaa is seeking to neutralize any advantage the DMK and its allies hope to gain from the project’s speedy execution.

The project is likely to be completed and thrown open to traffic in November 200. On Friday, Ms Jayalalithaa alleged that the dredging, now going on
to deepen the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka, has damaged fishing nets "worth lakhs of rupees" laid by fishermen, and badly interfered with marine life by destroying the sea vegetation under which fish used to lay their eggs.

She said: "Fishermen have written to me complaining that there is virtually no prawn catch in the region now, whereas they used to harvest prawns worth Rs 20,000 a day before the dredging." Fishermen have also complained that larger marine species like dolphins and other rare fish have migrated out of the region after dredging began, she added.

Ms Jayalalithaa recalled that she had repeatedly pleaded that the project should be taken up only after the "justifiable’ apprehensions regarding threat to marine biology and fishermen’s livelihood are answered, and accused the Central Government, DMK President Karunanidhi and his Shipping Minister TR Baalu of persisting with the project "just for gaining political advantage."

The chief minister said these gentlemen alone should be held responsible for the sufferings of the fishermen because of this project. She then asked: "Will the Centre or Mr Karunanidhi compensate the fishermen?"

"Ultimately, it is the state government that has to face the consequences of this irresponsible project," she pointed out. It may be recalled that the Sethusamudram Corporation has awarded the contract for dredging for a length of 13.57km in the Palk Strait area to the state-owned Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), and floated tenders for the remaining three legs, two at Adam’s Bridge (across 11km and 20.05km) and one at Palk Strait (across 40.86km). The tender process will be completed anytime now, and work will begin in November.

The 167km-long, 12-metre deep and 300-metre wide canal will provide a shorter route between India’s east coast and west coat, by reducing the distance by 424 nautical miles, and save 30 hours of sailing. At present, ships commuting from the Indian east coast to the west and vice versa have to go round Sri Lanka.

The Spin and Swing of the RAW Orchestra By Sachi Sri Kantha(sangam.org)

It does not take even ten seconds, for Tamil music fans, to identify the characteristic voices of star performers like M.S. Subbulakshmi, Madurai Mani Iyer, Chidambaram Jayaraman and Sirkali Govindarajan. The tonal markers of sweetness, swing and lilt of each such musician’s voice are
too distinct, unless one is tone deaf. Similarly, for the past 15-20 years, it has not taken even a minute for Eelam watchers to check out when the infamous Research and Analysis Wing of India [RAW] Orchestra sings. The RAW Orchestra sings loudly in the media whenever something
surprises them. But the tasteless tones of the RAW Orchestra, if one bothers to listen, are an insult to the average Tamil’s intelligence.

According to a RAW watch site – FAS Intelligence Resource Program [ www.fas.org ], RAW has a "total of an estimated eight to ten thousand agents and a budget that experts place at Rs.1,500 crore, alternately estimated at $145 million" [entry, updated on July 26, 2002]. One wonders what slice of this $145 million annual budget is directed toward Sri Lankan territory. $25 million is a not unreasonable guess, which in turn, works out to more
than $2 million per month.

Two recent events which have ‘surprised’ the RAW’s Poo-Bahs are, (1) Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar’s assassination on August 12th, (2) the news item that the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE will hold talks on the 2002 Cease-Fire Agreeement. Now, within a span of two days [August 20-22], we notice, three singers providing a chorus line for a RAW-inspired performance. The message of their song is nothing but "Bring Karuna to the Center."

D.B.S. Jeyaraj, the token Tamil pontificator for the Sunday Leader, screams in high decibel that Karuna "should be recognized as a separate entity by Colombo and Kilinochchi. Karuna and his followers should be brought into a separate tripartite ceasefire facilitated by Oslo.
Thereafter Karuna should be brought into the mainstream as a politico - military force and encouraged on the path of democratic politics."Â This is another of Jeyaraj's thought balloons, filled with RAW air.

The human rights activist Rohini Hensman supportingly coos, "The new CFA must recognise that de facto, there are three parties to the conflict: the Government, the Prabakaran faction and the Karuna faction; indeed, most of the fighting during the ceasefire has been between the two latter parties. Thus a cessation of fighting necessitates a three-cornered ceasefire." Hensman’s as well as Jeyaraj’s logic is flawed. In the Eastern
front, only two parties hold territory; the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE. Karuna’s faction has not held territory since Karuna’s ‘flight for life’ in April 2004.

In addition, the Indian journalist P.K. Balachanddran ponders whether ‘the Karuna issue’ will be the focal point in the forthcoming Government of Sri Lanka – LTTE discussions.

The bottom line of this chorus team is nothing but a ploy for giving legitimacy to Karuna, who left them high and dry last year. And this is RAW’s urgent campaign.

For the first time in nearly two decades, RAW’s Poo-Bahs find themselves in a pickle. They are now devoid of a strong ‘transmission line’ to the Cabinet happenings in Colombo. From the mid 1980s to 1994, the UNP’s Gamini Dissanayake served as the prime informant for them. Gamini Dissanayake even represented RAW’s interests in delivering ‘an arresting funeral oration’ of TULF leader Amirthalingam and his junior colleague V. Yogeswaran, in July 1989. Following Gamini’s demise, Lakshman Kadirgamar stepped into Dissanayake’s shoes and performed splendidly.

Now, after Kadirgamar’s demise, RAW’s ‘transmission line’ has snapped abruptly. Gamini Dissanayake had gravitas within the UNP. For nearly ten years [and especially until estranged brother Anura Bandaranaike joined her in late 2000] Kadirgamar had gravitas, in President
Chandrika Kumaratunga’s eyes. Thus RAW’s field agents did not have to sweat much in Colombo in receiving their field notes.

Now, RAW’s Poo Bahs are left with only Minister Douglas Devananda, the militant impostor-turned "democrat", to pry into President Chandrika's affairs. Devananda, however, hardly belongs to President Chandrika’s inner circle. In the eyes of President Chandrika, Devananda does not
exude gravitas either as a legal henchman or as a miltant. Thus, the spin and swing of RAW’s Orchestra is in full blast now to endear Karuna [in the role of true militant-turned "democrat"] to President Chandrika.

I present below, relevant excerpts from the original texts of three chorus singers for the RAW Orchestra.

(1) P.K.Balachanddran [Hindustan Times, New Delhi, Aug.20, 2005]

"…For the LTTE, it is a matter of life and death in the eastern districts where its hold is still shaky and where the ethno-political situation is in any case not
very favourable to it. Karuna may not be visible to the naked eye, but he, along with other Tamil groups, which the LTTE says are nothing but Tamil paramilitaries attached to the army, are posing a serious threat to its unarmed political cadres.

