Sri Lanka Air Force raids terror training camp - Mankulam

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets pounded an LTTE training base located at Ampakaman area, 8 Km Northeast Mankulama junction around 6.15 this morning (July 1) .

According to Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, the targeted location was a training base for the LTTE members of specialized bands such as "air tigers" and others. He said the target was engaged with 8 fighter jets and the raid was successful.

Sri Lanka's GDP Growth Slows as Prices Curb Spending

By Anusha Ondaatjie

(Bloomberg) --Sri Lanka's economic growth slowed for the first time in a year in the first quarter as inflation running above 25 percent and escalating violence in the South Asian island's civil war damped spending.

Gross domestic product expanded 6.2 percent in the three months ended March 31 from a year earlier, compared with 7.6 percent in the fourth quarter, the Department of Census & Statistics said today. That was less than the median forecast of 6.4 percent in a Bloomberg News survey of 10 economists.

Spending by consumers and companies is weakening as the central bank holds interest rates at a six-year high to cool the fastest inflation in at least four years. Sri Lanka's economic outlook ``depends critically'' on an end to the island's 25-year civil war, according to the International Monetary Fund.

``Growth is slowing due to the impacts of the worsening security situation on business confidence and high inflation increasing costs for companies,'' said Vajira Premawardhana, head of research at Lanka Orix Securities Pvt. in Colombo.

The yield on the 7.5 percent bond due in March 2009 fell about 5 basis points to 18.4 percent at 11:50 a.m. Colombo time, according to Ceylinco Shriram Securities Ltd. The rupee was little changed at 107.7 to the dollar, according to Hatton National Bank Ltd.

`Significantly Higher'

Consumer prices in the capital Colombo rose 26.2 percent in May from a year earlier, after increasing 25 percent in April, on higher food and energy costs. Annual inflation, or the 12- month moving average increase in prices, jumped to 19.8 percent in May.

Sri Lanka's 2008 inflation rate is likely to be ``significantly higher'' than previous estimates as oil reaches records, the central bank said on May 26.

Inflation may slow to 14 percent by the end of this year, central bank Deputy Governor W.A. Wijewardena said on May 15. The central bank said in January it was targeting annual inflation of about 10 percent for 2008.

Policy makers in Sri Lanka, who have kept the benchmark repurchase rate unchanged at 10.5 percent for 16 straight meetings, may need to consider increasing the proportion of deposits that commercial lenders must place with it or let the currency appreciate to cool runaway inflation, James McCormack, head of Asia-Pacific sovereign ratings at Fitch Ratings, said April 10.

Commodity Exports

Growth may slow to 5.8 percent this year amid central bank measures to cool inflation, according to Fitch.

Sri Lanka's economic growth is expected to accelerate this year as rising government spending and commodities exports counter weakening consumer demand, the central bank said on April 8. Gross domestic product may expand 7 percent, at the lower end of the range estimated in November, and up from 6.8 percent last year, the bank said in its annual report.

The government on Jan. 16 formally ended its 2002 cease-fire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, saying the rebels had used the accord to rearm and prepare for further attacks. Sri Lanka is seeking $1.8 billion in aid and investment to help rebuild the eastern province captured from the rebels in July.

Services, which represent about 60 percent of the economy, expanded 6.4 percent, down from 7.4 percent in the previous period, the statistics bureau said.

Industry, which accounts for 30 percent of the economy, expanded 6 percent from 8.5 percent in the fourth quarter. Farm output, about 10 percent of GDP, grew 5.9 percent from 6.7 percent previously.

Victoria's Secret

Sri Lanka, the world's fourth-biggest tea producer, has benefited from rising demand for commodities and food from emerging economies as sales to the U.S. weaken.

The South Asian economy exported a record $1 billion worth of the commodity in 2007 on higher prices, and may earn more this year as violence disrupted supplies from Kenya, according to the Sri Lanka Tea Board.

Sri Lanka's overseas sales, mainly garments for brands such as Victoria's Secret and Gap, have become less vulnerable to a U.S. slowdown as the island has secured more European markets, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said in January.

Exports climbed 11.3 percent to $2.49 billion in the first four months of 2008, according to the central bank. The bank expects overseas shipments to increase 10 percent this year.

LOLC receives approval to mobilize foreign currency deposits

Lanka ORIX Finance Company Limited, a member of the LOLC Group received approval from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to mobilize foreign currency deposits, thereby becoming the first Finance Company in the history of financial services in Sri Lanka to be granted such an approval.

The LOLC group recorded an unprecedented growth in its performance during the immediately past financial year with a top-line growth of 50% and a bottom line growth of 21%, which is noteworthy, given the negative environmental pressures that prevailed during the financial year with high interest rates and inflation causing an increase in borrowing costs. The company also made a strategic investment in Commercial Leasing Company Limited with a view to increasing its scale of operations. Furthermore, the group is continuously increasing its reach to remote areas around the country through the Service Centers, which are being opened at the Lanka IOC Filling stations, consequent to the agreement signed with Lanka IOC.

The Group Managing Director/CEO of LOLC Kapila Jayawardena mentioned that LOLC is well placed to enter the foreign currency deposit mobilization market in terms of the strategically located global ORIX network, the widespread local branch network, and a significant percentage of ex-banking professionals, in employment at various senior and middle levels within the LOLC group. Furthermore, LOLC has a very advanced IT system which links all branches on-line real-time and a treasury management system which provides superior management information. Jayawardena further stated that they entered into an agreement with Western Union Money Transfer earlier on this year becoming an authorized agent, in order to be able to use this as a channel to remit foreign currency from the various overseas locations to savings accounts, which will be maintained with Lanka ORIX Finance Company Limited. The stability of the LOLC Group, the high standard of corporate governance and sophisticated risk management techniques adhered to by the group may have added some weight to our proposal to mobilize foreign currency deposits. Kapila Jayawardena said, "We will be able to offer extremely competitive interest rates, an exceptional service and more importantly a high level of stability to NRFC and RFC account holders. We are also looking at giving very attractive promotional offers to our clientele and are confident that we will be the preferred NRFC /RFC partner to many an investor." The LOLC Group is a financial services conglomerate in the country and offers a range of financial solutions such as Insurance, Fixed Deposits & Savings, Factoring & Working Capital, Leasing, Fleet Management, Agro & Micro Finance, Pawning, Stock Brokering, Islamic Finance, and also non-financial solutions such as IT, Project Development, Real Estate and Forestry.

India to train Lankan troops

India is throwing open the doors of its different military institutions to train Sri Lankan soldiers. The Times of India says over 500 officers and other ranks will receive training in institutions ranging from Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare to specialised naval courses in gunnery, navigation, communication and anti-submarine warfare.

Unions reject Govt. offer, general strike looms...

The extra allowance of Rs. 1,000 offered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to public servants on Sunday was rejected by a majority of trade unions representing almost the entire public sector as the amount was insufficient and nowhere near what they expected, union leaders said.

The National Trade Union Centre – an alliance of 366 private and public sector trade unions said the offer of Rs. 1,000 was a poor consolation when the demand was for a monthly increase of Rs. 5,000.

“The NTUC’s demand for a minimum pay increase of Rs. 5,000 is based on the cost of living index, which had increased by 2,430 points since the last pay rise in 2006. As such the offer of Rs. 1,000 hardly meets the expectations of public servants who are struggling to make ends meet under difficult conditions,” its president and JVP front-liner K.D. Lalkantha said.

In a letter to President Rajapaksa rejecting the offer of Rs. 1,000, Mr. Lalkantha said the one-day strike on July 10 would be held as planned if the government failed to increase the public servant’s monthly salary by Rs. 5,000.

Health Service Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) – an alliance of 55 trade unions said the membership rejected the Rs. 1000 increase offered by President Rajapaksa as it was insufficient.

“Our main concern is to have our salary anomalies arising from the 6/2006 circular rectified. The anomaly has been further aggravated after the recent 100 per cent salary increase granted to doctors. The Treasury has not allocated necessary funds to service this salary increase and as such the increment is being funded by monies allocated for recurrent expenditure leading to a cut in amounts allocated for health employees’ overtime,” HSTUA Secretary Ravi Kumudesh said.

He said the HSTUA too would go ahead with the planned July 10 token strike.

All Ceylon Railway Employees General Trade Union Secretary Sumathipala Manawadu said the government could not please railway employees in the manner kids were kept quiet by giving them candy.

“Since 2006, the cost of living has increased by 300 per cent and to off set this the government is offering an extra allowance Rs. 1000.

Ceylon Teachers Service Union Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said the membership flatly rejected the offer of Rs. 1000.

“We have a salary anomaly which is going on unresolved for 11 years. This has resulted in the Teachers’ salaries being cut by between Rs. 2,000 and 3,000 a month. Hence, no teacher can accept this increase of Rs. 1,000. We wholeheartedly support the proposed July 10 token strike and further trade union action after that if necessary to win our demands,” Mr. Jayasinghe said.

Postal and Telecommunication Officers Union Secretary K.S. Weerasekara said the membership was not satisfied with the President’s offer.

“We are demanding a salary increase of Rs. 8,000 a month, a cost of living allowance at the rate of Rs. 2.50 for each point increase and a reduction in the railway season ticket fare which is increased by 400%,” he said.

SC bars police from seeking bank account details

Except of suspected subversives by Chitra WeerarathneThe Supreme Court yesterday directed the Police Department to refrain from seeking details of a person’s bank account, unless that particular person or a family member was subjected to a specific investigation in respect of cordon and search operations in Colombo and the suburbs.
Any breach of this direction by any Police officer should be brought to the notice of the Supreme Court by the harassed party. The Court made the order after the Ceylon Workers’ Congress complained that the Police had been calling for a declaration of bank accounts held by certain persons whose premises had been searched by Police personnel.

The Court also directed the Police that in keeping persons under detention the time limits specified in Emergency Regulations should not be exceeded

M. A. Sumanthiran appeared for the complainants.

The Additional Solicitor General Palitha Fernando PC appeared for the Attorney General.

The Bench comprised the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justice N. G. Amaratunga and Justice K. Siripavan.

India, Lanka to conclude CEPA talks

India and Sri Lanka are all set to conclude their discussions on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by July 12. However, owing to the sensitivities of industries in both the countries, so far there has been no agreement on proposals regarding reduction of their respective negative list (items not subjected to tariff reduction commitments). In the final round talks, to be held in Colombo from July 9 to July 12, both sides would also finalise provisions regarding services and investment that form part of CEPA other than the trade in goods section.
Both sides have held more than 12 rounds of talks so far since February 2005. The two countries, had in March this year, finished the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement on trade in goods inked in March 2000. Though New Delhi and Colombo had recently asked industry bodies to respond to suggestions on a possible reduction of negative list to enhance bilateral trade and expand the scope of FTA, the response has been discouraging, a senior government official said, adding that they have decided to go ahead with the current negative list. Both sides are targeting to achieve a bilateral trade of $5 billion by 2010.

India-Sri Lanka trade in 2006-07 was $2.72 billion, marginally up from the previous fiscal’s $2.6 billion. Bulk of Indian export to Sri Lanka includes petroleum products and transport equipments (almost 50% of the total), while primary and semi-finished iron and steel is also a fast growing export item. Among the significant import items are coffee, tea, edible oil, non-ferrous metal imports, spices and electrical machinery.

At present, in its effective negative list India has 429 items comprising products from sectors like chemicals, plastics, small-scale industry products, textiles and edible oils. Apart from these items, India has placed 598 other items (all from the textile sector) where a 25% duty concession has been given, making them comparatively easier to trade in. On the other hand, Sri Lanka has kept 1,180 items in its negative list comprising mostly products from the agriculture, automobiles and capital goods sectors.

In the services side, both countries have exchanged a schedule of commitment to give greater market access to each other’s services industry and have agreed to make the pact WTO-plus. On its part, Sri Lanka had earlier agreed to give a revised commitment. Sri Lanka’s commitment is an offer to open services sectors like financial services, IT, maritime, audio-visual and some segments of health services to Indian industry. India has also offered for greater access to services of interest to Sri Lanka, comprising 110 sub-sectors including IT, convention, audio-visual, tourism (including hotels, travel and tour agents), maritime (including cargo-handling and customs clearance) and air transport.

However, as per the schedule of commitments on investments, companies can carry out services operations in the other country following the respective FDI guidelines. "The investment agreement is only to give protection post-investment," an official said.

Direct flights between Sri Lanka-Nepal essential

Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said on Thursday that the absence of direct flights between Sri Lanka and Nepal was the biggest impediment to bilateral tourism.

He was speaking at a seminar, Windows on Nepal, in Colombo.

"The two governments should seriously consider the resumption of flights between the two countries if we are to promote their tourism interests," he said.

Today tourists visiting the two countries have to fly in circuitous routes such as Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata or Doha wasting valuable time and money, he said.

The Minister said that both countries were blessed with tourist attractions. Nepal had the breathtaking mountains and Sri Lanka the sun kissed beaches, he said.

Dr. Amunugama reminiscing the days he had worked as a UNadvisor said there were Westerners who used to spend a couple of months in Nepal visiting places of tourist interests such as Kathmandu and Pokhara and to take the direct flight to Colombo from Kathmandu and to visit the beaches in Hikkaduwa and Bentota.

"The flights were full of such tourists who were mainly hippies and the plane smelt of grass," he said in lighter vein.

Today some of them are holding top positions in their respective countries and would have fond memories of the good old days, he said.

As much as the two countries were blessed with many gifts of nature , they also had their share of problems, he said.

"Sri Lanka is saddled with the civil war and Nepal also has experienced a similar problem. But I am rely happy to note that Nepal has entered the democratic process," after going through a bad period," he added. There were opportunities to promote bilateral trade, he said.

Politically ruined parties need press for survival - JVP

Parties that are politically ruined would always seek the support of newspapers for their survival, JVP spokesman Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath said yesterday (30).
Commenting on the alleged attack on JVP rebel group parliamentarian Piyasiri Wijenaike, he said that there was a compliant made and an investigation was in progress.

The newly formed National Freedom Front member and Kalutara District JVP parliamentarian Piyasiri Wijenayake, who was allegedly attacked on Sunday had accused the JVP Central Committee of planning attacks and issuing death threats to NFF members.

He said that on Sunday evening around 6.00 p.m. when he was shopping at the Horana town when the JVP District Secretary and Divisional Secretary started using abusive language and assaulting him.

He said due to the intervention of the MSD bodyguards the attack was less severe. Prior to the attack he saw a JVP Central Committee member in the vicinity, he said.

The attackers grabbed his bag containing Rs. 200,000 from his vehicle. It was money given to him for the party’s work. "I have lodged a complaint with the Horana Police on the attack and the lost bag," he said.

On Sunday morning too some JVP members had come close to his residence and threatened him demanding that he give up engaging in the activities of FNN, he said.

Wijenayake said that constant death threats issued to the FNN membership were a clear indication that the JVP had a weak leadership.

A spokeswoman of the Horana Police Crime Division said that they had recorded a statement about two political groups clashing over a poster campaign which resulted in Wijenayake being attacked and investigations were continuing.

Community helps homeless Lankans

DOHA • Sri Lankans who became homeless due to the fire that burnt down their dwellings and killed six of their colleagues have found a permanent accommodation in the Muntazah area, The Peninsula learned yesterday.

The Sri Lankan Community Benevolent Fund (SLCBF), the charity arm of the Sri Lankan Coordinating Committee (SLCC) Qatar, has shouldered the first month's rent of QR11, 500 enabling the fire victims to move into the flat yesterday night. The SLCC and SLCBF officials together with the fire victims worked tirelessly for 11 days looking for a suitable flat or villa to permanently accommodate them.

Meanwhile, assistance from the community towards the affected persons is still coming in the form of cooked meals, dry rations and other basic needs, said SLCC President Lenny Cramer. Cramer lauded the community for its support to the SLCC toward assisting the affected persons and thanked a community member who provided temporary accommodation to the affected persons in his villa in Abu Hamour. SLCBF Vice-President Tennison Silva, SLCBF Treasurer Dammika Jayasena, SLCC General Secretary Ruwan Lankeshwara, SLCC Chief Coordinator Nimal Tudewatte, Sri Lanka Business Council (SLBC) General Secretary Jayantha Nanayakkara and Past President of SLCC Lokitha Karavita played major role in helping the affected persons, Cramer said.

IAF choppers to guard PM in Colombo

Armed helicopters of the Indian Air Force, bullet-proof vehicles and members of the highly-trained special protection group (SPG) would accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he reaches Colombo for the 15th SAARC summit in August.

Confirming this, chief of the Sri Lankan armed forces Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka said on Monday that Indian helicopters would be deployed during the meeting of the heads of states on August 2 and 3, the last two days of the summit. “Few of the Indian helicopters will come (to Colombo) to assist the air force (Sri Lankan) to provide protection during the summit. No chances can be taken,” Fonseka said.

The weeklong event begins on July 27. It was further learnt that bullet-proof vehicles would be flown in from India for the Prime Minister during his stay in Colombo. Fonseka, who was interacting with Colombo-based foreign correspondents on Monday, added that the Indian PM will bring his own security as per protocol.

Unconfirmed media reports added that the Indian Navy would have presence in Sri Lankan waters to avert any LTTE attack from the sea. And that India would position radars in Colombo to thwart any air attack.

“We know what the threat is. We are ready to face the threat,” Fonseka said referring to the possible attempts by the LTTE to jeopardise the summit. He added that there would be no shortage of troops during the summit and a large number of personnel from the army, air force and navy would be deployed to throw several layers of protection around the heads of states and delegates.

Answering a question about Sri Lanka purchasing weapons from India, Fonseka said India should be ready to sell in the first place. “If anybody is ready to sell, we will buy,” he said. Sri Lanka is currently purchasing a large chunk of its arms and ammunition from China and Pakistan. “India is our nearest neighbour. If we could buy from India, we don't need to buy from anywhere else,” Fonseka said. He added that India has its own political sensitivities. “The LTTE after all comprises Tamil terrorists. India has to take a realistic view,” he said.

At the same time, Fonseka added that India was helping Sri Lanka in many ways.

FMM condemns assault on Namal Perera

The Free Media Movement (FMM) is shocked and outraged at the brutal assault of former TNL News Director and currently Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) employee Namal Perera and a friend this evening (Monday, 30th June 2008). Mr. Perera and his friend, Mr. Mahendra Ratnaweera, a Sri Lankan national working at the British High Commission in Colombo, were driving between Narahenpita and Kirulapone at around 06:00 p.m. when they were waylaid. The assault took place on the busy highway, in the vicinity of an army installation, the government information department and the security checkpoint at the Narahenpita bridge. The assaulters attempted to abduct Mr. Perera, but were resisted, and both Mr. Perera and his friend were badly beaten in the ensuing fracas. They are currently receiving treatment at the Apollo hospital. The potential abductors had clearly shouted that it was Mr. Namal Perera they were seeking.

FMM notes that at the time of the assault, the SLPI was contemplating legal action against the state-controlled Dinamina newspaper for reporting that the SLPI had sent members of the LTTE on a foreign tour to Denmark on the pretext that they were journalists (see FMM Statement of 27th June 2008).

This latest incident is sadly typical of the rampant assault on democracy and the freedom of expression that is taking place in Sri Lanka today. State-controlled media and government ministry websites are in the habit of baselessly demonising journalists and media professionals as supporters of the LTTE, and acts of physical harm are being committed with total impunity. The complete contempt for democratic freedom, fundamental human rights, and the rule of law that is demonstrated in incidents such as these, openly condoned by the highest government officials at various times, engenders no confidence that the dark climate of fear and intimidation shrouding media freedom in Sri Lanka today is being addressed by the government effectively or sincerely.

We will be closely monitoring the actions taken by the government to bring the perpetrators to justice in this latest criminal act, in particular the Cabinet Sub-Committee under the Chairmanship of Minister Sarath Amunugama, and will be treating this case as the litmus test of its effectiveness.

FMM calls upon all citizens of Sri Lanka to regard these revolting acts of cowardly violence against journalists as an assault on democracy and the human rights of all Sri Lankans. FMM takes this distressing opportunity of the assault on Namal Perera and Mahendra Ratnaweera to unreservedly condemn, once again, the continuing attacks in various forms against independent media and to call for their immediate end.

Sri Lanka & India’s Insecurity?

by Shenali Waduge
Is India insecure by nature or should India have reasons to be insecure even after expansions in its military, diplomatic & economic energies far beyond Nehru’s Non-Aligned times? It is this aspect of insecurity that necessitates a closer review of India’s role in Sri Lanka. Does India need to be insecure of Sri Lanka? Or is it that India wishes to see Sri Lanka wriggling with “uncertainties” that will eternally leave a “vulnerable” country to which India can always remain bound to as “big brother” so that no other nation can or should touch (an indirect silent colony of India)? Is suspicion aroused purely because India sees itself engulfed in the bosom of western diplomacy over the more lack-luster Eastern ensemble? Possibly India may not be aware of exactly what is making India insecure…but insecure it certainly is.



The risk to India’s security vis a vis the LTTE factor must be answered not by Sri Lanka but by India alone for it cannot shirk its responsibility for arming, training, equipping & supporting the LTTE. Turning a rebel group with a xenophobic leader marshalling brainwashed cadres into an international terrorist network with side revenues coming from drugs, narcotics, human smuggling, scams & distortion, India cannot whine over LTTE threats on Indian territory….least of all when the leaders of Tamil Nadu are tolerant of LTTE presence in their state & use the “Tamil” factor as a manipulative tool against India’s Central Government no sooner elections come into focus. India should first fix the problem back home before interfering into the affairs of another country.



Understandably the geo-political importance of Sri Lanka has been oft quoted as being the primary source for any country to be involved in Sri Lanka. Notwithstanding this important geographical factor, there are obviously more players to contend with, more problems bigger than regional supremacy & India’s role in Sri Lanka cannot be assessed without considering other players & the other reasons for the interests of those players in Sri Lanka. It is indeed a very complicated scenario.



Political ambitions or Economic ambitions

It is apparent that India’s “ambitiousness” is at the center of countries alluring India’s allegiance. The path India is taking is a far cry from the status quo of post-independence, policy of non-alignment & a force that stood out from other countries who also experienced decolonization.



It was Sri Lanka’s closeness with the US that spearheaded India’s insecurity at a time when India took a pro-East policy. Now with the dependence on military power India needs to seek US assistance. Alongside this remains a need to be recognized as a global super power – for a large country with a booming economy India still has not been accepted into the UN Security Council. The US-Sino ties is unlikely to be jeopardized by any allegiance with India it is most likely that the nuclear deal is to purely balance the scales of power in the Asian region. But India’s hob nobbing with the Western world has increased its insecurity & the US is seeking mileage of this. We can be certain that if India has been inspired to entertain any ambition & ambitious intentions….the region is doomed to see plenty of turmoil internally & externally within the region.

As a threesome we can but hesitate to wonder what is likely to take place in a region domineering with weapons. The competition between China & India is undeniable interchanging their supremacy economically. If China is leading…we can be certain that India wants to take over or at least catch up. We must also note the presence of Russia & Japan.

Do we see a US-inspired ambitious India roving to take supremacy?



For the US, it would be in its best interest to have India & China at loggerheads. The important question that China & India need to answer is whether the two wish to follow a route of India plus China or India against China. This is not to imply that India & China together should work against the US because let us not forget the pros & cons of globalization & that China does eventually have to depend on US economically…. the recent claims on Chinese toys falling below standards & being removed from shelves also signals that US is always ready to change & challenge any status quo. The US too depends on China. Presently the US is in a sensitive situation with their home economy being affected drastically the US supremacy is being challenged without a doubt.



Whether the decision to align with US & sign a nuclear deal (one recalls the embargo on India following nuclear tests in 1998) was taken pragmatically or ideologically is unknown but it has brought trade improvements, foreign direct investments etc. Walmart, Tesco, Carrefour are all planning to enter India & India is likely to see many more drastic changes. India is now the largest trading partner in the EU accounting for 25% of both India’s imports & exports. Microsoft’s only overseas facility is in Hyderabad India. Domestic India however feels otherwise & we may possibly see a change in government. Could this be an alignment trap? As Brajesh Mishra put it: "One either changes the policy to suit the environment or changes the environment to suit the policy. The nuclear tests helped us change the environment."



India’s modernization plans have had disastrous affects on rural India – more than 10,000 farmers have committed suicide in 2005 unable to meet debts, more than 50% children are malnourished, 40% can neither read or write. India ranks 126th on the UN Human Development index, well below China in 81st place. There is greater divide between the upper classes – 5-6% of the population (60-70 million people) is almost in par with the living standards of Europe. An estimated 350-400 million out of its 1 billion inhabitants are still below the poverty line.



But, India cannot & should not forget it is an Asian country – it is the second largest demographically & geographically.



The other players

India does have conflicts with its neighbors – China continues to claim part of Arunachal Pradesh (North East India) while India claims Aksai Chin (North West). India recognizes China’s sovereignty over Tibet since 2003 though the US & China are at loggerheads regarding Tibet. The Kashmir issue between Pakistan & India has been dragging far too long marked by China’s unconditional support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. Then there is the Maoist (Naxalite) problem in Nepal, uncertainties in Bangladesh & the problems in Sri Lanka



China is also establishing its presence with the construction of a deep sea port in Gwadar, Pakistan near the Persian Gulf, funding Mynamar navy (Southeast of India) funding the development of the Hambantota harbor in Sri Lanka…the Iran-India pipeline & Pakistan’s role all these raise the question of encirclement & obviously draws India’s suspicion.



India has always viewed Pakistan as being the epicenter of terrorism. India is of the opinion that Al-Qaeda could not have become such a potent force if not for the assistance of Pakistan. India wishes the international community to correctly analyze the situation in Pakistan …it sounds very much like what the Sri Lankan people are asking of the international community especially India in relation to the LTTE. If the Al-Qaeda & Taliban are knowingly using Pakistan then this is exactly what the LTTE is doing in Tamil Nadu. Yet, the US is hardly likely to allow India to dictate its policy of Pakistan.



India is also concerned about stability in Central Asia – a region that has begun to figure significantly in view of its geo-political & geo-economic interest following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The countries of Central Asia face the menace of Islamic fundamentalism & terrorism which is the focus of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (a force to match NATO) which occasions both Pakistan & Afghanistan to function as “moderate” instead of “fundamental”.



The role of Russia should also not be forgotten. India does have technical & military cooperations with Russia – India buying most of Russia’s weapons. One can see how the energy factor becomes another source of importance where Russian- Indo relations are concerned.



If one gives the CIA credit for a possible alliance between India, China & the US then the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which forges alliances between China, Russia, & India alongside Pakistan & Iran is showing its face & influence in the region.



This leads us back home in Sri Lanka to wonder what significance we have for India.



Sri Lanka

For Sri Lanka it is best to be alert at all times & remember at all times that there are no permanent friends but permanent interests. Gone are the days that anyone or any country for that matter does anything “free” without expecting or asking for something in return!



The visit of a top Indian delegation comprising M K Narayan (National Security Advisor), Shri Vijay Singh (Defense Secretary) & Shivsankar Menon (Foreign Secretary) has given rise to many speculations as to the reasons for their visit – it was certainly not to discuss SAARC security arrangements. For in arming, training, supporting & financing the LTTE India is in a better position to ensure its Premier is unharmed ….but then India should also remember that the LTTE eliminated another prime minister on Indian soil in 1991. India should not have to worry about the LTTE at all since India has oft times then not made sure that the Sri Lanka security forces does not capture or eliminate LTTE leadership…the Vaddamarachchi operation & possibly the winding up operation in Mullaitivu is a case in point. In any case, the Sri Lankan people are highly unlikely to buy the security risk factor for the Indian premier as any reason for the 3 star visit ahead of the SAARC summit. If security is the risk shouldn’t India be concerned that the LTTE & Tamil Nadu leaders may join together & demand separation from India to make it a greater Eelam?



Doubting India

India has given no reason for Sri Lanka not to doubt its intentions & even a cordial visit is likely to be construed as a move to undermine the territorial integrity of the country. Presently we hear of the officials “instructing” Sri Lanka not to purchase military weapons without explicit approvals from India, not to allow any Pakistani intelligence personnel into Sri Lanka without clearance from India….is Sri Lanka a sovereign nation or not? Is this the sort of relationship that India wishes to nurture…especially when there are many who recall the times of sound cultural ties between India & Sri Lanka?



