Sri Lankan Embassy in France lies to French media about the security arrangements of WPF Leader and CMC Convener Mano Ganesan MP

Sunil C. Perera in Colombo
Sugeeswara Senadhira, Minister Counselor for Sri Lankan Ambassador in France has by his e-mail sent to popular France 24 TV channel’s Director (Directeur de la Redaction) Gregoire Deniau has said that Sri Lankan government has provided eighteen (18) security personnel to Western Peoples Front leader and Civil Monitoring Commission convener Mano Ganesan MP. But actually the police had provided only eight (08) security personnel to him. This too had come after the Lankan Court of Appeal’s intervention in this legal battle between Mano Ganesan and Sri Lankan government said the office of Mano Ganesan .

Popular ‘France 24’ channel’s Capcine Henry had filmed her documentary ‘Special Report: Sri Lanka:Tamil Mothers Waiting for Their Sons’ on Sri Lankan crisis, which has now hit international television channels. French journalist Ms. Capcine was arrested and remanded in Sri Lanka on December 25th Christmas day when she accompanied a Tamil family visiting Boosa detention camp. She spent the Christmas night in a police station cell with a Tamil mother and brother of a Tamil person who was arrested during the mass arrests of Tamils and detained at the Boosa detention camp. Mano Ganesan is one who features in the documentary and the Sri Lankan embassy has subsequently tried to counter the news reported by the documentary. Speaking on the security issue of Ganesan, Sugeeswara Senadhira Minister Counselor for Sri Lankan Ambassador in France has told popular France 24 channel Director Gregoire Deniau by email among other that GoSL had provided eighteen security personnel to Ganesan which is not true but false information.

Codegen International donates 800,000 rupees to construct house for war hero

Codegen International Private Limited, one of the leading enterprises in Sri Lanka's software industry yesterday (February 28) donated sum of 800,000 rupees to Ministry of Defence Seva Vanitha Unit for a house construction project. Honorary Chairman MOD Seva Vanitha, Mrs. Ioma Rajapksa received the cheque from the Director legal of Codegen International Pvt Ltd, Mr Kusal Subasinghe, at the Ministry premises last evening. Several staff members of the Codegen International Pvt Ltd were also present at the occasion.
The house construction project has been undertaken by the MOD Seva Vanitha to build a house for the family of private G.R. Wijesooriya, who died in an accident while serving under the bomb disposal unit in the Ministry of Defence. Sri Lanka Army is to provide the design and the labour for the project.
The house is to be built at Navalamulla, in Meegoda. The wife of Private Wijessoriya and his son were also invited to the discussion held on the project at the Ministry.

Police seize suicide kits& belt/claymore mines/grenades

On information received from a civilian, a special Police team recovered suicide kits ,claymore bombs and hand grenades in a search operation conducted in the MODARA area.

Six terrorists killed and 861 anti- personnel mines & six 'booby' traps recovered by the Army

Six LTTE terrorists were reported killed in confrontations with the Army on Thursday (28) in the VAVUNIYA area. Four of them were killed around 11.20 in the morning at SINNAPANDIVIRICHCHAN area, one at NAVATHKULAM around 11.20 a.m. and the other at PERIYAPANDIVIRICHCHAN in the afternoon around 12.30. In Mannar two terrorists were also killed in a confrontation in the PARAPPAKANDAL area.
A soldier was also reported injured in the ANDANKULAM area, WELIOYA on Thursday (28) in the morning around 8.30.
Meanwhile, a large stock consisting of a total of 861 of anti- personnel mines were recovered on Thursday (28) during search operations conducted by Troops from the WELIOYA and MANNAR areas .
166 anti- personnel mines and 07 booby traps were recovered by Troops from the THIRUKETHEESWARAM area in MANNAR while 695 anti- personnel mines and six "booby traps" were recovered from the KOKKUTHUDUWAI and ANDANKULAM area in WELIOYA.

Police conducts further investigations on Modara bomb

Extensive investigations are being conducted into the bomb blast at Ibbagewatte in Modera this morning.
Police media spokesman and senior DIG N.K. Illangakoon says the explosion took place when the police was conducting a special search operation on a house in the area around 6’0 clock.
He added an LTTE suicide bomber, who was hiding in the house, has exploded himself when the police was about to search him.
Seven persons who were injured in the incident have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital. Three policemen and four civilians were wounded.

Army spokesman Brigadier Nanayakkara said a 9mm pistol, a magazine and five bullets were found inside the house.

The government has called the services of the government analyst for further investigations. It has also been reported that the police has arrested a suspect this morning in connection with the blasting of transformers in Kalpitiya, Puttalam. The army spokesman said 8 kilogrammes of c-4 type explosives, a roll of wire and batteries were found buried in his garden.

SL-Pak FTA is favorable for SL

Sri Lankan government sources say the Free Trade Agreement between Sri Lanka and Pakistan has brought a favourable trade balance for Sri Lanka.


Quoting Ijaz Abbasi, the President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sri Lanka’s Government Information Department says the balance had previously been in favour of Pakistan.


The FTA signed on August 1st, 2002, came into force on June 12th, 2005. The trade between the two countries has almost doubled since then. It was worth 170 million US Dollars at the time the FTA came into force.

Security forces launched an attack on a group of LTTE carders

The army media spokesman further says the security forces have launched an attack on a group of LTTE carders traveling at Madhu road junction around 12.20 last night. In a subsequent search operation two T 56 weapons, a gun with a silencer and 8 claymore bombs.


He added that 8 LTTE bunkers were completely destroyed in an attack carried out by the troops in Muhamalai in Jaffna around 4’0 clock this morning. Five LTTE members were killed in the incident.

Bomb blast at Modara

 

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara says an explosion has occurred at Vorse Lane in Modara. The Modara police said the blast occurred when a suspicious house was about to be checked at around 6.00 am this morning. The police said one person has been injured in the incident. Modera Police are conducting further investigations.