Though LTTE often downgrades Karuna as being an insignificant factor, his name comes up too often as a threat. The LTTE knows that it is only Karuna's men, having been in the LTTE themselves not so long ago, who can carry out the kind of operations that are carrying out.

The Karuna issue will be a major challenge for the government. Going after Karuna or even suspending any support for him may not be an easy option for it. Assuming that the government or a section of the Armed Forces does support Karuna, it may not be politically easy to take a decision to drop him like a hot potato. This is because Karuna is a hero in the Sinhala south, the government's main political constituency. Karuna is seen by this
constituency as the best weapon to fight Prabhakaran and the LTTE and weaken the two before re-starting peace talks.

Indulging in military action to curb Karuna may itself be a violation of the CFA. Secondly, as Peace Secretariat chief Jayantha Dhanapala put it, going after Karuna may lead to inadvertent clashes with the mainstream LTTE…"

(2) D.B.S. Jeyaraj [Sunday Leader, Colombo, Aug.21, 2005]

"The only way out for the LTTE is for the Tigers to swallow their arrogance and accept the reality of Karuna. He should be recognized as a separate entity by Colombo and Kilinochchi. Karuna and his followers should be brought into a separate tripartite ceasefire facilitated by Oslo. Thereafter Karuna should be brought into the mainstream as a politico - military force and encouraged on the path of democratic politics. The tactic of using Karuna as the ‘running dogs of war’ must cease.

Given the experience of all other disarmed Tamil groups at tiger hands after the ceasefire it would be naive to expect Karuna to lay down arms. Karuna can lay down arms only when Pirapakaran lays down arms. But a non - confrontational mode of co - existence could be realised in the interim. For this the LTTE must accept reality and mend fences with Karuna. If the Tigers are unwilling as they are most likely to be the Eastern fratricide will continue.

Whether the LTTE or Karuna gains the upper hand does not matter because the ultimate sufferer will be the ‘Kilakkuth Thamilar’ in particular and the ‘Thamilinam’ in general."

(3) Rohini Hensman [The Hindu, Chennai, Aug.22, 2005]

"The new CFA must recognise that de facto, there are three parties to the conflict: the Government, the Prabakaran faction and the Karuna faction; indeed, most of the fighting during the ceasefire has been between the two latter parties. Thus a cessation of fighting necessitates a three-cornered ceasefire. However, even if the Prabakaran faction refuses to sign the agreement but the Government signs it with the Karuna faction, it will reduce the
threat of war and human rights violations quite significantly, and is therefore a goal worth pursuing."

5 September 2005

Editors’ Guild condemns violence against media

The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka in a statement condemned the spate of violence directed against newspapers editors, journalists, institutions
and owners of media recently. At the general meeting held by the Editor’s Guild on August 30, the situation was widely discussed and it was decided to strongly condemn the criminal tendencies.

The assassination of Dharmaratnam Sivaram, assassination of Relangi Selvarajan couple, the grenade attack on “Sudar Oli” office, attack on Sudar Oli journalist who was reporting an agitation opposite Fort Railway station are also the hidden and unhidden forces which threaten media institutions and their owners and the violation of the press freedom in the country.

“We also strongly condemn the statements of some politicians and scaring newspaper editors and proprietors of murder threat at public meetings,
interviews and television debates” the release said.

JVP announces conditional support for Mahinda Rajapaksa

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) announced today that it will support Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in the forthcoming presidential election if the government agrees to twelve conditions, including reviewing the Ceasefire Agreement and rescinding the P-TOMS agreement.

Addressing a press conference, JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said, “After considering all circumstances, the situation our country is at the moment, we have decided we should support Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on certain conditions.” Among their conditions are: not to grant Interim Self-governing Authority or any such political or administrative structure to the LTTE or to hold negotiations with the LTTE on that basis. The government should agree to protect, defend and preserve the unitary nature of the Sri Lankan State under any solutions to be presented to resolve Sri Lanka's national question.

The Ceasefire Agreement should be reviewed, revised and completely redone, eliminating all clauses which are “prejudicial and harmful to the national security and foster and nurture separatism and are inconsistent with the Constitution of Sri Lanka.” The government should agree to reconsider seriously whether Norway should be allowed to engage in its activities further and the necessary actions should be taken accordingly. It should also agree to the re-establishment and restoration of human rights, democracy and law and order in the North and Eastern provinces.


The government must agree to terminate the Executive Presidential System before the end of the term of the 6th Executive President, which will commence in the year 2005. The harbors, seaports, airports, state commercial banks, Petroleum Corporation, Ceylon Electricity Board and all
other government establishments as well as water and mineral resources should not be privatized.

Sri Lanka should also adopt a non-aligned foreign policy.

President gives free hand to Mahinda for elections

President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday gave the go ahead to SLFP Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse to get the support of any faction including the JVP in his campaign for the upcoming Presidential election. Addressing the much awaited SLFP Central Committee meeting on her
return from China the President reiterated her commitment to signing the P-TOMS agreement for which she had put a lot of effort and said she would be sorry if the party decided to veer from that stand. Ending weeks of speculation, the President also pledged she would not dissolve Parliament prior to the Presidential poll.

President Kumaratunga indicated she did not wish to become the lifetime President of the party but vowed she would continue in the position as long as the party wanted her to do so. The President ruled out any amendments to the SLFP constitution to allow her to become the lifetime President of the
party.

The SLFP Central Committee met at President’s House yesterday afternoon prior to tomorrow’s Party convention. Due to the President’s statement the central committee had decided to drop its earlier decision to amend the party constitution to make her the party’s lifetime president. The President also said all campaigning and organization work should be carried out under her guidance.

Later Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse explained in detail the campaign preparations and organizational activities carried out by the party in view of the upcoming Presidential election.

TRO-USA appeals for funds to help Katrina victims

Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO-USA), head quartered in Cumberland, Maryland, posted an appeal in its website, soliciting funds to help the victims of hurricane Katrina which hit New Orleans, Louisiana displacing 220,000 people and killing several thousands. "TRO is very grateful of
the tremendous help provided by American people during Tsunami and wishes to express its sympathy for the victims of Katrina and encourages all of you to help with Katrina relief efforts," the posting on the website said.