If the people of Sri Lanka do in any way doubt & question India’s role in Sri Lanka, India really has only itself to blame. Indira Gandhi saw to it that a rebel entity in Sri Lanka was created to force Sri Lanka to be “dependent” on India….”eternally” …even now India demands that Sri Lanka buys arms from only India. If creating a rebel group was not enough India forced consent to have its peace keepers in Sri Lanka – men who were clueless about what they came to do & ended up with the deaths of over 2000 IPKF soldiers, Sri Lankan women raped, shooting & killing the innocent ….finally to be asked by the Sri Lankan Government & surprisingly even the rebels to leave. Yet to be fair by the IPKF they did surround Prabakaran but instructions from Delhi were to release him. It was never investigated who gave the instructions & why? Would India wish to make this same mistake despite the hyped up calls for a new terminology in UN circles called “military intervention”? The IPKF troops in Sri Lanka & their failure in just under 2 years of presence does provide Sri Lanka to boldly denounce any calls for military intervention on the grounds that it proved a futile exercise leaving not only deaths of innocent Sri Lankan civilians but a large number of deaths to the peace troopers….the rebels remained unarmed & eventually ended up running off with the weapons of the peace keepers! Military intervention for Sri Lanka would be like jumping from the stove to the fire!

The Indians were also responsible for the Provincial Council system a devolution package hurriedly passed through with the 13th amendment & Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court declaring a referendum was not necessary. Can we still challenge this decision in the light of its importance being denied to the people of the country???

The next “intervention” by India incidentally or rather evidently came through an India-approved Norway role as peace facilitators invited by the then President Kumaratunga….making many to wonder who else was on RAW payrolls! Dr. Subramaniam Swamy registered a case against Sonia Gandhi claiming she is on KGB payroll & smuggling ancient antiques out of India. Even Japan which volunteered to facilitate in the peace process was specifically told by India to direct their support only by way of aid. Thus, we can see that the Norway-US connection & the India connection does raise a multitude of interest as to what they all “proposed” to do with regard to Sri Lanka & whether the Government of Sri Lanka had any “say” in this scenario at all – were our soldiers to be treated as mere pawns to a larger & greater plan? It does make us wonder how that penniless-rebel movement that doctrinated itself on the “Sinhala discrimination” tag soon copied Norway’s’ tag of “self-determination” & the right to a separate state & rose to greater fete than even the Al Qaeda.



India is concerned about the movements & actions of the present Government - the purported closeness which Sri Lanka is portrayed as having with China. India not only has to worry about China, Pakistan & the US, in all probability India must be concerned about the Rajapakse tactics on courting Iran which is likely to embark into retail oil sector that the Indian Oil Corporation presently occupies, Saudi Arabia to balance the relationship with Iran & Malaysia which has become the largest foreign investor in Sri Lanka. All these “developments” are likely to shrink India’s influence over Sri Lanka. However, let us hope that Sri Lanka does not end up another Myanmar.



At a time when international terrorism is being presented as the most important problem facing the international community & one to be tackled on a priority basis & dealt with even if these terrors are pro-western or anti-western, pro-eastern or anti-eastern. Yet there certainly are double standards. Should terrorism not exist in only western climes? Is it OK for terrorism to prevail in nations such as ours?

Despite it all why does Sri Lanka continue to receive mixed signals from India?



If the Indian Central Government continues to dance to the tune of the Tamil Nadu Government it purely showcases the ease with which votes can be manipulated. This aspect must have been taken into consideration by the Bush administration to push through the nuclear deal while Congress was in power. Who would have thought the Congress Government whose Chairperson was made widow as a result of the LTTE would opt for power over the annihilation of a group that was fostered by her mother-in-law?

Some problems offer mandate for India’s interference & the Tamil’s fleeing to Tamil Nadu gives room for the Indian Government to use as an excuse to pressure Sri Lanka & force its will upon our nation.

The slip of the tongue by McCain’s advisor’s that another 9/11 type attack would help McCain become the next President served only to confirm theories that emerged that the Bush administration was well aware of the attacks but decided to use it as a tool to bolster the declining internal support of Bush. Thus there will come a day when India’s own follies & misadventures will also emerge.

So what does India really want?

Clearly India does not want to see a “divided” Sri Lanka. The arrival of the three high-profile Indian officials with elections in the air was not to appease the Sri Lankan Tamils but to appease the Tamil Nadu leaders who have been of late breathing down the Central Government to take action against the GOSL. The significance of R. Sampathan’s comment that the Sri Lankan Tamils did not get anything despite the Indian’s getting Trincomalee is important in this context. Sampanthan seems to be confused by the “lease” element associated with the Trincomalee harbor.

Why should India be cautious of the LTTE? When India has & still provides safe haven for LTTErs fleeing from the North of Sri Lanka & supplies still very much coming in from Tamil Nadu. A few arrests to appease diplomatic ties is hardly likely to change the status quo. There is a saying that what goes round comes round & India’s manipulations are not likely to run its course. There is bound to come a time when India will soon face the very problems they helped create.

Currently, “those supporting” the LTTE are facing a crisis…with the ongoing military successes the bargaining power of the LTTE certainly diminishes & the non-LTTE Tamils are likely to raise the need for a negotiated political settlement before the GOSL takes the upper hand – this is where people like Mr. Anandasangaree will come into action. Are we to presume that the man who took on a nation & saddled many other nations to support his endeavor is likely to see a humiliating defeat? Most unlikely, are we then to presume that these “support bases” may “interfere” again & ensure that he is turned into a “Idi Amin” ….most likely! With a death penalty over the LTTE leader’s head, India may provide safe passage only but we can wonder which nation is likely to provide “safe haven” for this formidable leader?

If the much hyped security factor is of significance for India’s territorial integrity they should have dealt with the LTTE & the Tamil Nadu leaders. Prabakaran guilty of the death of Rajiv Gandhi is a proclaimed offender – Tamil Nadu leaders can be questioned by the state for acquiescence & support of the LTTE. With the SAARC summit to be hosted by Sri Lanka later on in the month, is it more embarrassing to have Sri Lanka’s integrity humiliated by the presence of 3000 Indian military personnel, armed trucks, Sri Lanka under radar surveillance, the Indian air force guarding the skies of Colombo just for a person’s whose very portfolio is likely to be in jeopardy following the looming elections to be held in India or to politely ask the Indian Premier to remain at home where he is bound to be “safe” – for a terrorist unit to have gone to India & masterminded the attack on Rajiv Gandhi it is likely to be peanuts to undertake another assassination if they so desired. India may well be reminded of the fact that the powerful & highly controversial Iranian President was also in Sri Lanka recently & there was no fuss by the Iranians over security matters. The presence of such a large contingent of Indians is hardly likely to change anything other than showing Sri Lanka & its Government that India is able to call the shots at any time….SAARC hasn’t been a fruitful endeavor so why should Sri Lanka have to be humiliated with foreign presence?

But India can look at options – it is now nuclear enabled, it has a standing army & it is cultivating bilateral & multilateral relations with neighbors & allies.



To Madeleine Albright, the US was the world’s “indispensable nation”. To Sri Lanka, India becomes an “unavoidable nation”.



Tamil Nadu has been used as a base to not only supply but also provide shelter to the LTTE for its attacks on Sri Lanka. Has India every thought that there may come a time if the LTTE is allowed to legitimize their struggle that the North of Sri Lanka may be used as a safe haven for terror tactics to take place in India & for Tamil Nadu to relaunch the “We Tamil” slogan which was squashed by the RAW before it took root. Tamil Nadu is the real homeland of the 400 million Tamils of the world & there real desire for a separate homeland is likely to start in Tamil Nadu. Prabakaran is likely to be just a tool in that exercise much like the case of Ben Bella of Algeria… the greater Eelaam may just take place with or without Prabakaran.

It is really poignant for India to first examine its geographical positioning…its strength & most of all the need to nurture good ties instead of making the nations that it surrounds hostile to it. This is where real supremacy comes about. The “insecurity” factor is a factor that is created in the ‘mind” of the Indian Governments because of their “selfish” & “self-centered” actions…no wonder it has not been accepted as a global power…India certainly has a lot to mature.

While it may be easy to blame foreign nations it is also prudent for the past & present Governments to take accountability for their actions that have made Sri Lanka a stooge on International platforms & be humiliated into accepting actions as a result of the wrong policy decisions they have taken.

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time,but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.

North governor Victor Perera

Outgoing IGP Victor Perera will be appointed as the governor of the Northern Province from Wednesday. The IGP retired from service today.

New IGP assumes duties tomorrow

Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickremaratne will assume duties as the new Inspector General of Police on July 1, taking over the reins from IGP Victor Perera who retires tomorrow.

DIG Wickremaratne completed his education at Thurstan College and later obtained an Honours Degree in Public Administration from Sri Jayawardenepura University in 1973. He received his Post Graduate Diploma Certificate in Criminology from Sri Jayewardenepura University recently.

Mr. Wickremaratne joined the police Force in 1974 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and was promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police in 1983. He was promoted as a Senior SP in 1989 and Deputy Inspector General of Police in 1993.

Wickremaratne is a member of the National Dangerous Drug Control Board, Director National Child Protection Authority, Council Member of the International Police Organisation, Secretary and the President of the Police Savings Association.

He was also the President of the Sri Lanka Amateur Kabadi Federation in 2001 and Chairman of the Police Kabadi Tournament Committee since year 2000.

Troops consolidating their hold in Wanni; 22 terrorists killed in yesterday's clashes

Finalized military reports received yesterday (June 30) from the battlefronts indicate that 22 terrorists were killed and over 23 injured as troops further consolidated their new positions in the Wanni theater. Also, 2 soldiers were killed, one reported missing and 13 suffered injuries during these clashes.

On the Vavuniya front, troops further pushed forward their defence in the Periyamadhu area and confirmed 3 terrorists killed and 3 others injured in the effort. Also, troops removed 2 improvised bombs from the same area.

Elsewhere, troops had several clashes in the Naddankandal , Palamodai , Vilathikulama and Navvi areas during the course of the day.

At Naddankandal troops confronted with a group of terrorist last evening . Two soldiers suffered injuries in this incident. Terror casualties were not known. In a similar incident, reported from the Palamodai area in the afternoon troops claimed 2 terrorists were either killed or wounded.

In the general area West of Navvi , troops successfully repulsed an attack launched by the terrorists during the evening hours and confirmed 6 terrorists were killed and 8 others were either killed or wounded. Also, one soldier was killed, another reported missing and 3 suffered injuries in this incident.

In the general area Vilathikulama , a soldier suffered injuries in an anti personal (AP) mine explosion last morning.

On the Welioya front , troops engaged terror defences in the Mulaithiuvu jungle , North of Janakapura and Kiribbanwawa areas throughout the day and claimed 12 terrorists were killed, 21 others injured and 11more were either killed or wounded. One soldier was killed and 7 others were injured during these operations. Also, troops removed 115 AP mines and 5 improvised bombs during the clearing operations.

Meanwhile on the Jaffna theatre, one terrorist was reportedly killed in a confrontation occurred in the Muhamalai area last morning.

Shell gas increases by Rs. 8

Shell Gas will increase the price of a domestic 12.5kg cylinder by Rs. 8 with effect from midnight today, bringing the revised price to Rs. 1737.

Another journalist assaulted

Journalist and Course Coordinator of the Sri Lanka Press Institute, Namal Perera and one of his journalist friends attached to a Foreign Mission in Colombo had been assaulted by unidentified men, who came in a white van at Narahenpita this evening. They were admitted to a private hospital in Colombo.

A gang in a white van and a motorcycle ambushed his car, between Narahenpita and Kirulapone Junctions, around 6.15 pm today (June 30th).

The assailants had tried to drag him out of the vehicle, but failed.

Then, they had assaulted him with clubs.


He was rushed to the nearby Apollo Hospital at Narahenpita, SLPI sources said.

The assault came barely days after the appointment of a five-member ministerial committee to investigate harassment of the media.

Air Force fighter jets raid LTTE's special weapon maintenance facility- Kilinochchi

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets raided an LTTE special weapon maintenance and training facility located in the Cheddikulam jungle area this afternoon.
According to the Air Force sources, the air raid was carried out around 2.45 pm at the weapon maintenance workshop and the training facility situated in the Kariyalivayal area, 3km Southwest of Chundikulam. The target was taken effectively though the exact damage caused is yet to be known, the sources added.

Army sponsored free medical clinic conducted for Jaffna civilians

The Sri Lankan Army Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna organized a free medical clinic for the civilians in Jaffna peninsula on Friday (June 28). According to the military sources in Jaffna, over 400 civilians residing in Kuddaththanai, Nadakuddathanai, Pothapadi and Manalkadu villages were given treatments by military medics and nursing staff at the clinic held at Kuddathanai Government School.
Elderly people, women and children were the majority among the patients, the sources said. Army provided dry rations and snacks for all who attended the clinic, the sources added.
According to the military medics the large number residents of remote Jaffna villages are suffering from dental, skin, respiratory, and worm diseases and from malnutrition. Also, they noted that nearly three decades of terror war has deprived the residents of remote villages of quality health service and extreme poverty has held them from going to towns where large health facilities are available. However, army conducts regular health clinics for the civilians with its resources, they added.
The clinic was organized under the guidance of Major General GA Chandasiri , the Security Forces Commander Jaffna and with the full cooperation of government administrative officials in the area.

CTB to join July 10 strike

CTB unions will join the Trade Union strike on July 10 and vows to keep busses off the roads.

CTB to join July 10 strike

CTB unions will join the Trade Union strike on July 10 and vows to keep busses off the roads.

US embassy to resume its normal operation

The suspicious powder found at the US embassy in Colombo last week did not pose any threat, investigation revealed and the Embassy has now decided to resume normal operation from tomorrow.

Laugfs reduces gas by 53 rupees

Laugfs gas is to reduce the price of a 12.5 kg Cylinder by 53 rupees from midnight today bringing the revised price to Rs. 1668.

Civil society meeting with SCOPP General Secretary in District Secretaries of Ampara and Batticoloa

Civil society organisations met with Professor Rajiva Wijesinghe, the Secretary General of SCOPP in the District Secretariats of Batticoloa and Ampara on the 24th June and 25th June respectively. Similar meetings with SCOPP were held from 2004.

The purpose of the meetings had was to exchange views and  understand the ground reality as well as working conditions for civil society in Ampara and Batticoloa District and to see how the SCOPP can assist with overcoming any difficulties they face in implementing their work.
 
The organizations appealed to SCOPP to intervene and ensure that abductions by unidentified persons are stopped, assault on youths do not take place, delays at check points are minimized, free legal aid services be accessible to grieving persons, information in those who get arrested be made known to their families, conflict affected victims be provided with priority service in obtaining social welfare, roads and transport systems improved. A  mechanism is being contemplated at district level to receive complaints from grieving parties if they feel injustice has been done to them and a focal point be appointed at the District Secretariat to facilitate communication with security establishments and civil society when mutual concerns arise.

The Secretary General, after paying heed to the ground issues faced by the Civil Society Organizations while carrying out their work, expressed his contentment over the work carried out by the NGOs which has undoubtedly lessened the burden of the Government.

He suggested that all NGOs, whist maintaining good coordination and networking among themselves, must focus on Language development opportunities in all projects and also look into the possibilities of providing more vocational training for school drop outs so that they can engage themselves in the job opportunities in Sri Lanka as well as the Middle East. He also emphasized the importance of linking all communities when designing projects.

[CHA as a national service provider in the non-profit sector and
representative of the resources and work of the humanitarian sector in Sri
Lanka]

Sri Lankan and Indian Chambers signed a MOU

Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) of India and Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) signed a Memorandum of Understaing (MoU) to jointly ptomote trade and investment between the two countries.
“Still there is immense potential left to further expand bilateral trade between India and Sri Lanka and since the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement in March 2000 trade has grown rapidly between the two countries,” said FCCISL Secretary General/CEO, Samantha B Abeywickrama at the occasion of signing the MoU with FAPCCI.
FAPCCI and FCCISL signed the MoU to foster friendship and to promote trade, investment, social, economic, human resource development, technical and scientific cooperation, friendship and other spheres of economic activity.
Abeywickrama said that negotiations on India and Sri Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is now ready to be signed and thus it would facilitate the inclusion of investment and services in addition to deepening commitments embodied in the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement signed in 2000.
He said that FCCISL is a one-stop shop for investments in Sri Lanka and invited Indian entrepreneurs to visit Sri Lanka to explore the opportunities.
Shri Suraj Prasad Agrawal, President, FAPCCI said that the early conclusion of CEPA will have an added impetus to the ongoing Indo-Sri Lankan economic partnership. The FTA has accelerated the development of economic cooperation and with growing mutual trade, a bilateral trade of US $ 5 billion is envisaged to be achieved by 2010.

Matara bound train had derailed

A Matara bound train had derailed on the Hikkaduwa bridge at approximately 12.40p.m. Initial reports claimed that some of the passengers have fallen into the river. Two deaths were also reported while the remaining injurered were rushed to the Galle Hospital. The train was travelling from Kandy to Matara.
All coastal trains to be terminated from Ambalangoda.

JVP MP Wasantha resigns to contest PC elections

JVP National List MP Wasantha Samarasinghe will tender his resignation from Parliament today to contest the North Central Provincial Council election as the party’s chief ministerial candidate.

The JVP nominated Mr. Samarasinghe who is also a trade union leader as the chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming election several days ago. He was also a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts which probed malpractices into corruption and frauds at government institutions.

Party’s parliamentary group leader and MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the resignation letter would be handed over to the Secretary General of Parliament.

Mr. Dissanayake said that the party had not taken a final decision on the nominee to be picked to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Samarasinghe’s resignation.

“We will start our election campaign on July 4. We have already formulated the campaign’s strategy,” he said.

Muslim Congress to go it alone?

The SLMC leadership was increasingly under pressure from the party’s grassroot level members to contest the upcoming provincial council election under its ‘tree’ symbol in Anuradhapura and Kegalle without aligning with a major political party, General Secretary, M.T. Hassan Ali said.

The party has earlier decided to field their candidates on the UNP ticket for the election.

“Their belief is that the party can secure some slots in the two councils if they go it alone. We are unable to do it by aligning with a major party unless it supports our candidates during the campaign. Most likely, we will go solo in these districts,” he said.

He said the party would contest the election in Polonnaruwa and Ratnapura along with the UNP as usual. The SLMC contested the recently concluded Eastern Provincial Council, election under the UNP’s elephant symbol.

Asked for comments, UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake said he had not been informed of such a decision, and therefore declined to say anything.l

Mr. Attanayake said the UNP was yet to finalise its nomination lists for the two councils, but has already identified the candidates.

“We will hand over our nomination papers on July 3 or 4. But, we will not announce the name of Sabaragamuwa chief ministerial candidate until then. We are compelled to take such a decision because of possible threat and intimidation on the selected candidate by the government,” he said.

President offers extra Rs. 1,000 to public servants

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday agreed to pay all public sector employees an allowance of Rs. 1,000 and it was accepted by some trade unions though reluctantly.

The President made this offer after a lengthy discussion with several trade union leaders whom he met at Temple Trees and said the payment of this allowance would cost the government Rs 7 billion annually.

Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya President Leslie Devendra said the President had first offered an allowance of Rs 500 saying the war situation in the country had raised government expenditure, but subsequent to the Trade union representatives rejecting the initial offer the allowance was increased to Rs. 1000.

Mr. Devendra said his union was not satisfied with this allowance but were constrained to accept it considering the situation in the country.

Some trade union leaders said they had to first discuss the offer with their rank and file before accepting the President’s offer.

The Health Service Trade Union Alliance President Samantha Ratnapriya had told President Rajapaksa that his union would nevertheless go ahead with its planned agitation campaign to obtain the other demands including a resolution to the overtime issue.

Meanwhile The Trade Union Center convener K. D. Lalkantha said the offer of an allowance of Rs 1000 was a farce as the wages were to be increased by Rs. 375 from July and the Rs 1000 had been worked out by adding another Rs 625.

“Therefore this is nothing but eyewash,” he said adding that the trade unions centre will go ahead with the planned general strike on July 10.

Porn suspect remanded

Anuradhapura Additional Mgistrate remanded a manager of a popular IT institute in Anurdhapura till July 7 for allegedly uploading pornographic and paedophile material to the internet.

The Magistrate, Shivantha Manchanayaka ordered the Police to send the database of the computer used by the suspect to the Computer Technology Unit of the Colombo University for a report.

The Police had raided Simplex International Pte. Ltd., of Devanampiyatissapura on a search warrant issued by the Magistrate and arrested the suspect Theja Sri Atukorale along with the computer used by him for the alleged activity.

The Police producing the suspect informed e court that the CID had acted on a written complaint made by a customs officer in the US.

The suspect had uploaded the pornographic material using an address of one of his friends domiciled in the US called Sujeewa Ratnayaka. The Sri Lanka police working in close association with the US Police had tracked down the email address to locate and apprehend the suspect.

The additional Magistrate refused a request by the defence counsel to release the suspect on bail.

Inspector B.M.A. Sampath Kumara of the CID prosecuted while counsel Sajeewa Gunaratne appeared on behalf of the suspect.

Gas price going up again

The domestic cooking gas price is to be revised from midnight today according to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA).
The price revision had been requested by Shell and Laugfs gas companies and would be based on the pricing formula.

Sources said the pricing committee of the CAA had finalized the new prices last week and these were submitted it to Chairman Rumi Marzook for a final decision today.

Meanwhile Shell Gas company had earlier requested for a price increase of Rs. 324 for a 12.5 kg cylinder of gas.

Sri Lanka's embassy in Saudi launches 'Insight' newsletter

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh launched a monthly newsletter dubbed INSIGHT to highlight Sri Lanka Saudi relations among Saudis, Sri Lankan and its well-wishers.

This is the first time the mission is coming out with a newsletter to reach out target market to project Sri Lanka as a country that has plenty of things to offer, A.A.M. Marleen, the islands ambassador said, adding that it is a monthly publication which is funded by sponsors from Sri Lankan managed business organizations both here and abroad.

The formal launch of the newsletter held Wednesday at the mission premises in the presence of leading community members. Marleen said that he has plans to publish this newsletter in Arabic to reach the people in the Middle East.

The publication is prepared by an editorial board comprising honourary members M.C. Rasooldeen- senior journalist in Saudi Arabia, Fazli Sameer, Saprullah Khan, Sarath Kumara and Yasantha de Silva.

The colourful four-page maiden issue carries a message from the islands Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollgama and articles pertaining to tourism, business opportunities in the Kingdom and Saudi contributions to Sri Lanka.

Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Minister A.H.M. Fowzie described it as a commendable effort to project the right image of the country. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hussein Bhaila said that the newsletter will reach a new clientele of readers who could be partners to the islands development.

A.M.J. Sadiq, Director General Public Communications at the Foreign Ministry said the newsletter is definitely going to help the country in strengthening the bilateral relations .

DVDs seized from air passenger

Officials of the Air Intelligence Unit of the Customs at the Chennai airport seized 550 pirated DVD copies of recently-released English movies from Mohammed Yusuf Navasukan (33) of Ilayangudi, Sivaganga district, who arrived from Colombo .

A release from Parminder Singh, Commissioner of Customs (Airport), said when the officials checked his baggage, they found pirated DVD copies.

Investigation revealed that while the passenger was waiting to board the flight at Colombo, a stranger approached him and gave him a bag . He was asked to hand it over to another person outside the Chennai airport. For this, he was offered Rs.3,000.

Nedumaran attacks Centre for mobilising troops to Lanka

The coordinator of Tamil Eelam Liberation Supporter’s Co-ordination Committee, Pazha Nedumaran, on Sunday expressed dismay over the union government allegedly mobilising troops to Sri Lanka in the pretext of employing them for the safety of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who will be visiting the island nation for the SAARC conference soon.

No nation hosting such a conference would approve of the arrival of troops en masse from other countries, Nedumaran said in a statement, adding that troop mobilisation was done with the intent to assist the Lankan army in decimating ethnic Tamils.

So far, about 1,500 troops had already been moved to Sri Lanka and a like number was in the offing to be moved there, Nedumaran asserted, flaying the Centre and appealing to Tamils world over to unite against the plan.

Great scope for Pakistan to export cement to Sri Lanka

There is a great scope for Pakistan private sector to export cement to Sri Lanka to meet the ever increasing demand of cement as construction industry in Sri Lanka was rapidly growing with a reasonable pace.

President, Sri Lanka Federation of Chambers and Commerce and Industry, Nawaz Rajabdin who is also VP, SAARC CCI, on Monday was talking to his counterpart in Pakistan Iftikhar Ali Malik .

He said Sri Lankan government has offered special package of attractive incentives for investment from Pakistan under SAFTA and FTA. He said that Sri Lankan ministry of Textile and Industries Development has floated international tenders to import huge quantity of cement and Pakistan private sector can take full advantage.

Nawaz Rajabdin also discussed the issues of mutual interest while emphasising the two countries should effectively contribute towards promotion of bilateral as well as regional trade.

Iftikhar Ali Malik said Sri Lankan minister for Textile and Industries Development Kanera Valgam has assured him that Sri Lanka will fully encourage Pak private sector to export cement to his country at competitive rate.

Sri Lanka attached great importance to private sector of Pakistan in the region and signed free trade agreement with Pakistan on August 01, 2002 followed by signing of the protocol on Feb 09, 2005 and full implementation of the free trade agreement on June 12, 2005.

Another member of the delegation Shahzad Ali Malik, Chief Executive Guard Rice said that Pakistan has granted tariff rate quota (TRO) arrangements to Sri Lanka for export of 10,000 MT tea,1,200 MT betel leaves and 3 million pieces garments every financial year (July-June) while Sri Lanka has granted TRO arrangements to Pakistan for export of 6,000 MT Basmati Rice and 1,000 MT Potatoes for every calender year.

However, import of potatoes is permitted only during the off-season period in Sri Lanka.

Nawaz Rajabdin said 4-days recent visit of President SAARC CCI Tariq Sayeed to Sri Lanka which concluded on June 28 was most successful for having more one on one personal interaction with business community and trade leaders of two countries.

It may be mentioned here that it was a great honour for Pakistan that Tariq Sayeed, a Pakistani business leader and SCCI Chief was especially invited to inaugurate the first ever chambers competition awards 2008 ceremony, a prestigious event organised by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka at Colombo on Friday (June 27).

Great scope for Pakistan to export cement to Sri Lanka

There is a great scope for Pakistan private sector to export cement to Sri Lanka to meet the ever increasing demand of cement as construction industry in Sri Lanka was rapidly growing with a reasonable pace.

President, Sri Lanka Federation of Chambers and Commerce and Industry, Nawaz Rajabdin who is also VP, SAARC CCI, on Monday was talking to his counterpart in Pakistan Iftikhar Ali Malik .

He said Sri Lankan government has offered special package of attractive incentives for investment from Pakistan under SAFTA and FTA. He said that Sri Lankan ministry of Textile and Industries Development has floated international tenders to import huge quantity of cement and Pakistan private sector can take full advantage.

Nawaz Rajabdin also discussed the issues of mutual interest while emphasising the two countries should effectively contribute towards promotion of bilateral as well as regional trade.

Iftikhar Ali Malik said Sri Lankan minister for Textile and Industries Development Kanera Valgam has assured him that Sri Lanka will fully encourage Pak private sector to export cement to his country at competitive rate.

Sri Lanka attached great importance to private sector of Pakistan in the region and signed free trade agreement with Pakistan on August 01, 2002 followed by signing of the protocol on Feb 09, 2005 and full implementation of the free trade agreement on June 12, 2005.

Another member of the delegation Shahzad Ali Malik, Chief Executive Guard Rice said that Pakistan has granted tariff rate quota (TRO) arrangements to Sri Lanka for export of 10,000 MT tea,1,200 MT betel leaves and 3 million pieces garments every financial year (July-June) while Sri Lanka has granted TRO arrangements to Pakistan for export of 6,000 MT Basmati Rice and 1,000 MT Potatoes for every calender year.

However, import of potatoes is permitted only during the off-season period in Sri Lanka.

Nawaz Rajabdin said 4-days recent visit of President SAARC CCI Tariq Sayeed to Sri Lanka which concluded on June 28 was most successful for having more one on one personal interaction with business community and trade leaders of two countries.

It may be mentioned here that it was a great honour for Pakistan that Tariq Sayeed, a Pakistani business leader and SCCI Chief was especially invited to inaugurate the first ever chambers competition awards 2008 ceremony, a prestigious event organised by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka at Colombo on Friday (June 27).

Ambassador designate promises campaign against LTTE propaganda

Sri Lankan Ambassador designate to the United States Jaliya Wickremasuriya told the Mahanayake Theros of Malwatte and Asgiriya the that he would campaign strongly against the false propaganda by LTTE against Sri Lanka.

Wickremasuriya called on the prelates after paying homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic for invoking blessings prior to leaving for the US.

