UNP to launch Island wide program against the `Satakaye sapaya

Tissa Attanayake, Gen. Secretary of the UNP addressing the Media at the UNP Media unit, said that UNP which has an exclusive and unassailable reputation unlike other parties as always having stood by the people showing overwhelming concern for them whether in power or in opposition cannot stand idle and watch this Govt. ruthlessly oppress and impose hardships on them by the hour.

To counter this, the UNP is launching a program titled the ‘Satakaye Sapaya virudhatha” on the 3rd of April commencing initially at 120 electorates to be extended Island wide.As the whole country has begun to realize that the country should be rid of this ‘Satakaye sapaya’ curse , so has the UNP , the saviour of the country and people always, has decided to start this protest campaign to pack this Govt. home lock ,stock and barrel in keeping with the people’s wishes .As people are unable to voice their protests because of the Govt.’s murderous policies and atrocities directed against the freedom of expression of the people and Media, the UNP feels that it has to agitate on behalf of and alongside them, he asserted.

This protest campaign will be on a peaceful footing starting at 10.00 a.m. at the 120 electorates from all the main Towns. This program will highlight the curse that has befallen the country with cost of living , price hikes among other things spiraling out of control for the Govt. whereby burdens and hardships are imposed on the masses by the hour, not to mention the insecurity and panic they are trapped in even unable to sleep peacefully in their own homes fearing the ‘white van’ (symbol of abduction and murder allegedly by the Govt.) or unidentified persons forcibly entering houses and committing murder and mayhem.

Since independence, this is the first time this country once described as the ‘pearl of the Orient’ has been caught in such a black curse or Satakaye Sapaya . Just in the last few years from 2004, petrol price has risen by 149%, diesel by 150%, Rice (the common man’s staple food) by 136%, Bread by 236 %, Tea by 125 % apart from the tax, electricity, water and phone tariff increases. These are but a few of the countless increases! He lamented.

This Govt. has also set a record for making the largest number of false promises at elections and honouring none, while also fomenting State corruption, tyranny, profligate expenditure of people’s money and lawlessness on a scale hitherto unknown in this country, he exhorted.Attanayake urged everyone to give their unstinted support to this program burying Party differences as no one is spared from the evil spell of this ‘Satakaye sapaya’, he concluded.

LTTE mortars fall on Murukkan hospital

Mortars fired by the LTTE had fallen on Murukkan hospital this morning around 6.30 am. Two buildings have been damaged and casualty figures are yet to be known.

Alleged demand by SL diplomat for bribe Foreign Ministry orders probe into double-decker bus deal.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has ordered an immediate probe into Maha Nayake of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Thera’s allegation (published in The Island yesterday) that Sri Lanka missed an opportunity to purchase 65 double-decker buses from Singapore at concessionary prices as a Lankan diplomat had asked for a fee for negotiating the deal.
The Foreign Ministry says no such incident took place under the tenure of the present Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Singapore.
Full text of the Foreign Ministry statement:
The attention of the Foreign Ministry has been drawn to a news report which had appeared in The Isalnd and the Divaina of March 31, 2008 that referred to a statement said to have been made by the Most Venerable Asgiriya Maha Nayake Thero relating to a diplomat at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Singapore.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama immediately called for an explanation from Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Singapore and also directed the Ministry to ascertain the veracity of the substance of the report from the Most Venerable Maha Nayake Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter. The High Commissioner in Singapore has stated that the Mission had contacted the Most Venerable Maha Nayake Thero who had indicated that the alleged incident had taken place many years ago and that he would clarify this issue with the media.
The High Commissioner also has emphasized that during his tenure, there had been no offer for sale of 65 double-decker buses at concessionary prices as stated in the newspaper article.

Therefore, the Ministry wishes to emphatically state that the alleged incident had not taken place during the period of the incumbent Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Singapore.
Although the alleged incident is said to have occurred many years earlier, Foreign Minister Bogollagama in deference to the Most Venerable Maha Nayake Thero, has directed the Ministry and the High Commission in Singapore to conduct a detailed investigation into this matter.

SLT appoints Pooja as their special ambassador

Sunil C. Perera in Colombo
SLT selected Pooja Umashanker as brand Ambassador for Broadband Services said Marketing and Sales Officer Ajantha Seneviratne of Sri Lankan Telecom at a press conference held at the Colombo Hilton. Her new role allows Pooja help shape the future of Sri Lanka by empowering Sri Lankans with endless possibilities of wireline broadband connectivity.
He said. "She is the right choice to help achieve SLT’s goal of making broadband services accessible to the Sri Lankan. Her wide appeal combined with her love for Sri Lanka is the right choice the SLT has made. "Pooja is the perfect ambassador and also she is also an enthusiastic user of the wireline broadband services.
Sri Lanka Telecom (www.slt.lk) is one of the country’s most valuable blue chip companies with an annual turnover in excess of Rs 40 billion. NTT Communications Corporation of Japan owns a 35.2% stake in Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), 49.2% is owned by the Government of Sri Lanka and 15.3% is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. The company was also awarded an AAA (sri) rating by Fitch Ratings Lanka followed by a BB- international rating by Fitch International and Standard & Poor’s.
SLT Group has a customer base of over two million including multinational corporations, large and small corporate, retail and domestic customers. Today with NTT Communications of Japan as a strategic partner, SLT provides facilities and services: voice, data, video and mobile to its customers, which are unmatched in scope. These services range from domestic and international voice, advance data transmission services which include internet services on leased lines, broadband [on ADSL] and dial up, data circuits, frame relay solutions to IP services such as IP-VPN based on IP-MPLS technology, total corporate solutions of multiple services, satellite uplink services and mobile telephony through the fully owned subsidiary Mobitel.
With a view to making Sri Lanka a broadband island, SLT is in the process of introducing the necessary infrastructure in the form of NGN [Next Generation Networks] using optical fibre backbone and broadband services such as IMS, IPTV etc.
SLT also provides high speed global connectivity to countries in the South Asian region through its investments in international submarine cables such as SMW3, SMW4 and the Bharat Lanka submarine cable [between India and Sri Lanka] and Dhiraagu-SLT submarine cable system between Maldives Islands and Sri Lanka.
Newly incorporated SLT Hong Kong Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka Telecom, is fully geared to provide services such as IP transit, IPVPN, IPLC and International voice traffic transit services to global telecom operators and corporates in Hong, Kong.