"Our target is to collect US$25k-$35k. With the number of inquiries we have had from expatriate Tamils in the US and in some other countries, and the offers of help, I strongly feel we can achieve this target," TRO's President Dr Ranjithan told TamilNet when asked to comment on the appeal.

"Although we have not yet decided where to channel the collected funds, since a plane load of hurricane survivors are expected to arrive to Washington D.C to be housed in D.C Armory, we are reviewing whether if it is logistically prudent to offer the donated funds for this effort," TRO's President
added.

Hurricane Katrina which developed from a tropical wave about 175 miles east of Nassau, affter moving southwest across Florida the hurricane exited west into the Gulf of Mexico where it reached Category 5 on August 28, 2005. It made its second landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana with 140 mph
winds, or Category 4, on August 29, 2005. Hurricane Katrina's eyewall then passed over the eastern edge of New Orleans before the hurricane was again over water. A few hours later it made landfall for a third time near the Louisiana/Mississippi border with 125 mph winds, or Category 3. It weakened from this point forward, losing hurricane status crossing over 100 miles inland, near Laurel, Mississippi. It was downgraded to a tropical depression near Clarksville, Tennessee as it continued to race northward.

Early in the morning of August 30, 2005 and as a direct result of Hurricane Katrina, breaches in three places of the levee system on the Lake ontchartrain side of New Orleans caused a second and even greater disaster. Heavy flooding covered almost the entire city over a sustained period, forcing the total evacuation of over a million people. The city was now uninhabitable, due to 80% of its area being below sea level meaning that the water had
nowhere to go.

SB's brother pledges support to Sri Lanka Premier The chief opposition whip of the Central Provincial Council, UNP Provincial Council member Saliya Bandara Dissanayake, who is the brother of UNP frontliner S.B. Dissanayake, has pledged his support to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the
upcoming presidential poll.

Mr. Dissanayake said he has decided to give his support as the Premier has pledged to release his brother from jail soon after his election as President.

The UNP provincial councilor pledged his support at the Temple Trees yesterday. He however said that he will not resign from the UNP. “We cannot be satisfied with the efforts made by the UNP and ‘Siri Kotha’ to get my brother released, though Mahinda Wijesekera, Rajitha
Senaratne, and Professor G.L. Peiris had done their part,” he said.

Six killed in landslides as floods hit Sri Lanka

At least six people were killed, more than a dozen houses damaged and several roads made impassable as rains followed by landslides hit central Sri Lanka, police said Monday. Five people of a family were killed when their house was buried in a landslide in Ratnapura, 140 km southeast of the capital Sunday night, while a woman was killed in another town nearby.

The central region of Ratnapura has been experiencing heavy rains over the past two days, leading to sporadic landslides and flooding of houses and roads. More than 15 houses have been damaged. In a related development, four more houses were badly damaged in the coastal area of Marawila, 60 km north of the capital, on Sunday night when seawaters swept in. The meteorological department has predicted more rain over the next 24 hours

Pirapaharan felicitates Nitharsanam cinema artists

Leader of Liberation Tigers, V Pirapaharan, felicitated the directors and artists at the "Eerath thee (Wet conflagration)" film release ceremony held at the Nitharsanam conference hall in Kilinochchi Sunday, sources from Kilinochchi said. The film was produced by LTTE Women's wing under the direction of Ms Nimala, and depicts the historical growth of Black Tigers.

Bharata Natya dance recital of Ms Puhalini, an LTTE fighter attached to Nitharsanam and student of Tamileelam College of Fine Arts, also took place during the same event. Ms Isaipiriya presided the event. Head of Nitharsanam, Ms Piramila, Poet Puthuvai Ratnathurai, Director of Tamileelam College
of Fine Arts, Mr Thanikai Maran and Head of LTTE Women's political wing, Thamilini, spoke at the event.

Several LTTE commanders, fighting cadres, artists and members of the public participated in the ceremony.

SLA soldier dies from grenade attack in Chenkalady

Two unidentified men riding a motorbike lobbed a grenade at Sri Lanka Army soldiers on Batticaloa-Chenkalady road at Chenkalady around 5:00 p.m. Monday. Two SLA soldiers sustained serious injuries in the attack. One of the soldiers later succumbed to his wounds at Batticaloa hospital, Police said. Tension prevails in Chenkalady, civilian sources said. Traffic along the main road has come to a hault following the grenade attack, sources added.

The attack took place near Chenkalady public market. SLA Corporal R. P. Banadra, 35, is being treated at Batticaloa Hospital, Police said. The two injured soldiers were rushed to Chenkalady Hospital and later transferred to Batticaloa Hospital.

Grenade misses EPDP buidling, damages civilian house

Grenade lobbed by unidentified men targeting the Mannar district office of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) Monday early morning hit the house of a civilian located adjacent to the EPDP office. The front portion of the house badly damaged. No one was hurt in this incident, Mannar Police said. Mr.Innasimuthu Benedict, a retired prison official is the owner of the damaged house.

At that time of attack, three women were in the house, Police said. A police team led by Superintendent of Police Mr.Tennekon rushed to
site and inspected the damaged house. A member of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) based in Mannar visited the site.

Direct talks with Pirapaharan, a Day Dream- TNA MP

"Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse is `day dreaming' when he says he will speak directly to the LTTE supremo to settle the ethnic issue," said Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham criticizing the nonchalant attitude of Mr Rajapakse at the beginning of his campaign for Sri Lanka's Presidency.

"Mr Rajapakse should understand that the people of the NorthEast cannot be taken for a ride anymore. Tamil people are neither concerned nor impressed by the political circus in the South. "The Government of Mr Rajapakse failed to implement even the very basic Joint Mechanism for
facilitating tsunami aid reaching the people of NorthEast. "Since Mr Rajapakse's Government captured power by aligning with the Janatha Vimukthi
Peramuna (JVP), extreme Sinhala Nationalist marxist party, the peace process hit a road block. Making pronouncements now on having talks with the LTTE is truely hilarious, unbecoming of a serious candidate seeking Sri Lanka's Presidency," Pararajasingham said.

Mr Pararajasingham also added that Mr Rajapakse will lose even the little amount of support he has in the NorthEast if he allied with the JVP in his campaign. When Premier Rajapakse and a delegation of JVP parliamentarians visited Jaffna on 30 December to see the devastation, irate refugees jeered the group protesting the group's negative attitude towards the peace process.

4 August 2005
EU considering taking action against LTTE -Press Trust of India

The European Union is considering a move to outlaw Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels, who are already banned in India, the US and Britain, a media report said on Sunday.