Meanwhile OIC of Modara Police Prasad Siriwardena says the blast in Modara this morning occurred when the suicide bomber at the house being checked under suspicion in Ibbagewatta Modara exploded the bomb. Seven persons were injured in the blast. The house was checked on information gained from two LTTE suspects arrested yesterday. The bomber exploded the bomb when he was being arrested by the police. Director of the Colombo National Hospital
Dr. Hector Weerasinghe said that three policemen are among those injured.

LTTE suffers ignominious defeat in Mannar ; Army Captures Sluice Gates of Sinnaodaippu

 

Sri Lanka Army soldiers running at terror defences in Mannar today (February 28) achieved a tremendous success against LTTE terrorists by establishing the domination over the area of Sinnaodaippu in the North of Giant Tank today (February 28). According to the latest military reports received from Mannar battlefront troops have been able to capture an important sluice gate in the area along with a fortified bunker and a trench defence of the terrorists.

According to the defence sources in the area, Sri Lanka army infantrymen backed by artillery, launched the first assault at the terrorists' defence line around 10.a.m. and were able to beat off the terrorists by 11.45.a.m. The ground troops have reported that 20 terrorists were killed during the confrontation. However, the overheard radio transmissions of LTTE have revealed that only 14 cadres were killed during the first assault. During the subsequent search in the area , troops have found six T-56 riffles.

The sources further said that the terrorists made a counter attack around 12 noon with terror leaders Bhanu and Lakshman leading from the back. About 70-80 terrorists reported to have come to the attack but were crushed in the army retaliatory fire, said the sources. The terrorists have quickly turned tail with heavy casualties despite the wailing of Bhanu and Lakshman on radio for the frontlines to hold out, the sources added.

Ground troops have reported 20-30 LTTE cadres were either killed or wounded. Also, the LTTE radios have transmitted an inevitable retreat with heavy damages after the abortive counter attack.

Further , the Army snipers who were deployed along with advancing troops have reported shooting down of 10 more LTTE cadres.

Four soldiers suffered injuries , including 2 in serious conditions. The injured were rushed to Anuradhapura hospital.

Troops are consolidating their defence in the newly liberated terroritoy.

Thuggery against media personnel continues

In yet another serious blow to media freedom, a four-member gang allegedly attempted to harm a journalist attached to the SLRC who was involved in videotaping the ‘infamous December 27 incident where Labour Minister Mervin Silva wreaked havoc along with a gang of thugs.

The journalist, Assistant Director News Camera Priyal Ranjith Perera, was threatened by an unidentified gang last evening while he was in his residence at Pitakotte. According to Perera four persons clad in black arrived at his home and asked for a deal to film a wedding ceremony.

“They came and rang the bell of my home. While I was opening the door I got suspicious by the look of them. I am used to taking precautions after the December 27 incident. So, I told them that those doing such video work are not here right now. At that point, he said, one of the gang had pulled out something that looked like a knife from his trouser pocket and tried to harm him. “I shut the door with a bang and shouted saying thieves had broken into my home. My neighbours having heard me screaming and rushed to see what was wrong. According to eye witnesses the attackers fled in a three-wheeler. I suspect a link between the December 27 melee and this incident. My staff filmed the mayhem that day. Since then I have been under threat,” he said.

Meanwhile, President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association Sanath Balasuriya also said they suspected this incident was linked to the December 27 fracas and a fair and impartial investigation into the incident should be conducted to bring the culprits to book. Mr. Balasuriya said they were aware of such kind of threats to any journalist seen to be involved in the Rupavahini case. “We strongly believe there is a connection between the two cases.

The authorities concerned can dispel our suspicions only through a proper investigation to identify the perpetrators. At this point those who witnessed the December 27 incident should be united to overcome the present challenges without being divided,” he said.

PAFREL files FR for a free and fair poll in Batti

The Peoples Action For Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) filed a Fundamental Rights petition naming the Elections Commissioner, Defence Secretary and IGP as respondents and calling for the disarming of armed group.

Kalpitiya Police on information from civilian recover claymore mines

KALPITIYA Police on information provided by a civilian recovered three Claymore mines weighting 30 kg, seven hand grenades and a remote control device concealed in a plastic barrel and hidden in a lagoon in NATCHCHIKALLIYA area, KALPITIYA in the morning today (28) around 9.00.

Tyronne’s funeral held

 

The final rights for late Minister and Governor Tyrone Fernando were conducted at the Borella cemetery this evening. Issuing a message of condolence President Mahinda Rajapakse identifies the late Minister as a distinguished son of Sri Lanka who was both a friend and a parliamentary colleague.

SLAF attacks an LTTE Artillery Commanding Centre

The Air Force has successfully attacked an LTTE Artillery Commanding Centre.
The media centre for national security said at around 11.10 this morning Air Force jets bombed the centre and an underground bunker located at Kulampaikulama in Palai Jaffna.
The media centre said fighter pilots have confirmed that commanding centre in this facility was completely destroyed and that this facility was heavily fortified and protected.

Nawaz meets ambassadors of EU, Srilanka and USA

The head of PML (N), and former PM, Mian Nawaz Sharif has expressed the strong resolve of his party’s struggle for free fair and transparent elections in the country.

While briefing the visiting ambassadors of EU countries, Srilanka and USA on Thursday at his Islamabad residence, he expressed his deep reservations at various hurdles and problems being created by government, which could have unavoidable dire consequences.

The meeting held amid a glowing global gathering of 18 major ambassadors has been reported to be held in quite a congenial mood, in which Nawaz Sharif expressed his keen desire to maintain good relations with EU at all levels, due to exemplary involvement and assistance of EU in all socio-economic fields with Pakistan in all difficult and needy times.

He expressed his deep respect and admiration of the strong democratic traditions upheld by EU community through ages, which has augured quite well for global human rights, and was a source of inspiration for his party.