Fishermen stage Hartal in Kalmunai

The fisher folk in Saindumaradu area staged a hartal this morning in Kalmunai town, compelling the authorities to take immediate action against several unscrupulous individuals who use dynamite for off shore fishing.
More than 300 protestors participated. Sources claimed that some fishing huts have been burnt and the Kalmunai, Akkaraipaththuwa road has been blocked by the protesters and traffic paralyzed.

Japan's NTT sells Sri Lanka Telecom stake-traders

COLOMBO, April 1 (Reuters) - Japan's Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (9432.T: Quote, Profile, Research) sold its entire stake of 35.2 percent Sri Lanka Telecom SLTL.CM shares to Malaysian mobile network operator Maxis Communications on Tuesday, traders said.
"The NTT deal was done, the trade happened in the market at the 50.50 rupees and 635 million shares were traded," said Harsha Fernando CEO at SC securities. "The NTT had sold whole stake they held in SLT to Maxis."

Voters will reject LTTE: Rajapaksa

B. Muralidhar Reddy
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said he had no doubt voters in the east were not “shortsighted” to give the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam an opportunity to make a comeback.
Addressing members and officials of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) at its annual convention here on Sunday, Mr. Rajapaksa “challenged” the opposition United National Party (UNP) to win the coming Eastern Provincial Council election “even with the assistance of the LTTE,” the local media reported.
Election to the Eastern Provincial Council is scheduled for May. Several mainstream parties including the UNP and the JVP are taking part. Nominations for the election close on April 3.
“It is treacherous that certain male and female leaders trot the globe tarnishing the image of Sri Lanka on human and fundamental rights. The modus operandi was to urge the European countries and the U.S. to withdraw the GSP+ trade concession given to Sri Lanka and thereby weaken the economy. By doing so they revenge millions of employees and the industry,” he told the conference.
Detractors
“There were many detractors and whiners during the local government polls complaining [that] the time was not right and requested to postpone it. The heroic armed forces have been able to corner the LTTE to Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. The LTTE was regrouped and strengthened during the ceasefire agreement (CFA) and installed 120 mm. and 155 mm canons as they had been given a free hand to do whatever they want under the CFA. The LTTE had even demarcated a separate state under the CFA,” he said.
“The government would never take back the steps it took to liberate the north from the jackboot of the LTTE. With the steady progress of the armed forces in the warfront the people in the north have begun gradually but surely to enjoy the taste of freedom. The prices of goods have drastically come down in Jaffna and in some instances prices of certain goods are lower than Colombo.”

Emirates, SriLankan split widens

COLOMBO – In a further split between Emirates Airlines and SriLankan Airlines, the Dubai carrier said it would stop sharing routes with Sri Lanka's national carrier when its decade-long management contract expires this month.
The decision follows worsening relations between Emirates Airlines and Colombo, with talks between both sides collapsing after nearly two years of negotiations over renewing the contract.
In December, the government withdrew the work permit of the Emirates-appointed chief executive of SriLankan Airlines, Peter Hill, because he failed to "look after the interests of the majority shareholder".
However, the Dubai-based carrier said it would retain its near 44 percent stake and continue to have a board presence.
The Sri Lankan government has nominated and appointed a new chairman and directors to SriLankan Airlines, with immediate effect.
Emirates president Tim Clark told AFP in January that it was willing to sell all or part of its 43.6 percent equity stake in SriLankan.
Emirates will continue to serve Sri Lanka with 17 weekly flights to Colombo, effectively becoming a competitor of SriLankan.
All of which should make for interesting board meetings with three representatives from Emirates and three from the government, supported by the new chairman, Nishantha Wickremasinghe

Sri Lanka: Supreme Court and adequate recognition of rights/LTTE shells hospital

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in an opinion sought by President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the constitution of Sri Lanka and the Supreme Court rulings could g ive "adequate recognition to the provisions contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."

A bench of five judges headed by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said in the ruling that the people could derive the benefits of the international covenant through the judiciary and the constitution.Under the constitutional provisions the President could seek the opinion of the supreme court of the country on any legal issue and this opinion was sought under that.

Minister Professor G.L.Peiris said the Supreme Court now has given a clear message to people who were trying to tarnish the image of the country. For the past few weeks Professor Peiris was spearheading a movement to eradicate anti-Sri Lanka mudslinging with the intention of saving the country's international reputation and thereby the national economy. Peiris said the enemies were attempting to stop the aid given to the country under false allegations.
The five bench of judges said "legal and constitutional processes prevailing in the country" could justify the rights recognized by the international covenant.
The panel of judges consisted of Chief justice Sarath N. Silva and Justices R.A.N.G. Amaratunga, Saleem Marsoof, A.M. Somawansa, and D.J. De S. Balapatabendi.
Professor G.L. Peiris who is the Minister in charge of international Trade said "Currently there are attempts to pressure the European Union to stop the GSP + facilities to Sri Lanka by claiming that the country's Constitution has not given adequate recognition to Civil and Political Rights."

Large Haul of war materials recovers by troops in BATTICALOA

On a search operation conducted by the troops, recovered 938 rounds of 12.7mm today (31) around 2.30pm in OMADIYAMADU area.
Meanwhile in NARAKAMULLA- THOPPIGALA area troops conducted a search operation and recovered the war materials .