The prelate of Malwatte said that the majority of those in diplomatic missions in foreign countries had not taken adequate steps to carry out propaganda in favour of their country.

The LTTE and their allies made full use of this lapse, they said.

Ven. Suriyagoda Jinasiri Thero, Mrs. Wickramasuriya and the children of Mr. Jaliya Wickramasuriya and his brother Prasanna Wickramasuriya accompanied him.

EPDP won’t budge from TMVP territory

The Eelam People’s Democratic Front (EPDP) has vowed not to budge from the Eastern Province, where the breakaway LTTE faction, the TMVP, now at the helm of the Eastern Provincial Council is seeking political dominance over rivals.

An EPDP spokesman accused the TMVP of exerting pressure on its cadres deployed in the East to leave the province. Claiming that there had been a series of attacks on its men, the EPDP alleged the body of Kaliappan Gunaseelan (29) allegedly abducted by TMVP cadres on June 19 had been found by Valaichenai police. The body had been found near a pond at Vinayaakapuram.

The EPDP alleged a gang led by a person identified as Ajith had taken the father of one at gun point. At the time of the abduction, he had been on his way from the EPDP office at Kaluwankerni to get some water from a nearby well.

The EPDP accused the local police of refusing to conduct a proper investigation. The police had swiftly moved against the EPDP after the TMVP called for police assistance.

Tamil and security sources likened the TMVP’s action to that of the EPDP in the Jaffna islands. Since the EPDP had moved into Jaffna islands during Ranasinghe Premadasa’s presidency in the 1990s, it had brazenly thwarted attempts by rival Tamil parties to conduct political activity.

House ban on laptops to thwart LTTE infiltration

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Fearing the LTTE would use someone to smuggle in an explosive device to Parliament to carry out an assassination, the government has prohibited all members from bringing in electronic equipment into the House.

Acting on the instructions of security services, Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara has informed ministers, deputy ministers and members of the unprecedented decision to prohibit laptops and similar equipment in Parliament.

The Parliament security has been instructed to strictly impose the latest security measure. In a recent letter to members, the Speaker said they could use the cyber café located in the library on the ground floor as the ban on laptops and similar equipment would be in force until the improvement of the security situation.

Authoritative sources said the LTTE had the expertise to turn out a high tech bomb to target an individual.

Referring to the August 1987 JVP hand grenade attack on the UNP parliamentary group in Parliament which killed Matara District MP Keerthi Abeywickrema, the sources said the LTTE would explore ways and means of striking at the SLFP-led ruling coalition.

The sources said the stepped-up military pressure on LTTE’s Vanni bases would prompt attacks on politicians.

It would be part of their strategy to off-set battlefield losses and trigger chaos in the South, the sources said, asserting the attacks could be directed at disrupting the forthcoming SAARC summit.

Two army divisions and two task forces are on the offensive across the Vanni and Weli Oya regions where the LTTE is trying desperately to halt the army.

Tightening of security at Parliament came to light hard on the heels of the alleged assassination attempt on Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake at a recent function at the BMICH.

The sources said the recent arrest of former head of the Tamil Section of the National Film Corporation Kanagasabai Devadasan alias Nadan revealed the LTTE infiltration of the JVP. He is alleged to have planned an assassination attempt on the Prime Minister.

The sources said investigators would try to establish the time Devadasan had joined the LTTE. What we really liked to know is whether he joined the LTTE willingly or was forced to carry out clandestine activities.

Well informed sources said this was a clear case of the LTTE infiltrating a political party. The person who had asked the then Cultural Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath to accommodate Devadasan on the NFC, too, would be an LTTE contact, the sources said.

Nadan had taken over the Tamil Section on March 25, 2004 until he quit on March 8, 2006. He had also contested election to the Western Provincial Council on the NSSP ticket in 1998 and Jaffna on the United Socialist Party ticket in 2001.

Security Forces handover 26 LTTE corpses to ICRC- Vavuniya

Bodies of 26 LTTE terrorists were handed over to the ICRC officials in Vavuniya, by Security Forces today (June 29) at 2.30p.m.

Preparations were made by the ICRC to take them to the LTTE dominated areas across Omanthai Entry/Exit point. The bodies were found by the Army soldiers while consolidating defences following heavy fighting with LTTE in general area Chiraddikulama, Mannar.

One of the LTTE's main strategic bases known as 'Five Four' base was overrun by the military on 26th June, which resulted in heavy losses to the LTTE, security sources said.

Hand grenades, ammunitions uncovered on civilian information -Jaffna

Troops acting on civilian information have uncovered 18 hand grenades, a T-56 assault riffle and few other war like items during a search operation conducted in general area Kopay, Jaffna today(June 29) at around 1.30 p.m.

The items were found hidden in an abandoned land, which also included 3 LTTE combat uniforms, an I-com set, a water can, 03 x LTTE packs, 120 x T-56 ammunitions, 05 field dressings and some water purifying tablets, security sources said.

High-tech bridge for Arugam Bay

The Government will open the new Arugam Bay bridge connecting Pottuvil, Arugam Bay and Panama in the Eastern province, to the public today (June 30).

The bridge constructed at a cost of US $ 10 million, will replace the old bridge over Arugam Bay which was severely damaged in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided financial assistance for the construction of the new state-of -the-art bridge which has been designed and built according to US technology.

According to the Highways Ministry, the new bridge which runs parallel to the old one, comprises two spans measuring 185 metres, and offers user-friendly features like protected pedestrian walkways. The project launched in August 2006 also includes 900 metres of paved access roadway and a water supply system for Arugam Bay.

"We hope that the project will be a major boost for the fishing, agriculture and tourist industries in the areas and thus help the revival of the economy in the East," a Ministry spokesman said.

AN INKLING OF INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE TO COME

by -Jehan Perera

The visit of a high level Indian delegation to Sri Lanka barely a fortnight ago has given rise to much speculation regarding its purpose. The delegation consisted of National Security Advisor, M K Narayan, Defense Secretary, Sri Vijay Singh and Foreign Secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon. The three visitors were all senior members of the Indian administration, and not politicians, which indicates the broad consensus and continuity that India seek in its policy towards Sri Lanka. On the other hand, the key persons they met in Sri Lanka were President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his two brothers, Senior Advisor Basil and Defense Secretary, Gotabhaya, and the President’s secretary. Lalith Weeratunga. The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry was entirely left out of the deliberations. This shows the Indian perception of the narrowing power structure in Sri Lanka.

For days there were fevered speculations about the purpose of the Indian visit. A favoured interpretation was that the Sri Lankan armed forces were on the verge of capturing the LTTE strongholds of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu and its leadership. The hope was that India was coming to give some crucial support, by way of military equipment and intelligence, and this to a friendly neighbouring country that is fighting against a deadly foe that has been banned internationally on account of terrorism. However, there has also been a continuing fear that there could be a replay of history. The memory has never completely faded that when the Sri Lankan military was poised to flush out the LTTE from Jaffna way back in 1987 there was Indian intervention that put a stop to the Sri Lankan offensive.

Now two decades later the indications are that the Sri Lankan military is making steady, if slow, progress in its multi pronged offensive into the heart of LTTE controlled territory in the Wanni. The most recent success to be reported is the capture of the rice bowl area of Mannar from the LTTE. What is not known for sure, and can only be guessed at, is the cost of this and other military advances. At present, the only accounts of the progress or otherwise on the military battlefields comes from the statements of the Sri Lankan security establishment. Unfortunately independent accounts of the war in the north by journalists are few and far between owing to the death threats and physical assaults they have been subjected to with impunity. Hearsay accounts suggest a high level of casualties in harsh circumstances, but these individual accounts fail to give a composite picture of the prevailing situation.

Also not being disclosed from the battlefront is the fallout of war on the civilian population. The military battles taking place in the Wanni, and the lines of advance of the fighting forces, are not all through uninhabited jungle. Some of it, and perhaps most of it in the rice bowl area, would be taking place through populated areas. In the Mannar district alone nearly 40,000 people have been displaced and move from place to place to avoid the fighting. Those who have fled from LTTE-controlled areas at the risk of being shot dead by the LTTE and come to government controlled areas have been confined to specific camps, on account of the suspicion of LTTE infiltration. Large parts of the Wanni are inaccessible to even international humanitarian organizations. This very high cost to the civilian population is being projected as a necessary cost of the war.


INDIAN VISIT

Giving emphasis to the significance of their meeting, neither the Indian delegation nor the Sri Lankan government issued an official statement about the contents of their discussions. Recent media reports about the meeting suggest that the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka received top attention. The Indian concern could reasonably be that the reports from Sri Lanka of mass displacement, restriction on the movement of Tamil refugees and the continuing stream of abductions, extortions, killings and round ups of Tamil civilians can create problems within India itself. With India going into an election period in the not so distant future, no political party that seeks Tamil Nadu votes would like to be seen as being insensitive to the plight of the Tamils of Sri Lanka.

One of the first issues raised by the Indian delegation was reportedly that the Sri Lankan government should minimize civilian casualties in the course of the ongoing military operations. In particular there was reportedly a call for restraint in the utilization of air power to which the LTTE has still not found an answer, but which can also inflict heavy casualties on the civilian population in the event of inaccurate targeting. But there is no reason to believe, as some media have reported, that the Indian delegation put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to halt its military offensive in its entirety, as they did in 1987. It is significant that barely a week after the visit of the Indian delegation, the Sri Lankan military reported further advances into the Wanni.

The problem for the Indian government is that some of the small opposition parties in Tamil Nadu state have made the Sri Lankan conflict their main platform for mobilizing electoral support. It is reported that some of them could even be funded by the LTTE to keep the Tamil issue alive in Indian politics. Some of these parties have started to make calls for an Indian boycott of the SAARC Summit that is scheduled to be held in Colombo at the end of July on the grounds of the war situation in Sri Lanka.

Indian absence would effectively scuttle the SAARC Summit and cause a great deal of embarrassment to Sri Lanka. The conduct of the SAARC Summit specifically requires the presence of all heads of state or heads of government of each of the eight SAARC member countries. As the Sri Lankan government has put much emphasis on its relationship with Asian countries, the SAARC Summit has taken centre stage in the government’s international strategy. India’s bargaining strength comes from the fact that India’s attendance is crucial to the SAARC Summit being held at all.

Reports of a high level of civilian casualties in Sri Lanka could certainly put the Indian government in an embarrassing situation, especially if they take place nearer the time of the SAARC Summit. Therefore it is understandable if India requested the Sri Lankan government to take greater care in its military operations in the period prior to the SAARC Summit. However, the media reports indicate that the visiting Indian delegation went much beyond merely expressing their concern about the wellbeing of the Tamil civilian population in the run up to the SAARC Summit. It can be concluded that they utilized the opportunity presented by the SAARC Summit to try to get Sri Lanka back to some extent within the Indian sphere of influence.


MUCH FURTHER

In the present advantageous situation to it, the Indian delegation is reported to have brought up several issues of concern to India. The most controversial of these is likely to be the reported insistence that India should share the responsibility for ensuring security in Sri Lanka during the period of the SAARC Summit. Whether this will include the entry into Sri Lanka of armed Indian security personnel, the manning of radars to guard against possible aerial attack by the LTTE and additional surveillance at sea, as reported by the media, remains to be seen.

Other significant issues brought up by the visiting Indian delegation include those that can be construed as interfering in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs. These include speeding up the formulation of the government’s political proposals to resolve the ethnic conflict, inviting the largest Tamil political party, the TNA, which the government has been marginalizing to India for discussions, the growing closeness between Sri Lanka and India’s main neighbouring rivals, China and Pakistan, and issues concerning major Indian investments where Sri Lanka has taken a tough line. For a government that has given top priority to affirming the importance of national sovereignty these Indian demands might be a bitter pill to swallow if such demands have indeed been made.

What the Indian visit reveals is the vulnerability of Sri Lanka to external pressures. Over the past two years, the government has gained the admiration of nationalists for taking up strong and often belligerent positions in favour of the country’s national sovereignty. This, despite becoming increasingly dependent on foreign commercial banks to prop up the ailing economy. The government has often taken punitive actions against international organizations that it sees as meddling in the country’s internal affairs, especially with regard to humanitarian issues and human rights violations. The government has also not been averse to criticizing powerful countries, especially those from the West, on numerous issues in international forums even at the risk of alienating these economic aid-giving countries.

However, the problem that is becoming apparent is that Sri Lanka is too small, and too dependent on the international system, to wage a lone battle against the international system and the powerful countries that sustain it. It has been recently reported that the French-based NGO, Action against Hunger (ACF) which cruelly lost 17 of its staff in a massacre in Muttur in 2006 is campaigning for an international inquiry on the matter, having lost confidence in the Sri Lankan system of justice. In addition, the European Union is soon to decide on whether or not to continue with the economically important GSP+ privilege to Sri Lanka. International pressures may soon come to snag Sri Lanka’s efforts to solve problems in its own way, unless a different approach to conflict resolution is adopted.

DS killed in explosion in Tiger territory

The Divisional Secretary operating in Thunnukai in LTTE controlled Mullativu was killed in a claymore attack last evening.

Military spokesman says more to be cleared in Mannar

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara says that there are more areas to be cleared in Mannar from the LTTE, and it was only the strategic ‘Rice Bowl’ which was captured today.

Military clears Mannar – State media

State electronic media quoted military sources while ago saying that troops today completed its moves to clear Mannar of the LTTE and as a result entire district is now under government control.

Jaffna police has recovered twenty rounds of T56 ammunitions and a hand grenade from a vehicle belongs to the Jaffna branch of the Human Rights Commission.

LTTE receives heavy beating: Troops takeover Mannar 'Rice Bowl'

The advancing Security Forces took total control over the entire Mannar 'Rice Bowl' area this afternoon(June 29), denying terrorists its main and heavily fortified defences at the Mannar front after days of heavy fighting ensued between troops and LTTE.

The capture of this area stands to be a significant breakthrough made by the security forces following the liberation of Periyamadhu area from LTTE on 26th June. According to military Spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, the total area brought under control is approximately 120sq.kms, which mainly consists of the Island's most fertile paddy fields. In 1991, farmers have made a record-breaking paddy harvest from this area; the Spokesperson said adding that the famous 'Giants Tank' itself provides water to 153 small irrigation lakes.

Manthai, Manthottam, Adampan, Pallekuli, Kurukkandalkulama, Vellankulama, Vadakkandal, Alankulama, Andankulama, Marattikannadi, Alakaddiveli, Parappakandal. Parappukadatan, Tenveddiyan, Minukkulama, Vilayankulama, Papamoddai, Odduppalan, Kuruvil- Sluice, Neduvarampu, Kannaputtukulama and Vannakulama, were the main areas that was liberated by the security forces as troops are said to have consolidated and poised within striking distances to LTTE's strategically important coastal stronghold in Veddithalthivu.

Further speaking to defence.lk, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that, the capture of the Mannar 'Rice Bowl' and adjacent areas has denied the LTTE 12km of the A-32 Mannar- Pooneryn main road, in addition to the Uyilankulama - Adampan and Uyilankulama - Andankulama main roads, considered to be LTTE's main supply routes from the North.

The LTTE terrorists have also lost 13km of coastal stretch in Mannar, he further said.

The Sri Lankan Army infantry, armour and artillery troops mounted decisive attacks at LTTE positions inflicting heavy damages to the terrorists during the counter terrorist operations launched, with tactical fire support provided by the SLAF helicopter gun-ships, security sources said.

43 LTTE terrorists killed, over 30 wounded in yesterday's clashes

At least 43 LTTE terrorists were killed and over 30 reported wounded during ensued battles between troops and LTTE in the Wanni and Northern battle theatres, on Saturday (June 28).

According to military reports received, 2 terrorists were killed and a soldier wounded in separate incidents at Nagarkovil and Kilaly, Jaffna.

Meanwhile, at the Vavuniya battlefront heavy fighting was reported as troops claimed 20 terrorists were killed and 8 others severely wounded. 2 soldiers also have laid their lives during the confrontations, while 2 others were reported wounded, security sources said. According to reports, the clashes were reported from Ambaddankulam, Naddankulam, Navatkulam, Panichchanmadu, Naouarampu and Palamoddai areas.

At the Mannar battlefront, 7 LTTE terrorists were killed and 3 others wounded on Saturday, according to security sources. Also, at the Welioya front troops claimed that 14 terrorists were killed and over a dozen injured in clashes erupted in general areas North of Janakapura, Kokkuthudduwai and Kiriibanwewa. 4 soldiers were also injured during the fighting, security sources added.

Arms and ammunition found - Muttur

A special police investigation team conducted a search operation found arms and ammunition from Kadakarachchena area in Muttur last night, June 28.

The search operation was launched around 11.30 p.m., security sources said. A sniper gun, 2 communication sets, 2 hand grenades, 2 T-56 magazines, 300 T-56 ammunition were also among the items found, sources further said.

Alleged torture of press owner: SC seeks report

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Supreme Court yesterday ordered the Terrorist Investigation Division to produce press owner Vetrivel Jasiharan before the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer within one week.

The Bench comprising Justices Raja Fernando, Saleem Marsoof and K. Sripavan also directed the registrar of the court to call for a report from the JMO with regard to any injuries found on the suspect.

The Court made this order subsequent to submissions made by the petitioner’s Counsel J.C. Weliamuna who alleged that Mr. Jesiharan had been tortured.

The counsel requested court to direct that the petitioner be produced before the JMO for examination and for a report of any injuries found on him. Senior State Counsel Riyaz Hamza said he had no objection to the application. The petition was filed by Mr. Jasiharan’s wife V. Valarmathi – formerly Shakthi TV programme producer and temporary lecturer in Drama and Theatre at the Jaffna University.

Mr. Jasiharan was a contributor to the Tamil weekly “Sarinigar” and is the owner of Outreachsl.com website funded by a German Technical Cooperation project Facilitating Local Initiatives for Conflict Transformation (FLICT).

Inspector Prasanna de Alwis, Senior Superintendent Nandana Munasinghe and Inspector H.M. Janakantha of the TID, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Police Chief Victor Perera the Attorney General were cited as respondents.

He said that on March 6, several TID officers including Inspector Janakantha arrived at his printing press situated at Jampettah Street and took him to his house at Kotahena.

They searched the house and arrested him and his fiancée Valarmathi and took them to the TID.

The petitioner maintained that no search warrant was shown to him and neither was he informed of the reason for the arrest.

He claims he has never been involved directly or indirectly in any unlawful activity nor has he had any links whatsoever directly or indirectly with LTTE.

He alleged that upon his arrest, his father and sister immediately went to the Kotahena Police Station to lodge a complaint. However, the officers at the police station refused to entertain their complaint.

Pillayan to seek police powers

The TMVP will seek police powers for the Eastern Provincial Council to combat LTTE activities and other violence in the province, said its Spokesman Asad Moulana.
The related proposal will be tabled before the All Party Representative Committee as soon as the party obtains representation there, he said.

Party leader and East Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan will decide who would represent the TMVP at the APRC, Mr. Moulana said, adding that it would most probably be either himself or Batticaloa Mayor Sivagita Prabhakaran.

According to the TMVP spokesman, civilian life has now returned to normal in the province, and special arrangements are in place, after consultation with law enforcement authorities, to contain harassment of the public by various groups.

JVP rejects President’s call

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) rejected a call from President Mahinda Rajapaksa for talks today to avert a general strike planned by its trade unions. “We are willing to take part in talks only to discuss the demands we have put forward,” JVP parliamentarian K.D. Lalkantha said.
Mr. Lal Kkantha is the Chairman of the National Trade Union Centre of the JVP which has planned a one-day general strike in the state sector on July 10. Its main demand is a wage increase of Rs 5,000 a month.

The NTUC has under its umbrella 366 trade union organizations. However, representatives of 142 other trade unions have said they would attend the talks at Temple Trees today. Mr. Lal kantha said “these trade unions are being summoned so that they will just tell what the President wants to hear. This will in no way affect our planned strike”.

President Rajapaksa has been informed in writing that the strike action will be carried out if the JVP trade unions’ demands are not met. Trade unions backed by the UNP are likely to join the July 10 general strike, parliamentarian Johnston Fernando, president of the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya said last night. “We will take a final decision this week,” he said.

Mr. Fernando said the UNP-backed trade unions had not been invited for talks with the President.

JNP Chairman denies Sri Lanka Marxist party's allegation

June 29, Colombo: Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (National Freedom Front) Chairman, Wimal Weerawansa today denied violation of any intellectual property rights by publishing his controversial book, 'Netta Wenuwata Etta' (Truth instead of sham).
Weerawansa denied the allegations made by the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) for publishing some abstracts taken from confidential documents permitted to central committee members in the book.
Weerawansa also claimed that creator of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Rohana Wijeweera should also be classified as an intellectual property violator since he was the first to publish central committee documents.

Phone call from VVIP unnerved Sannasgala

UNP activist Upul Shantha Sannasgala’s abrupt decision not to contest the Sabaragamuwa Province as the UNP’s chief ministerial candidate has revealed the existence of a mole in the highest circles of the main opposition party.
Well informed sources said an angry Sannasgala had quit the race after a confidential discussion he had with the UNP nomination board was leaked to the top SLFP leadership immediately after he had left Siri Kotha.
The UNP leader has won Sannasgala’s consent last Thursday (June 19) to place his appointment as the chief ministerial candidate before the Political Affairs Committee the following day. The sources said they had dinner to finalize the controversial movie maker’s candidature against the backdrop of a section of the UNP making an attempt to discourage him.
A veteran NGO activist had pushed for Sannasgala’s appointment as the Sabaragamuwa leader, the sources said, adding the NGO player had discussed the appointment with the UNP leader before it was brought to the notice of the Political Affairs Committee.
Sannasgala had appeared before the five-man nomination board headed by the UNP leader on Saturday (June 21) to explain his strategy. The committee appointed on the previous day comprised UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, Chairman Rukman Senanayake, UNP National Organizer S. B. Dissanayake and Working Committee member D. M. Swaminathan.
The sources said an excited Sannasgala among other things had asserted the need to target SLFP Ratnapura District frontliner Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi. He had discussed the possibility of bringing in the former husband of the Youth Affairs Minister on stage, the sources said.
The nomination board had given its approval to the move, they said. What Sannasgala had not expected was to receive a call from a VVIP politician who had bluntly revealed his knowledge of his discussion less than an hour ago, the sources said.
Although the group of UNPers now clamouring for Wickremesinghe’s ouster had failed to discourage him, the unexpected call had unnerved him, the sources said.
Sannasgala called a press conference on Monday (June 23) to announce his decision to drop out of the contest but was careful not to discuss the actual reason for his pullout, the sources said.
The Sunday Island learns although movie star Ranjan Ramanayake has offered to lead the UNP in Sabaragamuwa, the party is likely to explore the possibility of fielding Thalatha Atukorale, MP, who is expected to return from an overseas tour today.
The sources said those who attempt to distract Sannasgala would try the same with Ms. Atukorale, a Ratnapura District MP and the sister of former UNP General Secretary Gamini Atukorale.
Political sources said retired Major General Janaka Perera would definitely contest the North Central Province as its chief ministerial candidate. Perera, who led a series of successful operations in the Northern and Eastern Provinces both during the UNP and PA administrations, has assured the UNP of his commitment to the party.
They said the government was likely to field a disabled soldier on its list for the North Central Province to counter Perera. Political sources asserted the UNP wouldn’t be able to challenge the government on the current status of the war effort but it would be open for attack on the economic front.
During the UNP leader’s recent visit to the Europe, he had received a call from a prominent UNP activist who had emphasized the urgent need to effect a leadership change as part of their efforts to strengthen the party, they said.
Speaking on behalf of the group pushing for far reaching reforms in the party, he had said the party’s elephant symbol should be replaced with a common symbol to facilitate a grand alliance to fight the government of the Rajapaksa brothers.
The UNP leader had not favoured changing the elephant symbol although he was ready to cooperate on the proposed grand alliance.
The sources said sections of the media which had been generally supportive of the UNP, too, had been divided over the ongoing efforts to force Wickremesinge out.

Rohitha’s sister-in-law to be Sri Lanka HC in Singapore

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama’s sister-in-law, Jayathri Ranjani Samarakone, has been named Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner-designate to Singapore.
The former SriLankan airlines employee is expected to receive the blessings of the High Posts Committee headed by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake which recently received the proposal.
Recently the foreign minister promoted his brother-in-law, Palitha Ganegoda, to the post of the Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi. He had previously held the post of minister-counsellor.
The government has packed all ranks Sri Lankan missions abroad with political appointees.
Well informed sources said the percentage of the career diplomats in the missions has hit an all time low due to the unprecedented increase in outsiders accommodated.
Recently a lavish party was thrown at `Temple Trees’ with choice wines and delectable food served, to coincide with Presidential Media Director Chandrapala Liyanage going off to Rome to assume a senior diplomatic position in the mission there headed by another political appointee.
Bogollagama recently turned up uninvited in Rome when the president was there for an FAO meeting. He was eventually slotted in as the president’s interpreter at that meeting.
Although, the minister’s tireless efforts to counter the LTTE propaganda overseas had been lauded by many, the number of his overseas visits had been shocking, well informed sources said.
But the ministry has had its successes, the most recent being getting Israel to deny satellite transmission facilities to the LTTE, they said.

Lanka calls for int’l support

By Mendaka Abeysekera in New York
The Sri Lankan Government last week urged the international community to recognise that democracies could not take extra constitutional measures and that political solutions to conflicts required discussion, debate and compromise before consensus was reached.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States Bernard Goonetilleke outlined this position on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government in his commentary published in The Washington Times last week.

Goonetilleke, one of the country’s most reputed and most experienced Foreign Service officers, stated that more than benevolent advice, Sri Lanka needed international support for combating terrorism and seeking a lasting solution.

“That includes persuading the LTTE to return to negotiations unarmed – parallel to Maoist rebels in Nepal – and to hang in there until a consensus is reached. It also includes curbing activities of LTTE front organisations on their soil, particularly their fundraising capacity. The support of the United States and Canada in outlawing the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation and the World Tamil Movement is deeply valued,” Goonetilleke said.

He also pointed out that the government had agreed to implement in full the 13th Amendment to the Constitution as a precursor to other power-sharing proposals, which India, the United States and other countries had welcomed.

“Following the success of the Provincial Council elections in the Eastern Province in May (where people were free to vote after 20 years under LTTE control) and the appointment of S. Chandrakanthan, Tamil leader of a breakaway LTTE group, as Chief Minister there, the LTTE’s claim of being the sole representative of Tamils is irretrievably shattered. This development is tangible proof that democracy is a viable alternative to Tiger hegemony,” he emphasised.

Goonetilleke also pointed out that the demand to disarm paramilitaries was illogical in the event the LTTE, the most menacing of armed groups, was excluded.

“Moreover, to wean the youth away from hopelessness and violence, the economic desolation of the east needs to be countered by developing infrastructure and encouraging investment. That transformation will send an unmistakable message to the Tamils still languishing in the Tiger lair in the north. Only such action will drive home the message that seizing power through terrorism, as Tigers currently seek to do, is unacceptable to the civilised world,” the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US maintained.

TID ordered to produce Jaseekaran before JMO

The Supreme Court has ordered Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) OIC Prasanna de Alwis to produce suspect Vettivel Jaseekaran before the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) for a medical examination to ascertain whether he sustained any injuries as a result of an assault.

Court also directed the JMO to produce his medical report to court.
The Bench, comprising Justices Raja Fernando, Saleem Marsoof and K. Sripavan, made this order sequel to a request made by Counsel for suspect J.C. Weliamuna.

Jaseekaran, who is in TID custody, filed this fundamental rights application claiming Rs. 10,000,000 compensation as violation of his fundamental rights by arresting him.

When the case came up before the court, Counsel for Jaseekaran informed the court that his client had been assaulted at the TID even after being produced before the Magistrate.

TID OIC Prasanna de Alwis, TID SSP Nandana Munasinghe, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, IGP Victor Perera, TID IP Janakantha and the Attorney General were cited as respondent by Jaseekaran’s petition.
In his petition he had stated that he had been arrested, that he had nothing to do with the LTTE and that he had been contributing to the Outreach SL.com website as a journalist.

Govt considers moves to block demos near HSZs

The Government is considering new emergency regulations to restrict public access to areas near high security zones in the city of Colombo. The move comes in the wake of last Thursday’s incident at Dharmapala Mawatha where Police fired water canons and baton charged Bhikku students marching towards Temple Trees.

The student-monks wanted to hand over a petition to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. A Government source who spoke on grounds of anonymity said the new measures were aimed at preventing marches, protest rallies and demonstrations posing security threats within areas declared as high security zones. These include areas surrounding the Janadipathi Mandiriya, Temple Trees and the Parliament complex at Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte.