After his meeting with the EU diplomatic community, Mian Nawaz Sharif headed towards the Frontier house, where he also held a meeting with the American ambassador, Anne Patterson, whence both discussed bilateral relations between Pakistan and America in quite a friendly and congenial atmosphere.

The diplomatic schedule of Mian Nawaz Sharif concluded with the final call made by the Sri-Lankan foreign minister, in which both reminisced over the past glory of great collaboration and friendship between two countries during Mian Sahib’s tenure.

Mian Nawaz Sharif paid glowing tributes to Sri-Lankan example of holding their elections right amid a raging threat of civil war and terrorism, which holds place in golden annals of history of global democracy.

Speaker requests President to overrule Cabinet decision

Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara has urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister in charge of the finance, not to restrict the use of official phones of members of Parliament.
The Parliament Secretariat has informed the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry that it would continue to settle telephone bills as the Finance Ministry hadn’t responded to the Speaker’s appeal.
Earlier, the Cabinet had endorsed a proposal to impose a ceiling on telephone bills in a bid to cut down on State expenditure, sources said.
All 225 members are entitled to two official telephones.
Sources said the Cabinet had decided to cut down on telephone bills way back on December 20, 2006.
Although this decision had been conveyed to the Presidential Secretariat, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Treasury Secretary and the Auditor General in the first week of January 2007 and several letters exchanged between Parliamentary Affairs Ministry and Parliamentary Secretariat subsequently, no action had been taken to implement it, sources said.
The government, struggling on the economic front is under heavy pressure to cut down on waste, corruption and irregularities.

Ex-PS member shot deadTwo

motorbike-riding gunmen Tuesday evening shot dead a former Pradeshiya Sabha member at Uppuveli in Trincomalee.
Police identified the victim as Gopal Koneswararaja (32) of Farm Road, Selvanayagampura.

SC reinstates status quo of Maj. Gen. Pannipitiya

The Supreme Court directed that status quo of former Commander of the Security Forces (East ) Maj. Gen. Parakrama Pannipitiya regarding his present residence at Summit Flat will remain. Maj. Gen. Pannipitiya filed a fundamental rights petition challenging his transfer from the post of Commander of Security Forces (East) and order asking him to vacate his present staff quarters at Summit Flats and seeking permission to allow him to retain the vehicles and escorts and other entitlements.

Nine terrorists killed in clashes at Wanni front

Nine terrorists including an area LTTE leader were reported killed said MCNS, during clashes erupted between LTTE and troops at Wanni defences on Wednesday (27).
According to reports, 3 terrorists were killed in confrontation with troops in general area Kovilmoddai, Vavuniya yesterday at around 2.15 p.m. A body of a female terrorist and T- 56 assault rifle was recovered by troops in subsequent search operations, MCNS reported.
Six other terrorists were also reported killed in clashes at Thiruketheeswaran area in Mannar, yesterday at 4 p.m. According to MCNS reports, it was believed that an area LTTE leader named 'Victor' was among the dead or had sustained injuries in confrontations.
Meanwhile, troops conducting search operations in general area Ponarasankulama, Vavuniya recovered a T-56 assault rifle, magazines and 60 ammunition rounds at 6 p.m.
The search operation was conducted on civilian information, where the items were found hidden in an abandoned house.

Pro-LTTE web exposed on cheap propaganda- Military spokesperson

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara on Wednesday (27) addressing a media briefing held at MCNS said, the frustration of the LTTE terror outfit was now very much evident following heavy defeats in the Wanni and Northern fronts. In the wake of its imminent, defeat the Tiger media stooges are carrying out false propaganda to hoodwink the international community, he remarked.
Brigadier Nanayakkara was referring to a revelation made by defence.lk exposing LTTE cheap propaganda on a photograph displayed by a pro-LTTE website on 30 January. The web site has posted a photograph of a youth claiming that it was a mutilated body of a SLA soldier named N. Kumara, 25, on the outskirts of Mannar.
But, the identical photograph was portrayed on a website, http://www.world.mht/, two years ago claiming that the youth in the photograph was killed in Iraq and belonged to the Haditha tribe, the spokesperson added.
These lame propaganda efforts were nothing new as these are the only reservations left for the outfit to save its face while satisfying its' terror sympathizers and diaspora community.
Meanwhile, Brigadier Nanayakkara also pointed, that the civilians living in the Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu districts are forced out of base hospitals as the LTTE leadership has ordered hospital authorities in the non-liberated areas to give preferences to wounded LTTE cadres. There is a looming humanitarian catastrophe in these non-liberated areas, and security forces are determined to end the human suffering at the hands of LTTE, he said.
He further said that the LTTE leadership has avoided attending the funerals of senior Tiger terrorists, fearing air strikes.
During offensives launched ahead of LTTE defences by SLA in Welioya last week, LTTE suffered major setbacks. SLA made preparations to handover 26 bodies of LTTE terrorists killed during confrontations in the Wanni front over to ICRC, he further stated. The bodies were later handed over to LTTE on Tuesday(26), the spokesperson said.
The positive expectations of the innocent Tamils of an LTTE defeat have triggered a civilian exodus from non-liberated territory. Many families have sought protection with security forces at the joint Navy and Police marshalling point in Pallaimunai, Mannar, Brigadier Nanayakkara said.