"An official committee of the EU meets in Brussels mid-week to consider whether the LTTE should be added to the list of terrorist organisations," the Sunday Times said. Britain, as the current holder of the EU presidency, has already circulated a note among member states on Sri Lanka's concerns about the LTTE, it added.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has invited the United Nations to send an envoy here as part of a possible effort to seek a greater UN role in resolving the island's festering ethnic conflict.

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LTTE political office attacked: One cadre shot dead
One Wanni LTTE cadre was shot dead this morning when a group of Karuna's men stormed the Kalwanchikudy LTTE political office. Military sources said that two armed men entered the LTTE political office and opened fire after throwing hand grenades. One senior cadre was killed.

CWC politburo to decide whom to support in Sri Lanka presidential election
The politburo of the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) will reach a final decision tomorrow on whether to support the UNP or SLFP candidate in the forthcoming presidential election.

The politburo will meet tomorrow evening at its headquarters, ‘Soumiyamoorthy Bawan’, to make the decision, a party spokesperson said. He also said that though the decision will be made tomorrow, it will be announced only after the nomination day.

However, it is learnt that CWC leader A. Thondaman has reportedly taken a decision to support the SLFP presidential candidate if the JVP also pledges its support to the Premier.

Rajapaksa criticizes Sri Lanka peace process

“We can travel all over the world but can we travel to Vavuniya?”
Prime Minister and SLFP presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday criticized the ongoing Sri Lankan peace process and pledged he would work towards achieving an "honorable peace".

Addressing an election rally in Ginigathhena yesterday, the Premier said that despite the current peace process, he or President Chandrika Kumaratunga cannot enjoy safe travel to any part of the country.

“We can travel all over the world but can we travel to Vavuniya?” he asked. He also claimed that if elected, he would work “toward achieving honorable peace to the country. I am committed to that and I will work dedicatedly for that.”

Earlier in an interview with a news agency, the Premier said he was ready to meet LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran without any foreign facilitators.

European Union to consider outlawing Sri Lanka's LTTE

The European Union is considering whether the LTTE should be added to its list of terrorist organizations.

The Sunday Times in Colombo stated, “An officials committee of the European Union meets in Brussels mid-week to consider whether the LTTE should be added to the list of terrorist organizations named by the EU nearly four years ago.”

It also said that the consideration follows an appeal made by Sri Lanka to the international community against the LTTE, who has been accused of several assassinations including that of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar last month.

The paper quoting analysts also said, “LTTE has violated provisions of Article 3 of the resolution approved by the European Union in December 2001. They include Art 3 (111) ‘attacks on a person’s life which may cause death’, (c) ‘kidnapping or hostage taking’, and (f) ‘manufacturing, possession, acquisition, transport, supply or use of weapons, explosives…’.”

30August 2005
Top U.N. envoy visits Sri Lanka to assess fragile
peace process

A top U.N. official is set to arrive in Sri Lanka on Friday to assess the island's fragile Norwegian-brokered peace process after the assassination of its foreign minister by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels, officials said.

Lakhdar Brahimi, a special envoy of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, is the highest foreign delegate to visit the island since the Aug. 12 assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. The guerrillas deny involvement.

The visit takes place amid increasing strain on a three-year cease-fire between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil rebels and a stalemate over where to hold crucial talks to save the truce from collapse.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Himali Arunathilake confirmed the visit but declined to disclose details. But other officials involved in organizing the visit said top on his agenda will be to discuss human rights violations and a spree of killings in relation to the implementation of the cease-fire. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The recruitment of child soldiers by the rebels is also expected to be discussed at length, the officials said.
The U.N. Security Council last month endorsed a package of measures aimed at halting the use of child
soldiers and exploitation of youngsters in war zones by governments and insurgent groups. The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam was among the 54 parties in 11 conflicts named in a February report by
Annan.

European truce monitors accuse the rebels of recruiting at least 1,656 children during the 3 1/2 year cease-fire. The Tigers are accused of violating the truce 3,066 times while the government is accused of 136 violations.

Brahimi's visit comes two weeks after the Sri Lankan government urged the international community to clamp
down on the guerrillas and their overseas supporters after the assassination Colombo described as a ``serious setback to the peace process.''

The U.N. envoy is expected to hold talks with Sri Lankan leaders, including President Chandrika Kumaratunga, during the five-day visit

29August 2005

JVP & Mahinda Rajapakse sign policy agreement next week

Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse has accepted the 11 policy conditions put forward by the JVP in order to support him at the forthcoming Presidential Election. This agreement had been reached by the leaders of the SLFP and the JVP at discussions held in Temple Tress yesterday starting at 8.00 p.m.

Both parties have had lengthy discussions on certain conditions put forward by the JVP. After making a few amendments Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse and the other leaders of the SLFP have accepted the conditions.
Accordingly, support by the JVP for Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse Presidential Election campaign is definite say JVP sources.

However, two more rounds of discussions are expected to be held regarding the propaganda campaign for the PE. Subsequently the JVP will hold a media meeting to apprise the masses of the policy conditions put forward by them. This media meeting is expected to be held in the beginning of next week. The policy agreement which would endorse JVP support for Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse campaign will be signed at a ceremony held in Colombo.

General Secretary Tilvin Silva, Information Secretary Wimal Weerawansa, PB Members and Parliamentarians Nandana Gunatilleke and Anura Kumara Dissanayake participated on behalf of the JVP at the discussions while Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse was aided by Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Maithripala Sirisena and Susil Premajayanth of the SLFP.

TNA tells Mahinda to write to Prabha

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) have responded with mixed reactions to reports that SLFP Presidential candidate and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse was willing to meet LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran to discuss peace, if he comes out victorious at the upcoming elections.

TNA parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah, while welcoming the SLFP candidate’s intentions, said Mr. Rajapakse should personally send a letter to the LTTE leader requesting for a meeting if he was really serious about what he said.

The Premier in an interview with the Associated Press on Monday was quoted as saying his top priority was to end the war with the LTTE and he was willing to be the first Sri Lankan President to meet the rebel leader. "Expressing such intentions just before an election may send the wrong signal because it may seem as an election gimmick," Mr. Senathirajah said.

The JHU was cautious in expressing its view regarding Mr. Rajapakse's statement with the Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera saying the outcome of the talks with the rebel leader, if it took place, would be more important than the meeting itself.

The JHU held separate talks with both Mr. Rajapakse and UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe this week on the conditions based on which, if accepted, they would offer support to either of the candidates at the upcoming elections.