The source said the proposed regulations would not restrict the movement of the public particularly along roads or to venues which they now frequent.

However, access to designated areas which pose a security threat would require the approval of a Competent Authority, according to proposals now under consideration. It is not immediately clear how such an authority will function and the grounds on which it will allow individuals or groups access.
The need for the new measures has been further enhanced by the upcoming South Asian summit.
Leaders of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives are being invited by the Government for the summit that will be held in Colombo. The Foreign Ministerial level meeting will begin on July 28. Thereafter the summit will be held from August 1 to 3.

CEB Chairman found corrupt, appointed again

Why was Udayasiri Kariyawasam former chairman of the CEB appointed as the chairman in the first place, amidst overwhelming accusations of corruption levelled against him at his former workplace, the Bank of Ceylon remains a mystery.
The former Chairman of the CEB who initially held the chairmanship at the Bank of Ceylon was subjected to investigation by the PIU on a petition filed by the employees of BoC. The petition accused Mr. Kariyawasam of corruption at the BoC and the Grand Oriental Hotel an affiliate of the BoC.
The report filed by the PIU director General, Thilak Iddalmalgoda, which was addressed to the president was released on 15th August last year(2007.08.15)contained charges of corruption related to both the BoC and the Grand Oriental hotel.
The PIU report has found him guilty of spending Rs. 2,550,075.55 to renovate the office of the chairman and the chief secretary despite this being in good condition and not requiring renovation.
The tender had been awarded to Creation Advertising Company without following proper tender procedure.
Mr Kariyawasam is also accused of awarding a tender to the same Creation Advertising Company once again without following the proper tender procedures to renovate the BoC branch at the Nugegoda junction, despite the fact that the said branch had already been renovated.
The estimated cost of that renovation was to be Rs. 23,210,875.00.
The renovation however had not been done. Mr. Kariyawasam had not obtained board approval for the renovation project.
A similar situation transpired when renovating the conference hall of the BoC. Mr. Kariyawasam paid Creation Advertising Company a sum of Rs. 1,875,991.55.
The report also states: “The repairing of the generator of the Grand Oriental Hotel was given to B Mech Engineering Company by Anura Fernando (Accountant of the Grand Oriental Hotel appointed by Mr. Kariyawasam personally)
Proper tender procedures were not adopted by Mr. Anura Fernando when entrusting B Mech Engineering with the job. The cost estimate for the repair was increased from time to time and finally was settled at Rs.13 lakhs. A sum of Rs.1,037,500.00 was paid. Yet no repairs were done. Though parts of the generator were removed and taken they have not been returned. To this day (Date of release of the Report) the generator is not functional”
Observations made by Mr. Thilak Iddalmalgoda , the Director General, Presidential Investigative Unit states:”The accusations of this report have revealed the obstinate actions and the misuse of state funds by Mr. Kariyawasam. It is therefore my observation that Mr. Kariyawasam is unfit to hold an administrative post in any government office”

Dharmadasa, Mendis signed multi million $ Taj TV deal without authority?

An independent committee has been appointed by the Minister of Sports to conduct a detailed inquiry to find out if Jayantha Dharmadasa the former chief of the Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee, and its current CEO Duleep Mendis entered into two multi million dollar TV rights agreements with Taj TV without legal authority.
The information about these two TV rights ‘deals’ reached the ears of the Minister of Sports Mr Gamini Lokuge toward the end of 2007. He immediately wrote to the Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee and informed the Secretary that until he inquires into this matter the said two contracts shall stand suspended.
Immediately thereafter the Minister acting on legal advice sent a questionnaire to the Secretary of the Interim Committee asking him to explain the background to these two Agreements.
After receiving the relevant replies the said replies were forwarded to an eminent President’s Counsel for legal opinion.
“In the absence of a specific authorization by the Interim Committee it appears that neither Mr. Dharmadasa nor Mr. Mendis had the legal authority to commit the Interim Committee or SLC to these two addendums. They had exceeded their jurisdiction in entering into these addendums as representing the interim committee,” states a twenty-one paged Opinion sent to the Ministry of Sports by a leading President’s Counsel in Sri Lanka.

75% SAARC confab fund for security

More than 75 percent of the Rs 2.88 billion budget for the forthcoming SAARC summit has been allocated to the police department for security, authoritative sources said.
A supplementary estimate will be presented in parliament on July 8 to secure funds for the SAARC summit. A large sum of money is expected to be spent on buying new luxury vehicles to transport delegates.
According to sources, the foreign ministry will be given 11.95 percent of the budget with which they would have to meet accommodation, conference, decoration and other costs. A massive 75.2 percent of the budget will go to the police department for security.

Vasudeva withdraws accusation against govt

Vasudeva Nanayakkara who recently accused the government of not having spent on relief efforts for flood victims in the Colombo region has withdrawn his accusations, reinstating that the money was in fact given, but corruption had plagued the relief efforts in the divisional districts. Leader of the opposition of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that he was informed that a sum of money amounting to Rs 20 Lakhs had in fact been given by the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief headed by Minister Ameer Ali to the divisional secretariats in the North, Central and South.
“However, when it came to distribution, the divisional secretariat in Dam Street that governs operations conducted in the North and Central provinces had actually distributed dry rations and carried out relief efforts amounting to Rs 16 Lakhs, whereas the office that governs the Southern area located in Vajira Road had done nothing .” he said.
Nanayakkara said that he has sent a letter to the office demanding that they show proof of the funds being appropriately spent on relief efforts for the victims of the floods in the South. He charged that if the office declined to respond within the next few days it would have to answer to the President, saying it was a grave misappropriation of funds.
“I have apologized to those concerned over my accusations of the government for not having spent enough for relief efforts of flood victims, and have requested district offices to show proof of their operations, “ he added.
It was a only a few days ago during a meeting, a monthly session of the CMC also chaired by the Mayor, where Nanayakkara charged that the government spent funds amounting to Rs 1 billion for the Deyata Kirula exhibition but not a cent was spent on flood victims . According to statements made earlier by Nanayakkara, the Divisional Secretariat and the Disaster Relief Ministry had not provided relief to victims in the Colombo districts as earlier promised. This he said was a crime and one that embarrasses the CMC for not having done the necessary work in providing relief efforts.
LAKBIMAnEWS also spoke to Mayor Mohamed U. Emitiyaz on the matter. He said that it was Nanayakkara who had earlier informed the CMC that a sum had been separately allocated by the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief.
“He told us earlier on itself of the money that had been allocated, however since our meeting we have come to know of the funds being misappropriated once it was given to the divisional secretariats,” the mayor said. “The CMC has done what was possible at the time in helping aid relief efforts to the flood
victims.”
Emitiyaz said that the CMC could have done more relief work but they were asked not to since money had been allocated and was promised to be given.

Wimal under fire for meeting Pillayan

Opposition parties yesterday charged that JVP defector and Leader of the newly formed National Freedom Front (NFF), Wimal Weerawansa has acted against the democratic forces in the country by meeting with Eastern Province Chief Minister and leader of the armed paramilitary TMVP, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan.

Weerawansa met with Pillayan at the National Freedom Front office in Battaramulla behind closed doors yesterday at a time the opposition parties in the country as well as the international community were calling for the disarming of Pillayan’s group. The TMVP has refused to disarm despite claiming to have entered the democratic process.

The JVP has charged that Weerawansa’s act has been against all the democratic forces in the country.

The JVP says that the party as well as all the democratic forces in the country called for the disarming of the Pillayan group during the Eastern Provincial Council elections last month.

"However, the government did not listen to it and Weerawansa too said that the Pillayan group should not be disarmed when all democratic forces wanted the group to be disarmed," the JVP charged.

According to the JVP, Weerawansa’s meeting with Pillayan was an endorsement of his support to the government and all undemocratic forces.

The UNP also charged that Weerawansa’s actions showed his support to undemocratic forces in the country.

UNP parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella told The Sunday Leader that even when the United Nations has asked the government to stop all its connections with the armed Pillayan group, Weerawansa has now actively met with him to further his political career by turning his back on the democratic forces in the country.

France backs ACF call for int’l probe on Muttur massacre

French charity Action Against Hunger (ACF) has began to approach international donors to Sri Lanka to establish an international inquiry into the killing of 17 of its local staffers in Muttur in August 2006, ACF officials in France said.

France, it is learned has already come out in support of the initiative.

Head, ACF communications, Lucile Grosjean told The Sunday Leader that coinciding with the launch of a new campaign over the Muttur murders on June 17, the organisation had first made its appeal to France.

"As the event on the 17th was the official launching of the campaign aimed at obtaining an international inquiry, ACF requests the support of France, European Union, Co-chairs of the Tokyo conference at this specific moment. We decided to go step by step asking first for the support of France," she said adding that the French government had reacted positively. "As requested by ACF, we are going to explore with our international partners the possibility of setting up an international commission of inquiry," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in Paris on June 17 according to transcripts made available by the French Foreign Ministry.

Grosjean however said that the organsisation had only received the French response and was however not aware as to how the other countries would react to the idea of an international inquiry.

France will be taking over as the head of the European Union on July 1 and incidentally Kouchner was an original member of the International Independent Eminent Group of Persons (IIEGP) that was set up to assist the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry. He resigned when he was appointed as the Foreign Minister of the Nicolas Sarkozy administration. The IIEGP pulled out of Sri Lanka in March that was followed by ACF that had maintained a single member presence in the country to handle the matters relating to the COI proceedings on the Muttur massacre.

94 persons missing since January this year

A monitoring activity by a deputy minister has revealed that some 94 persons, all of them ethnic Tamil, are reported missing during the period of January 2008 to date.

According to Deputy Minister of Vocational Training, P. Radhakrishnan, a total of 147 were reported missing while 38 have returned home subsequently. Some 15 are believed to be detained, he said.

The Deputy Minister who also took up the case of the Sea Street jewellery shop owners being extorted thereby forcing them to flee the country now claims that though the reasons and the parties that were involved in these enforced disappearances were unknown, it proved that the community was under threat.

"However, I must hasten to add that we don't hold the government responsible for these atrocities. We still have no information on the culprits."

Radhakrishnan added that all necessary steps should be taken to ensure the personal security of innocent civilian victims.

Meanwhile, Convenor, Civil Monitoring Mission (CMC), WPF Leader and Colombo District MP Mano Ganesan blamed the international community for failing to exert sufficient pressure on the government to ensure adherence to human rights and show respect to the law.

He added that the continued incidents showed that enforced disappeared still occur, and added that these incidents have given the lie to the government's claims and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe's rhetorical assurances to the international community.

Ranil elected Chairman, APDU

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was last week re-elected as chairman, Asia-Pacific Democratic Union, and Vice Chairman, International Democratic Union, at their respective meetings held in Paris on June 25 and 26.

TU coalition poised to take action against govt.

By Nirmala Kannangara

Trade unions have reached consensus to bring the country to a virtual standstill for three days before end July, Technological Service Trade Unions Federation (TSTUF) told The Sunday Leader.

The government’s failure to increase public, private and estate sector salaries on par with the rising cost of living (CoL), has compelled the combined trade unions, irrespective of party politics, to join the JVP at the proposed one day token strike on July 10 followed by a three day general strike, Deputy General Secretary, TSTUF, Nimal S. Andradi said.

"Ours is an independent trade union sans any political affiliation. TSTUF decided to support the JVP affiliated NTUC’s open invitation to join the proposed one day token strike to urge the government to address the working masses’ demands. The three day strike will be launched on a Wednesday. Work would then come to a standstill for five consecutive days taking Saturday and Sunday into account," he added.

"We learn that the government claims our request for the Rs.5,000 salary increase is unreasonable as the country is on a war footing. If this is the case people would be willing to make sacrifices but first the President and his cabinet of ministers should set an example by reducing wastage, bribery and corruption," said Andradi.

Meanwhile, Inland Revenue Service Unions (IRSU), also an independent body has decided to support the combined trade union action to urge the government to address the plight of the country’s eight million workers.

"The government has failed to address the peoples’ grievances and therefore we will join the JVP trade unions to force the government to grant the salary increase. Our members decided to cooperate with the NTUC," Ex-Co Member, IRSU, G.N. Jayaratne told he said .

Sri Lankan community offers helping hand to fire victims

DOHA: A Sri Lankan community organisation has come forward to support victims of the devastating fire that claimed the lives of five Sri Lankan workers a week ago. The Sri Lankan Coordinating Committee (SLCC) is now looking for permanent premises to accommodate the 32 Sri Lankans stranded following the fire.

“Currently they are put up in a temporary accommodation in Abu Hamour, provided by a member of the Sri Lankan community. Efforts are on to find a permanent house for them,” SLCC President Lenny Cramer said.

The Sri Lankan Community Benevolent Fund (SLBF) has promised to help the workers pay the rents for the first one month, once they get new accommodation, added Cramer. He thanked all Sri Lankans for their overwhelming support by providing cooked meals, food and other essential items to the stranded workers.

A religious ceremony will be held at the Sri Lankan Embassy premises today at 6 p.m. as a tribute to the five Sri Lankans killed in the fire. All community members have been invited to attend the event.
The remains of the five victims – Thusitha A. Abeywickrama, Roshan T. Kumara, Niula Ekanayake alias Nimal, Amila Madusanka and Nalinda Kumara – were sent to Sri Lanka for final rites.

The expenses for the repatriation of the bodies of Amila and Nalinda were borne by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) while the expenses for Thusitha, Roshan and Riula were borne by their sponsor.
Of the two persons who were injured in the fire, Dulan Salika Rathnasiri is still in a critical condition at the Trauma Intensive Care Unit of the Hamad Medical Corporation, while his colleague Vijitha Aluthge is recovering at the Burns Unit of the Rumaillah Hospital.
, adding that IRSU on several occasions had requested President Mahinda Rajapakse who is also Finance Minister to rectify the much-debated 06/2006 salary circular, but there was no response.

Case against Sannasgala in Kandy MC

Kandy Chief Magistrate Sumudu Premachandra had on Friday ordered the Special Crime Division of the Kandy Police to obtain the Attorney General’s advice to file charges against popular tutor, Upul Shantha Sannasgala over preparing a document with a fake signature.

The police it is learnt had informed the Magistrate that an examiner of questioned documents had verified the document as a fake.

Sannasgala is accused of preparing a document to prove that one Wijesuriya, an owner of several private tuition institutions in Kandy had obtained Rs. 600,000 from him.

Sannasgala was released on bail amounting to Rs. 5,000 and personal sureties and the Kandy Chief Magistrate had ordered him to appear before court on August 29.

Sannasgala, who initially agreed to contest the Sabaragamuwa PC elections under the UNP ticket suddenly withdrew last week.

LTTE getting bomb chemicals from India

Indian intelligence agencies say the LTTE is getting raw materials for its explosive devices from two major Indian cities, the United Press of India (UPI) reported yesterday. A senior Intelligence Bureau official said the raw materials were mainly being obtained from the Information Technology city of Bangalore and the industrial city of Mumbai. India's enforcement agencies in Madurai recently seized a vital commercial consignment of chemicals, used in making explosives.

Judiciary should win the confidence of the masses: CJ

Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva yesterday said the Judiciary could function properly only if it won the confidence of the common man irrespective of racial, religious or language barriers.

Addressing a gathering after the ceremonial opening of the new Labour Tribunal Building at the Kaduwela Magistrates Court, Mr. Silva said since taking up office he initiated a series of programmes aimed at achieving these goals.

He said he faced several obstacles in the past in achieving these targets, but was happy that an efficient deputy minister and a dedicated team were now playing a crucial role in uplifting the image of the judiciary.

The Chief Justice said the Justice Ministry has now set up Courts in LTTE controlled and even the Tigers had begun to respect the judicial system by not attacking them he assured that the country’s majority or the judiciary would never act in an unfair manner towards the minority communities.

Mr. Silva also stressed the importance of learning the Tamil language especially by public servants since that knowledge would help avert unfortunate situations we face today.

Deputy Justice Minister V. Puthirasigamani told the gathering that he did not like the idea of classifying people as majority or minority.

“The majority in one country will be a minority in another country. Language should not be a barrier to the cordiality among all communities. I never depend on anyone to find solutions for the problems of the Tamils. I have always placed faith and respect on the judiciary and the chief justice in finding solutions to the problems of the Tamils,” he said.JSC Secretary Susantha de Silva and Kaduwela Bar Association President Susantha Wettasinghe were also among those who addressed the gathering. .

Private sector pay hike next month

The government yesterday said salaries of private sector employees would be increased from next month, following a request made by the Labour Minister.

The private sector responded positively to a request made by Minister Athauda Seneviratne for a 15% to 30% pay hike for private sector employees.

Minister Seneviratne said the pay hike would come as a temporary solution for the skyrocketing cost of living largely triggered by rising world oil prices.Mr. Senevirate said the ultimate objective would be sustainable development through improving productivity. He said the pay hike would be implemented following discussions with the relevant parties.

Garments specific for British Defence Ministry manufactured in Sri Lanka

Texstyle Lanka Private Limited entered into an agreement with the BOI to manufacture garments for export on June 26. Mr. Ananda Bandara, Chairman and Managing Director and Mrs Hemali Bandara, Director of the company and Mr Dhammika Perera, Chairman/ Director General of the BOI, signed the Agreement. Dr Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion formally handed over the BOI Certificate of Registrations to the investor.
Minister Amunugama congratulated the investors stating that Texstyles Lanka Exports Private Limited illustrates well the spirit of enterprise of Sri Lankan companies who have succeeded in mastering cutting edge technologies and is now able to meet the requirements of demanding customers overseas. In the future other Sri Lankan companies will carve themselves niches as the demand for specialized and high-end goods will increase.

The cost of the project, which is located at Boralessgamuwa is US$ 718,000 and the company will be employing 175 workers. Texstyle Lanka exports 80% of all its production to the British Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Ananda Bandara, an engineer by profession, who has many years of experience in the textile industry. He founded the company as a garments buying and liaison office and got into manufacturing with his vast experience. Over the years he developed his knowledge in a very specialized area in the manufacture of garment, such as flying suits and equipment used by military and aerospace professionals.

Mrs. Hemali Bandara, his spouse, is also a company Director is well experienced in the textiles and garments manufacturing. Her knowledge of the garments industry included experience working for Hentley Garments, May Department

Stores International and also at Liz Claiborne. The company has been in existence since 2003 when it had just 9 employees as a modern sample-manufacturing unit. In 2004 it increased it staff strength to 75 employees. In 2006 Texstyle Lanka began producing aircrew coveralls and contracted with RFD Beaufort UK, main supplier to the British Ministry of Defence. The true knit unit was started in 2007 to supply sweaters, pullovers and cardigans to the UK market for labels such BHS, Chums, Woodwille, Heatons and other brands. In 2008, the company workforce was expanded to 120 employees.

Texstyle Lanka is the only Sri Lankan Company to supply United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence. The main buyer of the company is RFD Beaufort Private Limited, a British company that supplies safety, military, aerospace and survival clothing equipment for the British Ministry of Defence and other countries as well. For such production very advanced machinery is used to produce the garments needed to equip and protect fast jet pilots and parachutists.

Many of the clothing items use new types of high value non-flammable materials that meet the highest aerospace requirements. One example is a fleece-lined garment that protects fighter pilots flying in very cold conditions. The garment is also fire resistant.

Other products include suits for aircrews and for ground crews. Anti G trousers that counteract the forces of gravity are also among the goods produced and exported by the company. Furthermore they produce and supply fabric sea anchors used in life rafts for survival operations, in addition to specialized working clothes and helicopter flying suits for those employed on oilrigs. Future advanced products will include advanced garments such as tri-laminate immersion suits and submarine escape survival kits.

Govt. will recapture North says President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said there were people who supported terrorism unknowingly, some supported willfully and there was another section of people who supported terrorism maliciously.

Addressing a People’s Rally which was held after the opening of the newly constructed Fisheries Harbour at Beruwala, President Rajapaksa said the government did not prosecute a war against the Tamils but saved them from the jackboot of the LTTE. The government was determined to face terrorism with resolve and recapture the north as it did in the east, he said.

“These people can open their mouth only to eat. The objective of the armed forces is to give them an opportunity to enjoy the smell of democracy. We are achieving victories one after the other liberating the north from the clutches of the terrorists. When I was coming here this morning, the Army Commander informed me the forces had over-run one of their main strategic locations, the Five-Four-Base yesterday. They had also captured Periyamadu in thise process,” he said.

There were a lot of elements that wanted to delay the forward march of the security forces. They now want a ceasefire. When the ceasefire was in force, the terrorists could regroup and strengthen themselves. Then they attacked us out of the blues. We must learn from the past, President Rajapaksa stressed.

This government has decided to handover a safe country to the next generation. For that, we need to build a trouble and violent free country.

However, the government has already begun many programmes to make Sri Lanka self sufficient on food simultaneously with a series of development projects.

He expressed his gratitude to China for funding the Beruwala Fisheries Harbour Development Project with financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 410 million after the Fisheries Harbour was totally destroyed by the tsunami.

Fisheries Minister, Felix Perera said the government had launched a series of new programmes to enhance the income of fishermen.

The new Beruwala Fisheries Harbour has the facilities to repair 20 multi-day boats at a time which was not so in the past, he said.

Acting Ambassador of China in Sri Lanka, Ji Jan U said China was highly appreciative of Sri Lanka’s ‘One China’ policy.

The two countries have a longstanding friendship based on mutual understanding, co-operation and respect.

The century-old cultural, religious and trade links were further strengthened after the bilateral diplomatic ties were begun in 1957, he said.

Troops make another breakthrough; Parappakkadantan falls to troops - Mannar front

Security forces personnel operating in Mannar front made another major breakthrough capturing LTTE's stronghold in Parappakkadantan, 4Km north of Giant Tank, in Mannar front this noon, June 28.

According to the military sources, a firing rang used by the LTTE terrorists, probably for training requirements, also found in a search operation conducted in the 2 square Km area captured by the troops. Meanwhile, several tombs erected for terror cadres killed in past gun battles were also found in general area Alkaddiveli, between Andankulam and Parappakkadantan.

These areas were under LTTE clutches for more than two decades and it clearly shows the inability of LTTE terrorists to face security forces who are continuously marching towards LTTE strongholds in multi-pronged offensive launched to liberate the Wanni.

Troops are now consolidating their positions in the area.

32 LTTE terrorists killed, 6 soldiers wounded in Mannar clashes

The LTTE suffered heavy defeats with soaring casualties as the outfit lost almost all the bases within the Mannar 'Rice bowl' area with the fall of Andankulama in Mannar to security forces yesterday (June 27), military sources report. According to Military Spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, 11 terrorists were killed in addition to 3 soldiers who were said wounded during the confrontations at Andankulama.

Troops have also gained full control over 13 square kilometers surrounding the Andankulma area, sources further said.

Also, the advancing Army battle formations have inflicted decisive blows to LTTE during multi-pronged attacks launched at LTTE fortified defence lines in general area Papamoddai, as troops confirmed at least 21 terrorists were killed in the confrontations. According to defence sources, pitched fighting were reported in Papamoddai and Neduvarampu general areas since 8a.m., which lasted till 4p.m, on Friday.

3 soldiers have received injuries, while military claimed to have uncovered another slain LTTE body along with a T-56 assault riffle following a search operation conducted in the area.

Papamoddai is located 12 km south of Vidathalthivu an LTTE strategic location and 8 km north of Mannar, on the Mannar-Pooneryn road.

Army Commander Reviews Security Situation in Yala

Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, accompanied by a few Senior Officers of the Army Headquarters, flew to Yala Saturday (28) morning in a bid to review the security situation in the area.

Commander Area Headquarters Hambantota Colonel Devinda Perera received the Army Commander on his arrival at the airstrip.

Arrangements made to ensure security in the area and adjoining villages were discussed at length during the meeting held at Area Headquarters auditorium.

Senior Officers of the Army and the Police responsible for the security in respective areas attended the meeting.

Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka gave further instructions on future security arrangements.

'Tigers have lost world sympathy by slaughtering Sinhalese' says top ranked publication

(By: Dayan Jayatilleka from Geneva)

"The LTTE have lost the sympathy of the world by their slaughter of innocent Sinhalese" says a leading US scholar writing in what is widely regarded as the world's most influential publication on foreign policy and international affairs. Prof Richard Rosecrance makes this observation about the Tamil Tigers in a contribution co-authored with Arthur Stein entitled 'Separatism's Final Country', which appears in the latest issue of Foreign Affairs (July-August 2008).

Debating Prof Jerry Muller of the Catholic University of America on the issue 'Is Ethnic Conflict Inevitable?' Prof Rosecrance concludes that:

"If a separatist group uses terrorism, it tends to be reviled and sidelined. If an ethnic group does not have enough support to win independence by peaceful electoral means inside its country, its resorting to terrorism only calls into question the legitimacy of its quest for independence.

Recognizing this, the Quebecois abandoned the terrorist methods of the Quebec Liberation Front. Most Basques castigate Basque Homeland and freedom (known by its Basque acronym ETA). Enlightened Europeans have withdrawn their support for the Chechen rebels. And the continued terrorist shelling of Israeli cities from a Hamas -dominated Gaza might undermine the previous international consensus in favour of a two-state solution to the Palestinian problem, or at least warrant a exceptional approach to Gaza.

....Even where the central government has used force to suppress secessionist movements, it has offered carrots at the same time that it has yielded sticks. The province of Aceh has been coaxed, even as it has been subjected to threats, to remain inside the Indonesian republic. Kashmir, facing a balance of restraints and incentives, is unlikely to emerge as an independent state in India. And the Tamil Tigers have lost the sympathy of the world by their slaughter of innocent Sinhalese."

Richard Rosecrance is Senior Fellow at the Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University and Adjunct Professor of Public policy at the John F Kennedy School of Government, also at Harvard. His co-author Arthur Stein is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). They are co-editors of "No More States? Globalization, National Self-Determination, and Terrorism" (2006).

Their conclusion on the Tamil Tigers and secessionism appeared in the current issue of Foreign Affairs (Volume 87 No 4). The journal is rated in several surveys of the media as No 1 in influence among US opinion leaders and for four straight years the world's top publication on international affairs.

Troops capture LTTE’s 54 base

Troops in a fierce battle on Thursday night captured the LTTE’s 54 base in Chiraddikulam on the Vavuniya front.

Later the Army recovered 25 dead bodies (all male) inside the camp.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said "LTTE’s Charles Anthony Brigade had been based here,"

The bodies recovered would be handed over to the Vavuniya hospital by the Army.

Troops had also recovered 16 T-56 assault rifles, seven RPGs, one LMG, Two GPMC’s , three radio sets, and a large amount of ammunition and AP mines, he said.

Appoint a commission to investigate into the killings of 37 members of Sri Lanka Parliament

Pressure is mounting on the Government of Sri Lanka to appoint a commission to investigate into the killings of 37 elected members of Parliament of Sri Lanka, starting from the murder of Alfred Duraiyappah on 27 July 1975, up to that of the slaying of Minister Jeayaraj Fernandopulle on 06 April 2008, in a bomb blast in Welliweriya.

Alfred Duaraiyappah, who was a Member of Sri Lanka Parliament and Mayor of Jaffna was the first MP to be killed by the suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Though the case regarding the killing of Alfred Duraiyappah was taken up for hearing and judgment was delivered, it is suspected that the actual killer was not brought before any court of law in Sri Lanka.

In fact, V.Prabakaran, the leader of the LTTE, proudly claimed that he was the one who killed Alfred Duraiyappah, and he remains at large.

Unfortunately up to now, there is no way either to confirm or dismiss the claim of the Tiger leader about the killing of Alfred Duaraiyappah.

Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella said that he intends to take up this issue with the Government of Sri Lanka for the setting up of a Presidential Investigative Commission to go into the killings of 37 former Members of Parliament who represented the people of this country one time or more in their life time.

Asian Tribune contacted, Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Foreign Employment Promotions and Welfare & Government Spokesman for Defense and National Security, regarding the move for the investigation on the massacre of 401 unarmed Police Officers on 11 June 19990.

Earlier, The Government officially announced on 13th June 2008 that investigations will be conducted into the massacre of 401 police officers on 11-06-1990 in Amparai, Trincomalee and Batticaloa areas on the request made by the affected families.

Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella said that the killing of 401 police officers … such a mass murder has gone without any investigation. Time to time this issue has been brought up, but so far no action has been taken. Many NGO organizations and r human rights groups are talking about this massacre. But I will say it is the obligation of the Government in fairness to the Police Department, I think this issue has to be investigated.