Defence Spokesperson refutes adverse propaganda: Batticaloa geared for polls Defence

Spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella addressing media yesterday (27) during a press briefing held at MCNS stated that all preparations were made for the local government elections in the Eastern province on March 10, contrary to the picture of violence and distorted cheap propaganda by certain groups and parties.
"Only 26 election related incidents had been reported so far in Batticaloa and they too are minor incidents. Police are fully investigating those incidents," the Minister said.
"There had been elections which had become a 'black mark' in this country. "So compared to other elections the local polls campaign in Batticaloa is one of the best elections so far," the Minister added.
Minister Rambukwella also drew attention to the incident concerning the former Executive Director of ICES (International Centre for Ethnic Studies), Dr Rama Mani, explaining that the UNDP Chief of Policies and Programs, Omar Norman, had signed a petition requesting that her visa be extended and had later complained that he was tricked into signing it.
The Eastern province is now going through a massive development process under the "Nagenahira Udanaya" he further stated. The GoSL has embarked on ensuring economic freedom to the Eastern population by implementing development projects costing Rs. 6.1 billion, the Minister remarked.
It is a great achievement to be able to hold local elections in the east, which also underlines the government's urgency to refurbish democracy in east while implementing its road map for the mega development projects, the Spokesperson said.
However, Minister Rambukwella also pointed out that even in superior democracies it is not always possible to prevent incidents of this nature adding that such incidents can be expected in an area liberated from the clutches of terrorism in the recent past.

Udawalawa Sanctuary Park will be reopen for public

The Udawalawa Sanctuary Park will be reopen for public from the first of next month. Caretaker of the park Prasanna Wimaladasa says the decision was taken after a special discussion between department of wildlife and security officials recently. The security forces have ensured the safety of the area. The sanctuary was temporary closed due to a terrorist attack occurred in the borders of the park on the 19th of last month.

Protest in Galle over failure to rebuild tsunami hit school

Failure to rebuild a tsunami hit school resulted in chaos in Galle yesterday as over 2,000 student and parents of Gintotta Maha Vidyalaya picketed in protest on the Gintotta Bridge.
The protesters burnt tyres on the Galle Road disrupting the movement of traffic and shouted slogans demanding their school be rebuilt soon. Police arrived on the scene and cleared the road for vehicular traffic, but that too for only a short time.
Students and parents said that it was three years since the tsunami destroyed the school but so far no action had been taken to rebuild the school.
Southern Provincial Council Minister of Cooperatives U. G. D. Aryatillake arrived on the scene and held talks with the students and parents. But they were not satisfied with the assurances given by him and returned to continue with their protest.
Unable to persuade the crowd to disperse, Police were forced to divert vehicular traffic along alternate routes. Traffic was held up for nearly two hours.
Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijelal de Silva arrived at the scene and assured the children and their parents that work on rebuilding the school would commence this week. Only after his assurance did the crowd disperse.

Youths with LTTE links surrender to Security Forces

At least 44 youths who sought protection with the Human Rights Commission surrendered to the Security Forces yesterday (February 26), defence sources said.

Those surrendees after formal registration at the Police are to be absorbed into a rehabilitation programme commencing today (February 27). They have sought the rehabilitation in writing, according to the military sources.

During January 2007- February 2008, a total of three hundred and seventeen men and women, some of who claimed themselves to be LTTE cadres have turned up at the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission in Jaffna and wanted to seek protection saying that they were very much harassed, disgusted with the LTTE or exposed to LTTE conscription attempts.

The Commission on a court directive ordered the Police to detain them in a special wing inside the Jaffna prison for protection until their inquiries and Police investigations were over. During this period 291 males and 26 females surrendered and were detained by the Commission. Some of those detainees on their own accord later left the prison protection and went away.

Authorities from the Ministry of Rehabilitation after receiving those 44 LTTE men/supporters are expected to send them for rehabilitation in Jaffna, providing all necessary provisions to them.

Kiranchi controversy: facts and fallacy

 


The air raid by Sri Lanka Air Force on Friday (February 22) at a terrorist camp in Kiranchi, West of Kilinochchi, has drawn considerable controversy. The knee-jerk reaction of the LTTE to this air raid was the release,through its propaganda mechanism, of some pictures showing the bodies of a few children and women, with the claim that nine civilians were killed and 14 others injured as the Sri Lanka Air Force had bombed a civilian settlement.

With ample evidence that the LTTE is an exponent of false propaganda aimed at gaining sympathy of those who are not privy to the terrorists' cruel mindset and also at contriving carnage against civilians, defence.lk sought to refute these charges through defence intelligence services. Despite the fact that intelligence related to air raids are often classified as top secret, the intelligence sources divulged the following facts considering the exigency of the situation.

According to the defence intelligence sources, Kiranchi has been a pivotal area for the sea borne operations of LTTE terrorists for many years. They have been using the area as a launching pad for its boat movements and also for unloading its supplies smuggled via sea. Having lost its floating armouries to the SLNavy recently, LTTE has been depending heavily on the North Western coast of the island for its supplies. This is mainly due to the fact that the narrow sea stretch between India and Sri Lanka and the presence of a large number of Indian fishing vessels in the Gulf of Mannar have made it extremely difficult to have a firm hold over clandestine sea movements in those areas. Against this backdrop, the "Kiranchi Sea Tiger Base " as the terrorists termed it, became one of the most important strategic locations for the terror outfit.

Thus, it should be emphasized that defence intelligence has not identified the target haphazardly or without substantial grounds. According to Air Force sources, the Kiranchi base had been bombed 3 times in November 2006 and once again in April 2007. The air attacks caused the terrorists to shift its assets within a 1-2 km radius in the same area, from time to time, despite the heavy damages they suffered. Nevertheless, the outfit could not afford to leave Kiranchi for good, whatever the cost. Therefore, it can be reasonably assumed that the terrorists would go to any extent to keep the Air Force fighter planes away from the Kiranchi skies.

Meanwhile, navy intelligence sources received credible information on the correct location to where the LTTE has shifted its camp facility following the successive air raids. The intelligence obtained through human intelligence sources were then verified through extensive analysis of satellite imagery by navy intelligence experts.

According to the navy intelligence officials, the target was positively identified as a hiding place for LTTE logistics and attack craft, a training facility for female LTTE cadres and an area declared a no entry zone for civilians by the terrorists. Navy underscored that it was only after confirming these facts through multiple sources that the target was given to the Air Force.