The monk who represented the party at the talks said the JHU had made its policy clear and it was up to the
candidates to accept it if they wanted the support of the monks.

Fake LTTE gang arrested in Colombo

A six-member gang comprising Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims were yesterday remanded till September 7 after they were arrested for allegedly trying to extort one million rupees from a Colombo businessman posing as LTTE cadres.

The CID told the Colombo Magistrate Courts that the arrests were made following investigations in to a complaint lodged by a Colombo businessman Thevraj Thavakumaran.

The CID said according to Mr. Thavakumaran, on August 8, he was handed an anonymous letter bearing the letterhead of the LTTE, ordering him to deposit Rs. one million to a savings account at a private bank.

Shortly after receiving the letter, he had received a call from a person identifying himself as ‘Shankar Raja’. He had warned him of death if he did not deposit the money. The CID had then traced the bank account to arrest the suspects.

They said they had recovered a number of counterfeit documents bearing the LTTE symbol and further investigations were being conducted to verify if the same group was responsible for similar extortion incidents throughout the country.

The CID said two people who had prepared these forged documents had also been nabbed. Additional Magistrate Sujeewa Nissanka remanded the suspects till September 7

Sri Lanka rejects LTTE offer to hold talks in Tiger-held Kilinochchi

The Sri Lankan government today rejected a LTTE offer to hold peace talks inside LTTE-held Kilinochchi.
Speaking at the weekly Cabinet press briefing in Colombo, government spokesperson Nimal Siripala de Silva
said, As the government, we are against the LTTE offer to hold the talks in their controlled Kilinochchi, which is the LTTE political headquarters.He also said the Tigers had rejected the government offer to hold the talks in Omanthai, where there had been several discussions between the
government and the LTTE previously.

The LTTE declined Omanthai and proposed Kilinochchi, but the Sri Lankan government declined the LTTE offer,he said. He also said the LTTE initially wanted the talks in Oslo, but it had changed to Kilinochchi after the government expressed its opposition.

TNA disputes SLMM figures on LTTE ceasefire violations

The TNA yesterday challenged the Government to table in parliament the instances of ceasefire violations committed by the LTTE, saying the TNA was prepared to give a detailed response to the statistics and even agreeable for a full day debate on the matter.

Senior TNA Jaffna District parliamentarian Mavai Senadhirajah said he was wary about the SLMM statistics on LTTE ceasefire violations read out in parliament recently by Deputy Defence Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake and challenged the Minister to table the figures.

He said he doubted the LTTE was involved in so many ceasefire violations but said the Minister had to table the statistics for the TNA to raise the issue in parliament.

Minister Wickramanayake on August 18 during the emergency debate read out an SLMM report which revealed that between February 2002 and June this year the LTTE had violated the ceasefire agreement 3,006 times including 1,624 child abductions while 132 cases of ceasefire violations against the military were noted.

Meanwhile the official website of the SLMM showed an increase in ceasefire violations by the end of July this year, when compared to the statistics presented by the Deputy Defence Minister which were upto June.

The website showed that between February 2002 and July 2005 the LTTE had violated the agreement 3066 times and the military 136 times.

The dispute over LTTE ceasefire violations was highlighted when parliament met to approve the State of Emergency declared by President Chandrika Kumaratunga in the aftermath of Mr. Kadirgamar killing.

Ranil bars vote grabbing 'ops' by MP-headed 'Foundations'

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has prohibited MPs from engaging in political activity in other areas at the
expense of their colleagues.

He demanded an immediate end to the political activities carried out by various Foundations, headed by UNP MPs accused of stealing votes from different electoral constituencies in the intra-party battle for the manape.
Addressing a recent party meeting at Sirikotha, Wickremesinghe said that the party would not recognise these
Foundations.

He was addressing a group of party officials and activists from Homagama including their chief organiser Irvin
Weerakkody.

Milinda Moragoda, in charge of Colombo (North) and Colombo (West), G. L. Peiris in charge of Moratuwa and Mohan Lal Grero responsible for the Ratmalana electorate, head some of the foundations operating in the Colombo electoral district.

Although Wickremesinghe did not name the foundations, last Wednesday's reference was obviously to party
organisers, with foundations to their names, who were making inroads for preference votes in constituencies
other than those given to them. The Island learns that Wickremesinghe's call was made in the backdrop of
complaints by several organisers. Party sources said that the UNP failed to get an MP elected from the
Maharagama electorate, primarily due to influential MPs campaigning there at the expense of the local organiser. The sources expressed the belief that Wickremesinghe's tough talk would curb, what one organiser described as, vote grabbing exercises.

MPs Sajith Premadasa and Rajitha Seneratne are among MPs who have set up foundations but they contest Hambantota and Kalutara district respectively. Navin Dissanayake, despite being the head of an active Foundation, entered Parliament through the national list. The sources said that unlike in the provinces the intra-party battle for the manape in the Colombo district is fierce.

Tens of thousands attend Tamil Resurgence celeberations in Kilinochchi Tens of thousands of people are seen flocking towards Kilinochchi from various parts of Vanni mainland to participate in the Tamil National Resurgence celeberation supporting the Vavuniya Convention held on July 27. The convention, arranged by the Tamil Resurgence Task Force, ceremonially began Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in Kilinochchi common playground. The entire township is decorated with felicitation arches and yellow and red bi-colour flags with a festive appearance. "This event would inform the world that time is ripe for us to decide our own destiny," Mr. M. Sivabalan, president of the Task Force told TamilNet

The conference urges the International community to "recognize and support the Tamil sovereignity and the freedom struggle of the Tamils," the organisors said. The organisors, branding the day as a day of great historical importance for Kilinochchi urged the people in the
district to expresses their support by participating in the event.

"An ocean like mammoth gathering of people here will declare to Colombo and to the world community our sentiments and aspirations," the organizers said.

Tamil national activists including academics, writers, religious dignitaries, representatives of civil organisations and the parliamentarians from Tamil National Alliance, Up-Country Peoples Front and Western Province Peoples Front are also participating in the event.

The A9 route near Kilinochchi is closed and an alternative route for traffic has been provided by the organisers
and the Tamileelam Police.

SLMM concerned with situation in Batticaloa

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) has expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the Batticaloa district and called on both the government and the LTTE to practise restraint in
order to safeguard the Cease Fire Agreemet (CFA).

SLMM concerns follow reports of at least six separate incidents in the Batticaloa district yesterday where army and police officers came under attack, allegedly by the LTTE.