CM candidates won’t be named till nominations – Tissa Attanayake

The United National Party politburo has decided not to publicize the party’s Chief Ministerial candidates for the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Council elections until nominations are handed over.
Speaking to media, Attanayake said that the decision was taken after considering death threats posed on UNP candidates by the government.

JHU to refrain from North Central & Sabaragamuwa PC elections

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has decided not to contest the North Central and the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections.
The decision follows extensive discussions at the JHU Central Committee, says, Party General Secretray, Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera.

The JHU is based on their position of not accepting the Provincial Council system and also because these PC's are not as important as East PC polls, the Thero said.

Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said that the JHU actively participated in the setting up of the Eastern PC with the intention of establishing democracy in the area.

Noting that the JHU was of the opinion that the government should focus on defeating the LTTE rather than on holding elections and implementing political agendas, Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera urged the government not to them give undue prominence.

IUBF lodges complaint with HRC

Claiming their Fundamental Rights were violated after being tear gassed and water cannoned by police during a protest march in Colombo, monks of the Inter-University Bhikku Federation (IUBF), lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) yesterday (June 27th).
Citing the Defence Secretary and the IGP as respondents, the IUBF requested the HRC to conduct an unbiased inquiry into the incident, convener of the IUBF, Ven. Namaloya Ananda Thera said.

The IUBF convener added that video clips and newspaper cut-outs containing pictures and details of the incident were also handed over to the Commission as evidence for the investigations.

The 11 Buddhist monks who were arrested following the incident, were released on bail yesterday, he further said.

Pillayan - Wimal in hurried discussions

Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan held a hurried discussion with the leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) , Wimal Weerawansa at the NFF headquarters in Battaramulla today (June 28th).
Chief Secretary of the NFF, Nandana Gunatillake, NFF media spokesman, Mohomad Musamil and the most recent defector from JVP, MP Anjaan Umma attended the discussion.

It is reported the discussion was on the current political situation in the East and possible joint political interventions to defeat the LTTE.

The NFF leader was one of those who argued against disarming of the TMVP faction and this sparked off controversies between him and the JVP before the Eastern PC elections.

Sri Lanka's national carrier slaps fuel surcharge

Sri Lanka's national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines, will re-introduce a fuel surcharge to cover rising jet fuel costs, the airline said Saturday.

"Sri Lankan Airlines has re-introduced the fuel surcharge for travel and ticketing effective July 1," the airline said.

It said flights between Sri Lanka and Southeast Asian countries will cost 50 dollars more while fares to the United States and Canada will increase by 160 dollars. Middle East and other destinations will cost 90 dollars more.

Sri Lanka offshore sand deposits draw foreign interest

Foreign investors are interested in mining sea sand off Sri Lanka's western coast to be used in the construction industry which is facing shortages of the material, government officials said.

But the high cost of the offshore sand mining and potential conflicts with fisher communities are deterrent factors, they said.
Geological Survey and Mines Bureau chairman N P Wijayananda said the best sea sand deposits are found between the coastal towns of Kalutara, south of the capital Colombo, and Kalpitiya, to its north.

"There are investors who want to mine, especially for the port projects."

Sri Lanka has two big port projects planned – one to expand Colombo port and the other to build a new harbour in southern Hambantota.

The sea sand deposits off the western coast have already been exploited by the government to provide material for highway as well as previous port construction projects, he said.

The bureau has issued an exploration licence to a Korean investor who showed interest in mining the offshore sand deposit north of Colombo.

"The investor is to do further investigations," Wijayananda said.


Another licence has been issued to an investor covering an area off southern Hambantota.

But sea sand off the south coast has been found to have more calcareous material – coral and shells – making it more suitable for filling purposes rather than construction, Wijayananda said.

Sri Lanka construction contractors are facing a serious shortage of sand owing to restrictions on river bed mining.

The restrictions were imposed to prevent environmental damage and led to prices of sand soaring in the local market.

Wijayananda said more offshore sea sand mining was required to fill up previously mined stockpiles as they get depleted. .

SINGER SRI LANKA SELLS STAKE IN LEASING FIRM TO LANKA ORIX

Singer (Sri Lanka) said it will sell its 30 per cent stake in its associate Commercial Leasing Co. valued at 495.8 million rupees (US$4.6 million) to Lanka Orix Leasing Co. (LOLC) following a mandatory offer.
Singer (Sri Lanka) said in a stock exchange filing that it has accepted the mandatory offer made by Lanka Orix Leasing Co. for the shares held by Singer (Sri Lanka) of Commercial Leasing Co.

Singer (Sri Lanka) held 30 per cent of Commercial Leasing Co. and accounted it as an associate company.

The statement said the value of the shares is 495.8 million rupees, which is about 408.9 million rupees above its Net Book Value in the company accounts and 80.2 million rupees above its Net Book Value in the Group accounts.

Commercial Leasing Co was taken over last month by Lanka Orix Leasing Company which offered to buy out other shareholders under stock exchange rules.

Commercial Leasing Co is a mid-sized specialised leasing company which was started in 1988, and has a share of around five per cent of the leasing market.

Horrible situation for children”, Israel blocks UN committee from entering

‘Half of the population of Gaza is made up by minors: their current situation is horrible and could worsen still’, said a special UN committee that accused Israel of having forbidden its access to Gaza ‘to hide the violations of human rights perpetrated against Palestinians’.
In Cairo, Prasad Kariyawasam, president of the committee and Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the UN, said that Israeli authorities have blocked the group’s access to Gaza, forcing it to ‘interview local witnesses by phone and to speak with humanitarian operators to understand what is happening on the ground’.
After outlining the damage done to the population by the longstanding blockade of Gaza, Kariyawasam stressed the serious situation faced by children, described as ‘the first victims of the siege’. According to pediatricians ‘child mortality rates have increased to become the highest in the region’ while the ‘psycho-somatic symptoms that many children have developed can be linked directly to the suffering they are forced to endure’.
The children, said the UN representative, ‘see their fathers being subjected to daily humiliations and insults and they lose hope, and with it, their childhood’. The international community ‘has the moral duty to intervene – said Kariyawasam – to save an entire generation of children that shall have to build the Palestine of tomorrow’.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, the atmosphere is tense following the announcement – for the third consecutive day – of the closure of cross-border points in response to the launch of two Qassam rockets toward the Negev, though these did not provoke any victims. Isralei leaders have chosen to shut down all borders, even thoughy their gradual re-opening was a major point of the latest ‘ceasefire’ accords. Only a small amount of fuel is getting through, moving through the Eretz border

Eastern Province Chief Minister meets President

Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan yesterday called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees.
Informed sources said that at the meeting government agreed to provide employment to 1,200 graduates in the East by next month. The government also agreed to provide more foreign funds for development work in the East, sources said.
Several senior government ministers also participated in the discussion between President Rajapaksa and the CM.

PNM used for NFF activities: Ven Dambara Amila files objection

Ven. Dambara Amila Thera and a group from the Patriotic National Movement (PNM) complained the break-away group from Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna (JVP) was trying to use PNM for the activities of their party National Freedom Front (NFF), formed by Wimal Weerawansa.
Ven. Dambara Amila Thera and a group of executive committee members objecting to a case filed by the Chairman of PNM, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, said the General Secretary of PNM, who broke away from JVP has formed a new political party and PNM and its office was being arbitrarily used for the political achievement. In their objection the defendants further said a large number of members of the movement objected that it was used for politics and requested that the PNM be used only for the specific objectives for which it was formed.

SL`s is a deadly conflict, but neither can win the war - over 250,000 have died so far! - Foundation for co existence

The Foundation for Co existence Chairman, Kumar Rupasinghe said that over 250,000 persons have lost their lives in the on going conflict although it is reported that only 80, 000 died.
Speaking at the launch of his nine publications in Colombo he described Sri Lanka war as a deadly conflict with neither side winning.

He also emphasized that respect for laws of the country and lives of citizens must be respected in the first place, as they are imperative for any discussion.

I think it is not easy to find a leader like Ranil Wickremesinghe-Tissa Attanayake

The UNP was in a turmoil during the course of the week with a barrage of criticisms from its own stalwarts who were attacking UNP Leader and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for his poor performance in the recent hustings.While the party’s ‘young blood’ holding critical views about the leadership, the senior UNP politicians endorsed Wickremesinghe as still the ideal person for leadership as the UNP was facing a dearth of politicians who can win the confidence of the majority and the international community. While many UNP politicians were tightlipped this week, over the party rift, the UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake echoing the ‘official version’ of the whole drama to oust the UNP leader,


tried to make amends by simplifying it as ‘just proposals for the betterment of the party’s future’. “This is sinister propaganda by the state media”, he explained.
Agreeing that there are of course several lapses in party policies he said the need of the hour was to keep the internal crisis behind ‘closed doors’ as the party has a more important duty - to ‘save’ people from the unbearable economic burden and their security under the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

Excerpts:

Q: It was reported that another split is brewing with some urging for a change in the party leadership. What is a latest situation?

A: At first I want to say that there was no such crisis in the UNP. From the leader to the ordinary supporter, all want to have a clear process to come to power. Now there is a proposal to speed up our organising campaigns to defeat this government. The fact is that there are different views and opinions expressed by our members and it is a positive sign.

Q: It means that you agree there were plans to oust the UNP Leader?

A: No. There was no such move. Nothing was suggested at the recent meeting and what they had pointed was the need of taking certain new measures to win the future elections.

When considering the present situation of the economy and the security, people say they need a change soon. So, the talk was how to accelerate the process to victory and the changes that could bring about to achieve the target.

Q: Are you confident that he would be able to remain as the UNP leader in the future?

A: Yes. Why have doubts. He is the party leader and it will remain unchanged. On the other hand, there are ways mentioned in the UNP constitution on how to change the leadership. That cannot be done by bringing proposals and it should be done according to the party Constitution. But, no one has challenged the leadership yet.

Q: You said that according to the Party constitution the leader can not be changed in an adhoc manner. So, it is obvious that the leader remains not because of the faith of majority UNPers but due to the clauses of the Constitution?

A: How do you say that Mr. Wickremesinghe does not have the confidence of majority of the Party. He is still the most suitable person to lead the UNP towards victory. And majority of our members do not intend to have a change.

Q: But it was reported that some senior UNP politicians have urged to change the leadership to save the party. Isn’t it?

A: No. I refute that claim. Even I read some of these news reports in papers. It is a known fact that all the facts reported in media are not 100 percent accurate. Some media have distorted the facts raised in the Committee.

Q: Are you covering up the present rift against the UNP leadership?

A: No. I am talking on real facts. To talk about a rift there should be a revolt against Mr. Wickremesinghe. But there is nothing of that sort. But there are few people whose ideas were expressed for the betterment of the party. Everybody cannot hole the same view. There are diverse views. What is happening is, our rivals try to take political mileage by spreading these rumours, especially the state media.

Q: Was there a proposal to cut down the responsibilities held by the UNP leader and to devolve them among the senior politicians of the party?

A: No but there are proposals. I agree that there are lots of people in the party who neglect their responsibilities. I also agree that we should have a new system of sharing responsibilities.

Each one should be given responsibility of leading the party to victory. Meantime, those who can work hard should be given a chance to rise. Then not only the UNP leadership but also each and every one assigned to the task should take the responsibility.

Q: The UNP leader has lost over 16 elections and don’t you think that he is now fast losing his credibility and the party needs a swift change of leadership to take the party to victory?

A: I think it is not easy to find a leader like Ranil Wickremesinghe. From the Chandrika Kumaratunge era upto now there are attempts to change the leadership. Why are they scared of him? One is, due to his wide experience in politics and the other is the local and international recognition that he has gained so far. We strongly believe that there is no need for a change in the UNP leadership.

Q: What are the main obstacles for the UNP, which have suffered continues election defeats, to win polls?

A: We are also facing the common problems faced by all other political parties. That is rigging of votes. As in the East the government is trying to win the future elections fraudulently.

People should organise to win their right to vote. It is high time to establish an Independent Elections Commission and a Police Commission. Until then we cannot have hopes for a free and fair election as the Elections Commissioner says he does not have powers to take action against rigging of votes.

Apart from those, as a party we should also need to have some policy changes within the party. More responsibilities should be given to organisers. It is true that the UNPers today claim that we do not look after our supporters well.

There should be a new system to address these issues. The other fact is that the UNP lacks dedicated politicians, today. The reason for this may be they have lost confidence. We all should get together to lead the party to victory. Leadership is not only Mr. Wickremesinghe but leaders at all levels.

As a leader Mr. Wickremesinghe should devolve responsibilities among those who are dedicated. Powers should be devolved to the leaders at all levels and need to monitor whether they are meeting the given targets and if not actions should be taken against them.10 to 15 percent of the UNP organisers are not performing their responsibilities at all. It is of no use of keeping them without punishing.

Q: Some identified S. B. Dissanayake and MP Sajith Premadasa as the saviours of the party. Are there any moves to elevate them?

A: Everybody in the party should try to come up and as a party those who work hard should be taken into the forefront. They should be given tasks and responsibilities. One allegation against the UNP is that those who work hard will not be given a chance to rise. But this is not the truth. We can not hand pick people for the leadership.

For example former President J. R. Jayewardene took over 40 years to become the Leader of the UNP. And R. Premadasa worked hard and won the confidence of the party. No use of creating issues among people but those who want to come forward should show their talent through their work. And they should have dedication towards the party.

We do not bother who will become the leader but what we want at this juncture is to lead the party to victory. Not only S.B. and Sajith there are lots of promising politicians who can rise to the leadership.

Q: As the General Secretary, do you think that the UNP does not have a future at this moment without Mr. Wickremesinghe?

A: We should not create issues at this juncture. The UNP Leader Wickremesinghe is not only the Opposition Leader but he is a leader who has won the confidence of a majority of people of this country.

People, including minority groups, have faith in him. Instead of agitation to win people’s rights, first priority of the JVP is to sling mud on our leader. What we say is that this is not the right time to change the leadership.

Our challenge is to defeat this government, which has created havoc. So we need a leader who has the confidence locally and internationally. We can not give birth to leaders instantly.

The UNP is a party which suffered heavily due to the LTTE. Lots of UNP leaders were assassinated by the LTTE. I think Mr. Wickremesinghe is the only person who can still lead the party and if some other person tries to do that the UNP will lag behind. I don’t say that those who want a change and want to bring new proposals should deny their rights to talk.

Let’s keep the arguments internally and discuss to find a way out. I also see some lapses in the UNP. The UNP needs a shift in its policies. We need to tell the supporters clearly that we are ready to look after them. Otherwise, they will lose trust. For the last 14 years UNPers are suffering.

Q: But it was reported that there were some discussions between Mr. Wickremesinghe and Anura Kumara Dissanayake?

A: I do not know any meeting as such. In the Parliament lobby and on other occasions we meet them. I met Minister Chamal Rajapaksa last week and MP Basil Rajapaksa two weeks ago. These are the gossips reported in the media. As I mentioned earlier the main target of the UNP is to defeat this government. Apart from that the serious challenge for the UNP is that how best the UNP can contribute to resolve the national problem.

Q: Apart from criticising the moves of this government to resolve the national problem how do you think that the UNP can genuinely contribute towards finding a lasting solution?

A: We are unhappy with the present process of resolving this problem.We tried our best to be a part of this process. After President Rajapaksa came in to power, the government claimed that the national problem would be solved within three months. But, today this government is going ahead without any responsibility. War is a show off.

They have achieved victories as well as defeats. But, at this moment we should consider whether we can afford to continue the war. We lost thousands of innocent lives. The UNP is not against any move to defeat LTTE terrorism. There is no doubt we need immediate steps to stop terrorist acts by Prabhakaran. If the government moves with this same process they will find it difficult to go ahead.

Q: Are you talking about resuming peace talks?

A: We think the government should come up with a credible political solution. If they go for peace talks there should be a political package. A proposal for a political solution should be the basis for a discussion.

The UNP has a strong basis to commence peace talks. The UNP is ready to start talks on a proposal which will not divide this country. It should ensure the sovereignty of the country. Most importantly it should be accepted by the majority. The UNP will not hold peace talks with the LTTE if they still intend to divide this country.

Q: The government is ready to talk with the LTTE if they can lay down arms. But this was refused by the LTTE. How can the UNP re-start peace talks under these conditions?

A: They did not lay down arms when they came for peace talks with the UNP and also with the Mahinda Rajapaksa government. When there are conditions the chances for talks are remote.

The main factor is to develop trust between the two parties. Then Pillaiyan was allowed to contest with arms and still his group is armed. If the LTTE say that they need arms for their security.

Q: You are talking about two different situations. Pillaiyan group is still under LTTE threats. Who are the rivals of the LTTE to carry arms in self defence?

A: Who says so? We do not know the rivals of the LTTE. And I do not want to talk on behalf of Prabhakaran. We cannot say that the LTTE does not have threats.

Q: Will these brewing internal issues end up with another split, like earlier when the UNP’s senior politicians crossed over to the government?

A: There is no bar from expressing their views to improve the present situation of the party. Those who crossed over claimed that they joined the government because of the country. But they did that for ministerial portfolios.

They are additional burdens on the people of this country. If they really intended to work for the betterment of the country they could help the government while being MPs. I do not think that there is such a group within the UNP who plans to step in to the government. All those who bring various proposals want to accelerate our march to victory.




* No crisis in the UNP.

* No doubt UNP Leader will remain.

* As the leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should devolve more responsibilities among those who are dedicated to the party.

* UNP today lacks dedicated politicians.

* It is true and fair to say that the UNP does not look after its supporters much.

* Not only S.B. and Sajith, there are lots of promising politicians who can rise to the leadership within the UNP.

NFF decided to hold public rallies in Sri Lanka

National Freedom Front [NFF] plans to hold a series of public rallies to educate masses on prevailing challenges of Sri Lanka.
Its spokesman said these rallies would not criticize the JVP or its activities but educate the public on present challenges, which are before the country.
Leader of the NFF Wimal Weerawansa , Nandana Gunathilaka and other leading members of the NFF will address these rallies.
According to the NFF sources its first rally will be held on 30th of this month at Nugegoda .
“This is the first rally of the NFF” , said a spokesman of the party.
He said the NFF recently made an application to the Election Commissioner and asked to obtain Commissioner’s recognition as a political party. He said the Election Commissioner’s ruling on their application would be received within next few days.

IOM trains law enforcement officers on counter-trafficking

By Passanna Gunasekera
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized a series of training workshops on counter-trafficking for law enforcement officers under a project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to strengthen national efforts in addressing trafficking issues. To date over 300 law enforcement officers have been trained in identifying, tracking and prosecuting cases of trafficking in Sri Lanka during workshops held in Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Ampara and Kurunegala.

Following an assessment on the process of identifying and prosecuting cases of trafficking in Sri Lanka, IOM in consultation with stakeholders -- the Sri Lanka Police Department, the Attorney General’s Department and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment -- developed a curriculum for the training.

An international consultant, engaged by IOM, trained 50 police trainers from the Police Department representing all the districts. These trainers will continue to support institutional training of the police systematically. IOM is assisting the police in incorporating the training curriculum on trafficking into their existing training programme to ensure sustainability of training.

The project targets to train a total of 500 law enforcement officers including police and immigration officers by July 2008.
Other activities under this initiative include: setting up a database to track trafficking cases, enhancing collaboration and coordination among government and nongovernmental organizations, and developing a policy document on prevention of trafficking.

LTTE casualties on the rise: Troops force into terrorist defences in Mannar

Security source said that, LTTE terrorists were beaten off from Andankulama general area with heavy casualties as troops intensified attacks at the remaining LTTE flanks positioned at the Mannar defences today (June 27).
According to latest reports received, troops are making tactical advances in the areas, while consolidating defences as LTTE terrorists were forced to abandon its trench and bunker lines during the military launched multi-pronged offensive.
Earlier, on Thursday (26) Sri Lankan Army infantry supported by armour and artillery stepped-up fresh attacks with combined SLAF air support on the remaining terrorist strong-points in Mannar.
Meanwhile, Army sources said that they have recovered the bodies of 25 LTTE terrorists killed in the fighting yesterday (June 26). Arrangements are being made to hand over those bodies recovered, through the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), the sources further said.

25 corpses of LTTE uncovered: consolidate defences

Scores of LTTE terrorists were reported killed and 25 bodies recovered after fighting broke out between troops and LTTE in general area Chiraddikulama ahead of the Vavuniya defences yesterday (June 26), since 6p.m.
According to available information LTTE terrorists have received heavy damages as LTTE battle formations were said beaten in the military push launched by the 57 Division soldiers.
Meanwhile, 25 LTTE bodies were recovered by the troops who were engaged in search and clearing operations while consolidating the newly established defences, security sources said. Troops have also uncovered 20, T-56 assault riffles, 01x 12.7mm anti-air craft machinegun , 02x RPG launchers and 01x Light machinegun, MCNS sources said.

'Salvage our lady of Madhu from LTTE' says Bethlehem Catholics

The Catholic community in Bethlehem, Palestine issuing a statement has urged the leaders of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka to persuade the LTTE to return the statue to its original shrine so that it would be accessible to the devotees who belong to all religions in the island, foreign websites reported.
The Full text of the statement issued by the Catholic Community in Bethlehem:
"We the undersigned members of the Catholic community in Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus Christ are deeply concerned about the reported shifting of the highly venerated statue of our Lady of Madhu to an area 70 kilometers inside the jungle not accessible to the devotee. It is with great sorrow that we also learn of this venerated statue of Our Lady of Madhu being used as a shield by the radical group called LTTE in Sri Lanka.
"In view of the fact that the government of Sri Lanka has given the assurance that this shrine would be protected as in the past we appeal to the leaders of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka to persuade LTTE leaders to return the statue to its original shrine so that it would be accessible to the devotees who belong to all religions in the island. As we understand this statue end the shrine is a national heritage and should be protected by all irrespective of faith or ethnic identity.
Therefore we of the Catholic community in Bethlehem in Palestine appeal once again to all parties concerned to protect this venerated statue of Our Lady of Madhu and place it in historical site so that devotees from all over the world could worship as in the past."

Soldier killed, one injured in LTTE claymore bomb attack -Jaffna

A soldier was killed and another wounded when LTTE terrorists triggered off a roadside claymore bomb targeting an Army route patrol in general area Manthikai, Point Pedro in Jaffna, today (June 27) at 8.50p.m.
The injured soldier was rushed to the Palaly military base hospital, military sources reported, adding that the explosion had occurred between Manthikai and Kalikai areas in Point Pedro.
Extensive search operations are underway in the area, security sources said.

President says enough

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed IGP Victor Perera to ensure the police do not use any kind of force to disperse street protests by monks or students. The instructions come in the wake of the police using teargas and water to breakup a protest staged by a group of monks who yesterday sought a meeting with the President to seek redress to some of their issues.

Foreign capital must for economic survival of SAARC countries

In the era of globalization the economic survival of developing countries, especially of the SAARC nations, depends on their ability to compete, create attraction for foreign capital, enlarge markets and pool their resources. President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry,Tariq Sayeed said while inaugurating the first ever ‘Chambers Competition Awards 2008’ organised by the Federation of Chamber and Commerce and Industry, Sri Lanka (FCCISL) in Colombo on Friday, according to a message received here.
“Ultimately it will be the collective,creative and enterpreneural energy of the South Asia that will enable it to compete and emerge as a dynamic partner of the global economy”.
He stressed the urgent need for the adoption of following measures to strengthen and boost the economy among SAARC countries:
Formation of the strategic planning,defining the role and objective compatible to the requirements of business community,building repute as a centre of quality information, improvement of role and advisory units for government on economic issues, refurbishing secretariat on modern lines,provision of training for augmenting capacity building of the employees, developing effective relationship with government agencies and promotion of public-private partnership.
He said he was confident that the adoption of such measures will not only designate chambers as true representatives of the business community of the country but also elevate the image of the institution.
Tariq Sayeed said that “FCCISL Chambers Awards 2008” will add a new chapter in the history of the FCCISL and create a “healthy environment” amongst the chambers at regional and national level.”This would go a long way in building the image of chambers as partners of economic development in a country”.
He said launching of this award was inspired by winning the world chamber award at the world chambers federation and congratulated FCCISL for this milestone. “This is not only a pride for the institution but also an honour for the region of South Asia”.
Tariq Sayeed said that conferring awards to regional chambers is a prestigious approach to acknowledge the most acclaimed projects undertaken by these chambers. Later,he gave away awards to winners.
VP SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry,Pakistan chapter and deputy leader of Pak Traders delegation Iftikhar Ali Malik also graced the occasion.
Nawaz Rajabdin,President FCCISL and Vice President SAARC,Sri Lanka chapter, speaking on the occasion, thanked Tariq Sayeed for inaugurating the mega event.
He said that services of Tariq Sayeed to bridge the gap between business community and promotion of commercial activities in the region were commendable. He said these awards will serve as a stimulator to uplift the chamber movement in the country.
It may be mentioned here that Tariq Sayeed is the first Pakistani invited by FCCISL to inaugurate the prestigious ceremony of Chambers Competition Awards 2008.

SLAF raids LTTE training facility - Oddusuddan

Sri Lanka Air Force supersonic fighter jets raided an LTTE training facility and special unit headquarters located in general area Oddusuddan this morning, June 27.

Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, speaking to defence.lk said that the target which is located at Pirapavettuwan, 10km north of Oddusudan junction was engaged around 6.10 a.m.

Police probe mystery powder at US embassy

Police have initiated a probe over the suspicious powder discovered at the US Embassy premises in Colombo on Wednesday almost 24 hours after a complaint was lodged over the incident.

The police had earlier told the media they were not investigating the incident as a complaint was not lodged by the Embassy authorities.

Police Media spokesmen Ranjith Gunasekera said the Chief Security Officer of the Embassy last morning lodged a complaint with the police regarding the discovery, almost 24 hours after it was reported to the media.A sample of the substance was sent to the Medical Research Institute for investigations.

The U.S. embassy was closed on Wednesday after the powder was found in the premises.

"The suspicious substance will be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Until the results are received and a determination is made that the substance does not pose health or safety risks, the embassy will be closed to the public," it said in an e-mailed statement.

The heavily-guarded embassy has thrice been closed in the past after suspicious powder was detected but on each occasion it turned out to be a false alarm.

Senior lawyer suspended

The Supreme Court yesterday affirmed the Rule against Attorney-at-Law Elmore Perera (President of the Citizens’ Movement for Good Governance) in respect of contempt of court, and suspended him from practising as an Attorney-at-Law for seven years.

The Supreme Court had already issued an interim order, suspending him from practising until the conclusion of the inquiry for purported contempt of Court.

President’s counsel H.L. de Silva and Maureen Seneviratne and Attorney-at-Law Aravinda Aturupana appeared for Mr. Elmore Perera. President’s counsel Daya Perera and Mohan Peiris appeared for the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. Deputy Solicitor General V.K. Malalgoda appeared for the Attorney General.

The notice of a Rule (charge) had been served on Attorney-at-Law Elmore Perera for the purported disobedience and defiance of a direction of the court.

It stated that Mr. Perera had filed SC application No: 108/2006 (F/R) describing himself as a practicing Attorney-at-Law and supported the application for leave to proceed on 31.03.2006.

The Rule stated that he continued to read each and every averment in the petition, despite a specific direction given that the Bench was possessed of the contents of the petition and that he should not unduly take the time of court by reading each and every paragraph, but should make his submissions relating to the specific matters of law and fact, relevant to the matters at issue. Despite the said direction, in disobedience and defiance of the said direction, he continued to read the said paragraphs in the petition.

It further stated that, in the course of the said proceedings, when the bench required him to address court on certain issues for the purpose of clarification of questions of law that arose for consideration, he rudely and insolently refused to answer any questions despite repeated requests and he contemptuously told their lordships that they could look it up themselves, if they so desired.

The Rule stated that he used intemperate language and gesticulated to bring the proceedings of court into ridicule and contempt and thereby engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice; he failed to assist in the proper administration of justice and/or permitted his personal feelings to influence his conduct before court in breach of Rules 50 and 54 of the Supreme Court (Conduct and Etiquette for Attorneys-at-Law) amounting to misconduct and malpractice as an Attorney-at-Law.

Such conduct on his part warrants proceedings against him for suspension or removal from the office of an Attorney-at-Law under the Judicature Act. Mr. Perera has been asked to appear before the court and show cause why he should not be suspended from practice or be removed from the office of an Attorney-at-Law.

MR has no mandate for federal solution: JVP

By Gagani Weerakoon
The JVP yesterday stressed President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not get a mandate from the people to implement a federal solution but to safeguard the unitary status of the country.

JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe also slammed India for what he described as ‘its invasive dictatorial foreign policy’ and urged the government to reveal the contents and outcome of talks it held with the high level Indian delegation which visited the country last week.