Left parties of the alliance join with the Tamil parties to break UNP vote base

(Lanka-e-News, ) Lanka Samasamaja Party, Sri Lanka Communist Party, Sri Lanka People's Party, Democratic Left Front and Desha Vimukthi Janatha Party that are partners of ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) have decided not to contest to the Eastern Provincial Council with the UPFA.
Sri Lanka Communist Party Deputy General Secretary S. Sudasinghe said to Lanka-e-News that the left parties would contest in an alliance with the Democratic Tamil National Alliance comprised of EPRLF, PLOTE and Tamil United Liberation Front.
Accordingly, the Socialist People's Front of the left parties will contest under the Democratic Tamil National Alliance for Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts and under their own symbol for Digamadulla district. The Socialist People's Front nominations are to be submitted on April 02.
Mr. Sudasinghe said to Lanka-e-News that the left parties would contest with the Tamil parties to appear as an alternative force to the racist elements of the UPFA while not allowing to UNP to capture power in the Provincial Council.
He further said that in Digamadulla, they would march separately and attack in unity while in Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts they would attack racism jointly in their election campaigns.

Lankaputhra Chairman resigns

The Chairman of the Lankaputhra Development Bank Vas Gunawardane was reportedly asked to resign from his post today. The former Bank of Ceylon General Manager Sarath Silva has been appointed in his place.

ELECTIONS IN EAST CAN HAVE MAJOR POLITICAL IMPACT

--Jehan Perera
The government has declared elections for the provincial council in the east to be held on May 10. This call for elections by the government has been a bold one.
The success of the government in conducting the local government elections peaceably in the Batticaloa district, which is one of the three districts that comprise the Eastern province, would also have emboldened the government to take up the challenge of elections. Although substantial areas of the Eastern Province had been under LTTE control, by mid 2007 the government was successful in driving the LTTE out of all areas that it had taken control over. The local government elections were conducted under more peaceful conditions than anticipated.
The forthcoming provincial council elections will be the first ever for the Eastern Province as a political unit. The last and only time that the voters in the Eastern Province experienced a provincial election was 20 years ago in 1988. At that time the Eastern Province was temporarily merged with the Northern Province under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of 1987, which lasted until 2006 when the Supreme Court declared the merger to be invalid. The merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces, which together comprise about 30 percent of the country’s land mass, and which ensured a Tamil majority administration, was the price that India demanded from Sri Lanka in order to disarm the LTTE and restore peace. The failure of the Indian Peacekeeping Force to achieve this latter objective made the merger vulnerable in law, as the conditions for the merger were not obtained.
In addition, the prospect of fueling Tamil separatism by enabling a Tamil majority administration over a substantial part of the country was a festering source of anxiety to the Sinhalese majority population. The provincial council for the merged North East Province was dissolved by a presidential decree in 1990 after its Chief Minister Varatharaja Perumal, frustrated by the lack of power and resources granted to him by the central government, made a futile unilateral declaration of independence.
In an ironic twist, provincial councils were established in the seven Sinhalese-majority provinces that did not ask for devolved power, but that too with only partial powers being devolved to them. After the negative experiment in operating the provincial council in the north east, no further provincial council elections were held in either of those two provinces. LARGER OBJECTIVES Several political circumstances appear to have induced the present government to take up the challenge of elections.
The first reason is that the election of the new Provincial Council could consolidate the separation of the Eastern Province from the Northern Province, by putting elected representatives from the east into positions of power that they would be reluctant to give up thereafter. While this would be a blow to Tamil nationalism that considers the two provinces to be the Tamil Homeland to which Tamils have special claim, their separation would assuage those who fear that a merged North East is a recipe for a future breakaway bid to independence, like Kosovo. Second, by bringing back the ballot to areas that had been totally ruled by the gun, the government also obtained a political triumph.
The elections were won convincingly by the armed breakaway faction of the LTTE, the TMVP which has allied itself with the government in what turned out to be a one horse race. This may have led the government to believe that it could repeat its triumph in the larger Eastern Province. On the other hand, the absence of the TNA and UNP which are the two main opposition parties that could have given the TMVP a battle for the votes of the people undoubtedly assisted the TMVP to score victory without having to resort to violence. Third, the holding the provincial elections for the east would do something to respond to the growing international demand for the government to embark upon a viable political process that could result in a political solution to the ethnic conflict.
The government’s answer, through the All Party process, has been to offer the 13th Amendment that was the outcome of Indian intervention in the country’s ethnic conflict in the latter half of the 1980s and which culminated in the signing of the Indo Lanka Peace Accord of 1987. The government has pledged to fully implement the 13th Amendment that established provincial councils with devolved power to the provinces. The problem for the government, however, is that the pursuit of these larger political objectives of consolidating the separation of the Eastern Province and assuaging the concerns of the international community may not necessarily lead it to victory at the forthcoming elections.
The victory obtained by the government and its ally, the TMVP, at the local government elections in the Batticaloa district may not be repeated at the elections for the entire province. The TMVP’s special strength in the Batticaloa district, which is predominantly Tamil, will not carry over to the rest of the province, and in particular to the Trincomalee and Ampara districts which are predominantly non-Tamil.
In addition, there is a further factor that will make electoral victory in the Eastern Province much more difficult for the government. Both the TNA and UNP boycotted the Batticaloa local government elections on the grounds that the TMVP’s retention of their arms posed a security threat to rival candidates. The refusal of the government to disarm the TMVP on the grounds of self-defense has been widely criticized by all rival political parties and by civil society groups. Many of the civil society groups even rejected the Batticaloa local government elections as failing to meet the basic standards of free and fair elections due to the fact of the TMVP being an armed group. UNP ADVANTAGE This time around, however, it is clear that at least the UNP will be contesting the Eastern Province elections despite the TMVP continuing to retain their arms. There is an obligation upon the government to ensure that the TMVP does not resort to violence or the threat of violence during the election.
The generally peaceful manner in which the Batticaloa local government elections took place may have served to reassure the country’s largest opposition party that contesting the elections will not translate into an automatic death sentence for its candidates at the hands of the TMVP. The UNP would also have seen that elections are the lifeblood of democratic politics and that boycotting an electoral process seldom wins admiration and inevitably leads to political marginalization.
In addition, there are indications that the UNP might be able to pose a strong challenge to the government at the provincial elections, which is now even fueling speculation that the government may wish to call off the elections. The UNP is currently negotiating with the SLMC, which is the strongest Muslim political party in the east which is its home base. As the Muslims constitute the largest single ethnic community in the Eastern Province at the present time obtaining the support of their main representative is likely to be beneficial to the prospects of electoral success. A further advantage that is likely to accrue to the UNP is the TNA’s decision to boycott the provincial council elections.
The conduct of elections in the Eastern Province only, which consolidates the de-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces, goes contrary to the fundamental aspiration of Tamil nationalism, which affirms that the two provinces constitute the Tamil Homeland. The TNA seeks to represent both the interests of the Tamil community as well as those of the LTTE to which they are hostage. It is believed that the LTTE has denied the TNA permission to contest the Eastern province elections.
Tamil voters who prefer to vote for a democratic party rather than for an armed party, which is what the TMVP continues to be, could opt for the UNP. Needless to say, a positive electoral verdict for the government will embolden it to continue on its present path of military conquest over the LTTE followed by elections that consolidate government rule over previously LTTE-controlled areas.
The success of this strategy in the east would encourage the government to continue with its military campaign in the north against the LTTE, although it seems to have slowed down at the present time due to inclement weather conditions and stiff resistance by the LTTE. On the other hand, if the UNP-led opposition should get the upper hand at the Eastern Province elections, it would cast doubt on the long term electoral viability of the government’s counter-LTTE strategy. This means that the stakes at these elections are very high, and the temptation to resort to violence to win at any price has to be resisted.