An unidentified body was found in rebel territory in Vallachenai yesterday and was removed by the police with the assistance of the SLMM. SLMM spokeswoman Helen Olatsdoftor said that they were yet to verify if the
body was of a government soldier or civilian.

In a separate incident a grenade was lobbed at an army post in Vallachenai without causing any injuries while an army post north or Eravur was also attacked injuring 2 soldiers.

Meanwhile a police mobile vehicle was attacked in the east yesterday while the SLMM was also following reports of a separate attack on a group of police officers as well as the abduction of a youth in Katankudi.

The Military has blamed the LTTE for all the attacks while the SLMM says they cannot point fingers until investigations are complete. The latest incidents follow an attack on an LTTE trailer tractor on Tuesday along the A 15 highway in the Batticaloa district in which one cadre was killed and two were seriously injured.

Olatsdoftir said it was too premature to state if yesterday's attacks on the army and police were "tit for tat" attacks as the perpetrators were yet to be identified. She also noted that there has been a considerable rise in the number of incidents in the east in August as compared to July.

The SLMM spokeswoman emphasised as the monitors do not have the executive powers to arrest the culprits it was the responsibility of the government and the LTTE to ensure such incidents do not take place in order to
arrest the current situation in the east.

India, Lanka Opposition agree on peace process

India and the United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka main opposition group, have a common perspective on the peace process in the island as well as Sri Lanka-India relations.

The commonalities came out during the visit of the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to New Delhi between August 16 and 18. He and his advisors met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, National Security Advisor MK Narayanan and the Chairperson of the ruling United Peoples’ Alliance (UPA) Sonia Gandhi.

Both sides agreed that the peace process must be continued and the ceasefire maintained. Both saw an urgent need to address the immediate humanitarian and development needs of the war-ravaged North Eastern Province (NEP), so as to pave the way for the resumption of peace talks suspended since April 2003.

India, which has an abiding interest in the maintenance of the unity, integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka, and which lends support to democracy and pluralism, was happy to hear the UNP delegation saying that friendship with India was the "cornerstone"of the party foreign policy. India also found the UNPapproach to its
involvement in the peace process as being reasonable and practical. As Wickremesingheconfidante,
Milinda Moragoda, says: "India should do what it is comfortable with."

Wickremesinghe found in Dr Singh a kindred soul, as both believe in the importance of broad-based economic development in countering militancy and separatism. Both believe in creating a social, political and economic environment in which militancy and separatism cannot thrive. It was during Wickremesinghe’s stewardship of the Sri Lankan government as Prime Minister between December 2001 and April 2004, that for the first
time in decades, a serious attempt was made to develop the war-ravaged North East as a foundation for lasting peace.

Under the peace process, Wickremesinghe had jointly established with the LTTE, a sub-committee on the Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) of the North East. This structure was to dminister as many as 672 grass roots level development projects worth about`A0 $75 million. But unfortunately, the structure collapsed after a few months, when the LTTE complained that it lacked teeth and adequate autonomy, and boycotted its meetings, rendering it defunct. Wickremesinghe, however, was unfazed.

Interestingly, though its boycott led to the collapse of SIHRN, the LTTE has consistently stressed the need to address the "urgent humanitarian needs" and the "existential problems" of the Tamil people in the North East, to use the phrases popularised by the outfit chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham.

The LTTE says that its proposal for an Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) for the North Eastern Province, made in October-November 2003, and its efforts to get the Post-Tsunami Organisational Management Structure (P-TOMS) in 2005, rest on the desire to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the long-suffering Tamil people.

Invitation to India to join "international pressure group".

According to sources, the Indian leaders expressed concern about the "over internationalisation" of the Sri Lankan peace process. The Indians (the present Congress-led Government as well as the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Government) have been of the view that any solution to the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict will have to be a "home grown" one, developed through direct negotiations between the two parties, namely, the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE, andtaking into account the basic tenets of democracy, pluralism and
human, fundamental and individual rights.

New Delhi is said to be unhappy with the performance of the "co-chair" of the June 2003 Tokyo Aid Lanka conference. The co-chair (US, EU, Japan and Norway) have arrogated to themselves a role not assigned to them. They style themselves as the "international community" and strut about as the "co-chair of the Sri Lankan peace process". India feels that they have been pampering the LTTE a bit too much and have been ineffective.

But having brought the international community into the peace process, the UNP is committed to its presence in the process. The "co-chair" are its creation also. However, there is no doubt that the UNP will want the co-chair to be firm with the LTTE in case it became intransigent and crossed the limits. The UNP has now worked out a division of labour between Norway, the official facilitator of the peace process, and the co-chair. It
wants Norway to be the "facilitator" and the co-chair to be a "pressure group".

It is learnt that the UNP wanted India to be part of this "pressure group". If India could not be part of the co-chair, the co-chair`A0 might device a system or mechanism to consult and co-opt India in its work, the UNP suggested. New Delhi was apparently willing to examine this suggestion.

For its own reasons, the LTTE too is wary about the international community. Earlier, it had`A0 sought the international community’s participation in the peace process and is even now using it to the hilt to safeguard its interest vis-`E0-vis the Sri Lankan state. But there is an underlying fear that the international community may turn out to be a millstone around its neck, an instrument to force it to accept proposals antithetical to its political interests and goals. This is why the LTTE boycotted the June 2003 Tokyo Aid Lanka conference, which laid
down the basic parameters of the Sri Lankan peace settlement.

When the Wickremesinghe Government put in place an "International Safety Net", Anton Balasingham had said that the peace process was "over internationalised" and that Wickremesinghe was using the "International Safety Net" to subjugate the LTTE and make it accept unacceptable conditions.

Accommodating Kumaratunga

India is very keen that there is a bi-partisan Sri Lankan approach to the peace process. For long, there has been no consensus between President Chandrika Kumaratunga Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the UNP. They let each other down at crucial moments and stymied attempts to resolve the ethnic question. What the UNP did to the SLFP constitutional proposals in 2000, the SLFP did to the peace process in 2002-2004.

The Indians urged Wickremesinghe to work with Kumaratunga as she could play a key and useful role in the peace process. India is of the view that Kumaratunga is genuinely interested in establishing peace, democracy and ethnic equity in Sri Lanka and that her past actions testify to this.

UNP sources said that the party had proposals to co-opt Kumaratunga and reward her for her cooperation. And cooperation is already underway in some critical matters. The UNP extended to Kumaratunga full support for her proposal to establish P-TOMS, a Joint Mechanism involving the government and the LTTE to do post-tsunami reconstruction in the North East. More recently, after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, the UNP extended support to Kumaratunga for her bid to continue with the peace process and
maintain the ceasefire.