The Air Force, on the other hand, claimed that it could verify the same facts given by the Navy intelligence through extensive air surveillance. According to Air Force sources there was no possibility for civilians homes to be inside 2-3 Km radius from the targeted location. Moreover, Air Force confirmed that the target was hit with the maximum accuracy and as such the bombs could not have been dropped off the target.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy yesterday (February 25) decided to release the latest intelligence reports that it received on the incident.

According to the intelligence gathered from ground sources, Navy claimed that 10 LTTE cadres were killed and 9 others suffered injuries in the air raid. It has been further reported that the bombing had taken place to coincide with a training session for female LTTE cadres at the targeted location. Among the dead were self styled Lieutenant Colonel, Kalai Arasi, "Major" Thuwarika and "Lieutenant" Senthamarai, these sources said.

"Lieutenant Colonel" Kalai Arasi, according to the Navy, was a senior instructor for female LTTE cadres and also the in-charge of an LTTE attack boat named "Surali". Also, there were 6 large LTTE craft and 3 small craft at the location at the time of the attack.

Navy has received further information from an informant, who was engaged in fishing in the Walaikadu area at the time of the air raid, that he observed a huge explosion followed by large fire with black smoke that lasted for about 30 minutes. The informant has also said that the some of the fishermen who had been engaged in fishing in the area were summoned by the terrorists to assist them. According to the informant, those fishermen who had gone to the location have stated that the Air Force had bombed an LTTE camp in an area where no civilians were allowed to enter.

Further, electronic warfare personnel of Navy on Saturday (February 23) recorded a radio conversation between two LTTE stations called KR and RM that station MR had been destroyed due to the air raid and the Mannar LTTE leader was planning to visit the area on Sunday. It was during the same radio conversation that one LTTE station issued instructions to the other that not even Red Cross personnel should be allowed to enter the targeted area until completion of the said leader's visit.

LTTE's downfall inevitable, says Jane`s Intel. Review

 

The Northeastern coastline is of huge strategic value to the LTTE as it allows maritime access and the use of the Sea Tigers in operations in Jaffna or elsewhere. This is not to say that the Sea Tigers pose a significant threat to the Sri Lankan Navy.

Few effective maritime attacks have taken place in the north. The 21 January assault on the MV City of Liverpool, a cargo ship carrying foodstuffs to the Jaffna peninsula, involving five Sea Tiger attack vessels inflicted only minor damage on the ship. In fact, few major contacts have occurred in 2007. Other major engagements occurred when the Sea Tigers were in relatively robust health: the l October 2006 attack on the Dakshina naval base in Galle involving live Sea Tiger vessels disguised as fishing boats occurred while the LTTE still had a network of eastern bases and the coastal town of Vakarai under its control.

The Sea Tigers are now without not only Sampur and Vakarai, but also Silavathurai and a considerable percentage of their fleet of attack craft and cargo ships. The SLA even claimed that the last of the Sea Tiger cargo vessels had been destroyed on 8 October, the 3 cargo ship Matsusmina, sunk 700 nautical miles off the Sri Lanka's coast, only a week and a half after the death of Nishanthan, the Sea Tiger commander in a sea battle on 27 September. Significantly, until September, LTTE vessels had always been sunk by the navy within 200 nautical miles of the coast, with the greater distance of the Matsusmina sinking suggesting they are in possession of reliable international intelligence regarding ship movements. The signing of a memorandum of understanding on intelligence co-operation between Sri Lanka and Maldives on 2 November reflects this reliance on overseas intelligence. Nonetheless, despite the evident denigration in the Sea Tigers` capabilities, retention of access to the northwestern coastline is important for the LTTE, and hence its land campaign will likely reflect this.
LTTE air campaign

In addition to its land and sea strategy, the LTTE is likely to augment any ground operations with aerial attacks. The most recent example of this was the 22 October attack on the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) base in Anuradhapura. Although ostensibly a ground attack by a Black Tiger unit, an aerial element was included, acting largely, but not exclusively as a psycho factor. The October operation was the first co-ordination of ground and air attacks. Hitherto, Tamil Eelam Air Force air raids had no ground component.

The operation began at 0320 local time and involved at least 21 male and female Black Tigers. Up to 27 males have been involved, based upon eyewitness accounts of the villagers living in the vicinity of the base and from pictures on the LTTE releases. The LTTE waited in a nearby empty house, cut through the perimeter chain link fence, cut a concertina wire fence and walked unchallenged for 300 metres to a hangar. They then proceeded to fire on aircraft using RPGs and light anti-tank weapons. LTTE were also able to maintain contact during the attack with Vanni commanders via satellite mobile telephones and walkie-talkies.

At least 21 LTTE members were killed in the Anuradhapura attack and the SLA acknowledged a death toll of 13 airmen, including four killed in an apparent `friendly fire` incident. The attack may cost the government at least USD30 million approximately SLR 3 billion).
LTTE decline

As a result, the recent ground and air attack in Anuradhapura, despite its psychological impact, is unlikely to reverse the perilous position of the LTTE now at its lowest ebb since the Indian intervention of late 1980s.

The aircraft losses will not impede SLA sorties over the Wanni. Indeed, the death of Thamilselvan and live senior officers in an air strike came a day after the LTTE leadership conferred honours on the Air Tiger pilots involved in the attack. Air superiority was an integral part of the government`s eastern victories earlier in the year and will likely play a vital role in the government`s campaign of attrition along the northwestern coast. It is therefore likely the LTTE will attempt further attacks on SLAF facilities, while committing forces to slow the SLA`s advance in the southwestern Vanni.

In addition, the 16 October attack in the south eastern Yala National Park indicates the LTTE`s reversion to traditional guerrilla tactics in the east. However, these are currently neither numerous nor audacious enough to tie down sufficient numbers of eastern security forces to the extent that troops and artillery cannot be diverted to the northern campaign.