The JVP said neither the Indian government nor the Sri Lankan government had so far issued even a statement on the outcome of the talks.

“During the talks, the Sri Lankan side was confined to the Rajapaksa family because it is now virtually running the entire country by handling everything from defence, economy to foreign affairs. Even though the President has failed to mention what they discussed we have received information from local and Indian sources as to what had transpired during the talks,” he said.

Mr. Amarasinghe also said according to some reports, the Indian delegation visited Sri Lanka to discuss security measures about the forthcoming SAARC summit.

“It is understandable and fair enough for them to be concerned about the security measures given the unfortunate incident where an Indian Prime Minister was assaulted during his visit here. But we know that the security concerns were not the sole reason for their sudden visit. They have discussed the feasibility of implementing a federal solution that goes beyond the 13th Amendment,” he said.

Mr. Amarasinghe stressed President Rajapaksa did not get a mandate from the people to implement a federal solution but to safeguard the unitary status of the country.

“We are not going to let this issue be treated lightly as the Indian policy was not friendly from the beginning of our national problem. Most people attempt to project the JVP as being anti-India. We are not against India or its people. But we have a problem about the present Indian foreign policy,” he said.

He said his party always expected India to treat matters relating to Sri Lanka with cordiality and understanding.

“But it never happened and it always tried to dictate terms to the Sri Lankan government,” he said.

SLPI seeks legal advice over state media allegations

By Sandun A Jayasekera
The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) is seeking legal advice as to what action could be taken if the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House) did not take immediate action to correct a news item hugely damaging to the institute which appeared in a state owned daily yesterday.

Addressing the media, SLPI Director General Ranga Kalansooriya said the news item had damaged the reputation of SLPI as an independent body in the field of journalism in the country. The news item under the headline ‘Eight Tigers sent to Norway under the journalist label, Applications were called by SLPI’ inter-alia had said that police intelligence had received information to the effect that a group of LTTE members were sent to Norway through Denmark under the journalist label by the SLPI in 2007.

“The news item was totally incorrect, baseless and malicious. There was no source, no base and no origin to the news item. The SLPI did not send journalists to Norway in 2007 at all. All twenty journalists

sent in Feb – March, 2006 have returned. The next batch of journalists sent to Norway in the same period in 2008 have also returned. The news item is a violation of all known journalistic ethics and norms,” he charged.

The entire cost of these tours is borne by DANIDA, he said. The SLPI has sent a clarification to be published in the newspaper. The SLPI has also informed the recently established Ministerial Committee on Journalists’ Grievances.

This was the first time the SLPI was compelled to seek legal advice though reluctantly against a media institution, Mr. Kalansooriya said. Member of the board of the Institute, Manik De Silva responding to a question said the Institute could not entertain a complaint against the news item as the Institute itself is a party to the complaint.

Meanwhile, Police Spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara confirmed to Daily Mirror that an investigation had been begun on this allegation by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).

“I cannot vouch for the veracity of the ongoing investigation. But, the out come of the probe could be known in a few days,” he said.

Yapa claims dissenting UNP MP’s will join government

Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa yesterday claimed that a group of senior dissenting UNP parliamentarians would join the government shortly.

He told yesterday’s Cabinet press briefing at the Information Department that the UNP was facing a serious internal crisis with many members rebelling against the leadership.

Declining to mention the numbers who would cross over, Yapa said "I will reveal further details at the right moment. I am saying this with responsibility."

The UNP is making all sorts of contradictory statements and has still not been able to select its chief ministerial candidates for the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Elections, he said.

"But we have already named Berty Premalal Dissanayake and Mahipala Herath as our chief ministerial candidates for the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils."

UNP condemns attacks on MPs’ offices

The UNP yesterday condemned Wednesday night’s attacks on the offices of Parliamentarians Range Bandara in Anamaduwa and Ranjith Aluvihare in Dambulla.
In a statement yesterday the UNP described the attacks as a ploy to scare the people even before fixing the dates for the proposed elections to the two Provincial Councils. It said the Government was not in a favourable situation at the two elections and was inclined to resort to such activities.

Even on earlier occasions the Government had resorted to similar acts during the Wayamba and Eastern Provincial elections and the UNP called upon the people to unite to defeat such terrorist activities.

Defence Ministry orders clearing of all pavements

The Ministry of Defence has directed the Highways authorities to clear all pavements of hawkers and unauthorized structures in towns bordering major highways by August 1.
This is in view of substantiated fears that the LTTE could use such pavements and unauthorized structures to mount attacks, authoritative sources said.

Minister of Highways T. B. Ekanayake a study of LTTE attacks in major towns had revealed this.

All Provincial Councils and local bodies have been instructed to follow the directive, he said.

The directive applies to all major towns bordering ‘A’ and ‘B’ highways. It would also be a boon to pedestrians, he said.

CEB engineers forego duty-free car permits:

by Shamindra Ferdinando

The CEB Engineers’ Union has dropped its long standing demand for duty-free vehicle permits after Treasury Chief Dr. P. B. Jayasundera and President Mahinda Rajapaksa had explained the unprecedented financial crisis the government was facing due to the steep rise in crude oil prices in the world market.
Well informed sources said the Union had accepted the President’s position that foreign reserves shouldn’t be squandered on non-essential purchases due to mounting pressure on the economy.

The sources said the government delegation, which included Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Dallas Allahapperuma, wouldn’t have anticipated an early end to the trade union action launched by the union. Their action had caused frequent power breakdowns in several parts of the country.

The President has assured them that the suspension of the duty-free facility would be temporary.

The President summoned the influential Union for a meeting at Temple Trees after it resorted to trade union action to obtain duty-free permits. The government had earlier suspended the facility in a bid to save the country’s dwindling foreign reserves.

The sources said that initially the CEB Engineers’ Union had been sharply divided over the decision to drop its demand. In fact, their move had taken other unions, which had felt this would be detrimental to their efforts to obtain the concession, by surprise.

Trade union sources said the government had given in to the GMOA’s demand for duty-free vehicles after the association resorted to trade union action. They said the government had meekly met the GMOA demand fearing the doctors would cripple the health sector. The CEB engineers could have done the same but acted sensibly when the government had explained the untenable economic situation, sources said.

Chief Government Whip and MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena last week assured Parliament that the government would shortly take action to control the import of fuel guzzling vehicles. This was the assurance given in response to a query raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake. Gunawardena acknowledged the urgent need to curb vehicle imports as the country could no longer afford the extravagance.

Trade unions said the government should review the issue of duty free permits if it was genuinely interested in halting the import of fuel guzzling vehicles. The government, too, would have to set an example by cutting down on its expenditure. With the CEB Engineers’ Union setting a sterling example, the politicians on both sides of the divide and other trade unions, too, should curb expenditure wherever possible, a senior official said.

Sources said duty free permits issued to politicians, officials, professionals, sportsmen and religious institutions had been a heavy burden on the taxpayer. The facility which had been introduced by the first JR Jayewardene administration allows beneficiaries of this scheme to obtain duty-free permits periodically. MPs have the opportunity every five years.

The recent controversy over the transfer of a Mercedes Benz imported on a duty-free permit issued to JHU leader Ven. Ellawela Medhananda and the battle between JVP factions revealed the brazen abuse of the facility by political parties.

Sri Lanka retailer cuts diesel price further

Indian Oil Corp's (IOC.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) Sri Lankan retailing unit has reduced its diesel prices for a second time in a week by 10 more rupees ($0.09) per litre to 110 rupees line with those of state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corp (CPC), official said on Thursday.

Lanka IOC LIOC.CM reduced its diesel prices to match the state owned oil retailers diesel prices in line with a request by the Sri Lankan government, said K.Ramakrishnan, the managing director of the Lanka IOC.

"We have done this on the advice of the government, we also firmly believe that the government will be lenient in the new petrol tax in turn of reducing the diesel prices," Ramakrishnan said.

Lanka IOC on Tuesday announced its decision to reduce its diesel prices by 10 rupees to 120 rupees with effect from Tuesday midnight. This followed the government's request last week that it cut by 20 rupees to bring them into line with those of state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corp (CPC) or face 'severe' action.

Until Tuesday Lanka IOC sold diesel at 130 rupees ($1.2) a litre, 20 rupees more than CPC. The government said that had pushed up losses at CPC by 400 million rupees a month as drivers have flocked to its cheaper pumps, increasing its sales by 20 million litres.

Lanka IOC raised its diesel price three times late last month, increasing its margin over CPC, but kept petrol prices at the same level as CPC at 157 rupees a litre.

Sri Lanka says it already subsidises CPC at 30 rupees a litre for diesel.

In mid-2006, Sri Lanka allowed Lanka IOC to fix its own prices depending on world markets.

The Lanka IOC officials last week said 'there is no level playing ground' in Sri Lanka as the government imposed a new 24.50 rupee per litre tax on petrol imported as a finished product since May 25, had cut into its margins.

Lanka IOC has to pay the tax on every litre of petrol, while CPC only pays it on half the petrol it sells as the other 50 percent is refined locally, Lanka IOC said last week. ($1=107.73 Sri Lankan rupees)

Four killed in Naula accident

At least four people including three school children were killed and twelve others injured when a bus collided with a lorry at Naula along the Matale-Dambulla road this evening.

Jayalath denies calling for Ranil's expulsion

UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena says that although he stressed the need for an efficient mechanism to support and retain support for the party, he did not propose the ouster of incumbent leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Speaking to media he said that Mr. Wickremesinghe was undoubtedly a leader with a vision.

"However, there are members within the party who possess ideal political zest and their talents should be utilized to maximum use. They should be given responsibilities. The UNP needs an efficient mechanism of the sort," he added.

Police baton-charge monk protest

Police baton-charged, used teargas and water cannon to disperse a protest demonstration by monks of the Inter-University Bhikku Front in Colombo today (June 26th).The protest demonstration was held against the indefinite closure of the Buddhashrawaka Bhikku University, Anuradhapura.The demonstrators were marching from Viharamaha Devi Park towards Temple Trees when they were confronted and blocked by the police.

Grenade attack on MP Range Bandara’s office

An unidentified gang had lobbed a hand grenade at the Anamaduwa office of United National Party MP, Palitha Range Bandara last night (June 25th), Anamaduwa Police said.
No one has been hurt in the incident.
Speaking to media, Mr. Range Bandara said that two persons on a motorcycle had entered the office through a window and hurled the grenade.

The explosion has damaged the office interior, as well as furniture and equipment, he added.
The Parliamentarian also said that his district office in Madampe too, came under a grenade attack on June 24th, around 2.00 pm, but it had not exploded.
Noting that he had no personal enemies, Mr. Range Bandara said that he suspected that such attacks against him were a result of his criticism of the government.
If not, a certain group has taken advantage, he said, adding that the attacks would not have been possible without the backing of the government.

4 UNP MPs officially call for Ranil's stepping down

A quartet of United National Party MPs has officially challenged the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe.
They have proposed to a specially appointed committee that Rukman Senanayake should replace the incumbent leader, and that either Joseph Michael Perera or Gamini Jayawickrama Perera be appointed deputy leader.
The four MPs - Ravindra Samaraweera, Lakshman Seneviratne, Jayalath Jayawardena and Johnston Fernando - call on Mr. Wickremesinghe step down from the leadership.The special committee of party seniors Rukman Senanayake, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, John Amaratunga, Joseph Michael Perera, Sarathchandra Rajakaruna, Renuka Herath and Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake has received several proposals for the restructuring of the party.
According to Mr. Senanayake, who is the UNP chairman, the final draft containing these suggestions will be handed over to the party leader on June 29th after he returns from an overseas tour.

Vavuniya Field Hospital Receives Army Chief

Commander Of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka with several senior officers at the Army Headquarters Thursday (26) morning made a special trip to visit injured War Heroes in the Vavuniya field hospital.
The Army chief spoke to those wounded War Heroes and shared a couple of thoughts with them while inquiring into their specific needs, if any. He also instructed medical authorities in the hospital to provide all medical requirements for those inmates without fail. Commander, showing his fatherly care towards his brave soldiers listened to their opinions on ongoing clearing operations and inquired into their welfare measures. .
During their powwow with the Commander, soldiers under treatment expressed their readiness to re-join their fellow-mates on the battle front soon after their recovery and vowed to fight against the enemy.
Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka wished them well before he departed to the Security Forces Headquarters Wanni (SFHQ-W) at the end of the hospital visit.
Major General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander SFHQ-W after welcoming the Commander on his arrival sat with a gathering of Senior Ground Commanders representing Divisions and Brigades. Exchange of views on ground realities and present operations centered on the discussions that prevailed for some time. He gave further instructions and guidelines to his field commanders about future operations and other security measures need to be adopted.

Former Chief Ministers will contest forthcoming PC election as CM candidates

Former chief ministers Berty Premalal Dissanayake and Mahipala Herath will be nominated by the UPFA as its chief minister candidates of the north central and Sabaragamuwa provinces.
United People’s Freedom Alliance said nomination boards are operating to select candidates to compete the list of candidates for the forthcoming Provincial Election.
Meanwhile Election Department said accepting of nominations for the North central and Sabaragamuwa provincial council elections will commence from Friday. The nominations can be submitted at the district secretariat offices till the noon of fourth of next month. Nominations are also accepted during the weekends. The time period for independent groups to deposit sureties for the election will conclude from the noon of 3rd of next month. Date of elections will be declared after nominations are accepted.

NFF invites JVP parliamentarians

NFF-Newly setup Political party of Wimal Weerawansa could attract more JVP parliamentarians .
Anjan Umma is the new member who obtained her membership in today morning at the NFF headquarters , Pelawatta.
Wimal Weerawansa General Secretary of the NFF said he invites all JVP parliamentarians to join with the NFF to make a good political culture. At present 12 JVP parliamentarians are with Wimal’s group and another few MPs will join with them said the political sources.
NFF is the forth largest party at the Parliament today and Wimal Weerawansa could attract more members for the party, said a political analyst.
Meanwhile JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said Anjan Umma’s case is second stage of one episode.

Kuwait''s Foreign Ministry warns citizens from traveling to Sri Lanka

KUWAIT, June 26 (KUNA) -- Kuwait Foreign Ministry warned on Thursday citizens from traveling to Sri Lanka, due to the current security situation in the country.
Director of the consulate in the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Jaber Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah, said in a statement, that the ministry is warning citizens from traveling to Sri Lanka at the current time, due to the dangerous security conditions in this country.

IGP Victor Perera pays a courtesy call to Secretary Defence

The Inspector General of Police Mr. Victor Perera, paid a courtesy call to the Secretary Ministry of Defence, today, Thursday the 26th of June.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, held a brief discussion with the outgoing IGP of Sri Lankan Police.

LTTE receives heavy beating: 12 terrorists killed as troops force into Papamoddai

The Sri Lankan Army infantry and armour divisions stepped up ground advances backed by heavy artillery into South of Papamoddai and areas East of Marattikannnaddi and Minnaniranchan in Mannar since 6 a:m today (June 26), morning.
According to latest reports 12 LTTE terrorists were killed during the fighting ensued between troops and LTTE.
SLAF striker helicopters have also supported with tactical fire support during precision raids launched North of Andankulama this morning at identified LTTE positions ahead of the existing FDLs.
Papamoddai is located 12 km. south of Vidathaltheevu and 8 km north of Mannar, on the Mannar-Pooneryn road. According to available information heavy fighting was reported between troops and LTTE in separate locations South of Papamoddai as ground troops claimed to have chased off LTTE flanks sent to defends its last lines of defences in the area, which is said strategically important considering its proximity to LTTE's coastal stronghold Veddithaltivu.

Total Security Appliances to Secure Sri Lankan Enterprises

Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: CHKP), the worldwide leader in securing the Internet, announced the Sri Lankan launch of Check Point Power-1™, a new line of Internet security appliances offering high-performance sites a simple, robust, and easy to manage security solution with the best price/performance ratio available. Check Point also introduced in the Sri Lankan market the new UTM-1 Total Security® appliances, giving enterprise sites of all sizes more choices to match the right solution with their security and performance needs. Check point is pleased to announce the availability of these solutions through its Authorized Regional Distributor, Ceylinco Networking Technologies Ltd. (CNT).

Power-1 appliances combine firewall, IPSec, virtual private network (VPN) and intrusion prevention with advanced acceleration technologies, delivering a high-performance security platform for multi-Gbps environments.

"We are committed to providing our customers high performing security solutions," said Bhaskar Bakthavatsalu, Country Manager, India & SAARC, Check Point Software Technologies. "Power-1 provides customers the flexibility to combat malicious applications and threats while maintaining predictably high speeds. With the new appliances, tight security does not come at the expense of network performance."

"However Sri Lankan SMBs seeking to leverage the most out of constrained IT resources want out-of-the-box network solutions with all the key security features and services on a platform that can keep a network moving quickly and smoothly. With UTM-1 Total Security, customers get the most comprehensive, powerful network protection on the market based on the same VPN-1® solution that protects the Fortune 500 in a single, easy-to-manage, cost effective platform," he added.

Power-1 appliances provide performance up to 14 Gbps firewall throughput, delivering the most cost-efficient firewall for high performance environments a price/performance ratio under $4 per Mbps. With a 6.1 Gbps intrusion prevention speed, customers also gain the ability to stop application layer threats at industry-leading speeds. Consequently, organizations facing application security threats, such as worms or buffer overflows, will be able to stop them while maintaining high performance for business critical applications. Since advanced acceleration technologies are built into the software, customers can also receive performance improvements without upgrading hardware, maximizing the value of their security investment.

New security protections and product updates can be easily installed as needed so businesses get the latest security deployed quickly. Multiple Power-1 appliances can be centrally managed with other Check Point security gateways through a single console, thus simplifying network security management and reducing administrative costs. The console simplifies the management of complex architectures found in high performance environments. In addition, it provides a single interface for managing firewall, VPN, and intrusion prevention as well as analytical and monitoring capabilities. As sites increase in complexity or in size, their environments will require security appliances with more ports and higher performance. The two new Check Point Power-1 appliance models provide the ability to meet all levels of complexity.

The new UTM-1 Total Security appliances expand the performance of the UTM-1® line up to 4.5 Gbps. Customers can choose the right solution for their environment with appliances ranging in performance speeds from 400 Mbps to 4.5 Gbps. The entire UTM-1 Total Security product line comes with the "Total Security" package, which offers either one or three years of comprehensive security services and reduced support rates. Each UTM-1 Total Security appliance comes complete with all the security protection, software and security updates and hardware to achieve the highest levels of network security. Integrated security protections include:
· Industry-leading application and network-layer firewall
· Site-to-site and remote access VPN
· Gateway antivirus and anti-spyware
· Intrusion prevention with type-based SmartDefense® security update and type-based protection
· Web security with URL filtering and Web security protections
· Messaging security and anti-spam, including Check Point’s six-dimensions of comprehensive messaging security

“We at CNT are proud to represent Check Point in Colombo and the SAARC region. This step taken jointly by Check Point and CNT to launch these new solutions will further empower us to provide total internet security solutions to our clientele.” said Sanjaya Padmaperuma, Director/General Manager, Ceylinco Networking Technologies Ltd.

Gowri Shankar at the helm as 36th President of CIMA Sri Lanka

Ms. Gowri Shankar Somasundaram was elected as the 36th President of CIMA Sri Lanka Division at its 20th AGM held at the Cinnamon Grand. Guest of Honour on the occasion was Dr. B. Mahadevan, Professor at IIM Bangalore. The second woman to head this premier institution in Sri Lanka, and also the third woman President worldwide, Gowri Shankar now joins the echelons of a band of distinguished personalities who have chartered the destiny of this much respected institute, since its inception in 1965.

Accepting the Presidency, Gowri Shankar said her vision was to reinforce the professional excellence of the fraternity. “Profession First is a theme that I will be devoted to. My year will be dedicated to the advancement of the Management Accountancy Profession, to equip, elevate and enrich it”.

She further stated, “Our discipline is in the business of creating value. Value Creation is the foundation of any business. We will advocate ‘thought leadership’ through Technical Forums where new ideas will be encouraged. We will also be driving discussions as to the enhancement of the profession in the Public Sector by facilitating our discipline to be introduced through new initiatives.

Gowri is also committed to Islamic Finance. With her travel mainly in the Middle East and working in the Islamic Finance context, she will launch Islamic Finance as a master course. “Business today demands intelligent and insightful professionals with a strategic vision. Students are our future wealth. Student development and growth will thus be a major focus in developing the ideal professional the world demands”, she added.

Functioning as Advisor and Business Partner to His Royal Highness Prince Mish’al Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Bin Abdul Aziz of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since February 2006, Gowri Shankar has been participating in business development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Region.

Consultant and Representative of the Gulf Bureau for Research and Economic Consultations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Gowri will soon take office as Country President for Kampac Group of Companies for Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Kampac is a group of companies in the Middle East with representation in 20 countries mainly in the oil industry, infrastructure and real estate development, telecommunications and hospitality. She is also developing a Finance and Re-structuring Consulting Company in the Bahrain mainly for the SME sector. She travels widely to GCC countries consulting in International Finance and Business Development.

Gowri who began working at Thomas Cook, UK, was later Group Finance Controller of the Cornels Group of Companies managing seven supermarkets after which she worked as a consultant at KPMG Ford Rhodes and Thornton. She then joined John Keells Holdings in 1995 as Manager for Corporate Finance and Management Review Division. She championed the e-commerce Strategy for the Keells Leisure sector and introduced Enterprise Risk Management to the John Keells Group.

Since 1994 Gowri Shankar has been involved actively in CIMA activities and also chaired a large number of committees dealing with a wide range of subjects at CIMA Sri Lanka Division. She is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants UK, and the Official Assessor for Membership for CIMA, London. Gowri Shankar is also an Accomplished Toastmaster and introduced Toastmasters to CIMA in 1993. She has actively conducted speech-craft programs for many corporates.

Man shot dead in Vavuniya

A man who was returning home after work was shot dead by an unidentified gunman at Nellikulam, Vavuniya last night.

Investigation on the massacre of 401 unarmed Police Officers to be expedited

The Government officially announced on the 13th June 2008 that investigations will be conducted into the massacre of 401 police officers on 11-06-1990 in Ampara, Trincomalee and Batticaloa areas on the request made by the affected families.

With this announcement by the Government, more and more members of the families of victims have made requests to the Defence Secretary to initiate the inquiry. They have pointed out that they did not receive any compensation nor have any legal documents confirming the deaths issued nor any formal inquiry held nor any responsible person was punished. In spite of the requests made by the members of the families for an inquiry, from the then Government, they fell on deaf ears.

This incident took place in the aftermath of the treaty signed with the LTTE by the then Government led by the late President R. Premadasa when the present Opposition Leader Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe was the Leader of the House and a powerful Minister. Further, the then Government ordered them to lay down arms and surrender to terrorists with the result the police officers were assassinated in the most brutal manner.

Under this treaty, the UNP Government supplied the LTTE with funds, weapons and military equipment. This is one of the charges mentioned in the impeachment motion moved by a group of the Members of Parliament in the Government party against the President R. Premadasa. The LTTE used the very weapons provided by the Government to assassinate the Police Officers. The question asked by the families is who ordered the Police Officers to lay down their arms and surrender to the LTTE. Considering the request made by the members of the affected families the Defence Secretary has requested His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa to appoint a Presidential Commission to make a full scale investigation in to the massacre and to rectify the injustice done to them.

LTTE Artillery/Mortar expert injured in Air Strikes at Muhamalai

Defence Intelligence sources reveal that an LTTE artillery and mortar weapon expert called Iniyawan had been seriously injured during the air strikes taken at three LTTE artillery launching pads in Muhamalai last afternoon.

According the sources, the LTTE had suffered serious damages in the air raid that had been taken at the terror artillery launching positions located 3 km of army forward defence at Muhamalai.

Radio monitoring units too confirmed the information saying that there were many calls by LTTE cadres on radios asking for vehicles to evacuate casualties following the air raids.

Troops in Mannar gains more ground; 17 terrorists killed in fierce fighting

Troops operating on the Mannar battlefront continued to attack terror defences and to push own defences further into the Wanni territory. According to the military reports received so far from Mannar, 17 terrorists were killed during yesterday's clashes (June 25) .

In the general area Mullikandal, troops advanced 600m ahead from their earlier positions amidst heavy resistance from the terrorists during morning hours. Radio monitoring units revealed that 6 terrorists were killed in this incident. Also, 4 soldiers suffered injuries.

At Marattikannadi , troops confronted with a group of terrorists around 6.20 am. One soldier suffered injuries in this attack while enemy casualties were not known.

At Kilavanakaddu troops attacked an LTTE bunker defence around 9.35 am. Monitored radio transmission confirmed that 3 terrorists were killed and 3 others wounded in this incident.

In a similar incident at Marattikannadi around 12.30 pm, ground sources confirmed that 5 terrorists were killed and 8 others wounded.

Meanwhile, snipers deployed in the Minnanivanchan area claimed to have killed 3 terrorists around 2.15 pm.

Torture endemic in Sri Lanka police-rights group

COLOMBO, June 25 (Reuters) - Torture has become endemic in Sri Lankan police stations and there seems to be no political will to stop it, an Asian human rights group said on Wednesday.

The Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission said torture was standard procedure both in investigating ordinary crimes and as part of the civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels.

The government said the allegations were baseless.

Despite thousands of complaints, the commission said the attorney general's office had only launched three prosecutions against alleged official torturers.

"Torture is a way of life at all police stations in Sri Lanka, whether the alleged crimes investigated are those relating to petty criminal offences, serious crimes or offences under the emergency and anti-terrorism laws," the commission said in a statement.

Rights watchdogs have reported hundreds of abductions, disappearances and killings blamed on government security forces and Tamil Tiger separatists since a bloody civil war, in which 70,000 people have died since 1983, resumed in 2006.

The commission also said investigations into torture were being politically prevented to protect Sri Lanka's human rights record, and that the lack of political will to eradicate torture affected the entire administration of justice.

International observers quit the island earlier this year, saying a probe into a string of high-profile killings, including the massacre of 17 local aid staff in 2006, was going nowhere.

The UN Human Rights Council has called on Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of killings and disappearances and prosecute those responsible, including members of the security forces.

Twin air raids destroy LTTE training base and Forward Operating base - Mannar

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets and MI 24 helicopter Gunships carried out two air raids targeting LTTE camps located in the North Mannar this morning (June 26).

According to the Air Force sources, the first raid was carried out by MI 24 helicopters at 6 am targeting a Forward Operating Base (FOB) of LTTE located at Marattikannadi , 2 km North of Andankulama. The air raid was carried out to support the ground advance of Army 58 division on the Mannar front, said the sources. Ground troops have confirmed that the attack was effective, the sources added.

The second air raid was carried out by Air Force fighter jets around 6.10 am targeting a training base located in the Vellankulama area , 20 km North of Vidattaltivu. According the sources the target was accurately taken. Exact damage caused to the enemy in this attack is yet to be verified, said the sources.

Police probe into attempt on PM’s life reveal..

Police investigating an LTTE attempt on Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake’s life said the former director of the National Film Corporation, now in custody in connection with the attempt, had received several calls from a JVP MP shortly after his arrest.
Investigators said that the suspect received five calls within minutes of the police arresting him late last week.

They said the suspect’s mobile phone had registered the MP’s number. Police would shortly obtain permission from Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara to question the national list MP.

Investigations have revealed that the then Cultural Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath had appointed the suspect to the NFC directorate on the recommendation made by his colleague, sources said.

According to the investigators, the suspect had links with the LTTE and made use of his appointment to facilitate several LTTE operations in Colombo. The suspect had been a director of the National Film Corporation during Vijitha Herath’s tenure as the Cultural Affairs Minister in the 2004-2005 period.

The suspect had admitted that he was a JVP member and attended classes in 1975 in Jaffna and had links with the party and LTTE.

Earlier in the day, at a press conference, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that the LTTE suspect was not a member of the JVP. "There was no Tamil unit in the NFC when our comrade became the Cultural Affairs Minister. We recruited the person in question to commence a Tamil unit.


He was not a member of our party. There are many people who participated in our classes but all of them are not our members."

"We were suspicious of this person and sought clearance from the police intelligence but they never responded to request. In fact, at that time, Sunil S. Sirisena, additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence had been the Chairman of the NFC," he said.

However, the sources in the State Intelligence Service denied the excuse made by the JVP and said that they had never asked for such clearance on the suspect.

Silva said his statement at the press conference was made on the assurance given by MP Herath that he had called for clearance.

When contacted, MP Herath said he had no documentary proof to prove the request because it was made in 2005 and the documents were in the NFC’s possession.