Of course, Wickremesinghe and Kumaratunga are at loggerheads over the date for the next Presidential election. The former wants it in November 2005, while the latter wants it in November 2006. If elected President, Wickremesinghe plans to dissolve Parliament, thereby`A0 removing the minority SLFP-led government. But at the same time, the two have a vital common interest in keeping the belligerently Sinhala nationalist and ultra leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) out of the corridors of power.

Kumaratunga had contacted Wickremesinghe and made proposals for collaboration to keep the JVP at bay, but to no avail. And yet, hopes of collaboration are alive. Political sources say that a challenge from a new political quarter like the JVP and the Buddhist monks’party, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), may eventually force the two parties to collaborate.

28August 2005

TNA, SLMC welcome SC decision

The country's two biggest minority political parties, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) have welcomed the Supreme Court decision to hold the presidential election this year.

TNA MP and Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Senior Vice President, Joseph Pararajasingham said the court verdict reflected on the constitutionality of the issue raised.

He said that the court has given a correct verdict and now the entire nation must prepare for the election.

"The elections commissioner himself has told the court that the election should be held this year. So I think the court has upheld the people's will and thereby given the correct verdict," he said.

He also said the TNA has still not decided as to which candidate the party would support. He said that the TNA parliamentary group would meet and decide soon.

Meanwhile SLMC General Secretary, Member of Parliament, Hasan Ali said that his party also has welcomed the decision.

He noted that the Supreme Court has endorsed the election commissioner's views on the timing of the next presidential election.

"The country needs an election very badly and immediately. The UPFA which came to power to fulfil the mandate it received never did so. The UPFA which received the mandate does not even exist.

The party is broken into two pieces. Therefore we need an election soon," he said.

He also said the party will decide later as to which candidate it should support depending on the conduct of both the UNP and the SLFP candidates.

Sri Lanka President off to China

After hearing the Supreme Court's decision on her present term, President Chandrika Kumaratunga left for China last night, sources at the President's Office said.

“The President will be in China for the next 10 days,” sources confirmed.

Earlier, President Kumaratunga went before the Supreme Court, arguing that her term would end in 2006 as she took oaths in 2000. But the Supreme Court said her claim cannot be accepted in accordance with the Constitution.

President Kumaratunga will sign several important agreements addressing trade, tourism and cultural issues during her stay in China.

Presidential poll: JVP to go it alone if...

The JVP will field a candidate at the forthcoming presidential election if an ambitious bid to reach consensus on a national plan with Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse failed to materialise.

The JVP is seeking an agreement on four key issues, the NE crisis, and the joint tsunami aid sharing deal, privatisation and education.

A JVP politburo member speaking on the condition of anonymity said that a party delegation will be meeting Rajapakse shortly to discuss what he termed as a workable plan.

The JVP on August 14 — two days after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar — joined the premier to issue a joint statement from Temple Trees condemning the killing. It was said that they were encouraged by Rajapakse’s stance but would like to have an agreement on the entire range of issues immediately.

The spokesman said that Friday’s Supreme Court ruling would not give them time to manoeuvre. The Sunday Island learns that the JVP decided on a plan to woo the premier at a meeting chaired by party leader Somawansa Amarasinghe last Sunday.

The JVP expressed the belief that Rajapakse could not turn a blind eye towards the deteriorating security situation, particularly after the assassination of Kadirgamar. Rajapakse himself is under heavy security threat with his security staff considering curbing his movements even in Colombo and its suburbs.

The Marxists acknowledged that fielding of a JVP candidate would be advantageous to UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, whom the party had vowed to defeat. But the party insisted that it would not back Rajapakse merely to defeat Wickremesinghe.

"As it is, we don’t see any difference between the standtaken up by Wickremesinghe and Rajapakse on the Oslo-led peace process," another JVP source said.

The JVP declined to confirm whether Amarasinghe would contest the poll if the forthcoming negotiations on a common programme failed. Party heavyweight Nandana Gunatilleke is also mentioned as a possibility as he was their candidate at the 1994 presidential election.

The JVP pulled out of the contest after the then Premier Chandrika Kumaratunga obtained their support claiming that she would abolish the presidency if she defeated the UNP candidate of "progressives."

Political sources said that the JVP was exerting heavy pressure on Rajapakse. Referring to the so-called pro-peace lobby, the sources said that the JVP wanted Rajapakse to make a clean-break from Kumaratunga’s clan and be the common candidate.

Mahinda woos SLMC and CWC

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday solicited the support of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the Ceylon Workers Congress for his presidential election campaign.

The Prime Minister's brother, Basil Rajapakse who is spearheading the SLFP's presidential election campaign met with SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem and had a one hour discussion Friday during which a message from the Premier was conveyed.

Hakeem was told Rajapakse was ready to consider all demands of the SLMC if the party extends its support to the Premier.

The SLMC leader, it is learnt had agreed to meet with the Prime Minister for discussions on a range of issues concerning the Muslims, particularly in relation to the peace process and the JVP.

It is learnt Basil Rajapakse had also met with CWC leader Armugam Thondaman and made a similar offer. Rajapakse had told Thondaman the Prime Minister was prepared to address the grievances of the estate Tamils and continue with the peace process including the ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile a special emissary of the Prime Minister had a meeting with UNP MP, Rajitha Senaratne and urged him to take over Rajapakse's election campaign with the offer of a ministry of Senaratne's choice.

The emissary told Senaratne, that since he left the SLFP due to differences of opinion with the President, he should have no problem in returning to the fold and taking over the campaign after Rajapakse's nomination is confirmed at the party convention on September 6.

Senaratne, however had declined the offer stating, Rajapakse though a good friend had no vision for the country whereas Ranil Wickrmesinghe had a clear policy paltform to take the country forward.

The Prime Minister on being told of Senaratne rejecting the offer had urged the emissary to lobby the UNP MP's wife for support.

PM urges CBK not to dissolve parliament

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday met President Chandrika Kumaratunga and urged her not to dissolve parliament.

The Prime Minister called on the President soon after the Supreme Court delivered its order on the JHU application calling for the presidential election to be held in 2005.

The President it is learnt had told Rajapakse she had information he was involved in manoeuvering the case against her position of the election being due in 2006.

The Prime Minister, informed sources said, assured the President he had no role to play in the case and would ensure her interests and position are not compromised.