This means the government`s northern campaign will slowly advance, seeking to bleed the LTTE by retaining artillery pressure on the FDLs and capturing portions of uncleared territory where it can, the SLA may look to advance north along the A32 in early to mid 2008. Any push south from the Muhamalai and Nagarkovil FDLs in Jaffna would be dependent on the campaign in the southwestern Vanni, but this is an unlikely option within the next year given the SLAs experiences at Muhamalai in October 2006, and may not occur at all in the northern campaign. Under General Fonseka, a veteran of the failed Jaya Sikuru offensive, it is unlikely that a similar high profile land offensive to that of 1997 - 1999 will take place in 2008, despite the short-term political benefits that would accrue to the Rajapaksa administration.

At the same time, the denigration of the Sea Tiger fleet precludes all significant ability to dominate the coast or easily transport troops for strategic mobility. The limited aerial capabilities of the Tigers are high profile and may boost morale, but are of little tactical utility.

In addition, the LTTE is currently suffering from recruitment difficulties and international pressure over its diaspora fundraising and overseas weapons procurement networks. With its maritime supply routes likely to become limited by its loss of land in the northwest, unless a new political or military variable enters the equation, the decline of the LTTE is inevitable.

This does not yet suggest an end to the conflict or a military defeat of the LTTE. While it may lose territory, a reversion to guerrilla warfare in the east will likely be matched by a similar tactic in the jungles of the Vanni. High-value political and military targets will be attacked with suicide squads and bombers, and intermittent light infantry raids will be carried out on military stations. Weaponry will be supplied by theft from security forces, with the LTTE`s estimated 7,000 fighters offering substantial resistance for years ahead.

The movement`s demise has been predicted several times since its inception in the 1970s, and the group has proven adept at jungle fighting in previous years. The current crisis could yet prove to be the catalyst for lethal new innovations on the Sri Lankan battlefield.

44 surrendees confess on LTTE links- Jaffna

 

Forty-four detainees, having confessed that they were either connected to LTTE or have directly or indirectly aided and abetted the terrorist cause in the Jaffna peninsula consented to receive rehabilitation after they reached Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna prisons on Tuesday (26).

Those surrendees after formal registration at the Police are to be absorbed into a rehabilitation programme in the peninsula beginning tomorrow (27). They have sought the rehabilitation in writing, according to the military sources.

During January 2007- February 2008, a total of three hundred and seventeen men and women, some of who claimed themselves to be LTTE cadres have turned up at the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission in Jaffna and wanted to seek protection saying that they were very much harassed, disgusted with the LTTE or exposed to LTTE conscription attempts.

The Commission on a court directive ordered the Police to detain them in a special wing inside the Jaffna prison for protection until their inquiries and Police investigations were over. During this period 291 males and 26 females surrendered and were detained by the Commission. Some of those detainees on their own accord later left the prison protection and went away.

Authorities from the Ministry of Rehabilitation after receiving those 44 LTTE men/supporters are expected to send them for rehabilitation in Jaffna, providing all necessary provisions to them, Ministry of Rehabilitation has told the Police.

Ceylon Chamber signs ground-breaking MOU with CCI

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCI) last week in a bid to energise private sector innovation in the construction sector.

The MOU aims to strengthen the cooperation between the Ceylon Chamber and CCI in promoting National Economic Development with special reference to Infrastructure Development and Construction related projects in Sri Lanka.

Both the Ceylon Chamber and the CCI strongly feels that the private sector can play an active role in Infrastructure Development by working closely with the Government through Public Private Partnerships (PPP). The private sector can facilitate speedier implementation of infrastructure projects using their expertise and resources. Both organizations plan to use the synergy of their partnership to improve infrastructure facilities which is crucial for attracting new investments and to have a wider spread of economic activity with increased efficiency in the Corporate Sector.

SMS price infos to empower farmers

Farmers supplying the Dambulla Vegetable Wholesale Market (DVWM) will soon have short message service (SMS) alerts on their mobile phones that will regularly update them of price movements at the DVWM.

LIRNEasia’s Executive Director Dr. Rohan Samarajiva said that This will assist them in obtaining a better price for their produce. LIRNEasia is a think tank with a focus on using technology to better the lives of people living in "emerging" Asia-Pacific.

Dr. Harsha de Silva, LIRNEasia’s lead economist speaking at a seminar on farmer empowerment on Thursday, said that information is critical for effective functioning of markets and that ICT could improve efficiencies in agriculture markets.

He said that 72% of the farmer population will use telephones by the middle of the year.

"Our farmers are poor, but food is expensive," he said.

LIRNEasia’s Ms. Helani Galpaya said that even though 92% of Sri Lanka’s population have access to phones, only 8% of the calls made were for business purposes.

Samarajiva said that this project is being worked out with a mobile phone company whose name he didn’t want to divulge.

He said that it will encompass farmers living in the North Central Province, Central Province and North Western Province who generally supply to the DVWM, popularly known as the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Zone (DDEZ).

De Silva said that the DDEZ is the biggest vegetable wholesale market in Sri Lanka.

He said that DDEZ which occupies 12 acres of land has 144 trade stalls (Samarajiva said that the President recently gifted the 145th stall to a trader).

De Silva said that nearly 1,000 trades take place at DDEZ daily. It makes a daily turnover of between Rs. 30-40 million.

"But Dambulla has no bidding mechanism like the Colombo Tea Auctions, or the Amsterdam Flower market or the mandis in Andhra Pradesh.

However, recently, five large electronic boards were installed at the DDEZ which provides information of the last traded prices of vegetables in order to strengthen farmers’ bargaining power, said de Silva.

UNP to impeach the President

By Nirmala Kannangara

The UNP yesterday charged that it would bring an impeachment motion against President Mahinda Rajapakse in the event he fails to appoint the Constitutional Council (CC).