An LTTE intelligence wing cadre, under interrogation, had implicated the former NFC director. The police had kept the arrest of the intelligence wing cadre under wraps until they arrested the former NFC director. Investigators had recovered 9.5 kilograms of high explosives and a stock of steel balls from the suspects who revealed details of bombing operations mounted by the LTTE in the city and its suburbs. They had led the investigators to a shop on the top floor of a supermarket in the Kotahena police area where the intelligence wing cadre had turned out a range of explosive devices, particularly suicide kits.

Sale of B’mulla land for golf course

UDA acted on Cabinet decision – Counselby Chitra WeerarathneCounsel for the Urban Development Authority, Nihal Jayewardene, yesterday told the Supreme Court that the decision to construct a golf course at the flood retention area in Battaramulla had not been taken by the UDA. The UDA had acted on a decision taken by the Cabinet, he said. The Cabinet paper had been submitted by the then President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Counsel said, adding that the land had been acquired in the early 1980s for the benefit of the Parliamentary complex as a flood retention area.


Chief Justice: It was never contemplated that this land was to be sold for a golf village. The direction was given by the then President and you did it.

Counsel: Everything was done after the Cabinet decision. Land developers have certain concessions.

In this case, the UDA had been made a respondent in a petition filed by two public interest litigants, challenging the decision of the former President to allegedly misdirect the cabinet to alienate state land at Battaramulla, to a private entrepreneur, to build a golf course for the affluent.

Chief Justice: The UDA had taken over land from the poor people and given it for the building of golf village for the rich. If the UDA had launched a middle class housing scheme, the Court would have commended you. You have given it to the rich. You ought to be dissolved.

The Bench comprised the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva Justice Shirani Thilakawardene and Justice P. A. Ratnayake.

UNP welcomes Ranjan’s offer to be Sab. CM candidate

The UNP yesterday welcomed leading film actor Ranjan Ramanayake’s offer to be the party’s chief ministerial candidate at the forthcoming Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Election, but said that it was a matter for the decision making bodies.
UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanyake said ’ that there are about twelve persons including Ramanayake who have volunteered to be chief ministerial candidates at the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Council Elections."But it is upto to the Nomination Board and the Working Committee to select and ratify the names of the most suitable aspirants."

He said that more than 150 have sought nomination as candidates at both elections and they are having a tough time selecting the most suitable aspirants."It’s nice to see so many clamouring to contest on the UNP ticket."

Asked if former Major General Janaka Perera has been confirmed as the partys Chief Ministerial candidate for the North Central Province, Attanayake said that the names of all candidates will be known by July 1.

TMVP demands police and land powers

The TMVP is to put forward political proposals to the All Party Representatives’ Committee (APRC) demanding police, land, educational and financial powers for the provinces, which it cited as the unit of devolution when evolving a political solution to the ethnic conflict.

Anjan Umma to join NFF

JVP MP Anjan Umma is to join the NFF led by Wimal Weerawanse. NFF sources said she would join the party at a ceremony scheduled to take place tomorrow.

Ranjan interest on UNP’s CM post for Sabaragamuwa

Popular actor Ranjan Ramanayake today said he has informed the UNP leadership that he is willing to be UNP’s Chief Ministerial candidate for Sabaragamuwa Province and the party’s Working Committee is slated to take a decision on the matter soon.
Addressing a media conference in Colombo he said if he receive approval from the party he would definitely contest the forthcoming Provincial Council election.
“I will not refuse UNP’s offer, he said.

150 LTTE cadres including child soldiers killed in one month -

Three obituary posters found by troops operating in the Mannar battlefront have revealed details of 150 LTTE cadres, including more than 20 child soldiers, killed in one month. According to defence sources, the posters were found on a billboard at a recently captured office of an LTTE regional leader in the Karakakulam area.
The three posters contain details of 50 LTTE cadres on each, including their name, rank and the unit that they had been attached to. However, no ranks were mentioned against 30 cadres who appear very young in their early or mid-teens. According to the details mentioned on the posters, the LTTE cadres were killed at various locations in the Jaffna and Wanni theatre of operations from 17th February to 10th March this year.
A defence intelligence official speaking to defence.lk said that many of the LTTE cadres on the poster must have been those forcibly led into the battle by the terrorist leadership.
"The pictures of teenagers and children show the LTTE is still using child soldiers despite its attempts cover up the existence of its shameful baby brigade", he said.
"There were pictures of 5 self-styled "Lieutenant Colonels", 9 "Majors", 14 "Captains", 51 "Lieutenants", 41 "Second Lieutenants" and 30 others without any rank, on the posters", he added.
Speaking further he said the idea behind the posters might have been to convince the parents of those killed that their children had been given very high status or rank in the terror outfit.
" It is a well known fact that LTTE is forcibly taking young children from their parents to be trained as terrorists. So, aggrieved parents are now rallying against the LTTE leadership in the Wanni for robbing their loved ones from them", he added. Earlier, reports declared by the UNICEF have accused the outfit of recruiting over 2000 children to its ranks through coercion campaigns carried out in the non-liberated areas.

Multiple air strikes at LTTE positions in Wanni and North

fighter craft and MI-24 helicopter gun-ships launched multiple air strikes at identified LTTE positions in separate locations in Wanni and North this evening (June 25).
According to security sources, SLAF fighter jets have raided three LTTE artillery launching pads located 3km South of the Muhamalai LTTE forward defence lines (FDL) at around 1.45p.m. Earlier, Air Force MI-24 helicopter gun-ships attacked an LTTE bunker line located 3km North of Nittukaikulama Tank in Welioya, supporting advancing troops of the 59 Division at 1.15p.m, the sources added.

SriLankan Increases Flights To Woo Middle Eastern Tourists

SriLankan Airlines has increased its flights to the Middle East in an effort to woo more tourists from the region to Sri Lanka.
Working closely with the Sri Lankan government in this regard, the airline will now have 37 weekly connections to nine cities in the Middle East - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Muscat, Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuwait.
SriLankan said in a statement here Wednesday that the additional flights are to three cities - Doha from the present four to six, Bahrain from five to seven and Dammam from two to three.
"The government has identified the Middle East as one of four major tourist markets and has launched a series of marketing campaigns to raise awareness of the islands attractions," SriLankan said.
According to the airline, there has been an 80 percent increase in Middle Eastern tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2008.
"Our focus is on leisure travellers and several holiday packages have been unveiled to cater specially for the Middle Eastern tourists," its regional manager for Middle East, Africa and CIS, Mohamed Fazeel said.

High level Pak trade delegation leaves for Colombo

A high level Pak trade delegation led by President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry,Tariq Sayeed left for Colombo Wednesday to participate in chambers competition to be held on June 27.
Deputy leader of the delegation VP SAARC CCI,Pakistan chapter,Iftikhar Ali Malik told APP here this evening that it is great honour for Pakistan that Tariq Sayeed,a Pakistani business leader and SCCI Chief have especially been invited to inaugurate the chambers competition, a prestigious event organised by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka at Colombo on Friday (June 27) .Sri Lanka attached great important to private sector of Pakistan in the region and signed free trade agreement with Pakistan on August 01,2002 followed by singing of the protocol on Feb 09,2005 and full implementation of the free trade agreement on June 12,2005.
Another member of the delegation Shahzad Ali Malik,Chief Executive Guard Rice said that Pakistan has granted tariff rate quota (TRO) arrangements to Sri Lanka for export of 10,000 MT tea,1,200 MT betel leaves and 3 million pieces garments every financial year (July-June) while Sri Lanka has granted TRO arrangements to Pakistan for export of 6,000 MT Basmati Rice and 1,000 MT Potatoes for every calendar year . However import of potatoes is permitted only during the off-season period in Sri Lanka. The Pakistan delegation will return home on July 29.

Tissa meets Norwegian Ambassador

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake met Norwegian Ambassador Tore Hatrem on Tuesday at Sirikotha.
According to the Sirikotha sources Mr.Attanayake and Norwegian Ambassador discussed various issues .

US embassy closes temporarily

The US Embassy in Colombo has been closed to the public today following the discovery of a suspicious powder in the embassy premises.
Issuing a press statement the Embassy said all visa and other services sections of the embassy also temporarily closed due to this incident. The suspicious powder has been sent for laboratory tests.

JVP selects its Chief Ministerial Candidates

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna [JVP] selected its two Chief Ministerial Candidates for the Sabaragamuwa and the North Central Provincial Councils.
General Secretary of the JVP Tylwin Silva said Chameera Koswatta will act as their Chief Ministerial Candidate for the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council and Parliamentarian Wasantha Samarasinghe will act as the
Chief Ministerial candidate for the North Central Provincial Council.
At present Koswatta holds Leadership of the JVP Student Wing and member of the Politburo. Parliamentarian Samarasinghe also a trade unionist, said Mr.Silva at a press briefing held in Colombo on Wednesday.
According to Silva Mr.Koswatta leads Ratnapura district and Mahinda Jayasinghe leads Kegalle district.
Indrananda Silva leads Polonnaruwa district and Wasantha Samarasinghe leads Anuradhapura district under the JVP umbrella.
Addressing media today Mr.Silva said the UNP is still searching its Chief Ministerial candidates .A veteran Tuition Master Upul Shantha Sannasgala has turned down UNP’s offer and Ex-Senior DIG Sirisena Herath also refused to contest under the UNP ticket.

5.8 percent growth forecast for 2008 – RAM Holdings

The Central Bank will have to continue with its tight monetary policy in order to curb domestic credit which led to high inflation (the highest in the region nearing 30 percent) by further raising interest rates, said Dr Yeah Kim Leng, Chief Economist, RAM Holdings Berhad yesterday.

Dr Leng expects the Central Bank to tighten interest rates by up to 75 basis points in the second half of the year.

"Expansion in demand for domestic credit is caused by excessive government spending to narrow down the fiscal deficit and by private sector spending," he said when RAM Holdings launched an economic outlook report titled "Sri Lanka: Key Economic Challenges and Prospects for 2008 and 2009 – Coping with External Shocks and Internal Challenges."

He pointed out that the high fiscal deficit (7.2 percent of GDP in 2007 which is expected to hover around 7 percent this year) was attributed to an increase in military and security spending, funding huge infrastructural and rural development projects and huge public sector wage costs while the current account deficit expanded on large oil, commodities and food export bills, a depreciation of the exchange rate and strong consumer demand.

The twin deficits led to persistently high levels of inflation, high interest rates, a volatile exchange rate and erosion in investor confidence and the government was urged to closely monitor the deficts.

Dr Leng recommended that private sector financing of infrastructure projects, privatisation, increased foreign direct investments, shifting into high value manufacturing and high wage services industry and increasing savings by broadening and deepening the banking system and capital markets are some of the policy measures the government ought to take to consolidate the fiscal deficit.

"By increasing foreign direct investments the government can finance its debt obligations which will leave room for the private sector to access domestic credit."

He said that having a healthy fiscal deficit was one way in which to escalate growth only if government spent well on development activities and stressed that a healthy current account deficit can be good if it is spent on more investment goods over consumption goods. The current deficit remains below 5 percent of GDP which is the prescribed limit in order to foster sustainable development.

"Sri Lanka needs to spend on machinery and investments to sustain the factory production capacities which are on the decline. While trying to curb its overspending, the government should invest more on education and health which will have multiplier effect on development."

According to the economic outlook report the agricultural sector is expected to grow by 3.6 percent this year and 4.3 percent in 2009 supported by buoyant exports of tea, rubber and related products which recorded 40 to 55 percent growth during the first quarter of the year.

It said that agriculture remained on a moderately declining trend which was consistent with the transformation of an agriculture-oriented economy to a manufacturing and services economy.

The Manufacturing sector is expected to grow by 5.7 percent this year and 5.4 percent in 2009.

"The output of the apparel industry remained strong in 2008 with a moderate rise in exports. Nonetheless this high profile industry’s growth may cool down in the medium term due to intensifying price competition from countries such as Vietnam and Bangladesh," the report said.


Leng said that Sri Lanka’s economy would be more resilient than expected with growth forecast at 5.8 percent in 2008 (down from 6.8 percent in 2007) and 6.1 percent in 2009 despite adverse global economic conditions and strong domestic demand.

He said that high double digit inflation remains a major threat but the anticipated widening of fiscal and budget deficits are expected to return to a declining trend once international food and oil price shocks subside as speculators expect.

The overvalued rupee is expected to depreciate by one to three percent based on a trade weighted basis during the year.

Sri Lanka’s painful fuel subsidy removal in 2006 saved the country 0.7 percent of GDP annually but further escalation in fuel prices and energy costs continue to pose a threat.

Crude oil is expected to increase by 34.3 percent this year to decline by 1 percent in 2009, while international commodity and food prices are expected to increase by 22.5 percent and 18.2 percent respectively during the year, then decline by 2.5 percent and 0.9 percent in 2009.

Sri Lanka - Diplomatic postings

Jaliya Wickramasuriya is due to take over as Sri Lanka’s US Ambassador by the 1st of July. He was the former Consul General for Los Angeles.

He hails from the south of Sri Lanka and was a very successful businessman. He was earlier the Managing Director and CEO of the Ceylon Royal Tea and Supplies LLC, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Furthermore, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appointed two more ambassadors.

Tamara Kunananyakm, who is at present the Charge de Affairs in the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brazil has bee appointed as Ambassador for Cuba. She is said to be a political appointee and a specialist in Spanish language.

Also Ranjani Samarakoon, another political appointee has been appointed as High Commissioner to Singapore.

In the meantime, Sri Lanka’s veteran diplomat Bernard Goonatilake is leaving Washington to Colombo on 29 of this month. It is till not clear whether he will be given another diplomatic assignment to an Asian country.

Bernard Goonatilake was the one who organized the Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat in 2002. He was also the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry sources revealed that Shenuka Senivaratne, the former High Commissioner to London has assumed duties as Director, Political Affairs (Europe) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ in Colombo.

EPDP party representative arrested

A EPDP Chenkaladi party representative has been arrested by the Vakarai Police early this morning according to Police Media Spokesperson SSP Ranjith Gunasekera. The suspect is allegedly guilty of a recent murder and several other crimes that occurred in the area.

Dilantha second in Malaysia

Champion Sri Lankan driver Dilantha Malagamuwa hit the podium again last Sunday at the Sepang Formula I track in Malaysia finishing second in the Aston Martin Asia Cup Round Three behind Kotha Sasaki of Japan.

Malagamuwa is still leading the championships points table thanks to the two victories he achieved in Shanghai, China a few weeks ago in the first two rounds.

Malagamuwa went off in the sixth lap losing valuable time while trying to overtake the race leader Sasaki who started off in the pole position.

However he hit back determinedly finishing in an overall time of 31:16.199 secs. to complete the twelve lap race just little more than two seconds behind the winner.

The fourth round of the championships held in the evening on Sunday was a bad experience for the Sri Lankan driver who faced an accident and finished only sixth-his worst finish in the championships so far.

President insists war not against people

A group of religious leaders yesterday offered to facilitate a meeting between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in order to promote national unity.

Meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he was determined to defeat terrorism and not wage a war against the people of the country.

“I do not wish at all to wage a war against the people of the country,” the President told a group of leaders who called on him at Temple Trees yesterday.

He also said that if the LTTE lays down arms he will be ready to work with them to achieve peace, the President’s Office said in a statement following the meeting.


The President also stressed that he is not prepared to compromise the security of the country and betray the nation to any terrorist outfit.

Meanwhile, the Inter-religious Council of Sri Lanka in a statement said that during their discussion with President Rajapaksa they had offered to facilitate a meeting between the President and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. “Despite the current military operations we believed that two leaders should come together to promote national unity to promote good governance and human rights,” the Council said in a statement.

The Council also urged the President to ensure that all the political parties are included in the process of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC), and that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution be fully implemented with necessary powers and resources devolved to the provinces.

The Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Nayaka Thera, Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha thera, Dr. Ven. Brahmanawatte Seewali Thera, Rev. Bishop Harold Perera, Rev. Bishop Rayappu Joseph, Moulavi Alhaj Niyas Mohamed, Moulavi Shahul Hammed Adam Bawa, Mr. Kyoichi Sugino of the World Religious Organization, Mr. Kingsley Rodrigo Executive Director of the Religions for Peace Sri Lanka and others participated with the President in the discussion.

Lanka once again in ‘Failed State’ list

Sri Lanka has once again been included in the Failed States Index by the Foreign Policy and The Fund for Peace which rank the countries where state collapse may be just one disaster away.

Sri Lanka has been ranked 20 in the list of 60 failed states with Somalia claiming the number one spot and the distinction of being the state most at risk of failure.

In the fourth annual Failed States Index, Foreign Policy and The Fund for Peace rank the countries where state collapse may be just one disaster away.

“Whether it is an unexpected food crisis or a devastating hurricane, the world’s weakest states are the most exposed when crisis strikes,” the Index said.

The rank order of the states is based on the total scores of the 12 indicators. For each indicator, the ratings are placed on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being the lowest intensity (most stable) and 10 being the highest intensity (least stable). The total score is the sum of the 12 indicators and is on a scale of 0–120.

Founded in 1970 by Samuel Huntington and Warren Demian Manshel, and now published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C., FOREIGN POLICY is the premier, award-winning magazine of global politics, economics, and ideas. Its mission is to explain how the world works—in particular, how the process of globalization is reshaping nations, institutions, cultures, and, more fundamentally peoples daily lives.

In 2007, several countries that have long served as the poster children for failed states managed to achieve some unlikely gains. The Ivory Coast, which unraveled in 2002 after a flawed election divided north and south, experienced a year of relative calm thanks to a new peace agreement. Liberia, the most improved country in last year’s index, continued to make gains due to a renewed anticorruption effort and the resettlement of nearly 100,000 refugees. And Haiti, long considered the basket case of the Western Hemisphere, stepped back from the edge, with moderate improvements in security in the capital’s violence-ravaged slums.

Bangladesh took this year’s hardest fall, set off in part by postponed elections, a feuding, deadlocked government, and the imposition of emergency rule that has dragged on for more than 18 months. These political setbacks were followed by greater economic hardships after a devastating cyclone in November flooded large swaths of cropland and left 1.5 million people homeless. In nearby Pakistan, also one of this year’s worst performers, a beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf sparked waves of violent protests when he dismissed the head of the Supreme Court and declared martial law. In a tragic close to the year, the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto left many wondering about the future prospects of this fragile, nuclear-armed state.

Prisoners file FR against sentencing

By Susitha R. Fernando

Fourteen prisoners, including those who are on death row and facing life imprisonment, filed a fundamental rights application in the Supreme Court yesterday seeking to commute their imprisonment period.

They stated that according to prison rules, prisoners facing a life sentence could have their term commuted to twenty years imprisonment considering their good conduct. According to the Constitution the President is empowered to commute such imprisonments.


This is done on the report issued by Superintendent of Prisons to the President once in four years, they said.

In 1997 the then President had directed that prisoners convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment or death penalty, which would not be put into effect, to undergo 20 years imprisonment or at least for their imprisonment to be reduced. Following this direction the issuing of reports ceased.

The prisoners complained that the President’s decision was arbitrary and unfair and in protest they carried out hunger strikes in several prisons. Subsequently a committee was appointed to look into the issue and certain recommendations were made.

However in 2002, 23 prisoners convicted to life imprisonment had their sentences commuted, the prisoners complained.

The fourteen prisoners asked court to declare that their fundamental rights have been violated and to direct the Justice Minister to enforce the recommendation made by the committee appointed to look into their grievances.

The convicted prisoners at the Mahara and Welikada prisons filed the application citing the Commissioner General of Prisons Major General Vajira Wijegunawardena, Superintendents of Prisons in Mahara and Welikada, Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Suhada Gamalath and Attorney General as respondents.

Nesiah resigns...

Dr. Devanesan Nesiah said he had officially tendered his resignation from the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into Alleged Serious Violations of Human Rights with effect from midnight yesterday without waiting for what he termed was an “overdue reply” from the President’s office.

The Chairman of the Commission Justice Nissanka Udalagama confirmed that Dr. Nesiah had stepped down and said that he would be missed in the ongoing Commission hearings. Nesiah states that the immediate cause for his resignation is a result of a letter from the Presidential Secretariat dated 7 June 2008 which states that there is a loss of "great trust and confidence" in his "prudence, ability and fidelity" once reposed in him by the President.

Nesiah states with criticism that “It is especially regrettable that in your letter follows a concerted media campaign against me spearheaded by the Counsel for the Army and the STF and by a section of the state owned media network.”

Speaking to media Dr. Nesiah said that he met with four of the CoI members yesterday and informed them of his decision. “They wanted me to remain and offered the possibility of taking up the Potuvil case in the future to keep myself occupied but I remain firm on my stance,” he added.

Witness protection and gaining access to witnesses who had gone overseas were stated as the major difficulties faced by the Commission which Nesiah felt slowed its progress. “The scope of witness protection the Commission has been able to extend to witnesses resident within Sri Lanka is very limited in respect of both degree and duration,” Nesiah says in his letter.

Dr. Nesiah further says the suspension of video conferencing to await the Witness Protection Act withdrew prospects of the investigations. “In my view, some of the provisions in the draft legislation may deter severely critically important witnesses from testifying,” he states in his letter adding that “In consequence the Commission may not be in a position to arrive at a robust conclusion in any of the sixteen cases assigned.”

“We will miss him at the commission hearings,” the Commission Chairman Justice Nissanka Udalagama said adding that the CoI will meet as usual this Thursday to inquire into the Trinco and ACF cases. Meanwhile he added that the CoI hopes to end the investigations into the two cases by July before resuming the Potuvil case.

UNP rift deepens,rebels seek change

By Kelum Bandara

A rift within the UNP continued to deepen yesterday with a group of UNP MPs demanding ‘drastic changes’ to the party constitution ensuring more powers for National Organizer S.B. Dissanayake, Party Chairman Rukman Senanayake and MP Sajith Premadasa.

The rebel MPs Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane, Johnston Fernando, Lakshman Senveratne and Ravindra Samaraweera were involved in talks yesterday with the committee appointed by the Working Committee of the party to look into the political crisis brewing within it.

The Committee comprising UNP seniors including John Amaratunga, Joseph Michael Perera, Renuka Herath and Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake were entrusted with the task of resolving the internal crisis without allowing it to trigger another split in the party.

The rebel MPs pointed out to the committee that the UNP had suffered a string of election defeats, and therefore structural changes were imperative to win future elections.

Informed sources said that these four members stressed on the need for the party Chairman Rukman Senanayake to be appointed as the new UNP leader while Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe remained as the opposition leader. They also pointed out that the second and third positions of the party should go to Mr. Dissanayake and Mr. Premadasa.

“They don’t mind Mr. Wickremesinghe remaining as the opposition leader. They also assured that that the youth wing of the party should be placed in the hands of Mr. Premadasa,” sources said.

Among other demands put forward by them is a proposal to completely amend the party constitution, and introduce a new one which will include more democratic features.

Asked for his comments on the rift, senior UNP MP John Amaratunga, who was among those who participated in the negotiations said that the Committee would take up the proposals with Mr. Wickremesinghe when he returns from overseas on Friday. Mr. Wickremesinghe is currently on a visit to Europe.

“We had talks with them. Our committee will forward proposals made by them to the leader to take a decision regarding its implementation,” he said.

Rambukkana Police under scrutiny

The Rambukkana Police is under the scrutiny of the Attorney General’s Department and the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) following the revelation of negligence on its part in a case of abduction and rape of a 15-year-old school girl.

The police allegedly turned a blind eye to a series of complaints against the suspect by the victim’s family since March, 2006 and no action was taken by the Rambukkana Police until the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) intervened recently on behalf of the victim to pressure the local police to act.

Although, the abduction and rape had taken place early this year, the first complaint against the suspect for harassing the family had been lodged in March 2006.

The suspect had gone berserk when the rape victim’s family asked him not to visit their home after the parents had noticed his unusual interest in their then 13-year-old victim and her 15-year-old sister.

Authoritative sources asserted that the girl could have been easily saved had local police acted swiftly when the victim’s family sought police protection. Unfortunately, their complaint hadn’t been properly investigated, the sources said. The suspect could have had some support from some policemen stationed at Kegalle. Finally, a special police squad, acting on the directions of Upali Hewage, DIG Sabaragamuwa, had arrested the suspect, an NCPA official said. In fact, an NCPA team, too, had been tracking down the suspect when the team from Ratnapura arrested him.

NCPA spokesman Dimuthu Galapathy said the Attorney General had directed the relevant authorities to speed up investigations.

Fielding questions, DIG Hewage said the Rambukkana police was to be blamed for this unfortunate situation. "I have already sent a report in this regard to the IGP," he said. The Officer-in-Charge of the station would be squarely responsible for negligence of duty. Hewage identified the suspect as a three wheeler driver.

Galapathy said altogether five persons had been arrested in connection with the case.

K. C. Logeswaram, Secretary to the National Police Commission (NPC) yesterday said the NPC would take up this case. "We would definitely make inquiries," he said, promising speedy inquiry.

According to the victim’s statements to police, the suspect had taken her to a hut on a hillside where he repeatedly raped her before a group of villagers led by her father rescued her. When they had reached the hut, the suspect hadn’t been there. By that time, Rambukkana police had called off their search leaving the victim’s father to pursue the search. The local police had failed to at least station a policewoman when she had been warded at the government hospital. Fearing for the safety of the teenager, the family had taken her home. According to the victim’s family, the suspect had phoned their home and had threatened them with death and once stormed their home, thrown chillie powder on the face of the victim’s mother and then tried to grab her. Swift intervention of the neighbours had thwarted the attempt to abduct her. But local police had turned a blind eye to terrorising of a helpless family, subsequent investigations have revealed.

In early June, the suspect had attacked the victim’s aunt with a sword. She had received severe injuries to a hand and on her back. According to statements given to investigators, the three wheeler driver had boasted that two of his brothers in the army (one deserter) would take care of them if anything happened to him.

Police said the Sabaragamuwa Range should be held responsible for this sorry state of affairs. Had senior officials in charge of the Sabaragamuwa Range been watchful, they would have noticed the failure on the part of the Rambukkana police and the Kegalle police which also had received a complaint from the targeted family, they said.

North Central, Sab. Provinces postal voting:

The Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake has instructed the Chief Returning Officers (Government Agents) of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kegalle and Ratnapura to display the electoral lists of 2007 for reference of those eligible for postal voting at the forthcoming elections to North-Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.

Additional Commissioner of Elections (Provincial and Local) W. P. Sumanasiri told The Island that the PC elections would be held according to the Electoral list for 2007 and that separate lists were on display for members of the security forces and the Police.

Senior SLAS official who is consultant to the Elections Secreteriat Bandula Kulatunga said that the Electoral lists had been displayed on June 13 and could be checked till July10.

As the chief Returning officer of the Anuradhapura district (GA) H.M.K. Herath had gone abroad, Additional GA Mrs. M. A. Anula Indrani was making preparations for the PC elections with Nominations to open from June 27 and close at 12 noon of July 4.

Assistant Commissioner of Elections for the Anuradhapura District S.M. Saman Bandulasena said that independent Groups were open to pay their deposits by 12 noon of July 3.

He said that there were 600,000 voters in the district and that recognized political parties could obtain nomination papers for 24 candidates to elect 21 members and that each independent Group was open to deposit Rs 48,000 each.

The Chief Returning officer (GA) for the Ratnapura district Mrs Malani Premaratne said that preparations were on for the PC elections.

The Assistant Commissioner of elections for the district of Anuradhapura M. A. B. C. Perera said that there were 725,000 voters in the district and that nomination lists should include the names of 27 candidates to elect 24 members and each Independent Group would have to deposit Rs 54,000.

The Chief Returning Officer (GA) of the Kegalle district Mrs D. M. P. Dissanayake said that preparations were on for the nominations.

The Assistant commissioner of Elections for the district of Kegalle P.A.S. Senaratne said there were 600,000 voters in the district and each nomination list should include the names of 21 candidates to elect 18 members and that each Independent Group deposit Rs 42,000 each.

The Chief Returning Officer (GA) of the Polonnaruwa District Ranjith Wijetilleke said that arrangements were on to accept nominations.

Assistant Commissioner of elections for the district of Polonnaruwa W. H. R. Wijayakumar said that there were 277,056 voters in the district and each nomination list should have the names of 13 candidates to elect 10 members and each Independent group should deposit Rs 26,000.

Swedish technology company Pilum AB wins water treatment technology orders in Sri Lanka and Australia

Swedish technology company Pilum AB said that its business area Technologies has received new water treatment technology contracts in Sri Lanka and Australia.

The new orders are valued at a total of SEK3m.