'I commited three mistakes as Lanka President'

Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga said she has committed "three" mistakes during her nine-year reign, including dismissal of UNP-led government in 2004. Kumaratunga said she realised that an alliance with the Marxist JVP party was a mistake she committed while at the helm of affairs in the country.
Similarly, she said, the UNP-led government of Ranil Wickremesinghe should not have been dismissed in 2004.
The 62-year-old former president said she would reveal the third mistake she committed sometime in the future.
In an interview to a Sinhala weekly, Kumaratunga said her party the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) and the opposition United National Party should forge an alliance to resolve the 25-year-old Tamil ethnic conflict.
"I think the SLFP and UNP should come together and work out a common understanding to find a solution to resolve the conflict in the country," she said.
She also made it clear that neither she nor her sister Sumitra would enter active politics. Their brother and former foreign minister Anura Bandaranaike died recently raising questions about the future representatives of the legendary Bandaranaike family in politics.
Fifty nine-year-old Anura, son of Prime Ministers S W R D Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike was at one time considered a forerunner for the country's top post.

IIGEP observation ends today

The observation process of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) ends today. The IIGEP said it will submit a concluding report to the President and also issue a final public statement.
The International Independent Group of Eminent Persons was formed to observe an inquiry into 16 cases of serious rights violations, including the August 2006 massacre of 17 local employees of the French charity, ACF.
The panel said Monday in a statement that they were halting their efforts to determine whether the inquiries were being conducted "in accordance with internationally accepted norms and standards."
Earlier this month, the panel had accused the government of lacking the political will to investigate the incidents and said Sri Lankan authorities didn't meet the basic minimum standards in investigating serious rights abuses.
The IIGEP's final report is expected to be presented to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse next month and the panel's office will formally close on April 30, the group said.
Key international personalities, who were earlier invited by Rajapakse to observe the inquiry proceedings, have since left the island.
Colombo has come under fire for its rights record, with Human Rights Watch saying recently that at least 1,500 people - mostly ethnic Tamils living in the island's restive north and east - had "disappeared" between 2006 and 2007.
The New York-based rights group said Sri Lanka was one of the world's worst perpetrators of "disappearances" and abductions, and described the situation as a "national crisis."
Sri Lanka's cabinet last week approved a plan to enact laws to protect witnesses to crimes and to encourage them to testify in cases of abductions and disappearances.
International concern over the human rights situation in Sri Lanka has been mounting amid the government's escalating war against the Tamil Tiger rebels.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed since the Tigers launched their campaign in 1972 to carve out a separate Tamil homeland in the Sinhalese- majority island.
Fighting has stepped up since January, when Colombo formally pulled out of a six-year-old truce with the Tigers.

"Booby” traps, 145 explosive devices recovered & six terrorists killed

A soldier was reported injured during a confrontation in the KADDIMURAVIKULAM AREA, MANNAR on Sunday (30) morning around 9.50. While three LTTE terrorists including two females were killed during a confrontation on Sunday (30) between 9.00 and 10.45 in the morning in the VEDDAYANMURIPPU area, MANNAR.
A terrorist was also reported killed during an attack launched by Troops in the same area in the evening around 5.30 while another terrorist was also reported in another confrontation in the MALLIKATTIDAL area MANNAR on the same day (30) in the morning around 10.30.
During another attack by Troops a terrorist was also reported killed in the ADAMPAN area, MANNAR on Sunday (30) around 4.45 in the evening .
Meanwhile, In a search operation conduced by the Army on Sunday (30) in the afternoon around 12.50, a large quantity of an assortment of explosive devices and “booby” traps as given below meant to prevent advancing troops were recovered from the PARAYANAKULAM area, MANNAR.
It is significant to note that in the recent weeks Troops are recovering large quantities as well as a variety of locally designed LTTE anti- personnel mines and "booby” traps. These explosive devices have also been cunningly placed or concealed to result in heavy casualties which could indicate that the LTTE terrorists are experiencing depleting carders in their ranks due to heavy losses sustained by them.