UNP MP Gayantha Karunathilake told The Morning Leader yesterday that the UNP has already taken steps to institute legal action against President’s failure, and plans were afoot to bring an impeachment motion against the President, for the intentional violation of the constitution by not appointing members to the Constitutional Council.

"Even the President, referring to constitutional provisions, once said that it is beyond doubt that the implementation of constitutional provisions is the basic duty of the government. In such a scenario the UNP would wish to know as to why the same President is now delaying the appointment of the CC as he is bound to uphold the constitution," claimed Karunathilake.

Karunathilake further stated that Sri Lanka has now become a failed state before the international community as the Rajapakse administration has miserably failed to uphold the constitution, the highest law in the country.

"Blatant appointments of political favourites to independent commissions have increased alarmingly. Since all the relevant political parties have now forwarded their nominations to the President, it is the bounden duty of President Rajapakse to appoint the CC at the earliest or face serious consequences," added Karunathilake.

UNP calls on President to implement 13th Amendment

The UNP yesterday informed President Mahinda Rajapakse that the 13th Amendment to the constitution was part of the law of the country and that there was no bar to its implementation.

This UNP position was brought to the President’s notice when the party met with the government delegation yesterday at Temple Trees.

The government delegation comprised President Rajapakse, Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Tissa Vitharana and Prof. Wishva Warnapala.

The UNP delegation comprised, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and MPs Rukman Senanayake and K.N. Choksy.

The Morning Leader learns that President Rajapakse had at the outset asked what the UNP’s position was with regard to the APRC proposals.

The UNP had said that the interim report states a final report would be issued shortly and that the party was awaiting that report.

Informed sources said the President had inquired whether the UNP supported the interim report. The UNP it is learnt had told the President that if he was inquiring after the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the constitution, it is already part of the law and that no one would question its implementation.

The UNP had further said that the party had submitted its proposals to Minister Vitharana months earlier and that if the final report is based on those proposals the party would support it.

The President had also told the UNP delegation that the government intends holding provincial council elections in the east and asked what the party’s position would be.

It is learnt the UNP informed the President that the climate was not conducive for holding elections in the east and that if the government insists on holding the elections, it will be difficult for the party to participate in it.

The UNP had further called up on the President to implement the 17th Amendment to the constitution, which provided for the Constitutional Council.

It is learnt the President had told the UNP that there was a parliamentary select committee studying the 17th Amendment and that once the process is completed, he would implement the amendment.

The UNP however had pointed out that the 17th amendment was already part of the law of the country and he had a duty to implement it.

"When the select committee completes its sittings and submits the report, then at that stage any amendments can be considered. Until such time the 17th Amendment, which provides for the appointment of the Constitutional Council should be implemented," the UNP had said.

UNP's fullest support for 13th Amendment

 

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday extended the UNP's fullest cooperation to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which has been proposed by the APRC proposals. The Opposition Leader gave this assurance following an extensive discussion with President Mahinda Rajapaksa held at Temple Trees yesterday.

During the discussion, President Rajapaksa briefed the Opposition Leader on the implementation of the 13th Amendment proposed by the APRC proposals.

In addition, the discussions also centred on the 17th Amendment, a media release issued by the President's Media Unit said yesterday. The UNP's representation for the next rounds of the APRC discussions was also discussed.

The discussions were conducted in a very cordial manner. SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Prof. Tissa Vitharana, Prof. Vishwa Warnapala represented the SLFP while the UNP Chairman MP Rukman Senanayake and MP K.N. Choksy represented the UNP, the release added.

Mano Ganesan protests to Angela Kane for not meeting him

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Angela Kane had a telephone discussion with Civil Monitoring Commission Convener and Western People Front leader Mano Ganesan MP immediately before she left the island.
During the discussion Ms. Kane had expressed her regrets for not being able to meet Mano Ganesan for discussions and requested Ganesan send her a situation report says the media communiqué issued by the WPF office of Mano Ganesan MP. The release further states,

“Whilst welcoming the visit of the United Nations ASG for political affaires Ms. Kane, CMC Convener Mano Ganesan MP made his strong feeling of disappointment and disapproval known to her.
Ms. Kane had met the President, Leader of Opposition and Human Rights minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. We appreciate these meetings. We are also glad that ASG visited the East and held discussions with officials. Ganesan pointed out to the ASG, that in addition to these meetings she had also visited the office of JVP and held discussions with JVP leadership.
We consider JVP an extremist party which is pushing the government towards war which is the direct cause for the issues of human rights violations and IDPs. Ganesan told Angela that JVP is a minor party and not a minority political party. We fail to understand why the Colombo office of UN was not able to arrange meetings with the political leaderships of the Tamil speaking people.
The leaders of TNA and SLMC have not met Angela Kane. The United Nations has overlooked the Tamil and Muslim political leaderships in the core issues of political solution, human rights violations and war and hence completed this visit as an one sided affair.
This is unbelievable. Colombo UN officials initially made contacts with my office for meetings through e-mails and later withdrew for reasons better to them. Therefore we consider the visit of United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affaires Angela Kane is too political”

Tyronne Fernando passed away [Update]

 

Sunil C. Perera in Colombo

Ex-foreign minister and senior Presidential Advisor Tyronne Fernando[67] passed away at a private hospital in Colombo.
Earlier he was appointed as the Governor of the North and East Province in 2004 by former President Chandricka Kumaratunga. Fernando who was the Foreign Minister in the Ranil Wickremasinghe government under president Kumaratunga left the United National Party (UNP) and joined the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA). He had also announced his candidature for the post of UN Secretary-General, a few years ago.

Tyronne was elected as a Member of Parliament from his Moratuwa electorate continuously for twenty-seven years from 1977.