The customers were not named, but according to Pilum one of the two orders is an add-on to a previous delivery.

Pilum, headquartered in Malmo, Sweden, is an energy and environment technology provider focusing on flue gas and water treatment. The company has some 25 employees and reported a net turnover of SEK70.1m in 2007.

One British pound (GBP) is worth approximately 11.90 Swedish kronor (SEK).

Fierce battle in Mannar front; troops capture 3 Sq Km, 18 terrorists killed

Troops engaged in counter terrorist offensive operation in Mannar front inching further towards LTTE dominated areas capturing 3 sq Km areas in north of Adampan. In fierce gun battle took place in mainly three areas, Mullikandal, Minnaniranchan and Marattikannaddi, terror transmission confirmed that 18 terrorists were killed and 6 others wounded.

Troops attack at terror bunker defence in general area Mullikandal killing 5 terrorists and injuries 6 others. 3 soldiers also suffered injuries in this battle. Enemy bunkers at Minnaniranchan were also attacked by the troops killing 5 more terrorists. 8 more terrorists were also killed when the troops confronted with the terrorists at Marattikannadd area. One soldier suffered injuries due to the confrontation.

Dialog Mobiles Can Now be Reloaded from Overseas

Dialog Telekom - Sri Lanka’s largest mobile communications service
provider announced recently a partnership with ezetop Ltd., an Ireland based international mobile phone Service Company, to enable global reload of Dialog Prepaid Mobiles.
The groundbreaking facility enables in particular, expatriate Sri Lankans to reload Dialog mobiles of friends and relatives back home in Sri Lanka. ezetop services are available globally via the internet at www.ezetop.com and through a network of 40,000 outlets worldwide. ezetop has a significantly far reaching presence in the Middle-East making the Dialog-ezetop partnership of immediate value to
expatriate Sri Lankans living in the region and their families in Sri Lanka,
The facility also enables international travelers subscribing to Dialog’s instant roaming service to reload their accounts while overseas. This exciting new service enables individuals abroad to send mobile phone reloads to any Dialog prepaid customer using ezetop’s online top-up service at www.ezetop.com or at one of ezetop’s 40,000 over retail locations worldwide. The online top up
service works through an online account which is created at the ezetop website..
Speaking further on the partnership with ezetop, Group Chief Marketing Officer for Dialog Telekom, Nushad Perera said: “At Dialog Telekom we are constantly innovating our services in order to make mobile communication more convenient seamlessly available for our customers. The partnership with ezetop we will no doubt add a new dimension to customer convenience with the reloading of
Dialog mobiles now being made possible across international boundaries. Their strong presence in the Gulf is of special interest to us as it will add to the convenience of our customers.”
ezetop’s Chief Operating Officer, David Shackleton added “We are delighted to extend our services to all Dialog Telekom prepaid customers and we are pleased to now be enabling Sri Lankans abroad to stay in touch with their family and friends more easily.”

DGUNP plans to contest under the UPFA umbrella

Democratic Group of the United National Party says they will contest under the UPFA umbrella for the forthcoming Provincial Council Election .
Addressing a media conference Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne said their members have discussed with the UPFA to reach an agreement .At present the Democratic Group is finalizing their candidates for the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Councils election.
“We will nominate our candidates within this week, he said.
During the Eastern Provincial Council Election the Democratic Group of the UNP has assisted the UPFA to obtain more votes for their candidates.
According to the Minister Senaratne two leading members of the Democratic Group of the UNP still represent these Provinces. They are Minister Mano Wijeratne and C.A.Sooriyarachchi.
Meanwhile Department of Election called applications for the postal votes.
Speaking to media General Secretary of the United National Party Tissa Attanayake said the party would nominate their Chief Ministerial Candidate for the Sabaragamuwa Province during this weekend. Yesterday UNP Chief Ministerial Candidate Upul Santha Sannasgala rejected UNP’s offer to contest under the UNP ticket for the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council.

Ministerial Committee on Journalist’s grievances commenced

Government appointed Ministerial Committee on Journalist’s grievances commenced its work from Tuesday.
The committee is housed in the BMICH , Colombo .According to the committee it has decided to fulfill six objectives such as help and ensure independence of media personnel and media institutions, To inquire into complaints of harassment and death threats to media personnel and intervene if such allegations are correct, To bring better understanding between state officials and media, To provide social recognition to media which depends national sovereignty and security, To follow up on projects proposed to promote the welfare of media personnel and ensure speedy implementation ,To assist in safe guarding right to incorporation of all citizens and create a responsible and social recognized media culture .
The Committee includes seven ministers namely Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa , Dulles Alahapperuma, Dr.Rajitha Senaratne, Laxman Yapa Abeyawardana , Rohitha Abeyagunawardana and Faizar Musthapa.
Addressing media on Tuesday evening Minister Dr.Sarath Amunugama said the government respects the media freedom and this committee would assists it.

IOC decreases the price of Diesel

Lanka IOC decreases the price of Diesel by ten rupees from mid night today.

William Lacy Swing Elected Director General of the IOM

Ambassador William Lacy Swing of the United States has today been elected as the next Director General of the International Organization for Migration.

Ambassador Swing was elected by a two-thirds majority vote of the Council, which brought together IOM Member States.

Speaking after his election, Mr. Swing said: “My vision for IOM is for a collaborative organization of professionals built on trust and one that listens to Member States and which efficiently and cost-effectively helps them manage migration to the benefit of all.”

Mr. Swing, who was the official US candidate for the post of Director General, brings to the 125-member Organization a breadth of international experience, a proven ability to manage complex multilateral operations and to collaborate productively with foreign governments, United Nations agencies and other inter-governmental institutions.

As UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from May 2003 till January 2008, Ambassador Swing successfully led all facets of the largest UN peacekeeping operation in history.

Prior to his work in the DRC, Ambassador Swing served from 2001 to 2003 as the Special Representative to the Secretary-General for Western Sahara and Chief of Mission for the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

During a long diplomatic career at the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Swing was a six-time ambassador, managing some of the largest diplomatic missions and foreign development and humanitarian aid programmes in two hemispheres, with a record of strengthening bilateral relationships.

Through his diplomatic assignments in countries facing significant migration movements, he has acquired a deep understanding of the multiple factors affecting international migration.

Ambassador Swing graduated from Catawba College in North Carolina (Bachelor of Arts) and Yale University (Bachelor of Divinity), and did post-graduate studies at Tubingen University in Germany and at Harvard University. He also speaks fluent French and German.

European Commission and ECCSL conducts Workshop on “Sustainable Chemical Management– Focus on REACH Pre-registration and Registration”

by Keerthi Abayawickrama of Garment Times

The “Latest Trends in Social and Environmental Responsibilities in Europe (LASER)” project is co-sponsored by the European Commission within one of its Asia wide programs namely: Asia Invest. Building stronger economic links between Asia and the European Union is in the interest of both European and Asian companies. Promoting Euro-Asian business co-operation, helping in particular European and Asian SMEs in their internationalization process, thus increasing opportunities for mutual trade and investment, remains the key objective set by Asia- Invest.
Hans Svendsen President of the ECCSL said the LASER project intends to sensitize the Asian business intermediaries on EU’s Business culture pertaining to environmental and social responsibility. The REACH chemical policy, enacted by the European Parliament and the European Council, which came into force from the 1st June 2007, is a prime example of the attempts of the European Commission to impose stringent social and environmental responsibilities on the chemical industries of Europe. One of the important implementation phase of REACH is expected to begin from 1st June’ 2008.
It is therefore that The European Chambers of Commerce in Sri Lanka, along with its other project partners including the International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR), Sweden; the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (ViTO), Belgium and Network for Preventive Environmental Management, India is organizing a day long workshop on the important theme of “Sustainable Chemical Management– Focus on REACH Pre-registration and Registration”.
The organisers said its first workshop will be held on 27th June 2008, 8.30 a.m. in Colombo.
This workshop shall see international experts speaking on REACH, its various implications on non- European (non-EU) exporters and Roadmap for Compliance. The affected industries include exporters to EU in the Apparel industry,I Automotive industry,I Chemical industry,I Coating industry, Electronic industry, Inorganic Materials & Products, Packaging industry
' Petroleum, Plastic industry, Rubber & Rubber based industry and Wood Manufacturers industry.
There shall be special focus on the Pre-registration and the “only representative” issue. The “only representative”
shall have to be appointed by all the non-European exporters of chemicals and chemical containing products into Europe. The half day presentations will be followed by half day of interactive discussions with the industry with the provision for a one-on-one interaction with industries seeking specific solutions to the queries relating to REACH compliance.
This workshop is intended to coincide with the early Pre-registration period of REACH compliance in order to enable the chemical and allied industries of Sri Lanka to meet their various obligations for REACH compliance and ensuring continued exports to Europe. The industries are therefore invited to avail this excellent opportunity of understanding REACH and proceed ahead to meet the various deadlines within REACH thereby fulfilling their social and environmental responsibilities for sustainable chemical management.

20 civilians fleeing LTTE areas seek security forces protection- Welioya

Twenty civilians fleeing LTTE held areas in Mullaithivue and Malayanwadu reached the Kokilai army point seeking the security forces protection this morning, June 24.

The group comprising 14 males and 6 females have reached to the security forces controlling areas around 10.45 a.m, defence sources said. Three children were also among the escapees who have fled their native areas due to the LTTE's harassment and forceful recruitments, sources further said.

Security forces personnel have provided all the necessities for the escapees and steps have already been taken by the government officials to provide safe shelter for them.

USA defence attaché meets Defence Secretary

The newly appointed defence attaché of the USA Embassy in Sri Lanka, Lt Col Lawrence A Smith, accompanied by the departing defence attaché paid a courtesy call to the Secretary to the ministry of defence this morning, June 24.

Defence secretary bid a farewell for the departing defence attaché Lt Col James E. Oxley.

Brandix Eco Centre plays host to reigning beauty queens

The Green Plant of Brandix, Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter, recently hosted two reigning beauty queens on a familiarization visit.

Miss Netherlands Melissa Sneekes and Miss Sri Lanka Maria Colombage toured the three eco- friendly manufacturing facilities that make up the Brandix Casualwear complex at Seeduwa and were briefed on the remarkable savings it had achieved in energy and water consumption and the reduction of carbon emissions by 80 per cent, through a redesign of the building and the installation of eco-friendly air- conditioning.

Commenting on what she saw, Ms Sneekes said: “ Concern for the environment is very high in Europe, and I am most impressed by the efforts made by Brandix in Sri Lanka to switch to Green Manufacturing.

The Brandix Green Plant at Seeduwa was an eye- opener for me. Besides being one of the most eco-friendly apparel factories in the world, it also provides a very comfortable working environment.”

“It is very pleasing to see that garments reaching stores in Europe come from such well- designed and environment-friendly manufacturing locations. Congratulations, Brandix.”

Ms Colombage added: “There can be no better example of Sri Lanka’s commitment to environment-friendly manufacturing than the Brandix Green Plant at Seeduwa.

The commitment and effort that has gone into creating a showpiece of clean manufacturing is truly commendable. Sri Lanka can be proud of facilities such as this, which demonstrate that we can be world leaders in eco-friendly apparel manufacture.”

The 130,000 square-foot Brandix Casualwear factory at Seeduwa is the Group’s lead manufacturing plant for top international retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S), and surpasses internationally-stipulated Green factory standards for energy consumption, water conservation, solid waste management and carbon emissions.

The pioneer of the concept of inspired solutions for branded clothing, Brandix is a preferred solutions provider to some of the world’s best brands, including Gap, Marks & Spencer, Victoria’s Secret, NEXT, Lands End, Ann Taylor, Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger.

The Group specializes in casual bottoms, intimate and active wear, textiles, knitted fabrics, sewing and embroidery thread, accessories and hangers and also offers wet processing and finishing and fabric printing.

Sri Lanka ready to host SAARC summit

Arrangements have been finalized to hold the 15th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Sri Lanka from July 27 to Aug. 3.
The heads of states and governments of SAARC countries have confirmed their participation in the summit Foreign Ministry officials said.

With the theme of "Towards a South Asian Union," the summit will be held under the

slogan "Growing Together." The 15th summit will focus on soaring oil prices, food crisis, economic growth, social development and the problem of terrorism in
South Asia.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hand over the SAARC chair to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse during the summit.

India hosted the 14th SAARC summit in 2007. Foreign ministry officials representing the member states of SAARC countries are scheduled to hold discussions in Colombo on July 27 and 28. The foreign ministry secretaries of the
member states will meet on July 29 and July 30.

The Council of the Foreign Ministers will be held from July 31 to Aug. 1. The summit will be held with the participation of heads of states from SAARC countries on Aug. 2 and 3, the newspaper said.

Around 1,000 delegates from SAARC countries, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and hundreds of journalists are expected to participate in the summit.

IFJ calls for fair judicial process

The International Federation of Journalists calls on Sri Lankan authorities to ensure fair and transparent judicial process is applied to senior Tamil journalist J.S. Tissanayagam, who continues to be detained by the Police Terrorist Investigation Division.

The IFJ said in a statement that a magistrate is due to issue a decision on June 30th in the case of the editor of the OutreachSl.com news website, who has been detained since March 7.
A ruling will also be delivered on N. Jesiharan, owner of E-Kwality printers, and his partner Valarmathi, who have been held since March 6th.
The expected rulings follow a court appearance by Tissanayagam and Jesiharan at Colombo’s Court No. 1 yesterday, according to the Free Media Movement, an IFJ affiliate.

Tissanayagam has been held without charge for 107 days. Under the Emergency Regulations Act, detainees must appear before a court upon completion of a
90-day detention order. However, the TID had previously failed to present him for scheduled court hearings due to purported administrative delays.

In court yesterday, Tissanayagam’s lawyer, Subandiran, argued that Sections 19 and 21 of the emergency regulation in force further required that detainees must be transferred to fiscal custody (that is, removed from TID special detention into general detention) upon completion of a 90-day detention order.

The court also heard allegations yesterday that Jesiharan had suffered torture in detention. Grave concerns are held for his welfare. “The prolonged detention of Tissanayagam, without explanation, breaches the basic human right to justice,” IFJ Asia-Pacific said. “Fair judicial process must be applied to Tissanayagam, and all cases, without exception,” the statement added.

India helping Colombo to perpetrate genocide on Tamils

In a letter to the Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Vaiko, General Secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), accused India of ?equipping the Sri Lanka Government to help its war machine to perpetrate genocidal attacks against the Tamils...throwing to winds the farsighted foreign policy adopted by Pandit Nehru and Mrs. Indira Gandhi,? and urged the Prime Minister to not participate in the SAARC Conference.

Full text of the letter follows:

The betrayal being committed by the UPA Government at the centre against the Tamils,
with particular reference to the ethnic Tamils of the island of Sri Lanka has been thoroughly exposed by the statements of the Sri Lanka Government, its military officials and also by the condemnable activities, open and clandestine of the Government of India.

News have appeared in the print media in India and Sri Lanka that a top level Indian official team comprising Foreign Secretary Mr. Sivasankara Menon, National Security Advisor Mr. M.K. Narayanan and the Defence Secretary Mr. Vijay Singh has reached Colombo on 20th June 2008 for consultations with the Sri Lanka Government ''on matters of mutual interest''.It is reliably understood that the Indian team
has met the President of Sri Lanka Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse, Defence Secretary Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga. The visit was kept a top secret.
A source in the Sri Lanka Presidential secretariat told the press that over Friday and aturday, the visiting team would discuss an array of issues, including the security in the island, the ongoing military operations against the LTTE in the North, the issue of the intruding Indian fishermen in North-West Sri Lanka, and matters relating to the SAARC summit to be held in Colombo in the first week of
August.

My repeated request to you by letters and also in person to stop forthwith any sort of military assistance to the Sri Lanka racist Government which is committing the grave crime of genocide against the ethnic Tamil race in the island have been callously thrown away.Eventhough the UPA Government did not sign the proposed Defence Pact with Sri Lanka in 2004; the Indian Government has been equipping the
Sri Lanka Government to help its war machine to perpetrate genocidal attacks against the Tamils.

I accuse that the Government of India supplied radars to the Sri Lanka Air-force which is strafing and bombing by which innocent Tamil people are brutally killed, the glaring example is Sencholai massacre.I accuse that the Government of India gave a red carpet welcome to the Sri Lanka President and the Ministers whose hands are stained with the blood of Tamils.

I accuse that the Government of India has sanctioned a loan of 100 million dollars at 2% interest to the Defence Ministry of Sri Lanka enabling them to purchase weapons from Pakistan and China, which would be used to decimate the Tamil race.

I accuse that the UPA Government has deliberately derelicted in its duty to prevent
the dastardly attacks and killing of the Sri Lanka Navy against the Tamilnadu fishermen. Adding insult to the injury, the Indian team is discussing with the Sri Lanka Government against the safety of Tamilnadu fishermen.

I accuse that the Government of India has mortgaged her sovereign rights, permitting the Sri Lanka Government to lay seamines in the international waters adjacent to Indian water.I accuse that the Government of India, burying fathoms deep all the norms of humanism, prevented the supply of food and medicines to the suffering Tamils in that island by not giving permission to the International Red Cross to send the materials collected in Tamilnadu.

I am pained to make the accusation that the Indian Government, particularly the
abovementioned officials are assisting the Sri Lanka Government, which is making all out military offensive to liquidate the Tamil race, throwing to winds the farsighted foreign policy adopted by Pandit Nehru and Mrs. Indira Gandhi.
The UPA Government and its constituent political parties are held responsible for the loss of Tamil lives in the island of Sri Lanka and will be held accountable and answerable in the dock of the people's court of India.
In view of the abovementioned facts, I am registering my point of view that the Prime Minister of India should not go to Colombo to participate in the SAARC Conference.

A different ‘Naguma’

Employees of the Maga Neguma Project main office at Moratuwa launched a protest campaign in front of their office today demanding several issues be resolved including salary anomalies.

New Sri Lanka High Commissioner for United Kingdom

Retired Supreme Court Judge Chandra Nihal Jayasinghe is expected to take over, as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner of United Kingdom from 1st of July.

Shenuka Senivaratne, the outgoing High Commissioner has completed her tour of duty and has gone back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo on the 19th of this month.

Supreme Court Judge Chandra Nihal Jayasinghe retired from judicial service on 01 March, after serving in the legal profession for 37 years.

He joined the Attorney General Department in 1971. He was appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal in 1997, when he was serving as Deputy Solicitor General. Later, he was appointed Chairman of the Appeal Court and then a Supreme Court Judge in 2002.

Judge Chandra Nihal Jayasinghe was also appointed a Judge of the International War Crimes Court established by the UN Secretary General and served as a Judge in the International War Crimes Court, investigating war crimes committed by Pol Pot in Cambodia.

Furthermore, Sudantha Ganegamaarachchi, Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commissioner in London though has completed his term in UK is given extension up to the end of July this year. Also the First Secretary Maxwell Keegel term also expired but is on extension.

Whole country a Peace Zone after Northern liberation - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa hands over financial aid to religious dignitaries for improving places of worship, at a ceremony at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinseh Gunawardena is also in the picture. Picture by Sudath Silva

President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserts that his Government would seek to establish 'Peace Zones' not only in the precincts of sacred sites, but also in the whole country.

President Rajapaksa made this assertion when he presided and addressed the ceremony at which financial aid amounting to Rupees five million was symbolically handed over to religious dignitaries of 42 Temples, Kovils, Churches and Mosques, at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday(June 23).

"Every citizen of this land should have the freedom and the liberty to enjoy the right of religious worship, as per his conscience. The terrorists grabbed this right from the people.

However, we are a Government which is fully committed and prepared to make sacrifices and be committed to protect all faiths and their associated sites of worship," he said.

He pointed out that when the North is also liberated, the whole country would be a 'Peace Zone', and the 'Sacred Sites' would become 'Peace Zones' within it. "We are obliged to protect our religious devotion which we have sustained over the years," he added.

The President pointed out that the various religious units and ministries which were scattered in the past, were brought under one ministry, with the objective of integrating all religious affairs under one management and authority and averting conflicts of any nature.

"We need integration of our society and not division or differentiation. We formulated diverse programmes such as 'Mathata Thitha' with the objective of protecting our society. This project to develop our sacred sites would undoubtedly serve to achieve this objective," he said.

President Rajapaksa said that despite the war, his Government had not abandoned any mega development projects in the country, be it the expressways or the Norochcholai Coal Power project or any other. "We will not abandon the development of the religious sacred sites too," he added.

He was of the view that as a Buddhist, he learnt how to respect all communities and faiths, and was eager to protect all places of religious worship. He derived much happiness in doing so, he said. Sacred Sites Development Minister Dinesh Goonewardena and his secretary P. Ramajugan also expressed their sentiments at the ceremony.

'Terrorism has no place in Canada 'says Canadian paper

"Canada clearly cannot allow groups that use terrorism - or the organizations that support such groups - to operate legally in this country," said Nova Scotia based Chronicle Herald supporting the Conservative government's decision to ban the World Tamil Movement, a front organization of the terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The Halifax based newspaper known as Canada's longest standing independently owned newspaper said, "TERRORISM - those who practise it and those who support it - has no place in Canada." The editorial also said the Tamil owned businesses have been intimidated to give donations to the terrorist group.

The following are some excerpts from the editorial:
"Ottawa officially placed the Tamil Tigers on its list of terrorist organizations two years ago. The LTTE - Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - is the guerrilla group that's used extortion, assassinations, suicide bombings and the forced recruitment of child soldiers in its bloody fight for an independent state within the island nation of Sri Lanka. By rightly banning the LTTE, Canada finally joined the United Nations, European Union and many other countries, including the United States, Britain and Australia, in explicitly designating the Tigers as a terrorist group.

"Last week, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day - citing RCMP evidence which he said showed that the World Tamil Movement (WTM) had been raising funds to support the Tamil Tigers - added the Tamil non-profit group, with offices in Toronto and Montreal, to the terrorist blacklist.

"Faced with hundreds of pages of RCMP affidavits alleging police knew how LTTE leaders in Sri Lanka had been using the non-profit group to extract money from the Tamil community in Canada, Mr. Day had no choice but to act. As the minister pointed out, the WTM - which denies the allegations - has every right to appeal the move, to himself and then to a federal court, where automatic appeal provisions renew every two years.

"Though the Tigers no doubt have the support of some in Canada's Tamil community, there have been reports others, including many Tamil-owned businesses, have felt they've been intimidated into donating significant sums of money - through the WTM - to support the separatist group.

"Mr. Day seemed to suggest the ongoing two-year RCMP investigation into the WTM may soon bring charges against individuals. "Stay tuned," said the minister.

"Canada clearly cannot allow groups that use terrorism - or the organizations that support such groups - to operate legally in this country. At the same time, Canada can continue to try to persuade both sides - the Sri Lankan government and LTTE - to stop the bloodshed and realize an end to the conflict would benefit both peoples."

Automatic Weapons Found inside Three-Wheeler

A THREE-WHEELER speeding past KOTAHENA area was stopped and checked by Army troops .
Troops found one T-56 weapon and one S-84 type weapon hidden inside the three-wheeler during search.

The driver of the three-wheeler was arrested and handed over to the KOTAHENA Police.

CEB chairman out

Chairman Udayasri Kariyawsam and the Board of Directors of the CEB were yesterday removed from office after discussions between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the CEB Engineers Union. Some of the members of the present Board will retain their positions, a senior official said.

A senior ministry official told The Island yesterday that Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne would likely appoint Ministry Secretary M. M. C. Ferdinando as the new Chairman initially for a month.


Minister Seneviratne said that discussions were in progress about who the new chairman would be.

All CEB employees, from engineers to labourers, must work for the benefit of the CEB rather than towards their own betterment, the Minister said.

The key role of a chairman was to keep the work force united. However the demand made for the removal of the CEB Chairman by the Engineers Union was unfair, he said, giving the assurance that a competent person would be appointed.

The CEB Engineers Union Executive Committee yesterday decided to temporarily call off their work to rule campaign following President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ruling.

Engineers last week launched their work to rule campaign demanding for the removal of the CEB Chairman and for permits to import duty free vehicles.

The Island learns that President Rajapaksa had told the engineers that Government was not position at present to provide such allowances but would see what could be done.

SC directs WPTA to formulate regulations for bus crew

by Chitra Weerarathne

The Supreme Court yesterday directed the Western Province Transport Authority to formulate regulations and prepare uniforms for drivers and conductors in consultation with the National Transport Commission, the Sri Lanka Transport Board and the Private Bus Owners' Association.

The WPTA was also directed to formulate regulations for the use of ticketing machines in conformity with the conditions of the National Transport Commission. The WPTA will give financial assistance for the purchase of the ticketing machines.

The regulations are to be implemented by August 1, and the National Transport Commission will prescribe a hot-line to be used by the public in the event of breach of the Highway Code, by any heavy vehicle and bus.

The directions were issued by the Court when the fundamental rights
violation application filed by Geethani Wijesinghe was called yesterday. The petition also pointed out air pollution caused by traffic congestion in Colombo and the suburbs.

The Deputy Solicitor General Bimba J. Tilakaratne, who appeared for the State, tendered to the Court the updated traffic plan for Colombo and the Greater Colombo areas.

Gamunu Wijeratne, the Chairman of the Private Transport Association, agreed to work out a timetable for the operation of buses along the routes in Colombo and suburbs.

This is to be done in consultation with the NTC and the SLTB. A meeting is to be held on July 1, and the SLTB has been directed to send an officer who could decide on its behalf. Gamunu Wijeratne, agreed to modify the silencers of buses, starting with the ones running on the Colombo, Kandy route. Surveys had shown that 48 percent of the buses have defective silencers. The case is to be called again on July 29, 2008.

The Bench comprised the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justice Shirani Tilakawardene and Justice K. Sripavan.

International gem lab for Sri Lanka

Chairman, National Gem and Jewellery Authority Hasitha Tillekeratne has taken steps to meet a long-felt need of Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry. It is the establishment of a fully-equipped laboratory to examine gem stones in accordance with international standards.

Western countries such as the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Asia’s Thailand already have such modern laboratories with the latest equipment.

The lack of such a lab was a major setback for Sri Lanka all these years. Although the NGJA presently does a thorough examination of gem stones before certifying them for export, most foreign buyers of gems expect certification of international standards.

For sometime the establishment of such a lab was in the minds of Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery traders who even established a ‘Laboratory Development Fund’ for this purpose. Based on a decision made in the year 2000, 0.25 percent of the value of the gems exported from Sri Lanka from 2001 was credited to the account of the above fund maintained by the NGJA.

Today the fund has reached nearly Rs.100 million. This will become the initial capital investment in establishing the new gem testing laboratory. It will be formed jointly by the State and the private sector and registered as a company under the name Lanka Gemological Laboratory Private Limited. The Secretary of the Ministry under which the NGJA functions, the NGJA Chairman and the NGJA Director-General and Chairman of the Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute have been officially appointed to the company’s board of management. NGJA Chairman Hasitha Tillekeratne was unanimously elected Chairman of Lanka Gemological Laboratory Private Limited at its first board meeting.

Addressing the meeting he said that the main equipment and expertise required for differentiating natural gems from heat-treated stones as well as identifying and certifying rare gem stones will be readily available after the establishment of the new laboratory. He requested the cooperation of all Sri Lankan gem traders to ensure that this lab continues to meet international standards.

The Chairman observed that the establishment of the international laboratory would help to save foreign exchange often spent by some local gem exporters in getting rare precious stones and heat-treated gems examined at Thailand’s laboratories.

Moscow to screen movie on LTTE suicide cadres

The Moscow Film Festival has turned down a request to cancel the screening of a documentary on female suicide bombers of Sri Lanka.

The movie ‘My Daughter the Terrorist’ by Norwegian director Beate Arnestad’s was to be screened last evening. Sri Lankan embassy representatives have alleged that the movie glorified suicide attacks.

Sri Lanka Tourism to get a boost from Hikkaduwa promotion

In a bid to promote the island’s southern coast as a tourist destination, the Sri Lankan Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) together with the local community of Hikkaduwa has organized a festival to take the country to a global platform.

The ‘Hikkaduwa Beach Fest’ which is to set to take place from July 30 to August 3, on the beach strip of Hikkaduwa is the first of its kind to happen on local soil. The festival promises to entertain the crowd with performances by local and international artists and be the first of many festivals to take place in the country. This new venture also aims to improve the current state of the tourism industry.

Speaking at a press briefing on the ‘Hikkaduwa Beach Fest’ the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority; Renton De Alwis, noted that Hikkaduwa needs to be reinvented as a tourist destination as it has suffered many blows in the past.

“As Hikkaduwa has