Four terrorists killed & three injured in Vavuniya

A soldier was reported injured due to the explosion of an anti - personnel mine in the MADHU area while a terrorist was killed when the Army launched an attack in the VILAYATHIKULAM area, VAVUNIYA around 9.30 in the morning of Sunday (30).
A soldier was reported injured when a Improvised Explosive Device exploded in the PERIYAVILAYANKADUKULAM area, VAVUNIYA on Sunday (30) in the morning around 10.45. Meanwhile, on Sunday (30) afternoon around 1.50, two LTTE terrorists were killed and two others were reported severely injured when Troops attacked and completely destroyed a LTTE bunker in KALLIKULAM North area, VAVUNIYA.
One terrorist was also killed and another was injured during an attack launched by Troops in the PERIYAWALAYANKADDU area, VAVUNIYA around 2.30 in the afternoon according to LTTE communication intercepts while a soldier was injured during a confrontation with terrorists in the KIRUCHUDAN area, VAVUNIYA, on Sunday (30) in the evening around 4.45.

Move to postpone the Eastern PC Polls - Hakeem

The SLMC Leader, Rauff Hakeem charged that there was a move to postpone the Eastern Provincial Council Election by the government making the security issue as an excuse if the situation becomes unfavourable towards it.

SC orders release of Tiran’s money

The Supreme Court today ordered the release of Rs. 29 Million belonging to Tiran Alles which was frozen following government allegations that he raised money for the LTTE.
Suspect dies in police cell after taking poison A suspect who was kept at the Mount Lavinia police cell has committed suicide by taking poison last night. He has died on admission to Kalubowila hospital.

EPDP to go solo in East

EPDP led by Minister Douglas Devananda has taken a decision to go solo at the forthcoming Provincial Council elections in the East.

Another LTTE runway destroyed in Mullaitivu

Another LTTE runway located in west of Mullaitivu was bombed and destroyed by Air Force fighter jets this morning, the Media Center for National Security said.

Dhammika appointed Acting Secretary General

President Mahinda Rajapakse has appointed Dhammika Kitulgoda, a former Secretary General of Parliament to function as the Acting Secretary General, as Mrs. Priyani Wijesekara retired from the post today, the Presidential Secretariat sources said.

SL growth rate will increase this year

The UN Economic and Social Commission for the Asia Pacific region forecasts Sri Lanka’s economic growth rate will increase to seven percent this year.
This growth will stem due to increased efficiency in agricultural, industrial and services sectors. Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Studies Dr. Saman Kelegama says rising inflation has posed problems to a number of countries in the world.
Sri Lanka is also experiencing the difficult situation due to the rising inflation. Increasing fuel and food prices in the global market was the major reason for this situation. Dr. Kelegama expressed these views participating in launching of the UN Economic and Social Survey Report for the Asia Pacific Region.

Sri Lankan rebels say freed 22 child soldiers

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers Monday said they had released 22 child soldiers and disputed figures from the United Nations Children's Fund that the rebels still had hundreds of under-age fighters.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they were also trying to locate families of 20 children still within their ranks.
The guerrillas accused UNICEF, which lists several hundred children in LTTE ranks, of not updating its database.
The rebels said another 41 child soldiers remained within their ranks but could not be released because most of them did not have parents or guardians.
Over the last two decades, the Tigers have promised to free children from their rank and file, but they have been accused of failing to take concrete action.
There was no immediate comment from UNICEF to the Tigers' statement, but the agency's website said there were 1,428 outstanding cases of child recruitment by the rebels at the end of February 2008.
"Of these, 181 are under the age of 18, and 1,247 were recruited while under 18 but have now passed that age," UNICEF said.
UNICEF said there were another 235 outstanding cases of child soldier recruitment by a breakaway rebel faction, the Karuna group, which operates in the island's east and is believed to help government troops fight the Tigers.
"UNICEF estimates that its database only reflects a third of the actual number of children recruited," the UN agency said adding that it continuously checks its figures to ensure accuracy.
International rights groups have alleged the Sri Lankan government colludes with the Karuna group to recruit children to fight the Tamil Tigers.
Tens of thousands have died in over three decades of fighting in the ethnic conflict.

Government will not postpone EP polls

Sunil C. Perera in Colombo
Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella emphasises the government’s stance on holding Eastern Provincial Council Election remains unchanged.
The government has no intention to delay the election. Speaking at a media briefing held in Colombo today Minister Rambukwella reiterated the government would take every necessary action to hold the election free and fair.
It is the present government who gave the people of eastern province their supremacy by liberating the province from terrorism. He pointed out elections are being held to further safeguard the people’s supremacy. The local government election in Batticaloa was such a measure that was taken by the government. Speaking further Minister Rambukwella said the rumours spreading about the eastern provincial council election are false.

Joining the media briefing military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara disclosed two air raids that carried out to an air strip of LTTE at Mullative. The pilots have confirmed the air raids caused heavy damages to the LTTE.
The humanitarian operations in the Vavuniya, Mannar and Welioya areas are continuously carried out despite bad weather. The forward defence line of the LTTE at Adampan in Mannar and Periya-pandi-virichchan at Vavuniya has been captured by the army troops.

During this month 678 LTTE cadres have been killed from confrontations with the Army troops. Furthermore, 73 army troops have also paid their supreme sacrifice during this period. 316 troops have been injured. Speaking further the Brigadier added the Army had also recovered large number of weapons of the LTTE during this month.

End

Nominations will end on Thursday

Accepting nominations for the eastern provincial council election will be concluded by mid night on Thursday. The time period for Independent Groups to submit deposits for the election will be concluded by midnight on Wednesday.
Assistant Election Commissioners of the Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee said the renowned political parties would handover their nominations by Wednesday and Thursday.