He told the President there was a lot of speculation of an impending dissolution of parliament and urged her not to do so.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has planned to take control of the SLFP after the party convention on September 6 where he will be formally endorsed as the candidate and thereafter forge an alliance with the JVP.

It is learnt that party branches have been requested to adopt resolutions calling for Rajapakse's appointment as SLFP president soon after the convention and in the lead up to the election

Kadirgamar killing: police dig into gardener

Police have arrested a gardener who worked next to the Thalayasingham residence from where a sniper assassinated Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on August 12.

Inspector General Chandra Fernando, who is personally overseeing investigations, said yesterday the links between the gardener and the assassin were being probed as were other clues but he did not give details.

The Sunday Times learns that the gardener had free access to the Thalayasingham residence while being employed in the neighbouring house which had been previously rented to the British High Commission and later for another foreign project office.

Investigators say evidence indicates the gardener did some odd jobs for Lakshman Thalayasingham and probably had an extra key to the residence. The gardner, who is of Indian origin, has been remanded and detectives say his statements have been contradictory. He is believed to have brought in some domestic aides to the Thalayasingham residence and police are probing their links with the assassin.

Mr. Thalayasingham is known to have employed at least 12 domestic aides at different times during the past year and police have questioned some while others are being hunted down.

So far more than 100 people have been questioned over the Kadirgamar killing with about 60 of them being released after questioning and 40 remanded.

LTTE wants talks in Kilinochchi

He said if the government was not willing to hold talks either in Oslo or some other foreign location, the peace process would be further dragged and talks might not even take off the ground.

Daya Master also said the LTTE would be comfortable with the Norwegians as facilitators and not any other.

He accused the government of unnecessarily finding fault with the Norwegians. "They are not partial as claimed by some of the ministers and the government. They are doing what they are supposed to do. They are not favouring us. We want them only as facilitators," he said.

He said even if the government wanted to invite some other country as facilitator, LTTE consent must be sought.

Meanwhile TNA MP, Joseph Pararajasingham said the sudden decision by the government to change the venue of the peace talks reminded him of the subtle move made by President Chandrika Kumaratunga to prevent the former UNF government from negotiating the Interim Self Government Authority (ISGA) proposals.

He said when the LTTE submitted the ISGA on October 31, 2003, the President took over three key ministries from the UNF government on November 4 and thereafter dissolved parliament, thereby preventing the UNF government from negotiating the proposals.

"I believe even now the government is doing everything possible to ensure the peace process is scuttled. We don't believe that this government would ever want to establish a lasting peace in this country," he said.

He said if the government was not willing to hold talks either in Oslo or some other foreign location, the peace process would be further dragged and talks might not even take off the ground.

Daya Master also said the LTTE would be comfortable with the Norwegians as facilitators and not any other.

He accused the government of unnecessarily finding fault with the Norwegians. "They are not partial as claimed by some of the ministers and the government. They are doing what they are supposed to do. They are not favouring us. We want them only as facilitators," he said.

He said even if the government wanted to invite some other country as facilitator, LTTE consent must be sought.

Meanwhile TNA MP, Joseph Pararajasingham said the sudden decision by the government to change the venue of the peace talks reminded him of the subtle move made by President Chandrika Kumaratunga to prevent the former UNF government from negotiating the Interim Self Government Authority (ISGA) proposals.

He said when the LTTE submitted the ISGA on October 31, 2003, the President took over three key ministries from the UNF government on November 4, and thereafter dissolved parliament, thereby preventing the UNF government from negotiating the proposals.

"I believe even now the government is doing everything possible to ensure the peace process is scuttled. We don't believe that this government would ever want to establish a lasting peace in this country," he said.

Security blanket around Ratmalana airport
The surroundings of the Ratmalana airport were searched in a joint operation conducted by the Air Force and the Police, following reports that the airport could come under LTTE attack, Police said.

The operation carried out on Thursday night lasted till Friday morning and 46 Tamil youths were taken in for questioning.

Fifteen youths were released immediately while the others were detained for further questioning but they were also released after a security screening.
Mt. Lavinia police Superintendent T. Arasarathnam said the operations would continue in the area with house-to-house searches being conducted at random.

Army to escort LTTE cadres while crossing borders

The army last week said it was ready to provide additional security for Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE) cadres travelling through the government controlled areas under special circumstances.

"We will give additional security when there is a special situation. In fact we have already done that," Military Spokesperson Brig. Daya Ratnayake told The Sunday Leader.

He also said that if high ranking LTTE officials were to travel through the government areas to attend talks with the government, it would be considered a special situation.

The army provided additional security to LTTE Trincomalee Political Head, S. Elilan when he travelled through the government controlled areas on his way to Kilinochchi in July.

The army and the LTTE have been embroiled over disagreements on security over the Tiger cadres travelling through government areas following several attacks.

The LTTE threatened that cadres would enter government areas armed, after a claymore mine attack on a bus carrying 40 cadres in the east on June 26. No one was seriously injured in the attack which took place near Welikanda.

LTTE Political Head, S. P. Tamilselvan had warned earlier that if security provided were not sufficient the Tigers would use their own land, sea and air facilities for their travel.

They had demanded that military personnel also should travel in the same vehicle along with their cadres. In February LTTE eastern political wing head, Kausalyan was killed at Namalgama, closer to the June attack while returning from Kilinochchi.

He was the highest ranking LTTEer to have been killed so far during the ceasefire. "We have no problem on our part. It is their problem," Ratnayake added.

Before the assassination of the former foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, the SLMM had held several rounds of talks with the government and the LTTE to break the deadlock with little success

Two men from Batticaloa kidnapped in Colombo

Unidentified persons riding a white van without number-plate kidnapped two civilians from Batticaloa in Colombo Thursday night around 11:00 p.m. The victims, Mr. Kandiah Sasikumar, 22 and Mr. Kathamuthu Nallathamby, 40, were kidnapped on Colombo-Negombo road when they were on their way from Banadaranaike International Airport with their relatives who had come from abroad, sources said.

The victims who were from Santhiveli in Batticaloa were stopped by the same group of persons when they were on their way to airport to pick up their relatives, sources added. The group of four men had let them go after a "security check".

However, when they were returning from the airport, the same group wanted to check them again and kidnapped the two persons, according to the relatives.

The kidnappers had told the relatives, the sister and mother of one of the victims, that they were being taken for further inquiries.

Batticaloa district TNA parliamentarian, Mr. S. Jeyanathamoorthy, on Friday morning contacted security officials in Colombo and urged immediate investigations into the kidnapping incident upon receiving complains from the relatives, sources added.