He was a leading lawyer turned politician Tyronne Fernando, counts well over a 25 year continuous service in Sri Lanka’s Parliament. The Oxford educated Barrister-at-Law is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka. He has held a range of key ministries during his long political journey, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for over eight years. He was the first Asian to become the President of the Ofxord Union Labour Club at the age of 20.
As President of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board in the early nineties, he built up a team, which won the World Cup in 1996.
A President Counsel, author of eight books, journalist, cricketer, film producer and an expert on international relations (who has attended numerous international conferences and meetings). Minister Fernando is currently a consultant to a drama on Nelson Mandela. In August 2002 he released his latest book ‘Alien Winds Across Paradise’ which discusses Sri Lanka’s foreign relations through the ages. A publication of Vikash of India the book takes a look at the past with a vision for a new future for Asia.

Tyrone is no more

Former foreign minister and President Advisor Tyrone Fernando passed away a short while ago.wait for details.

CPC to produce cheaper domestic gas

Commencing April this year the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation will move into the domestic gas market retailing a cylinder at a much lesser price than the two private sector gas suppliers, Shell and Laugfs, which hold a monopoly now, Petroleum Resources Minister A. H. M. Fowzie said yesterday.

The two private sector monopolies keep increasing domestic LPG according to their whims and fancies inconveniencing the middle class and poorer sector of the population, he said.

The new venture will not import gas but use the by product at the Sapugaskanda Petroleum Refinery to manufacture LPG. Laufgs, too, buys the Sapugaskanda by-product to manufacture LPG.

"We initially hope to capture 10 per cent of the domestic market with the intention of monopolizing it later and with the consumers in mind to sell it at purse easy prices," Fowzie said.

He said an order has already been placed to purchase 50,000 gas cylinders.

Fowzie said the CPC has the necessary resources to be the sole venture, without borrowing from the Treasury or international sources. The feasibility study had already been carried out and the work on the project would commence soon. Consumers could get their cylinder of gas at a lesser price before the forthcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year, he said.

Police probe death threats to journalist

Police Headquarters has ordered an immediate investigation into a complaint made by The Island Anuradhapura correspondent Cyril Basnayake that he and his family had received death threats, DIG N. K. Illangakone said.

Basnayake had complained that the death threats followed a complaint he had made to the Anuradhapura police against a gang of criminal elements who had encroached an eight-acre plot of land owned by him and their preventing him from entering his land. A junior police officer at the Anuradhapura police station was trying to suppress investigations into the complaint made by him, he has said.

A senior police officer yesterday had met Basnayake and inquired into the whole incident. He told The Island that the law of the jungle cannot be allowed to rule in this case or in any other similar case.

Petition against proposed sale of Telecom shares

 



The Supreme Court yesterday allowed Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera to substitute for the late Parliamentarian Sripathi Sooriarachchi, who had petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the proposed sale of Sri Lanka Telecom shares, owned by the NTT Communication of Japan, to Global Telecommunication Holdings of Netherlands.

P. A. Ratnayake, PC, and Additional Solicitor General, told Court that if the shares held by NTT communications of Japan fell below ten percent of the entirety of Sri Lanka Telecom Limited, the present agreement between the government of Sri Lanka and the Japanese entrepreneur, would terminate. The government may or may not enter into a new agreement. However, the government will make the public aware of any fresh agreement procedure. At present, the Japanese partner holds 35.2 percent of the SLT. The case will be mentioned next week, regarding the issue.


The Bench comprised the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justice Shirani Tilekewardene and Justice Andrew Somawansa.

Defence Secretary sues The Leader

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has filed action in the District Court of Mount Lavinia against The Sunday Leader chief editor Lasantha Wickramatunga and Leader Publications Pvt Limited claiming a sum of Rs 1,000 million as damages in respect of an article published in the Sunday Leader of July 15, 2007 under the headline 'MiG deal crash lands on Government.'

The Defence Secretary filing action through his Attorney at Law, Sanath Wijewardane, had stated that the article published in the newspaper was animus injuriandi and prayed court to grant him necessary relief and the cost, including interest until the final determination of the case.

He informed Court that the articles clearly identified him with photographs and other details and they have been published with malicious intent to damage his reputation. He said several articles published in the newspaper on the MiG aircraft purchases made further allegations against him which were false and defamatory.

The Petitioner stated that his reputation suffered both on a personal level and as the Defence Secretary through the publication of the said articles. The Court was told that the petitioner had earlier demanded Rs.250 million as damages for publishing the said material but Leader Publications had not paid the said amount.

The petitioner said he hails from a distinguished political family that has served the country with distinction for generations. He joined the Army in 1971 and played an active role in operations against the terrorists.

He was awarded the Rana Sura and Rana Wickrama medal by the State in recognition of his bravery. He retired from the Army after a distinguished service of 20 years. He then followed a post graduate computer course at the Colombo University and left for the United States where he worked as a computer systems specialist at the prestigious Loyola Law School.

Then he was appointed as the Defence Secretary in 2005 and since then, he has been working with dedication and commitment to lead the decisive battle against terrorism carried out by the Security Forces.

He told Court that in order to minimise any irregularities and corruption in the purchases made by the Security Forces he established a completely Government owned company top act as local agent for such purchases, thus saving a large sum that would otherwise have been lost to the country in the form of agents fees and commissions.

All these steps have led to unprecedented victories against terrorism.

The petitioner said that in this background, the publication of the said articles was designed to tarnish his reputation and credibility.

Seven LTTE Terrorists Killed as Troops Launch Attack on LTTE Strong Point

 

Army troops attacked and completely destroyed a LTTE strong point in North of Janakapura Army troops .

In search operations that followed troops recovered seven LTTE terrorist bodies & seven T-56 assault riffles.

A large number of LTTE terrorists were also injured while one soldier made the ultimate sacrifice while 3 soldiers sustained injuries.

Government will address present drug shortage

The Ministry of Health says steps have been taken to address the shortage of several drugs reported at government hospitals.
Reports last week stated of a shortage of aspirin and salbatarmal. Accordingly Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva directed the State Phar