Assistant Election Commissioner of Trincomalee district M.S.K. Bandara said 242 thousand persons are eligible to vote in the district. Assistant Election Commissioner of Ampara Lakshmenthra Thennakoon pointed out around 3,700 officers and 400 vehicles are required for the election activities in the district. The number of voters in the district exceeds 493 thousand. Furthermore, around 340 thousand persons are eligible to vote in the Batticaloa district. Assistant Election Commissioner of Batticaloa S. Sudhakaran says around five thousand officers are required for the election.

Speaking to media , representatives of number of renowned political parties disclosed nomination lists for the upcoming eastern provincial council election are now being compiled. The United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance said all the arrangements have been finalised for the handing over of nominations for the election. The number of candidates who will contest for the election was decided at a special discussion yesterday.

Meanwhile, United National Party said arrangements for the election of the party will be finalised today. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna has also finalised the number of candidates that will contest for the election.

After all the nominations are handed over the Elections Commissioner is due to announce the election date.
End

Government to woo Kaththankudi Muslims

 
A high-powered government delegation will visit the Kaththankudi Mosque Federation today in view of getting the support of Kaththankudi Muslims for the forthcoming general election.

Fishermen roughed up near Katchathivu

 

Fishermen were allegedly roughed up on mid-sea near Katchathivu by Sri Lankan Navy personnel early on Sunday.

Sri Lankan journalists urge Indian High Commission to get back the master tapes of 'Prabhakaran'

 


An umbrella media organization, comprising five organizations today urged Indian High Commission in Colombo to intervene to get back the master tapes of Sri Lankan film director Thushara Peiris's movie 'Prabhakaran' from the Gemini Studios in India.

The group in a letter to the Indian High Commissioner, Alok Prasad said, “We wish to register our disquiet about this incident and our concern here is with the principle, not the content of the film per se.”

Film Director Peiris was attacked in Chennai when he visited Gemini Studios last week by a group calling themselves the ‘Tamil Nadu Film Directors Association’.

“We believe that right to hold and express opinions are fundamental rights accepted by both our countries and enshrined in our respective constitutions. Making films or any other cultural production related to a social, an economic or political theme is to exercise this inviolable right. It is in this context that we believe the recent attack against Peiris is a violation of that right,” the release stated.

The five media organizations are Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Federation of Media Employees Trade Union, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Alliance and Free Media Movement.

Two terrorists killed in Muhamalai

 

A LTTE terrorist was killed in a confrontation in the afternoon around 12.30 in the MUHAMALAI area, JAFFNA on Saturday (29) while another terrorist was killed in the night around 10.30 on the same day in MUHAMALAI.

4 LTTE cadres killed in clashes - Mannar

 

Four LTTE terrorists were killed in clashes occurred at Thirukeshwaram in Mannar this morning, March 30, defence sources said.

Army snipers deployed in general area Thirukeshwaram in Mannar gunned down three LTTE terrorists this morning, March 30. The incidents took place around 9.10 a.m., defence sources said.

Meanwhile, troops launched an attack targeting a group of LTTE terrorists in the same area around 10.20 a.m. this morning, March 30. Ground troops confirmed that one terrorist was killed in this attack.

SLMC to contest on UNP ticket

The SLMC would contest the first ever election to the Eastern Provincial Council on the UNP ticket, well informed sources said.

They had reached an understanding on an agreement, the sources said. This would pave the way for the SLMC to propose a chief ministerial candidate, the sources said, asserting an agreement between the UNP and the SLMC was a forgone conclusion.

The sources claimed the recent talks to explore the possibility of all Muslim parties coming together to contest the elections on the UPFA ticket had been a farce. The UNP and SLMC had agreed to join hands almost immediately after the government called the election, the sources said.

The UNP-SLMC coalition would pit itself against the UPFA which has the backing of breakaway LTTE group TMVP.

Although the SLMC hadn’t announced its chief ministerial candidate as yet M. L. M. Hisbullah, formerly of the PA and the incumbent SLMC chief in the Batticaloa District is believed to be a leading candidate.

Hisbullah was believed to be one of key movers of the bid to strike a deal with the SLFP, the sources said.

Others said SLMC General Secretary M. T. Hasen Ali, MP, would quit his National List seat to lead the UNP list. Ali wasn’t available for comment yesterday as he was in the East.

A final decision is expected to be announced by Tuesday.

Government sources said they weren’t unduly worried about the UNP-SLMC coalition as Eastern Province Muslims were well represented in Parliament.

Fighter jets bombed another Sea Tiger base in Mullathivu

Fighter jets of the Air Force have pounded another Sea Tiger base in Mullathivu. The Media Center for National Security says the aerial attack was launched around 12.40 pm today targeting a sea tiger camp in Chilawatte in Ampil in the Mullathivu district. The pilots have confirmed their target was accurate.

Government initiated 12 mega development projects-MR

President Mahinda Rajapakse says the government has initiated 12 mega development projects without confining its activities only to defeat terrorism.
New job opportunities have been created while increasing the salaries and wages of employees. The president said the United National Party despite being well aware of this situation is attempting to disrupt humanitarian operations in the North indirectly supporting the terrorists. President Rajapakse expressed these views addressing the 18th General Assembly of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party held at Temple Trees this morning.
Certain groups undertaking foreign visits allege the government that it commits human rights violations. The president describes this behaviour of such groups as taking revenge on the general public to avenge their hatred towards him. Speaking further president Rajapakse said before he came into office the request of the public was to liberate the north and east from the terrorists. Now this request has been fulfilled.
The United National Party which boycotted the local polls in the eastern province is now attempting to win the provincial council elections with the support of the LTTE. The president stated that the people in the area will never forget the fact that the east was liberated by the present government. The government has fulfilled its responsibility to establish democracy in the area. President Rajapakse also pointed out the importance of strengthening the SLFP along with the government’s development programmes.
Speaking on the occasion general secretary of the SLFP Minister Maithreepala Sirisena said the government has initiated a broad programme to boost the local economy. SLFP Treasurer Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle recalled the support of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna during the last presidential polls and said the government is ready to counter any type of challenge that comes in its direction.
10 proposals were passed in the 18th SLFP General Assembly today. A large crowd gathered attended the event.

Troops recover 300 Anti- Personnel mines & large stock of ammunition

Three hundred (300) anti - personnel mines were recovered by Troops in a search operation conducted between 8.30 in the morning and 2.00 in the afternoon by the Army in the JANKAPURA area, WELIOYA on Saturday (29) while a soldier was also reported injured and a hand grenade was recovered in the morning around 11.20 on Saturday (29) in a confrontation in the same area.
Meanwhile in another confrontation with terrorists a soldier was killed in action in the same area in the evening around 6.30 the same day (29). Another soldier was also killed in a confrontation around 11.45 in the morning on Saturday (29). A soldier was also reported killed in action around 3.10 in the afternoon on Saturday (29) in the KIRIIBBANWEWA area, WELIOYA while two soldiers were reported injured during a confrontation with terrorists on the same day around 1.00 in the afternoon.
On the same day (29), four terrorists were also reported injured and 3400 rounds of live T56 rounds, 1100 MPMG live rounds and ten (10) hand grenades were recovered by Troops during a fierce confrontation with terrorist in the same area of KIRIIBANWEWA, WELIOYA in the afternoon around 12.45.

Troops recover Anti -personnel mines

Troops continuing search operations in the TRINCOAMLEE area recover ten (10) anti - personnel mines from the GALMITIYAWA area.

A senior broadcaster launches a website to support disabled and disadvantaged youth in SL

Sunil C. Perera in Sri Lanka

A senior broadcaster and a drama therapist Rohana Deva Perera launched his official website - http://www.thidoratheatre.org/ to assist local disabled and disadvantaged youth and to help them using Performing Arts as a therapeutic tool by respecting each and every individual and their contributions to the entirety while celebrating differences of all communities of Sri Lanka.

Speaking to media he explained the inception and concept of THIDORA dates back to 1987, with its new phase, now being implemented.

The original name of the project was Natya Silpa Shalika, which was initiated by a popular and veteran dramatist late Dhamma Jagoda. After his demise, Rohana Deva [Chairman, Thidora] succeeded as the director of the Natya Silpa Shalika. During this period an enthusiastic foreigner, Wolfgang Stange, Founder of AMICI Dance Theatre Company, London, fancied this project, mainly due to the services rendered, and focused the project towards the disabled in Sri Lanka, for which he mooted finances through Interlink Trust, London.
It would be of significant interest to note that some of the achievements of the disabled youth through this project in various activities including dramas such as “Rosa Kele’, ‘Kekiri’ and ‘Procession comes, comes and goes.’

They were produced during weekly based theatre workshops in and around Colombo. They also won a special award for a production based on ethnic conflict, “Palm and Coconut”, from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka. This project is the first ever integrated theatre introduced to the disabled in Sri Lanka. Participating youths’ keenness and enthusiasm of their parents during the project was boundless. We also utilized theatre arts as therapeutic tools to enhance their mental and physical abilities.
In 1998, Natya Silpa Shalika joined the Sunethra Bandaranaike Trust to form the Butterfly Theatre Company. Its first production “Butterflies Will Always Fly” was directed by Rohana Deva and Wolfgang Stange. In 1999, the duo successfully directed “Flowers Will Always Bloom” with performances in London, New Delhi and Brisbane, in addition to several shows in Sri Lanka. Thereafter, the project was reorganized as Sunera Foundation with a view to spreading the techniques and methodology towards other parts of Sri Lanka. Rohana Deva was the live-wire of the Foundation and a key player performing several roles as the Creative Director and Consultant.
Thidora-Theatre Institute for Disability Oriented Research and Advocacy is established to make optimum use of resources and leading a mission towards the concentrated goals and objectives of the Mission.
When workshops are conducted in rural areas it is envisaged to make a viable survey of disabled and disadvantaged talents on various aspects for development through the project, be it dance, drama, puppetry, music or art. In that backdrop, hostel facilities would be an essential input to help them concentrate on their higher studies. Plans are afoot under THIDORA to set up a mini theatre to conduct experimental activities along with hostel facilities to accommodate the disabled and disadvantaged. The mini-theatre and the hostel will be equipped with disable friendly modern facilities.
Parents of participants Ananda Siriwardana and Chithra Thebuwana [a member of the governing body of Thidora] have already donated a land and built a small auditorium for the initial work to achieve our goals.
To proceed with the aims and objectives of the Project with a future developmental sphere the numerous activities of ‘Thidora’, it is envisaged that donations and contributions from individuals and organizations keen in the rehabilitation of the innocent and the children of the God, a descent way of life.
THIDORA conducts on an on-going basis weekly workshops for Disabled and Disadvantaged and designing the teacher’s Manuel to work with Autistic Children.The institution also formulated a set of Practical Techniques for the Members of the Committee and Designing the Teachers’ Manuel to work with Autistic Children in Government Schools. The Manuel is being designed by the National Institute of Education of the Ministry of Education.It conducts training of Trainers Program for Teachers at the Ceylinco Sussex Autistic School. "We work as Resource Partner of “Eagle Samana” of Eagle Insurance to conduct awareness program for the care-takers of children with Special Needs, he said..
Coming from an area famous for its “kolam” and “kavi nadagam” forms of traditional folk theatre, Rohana was inspired by a love of drama from a very early age as a growing up child. Rohana was impressed by the strong links between drama and spirituality and the way that the performing arts can be used to touch people's souls. His passion for drama led him to study at Natya Shilpa Shalika, under theatre legend Dhamma Jagoda, and at the State Institute of Theatre Arts (SITA), where he received a Diploma in Drama. He later became the Director of Natya Shilpa Shalika.
Rohana received a Diploma in Special Education from the National Institute of Education, Sri Lanka. He has successfully completed an intensive workshop on Services for Children with Special Needs, Emphasis on Intellectual Disability & PPD-Autism at MCTC Training Centre, Israel.
Rohana's strengths initially was eminent in his early work in street theatre, which he learnt under Gamini Haththotuwagama. This later culminated in his work with Simon Nawagethwgama for UNICEF, where he used street theatre to spread public health messages to people living in shanties and slums in Colombo.
He is also an experienced Puppeteer and was a past Chairman of the Panel on Puppetry of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka. In 1987 he led a Puppetry Group from Sri Lanka to Amsterdam and latterly a Puppet Group to Pakistan in 2000.
In between theatre work, Rohana used his Diploma on Writer-ship & Communication from the University of Sri Jayawardenepura to good effect as a Creative Journalist and Broadcaster for the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Rohana's work took a big step forward when he first met Wolfgang Stange through his work with the German Cultural Institute. The two began to work on a series of collaborative workshops for young people with disabilities, implemented by the Natya Shilpa Shalika.
Rohana’s desire to extend his healing work right across the country led to him working with Sunethra Bandaranaike and forming Sunera Foundation. Rohana Deva has acted as Consultant to the Sunera in matters relating to mapping out its work plans, supervising and ensuring their successful implementation. With Wolfgang's emphasis on dance and Rohana's focus on drama, their collaboration laid the foundations for all of the work that went on in Sunera Foundation workshops.
After beginning to work with people with disabilities, Rohana was overwhelmed by the strength of their humanity and the genuine warmth of their response to dramatic techniques.
He has also conducted advanced workshops for teachers in Special Education in Sri Lanka as well as for leading organizations abroad, in the UK, Norway, Australia, Italy and Israel.
In 2005, Rohana was bestowed with the title ‘Kala Suri’ (Expert in Arts) by the Government of Sri Lanka for his tireless efforts to help young people, the disabled and the less fortunate to integrate into society through their performances in drama and theatre.
End

Doha bank plans to strengthen trade and financial ties with Sri Lanka

Sunil C. Perera in Colombo

Visiting leading banker R.Seetharaman –CEO of the Doha Bank plans to promote trade ties with Sri Lanka and said the bank’s main aim is to promote non banking activities in Sri Lanka.Speaking to media he said his bank wishes to invest in infrastructure development, invest funds in economically viable sectors and promote fast money transferring activities with the local banks. He said that Sri Lanka has an opportunity to tap capital surpluses of oil-rich Gulf countries like Qatar as well as export professional services for a booming construction industry there. "The aim of my visit is to promote bilateral economic activity between Sri Lanka and Qatar and other Gulf Co-operation Council states," Seetharaman said.
The visit was arranged by Sri Lanka's Chamber of Construction Industries with the aim of exploring business opportunities and creating awareness among its members of the opportunities available in the Gulf. Explaining current banking trends he said a million of Sri Lankans are now serving in the gulf countries and the Doha bank’s plan is to provide a fast money transferring project for them. At present a number of local banks are with us, he said.Mr.Seetharaman had discussions with few local banks on Saturday and met various entrepreneurs to promote bilateral trade and investment activities.“We know Middle East is now booming and the Gulf Countries need skilled labour in construction sector and other sectors. The Construction Chamber could assist local labours to obtain employments and earn more, he added.
There are opportunities for investment authorities in GCC states to invest their surplus funds in fast growing economies of Asia, especially when Western economies slowing down, he said.
Qatar, with the third largest gas reserves in the world, and having the highest per capita income in the world at 70,000 dollars, was well placed to both make investments in the island, as well as import Sri Lankan professional skills because of the construction boom there.
There is over a trillion dollars worth of pure construction projects in the region right now.
Dakshitha Thalgodapitiya, Secretary General of the Chamber of Construction Industries, said Seetharaman's visit was timely as Sri Lanka was looking at exporting construction related professional services contracting capacities to Qatar.
He said the Gulf banker was the focal point of FDI from GCC states to Sri Lanka with special reference to infrastructure development.
"Sri Lanka needs large scale FDI particularly because of inadequate public spending in infrastructure development," Thalgodapitiya said.
Mr. Seetharaman was conferred by Honourable Dominique de Villepin, Former Prime Minister of France, as the “Best CEO in Middle East Banking Industry 2008” by the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute at the 5th Leading CEO Summit in recognition of his valuable contributions to the Banking industry in the Middle East, held on 19th March 2008 in Dubai.
Mr. Seetharaman was also adjudged as the “Banker of the Year” at the 2007 Banker Middle East Industry awards in recognition of his valuable contributions to the Banking industry in the Middle East, held on 16th May 2007 in Doha. He also won a number of international awards .
End

12 Independent Groups have made their deposits -ECs in EP

Assistant Elections Commissioners of Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa say 12 Independent Groups have made their deposits by yesterday for the forthcoming provincial council elections in the eastern province.
Assistant Elections Commissioner of Batticaloa S. Sudhakaran sent no political party has so far submitted their nominations. Accepting of nominations will end at 12.00 noon on the 3rd of next month. The time period allocated to submit deposit for the local polls will conclude at 12.00 noon on April 2nd. The Elections Commissioner will officially announce the date for polling after receiving nomination papers.
Meanwhile preliminary arrangements for the upcoming Eastern Provincial Council elections are under way and accordingly the applications for postal votes are ready in accordance with the voters list of 2006. The election secretariat says that a large number of security forces personnel are expected to apply for postal votes.End

SL's first open air zoo will open this year

The construction work of the first phase of the Sri Lanka’s first ever open air zoo is to be completed within this year. It is located at Pinnawala in Rambukkana. The government together with Sabaragamuwa provincial council will invest 100 million rupees for the construction process this year. Speaking at a media briefing held at the office of the Pinnawala zoo minister Gamini Lokuge disclosed the zoo will comprise three zones.End